Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. I use some exact quotes/scenes from the game and CoM Manga books, other's are slight variations. Any lines you recognize are used for literary purposes and No copyright infringement is intended. (Why do I bother with this? XD)
AN: This story takes place in an alternate universe and begins after CoM at the start of KHII after Roxas' Story. However, there are a few differences that make this Story AU.
Summary: "Even if you take apart the chain of memories in my heart the links are still there, right Sora?" She laid her forehead back against the glass orb. "Why couldn't you just leave them alone?"
Chapter One: Shoreline Memories.
"Memory: a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things." - Pierce Harris
Sora ran down the sunset covered beach with Riku close behind. The older boy held out a spider crab in front of him, reaching for the back of the eight year old's shirt. Why had he ever told the older boy he was afraid of anything with more than four legs? Riku had found it amusing and then proceeded to tease him with every large, many legged thing he could find. Including the spider crab he was chasing Sora with now.
"Come on Sora. I think he wants a kiss…"
"Quit it Riku!" Sora almost whined, desperately trying to outrun the older and faster boy. Riku only laughed, and held out the awful wiggling thing closer.
When he got too close the spiky haired youth let out a childish yelp as raced back through the shallows. The cool water splashed up in Sora's face, as he turned to stick out his tongue in the silver haired boy's direction. What he hadn't expected was for Riku to follow him. Sora let out another cry of distress, and backed way from the other boy who was still brandishing his weapon of a many legged creature.
"Riku! Knock it off!"
Both boys turned to look back at the shore, where a young girl their age stood, hands on her hips. She didn't look angry, just amused and exasperated all at once. The two boys had been scuffling and chasing each other around all afternoon, just being boys and it seemed the girl had had enough of being left out. Short red hair hung in her bright eyes as she waved them to the shore. Riku waved back, trying to hide the crab behind his back. Sora started to wave back as well before-
(Wherever you go…)
A voice boomed out over the island, like thunder rolling in the distance, even though it was smooth and sweet, a child's voice. It rang with purpose and a promise. He recognized it, a familiar lilt that tugged at his memories.
(I'll always be with you.)
Turning to look for the voice, Sora tripped over an unseen rock and splashed headfirst into the shallows. His hearing was somewhat impaired as he splashed about trying to get right side up. Riku's muted laughter rung in his ears, along with the red headed girl's worried calls. His head hurt, and he felt like he was floating in air for the slightest of moments. White flooded his eyes. Did he hit his head?
(Don't worry. You'll forget about me… )
A second voice echoed in his head, rattling his mind and his soul to the core. He was certain knew that voice! Who was it?
Naminé?
Suddenly, his lungs burned, fiery pain filling his entire chest. Why wasn't he breathing? He inhaled deeply, only to find he was still underwater. Oh yeah, that was why. Great, now he was drowning in the shallows. Riku would never let him live it down.
Suddenly someone yanked him upright and a laughing voice sounded in his ears over the constant coughing and clearing of his lungs. He shook out his hair as the voice sounded again,
"Come on Sora, pull yourself together…"
"Sora!" The red head splashed her way into the shallows to where her two friends were. She squished his face in her hands,
"Sora! Are you ok?"
Riku laughed, "Sora was just trying to be a fish that's all!"
The girl let got of his face leaving Sora to blush profusely. "Was not." He muttered darkly, rubbing his slightly sore cheek. She smiled at Sora and turned on the older silver haired boy,
"You were chasing him with the stupid crab, Riku."
"Oh come on, Ka-"
Suddenly, the whole world shifted. Sora felt rocked backward, and all sound stopped. Things spun and fell back into place. Sora tried to yawn and clear his ears. He must still have sea water in them. When he turned back to the others the red head was poking a still laughing Riku in the side,
"You're such a big meanie sometimes, Riku." She sighed as he just grinned at her. She cocked her head at Sora, "You're alright aren't you?"
Sora grinned and rubbed at the back of his head with one hand, "Course I am, Naminé." He replied without thinking.
"Naminé?" the red head looked taken back. "Sora, you doink, I'm not Naminé. I'm Ka-"
It happened again. The earth rocked and shook, nearly knocking Sora over. Sound ceased for those few milliseconds, but when it was all over the red headed girl was still standing there shaking her head.
"He must have hit his head." Riku responded lightly, already wading out of the shallows.
"If he did, it's your fault." The girl reprimanded. Riku only laughed again. He paused letting her 'storm' past him and up the beach. Sora shook his head still getting his soundings again. He looked up at the wide open sky, down the beach to the tiny island where their tree stood. He was still on his island, so what was happening? In his normal optimistic manner, he decided he was just tired. He sighed and waded his way up to Riku.
Riku turned slightly, and gave a small smile, "Sorry."
Sora was taken back. He never knew Riku to apologize so quickly before. Besides they were just messing around. He got over it quickly and grinned putting both hands behind his head, "Sure. S'okay! I got a hard head remember?"
Riku smirked and suddenly locked the younger boy's head under his arm. Sora let out a yelp of distress and tried desperately to pull away the older boy's obviously stronger grip. Riku ignored him, and easily gave him a rather harsh noogie,
"Yep, head as hard as a rock." Riku laughed, finally letting go of Sora. Sora stumbled back a few feet rubbing at his hair.
"Hey! I might have a concussion!" He complained, but he was laughing.
"You won't be messed up any more than you already are." Riku retorted lightly. Sora stuck out his tongue, making Riku laugh again. "Don't be such a kid, Sora."
'I miss this…' Sora thought suddenly. He was taken aback by his own thoughts. Missed? He was here practically every day. What could he possibly miss? Still the feeling of nostalgia gripped its claws into his heart and wouldn't let go.
Riku was still grinning at him, but suddenly turned to look after the red headed girl who was making her way up to the secret place. Sora looked after her as well, and made to call out her name… but stopped. Her name.
What was her name?
He really had to be tired to be pulling a blank at a time like this. He turned to Riku to ask a question that would probably get him the largest teasing of his life, but Sora didn't care. He was really starting to get worried. Something must have happened when he hit his head… if he hit his head. However, the look on his best friend's face stopped him. Riku looked sad, forlorn almost, even though a small smile lit his face.
(Take care of her…)
Riku's voice echoed throughout the island, rumbling inside Sora's heart with purpose and finality. He stared his friend, thoroughly befuddled. Riku's voice had been so saddened. It didn't fit their normal carefree day at the beach. Why did his best friend sound as if he was saying goodbye…
"What did you say?"
Riku suddenly looked confused, "I said we'd better catch up to her." He grinned again, nudging Sora, "She'll prolly end up telling Naminé that I almost let you drown. Then they'll both have my head."
"Naminé…" Sora half-questioned. She was here too? So he had heard her voice. He wasn't going crazy…
"Um, yeah… remember Naminé?" He rapped his knuckles on Sora's head, "You ok? You know where we are, right? You know who I am?"
(We got to find the King and Riku!)
This time it was his own voice the echoed throughout his very soul. Sora looked overly confused, he reached up to place a hand on his forehead only to find it very heavy. He couldn't move. He wasn't sure his feet were touching the sand anymore, although he could most defiantly feel the warm grains rising up beneath his toes. Mist swirled around the shore line, though it could have just been the surf.
Riku started too look worried. "Sora? Come on. We'll get you back to Naminé and Ka-" Sound hitched again. Sora shook his head to clear it. "-at the Tree house. The girls will have a drink…" Riku started up the beach again. Sora tried to move his feet.
It didn't work.
"Riku…" Sora's voice was far away. He was still floating, and he could no longer feel his feet on the ground, emerged in neither the sand nor waves. Riku turned, looking confused again. He said something, but the sound of rushing waves took over. This was not brief, but instead enveloped everything.
(I don't belong anywhere in your heart.)
Sora started to panic. His breath hitched and all of Destiny Island spun underneath him, and the waves suddenly rose to impossible heights. Riku reached out to grab him, but his best friend's hand passed through Sora's own. Frightened Sora struggled to reach toward Riku's hand. It was too far away, and Sora was swept away.
The sun was blotted out by an unforeseen pitch black.
Destiny Island disappeared.
Riku faded into darkness.
Sora hovered in the air, alone. He forced his eyes half open, and there she stood.
She half-turned, staring over her shoulder-
(You'll forget me.)
Sora's hand clenched. He tried to shake his head, but couldn't…
"But we have our Promise."
She gave a sad smile and shook her head. Suddenly everything went black.
"…we have our promise."
Then Sora began to fall.
Comments are much appreciated, as I like to know if people even care. xD