I lay curled up but fully awake on the cold tile floor of Namine's bathroom till morning. I had cried for what I thought must have been an hour before the flooding stopped and I just stared out the window, hiccupping pathetically. Now curled against the door holding my knees and feeling more awful than I thought possible, I heard footsteps. I felt the rhythmic knocks on the door resonate on my back, and closed my eyes as she spoke.

"Kairi? Are you in there?" I didn't…couldn't answer at first, but I swear I could feel the worry coming off of her in waves. "Kairi?"

I swallowed hard and tried to speak. What came out was a horribly garbled attempt at "yes". I could see her pausing in my mind, but felt her sit down in the hall. She must know I'm sitting against the door…

"Hey…are you alright hun…? I woke up and you were gone. Your side was cold too…how long have you been in here?" I heard her place her hand on the door, and turned my head to only see white wood. But I knew what she looked like on the other side.

"Y-yeah…I just felt sick last night…and—"

"You're sick? Let me in so I can see you." I felt a pang of guilt at the tone of motherly worry in her voice. I shifted myself then reached up above my shoulder and twisted the lock. She stood up quickly and opened the door. I was sitting against the cabinets now and just stared at the bathtub. I couldn't look at her. She paused for a moment, before crouching down on her knees next to me. My eyes were out of focus and my bangs hid most of my face. She inhaled a little loudly, and then took a hold on my arm then gasped. "You're freezing…" I knew she wanted me to look at her. I felt her brush some of the hair out of my face and let her hand linger on my cheek. Thinking that she cared so much for me only brought back the turmoil in full. I groaned quietly.

Her hand moved to my forehead and felt for heat. Her other squeezed my crossed arm sympathetically. "You don't have a fever…but you're freezing all over. Come on back to bed before you go hypothermic or something." I could tell she was trying to comfort the both of us, but I didn't want her to. Not now…when I deserved nothing more than a cold glare. She started to pull me up, and I felt my cramped muscled scream out in protest. Wincing only made her pull me faster to her bedroom.

I could see where she had been sleeping, her form temporarily indented in the bed. She led me to this side and I let her slide me in, where the warmth greeted me happily. My dead gaze was directed at one of her drawings on the wall. I let her fuss over me for a few minutes, fixing the pillows and sheets and my hair. She only stood silently for a minute, obviously not knowing what to do.

"Kairi…" I swear she sounded more worried by the second. "Are you…Can I get you anything, like medicine? I could make you some soup or get some water too, you must be—"

"No. Please…I'm not hungry…or thirsty…I just don't feel well." I could see her nod in the corner of my eye. Namine walked to the other side of the bed and climbed on. She scooted close to me and pulled my shoulders gently till my head rested on her shoulder, then wrapped a protective arm around me.

What kind of person am I…that makes a friend worry so much over nothing? I should be the one comforting her…after all…we are best friends.

My thoughts stopped when she started stroking my hair. I felt the burning behind my eyes but no tears could come out. I felt so awful. I knew exactly what she wanted me to do, to tell her what was wrong so she could at least help, but how could I? I didn't know what was wrong other than the immense guilt churning in my stomach. I then realized I had let out a sleepy sigh and she paused her hand.

"You tired? You should go back to sleep…" she whispered. I sat there for a second longer before I finally let my eyes find her face. She didn't look worried like I expected her to be, only a little hurt, which made it all even worse. I just let myself stare at her for a moment. Her eyes were still a little droopy from sleep, and her clothes and hair were mussed too. Seeing her bed head made me crack a small unintentional smile. She raised her eyebrows. "What?" I just smiled wider at her reaction.

"Nothing…I just really like how you look when you've just woken up." I replied. She let out a little smile too and I felt just a little better right then.

I didn't know what was wrong. All I knew was that when I saw her pale and cold on my bathroom floor it was real. Something was really eating her up inside, but I didn't want to push. All I could do was comfort her in whatever small ways I could. And when I saw her crack that small smile, her eyes got just a hint of the growingly familiar fire, it made my side of it all worth it. I knew she couldn't tell I was feeling butterflies when she said it, but part of me wondered if she ever felt the same.

I smiled back at her. "Really…?" I hadn't meant to whisper it.

"Yeah… it's cute." Kairi replied. My eyes got wide and I actually blushed. She smirked at me for a second before she returned to my shoulder. That was so incredibly touching, and all I wanted to do was kiss her.

I settled for pulling her just a tad closer.

x x x

I'm really sorry I havent updated in forever, but life has been problematic. I'm hoping to work harder on this story again. :) hope anyone of you enjoys it.