allsoend | A day with family remembered

Entry tags:

A day with family remembered

Who: Kairi and Ven, but more can appear
What: The first memory in the next chain...where does it lead?
Where: Memory chains
Warnings: Nothing thusfar

There are seven new sparks of light remaining in the darkness along with the others at the end of Sora’s last available memory. When touched, the light of this memory opens up onto a bright, warm place that no one present would recognize. It doesn’t appear to look like any world anyone would have visited before, while at the same time feeling strangely familiar.

The scene actually starts from a bird’s eye view before those visiting find themselves suddenly swept to the ground. From above can be seen a wide lake fed by two waterfalls, with a vast forest hugging sloping mountains on one side, and a large town spreading out on the other. Up the hill from the town is a castle, although it’s not recognizable.

When brought down to the ground, those visiting will find themselves in an open-air plaza, situated right next to a garden overflowing with gorgeous flowers. A couple small clusters of people are talking or enjoying lunch in the plaza; there looks to be a bakery nearby. The two will find themselves closest to a father and son sitting at a table right next to the garden’s entrance. The father, looking to be in his late thirties, sports dark skin, black hair and blue eyes, while his son is a squirrely six-year-old with brown eyes. The boy apparently has a beloved pet with him: a blue beta fish with yellow-edged fins swimming around in a small fish bowl. The father is attempting to get the boy to sit down and eat the sandwiches just purchased, but the boy is too busy fussing over the fish or getting up to look at the gardens closer.

There is one thing distinct about this place: it seems to be overflowing with light. Everything here feels happy and at peace.

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Kairi finished helping Riku back to his feet. At least it mostly seemed like just his pride was hurt, not that it would matter much in this space, anyway. She shot her own glare back at the cat, and probably would've picked something up to throw at it if she was the kind of person who could throw things at animals, even troublesome ones. As it was, the glare would have to suffice.

She was more concerned about the boy approaching them. She hadn't expected them to get so involved with this memory, but there was little turning back now. She glanced back towards Riku, uncertain of what to say to him or to the father in this memory.

Well, there was at least one thing. "I'm sorry..."

The cat glowered down at Riku as if he was somehow responsible for this stomachache, and remained sulking up on the wall, determined to keep down its lunch despite how vehemently it was disagreeing with him.

The two visitors had definitely been noticed by father and son, especially the father, who kept giving Kairi a somewhat confused look. But that quickly fell by the wayside when Toshi caught up with them. The father looked pained, but then knelt down so that he was more eye level with his son. No, Toshi. I’m sorry. We didn’t reach it in time.

F-finny’s…

The information that his friend was gone slowly sank in, and the boy’s eyes welled up with giant tears. It was clear that he wanted to go ahead and cry, but was holding it in in an effort to appear stronger to the two strangers. He choked back a sob. The father stood back up, and nodded towards Riku and Kairi. Can you say thank you? This young man got hurt trying to get Finny back.

Toshi stepped forward, snuffling and rubbing at his eyes, although there was no hiding the tear streaks on his cheeks. Th-thank you for trying to help Finny. He swallowed, and looked to the ground, scuffing his shoes. When Finny comes back I’m sure he’ll say thank you, too.

Riku would have been a little more tempted to wing something at the cat if he’d thought of it, but he’d be less inclined to try to get out the fish, which probably wouldn’t survive the experience regardless.

He could only wish he were responsible, though he felt he could relate to a fish being a fighter. He couldn’t quite figure out why the father was giving Kairi an odd look, though. It was Riku with the grass clippings across the seat of his pants.

When the father said Riku’d been hurt, he simply waved a hand. He was fine. He did kneel down when Toshi stepped forward. With a bit of a sad smile, Riku replied, “It’ll be okay.” He stopped suddenly, looking to Kairi. What am I thinking? Looking back to the child, he paused, then continued in a way that made more sense. “It’s hard now, but you’re trying to pull yourself together. You’re a tough kid. Like how Finny was a tough fish.” He smiled slightly at the miserable cat still out of reach. “Or is.”

Kairi couldn't quite figure out why she was getting the curious look, either, although before long she found herself returning it. There was that feeling again...like trying to remember someone else's description of a dream from long ago. She brushed some hair behind her ear. "It's nothing! We just saw what happened and wanted to help."

What are you thinking? She thought back at Riku. There was no sense un-involving themselves from the whole matter now, but trying to console a sad boy was tough for anyone.

Toshi's last statement, however, left her a little confused. Did he think that his fish was going to come back somehow? Sure, it was putting up a good fight now, but that wasn't going to last forever. She debated whether she should respond to it or not, but decided too, anyway...that strange feeling of responsibility wasn't going away. "I'm sorry, but...I don't think Finny's gonna come back. That's why you have to be brave now. And I know you will be...you're being really brave right now, I can tell!" He certainly seemed to be taking it as well as a little kid possibly could.

The cat continued to scowl down at Riku's smile, and finally turned around so that it wasn't facing them anymore...likely to try and hide its sour expression. It couldn't mask its twitching tail and occasional impatient growls, though, indicating that it was still trying to wait out the pains in its gut. This fish had definitely been more trouble than it was worth.

Yeah, I-I know... Toshi was still struggling to hold back full tears, but was momentarily distracted from his grief for the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge to strangers. But didn't your mom and dad tell you? When a heart has to go away from the world, Kingdom Hearts calls it back to the place where all hearts and all the light comes from. Then it stays with all the other hearts and it's happy because there's light there. He paused for another quick snuffle. Then when it's ready, Kingdom Hearts brings it back to the world and the heart turns into a new thing.

Toshi looked towards his father for approval of getting this correct, and got it with a silent, affirming nod. S-so...I know his heart will be happy and come back someday as someone new..." But finally the grief got to the boy, and he broke down sobbing. He ran back to his father and wrapped his arms around one leg. B-but I miss Finny now!

The father knelt down and gave his son a hug, giving him the safe space to cry freely for his pet. He didn't say anything, although he did keep glancing towards both Riku and Kairi with a thoughtful expression.

I don't know... It's not okay, just I feel like it is or should be or... He trailed off.

As Toshi told his story, Riku's expression became serious and thoughtful as he looked to the child. Slowly he turned to Kairi with a similar expression, but still spoke to the child. "No... My parents never told me that." Slowly he looked back to the child in front of him. Those additional words left him even more thoughtful.

His eyes widened slightly when Toshi began to cry, and Kairi would get a sense of Riku trying to figure out how to comfort a sobbing child. Undoubtedly she'd also feel his relief When Toshi went back to his father.

After a moment, Riku stood and turned back to Kairi, speaking quietly. "Thanks for helping me out when I took off."

And then something came to mind and he went over to the child to kneel again. "Hey. If what you're saying is true, you know what? Maybe you and Finny will be friends next time, too. And who knows? Maybe you'll be a fish and he'll be human."

There was a whole lot of confusion there, which Kairi felt that she shared. They didn't stop the cat, and Toshi had lost his pet...so why did it strangely feels like would still be okay?

"Oh...no, I'm sorry, mine didn't tell me that, either," she replied to Toshi's question.

That wasn't the sort of reaction Kairi was expecting, especially from a young child. Kingdom Hearts was a distant, strange thing to her and everyone she knew...or at least it had been before now. But this family seemed to talk about it as if it were common knowledge. That left a pretty big hint as to where they were now, especially since this world felt so full of light. Maybe this isn't any specific world...maybe it's the whole world, before it was broken up by the Keyblade War.

Kairi's breath caught a little bit once Toshi started crying, and her first instinct was that she needed to reach out and comfort him. But she hesitated, which was probably for the best, since the boy ran to his father instead. She was left feeling a little saddened by the whole affair, and wishing that she could do more.

She smiled back at him. "Anytime, Riku."

She didn't add on to Riku's statement to Toshi, because it was appropriate words of comfort. But she couldn't help wondering... If this really is the ancient past...then that's probably already happened for them. Maybe even multiple times.

Thank you both for helping, too. You didn't need to step in like that. You were so quick you nearly left me behind, there! the father said, offering them both a sad smile.

Toshi was too busy crying to respond much to their admittance at not hearing this about Kingdom Hearts. However, from the dad's thoughtful looks, it was clear this sort of thing was supposed to be more common knowledge. After getting out his initial crying, he tried again to snuffle it down and wipe away his tears.

He faced Riku when Riku addressed him again, hiccuping back another sob. M-maybe...although I wouldn't know it's Finny and he wouldn't know it's me... He thought over this more, trying hard to find the good in it. But it's still our hearts being friends, so it's okay, even if we don't remember.

Another series of snuffles, and he felt cried out enough to let go of his dad, at least for now. It seemed like the thought of their roles being reversed was a little strange for him, but could make sense. A-and I bet if my heart was a fish and his was a person, he'd be really strong and smart and not let any dumb old cat get me!

The cat simply ignored the jab from below, hunched up on the ivy-covered wall. It started to clean itself again, trying to act nonchalant but not completely succeeding. This fish was going to give it an ulcer at this rate.

Riku offered a small shrug. "No problem. I think we took ourselves by surprise at how fast we acted." A look to Kairi was enough to tell her it was true for him at least.

His eyes widened at the thought of this being the whole World, curiousity piqued. Then man what I'd give to be able to take a longer look. And then a thoughtful, speculative idea floated though his mind. If Kingdom Hearts was always hidden, and there's only a World instead of worlds, could Kingdom Hearts be the heart of this World?

"You know, you're right, you won't remember. But a friend of mine taught me about memories. Listen up, now it's my turn to teach you something." I owe Namine one. "Just because something's forgotten doesn't mean it's gone. If your hearts are still friends, then it won't be gone, right?"

And then there was a time to simply humor the kid. With a smile he replied, "I bet you're right. And you know what I'd bet he'd do? He'd keep you at home and use blocks to build a wall almost as tall as the bowl. He'd turn it into your very own castle. You'd be nice and safe and you'd be King Fish." Emphasis on keeping him at home.

Riku continued on Kairi's thought of their hearts having gone to new people. Does Toshi seem familiar to you? He couldn't shake the feeling, and he had a lingering suspicion he couldn't quite shake.

Having that cat up there wasn't helping things. It couldn't see Riku's scowl. He briefly considered throwing something at it, but the thought was short-lived. Vengeance didn't help anyone. ...But reality checks did. If it was gutsy enough to linger after what it did, then it deserved what was coming. Riku walked to the wall quietly, slowly reaching up to take hold of the ivy with both hands. His height came in especially handy here since it meant he could pull that much further down when he jerked back abruptly.

Kairi gave him a look back that said she had been surprised by it, too. But a lot of things here were winding up surprising.

I don't know...I feel like it's bigger even than the heart of a whole world. It had kept using the term 'we' instead of 'I' to describe itself. But I'm starting to wonder if this isn't why we can't pinpoint whose memory it is...

You don't think maybe that fishy would get a little bored being at home all day? She teased Riku. Even if that definitely was the safest spot for a fish. Riku's encouragements to Toshi got her to thinking about some other things, though...what happened if you did forget everything, like the hearts with Kingdom Hearts now that were completely blank? Where did those lifetimes of memories go, if they became unchained from their original heart?

Yeah, he does...but his dad feels even more familiar to me, somehow. It was almost unsettling in a way. She sensed that Riku had that lingering suspicion, and in turn shared it.

Kairi wasn't sure what Riku intended when he approached the wall with the cat on it...and while normally she probably would've scolded him for being mean to a cat, in this case she couldn't help laughing a bit under her breath. Talk about a reality check.

Toshi listened with interest, although still rubbing at his face, while Riku gave his explanation. He looked towards the ground again, still trying to find his brave face. I-I guess so. They were comforting words for a more lengthy future, but right now he was still sad. He tried to find the positives for now, and settled with some obviously little-kid logic. Then...I need to make friends with everyone new I see, because one of them could be Finny!

He tried to perk up a little more at Riku's suggestion, letting his imagination go further. He'd build a castle big enough for both of us! he declared. And all our other friends, too.

His father crossed his arms and sighed, a small smile on his face. At least he had something else to focus on than grief over what happened.

The cat definitely wasn't expecting Riku suddenly yanking on the vines under its feet. It nearly fell off the wall with a surprised yowl, but jumped back up before it completely lost its footing. It took off running down the wall and jumped from there to another tree and then to the grounds, deeper into the gardens, growling and hissing the entire way. Before too long, it was gone.

Are you saying that the memory might be the memory of the World?

That's why Finny would read his fish stories he thought back in an equally teasing manner. Her thoughts mingled a bit with his. Perhaps one of those memories went to be etched in another heart as a foundation, lost in its darkness but there to forever shape it. Perhaps they were lost forever, or perhaps they were kept safe by the vastness of Kingdom Hearts itself. Maleficent herself had said that within Kingdom Hearts lay untold wisdom... Now that was a thought.

Yeah. He seems... very caring and patient. And gently teasing, I remember... And something else. Like a presence, I guess. Riku never was one to beat around the bush too long. He reminds me of you, Kairi.

Smiling, Riku shook his head. "How about making friends with anyone born after today. Finny's heart can't swim that fast."

"Maybe if he asked for his dad's help he could make a little castle fort, and his dad would show him how to build things. And he'd make a sturdy shelf by a window for you." Kairi would know well that Riku spoke from some experience. His own father had taught him how to build. While the woodwork on the play island was certainly older than Riku, he and his father were some of those who helped repair it.

Riku smirked slightly as the cat vociferously ran off. "Good riddance."

Maybe it is. Or...maybe even Kingdom Hearts' memory. She recalled Lea and Isa mentioning that they had encountered a memory like that previously. What if this was another one?

Kairi felt that rush of musing back at her, and mulled over it herself. There were a lot of possibilities as to what could happen to these memories. She wondered if the only way to find that out for sure was to let their hearts be taken by Kingdom Hearts...but of course, she didn't want anyone to do that. The fact that we're reliving this memory right now means that it can't be gone forever. And, more importantly, Sora was connected to it.

A presence? She paused, deep in thought, and at this point practically avoiding the father's eyes. ...It's weird, but...I was thinking that, too. There was something itching at the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite get herself to assign words to it yet. However, the dots were connecting whether she ignored it or not.

Oh...yeah, I guess so, he responded. Apparently he hadn't thought this out too much, and was just focused on potentially seeing his friend again.

The prospects of having a whole fort for him and his friends kept him going in spite of his grief, as a healthy imagination could do for a young boy. It'd be the biggest castle fort! And there'd be an underwater palace we could build, it'd have even more fish in it, or mermaids--

His father stood up straighter, and sighed, choosing to interrupt. Toshi? We should be going now. We're already very late to meet mom, and I know we've got a lot of explaining to do. Why don't you say goodbye for now?

...Oh, okay. He ran back to his father, then stopped to face the two of them. Thank you for trying to help, and for chasing the mean cat away. He shuffled his foot, and rubbed at his face once more. Now that we're friends, I'll see you again someday.

Edited 2014-02-04 08:01 (UTC)

Maybe. And if this is before everyone started fighting over the light, it didn't have to be as carefully hidden.

That's a good point. And memories are very powerful. There's no point for Kingdom Hearts to just destroy them. And this one is ancient. Just think of all the knowledge... Amazing Sora's brain hasn't exploded, he thought jokingly. Though honestly , he could barely fathom the amount of information, and doubted his mind could handle it either.

If you were thinking that too then we're probably not too far off the mark. And Toshi is just like I remember Sora at that age. Though his own memories of his friend were somewhat tainted by his own youth at the time, Toshi acted like Riku would also assume Sora would.

Riku could understand that desire to see his friend again. If this really was Sora's heart he was talking to, it would explain why he felt a little better. Riku missed his friend, too.

With a small chuckle, Riku shook his head. "You'd better hope Finny's an architect."

He gave a nod to Toshi at the father's words. "No problem." And then the child said that they were friends already. Riku blinked a brief moment before smiling again. Sora did that sort of thing. "You will. Trust me." He stood.

Yeah... Seeing things as they were now, it somehow made knowing that it would all be destroyed in a terrible war all the worse. How many happy and simple lives like these had come to an end because so many decided to fight over the light?

Right. Although if this is an ancient memory, that could mean that maybe ALL memories are still here... She paused, going over the implications of that. If all that is being unloaded onto Sora, no wonder he can't wake up.

She wasn't there for the entirety of Sora and Riku's childhood, but she did remember quite a bit from when they were very young, and was getting a lot of the same feelings. They were momentarily interrupted when father and son had to leave, and Kairi waved goodbye to both. "Take care, until then!"

As she watched them go, she finally formed that thought that had been building in her heart for awhile now. So...do you think that Toshi maybe IS Sora's heart? Back long ago, before the Keyblade War?

Okay. I'm gonna look for you later! Bye.

Thanks again.

Toshi smiled at the two of them before finally turning with his father to exit the gardens out the way they'd run in. He moved a little slower and looked down, despite the encouragement he'd received...something like losing a beloved pet would take some time to get over, even with help. However, his father was still trying to encourage him. Before long, the two left and were out of sight.

The strange feeling of the memory persisted in spite of all that had happened to them...and after this encounter, it felt like the muddled aspects of the memory came more into focus. Toshi's excitement and then sadness, his father's feelings of responsibility, his mother wondering what made them late, the waitress's idle curiosity, the cat's frustrations, the fish's last fighting determination, even side feelings from the gardener and the shopowner and the tourist and the old couple on the bench...all of it was coming together into a general feeling of contentment. Everything was as it should be.

It was hard to say how many lives had ended. It was certain, however, that not everything ended. Those children had saved it.

Sora crashes pretty hard after studying for a test. If all of this is getting stuck inside him, I can't blame him for crashing now.

Yeah. He... feels the same. Kairi would be able to sense that Riku wasn't exactly certain of why he had the conviction, but he felt it inside. He never was good at following his heart, though he'd improved. I wonder who else we know is here? Because it seemed likely at this point.

Riku gave a nod. "See you later."

Me neither, Kairi thought. But that left them with the question of how to wake Sora up. If this was just an overload of memories, of hearts all bonding to his at once...was there a way they could lift that burden from him? Either way, they would have to find him first.

If they were both feeling this way, then it couldn't be simple coincidence. In their line of work, things rarely were. I'm starting think he really is. It was kind of mind-boggling. His heart had existed for this long...and by that logic, probably all of theirs had.

I don't know...but if Sora's heart is here, any of ours could be, too.

As the two stood in the garden thinking things over, there came what could be considered a reply to their inquiries: a bright flash of light indicating another star-shaped object. It appeared between them and hovered in midair, waiting for one of them to grab it.

-----

[Congratulations, You've earned an Appeal! Specifically, an appeal of happiness and contentment with one's family. This little representation of the memory can be kept by anyone and shared between anyone that asks for it, in the same 'space' one would keep a Keyblade. It's up to those present who would like to hang on to the Appeal for now.]

Riku had no idea how to lift that burden from him. He would gladly try to take part of the load upon himself, but he doubted he'd fair even as well as Sora did.

With my luck I'd be Toshi's mom, Riku joked. Still, the concept that their hearts were that old was... humbling.

Riku covered his eyes when the star-shaped object appeared, taken somewhat by surprise. Slowly he reached out for it, but he still held it between himself and Kairi. If she wanted to take it, she could. A peaceful smile crossed his face and his voice was soft. "I wonder what would happen if we took this one to Sora's Station."

Kairi didn't know, either. She could definitely help how she could, but that many hearts and memories all at once had to be beyond overwhelming. Perhaps the only reason Sora was still in one piece and surviving now was because his heart could come closest to bearing that load.

It definitely was a humbling thought that they could have been around that long. It also seemed to put a lot of things in perspective. She couldn't help but wonder...if this was a memory of Kingdom Hearts, and this had happened so many times...perhaps that was why it seemed to be so adamant about starting everything over. Knowing that a heart had already gone through so many permutations, would it really be that concerned about one more?

You mean with your luck, you'd be that fish! she joked back.

Kairi was glad to see the star-object appear again, although she wondered what they had done to get it. Certainly saving the boy's fish couldn't have been it. "We can always try it."

Another restart from Kingdom Hearts would be simple routine to it. That's why it was pushing so hard for everyone to sleep. It must have grown numb to the value of individual lives.

He suddenly frowned. Don't joke about that. And yet on some level...

Riku wasn't quite sure what they'd done either, but regardless he was grateful for its appearance. He seemed outright soothed by it. "Do we want to do it now? Or should we hang onto it a bit?" He held it out to Kairi. The object was so nice to hold, she should feel it too.

And if it had grown completely numb to their lives ending if their hearts would just begin again with new ones, having done it for eons, there didn't seem to be any way they could reach common ground. Not when they all so clearly wanted to hang on to their own lives. Were they truly at an impasse with Kingdom Hearts here?

She actually didn't expect him to take the joke that hard. And that got her thinking. He had reacted really strongly when that fish had gotten caught. She glanced up at Riku. Why? You don't think...

Kairi took the object and held it in her hands. Despite all that had happened in this memory, the feelings associated with it all seemed positive and content. "I guess let's hang on to it for now."

If it had forgotten the value of a life, then somehow it would somehow need to be reminded of it.

No, I don't think. And I don't want to. But I feel that maybe... He crossed his arms. Maybe that's why I didn't like that cat straight off? And why I acted without a thought...

As he handed it off, he felt the emotions ebb, and he sighed them away, replacing them with only the calm of the place they were in. "Yeah. You should probably be the one to hang onto it."

A day with family remembered

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Done?