Special Thanks to RecklessxDreamer for Beta-reading (since prior chapter)

These are two chapters putting together. Hope you enjoy!

Interlude 2: The book of KH: Riku and Kairi's case

Opening a book is a journey to the other worlds…

X

Sora couldn't be happier.

It all started with just a little talk about the book that Riku had given Kairi. From then, Riku and Kairi went onto titles of other books. And they couldn't stop conversing about all the other story books that they came across in their lives.

Sora couldn't really catch up with them, given that he didn't read much, but he didn't mind at all. He only kept listening to them ramble on about story books. Their opinions over few books clashed but they had pretty much the same taste.

Sora was surprised on how people could make so much conversation solely out of books.

Only when they came to the 'Kingdom Hearts' book was Sora included in the conversation.

"That book was written by Namine. She wrote few books but she never really wanted to publicize her work. I was the one who urged her to do so and she agreed to let me be a person in charge." Here, Riku smiled, as if he'd been proud of himself. "There were only a handful of places where she allowed her books to go." Then Riku paused, his eyes blanked out for a while and he finished. "That was 10 years ago. I doubt if she wants her book to be in bookstore. The book store owner didn't even know where it came from, so there must be a mistake."

"So it just happened to be there, and you were thinking of getting it back to Namine?" Sora assumed.

"Then why did you give it to me?" Kairi asked instantly.

Riku's eyes lay on the book's cover and he traced his finger over it absentmindedly. "There was no hint of anyone touching the book, Kairi was the first one. And…somehow, Kairi and Namine…smelled the same. So I figured Namine won't mind if Kairi keep it."

Sora and Kairi quirked their brows. Then Kairi shifted the book into Riku's hand and said, "If it belongs to Namine, you should return it to her."

"That's fine, I'll tell her about it once I meet her, then she gets to decide," Riku confirmed as he pushed the book back to Kairi.

"So, who exactly is Namine? A friend of yours?"Sora asked, interested.

"Yeah…" Riku paused, eyeing Sora slightly. At the time Sora was fast enough to catch the silent message.

Namine wasn't human. She could be Riku's kind or something else. But they couldn't discuss about that now in the presence of Kairi.

Somehow, Kairi seemed to know that something was going on between them. To break the awkwardness, Riku disclosed, "I'll tell you guys one thing then, whether you're going to believe it or not." Riku jabbed the cover of the book with one finger and began, "This, she wrote out of her vision."

Sora nodded, trying to register along while Kairi guessed, "You mean, she wrote it from her premonition?"

"Not exactly. Do you guys believe in alternative universe? That somewhere out there; there is someone like you, who may be exactly like you, but not you. Everything they do reflect us and in turn, we reflect them. Worlds are connected and so are we." Riku theorized.

"Roxas is going to love this conversation," Sora inserted.

"Okay, let's say we believe that. So?" Kairi prompted.

"So…Namine has this ability to travel her sights to that alternate universe and write about it, that's what I think. Namine herself didn't really think she could control such ability, she said it just happened."

Playing with the hem of his shirt, Sora looked down and began, "The dream…"

Sora didn't ask anything more, but Riku remembered and realized. "Oh, your dream. It could be connected with this in someway, but that's beyond me. If only we could get to Namine…"

"She lives far?" Kairi asked, wanting to solve the riddle behind Sora's dream as well.

"Not far, but in another dimension, to put it in easiest terms." Riku grinned.

While Sora knew that was for a fact, Kairi took it for a joke and commented with bored tone, "Very funny."

"You know what's even funnier than that?" Soraraised up. When the other two shook their heads, Sora said, "These three kids in the book kinda look like us."

X

Interlude 2.2 Roxas and Sora's case

"Not that I have problem with it or want it to change, but…why do you have to be so submissive when it comes to your brother? Sure he's your older brother, but only by a few seconds. Most twins don't treat one another as older or younger."

Sora looked at Riku while Riku stared off at the distant ocean. The older boy still seemed to be eager for an answer, though, Sora was lost in thought for lengthy amount of time.

His brother and Riku weren't on good terms, and he didn't know exactly why. Even though Riku offered a truce with Roxas, whichRoxas downright refused, Riku was beginning to get upset and for some reason…wanted Sora to be on his side too.

Sora felt obliged to explain. It had been a while he told this to anyone.

"Our parents work a charity job, so they've always been busy. It's usually only me and Roxas." The brunet nodded to himself and laughed, "Roxas actually goes against Mum's teaching that 'we should look after each other' given that he mostly looks after me."

Riku felt the edginess in his heart when Sora smiled as he talked about this. That was the connection Roxas had with Sora.

"Well, there was this thing that happened…I think I was nine at that time. There was this bully, Junior Ota and his gang, at school. He pretty much picked on anyone, and one day I stood in the way of him and one of the younger kids. I wasn't thinking; I was just so angry and I ended up yelling at him. Evidently, this got him pissed but before that Ota-guy could do anything to me, Roxas had rushed in with a teacher. After that, Roxas scolded me for not calling a teacher and taking the matter into my own hands. I was still angry, and I argued with him. I told him that I didn't have to listen to him. We stayed mad at each other until the next day. I walked back home without waiting for him. Along the way I was pulled into the alley and I found myself facing Ota-guy and his gang." Sora stopped and asked, "I guess you know the rest?"

Riku nodded, yet he urgedSora to continue.

"They gave me a small reminder about their detentions. Then, they rounded on me and started beating me up. When I was on the ground, I was truly afraid, but then I heard shouting. Someone was trying to stop them from hurting me, and I realized it was Roxas. I had no idea why he was there, but he was also defenseless against five boys that were twice the size of both of us. But since it was me they wanted, they only pushed Roxas away, not really even hurting him." Sora paused, wearing a crooked smile on his face.

Riku knew that kind of smile. It wasn't such a pleasant memory.

"The next thing I knew, Roxas was on top of me, shielding me from every kick and hit that was meant for me. They all yelled at him to get off, I did as well, but Roxas was stuck to me like glue. So they ended up beating us both up until some adults showed up and stopped them." At this, Sora drew his knees up to his chest, his hands encircling it. "Roxas got six broken bones and bruises all over his body, while I only got few bruises here and there. Imagine it, six broken bones at the age of nine."

"That's awful…and I bet you felt guilty for every single bone he'd broken." Riku pointed out knowingly.

"Right." The brunet nodded. "Kairi was there when the adults came. I found out from her later that Roxas was aware the bullies might come after me, so he had followed me home while Kairi tagged along behind. I didn't even notice. When he saw me get pulled into the alley, he told Kairi to get help while he came to me right away."

"That's quite a story. I shall never question about you and your twin brother that way again." Riku stated, and then he asked more. "Where are those guys now? The ones that beat you and your brother up."

"They're still at school," Sora answered, pretty carefree, until his mind processed Riku's weird tone. "Wait; don't tell me you're going pay them a visit or something."

"Soon I will," Riku confirmed.

Sora waved his hands side to side in frantic. "No, no, no! That's a long time ago already! It's in the past; they received fair punishments from school and their parents. They've never messed with us again after. You don't have anything to do with it anyway."

"You're too forgiving," Riku commented with a wry smile.

The boy scratched the back of his head. "It's been so long since the incident; I couldn't hold my anger for that long."

Riku studied the boy for a long while and turned away. "I would."

The brunet blinked at him. "But…it's tiring, you know…hating people."

"I bet you've never ever hated someone before in your life?" Riku questioned.

"No? No. I hate that Ota-Sempai for picking up on people and hurting Roxas back then," Sora said as he fisted his hands.

"Back then, but not now. When you hate someone only for a short period of time, it isn't called hate, Sora." Riku clarified.

"It isn't?" Sora looked sideways. "Well, it's not important. It's better to think of something you like better than something you don't."

Riku laughed a little. "I figured you would say that. You would rather think about something lovely rather than entertaining the thought of beating the daylights out of someone."

Sora fisted a knuckle to his sides, enthusiastic. "Come on, man. The world is full of life and colors!"

"Only this world."Riku said, expressionless.

Sora's shoulders sagged, but he tried again. "Aw, c'mon, Riku. Maybe you've been hanging out in darkness too long. You gotta try and think positive!"

Riku observed the boy again. "I don't know how you put up with me."

"What?"

"Others would have left already, hanging around this gloomy Nobody all day would only wear you down." Riku pointed a finger at himself. "But you're still here. Tell me, how you put up with a people like me."

The younger shrugged. "I don't know."

Riku sighed. "Even heroes have a limit, but it seems like you don't. And you're quite the hero in your own way."

"Wow, that's quite a compliment." The boy blushed a little, a hand going to the back of his head once again.

'But you've never been to any other worlds. Out there is different. This place here is always heart-warming and free of conflict and chaos. I wonder…No, if it's Sora….he'll be fine.'

"Sora."

"Huh?"

"Don't ever change."