Thirteenth

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[Lost, as the castle has condemned him to be, Sora slipped from an unknown room to wander the halls. He wears his Paradisa High sweat jacket over a matching tee, which dangle off his frame like a tent. As he wanders he hugs the journal to his chest and rubs his eyes dazedly with his free hand. His voice is groggy and weak- after all, he had been ill before this growing-up business had reared its ugly head.]

...Is everything over now?

Comments

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

Yes, please.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[a smile] Okay. I'll be right down.

[and, one magical timeskip later, down she is. She's back to herself... which means there's really very little change, other than the slight maturing of her features... and her smile is instantaneous and relived when she sees him.]

Hey.... [coming over to crouch down beside him] How are you?

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. [He slips his arms around her neck, relieved to see her- and for once, relieved to be so small.] It was scary.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[giving him a hug as well, just happy he's in one piece] I know.

Are you okay? Were you hurt?

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[Sora leans his weight against her, hoping to simply hide in one of the few places he felt safe.]

There were only abrasions. And. Um.

[He thought for a moment, unable to find the right word.]

Dark spots.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she'll let him, keeping him in the circle of her arms as she frowns into his hair] Bruises?

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[He sinks a bit to sit on her lap.] I got put in the trash. And at Gym, before I got a note.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, kiddo. [if she ever finds out who did it.... >:-|]

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

It's okay. I liked it until... everything got scary. I hid in a locker.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

The important thing is that we're back now. And you're safe. Right here, you're safe.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[A squeeze, voice muffled.] I've always felt safe here.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[b'aww Sora. If she had her way, she'd never let him go.]

Good.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[And if Sora had any idea he could HAVE a way, he wouldn't want to go either.

He heaves a sigh, nesting close as if he might drop off right there- there's a resignation in his voice.]

Will this keep happening?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she hesitates, but lying isn't something she's willing to do]

Yes.

[fingers stroking his hair] But it's not always bad. The first time it happened to me, we went to a city in my world. It was beautiful and fun.. and nothing bad happened.

[well, not caused by the castle, anyway]

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

Was anyone killed?

[Nervous kneading.]

What if someone died?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

No one was killed. Not then and not this time, either.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

What about when the demons came?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[her arms tighten around him just a little, remembering. That world change... that had been hard. And not something she wanted to expose him to]

A few people- [cutting off, taking a deep breath]

But they're back, now. Safe and sound.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[He snuggles close, voice muffled against her neck.]

What do you mean "back?"

Death should be an ending. It should be peace and rest.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

It's a little different around here. If people die they're gone for two weeks. But then they come back. Like they'd never left.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

That-

That's wrong. How terrible...

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[leaning back just a little. Not to push him away, but so she can see him better]

But it wasn't their time to die. It's like a second chance.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

But what about when God calls them home? Who are we to decide when it is or isn't their time?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

I think...

[a pause as she tries to form the thoughts completely] this place took us away from our normal times. So if it ends here, it won't really be the end of our journey. Not where we were supposed to be. So if we die here, it's not when we were meant to go.

[colorlesschild.livejournal.com]

[He frowns, but understands, clenching his fingers in her top.]

What if we want it to end here? What if we don't want to go back?