Day 53
Traverse Town
Time -
Endless Night
You take Kairi's hand, unsure if she's trembling or you are. Maybe both. You want to support her.
But how can you, when you can't even support yourself?
"... What's going on?" Riku asks. When Kairi cannot find the words, his eyes dart to yours. "Sora, you know something?"
Your heart feels like it's frozen in your chest.
"I... yeah, but I... I can't say."
It's too much. What would you even say? "Kairi got tortured for who knows how long!"
Laguna looks between the three of you, as Riku grits his teeth. He looks like he's about to wring you by the neck. "You can't say?
You can't say!? What the crap!?
Aren't we friends? We're supposed to stick out for each other! How can I do that if you won't tell me jack-"
"Oh, and I've got her memories of it, and they hurt like they were my own! So that's what the crap!" Of course you can't say!
"It's... not for me to tell," you say. Riku's words hurt - maybe because they're true.
And yet you're still hiding behind excuses, putting it all on Kairi. You coward. But who'd blame you?
Riku looks between the two of you. "...So that's how it is, then?" He asks. "... Fine."
He will. You will.
He turns to walk away.
"Riku..." Kairi says. "It's not that we don't trust you, it's... it's jus-"
It's just too much. Don't you know it?
"Enough!" Riku slams his fist against the doorframe. "Don't go telling lies to spare my feelings, Kairi."
He walks out the door, and Goofy looks between the two of you and the door. He and Laguna meet glances, and some kind of unspoken agreement passes between them. Goofy nods, and walks a bit quickly out of the room.
"I'll admit, Riku's got his reasons. He's been having a tough time, lately," Laguna says, his voice composed once more. Or perhaps he's trying to sound composed. "But I can tell the same goes for you two. Cortana, can you get us some refreshments?"
"Of course." Cortana's voice echoes through the room.
Laguna motions for the two of you to sit at his desk. Kairi obliges, though her eyes keep drifting towards the Report, still sitting on the desk.
"Alright then - something's eating at you two, it's pretty obvious that it has something to do with this here report." Laguna picks up the paper, noting Kairi's gaze following it. "And sure, it's... pretty messed up."
What an understatement.
"But you reaction is way worse than anyone else's. So. I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say... the two of you know the... uh...?"
"... Specimen," Kairi mutters.
"That."
"... It's not that I don't want to tell Riku..." Kairi repeats. "It just... hurts too much. I... Sora only knows because we were in each others' hearts." She sighs. "But I don't want to share the pain - not with him. He doesn't deserve to hurt like this."
"A pain shared is a pain split," Laguna says. "Or so I've been told. Doesn't have to be with Riku. I think the two of you should find... well, some professional help. Riku probably should, too. While you're here, I might recommend the School for Gifted Youngsters. The headmasters there know their stuff. But... well... you guys travel a whole lot, so it'd be hard to get you a full time therapist."
"Huh?"
"A therapist. A counselor. Someone to help you through your troubles. Sometimes, just talking with someone who isn't directly tied to the situation can help. Whatever this pain is, you don't have to face it alone." He pauses as knocking is heard from the door. "Come on in!"
The door opens, and Mr. Dumbledore comes in, dropping off a tea set. "I heard from Cortana that the three of you needed some tea. I don't have all the tools from my cafe, but I hope it suits." His twinkling eyes seem to peer into your soul as he sets the drinks down with the ease of someone used to making room for pleasantries on a desk full of business. "Pinkie Pie would like you to come by for a visit, once we're open again. We'll make you some proper tea. With lemon drops, perhaps?"
You and Kairi manage a thank-you before the elderly shopkeeper steps out the door.
Laguna looks fondly after the man as the door closes. "Mr. Dumbledore's pretty good at the whole 'talking to people' thing, too. I'm no slouch, but... well, he has some experience."
The three of you take a cup, and dunk down a somewhat calming draught. Your hands stop trembling quite so hard as you set your cup back on the set. Both Kairi and Laguna sip gingerly at their own cups. There's a somewhat awkward pause, as both you and Laguna look for the words to say next - but Kairi seems to have already found the words she wants to say. She merely doesn't seem quite able to say-
"... The specimen..." Kairi manages. "It was... me."
Laguna, mid-sip, manages
not to choke on his cup. He pauses, and finishes his cup in one gulp. "Straight to it, then?"
"... Straight to it," Kairi says. "I... I didn't know, until that... mess... but when I woke up, I knew. And it hurts." Kairi looks down at her cup, hands still trembling. "I remember every single second of it."
Laguna is silent. "I... see..." He looks over the Report. "I guess... I get to say sorry, personally. There's a lot of schematics in his report, too. Real complicated, sciency stuff. But I definitely recognize some of my own work in the mechanisms they were using. We thought we were making a better world... Fighting the darkness with the light of science." He closes his eyes, resting his forehead in his free hand.
"He...
was fighting, I think." Kairi says. "But... I think he lost.
I remember meeting him, before... before. It's not as clear as everything else. But I remember him struggling, hurting.
Maybe... maybe he drowned in his own sorrow."
"... Maybe. I met him, too. When our world fell, he gave me a drive containing all of his research. I bet this report is somewhere in there, too, kept somewhere that no one else can reach. Maybe he was hoping that what he found could... fix what he'd done."
You don't remember that part - it was outside of your purview. But you remember seeing both of those meetings, through your Visions. It's possible.
"... But this isn't about him, it's about you. You and Sora." He turns to look at you. "You got to see her heart, then?"
You nod solemnly.
"Well, I hope you didn't get to see
all of her heart - there are things a lady's gotta keep private!"
You and Kairi laugh a little at the same time, despite yourselves, despite everything.
"Yes, score!" Laguna exalts. "The absolute best medicine." He smiles. "So, Sora, what's got
your tongue? What can we do for you?"
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Music:
KHBBS - Xehanort
Data:
KHT Manual
Shop Sheet
Jiminy's Journal
Ansem Reports
Sora's Vision History
Most Current Battle Map
Characters:
KHVD Main Party Members
Gummi Ship
KHVD Minor Party Members Sheet
Command Chainer