When you need to get away

[paopuprincess]

Who: Kairi, Xion, Naminé, and Ilya
Where: Cerulean City
When: 6/10 - 6/17
Summary: The triplets and Ilya take a vacation full of sun, surf, and shopping.

[After a long, emotional moment with Riku and Sora, Kairi decided to grab the girls and take off for a week to cool off. She had managed to find a waterfront cottage at Cerulean Cape and booked it for a nice relaxing week.]

Comments

[dressofheaven]

You were a jerk? That doesn't sound like you at all. Are you sure they didn't do anything to deserve it?

[Yes, that's Ilya's first thought on the matter. What can she say, she's defensive.]

[paopuprincess]

No... they didn't. [She stops for a moment to heave a sigh, before diligently returning to her brushing.]

I'm just a cruddy friend that's too concerned with herself to see what people are trying to tell her.

[dressofheaven]

Oh stop it. You don't believe that any more than I do, no matter how badly you feel.

Now why don't you tell me just what went wrong?

[paopuprincess]

Riku and Sora wanted to tell me about... them. I wouldn't let them tell me and thought they were making me choose between them.

[Sigh.]

[dressofheaven]

Ahhhh. Well, it's not like you didn't have reason to expect that sort of thing. The two of them have been nothing if not competitive, and as they didn't tell you earlier, well... it's no surprise you were confused.

Furthermore, do we even know how long this has been going on? It strikes me as the sort of thing you should have been told about some time ago.

[paopuprincess]

At least a year. [She sighs.]

I just don't get why they wouldn't tell me. They kept this a secret from me for so long.

[dressofheaven]

Did you ask them that? You're well withing your rights to demand an explanation.

[paopuprincess]

They thought I'd get mad.

[dressofheaven]

And did you? Once they explained what was actually happening, I mean.

[paopuprincess]

No. I just felt lied to because they waited so long to tell me.

[She continues brushing Ilya's hair, but the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes are making it difficult.]

They're my best friends and they left me in the dark since I got here.

[dressofheaven]

And you're upset with yourself? Really now Kairi, I understand you don't want to be mad at your friends if you can avoid it, but it seems to me they fully deserve it in this case. You may have jumped to conclusions, but they actively hid something very important from you.

[paopuprincess]

[Kairi nods, though Ilya may not be able to see it. She sets the brush down on the table, unable to hold back the tears now.]

I just... [Simpering, she reaches up to wipe the tears from her eyes.]

[dressofheaven]

[When Ilya feels the brush leave her hair, she turns around to glance at Kairi a bit. The second she sees those tears, though, she's pulling her into her arms.]

Oh Kairi... Come here, come to me now...

[She guides Kairi's head to her shoulder to cry herself out automatically, and starts plotting ways to make Riku and Sora squirm for this.]

[paopuprincess]

[She collapses into Ilya's arms, hugging her tight. Her whimpers turn to outright bawling as her strength gives way. Right now, all she wants is to be held by her friend.]

[dressofheaven]

[Ilya just makes soothing noises and strokes her hair and back, holding her close. It's strange, she's never done this before but it seems to come naturally.

Well, she should probably just count her blessings. It's much better that this comes naturally than for it to be difficult.]

[paopuprincess]

Th-thanks, Ilya...

[She looks up at her, still red-faced and teary-eyed. She had never shown so much weakness to someone before. It wasn't a feeling she enjoyed, but she was thankful that Ilya could be so comforting and understanding.]

[dressofheaven]

You're welcome. Do you feel better now?

[Better is a relative term, but right now Ilya will settle for her not being about to break down sobbing again.]

[paopuprincess]

[She nods her head into Ilya's chest. Still not stable enough to form words, she opts instead to squeeze her friend tighter.]

[dressofheaven]

[It's a good thing she has a second nightshirt, because this one's going to be rather soggy when this is all said and done. She strokes Kairi's hair soothingly and rubs her back a little, trying to remember what her mother had done for her when she'd been upset... though the fading of memories over the years makes it a little difficult.]

[paopuprincess]

[When she notices the growing puddle forming on Ilya's top, she lifts her head up from her chest.]

S-sorry. Guess I needed to do that for a while.

[dressofheaven]

Don't worry about it, I have a spare.

[She reaches up a hand and wipes away the tears from Kairi's eyes with her thumb while her other hand strokes her hair a bit.]

I'm more worried about you.

[paopuprincess]

I'll be okay. I just... needed to vent.

[She sighs gently, taking deep breaths to calm her heart.]

I'm gonna stay here a bit, if that's okay.

[dressofheaven]

As long as you need. I'd rather you get it all out of your system before I change nightshirts anyway, I only have the one extra.

[It might be a bit optimistic of her to hope she can get a laugh out of Kairi with that, but hey, she has to try.]

[paopuprincess]

[Not quite a laugh, but she smiles.]

You're the best.

[dressofheaven]

Indeed I am, and you'd be lost without me.

[Modesty? That's for lesser mortals. Ilya draws herself up like she's sitting on a throne as she smirks at Kairi.]