Chapter 1

Fourteen years later...

"Yoko!" called Kairi from downstairs. "Time to get up!"

The only response from the dim and messy room was the sound of Yoko moaning with disatisfaction. Kairi sighed. It was like this every school day; it would take forever for her daughter to wake up. The now-older-and-wiser red head only wished that the girl would be more responsible and actually get up when required. But sadly, that was not the case.

Kairi walked across the room, trying not to trip over the piles of clothes scattered everywhere and opened the blinds in front of the window that was beside Yoko's bed. The sun's rays flooded the room with light, prompting another groan, only this one was louder and more whiny. Kairi frowned and placed her hands on her hips. As if sensing her mother's pesence, Yoko finally lifted her face from her pillow and looked at Kairi sleepily, her long, light brown hair an absolute mess.

"What is it?" she muttered.

"Young lady, do you have any idea what time it is?" asked Kairi.

Yoko looked at the hot pink alarm clock on her night stand.

"Uhhh... seven oh-five in the morning?" she replied. "Why is it so early?"

"If you don't get up now, you'll be late for your first day of school."

"School..."

Yoko then made a half smile.

"Oh yeah..."

She then flopped back on the bed.

"Good night."

"I think not!" snapped Kairi as she pulled off Yoko's bed covers.

"Unggh, alright, alright, I'm up." muttered Yoko, who then yawned as she got out of bed.

After Yoko had walked inside her bathroom to take a shower, Kairi sighed. But then she made a warm smile.

'Just like her father...' she reminisced.

After Yoko had finished getting ready for the day and ate breakfast, she ran out the door, heading towards the school. The school itself was a couple of islands away, but that wasn't much of a problem seeing that there were now long wooden bridges that connected them. The bridges were built as a more convenient way to travel and to save space for the other boats. Some still traveled by boat, but Yoko chose to take the bridge that day.

She didn't want to go to school. It was so... tedious; there was always too much work. It was a drag to the brunette. She'd rather be hanging out with her friends on the island where all of the kids played. Yoko had skipped school a couple times... and let's just say her mother wasn't too happy about it. Oh well. It was fun at the time.

Anyway, upon arriving at the massive school, Yoko managed to run into a friend of hers among the crowd of students; a tall boy around her age with slightly spiky blond hair and a black tattoo on his face.

"Hey, Zell!" called Yoko.

"Yoko! What's up?" grinned Zell as Yoko approached him.

"Eh, not much," Yoko replied. "Where are Rex and Blank?"

"Probably running late as usual," shrugged Zell. "You look beat."

"Yeah, I didn't get to bed till around midnight." replied Yoko.

"Why? Were you busy writing that love letter to your future boyfriend?" teased Zell.

"N-No! Shut up! I was not! Besides, he'd never go out with me... he's way out of my league."

"Well, ya never know till you try right?"

Zell slapped Yoko on the back. He then looked away, as if noticing something.

"Oh look! There he is now!"

Yoko looked in the direction Zell was looking to see a boy that had short black hair, very tanned skin and serious brown eyes. That was the boy of Yoko's dreams; Vikram was his name. Although he looked a couple years older than he was, he was still Yoko and Zell's age. Yoko's heart began to pound against her chest. She backed away a couple of steps.

"Oh c'mon!" said Zell. "You're not gonna talk to him?"

"D-Don't be stupid! Like I said, he's out of my league, being the captain of the blitzball team and all." snapped Yoko.

Zell walked behind her and shoved her towards Vikram.

"Go get 'em!" he said.

Yoko gasped as she bumped right into her crush, knocking them both down.

"Ah! I am so sorry, Vikram!" yelped Yoko frantically as she scrambled to her feet.

She shot a fierce glare at Zell, who merely shrugged in a sheepish manner. She then turned back to Vikram, offering to help him up.

"Thanks." said Vikram, taking the brunette's hand.

Yoko blushed as she pulled him up, realizing that it was his hand she was holding. She blushed even harder when she found herself gazing into his stern eyes. He blinked in response, as if noticing something off about her. He then looked at his hand; she was still holding it.

"Uh... you can let go of my hand now." said Vikram.

Yoko's blue eyes moved downward to notice that she was still holding his hand.

"Oh! Umm, sorry." said Yoko, embarrassed as she let go.

An awkward pause occurred between the two.

"Uh... uhh..." mumbled Yoko, trying to start a conversation. "Nice weather recently, huh?"

"Yeah..." nodded Vikram. "But I hear that there's going to be a storm soon."

"Oh... is that so?"

"Yeah..."

Another awkward pause.

"So, why did you come over here? Is there something you wanted to tell me?" asked Vikram.

This was it, Yoko thought. The big moment; the part where she would profess her love to her crush since the third grade. She felt her heart swell with anxiety as it began to beat faster. Her face got redder with each second passing by. She had to do this now. Otherwise, some girl would steal him away and Yoko would regret it forever. After a quick sigh, Yoko managed to actually speak.

"Vikram... er..." she stuttered. "Will you... do you..."

Suddenly, the school bell rung, startling her.

"We can talk about it after school, okay?" Vikram said, giving her a small smile.

"'K-Kay!" Yoko replied.

As the students from kindergarten to the twelfth grade (since there wasn't any room to put four separate schools on four separate islands, they had to make one big school) rushed inside to their classes, Yoko watched as her love interest walked towards the middle school building, dismayed over the awkward conversation that had ocurred. Zell walked up to her and elbowed her in the arm hard enough to make her say "Ow!".

"What's your deal?" asked Zell. "You can talk to guys like regular human beings, but you can't talk to a boy you like?"

"It's not like that!" said Yoko. "I just get nervous around him, that's all. It's like, I don't know what to say."

"Eh, you'll get over it," said Zell casually. "Why don't you try showing a little more passion...? You know, like me!"

"Easier said than done," muttered Yoko, who then realized something. "Oh! We should hurry and get to class."

"Right! I'll race ya!" nodded Zell, who then ran off, laughing.

"Wha...?" asked Yoko "Hey! That's not fair! You're a faster runner than I am!"

But regardless, she ran after him.

The schoolyard brought back memories; memories of happier days during his youth. From on the roof of the main school building, Riku looked down at the now empty school grounds below from his black coat, thinking back on old times. But when he noticed storm clouds nearly covering the bright and warm sun, Riku snapped out of it. He remembered why he had to return to the islands. He had a mission and he had to do it fast. The islands were once again no longer safe for anyone. He made a vow to protect Kairi and Yoko in Sora's absence. And protect them he would.

He heard several Heartless suddenly appeared behind him, taking the man by surprise. They had arrived earlier than he had expected. Nonetheless, Riku summoned his Keyblade, the Way to the Dawn and turned to face his enemies. He sliced at the first Heartless that came at him, causing it to disappear into nothingness. The next few Heartless charged but with simple dodging and slashing techniques, he was able to defeat them without effort. But Riku knew these weren't the only Heartless that were going to arrive.

"I have to hurry." Riku muttered to himself, running towards the school stairs that would lead him down to the entrance.

She was in one of these buildings somewhere. Riku couldn't remember how old Yoko was. He assumed that she between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. So that would've meant she was in the middle school or the high school building. Riku had to get them off of the islands; her and Kairi both.