Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. It belongs to Squaresoft and Disney. I also don't own any of the other worlds or whatever that appear in my story.

AnimeFan: Wow! You people really like this? It was hard getting the first chapter started and everything, I have the whole story here in my mind I just hadn't figured out how to start it off. Thanks for all your support. ^-^ Enjoy people!

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Chapter 2 -- Just the Two of Us


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Be careful...of the promise you make...
Don't promise something ...when you can't keep it...
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Sora looked around with a frown. Where was Riku? Riku!!!! Hey! Where are you!! Yu-hoo!! The brunette walked over and looked under the paupou tree, then around in the water for his white-haired friend. Hey Sora, what's wrong? Kairi walked up and leaned towards him, her hands clasped behind her back. Sora sat down near the edge of the paupou island, looking out at the setting sun, I can't find Riku! He isn't anywhere on the island. Kairi straitened and looked around her before placing a hand on Sora's shoulder, He probably went home, Sora. The blue-eyed boy blinked and jumped to his feet, taking off in the direction of the dock. Kairi followed, slightly annoyed at Sora for worrying so much about that stupid boy.

Sure enough, Riku's boat was gone. Sora sighed and plopped down at the edge of the docks, staring out at the colored waters and wondering why Riku had just up and left without telling them. Kairi walked over and sat down next to him, You know what I've noticed, Sora? Riku's changed, you know. Sora placed his hands down behind him and leaned back, thinking about that. Riku had been acting strange, but he had always done things like this, especially after Kairi came to the island. Of course, of all of them she had changed the most, You're the one who's changed Kairi. The red-haired girl giggled and leaned forward to look down at the water below the dock, Maybe I have. Sora? The brunette turned to stare at his friend curiously. Kairi was glad the sun was setting, the different colors of the sky hiding the blush that crept across her cheeks, Sora, let's take the raft and go! Just the two of us.

Sora was taken aback by the sudden question. He calmed down and thought about it. I mean, you and me, without Riku. He'd understand, besides, we'd just be checking to make sure the raft works and we can always come back for him. But for now, he'll just get in the way, you know? Let's go together, Sora, right now. Kairi jumped up and took off towards the cove where the raft was hidden. Sora didn't have much time to think, he got up and ran after her towards the cove.

They two of them sprinted over to the raft, and Sora helped Kairi push the little makeshift raft out into the water. It won't really hurt, we could come back for Riku. But for now, maybe a trip alone with Kairi would be better. Just me and her. Sora looked over at Kairi who was smiling at him and waiting for a sign to go. She was a very pretty girl, Riku would just be in the way of him and Kairi becoming more...did he want them to become more? All right, let's go! Sora pumped his fist in the air and the two of them climbed into the raft and fastened the sail.

The sail caught the wind and the raft began to float away from the island. It's two passengers sat near the mast, peering out over the water. Well, this is it. We're going, leaving here to find out what's out there! Sora nodded and smiled, watching as Destiny Islands became smaller and smaller.

Sora...you won't ever leave me...will you?

Riku, Sora looked towards Fate Isle. He thought about how Riku had looked when he had asked Sora that.

Of course I won't leave you, Riku...we're friends...forever.

Sora frowned and looked down at his feet. This was what he wanted, to be alone with Kairi...
right? Riku had looked so down in the dumps before he had asked Sora that. When he had promised Riku he wouldn't leave him, the white-haired boy had forced a smile, but his eyes where shining with relief and joy. His beautiful aqua-colored eyes glimmering in the light of the morning sun. Wait, had he just thought of Riku's eyes as beautiful? Well, they did blend perfectly with his hair, oh, what are they doing!! Kairi, we have to stop! We can't leave Riku, we just can't! We have to turn back for him.

Kairi blinked in surprise and frowned, Sora, we're already a couple of miles from the island. We can't possibly paddle against the wind without tiring ourselves out. Sora stood up and started taking the sail down, But we can't leave Riku!! I promised him I wouldn't leave him! We're all friends, we should stick together! Kairi stood up next to him and pulled his hands away from the mast, It's already to late, Sora! We can't go back to get Riku, at least not now! Who cares what you promised him! It's you and me now, we don't need him. Sora glared at Kairi and pulled his hands away, That's what you want, isn't it Kairi. You never cared about Riku, you just wanted to get rid of him, didn't you. Kairi opened her mouth but was interrupted as a loud sound crashed around them.

What's that!! Sora covered his ears and fell over on to the floor. It's sounds like thun...oh, Sora look!!! The brunette looked up above them where Kairi was pointing to. A strange, black storm cloud hovered above them, lightening flashing all through it. It's a storm!!Where did that come from, Kairi! Grab a hold of the mast! The two teens dodged over to grab on to the pole as the calm waters around them turned wild and started throwing the little raft around. Lightening flashed, thunder cracked, and the angry waters started swirling into one giant whirlpool. All Sora and Kairi could do was continue to hold on as the raft was sucked into the swirling water. One big wave came down on them and the raft shattered into a million pieces, Sora and Kairi flying in different directions.

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Wow, that sure looks like a bad storm out there. Riku looked up and walked over to his mother who was staring out the window. Yeah, it sure is. I hope it misses us, Riku watched the storm in the horizon. His mother turned and walked out of his room, closing the door, Goodnight, Riku. Night Mom! He called and continued to stare out his window, watching the storm. Of all the storms he had seen, he'd never seen one where the clouds were pure black. The storm seemed to be staying there in that one spot. That's impossible, storms don't stay in one spot, it's probably just moving slowly. Ahh! Hey! Riku squealed as a palm leaf flew into his face. He pulled it off and closed his window against the wind, Wow! That's some wind out there! This is the strangest sea storm I've ever seen. I hope the raft will be ok. Riku stood and watched the storm a little while longer before retiring to his bed for the night.

*************(The next morning at Destiny Islands)************

Riku pulled his boat up to the dock, Selphie and Tidus lending him a hand with tying it down. Hey Riku, did you catch that storm last night!? Good thing it disappeared soon after it had appeared! Riku smiled over at Tidus, Yeah, it sure was weird. Hey, looks like Kairi and Sora are already here. Tidus, Selphie, Wacka, and Riku all looked at the two boats also tied to the dock. They must be waiting for me, I'd better get to the cove. Ok, well, I'm going to find them. See ya later! Riku waved to the others and took off towards the cove quickly. Today was the day! They were going to finally get off this island.

Riku continued to run, jumping over the gaps in the bridge and hopping down the small cliff to where they had left the raft. "Huh, where's the raft?" Riku stopped and looked around for a sign of the raft. The winds last night had been strong, but Riku really doubted that they could of blown the raft into the water. He had stood there and watched Sora and Kairi drag the raft out of the water and tie it to a tree nearby. He walked over to that very tree and took note that the rope had been untied. Tracks were barely visible but obvious that something heavy had been dragged to the shore and two pairs of footprints, also hard to see, were next to the drag marks. Sudden panicked fear came over him, and Riku sprinted off yelling out Sora's name.

"Sora!!! Sora where are you guys! This isn't funny!!!!" Pushing his way through some foliage, Riku continued running, searching the whole island for his friend. "SORA!!!!!" He stopped at the docks and yelled out towards the ocean. "Riku, what's wrong?" Selphie stood up from where she normally sat and looked over at the white-haired boy. "Sora's gone!! And Kairi and the raft!! They-they left without me...Sora left me behind." Riku stood there, staring down at his feet as Tidus and Wacka ran over to join them and started firing questions at him. They had left without him, just the two of them. Sora...had left without him. He had promised he would never leave him. So, why? Selphie stared at him with a worried expression and turned to snap at the two boys, "Would you two shut up for a second! Riku...are you all right?"

He didn't answer her. Riku just turned there and jumped into his boat, somehow freeing the ropes that bond it with a slash of his wooden sword. He started rowing it, not knowing where he was going or why he was going there. He just had to get away, away from the island...away from everything. The others called out to him, but he just closed his eyes and quickened his pace. A few minutes later his boat bumped into something and he finally opened his eyes, aware that he was back at Fate Isle. Mr. Shigami was there, surprised by Riku's early return, but the white-haired youth just jumped out of the boat and ran towards home as fast as he could, tears already racking his body.

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Sora let out a moan and rolled over onto his side, burying his face into the pillow. What a nightmare, he'd dreamed that he and Kairi had left alone on the raft and got sucked into a strange storm. Sighing to himself, Sora opened his eyes. He was lying in his room and Riku was there next to him in the bed with a worried expression on his face. Wait a sec, what was Riku doing in his room!? Suddenly, Sora woke up, this time for real, and looked around him at his surroundings. He was in some strange room, lying in a nice bed and wearing a t-shirt that was definitely not his. Sora continued to stare around, trying to figure out how he had gotten here and where here was.

"Oh! Thank goodness you're awake Sora!" The brunette looked over towards the door, where Kairi and several other strangers had walked in. "Kairi? Where am I? What...er...who are those people with you?" Kairi turned to look at the group that had come in to the room with her. There was a duck, a dog-kinda thing, two other young women, and one silent looking guy who had his arms crossed at the moment. "Oh these are the people who rescued us. Sora, you don't remember anything? We got sucked into that whirlpool, then we ended up on some platform with a giant shadow creature looming over us. This strange sword, the Keyblade, appeared in your hand and you fought the creature, but it was to strong. We would of been killed if it hadn't been for Leon and the others coming and saving us."

Sora frowned and rubbed his head, he did remember a little of the fight but about as much as till he had gotten hit in the head. Maybe that was why his head hurt so much. Kairi came over and sat down next to him, then turned to gesture towards the others, "That duck there is Donald, the dog is Goofy, the guy there pretending like he can't here us is Leon, the girl wearing the pink dress is Aireth, and the other one is Yuffie." Sora watched as they each waved towards him except Leon and he waved back timidly. Leon finally stopped his macho stuff and turned to look at Sora, "That sword there, that's the Keyblade and you're the Keyblade master."

After a long explanation about the Keyblade and the Heartless, Sora was starting to understand exactly what was going on. According to Leon, the Keyblade was some sort of key to stopping the Heartless. It was Sora's destiny, being the Keyblade master, to use it and save the universe from total destruction. Pretty much a simple, everyday good vs evil with the fate of the universe on the line thing. The twist was, no one except some professor named Ansem knew enough about the Heartless to tell them how to defeat the shadow monsters and Ansem had conveniently disappeared leaving behind only his book on the Heartless that's pages were conveniently scattered throughout the many worlds. "So, your asking me to join all of you to find these scattered notes and stop the Heartless before the universe is swallowed up by darkness." Leon closed his eyes and waved a hand calmly, "That's pretty much what the point was." Kairi smiled and clapped her hands together, "Isn't this great Sora! We're going on a real adventure together!"

Sora smiled and nodded, "Yeah! Our first real adventu-" He stopped there and stared down at his feet. Their first real adventure, and Riku wasn't with them. What was Riku doing right now, what was he thinking at this very moment back in Destiny Islands. "What's wrong Sora?" The brunette looked up into Kairi eyes and frowned, "We can't, Kairi. We have to get back home, we have to go back for Riku." Kairi blinked and pursed his lips, getting up from where she was sitting to walk over to the windowsill, "Riku's fine! I thought we talked about this already, Sora!" Sora glared and pulled himself off the bed, "I'm not doing that to him. I promised Riku I wouldn't leave him. That all three of us would go on adventures together! That's exactly what we're going to do and if you don't like it so much then don't come along! I'll be just fine exploring everything out there with Riku."

This got Kairi and she looked at him, lips quivering and tears at the edges of her eyes. Leon sighed and stepped in between the two younger teens, "Sora, you'll never find Destiny Islands standing here fighting with her. We need to get out there and visit other worlds to find Ansem's report and stop the Heartless anyway. I'm sure if your world hasn't already been destroyed then we'll come across it sooner or later. So it wouldn't hurt to help us and look for your home at the same time, right?" Sora softened his expression and thought about this, "I guess that would be all right. As long as we find Riku as soon as possible. All right, I'll help you guys."

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AnimeFan: Thus the end of chapter 2. Hee hee, instead of trying to find his friends, Sora is trying to get back home to Riku. Like it so far, lol. Ok, so it seems like a Kairi/Sora fic but I swear it isn't. Sora is just in denial and hasn't realized his true feelings for Riku yet. Ok, next chapter up soon.