A/N: Oh gawd, I feel so bad about making everyone wait so long for this update! I had to and rewrite this chapter on my laptop, which is what I have to use now, because my pc has just recently recovered from a virus, and I cant the internet on it now, or transfer files onto a disk anymore for some odd reason. Plus, I've been busy with some other projects.

Hope: So, my story doesn't matter anymore, is that it?

Me: It does, but I just had some bigger and more important stuff to work on.

Hope: You just said that this story didn't matter just now!"

Me: Now, let's all just calm down.

Mob of characters appear outta nowhere, pitchforks in hands and torches: GET HER!

Me: Hey, let's reason this out…CRAP! DISCLAIMER! DISCLAIMER!

Lea appears out from the mob, paper in hand: Twilight girl456 doesn't own anything, except for her own characters and this story. Everything mentioned in this story that involves Kingdom Hearts owned characters belongs to Square Enix.

Me: Please enjoy!

Ienzo held my hand as we walked around the castle gardens in silence. No one else would probably believe me if I said that Ienzo could talk, because he doesn't talk to anyone…except for me. Why I am the only one he even speaks to is beyond me, but as long as he actually speaks, I'm ok with it. If I didn't mention it before, Ienzo is an extremely intelligent for someone his age, not to mention curious. Everyday, we would take a walk in the gardens together, just enjoying all the nature, which is something that I love.

I had no idea how long we've been walking out here, so I took a glance at the clock that was outside. I was supposed to go and meet Lea and Isa at the park soon. I was about to walk back to the entrance inside the castle, when I felt Ienzo's hand slip from mine as he moved away to look at something.

"Ienzo?" I walked over to see what had caught his attention. He was looking down at the ground, and I let my gaze fall down to it as well. On the ground, was a dead bird.

"Can we help it?" Ienzo asked, looking up at me with his little gray eyes. I knelt down next to him, looking back at the lifeless little bird.

"I'm afraid that we cant now. There's nothing we can do, because he's already gone." I looked down at the bird sadly, knowing that it died too soon.

"But why?" Ienzo looked at me with confusion filled eyes.

"I'm afraid the little guy died."

He looked down sadly at the bird, his shoulders slumping a bit. It wasn't until I saw his shoulders begin to shake, that I grabbed him and hugged him to me, letting him cry into my shoulder.

"Why do things die?" He asked me as I held him, rubbing soothing circles on his back.

"Everything around us eventually dies, may it be from age, to sickness, and to accidents." I began pulling him away to look at his face. I wiped the tears from his little eyes. "There always comes a time, when plants, animals, and people, have to return to the earth. When one thing falls, another grows. Something new, and wonderful, all the same. It's the great circle of life."

He wiped his eyes again. "So, will a new little bird just like that one pop up from somewhere then?" I laughed a little at how he had asked.

"No, but there will be more birds that hatch from eggs. Even though they wont be just like this one, they'll still be birds. What you have to understand, Ienzo, is that everything dies eventually, but something will always grow back in its place." I held his little hands in my own, and gave him a small smile. When he only looked even more confused, I laughed lightly. "Don't worry. You'll understand when you're older."

"That's what Even always tells me."

I giggled. "What we can do, is give this little bird a proper burial." I noticed a gardening shovel near the flowerbed and grabbed it, and began to dig a small hole. "Why don't you go pick me some out a few flowers. Just not the roses, because those have thorns, and you don't have any gloves on that will protect your hands."

He nodded, walking over to the flowers, and picking out some carnations and lilies bringing them back over to me. After I had buried the little bird, I placed the flowers onto the little grave. I said a few words before grabbing Ienzo's hand and walking him back inside to the castle.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Man, where is she?" Lea grumbled as he paced back and forth, Isa sitting down on a bench as they waited for their friend to arrive.

Isa sighed at Lea's grumbling. "Relax, I'm pretty sure she's on her way."

Right when he said that, Hope appeared, running over to them. "Hey, guys!"

Lea walked over and stood right in front of her, grabbing her shoulders. "Where were you? You're late! And why do you have dirt on your face?" he poked her cheek that had a small speck of dirt on it, causing her to reach up and wipe at it continuously.

"I was with Ienzo, and we had to bury a bird." She said, grabbing Lea's scarf, and using it to wipe her cheek.

"Hey!" Lea exclaimed, pulling the scarf away from her, only to find that it now had the dirt that had been on her face on it.

"Well, now that I'm here, shall we go get some ice-cream?" Lea and Isa nodded, before walking next to her as they all headed over to the ice-cream shop.

10 minutes later-

"How long have we been friends?" Hope asked out of the blue as all three of them sat on the roof of Clock tower in Radiant Garden.

"Years." Lea simply stated, taking another bite of his ice-cream.

Hope giggled at the reply. "No silly! I mean exactly how many years?"

"Five." Hope turned her gaze to Isa, the one who had just answered the question. "We've known each other and have been friends for five years."

Lea looked out to the horizon, sighing. "Cant believe it's been that long."

Hope looked down at her lap, taking another bite of her ice-cream. "Yeah…me neither. I don't think I ever told you two this, but you guys were my very first friends I made.

Lea and Isa looked at her, shocked about this revelation. "But, aren't you friends with Cloud and all of them?" Lea asked.

"Yeah, but I wasn't friends with all of them until after I became friends with you two. I remember the first time I met you guys." She laughed a bit at the memory.

"Yeah, I became the cat hero, and Isa fell in love with your homemade cookies!" Lea said, causing all of them to burst out into laughter.

Hope stopped laughing, letting a smile settle onto her face as she watched the sunset. "Let's make a promise…all three of us."

"What kinda promise?" Lea asked, taking another bite from his ice-cream.

"That, no matter what happens, we'll always be friends. Even if something happens that breaks us apart, we'll always be friends, no matter what." She took one last bite of her ice-cream, handing the remainder of it to Lea. "Promise me, both of you?"

"Yeah, I promise!" Lea said, smiling happily.

"I promise too." Isa said.

"And so do I." Hope said, closing her eyes and smiling peacefully. "Lea, I don't want the rest of my ice-cream. You can have it if you want." Hope said, standing up. "I should be getting back to the castle." Before she could walk off, Lea stood up, grabbing her wrist.

"You want us to walk you back?"

"Why don't you walk her back, Lea. I need to get home now anyway. See you guys later." With that said, Isa walked off, leaving the two behind on top of the tower.

"I don't mind you walking me back. Let's go."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dear Diary,

I just got back from eating ice-cream with Lea and Isa. We made a promise to always be friends, no matter what. Lea walked me home afterwards, and then I ate some dinner. I don't have time to say more, because I have other things to attend to.

Until later- May 11, 2010.

A/N: So, how was it? Tell me what you thought! LATER TATERS!