A/N: Okay, so my classes officially start tomorrow! This means I'll be busy, very busy. But bear with me. I'm just a freshman in college XD I gotta learn the ropes. I'll also have a job! So, I'm just going to update as fast and as soon as I can.

Lies Bring Us Closer

Chapter 6: Thrashing

Kairi breathed in the sweet, ocean air. It was nearly midnight, but for some reason she felt compelled to come to the island. She looked at her surroundings. Her eyes crossed over the gentle waves, the wooden, makeshift dock, the wooden shack near the waterfall, the wooden bridge that linked the small island with the paopu tree, and the bright moon. She let out a small sigh as she seated herself on the shoreline. She let her feet touch the warm water that blanketed the shore; it sent chills down her spine.

"I wonder why I wanted to come out here so suddenly. Could it be you, Sora?" Kairi asked the sky. She had left the shared apartment abruptly. It was clearly shown by the way she was dressed. She was still in her pink, silky nightgown. She only bothered to throw on a brown jacket, and it wasn't even hers. It belonged to Roxas. "So, what's supposed to happen to me here?" Kairi asked again. She looked around the island once more. This time her eyes grazed over the boat-like structure between the rocks, the wooden hut hidden away in the trees, and the hole in the rock; the Secret Place.

Slowly, Kairi brought herself to her feet as she stared at the cave. She knew where she had to go. She quickly ran across the sandy shore and jumped onto the ledge that separated shore from lightly sanded ground. She ran past the running waterfall and into the dark cavern. She ducked down as she slowly scurried. Kairi made sure she didn't trip over any roots or rocks. 'I remember years ago, I didn't have to duck down,' she giggled as she continued down the long passage. Finally, she reached the opening.

The moonlight blanketed the open space with a bluish tint. She looked at all the stony walls and found their childhood drawings were still there, etched in the stone forever. She trailed her hand over the stones as she studied each drawing. She giggled at some and just smiled at others. She remembered that she, Sora, and their friend Riku enjoyed coming here. It was their spot. No one else knew about it.

She spotted one drawing in particular at one of the top stones. It was of a gigantic monster. Riku was depicted as fighting the beast, while Sora stayed by her side and guarded her. That was how their play days went. Riku and Sora play-fought all the time with wooden swords, but Sora would often stop and spend time with her. Those were the good old days. "If only Riku didn't move, maybe Sora wouldn't have gone," she thought aloud as she moved on to look at other pictures.

She passed a weird tree root and then came to another special carving. She knelt down and rested her hand on the surface of the rock. This drawing depicted Sora and Kairi's faces. Hands were drawn with paopu fruits in them. It was their special drawing that symbolized just how much they were supposed to care for each other. She frowned and tried to swallow back the constriction on her throat. She hated looking at this picture. At one point, it had meant so much to her. But now those feelings were null and void. At least, on his side they were. He didn't care about her anymore.

Kairi wiped some rogue tears away from her cheeks. "Is this what I was called out here for? To cry?" Kairi angrily asked as she stared at the picture. 'What is this? Torture?' she thought with a shake of her head. She was done with this; she had to get over Sora. Kairi turned away and leaned against the rock as her cries gradually grew louder. The more she thought about the picture, the sadder she became. The memories she once cherished now felt like poison to her lips.

"Kairi, whatcha makin'?"

Kairi laughed and turned her to her brunette friend. She rolled her gleaming, purple eyes and grinned. "I'm making a thallassa shell," she answered cheerily, "It's supposed to be like a good luck charm. It ensures safety for travelers."

The boy curiously leaned closer. He squinted his bright, cerulean eyes to get a better look. "Hm, kinda looks like a humanoid star," he assessed, "Oh, well. If that's what you're into." Kairi laughed and pushed him away. "Hey!" he protested with a small, fake pout.

"Don't criticize my work, Sora. Now, I'm not making you one. They'll only be for me and Riku," Kairi teased with a giggle.

Sora whined loudly. "Aw, come on! I thought we were all friends. I take back what I said, i-it's kinda cute," Sora pleaded, "Please make me one, Kai."

She tossed her red hair and tapped her chin. How could she make Sora work for this? She got an idea. She turned back to Sora and grinned. "If you run laps across the beach I'll make one for you. Now get going, you lazy bum," Kairi urged with a wave of her free hand.

"Fine!" Sora whined, "But I better get the best one, Kai!" They laughed.

Kairi sniffled as she wiped the tears from her eyes. They were so carefree. Then, life just had to interrupt them. She hugged her knees and buried her head into her knees. "This is so unfair," she muttered angrily. He should've been back. If he wasn't planning on coming back, why did he tell her he would? It wasn't like Sora to lie. It also wasn't like Sora to say such mean things to her. There was no way college could've changed his personality that much. The only way she could be sure was if she asked Sora in person.

"Maybe I should…I should go to Sora and ask him," Kairi uttered as she slowly raised her head from her lap. She didn't see any other solution for her heart; she had to talk to him. She wanted to know if he really changed that much. She had to know.

"No!"

Kairi nearly screamed. She quickly jumped to her feet and staggered a bit to find the source of the voice. "R-Roxas?" she called quizzically, "H-How did you know about this place?"

His eyes fell to the floor. He looked uncertain. "I-I followed you when you left the apartment. I was worried you were going to do something stupid," he confessed, "But I'm sorry. I should've announced my presence sooner."

She was speechless. Roxas had followed her and didn't even say something when she was in tears? Why would he do that? "Why didn't you say anything?" Kairi demanded. She couldn't help but frown.

"I didn't want to interrupt your personal time. I was about to leave, but then you said that," Roxas explained.

"What's wrong with seeking out Sora?" Kairi asked.

He walked over to her and grabbed her hands roughly. "Kairi, he hurt you! He doesn't deserve you anymore. He didn't appreciate you and he lied to you. You let me read that email. Why would you want to talk to someone like that? I know he was different in the past, but he's obviously changed now. Why can't you just accept that?" Roxas asked. He almost seemed like he was begging her not to go. He seemed desperate. It was like he was afraid of Sora.

Kairi snatched her hands away from him and took a step back. "Look, Roxas. You can't control me. I know we're friends, but you've got to let me deal with my problems on my own," Kairi replied.

"I'm just worried about you. I don't want to see you that hurt," Roxas answered gently, "Please just hear me out. He's a jerk."

She paused. The email Sora sent her was pretty much 'jerk' material. She knew Roxas was right. There was no need digging up old business, but she really felt it wasn't something Sora would do. Something didn't feel right with her. "I don't know, Roxas. It just doesn't feel like Sora did it," Kairi mumbled doubtfully.

He shook his head. "You're just in denial, Kairi. You don't know him anymore. It's been years since you've seen him. He could be a completely different person now," Roxas urged, "Don't do this."

Once again, he was right. It had been years and he probably did change. She certainly wasn't the same girl she was in high school. She frowned. "I guess…you're right," she uttered hesitantly; "I guess I am in denial about Sora. But can you blame me? Roxas, he was my world!" The tears were already beginning to slide down her tender cheeks again. She looked at the ground and clenched her fists. "How can I learn to forget him? He meant everything to me, everything. I've told myself this for so long. How can I let it all go? How can I –." Before she could finish, Roxas grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. She couldn't restrain herself any longer; it all came out. She cried and cried as loudly as her body would allow her.

Roxas stroked the strands of her hair and held her close. "It's all right now, Kairi. You can let him go. You don't have to hold onto him anymore, because you're not alone. I'm here now," he cooed. She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him as tightly as possible. He was right. She had to let him go.