Kingdom Hearts III: RAY OF HOPE

A/N: It's driving me nuts not seeing a good KH3 fic that actually makes sense or fits into the information we have for the plot. No random OCs from the past, just some good development in the characters that CURRENTLY exists. So I decided I should do something about it.

My feet in the sand, for one of my many first times, I did this so often when I first had gotten to the island. Just staring out to the water, they all must of thought I was crazy.

"Kairi!" A young boy called my name, I was only 4 at the time. Turning around I giggled nervously, I always so scared during this time. The first person I had ever met was this boy, Sora. He found me washed up on the shore. I didn't know where I came from, but I was certainly from somewhere. At least I knew my name. "Let's go play! Quickly before the oldies say we have to go!"

I nod as I see another boy in the distance, it was Riku. He is only a year older than us. Sora suddenly grabbed my hand and began running with me in tow.

I was completely scared. All the adults didn't know where I had came from, but a door opened for me at the Destiny Island's Mayor's home. I do call him Dad, out of appreciation, but I seriously never put my whole heart into it. He was always tied up in his work for the town.

Growing up, I was always around Sora and Riku. Probably why I had that "tom boy" phase... that soon passed. I did carry parts of that personality with me, but ever since I did lose my memory of my best friends... the other girls at school started to grow on me, especially Selphie.

"Kairi."

I really didn't know what to expect when I gained my memories, but once they did I felt extremely guilty. How could I have forgotten... just like my hometown.

"Kairi!" I jumped almost out of my seat. Looking forward, away from the window of the Gummi Ship, Riku was looking at me with concern. "Did you hit your head or something during today's training or what?"

"What..?" Clueless to what was happening. "I was just spacing out."

"Alright... Well we're back home." He turned back around, "We'll be landing on the island this time, the Thalassa Festival is happening on the main island's docking area."

Already? I guess summer is here... That was quick, though it was never before. It only felt like yesterday that Summer ended and I had that vision of Roxas in my head... I'm rarely in school, so that must be why.

The ship slowly reached the sands of our island. The exit door opened as warmth hit me, I didn't want to get out of my seat. The main pilot had gotten out of his seat and walked over to stand in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"You did great with your training, Kairi. If we were to have trained Sora and Riku properly like that, who knows how strong of wielders they could be." The King lets go of my shoulder and turns to Riku.

"Is that supposed to be a insult, King?" Riku smirked as he crossed his arms. I giggled.

"Well its more of a apology."

Riku knelled down in front of the King. "Don't beat yourself up over something you couldn't control."

I walked forward and gave Mickey a hug from behind. "Yeah, you did way more then enough."

"Gosh, guys. Thanks." He smiled, genuinely.

"We'll see you soon; once Sora, Donald, and Goofy return." Riku stood.

We exited the King's ship and waved back at him as the ship rose above the palm trees and flew out of our world. Sighing, I looked down at the sand. The familiar aura calmed me for a moment. Last time we left the islands, it was on the main... so that meant Riku and I's boats were at the docks on the main island. Luckily Sora had left from Destiny Islands on his team's Gummi Ship, so his was still there... alone.

"Hey, lets go see whats left of the festival." Riku said softly, reassuring me.

I smiled, "Yeah, lets go."

It was midnight by the time I got home. We decided to stay to watch the fireworks. I sincerely wished Sora was there to experience it all with us. The meaning of the festival really didn't give me much more of a reason to forget him. The whole festival started back when the fishermen had left the Island and the town threw a gathering for the lonesome and worried families. Hoping for a safe return.

As my lucky charm was inspired by so many others.

But now I was again, the one home, curled up in my bed. Everything in my being wished he was okay, and that he would just come home now. Interfering would probably only make the wait longer.

...

I woke to hear knocking on my door. I groggily got up and looked at my clock. It was already 8 in the morning. God, what ever it was it better be important.

I walked to the door, grabbed the door handle, and swung it open with enough force to show how annoyed I was. "What is so important at this hour?"

"Kairi."

"Riku? What are you doing here? I thought you'd sleep in today."

"Yeah, I wish." He brought up his hand close to me, holding something in it. I stared at him for a moment.

"Uh..?"

"Here." I raised up both of my hands together, "I swear you two are exactly the same, sometimes."

Dropping it into my hands I soon felt my heart begin to race. "Y-you don't mean..?"

Smiling back, Riku nodded. "Yeah."

I ran past Riku without even thinking.

Not even thinking of how hideous I looked, I was rushing down the stairs in my old white tank top and a pair of light purple shorts. Sounds of chatter began to clear and I knew

it, I just knew it. My heart couldn't take anymore, I was so sick of waiting to see him everyday...

So sick of being away from him.

So sick of being left behind.

So sick of being a memory.

A small duck raised his voice, "Sora! Stop eating all the snacks! You're embarrassing yourself in front of the Mayor!"

"Ah, come on Donald. I haven't eaten anything proper in days..!"

They could hear as my steps had stopped against the hard-wooded flooring behind the long couch. My father had smiled as the trio had turned around. I was out of breath, so this made my whole face turn even redder once he looked at me directly for what seems to be months.

"Kairi..." His emotion turned from surprise to fits of laughter. I almost turned as red as my own hair.

"W-whats so funny?!" He continued to laugh.

"You just look so angry!" He couldn't control it.

"Well..." I really wasn't mad but I decided to cover up my nervousness with his terrible read on emotions. "Yeah! You show up unannounced, and now I have... nothing prepared!" Riku had now just got off the stairs, as he leaned against one of the support beams of the house behind me.

"Yeah.. Sorry about that." Sora, wiping a tear from his eye, stood up to face us both. "We kind of needed to see you guys immediately." He took a deep breath as I noticed he grew a few inches taller... His black shorts had begun to look like they've shrunk.

"Oh." I held onto the lucky charm a bit tighter this time.

"You see... Donald, Goofy, and I were supposed to gather information upon where the other two keyblade wielders are, as we know where Terra is currently."

"We knew that, Sora." Riku broke his silent pause.

"Yeah... but the thing is. Kairi is probably our best bet to getting Aqua."

Confused, I laughed. "But... how? I can't possibly help with that."

"Remember when Axel... sorry, Lea had taken you through portals of darkness?"

"Yes?"

"Well you're one of the only people who can even walk through the portal without a single shred of darkness engulfing you..." His head slowly turn to the ground. "We have no other way of getting into there. Riku doesn't have his cloak anymore and if Axel is in the dark for too long, they will find him immediately."

I didn't know what to say, but that I was extremely nervous.

"He really didn't want to come to this conclusion. But, gwarsh, from all the information we gathered, this seems to be the only option." Goofy patted Sora on his back.

"I..." Sighing, I knew it was probably the only way. And now here is my chance to prove that I could pull my own in our team. "I'll do it." I turned to the stairs and pass Riku as Sora's head swung up. Probably thinking I would be a coward... I wish he would stop protecting me so much. I'm not just a weak princess.

"Th-that is great, but..." He stopped himself once he noticed I wasn't stopping in my tracks. I walked up the steps and into my room. I threw on my pink, zip up dress, and side pouch, sliding my lucky charm into it.

Knowing a gutting feeling in me, that this could possibly kill me... I shook my head once that thought came into my mind. "No time to be selfish... how many times has everyone sacrificed for me?"

I walked down stairs to reunite with everyone once again.

Aaaannndd thats it for this chapter! I will update as soon as possible. I honestly would like to see if anyone enjoyed this for the start. I am open to criticism, so please review! Thanks.