You Don't Know Me Anymore

By: Lakija X

Author's Notes: Hi! I see you're interested in romance, yes? You've come to the right place!

Now, here, Kairi may seem a tad bit OOC, but that's okay. She has just developed over the years! lol

And Riku is different... well, not dif. Just grown up. Not too grown up though... We want his charm and maturity to be preserved.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Kingdom Hearts, or the characters... though I wish I owned Riku, of course. I can do without the other guys... just Riku... He's HOT!

Kairi:

Chapter 1: So We Meet Again

I awoke to the sun in my eyes. I squinted, knowing full well that it was Saturday, and I could sleep in today. But I didn't feel much like it. It was six or so, and the air was freezing. I looked at the thermometer.

Thirty degrees Fahrenheit, it read. It was always cool in the morning, but this was ridiculous. I should have known then, that something wasn't right. But silly me, all I wanted was to get up and get dressed. I mean, I was seventeen-year-old girl with bed hair for Pete's sake.

Forcing my body to rise from the comfortable bed, I stretched out. The sun, which I had seen just a second ago, had disappeared behind dark clouds. They glowed a red color. Immediately I remembered what I'd seen in a book about fishing before: Red sky in morning, sailor take warning.

It probably didn't mean much, but I'd heed its warning just the same. Slipping my feet into a pair of fuzzy house shoes shaped like a rabbit with a pink pair of sunglasses, I dragged myself toward my armoire. It was decorated with gold gilt-edges and my name on the front. But I was aiming to look inside.

I quickly removed a red shirt and a black pair of jeans. I yawned, almost dropping the articles, but I collected myself. Closing the wardrobe, I didn't give anything else much thought. I just walked slowly toward the washroom. I turned on the shower, and closed the door. I'd let the shower run until the washroom was steamed. Good old steamy shower...

I put my clothes onto the bed. I had a few minutes before the bathroom was ready, so I crept into the hallway. My mom's room was towards the eastern part of the house. That's where I was headed. My feet made creaking noises, and they were frozen solid. Brr...

I walked into Mom's room. She may not be my real mom, but she is all I have, and I'd want nothing more.

I could see her face in the faint light floating in through her window. Her mocha skin was illuminated against her cream-colored hair. She was so serene. And as if by some magic force, that happens to be her name: Serenity.

Serenity shifted just slightly, and I thought I heard her say "Oh Leon..." but I could be wrong. She was smiling in her sleep. I laughed a little. Silly Serenity...

I watched her a moment more, until I remembered the shower. It was probably ready. It didn't take that long. Serenity didn't seem to mind the cold, but I lied an extra cover over her just incase.

I smiled, and turned for the door. "Leon... get away Rinoa... you can't have him...you little shrew... I'll get you..."

Serenity mumbled. I laughed, and backed away from the bed.

Exiting the room, I closed the door behind me, and walked back to my own. The steam was seeping under the door of my bathroom. I grabbed my clothes, and entered the steamy chamber. I got into the shower after removing my nightclothes. The water felt so good.

After my shower, I put on a pair of thick socks, and went down the stairs. I grabbed a jacket from the hall, and hurriedly put it on. I wanted to feel the morning air. After putting my house keys into my pocket, I left the house.

My home looks like paradise. That's what it usually is. Warm, tropical, beautiful. Today however, it was gray, dark, and cold. It had started to feel like that lately. Our islands began to change when we lost Riku. He was so alive and mature, that the islands seemed to follow his example. When he sacrificed himself at Kingdom Hearts, our islands seemed to lose their sheen, so to speak.

I put my arms high above my head. After a good stretch, I started to go to Riku Island. After he left, the islanders decided that it should be named after him. Because he spent most of his time there.

As I approached the bridge that connected the island to the shore, I saw a form there. Who else was up this early? Whoever it was, they were laying in Riku's favorite spot: the leaning tree. It leaned horizontally, out into the sea. I walked out to it. It was foggy, I noticed. I swung my bat out in front of me, just in case.

As I got closer, the shadow started to take shape. It was a boy. Could be Wakka. I smiled, knowing that he probably wanted to pester me.

But... no, Wakka wasn't that muscular... No one on the island but the big men had muscles that large. Then again, none of them was so sleek either, like a ninja cat or something...

I saw that he had on all black, like those evil guys who had been terrorizing the worlds!!! This was my chance to be a hero! I crept up to the boy, ready to strangle.

Obviously he'd known I was here all the time.

He grabbed my hands.

I just stood there in silence. The boy slowly, very slowly, turned his head towards me. He had on a blindfold, and his face was pale under a low hood. He smiled a soft, velvety crooked smile. That registered something in my brain. Who had that chocolate smile?

"'Sup Kairi?" a deep voice inquired. It sounded serious... yet playful, as if teasing me. He, however, did not show any sign emotion after that.

I gasped.

It was...Riku?

He had been gazing at the dreary horizon, deep in thought.

Who else did that but Riku?!

I just stared with my mouth gaping. Riku. It was definitely him.

But he seemed very different than when he was younger...

That was just it: he was older! Riku looked about eighteen! It was weird to even think that, because he acted as mature as eighteen when he was fifteen...

"Riku" and "Older" was one heck of a chemical reaction, and I couldn't wait to see what concoction it had created...

Mr. Man seemed to be waiting for me to say something. His face was blank now.

"Uh... Riku?"

He smiled ever so slightly, that same kind of smile he used to flash... a long time ago...

I noticed that he still had my hands. He quickly removed them. My hands had a definite chill...

Riku jumped down from the tree as if my answer had unleashed him. Riku grunted as he fell heavily to his feet, and I noticed his hand go over his abdomen. His hand was immediately stained with what looked like blood. He started to walked toward me, but he hesitated.

This caused me to examine him more carefully.

He had on a long black coat drenched in water. His hood was still over his face, so that I couldn't see it. His breathing was slow and raspy. A sword with a cat's-eye hilt glinted slightly. And finally, his black clothes were stained with blood.

"What happened to you?" I asked.

I looked at his face. I had to look upward, because Riku had sprouted since I'd seen him last.

He seemed to be focusing on me. He wasn't seeing me, I think, because of the obvious blindfold on his head, but he was staring at me all the same..

"I..."Riku hesitated, but he never finished. He breathed in, shrugging.

I looked at him, expecting him to answer me. He didn't smile or laugh. He just looked eerily at me. Where were Riku's eyes anyway!?

I got a little annoyed with him. I started to speak when I noticed him becoming tense.

Riku clenched his teeth. He bent over for a few seconds, swaying.

I reached for him, steadying his shaky frame. "Be careful. We need to get you in the house!" I exclaimed.

He seemed to object, but I grabbed his clean hand. It was VERY cold. I had to practically drag him to my house.

Leading Riku to the bridge, I found that I wanted desperately to know more about him. I was about to ask where he'd been when I heard him gasp.

"Oh... crap..." Riku whispered, as his knees buckled.

"Riku!" I yelled, now aware of the full extent of his injury. He fell forward, onto my shoulder. He stopped breathing...

Author's Notes: How was Kairi's bit? I want her to be OOC, because to me, she is not a developed character. We didn't see enough of her in KH, and I think if she had more time to blossom her personality, she would be a little different.

NOW!!! For RIKU FANS!!!

The next Chapter is all Riku! ALL RIKU! Because we all love him.

I'll overlap his chapter, so to speak. Which mean, I think I'll start where he came back the Destiny Islands. I can't wait!!!