Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts (II), Sora, Kairi, Riku, etc.

Author's Note: Okay, first of all, I want to thank everyone for all these reviews because it is AMAZING how many reviews I get in two days. Second, I want you all to be proud of Nix707, who is a really great writer for Lost and JAG. Of course, most of you don't care about that stuff, and quite honestly, neither do I, but Nix707 is a really great writer. And she's my sister. And she's got 700 and something reviews. In one story. Anyway, here's Chapter 7. I hope you like it. I got the idea for this chapter from the end of Chapter 6 and a review from zestychicken2. It made me think a little more about the pictures Kairi had.

Warning: Mrs. Ire, who we all have to admit is AWESOME, seems like she's going to have a breakdown.

Quick Author Babble: I do not own Pepsi or the last name Roma.

Chapter 7: Pictures

It was a very boring Sunday. Sora had finished his homework who knows how long ago, and he was just sitting on the dock, trying not to yawn. Yuffie and Roxas were stuck at home, doing homework. Sora knew it was pointless to yell at them for not doing their homework earlier. They would probably just roll their eyes.

Sora hadn't seen much of Kairi since Saturday. It was almost like she'd gone into hiding. He hoped she wasn't still mad at them for insulting Riku, even if Yuffie had done most of the insulting.

Sora was still rather upset about the fact that Kairi had become so emotional when someone even said one thing out of line about Riku. Had Riku once been Kairi's best friend? Was Sora just a replacement for him?

Kairi hadn't said much about the sixteen-year-old. Sora wished she would say more. It really wasn't any of his business, but even that couldn't stop him from being curious.

Riku was a mystery. He hadn't been one before. Sora thought he'd been pretty straightforward—a jerk that had nothing better to do than make people's lives miserable. But now there was this whole story behind it all. If his past had been so different, why did he plunge so fast into his new personality?

Sora didn't want to press the subject on Kairi. She had tears in her eyes whenever Riku's name was mentioned. Sora really wanted to find out why. Had Riku been like him at first? Did it all change after that?

Kairi had said it happened after Riku met Xemnas, Destiny High's old "top of the food chain." Xemnas must've been really terrible. Sora was glad he was gone, even though he'd never met the guy.

"Well, if it isn't Sora!"

The voice was chirpy and optimistic. Sora thought it was Yuffie. He turned and saw Naminé, her pale blue eyes glinting happily.

Sora's face fell. She wasn't the sister he'd been hoping for.

Naminé sat down beside him. Sora notice she couldn't look at him. For a second she'd meet his gaze and then quickly look away, as if something interesting had just appeared in the ocean.

"Where's Kairi?" Sora found himself asking.

Naminé suddenly bit her lip.

"She refuses to come out of her room," she explained. "It's my fault…"

"What?" Sora asked, quickly jerking his head towards her. "Why?"

"N-No reason!" Naminé cried. "You haven't heard a thing! I…I've got to go!"

And she raced off before Sora could say another word.

111

Sora walked up the walkway to Kairi's front door. What Naminé had said had really bothered him. Why had she locked herself up in her room? Why had it been Naminé's fault?

"If she's done anything to Kairi, I'll…" Sora began, when the door flew open to reveal Mrs. Ire.

Mrs. Ire looked extremely tired. She was usually tired. It was because she had a job and came back just in time to help both of her daughters, which was harder than it sounded. But today she looked absolutely exhausted. She looked like she could fall over at any moment.

Mrs. Ire's face brightened as she looked at Sora in that welcoming manner that makes you feel right at home. Something was strange, though. She looked incredibly relieved, as if she'd been waiting by the window all day for Sora to stop by.

"Sora!" she cried in a way that made it sound like she could hug him.

"Hi," Sora said, waving a bit awkwardly. "I'm here to…"

"See Kairi?" guessed Mrs. Ire, grinning even wider. "I've been waiting for you to come."

"Huh?"

As a puzzled look came over Sora's face, Mrs. Ire ushered him into the room. She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, looking even more relieved than before.

"Sora, I can't get Kairi out of her room," she explained. "Yuffie and Roxas came over but Kairi refused to talk to them. She's not letting her father in or her sister…I'm getting very worried."

Sora could see that Mrs. Ire had been trying all day. She looked like she'd been through a lot.

"She won't tell us why," Mrs. Ire continued. "I've tried everything…food, friends, shopping, motherly advice…I haven't gotten anywhere! That girl is more stubborn than a goat."

Sora looked up the stairs, wondering what Kairi could possibly be doing up there. He was worried. Had talking about Riku upset her that much? Mrs. Ire turned him around to face her again.

"Sora, you are my only hope," she said. "You're her best friend. By the sound of it, she talks to you a lot. She probably listens to you too. I would be eternally grateful if you get Kairi to listen to reason. If you manage to get her out of her bedroom then it's settled. You're my new son."

Sora laughed weakly.

"I'll try," he remarked. "It's not easy, talking to someone when they're upset…"

"You're not kidding!" Mrs. Ire snorted. "I live with that statement! I'm sorry, dear, but I've got to go cook dinner. She won't talk if I'm there anyway."

She laughed halfheartedly and walked into the kitchen. Sora walked up the stairs, wondering how Riku could upset her that much. He looked at the many doors and walked over to the one decorated with paper flowers and had a sign saying "Kairi's Room" on it.

Sora could hear sobs coming from inside. He breathed in and knocked on the door.

"Go away!" a voice, clearly Kairi's, yelled from inside.

"Kairi?" said Sora. "It's me, Sora."

The sobs stopped. There was a rustling from inside.

"You can't be here," Kairi remarked.

"What do you mean, I can't be here?" Sora asked.

"I mean you can't be here," Kairi replied flatly. "What if Naminé comes home?"

"So what if she comes home? She's used to me being here."

"But…but…ugh! Forget it! You don't understand."

Sora leaned against the door.

"What don't I understand?" he asked.

"If I could tell you, I would've done so already," Kairi snapped. "I'm sorry, Sora. You should just leave."

There was a sound of something falling on a mattress. Sora was starting to get really worried. He tried the doorknob, but it was locked.

"Kairi, let me in," he said.

"Sora, just leave!" shouted Kairi.

"Not until you tell me what's going on!" Sora remarked.

Kairi didn't reply. Sora sat down on the floor and propped himself up against the door.

"Okay, we can do this the hard way," he said. "I can wait here all night, you know. My homework's done."

Once again, there was no answer.

"I can get a sleeping bag, maybe a book, some snacks perhaps…" Sora said, smiling. "You know I'd do it, Kairi. I'm annoying that way."

There was long, agitated sigh. The door creaked open, but only so much so that Sora could only see one of Kairi's violet eyes.

"Sora, I'm telling you, it's a bad idea for you to talk to me," she began.

Sora stood up and looked at the eye skeptically.

"I'm allowed to talk to my friends. Now open up."

Kairi reluctantly opened the door the rest of the way. She tried to frown disapprovingly as he walked in, but she couldn't because she was looking downwards. Sora realized she was doing the same thing Naminé had done to him this morning. Kairi just couldn't seem to meet his gaze.

And then he realized something. All around the room there were pictures of people—one of Yuffie over there, another of Roxas over there. There was some of Mrs. and Mr. Ire, and some of other relatives. On her bedside table, there was one of what looked like a very young Naminé.

Sora looked closely at the one beside it. It looked like a twelve-year-old boy that looked remarkably like Riku.

Sora's eyes widened. Was that what Riku looked like four years ago? He looked happy and totally innocent—friendly, even. Kairi still had it. Obviously it was important to her.

And as Sora looked around at all the pictures in the room, he noticed something.

There wasn't a single one of him.

He looked at Kairi, noticing a picture frame was wrapped in her arms. Sora didn't say anything about it. Kairi didn't look up at him.

For what seemed like an hour there was complete silence, until finally Kairi walked over to her bed and sat down on it. Sora sat down beside her.

"Sora, I think…I think it's a bad idea if we stay friends," Kairi said.

Sora snapped up.

"What? Why?"

"I can't tell you. I can't tell anyone. It's not my words to say."

"Is it something I did? Is this about what I said about Riku? Did I hurt you in any way?"

Kairi shook her head.

"No," she replied. "I think the problem is you're too likeable."

"What?" Sora asked. "Kairi, can you just tell me what's going on?"

"No! Don't you understand? I can't tell you. And even if you did know, it wouldn't help."

Kairi burst into tears.

"Kairi…" Sora said, his voice softening.

"No, don't look at me like that!" Kairi sobbed. "It just makes everything worse!"

Her grip loosened on the picture frame and it came crashing to the floor. Sora looked down at it.

And there was a picture of Sora, shattered glass surrounding it. Sora stared at it for a moment, shocked.

"I'm losing you, and it's happening too fast…" Kairi whispered.

Sora turned to face her.

"I don't understand what's happening," he said.

"Soon you'll be gone," Kairi continued. "And I can only see you with…with her."

"Who are you talking about?" Sora asked.

"I want to tell you everything, it's just…"

She finally looked up into Sora's eyes.

"I can't."

Tears were now rapidly cascading down her face. Sora tried to wipe them away, but fresh ones were now gathering. So he put his arms around her and let her cry into his shoulder.

And then Kairi's words actually hit him: "I think it's a bad idea if we stay friends."

And before he knew it, he was crying too. His heart was beating twice as fast, and he felt Kairi's sobs lessen. She didn't move, as if she wanted to stay like this forever.

"I'm always going to be here for you, Kairi," he whispered. "No matter what happens."

"But…"

"Don't argue. I won't listen to you anyway."

Sora pulled away from her and smiled soothingly, blue eyes twinkling. His face looked like it was on fire, he was blushing so hard. Kairi was light shade of pink.

"Come on," Sora said, standing up and helping Kairi up. "You've been giving your family a hard time. Don't you think you should go downstairs and see them?"

"As long as Naminé's not down there," Kairi remarked.

"What's with you and Naminé?" asked Sora. "You make it sound like she'll kill you as soon as she sees you."

"She'll kill me if she sees me with you," Kairi murmured under her breath.

Sora pretended he didn't hear that and opened the door and walked out, making sure Kairi was following. They went down into the kitchen, where Mr. and Mrs. Ire were discussing something. They looked up as Sora and Kairi walked in.

"Kairi?" said Mr. Ire. "You've finally left your room!"

"Are you feeling better, sweetie?" Mrs. Ire asked nervously.

Kairi ran forward and hugged both her parents.

"Much," she remarked.

Mrs. Ire looked up at Sora and mouthed the words "thank you". Sora just smiled and nodded in reply.

111

It was dark. The sun had set a long time ago. Sora and Roxas looked out over the ocean, which had turned black and silver from the night sky.

"There was a picture of Riku in her room?!" Roxas cried, as if he couldn't believe it. "Man, she must really like him."

"There was one of you too," Sora said. "It was just…smaller and farther away."

Roxas stared at him.

"Well, at least you had one, right?" Sora remarked. "Maybe…maybe she took that picture of Riku four years ago and forgot that it was there."

"If the picture was that big, no one could forget it was there," Roxas said. "I think you're just jealous, and you're trying to think of reasons why you didn't have a picture and Riku did."

"I do, Roxas!" Sora stated. "Kairi was holding it!"

Roxas froze.

"Holding it?"

"Yes, holding it."

"Why was she holding a picture of you?"

"I don't know. She just was."

"But she was crying?"

"Um…yeah, she was."

"Sora, I think she thinks something bad is going to happen to you."

Sora looked at Roxas skeptically. He knew Roxas usually gave good advice and knew what was going on, but this was a bit farfetched.

"Kairi thinks something bad is going to happen to me?" Sora repeated, making every word sound ridiculous.

"What exactly did she say to you?" Roxas asked.

"She said…she was losing me and it was happening too fast," Sora said, his eyes widening. "I'm not dying, am I?!"

"That's…a bit unlikely," Roxas remarked. "Maybe she thinks you're leaving her or something."

"I would never leave Kairi!" Sora cried.

"She doesn't seem to think so."

Sora looked down at the ground. Roxas glanced at him.

"I might be wrong," he said. "I mean, no one really knows what goes on in a girl's mind. You know, except for girls."

Roxas picked up a shell and twirled it around in his fingers thoughtfully.

"Maybe she likes you," he remarked.

Sora nearly jumped at the thought.

"Who? Kairi? No!"

"Uh…yeah. You never know."

"I do happen to know, and she…I mean…well…she can't…"

Roxas laughed at Sora's bright red face.

"I think you're just embarrassed," he remarked.

"I'm not embarrassed!" Sora shouted, blushing furiously. "I just know you're wrong!"

"Sure, let's go with that, if it makes you feel better."

"I'm not embarrassed!"

"Uh huh."

"You're just making it seem like I'm embarrassed!"

"Right…"

"And…and now you're making me look like a total idiot!"

"Yeah."

"Roxas, quit it! Is it so hard to have a decent conversation with you?!"

"You're the one doing all the talking."

Roxas looked at Sora's very annoyed, still red face and burst out laughing, as if it was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen.

"Shut up!" Sora yelled, containing himself from doing something he might regret. "Ugh…forget this. I'm going home."

"Okay, bye," Roxas said, only taking a quick break before laughing again.

111

Sora threw open the front door to his house, still raging over what Roxas said. Kairi liked him? Part of him wanted to believe it; another part couldn't wrap its brain around it. He sighed and walked into the kitchen to get some Coke or Pepsi or something that could get his mind off Kairi.

He opened the fridge and found some Pepsi cans. Grabbing one and taking a sip almost immediately, he walked over to the answering machine. He pressed a button and sound was soon ringing through the kitchen.

"You have 3 messages."

Sora leaned over it and pressed the side button.

"Hi. You have reached the Romas' residence. We cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible."

"Sora, sweetie, it's mom. If you are listening to this I'm probably not home. I'm at my book club. Your father called me to tell you he'd be working late. But if he's there, tell him hi! And there's leftover lasagna in the fridge. Take care of yourself and don't let strangers in!"

Sora rolled his eyes. He pressed NEXT.

"Hi. You have reached the Romas' residence. We cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible."

"Hi, Sora! And if this isn't Sora, can you show him this message? Tell him it's from Yuffie. And if this is Sora, don't listen to what I just said. Well, anyway, I'm calling to say if you can get Kairi out of her room, can we meet at the pizza place tomorrow after school? I've already called Roxas. Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Sora made a note that he needed to be at the pizza place on Monday. He pressed NEXT.

"Hi. You have reached the Romas' residence. We cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible."

"Um…hello. This is Kairi Ire. You know, one of the girls Sora always hangs out with? I just wanted to say thanks...for everything Sora did for me today. If it weren't for him, I'd probably still be in my room right now, sulking about one thing or another. And Sora, if you're listening to this, you're a really great friend. Well, bye, I hope I see you tomorrow."

As the answering machine gave a final beep to show that all the messages had been played, Sora smiled and gave a long, dreamy sigh. He didn't even care that his desperate attempts to not think about Kairi had failed. Mind wandering, he absentmindedly grabbed his can of Pepsi and went up to his bedroom.

It was a pretty plain room—the walls were a very boring khaki, his clothes thrown haphazardly around the room. The sheet on Sora's bed were the same colour as the walls. Sora didn't care. In his opinion, decorations and vibrant colours wasn't very attractive.

Sora looked at the alarm clock perched on a shelf. It was nearly eleven. Sora decided that if his parents came home and saw him up this late, they would lose their minds. The main personality trait of Mr. and Mrs. Roma was that they were very strict.

Sora quickly brushed his teeth. He thought about how embarrassed Kairi had been when she dropped that picture of him. Sora had been pretty shocked himself, but he had let it slide by and comforted her instead. Why?

He finished brushing his teeth and went back into his bedroom. As he hopped into bed, he looked at his bedside table with a smile. Because there, right on it, was...

A picture of Kairi.

valor999: Thanks a bunch! Here's your update!

Nohime: Do you really think Sora would just give in like that? He can't. I think it comes with the responsibility and stupidity of being a hero. You're going to advertise me? That would be great! (I'll check out your story. Say Those Words is likely to be cancelled, but I'll make a new Roxette if you want.)

(No name): It was a bit depressing! Lots of heartbreaks, lots of doubtful thoughts, and lots of Mrs. Ire because, even though she's a made up character, she is SO TOTALLY AWESOME! Hey, they're probably crushing on you. Boys aren't the subtlest creatures in the world, if you know what I mean. Thanks for reviewing!

mOOnlite-dUSk: Thanks! I hope it's interesting. And, besides Mrs. Ire, Sora is the most awesome one in this story. (Sorry, I can't help but like Mrs. Ire.) I'm glad you enjoy a nicer Naminé, but others think it's suspicious.

KeiraLoveKH: I'm happy that people find this suspenseful! Thanks for reviewing!

Isler: I don't know why she's one of my least favorite characters. She just IS. If it makes you feel better, Riku is at the very bottom and not her. Thanks for wishing me luck for my homework! My French homework is nearly done and I've barely started my math...but no one can yell at me for not practicing my language!

LOTRchic: Ha! I think Kairi will be okay...so will Sora. Hopefully. You know, if Naminé doesn't do something we'll all regret. Uh oh. Now I'm worried. Hopefully you aren't. Forget all about what I just said!

zestychicken2: Are you suspicious? Good, you should be. Thanks for the idea of the pictures. And I know last chapter was more of Riku x Kairi than anything, but I was getting SO BORED writing about Sora I think I was about to puke. Also, Riku can't be bad ALL AROUND. I mean, no one's bad ALL AROUND.

cheychey41: Suspenseful? Thanks for reviewing and here's your update!

DJ HiHi Kimiko: A new reader? Cool! Here's a new chapter!

JesusRocks!!!!: Thanks for your review! Yeah, it's true, Kairi does have a more popular touch to her. But I can't help it...I'm not one of those people who pair the Nobodies up with the Somebodies. Oh my God, I just sounded like a total jerk there, but you know what I mean. Well, anyway, your review was encouraging and thanks again!

Whew! It's getting harder and harder to respond to your guys' reviews! But that's a good thing! A very, very good thing! Cookies for everyone!

Okay, for those of you who know my other stories, they might be deleted and replaced. I don't know if they will be replaced with the same pairings, but they might be. We'll see what everyone wants, so...those of you who know my stories, tell me what kind of pairing you want. And those of you who don't, you can also tell me the pairings you like.

Alright, the end of this chapter was kind of fast, but I had to bring it to an end because I am very quickly draining out of ideas. My next chapter might be finished on Sunday, and if it's not hopefully from Monday to Tuesday, because I'll be gone for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Read and review!