WHOO-HOO! I'M BACK!!! YAY! YAY! YAY!

Hello, peoples, its me, Kuruk, back from hiatus!

Anyway, here's the LONG overdue update of The Foreigner!

For details of the arrangement I'm making as of updating stories, please consult my profile as I'll tell when I'll update, what I plan to do with my other stories and such...

But before I start... I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Thanks for standing by me! Your reviews for the 'Author's Notice' chapter made me sad that I couldn't write for a while but it also made me realize one very important thing: I'm very happy when I write; and its because of you guys that this is possible!

Anyway, without further ado (drum roll...) please enjoy chapter eleven of this story!


Chapter Eleven: Summer Promises

What made life?

What decided if your life crashed and burned or soared into the heavens unhindered?

Sophia had always occupied herself with these thoughts.

Her childhood had been a happy one; filled with love and nurturing… Yet she had always been asked… no, demanded to repay this kindness… even though the ones giving it to her was her family… the people that were supposed to give it to her unconditionally.

And yet…

She had failed to do what they asked of her.

In return, they exiled her… to a small town named Forget-Me-Not-Valley, where she met extraordinary people.

Sophia had always thought to get love, you needed to give something. She had believed that there was always a prerequisite to each kiss, caress, sweet word…

And then she met her uncle… and Muffy… and the Sisterhood… and finally Kai…

And they taught her that love wasn't like that; that the love her parents had shown her wasn't love at all; just a twisted way to manipulate others with the promise of someone to stand by you.

And in return all she needed to give them the same they gave her, and they always stood be her.

Sophia was happy… so much happier than she'd ever been in her life…

And yet… things fall apart.

Things did not begin to fall apart until later that summer, after many dates and kisses and 'I love yous' they shared; she and Kai, things began to fall apart; but Sophia did not notice.

Though she did not know it, it began to shatter one night; on the day before Kai left…

Sophia looked up solemnly at the stars, knowing that the next day would bring nothing but pain for her. The process she'd gone through last year would repeat itself; and it would be harder this time; because Sophia had fallen in love with Kai and he with her.

Leaving each other seemed to be suicide. They could not leave each other for mere seconds; indeed, Kai waited for her in front of the Villa and they went to the Snack Stand together where they laughed and served the villagers.

They spent the day until sunset like that, then she and Kai would go to the Blue Bar and order a drink or two and talk; just talk, spill their guts, reveal things that they had never revealed to anyone.

And then Kai would walk her back to the Villa, kiss her goodnight and return to the Inn.

And they weren't apart; they visited each other in their dreams, and once they awoke Kai would run off to the Villa and wait for her, and Sophia would rush to the balcony to take a look at him before she made breakfast…

And he'd smile, and she'd smile… and it was that smile that made them go on…

The thought of not seeing that smile for another year filled her with sadness; like acid coiling in her belly it would not stop; only increase with each day that brought her closer to their eventual parting.

She and Kai had been supposed to meet an hour earlier, and Sophia was beginning to get concerned for him…

Finally, an hour and a half late, Kai appeared, flustered and out of breath.

Sophia crossed her arms in mock annoyance. "You're late, mister," she informed him, "Where were you?"

Kai said nothing and sat down beside her. He looked nervous… very nervous. His bandanna was off, which was a miracle in itself. Kai's midnight hair seemed to radiate a glow in the pale moonlight, Sophia noted, something she'd never noticed.

"Sorry," Kai said, scratching the back of his head, "I… got tied up…"

Sophia sighed and leaned into Kai, a smile on her delicate face. "That's fine…"

They stayed like that for about a half hour that seemed more like a minute to them. Time passed quickly for them and they grasped at the sands of time desperately for more time together.

Yet the future was always in motion…

Kai finally spoke when all that could be heard were the waves tearing at the beach; a sound that calmed them both, their hearts slowing to a snail's pace.

"Sophie," he said, Sophia mumbled something in response, "I… wanted to tell you something…"

Sophia straightened and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "So do I Kai."

"You first…" Kai beat her to it.

Sophia sighed. "Kai… this season with you has been… wonderful. I… can't imagine not waking up and seeing you anymore-,"

"Sophie-,"

"Let me finish," Sophia said snappishly, making Kai close his mouth, "Thank you… Now… I… let me get to the point!" she exclaimed in frustration, "I… I really want to know that you're coming back… I want letters everyday, phone calls at least once a month… I want to know that you're still out there…"

Kai looked at her, a strange twinkle in his eye. "Sophia… I feel the same way… but I think I have the ultimate insurance policy that I will come back…"

Sophia cocked her head to one side; the sea breeze whipped her hair all around her gently. Kai smiled and reached into his vest pocket. Sophia's heart fluttered…

Kai laid a beautiful, glistening blue feather onto the sand, then as Sophia gasped, he pulled out a beautiful diamond ring the likes of which Sophia had never seen.

"O-oh… Goddess…" Sophia murmured, her brain struggling to register the implications of this gesture.

Kai chuckled and scratched the back of his head, more nervously than anything else. "I didn't know if you wanted to go all out villager or traditional," he explained, gesturing towards the ring, "So… err… I guess this is how you do this…?" Kai bent down on one knee, Sophia gasped again, "Sophia; when I met you I thought you were a beautiful woman. When I spoke with you I found out that you were an intelligent, caring, and loving woman… I… I, like you, haven't been happier since I met you… and, I think that two people like us should… stay together, don't ya think?" Sophia did not respond, Kai swallowed nervously, "So… Miss Sophia, will you marry me?"

Sophia immediately nodded, tears bursting out of her eyes. "Y-yes!" she exclaimed and tackled him, hugging him, trying to show him how much she meant the word yes, "Of course I'll marry you!"

Kai's heart stopped skipping beats and settled to a rabbit's pace. He slipped the ring on to her finger and stuck the beautiful feather into her hair. She kissed him underneath the midnight sky alive with the celestial bodies of light that shone down upon them their infinite blessings.

The next day, Sophia watched Kai's boat separate itself from the beach. This time, Kai waved at her until he was out of sight. This time, Sophia cried and waved back praying for a safe trip and that he return soon and smile at her like he did every morning.

Kai was gone again, but the promise he'd made her only validated what she felt; one day, when the Sisterhood married and had children, she, Sophia, would embrace the man of her dreams upon the sandy shore at which they'd first spoken.

She would not be alone; she would have him.

And in the end; that was all that mattered; wasn't it?

And yet… the first piece of her life shattered at that moment, though she knew it not…


Okay... the fluff ends here. The ominous cliffie said that things would fall apart.. not only for her; but also for some of the villagers.

Though the story remains Sophia-centric, the story will FINALLY begin to start with the Sisterhood, some of teh villagers and their problems. Its time to see if those pairings will hold or not, so keep your eyes glued to your screen peoples... beacuse not only will romance brew for some... but like Sophia, things will begin to fall apart...

So, like I have said on my profile page (which you should visit!) I will update next Tuesday, then after that every Monday. WtHI is fans will get their wish when TF is finished; OLaF will resume after 'Objections to Love' a nice fic, in my opinion; my masterpiece...

So... love ya guys! Review and make my day! Review! Review! Review! Seriously...

Bye!!!

Kuruk : D