Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

"...Sorry," Sora said again, keeping his eyes shut and head lowered. He had really messed up with this...He wasn't proud to admit that even to himself, let alone Kairi, who he tried to never burden. But that was exactly what he had done, so he had a right to feel ashamed.

 

Kairi looked back up at Sora, her eyes showing her sadness with the situation. "It'll be alright...as long as you promise me you won't do it anymore," she said softly, meaning what she said. She was glad he saw what she did, and she believed the change in perspective had shown him a new light.

 

Sora nodded wordlessly. "I'll try," he said softly. He knew that old habits would die hard, but now, each time he looked at Kairi, he would be reminded of this painful lesson. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but that's how it was now. He kept his head lowered, still feeling ashamed for his screw-ups.

 

Kairi rubbed her hand once over Sora's knee, her eyes following the motion for a second. "I...I don't think I can handle seeing you do that to yourself again," she admitted quietly, afraid of what she was saying. "It's been hard to watch over the past..."

 

Sora finally looked up, and when he did, there was a pained expression on his face. He didn't want to think about him hurting Kairi; everything he did was to try and make her happy. But hearing her talk like this...it made him realize that he had failed at that goal. Big time.

 

Kairi let her eyes roam back to Sora's face, and she flinched somewhat when she saw his expression, deciding to look back down at her lap. "There's nothing wrong with caring about the people you love... It's just... Watching the one person you care for most trying to help everyone else first is both heartwarming and heartbreaking," she confessed to him softly, letting her heart speak through her voice.

 

Sora lowered his head again, humming to show he had heard Kairi's words. He didn't have much to say anymore, though. All he could think about now was how much he messed things up...In his attempt to make things better, at that. The irony didn't sit well with him, and for a moment, he wondered if all the kindness he had ever shown was for nothing.

 

Kairi exhaled a breath slowly, trying to ignore the slight stinging of her eyes. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so emotional; the only reasons she could come up with were the memories of Sora doing what she was talking about, and what he was doing now--seeming upset and hurt by this. And she knew it wasn't just a "seem", because it was happening.

 

But....No, Sora couldn't accept that every act of kindness he ever performed was a waste. If that were true, then his life would have been a complete lie. He always strived to please others before taking care of himself, and that was his problem. Sometimes, he just didn't understand what people wanted out of him. But he did understand what Kairi wanted. And he would do his best to fulfill her wishes.

 

"Sora... Don't ever change," Kairi said softly, thinking to how thoughtful and kind he was to others. She knew that was why he had done what he did, putting others before himself. It was his nature, and it was what made him Sora. But at the same time, was she asking him to change for her?

 

Sora looked up again, feeling confused. "Hm?" he hummed, his bright blue eyes on Kairi once again. He didn't understand...hadn't she just been telling him that he needed to make a change?

 

Kairi felt the soft gaze of the boy she loved against her, and she turned her eyes to meet it. "I know who you are inside, and you would never want to hurt anyone... Not unless they truly deserved it," she started gently, her voice wavering ever so slightly. "I know what I'm asking of you is requiring some change, but that would mean you would have to change..." She took in a breath, letting her eyes fall to her lap as she started to become frustrated. "I mean, you care so much for the ones you love and put them first through all situations. That's just who you are, and how you've always been. But...I'm asking you to change that about yourself, and that's not right of me."

 

Sora looked at Kairi, thinking. He understood the point she was trying to get across, and at the same time, he didn't see a solution to their problem. He didn't think he could possibly stop caring for people, and he didn't want to. But...couldn't there somehow be a balance? Could he take care of himself and still love others the same as he always had?

 

Kairi took in a breath, exhaling it softly. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that...I'm being a little selfish in asking you to change who you are as a person. I shouldn't be, and I realize that now." She took her eyes off her lap and focused on Sora's face. "Thinking about it now, what I'm really asking of you is that you still be yourself, and care for everyone the same way you have been. But when it comes down to it, don't forget that you can't help them if you don't take care of yourself first." She blinked, the small stinging sensation still in her eyes. "Okay, Sora?"

 

Sora nodded faintly at Kairi's words, the teen leaving his thoughts to listen to hers. They were thinking the same things for the most part, and he was glad for that. "Okay," he said softly, meeting Kairi's gaze. He wouldn't lose who he was while he tried to take care of himself, because he would always look out for those around him. From now on, though, he'd have to discern when he should take action or not.

 

Kairi smiled weakly, both in relief and slight happiness. She was glad this conversation had come pretty much to a close, not having liked to discuss it. But it was inevitable, she realized, and handling it was all she could have done.

 

Sora saw Kairi's weak smile and he responded with one of his own. He wasn't sure if the conversation was over or not--It sorta felt that way. But it was strange, most of the time when they talked about something serious, they tried to end things on a good note. This though...It ended pretty suddenly.

 

Kairi thought of another thing as she sat next to Sora in the silence. "And...don't think that you're the only one who should be apologizing," she started. "I should be too. It was wrong of me to be so insistent on something so wrong." She had a hard time believing that she tried to change Sora, and she was glad she realized it before it was too late. She loved him for everything he was--the good and the bad. No matter what.

 

"It's alright, Kai," Sora insisted gently. He thought Kairi had made some valid points, and he was sure they were going to stick with him whether he wanted them to or not. Of course, for the most part, he did want to remember them, so that he could change some of his actions in a way that pleased Kairi. He would always try to satisfy her, no matter what.

 

Kairi let her eyes linger on the boy beside her, her small smile fading somewhat. She was relieved to hear his words, though she didn't agree one hundred percent at that moment. But she had a feeling he was saying that because he loved her, and cared for her. Her lips decided to turn up slightly again at another realization: he was doing it again, even if it was a little bit; telling her everything was alright, even though some things weren't. At least, not in her eyes. "I love you," her heart suddenly spoke, surprising her.