Kairi gasped, seeing a greyish monster laying unconscious in front of her as she woke up. She ran behind a work desk, and peeked just slightly from behind it. Was she really seeing this? Or had she hit her head too hard upon landing in this world?
Sora sat up, blinking as his vision returned all at once. He looked around, feeling panic fill his chest.
"Kairi... oh no, where's Kairi?" He called out.
A light pink furry monster slowly came out from behind a desk, staring at him curiously. The more he stared, he couldn't help but notice her signature red locks and pink and black plaid hooded dress. She also had a pair of small red heart antenna on the top of her head.
"Kairi!"
He smiled, seeing that she was okay.
Kairi looked at the figure in disbelief. As she looked at them, she recognized spiky hair and a crown necklace on his neck that I'd know anywhere.
"Sora?" She blurted out. He approached her slowly.
"Kairi... it's okay... don't be afraid. It's me, Sora. I know I must look a lot different."
Sora scratched the back of his head nervously, like he always did when he got flustered. Kairi breathed a sigh of relief.
Well that confirmed it... this was definitely Sora.
She walked over to him. His eyes looked over her monster form up and down.
"Woah..." He murmured.
Kairi raised a curious eyebrow.
"What? Do I look really scary?"
He shook his head. "Well, no... actually you look... really cute... for a monster..."
She blinked, processing his words. Had he really said what she'd thought he did?
"Wait what?"
His face began to turn red a little, and she couldn't help but stare curiously, realizing that even monsters could blush. As Kairi was about to say something, the double doors down the hall opened and in came two monsters, one small and green and round, the other big, tall, blue and purple and incredibly fuzzy like a teddy bear.
Kairi tensed up instantly, feeling a little scared, and hid behind Sora.
"Who are they?" She whispered. He turned to her, smiling.
"It's okay, Kairi. They're friends of mine."
"Sora!" The taller one yelled happily, and the smaller one waved, before the two came running over. Kairi moved myself so she was standing beside Sora instead of behind him.
"Sorry if we scared your friend." The fuzzy one said.
"It's okay... Sulley, Mike Wazowski, this is Kairi."
They both held their hands out to her. Kairi took Mike Wazowski's hand first and then Sulley's, shaking them gently.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Boo!" A little girl with her hair in two loose pigtails and a pink shirt and leggings popped out from behind Sully, holding her little arms above her head in an adorable attempt to look scary.
Kairi instantly giggled. "And who's this little cutie?"
"This is Boo."
Sora smiled at the little girl, waving. Boo waved back, laughing cheerfully.
"I'm Kairi. Nice to meet you."
Kairi sat on her knees, extending her hand for her to take. Instead of shaking her hand, the smiling toddler walked up to her and hugged her. Kairi smiled, holding her little self in her arms.
"Would you look at that... she likes you." Sulley complimented.
Boo soon let go of Kairi and walked back over to Sulley's side. Kairi stood back up.
"You have kids of your own?" Mike Wazowski asked curiously.
Kairi shook my head. "Not yet... but one day, I'd like to."
She looked over at Sora. He was smiling, and she smiled back at him, feeling her heart begin to pound a bit harder than usual in her chest.
"Sulley! Mike! You guys ready to rehearse soon?"
Two monsters, one skinny and tall, the other bulky and short, with blue construction hats on, came running over excitedly.
"Needlemen! Smitty!" Mike Wazowski called out, waving to greet them.
"Oh we almost forgot... better get Boo back to her door." Sulley picked her up in his arms.
"Kitty..." Boo sadly cooed, cradling his face.
"I know... Kitty has to go for a little while..." Sulley responded, his voice sounding just as sorrowful as hers.
"Sully, we could watch Boo for a bit, if that's you need."
"You sure? A kid is a lot of responsibility." Mike Wazowski stated bluntly.
Kairi nodded her head.
"Yeah... I think Sora and I can handle her for a couple of hours. Right, Sora?"
She nudged him gently. He nodded, smiling from ear to ear.
"Yeah. We've got this. Good luck on your rehearsal. What was the musical called again? Put That Thing Back... Where It Came From? Or something like that?"
"You remembered." Sulley laughed.
"Well, it is a pretty memorable title..."
"Oh, Sulley, before you leave - what's Boo's favorite food?"
"Spaghetti. But don't let her eat it by herself. It'll get everywhere. Trust me."
"Got it."
Kairi sat on her knees again.
"C'mon, Boo. Let's go get some food."
She held my arms out invitingly. Sulley put her down and she slowly walked over smiling the entire time. Once she was in front of Kairi, Kairi hugged Boo and picked her up, standing again.
"You guys have a good rehearsal." Kairi cooed.
"Thanks. See you two later."
Mike Wazowski waved goodbye to us as he and Sully left through the double doors with Needlemen and Smitty.
"Oh, and she loves fruit punch!"
Sulley called, peeking through the door again, before Mike yanked him back through the door, saying they had to go.
The three of them headed to the café inside the Monsters Inc. building, sitting at a table once they'd gotten Boo her spaghetti. Kairi twirled the spaghetti on the fork for her, and then handed the fork to her so she could eat it. Boo chewed happily, smiling all the while.
"Kairi - you hungry? I can feed Boo while you eat your food."
Kairi couldn't help but smile.
"That's very sweet. You sure you don't mind?"
Sora laughed. "Not at all."
He extended his hand for Boo to give him the empty fork, which was covered in some spaghetti sauce. He twirled another small helping of noodles onto the utensil, and handed it to Boo. Kairi felt her heartbeat quicken as she admired how cute Sora was with her. She'd never seen him with a child before, but he was a natural... she couldn't help but think to herself that he'd make a great dad. Sora twirled another forkful of spaghetti for her as she finished the one he'd given her.
"Such a big girl you are, eating all by yourself. Sulley would be proud."
Boo giggled in response. Sora then looked over at Kairi as Boo contently chewed her lunch.
"What?"
Kairi smiled, swallowing the bite of turkey sandwich she'd had in her mouth.
"Nothing... you're just great with kids. It's really cute."
Sora grinned, a bit of scarlet coloring his cheeks like it had earlier. It was then that she remembered his words from earlier:
Well, no... actually you look... really cute, for a monster...
"Sora?"
"Mm?"
"Earlier, you said... you thought I looked cute for a monster. Did you really... mean that?"
Sora's eyes widened, then he looked off to the right, seemingly deep in thought. His eyes met mine again, and Boo's little voice sounded, words coming out that weren't quite English, but her own version of the language.
"Oh - sorry, Boo." Sora apologized, realizing she was trying to get his attention for another helping of pasta, holding her fork out to him. He took it, and got her another forkful of spaghetti for her to take & enjoy. He turned back to Kairi.
"Kairi... you're honestly cute no matter what."
As his words settled into her subconscious, she could definitely feel herself blushing, warmth rising up from her collarbone to her cheeks.
"Really?"
He nodded, smiling. He turned to Boo, and he took the fork from her. The little girl pointed at her sippy cup, which had fruit punch inside, more baby talk coming from her in attempt to communicate. Sora picked up her cup and gave it to her. Boo happily sipped her beverage, and Sora put the fork down on the still half full plate of pasta. Sora's eyes met Kairi's again.
"Oh Sora... you're so sweet."
Kairi leaned in and planted a delicate kiss on his cheek, pulling away after a few seconds. Sora's face was surprised, but as his eyes softened, he was blushing. Kairi was sure she was too even in her monster form. She then looked over at Boo, who had put her sippy cup down, and was covering her eyes. She peeked through her hands, and then put them down realizing the grown up act of affection was now over.
"Sorry Boo." Kairi softly said.
Boo looked at her curiously, then held her arms out, signaling that she wanted to be picked up. Kairi stood up, scooping Boo's little, cute self into her arms.
"It's almost time for their rehearsal to be over anyway... we should meet them back on the main floor."
Sora nodded, standing up as well.
"How was rehearsal?"
Sora asked, greeting Sulley and Mike Wazowski near an office cubicle on the main floor.
"Went pretty well... I think we'll be ready for the big show in no time." Mike Wazowski said happily.
"When is it? We'd love to see it."
"In a couple of weeks. We'd love to have you." Sulley happily replied.
"We'll be there." Sora cheerfully cooed.
"How was watching Boo? Any trouble?" Sulley asked.
Kairi shook my head.
"Not at all. She's an angel."
Kairi handed her to him, and Sulley embraced her affectionately.
"Glad to hear it. Thanks so much for watching her."
"Of course."
Boo yawned in Sulley's arms, rubbing her eyes which were beginning to droop sleepily.
"It's a little past Boo's nap time... better get her back home so she can rest."
"We'll see you two for the big show though, right?" Mike Wazowski asked.
Sora and Kairi nodded their heads eagerly.
"Definitely. See you then." Sora responded.
The pair waved at them as they disappeared through the big double doors at the opposite end of the hall.
Kairi turned to Sora. "Ready to head back home?"
Sora smiled. "Yeah, but just... one more thing, before we go."
Kairi raised a curious eyebrow, awaiting his response.
He walked over to her, grabbing her hands with his and holding them.
"I meant every word earlier when I said you were cute, Kairi." He said softly.
Kairi couldn't help but blush like mad all over again.
She giggled. "I'm glad you think so..."
She leaned in closer, closing her eyes and letting her lips meet his. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, and his encircled her waist as they stayed like that for a while. Even in their monster forms, she could feel the love from Sora's kiss and the warmth from his body holding hers. She'd had never felt so safe... so secure.
Sora eventually pulled away for air, his eyes staring straight into hers.
"You know... you're pretty cute like this too." Kairi complimented.
Sora scratched the back of his head, blushing a little.
"Really?"
She nodded.
Sora pulled out his Gummiphone. "Well, if we're so cute like this... we should take a picture."
Kairi chuckled, shrugging her shoulders.
"Sure."
Sora made a silly face, looking up and giving a full tooth grin while Kairi giggled, the phone flashing and taking our picture.