♛ ———— ❝ IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR KAIRI TO TELL for how long she’d been there; & truth to be told … she has forgotten time. seconds become minutes & minutes turn to hours when his arms around her are the only connection to reality. if Sora is to let go … they will be forced to walk across different paths yet again. the moment they no longer touch each other, all hopes & dreams of a peaceful life beside her hero will crumble and fade to nothing. she’s very aware of all the pain that is to come … and even more aware that she already knows how to deal with it. destiny made sure to remember the princess of the many, countless times she had to stay behind. forgotten by who is able to move on … and now he chooses to take her place in death. how could he ? she wasn’t worth it … definitely not worth the sacrifice of the one whose smile shun brighter than the sun itself.
that same grin that Sora so stubbornly showed her time & time again. including now …
❝ I can’t leave you … I won’t leave you here. There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind. I won’t let you die because … because I was weak … I can’t !! I WON’T !! ❞ the princess’ tone grows in intensity right before she stops talking. there is no need for her to become any more nervous or exalted than any more than she already was. that’s when she notices the hands that so calmly held her elbows in place … moving solely on instinct, Kairi's trembling, petite hands reach for his, taking an oh so desperate grip of them.
the tears that went dry seem to gain just the slightest hint of life in the indigo eyes of the pure-hearted champion. ( besides … it wasn’t like she had it in her to cry more. even her insides felt dry after the shock of seeing the boy in a place so lonely as The Final World. ) how could Sora be so calm at a time like this ? didn’t he understand the price they were both about to pay for a foolish mistake she made ? why was his smile so captivating despite all the grief of the moment ? shaking her auburn locks, in a denial motion, with her head, the girl looks up at him & speaks:
❝ Why did you come here… ? Sora … ❞ the fingers of her right hand move from to rest in his chest, above his heart. there’s a single second of peace when the princess realizes just how enchanting his heartbeat is … right below her palm. ❝ How can you remember those promises now … can’t you see what is to come next ? ❞ can’t you see I don’t want to live without you ?, but the words never come out.
❝ I want to be with you, Sora … no matter where you go. I can’t leave you … I can’t … ❞ ❤
『♔』― The feeling of Kairi’s gentle hands in his own-- so small yet so filled with strength-- brought Sora to the edge of losing his bravado. It was only through sheer force of will that he kept the smile plastered on his face, feeble though it may be now as tears began pricking his sapphire hues. But if Kairi saw him break, if only for an instant, then her worries would surely amplify and he wouldn’t be able to see her go home to everyone. The keyblade wielder knew her all too well. Knew how stubborn she could be. But all he wanted was to protect her.. to see her home safe with everyone else. To prove to himself that he was strong enough to protect her.
❛ Kairi... ❜ Sora could do little to hide the crack in his voice, or how hearing her name filled his heart with so much emotion; happiness, warmth, sadness. ❛ If I leave you HERE, then what kind of person does that make ME? ❜
The question left his lips harsher than he meant it to sound, catching him off guard. Instantly backtracking, he squeezed her hand, bringing the other to cup her cheek gently-- cobalt hues burning with intensity as they lock on to hers. He allowed himself a moment to savour that look in her eyes, and he felt more connected to her in that beautiful, desperate moment than possibly his entire life. The irony of it all brought tears to his eyes, and for once, he let the bravado down just a little.
❛ Kairi... I understand how you feel, trust me. But if you’re safely back home, then I have ALL the incentive I need to get back to you in one piece. If I let you stay here, then all of this was pointless. Am I scared? Of course I am-- the fear of losing you is the worst kind of fear I’ve ever felt.
So maybe it’s selfish, but I need you to trust me when I tell you that there is no force in the universe that will stop me from getting back to you. Of all the worlds I’ve visited... you’re the only one I can call my own, Kairi... So p l e a s e. ❜