Chapter 3

Moonlit Night

Point of View: Kairi

Written by: Lyphe

I sighed as I wiped sweat off my forehead. It was finished at last. I raised my arm to shade my eyes from the blinding though gorgeous sunset. Its lovely watercolor paints spilled in every direction across the sky. I stood up, stretching my cramped legs. I felt a rush of pride overcome me.

The now clean white sail was cleaned and mended, and swayed in the salty breeze. The many logs were tied firmly together with strong, thick ropes. But mostly, I was swelling with pride because I had done all of this on my own.

I remember all I did last year when we were preparing to set sail was to make sure we had everything. I remember thinking the reason I was assigned that job was because those boys thought I'd get in the way, or I was too weak. I remember the fun races those two boys used to have with each other. I remember what tore us apart.

And I remember telling Sora about that necklace....

"This? I'm making a necklace of thalassic shells. In the old days, sailors always wore thalassic shells. They were supposed to ensure a safe voyage."

That necklace...

I yawned as I headed for my home. Tomorrow I set sail. Soon, I began to reconsider my decision. After all, it's a big world. What are the chances that I'll find them? Yeah, I guess I am getting the pre-journey jitters. But I really am nervous. It's like...instinct, or human nature.

I mean, I'm going out. Nothing will be there to help me. I've got nothing but me. If only I knew some sort of magic, or martial arts, or even weaponry. Of course I'd feel safer and more ensured if I knew some sort of those talents. But I don't and there's nothing I can do about that now.

I stepped lightly into my bedroom, slipped under the sheets and closed my eyes.

Midnight. I rolled about in my bed, the satin sheets ruffling. My eyes fluttered open once more. I couldn't sleep...

Finally, I decided I wasn't going to get any sleep this way. I needed to leave at sunrise. I slipped off the bed and onto the cold, slippery, wooden floors.

I quickly changed; my attire consisting of a black tank top with a low neck, my old wristbands accompanying it, simple jean shorts, and a plain grey oversized sweater. I wrapped a snowy white scarf around my neck and escaped outside, bringing with me my little ebony black backpack, containing some food, water, and a picture of the three of us, I grimaced at its wrinkled surface and folded edges. I flipped the old photograph over. 'Me and the guys.' I quickly stuffed it back in. I think I was going to cry...

Slung over my shoulder was a thin cotton blanket, for I knew I wouldn't be coming back. Just as I was about to lock the doors for good, a thought ran through my mind. The necklace...

Stepping inside once again, I rummaged through my drawer beneath my vanity mirror. I needed all the luck I could get.

"Found it," I whispered between my teeth.

With the moon as my only witness, I fastened the variety shelled necklace onto my neck. It felt cold, and still carried a salty scent to it, but it brought back memories. Good memories. And now, I was more determined than ever to find them.

Dragging the heavy raft toward shore was quite the task. I didn't want to leave the job till the next morning, for I wanted to set sail right away. Setting myself onto the cold, slightly damp wood, I spread the blanket over myself to keep warm. This would be how I'd sleep for many days to come, so I might as well get used to it now.

I used my pack as a pillow, all the while being careful not to crush the food. The food I packed, fish, fruit, and some canned goods, would probably last a week, if I ate carefully and sparingly. I know that isn't enough to keep me alive for too long, but hopefully I'll hit land before my time ran out.

Laying my head down, gently, I slowly began to close my weary eyes. A long day lay before me. Just as I was about to fall asleep, a yellow blur pounced onto me, scaring me half to death. I screamed.

"Selphie!"

"Hey, Kairi!" she said rather sweetly, as if nothing had happened.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, bewildered, still trying to recover from my shock.

Well, apparently, she awoke in the middle of the night and walked outside to get some fresh air, and just happened to see me camping out.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked energetically.

"Uhh...I got kicked out of the house...?"

Of course...she didn't buy it, so I ended up telling her my motive, my plans, and my hopes. To find my friends, hopefully alive and well.

"So that's what you've been up to all day," Selphie murmured, lost in thought.

I nodded solemnly.

"But...what makes you so sure you'll find them?" she continued on.

"I-I...well-"

"I mean," Selphie continued on, interrupting me, "Your whole life's on the line for this, Kai. You have no clue where to start, you have pretty much no experience on the seas, and, well, you have, like, no chances of finding them! Besides, what's gotten in to you? I mean, just a few days ago when I said, "Keep faith" to you, you just brushed me off! What's changed?"

"Everything..."

Selphie and I sat back-to-back, just staring into nihility, and really, just thinking about what the other said.

Why is Selphie doing this to me? I know I have to find them, and now, she's giving me a million reasons not to go!

I took that thought to a different perspective. Selphie wasn't trying to sabotage my chances of finding them; she was just being a good friend. I paused for a moment before speaking to the energetic girl again.

"Selphie, thank you, thank you for everything you've ever done for me. I know you're just being a good-no great-an amazing friend, but this is just something I have to do. I really need not be concerned for me, I'll be alright, and even if I don't return... It's not your fault or your problem. I'll find them, you'll see."

Neither of us spoke for a long time. The silence was starting to get to me. I still couldn't believe that bold speech just came from me, Kairi. If Selphie couldn't understand, then she isn't looking at it from my point of view, I mean, what if it was Tidus and Wakka? Surely she'd risk her life for them.

I glanced at the brunette from the corner of my eye. Her face was a mess of thoughts, and her expression showed it.

"You're a fool, Kairi, a fool..." she mumbled.

I looked down to the white sand and smiled. I won. Then, looking back up, I turned to face her, and she mimicked my actions. There we sat face to face, studying each other for possibly the last time.

"Thanks, Selphie."

Thanks for what, you ask? For being there for me, for supporting my actions, for being the best friend imaginable.

We were back-to-back once again, but I could sense her smiling. We grasped each other's hand tightly, so nothing could break our bond. Silence fell between us, as sleep captured our wandering minds.

"Good luck..."

Author's Notes: Wow! We got so many more reviews than I thought we would! Yeah, I know there's another fiction with the same title, but hey, I bet ours will beat it! (Yeah, we're not changing) Oh, and Juzlovnsora, we might write a sequel if the ending calls for it. Nothing's for certain right now. Oh yeah, those big words...that was all Amanda! I had nothing to do with it! I was like, "What the heck does 'peregrinations' mean?!" Okay, thanks for everyone that reviewed, and sorry this took so long! So busy! Plz R&R!