A/N: Don't have much to say this time around. xD

Thanks for the reviews, once again!

Chapter Six: An Understanding

It was early morning, the sun just rising, and Sora was walking the beach of the islet that was separate from that of the mainland. The little island that held so many memories. Kairi hadn't taken a walk on this island since he had confessed to her; he knew she was avoiding him, and it only made him more ashamed.

Furthermore, he hadn't seen her since. Yes, maybe little glimpses here and there; but they hadn't spoken a word. Kairi didn't wave happily at him, smile and call him over. Kairi didn't talk to him. Kairi didn't even give him a second glance. It made him guilty, it made him saddened. He felt depressed and lonely.

He wished, deep inside, that he had never listened to Riku's advice. I ruined my chances with her! He scolded himself inwardly. I ruined our friendship… He was blaming himself for it all. Even though it might not be his fault for her reaction it was his fault he confessed at all. It was his fault he even showed any sign of hiding any thing from her. At this moment he was even blaming himself for ever developing feelings of more than a sister-brother kind of love, the thing he had always thought he felt for her.

He was sitting there, thinking it all through, sulking, and he didn't realize there was someone behind him. "…S-Sora?" Sora turned his head, seeing the source of the timid, quiet voice. "I…I think we need to talk." Sora gulped, but nodded. It was Kairi. He waited for her to go on. "Well, um, I know it must have taken a lot to confess that to me…" Sora only nodded. It had been extremely difficult to confess his feelings to Kairi. "But, well…it's not that…I…" Sora sighed, shaking his head.

"Listen, Kairi," he said, "I understand, really. You don't need to explain it." Kairi nodded, smiling.

"Good, Sora. I was hoping you would understand," she said, happily. "Now we can just go from there." Sora smiled, too, although it was a sad kind of smile.

"Yeah, now we can go back to being friends," he said. Kairi gave him a confused look.

"Friends?" she questioned. Sora nodded.

"Since you don't like me that way." Kairi opened her mouth to say something, but Sora continued. "I know that it was sudden. But since a long time ago, I've realized I've been developing these feelings for you. Before the whole adventure thing I'd dismissed it as a sibling kind of love, because we were such good friends." He sighed, shaking his head and looking at the ground. "But, I mean…when we were separated from each other…I was so scared. I was scared I was going to lose you and never see you again. I didn't admit it, obviously. But I felt it." He smiled sadly. "It's okay, though. I can move on. There's just one thing I want though, Kairi." Kairi didn't say anything, she was shocked by Sora's words and the depth of them. "I want us to still be friends. I hope I didn't ruin our friendship." He started to walk away, but Kairi quickly grabbed his wrist, pulling him back. She shook her head and she was sure there were tears running down her cheeks. Sora's words had really gotten to her. "No, Sora," she said, "you don't understand it all!" Sora sighed.

"What don't I understand? I think I understand what's going on perfectly, Kairi." Kairi sighed and Sora looked away, but listened to her and waited for her to speak. Kairi took a deep breath.

"It's not that I don't like you, is what I was trying to say before. I know you probably think I don't by the way I reacted. But it was just…I just felt like it was the easiest thing to do." Sora looked at her, face scrunched up in confusion. Kairi felt some satisfaction that she had succeeded in confusing him this time, even though she didn't know why. "I ran because I was afraid. I mean, think of it, Sora. Me, Riku and you were all separated from each other for so long. I just wanted to come back to the island, all three of us, and just enjoy it." She smiled sadly, bitterly and bit her lip. "I mean, really. How long do you think we can stay like this, Sora? In peace together, with nothing between us?" she shook her head. "Not with our current lives. The moment our island was submerged in darkness that night was the moment our lives changed forever." Sora was surprised now, listening to Kairi's words. What was she getting at? She sighed. "What I'm saying is, I wanted things to be like before. Together, friends, not a care in the world…but how can we do that? How could I fool myself? We are who we are." She shrugged. "There's nothing to change that. And I think even before things weren't like I wanted them to be." She smiled. "I'm sorry, Sora. You shouldn't be." Sora stared at her, wide-eyed.

"No, I was the one who ruined it. I mean, we could still go back and it could be like before…" Kairi shook her head, grinning.

"Sora, that's impossible. You know it's impossible. We all changed. We all grew up. Even if we didn't go through all this adventure we would still have changed. People don't stay the same, neither do feelings. And I was wrong to be afraid of change. Like a very wise person once told me, change is bound to happen, so I think we should just let it happen." Sora smiled.

"Are you sure, Kai? Are you sure that you're okay with the changes?" Kairi shrugged and grinned.

"What choice do I have, really? I mean, I'll get used to them." There was silence for a while, but it was a comfortable silence. Finally, Kairi broke it. "…You too, Sora." Sora looked at her, confused.

"Huh?"

"You too," she repeated, "you said, 'I love you', right? Well, you too." Sora's eyes widened.

"You mean…?"

"Yeah, I just realized it while thinking last night…I love you too, Sora. I'm sorry that I made you believe I didn't. I made myself believe I didn't, too." Sora smiled. More silence between them. Sora got up.

"I think I should go," he said, "I promised I'd meet Riku." Kairi nodded.

"Bye, then, Sora…" she felt awkward again all of the sudden.

"Bye, Kairi…" they stared at each other for a while before Sora turned and walked away. Kairi sighed.

"Now we have an understanding…what now?"