Me: How 'bout it? Second story! Woot woot! :D

Ari: Yeah! Yeah!

Me: If you haven't found out yet, this is my partner and biffle, Ari! :)

Ari: Top of the mornin' to ya. :P

Me: Um~... You know it's night time and we're pulling an all-nighter?

Ari: You know it's two in the mornin'? Who feels stupid now?

Me: I do... :(

Ari: Anyways, this story revolves around SoKai! Yay! :DD

Me: Yeah, she's a huge fan of SoKai...

Ari: This, here, is our prologue. Well, part of it. Enjoy!

Me: Oh, and this story is a reflection of my feelings and experiences with dealing with losing loved ones. I know, I think my life is terrible. :(

Ocean Waves: Prologue Part 1

Never Forgotten You...

Kairi's POV:

It was a beautiful day like every other. The sand was as usual, soft and white. And so was the ocean, clean and the color of his eyes...

I wish he was here to sit with me and watch the sunset like we used to. My hand, with a mind of its own, clutched on the crown pendant around my neck, while the other held a forgotten, melting Sea-salt icecream. I wish you would come back, Sora...

I was so alone here...

"Riku! Riku! Look at what I found! Isn't it pretty?" I held the pink shell up to him so he could see.

"It's beautiful, Kai." He smiled at me, with his perfect white teeth. Momma said when I'm older, I'll get braces like Riku did, and then I'll have pretty teeth, too.

"I need one more shell, so I can make another Wayfinder like momma does!"

"Sis, I know your Wayfinders will be beautiful. The first one you made is. So if you keep at it, I bet you'll be as good as momma, too!"

"No I won't," I frowned. "No where near as good as momma makes 'em..." Momma was the best "Way-maker," as they called them, on Destiny Island. She always made Wayfinders for family and friends. She made one esspecially for me, her Naminé. I don't know why she calls me that, though.

"If you keep saying that Kai," Riku looked around as if someone might hear what he was gonna say. "If you keep saying that, the monster will come after you!"

"W-What?" I squeaked.

"You heard me," he said smiling."There's a monster that prowls the Islands and comes after little kids who are sad..." He stomped around, kicking up sand. That sounds like a really scary monster...

"What does the monster do to the little kids who are sad?" he gave me a sincere smile.

"Well the monster stomps up to you. Stomp... Stomp... Stomp..." he said with every stomp, coming closer. "And then he..."

"Then he what? Then he what!" I said biting my lip. Riku raised his hands up a little.

"Then he... TICKLES YOU!" he yelled, pouncing me and tickling my sides.

"No!" I shrieked. "Riku- S-Stop it- Ahahahahaha!" He roared as he kept tickling me.

"Then be happy!" He roared.

"Okay, okay! I'm happy." I giggled, smiling up at him.

"Good. Whenever you're sad, I'll tell the Tickle Monster to come after you." He chuckled.

I wish Riku was here. I needed a Tickle Monster...

Me and Riku sat at our favorite tree, watching the ocean.

"Hey Naminé." He calls me that, too, but only when he wants to say something serious and important, or when he says "I love you, sis."

"Yeah, Riku?"

"Have you ever wished you were in a different world? I mean, ever wonder what's out there?"

"Well, no. It doesn't really matter where I am or where I go. As long as you and Momma are with me." He smiled.

"I just wish to see another world other than this one. It would be really nice to see one once in my whole life."

If only you did. I bet you would've been really happy before you left...

"Riku! What is that?" I pointed at what looked like a shooting star. It collided with the ocean with a huge splash.

"That's a Gummi ship. Only the really rich people are able to afford one. It brings people to new worlds. That's why I'm getting one when I'm older!"

"Really? Can I come with you?"

"Heck, you and Momma can come!"

"Promise?"

"Promise." The ship popped out of the water and started to swim towards the shore. It crawled on the sand, to the dry ground.

"Woah~... Riku! Isn't it cool!"

"Yeah. Heh, it sure is, sis." The ship opened up on its side. Then three people stepped outside of it. There was a man and a woman in a business suit. Then I saw a boy in a white shirt with blue outlining on the neck line and at the edges of his short sleeves, red shorts, and a pair of sandals. He had spiky brown hair. But what I noticed, just barely, was that he had a crown hanging from a chain around his neck. The man went down on one knee and ruffled the litte boy's hair.

"See? What did I tell you? This whole Island is your playground! When your mother and I are at work, you can play with the other kids."

"Oh, please, Leon! I am not letting my little boy play with the poor commoners here. He needs to be around our own people, or he'll never be the charming, sophisticated aristocrat that will be the heir of our fine establishment!"

"Nonsense. He will need the socializing skills to be the man you dream of him to be! Now, go play, Sora. Your mother and I need to go." The boy nodded

"Good-bye, Sora!" Said the woman as they boarded the ship and flew to the other side of the Island.

I jumped off the tree and started to run towards the boy. "Hey!" I yelled.

"Kairi! Get back here!" Riku yelled after me. I turned around and stuck out my tongue. I turned back and called after the boy again. He turned around, eyes wide as dinner plates.

"Hi there! I'm Kairi," I said pointing at myself. "What's your name?" I held out a hand towards him.

"M-My name's Sora." he looked at my hand.

"Your supposed to shake it, silly!" I giggled.

"Um..."

"Here, lemme help." I took is hand and shook it.

"It's nice to meet you, Sora!" I smiled. He smiled back. His eyes were really blue. Like the ocean. I like the ocean.

"Nice to meet you, too. Kairi..."

"Hey!" We both turned around to see Riku running up to us. "Why did you run away, Kai! I wanted to meet him, too, y'know." I giggled.

"This is Sora." I said, pointing at Sora. "Sora, this is Riku, my big brother."

"Hey... Woah~, you're really tall!" He said. "How old are you?" Riku chuckled.

"I'm twelve."

"Wow! I can't wait 'til I'm twelve! I'll be as tall as you are! But... I'm only seven..."

"Don't worry, Sora. I'm seven, too!" He smiled at me again. His teeth were perfect like Riku's.

"So where are you from, Sora?" Riku asked.

"I'm from Twilight Town. What's this place called?"

"Destiny Island! I chirped. He smiled.

"I won't forget this place. Not ever." Just then, Riku's watch started to beep.

"Oh, look, it's that time already. Kai, I need to go over Tidus ad Waka's house for blitzball practice, okay?"

"Okay, Riku."

"Be good and don't get into any trouble!" He started to walk away, but he stopped and turned around. "Oh, and Naminé."

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too! See you later, at dinner-time!" I said waving.

"Hey, Kairi." I turned around.

"Why did your brother call you Naminé instead of your name?"

"I really don't know, but I like the name. Sometimes, I wish my name was Naminé, so that everyone would call me that."

"But I like Kairi. It's a pretty name... And why don't you guys say good-bye?"

"Momma, Riku, and I don't like that word. We say 'See you later' or 'I love you' instead because we know that we will always come back to each other and be one, big happy family again!"

"Oh... I wish I had a big happy family..."

"Hey, Sora?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll be your family!" His eyes went wide.

"Really? You mean that?"

"Of course I do, silly! When your momma and poppa are away, you won't need to be sad because I'll be there for you." Then he sniffled and suddenly hugged me.

"T-Thank you K-Kairi!" He was crying.

"Oh and if you're sad, I'll get my brother to tell the Tickle Monster to come after you! Grrr-Roar! Ahahaha!"

"W-What? No!" I giggled.

"I'm just kidding, silly!"

"Oh. Phew. So what do you wanna play?"

"How 'bout hide-n'-seek?"

"Okay!" I had a lot of fun with Sora. He was great at hide-n'-seek. He found me every time and he had great hiding spots.

We sat down on the sand, near the water, and watched the sunset together.

"Wow, that sure is pretty..." Sora sighed. The waves washed up, kissed our feet, and moved back down. The next wave brought something to the sand. If Riku didn't tell me that was a Gummi ship, I would've thought that was the shooting star that fell into the water. But I already know that it was the fruit that Way-makers called the "Fruit of Destiny." Momma always told me about these fruits. She called it the Paopu fruit. She told me that whoever shared the fruit would have their fates intertwined and they would be together forever. I love that legend. It sounds so romantic...

"Look! A fruit! I sure am hungry..." Just then, his stomach growled and we both laughed. He took the fruit and bit it. His eyes went wide again.

"Woah! This fruit tastes really good! Try it Kairi! Here," he said holding the half-bitten fruit in front of me.

"Um~... Are you sure, Sora? They say that if someone shares that with another someone, they'll be together forever." I said. My face felt warm. Must've been the heat.

"That's great! We will never be apart and we'll be family no matter what!" he said shoving the fruit in my hands. I looked at the fruit, then at Sora, who looked so excited, and then I looked back at the fruit.

"Alright. We'll be together, even though were away from each other. When I go away, I still be with you until my body comes back. Together..." I ate th other half of the fruit. It was good. It was sweet.

"No matter what. Promise?"

"Promise." I said, smiling. He took my hand and held it. Then his eyes sparkled in a way that made my stomach feel fluttery.

"Hey, Kairi, have you ever tried Sea salt icecream?" I frowned.

"Actually, no... Momma can't afford it."

"Oh, well if you happen to try it, tell me. They say the first one you have tastes weird, but you'll love it. I forgot how my first one tasted like..."

The sky started getting dark and I knew it was time for me to go.

"Hey, Sora, I have to get go-"

"Sora? Sora!... SORA! What are you doing?" The woman from the Gummi ship came up to us. "What are you doing with this... this... this commoner?" She spat.

"She's my friend, mother." He looked at me then at his mother with narrow eyes. "She's my family." I could feel my heart swell up with happiness. That's what I would call it, if I knew what this feeling was.

"FAMILY? Look at her. She's a filthy, poor Island girl. You call that your family?" She yelled, emphasizing "that" by pointing at me with disgust. I started to cry.

"You're a mean lady!" I sobbed. Sora hugged me.

"I'll make the mean lady go away, Kai. Don't worry."

"Yes, I will go away, and I'm taking you with me, Sora Salem Strife!" She said grabbing Sora by the arm.

"Hey, that's not fair, you big meanie! Let him go!" I called after the devil woman.

"Hmph. For you, life's not fair."

Who knew she was right? God knew from the beginning, but never had the cold heart to tell me...

"Sora! Sora!" I cried after him, watching the two figures disappear. I curled up on the floor, not wanting to get up. It seemed like forever since Sora was taken away by the bad woman.

"Naminé? Naminé? Naminé, where are you?" I heard the voice, but I didn't want to get up an follow it.

"There you are, Naminé. You had me and your brother worried. Dinner started a while ago." I finally looked up to see my mother, Aqua. Her momma named her Aqua because of the color of her hair and her eyes. The greatest Way-maker on the Island.

"Sorry for scaring you, Momma." I held my arms out to her, and she picked me up and hugged me tightly.

"It's alright. Just don't do it again, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now are you hungry? Because I made Ceviche."

"Mmmm, my favorite!" I giggled. She made the best, spiciest Ceviche on the Island. Everyone wanted her recipe.

"And you can have Sea-salt icecream afterwards."

"Sea-salt? You bought Sea-salt icecream?" I said, surprised.

"Oh~ yes, I did! I got a raise in my paycheck." Momma worked for a business comany called Strife&Strife Co. She sells the Wayfinders in the Island market for extra money.

"Wow! Now I can tell Sora how my first Sea-salt tastes like!" Momma laughed.

"Who's Sora, Naminé?"

"He's my best friend! We shared a Paopu fruit together!" Momma gasped.

"You did? How's this 'Sora' like?" Momma looked really serious.

"He's kind and sweet and brave and fun and he protected me from the bad woman!"

"Bad woman?"

"Yes, his momma. She was mean and called me dirty and he protected me from her."

"What else did she say?"

"She called Sora by his full name. It sounds funny." I giggled. Momma just seemed more nervous as we walked to our home.

"Really? What's his full name?"

"Sora Salem Strife!" I gushed, giggling madly, but I stopped. Momma looked like she saw a ghost.

"Momma? Momma, what's wrong?" I pulled lightly on her hair. It was softer than the sand in the beaches of the Island. She shook her head.

"Nothing is wrong, my sweet Naminé. Just don't go anywhere near the bad woman, okay?"

"Okay, Momma." We made it to the house, and Riku burst through the door.

"Did you find Kairi? Is she alright?" Riku rushed to us before finding out that Momma did find me.

"Yes. Now, stop making such a fuss."

"Naminé, you scared me half-to death. Don't do that ever again, okay?"

"I'm sorry for making you worry. And I won't. Promise." Riku let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Good. Now let's go eat!" Riku reminded me so much of Poppa.

"What? You didn't eat, yet? I mean, you waited for me?" Riku smiled.

"Of course! Why wouldn't we? We're family. We need to stay together, and definitely eat like one!" I laughed. Riku took me from Momma and put me on his back.

"Come on, come aboard the Gummi ship, S.S. Riku! To the dinner table! Here we go! Veerooom!" We started to "fly" around the front yard, kicking up sand everywhere. I squealed and shrieked with pure delight as we flew into the house, with Momma following closely behind, smiling. I remember when Poppa used to give Riku and me piggy-back rides around the beach. I just loved family moments like this. It made me feel really happy.

I just wish it wasn't my last...

I finished my Ceviche. It was really good. Well, it was Momma's cooking after all. Momma went to put the used dishes in the sink and get the icecream as I heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it!" I ran to the door and opened it.

"Sora!" I yelled as I jumped him, hugging his neck.

"H-Hey K-K-Kairi." Sora said softly, like he was at a bookplace. I always loved the bookplace. It had so many books to read and I liked how quiet it was. When I'm older, I won't need Momma to read me stories. I'll read all the books in the world!

"I missed you so, so, so, so much, Sora!" He smiled.

"I missed you more."

"Nuh-uh! I missed you way more!" I said.

"Look who decided to drop by. How's it been, Sora?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to see Kairi." He smiled at me again, but this time his smile made my stomach fluttery.

"Sora, dear, why don't you join us for dessert? We're having icecream." Momma said from the kitchen.

"Oh yes, Sora! Please? Momma did a good job at her work and got more money and she bought Sea-salt icecream! Join us, please?" I begged.

"Sure. Why not?" Yay!

"Come on, Sora!" I grabbed his hand and led him into the small dinning room. "Here, sit next to me!" We sat down at the table and Momma came in with the popsicles. When Momma gave me the Sea-salt, I didn't feel like opening it... yet.

"Momma. Can me and Sora eat our icecream outside?" Momma smiled.

"Of course! Just be safe, okay?"

"Okay, Momma. Come on, Sora! We're going outside!" I took his hand again and ran outside with my Sea-salt in the other. I took us to the spot where we sat to watch the sunset and we ate our icecream. The icecream tasted funny. It was salty, but sweet.

"See? I told you it would taste weird!" He laughed, but he looked sad.

"Sora, why do you look sad?" He turned to look at the moon swimming in the ocean.

"My mother's mad at me. She's sending me to live with my Uncle Cloud and Auntie Aerith in Hollow Bastion. It's very far away, and she said that I will never see you ever again."

"What? Why! She can't do that! That's not fair!" My heart started to hurt.

"Well, she's my mother. She can do anything." Somewhere, you can smell a fire. I guess it's another bonfire.

"How long will you be away?" I could feel the tears in my eyes.

"I don't know. A very long time, I guess. But when I'm older, I'll do everything I can to come back to this place and see you again."

"Promise?" He smiled and took off the chain with the crown on it that was around his neck.

"I promise you, Kairi. And as long as I'm away, I want you to hold this until I come back." He said, puting the chain in my hand. I could feel more tears. I put my hand in my pocket and took out the first Wayfinder I made. The one that my Momma made for me was in the other pocket.

"Then you'll have to hold onto this until you come back, too." I put the charm in his hand. "This is called a Wayfinder. They're Oath-keepers that make you find your way back to the Island. My Momma makes them and gives them to friends and family, but now she sells them in the market."

"I'll never let go of it."

"See you again."

"So until that day comes..."

"I'll be here, waiting for you to come back." Sora smiled. This time, it was a real happy smile.

"I'll be looking forward to that day."

"Sora? Sora? Sora! Sora, are you there?" He looked scared for a second, then he looked at me.

"It's my mother and father. They found out I ran away. Remember to wait for me, okay?"

"Okay, Sora." I said, crying again.

"Don't cry. You make me sad when you cry. Promise you won't cry for me?"

"P-P-Promise." He kissed me on the cheek.

"I'll come back for you. See you again, Kairi." The bad woman grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him away. His poppa stayed.

"S-See you again, too! Sora, I'll never forget you!" Sora's poppa walked up to me and went down on one knee like he did to Sora. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"What's your name?" He looked at me with ocean blue eyes. I guess that's where Sora got his eyes.

"K-Kairi." He gave me a perfect smile, too.

"Kairi, my name is Leon. I'm Sora's father. But you can call me Squall. I just wanted to say thank you, for befriending my son. You are the first friend he's ever had. He was so happy when he told me about you, but he was also sad when his mother brought him back. He never stopped talking about his best friend. To see that he actually found happiness in the happiness of others made me so happy, too. That's the whole reason I thought about my business dream at such a young age. And his mother wasn't always like this. She only lost the sight of the bigger picture, that's all."

"What's your business called?"

"Strife&Strife Co." I gasped.

"That's where Momma works!" Squall raised an eyebrow.

"Really? And what's your mother's name, Kairi?"

"Aqua Rodelle." He smiled at me again.

"Kairi, you're a very kind girl. And kind girls should deserve what they want. So if you ever need anything, give me a call." He took a card out of his pocket that had his name and number.

"Does that mean if I call you, I can talk to Sora? I said hopefully. He frowned.

"Unfortunately, no. His mother will find out and she'll cut our communication line."

"Com-Commu-Communitization?" He laughed.

"Which means I can't talk to you anymore."

"Oh. Okay."

"Now, tomorrow, I'm going to give your mother a better job, so that she can give you a better way of life. That means bills payed on time, more food in the fridge, and all the toys you can ask for." My eyes went wide.

"Wow! But what about my brother, Riku? He's on the blitzball team in his school."

"Really? Well, I bet you he'll be an MVP on Destiny Island's Blitzball team and be very famous."

"He always wanted to be one! And he said he would buy a Gummi ship and take me and Momma to new worlds someday! He pomised me."

"And he'll keep that promise, okay?"

"Okay!" I can't wait to tell Momma and Riku!

"I have to go. And remember, I'm one phone call away."

"I will! See you later, Squall!" He smiled.

"Yeah, I'll see you later, Kairi."

I was on my way home. The burning smell from earlier was stronger. I heard screaming an yelling around the community I lived in. Then, I saw it. A huge fire was where my house should've been.

"We need more water!" A man yelled. "More water!"

"We cannot waste more time! The house will be gone!" A woman shrieked. A man in a big yellow suit came running out with things from my house.

"That's all I could find that wasn't burned, yet," he yelled to another man in a big yellow suit, coughing.

"And where's Randal?" said the other man. Just then, a second man came from the burning house.

"Sir! Sir! There are two people trapped in the house. I can't get them out!" the guy who must've been Randal coughed.

"Who is it?" the leader barked.

"A boy and a woman." he panted. "Part of the ceiling collapsed and fell on them. They can't get out!" I can't believe I was hearing this. All of it.

"Were they able to speak to you?" said the first man.

"Yes... They told me to find a little girl with red hair and blue eyes, by the name of Naminé. They told me to tell her something, but I got Denzel to write it all down." Randal said. Randal looked at me. His eyes widened.

"Is your name Naminé?"

"Yes..." I lied. I felt the tears come back. "Momma and Riku are in there, aren't they?" I said, pointing to the fire. My voice was shaky.

"They are, but we're doing everything we can to get them out." Randal said. "Stephen, take the girl away from here. I'm gong back in there."

"But Randal, it's impossible! This house is gonna go under any minute now!" Stephen said.

"I'm going back in there, and there's nothing you can say to stop me. Oh, and Naminé?" Randal looked at me. "Your mother told me to tell you something, but my friend Stephen here will give you the note, okay?"

"O-Okay." Randal turned around and ran back inside.

My house exploded into more flames. More people yelled and screamed, and Stephen took me away, far away from the house.

The tears welled up in my eyes as I replayed the events in my head. That was the last time I ever saw Randal. Most importantly, that was the last time I ever saw Momma, Riku, ... and Sora. Ten years had gone by, and I still find it hard to believe that Momma and Riku are actually gone. I felt something hit the back of my head. It was a small rock. I turned around to see two guys laughing.

"Aw~, you made the freak cry, James," the guy with the brown hair and green eyes sneered.

"She's a freak, Justin. She doesn't have feelings," James said, blond hair swaying from his laughter. He threw another small rock at me.

"See you tomorrow at school, freak!" Justin yelled, laughing. Ever since eighth grade, the kids I grew up with tortured me. I picked up the book that I started reading since yesterday: An Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice; and tossed the completely melted popsicle away iin a nearby trash can.

I lost everyone and everything I loved that day ten years ago... Except for Sora. And my Momma's Wayfinders, which were the only things that survived the fire.

Ari: I think I'm gonna cry! :'(

Me: Yeah... The only reason it turned out this way was the "Sad Piano" videos that I listen to on YouTube. They're really sad but beautiful songs from Justice21413432. Justice, you have fine taste in music. I appreciate how the music you choose gives me such inspiration to write this story with Ari. Thank you. :)

Ari: Poor Kairi. She usually the all "Sunshines & Rainbows!" kind-of girl in many of the fanfics on this site, including Twilight's Sun.

Me: Hey, you're right. That's weird. It's like Kairi and Naminé mind-swapped, or something.

Ari: I know right? Oh and if you feel like you need to know why our Kairi is called Naminé, wait until the later chapters!

Me: I literally cried when I re-read this prologue, with the combination of Justice's Sad Piano music. Really sad. To prove it to you, Imma put a sad, teary smiley. :'(

Ari: All the proof you need there, ladies and gents.

Me: Review pleez!

Me/Ari: Bye! ;D