We stayed there for a while, Kris and I looking up at the stars. Kris pointed out a few constellations in the sky, one of which was the shape of a heart. The beauty of the Light World was too incredible. But as we were talking and laughing Kris said something that caught me completely off-guard.
"If only these stars were as bright as you…"
He mumbled it under his breath, but I still heard it. I didn't think he'd like it if I brought it up so I just let it be, though my heart was racing laps. For a moment I thought I'd use magic to make the scene even prettier, but then I realized I didn't know how. It was perfect as it was.
Eventually though it was late, and time to go back inside. With a certain amount of reluctance I went with Kris, but he promised that this kind of view came out every night, so that made everything better.
Kris' mom welcomed us back into the house, taking Kris aside for a moment. I decided I'd go ahead upstairs on my own and try to get some sleep. It had been a long day, an amazing day but a long one nonetheless. I took off my scarf and my boots and threw them next to the bed. Despite my tiredness I waited for Kris to come up as well, choosing to stargaze a bit more out his window.
Eventually I heard the door open, and I turned around to see Kris standing in the doorframe. He just gave a tired nod, and that told me it was time to go to sleep. We both climbed in our respective beds, and I gently let my eyes close for the night.
"...Hey, Ralsei," Kris whispered over, "we'll enjoy every day like this from now on, right?"
"Of course!" It was almost a dumb question in my mind; I loved my time with Kris and I'd never turn it down.
"Good…" he said.
I drifted off into sleep after that, sad that the day was over but happy that all that had happened did. I went to the Light World with Kris and got to see all its beauty. And Kris seemed to really like me, so that was a plus.
It was only an hour later when I woke up to something tugging on my ear. It didn't hurt but it certainly got me awake.
"...Huh?" I groggily said.
"Sorry…" Kris' whispered, "I had a nightmare… do you think we could sleep together for the rest of the night?"
I moved over a little bit, this bed having enough room for the both of us to fit in. But that didn't stop Kris from sidling up as close to me as possible and wrapping his arm around me and squeezing me in for a hug.
"Thank you…" he said.
"Do you… maybe need to talk about it?"
But Kris was already snoozing away, so I decided I would ask him about it in the morning when I could. I got to sleep just as quickly as he did, and I let myself snuggle into him to ensure I would help chase away all his bad dreams.
When morning rolled around I realized I was the only one in the bed, and Kris was nowhere to be found. I had little to do in the room, and the only bathroom was downstairs so I shook the sleep out of my eyes and got out of bed. But then for a moment my eye caught glance of the sun pouring in from outside the window, and I stared out for a few seconds. The Light World is just as beautiful as it had been.
"Oh, morning Ralsei!" Kris said behind me.
"Good morning Kris," I replied.
"...Thank for last night. It's not often I get nightmares anymore, but that one just happened to creep up on me."
"I was actually going to ask, do you want to talk about it?"
Kris made a face of slight disgust, and I took it as a no, but then he opened his mouth to speak.
"I was alone, and it was cold and dark and I couldn't tell what was happening. But as I called out in the darkness, I realized I was far, far from any help. Far from you."
"Kris," I walked over to him, grabbing his hands with mine, "that'll never happen. Not while I have the power to do anything about it."
He didn't seem too convinced, so I decided I'd try something else. He liked it when I sang, giving me the order to sing my lullabies often when we were in the Dark World. So I sang to him a song that I don't remember how I came to know, but a song that would hopefully get the point across.
"Don't forget… I'm with you in the dark." I sang, concluding the song.
Kris hugged me after I finished my singing.
"Your voice is so amazing," he complimented, "everything about you is so amazing…"
"Kris it is too early for this," I said, feeling the heat rise up in my face.
"Not my fault that you always look so adorable," he pouted.
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, Kris looking away and me trying to hide any embarrassment that may have crept up.
"Anyways… breakfast is ready," he said, "come on!"
We went downstairs and there was a nice assortment of food ready for us, eggs and pancakes and bacon all filled the room with their fresh scent, and all of a sudden I felt like I could eat all of it if I really wanted to. But of course, manners first, I took a plate and put only a few things on it and then took the seat next to Kris. We all kind of ate in silence, only starting to talk after we were done with the first plate.
"...Are you going to be okay with saying goodbye, my child?" his mother suddenly asked.
It confused me, so I looked over to Kris who looked really upset all of a sudden.
"Not particularly," he answered.
"Then you've considered what I was asking about last night?"
"Yes, but in the end, that's not my choice to make."
"How polite. You've grown well, my child."
"Um… what's happening?" I asked, still not having an inkling of what was going on.
"Kris you didn't tell him?" his mom asked.
Kris shook his head, "I'm sorry, it was late and we were tired."
"Okay-Ralsei. Kris has school tomorrow, and that means you'll have to go home until next weekend when Kris has free time."
Suddenly I understood why Kris was upset. I didn't like those words, not one bit.
"But I had an idea. Kris has been rather lonely without his brother, and since you don't have a family back at wherever you're from Ralsei… would you perhaps like to come stay with us?"
I looked at Kris for a moment. His expression in a way told me exactly how to answer that question; he looked like he would've begged me to say yes. But even without that, I would've undeniably said yes anyway. Live with Kris-get to be with him everyday? I'd never turn that offer down. It's not like the Dark World really needed me anyway, they had a great prince-or King rather-Lancer.
I gave a slow but resolute nod.
Next thing I knew I was on the floor, having been tackled by Kris into the biggest hug he'd given me yet.
"That settles it then, nobody is against the idea. Will you need help moving things? Or do you perhaps need a ride?" she asked. "...my child," she added on after a quick moment's passing.
Kris and I shook our heads. Kris told me how he got to the Dark World in the first place, so I knew it wouldn't be too hard to get there and back. And even if it were, I could use magic to make everything easier.
"Do be careful then."
We had gone back upstairs to get ready to head out; I slipped on my boots and grabbed my hat and Kris looked ready to burst with excitement since he already had dashed back downstairs by time I was half ready. The sigh I gave quickly turned into a laugh-it was nice to see Kris this happy about something.
Kris was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps and quickly took hold of my hand and suddenly we were outside and headed toward the school.
"Um… Kris? You maybe want to slow down a bit?" I said, trying to keep up.
"Sorry, I'm just really excited."
"I am too but we've got plenty of time."
"Only every day from now on, right?" he asked.
"Every single day," I answered.
Those words had been repeating in my mind ever since the question was first asked. I really would get the chance to spend every day with Kris. Maybe my wish really would be coming true…
"So what does this make us? Are we brothers now?"
"We don't have to be, it's not exactly an adoption unless you want to think of it like that."
"What are you going to think of it as?" I asked.
"I'm going to get to see the bestest friend I could ever hope to have more often and I won't be lonely anymore," he said, "I think that's what I see it as. What about you?"
"More or less the same-especially that part about not being lonely."
We shared a smile as we reached the school. I had to wonder if what Kris was doing was okay or not, but he seemed to know exactly what I was thinking.
"My mother is a teacher here, so I'm allowed in here sort of whenever."
"Oh."
He led me through a short hallway to a big set of blue doors. I thought it was kind of ridiculous that this, of all the places, is the link between two worlds. And at first I was actually kind of skeptical-that was until we stepped in. A grand amount of darkness took over what should've been just a normal closet, and all of a sudden we were falling from a great height.
I used my magic to help us, gently letting us glide down until we came to the ground. Sure enough, it was the Dark World; the cliffs outside of my castle. I let Kris lead just like he always would, and we reached the castle with no obstructions. It's not like anybody was ever here, there wasn't really anything to see or do.
When we headed into the castle there were only a few things I really needed to grab. Or rather, let my magic take-I just warped a lot of it away. Of course there were my robes which needed to go, and I sent a few of my favorite books over, then I sent a few toiletries, namely my brush.
"Anything in particular you'd like to take, Kris?"
He shook his head.
"Okay, then I just need one more thing."
I went out to my garden, grabbing at least one of each different colored tulip. These I didn't use my magic on, I kept them to present myself. I had to do something to show some appreciation to Kris' mom.
"Do you think she'll like them?" I asked Kris.
"Maybe. Sometimes she doesn't really like gifts of flowers."
"Oh?"
"...My dad is a gardener. Mom doesn't like dad very much," he said plainly.
I didn't have a response. But he wasn't mad at me, and we quickly picked up some idle chit-chat as we were heading back to the Light World. The trip felt short-maybe because we took the short route-but it was like I wouldn't miss this place at all. Maybe I was ready to give up the Dark World, there wasn't anything here for me. But this was where I had lived my whole life, how could I be so okay with that?
Kris. Because Kris was with me and I was with Kris. I'm at home when I'm with Kris, and nowhere else. With that in mind, this place was never home. Just a place I lived at until now.
Kris seemed to enjoy the journey back though, waving to the few familiar faces he saw. We definitely made sure to talk to King Lancer as we were heading through the Card Castle, it only felt right. It was nice to see him again, even if the first thing he did was poke a bit of fun at Kris and I because I was holding flowers and Kris and I were smiling.
Don't get me wrong, I love him but…
Then Kris used the power of his soul on where the Dark Fountain had been, and we were back in the school. With nothing left to do, we headed back home. I remembered I had to take off my hat and so I did, and Kris as always seemed especially happy to see my true face. His mom was sitting idly on one of the chairs reading a book, and I just gave her the flowers then.
"These aren't from him are they?" she scowled.
"No, mom! Ralsei grew these himself," Kris said.
She brought the flowers up to her face and smelled them, as if testing whether or not Kris had been telling the truth.
"They do smell a bit better than his do," she said, a smile coming to her face, "they're lovely! Thank you, children."
"It's the least I could do. You're giving me the chance to see Kris every day from now on-my gift doesn't even compare to that level of kindness," I said.
"It is only midday. You both are free to do what you please until dinner, but be safe!"
Neither of us really knew how to spend our time. After all, we did have a lot of it.
"Want to go say hi to Susie? I'm sure she'd be surprised," he suggested.
"I think it'd be funnier if she stepped into class tomorrow and I was suddenly sitting there."
"Oh, that's true," he laughed at the idea, "but that's assuming she actually goes to school tomorrow."
"Does she not go to school?"
"She skips a lot. She's been a lot better about it, but she still complains a lot about it. You know how she is."
I laughed. My time in the Light World was already amazing and I'm sure it would only get better. After all, I had Kris to be with from now on. And that was something I was overjoyed at.