Kairi had come to her a week or so later with a name.

Sora.

A name as open and hopeful as the sky. A name that Kioku herself had chosen over 15 years ago. It was the name of her son, of that much she was certain.

Details and memories came back little by little. Sora's favorite meal was pasta with red sauce. Sora played pirate when he was little. Sora secretly wrote letters to Santa until he was 13. Though it made her sad, she loved being able to use his name again.

Kioku and Kairi began spent more time together. They reminisced about the adventures that she, Sora, and Riku had as children. Eventually the young girl came clean: the trio's plan to explore other worlds had come to fruition, but not in the way they had expected.

Kioku didn't understand most of it. However, she grasped that the universe found Sora just as special and kind as Kioku always knew he was. She was proud.

But the uncertainty of where he was now weighed heavily on her heart. Kairi had mentioned a message in a bottle, but Kioku was dubious.

Riku's parents were no help. Kairi's fantastic story didn't resonate with them. They were convinced their own son had ran away from home, and they suggested that Sora had joined him. Kioku found the lack of compassion astounding.

One late autumn afternoon, Kairi disappeared. Ugly rumors bounced around town, implying the girl had run off with one of the black-cloaked gang members. Kioku knew better. She was looking for Sora.

Kioku wanted to join her. She knew now of other worlds, but had no way to access them.

She was resigned to wait.

A few months later, Kairi returned with a knight, a mage, and a small king.

The girl's animal-like companions spoke highly of Sora. They explained how he had saved the world yet another time, but in doing so became trapped behind a Door to Darkness, where he and Riku remained.

"Will he… make it out?" Kioku asked the king.

"I can't make you any promises of when that would happen, Ms. Kioku," Mickey said. "But there is always a light within the darkness."

Kioku offered her home to the king and his consorts. "Maybe if more of his friends are in one place," she said, "it will be easier for him to find his way home."

The king agreed.

Darkness clung to Kioku's heart. Days blurred together. But her colorful company acted as her own light within the darkness, keeping her sane while she awaited her son's return.

Kioku walked back to her home from the market, coconuts and mushrooms in tow. She had promised Goofy, Donald, and the King that she would make them a traditional island meal, and had finally planned to deliver. Her houseguests were gone for the afternoon. Kairi had taken them to the island from her childhood for the grand tour.

As Kioku turned the corner onto her street, she noticed the door was flung wide open. "That's funny," she said to herself. "I thought I had locked it."

She walked through the door into her kitchen, and her groceries hit the floor.

In her kitchen was the motley crew of animal royalty, Kairi, Riku (who had grown about a foot), and one spiky-haired boy that had occupied her thoughts constantly.

Sora noticed the new movement and turned around.

"Hey, Mom!" He said. "I'm home!"

"Sora! Riku! Come downstairs, breakfast is ready!" The two keyblade-wielding roommates raced downstairs. Sora won.

"Morning, Mom!" Sora said, and scraping eggs onto his plate.

"Morning, Ms. Kioku," Riku said, doing likewise.

The three sat down with their meals, the boys shoveling eggs into their mouths at light-speed.

"So, today's the big day, huh?" Kioku said, addressing both boys.

"Yeah," said Riku. "Yen Sid is expecting us to take the Mark of Mastery exam."

"Ok," said Kioku, "And explain to me again why saving the world twice isn't enough to make you a master?"

Both boys shrugged. For wielders, they didn't understand much about their weapon.

Mickey and the others were supposed to pick them up on a rocket ship, or something. After breakfast was finished and the dishes washed, the boys collected their things and began to head out the door. Kioku stopped one of them.

"Sora, wait!"

Her son poked his spiky-haired head back through the doorway. "Yeah, mom?"

"Promise me you'll visit."

"Yes, mom. Whenever I can."

"I love you."

"I love you, too!"

"Be safe!"

"Don't worry!" Sora yelled as he ran out the door. "Apparently we'll be asleep for a lot of it!"

A/N: Five years after I originally started this story, I finally finish it.

It's always sort of been at the back of my mind. I'd get an email saying someone had favorited or reviewed it every once in a while. I just finally had the time and the motivation to write the last chapter. The KH3 hype also helped.

Thanks to everyone who stuck with this story, and all the reviewers. I'm so happy that my compulsive need to fill a plot hole was enjoyed by other people as well.

P.S. Of course Riku's parents suck. Why do you think he wanted off the island so bad? Kioku is Mom to All now though so he's good.