Chapter 2: An Unorthodox Idea

The rhythmic clash of Keyblades filled the air as Kairi and Aqua sparred in the courtyard of The Land of Departure. The massive castle provided a glorious backdrop to an otherwise intense sparring between the Keyblade master and her mentor.

Each strike echoed off the stone walls of the courtyard, reverberating through the grand halls and corridors of the ancient fortress. The sound was a symphony of metal meeting metal, a testament to the intensity of the training session unfolding beneath the moonlit sky.

As Kairi swung her Keyblade with determination, Aqua's skilled movements danced around her, deflecting each blow with practiced precision. Yet, despite her mentor's encouragement, there was a hesitancy in Kairi's strikes, a lingering doubt that held her back from fully unleashing her potential.

"Come on, Kairi! No holding back!" Aqua's voice cut through the air, her words a gentle yet firm reminder of the challenge that lay before them. She watched her protege closely, her eyes alight with a mixture of pride and determination.

With renewed resolve, Kairi nodded, her determination reignited by Aqua's unwavering support. Gripping her Keyblade tightly, she squared her shoulders and prepared to meet her mentor's next strike head-on.

The two continued clashing Keyblades, determined to overpower the other. Kairi managed to hold her own, even as Aqua threw in a few magic spells to keep her on her toes.

But through her movements, Aqua could see that there was self-doubt and anxiousness present in Kairi, which was keeping her from fighting at peak performance.

As the battle wore on, Kairi found herself faltering under the relentless onslaught of Aqua's attacks. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to keep up with her mentor's skilled maneuvers, her Keyblade growing heavier with each passing moment.

It soon got to the point where Kairi stood still and lowered her Keyblade, her shoulders slumping as the weight of her doubts settled upon her. It was clear that she couldn't take it anymore.

Sensing her apprentice's growing fatigue and frustration, Aqua paused, her Keyblade held at the ready as she studied Kairi's weary form.

"Kairi," she said gently, her voice carrying a note of concern, "are you feeling alright?"

"Master Aqua," Kairi said, "I'm sorry. But…I just…"

Aqua dropped her battle stance and put her Keyblade down. "Um, let's take a break," she said, kindly.

The two Keyblade wielders prematurely stopped their battle and sat down on the stone wall, their feet hanging off the edge.

Aqua could see that Kairi was feeling down on herself and wanted to cheer her up.

"You've fought well," she said, "but it's clear that something is holding you back. What's troubling you?"

Kairi sighed and said nothing.

Aqua placed a reassuring hand on Kairi's shoulder, her expression softening with understanding. "I know the training has been a challenge," she said, trying to sympathize with her, "it was the same for me when I was training with Master Eraqus. You're not alone in feeling that way, Kairi."

Aqua briefly thought back to when she was a young apprentice under the mentorship of Master Eraqus. She remembered all the sparring matches she had with him, as well as the words of wisdom he would bestow on her afterwards. Now in her former master's footsteps, she was hoping to do the same with Kairi.

"I think you have grown tremendously since we started," she said, "especially with your magic abilities."

But Kairi wasn't buying it. "I just can't help but feel that I'll never be good enough," she admitted. "I'm always gonna be behind Sora and Riku no matter how hard I train."

Kairi pulled her legs up and curled up in a ball. "I've been having a lot of nightmares lately," she confessed. "I see Sora every time. And he gets taken away from me. And every time, he's always taunting me."

"Yeah, I know," replied Aqua.

Aqua suddenly gulped. "Uh! I mean, uh, uh, you're talking about Master Xehanort?" she stammered.

Kairi nodded her head, seemingly missing Aqua's slip of the tongue.

Aqua took a deep breath, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words to comfort Kairi. She knew all too well the weight of nightmares and self-doubt, having faced similar challenges when she was trapped in the Realm of Darkness. She definitely didn't want Kairi traveling that same road.

"Kairi," Aqua began, her voice gentle yet firm, "I want you to know that you're a different Keyblade wielder from Sora and Riku. Just like how they have their own unique strengths and abilities, you have your own special talents and abilities."

Kairi kept her head down. Aqua's words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Aqua's heart ached at the pain that Kairi was feeling. She reached out and gently squeezed Kairi's hand, offering her a reassuring smile.

Aqua tried to think of some other words of encouragement from Master Eraqus that she could pass on to Kairi, but she didn't feel it would be enough to bring Kairi out of her funk.

"Come on, Aqua! Think!" she thought. "There has to be something you can do."

Aqua kept thinking about what to say to Kairi to make her feel better.

Finally, Aqua's thoughts drifted to a plan she had been formulating for some time. It was something unorthodox, but it was something she had always wanted to do. And she felt it could help Kairi.

"Kairi, you have been one of the hardest workers I've ever seen," she said. "Maybe you've been working yourself too hard. I think…you need a break."

"A break?" Kairi asked, somewhat confused.

"How about you and I take a little trip together?" proposed Aqua.

"A trip where?"

"To the beach, but not Destiny Islands. This is a…special kind of beach that I go to whenever I'm feeling down on myself."

This managed to pique Kairi's curiosity. Of course she had lived on Destiny Islands for a good part of her life, but she was curious to what other beach there was that Aqua could be referring to. "What's special about this beach?" she asked.

Aqua gulped nervously. "Uh, well," she stammered, "the thing is, this is a…well, it's a…nudist beach resort."

Kairi's eyes widened in surprise, her face turning bright red. "A nudist beach resort?!" she shouted, her voice filled with disbelief.

"SHHH!" scolded Aqua, her face turning red as well. "Not so loud! I don't want Ven or Terra knowing about it!"

Kairi covered her mouth, embarrassed that she shouted so loud for her voice to echo throughout the land. They both quickly looked around to make sure they were alone. Luckily, they were.

Aqua let out a sigh of relief, then she continued on. "Yes, it's a nudist beach resort."

"You mean, like, where everyone is…naked?" Kairi asked, cautiously.

Aqua nodded her head.

"And you've been there before?!" Kairi asked, sounding more bewildered.

"I have," replied Aqua, "but only a couple of times. It's a little difficult getting away and not letting the others know about it."

Kairi, still blushing, turned away from Aqua, trying not to imagine her naked. "I'm just surprised," she said. "I didn't take you to be a part of…that kind of thing."

Aqua then held her hand to her chest. "I know it's really unusual," she began, "but it's truly a place where you're not only taking your clothes off, but also you're completely letting go of all your inhibitions and connecting with nature in a way that truly feels free. It's helped me find peace and clarity before, and I think it could do the same for you."

Kairi's initial shock wore off and began to give way to uneasiness. "I…I don't know. I've never been to a place like that before. I don't know if I can do…that in public. Especially in front of…b-boys."

"Oh! So that's the good news!" Aqua said, perking up a little. "This beach resort…is girls-only! No boys allowed anywhere! And they're really good at sticking to that rule and keeping them out."

Kairi's eyes widened slightly. "Really? Just girls?"

Aqua nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, really. And the others are all really friendly."

Kairi bit her lip. The idea was slightly less intimidating, but still daunting. Kairi couldn't help but compare herself to Aqua.

Especially in the chest area.

Aqua smiled warmly, her confidence in her suggestion growing. "I know it's a lot to take in. But sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing something completely new can be incredibly liberating. It can help you see things from a different perspective and shed the burdens that have been weighing you down. And it sounds like that's what you desperately need to do."

Aqua placed a reassuring hand on Kairi's shoulder. "I won't force you to do anything you're not comfortable doing," she said, "but I truly believe that going to this place could help you clear your head and find peace. And plus, I'll be right there with you every step of the way!"

Aqua got up from her seat. "Take the rest of the day off and think about it," she said, as she made her way back to the castle. "Let me know by this afternoon. Okay?"

Kairi watched Aqua walk away, her mind swirling with so many thoughts and emotions. "Me and Aqua…at a nudist resort?" she continued asking herself.

She didn't object to her needing a break of some sort, but a nudist beach resort?

Aqua's words echoed in her mind: shedding burdens, finding peace, stepping out of her comfort zone.

Kairi looked down at her body. She couldn't help but cup her chest, comparing them to Aqua's. A lump formed in her throat as she imagined herself naked on the beach around other naked women, let alone Aqua.

"Will…that really help me?" she asked herself.

Kairi sighed and stood up, her mind still racing. She decided to take a walk around the castle grounds, hoping that the fresh air and solitude might help clear her head.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Normally, with these stories, I wait until the girls arrive at the beach resort before finding out it's a nudist resort. But with this story, I decided to buck that trend and give Kairi the choice on whether or not she wanted to go.

I think you can guess what she's gonna decide. (wink wink)