A/n: This is just sort of the beginning, and it's what may have happened if "The door hadn't been opened" So no heartless basically. I'm not positive as to where I'm going with that, but really that's no surprise. Ummm let's see…rating/genre could change if I feel like it. Please read and review! If you have an idea, do let me know. And now enough of my babbling and here we go…

The afternoon breeze danced through my hair and played across my cheeks. The scent of saltwater filled the air competing with the laughing of children and daily chit-chat of the other island inhabitants.

I waded into the ocean up to my waist chancing a glance idly at the paupu tree. A glint of silver caught my eye—Riku. Falling into a swim, I made my way around the back to the ladder conveniently kept there.

"Hey Riku!" I gave him a goofy grin and pulled myself up on the paupu tree next to him. "Shouldn't you be getting your stuff for Kairi?"

"I gave her all my things, already." He replied passively, not once turning to look at me. I examined the side of his face closely, deciding that perhaps it may be better to go, leaving him to his thoughts. But just as I was about to slip down into the sand, Riku turned to me.

"What do you expect to find, Sora. Why do you want to leave the island? You were always happy here; there really isn't any reason for you to leave…"

I was startled to say the least, and the smooth manner, never faltering, scared me. Did he not want me to come with him? Had he changed his mind? Questions raced through my head making it spin like a top.

"I expect to find another world, I guess." I said hoping my pause would go unnoticed. "As for leaving the island, you're right, I never really cared to leave, but that was because I knew no different. You opened my eyes I guess." I looked at the sand. "Besides, what would Destiny Islands be without Riku?" What would I be?

Silence crept over us as we sat there watching the water. Does Riku not want me to come with him then? Is that why he's asking me all this? My questions were only answered with more questions and I struggled to find answers for them all. I shook my head and sighed. He had been acting a little distant lately. Would he try to take the raft and go? No, that's not the Riku I know, the Riku I know—my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my name.

"…Sora?"

"What?" Oh great, that I'm sure looked just wonderful.

"Kairi isn't going to wait forever you know, Sora." I blushed a little and gave a grin. I had forgotten all about her and the supplies. "If she catches you here staring off like that you know she won't be happy."

I nodded and slipped from my perch. "Bye, Riku!" I called over my shoulder with a wave of my hand as I dashed off down the bridge connecting the two islands.

Let's see, one seagull egg, check. Two coconuts, double check. I marked off the items on the list Kairi had given to me till I came to the end of the list. Three mushrooms. I only had two and scouring the island hadn't brought up any new mushrooms. Where on earth could it--.

"Sora! Me and Tidus are going exploring in the 'secret place' later today. You want to come with us, ya?"

The secret place! Of course, that's the only place I hadn't checked. "I doubt it, Wakka, but thanks for the offer. Kairi, Riku, and I are leaving tomorrow on the raft."

"Ah, ya. That's right. Well, how about a duel, ya?"

"I'll have to take that offer up with you a little later. I have to find this last mushroom and all first." Wakka nodded and walked of casually.

I ran off towards the secret place. And jogged down the long trail till it opened up into the room with the drawings we'd made as kids. I smiled glancing around noting the better drawn pictures by Riku and those made by Kairi and myself. That had been years ago…

I retrieved the last elusive mushroom making a mental note to thank Wakka for reminding me of this place. I walked over to Kairi who was conveniently standing near the surf on the raft playing with something in her hands. I was then informed it was a necklace that sailors used to make. A good luck charm I suppose. I then handed over the provisions for her assessment which was an "A OK."

The rest of the day was mine. I lifted my head to the sky letting the warm sunshine rain down on it. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, yet another perfect day on Destiny Islands. I really don't see the need to leave this place…oh well, at least its tomorrow, not today.

I walked off with not destination in mind letting my feet carry me wherever they willed. Up ladders, through the sand, here and there all so familiar, and yet seemingly new.

I wonder if we'll ever get to come back here…or whether we'll stay out there forever in some new world? Perhaps we'll meet a knight or Prince Charming like in some of the old fairy tales. Who am I kidding? There's no such thing as princesses or knights in shining armor or the jealous evil witch who captures the princess. I gave an exasperated sigh. But if that was true, then…what about other worlds?

A headache was beginning to form, probably due to all the questions running and bouncing off the walls of my head. Probably wouldn't be too smart to try to figure this one out… oof! I fell on my back into the sand; the wind knocked out of me.

Regaining some air, I managed a weak "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going…" I opened my eyes to look at the person I bumped into but closed them instantaneously when the sun glared back at me. "Once again, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you like that…I was sort of lost in thought and all…are you alright?"

The person opposite of me laughed, and it didn't take me long to place who it was coming from. I stood and punched my friend playfully in the shoulder. "Sora, you are so cute when in the presence of authority. No wonder the adults like you so much" he smirked. I'd get him for that. Before I second guessed myself, I lunged at Riku and he dodged easily. How did he always manage that?

After eating a little sand, I finally managed to turn my run-and-charge attacks into a wrestling match in the sand. Unfortunately, the predictable outcome occurred and I ended up pinned in the sand with Riku atop me. I was completely vulnerable and at my friends' mercy. He just smiled down at me and rubbed it in my face. "Guess the score's 11 to nothing." I gave a face I'm sure looked somewhere between a glare and a pout.

He got off me and began casually walking away calling playfully over his shoulder: "It's almost sunset, Sora, wouldn't want you mom to be worried or mad at you because you weren't home before the first star came out." I could hear him laughing softly to himself as he left, but it stung more than they realized. Oh well, it just makes me that much more determined to beat him.

I talked that evening on the pier with Kairi before going home. Just when you think you can predict everything about her, she does something unexpected, like saying to take the raft without Riku. The very idea was repulsive. Take his idea, and the raft he worked to make, and when you think about it, he put the most work into that thing…Highwind. Eh, the name would grow on me, I guess…Riku didn't have horrible tastes…

I took my boat back to my small boat to the main island and walked down a few of the streets saying a polite hello to all those that greeted me…What Riku said earlier came to mind…* Sora, you are so cute when in the presence of authority. No wonder the adults like you so much.* The worst part was…he was right.

I walked into my house and followed my routine. Close door, remove shoes, shout a hello to mom, remove jacket and place it on coat rack, proceed through kitchen, give mom a hug, walk down hallway, open door at very end of corridor close door behind me, and flop down on bed. Everything could get so repetitive here….

I layed silently in bed thinking, looking at the boat hanging from the ceiling with two dolls on bored, I stared, but didn't see it. I was lost in thought.

*I can't wait, once we set sail. It'll be great* Kairi's line rang in my ears followed closely by Riku's * what do you expect to find, Sora. Why do you want to leave the island? You were always happy here; there really isn't any reason for you to leave * Of course there was a reason for me to leave. The only reason I liked this island was because of them, and I want to be with my friends, why did Riku say that…

My mom called my attention from my reflection of the day. "Time for dinner." My mom finished. I subconsciously glanced through my window to catch a flicker of lightning and thunder called just after the zigzag light show. Where had this storm come from? It was perfectly clear earlier…Oh no, the raft!

"Sora?"

Too late. I'd already launched myself out my window and was headed to the dock wearing a spare jacket and shoes that were in my room. I paddled the small boat but it was hard to keep control. The waves crashed against the sides and almost over turned me more than twice.

I reached the dock and found my friend's boats docked already. I should have expected that, though I hadn't. They cared about the raft too. It was our only escape from this prison. I shook my head halfheartedly; I'm beginning to sound a little too much like Riku now.

Another crack of thunder brought me back to my original motive for coming out here and worrying my mom to death. Lightning lit the island up briefly allowing me to see a flash of purple before it rounded the corner in the distance: Kairi.

"Kairi!" I called her name, but she was too far away and the thunder wouldn't even consider me a competition. I soon rounded the bend after her and stood momentarily paralyzed as I watched Riku straining his muscles trying to bring the raft under his control in the water.

Perhaps it was mischance, or maybe fate, but the wind picked up blowing out toward the west where Kairi and I had watched the sun go down behind the Paopu Island. The black storm clouds in the same moment decided to unleash themselves throwing rain at us..

Riku, now waist deep in water, was slowly drifting further out and away from me and our island. A harsh shove from the wind sent me tumbling off my balance and down the sand hill towards my friends and the coast.

Up to her neck in water, I could tell Kairi was doing her best to assist Riku although often getting in his way. Waves were crashing over her head violently sending her beneath the ocean then she'd resurface once again.

For the first time that night, she saw me. She shouted something by the way her lips moved, though I could only make out my name, due to her common use of it. The rest was some unexplainable language. The rain splashed in my eyes distorting my vision of Kairi, Riku, and our raft.

"Get out of there!" I yelled at them futilly with the wave of my hand, trying uselessly to get them to understand and abandon the raft. They didn't receive the message as Kairi gestured for me to come help.

Waves were embedding my feet in the sand as the water soaked into my shoes and through my socks. Without a thought, I plunged into the water after them. They were getting farther and father from the island.

The Paopu Island. It was our only Chance, but we'd lose the raft.

"Riku!" I shouted to him though he was beside me now. "Riku, we have to let the raft go. We can climb the ladder out of here onto the Paopu Island. We can always build another raft."

He turned his aquamarine eyes from the raft to me; the cold glare with which he fixed me was frightening. He'd never looked at me like that before.

"Ri—"

"Sora." He cut me off with a hint of anger playing in his normally passive voice. "This is our chance to get away from mere." Slowly he let the raft pst on the small island and helped Kairi onto the floating device. "Get on Highwind if you are coming with us, to leave, Sora. Otherwise stay. I know you don't have a reason to leave."

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came. "Riku…" I said it to softly for anyone but my self to hear.

"It's now or never, Sora! Are you afraid of traveling or this storm and it's darkness?"

This resolved my problem quickly; there was no way I'm going to let him get away with that. I climbed on now with his taunting remarks ringing in my ears. I helped Riku up and by coincidence; a riptide carried us further out.

I strained my eyes in the poor lighting as I watched the storm begin to subside and Destiny Islands became a mere speck on the horizon. No turning back now…Bye mom….hope you don't worry too much. I sat staring out our island-home where we had romped around only hours earlier.

a/n: Ok , so what do you think? Horrible? Waste of time? Should I continue or just burn it. Please review and give me the heads up. Thanks.