When they dream, she can see them. Just a year ago, it was just whispers, but now it as if she can feel their wishes on her skin. She doesn't remember them being able to reach out to her like they do. Wishes are dangerous, she knows that; and so is the temptation to grant them. This explains why she is hiding, not that anyone knows to look for her. When existing exclusively in the realm of dreams it is hard for people to know that you exist in the first place. Though, that's no one's fault but her own.


What a silly girl.

"S- …Sora..?"

"Hmm?"

"Sora! Get up you lazy bum!"

Sora opens his eyes to see Kairi's amused face looming over him. He chuckled and ran his hand over his forehead, while Kairi straightened her posture with her hands on her hips.

"After all this time, you've never changed," she sighs, a humorous tone lingering in her voice. She found it more so funny than upsetting to find him napping like this. Even after all these years, he was still the same Sora.

"I wasn't napping!" Sora insisted. "I was just…"

"Napping?" Kairi giggled. "Come on, Sora. Don't pretend."

Sora shook his head and jumped up onto his feet. He had fallen asleep again under the paopu fruit tree again. It felt nice to be able to relax again, although, he did miss adventuring with Donald and Goofy. But, he had both Riku and Kairi back and they were all on the Islands again. It was almost like before, except all three of them could now wield Keyblades.

It hadn't been long since the battle at Castle Oblivion, and they were still adapting to the much less exciting lifestyle of the Islands.

"Anyways," Sora insisted on changing the subject. "What's up? Were you trying to find me?"

Kairi nodded. "I was actually about to go to a friend's birthday party and I wanted to invite you."

"Yeah, sure, I'll go. Which friend?" He asked as they started the walk to the docks.

"I'm not certain that you've met her before. She a friend I made at school while you were gone. Her name is Ayaka."

"Oh, wait! I think I remember that name. Does she have blonde hair? I remember a classmate from before with that name," Sora said, looking up into the sky to search his mind for answers.

"She is blonde, yeah," Kairi affirms with a smile. "Maybe she'll recognize you."

"Nah, it was such a long time ago and we never really talked. Anyways, who else is coming?"

Kairi pursed her lips for a moment. "Well, just us. Ayaka has kind of been in out of the hospital a lot lately. When we got back to the island I stopped by to see how she was doing and she really seemed exhausted. Her mother told me she really hasn't kept in touch with her friends since she has been missing so much school. I was going to stop by and surprise her for her birthday."

"The hospital?" Sora asked, shocked. "Is she okay?"

"Well…" Kairi paused, trying to find the right words. "Her mother said that the doctors aren't sure what's wrong with her. She has just lost a lot of energy recently. She really hasn't been sleeping and she has been refusing food. I'm hoping that her having her friends come see her will make her feel better."

"Yeah!" Sora exclaimed. "Parties always make me feel better!"

Kairi giggled and shook her head. "I knew you would be the right person to bring."

On their way Kairi had stopped to buy Ayaka a same cake for the occasion. Sora, of course, helped pick out the one made with ice cream. He figured, who doesn't like icecream? Although, he wasn't quite prepared to be celebrating in a hospital room.

Ayaka's room was dimly lit and she laid silently in the bed as they entered. Her eyes were open as she stared blankly up at the ceiling. Her room smelled like the flowers that lined the window seal, but the scent was dry and more mournful than comforting. As Sora entered there was a unnerving shiver that played along his spine. He immediately felt as if he was intruding. However, he swallowed his feelings down with a soft gulp. As uncomfortable as this situation was, the dead look in Ayaka's eyes reassured him that she really was someone in need of her friends.

"Happy birthday, Ayaka," Kairi whispered in a voice so soft it was suited for a child. "My friend, Sora, and I came to celebrate with you. Do you remember Sora, Ayaka? He told me you two may have been classmates when you were young."

Ayaka turned her head in one of the most lifeless motions Sora had ever seen. It was as if Ayaka had just allowed her head to fall on its side. Her face was pale, her skin was almost transparent and her appearance was frail from the obvious lack of substance. Her eyes were aimed in Sora's direction, but it was as if she was blind and she could not really see.

"Happy birthday, Ayaka," Sora nervously managed to say against the unwelcoming atmosphere the room had to offer. "I'm sorry you are so sick on your birthday. We brought you ice cream cake." He attempted a wide smile with his last line, but it felt awfully unnatural.

"Thank you," Ayaka whispered with a nearly silent breath of air.

As if a saving grace, the sound of the clunk of metal signaled Ayaka's mother opening the heavy door to walk into the room.

"Look at this, Ayaka! You have visitors!" she said in such a cheerful voice that chased any cold air out of the room. "Kairi, we're so glad you're here. And, you brought a friend!"

Kairi slightly bowed her head. "Yes, this is Sora. He came to help Ayaka celebrate. We brought cake."

"Ice cream cake," Sora added, taking ownership of his proud addition to the hospital room birthday party.

"That's wonderful! Ayaka loves ice cream," her mother talked as if Ayaka was in any condition to have an opinion on the matter. "What do you think Ayaka, wouldn't you like some ice cream cake?"

Ayaka responded with a silent, slow nod. Her eyes were now locked on the floor tiles.

"Well, then. I'll go get us some tea and then we can celebrate!"