Not A Carbon Copy - Chapter 1


"No offense, your majesty, but I don't need anyone to go with me."

It is by pure chance Roxas walks by the exact moment this phrase is said. It is pure curiosity that makes him stop beside the door that is opened a crack to listen in. Although he recognizes the voice, he peers inside anyway.

Kairi stands before King Mickey. Her face is equal parts determination and plea.

King Mickey has his own determination, though. "Kairi, I understand that you want to do things on your own now, but this requires visiting multiple worlds. I would require the same for anyone else."

"I realize that, yes," Kairi says, still keeping her cool. "It makes sense. But a lot of the danger has passed, and I've trained for two years now. I'm a great fighter! Not Sora or Riku's level but—"

"This shouldn't be a mission to prove yourself," King Mickey clarifies. "It isn't meant to be. You are simply visiting each Princess of Heart and ensuring the connection."

"Exactly! It shouldn't require more than me."

There's a moment where Kairi and King Mickey stare each other down. Roxas can feel the tension even from outside the room. He glances down the hallway. No one is there thankfully, allowing his attention to drift back to the conversation.

King Mickey's eyes narrow. He tilts his head and wonders. "Perhaps," he says, "it isn't a matter of need but rather of want."

The shock on Kairi's face is brief, but it confirms the King's suspicion. She looks away.

"You don't want Sora or Riku to accompany you?" he asked.

"No."

Roxas inhales sharply, feeling the shock of that declaration. Kairi—Sora and Riku's Kairi—doesn't want her best friends around? They've been inseparable since the chaos passed. Even with everyone else joining the group—Roxas included—there is no denying that those three held their own special connection. For Kairi to reject them...it's unheard of.

King Mickey smiles. "That's alright. There's nothing wrong with wanting a break from them. It doesn't mean you don't care. Take anyone else you want."

"But, sir, I don't—"

"Would you prefer to take Naminé?"

"Naminé can't fight. I thought you wanted someone who could fight."

"Xion?"

"No thank you. I'd still prefer to go alone."

"That isn't an option. Ventus? Terra? Aqua?"

"Sir, please, I don't—"

"I'll do it."

Both royals turn to stare at the intruder. Roxas suddenly feels very foolish, walking in unexpectedly like that, making a declaration that clearly announces he has been eavesdropping.

The King perks up, choosing to ignore the ill-mannered act. "Problem solved! Kairi, Roxas will accompany you. He is quite skilled with his keyblade so there is no need for another. You should be pleased since you are set on having as few along as possible."

Roxas dares to make eye contact with the princess. Her face is unreadable as she stares at him with her near-violet eyes. Those eyes with that expression make him nervous. Roxas gives something akin to a smile, but he's sure it comes out more uncomfortable than he'd like.

"Is this acceptable to you, princess?"

"I—no—" The brief moment where Roxas's chest deflates with hurt is quickly brushed aside when Kairi keeps talking. "I mean, there's no problem with you, Roxas." She looks back at the King, her red hair shifting with the movement. "Is there no way you'll let me go alone?"

King Mickey gives her an exasperated look that declares the argument dead.

Kairi nods. "I figured." She glances back at Roxas and gives him a better smile than he gave her earlier. She moves to grab his hand then briskly walks toward the exit, calling to the King on her way out. "We'll leave as soon as possible. Thank you, your highness! I'll give regular reports." With that, she leaves the room, dragging Roxas behind her.

"Can you be ready in an hour?" Kairi asks. She lets go of Roxas's hand after guiding him down the hall of the castle a little ways, far enough to be free from the King's rather strong hearing.

Roxas is caught off-guard by her hurry but goes with it. "Yeah, sure. Why the rush?"

"We have to stop by Radiant Garden. They're expecting us," she explains. "Sorry it doesn't give you much time to say goodbye to Xion and Lea—"

At this, Roxas waves his hand, warding off her apology. "It's fine." He doesn't really want a lengthy goodbye with them anyway, not with how things have been lately.

Kairi gives him another smile. "Ok. I'll see you in an hour. Meet me at the Gummi Ship."

"You can drive one?"

Kairi smirks. "I can, but I'm not usually given the privilege. Too dangerous. I could hurt the ship."

Roxas chuckles. "Yeah, I guess Sora is pretty serious about that. We aren't taking his favorite one, are we?"

"No. He's got that one for another little something the King's got planned." Kairi's face falls. It's only a slight change, but Roxas notices it immediately.

"Where is he going?"

Kairi shrugs. "I'm not sure exactly. He wouldn't say. It's probably just a recon kind of thing. Doesn't matter. He's already gone anyway." The redhead brightens again. She hugs Roxas who certainly didn't expect it. By the time he gathers his thoughts enough to try and return it, Kairi already pulls away.

"See you in an hour!" she calls to him while retreating to her room.

Roxas gives a half-hearted wave, knowing she won't see it, and heads for his room.

He wonders what exactly to pack while he rummages through the half of his belongings he keeps at the King's castle. (The other half are safely tucked back in his and Sora's room on Destiny Islands). He didn't exactly receive or ask for details before volunteering. Maybe he should have...nah. The basics would do. Accompanying the seventh Princess of Heart around those harmless worlds so she can curtsy and discuss royal things can't be that hard. Might even be boring. Roxas would be ok with boring after all that's gone on in his life.

"What are you up to?"

Roxas glances sideways. Lea—formerly Axel (Roxas still has a difficult time getting used to that) is leaning against the door frame with mildly curious eyes roaming over his friend's haphazard mess of clothes and other necessities.

"Kairi's going to visit the other princesses. I'm going with her."

A bubble of laughter from deep in Lea's chest bursts out of his mouth. It sounds both mocking and disbelieving. It is a laugh to which Roxas is accustomed. "You're playing escort?"

"Well, she said she didn't need an escort. I'm more like backup. In case of emergencies."

Lea eyes him again. Roxas goes back to his work. He's perfected ignoring Lea's probing stare over the two years since they all came back and even before that from their time in the Organization. It's his only defense. Once Lea wants information, he's fairly insistent on getting it.

"Only you," he says.

"Yep."

"Why?"

"She didn't want anyone in the first place. Actually, King Mickey had to order her to take someone along."

"You were her first choice?"

"Uh..." Roxas isn't sure where Lea's line of questioning is coming from. "No, I volunteered. Sora's busy, and she didn't really want—"

"You volunteered," Lea repeats bluntly.

"Yeah, I—"

"Way to go, man." Lea moves from being glued to the door frame to shake his friend's hand.

Roxas accepts the gesture warily. "Thanks?"

"You got the pretty little princess all to yourself. For how long? Hoping it's a long trip there, buddy?"

Roxas snatches his hand back. "It's not like that." He goes back to packing, severely hoping Lea doesn't see the flush in his cheeks.

"It's ok. No need to deny it. I completely understand." Lea slings an arm across Roxas's shoulders. Roxas shrugs him off.

"You sure do," he bites back at his red-headed friend. "How's Xion been lately? Found another place to randomly whisk her away to without me?" Roxas didn't mean for it to sound that accusing. Lea was ruffling his feathers and Roxas is in a rush and would it kill Lea to warn his best friend when he plans on taking off?

And there's nothing weird about going with Kairi. They are friends—ish. Friends-ish.

Since the reunion of everyone over a year ago, everyone's been overwhelmed with the sudden growth of the group. It's been difficult to gain deeper friendships with those who didn't know each other before everything. They've all been kept busy. King Mickey wanted to make sure everyone was alright and that the threat was truly gone. This along with finding places to live for the newcomers, new routines to follow, and being familiarized to new surroundings proved overwhelming.

Although the group was almost always together for those first few months, really getting to know each other on a personal basis hadn't been the top priority. There had only been a handful of times Roxas had been alone with Kairi, and they were never very long. His time had been consumed more with Lea, Xion, Sora, and occasionally Naminé. Ven would even bug him every so often, wanting to get pictures with his "twin".

Kairi...Kairi was often around, being one of the staples connecting them all. She would smile and talk to him, sure, but nothing major.

Except maybe for that one time.

They had a bonfire on the beach of Sora, Riku, and Kairi's favorite island. It was a sort of celebration/going-away-party. They had it because, after their reunion months prior, several of them would be parting ways for a while. The flickering flames, lull in conversation, and starry sky cast a spell. Roxas found himself calmer than he'd ever been in his life. He had taken to watching the tips of the flames disappear into the night.

Until he felt watched. (His time in the Organization taught him to never ignore that feeling since it was almost always right.) He lazily looked around the circle before finding Kairi staring at him. She was hugging her knees, resting her chin there, face void of emotion, and appearing completely serene, but her eyes, though half-lidded, were intense. And they had been aimed at Roxas.

Instead of reacting, Roxas found himself staring back. He wasn't sure how long they did this or what she found in his stare, but in the end, Kairi gave him the smallest of smiles. Despite its size, it spoke volumes even though Roxas had no idea what it said. It was a smile that warmed him more than the fire did, spreading from the tips of his ears to his toes.

He smiled back.

Soon after, the group decided to sleep there on the beach. In the brief shuffling where they stood to grab more blankets and jackets, Roxas felt someone briefly grasp his pinky and third finger. He then saw Kairi walking away from him, but she threw a smile his way over her shoulder.

That simple act made Roxas's newfound heart flutter. Its irregular beats slowed to a deep pounding, thoroughly unsettling Roxas's calm mood. But it wasn't a bad thing. In fact, after they had all lied down, him between Naminé and Lea, her between Riku and Sora (her boys, as he mentally calls them), his head filled with thoughts of the red-haired princess. It kept him awake. This light-headed state was something he'd never experienced before—never had a heart for it. Now that he did, he indulged in it. He was the last to fall asleep that night.

Things went back to normal after that. Simple acknowledgements and safe smiles. And yet...Roxas couldn't quite get himself to stop thinking about that stare. That smile. That...feeling. It sometimes still haunts him at night.

Maybe volunteering to go with her is a bad idea. Maybe it isn't. Maybe it is just what he needs to get this thing out of his system.

"I have to go. I'm gonna be late," Roxas mutters. He slams his suitcase closed and grabs his bag before breezing past Lea. He feels bad as he walks down the halls. He shouldn't have been that harsh.

Then again, it had been a long time in coming.

Kairi is already at the Gummi dock. She talks animatedly with Chip and Dale, thanking them for getting things ready on such short notice. They happily chatter back, pleased to help the princess. When she sees Roxas, she gives him her attention.

"You're ready already?" Roxas asks.

"I packed earlier. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Um, I wasn't sure what to pack—"

"Anything is fine. We can always pick up whatever we need." At Roxas's panicked expression, Kairi giggles. "Relax. I'm paying for this trip. Actually, Radiant Garden is."

"Is that ok?"

"It's a royal trip. I'm on official princess business." Kairi raises her chin then dips down into an elegant bow.

Roxas laughs at the display. "Sounds good. You told Riku and the others?"

Kairi stands up straight. "Uh, yeah. Riku knows about the trip. Word will spread to the others."

Roxas notes her unease, unsure of whether or not to address it. He decides to try. "You sure you don't need more time—"

"No, it's alright. I'm anxious to go. Please?"

Big, violet eyes and slightly pouted lips combined on a clear, rounded face. How can Roxas say no?

He gives her a smile that puts his earlier one to shame. "Ready."


WARNING: DISREGARDS ANYTHING TO DO WITH KH3 (aka—everyone lives)

You know what. YOU KNOW WHAT. Just—Just have all my ideas for stories. Just take them. Maybe it will motivate me to actually finish them. So there.

I suppose it should be said that these two are only a side-ship. I'm SoKai all the way, but I felt an overwhelming urge to write this. I have the entire (rather long) story arc completed in my mind. It's a matter of getting it down on paper.