AUTHOR'S NOTES:

We're hitting the big 4-0! This chapter is a little bit shorter than some of the more recent updates, so I'll try and get the next chapter out on the double to make up for it.

Huge thank you to everyone who has followed and favourited this chapter! I tried going through to send everyone thank you messages because your support means so much to me, but Fanfiction put me on a timeout for suspected spam. To everyone who reviewed, please check your DMs for my reply!

I hope you enjoy today's update.

CHAPTER FORTY | REMATCH

Naminé had been less than pleased to learn that Kairi had seen a perfect snow-replica of Sora and hadn't thought to take a picture, though her disappointment had quickly faded when Kairi had revealed Light's Promise. Naminé had spent several minutes in awe of the new form, running her fingers reverently over the flowers and the cresting wave and the gleaming star.

Kairi could only keep her attention on Light's Promise for so long, and as Destiny Islands drew closer it suddenly became all that Naminé could talk about. She mentioned Selphie, and how she had been so welcoming to Naminé and Xion when they had introduced themselves as friends of Kairi's. Selphie would often bombard them with questions about Kairi whenever they visited the islands ("I can't wait to see her face when she sees you again!" Naminé had sighed. "She'll be so happy!").

Her parents were mentioned a couple of times, too, especially her mother. Naminé told her about the time she had spent an afternoon at Kairi's house, eating paopu cookies and talking about Kairi. That made Kairi's heart ache, but it didn't change her decision.

"I'm not going back to the main island," she said as Donald brought the ship in to orbit. Naminé fixed her with a pointed look.

"You don't have to be afraid-"

"I'm not," she answered. "It's just… I don't want to get distracted, not when we're so close to Sora. Everyone is here, and everyone is safe, and I'll see them very soon."

"And what if…" The question hung unspoken between them. Kairi reached in to her pocket and withdrew a thick envelope which she pressed in to Naminé's hands.

"Will you give this to my parents?" she asked. The letter was several pages long; in it, Kairi had expressed how sorry she was that she hadn't been to see them yet, telling them what little she could of why she'd stayed away, and she'd filled the letter full of as much love as she could muster, sealed with a promise to see them soon. A promise she had every intention of keeping.

They disembarked on Play Island, and as Donald and Goofy went to the dock to commandeer one of the rowboats Naminé took Kairi's hands and squeezed.

"Are you sure you won't come with us?" Kairi smiled and squeezed back.

"I'm sure," she said. Naminé opened her mouth and looked as though she might try to press the matter again, but there came a flash of light from several paces away. Riku appeared, Gummi gem in hand, and Naminé's objection fizzled out in to a smile.

"How did we beat you?" Kairi asked.

"When Naminé told us that Arendelle was taking a little longer than expected, I took a detour," he answered. His eyes flicked down to their hands, still clasped together, and he turned to Naminé with a smile. "Still trying?"

"And failing," she sighed, squeezing Kairi's hands one last time before letting them go. She fixed Riku with a stern look and he let out an awkward half-laugh.

"It's probably for the best," he answered. Kairi's brow rose in shock and he shrugged a little. "I was hoping to speak with you about something." Naminé glanced between the two of them with an unreadable expression and Kairi offered her a reassuring smile.

"We'll be right here if there's trouble," she said. Not that she expected there would be; since Luxu had talked with Roxas and Xion they hadn't come across a single heartless. It seemed that he really was content to see them finish what they'd set out to do. Naminé frowned.

"That's not…" She trailed off with a sigh and her frown melted into a tired smile. "We won't be long." She bid them both a small goodbye before setting out to the docks, making it all the way in to the boat before she glanced back over her shoulder again. Kairi gave her a small wave which she didn't return as Goofy began rowing them out towards the main island.

"I do feel a little guilty," Kairi murmured. Riku shifted his weight.

"You shouldn't," he said. She glanced up at him, but his eyes remained fixed on the boat. "I… I haven't been back to see my family yet." Kairi frowned.

"But… Naminé said you've been back a few times," she said. "And this is where you found me, right?" Riku nodded.

"I've been back to the islands," he said, "but never when I thought there was a chance anyone could see me. It was always early in the morning or late at night. I've looked in on everyone to make sure they're all right, but I still haven't talked to anyone. I just… It didn't feel right."

"I had no idea…"

"She told me not to say anything," he said. "I have a feeling that getting you to go back would have been a personal victory for her."

"So why haven't you gone back?" Riku was silent for a long moment, his eyes still trained on the horizon even though the boat was no longer discernible. Finally he shifted his weight and put his hands in his pockets.

"When Sora left… I knew there was no keeping him from you, and I was convinced that I could follow him. And when I couldn't…" He sighed and dropped his head. "I couldn't bear the thought of going home and facing his parents, or yours. I kept finding excuses to stay away until Mickey finally cornered me about it. He offered to talk to all of them so they weren't left entirely in the dark." Kairi reached in to his pocket and pulled out his hand, linking their fingers together as she stared out over the water.

"It feels like the longer we stay away, the harder it will be to go back."

"Yeah." He lifted his head and she squeezed his hand. He squeezed back. "It'll all be over soon, one way or another." She nudged him with her elbow.

"And we'll be together," she said firmly. "You, me, and Sora. We'll all come home together." Or not at all. She could tell from the grimace that played over Riku's face that he was thinking it too, but he didn't say it either, and Kairi was grateful. She sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" To her dismay his expression darkened a little, and he took a moment to glance over at the small outcropping of rock with the crooked paopu tree.

"Let's go sit down," he said. "I think we'll be waiting a while for Naminé and the others to come back." Kairi's insides twisted, but she didn't object as Riku untangled their fingers and began walking towards the path. They crossed the bridge in silence and he offered Kairi an unneeded but welcomed boost up on to the trunk before settling in beside her.

"I went to see Maleficent," he said quietly. "I thought we might be able to get some more information out of her about Luxu and the others…" He trailed off, his gaze hardening.

"Did you?" she asked. His grip on the tree tightened until his fingers were white and shaking.

"She's dead."

The ocean fell silent. The wind stopped whispering through the trees. The words hung between them and Kairi's breath caught in her throat. For several long moments she simply stared at Riku with a deep frown and she tried to understand. Eventually he turned towards her, his eyes pinched with concern and his lips pressed together, and she took a deep breath.

"Dead?" Riku seemed to relax a little and he turned his gaze back out towards the ocean again.

"The Good Fairies confirmed it. They said they heard a terrible scream and felt a swell of magic, and then… Her castle is in ruins and her thorns are gone. There's no trace of her."

Kairi shivered. It had been harrowing enough to see Maleficent reduced to a shadow of her former self, but to think her totally gone…

You may not have killed me now, but you have doomed me to death nonetheless.

Had she known that Luxu would come for her? Perhaps that was why she had been so desperate for Kairi to be the one to end it; to leave on her own terms, as it were. Kairi felt a strange sense of guilt pooling in her stomach, tempered by cold realisation. She didn't owe Maleficent anything, not even death. Still…

"You okay?" Riku asked. Kairi swallowed thickly and nodded.

"Yeah," she murmured. "It just… It seems so strange. I've always known she was out there somewhere. It's weird to think that she's just… gone."

"I know." Riku's voice was quiet and hollow, and there was something in his eyes that Kairi couldn't make out, but she could feel it nonetheless. Perhaps there wasn't a word for it.

"Are you okay?" Kairi asked. Riku grimaced, turning away. He was silent for a moment, his jaw clenched tightly.

"She was… She set me on the road to darkness," he said at last. "I am who I am because of her, and yet she was such a small part of my journey. I'm not sad that she's gone, but I'm not happy… I don't know what I am." Kairi nodded.

"She was… awful," she agreed, "but she didn't deserve that."

"I suppose that's what you get when Luxu doesn't need you anymore." Kairi shuddered, her thoughts wandering to Invi and her questions, and Maleficent's cryptic suggestions that all was not as harmonious as it seemed with the Foretellers.

"Do you… Do you think that's what happened to Ava?" Kairi asked. "We still haven't found any trace of her." Riku's expression grew grim.

"Could be," he muttered.

They lapsed in to silence. Kairi felt suddenly cold despite the midday heat, and she found herself rubbing at her arms. She glanced at Riku, finding him lost in thought; his eyes were dark and unfocused, staring at something unseen. She sat up taller and nudged him with her elbow.

"I have something to show you." It seemed to take him a moment to pull himself out of his thoughts, and Kairi waited until she had his full attention before she lifted her hand. Light's Promise appeared at her call. The shadows clinging to Riku's eyes disappeared in an instant and he leant forwards, staring at it with wonder.

"What happened?" Kairi smiled and passed the keyblade to him; he took it carefully, as though it were made of delicate glass. He studied it closely as Kairi told him everything that had happened in Arendelle, and as she brought the story to a close she noticed him watching her and smiling.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he answered. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes and he chuckled. "Just… thinking about how far you've come, that's all." He passed her keyblade back to her and she accepted it with a smile.

"How far we've both come," she countered firmly. Riku averted his gaze, an uncomfortable flush rising in his cheeks, and Kairi couldn't resist the opportunity. She leapt down from the tree trunk, keyblade in hand, and grinned. "Well, Master Riku, I think I'm overdue a lesson or two." His head shot up, eyes wide, and she bit her tongue to keep from laughing as he began spluttering.

"K-Kairi, I… I – uh-"

"You're right, we're probably going to be waiting a while for Naminé and the others," she said. "Might as well make the most of it, unless you're scared that I'll beat you. Again." His eyes narrowed and a small smile pulled at his lips.

"You didn't beat me," he said. "You caught me off guard."

"And won." He pursed his lips and huffed a dry laugh, working his jaw thoughtfully before sliding down from the tree. Braveheart appeared in a flash and Kairi dropped low with a grin. "Don't hold back." The corner of Riku's smile twitched.

"I won't if you won't." Kairi couldn't help the smile that split across her lips at that.

They spent several seconds circling each other, each waiting for the other to strike first. Kairi gave in first; she darted forwards, striking out with an uppercut followed by a fast diagonal slash. Riku dodged the first and blocked the second, retaliating with a slash of his own and a thrust. The tip of his keyblade glowed purple, and Kairi felt the darkness brush her arm as she twisted out of the way. She landed a small hit on his back as they passed each other, but it did little more than stagger him for the briefest moment; too quick for her to take advantage. Riku quickly recovered and he span towards her, surrounded by two rays of light – one deep purple and one golden-white. Kairi had never felt light and dark exist together in such harmony, and the feeling caught her off-guard just long enough for Riku's attack to strike her chest and send her tumbling backwards. She stumbled, tripping over her feet and rolling through the dirt before coming to a stop on her knees. Riku stood several paces away, watching her closely, and she grinned.

"That all you got?" Riku grinned and charged, surging towards her in a flash of dark light. She threw up a shield, catching off-guard, and as he stumbled backwards she surged towards him, spinning through the air and slashing her keyblade across his chest. He staggered with a grunt and she finished it attack with an upward slice that sent him high in to the air. She thanked Vanitas for that one.

Riku didn't stay stunned for long. He recovered mid-air and hung there long enough to cast firaga. A burning sphere of purple fire quickly formed at the tip of his keyblade, spewing several smaller projectiles that barrelled towards Kairi. She danced backwards, able to dodge all but one which hit her square in the chest and sent her to her knees. This time Riku didn't wait for her to recover; he appeared over her in a flash of purple light, and she rolled out of the way as his keyblade slammed in to the dirt. Kairi rolled to her feet and thrust her keyblade in to the air.

"Light!" Spheres of light swirled overhead before diving towards Riku. Several missed, but one managed to land between his shoulder blades and wind him, if only for a moment. His head snapped up, and Kairi felt her heart skip an excited beat.

"Thundaza!" Riku cried. The sky overhead darkened in an instant and thick bolts of lightning lanced towards the ground, kicking up plumes of sand. One struck the dirt near Kairi's feet and she leapt back, dropping low in to a crouch and ducking her head as though hit. She spied Riku's feet coming closer, and as soon as he was in range she surged forwards. She twisted, throwing her hand high in the air. Light's Promise circled her twice surrounded by strands of light that lanced out, knocking Riku off balance. She leapt high in to the air, grabbing the keyblade with both hands to bring it down heavily against Riku's purple shield. The force of the impact sent her reeling backwards, breathless, and gave Riku the perfect opportunity to strike with two diagonal slashes punctuated by a sharp thrust of light which sent her spinning through the air. She tucked her arms in and landed on her shoulder, rolling back to her feet and recalling her keyblade which had gone spiralling towards the ocean.

Riku would eventually win when Kairi threw her keyblade towards Riku and warped towards it, only to be caught off-guard by Riku who was ready and waiting. His counter attack sent her plummeting in to the dirt where she lay, breathless, and dismissed her keyblade. Riku dropped down beside her, offering a hand to help her back to her feet.

"Looks like I win," he said. Kairi took the hand and let him pull her up before answering.

"Now we're tied one-to-one." He laughed and banished his keyblade.

"You've spent too much time around Sora." It seemed to come out without thinking, and as he realised what he'd said he quickly sobered. He cleared his throat, wiping the sweat from his brow, and his stomach gurgled. He grimaced. "I wish I'd brought something to eat."

"Yeah," Kairi breathed, feeling her own stomach beginning to rumble. Her eyes travelled to the crooked tree and an idea took root in her mind. She skirted around Riku and clambered up the sloping trunk, straining past several green-tinted fruits to pluck the golden-yellow paopu that was dangling near the leaves. She slid carefully back down the trunk, exhausted limbs quivering as she fought to keep her balance, and she dropped heavily back down next to Riku whose eyes darted almost nervously to the fruit in her hands. She broke it in half, offering a piece to Riku whose cheeks flushed.

"Kairi, I-"

"You're as much a part of my destiny as Sora is," she said. "I don't want to be separated from you again, Riku." She offered it to him again and he took it, though he still seemed somewhat tentative. Kairi hopped back on to the tree and slowly nibbled on a golden peak.

"Paopu fruits aren't just for couples, y'know," she said, turning her eyes out towards the water and trying her best to keep her voice nonchalant. "If we had the time, I'd pick a whole bunch and mix them all in to a huge batch of cookies so that we could all share them together. Then none of us would ever be separated again." Out of the corner of her eye she saw him finally give in; he leant heavily against the tree's thick base and he took a bite. Kairi still wasn't sure whether she truly believed the legend of the paopu fruit to be anything more than an old wives' tale, but her heart swelled nonetheless at the sight and she smiled as she took her next bite. "When all this is over, we'll have to make sure that you and Sora share one too."

She tried not to laugh as Riku choked and spluttered, his ears turning a deep crimson that spilled across the back of his neck. He was saved from answering by the chirping of his phone. He pounded his chest, clearing his throat as he pulled the phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen.

"It's Mickey," he murmured, swallowing thickly. He took another bite as his eyes skimmed the message. "He's asking how much longer we think we'll be." Kairi's laughter quickly faded and she sat up a little taller.

"Is everything all right?" she asked. Riku nodded.

"I think he's just eager to get started on planning our next move," he replied. "He doesn't like to sit and wait when he feels like there's something he could be doing." Kairi's lips twitched.

"I know that feeling." Riku glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and laughed a little.

"Yeah, I guess you do."

They ate the rest of their fruit in silence. The sun was making its way towards the horizon now, and the sky was slowly starting to shift from blue to pink. Riku's gaze was set across the water, but his mind seemed a million miles away. Every now and then he would lift his phone, start to tap out a message, and then frown and lower it again. Kairi put the last piece of fruit in to her mouth.

"You should go," she said at last. Riku turned to her with a confused frown and she smiled. "If everyone's already at Disney Castle, it makes no sense to keep waiting. We should make the most of the time we have." Several emotions flashed across Riku's face, too quick to tell them apart, before he spoke again.

"You should be there," he said with a determined frown.

"There's nothing I know that you don't," she countered. "We won't be far behind. You can get started on a plan with the others, and then fill us in when we get to you." Riku was watching her carefully, his eyes burning holes in to hers.

"Are you sure?" he asked at last. Kairi smiled and nodded firmly.

"I trust you," she said. "Besides, if you even think of leaving without me, I'll just follow you. You can't leave me behind anymore." She reached out and prodded his shoulder, drawing a quiet laugh from him as he tried not to lose his balance.

"Well, then," he murmured, standing tall and straightening his shirt. "I guess I'll see you there."

"I'll see you there."

He took a moment longer than he needed to withdraw the Gummi gem from his pocket, and he locked eyes with her – giving her one last chance to object – before finally disappearing. Kairi turned her gaze back towards the sunset; the sky had erupted with reds and oranges that set the clouds on fire, and the first evening stars were beginning to glimmer. Kairi's phone buzzed with a message from Naminé.

We're on our way back. See you soon.

Kairi smiled and slipped off the trunk, working the aches from her spine and stifling a yawn as the evening breeze danced across her shoulders.

Meet me in the Secret Place.

Her feet followed the familiar path towards the waterfall before veering off to the side where the rocks and tumbling roots gave way to a small opening. It was much harder to get inside now than when she'd last been, but with a little bit of crawling she managed it.

It was exactly as she remembered, right down to the damp that filled her nostrils and caught in her throat. She ran her fingers over the wall, savouring the feeling of lichen catching under her nails as she traced their childhood drawings. A great castle not unlike the castle in Radiant Garden surrounded by clouds and flowers. A looming shadow, drawn from Kairi's nightmares, with a stick-man Sora equipped with sword and shield to fight it. Faces, bats, dragons and stars, all scratched in to the stone. Kairi remembered them all. Most had been drawn by her and Sora, but when they had filled up the lower wall they had dragged Riku in too, and Sora had sat on his shoulders in order to draw higher.

At last Kairi came to her favourite drawing. She and Sora had drawn each other when they were children hiding from the blistering heat of the midday sun. Sora had returned sometime during his first adventure and had added to the drawing, showing himself offering a paopu fruit to Kairi. She had found the drawing some time later, after Sora had restored their world and had disappeared, and she had returned the gesture – scratching another hand and another star on to the wall.

Had she been the last one in here? She ran her hand over the drawing and smiled, a small flush rising in her cheeks. No; Sora had been in here since then. He had told her about finding it, and how he had laughed and cried all at once at seeing the drawing complete. Kairi slid to her knees, staring up at the drawing. It felt like a lifetime since she and Sora had sat on the crooked tree, exchanging fruits on the eve of battle. It had seemed so important then, as though that single act would be enough to secure their happily ever after.

Maybe it still would, Kairi thought with a smile. Perhaps she was just being impatient.

There came a rustling from the entrance, and Kairi turned in time to see Naminé crawling through the opening. She straightened and dusted the dirt from her knees before offering Kairi a smile.

"All done," she said. Kairi nodded and turned back towards the drawing, running her fingers over it again.

"Naminé, do you think… If you're tired, you can say no, but…" She couldn't get the words out. Her eyes were fixed on Sora's haphazard silhouette. Naminé came closer and knelt beside her, linking their fingers together and squeezing.

"I'm ready if you are," she said softly. Kairi glanced towards the mouth of the cave.

"What about Donald and Goofy?"

"I had a feeling this might be why you asked me to meet you here," she said. "They're waiting outside, and they'll give us as much time as we need." Kairi turned to Naminé with a fond smile.

"How do know me better than I know myself?" she asked. Naminé merely grinned and reached out to take her other hand.

"It's a gift," she laughed. She squeezed Kairi's hands and fixed her with a warm, piercing stare. "Are you ready?" Kairi took a deep breath and closed her eyes, squeezing Naminé's hands tightly.

"Ready."

A slightly shorter chapter today because I had to break the sequence somewhere. The next chapter has already been drafted, I just need to sit down and edit and then it'll be ready to go. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long because I am very excited to share it with you!

Stay safe, stay well, and I'll see you in the next chapter.