Genre: AU, fantasy

Pairings: ?

Warnings: Memory loss, peril, action violence

Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words

When he opened his eyes, it was with a small sense of accomplishment. He remembered something. In retrospect, it was a very small thing. But it was a very important thing just the same. A name. His name.

"Sora," he whispered, wishing his throat wasn't so dry. "My name is Sora."

"Nice to meet you, Sora," came an unexpected reply.

He started. Pain flared in his body, starting a coughing fit. Moments later cool hands were soothing him, pressing a glass against his lips. He managed to swallow some water, and that helped.

"Easy," came the voice again. Female.

He remembered it from last night. He opened his eyes to peer into dark brown depths. "Kairi, right?" he said, voice failing.

She smiled brightly. "That's right," she said encouragingly. "Did you remember anything while you slept?"

He shook his head, letting his eyes fall shut. "Just my name. I wish I could remember . . . why I hurt this bad. How I got hurt."

"Well, I wish that too!" Kairi said, grinning. "It's not every day cute boys just fall out of the sky covered in bruises. I bet that bump on your head is the reason for your amnesia. Riku still thinks we ought to take you to a hospital."

Sora shook his head vigorously. He didn't know why he didn't want to go to a hospital. He only knew the thought frightened him. At the moment, Riku and Kairi were the only two people in the world he knew.

"It's not as bad today as it was yesterday," he assured her.

She smiled. "Good. Are you strong enough to get up? Do you want to take a shower? That would give me time to run to the kitchen and make some breakfast. Riku brought you some clothes earlier you could change into. They'll be too big, though. He's taller than you."

Gingerly sitting up, Sora was pleased to note he was strong enough to stand. Doing so hurt, but he could do it. Kairi pointed to the bathroom, looking pleased as well. When she left, Sora padded into the small room.

Feminine touches were everywhere. After a brief perusal he decided he liked her taste. There was a lot of pink and white, accents in purple and blue. Nothing clashed, and everything fit together nicely. Rummaging in a closet he found a clean towel and stripped out of his plain white clothing.

The horrible discoloration on his body drew his eyes to the mirror. He gasped. Bruises mottled nearly every inch of skin across his chest, waist, and back. There were also bruises across his hips and pelvis.

God, did I fall a thousand feet? No wonder I ache so much. What happened to me? Try as he might, he could not dredge up a single image or memory. His mind was a blank slate. Nearly hissing in irritation, Sora turned his back on the mirror and started the hot water. At least he remembered his name. That was a good start.

He discovered right away he could not shower. The water, even when trickling, beat too hard on his bruised skin. So he settled for a bath, and that felt nice. The heat made his aching muscles relax, and Kairi's shampoo smelled nice. Like an open meadow of flowers.

By the time he dried off with the thick fluffy towel and dressed in Riku's jeans (they were too long) and black tee shirt, Kairi had returned. This time Riku was with her, and he smiled.

"Good morning. Kairi told me you remembered your name. Nice to meet you, Sora. God, you look better."

Kairi smiled, too. "Much. A shower was just what you needed. Hope you like waffles. They're Riku's favorite."

Feeling inexplicably shy, Sora just nodded, sitting down on the bed again. His strength was far from returned. Kairi clucked her tongue.

"Let me put a band-aid on that nasty gash," she said, lightly touching the skin below the wound on his temple. She disappeared in the bathroom for a moment to reemerge with a first-aid kit.

Sora sat still while she dabbed some sort of antiseptic cream onto the wound and gingerly covered it. The cream obviously had some sort of pain-suppressant, because it soothed the stinging.

"There!" she chirped. "All better. Now, do you like jam or syrup on your waffles?"

Not knowing whether he even liked waffles, Sora shrugged, instantly regretting it. "Um, jam I guess," he replied.

She smiled. "Me, too. All right boys, dig in. I made sausages, too."

o0o

Riku watched Kairi fuss over her new charge with a faint, constant smile. He was a little surprised to find himself completely charmed by Sora. The boy was sweet and innocent, a lot like Kairi herself. He wasn't sure why he wanted to help him so much, but never in his life had he felt so strongly about anything. It just felt right.

Someone banged on Kairi's door, startling Riku out of his introspection. Blinking, he turned, not sure he wanted anyone knowing about Sora yet. It would be too . . . awkward. He wouldn't have answers to any questions.

"C'mon you guys," an unmistakable voice drawled from the other side of the door. "We know you're in there. We smelled Kairi's waffles. It's Saturday! Let's do something!"

Rolling his eyes, Riku looked at his best friend. "Your call," he said.

Kairi sighed. Rising, she paced to the door and pulled it open. Roxas, Axel, and Namine stood there. Axel wore his usual Goth black, his flaming red hair spiking at all angles. Roxas had an arm around Namine's waist, and the pale blonde girl looked very cute in a pink dress with long sleeves.

"Sorry," Namine said, grinning contritely. "I tried to hold them off."

Riku caught Kairi's upset glance. She obviously didn't want them knowing about Sora, either. The boy in question looked nervous, eyes flicking back and forth between Kairi and Riku.

But Axel took the decision to shelter him out of their hands. He pushed past Kairi and barged into the room. "All right, Riku, you can't have them for yourself—" he began, but he cut himself off when he saw Sora resting on Kairi's bed. "Well, I'll be damned! Kairi, who is this in your bed? When did you get a boyfriend? He's cuter than butter! I'm Axel. And you are—?"

"Sora," the boy said softly, sounding hopelessly shy, and Riku had to admit it was cute . . .

Axel apparently thought so too. "Sora! Kairi, ain't he a little young for you . . .? And you, Sora! Going for the older girls!" He clapped Sora on the back.

Riku leaped to his feet as Sora went livid, hissing in pain and falling to the side. Axel looked amazed as both Riku and Kairi roughly elbowed him aside.

"Are you all right, Sora?" Kairi said gently, her hands stroking Sora's face—the only part of him not visibly bruised.

"What's wrong with him?" Axel demanded, sounding a little shaky.

"He's hurt, you ass," Riku snapped. "We think he was attacked."

At these words, Namine immediately left Roxas' side to join Kairi. "Where?" she asked her sister.

Kairi made room for her slightly older twin. "Bruises. Everywhere. He can't remember what happened."

Namine hummed soothingly as she eased her sister's new friend down onto his back. With delicate fingers she pushed the tee shirt up to expose his stomach and chest. She sucked in a sharp breath, vaguely hearing her boyfriend and his best friend curse.

"That must be painful," she murmured sympathetically. "I have a cream that's supposed to help with bruises if you like, Sora."

His incredibly blue eyes met hers, and he nodded. "Thank you."

She looked at Axel. "You can go get it. You know our door code. It's in the bathroom above the sink."

Axel, looking somewhat subdued, didn't argue for once and quietly left. Namine watched Riku rise and beckon Roxas to follow. Making sure they were gone, she turned to her sister.

"How much of his memory has he lost?"

"All of it," Kairi replied, eyes fixed on Sora, who held her gaze. "He remembered his name this morning, but nothing else."

Namine directed her next question at the boy himself. "Have you had any visions? Flashes?"

"Some," Sora confirmed, "but none of them make any sense. And I don't see anything long enough to even remember what I saw, let alone what it means."

She nodded. "It's best not to try to rush anything," she said, looking at both of them now. "Don't try to remember. Just let it come."

"Namine's taking Psychology courses," Kairi explained to Sora. "Specializing in memory recall."

Sora just nodded, looking worn out.

o0o 0o0 o0o

In Heaven, something was wrong. Horribly, frighteningly wrong. God called a messenger to Him. She bowed low, and He embraced her with His Light.

"What is Your will, Lord of All?" she asked.

"There are dire workings on Earth," He answered. "Bring to me Arch Angels Cloud and Aerith. Hurry, my child. Go with utmost urgency!"

She spread her wings without another word, immediately taking to the skies. He didn't wait long for the two most powerful Angels in Heaven to appear. They landed as one, their long, gleaming wings vanishing. Neither of them bowed, but Arch Angels never did.

"We sensed it, too," Aerith spoke without waiting. Her green eyes were grim. "The Key of Heaven is missing."

"Yes," God confirmed. "The Darkness pulled him to Earth. He fell last night. Cloud, Aerith, I am charging you two with finding him and safely returning him to Heaven. I suppose it need not be said what would happen if the Queen of Darkness found him."

They both shook their heads. "We'll find him," Cloud said, once more spreading his wings. Aerith slipped her hand into his, and the soul-mated pair flew off.

God watched them descend from Heaven. Find them in time, my warriors. Without him, Heaven will surely fall.