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Riku's Birthday

Many years later...

"Sora? Are you there?" Kairi called into the cave behind some trees. She tightly grasped the present in her hand and waited.

"Shhh!" someone said from inside. A hand reached out and covered her mouth, pulling her into the vicinity of the cave.

Behind them on the back wall, Kairi could see the chalk pictures that she and Sora had drawn of each other when they were younger. They weren't that great and were crudely drawn, but important memories nonetheless. Kairi had always loved to draw and she had tried to get Sora into it too. One day they decided to draw something and not show to each other untill they finished. They were surprised to find that they had both drawn the person next to them.

"Mmph!" Kairi mumbled through the hand.

"Sorry," Sora said. "You never know who could be listening. Even in such a remote area like this." He gestured his hand at the vacant cave.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him. "You haven't forgotten about Riku's 15th birthday, have you?"

"I know, I know!" he exclaimed, holding his head in frustration. "But I still don't have a present. I don't know what to give him." He sat down on a nearby rock and sighed. "And he's my best friend too. You would think I'd come up with the perfect gift. But after so many years, I've completely run out of ideas. Oh, Kairi..." He looked at her earnestly. "What should I do?"

She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Sora. Calm down. Being a good friend is enough of a present. Tell him how much you appreciate his friendship."

He looked up at her in inquiry. "You think that'll be enough?"

"I'm sure he'll love it! Now come on, we better go. There's no time for moping."

"Yeah, you're right. Besides, he wouldn't think any less of me if I didn't get him a present."

Kairi nodded in agreement. Sora stood up and followed her. They left the cave and walked around the waterfall, entering the Seaside Shack. They walked up the stairs in the corner and found themselves outside. To their right was a wooden bridge leading to a small island; Riku's favorite place. They headed across the bridge and onto the island.

They found Riku leaning against a paopu tree. Rina was sitting atop its thick trunk, holding something oddly shaped.

"Hi!" Kairi said while Sora hid behind her, looking anywhere except at Riku. "This is no time to be shy," she whispered to him. "You were pretty confident back there."

"I know, but..." He nervously fiddled with his hands, and Kairi looked at him sympathetically.

Meanwhile, Rina jumped off the paopu tree with her usual sprightliness.

"So, shall we began?" she asked. She hid her present behind her and looked from Riku to Sora and Kairi. She had that sneaky smile of hers on her ever expressive face. That "I- know-how-to-annoy-you" kind of smile.

Not getting a reply, she continued on. "We should start with the birthday song first."

Riku glanced at her and narrowed his eyes.

"Please, spare me the embarrassment," he said impatiently.

"Oh, is Mr. Arrogant too old for these kind of things?" Rina walked over to him and poked him in the chest. He avoided her question and looked away instead.

He's still the same, she thought. That's good. But after all these years, something's changed. He's even more pursuing than before. I can tell by the way he's been acting lately. He's not wishing to leave... is he?

Rina didn't know what to think, and she was concerned for her friend. But she decided it wasn't the best time to bring up moments like this, especially at what was supposed to be a happy event.

"Time for presents then!" she announced excitedly.

Sora nearly choked.

"Uh, you first Kairi," he said faking a decent smile. He pushed her forward, and she gave him a disapproving look.

"Cut it out, Sora." To Riku she said proudly, "I did a painting for you. I hope you like it."

She held out a thin, rectangular present. Riku took it and started the process of unwrapping. After a few seconds he finally managed to pull off the string. He's eyes widened respectively at the beautiful painting of Destiny Islands' sunset. The sky was a rain of blended colors and the water glistened below it. At the very bottom was the very dock the four friends had first met.

"Wow!" he said astonished. "You're a great artist, Kairi. This has got to be your best masterpiece yet."

She giggled. "Thanks, I spent a lot of time on it."

"Yeah, I can tell. I love it."

"That's good to hear."

Sora took one look at the painting and was jealous. His present wasn't that great. Soon, all eyes were on Sora.

"I, uh..." he muttered sheepishly. Riku cocked his head and looked at him curiously as Sora nervously fiddled with his hands once again. Sora continued his muttering incoherently. "Don't have... a present, yeah. But, um...want you to know...that I—I—"

This time it was Kairi's turn to push him up. Except she pushed him a bit too hard. Sora held his arms out to break his fall—they fell around Riku instead.

AN: I'm listening to some KH music right now and I'm really enjoying myself. Simple & Clean is such a great song. In English and Japanese. That's how well she sings. That reminds me, I should pull out my Utada Hikaru cd. Who doesn't love her and j-pop? Oh, and now I'm heading off to watch the beginning of Kingdom Hearts again. Seriously, I will never get tired of watching that. It's almost like a hobby now.