A/N: Heh, this one is short, too. I had to conquer writer's block to get this one written, though. Well, I hope you like this chapter...it took a long time to write, considering how short it is.

Special thanks to those who reviewed!

Chapter Four: Not As Planned

Sora took a deep breath. This was it. He was going to tell Kairi right here and right now, right on this beach. He was going to open himself up to her and spill out his secret.

If only it was that simple. Right now he had no idea where Kairi was, or if she was even planning to walk on the beach today. Sora sighed in frustration. If Kairi had to pick a day to skip out on her daily routine why did it have to be today?

He walked slowly, scanning the sandy beach before he saw her in the distance. Grinning, he sped up his pace, jogging over to her and creeping up behind her. He lightly tapped her on the shoulder, but she spun around, a alert. She sighed in half relief and half frustration when she saw her friend. "Sora!" she groaned. "Don't sneak up on me like that." Sora only grinned in response but his grin fell when he realized why he was here. Maybe he could delay it for just a little while? He sat down on the sand and Kairi sat down, as well. "Sora," she said, looking at him curiously, "are you sure nothing's been wrong with you lately?" Sora sighed. He knew she would ask something like this.

"Kairi, it's probably not what you think it is. Yes, I'm keeping a secret." He felt guilt creep up on him; keeping a secret from your best friend was pretty low. "I know, I know, keeping a secret from your best friend is wrong, but it's like…" Kairi waited, very interested in Sora's words. Sora sighed in frustration, but continued anyway. "It's like every time I try to tell you I can't. It's like I want to tell you, I really do, but…" he turned away.

"But what, Sora?" Kairi pressed further, wanting answers.

"But I can't." Kairi bit her lip. She didn't know whether she should be angry or not.

"Why not, Sora? Is it that you don't trust me with your secret?" Sora shook his head, surprised.

"I don't understand where you got that from, Kairi. It's not that at all…" he sighed again. "Ever feel butterflies in your stomach?" Kairi raised an eyebrow in question.

"Where did that question come from, Sora?"

"It has to do with this, I promise. Answer the question," he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Well…okay." She thought about it. Had she? She smiled a little, but it was a sad smile. Yes, she had. She had felt butterflies in her stomach. Many, many times. All for one person…"Yeah," she answered, finally. "I have." Sora nodded.

"Well that's like what I feel whenever I try to tell you."

"Tell me your secret?" This confused Kairi. "But I don't get it. Can't you just tell me, Sora? What are you afraid of? I will always accept you, always…" Sora shook his head, cutting her off.

"But that's the thing. That's what I'm afraid of. Your reaction," he said, sighing. Kairi sighed, as well.

"Sora, you make no sense. I just told you I'd accept you, even if your secret is something horrible, I'll always accept you, okay? Just tell me!" Kairi said, a little snippy. She was more than a little aggravated right now. It wasn't exactly that she was mad at Sora; it was just that she wanted to know what he was hiding from her.

"But Kairi, you don't---"

"Understand, Sora?" she said, rolling her eyes. "Of course I don't! Because you won't tell me anything!" Sora looked ashamed.

"Kairi, I want to…"

"Then do it! I won't hate you. I can't be that bad, can it, Sora?" she looked at him, her eyes locking with his. He found himself getting lost in her deep eyes and sighed, having given up.

"Okay, Kairi." She smiled and waited. It took a while but I'm finally going to know. I can't say I'm not a little nervous…

"I..I l-love you."

Silence. Dead silence that was scaring Sora. Kairi's eyes widened and she shook her head and then quickly got up and jogged away, leaving Sora alone. He shook his head. "You're an idiot, Sora," he said quietly to himself, tears forming in his eyes. "You're a real idiot. You just had to do it, didn't you?" he closed his eyes and felt wetness roll down his cheeks, and he wiped away the single tear angrily. He walked away, intending to be alone for a while. Not like he had much of a choice. Kairi would probably never talk to him again. He was alone.

As he walked, he clasped his hand over his heart. It hurt. He closed his eyes, leaning against a nearby tree. Is this what it feels like…

…when your heart gets broken?

---

Kairi sat on her bed, legs pulled up to her chest. Her heart was pounding in her chest. H-he loves me?