Sora knocked on the door to the mayor's house. Riku was tying up the boat as Sora yelled:
"He-ey Mister Mayor! Can we come in?" There was no response. The afternoon sun was setting slowly as bugs began to buzz about. The mayor had a whole island to himself, with enough room for his vegetable gardens and flocks of chickens. Sora called and yelled again as Riku walked up behind him. Sora heard a shuffling sound and someone's voice mumbling. The door opened to reveal the mayor of the Destiny Islands.
He was a head and a half taller than Riku, and dressed in a silver-blue jacked and brown pants. He wore a dark blue tie over an off white shirt, the collar turned upward. He had a bushy moustache that covered his entire mouth, and was badly in need of a trim. His shoes were shined and neat, though Sora always noticed how his socks never matched.
"Oh, boys!" he said jovially. "How nice of you to visit. Please, come in!" He led them into the parlor of his huge house and sat them down in two overstuffed armchairs, one bright green and the other a faded yellow. Riku sat up straight, his hands in his lap, but Sora relaxed and reclined back.
"Would either of you boys like something to drink?" the mayor called from the kitchen.
"Umm… some orange juice for me, please." Sora replied.
"Just water, please." Riku responded. Sora noticed how Riku always "stiffened up" when he was around an authority figure.
"So," the mayor said, returning with the drinks. "What brings you two here today?"
Before Riku could speak, Sora blurted out: "We came to see the new girl that's living here!"
Riku looked embarrassed, but the mayor didn't seem fazed at all. "Oh, absolutely! Let me go see if I can find her." He got out of the seat that he had sat down in only moments before.
"Kai-ri!" he called.
Kairi, Sora thought. What a pretty name…
Sora sipped his juice while Riku drank his water. Oddly the boys were silent for as long as the mayor was gone. Sora glanced over at him only to see the silver-haired boy staring straight ahead, unmoving.
The mayor returned shortly, standing in the doorway. He stepped out, gesturing to the young girl to follow. She peered around the corner cautiously, and looked directly at Sora.
Her red hair hung down to her shoulders, and seemed expertly combed. As she stepped out further, Sora could see more and more of her. A black choker circled her neck, and a small white pendant hung underneath it. She wore a small gold wristband that hung loosely, over her long-sleeved purple shirt. A long lavender dress went down to her ankles, pleated along the bottom with a star pattern. She wore no shoes, and seemed to be used to it from the way she stood.
"Hi," she said timidly, her eyes darting between the two boys. "My name's Kairi."
