A.N. Just a little background info for this story. It takes place about a year before the events of "birth by sleep," meaning Sora and Riku are about 3 or 4 years old here. Also, there are a few OC's in this, but they're only my personal take on what Sora's mother and her best friend are like. I don't think they'll be Mary-Sues, so nothing to fear. That said this will obviously be another angst fic, since I specialize in them, but it wont be a graphic fic like "Bait" was. Enjoy!

Chapter 1.

Saria nearly slammed the newspaper she was reading onto the table. She had just read a follow-up story about a young couple who had died in a car crash nearly two weeks ago. What had made her so angry was the matter of the young boy that had gone missing after the crash.

There had been evidence that the child was in the car with his parents when the crash happened, but he seemingly disappeared by the time the authorities arrived. They had given up on a search for him after two weeks, speculating there was no way someone so young had survived for that long. That and the fact that the poor child had no family left to claim him if he was found.

Family or none, you do not simply give up on a child! Saria continued to seethe, trying to think of what would happen if her own child was in that situation. She couldn't. All she kept getting were images of him cold, hungry, frightened, and in pain. She hated the idea of someone so young suffering like that. She looked into the living room, spying her son curled up on a chair watching cartoons. Sora, her shining light. She would do anything in her power to protect him.

XXXXXXXX

"Hey, Saria! Let's walk home together!" Came the jovial chirp of Tsurukaru, Saria's best and closest friend. The two worked together and lived right down the road from each other. Since Tsurukaru was a new mother, Saria personally thought it would be best if she didn't overexert herself, but the weather had been so nice lately that she chose not to deny her the fresh air.

The two took the walk at a leisurely pace, enjoying the feel of the sun beating gently down on them. It was too good to last, as about halfway into their walk, it became overcast and started pouring.

"Now of all times!" Saria cried in exasperation as she tried to shake the rain out of her eyes. The rain was freezing, not one of those typical warm summer rains, and last thing she wanted was her and her best friend to become ill. Lightning flashed across the sky, followed closely by the deep clap of thunder.

"Tsurukaru, we should hurry, it's getting stormier by the minute!" Saria looked over at her friend to see that Tsurukaru was not even listening to her. Her focus was elsewhere, and as Saria followed her gaze, she realized why.

There was a small, forlorn looking form lying on the side of the road. At first, Saira thought it was some poor animal that had met it's demise by traffic, but as they got closer, they soon realized that it was a child. Tsurukaru ran to him, scooping him up gently and feeling intently for any signs of life. He had a pulse, and was breathing, although shallowly. But he was so cold, and too light for a child his age.

Saria crouched beside her friend, running a hand through the child's dirty silver hair. He looked like he was about Sora's age. She got a good look at his face and clothing, and suddenly her blood ran cold.

"Tsurukaru... It's that boy... the one from the car crash almost two weeks ago!"

End of Chapter 1.