AUTHOR'S NOTES:

I mean, is it really Kingdom Hearts if there isn't some kind of secret extra content?

CHAPTER FIFTY | SECRET MOVIE

The doorman's eyes bulged when he saw them, and Kairi didn't blame him. They were a motley mess of bruises, scrapes and dirt, with rumpled clothing and wild hair that hobbled slowly across the square, the final battle still clinging to their skin and their clothes. Aqua had attempted to make them somewhat more presentable by using a barrage of aero spells to strip away the worst of the dust and debris, but the result had left their skin red and raw beneath a splotchy layer of sweat and grime that could not be easily blown away. The doorman had asked them (somewhat nervously) if they would please wait outside before disappearing through the doors. The patrons who were dining outdoors were staring – some more openly than others – but when Sora slipped his hand in to Kairi's she found that she no longer cared.

Raised voices came from within, and as the excitable clamour reached a peak the gilded doors flew open. Mr McDuck stood in the doorway, clutching his top hat to his chest as he gawked up at Sora.

"As I live and breathe," he sighed. His face split in to a grin and he threw his arms wide. "Welcome back, lad! It looks like you've got quite the story to tell! Come in, come in, we'll find you a seat!"

"Um, sir?" the doorman squeaked. "We're… uh… this is quite a large party, and we're already quite full-"

"Nonsense, lad! We can always make room." He glanced back over his shoulder with a grin and a wink. "You might have to get a wee bit cozy wi' each other, but tha' shouldnae be a problem. The doorman remained unconvinced but silent, and as he stepped aside to let them pass Kairi couldn't help but think that it wasn't the size of the party that was the problem, but rather the state of them. They turned several heads as Scrooge led them through the restaurant towards a familiar velvet-lined booth. It took a few minutes of shuffling (and some hastily-acquired chairs), but true to Scrooge's word he managed to fit them all around the large table. Kairi found herself squeezed between Sora and Naminé, and she held tightly to both of them as Scrooge fixed Sora with a smile.

"Now you sit tight, and I'll be back in a jiffy." He gave Sora a sharp wink before disappearing in to the kitchen. The door had barely swung closed before it exploded open again, although Kairi didn't see who had emerged until he scrambled up on to the table to stand before Sora who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Little Chef!" Sora exclaimed.

Sora had mentioned Little Chef once or twice, but Kairi had assumed that calling him a "rat" had been some sort of affectionate nickname. She certainly hadn't expected him to be an actual rat, and it was a struggle to keep from openly gawking at him as he scurried across to Sora. He was small and slender, with bluish-grey fur, a large pink nose, and two round pink ears. He stared up at Sora with a wide smile, showing two large buck teeth, and when Sora held out a finger Little Chef leapt up to slap his tiny hand against it. Sora laughed and leaned in towards him.

"The restaurant looks great! I can't wait to see all your new recipes – which reminds me…" He reached in to his pockets and his smile quickly turned into a grimace. Little Chef tilted his head and blinked his large eyes, and Sora let out a weak chuckle as he withdrew a battered clove of garlic and several wilted spring onions. Little Chef crinkled his nose and Sora gave him an apologetic shrug. "Sorry – it's been… well, it's a long story. I promise I'll get you some new ingredients to make up for it! I could bring you a paopu fruit from my home!" Little Chef clasped his hands together and nodded eagerly before taking the ingredients from Sora and hurrying back into the kitchen.

"You're not going to hand over your pocket fish?" Kairi asked.

"Luxu took it," Sora answered. "Honestly, it was a relief not to carry it around anymore. If I never eat fish again, it'll be too soon."

"You do remember home, right?" Riku retorted from Sora's other side. "Y'know, the islands… the ocean… the fish." Sora chuckled and leaned back in his chair, linking his fingers behind his head.

"Trust me," he said with a fond smile. "I remember."

"Are you excited to finally go home?" Ven asked from across the table from his seat between Terra and Vanitas (the latter of whom was trying and failing not to stare at Chirithy who had settled in Ven's lap). Sora's smile shifted to a grin, but his answer was cut off by a commotion at the front of the restaurant. All eyes turned towards the doors as they swung violently open, and Sora shot to his feet, his mouth hanging open in a stunned smile.

"Hayner! Pence! Olette!" The trio stopped short some tables away, their faces lighting up with bright smiles.

"You're back!" Olette squealed. She skirted the booth to pull Sora away from the table and give him a tight hug. Pence doubled over, panting heavily against his knees while Hayner reached out to give Sora's shoulder an affectionate punch.

"You're sticking around for good this time, right?" Hayner asked. Sora grinned and nodded.

"Yeah."

The commotion they caused trying to acquire three further chairs had the maître d' pulling out his hair as he tried not to upset too many nearby patrons. Kairi spied the doorman ducking his head inside to see what all the fuss was about, and as he cast he eyes over their booth he paled and quickly disappeared outside again.

By the time Hayner, Pence and Olette were seated at the table, several waiters had arrived with enough old to serve a small army. It seemed that Little Chef had treated them to one of everything on the menu, and as Sora's stomach gurgled loudly Kairi felt her own give a long, disgruntled murmur. She didn't know how long they'd been in the Graveyard, but it felt like days since she'd nibbled on a few tentative slices of toast and bacon, and she quickly loaded up her plate.

For several minutes the only sound was the clinking of cutlery and the gentle lull of music and low chatter that floated through the restaurant. Hayner, Pence and Olette nibbled tentatively at their smaller plates, glancing at Sora and to each other with almost palpable excitement. Hayner would eventually break the silence by asking rather bluntly where Sora had been, and the conversation slowly picked up from there. The others let Sora ramble for several minutes – trying to explain what little he could within the constraints of 'protecting the world order' before Xion finally told him that Hayner, Pence and Olette were more than aware of other worlds – after which the conversation flowed more easily. Kairi felt herself drifting in and out of the conversation; the fuller her stomach felt, the heavier her eyelids grew, and several times she felt Naminé squeezing her hand to bring her back to reality. She caught several people glancing at her warily – Axel, Vanitas, Riku, Aqua especially – and she flashed each of them a tired smile when she caught their eye.

Sora fielded a barrage of questions throughout the main course, and Kairi couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride at his boundless energy. He made it all sound so wonderful as he told them about the night they spent stargazing and the time he accidentally head butted the wall after tripping over his own feet in the middle of a fight. More than once, Kairi found herself drifting back in to the conversation to find Sora boasting about her, and the way the others looked at her made her cheeks burn.

There was something so very Sora in the way that he never spoke about the long nights or the hunger or the despair they'd both fought so hard to keep at bay. He didn't mention the shard of Kairi's heart, nor the way Luxu had used it against them. She wondered if he might have been able to make the others believe the picture he had painted – that the time they had spent trapped in the labyrinth had been little more than an inconvenience at best – but while the light might have restored him in almost every way, Kairi knew the others would not forget how she had been when she had first returned to them. And she knew, from the way they watched Sora, that they were not entirely convinced by Sora's bright smiles or his tall tales. There was a sort of sadness that seeped in to their smiles when Sora wasn't looking, which Kairi found strangely comforting.

As the serving platters began to bare sweets and desserts the conversation finally shifted, and now Sora was asking the questions. Kairi picked absently at a large serving of chocolate mousse, listening as the others filled Sora in on the highlights of the years he'd missed. Sora served himself a large slice of fruit tart (as if he hadn't just devoured seven plates of food) and drank in their stories eagerly, and whenever Kairi felt herself drifting his thumb would rub the back of her hand beneath the table.

At last they were forced to admit defeat, and despite the platters of food still spread between them nobody was eating. Kairi felt herself falling asleep in her chair, and it took all of her self control not to lay her head on Sora's shoulders and fall asleep (across the table, Ven had been less successful – his head was tilted all the way back, his jaw hanging open, and his arms were wrapped tightly around Chirithy who had twisted in Ven's grip to talk to Vanitas). Little Chef had the waiters clear the remaining food and it up, and as they made their way to the door they found Scrooge waiting for them. He waved away their munny, though he fixed Sora with a stern look.

"Now don't you go expecting this kind of treatment every time you swing by," Scrooge said sternly. "I cannea afford to feed the five hundred every time you're in town. Consider this a thank you for all the help you gave Little Chef – a return on your investment, if you will." Sora grinned.

"And what if I invest more in the future?" Scrooge's eyes gleamed.

"Well then I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement."

They paused for several minutes outside the restaurant to bid goodbye to Hayner, Pence and Olette, who seemed to have fond farewells for everyone. They each spent several minutes talking to Sora, which was to be expected, before they turned to Kairi.

"Promise me you'll look after yourself," said Olette as she took both of Kairi's hands in hers. "If you ever need a girly getaway, you know where to find me." Kairi had smiled and thanked her with a tight hug.

Eventually they made their way back through the sewers and out in to the trees by the Old Mansion. The walk seemed to lift the sleepy haze that had fallen over them, and by the time they reached the clearing there it had been replaced by a sort of nervous excitement. Naminé was holding Kairi's hand tightly, offering her several reassuring squeezes, and Kairi smiled in return.

"So," said Roxas as they came to a stop, "to Destiny Islands?" Kairi smiled and nodded, but to her surprise Sora hesitated.

"Actually, Roxas…" he began. Roxas' eager smile fell a little and Sora grimaced. "I was kinda thinking that me and Riku and Kairi… I think this is something we have to do on our own." Roxas' shoulders slumped.

"Oh…"

"We understand," Xion said quickly. She stepped up to Roxas and knitted their fingers together, though her eyes never left Sora's. "We can't keep you forever."

"And it's not like this is goodbye," Ven added. "We'll be able to see you again once you've settled in at home." Sora's spirits lifted and he nodded firmly.

"Right! It'll just be for a few days, and then we can hang out. Together."

"Yeah," Roxas murmured through a strained smile. "Just a few days." Axel threw an arm around his shoulders with a grin.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna spend 'em sleeping," he said, adding a stretch and a yawn for good measure. "I'm probably not even gonna miss ya." His eye caught Kairi's and he winked.

"Say, Kairi," Mickey began. Kairi started at the sound of her name and she tried her best to smother it with a smile. "Why don't you keep a hold of the Sirius for now?"

"If you're sure you don't mind," she said. Mickey beamed at her.

"Well of course not! I know you don't need it, but Sora and Riku might wanna use it."

"Thank you-"

"Wait," Sora said with a confused frown. "Why doesn't Kairi need a ship? Can you warp long distances now?" Riku stepped forwards and clapped a hand on Sora's shoulder with a laugh.

"Just you wait," he said. He glanced around Sora to smile at Kairi. "I'm sure Kairi will show you soon enough." Sora glanced between them, his mouth hanging open.

"You're not gonna tell me?" he asked, whipping his head back and forth. Kairi did her best not to laugh, but when she caught Riku's eye she had to bite her lip to stifle a giggle.

"We haven't always travelled by Gummi ship," Aqua said with a small smile. She fished a gem from her pocket and handed it back to Mickey before making her way over to Sora. Riku stepped back and Kairi followed suit, leaning heavily against Naminé as Aqua stopped several paces away. "I never got to thank you, Sora. You saved Ven's life, you pulled me back from the darkness, and you helped us free Terra."

"You saved us all," Terra added, taking a place beside Aqua, "you defeated Xehanort, and you've shown us all the true nature of your heart." He rested a hand over his chest and dipped his head with a proud smile. Aqua nodded.

"It would be my honour," she continued, "both as a Master and as the Steward of the Land of Departure, to bestow upon you the title of Keyblade Master." Sora's eyes bulged as his jaw dropped, and he stood frozen for several seconds before chuckling awkwardly and rubbing at the back of his neck.

"I… I don't know what do say," he finally stammered. Ven grinned and bounced to Terra's side.

"Say you'll accept!" he said. Sora hesitated at that, and his smile fell a little. Axel cleared his throat.

"Of course, it'll take a couple of weeks to get everything ready for the ceremony, right guys?" he asked pointedly. Understanding dawned on Aqua's face and she nodded.

"Yes," she added hastily. "A couple of weeks, at least. There's nothing we can really do right at this moment." Ven turned to her with a confused frown, but Terra silenced him with a small shake of his head.

"Speaking of ceremonies," Isa drawled, glancing to Axel, "when can we expect to have yours?" Axel made a strained sort of choking sound as Sora's face lit up.

"You're a Master too, Axel?" he asked. Axel's cheeks turned crimson and he shrugged slightly.

"Well I… It's complicated-"

"Yes, he is," Kairi said firmly. She caught Axel's eye and she held his gaze, lifting her chin and smiling. "He became a Master the day he saved my life." The blush quickly spread to his ears and Axel was forced to duck his head (but not before shooting Kairi a playful glare and a muttered: "Traitor.")

"Looks like I really do have a lot of catching up to do," Sora laughed. "It seems like everyone's a Master now!"

"Hey Riku," Donald began with a devious snigger, "remember when you said there couldn't be two Keyblade masters?" Sora's eyes widened and his smile fell.

"Donald!"

"Gawrsh, Sora," Goofy interjected loudly, "I bet your folks'll be mighty happy to see you again."

"You fellas should probably get goin'," Mickey added. "They've been waiting a long time to see you all."

"All?" Sora asked. He glanced first to Riku, who expertly avoided his gaze, and then to Kairi who could only offer a weak sort of half-smile in response. Sora's eyes widened. "You guys haven't been home yet?" A tense sort of silence settled over the group, filled with several awkward glances. Kairi swallowed thickly past the lump in her throat.

"It didn't seem right without you," she offered.

"Well then what are we waiting for?!" he exclaimed.

"They're waiting for you," Vanitas drawled from the shadow of a nearby tree. He flung his Gummi gem at Sora who seemed to catch it almost purely by instinct. "Now get moving so the rest of us can go home." Sora stared at the gem for several seconds before tightening his fingers in to a fist around it with a firm nod.

Naminé gave her gem to Riku, and after several minutes of hugging and promises to everyone to stay in touch they finally boarded the ship. They made their way up to the cockpit in silence, with Kairi and Riku sharing a silent agreement that Sora should take the captain's chair. He took several seconds to examine the seat – running his hands over it before settling in and taking a moment to re-familiarise himself with the controls.

And then they were off. It wasn't a long journey from Twilight Town to Destiny Islands, and so Kairi curled up in the co-pilots seat and let herself drift in and out of sleep. Sora and Riku kept up a low murmur of conversation, with Sora asking questions and Riku filling him in on more of the things he'd missed. Every now and then Kairi would tune back in at the mention of someone's name – Naminé or Axel or, when they were almost home, her own.

"Thanks for looking out for her," Sora was saying gently. Kairi heard Riku chuckle.

"She didn't need my help."

She must have fallen asleep after that, because the next thing she knew Sora was pressing his lips against her forehead.

"Hey, sleepin' beauty," he murmured, brushing her hair from her face. "We're home."

They disembarked on to Play Island. A single boat was still moored to the rickety dock – the boat Naminé had used to travel to the main island and back – and they carefully squeezed all three of them inside. Riku took to the oars, but Sora twisted with a grin and summoned his keyblade to cast an aeroga spell that launched them more than halfway towards the mainland.

It was mid-afternoon by the time they arrived. They stood on the dock for several minutes, staring at the beach and the trees and the buildings. Kairi wasn't sure what day it was, but judging by the empty beach in spite of the clear skies and warm winds, it was safe to assume that it was a weekday.

Riku's house was the closest to the shore, and as they wound their way through towards it Kairi found herself taking in the buildings around them with a sense of painful familiarity. So much had stayed the same, which made the things that had changed so much more jarring. The fading cream paint on the front of Mrs Uyemora's house had been replaced with a fresh coat of pale yellow, and the southern-facing wall had been decorated with a climbing wall of pink roses. Mr and Mrs Matsui had finished building the extension that they had started building during the year when everyone had forgotten Sora. Mr Ozaki had finally taken control of his garden, and what had been a warzone of weeds and tall grass was now home to several immaculately-organised flowerbeds.

Riku's house hadn't changed in the slightest. The garden gate still hung ajar, unable to properly latch, and as it swung in the warm breeze it let out a familiar soft squeak that made the hairs on Kairi's arms stand up.

"I guess this is it," Riku muttered, his eyes fixed on his front door. Sora grinned and bumped his shoulder lightly.

"C'mon, Riku," he laughed. "Don't tell me after all we've been through, you're scared of your mum." Riku chuckled and turned to Sora with an arched eyebrow.

"Wouldn't you be?"

"Nah, your mum loves me." Riku smiled and drew himself up tall before turning to Sora and holding out a hand. Sora accepted, and the two grasped each other's arms with a brotherly smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Riku asked. Sora nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

They watched until Riku disappeared through his front door, and they heard the delighted shriek of his mother before they turned away and headed back down the street.

"What's happening tomorrow?" she asked. Sora slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, and she looped an arm around his waist, leaning his head against her shoulder.

"Absolutely nothing," he answered before pressing a kiss against the top of her head.

Sora's house came next. He lived almost exactly halfway between Kairi and Riku, in a small terraced house with a modest garden surrounded by neatly-trimmed bushes. The sight of it sent a thrill racing up Kairi's spine, though as they veered towards it she felt Sora pull away.

"I thought we were going to your place next," he said with a frown.

"Why would we?" she asked. They stopped in front of his gate and were greeted by a chorus of yapping as Mrs Nitta's dogs barrelled across the adjoining garden. They stuck their heads through the bars of Mrs Nitta's gate, and when they spied Sora their anger quickly turned to excitement, though Sora didn't acknowledge them.

"I should walk you home."

"It's twenty minutes away, and then you'd have to walk all the way back," she said. She reached out and flicked his nose. "I'm a big girl, Sora. I can walk myself home." He reached out and took her hands, placing one of them over his heart.

"I know," he murmured, "but I'm just not ready to be away from you again." Her heart melted, but before she could answer she saw movement in the corner of her eye. The net curtains in the front window were twitching, and Kairi bit back a smile. She pressed one of Sora's hands over her heart and she placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I don't think we have a choice anymore." Sora frowned, his head tilting to the side.

"What do you-"

The front door flew open. Sora's mother stood in the doorway, her hands clamped over her mouth and her eyes wide as she stared at them. Sora stiffened, and Kairi heard his breath catch in his throat as he stared at her.

"Sora…" she whispered. A tear raced down her cheek as she staggered out of the house. "Is it… is it really you?" Kairi squeezed his hands one last time before letting go, nudging him towards the gate. His hands trembled as he fumbled with the latch, and when at last he managed to open it he fell straight in to his mother's arms. He was taller than her now, and she buried her face in his shoulder as he held her tight.

Kairi quickly sidestepped behind the bushes, trying to use the distraction to slip away, but she'd barely made it past Mrs Nitta's house before she heard Sora calling her name. He was stood by his gate, his mother hovering tearfully by his shoulder. Kairi span on her heel and continued walking backwards with a smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" she called. When he didn't smile back she reached in to her pocket and withdrew her phone, holding it up so he could see it. "You still have yours, right?" His eyes widened and he frantically patted down his pockets. It took a moment for him to find it, and when he did he smiled.

"Tomorrow!" he answered. She slipped the phone back in to her pocket with a wave before turning and heading home. She kept to the back roads, slipping through familiar avenues and alleyways in her mission to avoid being spotted (if Selphie found her, Kairi knew she would never make it home). As she emerged on to her street, her phone buzzed with a message from Sora. She opened it to find a picture of his kitchen where someone (his mother, no doubt) had pulled out a wide array of ingredients and supplies.

Steak pie! I think she's happy that I'm home for dinner…

Kairi stifled a laugh and quickly tapped out a response.

Tell her you want fish.

His response was instant:

NO WAY!

She replied with a picture. She stood at the end of the driveway to fit the front of her house in to the shot, and she sent it off to Sora (and Naminé) before putting the phone in silent mode and slipping it back in to her pocket. She took a moment to drink it all in. The house was mostly the same, although her mum had finally repainted their front door. Kairi found she almost missed the faded teal paint and the dried flakes that used to litter the stone steps, but the pale peach – like the colour of clouds at sunset – was a nice change. The orange tree in the front garden was in full bloom, with several overripe oranges nestled in the roots below. Kairi's heart wedged itself in her throat; she always looked forwards to picking the oranges off the tree with her dad in the autumn, and judging by the bursts of colour hidden amongst the leaves she wouldn't have to wait long to do it again.

It took too long to summon the courage to place her hand on the handle, and when the door didn't move she bit back a flush of panic. Her parents were probably just at work. It wasn't as if she'd called ahead to let them know she was coming back. The wooden cat figurine – the one her dad had bought for their fifteenth wedding anniversary – still sat in the windowsill surrounded by a collection of polished shells, and Kairi let out a heavy breath as she crouched down to retrieve the spare key from the lockbox hidden behind the overlarge plant pot.

Stepping inside was like stepping back in time. She remembered standing in the porch, hugging her parents goodbye before leaving with Riku, unable to tell them where she was going or what she was doing but promising that she'd be back soon. The lounge was almost exactly the same; there was a new blanket draped across the back of the sofa, and the half-read book next to her dad's armchair was different, but otherwise nothing had changed.

The clock on the mantel chimed four times, a familiar sound that Kairi had always taken for granted. Her mum would be home soon. Kairi swallowed past the lump in her throat and made her way to the kitchen. She ran her fingers across the faux marble countertops as she skirted the small island in the middle of the kitchen, reaching down for a mug out of pure habit. She stared at it, turning it over in her hands and rubbing her thumb across the daisy chain crown painted under the lip. Three years – almost four – and her mug was still in its usual spot. Her eyes began to burn and she blinked furiously as she reached for the kettle, filling it with water and setting it back on the stove.

She busied herself while she waited for it to boil. She cleared the drying rack, putting the plates and bowls and cutlery back in their respective cupboards and drawers, and she swept toast crumbs off the counter and emptied the bins. She poured herself some tea and tried to lose herself in the sweet smell of peaches, but then she spied the wilting flowers on the windowsill and she set about picking a fresh bunch from the garden while she waited for her tea to cool down enough to drink. She sat at the table, taking absent sips with her eyes trained on the front door, and before she knew it the mug was empty. She rolled it in her hands for several minutes before standing, rinsing the mug in the sink and leaving it to dry on the rack.

It was nearly half past four. Any minute now, Kairi told herself. She tried to settle in to her usual seat on the couch, but the ticking of the clock set her teeth on edge and she soon found herself pacing. She ran her hands through her hair and winced at the dirt that clung to her fingers. She caught sight of herself in the hallway mirror and she grimaced; it was no wonder the doorman had tried to keep them out of the restaurant. A small gash along her forehead had left a thin line of crimson trickling down her temple, and she quickly hauled herself upstairs to scrub her face in the bathroom sink.

She brushed her hair over the graze, but there was no way to hide the bruise blossoming on her chin. She glanced down at her dress – at the singed hem and the scorched sleeves of her jacket – and she wondered if she should change, but as she wrapped her hand around the handle she heard the front door open.

Her heart stopped. Her breath caught in her throat as she listened to her mum make her way through to the kitchen. This was it… Kairi swallowed thickly and pulled the door open. She opened her mouth to call out, but her voice caught in her throat.

"Kairi?"

Her mum's voice echoed through the house, quiet and confused. There was a moment's silence before something clattered heavily against the counter. "Kairi?!"

Footsteps thundered through the house. Kairi's heart leapt to her throat and she threw herself against the bannister as her mum arrived at the foot of the stairs. She seemed older. There were new worry lines around her eyes and new streaks of grey in her auburn hair. Her brown eyes were wide as she stared up at Kairi, a trembling hand resting on the banister, and Kairi raced down the stairs towards her, throwing herself in to her mum's arms and burying her face in her mum's hair.

Kairi wasn't sure who started crying first, nor how long they stood there clutching at each other. Her mum pulled away first, her nimble fingers fussing over Kairi's dress and brushing the hair out of her face. Her eyes widened.

"What happened?" she breathed.

"Mum, I'm fine – I'm fine," she added as her mum brushed a thumb over the bruise. Her mum's hand moved lower, smoothing the collar of her jacket and straightening the wrinkles in her dress.

"We were so worried," her mum said at last. "No one would tell us anything, and we didn't even know where you were or if-" She stopped abruptly, her eyes darting down as she tugged at the shoulders of Kairi's jacket and fiddled with the pendant around her neck. When she looked up again her smile was tearful and forced. "It doesn't matter now. You're home. You're home, and you're safe."

"How did you know I was here?" Kairi asked. Her mum smiled and ran her hands down Kairi's arms to take her hands.

"Your mug," she said. "I saw it on the drying rack and I just…" Her voice pitched and she pressed her lips together, and Kairi hiccuped through a sob. Her mum laughed and pressed a delicate kiss on her forehead. "Come on, let's get some tea and you can tell me all about it."

They settled in to the lounge with a large pot of tropical tea steeping between them. It was her mum's secret blend of peach teabags, a handful of assorted berries, and a squeeze of paopu juice. The sharp tang of the fruit juice stung Kairi's tongue. At first the conversation was stilted; Kairi wanted to answer her mum's questions, but it was difficult to do when every answer threatened to unravel the world order. Kairi would eventually slip up somewhere around her third cup when she mentioned the Gummi ship, and when the world didn't immediately implode (and when Donald didn't break down the door) she decided that if she could trust anyone with the secrets of the Realm of Light it was her mum.

The teapot had long since been emptied by the time Kairi heard her father's keys jingling in the door. He arrived with a familiar, heavy sigh as he set down his briefcase and shrugged his way out of his jacket.

"I'm home," he called, and the sound of his voice sent a thrill racing up Kairi's spine. Her mum reached out and took her hand.

"We're in the lounge," she called.

"We? I didn't know we were having company, I would have come home soo-"

He froze in the doorway, staring wide-eyed at Kairi. She smiled up at him.

"Hi, dad."

He let out a surprised bark of laughter and held his arms wide, and Kairi didn't hesitate. She leapt up from the couch and threw herself against him, burying her face in his neck as he span her wildly.

"Careful, Haru," her mum admonished, though it was said with a fond smile. Her dad set her down and held her at arm's length.

"You've grown!" he exclaimed. His hands slipped to her arms and he squeezed, his eyes wide. "And what are these?" He lifted her arm and jostled her back and forth, bending her arm and squeezing her muscles with a proud smile. Kairi laughed as he held her arms up as though she were flexing. "Look, Suzi, they're bigger than mine!" Kairi's cheeks flushed.

"Dad-"

"Leave her be, Haru," her mum laughed. Kairi wriggled her way out of her dad's grip and gave her mum a grateful smile.

"Well I suppose this calls for a celebration!" her dad boomed. His face lit up and he clapped his hands together. "We should go out to dinner. Kirin's closed down while you were away – I know, we loved it too – but there's a new place that's just opened up across town. I've not been yet, but I've heard great things about their fish menu." Kairi's stomach churned and she grimaced. Her mum took Kairi's hand and patted it with a reassuring smile.

"Why don't we have a nice night in instead?" her mum suggested. She reached out to brush the hair from Kairi's eyes. "You look exhausted, sweetheart. Why don't you have a nice hot shower, put on your PJs, and we'll get some food in?" Kairi turned to her dad with a shrug and a smile.

"I like her plan," she said. He rolled his eyes with a dramatic sigh.

"You two always did like to gang up on me," he taunted. "So what do we want? Pizza? Chips? Noodles?" He looked so excited that Kairi didn't have the heart to tell him that she'd eaten only a few hours before, and when her mum suggested they get a buffet of finger food from the Golden Sun Bistro Kairi smiled and nodded.

"A little bit of everything, coming right up," her dad said with a grin. "I'll be back soon with food and champagne."

"Champagne?" Kairi asked. He nodded and looped an arm around her shoulders.

"Of course," he said. "You turned eighteen last month, and we didn't get to celebrate it. Better late than never!" Kairi blinked in surprise. She was eighteen now… it felt strange, especially when she hadn't even celebrated being sixteen. Her father planted a kiss on her forehead and bid them goodbye, but before he could put his jacket back on Kairi had tackled him with a tight hug.

"I missed you, dad." His deep chuckle tickled her cheek as she pressed her face against his chest, and he bent down to place another kiss on her crown.

"I missed you too, sweet-pea."

Her mum ushered her upstairs, presenting her with a freshly laundered towel and promising to put Kairi's pyjamas and her dressing gown through the tumble dryer to make them warm and cosy for when she was done. Kairi started the shower, and while she waited for the water to heat up she perched on the toilet lid and pulled her phone from her pocket.

Several messages were waiting for her – most from Sora who had bombarded her with pictures of all the things he had missed from around his home (his threadbare pyjama pants, the toy ship he'd built with his father which hung from the ceiling of his room, his favourite soda). There was a brief reply from Naminé, telling her it was okay to be nervous but to think about how great it would be to see her parents again (and, as usual, she hadn't been wrong). The most recent message was from Axel.

hey, you make it home ok?

She glanced up. The bathroom was full of steam and the familiar scent of sandalwood and hibiscus, and she took a moment to drink it in before answering.

Yeah. I'm home.

And I'm done! I swear! (I think?) It's been very difficult to let go of this story...

Thank you to Tom Vo, Shahryar, crestoflight3, Crystal and YumeTakato for your reviews on the the last chapter, and to everyone who's been along for the ride. It's been truly amazing to share this story with you all - thank you so much for all the love, and I hope you'll join be soon on my next adventure.

Stay safe, stay well, and wherever you are out there in the big wide world I hope you're having a great day.