Archive of Our Own

Ghost 

Kairi was restless. 

It had been two years since Sora had disappeared. Two years, and they were seemingly no closer to finding him than they had been before. Not even Riku had come back in that time, having ventured off yet again in search of their lost friend. 

Meanwhile, Kairi had stayed back. Like she always did. 

She knew training was important and she was grateful for all she had learned from Master Aqua, but…why was she the one always left behind? Did Riku really find her that useless?

“Kairi, remember: stay sharp!”

CLANG

Metal struck metal as the cool blue steel of Aqua’s Keyblade, Rainfell, met the warm gold of Destiny’s Embrace. Kairi watched as sparks danced between the weapons before pushing against her master’s attack. Her red hair, which nearly reached her waist now, whipped around with the motion and the tall, black leather boots she wore dug into the dirt beneath her feet. 

Her appearance had changed a lot over the past couple of years, but Kairi still found herself favoring the same color palette as before. She wore a pink knit cardigan, which fit snugly over a black leather bodice and white blouse and a black belted skirt with buttons down the side layered over darker pink ruffles. The only part of her former attire that had remained was the simple pearl pendant that fluttered around her neck as she fought.   

Night time approached now in the Land of Departure with only the soft glow of the training ground’s crooked lamps illuminating the grassy mountain knoll. 

Gracefully, Aqua twirled away and readied a magic spell, the tip of her Keyblade glowing an icy blue. 

Kairi charged forward and countered with a fire spell. “Firaga!”

The two elements clashed, creating a smokescreen of mist. Quickly, Kairi shot forward again, but was unable to deliver a blow as her opponent remained hidden inside the haze.

Where is she? Kairi tried to sense Aqua’s movements. It was what her master had taught her only a few sessions ago, but a fog clouded her mind as thick as the smoky shroud surrounding them. 

Aqua struck her from behind, easily disarming her and sending her toppling to the ground. “You have to clear your mind of any distractions or you’ll give your enemy an opening.”

Gritting her teeth, Kairi summoned her Keyblade again and sprung back up to her feet. Her next attacks were careless. She swung her Keyblade in every direction, her irritation growing with each empty blow. 

I really am useless, aren’t I? No wonder Riku didn’t want me tagging along. I’d only have dragged him down.

“Kairi!” Aqua tried to break through her thoughts, but Kairi kept going.

Useless. Useless. Useless. Sora would still be—

Abruptly, a great wind cleared away the smoke, and Aqua walked towards her with a sad smile as she lowered her Keyblade. “I think we should call it a night, and tomorrow let’s take a day off, okay?”  

All at once, Kairi felt her frustration dissipate, and Destiny’s Embrace dissolved in a flurry of twinkling silver light. “I-I’m sorry…I-I don’t know what got into me back there.” 

“I understand,” Aqua replied, placing a hand on Kairi’s shoulder. “It’s been hard on all of us. You most of all, but Kairi your heart…” Aqua hesitated as if choosing her next words carefully. There was visible worry in her eyes. “Your heart will heal, and we'll find Sora too. There’s always a way.”  

“Yeah…thanks, Aqua.” 

“That’s Master Aqua to you,” Aqua teased, earning a weak smile from her pupil. 

Kairi lingered at the training grounds after their sparring session, settling herself on the mountain’s ledge to look up at the stars. To think each star represented a world never ceased to amaze her.

I wonder which world Sora is in now…

She pulled a pink wayfinder out of her pocket, a gift from Aqua, and held it up to the sky. The stars peered through the charm’s rose glass at her. Everything seemed so hopeless without Sora, but it was like the rest of the world had already moved on. Living day to day as if their hearts weren’t being hollowed out by his absence. 

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Kairi didn’t understand it. Every day her heart felt heavier and heavier. 

It’s like Sora’s becoming more of a memory than a real person. 

And what scared her most of all was how even that memory of him was fading little by little. Kairi had sworn to herself that she would never forget Sora again, but time was determined to slowly devour his goofy grin and infectious laughter until all she could remember were the distant echoes of those memories. 

It made her wonder if sharing the paopu fruit had meant anything at all or if it was nothing more than a myth. Their destinies were supposed to be intertwined forever, but two years of radio silence? How did that make any sense? 

The last time she had felt a flicker of his presence had been in her dreams. 

Closing her eyes, Kairi could faintly picture a voiceless Sora coming to her rescue to block Xehanort’s blow with Kingdom Key. Always the hero. Always her hero.

Kairi didn’t know what she would do if she lost those precious memories of Sora. With a sigh, she brought the wayfinder close to her chest. If the legend of the paopu fruit wasn’t real, then hopefully her lucky charm still had some magic in it. 

If he even has it anymore…

Kairi tried shaking off her negative thoughts, but they continued to swirl in her mind like a dark typhoon. Write. She needed to write. It was the only thing that seemed to calm her bubbling anxiety these days. 

Dusting off her black leather skirt, Kairi stood back up and slowly made her way towards the main courtyard. She numbly trudged to her quarters on muscle memory, not bothering to say hello to Terra and Ven as she passed by. Her room was located in the east wing of the castle and overlooked the sloping mountaintops. 

She had left the window open to allow the breeze in during the day, but the air had become quite chilly now, so Kairi closed it before turning to flip on a small desk lamp. She hadn’t asked for much in terms of accommodations for her stay. Her bed was small and so were her closet and dresser. But what Kairi had to have was a desk for her writing.

Each night she sat down at her desk and wrote a letter to Sora. Telling him how her day had been, how much she missed him, and inevitably asking how much longer it would be until he came home. She never sent any of these letters, of course. Sometimes she contemplated putting them into bottles and letting them drift across the sea like before. That letter had reached Sora and Riku in the Realm of Darkness. 

But could a letter even cross into unreality? She believed everyone lived under the same sky, but bending reality seemed like a bridge too far. Or maybe she was just scared there would never be a reply. 

Kairi’s pen stopped moving across the page for a moment, and a small dot of ink pooled at the end of the word she was writing. She knew it wasn’t in Sora’s character to do something like that. He’d sail through worlds and realities for the people he cared about. Yet, Kairi couldn’t help but entertain the thought that he secretly hoped to move on from their reality and enjoy whatever new life fate had thrown him into. Sora made friends everywhere he went, after all. A new life, a new reality would be an easy adjustment for someone like him. 

Ugh, stop torturing yourself, Kairi. Riku would have come home by now if Sora didn’t want to be found. 

Tightening her grip on her pen again, Kairi finished the letter with her usual question and signed her name with swirly cursive lettering. 

Dear Sora,

Today I trained again with Master Aqua at the Land of Departure. 

Did you ever think of giving up when you were learning to use the Keyblade? Sometimes it feels like all I ever do is train while everyone else gets to save the worlds. Master Aqua says I’m doing really well, but she’s worried about my ability to focus during a fight. 

But it’s hard not to let my mind wander. I want to know where you are and if you’re okay. I keep trying to picture you taking a nap somewhere like a lazy bum, but all these dark thoughts keep filling my head instead. 

When are you coming home?

~Kairi

A few stray tears slipped onto the page without warning. The ink bled in reply, but Kairi couldn’t tell as her vision began to blur. 

It was times like these where Kairi wished she could be home again. Or even somewhere like Twilight Town where Naminé and Xion lived. Over the past two years, Kairi had spent countless nights at the Old Mansion with her two friends, who did their best to cheer her up. Sometimes Olette would spend the night too, armed with bags of sea salt ice cream and movies for them to watch. 

The distraction was always nice, and for a short time, Kairi could almost forget the ache in her chest. Until she saw Roxas, of course. At first it was nice to see him. Though he was his own person, Roxas was still Sora’s Nobody with the same ocean blue eyes and kind heart. He always offered encouragement and assurance that they’d find Sora. As time went on, however, Kairi had found it harder and harder to even look at him. 

Especially when he was with Naminé. She was happy for her friends. They deserved to be happy. But soon it became a painful reminder of what she was missing.  

Releasing a shaky breath, Kairi finally folded the letter into an envelope and stacked it on top of the others. Ink, black as pitch, stained her fingers, but Kairi was too tired to do more than a cursory scrub in her bathroom’s sink. 

That was one benefit to all the training. It wasn’t hard to fall asleep after. Once changed into her pajamas, Kairi flopped onto the mattress with a long and loud sigh. Her eyelids grew heavier as she stared up at the ceiling, tracing the curious curves of the overarching beams.

It was strange to think that this world was once another one entirely. She thought back to the last conversation with her Other at the clock tower, remembering how Naminé had described it as a prison. 

“It’s still a little eerie when I visit sometimes,” Naminé confessed with a wry smile. “Castle Oblivion was a prison for me.” 

“It’s where the Organization had you take apart Sora’s memories, right?” Kairi asked, staring out at the bustling town below as the sunset’s lazy rays slowly melted the teal-colored ice cream in her hand. 

Naminé didn’t seem to care though, as the ice cream dripped down into the tangerine haze. She had a faraway look in her eyes. “It was. I’ve been wondering lately too how far those chains reach. I had only focused on taking them apart and rearranging them at the time, but…”

Kairi didn’t say anything. She knew what Naminé meant. Could those chains reach into unreality? Where Sora was?

Finally, she said, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out, Naminé.” Kairi tried offering an encouraging smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.  

“Kairi…” Naminé began but hesitated, biting her lower lip. 

“It’s okay,” Kairi said, shaking her head. “I just…Do you think there’s a way to keep from forgetting things? I know our memories are always in our hearts, but if I want to remember something more clearly…is that possible?”

She felt silly asking, but Naminé returned her question with a gentle smile. “I don’t know this for certain, but Ienzo and I were talking the other day and our theory is that the essence of a memory will always linger where it took place. So, if you visit that place, your heart is likely to respond, bringing the memory to the surface…”

As her eyes finally fluttered closed, Kairi thought about the places she could visit that reminded her of Sora and a small, bittersweet smile pulled at her lips. It wasn’t the reunion she was hoping for but it would still be something to hold onto. 

Before the sun had risen over the cloud-dusted mountaintops, Kairi left the Land of Departure using her Keyblade Glider. Her destination had been decided by a strange card she found on her nightstand. She wondered, briefly, if Ven’s companion Chirithy had left it for her as the cat-like creature still seemed to be a keeper of many of the worlds’ secrets. 

Nevertheless, Kairi couldn’t shake the feeling that the card came from somewhere else. Or someone else rather. Not that it mattered too much. Whoever left her the card had at least an inkling or two of where she should start her journey. 

Petals twirled around her as Kairi carefully landed her glider in the courtyard just outside Radiant Garden’s rose-colored castle. The air, still lacking dawn’s warm touch, seeped into her skin as she released her metallic rose armor.

Fishing the strange card from her pocket, Kairi stared at the image, which depicted the ghost of her homeworld. Hollow Bastion. Kairi had only been to the old castle once. The details were hazy as she had been asleep most of the time, but there was one thing she could never forget.

Sora.  

Aeleus and Dilan, having resumed their guard duties at the castle gates, moved aside without a word as Kairi made her way inside the entrance hall of the castle. 

This part of the castle was the same as before. Tall, rose-colored pillars striped with gold encircled the room while a split staircase framed a small fountain with a bronze dragon’s head. Water spilled out of the dragon’s mouth, filling the room with a steady babbling noise, and a trio of identical statues were placed on either side. One pair, with human builds and gold draconic heads, stood like silent sentinels, each propping one marble foot onto the edge of the fountain.  

Above her, the rose-colored chandelier was still suspended by alternating beads of jade and lapis lazuli. The flame that once blazed inside of it, however, was no longer blue. It roared a fiery red. It reminded Kairi of her grandmother somehow.

Kairi walked towards the center of the hall, her steps echoing off the blue marble floor. 

This was the first time where Sora came back to her, when he had turned into a Heartless. 

He was a small shadow, like any other. But her heart knew it was him the moment he had looked at her with those curious golden eyes. 

“This time, I’ll protect you.”

With a small smile, Kairi watched the scene play out before her, remembering how she had stood protectively in front of him as more and more shadows crept up from the floor. She didn’t have a Keyblade then, but was determined to keep Sora safe no matter what it took. 

And she remembered how tightly she had held onto him as the Heartless attacked them. He wasn’t human, but there was still a sense of spirit in him—one the Heartless seemed intent on stealing along with her heart. 

She could still feel the phantom sensations of their little claws desperately tearing at her skin as they buried her beneath a dome of inky black darkness and soulless yellow eyes. It was overwhelming. Suffocating.

But then there was a burst of light that erupted from her heart. It was a funny feeling. A sudden surge of warmth so powerful, it felt like her soul was on fire. 

Yet, what her heart remembered the most was Sora’s arms around her as the light faded, tiny glimmers spiraling around them. His hands, now whole and human, were gentle and didn’t release her even after the darkness had ebbed away. 

His voice was soft too, a tender tone lacing his words.

“Kairi, thank you.”

Kairi savored the moment again, and it was like someone had cast a Curaga spell on her. 

“You were right, Naminé,” Kairi murmured. This is what she needed. Sora was gone, but his essence, his memory still lingered here and she could feel it. 

For the first time in two years, Sora felt real again. 

And, despite herself, Kairi felt a small flicker of hope in her heart. Maybe…Maybe this journey would lead her to Sora. 

But where am I supposed to go next?

She thought about the strange card on her nightstand. Would there be more? 

As if in reply to her question, another card suddenly fluttered down from the ceiling. Kairi grabbed it.

This time the card depicted the busy lights and merchant signs of Traverse Town. 

Kairi’s heart leapt in her chest. She knew where to go.

Traverse Town was a wayward station for lost travelers, but maybe it was because Kairi was lost without Sora that her heart still found it. 

There had always been something comforting about Traverse Town. It had changed a lot since her last visit with many of its denizens returning to their original worlds, but the atmosphere remained the same with its crooked street lamps offering a comforting light to weary travelers. 

Kairi arrived at the First District, her eyes roving from the various shops in the town’s plaza to the cozy cafe nestled off to the side. Several couples occupied the tables at the cafe as they ate their meals. They happily chatted as the savory scents of fancy fare served by the world’s Moogles wafted through the air. 

A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as she walked by. I wish Sora and I could eat here together too. I bet Sora would want to pick up a recipe or two from the cooks here to share with Little Chef.  

On their last day together, Sora had impressed her his new skills as a chef during their stop at Twilight Town by making them both a delicious meal—Ratatouille and a Tarte aux Fruits topped with a paopu slice. 

What had amazed her the most, however, was when he showed her his little assistant hiding beneath his toque. 

Kairi giggled. “A rat has been teaching you how to cook?” 

“Hey, you can’t say you haven't seen stranger things before,” Sora quipped as his lips tipped into his signature goofy grin.  

“Touché,” Kairi replied and then reached forward to gently pet the creature on its head. “He’s pretty cute too.”

“Cuter than me?” 

Touching her chin, Kairi pretended to contemplate his question. “Hmmm…”

Sora pouted. “Kairi!”

Kairi giggled again before planting a swift kiss on his cheek.  

Sora’s entire face turned bright red, and the Little Chef scurried off Sora’s head wearing what Kairi could only describe as a smile. 

Lost in her reverie, Kairi continued from the First District into the Third. The Third District, unlike the First, had little place for its denizens to mill about. A couple of tables stood off to the side, likely meant for guests from the hotel overlooking the district’s checkered plaza, but not even one of the world’s many Moogles had tried setting up shop here. 

The Third District’s only notable attraction was the golden fountain of two dogs touching noses. It stood beneath a metal arch, and a row of lights illuminated the front of the statue, encasing it in a warm glow. 

Kairi had always wondered what world the dogs belonged to and if it had been restored when Ansem was defeated. 

Hopefully, they made it back home too.

When Kairi reached the door leading to Merlin’s home in the far back corner of the district, she readied a fire spell, carefully aiming it at the ember emblem on the door. The flame shot from the tip of her Keyblade. Immediately, the ember flickered to life, and the door opened.

The light inside the little hat-shaped house was surprisingly lit as Kairi followed the moving pathway leading to Merlin’s home. She carefully hopped from stone to stone to avoid falling into the stream below. Merlin didn’t visit his old abode often. With Radiant Garden in need of restoration, the eccentric magician had shifted his focus to helping Leon and the others rebuild their home. His new residence, unfortunately, wasn’t particularly conducive for practicing magic. At least not since Merlin’s last experiment almost destroyed their defense system, Claymore, in its entirety. Cid and Leon were less than pleased. 

Kairi rapped on the door, the hat-shaped weather vane spinning wildly above her. A likely reflection of the chaos inside. The door swung open on its own and inside a cacophony of floating furniture and cutlery haphazardly swirled around the room. 

“Higitus figitus!” Merlin called, waving his wand like a conductor of an orchestra. A pile of books near the desk in the corner of the room began to rise in response. 

Kairi dodged a stray tea pot and spoon as she edged towards the center of the room. All she really needed was access to the pedestal that led down into the Secret Passageway, but Merlin remained oblivious. He brandished his wand with increasing fervor until Kairi managed to stand directly in front of him. 

Startled, Merlin exclaimed a sharp, “Oh!” 

In turn, the floating furniture and other oddities collapsed unceremoniously to the ground with a loud thud. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you like that,” Kairi said, wincing. 

Merlin quickly collected himself and dismissed Kairi’s concerns with a friendly wave of his wand. “Now, now, it’s quite alright,” Merlin assured. “I knew you were coming but had simply lost track of the time.”

Ah, right. Merlin was a time traveler too. Sometimes Kairi forgot the extent of the peculiar magician’s powers. 

“Then you probably know why I’m here too, huh?” Kairi asked, offering Merlin a halfhearted smile. 

“You need access to the passageway below, yes?” Merlin answered with a question of his own. 

Kairi nodded. Technically, she could have gone through the alleyway, but Kairi preferred keeping her clothing dry as that route required a lengthy swim through the town’s waterway. 

Besides, it was nice to visit with Merlin. 

Though I wish Sora were here with me…

Merlin cast her a sympathetic smile as if reading her thoughts. “I’m sure the lad is doing fine. He was always a spirited one.”

“Yeah…” Kairi agreed and tried to muster a cheerier smile. Maybe Merlin was right or had even seen a future with Sora in it. If his powers extended past this reality. 

Kairi thought about asking the magician, but he ushered her towards the pedestal without delay, making sure she was standing securely in the center of it. 

“I’ll have you there in a jiffy,” Merlin told her. He started to prepare a new spell but then paused for a moment. He eyed Kairi curiously. “It appears the power within you has awoken, but hmmm…how strange…” Merlin trailed off mumbling something to himself before shaking his head and finishing his spell.

Strange? What did he think was strange about her powers? 

But before Kairi could reply, the stone pedestal began to move, lowering into the cavern below. 

A rush of cool, damp air greeted her immediately, and Kairi pulled her pink cardigan tighter across her chest, resisting the urge to shiver. All around her the green stone of the cavern glittered, water slowly dripping from the stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. The water around her was calm too; all the while, it steadily flowed throughout the cave. 

Kairi retraced her steps until she stood facing the mural at the back of the cave. It was the same as before. A pale, white crescent moon surrounded by stars. This place, tucked away from the rest of the world's ever-wandering inhabitants, was where she and Sora made their promise before the final battle with Ansem. 

Closing her eyes, Kairi replayed the memory in her mind. She remembered how they stood face to face against the backdrop of the painted moon’s subtle glow. After everything they had been through, Kairi didn’t want to let him go. Sora had the Keyblade, but he wasn’t invincible. 

She had been witness to that, having shielded his tiny Heartless body from danger. Sora told her it was her voice, her light that brought him back to life when he was trapped in the darkness. 

But what if her light couldn’t save him again? What if her voice could no longer reach him?

It certainly doesn’t feel like it can now…, Kairi thought glumly. 

The story her grandmother once told her, the light at the end of the tunnel, really did seem like a fairy tale now, but she couldn’t forget Sora’s unwavering confidence as he asserted how their hearts were connected.

“No matter how deep the darkness, a light shines within.”

Kairi smiled. His words had inspired her then, but he wouldn’t let her fight alongside him. 

So, Kairi had given him the one thing she could.

Her lucky charm. 

It was a piece of her heart that could still travel with his, and Kairi had been certain that magic held it together. 

“Take this,” Kairi said, placing the charm in his hand. The tiny face she had etched into the thalassa shells smiled up at him. “It’s my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me,” she added, leaning forward with her hands on her hips. 

“Don’t worry. I will,” Sora assured, clasping the charm tightly in his hand.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

The last line Kairi spoke aloud in a whisper to herself. “Don’t ever forget. Wherever you go, I’m always with you.”

Saying the words caused her heart to flutter, a glimmer of the happiness lingering from the ingrained memory of this place nestling itself inside. 

Placing a hand over her heart, Kairi shook her head. “Sora…this can’t be the end. I don’t know where you are, but I have to find you.”

And I know you’re always with me too. 

Kairi opened her eyes again. She carefully scanned her surroundings for her next clue until her gaze landed on a familiar card floating towards her from the mural in the back. She fished it out of the water and examined the new image depicted on it. 

“The World That Never Was…?” Kairi tilted her head. The memory associated with the world came to her mind easily, but…did it even still exist? (Though, technically, it never had, right?)

Abruptly, a dark corridor materialized in front of her, startling Kairi. The shadows twisted in an endless loop around the portal’s maw. 

Kairi’s eyes narrowed. So, someone is behind this…  

She didn’t know who, but it was clear that they knew something about Sora. If Riku were here, he would tell her to stay back. 

“But Riku isn’t here,” Kairi murmured before steeling her nerves and running headfirst into the darkness. 

Kairi had never exactly gotten a tour of The World That Never Was her first visit, so she was grateful that the portal deposited her not too far from the castle. 

Rain pitter-pattered onto the pavement from the typhoon of dark clouds circling overhead. Several buildings were clustered together, dimly lit save for the flickering neon signs advertising their various services and wares. At the center of the plaza, a single skyscraper reached towards the heavens above. It was the most brightly lit building with a split staircase leading to an awning decked out in electric blue neon lights with a star pulsating at the center. What drew Kairi’s attention most, however, were the tv screens at the very top of the tower. All shapes and sizes, they were stacked on top of one another in what Kairi felt was the most dangerous game of Jenga she had ever seen. Even eerier was the fact that none of the tv screens broadcasted a single image. They were just empty, glowing screens. 

She continued walking down the desolate street, the sounds of her boots on the concrete the only noise outside of the subtle hum of the neon signs, until she reached the translucent pathway leading to the castle.  

The castle itself stood in stark contrast to the rest of the world. Where all the buildings surrounding it were dark with little light to chase away the shadows, the castle was ivory with only a touch of gray. It hovered above the chasm below, illuminated by the soft golden glow of Kingdom Hearts. 

Briefly, Kairi wondered if anyone still lived in the castle at all. She knew, based on what Axel, Roxas, and Xion had told her, that previously only the Organization resided here as a means to carry out their operation. But did The World That Never Was even have other residents? Besides Nobodies. As she pondered this further, Kairi made her way into the castle.

It took her a while to reach her destination as the castle was full of what felt like endless doorways and passages, and her initial path to this location in particular was a tad…unconventional. 

Kairi couldn't help but laugh a little at her own antics, remembering how she had launched herself from the castle’s balcony to help Sora below. 

“You leave Sora alone!”

She had acted on impulse, determined to protect him again despite her only weapon being her heart. Until Riku had given her a Keyblade of her own, that is. 

“This time I’ll fight.”

Without hesitation, Kairi had sprung into action and began turning the swarm of shadows into dust. 

“And that was without any training,” Kairi mused proudly. Her eyes wandered across the Hall of Empty Melodies. Nobody symbols still hung on the walls with the larger one in the middle surrounded by an unusual angel wing motif. The symbol was patterned on the wall too along with other abstract shapes. 

Did Axel, Roxas, and Xion ever feel at home in a place like this?

Finally, Kairi walked towards the center of the hall’s balcony and took a deep breath. This was where she reunited with Sora. They had stood face to face like they had in the Secret Passageway more than a year ago, but unlike the last time, Kairi couldn’t help herself. Suddenly her loneliness, her worries, her longing…all bubbled up to the surface at once and without thinking, she threw her arms around him before he could even finish saying he was sorry.  

“This is real.”

Kairi remembered how tightly she had held onto him as if he would disappear again any moment. How his heartbeat stuttered against hers. How the pain in her heart slowly ebbed away as he returned her embrace, wrapping his arms around her. 

Finally, Kairi felt safe. Whole. 

Now there was nothing but a hole in her heart. 

She felt foolish constantly teetering between hope and despair, but she missed his hugs. She missed the way he said her name. She missed his smile. 

What if this whole journey was nothing but a deadend? Whoever was behind this could be just taunting her as some kind of sick joke. After all, fate seemed intent on tearing them apart. Not to mention all of the enemies they had made over the years. 

“Sora,” Kairi whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. “Please. I need a sign. I know you’re with me, but I need to know that this is real.”

It was then that Kairi felt a flicker of Sora’s presence, his ghost embracing her for a split second like he had in her memory. But it was him. His touch, though no more than a featherlight kiss against her skin, held the same strength and tenderness.

“It really is you,” Kairi breathed. She opened her eyes, which glistened with tears, and smiled. “Thank you, Sora.” Even across realities, their hearts were still intertwined. The only question now was where she would go next? 

This mysterious entity guiding her might not be friendly, but Sora had made it clear she was on the right track. 

Glancing around, Kairi searched for the next card until it became evident that her guide had chosen a different location for this clue. She meandered around the castle for a while longer, checking various rooms and alcoves but eventually, Kairi returned to the dismal streets outside. 

Was it possible it was out here? Puzzled, Kairi tried to think of where else the card might have been tucked away when suddenly a small creature approached her. It wore a black Organization cloak with the hood obscuring its face. There was also, strangely enough, a familiar red pom pom antenna bobbing on the top of its head. 

Wait…was that…

Kairi gasped, “A Moogle…?”  

“Not so loud, kupo,” the Moogle hissed. “Now take this before somebody sees. I was paid a lot of munny to deliver this, kupo.” Discreetly, it handed her a single card. 

Her next clue. 

Kairi’s brows furrowed as she looked down at the card. “But who…?”

She looked back to the creature for answers, but it had already melted back into the darkness. 

“Can’t say I haven’t seen anything stranger,” Kairi said with a sigh.

A balmy breeze and endless sea welcomed Kairi as she arrived on the sandy shores of Destiny Islands. Or more, more precisely, the Play Island. 

It wasn’t a surprise to her that she had ended up here. It was inevitable really. Destiny Islands was both where her journey with Sora began…and ended. 

So, it was only natural that her mysterious guide chose to bring her to the place closest to her heart. 

Her eyes followed the line of tropical trees and shrubbery sprouting from the wooden constructions built from endless hours of work under the island sun. There was a lifetime of memories woven into this world. 

Even so, Kairi knew where to go first. 

She ambled across the silky sand to the small wooden staircase leading to the island’s dock. The sea, its water reflecting the setting sun’s dreamy orange rays, lapped at the shore, filling her ears with its comforting rhythm. Clouds melted into the horizon, bathed in the same spectrum of sunset hues as Kairi sat at the edge of the dock. 

Sora’s phantom sat next to her, hands splayed behind him casually. It was easy to imagine. They had spent the whole day building a raft to set out to a new world beyond their island. Or rather, Kairi supervised Sora and Riku as they built the raft. Kairi chuckled at the thought. 

They were so close to their adventure, but Kairi didn’t want it to be the three of them anymore. 

“Sora, let’s take the raft and go—just the two of us!” 

Maybe it had been selfish of her to say something like that, but Riku had changed. It scared her. Sora, on the other hand, was the same as always. Full of optimism and an unmatched kindness that always made her feel safe. 

Who wouldn’t want to set sail with someone like him? Yet, Kairi knew Sora hadn’t understood her declaration back then and so she let her words lapse into a simple joke. 

She recalled his response as he laughed, telling her she had changed. 

“I really have changed, haven’t I?” Kairi mused, fiddling with her pendant as the wind tousled her hair. With her heart so fragile now, maybe that wasn’t a good thing, but at least she had stopped waiting. Stopped being afraid of the worlds outside her island. 

That had to count for something, right? 

As long as Sora was the same, everything would be alright. 

“Sora, don’t ever change.”

Her words, spoken with affection, drifted into her mind. It was the last thing she had told him that night.

“And I still mean it. You better not ever change, you lazy bum,” Kairi said with a smile. There was no reply, but Kairi was now certain Sora could hear her wherever he was. 

With a sigh, Kairi dusted off her skirt and stood back up. Her next destination wasn’t too far away, and Kairi retraced her past steps with ease. The Secret Place, a small cave hidden beneath a layer of foliage at the base of the island’s largest tree, was where she and Sora often played together as children. It was also the place that held some of Kairi’s most treasured memories of Sora. 

Kairi examined the various misshapen stones of the cave, chuckling at the silly scribbles etched onto the surface. Castles, creatures, ships sailing through a sea of stars…they really had created their own little eclectic gallery of artwork. Her favorite, however, was at the very center of the cave. It was no masterpiece by any artist’s standards, but seeing it always made her smile no matter how sad she was. 

The drawing, crudely scrawled on the stone, depicted Sora and Kairi’s grinning faces as they shared the island’s legendary paopu fruit. Kairi remembered how she had found the drawing as their island was restored. It wasn’t complete then, but Sora’s confession was clear. In the empty space between their faces, he had drawn a hand reaching towards her with a paopu fruit. 

It was so sweet and goofy. So… Sora.  

Kairi, of course, then answered his confession by picking up a stone and completing their island’s fabled ritual with a paopu fruit of her own. 

Touching her hand to the cool surface of the stone, Kairi slowly traced the outline of the drawing with a wistful smile. Even now, she could feel Sora’s love and affection in every stroke. It was like the waves of their beloved sea gently washing over her. 

There was no sound in the cave save for the distant roar of the ever-cascading waterfall outside. It felt peaceful and like Sora was here with her. 

“You knew I would come in here again, didn’t you?” Kairi asked and her voice, quiet as it was, still echoed off the stone walls. “You made me so happy.” She paused and then added, “When you come home, we’ll share the paopu fruit again to celebrate, okay?”

There was no reply, but Kairi didn’t mind this time. After a while, she drew back from the stone wall and started to drift towards the cave’s entrance. She stole one last glance at their drawing and for an instant, she swore she saw his younger self smile back at her as he carved his confession into the stone. 

But when she blinked, he was gone. 

Kairi’s heartbeat quickened. She had to be close now. 

The last place Kairi visited on the island held her best and worst memories of Sora. It was where she and Sora, after years of waiting, finally exchanged the paopu fruit. But…it was also the place where Sora inevitably faded from this reality. 

The paopu fruit tree. 

Crossing the bridge that connected the main island to a smaller islet, Kairi felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest as she stared up at the long, crooked tree. 

C’mon, Kairi…Sora would want you to focus on the happier memories here.

Like how happy she was to give Sora a real paopu fruit. She had been nervous, but that silly little doodle had given her the courage she needed to finally confess her feelings directly to him. To show him she was serious in a tangible way. 

“I just want to be part of your life no matter what. That’s all.” 

The ritual was simple but irrevocable. She could still recall the tart taste and audible crunch of the paopu as they each took a bite.  

And she knew it was what his heart had yearned for too because beneath his surprise at her gesture was a smile warmer than the sunset cocoon encasing them. 

“Kairi, I’ll keep you safe.”

His words, like always, made her happier than he would ever know, but Kairi shook her head.  “Let me keep you safe.”

And, according to Naminé, she did. When Sora was lost in the Final World, she was the one who held him together. 

“If only I could have kept you from fading away…” Kairi murmured. She hoisted herself onto the tree’s thick trunk and released a wistful sigh. Above her, the tree’s thick tropical leaves cast shadows across the sandy floor and a pair of ripe paopu fruit hung in anticipation for the next couple ready to intertwine their fates.  

On Sora’s last day in this reality, they sat watching the sun disappear beneath the horizon. His hand covered hers, the weight a reassurance he was still with her in those final moments. 

Until he wasn’t.

She remembered how he melted into the light slowly and then all at once. 

But it was his last words…four simple words that ultimately broke her. 

“I love you, Kairi.”

Sitting here beside his ghost made the words feel real again, and the tidal wave of emotions that came with them nearly overwhelmed Kairi. 

Without warning, a single tear rolled down Kairi’s cheek at the memory, and she closed her eyes. “I love you too, Sora.” 

This was the end of the journey, wasn’t it? This is what she was supposed to remember. 

“Well, well, looks like you can follow instructions after all. Bravo!”

Kairi’s eyes snapped open and she gasped. 

Sprawled out on the spot next to her on the paopu fruit tree was a tall figure wearing a black Organization cloak. His leg hung lazily over the side of the trunk and in his hands was a single yellow paopu fruit, which he casually tossed into the air. “I’ll say it would have been pretty embarrassing for me if you hadn’t after all that work I did.” He then noticed her eyes following the fruit. “Oh this? You see, I’m a bit of a romantic at heart. Hard to believe, I know. Me of all people? Relax, I’m not interested in sharing it with you.” 

Regaining her composure, Kairi bolted from the tree and got into a defensive position. So this was who led her here. “W-Who are you?”

“What? No ‘hello, how are you?’ I’m hurt,” the figure said sarcastically, placing a hand over his heart. He jumped down from the tree, stretching his arms over his head. “Really, you should be thanking me. Sora is as real as he’s ever been and that’s courtesy of yours truly.”  

Kairi’s eyes widened. “You know where Sora is, don’t you? Tell me!” 

“My my,” the figure said, wagging his finger at her scoldingly, “someone needs to work on their manners.” When Kairi didn’t smile, the figure let out an exaggerated sigh. “Lighten up a little, will you? Though I will say, you are on the munny with that one. I do know where your precious Sora is, but I don’t know if I wanna tell you anymore when you’ve been so rude to me…” the figure trailed off, turning away from her.

“I don’t have time for your stupid games, tell me where Sora is now !” Kairi demanded, summoning her Keyblade. It was clear now this man was her enemy. 

However, instead of the blue hilt of Destiny’s Embrace, the Keyblade that materialized in her hand was a metallic rose gold with a sharp, pointed end. Foreign runes were inscribed on it from a language long forgotten and golden vines wrapped around the blade making both the weapon’s handle and teeth. But even the trio of crystal flowers, which blossomed from the Keyblade’s teeth in shades of pale pink and blue, were unfamiliar to her. The only thing familiar about the Keyblade was the crown-shaped keychain dangling from the hilt. 

Paralyzed, Kairi could only stare at the weapon, her heart suddenly trembling. “W-What is this…?”

“Oh that?” the figure said, gesturing mockingly towards her Keyblade with one hand. Almost as if he was bored. “That’s just what happens when you let darkness inside of your heart. “

Darkness? In her heart? But that was impossible, wasn’t it? 

Or was that what Master Aqua and Merlin were concerned about all along…

“But I’m a—” Kairi started to protest but the figure cut her off.

“A Princess of Heart, right?” he finished. “Unfortunately for you, even a Princess of Heart can lose her crown. Not to worry though, that doesn’t mean there’s only darkness in your heart. In fact, consider it a good thing. Now, you can go see Sora.”

Sora. 

“I can…see Sora…?” Kairi asked, tightening her grip on her new weapon. She still didn’t quite understand what was going on, but if a little darkness in her heart meant she could see Sora… “Please, take me to him. I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Anything you say?” the figure tapped a finger to the hood of his cloak thoughtfully before his voice grew devious.“Well, if you insist.” Suddenly, the figure lunged towards her, summoning his own Keyblade. It was black with silver highlights and a goat’s head towards the hilt. “If you can beat me in this fight, I’ll happily take you to see Sora.” 

This brought Kairi back to her senses, and she blocked the figure’s attack with her new Keyblade, which seemed to cut through the air faster than her old one. 

“Great defense!” the figure cheered. He leaned back, narrowly avoiding a swipe of her Keyblade over his head. “You know, I’ve had my eye on you for a while. Literally. ” He gestured towards the round blue orb near the tip of his Keyblade. “And I’m impressed.”

Distracted, Kairi balked at the sight. That was his actual eye?!  

“What—ughhh!” 

Abruptly, Kairi flew backwards as the figure broke through her defense, landing a heavy blow. 

“Or I should say I was impressed. You really need to focus, Kairi. I don’t want to beat you too easily,” the figure chastised.

Staggering to her feet, Kairi snarled, “How do you know my name? Who are you? Are you part of the Organization?”

“The Organization?” the figure scoffed beneath his hood. “For your information, I was the one who started this fashion trend. They’re the ones who copied me. Not that I’d expect you to know that.”

“So you’re not going to tell me who you are?” Kairi asked. Secretly, she began casting a spell, the tip of her Keyblade growing red with fire. If she could just keep him talking long enough…

The figure slapped himself upside the head. “Oh, that’s right! You may refer to me as the Master of Masters or MoM for short!”

“You can’t be serious,” Kairi muttered. This guy was a total nut. Did he actually know where Sora was? I guess I’ll find out either way if he’s telling the truth. Her spell finally ready, Kairi aimed her Keyblade at the Master of Masters and shouted, “FIRAGA!”

The flame, molten hot, raced towards him. It would hit him for sure. Her aim was perfect this time.

Yet, at the last second, the Master of Masters simply sidestepped the attack, the spell sailing into the air past him before dissolving into smoke. 

Kairi’s heart sank. 

“Now this is just sad,” the Master of Masters said, hanging his head in lament as he wandered towards her. “I was hoping this fight would last a little bit longer, but it looks like you still have a lot to learn.”

Kairi launched a volley of attacks at the Master of Masters, furiously striking her Keyblade against his. But nothing worked. He kept a steady hold on his weapon with just one hand, parrying and countering whenever necessary but never taking a single hit. 

Tears began to prickle behind her eyes. It just wasn’t fair. All that training and she couldn’t even land one hit. No wonder Riku and Aqua didn’t think she was ready to fight on her own. This was pathetic. She was pathetic. 

I came all this way and for what? I never should have gotten my hopes up. Sora is gone, and I’ll never see him again. Not in this life anyway. 

Defeated, Kairi collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. Her Keyblade dissolved beside her, but Kairi was too tired and numb to care anymore.  “You won. I don’t get to see Sora now, so you can leave.”

The Master of Masters released his own weapon in reply and put his hands behind his back. “That’s it, huh? You lose a fight and you’re suddenly ready to kick the bucket. Kids these days.” He shook his head, prattling on as walked around the islet. “Tell you what, since you’re so sad and can’t possibly live without your dear sweet boyfriend, instead of telling you where Sora is…I’ll just send you to him. Easy Breezy.”

“I don’t believe you,” Kairi said, narrowing her eyes. 

“Sure you don’t,” The Master of Masters quipped back, waving a hand dismissively. “But you’ll see. I always make good on my word. It might hurt just a tiny little bit but hey, love hurts, right? Not that I would know.”

Of course he wouldn’t know. The idea made Kairi laugh even as tears streamed down her face. Love really did hurt.

“Finally, a smile! I’m sure Sora will love to see that,” the Master of Masters said, his tone giddy. His Keyblade materialized in his hand again, and the blue eye at its tip mirrored the Master’s glee as he raised it over Kairi’s head.

Kairi didn’t look up, but her smile stayed intact. I’m sorry, Sora. I tried. I really did. 

Suddenly, Kairi’s world went dark.

When Kairi opened her eyes again, it was raining. 

Where am I? Did I…did I die?

She stumbled to her feet, a cold chill seeping into her skin, as she scanned her new surroundings. She was standing on a city crosswalk encompassed by countless buildings and bright lights. Some of the buildings reached so far into the sky that they appeared endless.  Others streamed a constant loop of advertisements on enormous screens. There were cars too. Each one a different color as they zipped along the freshly paved streets. 

It was as if she had stepped into another reality altogether. 

Kairi felt her panic rising. She really had died, hadn’t she? This was clearly some kind of hell. 

Which means there’s no way back home. 

And no hope of ever finding Sora again. 

A heavy lump formed in her throat as she realized all of this, new tears forming behind her eyes as she silently grieved her fate. Everything and everyone she ever knew was gone now. There were no second chances, no turning back time. This was it. 

Without warning, the traffic light above her head turned red, and the vehicles racing through the street’s intersection came to a sudden halt. A sea of people, mostly dressed in business attire, followed after. Kairi followed too, quickly engulfed by the chattering crowd as they propelled her to the other side of the crosswalk. 

A gentleman wearing a gray suit and holding a briefcase knocked into her, and Kairi nearly lost her footing. The man didn’t apologize. He carried on as though nothing had happened and so did the people around her. 

This is nothing like the islands, Kairi thought to herself morosely. In fact, she wouldn’t be surprised if these people turned out to be some kind of Heartless as they certainly seemed to lack empathy. 

She continued letting the crowd pull her along until she reached one of the buildings with a vibrant display. The signage didn’t make any sense to her, but at least she was finally out of the hurricane of foreign city sounds. 

Crossing her arms tightly across her chest, Kairi began wandering aimlessly through the city. It didn’t matter where she went anymore. There was nothing to return to and not a single person spared her a glance, too busy with finding their own way. 

Eventually, she found an old stone bridge with a river running by it near an abandoned park. Kairi walked underneath the bridge, her gaze following the curve of the stone. It was peaceful here and reminded Kairi of the secret cave in Traverse Town where she had given Sora her lucky charm. 

“Sora...”

Her lips quivered. If only she could see him just one more time. 

“Kairi…!”

That voice. 

His voice. 

Kairi turned around and smiled.