Kairi stood at the edge of the beach. She had watched two of her friends enter the doorway, chasing after Xemnas; the last remaining member of Organization XIII. She wished so much to have gone with them, but they would not let her. She was a little annoyed from that thought. Still she stood there, hoping for them to return. The sun blazed bright on the clear day. Suddenly her gaze was drawn towards a couple of lights descending from the sky. Her heart began to race. She was sure it was Sora and Riku. The lights splashed into the ocean and seconds later Sora came out from under the water, followed by Riku.
"Sora... Riku!" she called out. Sora was the first to see her standing at the edge of the beach. He ran through the water, making his way towards the shore. As soon as he met Kairi at the edge of the beach, she reached out her hand to Sora who looked up at her and took his hand in hers.
"W- We're back." Sora said to her.
"You're home." Kairi replied as she helped him up. Riku got to shore and she helped him too. They both sat down on the hot sand, glad that it was finally over. Donald and Goofy who were waiting on the beach too, sat down with them. They just sat in silence, looking to one another.
"It's over." Sora told Kairi. She only smiled. All of them had been through so much.
"I wonder how we are going to get home to the castle." Goofy said, just making conversation for the most part. Donald began to wonder about that too.
"It's just as easy as following your heart guys. It's how Sora and Riku made it back here."
Everyone turned to another grand sight. Standing not that far away from them was the one and only King Mickey. Donald and Goofy got to their feet, ran straight over to him and jumped on him. Sora, Kairi and Riku all laughed, still sitting at the edge of the ocean.
"It's great to see you too." Mickey replied while almost being suffocated by the other two. They soon got off him and allowed him some room. King Mickey walked over to Sora, Kairi and Riku. He smiled at the three of them before sitting himself down in the circle. Donald and Goofy did the same. The six of them sat quietly. The only sound that could be heard was the small waves of the trees on the island rustling in the wind. It had been a tiring adventure. They deserved this peace and quiet. Mickey soon got up and asked Donald and Goofy if they were ready to return to their own home. Donald and Goofy looked to Sora who looked back and nodded.
"Yes we are Mickey." They both said.
"Wait!"
Everyone looked to Kairi.
"Will we ever see you again?"
It was a very important question. Sora began to wonder the same thing now it had been brought to the light. Mickey replied.
"As you know outsiders are not allowed to meddle in the business of other worlds... even though Sora has on many occasions."
Sora felt a little guilty. Every time he had unintentionally meddled in the affairs of other worlds; one mainly being Ariel's world where her father, King Triton told him this exact same thing, was for a good reason. None of them knew why King Mickey was saying all of this. Mickey then elaborated.
"Travelling back here, even to visit is dangerous and could compromise other worlds. People from this world will know that it is possible to visit other worlds beyond their own. They will be encouraged to do so."
Kairi's smile disappeared and so did Sora's. They knew now that this meant the last time they would see Mickey, Donald and Goofy. From the sad look on Mickey, Donald and Goofy's faces, Sora, Riku and Kairi could tell this fact was just as hard for them. Yet they understood. Donald and Goofy then said something that Sora had not heard for a long time now.
"Hey Sora what did we say?" Donald began.
"Yeah Sora, no frowning, no sad faces... Remember?" Goofy added. Sora remembered. Like he did the first time, he gave the biggest smile he could muster. Everyone laughed including Sora.
"Alright, ready to go?" Mickey asked.
"Okay!" Donald and Goofy replied together again. Mickey had the two of them grab his hands. Before they disappeared, Mickey said one last thing to Sora, Kairi and Riku.
"If we ever need your help again, we will surely call you."
With that, they disappeared. Kairi grabbed a tight hold of Sora's arm and laid her head on his left shoulder. A couple of tears ran down from her eyes. She was really going to miss them. Riku; standing to the right of Sora, looked at them both. He was not jealous of Sora and Kairi being so close. He had been aware of that possibility for a long time.
"So what shall we do now?" He asked them. Kairi let go of Sora's arm and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Why don't we go to the other side of the island?" She suggested. Sora and Riku nodded. Out of nowhere Kairi yelled out, "Race you there!" and began running towards the wooden bridge. Sora and Riku quickly came to their senses and chased after her.
For the whole afternoon the three spent their time sitting under the coconut tree talking about their adventures. Sora was the most conversational, talking about Pride Rock and how he was an actual lion. He then told Kairi how he really flew too. Kairi's next words were surprising.
"I know. I was with you that whole time... in a manner of speaking."
Sora blushed a little from the embarrassment.
"Oh... of course..."
She laughed and softly punched him in the arm. Riku got up.
"Where are you going?" Sora asked.
"It's getting late. I'd better head off home."
Sora and Kairi did not question him. They all had been through so much, but Riku had been through the hardest of it; falling into darkness and coming out of it a different person. They hoped he was alright. He began to make his way back to the boats. Kairi and Sora followed. They all travelled through the cavern corridor to the front of the island, under the wooden bridge and over to the docks. Once there, Riku got in one of the few boats and left, Kairi was about to enter one of the other ones before noticing Sora was not coming.
"Sora, are you alright?" She asked. Sora looked down at her in the boat, thinking of whether he should tell her that he has been in love with her for so long. Now was not the time.
"Yeah..." He replied.
"Then are you coming? Or am I going to have to row back by myself?" She asked. She then gave a bit of a laugh to show she was not serious. Sora was beginning to feel a little guilty either way. He was feeling bad about possibly causing Kairi to row all the way back herself.
"Sorry Kairi. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay then Sora."
He watched as she rowed the boat away into the distance. He then turned around and made his way to a small cave nestled in the heart of the island's mountain. It was dark inside but he knew his way around. As he entered a small open area his memories went straight back to the last time he had come here, where Kairi stood just before the mysterious wooden door that opened and caused darkness to shoot out. It was interesting now. If it was not for ending up in Traverse Town, becoming a keyblade wielder and saving the universe, he still would have no idea what this door was. He then looked to the right where a long time ago, he and Kairi had carved their faces on the cave wall. But something was new. He had drawn a poupu fruit, indicating the fact of giving it to Kairi. She had done the same. It was then that Sora realised that Kairi really liked him too. His heart was filled with joy, yet there was only one way to know for sure. He told himself to be patient. He would wait until he saw her the next day before asking her.
Sora awoke quite early the next morning. The sun had not even risen. He was too excited and at the same time very nervous in telling Kairi the way he felt about her. He laid there on his back. He thought back to when he had just defeated Xigbar inside the Castle that Never Was and finally been reunited with Kairi after so long. He felt bad not returning to her before searching for Riku and the King Mickey. Then the most unbelievable thing happened. She ran up and hugged him so tight. He still remembered the only three words she said right then... "This is real". It was so true. Sora only understood some of what she meant by that. Could it have meant more though; the fact that it was real that she as in his arms? He was unsure. The sunlight began to peak through the white curtains at the left side of his bedroom.
"Not long now." He whispered to himself. There was only about a week of school holidays left so he, Kairi and Riku had agreed to spend every remaining day together at the island. He rolled over under the sheets and tried to get a little more sleep. No matter how much he tried he could not gain any more sleep. Lying there for a few more minutes he eventually decided to get up. He headed downstairs and entered the kitchen. No one else was up yet. That was no surprise. Sora quietly got out a bowl from the nearby cupboard, cereal from another cupboard, milk from the fridge and spoon from the draw, sat down at the wooden square kitchen table and ate breakfast. The whole time his thoughts remained on only one thing; Kairi. Once he had finished he headed to the bathroom and had a shower before getting dressed in his dark blue shirt, thin black coat and dark blue shorts. Looking in the bathroom mirror he was reminded of fighting by Donald and Goofy's side.
"I'm going to miss them." He thought. He regained his thoughts back to reality and headed to the front door, putting on his black shoes over his socks and heading outside. The town was quiet. The sound of early birds chirping and the trees blowing in the cool wind was all that could be heard. Sora walked down the street past many local houses, making his way to the docks. He wondered if Kairi was as excited for today as he was. She lived a few streets from him. He couldn't help but take a detour past place. He had only been to her place a few times before just as her friend. Riku had even been there too. They played games and watched TV. If all went well and he and Kairi became more than friends, he wondered how much that would change. It would mean something more... and what of Riku? Would he always feel like a third wheel? The three of them have always been equal in friendship. This could affect his and Kairi's relationship (in a good way) and yet affect their relationship with Riku (in a bad way). He was always told in the most difficult moments of his adventure to trust in his heart. It was telling him to tell Kairi. Everything showed that Kairi felt the same way about him as he did for her. He then stopped in his tracks just metres from the docks. He looked ahead to see a cloaked stranger standing not far in front of him. He panicked at first initially believing this stranger was somehow a surviving member of Organization XIII. The longer Sora stared at them his heart rate slowed. This stranger was indeed cloaked, yet not in the same clothing as Organization XIII.
"Hello?" Sora began. He expected some kind of response. Instead the stranger stretched out his right arm and pointed towards the island. Sora was confused. What did they want? Then Sora heard someone call out to him from behind. He turned to see Kairi running down to the docks looking very distressed.
"What is it Kairi?" Sora asked. Kairi stopped just in front of him, catching her breath before she answered.
"I... had to come see if you were okay Sora. A woman appeared in my bedroom... she said that you were in danger at the docks."
Sora turned back towards the dock and found that the cloaked stranger was gone. Sora suggested visiting Riku. Something had clearly come for them. There was no need. As Kairi and Sora left the docks Riku was heading to them.
"Hey you're here." He said. The look on his face was of relief from Sora and Kairi having not been harmed, but then changed to a whole new seriousness that neither Sora nor Kairi had ever seen. He was about to tell them what had happened to him before Sora stopped him.
"Not here Riku... let's head to the island first." Sora told him. Kairi nodded. The three got into the same boat. Riku and Sora each rowed while Kairi sat there staring back them. None of them said anything until they finally made it to the docks on the island. Kairi exited the boat first. Riku and Sora did the same soon after. Kairi led them to the seaside shack and closed the door.
"Now, what happened?" Sora asked the other two. Kairi answered first.
"I was lying in bed when I saw a shadow in the corner of the room. The sun shone on it and a women; she was about our age. She was in a black cloak. At first I thought she was a remaining member of Organization XIII. I asked her who she was. All she said was that Sora..." She looked at Sora before she continued. "...Was in trouble at the docks. Then she disappeared. I then got changed and raced to the docks where I found Sora and a cloaked stranger."
"At least yours didn't try to kill you." Riku replied. Sora and Kairi faced him in amazement. Riku explained, painting a picture for them both.
"Like you two, a stranger appeared in my room. This one on the other hand was completely covered in black armour. He drew a sword. I panicked just as a keyblade appeared in my hand. I fought him in my house. We both ended up out the front before he laughed and disappeared."
Kairi began to think deeply about all of this. Sora then told them how his stranger appeared just as he was about to head to the island and how all the stranger did was pointed to the island before he too disappeared. None of them knew what to do. It was a good sign that their keyblades will come to their aid when they were in trouble. Still this unknown enemy worried them. What was worse was they had no way of contacting King Mickey. Sora then came up with an interesting idea.
"We may need to stay together now, to ensure we don't get picked off one by one." He said.
"What do you suggest then? We stay at one house-?" Kairi asked.
"No. If we do that we put your families and the town in danger. The guy I fought against... it felt like he was going to just take out anyone who got in his way." Riku interrupted. The three thought hard on where they would be able to go that would lead for only them to be in harm's way; not realising that the answer was right in front of them.
"What if we stay here on the island? We could camp here. Just for a couple of days, just to make sure they won't come back for us." Kairi suggested. It was there only option. Riku and Sora considered any possible concerns in that plan. When they could not think of any they agreed. Sora had something else on his mind. Camping on an island with Kairi sounded quite romantic.
By the afternoon the three had been back home, told their parents what they were doing, grabbed the sleeping bags and supplies and met down at the docks, except one of them was missing. Sora and Kairi placed everything in a boat and realised Riku would not be able to fit.
"Should we just go without Riku and meet him on the island?" Kairi asked Sora.
"Just the two of us...?" Sora asked. He was a little flustered from being caught off guard by Kairi's question.
"You're right."
"No, no," was all Sora could say. He was becoming nervous now. Kairi just laughed. She had never seen Sora so nervous before.
"Well let's go then." Kairi said, changing the subject. They got in the boat with all their supplies and Sora; being a gentleman, rowed all the way to the island. None of them said much during the whole journey. All Sora could think about was how great Kairi looked dressed in a pale orange shirt, dark orange short skirt and white shoes. The two soon made it to the island as the sun was beginning to set along the horizon of the ocean. They both emptied all of their supplies out of the boat, making return trips between the boat and the seaside shack where they would be sleeping in. After having made about five trips back and forth the sun was completely gone and the only thing to light the clear sky was the full moon. Kairi lit a torch and placed in on the handle in the seaside shack so the two could see.
"I wonder what's taking Riku. He should be here by now." Kairi said. "Hey I have an idea."
To Sora's surprise she grabbed his hand and headed up the stairs, across the wooden bridge and over to the small island. There she sat on the branch of the tree and gestured for Sora to join her. The two sat there watching the evening stars together.
"It's beautiful isn't it? I came here each day while you were gone Sora. It is much better now that you're here." Kairi said to him. Sora heart began to beat faster. He felt that now was the time to tell her.
"Kairi...?"
"Yes Sora?"
"I... I've always wanted to tell you that you mean the world to me. I haven't gone a day without you being on my mind- In a good way."
Kairi began to wonder where Sora was going with this. Her heart was telling her she already knew what he was going to say. She let him finish.
"I have always... liked you, even loved you."
Kairi blushed a little from hearing him say this. Sora noticed it. There were a couple of seconds of silence before Kairi saw something in the distance.
"Look!"
Sora looked to where Kairi was pointing. Riku had finally arrived. Kairi jumped off the tree branch began to make her way to the docks. Before she left Sora though she kissed him on the cheek and whispered, "I feel the same way about you. We'll talk about this later tonight."
Sora's heart leaped with joy as he watched Kairi head back across the bridge. He followed soon after, not looking forward to having to carry more supplies and equipment to the seaside shack. On the other hand, he was looking for to later tonight. As he ran toward the island docks he saw Kairi hug Riku. He didn't mind. He had never seen her kiss Riku like she had with him, even if this was the first time she had done so.
"Hey Riku, what took you so long?" Sora asked when he was only metres from them.
"I live further away from the docks than you. I had to have Wakka help me carry everything down. At least you two can help me take all this to the seaside shack."
That is what they did. There was not as much to help Riku carry only causing the three of them to make about three trips there and back. Once that was done Riku went searching for a sticks to start a fire. Kairi and Sora on the other hand searched their bags for meat that they had brought along with them to cook. The two didn't say much to each other. Sora was beginning to feel a little awkward. He was not sure if he was just being silly. Kairi also grabbed a lighter out of her bag to help start the campfire. She left the seaside shack and headed over to Riku on the beach. Riku set up the sticks so they would burn easier. He noticed Kairi with the lighter.
"Thanks." He briefly said as he was handed the lighter.
"Come on... come on, light." He said to himself. Kairi sat down on the sand about metre from the sticks. Sora sat down next to her. Without warning she laid her on his right shoulder just as the campfire was lit.
"There." Riku said as he placed a couple more sticks to ensure the fire would not go out. He noticed Kairi resting on Sora.
"I wonder if this means that it has finally happened." He thought as he grabbed a frying pan and placed it on the fire. He got a pack meat that Kairi had brought out and placed it in the frying pan. Kairi looked up at Sora and said, "Promise me something Sora".
"Anything Kairi..."
"Promise me you will never change."
Sora blushed and smiled. I was reminded of the last time Kairi had said that to him when they were younger.
"I promise."
She closed her eyes and rested against him. Riku smiled as he looked at the two of the being so close. He knew this day would come. He could tell Sora felt awkward being in this situation with Kairi. It was cute though. He turned the meat over and then sat back. It would take a while for the rest of it to cook. After another few minutes he flipped the meat back over realising it was completely cooked.
"Dinner's ready." He said as he pulled the meat out of the frying pan. Kairi, who had her eyes closed the whole time opened them and got up from resting on Sora and grabbed three plates she had brought from home. Riku placed a slice of meat on each plate as Kairi handed them to him. The three ate quite slowly, watching the stars in the sky. Once Kairi had finished, she headed over to the seaside shack. Moments later she returned with her pink sleeping bag and placed it a few metres from the campfire. She then sat back down next to Sora and laid back on him. This time Sora did not feel as awkward. It soon got late. Riku headed back to the seaside shack, grabbed his red sleeping bag and set it down closer to the campfire than Kairi had. Sora was unable to move with Kairi still lying on him. He asked Riku to grab his sleeping bag for him.
"Sure Sora."
He then headed back to the seaside shack for a second time now and soon returned carrying Sora's grey sleeping bag. He placed it down on the opposite side of the campfire to where he placed his own. Kairi opened her eyes and saw that Riku was going to sleep. She watched him climb into his sleeping bag before she did the same. She kissed Sora on the cheek before climbing into her own sleeping bag and going to sleep. Sora sat at the campfire by himself. When Sora began to yawn, he decided to go to sleep himself.
Sora dreamt soundly. He had completely forgotten about what Kairi had said to him earlier that afternoon. He was deep in his sleep just as he heard a voice; Kairi's voice whispering his name. He opened his eyes and saw her staring at him. He almost yelled from the fright just as Kairi placed her left hand over his mouth.
"Come on." She whispered. Sora was not sure if he was still asleep. He drearily crawled out of the sleeping bag and got to his feet. He looked over and saw Riku still asleep.
"What about Riku?" Sora asked not at all aware of Kairi's intention.
"What?" Kairi replied. "I want to talk now, like I said earlier."
Sora then realised how stupid he was. Of course now he remembered. Kairi led him away from the campfire, past the seaside shack and into a cave that Sora had visited the previous day. They both entered the open area when Kairi turned to him. Sora waited for her to speak first.
"I feel the same way about you Sora. I have for a long time now."
Sora was so happy to hear her say this. "So where do we go from here?"
"I guess we're a couple now. Does that scare you?" Kairi asked Sora, seeming a little flirty.
"No not at all Kairi. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page and I could do this."
"Do w-"
She was interrupted as Sora walked up and embraced her in a passionate kiss. They made out for several seconds before they were interrupted.
"Sora, Kairi! Where are you!?"
The two stopped in their embrace and turned toward the entrance of the cave. Riku sounded as though he was in trouble. Sora and Kairi rushed back out of the cave to find that their fear was correct. Riku was near the campfire, wielding a keyblade while fending off against a stranger clouded in black armour.
"Help me!" Riku yelled to them once he caught sight of them. Sora and Kairi were about to come to Riku's aid, both summoning their own keyblades. They both stopped as they were confronted by two familiar individuals. A hooded stranger cloaked in complete black clothing and a young woman with blonde hair in a short ponytail, this time clad in a red hooded jumper and dark grey jeans.
"Move out of the way!" Sora yelled.
"We're your opponent's keyblade wielder and princess of heart." The hooded stranger said to them. Kairi froze. What did he call her? The woman took the open window and summoned a sword in her right hand.
"Thanks honey." She said. She then ran at Kairi and was about to strike her. Sora noticed that Kairi was still frozen from what the hooded stranger had said and jumped in the way, blocking the woman's sword with his own keyblade.
"That was surprising." The hooded stranger said somewhat sarcastically. Kairi came back to her senses and realised what was happening right then. The woman moved back to the stranger's side as he summoned a magic staff out of thin air that appeared in his right hand. Sora looked over at Riku just as the hooded stranger ran at Sora. Sora quickly looked as he was hit to the ground.
"Sora..!" Kairi yelled as she watched Sora fall. She went to attack the hooded stranger for what he had just done to Sora, but the woman protected him and struck back. Kairi could not do anything for Sora. Even worse the woman was pushing her further from him. Riku had problems of his own fighting the armoured stranger. Now that Kairi and Riku were out of the way the hooded stranger had Sora all to himself.
"I have been told you are a very strong keyblade wielder. Show me everything you have." The hooded stranger said to Sora. Sora looked up and tried his best to get back on his feet. He grabbed his keyblade and swung it at the stranger who got hit back.
"Very good, Sora is it?"
"Yes. I am the wielder of the keyblade and have brought peace to all the worlds against both the heartless and nobodies. What do you want with me?" Sora asked him. The stranger did not answer. Instead he held out his left hand and shot a blast of fire at Sora. Sora dodged it by rolling away. He then shot a fireball at the hooded stranger who just absorbed it.
"So much for fighting fire with fire," Sora said. "Perhaps ice!"
Sora held out his keyblade and blasted a shot of ice at the hooded stranger this time instead. The hooded stranger blocked it with his own fire.
"Well done. You do seem like a worthy op-"
The hooded stranger was interrupted as a light appeared to the north of the beach. Everyone stopped fighting one another. The woman and armoured stranger returned to the hooded stranger. They watched as Donald, Goofy and King Mickey ran over to Sora. Sora was in disbelief as he witnessed King Mickey standing right in front of him. King Mickey, Donald and Goofy all faced the three strangers, protecting Sora.
"Well I'm guessing the Calvary has finally arrived."
"Yes and we will protect our friends." Mickey replied. The hooded stranger removed his hood, revealing his human face and short parted blonde hair. Mickey, Donald and Goofy still stood their ground. The armoured stranger and woman's weapons disappeared.
"We meet at last King Mickey. Like Sora and his friends I have heard so much about you too. It seems unfair for us to know you but you not to know us. I am Lord T.E.O. This is Lady Sahra..." Lord T.E.O began, gesturing to the woman on his left. "... and this is the Black Knight." He finished, gesturing to the armoured stranger on his right. Lord T.E.O then continued.
"If you seem so kind now, why did you fight us?" Kairi asked.
Lord T.E.O smiled before he answered. He was so proud of her bravery and at the same time proud of what he was about to tell them.
"I wanted to see what you had; how good your skills truly are. But that is not what brought us here..."
Lord T.E.O looked from Kairi to King Mickey.
"We have come to tell you that there is darkness coming and one you cannot stop this time. We are too powerful."
Lord T.E.O, Lady Sahra and the Black Knight all vanished leaving the others to contemplate the information that had been revealed. Now that the danger was gone Mickey stopped guarding Sora Kairi ran up and kissed him on the lips.
"I'm so glad you're okay Sora." Kairi said as she hugged him. Riku joined the group. He was also pleased to see that everyone was fine after such a deadly situation.
"I knew you too had finally gotten together. Is that why I couldn't find either of you when those people attacked me?" Riku asked Sora and Kairi. The two blushed and felt guilty. Mickey grabbed everyone's attention.
"Sora, Riku, Kairi. You need to come with me. If there is another darkness coming we need your help once more."
Without warning Donald grabbed hold of Riku's hand, Goofy grabbed Kairi's and Mickey grabbed Sora's. The three disappeared from the island.