Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or anything Disney.
Chapter 15
The castle had called to her since she was first brought into the newly restored Radiant Garden. Now she finally approached it, glad of the walkways that now made it easier to access. Riku and Sora had run on before her, but she had wanted to approach alone. Or at least the semblance of singularity – she was ignoring the ninja who was playing casual guard behind her. Yuffie didn't know how much she had improved, but Kairi wasn't too annoyed. She even waited on the platform leading up to the main door, grinning as the ninja girl shrugged, unashamed, and joined her.
Kairi rode in silence, though she sensed Yuffie wanted to say something. She glanced over a couple of times, looking at her curiously. But every time Yuffie met her eyes, the ninja's mouth closed helplessly. So when Kairi stepped off, it was with an oddly silent girl beside her. She raised an eyebrow at the munny and items still on the ground. "Roxas has been through here."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Yuffie asked, casting her an questioning glance. Kairi blinked, and then remembered they didn't know. Instead of explaining she picked up the munny and the few items and started forward.
"Never mind. The boys are probably inside somewhere." The door was already open from them passing in front of her. She crossed it – and was surprised to find Sora slamming a small side door nearby, up a short set of stairs. "Sora?"
His face was red and she cocked and eyebrow at him. He scrambled down the stairs and gave a wary look behind him before turning toward her. "I... was given a talk."
"A talk?" Kairi tilted her head and her puzzlement only grew as Sora brought out a tube. She couldn't quite see what it said, but Yuffie made a sound behind her that sounded like muffled laughter.
"This, is lube," Sora explained, still red and his eyes wide. "I don't even want to know why she had it on her. Or how she knows all that."
"Sora, you aren't making sense," Kairi said patiently, taking a step toward him. In her head, Naminé was giggling and behind her Yuffie had failed to muffle her laughter. She glanced back and was surprised to see there were actual tears coming from the ninja's eyes, she was laughing so hard.
Yuffie did manage to collect herself enough to point at Sora and say, "Aerith g-gave him a," She paused to snicker, "A sex talk."
Kairi's eyes went round and she stared wildly between them. "But I thought... Didn't you...?"
"Yes! But... I... Leon decided I needed more information," Sora said faintly. "'Cause the other guy was... more experienced than me and... and..."
Yuffie was now howling with laughter. "L-leon! J-just wait until I tell everyone!"
Sora covered his face with his empty hand. "I wish some Heartless would just drop down and attack right now."
All three paused and Sora looked up hopefully. As if to answer him, one tiny little Shadow Heartless appeared. He glared at it darkly. "That's it?"
Kairi giggled and sent a Light Flare toward it, watching it disappear in the aftermath of the attack. "So, was it educational, Sora?"
Sora blinked. "Huh? Oh... I... I'm going back to town, bye!" The Keyblade Master bolted past them. Kairi watched him go, her expression bemused and Yuffie's face red with suppressed laughter. They caught each other's eyes and then both of them burst out laughing.
"Poor S-sora," Kairi giggled. Yuffie didn't even manage that, and they were still laughing when Aerith peeked her head out of the library and her lips curved into a smile.
"Sora came this way, then?" She asked lightly.
Kairi managed to stop laughing and nodded sheepishly. "He was... Ah... Very adamant about wishing that conversation hadn't happened."
"Boys always like to think they know everything, and get embarrassed when you go into detail about how much they don't know. Especially about sex," Aerith said clearly and Kairi blushed. Aerith eyed her and smiled teasingly, but gently. "Though I think you and Riku need it much more than him. He just needed... clarification."
Kairi's blush strengthened and both Yuffie and Aerith giggled. The ninja pushed her gently. "C'mon, let's go into the library. We can have a nice long girl talk and you can give us the scoop on what you three have been up to."
Kairi shook her head and walked strode forward, chin up, and pretended she wasn't blushing as hard as she knew she was. Aerith opened the door to the library wide open and Kairi strode in – and faltered a moment later. She remembered this place. She remembered it very well. Almost as if she was in a dream she made her way through the stacks and to the table in the back.
She could feel the other two women's eyes on her, but she didn't look up as she murmured, "Grandmother loved to sit here and tell me stories... History really, but she made them sound like stories."
"You do remember some then," Aerith said, sounding relieved. "You were so young... Only five, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. Five years old when Ansem... Xehanort sent me away and destroyed our world, thinking I would go to the Keyblade Master. And I did." She grinned slightly. "Both of them."
"Two of them," Yuffie corrected and Kairi shrugged. There was the King as well, of course, but he wasn't her boys and she hadn't gone to him. She had gone to Riku and Sora. "So, anything else you remember?"
"Mostly it's jumbled," She stated truthfully. "I was very young and... I remember Xehanort. And I remember the ocean, before it was Destiny Islands' ocean. Just... drifting." Her eyes dimmed and she shuddered. Both women were quiet. "I don't like to remember."
"And there's no reason for you to," Aerith said quietly, shooting a disapproving look at Yuffie. "If it's painful, don't remember."
"To think you could have been our princess and we wouldn't be here right now. I wonder where your boys would be then. Oh! I could have been your super secret guard!" Yuffie seemed like she was ready to go off into her own little fantasy world and Kairi smiled at her, but she wondered too.
Where would they have been without her? What would have happened? Would Riku have ever wanted to get off the islands so badly? What would they have fought over? Sometimes, she wondered if they would be better off. And then a voice from above her called out, "I can tell you where we would have been. Stuck in a pointless rivalry forever and always missing a part of ourselves. Who knows? I know things would be different with the world... but then we never would have gotten so strong, and our world probably would have been destroyed forever when the Heartless came for us. With no princess to guide our destiny we'd be nowhere."
She stared up into Riku's smiling face. His eyes were very serious despite his almost playful smile. She knew that he was saying what he believed and she smiled in return. She returned her attention to Yuffie as Riku slowly came down the stairs. "I was a Princess of Heart, Yuffie, not an actual princess."
"Yeah, but not all the other ones were princesses at first – but they became princesses. You probably would have too! It's destiny!" Yuffie grinned victoriously and Kairi shook her head, trying to ignore the frosty glare Riku was sending at the ninja.
"If it was destiny it would have happened. I'm happy where I am," She responded pointedly, and Riku placed himself by her side. She didn't look at him but by the sudden wary gazes on the face of the other two she could guess at the dangerous look in his eyes. She nudged her elbow into his ribs warningly.
"She's fine as she is," Riku said coolly and Kairi sighed. He was looking into their questions too much. Casually she shifted her weight and stepped on his foot. She wanted to see Radiant Garden as it was now, and she wanted to see it peacefully.
Fortunately, Aerith had the perfect distraction. "So, Leon found you and Sora in an interesting position earlier, Riku."
She grinned, glad he was next to her and couldn't quite see it. The best way to get him off track was to switch the questions towards him. "Sora didn't tell Yuffie and I just why he was forced to have that talk. What were you two doing, Riku? You would think after what happened on the ship..."
Yuffie face lit up and she grinned like a cat that had just been offered catnip as Riku made frantic scowling faces at her. She ignored them as the ninja asked, "What happened on the ship?"
Kairi grinned at Riku. It was time for payback.
"You take their relationship better than I expected," She said later, cautiously to the two women. Yuffie looked up from sharpening her shuriken and shrugged.
"Nothing we haven't heard about. Radiant Garden isn't so backward, ya know. Besides, you love who you love." Yuffie continued her sharpening and Kairi smiled softly. After having to be more cautious on other worlds and seeing surprised stares at some points, it was relaxing to know the boys wouldn't be judged by their relationship, like on Agrabah. They didn't worry about it too much, and truly all three were more focused on the fight, but sometimes she fretted over it.
Aerith caught her attention when she heard a throat clearing. "I could say the same for you. Sora and you were... involved, weren't you? Or you wanted to be?"
Kairi blinked, and shifted on the stairs where they sat outside. "We were, for a little while. I... I loved him. But, though it's different, I love Riku too. As a friend. And I want them to be happy. More than happy, I want them to have everything they can. Sora could have loved me but... Riku always would have lingered in his mind. I don't. Not that way."
'It's not our place. This way we can love them equally, as friends, and they us. At least you rarely feel jealousy. Riku would have... and would have hated himself every second for feeling that way.' Naminé gave an equally good reason for breaking up with Sora, and she smiled at the two women, one raising an eyebrow at her and the other smiling softly in understanding.
"Tch. If I'd had my hands on either of those I wouldn't have just let him go. They've grown up. Especially Sora. Still a little short, but he's still growing and I've seen him in battle. Very flexible. Very nice." Yuffie smirked and Kairi had to giggle.
"I didn't say they weren't good-looking, Yuffie. Just that I'm not dating Sora. I can still look." She blushed at the knowing look she got from both women and ducked her hair. It wasn't her fault her male best friends both turned out so well. It also made it insanely difficult to even look for anyone to match up in any department – between the two of them they had both looks and personality. Except, perhaps, common sense.
"Yeah, if you find any guys who are as handsome as those two and don't have sticks up their asses like ours, gimme a call. Maybe we can bring a few home." Kairi raised an eyebrow at the ninja. That was a little blunt – and Leon and Cloud didn't seem that bad.
Aerith was quick to rise to their defense. "Leon is much more sociable than he used to be and Cloud... is just reserved."
"Much more sociable wasn't hard, considering what he was like. Now he might say a whole sentence instead of just one word before ignoring you," Yuffie grumbled and Kairi glance sidelong at Aerith who shook her head and smiled. Evidently this was pretty normal.
"I'm sure there's a boy out there for you, Yuffie," Aerith said serenely. Yuffie jerked her head up and seemed like she was about to protest, but Aerith cut her off. "You wanted to learn Cure, didn't you Kairi?"
Immediately Kairi's eyes lit up and she even felt Naminé's interest perk. "I would love to!"
Aerith stood up from the stairs and moved down into a stone courtyard. A fountain was there, though it wasn't working and Kairi wondered if she had ever played in it as a girl – she didn't remember. "Come on, we'll see how much we can get done today."
Kairi followed her, and remembering when Queen Minnie had taught her she stood facing the other woman and relaxed, listening to her heartbeat and imagining the energy that flowed in her body to gather. Aerith smiled. "You should have been taught magic years ago. All of your magic will be light and you won't do as well on some things, like most of Sora's elemental magic... but Cure should work out just fine. You may want to look into learning reflect as well, and other shielding spells."
Her eyes widened at the advice and she smiled almost shyly. Queen Minnie hadn't said half so much about her potential – but then, she had still been learning how to center herself and her magic. Sora didn't even seem to know what she was talking about when it came to that. Perhaps this was the difference. "Can Sora use the same magic I do?"
"To a degree. He can touch it, and perhaps with you he could use your basic spell – what was it?" Aerith paused to look at her.
Kairi couldn't help but want to show off a little, and she sent a ball of light spinning off away from them. "Light Flare. Sora could do that?"
"If you were near, yes," Aerith said, smiling at her. "All three of you have hearts that are very closely connected. You can draw a little bit from each other. It's very unique, and you should treasure that closeness."
Kairi briefly put a hand to her heart, knowing if she tried she could feel the faint echoes of two other hearts. "I do. Is it because...?"
"You are a Princess of Heart? In part. And because they are Wielders of the Keyblade, and love you. They are tied to each other, just as much as you." Aerith's face was peaceful, and Kairi took her hand away. She was glad that it wasn't just her doing, but theirs as well. It didn't matter if it only happened because they all were special, she welcomed their closeness.
"I've seen Sora use Dark Aura with Riku," She admitted. When the two were close in battle sometimes their abilities just seemed to skyrocket.
Aerith's face flickered briefly into a mischievous smile. "I think we already know how close Sora and Riku are."
She joined in with the other two women as they began to giggle, but her eyes caught a flash of silver on a balcony over the courtyard and she had to ask, "Could Riku learn Cure? He can make those potions and they're more effective than normal ones but Curaga still... is better. And as we get stronger the potions don't work as well."
Aerith grew serious at the questions and sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't think he can. He is too much of twilight." Kairi's face fell and she bit her lip, not wanting to look up to see how Riku had taken it. Then Aerith continued rather hurriedly, "But if he can make potions, he might be able to learn to make other healing items with his magic, eventually."
She brightened and glanced quickly up, relieved to see Riku was still watching, and looking interested. "Really? Like what?"
"Well, I imagine making potions takes a lot of his magical energy, but maybe hi-potions, or other items – probably not Ethers, I'm afraid, or Elixirs. But Mega-Potions could be useful to you three. Maybe he'll be able to make items we don't even know about yet," Aerith explained encouragingly. Kairi was content with that, though she doubted Riku would be. She fully expected him to be in the library later reading up on it.
"Okay," Kairi said, and took a deep breath. "I'm ready."
"Don't be nervous. This is a healing spell. I'll teach you some basics of how the energy moves and then we can go visit the hospital for practice. Luckily I have a good supply of ethers, but it won't last forever." She guessed that was Aerith's way of saying, "Learn quickly."
"I'll do my best," She promised.
A few days later she sat outside of the castle, down near the water where Sora had appeared the first time, and Riku, they had found out. She hadn't expected to find Sora practicing new magic as well, but he was and they smile sheepishly at each other before she tried to focus on making Cure work, and he did... what seemed to be some sort of water spell.
It was her birthday today, and she had seen both of her boys grinning at her more than once when they thought she wasn't looking. She was excited to think of what she might get. 'Focus, Kairi. They'll give you presents later,' Naminé murmured.
She had gone to the Chapel once, even after Riku and Sora had both warned her otherwise, and had felt the buzz of power - and left quickly. She had just wanted to see; she definitely didn't want what had happened to Sora and Roxas to happen to her, even if they had left before any lasting harm was done.
At the beginnings of another reminder from Naminé she switched back to focusing on magic. There was nothing to heal here, but she could still work on gathering the energy quickly. As she had learned from Aerith, Sora did do this; he just didn't know he did. He was a natural at it. She was too, but not at this first step – she found it easier to use the same amount of energy but with finer control, making a more powerful spell. Aerith said she would be picking up Cura and then Curaga in no time. She just wished she could call Radiant Spirit on her own, it helped her focus her power and made her magic more powerful. She guessed all of the Keyblades had their own power.
When the energy – white tinted with green – was humming at her fingertips she let it dissipate back inside her and almost began to gather it again. But something warned her and from where she sat she suddenly went into a roll and opened her eyes to see a group of Dusks where she had sat.
She took out her daggers and threw a Light Flare ahead of her before jumping at them. She heard Sora shout and moments later, as she cut into the Dusks and winced when they hit her, Ultima slashed into the fray. It was a short battle, and she frowned at where the Dusks had been. "You know, we've been here a few days and even when all three of us were together we haven't seen more than a slightly high concentration of Heartless. And these are the first Nobodies."
"Well, Radiant garden was locked," Sora said, cocking his head, looking thoughtful. "Maybe that makes it more difficult for the Heartless to get in unless called here. There were never a lot of Nobodies compared to Heartless."
"I guess not," she murmured, running the other part in her mind. If a world had been locked, did that make it at least a little safer for them to stay there? She hoped so; otherwise they would never be able to live anywhere for long now that the darkness was active again.
"Here," Sora said, and pushed a potion toward her. She stared at it, and almost took it – but then she paused, and grinned slyly.
The light was mostly green this time, but still white tinged as she called the Cure spell down on her. She watched as the cut sealed up with glee, and her eyes met Sora's bright ones. "Congratulations, Kairi. Happy Birthday."
At his soft voice her smile became wider and she threw her arms around him. "Did you see that, Sora? I really did it, and it really worked just how I wanted it to!"
Sora chuckled and hugged her lightly back, though inwardly she rolled her eyes at the nervous way he held her. Sometimes her boys were suchboys. She let go and stepped back. "What spell are you working on?"
"Another basic elemental one in that book Riku gave me. Water – it causes a wall of water. Or, it will. Right now I think I have the first level and it sort of just causes a small wave. Not very strong yet." He looked disappointed and she resisted the urge to tousle his hair, instead just flicking a lock to make him look up at her, surprised.
"Did you get Firaga overnight? Or Blizzaga?" She asked pointedly and he rubbed the back of his head.
"No," He admitted sheepishly. "I guess I shouldn't expect to get... Wateraga? Whatever it's called. The highest level so soon."
"Exactly," She said and they faded into content silence. She stared down at the water below them and she could feel his eyes on her for a while before he was back to practicing.
Something caught her eye on the edge of the wall, opposite them, and she looked up. She could see only pale purple hair, but it was enough for her. "Sora!"
His head jerked up and he hissed, "Alcexan."
"Are you sure... He was a deer before," she pointed out, her voice hushed, but now she could almost feel it. She could feel Sora's heart – but there was no heart in the body across from her. She paid attention to that now, where she hadn't before, with Yaxent. She hadn't realized then she could actually feel their lack of hearts – Naminé hadn't seemed surprised.
"Keyblade Master," The man said and Sora tensed. "You owe me an eye. And perhaps a bit more than that. Your friend's life will be enough."
Portals opened all around them, and above them, and those wolf-like Nobodies were back – except here they weren't deer and the wolves were much faster than them. She tried to fight them, magic and daggers both injuring them, but they kept coming – and they had gotten between her and Sora. Ultima was killing them, but too slowly.
Fangs and claws bit into her legs and stomach as they reared up, and she jerked away from one instinctively as it lunged for her throat – but in doing so she tripped over another and lost her footing. They were on her in a second and her daggers lashed out. Desperately she called up the other spell. It would do less damage but might get them off of her. Light Circle flared around her as teeth caught onto her shoulder and claws bit into her side. They went flying when the light shot up, more powerful than the last time she had used it, and the Nobodies were torn away from her.
She muffled her scream when flesh was ripped away with them, the Nobodies teeth still having been in her shoulder. "Kairi!"
She scrambled to her feet as Sora jumped into the clear space she had made, and her eyes widened as she saw the yellow outfit. Fatal Crest was in one hand, while Ultima was still settled in the other. She heard the crack of thunder before the Thundaga spelled called down lightning all around them and the Nobodies screeched in pain. She took a breath but leapt back into the fray, staying close to Sora this time. Her shoulder burned and she had to put the dagger in her left hand away. She couldn't move it well so there was no point in trying.
"Kairi! Here!" She whipped around in the direction of the new voice, Riku's eyes catching hers as the familiar golden Keyblade spun out of his hand and she stretched hers up to catch it. Then Riku jumped off of the platform that had slowly been making its way down from the castle and the three of them were for an instant back to back.
"Interesting. We'll continue this later," Alcexan said, this time from closer by as he stood on one of the floating rock platforms, smirking at them. There was a scar running through one eye – an eye that didn't see anymore. Fangs flashed out from his mouth and she tensed at the sight of claws. She briefly looked toward his ears but they were normal. She hoped she never visited the world that he had originated from.
The Nobodies all disappeared as Alcexan stopped speaking and the boys shifted to face him. "Such power among you – but I see your darkness, Keyblade Master. It lurks closer when you use that form. We'll see if we can't get it to come out and play next time we fight."
Sora's yell of rage was accompanied by him suddenly lunging away from them, swiftly moving into glide as he reverted back to his black outfit – but the Nobody was already disappearing into a dark portal.
She flicked her eyes from Sora to Riku, and studied her older friend's face as he watched Sora glare where Alcexan had been. This was the first Nobody to get away from them - and Sora was taking it hard. Riku's expression was unreadable as he called to their friend. "Sora! He's gone. Come on, let's go back to the castle and get you two fixed up."
Startled, Kairi looked Sora over and noticed there were a number of places his outfit was torn and one of his arms looked as if the skin had been half torn off. And he had still been using it. Sora shook his head, but in denial of what she didn't know as he jumped back over to them wearily. Quietly, he asked, "He can't do that, right? Call out Anti Form?"
"I doubt it," Riku answered easily. Kairi smiled, glad he hadn't hesitated. That would have made Sora worry more. As if sensing her thoughts, Riku gave her a quick grin before adding, "Anti Form is yours and depends on your power. No one can touch it but you."
Sora looked doubtful but Riku nudged him toward the platform waiting to take them back to the castle. The shorter boy finally grinned. "Thanks Riku."
Kairi watched as Riku hesitated and she pretended to be looking elsewhere when he glanced toward her. They both knew that was fake, but it made Riku more at ease, and she quickly looked back to see the he had leaned down and was murmuring something in Sora's ear. Sora nodded and entwined one of their hands briefly as Riku brushed their lips together in a quick kiss. She smiled and felt her heart flutter in happiness. They did a good job of balancing each other. Not perfect – but she guessed she could help with that when it was needed. It wasn't right now and she turned her face away and walked to the platform, putting one foot on it but waiting for her companions. She was in pain, but none of the wounds were deadly, so she could wait for them to finish talking.
Then she yelped as she was lifted all the way onto the platform and both boys laughed. Sora jumped on in front of her so she tried to scowl over her shoulder at Riku who chuckled and let her go, keeping one hand on her uninjured shoulder. "At this rate you're going to need new outfits. Sora can't just keep sewing them all up."
There was a faint twitching of Riku's lips as he talked about Sora sewing and she muffled a giggle herself at Sora's warning glare. He huffed and turned away from them. She watched Riku rolled his eyes and smiled at him, shaking her head in mock exasperation at their antics. Riku squeezed her shoulder and the ride up was in comfortable silence.
They were all in the library. Kairi knew she should be excited about the presents she was going to get, but instead she and Riku were both staring incredulously as Sora, Leon, and Cloud all sat in chairs sewing up tears and rips from battles. Sora was doing less work considering he was fixing his own and that he only had to let the needle guide him, but they were all seriously looking at their work and at the same time talking in low tones about battles plans. Well, Cloud and Leon talked in low tones. Sora's tone was more bright and cheery but lower than she was used to.
"Am I supposed to sew too?" Riku muttered out loud and she giggled at the confused expression on his face.
She patted his arm consolingly. "Don't worry, I'm sure the girls can't sew."
There was a throat cleared and Kairi turned to see Aerith's amused green eyes. "Actually, we all learned how to sew. It was necessary at first in Traverse Town. We didn't have many clothes, and we were all needed for battle so one of us couldn't stay behind. It was also useful when we didn't have many Potions – though that isn't the best way to sew someone up. It was all we had."
Aerith's gaze switched to Cloud. "He probably had to learn for the same reason. He was all alone, and you need clothes unless you want to be thrown out of every town you come to. So we learned."
Her gaze was on them and suddenly sharp. "And when you're traveling with no knowledge of how long you will be away from home, sometimes you need to learn a new skill to distract yourself. He couldn't fight every second of the day. Sora moping about was something none of us wanted to see."
She flushed and saw Riku do the same at the subtle reprimand. Now that she was paying attention she knew they would all look like ragbags if he didn't sew up their clothes. They couldn't spare the time it would take to have a professional do it, and they never thought about their ripped clothes. She had never thought before of what he must do with his spare time.
"Hey, are we going to have a birthday party or what?" Yuffie yelled as she flipped herself over the raining of the stairs and landed in the middle of them. "Come on, this is the dullest party I've ever seen! She's seventeen! Where's the gifts, the music, the booze? The drunken admissions of love?"
When everyone gave Yuffie a long, considering look, the ninja flushed. "What? Everyone's seventeenth was like that, right?"
Sora raised his hand slowly. "Mine didn't have any alcohol."
"Sex?" Yuffie asked hopefully, and both boys blushed. Kairi giggled but had to blush as well, remembering quite well the sounds from their rooms.
"Not... precisely?" Riku said, sounding a bit confused. Yuffie rolled her eyes.
"I'm not gonna ask, but damn, no alcohol, no sex, what kind of party was that? Didn't anything interesting happen?" Yuffie's look seemed to beg for something interesting and Kairi groaned as Sora opened his mouth to answer.
"Heartless attacked and I turned into a Heartless-look alike of myself," Sora answered glibly and there were a number of stares.
Cloud looked up from his sewing and was the first to ask, "You're alright?"
"Yup," Sora answered cheerfully, though his eyes were a bit dark and Kairi bit her lip. But Cloud's lips twitched into an almost smile and for a moment it looked triumphant as his eyes flicked to Leon, who only snorted.
"Good. I knew you were too strong for the dark," Cloud said, and then began to sew again, fixing a long tear in the side of a black shirt that looked exactly like the one he was wearing. Kairi had to wonder if he just had a few sets of the same outfit.
Yuffie seemed put out that the topic had gotten out of hand and she thrust a box at her. "Me first!"
Grinning at the excited ninja, she opened the box and blinked at what was inside. There were... black boots. And silver, white, and black hair clips. She looked up at Yuffie, a bit puzzled but opening her mouth to thank her when Yuffie interrupted. "I know it looks all girly but the boots have a catch with a small blade at the tip and they're good quality. The hair clips – if you look they all have points or can be opened up into points. I figure with your hair getting long you'll need something to put it up with, and these double as weapons. The colors... Well, I had a feeling they might match."
For Yuffie, the last sentence was incredibly cryptic and she sent her another puzzled look, but she only grinned and said in a singsong voice. "You'll see!"
Kairi shook her head and smiled fondly, but glanced toward Leon when there was a faint shifting. He had a faint smile on his face and said, in a voice that was more of an order than a request, "You will train with me every day until you leave."
There were a few surprised glances from the others in the room, she noticed and Sora grinned at her. "He helped me train. Careful, he hits hard."
She guessed that was her present, though it was a bit puzzling – but if he had trained Sora, he could surely help her. She glanced around and Aerith was next, giving her a book – she recognized it with delight. "Spells?"
"Yes. Ones of light, to help you. Study them well. This is something only you can do." Aerith's gaze was serious and she felt a chill run down her spine as those green eyes looked through her. She would need these spells. She didn't know if she could learn them fast enough if Aerith's intent gaze was anything to go by.
Then Riku snorted. "Hey, it's her birthday. Let us have one happy day."
He pushed another box forward. "Me and Sora matched our presents. For a boy who sews he didn't really feel comfortable buying this half, so... Well, here."
Sensing that both boys were looking at her eagerly, she carefully opened the box. She blinked at the shining silvery material inside. Carefully, she took it out and stepped back from the table, unfolding the material. It fell down and revealed a dress. The material was soft beneath her fingers, and she carefully turned it around to see the front. It would cut low, and there was a V-shape in the silver material to reveal white beneath. Naminé stirred and both sighed happily at the dress. She had a dress already – but there was more to this, she could tell. She glanced down. It went down to her ankles but was more elegant and a closer fit than her blue dress.
She looked up at both boys and Sora was blinking a bit in surprise – while Riku was nudging the box with one hand. "There's more."
Surprised, she looked in – to see matching shoes. A necklace in the familiar shape of a heart – and gloves that would reach nearly to her elbow. As well as, she noted with amusement, a slip and undergarments that would match. They had done quite a number for this – though she didn't quite understand why and she glanced at Riku with confusion and gratitude in her eyes. He shifted and looked embarrassed but answered, "We've been traveling a lot. You could use something that isn't strictly for battle. Though you could fight in that."
She rolled her eyes at the last sentence tacked on and them leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Riku."
His smile was faint this time, but his eyes shone with joy as he waved it off by saying, "No problem. Now open his present, before he falls out of his chair."
Kairi turned her gaze to Sora, who was indeed leaning so far out of his chair that if his legs hadn't been hooked behind the front of the chair he would have fallen off already. Giggling, she pulled over his box, which was wider than Riku's, and slightly shorter. Riku had said that he had done half – did that mean there were more clothes in this?
There were, in fact, as she saw, more clothes. The first outfit was a bit like her old one, except split into a top and a bottom. Instead of a skirt there were dark red shorts. The top was like hers as well – except the undershirt was silver and the zippered top thrown over it was a dark red like the shorts. But there was a longer jacket, still sleeveless but covering her shoulders, and trailing down to her knees. It was silver, with a black lining, and her eyes darted to both boys, wondering at the colors. Sora just gave her a secretive grin and Riku rolled his eyes. "He picked the colors."
She set that aside and raised an eyebrow at the second outfit. It was simpler, just a shirt, pants, and a short jacket. She eyed the pants, pulling the material between her hands. She wasn't used to wearing anything longer than shorts, but some longer clothes would be more useful. They were black – and she was pretty sure they were leather. She shot an amused look at Sora, who had the audacity to grin at her. She shook her head and moved onto the shirt, frowning at the crimson color. She wasn't quite sure she liked the darks better – but the short jacket would cover it up. It was, like the last, silver in color, though this time with dark red designs. "Is there something more to this Sora?"
"Well, you needed more outfits good for fighting and... Well, I can't say the last bit but Riku's going to get some outfits for his birthdays as well." Sora grinned at Riku as the silver haired boy shot him a surprised look. Kairi had to smile. She guessed they were going to match – she didn't think Sora would have been so intent on it... But then again, they belonged to each other, and maybe it was the Roxas part of him that wanted to show it. Riku was even more possessive of them both – in different ways, but it was still there.
Her surprise was added to when Sora added, "Plus, they aren't normal clothes. I mean, they aren't like mine... But I, um, searched around and had Merlin help a little. They're more durable, for one thing. And they'll always fit. They have some nice hidden pockets, too, and yours would be resistant to dark magic. Not that it makes you immune – but every little bit helps, right?"
He looked so hopeful that she automatically agreed before looking at the shoes – one black pair, one silver pair, in her usual style. Besides that, there were a few different belts and accessories that she recognized as like the ones Riku and Sora wore – the ones that boosted their power with magic. She smiled in relief, glad to have some better ones. She had picked up a few chains, but they had seemed weak compared to what the boys had.
"Here," Cloud suddenly said and she blinked as a package was thrown at her. She caught it and turned it over. It seemed to have some kind of strange plant in it.
"It can make animals trust you and obey you – as long as they're herbivores," Cloud explained briefly, and then grimaced as his needle went into his finger.
"Useful. Thank you," She said, sticking it in the box on top of her new outfits. She was ready to forget about getting more presents – she had been given more than she thought she would have been given, and was ready to move on and enjoy her birthday – and maybe try on her new clothes. To satisfy the boys of course.
Except a new smooth voice spoke from behind her. "There is a gift I would give to you, Princess."
She turned – and Cloud and Sora both snarled, "Sephiroth!"
Sora's was more shocked than angry. But Cloud sounded furious. "You won't ruin this."
"A gift on a birthday is traditional," The man – if the one-winged being could be called that – said coolly. His gaze shifted from the blond to Sora. "Keyblade Master. We will have to have a rematch someday."
Kairi could have groaned at the way Sora's eyes lit up at the challenge. That cocky grin was not one seen too often, but this time it filled Kairi with dread as he said, "You got it, Sephiroth. I'll kick your butt again."
"Perhaps," he answered and suddenly those intense eyes snapped to her and he held out two pages, old looking and crumbling at the edges. "Take your present, Princess of Heart. You can do more with it than I."
"Because you're a thing of the dark, Sephiroth, and you are weakening," Cloud growled, and was standing and stalking forward.
The silver-haired man shrugged elegantly. "And perhaps our connection is only waning. If it breaks, we shall see... Do I die, or do I become something more? I no longer remember, and our world gave no hints."
"Our world is dead. And it's your fault," Cloud spat, and his buster sword was pointed toward the man. Sephiroth ignored him, his eyes focusing on Riku a moment before they flicked to Sora.
He tilted his head a moment, as if looking at a puzzle he couldn't figure out. Then he smirked and said, "Interesting. Two Keyblade Wielders. More then mere friends."
"Do you have a point?" Riku asked coldly and Kairi saw Sora, for the first time, look a little worried as Sephiroth turned his full attention onto the older boy.
Kairi shrieked as a thin, long sword came out of nowhere and stopped just short of Riku's neck – but only because Slender Thorn had come up and stopped it. Sephiroth smirked and withdrew Masamune. Kairi carefully knelt to pick up the two pieces of paper he had dropped when deciding to challenge Riku and eyed both silver-haired males nervously. Riku wasn't attacking, but he wasn't backing off either.
Sephiroth's eyes studied Slender Thorn. "Christened in blood. Who made you that, Wielder?"
"I did," Sora announced, striding forward to glare at Sephiroth from Riku's side. Kairi watched Sephiroth's attention turn and the small brunet bristle under his stare. Riku was almost glaring at Sora for the interruption and Kairi sighed as Sora failed to notice.
Then Sephiroth stepped back a pace and half turned to gaze out the window. "I will fight him as well. I would think that someone you would bleed for willingly would be an interesting challenge."
For some reason, Sora flinched slightly and Kairi tilted her head as the man left, unsure of what had just taken place. It was Cloud who said incredulously, "Sora, did he just scold you?"
"I'm... not sure. We only had that one battle." Sora frowned and Riku glared at where the man had disappeared.
"Sephiroth has strange notions – but in this case, I see why. You defeated him, Sora, and bled because of his sword. And he fought you for every drop of it. Slender Thorn is tainted by your blood. Even I can feel it – and so can he. He wants to challenge him, to test if he's worthy of a gift from a warrior that defeated him," Aerith explained. Kairi blinked at her, surprised at the insight.
Aerith smiled tightly. "Since Cloud and Sephiroth returned here I have... had discussions with him. He has a unique mindset."
She studied the older women, the tense expression and the narrowed eyes and worried for both of her boys. Aerith didn't like Sephiroth, that was clear – he disturbed her. And Aerith was usually pretty calm about people, and forgiving. This was the closest Kairi had heard her speak badly about anything not a Heartless or Nobody.
The sheets of paper in her hand crinkled as she tightened her hands. She glanced at them. It looked like a spell – a spell of light. It was simply labeled "Holy" with directions. She frowned but put it into the box with her dress to look at later. Everyone was muttering around her now, and she ignored the apologies for her birthday getting ruined, trying to focus instead on the hushed, hissing whispers of her boys behind them.
"You've fought him. Why can't I?" Riku muttered and she shifted closer to hear Sora's reply.
"We've stayed here long enough. Tracking Sephiroth down just to play his games is stupid! He'll kill you if you lose!" Sora sounded worried, and slightly frantic.
She looked when there was silence and Riku was giving Sora a steady stare. A chill climbed up her spine and she realized everyone was slowly growing quiet around her as they turned to watch as well.
Riku finally said, his voice carefully even, "You beat him at sixteen. A year ago. But you don't think I'm strong enough to defeat him now."
Sora squirmed under his boyfriend's aqua gaze. Kairi bit her lips as the silence stretched on. This wasn't going well at all. She pleaded mentally and with her eyes for them not to do this now – surely Riku could doubt Sora's belief in him at some time other than her birthday. Sora eventually said, "I don't know how strong he's grown."
"But you accepted his challenge easily," Riku accused, and Sora opened his mouth – and closed it again.
"Yeah. I did," Sora murmured. "But I... It was automatic. I always do."
"But I shouldn't? Right. Thanks for clearing that up," Riku said sarcastically, and turned on his heel and stalked out. Sora turned to her, looking hurt and confused. She sighed, feeling miserable. Sora hadn't been thinking when he responded – and Riku wasn't thinking at all except with his pride. She had thought he had outgrown that.
She glanced away from Sora and looked up into Aerith eyes. The woman sighed and laid a hand on her shoulder. "All of you should leave soon."
"But Riku..." Kairi trailed off as Aerith flashed her a smile.
"Everything will work out. You'll see." But despite the words, Kairi could see the doubt and she sighed. Getting Riku to leave without fighting Sephiroth would be hard.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced into Sora's blue eyes. "I'm sorry. We kinda ruined your birthday."
She laid a hand on top of his. "No you didn't. At least you were both here this time – that was better than either of my last birthdays."
Sora gave her a small smile and she took that to heart. If he could still smile than he hadn't lost hope. And Riku would fight that man and they would get on with their journey. It was just something Riku had to do for himself. She just wished that he didn't have to prove things to himself so violently.
End Chapter Fifteen.
You have no idea just how difficult it was to do the clothes, but it is important – or in the future it will be and I decided to get the descriptions over with this time. Feedback please!