Maybe I Have to Find My Own Inspiration

"I never thought we'd end up as fashion designers," Kairi mused to Sora, as the two of them looked in their closet for inspiration for some of the designs they were currently having trouble with.

As Kairi spied her favorite purple top and pink skirt, she suddenly thought about a violet shirt with blue jeans and a model rocking intense blue eye shadow… But right before she could bring it up to Sora, he brought her up short with his own thought: "Well… they say you should never do your passion as a job, or you'll end up hating it, so I couldn't be happier with how things turned out!"

Kairi nodded her head at that, knowing that Sora was talking about writing having been her dream—though she also did enjoy art, but not nearly as much as Naminé did. And then Sora, of course, more than anything loved making people laugh. Also, dancing (…there was also fighting. But since they were mostly retired, they were both really trying to get away from that).

All-in-all, Kairi did think that this was the second-best career choice for both of them, and she was so glad that they'd found it… together.

"So, what do you think of me trying to make orange the look this year?" Sora asked, pulling Kairi out of her reverie.

And she had to smile, as he draped some of his own orange garments over his shoulders—orange was so not his color, just like black had never been, though not that it really mattered—before she sauntered over to him and pecked him on the cheek, "Well, as a certain character would say, 'you're obviously disturbed'," Kairi joked. "But everyone who loves to make Halloween get here early would jump at the idea. I say go for it, baby."

"Awesome!" Sora exclaimed, jumping up once, and beaming the most beautiful smile Kairi had ever seen from him. How was that even possible? How did he get better every day? "What color do you think I should pair with it? Something normal, like white? Or should I do an ombre with different oranges?"

"Or you could excite people like you've always loved to, and do the opposite of the color wheel with green," Kairi supplied, imagining a nice sunset as she did so—and perhaps even things like when Sora and Riku had been returned to her on the Island after first defeating Xemnas, or when she and Sora had shared paopus with each other.

"Oh, yeah! That's a great idea! What do you think you'll design for the show this year, Kai?" Sora asked suddenly, surprising Kairi as he Quick Ran and ended up behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist, and his chin resting on her left shoulder. Oh, yeah. She could definitely get used to this.

Smiling, as she reached back and tangled a hair in Sora's forever unruly locks that she had ever loved, Kairi simply shrugged. "I don't know. Riku recently opened up to me about how his ballet dreams aren't entirely over… but he's somewhat scared to pursue them. Maybe if I designed a really nice leotard, inspired by him, he'd be willing to give it a go. What do you think, Sora?"

Sora chuckled against Kairi's skin, which definitely tickled and caused gooseflesh to appear upon her shoulder. Kairi swatted Sora on the arm playfully for that, as he stepped away from her. "If anyone could make Riku look at that long-lost dream of his again, it would be you, Kairi… Well, should we get to work?"

Kairi thought that that was a fantastic idea. And once she had fetched some coffee for the two of them (a light brew for Sora, who—surprisingly, even with all his time world traveling, and keeping weird schedules [where one would have thought he would have needed something strong at times to keep him awake]—still was wired when having only the slightest bit of the stuff, and a dark one for the princess), the fashionistas began their "nine to five," as it were.

And Kairi loved it… she really did. And she knew that Sora did, too. Once upon a time, Kairi had read a book about playwrights that lived together and the method to their madness. Apparently, they would both sit in the same room, across from each other, and work the same amount of hours together… and when they were done, let each other read what the other had written, and then offer advice (and Kairi didn't doubt that there were hijinks throughout it all, too). It was much the same for her and Sora.

For instance, in the winter when she would bring out the toe socks that she loved so much and wiggle her toes in absent minded thought, Sora would take this as cue to play footsie with her for a little bit. And did Kairi mind? Most definitely not.

On the professional level, sometimes the two of them would get stuck on something in the middle and bounce ideas off of each other or trade work… it was all truly delightful, and Kairi really couldn't imagine doing anything else as a career anymore.

Sora's art was truly something to die for now, too. While she'd never say what he'd done on the cave walls had been…terrible, when he'd become serious about this venture with her, he'd taken up a challenge where he'd drawn every day for one hundred days. And just comparing his baseline from day one to day one hundred had had her jaw hitting the floor. With where he was now, Kairi would dare say he was a better artist than her. And maybe even most people on the island, too. But that was just Sora, wasn't it? When he put his mind to something he really wanted, there was just no stopping him.

"Kairi, why are you staring at my face like that? You look like you did when we recited our wedding vows… Not that I'm complaining. But are you making any progress on the look for Riku?" Sora asked, pulling Kairi out of her thoughts, as he put his sketchbook down and came over to peer at her drawing.

"Hey, that's cheating!" the princess exclaimed at once, covering her attempt at her present for Riku, because dear God, was this not ready for anyone to see it yet. "This is still in the early stages, and-"

"Kairi… since when do we ever care about that?" Sora chuckled. "I know every step of your process, and you know mine. Are you struggling? Having second thoughts about your project?" Sora inquired far too correctly, as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow now.

The jig being up, Kairi uncovered her drawing with a sigh, and let her hubby take a gander at it. "It looks like Peter Pan! I hate it! Riku would never wear it! I want to try something else now. Maybe akin to what you're doing? You almost seem to be doing something superhero-y. Maybe I should, too?"

Sora seemed to blanch at Kairi's words, but she couldn't imagine why. She thought his drawing was looking great. But thankfully, she didn't have to guess for too long. Because like always, Sora revealed what was on his heart without too much preamble. "You don't really think I'm doing something superhero-y, do you? I mean… not that I'm against superheroes, of course! But that wasn't really the intention here. It was just mainly supposed to be a shirt with shorts?"

Now it was Kairi's turn to nitpick, because the way Sora had stared at the intense green of what she was creating hadn't at all escaped her notice, after all (he hadn't liked it, but was far too kind to say so). Taking a sip of her coffee first, Kairi turned to the love of her life's creation with a keen eye. "The orange and green might be a hard sell for a superhero… or anyone, really, but it's one I personally love, as you know. But the outfit you're working on here definitely looks like it could withstand much: no doubt inspired from your many looks designed from the Three Good Fairies. So it's not hard to read 'superhero' from this."

At that, Sora looked at Kairi, then back at his project, then back at Kairi once more before scratching his head, resigned. "I guess so. But you know what? You're right. I'm not complaining. Superhero, it is!

"And Kairi…" Sora suddenly started monologuing, taking Kairi's sketchbook away from her right when she'd thought that maybe she'd found some inspiration for what Riku desired, after all. Or was that just wishful thinking on her part? She honestly didn't know at this point. "Why don't you try your luck at something superhero oriented, after all" Sora offered, looking at Kairi's art as if he'd found much needed inspiration there himself. "I know you're still hung-up on how you didn't get to do much heroing with us until late. Maybe this could be a way to remedy that? And honestly? What you're working on here has some of the same bones as what I started with, too."

"Give me that!" Kairi laughed, poking Sora in the ribs. And since he was extremely ticklish there, he didn't have to be told twice. Once Kairi had her book back, she could see what her spouse was talking about. Now the green of the leotard didn't so much remind her of Peter Pan, but skin… She could just imagine red hair with it—like Sora was describing in a bit of a self-insert for her—like Mystique… Or maybe someone else. No, the outfit and character she was picturing was way different from Mystique, actually. Hmm…

"I'll leave you to it then," Sora laughed, seeming to have rightfully realized the creative bunnies had once again found his love.

But if the way he was running to the computer out of the corner of her eye was any indication, Sora himself might have had an idea, too.

And so it was, that many moons later, Sora and Kairi would become the sole creators of the characters of Aquaman and Miss Martian: something they both very much cherished, because it reminded them of their Keyblade adventures that they did somewhat miss. And it proved, once again, that they were soulmates and often on the same wavelength.

And the characters' looks were so stylish, if Kairi said so herself.

She also adored that Sora created a character from the sea, and she made one from the sky, so to speak.

After the two of them wrapped up their press junket for the day (talking about the characters), they walked over to Riku who was pirouetting out in the courtyard like the best of them—having finally decided that he didn't give a damn what anyone thought about him, his family, or friends—and as Kairi and Sora made their way over to him, Kairi knew immediately what the twinkle in his eye met.

"Kairi, did you finish my leotard ye- Oof!"

He was immediately cut off when said princess placed said leotard into his arms.

"Honestly, Kai, I don't know why you didn't think of making it turquoise from the get-go. It would have saved a lot of problems."

"As if you had that idea, lazy bum!" Kairi huffed, but deep down, she was living the dream. Today had been perfect… and she was thrilled that she had finally had the epiphany on how to deliver this gift to Riku.

"Okay, simmer down you two," Riku snickered. "I swear, you're worse than my son, Heiwa. But I want to talk to you guys… this trademarking superheroes thing is no joke. Do you think you might try it again?" He smiled at each of his friends in turn, clearly thinking that it was cool and maybe wanting them to do so more. Kairi couldn't help but to shake her head in laughter at that.

Thankfully, Sora was giving Riku their answer before Kairi had to burst his bubble—as he placed his hands behind his head in his classic Sora pose. "Nah. I think we're mostly done with hero-ing in every aspect. If inspiration strikes again, then maybe. But let's let our clothes be championed!"

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Kairi smiled a thousand-watt smile, before taking both Sora and Riku's hands, like she had once done so long ago. "Besides, Riku: don't you know it's your turn to be the hero now: the hero of the dance?!" Kairi laughed before starting to run away from her boys, who chased after her.

But not before both boys had said at the same time said, "You're a doll, Kairi."

Yeah, life really couldn't get much better than this, Kairi decided, as her two best friends ran after her trying to catch up with her this time, which eventually they did—tackling her to the ground in laughter as they did.

Life was pure joy now, and she and all of her loved ones were enjoying each and every minute of it together.

Author's Note: A really random idea I got one night when I was trying to sleep. I usually get my best inspiration and story ideas at night… but also some of my weirdest.

This surely isn't my best work and I'll admit that I don't love it. But I also don't hate it, and do like parts of it. And the Destiny Trio do deserve domestic bliss and a normal life like this in the future, of course (though it probably won't be like this). So, yeah. It's fine, I guess. -shrugs-

Happy SoKai Day!

Edit: The title is a line from Kiki's Delivery Service:)