I got a present for everyone! Especially you Goldie! lol ^_^
Enjoy guys!
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Chapter 21 – Goodbyes Aren’t Always Forever
After I eavesdropped on Sora and King Mickey, I quickly ran back into the baby room to avoid the rest of the conversation. I sat myself in the cornered rocking chair and cried. I cried so much that after awhile, I couldn’t even remember why I started crying in the first place. All my emotions that I kept locked up inside me just came pouring out at that moment. I tried so hard to be brave and confident these past few months, but that strong wall which kept me going, had finally shattered completely.
I stayed in that chair for a few more hours until I stopped crying. Sora and King Mickey still hadn’t come back. They were either still talking or Sora was throwing a fit over the news. So I decided to check out the rest of the baby room in the meantime, just to be sure of where everything was.
Making my way towards the tiny dresser, I opened one of the draws. Inside contained tons of new baby clothes. They were so perfectly folded that I didn’t want to touch anything. “At least you’ll be well dressed, huh?” I whispered to my tummy, patting it lightly.
The rest of the draws just held more and more clothes – shirts, skirts, pants, dresses, socks, hats, and diapers. I almost felt as if the King bought out an entire baby store for me.
I slowly browsed the rest of the room, picking up toys and games and other baby gadgets. Everything seemed to be just perfect – until I reached the closet. I threw open the doors only to find it completely empty. Hangers swung back and forth yet no clothes were held by them. I took a step forward but quickly jerked back. An unsettling chill crawled up my spine and I felt totally petrified.
“Kairi…” a deep voice whispered from behind.
I shot around, my heart almost jumping out of my chest. But no one was there. Instead, I noticed a clean white envelope sitting atop the rocking chair. Had that been there before?
I hesitated a little before working up the courage to actually move. My steps were small yet slow and I could feel my pulse racing as I kept my eyes fixed on the tightly sealed envelope. When I was in reading distance, I saw something scribbled on the top on it. Picking it up slowly, I saw that it read, ‘Kairi’.
I turned over the envelope and noticed the back was sealed with red wax in the shape of an ‘A’. I wasn’t sure what this meant but I slid my finger under the seam and began to tear it open.
But there was a sudden knock at the door which interrupted me from continuing. I swiftly turned around and fumbled nervously with the envelope.
“Kairi? Are you in there?” Sora called out from just behind the door.
“Uh…Yea! Just…just a second!” I shouted back, flipping around in all directions. I needed to find a place to hide the letter. For some reason, I didn’t want Sora to see it. I quickly ran over to the dresser, yanked open a draw and stuffed the envelope between all the various baby clothes.
Then, I rushed towards the door and casually opened it. Smiling at Sora, I took his hand and lead him inside. “Sorry, I was just…napping before you came,” I said, making sure to keep a smile on my face.
“Oh, it’s okay…” he replied quietly. His solemn reaction immediately made me know that something was wrong. And his sunken face made my smile turn upside down.
“What’s wrong, Sora?” I asked, my voice sympathetic. I let go of his hand and he drifted towards the rocking chair, sitting down slowly. He was quiet for a while, obviously deep in thought.
I walked right next to him and knelt down, my hand reaching up to touch his pale face. “Sora,” I whispered, rubbing his cheek lightly. “What is wrong?”
“I have to go,” he finally said, his voice filling up the room.
I had to admit that this confused me on several levels. “Go? Go where?”
“I have to leave. I have to find him before he does something bad.”
Sora then stood up from the chair, my hand falling back down to my side. I stood up as well, meeting him face to face. “What are you talking about? Who do you have to find? Is it Riku?”
“No,” he instantly answered. “Well, maybe. I don’t know!” he shouted, running his frustrated hands through his hair. Sora began to pace back and forth, anger and confusion fuming out of him.
I reached a hand out to lightly grasp his shoulder. My touch seemed to freeze him in place. And then he looked at me. His cold glare sent icy shivers through my body and I could tell he was scared. “Sora. Just tell me what is going on.”
We both sat down and he began to explain everything to me. He told me how he had a talk with Mickey about some man who was looking for me. Even though I already knew this – thanks to my curiosity – hearing it from Sora only made me feel more afraid. But then he proceeded to tell me the rest of their conversation, the part I didn’t hear.
“Mickey told me that this man…is completely unknown. No one has seen his face, but they have ideas as to who it is.”
I took a long, deep breath, letting all this information sink in slowly. “Who do you think it is…?”
Sora looked away from me, his eyes purposely wandering the room. “I’m not gonna worry about that right now. All I want is to keep you safe,” he said, gazing back at me. “That’s why you have to stay here.”
I angrily narrowed my eyes at Sora and shook my head stubbornly. “What?....No. There is no way I’m staying here alone while you’re out there fighting for me!”
“Kairi…” Sora took a step towards me but I immediately backed away.
“No Sora!” I shouted. “You said yourself that this guy was dangerous! I won’t let you go alone!”
“Please listen to me!” he yelled back, resting both hands on my shoulders. “If you are here in the castle, you will be safe. Donald and Goofy will be here to protect you. And so will the Queen. You have nothing to worry about.”
“…Except you,” I whispered, gazing deep within his eyes.
He gently pulled me into a hug and held me tightly. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be with the King. It’ll all be okay.”
I buried my face into his shoulder, wondering if this was the last time I would feel his embrace. “When are you leaving?”
Taking a deep breath, Sora loosened his grip from me. “…As soon as possible.”
Although I felt like bursting out into tears, I kept myself together and nodded agreeably. “Just…just promise me you’ll come back safely.”
With a smile, Sora kissed me gently on the lips. “I promise.”
We left the baby room and soon headed for the courtyard. Once we reached the Gummi Ship, I noticed that the King was patiently waiting just outside it. “I hope you’re prepared, Sora," he said, jumping inside. "This is gonna be a long and perilous journey.”
Sora nodded at King Mickey and turned to face me. I opened my mouth to say something but a light poking in my stomach made me jump in my spot.
“What’s wrong?” Sora asked, eyeing me up and down.
I gently clutched his hand and placed in on my rumbling tummy. “She wants to say goodbye too.”
“She? So you think it’s a girl?”
I nodded cheerfully, pulling him in for one last hug. “Please be careful,” I whispered softly into his ear.
“If you ever feel alone or scared, just think of our Sanctuary. I’ll be there, waiting for you,” he whispered back, holding me tighter than before.
“…I love you.”
Sora placed a gentle hand on my cheek and brushed back a few stray pieces of hair covering my eyes. “I love you too.”
Just then, the Gummi Ships’ engine started up and a high pitched voice called out from inside. “Sora! We’re ready for take off!”
With a slight smile, Sora slowly backed away and turned towards the ship. As he entered, he looked over his shoulder once more and I could see a tear sliding down his cheek. At that moment, tears began to brim my eyes as well. The ships’ door began to close and as it took off into the sky, I watched until it was out of sight.
I stood motionless for awhile, not sure of what to do next. But after wiping my tears away, I decided I should go back to the baby room and read the letter I tucked away. Maybe, it would give me the answers we were all looking for.