EDIT: New version currently being uploaded. Check that out instead!

8/25/16 edit: Cut and edited a couple scenes I felt were either a little unneeded for the story, or were too cryptic or "on the nose." Nothing major.

A/N: Hey, this is Tempura here. I've been debating for a while on whether I wanted to post this story up. Finally decided why not? I'll give it a go with the first chapter and see if I feel like continuing.

This is one of those "OC placed in to the KH1 storyline" fanfics, written just for fun. I think it has things that make it a little different from other OC-centric stories of this sort, and I hope that Hikaru comes off as a solid character rather than a dreaded Mary-Sue. I also tried to keep the canon characters as in-character as possible while expanding and modifying the events of the game and trying to maintain the series's heart. I dunno if I succeeded or not, but either way, I hope someone gets entertainment from this one.

Thank you, and enjoy.

The sky lit up and began to fall, hundreds upon hundreds of shooting stars plummeting through the night.

Two friends at the top of a hill watched as one star hurtled through the darkness, a concussive boom echoing through their ears as the impact knocked them off their feet. The star had fallen not a hundred yards away.

"Let's take a look," one of the friends said, breath fogging up the cold air.

They rushed out into the valley towards the smoldering crater with reckless abandon, unconcerned for their safety, powered by adrenaline and excitement and adventure. They were thinking of the story they would tell the town, that they had found a shooting star.

They paused at the edge of the crater, shielding their mouths and noses and waving away the smoke. One shined a flashlight into the darkness, expecting rubble and maybe a hunk of space rock. But their eyes widened, hearts skipping a beat, breaths caught in their throats. It wasn't a star.

It was a person.

22 years later...

Re-sketch

Chapter 1: Shooting Star

It was too cold to stay out for long. Hikaru's teeth chattered as she stepped through the doorway. It was warm and sweet inside the house, the smell of cookies wafting through the air while the sound of the television echoed out from the living room. Hikaru hopped on one leg as she struggled to tug off her boots.

Something cold exploded against the back of her head, snowflakes showering down over her shoulders. She sputtered, spinning around and tripping over her own feet. Her brothers cackled at her, nearly buckled over with their wild laughter. "Hey!" she said, her cheeks burning.

"It was Aki!" Tatsuya cried, moving to point at their older brother.

"Oi!" Akihiko gave Tatsuya a light smack up the back of his head. "Don't go blaming me!"

"Well, if you guys are going to goof off outside…" Hikaru started to close the door.

Akihiko and Tatsuya blinked. "NO, WAIT!"

Hikaru giggled as her brothers scrambled through the doorway. She shut the door behind them, sealing out the cold air. They were panting, a little breathless from their rush back to the house through the snow.

"You guys are tracking in mud everywhere," a voice came from upstairs, making them look up. Yui was standing there, leaning against the banister and looking down at them with a grimace on her face. "Uncle James isn't going to be happy about that."

Hikaru, feeling a little guilty at their sister's words, made sure to wipe the bottom of her boots on the entrance mat before proceeding. Akihiko and Tatsuya on the other hand paid little mind to the mess they were making. "We'll clean it up," Akihiko said, shrugging off his coat.

"Sure you will. Well, when Mom and Dad get back, it's on you." Yui retreated down the hall without another word.

The warmth of the house was already turning the snow on the back of Hikaru's neck into water, sending shivers down her spine. "Oh, thanks a lot, guys," she said, running a hand through her hair. The tips of her gloves came back stained yellow and blue. "I just dyed it last night."

"Eh, it's just hair," Akihiko said. Hikaru pouted at him.

"Hey, Aki, let's practice in the living room," Tatsuya said, throwing his jacket onto the coatrack.

"Right behind you."

While they ducked into the living room, Hikaru headed upstairs and slipped into her and Yui's bedroom. Yui was lying on the mattress bed, preoccupying herself with a book. Her textbooks sat untouched on the floor, and her violin was resting idly in its case. She didn't even look up when Hikaru stepped in.

She's in one of her moods again, Hikaru thought. Was she upset about not checking out the town with them? Or maybe she was upset that her peace and quiet had been interrupted by the return of her rambunctious younger siblings. Hikaru walked over to closet to grab a change of clothes. Her arms and legs were stiff from the cold and the walk, but she wasn't quite tired yet. A warm shower was just what she needed.

When she returned to the bedroom half an hour later, dressed in a sweater and jeans and using an old towel to deal with the blue and yellow dye running from her carroty hair, Yui was still reading. Hikaru shuffled across the room, looking out the window out to the snow and trees beyond the backyard.

Hart's Haven hadn't changed much since the last time they'd visited. It was a small town out in the countryside, calm and peaceful. Uncle James had once again invited them to take a break from traveling and stay at his house for a while.

It was colder than she was used to, though—the last winter she'd endured that was this cold was when her family stayed in Sapporo four years ago. Lately, she'd been used to the warmth of places like Sicily and Hawai'i, or the familiar wet gloom of London. Part of her enjoyed the change; she had to enjoy it if she wanted to survive traveling as much as they did. But there was something about this place, lazy and comforting, like returning home.

Behind her, Yui shut her book, sat up, and heaved out a heavy sigh. Hikaru glanced over to her, watching as Yui set her book down.

Hikaru hid her frown. Yui was being melodramatic again, but that didn't stop the uncomfortable feeling that sprung up inside her. Hikaru disliked seeing Yui unhappy. And these days, it seemed like she was always unhappy.

"So, how was town?" Yui asked after a few moments, making Hikaru blink.

"It was really nice," she said. "We checked out the shops, and then we went to the park… It was gorgeous—especially that massive ash tree. You know, the one they call the Tree of Life? We even saw a deer walking around there, and…" She hesitated, realizing that Yui was only half paying attention to her. Hikaru's shoulders drooped. "… You should've come along too," she said tentatively.

"Doesn't matter," Yui said, leaning back against the wall. "Not like we're staying long anyway."

"… Yeah… I guess you're right…"

A shout from downstairs startled them both. Hikaru and Yui turned towards the door, listening to the telltale thud of one of the chairs being knocked over.

"What are they doing now?" Yui asked.

"Sword fighting practice, I think," Hikaru said.

"Oh."

Hikaru held back a sigh. "Well, I'm going to make sure nothing's broken."

She found Akihiko and Tatsuya duking it out, dressed in nylon jackets, the coffee table and couches pushed out of the way to give them room. From the top of the stairs, she watched Tatsuya make a lunge and swing the blunted practice sword; Akihiko dodged and jabbed his own sword against Tatsuya's shoulder.

"4 to 0," Akihiko said, taking off his mask as he lowered his blade.

Tatsuya removed his own oversized mask—probably Dad's—and pouted. "It's not fair. You're taller, and you have longer arms." A mischievous glint entered his eyes. "How about next we do archery?"

"No, thank you, little man," Akihiko said, patting Tatsuya on the head. "I know I'd get my ass handed to me." He glanced over to Hikaru. "You up for a match?"

"Swordplay is not my strong suit," Hikaru said. She wasn't trained, and she didn't really even like sword fighting in the first place. But with the way that Akihiko was grinning, the taunt plain on his face… "Mom and Dad aren't back?"

"Still out with Uncle James," Akihiko said.

Hikaru thought it over before she took the mask and jacket from Tatsuya and suited up. Dad's old gear was more than a little big for her, but it wasn't nearly as bad a fit as it had been for her kid brother. "Alright," she said, taking stance and holding the sword in her left hand. "Three, two, one…"

"Go!"

Hikaru gave a quick swing with her sword. Akihiko parried the swing with his own, their swords clanging against each, nearly knocking Hikaru's free from her hand. She backed away and moved to dodge the incoming swing. Akihiko stepped forward and brought his sword down as Hikaru raised her hand to block—but her arms weren't strong enough, and it slipped from her grasp.

"Gotcha!" Akihiko jabbed her in the chest, a dull pain spreading out against Hikaru's skin where the blunted tip of the sword hit her gear. "1 to 0." He was grinning behind his mask—he had to be.

Hikaru pursed her lips. "Not for long."

"Kick his butt," Tatsuya called from his spot on the stairs. Hikaru stepped back, parrying the oncoming blows as Akihiko pushed her closer and closer to the wall. She had no time to attack—Akihiko moved as fast as lightning, and he hit as hard too. The steel blades slid against each other, and that was when she saw her opening.

"Hah!" Hikaru twisted Akihiko's sword out of his hand, sending it to the floor with a clatter, and drove her weapon forward. It hit Akihiko in the chest, right under his collarbone. Hikaru pumped her fist before dropping her hands to her knees to catch her breath. "Yes!"

Tatsuya clapped. "Yeah, Hikaru! You're catching up!"

"Congratulations, you're 5 to 10," Akihiko said.

"Shut up," Hikaru said, holding back a smile. Even though she couldn't see his face behind his mask, she knew he was grinning too. "Just watch—I'm going to close that gap."

Akihiko dropped into stance. "En garde."

They clashed again, the loud clanging filling the air as they parried each other's attacks. Hikaru felt the sweat dripping down the side of her face, the gear stiflingly hot. Her arm began to cramp. She was back on the defensive as Akihiko swung down, aiming for her shoulder.

The rattle of keys and the sound of the front door unlocking made Hikaru turn, just as the sword came down in an explosion of pain. Hikaru gave a cry, staggering back and clutching at her shoulder.

"Gah!" Akihiko dropped his sword, his hands flailing as he rushed forward. "Hikaru, are you alright?"

Her only response was a string of curses.

"Hikaru, Akihiko!"

They froze, turning towards the front door.

Mom was standing in the doorway, shrouded in her coat and scarf as cold wind blew into the house. She stared at the scene before her, eyes narrowed, while Dad and Uncle James hovered behind her. "You two," she said, pointing to Akihiko and Hikaru. "Masks off."

"Busted," Tatsuya sang.

"Uh-oh," Akihiko said as he and Hikaru removed their masks.

"This is your fault. This was your idea," Hikaru muttered.

"You're the one who agreed," Akihiko replied, but he had the courtesy to look sheepish.

Mom walked over. "Are you okay, Hikaru?" she asked, her voice still a little sharp. "Your arm."

Hikaru obeyed, unzipping the jacket and pulling back her sleeve. It didn't look bad, but it would probably end up leaving a nasty bruise later. Mom pressed her finger against the reddened area, making Hikaru flinch.

"Good, it's not broken," Mom said.

"So this is what you kids do when you're home alone," Uncle James said as he leaned against the threshold. "Not the worst thing in the world, I have to admit."

"Well, they're not supposed to be using the gear by themselves," Dad said. "For obvious reasons."

Mom placed her hands on her hips as she looked at Hikaru and Akihiko, her green eyes burning into them like acid.

"Oh, come on, Luna," Uncle James said with a light laugh. "Let them have their fun. Not like they were poking each other's eyes out."

Mom didn't say anything at first. Hikaru and Akihiko shuffled their feet nervously, and Tatsuya slowly started to make his way up the stairs to escape the inevitable scolding.

Or what Hikaru thought was going to be a scolding. Eventually Mom sighed, dropping her arms. When she looked to Hikaru, her gaze had softened. "Next time you want to fight, ask," she said, patting Hikaru on the head. "At least someone will supervise you then."

"Uh… Okay," Hikaru said, scratching her head and glancing away. She didn't like that look that her mother was giving her—the one that made her feel almost… guilty. Not to mention the head-patting thing that made her feel like a little kid. "So… How was the drive?" she said, trying to change the subject as she pulled off the gear.

"I think you kids would enjoy it," Dad said, as pleased as she was to diffuse the tension. "The woods look nice, and we stopped at the sweets shop on the way back. We should head there after dinner."

"Well, I'm going to be missing that," Uncle James said. "I have to head out."

"You're not staying?" Hikaru asked.

"I have some previous arrangements," Uncle James said.

"Oh, so you mean a date," Akihiko said, and he and Tatsuya snickered.

"Your kids," Uncle James said, shaking his head and laughing as he looked to Mom and Dad. "Well, I'm off. Don't wreck my house while I'm gone."

"Of course—who do you think we are?" Dad asked.

"Is that supposed to be comforting?" Uncle James crossed his arms. "Because it really isn't." He ducked out of the house, heading towards the road.

As Dad moved to shut the door, a prickling sensation rushed down Hikaru's spine. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Yui at the top of the stairs. How long had she been there? Yui looked down at her with her lips pressed into a tight line, her eyes shining like chips of green bottle glass. But her stare didn't scare Hikaru as much as Mom's did—it just stung a little.

"You kids get ready for dinner," Dad said.

"Got it," Tatsuya said, the first to head up the stairs. Akihiko made to hurry after him, but Mom grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

"You and Hikaru can help move the furniture back into place."

"What?" Hikaru exclaimed. "But I didn't even—Tats was the one—"

"No buts," Mom said. "Furniture. Move it."

Akihiko sighed and Hikaru pouted as they started dragging around the coffee table and chairs. Hikaru glimpsed Tatsuya grinning at them from the top of the stairs before he disappeared down the hall. Oh, she was definitely going to put toothpaste in his cookies later.

They settled down in the living room for dinner, eating the sandwiches that Mom and Dad had brought home. Mom had gone outside for some fresh air and hadn't come back yet; Hikaru could see her through the window milling around on the porch outside.

"So, did you do your piano practice today, Hikaru?" Dad asked.

"No," Hikaru said, feeling her cheeks heat up.

"Why not?"

Hikaru shrugged, tossing a fry into her mouth. Her shoulder ached from the motion, but she did pretty well at hiding it.

Dad quirked an eyebrow. "Too much time goofing off with the training equipment?"

"Yeah… Sorry about taking that without asking," Akihiko said.

"Well, just remember to ask next time. You're the only one who's had proper lessons, Aki. We don't want anyone poking an eye out. If you like, Hikaru, I could teach you a thing or two."

"I'm okay," Hikaru said. The last thing she wanted was her parents trying to teach her how to swordfight again.

"Are you sure? You might end up kicking Aki's arse."

"Hey," Akihiko said as Tatsuya laughed and Yui hid her smirk. Hikaru giggled as well, but she shrugged again. Beating Akihiko was always fun, but when it came down to it, he'd had years of practice. Even if she could win a few rounds, Hikaru was sure that it was more because he wasn't used to fighting a left-handed opponent rather than any particular skill of hers.

"Mom probably wouldn't like it anyway," Yui said.

"I dunno, she seemed pretty serious when she said to ask," Akihiko said.

"She just didn't want to make you cry," Yui said, glancing to Hikaru.

"You could always ask her to teach you, instead," Hikaru said, a little annoyed. That's why you were glaring at me earlier, right?

"She'd say no." Yui's anger deflated a little, replaced by a sort of gloom as she aimlessly pushed a tomato across her plate. Hikaru felt her own annoyance vanish, uncertainty taking its place.

"What's Mom doing anyway?" Tatsuya asked, looking over to the window. She was just standing around outside, back to the house and eyes towards the street.

"I'm not sure," Dad said, setting his plate onto the table. "Something's on her mind… Maybe the storm—she's never liked thunder."

"I'll ask her," Hikaru said, getting to her feet before anyone else could volunteer. She slipped on a coat and her boots before ducking outside. "Hey, Mom. What's going on? Dinner's getting cold."

"Hm?" Mom blinked like she was snapped out of a daze. "Oh, nothing. Leg is acting up again." Her leg had been hurt in some sort of accident years ago, an accident that had cracked bone and torn muscle and never properly healed. Most of the time she could walk fine, but sometimes Hikaru wondered if that was just because she hated using a cane. "Bad weather moving in," Mom said, looking up at the sky. "Doesn't look like we'll be going to the shop tonight."

"I hope it snows more," Hikaru said. "Tats wants to make a snowman."

Mom gave a light chuckle, reaching out and rubbing Hikaru's shoulder in a way that eased the ache left by the afternoon sword fighting incident. "Oh, and Hikaru? I found this," she reached into the pocket of her coat and held out a familiar star-shaped charm, "in the laundry."

Hikaru flushed. "Oh. Right." She took the charm from her mother and looked down at it to make sure it wasn't broken. The threads that tied the five pieces together still held strong, and the red gem in the center had no scratches marring its smooth surface. A relief—Mom was the one who had given Hikaru and the others the little charms, and she wouldn't have appreciated them being destroyed in the wash.

"Be more careful with it," Mom said. "It's not exactly an easy charm to come by… Though maybe it's time for new ones. They're rather old and the… luster is wearing thin."

"I like it, though," Hikaru said with a tilt of her head. "Age gives it character." Plus, this was the charm she'd had since… Well, since longer than she could remember. "You always say that emotion gives things meaning."

"Do I?" Mom seemed amused by her response, but a rumble of thunder, so close overhead, broke the moment. "Well, let's go in then, shall we?" she asked, suddenly apprehensive once more. Hikaru nodded and slipped back into the house while Mom lingered a moment longer…

Lightning cracked across the sky, followed by a deafening boom of thunder. Hikaru clapped her hands over her ears, her hair standing on end while car alarms blared in the distance. When she looked up, the house had fallen dark, and everything but the fireplace was swallowed by the night. She stared out the door. That was too close. Did it hit the ground somewhere? Not in town…? "Mom," she said while the rest of her family rose from their seats.

But her breath caught in the back of her throat, her eyes going wide as she saw the hundreds of glowing yellow spots in the darkness, an undulating mass of eyes and the bodies they belonged to.

"Run," Mom whispered.

Hikaru didn't know what they were. Creatures, monsters—black things with bulging yellow eyes and twitching antennas, swarming the streets as the wind howled and the temperature plummeted. She watched the creatures approached, a wave of them sweeping across the snow. Mom ran into the house, grabbing Hikaru's arm and pulling her inside.

"Upstairs!" Mom ordered, shoving Akihiko and Tatsuya forward. The firelight cast dark shadows across her face as she looked to Dad. "Liam…"

Dad hesitated, but he snapped his head towards the scuffling that crept up the walls and over the house. "Shite."

"They're on the roof," Yui said, stepping back.

"W-what are they?" Tatsuya asked.

"Do you have your charms?" Mom said, glancing over her shoulder as a frantic clawing came at the door. "Get them, hurry!"

"Why?" Yui asked, but there was no time to answer. Those black creatures came tumbling down the chimney, fire catching on their inky skin. Yui and Tatsuya screamed. Dad seized Yui by the arm, pushing her up the stairs. Akihiko ran, grabbing one of the practice swords off of the table and dragging Tatsuya with him. Hikaru clutched her charm and ran after them, Mom following close behind. But Hikaru heard a gasp. Her mother slipped as one of the creatures hooked its claws into her ankle.

"Mom!" Hikaru doubled back, but she watched as her mother loosened her leg from the creature's grasp and slammed her foot into its head. The creature exploded into dark wisps, but a dozen more clawed their way up the steps behind it.

"Hikaru, go!" Mom shoved herself back to her feet, running up the steps despite the blood that dripped from her wound and the limp in her leg. The fire in the living room went out, snuffing out the last of the light. They were in darkness. "Keep a tight hold," Mom said as lightning flashed and thunder boomed. "Don't let go!"

A window shattered. Another flash of lightning lit up the hall, and Hikaru saw the chaos.

"Liam!" Mom shouted as the creatures swarmed through the broken glass. Dad pushed Yui out of the way, disappearing under the wave of claws as the creatures surged forward.

"Dad!" Akihiko lashed out at the creatures with his sword, a frozen frame glimpsed with every blink of lightning, shattered by the thunder that pounded in Hikaru's head. Tatsuya was running, fleeing from the swarm towards Mom. Yui stood, as frozen as Hikaru, watching everything unfold with rising horror.

"Move!" Mom shouted, turning around. She pushed Yui down the hall and reached out, shoving Hikaru after her. Behind her, the wave of creatures rose up, a rippling mass of shadows and yellow eyes. Tatsuya gave a cry of alarm, but Mom just pulled him out of the way, holding onto his arm. She stared at Yui and Hikaru, her eyes almost glowing in the darkness. The words she spoke were hardly louder than a whisper. "Whatever happens, stick together. Everything will be alright."

Then the wave of creatures crashed down, claws lashing out, ripping at clothes and skin, and the last thing Hikaru saw was a flash of light.

The cold seeped into her chest, and the floor disappeared from under her.

She was falling. She was falling through the darkness. A million hungry eyes watched her, a thousand claws reaching out amidst a rain of light.

She groped through the darkness for someone—something. Anything. She was slipping away.

"Hold on!" a voice came, a distant echo to her ears. An invisible hand gripped tight on her own, until she could almost feel its trembling. Someone screaming. Someone shouting. Someone begging. Someone sobbing. "Don't let go, don't let—"

Yui?

The world lurched. The sky spun. The dying lights plummeted past her, around her, towards the distant, nonexistent horizon. Hikaru took one final gasp, her cry fading away in a rush of air. Then she crashed into the shadows.

She began to sink, like sinking in water, drifting through the dark tides that rocked her aching body with its soothing ebb and flow.

The lights were moving further and further away.

They looked like shooting stars.

It was a quiet night.

Sora folded his hands behind his head, looking out his window and watching the stars shimmer in the sky. Out there, dozens, hundreds—who knew how many, really?—of worlds existed, waiting to be explored. There had to be; they were putting so much effort into finding a way off of Destiny Islands. To see rare sights. Broaden their horizons. Become strong.

And maybe they would find Kairi's home. He remembered first seeing her with the mayor years ago—a fleeting glance. A girl who was alone, who had no parents, who couldn't remember where she had come from. The girl who arrived on the night of the meteor shower.

She had needed a helping hand, and Sora gave it to her. She needed a friend, and he couldn't let her be alone—and Riku couldn't either. And now look where they were.

Sora grinned to himself, yawning and closing his eyes. Man, maybe that weird dream was getting to him. Giant shadow monsters and stained-glass platforms and "You are the one who will open the door"… He had to admit, it had been a pretty strange day.

The girl washed up onto the shore, salt water rolling across her body, sand sticking to her clothes. Her body was curled up, her arms lying limp in the sand. Her breaths came slow and shallow.

The waves pulled away as the tides began to change and the stars moved through the darkened sky. Insects scuttled across the dirt. Crickets chirped in the bushes. Frogs croaked their midnight songs. Hermit crabs emerged from their homes in the ground. Seagulls sat silent in their nests as they slept.

All was still until morning.

Donald,

Sorry to rush off without saying goodbye, but there's trouble brewing. I'm not sure why, but the stars have been blinking out one by one. That means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I have to check into it.

There's someone with a key—the key to our survival. I need you and Goofy to find him and stick with him! Without that key, we're doomed. So go to Traverse Town and find a man named Leon. He'll point you in the right direction.

Mickey

P.S. Would you apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.

A/N: That's it for chapter one. It's sort of a slow start and introductory, but things have already begun to go down. Whether you liked it or not, I'd really appreciate feedback.

Thank you for reading!