Jiinora

Sora watched as Kairi's face fell, and he stepped forward, gingerly placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We've all got stuff we need to do," He smiled softly, hoping to cheer her up. "I doubt it'll take much twisting of Riku's arm for him to arrange for us all to get together. Maybe we can sneak out into the town square like we used to, do some shopping and stuff. I need some new armor accessories anyways!" He mused, twiddling with his Slayer Earring as he thought about it. "Absolutely, of course!" Naminé nodded her head vigorously, noting the sun gradually getting lower. "Ah, I figure I should let you know, I have a client in town tonight looking to have a treatment done. I, uh... I asked Roxas to escort me."

Sora nodded in understanding. "He's fine. He has to be a little more strict with me cause I'm his apprentice now and whatnot, but aside from that, nothing's different. Uh," He glanced down at his feet, hoping to find something to talk about. "Oh, how's Naminé? She's usually escorting you so I don't get to see her as often either. I miss you guys, both me and Riku!" Naminé nodded in agreement, smiling. "I'm sure it's rough while in training, but that's a good trait for him to have. He's fast, and it'll be difficult for anyone to catch him. And with the special training he's received from Master Aqua, he's a valuable knight on and off the battlefield. He's really going to be great, Riku." She smiled, meaning every word, but also still harboring reservations about her dear friend going anywhere near a battlefield.

As soon as she spoke, he stood, but still standing straightly at attention. "I know, it's just a bit of an integrity thing I've been trying to work on," he explained, nodding to himself. If he wanted to be as strong as a knight, he knew he had to also be as noble as one. "It's great to see you though, Kairi. How have your lessons been?" Naminé smiled to herself, hearing the two greet each other. "Well, that certainly makes me feel better," she said, walking back over to Riku. "How have you been? I'm sure your new student/teacher relationship with Sora must be... Interesting," she pondered, speaking lowly so that Roxas would not hear her as he left.

"Just handling things for you, Your Highness!" She smiled, walking towards the direction that Sora would be coming from, to give them a moment alone. As she passed him, Sora shook his head, realizing that wherever Naminé was, Kairi was not far behind. Dashing around the corner, he beamed as she came into view. "Kairi, hey! What're you doing?" He kneeled, trying not to forget his formalities. "Uh, I mean Your Highness."

Naminé put her hand over her mouth to stifle laughter, quickly and quietly dashing back over to Kairi with a smile on her face. "Your Highness," she curtsied, then resumed standing in position. Sora blinked vapidly at his summoning, then shook his head. "Uh, I forgot I just stepped out on training. Let's talk again soon!" He grinned at Roxas, waving as he dashed over to where Riku had called him from. "What's up?"

The Lady smiled at the tall young man, not having been able to talk to him recently either. "Hello, Riku, it's nice to see you again! We need your help," She gestured towards where she left Kairi. "Her Highness desires an audience with Sora," She smirked then cleared her throat, keeping with formalities. "But, as you'd know, she is too polite to interrupt his current engagement." "Ah, it's not as great as it seems from the outside. Practically every day of your life has a strict schedule if you wanna be a nobleman. And it also means no adventuring. That's why I decided to become a Knight! That, and I can use a Keyblade, so, y'know." He grinned, shamelessly humble-bragging.

Naminé had to admit it was true, it would look bad if the Princess interrupted a conversation. Manners and charms and all. However, she knew the layout of the garden well, and that she could walk around and catch Riku's attention without being seen by Sora and, god forbid, Roxas. "Wait here," she whispered, walking around the hedge surrounding the fountain to where Riku was. "Hey... Riku!" She hissed, getting his attention and trying to wave him over. "Ah, I gotcha," he nodded, sitting on the edge of the fountain. "Well, Riku, Naminé, and Kai- er, the Princess and I have all been friends since we were young. All our parents are part of the King's Court, so we all grew up here."

"Really? That's awesome! That's really great!" He grinned, clapping his hands together, happy for his new friend. "I'll have to listen sometime!" Glancing towards the hedge where Naminé's head had been previously, he gave a sly little smile. "So, uh... How do you know Lady Naminé?" Naminé sighed, making an exasperated face. "Come on, Kairi! You have to! I'm your friend first, your Lady in Waiting second! And you can't hide anything from me as both of them. It's time!"

"Kairi... You should go talk to him! You haven't spoken in a few weeks!" She encouraged, smiling and nodding. "Wait for him to finish with Roxas, then make a move!" She peered around the corner at the boys, noticing Riku had arrived as well. She got along rather well with Riku, as they had all spent a great deal of time together before when they were younger. "I'd been meaning to introduce myself, I've seen you around a couple times. What brings you to the castle?" He grinned, genuinely interested in Roxas. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Naminé watching from behind the bush, and he gave her a friendly wink as she darted back behind the corner, giggling to herself.

Naminé picked up on the voice as well, smiling coyly to herself. Maybe she would wait her for Sora to come around and speak to Kairi? They hadn't been able to have a genuine conversation in a while, due to Kairi taking on more responsibilities as her status grew. This was a grand opportunity! Sora grinned ear to ear. "That's great! I'm Sora, nice to meetcha!" He held out his hand, bright and eager as ever. He just had to be friends with everyone he met.

Sora grinned to himself, realizing that Roxas had just scored some sort of date. Naminé nodded again with a sweet smile, taking Kairi's arm. "Thank you again, Roxas. I'll see you soon. We should get going, Kairi. You have your lesson to get to!" She tugged Kairi along, knowing full well that Kairi had finished her lessons for the day. She just needed an excuse to get out before she collapsed under her shyness. As they turned the corner, the Lady let out a great sigh of relief, clenching Kairi's hand. Stepping out from behind the hedge, Sora clapped a hand on Roxas' shoulder. "Way to go, guy! You just scored an outing with Lady Naminé, huh?"

Sora knew that practice was important. But practice could come tomorrow, and this conversation could end in seconds. He was a nosy young man, and felt no shame as he leaped off the wall and down into the garden, his Keyblade dematerializing into thin air as he crept closer behind a hedge to listen in. Plus, he could talk to Kairi after she finished. Naminé beamed at the dirty blonde young man, curtsying again. "Thank you, Roxas! I'd be happy to meet you here at dusk, if that's alright with you."

Sora watched the exchange, trying his hardest to tell what exactly they were talking about, but with the fountain, it difficult to hear exact words. "It's the new guy! I keep wanting to say hi but I get caught up every time. What d you think they're talking about, Riku?" Naminé nodded as Kairi explained. "I'd need to leave just before sundown," She continued, which happened to be in a little over an hour. "I would... greatly appreciate your assistance." She bowed her head slightly.

As they clashed, Sora picked up the sound of nearby music changing to voices. "Wait wait wait... Riku, I think I hear the girls talking to someone!" He smirked, jumping away and vaulting up the nearby wall to peek over into the garden. "Come look!" The Lady smiled, giving a small curtsy. "It's no problem. I, ah... Was hoping to ask you something. A request," She did her best not to shuffle, glancing back over her shoulder at Kairi. Hopefully she could help her as a wingman.

Sora struck his blade down on Riku's defense stance, the blades making solid contact. "C'mon Riku, I need to get better! I need to be able to protect my friends!" He jumped back, standing in a slightly open stance to encourage Riku to spar. Gently, Naminé tread forward, lulled by Roxas' music. When she stood on the opposite side of the fountain, she cleared her throat loudly so he might hear her over the guitar and the waters of the fountain. "Roxas? Might I bother you for a moment?"