An Overdue Apology

AN OVERDUE APOLOGY
By Axel Ingleson
(Warning: Adult content.)
(Pairings: Axel and Kairi. Sora and Riku.)
(Disclaimer: KH2 and its characters are not mine.)


Repliku landed his spacecraft and extended the ramp. Once they had all disembarked, he pressed a panel on the outside of the ship. The ramp withdrew back into the ship and the entrance sealed itself.

“Let’s go,” Riku said, leading the way to Disney Castle.

Sora already knew the way, but followed nonetheless. Behind him came Axel and Kairi, then Repliku with an irritated expression.

Repliku cut in front of Axel and Kairi. “I don’t want to be at the back with Riku at the front,” he explained. “I feel like we’re a pair of bookends.”

“It’s okay,” Kairi smiled. “Axel and I don’t mind. Right, Axel?”

“Right,” Axel agreed, feeling that he wouldn’t have if anyone else had asked.

The castle doors swung open. But before anyone could make so much as a step towards them, Donald and Goofy came running out and gave Sora a big hug.

“Hey, you two!” Sora laughed. “How have you been?”

“We’ve been great, Sora,” Goofy grinned. “What about you?”

“Yeah, you haven’t written in months. What’ve you been up to?”

“Well, he finally proposed,” Riku said.

“Really,” Donald’s expression was pretty close to a smile for a duck. “You can Kairi must be very happy.”

“We are,” Sora agreed. “But for different reasons. I actually proposed to Riku.”

“Riku?” Donald and Goofy both exclaimed in surprise. “So, why is Kairi so happy, then?”

“I’m going to have a baby,” Kairi explained.

“Sora…” Donald began crossly.

“Actually, I’m the father,” Axel offered.

“Wha…!” Donald drew his staff, but Sora stepped between them.

“Donald, he saved our lives! Remember?”

“Oh. Right.” Donald lowered his staff. “Sorry, Axel.”

“That’s okay,” Axel grinned. “Guess you just forgot to memorize it.”

“Hey, what about me?” Repliku demanded, feeling left out.

“Gawsh,” Goofy said, “you’re important too, Riku.”

“I’m NOT Riku!” Repliku complained, walking past them and through the doors.

“Oh,” Goofy said mostly to himself. Then he called out, “Hey! Wait up!” and loped off to apologize.

The others followed him, hoping Repliku wouldn’t get lost in the castle before they met up with King Mickey.

They quickly found him sitting on the floor in the hallway with his back against the wall.

“I’ll never find true love,” he moaned. “I’ll be loved as a replacement for him, not as myself. I‘m just a fake Riku. That‘s all I‘ll ever be”

“Gosh,” King Mickey said as he approached him. “You’re not a fake Riku. You’re the real Repliku.”

“R-really?” Repliku blinked as he considered this.

“Really,” Riku agreed.

“I’m sorry I got mixed up, Repliku,” Goofy apologized.

“I guess everyone makes mistakes,” Repliku smiled, wiping tears of happiness from his eyes.

He seemed a little brighter, but Riku could tell the darkness hadn’t left him completely. He still had his doubts about love. Unless those doubts were put to rest, that darkness would always remain.

“So, where should I look?” Repliku asked King Mickey.

“I can’t say,” King Mickey said. “That choice is yours to make and yours alone.”

“Maybe if we made another replica…” Sora suggested.

“Then they would love me only because they were programmed to,” Repliku shook his head. “That’s not what I want.”

“Then we’ll go wherever we need to,” Riku promised.

“In that case, your first stop is Radiant Garden,” King Mickey told them. “I’m told there’s somebody there who would like a word with Sora. And Sora,”

“Yes, your majesty?” Sora acknowledged.

“It’s very important that you don’t jump to conclusions.”

Queen Minnie came into the hallway at that point with a big smile on her face.

“Hello, Sora,” she said.

“Hello, your highness,” Sora bowed. And he introduced each member of the group, starting with Repliku and ending with Axel.

“It’s good to meet all of you,” Queen Minnie said, pleasantly. “Will you stay for lunch?”

“You should eat a good meal before you continue on your journey,” King Mickey suggested.

“Why not?” Sora shrugged, following the King and Queen into the dining hall with the others in tow.

Daisy was sitting there in a corner, knitting and humming happily to herself.

“Oh, hello, everyone,” she said when they came in. She turned to Queen Minnie, “I’ll go see if the kitchen staff have the meal ready.”

“Thank you, Daisy,” Queen Minnie replied. She offered everyone a seat, then took her own at the foot of the table while King Mickey sat at the head.

“Before lunch is served,” Axel said, holding up a hand. “I have a request to make. I’ve made many mistakes in my life. And I will not add to those mistakes by not giving my child a proper father. Kairi,” he stood up then got down on one knee before her. “you’ve ignited the hottest flame in my heart. Will you promise to keep it lit forever?”

“If that’s your way of asking me to marry you, Axel,” Kairi replied, “then my answer is yes.”

Axel stood up and drew Kairi up into his arms, kissing her soundly.

A round of applause from the others reminded them that they were not alone and they both blushed.

“Congratulations,” King Mickey told them both.

“Are you getting married before or after we find a soul mate for Repliku?”

“Before,” Axel replied. “Right after lunch, if that’s okay?”

“Why not before,” King Mickey suggested. “That way we can have lunch as a wedding reception.”

“If Sora and Riku want to get married now as well, Kairi and I wouldn’t mind making it a double wedding.”

“Actually, we’re already planning to get married at Radiant Garden,” Sora explained. “I’ve decided that Leon should be my best man since he‘s one of the first friends I made on my adventures so long ago. And Cloud is going to be Riku’s Man of Honor.”

“That is, assuming they agree to it,” Riku put in. “We haven’t asked them yet.”

“Then a solo wedding it is,” Axel shrugged.