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[shareoursky]

[Kairi is curled up on a couch in her apartment, looking snug and warm in a big, comfy blanket as she buries herself in a book. It's only a few moments, though, before she glances out a nearby window at the rain and chews lightly at the corner of her mouth, looking suddenly very sad. She stays like that for a while, until she has to duck her head

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[latchkeyblade]

[Sora stares for a few seconds, his eyes widening childishly, and a sudden smile breaks across his face---one of the few in the last couple of weeks that is genuine]

Kairi! I---I finally found you! Have you been hiding here the whole time?

[---and he catches her red-rimmed eyes and mournful appearance]

Kairi. Kairi, are you okay?

[shareoursky]

[surprise! Kairi looks more than a little startled as she blinks up at him, nearly dropping her book as she sits up and swings her legs over the edge of the couch.]

S-Sora? But I thought you- I mean, I've just been right-

[pauses as she takes in his height and realizes he's not her Sora, exactly. She masks that realization by looking away just slightly at his second question. her smile is weak, but there.]

I'm fine, Sora. I was just thinking .. so many people have come and gone here. I miss my friends, that's .. that's all.

[latchkeyblade]

[it takes him a moment to realize that she is smaller, less curvy than the Kairi he left back home. The final vestiges of his exuberant smile fade, and he sucks on his lower lip before blurting out:]

I'm not leaving! I finally found you, or a you, and it's nice here. I probably should leave, should...get back home and keep fighting, but I can't seem to do that.

I can't seem to do much at all. Can't get back home. Can't find my friends.

[looks down, sighing]

I miss people too, Kairi.

[shareoursky]

Fighting? [her brow creases a little in concern, and she shifts and pats the couch next to her, inviting him to sit down.]

Well, for now, we've got each other, right?

[einspruch]

...Fraulein Kairi?

[And here's some tea for you.]

[shareoursky]

[she starts a little, blinking at him - but her expression melts into this incredibly grateful sad smile when she sees the tea. she takes it gently, pleased with the way it warms her fingers]

Klavier, you didn't have to do that.. thank you.

[einspruch]

It's no problem. Some people seem to not deal with the rain as well as others... or the thoughts associated with it.

I don't really like it either, personally.

[shareoursky]

[she makes a soft noise, almost amused, and sips at the tea.]

It's not really that.. just some other things. I've been here for a long time and I've seen so many people come and go.. my friends. So many of them just vanish..

[she's quiet for a moment, looking sad again, but makes herself smile when she looks back at him] But when I've got people like you to cheer me up, I know it'll be alright.

[hazardwireseven]

[uh-oh! nu-uh. not leaving this alone.]

Kairi?

[shareoursky]

[blinkblink. slightly embarassed, Kairi fixes on a smile and sets down her book.]

Hi, Jenos.

[hazardwireseven]

[smiles just slightly.]

Hey, sweetheart. You look like you've got trouble.

[shareoursky]

.. [she gives a faint, quiet laugh and just shakes her head]

I'm okay, Jenos. I just .. miss my friends. People come and go a lot, here. I wonder how they're doing, and if they're okay.. [the words of certainty, of faith in her friends, oddly don't come, and she just bites her lip.]

[firebranded]

... [a little gently, just for her]

Why the long face?

[shareoursky]

... [she knows better than to bluff around Axel, so she just sits up and idly rubs at an eye.]

So many people have left. I.. I started losing track at some point, and.. [her voice just trails off into quietness as she looks down at her lap.]

[firebranded]

[he sits beside her, resting an arm on one raised knee]

So that's how it is, huh? You miss them?

...heh, yeah. Of course you would.

[shareoursky]

[after a moment, she just lightly leans against him because -- because. she needs him a bit, right now.]

.. yeah. [she smiles a little] I wonder if they're okay back home. I hope so. Sometimes it -- gets hard. [her smile turns a bit strained.] I'd wait a million years, of course, but- sometimes waiting just isn't enough, but there's.. no other way. Not this time, anyway.