Rubyfruit Taste (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} rubyfruit_taste) wrote,@ 2008-12-26 11:08:00 |
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| Current mood: |  hungry |
| Entry tags: | connected oneshots, demyx, demyx/kairi, het, kairi, m/f |
Fic--Last Moment--PG
Title: Last Moment
Author: Rubyfruit Pixie
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Kairi, Demyx, a few others slipping in and out of mention.
Summary: A brutal training regimen, a cruel sort of purity, yet even Kairi's strength of will could not save her world from falling to pieces.
Warnings: Profanity, light violence, and sexual references
Rating: PG-ish
Disclaimer: Disclaimers are an endless waltz in which I must say, time and time again, that Kingdom Hearts is not my property. Square-Enix-Soft and the smoking crater where Disney once stood does own the rights. I am merely borrowing the characters and settings.
A/N: Yousei Teikoku--just as bad as Ali Project. Yet another foray into Demyx/Kairi Wonderland. This is a continuation of A Doll Princess, and there may be more parts to that little series...Also...Goddamn, this is long. I finished this with eleven minutes to spare before Christmas Day. Merry (belated) Christmas, everybody!
Though all the songs of the heroic Sora have been sung, though Riku was welcomed back into the fold, though the worlds were safe, Kairi's sleep was so shallow that she rarely ever dreamed, if at all.
While Sora was free to dream of sunny skies once more, Kairi woke up before sunrise to train. It only made sense to do it, after all. Selphie could sense when there was trouble coming, and if nobody else cared, she did. If no one else gave a damn about the work she had to do, the fact that Kairi cared had to be good enough.
The alarm clock went off. She sat up quickly, turning it off, then sliding out of bed to get dressed and gather her things so that she could head off to that small islet that held so many cherished memories. It didn't seem appropriate to train in that place that held so many treasured memories. It didn't seem right at first, but it became a matter of convenience rather than a need to preserve childhood memories. After all, there weren't enough people who knew or cared about the little islet, not enough to go looking for her.
Kairi wasn't the type of person that Sora wanted. She didn't even need Sora to point that out for her. All that was needed was a chain of events that led her to another conclusion--that no one would think of her in that way, either. She tried telling herself that it didn't matter. She'd throw herself into training--she'd be ready for anything this time--and she'd throw herself into her schoolwork. Kairi would work hard and play harder, driving herself to the point of distraction if need be. Anything to keep her mind off the very apparent fact that she'd be waiting forever, but her prince would never come.
While Sora was free to dream of sunny skies once more, Kairi woke up before sunrise to train. It only made sense to do it, after all. Selphie could sense when there was trouble coming, and if nobody else cared, she did. If no one else gave a damn about the work she had to do, the fact that Kairi cared had to be good enough.
The alarm clock went off. She sat up quickly, turning it off, then sliding out of bed to get dressed and gather her things so that she could head off to that small islet that held so many cherished memories. It didn't seem appropriate to train in that place that held so many treasured memories. It didn't seem right at first, but it became a matter of convenience rather than a need to preserve childhood memories. After all, there weren't enough people who knew or cared about the little islet, not enough to go looking for her.
Kairi wasn't the type of person that Sora wanted. She didn't even need Sora to point that out for her. All that was needed was a chain of events that led her to another conclusion--that no one would think of her in that way, either. She tried telling herself that it didn't matter. She'd throw herself into training--she'd be ready for anything this time--and she'd throw herself into her schoolwork. Kairi would work hard and play harder, driving herself to the point of distraction if need be. Anything to keep her mind off the very apparent fact that she'd be waiting forever, but her prince would never come.
'Well then,' Kairi thought, 'To hell with everything, I guess...'
She was not a proper princess, anyway, she figured as she whipped her yo-yos around, just like Quistis taught her. Slow at first, then speeding up little by little--almost like she did when she danced with glowsticks.
Kairi smiled a bit. Who knew that something she actually liked to do would come in handy?
After hours of running, swimming, and practicing with various weapons, Kairi was finally ready to return to her house and return to the few hours of dreamless sleep that she allowed herself before she started the cycle over again.
-----
Kairi frowned. All it took to snap her out of her musings were eight words on a small piece of paper.
I'm back again. Find me if you can.
At first, she figured it was a joke--what else was new there?--but she read the note again, and felt like something was wrong with the world. It felt like something was off-balance somehow.
Either way, the girl felt good about the fact that she spent her time at home training rather than receiving the hero's welcome.
There was no such welcome for a princess-errant, after all.
-----------
Over the week, the notes came again. After the third one, Kairi figured that whoever the sender was, they weren't doing this as some sort of stupid joke. They'd gotten longer, too. Longer and...stranger. This latest one was...weird.
I've been waiting for a long time, Kairi. It's been years since I saw you. You'll come looking for me, right? Of course you will. Because you're Kairi, and you won't let something like this go.
Come find me, if you find Sora's hold on you to be...uncomfortable. After all, how comfortable can you be when everyone thinks you're his groupie instead of his friend?
I'm still waiting. We can keep this game going as long as you want it to. Come find me.
Kairi blinked. "...What the hell?" She read it with the other notes, each one ending in a request--no, a command--to find this person. Probably a self-fashioned fan of hers or something. Kairi got a lot of those after she came home, most of them wanting to hear about Sora.
"If you want to hear about Sora so bad, ask him," she'd say. It irked her, really, that girls would flock to Sora as if he was some sort of celebrity--well, he seemed to be the closest to a celebrity that the Destiny Islands would get--and boys would have dreams of becoming great adventurers one day, saving beautiful princesses and finding their Happily Ever After.
Kairi's would not come, no matter how hard she wished it.
---------
After two weeks of notes, she finally got directions. Directions made it easier. The Amber Archipelago wasn't so far from Isle Elysium that she couldn't get there by boat. Kairi frowned. Should she tell Sora? Riku? Anyone?
Something told her that it wasn't their concern. That it wouldn't make a difference whether Sora and Riku came with her or not.
'In fact,' she thought, 'What fun is a mystery when I have to deal with a glory-hog like Sora?'
That night, Kairi left for the Amber Archipelago on a little rowboat she rented from a little shack.
--------
Places that were beautiful in the daytime were at least a little scary at night. The places themselves never changed, but the shadows liked to play tricks on one's mind. Kairi, though, did not know this very basic fact. If she did, she certainly didn't act the part of the scared little girl. She still had a set of yo-yos with her, the ones with microchain strings.
After all, creepy stalkers weren't exactly cause to carry around a garish parody of a Keyblade...were they?
Kairi frowned. It had been a half-hour or so before she turned around to see the telltale pool of darkness just ten feet away.
"What the--....no...No!" Kairi could do nothing but stare in utter fear and disbelief.
It wasn't possible. It simply was not possible.
If any of them were alive, then Sora failed.
If Sora failed, then everything was fucked all to hell, and Kairi knew it. This time, she figured that they'd just kill her and call it a done deal.
'Well,' Kairi thought, 'If I'm going down, I'm not going without a fight.'
Maybe she did need her Keyblade after all.
The Darkness swirled about, until it took the vague shape of a person. Kairi being Kairi, of course, did not wait patiently, striking quickly before the thing took shape.
“Ow….”
Kairi smiled. She hit it with a nearby rock. Maybe then it’d go away.
“How rude! That’s not what I expected out of you, of all people…”
Kairi stepped back, wondering what the hell to do next. Her fears were confirmed when she saw the black-cloaked figure. She may as well get this one out of the way before the rest of them started coming.
‘Oh,’ Kairi thought, ‘Goddammit. I’m so stupid.’
It made sense now. It was clearly a trap. She frowned as the figure removed its hood at last.
'Great,' Kairi thought, 'Not only do I have to deal with the Organization, it's not even the strongest one! ...That makes it easier to beat him and leave.'
So she wouldn't need her Keyblade. This would be a very quick, albeit dull fight.
"How insulting," Kairi said, "If they wanted me again, they could've sent someone who'd actually be a challenge..." His name wasn't even worth remembering, he was that much of a weakling! "...What was your name again?"
Kairi remembered this one, just not his name. He seemed so out-of-place in an Organization that seemed to be populated by some of the most ruthless, cutthroat people she'd ever met outside of school.
Then again, this guy would’ve been out of place at Elysium Academy, never mind the Organization.
She frowned as the boy--he couldn’t have been much more than that--smiled at her and answered, “The name’s Demyx.”
Kairi shook her head. She did remember this guy after all. It didn’t really matter, though his attempt at being cool was a little charming.
Where’d that thought come from?
“You sent me that note, right?” Kairi frowned.
Demyx frowned. “Notes. Plural. And yes. Yes, I did.”
“Well,” Kairi said, “Since you called me all the way out here instead of being less of a coward by arranging a meeting in a more public place, you know what’s next, right?”
“…You started it,” Demyx said, “I came to say hello.”
Kairi cringed. Something was different about him, but she didn’t know what it was. Ignoring that sinking feeling, Kairi said, “You know what happens next, right?”
Demyx sighed. “…We don’t have to settle it this way. We could settle it in a way that’s sure to please everybody--Yikes!”
Kairi frowned as her yo-yo came back, missing Demyx’s head by mere inches. “Yeah, well…I like it this way.”
Another swing, another miss. Kairi shook her head. When’d he get so good at fighting? The way Sora told her about him, Demyx was such a miserable fighter that even she should’ve been able to beat him.
Either this was a different Demyx, or Sora was lying to save face. ‘Most likely the latter,’ Kairi thought ruefully as she dodged attack after possibly devastating attack.
“I told you,” Demyx said, “We don’t need to fight…” He grinned, and Kairi landed a hit on him.
Kairi frowned. Perhaps she did need her Keyblade for this one, after all. “And,” Kairi said, “I said it was better than the alternative..."
She frowned. This thing was embarrassing with its gaudy golden color and its multicolored flowers. Yet, Kairi mused as she alternately dodged Demyx's attacks and barely made a few of her own, an ugly Keyblade was significantly less embarrassing than being defeated by one of the weakest members of the Organization.
Right?
"Anyway, aren't you dead?" Kairi asked.
Demyx smirked. "Well," he said, "I'm right here. What does that mean?"
Kairi rolled her eyes and went to strike again. "Don't underestimate me." She smiled when an attack finally connected. "If you underestimate your enemy, you’ll fall directly into their hands--what?!"
"Follow your own advice," Demyx said. He'd gotten a hold of Kairi's wrists. "Don't underestimate me…"
"What the--" Kairi's retort was cut off by a kiss.
"They say that it takes three to make someone yours," Demyx said, "That's one."
Kairi kicked Demyx square in the stomach. "Not going there…"
Worst of all, this guy kissed her at random--which wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that he was way better than Sora.
Which was exactly why she had to be rid of him.
Kairi shook a bit, trying to steady herself.
"Let's make it a game," Demyx said, "That was a point for me. If you beat me before I make it to three, I'll leave you alone…"
"And if you win?" Kairi shakily kept hold of her Keyblade. As a warrior, she was more than prepared for the possibility of dying. In fact, she knew that dying was a very distinct possibility.
“If I win,” Demyx said, “You’ll be mine.”
Kairi frowned. She regretted making that statement that fateful day. The only guy I’ll date is the guy who can beat me in a fight!
Kairi was more than prepared to die. She wasn’t as prepared to be in any relationship involving any of Sora’s enemies.
Especially when it looked like he really could beat her.
Kairi nodded. “Deal.”
It was a matter of pride above all else. She would not lose to someone as weak as Demyx was. Not now, not ever.
-----------
"That's two for me."
"Oh, go back to Oblivion."
Kairi shook off the effects of the second kiss and moved in for another attack. She had determined one thing--that Demyx was not going to beat her, especially given that Sora did. It was becoming more apparent that Sora's victory could be attributed to blind luck and little else.
If Kairi could acquire the skill needed in little less than a year, she could beat the blond Nobody standing in front of her. It should've been easy. A few swings of the Keyblade and goodbye.
"I find it pretty cool," Demyx said, "A girl who doesn't back down no matter what."
Kairi glared as she went in, Keyblade hitting Demyx's sitar rather than the man himself. "And don't patronize me, either!"
Demyx frowned a bit. "Now, that was uncalled for. ...at least you didn't swear at me."
Kairi frowned. She was finished with this guy. It felt worse than when Sora trained with her. The only thing she could think of that was worse than being treated as if she was made of porcelain by her friends was being treated like some sort of plaything by her enemies.
"Tidal Blast!" The ocean's water became a wall behind her, surrounding both of them, then collapsed around both Kairi and Demyx.
"I hated wasting an attack like that on you," Kairi said, "Well, I win!" With that, she began to walk away, getting into the little motorboat she rented in order to get out to the little archipelago in the first place.
"....The hell?"
Kairi looked around, wondering what could be stopping her.
'It's just a rock or something, just a rock or something...Yeah, a rock, right?' She kept telling herself that it was just a rock.
Once she saw what looked like a head emerging from the water, she wished that it was just a rock. Readying her Keyblade as the thing emerged, Kairi stood, wondering if this was an illusion or just a trap.
'Wonder no more,' Kairi thought, taking her chance as she struck the weird thing that emerged from the water.
"...What the..." Kairi said, "You're not Demyx!"
Demyx laughed as more of the watery doppelgängers emerged from the ocean, surrounding the little boat.
"Smart girl," Demyx said, "Why not take your own advice? You underestimated me, didn't you?"
For the first time in those long hours, Kairi shook in fear rather than anger.
"In case you haven't been keeping count," Demyx said, just before he planted a gentle kiss onto Kairi's lips, "That was the third."
Kairi sat there in her boat, utterly dumbfounded. How? How? How could someone so utterly weak beat her so easily? More importantly, why her?
"You have a week," Demyx said, "I'm sure you'll finish saying goodbye to all your friends by then."
As Demyx left through a portal of Darkness, same as he'd came, he said something that filled Kairi with dread.
"Remember. If you try to run, I'll find you no matter what."
As Kairi headed back to Isle Elysium, his laughter rang in her ears. Instead of crying, she got ready for a rematch.
'You haven't won,' Kairi thought, 'Not even close.'
~End~