Disclaimer: When reading DToF, please keep this in mind. I plotted this story after watching KH (the first game), and seeing a couple of screenshots for the next one. That means: I adopted the new outfits for Sora and Riku and Kairi, and while there is an Axel-looking character in here, it is only what I assumed of him based on screenshots, before I even knew his name. All concepts still belong to Disney/Squaresoft(Enix); all original plot stuffs belong to moi. Any similarities to material I have not seen, like BBS, 358/2 Days or the Final Mixes are completely coincidental.

Thank you.

Chapter 10: Dormant Answers

I'm worried about you, Riku. Your heart is going to crack under all of that pressure…

...

...

"You're going down, Tidus!"

"Ow! No, I won't give in that easily!"

"Fine, have it your way!"

"N-No, wait a minute! Aaaah!" A loud splash drowned out the fair-haired boy's protests. Tidus immediately broke the surface, coughing and sputtering after having fallen from the Paopu Islet. The water was shallow three-quarters of the way around, but right at the back, it went straight down. The main players on Destiny Islands made sure to reinforce the ladder at the back to make climbing back up easier. "Aw man, I'm either really off or I'm really losing it," Tidus whined, pulling himself out of the water.

"Hey Mon! You lost to her again? I think that act of... umm... what's it called?"

"Chivalry, Wakka." The victor called out, pretending to sheathe her weapon.

"Yeah, that's it. If that's what you're trying to pull, I suggest you stop before you get hurt, Mon."

"Yah Tidus. I'll be able to beat you at this rate."

"Shut up, Selphie. It's not like you or Wakka beat her." Tidus complained. "When did you get so good at this, Kairi?"

The 15-year-old girl ran a hand through her battle-messy maroon hair, pleased to have another battle won. Her dark blue eyes glistened in the sunlight. "I've always liked it and have knowledge on the subject, Tidus. I just decided to start practicing again is all." Kairi glanced up at the sky, keeping her true reason to herself. Having a weapon in her hands, trying to become a part of the games that she would watch between Riku and Sora made her feel closer to them. She would always play the judge of the batter, though it was generally the same result every time because she liked to watch her two friends compete. Now, she wanted to be part of the action.

"Up for another round?" Kairi gripped the wooden sword again, mimicking one of Sora's ready poses.

"Naw, I'm supposed to be doing chores at home…" Tidus rubbed the back of his head where he had smacked it off a coconut tree beforehand. The excuse was legitimate, but it didn't stop Wakka and Selphie from teasing him. They equally had other things they were supposed to be doing and bid Kairi a good day as they raced back towards their boats, tormenting Tidus across the beach.

"Good. I needed the break." Kairi sighed and tossed Sora's sword where she often found it, askance against the Paopu tree. The sensation of the wooden toy lingered in her palm, nudging shivers down her back. She had gotten tired of just sitting and waiting and sitting more. Sora and Riku and a habit of wanting to keep her safe; helping her get back to the Islands was their latest act of white-knighting her away from the danger. She suspected that they wanted her to sit and relax, that she might be in the way, but she couldn't take being idle any longer.

After a moment, Kairi lifted herself onto the trunk of the fate-tying Paopu tree, laying down along its curved structure the Sora always would, closing her eyes to give herself some time to think.

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"If you want Kairi, I can teach you how to wield a blade. It might take a bit, but if you practice, I'll bet you can be better than even Riku."

Kairi lifted her head, struck by the words that reached out a world of possibilities to her. She had always been content to be a spectator until she had become the only one who didn't play-fight with everyone else. Even the newest person to come to the Islands could take on Sora and Riku and was always enjoying herself. Kairi wanted that chance too, but was then hindered by the thought of Sora and Riku believing she wasn't strong enough to battle them. "Really? You would do that for me?"

The taller girl ran her fingers through her hair. Kairi marveled at the way her fingers skimmed through the obsidian strands until they reached the scarlet tips at the end; she still wasn't used to her friend's odd hair colouring, even if it was natural. She also liked how her friend could mimic Riku's favourite final pose without looking cheesy the way Sora did. Kairi was certain she would get her fingers tangled and look even more ridiculous than Sora did.

"Well sure Kairi. I can tell you want to learn."

Kairi flushed, embarrassed that her thoughts could be so transparent when she tried to look content at having things always be the same. She couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy over being unable to join in with everyone's games too, despite being friends with them since they were children.

Lost in her thoughts, Kairi didn't notice another sword being tossed at her until the object struck her hands and nearly tumbled down to the sand under her feet.

"Hm. Lesson one: Attention and sword holding."

Kairi giggled, despite herself, pleased to know that she wasn't the inconvenience she had believed herself to be. She tried to hold the sword the way she believed it to be held, and was immediately corrected.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Why did you leave… Why? Weren't you happy here with us?" Kairi winced, thinking of an unpleasant memory. She hadn't been able to help then either. Couldn't help anyone. She sighed with frustration, angry that she had such an important heart, one that had to hide in Sora's for protection, and yet she couldn't stop Riku's world from descending into the darkness, couldn't remain with Sora when he left to bring Riku back.

"I told him that I'd always be with him because our hearts are connected, but that just isn't enough."

~~"You have a strong heart, Kairi. I can show you how to find Sora and Riku with it. You'll have the edge in all of your games. You'll never lose them again."~~

Kairi's opened her eyes, finally remembering the answer.

READERS! I am currently in the process of re-writing DToF because the first version was done before I had any practice in writing stories. Now, I want it to reflect how I've grown. I have completed my revision of chapters 1-10. PLEASE! Do not read further - I am not deleting chapters yet, because I don't want to hurt the posted reviews until I have to. Anything past Chapter 10 still needs fixing! I promise to message people when the story is revised throughout!

Thank you!