Wow, it's been a long time! Started this years ago and put it on the shelf when life took over. Now I'm back on track and pushing through it. Here it finally is! The first page of my KH behemoth of a fanfic. Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any other Disney/SE names, places, or things you might recognize. However, I am greatly possessive of my OCs ;)


CH. I

Her eyes snapped open and her head shot up from the pillow. There was a scream. She could swear she heard a scream. Why else would she be awake?

Akari.

She shoved off the warmth of her covers and made her way out into the hall. Her bare feet pressed lightly into the soft carpet with every step as she approached another door. It was only slightly ajar and a faint light shone from within. Slowly, she pressed a hand to the door and moved it aside, peeking in cautiously.

"Ari," she whispered. "You awake?"

What greeted her was a pair of wide, dark blue eyes illuminated by the soft light emanating from a small lamp sitting on the edge of a vanity to the far left of the room. The girl, whom she called Ari, simply blinked in response, then hung her head, staring blankly at her hands folded over the blanket covering her legs.

Sighing, she stepped into the room and sat down on the younger girl's bed. "Was that you I heard? Did you wake up screaming?"

"I..." she shrugged, not really sure how to answer. Had she screamed? She didn't remember. All that was left of her dissipated sleep was a shiver lingering in her spine and goosebumps spread up and down her arms. "Maybe," she sighed. "It was just a nightmare. No big deal, Yumi."

But the older girl looked skeptical. Must have been some nightmare, she thought. Not one memory came to mind of Ari ever having screamed over a dream for as long as she had known her. "Sure you don't want to talk about it?"

She just shook her head, still staring at the dark covers. A yawn escaped her, then, "I'm too tired... Maybe in the morning," as she slipped the blanket back over her shoulders and snuggled into her pillow, leaving Yumi staring at the back of her dark haired head.

With a reluctant sigh, Yumi finally stood and walked away. She threw back one last look at her sleeping younger cousin, the worry evident in her eyes, then pulled the door shut behind her.