RIKU

I sought out the real truth in her eye crystal blue eyes…. But I didn't find any. She was telling me what her heart said. I can tell when someone is lying because the darkness scent in his or her heart grows stronger. Melody, though, barely has a darkness scent at all. If she were to get into trouble… I don't know how I would track her down. Sora has darkness in his heart, so I can track him down easily. Other than Melody and Kairi, Sora is the most light-hearted person I know. What makes Mel have such a strong heart? What made her Keyblade choose her? I had talked to King Mickey and explained what her Keyblade looked like. He called it the Keyblade of Sanctuary, or Heart of Sanctuary. What was its purpose? She smiled at me but her eyes asked questions. She saw that I was deep in thought and so she was wondering what I was thinking.

How do I know these things about her? It's like her thoughts unexpectedly run through my mind for a second.

She turned away and continued to fly the ship. There should only be a few more hours left. I watched Melody stare intently among the passing sparkle or worlds. She seemed to be entranced by the view. Her eyes glazed over and I could see the reflection of the stars.

MEL

"Melody?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Do you remember you great uncle?"

"No, Mama. What did he look like?"

"Well, he was a man of study and science. He was living in the deep jungles of Brazil but he has vanished. No one knows where he is…."

"How old was I last time I saw him?"

"Your… four now… so it must have been when you were about sixteen months old. A year and four months."

"But Mama, if I was that young, then how would I be able to remember that?"

"You were able to walk and talk by four months and your were a premature baby at that. I figured you might remember. Besides you were a miracle baby."

"Mama…. Tell me…. What was my uncle's name?"

"Well, he went by many names…. But he mostly liked to be called Di.."

"Melody?!"

I snapped back out of the memory. I turned toward Riku. He had a worried expression splayed across his face.

"Are you alright?"

I reached up and massaged my temples.

"I guess so. I had some sort of flash back about when I was little."

"Oh… what was it about? Or… if you don't want to share, I understand. I have lot's of childhood memories I don't need to share…"

"But sometimes, even though your mind doesn't want you to share, your heart needs it before it finds it's peace."

"Perhaps… so…are you going to tell?"

"Sure… um… when I was about four, while my evil step dad was on a week long business trip, my mother me that my great uncle went missing. He used to live far away from us, so I've only seen him twice, but I do remember pictures of him. He was very tall and very broad. He had blonde hair that went down to his shoulders and he had a rounded beard. He was a studious man. My mom used to get strange trinkets in the mail from him all the time. But one day, they just stopped coming. I don't remember him at all. I'm also wondering why that memory suddenly came through my thick-headed skull."

"Maybe your mind and heart are working together to remind you of something important. Maybe it's something you need to remember."

"I didn't think of that…"

"So… what was your uncle's name?"

"I…. I don't remember. In my flashback, my mother said he was called lots of things…."

"Try to remember…"

I turned my head and looked back at the passing stars. I concentrated but I was afraid that if I zoned out again, I would lose control of the gummi ship.

"Here…. Let me drive while you think."

"But…"

"It's alright, Peach Sauce. I got it."

"Oh… so it's 'Peach Sauce' now?"

"You should be considering yourself lucky. Kairi ahs been called many things other then just 'Lazy' and 'Bird Brain'. Sora's nicknames never stop being invented, but 'Sappy' is among the top fourteen billion. So far you only have two in a week's time. I'll come up with more later…"

I got up from the chair as Riku took my spot. He looked better in the macho chair than I did anyway. He looked out to the stars as he took the wheel. He eyes were greenish-blue and they glowed in the lights of the bright stars. I exhaled slowly the breath that I hadn't realize I held.

I really do have a crush on Riku…. Don't I?

As if responding, my heart pounded so loud I thought Riku could hear it.

This is a new feeling….

I watched Riku as he looked at me. His eyes glowed.

"So… have you found a name yet?" He asked with a small smile.

"N-no….not yet…"

He smiled at me then turned and concentrated on the steering of the ship. I swallowed hard and took in a deep sigh. I closed my eyes and tried to remember…

"Well, he went by many names…. But he mostly liked to be called Di.."

I growled aloud. Riku made a sympathetic 'hmph'.

"Lost your train of though again?" He asked.

I nodded.

RIKU

I laughed to myself. She was amusing to me. Like Sora, I could never get tired of being around her.

"If a thought is a train… then does that mean it has an engine as well?" Mel asked cockily.

I laughed again and then glanced at her. She had a small sideways smile, one that I hadn't seen before. It was the smile of frustration and irritation.

"Let me try again." She said quietly.

"Okay, but don't try too hard, you might blow an important blood vessel."

"Ha, Ha. Very funny." She said sarcastically.

MEL

"Well, he went by many names…. But he mostly liked to be called Di.."

Suddenly the phone rang and so Mama picked it up.

"Oh… Hello Margaret. Have you heard anything, yet? Oh… well I'm beginning to worry now…. No… Melody doesn't remember him, but she does enjoy the trinkets he sends us…. Uh-huh. About three times a month. Yep. Well… we haven't gotten anything for about two months now. Taken? Oh my, surely not, what would anyone want with him? Okay… well call me if anything else turns up. Okay… take care…. Uh-huh… bye-bye."

"Mama…. What's happening?"

"The Brazilian police say that all his study stuff, like his journals and books, were taken, but the only fingerprints they found around his cabin were his own."

"Maybe he decided to leave."

"Maybe, Sweetie, Maybe."

"What sort of trinckeret did he send me?"

"He said…he found this in the jungle… but I'm sure he either bought it or had someone make it especially for you…. he was a very wealthy man, you know."

She pulled a large box from the top bookshelf and then she opened it. Inside was a silver tiara with diamond hearts all along it. Inside was something engraved in pretty, cursive, loopy letters.

"What does it say, Mama?"

"Melody Nicole Hart, is what it says right here," She said as she pointed to the outside back of the tiara. "But inside the crown it says, 'An adventure that shouldn't be, will come to the one with the purest of hearts, Melody.' And then you uncle signed it in his own hand writing, 'Uncle Ansem'."