Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Chapter 31

As Helios strolled through the quiet streets of Radiant Garden, the sun had dipped low, casting an orange-pink glow over the city. He was lost in thought about his recent encounters with Isa, Lea, and Cid, considering how his new bonds were slowly tying him to Radiant Garden, when something small and fast barreled into him. A soft gasp and a stumble, and he looked down to see a little girl sprawled on the ground, looking up at him with wide, teary eyes.

The girl was young, with striking violet-blue eyes and dark red hair, the kind of hair that looked like fire in the waning light. She wore a simple white shirt with tiny blue flowers and a delicate pink skirt that swayed with every movement, complete with large, round shoes that seemed to swallow her small feet. She looked ready to cry, her lip trembling as she rubbed one scraped knee.

Helios recognized her instantly. This was Kairi, one of the Princesses of Heart, the same girl who would one day be closely tied to Sora, the keyblade wielder whose journey would eventually intersect with Helios's own. Knowing how much of an impact she would have on future events, he knelt down beside her, extending his hand in a comforting gesture.

"Hey there, are you okay?" he asked gently.

Kairi sniffled, looking up at him with watery eyes before nodding, though her voice wavered as she answered. "Y-Yeah. I'm okay... I just wasn't looking where I was going."

Helios offered her a reassuring smile, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. "That's alright. You just have to be careful, or you might end up hurting yourself." He brushed a few specks of dust from her apron. "Are you lost? Do you need help getting home?"

Kairi shook her head, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "No, I know where home is," she said softly, her small voice sounding both determined and shy.

"Well, that's good to hear," Helios replied, his tone light. "Just be careful on your way, alright? It'll be dark soon."

Kairi gave him a grateful smile and nodded. "Thank you, mister." She started to turn, then hesitated, looking back. "Um, sorry again for bumping into you!"

With that, she started running again, this time more cautiously, her little feet pattering against the stone path. Helios couldn't help but smile as he watched her, and when she looked back once more, he raised a hand, reminding her with a grin, "Watch your step!"

Once Kairi disappeared around the corner, Helios continued his walk back toward Merlin's cottage, but Kurai's voice sounded in his mind almost instantly, its tone tinged with mild reproach.

"You simply let her go?" Kurai inquired, a touch of disappointment evident. "That girl is a Princess of Heart. Why not make a stronger connection to the girl of light? It could be... advantageous."

Helios shook his head slightly. "Kairi might be important, but she's pretty useless until the endgame. There's nothing to be gained from her right now. Besides, a connection to her Nobody, Naminé, would be more useful in the long run. Besides, Kairi's just a kid. I'll gain nothing by cozying up to her now."

Kurai hummed thoughtfully, though there was a note of quiet approval in its silence.

As Helios resumed his walk, he mulled over the fact that Kurai was talking to him this meant he was free to act. It was a rare opportunity, and it gave him the chance he needed to make his move. He stopped a few blocks just short of the cottage and glanced around to ensure no one was near, then opened a Dark Corridor, stepping through its swirling darkness and arriving instantly at the very laboratory where he and Cid had recently repaired the computer console.

The room was dimly lit, with only the soft hum of machinery to break the silence. The computer console loomed before him, its screens dark and waiting. Helios moved swiftly, searching for any blank drives or storage devices. His eyes fell on a sleek, unused hard drive on a nearby shelf—perfect for what he needed. He quickly connected it to the computer.