Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy or any of its characters. They all belong to Square Enix. I only own the plot, and the video games (sadly).

Author's Note: Hello again, and welcome to my second fanfic! :D

I am pleased to inform you that this will be my new baby, and I will give my all towards it. I really hope you can give it a chance and not shy away from my original character. I'll try as hard as I can to not make her a "Mary Sue". If she's tuning out to be that way, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY. And just so you know, I have this story all mapped out on my mind, so hopefully I can write it fast. I will put no time or day limit because I write when the mood strikes me. If I do it forced, I do a shitty job. So pray that my muse will stay put right inside my mind and everything will be alright.

If you find any mistakes, or if you have difficulty on reading it because of its various POV's, let me know. After all, I'm here to please you all. ;)

P.S.: This is a het story. The yaoi one will have to wait for a while, but I'll get there and that's a promise.

Warnings: Language, for now.

oooOooo

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

I was born in the town of Damascus, which was a small island located next to other ones, such as Hithorn, Anasi, the Cerci chain, and our main one, Destiny Island. I was raised by the beautiful, strong woman known to everyone as Anita. She was the most excellent example of how someone should go through life. She was very optimistic, a happy-go-lucky kind of woman who never doubted in herself, never wavered on anything she did, or on her faith. Those were things I admired in her, and envied a bit. How was it that she was like that when she had a terminal disease?

She was also my savior through my youth. You see, I had inherited a type of birthmark, a scar protruding from my left eye and ending at my cheek. Of course I would develop a low self-esteem, since my school companions always made fun of me. Ever since day one outside of my home left an impact on others and on me as well. By the time I started coursing through high school, my mind was in shambles. I always thought of myself as the ugly duckling who apparently wasn't getting any of the beauty the swan had. To top it off, I wore hideous glasses that covered half of my face; my ears were pointy and looked like an elf's, and I hid them with my hair, which was a curly mess and looked like bouncing springs. I was a hideous thing, and it was no wonder why they all pointed at me and whispered behind my back. I got bullied every day too. I had had one friend through it all, but she ended betraying me. Those days got even worse, since Anita announced we had to move for reasons I would rather not hear.

"Where?" I asked.

"To the main island, child."

"Why? What's the purpose of us going over there? Is it because of me?"

"No," she quickly answered, making me think it was a lie, until she completed her sentence. "Alice, my condition has gotten worse. The doctor said that there's only so much he could do. The machinery on the other island is more advanced, so he thinks it could be more effective."

Not minding the moving part one bit, I demanded from her what worried me the most. "Explain how worse."

Sighing, she said "The cancer has spread along my spinal cord, and if I don't treat it soon, I'll be on a wheelchair for what's left of my life."

Getting mad at the world for these unfortunate events, I told her to act on her doctor's decision as quickly as possible. Besides, a change in scenery would probably come in good for her.

Three months later I finished school, and we started making preparations for the move. Thanking Doctor Morrison for everything he had done, we left on a sunny morning of June. A couple of days later, we were installed and living on Destiny Islands. I got employed on a store near the beach and our house called 'Surfing & More', and the money I generated was for mom's hospital fee.

Working at the beach on summer had its benefits. The cash we won was double the normal amount thanks to the tourists, and I met wonderful people every day. They never even commented on my scar, and that made me very happy. Then came the day were I met the most important people in my life.

It was June 27, 2008. The shop was, surprisingly, empty. My boss, Maria, gave me the rest of the day off, since I had worked hard and not once asked for a break. I decided to head for the beach, to look at all the colorful people I had yet to see. Some tourists were lying on a towel taking a suntan; others were simply swimming and just having a good time. I smiled, thinking that maybe one day Anita had to come outside and see this for herself. Sitting down on a shaded patch of sand, I searched in my little bag for my sketch book and a pencil. I started to draw everything, from the people enjoying themselves, the sun, sand and sea, to the palm trees and the seagulls flying near the water to catch some fish.

So immersed I was in my work that I hadn't noticed time pass by, along with the arrival of a new group of teenagers. I only saw them when they yelled "Watch out!", because a soccer ball was aimed straight at my head. And not heeding the warning on time, it hit its mark.

"Oh shit, are you alright?" asked one of them.

"Define fine and I'll let you know if my predicament is the same as its meaning."

"Sheesh, sorry."

"You should be, you know."

And when I handed the stranger his ball, I froze. He was, by far, the most handsome guy I had ever laid eyes upon. His skin was the color of snow, and so was his hair. I somehow knew he was taller than me, probably six feet, and his body was sinfully carved. His forearm muscles sexily flexed, along with his legs which were to die for. And his abs, oh my God! If I had counted correctly, he had eight little squares perfectly shaped. But what drew me to him the most were his eyes. The most gorgeous aqua-green color stared back at me with unabashed interest. And that was when I looked away, because he was not looking at me, but at my scar.

I hurriedly started packing my things while getting up to leave, and I freaking tripped with a branch, making everything in my bag fall out. I was absolutely embarrassed and wanted to escape the scene, when the others walked towards us. Two of the girls, one blond and the other a red-head, came forward and helped me pick my stuff from the ground. One of them had my sketchbook and rudely opened it, seeing my private drawings.

"Wow girl, you certainly have talent! Hey, is this one our beach? It looks so real!"

"Selphie come on, hand it over," said the red-haired girl.

"Oh, sorry!"

When I had my precious book back in my hands again, I started to back away, but the white-haired dude called me.

"What's your name?"

I stared at him for what felt like an eternity, and promptly left. The indignant words of the guy had reached my ears, and I completely ignored them. I was used to words like those anyway. On my way home, I couldn't help but think of those people. Maybe what drew me to think of them was their charisma, or their beauty. When I reached my destination, though, Anita was throwing up on our front porch and I raced to help her, forgetting for the time being that I had met a group of perfection.

Three days later no incidents occurred, on mother and the gang's part. July first came around, and I had found out that a special carnival was being held on the big boardwalk. I decided to take Anita with me, since the only places she had seen so far were the hospital and the house. We had so much fun. I could've passed out from happiness. Getting on the Ferris wheel with mom beside me, I hadn't noticed the other occupants in the little cart, but they had.

"Hey, aren't you the girl who rudely left after Riku asked you your name?"

It was the girls again, and thanks to the blond one I had found out his name. It suited him, I thought. Feeling thoroughly awkward, I evaded their gazes and her question. Mom on the other hand, berated me in front of them.

"Now Alice, be nice! Remember our chat a while ago? You promised you would try and meet new people."

"I have, Anita! But-"

"No buts, missy," she interrupted. "And you better apologize to these young ladies and their friend when you see her."

"Actually ma'am, she is a he."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry," mom chuckled.

"That's okay. Um, Alice was it?" continued the red hair. I simply nodded in return. "My name is Kairi. We meant you no harm that day, and we still don't. How about we make it up to you? Let's go eat something. Don't worry, it'll be on us. Anita can come as well."

"That sounds like a lovely idea," said mom. And that was how I found myself stuck with two overenthusiastic girls fawning over every little word that left Anita's mouth, including as to why I sometimes acted with the wrong foot, using words such as 'sensitive', 'outcast' and 'alone'. She also said that I always worried for her, and that was a big mistake, because she then had to explain to them about her condition. They gasped and expressed how sorry they were, and that they hadn't known. I was about to let out a sarcastic duh, but I held it in.

"It must be rough for you."

"Yeah," added Selphie.

"Don't you worry, I'm a tough woman and I can handle the pressure."

She sure as hell did. Wanting to shy away from reality, I excused myself and went to the bathroom. Once there, I looked in the mirror and saw the hideous thing on my face, comparing myself with the two pretty girls that had bought us dinner. Why couldn't I be as beautiful as them? Or at least be me, without the scar? Maybe then people would see me on a different light. A lonesome tear escaped from its hiding place just said duo came in. Obviously, they saw me.

"Alice, what's wrong?" they asked.

"Nothing," I tiredly answered.

"Bull crap, girl! Something's the matter and we want to know what!"

"Selphie, I don't think-"

"You really want to know?" I interrupted her. "Fine! I envy people like you, and I stay far away from them because of it. The reason? Because they're damn beautiful! They've never been through any of my ordeals, and neither have you! I've never had friends, and the only one I did have betrayed our friendship for a guy that always bullied me, because she liked him! And everybody wonders what's wrong with me…"

Wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt, I turned and gave them my back. The tension in the air was palpable and the girls stayed quiet for a few seconds. Selphie broke the silence.

"We'll be your friends, then."

"Don't do it because you feel sorry for me. Pity is not what I need. Besides, you wanted answers and I gave them to you." And with that said, I left the bathroom in order to look for Anita and return home.

The next day, I worked until I developed exhaustion, but I didn't want to stop. I wanted to forget about everything, except Anita of course. Humming a bit to myself, I kept on organizing shelves with my working buddy Alex, without noticing the costumers that entered the store.

"Good morning, how may we help you?" asked Maria.

"I'm looking for that new soccer equipment that arrived yesterday."

"Ah yes, come this way please. Hey Alice? Would you be so kind as to handle the register for a while?"

"Sure."

When I got there, I dropped the surf board I had in my hands. I knew I had heard that voice somewhere!

"Nice to see you again, Alice." Crap. Thanks Maria, now he knew my name.

"Um, yeah, you too Riku," I murmured.

While he was doing his shopping, I couldn't help but stare. He was just so sexy! My muse struck me at that precise moment, and I took my drawing utensils out. Looking at him nonstop I drew his profile, because it was my biggest weakness. Starting with his eyes and nose, I continued my way down to his shapely lips. Then I drew the form of his face and chin, and finished with his hair and ears, which were somewhat visible. As I completed the drawing, I stared at it. In my hands was the picture of a complete stranger, looking at me with longing in his eyes. Why had I drawn him that way? Shrugging and shaking myself out of my reverie, I left my book on the counter and gasped out loud when I looked up. He was right in front of me, and had apparently seen me drawing him. He smirked while I blushed.

"That's pretty good. You should go to art school and make a living out of it."

Silently scanning every item he had chosen, he tried to initiate conversation. He asked if I would work here permanently, and I answered him with an I don't know; where I lived and studied, if I was just an exchange student or if I lived around here. I told him it was none of his business. And then…

"Go out with me."

"What?" I incredulously yelled.

"You heard me."

"I'm sorry, I just realized that I developed problems with my hearing."

"I'll repeat it as much as I need to, then. Go out with me."

"No."

His smile immediately vanished. He kept on asking and I stood my ground, even though I was dying to say yes. He left in an angry storm and I laughed, because it was the only thing I could do. Maria joined in on the merriment as well.

"You're the first I've seen to deny him. Even guys dare to ask him out."

"Would you?" I asked of her.

"Nah, I'm alright. Besides, I really don't want someone who has a tendency of having a new girl every time he pleases. At least that's what's rumored around."

That kept me thinking. Was something going on that I hadn't heard about? As the day reached its peak, and we closed the shop and said goodbye to Maria, I walked alongside Alex. We talked about nonsense on the way until we arrived at my house.

"This was nice," the blond commented.

"Yeah, it was. Thanks for accompanying me."

"No problem. Hey, how about if…"

"If?"

Sighing, he finished his thought. "If we go eat dinner tomorrow."

Okay, now this made my suspicions grow. But he was just so nice, unlike Riku, how could I deny him?

"I'll think about it."

After saying goodnight, I went inside and told mom what had transpired that day. She was ecstatic, and said that everything was changing for the better. I still had my doubts about that.

oooOooo

Two weeks passed, and a mixture of emotions grew within me. I somehow became friends with Kairi and Selphie, thanks to their amazing insistence, and learned to tolerate Wakka, because he was like the big brother I never had. Tidus, on the other hand, was very obnoxious and hyper. I liked to kick his butt whenever I could, though, so that at least was fun. I still had to meet the elusive Sora, because he was vacationing with his parents on the Cerci chain.

Riku and Alex were another story. Rumor had it, mainly Selphie, that an unknown person had started a bet. The winner would get one hundred dollars if they managed to be my boyfriend and dump me as soon as I had said yes. Oh, did I mention that another would be recording the event, and upload it to the internet? And guess who participated in it? Yeah, surprise, surprise. Those two were now officially on my hate list. Especially Alex, since he had won, sadly.

Anita's condition hadn't helped matters in the least. She had gotten potentially worse, but she was managing. Mom would always be a fighter. My friends and I decided to take her to Play Island as a surprise, and a distraction. I had been there two times already, but I've been busy ever since then, so I hadn't returned.

I cried when I saw mom that day. She looked lovely and young, as if her sickness never even existed in her. We accompanied her and discovered every nook and cranny the small island had to offer to curious people like us. After a playful day we went back, only to bump into Undesirable number two and a stranger.

"Oh my God, you're back!" squealed Kairi. Both she and Selphie ran up to him, giving him immense hugs, which he returned. He laughed out loud, and soon the rest of them joined in, except me. After kissing each girl on the cheek, he turned to us and introduced himself. Sora was the name. He proceeded to invite us to his house, were a sort of welcome back party was being held. I was about to deny this kind boy's offer for Anita's sake, but she beat me to it.

"I would love to darling, but I'm exhausted. Maybe you could take Alice with you. I'm sure she'll enjoy herself."

"Oh, alright then. You go rest while we take your lovely daughter with us."

"Mom…" I whispered.

"Hush now, and go and have fun with your friends. I'll be waiting for you, although I'll probably be asleep when you get there."

After parting ways, we walked all the way to Sora's house, which was three blocks away from ours. The party had already started, and when I got in I felt oppressed by all the people in attendance. Since the only ones I knew were already in the company of others, I stayed by myself. Not knowing what else to do, I headed to the backyard. Standing near a rosebush, I looked up at the stars and wondered why life had chosen me to be as miserable as I always was. As I kept staring, a white butterfly appeared out of nowhere. Considering it strange, I decided to follow it. The insect landed on top of a rock near the gate that led to the beach behind Sora's house.

"Hello there," I started talking to it. "What are you doing out so late? You could be killed, you know. You are too beautiful for that." It stayed there all the same. I smiled. The little thing was a stubborn as me. Out of my peripheral vision I saw something else move; something that looked like a shadow, but then classified it as my imagination.

"Hey Scarface, don't go! The party is just about to begin!"

Turning around, I spotted a drunken Alex along with his real girlfriend, Sarah. Yes, she knew about the bet as well and actually agreed to help him, by being the person to record. Other people started gathering around him, along with a clueless Sora, Riku and my friends.

"How about you come and tell us of how you fell into my trap?" Taking his girl by the waist and kissing her, he flashed the money for everyone to see. "One hundred dollars' worth, baby!" Most of them shouted with glee along with him, but my only friends looked outraged on my behalf, including Sora.

"Who else participated in this atrocity?" he asked.

"Why don't you ask your best friend over there? He might know of someone," Alex mocked.

"What? Riku man, how could you?"

"I… had my reasons," he answered in a monotone voice.

"That's just sick and you know it."

He only shrugged, but it was apparent he was feeling a bit guilty and angry at himself for the decisions he had made. Sora tried to salvage the situation, to no avail. Everyone was laughing at what Alex kept saying about me, and they all pointed and whispered about my scar. It was just like in Damascus.

Suddenly, rage filled my heart, along with hate and the need for revenge. Running towards him, I grabbed hold of his shirt and looked him straight in the eye. "You will perish along with those who have hurt me." And with that said, I released some kind of white power, and it hit him square on the chest. After he fell, I looked around. They all were quiet and shocked, looking at me as if I were an alien or something. It was worse than before. I looked at my hands, then at Alex, and back to my hands. It wasn't until Sora said my name that I started running away to the beach, where people could harm me no more.

Running in the darkness was never a good idea, because you tended to end just like me, losing yourself and not being able to return the way you came from. "Hello?" I started shouting, to see if there was anyone who could've helped me. What I managed to do was wake the shadows, for they were somehow walking towards me with deadly intention on their purple eyes. What the hell were those? I started running again to get away from them, and not noticing where I was going, I fell to the water. The tide was high, and I felt myself getting pulled in.

"Help!" I shouted. "Please, someone help me!"

But no one had heard me on time, and I started to drown. I tried to hold my breath as long as I could, but I couldn't succeed. I was losing my sight, and my mind was getting drowsy.

I started hearing things, whispered words in the middle of my pain.

"Hearts… Save…"

The last thing I saw was a flash of white light before I fainted.

oooOooo

I awoke coughing and throwing up water. My throat was raw from the salt, and my sight still had to return to its normal blurriness.

"My… glasses…" I panted.

"They got lost."

Surprise flittered through me. Was that who I thought I was?

"Riku?"

"Yes?"

Aw, great. I now owed the person I hated a life debt, and he had somehow won himself forgiveness for what he did. Wonderful.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

We went back to Sora's house, where Kairi offered me some clothes and a towel, and Selphie some water. Then I looked around.

"Where's everyone?"

"I kicked them out," answered Sora. "Those aren't friends of mine."

An inexplicable urge to cry overwhelmed me, and I had to let it go. The girls came forward and hugged me, hurt plain to see on their faces. No words were needed, for it was a moment the heart would understand.

oooOooo

After two months, we became best friends. Yep, even Undesirable numero dos. We had had a lot of good times, and while they attended college, I kept on working. My boss had fired Alex the day after the incident, something I was thankful for. I also had the pleasure of talking to Riku about the same thing, questioning him as to how had he managed to find me. "Instinct," was his answer, something that made me doubt that even more. Had he followed me when I ran away? I could've asked the others about it, but I left that matter to rest. Anita's condition had gotten a bit better, but it was a far cry away from fine. I was also saving a bit of money, because I wanted to follow my friends' advice and attend art school in the future. All in all, everything was turning out alright.

Except… the dreams.

I started having them right after I had almost drowned. They all were the same: bits and pieces of images and short undistinguishable words. I knew they had a meaning, and I wanted to figure them out, but real life had its own calling, and I had to attend it.

Starting anew was rough, I had found out, but new beginnings with family and friends by your side would always help, no matter what.