Hey guys! I'm back! This time, with my first ever, never before seen, considered incredibly impossible until now, multi-chapter fanfic! Subject: Kingdom Hearts of course. The three people in this chapter are all my OCs. Thanks so much to djp0546 for betaing! Please enjoy!

The sun was high in the clear blue sky. The seemingly never-ending ocean stretched out under it, reflecting the calming color of its inverted counterpart. A soft breeze fluttered the leaves of the palm trees. Waves rolled through the waters and landed on the sandy beach. Seagulls called to each other, dove for food, and flew to their nests to feed their young.

Somewhere in town, a school bell rang over the sounds of the sea, breaking the peaceful silence. Children poured out of the front doors of the school, swinging their backpacks and joining with their friends. Laughter mixed with words as the students went home early for the day.

Two girls walked along a beaten path with other students as they made their way home. Slowly, the other children found their porches and settled into their homes. The girls kept walking until they reached the tree that they rested under everyday since the day they started school. Leaning against the tree, they sighed with relief in the comfortable breeze.

"I love testing weeks," sighed one girl.

"Says you," the other replied.

"Just because you try too hard on state tests, Aika," the first laughed.

"Well you don't try hard enough, Maiki," Aika tossed back.

They laughed at each other's jokes, but agreed that testing week was definitely wonderful, despite having to sit in the same room for four hours at a time, taking test after test to make sure they knew what the state wanted them to know. But hey, they got to go home early.

They waited for another while, until Maiki let out a huff of frustration.

"Where is that boy?" she puffed.

Suddenly, the wind carried over a faint voice. Then, a head and body appeared over the hill.

"Well, speak of the devil," laughed Aika, "Here he comes."

Sure enough, a panting boy stopped in front of the girls and leaned against the tree, dropping to the ground and shutting his eyes.

"Geez, Kory, you took so long!" huffed Maiki.

"How much work can they make you do?" asked Aika.

"Give a man a second to breathe," gasped Kory.

"What kind of man keeps two beautiful girls waiting?" demanded Maiki, looming over Kory dangerously. He shrank back slightly in fear.

"For your info," he answered," student council kept us in longer than usual today because the president came late. He wouldn't let us go until he finished all the notes and announcements."

"Mmhmm…" Maiki raised her eyebrows in disbelief and smirked. She picked up her schoolbag and ran down the sloping hill. She stopped at the bottom, turned around to the two left behind, and yelled, "Meet up on the beach. Usual spot!" She then turned on her heel and ran toward home. Aika and Kory sighed.

"Ah, Maiki," they said together. Kory turned to Aika. "I'll walk you home," he said. Aika bent down to pick up her schoolbag.

"We should hurry," she said, nodding in Maiki's direction, "we wouldn't want Miss Moody to bite our heads off if we're late." Kory laughed as he started down the road.

They were getting close to their houses by now. It was different without Maiki's chatter amongst them. Aika and Kory took in the quiet time and talked about the usual: school, teachers, the island, and the upcoming blitzball game. They even made a bet on whether the school team would lose or not. They finally stopped by Aika's front gate.

"Hey," Kory said, as Aika turned into the fence, "I got something to tell you."

"Yeah?" asked Aika, with a hand on the gate. Kory looked around. He had a strange look on his face, like he was slightly uncomfortable.

"You okay?" questioned Aika.

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Kory. He looked down the road into the distance, and then put down his head and threw an arm up as if dismissing something. "I was gonna tell you something, but I guess I'll just tell you later."

Aika took her hand off the gate. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, looking at his face for signs of any health problems.

"You can stop asking me that 'cuz I'm fine," said Kory, again turning his attention down the road into the horizon. Aika opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it. Another breeze drifted through them. Palm trees swayed above the houses on the road.

"You're a little off today," noted Aika.

"I've been like that recently," answered Kory.

"You sure you don't want to just come inside and see if we have anything to perk you up? I mean if-"

"No, really it's fine, I'm okay," interrupted Kory, "I'll just go home and prepare and change and stuff." He put his schoolbag over his shoulder. "I'll come pick you up later."

"You know I could just go to your house; it's just down the ro-"

"Aika," Kory interjected again, this time holding up a hand, "It's okay. I'll come get you." Aika nodded and laughed, accepting defeat and walked into her house.

"I'm home," called Aika as she walked in the front door. She found her parents in the kitchen, her father drinking tea at the table and her mother boiling water for some more. They seemed to have just finished a pleasant conversation. Aika loved how they got along so well.

"Welcome home," they called back.

"How were your tests?" her mother asked as Aika kissed her on the cheek.

"Fine as usual," Aika answered, "there really is no need to worry about these things." Her mother smiled. Aika loved that smile. It was sweet and warm and added to her charm. She was a beautiful person, with her long auburn hair and incredibly blue eyes. Aika was often told that she had inherited her mother's looks.

"That's my girl," her father laughed. Aika joined in as she went over to kiss her father as well. Her father always had a joyous aura about him that made everyone loosen up and laugh. And the twinkle in his eyes whenever he was happy or joking always made her smile. Aika especially loved his hair. The hair that refused to stay down no matter how much water or hair gel was used to tame it. It was so ridiculous that she often thought that he secretly and ironically put hair gel in it in order to keep it up like that. Though Aika's hair looked like her mother's, she had the same hair color as her father's; it also stuck out in some parts. Aika started to make her way out of the kitchen. "I'm going to the beach with Kory and Maiki," she said as she neared the stairs.

"Okay," her father said, "just be home before dark, all right?"

"Daddy, I'm always home before dark," sighed Aika.

"Well, you never know what could be lurking in the shadows."

"You're crazy, Dad," laughed Aika as she rolled her eyes and went up the stairs to her room.

By the time Aika ran out of her house with a yellow tank top and a skirt, Kory was leaning against her gate with his back facing the house. She walked up to him.

"Shall we go now?" she asked. Kory turned to look at her and nodded, smiling. He opened her gate and they set off down the road. From the way he was acting, Aika thought it was as if the little incident in front of her house had never happened. Kory seemed to be relaxed and looked healthy. He longer seemed strange.

Now that she thought about it, everything seemed to be acting strange. For one thing, weather patterns of the island were deviating from their normal courses. There were less seagulls flying and zooming through the air and the ocean seemed to be holding back its usually temperamental waves. The people of the town had quieted down too, as if a big blanket had been thrown over the whole area. Weirdly enough, even Aika's parents had a slightly tense air about them as they looked out the window toward the ocean and constantly worried about Aika's whereabouts. But for now, all Aika had on her mind was how to spend the rest of her glorious not-having-that-much-school week.

Aika and Kory neared the beach. They had stopped by Maiki's house, but her mother said she had already gone, and pointed in the direction of the beach. Aika looked over at Kory as they walked. What could he have wanted to tell her that he wouldn't say in front of Maiki? And why did he end up not telling her? It wasn't as if they kept secrets from each other. Aika had known Kory almost as long as she knew Maiki. As she pondered, she felt Kory's arm brush against hers ever so slightly. This unnoticed movement by Kory sent strange shivers up Aika's spine. Suddenly, she realized what that feeling was every time she saw him walking her way. That feeling that always exploded in her chest when he spoke.

"Kory," she almost yelled, "I-"

"KEEEEEEEEEEYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

They had reached the Usual Spot. Maiki had jumped out of nowhere with a wooden sword and whacked Kory over the head with it. She stood over Kory's fallen body with one foot on his stomach and her arms in the air in victory. Aika chuckled and shook her head, forgetting about what she was going to say.

"Looks like those fighting lessons didn't help you," Maiki taunted to Kory. She took her foot off his abdomen and turned to Aika.

"I'm so glad your dad gave us these," she said, holding out the wooden sword, "And the lessons," she added. Aika laughed again. Her father had insisted teaching the kids self defense with wooden swords. "Just in case," he always said.

"I love the lessons," Maiki repeated, "they come in handy."

"I love the stories he tells us after the lessons," joined in Kory when he got up. Aika's smile faded.

"Yeah, they're so fun to listen to," giggled Maiki.

"He's always talking about traveling through space and time!"

"And visiting worlds!"

"And meeting tons of people!"

"We should do that!"

"Yeah, let's go! Let's make a raft and go!"

"Are you guys serious?" Aika yelled. Kory and Maiki stopped in their tracks. Aika's arms were tight by her side, hands balled into fists. She continued to rant. "Come on you guys, think about it! How can you travel through space and time like that? Not only is that unadvised without proper equipment and years of training, but there's also no way we can get off this island on a stupid little raft." She threw her arms up in the air and gave them looks, the that's-an-obviously-stupid-concept look. Kory and Maiki glanced at each other.

"Aika, calm down," Maiki reasoned. "We were joking. We always do."

Aika plopped down onto the sand, arms crossed and facing the ocean, away from her crazy friends.

"It's not funny," she huffed. Silence followed. Aika wasn't always a moody person, except for when it came to abstract topics, like time travel and other supernaturally impossible things. Since that was her only peeve, she was always easily forgiven. Kory walked over and sat down beside her. Maiki stood by Aika's side. Both friends hoped to calm her down from her frenzied outburst.

The three sat in silence as they listened to nature's music. The waves sent gentle sounds throughout the air, and seagulls added to the calming soundtrack. The tense atmosphere around Aika soon died away. Then, Maiki spoke.

"Hey," she said, "remind me why we have never gone to that island before." She pointed to a small island about less than a mile offshore.

"I don't really know," answered Kory. "I guess it just never crossed our minds." It was true. The island had always been there, and the teens had always had the ability and the transportation to get there, but for some reason, the idea of taking a trip never occurred to them.

"Well, pack your bags, lady and gentleman," Maiki announced, "'cuz we're going to that island tomorrow!" She waved her arms in a grand flourish as she twirled around in a circle. Aika and Kory looked at each other.

"…Maiki, you are so weird."

I really sincerely hope you guys can guess who Aika's parents are ;)