cutegirlmayra
Sokai Prompt, My brain is enamored by the idea of Kairi housing Sora's heart, and he can just 'fade' into their reality to help her. Gosh, my mind never stops..!
They're living rent free in my head, man.
Prompt:
It was strange, you know?
These dreams I've been having… it's like… two worlds… blend and mend into one seamless… long lasting world.
But… is this reality even real? Or… not?
"Every time?" Riku asked, sitting beside me on the street as Yozora had asked us to stay hidden, but that was kinda hard when our clothes made us stand out the most…
"Yeah… at first, I thought it odd, but…" Thinking about it too long made my head hurt…
I gripped my head and kicked my legs out, "Ah! This is so frustrating! Do you think I'm somehow connected to Kairi too?"
I had just finished telling him about these dreams where I'm looking through Kairi's eyes, and sometimes… when she goes to sleep, I can see her talking to me from within the horizontal, stained glass window of her heart.
I remember her words well too… the first time I was there, and every night since, the script doesn't seem to change much… but I can tell it's hard on Kairi.
Within the dream, Kairi is always speaking to me, and though I can see her and she can see me, I can't talk at all.
It's kinda tormenting, seeing her struggling but trying to keep her spirits high and not being able to comfort her that I'm alright and safe, and that Riku made it here too!
"I know that I'm not ready to face the other side of this reality… the fictional side… but I'll get there, Sora. I won't fail!" Kairi had her hand bundled against her chest, nodding with a strong determined look in her eyes… but I'd see how much she'd work at her training with Aqua, how hard it really had been compared to Merlin's and Master Yesid's quick lessons. Kairi was highly talented, and I didn't have anyone in the beginning! She's progressing so much faster than I ever did!
Riku said the same thing too, that if it is Kairi, she shouldn't push herself so hard. It took us a long time to get even remotely close to where we are, and I had to regain some of my strength! I told him I couldn't tell her that, and for some reason, I can't speak back to her at all.
"Do you know if it's even possible that this might just be you worrying about her?" Riku adjusted how he was sitting, taking his arms that were just resting on his knees up behind his head… wait, was he mimicking me? "I mean, it's normal, I guess."
"Normal?" I tilted my head, confused. "Really?"
"Yeah, you're about at that age… dreaming of someone you care about isn't all that strange anymore." I about lost it.
"Riku! T-that's not-! That's not what I meant at all!" I went to contend it but saw him crook a humorous smile, as though he really was just joking around with me. "Ah, you…!" He grappled my head and it was like old times, rough-housing until we saw someone paying attention to us.
"Let's go." Riku turned serious again, letting me go and getting up.
"Y-yeah." I rushed after him, following behind. Looking over my shoulder, I could see these 'business' like guys in suits trying to follow… guess our talk about dreams will have to wait-
"Kairi's strong, Sora. You need to trust her." Riku jumped over a trashcan, which I jumped and summoned my keyblade to knock over, turning around.
"Fire!" I cried out, gripping it with two hands as the ball of blazing light clashed into the paper in the trashcan, creating some smoke but blocking the pursuers from keeping track of us.
We darted into the woods, panting as I gripped my knees to stay upright and Riku leaned against a tree.
"Man… what do you think they want with us, Riku?" I looked back, glad we weren't able to be followed.
"Don't know, but I think that's why Yozora wanted us away from the streets… we're far enough now to be out in the open, but this world has a collective eye that doesn't like us around… it seems." Riku summoned his own keyblade, looking it over, "Looks like us being keyblade wielders is more noticeable than I thought."
We were trying to keep a low profile and not reveal our keyblades, but looks like Riku was right, even without them–people still somehow could tell we were from another world…
Though, I think our clothes wouldn't set that many alarms off in people's heads… right?
"Besides…" Riku raised his head, looking off in the distance, "…The only way I could find you was… through a dream too."
"H-huh?" This was the first time I had heard about that. I sat down and spread my legs out, getting ready to hear his story, and placed my hands down in the middle while unsummoning my own keyblade. "You mean… you had a dream… about me?"
"Don't get too flattered." Riku grinned over his shoulder and I flashed him a signature goofy grin of my own, closing my eyes to emphasize I wasn't gonna make that joke… at least aloud, I didn't seem to need too.
"Yeah, well… It seems your connection to Kairi is somehow different and… maybe stronger." He nodded his head towards the distance again. "Think you can try again? This time, maybe speak back to her? Tell her where we are?" he looked sincerely back to me, but I shook my head.
"I've tried, she can't hear a sound." I admitted, "I just remember… she was in danger and I…" I looked at my hand…
"You… what?" Riku asked, trying to follow up.
"…Nevermind." I let it go, I couldn't tell him how odd that felt. One moment, I was sleeping, seeing Kairi in The Final World and fighting a piece of her heart that looked just like Xehanort. "Maybe you're right… I just see her being so strong for my sake… I've never realized… how much she tries for me too."
"Too?" Riku folded his arms after gesturing away his keyblade, mocking me again. He loomed over me a bit and teased with another joking smile, "You should know,… Sora… more than anyone… just how much she works for us all."
I couldn't argue with that, I had been saved by Kairi too, I knew that much.
I just always thought I wasn't enough for everyone without my friends… but Kairi… was always enough. At least, that's what I had once thought.
Now I realized that I had been a strength for Kairi all along, and that she also struggled with becoming strong enough too. I just wish I could tell her what I've learned and the things I've gained from being together and apart. But…
I picked up a rock and threw it, "I just wish I could tell her that! Tell her that… I can see her… I can see now… I-…" I covered a part of my face with my hand, feeling a bit hopeless.
Riku must have seen that and bent down, putting a hand to my shoulder, "It'll be okay, Sora. I found you, we found you. We'll get you back to Destiny Island and this time, we'll all celebrate together… alright?"
He beamed, "Yeah! You got it."
"Tonight, if you do have that dream, try and see if you can change it somehow." He instructed, which made me wonder–change it?
"How do I reach out to her?" I gestured my hand out, showing I was in a bit of a pickle here. "The dreams are pretty random. I see her training when she's awake, or getting upset with herself not progressing soon or fast enough for her. I can see her… let's see… writing letters?" I gripped my chin and thought about it as Riku got up and moved a little away, thinking as well.
"Strange… I saw the buildings, and you walking around… I never saw through your eyes though." Riku comments made me think maybe it was the real Kairi, and maybe she was having some pretty bad insecurities, but smiling and making promises to me in her-
"That's it!" I scrambled on the ground to try and hurriedly get up, growing excited. "Riku! It's when she's sleeping! That's when I can connect to her! When we're both not awake!" I stumbled a bit on making my way over to him, "All I have to do is take a power nap and hope she's sleeping too! Then I can try and grab her attention somehow and-" I grew very animated in my planning, but Riku just cocked his head, replying sharply.
"And play charades?"
I slowly felt my energy dissipate by his words, flopping my arms down, "Y-…Yeaaahhh…" I kicked the ground, letting my body wobble and sway slightly in my disappointment. "What would you do? Write on her heart?"
"That might not be best." Riku shook his head with a smile, "But… If you really can't communicate, then I guess all you have is… you."
I nodded my head, though it may be difficult, I'd have to communicate with my body instead of my words.
"Guess I should train for tonight!" I twisted my torso and stretched out my arm socket, rotating it around and doing some exercises in place. "Think you can interpret me alright if I train hard for it? Then I can match how hard Kairi's working too!" I stopped to grip my two arms into fists and hold them up, showing I would do anything to give her some peace of mind.
Riku laughed lightly and agreed, "Alright, we don't have much to do until Yozora tells us what's going on with his friends and if we're safe to find a way out of here yet or not."
"Isn't your heart the key to returning home?" I pointed to him and he sighed.
"Should be that simple… but the heart I used to connect to this world is bound to the 'inbetween'. Since I don't have her heart here at present, it means we have to somehow bring her heart back… which could be disastrous if someone else takes it during our attempt to retrieve her." Riku explained.
"Oh, right. The Star." I remembered, I still had something to tell him. "You mentioned her… before." I nodded, showing my understanding. "Her body needs to be rescued, yeah? Then what are we all waiting for?"
"Well, first, we need more intel. Yozora, for some reason, is being pretty tight-lipped about it." Riku and I both mimicked the other's actions and folded our arms, 'hmm'ing as we studied the ground and thought.
"… Oh, well. Can't sit around doing nothing, if Yozora wants to get things settled his way before involving us in it, then… I say… that's up to him, right?" I wanted to be sensitive, it seemed the Star and him had a deep connection that was being jeopardised by these 'business suit' people. Whatever they wanted, they got it, at the expense of their bond.
"Right." Riku looked disturbed, maybe feeling bad for the Star, so I gave him my best smile and patted his shoulder, gripping it for good measure. 'Cheer up, Riku. I'm not just trying to get you to help me, I just can't stand still for very long. It's really not your fault.' I didn't want to say that to him at the moment though. Riku had so much to worry about from back home, to me, to now thanking the Star that risked a lot to get him here.
When he showed up, I guess the suit guys got wind that the only possible way he could travel to their world was through her. A shame it had to be like that, but now they were doing everything to double-up on their protection and securement of the Star's body.
"Who is she? Do you know?" Riku asked and I shrugged, letting his shoulder go.
"Yozora's dear friend… but besides that, it beats me." I wanted to respect somewhat of their privacy…
"…Does it, though?" Riku looked away, apparently putting two and two together.
I just grinned with a faint blush of embarrassment, scratching behind my head. "They do seem fond of each other…"
"…Enough to dream about one another?" he looked up into the sky and I knew he was teasing me again, but in a more contemplative way this time.
I immediately jumped on my feet and was ready to brawl, "Why, you-! Quit teasing me on that! Every jab is like a blow to my pride!" I gestured vigorously out with my hand so he'd see this meant a lot to me, and if Yozora was the same… "I respect him for him!"
"Heh, you two show things differently… but I think I can see the same feelings and emotions towards it. Well, I won't pry, but I think our only hope of getting out of here and back to our world is finding a heart connected to ours."
"Our hearts?" I inquired further for clarity sake.
"Our world." Riku emphasised, "Which means, even with her back in her heart and body joined back together again… There's no telling if she'd be able to get us back. Her heart got me here… but…"
"And my heart's missing… too." I touched the empty space where a heartbeat should be… and knew that Kairi was keeping it safe.
"Wait…"
I rose up my head.
"Kairi..? Is Kairi my key back home!?" I stomped my foot down to lean into Riku's vision line again, since he kept looking away to think to talk.
"Kairi..? If it were that simple, you could just use my heart, right?" He flipped his hand out to dismiss it, but I shook my head.
"You can't go home with your own heart leading the way, right? Not without jeopardising it. You said that because you used the Power of Waking on the Star's heart, that you were thrown into a similar position as me, right? That means… we need both a heart from our world that we can connect too… but someone to open the gate for us. You could be the gate, since you didn't lose as much as me, and Kairi could be my path to getting us home." My reasoning stood to be tested, but you know what? I think it makes sense!
"That's pretty far-balling it, Sora." Riku stated, not too sure about it. His eyebrows creased together into a furrowed brow and I knew he'd need more convincing. "If what you say is true… then we use my heart as a type of channel to yours, then have someone unlock your heart from Kairi's, and basically ride the channel back to our world."
"We're all connected, it could work." I was excited, but deeply concerned I would make him worry again.
I wanted to give him some hope… anyway.
After a minute that seemed like forever to me, Riku finally conceded. "We'll keep it in mind." which was enough to satisfy me! I put my hands behind my head and lifted a foot back behind my other, just glad we were on the same page.
"So… Tonight…" Riku addressed the other matter that broke me from my relaxed positioned and made me nervous again. "What exactly do you want to convey to her? That we're alright, and that she shouldn't stress out so much about not being on the same level as us yet?" He took one of his arms that were folded and swayed it about, as though we were kids and I hadn't thought this through yet.
Well… he was right, if that's really what he was assuming.
"I… uh… well…" I pivoted a bit from him, pushing my pointer fingers together in a bit of shyness. "Maybe…" I wanted to say a lot more then that… but I wasn't gonna admit that to Riku! He'd tease me for… well, for forever!
"I see." He dropped his hands and seemed to chuckle to himself, and I decided he already knew what I meant and just dropped it too.
"It was hard enough to try and think of putting it into words… but now…" I lowered my head, "Riku… what if I'm not enough to help her?"
He shook his head, "What are you talking about? Don't be silly, whatever you try and convey, I'm sure it will brighten Kairi's spirits." He walked ahead of me, "Everyone's worried about you… not just Kairi. So, whatever you say, should be something she can relate back to others, yeah?" He was right, I should tell her about this other world too, but it's hard to put anything simple into a step-by-step gesturing game.
"What if… she thinks I'm just a dream too?"
"Then convince her you're not, show her the truth of it." Riku wasn't really helping… but I appreciated that he was believing me now.
"Easier said then… charaded!" I tried to mime myself swimming, then swinging, then playing 'peek-a-boo' and he sighed and realized I wasn't very coherent in anything.
"Alright, let's take it from the top."
We only had a few minutes to really rehearse and concrete anything that showed 'clarity' of what I was trying to say when the suits found us. That was a whole ride, we battled and got finally got somewhere when Yozora–accompanied by his friends–finally met us up at last and we were able to get a lot done and figured out that day.
That night, I was exhausted, and I practically forgot about seeing Kairi and what I was gonna try and convey.
When I went to rest for the night under a huge tree with a big enough space under it's truck for us to rest in, I looked over and saw Yozora looking up at the stars in the night sky…
'I understand, buddy.' I thought to myself, empathizing, and remembered Kairi.
"Ah! Riku…" I looked over to him and saw his back facing me, he was already getting ready to lay down and threw up a thumbs up for me, apparently having thought of it before I did.
I smiled, looking down at my grass bed, "Okay… here goes." I got comfortable and tried to sleep… reaching out to her… 'Kairi… This time… I won't just silently listen… I want to say something back, and I hope you'll understand me this time.'
When I opened my eyes, I was already standing up and upon Kairi's heart, looking at the design and smiling at the familiar feeling of knowing this was her.
I looked up into the darkness above me and closed my eyes, until a flash of light triggered and I saw window planes of memories flying around me.
I walked around, realizing Kairi must not be asleep yet.
'Okay, I'll wait.' I nodded, and summoned my keyblade. 'Let's see what she's up to.' I pointed it out, watched the tip of it begin to glow with bright, radiant light and slowly rose it to the top of the blackness.
It shot out and then fell like a beam over me, opening some path to me from her heart into her mind and eyes.
When I opened my eyes, Kairi was panting and running, Aqua using all her might to lunge and attack her.
'Still training? It's so late.' I felt her heart racing and gripped my own chest, 'Kairi…'
She turned around and perfectly blocked the attack, 'Yes! You've got it!' she had improved so much since last time! It was awesome! I gripped my hands into fists and held them up, getting pumped during her training before I saw her stance weaken and heard her grunt under Aqua's high-stakes pressure training. 'Oh no…' I looked down at my foot and slid it into position, having her own foot fade like a ghostly after-image over mine. 'Kairi… like… this-!' I twisted my foot to scoot hers into the right direction.
Immediately, Kairi pivoted her foot and regained her balance, letting her force push through without fault.
'YEAHHH!' I jumped up and cheered as I floated in the space where I was seeing her fight. 'Way to go, Kairi!'
Aqua pulled back, looking a little surprised by her sudden strength, and then smiled. "Looks like you're learning quicker than I can teach. Tell me, when did you figure out your footing was misplaced?"
"I… I just felt someone guiding me… as if…" She got back up and placed her hand on her heart, but before she could say my name, she started to collapse.
'Ah!' I wanted to grab her but I couldn't, and in her after-image of falling, I saw Aqua quickly hold her up.
"I thought I requested a good night's sleep the other night. What's keep you resisting my instructions?" Aqua lightly scolded, tilting her head as though understanding Kairi's commitment, but trying to show her that it was unfruitful for her training purposes.
"I wanted to… re-run a few combos… ugh…" She gripped her head.
"Have you eaten?" Aqua asked.
'She better have!' I felt my whole being wanting to just skyrocket through her eyes and be there with her… taking her into my hands and not someone else's… More than anything, I wanted to be there for Kairi… help teach her and train her too, maybe train together with her! I know I've forgotten a lot of things, and mostly learned what I could from actual experience… 'Kairi… Kairi… please, just rest so I can connect with you!'
"I'm fine." Kairi smiled weakly, but sheepishly got up and began to bow to Aqua, "Master, I'm sorry for not resting enough as you've told me to."
"It's alright, but let's meet somewhere in the middle." Aqua's tenderness made me glad that Kairi was in good hands… even if I couldn't be there for her now… "I still require some toughness from you… but please, take care of yourself. Your keyblade is only an extension of your power, you are the true key." she gestured to Kairi then her own keyblade, before finally nodding and placing a hand delicately to her heart. "Power and strength… are nothing without the will that controls them. If your body is exhausted, then it can't do as the will commands, and you'll never be able to progress beyond this point."
I felt Kairi's breath get taken and felt so sorry that she was misunderstanding. Aqua wasn't saying she couldn't ever get stronger, only that if she didn't find the right balance, she'd only weaken herself and slow her training down further.
'Kairi… be brave, don't falter now.' I urged, but as I opened my mouth, nothing came out.
'Please… hear me, Kairi!'
Kairi lowered her head and I looked down at my fist, seeing her ghostly after-image over my own… her fist was tightened and shaking in her frustrations…
I felt my face bend in anguish, opening my hand and holding her own shaking one… even though I knew it was just my spirit and hers… I hoped she could somehow feel the comforting touch.
I had hoped that's how she would see it, but as she flinched and looked at her hand, I seemed to have only scared her.
I pulled it away and looked away… it was hard to see this. See how much she really was trying to be strong enough to save me with Riku too…
'Kairi…' I just squinted my eyes closed, what was this feeling? Of wanting so desperately to be by her side and…
"Kairi?" Aqua tilted her head.
"R-right. Sorry, I understand now. I'll… go straight to bed, Master Aqua." She nodded to her, remaining humble, and gave her a formal bow of her head with her keyblade pointed down and held with both hands, a sign of respect. "Excuse me, and thank you for the training."
Aqua nodded, but seemed concerned as Kairi retreated.
'Aqua… you're doing fine.' I wanted to reach her heart too, but as Kairi pulled away, so did I. I held out a hand to her, though, 'Let me try and be there for Kairi too… We'll help her… together." I nodded my resolve and waited for Kairi to actually get settled.
Giving her some space and privacy, I floated back down in the pillar of light to her heart, resting and trying to review the things Riku and I discussed.
'Okay, simple words and think of imagery strong correlations… Ah, what were those again?' I gripped my head, 'Man, all I can think of is-!'
"Sora..?"
The voice was so gentle, it resonated in me…
I tried to relax as I took a deep breath, and turned around to face her.
'Kairi…' I tried to mouth her name, but it seems she couldn't perceive that either.
She smiled to me kindly, but I could see her face shift to insecurity as her eyes began to show her true sorrow.
"I tried hard today… and I'll try harder tomorrow. You… and Master Aqua needn't worry about me." She shook her head, then looked squarely in front of her where I was, not willing to show me any loss of will. "Today, I learned that my will isn't strong enough either. I need to re-dedicate myself. I thought my promise to protecting you and bringing you and Riku back home safely was enough… but if my body can't keep up, then it means I have to train both my will and being at the same time. If they're strengthened together, then I can keep pursuing my promise to you, without any limitations."
She was so strong… her eyes were filling up with glossy tears and she wouldn't let a single drop be shown to me…
'Kairi…' I walked towards her.
She lowered her head and continued to bundle her hands into fists, shaking them to the side of her. "I felt you… today, I felt you correct me. I was happy to feel you again… but… scared to rely on you too much. But then… Master Aqua got me thinking… what if… What if you've been my strength this whole time, Sora? What if… I need to rely on my own strength? But saying goodbye to you twice is too much!" She gripped her head, and I moved quickly in response, gasping inaudible as I raced to meet her. "What if… I'd rather be strong with you… even if that means I'm not strong on my own?!"
I knew how that felt.
'Kairi… Kairi, I'm here! You've always been there for me, too! Remember? Even if we're apart, we're-!'
I embraced her.
She froze a second, probably because neither of us knew we could actually do that in this state.
But we were two hearts now… as long as her heart was here with mine, we could do anything.
I just held her so close, as I felt her arms feeling my own, as though still in disbelief that she could.
"Sora… Sora, are you alright? Did I scare you? I didn't realize… I didn't realize your heart could understand everything I was saying… I thought… it was kinda like a comatose state. I thought… if I just wrote and spoke to you in my letters and dreams.., it would help me stay on course." I felt her wrap her arms around me and we held on tightly.
I didn't care about telling her or performing my ridiculous dance of charades anymore. There was one thing I could convey, and this embrace was riding on everything for her to understand how I was feeling too.
She moved slightly and I reluctantly stepped back, giving her a gap between us as she reached to grab my hand, holding it like we had before I… disappeared.
She placed her own over mine, "You're safe?"
I nodded, with my own eyes growing hazy in how torn I was leave her… but I was waking up.
I felt my body disappearing again…
'No… just a little longer… let the twilight last-! Just a couple minutes longer..!'
"Good." She lightly giggled through her obvious heartache. If she could only feel my own…
"And Riku and you are together?"
I nodded again, hurriedly, feeling the fading as her hand dropped to show my own had already disappeared.
I saw her whole being lowering as though about to collapse again, then her mouth turn into a sharp frown before her face scrunched together and her strength was gone, jumping into my arms.
"Then I can do it! I'll work with my heart over both my body and my mind! I won't fail you, Sora, or Riku, or King Mickey! Master Yensid… Master Aqua… I won't let anyone down!"
So much of the world she seemed to be placing on her shoulders… and for the first time, I couldn't lift it off of her.
It was too much for her, though, I wish she'd see that and take her time on her training, but I could tell we now had plenty of motive to sleep at good times and not push ourselves too terribly hard.
Besides… I could hold her and be with her every night… and that was enough for me.
When I woke up, Riku and Yozora seemed to be in deep conversation with one another, "So… this Kairi… could be a way to save both you, Sora, and-" Before Yozora could continue, I groaned and gripped my head, the leafs under me crinkling and scratching against each other, causing a racket.
Riku and Yozora turned around from the entrance of the tree's open mouth, and seemed ready to hear what I had to say.
"Does she know?" Riku asked.
I just opened one eye and nodded… then a huge smile scraped across my face.
Riku pulled back a second, not sure what to take of my hinted meaning.
"Did you… Did you do as we had planned?"
"N-not… exactly…" I looked away, and Yozora looked confused as he leaned forward.
"Are you… Blushing?"
I covered my face and fell back into my leaf bed, "D-Don't look!"
Riku finally backed off my back about it, but he often poked my cheek to remind me how 'adorable' I looked after I woke up… 'I thought he said he wouldn't make fun of me anymore!' I thought with a red face.