Because they have both come so far, and tried so hard, Kairi lets them both sink into the depths of her.

Sora tells her stories of the people he knew: Squall-called-Leon, Yuffie-who-laughs, Axel-like-knife. Cloud-so-sad and Sephiroth and Aerith-reborn. She can close her eyes and picture the faces of dozens of people she's never known, and never hopes to meet, but wishes well: Cloud's face is easy. All she has to do is lighten Sora's hair to the gold of baby duck down and there he is, a pale and elfin creature with blue eyes as deep as the sea. Sephiroth isn't that easy: thinking of him, all she can picture is Riku.

The parallels in their stories - in their characters - are not that hard to pick out. Kairi determines that she will not be the Aerith to the two of them. She can hold them both. She waited for each of them, on the beach, but waiting is not all she has to do. She is strong. She is.

Riku never talks about what he did. All that she has learned of his journey, she has learned in slips and dribbles, from Sora. Riku just holds himself in, tight like wire. He is more restrained than ever and the nights when they touch he seems surprised that she dares - his hands on her hips never bruise. His lashes make shadows on his skin like ash and he licks like fire over her teeth. Riku is always trying to get away from some part of himself - his muscles cut hard lines under his skin, he is thin, he is tall. He has grown. They both have. Kairi misses how the three of them used to fit together, like puzzle pieces:

Now Riku and Sora share their own history, and their own paths in the night. Kairi does not want to be left behind.

Sora always bruises. He is laughing-eyed, grinning, having a good time. He likes to smooth his calloused-rough hands over her back, over her breasts. Emptiness drips out of his hands too. He must fill them with something. With Riku, with her, with his own flesh when he's just that desperate. Kairi tries to make sure, now, that he never gets that hungry.

She takes his hands within her own, and blesses one palm with a kiss - he puts his head down, presses his own chapped lips to her forhead. They bless each other with sand and surf and the echoing gifts of silence.

Both of them hold storms inside. She can feel them, whirling, aching to burst out. There is nothing to fight here, there is no need for swords, and both of them are unused to being easy in the world. Both of them are always looking over their shoulders, looking out for each other and for her. This is why Kairi gives herself to them, gives them her stillness and peace - she can feel that they need it.

Down on the beach, their raft slowly grows. Grey weathered wood twists and is added to, is reinforced. She sleeps between them, her lovely boys, out where they can hear the heavy beat of the surf and watch the rising sun.

END

12/18/05