A/n: Hello, my lovely readers. I have returned. Internet issues and blah blah blah. Here is the second chapter. Please read and review. I hope you like it. I will try to update regularly, but I make no promise. So be patient with me. You all should know the disclaimer. XD


~Present Day~

The sound of waves crashing against the shore and rocks filled the air. The taste of salt lingered as the light wind caught the ocean spray. Gulls overhead screeched loudly at each other, much to the annoyance of the young brunette who looked up from the raft she was working on. Her pale green eyes returned to her work. Kaia reached for the rope that held several logs together and pulled at it, tightening the knots. Sweat layered her forehead and caused her bangs to stick to her skin. She straightened up, brushing the sand from her black cargo pants.

"Do you ever sleep?" came a voice behind her, causing her to jump and spin around quickly. She glared at the spikey-haired youth who grinned at her.

"Do you ever not sleep?" She shot back. He shrugged adorably. "Or creep up on people? I mean, seriously. I have a knife. I could have seriously maimed you." He shrugged again. A grin crept its way on Kaia's face. "Besides, Sora, someone has to catch your slack while you're off taking naps on the beach. God knows nothing will get done if I don't." She crossed her arms pointedly.

Sora chuckled nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "I could take offense to that."

"But you won't."

"How so?"

"'Cause you looooooove me?" Kaia's grin grew wider.

Sora laughed. "Have I ever told you how much of a great person you are?"

Kaia rolled her eyes. "Only when I do something like this-" She gestured to the raft. "-for you," she teased, looking behind Sora. She looked back at him. "Are they not with you?" She raised a brow.

Sora looked behind him, confused for a moment, and then shook his head. "Nope. They'll be here soon though."

"Ah, okay." Kaia nodded, silent for a few moments. She turned to face the raft, a yawn escaping her lips. "Well, since they're late, I'ma go take a nap." She started walking away. "Tell them not to bother me, 'kay?"


Kaia laid on the paopu tree, staring up at the sky. Her arms rested behind her head as clouds rolled by. How long has it been? Six years? Yes, six very short years since she's been here. Kaia's eyes drifted shut.

~Flashback~

Kaia broke the surface, coughing and inhaling deeply. Strong arms wrapped around the frantic child. A wave rolled over them, pulling them back underneath the water. Panic shot through Kaia, numbing her senses as her heart raced. She felt as if it would burst from her chest. They surfaced again, closer to the shore this time.

"Calm down!" The person whom held her snapped. "Or you'll drown us both." That in know way calmed her racing heart, but Kaia gripped the boy desperately as he finally pulled them to shore.

Kaia pushed her rescuer away as she stumbled away from the water, gasping and shaking as she fell to her knees. Her stomach lurched and emptied itself right there. She trembled violently. A hand lightly touched her lower back, causing her to look up. Her eyes mat three other young pairs of eyes, all that which were focused on her.


"So are you slacking off again?"

"I never slack off, Riku. I should be paid overtime for my unslackiness." She opened one eye to peer at the silver-hair boy who loomed over her with a look of mock disappointment. "Maybe you should go see Sora? He's gotta greater knack for slacking more so than I," she teased, sitting up. "I thought I told Sora to not let anyone bother me.." She whined playfully.

A deep chuckle passed over Riku's lips as he hoisted himself up on the trunk to sit next to Kaia. "I'll get right on that. And what makes you think I'd listen to that squirt?"

"Ah.. You have a point there." She smirked.

His eyes moved to study the rolling waves in the distance. Several moments of silence passed by before Riku spoke up again. "So you were here all night?"

Kaia nodded. "Mhmm. I did, indeed." She turned to face Riku. "We're so close to finishing the raft."

"That doesn't mean to go and rush to finish it." He grinned as she exaggerated a sigh.

"But I'm impatient!" she whined, throwing her hands in the air and burying her face in his shoulder. Her bottom lip poked out and she began to pout.

"And the impatience will be the death of us."

"You don't trust my handiwork?"

"Nope."

"Well then!" Kaia huffed, fighting back a grin. "I am offended!" She jumped from the tree and started to run towards the bridge. She heard Riku racing after her, and she knew full well that he'd catch her. Grinning, Kaia turned and leaped from the bridge, rolling in the sand and shot back up, running again. She turned the corner and ran right smack into Sora. The two fell hard and started tumbling into the sand. Kairi, whom was walking with Sora, squealed and jumped away from the two.

"Are you okay?" Kaia heard Riku ask. She opened her mouth to say she was fine, but when she looked up, she saw that Riku's attention was on Kairi. Kaia bit back her bitterness as Kairi smiled at Riku and nodded.

Kaia couldn't stop staring at the two, biting her lip. When she heard the soft moan of the boy beneath her, Kaia was reminded that she was on top of Sora. She looked down at the boy and started grinning, her jealousy not showing. "Sora, I'm so sorry!" She scrambled from him, laughing as she stood. She offered him her hand, which he took, and helped pull him from the ground.

Sore rubbed the back of his head, pouting. "That was not fun, Kaia. Not fun at all."

She flashed him a sheepish grin. "Oops?"

Sora smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "But I'll forgive you."

They were interrupted by the clearing of Kairi's throat. Sora and Kaia looked at her. "If you two are done," She started, clapping her hands. "We've got a raft to work on." Sora slumped and let out an exaggerated groan as Kairi gave everyone a list, earning another drawn out groan from, not only Sora again, but Kaia as well. Kairi rolled her eyes. After several complaints from Sora, the four teens went their separate ways to gather the supplies they've been assigned. It wasn't until the sun began to set that they regrouped to turn in.