Bittersweet Melody

by hikari-aozora

Someday, you'll find me. SxK [COMPLETE!]

7. Can You Keep a Secret?

Bittersweet Melody: by hikari-aozora

Bold: parts of the chapter's song

Italics: a thought or flashback

Underlined: emphasis on words

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the KH, KH2, or Final Fantasy Characters used, unfortunately ... that would be really, really, really cool if I did ... don't you agree? Anybody wanna buy the rights to it for me? They'd be the coolest person in the world if they did!

(A/N: this is kinda like part 2 of the last chapter, kinda ... in a way, sort of ... ok, scratch that, its pretty different)

CHAPTER SIX: Can you keep a secret?

"Thank God!" Sora said, jumping up out of his seat, when the final bell of the day rang, releasing the students from the prison known as school. The other teenagers who had risen from their desks, even those halfway to the door already, stopped to stare at Sora, who laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Heh ... I guess that came out louder than I thought," he said, for he had meant only to think it. However, this was just typical Sora, so his classmates simply shrugged off the remark and exited the room. Kairi, who had been seated beside Sora at their table, giggled, causing Sora to avert his gaze to her.

"Excuse me," he said, crossing his arms and carefully emphasizing the word "excuse" to add extra effect, "what are you laughing at?"

Kairi shook her head as if to say, "Nothing, nothing at all, Sora," scooted her chair back away from the table, and gracefully rose from her chair.

The last class of the day for both of them was the worst one of all: Biology. There were no desks, only lab tables. You sat two to a table, and who you sat by was who you were stuck with as your partner from then on. Sora was lucky to have ended up by Kairi when he returned, who of course, was a straight A student. The walls were pale, colorless, and cold, but of course, this was a science lab, not art class. "This class," as the teacher, Mr. Nakamura, had told them so often, "is strictly professional, a place of learning and study, a class where only hard work and dilligence will earn you a passing grade." That basically translates to, "This is Biology class. Sit down, shut up, and pay attention. While you are in here, I am your dictator, and this is not a democracy. No fun allowed!" Yet, being teenagers, the students couldn't have cared less what the teacher had to say. He could have just as easily said, "Ho, ho, ho! I am Santa Claus!" and it wouldn't have made a bit of difference to them.

That was just the way school was.

"Oh, well okay then," Sora said and he made a move toward the door. "See ya, Kai!" he said as he took another step forward, preparing to make a run toward freedom, but something held him back. Something, or someone, dared to elongated the time it would take before the boy reached the doors.

And of course, it was Kairi.

I want to get closer to your thoughts

I can't sit still

Can you keep a secret?

"We still on for that date tonight?" she asked him softly as she pulled him close. When Sora didn't immediately answer, she added, "You didn't forget, did you?"

"No, of course not!" Sora lied, furiously shaking his spiky head in response. Truthfully, the events of the previous night had thrown him off ... and he had forgotten. Phew, thank goodness she reminded me, though. "So," he said quickly afterward, lowering his volume, "what time should I come over?"

Kairi grinned mischieviously and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, seven is good for me," she said. "How 'bout you?"

"Perfect," Sora said with a smile, making a mental note to tell his mother he had a date tonight when he got home. She should be back by now, he thought. She said she would be.

I've been sending you signals from here

You still haven't deciphered them

Come on

"Okay, then," Kairi said, closing her eyes. Sora knew what that meant. He knew that that was the signal to kiss her, and he leaned in to place his lips upon hers, but right before he did, he was rudely interrupted.

"Ahem!"

Kairi opened her eyes and blinked a few times before she and Sora both turned their heads towards the front of the room. Mr. Nakamura was sitting upright at his desk, tapping one of his many identical black pens upon the small spanse of uncovered desktop between two neat stacks of papers. Sora and Kairi had seen all of the students leave, so naturally, they had assumed that they were alone. But they were wrong.

"If you are going to do that," he said, sounding rather annoyed, "then please leave the premises and please do it on your own time!"

Sora and Kairi both rolled their eyes and turned back to face each other, placing their arms at their sides. Sora smiled. "See you later, then," he said, and he dashed toward the door.

"Remember, seven!" Kairi called after him.

Sora, somehow managing to keep moving, turned around swiftly to wave at Kairi and acknowledge her. "Seven!" he repeated, and then he disappeared from sight.

"I'm home!" Sora called, pushing his front door open with such force that it slammed against the wall behind it, but Sora paid no attention to the wall. He was more intent on tossing his backpack halfway across the room and then letting it slide across the floor the rest of the way. "Mom!"

Sora paused, waiting for an answer, waiting for any sound. Yet the only sound that could be heard was the thud of his backpack slamming into the opposite wall. After that sound subsided, the house was completely silent. Where is she?

Let's tell you, let's not

"Mom, I'm back from school!" Sora called a little bit louder, hoping to arouse an answer from his mom, wherever she was. But still, he heard nothing apart from his breathing. He even held his breath for a moment, in high hopes to catch a sound.

Nothing.

Sora began weaving in and out of the rooms in his house, looking for his mother. "Mom ... Mom ... where are you mom ...?" he called out, as if he were looking for a child in a game of hide-and-seek. He was it. But where was she hiding?

Let's hide like this

Let's continue until I can't run anymore

It was only on his second trip through the kitchen that he saw the black answering machine sitting on the counter. A little red light on the side of it was blinking, alerting him that he had messages. Sora stepped up to it, curiosity getting the better of him, and quickly pressed the "Play Back" button. A generic man's voice sounded, making Sora jump a little, for honestly, he had never worked an answering machine before. She must have bought it when I was gone.

"You have four new messages ... Message one ..."

BEEP!

"Hey, Sora, man! It's Wakka. I was just-a wonderin--"

"Tell him I said 'Hi!' C'mon, tell him!"

"Shut up! Oh, ya, Sora, Tidus is with me--"

"Hi, Sora!"

"I said shut it! Okay, man ... so we're down here at the beach and we're bored as hell, ya!"

"You'll never believe what Selphie just did, Sora! She--"

"Hey, HEY! Back off! Who has the cell phone here, man? Huh? I do, ya! So back off, I'm tellin' the story!"

"What, the--"

Sora clicked the "Delete Message" button on the answering machine, shaking his head, but smiling. Wakka and Tidus could be so weird sometimes. Then the generic male voice began to speak again.

"Message erased ... Message two ..."

BEEP!

"..."

Dial Tone ...

"Hmmph, looser hung up before he left a message," Sora said aloud before pressing the "Delete Message" button once again.

"Message erased ... Message three ..."

BEEP!

"Sora ...? You there ...? Oh, well duh, you're not home from school yet, stupid me, heh."

The boy's eyes widened. "Mom?" He stared intently at the black machine. It had his complete attention now. He was very curious as to what his mother had to say, very interested in whatever her excuse might be.

"Well, anyway, umm, when you get home, I guess you'll hear this. Listen, Honey ... I don't know if it rained where you are, but it sure rained here. It was coming down outside! It still kinda is, but not nearly as hard as it was last night. Yeah ... anyway, it rained, like, several inches. It's the rainstorm from hell, I'm telling you! Oh, excuse my language."

Sora rolled his eyes. Okay, I get that it's raining. What's the point? "Where are you, Mom? You said you'd be back by now!"

As if his mother had heard him, she answered his question. "About the interview -- they really seemed to like me. In fact, they asked me to stay a little bit longer. Well, thats not really true. I was about to leave when I found out the ferries are closed for today because the rain rose the water level, umm, a little too much. Heh, the water's spilling over the docks. Heard there's been some spin-outs on the roads too. The people conducting the interview said I could stay, and they said they guessed it was a good thing that I couldn't leave, because they said my resume was impressive and they wanted to talk to me and a few others a little bit more." She sighed.

"Please insert more change."

"No, wait--"

Dial tone ...

Sora didn't even bother to delete this message. He knew the next one would probably be from her as well, and he quickly pressed the "Next" button on the machine. Sure enough, the next message was from his mother.

"Gah! Stupid payphones ... So, to wrap it up, Sora, I won't be home until tomorrow. I should be back by the time you get home. I for sure will be, this time. I watched the weather -- the weather channel was like the only one I could get on the little TV in my hotel room -- and they said it's going to be sunny and warm tomorrow! I will be back, I promise. Oh, yeah, and by the way, there's some soup ... no wait, I didn't buy soup ... okay, well there's at least some Cheez-It's in the pantry if you get hungry. I gotta go now, Hun, I'm out of change for this stupid phone. Love you! See you tomorrow! 'Bye!"

"End of messages."

After hearing the last words of the infamous voice inside the black machine, Sora stood motionless. He didn't dare move, afraid that any slightest twitch would taint the memory of his mother's words, which were being played over and over again in his mind, as if his mind were an answering machine, and he was continuously mashing the "Replay" button. Did he hear her right? No ... He couldn't have heard her right. Did she know what she was saying? Did she really just say that her reason for not being home was that the interview had gone well? They want to interview her more! Had she any idea what could happen? Had she any idea what this could turn into? Had she any idea what this could do to him! No ... No way ... Sora thought. No freakin' way ...

To trust in you ...

Sora stormed out of the kitchen in anger. He marched furiously into the living room and pounced on the sofa, grabbing ahold of a throw pillow. He punched it a few times out of rage, trying to ease his frustration. "Damn it," he cursed silently, continuing to exert his force on the pillow. When his knuckles grew weary from the impact, he turned his fist sideways and continued to pound it, tiring himself in the process. Finally, giving up in his attempt to maul the pillow, he fell into it, burrying his face in the cushion, groaning into the fabric.

... No I can't

That's when the phone rang.

This irritated Sora even more, both because of the fact that since the phone was located on an end table next to the couch, it was ringing right in his ear, and because it meant he would have to move again to answer it. Sora really didn't want to move. However, the ringing was quite annoying, and if he didn't move, it would only ring longer. Deciding that having to move was the lesser of the two evils, Sora reached for the phone. He brought it down to his face, lifted his head so that his voice didn't sound muffled, and spoke into it.

"Hello?" he answered in a tone that mirrored his mood.

"Hey, Sora." It was Kairi.

"Oh, hey, Kai," Sora said, sitting up on the sofa. "What's up?"

"Nothing, really. I was just calling to make sure you were home." Then she paused, continuing with. "You okay? You sound kinda ... upset."

"No, I'm fine," Sora lied. As if she knew he wasn't telling her the truth, Kairi said nothing. Sora sighed and then added, "I'm just a little, ya know, frustrated."

"Umm, no, I don't know," Kairi replied. "What's wrong, Sora?" she asked in a sympathetic tone.

Sora really didn't want to talk about it. The boy really didn't want to bring her into this. He really didn't want to burden Kairi with his frustration. So he didn't. "It's no big deal," he told her. "We can talk about it later."

"Hmm." Sora heard Kairi utter a faint sigh. "Well, alright then. I guess I'll see you at seven."

"Yeah, seven," the boy repeated. "See ya then."

"'Bye, Sora."

"'Bye."

Sora heard a click as Kairi hung up the phone on the other end. Sora fell sideways into his previous position, stretching his arm over his head to place the phone back on the reciever. Then he brought his hands to his face and ran them up and down his cheeks. I don't want to worry her, Sora thought, but how am I going to keep her from bringing it up later tonight? What then? It's not like he could lie to her. Sora couldn't lie to Kairi. Their bond was just too strong. He couldn't risk hurting their relationship, not after all he had put her through before.

Because you seem like you still doubt me

Sora stole a glance at a clock on the wall. It read 3:15. I have four hours ... It would be stupid to worry 'bout it now.

The boy sighed and relaxed upon the couch, deciding that he would figure something out later.

Four hours later, Sora was starting to worry. He hadn't thought of any way to divert the dreaded topic to something else, should it come up. Sora could feel anger pulsing in his veins as he stood outside of Kairi's door. No, not now. I have to stay calm, he thought. And so the anxious boy took one long, deep breath, and knocked.

I want to get closer to your thoughts

As if she were waiting just on the other side of the door, Kairi answered it as soon as she heard the knock. In fact, Sora hadn't even had time to completely retract his hand. He was left staring blankly at a smiling Kairi, taking in the sight of her. My, did she look good! She was wearing a cute, yet sophisticated, black top with sleeves that were off-the-shoulder, and dark jeans with embroidered details. It was simple clothing, but it made her look stunning. The only thing that Sora could manage to say was, "Wow."

Kairi beamed, knowing that Sora's expression and loss of words were his way of saying, "You look beautiful." She examined him, as well, admiring his blue striped button-down shirt and jeans. "You look pretty hot yourself," she said with a giggle. Then she stole a glance at the bare street behind Sora. "Oh," she said, "are we walking?"

"About that," Sora said, looking down at the ground, partly because he was thinking about what to say to her and partly to hide the slight red tinge on his cheeks. "Yeah, well, my mom got rained in at her job interview ... Gonna be back tomorrow ... I'll explain later."

Kairi shrugged and stepped out of the way, allowing Sora entrance to her house, and locking the door behind them. Oh well, she thought as Sora looked around, the theater's only a block over, anyway. And it's nice out. In fact, I'd rather walk than drive today!

Hmm, drive ... Then a thought popped into Kairi's head. "Hey, Sora," she said abrubtly, causing him to jump and spin around. She giggled and continued. "You know, your birthday's coming up soon, isn't it?

Sora was surprised that he, himself, had almost forgotten his own birtday ... but then again, it had been over a year since he'd actually had a party. Then he smiled, recalling something else, "Yup, you're right -- and then a month later, your birthday!"

I can't sit still

Can you keep a secret?

Kairi smiled and nodded, walking closer to Sora. "You know," she said, leaning forward a bit, her hands behind her back, "we'll be sixteen! We can drive ourselves anywhere we want!"

"Ah, not so fast," Sora said, holding up a hand. "You've forgotten that we have to take driver's ed, first, which of course, you will fail."

Kairi put her hands on her hips and cocked her head playfully to one side. "Is that so? And I suppose you'll pass with flying colors?"

Sora nodded. "Sure will!" he said, and he held his head high, proudly.

His girlfriend pointed at him and laughed. "Haha! You should have seen the look on your face just then! Hilarious!"

I'm not sad anymore because you're here

Sora, though he didn't know exactly why, found himself laughing at this remark as well. Maybe it was because for the past day or so he had been so worried that laughing was out of the question. Maybe it was because for the past few hours he had been so frustrated that his emotion had the same effect. Whatever the reason, Sora didn't care. For a few moments, the laughter took control of him, the joy pulsed through his vains. Hearing his laughter alongside hers, Kairi laughed harder, provoking Sora to do the same. The pair was practically rolling on the ground with laughter, and for what? A facial expression! But it didn't matter ... Besides, who needed an excuse to laugh? It was a few simple moments of pure bliss.

But then, Sora remembered. He remembered why he wasn't laughing, and immediately he stopped.

Can you keep a secret?

For another minute or two, Kairi continued laughing, oblivious to the fact that Sora had stopped. Then, finally, it hit her that something sounded different, and her own laughter slowly subsided. She stared at Sora, finding him staring at the groud, his brow wrinkled in anger, kicking at the carpet as the memories of his prior conversation with his mother came to mind. Of course, Kairi had no idea that it had ever taken place, so she raized an eyebrow quizically, and slowly took a few more steps forward.

"Sora?" she asked out of concern. "Are you ... okay?"

Can you keep a secret?

"What?" Sora snapped out of his trance and stared at her. "Oh, well ... yeah, of course I'm okay! Why would I not be okay?" He had no idea that when he was saying this, he was shouting, and Kairi was taken aback. She looked at his face -- it was wrought with distress, she could tell. He was lying to her. It was obvious that he was.

"Are you sure?" she asked, daring to inch just a bit further. She wasn't going to just come out and say, "You're lying to me, Sora! Tell me the truth!" She didn't want to pressure the truth out of him ... not if he really didn't want to talk about it.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure," Sora spat out quickly, gesturing with his hands, turning his back to her and taking a few steps away from her.

Kairi stopped moving forward, sighed and said, "'Cause, ya know, you can talk with me about anything, Sora. I'll listen. I will."

I can't get closer to your thoughts

The brunette grunted. "You sound like my mother."

"No, Sora," Kairi said, staring at Sora, keeping her eyes fixed on the back of his head. "I'm sounding like a best friend. I may be your girlfriend but I'm still your best friend, too. Nothing can ever change that. So please, Sora, if something's bothering you, don't hesitate to tell me."

Sora lifted his head and turned around, his eyes locking on to Kairi's. His mouth hung open like he was about to say something. She was right, he could tell her anything and she wouldn't care, but she just didn't understand.

I can't tell her. I have to resist bringing her into this.

"Sora, I don't want to see you upset," Kairi said, moving toward him again, still keeping her eyes locked with his. "I don't want you to be stressed out."

The boy didn't move. He managed to close his mouth, but that was it. He loved her, he knew she wanted to know what was bothering him, but it wasn't right to worry her with what he was thinking of. Besides, it was just a possibility, right?

Fight it. Resist the urge to tell her.

"Please, Sora." She was practically pleading with him to tell her what was wrong. Whatever it was, she could handle it, that much she knew.

But Sora was losing his focus now. He was slipping ... and he could feel it. His mind was wandering back and forth between telling her and ... and how beautiful she looked. Her eyes seemed to be sparkling in the moonlight but ... What was he thinking! It wasn't even dark yet! And they were inside!

Don't say anything ... Damn, she looks beautiful ... Wait, what am I thinking? What's going on?

"Kairi ..." The name slipped from Sora's mouth. He began to move toward Kairi, and she stopped all movement. She just watched him approaching her, slowly, and then he began to walk a bit faster every second. He didn't know what he was doing. The frustration ... it was causing him to lose control of himself. He didn't understand it, so he couldn't stop it.

"Y-yes, Sora?" Kairi said, stuttering a little. He was starting to scare her now. The look in his eye ... it was truely frightening. She found herself backing up, matching his pace so he couldn't come any closer. "What ... What's going on?"

"You ... You're so ..." Sora was trying so hard to regain focus, trying to hard to resist what was going on, but the emotions were just too strong to control. "You're so ... You're so beautiful ..."

I can't change so suddenly ...

And then, something inside Sora snapped. Resistance of any kind became non existant, as his body became like a human super conductor. His emotions were in complete control. There was no stopping him now.

... Can you keep a secret?

"Sora ..." Kairi called out. She knew that he had lost control. She could tell by the look in his eyes. Then her back hit the wall.

Sora's body came crashing into her's. He placed his hands on the wall on either side of Kairi's head, and landed his lips on hers, pulling her into a fiery, passionate kiss. Kairi put her hands on the sides of Sora's face, hoping to stop him, but he was too strong, and eventually, she just went along with it. But still, she wondered, Where'd he learn to kiss like that? It was unlike any other kiss they had ever shared. But still, as if it were any other kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck. As soon as she did so, she felt Sora's tongue plunge into her mouth, and at first, it shocked her, but then she found herself doing the same thing. Everything was just happening so fast ... she had no choice but to just let it happen.

Can you keep a secret?

Or is this the secret?

Out of the corner of her eye, Kairi could see Sora's right hand begin to move. It was descending down and away from the wall, and she had a pretty good idea as to where it was going. Yet she couldn't protest, because Sora was distracting her by placing a kiss on her cheek, and then on her neck, down to her throat, and then to her collar bone, and finally to just above the line of her shirt. It was then that Kairi felt Sora place a hand on her side.

She jumped. Sora's hands were normally warm ... but now, they were icy cold against her skin.

"S-Sora, I think--" but Kairi couldn't finish, because Sora had drawn her into another deep kiss, one that she couldn't easily pass up. Meanwhile, she could feel Sora gently caress her side, and his icy touch sent shivers down her spine. Yet the feeling intrigued her all the same. Her own hands found their way back to Sora's cheeks, but this time, to draw him closer, to deepen the kiss. Seeing this as his que, Sora placed his other hand in the same place on Kairi's other side, stroking every bit of her skin he could touch, but Kairi was thankful that he didn't go too far.

Even when you are near

I search for roundabout expressions

If you don't want things to stay a mystery

Won't you come on

Sora's icy touch continued to tickle her, for it was a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt, and it did feel good. The feeling triggered something inside of her, something that brought out another part of her. She found herself slipping, just like Sora had, and she fought a heated battle with herself for control.

Faint ruslting

Stalking moving shadow

Shadows that can't be shaken off

Can't you take a little risk ...

The kisses that Sora and Kairi shared grew deeper and deeper, more fiery with every motion of their lips and tongue, and every time they parted for a split second, she burned for more. Their kisses, sometimes forceful and passionate, were at times also gentle, just barely touching, to ensure that the other would come back for more. She was wanting this, needing this more and more by the second, as Sora's actions, though out of instinct, seduced her. Kairi had seen what had happened to Sora. She feared snapping like he had. They could scarcely breathe as they continued to kiss, but didn't dare stop for fear of losing the moment, for a fear of slipping even further out of control. It was all Kairi could do to keep calm, for honestly, though a part of her wanted this, the other part was completely terrified.

... and put your courage on the line

Slowly, Sora's hands slid up her back, making Kairi shiver from his touch. Her heart began to race as Sora, once again, began to move downward, his kisses making a trail down her neck. As his kisses caressed and tickled her colar bone, a thought crossed Kairi's mind. This isn't Sora, she thought. No, this can't be Sora. The Sora i know, the Sora I fell in love with, wouldn't take advantage of me, not like this ...

I want to get closer to your thoughts

I can't sit still

And it was true. The Sora she knew had vanished for the moment. Her Sora had been consumed by his own emotions and was acting not on his own behalf. The Sora whose kisses had graced her mouth just now -- that wasn't really Sora. That was just an illusion, just one part of him ... the one part that lies inside every person, concealed within our hearts, that breaks free in rage and stress.

Can you keep a secret?

The Sora in front of her right now -- that wasn't him.

And as "Sora"'s kisses trailed lower and lower, to where they had once been, just above the top of her shirt, and she feared they would venture lower, Kairi knew she had to stop this.

"Enough!" she managed to call, using what strength the had to lift Sora's head back up so that it was level with hers. "Look at me!" she said. "Sora ..."

And instantly, Sora's expression softened, and his eyes grew wide. He withdrew his hands and backed away quickly, giving Kairi the space to step away from the wall. His lip was quavering, and Kairi could tell that it was because inside he was screaming, "What have I done?"

But she had brought out the real Sora again, and that's all that mattered.

"K-Kairi ..." he stammered, backing away slowly, "I ... I'm so sorry ..."

Kairi could see the pain in his eyes, and she could tell that he truely was sorry. He had completely lost control, and he was blaming himself for everything. The expression on his face and reflected in his eyes alone was almost enough to bring Kairi to tears ... it pained her to see him like that.

I'm not sad anymore because you're here

She cautiously approached him. "Sora ..." she said, her eyes watery. "Sora ... it's ..." She couldn't bring herself to finish by saying, "okay", because really, it wasn't okay. It was far from okay. But just glancing at Sora was an apology enough, she knew.

"No, no, it's not okay!" Sora shouted, shaking his head. "It's all my fault! Who knows what could have happened if you hadn't stopped me? Who knows--"

"Sora, don't blame yourself ... Sora ... please ... why are you running away from me?" Kairi was practically pleading with him now, but Sora continued to back away.

Can you keep a secret?

Can you keep a secret?

"I could have ... I could have ..." He was thinking of the worst, avoiding Kairi's eyes now, ashamed of himself. He had almost taken advantage of her, and because of what? Uncontrolled emotions -- Sora was the Keybearer! Emotion shouldn't be a problem for him! "I'm sorry ... so sorry ..."

I can't get closer to your thoughts

I can't change back later

Can you keep a secret?

But right then, Kairi lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him, keeping him from moving farther away, pulling him into an embrace. Sora threw his arms around her as well, holding her tight, embracing her protectively. He was sorry for losing control, he truely was, and Kairi wanted him to know that it wasn't the end of the world. Nothing was going to change between them because of it. They were still Sora and Kairi, best friends, lovers, and nothing was going to change how they felt about each other.

"Kairi, I truely am sorry," Sora whispered into her ear as she gently rested her head upon his shoulder.

"It's alright, Sora, I'm okay," Kairi replied, just loud enough for him to hear. He is really overreacting, she thought. It's not like he hurt me or anything. "Nothing bad happened--"

"But it could have!" Sora rebuked, pulling back a little so that he could look into Kairi's eyes. He pushed a few stray hairs out of her face. "It almost did ..."

"Sora ..." Kairi gently pushed his arms aside and made her way over to a small sofa nearby. She sat down and patted the cusion beside her, gesturing for Sora to do the same. He shuffled over to where she was and plopped down beside her, turning his body just a little so that they were facing each other. The way Kairi was sitting, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her eyes fixed upon her twiddling thumbs, Sora could tell she wanted to talk.

Prove to me that you won't blab ...

... Can you keep a secret?

"What is it, Kairi?" he asked, causing her to look up at him. "What do you want to talk about?"

Or is this the secret?

"I want you ... to tell me ..." Kairi began, her gaze jumping back and forth between each of Sora's azure blue eyes. Within them, she found the courage to continue. "I want you to tell me what's wrong," she said, and seeing Sora frown, she added, "Right now, please."

I've been keeping it a secret up until now

Don't tell anyone

Can you keep a secret?

I'm not sad anymore because you're here

Can you keep a secret?

Can you keep a secret?

Sora stood and faced away from her, gazing off at an angle at the floor. It was no use fighing it anymore ... and besides, nothing bad could become of just telling her the truth, right?

Even though you promise not to hurt me

Nobody will understand

I don't know for sure ...

Can you keep a secret?

They say that the truth never hurt anyone, but the drastic conclusions that Sora had drawn based on the little bit of information his mother had given him made him think that it would. He knew for a fact that the sayings were false, but not saying anything is worse ... isn't it?

I'm not sad because you're here

Can you keep a secret?

Thoughts raced through Sora's head. They debated on and on: To tell or not to tell? But his mind asked again: Not saying anything is worse, isn't it? And then his mind answered: It is ...

Or is this the secret?

"Okay," he said at last, followed by a heavy sigh. "I'll tell you ..."

(A/N: I know that took freakin forever to post, but i have major homework over here -- i got a research paper, a classic novel book report, and a book on the holocaust to read all for the same teacher ... my language arts teacher ... now can somebody pleeeezzz explain to me what the heck genocide has to do with LA, cuz i'd really like to know ... anywayz, becuz of the three stupid project things, it might be a while before the next chapter is up, so don't freak out if it's not there, k? k. r&r!)