A while later, after the silliness subsided, Riku asked to speak to Rachel alone. As much as the others wanted to know what they were up to, Sora, Bryan and Kairi went back to the ship so their friends could have some privacy. After watching their friends fly back to the ship, Riku took Rachel by the hand and they walked up the stairs through the shack and across the bridge. She didn't need to ask. She knew what he had in mind.

"Tell me the story of the Paopu again." Rachel said quietly.

Riku smiled. "If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each others lives, no matter what."

"Do you think that's true or just a pretty symbolic story?"

"I like to think it is. I certainly like to think we wouldn't need a magical fruit as the bond that links our hearts together. Still," He squeezed her hand gently. "It's nice to think there will be a special bond that will always bring you back to me."

The light of the setting sun bathed the sky with fire. When they reached the Paopu tree, Riku helped Rachel up onto the tree. That was one thing he liked and appreciated about her. Riku had little doubt Rachel had the strength to single handedly take down a Darkside in less than a minute. And because of her powers she had no reason to depend on anyone. Yet she let him be the gentleman.

She sat there, gently kicking her feet like a little kid expecting a surprise. That was another thing he was noticing and he liked. Despite her strength, her powers never went to her head. She always left plenty of room for her playful and fun self to come first. She reminded him of Sora in that respect. Riku jumped up and walked the length of the tree, sitting and scooting the best he could where the tree bend back up where the fruits grew. Not exactly a dooming distance to fall, but slipping off and coming back soaking wet or at least with squelching shoes wouldn't exactly set a romantic mood.

A sliver of yellow peeked from beneath the hanging leaves of the tree. Thank goodness there was a fruit there. That would have made things a little awkward if there wasn't. Riku reached beneath the leaves and felt his hand touch the peachfuzz surface of the Paopu. He tugged firmly and the stem gave up its prize. Rachel did her cute mini-clap thing where she only clapped with her fingertips when he returned with it.

Now for the big question that Riku hadn't even realized he didn't know until just then. How was this thing supposed to be eaten? Was there a proper way? The legend only said that two people were supposed to share it. But there were many avenues to sharing. Cut or break it in half? Not the most personal approach. Riku sat down next to Rachel. When he did, she scooted in close for a snuggle.

"Do you think we should say anything?" She asked.

"I'd like to. It may not be as eloquent as anything you, but," Riku put his left arm around her and held the Paopu directly in front of them. "May this be the first step to many great adventures together."

And that was all that needed saying.

Riku took a small bite from one of the stars points. It was soft like a ripe pear with very delicate fuzz like a peach. The flavor was incredible. It was like the worlds sweetest strawberry with just a smidge of citrus zing for counter balance. Then he offered it to Rachel. She took a bite from another point. Back and forth they went, side by side, not speaking a word yet saying so much.

Eventually the Paopu was eaten down to the two points with the leaves. The fruit flesh was weak in the center where they'd eaten around it so Riku just tore the two points apart and gave one to Rachel. Quietly they watched the changing of the guard as day faded into night. When they were finished, the two key bearers tossed the leaves of the Paopu into the ocean, where they danced alongside one another in the waves.

Together they sat in calm silence for a spell. Riku wanted to talk and at the same time he heard so much in the stillness. It was like a giddiness had begun to bubble up within him, like a child on their way to a birthday surprise. He wasn't sure if what he felt was the magic of the Paopu or just the excited feeling that followed the symbolism of the Paopu. He couldn't decide whether the latter or the former was the more exciting option.

After a while they both began talking. Little things at first, then personal and about their pasts and growing up, among other things.

"I was awful as a kid." Riku admitted. "Looking back I'm sometimes surprised Sora and I stayed friends this long."

"Aren't most children terrible to each other and still remain friends?"

"I guess, but I was really bad. From using walkers on up I always thought being older made me better than Sora. He was always my best friend and I always trusted him, but that thought was always at the back of my mind." Riku laughed, remembering something. "One time I broke a toy of his because he made me mad. I can't even remember why. So he's upset, I felt like he deserved it and our parents had to step in. I'm supposed to say sorry but I was indignant about it."

"Indignant?" Rachel asked with a smile that begged the story to continue.

"Kids are horrible when they're six. I had my arms crossed tight, my face set in a scowl and my feet planted firmly into the ground…not kidding! I had my heels dug in so deep my dad had to push me the last foot and a half to face Sora. I refused to look at Sora when I mumbled an apology. The worst part was having to repeat myself until the adults could hear it."

"Let me guess, you two were best buddies again the next day like nothing happened."

"Pretty much."

"So how long have you two known Kairi?"

"I don't think we were even seven when she just showed up. We'd met her and knew about her but it took a few years before we actually became good friends."

"Part of the age where boys think they can't be friends with girls?"

Riku laughed. "Yeah."

"I can see that. I mean, boys like bikes and dirt and worms and girls want princess tea parties in their playhouses. Didn't mean to alliterate. Boys don't want to be the dad when playing house and girls don't want to play with toy trucks. I know there are exceptions but that's usually the way it rolls. "

He shook his head, thinking back. "There were a lot of antics I'm sure no girl our age would have wanted to be a part of. Like when Sora had a loose tooth. I helped get it out by hitting him in the face." Rachel snickered. "He got me back for it though. Twice actually."

"Do tell."

"I remember tying a baby tooth to a baseball with some string, I gave the ball to Sora so I could make sure the string was tight in my mouth but he threw the ball before I was ready."

Rachel giggled again.

"He had a pretty good arm for a seven year old. It worked but I wasn't thanking him for it. A few weeks later when another one came loose, Sora and one of the neighbor boys conspired against me too. We were at his house and I was fine with the traditional tie-to-a-doorknob trick. Sora had a ball in his hand. I thought he wanted to try the same thing again. With a string in my mouth I told him off for thinking I was going to fall for the same trick again. But it was just a distraction for the neighbor boy to tie the other end of the string to his dog's collar. Then Sora threw the ball."

Rachel rolled on her back laughing. Or at least as far as she could sitting on a tree trunk without falling over. "It's funny to hear that Sora had a dark side. It's incredible how children can be so innocent yet so evil! Then again, when we were little, I was no angel to Bryan either."

Rachel shared with him how her relationship with her brother was hardly loving when they were children. It was pretty much the same speech she had given to Queen Elsa, or at least the version of her that existed in the dream world years ago. It had been a strange feeling for Rachel after the sleeping worlds were safe. A great weight had been lifted after telling someone about how she felt about treating her brother the way she had when they were young. Then came the harsh reminder when she actually met Elsa and Anna in the real worlds she had relieved her burden to a dream. She may as well have been talking to air. Up until that moment on the Paopu tree, she had never actually told anybody.

All the colors of evening had almost fallen away under the dark cerulean blanket of night. The white sand appeared to glow under the brightness of the starry sky.

"Hey," Riku said. "Before I forget again, there's something I've wanted to ask for a while."

"Oh?"

"The night before you guys picked us up, did you happen to sense…or feel anything?"

Rachel looked thoughtful for a second. He thought he might have to be more specific, or maybe she hadn't felt anything at all. Then her eyes flickered and her expression changed slightly. Right then he realized she knew what he was talking about. Especially when she quickly, almost as an involuntary reaction, put her fingertips to her lips then pulled her hand down again.

"I thought I had just imagined it." She admitted. "I thought I was just wanting to see you again and-."

Riku put a finger over her mouth and leaned in close. "The old man's story is true, Rachel. I heard you singing." He recited a few lines to prove he hadn't just been struck by wishful thinking either.