The Oracle

Chapter 26: Good Intentions

AKARI

"No wonder Sora was so excited," Isabella smiles as she, Kit, Gambit, and I sit in the hot springs together, a wooden barrier separating the boys' area from the girls' area. "This is wonderful."

"Yeah," Gambit sighs. "They always were. I used to come here after training at the temple sometimes."

"Training at the temple?" Isabella blinks.

"Gambit used to be a shrine maiden," Kit says and Isabella's eyes widen.

"That's so cool!" Isabella exclaims and Gambit laughs sheepishly as she rubs the back of her neck.

"Thanks," Gambit says. "I really loved it, but I knew that being an Aria was my calling."

"Was it your calling or did you see it as your responsibility?" I ask, making the other three stare at me. "I mean, would you have chosen something different if you weren't Greed?"

"I believe I would've became an Aria regardless of my stance. However, I definitely thought that I had shoes to fill, you know? I wanted to make the world a better place and I knew I had a responsibility to do that as Greed. So, both, I suppose," Gambit shrugs.

"What about you, Kit?" Isabella asks.

"Huh?" Kit raises her eyebrows.

"What were you?" Isabella asks, her eyes wide and imploring.

"I've been here since I was a kid," Kit sighs. "Nothing special, really. I used to live in a little village that was overrun by war and Merrick and Raciel saved me. Since then, I've diligently trained to be my best and I grew to be family with all those at Aria. I found a new home and it's right where I belong."

Whenever Isabella turns to look at me, I raise my hands and laugh dryly.

"I don't have much to tell. My parents were killed when I was really young, too young to remember most things about them or my home life. I was taken in by Arias and I was raised in the academy," I say.

"We've all been through so much..." Isabella says quietly and looks down at her hands that are resting in her lap underneath the water. "And yet...it feels as if we're far from being at peace."

"I'll drink to that," Gambit snorts before a smirk makes its way onto her face. "And to Kit's new relationship."

"Yeah?" Kit blushes. "What about you and Sekai?"

"Hah?" Gambit exclaims. "You know we can't."

"No, you can," Kit shakes her head. "You'd just have to make it work. If you really wanted it, you'd do everything you could to be with him."

"Hey," Gambit narrows her eyes. "What's with the drag? I was essentially congratulating you."

"Guys..." Isabella frowns. "Can we not argue?"

"We're not arguing," Kit shakes her head. "I'm just trying to make her see that she can want something in her life without it being criminal."

"What..." Gambit breathes out, her eyes wide. "You..."

"Gambit?" Kit frowns in concern.

"Nothing," Gambit sends her a sad smile. "It's fine. Don't worry about it. How about we toast to you and Sander, yeah?"

"Alright..." Kit trails off, not wanting to drop the subject but not wanting to argue.

"To Sander and Kit!" Gambit cheers and raises her golden cup of hot chocolate.

"To Sander and Kit!" We cheer out as Kit blushes and mutters something about them not being official yet.

Little does she know, however, that Sander wanted us to keep her busy so he could go out and do just that.