A/N: Ok so here is Chapter 2 of Not The Same. I had this written out before hand and I'll start on 3 now that 2 is done. lol Anyways, this is a little Kairi-bashing for those like me who think of her as nothing but a burden on the two lover boys we know and adore. It was only a few minutes ago that i reread it so i apologize if i missed some mistakes and please enjoy the reading. I tried to keep them as in character as i could and i, for the most part, think i was successful for a good moment or so. Please comment and enjoy!
Not the Same
Chapter Two: Goodbye to a Memory
They had been simple words but they had hit Riku hard, leaving him breathless and a little confused. Had Sora really jus said that or was he just imagining something he knew he always wanted? He had to ask his friend what he meant, he had to straighten this out, because if he did, what he'd hoped for would maybe finally be his.
"Sor-"
"Sora! Riku!"
Both boys jumped as the voice of their third member rounded through the shore. They turned to once again look to the sea, watching as a single small boat rowed into shore with a red headed teenage girl waving animatedly from within it. Sora suppressed a grimace as the filled out form of his long time friend became clearer as she came closer. Riku didn't even attempt to hide his scowl. Now he couldn't bring up Sora's confession now that Kairi had decided to join them.
"Sora! Riku! Look!" She waved a hand desperately as she got nearer to the beaches shore. When it hit land, she didn't even tie up the boat before climbing out of it and running towards the boys. Before she had made it within ear shot, Sora turned to Riku.
"Later." He smiled. Even now he felt endlessly uneasy even at the sight of the grown women that used to be one of his best friends. The brunette was also a little disappoint that someone would destroy his moment with Riku when he had finally said what he'd wanted to since leaving Twilight Beach. He wasn't exactly sure how Riku was going to react, but that didn't mean he didn't catch the hints that Riku loved him back. Certainly, if given the chance, he'd give his first kiss to the silver haired beauty.
Riku nodded, slightly calmed by the fact that he'd be able to talk to Sora about later, but still not happy that they were interrupted by Kairi. He hadn't been happy with Kairi for a long time now. It had started when the King and his subordinates had left when they had really seen what this older version of Kairi was like. Let's just leave it at 'Bitch pained in gold'.
When she was finally standing before them she took some time to catch her breath, resting for a second with her hands on her knees. "Lo-Look!" When she straightened up again, she outstretched her hand so both her boys could see was she held in it.
A bottle held in her hand, Kairi smiled at the shocked faces of her friends, pleased that she knew something before both of them. When the boys finally let out a breath, Sora was the first to speak. "From the King?" It was not really a question seeing as the symbol on the letter in the bottle was that of King Mickey. He quickly snatched the letter from her hand disregarding the uneasiness he felt near this Kairi for a brief period of time. If the King was sending a message to them, there must be something that he needs to do; it must be a reason for him to leave the island. And that, he welcomed more than the feelings he held for Riku.
With nimble fingers he uncorked the top of the bottle and slipped the letter out and into his hand. He rolled it open while feeling his friends take their places beside him. Together, the three silently read the letter.
Dear Sora and friends
I wanted to thank you for saving the worlds once again Sora. I also wanted to thank Riku and Kairi for their help, and I wanted to apologize to Riku for not being able to do more than what I did. As we had expected, the path to the worlds have closed once again, showing us that any dangerous threats are not present anymore. That being said, Sora; Heartless will not stop existing. As long as there is darkness in a single person's heart, there will be Heartless.
Gosh, I feel sorta bad for asking this after you two just got home, but I'm afraid that it's needed if we want to avoid a serious threat like the nobodies or another rise of Maleficent and Pete. Now, please think about this before you deny or accept, because it is very important that you chose from the heart, otherwise the worlds will remain closed. Sora and Riku, I want the two of you to think about become world travelers. I know that you two just got home and all, but I see no other choice to avoid turning another threat major. You two would be able to retune to Destiny Island anytime you guys want, but you will also be expected to visit countless other worlds to keep them safe.
Now if you do accept my request, Goofy and Donald are going to come by tomorrow to pick the two of you up. If you don't want to leave your home, then tell Donald and Goofy your final goodbye's Sora, I did promise those two they'd get to see you one more time! Thank you again for your bravery.
The letter remained unsigned, but all three teens knew who the letter was from.
Slowly, Kairi turned to her friends, an almost eager look on her face. "You two aren't planning on going are you?" she asked hopefully. Sora and Riku remained quiet, glancing at one another in question.
They knew why Kairi was eager for them to accept. She thought that if they went they'd bring her with them. She has only ever been to a few worlds and she would love to see all of the stuff Sora got to see in his travels. Sora however, didn't want to be the one to tell her she wasn't going.
"Kairi." Riku spoke in a clipped tone, cutting down her smile instantly. She stared at him in question. "You're not coming with us."
Blunt and brutal, way to go Riku. Sora thought sarcastically. Really, way too make a girl cry.
Kairi looked positively indifferent, which confused Sora at first. She was just shot down, why would see look like she didn't hear Riku? It became clear when she opened her mouth.
"Of course I'm coming Riku!" She said excitedly. "Sora wouldn't leave me behind! Besides I can help too, I have a keyblade now, I can help." Kairi smiled in triumph as she looked at Sora expectantly. Probably expecting me to agree with her. Wow she just knows how to make things difficult, if it's not getting captured, it's this.
"Um, Kairi. You can't come with us." Sora tried, he really did, to be firm but soft. He didn't want to hurt her after all, she was still his best friend, and even if she wasn't the one he remembered, he still wanted to see her as the girl he once thought he loved.
Now she looked affected.
"Bu-But, why? I- I can fight now, I have a keyblade too!" She looked from Sora to Riku trying to state her claim. Unfortunately for her, she was failing.
"Then draw your keyblade."
It was Riku that spoke, his tone still clipped and cold despite the fact that he was sort of feeling bad for getting mean on her. She had to understand that she belonged here. It was them that simply didn't. In the end, the only way to do that was be tough with her. Being adopted by the mayor, Kairi had grown up spoiled, so of course she would do anything to get her way. Riku just wasn't going to let her. After she returned to the island and forgot about her love for Sora, she had chased guy after guy and Selphei had felt the need to retell all of the stories in which Kairi had been involved with Tidus, Wakka, and other guys like Zell and Zack.
"Fine!" She huffed, putting out her hand again and closing her eyes. She concentrated on the way if felt to hold a keyblade for the first time, focusing on the way it weighed on her hand and the power she gained from it. She centered her mind on the way she felt safe to have its weight resting on her hand. And the presence of something warm residing in the back of her mind.
Nothing happened.
When she opened her eyes, neither Sora nor Riku looked surprised that she couldn't do it. She however, was frustrated.
"Why can't I summon it again? Can't you just give me another one like you did before Riku?" Again she looked hopeful, a sight that made Riku scowl and shake his head. It just wasn't going to go her way, and he was going to make sure of that.
"I can't give you a keyblade Kairi. Do you even know where the keyblade comes from?"
At Riku's question Kairi froze, looking down. She didn't, and that was one of the main reasons she would never me a wielder. She would just always be a burden.
"From the heart Kairi." Sora explained softly. "The keyblade is called to those with strong hearts. Mine, the King, and Riku's hearts are the only ones left that can call that forth. The only reason you could wield one before was because it was given to you freely by Riku. You can't summon your own. You don't have a heart that can support the weight of the original wielder of the keyblade you use. You can't fight like us, Kairi. You'll only ever get in our way." The uneasiness had taken its final toll on Sora's mind. He didn't want to be around a familiar stranger, he didn't want to keep seeing that small face that remain in his memory even as he original was now so much different. He didn't want to take her with them.
Riku looked a little less surprised at Sora's statements than Kairi who was gapping at him as if he'd just stolen her favorite shoes. That is what was most important to Kairi now, unlike the charm she had given to Sora when he'd first saved her. The importance of that little charm had drowned in the styles and pressure of everything teenager. No, she wasn't the same.
"I-I do have a strong heart! It was strong enough to capture yours wasn't it?"
"No Kairi, you have a weak heart that forgot me when I wasn't here anymore! You weren't strong enough, or you didn't care enough about me to resist forgetting me! The King, Riku, even Goofy and Donald remembered at the very least my name! What did you remember Kairi?"
The red head and the silvernette stared at Sora as if he was a different person. The Keyblade Master himself didn't seem to notice Riku's stare, keeping those furious blue eyes focused on Kairi's look of shock.
"S-"
"Don't!" Sora cut off the red head's excuses before they even began. "Don't even try Kairi, I know you forgot everything. Even my name Kairi! Not even Leon or Areith forgot that. They may not have remembered me but they didn't forget my name. You've changed Kairi. I used to see you are the kind, caring red headed girl who wanted nothing more than to see other worlds with her best friends! Where is that girl now? Buried behind a shallow teenager who only wants to look good in front of her friends! Where is my best friend I used to see as a sister? Where is the girl who looked at the world and saw possibilities beyond getting boyfriends?"
Sora was positively fuming as he ranted, the last of his senses breaking under this new strain. He knew that he may be going a little over board, but he felt like he had the right to that. He missed his old friend, he missed his new friends, and he felt terrible for not looking at the old like he used to. Why couldn't he ever have any peace now?
The silvernette winced as he touched the brunette's arm, silently giving support. He could see Sora was breaking under the pressures and he could help but break a little too.
The only girl in the group was shell shocked, feeling scared and sad at the same time. She didn't know why but she could feel that the friendship she'd had with these boys was about to end in a terrible way. Even at these feelings, one above all stood out to her, one she recognized: Frustration. It was something she knew and recognized so she was going to work off that.
"What do you want from me Sora? You are gone for almost three years! So I've changed! You two have as well! Why is it so bad that we've grown up?" She was yelling her frustrations just as Sora had before, but she was working off Sora's weaknesses: His kindness. She knew that Sora, being Sora, would feel terrible for having doubts about their friendship. He had a kind heart, that she knew and she was going to use it to the fullest if this was the last chance she got.
Sora flinched at that, getting quiet in the face of those accusations. He could answer her, he didn't want to answer her. Riku, however, was angered that she'd hit that low.
"Growing up is not the problem Kairi. The problem is that we have grown apart, we have grown under different pressures and you grew rotten." He scowled as he felt Sora stiffen beside him. "We wanted to return to a caring sister figure we had left behind for fear of your safety! We wanted you to welcome us with a smile and a hug and we wanted to return to the way things were before the doors to the worlds were open. You turned into a bitch Kairi. You became shallow, conceded, and cruel to those you claim 'bellow you', that is that the girl we remember!"
Kairi's face turned red as she listened to the insults. She didn't stand a chance against them, that she already knew, but that did not mean she would stand there and be belittled by some battle obsessed losers. They really had grown apart.
"Fine, so I've changed. You've missed a lot and you don't see the importance of the things I do. If I don't keep people in line, they'll walk all over me, you should know right Sora?"
That had crossed the line, Riku took a step forward making Kairi step back, but a shaky tanned hand grabbed onto his arm before he could farther intimidate the girl before them. Sora still had his head down not looking at either of them, yet there was a sad look in his eyes as he sighed.
"You're not coming with us. You belong here, where you can see the importance of putting other people down. You aren't the friend I remember, and I'm not the naïve boy you seemed to think you knew." The strong hearted fighter finally gathered the courage to look at Kairi. Seeing the pain in those blue eyes he thought he knew only made the pain in his heart escalate. For a second, he saw the heartbroken face of the young Kairi he used to know. A sad smile crossed his features.
"Goodbye Kairi. I'll never forget you." He said as that young face faded into the stunted one he now found familiar.
With nothing left to say, he pulled a stilled Riku with him as he walked away. Tears in his eyes and a sad smile on his face, he felt only slightly pained at what he'd just done. He'd just walked away from one of the few childhood friends he has. Before leaving the old Kairi he'd told her 'I'll come back to you, I promise' and now he felt like he finally had. "There goes another person I'll miss."
Slowly, Riku began to come back to himself. Sora out brake had been strangely eye opening to the silvernette, but he would refrain from bringing these things up till he and Sora have met up with Donald and Goofy again.
"Sora." He called out hesitantly, pulling on the arm his friend held only slightly to get him to stop walking. They were a fair distance from Kairi now, almost to the entrance of the secret cave, and as he looked back, he could see Kairi walking hollowly to the boat she had left.
When the brunette turned to him, his heart broke at what he saw. Silent tears slipped from those shining blue eyes. The smile on that tanned face seemed to only add to the sadness of these moments.
"Sora." He called again, pulling the other to his chest by the arm that had been in Soar's grips originally. Wrapping both his strong arms around the petit waist of his long term love, Riku held the silently crying boy tightly. Sora had buried his face into Riku's chest, the silvernette being a head taller than him, and griped at the fabric of the front of the other's shirt. His arms were being held prisoner between their bodies so it was all he was able to do.
"I-It's better if I remem-ber her for what she us-used to be. Tomorrow, Riku, let's look for a home for ourselves. We'll meet with friends that are still connected with me. It'll be ok, right, Riku?"
Unsure and childish, that was how Sora sounded to Riku's ears, but at that moment Riku fell even more in love with this boy he held in his arms. It's always been Sora's heart Riku had loved the most and right now, when it was drowning in sorrow; Riku wanted nothing more than to save it.
With sure movement, Riku pushed Sora away only enough to be able to look at the other's eyes that were clouded in tears. A hand was placed on the damp cheek and Riku had to bend slightly to get close enough to feel Sora's breath on his upper lip. He felt more than heard Sora's breath hitch. He would not move forward, he'd let Sora close the gap between them. Never would he want to push Sora into something like this, even if the younger teen had told him of his feeling earlier. He didn't have to wait very long.
In a swift movement of rising on his tippy toes, Sora sealed his lips with Riku's, now drowning into the feeling of pleasure rather than sadness of abandoning a friend.
The kiss remained sweet as Riku felt like he was taking advantage of the state Sora was in. If Sora wanted, Riku swore he would continue this later. Slowly, they both pulled way. Riku straighten and Sora lowered from his toes. The night already surrounding them as they shyly looked away from one another.
"Sora." Again the younger teen's name fell from slightly red lips, catching said boys attention.
"Hmm." Sora hummed in answer turning to look at Riku through the dark.
"I love you."
Sora smiled a wide smile as the statement got caught in his heart, fluttering there till his stomach filled with a bubbly feeling known as nervousness to the other teens on the island. Slowly, he reached for his friend's hand, feeling a familiar grip and roughness.
"I know."