Aria sat outside, still borrowing an outfit of Kairi's. It was hers from last year and it was just a little too small but it would have to do. She was on the paopu tree Kairi, Sora, and Riku usually sat on. The sun was just beginning to rise.

Every night, Aria left Sora's house and came to sit here until the sun came up. She felt guilty for burdening Sora and his mom so she left all the time. It had been only three days since she had been found and with Aria leaving every night, Sora had moved back into his bed. He told her that whenever she wanted to, Aria could come back and share with him or if that made her uncomfortable to wake him up and he'd find a new place to sleep. Though Aria thought of taking up on his first offer, she decided not to just to be polite.

From behind her, she heard footsteps on the wooden bridge that led to the tree. Aria turned to see Sora running her way, grinning. "Hey, Aria!" He called as he climbed up the trunk and scooted towards her. "G'morning!" Sora exclaimed, smiling widely.

Aria nodded. She looked away. The sun had risen and the world was alight with the warmth of a new day. Sora laughed. "So today, Riku, Kairi and I were going to play in the water since its warmer now. We really want you to join us, Aria."

Aria looked down at her hands, clasped together in her lap. "Well," she said softly, "I don't have a bathing suit."

"Selphie has one you can borrow, so it's okay. C'mon, it'll be fun!"

"Fun?" Aria echoed. "I don't possibly see how I can have fun. I lost my brother and my sister and its my fault. I don't deserve to have fun, or have friends like you."

Sora put one hand over Aria's, completely undeterred by her dark mood. "Nonsense! It wasn't your fault! And whether you like it or not, I'm staying by your side no matter what!"

Aria looked up, her light blue eyes shining. "Thank you, Sora..."

XXX

"Aria?" Selphie called from the other side of her bathroom door. "Does it fit?"

"Mm-hm..." Her voice was hesitant and soft.

"Then let me see!"

Aria opened the door slowly, standing in the doorway and issuing a twirl. "H-How do I look?" Selphie smiled and laughed.

"Wow! You look really pretty!" The bathing suit was a two-piece white bikini with ruffles on the butt. Her hair had been straightened and she was given a twine bracelet to top it off. "Oh, this'll surely impress him..." She mumbled with a mischievous look.

Aria startled. "What?! Impress who?" Selphie giggled and ran out of her house, Aria close on her heels. "Selphie!" She called, "Impress who?" And as she pursued Selphie, she accidentally bumped into Sora. They both fell to the ground, and Sora grunted as the small weight of Aria landed on him. She was pressed close to him, her legs straddling his stomach and her cheek pressed to his. She blushed bright red and scrambled off of Sora. He stood, his face flushed. "Are you okay, Aria?"

She looked at her bare feet and nodded, squirming in her very-exposing bathing suit. "S-S-Sorry, I should've been more c-careful..."

One thought ran through the back of Sora's head: she's so cute when she's embarrassed! He laughed and hugged her quickly. "It's okay!" he turned in his plain red shorts and started to run towards the beach shores. "Come on! Lets go!" She nodded and sprinted after him, dazed and embarrassed.

When they got to the others, Selphie and Kairi were giggling and speaking in hushed tones. Aria stomped up to Selphie and shot her a half-hearted glare, then turned to look at the water. Riku was sitting at the edge of the shoreline in a grey and black bathing suit. Selphie had a purple and blue polka-dotted one-piece and Kairi wore a yellow bikini with red roses on it. In up to their waists, Wakka and Tidus played together, laughing and trying to push each other under.

For the first time in God knows how long, Aria felt a smile creep across her face. Sora watched from the corner of his eye and his gaze warmed at the sight of her timid happiness. He grinned widely and suddenly ran towards the salty sea water. With a jump, he splashed into the warm liquid, coming up a second later. "Riku, Kairi! Selphie, Aria! C'mon in the water is great!"

Riku laughed as Sora puffed up his cheeks and started to doggy paddle. He stood and splashed in after Kairi and Selphie, leaving Aria on the beach. Seeing her hesitance, Kairi, Selphie, Sora, and Wakka all held their hands out to her, smiling. Tidus nodded in encouragement and Riku just stood there with a cool and collected look. Taking a deep breath, Aria smiled and ran into the water.