Kingdom hearts 1

KINGDOM HEARTS

FANFICTION

BY: DAVID B. CARTER

Youthfulness Awash

Ch. 1-shores of Destiny Island

Three small forms struggled to climb up a mountain, as you focus in the picture you see they aren't small, they are in fact three teenage kids. Sora grabbed the rock above him and pulled himself up. Kairi was below him and had more difficulty reaching the rock. Riku swung himself up to the top and stared down at his younger friends. "We're almost there!"

"Easy for you to say," Sora said. Lifting his leg up he placed his foot on the next rock and felt it crunch. It split in two and Sora tried reaching for an emergency hold. Riku saw his friend's situation and lowered himself down. "Riku I can't-."

"Yes you can, just hold on Sora!" Sora's grip was loosening on the rock and his blue eyes scanned the rocky bottom. Riku was above and held out his hand; Sora reached for it and held on as he pulled him up. Kairi by then had made up the lost distance and was up there. "Next time be careful!"

"Hey it's not like I intended it to happen!" Sora shot back with blue eyes blazing. Riku bent his head back and stared at the descending sun as it settled behind the clouds. Kairi also noticed, but for Sora it felt like something wasn't right. "Maybe we should-."

"Sorry Sora, but when the sun goes down that means you kids should be in bed. I should too, considering I have a trip tomorrow to the hidden cave. Let's head home." Sora kicked at the dirt and trailed behind Riku and Kairi. Kairi fell behind and walked alongside Sora. She had short cut red hair, a white shirt and purple skirt. Sora always felt Kairi was more to him…then a friend.

"Hey don't be upset, Riku is just trying to look out for us, that's all. Besides while he's off staring in that cave we can have our own adventure. What do you say Sora?"

"I guess," he said. Sora had brown hair that was spiked, a red shirt connected to baggy pants, and chains. He also wore gloves with a symbol in blue. Sora was 14 like Kairi and was very adventurous for one his age. Riku was 15 and since he was the oldest, he thought it was his job to be overprotective of them. Sora and Riku were best friends and had lived on this island for some time. Kairi was the newest addition and for some reason she gave him a warm feeling inside. For the past several months Riku had been planning for a great trip-leave Destiny Island. Sora at first was hesitant, but when Kairi agreed he felt he might as well too.

"Isn't the night so beautiful," Kairi said. Sora shrugged and pulled his wooden sword out and did practice lunges. "Just think that someday we will leave here and meet new people."

"Yeah, it would be new. I just can't shake the dread that something bad will happen. How do we know our ship won't sink, or worse yet it splits in three and we're separated?"

"Sora relax, we still need the wood and supplies, and a map. Remember our pictures in the cave of Riku's?"

"What do you mean Riku's cave?" Sora stopped and realized the dirt road they had been traveling on had vanished. Sora's eyes scanned ahead for Riku, but he was probably home by now. It was just as Riku said, now he and Kairi were lost in the dark. A cold wind swept by them and Sora held his wooden sword out. Kairi was holding his hand and Sora could feel it shake.

"Did you feel that?" Sora couldn't open his mouth, but yes he did feel the cold wind; it felt like a curled up hand. The darkness vanished and the road was back; Riku stood there.

"What the..?" Riku too held his sword, but when he saw Sora and Kairi he was relieved. "Try and keep up next time Sora or being lost won't be your only problem. You two are lucky I walked slowly." The night was almost over and Sora climbed into his house and laid on his bed. What did he mean by being lost won't be your only problem? His eyes couldn't shut and the howling wind made him insecure. Riku was his best friend, but at times he felt like Riku was drifting more into adulthood. Would he have no more time to play with Kairi and me, Sora thought sadly. Outside his window he heard the crashing waves and the seagulls off in the distance.

"A boat to sail, off to the unknown," Sora moaned as his eyes flickered. "Meet new people and have a real adventure where anything out of the ordinary can happen. Leaving Destiny Islands, 14 years of my life have been spent here and saying goodbye won't be easy. Maybe in the morning…" Sora drifted off to sleep and mumbled more about escape and living.

Riku sat on the tree over looking the vast ocean that held him to his island. The blue waves crashed against the shore and Riku stared into the waves, almost hypnotized. He had white hair and wore a yellow shirt over blue baggy pants. Though he was 15 he felt older and more mature then his 14 year old friends. He sat on the tree and let his legs dangle over the ocean and his mouth tasted salty. That cave that he and Sora had found was very mysterious; each day they would play in there, but lately he had grown tired of it. That was why he came up with the idea of leaving Destiny Islands. "Soon as we have as ship…that is."

"Still thinking about leaving?" Riku turned his head to see the volley ball playing Tony. Tony had darker skin then Riku and his language, when spoken, had a high tone. Tony was 16 and someone Riku could relate to. "Riku, have you ever thought about staying in one place? It's bad enough that you've picked up Sora and Kairi and planted this in their young minds. I've noticed lately how spaced out you are. Care to let Tony in on what's bothering ya?"

"I don't belong here," Riku said flatly, "it feels like there's something else out there with my name on it. Sora is young I admit that, but he too has been curious ever since 14 years of his life have gone by, with nothing new. Kairi isn't from around here, which makes leaving Destiny Island more of finding one's home, rather then on one's own selfish quest. Haven't you ever been curious about what lies beyond those waves?" Tony was leaning against a tree spinning a volley ball on his finger. His expression was calm.

"Not really," he replied. Riku got off his tree and stared at the 16 year old curiously. "I have never been one for these quests, instead I'd rather practice my game or surf the tide. What if what lies out there isn't good, rather it's evil?"

"I never said anything about looking for trouble," Riku said objectively. Tony held out his hands in shock, and then left the small island. Holding his sword in both hands he took a steady breath to control his emotions. Swinging his sword he imagined an enemy right behind him. He brought his sword down on his cowering enemy and ended it. Stepping back he dropped his sword and averted his eyes from his image. It had seemed so real; he had an enemy right in front of him and he never stopped…killing. "Those dreams are so…real."

"Hey Riku hold up!" The voice belonged to 8 year old Mack, another islander who practiced with a sword. The little boy walked across the bridge holding his own sword. "Hey…are you ok?"

"Sure Mack just thought the moving of the waves made this island move." Mack nodded and Riku stood ready, his feet were planted firmly in the dirt. He circled around Mack and parried his blows and swung at his head. Mack rolled forward and raised his sword to block him backwards; putting his hands back he sprang forward and kicked Mack. Mack fell to the dirt.

"Oh man," he groaned. Riku held his stomach and saw Mack had the same wound. "Why do you always spring up?"

"It's a recovery move," Riku explained, "when your foe has an advantage, make him think he's won. As they move forward spring up; usually your foe may parry or simply roll out of the way, if not it knocks them back. Practice against Sora sometime, he maybe an opponent to match your size."

"Thanks Riku," Mack said. He waved goodbye and went across the bridge home. Riku sat in the dirt and curled up staring again into the waves. Everyday he like something was watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake or slip up. Everyone had a path, would his involve hurting others?

Sora awoke from his sleep and saw the light seep through his window. Turning away from the window he caught sight of some movement, could be Mack, he thought wearily. Rolling out of bed he saw Mack do a hand spring at his empty bed. Picking up his wooden sword Sora aimed it at Mack's back, "explanation…now Mack!"

"Yesterday I met with Riku for some fencing lessons; he taught me this cool move and suggested I try it out on you. Unfortunately I couldn't wait and snuck in through the back, I was kind of hoping to catch you asleep. Blew it huh?"

"Let's just say Riku's lesson failed. One little tip is to wait until your opponents guard is down, not attack while their asleep. Look Mack, you hang around with Riku a lot, right?" Mack nodded and Sora continued, "Does he ever seem to think he's in another place or stares off into the stretching waves?"

"We all do that occasionally Sora, it's just different for Riku. I heard Tony say that Riku has been having mood swings and talks about over protectiveness. If you ask me, Riku is fine, but what really is eating him lies out there." Sora got on his bed and stared at the ocean, it did look like it had the answers, then again what if it didn't? Mack turned and saw a little girl with jump rope come in. "Oh no…not her!"

"Hey, Sora, how are you doing today? Oh and Mack…hi. You know that in the distance when the sun sets, the shine of the rays make the ocean look so beautiful? Oh before I forget Kairi is waiting for you by the old shack remember?"

"Now I remember," Sora said in dawning realization. Mack pulled out his wooden sword and stared at Susie. Susie let her rope drop and swung it in the air. "Hey if you're to do any battles do it outside of my room. Mack you know the way out." Mack led Susie out and Sora went to get a quick breakfast from the kitchen. Stuffing some buttered bread into his mouth he ran down the beach to the old shack. Kairi got up and smiled at him.

"Took you long enough slowpoke. Today I was thinking we'd visit the cove. So am I the damsel in distress or the girl in need of saving but can handle herself?" Sora put his hands behind his head and tilted his head a bit. Need something new.

"Let's be two adventurers who have just discovered a treasure guarded by thieves." Kairi clapped her hands in joy and Sora felt his cheeks burn. Keep it calm, Sora thought relaxing his mind. They made their way across the tree tops and to the beach shore. "Lindsay I do believe we found gold."

"Splendid James, but what about those dreaded thieves?" James (Sora) grabbed Lindsay's (Kairi) hand and the two crouched down under the tree. James used his sword and defended Lindsay from the thieves, while Lindsay got the gold. "I got the gold lets-."

"The pirate king won't allow anybody to get away with his gold without a fight," Riku challenged. Sora dodged Riku's cut and went forward with his own attack. Riku sprung forward and Sora rolled out of the way. The two circled one another; Riku brought his sword down on Sora and impact knocked him down.

"Riku that hurt!" As Riku was about to finish it Sora got up with impending speed and jabbed the sword's butt into Riku's stomach. Riku fell holding his stomach and Sora held his sword.

"What…just happened?" Kairi's eyes were full of confusion and Sora too felt Riku had some explaining to do. Riku got up weakly and fear was evident in his eyes. "Riku tell us what's-."

"Nothing is wrong! I just didn't get any sleep, that's all." He stormed out of the area and Sora held his head. The force that Riku used to smash the sword so hard on his head must have been due to all the conflicting emotions inside him. Maybe leaving the island was necessary, after all it seemed Riku was losing it and those mood swings Tony had talked about, were all true.

"Riku has changed," Kairi noted. Sora picked up a shell and skipped it across the water. "At times he has his emotions in check, other times he loses it. Sora you've known Riku the longest, has he always wanted to leave Destiny Islands?" Kairi gave him a concerned look.

"Well," Sora began, "in a way, yeah. The cave used to be our play area where we played pirates and such. He talked about a real adventure, and then we headed to the mayor's house and met you." Kairi put her hands behind her back and Sora did the same, not really knowing why. "Have you noticed the islands have darkened?"

"Yeah, it looks like it's going to rain, but Destiny Islands never has had rain. Could this weather be making Riku upset?" The two had reached the exit and bumped into Tony. "Hey Tony, what's going on?"

"Not much; say Sora did you hear about the volley ball game tomorrow? 1st prize is said to be a gem. This gem is rumored to tell one's emotion. It ain't much, but if it involves volleyball I'm in."

"If Riku is having these mood swings, its best we know when they occur," Sora said to Kairi, "we'll be in. When does it start?" As Sora walked Kairi home they talked about their expected trip and their own worries. Yet their main concern was focused on their friend Riku.

"I always thought Riku was stable, that his cool outside was also on the inside," Kairi said. Sora stopped and thought about why Kairi thought Riku had a cool outside, nah, Sora thought. They neared Kairi's house and Sora's hands seemed to feel cold. We are just friends, Kairi thought nervously.

"Well…see you later," Sora said. Kairi kissed him on the cheek and skipped up the path. She kissed him on the cheek, could that mean a possible future? What if cool Riku had the same feelings? Am I jealous? Sora thought about it, but decided against it knowing Riku loved Kairi as a sister. The path ahead of him just then vanished!

"People change-it's all in the heart." Sora ran as fast as he could and felt his toe bang against a rock. He flew into the air and swung his arms out trying to slow his descending fall. This time Riku wasn't here to save him, what would his last thoughts be about? Kairi was his crush, Riku was his best friend, and the other kids…were carefree not dealing with his life. The trip he never would take. He never felt his bones crack or the closing of darkness, but it felt like he was falling…falling…falling…