Kairi's heart burned for Riku. She saw him torture himself every day, making sure Sora was getting proper training to be a noble. How her friend acquired the knowledge was a mystery to her and the others. The fact stood, however...that he was very good at it.
However, she found herself questioning his methods. Failure was met with reprimand and physical punishment, either a swift kick in the ribs or a flat-of-the-blade smack or five across the face, back, or head. It made the girl cringe to see Riku hurting Sora on purpose and so...nonchalantly.
She watched them now, Riku being tough, yet patient, surprisingly so, and Sora being the highly distractable student.
"Sora! Pay attention!"
The fact that the witch hadn't returned the hero's voice to him proved to be a minor inconvenience. Sora communicated with Riku well enough, but there were times when the girl wished her hero could talk verbally. It made her heart hurt that his grunts and growls were all he had to convey his thoughts. She brought a hand to rest on her chest, closing her eyes and letting a tear fall.
Her introspectives and observations were interrupted by a gnarled hand that sat suddenly on her shoulder, making her jump. Maleficent chuckled softly at her reaction.
"Now now, my dear." The witch soothed, "Do not be frightened, for I simply wish to talk."
"Talk, or gloat?" The princess spat bitterly, balling her hand into a fist and glaring defiantly at her captor, venom in her sweet voice as she continued "I'm going to lose Sora to the Darkness, and from the looks of it, I've lost Riku already. Is there anything else you can take from me, witch?!"
Maleficent chuckled softly, "High strung and defiant as usual, I see. Lost Riku? Do not be so sure. Your silver-haired friend is an anomaly that defies all logic when it comes to his control over the Darkness. No, I believe, dear child, that Riku is playing a very dangerous angle, an angle he has control over, yet could easily sink into its depths. I say this not to gloat, but in mere observation."
Kairi felt her rage disapaite immediately, and her hands clasped together, trembling as she once again cast her eyes down. "Why haven't you given Sora back his voice?"
"Sora's punishment for what he has done will end when he becomes my son. Being deprived of his speech is part of that punishment."
"But he needs to speak!" Kairi insisted, then paused as if something just occurred to her, "How else is Riku going to teach him proper speech eticate for his position?"
The witch snickered "Clever girl. Unfortunately for your logic, it is flawed. Observe closely."
She gestured to where Riku and Sora were, with Sora on her throne, and Riku at the foot coaching his friend how to properly address his subjects. Sora, though he couldn't speak, mimicked his friend's movements perfectly while gurgle-talking. His inflections matched the instructions exactly. He then thunked Riku on the head playfully with Jafar's staff, wich the vizier was begrudgingly allowing him to use in lu of a scepter, and stood to declare a death sentence on his baffled tutor. Again, without audible words, he conveyed the term 'off with his head!' perfectly in gurgle-speak before giggling playfully.
Riku, though amused, played at being indignant and the two were soon wrestling gleefully on the floor.. "I'll 'off with his head' YOU, you ingrate! Come here!"
Kairi smiled in relief, and smirked at the witch.
"No matter what you do, Sora will always be Sora. Not even the Darkness can bury who he really is, Maleficent."
"That may be true, princess, but nevertheless, the Darkness and I will claim him as our own."
"No!" Kairi said defiantly, "You won't! Riku will stop the Darkness from taking Sora!"
"My dear, hopeful child, I know. Which is why if he attempts to do so, I shall end both his and Sora's lives."
"You...you evil witch!"
Maleficent smiled wickedly, stroking her staff in amusement, "Yes, being the Mistress of all Evil tends to have me act as such. Make no mistake, my dear, I am basking in my vengeance. This is only the very beginning!"
"Tewll me something, witch." Kairi spat "Do you know one truth that always prevails across every tale? Good always wins. Sora may be yours for a short time, but the good inside him will be your downfall eventually!"
"Keep to that hope, child." Maleficent chuckled, her eyes maliciously amused "I'll enjoy watching it die."
KHKHKHKHKHKHKHKH
Roxas sighed heavily.
As Sora's Nobody, he had the unfortunate pleasure of sharing some of what his Other was feeling. At the moment, Sora was having issues coming to terms with the reality that in two weeks Maleficent would be his mother.
The Nobody cringed at the implications, and a part of him wondered if he would make some drastic change as well. Would he be needed for the ceremony?He was, after all, Sora's other half.
Roxas had to admit...he was frightened. He locked his knees into his chest and curled there on his bed, shaking slightly.
"Roxas."
He groaned, recognizing the voice and pressure in his mind. "Don't talk Sora. You know it hurts."
"I don't care. The only other person there's to communicate with here that doesn't hurt is Ursula. Let me tell you, that gets real awkward real fast."
Roxas scoffed at that, "No kidding. What's your deal? What's worth torturing yourself to tell me?"
Sora chuckled, the noise echoing through the two's bond. It was a sound Roxas was surprised and relieved to hear after all this time.
"Nothing really except...I can feel your fear. I wanted to tell you not to worry, she doesn't need you. When I turn, you'll stay the same." He paused, absorbing the pain before continuing. "It's not so bad you know..."
The Nobody snorted "That's because Riku is babying you."
"He is not! He's being kinda mean actually!" Sora protested loudly, making Roxas cringe as his head took the brunt of the shout.
"He's babying you. If Maleficent was in charge of your training, you'd be in hell. Quite possibly literally. I hear she has Churnibog on call."
"She's a witch. He's my best friend. Even so...he's closed his heart for now. That's why he can be kinda mean. He has to be, she'd know if he was cutting me slack."
Roxas sighed as Sora had to pause againto deal with the pain he brought on himself by choosing to speak to his Nobody through their connection.
"Sora...is it really worth all this? I mean, I'm all for saving your friends and all...but isn't the price getting a little too hiigh?"
The Nobody clutched his head as Sora's heart smote him painfully, "Ok! Ok! I'm sorry I asked! Sheesh..."
Sora chuckled "Sorry about that!"
"Suuuure you are."
"Actually, the answer is no. I'd pay a higher price if I could...if she'd let me."
Roxas's eyes went wide as he realized exactly what his Somebody was implying, "Are you saying what I think you're saying?! You've actually considered...?!"
His other half grew eerily silent.
"You have, haven't you...you've actually tried to offer...everything."
Sora's reply was a whisper "She won't let it end that easily for me. Yeah, I offered a few times. Each time, her answer was basicly the same. She doesn't want my life. She wants my torment."
Roxas hung his head. "You never told me."
"You didn't ask. Besides, it was rejected, so I didn't see the point in bringing it up."
"You sound exhausted." Roxas said after a long pause "You should cut off for now and get some rest."
Sora seemed to agree. "Alright. Bye, Roxas!"
The Nobody snorted. As Sora's other half, 'goodbye' was never a true option.