[Voice] Floor 05

[flutterbyfool]

[There's a soft sigh on the other line, one that sounds surprisingly tired.]

Looks like I disappeared for a little while, there. Sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate Christmas with you guys.

[Even if nobody can see it, her smile is soft. Haruka sounds so tired that it's unusual for a girl who used to have so much energy.]I hope you guys had

Comments

[lockandkeyblade]

[Oh, Sora notices that tired smile all right. And he's pretty worried.]

Sure I'd like to spend New Years with you, Haruka!

Just lemme see what kinda plans Riku and Kairi have. Would it be okay if they came along too?

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

[She ruffles his hair, affectionate yet sad.]

Sora....

[Damn, this is hard. Haruka nods, taking it easy does sound like a good idea now that she's in Vatheon. However....]

Back home...I'm sorry, Sora, but...I died that day.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

Haruka...

But... you can't be. How do you know for sure you're...

[It's hard to say out loud.]

You look kinda tired now, but you're perfectly okay here in Vatheon, right?

Maybe that means you're only going to sleep for a little bit and then wake up again later in your world.

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

It's a combination of instinct and...what a friend told me.

[The girl smiles.]

I'm sure I will be while I'm here.

[She thinks, her memory a little fuzzy on this next part. Perhaps it's a side-effect?]

No...my soul is needed to help ensure that my world stays safe. You see...Nyx is the one who would have brought death to everyone in the world if we hadn't stopped her. We were told that humanity unconsciously reaches out to her, and that...I think that's why my soul is needed. To keep their unconscious desire for death away from Nyx.

[Haruka can't say for sure, but her heart is telling her that this sounds right. She smiles a bittersweet smile.]

I found my meaning of life, and I kept my promise. I'm also protecting the people I care about, so...that's enough for me.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

But... How come you have to die just because other people don't know they want to. Humanity doesn't wanna die, they wanna live.

I don't understand.

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

That's right. We want to live. That's why my friends and I fought back, because life is precious.

It's okay. I died because I want them to keep living. Even if mine was short, that's okay if it means everyone else can stay alive.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

But ... that isn't air. You beat her and saved the world, didn't you? You even went home together. You didn't even get to say good-bye...

[He looks up at her.]

Wasn't there any other way?

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

Yeah, we did. It's okay, though. I think it's better the way I had to go.

[Haruka shakes her head.]

No, there was no other option. If I hadn't made a sacrifice like that, then Nyx would come back, and there's no guarantee that there will be people able to stop her if she did.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

... That's way too sad.

[And at that, Sora just slumps. His eyes drop to his lap, focusing sadly on two small wrapped presents in his hands. None of his presents really matter. Not anymore.]

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

[She leans against him, putting her head on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort her friend.]

Hey, I'm here and alive right now. If anything, my heart and soul will always remember the friends I've made, and all the good memories I share with you all.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

[He turns over the present in his hand. Runs his thumb over it thoughtfully. And then quietly hands it over to Haruka.]

[Within one is the memory charm, one shaped like a birthday cake. The second one is a red ribbon. Both of them are small, small enough to lose if one is not careful, in secret hope that Vatheon would inadvertently overlook them, and let them go back Haruka if she ever went home.]

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

[She opens up the present with the memory charm in it first, and takes it out of the box in surprise. Simple, yet beautiful in her eyes. She puts the paper and box aside, the charm in her lap as she opens the final present. The ribbon...she's already thinking about what she can use it for. Haruka grins at him.]

Thanks, Sora, these are beautiful!

[A little teasingly, she adds:]

Know what'd be even better? To see that smile of yours.

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

[And Sora just looks up at Haruka trying for a smile, or at least some semblance of it. Difficult.]

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

Not much of a smile.

[Haruka grins, teasing, and then lightly tickles his side.]

Re: [Action]

[lockandkeyblade]

What? Hey-! Oh no!

[Haruka y-you cheater! Sora flails when she goes for his sides and he can't resist. Before long he's laughing, begging for mercy under the cruel hands of Haruka.]

[Action]

[flutterbyfool]

[Guilty as charged. She laughs along with him, dodging the flailing like only a person with experience can. The girl keeps it up for about half-a-minute longer, and then backs off, still giggling.]

Feel better, now?