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It was the next day over on Destiny Islands as Sora and Riku were preparing for a race. I stood on the sidelines with Kairi as I could only shake my head at the boys' competitiveness.

"Explain to me why we must deal with this again." It wasn't the first time they raced across the island for something but it really was starting to get short on time if we wanted to leave the island on time.

"Hehe. Because it's fun to watch them compete all the time." Kairi giggled as she stood as the judge. My eyes wavered back and forth between Riku and Kairi as I felt a little . . . jealous. I know that Riku and I were already good friends and there's nothing I wouldn't change about that. But I've always noticed how differently he treats Kairi in comparison to me and . . . it honestly made me feel a little jealous. But there shouldn't be anything to be jealous of, right?

"If I win, I'm captain! And if you win -."

"I get to share the paopu fruit with Kairi."

Sora and I shared the same stunned look as Riku stared across the obstacle course with determination in his eyes. I could barely catch my composure as Kairi signaled for the race to start and they were off. My mouth literally dropped at his previous words as I watched them both race across the island. So Riku did have those kinds of feelings for Kairi after all. Looking back at Kairi's cheerful state, I patted her on the shoulder to get her attention.

"Um . . . By any chance, did you happen to hear the reason for their racing?"

"Huh? Wasn't it to decide the name of the raft?"

My eyebrows cascaded in relief. At least she hadn't heard Riku. "Yeah, that's what I thought it was. Just wanted to know what those boneheads were racing for this time."

At first she just looked at me with confusion, making me panic a little. Did she know I was covering it up? But as usual, she giggled before speaking, "You know, you're a lot like the mom of our group."

I raised an eyebrow. "The mom?"

She nodded her head continuing, "Yup. And Riku's like the dad while me and Sora are like the kids. You both are always looking out for us. It's really nice."

My eyes softened, not really knowing how to take her perception of our group. It was cute but at the same time ironic. Letting a smile set in on my lips, I hugged Kairi to my side as we both watched Sora and Riku race back to us. "Yeah, I guess it is. Both you and Sora are quite the pair for trouble."

"Hey!" Kairi giggled. She knew I didn't mean it like that.

"But I'll always be here for you. No matter what. And who knows. We might even find our home along the way."

I returned her smile as we both looked back to see Sora ahead of Riku as he passed us with his hands triumphant in the air. A little tang of glee went off in me as I clapped for Sora's victory alongside Kairi. Riku was standing off to the side, looking non-too pleased with losing.

"Now the score's 1 to 0!" Sora yelled out in victory, proud of winning the race and the prize he had won. I was glad since that meant Riku wouldn't share the paopu with Kairi. Casting a look at Riku, I felt my heart sink at the realization: even though he didn't win, it wouldn't change his feelings for her.

"Man, lighten up. It's just a name, after all."

Sora narrowed his brows at Riku's annoyed tone as I stood by, feeling my heart sink even lower. This definitely didn't change his feelings for her.

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"Hey Hotaru, can you come with me for a second?"

Looking down from the palm tree I was on, I saw Sora looking pretty antsy about something. Cocking my head to the side, I slid down the tree and landed by his side gracefully. "What's up?"

"Follow me. I just need to know something."

Shrugging my shoulders, I followed him into the secret place at the base of the biggest tree on the island. I hesitated a little, stepping back as I stared into the dark entrance.

"Hotaru? You okay?"

Looking back at Sora, I nodded my head as I walked with him inside. Must've been my nerves getting the better of me. "Yeah, sorry. I kind of got the chills. There must be a draft or something inside."

"Oh. Well it's not far." Following Sora, I walked down the slope to the inside where vines were the prime decoration of the place and child-like chalk drawings on the walls with a door across from us. For some reason, my eyes couldn't separate from it as I felt myself walking up to it. Ever since I could remember, I always wondered what was behind that door but never actually bothered to look. I only ventured in here once and never wanted to come back. But unfortunately, Sora wanted me to come.

With each step I took, it felt like an underlying energy was rising up from inside of me and trying to find a way out. An inch away from touching the door, my hand was seized by Sora with a worried look on his face. "Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry."

My eyes darted back forth from Sora and the door as I retreated my hand, feeling the energy subside within me. Holding a part of my head, I could hear some type of whispering.

"What?"

"Huh?" Looking back at Sora, he looked even more concerned as he stood next to me. "What?"

"You said, 'The door has been connected.' Just now."

"Oh. Did I, really?" Nodding his head in confirmation, I turned away from the door as I started walking back towards the entrance. There was no way I was staying in here for another second.

"So you felt something, too! From that door!"

Turning to look at Sora, I narrowed my eyes in aggravation as I wanted nothing more than to leave. "Yes, I did. But what does that have to do with -."

"I felt something earlier, too! But there was a guy here, in the corner. I couldn't see him since he was wearing a black hood but he said something about the door, too!"

Eyeing Sora with wary, I glanced back at the door before looking back at Sora. "So why'd you bring me here? Why not Kairi or Riku?"

"Because I knew you'd listen to me. I didn't want to worry Kairi, and with Riku . . . Well, he's Riku. He'd probably just say I was sleeping in the sun for too long."

"Hm. True." I felt a small urge trying to get to the door again but went against it as I grabbed Sora's arm and ran out of the secret base with him. As soon as we reached the outside, the chills went away and I was finally able to calm myself down. What was that feeling back there?

"Sora, listen to me."

I looked back to make sure he was paying attention; he was.

"Do not – I repeat – NOT ever go back in there. That place feels way too weird and I don't trust it. Understand?"

"But I've gone in there before and back then -."

"Sora! I'm being serious! I don't want the guy coming back and doing something to hurt you! So don't go back in there without my say-so, okay?"

Sora's aquamarine orbs gazed at me with slight fear as he nodded his head. I don't normally yell – let alone at my friends – so it was understandable that he was surprised of my reaction. Gaining my composure, I patted him on the head as I offered a small smile. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. But I just don't want anything happening to you. You, Kairi, or Riku. So I can't help but worry sometimes, that's all."

His eyes shone with appreciation as he hugged me around my waist and we ventured away from the secret base. The further we were from it, the better . . .

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Sitting on the edge of the island, I watched from the Cliffside as the sunset cascaded over the ocean's horizon. My legs swung to their own pace as I enjoyed the breeze and closed my eyes in leisure. Tomorrow, we would be leaving the islands and setting off to new worlds. If that wasn't the biggest adrenaline rush in the world, then I don't know what is . . .

"Got a second?"

Peeking over my shoulder, I saw Riku walking over with his hands in his pockets as he smirked over my way. Gesturing to the spot next to me, I turned back to the sunset as I heard him sit next to me. Looking over, his leg was propped up as his arm was slung over his knee as he held his gaze out towards the ocean. He was thinking again. Looking down at my green shorts, I fiddled with the yellow and black straps attached.

"You ready for tomorrow?"

His lips formed a smirk, though he didn't take his eyes away from the sunset. "I'm more than ready. I'm just worried about you and Sora."

"Oh please." I playfully shoved him, getting a laugh out of both of us. It doesn't last long as we reverted back into our comfortable silence. "You think I'll find out where I came from?"

I knew he was looking at me this time but I didn't face him.

"What makes you think that you're not from the same place as Kairi?"

"I don't know. For all I know, I could be from a completely different world than hers."

"Do you really think that?"

I looked back at Riku, seeing his seriousness in his aqua eyes. I switched my sight back onto my lap, fingering with my black and green fingerless gloves. As much as my thoughts wanted to venture more into my curiosity and wanted to ask all of these kinds of questions, my heart had a different feeling altogether. "No. But I can't help but wonder sometimes."

"Yeah. This trip is starting to make everyone wonder, I think."

"I know you have. I don't know about Kairi and Sora though. They're just looking at it as another adventure." Looking over by the pier, I could see the mentioned kids watching the sunset together. The sight brought a soft smile to my face, making me wish that we could just stay here and not have to go out after all. But my curiosity was begging me to go, even if all my theories were wrong about where I came from. It couldn't hurt to know.

"But wherever you came from – whether it was with Kairi or not – I'm glad you found your way to the island."

I wasn't expecting such words out of Riku as I tilted my head over at him. My face probably looked calm and steady but inside my feelings were bouncing all over the place as I wasn't sure what to feel. Taking a deep breath, I felt the wind pick up a little as the sun finally disappeared over the horizon. "Thanks for being such a good friend Riku."

"Yeah. Likewise."

It was time to go. We both knew it was but neither of us moved from our spots. I guess it was because on the inside we were scared of what was going to happen on this new adventure that waiting before us. At least, that's I how I felt.

Riku stood up next to me and offered a gloved hand, his trademark smirk on his face. "Don't tell me you're chickening out now?"

Rivaling his smirk with my own, I accepted his hand and pulled myself up. "Nope. Just wondering if you were gonna be able to catch up."

He raised an eyebrow. "Catch up?"

"Yup. Because I'm already ahead of you." Before he could ask what I meant, I started running down the cliff towards the beach as I heard him catching up not too far from me.

"That was sneaky, Hotaru!"

"Like you're any better!"

Even while we were racing and enjoying our time together, I couldn't help but feel some sort of regret as we reached the pier with Sora and Kairi waiting for us. What if this adventure changed our lives? What if it changed us? What if . . . we weren't all gonna be together after all of this?

Looking at Riku teasing Sora, Sora defending himself, and Kairi giggling at the two, it made me feel sad. But there wasn't anything to worry about. Was there?

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Waves were crashing all around the island. I stood near the pier, scared and worried for the others. Where were my friends? Were they alright? The clouds hovering over the island are dark and malicious as thunder booms from them. Panicked, I dash around the coast in an attempt to find Riku and the others. But there's something else here, something besides the storm. Looking over my shoulder, I see this vast sea of darkness swarming towards me with yellow beady eyes inside it. I force my legs to run faster as I see someone ahead of me. Squinting my eyes, I can see it's Riku! I call out his name but he doesn't respond as his back is facing me and he's staring out at a huge wave coming towards him. Making one last effort to get to him, I jump and hold my hand out for him.

"RIKU!"

I opened my eyes in fright as I looked around me. I was . . . in the secret place? Looking around me, I saw the old drawings from before when we were little and judging from how tired I felt, I guess I was in here for a while. I didn't question it for too long as I felt the same energy from before rise in me. It didn't take long for the shivers to return when I looked over at the door. That same urge came over me from before as I found myself staring at its frame.

'This has bad news written all over it.'

Come, my child. Your time here is no longer needed.

"W-What?" Trying my hardest to get away, it didn't work – like my muscles were working against me for some reason. And then something dark was oozing out of the sides of the door. As they slid across the room towards me, I could do nothing but watch as I was getting entangled more and more by the darkness.

"Kairi! Hotaru!"

Sora? Why was Sora here? And where did he see Kairi? I tried my hardest to look over but the darkness grew too strong as more of it blasted out of the door and engulfed me with it. I didn't know where I was. I didn't know where I was going. I couldn't even tell if I was going to survive whatever this was. But my only thoughts will surrounded by infinite darkness?

. . . It was rather calming.