(no subject)

[kishime]

Title: DoLL
Series: Kingdom Hearts 2
Genre: Mystery/Drama
Pairing(s): Will be revealed later.
Rating/Warnings: T for language, violence. Character death in this chapter.
Summary: In a world of enchantment and mystery, there are Crafters and there are Dolls. And the dolls are beginning to wonder… how far can you push the limits of ingenuity before those limits snap back? How close can you fly to the sun? Can a doll become human?

Notes: Here we are, the conclusion of DoLL. Kinda loses some effect when the last four chapters are posted in one pile, but what can you do? I hope you've enjoyed this story, and thank you for sticking with me throughout this ride.

 

                “Hey, wait for me!”

                “You run too slow!”

                “Lea.” A redheaded boy slowed with a reluctant sigh, to let two blonds and a slate-haired boy catch up. Kairi sighed indulgently. “You know it’s not nice to run off like that.”

                “I can’t help it, I’ve got long legs.”

                “And hips to go with ‘em!”

                “Shut it, Myde!”

                “Lea, Myde, stop.”

                “Yes, Ienzo.” The eldest blond sighed. The redhead scoffed and wandered over to the youngest blond, staring at him in concern.

                “You ‘kay, So’?”

                “Yeah. Tired…” Without a further word, the redhead crouched down and let the boy climb on his back. “Chocobo?”

                “Yep, So’. Chocobo.” Kairi stifled a giggle at this- little Sora (it had been so odd to find the baby with eyes like Sora’s and his, and the name had stuck fast), at only four, was easily the youngest of the kids. Lea and Myde, at eleven and ten respectively, were the eldest, with Ienzo falling right in the middle at eight-going-on-eighty. And it was so similar to them… Myde had taken to Ienzo like none else, while Lea chose to care for Sora (or “So’” as he called him to distinguish between the two).

                “Is it much further, Mom?” Myde asked.

                “No, not too much. C’mon, we want to beat your dads, right?” she grinned. The kids (save So’, who was currently holding onto his ‘chocobo’ for dear life) took off, pausing at the ruins of a cottage that had once boasted the most lifelike dolls in the world. Kairi could still remember the light through the colored glass in the afternoons, and how peaceful it was in the morning. But the kids kept going through the forest, and Kairi had to hurry to keep up- she would ask Sora to help rewire her that night, after the kids were asleep. Finally, they came to a clearing filled with wild flowers, staring in amazement at the four headstones.

                “Mom, you didn’t say we were goin’ to graves today.”

                “But Myde, there’s more than graves. Besides, the men who lived here would be happy to see you playing.”

                “Who were they?” Ienzo asked, staring at the granite.

                “Dear friends.” She said fondly. So’ tugged at Lea’s hair, brow wrinkled, and the redhead just rolled his eyes and walked over to one of the stones, setting the child down to trace crossed keys on the surface.

                “Dat say?”

                “It says ‘Roxas’.” Lea read. The blond put his hand over a set of engraved chakram. “Axel.”

                “…’kay. Chocobo?” Lea laughed and let the boy climb back up, ‘wark’-ing and making him giggle before running off. Myde and Ienzo lingered a moment at the other headstone.

                “…that looks pretty cool.”

                “It’s a sitar, Myde.” Ienzo explained.

                “I’d like to learn how to play it…” To Kairi’s surprise, Ienzo blushed.

                “I’d… like that too.” Myde’s blue-green eyes widened, and he looked back to Kairi.

                “Mom, can I get a… sitar?”

                “Okay, Myde. I’ll talk to your dads, they’ll know where to get one.” She laughed, trying to cover her shock that Ienzo wasn’t complaining bitterly about this. Myde had had a harmonica once upon a time, but the slate-haired child had thrown the object into a lake, complaining that it made too much noise.  Myde whooped in joy, and pulled Ienzo away before he could analyze the headstones any further. Still smiling, Kairi sat by the old markers, staring into the wide blue sky.

                “I’d tell you that was them, but you’d not care. After all, you’re busy playing.”

                “Hey, Kairi!” The violet-eyed woman looked away from the sky with a grin, to see a blue eyed brunet and a silver-haired man.

                “Sora, Riku! Welcome home! How was Destiny?”

                “Same as when we left.” Riku smiled, letting her hug him. “Careful, Sora brought you something.”

                “Oh goodness, if it’s a sitar you read someone’s mind, Myde decided he wants—oh!”

                Sora looked at her with a grin, as Kairi noticed a sling with a tuft of black hair poking out around his chest- a baby. “It’s not a sitar, but is it okay? They found her a couple of towns over, no one wanted her. So we thought…”

                “We already have four boys. I guess a girl won’t hurt…” Kairi sighed, but the laugh in her voice said she was happy for this new addition, as she took the child into her arms. The kids chose that moment to run over, waking the baby. Surprisingly, she was silent, looking around. So’ looked confused as Kairi crouched down to let him see.

                “Dat?”

                “It’s a baby. Say hello to your new sister,” Kairi smiled. So’ looked at her dubiously, then poked her hand with a finger. She gurgled and grabbed hold, and the boy smiled.

                “I think she got the seal of approval.” Sora laughed, flopping into the flowers. “So what’ll we call her, guys?”

                “Ari?”

                “You said the same thing for So’, Myde, stop suggesting that.” Ienzo sighed. “Lucretia?”

                “S’ion.” So’ said, looking distant. Lea looked at the boy and shrugged.

                “I’m with So’ on this, Shion sounds good to me. Mom?”

                Kairi spared a hand to dry her eyes- they stuck together, even in a new life. “Shion sounds fine to me.”

                “Then Shion it is!” Sora grinned. “C’mon, let’s let her get back to her nap and let Dad fill Mom in. So’, why are you on Lea’s back?”

                “Chocobo.”

                “Tired legs.”

                “Gotcha. Come on!” Sora laughed, and the boys followed, chasing after him with laughs and screams of delight. Riku sat by Kairi, watching the kids play.

                “The more things change…”

                “The more they stay the same,” Kairi said, smoothing a few flyaway strands of Shion’s hair. “I wonder if they’ll realize it when they get older.”

                “I don’t think they’ll have to. Looks like the pattern’s remaining.” Riku said, pointing toward the boys.

                “True enough,” the red-haired woman said.

                “Hey, Kai! Is it lunchtime yet?” Sora shouted, waving. Riku held up the basket and grinned.

                “Better hurry up if you want any!” There was an immediate stampede to the food, to help set up, and Kairi, still holding Shion, laughed.

                Same song, second verse…
                But this one goes better than the first.