Chapter Text
After the Keyblade War and Xehanort's defeat, the worlds were finally safe from darkness. The Guardians of Light were able to rest and find peace. Friends were reunited with loved ones lost long ago, while those who had suffered found the closure they had been searching for. Even long-hidden truths had come to light. For most of the guardians, it seemed everything was finally alright again.
Yet everything had moved so quickly after the battle. Some mourned those who were lost, while others searched for a way to bring Sora back. It almost felt like yesterday when Sora had gone to save her, using the Power of Waking to find the fragments of her shattered heart and piece them back together.
Those final moments with him felt like a fading dream.
They had reunited once more to end the battle side by side, calling upon their friends to help deliver the final blow. Together, they began rebuilding the bond that had weakened over the years. They traveled from world to world, talking and enjoying the little time they had left together. They helped Chirithy reunite with Ventus and freed Naminé's heart so she could finally have a life of her own.
And then there was the sunset.
The two of them sat together beneath the same tree they had always returned to as children. The tree where the three friends once watched the sun sink below the horizon. The tree where they dreamed of building a raft and exploring new worlds.
The tree where they kept a childhood promise and shared two paopu fruits.
"This charm will make sure we won't be separated again."
The unspoken promise had finally been fulfilled.
In his final moments, Sora gently squeezed her hand, offering one last comfort before he faded away completely.
"Take care of him."
Those words never left her.
Kairi remembered Riku telling her that he had once said something similar to Sora when they closed the Door to Darkness.
"Take care of her."
She knew the sincerity behind those words. Yet a small part of her wasn't sure she could keep that promise.
So, she chose to sleep, hoping her heart could find Sora somewhere within her memories. There had to be a clue, some trace that would lead her to him.
She slept for a year and found almost nothing.
Instead of answers, she uncovered secrets buried deep within her past. Memories of being sent away to find the Keyblade. Memories that revealed who had torn her away from her home.
Xehanort.
It was always him.
His words echoed through her mind as though he were still there, taunting her.
"You seek clues to Sora's whereabouts by using your memories of him, to search through your own heart... But there's nothing for you to find here. I'm afraid the answers you seek lie in memories that are long gone."
When she finally awoke, it felt as though she had gained nothing but painful memories and was no closer to finding Sora than before.
In the end, it was Riku who set out to save him once again.
Kairi couldn't help but wish she could go with him, help bring Sora home, and fulfill the promise she had been left with.
But she knew it wasn't her time.
After her year-long sleep yielded no results, she threw herself into training under Aqua. It gave her something to focus on. Something to distract her from everything that had happened.
Something to distract her from him.
She blamed herself for what had happened to Sora, and the nightmares only made it worse.
Maybe if I were stronger.
Maybe if I hadn't shown up on the islands.
Maybe if I had reached out to him more.
Those thoughts never left her mind. Endless what-ifs that haunted her day and night.
And things only became harder when the day finally came when her training was complete.
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It felt like only yesterday when Ven came to her room to see if she was ready.
"Kairi! You ready?"
Smiling to herself, she responded, "Yeah, I'll be out in a second."
Before finishing getting dressed, she paused in front of the mirror. Months of training had left her noticeably stronger, her muscles more defined than before.
Sora and Riku would be proud, she thought.
As she reached for her top, her eyes landed on the scar that remained across her back.
A reminder.
A reminder of that day.
The day she wasn't strong enough. The day she wasn't fast enough.
She hated it, but she used it as a reminder of her failure.
If only I had been stronger.
For a moment, she stared at it, unable to stop the nightmares from creeping back into her mind. Xehanort's voice always echoed through them.
"It's your fault he's gone."
"You practically led me to him."
"No wonder you were left behind."
"Weak."
The words repeated night after night.
She hated it.
She hated him.
And sometimes she hated herself for being weak.
"Kairi, are you doing okay in there?"
Ven's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Y-Yeah. I'm coming."
She quickly finished getting dressed and opened the door, startling Ven in the process.
"Morning," he said with a smile before noticing her hair. "You have your hair down today. I-it looks nice."
"It does?" Kairi asked, realizing she had forgotten to tie it up, completely missing his second comment.
Picking up on that, Ven cleared his throat.
"Are you sure you're okay today? I know you haven't been sleeping well since Riku left. It's okay if you need a break. I'm sure Aqua would understand."
Kairi knew Ven meant well. He always checked in on her and never pushed her too hard during training. He was always there when she needed someone.
And she appreciated it.
But...
"No, I'm fine. Besides, I'd hate to keep everyone waiting. Everyone came to support me today."
Roxas, Xion, Naminé, and Axel had all shown up to cheer her on. They had even managed to convince Isa to come.
"If you're sure, then let's get going," Ven said.
Together, they headed down the hall.
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When they arrived at the training room, almost everyone was already there. The only ones missing were Hayner, Pence, and Olette.
Taking a deep breath, Kairi stepped forward and greeted Aqua.
"Good morning, Master Aqua."
Aqua turned toward her with a soft smile.
"I told you before, Kairi. You don't have to call me Master. Aqua is fine."
Kairi nodded and smiled before waving to everyone else.
"You got this, Kairi!" Axel shouted from across the room.
Roxas and Xion immediately tried to quiet him down, only for Isa to smack him on the back of the head.
Kairi couldn't help but laugh.
Looking over at Ven, she said, "I'm right behind you."
Ven had passed his own test only a few weeks earlier. She still remembered how nervous he had been, pacing back and forth and constantly asking her for advice.
"I know you've got this," he said, giving her a warm smile.
A faint blush touched her cheeks before he went to sit beside Terra.
Kairi had noticed that happening a lot more lately, but she hadn’t had any time to focus on the occasional feeling of butterflies in her chest. Chirithy had teased her about something related to it, but she hadn’t paid them any mind. Still, a part of her wondered...
She shook her head and turned toward Aqua with determination. She could think about this another time.
"Are you ready, Kairi?" Aqua asked.
"I'm ready."
The first part of the test wasn't too bad. She had to strike floating orbs that appeared around the room and keep them balanced. It was confusing, but manageable.
After that came magic.
Back during the battle against the Seekers, she had never been confident in her spellcasting abilities. Now, however, she could proudly cast Firaga, Blizzaga, Thundaga, and Curaga with ease.
She still had room to improve, but she had come a long way.
Once Aqua was satisfied, the next task came with a surprise.
"Aqua?"
Aqua stepped forward.
"Your final task is to face me. This battle will show not only how far you've come in skill and combat, but more importantly, in heart."
The room fell silent.
Ven looked especially nervous for her, though he still managed to give her a thumbs up.
The others seemed just as shocked.
Kairi knew Ven had fought Terra during his exam, but she had assumed her test would be different.
"Are you ready for your final task?" Aqua asked.
Kairi took a deep breath.
She had come too far to stop now.
"Kairi, you've got this!" Axel called.
The others quickly joined in.
"Show her what you can do!"
With renewed determination, Kairi stepped forward.
"I'm ready."
What happened next almost caught her completely off guard.
Aqua rushed forward, Keyblade in hand, and Kairi barely blocked the first strike in time.
Focus.
Pushing Aqua back, Kairi launched into her own attack. She dodged strike after strike while returning blows of her own.
For the first time, she felt like she was truly keeping up.
Reflect blocked spells coming from every direction while she searched for openings to counterattack.
She was doing well.
Until Aqua suddenly disarmed her.
The room went silent.
Aqua lowered her Keyblade slightly.
"Do you yield?"
No. Not again.
Her thoughts began spiraling.
Just like that day.
Just like when you couldn't fight back.
Weak.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
"Don't give up." It was Ven. His voice was soft and quiet, yet she could hear him clearly, as if he were speaking to her alone. "You've come so far. You can do this!"
Kairi glanced toward the crowd.
Axel was practically on the edge of his seat. The others held their breath, waiting.
Ven was right.
She couldn't give up now.
Taking a steadying breath, she pushed those dark thoughts aside.
"No..."
Aqua raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Kairi slowly looked up.
"No. I do not yield."
In an instant, her Keyblade appeared in her free hand.
Before Aqua could react, Kairi struck, knocking Aqua's weapon from her grasp and reversing their positions.
Now it was Aqua staring down the tip of Kairi's Keyblade.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Aqua smiled.
"Not bad. You've demonstrated great skill, strength, and confidence today."
She paused proudly.
"It is my pleasure to say that you have passed."
The room erupted into cheers.
Axel immediately tackled her into a hug.
"I knew you could do it, Princess!"
Soon everyone was surrounding her.
I did it.
I finished my training.
"Never doubted you for a second," Roxas said, lightly punching her shoulder.
"Yeah," Xion added with a smile. "Naminé and I knew you'd pull through."
Even Isa offered his congratulations.
Kairi smiled and thanked them all.
She should have been happy.
She had achieved what she set out to do.
So why did it still not feel like enough?
"Kai."
Kairi blinked and realized everyone had left except one person.
Ven stood nearby, waiting.
"I just wanted to say you were amazing out there," he said. "I knew you could do it."
"Thanks. I couldn't have done it without our secret sparring sessions."
A faint blush immediately appeared on Ven's face.
Kairi was fairly certain Aqua knew about those "secret" practices, but she never had the heart to tell him. Ven loved having something that felt like it belonged to just the two of them.
Those moments had helped them both open up about everything that had happened.
Talking to Ven always felt easy.
It reminded her of talking with Sora.
The thought made her chest ache.
She missed him.
She missed Riku, too.
Quickly shaking the feeling away, she tapped Ven on the shoulder.
"Where did everyone go?"
Ven blinked, as if snapping out of a trance of his own.
"Oh. They're outside watching the stars and celebrating." His cheeks turned a little pink from embarrassment. "Did you want to join them?"
Kairi thought about it for a moment before smiling.
"Yeah. Let's go."
Together, they headed outside to join the others.
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That night was fun and filled with laughter as everyone spent time together. Kairi couldn't help but smile, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. Deep down, she still felt like she needed to be stronger. Like she wasn't strong enough. Like she wasn't enough.
The nightmares never truly went away. If anything, they only grew worse after her training ended. Returning to Destiny Islands didn’t help either. It didn't feel the same as it once had. She loved reconnecting with Selphie and the others, but she still couldn't shake the feeling of being alone.
Neither Riku nor Sora had returned since she began training. All she could do was hope they were safe wherever they were. She just wished there was something more she could do to help them.
Weeks passed after the night of her exam, but she found herself missing training. It had given her something to focus on. Something that kept the thoughts away. Now those thoughts seemed to grow louder with each passing day.
She eventually confided in Naminé, who seemed to understand her feelings better than anyone else. Naminé always tried to be there for her, even if it sometimes hurt seeing Roxas, Xion, and Naminé together so happily. Kairi wished she could feel that same sense of peace.
But everything changed one week while they were visiting the Land of Departure.
At first, everything seemed normal. However, everyone grew busy and increasingly stressed while planning their next move. They had lost contact with Donald and Goofy, who had seemingly vanished without a trace. According to the King, they had been traveling through other worlds before disappearing.
It reminded Kairi of the search for Sora.
It didn't help that they had also lost contact with Riku during his dream journey several months earlier. The uncertainty only made her nightmares worse, and soon her doubts began creeping into her waking thoughts.
One idea echoed through her mind louder than all the others.
What if I went back?
What if I used the Power of Waking like Sora did?
Maybe I could change things.
The thought grew stronger as the week went on until she finally shared it with Naminé.
Unfortunately, Roxas overheard.
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"What do you mean you want to go back?" Roxas asked, clearly frustrated. "You can't seriously be thinking about using the Power of Waking, can you?"
Kairi hadn't intended for anyone else to hear. She had only wanted to tell Naminé and maybe get her opinion.
"I don't know," Naminé said thoughtfully. "Would it really affect things if she went back? Xehanort did something similar, didn't he?"
"Of course it would!" Roxas shouted. "It could mess everything up!"
"It was just a thought..." Kairi said quietly, feeling defeated.
"It better stay just a thought." Roxas let out a sigh before his expression softened. "I'm sorry, Kairi. I know you miss them. We all do. But you'd be risking more than just yourself. You could be putting everyone else in danger too."
Awkwardly, he pulled her into a brief hug.
"Just promise me you'll tell us if you start having thoughts like this again, okay?"
Kairi nodded.
Roxas gave her a worried look before motioning for Naminé to follow him. The two left the room, leaving Kairi alone with her thoughts once more.
But what if it was different this time...?
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A couple of nights later, Kairi made her decision. She was going to do it. She was going to try using the Power of Waking.
She gathered her things and got dressed, unaware of the pair of eyes watching her. Making her way deeper into the tower, she entered one of the farther rooms to make sure she wouldn't be seen.
She tried to remember how she had heard Sora access it.
Look into your heart and reach out.
Closing her eyes, she focused on her heart and the connections she shared with the people she cared about. Then she reached for the memories of the past. But before she could fully concentrate, she heard the door creak open.
"K-Kairi, what are you doing?"
It was Naminé, looking at her with concern.
"Interesting seeing you up at this hour, Naminé," Kairi said, attempting to change the subject.
"Kairi..." Naminé replied softly. "I know you miss him. I know you miss them both. But this isn't the way."
Sighing, Kairi turned to face her fully.
"But what other way is there? We lost Riku, and now even Donald and Goofy are gone. What if there's a chance, even a small one, to go back and change things? To save Sora and make sure we don't lose anyone else."
She turned back and tried again.
"Kairi, I know what you're feeling, but we have to have faith in them. When have Riku or Sora ever failed to defy the odds stacked against them?" Naminé said. "There has to be another way than this."
Kairi sighed.
"Whether you're with me or not, my mind is made up. I have to try, at least."
It didn't help that her nightmares had been pushing her toward this decision. The voice was always there.
“Not like you can go back.”
“Not like him. You're not strong enough.”
“What change could you possibly bring?”
The words echoed through her mind night after night.
Naminé sighed reluctantly.
"If I can't stop you, can I at least make sure you don't hurt yourself?"
Kairi nodded and began again.
This time, it felt different. A gentle breeze stirred through the room, and a warm sensation spread from her chest throughout her heart.
I think I'm doing it.
She raised her arm and summoned her Keyblade.
This is it. It must be.
As the Keyblade emitted a brilliant light, she heard hurried footsteps running toward them. The door burst open, revealing Roxas.
"KAIRI, STO..."
Before he could finish, the light consumed all three of them.
The room fell silent.
The only sign they had ever been there was a scattered bag of belongings left behind on the floor.