AN: Sorry for taking a while. I usually type a little bit of the next chapter each day but I've been busy so I had to type it all today and I had to babysit. But at least this chapter is a pretty good length. I'm not exactly sure the length of this story but I know it won't be too long. I have an idea on how many chapters it'll be but I won't say until I get a clearer picture. Anyways, thanks for reviewing. It always makes my day to read nice reviews. Anyways, here's another chapter for Symphony of Death! It isn't one of my faves but I had to do it, so yeah. Read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. Don't sue me!

Chapter Seven: That's How I Felt

By the time we got to Sora's home the sun was well set and the night had almost fully bloomed. The door was unlocked, just like all the other houses. No one ever had any worries about crime, because that never happened. The most valuable thing on the islands that anyone owned would be friendship. Not counting the Heartless, danger had never really stepped foot on our small home.

I pushed open the door, Kairi walking inside close behind me. I didn't know what to expect when I would see Sora. I wasn't that sure if he would react the same way I did.

Scratch that. He wouldn't act the way I did. Even if we did switch places, Sora was never one to hold a grudge and take it out on people. At least that was what I hoped. My mind cringed with the thought that Sora would turn dark like I did and attack me.

So as I walked up the stairs and neared Sora's room, I had no clue what was going to happen. Kairi held me back a bit, then opened the door.

"Hey, Sora! Guess what?!"

Hmmm....he was still in the room at least. Not like I had done, climbing on the roof and all.

"What?" Sora asked, his voice tinged with an I-already-know-what-it-is-but- I'll-just-pretend-I-don't-know- kind of sound to it, though Kairi didn't seem to notice. She really was a little clueless about some things.

She never truly took any of our hints when we were younger. Maybe she did, but she never showed it very much. A little flirt here and there, but nothing big. I guess it took both Sora and I risking our lives for her to realize that.

"Well, it's what we've been waiting for. Riku's back! He came back!" Then she pulled me into the doorway. My first glimpse of Sora made me almost jump.

Did I look like that when we had our conversation? I know I looked frazzled and sad, but Sora had something different about him. I mean, he looked like he had just lost everything he had. Well, maybe in a way he did.

I smiled. It felt good to see him this way though. His hair was more unruly than usual, and he looked pale, despite his tan. He looked up at me, trying really hard to be happy but I could tell inside that he was crushed.

"Riku, glad to have you back." His tone did not match his words. He stood up, not even looking at Kairi, and pushed past us. "I gotta go," he mumbled, rushing down the hall and into the bathroom, locking himself inside.

I gave Kairi a 'what's wrong with him' look and she sighed, frowning. "He's um....he's upset I guess that...."

"You don't have to explain. I know." I told her quietly. I didn't want to make it hard for her. She made the right decision by picking me and I didn't want her feeling sorry for rejecting Sora. I put my hand on her shoulder. "I'll talk to him."

Kairi nodded, then slowly began to walk away. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, then. We can have a little party for you."

"That would be great," I responded. I waved goodbye, then turned my attention to the bathroom door and the miserable boy behind it.

"Sora? What's up?" I asked.

No response. I was a little surprised by how Sora was acting. I hadn't suspected that he'd be acting this obvious in his discouragement that I was back. But I guess he needed time alone, like I did.

"Are you okay?" I decided to try to get some words out of his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Everything's perfect. I hope it stays like this forever." He said sarcastically.

I smiled. "Kairi's giving me a party tomorrow. I hope to see you there. Well, bye!" I decided to leave it at that, giving him nothing to look forward to. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't show up.

As I left his home, I chuckled a bit. "See, Sora? That's how I felt..."

The next morning, I couldn't wait to see Kairi again...Sora too, if I could. I was looking forward to all the attention I'd be getting from Wakka and the gang at the celebration as well.

The air was cool, and the sun was peeking in and out of the clouds. I could see a few tables and chairs set up on the beach, but that was it. I caught a glimpse of my redhead setting a few small boxes on the table. I called out her name and ran over to her.

"Riku!" she said happily as she saw me near. "Glad you're here. I have to show you something before the party starts."

At first I didn't know what she was talking about, but then I realized. The secret place. I totally forgot about the cave, and the drawing, and....and the paopu fruit.

"Alright, show me."

Kairi grabbed my hand and we quickly went over to the cave. It was a tight fit, like it had been before, but we managed to squeeze through. The drawing was in the same spot, except my face replaced Sora's.

Kairi slowly neared the drawing, talking quietly but loud enough so that I could still hear her. "I...I wasn't sure if you'd come back. But I came here every day. And I always hoped that this sketch would come true. That I would see you again and share the paopu with you."

"Well, here I am." I grinned.

Kairi pulled out the yellow star-shaped fruit. "They say that once two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. We'll remain a part of each other's lives, no matter what."

"And I believe that it's true," I responded. "Even if it isn't, we'll still be together forever. I know we will. We have to."

Kairi neared me, holding up the paopu. I edged closer to her and also took hold of the fruit. Then we both bit into it at the same time. I don't know about Kairi, but it sure felt like our destinies were becoming one. There was just something inside of me that made my eyes turn brighter, if that was even possible.

We finished the fruit, and I tossed the leaves onto the ground. One of them fell onto the ground in the light that filtered in through the hole in the cave's ceiling. I only hoped that Sora would find them. If not, I knew I'd be sure to brag to him about it when I got the chance.

I wrapped my arms around Kairi. "Everything's perfect."

"I know."

"I'm never going to leave you again. Ever. No matter what."

Kairi sighed. "Good. Because even if you did have to go, I'd still go with you...no matter what." Then she giggled. "Well, we better hurry. Many of the islanders will be anxious to see you back."

"Alright."

It had only taken a short amount of time for Kairi and I to set everything up. I didn't mind fixing my own decorations and such. It was fun just doing it with her. And soon, the beach was filled with people. There were even some welcome home gifts too that I could open later.

"Hey, man! How've ya been? Nice to see ya again, bro!" the cheery Wakka called out to me, slapping me on the back. "Ain't it nice to relax after all those years of work?"

"Yeah. It sure is. Glad to see you too."

Tidus came up to me, giving me a hug. "Hmph. You can still kick my butt that's for sure! You'll still be that tall strong kid I always knew. Except now you aren't a kid!"

I laughed. "Oh, I'm sure now you'll be a worthy opponent. We'll fight sometime soon, huh?"

"Sure!" Tidus smiled, then went off to get some tropical drinks from a table.

He returned with Selphie by his side. She took a few sips from her drink. "I just can't believe it's been two years!" she said, amazed. "Oh, you and Kairi are the cutest couple!!!! Well, except Tidus and me!" She giggled.

I laughed. It was weird seeing how much everyone had changed, yet how little they really had. I never really noticed it before. "Have any of you guys seen Sora?" I asked, remembering that I still needed to make him more miserable.

"Ya know, I haven't seen him all day!" Wakka said in his accent. "Maybe he overslept or something."

"No, Sora never oversleeps," Kairi said. "He's just kind of depressed lately because of something."

Wakka and Tidus nodded. "Oh, yeah, we get it."

Selphie looked around. "What? What do you two get? What about it?"

Kairi laughed. "Come on, Selph, you're the most "romantic" person here. You always know what's going on with stuff on the island."

"No, seriously. I don't know what you guys are talking about!"

Wakka laughed. "Man, you really are kinda ditzy sometimes, aren't ya?"

"Hey!" Selphie cried out.

"Hey!" Tidus also called out.

I started laughing hard, and Kairi did too. It was funny. But what was even funnier was that I got Kairi and Sora didn't. I was enjoying this moment so much, hoping that Sora was staring down from his window. I'd pay a visit to his house after the party. I couldn't wait to see his pale, sad face again.

I wanted him to be at the end of his rope so much. Yet there was a strange feeling inside of me that I didn't recognize. It was something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Little did I know that that feeling would grow and it would affect a huge decision that I would have to make in the future...