I am searching…

Still searching…

Why can't you redeem me…?

From this torment, this hell?

Release me…

Please.

"Kai…Kai…KAIRI!" A light, sweet, slightly whiny voice prodded me away from my heavy eyelids and bright light immediately gushed through my eyes, forcing me to shut them.

"Hey, Kai, any idea why you're so tired nowadays?" The same voice asked. I groaned and took a guess in the cool comfort of the darkness in my view. "Lack of sleep?" The voice laughed and I felt something stretching out to my face. Quickly, the "something" pulled open my shut eyes and light poured through them again.

"Selphie? I thought you had to accompany Tidus for something really special, as he said?"

That comment caused a deep red blush on her pale rosy cheeks.

"Hey, be happy he got a cold and I came here for you instead, you meanie."

Ignoring that comment, I got up, rubbed my sleepy eyes, and tried to get up. Somehow, I lost control of my two big feet and fell, landing painfully on my bum.

Silence

Then laughter.

Selphie held out her hand to me, still as skinny but slightly muscular now. I took her hand, and surprisingly, without any effort she lifted me from the ground. I gawked silently at her amazing strength for a girl who weighed a few kilograms lighter than me. She must have seen me gaping at her, mouth opened wide.

"Hey, what? Is it that abnormal for a teen to lift an older teen?"

I giggled, a girlish giggle.

"Unless you're that skinny scrawny Sora…"

Sora.

Oh god.

How I wished I've kept my mouth shut.

Sora, Sora, Sora.

It's been 2 years already…why aren't you back? You promised…that you'll come back to me. With a "will", not "may". Why aren't you here?

Why can't I feel your warmth, hear your voice in this fragile heart that was –no, is ours?

Why can't I locate you?

Sora…

"Kairi? Are you okay? You were zoning out…"

The same sweet voice. Except it was different, with a tiny hint of melancholy this time.

I nodded, pretending to keep my sprits up and happy as usual.

"Yeah, I'm fine, really." I faked a smile and walked up to the beach, listening to the sound of the waves. The weather had gotten increasingly colder.

The same words kept repeating in my mind. "Relax. Sora's gonna come back safe right? Be happy!"

But I couldn't.

I found it so hard. Sora…I loved him all the time. I still love him. I still have recurring dreams of the day when the Islands were restored. Sure, it was happiness for the innocent people as all the evil baddy stuff was gone, but it was a deep unseen trauma for me all the time, all the two years. I really wish that that never happened. If it didn't, he would be at my side, talking, laughing, chatting with me. Riku would be here too, being the brotherly figure he was.

But it will never happen. That's all a beautiful dream.

Dreams.

Not reality.

Compared to the very start of the reforming of the Islands, the faith I have now is so minimal. Optimistic thinking and earnest prayers were a part of my life then. But now, I don't bother about prayers and a positive attitude. I can only stare at the stars and think of him, trying to call him through our connected heart. I don't believe he heard it at all. I told myself many times, follow your heart. But I can't…because I felt like I lost something. Where can I find that thing I've lost? I don't know. I don't even know what is the thing I'd lost.

God, I am really confused.

The beach was so silent, the sounds of the waves were therapeutic to my hurting mind. It's not everyday a 16 year old loses a special person, waits for him and keeps hoping for him to return, and feels really weird and psycho and confused? No.

Wait.

Light?

Light shining from the other end of the beach?

I looked up in the already dark sky, decorated with many shining stars. Suddenly, a bolt of light fell. And more came along.

A meteor shower?

Another world had shattered?

It couldn't be.

I ran to the light, which turned out to be some kind of passageway. A passageway filled with light? Weird, but I entered it, with the tiny hope that Sora would be there. The things I do blindly for searching for Sora.

I walked in, deeper and deeper. The atmosphere seemed to get colder and holier, but I felt something. Something dark. Something that was pricking me inside. The heart inside of me got colder with each step. Ignoring the icy cold, I continued.

Silence followed me all the way, except for my footsteps.

Kairi…

A voice? I found myself stopping, listening.

Kairi…you cannot…you mustn't…


What? I felt that my throat was constricted. I couldn't talk. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't.

Don't go to them…to the ones on the other side…

I gasped, opening my mouth, trying to inhale. The whole passageway changed slowly, transforming into a dark void. I fell to my knees, inhaling the stale musty air, which I found my body couldn't take.

But you have to go…

I collapsed on the ground, my lungs thoroughly drained out of air.

You have to go…

For the light to show once again.

The light. The last words I heard.

Darkness.

Author notes: Yay, whatever. This is about Kairi I guess. Um, yeah. So many fanfics not completed …argh. I given up hope on Owarinai Yume somehow. But I guess I will continue. Till I find a way for the revival of Owarinai Yume (I lost my story plans), this fic – Duty – and Angel Mortal Game – after some explaination – will continue, if I have the time. After exams I will try. Please review and thanks!

Thanks,

-hikari