There are some things in life which I still find hard to fathom. Like human emotions, for one. They are one of the most unpredictable things ever.

I didn't know she was going to cry, and yet, I hate myself because I know that I was the one who made her cry.

Riku said not to be overprotective, but I still have reserves about letting her come along. The many dangers that I face before, aren't they enough reason for me not to bring her along? I could be endangering her! Worse still, she could get captured again, just like in that castle the other time. And who knows what terrible things could happen to her this time?

But the time has come for me to make a decision. And despite the dangers, I know my mind will not be at rest until she comes along with this journey.

Thing is, I'm terrible with words, and I'm not sure if she's so ready to accept my apology. A letter may not be the most effective way, but it seems to be the best way currently. Hopefully she'll accept it.

Emotions over practicality... Whoever knew that I could be so emotional?

-Sora

Sora heard the smashing of glass from outside the door, before hearing convulsed sobs from the hut within.

"What has she done now?" he sighed. Worried, he made his way round to the back window and found it open. Pushing aside the straw blinds, he found a distraught Kairi crawling amidst shattered glass on the floor, her hands badly cut.

"Kairi!" he yelled, leaping through the window. He raced over to her and bent down beside her. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed. Setting her down, he quickly examined her cuts, which were numerous, but were not deep and were superficial wounds.

"What happened?" Sora asked her, summoning his Keyblade at the same time. However, Kairi merely shook her head while tears continued to stream down her face.

Forcing himself to look at her arm, Sora pointed the Keyblade at her wounds. "Heal," he murmured. Kairi's arm was bathed in a green glow of light while the wounds on it slowly closed up and disappeared, leaving a flawless arm behind. The Keyblade melted away into nothingness as Sora walked up towards the bed and sat gingerly on the edge of it.

"So tell me," his voice tender, "what happened?"

Kairi sniffed a little, and then whispered, "Photo."

Sora turned around and looked at the mess of glass on the floor. Among the shattered fragments was a piece of paper, which he assumed to be the photo. He walked over and pushing aside the glass fragments carefully, he picked up the photograph and flipped it.

"It's the photo we took when we came back from our adventure. When we had promised never to leave each other again." Sora realized. He held it in his hands for a moment, before handing it back to Kairi, who received it silently.

Sora grabbed a broom and a dustpan, saying, "Best to clean all this glass up, in case someone else suffers a similar fate."

Silently, Kairi watched as Sora swept up every single piece of glass, all the while her thoughts on the photo.

"We agreed never to let each other go alone again. We agreed to always be together after this. And we made a promise, a promise so dear to me that it'd break me if he doesn't keep that promise. Right on that day, when we set our Keyblades—"

"Umm, Kairi?" Sora's voice broke her thoughts. She looked up.

"I have a little something for you to read," he said. Shuffling a little on the spot, he continued, "You may not feel like reading it right away, but I hope you do so soon, because it could change everything." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.

"Please, do read it as soon as possible," he said. Kairi looked into those eyes... They were almost pleading with her. Slowly, she reached out and took the letter from his hands.

"Please leave now," Kairi said, her expression unreadable. Sora took a last look at her, before turning around. Throwing open the door, he fought the urge to run to Kairi and beg her to come with him...

"S–sora?"

He turned around. Kairi was looking at the floor.

"Thank... thank you for helping with the mess and my arm."

Sora nodded, then headed out the hut, closing the door behind him.

Kairi took a glance down her arm. The bandage was neatly wrapped around her arm. Sora had certainly done a good job in patching her arm up. She then held up the piece of parchment Sora had given to her. With a wistful sigh, she unfolded the parchment and began to read.

"Dear Kairi, Riku has prompted me to do some thinking about this whole adventure thing, and I've tried to find excuses to keep you away from harm. You see, I'm afraid that I could lose you once again if I bring you along with me for this journey.

"Remember the time in the Castle That Never Was? All you had was Pluto to keep you company. I could feel your pain right from outside the castle, as I knew that you were there, waiting for me to come for you, yet so scared that I would never be able to make it to you. The thought of it just made my heart ache, and also afraid of being unable to save you, just like that time at Hollow Bastion. You were so... lifeless...

"It's these thoughts that made me try to stop you from going. I'm lonely without you as well, and I missed you so badly the whole time I was away. But the danger that you face is like nothing ever before. I don't even know what we're up against this time round. This castle once took my memories away and made me forget you; if they took your memories away I don't know what would happen."

"I'm lonely without you as well. I really want you to come along. I'm just afraid that I won't be able to protect you. However, Riku told me that you were still a Keyblade-bearer, and that this fight is as much yours as it is ours. That's why I realized that I shouldn't stop you if you want to go."

"At the very least, I can be there to protect the Princess of Heart..."

Kairi looked up from the letter and thought back to the time when her heart had left her and fused with Sora's. She closed her eyes, looking back to the time when she saw through Sora's eyes and witnessed his struggle to reach her, only to find that he had to sacrifice his heart for her, turning into a Heartless while her heart returned to her body. How he willingly stabbed himself to release her heart…

He wasn't being selfish. He knew she was lonely. But she also realized how much he cared for her. And now he had even let her come along.

She was afraid she'd get into their way. But she also didn't want to be away from him. It's a big leap of faith, but it's something she wanted to do.

No, it was what she must do.

She got off the bed. Her arm still stung, but she realized that it was nothing compared to what he had probably gone through while he was away from her.

It's time to go now.

Riku watched as Sora climbed the hill to the Keyblade Trinity, hands in his pockets. Shoulders slumped, Riku could probably guess what had happened. He continued watching as Sora grasped the Kingdom Key within his hand. Pulling it out of the rock, he held it up in front of him, before flinging it out to sea. It flew in a wide arc, before spiraling back, where he jumped up and caught it neatly.

Continuing into a dodge roll, he practiced a series of slashes, before rocketing off the hill, bringing the Keyblade down with him. As he landed, a palm tree split into half.

Panting heavily, he stood up and looked behind him, before recalling his Keyblade. He walked back towards the Gummi Ship was parked.

"Is she coming?"

Sora turned around. Riku had stepped out from under a Paopu tree. Sora replied nonchalantly.

"No."

"Did you two argue?" Riku raised his eyebrows.

"No." Sora turned back to walk on.

"Then?" Riku walked forwards.

Sora stopped in his tracks. He bent his head, searching for a way to reply Riku. Anything but the truth, he thought.

"I gave her a choice."

"Then the choice is hers. Let's go." Riku walked up the ramp to the Gummi Ship and disappeared through the entrance. "Some preparations, then we leave in five."

Sora turned around, hesitating, half-hoping, half-expecting Kairi to run forwards. His head hung down, he ran up the ramp, blinking back tears that threatened to betray him.