On the evening of their second day home, Kairi, Sora and Riku found themselves on the island again.
Their usual spot - the little plateau across the bridge, standing above the shallows, and that sideways palm tree.
Xion was down on the beach, trying to learn how to jump-rope from Selphie (while Tidus and Wakka watched, both trying to give her tips that must have just confused her).
Sora had taken both Tidus and Wakka aside, earlier today, and told them about their adventures, just as Kairi had done with Selphie yesterday. Both boys had taken it...really well, according to Sora.
"Hey," Kairi spoke, glancing at Riku from her seat on the tree's trunk.
"What?" he said, standing with his arms crossed and his head bowed. His eyes closed.
"I'm glad you agreed to come out here with us again," Kairi said.
"Yeah - sure, Kairi..." Riku muttered, turning away.
Kairi glowered. She hopped off the tree and strode out into the middle of the round, sandy plateau. There, she turned back to face the tree, and she summoned her Keyblade.
Riku and Sora both turned to her, staring. Well, Sora did, anyways!
"Huh? Kairi...?" Sora said slowly. "What're you...?"
"Come on, Riku - let's have a little fight," Kairi called out, haughty. "Unless you're afraid of losing?"
Riku scoffed, pushing off from the tree. His arms fell to his sides. "I know what you're trying to do here, Kairi - and that doesn't make it any less irritating."
"Irritating that it's working?" Kairi responded, grinning. "You know you don't want to lose in front of everyone. Tidus and Wakka wouldn't let you hear the end of it...ever."
Riku scowled, but he raised his arm all the same, and a light flashed as Master Aqua's Rainfell Keyblade appeared in his hand. "Alright, less talking and more fighting. Because you're right, Kairi: I need to blow off some steam."
"H-hey, this is just for fun, you guys know that right?" Sora said quickly, jumping down off the tree. "Nobody hurts anybody else here."
"Not seriously," Kairi agreed. "But if things get a little rough...that can't exactly be helped."
Sora frowned, but nodded.
"Why don't we make this more interesting and say...no magic?" Riku spoke out, in drawling tones, as a familiar smirk came to his face slowly. "Or are you scared that'll make your chances of actually winning plummet, huh, Kairi?"
"You think I need magic to beat you?" Kairi laughed. "One on one, pure skill? I can take you, Riku."
One on one, just swordplay, no magic or Light powers? I don't like my chances...
She'd gotten a lot better at pure swordfighting over the course of all these months with Sora, and then later, under Master Aqua, but...
She knew it was still the weakest part of her combat capabilities. The truth was, she did rely on her magic powers and other abilities more so than her skills with a blade.
"How about Keyblade transformations?" Kairi said quickly. "Those aren't technically magic - it's still using my sword, just turning it into another form! Still the same weapon!"
Riku laughed. A real and genuine laugh. "You're unbelievable. But I'll allow that one - just because of how brazen it is to even ask for it. And because I could use some practice against other types of weapons. It could actually come in handy."
Kairi laughed too, falling into her battle stance. "You're going to regret that."
"We'll see about that."
"One of us will," Kairi retorted.
Sora gasped.
Riku froze. Then, a broad grin came over his face. He adopted his familiar battle stance, cocking his head at her. "Tough talk - but is that all you've got? How about you show me something real...you know, something that could actually intimidate me?"
"You asked for it, then!" Kairi threw herself forward, grinning too, and made the first, swift strike.