After another visit to Destiny Islands, wherein Aqua had told Kairi about her, Terra, and Ven helping out over at Radiant Garden, Kairi couldn't stop thinking about it.
She wasn't afraid of any ideas about conflicting feelings between birth home and found home - and she wasn't scared of what the place might look like, either: because she'd already been there before. She'd seen it before. It was only...
She remembered her conversation with Ven, months ago, about how they could still help to restore the ruins of the world to what it once was. Except that Ven was the only one doing that, at the moment - along with the rest of the Radiant Garden gang. And Kairi wasn't. Kairi...was hanging out, having fun, going to school, all while the world she came from, the place of her birth...was still suffering from the devastation of Maleficent's dark forces of nine years ago. Everyone else had resolved to restore Radiant Garden to what it was in memories - but Kairi was the only one not living up to that promise.
But, it wasn't just the promise to set it right again that was bothering Kairi. It was...the lure of other things, from other parts of her Heart: the chance to really see it again, to walk the streets, to know it in the way she did in her memories. And the chance, maybe, to even...learn more about herself, by exploring more of her home world. If she could talk to the people there, if she could investigate the places from her haziest, earliest memories...
So many questions that she'd always had inside were now rising to the surface once again: who was she? Where did she really come from? Did she have parents - family? A home? A pet? Had she even had friends? What was the history of the girl named Kairi? What had her home world been like - what was the culture, what was its history? What was the land like, how many different types of flowers did they have across it all?
All she knew now was that she'd had a seemingly loving grandmother - but that was really it, in terms of discoveries. She still couldn't even remember the woman's name! She didn't even know...whether the woman was still alive or not. If, on the day those Heartless had attacked the house, and chased Kairi all the way to the town square, on orders from Xehanort...
But Kairi...had to find out.
And she had to do her part to help restore her first home, alongside everyone else who was already doing so.
Even if, yes, she was also...more than a little afraid to do that - afraid of what she might learn there.
So, the next time that Master Aqua came by to see them (a semi-regular occurrence now, almost, as either she or Terra came to collect them for regular training), Kairi asked her almost immediately...if she could be made a portal to her home world.
"Of course," Aqua said, with a look of understanding - and a small, kind smile.
"We were going to head over there later anyways," Ven added quickly, grinning at Kairi. "Might as well get an early start - right, Terra?" he added to his best friend.
"That's right..." Terra murmured, glancing away in what Kairi observed to be a rather uncharacteristic show of...embarrassment? For what? Well, that wasn't for Kairi to pry into.
"We're ready to help out too," Sora spoke up firmly. "Whatever you need, we'll be there." He looked sidelong, at Kairi, as he said this last part. Clearly meaning more than just reconstruction efforts - it was in his eyes, those blue eyes that were so deep and so...
Kairi blushed and quickly looked away. But...she couldn't help the smile on her face. Or the swelling of emotions in her chest...
"Right - I'll help too," Xion said quickly. She stared as everyone else stared at her. "I don't know anything about fixing...things...but I can learn?" she went on. "I've been learning - reading, and writing, and math..." she finished, trailing into an embarrassed silence, her head falling.
"I'm sure everyone will appreciate the extra set of hands," Master Aqua told Xion kindly.
Xion glanced up at Aqua, giving an uncertain smile.
"Riku, you coming with us?" Sora said, turning to the other boy.
Riku was standing apart from them, his arms crossed. At Sora's question, he perked up a little - but then he sighed, shook his head. "I don't think anybody there is going to be too happy to see me, now that Xehanort's been...more or less dealt with..." he muttered out. "I- we all know what happened the last time I was there...in that castle..."
"What I remember is everyone agreeing to not kill you so that Sora and I could try to get through to you one last time," Kairi challenged hotly. "They understand, Riku! Because they're all actual adults - unlike you. Or do you think they're so stupid that they're just going to antagonize you and try to attack you when we've all just gotten our lives back - and brought peace to the worlds again? And besides, it's probably you who needs to help them out here more than the rest of us, if you want to actually make up for all that stuff you did..."
Riku's arms fell away, his mouth parting. Then he let out a long woosh of air, and ran a hand through long silver hair. "R-right...Alright. Yeah. I'll be there..." he stammered out finally, his cheeks flushing. He put his hands on his hips and turned away.
"That's the spirit!" Sora said encouragingly, beaming at Riku. He walked over to him and gave him a firm smack on the back.
Riku shoved him away with a noise that was half exasperation and half amusement - he almost even laughed. "Whatever - hands off...!"
"Hehe," Sora laughed, self-satisfied. He flashed a grin at Aqua, putting hands behind his head. "Portal us up, Master!"
Aqua raised an eyebrow, but she smiled back at him as she summoned her Keyblade and turned to create a new, blue portal. She stepped away, gesturing to Kairi to go first.
Kairi wasn't sure whether she appreciated the thoughtfulness from her Master - whether she was touched by the gesture - or whether it just...made her nerves skyrocket.
Regardless, she drew herself up, and she stalked forward into that portal with quick steps on the sand.
Kairi stepped out of the portal a moment later, entering a place she was well prepared to see. Or so she'd thought: seeing ruins under deep ocean waters was different from having it all laid bare - exposed like this in full detail.
Streets of ruined cobblestone, a huge, stone wall to their left, crumbling and broken...and all the buildings of these narrow streets themselves. Ruined, destroyed, damaged - but...some of them boarded up, some of them with new wooden beams on the rooftops...the repair efforts. It was all so...
Suddenly, the distant roar of engines echoed across the broken cityscape.
"Uh, does anyone else hear that...?" Sora said, glancing around with alarm.
Master Aqua let out a sigh, then strode to the side of the street - while beckoning for them all to do the same. "You should all move."
They all obeyed, though most of them not knowing why.
It became clear to Kairi in but a few moments, however.
Because, after a few moments, in which those noises grew louder and fiercer...two motorbikes came flying down from the high, stone outer wall that marked the city's edge. One landed in the street and swerved around a ruined house, continuing on out of sight (Kairi thought she glimpsed a familiar head of spikey blonde hair and the glint of a massive sword). The other bike landed on top of a crumbling rooftop, lifting its front wheel and rocketing off onto another nearby rooftop. Then it spun around and finally came down to land in the streets before them, as a high, familiar voice rang out with giddy laughter.
As the bike came to a skidding halt before them, Kairi was able to make out the rider clearly.
On this bike sat a woman who was the mirror image of Kairi's Keyblade Master. In body, at least - the rest of her appearance was as far from Master Aqua's as anyone could be, such that no one could ever mistake her for being the same woman. It was Kana - the other Replica, created by the then-Nobody, Vexen. The woman was clad in a pair of tight denim shorts and a simple bandeau bra (at least she had the essentials covered up this time, Kairi thought). There was a belt around her waist, and attached to that belt, on each hip, were two sword scabbards. In the left sheath, there was a blue and orange sword hilt, ornate and...pulsing; the right sheath held a thinner, longer blade, whose hilt was a bloody, glinting crimson, like it was made of pure ruby.
Oh, and Even - formerly Vexen - was there, too. He was sitting on the back of the woman's bike - and still was clinging to her for dear life. As his gaze lifted, taking them all in, however, he instantly released her and leapt to his feet off the bike, his cheeks flushing intensely. He tugged at his long white lab coat, then smoothed out his hair furiously. He stood straight-backed, raising a hand to his mouth and giving a loud cough. "Welcome back, Keyblade Masters. And...other guests, it appears?"
Even's green eyes were markedly different from Vexen's - his whole demeanor was...markedly different. Kairi had noticed it, of course, back during their strategy meeting in Traverse Town, weeks ago, but...she hadn't really absorbed it. This was the human - the man with a Heart - not the hollow, apathetic, cruel shell of a being that had once existed as part of Xehanort's Organization. Or, Xemnas's, rather. Kairi saw a gentleness there, a kindness - along with embarrassment, and shame, and guilt and remorse, too. All of it, swimming in there. Evidence of humanity itself, returned to the man. The man himself, returned. She was still a little wary of him, but...she could see the proof with her own eyes that he was, literally, a changed man.
And that would be enough, for now. To offer trust, and a chance...
"Might I inquire as to the nature of your- visit?" Even said haltingly, placing his hands behind his back as he strode up to them. His eyes found Kairi, specifically, and then flickered away - to Xion. Xion met the man's gaze, looking up at him with uncertainty and even a bit of fear; Even quickly averted his gaze from her, his cheeks going pink again.
"Hey, Even! Nothing too big - just the usual," Ven told him with a grin and a wave. "Kairi and the others wanted to see the place - and they want to start helping out with repairs, too."
"Well, we can always use more help," Even nodded, giving the boy a small smile. "If you'd like to come up to the castle for a-"
"Oh, it's you people again," came humorous tones, light and feminine. The woman - Kana - came striding right up to them all, brushing past Even and stepping in close. Really close. Her shining blue eyes swept over them, from left to right. Then, she glanced between Kairi and Xion. "Is that her?" She pointed to Xion as she turned back to look at Even.
Even drew a sharp breath, then gave a short nod. "Y-yes, that is the other- who I've told you about. Her name is Xion."
Kana let out a breath, then all-but lunged forward, bending over to seize Xion's arms. Then, her shoulders. Then, her face, squishing her! "Another Replica! Look at you - look how small you are! And tiny!" she exclaimed, laughing.
"K-Kana, unhand her at once!" Even barked out, stamping forward. "Yes, she's certainly small - and so delicate!"
Kana obeyed almost instantly, releasing Xion from her grasp and stepping backwards. But her eyes remained fixed to Xion, as a wide smile crossed her face. "Why'd you make her so small? So thin? My sword blade is thicker than her arms are!"
"Because she was made in the image of-" Even stopped, withholding a growl deep in his throat. He shook his head and pushed his hair back. "Never mind that - it's rude to talk about people like this in the first place. Just...contain yourself." He looked to Xion once more, frowning. "Are you - unharmed, Xion?"
Xion stared at him for a long moment. Her hands joined at her waist. "I think so?" she whispered.
"Good," Even replied, with visible relief. "I'm terribly sorry for her utter lack of decorum, or respect, or basic notions of physical space-"
"It's OK..." Xion said swiftly, looking down at her feet.
"Well...all right, then," Even murmured. "N-now...to the castle, if you would. Follow me, please - and, Kana, you will walk ahead of me!"
"Pfft - I walk ahead of you all the time, anyways. You're so slow..." Kana responded, snorting as she turned to start off down the street - far out ahead of the rest of them, her bare feet pattering quickly on the stone ground.
Kairi stood there as the others started off down the street, her gaze rising to the enormous castle for first time. It sat in the middle of the city, looking...different from last time she was here. No giant Heartless symbol on it, no ocean surrounding it, no...It was different now. Now it looked more like the castle from her memories. But, even then, there were vast differences between memory and reality; the reality of this castle was that it was still heavily damaged. Just like the rest of the city.
"Kairi? You doing okay...?"
Kairi startled, flushed as she turned to see Sora staring at her. "Huh? Oh - yes. Thank you, Sora." She took a breath and hurried after the others, with Sora at her side.
Their group passed through the stone streets, weaving their way between houses of rot, of holes and splinters, of shattered windows and collapsed ceilings.
Seeing it all...hurt Kairi more than she would have expected, honestly. A part of her hated herself for even making such an observation...
That part of her was probably the little girl of memories, who had once called this world her home - a place of love and family.
After a long walk through the town, and then up the main path to the castle's front entrance (where Kairi had had to take a minute, embarrassingly, to compose herself), they had proceeded inside the castle proper.
Even had led them all through the halls (because while Kana had certainly been ahead of them, she hadn't in any way seemed to care about guiding them anywhere), navigating ruined halls and confusing stairwells, until they had descended into the first basement level of the castle. He took them left, then right, and then on down a long hallway to a door at the far end. It was different from the rest of this maze of tunnels. It looked cleaner, nicer. More like some of the doors above, in fact. He led them through the door, into what looked like a study room. A spacious but cluttered one. There was a nice, big curved desk with bookcases behind it, and writing boards on the wall with strange writings and symbols...
And to the right, next to an open doorway into an even more different hallway...there was a giant portrait. A painting. Of a young man with long silver hair and brown eyes, wearing a white lab coat-
Kairi stopped, sucking in a quick, shaky breath.
Even's eyes snapped to her, then to the painting. His face blanched, and he swiftly stalked over to the painting, cursing, and gave it a good heave that sent it crashing flat on its face on the floor. He exhaled, raising a hand to brush at his long blonde hair. He looked at Kairi again. "A thousand apologies - should have realized, of course - we should have-"
"Kairi?" Sora's voice, quiet, and worried, and comforting...as his hand touched hers. As his fingers wrapped around hers.
Kairi tore her gaze from the fallen, blank backside of the painting, taking several quick breaths. She pulled free of Sora's grasp, her cheeks burning furiously. "It's not a problem; I'm fine," she told Even quickly. "Let's keep going - through there, right?"
"Y-yes..." Even said hesitantly. He eyed her a moment more before turning away and proceeding across the study, into that new, different hallway.
As they entered it, Kairi could hear voices echoing...
"...This is your scan data, recorded and stored by the digitization laser. Body and Heart - you see? This cluster here is the data of your Hearts; memories, thoughts, and emotions. And this...is Tron's data, past and current. Yet you see the commonality, even as he is now?" An unfamiliar voice was speaking, in regal, contemplative tones.
No, not unfamiliar, Kairi realized. It was faint, but it was...something, somewhere...
"I suppose this is proof, then, that not only Tron, but all the beings of that dataspace...have Hearts?" came an absolutely familiar voice - the voice of Saix. Or...Isa, now. The human, not the Nobody. Even just thinking the name "Saix" made Kairi feel a strange, deep sense of loathing (something she quickly stamped down on, realizing where it must have come from).
"Mmm. Indeed it is," that other voice spoke again, louder now as they stepped onto the walkway of a vast...chamber. A place of infinitely high walls and a floor far, far below them. These walls were lined with strange, glowing...tubes, numbering in the hundreds, potentially. "Which only makes it all the more imperative that I put all my efforts toward restoring Tron to the man he once was. After all, Hearts are unpredictable - and their power, more so. I fear if he were to break free of the quarantine...It was not locked by Keyblade, like the MCP. It is mere code, and he...is more than mere code."
"Perhaps, as you told us, the answer won't be found outside the system," Isa suggested. "Perhaps if you were to enter that world yourself and speak with Tron..."
Kairi and the others rounded the corner, walking out onto a translucent walkway that overlooked a mind-bogglingly vast chamber. It looked so different from the rest of the castle. The high, far-reaching walls on either side of the chamber were lined with rows upon rows of strange...glowing tubes.
They found a door at the end of the walkway - which looked into what seemed to be some big, computer control room, full of screens and consoles and a strange, circular, pulsing red device in the back...
The familiar Isa, along with another man, both turned at their arrival.
That other man...
He was old, with blonde hair and a full beard. He had amber eyes, and he held himself tall.
The man's eyes took them all in - and then settled on Kairi.
Kairi gazed back at him. "Hello," she spoke. "We're sorry to interrupt-"
"No apologies are necessary, please," the blonde man said smoothly. He glanced at Even, giving a small smile. "Perhaps a break was needed...as I've been reminded by many. You will all be a most welcome distraction. My name is Ansem The Wise, the presiding king of this world. And you are Kairi, the young Princess and Keybearer."
"Please, just Kairi, sir," she said respectfully.
"Well met, then - Kairi," the man nodded. He hesitated, then added, "I understand you are also a resident of this city, yourself?"
Kairi blinked. She hadn't expected such a direct, blunt...about that topic. But she supposed it was fair, all things considered. Who this man was, that she was here at all...
"I was born here, yes, but I've long since considered my home to be somewhere else," Kairi responded - again, as respectfully but firmly as she could, pushing past the discomfort.
"Well then, as you say," Ansem said simply, eyeing her with kindness and respect of his own. His gaze moved on...up and over...to Terra. "And I see the Keyblade Masters have come to visit us again as well. It is good to see you again, dear boy."
Terra sighed, looking away with sudden embarrassment. Or was it discomfort? Or both. "Likewise..." he murmured. "Anyways, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about - I should go help with...reconstruction efforts. I'll just be...out." He coughed loudly, spun on a heel and all but fled from the room.
Ansem frowned, gazing after him. He shook his head. "Surely the young man knows by now that I bear him no ill will - it's been very clear to me these past few weeks that he is not Xehanort."
"Of course he knows," Aqua spoke. "But, that doesn't make this any easier for him, I'm sure."
"Well, I am willing to do whatever I can to make it easier on him," Ansem replied.
"And that is appreciated - but...it's just going to take time," Aqua said carefully.
"I'm sorry, but, do I know you?" Kairi spoke up, gazing at Ansem The Wise. "I feel like we've met before, though I don't have any idea when we would have..."
Surprise flickered across Ansem's face. "We have indeed met before - in passing, at any rate..." he spoke on, slow and quiet. "I was admittedly more familiar with your grandmother, Miss Nora Matsui."
"My grandmother?" Kairi breathed. "You knew her? And her name...it was Nora - Nora Matsui?"
"You...do not remember...?" Ansem frowned.
Kairi shook her head. "Even now, I still have so little from those days. I'm remembering more and more...but it never seems like enough. Anyways - you knew her, and me, and so...is that why she was always taking me up to the castle? That's...all I remember about her..." she admitted shamefully.
"As Radiant Garden's king, it was my duty to...keep an eye on the girl whom my visiting friend, King Mickey, had told me he suspected to be someone quite special in the worlds - though he never shared the details beyond that, citing dangers if your true nature were ever discovered by other, dark forces moving throughout the worlds at the time," Ansem replied. "Thus, it was little trouble, granting you a rather unrestricted access to my castle's halls. However, I fear now that I may have simply brought you to Xehanort's attention, by bringing you inside these halls, all those years ago..."
"That's why, then..." Kairi muttered, looking down and away, her mind racing. "I'd thought this castle was just - you know - open to visitors in general?"
Ansem chuckled softly. "Oh, it was, it was - I never wanted to be the sort of ruler who closed himself off from his constituents. And yet...it seems I fell into that trap regardless, in the end..." He gave a great sigh.
"As true as that might be, you certainly won't make the same mistake twice," came the unexpectedly kind, comforting voice of Even. "And that should be...what matters to us now."
"Ahhh, thank you, Even," Ansem said, though he still looked doubtful. He gazed at Kairi with sorrow and remorse. "Yet, I cannot help but feel responsible - not only for Xehanort, but for you-"
"He tricked everyone," Kairi refuted flatly, strongly. "He used and manipulated everyone - from Terra, to Riku, to you guys, to mine and Sora's- to Namine and Roxas, and Xion too. That's just what he does; that's the sort of person he is. A vile, cruel manipulator. And he knew what he was looking for back then. I'm sure he would have found me sooner or later, even if I hadn't been in the same castle as him. Maleficent was able to sense and track down the other Princesses somehow, after all. And if she could do it, Xehanort had to have the same capability. Eventually, he would have sensed me, and found me, and he would have t-taken me...just the same. All of us...are his victims. We share that in common. So you have nothing to apologize to me for."
Ansem stared at her for a minute in what looked like flat out astonishment. He closed his eyes, turning his head aside. He gave a nod. "You're far too kind...Kairi."
"There's no such thing," Kairi responded hotly, before she could stop herself.
Ansem opened his eyes, blinking at her. Then he smiled, and he gave a small laugh. "I suppose you are correct about that." He set his gaze on Sora and Riku, measuring them both. "And you must be Sora and Riku - the...Kairi's friends."
"Yes, sir!" Sora said with pride, beaming.
Riku sighed, bowing his head. "Yeah..."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both," Ansem stated. He glanced to Xion, who was instantly a nervous wreck. "And you are Xion...? Kairi's...sister - or so I've heard?"
"Yes..." Xion said, meeting his gaze briefly.
"Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you as well," the man assured.
Suddenly a loud cough echoed through the control room.
The man called Isa was shifting on his feet awkwardly, a look of supreme discomfort on his face. He cleared his throat, and then his green eyes found...Riku? "Ahem. Riku, isn't it...?"
"Huh? Yeah?" Riku spoke, tensing. "Yeah, it is. What about it...?"
"Surely you remember...? You aren't the only one in this room who has things to apologize for," Isa continued on slowly. "I would like to express to you my own remorse for the actions I took in the name of the Organization, and for the things I said-"
"Forget about it," Riku cut across, swiping an arm across himself. He put his hands on his hips, turning away.
Isa drew a breath in through his nostrils. Then let it go. And then, something like a strained facsimile of a grin came to his face. "Funnily enough, I've been finding that rather difficult. I attacked you, I-"
"Yeah, and it was nothing I hadn't done, myself," Riku interrupted again, his voice hard. "To my best friends. And worse. I did way worse, to an innocent person. I helped bring the Heartless- I helped to- you can't top that, and so I don't need an apology, okay?"
Isa's expression fell. He closed his eyes, giving a small scoff. "Don't need, or...don't feel you deserve?"
Riku froze, his lips parting. He ducked his head and turned away completely. "Just drop it..." he said tightly. "Save it for someone else."
"Hmph...if you insist," Isa said casually. "I've no shortage of victims, myself, I can assure you."
"Glad we got that sorted out, then..." Riku muttered.
"I'm bored - who wants to fight me?" came the sudden declaration from Kana. She'd pushed off from the wall she was leaning against, and placed her hands on the hilts of her twin weapons. She was vibrating with an energy, her eyes glinting. Her lips drew back into a grin of anticipation as she looked around at them all.
Another voice - an identical voice - gave a soft little laugh. Master Aqua set a hand on her hip as she regarded Kana directly - eye to eye. "Me."
Kana's grin faltered as she made eye contact with her...with Aqua. "You?"
Master Aqua's lips...spread into a small smile that might have bordered on a tiny smirk. "Is that a problem? I'm confused - isn't that what you wanted?"
Kana's cheeks tinged with pink, as she broke eye contact with Aqua, her hands gripping her sword hilts tighter...squeezing them... "I've already fought you - it would just be boring to do it again. I want someone else," she said...quickly. Too quickly...
"What's going on with-" Sora began.
"The last time we sparred," Aqua spoke, with a clear relish to her voice. "I won."
"Isa!" Kana exclaimed, whirling and lunging for the man. She grabbed at his arms and practically fell against him. "Spar with me. We'll go out to the Great Maw; we'll let everything loose together!"
Isa firmly pushed her away, adjusting his (surprisingly fashionable, Kairi only now realized) outfit. He glanced at Aqua, then...he sighed. "Why not? It isn't as if my time is taken up by anything more pressing these days..." he murmured.
Kana's face lit up. She seized the man and promptly began dragging him from the room with superhuman strength (earning her another shove and a little scowl from Isa; "Until we're actually fighting, keep your hands to yourself.")
"Charming..." Ansem murmured.
"Don't patronize me, Master, please," Even snapped instantly, smacking a hand to his face.
"It is true that she has quite a long ways to go - but already in the weeks she's been under your instruction I have seen a great deal of change in her," Ansem responded in earnest. "Your guidance and care has been essential in-"
"And now you heap an overbearing amount of flattery on my head..." Even said flatly. "Wonderful. Thank you. Now, did I hear correctly, or did you say that Tron possesses a Heart?"
Ansem turned to the main computer console, turning more serious now. "It is a remarkable discovery - one that proves how very little any of us truly knows about the nature of the Heart, and how it interacts with and grows within the World..."
The man continued on, speaking to them all like it was some theoretical lecture.
And Kairi did her best to listen - she really did. But...
Her mind was elsewhere.
It was stuck on...other facts. Another piece of knowledge she now held.
Knowledge about herself - her past.
She only had one question on her mind now: could it lead her to more?