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pred1059 · 1 year

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Runaway Wind Chapter Thirty Two

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Marluxia and Lexaus moved down towards Castle Oblivion’s depths. At this point, Marluxia regretted not remembering the precise location of Vexen’s lab. Lexeaus insisted that they find him before leaving Castle Oblivion for good, no doubt because of their shared history. Even as he refused to elaborate further on what exactly his ‘fear’ was. But he at least had sense about one thing.

“And what about the keyblade wielders?”

“Leave them. We must fend for ourselves.”

At the very least, Lexeaus understood what was truly important here.

Riku groaned from his sleeping bag as he stared into the illusory sky of Halloween Town. Safe spots to rest in these fake worlds wasn’t something he liked to rely on. Mainly because finding them was like trying to draw one lucky card from a full deck. But the minute he found one after defeating a fake Oogie Boogie, Riku didn’t hesitate to set up camp, he wanted all the strength he could muster for what was coming next.

And yet he could find no rest, as Exon’s words haunted his attempts to sleep.

“Make it through this floor, and you’ll get one last chance to keep your power.”

Frustrated, Riku flung open the bag with a groan and ran hand through his hair. He had done so much to try and master the power of darkness. All to satisfy his own selfish desires and his ego. Even if he had the courage to face Sora and Kairi again, the rot of his mistakes still clung to him. And now that the darkness was all he had to stay alive, it might all be taken away to leave Riku with nothing. It all seemed like a long running bad joke.

Standing up, Riku resigned himself to facing what was coming alone. All he had besides himself was the connection with King Mickey. Potent to be sure, but power was no substitute for someone besides you. Even now, his heart ached at how alone this castle made him feel. But for now, it had to be enough. Trudging through the overgrown graveyard, Riku finally arrived at the door leading back to Castle Oblivion. In a flash, he called soul eater to his hand and grabbed the door handle.

Wincing as his eyes adjusted from Halloween shade to bright marble, Riku slowly made his way up the stairs. His eyes regained their focus just in time for him to reach the entry hall to the next floor. And sure enough Exon stood there with crossed arms and a smirk, his yellow eyes glinting with hunger as he spoke, “So. You’ve survived.”

Riku’s hands tightened against soul eater’s grip. “Guess I’m more stubborn than you think.”

“Your persistence is admirable, so I shall give you one more chance,” the doppleganger responded calmly as he held out his arm to Riku and demanded, “Accept the darkness within you, and you will understand the truth.”

Riku closed his eyes with a sigh. It was certainly true that he relied on the darkness just to survive as he climbed up Castle Oblivion.

“Then you admit it?”

Riku’s blood ran cold at Ansem whispering in the back of his mind.

“That you need me.”

That was the real problem wasn’t it? It was so hard for Riku to tell where his own shadow ended and where Ansem’s began. What’s worse was that he knew that not all of the darkest parts were Ansems, and untangling them all would be torturous.

“Wouldn’t it just be easier to surrender? Let darkness control you?”

“What are you waiting for?” Exon’s voice mixed in with Ansem’s so seamlessly.

And yet Riku’s mind picked up on something in that.

Just wait.

Let someone else deal with it.

After all the problems he caused, maybe he should just give up?

…

Did Sora give up after he lost the keyblade?

Did Kairi give up after Sora faded into darkness?

He knew the answer. Riku opened his eyes and pointed soul eater at Exon. “After what I’ve done, I’m not just going to wait for someone to come along and fix things.” He readied himself for a fight as he shouted aloud, “So you can forget it!”

“Then expire.”

Riku wasn’t sure who spoke, Ansem, Exon, or maybe it was both. What he did know is that it was his only warning before Exon moved across the room in the blink of an eye. Parrying a few blows from the copy’s soul eater, he pushed back and tried to get some distance with a leap to the side. Try being the key word, as Exon simply appeared in front of him with a smirk and his hand pulled back swirling with darkness.

Riku raised his blade just in time to parry the gout of dark fire that slammed him down to the floor. Fortunately, he found his footing quickly enough, only for Exon to vanish again in a blink. “You lost this battle before you even started.” Again, the voices spoke simultaneously, but Riku didn’t have the time to figure out why.

“You’re forgetting the part where I’m still alive!” All he could do was focus on surviving. He spun around, catching Exon as he appeared behind him. But after a few successful hits from Riku, Exon quickly began to parry him. Still, Riku wasn’t going to give up.

Even if the odds were against him.

Even if he was alone.

Though she made good time getting though the 100 Acre Woods, the chase had drained her enough that she could only make some slight headway into Hollow Bastion’s memory. Her hope was that she might be able to catch up to Sora in time to save him from the Organization's trap before needing sleep. But even as her heart told her he was closer than ever, Sora was nowhere in sight. Her exertion forced her to seek rest in the library of her youth, fortunately, the area was one of the few warded rooms in this world.

The only reason she was able to sleep at all was the feeling she had in her heart that Sora was still here. Still fighting. Through her entire ascent, that connection was the only thing she had to hold on to in these lonely mimicries of Sora’s memories. As she sat up from her sleeping bag, she ran a hand through her hair, hoping that Sora really was close nearby. Or someone friendly she could at least talk to.

And there was so much she wanted to talk about with someone, even before she left for Castle Oblivion. While Sora had some time to spend with in Traverse Town before, the threat of Ansem forced him onward. But now that she learned just who she was related to, it was torturous not having anyone she could speak with. To try and understand who she was as the princess of heart born to the seeker of darkness.

But there was no-one but the heartless and memories of Sora’s enemies. All she could do was fight her way to the top, with the growing hope that every step forward was a step closer to him.

Without any time to waste, she quickly grabbed one of the rations from the camping kit and forced the quasi-appetizing meal down for breakfast. She didn’t know how much time she had left to reach Sora and stop whatever the Organization was planning. With a quick swig of water, she left the gear on the floor and ran out the door back to the foyer.

At the very least, she remembered the way up this castle. This place that she had once longed to see though she could not remember it, meant so little now with what she learned. About her own power as a princess of heart…

And about the one she cared about more than anyone, and how far he’d go for her.

Sora stared over at the double doorway leading out of the chapel as he sat against the stone wall. Pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to get over his morning grogginess. Or whatever passed for morning in this illusion. With the power he had been gaining in this castle, all of the heartless of Hollow Bastion, and even Maleficent herself were barely any match. But that wasn’t what forced him to rest earlier than usual.

No, that would have to have been Beast. Whatever magic this castle had made him so much worse than Sora could have imagined. Instead of the noble friend who encouraged him to press onward, there was a brutal monster determined to tear apart anything between him and Belle. The same strength that once helped him though Hollow Bastion’s doors almost tore Donald, Goofy, and him to shreds. Seeing another close friend turn on him, almost bring them to the brink of death? Screwing his eyes shut, Sora tried not to think about it. He was just thankful that Kairi was unharmed.

That thought caused him to look over at her as she sat on one of the rocks, finishing their rations for the morning. Though she was fine on the outside, Sora couldn’t help a sigh wondering what the castle was really doing to her. Taking away all of the connections she had till there was nothing left. Riku was practically self-destructing by the time they’d found him before. But even though she was nowhere near as violent, Kairi seemed almost worse to Sora. instead of the friend he knew who so desperately wanted to see the world, there was a girl that was terrified of everything.

But then she looked up at him and offered a slight smile, and Sora relaxed just a bit. Even though she had lost so much, her smile still was enough to set his heart at ease. Even if it was a small comfort against the growing terror that had been eating him alive ever since he started seeing these memories.

“Sora. You’re sure not looking too good.”

Goofy’s voice snapped Sora out of his rumination. After a moment of surprise seeing how Goofy managed to sneak up to his side, Sora shook his head and managed a smile. “Nah, just need a minute for me to wake up. Kinda slow like that.”Goofy simply winced, as if he wasn’t quite convinced. Sora turned to the other person in camp to try and get his attention, “Isn’t that right Donald?”

But instead of a grouchy look from the duck, Donald seemed more worried as he crossed his arms where he stood. “Just let me and Goofy go ahead for this next part. You need to save your strength.” Goofy nodded in agreement with the idea as Donald practically pleaded, “Stick with Kairi and keep her safe, okay? ”

Swallowing the growing lump in his throat, Sora slowly stood up, smiling all the while.“Of course. I made a promise didn’t I?” It didn’t matter if Kairi had forgotten him, Sora would do everything he could so she could return home safely.

Even if his heart felt like cracking when he thought about how the girl he grew up with might be gone for good.

Kairi looked over to the door, and then to the rest of the group before asking, “Are we going?”

“Yeah, let’s finish this.” Sora looked to Donald and Goofy, who went ahead and opened the door to the altar. There were no princesses trapped in the crystals this time. Even so, Donald and Goofy were alert, with wand and shield at the ready. Sora just followed behind, making sure that Kairi was close by as he held onto his keyblade.

“You’ve done well to make it this far.”

There was a voice that Sora had never heard before, and immediately Donald, Goofy, and him snapped to attention. Glaring into the dark, Sora called out to the empty altar, “Who’s there?!” But as he asked, he saw a mass of shadows gathering atop it.

“A voice from the dark.” The same disembodied voice from before was heard from the darkness. A darkness that coalesced into a boy in black robes.“One that has watched you all with great interest.”

Donald scowled, pointing his rod as he began to squawk, “We’re not here for your entertainment!”

The dark figure only chuckled as he crossed his arms.“I’m sure that was not your intent, but I must admit I found the hypocrisy of you and the dog to be amusing.”

Goofy held his shield before him as he nervously watched the stranger. “Wh…whaddya mean?”

Raising a hand to his face, the boy in black eagerly continued, “You proclaim how the power of your bonds drives you forward. And yet you were so willing to cast aside Sora once you found the true keybearer.”

“And they came back to help me when I didn’t have it!” Sora shouted as he stepped forward, “Just because friends fight or disagree doesn’t mean that friendship is over for good!”

“But it becomes weaker, does it not?” The boy lifted his hood, revealing silver white hair obscuring one of his two yellow eyes. “Slowly, piece by piece those disagreements pile up. Until it collapses completely,” He pointed over to the back of the room where Kairi stood cowering behind Sora, “and all that is left is a stranger.”

Kairi looked over to the figure shaking her head, whispering, “I…I don’t understand.”

Sora glanced back at her and saw how even now Kairi couldn’t really recognize him. But more importantly, he saw the terror in her eyes. And that was all he needed to know. Clenching his fists, Sora growled out, “So what if they’re a stranger? I’d help them anyway!”

The figure only laughed, and darkness began to seep from his body. “You think you can help them? You can’t even save yourself!” Without warning, the boy in black cast his hand forward, and sent a gale of shadow through the room. Goofy moved to defend Donald against the dark wind, while Sora held up his keyblade to keep Kairi safe.

But as the shadow washed over him and the Keyblade tried to repel it, he could still feel that power seep in. Working its way closer and closer inside, feeding off his pain. Sora glanced down at his hand as the dark aura lingered around it. The boy continued to talk as the darkness radiated around him,“You see it now, don’t you? The darkness that has been building in your heart with every separation. Now—!”

“Sora’d never give into the darkness!” Goofy interrupted as he flung his shield at the figure, causing him to jump away.

Only for a bolt of lightning to hit where he had evaded to, Donald calling out as he waved his staff, “Even after everything this castle’s put him through, he isn’t going to change who he is!”

“Then I, Zexion, will bring this charade to an end.” Reaching out a hand, the darkness around Zexion coalesced into a black spellbook. Floating in front of him, Zexion opened it with a wave of his hand, and from the shadows around him appeared more of the same book.

“Kairi, hide!”

Sora cried out, but she didn’t get the chance.

The books opened with an awful glare, and each of them began to spew lasers throughout the hall. Sora knew he had seen those lights before, when he faced that mysterious figure in the black coat. All he could do was block the barrage to keep her safe.

When the lights cleared, Sora saw Goofy and Donald still standing, the former’s shield having taken a beating.

And Zexion was right beside Donald, darkness rising as he began to chant.

“Get Down!” Sora cried out as he called flame to his keyblade and flung it forward. As the scorching blade hit Zexion, the darkness faded as he stumbled back.

“Good eye, Sora!” Donald called out as he called more fire down to keep him away. For an instant Sora hoped that one lucky shot might destroy the book and make things easier.

But his blood ran cold a second later, as he saw Zexion begin to smirk. “Is that what you really think?” And in an instant, the figure transformed into a mass of burning pages.

Sora frantically looked around, trying to spot where Zexion was.

And he saw that he was right next to Goofy, darkness even thicker than before.

Before he could cry out a warning, a strange symbol appeared in front of Zexion, and a colossal book appeared from nothing and slammed it’s pages over Goofy.

“WHAT DID YO—?!”

Donald never got the chance to finish his question, as an instant later, Zexion called another sigil and again a book materialized to trap Donald in it’s pages.

“Goofy! Donald!” Sora gripped his blade as he desperately tried to think. What could he do? If he tried to destroy the books he could hurt Donald or Goofy too. But even if he went to help them, Kairi would be defenseless.

What could he do?

What could he do?!

“Fascinating.” Zexion spoke as he vanished into darkness again.“Even now, you’re still resisting the darkness. Your sense of duty allows you to overcome your own pain.”

Sora couldn’t care about whatever mambo jumbo he was spouting, he had to find him! Had to beat him! Had to protect—!

“You require failure.”

Behind him.

Zexion was behind him.

Where Kairi was.

“No…!”

Sora turned to see Zexon using magic in one hand to bind her hands and legs. And the other pulled back, a blade of light crackling from his hand.

Her eyes were wide, she was shaking as she whimpered. “S…Sora?”

Zexion pulled back his blade with a smile.

“NO!!!”

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Sora began to run. His voice cracking as he screamed,

“NO!!! KAIRI!!!”

But he couldn’t reach her.

Not before the doors were flung open. And something grabbed Zexion from behind holding back his hands.

“Sora! I’ve got him!”

“What!? Let…!”

The spell was broken, and Kairi ran behind Sora. He held her hand and smiled as he focused on Zexion. “Kairi! It’s okay! I’ve got…”

And then his words died, as he saw that Kairi was also holding Zexion back.

“You?! You shouldn’t be here!!!” He growled out as he wrenched himself out of Kairi’s grasp. He swung the hand with the laser sword down on her.

But in a flash, Kairi parried it with something Sora couldn’t quite make out. “You were trying to kill someone! This is exactly where I need to be!” Knocking Zexion back, she swung her leg high into his face and kicked him to the wall.

Sora watched with wide eyes, this Kairi seemed so very different to the one he was guarding. Catching her breath, the one standing in front of the doors looked to him and asked, “Sora, are you okay?”

And with that one glance, Sora knew that his beloved childhood friend wasn’t gone after all.

#My fanfiction #KH Fanfiction #Kingdom Hearts #fanfiction #fanfic #what if #runaway wind #riku #kh riku #riku replica #sora #kh sora #xion #kh xion #kairi #kh kairi #sora x kairi #sora/kairi #sokai

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ettawritesnstudies · 1 year

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3, 8, and 17 for the ttrpg ask?

Thanks for the ask! I'll answer this for Sora. She's my airbender character from an ATLA game. Her father was an airbender and left when she was a kid to protect her family, but now, 5 years after the war, she's leaving home to go to a newly formed Republic City to learn how to train with her secret abilities. Since then, a LOT has happened and now our team is working with the avatar to deal with several crises across the world.

3. can they accept failure?

In the recent sessions, failure would mean absolute disaster. If she and her team were caught meddling or do poorly in a combat, they would die, which is already awful enough, but they're also the only people alive who have the information about how to defeat the enemy because the only people who they can trust with that information are weeks of journey away and dealing with a separate crisis. So uh... no, not really. She'd be completely wrecked with guilt and grief and replay a million what-ifs if she were the one to survive. She would find a way to move forward and keep trying because that's what Sora does, but she would never accept the past, it would continue haunting the narrative.

8. what songs remind you of them? if there are specific lyrics or movements, list ‘em!

A lot of the songs have to do with her relationship with her absent but beloved father!

"You were supposed to be my light And keep me safe against them all How could you leave me here?" you'll scream And louder, I'll scream back to you from that unknown And say "I know you're strong enough to do this on your own." - Welly Boots by the Amazing Devil

You try your hardest to leave the past alone This crooked posture is all you've ever known It is the consequence of living in between The weight of family and the pull of gravity - Heirloom by Sleeping at Last

This is the whole playlist!

17. they’re crying—what did it take to make them cry?

This actually happened at the end of last session, poor girl ;-;

She's learning how to touch the spirit world, and their last enemy was an EXTREMELY POWERFUL and very evil spirit bender named Seluk who attacked the ship they're on. In the ensuing fight, three of the five party members were making death saves. She had to make the choice between picking her favorite to rescue and letting the others die before she could get to them, or killing Seluk to give them all a chance at life. She tries so hard to be a pacifist, and follow the nonviolence way of Avatar Aang and the other airbenders, but she's not powerful enough to save them all, and she made the decision to kill him.

It wasn't enough. One actually died. With the help of the party healer using his last drop of water from the NWT Spirit Well, she was barely able to tether her friend's spirit back to her body and revive her, costing her several levels of exhaustion.

Such a close call was bad enough, but now Sora also has the terrifying realization that she's dabbling in something she doesn't understand, but her enemies already have. She desperately needs to know what Seluk could do in order to be prepared for the coming fight, but she's TERRIFIED of losing her humanity and becoming like him. She can soothe the "What if Jol died?" panic by remembering the truth, but she can't get rid of the voice deep inside of her asking, "What are you becoming?"

She hasn't even noticed yet that her eyes now changed color to blue.

#sora #etta rambles #atla game

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izumiyagami14 · 3 years

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overthinking

enlightenmonth // [day 9-12] past or future Summary: After receiving an offer for the job of her dreams, Hikari has too much on her mind. She needs to talk to someone to…

A dimly lit phone screen engulfed Hikari’s pale face as she let out a defeated sigh. The chirping from the crickets outside wasn’t the only thing keeping her up. For the first time in a long time, she had too much on her mind.

On her phone showed an email with the subject titled: “Kindergarten Teaching Position Offered!” Of course, at first she was excited to be offered her first job in the field she just graduated from, but now, all the different scenarios played in her head, causing her stomach to turn.

She needed to talk to someone.

She scrolled through her contacts, desperately trying to find someone, anyone to talk to.

Taichi? He’s alseep.

Takeru? He’s on a vacation with his brother before he starts his career.

Sora? She’s busy with her career.

Mimi? She probably wouldn’t understand her overthinking.

Who would understand what she is going through?

Hikari kept scrolling until she landed on a familiar name on her list. She hesitated for a second before pressing the dial button.

The phone rang twice before the call was picked up.

“Hello?”

She exhaled in relief. “Hey, Koushiro.”

“Everything alright?” His voice sounded tired but full of concern.

“Yeah, yeah. Everything is good... To be honest, I didn’t think you were going to pick up…”

“I’m always up at this time.” Concerned tone turned to defeated as a pause settled in. “Are you sure you’re okay, Hikari?”

She inhaled deeply. He always knew when something was up. “Actually, can you come over? I really need someone to talk to.”

Without hesitation, he responded, “I’ll be over in ten.”

In seven minutes, Hikari’s phone buzzed next to her pillow. A text filled the screen from the man she was waiting for with one word: Balcony. She replied with a simple okay and tiptoed to the balcony, careful not to wake her brother and her parents. She unlocked the door latch.

As she slowly opened the sliding screen door, the late summer breeze brushed her skin. She cautiously walked over to the edge of the balcony and looked down. Koushiro stood there hands in his pockets in the pale moonlight, giving Hikari a soft smile. She returned the smile and waved. “Give me a minute. I just need to plan my escape route,” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“Roger that,” he nodded.

She quietly walked back inside, put on her shoes and grabbed the nearest throw blanket. As she made it to the front door, she hesitated on grabbing her hoodie from her room. She shook her head, deciding against it as she might wake someone up, grabbed her keys, and slowly closed the door behind her, careful not to make a sound.

Hikari ran down the stairs and walked over to Koushiro. “Thanks for coming,” she huffed, out of breath.

“Of course. Did you have any place in mind to talk?” Koushiro asked, looking down at her.

“We can just sit on the roof of the complex, if that’s okay with you,” she replied.

“That’s alright with me,” he agreed and the two started their route.

For it being 2:14 in the morning, the summer cicadas sang in the crisp night air, filling in the holes of silence casted between the two. As they made their way up the complex’s stairs to the rooftop, the evening night had a slight chill, causing Hikari to shiver for a brief second. Once at the top, she walked over to a clear spot and laid out the blanket for the two to sit on. She sat down with her legs stretched forward and patted the empty spot next to her, indicating for him to join.

“So,” Koushiro started as he sat down, knees up for his elbows to rest on them. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

There was a lingering pause. She kept her head facing toward her feet in front of her, unable to answer his question. “How are you doing? Are you liking your new career job?”

Her answering his question with a question caught him off guard. “Uh, it’s going well… Besides working late every night and the occasional all-nighters, it’s going… great.” His tone said otherwise. “How about you? You just graduated from college, so are you looking for jobs right away?”

“Yeah, I might…” she stiffly responded, leaning backward on her hands and keeping her eyes away from his. She wanted to bring up her pending email, but couldn’t.

“Hikari, are you okay?” He asked, looking down at her. He always knew when something was up.

“Yeah, I’ve just been… thinking a lot,” she responded, gazing out into the distance and trying her best to dodge his eyes.

“What about, if I might ask?” He asked, studying the girl next to him as the gears turned in his head.

“Do you ever think about our childhood?”

He was taken a little aback by her next question, still positive that this isn’t the main topic in her mind. “All the time,” he eventually responded.

She smiled softly. “Even though we were the Digidestined-“

“And still are.” He lightly added.

She giggled and nodded at his response. She looked up at the night sky to gather her thoughts. “Yes, and still are. And even though we basically had the weight of the world on our shoulders, some of us never really realized it until later. We were only kids. Our only worries were about the small things. Like what to wear to school and who would we sit with at lunch.”

Koushiro continued to look at Hikari, determined to find the underlying meaning to their discussion. Even though he couldn’t really relate to where her part of the conversation was going because he always realized their overgrown, overwhelming responsibility, he continued to listen. “That is correct…”

She let out a sigh as she continued. “As we continue to grow older, our life choices are getting bigger… Our future is closely approaching.” And I’m terrified. “And sometimes… I wish it would slow down and go back to the way things were.”

Koushiro looked up and let out a similar sigh. “I understand that bit. I wish I had more time, too.”

Another breeze of chilly night air rushed through, causing chills to run through Hikari’s body. Before he realized what he was doing, Koushiro slowly took off his flannel jacket and lightly placed it on the girl’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” she whispered with a genuine smile.

“Anytime.”

They continued to sit on the blanket as a comfortable silence hovered over the two. Koushiro was busy analyzing her questions, actions, and nonverbal cues and trying to figure out the real reason she wanted to talk. She mentioned my career, changed the subject about her future, and bought up the past. What could it be?

There was a slight discomfort in Hikari’s breath when she finally asked, “Do you think-“

“All the time. I’m a great thinker, you know,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it” she giggled and tried again. “Do you think-“

“Yes, I do.”

Hikari gave him a quick nudge with her shoulder, causing him to go a little off balance. “Will you quit that? I’m trying to ask you something serious, Koushiro.”

“My apologies. Ask away,” he replied once he fixed his posture.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He joked again.

“Do you think,” she started, but paused to figure out how to word the next part. “Do you think I’ll be a good teacher?”

Koushiro twisted his head at her in disbelief. “What makes you ask that?”

She continued to look down. “I don’t know. I’ve just been… thinking…”

Koushiro dropped his shoulders when the realization of her actions rang in his head. “Hikari, what was it you really wanted to talk about?”

She exhaled sharply, unable to move around the dilemma anymore. “I was just offered a job for teaching Kindergarten.”

He smiled, his mind guessing right. “That’s prodigious! Are you going to accept it?”

She nodded her head, looking off into the distance. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll probably take it.”

Koushiro sensed her uneasy aura from the hesitation from her voice. “Hikari, are you sure you’re okay?”

And just with those simple words, Hikari’s thoughts exploded inside of her and gushed out. “I’m just so worried I’m going to fail! I’ve wanted to do this my whole life! And now that it’s finally here, I’m terrified that it might not be what I was hoping it would! What if the kids hate me! What if I’m unable to manage the classroom! What if I can’t teach math! What if…-“

Koushiro’s eyes popped out of his head at her outbursts and instinctively reached out to her. The two were now entangled in one another, Hikari’s head on Koushiro’s chest with his arms securely around her.

They remained like that for a few long minutes before Koushiro gathered his thoughts to speak. “Hikari, it’s going to be fine. You can’t think like this. It’s going to consume you. It’s going to suffocate you.” He whispered to her, thinking about all the times he was alone like this. This can’t happen to her.

“I’m just so worried…” she breathed into his shirt with her face buried into his chest. His scent started to comfort her. “I’m sorry. I’m probably just overthinking everything. I don’t need to burden you with this.”

“You’re not being a burden. No one should go these thoughts alone…” Koushiro brought her head under his chin and thought about what to say next. He needed to choose his next words carefully. “The future is always uncertain, and that’s okay. One thing that is certain is that you will be a great teacher.”

Her sniffled and pulled away to meet his gaze. “You really think so?”

“I know so. The absolute best. Take the job, Hikari. It’ll be worth it in the end.”

After a couple minutes of calming her breath, she nodded and let out a shaky exhale “Okay, I will.” She placed her head on his shoulder. He placed his elbows back on his knees and resumed his previous spot.

The two continued to sit together under the moonlight and a comfortable silence. Koushiro could still hear the the gears turning in her head when she asked, “What if a student is having difficulty reading?”

“Then you’ll think of some strategies to help with that.”

“What if a student gets gets sick?”

“Then you’ll be able to take care of them.”

“What if a child gets sees a spider and freaks out so much that they run out of the classroom and out of the school and down the street..”

Koushiro laughed at her over exaggerating thoughts, continuing to stare off in the distance. “You’re starting to sound like me.”

“Let’s talk about it. What goes on through your mind?” She whispered, sending chills down his spine.

The dark blue and purple hues from the slowly rising sun started to send a warm welcome to the new day. He wanted to continue and talk to Hikari every day if he could, but now was not the time.

“We’ll talk about me another day. Let’s get you to bed. You need to rest.” Koushiro whispered back to her.

The two slowly stood up and Koushiro grabbed the blanket from underneath and handed it to Hikari. She started to take off his jacket, but he held a hand up to stop her. “I’ll come back tomorrow to pick it up.”

They walked down the stairs and stopped by the front door of the Yagami residence. The comfortable silence landed between the two again. Their evening talk was coming to an end, but neither of them wanted it to.

“Thank you again for coming,” Hikari admitted. “You didn’t have to come, you know...”

Koushiro shrugged. “I know, but I wanted to. If you ever need to talk, I’m always here to lend an ear.”

Hikari took a step toward him and placed a hand on his cheek. She felt him shiver at the touch, but didn’t know if it was from her hand or if it was from the cold, crisp evening air. “Same goes for you, too. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. We’ll talk about you another night.”

Even though she was struggling tonight with her thoughts and her future, she always had time to care for others. That’s how he knew she would be the greatest teacher ever.

He nodded and unknowingly leaned into her hand. “Let me know how your first day goes, okay?”

“I will,” she said with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.

He felt his face heat up and he froze in his place. Instead of saying what was going through his genius mind, he silently watched her turn around and locate her keys in her pockets. As she turned the key and slowly opened the front door, he started to turn toward home.

“Hey, Koushiro?” Her angelic voice stopped him dead in his tracks and he turned back to her.

“Hmm?”

She gave him a soft smile that made his heart flutter. “Take care of yourself.”

He returned the smile, hands in his pockets. “Same goes for you, too.”

#koukari #enlightenmonth #koushiro izumi #hikari yagami

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mimiplaysgames · 3 years

Text

Terra Week Day 7 (Bonds/Fave Scene)

Summary: Terra lets his friends love him. | Word Count: 3,462

Read on AO3

A/N: For Terra Week 2021! You can find that account on Twitter!

~*~*~*~*~

At the end of the day, your chains weigh a burden. Share them. At the end of the night, your Bonds make you free. Mend them.

The stars wink sometimes, if you stare at them long enough.

Terra’s been lying on his back at the roof of the residential tower, where the slats are at a gentle slope so he’s not doomed to fall off. A small, square window behind him gives him easy access; he and Aqua used to waste many nights at this spot for years. Here, they can watch the sun rise behind the mountains, so they get the best of night and day.

The sound of the window slipping open means she’s here—he just wasn’t expecting the plop of an open book landing in his face.

“Look what I found,” she says, and he pulls darkness out of his eyes to see detailed drawings of a fox with a bow and arrow, talking to a large bear who is spying from behind a bush. Robin Hood and his sidekick, Little John. They used to role play as these characters when they were children for hours. Aqua lies down on the space next to him, careful not to slide too close to the edge.

“Thanks, I was looking for this earlier.”

“It was in the potions section. Do you remember putting it there?” He doesn’t, and she shrugs and rolls over to her side. “I forgot there was a part where he dressed up as a blind beggar to sneak into the prison.”

Terra flips pages. Many of them have multiple bends, bookmarks to areas of the story that the two of them enjoyed to play with. That is one of his favorite scenes, Robin Hood dressing in a long cloak and dark sunglasses to hide the fact that he is a fox (despite that it’s still obvious), shaking a beer jug for coins. Those goons he fooled are so dumb.

“It’s still kind of funny after all these years.”

“You would do something like that.” She hides her smile behind her fingers. “Dress up to trick the enemy so you could sneak in and save the hungry.”

“You’re making fun of me.”

She slaps his bicep. “I am not.”

It’s the greatest compliment he could receive but it’s also the greatest cringe. He’s always wanted to be compared to his hero... yet it’s still something he can’t quite believe, like there’s a twist to the joke, even though Aqua would never. She’d speak from the heart.

“Dress like this with me”—he shows a drawing of Robin Hood and Little John in their signature thief green tunics and hats—“and I’ll believe you.”

She rolls her eyes. “They don’t have any pants on.”

“That’s the point. We’d be wild.” Terra hides a smirk behind his finger.

“Only if you pay me a thousand munny.”

“... You know, that’s not going to be hard to collect.”

“A bold claim.”

“Okay, but if I end up collecting it all—”

“You’re seeing nothing.”

He laughs and she joins him, warm and painful in the stomach, something that hasn’t happened so sincerely since they have come back. Nights so far have been tight and insecure, as though laughing would expose them to an enemy hiding around the corner.

Out here, graced with the breath of fresh air, they’re safe under the guidance of the stars. It feels like a young night when their dreams for the future come uninhibited.

“I talked to Yen Sid,” she says once she’s able to slow down.

“And?” Terra swallows air down the wrong pipe and coughs.

She wipes a tear from her cheek. “I convinced him to change the standards of your Mark of Mastery.” Picking herself up by the elbows, she sighs. “Though I still think it’s unnecessary, if you want my opinion.”

Terra doesn’t agree, flipping towards the end of the book where Robin Hood and his love are sent off by a carriage, free from persecution. “What are the new terms?”

“Everyone is splitting up to look for Sora and… I proposed searching for him in the Realm of Darkness.”

Terra rolls to his side, dropping the book, all joy that stayed with them minutes before now drained away. He speaks softly. “You want to go through that again?”

She purses her lips. “I don’t want to, but if it helps with finding Sora, then what other choice do I have?”

Terra hums. “I understand. It’s just… you’ve been through so much already, Aqua.”

“It’s crazy it’s been twelve years,” she mutters before perking up and pretending it’s not a heavy subject. “If you survive the Realm of Darkness, then Yen Sid will name you Master.”

Terra sputters. “Are you serious?”

She giggles. “Partially, but that did come out of my mouth in the meeting. Ven would want to come with us of course, but Yen Sid is most concerned about your affinity to Darkness… which isn’t fair.” She brings her knees to her chin. “We all carry Darkness, and you have already shown, twice now, that you are able to face yours and defeat it. So, I suggested you come with me and face the Master of Darkness yourself.”

“What do they look like?”

“Whatever you think it looks like.” She shrugs. “Yourself.”

Terra doesn’t know what to say. He traces the ridges of the slats in front of him. The Realm of Darkness is a different plane of existence entirely, one where the rules of Light don’t apply, where logic makes no sense and there’s only the constant pressure of regret and succumbing, based on what he’s read from the books. From what he’s heard from her, Darkness is the never-ending fight of giving yourself reasons to keep waking up the next day—when there’s no reason to.

“Twelve years,” he muses. “I couldn’t have survived if that were me.”

Aqua sombers, watching the horizon for the outlines of mountains that you can only see in the night if you squint. “It’s not so different from what you have told me.” She looks at him. “About Nowhere and not knowing when it would end. If it would ever.”

Terra rolls back to look up at the stars. Darkness gives them room to shine. “So all I have to do is survive while we search for Sora?”

“When you say it like that,” she says with a mock-wave. “You know, twelve years isn’t that long. How about we make it twelve days? Survive twelve days and you’re Master. That sounds fair.”

He does a double-take. “That’s not funny. What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m taking a page out of your book and making inappropriate jokes.”

He groans. “This is why you’re not funny.”

“I am, you just won’t admit it.”

He shakes his head, but he can admit it brings a smirk to his face.

The window slips open again with a thud, Ven’s golden head of hair sticking out but not joining them. “You two are the most predictable ever. It was easy to find you.”

“You’re predictable for looking for us,” Terra reminds him.

“Did you find the thing?” Aqua asks, her head leaning back to address him.

“We did.”

That’s right. We. They accepted another member to the family the day of the Master’s memorial, when a talking cat-thing appeared out of nowhere and crashed the end of the eulogy. Terra and Aqua haven’t found a trace of its breed in any of the books in the library (five floors of it). They call it Cheers (because “Chirithy” is a ridiculous name; how in any star can anyone pronounce such a thing?), and every time they ask it questions about its past and how it knows Ven, it responds with more vague questions. Otherwise, it doesn’t offer much opinion. Much like that stupid book, Affairs of the Heart.

But Ven inexplicably has a bond to it, and they are simply going to have to trust his heart.

“What thing are we talking about?” Terra asks.

“Can’t tell you,” Ven quips. “Sworn to secrecy.”

“To who?”

“Come with us, Terra.” Aqua stands up, brushing dust off of her drapes and bending to squeeze through the window.

Just when he was getting comfortable.

Lanterns light the way. Aqua likes to be in charge of how bright they get, and tonight they shine for a feast, bright with a cheery kick, glistening the golden halls of the castle as though it’s sitting in daylight. She marches to the entrance hall where they held their Mark of Mastery years ago. Cheers is already here with two books and a bouquet of flowers on one throne and more knick-knacks on another that Terra doesn’t have a reference for.

“What’s this about?”

“An honorary title ritual.” Ven cranes back into his own arms, proud of himself. “We found a couple of books on how they did it in the Age of Fairytales. A lot of it we can’t translate, but it’s pretty cool.”

“A title ritual?” Terra asks Aqua, who is stroking the middle throne where the Master used to sit, eyes closed in prayer.

“An honorary one.” She brings her hands to her heart. “I believe the Master really wanted to name you Master. And I agree. Riku does, too. I know you want to prove yourself and do it traditionally, but we wanted to do a little something special for you. A title that only we know of so you can keep it to yourself and no one else has to find out.” She steps down. “Until you want them to.”

“Aqua…”

“This is my thanks for what you’ve given me.” She summons Rainfell, and it springs in her hand among glowing petals and a swirl of waves, a second quicker to respond than the aged and wise Defender. She’s whole.

“It looks like so much fun, too,” Ven says with puppy-dog eyes.

“You deserve it,” Aqua says.

“Pfft,” goes Cheers.

“We’re supposed to be equals,” Aqua continues, twirling her Keyblade like it’s as natural as wiggling her fingers. “The Master said so that day.”

“Just say yes.” Ven nudges his elbow. “Roxas already calls you Master.”

Terra coughs on a snort. “Does he?”

“He calls all of us Master for some reason.”

“Maybe it’s because he thinks you’re all old,” Cheers mutters but Ven continues—

“When I tell him there has to be official recognition and an exam, he just shrugs.” He raises his shoulders too high to his ears for a good imitation. “He says, What difference does a dumb test make?” Ven is trying to act voguish, but it makes him look dorky instead. “Master Ventus sounds pret-ty cool if I say so myself.”

“Ahem,” Cheers announces, broadening its arms to command attention. All it needs is a conductor’s baton. “Shall we begin?”

“Do it with us?” Aqua pouts and raises her eyebrows, joining Ven in the ridiculous charade of coaxing Terra into playing along.

Terra huffs. “Okay.”

Both of their faces beam, Aqua throwing a sheepish high-five to Ven’s enthusiastic holler, giggling like they’ve won a game. It’s touching.

“I’ll need your Keyblade,” Aqua says, handing over Rainfell. “Trade?”

“Huh?”

“Standing Masters must accept the Blade of the candidate. To bless it,” Cheers says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“If you say so,” Terra says, straining a chuckle from pouring out in case Cheers gives him a death glare. He summons Earthshaker and lends it to Aqua by the hilt. Rainfell is as light as a feather, as it has always been—he held it when she first called it at the age of thirteen, surprised by the paper-lightness of its weight, wondering How in the stars do you expect to hit anything with this? when he’ll learn the truth later that she hits just as hard as he does.

It doesn’t feel arrogant and big like a Master’s Keyblade. It just feels like Aqua’s, the longest friend he’s ever had.

“Terra. How on earth—?” Aqua grunts and pulls. Earthshaker screeches across the floor, and she takes breaks before inhaling and dragging it more. “So impractical.” She cries a sigh of relief when she reaches the throne.

“Now the masks, in accordance with tradition,” says Cheers, peeking into one of the books.

“Oh.” Ven hurries over to the other throne, grabbing thin, plastic masks Terra’s seen in amusement parks, with the rubber strings that cut into your circulation. “Masks apparently were really fancy in the old days.”

“Yes,” Cheers says. “Made of porcelain and leather. Very tasteful.”

“This is what we got.” Ven showcases three tacky half-face masks of a pig, a bee, and a frog like a deck of cards. “Which one do you want to be?”

Cheers wrinkles its snout in disgust.

“The pig is kind of cute,” Terra says. It’s bright pink, with holes cut out in the eye sockets and a tout nose. The string squeezes him around the temples, so he hopes the ceremony will be quick.

“You be the frog, Aqua.” Ven hands over her mask and dons the bee, complete with springy pom-poms for the antennae.

“Don’t forget the robes,” Aqua says as she slips the frog on, lumpy and shiny, bracing herself so that Earthshaker leans on her hip.

Ven comes back with three of the Master’s hand-me-downs. They smell like dust from a damp dresser. The one given to Terra is too short, and the one Ven is wearing drags on the floor. Aqua’s hangs off the shoulder (We’re going to need to hire a seamstress, she mutters).

“Now we shall truly start,” Cheers says.

“Why does Cheers get to lead this?” Terra asks.

“Because Aqua is the one to honor you and Ven is the witness,” Cheers says. Duh. “Master Aqua, you understand what you must do.”

Aqua holds Earthshaker by the hilt like one of those knights in the attic, its point at the floor. It’s bigger than Rainfell, reaching up to her chest. She gestures for one of the books and Cheers is too eager to turn to the right page and hand it over.

“That book?” Terra rolls his eyes, remembering that no one else can see.

“Yep.” She brings Affairs of the Heart closer to her face, frowning before checking her attitude and reciting:

Thus a wield'r and a cousin, so longeth as thy heart stayeth true, and thy duty vows to who, a mast'r to the endeth, so longeth as thee behold not backeth.

She sniffs and double checks the passage, her chin wrinkling.

“That’s it?” Ven asks. “What the stars does that even mean?”

“You shall also honor your bonds,” Aqua says, whipping her nose out of the book.

“You’re improvising,” Terra says.

“And never scare me again.”

“Mmm—”

She slams the book on his head with enough pressure to make him nod. “Say yes.”

“Yes, Master.”

She chuckles.

“Now we shower the room with flowers,” Cheers says.

Ven gathers up the flowers he plucked—a mix of withering vanity plants, such as tulips, and weeds, such as dandelions late into their development, where they spit white fuzz.

“That’s all you have?” Aqua says.

“It’s late into the season,” Ven says, defensive. “And you didn’t want to wait too long for me to get more.”

He throws them and they droop down to the ground, crinkling on the floor in an unceremonious finish and lack of climax. Terra brushes two petals off of his shoulder.

Cheers stares in contempt. “Well… it is done.”

“Now I call you,” Aqua says, licking her lips as they tremble, and she stops to cup her cheek and compose herself. “Master Terra.”

Master Terra.

He doesn’t know how to feel when she leans his Keyblade toward him. Earthshaker feels the same–not more powerful, not more wise, but a friend patting his back. But what for?

“Has a nice ring to it,” Ven says. “Master Terra.”

“How do you feel?” Aqua says, slipping fingers under her mask to wipe her eyes.

“I don’t know, I guess I expected to feel… something that justifies it all. But I’m still me.”

“Isn’t ‘me’ the person who spent all these years studying for Mastery?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t make sense in my head.”

“I felt the same way,” Aqua says quietly. Cheers is closing books and picking up dry flower petals, urging Ven to help. “Without you by my side, it just felt… a little empty and confusing.”

“I never congratulated you.”

“I’ll do it first. Congratulations.” She smirks, her cheek wet under the frog mask.

Terra pulls off his mask—ignoring Cheers when it squeaks, Excuse me, but that must stay on for the rest of the night out of respect for your appearance—and studies her. “What’s that look for?”

Aqua pulls hers off as well, her eyes red but soft and happy. “I want to see Yen Sid’s face when he names you Master and I get to tell him that I already did.”

He snorts. “What if he objects?”

“What if he’s too stuck up in past grievances and can’t appreciate you for who you are or what you’ve accomplished?” Cradling Rainfell in the grip of her hand, she nods to herself. “Who gives him a say? I spent twelve years in the Realm of Darkness. Not him. There were some things the Master was wrong about. Do you know why that is?”

Terra wants to say it’s because the Master was afraid, but he won’t speak over her. “Why?”

She looks away at a wall, blinking too much. “I’ll never use it again. It makes me feel like I’m not thinking straight, that I’m too close in making a fatal mistake I can’t take back. But I can’t help but feel there’s a purpose for it. Darkness exists not to put us astray on our path but to help us understand ourselves and our needs better.” When she speaks with this much conviction, Aqua seems the tallest in the group. “Within us, it needs comfort as much as the Light needs faith.”

“That’s what makes the heart strong enough to protect what matters.”

Aqua smiles. “That’s why.” When he’s about to object, she places a hand on his shoulder. “The Master is no longer with us. If you continue like this, who’s to say you’ll be okay with Yen Sid accepting you as well?”

She’s right. “I just think I need to do more to atone.”

“Atone?”

“I faced the Darkness, and maybe I’ve won. Sure.” Terra shrugs, and the change in tone catches Ven attention, who ignores his immediate chores to come close and remove his mask. “But I’m still missing the same Light you have, Aqua. The one that made you, Master, as you deserve. Mine is not that strong.”

Ven sighs.

Aqua opens her mouth to say something but stops herself, searching his eyes with a gentle mix of love and skepticism. “There’s something I never told you.” She rubs her palms together. “In the Dark Realm, I… there were many moments where I wanted to give up.

“I saw you once, a bright light standing in front of me. You talked to me. You protected me from Xehanort, and you told me to never give up.” She breaks, swiping her eyes and sniffling loudly, willing her body to breathe normally.

Terra stares at her. “I thought I made that up.”

“No,” she says, smiling and shaking. “You never stopped lighting me back, either.”

Ven holds her hand, silently crying with her. He looks up at Terra, as he’s done for years, worshipping the ground Terra walks in, thinking he is a prime example of what a Keybearer should be. They did this because they believe in him.

“Thanks for doing this for us,” Ven says quietly, and Aqua nods in agreement. And Terra takes them in his arms, Aqua under his right and Ven under his left, letting them sink their faces into his chest and wraps their arms around his waist.

“Thank you for always being there.” Terra doesn’t know what else to say that would measure what they mean to him. Forgiveness is not a real friend, and they don’t have reasons to give it to him, but he hugs them close without going too tight, his tears falling on their crowns.

“We still have things to clean up,” Cheers mutters.

“Come here.” Ven opens an arm to which Cheers happily accepts, nuzzling its nose into Ven’s neck. It’s only cheerful with him. Terra is most cheerful with all of them. A broken home renovated, a hearth revived, a clear sunrise over the mountains.

Those who know him as Master Terra hold onto him dearly, under a night sky that waits behind stained glass in a moment they keep to themselves, where the future is irrelevant and the past goes to sleep.

#terra #kh terra #kingdom hearts fanfiction #kh fanfic #aqua #ventus #AHHHH it's finally done OMG #i'm so burnt out and tired hahaha #my fic

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dxll-hxuse · 3 years

Text

title ; 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 !

genre ; 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐤

warnings ; 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 (notify me if i missed anything)

focus character(s) ; 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐠 “𝐠𝐨𝐠𝐨”, 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐚 ( @starfall-grls )

other/mentioned characters ; 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝐤𝐢𝐦, 𝐤𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠

date ; 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎

word count ; 𝟏.𝟖𝐤 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

— ‘ the moon: deception, difficult period, fear, hidden things, insecurity

the drama was starting to die down finally. it had been almost a month after the whole taeyoung shade situation happened and people had finally started focusing on other things and were slowly forgetting about the boy’s words. margot couldn’t say if she was glad or not. on the one hand, she loved to watch people drag his name through the mud, but on the other, she was getting sick of some people dragging sora’s name as well. but people were starting to forget it, finally. she could finally go on twitter without reading someone’s “hot take” about the situation.

margot couldn’t lie about the fact that she genuinely wanted to know how sora was doing. she’s probably enraged, of course, anyone who knew her well knew that sm’s statement was total horse shit. she seriously had no clue how sora hadn’t beaten taeyoung to a bloody pulp already. if this were to happen a few years back, margot wouldn’t be surprised if she saw sora on the news being arrested for taeyoung’s murder.

margot tried to act indifferent about the whole thing but she could tell that her members knew the situation bothered her. they asked some questions but margot didn’t give much insight so they gave up trying. a few of margot’s nights were spent staring at sora’s contact number, wondering if it’s still the same as 5 years ago, thinking about what would happen if she tapped the call button after so many years.

this was one of those nights. the dorm was silent, everyone was asleep, all that could be heard was the rustle and bustle of the city. margot’s stomach tied up in knots as she pondered whether to call her ex best friend or not. she wouldn’t even know what to say.

“if you don’t go to sleep now you’ll be in for a hell of a day tomorrow.” mumbled a sleepy chaeri from the other side of the room. after rubbing her eyes and sitting up straight on her bed, she focused on margot’s confused face. “we have rehearsals, remember?”

“oh, right.” margot had totally forgotten about that. she sighed, and chaeri laughed softly at margot’s disillusioned expression, “guess you’ll have to find another time to longfully stare at your ex best friend’s phone number for hours on end.”

margot’s eyes widened in surprise at the girl’s accuracy but her face quickly morphed into one of confusion. “how did you…?”

chaeri laughed, a little louder this time. “lucky guess? i don’t know, you’ve been acting off since the whole taeyoung and sora thing. and i can see the reflection of the phone keypad through your eyes. i just put two and two together.”

margot blushed a little sheepishly, “i haven’t been keeping you up too much, have i?”

“yeah, actually.” chaeri responded, starting to get comfortable in her bed. “your thoughts and anxieties are really loud. it makes me uneasy.”

margot was honestly left a little speechless.

as chaeri finished snuggling up, looking like she was about to fall asleep again, margot asked, “do you think i should call her?”. chaeri opened her eyes clearly still a little annoyed. she huffed and sat back up in her bed. she looked at margot dead in the eyes, margot was still terrified about how chaeri’s naturally comforting and sweet personality turned sour after not getting enough sleep.

“if you call her, maybe i’ll finally get some sleep again.”

margot blinked. she was expecting some sort of good advice from the group’s impromptu therapist, the level headed one. “that’s it? you think i should call her just because of that?”

chaeri could tell that margot was disappointed by her answer but shrugged, “i’m too tired to come up with a clever reason. but yeah, i think you should call her. if she screams at you, then you know never to bother her again. and if she wants to talk to you, then boom, friendship restored. either way i get my peace restored.” after saying all that, she started snuggling up again. “and go outside if you’re gonna call her.” she finished before closing her eyes again.

margot stared at the caller id for a bit longer before getting out of her bed, putting on slippers and a long cream cardigan to go outside in the girls’ backyard.

she pressed “call” and took in a shaggy breath. she put it on speaker and placed it on the floor, she started pacing back and forth as the haunting ringing coming from the phone kept getting louder in her ears, filling up her thoughts.

the phone went silent for a second, “the number you have called-“. the breath margot had been holding came out stifled. maybe it’s just too late in the night, she’s probably sleeping, she thought. or maybe she just hates me and doesn’t want to talk to me ever again.

margot picked her phone back up and locked it. well, at least i tried, she went to go back into the house when her phone started vibrating in her hand. she stares at it, absolutely gobsmacked at the sight before her.

sora’s name was displayed on her screen along with the ‘accept’ or ‘decline’ button. a thousand scenarios ran through margot’s head at the same time, maybe it’s not her phone number anymore and the owner is calling to let me know the number changed, was the imaginary reason she decided to stick with. she hesitantly pressed the ‘accept’ button. “hello?”

“hi? margot?” sora’s voice rang through the speaker. margot noted how alert she sounded even though it was almost two in the morning. “hi. hi, um.” she fumbled with her words a bit, “this must be weird for you, i’m sorry. i don’t know why i called you, it’s just my impulsivity. i’m sorry.”

“oh…” sora sounded a little resigned, like she wasn’t fully in the conversation, if you could even call margot’s nervous rambles a conversation. margot stopped for a moment “can i ask you a question. promise you won’t get annoyed?” margot’s voice softened while asking the question, she sat down on the stair step that she was previously pacing on.

some silence came from the other line before margot heard some shuffling, “yeah, ok.” sora sighed again, she seemed defeated and tired, though not in a physical way, more like mentally. “how...how are you?” margot felt weird asking but it was a question that had been running around in her mind ever since the taeyong thing blew up.

sora felt her eyes tearing up a bit, she didn’t know why exactly. maybe it was margot reaching out to her after all these years for seemingly no reason, or maybe it was the lack of sleep she was getting for months, or the whole weight of the scandal she was in finally coming down on her. she sucked her tears right back up just like her father always taught her. “i’m fine.” she choked out, very discreet, sora, she thought to herself.

“are you sure? i don’t mean to pry, i know we haven’t talked in a while but still, i’ve been worried about you this past month. this taeyong thing really isn’t bothering you?”

sora hadn’t talked about it with any of her members, she just wanted the whole thing to blow over as fast as possible. though, she wanted to talk to margot about it. she was still mad about the way they left things, and her brain was telling her to just hang up on her, but her heart desperately wanted to talk to someone. maybe margot calling after all these years was a sign.

“yeah, i guess. i’m pretty upset. i don’t know if those are the right words to describe what i feel, which is weird, i can always describe how i feel.” sora started thinking out loud, finally coming to terms with how she was feeling. as she admitted all of this to margot, she felt like she was admitting all of it to herself, as well. “usually you’re the one who has trouble identifying your feelings. is that still true?”

a small smile crept up on margot’s face, “yeah, you would always get annoyed at me for it.” she laughed, reminiscing about the girls’ time together as friends, the good times only. “i’m not sure what feelings i felt that let me to call you. i was hoping you could tell me.”

“i guess you were worried. i don’t know why though, you shouldn’t have sympathy for someone who treated you like i did. i always told you to not settle for anything less than yourself.”

margot was a little stunned, she didn’t know if her small gasp conveyed that. “are my ears deceiving me? is jung sora referring to herself as less than someone else?” knowing sora, margot probably shouldn’t have pried, but she subconsciously yearned for the times they could poke fun at each other without it escalating into full blown fights, so she let herself regress into those times and made the taunting comment.

if it was any other person, sora would’ve been offended, she would’ve gone the fuck off, if it was any other person. margot feeling comfortable joking with her like how they used to somehow meant everything. she smiled, she didn’t know what was happening to her tonight but she decided to throw all her initial, defensive responses out the window, just for tonight, at least. she didn’t want to carry the burden of unhinged fire on her tongue, just for tonight.

she scoffed, feigning offense, “well i never! i’ve never in a million years said such a thing! you’re becoming a mad woman right before our eyes!” she said all this in a (very bad) old timey fancy accent, to underline the dramatic sarcasm she was performing.

the two laughed in unison before comfortable silence overtook the conversation. “i’ve missed you.” margot’s sharp and shaky words tore through the silence.

“fuck. don’t make me be soft like this.” sora felt the hot tears well up in her eyes again, she really did miss margot. she sighed, forgetting all her problems and worries. in that moment, margot’s warm words melted sora’s cold exterior. all sora wanted to do was start over. “...i miss you too.”

— ‘ now playing: hug all your friends by cavetown

#* ✶ › ❛ i need you hopeless !! — ( gogo. )#* ✶ › ❛ i want blood guts and angel cake !! — ( writing. )#aeskocnet #mochikocnet #* ✶ › ❛ happiness is a butterfly !! — ( connections. )#dollhouse #writing #gogo connections

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darkfromday · 3 years

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Back at it again with Kingdom Hearts 3 anniversary fanfic!

Happy 2021, everyone! For anyone who loves Kairi, here—a Kairi-centric fanfic. Sorry she cries so much. But it’s post Melody of Memory sad hours, you know?

The sun is setting, slowly but surely, over the training garden and the majestic golden castle in the distance. It is the end of a very long day, full of sweating and small accomplishments. In a matter of minutes the sun will sink below the horizon and darkness will overtake light.

That means Kairi has only a few minutes left to defeat Aqua in combat.

She's been losing so far, as anyone might expect—Aqua's ice and thunder magic especially have knocked her mercilessly around the field, until Kairi came to resemble a half-drowned kitten with frizzy blood-red fur more than a plucky princess of heart. It makes perfect sense, even if it's frustrating. Though she made great strides under Merlin's tutelage, there is still so much she doesn't know about wielding a Keyblade. Pitting her up against Xehanort and Organization XIII on short notice was bad enough; against a far friendlier opponent with decades of physical and magical training under her belt, Kairi doesn't stand a chance.

Unless—unless she takes Aqua by surprise. Unless she thinks a little deviously, and exploits a weakness.

I know just which one.

Aqua's cartwheel dodge is flawless in battle, highly effective for evading hordes of Heartless, Nobodies, or Unversed. But it has the downside of leaving her upright, flushed and vulnerable for just a fraction of a second. It's not something most people notice in the middle of a fight—not her friends, not her opponents—but Kairi, for whom dodging while attacking is also an essential aspect of battle, took note of it immediately the first time she noticed it.

Her own evasion method condenses her into pure darting light for about the same fraction of time as Aqua's cartwheel, but with the added benefit of making her completely untouchable to an enemy once she's disappeared. So if she wants, she can aim her Keyblade at Aqua now, send an Aerora blast at her teacher, and wait just long enough for Aqua to smirk and dodge out of the way...

...and take her eyes off of Kairi for a second.

Yes!

Kairi taps into the inner warmth she has carried since childhood, and becomes that bouncing ball of pure light again, darting forward to exactly the spot where she knows Aqua will come to rest. When she reforms into herself again, the first thing she sees is the utter shock on Aqua's face as she bounces into place, then rears back at being so close to her opponent.

Kairi doesn't hesitate—she immediately throws Destiny's Embrace forward, watching it spin gracefully, relishing—at last—the sound of the metal hitting skin and not other metal. By the time she has warped forward to catch her blade and continue the attack, Aqua has recovered enough from her new bruise to conjure a giant tsunami of water over their heads, facing Kairi.

Oh no!

The water shivers threateningly, dangerously—then crashes down.

A blazing, brilliant sphere surrounded by pink stars materializes just in time to part the waves—Kairi's own Barrier magic, adopted and adapted from the perfect sphere Aqua manifests when she wants to cancel an attack by standing still. She holds her free hand out, maintaining the shield as long as possible, and gathers all her might to push the light outward and overwhelm her foe with a counterattack—

—and unexpectedly, the top of her Barrier takes a slap from a stronger new wave, and cracks.

Water rushes into the shield faster than Kairi can dispel it; she yelps as she's submerged and dragged to the other end of the garden in a giant spinning bubble.

It takes time, far too much time, to aim her Keyblade down, set off a blast of air to escape her bubble, and then turn the sloshing mess of water into steam so her footing is steady again when she lands back on the grass. By the time she's twirling her weapon and getting ready to warp back across the garden to re-engage, a huge bell begins tolling from far away.

"Enough," Aqua says, setting off brief sparks in the air with her Keyblade, Stormfall. She points to the moon rising slowly but steadily in the distance. "You fought well, Kairi. But the sun has set, and I'm still standing."

Kairi droops as sadly as her damp hair. Which means she's won... again.

"That's all for today."

✯

The next day will be better, Kairi tells herself in the shower. Every fight is a lesson. Every lesson gives me experience. Tomorrow I'll improve. Tomorrow I'll win.

Except she's told herself this many, many times before. And thus tomorrow, when it becomes today, dawns bright and clear and damp from the evening rain, and Kairi spars with Aqua all day long only to lose to her at moonrise (again) after a whirlwind of angry fire flowers.

When they go back to the castle again to rest and recover, Terra is nice enough to lend Kairi his worn old punching bag to swing and swear at for the rest of that long, sleepless night.

...Another tomorrow, then.

✯

But she loses horribly the next day, too.

And the next.

✯

Loss number six.

Kairi grinds her teeth until they ache, so that she won't scream out all her fury and frustration instead. Nearly a week of losses, in a larger month of the same. And any experience gained isn't enough. Day after day after day passes, with no change.

Well.

Actually, the only change that occurs is exactly how she gets whipped in battle. Sometimes it's with magic, on their spell-only spars. Sometimes it's with physical attacks only, when they play a Struggle-similar game where the person with the least bruises and orbs lost wins. And one time they even forego their Keyblades entirely, opting to wrestle each other instead—and Kairi still fails because Aqua is older and smarter and stronger, and she has this little trip kick that's impossible to avoid.

She doesn't hop up immediately from the ground this evening, like she'd done in the past. No. Kairi just sits, and bows her head, and bites her lip hard enough to bruise.

Aqua trots over, flushed but otherwise mostly unscathed. "Kairi?" she ventures carefully, trying to bend to see her pupil's face. "Let's go inside. It'll be full-dark soon."

"...What's the point?" Kairi whispers. "When I'll just be back on my butt in a few hours anyway? No thanks. I'll just stay out here."

"What? Where's this coming from?"

"Oh, I don't know!" Her voice gets higher, and wobbles, not used to remaining in that register for long. "Maybe from losing for the sixth time in a row after barely marking you at all? Maybe from making absolutely zero progress as a Keyblade wielder after everything that's happened?"

"Kairi..."

But she can't stop; her cheeks are hot and her vision starts to blur. It's too much. It's all too much. "Maybe it's from being unable to hold my own in a simple sparring lesson while my friends, my best friends, are out alone in another whole new world I'll never ever ever be able to reach at this rate, fighting who knows what?! Please tell me, Master Aqua, because I'm not having much luck figuring it out myself!"

Kairi raises her arm and hurls Destiny's Embrace away. It disappears in a flash of tiny flower-shaped lights, and doesn't come back to her hand.

Aqua's speechless, apparently, because she doesn't say anything else for a while after saying Kairi's name. Just steps closer and closer, until Kairi's bowed head comes up to her thigh-high stockings, and waits for a while. Kairi doesn't speak or move—until she feels a gentle pressure moving over her hair, picking out the day's mud and twigs, and smoothing the rest down. Like an older sister, or the mother she doesn't remember, or the grandmother she scarcely sees these days.

The dam breaks open (just a little) and she feels more scalding tears race down her cheeks. Kairi hasn't cried, really cried, since the night she found Riku again after so long apart. And before that, not since she'd let go of Sora's hand in a world of darkness, forced back to the islands while he went on to worlds mysterious. But both those times there was at least one precious person with her to dry her tears, or at least encourage her not to let her sadness bring her down for long. At least back then there was a shining certainty that the three of them would be together again.

Now, she has no one. Sora is still gone without a trace, and Riku's trail of clues manifested a path for him to take to find Sora—without her.

No... that isn't fair.

He'd wanted her to go with him. She'd seen it in his eyes. After so long fighting by himself, Riku seems ready and willing to accept any companionship he can find in the long war against darkness, or disorder, or separation. And despite everything, Kairi is still one of his best friends—one of the precious people he wants to protect. But that's also the problem.

She hadn't been ready to join him yet. To become a fellow fighter instead of a powerful-but-tiny burden. After a year asleep in her memories, after nearly being defeated by a phantom from her own mind in that same year, Kairi could not yet be called strong enough to venture out to her own worlds mysterious to find the boy who helped her fight that phantom. It made sense that Riku wished her luck with her studies and left her behind. Barring a few brushes with Xehanort's lackeys, Riku has always been the sensible one.

But sensible makes my heart ache.

So Kairi sniffles out her fear and frustration, wiping angrily, fruitlessly at her face as the tears outstrip her attempts to control them. And Aqua keeps stroking her hair, stopping only once to offer her a folded baby-blue handkerchief. It's well past sundown by the time Kairi feels calm enough to look up from her knees and meet her Master's kind, patient eyes.

"I'm—I'm—sorry," she hiccoughs.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Aqua says. Calm. Reassuring.

"I do. I'm weak. Too weak for—for what I want."

"I don't think so. I think you're exhausted, and upset, and you have every right to be. A lot's happened to you in such a short time, hasn't it, Kairi?"

Kairi hiccoughs again, but shrugs.

Aqua's blue eyes are very, very soft. "You won't benefit from a night of shivering out here. Will you come and have a sleepover with me? I think... we have a lot to talk about tonight."

Kairi is tired, and upset, and curious, and is not a princess used to "roughing it" in the wilderness yet—so, after a long pause, she agrees.

✯

Ventus, always shy around Kairi, is kind enough to have a slice of ice cream cake waiting for her when they pass through the kitchen on their way to Aqua's room. She suspects that Aqua (who typically stays outside all day with her) must have some way of communicating with her best friends across long distances to make this possible, and feels a twinge of jealousy that she has to squash to give Ven the grateful smile he deserves.

Ever since stating her intent to study with Aqua in this world, Kairi has more or less lived here—a dusty tower room with soft earthy palettes is her second home since 'leaving' Radiant Garden as a child. It was difficult to say goodbye to her island friends, most of whom have spent more time missing her the past few years than seeing her—but it was what was necessary to become stronger. To get to a level where she couldn't—wouldn't—be left behind anymore.

The tower room remains empty tonight. Instead, Kairi follows Aqua down the key-patterned hallways of another tower entirely, until they reach the Master's room.

"My old room," Aqua always clarifies, whenever anyone refers to it that way. Probably because the Master's room, Master Eraqus' room, is a shut-up old thing that none of his three disciples go near, ever.

Kairi knows it is out of respect, but wonders if it isn't out of fear too. She has it hard enough trying to walk the path of self-improvement that Sora and Riku walked before her; she can't imagine what it would be like to try and inhabit a dead man's space along with his title. Or what it's actually like for Aqua to try and emulate a man whose training with the Keyblade will always be better and deeper than anything his students, and their students, might accomplish on their own.

"It gets really cold up here this time of year, so I've got plenty of blankets!" Aqua chirps. "We can set up wherever you'd like. Even in my bed if you're comfortable with that."

Kairi is, but she doesn't feel brave enough to say so, so she works some tiny magic instead. With a crook of her finger, a tiny tug of Gravity magic, all the colorful blankets she could ever ask for leap off Aqua's bed and make a nice comfy pile on the plush carpet.

"Are you sure this is okay?" she asks afterward. Because, well, she's late asking, but best to be sure.

"Looks perfect."

Aqua is a very graceful young woman; every move she makes appears deeply thought out even when it's casual. She looks like a gymnast finishing a routine as she lowers herself to the floor and pulls a threadbare pink blanket especially close.

"Come on," she encourages. Kairi sits down right next to her, close enough that their shoulders rub together and produce a tiny spark of static electricity. They both jerk away from each other a second, then laugh softly. Any awkwardness that followed them into the room is dispelled. It means Kairi can finish her Double Crunch ice cream cake without feeling out of place.

"Okay," Aqua says. "Just you and me now. No spectators. No wizards. No expectations. Will you tell me what's wrong?"

Kairi almost doesn't.

But... there's really no one else she feels comfortable confiding in about this. No one else that will understand. And though she doesn't remember it well now, Aqua is one of the first friends she ever made.

She stretches the words out on her tongue. "I'm... falling behind again. No matter how hard I try to catch up."

The older girl is silent.

"The first time I went on an adventure, I was locked securely away in Sora's heart," Kairi recalls, slowly. "Riku left first—like always—and Sora followed him looking for both of us. And he grew up on that journey in a good way—a strong way. But even though I was with him all along, I didn't gain the same experience that Sora did. I don't have... his skill at using the Keyblade, or connecting so easily and wonderfully with strangers."

Aqua's lips quirk upward. "I think that's a skill unique to Sora alone." She's probably remembering the way Sora rescued her from the deepest depths of the Realm of Darkness.

"And Riku... Riku worked so hard to overcome the darkness in his heart, to try and remain the boy we love so much. He struggled to atone for things we didn't even blame him for. He learned how to harness both sides of an incredible power. I was... am... so proud of him. Of both of them. But I..."

"Yes?"

"I... don't have a story like that."

"You don't need to," Aqua says encouragingly. "No two Keyblade wielders have the exact same journey, no matter how similarly they may start out. You've just proved that with Sora and Riku. They're best friends and they went on completely different paths. The same will be true for you, when it's your time to have a proper journey."

Okay. But... still...

"Even if that's true... it doesn't change how I feel. I'm always the one left behind." Kairi feels her eyes well up against her will.

Aqua opens her mouth to say something—and nothing comes out. Instead her mouth forms a silent Oh. It seems she finally has an idea of just what Kairi is driving at.

"It doesn't matter if I'm a princess or a Guardian of Light. At the end of the day, Sora, Riku and I always get separated! And usually that means Sora and Riku are fighting whatever threat is trying to tear apart the worlds, while I wait behind a door and rub my good luck charm raw and hope they come home. That little bit of peace we had after Sora and Riku defeated Xemnas and made it back to the islands was a dream... and like every dream it ended way too soon. Different paths... seldom let their travelers meet up again."

She sniffles again, and Aqua immediately pulls her into a tight hug under all their blankets.

"That's why I asked Master Yen Sid to send me to you instead of Merlin. Not just because you're wonderful, and strong, and the best choice to teach the rest of us how to be Keyblade Masters. Because you were like me. You, Terra and Ven were kept apart by one man and the most complex plan in all the worlds. You understand what it's like to be separated from your friends for a long time—left behind—unable to reach them no matter how hard you try. And... you're the only person I know who didn't stop fighting until you got them back anyway."

"Oh, Kairi." Aqua's own eyes look a little watery now. "Getting them back was the hardest thing I've ever done... it was us against the world for so long. And then Master Xehanort enacted his plans, and Master Eraqus was dead, and it was me against the world... and I nearly gave up. There was just so much darkness. I came through, but it wasn't easy."

"But you did get through it."

"Yes. But not just by being strong or magically talented. Or good with my Keyblade."

"But—but Aqua—"

"Kairi," Aqua says. "I'm... I'm flattered that you think so well of me, really I am... but I don't know how I can help you. I don't know what you want me to do."

"I want you to teach me how to get stronger like you did!" Kairi blurts. "How to beat you when we train. How to be someone who can fight with my friends, instead of staying behind waiting for them to fight for me."

Her words echo in the still air.

Please, Aqua. Help me.

It's very quiet.

Say something.

Aqua keeps hugging her. She rubs Kairi's hands and rests her chin on Kairi's head. Kairi doesn't realize how much nervous energy she's still carrying from the fight until it starts draining away under the older girl's patient ministrations.

"Kairi... you're right. Just like you, I know what it's like to lose your friends—and to feel like you'll never catch up to them or be with them again. But there's something else you have to understand too, okay? Something very important."

Kairi strains her ears...

"I can't turn you into me. I can teach you all my magic, show you all the attacks I ever learned, but that's not a guarantee of anything. You could beat me, Terra, Ven, Lea, Roxas, and Xion in a hundred matches starting tomorrow and it still wouldn't mean you had what you needed to stand side by side with Riku and Sora."

What...?

Aqua exhales slowly. "This is just a reminder. You know this already. The most important thing to have as a Keyblade wielder isn't physical strength, or magic, or intellect, or charisma... it's heart. Strength of the heart."

Kairi shivers. A burst of familiar warmth, of light, has just flickered in her chest, as if reminding her it is still there.

The older girl lifts one hand up to brush a long lock of blue hair away from her forehead before she goes on. The uncharacteristic fidgeting tells Kairi what she's thinking about before she puts it into words. "Me, Ven and Terra... Master Xehanort was able to split the three of us up because we forgot to trust each other's hearts. We forgot to use our love for each other to cut through the darkness. By the time we came back together, it was too late... Xehanort had basically won. And we were destined to be apart for over a decade."

Earlier in the day, the evening even, Kairi might have cut in here, to say something about how Aqua's power and prowess still came through when she needed them most—but just like Aqua understands Kairi's anguish about being cast aside while her boys fought great battles, Kairi thinks she is beginning to understand that to Aqua, during all those dark lonely years, her training really hadn't been enough.

Being able to fight isn't the same as having the will.

"Fighting the Shadows was muscle memory, after all that time fighting the Unversed," Aqua recalls. "The only thing difficult about it was how never-ending it was. That's how the darkness gets to you, really; it tires you out, makes you think that giving in might be easier than resisting. And for me, the temptation to give in was strong. I thought my friends were already lost to the darkness anyway. Why not join them?"

Kairi squeezes Aqua's other hand. Aqua squeezes back.

"Terra and Ven were the ones who saved me then. And I remembered... why I was fighting in the first place. Why it was all so important. So that the people I held closest in my heart could be safe and happy. So that one day we might achieve our dream and be Keyblade Masters together. ...That's what you really want, isn't it Kairi? Not the power to stand with them, but the heart to do it."

Kairi's lips tremble as she nods.

"Yes."

Aqua turns Kairi around to face her, placing a finger on her heart. Her whisper is reverent. "You already have that."

"No—I don't, Aqua. I can't."

"You do. You're the strongest person I've ever met, Kairi. There are others who don't have the strength to follow their dreams, you know. Typically they give up and accept whatever limitations they think they have... they never find out if they could be something more after all. But not you. No matter what happens to you—if you're hurt, kidnapped, challenged, if your very heart is stolen away—you keep fighting! You keep finding your way back to your friends. You've even saved Sora and Riku when they were on the brink of dying or giving up themselves!

"That's why you have to stop thinking of getting stronger in terms of just training and learning spells, or defeating other wielders. You may not have always been able to summon a Keyblade and stand beside your friends, but you've always—always—made the best of what you had. And sometimes, just being the one to light the way home is the strongest thing a person can be."

The warmth in her chest spreads, and she feels teary for maybe the hundredth time today. Kairi has never ever considered herself strong before; not in the way Sora or Riku is strong, anyway. No, she's always felt like a little kid holding them back from their true potential—yet desperate to catch up and preserve their childhood bond. No one has ever told her she is already strong enough to stand with them.

It's the nicest thing Aqua has ever said to her.

"We should get some sleep," Aqua says, after looking at a clock in the corner of her room and sighing. "It's really late. But I want you to really think about what I've said, Kairi, about strength of the heart. I can teach you everything I know, but the power that will reunite you with your friends isn't something I can give you. It's something you have to find inside yourself. And in the meantime, I'm sure Sora and Riku will carry you in their hearts until you're all together again."

Kairi's smile is more radiant than the moonlight. They cuddle close, even though she's so warm inside she really could go without the extra heat. "Aqua... thank you."

"You're welcome. Now—bed!"

"Okay, okay!"

✯

The next day is cold and cloudy, and Kairi loses mid-afternoon when Aqua conjures a tornado twenty feet high and uses it to blow her off the mountain.

But instead of brooding or crying, she smiles.

I'm strong enough to win, she thinks. This battle and any other. Whatever it takes to find Sora and Riku, and fight alongside them. I just have to find that strength.

Kairi's muscles are sore, her hair is a mess, and her Keyblade is freezing to the touch; but her heart is bolstered. She's worked this long already. There's a light at the end of the tunnel.

She will try again tomorrow.

#Darkday writes fanfic #Kingdom Hearts #Kairi #Aqua #Melody of Memory #Melody of Memory spoilers #but minor if anything #fanfiction #thrill of the chase

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the-black-rose-wiitch · 4 years

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Thing's that makes me believed that Yameiko should be endgame.

Hello! It's been a long time huh!

First of all, that's my opinion about the digimon series, and it's not my intentions offend anyone. Only thing that i wanted here is just express my opinion and all of us put on a reflection moment about the serie.

It's been a long time that I wanted to talk about this, since that i watched the first Tri movie, but I felt like I was only person that thought that way and my opinion wouldn't be well accepted.

But i see some Yameiko post's, i rebloged then and when i posted photostos or talk about them, people starting liked, and i felt more confortable in post this, even there's a little people talk about them, and i felt that i need to share this and who knew more people posted more about this ship.

So let's get started!

So I'm going to start with this list, with the times when Yamato saved Meiko's life. That's the part more evident in this ship.

Since i watch first move of digimon tri, there's only thing that kept me whatch all serie, i mean, there was two people that makes me watch the whole serie, Yamato and Meiko.

Why? Beacause the first interaction betwen them it was so intense and effective that it made me wonder if this wasn't something to keep an eye on them, for some possible development in the future.

They were also developing Koumi and, as far as I imagine, the first part it was to introduce us to the story that was being told. This also applies to any story being told.

Anyway! Let's go to the scenes.

The first scene them together, without anyone of the group, it was a scene that yamato saves Meiko, in a moment very vulnerable for her in the first Tri movie.

I don't think Yamato in that moment saved her because she is someone importat to him, but he does because she needed help and we know he have these protect instinct when he’s see someone in danger.

But ask yourself, do you think that other times that his saved her life, it was only for because she was in danger?

For example, the way he screams because he is forced to accept that Meicoomon needs to die, and when he ran to stop Meiko (when she went after the meicrackmon) and wold end up killing herself along with meicoomon, he doesn't think twice before running up to her (as Taichi did and, he only did because Yamato ran after Meiko).

Do you think that there's not something more behind, and what could be?

And if you were Meiko in these situations, do you couldn't feeling something for your savior? ...

I think this may be possible had some feelings for each other in a life-or-death situation. Because it brings good feelings of comfort, safety and protection.

See how in this scene it’s seems like them try to come closer to each other

Or in this scene when Yamato say to her don't apologizes for what happening with Taich and move on.

You didn't find it weird the Meiko’s reaction when she find that Yamato is Takeru’s brother?

What If she does that expression because she started know more about Yamato, the one who saved her life and, and she felt grateful to him, and the guy who was more close to her until then (Takeru) it was your brother?

See how Takeru be impressed with this?

Probably he getting something behind the Meiko's expression. He knows better than everyone in the group how treat a girl, and how she could feellt and there’s a lot of scenes that could prove that.

And don't you think it's strange the way Yamato gets introspective in this second film?

Okay... We know it's because he and Taich weren't well, but is there the only reason he's a recluse?

Did you see this scene when Meiko talked about Meicoomon to the girls, and said that her digimon never evolved before?

Yamato had his back to her and when she says so, it soon shows him leaving the table where the guys were sitting and Nishijima looking at him with his face that he didn't understand what was going on.

That doesn't seem like nothing important, but why put this part in this scene? There any meaning behind it?

What if he was introspective and watched her and tried to get to know her better and how would she act with the rest of the group, at the same time he was still mad at Taich?

I think it might be possible because no one knew much about her, and he saved her and of course he'd keep an eye on her after that.

I started thinking that way when I realized how Takeru at the beginning of the second film, he was very attentive to what Meiko was doing, like trying to make her more comfortable with the group, when he saw her talking to Himekawa or when he was asking questions in front of everyone in the group.

(Oh! See this reference that she lived in a city in the city where Yamato and Takeru's grandmother lived).

It may sound crazy, but what if Yamato and Takeru were suspicious of something and were wondering how Meiko ended up getting into this whole situation?

No one would suspect Takeru's behavior, since he was always a very kind guy and Yamato was always a more observant and reserved guy and both could draw their own conclusions in different ways.

And I think everyone agrees that Yamato would be able to do this kind of thing, like when he went to meet Himekawa and Nishijima to learn more about the Meicoomon’s investigation.

i know this scene would be less important to defended this ship.

Anyway i still think this scene is very weird don’t you?

Now let's talk about how much he's worried about her and her feelings and always put her in the group as a member.

It’s so cute that scene!!

The second time he saves her, she still wants to run after meicoomon to try to stop her, he stopped her immediately and say don't do it because she could get hurt and Meicoomon would become more unstable.

Okay again it looks like he's protective instincts, but I could believe it if he'd done it a few times. but if you put other times that he done that, it seems something more envolved.

for example see this scene when Meiko comeback to school after days without talk with anyone in the thirth Tri movie?

This scene call’s my attention for only two things:

Did you see the way Yamato talk to her and how Mimi call him?

Tundra (or correct term tsundere) is a Japanese proverb, used to describe someone who hides his good feellings by someone being rude to that person ( as like Yamato did in this scene). Usually this term is used in shoujo mangas or animes to develop a couple.

So ... why put this if there's not meaning behind that?

We know how Yamato it’s a person who hide he’s feelings and can’t get express them. So ... it’s could be possible that Mimi, Taich and Sora say the truth in this scene.

But there’s much more!

This scene is very curious to analyze. For us who were watching, we knew that Takeru wasn't thinking about Meiko in the first place when he said that, but in Patamon who was infected.

But look at that curious, Yamato looks directly at Meiko, thinking that his brother was referring to her, he apologizes and is sad to have been insensitive.

But look what's more curious this, at first Yamato wouldn't bother to defeat the digimons if they were infected, but when it happened and Raguelmon had to be defeated, he had that reaction.

This act for me has more meaning than any words.

Yamato is one of those who scolds Joe for talking like that of The Meicoomon, because he knew how it affected Meiko.

Now let’s talk about the cave scene! ... Meiko’s talk about your insecurites about meicoomon and your friedns try to say her to don’t give up to Meicoomon and don’t close yourself and share with them all your problems and ...

Only people talk to her to comfort and were Taich, Hikari, Sora, Mimi and Yamato, and the Yamato's words, there's more impact than any other said before.

And remember how the trailer made us thought that was Yamato holding Meiko’s hand?

And it’s not only time that he does that!

This scene is so interesting. Look how mad Yamato seems for not being able to say the right thing for her. He tries so hard to say that she and Meicoomon are not undesirable and felt part of group.

And his not your first time do this.

In this scene Taichi, Yamato and Joe were talking about Meicoomon and Taich doubts whether they would be able to save Meicoomon. Yamato doesn't think twice before saying that both are part of group and leaves the place very mad.

It is curious to see how Taichi did not seem very sure that Meicoomon had salvation, but Yamato was willing to do anything to help because Meiko and Meicoomon were part of the group.

And don't forget Yamato's reaction when he sees Taichi raising Meiko and how he seemed to want to cut that scene quickly by telling them to move on.

You think this scene he wasn't feeling at all about seeing both together?

These scenes It made me think that this kind of behavior is not typical of someone introspective like Yamato.

And why does he have such an intense feeling if he's met Meiko a couple days ago, is there something more than partner or friends?

A random curiosity!

Do you realize that in the scene where the digimons recover their memories, Meicoomon appears discreetly in only in Gabumon's and Palmon's memories?

This may sound silly, but if the digimons have a strong connection with their partners, they sure know what's going on in their hearts, and Gabumon knew that saving Meicoomon was important to Yamato, but why?

Did he have any hidden feelings that only Gabumon knew?

And last! Did you notice that the boku ni totte song the lyrics fit perfectly with Meiko and everything she went through?

Okay! ... know the song has another meaning, but doesn't that mean she can't have another interpretation either, right?

If you take the lyrics song sung by Yamato's Japanese voice actor. The lyrics speaks of a very vulnerable moment and this person says he wants to be strong enought to protect someone and Yamato has a very great protective instinct for Meiko as we saw earlier.

In the chorus it says things like "You say good bye!" and “Don’t say goodbye” At the end of Tri Meiko left everyone for returned to Tottori.

In addition parts of the song the lyrics say how the person who is leaving is irreplaceable for him, and as i said earlier, Yamato always tried to comfort Meiko by saying that she was part of the group.

Now it's coincidence or there's a deep meaning behind?

See for yourself!

I'm not trying to say that my opinion is the only truth, only the producers and writers behind of the series can answer that, but with all this evidence, wouldn't that be more than enough not to underestimate them?

I hope see more Yameiko's fans here, even them not being canon in the future, because i think them deservered a especial attention in the fanbase for your "development" as a possible couple.

I hope you like it, and if you could, comment too, even if you don't agree with me, as long you argument be respectfull.

#yameiko #meimato #yamato ishida #yamato x meiko #digimon adventure #digimon tri #matt x meiko #matt ishida #meiko mochizuki

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i-do-trash-fanfictions · 3 years

Text

Thera’s Journal Entry Summary:

Since I’ve done a lot of journal entries, I’ve decided to summarize them all (at least the important parts) for both the newer followers, and the followers who have been here since the beginning and would like to read through and get refreshed on what has happened.

The first two journal entries are when Thera first arrives at the Tower. She is shown to be amazed at everything and everyone there in the first, and the second is her talking slightly about how a fellow Guardian showed her the music she is known to love, classic rock. These two journal entries I imagined were her trying to start a journal since she had seen that Sora wrote in one herself, but soon giving up.

Everything after that is written later on in her life, long after Sora and Zane’s death. It is later explained in the entries why Thera doesn’t have a fireteam, and what happened to her old one:

When Thera was away on a mission, Sora and Zane-2, an awoken warlock and an exo hunter, went away on their own expedition on Mars. Thera, upon finding out where they were and that they wished for her to join them, left the Tower after her mission, and went to Mars to find them. She arrived at a cave, and entered to find dead Hive littering the ground, showing that someone had been there recently. Thera continued on, when suddenly a great boom happened, and there was a flash of blue light coming from farther down the tunnel. She was met with confusion, and asked her Ghost, Scout, what had transpired. He answered that he believes that is what happens when a Ghost dies.

Thera takes off running, hoping that it was not what Scout had said. She found the remains of Zane’s red and orange Ghost, Blaze, on the ground. She continued on, and there was another boom and flash of light. Sora’s Ghost, Blythe, had died as well. She kept running, and finally reached a large opening to see Zane against a far wall, unconscious, and Sora behind cover, shooting at a bigger than normal Hive Ogre. She ran behind cover with Sora and the two fought against the ogre. But no matter what they did, it did not seem to be greatly harmed at all. So, with no other way out of this (the two both knew they were greatly overpowered by the ogre, and that more Hive would soon join, since they were sure to have heard the commotion, and then they would be outnumbered as well), Sora said that she must take a sticky grenade and jump at the ogre, attach the grenade to it’s eyes and thus kill it. But it would detonate as soon as she got it on the ogre, so she would die in the process, and it would be her final death as she had no Ghost to revive her.

Thera did not want it to be so, but she agreed since there was no other choice. Sora did so, and died, taking the ogre with her. Thera rushed to Zane, who was slightly conscious, and had seen the whole thing. She wanted to take him with her, hoping to save him, but he knew there was nothing she could do. During this, Hive could be heard in nearby tunnels coming this way. He believed he wouldn’t make it all the way to the ship, and would only slow her down. He told her to run so she could survive, that way Sora wouldn’t die for nothing. Thera did as he told her to.

The two friends' deaths affected Thera greatly, as shown in many journal entries by her not wishing to talk about them with anyone, trying to get them out of her memory, and more. Also this caused great depression, and sometimes she became suicidal. The first person she talked to about it besides Scout was Angelica, or Ann as she is called, a young hunter who recently became friends with Thera. Ann got Thera to open up to her, and actually got Thera to return slightly to her old self.

Angelica was first introduced when a Ghost, Poppy, came up to Scout and Thera while they were in the Bazaar of the Tower. Poppy had been an old friend of Scout before he had found Thera, and later became friends with Thera after he returned with her to the Tower after she was first rezzed. Poppy took the two to see her Guardian, a young hunter with short brown hair and hazel eyes. Thera, not wanting to seem rude to the kinderguardian or Poppy, offered to show Ann around, and found she enjoyed the hunter’s company. The two become close friends, with Ann getting Thera to open up to her about more and more things, and Thera begins to grow out of her enclosed personality. She is mentioned in many journal entries, and has her own set of journal entries that ties in with certain parts of the story.

Thera later meets Crow, the journal entries taking place in Season of the Hunt. She is shown to be cautious of him, and that she doesn’t like him, even though he is now a Guardian. She is plagued with the knowledge that the killer of Cayde-6, the closest and only friend she had left after the death of Sora and Zane, is now alive again, and that she now has to work with him. But she later realizes that she is falling in love with him, but will not admit this to herself. Eventually she accepts that Uldren and Crow are two separate people, and that she believes Cayde would be alright with her falling for him, and that she is not betraying anyone for this.

The relationship starts with a crush on both sides, neither knowing that about the other. The relationship finally begins to develop, when on a hunt, Thera gets captured and taken to a broken down building located on the Tangled Shore. Scout, who escaped, goes to Crow and tells him about Thera’s location and her situation. Crow convinces Spider to let him go rescue her, and travels there. He tells Scout to remain on the Queen of Hearts (the ship that Thera uses), that way he cannot be harmed or killed. He gets Thera, but she is shot in the stomach as they try to make their escape, and because of the loss of blood becomes unconscious. Crow takes his cloak, rips part of it, and wraps it around her stomach to stop the bleeding, at least long enough for him to reach the ship and have Scout heal her. He picks her up and runs out of the facility. He has Glint com Scout, and has the Ghost bring the ship close so they can get on.

Scout heals Thera, but she remains unconscious. Scout knows that they cannot travel to the Tower, because they will need to explain Thera’s unconsciousness, and thus, they would have to tell about the hunts and Crow in the process. So Scout suggests that Thera stay in her ship. But Crow doesn’t want her to, because he will have to leave and go back to Spider’s lair. Then Thera and Scout will both be vulnerable to any Fallen around the Shore. He has Scout transmatt Thera to his room in the Spider's lair, then returns there himself. He lets her sleep, and he works at his worktable, falling asleep there later into the night. Thera later awakes, thanks him for saving her, and returns to the Tower, never forgetting what he did.

Thera and Crow continue to talk a lot more, enjoying each other's company more and more. Finally, towards the Dawning, Thera leaves a note at Crow’s ‘nest’ and invites him for a date at the EDZ where she will supply food. The two meet at a cliff’s edge, and have fun in the snow for their date, eating christmas dinner food basically, and talking with each other. It ended on Thera giving Crow a kiss on the cheek, just before he transmitted away.

Fast forward to when the two defeat the High Celebrant, and Thera says to Spider that she wants him to free Crow. As the two walk out, they share a passionate kiss. They later agree that they are in a relationship, only that it must remain a secret. Thera wants this to happen because she knows that when the Guardians find out about him, and learn that the two are in a relationship, it will greatly hurt her reputation.

Only Ann, and now Osiris, know that they are in a relationship. The two constantly worry about each other, their mental health, and more.

Cas is a character that comes in. He is mentioned once in a story Thera tells the children of the Last City, and is revealed to be Sora’s love interest. He leads a small village on Earth. Thera does not know the location of this. Ann later stumbles upon him, when she ends up in a situation similar to Sora’s when she first met Cas. Thera later comes to rescue and find her, and helps fight against the Fallen which were currently attacking the small village. She now visits at least once a month or two with supplies and news for Cas and the rest of the people there. Ann likes to go with her.

Rouge is another character that comes in in the most recent journal entries. She is a mysterious character that Thera knew long ago. The two aren’t exactly friends, but are definitely allies, and Rouge trusts her. Rouge, after questioning Ann, begins to trust her as well. Her name, race, and more is unknown. Thera went to her to have her watch out for the City, that way they will not be caught by surprise if the Cabal decide to attack the Tower and the Last City like last time. Rouge, if finding any Cabal, will alert Thera, and Thera will then alert the Vanguard so they can act accordingly.

And most recently, are the four characters which are now Angelica’s friends. Lana, Jacks, Mace, and Alex. They met when Ann was with Shaw Han and a call came in about a group of over fifty Cabal near where a group of three Guardians were (Lana, Mace, and Jacks). Shaw sent Ann, and another Guardian, Alex, to go find the three, and fight off the Cabal there. Afterwards, the five met for a drink at a city bar, and decided to do that more often. They now go on missions together, and Thera has yet to meet them.

#destiny 2 #destiny #destiny guardians #destiny game #theras journal entries #ann the hunter #destiny fanfiction #destiny fic #destiny young wolf #young wolf #young wolf oc

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oaken-evenshade · 3 years

Text

Scapegoat

“Sora, Sora. I need you to pay close attention. Look into my eyes. Hold on now-stop pulling” Oaken gently took hold of Sora’s rotting hand as she repeatedly yanked strands of white hair from her scalp.

“There.” He said, smoothing down her hair once more. Each day there seemed to be less and less of it. “Alright Sora, we have to get this right. Many lives depend on it. You are needed and I truly believe in you. I believe in us.”

“Yes.” Sora replied simply.

“Here are the show cards, all in order. Remember, flip one down when we reach the next talking point. How’s that?”

“Yes.”

The angry hurt beast clawed inside Oaken’s inside. Fury ripped through him-heated his ears-made them pound.

Not knowing where to direct the all too familiar rage, Oaken brushed it aside-replaced it with an alphabetical list of pre-sundering flora.

Seeing Sora’s mental state reduced to below that of a child's, made the Kaldorei’s skin feel too tight and claustrophobic to hold the growing hatred inside him.

Hatred at what? Hatred at whom?

He was not certain. No...that wasn’t true. He knew. But to pretend otherwise was the best thing he could do for Sora and him.

“Alright. I’m going to hop on that barrel and begin. Stand to the side of me with those cards. Do you feel ready?”

“Yes.”

A couple bounds gave him the momentum Oaken needed to make the leap. Up into the air he went.

Crash

One leg broke through the barrel’s lid, throwing him off balance. Next to him. Sora raised the show cards high above her head.

Many, many eyes were on them.

“Citizens and passerbys of Bogpaddle!” Oaken laced his voice with authority while trying to shake the barrel from his leg. “You love this land and all it holds.I know it...that is why...why...why-” despite the furious shaking, the barrel remained. “Why you are here.”

Sora dropped one show card, the next revealed a long purple fish. She began to sway.

No, no Sora-too soon!

Giving up on his practiced rallying speech, Oaken improvised, struggling to keep up with the show cards.

“You know who else loves this land? Yes. The Misty Reed Mahi-Mahi. That fish you see there on that card. You also see them on your plates...way too often. You also see them dead by the pounds being shipped off to-”

Someone shouted. “Fish don’t love the land!”

Accepting that the barrel was now a part of his life, Oaken straightened up. “Yes. Yes I know that! Yes you are right! But the point is they are being used up faster than they can reproduce and-”

“You got a barrel on your leg.” Some Goblin yelled in common.

Sora dropped another show card. It revealed a sketch of a Goblin staring at the ocean with inspired tears in its eyes as a Misty Reed Mahi-Mahi leapt from the surface.

Oaken stammered on. “Which is why you, as inhabitants of the land, guardians of the estuary, and sharers of the coast, must acknowledge the suffering of the Mis-”

“We’re all suffering listening to you!”

“Hey-you still got a barrel on your leg.”

Sora dropped another show card.

Seven Minutes Later

They rowed in silence along the coast of the Swamp of Sorrows. Sora stared blankly at water lapping against the boat while Oaken manned the oars, looking defeated.

Shaking himself from his gloom, Oaken spoke gently. “You did well Sora.”

“Yes.”

Fury. Disappointment. He focused on the ache and tautness of his back instead. It hadn’t been the same since the meteor.

“Look.” Sora pointed toward the shore as they neared the root hut.

Another Kaldorei stood waiting. His deep blue hair, usually standing out in all directions, hung limply-framing his face. The humid swamp air had had its way.

“Baeither?” Oaken called. He stopped rowing. The little fishing boat bobbed along with the waves.

“You left the city very suddenly.” Baeither called back. “Is that why?” He pointed at Sora.

“Why are you here?” Oaken backpedaled, keeping the boat in place against the fighting waters.

“We need you back Oaken. There is growing suspicion. Unwanted attention is being pressed onto us by the city guard.”

“There’s nothing I can do about that.”

“I think there is.” Baeither waited a moment, looking to see if Oaken would row to shore. After seeing that he would not, Baeither continued. “When you came to us-back melted to the bone-you slipped into fever and slept many days. There are things you whispered.”

“What do you want Baeither?”

“You know what will happen if we are thoroughly investigated. We need to turn the guards' attention elsewhere.” Baeither kept his eyes glued on the boat. “You whispered of the Emporium and its...occupants. You whispered things that could demand the watch’s attention.”

An especially big wave lurched the boat forward, Oaken fought against it. Pain arced through his back. “You wish for me to hand over the members of the Court to be your scapegoat?”

“Our scapegoat Oaken. Our. If anyone has the most to lose from an uninvited discovery of Tel’althora Grove it is you. I don’t wish to put you in this position.”

Oaken snorted. Bleeding thumbs, you are loving it Baeither. You’ve always wanted to watch me fall.

Baeither continued. “Surely you can see it is them or us. Come back to Stormwind. Take your accounts of the Court to the city guard. We can salvage our reputation before it is ruined.”

The boat lurched violently.

A moment passed by in which Oaken imagined the ocean turning the boat over and claiming him. He’d drop slowly to the ocean floor, weightless. He’d open his eyes and take the sting of the salt to watch the last of the day’s light bend through the water. Then everything would go black.

“Yes.” Sora’s voice sounded more excited than usual.

Baeither called out. “At least row to shore and let’s talk about it further. Looks like your friend has caught dinner for us.”

Oaken turned in time to see Sora bite the head off a struggling Misty Reed Mahi-Mahi.

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curiousconch · 3 years

Text

The Moments in Between (Part 2)

Book/Pairing: Open Heart 2 / Rafael Aveiro x F!MC x Bryce Lahela

A/N: This is my shot at a love triangle, because I always found the book lacking in acknowledging the dynamics between the LIs as well as the impact to the chosen LI where others are interested in the MC. If you're reading this hoping for a full-on Bryce, my apologies, but you'll probably be disappointed. It’s supposed to be sprinkled with smut, but I ended up writing fluuuuuffff. If you haven't read Part 1, click here.

Music Inspo: Jealous by Nick Jonas

Raphael looked on while Casey giggled against Bryce's lips.

He knew Casey was just experimenting on her curiosity. She and Bryce had a sibling-like bond. But as he couldn't stop himself from averting his gaze, he thought of how Bryce hadn't been exactly discreet about his flirtations towards the same woman Raf has just declared his love a few weeks back.

This bucket list tour around Boston was simply meant to be one last ride of the gang together. But things took a really wild turn when Aurora decided to streak across the park, and now Casey's making out with someone else as he stood close by.

He never wished for something to be so unreal as this moment in his life.

His fists clenched, very much unnerved by the feel of this heaviness in his chest. He questioned himself, wanting so much to contradict the constricting pain he felt. It was as if he wasn't the one who gave Casey the go ahead anyway.

He was never one to feel possessive. Yet the knowledge of her being wrapped around someone's arms made him shiver.

His mind wondered - was this the way Casey felt every time she saw him with Sora a few months ago? Did she feel the the same stabbing pain when he held another's hand? Did her eyes almost shined with tears when she saw how his ex kissed him?

Raf tried his best to shake off the upsetting knots beginning to form in his stomach. But he just can't.

Well, Superman has finally found his Kryptonite, he thought.

The sound of Casey's approaching nervous laughter pulled him out of his reverie. She stepped towards him, and he struggled to paste a smirk on his face. It was futile, knowing very well how she can see right through his facade.

Looking down at his shoes, he shoved his hands inside the pockets of his jacket, suddenly conscious of all of their friends staring at him.

"Well, I won't be doing that again," she mumbled as she leaned close, so that he's the only one who can hear.

"Hmm..." Raf exhaled, careful not to let slip any hint of bitterness.

Her left brow raised at him questioningly, her arm looping around his, nevertheless.

Was I too obvious? His inner voice questioned.

Instead of saying that aloud, he shook his head lightly in response, intent to dismiss her doubts. It was more of an effort to dissipate his own insecurities before it imploded. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, while his thoughts waged a silent war with his emotions.

"Well, that's a wrap!" Kyra finally broke the uncomfortable silence, everyone else agreeing to call it a night. Relief then coursed through him.

After saying their respective good nights, their group began to disperse in separate directions.

He let his arms fall across Casey's shoulders, guiding her to the direction of his apartment. He wanted nothing more than to settle the conflicted feelings he had with an inconspicuous night cap - they originally planned to spend the night together, after all.

Peace was beginning to calm his heart, but it was cut short by a heavy hand on his shoulder. He immediately knew who it was.

He turned as Bryce looked at him intensely, his brows furrowed.

Raf looked at Casey, and as if reading his thoughts, untangled herself from him and walked a few steps ahead before stopping at a distance, certain she was out of earshot.

Once the two guys were alone, Raf crossed his arms and waited for Bryce to speak his piece.

"Look, I mean no disrespect. You know me, bro. I didn't think much of it, and that did not mean anything." Bryce spoke with an edge in his voice, rubbing the back of his head.

He hesitated, but invoking no reaction from Raf, he continued.

"Honestly, I was really interested in Casey before she shot me down every time I asked her out. It boggled me, man. I finally found out why when I saw how she looked at you, when we all had dinner together. I backed down and moved on ever since. I see her as nothing but a good friend, now."

Raf listened intently to Bryce's revelation. He thought back to the time before things actually started between him and Casey. Once upon a time, he stumbled upon them exchanging flirty remarks. He dismissed them as just part of his nature, a behavior he thought that Bryce commonly expressed to other girls around him.

Later on, he noticed that she was very close to him, but he attributed it as affection similar to that of siblings. He never entertained the possibility of how dangerously close she was snatched by someone else. It turns out he had more to process.

He finally mustered the strength to nod to Bryce, offering his hand. His friend took it, his posture finally relaxed. However, against Raf's better nature, he didn't say anything further.

Sensing his unease, Bryce took this as his queue to let go. With a friendly salute, he walked away, knowing that he's done his part.

Raf rubbed his temple, closing his eyes for a few moments as he wrestled with himself. He can't help being upset, uncertain as to how he should respond to these very foreign emotions rising within him. He struggled to accept the only possible reason of his unrest.

It was when Casey walked back to him, inquisitive of what just went down between the two guys. As she neared him, she immediately saw the creased lines of his forehead, the same expression he had earlier that evening.

She knew that facade, it was Rafael's contemplative frown.

His whole body jolted as arms wrapped around his waist from behind, breaking him out of his lost thoughts, the familiar scent immediately invading his senses.

"I thought brooding was Batman's thing?" muttered Casey with a playful voice, her head leaning on his back, her hands laced together. "Care to share the meaning of that frown on your face?"

This girl really knew him inside out.

Defeated, certain that Casey was giving him the chance to come clean, he pulled free from her embrace and spun her to face him. His thumb rubbing on her cheekbone, caressing her with so much gentleness, afraid he's going to break her.

He looked down at her, pausing for a few moments, then kissed her. His eyes shut close as he meditated the feel of her mouth crashing on his, her soft lips gifting him the same intoxication he always tasted every time he did this.

And as he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes remained closed, lost in thought.

"Earth to Rafael..." her voice snapped him out of his own trance, an amused look stamped on her face as she gazed up at him, a single brow raised.

"I'm sorry, Casey." He sighed, pondering if he should express his innermost thoughts.

Is this love too fragile? Am I going to cross a line, steering them to a point of no return? Is it the right direction, wanting to let her know that he wanted so much to claim her for himself? They haven't been able to talk about that part yet, knowing that Casey's career is at a crossroads. It wasn't just the right time.

He can't ruin this, not again, he decided.

"I'm still trying to process this myself, I've been contemplating a lot of things in the past few days, and tonight seemed to push me to a tipping point," he resigned.

She cupped his face in her hands, knowing that the man she loved is currently buried in his conflicted feelings.

"It's okay, Raf," she assured him, hoping to quell the building guilt in her chest. "I'm sorry too, I didn't really think that through."

Aware of the mess that she's just made of things, she perceived how careless it was of her to choose to act on the mundane notion of kissing a brother. Well, a brother figure, at least. She thought of it as some kind of experiment, being caught up with the daring mood everyone else was in.

So selfish and so stupid, Casey, she thought, mentally punching herself.

She realized how Edenbrook closing impacted the status of their recently-renewed romance, only just fully-grasping how their relationship might now be hanging by a thread, with the possibility of her moving away from Boston.

She wondered if that's what Raf was thinking about earlier, when they were both standing in front of the hospital where they first met.

Sensing how Casey was now tormenting herself with what happened, he felt compelled to tell her his truth.

It's time I man up, bear my own weight in this relationship, he determined.

Not wanting to let go of his resolve, he took Casey's hands in his and began his admission.

"I never thought I would be this kind of guy," he whispered, breaking free from her own thoughts. "...but when I saw you and Bryce..." He paused, contemplating the best way to continue.

He sighed as he leaned against her, his head nestling against her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her tightly, taking in the sweet scent of her hair.

"I know I said I love you, but I just can't help myself. I feel numb just thinking about how other people will hover around you, when I'm no longer near you." He brushed through his hair, conscious of the heaviness of his confession.

"You can call me obsessed, I know I might not have the right to be... " He faltered for a bit, but with a powerful shove of willpower, he continued, "So yes, I guess, I just got jealous."

"But I've spent a long time holding back, Casey." His current sentiments echoing the very same words he told her at the gala. "It's time I own up to it, because I know you deserve nothing less than 100% of me. So this is me, facing you, facing all of my feelings for you, even the bad."

He wondered if he should stop, but decided to conclude his speech with one last statement to make it clear.

"I guess it's just that I'm so crazy about you, how much loving you changed me. I'll never be the same person without you."

There, I said it, his mind exasperated, yet instantly relieved.

Casey was stunned, her eyes widened with surprise. It wasn't with Rafael's admission of jealousy though, it was in the acknowledgment of how worried he was about her leaving Boston. It is the vulnerability that this man in front of her willfully showed her, despite the uncertainty of their future.

It was his version of telling her: I don't want you out of my life.

In a moment of clarity, she was able to comprehend that Rafael's jealousy was not coming from a place of mistrust. It was his reassurance that he intended to stay beside her, no matter what was required of them. It didn't matter which path she chooses in her career. Whether she stays or she goes, he chooses to be with her.

It may mean braving a long-distance relationship, maybe something more. What's important was he's telling her loud and clear: he's in it for the long run.

And at that moment, she was certain she wanted exactly the same.

"Aha! So the Clark Kent gets jelly too..." she exclaimed, unable to restrain her chuckle.

He smiled despite himself. Give it to Casey to always lighten up the mood.

She gave him a light pat on his back, comforting Raf.

"Thank you for being honest. But it takes a lot more than jealousy to beat down the most stubborn person you've ever met!" she declared, sticking her tongue out as she released him from her embrace, gazing him.

Rafael can't help but laugh, grateful for how easily she figured out how to disspell the conflict between them.

She then pointed at the lamp post above them, apparently inviting him to a callback of perhaps one of the earliest fond memories they shared.

"My samba moves are a little rusty. Mind if you help me shake it off?" Casey's broad grin was infectiously bright, even in the dim light that surrounded them.

He took her hand, kissing her fingertips and twirled her once. He pulled her to him, letting his hands fall on her hips, as she leaned back against his chest.

"Don't mind if I do, my Lois."

And as their bodies swayed, all the worries sashayed away. For in that moment, they remembered that night they once danced in the streets, and the odds that they were able to overcome since then.

It's more than enough of an assurance that they will always find a way.

Their love will.

#rafael aveiro x mc #rafael aveiro #rafael x mc #bryce lahela x mc #bryce x mc #open heart #choices fanfiction #pixelberry #rafael aveiro fanfic #choices #playchoices

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zeroth-writes · 3 years

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Important Member -Riku-

masterlist | request

Prompt: ‘ How about a Riku x reader one? In this, despite the reader not being a Keyblade user out of her friends, she still tries to contribute and do her best. She trains more fiercely than anyone else and even uses the training machine in the Garden of Assemblage, takes her studies seriously and tries to research ways on defeating the 13 darknesses, and tries to quickly and effectively master as many spells as possible. However, doing all of this has taken a deep strain on Reader’s health, causing her to grow pale, have bags under her eyes, lack of sleep, and not eating much. When Riku just happens to see her studying, that was when he saw her nose bleeding. He tries to help her but she insists she’s fine. Riku starts to yell at her and berate her, but that only raised reader’s stress level to the point where she passes out. Riku takes care of her and Reader is slightly paranoid that they may lose until Riku comforts her. ‘

Pairings: Riku x Reader

Summary:

Word Count: 766

Out of all your friend, you were the only one without a keyblade. You watched from the sideline as Sora, Riku and Kairi all summoned theirs. In the beginning they would tell you “Don’t worry, you’ll get yours soon.” As if it was some birthright. Over time though you knew you ever different. You wouldn’t get the feeling of summoning a keyblade for the first time, never have the realistic dream of becoming a master. Sometimes you’d accepted that, there were enough keyblade wielders to keep everyone safe. However other times you think you were holding your friends back. Think that they always had to keep an eye on you, make sure you weren’t doing anything stupid and getting yourself hurt.

You slowly began to accept that you’ll never wield a keyblade like your friends. Instead you helped them in other ways. Reading and practicing spells. Studying up on information about enemies. Over time you spent less time taking care of yourself and more time getting better. Instead of sleeping you’d read spell books in your room, saying you already ate when you were really gathering intel on enemies, spending too much time training and not properly resting.

Glancing at the clock you see 5:04 in bright red. You know you should go to bed. You told yourself you would get some sleep tonight. However seeing how little pages in your book you had left, you decided against it. You knew if you went to bed now you would forget everything you learned tonight. After stretching out your arms you quickly get back to your book, spending the next half hour engrossed in the words in an attempt to memorize all the given information. Throwing your head back you let out a groin of frustration. When you put your head back down you feel a wetness coming from your nose. Reaching a hand up you let out a sigh when you see red on your finger. Quickly grabbing tissues you attempt to stop the bleeding

It wasn’t long after you hear knock on your door. You turn around to see it open and reveal the silver hair of Riku. Before he could see you, you quickly turn back forward in an attempt to hide your bloody nose. “You’re still up?” You could hear the worry in his voice. Knowing how you would sound, you only give him a small nod. After hearing your door close you let out a small breath thinking he was gone, until you felt a hand on your shoulder.

“You know I care about you right?” The sincerity in his voice was obvious. Not trusting your words you nod in response. “Then why won’t you let me help you.” You shrug off his hand and get up to move way from him. “Because I’m fine, I don’t need your help.” For a couple seconds you don’t hear anything. You hoped he would accept your half-ass reason and leave.

“Why do you continue to do this to yourself? You spend all night alone in your room doing whatever when you should be sleeping.” The more words Riku spoke the louder they got. As his words continues to process in your mind you can feel your chest tighten as it gets harder and harder to breath until everything went blank

When you wake up the first thing that registers in the familiar feeling of your bed sheets surrounding you. Enjoying the feeling you snuggle in closer. “I’m glad to see you awake.” You sit up at the voice coming from beside you. “I’m surprised you’re here.” You throw the blanket off you and pull your knees up to your chest. “Of course I’m here. You passed out, I’m not going to leave you alone on the floor. Please talk to me.”

“I just want to help. I know I can’t use a keyblade and I hate it! Everyone is training to become the best they can and I know I’ll never be that!” A single tear rolled down your cheek. Before you could wipe it, Riku was in front of you with one arm around you and the other on your cheek. “ You do help. Everything you do helps, From the intel to the spells and everything in between. However when you can barely keep your eyes open though..” He stopped talking as your nod of agreement got more noticeable. “I feel like if I stop then everything will be for nothing. That I’ll forget everything I learned, all my skills just gone.”

“With or without your knowledge, You’ll still matter to me.”

#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts imagine #kingdom hearts imagines #kingdom hearts x reader #riku kh #riku imagine #riku x reader #KH3 RIKU #requested

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noctisfishing · 3 years

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The Last One Wins | 03

01 | 02 | 03 | 04

Notes: This chapter is mainly why I’ve included the warning for minor Kizuna spoilers. And, not really a spoiler, but I made sure I got the name of Koushiro’s company correct in this. We have Kou/Izzy to thank for everything that happens in this chapter. <3

Hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 3: The Admission of Defeat

It took a few weeks for Matt to get used to living in space. Even after a few years of intensive training, he found it interesting to get a grasp on the absence of gravity, and being used to being suspended midair.

Before taking off, Matt and his fellow crew members were surprised to find out that they would be the first group to test out video conferencing capabilities in the International Space Station. All five agencies, including JAXA and NASA, had been working with Izumi Corporation for implementation by the time the next crew arrived at the station. Matt wouldn't have thought that Izzy would reveal that it had been a top secret project even to him, but it was nice to chat with a friendly face occasionally while they were both on the job.

Matt had gotten along with the group of crew members with him, but he always looked forward to his weekly video calls with Sora. He had to hand it to Izzy - six months without being able to see the love of his life, and otherwise communicating minimally through email and video recordings would have been a very lonely time.

There was one particular call a few months in space that Matt had been both looking forward to and dreading at the same time.

It was always a joy for him to see Sora's eyes light up the moment her face appeared on screen and she realized he was looking at her on his side of the atmosphere.

"Hey, Sora," Matt said with a smile. He was dressed down to a casual cotton shirt and jeans since it was his day off.

"Well, if it isn't the 'space man'!" Tai said from the top corner of the screen.

"Matt?!" Mimi's face appeared. "Oh, look at you!"

"Hey, guys!" Matt replied as the whole gang of faces, including his brother, his friends, and their respective spouses, of which the female counterparts had enlarged bellies at various stages of their pregnancies. He had known that Yolei's baby had the earliest due date, thereby making Ken win the Takari Bet, but there had been other news that he had been waiting to tell everyone until that moment.

Izzy was there, too, giving a friendly wave, and even Joe had shown up; he usually made a rare appearance since he was so busy.

But Matt was amused at how Sora managed to convince every one of their friends to gather together this time around.

"Sora must've given you a convincing reason to show up today," Matt said with a chuckle.

"Why wouldn't we be here?" Davis chimed in, seeming to squeeze in between Tai and Izzy. "We wanted to talk to Mr. Cool Guy In Space!"

"It is pretty neat to see how normal it can look up there," Iori observed.

"Aside from that pen floating by his head," added Kari.

Matt looked to Sora who had been smiling but keeping her lips tight. He flashed a knowing smile.

"Sora, why don't you tell them what's really happening?"

"What?"

Every head turned to Sora, and her smile grew from ear to ear.

"Everyone," she began, after taking a deep breath. "I'm finally ready to tell you - I'm pregnant!"

The cheers erupted on Sora's end of the call. Mimi was the first to leap toward Sora to hug her. Matt laughed as he watched Tai, Davis, and TK cheering in excitement.

Matt was relieved that it was out in the open. He was the first to find out about a month into being in the International Space Station, when he and Sora cried with joy together over video chat. Seeing her glowing smile as she hugged all of her friends urged him to break into tears once again.

"I... guess I'm having... a kid last then...eh... Matt?" Tai said, putting his arm around Sora after they exchanged a hug.

Matt hoped that his glare pierced through Tai all the way from space. He knew that Tai's dragged out question was to emphasize his smug acknowledgment of achievement. Matt had known all along that he wasn't going to win the Takari Bet. He had already mentally accepted defeat; the only thing he dreaded was the moment that Tai discovered his inevitable victory.

Besides that, Sora still hadn't known about their competition, and Matt wasn't about to let Tai tell her about it now.

But Sora raised her brow as she looked at Tai's smirk.

"I wouldn't be surprised, given that you're a kid in a grown man's body," Sora replied.

Matt couldn't have been happier to see the change of Tai's expression.

"Hey, I got married, didn't I? That makes me a grown up."

"Yeah," said Matt. "She still married a kid."

"Matt's right," Tai's wife said in the background.

Sora and Matt began to laugh as Tai was at a loss on how to respond next. He and his own wife - he loved how they made a great team against Tai.

Their laughter was cut short, however, when they heard an odd groan from off camera.

"Whoa, honey, you alright?" Davis asked as he and the others turned to the direction where the sound came from. Sora and Tai disappeared and Davis followed quickly. TK appeared on camera next.

"TK, what's going on?" Matt asked.

But Davis' loud announcement answered for him: "We've gotta go. Her water just broke!"

Davis' words were of cheer, and Matt swore he heard some mischievous cackling. Although no one else said anything, Matt knew why. The due date for Davis' baby was set for after Yolei's baby. At that moment, Yolei screamed as she jumped up out of her chair.

"No!" she cried, and everyone fell silent as they looked at her. "...way!" she added.

"Don't start this now, Yolei," Matt heard Ken say as he grabbed her shoulders and walked toward the door where everyone else was headed. Ken had put his brave face on, knowing how this affected the Takari Bet. He also seemed to show a slight tinge of annoyance, but Matt could only empathize with the other man who also had to admit defeat.

Then Kari appeared on screen, and Sora popped in next to TK soon after. "Hey hon," Sora said. "Looks like the party's over. We're all heading to the hospital soon."

"Okay, then," said Matt. "Love you."

"Love you!" Sora said before disappearing again. "TK, turn off the camera?"

"Hai, Onee-san!" said TK.

"Aren't you both going, too?" Matt asked TK and Kari next to him, who grinned with giddiness.

"In a bit." TK then shared a glance with Kari before looking at the camera and lowering his voice. "Listen, when you get back, do you think you could spare some yen?"

Knowing this was referring to Ken's loss, Matt responded with, "You can make 5000 yen easily, TK."

"It's 25,000," Kari replied.

Matt grimaced. "That's still money you can make, but you really put that much money for your bets?"

"I bet the 5K on Ken being first.. And you know me and Kari, we go all in for our big bros."

Matt rolled his eyes as TK smiled with his tongue sticking out.

"Sora said to turn off the camera."

"You love me, right?"

"We'll talk later, TK. Bye, Kari."

Matt ignored the air smooches that TK and Kari scrunched their lips together side by side as Matt pushed to end the call.

~*~*~*~*~*~

About a month before Matt was set to return to Japan, Sora sent a message for him to get in touch with her as soon as he could. It had become the norm for them to have weekly video chats, so having a call in the middle of the week was out of the ordinary for him.

In fact, Matt was worried about why she wanted to talk to him so soon. He wondered if something went wrong back on Earth; maybe, if she found out some news about the baby.

When her face appeared on the video call screen, he couldn't read her expression.

"Hey, love," she said. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"No, not at all, Sora," Matt replied, trying to hide his anxiety as he waited for her reason.

"There's someone I want you to see."

Someone? His eyes immediately moved to her stomach, where he saw that she was still carrying their first born inside of her belly.

Sora laughed as she recognized where he was looking. "I knew you'd assume it was the baby. We've still got a ways to go."

Matt had to laugh in relief. He expected to be at her side the moment their child was born and he wouldn't have missed it for the world.

"Okay, then, who is this someone?" he asked.

That was when Sora moved to the side from the camera and Matt drew in a long breath of surprise.

A familiar face appeared and drew closer to the screen, her bright blue eyes blinking and her beak seeming to touch the screen from the other side. Her pink feathers nearly covered the whole screen.

"Matt! Sora? Can he see me?"

"You don't have to stand so close to it, Biyomon," said Sora, giggling.

Matt was at a loss for words.

"Do you remember how Izzy said he would find a way to bring our Digimon back to us?" Sora asked Matt. "He found a way, Matt. He did it."

Matt's eyes began to sting with tears while he saw Sora wipe her eyes with the back of her hands. He remembered the very moment his own Digimon partner was gone, and those times afterward when he cradled Sora in his arms as she cried about losing hers.

"And now Sora has a Digi-Egg in her tummy!" Biyomon chirped.

"Is that what you told her?" Matt asked Sora, laughing as he wiped his tears away.

"I promise to help take care of your daughter in any way that I can!"

"Before you ask, Matt," Sora added. "She's not the only one who wants to help."

Matt couldn't believe his eyes with what happened next. Sora and Biyomon turned to look off camera, and Sora spoke a name that, even as he'd hoped, Matt didn't think he would hear again.

"Gabumon, why are you so far away?" Biyomon asked.

"Sora said not to stand so close to the camera," Gabumon said with a pout.

"Come over here, so that Matt can see you!" Sora said.

As soon as the blue furried Digimon appeared on screen, he blinked and he smiled cheerfully.

"It's so good to see you, Matt," he said.

"Gabumon…"

Matt couldn't stop crying. He wondered if he was crying as hard as he did when Gabumon disappeared before his very eyes. His tears blurred his vision, and he might have been convinced that Gabumon would disappear as soon as the tears washed the unbelievable sight away.

"Gabumon, are you real?" Matt had to ask.

"As real as the Digi-Egg inside of Sora!" Gabumon said with a grin.

"She told you that, too."

Matt was laughing now with his tears streaming down. That moment was enough to believe that Gabumon was real, and so was Biyomon, and the fact that only Izzy would find the miracle to bring the Digimon partners back. He couldn't wait to return home to hold Sora, and to hug Gabumon, two figures of his life that made him feel whole.

#digimon fanfiction #sorato #ishida yamato #matt ishida #takenouchi sora #sora takenouchi #noctiswriting #rated m #last one wins #sorato fanfiction

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higuchimon · 3 years

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[fanfic] Secrets of Ears: Chapter 4

Daisuke tried to wrap his brain around what Gennai said. He’d been created? It had felt kind of funny when he’d first heard it from Koushiro but to hear all the details like this – it wasn’t all that funny anymore.

His stomach churned a little bit as he stared down at his hands, then looked up at the others.

“So what does all this mean?” He wanted to know. “I mean – I’m not going to start wanting to tear apart reality or something, am I?”

“Unlikely. Gennai shook his head. “As I said, while you weren’t intended to develop a mind or personality of your own, you did. Which means you make your own choices, just like any other human or Digimon. But you will have to be wary of your dark side.”

“Dark side?” Miyako asked, eyes narrowing a trifle. “What’s that?”

“Just what he said,” Yamato answered. “All of us who have Viral blood have a dark side. The part of us that’s pure viral and takes after our Viral parent.” He twisted his lips for a heartbeat. “All of us have Digimon names. Mine is Chiguumon. But my dark side is Anbumon. They’re – not quite different people, not quite us.”

Jou nodded. “My name is Jitsumon. Dark side is Fuseiimon.” He made a face as annoyed as Yamato’s. “He drinks a lot more blood than I do. I do it because I need to. He does it because he likes to.”

“Aikoumon,” Sora quasi-introduced herself. “And my other side is Akuenmon. She’s not really someone you want to meet.”

Ken’s ears were naturally paler than the rest of him. Right now, Daisuke thought that the rest of him wanted to catch up to his ears in paleness. He swallowed.

“So what about us? Or the others?” His eyes flicked between Miyako and Koushiro.

“We don’t have dark sides. I’m Vaccine and Data, Miyako is Vaccine,” Koushiro told him. “As for the two of you, I can’t honestly be sure. You’ll have to encounter those sides to know their names. As for your own names – you’ll learn them. They’re written into your data.”

Daisuke wasn’t that worried about it. Gennai had just said that he could make his own decisions, so he wasn’t going to fret about a so-called dark side. What he worried about was Ken and what Ken was probably thinking. Ken had mostly accepted his past and moved on from it. But to hear that there was a dark side in him just waiting to get out…

Nope. Daisuke wasn’t going to let Ken worry about that. He’d not done all that work to get him to feel good about himself to let it all go to waste now.

So he stood up. “Well, thanks for letting us know. Come on, Ken. I want some ramen. You want ramen?”

Ken was on his feet a moment later. “Yes. I would like ramen.”

“Before you go,” Koushiro spoke quickly. “You need to be aware of this. Your powers are linked to the Digital World. The more time you spend there, the easier they will come to you. But now that you’re aware of them, they could manifest at any point. The key seems to be strong emotion. Watch yourselves.”

Daisuke didn’t waste another moment. He wrapped one hand around Ken’s, and wasn’t even remotely surprised that Ken’s hand shook in his grip.

He squeezed Ken’s fingers and smiled at him. This was weird, yeah. But it wasn’t anything that they couldn’t all get through together, just like they did everything else.

They settled back onto the train, neither of them saying anything about what they’d found out. Ken stared up at the train’s roof, his eyes half-closed, his hand still firmly in Daisuke’s. Daisuke’s fingers itched to bury themselves into Ken’s hair and do everything he could to soothe Ken.

He held back, though. He wasn’t going to bother Ken’s hair or even get close to his ears in public. He’d made a promise.

They stayed quiet all the way until they were in the ramen shop that Daisuke had wanted to go to today. Their partners stayed with them, just as quiet, Wormmon snuggling around Ken’s shoulders, V-mon leaning a little against Daisuke’s side.

It was V-mon who broke the silence. “I always kind of thought you smelled like a Digimon,” he said. “But I thought that it was because of me.”

Daisuke blinked before a laugh broke out of him. “Guess not.” He playfully tapped at V-mon’s nose. “Guess you need to get your nose checked.”

V-mon pouted, playfully whacking back at him. Ken chuckled a bit, but it sounded strained. Still, the ice had been broken.

“I don’t care who your sire was,” Wormmon said, squirming around so he could stare soulfully up into Ken’ eyes. “You’re my Ken-chan no matter what.”

Ken’s cheeks reddened and he stared down into his ramen bowl. “I don’t want to be like that again,” he murmured, hands clenching together. He swallowed for a second. “Do we know – do we know anymore if it was the Spore or if it was – me?”

“Does it matter?” Daisuke asked, shrugging. “You’re not like that now and you’re not going to be ever again. You know better. You’re not going to hurt anyone innocent ever again.”

He wasn’t surprised that Ken was worked up over it. He’d probably stayed worked up over it for a while. Even with Daisuke and Wormmon and all of the others telling him over and over that he’d grown and didn’t need to be worried about it. Ken worried. It was what he did.

“Hey!” A vaguely familiar voice declared and someone dropped himself down on Ken’s other side. Daisuke glanced over to see Tachibana Noriaki sitting there, flashing that brilliant white-toothed smile. Daisuke wondered if he should ask which toothpaste company sponsored him. “Didn’t think I’d see you guys here.”

Ken tensed at once, shifting to be closer to Daisuke. “Why not?”

“I thought you were gong on a date,” Tachibana teased. “You are dating, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” Daisuke wasn’t going to deny that they were an item. “And we are on a date.”

Tachibana tilted his head. “You’re going out for ramen as a date? I took my girlfriend to the gardens. Saw some really awesome flowers there.” His eyes glowed warmly. “You should do something like that. Or to a concert.” He stopped, eyes suddenly focused on Ken’s ears. “Or would that be too much for those poor sensitive ears of yours?”

One hand flashed out and dug into Ken’s hair, squeezing his ears. He didn’t let go, even as Ken squealed and started to bat at him.

“Aw, it’s not that bad! You’re not a little kid anymore, are you? You should be used to people playing with your ears, especially if you’ve got a boyfriend!” Tachibana grinned, light glinting off of his teeth.

Daisuke was on his feet already. He didn’t normally get too angry; he’d never really felt the need. It had to be something horrible to really trip his temper. Seeing this jerk fondle Ken’s ears like that, when Ken so very clearly wanted to be anywhere but here, did it.

“Let him go!” Daisuke snapped, and he wondered oddly why his voice sounded different, deeper, darker. Not for a moment did he think about what he’d been told earlier.

At least, not until a gleam of something caught his eye and he saw a long, sharp sword resting in Ken’s hand. Ken’s grip tightened and when he turned towards Daisuke, Daisuke could see red flames dancing in the back of them.

They’d been told the process would take time. It seemed that time wasn’t very long at all.

Part of him – a part that he’d never been aware of before – stirred. Those rage-spawned flames were so pretty. Not that anything about Ak – Ken – was ever not pretty, but there was something special about them regardless. He wanted to curl up in those flames and bask there forever.

Instead, he rested one hand on top of Ken’s, where the sword waited. He shook his head. “No.”

Tachibana either hadn’t ‘heard or wasn’t paying attention. He rubbed harder. “Hey, can you hear really well with these things? They look so weird, you should get some kind of benefit from them, right?”

As fast as Daisuke was, Ken had always been faster. He leaped to his feet, knocking Tachibana away with one hand, and brought his sword around to point at the other’s throat.

“Touch me again,” he growled, voice sounding far too much like the Kaiser, “and I won’t hesitate.” The tip of his sword rested on Tachibana’s throat. “And I won’t care.”

Daisuke strolled to stand beside Ken. “And I’ll give him an alibi. Anything he does, you pushed him to it. We told you to stop. You’re not listening. Either leave us alone or pay the price.”

Tachibana looked, to tell the truth, as if he were about to wet himself on the spot. Daisuke wouldn’t have been surprised. In point of fact, he thought it would have been hilarious.

Wormmon hadn’t moved from around Ken’s shoulders. He rested one pod on Ken carefully. “You don’t want to hurt him, Ken-chan,” he murmured. “He’s not worth it.”

“No, he’s not.” Ken replied. “But if he doesn’t leave me alone, I will.”

Tachibana turned paler even than Ken’s ears. He stumbled back, eyes flicking all over. “You’re insane!” He spat the words out before ducking away and fleeing for the door as fast as he could.

They were the only ones there at the time – they’d stayed long enough at Koushiro's that most of the usual crowd had gone home. The ramen chef had stepped into the back. The timing really couldn’t have been better.

Daisuke closed his hand once more on Ken’s. “He’s gone,” he murmured. “You can relax now. It’s all right.”

Ken stared at him,, the bright ruby flames still burning. Then he swallowed, staring down at the sword as if he’d never seen it before in his life. Daisuke guessed that he really hadn’t.

“What did I do?” Ken whispered brokenly. “What did I do, Daisuke?”

To Be Continued

Notes: One chapter left to go! Sunday wraps it all up. I rather enjoyed writing the confrontation between Ken and Tachibana. Tachibana will probably run screaming if he so much as spies Ken across the street now. He’s lucky Akogimon didn’t fully awaken. Akogimon would have skewered him and laughed about. Think Kaiser, but worse. Much, much worse.

#higuchimon writes #fanfic #digimon adventure 02 #ichijouji ken #motomiya daisuke #ken x daisuke #daisuke x ken #au: breeds #chapters: secrets of ears

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toko-ton · 4 years

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Kizuna novel ch.3-4 notes

Ch. 3:

- Back in chapter 2, when Yamato asks the 02 group to investigate Menoa, Ken mentions that he's heard of her, and he specifically says that he knows she's a prodigy who skipped grades to get into college early and has a doctorate and some patents. I didn't think of it until I realized that she's actually close in age to the Adventure kids, but the part about skipping grades reminded me of this:

I wonder if maybe Ken first heard about Menoa because people insisted on comparing him to her back when he was the Kaiser?

- Menoa wasn't blocked from entering the Digital World, so presumably anyone with the tech to open a gate can go there, regardless of whether they have a Digimon partner or not. Which means that partner Digimon do cease to exist in both worlds when their bond disappears, because otherwise, she'd be able to reunite with Morphomon.

- I know it's supposed to be a serious scene, but it's almost comedic when Taichi and Yamato brag about having the edge in numbers and experience as Greymon and Garurumon finish off Eosmon, only for Menoa to casually snap her fingers and summon an entire swarm.

- Menoa indirectly explains the origin of Eosmon's name. She spent years trying to bring Morphomon back, but failed trying to bring the data to life. Then on the day the mysterious aurora appeared three months ago, she was suddenly able to create Eosmon, who was presumably named after the aurora. (I'm kind of surprised that the book doesn't point out that Eos and Aurora were equivalent Greek and Roman goddesses. I guess they assumed that people already know that?)

- If Menoa only made Eosmon three months ago, why has Imura been investigating her for years? It's never hinted that she did anything illegal or even unethical before that point, unless people have a problem with her trying to create a Digimon.

- Sora is the only one of the original Adventure kids missing from Menoa's neverland. Even without Koushirou's list, Menoa knows who all of them are, so I guess it must have already been too late by the time Menoa tried to send an Eosmon?

- If Menoa and Eosmon can't reunite people with Digimon partners who have already been lost (or at least illusions of them), then this scene confirms that Meicoomon did come back to life at some point.

- Menoa insists over and over that all the Chosen are there of their own free will, no mental influence involved, but the fact that they all turn silent and emotionless with glowing red eyes makes that a little bit difficult to believe.

Ch. 4:

- Eosmon start popping out of internet-connected devices all over the world and attacking Chosen. Despite Hawkmon warning that it's probably a bad idea, Miyako uses her laptop to try to find information on what's happening in the confusion, and of course, she only ends up letting another one through.

- Yamato must have given them a partial explanation at some point, since Daisuke knows enough to guess that the Digimon they're fighting are Eosmon. Likewise, Iori worries that the chaos means that something has happened to Yamato and the others, but they're too busy fighting off Eosmon to do anything to help.

- The entire 02 team seems to be calling Yamato "Yamato-senpai" now, or at least Daisuke, Ken, and Iori all do. (I don't think Miyako ever says his name, so I'm not sure about her.)

- Taichi and Yamato are hiding, uncertain of what to do. After some encouragement from Gabumon and Agumon (who says he gets the feeling that they'll be with Taichi and Yamato forever), the two of them resolve to fight. Taichi, who had been wearing his old goggles around his neck, finally puts them up on his head and says "We'll show them the bonds we have. Let's do this!"

- The kids with Menoa are back to playing with their Digimon, and still acting extremely creepy: The children gazed at Menoa with eyes filled with adoration. Perhaps she seemed like a goddess or Madonna to them.

- Daisuke and Ken don't evolve Paildramon or Imperialdramon even though the 02 team is having a rough time fending off all the Eosmon. I guess Yamato must have warned them to avoid unnecessary evolutions, even if he didn't say why? They're much too upbeat to have been confronted with the full truth.

- This just occurred to me... The Eosmon aren't invisible, so back in chapter 1, how did one of them steal Ayaka's consciousness in the middle of a restaurant without being seen?

- After Eosmon defeats Omegamon, the other Adventure kids restrain Taichi and Yamato to keep them from running to Agumon and Gabumon (Hikari and Koushirou for Taichi, and Takeru, Mimi, and Jou for Yamato), and then their partners start attacking the two.

- As soon as they come to their senses, Hikari and the others return to their present-day appearances. Koushirou is fascinated by the evolved Eosmon, and Tentomon has to exasperatedly remind him that he really doesn't have time to stand around lost in thought.

- Menoa lost her partner when she got into college... because she wanted to be self-sufficient? It looks like they're trying to portray partner Digimon as existing solely for the kids' personal growth, and that's why they disappear when the kids are sufficiently mature? I'm not a fan of the idea. (Just to be completely clear, the the scenes of the Digimon disappearing strongly gave me this impression, but it isn’t explicitly stated anywhere. So it’s entirely possible that this isn’t what the creators intended.)

- I mean, I don’t think that the sudden and traumatic loss of one of your closest loved ones is a good metaphor for the struggles of becoming an adult.

- I'm also not fond of the way it reduces the Digimon to literal props for the kids, in-universe, even if the original anime never did a particularly good job of treating them as individuals.

- "Menoa! I'll save you!" Taichi yelled. Yamato shouted, "Your choice wasn't a mistake!" "But even if a choice leads to something happening..." "We have to live in the future we chose!" (This dialogue would work better for me if the kids had any meaningful choice in the first place. Menoa was going to lose Morphomon before long, no matter what she did.)

- "We may not be able to change fate*..." "But we can change our destiny**!" * 宿命 = absolute, unchangeable fate ** 運命 = destiny/fate in general (Why are they so sure that losing their Digimon is the latter and not the former? What makes Taichi and Yamato’s refusal to accept the loss of their partners optimism, while Menoa’s is just denial?)

- Sorry if this has been a little too negative! I do like Kizuna overall, especially for the character interaction. I’m just disappointed in this particular element of the plot.

- I’ve now finished the book, and they never do explain the aurora that allowed Eosmon to come to life. I wonder if it’ll be brought up again if there’s a sequel?

- I can’t think of anything else I want to comment on right now, so just in case anyone reading this hasn’t seen it yet, I’ll link to Onkei’s summary again:

https://pastebin.com/hqVwmAaS

It’s much more comprehensive than my notes here (especially since I tried to focus on things that weren’t already covered there), so if you haven’t already, go read it!

- Also, I’ll be glad to answer any questions about the story (if I can), so if there’s anything you’re curious about, please feel free to ask!

#digimon #spoilers #kizuna novelization #last evolution kizuna

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chikoriita · 5 years

Text

On My Mind

Here is my contribution for SoKai Day 2019! Also dedicated to @floralianspiderboynova, who requested this a while ago (sorry it’s so late!)

Read on AO3.org

Ah, Radiant Garden. Her one last chance at refuge. Kairi only hoped that this was her safe harbor. In the last 12 hours, she was cornered at home and run out of her own house on Destiny Islands. Then, they chased her to Twilight Town and beyond.They would not let her live in peace, would they? She hurried along the outer edges of the borough. The others might not be able to find her here. With the reconstruction of the neighborhoods, Radiant Garden was a sprawling metropolis. If only for a few moments, she could rest easy.

This was, as usual, Sora’s fault. He had to open his big mouth and tell his brothers and sister about the bet. She never should have taken the dare in the first place. How was she to know that Sora could swim farther than her now? If she knew, then maybe she wouldn’t have taken such a silly forfeit. It was supposed to end with Sora dying his hair pink. Instead now, she had to do the unthinkable.

Kairi would have to ride a horse. Not just any horse, but a Pegaslick. Riku, who had been their judge for their contest, said that it had wings. So now, because of her shortsightedness, lest she go back on her word, she was doomed to ride a horse, the one animal in the worlds she could not stand.

Then he had to get the others involved; the others being Roxas, Xion, and Naminé.

“You know Kairi,” Naminéstarted at lunch the other day. “It’s not good to go back on your word. Sora won the bet fair and square, according to Riku. Just fulfill the forfeit, and we can move on.”

Kairi’s jaw dropped. Her own sister was betraying her. “Naminé!” She gasped. “You were once a part of me, and you’re taking his side?”

She shrugged. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Yeah!” A voice piped up from outside the window. Kairi peeked her head outside to find Roxas and Xion crouching in the bushes.

“What are you two doing spying on our conversation?” Kairi was both confused and frustrated.

Xion waved sheepishly. “Sora wanted to remind you that you have until tonight to pay up.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“But he was too scared to tell you, so we decided to help,” Roxas said.

Kairi let out a small growl. “I am not going to let the three of you pester me into the forfeit.” She fled her parents home, leaving the three former Nobodies running after her. She ran until she reached her Gummiship. It was far beyond her old rowboat, and for that she was thankful. Her little boat wouldn’t get her beyond their reach.

And so the three had followed her to Twilight Town, the Mysterious Tower, and even Disney Castle! She thought that King Mickey would at least take her side, but he apparently did not judge in matters of wagers and bets.

“Kairi, you should always pay your debts,” he said softly to her during her stolen hour at the castle. She resisted making a face as she escaped (and not a moment too soon as Roxas’s Gummi landed as hers departed).

All the running and fleeing brought her here of all places. Radiant Garden, the same place Sora asked her to meet him. He requested at the Bastion steps for the ride. He said he would wait until the end of day for her, which meant she had a at least an hour or two to think about her decision. She sat on the perch of one of the fountains and closed her eyes. This was as good a place as any to think.

The ring of her Gummiphone knocked her out of her reverie. Riku’s name flashed on the screen. She quickly accepted the call and pasted on a wide smile.

“Riku!” She saw his Gummiship cockpit. He probably had the phone docked on his ship controls.

“Why did I get a call from the King to check up on you?” He asked. “Is everything okay?”

Oh that mouse, Kairi thought. She was going to have a talk with the Queen about his meddling. “The kids will not leave me alone! They keep pestering me about the bet.” She jumped off her perch and walked toward the Bastion. Not because she accepted her defeat. She just wanted to stretch her legs.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You mean this is all about the bet? The one that you lost?”

“You don’t have to remind me,” she sulked.

“What do you have against horses anyway?”

“I once saw a horse beat a clown.”

Riku made a face. “Really?”

Kairi shrugged. “It was probably a man in a costume, now that I think about it. Still, I just don’t like them.”

“That’s a shame. Sora really got close to his Pegaslick when we were in the Sleeping Worlds.”

“They are killing machines, and you know it.”

He laughed heartily. “This coming from the girl that jumped into a swarm of Heartless to save Sora.”

A harsh chuckle came from off screen. “Is that Kairi? Tell her to pay up! My brother is waiting.” She heard Vanitas’s voice chime in.

Kairi rolled her eyes. “Tell him to stuff it.”

“Okay, I gotta go. See you soon, Kai.” Riku waved her off and ended the call.

“See you soon?” Kairi repeated. What did he mean by that? She looked up from the screen to find herself at the bottom of the steps. After focusing, she saw Sora waving down at her from the top.

“Eep!” She spun around to avoid looking at him. True to his promise, he had the Pegaslick with him. The winged horse was bright and awash with various colors and stood vividly against the bricks of the castle. She didn’t have to look at Sora to know that he didn’t expect anything from her. Even if she did owe him the forfeit, he would never force her to do anything. She knew that in her heart, and maybe that is why she took the first step up towards him. The remaining steps did not register as they were only a means to get to Sora.

Kairi stopped a bit short of Sora and hesitated. “Hi,” she finally said with a small wave.

“You made it!” He exclaimed, then sobered. “I’m sorry for all of our siblings’ nuisances. You didn’t have to put up with them.”

Truth be told, though it was annoying during the moment, Kairi appreciated the feeling of having pesky family members today. After all, didn’t it mean that they cared about them? Even crotchety old Vanitas wanted to help in his own way.

She reached out to take his hand. “I was the stubborn one. I should’ve just faced my fears.” She threaded her fingers with his.

“I just thought it would be…” He trailed off quietly and turned his head.

Kairi pulls it back toward her. “Would be what?”

“Romantic.” He blushed. Blush was an understatement, truly. His entire face was red. “It’s our anniversary, you know.”

“Our what?” Kairi nearly squawked as he tugged her closer.

His lips lifted into a sly smirk. “Don’t tell me you forgot,” He teased. “One year ago, we shared the paopu fruit.”

Had it really been a year since that moment in the sunset? “It’s been a hectic year.”

“You said you wanted to be part of my life no matter what. It worked; you’re always on my mind. Without you, I don’t think I could have faced my fears, then or now. Tonight, I wanted to help you face one of yours.” Sora petted the Pegaslick with his free hand. “Want to face it together?”

Kairi looked at their joined hands and thought about it. No matter how small of a matter it may seem, this Dream Eater was part of Sora’s life as well. Contrary to how she acted these last few days, Kairi did not go back on her word. No matter what. “Let’s do it.”

Sora’s eyes met hers. “Really?!” He said gleefully.

“Do not push your luck, Sora.” She moved closer to the Pegaslick. “How do we do this?”

He grabbed her by the waist (don’t blush Kairi, do not blush!) and placed her on the makeshift saddle he arranged. “Hold on,” he instructed as he climbed on behind her. Sora placed her hands on the reins and closed his left hand around hers.

“Are you ready?” He whispered.

She scrunched her eyes closed and nodded.With his right arm tightened like a bar against her waist, he gave a small kick, and they lifted off.

Kairi felt the air rushing past her ears as they ascended into the sky. After a few moments, they slowed down and stabilized. She cracked one eye open and gasped. When she opened both eyes, she saw the second most beautiful sunset of her life. They glided above pink and orange clouds, seemingly in their own world.

“How majestic,” she whispered, settling back against Sora’s chest.

He let out a deep breath, one he must have held since they took off moments before. “I promised myself that one day I would take you flying with me. Granted, it’s not the same as pixie dust-” She interrupted him. “It’s even better.” The serenity of experiencing twilight with him was incomparable, whether or not they needed help flying.

“Even though we are on a horse?” Sora asked in a slight tease. She nudged him with her elbow. The Pegaslick wasn’t as bad as she imagined. It was a serene creature, neighing periodically.

Kairi didn’t answer him, and instead, focused on the rays of sunset fading into the horizon. Night would soon follow. Sora circled the castle’s highest parapet three times before beginning their descent.

“We’re done already?”

He chuckled. “Just one more surprise.” He maneuvered the Pegaslick onto a balcony on the parapet where a picnic blanket awaited them. He slid off the Dream Eater and lifted Kairi off deftly.

“Now admire the view from up here while I explain a few things.” Kairi leaned against the balcony railing and watched as the neighborhoods below transitioned into the evening. During twilight’s final moments, street lamps lit the streets snaking through the city. Night markets began trading their wares. Radiant Garden was once again the booming world it once was.

“I’ve told you about Rapunzel right?” Kairi nodded slightly. Her story hit very close to home. The only difference was that Rapunzel’s parents looked for her for all these years while Kairi’s family was nowhere to be found.

“Well, they found her by sending out lanterns every year on her birthday. She found her way back to them by following the light.” Sora came to her side with a glowing paper lantern in his hands.

“Sora…” Kairi didn’t know what to say.

“We’ve been separated so many times in our lives. We didn’t need lanterns to find each other before. But maybe, we could spin the tradition our own way.” He placed the lantern in her hand. “This lantern will be our reminder that there is always a light in the darkness to guide us. You already did it for me. Now let me be your light.”

A tear streamed down her cheek. “Oh, Sora. You already are.” With both their hands, they lifted the lone lantern into the night sky. For a single moment, it bounced against the breeze and lit up against the darkness. In the next moment, a second lantern lifted up from another part of the castle. Kairi looked down to see Roxas, Xion, and Naminé on a balcony. Another lantern floated up from their left. Was that Riku’s silver hair she spied on another balcony? She couldn’t trust her eyes because it seemed like he had both Ventus and Vanitas lifting up lanterns together. Before she knew it, hundreds of glowing lanterns lifted up from the city below them.

“What is all of this?” Kairi asked softly.

Sora lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Our destinies are intertwined and with them, our family. They all helped me pull off this night.”

“Ah, so you are to blame for their pestering!” She poked him on the cheek.

He grinned. “Guilty.”

“Well, you’re simply lucky that I like them.” She looped her arms around his neck and placed a small kiss on his nose. “And I really like you.”

#sokaiday2019 #kingdom hearts #kh #sora #kairi #sokai #sokaiday #lightkeykid writes

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