i Splash! /i The narrow stone sank to the floor of the miniature lake. Kairi sighed in disappointment. She picked up another rock off the floor, examined it, then threw it at the water. This stone, too, fell to the bottom. With another sigh, Kairi surveyed the ground around her.
Most of the rocks were too large, but there were some that were—there! She snatched it up eagerly. "Perfect!" she exclaimed after a moment. The 14-year-old girl took a deep breath, then threw the rock at the water, angling her hand so that the rock was almost parallel with the waterline.
It skipped once, twice, three times before it lost momentum. Kairi cheered in triumph, clapping her hands happily.
"Ahem," a voice said from behind her, bringing her celebration to a close.
Kairi turned around, embarrassed, and saw a brown-haired man with a giant sword slung over his shoulder standing there. "Oh, Leon!" she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped forward a few steps, then stopped. "This," he said, gesturing around, "is where I come to train." His gaze wandered about the cavern, then fixed itself on her. They were in the Underground Cavern.
"O-oh," she said quietly. Kairi hadn't known that anyone actually came down here anymore. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," the older man said emotionless. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Surprised, Kairi was silent for a moment, then smiled. She turned around and grabbed another stone. "You know…," she began, "Sora and Riku once tried to teach me to skip stones. It was a long time ago, but for some reason, I still remember it, like it was yesterday." Leon said nothing, just watched her silently.
She threw the stone at the water. It skipped five times this time, which delighted the thrower. "Five times; that's the most I've ever skipped a stone." A giggle. "Actually, I think it's the first time I've ever skipped a stone." Still, no response from her listener.
"When I see them again, I'll tell them…," she murmured, trailing off. "Ah! Why am I telling you all this?" Kairi turned around again to face Leon. "Sorry! This must be so boring for you!"
He said nothing for a moment, then Leon shook his head. "Not at all. Sometimes people just need someone to talk to. Besides, I'm more of a listener type myself."
This produced another smile from the girl. "Thanks."
i Amazing, /i Leon thought. i She's lost her home, been separated from her friends, and nearly lost her life, but still, she smiles. Is it because she has nothing else to lose? Or is it that she has everything to gain? /i
"Well, I'd better go," Kairi said, bringing Leon back to reality. "I just came down here because… I don't know, actually. I just felt like skipping stones. Silly, isn't it?" She laughed at herself. "Bye!"
The girl ran past Leon and onto the stone steps that led to the Magician's house. She paused, looked back, and waved. Leon gave her a small wave back, and she grinned and ran up the remainder of the steps. He watched her go until she was out of sight.
Something about that girl… i Something about her seems…no. It's probably just my imagination. /i He left it at that, and began practicing. He swung his sword around skillfully, fatally wounding imaginary enemies.