AN: I've had this story typed out for a while and uploaded bits of it on dA and finally now that I've started working on it again I feel I should post it here on .

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or its characters. I am profiting nothing. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. Songs and people are mentioned through out the fic, I am not profiting from that either. Feel free to express your honest opinions but please log in if you have an account. I don't report people nor do I argue. I do however like to get back with my reviewers and thank them for their reviews good or bad. And please keep in mind, I DID write this back in '09 so the style is a little different from my newer stuff.

And now on with the story~


Hello Sora,

So many wild things have happened these past few years. I want to tell you everything. But the truth is, I don't know if you'll be able to read this. I don't even know if you're alive. Still a part of me wants to believe that I can save you. To save you, so I can tell you my incredible journey.

I've grown and I keep growing. I stay in that room sometimes just hoping I'd see your name. Even though I know I won't. For the life of me I just can't let you go. I remember all the things and all the words you said to me. They made me stronger and made me into a better person. You remember, right? All the encouragements you said to me? The emotions we shared? That day I met you? Yeah, it all started there. That awesome adventure that you shared with me. It changed me, and for that I wanted to thank you. You saved me, so now I want to save you. Let's meet in the future soon okay? At that one spot we agreed on. Meet me there, you promised so no backing out! Please remember our promise, Sora. It's all I'm hanging onto. So wait for me? I'll be there soon.

With love, -

December 15, 1999

Hayner woke out of bed with a jolt as his alarm screeched out. With a groan he flopped himself back onto the mattress and pressed his pillow over his face. It was just too early.

"Hurry wake up, its 7:30, school starts in 30 minutes!" His mother shouted against his door then went off to finish breakfast. Brown eyes became visible slowly as he dragged the pillow down his front. Hayner stared at his ceiling. Yes, 7:30 was much too early. As much as he hated to do it, he slid out of bed and padded to the bathroom to ensue his mourning routine. By the time he was dressed, his father had already eaten his breakfast, kissed his wife goodbye and trotted out the door. "10 minutes and counting." His mother warned, flipping over a couple of pancakes.

"Yeah yeah and then its th'end of the world." Hayner yawned and pulled out a chair for himself. She turned and frowned at him. Don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact, don't- And without looking away from her son, she placed his pancakes, egg and bacon all in the right spots and sat it on the table. The frown hardened. "Geez mom, and here I thought dad was th'lawyer. Sure you don't wanna work with him? 'Think you two could double team a convict into sellin' what's left of his estate."

"Very funny, Hayner. I'm not kidding. If you don't hurry up I won't take you to school. Then you can walk. Just like the other kids. I can't believe I spoiled you." Hayner's jaw slackened and dropped a little.

"Uh walk? Thanks a lot mom, glad you enjoy endulgin' me in obeyin' my every whim. And spoiled? I don't think so. Th'only reason I ask you to drive me is 'cause those guys on the streets might jump me."

"Only because you start fights!" She countered, but he countered right back.

"They pick 'em! At leas' I'm tryin' to avoid it!"

"For goodness sake Hayner, talk right!"

"Okay!" Hayner stuffed a bite of pancake into his mouth and munched before he said anything else he regretted. His mother just sighed and shook her head, like her son was beyond help, then returned to her morning chores. Only 5 more minutes left. With a quick gulp of juice, fist to the chest to make it go down, backpack strewn over the shoulder and hair brushed back, Hayner was ready to take on the world. Or 10th grade.

With a loud groan, Hayner slid into his seat just in time as the last bell rang clear in the hallways. Saved by the skin of his teeth. That did it though, another day perfected timed. That's how Hayner always arrived, hurried and either slightly pissed or slightly tired. This victory called for a small snooze, he grinned to himself as he rested his head over his crossed arms.

"Wow man, I think that's a new record. One second before the bell." He looked up in front of him to see his friends grinning at him. "Sleepy still huh?"

"C'mon Pence, don't bone me for time today. Mom was yellin' at me." A small pout tugged at his lips as he rested his chin down but kept his eyes on the other male and the young girl. Olette frowned though and shook a finger at Hayner.

"That's bad Hayner, you're lucky the teacher isn't in yet. Just what would you do if you were late?"

"Well mom, I guess I'd apologize and accept detention as m'punishment." Pence grinned wider, turning to see Olette's reaction.

"That's not funny, you really need to think about school more often. Your future's at stake." Hayner never was one for school. The way he saw it, it was just a place to get away from home for the day. He hardly ever done his homework for himself. Either Pence or Olette covered for him, let him cheat off of them for tests and sometimes even wrote essays for him. It wasn't that he was stupid. No they found Hayner to be quite smart for the average person. Alas, he refused to apply himself. Lack of motivation held him back. Hayner just didn't have the spark to set goals.

"What future? I'll just be a salesclerk at some store, there's m'pay."

"Come on man, you know that's not what you really want to do." Well, Pence was right about that. Hayner had to admit that. He straightened up as he saw the teacher come in and right away class for the morning had begun. He found himself daydreaming about just the right job for him. His friends were looking at the bigger picture while he himself barely looked beyond the end of the week. Just being a salesclerk wouldn't be enough. He secretly wanted so much more. Where would he find the desire though? That small occasional push he got once in a while? It'd sure be nice to have that push more than just occasionally. His family and friends were great and all, but they just weren't enough to inspire him. Finally, the school day came to a close.

He didn't want to go home all too soon. Instead he trekked to the elementary playground and sat on a swing pondering his life. He knew it was going nowhere. And he didn't want to do a thing about it. From the swing he saw people pass on the street, a few cars going to their destinations, a few dogs barked, he loved his town. This small town. It was all he ever knew. And from this, more thoughts spawned until well up to 2 hours passed as he thought idly.

Black birds crooned over the sunset behind Hayner as he walked up the street to his house. Even before he reached his driveway, he could smell the dinner his mother was making. He knew his father wouldn't be home until later, all these things made him secure. It was normal, and it was just the way he liked it.

"I'm home." Hayner copied his father, kicking off his shoes at the foot of the door and setting his bookbag on the floor next to the closet.

"Well about time, I thought you were left for dead in a ditch somewhere." His mother poked her head around the corner to see if in fact it was her son standing in the dining room.

"No, I'm right here." He sighed and sat down, slumping on the table.

"Hayner you know better, go wash up. It's almost ready."

"Sure." Hayner drowsily stumbled out of his chair and followed his mother's wishes, heading into the bathroom to wash his hands and face. Maybe it'd make him feel more alive. Returning back to his spot at the table, his mother was just setting out the food in their respectful places.

"What's wrong, honey?" She asked, going back around the corner to the kitchen to fetch the main dish.

"Nothin', just tired." As she finished putting everything on the table, her husband came in with his hair disarry, tie crooked, papers poking out of his briefcase, and his harried 'I'm home'. Yes he came home like this every evening. "Hi dad." Hayner slowly grabbed a plate.

"Hi sport. Hello dear." He smiled and added a kiss for his wife. "What's for dinner?"

"Well look! You aren't blind!" She laughed and returned the favor. "Now go wash up, the roast is getting cold." Hayner had already had his plate piled when his father came back fresh and clean. Over dinner they conversed about their day. That is, Hayner's mother and father did. Their son remained quiet. "Hayner? You're awfully quiet today. Something wrong?"

"No, just tired." He sighed and pushed around his potatoes with his fork. "Can I go to my room now?"

"Sure." She frowned and watched him leave the table. Something seemed out of character about him. "So, anyway dear, about this trial?"

"Oh yes, a big break through. He's going to crack soon, I can feel it."

Meanwhile Hayner sat himself at his computer desk and stared at the desktop. Maybe he could play his game and earn some more experience. Or talk to Pence. Yeah right, talking to either of his friends right now would be disastrous. It'd send him spiralling into an even deeper funk. He didn't even know how he'd face them tomorrow.

"Honey?" His mother's voice came through the door. "I was just wanting to check up on you. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"Yeah mom, I'm fine." He reassured her hesitantly, getting up to the door to open it for her.

"Are you really? If you're upset about what I said this morning-"

"No seriously mom, its okay. I'm just," He paused to think of a good way to put his words in a sentence. "trying to get my life on track." His mother smiled and cupped his face in her hands and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. He gave her a small smile nonetheless. "So stop worrying, okay?"

"Alright, if you say you're okay." She turned to leave then turned back around with a small look of surprise. "Oh, I almost forgot. Your father wanted to ask you what you wanted for Christmas. It's coming up pretty fast."

"Oh, that, well..." He sighed and leaned on the door frame. "Tell him I want another friend. Two isn't enough." She laughed and walked off shaking her head, talking about boys and how goofy they were. He told her the truth at least. It couldn't hurt to have a friend, one that he could tell secrets to, one that didn't question his way of life or criticized him. Oh well, maybe a quick game on the computer before bed. Just then he heard something so big, even though it was far off. The sound of thunder. "Aw man." Hayner groaned. "There goes the game idea...though, it might take it a while to get here. Just a quick game and I'll shut down."

He logged onto his file and began immediately emmersed himself into the game. He didn't even realize he'd been playing that long until lightning flashed outside his window, and thunder shook the house. How big is the storm? Hayner jumped up from his seat and ran out of his room to the living room where his parents were bunched up watching the weather development. Oh man, this didn't look good. He saw the places where the weatherman was pointing, right over Twilight Town and the large red and orange patch on the radar. This was beyond a severe storm.

"Oh dear, I better go shut off the lights in the next room." Hayner's mother moved to get up when she spotted her son standing next to the couch. "Hayner, did you shut off your computer?" Oh snap! The computer! Hayner winced and ran back to his room hoping to reach his computer in time. He did not have the munny to get another one! Just as he ran into the room, the deafening crash of thunder came hurdling down outside his home and the lights went out. His computer however, flashed, the monitor fizzled in a screen of snow, turning blue. The harddrive buzzed loudly, the turbine inside overheating as it rotated twice as hard as it normally did. Then the computer screen simply blanked out. The only thing he heard was the small breaths he had been holding and the dying fan slowly coming to a stop. All power was out over his town.