lightwithin | 4th ♥ Plantfection [Audio]

[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?]

[Not so good, actually. Xanth would rather Kairi not stay with Riku - but only for selfish reasons. Riku hasn't proven himself anything but neutral, but one cannot undo months of distrust in just a few conversations.

But it's not Riku's fault. Not this Riku.

Xanth crushes those spiteful feelings down.]

S--Sure.

[And so he follows.]

[Going to Riku's room means that he can have his key out by the time they reach his door, can prop the door open and step inside first, heading for the bed. His room is simple; aside from grabbing a couple extra blankets, everything is precisely as it was when he arrived.

Riku pulls the top blanket off the bed, leaving the rest of them lay. Then he steps back, waiting for Xanth to follow.]

Right in here.

O--Okay.

[At Riku's invitation, Xanth enters his room. It's much more orderly than Xanth's, and his extra blankets are blankets, rather than skirts or shirts or other items of clothing.

Xanth maneuvers over to Riku's bed, then slowly sits on the edge of it. He glances to Riku, a silent request for him to help detach the sleepy Kairi from Xanth's back.]

[Riku can understand that look. He nods once, stepping over to try and take hold of Kairi's hands, to try and lead her arms away from circling Xanth's neck and shoulders.]

Come on, Kairi, we're here. You need to let Xanth go now.

Mph

[Kairi reacts to the touch before she does the words, instinctively tightening her grip into an almost chokingly-tight hug about Xanth's neck.

Or as close as she can get with her current strength.

But Riku's there, and he's talking. In moments, she's nodding in agreement without really having listened to a word he's said.

Relaxing, she slumps sideways and gravity does the rest. In moments she's half-curled on the blankets, out like a light.]

[Xanth stands up, then sets his hands on his hips and stretches back. Crackle, goes his back, but he doesn't mind.

Then, he takes one of Riku's extra blankets and lays it over Kairi. Getting her under the one of the bed would be a nightmare; better to let her use it as a sheet.

When finished, Xanth looks down at Kairi and lets out a breath. Here, she'll be safe. She can sleep off whatever drug the doctor had given her. Xanth knows that.

But he still doesn't want to leave her with Riku.]

[Riku looks at Kairi for a long moment. Even now, after everything that's gone on... he doesn't want to leave her alone. He wants to be there for her, especially now, wants to be there to protect her from anything that might happen.

But he also wants to talk to Xanth.

So Riku moves to the door, looking back toward Xanth.]

We can talk out here. I'll leave the door open so that we can keep an eye on her.

[A knot of apprehension forms in Xanth's stomach. Riku never talked - Riku interrogated.

But no, Xanth thinks, that's wrong. Just minutes before, Riku made idle conversation. Perhaps he'd ask something simple, or maybe they would be questions about Kairi's surgery.

Xanth's rationalizations do nothing; the apprehension remains.]

O--Okay.

[And Xanth follows.]

[Yeah, well, that part hasn't exactly changed much. At least this time he's not -intending- on interrogating Xanth? Once they're both outside, Riku looks back to Xanth.]

You knew Kairi before coming here, too?

[It's not what he's wanting to ask. But he's trying to lead into it.]

[Xanth tries not to fidget. Instead, his apprehension expresses itself in a nervous scratching of his cheek.]

Y-Yeah. B-But I-- I-I never knew-- a-anyone else, f-from your w--world.

[Riku gives a short, noncommittal response, folding his arms and leaning against the wall as he looks into the room. He'd known both him and Kairi, then?]

But she thought you meant Naminé.

[He glances back to Xanth.]

I guess this is another example of that whole multiple-copies-of-people thing, isn't it?

Y-Yeah, [he says again, with a nod.] It's-- w-weird. You... y-you get used to it e--eventually.

[He looks down at the floor and leans against the wall as well. After a moment, he looks back up.]

Wh-- who is... N-Naminé?

[Riku shakes his head. He's used to this whole other worlds thing, has been for a long time, but the multiple copies of people thing? That's just strange.

At Xanth's question, though, his expression clouds slightly.]

If you knew the both of us before... what do you know about the Heartless?

N-Not a-- a whole l-lot. B-But... [And he holds up one hand to count off what he does now.]

I-I know they're-- h-heartless. [He gives a shrug at this, because it is so damn obvious.] They're... l-like shadows, s-sort of. A-And I... I know they're-- d-dangerous, b-but I'm not... r-really sure h--how.

[And Xanth is pretty damn sure Riku used something like them in a battle against him.]

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