thenearshore | [Closed] Well I know when you're around 'cause I know the sound

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[Closed] Well I know when you're around 'cause I know the sound

Who: Kairi and the Artemis-Baldr Temple fam
What: Kairi regains a memory
When: Late evening June 28th / Morning June 29th
Where: The Far Shore, Artemis Temple to start
Warnings: n/a

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While tossing and turning in her sleep, Kairi recalls a vivid moment from her past. This is the moment when Kairi and Sora, Naminé and Roxas, plus Riku all meet towards the end of their journey together in Kingdom Hearts 2. She only hears bits and pieces like "original selves" and Riku saying "you're still you." Of course the first shock is Kairi even being present around Sora and Riku at all, that goes without saying. However, from her perspective, Roxas has always been his own person, and the parallel she draws between Sora and Roxas is one of love, of being boyfriends. So, when Naminé is introduced, her first moment of apprehension is thinking this is either her own girlfriend that she's forgotten, or a stand-in for her own true love... a girl or someone very effeminate. For all she knows this was a much longer allegory and she's only remembering a part of it... Thanks to recent events at the Sleepover, she's not entirely sure it was a memory, and will wake up trying to piece it all together.

Of course, the implications between dream vs. memory are intense, and she won't be able to hide her worry from her god as one of his shinki. (Closed to Sora and Roxas.)

The following morning, she'll still be thinking on it, but it will depend heavily on how the rest of her night goes for getting good enough sleep and how much time she spends up talking to Sora & Roxas. (Open to the Temple CR.)

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[She wakes up with a start, cutting off Riku's words at "you're still you." Bounding into the room, to her surprise, is Wanwan, Sora's Meowwow Dreameater. He looks confused, like he was about to get a late-night snack.]

I'm sorry, boy... did I wake you? When I woke myself, anyway...

[She draws her knees up against herself, wearing the same pajamas she bought for the Sleepover.]

What does that all mean? What if... she had blonde hair. Naminé. Oh...

[She puts her head down on her knees.]

If I forgot about her... she could still be alive somewhere, missing me... but even if she is, I can't go back... [She turns her head to Wan.] Oh Wan, I was already so torn and now... if this is another dream, trying to tell me something important... If it was a memory... Roxas and Sora and Riku... They knew me? They knew me and I forgot them and they couldn't tell me?

[It doesn't occur to her that maybe Aya could tell her more. Right now she's just worried, frustrated, afraid... on the verge of tears as she looks for hints in the dream that could tell her one way or the other.]

I hope it's not a memory... what a terrible friend I'd be.

[Roxas had been in a dead sleep when he feels worry so deep that it causes him to wake up in an anxious panic. He looks around before gently untangling himself from Sora to head downstairs. After confirming it wasn't Raichi or Senri, seeing as they were both deeply asleep, he goes to Kairi's room and gently raps on the door.]

Kairi?

[It's not too long after that that Sora rouses from sleep too and notes that Roxas is gone. He debates if he should just go back to sleep because it could be something simple but...

Something feels off.

So he crawls from bed and searches for the other and sees him at Kairi's door. He yawns and asks sleepily,] Somethin' wrong?

[She was going to just try going back to sleep, but at Roxas's voice Wan starts making noises at the door and so she gets up to stop him from waking everyone else up-- but then she hears Sora's at the door too. She winces a little but picks Wan up so that she can open the door.]

I'm sorry... both of you...

[She's in her PJs so she just opens the door the whole way, setting Wan down as she does.]

I think it was just a nightmare.

[She can't help but look Roxas in the eyes apologetically, considering the last talk they had of nightmares. It's probably the last thing he wants to talk to her about, right? But she doesn't look happy and she knows it.]

[There is some hesitance as she mentions the word nightmare, but Roxas steps close and takes her hand.]

It's okay. They happen.

[He gives her a slight squeeze before stepping aside in case Sora wanted to hug her.]

Sora's better with this stuff... so why not talk to him? I'll be in the kitchen.

[Which means he doesn't know how to handle this. Kairi needed someone to talk to, so why not one of her best friends instead of him?]

[Wan seems intent on staying by Kairi's side, a paw going up to stick to her leg.

Sora gives Roxas a confused look before he turns back to Kairi.]

Wanna talk about what happened? Maybe that'll make you feel better.

[She watches Roxas decide to leave and promises herself that the kitchen is definitely her next stop, after recounting the dream to Sora.]

It was like those dreams at the Sleepover again. It felt so real - it was like everything around me was black, and this grey platform was all I could see. There was a girl standing in front of this weird black... cloud looking spiral thing. I heard my own voice call her Naminé... and then you and Riku were there too...

[But she's still biting her lip thinking about how absurd all of this sounds.]

[Sora looks a little puzzled at first as Kairi explains but then she says Naminé and Sora's breathe catches in his throat. He remembers the memory himself all over again and Sora looks down at Wan.]

But if it was a dream and he was with you...

[Wan would have had a midnight snack? So what she dreamed... Sora suddenly puts his hands on her upper arms and checks her over as if she has wounds.]

Are you okay? Are you feeling weird or strange? Does anything hurt? What else do you remember?

Nothing hurts... [She saw him look down at Wan and just assumes that Sora was worried his pet bit her in the night or something.] There was something else after that, though...

Well, so Roxas showed up... and I didn't really understand what he was trying to say, something about "original selves" but then this Naminé girl glowed and my heart felt warmer... and Roxas did the same thing to you...

[She looks up at Sora again looking concerned.]

I was just thinking a lot lately about... Well, if Roxas is your partner-- [Boyfriend. Soulmate. Whatever.]-- if Naminé was somehow supposed to represent my partner...

[She pulls at her hair then, still wondering if she's making a mistake reading so much into it.]

Sorry, the dream ended with Riku coming up too. "You're all still you." And that was all. It was like I was really there.

[There's a very real sense of panic and hope that mixes up in Sora's chest. For one, Kairi is remembering something from her life. Something real that actually happened and Sora has the hope that she's remembering him and Riku and everything else and that fills him up with a hope that makes him want to cry.

But there's still the panic. That dull chilling feeling he gets at the back of his head when the urge to speak of a shinki's past comes to mind. No... She's only remember a part, a figment of her life and not nearly enough for things to go back to how they once were.

Sora swallows hard and then hugs her, a small laugh coming from his lips.]

Naminé isn't your partner, Kairi... She's something else.

[But... He's not sure if he's supposed to explain. He doesn't want to hurt her.]

Someone really important.

[She doesn't mind the hug from Sora, hardly - she loves hugs and he gives good ones. But the part that sticks out for her is that Sora does actually know the name Naminé.]

Sora...?

[She hugs him tight too, but tries to respond quietly. He sounds... not quite happy when he laughs. She can't pin down the emotion, but she's worried too.]

If you know her... are you saying that wasn't really a dream at all?

[She'd heard about this, but it didn't make sense to her. Not from what she knew about Roxas.]

[He pulls back from the hug a little to look her in the eyes, as if he's searching for anything else that might remotely note that she remembers more. It's a silly hope to hang onto, Sora knows, but... He just... really wants that. So much it makes his chest hurt.

He smiles gently.] That wasn't a dream, Kairi.

[There's no way he's going to lie to her or tell her it was a dream. It's a truth and however it happened, Kairi remembered it. He looks a little sad but he continues,]

But you know I can't really tell you any more about that, I don't want you to get hurt. Uhhh... But about Naminé and Roxas... Maybe I can...

[That sad look really hurts to look at, but she hears what he's trying to say.]

Then... all this time, you and Roxas... [Her gaze follows where he walked.] You knew me.

[And she bites her lip, lowering her head.]

You don't have to tell me more, Sora. I'm just so sorry...

[And she's just feeling really terrible about it. 'We'll be together everyday.' That's not something you say to a casual friend, either. And Riku... he'd known them both. Maybe that's why Riku and Roxas didn't get along so well - a past history she'd forgotten or maybe never knew about, but something beyond just being Sora's best friend.]

I... I should go apologize to Roxas too. You've both been protecting me this whole time...

[He's glad she understands. When she says You knew me Sora has to fight back more tears. He remembers her saying she saw Riku too so he can't help but say it,] Riku. Riku too...

[But then he's quick to put a hand on her head and pats there before lifting her chin.]

You don't have anything to say sorry for, Kairi. Not to me or Roxas or anyone. We're both just so happy you're safe with us.

[Roxas still hasn't-- won't-- tell Sora what happened to Kairi. How she died. It's still something that frustrates Sora but he had to keep faith in Roxas that it's something he shouldn't see. Ever.]

So keep your head up, because that's all we need.

Edited 2017-04-04 02:24 (UTC)

[The look on his own face and his reassurances are enough to make her tear up too.]

... Riku too.

[She tries to nod and that ends up making the welling tears spill over a bit.]

Okay. I'll try. And I'll try not to ask again, either. You've both just been doing so much for me, and I never knew HOW much... I keep wanting to figure out how to thank you.

[She saw what a blighted shinki looked like, after all. That could have become her, had either of them been any less careful.]

I really want to go hug Roxas now. I just don't know if he'd like that.

[When those tears spill over Sora quickly pulls her back into a hug, tucking her properly under his chin.]

I'm just really happy you remember that little bit. It's good. Makes me think things will be just that much better.

[He lets her go and nods.]

Go find him, I'm sure he'll love getting a hug from you and know that you're okay.

[She nods against his chest while he's hugging her.]

Okay. I promise to be happy knowing that little bit. And knowing you're my good friend.

[As opposed to just Roxas's boyfriend. No wonder he'd been so nervous when he first met her! Even though she teased him about it, that misunderstanding... it must've been so hard for him.]

You're gonna get a lot more hugs from me from now on too, you know.

[And she gently pats both of his shoulders before heading off to the kitchen to find Roxas.]

[While they were talking, Roxas has just been sitting on the kitchen floor. Surrounded by his two hounds and the three kittens who were more than happy to try and cheer their god up with little kitten antics.

Asteri whines softly but it's Komitis that gets up to greet Kairi when she comes in. Roxas looks up as much as he can with a honey colored kitten playing with his ponytail.]

Feeling better?

[Kairi nods and sits on her heels, her knees not touching the ground as she becomes eye level with Roxas and Komitis both.]

I am, actually. I...

[She looks back up where Sora might be if he followed her, but otherwise just back towards her bedroom.]

It was a memory. Not a dream.

[She smiles then.]

You were there.

[Whoops trying not to get choked up.]

A memory?

[He's heard of shinki regaining memories, but he hadn't thought that Kairi would regain one son soon.

Roxas frowns at that.]

.... was I?

[He doesn't remember a time where he and Kairi met outside of this place.]

[She nods. Maybe it's just been a long time for him? That would be a good thing, she thinks. His hair is much longer than back then after all.]

Naminé, Riku, Sora, you, and me. It was some kind of platform and it was night.

[She tries to focus on Naminé then.]

Naminé... She called me her original self, then shook my hand and disappeared. I don't know all the details but if it means we're from the same world... I guess I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of me.

[Platform at night.... Oh. Oh. The World That Never Was. He wants to tell Kairi that it was always dark there, and he'd know since he lived there for over a year.

He frowns as she talks about Naminé, feeling an ache in his heart. There's still that hurt that his fellow Nobody wasn't here anymore, living a good life away from all that pain. He wishes she was still here...]

You don't have to thank me. You're important to Sora, so why wouldn't I? [There's a strained smile on his face.] Naminé was one of my first friends. I think you'd like her.

[She knows she can keep insisting that no, he didn't have to just because she was important to Sora, but she doesn't want to sound like she's fighting him. So she just smiles, trying to be empathetic.]

I think I would too, from what I could tell about her in the memory.

[She wants to say that he can talk more about her if it's not too painful, except that he can't. Not to her specifically, so she tries to just look a little happier - just for him.]

I know it's late and we should all go back to bed, but... can I at least hug you before I do?

[Even if he says no, she knows it's better that she asked. And they got to talk, and he knows, so she can sleep a little easier.]

[He tries not to look sad. Tries. Namine was a sore subject for him. About as much as it could be compared to if Sora ever left.]

She's really special. [That's all he'll say for now.

He blinks before nodding, the action making the kitten squeak and roll off of his shoulder and onto his lap. Roxas laughs softly as he pets her.]

Sure. But not a long one. Sora'll be waiting for me.

[She nods.]

I know he will. He knows I came down to find you.

[She moves to sit on her knees a little off to his side so she won't squish the cat, then gives him a hug from there.]

Thanks for not getting mad that I woke you up. I'll try to be calm if it happens again.

[Then she pulls back, ready to get up and head to bed.]

But even if it doesn't, I'm glad to have you both.

[He returns the hug, shaking his head.]

It's fine. Why would I get mad that you had a dream like that?

[Getting back to sleep will be a different matter entirely. Her having a memory show up like this will likely keep him up most of the night.

He smiles at her, playing with the kitten now as he nods.]

You can come to us for anything. Though for nightmares... you might want to go to Sora.

[She could say that it's because she woke him up, but she already said that and he dismissed it. So she just shakes her head.]

I'll just promise not to make a habit of it.

[Even if she gets another nightmare.]

And talk to Sora about it when I can. Goodnight, Roxas.

[Heart light with good feelings for her temple family, Kairi heads to bed.]

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[Closed] Well I know when you're around 'cause I know the sound

[Closed to Sora & Roxas]

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/runs off to see Roxas

:V

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Wrap then~