[ That sure was... a day. What started as a friendly game of land freestyle blitzball turned relatively bad pretty quickly. Especially near the end when Akira and Lucas were told to fight each other. Sora hadn't wanted either to die. Both were his friends even if Lucas doesn't remember and Akira is a new Akira friend.
But more than that, he's worried about another one right now. So after everyone's allowed to leave he goes to make a cup of tea before heading straight to Yusuke's house. He knocks on the door. ]
Yusuke, it's me. I brought some tea.
[ Sora's quiet, waiting and hoping that the door will open and the other will let him in. When nothing happens his left fist clenches as tightly as it can despite the damage done to it long before he got here. ]
It's okay if you don't feel up to talking to anyone right now but... I hope you'll talk to someone eventually. I know things haven't been easy for you since we met this time around but please don't give up.
[ Another long moment where he's clearly waiting even though he suspects nothing will change. ]
I'm going to leave this cup of tea here for you. If you want to talk, you can text me anytime, alright? I'll always answer.
[ Shortly before everyone seemingly passes out asleep for the night, Sora stops by again to check on him. When he reaches the door, the cup of tea is at his feet untouched and long gone cold. Again, a knock followed by waiting. ]
Me again. I brought some tomato soup Mira made. It's really good. I hope you like it.
[ Please don't let him find it cold in the morning too. He sets the bowl down next to the tea. ]
[ After an hour of no replies from Yusuke, Sora goes by and sees that his fear is realized. Both dishes from yesterday are still there and looked as if they haven't moved at all. ]
Hey, Yusuke. Guess you weren't hungry, huh? That's okay, I brought breakfast if you are now. It's nice and warm.
[ Wait. ]
Or I could summon Xi for you to see. Like I said she's real cute and I named her after my little sister. Well, I call her that but Xion is actually a replica who was a vessel for my memories. She disappeared before I could really meet her but somehow, she ended up as part of my heart.
So when I was choosing names for all my Dream Eaters, Xi just came to me. She was actually my first one. I didn't actually get to meet Xion herself until we were both clones in the Facility. She was shy and afraid of me because she thought if we were close that she'd disappear again, but we were both fine.
[ His voice sounds fond and warm, talking about his sister. ]
God she was so like me in so many ways, her heart was so strong. Even though she was small, she was tough and filled with light. I miss her every day. I miss all of my family. Most of them I haven't seen in over a year now. Or well, I've seen other versions of them. Ones who didn't remember anything about what went on in the Facility.
[ A hand reaches out to rest against the door and there's a deep seeded sorrow in his voice now. ]
Seeing them and knowing they didn't remember. That not even their hearts would remember... it was so painful. Especially... Riku.
I loved him. More than I thought I had when I was younger. He was with me there for two and a half years. Promised me he'd always stay with me and he kept it despite having no real control over it. I was always... I was always the one leaving him.
[ The laugh that comes out is sad, heartbroken and a little bitter. ]
Now I'm not sure I'll ever see him again. Not my Riku, anyway. Someone told me he was terminated after the last time I left. I don't want that to be true.
[ Sora is quiet for a very long time, leaning heavily against the door as tears streak down his face. ]
I'm still holding on to hope that Riku... that everyone I love is out there somewhere like I am. Looking for me and being happy living their lives.
[ He's silent for one last time before he scrubs at his face to get rid of the tears. ]
So don't give up either. Okay?
[ With that he'll set down some oatmeal and take the other two dishes with him when he leaves. ]
11:30pm: Sorry about that earlier. I didn't mean to unload on you like that.
Normally I just... keep everything to myself. Especially since I left the Facility. After a year I got so used to it. Even though I swore to myself that I'd open up to people, start talking to them. I just didn't.
Then before I came here, a friend - a different Akira was helping me open up more. It really helped and I just... I couldn't stop myself earlier.
I'm not sorry I shared it with you, though. I'm sorry that it might not help you.
[ Once more with feeling! He's here at the door and knocks in a short tune that is somewhat cheery. ]
So no oatmeal then. Yeah, it's not all that good without sugar and cinnamon. I like mine with fruit too. Mira and I made fish for lunch if you'd rather have that. She's been teaching me what she knows about cooking. Whenever we do, I always call her Master Mira and she looks really happy about it. I tell her about the French recipes I learned when I was in a previous world and how badly I failed at making them the first time.
Anyway! It's really good so I hope you try her cooking. She'd be glad to hear you like it too.
[ A pause, hoping that Yusuke will open the door this time.
He doesn't. So it's with a sad sigh that Sora once again leaves a fresh dish and takes away an old one with no success. ]
5pm: So I've been sitting here staring at my 'berry for hours trying to write up all this information about our situation. My eyes and fingers are starting to hurt.
I was thinking about taking a walk near the lake and getting something to eat afterwards.
[ The time is drawing near. Tonight someone may die and Sora has to make one last attempt to reach Yusuke. He knows the other hasn't eaten anything that he's brought and it's just wasting food. Sora doesn't know if the pantry restocks yet or if these are all the supplies they have. So he brings a pan, with a can of baked beans sitting inside along with a can opener and spoon. Just in case Yusuke needs them. He'd leave a fresh fish too but...
This is the time where Sora moves to sit in front of the door, back pressed against it. His tone is somber, there's a weight behind it that says he's tired and feeling useless. ]
Someone's going to die tonight. Someone's going to die and I don't know how to stop it. I never know how to stop it. I don't like feeling helpless, being unable to do anything to save someone I care about. It's always been the worst part of all of this - of these stupid games and my time at the Facility.
Hearts break. I know mine's come close before. It would have if it hadn't been for Axel. There were... so many people dead and a lot of them were my friends. People I cared about. But all it took was one person reaching out to me to keep me from falling.
[ His head thunks against the door. ]
Don't shut us out, Yusuke. Let yourself reach back for that person who's trying to save you. Maybe we don't know each other very well because our memories are all missing but my heart is screaming at me to help you. It has been since we met on the ship.
So I'm going to see you tomorrow. Even if I have to break in to do it.
[ Sora gets up from the ground and dusts himself off, looking at the still shut door. ]
[Yusuke is aware of it all, every word spoken at his door, every text, all of it. He's curled on the bed in a fetal position, head clutched in both hands and his eyes squeezed shut against the threat of tears. It's not just Sora's words haunting him night and day, leaving him unable to sleep. There's another voice, dark and heavy as grave soil, whispering into his thoughts.
He's the only one who really cares, the only one you can trust... well, maybe. But you can't know for certain. You can't be certain about anything anymore, can you? So much betrayal, so many lies....
Stop it....
And even if he does care, he'll die anyway. Goro's dead... oh, but his body's walking around! That's hell on your heart, isn't it? Soon, Sora will be doing the same and then who will you have? You can't help anyone, can you?
Stop it... go away....
You're useless. Broken. Vanitas will laugh at you. Sky will laugh at you. You can't fight back against them, you're too weak.
Go away....
Wouldn't it be easier to simply... let go?
He curls up tighter, tucking skinny limbs in until his joints crack, his ribs ache, his heart screams.
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Week 2
Wednesday - Immediately post-deathball
But more than that, he's worried about another one right now. So after everyone's allowed to leave he goes to make a cup of tea before heading straight to Yusuke's house. He knocks on the door. ]
Yusuke, it's me. I brought some tea.
[ Sora's quiet, waiting and hoping that the door will open and the other will let him in. When nothing happens his left fist clenches as tightly as it can despite the damage done to it long before he got here. ]
It's okay if you don't feel up to talking to anyone right now but... I hope you'll talk to someone eventually. I know things haven't been easy for you since we met this time around but please don't give up.
[ Another long moment where he's clearly waiting even though he suspects nothing will change. ]
I'm going to leave this cup of tea here for you. If you want to talk, you can text me anytime, alright? I'll always answer.
Wednesday - 10pm
Me again. I brought some tomato soup Mira made. It's really good. I hope you like it.
[ Please don't let him find it cold in the morning too. He sets the bowl down next to the tea. ]
Talk to you later, Yusuke.
Wednesday
I'm sending you a Dream Eater to take away your nightmares tonight. I hope it helps a little.
Thursday
But good morning. Did you sleep okay? Xi is pretty good at keeping the nightmares away, plus she's really cute, cuddly and loving.
You should see her. I'll bring her by in a little bit.
Thursday - 9:30am
Hey, Yusuke. Guess you weren't hungry, huh? That's okay, I brought breakfast if you are now. It's nice and warm.
[ Wait. ]
Or I could summon Xi for you to see. Like I said she's real cute and I named her after my little sister. Well, I call her that but Xion is actually a replica who was a vessel for my memories. She disappeared before I could really meet her but somehow, she ended up as part of my heart.
So when I was choosing names for all my Dream Eaters, Xi just came to me. She was actually my first one. I didn't actually get to meet Xion herself until we were both clones in the Facility. She was shy and afraid of me because she thought if we were close that she'd disappear again, but we were both fine.
[ His voice sounds fond and warm, talking about his sister. ]
God she was so like me in so many ways, her heart was so strong. Even though she was small, she was tough and filled with light. I miss her every day. I miss all of my family. Most of them I haven't seen in over a year now. Or well, I've seen other versions of them. Ones who didn't remember anything about what went on in the Facility.
[ A hand reaches out to rest against the door and there's a deep seeded sorrow in his voice now. ]
Seeing them and knowing they didn't remember. That not even their hearts would remember... it was so painful. Especially... Riku.
I loved him. More than I thought I had when I was younger. He was with me there for two and a half years. Promised me he'd always stay with me and he kept it despite having no real control over it. I was always... I was always the one leaving him.
[ The laugh that comes out is sad, heartbroken and a little bitter. ]
Now I'm not sure I'll ever see him again. Not my Riku, anyway. Someone told me he was terminated after the last time I left. I don't want that to be true.
[ Sora is quiet for a very long time, leaning heavily against the door as tears streak down his face. ]
I'm still holding on to hope that Riku... that everyone I love is out there somewhere like I am. Looking for me and being happy living their lives.
[ He's silent for one last time before he scrubs at his face to get rid of the tears. ]
So don't give up either. Okay?
[ With that he'll set down some oatmeal and take the other two dishes with him when he leaves. ]
Thursday
Normally I just... keep everything to myself. Especially since I left the Facility. After a year I got so used to it. Even though I swore to myself that I'd open up to people, start talking to them. I just didn't.
Then before I came here, a friend - a different Akira was helping me open up more. It really helped and I just... I couldn't stop myself earlier.
I'm not sorry I shared it with you, though. I'm sorry that it might not help you.
Thursday - 1:30pm
So no oatmeal then. Yeah, it's not all that good without sugar and cinnamon. I like mine with fruit too. Mira and I made fish for lunch if you'd rather have that. She's been teaching me what she knows about cooking. Whenever we do, I always call her Master Mira and she looks really happy about it. I tell her about the French recipes I learned when I was in a previous world and how badly I failed at making them the first time.
Anyway! It's really good so I hope you try her cooking. She'd be glad to hear you like it too.
[ A pause, hoping that Yusuke will open the door this time.
He doesn't. So it's with a sad sigh that Sora once again leaves a fresh dish and takes away an old one with no success. ]
Thursday
I was thinking about taking a walk near the lake and getting something to eat afterwards.
Do you want to come?
Thursday - 9pm
This is the time where Sora moves to sit in front of the door, back pressed against it. His tone is somber, there's a weight behind it that says he's tired and feeling useless. ]
Someone's going to die tonight. Someone's going to die and I don't know how to stop it. I never know how to stop it. I don't like feeling helpless, being unable to do anything to save someone I care about. It's always been the worst part of all of this - of these stupid games and my time at the Facility.
Hearts break. I know mine's come close before. It would have if it hadn't been for Axel. There were... so many people dead and a lot of them were my friends. People I cared about. But all it took was one person reaching out to me to keep me from falling.
[ His head thunks against the door. ]
Don't shut us out, Yusuke. Let yourself reach back for that person who's trying to save you. Maybe we don't know each other very well because our memories are all missing but my heart is screaming at me to help you. It has been since we met on the ship.
So I'm going to see you tomorrow. Even if I have to break in to do it.
[ Sora gets up from the ground and dusts himself off, looking at the still shut door. ]
See you later.
Not... entirely here?
He's the only one who really cares, the only one you can trust... well, maybe. But you can't know for certain. You can't be certain about anything anymore, can you? So much betrayal, so many lies....
Stop it....
And even if he does care, he'll die anyway. Goro's dead... oh, but his body's walking around! That's hell on your heart, isn't it? Soon, Sora will be doing the same and then who will you have? You can't help anyone, can you?
Stop it... go away....
You're useless. Broken. Vanitas will laugh at you. Sky will laugh at you. You can't fight back against them, you're too weak.
Go away....
Wouldn't it be easier to simply... let go?
He curls up tighter, tucking skinny limbs in until his joints crack, his ribs ache, his heart screams.
But he still doesn't call out to Sora.]