Awakening the Heart

Note: I hate offing my favorite characters, even for the sake of plot. Sadly Demyx had to 'have his moment.' We're getting closer to the big reunion of Kairi, Riku and Sora. For the sake of story game events will be tossed around again. All shall work out in the end though.

Chapter 5

⌠Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.■ ~ Albert Smith

Uknown to him what made him do it, Saix moved forward and placed a hand on Kairi's shoulder. He expected her to flinch under his touch but she didn't. She didn't know why but she felt the need to tell him something. Perhaps it was Kingdom Hearts, looking at it made her feel warm, secure. Things she hadn't felt since the boys, she no longer felt she knew so well, left the island.

"You know," She began, her head tilting a bit to the side, "It's funny. Somehow despite you two being my captors I don't mind. It's weird really. I feel... comfortable here."

"What of Sora and Riku?" Saix asked and he saw her look down to the ground far below. A sigh escaped her lips and she turned to face him, meeting his eyes.

"I... I feel like I don't know them anymore, Sora at least," She confessed, "I never would have expected... the things he's done. Back on the islands it was so different. He and Riku had their rivalry and we were like siblings but.... He's not the same anymore somehow. I still don't even know where Riku went, someday maybe he'll find his way back and we can talk again. Like we used to. That would be nice."

Saix merely nodded. Comforting upset women was not his forte with or without a heart. Thusly when she walked over and hugged him tightly it shocked him even more. He tensed and froze, her arms wrapped around his waist, her face buried in his chest as she murmured a 'Thank you.'

In the library:

Xemnas was still researching, though truthfully only half his mind was on the issue with Kingdom Hearts. The other half of his mind was occupied with the strange things happening because of Kairi. She was the only thing he could think of that had changed to cause such things. He was starting to feel stirrings in his chest, a warmth at times. Almost as if he had a heart again but not quite. Truth be told the girl was growing on him and he could tell she was growing on Saix as well. Things would definately be interesting if they kept at the current pace. Even he in his infinite wisdom was not sure where things would lead. He did however have a strong suspicion that in addition to stirring things within him and Saix the reactions from Kingdom Hearts were related to her as well. Now to just find a way to prove his theory, let alone test it. With a sigh he shook his head. He needed to clear his head and Saix's earlier mention of fresh air seemed to be a valid one. Opening a portal through the darkness he stepped through, coming out on the balcony where he walked in on yet another interesting scene.

There stood Saix, stock still, eyes wide as Kairi had her arms around his waist clearly hugging him. A small part of Xemnas' brain snickered and told him if only he had a camera to capture the look on the berserker's face while another part twitched with an unknown feeling that told him she should be hugging him, not Saix. He brushed both off as Saix's eyes went to his superior. The man clearly looked as if he'd been dropped into a room of fluffy kittens and they wanted nothing more than to snuggle him to death. Xemnas inwardly chuckled, for some reason this amused him.

"Saix, Kairi," he greeted them, startling the red head. She turned her head to look at Xemnas and untangled her arms from around Saix who seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief.

"Did you find anything?" She inquired eagerly as she turned to fully face Xemnas.

"I have a theory," Xemnas stated, "I would like to test it. It would of course require your assistance."

"If you think it will help of course," she said, her tone full of determination, "I want to help you."

"I still do not understand entirely why," Xemnas stated, "However I am...thankful." It was hard for him to thank someone else in such a way but it was deserved.

She shuffled her feet, somehow talking to Saix about this had been easier but she wanted to explain. "It's because," she began, looking down to her shoes for a moment before looking back up to meet his orange eyes, "Somehow along the way you two have become comfortable to me. Special even. Even though it started with you as my captors, I... I feel comfortable here. When I think about you having to live... without feeling, with no emotions. It makes me so sad inside. If I can help I want to. I've always been useless to Riku and Sora, they always had to help me. But here... maybe I can be the one to help those special to me."

"This whole time," She continued, "You could have treated me poorly, or tried to make me do what you wanted. You haven't done either of those things. While I may not agree with all your methods to regain your hearts... I understand why you did it. Which is why I want to help, so you can feel again. So you can find happiness in life and with those that are special to you."

She smiled up brightly to Xemnas, bouncing on her heels once. This girl never ceased to amaze him. Clearly she was a princess of the heart because it seemed hers was big enough to feel for everyone she met. Though he couldn't help but notice how she said that he and Saix were special to her. A part of him wondered how exactly she meant that and to what degree. He knew he was starting to regard her in a different light, one similar to what he suspected the Luna Diviner saw her in. How would that change, he wondered, when he regained a heart.

"Let us go to the Altar of Naught," Xemnas said, "If you don't mind testing a part of my theory right now. I think you, Kairi, are connected to Kingdom Hearts. I think it's resonations are tied to your heart. It would also explain the stirrings."

She looked at him quizzically. Sure she understood the rest of what he was saying but what stirrings was he referring to? The shocks of emotion and warmth whenever she touched one of them? She had had those before, to a much much lesser degree. Back with Riku and Sora, years ago. It was before they had become such good friends. Those however paled in comparison to the severity and strength of the ones she felt with these two. Pondering what that signified she determined to work it out later. With a nod Kairi grinned and spoke, "Let's go test it out."

The three walked back inside the building and wove their way through the halls, Xemnas in the lead. Past the library and back to the Proof of Existence where they ran into another of the members. A short haired blonde with a beard and several earrings was portalling into the hallway infront of the room.

"Ah Luxord," Xemnas greeted the other man as they approached. Luxord bowed his head and replied, "Superior sir, Saix and... Who is this?"

"Kairi," she supplied reaching a hand out to shake his. He accepted and shook her hand, looking her up and down carefully before he leaned in close.

"Do you happen to play any card games perchance?" He inquired giving her a curious almost hungry look. It unnerved her a bit til she heard a sound from beside her that sounded suspiciously like Saix growling. Luxord seemed to hear this too and backed away, releasing her hand with a sheepish grin.

"Apologies, I do enjoy card games and the like, should you ever want to play I'll be happy to take a bet with you," He explained then bowed to Xemnas before he started to move away.

"Luxord," Xemnas said, "Go check and see what has become of Demyx, if he needs assistance in delaying the keyblade master, offer it to him."

The blonde nodded and portalled out immediately leaving the trio to stand in the hallway, Kairi sitll rather weirded out by the interaction.

"That was Luxord," Xemnas explained, turning to look at her and seeing the look on her face, "He is... a gambler. Be careful should you ever play with him. I've heard from others that he seems to never lose."

She merely nodded and the trio made their way quickly through the Proof of Existence to the Altar of Naught where Xemnas' quarters resided and the closest point of the castle to Kingdom Hearts was. So lost in thought none of them noticed the changes in the Proof of Existence. If the view from the balcony below was breathtaking then words could not describe the view from up here. Kairi noticed how much bigger Kingdom Hearts seemed from up here and couldn't help but run to the rail to take in the sight. A laugh and a smile burst free from her, it was truely amazing. It seemed her enthusiasm was contagious and both Saix and Xemnas found the corners of their mouths twitching slightly as an unknown warmth played at them.

"I know this will seem strange Kairi," Xemnas began and she turned to look at him as he continued, "However I would like to test something regarding the... behavior lately when you come in contact with one of us."

He began to remove his gloves which had Saix staring at him in shock. Xemnas motioned for Saix to do the same and once both were divested of gloves, carefully placed aside of course, Xemnas walked toward Kairi. He placed a hand out, now bare and she put hers into his carefully. As before the warmth flared and surged, time seemed to stop and behind them Kingdom Hearts seemed to thump as if it had a heartbeat. Saix noticed this and looked to Xemnas for confirmation, the elder nobody nodded and motioned Saix to take Kairi's other hand. He did so and instantly the sensation intensified. Saix experienced the same warmth as before however for Kairi it intensified twicefold. Her heart seeming to thud loudly in the dead silence surrounding them, Kingdom Hearts giving off a glow behind them as something clicked with in her. She realized then what the feeling was. Afraid to admit to it yet, even more so confused as to why it involved both of them it seemed, she quashed it down for the moment as best she could.

"Superior," Saix started, finally able to fit words out of his mouth. It seemed the warmth had dried his mouth and after wetting his throat by swallowing he continued, "This feeling is similar to when I had a heart. Is it contact with Kairi that leads to this?"

Xemnas nodded and after a moment tested another theory. He released her hand and noticed as while the feeling remained mildly the strength of it was indeed slightly diminished. "Her proximity to us allows us to regain minor feelings," Xemnas explained as he looked to the two of them his eyes lingering on Kairi, "Because of her apparent tie with Kingdom Hearts contact with her can simulate the feeling of the heart. Not to the full extent though it seems. Perhaps there's a way to use this knowledge to regain our hearts without requiring Sora."

Saix thought, running over everything in his brain that had happened lately when it came to him. "Sir," He blurted out, "Earlier Kairi made a 'wish' and Kingdom Hearts responded, resonating a bit. Perhaps that would be of some help."

"Hmm it is worth a shot," Xemnas concluded with a nod before looking back to Kairi who was merely standing there holding Saix's hand yet. "If you could please Kairi, repeat your wish earlier,"

She thought for a moment as Xemnas took her hand again, the surge of warmth flooded her and she remembered. "I wish there was something I could do," she stated out loud again. Kingdom Hearts glowed brighter, covering them in it's light and the warmth became even stronger in their chests. Inside Kairi's head a voice quietly spoke to her.

'Princess of the Heart, because of your unselfish wish to help those around you I shall aid you,' The voice said quietly, 'When you awaken your own keyblade you will be able to properly make the wish that your heart desires. Be strong until then.' The voice faded and Kairi snapped out of her stupor to notice both Xemnas and Saix looking at her.

"I... I know what to do," she said quietly, looking between the two men that were holding her hands, "I just don't know how to summon my keyblade to do it."

Her face fell and Xemnas gave her hand a squeeze as he spoke, "Do not worry. Now that the solution is here that small obstacle shall not impede us."

"Superior is right," Saix agreed, "We'll figure this out also."

She smiled at both of them before pulling her hands free from both of theirs and giving each a hug in turn. "You bet," She exclaimed with enthusiasm despite neither man properly 'hugging' her back. It was as she finished hugging Saix that two gateways of darkness opened before them, Xigbar and Luxord stepping out.

"Superior," each man began before Xigbar allowed Luxord to continue. "Demyx has fallen sir. He was finished by the keyblade master."

A gasp tore out of Kairi's mouth, her hand flying to cover it as tears welled up in her eyes. Xigbar took the silence from Luxord to add his news to the already depressing list. "Sora is on his way here as well sir. Axel was destroyed as well."

"I see," Xemnas said with a sigh, "Xigbar please, go and keep watch. Luxord, go with him and when Sora arrives prepare some form of diversion. Do not go overboard. We're very very close now to achieving that which we desire. I want no more losses."

"Sir," both men chanted disappearing into doorways of darkness again leaving the trio on the Altar of Naught.

"Oh Sora," Kairi murmured, "What have you done..."