Slowly, they approached the boy. He did resemble Sora in so many ways. But, Kairi knew this was all too good to be true. Selphie had stopped walking, and Kairi glanced back questionably. Selphie understood though… Kairi needed to do this for herself.

Kairi slowly sinks to her knees, into the warm sand at her own two feet. Her face becomes saddened as she reaches him. Yes, this boy was too young to be Sora. The only other question then was, who was he?

She reaches her hand out, cautiously now because she did not want to alarm the boy. Her fingers gently fall against the strands of light brown hair that spike from him forehead to his shoulder. She leans in, a smile crossing her face. She didn't know what, but, something did feel right.

His eyelids slowly open, sun blinding his vision, but the shadow of someone above him made him aware that he was not alone. After letting out a light moan, the boy gasps jumping into an upward sitting position that sends Kairi shooting back. She lets out a surprised shriek before falling onto her back in the sand. The boy only stares for one moment, as if time had stopped. His eyes on Kairi, and her eyes on him. The boy wastes no time though, and is quickly on his feet, his blade drawn. Kairi's eyes lock on it automatically… and she recognizes it.

The boy's blade was a long, golden key, that resembled the Kingdom key in many ways… The only difference was the chain. It was not like Sora's, hanging with the Oath Keeper charm that Kairi had given him… this one held a small, golden pendent that resembled the head of….

"The King…" Kairi whispers, not intentionally, but on impulse. She quickly lifts one hand, fingers covering her lips, surprised with herself. The boy looked angry at first, but Kairi could see in his eyes. It was not hate he felt toward her, but fear. She slowly pushed her body upward, using her elbows. She felt herself climb to her knees, but no further before the boy stepped back. "Who are you?!" He screamed, his voice rather edged. Selphie steps forward suddenly, her hand raised to him, as though in protest, but the boy, who might have been scared, raised his blade in a defensive action. Selphie gasped and jumped back. Kairi bit her bottom lip. Was it possible that this boy was a weilder….And… did he even know how to use the keyblade? More importantly, where did it come from… and who….? The one thing that worried Kairi, was that if this truly was the king's blade, then where was the king?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Sin….?" The sound of footsteps hurrying down the hall arose. It was vacant, and the clanks of the shoes echoed. Mik did a little skip, and continued, each step ahead of herself a little more. She held up the long, black laced dress in her arms, the back flowing behind her as she dared to step further. She slows now, before suddenly stopping, and taking a gasp for air. Slowly, her hands fall to her sides, and the dress drapes to the floor. She wasn't alone. She holds her breath for a moment, until she hears another set of feet.

"Mik…" comes a deep voice ahead of the girl. She breaths out, relaxed, as a tall man, long strands of silver hair on his head, steps out before her.

"Xander…." She breaths, stepping forward, pulling a strand of gold from her eyes with her right hand. "Where is she?" Alexander softly asks. Mik shuts her mouth, and her head falls. "I don't know…." She whispers. He does not reply, but steps towards her, extending his arm now. Her eyes glance to his hand, curiosity and fear hiding behind her beauty. His hand touches her shoulder now. "Brother…?" She whispers. He smiles slightly, before walking past her, his hand sliding down her arm as he passes. She lets out a sigh, before turning, and watching him go. She hated when he became like this…. She leaned against the cold, stone wall beside her. She hoped that Sin was alright…. She slowly lifts her right palm to her heart, tracing the necklace she had on with one finger. She closes her eyes, and bites her lip.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kairi held the boy in gaze for a moment, but he connection was broke when she heard Selphie cry out. "Hey, that blade is pretty cool!" Kairi glances at her. "You can't have it!" the boy shouts, tightening his clutch on the keyblade.

Kairi's expressions seem to change. The boy glares at Selphie, hate in his eyes. "You'll take it… that's what you want, well you cant have it!!!" He shouts, turning his stance and charging for the girl. Selphie gasps, taking a step backwards, her feet heavy, frozen in fear.

Kairi suddenly lunges forward, her arms extended. "Boy!" She cries out. The child turns his head slightly, glancing back at Kairi, but not halting his attack on Selphie. Kairi grabs a hold on the boys shoulders, pulling him backwards, towards her. She feels him fall against her, holding his full body against her own. For a moment, she feels a flash of pain, and wonder. He cried out once, before pushing back on Kairi. She manages to hold on to him tight. The two fall to the ground, sand scurrying up beside them. The boy seems angered, but more than that, Kairi could tell that he was scared.

Selphie lets out a frightened scream as the boy struggles to get away from Kairi. She grasps him tight, and holds on of his legs with her own. "Get Riku!" She shouts at Selphie. Something was going to happen. She knew it…. First the heartless, and now this….

Selphie turns slowly, and staggers. Kairi closes her eyes tight. She understood…. Selphie was frightened. This wasn't where she should be.

The boy swings an arm up quickly, pushing Kairi off. She falls backwards, but before she hits the sand, feels a cold and swift touch to the arm. Kairi gasps, and lowers her eyes to her wrist. Blood had begun to seep from the cut the keyblade had placed upon her. The boy stares, his hands trembling. Kairi swallows, and moves her eyes towards his. He stares at her, and time seems to freeze. "You're…. Not a heartless…." He whispers, stepping towards her.

Before the boy can get any closer though, Riku appears from no where, and pushes him to the ground. He falls, and does not attempt to get up. Riku raises his arm, and with no motion at all, a thick, black blade appears in his hand. Kairi's eyes focus on it, until she realizes what it was. She felt moments in time flash before her eyes… and did not move. "Kairi…." Selphie drops to her knee's in the sand beside Kairi, but Kairi does not turn to her. She continues to stare at Riku, who appeared to be moving in slow mode to her. She gasps, and quickly jumps to her feet. Riku lowered the blade, the edge aimed to the by. "NO!" Kairi screams, as she approaches Riku. He does not stop, but Kairi grabs his free arm with both of her arms, and pulls backwards, her voice beginning to crack. "STOP!" She screams.

As Riku lowers the blade, the boy lifts his, the two clashing together, making an awful noise that caused Kairi to flinch. She hated that noise…. Metal to metal….

"Riku!" Kairi shouts, pulling him back. The boy glares at Riku, and Riku at the boy, but Riku pulls back, the blade disappearing suddenly, and his motions moving towards Kairi. He kept his eyes on the boy, but his expressions became soft. The boy stared up at the two questionably. Kairi swallows, loosening her grip on Riku.

"Why were you attacking her?" Riku growls. Before the boy can say anything, Kairi steps forward. "He didn't! I attacked first…" Riku stares at her. "What?" He asks. Kairi shakes her head. "No, I frightened him…." She says softly. Her hand had begun to hurt from the pain. The boy bit his lip, and stepped towards her. From his pocket, he drew a potion. "I'm really sorry…." He said, his voice still shakey. Kairi stares at him. "I thought you were a heartless…" he continues. His blade disappears now. "You look….. just like the other one…" He says.

Kairi stares for a moment. "The… other one?" She asks. The boy nods. "A girl… She was a heartless… She attacked me…" He shook his head. "I need to keep this blade safe at all costs…. Father would kill me if…" He sighs.

Kairi steps towards him, and Karu's expressions change to worry. She smiles at him, assureingly. She knew that this boy wasn't dangerous, even if karu did not trust him. "Are you okay?" She asks the boy. He stares up at her, then takes her hand and gives her a potion to cure her wound. "I'm fine…" He says in a tough voice.

Kairi didn't believe him. "Where is your father then?" The boy shook his head. "I left my father and my home behind, and I don't need them…." Kairi smiles, turning back to Riku. The boy sounded just as he did when he was in youth. As much as he hated it when Kairi said this…. He knew that she was right.

The wound had disappeared from Kairi's wrist. She smiles, and stands. "Thank you…" She says softly. "So….do you have a name?" The boy stares at her for a moment, as if this was a trap.

"Who cares if he has a name or not. He isn't staying long, let's send him back…..NOW…." Karu grumbled from the corner. Selphie glanced at him. "He thought I was a heartless…" She mumbles, crossing her arms. "I got lucky. He would have attacked me if Kairi didn't jump on him…" Karu glances at her, then back to the boy. "That's it, he dies…." He growls.

Kairi shakes her head at the two. Selphie over reacted, and Karu was easily angered when Selphie was in danger. This wasn't new to her. Kairi glanced back to the boy.

"Soriku." He says, a smile on his face. She assumed he was feeling more comfortable with the party now. Kairi smiles at him and steps towards him. "Well, Soriku, welcome to Destiny Islands…" He glances around "Destiny Island?" He repeats softly. "…This couldn't be…." He mutters, walking away from the group, his eyes scurrying about his surroundings.

Kairi watches him curious, Riku behind her, his eyes focused on the boy. "Soriku?" He mutters softly. Closing his eyes, it hits him. "Sora!"

He could imagine Kairi calling out for Sora. Then again for himself…

"Riku!"

"Soriku…." Kairi called out suddenly from right beyond Riku. And he realized…

"Soriku…?" He mutters..