Riku's mouth dropped open. He knew it. He knew it. His head was spinning now. He read the letter again and again. Then, he looked at the window. You know what you have to do. He did. But he really didn't want to. He was now totally skittish and hyper. He sat on the bed and then hopped back up. He paced. He wrung his hands. Then, he grabbed the phone and punched in Sora's number. It took a few tries before he got it right.

Sora answered on the third ring, sounding tired and irratitated. "Sora, you need to get over here now," hissed Riku into the mouthpiece. "What? Why? Come on, Riku, my parents are sleeping," said Sora, in a whisper. "Just get over here. Sneak out, you do it all the time. I...I got a letter, from the King."

There was silence on the other line, until Sora grunted. "On my way," he said. Riku could only guess Sora was pulling on his shoes and opening the window. There was a click as Sora hung up. Riku tried to put the phone gently down on the cradle, but ended up slamming it. He ran downstairs to meet Sora at the door so they wouldn't wake his mother. Sora came running down the drive, throwing gravel everywhere. Riku slipped bewteen the door and the jamb, closing it quietly so the screen wouldn't slam.
Sora skidded to a stop as Riku stormed past him, handing off the note like a runner's baton. Sora turned to follow Riku and asked "Where are you going?" "The island." Sora ran to follow him.

On the island, Sora read the letter by monlight, even though it would probably help ruin his eyesight. "Whoa," he said, dropping the letter. It fluttered down and landed on the sand. "You know what we have to do, Sora," said Riku, quietly. He sounded agonized, like he'd been punched in the gut. Sora tapped his chin and thought. When Riku didn't hear an answer, he whirled. "We have to open the door, Sora. Again," he said, clenching his fists.

Sora shook his head. "No! If we do that, darkness will take over again! We'll lose the island. We have to think of another way," he yelled. Riku shook his head. Sora looked at him strangely, and he glared up at the sky.

"If we don't do it, Sora, we can't get to Twilight Town. Unless you have a gummi ship hidden in those poofy pants of yours, we have to. If not, one by one of thos stars will go out," ranted Riku. Sora shook his head again, agonizing what to do. "But," whined Sora. "We'll have to close the Door to Darkness again. I'll lose you... and it will start all over again. Don't you see?"

Riku sighed. "It's the only way. King Mickey told me I know what to do, and this is it. The only way." Sora sighed as well. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot. "Can Kairi come with us?" he asked. Riku looked skeptical. "I... I don't think that's a good idea."
Sora's jaw dropped. "But...when we open the door...she... she'll..." yelled Sora, unable to get the words out.

Riku moaned, reaching over to shake Sora's shoulders. "I hate this. I really, really hate this. It's your call, Sora. Either she stays or comes. If she stays, you know she'll return with the island. But if she comes with us... what if something happens to her? We could lose her forever."
Sora kept his arms crossed, standing his ground. "How long do I have to say goodbye?" "Take as long as you need. I'm not going to rush you," answered Riku. Sora dashed back to his boat. "I bringing her here," he called over his shoulder.

It felt right that they would all be together when it happened. He didn't want Kairi to be alone in her room when the storm started. He would make sure she was safe (well, as safe as she coud be) in the secret place. A comforting place, so they could be surrounded by memories as their home fell apart. Again. It was also nice to think she would be the last thing he saw before they were swept away to another world.

While Sora was off retrieving Kairi, Riku paced around the secret place. He stopped and looked at all the pictures they had drawn on the walls. It was so much different this time around. Riku started pacing again and then stopped and looked at the giant wooden door in front of him. It was going to be harder this time. He knew what he was getting into. And it was going to be so difficult to look at Kairi and open that door.
He heard rustling and looked over his shoulder. Kairi was pushing away some vines, and Sora was right behind her. Kairi looked as though she had been crying. "Are you ready to do this?" asked Riku to Sora. "Heck no," he answered. Riku took a deep breath and turned around. Kairi smiled sheepishly and held out her arms for a hug. Riku took advantage of the free hug.

When they seperated, Riku felt a little better. But not much. Kairi turned to Sora. "Do you have to go?" she asked. Sora nodded sadly. "Why?" she asked. Sora smiled gently. "I'm the Keyblade master. What else am
I supposed to do? It's my job."

He looked at Riku. "She's not coming," he told him "You were right. She is actually safer here." Riku wasn't sure how to feel about that. He turned back to the door. Sora turned to face the door as well, but Kairi ran to hug him from behind. Riku placed his hands on the door and closed his eyes.
Sora felt horrible when he felt Kairi's hands on his stomach, clenching two handfuls of his shirt. She buried her nose in his back and began to cry again. He felt like a totally bad monster. A giant heartless.... Heartless.

The door was glowing now, but it was a strange glow. Some how lacking light. It was disturbing. Sora grabbed Kairi's hands, holding tightly. She let go of his shirt and they intertwined their fingers. Sora turned around, situating his and Kairi's arms. For a moment, they looked as if they were dancing. Then, he dropped her hands and took her face into his hands, studying it. Trying to burn one last image into his mind.
Then, it happened. There was a strong gust of wind that pushed Sora into Kairi's arms. The door had been blasted open by some force on the other side. Riku yelled something to Sora, but he didn't hear it. He stepped backwards from Kairi and once again took her face into his hands. He could feel Riku tugging on the hood at his back, but he had to do this.

He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, but only briefly, then Riku hauled him backwards. Or, at least, he thought it was Riku. They both dissapeared into the darkness beyond the door. Kairi could do nothing but stand there. She set her jaw and clenched her fists at her side.
Tears welled up in her clear blue eyes. She blinked and they rolled down her round cheeks. Nothing to do now but wait for them to return. And watch as her island fell apart at her feet.
It was some comfort to replay Sora's kiss in her mind, over and over again. An endless loop, like a stuck CD.

Outside, it began to thunder.

It was May. It was summer.
And the Summer Seasons Celebration was three weeks away.

~

Sora loved summer. It was his favorite time of year. The ocean was the perfect temperature, and he loved the hot sand on his feet. He loved the waves and the ocean and the sky and the sun. And he also loved his friends. Here they all were on the beach, fresh out of school. Next year, Sora and Kairi would be juniors. Riku would be a senior. But, thankfully, thought Sora, selfishly. He's not going to go away to college so we still have another summer to hang out!

Sora sprawled out on the sand, deciding to take a nap. But just as he was dozing off, Kairi ran up. "Sora," she called, with a wave. Sora sat up. "Kairi," he said, smiling. "What's up?' Kairi grinned. "You know what's coming up in three weeks?"

"Sure," Sora said. "The Summer Seasons Dance. Why?" "Well, you're going, aren't you? Because Riku says he's not going and I don't want to be there alone," said Kairi. She looked at Sora expectantly. Sora laughed. "I shoulda figured. Riku's not really into the 'party scene." Kairi plopped down into the sand next to him.

"So, you're going?" asked Kairi, her voice heavy with implication. Sora looked at her and laughed again. "Yes, I am, but I don't see why it matters. You won't really be alone. Selphie's going, right? And Tidus and Wakka?"

Kairi blushed and there was a small awkward silence. "Oh, I get it," said Sora after a while. "Kairi, you wouldn't want to be my date to this thing, would you?" Kairi grinned, relieved. "Yes," she said. She grinned and hugged him and pecked him on the cheek. Then, she hopped up and ran off. Sora presumed it was so she could go call Selphie and the rest of her girlfriends. "See you later," she called over her shoulder. Sora gave a small wave and then let himself fall backwards. He closed his eyes and tucked his hands behind his head, letting the sun warm his face.

Then, he wrinkled his nose, annoyed. Somebody else was calling his name, now. He opened his eyes and turned his head and saw Riku walking up the beach, barefoot. Sora sat up and waved. He shook his head back and forth and sand snowed down. Riku walked up and sat down next to him, looking out onto the ocean. He looked thoughtful. Sora knew that look. "What's up?" he asked. Riku tilted his head and shrugged. "Nothing, I've just been thinking. Do you remember everything that happened last year?"
"Well, sure," said Sora. "I woke up after sleeping for a year. Then, me and Donald and Goofy had to track down Organization XII and stop them from taking over Kingdom Hearts. We found you before that, and I cried like a little girl. Then, we beat the crap out of Xemnas and came home through the Door to Light. Why, did you forget?"

"No, of course not," said Riku, with a chuckle. "But, yeah, the Door to Light. That's what I was thinking about. We locked the Door to Darkness, right?" "Well, yeah," said Sora, trying to find the point. Riku absently drew circles in the sand. "But," he said. "We didn't even close the Door to Light, did we? I wonder, is that okay?"

Sora thought for a moment, and watched the waves. "Well, I don't know," he finally admitted. "But, I'm sure it's fine. And if not, we can cross that bridge when we come to it. Don't worry about it. Instead, why don't you worry about who you're taking to the Summer Seasons Dance, huh?"

Riku smirked and looked away, slightly embarrased. Sora punched him lightly on the arms. "Come on, man! You know the tradition. Guys are offcially allowed--" "Yeah, I know," groaned Riku. Sora had given him this lecture three times this week alread. "Guys are offcially allowed to bring girls as dates to the Seasons Celebrations at age sixteen. I know, I know. You must be pretty excited. This is your first Celebration since your birthday."

"Too bad Kairi's not sixteen until July," pouted Sora. "Yeah, because Destiny Islands needs another student driver on the road, Mr. I-hit-another-palmetto-again," chuckled Riku. Sora pouted. "I still want to know why a palmetto was in the middle of the road." "Maybe you should be wondering why you were on the sidewalk and not the road. You can fly a gummi ship but you can't drive a car. Just give up, Sora."

"How about you give up trying to change the subject?" said Sora, trying to change the subject. Riku persevered. "So, you asked her?" "Yeah," said Sora. "So, yeah, I guess were going to the dance together. As dates. That's just so weird." Riku got up to leave, but not with out one more smart-aleck comment. "I'll be sure to lock up all the paupo fruit on the entire island."

Sora laughed bitterly and then said "She said you weren't going." He stood up and Riku shrugged. "I dunno," he sighed. "There's just too many people there. It's really uncomfortable." " You didn't ask anyone at all? Oh, come on Riku, you chicken-wuss," groaned Sora, shaking his friend's shoulder. Riku shrugeed him off. "I just haven't found anyone worth asking," he said, walking away. Sora sighed and shook his head, running after him.

That night, Riku was feeling a little stir crazy. So he decided to go to the island. Despite Sora telling him not to, he still worried. Had they left loose end? What was going to happen now anyway? Was this crazy world just going to let them live peacefully on the island for the rest of their lives?

He sighed, planting his hands on the dock and hauling him self up. He crouched for a moment. Then, he stood, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. He just wished someone could answer his questions. He looked out over the black ocean. The moon was full tonight and it reflected on the choppy water.
He'd only been home for a year, but already he sort of...missed...going on adventures, travelling to other worlds. Maybe he was always going to be like this. Maybe he would always feel closed in and claustraphobic.
A small breeze kicked up, blowing his silver hair off his shoulders. That's what got them into this whole mess in the first place. That dumb, insaitable curiosity. He wished he could stop, wished there was a cure for claustraphobia.

Riku shook his head, trying to think of something else. His thoughts turned to what Sora had said earlier that afternoon. Riku would've liked to bring some special girl to that Summer Seasons Dance. Riku smiled. Ah, the Seasons Dance. Seasons celebration actually, but the young people of the island called it a dance. The celebration was a island tradition, celebratiing the turn of the seasons, a new start. One each for summer, fall, winter and spring. Everyone on the islands turned up, young and old.

When a young man turned sixteen, he could ask the girl of his choice to be his date. It was sort of a big deal. And Riku still hadn't found anyone to ask to go with him on that special night.
Maybe, one day, when Riku got old enough, he would travel the world by himself, the right way. Maybe then he find the right girl for him.

He walked down the beach, holding his shoes in his hands, letting the waves wash up against his bare feet. He felt like swimming, so he shed his coat and shirt, folding them up neatly on the sand. Then, he waded out, relishing the feeling of pushing against the current.

He just started swimming. Back and forth, diving and surfacing. He did this several times, going down as far as he could and letting his hands touch the sand at the bottom. He surfaced once more, breaking through the dark shimmering water, gasping for breath. He treaded water for a moment and something bobbed against his chest. He blinked, salt water dripping from his lashes and burning his eyes. He grabbed the mystery object and examined it. It was a bottle. There was a piece of paper inside.
Was it meant for him? He didn't know, but he wanted to find out. There went his dumb, insatiable curiosity. He swam back to shore with the bottle. When he stumbled onto dry ground, he pulled the cork out of the bottle. He couldn't read it here in the moonlight, but he saw the King's Seal and knew it was for him. But he actually wasn't sure if he wanted to read it. But, he knew he needed too. He put on his shirt and jacket and shoes and dashed back to his little row boat.

He rowed back home and ran up the streets, back to his house. He entered quietly, trying not to wake his mother. He sped up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and into his room, pulling the bottle out of his jacket pocket as he ran. He pushed the door closed and unfurled the letter. He read it quickly.

Riku--
I need your help again. The Door to Light is open and the darkness from the other side is pouring in. I'm sorry to ask you this, but you must close the door and stop the darkness, again, Riku. Somebody can help you. I can' tell you much. A long time ago, I was honored to meet two scientists named Brixey and Jordana Kano. They were mutual friends of Ansem the Wise, and they studied the links between worlds. I was studying Ansem's work and found remnants of the Kanos' research. Like I said, I can't tell you much, but the Kanos had a daughter named Karen, who was very sick when she was young. Her parents put her life in Ansem's hands. She now lives in the Twilight Town computer. She is very important to the world, Riku. The only way to find the Door to Light is through her. You MUST find Karen. You know what to do Riku.
Don't be afraid of the darkness.
--