RIKU

"One… two… three… go!"

I sprinted forward to get ahead of Sora. We were racing - again. I used to win all the time, but recently I'd been getting sloppy. But I was determined to win this time… and get back to Kairi in enough time to take a nap, eat a meal, and finish the raft we were building before he got back. Sora didn't stand a chance against me, not this time.

I began to climb up the ladder. This was where Sora broke off from me. He was taking the route I usually took. I don't know why I decided to use the zip line, but I guess I felt like a change.

When I reached the top I sprinted to the line so fast that I didn't even have the time to notice the person in front of me. I ran smack into her and we consequently ended up a heap rolling around on the sand.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said, standing. When I saw her face I forgot all about Sora and our race. I could always beat him later, but ladies always come first. Especially when they looked like her.

"No, my fault," I replied. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"That's okay, you seemed to be in a hurry."

I smiled a little. "Yeah, I was just racing my friend." I nodded in Sora's direction where I could see him touch the tree. "Looks like I lost." Sora still had to make it back to Kairi, but I didn't stand much of a chance anymore.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you loose."

I shrugged. "I don't care. I've never seen you around before. What's your name?"

"Jaelyn. What's yours?"

"I'm Riku."

"How long have you lived here?"

"All my life."

"Then maybe you can help me. I'm looking for my cousin, Sora. Do you know him?"

"Sora's your cousin?" I asked in surprise.

"Judging by your tone, you do know him?"

I pointed to the brown-haired guy that was not well on his way back to the starting point. "That's him, unless there's more than one Sora on the Destiny Islands. Does he look familiar?"

Jaelyn smiled a little. "I don't know, I've never seen him before."

"Then, this is your first time on the islands?" I asked. She nodded. "Do you want me to show you around sometime? Maybe after you talk to Sora?"

Her smile grew. "I'd love that."

I started down the ladder and motioned for her to follow me. She did. I have her a hand as she neared the bottom and I was thanked, and then we reached Kairi shortly after my opponent.

"Jaelyn, this is Sora and Kairi. Guys, this is Jaelyn."

"You got here fast," Sora said to Jaelyn. "Mom wasn't expecting you for another few days."

She nodded. "We left early because of some business the captain had, and we had to get here as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry, did I miss something?" Kairi asked.

"Jaelyn's my cousin," Sora explained. "She's going to stay with me and my mom for awhile."

"How long are you here?" I asked her. She hesitated.

"A while," she replied quietly, repeating Sora's words. I noted her tone and facial expression and decided not to press. I'd get it out of Sora later.

"Are you hungry?" Sora asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.

Jaelyn nodded. "A little." I had a suspicion that she only said that so that we could have something to do other than stand there.

"Okay. Let's go to my house and eat."

We walked to Sora's house in silence. When we got there, his mother was in a small room reading a book. She closed it when she heard us come in and smiled.

"You must be Jaelyn," she said. Jaelyn nodded.

"Yeah. Sorry I'm early."

"Oh, don't be. That's just a few more days we get to have you with us."

"She wants some food," Sora informed his mother.

"Oh," she said. "Riku, Kairi? Are you two hungry?"

Kairi shook her head. "No, but thank you."

"No thanks," I agreed.

"Okay. Jaelyn, why don't you come with me into the kitchen?" Sora's mom led her out and Kairi and I turned to Sora. He was instantly attacked with questions.

"How long is she staying?"

"Why is she here?"

"Why didn't you mention anything?"

Sora held up his hands. "Woah, slow down, guys. She's staying with us for the rest of her life. Her parents died."

Kairi looked at him with sympathy. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't feel bad for me, I never met them. Feel bad for her."

"How come you never said anything?" I repeated.

Sora shrugged. "I guess I never got around to it. But I haven't really known that long, anyway. And Riku, just so you know, if you touch her you die."

I laughed. Sora knows me all too well. "You think I'm afraid of you?"

"Of course. I never thought you were an idiot."

"We'll see who should be afraid of who!" I tried to get my arm around him for a headlock, but he stuck out his arms to stop me. We wrestled around for a minute, then his mom came back.

"Boys, if you're going to fight, do it outside."

Sora shoved me away from him. Normally I would have returned the same thing only twice as powerful, but I respected his mother. I don't know why, but I tend to behave better in front of my friends' parents as compared to my own. But I think Sora's the same way, because I doubt he would have shoved me like that in front of my own parents.

"Riku started it," Sora said through a teasing smile.

"I'd finish it, too, but I don't wanna get blood on your carpet," I shot back.

"Is that a threat?"

"Yeah, what're you gonna do about it?"

"Guys, let's go talk to Jaelyn," Kairi said, interrupting our talking. "She's alone in the kitchen."

"I wanna separate those two as much as I can," Sora replied. I grinned.

"In that case, I'll race you to the kitchen."

A/N: this is my first KH fic, so please tell me what you think so far!