Children of Light: Extra

3. No Return

"Is it really that important?" Sora asked.

"Yes. Master Yen Sid said it's urgent, that he needs both of us to check it out," Riku replied.

The two talked in front of Sora's house as the sun cast an orange sky over the mainland. Kairi listened and stood by patiently, holding the hand of a small toddler who showed some traits of light, spiky brown hair. He was not paying attention at all.

"But I just got back from a week-long mission yesterday. Do I have to leave now?" Sora reasonably argued with his friend.

"Well, I'm sure Yen Sid would understand. I can try to persuade him."

"It's okay, Sora," Kairi cut into the conversation.

"Kairi..."

"Don't worry. I can take care of Hikaru just fine. You still have other duties to take care of as a Keyblade Bearer, remember?" she said with a cheerful smile.

Being over taken by her beautiful, innocent face, Sora approached Kairi and their child. "I know, but my highest priority is fulfilling my duties as a father," he said this as he bent down and softly ruffled his son's hair. The little Hikaru giggled.

"Don't worry. You'll be right back before I'll notice, right?" she joked. Sora reached down into his pocket and pulled a star-shaped charm made of seashells. Although it was a small trinket they shared when they were kids, Kairi admired how Sora kept it all these years, and lived up to the charm's meaning.

"You know it!" he said with confidence. Kairi giggled, and then turned her attention to Riku.

"Riku," she said.

"Yeah?"

"Promise me that you'll bring him back home safely."

Riku smiled. "Don't worry." Without warning, he wrapped his arm around Sora's neck and rubbed his knuckles against his hair. "I'll bring this sap back in one piece." Kairi laughed as she watched her two best friends playfully tug around. They seemed too old for that sort of thing, but it reminded her of their wonderful childhood. She could never get tired of them.

Finally, Sora broke away and quickly pecked Kairi on the lips. "We'll be back," he said reassuringly, then faced his son again. "Daddy will be back soon." Instead of saying goodbye, Hikaru gave his father a smile and a small hug. Sora implanted a gentle, lingering kiss on his son's head, then walked away with his friend beside him.

"Love you!" Kairi called out before they could even walk far.

"Love you too!"

Later that evening, Sora hasn't come back yet. Kairi laid in bed with Hikaru soundly asleep in her arms. She waited for her husband to return until she fell asleep. She woke up the next morning, greeted by the sunrise. She was hoping to see that lazy bum's face in front of hers, but instead, she saw the empty white pillow and bed sheets. Hikaru must've slipped out of her arms and went to go play while she was still sleeping. Usually, recon to other worlds would only take a few hours, but Sora was gone all night.

During that morning, Hikaru started crying. Kairi assumed it was because he fell down and hurt himself. She tried singing him hymns while rubbing him on the back, soothing him to sleep, but no matter what she did, the boy wouldn't stop crying. After what seemed to be hours, the toddler finally simmered down. Exhausted and relieved, the tired mother flopped back on her chair next to the window. With the crying gone, Kairi could finally listen to the sound of the rolling tides that she always loved. She looked up at the blue sky, wondering what could be taking those two so long. Before she turned away from the window, she spotted a certain silver haired man standing outside down at the beach. Kairi was over joyed that they've finally returned. Conveniently, Selphie was passing by in the neighborhood. With Hikaru dozing off in his room, Kairi asked for Selphie to watch over her son, and then quietly made her way through the door.