Dawn's Story---Chapter 11: Bed and Breakfast

Cara ran over and helped me up. We defended each other's back for the rest of the battle. When there were about three left they disappeared.

"They've found a weaker target. Probably someone without a weapon" said Jomei, almost reading my thoughts.

"What? We aren't worth they're trouble?" added Cara obviously still on an adrenaline high. She was swinging her shield at invisible enemies, smirking.

Jomei said, "We're to strong for them. They're not worth our trouble!"

He was smiling! I'd never actually seen him smile before. Apparently he liked to fight. But he liked to win even more.

Seeing him smile made me smile. Even though I knew nothing about him I felt like we'd been friends forever.

"Where to now?" I asked.

"Well we need to make some munny. Let's try to find jobs. I think that's a job listing board over there."

Cara and I followed him and picked jobs. I picked poster duty Cara chose mail delivery and Jomei chose street performer.

We all headed of to our job sites to find out what we had to do. I had to run as fast as I could to put up twenty posters. Cara had to skate all over the main street area and hand out mail as fast as she could. Jomei had to keep a ball in the air as long as he could.

I got 100 munny. Cara got 50. Jomei also got 50 munny.

"What can 200 munny get us?" Cara asked.

"Well not much. Probably a room for the night. So you guys can get changed. Oh, and buy the way, those enemies, those aren't heartless. They're called nobodies."

I gasped in recognition of the word. Cara looked my way and I smiled to make her forget the gasp. It worked.

I looked at Jomei thinking I should ask if we could talk later and he nodded. "Can he read my mind?" I wondered. His expression was unreadable. I laughed to myself, "Of course he can't."

We arrived at a Bed and Breakfast and were able to get two rooms. One for Jomei and one for Cara and me. Cara realized she forgot to bring any clothes.

"It's a good thing we're about the same size," I said digging into my duffel for something Cara would be willing to wear.

"Oh. You brought your family portrait. When was the last time you saw your brother?" she asked waiting for me to find some extra clothes.

"Nuru? I think it was last Christmas. My parents and him had a huge fight. Before he left he kissed me on the cheek and said he loved me. That's when I knew I probably wouldn't see him again. He never told anyone that before. Not even his girlfriend."

"Wow. That's harsh to have to see him go like that."

"Here," I said handing her a pair of black and blue cargo Capri's and a purple tank top with a silver crown emblem, "Wow this matches your shield!"

"Cool!" she exclaimed happily bouncing on the bed, "Thanks! I'm going to take a shower okay?"

I nodded and waited for her to go into the bathroom. Then I went out into the hallway and knocked on Jomei's door.

"It's open."

I turned the knob and walked in to his room. I found him relaxing barefooted on his bed.

Riku's Story---Chapter 12: Radiant Garden

I was suddenly back on our island. I saw Silver and Kairi. They were running down from the tree house with towels in hand. Silver was smiling and had a big lead on Kairi.

Suddenly she stopped. She had seen me. She waved and jumped down the steps that led to the beach. She ran up the dock motioning me to follow and jumped off into the water. I walked to the waters edge and she splashed me. I noticed she was wearing the necklace I had made her and I smiled.

Kairi jumped in soon after Silver splashed me. They nodded to each other and took off in another race. Silver had slowed down to let Kairi keep up. The race ended in a tie. After the race they sat in the sun and dried off. Kairi brushed the wet knots out of her shoulder length reddish brown hair. Silver braided her long silver hair.

How appropriate that her name was Silver. She loved her hair. It was like her prized possession.

They saw me watching them and waved again.

Sora lazily appeared from behind the small seaside shack with a yawn. He saw the girls drying off in the sun and seemed disappointed. Looks like he wanted to swim too.

That was Sora for you. Always a little late.

I walk over and sit next to all of them and watch the sunset with all my friends. I sat there with my eye closed, the sun warming my face, "Just like old times," I thought smiling and opening my eyes, "Only better. I finally feel like I belong here. I know what's out there and I know I belong here. With my friends." Silver leaned forward seeing my smile and smiled back.

Then I realized this was only another dream. I was slowly waking as Sora shouted, "We're here!" and leaped out the door.

Kairi eyed my face and looked sad. She didn't like seeing people sad. And I was really sad.

"M'okay," I said, trying to seem convincing. It didn't work.

"You sure?" she asked, full of concern.

"Yeah…"

"You know you can talk to me any time. About anything. Right?"

I smiled weakly and nodded. She was so nice. No wonder Sora liked her.

"Guys!" Sora screamed in an annoying tone, "Come on! I want you to meet some people!"

We hopped out and examined our surroundings.

Kairi gasped in amazement, "It's so beautiful!"

"Sora! Great to see you again!" exclaimed a girl wearing a back top and kaki shorts.

"Yuffie! Where's Leon? Why'd you summon us?"

"Well Cid was doing a scan of the area around Radiant Garden and saw your ship and thought you might be able to help Leon! He's probably off looking for Cloud. Hey, Who are your friends?" she asked looking over Sora's spiky hair.

"I'm Kairi," said Kairi shaking Yuffies hand.

"Riku. Nice to meet you," I said without enthusiasm.

"Come on! Lets go see Merlin and Cid!"

She practically dragged Kairi and Sora all the way to a small house. I followed quickly and silently.

She was still chatting our ears off by the time we stopped. They went into the house and I followed.

"Merlin! Cid! Sora and his friends are here!"

A blonde man sitting at a giant computer and an older man turned around.

"We'll I'll be if it isn't Sora!" said the man at the computer. He walked over and picked Sora up in a big bear hug. If I weren't so sad at the moment I would have died laughing at Sora's expression. He looked like he couldn't even breathe.

"Cid! Put him down!" Yuffie said sternly pointing at the ground, "What's come over you?"

The other man, who must have been Merlin, looked pleased and asked, "Sora, have you been practicing?"

Sora looked embarrassed, "Not really since I was able to get home," he said stuttering, "I, uh, didn't really think I'd, uh, need it."

"Practicing what?" inquired Kairi.

"Magic of course dear girl!" explained Merlin.

"Magic? Oh cool! Could you teach me?"

"Why of course! When shall we start? Uh, what's your name?"

"She's Kairi. And well, we can't stay. We're sort of looking for someone too."

Dawn's Story---Chapter 13: Free-Writing

 "Hey," he said quietly.

"Hey, uh, can you explain something for me?"

"I can try. What's up?" he asked sitting up.

Well, what is a nobody?"

"A nobody is what's left when a heartless is created out of a strong hearted person. An empty shell. Technically they're the heartless. They seek out the hearts they have lost," he said, perfectly serious.

"You seem, I don't know, nervous about something," I asked, cocking my head to the side.

"Its nothing. I'm just a little tired, that's all," he said smiling sleepily.

"Well… okay. I better get back to my room. See you later."

I walked out of his room and back into my room to see Cara walking out of the bathroom wearing the clothes I gave her.

"Hey! They fit perfectly. Thanks!" nearly jumping up and down.

"No problem Cara."

"What will you wear?" she asked.

"Well," I said holding up my black and blue faded jeans, tie on faded purple skirt, and blue and blue-gray t-shirt, "I think I will wear this. With my black fingerless gloves and wristband that matches my hair of course."

"Your necklace doesn't match your outfit. You should take it off and replace it with this one," she said holding up a blue and purple braided necklace.

"No I can't. This necklace means something to me. Someone special gave it to me," I said fondly fingering the star shaped stone.

"And you never told me?" she asked angrily, "Who? Who gave it to you? Was it Kenji? Oh you two would make a totally great coup-"

I cut her off, holding up my index finger and said, "I don't remember. I swear I don't remember," I was lying through my teeth. I knew very well who gave it to me. Riku. I just didn't feel like looking insane to my best friend. She wouldn't understand that I received that necklace from someone I had never met. I didn't even understand.

"All I remember is that we were really close and he had really sweet ocean blue eyes. I've had it as long as I can remember."

"Oh how romantic!" she giggled, "It's like that old saying, 'Love will find a way!'"

Love will find a way? I don't even know if I was in love. I guess I must have been or I wouldn't feel this strongly about someone I thought I had never met. Had I met this boy? If I had, why don't I remember anything other than what my dreams had shown me?

"Well, I am beat. Don't stay up to late okay? I'm guessing we'll be getting an early start."

"'Night Cara."

"Good night Dawn," she said yawning and lying down.

I found my notebook. I used it to record my dreams. My thoughts. And sometimes I used it for 'free-writing'. I opened it to the latter part of it.

When free-writing you just move your hand without thinking or looking at the paper. Thoughts and feelings you never knew you had are revealed. Most people find out little things. Like who they subconsciously love. That kind of stuff. I learned a lot more, even though I understood very little about it. One time I wrote, "When you awaken hidden memories… You may no longer be you."

Another time I wrote something longer, "When you awaken hidden memories… You may no longer be you," it didn't sound like me. And the weirdest thing of all is I have no memory of writing it.

Riku's Story---Chapter 14: Kairi's Choice

 "Oh! Right. Sorry Riku," said Kairi.

"Well, come back any time. Maybe Leon will be back with Cloud by then," Yuffie said disappointed.

"Yeah, where did Cloud go anyway?" asked Sora, concerned.

"We don't know," Yuffie said slowly, a first for her, "Ten to one says it has something to do with Sephiroth," she added fiercely.

Sora's face went from concerned to angry, "Well, if they don't come back, let us know and we might be able to come help."

"And if you need help, we are just a summon away. Oh, and Kairi? I am sure Sora could teach you some basic magic," added Merlin.

"Okay. Well, Sora? Do we need to stock up on anything?" asked Kairi.

"Probably. I bet we'll need some potions and elixirs."

"You have any munny hotshot?" asked Cid.

He patted his pockets and shook his head; "I gave what we had left to the King back on the islands."

"Well you'll be needin' some then won't you?" he asked taunting Sora with a bag of munny.

"Hey!" Sora yelled jumping for the bag, "Give it!"

I walked up behind Cid and grabbed the bag and threw it to Sora. I'm all for making Sora beg every now and then but this was not the time.

"Come on, let's get some supplies and go," I said, bored.

We walked out of the house and headed for the marketplace. We bought ten potions, five mega-ethers, and five elixirs.

"We all set?" Kairi asked.

"Yeah, where'd we park the ship?" I asked.

I heard a thud and turned around in time to see Sora hit the ground.

"Found it!" he said dizzily.

Kairi and I helped him into the ship and into the captain's chair.

"You going to be able to drive this thing?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't crash us into something.

"Yeah. I think so," he said with a grin.

Kairi and I looked at each other with the "we-are-going-to-die-aren't-we" look.

Surprisingly he took off smoothly and asked, "Where to Riku?"

"She told me to follow my heart. And my hearts tell me to trust Sora. After all, he knows the worlds better than I do. So, Sora, where to?"

"Well, how about Agrabah? Or Atlantica? Or maybe the Pride Lands? Or the Land of the Dragons?"

Sora and I looked at Kairi, "How about we let Kairi choose?" suggested Sora.

"Do you want to?" I ask her.

"Sure, why not? I have just as much of a chance picking the right world as you guys do." I nodded.

"Where should we go Kairi?" I asked, putting all my trust in her, "If we don't find her there, we can always try again in another world."

"Let's go…To the Land of the Dragons!"

Dawn's Story---Chapter 15: Reunion?

I finally went to sleep about three hours later only to be woken up by a gentle shaking.

"Dawn. We've got to go. Wake up!" said Jomei, wearing a black vest and blue jeans.

""What? Why?"

"They're still following us. And now I think Axel knows where we are."

"Why do you think that?"

"Look out the window."

I looked out the window like he told me to and almost gasped. I covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream. There were at least a thousand of the nobodies. Cara, who had already gotten ready, joined us by the window.

"Come on! We've got to get rid of them before someone gets hurt," Cara said with an evil glint in her eyes, "Let's get them!"

She rushed out the door, shield ready, and started attacking the creatures.

"She enjoys that a little to much."

Jomei and I ran out after her and split up, taking out the sea of white as we went. After we'd taken out most of the nobodies a few of them disappeared.

"Again?" Cara asked winded and disappointed.

Jomei nodded and silently put away the mysterious keyblade, "Again."

Cara and I did the same.

"Well, where to now Captain?" I asked saluting him in a mocking way.

"We could go to just about any world but we need supplies. How about we stop in Radiant Garden for them?" he said motioning me to get in first.

"Sure," I said climbing into our ship, "Why not? Especially if we need supplies?"

"What kind of supplies?" asked Cara following me into the ship and sitting next to me.

"Healing potions and elixirs mostly. They might also have different shields and weapons."

"Won't we need munny?" I asked.

"No. I have a stash for items like these. I only use it on weapons and reviver items."

"So you had money and you made us work for some anyway?" I asked with my hands on my hips.

"I told you, I only use it for supplies."

"Hold on," he said lifting off.

Before we knew it we were speeding through space. We passed another gummi ship going the opposite direction that looked a lot like ours. Cara fell asleep this time and I was drowsy but I wanted to see everything.

Soon enough after some amazing views we landed behind a wall.

"Cara. We're here," I said softly.

She woke up and ruffled her curly caramel blonde hair and yawned. I jumped out of the ship and followed Jomei up some stairs and then down some into the marketplace.

He handed me a small phone and said, "You can go look around, just don't get to far. I'll call you when we're ready to go okay?"

"Okay," I agreed, taking the phone and walking off towards the center of town.

After a while of looking around I found an area filled with broken old machines and pipes. I kept walking until I found a tunnel like area made of crystals. It was beautiful. I walked through it almost reluctant to leave it behind but my curiosity was getting the best of me. I continued until I saw a man standing on a cliff and looking out over the scenery in front of him.

He had silver hair. Like the boy from my dreams. Riku. I had to know if it was him. But how would I know? His eyes, I told myself, I would recognize them anywhere.

"Riku?"

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