Desolate: Winding Up

It was the ever-present sound of waves and cool, clean morning air that everyone woke to find. A hint of salt among the persistent wind was evidence of the adjacent body of water that is the ocean. Now, where does this installment start…..?

The pale grey bark of the tree was rough beneath Sora's calloused hands. This wasn't the first time he'd ever clung to the broad trunk of a paopu tree. This particular tree had three decently sized ripened fruits hanging in a cluster. Sora wrapped his legs as far as they would go around the circumference and shimmied up inch-by-inch.

After about five minutes, he paused his progress to pant a bit and catch his breath. There was a twinge in his neck. It had been rather stiff the last few days for unknown reasons. He ignored it and looked up at the treetop, trying to spot his goal. The orange sun partially blinded him and he shielded his eyes with his left hand, forgetting that it was bracing him on a small branch.

Suddenly, his body felt like a led block being forced down to Earth by a super-gravity. Chk-Chk-Chk, spoke the bark as it scraped against Sora's bare calves.

Riku was swimming. Well, actually he was looking for something that he'd dropped into the waves that morning when he went out for a swim. Not that he got to swim because of what he was looking for.

Kairi had handed it to him the night that they had returned from the darkness and had a bonfire on the beach. It was cradled in her soft palm and despite how ridiculous it looked; he'd taken a liking to it. But, seriously… Riku's hair and face drawn so crappily on a seashell strung to four others and tied in the shape of a star.

It looked exactly like the one she had made two years ago for Sora. Hah. Sora is so weird. That kid actually keeps his Wayfinder strapped to his belt loop. Riku's hand swiped at something other than seawater and brought it above the surface.

The odd caricature of his own face looked back at him. He smiled and turned to walk back to his house in order to change in to dry clothing. As he made his way up the beach, he turned to walk past a group of beach trees when he heard a shout and felt a whoosh of air. Bracing himself for the impact with his arms above his head and crouched down, he was surprised when it never came.

Riku unfolded his arms and looked up to see a body suspended in the air, paused. It was as if time had stopped.

"Move, Riku!"

Riku stood and leapt backwards. King Mickey advanced on them from about ten meters away, carrying his mouse staff. Suddenly, the scream that Riku had heard earlier continued and Sora landed with a thud on the ground.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

Mickey and Riku ran over to him to see if he was okay. Riku grabbed his hand and pulled him up. Sora stood slowly and straightened out, wincing at the sand-filled scrapes on his legs. Mickey offered a potion, but Sora declined. He knew how expensive those could be and it wasn't like he had just fought a heartless or something.

"What were you doing up there anyway, Sora? You know that you're no good at tree climbing," Riku teased.

"I was getting some paopu's for King Mickey," Sora replied as if it were and exciting task for him, "And hey! I'm not that bad at tree climbing. Just because I am not as long as you doesn't mean…"

Sora went on rambling, but one could hardly hear it over Riku and the King's laughing.

"Come on Sora, you don't have to risk your life for me. I could've figured out a way to get them without you struggling," King Mickey reasoned.

"How?" Sora questioned.

"Like this," said Kairi, appearing at Sora's shoulder, having run from her house trying to find where her two friends were. She didn't stop there. She climbed the tree in ten seconds flat and gathered the three nuisances in a basket she'd brought. She then proceeded to lower herself by grabbing the base of a long leaf and sliding her hands and body down it until she was about three feet from the sand. She dropped, hardly out of breath.

Surprisingly, Kairi had been fairly modest in her climbing despite the fact that she was wearing a dress. However, Sora's face did turn a little bit crimson when she was lowering herself with the leaf. The wind had caught and billowed the pink fabric. Riku stood with his arms crossed, looking neutral despite the impressive display of agility.

"Kairi, you're the best!" Cried Sora, receiving the basket from Kairi's hands and looking inside. He had fulfilled his promise to the King.

"So this is where you parked the Gummi Ship," Kairi exclaimed, eyeing the colorful Highwind. Donald and Goofy walked out of the ship, making their way down the ramp.

"Sora!" Donald shouted, running ahead. There was a sudden gleam in his eyes when he spotted the paopu's.

"Oh no you don't Donald," Sora scolded and Goofy held onto the duck's sleeve.

"Wuh, I must get one for Daisy!"

Kairi, Micky, Goofy and Sora broke out in laughter.

"Hey, what's so funny," said a voice in a commanding tone, yet still teasing.

"Riku! Where did you disappear to, anyway? I said to meet in the valley half-an-hour ago!" Sora whined, crossing his arms and tapping his foot impatiently.

Two hours earlier, before the event at the beach. A boy with silvery hair lay in bed, without blankets and dressed only in pajama pants. He was tossing his head back and forth over the sweat-soaked pillow. His brow had beads of the stuff as well. Riku's eyebrows kept tensing and his lips were parting and silently mumbling his dream. Suddenly, his eyes flew open to reveal bright aquamarine irises.

I was dreaming. I mean, obviously I was. It was night, I was asleep in bed and the sun was eerily rising in the west, casting a sick imitation of daytime. How do I know this about the sun, you ask. I've seen the sun rise countless of times on Destiny Islands.

Anyway, I was asleep in bed, yet experiencing a different reality. I mean, how could it be this one? You'll see what I mean. I was in the World that Never Was. More specifically, inside the topmost chamber I the castle, not counting the roof. I guess you could say that it was a memory.

Sora addressed me as Xehanort's heartless and I shrugged him off. At that time, I still felt unready to reveal my help. I was turning to leave when things paused. Kairi was stuck, opening her mouth to call to me not to go. Sora was staring, glassy-eyed. It was clear what had happened. Paused time. But, how…?

"Riku." A male voice spoke out from the dark portal I had summoned earlier. The barest purpley outline of a person appeared. Male or female, I could not tell. However, I supposed that the voice was male and perhaps the owner the very same. "Don't. Please, follow my advice. Don't turn into a heartless! Please! You will soon be—"

But I could no longer hear the voice. There was a static sound like a television makes when the reception is bad and suddenly my dream was renewed. However, if you think it was the same, then you are so wrong. Sora's face was rotting and bloody. The decay was obvious from the maggots pouring out of his mouth. He was leaning as he stood and tried to mouth something through the shiny white bodies of the rot-slugs, slick with blood. I watched in horror, realizing that he was mouthing my name over and over again. "Ri-ku. Ri-ku."

I suddenly had the realization that something else was making noise. I hadn't processed it until now because of my shocked state and the fact that it was so high-pitched. Laughter. It poured out in consecutive screams of "Eh-heh-heh-hehehheh!"

Behind the horror of what had become of my best friend's body was a flash of the beautiful auburn that is Kairi's hair. Her pretty head was thrown back and her lips peeled open to let all the sound escape.

I was so scared. So scared. I scream in the dream and woke as if I'd been electrocuted. I had to run to the bathroom to pour cold water on my face. That's why I went to the beach with intentions of having a relaxing swim. I could still see the image of Kairi. Beautiful, sweet Kairi and her maniacal display.

After that, when Sora fell out of the tree and Kairi got the paopu's, I went straight home to write this letter. Thing is, I hope no one ever has to read it, but I was just so disturbed by it. The dream, I mean. Maybe if I go insane, people will be able to read this and piece together why.

The valley was a popular hang out for the kids on the island that are younger than Selphie. It is essentially the side of the island that no one lives on because of its steepness. Though in the spring, it is covered with wildflowers and thick green grasses. The Gummi Ship was parked near the bottom of the slope in a spot where the ground is made of dirt. The breeze from the ocean drifted over because the ocean was about two hundred yards down. A lot of seagulls had made the Highwind into a spot to sit. They were making quite a racket.

"Well?"

"I-," Riku looked at Sora and away a few times, "Geezus, Sora. I'm here now so what does it matter where I was?"

"C'mon, Riku," Kairi teased, "Don't be like that."

"I went home to change clothes like I was going to do before Sora almost fell on me," Riku partially lied.

He had changed clothes before he wrote the letter. That got him thinking. Who was the mysterious person who stopped his dream? Why did he give him that warning? There wasn't any darkness in his heart at the moment, despite its nature…

Sora pouted. Riku was staring blankly at space again. Ugh! There was a tug at Sora's sleeve and he saw that it was King Mickey. Sora turned to face him.

"Sora, I believe that it is time to say 'Seeya later!' I don't much like the sound of 'Goodbye.'"

"Seeya later you guys," Goofy stated.

"Yeah! Be sure to visit us next time, Sora," Donald chimed in.

Kairi giggled, "It was a rather short visit, no?"

Minutes later, the Highwind was starting its engines and gently hovering in circles above the ground. The three keyblade wielders had moved about a thousand yards away for safety purposes. Despite that, they were whipped with the wind created by the huge dual engines made of yellow and blue gummi blocks.

Kairi was pushing her skirt down with one hand and waving with the other. Sora could hardly reach high enough with his wave and he stood on his tiptoes. Riku stood relaxed, but wave slightly above his shoulder.

Passingly, Riku glanced at Sora. Sora's eyes shone with affection and reflected the rich yellow beams of the afternoon sun. Sora's eyes are the color of a pure sapphire. Some might say that Kairi has similar eyes, but hers are brighter and clearer. Sora's are deep and reflect how loyal and true he is.

"Hey, Riku," Kairi said, looking meaningfully at him, "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure, Kairi, but…" Riku trailed off, glancing over at Sora, who stood to Kairi's back, looking awkward.

"It's okay, guys," Sora's face changed in one second from blank to grinning, "I was going to go into town to buy a jug of milk for my mom anyway."

He turned and started up the path of dirt that was carved into the side of the valley.

The two friends watched for a minute as the third disappeared beyond a curve of the hill. Another two minutes elapsed while they just stood and admired the scenery. The salty air, the melty blue sky and the unyielding glow of the wild grasses in the sunlight.

"Well, Kairi? It isn't like you to be so silent."

Silenced continued. Kairi's auburn fringe hid her eyes. Her mouth was set straight. Riku frowned hard. Was she okay? This set worry deep in his gut.

"Kai— "

"DON'T!" She screamed suddenly and spun around to face Riku. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. "Don't you dare do it, Riku. Stop this! I won't let you!"

"What? What did I do?" Riku was so surprised and angry about the accusation that he didn't think to whip out the Way to the Dawn or call for help somehow. Something clearly wasn't right. The next thing that gentle, boisterous Kairi said after that sent so much shock to Riku that he fell to his knees and started trembling, eyes wide and throat dry. Kairi walked briskly away, in the least graceful way that Riku had ever seen Kairi move.

I should've taken action and told someone then. But I didn't. And it caused something terrible to happen.

A/N: IN NO WAY IS THIS HATRED AGAINST KAIRI. I like Kairi. I'm a fan of her. It's part of the plot, don't worry. This wasn't heavily edited, just a basic run-through. If something is terribly off, I will go through again and try to find it. Please review? I'm hungry…or at least my muse is.