:D

Giving it Away

They found their reason to be together

Step one: you say 'we need to talk'
He walks, you say 'sit down, it's just a talk'
He smiles politely back at you,
You stare politely right on through.
Some sort of window to your right,
As he goes left and you stay right.
Between the lines of fear and blame,
You begin to wonder why you came.

Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend.
Somewhere along in the bitterness.
And I would have stayed up with you all night,
Had I known how to save a life.

August 6th

"The funeral is tomorrow." Kairi sighed, as she fed Amaya from a baby bottle.

"Yeah..." Sora nodded, his eyes glued to his feet on the ground. They wandered towards his adorable baby girl, who cooed lovingly as Kairi fed her. Sora smiled sadly. "I wish she'd known him."

Kairi let out a small laugh. "She would have loved him."

He exhaled, laying his back down on his and Kairi's bed, his feet still on the ground. "Riku hardly got to see her. I don't think he ever even got to hold her..."

"You're right, he didn't..." She cradled Amaya in her arms, and watched as the baby drifted into sleep. Sora couldn't help but allow a few tears to escape.

"Its such a shame."

Kairi nodded in agreement, feeling a rush of sadness come through. She had been feeling this way every time she thought of Riku, and all of the good times they'd had when they were younger. "I wish we'd never grown apart from him." She said, tears falling down her pale cheeks. She got up and put Amaya in her crib so she could go and lay beside Sora. She rested her head on his chest.

"Me too. I wish I hadn't been such a jerk..." He let out a long, deep sigh. "You know, I don't think I talked to him once in grades nine and ten."

"Me neither." She said. "Maybe the odd words, but really, did either of us ever really talk to him?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Why?" More and more tears began to fall down Kairi's cheeks. The more they talked about it, the more sorrowful the two of them felt. Sora didn't bother holding back his tears.

"I don't know." He admitted. "Its just... Riku was always different. He was so much more down to earth, and he really didn't give a shit what people thought about him. And he was so smart and always conscious of what he was doing. I, on the other hand, was cocky, stupid, selfish, lazy and just--"

"Stop." Kairi cut him off. "I hate hearing you talk about yourself like that..."

"But Kairi, it's true." He acknowledged. "Really, I was. I went as far as dating Selphie..."

"You've made some bad decisions but you've always been a good person. Trust me, I didn't fall in love with you for no reason."

He chuckled good naturedly. "I guess you're right. I never really meant to be an ass... I just was. I thought high school was about going to parties, drinking, getting girlfriends-- All that crap. I know better now."

"I know you do." She smiled up at him, and pecked him lightly on the lips before returning to the spot on his chest, where her head seemed to always fit perfectly.

"You were always a good girl, though, Kairi." He teased, receiving a playful smack. "What? You were!"

"Kinda." She giggled.

"Do explain." He said, a sly grin crossing his lips.

"I do trust you a lot, Sora." She told him. "So, I guess I can let you in on my crappy days of high school."

"Well I'm glad you can trust me with that." He joked. "Anyways, go on..."

She sighed. "Well, to be honest... I don't know if you knew this, but... I always loved you."

His head instantly snapped to her. "Really?" He asked, shocked. She smiled warmly and nodded.

"Yep. Always."

"Even when we were little?"

"Well, maybe not back then... That's different." She thought for a moment. "I was waaaay to young to even think about love. I guess it was when we were in grades seven and eight, I really fell for you. And I've liked you ever since."

Sora smiled cockily, in a joking way, of course, and kissed her lightly. "I wish you'd told me. I must admit... I did think about you like that sometimes."

"Really?" She inquired, and squinted her eyes suspiciously at him. "You're just saying that, aren't you?"

He chortled softly. "No way! I seriously did. I thought that you wouldn't be interested because you were so smart, and had such a bright future... While I was, well you know..." She smacked him on the chest, taking him off guard

"NOW I know!" She exclaimed, pouting playfully.

"NOW I know!" He mocked, only getting yet another joking smack. "Anywaaays," He continued in a singsong voice, "Why was liking me so crappy? I'm sad now."

"I'm sure you are." She muttered through a giggle. "And it wasn't that part that was crappy. It was that I thought I had no chance in hell of ever getting with you. Because you dated girls like Selphie, and I just wasn't like her, no matter how close of friends the two of us were."

"Aww... I feel bad now." He said. "But lets not change the subject. Continue?"

She smirked. "Fine... I was just really, I dunno, socially awkward. I saw Selphie, who was so outgoing and popular, and even Naminé I was jealous of. I just wanted to be the right girl for you, the whole time, and I was constantly trying to be that girl." She explained. "Somehow, it never worked out. I didn't have the guts to go to any parties Selphie invited me to, and I also wouldn't leave the house in anything shorter than my mid-thigh."

"Aw Kairi--"

"Nope, I'm not finished." She cut him off. "I know that you're not that shallow. And you weren't even that shallow back then, were you?" He shook his head. "But it wasn't about shallowness. I just thought you'd notice me if I dressed and acted like Selphie... And that one night, you know, the one, I finally let loose. I was so proud of myself, until the next morning. I woke up and I just lost all courage. How could I face you?"

"So thats why you left."

She nodded. "Yeah. I remember thinking that you'd be pissed off or unimpressed or something..."

He shook his head. "I wouldn't have been. Shocked, maybe, but never angry."

She met his eyes and smiled. "I know. But hey, lets just forget about it. I guess we both know the truth now."

He nodded with a charming, goofy 'Sora' grin. "Yep! And I'm happy we do. But I really had no idea you were insecure, Kairi. You always seemed to sure of yourself. Well, until what happened... But yeah."

"Really?" She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Well I wasn't really. I hated being 'bookish' and 'smart'. Thank god I know better now, eh?"

"Haha, yeah. We've both grown up considerably."

"Mhm, we have, a lot. At least we were friends with Riku again when he..." She hesitated, really hating the word. "Died."

"Yeah... At least he knew that we'd grown up."

She nodded in agreement, snuggling closer to him as he wrapped his arms around her. The two lay in silence, thinking of Riku and everything they'd discussed, and what was going to happen tomorrow. Riku's funeral was certainly not going to be an easy thing for either of them. As hard as it was for Kairi, she couldn't help but imagine how much harder it was for Sora. The bond him and Riku had experienced was far greater than hers with him; The bonds of true best friends. Riku had known Sora since he was born, whereas Kairi had joined the party later on in life. The more Sora thought about these ties, the more he silently cried.

Very slowly, both of them drifted off into a deep, comfortable sleep, in which Sora's dreams were soon all he could think about.

* * *

Riku had called Sora, earlier that fateful day. One phone call had quickly lead to Sora leaving Kairi and Amaya, only for half of an hour, to go over to Riku's house and talk. His childhood friend was ecstatic about something, and Sora was more than willing to hear what was on his mind.

"My rents are having their annual party tonight, and I want you, Kairi and them to come."

Sora had smiled and nodded energetically. "Of course! Sounds like fun. There will be free food though, right?

Riku chuckled and nodded. "Of course, Sora. Do you think I'd even bother inviting you if there wasn't?"

"You know me too well." Sora laughed wholeheartedly. "So I'll tell Kairi, Roxas, and Naminé?"

He nodded. "Yep. Roxas and Naminé are beginning to grow on me, y'know?"

"I agree, those two are pretty great once you get to know them."

"For sure. Oh, and feel free to bring Amaya as well. We've hardly been introduced!"

"Of course!" Sora grinned. "She'd love to come."

"Haha, alright. But that's not really why I invited you here today," Riku explained, and Sora nodded, showing him that he had his attention, "It's about Xion, actually."

"Oh yeah? What happened?" A look of concern crossed his features. "She isn't on drugs again, is she?"

"Nah, I'm pretty sure she's clean. After that whole 'incident' she's been a lot better."

"Well that's good to hear."

"Yeah. Anyways, I really, really needed someone's advice. Normally, I'd go to someone y'know," He smirked, "smart, but you'll do."

"Hey, that's no fair." Sora pouted, and Riku laughed.

"I'm only kidding."

"I know I know. Go on!"

Riku smiled and continued."Her and I have been spending a lot of time together ever since, and needless to say, I like her again. A lot."

"Awww." Sora cooed jokingly, receiving a cold glare from his best friend.

"Ignoring that..." He went on, "I wanna tell her tonight."

"Okay, then go for it."

"You think I actually should?"

The spikey haired teenager nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. I think that if you do like her, she should know. I can see you two getting back together."

Riku smiled genuinely. "You really think so?"

He nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Alright, maybe I will then."

"Good! But with that said, I can't really stay." Sora got up from the couch he was sitting on, "Kairi is probably waiting for me, and I have to let everyone know about tonight."

"Okay, thanks, Sora."

"Anytime."

They waved to each other, before Sora left. He smiled to himself as he walked down Riku's driveway, happy for his best friend. He hoped that the night would go well for Riku, and for everyone else.

Naturally, nobody could predict what was actually going to occur.

Author's note: I told you I'd update quick if more people review :D :D. And thanks so much! I REALLY appreciate it. If I keep getting amazing reviews like that, then this story will be over in no time! Which is sad, but all I mean to say is that I can update a lot quicker when I have the proper motivation. So yay!

Btw, I'm taking requests for stories! Lately I've been really into doing small side projects, but I'm not exactly in love with all of my ideas. So, request a story, any pairing (I might even do yaoi, if you REALLY want me to) and I shall write it for you.

Review please! :D