.nine

[dawn_is_coming]

I can't find her.

I've looked---I've looked everywhere---but she's not---

She's gone.

[his eyes are wide, his voice shaky. He's gulping in air like he's forgotten how to breathe]

What am I supposed to do?

Comments

[dawnward]

Sora? What's wrong? [of course it couldn't be what he thinks it is]

Who're you looking for?

[dawn_is_coming]

[his eyes are red-rimmed. He's been hysterical for a while now]

Kairi! She's---she's gone.

[dawnward]

...Kairi?

[dawn_is_coming]

[dawnward]

[his expression tightens up, frozen, belying the rapid pounding of his heart]

I'm coming. Don't go anywhere.

[dawn_is_coming]

I won't. I don't have anywhere to go, anyway. I checked the whole planet---everywhere I could reach. She was there when I went to sleep, Riku. Right beside me.

[dawnward]

... [Riku tries to find something to say, some kind of response to that, but none comes.

the Sphere flickers off, and a few minutes later he's hurrying inside Sora's shelter]

Sora?

[dawn_is_coming]

[Sora's sitting on the swept dirt of the shelter, knees drawn up and face in his hands. He doesn't even acknowledge Riku's entrance, aside from a soft:]

She's not here.

[dawnward]

[there's a split second of hesitation, and then he's kneeling on the ground beside him, a hand going to his shoulder]

Sora, I... [his chest is tightening up to the point of physical pain. Kairi's--]

I'm sorry.

[dawn_is_coming]

[he's shaking, and it's obvious he hasn't slept in some time]

Why did they have to take her? Where is she? Is she safe? There wasn't any warning---nothing.

I don't know what to do.

[dawnward]

I don't think--[frowns, biting the inside of his cheek. calm. he has to stay calm and just...think] People have...disappeared before. Maybe she...

[but this isn't a very good prospect, is it?] Maybe she went home.

[dawn_is_coming]

Yeah. Maybe she did. [takes a deep, shuddering breath] And I'm not there.

What if something happens to her? What if I can't ever get home?

[dawnward]

...I don't know.

[it hurts to say, his grip tightening on Sora's shoulder] I don't know.

[dawn_is_coming]

[he doesn't say anything to that. He just sags a little further, shoulders hunched]

[dawnward]

[he hates feeling this way. helpless.

after a second of hesitation, his arms going around Sora's shoulders. awkward, but...it's better than nothing, right?]

[dawn_is_coming]

[he's subdued. He's done nothing but run and panic and fight for the hope that he'll find her since he woke up without Kairi, and now...he's just worn out]