Xion stood in front of the door to the spare room in Even's castle suite, holding her hands to her chest.
After getting..."Kairi" out of that machine, that metal box...Even had said she was alive - breathing and everything. But she still didn't wake up when Even had tried to get her to - or when Tifa had tried to, after him.
So Ansem The Wise had said to bring her out of that place, and bring her here instead, until they "uncovered how she came to be." Tifa had carried her all the way up here, and put her in the spare bedroom - on the large bed.
Even had then gone and asked Aerith for help with- this girl, because Aerith was "adept at handling the children of the city - in ways I'm obviously not." He had also said something about her being good with magic, and "sensing things"...
After waiting a long time, the door opened, and Aerith and Even both came walking out. Aerith strode past Xion with a small smile and a wave, continuing down the hallway.
Xion stepped forward, opening her mouth as she looked to Even.
"No, as far as I'm aware, she isn't a Replica," Even spoke before she could, looking at her with a small smile. "The child reads as indistinguishably human, in every possible way. And, no, she hasn't woken up yet...for reasons unknown to me."
"But...I read as human now too, don't I? I'm indistinguishable too? You said I would be. So how can you know?" Xion asked.
Even crossed his arms, nodding at her in surprise. "Well, put simply: I can't - you're right about that, Xion. Short of separating her Heart from her body, and seeing whether or not it reverts to a base form...as even your current Replica body should were that to occur...no, I can't tell. Well, I could, perhaps, but those tests would require certain tools, and would be...unnecessarily traumatizing, no doubt."
Xion stared at him, frowning. Her mind went back to Castle Oblivion, when she'd first met him...as Vexen. When she had first learned what she was... "Please don't do that to her!"
"I assure you, I would not," Even said firmly, looking upset. "I shouldn't have treated you that way, either. I am sorry for that, by the way - deeply sorry, still..."
"Oh. It's OK," Xion said. "I haven't really thought about it in a while..."
"Well - good...good. Ahem. At any rate, whoever or whatever the girl really is, I'm sure a five year old is of no real threat to any of us. So, if this is part of some elaborate scheme by an evil-doer - perhaps that black-coated man you encountered - I'm certain we'll all have nothing to worry about," Even concluded. He paused, then added softly, "And, I'm sure that whatever is going on here...it is no fault of hers. She's likely an unwitting pawn, or tool...even some kind of bait. That is Xehanort's style, after all."
"But if she's not a Replica, could she be a...Nobody? Does she have a Heart?" Xion said, furrowing her eyebrows in thought.
"A very pertinent question; myself and Aerith both could not sense the presence of a Heart within her, no," Even said, looking at her with approval. "Though the woman did sense a consciousness - the girl seems to be either dreaming or remembering things in her sleep." He paused, shaking his head. "Anyway, as I understand it, even at such a young age, Kairi was still a Princess of Heart - which should at least rule out the possibility of time travel, yes?"
"Yes! She's been a Princess since she was a...baby?"
"Then we can indeed safely rule out time travel - thank goodness," Even said in a murmur, looking relieved. "Which does leave us with a Replica, or something similar. Though, even my earliest Replicas had artificial Hearts. It's almost the inverse: a perfect human body, yet no Heart... I would be more inclined to go with the Nobody theory, if she weren't so young...and of course the way in which she even materialized within that pod at all. That's not at all how the process works; there's no consistency with the knowledge we have. It simply doesn't fit. Thus, we must look for alternative explanations."
"Like what?" Xion wondered.
"A random girl who was made to look like Kairi by magical means, for whatever reason? A girl who is perhaps a Nobody - similar to the relation between Roxas and Ventus?" Even elaborated, turning to stride away now, raising a finger. "A girl transported to us via that machine - if it can send people out, it must surely be capable of bringing people here. A world-traversing device like that would be of little utility if it weren't capable of retrieving pods or passengers as well. Though from where the girl was retrieved...and why she would even have Kairi's appearance at all...or why Xehanort would have gone through all these efforts..."
"Can't we just go and ask him?"
Even stopped, turning back to her. He lowered his arm and crossed it over his chest. "Yes, I intend to - Merlin is being informed by the Restoration Committee as we speak. His magical capabilities will be able to transport me to the home of the Keyblade Wielders, where, with any luck...I will get a straight answer out of Xehanort."
"Ok..." Xion looked down. Then up again. "Can I do something to help?" She wanted to do something - even if she still couldn't summon her Keyblade anymore, since that black coated man had taken it (she'd tried a few times now and it didn't work!).
Even considered her. He nodded down at her. "You can. In fact, I think you are the best candidate to wait with the girl, in case she wakes before I return."
"Me? But...what am I supposed to- say to her? I don't know if we're sisters or anything, or-"
"Anything, really. Talk to her, show her your books - feed her snacks," Even said, waving a hand. "The point is to have someone on hand to keep her calm, and occupied. I'm sure you can do that, can't you?"
"...I'll try?"
"Good. And if you can't, go and look for Aerith or Tifa - understood?" Even added.
"Yes!" Xion said quickly.
Even left the suite, leaving Xion alone.
She stood there for a minute, staring at the door to the room with the girl in it...
Xion didn't want to just call her "Kairi" if she was a Replica or something...but she had to call her something? At least...until the girl could give Xion her name, herself?
She breathed in and out again, then walked through the living room and dining room to reach the kitchen. She filled up a glass of water and got a box of cookies, then carefully carried them back through the suite. She pushed open the door slowly and walked inside the large and clean bedroom.
The girl was still sleeping - under the blankets, on the bed. Her hands were on her stomach.
Xion shuffled forward as quiet as she could. She put the water and cookies on the nightstand, then went to get the chair from the study desk. She dragged it over to the bed and sat down in it, staring at the girl closely now.
It was kind of...strange? The old pictures of Kairi didn't really... This girl was just so small and thin. A lot smaller than Xion had actually thought!
She was so small because she was so young in age. Xion knew this was how normal people lived and grew - grew up. They weren't like her, already as big and developed as she was, even if she wasn't even a year old yet. It took normal girls a long time to learn and grow. That was why people had parents: to keep them safe when they were so small and helpless - and not smart. At least, Even had said that once...
Xion sat there watching the girl for a long time, just thinking about all of this more and more. The thought came to her that she would have looked like this if she was really a real girl...but with black hair. She would have been this small, and strange, and maybe Even would have picked her up and carried her like Tifa had carried this girl...? Xion might be human now, but she still wasn't...and had never gotten to be...a real girl. A normal girl. She didn't have a photo album, she didn't have stories like Kairi had with her dad, she had never been a baby. She didn't have biological parents, even if Kairi's dad was her dad now, and Even was also her dad...
She still didn't have a mom. She'd never had a mom...
She wondered what it would be like if she did.
But, if she could get a dad from adoption...then couldn't she also get a mom too?
The thought came to Xion then: why hadn't Kairi gotten a mom...?
Why was it "just" dad?
She knew Kairi's dad had had a wife before - but why didn't he have one now? Why hadn't he given Kairi a mom again?
Was it too late to get a mom now? It wasn't too late for Kairi to adopt Xion as her sister, or dad to adopt her as a daughter! So- so it couldn't be too late to get a mom too!
Xion wanted a mom!
She'd ask Even to get her one - and if he said he couldn't, she'd ask Kairi's dad.
And if he said no too...she'd find one herself! Like Kairi had adopted her as a sister first!
But what kind of mom should she have...? Not one like Kairi's biological mom - she'd been terrible, from what Kairi had said before. So what about...someone like Aerith? Or Tifa! They'd both always been so nice, and they'd let her live with them in Traverse Town before, and she'd met Imra because of Aerith, and...they were perfect moms! Could she just ask them to be her moms? Could she have two moms? She already had two dads...
But maybe that was just too many parents?
She didn't want Even or dad to think she was...greedy, or selfish?
Maybe just one mom, then. Just one really good mom, to-
Suddenly, the girl moved, startling Xion out of her thoughts.
Xion blinked quickly, sitting back in her chair and putting her hands in her lap. She watched- Kairi, open her eyes slowly.
The girl...sat up in the bed, blinking too. She looked all around her. Then she looked at Xion.
"Hi?" Xion said quietly. "I'm Xion. What's your name?"
The girl blinked again, looking down at herself. Her small hand came up to touch her necklace. She closed her fist around it, her mouth opening as she gave a small gasp. Then she raised her head to look at Xion again, quick and sudden. "My name's...Kairi," she said, slowly and quietly. Her face looked confused.
Xion stared at the girl for a moment, then she nodded and tried to smile at her. "Ok - Kairi."
The girl looked around again. "Where am I?"
"Radiant Garden's castle," Xion answered quickly. That should keep the- Kairi calm, right? She'd been here before, lots of times. She'd liked being here...with her- her grandmother. Xion was proud of herself for thinking of that one so fast.
Kairi was staring back at Xion again. She looked confused again, too. Her tiny face frowned. "Did I fall asleep? Do you work at the castle?" Without waiting for Xion to answer her, the girl suddenly kicked off the blankets and jumped up on the bed! She shook her head furiously, then jumped off the bed to land on her feet. She wobbled, catching herself by grabbing Xion's chair.
"Um - I live here...kind of," Xion said, caught off guard by the girl's sudden motions! "I work in the lab sometimes."
"Nice to meet you, Xion - bye!" Kairi said, and then she was hurrying past Xion to the bedroom door!
Xion jumped up and spun around, watching the girl. "Where- where are you going?" she said anxiously.
The girl stood in front of the door, tilting her head back to stare at the doorknob. She reached up on her toes to try to grab it, but she couldn't reach it still.
It really made Xion realize how small she was, again-
Kairi suddenly huffed and jumped up, grabbing the handle and turning it before letting go. She brushed at her hair and pulled the door open!
"Wait - please, I think you have to stay here!" Xion exclaimed, rushing after her.
Well...as long as she stayed in the suite it was probably okay? Right? But if she went wandering around the whole castle, or even the city, and got lost...Even would be really mad at Xion for that!
Xion stepped out into the hallway, just catching the girl's red hair and dress disappear around the corner into the living room. She ran after her and skidded to a stop.
Kairi was standing in the middle of the spacious room, staring all around herself. At all the furniture and the TV and things. Then her head turned and her eyes found the suite's exit door. She ran straight for the door, jumping before she reached it and slamming into it really hard (at least, it looked painful to Xion). But the girl didn't seem to mind it; she pulled the handle as she slid down it, swinging the whole door open as she hung from it! She let herself fall the few inches to the carpet, shaking her head.
"Kairi, please just wait!" Xion called out, starting forward.
The girl froze. She turned and looked at Xion now, her face...upset? "I have to find my grandma!" she said loudly, firmly.
Xion stopped too, looking...down at the girl (it was weird to have to look down at someone instead of up, like she always had to do with Even and other adults, herself). What was she supposed to say to the girl? She wasn't Kairi - the real Kairi - but if she thought she was Kairi...wouldn't it still upset her to tell her...what had happened? Wouldn't it still- make her sad? But she couldn't just let the girl go running off like this! "I...Kairi...I don't think you're- going to find her," she whispered hesitantly, feeling her Heart squeeze inside her chest.
"Of course I'm going to find her; I know how to get home!" the girl replied, giving Xion a look that was so much just- Kairi Kairi that it hurt her to see..even on a tiny face like that. "I can do it on my own if I want to."
"Kairi please-"
"I have to find grandma!" the girl suddenly shouted, her face twisting up. She spun away and ran out the door!
No, no, no, no! Xion ran after the girl, panic in her Heart!
The girl was already half-way down the castle corridor - how was she so fast if she was so small?!
Xion chased after her, calling out to her desperately!
But Kairi ignored her!
"Kairi please, please just stop, please!"
The girl led Xion around the castle, down stairs, around corners - until Xion realized they were near the front entrance! The girl- this Kairi really did know where she was going!
"Kairi, just stop, you can't go outside, you-"
The girl kept ignoring her, running up to the front door and slamming her whole body into it with an oof! The door creaked open - enough for her to slip out through it!
Xion threw herself against the door and pushed it open further, stumbling out into the sun!
As she and the girl emerged from the castle, the former Organization member and guard, Aeleus, turned quickly with a gasp of surprise and confusion. He tensed and closed his fists- then he froze.
The girl was standing there, staring up at him too. Her face was as surprised as his. Then she breathed with relief and threw herself at him, seizing onto his arm. "Aeleus, you have to help me!" she exclaimed.
Aeleus stared at her for a moment more, then he relaxed and shook his head. "Help you with what, child?" he said, clearing his throat.
"It's my grandma!" Kairi cried. "I have to find her!"
"Your..." Aeleus paled, his mouth opening. Then he clenched his teeth. "Come with me, girl. Let's get you back inside-"
"No! Didn't you hear me?! I have to find her!" Kairi yelled, letting go of him and stepping backwards. "I- I think- something bad happened to her...I think she's- hurt..."
"Then you should wait inside the castle where it's safe," Aeleus said firmly. "I'll- find out what happened..." He glanced away, swallowing.
Kairi stopped, her fists shaking at her sides. She brought them up to her chest, turning to stare at the castle suddenly. She looked all- confused again now. She backed up further and further, blinking and looking up at the whole castle now. She looked around her quickly, left and right. "W-what...happened to the castle...?"
Aeleus stepped forward and grabbed her arm, starting toward the front door now. "N-nothing to worry yourself over. Just get inside - relax, and-"
"What happened, Aeleus?" Kairi demanded, digging her feet into the ground and trying to resist him. But she couldn't at all. "What's going ON? Where's grandma, why is the castle all broken? Where's-"
"It was just- an accident - everything's fine now," Aeleus gritted out, dragging her through the doorway now. "Please, calm yourself - Kairi-"
"NO!" Kairi shouted out, using her free hand to punch and hit at Aeleus. He didn't look like he felt it at all though. Kairi's face was red and her lips were shaking, and her breathing was fast and loud now. Her eyes were going everywhere. "Let go, let me go, now! I have to find grandma, she's hurt, I have to find her! LET. GOOOO-!"
Kairi's necklace suddenly flashed with a bright blue light, blinding Xion and making Aeleus gasp!
As Xion blinked away at the sudden light, she saw...
She didn't see anything!
Kairi was gone?!
But-
"Where did the girl go?" Aeleus said aloud, aghast.
Xion squeezed her eyes shut, hugging herself now.
Even was definitely going to be really mad at her for this one!
AN: This chapter: When your dad leaves you to watch your younger sibling LOL. xD
Where did she go?! Any bets? :D I know of course...and it's hilarious as hecks. Also cute!