WARNING: May be a trigger for some as there are implications of cutting and suicide. Please proceed with caution.

Value

1. Trade

The blade reflected the artificial light, taunting the blue eyes that scrutinized it with deep thought.

Should I…?

The hand reached for the blade. Once firmly grasped, the blue eyes closed.

…Will I?

The door flew open and so did blue eyes.

"Wait!"

Instead of looking over to the owner of the familiar voice, blue eyes continued looking at the blade.

"Please…"

No movement came from blue eyes.

Light footsteps came closer and a pair of small hands rested over the bigger ones.

Blue eyes sighed, "Kairi… why are you here?"

A soft chuckle escaped the girl next to him, "To keep you from doing things like this, silly."

He watched as Kairi's thin fingers slowly loosened his grip, "How did you…"

"I've seen glimpses of your arms before, Sora. I'm…sorry."

He fell silent and watched as her fingers kept working. He tightened his grip when she got to the last finger.

"You don't… understand."

Kairi exhaled shallowly, "I… don't. No matter how much family history you tell me, I don't think you could make me fully understand either."

"Then—"

"Sora. Who do you value more?"

"I…what?"

"Who do you value more? The people who brought you here, or the people who kept you here?"

Sora stared at the girl next to him, violet eyes blazing.

"Tell me your answer tomorrow. In the meantime—"

She took the blade from his slackened grip and tucked it into her purse.

"I'll be taking this. Because I'm taking something of yours, here's something of mine."

Kairi folded a sheet of paper and wrapped his hands around it. Her eyes softened at the unmoving figure.

"A blank sheet of paper for a blade? You're quite the uneven trader."

She huffed, "It's the only thing I'm willing to part with from my purse right now, okay?"

She got a small smirk in return. Kairi looked at Sora some more, he hadn't even glanced her way once. She hesitantly walked over and gave him a secure hug.

"You… you know where to find me. So return that sheet of paper to me tomorrow, deal?"

She felt the spiky hair tickle her cheek in an up-and-down motion. Her shoulder also felt a few drops.

Kairi released him and without a second thought pecked him on the cheek and hastily left the room.

After she was gone, Sora leaned back on his arms and looked to the sky outside.

"Who do I value more, hm?"

A/N: A side-along story with Hour Hand :D. This plot bunny exploded in my head and it had to be written, turns into this. This'll be focused on Sora and Kairi's relationship in the U.S. This definitely won't be as long as Hour Hand unless some more major arcs form in my head for this story as well.

This will only be updated after Hour Hand as that is my priority. Value will be a closer look into things that are mentioned in Hour Hand but aren't explored. It will also only be updated when I'm feeling stuck on Hour Hand or I need a break from other things, like life.

Thank you for any of my viewers that still read my stories.

xo,

Caramel