Prologue

     Welcome.  There is someone who would like to meet you.  Firstly, I will try to describe this person in the best way I may then, I will  let you guess who it is.  Does this sound like a fair deal?  Perhaps, if you are correct, I will show you to this person.  Agreed?  Why don't you respond?  Has the darkness really taken hold of you?  Have you given in?  Do my words make you sleepy?  Is there weight in your eyes?  Your teeth grind with bitter anger.  Your eyes still tell me the story.  Can I read them aloud if I will?

-Good"

Chapter 1 :: Thoughtful Gifts

     It has been about a year since I have returned home but I feel this bitter emptiness inside, this lingering omen that portrays both good and evil- and it won't go away.  I feel like I have forgotten something; like a piece of me was lost.  Sometimes I catch myself dazed and confused- my eyes dancing into the island sunset just wondering and thinking.  I feel alone.  But not in the sense of friendship- in the sense of being.  I'm uncomfortable, on edge, and never always there mentally.  Of course, I have never spoken a word of my condition to Riku or Kairi but in a sense, they know something is not quite right either.

          At night I stare up at the ceiling in a trance and when I do sleep, my dreams dance on the border of real and fantasy.  I loose all control and can no longer distinguish dream from reality.  I wake up sweating, fingers numb.  I don't know why any of this happens- I really don't, but I wish it would just go away.  I think I'll  wake up now and stop talking in my sleep.  No guarantee though I'll wake, my dreams seem to have a mind of their own.  Oh!  Wait!  I can open my eyes!

-It's dawn and the palms are swaying in the wind.

         "Sora!"  Kairi cried up the steps.  "We have got breakfast on the table! C'mon Sora!  Get up!  Riku and I are

waiting!"  I yawned and pulled the sheets off.  The sun was really warm on my face.  Stretching, I slid out of bed; barefoot, I grabbed a shirt from the floor to wear and threw it on.  It was dirty- I wore it yesterday but it didn't smell or anything.  I headed downstairs for some food.

          "Happy birthday!"  Kairi and Riku shouted.  I forgot it was my birthday somehow.  Kairi held out a stack of pancakes with a candle in the middle.  Her smile was so beautiful- it gave me such a warm feeling. 

          "Well, aren't you going to blow out your candle?"  Kairi said in a sweet tone.

          "Yeah Sora, blow it out!"  Riku chanted.

          "Alright guys!"  I took a deep breath and made a wish.  The great thing about birthday wishes is you never have to tell anyone what the wish actually was.  Then, you can only hope it to come true for your better sake.  I could tell you what it was but then it wouldn't be a birthday wish now would it?

          "Lucky 16!  Awesome!" Riku said with a high five gesture.  I paid him the complement in return and said;

          "I almost forgot it was my birthday today!"

          "Sora!"  Kairi exclaimed in a scolding voice.  "How could you forget?"

          "I'm not sure, I've had allot on my mind lately."

          "Well whatever has been bothering you, put it aside for now; today we celebrate!"  Kairi kissed me on the cheek.  I almost melted into the floor.

          "Lets finish up, Mimi is waiting for us on the other island.  She's got a surprise for you!"

          "Okay"  I said blushing from her kiss.

          I really wish I knew if she really saw me the way I see her.  I mean, does she only think of me as a friend or something more?  Does she like Riku?  It bothers me that I don't actually know.  I can't pinpoint one specific thing about Kairi that I like the most either.  I like everything about her.  She is intrepid, witty, beautiful, intelligent, and warm.  To me, Kairi is perfect or as perfect could ever be.  Her hair flows flawlessly and every curve meets my eye with attraction.  The pink tank top she is wearing is really awesome on her, um I mean, everything looks good on Kairi.  And her face really draws you in- real close like you want to just-

          "Sora!  C'mon man!  Kairi is already half way to Mimi's!  And dude," He said looking back, finger pointed at me "look sharp."  Riku just winked.

          "Huh?"

          "Just hurry up!"

          "Okay, okay- I'm coming!  Gimme a chance will ya!"

          I grabbed my shoes and hobbled out the door hoping to try to crush one foot into my sneaker and then fit the other while still moving!  The tongue always winds up stuck between my foot and my sneaker when I try to do this and it's nearly impossible to pull out without taking the whole shoe off again and wouldn't you know it, the tongue got squashed into the shoe;  what a pain!  I fixed it as fast as I could, speed tying my sneakers.  I ran full speed to Riku who was now already at the water's edge, grabbing a rowboat.  I could tell his aim was to leave me stranded with no boat just to poke fun.

         "Wait up!"  I screamed.

         "You'll have to just run faster!"  He returned snickering.

In a sprint, I leaped from the dock just as he set off and landed hard in the boat.

         "Now that's the athletic Sora I know!"

         "Haha, very funny."  I had a few more choice words for him but I was so out of breath, I couldn't even think straight.  I must have ran at least a quarter mile to the shoreline- I sat down.

         "I hope your ready for this.  Mimi has really got something cool to give you."

         "Can't wait" I said rolling my eyes.

If you don't already know who Mimi is, which how could you?  She was a new girl on the island.  She came from another world not too long after I had returned.  Mimi is blond with blue eyes, real cute though, about my height, five foot eleven, and she just turned 17 too- I think.  And did I mention she had really red cherry lips?  Hmm, I really have no idea what she was going to give me but I hope it is as good as they say.

         Riku (out of birthday courtesy) rowed the boat over to the island and landed us right in front of the beach where Kairi and Mimi were talking.  They were under the paupu tree along the sand line.  They were whispering about something and kept looking at me in the weirdest way and giggling.  I scratched my head, looking at them puzzled and confused.  I stepped out of the boat and Mimi immediately ran down the beach to greet me with a big hug.  Wow her hair was really pretty!

        "Hey Sora!"  Mimi said in that high pitched girly voice she always had.  "Boy do I have a surprise for you!"  She grabbed my other hand and cupped them both- "You'll love it, come with me!"  Mimi tugged me hard sending me flying in her direction- off and running.  Oddly, she reminded me of Namine.  Mimi almost always wore a shortish dress and when she wore the white one, she was almost a replica- almost.  Her lips aren't the same though.  She's really good looking- trust me.

         We headed across the beach to one of the caves on the island that Riku, Kairi, and I used to play together in when we were younger.  We would tell ghost stories, play tag in there, and draw on the walls- kids stuff.  This cave however is located directly behind that of the "Secret Place" cave where I found that door oh-so-long ago.  The cave that Mimi and I was in is also bigger and the color of the rock is darker.  The ceiling is really high; I'd say about forty feet high and a small river runs through the middle to the outside, down a waterfall, and into the ocean.

          As we walked, my eyes lit up.  "Tada!"  She exclaimed holding her hands out to it.  "We re-created the raft you guys were going to use to travel to other worlds!"

         "Wow!  You did all this?"

         "Yes, just for you!"

         "I helped!"  Said Kairi, trying to get a word in edgewise.  "And Riku too.  It wasn't just Mimi."

         "Oh" I said. "Cool."

         Mimi pulled the attention back to her.  "Doubt it will actually hold together in a storm though- it's really just a model."

         "Still, it's way cool."

         "You're welcome!"  Mimi said hugging me really tight.  I hugged her back because after all, she gave me a birthday present and I didn't want to be rude.  But the hug became a little weird when it lasted for more than 10 seconds.  I was for some reason kinda counting in my head.  She just kept that hug goin and was getting tighter and tighter until finally, after 15 seconds, she let go.  What was up with that?

Chapter 2 :: Wishful Thinking

           "Cool!  Sora, goin my way?  I need a lift over."  He said in a odd voice.

           "Hey you want to row?"  Riku grinned.

           "No way! That was a one shot thing!"

           "Fine take one ore and start paddling."

           I guess Riku was in such a joking mood because he just had to start splashing me.  He kept pouring water into the boat and getting me soaked.  You know how the two shores are so far away from each other?  Well, we stalled not even halfway to the mainland.  Why?  Needless to say, the boat began to sink.  Riku had put so much water into it from splashing that it just sank.  So we went along for the ride- him laughing the whole way.  Too bad the boat is too heavy to lift once it sinks so we had to swim all the way back to the island to grab another boat.  Problem was, when we arrived, there were no more boats.

         "Do you realize we are stranded here because you had to be stupid?"  I said, hands flailing.  Riku continued to hold his gut laughing at me totally ignoring what I said.  "You should've seen your face!  I got you big time!"

         "Yeah, your real funny.  Now how do we get back, oh great master of stupidity?"  I bowed in sarcasm.  He stopped laughing.  "Oh so now you want to be funny too huh?  Why didn't you splash back then if you didn't like it?"

         "Why would I stoop to your level.  Thanks to you we're stuck here 'till Kairi or anybody else comes back here in the morning.  Everyone will wonder where we've gone!"

         "Oh so it's my fault?  It's not my fault that your just too easy to make fun of!"

           I was pissed.  "Know what?  Go find your own way back- your not coming with me if I find a boat!"

         "Same here!"  I could tell I really riled him up. 

         And with that, he went one way on the beach and I went the other; getting ready to possibly spend the night on the island with nothing but what we were wearing.  Of course, it had to be bitterly cold that night.  I almost froze to death and if you think it's always warm here think again- because I had a miserable night in the suppose to be warm air.  I think it was the ocean breeze that really made it colder.  It just kept sweeping off the ocean in a real quick swipe- one after the other.  A little stronger than usual, it must have had been a storm coming in.  Just what I need, a storm.

         I decided to hold out the night inside the cave Mimi and I were in- the one with the raft.  I found it tempting to keep looking over at the raft, how it symbolized my past adventures, my present ones, and the ones best left forgotten like Kairi almost being lost to the darkness.  What a close call that was...

         The wood was smooth as I ran my hand down it.  The sail was bleach white- probably somebody's sheet.  On the deck, which now seemed really small when I looked at it, had all our "provisions" for the trip on it.  It was like reliving that time all over again.  A happy time when nothing mattered.  A time when everything was simplistic and real.  Innocents.  I hopped on it and even though it was in a shallow river, it still rocked when I sat down.  Mimi was right, it really wasn't made for anything else but for show.  That's okay though because I didn't have any plans for another adventure anytime soon.  Although, sitting on the raft really made me think what our journey may have had been like if we did actually set sail.  The sun was setting, and my eyes grew heavy.  I began to dream.

I picked up a pencil to write:

"Dear Kairi,

          I am sorry to say it but I have to go away again.  Something has happened between the worlds- I'm not sure what though; King Mickey wasn't specific.  Before I go, I would just like to say that I wish I could understand what you think about me because I just cannot read into you- I cannot hear you...  Your voice trails into the moonlight.  Perhaps if I leaned closer, like we have before, I may understand you- again.

          -Best regards, Sora"

Moments after, I received this letter back:

"Dear Sora,

         I got your letter and I want to tell you how I feel!  I really do!  Please, don't go!  Don't loose me- I want to hold you, just...  one last time.

          -Forever thinking of you, Kairi"

"Dreams can come true."  A voice called in the distance.

          Startled, I woke up.  "What was that all about" I murmured.  Now it was almost dark.  I took a nap at the most.  It was getting even colder- unusually cold.  I really didn't want to stay in this cave all night.  Then the idea dawned on me.  Why not use the raft!  But then again, it is flimsy, but I'm sure I'll at least make it across to the other shore!  It was a crazy idea to pull off at dusk but I'd try anything to get out of this place.

          I grabbed the back of the boat and slowly pulled it through the river and out the cave.  The water was so frigid!  I finally got to the sea where I set the boat due wind and hopped on.  I was about to leave when I thought of Riku.  I just couldn't leave him here.  He was my friend and all.  Heavy hearted, I beached the boat and began to try to scope out Riku- if he wasn't crazy enough to swim away already.

          The first place I decided to check was our secret cave next to the falls.  He probably was in there- after all, it still was a popular spot.  I saw footprints as I walked towards it.  "He's here" I thought in triumph.  Easier than I thought it would be.  I crouched and crawled in, moving the vines from my face.  It was even colder in there than it was outside-  really cold.  I rounded the corner and yelled "Oh Riku!"  In somewhat of a sarcastic tone but there was no reply.  I stopped.  "Hello Sora"  Namine said.

Chapter 3 :: Moral Duty

     A bead of sweat was developing on my forehead I could feel it tingling.  It caught my hair and a drop spilled to the ground.  I had to rub my eyes, I must have had been seeing things.  This can't be!  Not again!  Not now!  But it was her.  Namine was standing right in front of me once again- like as if she was at the forefront of my fate.  Her hands were behind her back and I could tell by her expression that she had something awful to tell me.  A bleak smile to guide me by.  I swallowed hard. 
         "Namin-" I said.  But she put her finger to her lips and uttered a silent shh.
         "Sora, I know you may be confused about why I am here and why I have come back to you but I have some terrible news."
I was totally befuddled.  "Namine, what happened?  You aren't suppose to exist any longer!"
          "Sora... something happened to Kairi."
          "What happened?"  I clenched my fists.
          "That is the problem, I don't know!  I am trapped in the darkness and I cannot see.  Sora- I am almost blind to the light!  Parts of me are missing and yet others are still bonded with Kairi.  I can't explain it!"
          "But how!  It's impossible!  This happened tonight?  But then that means...  Riku!  I have to find him!  I have to go back to the mainland!"
          I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, crawling out of the cave and into the moonlit night.  I set out to find Riku calling his name but my words were scattered in the darkness.  Riku never responded.  The wind howled cold.  The palms swayed in the wind.  Sand took to the air in a whirlwind flight.  Everything was dead silent and nothing moved.  Only the gusts staring me back in the face.  It dawned on me that I could not wait any longer, I needed to get back to the mainland now!  I ran back to the shore where I had left the raft but it had disappeared!  There was a slight impression of the boat in the sand but it was old.  The waves had washed upon it one too many times.  Either the raft was swept away or stolen away and now, it was too dark to swim across to the other shore.  I was stranded while Kairi was...  I couldn't even think about it.
          Running franticly I ducked into the secret cave and crawled all the way in to find Namine again but when I turned the corner, pushed vines out of my face to see, and she was gone!  "What am I going to do!"  I said to myself grinding my teeth.  I lost faith.  I let my knees bend and I collapsed to the ground but into somebody's arms-  don't worry Sora; I'm still here.
         "Namine!"
         "I wouldn't leave you Sora, especially since I have no other place to go then here."
         "I'm trapped on the island!  I can't get to her!"  I repeated shouting.
         "You would not be able to reach her anyway, Sora.  She has been swept into darkness..."
I clasped my hands over my face. "Kairi, I-."  I couldn't finish, my heart sank.  I just couldn't believe this could happen again.  Why?  How?  Questions changed to rage.  I quickly stood up with clenched fists.
"Tell me everything Namine- where could she have gone!"
Namine stared hard at me but her eyes glared right through me.  Suddenly I could see her thoughts and what her mind was tracking.  It was Kairi's memory- her past remembered.
          "Bye" Kairi said to Mimi and closed her front door locking it.  Kairi turned for the steps and then ran upstairs to her room.  She closed the door and laid down to sleep when their was a knock at the front door.  She sat up.  "Mom" Kairi murmured.  Kairi headed for the door jogging down the steps steadying herself with the handrails.  "One second!"  She shouted.  She unlocked the front door and slowly opened it.  A white cloaked man stood at the door.  His hands were covered with scars, his face indistinguishable in the darkness.
           "Good evening.  You must come with me."  He held out his arm.
           "What?  Get away!"  She tried to close the door but the cloaked man stopped the door by sliding his white shoes in between the door to wedge it open.  He grabbed her and yanked her out of the house.
           "Ah!  Let me go!"  Kairi screamed bloody murder but the man would not let go.  He had her by the arm- she was kicking and screaming.  She dragged her feet across the ground still yelling.
           "Let me go!"  She screamed again but she tripped and fell.  Now the man was dragging her across the ground.
           "Just a little farther" The cloaked man turned his head and said in a eerie monotone voice.  He continued to drag her all the way down the path toward the water.  How could nobody have heard her pleas for help?
           They were at the waters edge now, the water was calm and the wind still- it was like as if time was standing still.  Kairi made one last desperate attempt to break free by kicking the man's arm and she broke his hold!  She was breathing hard but she still tried to run as fast as she could away down the beach.  Then, she stopped...  What happened?  Kairi literally was in mid-run position, only her eyes could move.  I saw through them the man with the white cloak appear out of nowhere.  Kairi had the urge to scream, but no sound came out.  The man began slowly stretching his hand towards Kairi with his two middle fingers extended.  The man touched her cheek and Kairi began to suffer pain.  I could feel her pain!  It was excruciatingly painful- I couldn't bear it!
           "Stop!" I shouted.  I was pulled out of her memory recollection and tossed back against the wall of the cave with a loud thud.  My breathing was erratic and I could still feel some pain in my head from where Kairi was touched.
           I caught my breath "Namine, was that what happened?"
           "Yes, these are the events that led to my return.  Something happened when that man touched Kairi and now, I'm-"  She paused.
           "Without a body."
           "Yes."
           "What do we do?"
           "I don't know..."  Suddenly, Namine began to fade.  Her eyes were locked with mine.
           "Namine!"  I cried out.
           "Sora, please don't let me disappear- forever."
           And with that, Namine disappeared into the darkness of the cave.  I looked down at my shoes and held the back of my head with my hand.  I slowly bent down and sat by the wall where me and Kairi drew pictures.  I stared ahead in a gaze.  My arms became rocks and fell to my sides lifeless.  I could only mutter one word.

"Oh..."

Chapter:  Prologue 1 2 3