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Friends in My Heart: a Sora/Riku/Kairi FST
Hi, everyone! I just posted this FST for our favorite heroes over at fst, and one lovely listener suggested I post it here. So, hopefully you guys will enjoy it!

You guys undoubtedly know this whole story, but it never hurts to go over it one more time.

Sora, Riku, and Kairi were best friends. They grew up together, constant playmates, on the beautiful and peaceful Destiny Islands. They played, learned, and grew, all together, and all was well. But they wanted something more. As they grew older, their islands became too small, and the three dreamed of leaving and seeing the worlds beyond.

Soon enough, they got their wish, but it came at an incredible price.

Darkness, unleashed by yet unknown forces eons away, had begun to consume the universe, one world at a time. One night, a door to the dark opened in Destiny Islands and the darkness spilled out, swallowing the heart of the world and everything around it. Kairi disappeared without a trace, swallowed by the same forces that consumed their world. Riku gave himself over to the darkness, intending to use it as a means of leaving the islands. And Sora, confused and lost, was torn from everything he knew and thrown into the endless reaches of space.

And so their journey begins: three friends, intent to find each other no matter the cost. Unfortunately, it is that task which might truly tear them apart.





Sora – Yoko Shinomura

“Sora, don't ever change.” - Kairi

[Instrumental]

Sora: a happy, energetic boy with an effortless sense of loyalty and compassion. Little does he know that there is something incredibly special about him.

With a Little Help From My Friends – Jim Sturgess & Joe Anderson

"My heart will stay with my friends.” - Sora

I get by with a little help from my friends,
I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends.

Though he is constantly made to work by Kairi and bested by Riku at every turn, Sora loves the two of them dearly, and they him. They wouldn't trade each other for the world.

What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

“Yeah, let's go home.” - Sora

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself “What a wonderful world”.

Their world is peaceful, wonderful, and beautiful, and the trio haven't a care. As they watch the sunset and discuss their plans for leaving, not a one realizes how much they will want to return someday.

Taste of Ink – Used

“The door has opened, Sora! Now we can go to the outside world!” - Riku

This could be my chance to break out
This could be my chance to say goodbye
At last it's finally over
Couldn't take this town much longer

As Destiny Islands is swallowed by the darkness, one thing becomes painfully clear about Riku: he will do anything to reach his intended ends. That includes embracing the darkness around him to find his way off the islands.

Where Did You Go? – Full Metal Jacket

“It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, now he values them for more than he does you.” - Maleficent

Where did you go when you let me go?
I waited for you in a special place
Oh no I fall in the darkness
You cannot find your way home, you cannot find you.

After the three are separated, Sora wastes no time in starting the search for his friends. However, along the way, a few distracts crop up; namely, that he is a Keyblade master, and has been entrusted by the universe with the task of sealing away the darkness that swallowed his home. This includes fighting back the minions of that darkness, the Heartless. This comes with two new friends, Donald and Goofy, who accompany Sora as they search for another Keyblade master: their missing king, Mickey.

Unfortunately, upon finding Sora with these new friends, Riku mistakes Sora intentions. In his eyes, Sora has replaced him and Kairi. Suddenly, his dear friend Sora doesn't seem so dear anymore.

Kingdom for a Heart – Sonata Arctica

"As long as it means getting Kairi's heart back, I couldn't care less...I will find it no matter what.” - Riku

I'd give it all for her heart
if I was a King I would give away my kingdom
Treasures and crowns wouldn't mean a thing
If I only had her heart, if I only had her heart.

As Sora fruitlessly searches throughout the worlds for his friends, Riku's foray into the darkness turns out to be slightly more successful. Thanks to the efforts of a few shady characters, he is able to recover Kairi's body. However, something is wrong: her heart is missing, making her into a lifeless puppet. Once he discovers this, Riku makes it his task to find and return her heart to her, “no matter what”.

Fold – Trust Company

“Riku! What's the matter with you? What are you thinking? Don't you realize what you're doing?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing, Sora.” -Sora and Riku

I never wanna see you, wanna be you,
'Cause I don't need you
You never wanna face me, you can't erase me,
You can't erase me!

Hurt by Sora's apparent betrayal, Riku turns on his old friend. By the time he has pitted Sora against his own shadow, stolen the Keyblade, and then attempted to eliminate Sora altogether, it has become clear that this is not the Riku that Sora and Kairi once knew.

Riku – Yoko Shinomura

”If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?” - Riku

[Instrumental]

Riku: a competitive boy by nature, Riku is nonetheless fiercely loyal, and is always ready for an adventure. So much so, in fact, that he will nose dive into the depths of unbelievable darkness, if it means helping his friends or starting a new journey. However, he also tends to leave his heart and pride open to attack, and isn't averse to using the darkness to avenge any harm that comes to them.

Die Die My Darling – Aiden

“So, I shall release you now, Princess. Complete the Keyhole with your power. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!” -Ansem

Die, die, die my darling
Don't utter a single word
Die, die, die my darling
Shut your pretty mouth

I'll be seeing you again
I'll be seeing you in Hell

Unfortunately, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and Riku succumbs, fully and truly, to the darkness. Then, possessed by a Heartless calling itself Ansem, he reveals that all along, Kairi's heart has been hidden right beside Sora's own. However, Ansem has much more sinister plans than Riku. He means to use Kairi's heart to open an even bigger portal for the darkness to escape through, and he's not above killing Sora to get it.

Auf Achse – Franz Ferdinand

“Forget it! There's no way you're taking Kairi's heart!” - Sora

You see her, you can't touch her
You hear her, you can't hold her
You want her, you can't have her
You want to, but she won't let you

There is, however, something that Ansem doesn't count on: that Kairi has strength to lend, and that Sora will never surrender when his friend is at stake.

You're the Only Place – Josh Groban

“I was lost in the darkness. I couldn't find my way. As I stumbled through the dark, I started forgetting things—my friends, who I was. The darkness almost swallowed me. But then I heard your voice—your voice.” - Sora

I'm calling out to the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
Don't leave me hanging on
I'm reaching out and praying you'll come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been

They are losing each other. In a bid to free Kairi's heart, Sora releases his own, and is taken into the darkness. Riku is trapped within his own body, a slave to the demon Ansem. Kairi is stranded on an unfamiliar word crawling with Heartless, and the chances of escape are small. All the while, the friendship that they held so dear on the Destiny Islands has eroded nearly to nothing, rotted by the strain the universe has put on it. They are lost, scared, and in very real danger.

But not are willing to let go, and they all soon find that they are not nearly as alone as they think.

What I've Done – Until June

“No. You won't use me for this!” - Riku

The darkness in my heart keeps me from letting go
Of everything I fear the most
And now I"m begging you don't let go

And now I'm alone
And I'm ashamed
Hold me in your arms
And now I'm sorry for what I've done

Even after he has allied with the beings of the darkness, and has fallen prey to one of its most dangerous Heartless in existence, Riku knows what is important. He knows that his friends matter more than anything. He will do anything to make up for what he has done to hurt them.

Protect Her – Kina Grannis

“Take care of her.” - Riku

There is a weakness in the knees
We are such fragile things
What I want what I need
Protect her, protect her please.

After facing a myriad of impossible challenges and beating countless enemies, Sora has defeated Ansem and reached the source of the Heartless: Kingdom Hearts. However, the door to Kingdom Hearts is too heavy for Sora, Donald, and Goofy to shut on their own. At that moment, Riku emerges from within and, as penance for what he has done, helps to close the door, with him still inside.

He has just enough time to ask that Sora take care of Kairi before the door slides closed.

You'll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins

“Kairi. Remember what you said before? I'm always with you, too. I'll come back to you. I promise!”

“I know you will!” -Sora and Kairi

When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
[...]
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more

Riku is trapped in Kingdom Hearts. Sora's mission is not yet complete, and he cannot return home until it is. Kairi is back on the rebuilt Destiny Islands, alone, and left to wait for their return. Once again, they are separated.

However, this time, they are together in spirit, and nothing will change that.

Kairi – Yoko Shinomura

“Who are you? And that's not my name. I'm Kairi.” - Kairi

[Instrumental]

Kairi: A sweet, gentle girl with a pure heart and unending love for her friends (even when her heart is ripped from her by the darkness, it finds its way to them). Though she is not as strong as Riku and Sora, she will do anything for them—love, protect, even wait for them to come back to her.

Sky-Blue – Ritsuko Okazaki

“He's far away. But I know we'll see him again.” - Kairi, about Riku

“I said that no matter where he is... I'll find him. One day.” - Kairi, about Sora

“With a bit of determination, I continue to walk on
Though my heart is thumping and the snow dances about the road, spring will bring the flower once more
Returning to a painful day here, but I'm okay
Searching to meet a truly kind person”

Kairi waits. She waits as time moves on without them. She waits when one boy remains in her memory, but the other disappears without a trace. She waits through the pain of losing him, finding him again, and missing the both of them too much for words.

Then, when the opportunity strikes, she leaves her comfortable home to find the boys that she loves. No matter what it takes, Kairi knows she will find them again.

It's About Time – Jamie Cullum

“But...who is she? I just... I can't think of her name. If she's so special to me, why can't I remember?” - Sora

If I don’t find my love sometime, I’m walking out that door
Some may come and some may go, but no one seems to be
The person I’ve been searching for, the one who’s meant for me

After getting caught up in the mutinous plots of the ruthless Organization XIII, Sora's memories are dissembled, making him forget Kairi, and his determination to return to his friends. The only way to escape the Organization's grasp . . .

There For You – Clannad

"But there's another promise you made — a promise to someone you could never replace. She's your light. The light within the darkness. If you can remember her...all the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light." - Namine

This time has come again
It’s all shining through
This one will be forever
And I’ll be there for you

. . . is with a little help from a few kind souls, and the memory of friends.

Memories – Within Temptation

“I remembered we made a promise, something important. This letter is where it starts. I know it...Starts with an 'S'. Right, Sora?” - Kairi

Together in all these memories,
I see your smile.
All of the memories I hold dear.
Darling you know I'll love you,
'Til the end of time.

Then, just as Sora's memories are realigned, his friends' memories of him are, as well. It is through these that they will find him again.

Second Best – Barenaked Ladies

“Those clues we kept finding. That musta been Riku.” - Goofy

“This time, I'll fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us! C'mon, Riku!” - Kairi

Is it true? Yes it's true enough I guess
Come join the chorus of the unimpressed
Is it true, yes it's true enough I guess
Sometimes it's better to be second best

With but a few more members of the nefarious Organization XIII left to defeat, Kairi emerges with Riku right alongside. Though they may not be the heroes of the story, no longer is Riku concerned with competition or rivalry, and no longer is Kairi helpless. They will support Sora in his final battle, and in all other things.

You and Me – Lifehouse

“I looked for you!” - Sora

And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you.

And Sora couldn't be happier to have them back.

Come Home – One Republic

“Now we stand side-by-side. Let's go home together this time.” - Riku

And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all I see is you and me
The fight for you is all I've ever known
So come home

No matter what, they will never again be separated. They've overcome betrayal, rivalry, the depths of darkness and all other things that would force them apart. They're going home, and they're going to do it together.

Ordinary Day – Great Big Sea

“Nothing's changed, huh?”

“Nope. Nothing will.”

“What a small world.”

“But part of one that's much bigger.” - Riku and Sora

And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
and it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day, you've still got to say,
it's all right.

Finally, after two years away, Sora, Riku, and Kairi return to their home in the Destiny Islands. It's not exactly an adventure, but that's all right. They're together again, and that's all any of them need.

Friends in My Heart – Yoko Shinomura

“My friends are my power!” - Sora

[Instrumental]

Sora, Riku, and Kairi are best friends. Nothing will ever change that.

Zip is here. Don't worry. Starting this journey won't be hard at all.

Thanks to miiko_ashida for betaing the written parts, as always, and to keepdreamingxx for directing me this way.