AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Did anyone else notice in the last chapter that we passed 100k words? Woohoo! Thanks for coming on this journey with me, guys! Special shoutout to Scarlett-95, The voice of all things, YumeTakato and InfernoVolt for your lovely reviews. Thank you so much! I love catching up with you all and finding out what you think about the story so far. (Throw those theories at me, guys – I wanna see if anyone can figure things out before they happen!)

Also, as InfernoVolt quite rightly pointed out – Ven calls Axel 'Lea'. I'll be honest, I had completely forgotten about that! For internal continuity in this story, Ven will carry on calling him Axel for the time being. Once the story is finished I will go back and try to update that error, but for the time being I've finally got my mo-jo back to write new chapters and I don't want to risk losing it. Apologies for any confusion, and sorry if this makes any Ven/Axel(Lea) interactions awkward for you.

Also, also: remember in the footnotes of last chapter where I said that things weren't happening in the order I originally drafted them? Here's this chapter…

CHAPTER TWENTY | MARKET DAY

It was mid-morning by the time Kairi was awake enough to drag herself out of bed. A folded piece of paper bearing her name had been left on the dresser by the door with a note from Merlin giving her directions to the bathroom and instructions for the shower. She wondered if he knew of her midnight excursion, but when she saw him in the living room he made no mention of it. The only comment came from Riku who barely looked up from his breakfast as she found a seat at the overly large table that certainly hadn't been there last night.

"If you're going out today, be careful," he said. "There were reports of a disturbance in the fields last night." She nodded and smiled and thanked him for the warning as Aerith passed her a plate of eggs and bacon.

"Riku said you'd be staying with us for a few days to look for your missing memories," Leon said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Kairi nodded.

"I know that I'm from this world, but I don't know much more than that," she said. "I was hoping to find out more about my past, but after yesterday… Now I'm not so sure." Her stomach twisted and she reached for her water. Leon shared a tense look with Riku.

"Ansem might be able to restore some of your missing memories," Riku began. "He's done it before, and he thinks that with Naminé's help he might be able to recover any memories that have been buried within your heart."

"Is that wise?" Axel asked. "What if we dig up more bad memories like yesterday?" Kairi chewed the inside of her cheek. It was a risk, of course, but now that she was here it felt somehow wrong to try and turn back. She still didn't know exactly what Xehanort had done to her, and her imagination was too eager to fill in the gaps. Better to know, she decided, than to live the rest of her life with half the story – always scared of when she might uncover another piece of the puzzle.

"I'd rather know," Kairi said meekly. "Even if the memories aren't the best, they're still mine." Axel watched her carefully before nodding, offering her a reassuring half-smile.

"Well unless Ansem wants to see you today, why don't I give you that tour I promised?" he suggested. She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Really, Axel? Ice cream right after breakfast?" she teased. He pulled a face.

"There's more to this town than just ice cream, y'know," he retorted, folding his arms with a huff. She smiled in to her tea.

"Really? I never would have guessed." He narrowed his eyes and she sweetened her smile.

After breakfast Riku, Leon, Yuffie and Cid excused themselves to make their way up to Ansem's laboratory. Riku said that he was keen to take a look at the recently-updated defence system, but Kairi didn't doubt that he would be speaking to Ansem about her memories. For a moment she almost considered joining them, but the thought of going near the lab again made her stomach churn and she swallowed her breakfast a second time as she bid Riku and the others goodbye.

You'll have to face it some time, y'know, Vanitas muttered. And soon.

I know, she said as she rinsed her dishes in the sink, and I will. Just… not today. She was grateful when he didn't push her further on it. She turned to her phone then, finding a picture from Naminé of her and Xion in a beautiful forest waiting for her. She wished she could recognise where they were, it looked so pretty. She sent a quick message to ask about the world they were in and to check in on Roxas. Naminé was quick to reply that they were in the forest outside the Kingdom of Corona, and that Roxas was just being his usual, grumpy self and for Kairi not to worry about him.

"Ready to go?" Axel asked. She slipped her phone in to her pocket and nodded. They bid goodbye to Aerith before heading out in to the sunshine where Axel promptly took the lead and started leading her towards the city.

"So where are you taking me?" she asked. Axel looped his fingers behind his head with a smile.

"It's a surprise," he answered. She pouted.

"You won't even give me a little clue?" she whined. The corner of his eye twitched and she smothered a smile.

"Not even a tiny one," he answered.

He led her through the town and out the other side without another word. Eventually he would take them off the cobblestone walkway and on to a faint dirt-path that wound through the woods outside the town. After a while Kairi noticed they were climbing; the ascent was slow but steady, and before long her legs had begun to ache.

"Axel…" she huffed. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He seemed unaffected by the climb, though when he turned to smile over his shoulder she noticed the sweat glistening on his brow. Eventually the ground began to level off underfoot. The trees began to thin, their branches no longer intertwined, and as they approached the edge of the tree line Axel stopped and glanced at her.

"Hey, Kairi, do me a favour? Close your eyes." She frowned.

"Why?" she asked. He shifted his weight somewhat nervously.

"Just… it'll be worth it, trust me." She watched him for a moment before nodding slowly.

"I trust you," she said. She closed her eyes and waited. After a moment one of Axel's hands found hers whilst the other rested lightly on her lower back.

"No peeking," he said as he slowly walked her forwards. She felt the ground harden underfoot and the warmth of the sunlight on her face as they finally emerged from the canopy of the trees. Somewhere behind them a songbird let out a melodic chirp as the wind rustled through the leaves. Eventually Axel stopped walking and his hands disappeared, though Kairi could still feel him standing nearby.

"You said you wanted to see where you came from," he said. "Well… take a look."

She opened her eyes and her breath caught in her throat. Axel had brought her to an outcropping of rock that jutted out from the hills overlooking the town. It sprawled below them, clusters of buildings joined by a tapestry of cobblestone streets. Fields of flowers encircled the town on all sides, sprinkling great washes of colour through the greenery. The castle was barely bigger than Kairi's thumb, and the square below was filled with a bustle of activity.

"What's happening over there?" she asked, pointing. Axel followed her gaze.

"It's market day," he said. "Once a week they set up stalls and tables to trade food and crafts. They set up in the morning and then they trade in to the evening. It's a great place for lunch." He walked forward to the edge of the rock and slowly lowered himself down until his legs were dangling over the edge. Kairi eyed it warily before carefully joining him, sitting down several steps away from the edge and scooting herself slowly forwards. Axel chuckled but didn't comment on it.

Scared of heights? Vanitas asked.

Scared of falling, she answered. He responded with a thoughtful hum but said nothing further.

"Isa and I used to come up her a lot when we were kids," he said. "There wasn't really much to do when we were growing up, and we ended up in trouble more often than not. This place became kind of like our sanctuary." Kairi smiled a little at the thought of the two of them running around causing mischief.

"I bet you were a real handful growing up," she teased. He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"It was all Isa's fault, really," he answered. "He was always egging me on, getting me to do stuff I shouldn't… Course, I did it right back to him too." He paused then and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Y'know, Kairi, when you invited Isa to join us… It really meant a lot." She turned away, casting her eye out over the town below.

"I know he's not the same person he was in the Organisation," she said, "and I really do trust him, as weird as that seems. It's just… it's unnerving to be around him sometimes." Axel chuckled.

"It's unnerving to be around him all the time," he replied, "although it's probably harder for you. With the kidnapping and everything that happened in the Graveyard and all… I never got a chance to tell you, but it meant a lot what you said to him on the islands before we went after Sora..." He trailed off and Kairi didn't miss the way he glanced at her, his eyes darting down to her chest for the briefest of moments. The scars were covered by her t-shirt, but that didn't stop her from shifting her weight uncomfortably as they began to itch. She sat on her hands.

"I meant it," she said. "I know how much he means to you, and it's not fair to ask you to choose between us. Things will be a lot simpler if we can put it all behind us." Axel nodded, though his expression was somber as he continued to watch her closely.

"Y'know… we've never really had a chance to catch up since… since then," he said. Kairi's throat tightened, knowing what was coming before he spoke. "How have you been?"

She fought the urge to scream and instead answered: "I'm okay."

"Kairi-"

"What else can I say?" she sighed. She didn't bother to hide the exhaustion on her voice. His mouth closed with an audible click and she bit back a groan as she watched a wave of mixed emotions wash over his face. "In some ways I'm better than I was when I came back, and in others…" She shook her head and sat up taller, setting her shoulders and clenching her fingers in to fists at her sides. "But I'm still here, and that's what's important. So for now I'm okay, and I'll keep being okay until we get Sora back." Axel stared at her with such pity then that her heart skipped a beat. She turned her eyes front, gazing back out over the town again. Somewhere a bell began to chime.

"And what if…" He hesitated. Kairi braced herself. "What if we never get him back?"

It was one thing to think it, but it was another thing entirely to hear someone else say it. Hearing the words out loud gave them a gravity that threatened to pull her under, and it took all of her power to keep herself afloat through a surge of raging emotions. She dug her fingernails in to the underside of her thighs and clenched her jaw long enough to bite back the wave of tears that threatened to fall before she finally turned back to Axel's gaze.

"Then I won't be okay anymore."

She couldn't bear to watch Axel's expression fall further. She focused on the square, watching the colourful dots move around the marketplace as they set up their booths and their stalls. After a moment she felt Axel scoot closer and he wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulders. She leant in to him, resting her head against his chest. The first tear fell then, and despite her best efforts it was followed by another. She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, digging her fingernails further in to her legs until she was sure she he would draw blood.

"Can you remember where you used to live?" Axel asked quietly. The question caught her off guard and she glanced up at him. There were tear tracks on his cheeks but his gaze was fixed firmly ahead. After a moment he shifted to point down towards the town. "Isa and I used to live down there, on Rose Avenue."

"That sounds nice," she said. She sat up and scrubbed her cheeks on the sleeve of her cardigan. Axel shrugged.

"Not really," he said. "It was a bit of a dive, not like up across town. That's probably where you grew up."

"What makes you say that?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Let's just say you don't get my sort from up town, and you don't get your sort from Rose Avenue." She frowned at him, confused, and he laughed as slowly rose to his feet. "C'mon, if we head back now we can make it to the market for lunch."

The walk back down the hill was certainly a lot more pleasant than the walk up. Axel kept conversation light as they walked, telling her about all the trouble he used to get in to as a kid. He told her about the turf war with the kids from Forrester's Place, and he taught her the secret to flower warfare (a dead flower on your doorstep was a sign of truce, whilst a dead flower on your windowsill was a challenge of war). He spoke frequently of Isa, pointing out places they used to hang out.

"That used to be a bakery," he said, pointing to a small corner shop café that was bustling with life. "Old man Rivers barred us after he caught us stealing pastries, but his daughter used to sneak some out the back door for us." Kairi didn't miss the faint blush that danced across his cheeks.

By the time they reached the marketplace it was bustling with activity. The stalls came in all shapes and size and colours, with tall hand-painted tents squeezed between draping canopies and open-top tables. The air was alive with smells and sounds, with street vendors grilling food between artisans and and grocers and craftsmen. A small arena in the centre of the market had been roped off and it was currently the stage for a lively band, filling the air with music and the delighted shrieks of dancing children. Kairi was hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia, and everything that seemed so new somehow felt so familiar.

Axel quickly declared that lunch was the first thing on their agenda, and he took hold of Kairi's hand before leading her expertly through the maze of stalls and shops. He bought a small bucket of chicken from one vendor and a portion of potato wedges that had been seared over a griddle, and then he snatched up two seats near the band. After they'd eaten he took her around the stalls, and together they 'ooh'd and 'aah'd over several of the more elaborate crafts. Axel bought her a wreath of flowers for her hair, and after fighting her for several minutes finally he had finally given in and allowed her to buy one for him (he had frowned the whole time it had taken Kairi to loop it over his spikes, but she caught him smiling when he thought she wasn't looking).

They spent several minutes at a jewellery stall filled with sparkling gems and chains. Kairi had found herself rubbing absently at her naked wrists; all of her bracelets had been lost at some point during the labyrinth. The thought caught her off guard and it was quickly followed by a sudden rush of memories that flooded her mind and made the world spin around her. She quickly excused herself to stand somewhere quieter and gather her bearings. It took a few minutes for Axel to find her, and when he did he dangled several bracelets in front of her face with a grin.

"Axel!" she gasped.

"I couldn't figure out if you just didn't like wearing them anymore or if something had happened to them," he said with a nervous half-smile. They were made from silk thread and twine, knotted intricately to make patterns and spirals in the band, and in the centre of each was a small gemstone. Axel handed them over one by one. "I figured this red one could be for Sora, and then this silver one could be for Riku. The blue one for Aqua, obviously, and the white one for Naminé. That's why you made your last ones, right? To remember everyone?"

"I… I didn't think you'd remember," she murmured. She'd mentioned once, in passing, how she used to make the thread bracelets with Selphie. Each bracelet had been made thinking of someone else. Several for Riku, more for Naminé, but the most for Sora. Hers had all been pink and black, and most had been made entirely of thread (aside from two which had been made with assorted beads and gemstones from an old bracelet making set she'd received for her birthday). These were much nicer; the gems sparkled in the light, and some of the threads looked as though they had been lined with gold and silver. Axel helped her put them on, though when he was done she couldn't help but frown.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He seemed suddenly nervous again and it almost made her chuckle. "You don't like them?" She ran her fingers over all of them before looking up at him.

"I don't have a bracelet for you," she said. His cheeks flushed.

"Well, I… uh… I..." he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. Kairi pursed her lips and grabbed his wrist to drag him back to the stall. The weight of the other bracelets was comforting against her wrist, and she spent several long minutes pondering over which of the bracelets she wanted to represent him. Eventually she settled one an orange one; the knots in the strap twisted back and forth in a zig zag, and the gem in the middle was flecked with fiery sparkles of gold. The vendor offered them a deal then, allowing her to take one of every other colour too for half their usual price. She quickly assigned a colour to each of them – green for Ven, yellow for Roxas, brown for Terra, and purple for Xion.

"Not black?" Axel asked as he helped fasten them on to her other wrist. Kairi smiled and shook her head. The black was for someone else, she decided, and she slipped it in to her pocket. Finally she took the pink bracelet and slipped it around Axel's wrist.

"Now you have one too," she said with a smile. He grinned in reply.

They circled the market a few more times (Kairi picked up a handful of paper flowers for Naminé and Xion) before they wandered away. It was mid-afternoon by then, and Kairi found herself taking the lead with Axel following beside her. Her feet led her through the royal gardens and across the small stream that ran down from the courtyard. The bridge was old and rickety and squeaked as they darted across it. They set out along the cobblestone path that wound through the tall grass, and before Kairi knew it she was staring at the cottage. It was just like she'd pictured it, right down to the tiled roof and the weather worn picket fence that ran around a small garden. Even the flowers were familiar – bursts of pinks and yellows and oranges, interspersed here and there with tiny star-shaped flowers bearing five purple leaves spaced around a yellow centre.

"Kairi?" Axel asked softly. "Do you know this place?"

"I think I do," she said. Axel beamed.

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She reached for his wrist and held him back.

"No, Axel. Don't," she whispered. He frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know if it's safe," she said.

"It's just a cottage," he said. "What's the worst that could happen?" She chewed the inside of her cheek and stared ahead, her eyes tracing the faded blue paint on the heavy wooden door. He folded his arms and shifted his weight, fixing her with a piercing stare. "What do you feel?"

"It feels safe, but I don't know if I can trust what I feel anymore," she answered at last. "Ansem's laboratory felt dangerous, but that's all changed now. What if this place is different too?" Understanding washed over his face and he shook his head slightly.

"This is just a cottage," he answered. "The worst that could happen is whoever used to live here might have moved away." He pulled himself from her grip and let himself through the gate.

"Axel!" she squeaked. "What are you doing?"

"If they're a friend, then they'll be happy to see you," he said.

"And if they're not?"

"Then we pretend we're lost and ask for directions."

There is one town and you're right next to it, Vanitas snapped. Kairi opened her mouth to object further, but before she could stop him Axel had knocked on the door several times. She waited with baited breath. Her heart skipped a beat as Axel knocked again.

"Hello?" he called. "Anybody home?"

"Axel, we should go," she said. "Whoever it was probably doesn't live here anymore-"

"Excuse me, dears, can I help you?"

Kairi stiffened at the sound of the voice from behind. Slowly she turned to find an old lady standing several paces away. She wore a powder blue dress with a navy shawl wrapped around her shoulders, and her papery hands were clutched around the handles of her canvas bags. Thick grey hair was tied neatly in to a bun, and keen eyes glanced first to Axel and then to Kairi.

Kairi's stomach backflipped and her heart leapt to her chest, but her reaction was nothing compared to the woman's. The shopping bags fell to the floor and her hands flew to her mouth.

"It can't be," she gasped. "Is that my little Kairi?"

So here's a fun fact for you: This is the chapter that made me change a significant amount of the story outline.

I have always wanted to write a Princess Kairi story. When it came to outlining this fic, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to sprinkle a bit of royalty in the mix. I wrote 6,000+ words of this chapter and had it almost finished in one sitting before getting stuck. All of a sudden Kairi's royalty was asking more questions than it was answering, and suddenly I found myself spiralling down a rabbit hole that veered completely away from the main plot of this story (because is it really a Kingdom Hearts fic if it doesn't have one too many side-plots which later become relevant?).

So it got axed. I'm sad to see it go, I'm not going to lie, but it was a single thread in a larger tapestry and whilst it was very pretty, it was also very distracting.

Question for you all: I know that it's basically confirmed in canon that Kairi is not, in fact, a princess by way of royal lineage – but would you guys be interested in some kind of Princess Kairi fic at some point in the future? Let me know in a review or a DM (because I'm barely halfway through this story and I'm already thinking about another project!)

See you next time.