Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts (II), Sora, Kairi, Riku, etc.

Author's Note: I don't know why…People kept telling me "How is Sora going to get out of it?" And I couldn't help thinking…what if Sora DIDN'T get out of it? Just a thought. Wanted to make people miserable with my sorrowful ramblings.

Warning: Naminé… (Clenches teeth)

Quick Author Babble: Lamest costumes EVER!!! Well, maybe not Kairi's, I like hers…but Sora's is just plain STUPID.

Chapter 10: Thrill Me

It was getting close to that day—the day that made everyone shiver in excitement, the time when pumpkins, bats, and black cats got to shine, the day when people skipped happily down gothic streets wearing costumes that could be from a glittery fairy to a disgusting zombie. It was better known as the day of thrills, of fright, of darkness.

Yes, Halloween was coming, and Kairi was the only one not joining in the celebration of decorating the house, or choosing a costume, or carving pumpkins. Kairi just sat in her room, hoping that the time would pass quickly.

Her friends wondered what was wrong with her. Yuffie stopped by everyday, bringing a smile and some snacks or movies Kairi liked to get Kairi to smile. She couldn't. She'd forgotten how to. It had been so long since she'd smiled.

Roxas would come frequently too, but he hardly helped at all, because these days he was miserable as well. He would, however, manage to make her talk a little, a feat most people couldn't do.

Her family was just as worried. Mrs. Ire came in everyday, checking if her daughter had a sickness of some sort, making her feel antisocial. She asked her what was wrong and Kairi wouldn't reply. Mr. Ire would buy her books Kairi had always dreamed of reading, but she wouldn't talk to him either. Naminé dropped in often, trying to have a friendly conversation, but Kairi really didn't want to talk to her.

Even people simply passing by the house looked worried about her. They would look up at her window and she would be there, her expression stony. She wouldn't move a muscle—just gaze out the window with a neutral expression. She could've been a very lifelike statue, for all they knew.

Kairi was the person everyone on the street could count on to be there. Every morning when they left for work or school, she would be there, in that same position. When they came back home, she'd still be there, so the same that it looked like she hadn't breathed.

Kairi barely talked to anyone anymore. The only being she really confided in was her kitten, Truda. At least she knew the little thing couldn't talk, and it was always snuggled up by her side.

Time seemed to have stopped for the redhead. She hadn't talked to Sora since the night of her birthday. It had been sixteen days since she'd even said a "hello" to him. Sora and Naminé had gone on three dates already. Kairi had watched them from the very window people watched her. She'd seen them kiss and snuggle and laugh. They were things couples would do.

But somehow, Kairi had a sick satisfaction that she had been right. Popularity had taken Sora so easily it was almost pathetic to watch. It had happened to Riku. It had happened to Naminé. And now it had happened to Sora.

So now Kairi had proof that the world was against her having friends. She kept thinking it wouldn't be long before Yuffie and Roxas disappeared too.

Sora hadn't joined a SCARF meeting for two and a half weeks because of Naminé—because of the dates he had with her, because of the time he spent with her. He hadn't noticed that Kairi was watching it all from what seemed like very far away, from what would soon be known as Kairi's Perch.

Roxas was so mad at Sora for dating Naminé that he didn't attend SCARF meetings either, just in case he came. He was always frowning nowadays. Kairi felt sad, seeing him so unhappy. She would look at the laughing picture of him with green paint all down his front and sigh, remembering what a high-spirited person he used to be.

Kairi, of course, didn't attend meetings either. As soon as the end of school bell rang, she would be out of the building and walking home.

Yuffie was the only person who hadn't changed a bit. Even though she hadn't seen Sora a whole lot either, she visited all her friends as if they were still talking to each other. She had the same smile that everyone remembered, but she worked for SCARF alone. She'd already gathered a couple of members without them, or so she had said.

It was sad, what the four friends had become. They still couldn't believe it was all because of Naminé. That girl had caused such a big upset that Kairi felt like strangling her every time she saw her, that Sora smiled every time he met her, that Roxas looked like he was about to cry when he heard someone mention her name.

And Kairi tried to go on with life without breaking down, people would look at her sympathetically and say "poor thing", when they really didn't know anything at all. And Kairi would think she really was a poor thing, like a cat left out in the cold, or an orphan with nowhere to go.

111

It was Monday, and the irritating beeping of Kairi's alarm clock echoed through the air. Kairi let out a very loud, anguished groan. She sat up and looked at the alarm clock with bloodshot eyes. She'd been crying, as she did everyday.

"Alright, I'm up, I'm up!" she yelled.

She slammed her fist down on the clock, making it shut off. She slipped into a long, black skirt and striped, long-sleeved shirt, and with a giant amount of effort tried to fully wake up. She brushed her hair and walked over to her table, where a golden necklace was perched on her desk, its pendant shining in the sunlight.

Kairi picked it up and clipped it around her neck. Ever since Sora and Naminé had started dating, Kairi had never been so grateful for Riku's present. She flicked open the pendant and looked down at Sora's picture sadly.

"I miss you," she whispered.

"Kairi, you're going to be late!" Mrs. Ire called from downstairs. "Get your butt down here and eat your breakfast!"

"Coming, Mom!" Kairi yelled back.

She quickly snapped the pendant shut and ran downstairs, picking up her books along the way. Racing into the kitchen, she leaped into a seat and reached for her oatmeal. Naminé was already there, her bowl already half finished. Mr. and Mrs. Ire were sipping their coffee.

"Do you have anything interesting to do at school today?" Mr. Ire asked his daughters politely.

"No," Kairi replied dully.

"Yes!" Naminé chirped. "First I've got to decorate the gym for the Halloween Dance, and then I have to paint a Halloween scene on a curtain that's going over the entrance to the school, and then I'm spending the rest of my day with Sora."

She sighed dreamily. Kairi tried to fake gag, but it didn't work because she was distracted trying to not cry.

Mrs. Ire looked at Naminé. Instead of looking excited, she looked worried.

"My, you and Sora are getting to be quite serious, aren't you?" she said.

Naminé nodded happily. Kairi noticed Mrs. Ire turn to her, looking apologetic. Her pale blue eyes were looking guilty, as if trying to say she never wanted this to happen.

The doorbell rang. Kairi leaped up, happy to be taken away from the tense meal.

"It must be Roxas and Yuffie!" she remarked. "We're supposed to walk to school together today."

She walked up to the door and opened it, expecting to see a blond boy and dark-haired girl behind it. Kairi stopped breathing as she saw Sora standing in front of her. Sora looked just as surprised, and as he looked at her with his hypnotic, blue eyes, Kairi realized she couldn't talk.

"H-Hi," Sora stuttered. "Long time no see."

"Y-Yeah," Kairi said, nodding a bit.

It was awkward after that. Kairi finally managed to find the words she wanted to say.

"You're here for Naminé, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Sora responded.

"Okay," Kairi said. "Nam—"

"Wait!"

Kairi turned, startled, to look at Sora. He was looking extremely saddened.

"I miss you," he remarked. "I haven't talked to you for so long…"

"Of course not," Kairi said coldly. "You're having so much fun with Naminé, why should you bother?"

"Kairi, you've got to understand," Sora stated. "I don't actually…"

"Oh, Sora, there you are!" Naminé chirped, skipping down the hallway.

Sora and Kairi both cringed and turned to the blonde. Sora put on a very fake smile.

"Oh…Naminé…hi…" he muttered.

Naminé kissed him on the cheek, making Kairi boil with anger. She clenched her hands into fists and told herself not to overreact.

"We're going to have lunch together today, right, So?" Naminé asked in very flirty voice.

"So?" Kairi repeated, crossing her arms.

"Apparently," Sora said.

"Well, are we having lunch or not?" Naminé stated.

Sora was met with a very piercing glare.

"Um…sure," he said.

Kairi couldn't take it anymore. She shoved Naminé outside, pushing Sora back as well.

"Have a nice walk!" she shouted, and slammed the door in their faces.

111

Kairi was late for Mr. Strife's class. She snatched her books from her locker, and as she was racing to her class she literally ran into Yuffie. As they tumbled to the floor, all the books went crashing everywhere.

As Kairi got on her hands and knees to pick up everything, Yuffie leaped up.

"Oh, Kairi, I've been looking for you all day!" she cried. "Roxas and I are going costume shopping! You and Sora have to come!"

"Sora's not going to come," Kairi said coldly. "He has plans with Naminé."

"Ask him anyway," Yuffie remarked. "I'm sure Naminé will understand. Leon's coming too, and so are the other three SCARF members I picked up. Do you know Hayner, Pence, and Olette?"

Kairi shrugged.

"Sort of."

"Good. Meet us at Coolie's Costume Emporium after school lets out. I'm sure we can pick something up there."

111

Kairi made her way to Coolie's Costume Emporium with Sora and Naminé. As much as she had been dreading it, she'd asked Sora to come, and Sora asked Naminé if he could come, and Naminé said only if she could come. So they were all going to the costume store to meet Roxas, Leon, Yuffie, Hayner, Pence, and Olette. Kairi knew Hayner, Pence, and Olette were Roxas's other friends. He must've been happy that they had joined.

Naminé and Sora were holding hands. Kairi was becoming very impatient. She started walking much faster than them so she could pass them and not have to look at them.

As she came to the entrance of the shop, Kairi was more than relieved. She threw open the door and walked in, screaming and nearly falling over as a person jumped out with an ogre mask on.

Roxas ran up behind the masked person.

"Hayner!" he shouted. "Don't do that! Take it off!"

"Ugh, you're such a goody two shoes," said a muffled voice.

"Yeah, well, deal with it."

Roxas reached over and pulled off the mask, revealing a boy with mischievous, brown eyes and spiky, blond hair. His eyes widened as he looked Kairi over.

"Who is this?" he asked in a very slick voice.

"Hayner, this is Kairi," Roxas introduced. "Kairi, this is Hayner. I've known him since…forever."

"Yeah, yeah, out of the way, short stop," Hayner said, pushing Roxas out of the way.

He walked over to Kairi and leaned his arm on the door.

"So, you single?" he asked.

Kairi crossed her arms but gave the smallest giggle, amused at Hayner's antics. Suddenly the door burst open, knocking Hayner off balance. Sora walked through the door and looked down at him.

"Get out of the way, short stop," he said, glaring.

Hayner gave a squeak of panic and clambered back to his feet. Regaining his composure, he gave Sora a not so intimidating glare back. He gave Kairi another flirty grin and stopped as he noticed Sora's very angered expression. Hayner raced to the back of the store and hid behind a girl with green eyes and messily braided brown hair.

"Save me, Olette!" he shouted, crouching down.

"You're so stupid, Hayner," the girl replied, looking down at him.

She walked away from him and to Kairi, Sora, and Naminé. She smiled politely and held out her hand. Kairi shook her hand and tried to smile back, but it looked a bit crooked and felt unnatural.

"Hi, I'm Olette," she said. "You're Kairi, I guess. And you…"

Olette turned to Sora and inspected him.

"You're…Leon?"

Sora laughed at the very thought of being like Leon.

"No, I'm Sora," he remarked. "You haven't met Leon yet?"

Olette shook her head. Kairi looked around the store. She saw Hayner trying to force Roxas into a Barbie costume and a rather big kid with messy, brown hair looking at some outfits in the back, but that was it.

"Yuffie's not here either," Kairi pointed out.

"They're probably making out somewhere," Sora said, rolling his eyes.

"Sora!" cried Kairi and Naminé at the same time.

"What?" Sora asked. "I'm just stating my opinions."

"Well, go 'state your opinions' to Roxas," Naminé remarked, pointing at the blond boy who was violently fighting off Hayner and the pink dress.

Sora sighed and trudged over to them. Hayner looked a bit scared as he saw him approaching, but Sora joined him by trying to put bright pink hairclips in Roxas's spiky hair.

Kairi watched Sora with a small bit of satisfaction that he was still the same in some ways. She'd had the feeling that he would've changed, being with Naminé so much, but obviously she'd been wrong. She laughed as Sora succeeded to get a hairclip on one of Roxas's blond spikes and cheered. Roxas batted at the hairclip but it refused to come out, and Hayner and Sora started to laugh themselves sick.

"Kairi? Kairi? Anyone home?"

"H-Huh? What?"

Kairi looked up at Naminé, who crossed her arms in response.

"You were totally zoning out," she said. "What I was saying is that Yuffie and Leon are here, so let's start trying on costumes."

111

It was Halloween night. Kairi stood with her friends and her sister outside of Destiny High, hearing the booming music from inside. Naminé was smiling excitedly, telling them all about the great Halloween party specials of the night were. By the way it sounded she'd basically planned the whole thing.

"And the best part is that there's a hedge maze!" Naminé squealed. "You have to get into pairs and walk through the maze. We have to do it! It's so much fun! I call being with Roxas!"

Roxas snapped up.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because we danced together at Kairi's birthday party, didn't we?" Naminé remarked. "That makes us official partners."

"Official partners…" Roxas repeated, grinning. "I like that."

Naminé pointed to Sora and Kairi.

"You two are official partners too. And so are Leon and Yuffie."

Kairi smiled a bit at the thought of being able to talk to Sora alone. Sora also seemed to be pleasantly happy with this idea. He was smiling widely.

"Hey, what about us?" asked Hayner. "There are three left! One of us won't be able to go!"

"I'm not going," Pence said. "Mazes creep me out, man. What if I get lost in there?"

"That's a stupid reason, but it works out, I guess," Olette remarked. "Looks like you and I are going in together, Hayner."

Hayner nodded in agreement. Yuffie clapped her hands and grinned.

"So, everybody ready?" she chirped.

Kairi looked around her. All of them looked perfect. Hayner was dressed as a used car salesman. He was wearing a bright red suit and had his hair slicked back with gel.

Kairi was dressed as an iPod commercial. She had worn all black, painted any revealing skin black, and put on a black wig. Then she'd brought her iPod, and whenever she felt like it she'd dance like crazy.

Leon was dressed like a static cling, or so he said. He was wearing all sorts of mismatched clothes and had pasted cloths to himself so they stuck up straight. His hair was gelled to stick straight up, and he looked more like a porcupine than anything.

Naminé had, surprisingly, not dressed up as a princess or fairy this year. Like her friends, she was dressed unusually. She had tons of padding on to make her look super fat, and then put big clothes over it, one of them a T-shirt that said "I beat anorexia!" She called herself a cured anorexic, and everyone found this extremely amusing.

Olette said she wanted to be like the sky, because she'd always been rather flighty, so she'd dressed up in a fake surgeon outfit and glued cotton all over it. She took a squirt gun to make it rain.

Pence was dressed up as Dog the bounty hunter. He gad on black jeans, a bulletproof vest, a leather band around his biceps, a tool belt with a can of mace and a long, blond mullet wig. He was carrying around a "Wanted" poster with Hayner's picture and information on it, a little joke that Roxas had convinced him to do to get back at Hayner for the Barbie thing.

Roxas was dressed up as a Nick Nolte mug shot. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. He'd put baby oil and tons of gel in his hair and blow dried it upwards, making his hair spikier than ever. He'd put a sign around his neck saying "Nolte, Nick" with a case number underneath.

Sora was a little less original than his friends. He was dressed up as a hot air balloon. He cut leg holes in a laundry basket and placed netting over an extremely large helium balloon and attached it to the rim of the basket. He decorated himself with a basket and a curly ribbon.

Yuffie had possibly the best costume of them all. She was the guy from the Operation game and she was wearing a flesh colored suit. She'd created game pieces, one a broken heart, a twisted ankle and so on, and stuck them to her suit with Velcro. She let her friends play with it too, and carried a hand buzzer to stop them when they made a mistake or something.

They looked ready, but Kairi was far from ready. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Sora and Naminé together. Yuffie noticed Kairi's downcast expression.

"If you get bored, I'll let you play with my suit," Yuffie suggested kindly.

Kairi nodded, but she didn't feel in the mood for games. She looked at Sora and Naminé and shivered, as if the temperature had just gotten colder.

"Are you okay, Kairi?" Olette asked.

"Hmm?" murmured Kairi, turning to the brown-haired girl. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"If you're cold, you can just…cuddle up to me," Hayner said slickly, moving so close to Kairi she could feel his breath.

Sora turned away from Naminé, his expression filled with threat. Kairi was also fairly uncomfortable squashed next to Hayner.

"It's partly cloudy with a chance of showers!" Olette shouted, shooting water from her squirt gun at Hayner.

Hayner screamed as cold water splashed all over him, drenching him from head to toe.

"Olette!" he shouted accusingly. "Look at my suit! It's ruined!"

"Good," Olette said. "That's what you get for flirting with Kairi. Now let's go in."

111

Kairi wasn't having a very enjoyable time. She looked at Sora and Naminé dancing and wished she'd never left her room. She could've just watched the festivities from her window.

She sighed as Naminé cuddled up to Sora. She didn't notice the uncomfortable and rather sickened expression on the brunet's face—she was a bit distracted by the cuddling part.

Sora pulled away very suddenly, and it seemed he was excusing himself. He left Naminé and walked over to Kairi, who looked away. Where were Yuffie and Roxas when she needed them?

"Kairi?" said Sora.

"Mm?" muttered Kairi, not turning to face him still.

"You've got to understand something…"

Kairi remained silent, even though it was nice to hear him talk to her directly. They were alone with no interruptions, but Kairi still felt betrayed at the fact this hadn't happened for the past eighteen days.

Sora sighed, noticing Kairi's stubbornness and irritation.

"You have to look at me first," he said.

"What if I don't want to?" Kairi asked.

"Do you really not want to look at me?"

Kairi clenched her eyes shut as Sora's words pulled a heartstring. She still didn't turn, still feeling immensely upset.

"I'm sure," she answered.

"Okay," Sora said, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. "I'll just leave then."

It wasn't loneliness that hit Kairi. It was something totally new—panic. Twisting around to face Sora's retreating body, she felt horrified.

"No!" she shouted, probably attracting more people's attention than Sora's.

Sora turned very suddenly. Kairi reddened.

"I-I mean…don't go," she said.

Sora walked back to her.

"Kairi, I really want you to know that I…" He looked up at her, blue eyes shining worriedly. "I don't want to date Naminé."

"What?" Kairi asked, joy whooshing through her. "That's great! I mean…oh."

"I never wanted to date her," Sora continued. "When she asked me…when I said yes…I didn't mean to. I was distracted."

"What about your other dates?" Kairi asked. "All that time you spent together…"

"Kairi, I'd never been on a date before," Sora said flatly. "Do you think I have any experience to break up with someone? I couldn't! She looked so happy…"

Sora looked down.

"Kairi, you've got to help me."

"What can I do? You have to break up with her."

"I know, I guess you can't do much, but…I just want you to know that…"

Sora looked up at Kairi.

"I don't love her."

Kairi smiled in relief. This time she was smiling for real, and it felt so good.

Suddenly the speakers started to boom, and a girl with black hair and freckles stepped up to the microphone.

"It's time for the maze challenge, everyone!" she chirped. "People who want to enter, get in the line with your partner outside in the gardens."

"Let's go," Kairi said happily.

"Are you sure?" Sora asked. "It might scare you."

Kairi crossed her arms.

"The most it can do is thrill me, and in a good way," she replied.

"Well, are you ready to be thrilled?" Sora asked.

Kairi laughed.

"Thrill me."

Sora smiled and they ran out into the gardens.

Valor999: Thanks! Here's your update.

LOTRchic: (Laughs) Thanks so much! I didn't mean to put so much tension in, actually…It came by accident…It's just Sora and Kairi were so…USABLE.

- d a y j u a n a: Whoa, this was a short review. Usually you make ones that have pieces of conversation in them. Why'd you change your name? I almost changed my name, but I was worried people wouldn't find my story after that…so…I forgot about it. Even though my name sucks. Anyway, nothing to panic about…Sora just doesn't know how to say no…It's very normal.

SimplySarah1221: Yes, Riku is a confusing person. DARN, eh? And…I don't want to sound stupid…but which sweet moment are we talking about? Red, spiky haired children…(laughs hard). It sounds like Axel might be one of those children. It was slightly weird, but not as weird as the other reviews I've been getting, so don't worry about it. I left Roxas basically the same…BASICALLY. Kind of. Not really. I tried.

Zestychicken2: "Sora, PAY ATTENTION!" You sound like Mr. Auron. Or Auron. Whatever, I'll just call him Auron, because calling him Mr. Auron kind of scares me. Still like Riku, I see…Thanks! I loved that line too! And it didn't take SO long for me to update, and if I did, I was at camp…no computers allowed…sorry. Here's your update!

JesusRocks!!!: I think it's better if Sora doesn't sing in the game. If you haven't noticed, even though he's sung only one line, he sucked. So, no offense to Haley Joel Osment, I really love him as an actor and all, but…he is an AWFUL singer. Thanks for reviewing!

Midnight's Falling Star: I like the whole Keyblade-Sora-to-the-rescue thing too, but I was getting kind of bored writing about that…and how much can I write about it? I mean, REALLY. I'm just going to leave it to Square Enix and Disney. Thanks for reviewing and here's your update!

Spam Hearts Zexion: I wonder how he'll get out of it…Hmm…Maybe he won't. Just kidding—where there's a will there's a way, right? Thanks for your…not so silent review!

Cheychey41: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the lyrics! Here's your update!

Bexmar: Whoo! I got it right! Well, quite honestly, I was quite bored so I just figured out your name… (Can someone tell me Zexion's true name? PLEASE? I seriously can't figure it out.) And, let me guess, your sister's name is…Jasmine. Actually, your name was harder, believe it or not. I think it was the "J" that made it obvious. I'm glad you liked the song! Is he? Well, hopefully you've read already. Naminé was further behind the wall, you see, so she couldn't see like Sora could. Thanks for reviewing!

MOOnlite-dUSk: Don't yell at Sora. Blame Riku and Kairi. They distracted him. Riku was concerned because he wanted Kairi to be happy, and in order for Kairi to be happy, she had to be with Sora, and…bah, forget about it. Anyway, thanks for reviewing and here's your update!

Alright, that took…about a page and a bit to answer all your reviews…seriously. I'm not kidding.

But that's a GOOD THING—a very, very GOOD THING. So, um…I thought I didn't like Sora much, but when I learned his voice was played by Haley Joel Osment, I'm like OH MY GOD, I LOVE HALEY JOEL OSMENT!!! So I think I like him a little now.

But forget my ramblings. I hope you enjoyed reading, and I hope you review, and thanks for all your other reviews! (I'm hoping to get over a hundred reviews in all after this, so REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!)

Well, I'll get to work on Chapter 11…right now! (Smiles) You do your work, I'll do mine. If you don't, I won't give you a new chapter.

SO READ AND REVIEW, PEOPLE!!!