Hola! We is now on...um.....oh, crap. I really don't know what chapter we're on. I suppose I could check.....but, I'm lazy. So, I'll guess. Eleven right? It's eleven? Oh, who cares.

Okay, now, it may P.O. some people, but this chapter is all about Kairi. Don't write it off right away. I'm actually really proud of this chapter, because it has a lot of character development. Please don't skim it over just because you hate Kairi or something. I'm working hard to not make her a weak character in this fic, and her personality and drive in this story really comes out in this chapter. So please, give her a chance.

*Disclaimer.

I own Koru, and the plot, and the name of Kairi's keyblade, but I don't own Kingdom Hearts. Jeez, you think you people would have figured it out by now.

To be Strong

Kairi hummed softly to himself.

The teenager was walking along the beach slowly, humming a song that she had been singing since she was a little girl. Where she had learned it, she didn't know, but she could only surmise that it had been taught to her when she was a Princess in Radiant Garden.

It was still pretty early to be out walking, but Kairi hadn't been able to get much sleep after the events that had transpired the day before.

The Princess frowned as she thought of the attack, and frowned even deeper as she thought of the attack on Sora.

Gr.....I'm still kind of mad about that. Thought Kairi, clenching her teeth at the thought of some other girl kissing her guy.

Your guy?

Kairi blushed as she realized that Namine must have been listening in on her thoughts.

No, not my guy. My...my friend. My really close friend. I don't like the thought of some strange girl kissing my friend.

Sure Kairi.

Kairi sighed and bit her lip.

Who was she kidding? She had been pretending that she only thought of Sora as a friend for awhile now, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep it up. Every time she caught a glimpse of his wild spiky hair and brilliant blue eyes her heart skipped a beat and she found it hard to breathe. Sora had always been a cute kid, but in the past two years he had matured into a really handsome teenager, with tan, muscular arms, and a sense of security that made Kairi feel safe and protected around him.

Kairi smiled as she thought of her friend, the way he was confident in everything he did, and an amazing warrior, who fought tooth and nail to protect his friends. She thought of that sheepish smile he wore whenever he couldn't figure something out (which was often) and that adorable blush whenever he'd bump into her accidentally.

Wow Kairi, you really love Sora.

The Princess blushed as she realized that Namine must have heard her little internal Sora worshipping.

What....makes you think that?

You're twirling your hair.

Kairi let out a surprised squeak as she realized that a long lock of red hair was tightly wound around her pointer finger. She untwirled it quickly, turning an ever brighter shade of red, made worse by Namine's tinkly laughter inside of her head.

Well, I don't know. I do really like Sora, he's so sweet, and he was my first friend here. But, Namine, I don't know if I love him. I mean, it's almost to cliché! The damsel in distress, or princess if you prefer, is saved by her dashing hero and they end up together....I've never been a girly girl who goes all goo-goo for fairy tale endings. It's like fate is pushing the two of us together...and you know how much I hate being pushed around. *Sigh*. I don't know Namine, I do really like Sora, and I won't deny it, I hate the idea of any other girl anywhere near him. But love? I'm not sure.

That's okay Kairi. You're only sixteen! You don't need to be making decisions like that yet. Both of you are still young. You have time to think it out.

Kairi smiled, still feeling uneasy, but better, thanks to her Nobody.

Thanks Nami, but what about you and Roxas?

Oh...we're not in love. At least...I-I don't know...I mean, I think Roxas might be but....oh hell. I'm such a hypocrite. Yeah, we're in love Kairi.

Ugh. I told you. The whole world is pushing me towards him!

That's not....um....

Oh, just stop it. I'm fighting fate and we both know it.

So...what are you going to do?

Start planning the wedding?

Kairi....

Suddenly, Namine and Kairi's conversation ended abruptly.

The Princess froze, her entire body tense. She let out a little gasp as a horrible, chilling feeling descended upon her. Kairi clenched her fists, her entire being shaking under the power of the chills that travelled up and down her spine.

Kairi! Cried Namine. What is that? Is there a being of darkness near by? What's going on! I've never felt a darkness so strong...and I spent most of my existence in the company of Organization XIII.

Kairi grimaced, feeling sick to her stomach under the massive flow of darkness.

I don't know. I've never felt anything like it either Nami.....no. That's a lie. I felt something similar to this yesterday, when those wolf-things attacked us. But this....it's stronger. Much stronger.

"What do we do?"

Kairi clenched her teeth.

Kairi had spent a long time trying to prove to Riku and Sora that she wasn't a weak little girl that needed to be protected. She had spent long hours on the beach, training with her Keyblade until her hands were full of blisters and bleeding. She'd burnt countless outfits, given herself frostbite, and electrocuted herself time and time again, driving herself beyond exhaustion to prove that she was worthy of the Keyblade that she had received. Kairi had trained with the boys as well, but the two of them treated her like a breakable china doll. To them, it seemed, she would always be weak little Kairi, the perpetual damsel in distress.

But she wasn't.

Namine, she said telepathically, we're ready for this. Whatever it is, we're going to fight.

O-Okay!

Kairi took a deep breath and summoned Blossoming Light, shifting into the battle position, waiting for her opponent to appear.

It didn't take long.

Kairi watched the large, shaggy wolf appear, observing it with the same calm, cool collected attitude that she had seen Riku use time and time again.

I'll show you boys! Thought Kairi with a grim smile. I'll make you proud.

The dark wolf continued to advance, its tongue lolling out of its mouth and it tail wagging furiously behind it. Kairi watched as it trotted closer and closer, stopping about five metres away from the Princess.

There was silence.

Kairi shifted her weight, her feet sliding across the sand. The teenager moved her hands into a more comfortable position on the Keyblade, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the enemy before her.

The wolf was large, much larger than the Shadow Wolves that Kairi had faced the previous day. He had thick, shaggy, dark brown hair and a large throat sack. He had fur falling in front of his eyes, which were completely obscured from view. His tongue lolled out of his massive jaws, which were almost overflowing with thick, glistening teeth, saliva leaving wet tracks through the fur underneath his great maw. His paws were huge, with thick black claws that clearly had dried blood encrusted between them, and the points worn by battle, but still wickedly sharp.

Kairi fought down the fear that began to rise deep within her gut and concentrated on maintaining a level head. She had to concentrate on the battle and not let her emotions cloud her judgement.

"Hello!" said the wolf cheerfully, shaking his head slightly so that the fur in front of his face shifted to reveal small, mischievous, dark brown eyes.

Kairi's eyes narrowed. She didn't know what the wolf was playing at, but she knew that she couldn't be distracted and exchange words with the enemy.

The wolf looked slightly abashed at Kairi's silence, but the grin soon returned to his face.

"My name is Koru! What's your name?" he said cheerfully, taking a step towards the Princess.

Kairi narrowed her eyes and took two steps back, remaining silent. Koru frowned.

"That's not very nice; I asked you your name! I told you my name, how come you're being so mean!" pouted Koru, narrowing his eyes.

Kairi was puzzled. What was with this wolf? Wasn't he going to attack her? What was he playing at?

"You're really not being nice. I thought maybe, we could be friends, but not now, 'cause you're a meanie. So I'm going to kill you, and bite you, and scratch and tear all that pretty skin with my claws. And I'm going to make you bleed. And I'm going to make you bleed again and again! And you'll scream and scream and scream and I'll take my teeth and make you bleed even more and your blood will be everywhere! Ooh, I can smell it from here! You smell.....like....like....like Master Myris and Princess Fawn. That's what you smell like. But different. You smell.....lighter. But the same, your blood smells the same. It smells....delicious. I always hoped that one day Master Myris would ask me to kill Fawn, because they both....I just really wanted to taste that blood! And I couldn't, of course, hurt my Master, but now, I can get you. And taste your blood. Ooh! I'm excited! I'm soooo excited! I can't wait to scratch and bite and tear-OWWWW!!!"

Koru abruptly ended his speech and howled in pain as Kairi plunged Blossoming Light into his shoulder. The teenager yanked her weapon out of her assailant and leapt back.

"The name's Kairi, Princess of Radiant Garden," she snarled, "And you're not getting your filthy paws anywhere near my royal blood, you mutt!"

Koru whimpered and licked his wounded shoulder pitifully, before turning back to face Kairi with his gums pulled back to reveal his teeth.

"Stupid little girl. I'm going to eat you up!" said Koru, grinning maliciously, ignoring the blood that was running down his leg and through his fur.

Kairi swallowed as she saw the red liquid pool onto the ground. Never before had she face an enemy that...bled. A genuine, living creature that had a life of its own. All her foes had been creatures of darkness, or creatures of nothing. None of them had had....souls. None of them were currently staining the ground with the blood that she had shed.

It's so horrible....

Kairi was mildly startled by Namine's intrusion, but she responded as if nothing was amiss.

I know....I know. But....but it's...he's an enemy. We have to fight it. And...and kill it if necessary. We've got to be strong Namine. Damn it! I've got to be strong! I won't be weak! I just won't!

Kairi abruptly ended her internal conversation and once again charged the wolf, running forward with the chilling efficiency that she had learned form Riku.

But this time, Koru was ready.

The wolf caught Kairi's keyblade in his jaws as she thrust it at him and wrenched it out of the girl's hands, tossing it to the side. Kairi let out a gasp and quickly dodged the monstrous teeth that were now lunging at her. Rolling to the side, The Princess retrieved her lost weapon and leapt to her feet, immediately shooting a Firaga made completely of light at the wolf. Koru snarled and dodged it. Immediately, the Lupisomra ran at the Princess, moving with impossible speed. Kairi's eyes widened as Koru seemed to disappear.....

And reappear right beside her. The Princess let out a little shriek and jumped to the side, but not before Koru's claws raked her side.

Kairi screeched in pain and jumped farther away, her face scrunched in pain.

Kairi!

I'm fine! I'm fine! Let me concentrate!

We're not fine, Kairi. I can feel our pain. We should run for it! We're close to Riku's house....

No! I won't! I'm strong enough! I won't be a burden! I'm strong! I'm strong dammit!

Kairi immediately ended her conversation with Namine and took a deep breath, trying to keep a level head through the pain. The teenager swallowed and faced her opponent, holding Blossoming Light at the ready.

Koru was grinning madly, staring at the blood on his claws with delight. Slowly, the Lupisomra lifted his paw and ran his tongue along the bloodied tips of his digits.

"Ohhhh," sighed the wolf with obvious pleasure, "It's good, so good! Better than it smells....so much better....more! More! More! More blood! I'm going to spill your blood and revel in it! I'm going to kill you!" howled Koru, running at the Princess full speed, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and streaming behind him.

Kairi fought down her rising panic and braced herself, preparing to meet the beast head on.

CLANG!!

Koru's massive jaws met the blade and hilt of Kairi's keyblade with an odd metal sound, his teeth parrying the weapon as if they were made of steel. The wolf was on his hind legs, and his forelegs were up, his paws on Kairi's arms and his claws digging horribly into her skin, blood pouring from the Princess in crimson rivers.

Kairi gritted her teeth against the pain and continued to push back against the wolf, his insane eyes inches away from hers.

With a giggle, Koru began to slowly push harder on Blossoming Light, his claws digging deeper and deeper into Kairi's skin.

C-crap. Thought the Princess. He wasn't using his full strength! He's just playing with me!

Kairi was slowly forced down into a kneeling position as Koru pushed harder and harder, the redhead barely able to continue to hold up her weapon under the weight, and with her arms so badly damaged.

Kairi! You can't beat him! Let me call Roxas, please!

No! I won't....I won't let Sora save me again...never again.....NEVER AGAIN!

Kairi screamed and her whole body and Keyblade began to glow brilliantly. Koru narrowed his eyes in confusion, and then howled in pain as Blossoming Light and Kairi's body became searing hot, burning the pads of his paws and the inside of his mouth.

The wolf leapt back, whimpering, his burnt tongue lolling out of his jaws, which had smoke filtering out.

Kairi gasped and dropped her Keyblade, sitting on her knees with her hands on her legs. The Princess stared at her gored arms with shock, unable to process, or even feel the carnage that was her own body.

Kairi's arms had been raked to the bone, literally. In several places white was just visible through the mess of blood and torn muscle. Sinews and gore were hanging out of the wounds in grotesque strands, and the amount of blood that was pouring from the limbs covered Kairi's arms, legs, and entire outfit.

Kairi....oh god, Kairi. It hurts! It hurts so much!

I....I can't even feel it. Nami, I'm scared. I can't feel my arms! What's going on?! Why can you feel the pain and I can't? Oh god, I'm so scared....

Kairi watched numbly as Koru, walking unsteadily on his burnt paws and mouth still smoking, advanced upon her, grinning like a child with a new toy.

"Your blood.....is everywhere! It's everywhere! So good! So very good! Your mine. All mine! Your blood is mine! Your weak, but your blood is good. And now, you're done and I can do anything and everything I want. Teehee, goodbye little girl! I'm going to tear you, and claw you and shred and you and bite you until there's nothing left! I'm going to kill you! Your blood is mine!" howled the wolf with a sadistic laugh, staring at Kairi with eager, hungry eyes.

Kairi could only watch, helplessly, as the homicidal wolf lunged at her.

I.......am weak.

Ta-daaaaaa!

Okay, I'm really proud of this chapter. It's not my fave chapter, but I am really proud of it. Please tell me what you thought of it, and what you thought of Kairi's character development. Review! Review! Review!

Okay, I know what you're all thinking.

You're thinking, 'natcat5, you realize you've just left your readers with three cliff-hangers in a row, right? Have you no shame?!!!' Yes, I realize I am being very evil, made worse by the fact that school's started and I'm in an advanced nerd program with waaaaaay to much homework, so it may be awhile until the next update. Oh well! Life's tough! Teehee!

Hopefully, you'll quicken the updating process with your faaaaabulous reviews! Capiche?

xoxo, natcat5 ;p