Khknight- Where have I hid what...?

Princess Kairi- Thanks- I was a little nervous if people would think I was making Selphie too much of a flirt. But, it seems every story has one. It just seemed like something Selphie might say.

Kyo- I'm glad you like it! Unfortuately, as I mentioned I will be on a hiatus around August 7th- 15th. So, no updates cause vacation and family reunions. :(

I checked the states on the 30th- 197 views and 9 reviews! Arg...well, at least I know that SOME of you out here (points accusingly) don't like to review. But that's OK. And I would like to thank Princess Kairi for the constructive criticism- it helps a lot! Thanks.


Kairi sat in the secret place, thinking. Running her hand over the crudely drawn pictures, she allowed herself a small smile. Sora was the worst artist ever- he admitted it to her himself. Kairi looked at the picture of the two of them, destinies intertwined with papou fruits. Smiling through the tears, she picked up a piece of flint and drew a small picture of her lucky charm under it.


Whoever thought that one girl would be so hard to find... Riku sloshed through the surf. He had checked the shack, the little island with the papou tree (none of them could ever agree on a name for the thing) ...where could she be? The Secret Place, Riku thought. Duh. Mentally smacking himself for being so stupid, Riku made a beeline for the Secret Place.

Walking up to the vine-covered entrance, Riku bent down. He had grown considerably taller since the last time he walked in here. Pausing, a wave of memories washed over him.


"Hey, Sora."

"Hm?"

"When we grow up, let's get off this island! We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff!"

"Sure, but isn't there anything fun to do now?"


Riku smiled- a sad smile of one who had seen too much for his age. They had been so young.

"Kairi?"

Kairi was sitting next to the etching of Sora and her. Riku felt an uncharacteristic lump in his throat as he noticed the addition that Sora had made to the picture. Kairi sat with a piece of white flint in her hand, scratching something on the wall while tears fell to the stone floor."

"Riku, please go away," Her voice choked, Riku's heart went out to her. "I don't want to talk to anyone right now."

Wordlessly, Riku walked over to Kairi, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on."

"But-"

"Just follow me,"

Knowing it was pointless to resist, Kairi allowed herself to be led out into the cave. But instead of leading her home (as he had done when she had sat in the surf for hours on end), Riku stepped into the waterfall.

"Stand under it."

Kairi complied wordlessly.

"Now, close your eyes. Just feel the water."

Closing her eyes, Kairi felt the pounding water against her head, blissfully cold. Her tears mingled with the crisp water.

"Just let it all out. Let the water cleanse you."

Kairi cried silently under the waterfall, her tears eventually drying as the pounding water washed through every fiber of her being, sweeping her away. Away from the Islands, away from the torment of her own thoughts.

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me.

Her muscles relaxing, Kairi felt only the pounding water against her head and back, streaming down her legs and onto her canvas shoes. All she heard was the rush roaring in her ears. All she had felt during the past year, drifting away.

Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away.

Kairi had no idea how long she had stood there. A minute. An eternity. Just letting everything wash away. She knew that the pain wouldn't stop completely- but now she felt a peace about it. Something she couldn't quite describe.

Stepping out, Kairi opened her eyes to the blinding sunlight. She was completely, entirely, perfectly soaked. All her troubles eased with the waves.

She found voice enough to whisper. "Thanks, Riku," Riku was like a brother to her- it was a temporary sacrifice for him- to do something like this. Completely unlike him.

"No problem."


I loved writing that part! And for all of you KairiXRiku fans...SORRY! This is not a KairiXRiku fanfic. I will never make one because I am a diehard KairiXSora. Riku is like a brother. Not a boyfriend. So don't get anything in your head.

And I don't own Todd Agnew's "Grace Like Rain". I know a bunch of you will wonder why I didn't use Duff's "Come Clean". That's because of two reasons: 1. I am not a big fan of Duff. At all. TT 2. I believe that song has been used too much and is overrated now. And I still don't own Kingdom Hearts. BUT I STILL HAVE MY MOSHI PILLOW! -squeezes pillow-

R&R!

Akiko (a.k.a. Freak Of Nature)