Title: Kimi no Koe (Your Voice)
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Summary: Kairi currently only had one true friend, but during school she was not allowed to communicate with her because of her friend’s popular status. Kairi was not well known in her school as was considered a nobody. One day she finds a seashell and listens to the ocean through it. A storm passes through. All of a sudden she hears this voice coming from the seashell. It’s from a boy that says he lives across the ocean in a place called Twilight Town; they communicate through telepathy. Kairi is afraid for her sanity but as time goes on she develops a very close relationship with the voice in her head.

o.o.o

Kimi no Koe
~Kairi and Roxas~

Chapter One
I must be going crazy.

I stood at the shore. The waves washed up against my bare toes, making them curl and dig into the wet sand underneath. It was barely morning; I had woken up too early once again and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I put on my uniform and went down to the beach to watch the sunrise. I took a book out of my bag, The Lost World and opened it. I loved to read. It took me away from the pain of reality.

In reality, I was a loser. Nobody in school talked to me anymore. Back in middle school I used to have a few friends, but they got into a fight and separated. When high school began, they all went their separate ways. I was the quiet type. I didn’t like to get involved with people out of fear of rejection. However… even though I claimed to hate every last one of my classmates, the reality was that I didn’t know how to associate with them.

There was one person that I could talk to, but even then there were restrictions. Selphie Yamamoto and I had been friends since childhood. However, Selphie was one of the most popular girls in school. If people found out that we were friends, Selphie said that she would be shunned. For the sake of her reputation, we promised to keep our friendship on the down low. We talk on the phone every now and then. Lately we’ve both been quite distant due to busy schedules; Selphie has cheerleading practices and is always out with friends and I’m either studying or sleeping. Okay, I’m not that busy but I try to be.

To anyone this kind of friendship wouldn’t be a friendship at all. Friends should be willing to make sacrifices for one another and accept them for who they are, right? Wrong. To me, Selphie’s happiness was enough. It was either keep her as a friend, despite the circumstances or not have anyone at all. That’s the way I saw it.

I liked to come to the beach when I read a book; somehow it always helped me relax. Escaping from reality was one thing, but doing it in style was even better. I found a nice, secluded spot on the edge of the island where I could be alone. I loved the sound of the ocean. The sunrise was beautiful. It was never too cold. I could stay here forever if I wanted to.

Pretty soon it was time to head off to the place I dreaded—school. I was a senior in high school. Up until now, I wondered how I made it through all of the ridicules and bullying. I had no idea how I was even still here.

I was good at being on time. I was in the classroom ten minutes before the first bell rang, mostly because I had no one to talk to before class anyway. I just continued to read my book and tune out all of the laughing and gossiping of the people around me. I noticed that teenagers these days really didn’t have anything to talk about but the opposite sex, what they did the night before or what they were going to eat for lunch. I definitely didn’t have any experience with the opposite sex romance wise. All I did last night was sleep and I didn’t even bring lunch today. See? No one would want to talk to me anyway.

I couldn’t wait for classes to end so that I could get back to the beach. I didn’t mean to brag, but I already knew the stuff they were teaching. That was one thing I was proud of… I guess. I excelled in academics. I only came to school for exams and attendance nowadays.

However, in the end I still had no one to talk to.

When lunch time came, I went up onto the roof. Selphie and her group of friends and a few guys were already up there chatting and playing around as they ate their lunches. I didn’t even think about packing my lunch this morning. She crouched up against the fence and looked out towards the ocean.

“Where’s your lunch?” Asked a boy named Wakka, one of Selphie’s friends. He stood behind me. I knew he was teasing me.

“Um…”

“Wakka, what are you doing?” Selphie asked. “Get back over here!”

Selphie always seemed to be indirectly sticking up for me. I liked that.

Maybe that’s how I’ve survived up until now.

“Oh, come on! Can’t I have a little fun with redhead over here?”

“No! You were sharing your lunch with me, remember?”

Wakka groaned and walked off. I saw Selphie quickly wink at me and then turn back to her friends. I smiled and looked back at the ocean. At least I could still see it from here.

After school was over, I went straight back there.

“Hey, stranger.” Selphie seemed to have followed me.

“Hey.” I said.

“Sorry about Wakka. He really doesn’t mean any harm.”

Selphie was always apologizing for her friend’s actions, which she really shouldn’t be. However, I always nodded and shrugged it off as nothing.

“So what’s been going on?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing…”

Typical response.

“Just hanging out, going to practice… etc.” She finished. “How about you?”

“Same old, same old.”

In the end, we both really didn’t have anything to talk about. Selphie hated reading and I had no interest in cheerleading. However, somehow we could sit there for hours without saying a word and still enjoy our time together. That’s what made our friendship special.

She left thirty minutes later to go meet with another friend. I didn’t mind—she had a life. I just went back to my book. I was almost finished with this one. Usually when I read a really interesting book, I cannot put it down. I’m always done in a matter of days no matter how long it is.

I went home about two hours later. My mother was passed out in front of the computer. She was a journalist for some magazine… I wasn’t sure. She and I weren’t very close. When my father died, she became bitter and drank a lot. However, due to her job she’s gotten a little better, but that attitude still remains most of the time and she doesn’t like talking to me or my little brother much. She doesn’t cook, she doesn’t clean—all she does is work and go to bars late at night.
My little brother Taka is in middle school. He used to be like the way I am now, but unlike me, he has friends and has opened up a lot more. Our father’s death affected him the same way, but somehow he’s learned to cope on his own. He just joined the soccer team and was an exceptionally good student. We didn’t really talk much, but we both at least respected each other.

I stayed in my room a lot, like most teenagers would. There wasn’t really much to do; I killed time by writing, reading or watching TV. I was lucky enough to have one in my room. My room was a lot like me—plain. The walls were white; my sheets were purple and I had a wooden floor. I was OCD about cleaning, so there wasn’t a spot of dust that I knew of. Clothes were hung up all the time. I didn’t really have a variety of clothes—mostly T-shirts and jeans, some tank tops and of course my school uniforms. My book collection was stacked neatly on the shelf in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. I must’ve had over fifty books. I was a huge pack rat, so I still had all of my Barbies and stuffed animals. The animals were set up by size, the smallest on the bottom and up. If my window was open, it couldn’t be open more than four inches.

I sighed and fell back onto my bed, which screeched. Most people would’ve thought I was crazy. All of these things I kept to myself.

That’s okay; I was used to being alone.

Eventually that’s all you want to do—be alone. You don’t want to associate with others and just want to do what you do on your own and be done with it. You don’t want to be bothered. That’s how I think I’ve become.

So in conclusion, I had barely any self confidence. Nobody would want to be my friend. I get sucked into books and writing. I’m a loner. What’s so great about me? What are my good qualities? Do I even have any? What’s more—will I ever find anyone that understands me? Am I doomed to be alone forever? Could I face it? What will become of me?

As these questions went through my mind, I began to feel sad once again.

o.o.o

Soon the weekend came. Despite my boring days, time seems to go faster as we get older. Most people went to the beach with their friends, but of course I went by myself. I didn’t bring anything with me this time, I was just going to enjoy the view.

My spot was the same as I left it the day before. Hidden behind huge rocks, it was the perfect place. Most people stayed further down the shoreline and played volleyball or something. It was too noisy for me. Here was all I needed.

Just as I was about to sit down and make myself comfortable, the water brushed up against the shore bringing something with it. I squinted my eyes to see what it was.

It was a seashell.

I had never seen such a beautiful seashell either—this one was different shades of blue with black and light brown horizontal wavy lines. I picked it up. It was one of those you could hear the ocean with. After admiring it a little more, I put it up to my ear and listened. I could hear the sound of the waves once again through the seashell. It was all so refreshing. I was definitely keeping this one.

I sat it down next to me, picking it up at different times and listening again, smiling in satisfaction every time. I couldn’t stop staring at it. It was just so pretty.

As the sun set, eventually the waves calmed down. I lay on my back, holding the shell over my head. It glistened in the moonlight. I never knew an object could make me so… happy.

I held it next to my ear and closed my eyes. I could fall asleep like this.

There was a strong breeze that went by. The palm trees rustled. It felt like it was about to rain. I thought I could hear people running off to their houses.

A drop of water hit my shoulder. Just as I expected. I stood up, making sure to take the seashell with me. It didn’t take long for the rain to pick up. There was no way I was going to get home without getting soaked. I found shelter in a small abandoned cabin I stumbled across a few months ago and waited it out.

Hello?

The storm outside got worse. It was dark in this old wooden cabin, so I was kind of scared. I plugged one of my ears and put the seashell up to the other, hoping I didn’t have to hear the thunder or the rain.

Hello? Is anyone there?

I still could hear the rain pounding against the cabin. It was way too loud. I set the seashell on the ground next to me and plugged both ears. There. That’s better.

…Hello…?

Finally after what seemed like forever, the rain subsided. I waited a little bit and then came out. Going back over to my spot, which wasn’t far, I looked up at the sky. The clouds were moving quickly. The moon was hiding. For all I know, it could start raining again. I had to hurry home.

But then… I heard a voice.

Hello? Can you hear me?

Where was it coming from?

I didn’t respond.

Hello? Anyone there?

It was loud and clear, as if whoever was saying it was standing right next to me. A little freaked out, I looked around. Nobody was there.

“H-Hello?” I said nervously.

Hello??

The voice sounded excited. I jumped.

Okay, this was a really bad prank…

You can hear me?

I looked down at the seashell. The sound seemed to be coming from it.

No.

No.

That was insane. This was a dream. Nobody’s here.

‘This isn’t funny…’ I thought.

Whoa!

“W-who’s there?” I looked at the seashell for a moment, but then all around me. There was no way…

Don’t worry… it’s okay.

‘Who… who are you?’

Wait, what was I doing?!

My name is Roxas. Roxas Yonehara. What’s yours? He paused. This is so cool!

I looked inside the seashell for some kind of recording device, but there was nothing. This thing was cursed.

Are you there? Hello?

“Go away!” I screamed, throwing the seashell as far as I could. It splashed in the water. I ran all the way home. Maybe I was just tired or something. I haven’t eaten much all day either. Yeah… that was it…

I arrived home in five minutes. Slamming the door and locking it, I looked out the side window just to make sure nobody was following me. Maybe I was paranoid, but I was not about to believe that I hear voices. My mom came into the room.

“Kairi, where have you been?”

“I was… at the beach…” I said.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I… ran…”

Hello? Do you not want to talk to me?

My eyes widened. There was that voice again. “Mom… did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” She gave me an irritated look.

“That… voice…”

Please say you did…

“What voice? Do I need to take you to do mental asylum? Get upstairs and change.”

Why can’t she hear it…

‘Listen… I don’t know who you are or why you’re in my head… but… get out!’

Oh… I understand. It’s okay.

‘No, it’s not okay!’

Have you ever heard of telepathy?

‘…What?’

I heard the voice chuckle. I went upstairs and shut my door.

Can you hear me?

‘Yes, for the last time I can hear you… which I really wished I couldn’t…’

I know its scary at first… but…

‘Who are you?!’

My name is Roxas. I live in Twilight Town.

‘…R-Roxas?’

Yes. What’s your name?

‘I don’t want to tell you. How do I know I’m not just going insane? This is… this is…’

This is what?

He—or it… the voice was talking back to me like a normal conversation. No… maybe if I just went to sleep this would all go away…

What’s your name? He changed the subject.

‘If I just tell it my name… will it shut up…?’

Maybe.

‘Oh… he… heard that…’

…Yeah.

No. I wasn’t about to feel sorry for the voice in my head.

Ahhh! I must be going crazy!

So… I take it you found a seashell of some sort?

Wait… what?

‘…Yes…’

He laughed. I found one too. Afterwards, I started to… hear things. I didn’t want to believe it at first either, but… I’m glad that there’s finally someone else I can talk to…

‘No, this isn’t real. You’re not really talking to me… you’re not real!’

Oh? Is that so? I could hear sarcasm in his voice.

‘Okay… if you’re… real…’ I wasn’t sure what I was doing, ‘then…’

I got it. Do you have a television?

‘Of course I do.’

Okay, I’m going to say a channel. You flip there and tell me what they say at that moment. Is that okay?

‘What will this prove?’

It will at least prove that I’m not just some voice in your head. Ready?

I reached for my remote and turned on the TV. ‘Okay.’

Hmm… how about… NBC?

I changed the channel. Some game show I didn’t know of was on.

‘They’re talking about money… and there are suitcases and models.’

Ah. Did they just say suitcase number 17?

‘Yes…’

And there was $100,000 dollars inside?

‘…Yes…’

Darn, sucks for them. Oh well. He chuckled. Do you believe me now?

I was silent.

Whoever this boy was… he was freaking me out. How could we possibly be talking? Was this… real?

This didn’t make any sense…

o.o.o

A/N: So this idea was based off of a very sweet Japanese movie I watched. If you know what I’m talking about and you’ve seen it, don’t worry, it won’t be too much like it plot-wise. I hope you enjoyed this and I hope to be able to continue… so please review!

Note #2: So school has kept me busy. I’ve had papers due left and right and midterms to study for. I can’t wait until this semester is over. Sorry for all of the slow updates on my other stories! I will try to get the Halloween chapter for Maid Service out before Halloween. So that’s already being worked on. I hate to say it but Feels Like Tonight has officially gone on hiatus… please be a little more patient…

Review!