At the current stage for the stuff I'm updating in 'the future', you guys deserve more than this tweaked version of the first version of the chapter. Not too much has really changed, and I wish I could have come up with another Limit for Sora and Kairi that would have made sense at this point but I couldn't. And it really sucks for me because it's so short and I know that nowadays I can do so much better than this. Argh! This frustrates me!

Regardless, here is the eventual disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. It's not mine. I'm not making money from this, and if it was mine I would probably /ruin the franchise.

-A-D-

The Beginning

Chapter XV: Lover's Leap

Riku came to his senses very slowly, trying to piece together in his mind just what had happened in those last moments. It had all seemed so surreal, and then like a knife the lifeless face of his father pierced into him.

"Dad!" he yelled, his eyes snapping open and his torso bolting upright. Pain exploded into life in his head, and he swooned as the world swam in front of his eyes. He dimly heard someone saying his name, but couldn't quite recognize the voice or emotion used as he collapsed backwards to land onto something soft.

A groan left his lips as his head sunk into a firm but yielding substance and he brought a hand to his face as stars spiralled in front of his eyes, whether they were closed or not. His name was repeated softly, and this time he was able to make out the voice's owner: Yuffie.

His eyes remained closed as he moaned, "Please Yuffie, please tell me that was all a bad dream."

"It wasn't a dream Riku," her voice said. "Open your eyes." Riku did so, and was both surprised and confused at what he saw. Yuffie was kneeling over him as he lay on a bed with an unfamiliar roof over his head. He could no longer hear the waves of Destiny Islands, and bright sunlight was streaming into the room from somewhere.

"Welcome to the castle in Radiant Garden Riku," Yuffie said.

Riku looked at her and groaned. "What happened?"

Yuffie's voice trembled, and Riku knew that the worst had come to pass before she even spoke. "That guy with the silver hair knocked you out," she said, "and then he—he took out Seymour and Janet because Cossex wouldn't. Then they both left and all the Heartless and Nobodies vanished."

Riku swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the insurmountable pit in his stomach. "And the Islanders and Guardians?"

"Most of them went to the other islands," Yuffie answered, "but about a dozen decided to follow us here to Radiant Garden, and a hundred or so went to Twilight Town. We found out that Sora and Kairi were there with Max, and sent them on to Beast's Castle thanks to a few kids that they'd befriended. The King said that they can't know until after Maleficent's beaten. You know how Sora is."

"Yeah," Riku said, holding back the grief that threatened to wash over him, "when he found out the Organization had Kairi he got on his knees and begged Saïx to take him to her. They'll be furious when they—"

He choked on his last words as the pain of memory and loss overcame him. Hands came to his face as his head went in between his knees, his whole body trembling in sobs as Yuffie's hands came comfortingly to his shoulders.

They'd lost.

-A-D-

Several hours later, with two of them completely unaware of what had so recently transpired, Sora, Kairi, and Max beamed down from the Highwind into a green courtyard in front of a beautiful white castle, dazzling in the sunlight. Kairi and Max gaped at the beauty while Sora just looked up smirking as he held Kairi by the waist.

"It sure is lovelier in the sunlight than at night," he said before glancing up at a balcony. On it was a woman wearing a blue dress with a white smock, waving at them. Sora nudged Kairi and she looked at him. "Look," he said softly, looking back up at the balcony, "it's Belle." Kairi followed his gaze and smiled when she saw the fellow princess of heart.

"Belle!" she called, waving frantically.

"Sora! Kairi!" they heard her yell. "It's good to see you again!"

"You too!" Kairi answered. Sora nudged her again. "What?"

"Don't you think we should go up to talk to her?" he chuckled, pulling the box of pixie dust out of his pocket. Moments later the three of them were pelting through the sky as Sora wordlessly vanished the box so he wouldn't have to fumble with his pockets anymore. Belle backed up as Kairi landed first, closely followed by Sora and Max. Kairi leapt into Belle's arms and hugged her tightly as Belle hugged her back.

"I've missed all you guys," Kairi said as she pulled back. Belle smiled at her and rubbed her hand through Kairi's hair.

"And I've missed you," she said warmly before looking at Sora and laughing. "And I've missed you Sora, and you too Goofy."

"I'm not Goofy," Max said as Sora and Kairi burst out laughing. "I'm his son Max." Belle covered her mouth and giggled.

"I'm sorry Max," she said. "I should've recognized that you weren't him. My eyes must not have been seeing thing rightly." The four of them laughed together for a time until the fit subsided.

"So," Sora asked, "you and the Beast break the spell yet?" Belle nodded.

"You mean me and Prince Alain?" she questioned as her eyes took on a dreamy look. Sora crossed his arms as he looked at her.

"So you did break the curse then," he said. Belle nodded her head.

"We did," she said. "He's in his room if you'd like to see him." Sora nodded his head and rushed out of the room followed by Max. Kairi stayed behind to keep talking with Belle.

"So," Belle asked as she closed her door. "Are you and Sora together?" Kairi was taken aback by this sudden question but nodded her head anyway. Belle smiled at her. "I knew it," she said slowly. "You both have that look in your eyes."

"What look?" Kairi asked sincerely.

"The look of one in love with the person of their dreams," Belle said. "Lumiere told me I had that same look in my eyes after Alain and I broke the curse."

"It must be nice," Kairi said as she looked around Belle's room, "To live in a castle with your one true love." Belle nodded happily.

"Well it must also be nice Kairi," she said, lying down on her bed, "To live next to your love and fight beside him, knowing he's always there for you in case you get hurt. And that you're always there for him in case he bites off more than he can chew." Kairi nodded as well as she sat on the floor, smiling.

"It is," she said softly, rubbing her arm and remembering the new smell Sora had taken. "I must be the luckiest girl in all the worlds to have someone who cares this much about me."

"Well then," Belle said as she sat up and began rummaging through her wardrobe. "We're having a ball tonight. There must be something I've got that you could wear that would absolutely dazzle him and show him just how lucky he is to have you." Kairi waved off Belle's search.

"I don't need anything of yours Belle," she said as a grin took hold and she looked skywards. "I've got just the thing. There's this dress I saw him looking at earlier; he couldn't stop staring at it."

-A-D-

Sora stood in the ballroom of the castle that night wearing what he classed to be a stuffy black tuxedo with a black tie. It wasn't his; he didn't own a suit, but the former Beast had insisted that he wear it. Beside Sora stood a regal looking man with reddish-brown hair wearing an elegant blue vest with yellow lining over a white cravat and pair of black dress pants. On Sora's other side Max in a tux much like Sora's used to stand, before he had gotten bored and withdrew to the drink table where he would stand and make small talk for the rest of the night, as he didn't have a date for the ball. They were waiting for Belle and Kairi and Sora was nervously bouncing on his feet. Prince Alain looked down at the young Keyblade Master and laughed.

"Don't worry Sora," he chuckled. "I'm sure she'll be prettier than the last time I saw her, when I was a Beast." Sora looked up at him.

"She is prettier, and that's what I'm afraid of," he said quietly. Alain chuckled.

"What do you fear exactly?" he asked, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. Sora sighed as he felt the comforting hand resting on him.

"That she'll be too pretty," he said slowly, "and I'll feel as if I won't deserve to dance with her. I've never...really seen Kairi in a real dress before, and we've never really danced together." The prince chuckled again and Sora looked at him, affronted. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Sora," Alain said wisely, "I felt the same way when I saw Belle in a dress for the first time. If she loves you, though, she will dance with you, whether you feel unworthy or not." Sora took heart and he turned his head to look at the doors again.

"It's still scary," he said and Alain nodded. The doors opened and a man with elegant brown hair wearing all yellow came in. He instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the ballroom.

"Now presenting," Lumiere announced. "Princess Belle, and Princess Kairi." Belle walked in first, wearing her elegant yellow gown and she stepped aside to allow the girl behind her to enter. Sora felt his jaw drop and saw Max's follow suit out of the corner of his eye as they beheld his love and companion. Kairi was wearing a long slender fuchsia gown that widened about her waist and just brushed her feet that were clad in rose-heeled shoes. Upon her brow rested a silver circlet that glittered with pink diamonds as she moved her head. She saw Sora and walked slowly towards him, her hips swaying slightly as she almost awkwardly came towards him.

Hera, Sora thought as beads of sweat formed on his neck. Why did you have to make her so beautiful in that dress? Kairi was a step in front of him when she suddenly stumbled and threw her arms around Sora's neck as he grabbed her around the waist to steady her. She giggled a little and flashed him a grateful smile while they both inhaled each other's scent.

"You're more beautiful than ever tonight, Kairi," Sora said slowly, gaping at her face. Kairi pulled back, blushing coyly, and looked at Sora.

"And you're more handsome tonight than you are usually, Sora," she said as they took hands and Kairi looked down at her feet. "I hate heels," she said suddenly. "It's almost as if I have two left feet." They both laughed as the ice broke.

"Try being a lion cub," Sora said as the music that was already playing shifted into a new tune, "you actually do have two left feet then." Kairi giggled and looked wistfully at the dance floor and all the pairs already weaving back and forth. Sora took the hint and gave her hand a slight tug. She looked at him, and Sora blushed and looked away slightly, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Kairi, would you... like to dance?"

She smiled at him as if she'd been waiting a while to hear him ask that question. "I'd love to Sora." Smiling with a little bit of assurance now, Sora led Kairi onto the dance floor, careful not to trip over his own feet. He stopped a short ways in, still well within the fringe so that they wouldn't be the centre of attention. His palms were sweating, and he was sure that Kairi was able to feel them with how nervous he was. Kairi actually giggled as she placed his hand upon her waist, but when he looked up, steamed at her amusement at his embarrassment, he noted that she was biting her bottom lip. He knew that act too well to think that she wasn't just as nervous as he was.

But then she looked up, and captured his cerulean irises within her own shimmering pools of indigo. "Sora... I've never, really..."

Don't worry, they both heard in their heads. Just do what the music tells you to do. Sora suddenly became aware that Mrs. Potts was starting to sing.

"Tale as old as time," she began and they began to dance slowly and safely in their own small circle, enveloped in each other's blue eyes. "True as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly." Sora raised the hand holding hers and gave Kairi a gentle push with the other. Kairi obeyed and twirled in a slow pirouette and then they came together again, just following what the music and their hearts commanded, neither really sure as to what they were doing.

"Just a little change, small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared. Beauty and the Beast." Sora and Kairi passed by Belle and Prince Alain dancing, both beaming at each other as they danced fluidly. Sora felt a twinge of jealousy spark within him as he looked at them. Belle looked like she was enjoying herself so much, and Alain knew how to dance. Then Sora felt Kairi's hand in his again and her other pressed lightly against his side, and looked into her shining eyes again; eyes that couldn't seem to leave his face. Kairi sighed contentedly and released his hand to clutch at his shoulder and rested her head against it, and Sora felt the green that tinted his eyes wash away in a sea of love for the beauty resting her cheek against his body.

"Ever just the same, ever a surprise.
Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise.

Tale as old as time, tune as old as song.
Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change,
Learning you were wrong.

Certain as the sun, rising in the east.
Tale as old as time;
Song as old as rhyme;
Beauty and the Beast.

Tale as old as time;
Song as old as rhyme;
Beauty and the Beast."

Sora knelt his head onto Kairi's as Mrs. Potts finished her song. "I love you," he spoke softly before their lips gently came together.

"I know," Kairi said after they had finished, "and I love you too." A voice suddenly spoke from above, stopping their dancing.

"How very heart-warming, not that I have a heart." Everyone looked up to see a man with spiked silver hair and yellow eyes like a hawk wearing an Organization XIII cloak hovering in the air near the chandelier. Sora and Kairi contorted their faces into masks of anger.

"I suppose you're Cossex's partner aren't you?" Kairi growled. The man raised his arms in defence.

"Why so hostile now princess?" he asked. "All I want is to introduce myself and steal Belle for my master."

"You aren't welcome here!" Prince Alain roared. "Get out of my castle and leave Belle alone!"

"Sorry," the man said. "I can only comply to half of your request, Pete!" Pete suddenly walked out from the balcony and began to make his way towards Belle.

"Max!" Sora ordered, throwing a glance at the teen near the punch. "Help the prince defend Belle from Pete! Kairi and I can handle this guy." The man floating above them chuckled as he came down to their level.

"Are you sure you want to challenge Nixion, Keeper of Storms?" he bellowed, twin swords charged with electricity appearing in his hands. Nixion charged forwards at the teens in their formal wear as their Keyblades appeared in their hands. Nixion twirled his thunder blades around as Sora and Kairi fell back, blocking his lightning fast attacks.

"I! Hate! Heels!" Kairi moaned, stressing every word, as she leapt back and tried to steady herself as she landed. Nixion took this opportunity of weakness to leap forward and attack her, but before his thunder blade could connect with her fuchsia dress it rebounded off of the magical barrier Kairi had summoned with a reflect spell. Nixion leapt back before the shield could damage him and turned in time to block an attack Sora was making for his side. Kairi shucked off the beautiful rose heels and ran forward barefoot, a volley of fireballs preceding her. Sora grinned and heaved the Oblivion forwards to keep Nixion on one place while the fire plastered Nixion from behind. The Nobody looked at Kairi in rage as he blocked her Keyblade's assault while still holding off Sora on his other side. He abruptly fell back and Sora and Kairi began to fall into each other. Before they could recover Nixion hit both of their sides with the flat of his thunder blades. The teens winced in pain as the electricity coursed through their bodies, causing revulsions and spasms of uncontrollable movement.

"Do you still wish to fight?" Nixion asked as he relieved them from their torture. Sora looked at him, face full of loathing.

"Wrong move pal," he snarled, slicing his Keyblade into Nixion's chest. He recoiled from the blow and staggered backwards as Sora and Kairi renewed their attack with blinding fury. Sora looked at Kairi while Nixion staggered into the center of the ballroom and she nodded. Together they leapt into each other's arms and kissed, their Keyblades flying off and continually striking Nixion in elliptical orbits. "I love you Kairi," Sora said as their Keyblades came back into their hands. Before Kairi could respond they both leapt into the air, Sora firing gigantic shards of ice from his Keyblade and Kairi equalizing with fireballs from the Oathkeeper. Nixion staggered at their elemental barrage and Sora suddenly appeared in front of him and Kairi did behind him.

"You won't enjoy this," Kairi taunted before the two of them continually attacked his back and front, their movements more of an art form than an attack. They both suddenly stopped and stood a few feet away from Nixion and looked into each other's blue eyes. "I love you too Sora," Kairi said as they came together and kissed passionately while their Limit drew to its finale. All about them while they kissed, fireballs from heaven seemed to fall from the sky and pepper the ground, and especially Nixion, although they didn't harm the beautiful floor. As the meteors stopped falling a light shone from the kissing teens and quickly enveloped everything in the room for a few moments. Nixion staggered to his feet as Sora and Kairi turned to look at him.

"Pete, we must retreat!" he yelled, summoning a portal. "We'll try again later." Nixion staggered backwards into the portal and Pete fled from the balcony where Prince Alain and Max had successfully defended Belle from him.

"We'll get yah next time Belle," Pete said as he fled into the portal and it vanished. Sora and Kairi grinned and quickly shared another kiss. A light suddenly appeared on Kairi's Keyblade and a large keyhole appeared on the floor of the ballroom. She looked at Sora and he nodded at her.

"You're turn," he said with a chuckle as Kairi pointed the Oathkeeper at the chandelier. A beam of light radiated forth and reflected off the chandelier, coming down and entering the keyhole right in the center. They heard a clicking sound and the keyhole slowly vanished. Kairi grinned and she looked at Sora again.

"How do you like that?" she asked. "We sealed a keyhole and beat Nixion, and I'm in a dress to boot." Sora smirked and kissed his love again.

They had won.

-A-D-

I know that the Limit I described, Lovers' Leap, is quite lame, but I couldn't think of how to change it up. Besides, Sora and Kairi are both very enamoured at the moment about how they're finally dating and having finally admitted that they're in love, so in all honesty the Limit actually fits for where they are currently in their lives.

It still doesn't excuse the fact that it's crap.

May the Grace of the Valar Protect You

Shire Folk