Disclaimer - If Kingdom Hearts were mind, Sora and Kairi would have kissed already. Geez.

Author's Notes: This one is SoKai. Inspired by something that I've been thinking about a lot lately (I think way too much about stuff like this) and an actual conversation I've had with my friends. And Kairi's younger self is TOTALLY based off of mine. And I know that I'm probably making Sora too serious here, but honestly, I like him like that. So that's just how it's going to be. At least in this one.

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Beautiful blue eyes, staring into space. She gazed at him thoughtfully, wondering what he was thinking about, what he was so lost in while he stared at the horizon.

Dusky blue was creeping up behind them, while the pinks and oranges of the sunset faded away in front of them. The bark of the paopu tree was rough against her skin, but not in an uncomfortable way. A few brightly colored fruits winked at her from the foliage. Overhead, the stars were beginning to come out for the night, twinkling merrily.

"Kairi?"

She looked at Sora, who had finally come out of his reverie, and now his piercing blue eyes were focused on her rather than the vague horizon. He looked like he always did when something was bothering him.

"Hmm?"

She wondered what he was pondering. He'd been doing that a lot lately, since he and Riku had returned. He'd broken his promise to her, made years ago, and changed. But she was glad for it. Nevertheless, his adventure had changed him. He had a different perspective of the world now, and somehow she wasn't surprised. Sora had grown up s lot.

"Do you ever miss your younger self?"

Kairi was startled by the question.

"What do you mean, my younger self?"

Sora breathed in, brow furrowed, as though he was trying to find words for his thoughts.

"Well… how you were when you were younger. Don't you feel like a different person now? And don't you miss how you were then?"

"Yeah…" said Kairi slowly. She sighed. "You're not the only one. A lot of stuff's happened…" she trailed off. Now it was her turn to contemplate the horizon.

"I don't know, I just feel like my younger self is a completely different person," Sora said. "I miss being so carefree. I mean, when we were kids, it was like, paradise… not a care in the world. So much has changed." He sounded wistful.

"Yeah… my younger self didn't take any crap from anybody." Kairi smiled fondly, remembering some of her younger self's more outspoken moments. "She didn't let stuff get to her, and I wish I were still like that."

"But… not all of that change has been bad," she continued. "You say it like it's a bad thing."

"Well… it is sometimes." Sora said. "But not always."

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Author's Note: Push the little purple button. It's so callin' for it. Please?

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