Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts (1 or 2)...please don't hurt me.
Chapter One & Only:
"I can't help it, Sora! I'm in love with Kairi." Kairi overheard Riku exclaim. Peeking around the corner, she watched as Sora shook his head in disbelief.
"I don't understand..." Sora paused, looking at his friend, "How can you be in love with---"
"I just am! Why is it so hard to understand? I can't help the way I feel any more than you can!"
Covering her mouth, Kairi turned and hurried away. Riku really sounded sincere, didn't he? No. No, she must have heard wrong. Riku couldn't really be in love with her, could he? It was absurd to think that...but then, she couldn't help but wonder.
Kairi shook off the uncomfortable feeling that had come over her. She was going to have to set Riku straight---later. Right now, she needed to go home and think. Maybe Sora could talk some sense into him, but from the way he sounded, there wasn't much hope.
"Kairi? You okay?" Sora asked, hours later. Kairi had been sitting, staring out her window, not saying a word. "Kairi?"
Turning from the window, Kairi smiled slightly and stood up, "Sora, can I ask you something?"
His suspicion and curiosity raised, "Okay..."
"What were you and Riku talking about earlier?"
Sora looked away, uncomfortably, "Nothing. Why?"
"No reason," Kairi shrugged, stepping closer to Sora, "I just thought I heard him say he was in love."
Sora's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing.
"Come on, Sora! I heard Riku say he was in love with me!" Kairi exclaimed, frustration beginning to set in. Sora's eyes widened even more, and she couldn't quite read the expression coming across his face. Until he laughed, that is. Putting her hands on her hips, Kairi demanded, "What's so funny?"
"Riku isn't in love with you."
Kairi was past frustration. "Stop lying, Sora. I heard him say--"
"---that he was in love with Kairi." Sora finished. "Yes, I know."
Kairi was really confused now. "But then...?"
Sora motioned for her to follow him, "I'll show you."
He led her outside, then down to the docks, where they got a boat to go out to the children's island. When they reached the shore, Sora held out his hand to Kairi, helping her out of the boat.
"Sora," Kairi was beginning to get worried, "Where is Riku?"
Sora grinned, "You'll see."
Slowly they made their way toward the place where they once sat and talked about other worlds.
"Sora..."
Sora held his finger to his lips, then pointed toward the little island, "Shh, there he is with his love."
Kairi looked from the island to Sora, confusion etched across her face, "Sora, what are you talking about? Riku is by himself!"
"Well, you see," Sora grinned again, "We named the paopu tree 'Kairi.'"