Disclaimer: I, the person who is writing under the name of Karin Starsen, am NOT stealing these characters. I am NOT stealing a story line, and I am most defiantly NOT stealing their creative worlds and creations. All of this does NOT belong to me… I am simply using there great creation to write my interpretation of a story. But I will NOT have anyone steal from ME either… thank you.

Authors Note

Don't be confused! I'm introducing a new character, and he isn't from anything… so he IS MINE! No touchy or I'll sue big time… oh, and everything else is theirs I suppose… waves hand dismissivly whatever, enjoy!

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Kairi woke up, blinking her eyes lazily. Where was she? She sat up and saw a fire inside of a stone woodstove. She looked to her left and saw that she was in a small room with a table. She turned around and saw a counter with a man standing behind.

"Oh!" she gasped quickly getting to her feet. "I- I didn't see you there!"

"That's alright little missy," the blonde man says. "The name's Cid. I found you outside about an hour ago… I haven't seen so many refugees since… well, the heartless."

"You know about the heartless!" Kairi sad, running forward to the counter.

"Well heck yeah! This is Traverse Town, the place that most refugees from other worlds land. Who are you?"

"I'm Kairi. I think I remember it here now."

"Huh, what'da mean by that?"

"I was here once. Well, not exactly me- I was sort of with Sora. A friend of mine."

"Ha! Sora! I haven't seen him in ages. Since the heartless left actually… You were with him? I thought he was looking for his friends," Cid said, scratching his head.

"He had my heart…"

He have her a confused look.

"Uhm, nevermind… you mentioned not having seen this many refugees since the heartless. Are… are they back?"

"Why don't you tell me. Your world obviously isn't there anymore."

"Yeah, I remember… Oh my gosh! Penny!" Kairi cried. She turned and ran out the door into the street.

"Wait!" Cid yelled after her, running to the door. "You forgot your knife!"

But Kairi was already pushing through the doors to the third district. Cid let his hand holding the knife fall to his side. "Poor girl," he muttered.

Kairi ran blindly into the third district, and straight into someone. She flew off her feet onto the ground. She groaned and sat up rubbing her head. A boy stood there holding out his hand. She grabbed it and he helped her to her feet. She was still staring into his deep green eyes. His black hair fell to about halfway down his ear, or a little shorter. A few strands stuck up around his head, and some fell over his eyes the tips resting on his cheeks.

He wore a baggy black shirt with many large wrinkles, but somehow it still showed his slim figure. The sleeveless top show muscular arms, as if he practiced fighting on an everyday basis. He wore a thin gray scarf around his neck that almost reached his feet. His pants were black, and baggy like the shirt held up with a silver belt.

"Hello," he said in a cheerful voice, a surprise for his looks. He smiled somewhat sweetly. "My name is Jembore, but you may call me Jem."

"I-I…" Kairi stuttered. Why am I stuttering? It's never been so hard for me to talk to a guy before… "I'm sorry!" she blurted out.

Jem laughed. "It's okay! Just be glad I didn't do anything rash, at first I thought you were another heartless! Just please, tell me your name…"

"I'm… Kairi."

Why is my heart beating so fast…?

He kissed her hand, causing Kairi to blush. "Pleased to meet you Kairi. Now tell me, what is a pretty lady like you doing out here?"

Why did I blush? I like Sora!... and Riku… but that's beside the point! I can't add another one on…

"I'm looking for my friend, Penny. We just landed here, Destin… I mean our world, it was destroyed by the heartless! I don't know where she is…"

Or can I… It's my decision…

"Penny did you say?"

No! I'm insane, I just met this freak! What's with all the black clothing... I don't see any weapons on him…

"Yes, have you heard of her?" Kairi asked hopefully.

"Why yes I have! Infact, she's staying in the hotel room next to me and my brother."

"Please! Lead the way, I promised that I would look after her!"

"Oh, she's quite capable of looking after herself, pretty handy with a whip that girl is…" he rubbed the back of his neck as if remembering something painful. Kairi suppressed a giggle, she knew that Penny had some skill. He turned his body but kept his head facing her. "Oh, and by the way… I figured I would lead the way anyway… seeing that you're still holding my hand."

He winked his lovely green eyes, then was off at a run before Kairi could drop her jaw. Sora is the one I like, she told herself. It's Sora! He saved me…

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Yuna, Paine and Rikku each sat in a white, fluffy chair all facing the a small glass coffee table at the center of the room. Paine slammed her fist on the table, causing the others to jump out of there trance. She was staring at the table, her fist shaking.

"It's just not fair!" she cried out in anguish. "Why us! Why that fiend! Yuna, just think of all the people… they'll all be so sad that you're dea…"

"Paine!" Rikku shot out of her chair, staring angrily at her friend. Paine looked up at Yuna, her head was in her hands and she was staring absently at the wall. Paine lifted her hands back into her lap.

"Sorry…"

Rikku sighed and sat back in her chair. "I know what you mean," she murmered. "Things have finally changed so much, that there isn't a way for us to change them back. What… what will we do?"

"There is nothing that we can do… I don't think I'll ever see black again," she said, looking around the sparkling white/glass/crystal room. Outside the window there were more white trees…

Rikku rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Just close your eyes, dummy!"

Paine closed her eyes, then smiled sheepishly. "Haha… oh yeah…"

Yuna shook her head as if she just woke up. She looked at her friends. "I think I know why we are here…" she said.

"Why is that?"

"I think that we were meant to be here… because I think we are supposed to investigate this whole thing. About the black demon. I think that our death was set up… because…"

"Because whoever set this up, must think that we are the only ones from Spira that can stop this. So that's why we are here," Paine finished for her. Rikku's eyes widened.

"So you mean that our death was intentional? And we walked right into it!" she cried. "And they still think that we are supposed to save the world… again?"

All three girls looked at each other, and laughed. Really laughed, and they all felt better. Because now they knew what to do.