AN: Sorry it took a week to get this one out! :( I had life stuff to deal with! But I am back lol, time for some rapid updates again. xD
Well, Kairi thought, if they weren't going back to school just yet - and they were going to have to wait for Selphie to get out of school - then they had a day to plan for.
She returned to her room, heading for Xion and lifting the Sleep spell from her with a casual wave of the hand. The black-haired girl woke instantly, her eyes opening with a snap. Her gaze found Kairi immediately as she sat up on the bed.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Kairi said with a grin. "Ready for your first day of real island living?" She saw the look of pure panic on the girl's face, and quickly continued on. "We're not going to school or anything just yet - dad wants to give us both time to get used to things here first. But I would like to show you around - some of my favorite places, some of the things we like to do here - and we could even go and find Sora or Riku, if you'd be more comfortable with them around, too!"
Xion looked down at herself, like she'd forgotten she had changed clothes last night. She looked up at Kairi. Her face was scrunched up in worry and deep thought alike. "OK...If we're just going to look at things...I can do that."
"Okay - just the tour, then," Kairi assured. "Maybe we could take a boat over to the island, though, later? That's where we all play and hang out - we've told you about that before. You could look for more seashells to bring back home." She turned and went over to clear off one of her shelves of years old, bad art projects, then looked to Xion. "You can put them right here - arrange them however you want. Make it all pretty."
"I can?" Xion's face showed excitement. Then her face fell. "Really? But...that was for your things-"
"It was just clutter," Kairi laughed, waving a hand. "I should have done that ages ago, really. Anyways, remember what I said last night? My things are your things now, too! So?"
"Ok. I want to do that."
"Great! So, now you need to get dressed, and then we need to go make some breakfast before heading out."
"I don't have to eat," Xion said, quick to remind.
"But you like to eat," Kairi giggled. "And you're going to eat. It's practice for later, remember? If 'Even' can deliver on what he promised us..." she went on in a murmur.
"Ok..." Xion relented. She fought to disentangle herself from the blankets, getting out of bed at last. She hesitated, looking down at herself again. Then around the room. "What do I wear here?" she asked anxiously. "My clothes, or...yours?"
"This time of year, you could get away with your usual outfit," Kairi considered. "Plus the jacket. But if you wanted to go without it..."
"Are you?"
"Huh?"
Xion looked at her. "Are you going to keep wearing your outfit? With the long coat and the hat...?"
Kairi frowned, looking to where her adventurer's garb lay folded on her desk in front of a window. She looked down at herself now, for first time. A scarred body exposed, in a little white nightgown. Arms and legs bared...neck, face, and head, too...
Doubt rose up in her for the first time in a while now. A real anxiety of her own.
Was dad right, for more reasons than one? Was she ready for this?
Were any of them really...ready?
"Well - I can drop the coat -" Kairi started quickly, crossing her arms. "But I'm going to need all new clothes now, in general. Both of us will! So - I'll rock the crop top and mini-skirt look on its own for now. Until we can get dad to take us on a nice, big shopping trip," she finished with a wink at her sister.
Xion nodded, but ducked her head quickly.
Kairi sighed and went over to her desk, setting the coat aside - and the stockings, too. She picked up her top and skirt and quickly changed into them. She examined herself again...and then she looked into the tall mirror on the wall finally. It really did look awful, from another person's perspective, didn't it...?
This is what daddy sees every time he looks at me now...No wonder he looks so...
Kairi waited for Xion to get changed too, into her long sleeved yellow top and shorts alone - no jacket, for a first - then she took the girl's hand and led her downstairs. Xion took every step of those stairs like it was another step toward death, Kairi swore! They went to the kitchen, where Kairi started pulling things out to start cooking (she had Xion sit down at the table to wait).
"Kairi, honey, you don't need to be..."
Kairi stopped, turning to see dad had come into the room. But he'd trailed off as he saw her.
And there was that look again.
"What?" she said, maybe a bit more snappish and hot than she meant to be.
Dad frowned. He took in her arms, and her legs now...and he gathered himself again, meeting her gaze squarely. "You've both been through so much, and you've been gone so long...I'd just thought you might have wanted me to cook for you and you two could just...relax?"
Kairi sighed, then smiled at him. "Thanks, but we're just going to do this quick so we can get out there; I'm going to give Xion the big tour - and we might go see Sora and Riku, too. Definitely Selphie, after school's out. The point is, if we're not going to school ourselves yet - we have some time to kill."
"Okay," dad nodded, smiling back at her. "Just..."
"Yes?"
"Come back before dark this time," dad said quietly.
Kairi gazed at him, then nodded seriously. "I will. I promise."
Dad's face broke, and another, humorous kind of smile came over him now. "If it really has been months for you, I can't punish you for something that happened so long ago now. Even if, for me, it seems like last night."
Kairi grinned with embarrassment and shame. "R-right...but I can still apologize for it. So: I'm sorry, dad. For leaving the house without telling you, and for taking the boat across the waters in the middle of a terrible storm. That was stupid, and reckless, and it easily could have just ended with me being lost at sea...forever. But...it was cosmic princess-y instincts at work! I was just following them, even if I didn't understand it at the time!" she added on swiftly, flushed.
"Well then, in light of cosmic-princess instincts being responsible for the act, I'll accept the apology, and we'll just move past it," dad replied, trying his best to be serious about it. "What matters is that you're home...and safe."
Kairi nodded. "Yeah..."
"Okay, so, to start with, Yevani is one of the largest islands on our world - and one of the most technologically advanced. There are only three other known, inhabited islands that can match up to us. Not that it should be a competition between us...or anything worse."
"Worse?" Xion frowned.
"Okay, well, in the past we've had issues with trade relations and routes - but anything worse is a lot further back in our history," Kairi went on quickly. "It used to be this whole system of warring islands...but these days we all get along pretty well. The only problems we ever have nowadays are nature-based ones or pirates - though, piracy isn't that serious anymore, even. It's not too frequent."
"Ok..."
"Right, so, currently we're in the southern coastal town of Omona. But, inland - over that big hill, see it? - there's the city of Slesa. That's where school is, where the mall and swordsmanship dojo are, and it's also where Selphie lives. And if you were to go to the far east side of the island, you'd find Zarkull. That's where the major ship ports are - and where most visitors from the other islands come to stay at."
Xion nodded, looking overwhelmed again, as they continued walking along down the beach together.
"Sorry," Kairi flushed, brushing at her hair.
"It's ok! I- like learning about the islands," Xion said, looking her in the eye and smiling.
Kairi grinned. "Great, then! Let's get a little more small scale here, though. Over there is the Kimikos' house - we're not that far from Riku's home, now. And over there is- Oh, it's Lulu!"
"Lulu...?" Xion turned, following her gaze down the beach.
Right to where Lulu was, in her black kimono, lounging in a beach chair. Sunbathing, by the looks of it - the top of her outfit was hanging down well past shoulder height. She had long black hair in a ponytail, with twin hair sticks in them. Her earrings glinting visibly. Her necklace was on display. And in her lap, of course, there was her big, stuffed Moogle doll; Lulu never went without it, no matter the place or situation.
"She's an older girl - I think she turned eighteen recently, in fact," Kairi told Xion. The girl should have still been in school - like herself and Xion should have been. Well, it wasn't their business why Lulu was playing hooky today. "We should leave her be," she added quickly, grabbing Xion's arm and dragging her away from the beach.
"Ok," Xion said, looking relieved (probably at not having to interact with someone new again).
"You know what, let's go check on Sora," Kairi went on, smiling at Xion. "You've already...technically been to his house before, so it shouldn't be too unfamiliar for you."
Xion nodded, smiling back. "I have. It looked nice."
"It is nice," Kairi agreed.
The pair of girls set off again, navigating the paths until they came to the right house. A path Kairi knew by heart, by now. She walked up to the front door and didn't hesitate to give it a firm knock. They didn't have to wait longer than a few moments before it swung open.
Sora's mom stared down at Kairi - then her gaze flickered to Xion. She sighed, then flashed a small smile. "Looking for Sora?" she said.
"Yes," Kairi confirmed. "Is he-"
"I'm afraid you're out of luck - he's at school."
Sora was back in school, then, was he? And Kairi and Xion were still going to be stuck at home for a while...unless Kairi could work her magic on dad, that was.
"Okay," Kairi said, nodding respectfully. "Thank you. Goodbye, then."
Kairi turned away, pulling Xion with her-
"Wait," came the woman's voice, quiet.
Kairi obliged, stopping. She looked back at Sora's mom. The woman's face was full of nervousness; she shook her head and reached up to scratch at her head of spikey brown hair. "Yes?"
"I've heard it all from Sora, but I'd like to hear it from...others. Is all of it true?" Sora's mom spoke carefully. "Heartless, keyblades...other worlds? Fighting all sorts of dangerous monsters - and people?"
"Yes," Kairi said, holding the woman's gaze. "Whatever Sora told you, it was the truth. We've been through a lot...but we're just happy to finally be home again. For a long time, we didn't think there would be any coming back here. We thought...it was lost forever."
"You lost us...everything was lost...and we didn't even realize it," Sora's mom whispered.
"Yes. But it's back now - and it's never going to happen again."
Sora's mom nodded slowly. "I'll...tell Sora you stopped by. And-"
"Hm?"
"Whatever you've had to go through, I'm glad...you had Sora with you," the woman spoke again, her eyes very clearly taking in Kairi's new appearance. Again.
"I'm glad, too," Kairi replied, her cheeks heating up. "I couldn't have gotten half as far without him. We never would have gotten back here...if we hadn't stuck together."
Sora's mom sighed, then she smiled again. "In that case...Welcome home."
"Thanks," Kairi said tightly, blinking quickly.
"And I'm happy to have gotten the chance to meet your sister," the woman continued, turning her smile on Xion. "Xion...isn't that right?"
"Yes..." Xion whispered, nodding. "I'm Xion. I'm her sister."
"I'd be happy to have you around sometime - both of you," Sora's mom told them.
"We'll keep that in mind," Kairi grinned. "Thank you. We should be going now, though. I'm giving Xion the grand tour!"
Sora's mom nodded. "Try to enjoy yourselves, then!"
After touring Omona, Kairi took Xion across the waters, over to the island.
They spent a few hours there, just talking, relaxing - having fun in the sand and the water. And hunting down seashells for Xion.
When Kairi heard the distant, gonging bells, they crossed back onto the main island once again.
And there, they passed through Omona, taking the long, nostalgic walk over the hill. At the top, Kairi and Xion came to gaze upon Slesa.
All those clusters of buildings, split by a river channel that curved around its outer edge. The high towers, the archways. The large, round building on the far right - a community center. The plains to the east, and the rocky mountains behind it all.
The girls descended the other side of the hillside path, until it leveled out near the edge of the city. They crossed a stone bridge, across the wide river, to a small little mini island of its own, with a large stone building built onto it.
"Okay, here we are!" Kairi beamed, walking up to the grand building, with its archways and swathes of orange and blue paint, and the nice courtyard of cobblestone. A bridge behind them, and another one to the right that connected directly into the city of Slesa.
"This is...your friend Selphie's home?" Xion asked quietly, staring up with wide eyes.
"That's right," Kairi grinned, as they walked up the stone steps to the big front door.
"It's...really big," Xion said.
"Well, it has to be," Kairi replied, reaching for the handle to pull the door open. She stepped through first, and Xion followed closely.
They entered a spacious, softly carpeted entrance hall of velvet. Nice painted walls of orange - old paintings put up. Photos, of groups and individuals. Kids and adults. But mostly kids.
Xion noticed them, her eyes straying to the pictures. "She has a lot of siblings," she commented.
Kairi turned to look at her, biting at her lip. She sighed. "No, Xion, that's not- Selphie's...living situation is a little different from ours. Well, it's the same, actually, just - well...okay, it's different." Kairi gave up, brushing back her hair. She spoke on quietly. "This place is called an orphanage. It's a place where kids go to live when they...lose their parents. For- all sorts of reasons. Accidents, mostly. The seas aren't very forgiving, especially at certain times of the year, and since most people here make a living by sailing...sometimes we lose people. And the kids end up having to live here. But, for the most part, everyone really tries to get them into - um - 'normal' homes, like mine. Like you and me, actually. My dad adopted me because I didn't have a home or parents at the time, right? And now we're adopting you, for the same reasons. That's...what this place is meant to do for other kids on the island. Though, sometimes it takes a while, or there aren't enough people around the islands willing to...take care of a kid. So...they keep living here."
"That's...um...why Selphie is here, anyways," Kairi said quietly. "She lost her parents when she was really little, and there hasn't been anyone available who...Well, that's just how it is. Understand?"
Xion nodded, though Kairi could never be sure if she really did understand or not. "So...this is her home...but the kids here aren't her family?"
"Well, I guess that's accurate enough," Kairi said tentatively. "But the woman running this place, Edea, she loves them all like they are her kids. Her family. She's always doing her best to look after them, to care for them. She's an amazing person. And the rest of the staff are great, too!"
They strode through the entrance hall, into the main area. They passed through quickly, however, with Kairi guiding Xion into a side room - a spacious lounge, full of color and big windows. There were various tables and cushioned seats everywhere.
Kairi was relieved when she spied Selphie across the room. The girl was sitting at a lone desk - busy fingers operating a computer. "Okay, come on," she told Xion, smiling and starting forward - pulling her sister along with her. Kairi managed to get right up behind Selphie's chair without the girl noticing. Typical Selphie...for more reasons than one! She took a breath and squared her shoulders, and spoke up again, loudly and clearly. "Selphie?"
"Huh - Kairi?! Usually you don't visit me here!" Selphie exclaimed, jumping up and spinning around. "After that horrible storm the other night I was worried when I didn't see you at school today..." She trailed off as she took in the sight before her. Her eyes grew huge, and her jaw dropped. She took a step forward, gasping-
-and she fell over as her leg got caught up under her chair. She crashed to the floor with a loud yelp.
"Sorry!" Kairi exclaimed, dropping down to help Selphie up. "I shouldn't have startled you like that. Here..."
Selphie groaned and sat up, rubbing at her head. Then she looked up at Kairi again, face to face now, and so close. She looked up at Xion. Back to Kairi. "How hard did I hit my head this time?" she said, dazed. "And why are you all covered in- gosh, Kairi, what happened to you...? You are Kairi, right?"
Kairi shook her head, trying to smile. "I'm Kairi. This is my sister, Xion. Listen, it's- it's complicated and a really long story...and I want to tell it to you. But you have to keep an open mind, and believe in me, okay?"
"Sure?" Selphie nodded, her gaze rising to Xion again. "Wow, I didn't know you had a twin sister all this time. Did you?"
"It's complicated," Kairi repeated. She stood, pulling Selphie up with her. "Come with me, and I'll tell you the whole story."
"OK! Just let me wrap this up real fast!" Selphie said, turning back to mess with the computer. "Annnd...done! Ready to go!"
"Let's go, then - we'll go to the island," Kairi told her.
"Aww, you're going to keep me in suspense for that long?" Selphie whined.
"Sorry."
After returning to the island (in Kairi and Xion's case, anyways), Kairi sat Selphie down on the wooden pier and began to explain everything to her.
Starting from the night of the storm.
She worked her way forward, and then a little backwards - to explain about Radiant Garden, her world of origin - and then pressed on again past that. All the way...through to the end.
To now.
And then, Kairi summoned her Keyblade, and did a small show of magic - casting out a few ice blasts into the ocean waters.
Selphie sat there for several minutes on end, just sort of staring at her. All slack-jawed.
It was cute.
It was hilarious.
Then, Selphie got herself together again, exclaiming: "Wooooow, it sure sounds like you've been on a really crazy adventure! I don't get most of it, but I think I'm just glad you're home now! Oh, and I'm real happy to get to know your sister!" she added, leaning over past Kairi to beam at Xion.
"You really didn't absorb any of that, did you?" Kairi sighed, amused. She pushed her hair back and shook her head.
"Not really," Selphie admitted freely, shrugging. "But it's all good now isn't it? You saved the world and put everything back to how it should be?"
Kairi nodded. "Yeah. I - we did."
"Great then!" Selphie beamed. She continued awkwardly leaning over Kairi, her eyes shining at Xion. "Wanna go shopping? That looks great on you, but you couldn't go wrong with a cute little dress too! We could keep it yellow - like mine!" She indicated herself as she sat up straight finally.
Xion peered at Selphie, looking her up and down. She looked to Kairi. "Kairi said her dad was going to take us to get new clothes?"
"Oh, he will," Kairi assured. "Getting a nice dress with Selphie doesn't mean our trip with dad is cancelled. Trust me."
Xion looked like she didn't know whether to be relieved or upset about that. She looked down, then up at Selphie. "I'd...like to get a dress with you," she said finally, halting.
"YESSS! This is gonna be great - hey, since you're new to the islands, I'll show you all the best shops! And we can go through the whole mall together!" Selphie went on exuberantly.
Xion looked to Kairi again - this time in pleading.
"She just got here; try not to overwhelm her," Kairi told Selphie. "But, I'll be going with you two, of course."
"Of course!" Selphie said, stepping away. "Sorry," she added to Xion, sincere and contrite. "I got a little carried away..."
"It's OK?" Xion said, as if unsure whether it actually was.
Kairi stood up on the pier, gazing out to the main island. "Okay, Sora should be home now, so let's get back there. Selphie-"
"What?" Selphie said, attentive.
"You're still one of my best friends," Kairi said softly. "I'm glad that doesn't have to change."
"Sure! We'll always be best friends!" Selphie affirmed.
And that was perhaps the greatest relief yet, for Kairi.
After parting ways with Selphie for the evening, Kairi and Xion made their way to Sora's house again.
This time, they found him there.
Together, the three of them decided to go visit...Riku.
Sora reported that Riku hadn't been at school today - and that he'd been worried. About Kairi and Riku both. But now he wasn't so worried.
Still...
When they approached Riku's place, it was to find both of his parents outside. They looked to be in some deep discussion - or possibly an argument.
"Hey, Mr. and Ms. Sone!" Sora called out, with a wide grin, interrupting the discussion-possible-argument. "We were wondering if Riku was around? We wanted to check up on him!"
Riku's mom spun around, staring at them. "Can either of you two get past a...magical wall?" she said, harsh and breathy.
"W-what?" Sora said, looking worried now. "Why would you need us to do anything like that?!"
"What's Riku gone and done now?" Kairi sighed. "How can we help?"
"Last night he locked himself away in his room - and now there's this magic wall stopping us from getting in!" Riku's mom continued furiously. "He stopped talking to us hours ago, and we can't even...!" She let out a long-suffering growl of pure frustration and rage.
"We just want to know he's okay in there," Riku's dad said, pleading. "That's all."
Sora and Kairi exchanged looks.
Holed up in his room all day long - most likely being all sulky? Refusing to talk to anyone for hours?
"Yeah, that sounds like Riku," Kairi muttered. "Okay - we'll take care of this. Come on, Sora!"
Sora nodded, and they quickly made their way through the house to Riku's bedroom door.
Familiar territory.
Sora reached out for the door - then frowned as magical hexagons rippled in front of it. "H-hey, Riku! It's us! What are you doing in here, man? Your parents are worried sick - they're kind of freaking out, you know! They said you're not talking to them. Could you talk to us?"
Silence.
"Okay, Riku - I'm giving you five seconds to let us in!" Kairi shouted through the door. She stepped back, raising a hand and pushing huge amounts of Light magic into her palm. It glowed brightly, lighting up the hall. "Or - I'm breaking through this barrier and your door in one blast! Your choice! You know I'll do it!"
"You know she will!" Sora called in, glancing at her nervously. "Uh, Kairi, maybe don't actually do it...unless you want to pay for a new one? His mom would totally make you!" he added, quickly and quietly.
"I don't care," Kairi replied. "We didn't go through all this, come all this way, just for him to go right back to being stupid!"
"Kairi-"
"All right - blasting time!" Kairi shouted. "Three...two...ONE!"
The barrier flared, dissipating, and the door flew open, smacking the wall hard.
"What is wrong with you?!" Riku was there, shouting at her, looking mad.
"What's wrong with you?" Kairi retorted, unfazed. She put hands on her hips, glaring at him. She stalked forward and leaned in to put her face in his. "You really can't stand the islands that much? Being back home again is just that torturous for you?"
"That's got nothing to do with it!" Riku yelled, whirling away and stomping back into his room. "And- and you know it!"
"Oh, I know," Kairi scoffed. "We know, Riku. We get it! Me more than anyone else! But don't use all that as an excuse to mope. You're moping so hard you're going to sink into the ground, at this rate! We just got back, and you can't even be happy?"
"I DESTROYED OUR HOME - I KILLED-"
"Yeah, and now it's all just fine again, so get over it!" Kairi yelled back. "God, Riku - unless you can go back in time and do things different, what's the point of this?! We saved it, we brought them all back! Yeah, hitting the big reset button doesn't erase the fact that you did it in the first place - but at least everyone's okay again! So what are you going to do about it? Do you just want to wallow in it because that's easier than actually putting in the work to make up for it? Is that it?"
"NO!" Riku gasped, spinning back toward her. "That isn't- NO! Just - shut up!"
"Make me!" Kairi shot back hotly.
Riku clenched his fists, his face twisting with pain and rage alike. Dark smoke rose from his hands...
Then he slumped where he stood, his hands uncurling. The darkness evaporated.
He turned away and fell onto his bed, putting his arms over his head and letting out a loud growl. A frustrated, pained noise (and one not too dissimilar to the one his own mother had made a minute ago).
"Riku..." Riku's parents were there, coming over to the doorway. Standing there, looking into the dark room. "Riku, was it us? What did we do wrong? Where did we fail you-" his dad started, choked.
Riku sat up fast, turning to face them. His mouth was open. "Wha- no, dad, that's not-"
"This was all about the islands, wasn't it?" his mom rattled off, frowning deeply. "You said that last night. You hated being stuck in one place. You wanted to go places - see more. I knew I should have taken that merchant sailor's position all those years ago!" she went on fiercely. "I could have taken you out with me, I could have tried to show you- if that was the problem-"
"WHAT?" Riku looked incredulous. "N-no, mom, listen, it wasn't- that wouldn't have helped me, alright? It wasn't you guys, it was me! I was the problem. I was never going to be satisfied, I was never...It wasn't your fault! It was mine!"
"We just want to understand," his dad said. "Can you just talk to us?"
"That's all we want," his mom said firmly. "And no more- no more magic barriers, mister! Or Gods help me...!"
"Alright, alright - I'll talk!" Riku exclaimed, falling back onto his bed, putting his hand over his face. "Just- you have to listen, mom, you know!"
Riku's mom opened her mouth again, her eyes glinting. Then, she pressed her lips together, taking a breath and giving a nod. "Alright. I'm listening..."
Kairi and Sora looked at each other again. Kairi took Sora's hand in one of hers, Xion's in the other, and discreetly pulled them away, back out of the house.
"Kairi, Riku didn't look..." Sora started anxiously, as they passed through the front door.
"I know," Kairi said. "But we did our part. We have to let them sort it out now - as a family."
"Right..." Sora agreed, sighing. "It's just..."
Kairi sighed, too. "I know. But they don't need us - unless Riku's dumb enough to try shutting them out like that again."
Which...
Well, it was Riku they were talking about, so...
They might have to stop by again sometime soon, after all?