Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the Disney characters.

Chapter One

Winter Blossom

-A first love is something that last forever in your heart. It is something that marks you.- Elodie Yung

Small feet quickly scurried down the wooden hall running to see the guests that entered the inn. As the small child neared the front, she peeked her dark head around the corner and noticed her mother at the counter helping guests check in. After her mother finished she turned to look down at the little girl, whom had snuck by her side, 'Hello, Dear, what are you doing here?'

'I want to help,' she said as she turned amber orbs towards her mother.

'That is sweet of you,' her brown eyes soften, 'but you shouldn't be out here. You should go and find your father instead.'

The little girl pouted and frowned, 'Can I go and play outside?'

'Only for a little bit, but remember to dress warmly. I don't want you to get sick.'

'Okay,' she beamed.

'Amaranth,' before the little girl could turn away and run off. 'Also don't bother the guests in the garden.'

'Kay,' she nodded before she took off to the back area of the inn to go to their private quarters.

After putting on her winter wear, she headed back to the small garden enclosed by a high wooden fence. During the summer months her mother made sure that the garden was alive with bright colors, however the only flowers she planted were roses. She had asked her mother why just roses and she had said that it was because they were her father's favorite. Anyone that met her father would question her mother, she had just nodded and agreed for her mother would not lie to her. Yet now as she stood before the glass door looking out all she saw was a snow covered landscape. The rose covered bushes lining the fence mounds of snow that she could sneak behind and hide without anyone noticing her. The sakura trees had lost their beautiful pink blossoms, but gathered a beauty of their own with their snow covered branches that she couldn't help but admire. The only thing that remained untouched was the special Koi pond that her mother had placed underneath two sakura blossom trees. She slid the door open and shivered as the cold winter air hit her. 'I better hurry,' she muttered to herself as she stepped out and closed the door before the guests complained.

Carefully she stepped off the deck and braced herself for the open air that wrapped around her. In the moment that the cold wind hit her again she was glad to have listened to her mother and dress warmly. However, after remembering the koi she lost her inhibition of the cold and ran off towards the pond to see her friends. During the winter months they were her only friends, since she had yet to go to school and not many families with children arrived at the inn. That was why she always went to see the guests that arrived, so she could see if she could make a friend but like today her mother would always send her to find her father. 'I wonder if I'll be able to make a friend this year,' she told the koi that swam underneath a sheet of frozen ice.

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The young boy with the silver locks pouted, 'Why do we have to stay here?'

'What's wrong with the inn,' his mother turned dark blue hues to look at her son, whom stared up at the small inn with disdain.

'Because only old people stay at places like this,' he stated. 'Can't we just go to Uncle's?'

'We will see your Uncle and cousin's daily, but you know there is no room for us in their house,' his mother told him as they out of the car. 'Now put your hat on.'

'Humph, I hate this,' Riku pouted as he put his beanie on.

'Your Uncle said that the owners have a little girl, so maybe you can meet and play with her when we're here,' his mother offered.

'Just don't fall in love with her,' his father told him as he finished grabbing all their bags.

'Yuck, girls are ugly and no fun,' he stuck out his tongue and contorted his face in disgust.

'You say that now,' his father laughed as they all walked inside the small hot spring inn. 'But when you get older.'

'Nope,' he shook his head in protest. The girls he knew were clingy, liked to follow him where ever he went and they talked and talked nonstop. If there ever was a girl that he wanted to be with it would have to be someone like his mother, whom he believed to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Plus she wasn't annoying either, girls had a way of irritating him, especial when they wanted his attention.

As they entered the inn they were greeted by a dark haired woman with a pale European complexion and a welcoming smile, 'Welcome to Belle's Inn.'

'Hello, we have a reservation for three. Under Miyano,' his mother answered as she watched the woman search for their name on the reservation list.

'Here you are,' she beamed and it was subtle but Riku's mother knew she must have a fan club of men chasing after her. 'May I please have you fill out this form and a credit card to keep on file.'

Riku's mother nodded and while the adults were talking he left their side to go and see what was beyond the sliding glass door on the far right. As he looked out into the snow-covered garden landscape he saw a small figure squatted over by a pond with a pink coat and dark hair flowing behind her with the wind blowing it gentle. 'What are you looking at,' his father startled him.

'Nothing,' he turned away from the door.

His father studied him and then looked out the glass door, 'Oh.'

'What are we looking at,' his mother joined them.

'Are we going to our room now,' Riku asked.

The little girl got up and turned from the pond and was about to walk away when she spotted two adults with blond white hair looking at her. It made her feel a little uncomfortable to be looked at by two beautifully unique people that she shifted a bit in her stance. However, when she noticed the woman look down she saw the small child standing in front of the pair. 'Riku, why don't you go out and play with her,' his mother offered.

'I don't want to play with a girl,' he stated and looked away.

'But I think that now that she saw us, she would be disappointed if you didn't go,' his mother pointed out.

'I wouldn't miss a chance like this,' his father teased. 'She's very cute.'

Riku turned his head a little and out of the corner he saw her looking back at them. 'You shouldn't make her wait.'

His mother turned him around and opened the door, 'I'll be back to get you, so go out and play for a little bit.'

'But,' he was pushed out the door and into the cold winter day.

'Go get her champ,' his father cheered and Riku sighed in irritation and rolled his eyes.

Amaranth saw the strange exchange, but couldn't hear what they were saying. However, when the boy turned to look at her she smiled and lifted her hand to wave at him. 'Be careful,' she cautioned as he began to move towards her.

Riku didn't listen to her he just carelessly walked towards her but as he drew nearer he lost his footing and slipped falling backwards on his bum. 'Wah,' he cried out as he fell onto the soft cold snow.

Without hesitation she rushed forward, 'Are you okay?'

'No,' snapped and he saw her jump, but still held her hand out for him to grab.

'I am sorry,' she apologized for no reason and let her hand fall when he got up without her assistance.

'I hate it here,' he stated in his anger and embarrassment.

Amber eyes widen, before they turned downcast in disappointment at the thought of someone hating the inn. She felt even more sad when he looked at her with anger and displeasure. Backing away from him with a soft frown on her lips she realize that it wasn't a friend in him that she would make. 'I am sorry that you don't like it here.'

It was the first time that a girl retreated from him. When he was mean to the other girls they continued to cling on to him. As he watched her he furrowed his brow, he suddenly didn't understand what he was feeling. It was the first time in his life that he wanted to apologize to a girl and as he studied her he realized that for a girl she was pretty. He never thought that he would ever think of a girl as pretty, but her pale milky complexion stood out against her long dark locks that framed her small chubby face. Her amber eyes reminded him of crystals that held sadness, that he caused and was now regretting. 'Sorry,' the word escaped his lips and she looked up at him. 'I am just mad at my parents.'

She nodded but didn't say anything, she was afraid that if she spoke he would snap at her again. 'I promise, I am not mad at you.'

'Why,' her voice was soft and unsure.

'Because I wanted to stay home with my friends and then I wanted to stay with my cousins, but they brought me here.'

'Oh,' she was starting to understand and the gears in her little head began turning. 'The Inn is really nice, I think that you'll like it if you give it a chance.'

'Maybe,' he shrugged but decided to change the subject. 'What were you looking at earlier?'

Amaranth turned to look at the pond and without saying anything grabbed his gloved hand in hers and pulled him forward. 'I was talking to my friends. I was hoping that I would find someone to be able to play with,' she blushed at his confused expression. 'The koi, they are my friends.'

He looked down at the pond before him saw the golden and white fish swimming lazily about. 'You talk to the fish?'

'Yes,' she realized she was still holding his hand and slipped her hand away.

Riku noticed the loss of her hand and knitted his brows in confusion, for some odd reason the little girl with the huge doe amber eyes and soft blush did something strange to him. 'You're weird.'

She was taken back by his comment, but didn't falter for he was right it was weird to talk to fish. Looking up at him now that she was calm and not upset she saw that he was cute. He looked a lot like his mother and father with his pale skin, he's pretty face and when she gazed at his eyes she saw that they were a blueish green that had a gold ring around the irises. 'Do I have something on my face?'

'No,' she shook her head, 'I was hoping that we could play tag.'

'Tag,' he tapped her shoulder, 'you're it.'

'Wait,' she called after him as ran away from her, 'I don't know your name.'

'Riku,' he answered. 'What's yours?'

'Amaranth,' she huffed he was too fast for her.

'It's nice to meet you shrimp,' he teased as he slowed down for her to almost catch him but then pulled ahead.

They played for a little bit until her mother called them in because they had been out in the cold too long. 'I had fun,' Riku admitted.

'Me too.'

'Riku,' his mother came down the hall to look for him.

'Mom,' he waved happily at her determined to introduce her to his new friend with the cute red button nose.

'Are you ready to come back to the room, your father wants to take you to the hot spring,' she told him and greeted the host and the little girl. 'Hello, Little One.'

'Hi,' she bowed slightly and smiled up at the pretty lady.

'Aren't you adorable,' she squatted down to Amaranth's eye level.

'Thank you,' she felt her face heat up as a small blush cover her cheeks.

'What's your name?'

'Amaranth.'

'Oh, I wish I had a daughter as cute as you,' she reached out and patted her head. 'Did you have fun with Riku?'

She nodded, 'Was he nice to you?'

'Yes, we made snowman,' she turned to the glass door and they saw two snowman standing side by side looking into the koi pond.

'I am glad,' she beamed. 'And I love your snowmen.'

'Thank you,' she looked up at her mom and smiled with joy before turning back to look at Riku and his mom.

'Well, we best let you go,' her mother said. 'I am sure that you must want to get back to enjoy the hot springs.'

'Right,' the adorable little girl had captured her attention and made her forget her husband. 'You should say good-bye to your new friend, Riku.'

'Can I play with her again,' he asked her mother and the brunette smiled and nodded.

'Of course, right Amaranth?'

'Yes,' she agreed, 'I would like that.'

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The days passed in a flying blur and to Riku's disappointment it was time for him and his family to go back home. Yet as he looked out at the garden where his friend waited by the Koi pond he couldn't explain his feelings. It was the first time that he was friends with a girl that wasn't related to him and he didn't mind her company. Amaranth was a quiet girl that listened to him and didn't look at him with a lovesick stare that other girls did. However, she had a way of making him look at her that left him perplexed. He also enjoyed when she smiled up at him, held his hand or told him stories about her family or funny guests that had stopped by the inn.

So now that he needed to tell her that he was leaving he wondered how she would react. Would she be upset? Of course she would, she was his friend. He sighed heavily as he opened the sliding door and exited the warmth of the inn to enter the chilly winter day. As he neared her he felt an aching in his chest that caused him to bring his hand against his chest to rub it, 'Amaranth.'

She had been lost in her thoughts as she watched the koi swim about lazily underneath the sheet of ice. When she heard Riku's voice she felt a flutter in her stomach and a joy in her chest. Their first meeting had been uncomfortable and she had thought that he would never be her friend. However, now they always played out in the garden and had hot chocolate with desserts her Papa made. 'Hello,' she beamed at him, but saw that his shoulders were hunched and his face was contorted in confusion. 'Are you okay?'

His heart was pounding, why he didn't know but he knew it had to do with her. 'I…don't know.'

'Hmm,' she cocked her head and then realized what could have his shoulders drooping and voice breaking. 'Are you going to go home?'

'How?'

Her smile dropped before answering, 'This is an inn, everyone goes home after a bit.'

'Are you sad?'

'Hn,' she nodded.

'Are you mad at me?'

'No,' she shook her head.

'Will you miss me?'

'Yeah,' she told him with a crescent smile.

'Will you cry?'

'No,' she shook her head and saw his face fall at her statement. 'Because you'll come back, you'll come and visit your cousins. So hopeful you won't forget me and come play.'

'I won't, I'll be back.'

'Good,' she brightened and again there was a tightness in his chest that wasn't due to sadness but something else all together. 'So this won't be good-bye today, it'll be until next time. So lets make good memories today and play. We'll go and have hot cocoa with Papa and see what he made today.'

He nodded before he tagged her and took off running. He would do as she said and promised to himself that when they next came to visit his cousins he would come back. He would tell his parents that they need to stay at the little inn with the cute little girl with the pale skin, dark midnight hair and large amber orbs. 'No fair,' she cried as she tried to catch him but he was too fast. Riku just laughed and slowed down a bit to tease her, but instead of crying out she grinned in joy of taking a little of his sadness away.