maddrmatt

[maddrmatt]

Can't do all the week, for sure, but slowly trying to come back in the fandom...

[maddrmatt]

𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒮𝑜𝓀𝒶𝒾 𝒮𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇𝒹𝒶𝓎 ! 💕

[maddrmatt]

Kintsugi

Chapter 5 - Awake

Summary: At long last, Sora and Kairi reunite and go on a date flying around Quadratum together. KH4 SoKai romance and fluff.

Written for Valentine’s Day 2025 as a celebration for posting my hundredth SoKai story on AO3! 🥳 Thank you all for voting in the poll and for all the support over the years ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Sora was finally warm. Heat radiated from his heart to the rest of his body, and yet he trembled all over. Kairi was here. She had finally found him. He sensed her, here in his heart. With each passing moment, he felt strong, stronger than he ever had before, and yet weak. So very weak. Like he might melt from the warm, tender feelings she kindled deep inside him.

When at last his eyes opened, he knew he had woken up to a different world than the one he'd fallen asleep in. That world was dull and gray and lifeless. This world was bursting with color and feeling and sensation. The red of Kairi's hair and how the golden rays from the setting sun hit it just right, the pink of her coat and white of her blouse, the blue of her eyes with flecks of violet. She cradled him in her arms, and he loved her scent, her soft hand cupping his cheek, the beautiful, brilliant smile on her face. Even her tears were sweet because they were joyful. They were for him.

He reached up and touched her face, gently wiping the tears away. They had both been broken, but a broken heart could still love. A broken heart could still heal. A broken heart could be made whole. It wouldn't be the same as before—there would be scars and rough edges from where the broken pieces had joined together—but it would be something new and beautiful, a testament to the resiliency of the human heart. 

He smiled because it was impossible not to. Life was hard, life was pain and suffering and separation and death, but it was also precious and beautiful. Glimpsing that beauty for even a fleeting moment gave him the courage to face another day. And looking into Kairi's face, he had enough courage to face a thousand hardships, a thousand heartaches.

“Kairi,” he said, and the sound of his voice was enough to make her cry all over again. “You found me,” he added, because a part of him still couldn't believe this was real.

She smiled through her tears and kissed his hand. “I told you I would, didn't I?”

His smile got even bigger. “You did, yeah. Thank you for catching me.”

She tilted her head in an adorably confused way. “Catching you?”

“Catching me,” he confirmed, playing with strands of her hair. “For so long, I felt like I was falling.”

“We caught each other, then,” she told him. She gently rested her hand on his heart, checking for any lingering damage. “How are you feeling?”

"Amazing. Like I could fly.” He carefully sat up. Thankfully, it seemed Riku and Strelitzia had dragged him back to the sidewalk while he was passed out, so he and Kairi weren't in immediate danger of getting run over by a car or a sea of people. And whatever damage that Heartless had done to him, Kairi had healed it completely. He really wasn't kidding when he said he felt like he could fly.

With her by his side, he knew he could do anything.

She helped him to his feet, and he savored just being with her. His hand no longer ached for her touch, because she held both his hands in hers. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, and she couldn't take her eyes off of him. They had to drink in every single detail, all the changes and all the things that were the same.

A group of curious onlookers had gathered around them, expressing relief that the boy with the Keyblade was alright. 

Kairi listened with delight and looked at him with such pride in her eyes. She cupped his face, and he instinctively leaned into her touch. “That's my Sora, always helping people everywhere he goes.”

The people of Quadratum thanked him for the first time by name. She had no idea how much that meant to him. Or maybe she did. She smiled and caressed his cheek with her thumb, and it took everything in him not to kiss her right then and there.

But not here. Not with all these other people watching.

Presently, Riku and Strelitzia rejoined them. They had dealt with the Heartless and secured the area while he was asleep, apparently. Together they carried some very dilapidated shopping bags. Sora wondered if any of Kairi's gifts had survived the ordeal intact, then remembered the ring at least was still in his pocket.

“Look who finally decided to wake up,” Riku said with a smile, like Sora had just fallen asleep for a quick snooze on the beach. He set his bags down on the sidewalk and gave Sora a hug. Sora hugged him back, relieved he and Strelitzia were both okay.

“I know we sort of met earlier,” Strelitzia said to Kairi as she set her bags down, “but I wanted to introduce myself properly. I'm Strelitzia, and I couldn't wait to meet you. Sora and Riku have had nothing but good things to say about you.”

She offered her hand, and Kairi shook it. On Destiny Islands, people introduced themselves with bows, but where Strelitzia was from, it was different.

“It's nice to meet you, too, Strelitzia,” Kairi replied. “Thank you so much for watching out for them. Sora told me about you and how you were his first friend here. I know he was really lonely without us, so that means the worlds to me.”

Strelitzia shook her head. “I was lonely too. If anything, he and Riku helped me.”

Kairi smiled. “I’m glad they did.” She looked at Sora and Riku with so much pride in her eyes, and Sora thought he would melt into a puddle on the pavement.

“Why don't you guys go back to Sora's place and take the bags with you?” Riku suggested. “Strelitzia and I will finish things up here and be in touch later.”

As Kairi turned to look at Sora, Riku gave him a quick wink. Not only was he the best friend, he was the best wingman.

“Yeah, that sounds great!” Sora said, maybe just a little bit too enthusiastically.

Kairi's cheeks turned pink. “Thank you. See you guys soon.”

With that they gathered up the bags and made their way to Shibuya Station.

“What's in these bags, anyway?” Kairi said once they were safely settled onto a subway car. She peered inside one of the ones she was holding.

“Gifts,” he said with a smile.

“For?”

"You,” he said. “We knew you were coming, and I wanted to get you something. I didn't really get to buy you anything before I disappeared, and I wanted to make it up to you.”

Her lips parted, then she smiled at him with so much affection in her eyes. 

“Go ahead, look at them if you want,” he gently urged.

“I'll wait until we're at your place.”

His place. He was trembling with excitement at the thought of being alone with her. All the things they could do, all the experiences he wanted to share with her…

The rest of the subway ride seemed to take forever, and he was practically bouncing off the walls by the time they disembarked. Then there was still the walk back to his place, and he kept having to slow himself down so he didn't overtake her in his eagerness to reach their destination. She took in their surroundings out of curiosity, but she kept looking at him and smiling and biting her lip.

At last they were in the apartment building, and then going up the elevator to the right floor, and then finally he was fumbling with his key. His hands shook so much it took him several attempts to get the key in the lock and turn it. He pushed open the door and held his arm out.

"Welcome home, Kairi.”

She turned to him and smiled. “I’m home.” Because home wasn't a place so much as it was a person, and they were each other's homes. So long as they were together, they could make anywhere a home.

They took their shoes off, then stepped up into the apartment. Kairi took it all in—the couch, the kotatsu and TV on its stand, his cozy little kitchen. He took her bags from her and set them by the couch.

She noticed his balcony and asked to go out on it. He rushed to slide the doors open, and she walked out and stared in wonder at the huge city that unfolded below them. It was dark now, and the lights from all the buildings made everything seem so vibrant and alive. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and just held her, his eyes fluttering shut. She rested her hands over his and sighed happily.

“The view is fantastic,” she said presently. “There must be so much to see and do here.”

“There is. Anything you want or want to do, just say the word. Your wish is my command.”

She turned to look at him. “Anything I want?”

He nodded. “Anything.” He truly meant it. She had saved him, and he wanted to express the love and gratitude in his heart.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled shyly. “Then, in that case…Could we fly? I'd love to see the city from above, and I want to see the stars in this realm. It's hard to see them with all the city lights.” 

He gently wove their fingers together, and they said “One Heart” in unison. He felt the wing sprouting from his back as he watched her wing sprout from hers. Their wings were even larger and more beautiful than he remembered. Maybe because they were a year older and had even more precious memories of each other. 

The wings glowed softly in the night, and he thought Kairi looked like an angel.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “This is really happening! I haven't been able to fly since the day we—”

“Me either,” he said softly. Because she was his other half, his soulmate he needed to soar. Without her, he couldn't fly. 

She looked at him, suddenly serious. “Sora—”

“It's you or nobody, Kairi.” He'd made up his mind the moment they’d shared the paopu fruit, and losing her had only reinforced his conviction.

She ducked her head and smiled. “I feel the same way about you.”

They flapped their wings, and their feet left the balcony. No matter how many times they did this, it was exhilarating every time. Plus, this would be a brand new view of Quadratum for him, too.

They swooped and soared, steadily climbing higher and higher. The buildings became like models, the vehicles like toy cars. The view of the city from up here was incredible. He and Kairi flew all over the place so he could show her so many of its important landmarks—the Quadratum Skytree, Ueno Park, the Quadratum Tower, the Imperial Palace and Gardens, the Rainbow Bridge with its nightly illumination—but really, he did it so he could see the delight in her eyes, the smile on her face, the wonder in her expression. So he could hear her happy giggles and squeals of excitement and awed “wows.”

“Sora, you aren't even looking at the scenery right now!” she playfully scolded from their current perch on top of the Rainbow Bridge as they finished their ice cream. “There's a giant robot over on that island that you haven't even noticed.”

He rested his cheek on his free hand. “But everything I want to see is right beside me.”

She blushed and ducked her head, and he beamed at her because he really, truly meant it. Nothing in any realm compared to her. He could stare at her for hours if she would let him.

She bit her lip as if she were steeling herself for something. Then she shyly reached for his other hand and lifted them to their feet.

“Come with me,” she said, the wind whipping her hair around and a playful spark in her eyes.

He tilted his head. “Where are we going?”

“You'll see,” she said, then fell off the edge. He went hurtling after her, and at the last possible second they extended their wings and skimmed over the bay, their wings brushing against the water and splashing them with spray. Then they climbed higher and higher, till the city was far below them and the stars twinkled brilliantly above them.

This reminded Sora of the first time he and Kairi had used One Heart together. The beautiful night sky, their brilliant wings glowing with light, the shimmering stars all around them. He turned to face her just as she faced him. 

She bit her lip again in that adorably shy way, then wrapped her arms around his neck. His heartbeat thundered in his ears and his mouth went dry. This was happening, it was really happening. His arms went around her waist and brought her to him, and she gasped softly. He leaned closer, closer. The anticipation was killing him, and he knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life. The look in her eyes, the breeze blowing through her hair, the soft pink of her lips, their wings keeping them aloft and the stars dancing around them.

He tilted his head, his eyes fluttering shut, and their lips met in a sweet, gentle kiss. He was giddy and weak and strong all at the same time. All because of her. They briefly broke apart to smile shyly at each other, then kissed again and again and again, each kiss growing more and more passionate. He felt like he was falling once more, falling more and more deeply in love with her.

No, it was more like soaring with her by his side. It was the most incredible feeling he had ever felt, and it made all the tears and heartache leading up to this moment worth it. His heart became ever more deeply intertwined with hers with each tender kiss, each longing touch, each gentle caress.

He knew what he wanted, and she wanted it too. As they finally let themselves fall back to earth, still embracing because they couldn't bear to be apart, he just gazed at her, drinking her in. She had a soft, contented smile on her face, and she gazed back at him.

They carefully alighted on his balcony, and as soon as their wings disappeared into a shower of glowing feathers, they looked at each other. A smile twitched at his lips, and she giggled into her hand and playfully pulled him inside.

Every second that followed was truly precious, every moment a treasured memory joining the trove already inside his heart.

He was glad to be alive.

————————————————————————

Kairi woke up the next morning unsure of where she was at first. Sunlight streamed through a nearby window, and she was lying on a futon with a blanket carefully draped over her. A dresser was near the bed, and on the dresser she spotted a lucky charm.

Her lucky charm.

It had worked. It had really worked. She’d made it to Quadratum. To Sora. She smiled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. Yesterday hadn't been a dream, then. It was real.

She spied a change of clothes carefully laid out for her by his closet. They looked brand new and must've been part of the gifts he had gotten her. He'd chosen well—a cute pink blouse, a black miniskirt with ruffles, long boots, thigh high socks, and even some matching jewelry. She put everything on besides the boots and emerged from his room.

He was in the kitchen, making breakfast for them both. She quietly watched him for a few moments. It was so sweet and thoughtful of him to do this for her. He was scooping rice into bowls from his rice cooker when he looked up at her. A big smile spread across his face and made his eyes light up.

“Good morning,” he said. The joy and love on his face made her insides turn to mush.

“Good morning.” She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for the new clothes. I love them.”

“I'm glad they fit. Riku and Strelitzia helped me figure out the right sizes.”

“Well, you all did great. It was really thoughtful of you.”

He looked very pleased at her praise. She washed her hands and helped him finish making breakfast. They ate at his kotatsu, a feast that consisted of miso soup, steamed rice, salted salmon, roasted seaweed, tamagoyaki, and pickled daikon and cucumbers, plus green tea.

“Sora, these recipes…” They were so much like the ones she used to make him. Especially the tamagoyaki. He had even used sugar in it like she always did. “You remembered?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I did. I really missed your cooking. Making your recipes helped me feel closer to you.”

“I'm glad.” She gently squeezed his hand, and they continued their breakfast. When they were through, she popped up to wash the dishes while he dried them. A quick text with Riku and Strelitzia confirmed they would meet up with them for lunch. But while she was finishing up the dishes, Sora surprised her by wrapping his arms around her, giving her a loving peck on the cheek, then resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Thank you again for saving me, and thank you for last night,” he murmured. She nearly dropped the bowl she was holding, a hot blush blooming across her face. Last night had been pretty wonderful. That magical date flying across the city, their kiss amongst the stars, and everything that had followed.

Those memories were ones she would treasure always.

“Thank you,” she said softly, setting down the bowl so she could kiss his cheek and rest her hands over his. 

He sighed in contentment. “Forget about the dishes for now, I have something I need to show you.” He gently grasped her hand and led her to the balcony, and she wondered what he possibly had in mind. She had already seen the city, though the sun rising over the horizon and the people getting ready for a new day were a lovely sight.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.

“Sora?” she asked, her voice trembling because she couldn't really believe what was happening. For her, just being with him was enough. She didn't expect more, not yet, not till she had safely brought him home—

“I know we're too young to get married, and we already shared the paopu fruit, which somehow feels more serious than marriage anyway,” he continued, earning a chuckle from her, “but I wanted to give you something that shows how serious I am about you.” He opened the box, and inside was a beautiful silver ring with a pink gem cut in the shape of a lotus flower. 

“Oh, Sora, it's beautiful.” It was gorgeous and would match her jewelry perfectly.

He smiled and got down on one knee, and her head spun. “Kairi, no matter where our journeys take us, I'll always come home to you, I swear. Will you wear this as a sign of my promise? I carry your lucky charm around with me all the time, but I wanted you to have something, too.”

She wiped her teary eyes. "Yes.” With trembling fingers she reached into the box and slipped the ring on her hand. The pink gemstone caught the sun’s morning rays, and she smiled through her tears. He was crying now too, tender tears of joy, and she embraced him. He wrapped his arms around her too, melting into her touch like he couldn't get enough of her hugs.

“We'll go home together,” she promised him. She wasn't sure how yet, but today was a new beginning. They had both been broken by what life and fate had thrown at them, but together they were lining the pieces up and making something new and beautiful.

They sealed their promise with a kiss, ready to face whatever the future had in store for them.

————————————————————————

A/N: Thank you for reading! This chapter was another one I really enjoyed writing. I'm proud of that opening introspection from Sora, and then it was so much fun writing their flying date around Quadratum culminating in the kiss and then the two of them just being so sweet to each other the next morning with breakfast and the ring ❤️ Also, it was fun sneaking in some references to real life locations in Tokyo, like the robot Kairi refers to, which is the Gundam on Odaiba.

Hope you all enjoyed! Thank you to everyone who has liked, reblogged, and commented on this story ❤️ I really appreciate the feedback ❤️ Take care, and until next time!

[maddrmatt]

Kintsugi

Chapter 4 - Memories

Summary: Kairi searches her own heart to find the piece of Sora’s heart that will lead her to him. KH4 SoKai pining, angst, romance, and fluff.

Written for Valentine's Day 2025 as a celebration for posting my hundredth SoKai story on AO3! 🥳 Thank you all for voting in the poll and for all the support over the years ❤️ I'm posting another story tomorrow, so I'm posting this week’s update a day early 👀

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Kairi clutched her chest and gasped. The part of Sora's heart hidden safely inside hers hurt. Her Keyblade slipped out of her hand and dropped uselessly to the grass. The world around her swirled, the bright sunny day clouded by the icy turmoil within. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she vaguely registered Aqua saying her name.

“Sora…” she thought she heard herself say. “No, this can't be happening…”

Something was very, very wrong. Sora was in danger. She felt the link between their hearts grow weaker as his light grew dim. He was in pain, so much pain. If she didn't act quickly—

She looked up at her mentor through blurry eyes. “There's no time—I have to save him—I can do it, I know I can—”

Aqua stared at her for a few agonizing moments. What if she said no? That someone else had to do it, that Kairi wasn't ready, that it wasn't up to her.

But it was up to her. She had to do this.

Finally Aqua spoke. “Think, think back to the time you kept him alive at the Keyblade Graveyard. You kept his heart awake. Remember that time, and reach into yourself. Into how that felt.”

Kairi nodded and closed her eyes. Her thoughts raced back to that time. She had located his heart and stubbornly refused to let go. She had kept him tethered to the realm of light. Focusing on her heart now, she traced the chains linking her to him in her mind's eye. The chains were golden and shiny and full of light. Full of warmth and love, strengthened by their bond.

Maybe this was how Naminé saw the bonds between people all the time.

Aqua continued. “Waking up a sleeping heart isn't all that different from keeping a dying heart alive, because sleep and death aren't so different. They're in that strange realm at the boundary of human consciousness.”

Sora’s heart wasn't asleep, not yet, but it would be soon if she didn't act quickly. She kept tracing the chains binding them together until she located what memory his heart was hidden in.

“Hold out your Keyblade,” Aqua said, “and open a portal to that realm. You and Sora have been there before.”

Kairi opened her eyes, staggered to her feet, and held out her hand. An instant later, her Keyblade appeared in it. She swallowed and pointed the weapon at the sky. For several horrible seconds, nothing happened. Then a strange, elaborate portal consisting of many colorful shapes and lines swirled above her. She glanced at Aqua, hoping against hope that—

Aqua nodded, fear and worry written all over her face. "That's it. And that's as far as I can help you. You're going to have to dive into your own heart and follow your connection to Sora’s heart to lead you to where he is. You can do it, I know you can. But please, be careful.”

Kairi rested a hand over her heart. “I will. I promise. Thank you Master Aqua, for everything.”

Aqua just smiled sadly. “I'll tell the others. We believe in you.”

With that, light shot out of Kairi's Keyblade and opened the portal. Then the scene around her was fading, the beautiful blue sky, the brilliant green grass, the safe and strong walls of the castle. Aqua’s sad but proud face. All of it disappeared into a hazy mist, and then she floated down to a round platform that looked as if it was made from stained glass. On it was a picture of her, her eyes closed and the position of her body following the curve of the platform. Behind her were the people most important to her in small round portraits: Riku, Aqua, Naminé, and Sora, who was closest to her heart.

Sora. She had to find him.

A warm, gentle light surrounded her. This place felt familiar, and yet eerie at the same time. She must be inside her own heart. Memories drifted by, little snippets from her life in different frames. So many of the snippets had Sora, but she had to find the right one to locate his heart. Her eyes scanned the rows and rows of memories.

The first time she and Sora met, drawing each other in the Secret Place, and the moment she sheltered in his heart. His first sacrifice, the moment she restored him, when she gave him her lucky charm, and their first separation. Their conversation when she didn't remember him, their reunion on the World That Never Was, their reunion on the beach of the Play Island. When he had to leave and she gave him the lucky charm again. Sharing the paopu fruit, saving each other at the Keyblade Graveyard, the moment he rescued her, that wonderful world tour…

There. His final smile for her on the paopu tree. His final words. She pointed her Keyblade at that memory, and light shot out of her Keyblade. The memory floated to her, and the moment her hand made contact with it, she was sucked into its world, its reality.

Kairi saw herself sitting on the paopu tree with Sora as the sun sank lower and lower in the sky, and something whispered deep in her heart that she had a very limited window of time to make this work. She raced across the sand, stumbled through the Seaside Shack, took the wooden slats of the bridge three and four at a time, and skidded to a halt right by her past self.

Neither she nor Sora seemed to sense her presence here at all. They only had eyes for each other.

Think, Kairi, think!

Talking didn't work. Making noise didn't work. Trying to touch them didn't work. Panic thundered in her chest. Tick, tock, tick, tock, the clock was running out. She wouldn't get a do over of this. It was too dangerous, too unstable to keep revisiting this moment. Sora had gone back in time too many times. She couldn't make the same mistake.

Their past selves squeezed each other's hands.

“Wait for me, Kairi,” Sora said. Tears streamed down her past self's face.

Tears. How many heartbroken, bitter tears she had cried that night. This was the worst moment of her life, and she was having to watch it unfold all over again. She remembered everything. It was like a wound on her heart that would never fully heal.

She touched her cheek, and it was wet. A strange feeling settled over her. Her legs and arms moved on their own, hoisting her up on the paopu tree. For an agonizing moment she and her past self were separate, dancing at the edges of each other's existences, and then they were one.

She had his hand firm in her grip now, but Sora was fading away.

“No!” she cried, holding tight to him with everything she had. Because right before he had disappeared, he had planted this part of his heart inside her heart, and she had finally found it. She wouldn't let him go. She wouldn't let him die. She had to save him. She just had to.

She summoned her Keyblade in her free hand and pointed it at his heart. A small, keyhole-shaped light appeared on his chest, and light and darkness poured out of it and swept her under and in.

When she came to, she was no longer inside her heart. Instead of the soft, gentle light she had grown accustomed to, inky darkness surrounded her. But the darkness didn't feel evil or hostile. Instead it was like a warm summer evening back home.

Yes, she had been here before. This place was comforting. Safe. Familiar.

She floated toward a platform much like the one inside her heart. Only this one featured Sora's moment of awakening. Little round portraits of Riku, Donald, and Goofy were behind him, and a portrait of her was close to his heart.

The moment her feet connected to the platform, light flooded out of it. She gasped, expecting to be engulfed in its waves, but instead, gentle tendrils wrapped around her in a soft embrace. The light was so warm and comforting that she started to cry. A couple of her tears dripped onto the platform, and the tendrils tenderly wiped her eyes.

“Thank you, Sora,” she said softly, taking a moment to gather her emotions. Selfishly, she could stay like this forever, basking in his love and affection, but he was in pain and he was in danger. He needed her help. And yet he'd taken the time to comfort her.

He loved her so, so much. She wanted to return even a fraction of that love.

“May I see your memories?” she asked. A moment later, snippets of memories in beautiful frames floated past her. So many of the memories had her in them. Many of them made her smile or chuckle or laugh. Some of them made her cringe. Seeing things from his perspective, he was much kinder to her than she was to herself. And she confirmed something she had suspected for a long time now. In many of the memories where he put on a cheerful smile, his heart was aching.

“Oh, Sora,” she said softly. And the times he couldn't manage to smile…Tears filled her eyes as she felt his pain over losing her again and again and again. The moment he lost her to the Demon Tide and when Xehanort struck her down were especially awful. Her knees buckled and she slumped to the ground, unable to escape the agony. As wave after wave hit her, she broke deep down at the horrifying realization she might never be whole after this. No, that he might never be whole. There was just so much pain with nowhere to go.

A heart that could love this deeply and freely paid a staggering price for it.

She saw how desperately he had searched for her, turning back time, racing against the clock to find her. His despair when he thought he might fail. The flood of pure love and joy when he succeeded. How he felt holding her in his arms again.

Oh. So that was how he could bear all this pain. She really was worth it to him. He had told her that, over and over again, but it was one thing to hear about it and another to experience it like this through his perspective. She understood though. Her grief from losing him was awful, but she couldn't imagine never knowing him, even if it meant sparing herself that pain.

She would bear the grief over and over again for the chance to see him one more time.

And so she continued her search through his memories. She was surprised she could still see anything at all through her blur of tears, but at last she reached the fateful moment on the paopu tree. He was brave, so brave, putting on a smile like that when his heart was breaking, when he was terrified of what was going to happen to him. But he smiled just for her, his most brilliant and beautiful smile yet.

She thought the pain before had been awful. But the moment he was ripped from her side, cast out of the realm of light, torn from everyone he loved and who loved him, she genuinely thought she might die just experiencing it through his memories. She had no idea how he had survived this.

Maybe that was why his heart had fallen asleep for so long.

In Quadratum, once he woke up, he’d just stopped smiling, period. His eyes were dull, lifeless, empty. He befriended a girl named Strelitzia and tried to smile for her sake, but it never reached his eyes. Then Riku arrived, and he got more of his spark back. But still, there was something missing. The rest of his friends, but also—

“Me. I’m missing. But I won't be for long.”

She reached his final conscious moment. He had pushed Riku and Strelitzia out of the way and had taken the blow from the Heartless alone.

That was him, always putting others before himself. And now she knew exactly where to find him. She summoned her Keyblade and pointed it at the memory.

“Wait for me, Sora.”

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A/N: Thank you for reading! I really enjoyed writing this chapter and how Kairi got to see Sora’s memories from his perspective. Hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you all next week for the final chapter!

[maddrmatt]

Kintsugi

Chapter 3 - Falling

Summary: Sora, Riku, and Strelitzia go shopping together in Quadratum to help Sora buy clothes for Kairi. The boys aren't sure what her size is, but Strelitzia helps them estimate it, and Sora finds something very special to give to Kairi. KH4 SoKai pining, angst, romance, and fluff.

Written as a celebration for posting my hundredth SoKai story on AO3! 🥳 Thank you all for voting in the poll and for all the support over the years ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Sora’s eyes fluttered open. The cold light of Quadratum filtered through his window. It was never like the warmth of light back home. Never warm like—

His hand went to his cheek, his lips. They were warm. He closed his eyes and sighed. The dreams were getting more and more vivid. Tears slipped down his cheeks, and he traced a path down to his heart. It ached and throbbed because a part of it wasn't here. It was with her, safely hidden deep inside her heart.

"Kairi…” he murmured, a plea, a prayer. She knew now, knew the truth, the key to finding him. How could he be terrified for her safety but long for her to come all the same?

He felt as though he were falling, falling, falling, with no end in sight. What would it take to be caught? For her to finally reach him or he to reach her?

He groaned and sat up, every muscle aching from the fights yesterday on this world called Endor. Man, he missed his bed back home sometimes. His futon here was nice, but maybe he could save up enough for a bed. His back would definitely thank him.

He went through the motions of his morning routine. Something about that was oddly comforting. A little familiarity in a sea of unknowns. After that, he padded to the kitchen and started making breakfast. There was a knock at his door before too long.

“Good morning,” he said, greeting Riku and Strelitzia. They smiled and said the usual phrase when entering someone else's home as they removed their shoes: “Sorry for the intrusion,” except Sora wasn't sorry at all. Having them both here eased his loneliness a little.

They set their things down and helped him finish making the meal. Before too long, the three of them were seated at his kotatsu with a feast in front of them: green tea, miso soup, steamed rice, salted salmon, roasted seaweed, tamagoyaki (a rolled egg omelette cooked with sugar, just like Kairi always used to make it), and pickled daikon and cucumbers.

Being so far away from Kairi made him really miss her cooking, so he had used his training with Little Chef to recreate recipes from back home. Riku was very appreciative. Strelitzia was intrigued but had grown to like his cooking. It was just very different from what she had grown up with.

“So,” Riku said between bites of rice eaten via chopsticks, “how are we all doing today?”

Sora and Strelitzia just groaned. That got Riku to crack a half-grin.

“The past several days really were an adventure," Strelitzia said, “but I'm glad to be back. I know this isn't home, but it's where we all belong for now.” She frowned and poked at her salmon with her chopsticks. “I just wish we'd found another clue to get us all home.”

Strelitzia really, really missed her brother. She had been stuck here for hundreds of years and still wasn't any closer to seeing him again. Whatever path they found home, Sora knew it had to include her.

“How about you, Sora? Anything new to report since last night?" Riku asked.

“Actually, I had another dream,” he told them both. They instantly perked up.

“About Kairi?” Riku asked.

Sora nodded, his hand going to his chest. “She knows a part of my heart is in her heart now. And she said Aqua had explained the theory behind the Power of Waking to her.”

Riku's eyebrows shot up. “But she doesn't know how to use it. I didn't tell her how before I left.” He set his bowl of rice down. “I don't know, this sounds dangerous.”

Sora sighed. “That's what I tried to tell her. But you know how she is.” He and Riku shared a knowing look. She was stubbornly loyal, determined to get her way, strong-willed, strong-hearted, brave almost to the point of stupidity, and she never gave up hope and had even defied death itself to keep the people she loved alive.

Yeah, there was no way she wasn't coming for them the moment she figured out how.

“She's really someone special, isn't she?” Strelitzia said, a melancholy smile on her face. “She would have to be, to keep you two on your toes.” She fiddled with one of her pigtails, her expression wistful. “I really want to meet her.”

“You will.” And Sora meant it. A thrill ran through him at the thought of seeing her again. Was it a question of when now instead of if? It had to be. He would believe in that with all his heart.

————————————————————————

After finishing breakfast, Sora, Riku, and Strelitzia walked to the Omote-Sando Subway Station and hopped on the Ginza Line for Shibuya Station. Shibuya was their go-to area for shopping, and Strelitzia had suggested they buy some clothes for Kairi, just in case.

Their intended destination, the Shibuya PARCO, was a multilevel shopping complex with just about every kind of store and restaurant you could want and then some. The three of them headed to the fourth floor where there were a lot of good clothing stores.

As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, a little shiver went down Sora’s spine. It was superstitious of him, but he still couldn't get over how much the word for “four” sounded like death, and now they were on the fourth floor. He supposed he was dead already, and yet the thought of dying dying still freaked him out.

He pushed those thoughts down and followed Strelitzia and Riku into one of the stores. They were here to buy nice things for Kairi. Yes, this place was expensive, but he had made good munny on their missions, and he wanted to treat her.

There was just one problem.

“You don't know her size?” Strelitzia asked, frowning. Sora and Riku both winced. They supposed they should know after knowing her most of their lives, but they did not. And Sora hadn't really gotten the chance to buy her anything before disappearing.

Strelitzia tapped her cheek and thought. “Hmmmm, how do you think she compares to me? Maybe we could use that to figure out her size. Is she taller, shorter, skinnier, wider…”

Sora thought for a moment. He didn't want to say something to accidentally offend Strelitzia. He knew enough about girls to know that comparing her directly to Kairi was a bad idea.

Hold on a second. His heart had merged with Kairi’s heart several times now in his dreams. Maybe he could use that to give Strelitzia an estimate.

“She's short and petite but…curvy,” he said. He knew a blush was creeping up his face and could sense Riku smirking right next to him, but this was important. “Um, she's got dark red hair that's about this long,” he continued, gesturing to indicate roughly what length her hair was, “and great legs,” he added, indicating their length. “They’re long for her height.”

Strelitzia nodded. “What about her hip and waist size? That'll be really important for finding skirts and pants.”

Oh, Sora was going to kill Riku for that snicker just now. His face was burning and he couldn't look either of them in the eye. “Small waist, wide hips,” he mumbled. Something else he loved about her figure popped into his head, and he thought he was going to die all over again, this time from embarrassment.

Strelitzia made a few notes in her phone about possible sizes. “Oh, and could you also estimate her bust size? I know it's awkward, but that'll impact the shirts and dresses we look for.”

He couldn't even answer out loud, just very awkwardly made a gesture while avoiding both their eyes.

“So she has a pear-shaped figure?” Strelitzia asked, as if this was a scientific investigation.

"I guess?” He looked to Riku helplessly. “Is that what it's called?”

Riku just shrugged. Some help he was.

“I think that's enough to at least give me an idea,” Strelitzia said. “I'll hold up a couple of different sizes of the same clothes and ask you guys to eyeball it from there.”

Surprisingly, that method actually kind of worked. And Sora did know what color of clothes and style of clothes Kairi liked. Lots of pinks, purples, and blues in cute, feminine, and sporty styles. That was one of the things he loved about her. She could dress up and draw everyone's eyes, but she could also be a complete tomboy roughing it in a tank top and shorts.

When it came time to find shoes, they were in a bind again. But surprisingly, Riku randomly remembered her shoe size from some offhand remark she’d made one day to Selphie. With that knowledge, they found a pair of sneakers, black boots, and house slippers. Then it was time for jewelry. Thankfully, earrings and necklaces were one size fits all, but rings were a different story.

“How big are her hands?” Strelitzia asked, once again back in scientist mode as Riku scoped out ring designs glittering at them behind glass cases. “How do they compare to mine?”

Sora thought for a moment. “You know, come to think of it, they're probably about the same size as yours. Do you mind if I feel your fingers just to be sure?”

Strelitzia nodded and offered her hand. How Kairi's hand felt in his was stored deep inside his heart. His left hand twitched again, aching to hold her hand again. He gently felt Strelitzia's fingers and wondered if she had ever been in love. Had she ever had anyone special before her life had been cut short so quickly?

He hoped she had. But she hadn't volunteered the information, and he hadn't asked.

“Yeah, I think you probably have about the same ring size as she does,” he said, letting go of her hand.

Strelitzia smiled. “Great! I'm a size 5. I think you should pick something really special for her.”

"I will. But while I'm doing that, go pick out some cute scrunchies for your pigtails and a cute bag. It's the least I can do to thank you for all your help. And Riku, get yourself a nice jacket or something.”

Riku raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that? The prices here are pretty steep.”

“You left home and came to an entirely different reality to find me, which is priceless. A jacket doesn't even begin to repay that debt.”

Riku gave him a half smile. “That's two you owe me, but it's not a debt I ever expect you to repay.”

With that he and Strelitzia went off to look for potential purchases together, and Sora carefully searched the rings for the perfect one. It had to be something delicate but sturdy that would match her bracelets and the beloved necklace Aqua had enchanted so long ago.

There. A simple silver band with a pink jewel cut in the shape of a lotus flower caught his eye. The flower was remarkably similar to what her heart had looked like when he’d rescued her. It was perfect.

He grabbed a few more things for Kairi and then went back to the jewelry section. Strelitzia and Riku had returned, Strelitzia with two adorable colorful scrunchies for her hair plus a new purse, and Riku with a black leather jacket. With that the three of them entered the checkout line, and Sora placed his hard–earned munny onto the little blue tray for the cashier. The smiles on Strelitzia and Riku’s faces made it worth it though, and so did the thought of giving Kairi her gifts. Especially the ring. He slipped its little box into his pocket. She might come any day now, and he had to be ready.

She'd promised, after all, and she'd never let him down before.

————————————————————————

After grabbing dinner at the food court in the basement of Shibuya PARCO, Sora, Riku, and Strelitzia headed back toward the Scramble Crossing. Each of them carried several bags filled with Kairi gifts, the evidence of a successful haul.

Sora quietly listened as his two friends chatted away. Today has been a good day. Riku had really come out of his shell around Strelitzia, and Strelitzia finally had another friend. Everything looked a little less drab and dull. Like he was seeing not quite in full color yet, but tints and shades instead of just grays and browns.

The only thing that would've made today better was having all his friends here. All his friends and Kairi most of all. He couldn't wait to see her again, to show her all the things he had discovered in Quadratum, to give her these gifts, to introduce her to—

He spotted something out of the corner of his eye in a nearby alley. Something strange, something that didn't belong in this realm. He tensed, his hackles raised. Was that—

It raced through the shadows cast by all the streetlights and brightly colored advertisements, confirming his suspicions. A Heartless, for sure, but unlike any he had ever seen before. The hate it harbored toward him felt personal. A thing of darkness, hellbent on destruction and decay and death.

There was no time to summon his Keyblade. A warning scream ripped from his throat. He pushed Riku and Strelitzia out of the way, off of the sidewalk and onto the Scramble Crossing. His friends stumbled as he whirled around to face the Heartless. In the precious few seconds he had spent sparing his friends and warning the other bystanders, it had risen from the shadows and grown and grown and grown. He only had a split second to be terrified before he felt darkness tearing into him.

His friends' panicked yells sounded out, and a horrible pain pierced him to the depths of his heart. He was vaguely aware of shopping bags going everywhere and a stampede of panicked people. Everything was cold, freezing cold, and the world around him faded to black. He was falling, falling, falling into darkness with no end in sight.

Amidst the pain and horror and confusion, one simple, lonely thought remained.

I just wanted to see her, one last time.

————————————————————————

A/N: Thank you all for reading! This chapter was also a lot of fun to write. I really enjoyed the Sora Riku Strelitzia friendship and got a kick out of writing their scenes together. They were just so many fun moments and dynamics between the three of them that I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed discovering. It was also fun including the traditional Japanese style breakfast and shopping at the Shibuya PARCO. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Sorry not sorry for that cliffhanger lol. See you all next week! ❤️

[maddrmatt]

Kintsugi

Chapter 2 - Wait for Me

Summary: Kairi asks Aqua about the Power of Waking, and in her dreams that night, she sees Sora. KH4 SoKai pining, angst, romance, and fluff.

Written for Valentine's Day 2025 as a celebration for posting my hundredth SoKai story on AO3! 🥳 Thank you all for voting in the poll and for all the support over the years ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

The Land of Departure was a calm, peaceful place, all verdant green grass, sapphire blue pools, and starry skies. Kairi was glad for it. It was much easier being here than it would've been living back home. Everything on Destiny Islands reminded her of Sora. She couldn't go anywhere without her heart splitting in two.

But she couldn't let herself get too comfortable here, either. She had to train and train and train, fight and fight and fight, be ready to find Sora when the time came. Which was why she had just asked Master Aqua a question after another sparring session.

“The Power of Waking?” Aqua echoed, her eyebrows knitted together in concern as she put the training equipment back to normal. “That's a really difficult ability, Kairi. Even I didn't master it until recently, and it's so dangerous if you use it wrong. I know you want to find Sora, but—”

Kairi just stared at her mentor, refusing to back down. “But I've learned so much. Yesterday you even said you thought I was ready for the most advanced magic training.”

“That's different from what you're asking me to teach you.”

Kairi sighed deeply. Other than Aqua, only Sora and Riku knew how to do this, and they were both gone. She plopped down miserably onto one of the benches nearby. “I know Sora asked me to wait for him, but how can I just sit around doing nothing until he comes home?”

“You're not doing that, you've learned so much—”

“But what good is it if I'm not helping people? If I'm not helping him?”

Aqua’s expression softened, and she joined Kairi on the bench, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Kairi, I'm sure he would want you to be safe. I know you want to find him, but Riku must be with him by now, and when the time is right, you will be too.”

“Can you at least explain the theory behind the power?”

Aqua sighed, blowing back her bangs. "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt. That way, if and when you do learn how to do it, you won't do it incorrectly.”

A thrill ran through Kairi. This was a fair compromise, and she listened intently.

Aqua continued. “You should only ever traverse hearts to reach worlds,” she said, gesturing from her heart to the training field around them. “Don't ever traverse worlds to reach hearts. That's where Sora went wrong. He raced through multiple worlds looking for us and then you. We all should have died, but he stopped that from happening. I'm deeply grateful, but using the power like that comes at a cost.”

Kairi nodded. “Right, that makes sense. So, if I applied that to Sora’s case, I shouldn't use the power to jump from world to world to find his heart.”

Aqua nodded. "Yes, that's right. I can't say you wouldn't find him. There's a chance you would. But then you would be just as stuck as he is.”

“Which I don't want. So to use the ability properly, I would need to know where his heart is first and then use that to find where he is.”

“Yes, exactly. The ability is much more precise and much less risky when you use it that way because you're only making one jump instead of countless jumps. But it's also where the difficulty comes in. His heart isn't in the realm of light anymore, so you’d have to find it first. And how can you find it if you can't access the other reality?”

“Right, which is why Riku had trouble too. He couldn't find something to go off of until we were in the Final World.” Kairi scuffed the dirt with her shoe. Unfortunately, that gate had closed after Riku had used it. She would have to find another way.

The others had searched her heart for a year for clues, but maybe there was some clue deep down only she could find. Some hint they had all somehow missed.

The fingers of her right hand twitched faintly. She'd heard of people feeling phantom sensations in missing limbs. But she only ever felt this in the hand that had held Sora’s right before he disappeared.

A sign, maybe?

When she went to sleep that night, she willed herself to dream.

————————————————————————————————

There was nothing quite like the sea. Its waves crashed steadily against the shore, the tide unrelenting, waxing and waning but never ceasing. The sand was wet against her toes, and Kairi's eyes fluttered open. Her dress was soaking wet, as if she had washed up from somewhere far away.

It was sunset on the beach, just like when she and Sora had shared the paopu fruit. Just like when he had disappeared.

She used to love sunsets on Destiny Islands. Now she hated them.

Sora was sitting on the paopu tree. A part of her wanted to run to him. The other part wanted to stay right here to keep things from ending. Her mind revisited this scene often. Reliving the happiest and saddest moments of her life, all in some misguided attempt to change the past.

She understood why Sora had done it. If she could have, she would have, too.

He never spoke in her dreams. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He did speak. But she couldn't hear his voice, no matter what she did. She'd tried to get better at lip reading, and he'd made the most of various gestures. But she missed his voice, so, so much.

Still, even though she couldn't hear him, she couldn't not go to him. Any time they had together, even if it was just in a dream, was precious. So her feet took her forward, step-by-step to the paopu tree. She hoisted herself up, and he smiled and said her name, his eyes softening. That much she could easily read on his lips.

He reached for her hand, but as usual, his hand went right through hers. They could never touch directly in her dreams. The most they could ever manage was him briefly controlling her body, and when he did that, he couldn't see her. So if they wanted to talk face-to-face, this was the best they could do.

A hint of sadness flickered through his eyes, and it broke her heart. At least she could still hug their friends and family here. In an earlier dream, she had confirmed he’d made new friends. But did he have anyone he could hug?

Hopefully Riku had found him by now. The thought of him all alone in another reality with no one to hug him made her worry. He was so naturally affectionate but had been deprived of all affection.

What she wouldn't give to hold his hand or hug him, just one more time.

“I talked to Aqua today about the Power of Waking,” she said, because at least she could use words to reassure him.

His eyebrows immediately shot up in alarm, and his eyes widened. She was pretty sure he was saying no, no, no with everything he had. He even tried to go into her body as if to prevent her from doing something reckless, but she gently stopped him.

“Relax, she wouldn't teach me how to do it. Just explained the theory behind it. We both agreed that if I could locate your heart or even just a piece of your heart, I could use the Power of Waking to reach the world where you are.” She pursed her lips. “Though it's not a world so much as it is a different reality. An unreality.”

Sora still looked concerned. She put her hand near his cheek, wishing her touch could connect with his face. “Don't worry, after the price you paid to save me and bring me home, I'm not going to do this unless I'm sure I’ll succeed. Okay, 90% sure. And right now, not only do I not know how to use the power, I don't know where your heart is.”

She looked at him sadly. He just tilted his head, like the question baffled him. He lifted a finger to point to his nose, the gesture people on Destiny Islands made to refer to themselves, and then he pointed at her heart.

"Yes, you're always with me. I have your heart, and you have mine.” This fact comforted her and helped her get through the long days of grief.

He shook his head, and her heart sank. “You don't…feel the same way about me anymore? Or are you worried I don't feel the same way about you?”

He raised his eyebrows, as if to say, really, Kairi? She was almost offended when he repeated the pointing gesture, more emphatically. First he indicated himself, then pointed towards her heart, then did it one more time as if to really drive the point home.

She gasped and clutched her chest. “Wait, are you saying…you're in my heart?”

He nodded enthusiastically.

“So it's like when I was in your heart. Only this time…you're the one inside me. Inside my heart I mean!” She clamped a hand over her mouth and avoided his eyes, her face flushing crimson. That had really come out wrong.

When she’d worked up enough courage to look at him again, his face was also bright red. That made her feel a little better.

She fiddled with her necklace. "Sorry, that came out wrong.” They hadn't even gotten to kiss yet. He had disappeared before they’d gotten the chance.

He swallowed and shook his head. Wait, did he mean it was okay, she didn't have to apologize? Or did he mean he didn't mind and wanted to talk about all this stuff more—

She buried her face in her hands. Keeping up healthy communication in their relationship was really difficult when she couldn't hear him. But that just made her more determined than ever to find him.

"Nevermind that for now,” she muttered. He looked away this time. Was that disappointment in his eyes? She wondered how lonely he was, really. Maybe he was getting hugs from friends, but that wasn't the same as hugs from her. She reached for his hand, and as usual, her hand went right through his. But the fingers of his left hand twitched.

He looked at her, surprised that that had happened. She smiled sadly. Maybe their connection was growing stronger, but it was still bittersweet that they couldn't touch.

She leaned closer and pecked the air near his cheek. “When I wake up, I'll know where to find you. Wait for me, Sora.”

His lips parted and his eyes went wide. It was what he had told her, but this time, she was flipping those words on their head and taking matters into her own hands. Just like how she had promised to protect him when he told her he was going to protect her.

He put his hand inside her hand and lifted her hand to his lips. Her heart fluttered as he gazed at her. Was she imagining things, or could she feel warmth on her hand from his kiss?

As the scene around them faded away, she was determined to see him again soon.

————————————————————————————————

A/N: Thank you all for reading! I feel like KH4 is going to have some twist where Sora’s heart or part of his heart is inside of Kairi. And then as I was thinking about that, I thought okay, how might she use that to reach him? Then I revisited the KH3 cutscene with Young Xehanort explaining the Power of Waking and how Sora went wrong to come up with the conversation between Kairi and Aqua. The part at the end of the chapter also references the KH3 manga where Sora asks Kairi to wait for him before he disappears. Also, Sora points to his nose instead of his heart because that is how he indicates himself in the games, and that's probably because people in Japan point to their noses to indicate themselves. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! The one I'll be posting next week was also a lot of fun to write, I can't wait to share that one with you all too! ❤️

[maddrmatt]

Kintsugi

Chapter 1 - A World Without Color

Summary: Sora searches for a way home while Kairi looks for clues to Quadratum. They are both broken by his disappearance, but the journey to reach each other creates something beautiful from the pieces. KH4 SoKai pining, angst, romance, and fluff.

Written for Valentine's Day 2025 as a celebration for posting my hundredth SoKai story on AO3! 🥳 Thank you all for voting in the poll and for all the support over the years ❤️ This story turned into a five chapter one, so I'm posting the first chapter today, the second chapter on Valentine's Day, and will post the remaining chapters once a week on Fridays.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Life was just different shades of gray and brown now.

Quadratum was the biggest, most bustling place Sora had been to yet. People were everywhere—milling around on sidewalks, filling stores, spilling out of cafés, swarming in and out of stations, crossing streets—and yet never had he felt more dead inside. Alone in a sea of people because he didn't belong. The people around him were living their lives, but for him, this was an afterworld. A life of death. The place he'd been sent as a punishment for abusing the Power of Waking.

No wonder he never felt like smiling. Or when he did, Strelitzia always said it was sad and never reached his eyes. A hollow, broken smile, because that was what he was. Hollow, broken.

She understood though. When you'd had everything ripped away from you, all the people you loved torn from your life just as you were torn from theirs, it was hard not to be hollow and broken.

As he exited Shibuya Station and let himself be carried along by the throng, the fingers of his left hand twitched. He'd heard about people having phantom sensations from limbs that were long gone, and maybe this was something like that. Only his phantom sensations were from someone else. Her absence hurt most of all.

He made his way to the largest crosswalk in Quadratum and wondered, for the millionth time, if things might have turned out differently somehow. If he could've made some choice to save all of them, to save her, and not doom himself. But no, this had been his fate all along. He just had to trust that each step forward was a step closer to home.

What he wouldn't give to see her again in the flesh. She constantly haunted his thoughts and dreams. Every time he closed his eyes, he pictured she was there, a smile on her radiant face, the sunshine in her hair. Even in his dreams she couldn't hear his voice, and he inevitably had tears in his eyes when he woke up. He missed his friends, too.

But it was like Strelitzia had said: if their loved ones could live out the rest of their lives happily, she and Sora could be at peace. Not happy, not smiling, but content.

He stepped onto the crossing. A light rain had fallen earlier, and the street was still wet. Puddles reflected the flashing neon lights above. He really missed Destiny Islands. He missed the feeling of sand between his toes and ocean spray on his face and sunsets with no buildings blocking the sky or stars. He missed home.

A loud scream tore through his thoughts. His Keyblade instantly appeared in his hand. His senses honed in on the source of the scream. Sure enough, a giant Darkside had appeared about 20 feet away from him. Everyone stampeded away from it when he needed to go toward it. They carried him along like a riptide back towards the station. He wasted precious time fighting the current until enough people recognized him to shout to the others to let him through, it was the boy with the Keyblade.

The boy with the Keyblade. They didn't know much about him or his past, but they knew what he could do.

He had no idea where Strelitzia was, so he'd have to fight this thing alone. Oh well. He'd done it before. He could do it again. He raced toward it, determined not to let it hurt anyone else. Even when he didn't know what else to do, he could always help.

He hooked Kairi’s lucky charm onto the chain of his Keyblade. Right as he was about to launch himself into the air, a flash of silver caught his eye.

No, it couldn't be. His eyes had to be playing tricks on him. He was just imagining his best friend was here, racing toward the Darkside with his Keyblade in his hand.

“Riku?” he called out, not believing his own voice.

Riku skidded to a halt. He had on a new outfit, and Sora could've sworn he’d gotten even taller somehow (no fair!), but it was really him.

Riku smiled. He actually smiled. “I figured I'd find you here,” was all he said, skipping any greetings. “People needed help, so I knew you'd come running.”

“But how? How did you make it to Quadratum—”

“I'll explain later.” He nodded towards their enemy.

"Right.” Sora couldn't let himself get distracted, no matter how badly he wanted answers.

Even though it had been more than a year, he and Riku still fought together like it was second nature. They used a lot of old tricks as well as a few new ones. Working together, the Darkside didn't stand a chance. They beat it in record time, and it dissipated into smokey oblivion.

Before Riku had even had a chance to banish his Keyblade, Sora threw his arms around him. Riku just chuckled and awkwardly hugged him back.

“I promise I'm really here. It's really me.”

“You're not dead, right? You didn't have to die?”

“Nope. Kairi and I figured out a way to safely get me here.”

Sora pulled away, hoping against hope. “Kairi? Is she here with you?”

Riku’s face fell. “I'm sorry, but no. She wanted to train more. She didn't feel like she was ready.”

Sora felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. “That's crazy. You should've seen her fight Xehanort with me. She was incredible.”

“I'm sure she was, but you know how she is. After what happened, she was worried about being a burden. So she wanted to train again. Get even stronger.”

The blood drained from Sora’s face. “She doesn't still blame herself for my death, does she?” He'd tried to reassure her before he disappeared that it wasn't her fault, and in his dreams he tried to communicate the same thing with heartfelt gestures, but it sounded like she still blamed herself, even after an entire year—

“You'll have to ask her that,” Riku said. “I know she's dying to see you.”

Sora pulled the lucky charm out of his pocket and stared at it. “I'm dying to see her, too.”

Riku's expression softened. “I know.”

Bitter disappointment mingled with the happiness and relief he felt at being reunited with Riku. He was grateful to see his best friend again, but it would've been even better if Kairi had been here too.

Still, he'd make the most of it. Riku was here and that was something worth celebrating. He put the lucky charm back in his pocket. “That's okay. I know I'll see her again soon. Come on, let me introduce you to a new friend of mine.”

Riku just chuckled and shook his head. “Of course you've already made more friends.”

“Hey, it's me.” He put his hands behind his neck and grinned. “Would you expect anything else?”

“No,” was his best friend's wry response. “You'll only hear me say this once, and I'll deny it to anyone who asks, but I did actually miss you, you know.”

“I missed you too.” He'd missed them all, so much. But this was the start of something good, he was sure of it. More reunions would follow. And he would never take a single moment spent with any of his friends for granted ever again.

And when he saw Kairi again? He had been shy and hesitant before, but he wouldn't hold back anymore.

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A/N: I'm going to briefly quote Wikipedia to explain the title:

"Kintsugi (Japanese: 金継ぎ, lit. 'golden joinery'), also known as kintsukuroi (金繕い, "golden repair"), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum…As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.”

The phrase, “Nothing is whole, and nothing is broken," from the song Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru (the theme song for KH2) reminded me of this concept, so I decided to use Kintsugi as the title of this story.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!

[maddrmatt]

あなたを下さい !

[maddrmatt]

Here's Sora and Kairi as fairies flying together in Neverland. I would love for them to visit Pixie Hollow. ^v^

[maddrmatt]

Here’s the final render of Sora and Kairi! 💕

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For my love 💙💜

[maddrmatt]

Happy Sokai Day

Just Married

Sokai days theme is island wedding but the Final World though . . .

[maddrmatt]

Just couple-y things 💞🏙️

[maddrmatt]

100 DAYS OF KINGDOM HEARTS DRAWINGS:

DAY 94

one heart ❤️

[maddrmatt]

Don’t Think Twice💫✨

[maddrmatt]

Hearts intertwined

[maddrmatt]

𝒮𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝑀𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 | Sokai 💕

[maddrmatt]

Once upon a dream 🌌