Chapter Four:
"Quickly now, prisoners don't feed themselves" Naminé shoved Kairi into the kitchen.
"Yes Ma'am," Kairi muttered, she grabbed a tray and Naminé piled food on top of it.
"Now get moving," Naminé shoved Kairi lightly out the door. She whispered in Kairi's ear as she headed away from the kitchens "good luck" she headed away to consort with Zexion.
Kairi gathered her composure and wondered down the spiral staircase to the dungeons. She recalled being a child and wondering down here. However Zexion had told her and Naminé stories of people in the dungeons and only they ever managed to get halfway down the stairs before squealing and racing up the stairs.
With new found determination she ignored the stories and progressed down the stairs, once she passed the halfway mark, she became suddenly nervous. She often wondered how true those stories were, but now she dismissed them as scare tactics from a parental figure.
At the bottom of the staircase she called out into the darkness.
"Hello, I'm here with some food,"
"Excellent," Kairi jumped and a small squeak escaped her lips as a scruffy looking man with a bizarre accent poked his head around a corner. "About time I got fed," he added.
"I'm sorry, this is for the poor sap who can't get his own food," she replied, "you'll have to go to the kitchen for some," She added.
"Fine by me," He stuck his head back behind the wall, "It'll be good to get out of the dark." Kairi heard jingling of keys. He came back around the corner and handed her some keys. "here, good luck with that lad, he was mumbling something 'bout the princess." he stroked his blond goatee, "can't say I trust the boy," he hurried up the stairs and left Kairi in the dungeon. She stared at the keys and shook her head.
"That was way too easy," she muttered to herself. She grabbed the lantern sitting on the desk the man was sitting at behind the corner. She say a piece of paper with his name written on it, "Luxord," she memorised the name. After she got Sora out of the dungeon chances are this Luxord would be kicked out of his job. Kairi didn't it to be her fault he lost his job and she would make sure it wouldn't.
With the lantern in hand she walked down the corridor of cells. Once upon a time they had been filled with criminal, and the occasional mistaken innocent, but since Xehanort's apparent policy was to hang any and everyone who was accused of anything. Petty thievery included. Now they were completely empty, save for the one cell that currently held Sora. Which Kairi seemed to be unable to find. She called out and waited for a response.
"Xion?" he called back, Kairi rushed over to where the voice had come from, "Or should I call you princess?" he asked irritatedly.
"I guess I deserved that," Kairi muttered, she placed the lantern on the ground and opened the cell door. She walked in and handed him the tray. "I figured you'd be hungry," she shrugged and sat down next to him.
"You figured right," Sora replied coldly. "Who are you?" he asked as he began devouring the food. "Xion, Princess Kairi or some servant girl? What's she called then? Has she got a name?" he asked angrily and threw away a chicken bone. Kairi hung her head in shame. "First, you're this lovely girl I meet, then next thing I know you're Princess Kairi sentence me to life long imprisonment,"
"Better than hanging you," Kairi interjected.
"Oh what so you can be a servant girl and break me out?" he snapped.
"Would you rather rot in this dungeon then?" she replied heatedly. Sora glared at her, and gave up.
"Fine then, lead the way." He stood up to follow her.
"We have to be quiet," She open the door and checked for Luxord. She motioned for Sora to follow her.
They ascended the spiral staircase in into the main halls of the castle, Kairi led them through the shadows and back passages to the laundry and yanked a servants robe from the clean linen.
"Change into this," She threw it at him. She poked her head out the door to give Sora some privacy and to check for anyone. She blushed furiously when she thought of Sora changing.
"Let's go," Sora joined her at the door, he had his street clothes tucked under his arm.
"We're servant's so look meek," She told him as they headed out into the hallways, "And busy so we don't get handed something to do." she added. They hurriedly traversed the castle corridors, looking as though they were already doing something.
They got upstairs to Kairi bed chambers, Xehanort had a habit of keeping the hallways around her room clear, little did he realise how much that helped her right now.
Without hesitation Kairi barged into her room and grabbed her street clothes. She went to her window and was about to leap to the roof when Sora stopped her.
"You can't do that!" he exclaimed. Kairi gave him a look.
"How do you think I sneak out?" she snorted and leapt to the roof. She shifter forward to give Sora some place to land. He followed quickly afterwards.
"This is how you sneak out?" He asked bewildered at the lengths she went to. Kairi nodded and made her way across the roof and lowered herself onto the ground.
Sora followed, albeit clumsily "I have new found respect for you princess" he said to her
"Let's just get out of here," she replied hastily. And crawled underneath a nearby hedge to be closer to the wall surrounding the castle and out of sight from the guards that periodically patrol the grounds. Sora followed her like a lost puppy, he was completely out of his element inside the castle walls.
Kairi measured 12 steps from the wall to take a run up and leapt at it. She lifted herself up and over it, for once with ease. She landed lightly on the other side of the wall and glared back at it.
"The one time I get it right and now I look like I'm showing off in front of Sora." she muttered. She watched as Sora struggled over the wall, she laughed softly to herself when he fell flat on his butt.
"We're in one of the alleyways around the castle" Kairi told him as she checked their surroundings, "I believe we're on the north side" she added. "This way to the main street, '"she walked down to the alley's opening.
After reaching the main street Sora took the lead.. it was Kairi's turn to be out of her element.
The first place they went to was Sora's cave. The magic of the place was still present, and somewhat magnified by Sora's freedom, the walls were twinkling from the waters glow, which was a pale green. They sat on the lip over the water.
"So you're princess Kairi" Sora stated. The cave had an almost instant calming effect on him, he had seemingly completely forgiven Kairi for lying to him. Kairi hung her head,
"I'm sorry I lied to you" she apologised all the same. "If I'd told you who I was you wouldn't have believed me." she explained. Sora laughed.
"You know, I probably wouldn't have," He grinned, "But I can say truthfully, I've kissed the princess," He laughed. Kairi smacked his arm playfully and joined the laughter. It was strange how comfortable Kairi felt, sitting in the cave with Sora. It felt as though somehow, they'd both been in the same situation, in a cave similar to this one.
"We should head back to my house," Sora suggested, "Unless you need to go back?" he asked her.
"Well, by now, they'll be in a panic, so I think I'll draw this out as long as I can." she grinned mischievously.
OoOoO
"Is that everything?" Roxas asked, staring at the pile of equipment
"I have no idea, he hides this stuff really well," Riku stared at the cryptic note left to him and Roxas, in case he ever got caught.
Sora's thieving equipment was spread out throughout the city, several pieces requiring others to obtain. He left a note to Roxas and Riku, subtly stating the location of everything.
After Roxas had calmed down they went hunting around the city for everything they'd possibly need to break Sora out.
"I'm home!" Someone announced announced at the door. "Hope you you guys didn't miss me too much" Sora walked in the door. Riku and Roxas froze and dropped what they were holding.
"Gee want to be a little bit quieter?" He questioned them both. Roxas threw himself at Sora and hugged him tightly, "Chill Rox," Sora said quietly. Awkwardly hugging his brother in return.
"Aww he missed you Sora" Xion swooned, she grinned in greeting to Riku and Roxas.
"How did you break Sora out?" Riku asked.
"Let's see," She intertwined her finger behind her back in thought.
"You could introduce yourself properly," Sora grumbled, Roxas still had his arms wrapped around Sora's neck. Kairi shot him a look.
"I suppose I should," she conceded, "Hello Riku and Roxas, my name is Kairi and I'm the princess of the Radiant Garden."
OoOoO
another chapter down! I like this one, Sora actually gets angry, D: *shock, horror* and Kairi has to reveal her identity to peoples.
And Xehanort's still a jerkface D: plus Luxord's in this chapter, who doesn't love Luxord? I dare some Luxord hater to review!
In fact I ask everyone to review, feedback make me happy and makes me think people care.
~Shazi-chan