logsinthenight | July Catch All

( Being in that old boathouse was strangely reminiscent of home. She couldn't even count the number of days they had spent on the play island, working on turning the hollowed out tree into a little house for the three of them. Now, instead of a tree, it was a shack where they could hear the waves crashing gently against the shore and the scent of the ocean was all around them. If there is anywhere in this place that could feel like home, it's there.

Then again, it isn't really the boathouse alone that feels like home. Sora and Riku were her home, far more than any singular place could have been. And speaking of, Kairi pauses in sweeping a bit of dust out of the door to look over toward the fair haired boy who was patching up holes here and there. Riku had never been afraid of a bit of work, readily taking on the brunt of whatever chores they made for themselves while they busied themselves with other things. He's always been dependable, hasn't he? She sets the broom aside and crosses the floor, moving to stand near to where Riku is working.

If someone doesn't make him take breaks, she's sure that Riku will work himself into exhaustion. )

Alright, Riku. We've made pretty good progress so far. Time for a break!

[ The boathouse is drafty, there are splintered beams and boards that could use replacing, a little roofing work to be done, but it's shelter and one that feels a little more like what they were used to.

They eventually took an active role in their own destinies, one way or another. The three of them grew up making their own fun with their own two hands.

The hammer he uses taps down one of the nails he took from between his lips, he's taking the other to finish off patching up a warped floorboard when he hears Kairi drawing close. When he looks to her, as she speaks, he thoughtfully glances aside and then gives a puff of laughter. She's right - they've been at this a while, already the interior is improved. The floor is clean and in fairly good repair. ]

Sure, after this last one.

[ A few sharp raps of the hammer on that last nail and he's back on his feet, brushing his palm against the leg of his pants. In the reflective silence as he looks around, he adds: ]

It's really coming together.
Funny. I keep thinking about that raft. When we were kids. Do you remember?

( It's unsurprising that Riku wants to finish what he's doing before taking a break. He's always been that way, hasn't he? So Kairi waits, watching him hammer the nail into place, then push himself back up to a stand. At the mention of things coming together, Kairi turns her gaze around them, admiring all of the hard work they've put into the little shack. It isn't perfect, by any means, but it feels more like a home than anything they've encountered there so far. A few more touches and it could be a home. Maybe some curtains and a rug and--

He mentions the raft and she's drawn from her train of thought, a warm smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Fondness is unmistakable in her expression as she looks up at him, her hands moving to rest on her hips. )

You make it sound like it was a really long time ago. You're not an old man yet, Riku.

( She can't help but tease him a little before continuing. )

You're right, though. I keep thinking about the same thing. About home, and how we fixed up the tree like a house, too. And, of course, the raft that you ended up doing most of the work on.

[ He presses his knuckles into the meat of the muscle along the side of his spine, near the small of his back as she speaks, and his breath leaves his lungs in a half laugh, embarrassed. Old? ]

Lucky me. I'll never get old at this rate.

[ It's one of those odd little things he says that he instantly regrets, a little too grim for the situation. Except that's what it's like to be around Kairi and Sora. He can be less guarded, less reserved. They forgive him his imperfections, especially the ones that have been with him since he was a little kid who said some pretty weird stuff on the regular.

He realizes that he might have had doubts about ever growing old, his adventures so often too risky, too focused on the present issue of Sora's disappearance to think about the repercussions that lurked beyond the horizon of today.

But the thought that Sora and Kairi won't grow old together feels like a thorn in his heart. ]

All of that feels like a different life sometimes. A lot happened.

[ Sitting on his heels, Riku retrieves two of the canteens and stands, offering one of them to her before he searches for something to sit on. It reminds him that he should avail himself of some of the extra furniture in the Invincible. ]

Working on this without the threat of Heartless? [ He jokes. ] I could get used to this.

I guess none of us will. I'd make the joke about none of us growing old and grey, but...

( Kairi reaches out the brush a couple of fingers through Riku's silvery locks, a little grin tugging at her lips. It might have been something that others had teased him about when they were young, but his hair is something that Kairi has always admired. He's always had an ethereal sort of attractiveness, the stark contrast of his brilliant aquamarine eyes and the shade of his hair giving him a striking look. Then again, it's most certain that she's always been biased towards both he and Sora, something she would readily admit to anyone who has something to say on the matter.

Perhaps she should feel more bothered than what she currently is about their situation. Being in some unknown world that others assume to be the "afterlife" is more than enough cause for others to worry. But it's difficult to feel that way when she can feel the heat of their skin and the beating of their hearts. Maybe this afterlife is just another world and, for once, they've all ended up in the same place together.

But is fate really that kind? Kairi hopes so, even if it's just once. )

Yeah. I think we all feel a lot older after going through all of that. But...even so, I couldn't have asked for a better childhood.

( Kairi has precious memories of spending nights of the stars, building things together, sharing laughter and tears with one another. She's grateful that she ended up on that island and was found by two silly boys. She takes the canteen from him and nods her head in thanks before unscrewing the top and lifting it to her lips, taking a quick drink of water. The lid is returned to the top and screwed into place before she lowers herself to sit down beside Riku, stretching her legs out in front of her.

The sound of his voice has her turning her gaze back toward him, a smile forming on her lips. )

You and me both. It would almost be normal, if there was a sun.

[ Riku permits it with somewhat stone-faced neutrality, which in itself could be a tell. When they were younger, when he was still going to school instead of on some other world shirking classes to save his friends so they could together save the universe, apparently, he somewhat resented the attention his hair garnered him.

Standing out could be a double edged sword.

It's different when it's Sora and Kairi, they mark each other's differences and make them part of the similarities they share instead of making them a point of exclusion. They're a circle. Nothing, not even death, could ever shake him loose of their orbit. ]

The sun.

[ Riku exhales that in a sigh, half a laugh as he tips back his head. ]

We've seen the sunsets back home more times than I can count. This place really makes you miss it.

[ Once Kairi has settled down next to him, he leans - just slightly - until his shoulder bumps companionably against her, a gentle nudge that he makes without looking in her direction. ]

Ok, seriously. How are you holding up?

( The soft sound of Riku's voice, the small laugh as he considers what she says, it's something that Kairi hadn't even realized she missed until that moment. When was the last time she had been able to sit down with Riku like this? It feels like a lifetime ago, when they were both smaller, talking of rafts and far off worlds. He's grown so much since then, leaving her with so much she wishes she could have told him earlier. That she likes his haircut. That she's proud of him for everything he's gone through and come out stronger on the other side. That she's missed him and has been wishing on stars for him to be happy and healthy. How she really wanted him to join both she and Sora in sharing the paopu.

Perhaps, now that they're all in this place, she'll have the chance.

She feels him bump against her arm in the form of a little nudge, and she leans toward him, her shoulder resting against his arm to allow a slight bit of her weight to rest against him. It's comfortable, even with the potential for troubling topics to come up, now that he's asking her how she is. )

I'm doing okay. Really.

( She looks over at him for a moment, then away, turning her gaze out of the open door toward the sky, the corners of her lips lifting in a serene smile. )

Being here isn't ideal. You're right about missing the sunsets. But...I don't really feel bad. That's weird, right?

( She laughs softly, shaking her head before continuing. )

But...I kind of feel like as long as you and Sora are here, things are alright. I can handle anything.

What about you? How are you holding up, really?

[ Consider how much Riku has missed the sound of her voice, her laughter, the easy way she knows how to reach through layers of self-defensive barriers and touch his heart the way he's otherwise only comes to expect from Sora. It's only natural to long for what the heart has grown fond of. Ironic that it took dying to bring all three of them back together again for so long a period as this, without the responsibilities of protecting an entire universe hanging over their heads.

That small point where her shoulder leans against his arm. His attention's split, drawn to the contact. He's always been peculiar and over the years has only grown more reserved and standoffish, Sora understands intuitively how he yearns for the contact he denies himself, how these little reassuring touches mean so much. Riku doesn't dare engage for more than what he's given.

He treasures it. ]

You're asking me?

[ Kairi, he was probably the weirdest one of their trio, she and Sora were the only ones who got to see the real him, his most genuine self. They accepted him when he didn't even accept himself. Her comment - about how things are alright in their company, that she feels like she can handle anything - makes him drop his gaze, his smile soft and subtle. ]

I'm with you two. Everything I could ask for is here. I won't say it'll be all right, but I know that, together, we'll see this through.

( By the time Kairi manages to head to the store, it's largely been picked over by others, leaving very little left that is actually useful. Still, she manages to find a few things that will be useful: some bandages, a notebook, some twine. But it isn't what she's really looking for. What she wants are some paints that can be used for whatever arts and crafts she might want to do. So far, they've eluded her. But then a thought hits her.

Perhaps some things have rolled underneath the shelves?

Kairi wastes no time in flopping herself down on the floor, peeking under this shelf and that until--aha! Luck. It's not craft paints, but several bottles of nail polish, laying on their sides, forgotten. It isn't exactly what she wanted, but it will definitely do. So she lays down flat and reaches an arm to reach under the shelves, her tongue just barely popping out of the side of her lips as she strains to reach the bottles. )

Come on...

[ Shadow isn't looking for anything in particular when he stops by the general store. It's just becoming something of a routine. There are only so many places to go in the town itself; soon enough, he knows he'll likely start taking walks in the woods, but he hasn't reached that point yet.

While he doesn't immediately see the girl laying on the floor, he does hear her muttering to herself. Shadow pauses before getting too close — he doesn't want to startle her — and speaks up. ]

Do you want some help?

( One of the bottles is just out of her reach, her fingertips grazing the glass enough to feel it, but not enough to coax it in her direction. The sound of the voice nearby draws her attention away from her task for a moment, bright eyes turning in the direction it came from. She's still for a moment, looking over the man thoughtfully before suddenly becoming aware that she's laying on the ground like a crazy person. She grins sheepishly at him and pulls her arm back to herself, using it instead to help push up to a stand. Kairi takes a moment to brush off the back of her skirt before replying. )

Heh. Sorry. Yeah, I could use the help, if you wouldn't mind. There are some bottles of nail polish under the shelves that I can't reach. My arms are too short.

( She can't help but laugh a little at her own predicament. Is it silly that she's going so far for some nail polish? Maybe. )

I'm Kairi, by the way.

[ In that moment of hesitation, Shadow wonders if he should have cleared his throat or perhaps scuffed his feet on the floor. Something to let her know that someone else was present before speaking up. Shadow knows he can be physically intimidating; he remains quite still as she eyes him, ready to move away the moment he perceives any discomfort in her expression.

But the moment passes, and she smiles and stands. Shadow waits until she tells him what she's after, then he nods. ]

Sure, I don't mind. [ And, as he kneels down: ] I'm Shadow. Sorry for sneaking up on you.

[ He places his hands on the floor and peers underneath the shelf. He can see the bottles amidst the dust, and he shifts until he can reach under and pull the first one out. Once he sets it in front of Kairi, he reaches back under for the next. ]

No, it's fine. You didn't really scare me.

( She reassures him now that she's standing, a bright smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She steps aside and watches him as he lowers himself to the ground, grateful for the help. As soon as he starts pulling out bottles, she lowers herself down to collect them, lifting them up and turning them this way and that to see if the polish inside is still good. )

Shadow, huh? That's a nice name. Thanks for your help, Shadow. These are the closest thing to paints I could find.

( Taking a moment to shake the bottle, she twists the top open and lift the lid, her smile brightening upon seeing that the paint inside is still good. )

This'll be a big help for when I start making things.

Ha!

( Kairi cries out as she swings a flower covered weapon through the air, lunging at an invisible enemy. Her brows furrow together in concentration as she moves, seeming light on her feet and fairly graceful. She's picked a spot away far away enough from the bonfire that she wouldn't be disturbing anyone with her practice, but close enough so that it's light could be used to see what she's doing. She's alone for the moment, seeming fully absorbed in her practice. But for a person to be so focused on training, they must have a reason to, right?

Things may seem relatively peaceful enough now, but it doesn't mean that they will always be that way. The moments before her death haunted her, visions of how easily she had been taken off guard making her stomach twist into knots. She hadn't been ready. She hadn't seen enough real battle to be fully prepared for what they had to face. But next time, Kairi will be prepared. She'll know what to expect. There are people here that she wants to protect, even if it means laying down her life to do so. So it's important that she's ready next time.

Kairi takes a moment to breathe out a sigh, shifting the keyblade over to one hand to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead with the other. )

...I sure miss my partner right about now.

Edited 2019-07-10 01:29 (UTC)

[ It hadn't be hard to spot the figure off in the distance of the fire. With such little light though it was still hard to tell completely what they were doing. For a long while he thought they were doing some kind of dance. If they were, why do it so far from the fire? Maybe if people saw someone actually trying to have some joy here the optimism levels would be much better. Because seriously, there's very few people who are optimistic right now.

But, as he draws closer, he definitely had it wrong. She wasn't dancing, she was just...slashing the air through her movements. Was she practicing for a fight? It definitely looked like it now that he was approaching. He lifts his lantern up to shed more light in the girl's direction, canting his head curiously. ]

Um, would be assuming a lot if I ask if you needed a dance partner?

( The sound of someone approaching does catch her attention, turning to face him with a little grin on her face. She's surprised that someone noticed her, given her position being tucked away from the fire, but she certainly isn't averse to a bit of company. The keyblade is let rest idly in her hand, hanging down toward the ground. )

Well, I'm not quite dancing, but it's close.

( Kairi can understand how what she was doing might look odd from the outside. A girl jumping around and swinging a flowery looking stick...It's really no wonder that he thought she was dancing. Also, she's pretty sure that normal people didn't have to worry about things like fighting. )

I was just doing a bit of training, though I don't know how much good it's doing. I'm Kairi, by the way.

Guess I should've figured that it wasn't dance practice.

[ He replies with a bit of a embarrassed grin as he makes a gesture to the sword. Though he does look at it a bit peculiarly. Who would forge a sword to look like an oversized key?

But, training, that definitely made more sense. At the introduction he steps forward to offer his hand to her. ]

Mine's Elden and uh, I'd be willing to spar with you if you want a battle partner. Though...I'm not really that great, so maybe I can learn a thing or two from you.

( Kairi can't help but laugh a little at that, glancing down to her keyblade as he motions to it. To be fair, it looks more like something used for decorative purposes than an actual weapon, what with the flowers all over the end of it. So she can't understand where the confusion might come in. Either way, she reaches out to take his hand and gives it a little shake. )

Elden, then. Well, if you want to spar, that would be fun. It's okay. I'm not really that good, either.

( She admits with a sheepish smile. After all, she's only recently even learned that she can use a keyblade, no less fight with it. )

My friends are way better than I am. But if you still want to, I'd be happy to spar with you.

[ He can't help but let out an embarrassed laugh of his own when she tells him that she wasn't "that good". From what he saw, she definitely was more capable than him with a sword...or any real melee weapon honestly.

He just holds up his mace with something of a sheepish grin. ]

Honestly, I'm terrible at combat. I mean, I'm a decent shot when it comes to range but swinging swords? You're gonna want my other friend for that.

[ However, he's probably selling himself short as well. So, he huffs his cheeks and tries to give a more confident grin; ]

But, hey! If we practice together we could probably get even better than your friends and mine.

[ Elden, she already agreed- ]

Anyways, so, how do we start?

I just started practicing how to use the keyblade, so we're about on the same level.

( She says, offering him a sheepish smile. Though, she doesn't exactly remember how long she spend in the pocket space training with Axel. Still, she isn't one to turn down a partner. )

Well, my friends are pretty good. It would be great if we could catch up to them, though!

( She pauses for a moment, then lifts the keyblade up. )

I've been starting with swinging it through the air. You imagine that someone is in front of you and swing like you mean to hit them. It's just to get used to the weight of the weapon and maneuvering it.

[ protecting people, even if it means laying down his life to do so; being ready next time. that's something he understands, and it's something he respects.

which is why, with her next forward lunge, the tip of destiny's embrace meets the blade of way to dawn in a clash of dark sparks. it's as if he'd simply slipped out from the shadows, but in truth, he'd been watching her since she pulled away from the bonfire. for someone who had fought to survive for as long as he has, it's not difficult to tell that there's a difference in ability between kairi and sora, or kairi and riku — but he knows now that appearances mean little as far as real strength goes. ]

If you're alright with a stand-in, [ he bites back a laugh. isn't that always what he is? a substitute, a stand-in; never quite what people really want. ] I could be your partner.

[ and maybe he needs this, too. since riku had left way to dawn behind, this is the first time he'd ever summoned it. it feels foreign in his hands, a little too long compared to soul eater, like it was meant for someone taller to wield. but in some ways, it feels right. ]

( The sudden clash with the familiar keyblade causes Kairi to startle for a moment, her bright eyes widening as she looks to its wielder. What's more surprising isn't the fact that it is the other Riku, but the fact that he slipped up on her so easily. She hadn't noticed him at all, which spoke to the level of his skill and the divide between them. Was it surprising? No. It's only natural that Riku should have this kind of skill. It seems like forever that she's been chasing his back, trying to catch up, even if this isn't the original Riku.

Either way, she holds the position with their blades crossed for a moment longer before leaping back away from him. The change in her expression is visible as he offers his assistance with her training, excitement making her eyes seem all the brighter in the dim light. It's easy to see that, despite his self-deprecating words, she's thrilled that he would even think to ask her. )

Really?! You'd do that for me? Wow...Thanks, Riku!

( The grin tugs at the corners of her lips, lifting the keyblade defensively in front of her. Kairi isn't too pleased with his choice of words, that much is certain. But it's more important at the moment for her to take his offer seriously than to give him a lecture on why he's good enough. That's something that will be pushed to the side until she has some quiet time with him.

In this situation, Riku might be the perfect person to help her train. Yes, he's Riku and still has Riku's tendencies of being soft deep down, but somehow, she doesn't think that he will go easy on her because of a lingering attachment. That, or maybe he understands, as well, the importance of being able to protect the people you care about and how awful being weak feels... )

Whenever you're ready!

[ he watches kairi's eyes go wide, sees the change in her expression from surprise to excitement, and it almost makes him shy away. he's come to realize that a lot of the reactions he expects from the others are completely opposite — there isn't the disappointment he's grown so used to, or the fear that should be present. like sora, they're always reaching out rather than pulling away. ]

It's not a big deal, [ he says, though his tone isn't nearly as sharp as it should be. ] I don't have anything else to do.

[ in the infamous words of vanitas: what he is, is darkness. it means when he comes at her, he doesn't hesitate — there's weight behind his strikes, fast and vicious, a different sort of grace compared to riku. way to dawn has a longer reach than soul eater that he still hasn't completely mastered yet, so she's able to slip under his guard a few times, but it only leaves a sense of satisfaction rather than frustration. he doesn't believe that kairi won't be able to catch up to riku or sora, but maybe that's not the path she needs to take — she'll grow and become stronger in her own way.

maybe the same will happen for him.

he won't disrespect her by going easy; that's no way to learn and he doesn't understand that concept to begin with. he does, however, remind himself that he isn't fighting with the intent to break and destroy — each time he parries or knocks her back he repeats it, occasionally nudging her feet to shift her weight and correct her balance. ]

( Kairi can't help herself but to laugh a little at his reaction. It's so very Riku, and yet, not her Riku. She's seen him using the air of indifference with others, yet the softness is still there. After all, hadn't he been the one to reach out to her first? There's goodness within him, yet she's not so blind that she can't see the darkness, as well. But all of that, the struggle and the ability to overcome, that's what makes him who he is. She won't try to change him, but she can be there for him.

His sudden approach yanks her out of her thoughts and pushes her into the moment, lifting the keyblade to try and block his vicious attacks, immediately on the defensive. It's different than Riku's style of fighting and certainly more rough than anything he would try with her, but it's exactly what she needs. Someone who won't pull their punches just because they're afraid of breaking her. Kairi defends until she sees an opening, lunging in closer to him with a swing of the keyblade. This sort of back and forth happens a few times, with her managing to slip through his defenses a couple of times, making her heart swell with pride.

...And then he delivers a couple of punishing blows that quickly remind her that she hasn't won. Real battle won't stop long enough for her to feel proud of herself. And while he isn't going easy on her, he is giving her the opportunity to learn. He repeats his movements in order for her to get the hang of what she's focusing on, with the gentle reminder of how her stance affects the way she fights. )

Wow...You're tough...

( Kairi huffs out, flashing him a little grin. She speaks again, a little breathlessly. )

I'm lucky...to have found a good partner!

[ they're afraid of breaking her, but that's his secret: he's been beaten and broken too many times to count, and each time he's had to pick himself up and put himself back together again. sometimes, he isn't the one doing so. he's hardened to pain, made tougher from fighting to survive his whole life, and he wonders had he been the real riku he so desperately believed he was, would he be the same now? he'd be gentler, maybe, slower and more patient rather than this sort of trial by fire he's pushing her towards. but beacon isn't a place where anyone can afford to be gentle and this is the only method he knows. ]

Say that to me again when we're done.

[ he swings way to dawn around his fingers as he gives kairi a moment to catch her breath, feels it thrum in the air in much the same way soul eater did, and it shouldn't feel so familiar. but maybe it should — soul eater is still present in the blade, an intermediary, the in-between state; he'd been there as well, left in the void of darkness, stuck in limbo between his broken body and mind.

his whole life he'd been made to break, because that's what it meant to survive: he'd take and take so nothing more could be taken from him. but way to dawn had been broken when riku left it for him and he'd taken it still, made it whole again.

it's more than just a hand-me-down. like his memories, like his heart, it's his now. ]

Edited 2019-07-17 08:56 (UTC)

( Ever since Kairi washed up on the islands, Sora and Riku have treated her as if she were precious. If they walked too quickly for her to keep up, they would slow their pace to match hers, without ever commenting on the fact that they were doing so. They did the protecting while Kairi stood back. It just seemed to be the way of things back then. It was recently, when everything was set into motion, that Kairi realized that waiting by the sidelines wasn't good enough. Her desire to protect the people she cares about was her main motivation throughout her training. But desire alone isn't enough. That was proven when she was so easily taken by Xemnas when her guard was down.

So she's thankful for this sort of training. He has a skill similar to Riku, yet none of the hesitance to go all out due to the risk of potentially harming her. But Dawn sees what Riku and Sora cannot. She isn't glass. She won't break so easily. She can take a beating and still keep going, just as they can. Really, she's incredibly lucky that he's reached out to her, the desire to not disappoint him lingering within the corners of her heart.

The comment earns him a little laugh, the sound soft and full of light as it leaves her lips. She's positive that she'll be able to say the same thing after they're done, even if she ends up bruised and sore. But while they're taking a small break, Kairi reaches into one of the pockets of her dress and pulls out a small black band. The other hand props the keyblade against her leg for a moment as she gathers up the longer pieces of her red hair, pulling them back away from her face and into a small ponytail behind her head. The band is pulled around her ponytail, securing her hair in place.

She looks at him thoughtfully for a moment before reaching back into her pocket and producing a second band, offering it out to him. Having pockets is so incredibly useful! )

Do you want one? Your hair is longer than Riku's, so I thought you might want to get it out of the way.

[ she isn't glass, nor is she so fragile like everyone treats her as. he's known few women in his life, but all of them have proven to be stronger than him in some way or another — naminé was no different from larxene, shattering his heart with a single thought. for as much as he wanted to protect her, sometimes he wondered if she really needed to be protected at all.

but that was then and this is now. kairi is different from naminé, but there are some parts of kairi that remind him of her: the soft laugh, the gleam and determination in her eyes, the set of her shoulders. he knows he'll never see naminé again, but maybe this is enough. knowing he was able to do something like this, helping kairi grow stronger because he wanted to, because he felt that it was right — maybe it's enough. ]

... Okay.

[ he takes the second band, looking down at it for a moment before he pulls his hair up in a high ponytail. he doesn't remember riku ever doing the same during his time at the castle or before that, and the thought leaves something indescribable behind. something lighter. ]

( Kairi can't help but watch him as he pulls up his hair and secures it in place with the band. She admired the silvery hair when it belonged to Riku, and Dawn is no different. It's lovely, and seems to suit him even more now that he's pulled it up into a ponytail. Maybe, if she plays her cards right, she'll be able to talk Dawn into letting her braid his hair. Then again, it might be a strange request, seeing as they've only recently met.

Oh well. She'll just have to work up to it.

There's a fondness for him that warms her heart, which leaves her wondering if it's a lingering sentiment of Namine's or if the feeling is her own. There's a part of her that knows that it isn't due to his connection to Riku. His face has the features of Riku's from years passed, but his personality is his own. His kindness is his own, becoming apparent in the way he approached her and offered to help. He certainly doesn't need Kairi's protection, yet there's a part of her that wants to keep him close and protect him, just as she wants to protect Sora and Riku through her own abilities. The heart truly is a mysterious thing.

Bending at the waist, Kairi reaches down and picks up the ornate keyblade once again, lifting it in her hand and slashing through the air in front of her in the form of a practice swing. Her gaze then shifts to Dawn, a little grin tugging at the corners of her lips. )

Okay. I'm ready when you are.

( The sound of Vanitas' laughter is cold in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable. What was it that he found so amusing? Her death? She isn't quite sure, but she lets the moment pass, unwilling to be provoked by something so simple. Instead, she finds herself wanting to understand this person with Sora's face. She doesn't know anything about him, really. She only knows that he looks like him and feels like Darkness itself. But perhaps there's something there worth knowing.

She watches his gestures as he motions to himself, taking a moment to admire the way the fire makes his golden eyes practically glow. He seems so proud of himself, despite telling her that he was cut down by Ventus in the keyblade graveyard. Some of the pieces are aligning now, painting a picture of what exactly happened while Kairi had been preoccupied with her own battle. )

I don't know what happened between you and Ventus, but I'm sorry you died. It isn't easy for anyone.

( In response to the commentary about Sora, Kairi simply shakes her head. She looks away from Vanitas for a moment and back toward the fire, a thoughtful expression still on her face. He's mistaken about what happened, it seems. )

No, it wasn't Sora's fault. I didn't die for him. It was my own mistake of being caught off guard. I wasn't strong enough and didn't have enough experience. My death is my own fault, not anyone else's.

( She looks back toward him, finally, her expression showing that changing her mind would be a difficult matter. After all, how could she blame Sora for something he couldn't help? It was her own insistence that led her to that point, a desire to fight with her friends and protect them. The mistake was her own, but at least she would fully admit that. )

[ He makes a low sound in his throat, something that could be another laugh, or a scoff of derision. What Vanitas knows and Kairi doesn't, is that on some level she'd been a part of his Master's end plan. Xehanort understood his enemy from so many different angles that her part in this had been inevitable. Sora, even in those brief moments Vanitas had met him, would never have given it his all if Kairi hadn't been used as the bait. He was the kind of person that needed to fight for his friends. My friends are my power. Stupid, really. ]

Go on telling yourself that.

[ Vanitas doesn't actually care what she thinks, but the set of her jaw and the steadiness in her eyes makes it fairly obvious that he could probably argue with her about it for a while and she wouldn't change the way she thinks. That's the way of these people, so full of Light. Ventus had been like that too.

Still, that didn't mean he was completely out of ammunition. His eyes are acidic and sharp as he watches her without blinking, meeting her level gaze unflinchingly. The air of I know something you don't know clings to every word as he says: ]

I wonder what you'll say when you see him.

( He doesn't approve of her way of thinking, that much is apparent. But he has no better chance of changing her mind on that issue than getting it to rain paopu. After all, it's her own fault and lack of experience that caused her to get taken off guard by Xemnas. No amount of training in a controlled environment could have prepared her for that kind of a battle. It might have gone differently if she had been involved in real battles before recently, fighting along side Riku and Sora. But no amount of wishing would change that now.

What does unsettle Kairi is the look in his eyes as he speaks to her, the unspoken taunt of something unsaid lingering in his words. Her brows furrow together as she watches him, lips turning downward into a little frown as those words sink in. When you see him...The pieces line up fairly quickly to paint the picture. Sora is there, which can't mean anything good happened back home. But now, sitting there with Vanitas, isn't the place to process something like that, though the thought lingers at the back of her mind. What happened?

She shakes her head a little and lifts a hand, palm upturned a little. )

Well, I imagine I'll say 'hi'.

( Is it a sassy retort? Maybe. But it's an easy way to cover up the discomfort she's feeling. )

[ The freeze is almost imperceptible, but Vanitas still clocks it, and it pulls a fissure of vindication through him. Riku had already told him he didn't have the finesse to really pull any strings, and while that was true— Vanitas didn't have the wealth of experience his Master had— knowing that he can get under the guard of these people makes him feel less unsure of what's happening in this world.

Darkness is familiar. Death is familiar. It's the weight and shape of this world's atmosphere that sets his teeth on edge. That he can't reach into the darkness the way he feels he should, that his own power doesn't work right despite being arguably made of the same stuff that presses in all around them; that he's alive and not sleeping in some dark, warm, quiet place.

But this, at least, is right. Vanitas is still the shadow that these lightbearers cast. They still feel the same hurts, and he can still find them and hold them and bring them into focus. His eyes go heavy with satisfaction. ]

Oh, I'm sure you will.

( It doesn't sit right with Kairi that someone like Vanitas can see into her heart so clearly and use what's there to press on the spots that hurt. It especially doesn't seem right when he has the same face as the boy she loves, though is made of complete darkness. But getting overly upset over the matter would be incredibly entertaining to him, she's sure. So instead of doing that, she huffs out a quiet breath and crosses her arms over her chest. )

You're kind of annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?

( She's sure it isn't the first time he's heard that, what with the way he speaks to others. But still. She's sure the little jab at him won't make much difference, but it does a little bit to make her feel better. Kairi tears her gaze away from Vanitas and turns it toward the fire, watching as the wood turns a lovely shade of red. The crackling and popping sound are pleasant, reminding her of nights back home spent camping on the beach.

But eventually, she looks back over to him. )

Try not to get yourself in too much trouble while you're here. Even if you're kind of annoying, I don't want anything bad to happen to you.

[ The fierce flicker of amusement her first comment puts in his face slips away almost as soon as she goes on. It sobers his whole expression, making his eyes go heavy, wiping the smile off his face into something stony and serious. He hasn't looked away from her since she sat down next to him, though he isn't really thinking about what he's doing. Maybe it's natural for something like him, void of all light, to hungrily turn toward a person like Kairi— so full of it, undiluted and strong, even under the suffocating black of this world. ]

You're only saying that because I look like him.

[ There's nothing teasing in his tone anymore, not where it had been moments before, digging into all the wounds he could find and rubbing salt into them every way he can. The thing is, Vanitas isn't sore about the fact he looks like Sora— if anything, he knows he should be thankful. Without Sora, there would have been no chance for Ventus, and therefore no chance for Vanitas to go after the rest of his heart. Really, it's even possible this face of his could be used to his advantage, if he wanted it to.

But such a noble sentiment like that could come from no other place. He knows how she feels about that boy, because Xehanort had known, and if he's going to be forced to exist in this small place with them— he's going to make sure that these lightbearers know that the line is in the sand and it isn't to be crossed.

They're on opposite sides. That's the way of things. ]

( The look on Vanitas' face is one she couldn't miss. Gone is the cold amusement that could be found there earlier, placed instead with something more serious. It's a different expression than she's seen so far, and the comment after makes her understand why. How many times has Vanitas been treated a certain way because of his face? Surely others have noticed the similarity between he and Sora, at least looks-wise. No doubt it's something of a sensitive subject for him, but there's one thing he doesn't understand.

Kairi huffs out a quiet sigh and turns to face him more directly, her own expression mirroring the seriousness of his. )

That's not why. Yes, you look like Sora, you know that. But you're nothing like him.

( She tilts her head just a little, letting her red hair brush against her cheek as she considers him. Really considers him, not for who he looks like, but for what he is. )

I said that because I think you deserve a chance. You're your own person, not just Darkness or 'the guy connected to Sora'. And it's hard for you to have a chance if something happens to you and you're not around, isn't it?

[ A crawl of discomfort starts in the base of his spine and makes it's way all the way up to the back of his neck. He couldn't name it, or say what exactly caused it: the look on her face, the conviction in her voice that Vanitas is his own person. Like all the rest of them, she doesn't understand. He could never expect her to, not shining with Light the way she is, casting it like a small sun all over him in a way the bonfire could never quite manage. ]

And you want to make sure I get that chance, do you?

[ The blank expression on his face twists into a sneer, his lip curling with fierce derision. I don't want anything to happen to you. What a soft, stupid sentiment.

Vanitas pushes himself forward and off the log, standing up and turning around to face her. The flame at his back casts a halo around him, but plunges his face and his torso into deep darkness when he looks down his nose at her. ]

If you're worried about anyone, it should be about your little hero. Who knows when Sora will do something stupid, next, and get himself killed again. You know he just can't help throwing himself into it.

( Kairi shrugs her shoulders at his words, a sort of gesture that admits 'Yeah, you got me there.' without saying exactly that. She's fairly certain that nothing she says is going to be the right answer, watching as his blank look twists into something a little more cold, sneering at her. There's no doubt in her mind that he thinks what she said is stupid, but it doesn't change anything. Kairi isn't going to be the one to condemn Vanitas without even giving him a chance.

She watches as he pushes himself to a stand, tilting her head so she can look up at him, red hair brushing away from her face with the movement of her head. The comment causes Kairi to sigh out loudly, a deep breath seeming to come from her core, her expression contorting to a bit of exasperation. )

You're right. I'm already worried about him! He's always been quick to find trouble, even when we were little.

( The look of exasperation fades, a soft, warm smile replacing the look on her face. )

But I don't mind looking out for him, too. If I can, anyway.

July Catch All - OPEN

Making A Home - Closed to Riku

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General Store - Early July - Open

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sorry for the wait!

No prob.

Room For Improvement - Mid July - Open

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iM HERE.... im here

Yassssss

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Continued from TDM - Closed to Vanitas

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