lightwithin | 4th ♥ Plantfection [Audio]

W-Woah--

[Xanth tilts to the side and very nearly tips over, but he catches his balance at the last second.]

S--Stay still!

[Ignoring both question and instruction, Kairi snatches for Riku's hand to try and tug him forward into a very awkward one-armed hug. Her other arm is still curled tightly around Xanth's neck. She's still perched, though precariously, on Xanth's back. But neither of those things occur to her or convince her that hugging Riku might not be the best idea.]

I'm tired.

[She mumbles.]

[Riku's not expecting that.

Nor is he expecting her to have really any strength at all, not with the way she looks right now. So all in all, it's not too hard for Kairi to pull him over, to get her arm around him in that hug. Instinctively his arm comes up to try and wrap around her back, to keep her from falling off.]

Maybe we should put you back to bed.

[And Xanth is squished between Kairi and Riku.

This is the most awkward position he's experienced in months. Perhaps years.

He grits his teeth and ignores the fact that he's talking into Riku's shoulder as best he can.]

W-We could-- take her back t-to the-- the i-infirmary, o-or, j-just... take her t-to-- her room?

[At this point, they're about halfway between either place.]

[Kairi is oblivious to both the awkwardness of the situation and the conversation going on around her. What little energy that waking had gifted her has now been spent. Water or no water, she's ready for sleep, whether she makes it to a bed first or not.]

Take'is blindfold, Xanth...

[Whatever Riku was about to say? It dies in his throat at Kairi's words.

And he's just going to -look- at Xanth.

Is he really going to go there?]

[Xanth gives Riku the flattest of looks. It is flatter than a pancake. It is flatter than Kansas. His mouth is set in a thin line and his brow is furrowed just the same.

As if to further reinforce how much he was not going to go there, Xanth shakes his head.

Then, more gently:]

N-N--No, Kairi.

[Kairi frowns. Why is she being told 'no' again? There must be a reason. It doesn't matter. She doesn't like being told no. She wheedles.]

C'mon Xanth...

[Riku nods in understanding. All right, Xanth, they're cool.]

Come on, Kairi. It's time to go to sleep.

[He lifts a hand, summoning a corridor of darkness before the three of them. Then he's going to be trying to disentangle himself from Kairi, though he'll still be hovering close just in case, and turns to Xanth.]

Through here.

[The portal gets a momentary stare from Xanth. He knew Riku could use some kind of weird, dark magic, but this... this is a little more alarming.

Then Xanth reminds himself that this Riku has nothing against him. And in any case, there is no reason for this blot of darkness to lead anywhere but somewhere Kairi would be safe.

Making sure Kairi was secure on his back, Xanth steels himself and steps into the corridor.]

[At the word "sleep," Kairi's eyes drift closed. She misses seeing Riku summon the corridor, but there's no mistaking that sensation, even half-asleep as she is.

As Xanth steps into the corridor, Kairi starts to squirm.]

No... don't...

[And it's not like Riku isn't going with, as well! He's right beside them, a little bit surprised when Kairi protests but ready to handle it. He reaches out, aiming to lay a hand on her shoulder.]

It's okay, Kairi. Me and Xanth are both here. We'll be through in a minute.

[Whoops. Using the corridors of darkness has become so familiar to him that he didn't even think about it before summoning one.

Still, it should get them to the hallway just outside Kairi's room a lot quicker than walking!]

[Xanth very nearly asks what the hell this even is, but he can tell Kairi's upset by this. Better to leave the topic for some other day, or at least until she's fallen asleep.]

D-Don't worry, [he adds,] we--we'll-- k-keep you s-safe.

[Though what there is to fear here besides the darkness itself, Xanth doesn't know...]

[Kairi doesn't really have the energy to protest any more. She allows herself the be carried, still and quiet.

Actually, she's more asleep than not.]

[Riku can't help but be a little bit relieved when it seems as though Kairi's fallen back asleep. At least this way he doesn't have to worry about her trying to squirm away and run off on her own.

Their trip through the space inbetween isn't a long one--within just a few seconds Riku can see the other end opening up for them. But they've still got a short ways to go before they get there.

Riku glances over to Xanth.]

...has she been like this the entire time?

[Xanth lets out a sigh when Kairi relaxes. He has to be extra careful now, as she's got no grip, but at least she's not squirming.]

Y--Yeah. The-- th-the doctor h-had to... o-operate, and, I-I guess she-- sh-she gave Kairi-- s-something. I-I don't-- know what.

Whatever it was, I'll bet she probably shouldn't have been up and moving so soon after.

[He doesn't blame Xanth for that.

Riku's walking just a step behind, keeping his eye on Kairi as they go. He's not going to let her fall, either.]

That's Kairi for you, though.

Y-Yeah. S--Stubborn as-- as she could p-possibly be...

[But he says it almost fondly. Kairi is stubborn, yes, and that's what makes her Kairi.]

I--I think-- she'll be o-okay, a-after it... w-wears off.

That's right.

[He can hear the fondness in Xanth's voice, and he knows that Xanth cares about Kairi. Cares about her a -lot-.

Loves, maybe.]

That's probably part my fault. Sora and I never told her no when we were growing up.

[Maybe they should've. Then maybe she wouldn't have him twisted around her little finger so well.]

Yeah, Kairi'll bounce back.

[Still clinging to Xanth's back, Kairi stirs.]

Mphnot.

[Yeah, she clearly has no idea what's going on.]

[Xanth fights the urge to look back at Riku, biting his lip instead. Never before had Xanth ever heard Riku speak so casually to him. Riku admitted fault. Granted, it's something trivial, but... this is truly bizarre.

But when Kairi stirs and mumbles, a lopsided smile is brought back to Xanth's face.]

Y-Yeah. I-I don't know when, th-though...

She just needs sleep.

[Of that, Riku actually sounds certain.

By this time they've reached the second portal, this time a bright white as opposed to the dark one that had originally brought them there. Riku nods to it, gesturing Xanth onwards.

Once they're through, they'll find themselves standing right outside of Kairi's door.]

[It's a shame Kairi is not lucid enough to provide them with the key. She probably doesn't even remember where it is.

They're going to have to try and find it or put her somewhere else.]

[Xanth steps into the light and out of the portal. The shifting of spaces is weird, definitely something he would have to get used to, but here they are.

But the doors are locked.]

U-Um.

I-- I-I don't-- know where sh-she keeps her k--key.

[And even if he could, he was certainly not about to go rummaging through her pockets.]

[For the briefest of moments, the admission is odd. That hadn't been something Riku had ever bothered thinking of.

But then he nods once, turning.]

She can sleep in my room. It's right down here.

[And he'll just be leading the way now, sound good Xanth?]

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