This story takes place after right after Kingdom Hearts II, but before the cutscene where they find the letter from the King.

Kingdom Hearts: Break Free

Chapter 1

The day was beginning to fade.

Sora, Riku, and Kairi were all together on their island once again. After defeating Xemnas, the boys had been able to return home through the door to the light, and were welcomed by Kairi, Goofy, Donald and Mickey.

That day, the three friends had walked all across the island, recalling the silly or interesting things that had happened to them in certain places, or the fun games they used to play. On his own, Sora had visited the Secret Place and had smiled at the drawings covering the rocky walls. He had been especially happy to see the picture he had drawn with Kairi.

Towards the end of that day, Donald, Goofy, and the King had said farewell, and departed for the castle. Soon, life had returned to normal and the three friends were finally able to relax.

Now, another day had passed. Evening was approaching, and the three were sitting on the paopu tree, enjoying a cool late-afternoon breeze.

"I think I'm calling it a day," Riku said, jumping off the paopu's trunk and onto the ground. He knew Sora and Kairi had hardly had anytime to spend alone together, thus he decided to head home on the early side. "You guys stay as long as you like," he said, winking at Sora when Kairi had looked away.

"Uh, okay," Sora replied, clearly puzzled and unaware of Riku's intentions.

"See ya, Riku!" Kairi waved.

Riku started off across the bridge, leaving his two friends sitting alone together on the tree.

"So, when are you ever going to tell me about all those things you did without me?" Kairi giggled, turning to Sora.

"Well, I guess now would be a great time," Sora replied. "So, where do I begin…?" He rested his chin in his hand as he thought.

"Start where our island disappeared. And don't leave anything out!"

"Okay," Sora said, but then remembered something. "Actually it all began when I started having these weird thoughts. Like, was any of it for real? Or not?"

Kairi watched Sora intently as his tone grew more serious.

"Remember when you found me asleep on the beach, and I told you I had fought this weird black monster?"

"You were dreaming, weren't you?" Kairi looked uncertain.

"In fact, I wasn't. It came back to our island, and that was when our world became tied to the darkness…"

"And now, we're here again, safe and sound."

By the time Sora had finished, the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow on the whole island.

"Wow," Kairi breathed, as Sora concluded. "You visited so many places, and made so many friends! I wish I could have visited those other worlds too."

"Maybe you will someday," Sora said. "Anything could happen."

Kairi sighed, but it was a strange mixture of contentment and longing. "So much has happened, and it would seem like everything would be different, but nothing's really changed."

"I know one thing for sure that hasn't changed." Sora said.

"What's that?" Kairi asked, looking up at him.

"Our friendship is still as strong as ever," Sora replied, smiling.

Kairi smiled too, but then looked down at her hands. "Sora…I've always…I mean…it seems–"

"What?" Sora inquired, puzzled at Kairi's hesitation.

Kairi looked up again, gazing at Sora. "I think we have something more…" She whispered, and leaned towards him. Their faces were inches apart, and Sora found himself lost in Kairi's sapphire eyes. He suddenly knew what it was that they both wanted. He leaned forward as well, and their lips brushed. Kairi slipped her arms around his waist as they kissed, the last few rays of sunlight falling upon them, enveloping them in their own sweet world. The waves lapped gently upon the soft white sand, and it seemed as though everything was at peace in the world.

Sora placed one last kiss on Kairi's cheek, his face flushed, and his heart blossoming with new emotions. Kairi rested her head on his shoulder, elated.

"I guess we never needed a paopu fruit," she laughed softly.

"Huh?"

"Our destinies were always intertwined. We belong together."

"That's right," Sora murmured, stroking Kairi's hair.

"Do you think it will always be like this?" Kairi asked. "The darkness won't come back, will it?"
"We may never know, Kairi," Sora said, looking up at the stars that were beginning to appear in the sky. "But even if it does, we'll always have each other. Wherever we go, we'll always be together."

Kairi lifted her head from his shoulder. She took his hand, and squeezing it, said, "Our hearts are connected."

Sora smiled, and kissed Kairi's forehead. The moon had already begun its ascent into the twinkling night sky. As he looked up, he imagined all the worlds that he had visited during his travels, and all the people he had helped. My work is complete, he thought, warm contentment flowing through his body.

Kairi yawned, stretching her arms wide.

"Looks like you're ready to go to sleep," Sora grinned.

"Don't be so sure about that," Kairi smirked, standing up. "I'll race you to the dock." She clambered off the long trunk of the paopu tree, and stood, hands on hips, waiting.

"All right, then," Sora replied, following, his eyes twinkling. Then suddenly, he started sprinting across the bridge, glimpsing back over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Kairi called mock angrily, and sped off after him.

Sora soon reached the door that led down to the seaside shack. He flung it open and hurried down the stairs, expecting Kairi to be not far behind him. He began to open the lower door, and took a step outside again, but Kairi still hadn't entered the shack.

"Kairi?" He called, clambering back up the steps, and peering out the open door. Sora gasped when he saw her sprawled on the ground about halfway between the door and the start of the bridge. He ran over and knelt beside her, completely bewildered.

"Kairi!" He cried, grasping her hand and folding it in both of his own. He couldn't imagine what could have happened to her. Had she tripped? This seemed rather doubtful. Her eyes were closed, but appeared to be moving. Suddenly, she mumbled something incomprehensible.

"Kairi, wake up!" Sora nearly shouted. He was starting to get panicky. He looked around to see if anyone was left on the island. It appeared everyone had gone home already.

Suddenly, Kairi's eyes flew open. "Sora! We need to go!"

Sora practically jumped as he heard her voice. But he was immensely relieved. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Kairi was already sitting up and brushing herself off. "C'mon, we need to go!" She exclaimed, and jumped to her feet.

"What? Go where?" Sora cried, now even more confused.

"To the Secret Place!" She said. "Hurry!" With that, she dashed through the doorway, down the stairs, and out of the shack, with Sora following close behind.

"Will you please tell me what's going on here?" Sora demanded, on the verge of exasperation.

"It was Naminé, we need to go back to Twilight Town…something's wrong," Kairi replied as they hurried across the sand towards the waterfall.

"Naminé…?" Sora said almost to himself. "So why are we going to the Secret Place?" he inquired.

"I think she said that the door in the cave…it can take us there. I couldn't understand her that well because it felt–like I was in some kind of dream."

"So Naminé was trying to contact you?"

"Yeah…" By this time they had reached the cave entrance, and they both stooped down in order to enter the small passageway.

"I wonder how she knew something was wrong," Sora speculated, as they felt their way along the walls in the near darkness.

"I don't know, but it seemed extremely urgent," Kairi replied, her voice echoing out into the chamber they had now entered.

They hurried forward to the rounded wooden door at the far side of the cave. Sora reached out and tried the knob, but inevitably found it was somehow locked.

"I guess I'll be needing my keyblade once again," Sora sighed. He had hoped that once he returned home he wouldn't have to be going on more adventures. But now it seemed that his keyblade would be needed sooner than he thought. He reached out his hand, and the keyblade materialized in it as if from nothing. Then, standing back, he grasped the weapon with both hands and pointed it at the door. A bright beam of light shot out from the tip and struck the door, the light spreading outwards, creating a shimmering sheen across its surface. As it dissipated, they heard a clicking noise, and the door swung open.

The two cautiously stepped forward, peering into the whiteness, through which they could distinguish nothing. In silent agreement, they advanced forward, stepping through the threshold, and into what they assumed must be Twilight Town.