As the Sun began setting, Sora, Kairi, and Riku rested on the small island across the bridge and stared at the ocean. Sora and Kairi were sitting on the paopu tree as Riku leaned against it, his arms folded. "So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?", Sora asked.

"Could be", Riku answered, "We'll never know by staying here." Sora was still unsure about their success with only a wooden raft, so he asked, "But how far could a raft take us?" Riku shrugged and replied, "Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else."

"So, suppose you get to another world", Kairi asked, "What would you do there?" Riku looked deep in thought before he said, "Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just... I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds. Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could've just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

As Sora laid down on the tree's trunk, he answered, "I don't know." Riku turned to the younger teens and continued, "Exactly. That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go."

Kairi was surprised at Riku's thoughtfulness and maturity. This was the same boy who once convinced Sora to help him build an 'ultimate firecracker' that ended with Sora getting 'ouchies' all over his hands (Kairi volunteered to kiss them better when Sora got out of the hospital).

"You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?", Kairi asked. Riku smiled at her and said, "Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this." Then he embraced her and continued, "Kairi, thanks." Kairi smiled herself, hugged him back, and said, "You're welcome, Riku."

As Sora watched them, he felt a prickling heat in his chest. It wasn't quite anger, but it definitely felt uncomfortable. Sora didn't realize it, but he was jealous. He wanted to hug Kairi, and hold her hand, and kiss her…

Whoa!, Sora exclaimed mentally, Where did that come from? There was no doubt about it. Sora was lovesick for the girl. But how could he measure up? Riku was strong, brave, and handsome. Sora was scrawny, naive, and a goofball. Kairi deserves better than me, he thought.

As they started walking back to the dock, Sora was drawn out of his forlorn thoughts by a paopu hitting him in the face. Looking up he saw Riku grinning at him with his arms crossed. "You wanted one, didn't you?", he asked, "If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."

As Riku walked past Sora, he added, "C'mon, I know you want to try it." Sora, still confused, asked, "What are you…", then it clicked. Riku was teasing him about sharing the paopu with Kairi. Riku was laughing all the way as Sora chased after him on their way home.

The next day started with Sora and Riku collecting provisions from a list that Kairi had made for their journey. Right now, Sora was on the hunt for mushrooms. He knew that mushrooms liked to grow in damp dark places, like caves. So he made his way over to the cave hidden behind the island's waterfall.

Sora and Riku had first discovered it when they were young. They took to calling it the 'Secret Place'. It wasn't long before Sora had brought Kairi to show it to her when Riku stopped wanting to go. Sora entered the Secret Place and walked through the underground tunnel.

He reached a room made of walled boulders with chalk drawings scrawled on them. The only light came from a small hole in the ceiling. Sora saw there was a mushroom near a wooden board in the wall and plucked it from the ground.

As he looked up, the boy noticed that behind the mushroom was an old drawing of Kairi and him that brought memories flooding back. He placed a hand on the drawing of Kairi with a soft smile. His mind flashed back to the two of them as five-year-olds when they drew each other on the walls.

Sora decided it was time to make an addition to it, so he picked up a rock and began carving. When he was done, the Sora on the wall was giving Kairi a paopu fruit. Sora sadly pressed his lips to his fingertips and touched them to Kairi's drawing. Someday I'll tell you how I feel about you.

Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him and stood up swiftly. "W-Who's there?", he called out nervously. I have come to see the door to this world, said a disembodied voice, This world has been connected.

"Wh-What are you talking about?", Sora asked. Tied to the darkness, the voice continued, Soon to be completely eclipsed. Sora was starting to get annoyed with the voice. "Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this!", he shouted indignantly.

Sora's threat was answered by a floating being materializing in front of the boy. It had a large bald head and was wearing a white toga and blue cape. Sora had the strange feeling that he had seen this figure before. "Wh-Where did you come from?", Sora asked.

You do not yet know what lies beyond the door, the figure answered. Suddenly, Sora remembered who this being was. "Hey!", he exclaimed, "You're that Watcher guy from my dream! You're from another world, aren't you?"

That was no mere dream, Uatu replied, It was meant to prepare you to defeat the coming darkness. The same darkness that destroyed my universe. But it is already upon you. There is so very much to learn. You clearly understand so little.

"Oh, yeah?", Sora huffed, "Well, you'll see! I'm going to get out and learn what's out there!" Uatu let out a sigh of disappointment and said, A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing. This cataclysm is much bigger than you or your friends, Sora. By the time you realize it, it will already be too late.

With that, the Watcher disappeared, leaving Sora alone with his confusion. Sora looked toward a board in the wall. It resembled a door, but with no lock or doorknob. What is behind that door?, Sora wondered to himself, And is it as bad as that Watcher guy said?