Kagura Hearts
Chapter 28 ~ Trial of Strength
The next day, Sora went through his normal routine, stretching, getting dressed, and breakfast. Of course, he had company during his meal, Asuka and Yomi, who were already feeling a little restricted thanks to the sudden 3rd roommate, Yozakura, who was ordered by Gessen's own Yumi to act as her eyes and ears in Sora's life, making sure he does NOT avoid their remaining 3 Trials…
Yozakura then offered Sora some pancakes and some milk while saying, "As delicious as Pancakes can be, you have to remember such foods were bread-like, making them a choking hazard for the unprepared. So with certain solids like what you're about to feast on, never forget to have a few drinks to get the food down easier. Water's a constant favorite, along with Milk of course, and Juice, Orange Juice that is."
Yomi then said, "Perhaps his breakfast requires more than just drinks, Yozakura?" Yozakura however said, "NONSENSE! Pancakes and drinks are a pleasant and balanced breakfast!" Asuka then said, "Yozakura…we meant Syrup." Yomi nodded, "MAPLE Syrup to be precise." Yozakura blushed at her mistake, and rushed over to the cupboards to find the syrup while Yomi quietly and carefully served Sora some SeaSalt Tea.
"You were muttering 'SeaSalt Ice Cream' in your dreams, so I went to a library to study and research it. The flavor was somewhat tricky, being a salty yet sweet flavor, but I hope this Tea captures the same deliciousness? I tasted and compared it myself." Yomi explained. Sora tried the tea, and after a sip, he said, "...maybe a bit TOO salty for Tea, Yomi. I look forward to the next batch though." Yomi happily said, "You will adore the next test, Master! Thank you for accepting my earlier offering anyway."
"EXCUSE ME YOMI, WHAT ARE YOU GIVING SORA?!"
Sora answered, "Yomi was just handing me some Tea, it's pretty good." Yozakura however said, "W-well, I brought your syrup, Sora. Still, I wish you asked me to make some for you." Sora shook his head and said, "No need to stress over it, Yo. Yomi just wanted to make a SeaSalt flavored Tea, based on the SeaSalt Ice Cream treat I was dreaming about." Yozakura glared at Yomi, who simply kept her composure and smiled.
Sora however stood up and said, "...Yo…you probably don't know this, but I want you to know anyway. The reason this…Wife thing won't work out…it's because I won't be in your world anymore after I finish my duties here. You won't have what you were here for anymore…so for the rest of our time here, I at least want my friends, especially you and Yomi, to get along…please?"
Yozakura was somewhat unsure of how to respond, but she knew the sincerity of Sora's request. She didn't want to disobey her leader, Yumi, but she also didn't want Sora to leave, especially if their time was spent against one-another, so she said, "...For you, Sora, I'll…I'll try to get along with Yomi, no matter what allegiance she's in." Sora smiled and said, "Thank you, Yo. I'll do my part as well, and spend my time with you guys to the fullest." Yomi hugged Sora and said, "You're one in a Million, Master, being by your side is enough." Sora held Yomi's hand and nodded while Asuka smiled and said to Yomi, "I suppose our job just got a little bigger now, huh? Now we have to give Sora a reason to come back, by doing our part as friends as treasured as the ones in his original world."
Yozakura nodded and said, "I suppose you're right for once, Asuka. Still, we can't forget what day it is…"
Later that day…
Treading through a snowed-in Kabukicho, Sora, followed Yozakura back to where they left off. THIS time however, Sora was accompanied by Asuka and Yomi.
On the rooftop where they last spoke together, Sora met with Yumi and the other Gessen Girls, Yozakura then walked over to Yumi and reported the situation…
"...so he knew the Keyblade Master who Grandfather fought…who in turn was responsible for his…" Yumi looked at Sora's Halo while continuing, "Xehanort took so much…especially from my Grandfather. Who would have guessed his intent was to start the Keyblade War once again?" Sora then said, "Yo told you everything I told her, so you're up to speed on everything?"
Yumi then said, "Yes…you clearly died due to Xehanort. I suppose I can't hold being a Keybearer against you as much as I originally have. However, who's to say you didn't die under Xehanort's service? You COULD be one of his lackeys who perished for him." Sora then said, "I suppose you need more convincing. That's where the Trials come in?" Yumi nodded, "Precisely. You'll be put through the last 3 of 5 Trials, with the 3rd being the Trial of Strength. Due to your time together, I'm sure you know WHO your opponent will be?"
Sora looked at Yozakura and said, "Like I said, Yo, I'll give you everything I got."
Yumi then said, "...the Trial can go in either 2 ways. You can compete on who can lift the heaviest objects, or…"
"We fight." Yozakura said.
Sora smiled at Yozakura and said, "This trial is going to be different than the last ones…I should have known you wouldn't be generous with me forever. So now…we're going to fight, just like you predicted." Yozakura then explained, "I'm sorry, Sora…but…I can't explain it. It's just that…somewhere inside of me…I felt like this was the best choice." Sora then realized, "It's your heart, right? I have a history with hearts…telling their bearers what they should do. Ansem, Maleficent, even to some extent…Kairi. The war was too much for her, and yet she fought. She fought for me, her, and Riku, to return to the islands together after our business with Xehanort was over."
Yumi then said, "...Xehanort's Keyblade War…your fate…Sora, tell me…what happened to your Kairi?" Sora answered, "Would my answer matter? I died, and I can't just go back in time to…"
"-The Power of Waking."
Sora was surprised by what Yumi said, but before anything regarding the matter was said, Yumi said, "We'll talk more AFTER the Trials. For now, follow me to the next rooftop. It will serve as your battlefield." As the Gessen Girls left the area, Sora followed them to the best of his abilities…
As he finally reached the top, Sora was greeted by the lone Yozakura, who wore her ninja attire and equipped her giant golden gauntlets.
"Prepare yourself, Sora."
The first attack was Yozakura's, who rushed at Sora with a powerful fist attack, only to be blocked by the Keyblade immediately and swatted away!
However, Yozakura disappeared, surprising the Keybearer with a punch from behind, forcing the mid-air Keybearer to try and save himself!
Sora managed to hook his Keyblade onto a balcony that nearly broke to pieces from the force of the pull, temporarily sparring him from an ugly fate…
As Sora got up, Asuka asked Yomi, "Do you think Sora stands a chance?" Yomi answered, "I'm no expert with our bowl-cut friend, so I'm not entirely sure. Since Yozakura is a master at hand-to-hand, Sora MAY need more than a magic Nerf Toy to combat such a Ninja."
Suddenly, Yozakura grabbed Sora and threw him back onto the building, where she proceeded to throw another punch at him. Sora managed to parry her every fist attack, until Yo managed to flick the Keyblade out of Sora's grasp and unleash a powerful uppercut, sending Sora flying once again!
But Sora used Arial Recovery and managed to use magic to magnetically pull himself over to Yozakura and unleash several Air Combo Attacks that sent her flying!
As the Gessen Girls watched, Yumi realized something…
"Each of them are certainly using every trick in their repertoire, the Keyblade Master certainly has me convinced he's been fighting this way all his life…but why hasn't Yozakura used her Ninja Arts?"
After another parry, Sora uses his Keyblade to hold down one of Yozakura's gauntlets and say, "You're not trying to kill me, are you? You've sent me off the roof a few times already, so a guy has to question if you're actually planning on Roasting this Goose sooner than waiting for the results." Yozakura then explained, "This is a Trial Sora, and I have been DOMINATING in this fight! Maybe you should try and knock me into the nearest skyscraper and prove your strength!"
"Wait, my blows have to be STRONG enough…TO SEND YOU THROUGH A BUILDING?!"
Yozakura nodded and said, "Give me your strongest attack, and you might pass with flying colors to take on Shiki." Sora then asked, "Shiki…she's the reaper-witch, right? And her trial for me is…what again?" Yozakura answered, "Endurance, and with that Double-Edged Scythe of hers, it's safe to assume you're not going to endure much without a scratch. ESPECIALLY without a scratch."
Sora then asked, "I'm sure she can leave quite the 'Unlike' on her Instagram posts, for now, I have to ask, ARE YOU SUICIDAL?! The Trial of Strength doesn't have to be some kind of Sumo Battle to see which of us can cast the other off the ring and down the street!" Yozakura prepped her Gauntlet and said, "I don't make the rules, Sora, I only follow-!"
"-IF YOU FORCE ME TO COMMIT TO SUCH A SAVAGE RULE OF A TRIAL, THEN I SWEAR, I WILL STOP RIGHT HERE AND NOW, ENDING THIS STUPID TRIAL! I am NOT throwing someone down to their death!" Sora demanded. Yozakura then said, "Then you forfeit your life? Too bad for you, hubby, but this was sadly set in stone-."
"I WILL ALSO NEVER LET YOU-OR ANY GESSEN GIRL INTO MY LIFE AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES THAT BOATHOUSE YOU SNUCK INTO! And if you want to make a big deal again, and call me untrustworthy while comparing me to the same monster who killed my girlf-..." Sora immediately stopped, leaving everyone quiet…
"...you'd-...you'd kick me out permanently?" Yozakura asked.
Sora nodded, crossed his arms and said, "Throw any fuss or any fist you want, I won't let my summoned life here be wasted by bullies like YOU or your self-righteous Faction!"
Yozakura started to tremble, unsure of what to do, or how to convince Sora to continue, until Yumi appeared between the two and asked, "You…would DARE…call my grandfather's legacy…BULLIES?!" Sora answered, "You called me 'untrustworthy', been nothing but rude to me, AND BROKE INTO MY HOME WHILE TRYING TO FORCE A RELATIONSHIP OF MARRIAGE WITH ME, A 17 YEAR-OLD BOY! You're control freaks, and no amount of frost is going to convince me to prove myself to a bunch of psychopaths who are no different than any other so-called 'Evil Ninja' I fought against!"
Yozakura placed her hand on Yumi's shoulder and said, "...Yumi…I'm loyal to Gessen, no questions there…but…I can't continue this Strength Trial if Sora's conviction has me conflicted…" Yumi became annoyed while Sora glared, ever annoyed by Yumi's group…
Yumi then summoned a cold wind while her fans began to glow and glitter with snowflakes…
"I will not let anyone question my Grandfather…OR LIVE TO TELL THE TALE!" Yumi said.
Sora simply waited for Yumi to strike…
…
But despite his words, Yumi couldn't strike him down. Sora was strong in skill and body, but she never anticipated that his Heart would be strong enough to brave the very storm that Yumi was producing…
"I ignored your strength more than once, despite seeing it in action yesterday…Sora, I'll acknowledge your Strength, both in body…and in your heart."
Yumi then noticed her hand was touching his chest, and moved her hand away with a red blush on her cheeks!
Yozakura then said, "So Yumi…I think this makes our friend the victor of the Trial of Strength?" Yumi looked at Asuka, who watched hopefully for Yumi's next words…
Yumi sighed and said, "...the winner of the Trial…is Sora." Asuka cheered and hugged Yomi. Sora then said, "Thank you for your generosity, Yumi. I'm ready for the next Trial!"
Yomi looked at Shiki, walking seductively towards Sora, making Yomi worry, "For your sake Master…I HOPE you're ready…"
End of Chapter 28