Chapter Three.

The Heartless

For the next couple of days Riku and Crystal walked around hand-in-hand, some people staring in shock, and others clapping and yelling "THE FEUD IS OVER!". Crystal blushed when they said that. Sora, Kairi, Riku, and Crystal met up in the cove where they we're building the raft, Sora still needed to get a mushroom, and a coconut.

Crystal looked out to sea. "How far could a raft take us?" she asked and looked at Riku.

"Who knows...if we have to we'll think of something else." he replyed.

"Thanks Sora, it's about time!" Kairi giggled as Sora handed her the mushroom, and the coconut.

"Daybreak tomorrow?" Sora sked Riku.

"Daybreak tomorrow." Riku said with a sigh.

"So suppose you get to another world." Kairi said with a giggle. "What would you do there?"

"Well, I haven't really thought about it... I"ve just wondered why we're here on this island. And suppose there are other worlds then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So...we could of just as easily of ended up somewhere else right?" said Riku.

"I don't know..." said Sora laying back on the paopu tree."

"Exactly. That's why we need to get out there and find out. It's the same old stuff. So let's go."said Riku.

"You've been thinking alot lately havn't you?" asked Crystal.

"Thanks to Kairi, if she hadn't come here...I probally would of never thought of any of this. Kairi thanks." Kairi giggles.

"You're welcome. Hmm...It's getting dark fast...okay see you guys tomorrow!" she said as she walked off with Sora towards the boats.

"Crystal want me to take you home?" Riku asked looking at her.

"Sure." she smiled

Later that night Crystal got up and sat by her bedroom window.

"Hmm..." she sighed then a bolt of lightning struck across the sky. "A storm? Oh no!" she jumped up. "The raft!" she climbed out her window and ran to her boat and met up with Sora who had the same reaction she did when the lightning struck. They both got their boats and rowed towards Paopu Island.

She docked her boat as Sora jumped off his and ran off looking for Kairi, Crystal then headed over to Riku who was on the tiny island with the paopu tree. Five black creatures with yellow eyes appeared out of nowhere are surrounded her. One of them lept up from behind her and slashed her across the back. She yelled in agony and kicked one of them in the head and ran towards Riku. As she was climbing up the latter Riku reached down and grabbed her hand.

"One got you?" he looked at her concerned.

"It's just a scratch...whats going on?" she asked.

Riku was about to answer but Sora came running down the ramp and yelled.

"Where's Kairi! I thought she was with you two!"

"The door has opened..." Riku said.

"What?" asked Sora. Crystal was looking at Riku.

"The door is opened Sora!" Riku said again. "No we can go to the outside world!"

"What are you talking about? We got to find Kairi!" Sora yelled.

"Kairi's comming with us!" Sora just stared. "Once we step through we might no be able to come back. We may never see our parents again. There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us! I'm not afraid of the darkness!" Riku said then grabbed Crystal's hand who closed her eyes. Riku then raised his hand and offered it to Sora.

"Riku..." Sora said then this black rope thing wrapped all around Riku and Crystal. Sora went to grab Riku's hand but the ropes got him to. Sora was reaching out and was barely touching Riku's hand when Crystal felt her feet leave the ground.