no matter what the time {Refrain, Hikari}

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It seemed as though Riku and Sora were close.

"So much for a romantic triangle, Selphie." Kairi jokes during lunch when they see the two boys chatting and walking through the courtyard in the window.

"Oh, shush, Kairi, you haven't read enough shoujo manga. There's still a chance." Selphie lectures and her eyes flit around the room, focusing on a mane of blonde hair before focusing on Kairi.

Kairi was pretty, she'd grown up to be a good girl; although, a little over kill. Selphie sighed. She was still so clueless over romance. "Have you thought of anyone to join us in the club?"

"I don't really know, but we should get a few popular people, so they can attract others for us."

"…mm." Kairi said as she looked towards the window again.

They both look so carefree… I don't see that often with Riku.

"Cheer up, Kairi. Boys are like that with each other; you know, like how we are with ourselves."

XXXXXX

"Hey, Sora."

"Mm?" Sora was lying on the floor of the roof, gazing up at the sky. Riku hung by the fence, overlooking Destiny.

"Was…Twilight Town that harsh?"

Sora opened his mouth and then closed it. "I think I'm going to quit art club."

"What?"

"Too many people in it; and while the attention is nice, I came here to relax until graduation. I never asked, but what sport are you in?"

Riku growled and dragged a hand over his face, "The same ones you're in! Blockhead…" He muttered. "Maybe if you shave off your hair, maybe you'd be able to see and hear."

"Shut up. I like my hair."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I know."

"Are you going to answer it?"

"I got caught up in a few things. KH wasn't too happy."

"…"

XXXXXX

Along the way home, Kairi found herself in front of the shacks.

They weren't really shacks, but that's what everyone had affectionately termed them. They were a series of apartments built on stilts in case a tsunami wanted to bust in. They towered next the tallest palm trees, and some teens who lived there could usually take the easy way out but climbing down them. Destiny Islands was a colorful place, so it'd make sense that some of the inhabitants would want to paint their houses bright.

She remembered standing as child in front of it every day, just curious as to what it looked like on the inside. Or she'd wait for someone to come out of there, while she knew most of the people who lived there; it never felt like she was waiting for them.

Oh well. Kairi turned to follow her usual route back home before someone stopped her.

"Kairi? What are you doing?"

Kairi cringed at the sound of Sora's voice. She hadn't entirely gotten over his words the other day. She turned towards his approaching figure; thick spikes appearing in the dying sun.

"…oh, hi…" She trails off, somewhat embarrassed to be found hanging outside his home.

"I was j-just lost in thought, and I ended up here. Heehee." Kairi chirps nervously, scratching her head.

He stares at her for what seems like the longest time before saying, "…mm."

Is that all he had to say- -make? It wasn't much of a word… "Do you want to come inside?"

She snaps at his offer. "I couldn't possibly- -I really don't want to intrude…I mean, the day's almost over and- -."

"Pssh. It's not like I'm going to rape you in there. Come on." He takes her hand and leads up the winding stairs and ladders. For some reason, he's so casual with her; acting a little like a kid; lost in a memory.

She should be talking.

When he takes her inside, the smell of slight palm and sandalwood invade her senses; touches of sea salt mixing into the air. The scent was only familiar if you'd been close enough to Sora to smell it on him. It had a nostalgic feel to it; home; yet so distant.

The walls had a faded blue color to them; almost white. And while she was faced with small living space and kitchen corner; she knew that the bedroom and bath were probably right behind a door. Almost all the windows were open; letting light pour in and it was an organized household, although, in scattered, clean way.

Sora had probably disappeared somewhere down in the kitchen corner, where she could hear rummaging. And then, a few curses and lecturing. When she poked her head over the counter, she saw a food covered Sora regarding a gray cat.

"- -and that is why we do not use cat food for a litter box. Do you understand?"

As if it understood, the cat wagged its tail.

"Oh. Sorry, Kairi."

"It's fine…?"

"Kage, say hello."

Currently, awkward silence was met as said cat hid behind Sora in suspicion towards Kairi. Absent mindedly, Sora brushed bits of food off his shirt, while trying to comb it out of his thick hair. Kairi's hand reaches out towards a missed piece in his hair, and she swore it was involuntary; against her will, but plucked it out for him.

"…"

"Um…You missed one?"

"Oh. Thank you." To be truthful, Sora suddenly struck her as the slightly clumsy, go lucky kind of person who dealt with obstacles as if they weren't out of the normal. It was cute in an innocent kind of way, like a little kid.

"Sora?"

He was busy staring at her; examining and it brought pink to her face. "Hmm?"

"Are…Are you alright?"

"Huh? Yeah." He picked up Kage and started petting him.

Yeah, cute in the obnoxious sort of way. How infuriating.

She immediately became irritated. "Oy. Sora? Are you there? You're just sitting on the floor, petting your cat." Why did I come here again…?

He smiled cheekily at her, causing for another blush. "Are you jealous?"

She knew this game and Kairi smiled haughtily. "Of you. I want to pet your cat, too." She settled down on the floor beside him and Kage immediately jumped on her lap.

For about half an hour, this went on; Sora watched as Kairi ran her fingers in Kage's glossy coat.

"I never knew you were good friends with Riku." She murmured, scratching behind Kage's ears.

"We've known each other." He doesn't really answer her implied question, evading it.

"Well- -I mean, not to intrude or anything- -."

"You won't." It sounded more of a certainty as opposed to comfort or assurance.

"How did you two come to know each other?"

Sora tilted his head and closed his eyes; his way of remembering something. "Riku told you how he moved around a bit, right?" Kairi nodded. "Well, we happened to cross roads for a while, and through that, we knew each other." It almost sounded real, but she decided not to ask.

A somewhat tense quietness came over them; Kage's back rising a little with each second. Suddenly aware of the time appearing on the clock, she jumped, startling the cat and Sora, who'd been watching her. It was almost seven.

"Is it that late? It's already seven." Kairi muttered, looking at the kitchen clock. Sora chuckled a little.

"Do you want me to walk you home? It's kind of dark."

"N…no, that's fine, I think I can do it on my own." Kairi replies, taking Sora's hand to pick herself up. His hand was cold; in a soothing way.

At the door, before she left, Kage sliding his tail around her ankle and Sora leaning against the door, he said, "I wanted to ask- -is it too late to join the Lit club?"

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A/N:

FUCKING SHIT. I don't put numbers on my chapters and I put the wrong one up- -GOD DUCKING FAMMIT. I AM SO FUCKING SORRY.