Chapter 1 "Special Day"

Every footprint that followed Kiro's steps was soon washed away by the sparkling water that rose up to the shores of Destiny Islands. As he paced along the beach, look up into the sky and out far beyond the ocean. He was thinking of her. How to repay her. How to set her free from this nonexistence.

"I have to get out there." He was talking to himself again. "There's nothing more on these islands. I'll never find-"

"Hey." An oh-so-familiar voice.

"Wha?" He turned around quickly. "Oh! Kyrine – Wait… How long have you been behind me?"

"Long enough… Relax. I've already told you, stop worrying about that. Kiro, it's your day today."

"You heard?"

"You talk to yourself too much. Always have."

Kiro scratched his head, "I'm sick and tired of everyone mistreating you."

"I do not mind. I can't feel these sort things. I have no-"

"NO! Don't even finish that sentence! You know it isn't true! It still isn't right! It's not fair that you have to put up with all this! I'm going to stop this once and for all. We'll prove that you have a heart-"

"Kiro, please…" Kyrine placed a hand lightly over his shoulder. "Relax… It's your day today-"

"Then on my day, today, I want to repay you."

"What are you-"

"You know what I'm talking about! About twelve years ago. When we first met. During the storm…"

The sun was blocked by ghostly clouds. Belts of lightning crashed down from above. A torrential downpour soaked all. Winds were thrown through the islands, knocking down even the sturdiest of trees, heavy enough to throw even the largest men of the island into the sea.

The roofs of homes were ripped off and sent soaring into the sky. Including Kiro's own. The wind was much too strong for him. He was picked up and thrown a few feet next to one of the largest trees of Destiny Island. His landing was hard, but not enough to break anything. He couldn't move. He was right against the tree, holding on for dear life. The wind was being pulled. His grip turning ever looser each second.

Then all of a sudden his hair stopped flying back with the wind. The stinging on his face from being pushed by those violent gusts stopped. He turned behind him, and a very young girl, dark eyed, and dark haired, had her hands out. Kiro looked around them and it seemed as if the wind was curving around them, as if some magical force field was protecting them. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. His eyes were slowly loosing focus, and he collapsed.

"He-… Hello… Hello…?"

What's going on...? Kiro's eyes slowly opened, and met with the same eyes he saw during the storm.

"Hello? You okay now?"

"Ugh…" Kiro sat up now. "What happened?"

"Very bad storm. Almost blow you away." She said.

"Who are you?"

"Kyrine."

Kyrine never considered her act as saving Kiro's life. She didn't want him to feel that he owed her something. But Kiro knew in his mind, that if it wasn't for her, he'd be long gone… The two sat under that very Paopu Tree. The one that Kiro clung onto for his life. The one where he first met Kyrine.

"Hungry?" Kiro smiled, and reached for the fallen fruit.

They talked, and shared the single fallen fruit beside them.

"There is a way I can help you! We just have to get out of here! You heard the stories didn't you? Of worlds far beyond our own? There must be something out there that can help us. We'll find your heart, Kyrine, I know it!"

"But those are just stories! We don't really know if there's anything out there-"

"Do you really believe that there's really just this? I know that there are other things out there. I want to experience them. But more importantly, I want to do this for you. And haven't you ever been wondering about your past? Your origins? There's so much out there for us to see, Kyrine!"

"I… I guess so-"

"You see?! That's what I mean. We need to get off this island and check out whatever's out there!" Kiro was shouting into the ocean now, hands spread in the air.

"How do we do that?"

Immediately Kiro sunk his hands back down. "I… I've been thinking about that for awhile now…"

"Hmph. That was always like you, too. Speaking all high and mighty about some crazy dream. Never act." She got up and started walking another direction down the beach.

Kiro's face flushed with embarrassment. "Uh- Hey! I will think of something! Kyrine- wait!" He ran after her.

She stopped without turning around, and Kiro clumsily bumped into her. She held her ground, although Kiro fell on flat on his back. Now she turned, and held out a small box with a ribbon on it. "Happy Birthday!"

His face looked puzzled, forgetting that it was his birthday. Then suddenly remembering, "Oh… Thanks." He carefully untied the ribbon, opened the box, and took out what was inside. In his hand, was a small heart-shaped keychain. "I made one for both of us, see?" She showed hers, also a heart. But within his heart, were letters. K-Y-R-I-N-E.