Chapter Text
Kin-kin crossed her arms with a fierce, obstinate stance. Her brows knit tight shoving her nose in the air with a profound, "Harumph!"
"Kin-Kin..." Korey pleaded, pressing his hands together in a prayer, "The gummi is way too small. You can't bring the drum set."
"It was custom made! I'll get rusty!"
Kosei backed him up, shaking his head, "You can't bring your entire collection of Verum Rex merchandise onboard either."
She whined, dropping her hands, "Koseeeiii"
A sheepish expression coated his face, "How bout three?"
"What about my posters?"
"Limit them to two!!" He glanced between the siblings.
Kin-kin solemnly agreed, twisting about sharply and stomping back towards the village.
As she huffed to and fro from her packing goods, Kosei clicked his tongue shamefully.
Her brother reached out on her second trip, offering a gentle smile, "You know Kinny, we can come back here anytime."
"Hypothetically. I'd have to ensure that we have a proper warp drive and oof..!" Kosei was cut off by Korey’s elbow digging into the right side of his abdomen. “Hey, Kinny, mom and dad should be with Emerald and Damien. Let’s get this show on the road, huh?”
“Alright…” She huffed, ensuring the rest of her things were tucked into the last backpack.
True to Korey’s word, the four adults stood before the Gummi ships exterior. The glade of the forest surrounded them, the archangel branches of trees looking as if they were descending in reverence to the departing party.
Rose was dabbing her eyes with a soft tissue, clutching tightly to Kenji. Emerald was detailing something upon her open journal, feather pen swaying with each miniscule twitch of her wrist, Damien simply stood proud in his uniform trying to mask his apprehension by biting his lip just under the hood of his beard.
Kin-Kin stood between Korey and Kosei, unsure. “Why do they all look so sad?”
“This is a big moment for you, Kin-Kin. We weren’t sure if we’d ever find another piece. Now there’s hope…you can be whole again.”
She let her chin drop, trying to place her hand where her heart was. It seemed just fine. Beating, strong. But the older adults had this…look. Of expectation, and fear. Of loss and hope. Bravely, she held her head high and began to march ahead. Korey followed, trailed by Kosei. The three stood mere inches away from the four, unsure of what gestures to place.
Kin-Kin naturally grabbed her mother and father into an embrace, soon followed by Korey. Kosei, feeling left out, awkwardly waddled close. Kenji offered a hand, the two giving a firm handshake. Damien and Emerald also were given tight embraces, Korey involved while his hair was tossled. Kosei was given a deep embrace, overly tight from Damien, who tried to hide the tear dribbling from his eye. “Keep her safe. We’re always here if you need us.”
“Don’t forget, your first stop will be to pick up Maymie. Then return here for further details on our ultimate mission.”
“We’re just coming back, see?” Kin-Kin complained to Korey as Kosei began to hitch himself up within the Gummi’s interior, seating himself comfortably behind the controls. Korey swatted her away as he scrambled inside, Kin-Kin being the last to enter. Before she closed the door, she stared back at all her mentors, giving one last wave before shutting it tight. Kosei yawned, leaning back as he picked up a communication device, “All right, please clear the radius, launching off in minus two minutes.”
“Do we need to strap in?” Korey pondered, gazing at the lackluster amount of room and seats within. It was barely the size of a large RV. The main cabin had an open, spacious feel, with smooth, metallic walls adorned with subtle neon lights that pulsing gently, changing in hue.
A compact kitchenette filled between the ‘sleeping cots’ and the main piloting wing. It featured sleek cabinets made of polished metal with rounded edges, a small electric stove, a microwave-sized food replicator, and a compact refrigerator.
“Futuristic…” Kin-Kin complemented, toying about folding things out and in. Above the counter, there were magnetic holders for cups, utensils, and various tools, preventing them from floating during space travel. She eyed them, spotting one with a frog on it. Her voice rose in pitch slightly, “Kosei, where are your froggies?”
“Above the sink! The tanks just a bit small!”
She stood on her toes, forgetting that he was a whole head taller than her. There they were! Two little tree frogs snuggled together in a misty tank, cozy and quaint. It was lovingly designed with flora that matched their environment. Two small pictures with their names sat taped at the top: Knight and Bishop. The brown one she had procured for him was in a tank next to theirs, in its own environment. She fluttered her eyelashes at its own name: Queen, giving her a tiny wave before she returned to her exploring.
In the next room, the fold-out beds were discreetly tucked into the walls. There was a larger one in the center, complete with Kosei’s own private area. Above it, a large window which still showed the grassy landscape of their home planet.
“Bit cramped…” Korey remarked, Kosei instantly pointing a finger in his direction, defensively barking, “Cozy! It’s…cozy!”
“Initially yes, but it should be a smooth ride afterwards. I’ll let you know when we’re in the clear. Launch sequence is initiating. Please ensure you’re tucked in.” He pointed to the nearby seats behind his station, complete with tight seatbelts. The ship was whirring, making strange popping and bubbly noises. Kin-Kin watched her parents and mentors move away from the ship, a sinking emotion finally starting to brew in her throat.
“Launching in three, two, one…!” Kosei flipped a few panels, stretching his arms and pulling on levers. Starleaper coughed and sputtered before the loud expelling of its fuel tank emerged, beginning to weightlessly lift into the heavens. It was a lot less chaotic than the siblings had pictured, watching their world become a smaller component of itself before it was transformed effortlessly into a simple depiction of large mountains, deep semi-exposed caverns and bustling forests broken only by blue lines of waterfalls. The stars danced in the background. “Woah, it looks like a pop-up book!”
“Kind of?” Korey chuckled, “Are we free to roam about now? This thing is tight.”
“Yeah.” Kosei confirmed, unstrapping his own security lines, “You guys can roam around for a bit, make yourselves at home. Just please don’t mess with my controls…and Kin-Kin…don’t sleep on my bed please.”
“It was smelly anyway. You should do laundry.” She prodded his cheek playfully with her index finger. Before he could retort, she had vanished into the other room.
Nikki, for the first time in her short existence, felt extreme fear. Not the typical kind anyway. The world seemed to turn slower. Her palms sweat. Her knees shook, and her stomach churned. A desert filled her mouth. The shard she called a heart thrummed and ached, bouncing about wildly in her sternum. All because of this girl…The one that called herself Namine.
She could not help but gaze at her from the short distance, watching her smooth, blonde hair glint in the sunlight. Namine’s ocean-blue eyes gazed deeply at her paper, distant and yet focused. They almost seemed sad…a latent grief worming its way to the surface. Lucky for her, she was alone again, browsing through wildflowers growing along the buildings of Radiant Garden. Nikki emerged gently from the shadows, wondering how to approach her. She puffed her chest out, sauntering over.
Namine was not startled, only humming as she peered over, “Oh! Hello again…”
“I have a name now.” She announced proudly, “You can call me Nikki.”
“Nikki…that’s a nice name.”
Nikki felt something strange enter her when Namine repeated her name. Her brain almost seemed as if it was malfunctioning. Feeling her cheeks warming, she cleared her throat. “I…uh…I really admired your bravery the first time we met. You’re really something.”
“I had to go through a lot to become like this.” Namine explained in her gentle, wave-like cadence.
“You didn’t know me. I could have hurt you.”
Namine did not return a statement, only pressing her hands behind her back and leaning forward.
Nikki’s thoughts flashed through the day they had met, trying to piece why exactly her Corridor had taken her there. There must be something there…some connection. Namine was superbly brilliant; the warmth of her smile was nearly the envy of the sunlight. It called to her, something primal and deep in her soul.
Without thinking about Vanitas, her darkness, anything beyond the girl before her, Nikki opened her mouth, “I don’t know much about having friends…would you…?” She shut her lips before anything else came out.
Namine approached. She took her wrist.
Nikki froze, eyes widening.
“I can be your friend, Nikki.” The precious blonde promised, “Was there something you wanted to do?”
“If…we’re going to be friends…I don’t want to look…like this.” Stop talking Nikki, she berated within. Stop! You cannot do this. You are betraying Vanitas. You are betraying the Darkness!
Namine’s lips curled upwards into a soft grin, oblivious to the inner war her new friend was battling, “You want to get new clothes? Sure. I know a nice place, nearby. Come on!”
She made the final mistake in winning over the Replica, wrapping their hands together and tugging ever so slightly. Nikki felt weightless, head dizzying in overwhelming relief. Torn and yet so complete in that moment.
To hell with Vanitas. Right now, it was clear. She needed this woman. She never wanted her to let her hand go. As she followed, a sickly twist collapsed in her inner gut. No…she could not abandon him. But Namine was practically dragging her wrist, leading her into the side door of a clothing store.
They did not exchange many words. Namine parsed through the racks, plucking things out at random to hold them up to Nikki’s wide chest and built frame. “You’ve got a lot of muscle. And you’re so tall. It might be hard to find things for you…but I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.” God, those words felt like poison dripping from her as she so lovingly let it flow from her tongue. But it also felt so right. It warmed her in a way…it was so dangerous to keep being near this specimen. This dazzling, wonderful human who did not gaze upon her with disdain or shame. Those damn eyes. They shined with a glaze that pleaded so desperately. Stay here. Stay with me.
Vanitas continued to creep around in Nikki’s skull as she placed on outfit after outfit. Then, there it was. The one she would wear when she was near Namine. A sleeveless black dress, cutting off halfway down her thighs. A small cross-shaped necklace now donned the space between her bosom. A black belt snugly wrapped about her middle. Long, ebony boots nearly covered her legs, only leaving a small window of her dark skin. Then there was the choker. It almost looked like a collar. Did Namine do that on purpose? To show her how much control she had of her already? She was thinking far too much into this.
“That’s the one.” Namine confirmed, rending Nikki away from her inner battle, “Actually…let me find something too. Give me a moment.”
Nikki only gave her a nod in return, admiring herself in the mirror. In a strange way, a distant consideration began. She had not realized how restrictive and condensed the suit of darkness had been. Her skin was now free, breathing and alive in the cool store air. More specifically, she felt more…feminine now too. With Vanitas she was reminded so badly of how she was a clone of a man, a man who once wanted nothing more than to clear the cosmos of everything but light.
Namine came back, dressed differently. A black tank top sat low on her chest, with a baggy jacket covering her arms. Long, off-orange, almost pink bottoms covered her legs. There was a matching collar, coated with some spikes about it too. “Does this look silly? It seems like it matches well.”
“It’s perfect.” Nikki swore she had never sounded so…admiring in her entire existence. But something about her standing before her in this godly uniform nearly dropped the Replica to her knees.
“Okay…let me just talk with the person at the register. Give me a second.”
She did as she told, pulling out a hefty white wallet. Nikki felt her heart sink as she paid an exuberant amount. But before long she was at her side and began to wrap her elbow around hers. “Come on.”
“You paid…for me?”
“Of course. Maybe you can pick us up some dinner.”
“I’m not sure I have a way to pay…”
“Hm…I’ll figure out something. Here.” She offered her the drawing pad, “You can keep tabs of what you owe me there. But come on, let’s go!”
It was surprising to see her so excited. She practically pulled her along, dragging her from the store. Nikki felt her steps a bit lighter, even in the thick boots. Namine was quietly appreciating the scenery around them.
The Garden’s crowds were starting to wane down. Warm air made for a late summer sunset. A gentle breeze caught their surprise, dashing gentle drops from a nearby tiered fountain onto their new raiment, causing Namine to giggle. Nikki leaned closer just to hear it better, feeling its light, airy, bell-like ring reverberating deep within her. But there was a deep tug continuing to gnaw its way through her psyche. It was quiet before, but now it practically screamed. Just as they were approaching the edge of the canyon’s overlook, Nikki shook her head, dislodging herself. “I…I have to go.”
“What…?”
“I’m sorry Namine…I just…I need to. I can’t leave my friend.”
“I’m your friend too.”
“I’ll be back.” Nikki bit her lip after saying this.
Namine’s brows knit. “You better not hurt anyone. Please.”
“I…” She stared, trying to break away from those deep pools of blue. “I…I’ll see you soon. I promise.”
Before Namine could protest, Nikki had already stepped backwards. Her outfit reverted, changing back to the constricting suit of shadows. She dared not look back, to be tempted by the witch again. Letting the Corridor swallow her body once more, letting herself return to Vanitas’s side.
Namine frowned deeply as she was left alone once more, sighing and turning to the ravine’s precipice. Collapsing her hands together in a small prayer, she whispered, “Please…let her be good.”
Kin-Kin leaned onto Kosei, whining, “I’m so bored!”
He sighed, feeling her weight fully sinking into his side. There had been little to no Heartless activity about. Floating chunks of rocks and stars made for little entertainment beyond a visual cue. He twisted around, noting Korey with thick headphones placed on ears, eyes shut as he bobbed his chin up and down to the slightly audible tunes. “Alright, here…” He stood up, waving his hand over to the seat. She gasped and accepted it, oogling the controls. “Woah…and I thought the train was complicated. How do you keep track of this?”
“Years of experience. But I’ll show you the most important one today. This is the speed control. Just tap it a little bit like this…” He pushed its thick controls forward, “See? Why don’t you try? I’m gonna go wake Korey up. We’re almost there. Keep the speed at about 2 parsecs please, and the breaks are down there. If you let go, the ship will stop too.”
Kosei let his eyes off her. It couldn’t have been more than a minute before she was yelping.
A portal had opened in her peripheral vision. Something so benign, it looked like a speck of dust at first. But it was coming closer and closer into view. It was someone! In a suit of green plated armor, bent over a levitating apparatus of sorts. The ship wiggled, bumping into its form. Kin-Kin dropped the controls, holding her mouth. “Kosei! I hit something!”
“What?”
Korey’s eyes popped open as Kosei lifted the earpiece. He sat up and panted, scanning the windows and cameras. It was true, there was now a limp person tightly clutching onto the bike-like traveling apparatus. Korey bit his lip, recalling the controls and expertly pressed a few buttons. A massive crane-game style claw was withdrawn from Starleaper’s side. It grasped onto the floating armor, clutching it and withdrew its form back. Kosei quickly twisted the paneling to see their prize.
The green armor was clanking, someone inside was still breathing. Korey panicked, “Make some space…I can heal them!” He focused hard, waving his hand over the breastplate. Faintly, he sensed the light within their heart, causing it to spill forth. It shone as verdant bells chimed, clovers appearing and vanishing into thin air.
Kin-Kin bit her knuckle anxiously, watching her brother lay the human figure on the floor. Kosei almost toppled her over, returning himself to the controls. “Are they okay? Are they bleeding?”
The armor began to groan. Korey inhaled again and made a fist, unfurling his fingers and playing with the cords of the white magic in his veins. Somehow, that worked. They sat up, holding their head, glancing around to the three strangers, “What…who…?’
Korey, flustered noted the feminine quality of the voice within, “Uh…hey! You okay? Can you move…?”
While the stronger spell helped tremendously there was still a lingering soreness and some nausea left over inside the new arrival’s body. The other two passengers of the ship were still looking at them with worried expressions. “Hey um don’t worry, the second spell really fixed me up; I’m feeling right as rain and can get out of your hair now.”
“You two watch her while I find a place to land this thing!” Kosei practically shouted. “We should make sure she doesn't have a concussion or other lasting effects. Oh, also, a police report!” he rambled. “I do NOT want a hit-and-run on my record.”
Kin-kin was sniffling now. She clutched onto Korey who was grumbling as he watched over their new passenger. He rubbed the fresh sore spot to his hand, forming in response to his magic use, “Ther’s not many places to go right now. What's your name…?”
“Are you living armor?!” Kin-kin shakily wept as she gave a deep bow. “I'm so sorry that was my fault! Please don't curse us!”
Finally, the stranger dismissed the helmet. There was a soft face beneath. Korey stared, mesmerized by her shoulder-length red hair, tied slightly into a half-ponytail at its back. Her eyes were deep brown, akin to the bark of a lonesome tree. Pale cheeks were ruddy, speckled with hundreds of tiny freckles.
She wrinkled her nose, “Okay well a few things,” she points Kin-Kin, “I’m not living armor, and I don’t know how to curse people yet,” she swiveled towards the pilot “There’s no police in the Lanes Between and I don’t think it's a hit and run if the person who got hit runs away,” and finally turned toward Korey, who was still lost in awe, “Christa.”
The lingering nausea intensified with all her turning. “But yeah, pilot guy’s right, I should probably sit down…for a bit…” she slowly slid back onto the floor, landing with a small plop. Christa put her head in her hands and asked, “Who are you people?”
“I’m Korey.” He introduced, moving his hand over towards his sister who wiped a few tears away, “This is Kin-Kin, my sister…via adoption.”
“Hi! I’m sorry!”
“That’s why we’re in this silly ship of his…” He pointed to Kosei, “Our first pilot Kosei.”
“I want to clarify I was not the one driving when we hit you,” Kosei butted in. “We were having a little flying lesson. Where are you heading, Christa? Is there somewhere we can drop you off?”
“So my…coworker wants me to go to his friend's house in a place called Twilight Town and pick up some…Books that he left there and bring them back to him. It’s kinda time sensitive so if you could just drop me off wherever you all are going so I can be on my way that would be great.”
Korey noted her impatience with a cocked brow, keeping silent for the moment.
“Actually, we're going to Twilight Town as well. We can take you there directly.”
“Great!” Christa waved her arm into a hook, enthusiastically. The gesture seemed outdated. By all of them. She had a forced smile, speaking nearly between her teeth, “So, what brings you folks out here then, out in the great sea of stars?”
Kin-Kin perked up, “We’re finding the other pieces to my heart!”
“Your…what?”
“Kinny! You can’t just tell people that!” Korey sighed, groaning as he leaned against the doorframe, “Well, you don’t seem…bad? Kin-Kin had her heart shattered as a baby. We have five pieces that are out there in the ether…they’re apparently very powerful. So, to avoid that getting out of control, and to make her whole, we’re looking for them. Know anything about that…space cowgirl?”
His cloying tone instantly made her brows knit. She spotted his overcompensating confidence from a mile away. Her voice twisted up in tone, meeting his half-lidded eyes, “Yeah that’s…weirdly advantageous.”
“We’ll be landing soon, everyone.” Kosei mentioned, twisting about.
Korey gave their new arrival a cocky salute, whistling as he strapped himself in.
Christa sneered, rolling her eyes as she did the same, crossing her arms indignantly.
Vanitas was leaning against the clocktower’s top. The never-ending sunset sky above him made his glass mask appear as if it was glowing. Nikki’s Corridor opened, her body stepping through. He took in a deep whiff and gagged, “You stink like Light. Where were you?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from…” Before he could finish his sentence, he was silenced.
Nikki wrapped her hand completely around his throat and sneered, plucking his body off. He kicked and clawed at her hand to no avail. Effortlessly, she dangled him from the edge, her voice became something she could not recognize, “I said it’s none of your business.”
That’s when she saw her reflection in his mask. Her eyes, burning with a sickly ochre flame. Her white locks flying about in pure rage. Clouds of darkness bellowing from her shoulders. She was a monster. Namine would have been ashamed. The thought threw her back into reality. She recoiled and returned Vanitas with a whimper, finding tears beginning to flood her eyes. “I’m sorry…I don’t know what came over me.”
As his feet met the ground, her fingers withdrew from his neck. He coughed, gasping a few times. But then he began to laugh. It was small at first, growing sizably until it cackled and etched its way into her bones, “Wow. I didn’t really think you had that in you. You’re scary, Nikki. That’s good. You’ll be the perfect candidate for the Unversed. Keep doing that, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Hell, you might even get better than me.”
He dismissed his helmet, their eyes finally meeting. And she saw so much of herself in his face as he twisted his face into an unholy smile, a visage of terror. “And wouldn’t that be something spectacular? I can’t wait to see what you can do.”
The noise of the Starleaper entering the atmosphere created reason for them to glance in its direction. Nikki’s feet felt suddenly heavy, as if lead had been slit between her boots. Vanitas waved his hand over to the landing strip behind the train station, “The pieces are in place. Get going Nikki. Show me you deserve my power.”
Nikki squinted as Vanitas vanished into his Dark Corridor, his conniving laugh echoing in her mind. She summoned her Flood, watching as it cozied up to her leg.
With a deep sigh, she scratched its chin then pet its head, “I’m sorry…I need your help again.”