Hello. My name is LockePhilote. This is my first posted fanfic, so have mercy reviewers. I usually stick to reviewing other peoples work, but I deceded "what the hell, whats the worst thing that can happen." Ok, about the story now. It is set on Flinders Island, in the Furneaux Group, in Australia. If anybody here lives there, i am terribly sorry for sticking Sora and Org. XIII on your doorstep. And yes, the characters are now Australian. If you guys like this, I have an entire storyline plotted out connecting this to the events of Kingdom Hearts. Well, on to the story then. Oh, and unfortunately, Kingdom Hearts is not mine.

Sanctuary

It was the thirty first of December in the Furneaux Island Group, off the coast of Tasmania, near Australia. On the main isle known as Flinder's Island, in the main settlement of Whitemark, preparations were being made for the annual New Year's Festival. Merchants were setting up shop along the main road of the island while fishing boats that had went out at dawn were returning early to prepare for the festivities. The children of the town were out among the fields and beaches. A few groups of tourists were wandering about, attempting to speak with Australian accents and failing quite miserably at it. The sky was blue, the sea was alight with the glimmers of the sun's rays, and a gentle zephyr blew fluffy white clouds across the heavens.

A fifteen year old girl named Hikari, known by her nickname Kairi, was sitting on a rather strangely shaped palm tree on a small sandy isle right near the shore. Of average height and a bit skinny, she had short auburn hair and sky blue orbs that humans use for seeing, known in English as eyes. A skilled poet renowned for her wit and grandiosity in writing, she had few friends, as most people thought her weird, but loved dearly the ones she had. Kairi was holding a small Moleskine notebook in her right hand, staring off into the bright morning sky while absentmindedly chewing on the eraser to her pencil.

The tree went straight in the air for a foot before curving to the right for a long ways, then finally curving up just enough for its leaves to be horizontal to the ground. Known as the Sanctuary Tree, many a band of friends have made it their hangout over the years.

A voice called out from behind her, "Kairi!!" Kairi recognized the voice as that of her best friend Oscar, known as Sora by everybody on the island due to a rather interesting tale involving English class, a copy of Angels and Demons, and an acronym website. Shorter than average and thin, with brown, spiky hair and piercing blue eyes, Sora was a loyal, loving, protective friend, and if Kairi got her wish tonight, maybe more than friend.

Sora had always been there for her, especially when her parents and sister Namine were killed and Kairi nearly died during a severe outbreak of the flu two years ago. Kairi was bedridden for a week and Sora didn't leave her side for more than five minutes, going to such extremes as having homework emailed to him and sleeping in a chair in her hospital room. He had been the one to tell her about her parents, and had tears in his eyes while doing so. He had sat there with her as she cried, his arm wrapped around her. He was an island of stability and hope in the stormy sea that her life had become.

Kairi, too, had always been there for Sora. After her parents died, Kairi had lived with Sora and his family in their house right by the sea. One night, about a year and a half after her parents died(6 months before the events here), a freak cyclone hit the island, killing five people, including Sora's parents and his brother Roxas when their house was destroyed by a large wave. Their bodies were never found. If Sora and Kairi hadn't snuck out that night to go to a party, they too would have been killed. When Sora saw the ruins of his home, he went into a grief fueled rage, destroying the wreckage of his house until he collapsed crying into Kairi's arms. The two of them had stood there, Sora finding sanctuary in her arms, until the mayor stumbled upon them while looking for survivors and took them to the Interstate Hotel to rest, where they have been living ever since in adjacent rooms.

"Hey Sora!!!" she yelled back as she twisted around to see him. He was standing on the opposite shore, his hand lifted to keep the sun from his eyes. He had a huge smile on his face.

"Mind if I come over? Or are you still writing your poem for tonight's festival?"

At that, Kairi blushed, her cheeks turning a red reminiscent of cherries. Ever since she was nine years old, when their teacher discovered Kairi's fascinating talent for rhyme and rhythm, she has written a poem for the New Year's Festival Talent Competition. Usually the poems were sweeping epics about time and memories. This year, it was still as abstract, but meant for a specific person: Her best friend. She had just put the finishing touches on the poem a few minutes before Sora showed up.

Sora laughed, "Well then, I'm guessing you don't have it done?"

Kairi put an offended look on her face, "Me, waiting for the day of the festival to finish the poem? And I thought you knew me, being my best friend and all." She couldn't help but smile. "Of course I'm done. Come on over."

Sora jumped into the clear water and quickly swam the distance between the main island and the islet. He reached the shallows and leapt to his feet, running onto the warm golden sand.

A grin lit Kairi's face as she walked over to greet meet Sora. "You could have taken the bridge over, you know."

"And?"

"Never mind." She sighed, though on the inside she was elated to see Sora in such high spirits. The last time he had been this happy, this care free, was the day before the cyclone, Summer Solstice. Oh what a day that had been, just the two of them, running like the wind over the golden sands of the beaches; their laughter sounding into the cerulean sky, heading off to distant worlds and peoples to be heard another day, as all worlds share the same sky.

They walked to the tree together. Kairi sat on the tree itself while Sora lounged with his head resting against the tree, soaking in the sun.

"So, is your poem your usual exposition on time and memories, or did you try something new this year?"Sora asked as he gazed at the clouds.

"Believe it or not, I wrote a poem for somebody."

"Really? Who's it about? Who do you like, Kairi?"Sora asked, surprise in his voice and a glint of something in his eyes…

"Well…it's someone…special."Kairi stammered out, suddenly feeling warm all over. What if Sora only thought of her as a sister, as a friend, and didn't see her as a girl? By admitting her love, would she drive away her only friend? Was she doomed to unrequited love?

"Ok then…sorry I brought it up." Sora guiltily said, seeing the bewildered, scared expression on her face.

"No…it's fine. I'm just nervous. I'm planning on giving him the poem tonight, and I'm not sure how it will go over."

"I'll still be there for you, no matter what this mysterious guy says."

At that Kairi couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Seeing the confused expression on Sora's face only made her laugh harder, till tears formed in her eyes.

"What!!? What's so funny? Was it something I said?"

"Oh, it's nothing. So, what are you doing tonight for the festival? The usual?" she said breathlessly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Yah, except this year I'm only making one piece."

The usual meant making jewelry, such as pendants and chains, out of random things that wash up on shore. While nothing like the stuff that the professionals on the mainland make, each piece was unique and seems to have a spirit all its own. Usually for the fair, Sora made ten or twelve pieces, keeping one to enter in the contest and selling the rest to islanders or tourists.

"Only one?"Kairi questioned, giving Sora a curious look. "Why? And why do you never let me buy one? Every girl on the island is wearing one of your creations except for me, and I'm your best friend."

Sora's cheeks turned a red that a rose would envy. "Well…"he began, stopping to nervously cough. "Well…you'll see tonight."

"Sure…" Kairi said disbelievingly. She glanced down at her watch, an old Swiss wind up model. Sora had found it on the beach one day and had given it to her for her thirteenth birthday.

"Oh God, its 11:00!!!! If we're late for lunch again, Miss Arni is going to kill us!!" Kairi exclaimed in fright, jumping up from the tree.

"I thought you were an atheist? If god doesn't exist, then why are you calling on him?" Sora teased as he got up from the sand and started running towards the bridge.

"Why do you care? You're an atheist too. Besides, it's an expression, a figure of speech." Kairi teased back, a grin on her face as she jogged alongside him.

"Yes, but it's also contradictory for an atheist to say. I mean really, it's like that H 2O intolerant fish in Finding Nemo. It just doesn't make any sense."

"You make no sense."

"Why, thank you." Sora managed to somehow bow while running, nearly tripping in the process, causing Kairi to laugh. This is why she loved Sora. He could always brighten her day.

"Your welcome, sir."

They reached the bridge, a rather wide wooden bridge that arced up and over the ocean to the opposite shore. Continuing their banter, they ran back to the Hotel, making it there just before 12:00. Miss Arni was waiting at the door.

"Well, where have you two been?" she said gruffly, then smiled upon seeing their nervous expressions. "Never mind that, come in and eat." Miss Arni was the proprietor of the hotel. Strict, but kind, she had a soft spot for the two of them, allowing them to stay in the Hotel for free after Sora's parents died.

Lunch, as it turned out, consisted of fresh caught Sea Bass and a tossed salad. They sat down and started to eat, chatting with Miss Arni about the Festival, the weather, and life in general. After lunch, they hung out in the common room of the Hotel for a few hours till 3:00, as they had to register for the contest still. They got back to their rooms at 4:00 to get ready for the festival, which began at 6:00.

Kairi lay on her bed, pondering what she was going to attempt tonight. Sora and she had been best friends since they were four years old. She had always had feelings for Sora, but only recently had they grown to a point where they could be considered romantic; up till Sora's parents died, her feelings had been platonic, loving him as a friend. Her heart was a confused battleground. Right now she felt nervous, and scared, and excited, and hopeful, all at the same time.

She got up and took a quick shower in her very small bathroom. The cold water cleared her head a bit and seemed to lend her determination and courage. She got out of the shower, dried off, and checked her watch on her bedside table. 4:45. She swiftly got dressed.

A couple of minutes later, she appeared in the corridor wearing an electric blue vest over a white cotton tee-shirt, blue jeans, and a green silk scarf. Her hair was combed into something resembling a style, and that was it. No eyeliner, no makeup, nada. No jewelry, either. Well, except her watch.

Sora walked out into the hallway a few seconds after her. He had on an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt with a white tee-shirt underneath and blue jeans, his spiky hair greased back to fit under a red and white striped bandana and a blue coral earring hanging from his left ear, looking like some sort of pirate tourist. On his belt was a small bag which clinked as he walked.

"So, Captain Sparrow, wwhat are you going to plunder tonight?" Kairi jokingly asked.

"Only Port Royal, nowhere special." Sora responded deadpan. They smiled.

They left the hotel and strolled down to the main street of the island, which ran along the beach. Small unlit paper lanterns were everywhere, from windows to streetlamps to merchant's stalls. From the direction of the docks wafted the succulent odor of fresh grilled fish and shrimp. Festive music, played by a small six piece band on the side of the road, intermingled with the cries of vendors hawking their wares. The sun was just starting to set, painting the sky a color not unlike that of the sands of the Outback.

"Sora!" a voice cried out from the background. Sora, recognizing the voice, smiled as he turned and waved.

"Riku!" he called back, trying to spot his friend in the crowd. Finally, he saw him sitting on a ledge near a small café, sipping a coffee. They walked over to him.

"Hi, Riku." Said Kairi. Riku was one of her few other friends. Sixteen years old, smart, sarcastic, easygoing, and at times a bit full of rage, Riku had flowing silver hair and sharp green eyes that could skewer a person's spirit with one quick glance. Having moved to the Island from America when he was 10, they had first met when he had found her on the beach one day after she had gotten ambushed by a group of kids named Larxene, Marluxia, and Xaldin after school. Sora had gotten detention for blowing up a toilet with one of Axel's firecrackers, which he had stolen from Vexen. She had a lot of bruises, some cuts, a broken nose and pinky, and a minor concussion.

Riku had immediately realized that this was the girl that that kid Sora had been talking about, and immediately ran over to her. After he had gotten the names of the kids who had done this to her from her addled mind and giving her some rudimentary first aid, he used a payphone to call 911, then set off to rescue Sora from detention and have a "talk" with the sadists. By the time they were finished, Larxene, Marluxia, and Xaldin were missing between them about 3 pints of blood, 6 teeth, and all of their money and outer clothing. From that point on, the sadists stuck to verbal abuse only and have a tendency to have sudden bowel movements whenever Riku and Sora sneak up on them, which is about once a month when they get bored.

"Why hello, Kairi. Didn't see you there next to Sora. You're so skinny I could use you as a javelin. So, what are your plans for tonight?" He said in an easygoing manner, somehow managing to sip at his coffee while he was speaking.

"As always, we are going to the contest. Are you going to show up this year? We could entertain the crowd for hours with our swordplay?" Sora responded and asked at the same time.

Riku nodded yes, then noticed someone waving at him from among the large mass of people commonly known as crowds.

"Sorry guys, got to go. My sister needs me for her project. See you guys tonight." He ran off into the crowds, coffee in hand, while managing to throw exactly $3.14 onto the counter of the café from approximately 50 feet away.

Kairi and Sora looked at each other, shrugged, and wandered off into the crowds. They walked along the street, stopping at a couple of stalls to browse and haggle, laughing and joking the hours way. It was now 9:00. The lanterns, unlit before, were now ignited, filling the night air with a warm, flickering glow. By now they had reached the main grounds for the festival, where the talent competition was just starting now. There were a couple of the usual performances, singing and the like, as well as a knife fight between two "pirates", an Aborigine shaman showing how to sing the land, among other things. Then it was Kairi's turn. She slowly walked up onto the stage, clutching her notebook in her hand. The crowd was silent, staring at her, daring her to be nervous, to slip up. She glanced at Sora. He smiled at her.

She opened her notebook and began to read. However, she wasn't halfway through the opening line when the first boo came. Then another, and another, till it seemed like half the crowd was booing her. Tears began to form in her eyes. Only a few people on the island actually liked her. Most didn't care one way or the other and were usually friendly to her, but a few only just put up with her, hating her because she was weird and different and saw things in a way that they did not understand. It was those people who were booing her now, hurting her because they did not understand her and that scared them. How could she, that weirdo, have feelings like this, feelings that I too could have? Oh, and how it hurt her. Right now, as she was at her most vulnerable, revealing her feelings to her best friend, the knife of being different cut all the more deeply.

With tears in her eyes and pain in her heart, Kairi stormed off the stage. She began to run once she was out of view of the crowd. She had no destination in mind, letting her feet and her emotions take her where they will. When she ended up at the Sanctuary Isle, she wasn't surprised.

She sat on the tree, her eyes red and puffy, her gentle sobs racking her body and echoing through the night with the crash of the waves. For all she knew, she could have been there for a few seconds, or a few millennia. Right now, time had no meaning to her. From behind she heard someone approaching.

"Who's there?" she inquired her voice tearful and full of sorrow.

"Who do you think it is? You ok?" Sora asked concern evident in his voice as he walked next to her and sat down.

"No."

Sora wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned over to press her head against his shoulder. The stars glistened above them as Kairi cried into Sora's warm, soft shoulder. After a couple of minutes in his comforting embrace, she had stopped crying enough to attempt to speak.

"I wrote the poem for you." She said, her voice muffled by his body, her heart preparing for more damage as she handed him the notebook. How could he possibly reciprocate her feelings? How could anybody? He read the poem by the starlight.

"Thinking of you, wherever you are

We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope our hearts will blend

Now I will step forward to realize this wish.

And who knows: Starting a new journey may not be so hard, or maybe it has already begun.

There are many worlds, but they share the same sky. One sky, one destiny."

"It's beautiful. I… I never knew you felt this way. If I'd known before, I would have..."

"What?" She moved her head a bit and looked up at his face, confused and frightened and excited and sad, a combination of all emotions possible. There were tears in his eyes.

"Here, I have something for you." He quickly said, reaching into the bag on his belt to pull out a silver chain, which he carefully put into her trembling hands. Attached to every third link was a carefully shaped piece of sea glass made to look like a mountain or a wave or a tongue of flame or a swirl in the wind. From one link hung a smaller chain, to which was attached a small locket. She opened the locket, which was shaped like a heart. Inside was a picture of the two of them, arms around each other's shoulders, broad smiles on their faces. It was from that Summer Solstice, six months ago.

"I've been making this for ten years now, since I first met you. Finding the right glass, saving up money for the locket. I found the picture among the wreckage on… that day."

"Its… its beautiful." She leaned her head up a bit and kissed him right on the lips. An amazed expression appeared for a moment on his face, but was very quickly replaced by pure bliss as he started to kiss back. The world, which up to this point had been dizzying and confusing, was now frozen in time, crystallized by their passion and love.

A minute later, they were forced to break apart due to a rather unfortunate biological necessity called respiration, which happens to require use of the mouth. They stared into each other's eyes, sharing an intimacy that went beyond friendship, beyond lovers or siblings even: the intimacy of intertwined destiny. Each had found sanctuary from the storms of life in the heart of the other.

"I love you." They said simultaneously, hearts racing and minds awash with a rush of endorphins and adrenaline and emotions. They kissed again, electrifying the air around them.

They were found the next morning by Riku, lying asleep on the sand, wrapped in each other's arms. An aura of peace surrounded them. The scars of time had been forgotten for now, it seems.

Riku smiled to himself, muttered something that sounded awfully like "It's about time these two realized what dumbasses they were being and got together", and lounged on the tree a short distance away, waiting for them to awaken. But that's a story for a later time.

Well, that was my story. I hope you liked it. Please, review. Or else i have to pay for my own Org. XIII coat instead of getting it fot Christmas. PLEASE!!!! HELP ME!!!!