• Running my hands through my red hair, I sit up in bed. Another new day. More time to hang out with everyone.

    Let me introduce myself and my friends. The cast of characters, if you will.

    Kairi: Me. I have lived here in Radiant Garden all my life. I am very well known at school and in the neighborhood alike.
    Yuffie: The life of the party, and the neighborhood. She has "ninja skills" and boasts that she is a "great ninja in training". Also one of my closest friends.
    Aerith: The shy girl. She is very nice, and close to Cloud. Likes flowers.
    Cloud: He's kinda cold. He, Aerith, Yuffie, Leon, and Tifa are kinda like a group. Cloud and I don't really talk all that much, but that's fine with me.
    Tifa: She's alright. Kinda loud sometimes though.
    Leon: Stays pent up and hangs out with Cloud a lot. Never really actually met him.

    I get out of bed, and start getting dressed. The last thing I put on is my belt, and then I'm into the kitchen for breakfast.
    "Morning Mom." I said as I sat down at my place.
    "Hello sweetie. I actually need to talk to you about something. . ." Uh-oh. This usually means something bad is going to happen.
    "You see, your father recently found a job at Destiny Islands." my mom begins, and goes off into a long-winded explanation of Destiny Islands.
    "So, we're moving?" I ask, and my mother nods. Anger rises up and comes out in words.
    "No! We can't! My life is here, Mom!! How can you do this to me?!" I yell across the table, and it echoes throughout the house. I stand up, and slam the door as I run out.
    The oak tree. My refuge. My little place. As I sit under the comforting branches, I wept. I wept big, fat, hot tears that plopped onto the ground and left dark splotches.

    Yuffie, Cloud, Aerith, Tifa. . .I would miss them all. I'd even miss Leon a bit. I didn't want to leave. This was MY place. This was. . .my life. All my memories were here. All my friends. . .
    I cried harder. I didn't notice as Aerith made her way to me and sat down.
    "Kairi? Are you alright?"
    "No! My parents are making me leave!" I sobbed harder than ever.
    "Wow." Aerith said. "That must be pretty bad. I've never had to move, so I wouldn't know what it feels like, but I'm pretty sure Cloud would. He's moved lots of times."

    Cloud this, Cloud that was all that ever came out of Aerith. Tifa was the same way. "Ninja" was every other word out of Yuffie's mouth.
    Leon always mumbled and yelled at people. Aerith really needed to grow a backbone, and Yuffie needed to shut up. Cloud, he was just rude.

    All of this weighed down on me as Aerith babbled on. A realization came to me.

    There was nothing left. And there never really was anything. There were really never any memories.

    Doesn't mean I wouldn't miss anything. Doesn't mean I would trade the world to go back here.

    End of chapter