Chapter 6
"You know, Riku has changed," a child's voice came out of my mouth. I was looking out into the sunset when I said this. Sitting on a sort of dock and letting my legs dangle off the edge. Listening to the ocean water lap against one another. The colors are absolutely stunning.
"What do you mean?" a boy asked beside me and I didn't even look at him. Instead my focus was on the water.
"Well..." I trailed. Not really sure how I should word it...
"You okay?" Then a thought occured to me. I turned to face feeling all excited.
"Sora, let's take the raft and go - just the two of us!" I exclaimed and he looked shocked at me.
"Huh?" I let out a laugh at his face. It was just so funny.
"Just kidding."
"What's gotten into you? You're the one that's changed, Kairi."
"Maybe..." I trailed. We were growing up after all. "You know, I was a little afraid at first, but now I'm ready." My voice was all excited again and then it became thoughtful. "No matter where I go or what I see, I know I can always come back here. Right?"
"Yeah, of course!" he agreed right away.
"That's good." We were comfortable in our silence. Enjoying each other's company. I wish it could stay like this forever. "Sora, don't ever change."
"Huh?" I got up on my feet and held my hands behind my back.
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great."
My eyes slowly opened and I blinked a couple times after that.
What was that all about? No doubt it was another memory that resurfaced. Lets see... I was there, duh, and I think I was a lot younger this time. Fourteen maybe? I was talking to somebody... Probably Sora. All I can remember was his very red shorts and bewildered blue eyes. And we were talking about... sailing maybe? Why would we be talking about something like that?
I sat up and saw that daylight has already broken. I lazily looked at my alarm clock and saw that it was past ten. I love sleeping in on weekends.
I ate my breakfast in peace and thought more about the dream. The last one was a sunrise, and it looks like I got the opposite this time. But the one thing I do remember is the setting sun. Do they always look like that there? No wonder we wanted to go sailing. The whole thing was just stunning and who knows what's beyond those waters. I wonder if we ever did. Maybe I'll ask Sora today.
I called him after I finished my breakfast and he said he'll meet me outside my building in about ten minutes. I got dressed after we hung up and by the time I stepped outside, I see Sora walking towards me.
"Ready to go?" he asked and I nodded. We walked the way (it's not that far away) and thought I should I bring it up.
"Sora?" I asked.
"Hmm?" he answered.
"Did we ever go sailing when we were kids?" He looked thoughtful for a moment and his eyebrow lifted.
"Mind being more specific?" I merely smiled. I explained the dream to him to the best my memory could tell and then he smiled. "Oh yeah, I remember that. The three of us were going to see more of the world (It was Riku's idea, in case you're wondering) and we were really looking forward to it. Problem was that the raft we made didn't make it out fifteen feet from the shore." We both laughed at that like two old friends who haven't seen each other for a while. "So how do you know that, anyway?" he asked after our laughter had died down.
"I saw it in my dream last night. I was with someone, talking about change and our trip."
"Wow, seems like you remember more and more now," he stated and I agreed.
"They started coming back ever since we met. Another thing to write off as a coincidence."
"Yeah. No such thing anymore, right?" I nodded. "I remember that conversation though. It always reminded me that we were growing up." So it was him that I was talking to. Then a thought occured to me that made me feel sad.
"What's the matter?" I heard him ask and he sounded worried.
"I was just thinking, when I saw myself in that dream, she looked young and happy. Very open and fun. Not knowing that she was going to end up in a horrible accident that'll basically ruin her life." My chest fell at that thought and then I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders. I looked up at him to see his reassuring smile.
"These kind of things happen to the best of us. I mean, I can't even imagine what you must be going through, but just be happy that you actually survived. That shows true strength." I smiled after he said that. He really knew how to comfort me. I didn't know if it was just the way he is or it's a result for knowing her for so long.
"We're here," I finally said and we stopped. The university was a good distance away and right across the street from us. My heart start to speed up and I was taking hestitant breaths. Lights were flashing in my mind and sounds of feet scrambling.
"Hey, you okay?" I turned to him and he looked worried. I swiftly nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I found my legs completely frozen and not wanting to take another step.
"We don't have to continue, we could turn around and-"
"No. I want to do this," I stated and finally got my frozen legs to move enough to continue walking. Albeit a little slower than what I intended. I finally reached the mark where it all happened. A cell phone in my hand... Was I going to call someone? The sound of tires screeching and by the time I looked... I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away as I felt it start to freeze against my skin.
"Liz? Are you all right?" My heart was beating against my chest. I then felt a hand touch my back and I jumped, nearly giving me a heart attack. "Sorry," he quickly apologized and I just shook my head.
"Don't be, I was just..." I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence.
"It's all right. It must be really hard for you, being back here and all." And it was. It really was.
I think I'll call Sora, I thought all of a sudden. Why did I think of that? He's standing right next to me. Unless...
"I think I tried to call you that night," I said and he looked surprised at me. Then he walked across the pavement and was looking around.
"The file said that your wallet was never recovered, right?" I nodded. Where was he going with this? "Since this town is built on the mountain side..." He walked down to the steep side of the university and looked down at the snow.
"Sora? You're not thinking about going down there, right?" I placed my fists on my hips while looking sternly at him. Sure enough, he jumped the road fence and slid down the hill. I ran across the street and watched him as he continued down. "Sora! Get back up here!" He continued to ignore me as he started digging through the snow. "Sora! Forget it! Somebody must've found it and is using the credit cards as we speak!"
"If they did, I would've found them sooner!" He yelled up at me and I was taken aback. He did have a point.
"Even so, it's probably buried and it'll take hours to find it!" And I'm not looking to catch the cold any time soon. But he just continued digging from one spot to another. I do have to admit that I admire his persistence. No matter how irrational it may be. But I just continued to stand there and worry over his well being. He has been down there for quite a while and is covered head to toe in snow.
"I found something!" he yelled and my heart raced. But not from deluding me.
"It could be an old shoe or a soda can!" I yelled back as he started climbing up.
"Nope, I found something even better." I reached my hand down to him and he grabbed it. I pulled him up as best as I could while using the fence for support. He pulled himself up and over the wall and finally met pavement. He shook himself from all the snow he collected and handed me the object he found.
"Open it up," he instructed as I took the object and saw that it was... a pink wallet. I swallowed a heavy lump and decided to open it to see a driver's license staring right up at me.
Kairi Marie Heartilly
5782 Paupu Avenue
Main, Destiny Islands
I wiped away the dirt and dead leaves from the photo to see myself as I looked then. I couldn't believe it... All this time I thought it was stolen and as it turns out, the police weren't looking hard enough. Or that it was too dark when it happened that they couldn't find it. Classes did have to continue after all. But I just find it unbelievable that Sora actually found it. Wait, how'd he know so fast?
"Sora... this-"
"I recognized it immediately. I did give it to you for your birthday some years back. I'm just surprised how durable it is." I smiled as he said it. Honestly, I don't know anyone who would go as far as he did. Just to recover something simple. But to me, and it looks like him too, this was the greatest treasure that he had ever found.
We made our way to the nearest sandwich shop and had our lunch in there. I called up Doctor Ansem and asked if it were possible to have a DNA test to verify my true identity. Even though I don't think I need it, it would be great to show to my family that it really is me. He agreed and that he had an opening around two hours passed noon. He also said that he'll get started right away after I gave him my true name and where I lived before. Everything'll be done over the computer so it should take no longer than a half hour to do a comparison.
"Well, I have another doctor's appointment in three hours," I told him and smiled.
"Great. I can't wait until you come home," he said in between sandwich bites.
"Home?" I asked. A realization dawned on me.
"Yeah y'know, the Islands? Where your friends and family live?" I never thought about it. For the last two years, Twilight Town has been my home. "What's the matter?" He must've noticed that my face fell.
"Sora..." I started. "I don't think I can come home."
*Gasps* What are you talking about?! We'll just have to see in the next chapter. ;D
