Title: Love at First Syllable
Summary: Kairi is called to Disney Castle for some odd reason. During her journey, she must face the one person she hasn't seen in a year, Sora. But...he just won't talk.
Chapter XIX: My Strength
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Disclaimer: Nope! Still don't own them!
Last Time on Love at First Syllable: A good day in Twilight Town might end in tragedy as our story slowly comes to an end. Can Kairi keep her heart? Or will it be taken to save all the worlds?
A/N: NOTE! This chapter was edited by: Mamoru-Chan, PureOne, and FlowerLady-Aerith! Thanks a ton! I owe you guys BIG! An other thing, for some reason, the little bar thingys I usually put here aren't working, so I have to make my own...
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Everyone had already met up at the Usual Spot, just as Donald and Goofy arrived. A few faces held smiles, while others held pain.
"Uh, Sora? Mind if we talk to you fer a minute?" Goofy asked, his usually cheerful eyes glassy with tears.
"Alone?" Donald added, his head tilted towards the ground.
"Sure." Sora said, smiling at Kairi as he left.
They stopped behind a building. "So, what's up?" he asked running a hand over his already messy hair.
"Well, it's about Kairi-" Donald began.
"What about her?" Sora asked, face growing serious.
"Uh, when we visited Master Yen Sid, he told us some things about her." Goofy murmured.
"Like what?" Sora demanded.
"W-well, since she's the Princess Of All Worlds, her heart has the power to save them." Donald stuttered.
"Yeah, I knew that!" Sora said, folding his hands behind his neck.
"Well, if she doesn't give her heart soon, each world will be swallowed in darkness forever." Goofy gulped, getting the worst part over with.
Sora's eyes widened. "She has to give up her heart? So, you're basically saying..."
"She has to die." Donald whispered.
The words hit Sora like a blow. He was sure his heart had just skipped a beat. He had no idea that he wasn't the only one to hear.
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Kairi let out a small gasp, and Riku let his bangs cover his eyes. He knew it wasn't a good idea to eavesdrop them. He knew it would only end in pain. And it did.
Her eyes were filled with tears as she turned to face him. He opened his arms, and she silently went into them. "Oh, God." Riku whispered, as he helped her walk away.
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Kairi was calm and looking normal, just as Sora came back. He walked over and gave her a hug. He couldn't bear to tell her, even though she secretly knew.
"Sora, let's head back to Radiant Gardens now." she whispered.
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The cruise to the once evil world, was silent, and filled with tension. Everyone knew what Kairi would do. They just didn't want to face the truth about it. Maybe she'd become selfish at the last second? Maybe she'd want to live in darkness? Anything that would end up with her living. But, in reality, they all knew she would never betray them. She was just too good.
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As soon as they landed, Sora and Kairi walked off to find Cloud, Leon, and the others, while everyone else just hung around the Gummi Ship.
"Talk about irony. First Sora gave his heart, and now it has to be Kairi." Riku spoke, breaking the odd silence with a small sad smirk, showing that his plan of trying to cheer people up wasn't working.
"Riku, not now." Kumiko whispered, her cinnamon eyes closing in pain as she leaned against the Gummi Ship.
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After a few minutes of unbearable silence, everyone was back at the Gummi Ship.
"So, I guess you found out." Leon murmured, eyes downcast.
"I won't let her do this!" Sora shouted at Leon. "I just got her back, and I'm not going to lose her again!"
"It really isn't up to you to say if she makes the sacrifice or not. It's all her choice." Cloud nodded towards the auburn haired girl, who looked at the ground.
"Kairi, you can't do this!" Sora said helplessly looking over at her. His eyes filled with tears. "You can't..."
"Sora," Kairi whispered, also crying. "I have to. Wait, no. I want to. You spent a whole year protecting me, and I want to be able to protect you." she gave a small smile.
"But you did protect me. Twice. You saved me when you came to Disney Castle, and you saved me from the darkness. Don't you remember?" he whispered, his voice starting to choke up.
She gave a small gasp as she recalled the event leading up to her saving him.
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Her dark blue eyes opened and she saw Sora falling backwards. She rushed to her feet, and just as she caught him, he disappeared into thin air.
"SORA! GET BACK HERE!" A duck started to scream at the sky.
"Sora, are you really...?" The small auburn haired girl whispered, staring at the same sky. "No, I won't let him go! He's still here, I can feel it!"
"Ah, you are awake, princess." came a voice from the shadows. A silver-haired man appeared before her. "Now the keyhole can be completed." He gave a cruel smile as he started to walk towards her.
She watched as the duck, and over grown dog stepped in front of her.
"Stay back!" The duck shouted.
"Donald? Do ya think we can handle him on our own?" she heard the dog whisper.
"I don't know..." was the reply.
"W-what!" The man cried as his body became outlined in light.
"No! I won't let you use me for this!" A familiar voice yelled. An albino haired boy suddenly blocked the taller man.
"Riku!" She smiled and took a step towards him.
"There's no time! The heartless are coming! Run!" He shouted, as Donald and the dog escourted her quickly out.
"No! I won't leave without them!" She shouted as they pushed her ahead, throughout the castle, until they reached the entrance of the castle. A small black creature popped up in front of the door.
"A heartless!" Donald cried out, as a shadow heartless slowly walked to them. As soon as it came near Kairi, Donald pushed her out of the way, and hit it on the head. "Get away!" He yelled as he hit it again on the head.
Kairi's eyes lit up, as she realized why it didn't fight back. "Sora...?"
As if on cue, Shadow Heartless surrounded them. Kairi stood in front of her once human friend, and looked at him. "This time, I'll protect you." She whispered. Right then, they all leaped to jump on her. She quickly turned, hugged her friend, and cried out his name.
"Sora!"
A bright light surrounded her as she felt arms encircle her body, warmth, and heard a small heartbeat. She closed her eyes. Maybe this was her death. To be with the one she loved one last time.
"Kairi, thank you..." She heard Sora whisper. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her, alive and well.
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"I didn't protect you then, I got scared, and called for you. I was weak."She whispered.
He gave her a hug as he whispered in her hair. "No, it was your strength that pulled me out of the darkness."
She smiled, as she let go of him, and looked him in the eyes. "And, it'll be my strength that saves us all. Nothing you do will change my mind."
Cloud's eyes got teary, seeing this. She loved Sora. She cared for him. The only reason she was killing herself was because they existed. "Kairi, if you're doing this for us, then don't" He said in a monotone voice.
She shook her head. "No, it's not for only you guys. It's for everyone. It's for my parents. It's for the hope that I can be as great as them one day."
Sora smiled. No wonder she was the Princess of all Worlds. That one thing just played in his head non-stop.
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Only she knows how to stop the darkness.
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A/N: GAH! Another Late update! Sorry! But, you know, those stupid Writer's Block always get you. Now, I have BIG HUGE news. The next chapter is most likely going to be the last chapter. I have planned out a sad ending, which just might get you to cry, so just be prepared. Now, I have an idea for a small sequel, but it depends on how the story ends. And, of course, all of you! (My reviewers!) So, in the final chapter, let me know what you think!
♥CrystilizedHeart♥