Lea was astounded, he couldn't help but be as he was sitting on the table in Merlins house, touching his chest… The area over his heart.
It was so weird! After last night when he had finally opened up to Kairi and even cried, he felt stronger somehow.
Just talking to Kairi, it had done something. His heart, it didn't hurt as much in the same way.
The past hadn't changed, obviously. But… He felt like he probably wouldn't be plagued by nightmares anymore. At least not in the same way.
His heart? Lea tightened his hand over his chest. It was weird, he had spend such a long time having no heart, desperately searching for one.
Then when he got it, it had hurt… A lot. It still hurt, but not quite as much, it was first now he started to realize.
His heart… His heart had been torn and beaten up, it was weak, barely even holding on. That was why he still needed the cloak to shield him from darkness but… Could there truly be a way that he could be strong enough on his own, so he wouldn't need the cloak to fend off against the dark?
Lea hesitated as he fingered with the zipper to his coat, then finally decided to just glide it open and gently shrugged off the coat to reveal the black tank top, beige shorts and long black boots that matched the cloak underneath. Axel sucked in a deep breath, it was nice getting that heavy thing off.
He wouldn't dare to keep it off for long, but it felt nice regardless.
"You know, it suits you without the coat." A well known female voice sounded and Axel turned his head to see the princess of heart whom was training him.
Lea smiled lightly. "You think so?" he asked.
"Uhu." Kairi nodded. "You look ten kilos lighter!" she chuckled.
"Hey what is that supposed to mean?" Lea asked.
"Just, you always looked like you are carrying around this heavy load. It's nice to see you relax." Kairi smiled innocently and genuinely happy, Lea couldn't help but smile back, sending Kairi a smirk as she continued. "Listen, I talked to Merlin. And he agreed with me."
"Oh?" Lea blinked at Kairi.
"From now on the day is going to be divided!" Kairi stated. "The first part of the day, that will say until lunch. We train combat! You train me!" she stated. "The second part of the day, after lunch and until dinner we train the heart! I train you." she stated.
Lea smirked as he turned his entire body towards her. "Sounds interesting." he stated.
"Right? Isn't it?" Kairi asked excited.
"You sure seem happy" Lea smiled amused.
"I am!" Kairi exclaimed. "For ones I get to actually do something! I get to be of help to someone instead of being in the way." she halted. "I am being of help right?"
Lea nodded. "I do feel better." he admitted. "My heart… Feels better." he admitted. "I want to go on with this!" he stated looking at Kairi. "I don't know what it is, but it feels right! Please." he asked. "Help me strengthen my heart!"
Kairi smiled. "Sure." she stated. "So today after lunch we'll go visit Leon and Aerith!" she stated happily. "Help them a bit out."
"Well sure." Lea blinked at her then frowned.
"What?" Kairi asked.
"I wont question you but… I am not sure how that is supposed to strengthen my heart." Lea admitted. "I'll do it though! What-ever you say!" he quickly assured.
"It is very simple how it will strengthen your heart." Kairi stated. "By strengthening your connection to others, your heart will be strengthened to."
"So… We are going to go out and make friends with a whole bunch of people?" Lea asked. "Erh." he shivered slightly. "That's hasn't really been my style for quite some time." he admitted.
"You're okay with it?" Kairi asked.
Lea smiled lightly. "It probably wont be easy." he admitted. "But I'll do it, I need to strengthen my heart! My heart needs to become stronger!"
"That's good, I'm so glad." Kairi smiled. "It's not lunch yet though so… Please help me. I need to get stronger." she stated.
Lea nodded as he stood up, picking up his coat as he replaced it. "Sure thing, you ready?" he asked.
"You know it!" Kairi stated. "You… really need that coat?" she asked.
"For now." Lea stated. "But… I hope for not to much longer. We'll see I guess."
"Well you need to get out of that thing, it looks so hot!" Kairi exclaimed. "all right! Lets train!" she cheered. "One day I am going to beat you in a fair fight!"
"Yeah right." Lea snorted as his keyblade appeared. "Then you need to work real hard princess."
"Oh I intend to!" Kairi stated.
Lea smirked. "No take backs Kairi! I got your words right there memorized!"
"Good!" Kairi exclaimed and they began.
Kairi had improved, it was impressive considering they had only trained for three weeks. If she kept going at this rate, then maybe... Just maybe. She really would be able to beat him in a fair fight.
And if Kairi could become good enough to win their matches, then maybe... Lea could become strong enough to let go of the coat. To stand on his own.
Maybe... Just maybe. It was entirely possible.