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.)

-BOOK II-

The journey to Radiant Garden was no less eventful than the one to Disney Castle had been. In the gunnery chairs, Riku and Sora kept their enemies at bay while Repliku flew the ship down the new pathway.

Radiant Garden had changed since Sora had left it. It looked lighter, cleaner. In addition, many of the houses, which had had bare windows, now bore flowerboxes filled with simple flowers.

Sora smiled to see it.

“What a difference the absence of a few Heartless can make,” he remarked.

“This place does look cleaner,” Riku remarked.

“You were here and you didn’t tell me?!”

“I only stayed a few minutes to check something on Ansem’s computer. And I didn’t want you to find me then. Remember?”

Sora relaxed. “We should stop in and visit the Restoration Committee. They’ll surely be able to help. Besides, we have to ask Leon and Cloud to be in the wedding.”

Sora, Riku, and Repliku walked through the town until they reached Merlin’s House. Sora was about to knock on the door when it opened and he was given a big hug from Aerith.

“It’s great to see you again, Sora,” she said.

“Good to see you again, too, Aerith,” Sora said, letting her go as Riku cleared his throat. “Aerith, this is Riku. And that over there is Repliku.”

“Riku,” Aerith acknowledged, then turned to face Repliku, “Repliku. It’s great to meet you both. Please, come inside.”

“Those flowers I noticed,” Sora asked as they went inside. “From you?”

“No,” Aerith shook her head. “From the newest member of our team.”

It was then that Sora realized he could hear music coming from the far corner of the room. Sitar music to be precise. He drew his weapon, but Aerith put her hand on it.

“He’s on our side,” she pointed out. “He’s really helped us out since he got back from the void.”

“It’s true,” Demyx smiled. He played a few notes on his sitar and a small but distinct rosebud of water appeared before them. It spun gracefully, its petals slowly opening. Then, one by one, the petals detached themselves and fell downward, vanishing before they hit the floor. “Its amazing what a little time in nothingness can do for one’s perspective on life. Now, I know Axel escaped the void as well. How’s he doing?”

Sora could tell that Demyx’s change of heart was genuine, so he replied:

“He’s married.”

“Axel?! We are talking about the same Axel right? Ol’ mister ‘got it memorized’?”

“Same one,” Sora confirmed. “He married Kairi. I don’t think I ever caught your name.”

“Right,” Demyx realized. “Sorry. It’s Demyx. And sorry about mistaking you for Roxas, but…”

“That’s alright,” Sora granted. “I understand why now. Demyx, I’d like you to meet my friends. This is Riku, and the one sitting next to him is Repliku. Or have you and he already met?”

“No, this is our first meeting,” Repliku told him. “I was born in Castle Oblivion. He never came there.”

“My place was at the Castle That Never Was,” Demyx shrugged. “I wasn’t deemed useful enough to be stationed at Castle Oblivion.”

“So, you’re Vexen’s famous replica,” Demyx smiled.

“Famous?” Repliku asked, cautiously.

“The one who was supposed to help him take over the Organization.”

“I was told you didn’t pay attention to such things,” Repliku said, sounding surprised.

“Pacifists like me pay very close attention to wars and other such things,” Demyx corrected him. “We simply don’t chose to involve ourselves. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Does he still have mood swings?” Sora asked Leon, shaking a thumb in Demyx’s direction.

“I heard that, Sora,” Demyx said, in a low but clearly amused voice.

“Sora!” Aerith gasped at the same time. But she could tell that Demyx wasn’t upset about it, so she let it go.

Cid walked in at that point and a grin spread across his face. “Is that Sora?”

“Sure is,” Sora grinned back. “Good to see you again, Cid. How long has it been?”

“Too long,” Cid scolded. “You really should keep in better touch with your friends. I take it you met our newest member?”

Sora nodded.

“Well, got things to do, kid,” Cid said, and he turned to busy himself with whatever he was doing on the Restoration Committee’s computer.

Sora turned to Leon at that point. “I have a favour to ask of you.”

“Which is what?” Leon inquired.

“I’d like you to be Best Man at my wedding,” Sora requested.

“Wait a moment,” Aerith said. “I thought you just said Kairi married Axel.”

“Right,” Sora said. “I’m marrying Riku.”

“RIKU?!” the Restoration Committee all gasped unanimously.

“I should’ve know you had a thing for him,” Cid laughed as his face went from shock to grin. “The way you went on and on about him.”

“Will you have a man or maid of honour?” Aerith asked.

“A Man of Honour,” Riku replied. “We were hoping Cloud would…”

“Of course,” Cloud agreed. “Just don’t expect me to wear a dress.”

“We won’t,” Riku laughed.

“Well, good. Then I’d love to be your Man of Honour.”

“And I’d be pleased to be your Best Man, Sora,” Leon added.

“Great!’ Riku turned to Sora. “Now we just need to pick out a date and a place. Then we can tell Kairi and Axel.”

“First,” Repliku told them, “we have to deal with some unwanted guests.”

He drew his Keyblade and made for the door, only to be stopped by Demyx, who had put a hand on his shoulder.

“We wouldn’t want you to get hurt,” Demyx told him. “Let Sora and Riku take care of them.”

“I can manage, thank you,” Repliku said, curtly, as he gently removed Demyx’s hand from his shoulder and went out to fight the Heartless with Sora and Riku.

Demyx watched from the doorway, an expression of worry on his face. He clutched his sitar to himself as his beliefs in pacifism and his urge to protect his new friends waged a battle within his new heart. Then, smiling as a new idea formed, he began to play his sitar, this time using the power he reserved for battle. But he was not fighting. Instead, he was forming a shield of water in front of Repliku. One that his Keyblade could easily penetrate, but which the Heartless could not.

It wasn’t long before the Heartless were defeated. Sora and the others lowered their Keyblades and went back inside.

“There haven’t been any Heartless here in years,” Leon noted. “I wonder what brought them back.”

“I did,” Repliku said. “I’m sorry. There’s still some darkness in my heart. That’s why I’m here.”

“You came to bring back that Heartless?” Cloud growled.

“This is the first step of my journey to find my soul mate,” Repliku corrected him.

“Do you know who it is?” Aerith asked.

“No,” Repliku admitted. “I only know that I must find him or I will never find a place to call home.”