@cetrithā :Ā iām so, so sorry.Ā you didnāt deserve that.
She saw the scar.
Itās an ugly, audacious thing, and when Kairi is afraid to sleep, she digs her nails into it.Ā There are other scars, of course; smaller ones, most gained from training with Lea ---Ā āKairi, cāmon, maybe I should ---ā /Ā āNo!Ā I want to get strong!Ā If you really want to help me, then come at me with everything youāve got!ā --- but only one that SHOUTS the way the one on her back does.Ā Aerith has never seen her train, so sheās never seen her in the sports bra that she trains in --- at least until now.
Kairi is sick of the pity when others see it, of the sadness.Ā Is sick of people wondering WHO COULD DO THIS TO SOMEONE SO GENTLE as though Kairi is so weak that the very idea of harming her is anathema.Ā She knows --- or tells herself, at least --- that Aerith is not pitying her, does not think sheās weak.Ā The older woman closes the gap as Kairi wills the blade from her palm.
ā------ Itās from Xehanort,ā she says, voice flat, by way of explanation.
āIām so, so sorry,ā Aerith says, voice not pitying, not degrading.Ā Almost understanding.Ā Somehow, that only makes it hurt WORSE.Ā āYou didnāt deserve that.ā
Kairiās hands curls intoĀ tight fists.Ā She doesnāt remember the dying / remembers the being dead.Ā Remembers being taken.Ā Remembers fighting Xehanort and Xemnas, and failing.Ā And because of that failure / that weakness, HE KILLED HER, and to bring her back, Sora had to...
Her teeth grit.
āYeah,ā she bites out.Ā Ā āI did.āĀ What she didnāt deserve is COMING BACK.










