"Maybe you both should go train out in the field for a bit. I'll make sure the supplies are topped off." Riku said this so casually, but he was looking right at him. It was one of those confusing cases where his friend was clearly trying to say something without saying it and Sora was left fumbling around trying to figure out exactly what that was. Nothing was coming to mind at all.

Sora eyed his friend suspiciously, trying to pick up on any other clues from his expression. "Okaay, but...is this really the best time? We still haven't finished packing..."

"Up to you." Riku shrugged and began occupying himself with the supply packs.

Oh. Maybe it was nothing, then.

"Lend me your hand a second."

"Sure." Sora grabbed the thick strap of the satchel offered to him and pulled it tight so Riku could secure the clasp. Before it had even clicked into place, Riku leaned in closer and lowered his voice.

"Even if you don't get much done, I think it'll be worth it for someone else." He tilted his head over to the side, pointing without pointing back in the direction of the window.

Oh! Finally catching the hint, Sora looked over. Just like Riku was trying to warn him, Kairi was back at it again, endlessly pacing, fidgeting with that same little empty medicine pouch. While Sora had been able to distract her now and again, it seemed like every time he left her to her own devices she just slipped back into that same sleepwalking state. The whole morning she had been so dreamily occupied in her own head it was like she wasn't even there.

"...Kairi?" Sora tried calling out to her, but she only mumbled in response, eyes still focused straight forward.

He tried calling again. Nope.

"Hey Kairi, I was just telling Riku how totally loud you snore!"

No reaction at all. It was obviously a problem when she didn't even notice something like that.

Right...maybe some fresh air really wouldn't be a bad idea.

Riku gave him a light shove. "Go on. I've got the rest of the chores covered."

While Sora felt a bit guilty leaving him to do the rest, he knew Riku wouldn't have offered if he couldn't handle it. Besides, Kairi clearly needed some serious intervention here or she was going to wear a hole in the floor. Or her shoes. And she needed those in good shape for tomorrow.

Sora flashed him an appreciative smile. "Got it, thanks."

He skipped his way over to Kairi and reached for her hand. "Hey, feeling okay?"

Kairi nearly jumped at his touch, but caught her breath quickly. "Y-yeah, sorry. How is it coming along with the-"

"Taken care of." Riku shouted back, pouring another one of his lists for any discrepancies, ticking things off here and there.

Kairi sighed, chucking the fabric she had clenched in her hands back onto the table behind her. "I don't know...m-maybe I should go check on Namine, or-"

Resting a hand on her shoulder to stop her, Sora shook his head. "She's helping everyone out with the party now, remember? And we were expressly forbidden to go back to the house until then, under threat of a spoon-whacking." He shivered. "And I do not want to get on Penelo's bad side when she's wielding that big wooden spoon."

Kairi sagged under his grip. He knew that face. It was clear she was just anxious and wanted more than anything to make herself useful.

Time to make some suggestions!

"Wanna go on a walk or train a bit? Riku's right, it's a good chance to squeeze in a little extra practice to make sure your basics are sturdy before we set out."

She chewed on her lower lip, clearly not quite convinced.

Time to deploy his best puppy face.

He reached up to gently stroke the side of her cheek with his thumb. "...Please? I think it would do us both some good. It'd be a shame to miss out on such nice weather, too."

His pleading seemed to reach through the fog and she ever so softly smiled up at him. "Well...okay. A little couldn't hurt, I suppose..."

Sora was sure if he could grab her attention even just the slightest amount she would start feeling a whole lot better. It was a reluctant yes, but still a yes nonetheless so he was going to try to make the most of it.

While she was still fidgeting and not very chatty on the walk to the training grounds, the minute she picked up the wooden sword her entire demeanor changed.

She really took this stuff seriously. All these months and she hadn't missed a single session despite being so busy.

Sparing with Kairi had at first been incredibly difficult for him to get used to, but it ended up being a lot of fun. Sora wouldn't go so far to say that sword fighting was his hobby, exactly, but it was something he had to work on daily. Being able to share that time with her was nice. She was certainly a lot more pleasant to fight than Riku, that was for sure. And the feistier side of Kairi he had gotten to know was a real treat. One slice of that slightly tart attitude pie and he was already wanting seconds.

He had also been a little worried all the training would somehow change her. But other than making her stronger and a bit more confident, she was still her same endlessly kind, sweet self. Any time she missed her target and accidentally whacked him with her sword she would panic and rush over for emergency doting apology cuddles.

Arguably the best kind.

Plus her healing magic was super tingly and warm. It was worth getting hit just for that alone.

Training with her ended up having not too many downsides at all, all things considered.

He cleared his throat and gave her a sweeping bow. "Your sentient training dummy is here, at your service."

Only a few seconds and his attempted formal face cracked into laughter.

"Oh, stop it." Urging him to come up out of his jokingly grandiose stance, Kairi ruffled her fingers through his crazy mess of hair.

He loved it when she did that. A lot. There was nothing, absolutely nothing more relaxing than resting his head on her lap in the garden with her fingers massaging their way around there. Easily the best way to sit and cloud watch the afternoon away.

Almost just as soon as she started, her fingers withdrew and he sighed, grateful to at least relish the feeling while it lasted. But more importantly, it finally felt like she was here now, instead of buried in whatever foggy thoughts she couldn't shake off all day.

Straightening back up, he rolled his shoulder a few times, trying to stretch out his sword arm. "Alright! Our official last session. What did you wanna work on?"

She tilted the wooden sword around in her hands, considering her options. "To be honest...I've got a lot of nervous energy right now, and it's a bit hard to sit still..."

"Yeah? I couldn't tell." He flicked his wrist in a few circles to warm it up before giving her a playful smirk.

"Oh, very funny." Chiding his sarcasm, Kairi gave the side of his arm the lightest little smack with her free hand. "I'm sorry about this morning, I've just been really anxious..."

"Don't apologize for that, it's a big day tomorrow."

"Hmm..." Kairi leaned forward, examining his face closely before prodding him in the stomach.

It tickled a little and he smiled. "Something on my face?"

"You don't look the least bit concerned at all. I don't know how you do it."

He thought about it for a minute. "Well...I know I'm in good hands with you keeping an eye on me. And I can be a bit simple-minded sometimes too, so there's a lot I'm sure you thought of that probably didn't even register up here. That just shows how considerate you are."

Kairi shied away from the compliment. "You're not that simple. Simply positive, maybe."

Sora tapped the wooden sword in her hand. "Well, one thing you could try is taking all those nervous thoughts you've got and stuffing them all in here. Use them to power yourself up!"

"Like...this?" He could almost see the nervous tension sparking around her whole body channeling right into her sword as she lifted it up for a few test swings. Each strike had a certain oomph that was far different than normal.

"Yep! Exactly like that." Sora grinned, glad to see her finally able to focus on something other than picking at that same ratty old medicine bag from earlier.

Motivation flashed across her face and she bobbed her head with renewed determination. "Alright, I'm ready. I've decided what I want to work on."

"Yeah? What's that?"

She smiled, gripping her wooden blade even tighter. "Offense."

Oops, probably should have seen that one coming. It was like a burning fire had sparked to life inside of her and nothing could stand in her way now.

"You'd better get ready, I think I'm in a clobbering mood today." Kairi giggled at her own ridiculous statement. "...but with guaranteed love in every hit, of course."

Sora couldn't hide his smile. There was always something undeniably attractive about her when she was playful like this. Just one look into those eyes never failed to make him feel all pleasantly jumbled up inside.

"Okay. Same rules as usual." He plucked his own wooden sword up from from the grass and twisted it around in the air, testing its weight. She always put in the maximum effort. It would be truly unfair to not give her the same courtesy. "If you get a hit on me, you win. Fair?"

She hummed in agreement, sinking her boot into the soft dirt to ready herself. "As much as I love you, today is the day I'm finally taking you down!"

So far, her total number of victories in this type of match was complete zero. He would have intervened to change that himself, but the first time she noticed him trying to purposefully throw a fight she gave him such an earful that he never wanted to relive the experience.

She wanted to win, she wanted to earn it, and he was looking forward to the day she would. "I won't hold back today, so do your worst."

Kairi's first attack was a quick thrust, closing ground as fast as possible between them. She was clearly forcing him to be as defensive as possible, seeking to take advantage of any opening. Made sense that she was trying the techniques Riku taught her.

But he wasn't going to just sit back and let her wear herself down. No way.

The wooden play blades clacked as he shoved them together. She gasped at the sudden vibration, trying to steady herself. Planting her boot back into the sand she pushed off, throwing her weight forward with a slight twist, enough to force him to the side.

"Hey, nice one. Just keep your wrist up."

She flashed him a quick smile, nodded, and refocused quickly. Her fiery determination was in full display as she tried to break his defense in any way she could. Breath quickening from exertion, she continued her offensive push strategy. It was a bold choice, but he could tell she didn't quite have the stamina yet. While he let her get a few attempts in to practice, he would alternatively weave in a counter to force her to think fast.

The practice duel continued on.

Despite showing signs of fatigue, she deflected his next strike to the side. Flushed, breath ragged, she nonetheless giggled, celebrating her small success.

Sora's heart skipped.

In that brief moment, Kairi was achingly beautiful.

"G-good."

He gulped, trying as hard as he could not to focus on the way the beginning appearance of sweat on her chest was causing her shirt to cling ever so slightly to her skin.

She took his distraction as her signal. Kairi tried to lightly jab him in the side but he shifted, avoiding her without even making any contact with his own sword.

She huffed, visibly disappointed, but just as quickly readjusted her grip, tucked a loose piece of hair back behind her ear and readied herself again. Kairi was concentrating, hard, while Sora was ironically now finding it hard to concentrate.

Even though it was directed towards him in an earnest attempt to unpleasantly smack him with a wooden stick, he couldn't help but feel shivers up along his back at the sight of the overflowing spark of life and determination in her eyes. The very soul and conviction that had attracted him to her in the first place was dancing around at arms-length, charming him with its beauty. She flicked her hair over her shoulder to get it out of the way and lunged towards him again.

He blocked it.

Kairi twirled, and he caught the faintest scent of her floral perfume.

Her eyes locked with his.

She smiled at him. For him.

So distracted in her ocean-hued gaze, he was almost late to defend. Kairi once more exhaled sharply, disappointed at her victory so narrowly snatched away. But she pressed on, forcing their wooden swords together again.

Ugh, it was almost torture having her that close, that alluring.

...Just one quick kiss wouldn't be too much to ask, right?

He inwardly kicked himself a few times.

No, now is not the time! If he couldn't snap himself out of it he was going to be doing her a huge disservice, disrespecting her effort. And she was putting a lot in right now.

He swallowed down the burning sensation eating at him and pushed his own offensive a bit more, but each time their wooden swords touched, he could hear her slightly exerted gasps and his thoughts ended up racing right back to where they started.

This wasn't usually a problem. Why was his mind betraying him today?

Was it her dress? He did really like that dress. Normally she changed into something more practical when training but today...

Kairi twirled to land her next hit and he gulped as he blocked, trying incredibly hard not to stare at the swirling flow of her skirt.

No...while it certainly didn't help matters, the sundress wasn't the cause. It had to be that pure, unbridled spirit. Every time he so much as glanced into her eyes he felt dizzy, a deep twinge pulsing with fire in his core. While she always seemed to try her best, today there was something far more...passionate motivating her. Maybe because it was the last day? Whatever it was, it was really getting to him.

She wasn't letting up at all. Her footwork was delicate, precise, and steadfast. Kairi's perseverance was radiating out and he was completely, helplessly enticed by it.

He wanted to throw away the swords keeping them separated, yank her right over and—stop, stop, stop, bad thoughts.

Kairi smiled, eyes sparkling, panting slightly. "Are you...okay?...You look a little...distracted."

Well, she was clearly on to him. "I-it's, uh...n-nothing."

"Mm-hmm..." Taking another step, she shrank the gap between the two of them while their wooden swords were still locked together, her breath slowly catching back up to her. "As if I don't know...I can read you like a book, mister."

Their swords still crossed, she twisted her body to the side and lowered her hand. Sora's own sword was dragged to the side with it. Not wanting to strong-arm her, he let it happen. After all, since she still wasn't in a position to attack despite moving their weapons away, what was the harm?

Kairi tilted her head to the side, batting her eyelids. Was she trying to do it as dreamily as possible? It certainly seemed like it.

Even if she was, he still felt ashamed and glanced away. "I'm really sorry...you're working so hard and I'm not giving you my full attention. It's disrespectful."

"Oh? On the contrary, Sora..." She softly, delicately licked her lips clean of sweat.

B-bad thoughts...really bad thoughts.

Just like that, she immediately recaptured his attention. And now that she had it, she was not letting him break eye contact at all.

She oh so gently bit her lower lip at the corner for a moment. "It seems from the look of it you are working very hard yourself. In fact...you are concentrating on me so well, I'd assume you must be at full attention right now, or...close enough."

There was a provocative note to her voice that he couldn't ignore. At all. This was going to be...problematic.

Kairi hummed, gazing up at him. "Am I wrong?"

Sora glanced quickly down, just to check. He heard her giggle again, extra flirtatiously. It was obvious he didn't have to answer.

Had it gotten hotter outside? It felt really warm now.

"I...y-you're..." Words were failing him.

Then she winked.

He wasn't sure what game she was playing at, but her allure was impossibly magnetic. Before he could properly react, she lifted herself up onto her toes and sank her lips right into his.

"Mmmnnf-" Sora couldn't stop his unbelievably satisfied groan due to the sheer, sudden relief of tension. His eyes reflexively closed, enjoying the simple, toe curling delight in it all.

Wonderful, warm bliss.

Even despite the faint taste of perspiration, her sweetness couldn't be completely masked. His mind blanked. Nothing else really mattered right now. All he could taste was Kairi, all he could hear were her soft loving gasps. He was under her spell but he honestly didn't care one bit.

She could have him. All of him.

Her breath brushed warm against his face as she temporarily pulled away.

More...please…

He tried leaning forward to chase her but a sudden light rapping on the top of his head broke his stupor. Eyes flickering open once more, it took him a full few seconds to even gather his wits enough to register what was going on.

Kairi bonked him lightly on the head again with her wooden play sword, her face triumphant. "I win."

Wait, but...huh? She was…

Oh.

He had stumbled right into her trap. He opened his mouth to protest but realized quite quickly that there was nothing he could say. Defeated, he slumped his shoulders and pouted for a moment before giving her a playful prod on the tip of her nose with his finger.

"I don't think that was very fair."

"It most definitely wasn't." Her grin was as smug as could be. "But you both told me to do anything I needed to if it meant keeping myself safe. Or in this case, beating you. I decided today was the day to finally break out my secret technique."

Her gloating didn't bother him too much, he was far more worried about the implications of what she was saying. Leaning forward, he narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "Is that a strategy? Does this mean you are planning on charming other people like that?"

"Of course not, silly." She lovingly brushed her hand through his hair once more, sweeping away any qualms or worries he might have in one motion alone. "That move is reserved especially for you. Sora's ultimate weakness exploit attack: the love bomb."

"Y-yeah?" Sora couldn't help but grin and rub a bit under his nose in an attempt to downplay the pure childish pleasure at the notion of receiving preferential treatment from her.

She gave him one more matter of fact bob of her head. "Mm-hmm. I'm just following what Riku told me: know your enemy."

Her games only made him want to tease her back even more. "So I'm your enemy now, huh?"

"Only for a little while."

"Uh-huh...well you'd better watch out then because if kissing is a fair play I'm absolutely giving it my all on round two. Get your defense ready. Just try and stop me if you can!" He lifted up his wooden sword and waited.

She tipped her head to the side, pondering this for a moment, not making a single motion to raise her sword back up into a fighting position.

Then, she unexpectedly broke out into a fit of giggles.

"...What?"

"Sora, I think it works a lot better if what you're threatening me with is something that I actually...wouldn't want? Punishments are meant to be bad."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess so."

Well, that took the wind out of his sails a little.

Still trying to suppress her laughter, she gave him a gentle stroke along the side of his face with the back of her hand.

While any other time he would have been ecstatic at the notion that she had basically spelled out that she wanted to kiss him, he had been trying to tease her. There had to be something that she didn't particularly like that he could dangle over her head as a-

A thought, a particularly devious thought, struck him all at once.

Kairi withdrew her hand from his face nervously. "Wait...what's with that smile?"

It had happened that one time as a complete accident. Snuggling together during a free afternoon Kairi had admitted to him, through deep blushes, that she had liked feeling his breath on the side of her neck. As a joke, he had decided to blow right into her ear and ask her if that was what she meant. She hated it; said it gave her all sorts of bad shivers. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable he had kept it in mind to not do again.

And in that case it was perfect for right now.

"I think I figured out what to do."

He focused his gaze directly towards her ear and blew a useless puff of air in her direction, making it very clear exactly what he was implying.

Kairi flushed and raised her sword with one hand, clamping her other hand down hard over her ear. "N-no. No, no no no. Don't you even think about—you'd better not!"

"...and like I said before, you'd better get your defense ready."

Kairi put up an amazing struggle, but eventually, with both of her arms pinned up over her head and with Sora pressing her against a literal rock wall, she didn't really have anywhere to turn. He had already long managed to knock her sword away, and her attempts to run hadn't gotten her very far.

"Got you. I win this time."

Kairi giggled and tried to free her wrists, but he wasn't letting her. "I don't suppose if I give you a cute look again that you'll let me go?"

She certainly tried, giving him the sweetest pleading look he'd ever seen her attempt. An expression like that did make him feel a bit weak at the knees but he held strong. "Nope, I'm not falling for that again so easily."

She sighed in absolute defeat, but abruptly sucked her own breath back in surprise as he leaned in closer, removing any possible wiggle room between them. He whispered in her ear, soft and teasing.

"I hope you're ready to get tickled super hard. But before that-"

She grimaced, and he knew Kairi was expecting to get that promised puff of air right in her ear where he was hovering. But he wasn't that cruel.

And there was something he wanted more.

He offered, instead, a sudden and intense kiss; teasing, pulling her breath once more out from her lips. Taken completely off guard by the sudden show of passion she uttered a stuttering gasp right into his mouth that he was pretty sure was half his name, half gibberish. All the tension in her arms melted as she relaxed completely into his control. Sora smiled, reading it as a somewhat embarrassing compliment and invitation to deepen his attention on her.

She was so, irresistibly soft.

He took his time with this kiss, making sure to satisfy that begging urge that had been pestering him since their duel had started. And from the sound of it, she wasn't having too bad a time herself. Like she said, maybe it technically didn't count as a punishment if she was enjoying it, but hearing her muffled, breathless sighs was far more worth it than following the rules.

When he finally withdrew, he saw that not only had the pink tint to her face intensified significantly, she was panting just as much if not more as during their sparring match.

Sora released her wrists and stepped back, not wanting to keep her imprisoned for too long. Even though he hadn't been holding tightly at all, he was sure having her arms pinned above her head wasn't the most comfortable position to be in for too long.

"Sorry about that. Really needed to get it out of my system."

"Sora..." She didn't complain in the slightest, only tilted another pleading expression up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you stop?"

Oh…

He started feeling hot all over again. Well...he knew she needed a distraction, and if this was what she was asking for there was no way he was going to say no.

He returned to his affections, twirling locks of her hair eagerly around the fingers of one hand while the other massaged her upper arm. Warm. Sweet. Perfect.

In a mock lament, she tipped her head up to the sky, briefly breaking his kiss. "Oh woe is me, I've lost again. However is he going to punish me this time?"

With her new head position, she had opened her neck up and he took full advantage of it. He dove straight for it, simultaneously giving her a few teasing tickles along the side of her stomach. Her giggles collapsed into a contented moan or two.

Everything, all the fighting, all that hardship-it was totally worth it, just for this.

Kairi's pulse was racing now, he could feel it fluttering under his lips. She shivered and raked her fingers through his hair and across his back, giving an approving murmur to his actions under her breath.

"You're making it incredibly hard...to want to win...if this is what I get when I lose."

Sora nuzzled his nose against the warm crook of her neck as he grinned. "I'd say sorry, but...I'm not. I love doing this way too much."

"Then don't...stop..." Her soft gasps kept urging him on, but he pulled away. The irritation in her groan at being denied again was fairly clear.

He gave her an affectionately soft bonk with his forehead against hers. "You really should be more proud of yourself though."

"Hmm?"

"I'm insanely impressed at your progress. Really. Why do you think you managed to distract me so well today?"

She bit her lip, trying to entice him to come closer to her again and finish what he started. "Because you love me? And I was purposefully making it hard for you?"

He remained exactly where he was, keeping their foreheads pressed together so he could look her right in the eyes. "That, and I was struck at how amazing you were. You're really something when you're motivated. I mean it."

Her gaze darted downwards in sudden embarrassment. "You're being far too sweet. I know if you tried fighting me with a smidgen of your real strength I wouldn't even stand a chance. I'm barely competent as it is. It's...frustrating."

"Hey, just because we are leaving tomorrow doesn't mean you have to be perfect by then. It's a journey. And both me and Riku are gonna be right there with you. We'll all help each other out. You'll get better."

Kairi put her arms behind her back and bounced herself playfully against the stone wall, keeping her eyes focused intensely on his. "Does...this mean my punishment is over already?"

Sora wasn't quite sure if she seemed happy or disappointed at the thought. "I dunno, I mean you technically did win earlier, you cheater. Didn't you want anything special for your first victory?"

Dipping her head down shyly, she lowered her voice again. "...Ten minutes?"

"Huh?"

"You were right about what you said before. No matter how far we have to wander into that unknown...I know if I have you with me I don't have to be afraid of anything. So...just to make sure to erase all my fears...I'd like at least ten more minutes here with you. Just being happy with you. It will help me focus on the parts of our adventure I'm excited about. Is...that okay?"

"Absolutely."

Grinning, he lead her by the hand away from the stone wall towards a much softer, more private place in the meadow.

Sora tumbled down onto the soft grass hiding among the wildflower patches, dragging her, giggling, after him. She fell back against the green. Her hair, her dress and her arms draped across it like she was floating on the surface of an emerald ocean all her own. Maybe a swim in the lake together later wouldn't be a bad idea, now that he thought of it.

Kairi gazed up at him, eagerly waiting for his next move, her whole body trembling under the lightest brush of his fingertips. While a little bit more teasing would be fun, he simply didn't have the patience to wait any more. Not with her looking at him like that.

She was so, so beautiful.

He sank into her ocean without another word, his fingers entwined with hers.

A light breeze swayed the floral waves around them. The grass rustled softly, almost making a duet with Kairi's gentle sighs.

Kairi. His Kairi.

The sound, the sight, the thought of anything else drifted away, unimportant. Unrestrained, he finally gave her the full attention she had been begging for.

...

"...Hey, Kairi?"

"Mmm?"

"I...kinda hate to say it, but I think it's probably been ten minutes by now. Did you want to get back or-"

"Are you sure? I believe it's only been five...but I suppose if you wanted to go back I can't keep you here..." Kairi hummed and swirled her finger in small teasing circles on his skin.

She made a very convincing wordless argument.

"Nope! I think you're right about the time. My mistake. In fact...I can't be sure it's even been one minute yet."

Kairi tipped her head to the side, observing the nearby wildflowers bobbing in the wind. "Even better."

Despite the shadows lengthening on the grass, it really felt like all the rest of the world around them had frozen to a stop. All he wanted to do was stay in that space just a little longer, holding her so close he could feel her heart beating against him.

To make sure that she could finally feel loved.

Just a taste: so simple, sweet-

As it makes my heart complete,

Linger, ever, here with me, my

sugar searching bumblebee.

Your showering love, it drenches,

My breathless need, it quenches.

I bloom for you, my love conveyed.

You will make my moments made

This one flower yearns for you

Please bumblebee, yearn for me too.

It was hard not to at least feel a smidgen of the joy absolutely radiating off of the toothily grinning idiot flopped back on the floor. Holding in his own laughter, Riku nudged him a bit in the side with his boot, glancing back over his shoulder to briefly check that Kairi had definitely already left.

"So...you both fell in the lake, huh? That's what we're going with?"

"Yep!"

"Even though the training ground is nowhere near the water, your clothes aren't even damp and you were somehow out there "sparring" for hours?"

"...yep!"

While it was obvious they had gone for a swim, the circumstances around it were...suspect. Better to drop the whole thing.

"Whatever. I don't think I actually want to know the real details. At least she finally looks happy again."

Sora simply beamed, looking far too pleased with his situation. Riku did his obvious duty and plopped a towel with a thump down right on his friend's face.

"Dry off already. I'm sure Namine isn't going to be pleased with you leaking puddles all over her guest room floor."

Sitting up, Sora immediately started rubbing at his mess of hair. "Heh, probably not."

Sora had been radiating sunshine the minute he and Kairi had stumbled in the back door from the garden, hair soaked, giggling up a storm together. And while it was slightly uncomfortable for Riku to picture any finer details, the two of them being happy, at least, was worth it.

"Either way, nicely done in getting her to relax a little."

Sora freed himself from the towel after an aggressive final rubdown and shook his head to let his hair haphazardly style itself. "Just doing my best. If she's smiling then everything feels okay."

Riku dropped himself down onto the floor so he could sit shoulder to shoulder next to his friend. He didn't say so out loud, but he felt the same way about that little goofball. So long as that smile of his was steady, Riku didn't really have any regrets.

But...just for good measure...

Riku bonked him lightly on the head with his fist, laughing. "Never stop being you."

Sora accepted the strike without complaint, instead opting to fling his semi damp towel over at Riku's face.

"Yeah? Well, thanks for always sticking with me. Who knows what kind of stuff we'll have to deal with starting tomorrow, but I'm glad you're gonna be there."

Riku smacked the towel back over to him and stood up, offering a hand. "Sure, but first we need to survive this farewell party. It's likely to go on all night."

Using the offered hand to his advantage, Sora jumped up to his feet eagerly. "Yeah, I'm not too fond of goodbyes either but we'll be back someday."

"About that..."

Riku tilted his gaze up along the wall opposite them. They were in the old reception room for the guest wing which was not only stuffed with excessive amounts of dusty law books, but was adorned with the most daunting collection of portraits of former rulers crookedly gazing down from pompously long walls meant to evoke a certain...grandeur. Riku was hoping this place would get a makeover eventually when reparations had wrapped up all the more important tasks. The entire design evoked far too much of the old reign and its old customs.

"Did you ever give much thought to what you would have done if Kairi hadn't let her cousin take over temporarily and delay her coronation?"

Sora tipped his head to the side, considering. "Uh, well then she would be Queen now instead."

"And?"

Confused, Sora furrowed his brow as he tried to comprehend the implications. "And...we...wouldn't be leaving? But Kairi would be a bit miserable wondering 'what if', I think."

"All true, but not what I was getting at."

Sora poked him in the stomach. "Just say it then, you know I don't stand a chance at your guessing games."

"Consider it this way: you and Kairi are happy together, yes?"

His friend bobbed his head eagerly, his smile bright as he no doubt was letting his thoughts drift back to the garden he had just come from. Riku gave the side of his head a flick.

"Focus. Potential hypothetical here, but if Kairi ends up taking her place on the throne, and decides to pick you as her dearly beloved husband, love of her life: what, exactly would that make you?"

"Happy?"

"Title wise."

"Uh...well, if Kairi is a Queen and we were married then I'd...be..." The color in Sora's face paled slightly. "Oh."

"I can't believe you never even considered it before."

"Yeah, well it's not like I was ever interested in that stuff!" Sora swallowed. "It suddenly feels like...pressure. I wonder if this is the sort of feeling Kairi has to face every day."

"I know you tend not to think of her as one, but that's the cost of dating a princess like her. You have to be ready for a potentially massive responsibility."

"No kidding..." Sora scrunched the towel around in his hands, likely thousands of thoughts racing through his mind.

"Now, the reason why I bought this up wasn't to freak you out, it's so that you'd have the awareness and a chance to improve yourself where you need to. Kairi postponed her own coronation, for who knows how long, so this journey is a good opportunity. While we travel around, spend time reflecting and really thinking about what it would mean for you to actually be a leader for this place."

His friend crossed his arms, baffled. "Huh? You just told me to be myself and now you're telling me I should change?"

"That's not quite it. Being a king doesn't mean you to be like them." Riku thumbed at one of the more dour faces glaring down at them from his picture frame. "I still want you to be yourself. In fact, I think this place would be better off for it."

"But wouldn't Kairi be the one in-"

"Don't pass everything off on her. You have to stand on your own two feet as well or you'll just be a burden."

"Ouch. Blunt, but I get it." Sora paused for a while, staring intently out the window back towards the garden he had just come from. The sun was starting to set, sending a full array of color sweeping through the clouds. So many different hues all mixing and playing off one another to paint the sky.

"I don't know if someone like me is really the best choice for that sort of thing, but I do know I never want Kairi to have to face anything alone again. So...even though I don't understand that sort of responsibility yet, I'll do my best to try. For her."

It was exactly the sort of answer Riku had both expected, and was hoping for. "You'll get there."

Sora twisted back to his friend, looking a bit incredulous as if he was being teased. "What makes you so sure?"

"I can't exactly define what it is that makes a good king. After all, that's subjective. But you've got something inside you..." He prodded his friends chest. "Deep inside you, that, given a little more maturity and life experience will shine out in droves."

"Y-yeah?" Sora brightened up, smiling contently back out the window.

It was nice, still having quiet moments alone together every now and again. Riku relaxed up against the wall and enjoyed the nostalgic sense of it. When they were younger, even a bit as he got older, Sora had a tendency to play hard and sleep hard. Riku would often find him curling up in random nooks and cupboards for naps. Whenever that happened, Riku enjoyed pulling out a book and sitting nearby just to keep an eye on him. There was something kind of soothing about it.

While his friend wasn't snoring the day away now, it was similarly comforting.

Sora started pacing, eyed the decorations of the old kingdom on the wall for a while, slowly circling the room before coming to an abrupt stop in front of an old suit of armor. "...Hey, Riku? When we come back...what are you gonna do?"

He shrugged. "I can't see much changing, really. I've always done whatever I could to keep you out of trouble. If you two end up ruling over this place I'll still do the same thing, just in a more...official sense. That is, so long as you would even want someone like me to protect you."

A slight worried expression crossed Sora's face and he rushed right back over. "Why would you say something like that? Of course I would. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have watching my back."

Riku didn't want to say it. Despite Sora's constant clemency, there was still that twinge of guilt that never really went away. If he closed his eyes he could still smell the blood, feel the heavy weight of that thorny sword in his hand, that look on Sora's face—full of pain and confused betrayal. Never, ever again. If Kairi hadn't been there, by his own manipulated hand, he would have...

"I...still have my own weaknesses to conquer."

His friend's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So?"

Riku turned to the side, not wanting Sora to see his face. There also wasn't much more he wanted to say. So long as he had those inner demons they could be exploited, and if then...would Sora ever be truly safe with him around?

Sora squished his face to the side, still examining him closely. "Riku, I think I know what this is about. I get that what happened still kinda eats at you a little, but I've said it before and I'll say it again now: we are a team. Sure, maybe there are things both of us could get better at, but we can rely on each other to do what the other can't. I'm not gonna let that stuff get a hold of you again, I promise."

There really was no arguing this point with him, was there? He sighed. "If I'm going to have the responsibility of keeping you safe then I'm going to need to be a hell of a lot better than I am now."

Rather than seem discouraged, Sora smiled in that silly yet convincing way of his. "Then let's both try to use this adventure to get stronger, together. I'll get stronger so you don't have to feel like you gotta make up so much ground to help me. And as for you, well..."

Riku expected Sora to just laugh the conversation off with some sort of light quip, but his friend's face suddenly took on a far more serious tone. "I hope on the way you can learn to forgive yourself a little. You are your own worst enemy sometimes."

Stunned, he choked a little on his words. Why did he always seem to forget how shockingly proficient Sora was at reading him sometimes? Guessing games were a no go, but when it came to emotional matters, he was always pretty spot on.

There was no hiding from that earnest gaze of his, either. "Sora...thanks. I don't say this enough, but I'm...not really sure what I'd do without you. People always seem to think I'm the one keeping you steady on the right path, but you balance me out just as much."

It took Sora several long seconds of silence for the compliment to really hit him, but when it did, his massive smile was contagious. "Heh, who's being the sap now, huh?"

Riku glanced out the window, gauging the time. "No idea, but you're going to be the one in trouble if you don't start getting ready." Riku tried to direct his friend's attention towards the door. "I think Kairi might be more than a bit disappointed when she finishes getting all dolled up for this party and all you did was swish your hair around a towel. Badly."

"...Good point." With a renewed bounce in his step, Sora started marching out towards the hall.

Riku moved to leave, but lingered slightly longer in the doorway. No matter how clueless Sora seemed at times, his potential was genuine. Whether or not Sora would ever have to lead anything remained to be seen, but he had such an uncanny ability to reach through to people. Despite his rash, impulsive tendencies, time and time again he was able to bring all sorts together, connected with bonds as strong as a family. It was a rare gift. And Riku was all the more determined now to get stronger to make sure that precious light kept burning. Both Sora and Kairi really had a great dynamic that could help a lot of people.

Light like that was something this kingdom had been sorely lacking for far too long...and not just because Kairi had a strange tendency to break candlesticks.

As with every transition in life, there was always some uncertainty. But believing and relying on the few things held true was always the best way to stay grounded.

Or so Sora had taught him to. It was good advice, and he was going to follow it.

Riku turned to follow his friend, stepping out of the dusty reception room, away from the disappointed gaze of those of times past.

...And he wordlessly shut the door.

...SOME TIME LATER

Her footsteps crunched along the gravel path as she chased the tendrils of dying light slipping down past the horizon. Panting, she clutched her satchel close, the clanging of the hastily fastened broken lantern in sync with her ragged breathing. Each step her lungs felt more and more pained, the slippery gravel under her boots a punishment. But she pressed forward, refusing to let the last few rays of sun obscure themselves behind the distant trees of the forest before she could reach the front gate.

She could already hear the howling of the Darklings, and in the twilight they sounded unnaturally hungry. It echoed around the trees: a yowl, like a cat being twisted out of shape. Refusing to give in to fear, she plunged headfirst towards the direction of the sound, knowing if she could only reach the gate lanterns in time…

The commotion in the forest was far too rowdy, and far too early. She trembled at the implication: it meant they had found food.

Skuld uttered a quiet prayer for whatever lost soul was facing those demons, knowing there was nothing she could do for them now. It was the one eternal truth. They were beings born of darkness, ever watching, lingering in the shadows as they sought out the flesh of any that walked in the light. They were unbeatable, even the sharpest sword could not cut through their inky skin that reformed itself like water. The best defense was to run and pray you could find the safety of the Lux Lanterns. So it had always been.

Every night, the twilight brought with it yet another wave of despair that the darkness was closing in. If only the Lantern by the apothecary hadn't broken, then she wouldn't be so late now. She inwardly chided herself for being so foolish. As a Captain of the Guardian Force she should have known better, and was fully ready to accept the blame should the gates be even temporarily breached.

While she ran, she fumbled inside her bag for her lighting rod. The cries of the Darklings from the forest grew louder and more unsettled by the second. A shriek followed the sound of her footsteps. The gate was within sight now. The lantern was so close. Grasping her wishing stone tightly, Skuld began striking it against the end of the rod to set it aflame.

Charging, she leaped through the air towards the wick. The moment the flame caught, it burst with a bright golden glow just before fading back into its normal steady flickering.

There was a sudden, eerie silence now. Every single cry that had only moments earlier been so rambunctious had faded.

Skuld waited. Nothing.

She breathed out a sigh of relief, then laughed triumphantly towards the edge of the forest, into the murky twilight.

"Did you really think you could best us, beasts!? We're-"

As if in response to her taunts, the bushes at the edge of the wooded path began to rustle. At the ready, Skuld stepped backwards and hurriedly stuffed her wishing stone and lighting rod back into her satchel. She scanned the area around the gate, her fingers steady, waiting to withdraw her blade should she need it to delay their advance.

"Show yourself, Darklings! The light from the lantern is burning bright. Just try to take one step towards this gate and you'll-"

"I'm very sorry for startling you, but we don't mean any harm."

Two strangers waded their way through to the dirt path. Their faces were still partially cloaked by the elongated evening shadows. The one who had spoken was clearly female, and she not only sounded gentle but had an unmistakably... bright aura about her. Skuld immediately lowered her guard. No one like that could possibly be a Darkling.

But...travelers? At this hour?

As they drew closer, Skuld could identify the young woman much more clearly. She had strikingly beautiful and delicate features, not to mention the cutest dress on, almost like a porcelain doll. Upon noticing the weapon at her side, however, Skuld decided that despite initial appearances, maybe there was some kick to this girl after all.

Her companion was just like one of those tall, muscular brooding types that Skuld saw every so often down at the pub staring wistfully into their mugs, cloaks drawn up in an attempt to look as mysterious as possible. It served an attractive picture, but one quick chat and every single one of them always ended up just as shallow as a water basin. Granted, this one had the most...striking green eyes and silvery hair she had ever seen, but Skuld wasn't going to fall for it. Rarely did men like that ever live up to their looks.

Skuld finally sheathed her sword, confident these two weren't out to harm her. "You're both lucky to have made it to town just in time. I could hear the Darklings stirring in the forest."

"Darklings? You mean the shadow monsters?" The girl tipped her head to the side, curious.

These two must have come from a very far village if they had never heard the term before. "Yes...it's what we call them in our village. I'm glad you made it safely, anyway."

The girl's mysterious male companion or guardian hovering near her shrugged. "I appreciate your concern. But those 'Darklings' shouldn't be bothering you for a while at least. You can rest easy for now."

He sounded far too reassuring for such a bold statement.

Skuld narrowed her eyes. "Oh?"

She'd come across her fair share of over confident braggarts, and it was always the same story. 'Don't worry fair maiden, I'll protect you from the darkness with my ridiculous muscles' or something equally as cringe inducing. Skuld almost started to feel bad for his girlfriend if she actually got duped by that sort of nonsense and was hoping to use him as a bodyguard. At least listening to those types try to regale their tale of the ultimate battle against the forces of evil was always a great source of entertainment.

"I see. Is that because you bravely beat them all up?"

"...in a manner of speaking."

Skuld nearly laughed out loud in shock at the utter boldness of such a claim. Not even someone with as impressively firm looking arms like his could possibly make a dent in those creatures. Granted, he did have a very sharp looking sword, and had a particular...poise to him that felt just a tad bit intimidating, but she wasn't getting fooled that easily.

So he knew how to hold himself and pose with a weapon, big deal.

"I should let you know, I am one of the Captains of the Guardian Force. I have quite a bit of experience myself in warding off the Darklings." She crossed her arms and waited with a confident smile.

Usually a statement like that would force them into a corner. Most would shrink away with their tails between their legs, knowing they had been caught. To her utter chagrin, the mysterious stranger only nodded back to her, his face just as calm and collected as when he first arrived.

Skuld's bravado crumpled. "Um...that doesn't...bother you at all?"

He shrugged again, looking genuinely baffled. "No, I don't see why it would. Thanks for your hard work."

Wow, the nerve of this one was something else. For someone that tall, muscular and handsome, he was so irritating. It was not only a shame, it really got under her skin for some reason. What a waste of a cute face.

"Oh come on, drop the charade. I don't care how strong you look. As if you actually could-" Skuld saw a slight smirk barely forming at the corner of his mouth and she was fuming. "That wasn't a compliment!"

Rushing forward, his female companion hastily interjected herself and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry for not introducing ourselves properly, especially to someone so vital to the Guardian Force. I'm Kairi and this snarky lump over here is Riku."

Skuld snorted. At least this one wasn't so bad. "Skuld. Sorry for the attitude, I just can't stand obvious liars."

No matter how stupidly attractive they are...

Kairi smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. The truth is sometimes a bit difficult to explain...but if you'll grant us the time I would like to try."

The starkly earnest look in her eyes threw Skuld for a bit of a loop. What was she even implying? That the braggart over there was telling the truth? Maybe that girl was more brainwashed than she realized…

Before Skuld could offer her condolences and attempt to set the poor thing straight, Kairi spoke again, just as gently as before.

"Captain Skuld-"

"Oh, um...just call me Skuld, please."

"Skuld, maybe this is presumptuous of me as we have only just met, but I can already tell how much you care about your home here." Kairi gestured over to the lantern burning nearby. "I can sense the love that keeps that flame lit bright. It's what drives the...Darklings away, right? It seems different from a regular lantern. And you lit it, yes?"

Skuld glanced back between the lantern and her. "Yes…? It's a Lux Lantern, obviously it was lit with a wishing stone."

It was baffling. Why was she talking as if everything was some unfamiliar concept? "You...do know about wishing stones, right?"

Kairi shook her head, more confusion etched across her features.

Geez, for a traveler she didn't seem particularly...world weary. Skuld sighed. It took all types, after all. Not everyone who stepped out of the safety of their village was well-informed.

"A wishing stone is a flint made of star shards that everyone blesses with their well-wishes at a yearly festival. You've really never seen a wishing star festival…?"

Rather than offer any explanation for her naivety, Kairi repeated the name of the wishing stone slowly back to herself and smiled. "I'd love to some day."

"Right...well, why were you asking about it, again?"

"Only someone who truly believes in what she is trying to protect can wield something as powerful as that. It shows you have a strong heart even through this cruel, unforgiving night. You must have been fighting so hard for so long...I'm so glad you've survived."

There was something sorrowful in that girl's eyes, as if Kairi was deeply apologizing for some unstated transgression. It threw Skuld off balance. Here she was thinking these two were misinformed fools, but perhaps this one was more like a naive child. Endearing, positive, yet very ignorant of the world around her. Perhaps she deserved some kindness in return.

"It's...thank you, but I'm not the only one on the team. Besides, for the last few months at least it seems the number of attacks has lessened. Might be a change in the winds."

"That's wonderful. If possible I'd like to do whatever I can to help."

There was something sweetly genuine about that girl. She couldn't pinpoint why exactly, but Skuld felt like she could easily become friends with her, despite her questionable choice of companion. Pointing over to the weapon at the Kairi's hip, Skuld raised the obvious question.

"I take it you can fight?"

Kairi chewed at her lower lip, looking sheepishly at the ground. "I try my best, though I still have a lot to improve on."

Skuld definitely liked her. "We are always looking for people to volunteer for the Guardian Force! Do you have a specialty?"

"A little..." She looked briefly over her shoulder at Riku, who gave her a brief nod in response. It almost looked like she was checking for permission. "May I see your hand for a moment?"

Nodding, Skuld wordlessly offered her hand over and watched as Kairi cupped it in her own and concentrated. From around Kairi's hands sprung a sudden glow just like the lanterns, followed by the most comforting warmth Skuld had ever felt spreading across her skin. While she hadn't really thought she was tired before, compared to how suddenly freshly energized she felt now…Skuld could only reason that whatever that glow was must have some sort of medicinal effect. Startled, Skuld yanked her hand back before the mysterious light without flame could possibly burn her.

"What was...how did you light a fire without flint? Doesn't that...hurt?"

Kairi didn't seem upset at her yanking her hand so violently away, and only continued to smile. "It's the same power that's in your wishing stone."

"The same...but the wishing stone is just a regular flint rock. It's not really..."

"But it carries everyone's hopes. Enough people believing could make almost anything into a source of magic."

Skuld opened her mouth but nothing came out. It was overly poetic, but she wasn't wrong. It certainly didn't explain how that light could even exist without a flame, though, or why it had somehow rejuvenated her with the simplest touch. And...magic? What was that supposed to mean?

Who was this girl? She really didn't seem like any traveler that had ever come through this sleepy town before.

"What did you come to this town for, exactly? You don't look like traders..." The entire time Skuld was spending trying to puzzle it out, the annoying one named Riku was just standing there, actually pulling off the mysterious stranger look properly, unlike all the other copy-cats in the pub. It made her heart palpitate with excitement.

These two were hiding something big.

Kairi chewed on her lip again for a moment, clearly a bit nervous. "It's a bit complicated to go into the details now, but...I want to use this power to help you, if you'll let me."

It was growing later out, and Skuld was starting to feel particularly overwhelmed. This was almost strange enough that she considered pinching herself just to be sure.

"Okay, well, for now I can show you to the local pub—they've got rooms on the second floor. Come on, I'll-"

"Oh...thank you, but..." Kairi glanced uneasily back over her shoulder, her voice lowering to a mumble. "he's still not back yet..."

Riku gave her shoulder a quick pat. "He'll be fine for a bit by himself."

A chill of alarm ran up Skuld's spine at his words. "W-wait, do you still have a friend out there or something!? Night has already fallen! The Lux Lantern range is only to the edge of the-"

"Like I said, it's fine. There's no need to panic."

Ugh, this guy and his overconfidence again. Skuld jabbed an accusatory finger towards him. "I don't care about your 'I have to look cool in front of my girlfriend' complex or whatever it is you have going on, but your lost companion could be in grave danger right now!"

She expected him to at least look guilty, but he instead burst out laughing and turned to Kairi who was a slightly pinker shade than she was before.

"Do you want to break the news to Sora that you're apparently my girlfriend now, or should I?"

Kairi grumbled and cast him a dirty look. "Meanie. While there was no way for you to know this, Skuld, just to be clear Riku and I are not dating. My boyfriend is the one-"

"Ugh, time is of the essence here!" Frustrated at their lack of concern, Skuld reached for her sword but Riku held out his hand to stop her, his face quite suddenly dropping all joviality to become intensely serious.

"There's really no need for that." It was spoken without any hint of suggestion, more like a command.

"But your friend is in the forest right now!"

"Yeah?"

"It's...the forest is crawling with Darklings! Why would you think it was a good idea to leave him behind like that!?"

"He can handle it. Besides, he said he saw something and wanted it to be a surprise so we should go ahead. I wasn't about to argue with him when he gets in one of those moods."

Skuld nearly smacked herself in the face at the thought of this idiot's sheer arrogance and stupidity in letting his friend wander off alone in the woods at nightfall. Manslaughter is more what it was.

"You let him...what could possibly have been so important that he had to-"

The sudden sound of footsteps scuffling hard against the dirt path caught her attention and Skuld gasped in dumbfounded denial at the sudden sight of a young man racing up towards them from out of the dark forest. He was an unexpected bundle of sunshine energy, charging straight in without warning, absolutely beaming.

Also, he clearly wasn't in the slightest hint of trouble. In fact, the only thing he seemed to be concerned about was making sure whatever it was that he had cupped in his hands didn't tumble out during his lively sprint over.

"Hey!" He bounded up towards the pair still on the path and, with extreme gusto, planted a kiss right on Kairi's cheek. Judging by her pleasantly relieved expression, it was welcome.

Ah, so this one was the boyfriend.

"Sorry for making you wait but it's totally gonna be worth it when you see what I found..." He opened his cupped hands triumphantly, revealing a whole pile of bright red berries brimming inside. "Ta-da!"

Raspberries.

...seriously? Raspberries!? That was what he risked his life for…

Skuld spluttered in shock.

Kairi giggled, and with clear affection tugged on one of the multitudes of his messy spikes of hair before gently directing his chin over to the left.

"We've got company."

The moment he and Skuld made eye contact he jerked backwards in surprise. "Oh! Hi, there! Sorry I didn't see you. Guess I was just too excited."

What a shockingly upbeat personality.

"...Skuld." She still felt like words were failing her, but at least she managed to spit her name out.

He bobbed his head at her. "Sora. Er...guess you've already meet everyone else, huh? Sorry, about that." He moved to extend a hand out to her but realized immediately that they were still full of berries.

"Oh, uh...did you want some? I got a whole bunch."

Skuld could only blink back at him and shake her head. Wow. This was luckiest idiot she had ever met. At least he seemed good natured and affectionately stupid, like a puppy or something.

Curiously, she decided to test something. "Actually...your friend Riku was just telling me how he beat up all the Darklings out there..."

Rather than look perplexed at Riku's obvious lie, Sora laughed and scuffed a few pebbles over in his friend's direction in playful irritation. "Hey, I helped! Kairi, too!"

Surely they can't be telling the truth…it was impossible. No one could beat the Darklings. No one ever had.

But she couldn't deny the baffling coordination with which the two of them seemed to support such an assertion.

Pointing over towards the lantern by the gate, Kairi interjected with her own introduction. "Sora, Skuld is a Captain of the Guardian Force. She was lighting this lantern here to keep everyone safe from the shadows. It's thanks to her that this town has survived."

Skuld felt herself flushing a bit at the compliment, still not really sure what to make of everything. "I...I already told you it's not just me. I couldn't have possibly done it alone."

Sora's eyes widened in almost pure childlike awe. "Oh, wow. Does that mean you can already use light magic like Kai...ri...?"

His voice abruptly trailed off.

That was when Skuld noticed Riku was slowly approaching him with an ice glare. Riku silently moved right up to him before throwing a no-doubt purposefully intimidating arm over his shoulder. The hefty weight of it began tipping Sora sideways, putting him in a headlock.

"Sora...do remember what I warned you about before we got here?"

"Er..." He sheepishly laughed and gestured over in her direction. "S-shouldn't it be okay in this case? She seems like a good person..."

Riku sighed heavily, but didn't appear to ease up on the weight he was pushing onto his friend's shoulder. "In this case, yeah, it's probably okay. Kairi also already spoke to her a bit about things herself before you got here."

Teetering off balance, Sora struggled to escape. "Well then everything should be fine, right? What's the problem?"

"The problem is, just because things work out, you're way too trusting. There wasn't any way for you to know about our previous conversation."

"Y-yeah, but-"

"Nope, no talking your way out of it. I warned you." Already having his friend sufficiently trapped, Riku rubbed the knuckles of his fist hard into the top of Sora's head.

"W-wait-" Sora squirmed ineffectively and wasn't able to throw the other boy off of him. "K-Kairi, help! The raspberries!"

Despite his loud protests, he was still laughing, so it clearly couldn't have been that bad. Skuld glanced a bit anxiously over towards Kairi, but she wasn't moving to intervene, and instead had the sort of expression that implied their roughhousing must happen quite frequently.

Besties, huh? It reminded Skuld a lot of her fellow captains.

Kairi tipped her head in apology all the same. "Sorry, it's-"

"Boys. Don't worry, I get it. Have to deal with it a lot myself, too."

Even though she giggled, Kairi still looked a touch embarrassed. Unable to wait any longer, Skuld finally gathered her wits enough to ask the question that had been burning in her throat for a while now.

"So...was that really magic? Did you all really defeat a Darkling?"

Kairi nodded, contritely. "I'm sorry I had to dance around the truth earlier. I always wanted to be completely honest about it but Riku rightly suggested it could be dangerous to simply announce that sort of thing to everyone without getting a sense of things first. But I feel like I can trust you."

Sora mumbled something garbled and incoherent from under Riku's arm. Somehow, Kairi seemed to understand what he was saying, and she gently scooped his hard-earned berries out of his trapped hands and folded them into a handkerchief for safekeeping. The boy offered some more gibberish in response and, with his hands now unrestricted, began doing his best to try and actually free himself.

None of this really mattered to Skuld, as she was still partially stunned by not just the revelation, but how casual a concept it seemed for all three of them. "Y-you...magic isn't...it's not real. I mean, I suppose there are the rumors about the Lost Vale, but..."

"Lost Vale?" Kairi tipped her head quizzically, not even acknowledging the two boys next to her who finally disentangled themselves from their play-fighting. Rather, Riku had finally decided to let his victim go.

"Um..." How had she never heard of that either? "You know...the place in the valley that no one goes to? Because if you get too close your memory starts getting foggy and then some sort of invisible force pushes you away? It's kind of famous you know, as in whole religious doctrines written about it as the place the Gods disappeared to after they abandoned us heathens out here. You...really haven't ever heard of it?"

"Oh..." Kairi's eyes lowered to the ground. "No, I think I know exactly where you're talking about. I just never realized that's what it would have been like for everyone..."

Skuld crossed her arms.

These three really said the strangest things…

Quite suddenly, Kairi seemed to perk up. "Skuld, um...now that Sora is here I think I'd like to take you up on your earlier offer to show us to the inn, if it's still alright?"

"It's actually a pub, not an inn – but it serves as one if need be. And of course that's alright. It is getting a bit uncomfortably late anyway." Skuld hoisted her satchel back up on her shoulder and nodded her head up the path towards the center of town. "It's not too far this way."

"Good. There's...quite a bit I'd still like to tell you, if you are willing to listen. It may be a bit of a long story, though..."

"At this point I'm far too curious to turn you down. I'll even treat you to a cup of Cid's Specialty Cocoa! Pretty much a necessity for listening to long tales around a fire. If you like, I can introduce you to the other Captains. They should be meeting up there later anyway."

Sora grinned quite eagerly at this proposition, doing his best to smooth his messy hair into slightly less of one after his friend's assault. "See, Riku? I told you see was a good person."

At the mention of his name, Skuld half twisted around to make eye contact with the other boy. Perhaps she owed this one an apology for judging him too harshly. Unlike the other shallow imitators, it seemed this one actually did have quite a fascinating mystery about him to unravel…

She made a mental note to buy him an extra round later.

He seemed to notice her staring, and the brief nod he returned sent a wave of heat rush up to her face. Skuld abruptly spun back around, clearing her throat. "T-this way."

After marching on ahead a few paces, Skuld chanced another glance backwards at the trio following along. It almost felt if she took her eyes off of them for too long they would disappear into the ether like a dream.

Kairi handed the handkerchief of berries back to Sora, much to his absolute delight. Cheering, one of his hands reached for the makeshift bag, the other grabbed hers tightly. She giggled and give him a sweet little peck on the cheek.

"I didn't thank you for picking them yet, did I?"

"No problem. Think they'll go with cocoa?"

"Um...well..." Kairi's hesitation spoke volumes. "I suppose it's worth a try at least?"

Skuld tried to stifle her laughter with her hand. "I'm sure Cid can keep them fresh for you when you decide you want them."

Sora shouted his gratitude over to her, his smile never seeming to fade.

The two of them then continued to stroll merrily along, hand-in-hand, eyes focused only on each other. It was kind of adorable. Riku was following along close by, keeping his eye on the two of them like some kind of protective older brother.

Maybe...that meant he was single? Skuld tried not to think too hard about the possibility.

There was something refreshing and bright about all of them, but what it was exactly Skuld couldn't put her finger on.

All she had really known her whole life was the constant struggle to cling to whatever humanity could be found amid the oppressive terror of the night. She had never once even considered striding down the lantern lit streets at night, laughing and chatting freely without stopping to question any shifting shadow or unexplained sound.

Her heart fluttered in a terribly unfamiliar way. A good way.

The wind that these three had flown in on...it was so different, so lively, so...free. Things were about to change, she could already tell. For the first time, the only time she could ever really remember, Skuld actually felt it.

Hope.

Whatever new world was waiting for her, only time could tell.

A/N: Thank you one final time for your patience, support and kind words.

I left the ending of this story a bit open because I am still toying with the idea of some potential sequels or short stories set in the same universe, but I haven't decided on anything concrete yet. I hope I haven't forgotten to wrap up anything important, though. If I have somehow let something slip my mind, feel free to point it out so I can try to address it with an edit if necessary.

The fact that I even got this much attention on such an on the whim story is still amazing to me.

As always, take care, and maybe I'll see you down the road in some future project.

-A. Moth