I do NOT own Kingdom Hearts, or any of the characters (Minus Meiko, but no one really wants to use her anyway... feel free to, but I highly doubt that you will), because if I did, Riku and Fredrik would be together and there would be no darkness and all that yackity-yah. Oh, and please don't sue me!

Oh, yes, and this is my first fanfic ever, so if it's crap, you may tell me so. I'm not one of those people who beg people for reviews, and yes, I will post this anyway, even if no one reads it. I don't mind negative comments, okay, but please, go easy on my poor, weakening heart... By the way - you can review if you want, because I've never gotten a review, and they sound pretty snazzy.

Enjoy. Hopefully.

Secrets of the Heart - Chapter 1: Doing things the Kairi way

Kairi knew that Sora liked Riku. It was obvious. Other than the eyelash batting and barely covered up giggles, Kairi had other evidence to go by.

She had been dropping off Sora's homework, as he had been sick the past week, and couldn't go to school.

"Sure, Kairi, he's just upstairs, probably playing the Wii or something." Sora's mother, Meiko, was a really nice woman, with stylish black hair and a flour covered apron that she always seemed to be wearing. "Oh, and can you ask him what pizza toppings he wants? Oh, and thick or thin crusts?"

Kairi grinned. "Meiko, he wants pineapple, olives, pepperoni, ham, bacon and anchovies. Yuck, but that's what he likes, I guess." Kairi turned to skip up the stairs. She stopped just as she reached the landing. "Oh," she called down, only her face and shoulder facing the kitchen downstairs. "And the wants a thin crust, because thick makes his stomach ache."

Kairi smiled as she entered Sora's room, knowing that below her, in the kitchen, Meiko was muttering about how well Kairi and Sora knew each other. Which she, Meiko, was doing indeed.

"Oh, why those two never got together, I just won't ever understand," the said mother mumbled to herself, as she put on an oven mitt, just about to take out some cookies.

Upstairs, Kairi felt the flat, peaceful atmosphere, and knew that Sora was asleep. "Sora?" she hummed softly, nto expecting a reply. She tied her shoulder-length red hair into a ponytail, and pushed the door open a bit further.

"Mmm… my R-Ri… ku… Mhh, yes, Riku…"

Kairi froze, shocked. But, because she'd already guessed as much, she stood up straight, and giggled quietly.

She crept into the room, surrounded by Sora's whispers and her snickers. She had a feeling that Sora could wake up at any moment.

Oh, how that would priceless. Kairi would whip out her cell and capture the pure shock and humiliation on the sleepy brunette's face as he was caught out.

But he didn't wake, so Kairi left Sora's text book on top of the Wii, and left silently – minus the stumble over the doorframe, and the gasp that came with it.

The hard thing for the red haired girl was to determine whether or not their older friend liked Sora back. So, to investigate, she did things the Kairi way.

"Riku," she said, hoping to get a splutter, or at least some soft of reaction, from the rest of her planned-out speech. Oh, the anticipation. "Do you like Sora?"

Riku didn't even look at Kairi as he headed off the art. "Yeah, of course, he's my best friend."

Riku's face, as per usual, was shut off to the outer world. The only ones that could really make him smile were his cat, Fluff-tard, or…

Sora. Kairi grinned suddenly, and if Riku noticed, he didn't say anything. Sora could make this grumpy, silver haired, aquamarine eyed, too-mature-for-bullshit, teenage boy smile.

"You know what I mean," she said happily, and it didn't really fit with what she meants. Now Riku looked at her, and his expression made her wonder if there was some other head on her shoulders that she hadn't noticed yet.

"You're crazy." It was stated, not meant to be insulting or anything, and Kairi, although she shouldn't have, took this is an affirmation.

"Oh!" cried Kairi, hugging the tall boy tightly. "That's okay, because the person likes you too!"

Riku froze. "They do?"

Kairi grinned, stepping back. She nodded joyously. "Yepsies!"

Then Riku grimaced, realised he had given himself away. "Well, they better like disappointment as well; because that's all they're gonna get."

And then he stormed off to class, just as the bell rang through Kairi's ears, unnoticed.

"We need to find a way to get them together…"

"But should we? If Riku's not up for it, then… Sora's heart is in the picture still, keep in mind."

"She's right ya know, ya."

"Shut up! Both of you! Now… you. You can help me?"

"Ah-huh."

Wide smiles.

"So, Riku, how are you?"

Riku looked up from his canvas, to see Selphie's green eyes boring into his soul. That might sound a bit dramatic, but that's seriously what ot felt like. "Ah… good? How about you, Selphie Tilmitt, are you going alright?"

Selphie sighed, rolling her eyes and smiling. "Always the gentleman, aren't you, my dear? But, yes, I am fine. Although… I do have one problem." The brunette's eyebrows furrowed and her pouted, like Sora, except her lips were tighter and not as… perfect.

Riku raised an eyebrow, as if this action may take away all thoughts of Sora's face, Sora's hands, Sora's torso, Sora's lower regi… Stop. "And I have to listen, don't I?"

Selphie nodded, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Well, duh! You're my friend, and I looove you!" She squeezed him in a tight hug, and Riku squirmed away, hoping that she fell in a random tin of paint that was lurking somewhere… waiting… Instead she fell into a stool that was right next to Riku's. The silver haired boy sighed inwardly.

"Well, what's up then? I'm willing to listen," he grumbled, resuming the sketch he was doing on the canvas. He loved the way that he could paint a beautiful, horrible, anxious, worried, mesmerising, scene – all with just the flick of his wrist on a piece of plaster.

"Well," Selphie started sadly. Riku didn't look at her, but if he had of, he guessed her lip would have been quivering. Riku rolled his eyes. Girls.

"You see, it's Sora."

Riku froze. Sora? Was he okay? Did something happen to him? He resumed his state, and went back to his sketch. He didn't know what he was drawing, but the conversation with Kairi had him etching for a chance to draw away his emotions. Hopefully it would turn out ambiguous. He liked it that way. "Yeah?" he asked casually, hoping she would go on.

She didn't disappoint. She sighed dramatically, before continuing sadly. "Well, you see, I really like Sora, but he doesn't like me. I always see him staring at this other person, and ya know," she sniffed. "It just… kinda, well, it breaks my heart!" The brunette put a hand on her heart and sniffed again, her eyes filled with tears threatening to spill.

"D-don't cry!" Riku said hastily, dropping the pencil on his foot. He put his arm on Selphie's and looked into her eyes. Emeralds shone, and Riku felt sorry for her. "Now," he said, hoping that this would help both her and him. "Just tell him how you feel. I'm sure, no, actually I know, that Sora wouldn't turn you down if you told him what you've just told me. He's too nice for that."

Selphie nodded, sniffing again. "Mmh-hmm."

Riku smiled softly, relieved. "Who is the other person, though, if you don't mind me asking?"

Selphie smiled sadly, but inside she was grinning. She hadn't missed the true curiosity and anger the older boy hd been trying to hide behind subtle words. It was still there, faintly, and Selphie had caught him out. But she ignored this for the time being. "J-just l-look at your p-pic-picture, and you will figure it out."

Selphie stood and trudged slowly out of the room. The bell had gone, but some people were still inside the studio. Riku was surprise that no one had noticed Selphie's and his exchange. But right then, he didn't really care. All the cared about was wondering what he had drawn. He hadn't been paying attention to it, too focused on Selphie's little confession.

Riku gasped as he turned and saw the picture. There, on the huge canvas, was the outline of Sora dancing, with his head on someone's shoulder, as they whispered in his ear, the younger boy sighing an a frozen moment. B-but that's… me.