Writer's note: I own nothing of Kingdom Hearts, but new characters herein are my own creation. This story was largely made to explore the darker potential of Kingdom Hearts, and while a lot of it is happy and bright, simultaneously a lot of it really isn't. With this warning in mind, I hope you enjoy the journey I hope to take you on.

Teachers at Destiny Islands high have long since known that Kikan Irino was never gonna go on to higher education. I frankly don't blame their lack of hope in me. And as grateful as I am for all the help they've given me in grasping the knowledge I'd need to pursue adult life, I'm pretty sure I'm as glad as they are that I'm leaving school. Never flunked or skived my classes, I've always been a hard worker. I just always lacked the smarts for it. DT, PE, General Studies and business studies were about the best I could get out of my last year, just enough to hold up old man Ahab's shop if Wakka decides to leave the family business.

Every student about me buzzes with excitement for their futures, on to the community college of our island, or outwards to the small university the next island over. Grades are compared, hugs are given… But these are not my people, and this is not my place.

A happy groan escapes me as a warm ocean breeze pulls at my long bistre curls, knocking the graduation cap from my head as I break into a run for the coast line. Past the pretty picket fences and the picturesque shops, til the almond and portia trees give way for sea hibiscus and coconut palms. Less of the clean cut brick and mortar houses of the centre, leaving the older houses, the ones that've been restored again and again with their rough, sandy walls and wood and palm leaf enforced roofs. My stride slows as the ground beneath my feet changes, the rough, uneven dirt and pebble track making way for the soft white sand of the coast. With a roar that swells my heart, a wave crashes across it, the sea spray no longer a faint smell on the wind. Shoes and socks come off, and across the warm sand of the beach I go, hunting for my home, the little two floor house with the twin leafed paopu fruit painted on the front door.

The door creaks open as I arrive home, washing the sand off my feet before slotting my shoes into their cubby hole. "Amma I'm home!"

My mother pokes her head out from the kitchen, and there's a sound of things being set down before she bustles out to hug me and welcome me home. She smiles her pretty white smile at me and tugs her bandanna back up her brow, revealing more of her creamy complexion, so different to the warm toffee I inherited from my father. "Oh Kiki, how was your last day of school?"

I grimace slightly at my mother's nickname "Amma please, I appreciate being called Kikan, I'm not a kid, I've been working for two years"

She chuckles, shaking her head "You'll always be my little Kiki… But anyway, if you're wondering about Sora and the others they already headed off for the little island for the afternoon. Your swimmies are on your bed and I got your clothes washed up. I put some lunch in your bag."

I give her a bright smile, thanking her and starting to jog up the stairs to go change - she's set out my blue and green bikini, black shorts and vest and light green crop hoodie. My white uniform shirt is shed from my shoulders, and the school skirt flutters down to my ankles. It's a quick change from my underwear to the Bikini, and the shorts slide up easily over my hips. I tug on the vest and hoodie and grab my bag, starting to jog down the stairs.

"Kiki, Ahab's just been by to drop off some new paints - do you want them in the shed or are you taking them with you to the fun island?"

"I'll pop them in the shed on the way out, last I checked Sora, Riku and Kairi wanted help with some project so I'll probably be at that all day"

She nods, hugging me on the way past "have fun today Kiki, make sure everyone gets back in time for dinner!"

I nod, waving over my shoulder as I tug my shoes on, running out into the sunlight. The dock's just a couple houses down, next to Ahab and Wakka's house, but I don't bother with its wooden surface, running through the water and hopping straight in to my little painted row boat. My bag slots into its usual place at the front, I pull the quick release knot loose, and with the oars comfortably knocked in the rowlocks, I turn the boat, starting towards the little island, humming softly beneath my breath with the steady rock of the ocean, settling into my usual rhythm.

Our life here is a peaceful one, our existence is sleepy. The name of our home treats us as though we'd be meant for Glory, but you'd never guess it from our natures. We're born, we go to school, we make our lives, we grow old, and we die. Those who leave now are rarely, if ever heard of again. So we simply don't leave. At least, that's what everyone else does.

Old man Ahab, Wakka's father, the one that sought to provide me and Sora with a father figure after our father's passing. He remembers a time when people left the islands, when people came back. There were stories of the world beyond our islands. He sought to follow their footsteps. But he never made it far enough before his own wife passed, and in the end, he gave it up to care for us. Now he runs the docks, and I work with him. I taught the others to row, as he and my father did for me. Now we row to the next island over every day after school. Wakka takes his chances to train, desperate to succeed in his sport. Tidus trains with him, hopeful to catch up to him eventually, and Selphie watches him from the sidelines, the pair taking their chances to spend time together. My brother, Sora, and our friends, Riku and Kairi, retell Ahab's tales, and together we dream of such days of old. We dream of maybe following those footsteps and seeing what lies beyond our islands.

"Yo Kikan!"

With Wakka's cry, I'm snapped from my daydreams, and I redouble my efforts, pushing the boat to the dock and rigging it up, grabbing my bag and stepping under the dock to meet him as he smiles his signature grin. "Wakka, your old man came by to drop off more paints, you want me to try and finish your boat tonight?"

He shakes his head, waving it off "nah, I get the feeling you're gonna need those for your side project with your brother and the others. How'd your grades go? How's your Amma today?"

I roll my eyes at the mention of my school results and wave him off "Amma's fine, and my results were good enough. My teachers waved me off with a gentle smile, they'll've forgotten all about me by the start of next year. Thank fuck it's over with though."

A chuckle escapes him with a nod "I know what you mean Kik, I'm thinking about dropping out when I hit sixteen so I can just focus on blitzball"

I pause for a second, considering his thoughts, but shake my head "nah, it's worth sticking around to the end, they tell you more about taxes and you could probably get picked up by the big team if you stuck around for upper PE. They keep a close eye on it for up and coming players, and I reckon they'd snap you right up. Now… do you know where my doof little brother is?"

There's a cry from the stack, and he rolls his eyes, flicking his thumb in its direction "Take a guess"

"Sparring with Riku then? I'll go sort 'em out…"

"By the way, Kairi wanted to see you when you got here, she wanted some help finishing up the boat. Tidus and Selphie are up on the arch, who knows what they're up to" Another eye roll, and I chuckle, patting his shoulder as I go past.

"Ah leave them alone, they're cute. As long as they're not being dumb about it it's their business what they do."

I jog off towards the far end of the island, deciding to go check on Kairi before I sort the boys out, and as I round the corner I spot her with a couple of shells in her mouth, a look of deep concentration on her features as she threads some cord through the shells in her hands. She gives a slight yelp of surprise as I flop down in front of her, my legs crossing comfortably, the shells falling from her mouth. They land in the sand, undamaged, but she frantically checks them over regardless, bringing a chuckle to my face and my heart.

"Still working on your gift for my little brother huh?" She frantically tries to hush me, moving to cover my mouth as she looks around for Sora, drawing a louder laugh from me. "Relax sweetie, he's sparring with Riku on the stack. Thassala shells huh? I see you're going with our islands old good luck charm."

A blush lights her cheeks, a soft smile gracing her cute features as her short, dark red locks flop over her pretty purple eyes. "I thought it would be appropriate, Ahab got one from his wife before he started trying to go out to the edge of the ocean…" She fastens the third shell in place, tying it off before looking up at me with her goofy little grin. "I guess Wakka said I was asking for you?"

I chuckle and nod. "He said you wanted help finishing up the boat, I take it the boys did the main bit of heavy lifting and then went to goof off?" At Kairi's responding nod I sigh and shake my head. "Don't worry sweetie, I'll help you finish it off. First though…" I glare up at the stack "I'll be right back"

As Kairi quickly puts away her shells, I stride into the water, not wanting to bother with going around the shack and finding the little ladder I secured to the stack for this exact reason. It's a quick climb, and as I reach the top, I spy Sora receiving a swift kick in the face from Riku and roll my eyes. Sora's quick to retaliate, smacking his wooden sword into Riku's back, before a yelp is drawn from him as I grab his ear. Riku has just enough time to turn before I do the same to him and frog march them along the bridge.

"Sora. Riku. Down. Go see Kairi and apologise for leaving her with all the difficult work on the boat."

"Kiiiik let go of my ear we helped with the heavy lifting!"

I pinch my brother's ear harder "And left her with the arse job of fixing it all together, you should know by now that you need at least two sets of hands to put it together! Now both of you get your asses in gear and help us finish it!"

They glare at me as their ears are released, and they hop down, leaving me to watch them for a moment as they go up to Kairi before I follow them, satisfied with the bright smile on her face. I hold the door to the far half of the island open for them to step through, and wait 'til they've gone through before closing it.