Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 14

"Ever hear of knocking?" Axel complained as Saïx just barged right on in. It was his room! He could have been naked or something….

"Tell me what Xion has been doing," his oldest friend demanded, arms crossed, and Axel sat up on the uncomfortable block Xemnas called a bed. Seriously, couldn't they get more comfortable furnishings? They couldn't feel emotions, that didn't mean his back didn't hurt.

"How should I know? I'm not spying on her," he grumbled, stretching.

"...But the two of you are close."

"So what, now I've gotta rat on my friends to you? Get out of my room, man," he snapped. Saïx was his oldest friend but…what was he up to?

"You and Xion will be executing your next mission together."

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir. You paid me a personal visit just to tell me that?" he rolled his eyes, annoyed, well as annoyed as he could be. Saïx had changed so much from Isa and sometimes he wondered if anything of that boy still existed in him. He didn't think he'd changed anywhere near as much as Saïx had.

"We also need you to go back to Castle Oblivion."

That got his attention. "We, or you?" what was he looking for there? Evidence of Kairi or…

"The castle hasn't given up all its secrets. And there's one in particular Lord Xemnas is especially interested in."

"You mean the chamber," good, nothing to do with the kids. "We turned that place inside out. If it's there, we're not gonna find it by just looking." And he was so tired of looking.

"Hmm... Then let me give you another incentive. Xion can trace her beginnings to Castle Oblivion."

"Huh?" say what?

"One of your favourite people. Still think another visit is a waste of time?" Saïx was baiting him and he knew it.

"Hmph... Whatever. You're the one who wants me to go. Don't try and dress it up as a favour."

"Hmph."

"Let me guess... That chamber will tell you everything you don't know about Xemnas' true agenda. Is that the idea?" he asked as he stood.

"The Chamber of Repose, and it's antipode, the Chamber of Waking... Xemnas isn't telling us something. And the missing chamber, the Chamber of Waking - it holds all the answers. We need those answers to gain the upper hand, for our own reasons."

"Hmm... Look, I knew Vexen and Zexion would be obstacles. That's why they're not here anymore. When have I ever complained about the dirty work?" he acted offended to hide his uneasiness but Saïx stayed quiet. "I cleared the way to the top for you. Just do me a favour and don't trip on the way up."

"A solo mission in Castle Oblivion... Expect the orders soon," Saïx repeated and then he was gone.

"Xion…"Axel murmured, he did not like that at all. How could she be from…she looked like Kairi but she'd never lost her Heart so how…unless…they'd been working on Replica's, there was one of Sora so why not one of Kairi too? Though why not give her Kairi's memories too? It would explain her amnesia and appearance. So why did Kirux have amnesia too?

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Ven grinned as he stood opposite Sora, spinning his Keyblade easily. It was kind of eerie how similar their stances were, even with Sora using a standard grip, was that due to Ventus' sleeping influence on him or just because they were similar heights and builds? Sora had no formal training, had only had his Keyblade since being trapped in the Realm of Darkness, though he had grown up messing around with wooden swords. Ventus had several years of training under both Xehanort and Eraqus plus the experience he'd gained against the Unversed. Anyone betting on a fight between them would bet on him but Ventus knew there was more to fighting with a Keyblade than the obvious.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Bring it," Sora grinned, and Ventus laughed before launching at him.

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Sora stepped onto the sand, sighing as he was hit a blast of heat. Agrabah, wonderful. He was an islander! Even at its hottest, Destiny Islands didn't feel like this due to the humidity, though, he supposed extreme cold would be worse. Good thing the black coats had some kind of temperature regulation or he'd be literally melting in moments.

He ducked around a corner as he heard voices approaching. He watched as two figures in coats like his own walked down the alley, a Corridor opening for them. One of them…was the right height. He took a deep breath and moved on, going to hunt down Heartless and make sure the place was safe, see if he could work out why the Organisation had been there.

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"Wow, Kirux. Moonlighting as a wannabe hero now?"

"Xigbar! Why'd you leave me like that?" Kirux demanded. At the first sign of that crazy being, Xigbar had somehow vanished, leaving him to deal with the guy.

"To hide, duh! In case you forgot, the Organization runs a stealth operation," he scoffed.

"Well, yeah, but..." but how? He'd moved so fast, or turned invisible, or what?

"Still, this worked out pretty well, wouldn't you say?"

"How do you figure that?" he snapped.

"You don't have to sneak around now that you're one of them. I'm sure you'll be the best wannabe hero they've ever had."

"Wannabe? What's that supposed to mean?" he crossed his arms, wannabe hero…

"Heh, what indeed?" Xigbar smirked at him, opening a corridor.

"And now you're bailing on me?"

"As if, I just don't want to get in the way of your valuable training. I care about your future, Kirux." He waved and headed off and Kirux shook his head, as if he cared, yeah right.

"It's fine, I'll handle this myself. I should do some recon here first, before heading into the Coliseum," he murmured, he could do this…even if they did usually work in pairs for new Worlds. But sometimes it was better to be alone, lately it…it felt like whoever was partnered with him was never the right person, like it should be someone else if he could only remember.

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Mickey checked the lab with the pods but there was no sign of either boy. It was still hard to believe Ventus was back after so long, back, and unchanged physically. He had changed in other ways though; Mickey didn't know if it was due to his last fight with Vanitas or even his time with Sora. He was more serious and he seemed to know more than he had back then. Then again, he had barely known Ven, how could he when they'd only met what twice? And yet he'd loved a decade with the guilt of being unable to help him, help any of them.

He wasn't going to fail to help this time; no matter how many times Sora insisted he had to deal with what had been done to him himself. Kairi would likely need help too once she woke, she could use more training and would need help dealing with everything. Both of them would have grief due to the death of their friend. He'd had to guide Sora through the Realm of Darkness after Riku's Heartless had been destroyed defending him, that was twice now the other boy had died in a way and there was no way Sora was over that. Mickey thought Ven was helping some, talking with Sora and helping him train with his Keyblade.

And sure enough, he found the two of them training together in the mansions' largest room, well, the entrance really. Since it was open to both floors it had the highest ceilings to let them leap and bounce off walls. It seemed Sora, like Ventus, was best with wind magic and Ventus was having fun teaching him to make the best of it. Would Sora have been wind natured without Ventus' time in his Heart? It was good to see Sora smile, to hear him laugh as they tumbled to the floor, rolling around to try and get the upper hand. He didn't want to see grief or vengeance swallow the teen.

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"Oh, hey, Kirux. You hear about this vacation? About time we had a day off," Axel called, seeing the teen wandering aimlessly, obviously confused.

Kirux looked over at him. "I've never had a vacation before."

"Is that right?" Oh, right, no memory so nothing to help him understand what a vacation was.

"What's my job during vacation?" Kirux asked, proving Axel's thought.

"What's your…Kirux, you're really missing the point," he sighed.

"It's not my fault I've never had one. I don't know what to do," Kirux snapped defensively. He was becoming more and more expressive every week.

"Do what you like," Axel shrugged.

"But...I don't know what I like," Kirux admitted softly. "What are you gonna do, Axel?"

"Me?" he grinned, putting a hand on Kirux's back and giving him a small push away from Naught's Skyway and towards where the Dark Corridor to Twilight Town was, figuring it was the best place for him to go. And if he ran into Sora while there… I'm going to Sleep. And once I'm done with that, roll over and sleep some more," he laughed at the look on Kirux's face.

"Don't you spend enough time in bed?" he shook his head, silver hair fanning out around him, loose for the moment.

"You kidding? I'd nap six times a day if they'd let me. All right, snooze-land is calling. Enjoy your time off!" and with that he pushed him into the Corridor.

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Kirux watched the teens throughout the day, doing his best to keep out of sight by staying high. It made his head hurt, watching them fool around with those weird bats, calling out to each other as they ran through the streets. Did he…want to join them? He went to move to a new vantage point only for a sharp pain to send him tumbling down to the ground, curling in on himself.

"Hey! You okay?" a babble of voices surrounded him.

"Hey guys, give him some air!" one he recognised called and it slowly fell quiet. "It's you, itsn't it?"

"Friend of yours, Pence?" the female voice asked

"Yeah, I bumped into him a little while back."

Kirux managed to lift his head as the pain faded to see the boy from when he was looking for Xion a while back.

"You okay?" Pence asked, offering his hand, and Kirux stared in shock. When Pence waited he finally reached out and took his hand, letting the shorter boy help him to his feet.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Olette," the girl saved him from having to answer Pence which was good because he wasn't actually sure.

"Nice to...meet you, too," Kirux offered in return. He didn't really know how to act around real people, like Xigbar had reminded him, they were a covert organisation.

"And I'm Pence. But you already knew that," Pence grinned at him, even as the final person, a taller boy, looked away.

"What are you all doing?" Kirux asked cautiously.

"Watching Hayner here practice his Grandstander act," Pence answered, waving at the second boy, Hayner.

"Grandstander?" he'd never heard of that before.

"Yeah, you keep hitting a ball in the air and try to keep it from touching the ground," Olette explained.

"Hayner's one of the best in town," Pence praised him as Hayner walked over, holding one of those strange bats.

"You new around here? How come you're bothering us?" the harsh question had Kirux wanting to walk away, it was better to watch from a distance.

"Bothering? I'm not… I was just passing by," he offered.

"Uh-huh. Well, keep passing by then. We're busy here." Hayner turned his back, and Kirux found his hands tensing into fists.

"Hey! Hayner, don't be rude! There's no need to be mean," Olette yelled at him.

"Sorry about that. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend you. He's just…" Pence looked between them nervously.

And then Hayner was back, shoving the bat at him. "Hey, you try it. Let's see your juggling act."

"What will that prove?" Olette sighed.

"It's not gonna kill him. Here," Hayner pushed the bat at him again, and Kirux slowly wrapped his hand around it. "Well, go on."

Kirux looked from the bat to the ball, it looked easy enough. He took a breath and then hit the ball into the air.

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"Wow, you're good!" Olette grinned at the boy…who hadn't actually told them his name. he was dressed strangely too, like those people who flitted through town now and then. Was he one of them? But they never talked to anyone…well some of them apparently bought sea salt ice-cream from the seller but that was it.

"Yeah, you'd give Hayner a run for his money!" Pence was also grinning, no longer nervous about how the two were interacting. She thought the boy wasn't used to talking to other kids.

"I guess you're all right. We're cool, man," Hayner smirked, offering his hand, and she was relieved when the boy took it.

"Uh...thanks?" his voice was hesitant, almost shy. She bet he was cute under that hood.

"Sorry for railing on you before," Hayner kicked absently at the ground, his shoes already coated in dust.

"Hayner was only acting all grumpy because Seifer beat his record," Pence explained.

"Hey! That's enough from the peanut gallery!" Hayner glared, arms crossed.

His reaction caused her to laugh, covering her mouth with her hands to try and smother it.

"That includes you!" Hayner pointed at her which actually got a small laugh out of the boy too. "Oh great, now even the new guy is laughing at me."

"So, you said you were passing by. Does that mean you have to head off soon? Because if not," Pence started, and she saw the slight movement as the boy started.

"No, I do. I should go."

"All right. Sorry for holding you up. We should get going too," Hayner glanced at them.

"Yeah. Anyway, we'll see you later," Pence waved.

"Bye for now! Hope we can practice Grandstander again soon!" She smiled at him before darting forward to give him a quick hug, feeling him tense. "I'm glad we met you." and with that she darted off after the others. She hoped they would see him again, that they could help him be a kid.

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Kirux watched the three run from his perch above on the clocktower, ice cream in hand. It had been strange and confusing but also kind of….nice, almost familiar, to spend time with them. He winced, pressing the palm of his hand above his eye even as a hazy image wavered before him, a boy with a bright smile laughing as he raced across sand.

"Come on R… I'm gonna beat you!" the voice was teasing and happy. Who was he? His eyes…so blue. Was this boy…someone from his past as a Somebody? He wanted to know.

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Sora ducked out of the way of the three other teens, smiling wistfully at the sight. He missed them so much…he shook those thoughts off, hands in his pockets, head down, as he made his way through town and back to the Mansion. He didn't wear the coat in town, not wanting the Organisation to see him around too much in it and work out he was based there. He no longer wore the clothes from home though, Mickey had brought him new clothes on one of his trips. They were darker than he used to wear, the bright colours replaced by black and dark red but he found it suited him more now. Besides, he wasn't a little kid anymore and he needed to be able to fade into the background when not wearing the coat.

Sadly, he didn't look up at the clock tower and the one sitting up there didn't glance down again until Sora was halfway down the hill and blocked by buildings.

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"Hmph. What took you?"

Axel paused on the stairs to look at Saïx on the one below. "It's my vacation. I can take all the time I want. Since when do I have to check in with you?"

"You're letting yourself get too attached to them."

Axel fought the urge to bristle. He didn't have a Heart, how could he actually be attached. And yet…no, it was impossible. "Yes, sir, whatever you say," he sassed instead.

Saïx turned around to stare at him. "You've changed," he commented before walking down the stairs, and Axel watched him go.

"Have I? Funny, I thought that was you." he shook his head and continued up the stairs to his room.

Talking to Kirux and Xion always brought back memories of his human life, back when he was an ordinary kid. It' was a weird sensation but also…good. Once he would have been able to share everything with Saïx, but he just couldn't anymore. No, it seemed their friendship was slipping ever further into the past. He missed who Saïx used to be, even when they were first Nobodies they'd stayed close. But as the years passed, Saïx had turned more and more to Xemnas. There was no point dwelling on it.

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"I don't believe it. The woman inside…she's human!" Kirux hissed in shock. There had been no humans inside any time he had come to the dismal castle.

"Really? Just when I thought this castle was all freaks and furniture... Then she must be Belle," Xaldin murmured.

"How do you know?" he moved back from the keyhole he'd been bending to look through.

"All the servants speak highly of her. It's only fitting someone so well regarded would be given such fine lodgings." Xaldin motioned around at the grand hall.

"She's pretty, isn't she?" he offered, and Xaldin knelt to peer briefly inside. She had the same colour hair as Olette and Kirux had heard some people say she was pretty so that meant this girl was pretty too, right?

"Hmph... We've had a good look around. I'd say we've gotten to know our Beast rather well. You remember the way to his room, yes?

"I think so," he wasn't entirely sure, when he'd been there with Xion they'd been too busy trying not to get caught to pay full attention to directions.

"Take me there," Xaldin ordered, and Kirux nodded, leading them back to the stairs into the entry hall. So if he hadn't been down that hall before then the only other option was the ballroom they'd checked earlier, or the mirror hall to the one they'd just been in.

They began making their way up the stairs and down the hall when a hand jerked him to a stop.

"Stop. We're not alone."

Sure enough the candelabra hopped down the hall. "It is horrible... This monstrous infestation has to end! If only there was some way we could be rid of them for good... But like this... What can I do!?... I don't even have arms to hold a sword!"

"He must be like the others…another human under the spell," Kirux whispered, how horrible would that be? Sure, he was a Nobody and had no Heart, but at least he was human shaped. He could even eat and sleep if he wanted to like they could, could a candelabra?

"It would seem everyone here underwent some sort of transformation."

"How do you suppose they wound up under a spell?" and how could he avoid it?

"I couldn't say. We may find some clues in the Beast's room.

"That's just past here," Kirux told him, he recognised where they were now.

"Then let us be going. Don't get spotted, Kirux," Xaldin warned and they began making their cautious way through the halls, sticking to the shadows to blend in. Of course, Kirux managed to nearly get caught, again.

"Hmm?" the candelabra turned and Kirux managed to dart out of view. "Cogsworth! Is that you?"

They waited until he was gone to continue on.

"These gashes... Signs he fought here?" Kirux stared at the deep marks in solid stone walls. Against human flesh or even whatever it was a Nobody was made of…he shuddered slightly. Sure, his existence was empty, but that didn't mean he was eager for it to end.

"Signs he fought hard," Xaldin sounded almost…impressed?

"The floor is all torn up," he leapt over a damaged section as they followed the footsteps up the stairs.

"He fought tooth and nail to stop the Heartless here... There must be something ahead, something important enough to defend," Xaldin commented, his legs long enough to simply step over the section.

They finally entered the West Wing proper and he paused to look over the statues lining the walls. "Weird statues, huh?"

"Art is beyond our ken, Kirux. It takes a Heart to feel moved," Xaldin explained.

Okay…he was pretty sure even with a Heart those…things would do nothing except creep him out. He spotted one on the ground and paused. "Did this get knocked over in an earthquake?"

"Use your eyes. These are claw marks, the Beast destroyed this himself. It was victim to either a stray blow whilst he fought the Heartless, or else some other rage he felt compelled to vent."

"Like these picture frames," Kirux murmured as he stared at them all scattered about, some barely clinging to the wall.

"The Beast can't control his rage. It muddles the heart, poisons the mind..."he paused as they reached the door at the end of the hall. "This is the Beast's room?"

"Yeah. I'll take a look inside..." he carefully cracked the door open to look, finding the room was as dark and torn up as before with the Beast nowhere to be seen. "Looks like he's out... There's something at the far side of the room..." he spotted the strange glass dome…with a glowing rose inside.

Xaldin teleported into the room and Kirux rolled his eyes, using the door. "My, my..."

"What?" he joined him at the table.

"The rose... I sense a power in it. The Beast must hold it quite dear," Xaldin stared down at it.

Kirux examined it and yes…there was something…bright…powerful.

"Well, well... We have made quite the discovery, haven't we?" Xaldin grabbed his shoulder and they reappeared back in the hall, Kirux stumbling slightly.

"You mean...the rose? What do you care about some flower?"

"Well, tell me what you make of it," Xaldin pressed and Kirux bit back a grimace, he was obviously in 'teaching' mode like most of them got with him at times. It was annoying, he wasn't that hopeless zombie anymore.

"It looked important to him; he obviously takes really good care of it, and keeps others away from it." he didn't mention what he'd actually felt from the rose for some reason but it felt better to keep it to himself.

"Precisely, Kirux. That is no ordinary rose. To him, at least, it seems to hold more value than anything else in the castle. You saw the room. It was in tatters…save one corner."

"Maybe that's why he's been fighting the Heartless. He wants to protect the rose?" the fighting did seem more intense the closer it was to that room. They ducked around a corner to allow some of the residents by without seeing them.

"Of course. Some strange power surrounds it... The Heartless are drawn to it," Xaldin explained, of course he'd sensed it too.

"Then his fight is far from over..."

"Our work here is done, Kirux. The Beast's weakness is clear," Xaldin walked down the stairs and headed for the doors.

"It is?" Kirux asked, unsure.

"To hold something dear is to let it hold you. His heart is in thrall to it, don't you see? And that, Kirux, is ample weakness."

"I'm not sure I follow," he admitted.

"Nor should you, you have no heart to love with. Come, we should return."

Kirux stopped, watching him walk away. His Heart…was in thrall to the rose? He didn't understand.

"Are you coming?" Xaldin had stopped, turning to look back at him.

"I still have some questions about that rose."

"Now is not the time. Leave it," he commanded, but Kirux didn't move.

It was important, he knew it was.

"What now, Kirux? I bade you return."

"This Belle person... Why do you suppose she's here?" he asked carefully.

"You think she isn't simply a prisoner?" Xaldin watched him.

"It didn't seem that way to me. Plus, she mentioned helping him," Kirux pointed out.

"Help that Beast? Hah, if I had a heart, I'd be laughing. ...You look like you have more to say."

"It's about Belle. She's obviously more important to the Beast." So why did Xaldin think the Rose was more important than her?

"The servants seem more concerned with her than the Beast does," Xaldin waved it off. "They seem to be of the opinion she matters somehow to their master."

"Right, but how?" he just wanted to understand.

"Enough speculation. We have what we need. It's past time we returned." There was something in his tone that told Kirux it would be best not to push him any further.

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DiZ watched the two boys, amused. They were not very good at keeping their feelings hidden from him. He knew neither trusted him, it was why Ventus remained behind when Sora and Mickey were gone. He was there to ensure DiZ did nothing to harm the three sleeping in the basement. And he knew if it came to a fight, Ventus would win, he had lost none of his skill in the decade he'd slept within Sora's Heart…and wasn't that unexpected. He had never met the boy, though he knew of his presence in Radiant Garden, that of Terra and Aqua as well. The others had met the three at various times after all.

But he had no plans to harm the three. While Sora had gained a Keyblade, Kairi was the preferred Keyblade Master, untouched by Darkness. Sora was a risky element and the boy was…searching for something, what he didn't know, but it was a distraction from his work distracting the Organisation. It may become necessary to deal with him, as distasteful as the idea was, he could not be left to become another Xehanort.

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Xion collapsed to her knees, panting. She managed to look up as the other turned around and dispelled his own Keyblade. She slumped to the ground, fighting to remain conscious, to get up and resist as he walked closer. Was he going to kill her? But all he did was kneel beside her, pushing her hood back. He gasped, moving back away from her as if…shocked? She tried to get up, clutching her side.

"Your face..." he finally spoke and his voice sounded…young, like her and Kirux more than the other members. "Who are you really? And why do you have a Keyblade?" he demanded harshly even as she managed to yank her hood back on.

"Tell me first...why you are dressed as one of us."

He walked over to her Keyblade, stuck in the ground, and she tensed. What was he going to do with it?

"To make sure my best friend...sleeps in peace," he murmured, and then to her shock he pulled the Keyblade free of the bricks. "I don't know who you're supposed to be. But...you can't fight fire with sparks. This Keyblade, it's a sham…worthless." He tossed it aside and it clattered to the ground.

Xion gasped and then glared at him. "My Keyblade is not a sham! What gives you the right to say that?" She staggered up, grabbing her Keyblade before running at him, shouting in fury. He dodged her attack easily, and then slammed his fist into her bruised side. She fell to the ground and the Keyblade disappeared.

He straightened up and she stared with wide eyes as she realised his hood had fallen back in the scuffle. She took in tanned skin, wild spikey hair, and blue eyes, before he pulled the hood back up. "Find a new crowd. Trust me, those guys are bad news," he warned, turning to walk away.

She struggled to her knees. "Why? You're the real sham," she snapped, clutching her side in pain and he hesitated. She braced for an attack but instead he let out a short laugh.

"Fair enough. You could say I am...the biggest nobody of them all," he was laughing at her…or himself? He walked away, vanishing into a Corridor, and she screamed.

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Sora collapsed on the log, reeling in shock. Kairi…how could she look so much like Kairi? Though her eyes…they looked more his shade of blue than hers. But how? Neither Kairi nor he had ever been Heartless. Unless…she wasn't a Nobody? They'd made a Replica of him, who was to say they hadn't made one of Kairi or even tried to make one with both their skills? But why?

He'd really hoped he'd found Riku when he confronted her but then they'd stood on even ground and he'd realised the figure was too small for him, unless becoming a Nobody had shrunk him. Was she the one he'd seen on the ground that day in front of the Mansion? If she was, then she knew Axel and maybe Riku. He'd find him, he would. He'd bring him home before Kairi woke.

He'd told her that he was the biggest Nobody of all and he'd meant it. He was nothing without Riku and Kairi, Ven and Mickey tried, and he appreciated it, but it wasn't enough. He knew Riku had broken the spell on him, had given him True Love's Kiss, and it hurt knowing he was dead because of him. It was all his fault, if only he'd been able to fight off Ansem's possession then they all could have gone home together. He hadn't been strong enough but he was stronger now, even if he hated the Darkness that now tainted his magic, his very Heart. Would it ever be gone?

TBC….

Going to the zoo for my birthday tomorrow, haven't been since before the pandemic. So excited to see the baby lions!

What do you all think of eventual KairiVentus for this story?