III: The Metaphysics of Home

Summary: Sora's thoughts after returning home to Destiny Islands
Rated: K
Created: 9/10/06
Finished: 10/21/06 (After Long Hiatus)

I. Sorrow Ended

Sora couldn't believe it. As his head resurfaced from the ocean waters alongside Riku his heart thudded in his chest. The taste of salt in his mouth as he sputtered and fought to keep buoyancy, the smell of the cool fall air in the afternoon, and the orange atmosphere of the sky. His eyes darted wildly in every direction as he shook the water out of his air. He was home!

For a moment he stopped moving in the water to laugh when the memory of where he currently resided chided him, he was barely back under for a second as his legs and arms restarted their kicking. Sora squirted another mouthful of water out of his mouth as he dared to lock gazes with Riku. His silver haired friend wore the exact same expression, if not just a tad bit more guarded. He wondered if Riku still felt the same about deserving to be left in the darkness? Well, that didn't matter, Riku was here and he was gonna have to readjust to living in the light.

Hey, come to think of it, so do I! Sora thought bewildered. Whether or not it was premature to think there would never be another threat to the worlds was hardly Sora's concern. The fleeting hope and wariness of his travels through the universe would have to be repaired and forgotten; His mind told him to be on guard, but in his heart Sora truly knew they were safe and would be safe for while.

"Sora! Riku!"

Sora felt his heart skip a beat as his head whipped toward the shore line, he felt lightheaded for a but a moment when his eyes fell upon a lanky figure waving to them. Refocusing his vision he now recognized the head of red hair and the pink ensemble, completely different to what he remembered her wearing just a year ago. A time he could barely remember after waking from a nap he was unaware of even taking! Figure that! Kairi waved more excitedly now calling out to them again. "C'mon!" Sora barely looked to Riku as he began to swim for shore, he could hear his older companion coming up behind him at a slower pace. Riku still ached from their ordeal with Xenmas. Sora pushed himself up out of the water the moment his feet touched the shelf line of the shore, he clothing weighted him down considerably as he marched through the muddy sand toward Kairi who wore the same elated expression, she stepped a little closer to the shore which only hastened Sora's attempt to get to dry land.

Kairi looked so different, he looked different. Sorta. He was taller, yes, but overall the same, unlike his friends. He hoped nothing had changed too much between him and Kairi Their reunion in Organization XIII's HQ was brief at best and they were so caught up in the situation that he hardly could even think about stopping to get reacquainted with his friends. However, the one noticeable thing about Kairi was, that she had a stronger sense of determination. When they were younger, Kairi was mildly hesitant about doing things even though she was more outgoing than Sora was. (Way more outgoing.) But whatever hesitance he had originally felt in her was gone. Confidence took its place, as it should.

Just as he arrived to the shallower part of the shore three familiar figures flew out from behind Kairi, his smile grew wider at the sight of Donald and Goofy. He couldn't make out the garbled sentences that came out of their mouths at the exact same time, he simply braced himself for a fall as the two leapt upon him and knocked him back into the water. A laugh full of relief escaped Sora's mouth, easing the tightness he felt in his chest. He pushed himself up so that he was sitting on his legs, he fought to keep the surprise from reaching his face as Donald hugged him. The two were friends, Donald even allowed a hug or two every now and then, but he had ever been this affectionate toward him! However, Sora couldn't say he didn't like it. An overly happy Donald Duck was better than a grouchy one. His friends released him from their vice-like grip and gave Sora some room to breathe, in the corner of his eye he spotted RIku and Mickey facing each other, in deep conversation. He let out another shuddering laugh before focusing on Kairi again. Her face seemed unreal in the glow of the setting sun, dreamy like.

Sora laughed unconsciously at his own thoughts before reaching into the red pouch rest on his left pant leg. "W-w're back," He stuttered out, cracking another breathless smile. Extending his hand out to her he revealed the gift she gave him when they resided in Traverse Town. Kairi's smile grew wider at the sight of her lucky charm, leaning over she extended her hand to further welcome her wary traveler. Sora felt his heart quicken again. "You're home," She answered in an assured voice. Sora released a shuddering breath as his mouth opened and his teeth showed through his smile With all the strength he could muster, his clasped hers and Kairi gripped his with equal strength.

We're home . . .

II. Nothing In My Way

Sora felt a strange stir of loneliness as he ventured down the streets of Destiny Islands small town. As a child he had the impression that it was biggest place in the world and that it would take forever to explore all the nooks and crannies. His mother indulged his thoughts with enthusiastic responses that would only strengthen his vivid imagination. Now, however, the town looked so small. Kairi and RIku trailed behind him, speaking to each other with such relaxed tones it was hard believe the ordeal they each went through was even real.

Many people that recognized him (or Riku) watched them like they were newfound discoveries or expressions that usually meant 'where have you been?' Sora had no answer for them he wanted to give, unlike his former self he wasn't so eager to divulge in his adventures through the manys worlds he traveled. He spotted Tidus and Wakka just across the street sitting on Wakka's doorstep. Tidus waved excitedly to him, Wakka gave a stiff nod of his head. "Hey guys!" Sora called back with a wave of his own.

Tidus stood up from where he stood and shouted, "Sora, where've you been?!"

Sora grinned and answered, "I'll tell you about it later!" The two nodded in response then returned to their conversation. I wonder where Selphie is. . .? Sora quickened his pace a little. He moved around the corner to a more vacant area of town. Ahead of him resided several houses that were hard to tell apart from the other. Riku and Kairi didn't seem to be following him anymore, he put on a grin as he rushed up the path between the two trees and foliage that grew against the two larger houses on the block. He flew across the backyard of a neighbor which looked considerably smaller than he remembered, he gave a yelp when the bark of the dog (once a puppy) came flying out from a bush. Mrs. Shimomura's dog still held a grudge against him it seemed. Sora leapt over the fence in his way leaving the barking dog behind, he hopped over another fence straight into another yard. His backyard. Sora brushed himself off as he looked up at his window, now closed and concealed by his curtains decorated with ships and stars.

He stepped carefully past the garden blooming with sunflowers, with other assortments of floral plants, up to the faded hardwood door. Bending over he peered underneath the bottom of a flower pot, the key lay there undisturbed. Grabbing it up off the ground he examined it fondly; It reminded him of the Kingdom Key, a weapon, it seemed, that disconnected itself from him. He could no longer summon it to his hands to his dismay. Pushing aside these thoughts he slid the key into hole and turned, the door opened without a sound. Poking a head inside he recognized the kitchen, he stepped further inside, a whistful smile on his lips. Locking the door behind him he ventured into the living room, his heart sank at the dim appearance of the living room, the curtains closed blocking out the light. It was probably nothing to worry about, the sun was setting after all. He headed through the living room and up the stairs, down corridor he spotted the open door at the end of the hall. He wasted no time to get to the door, though the concept someone else living in his house did hinder his step a bit. What if he was gone for too long and she moved out? Opening the door he stood relatively still as a figure came into view. A smile broke out on his face as he watched the woman turn the page of an old book whilst adjusting her position on the window seat.

The door gave a creek causing the woman to turn her attention to the open door, her face paled considerably at the sight of him. Like a specter or ghost, he stood in the door way beckoning her to his side. It seemed unreal. Sora gave a start himself at the sight of the woman dressed in a simple skirt and shirt, her messy brown hair pulled back into an unkempt braid. She appeared older herself, her skin looked less perfect, her hands were thinner and her face looked worry-worn, the laugh lines around her face were more apparent. He swallowed back the innate fear that he could be rejected when a smile broke out on the woman's face. She rose from the window seat moving slowly across the floor, Sora felt werid in her presence but remained where he was. The woman stopped next to the bed her fingers trembling against her side and the edge of bed. ". . . I remember you . . .," She whispered. All the apprehension melted from Sora's body as his mouth dropped open. "You forgot about me too?" He proclaimed anxiously.

The woman was stunned where she stood then regained her composure, her head shook quickly. "No! I mean -- yes I forgot about you, but it wasn't by choice. It was like -- something you remember then forget instantly and can't recall -- it," She answered truthfully. "Then I just remembered one day! You returned to me." Sora watched the woman's equally anxious demeanor with interest knowing she was telling the truth. She had to be; Leon and the others said the same, they forgot and remembered him as if he were never forgotten. Sora rested his arms behind his head and bent his leg so that the tip of his shoe was facing the floor. "Well, if that's the case ---" Sora bounded away from the doorway and wrapped his arms around the woman's neck. The woman felt herself breaking down as her arms eventually came to wrap themselves around upper body under his arms.

The two remained like that for the longest time, Sora could feel the woman trembling against him, the all too familiar whimpering associated with crying echoed in his ears. He moved over to the bed as quickly as he could, feeling the woman's knees against his legs and sat down. The woman let out a shuddering laugh then broke down completely, releasing a choked sob. As her body was wracked with tremors of her sobs, Sora could not help but feel awkward being so close to her now. He drew distant from her at the mere age of fourteen, replaced her bond with Kairi and Riku, and rarely paid attention to the lonely woman when he was home. Now that he was back, he had a chance to make things right by their faded relationship.

He would do right by his mother because his father wasn't here to do it.

Sora was all she had left.

"Y-your back . . . your really back . . .," She sobbed quietly.

Sora patted his mother softly on the back as he listened to her sob.

"No. I'm home," He murmured.

You're home . . . .

(FIN)