Here's chapter ten. I'm sorry that updates are going at a slower pace than before. As my exams are drawing closer, I must spend more time studying, even though I would much rather spend time writing this. You can expect updates at a faster pace once my exams are done.

"You slept well last night, Sora."

"Not really. The bed was rather hard. It's much more comfy to sleep on the beach of Destiny Islands. Then again, looking at the reason, why I'm here, it's safer to sleep here. But I'd rather not be here. I'd rather be at home."

"I know, son."

Sora was groggily sitting up in the hospital bed. He was trying hard to stay awake, as the strange hardness of the mattress had made it almost impossible for him to sleep during the night. Nikkou was sitting next to him in the wooden chair. She smiled softly at her son, gently stroking his hair. Sora wondered what Kairi would say about what he had said about him finding sleeping under the sun if she were present and aware of his disease.

"When did you wake up, Mom?"

"About two hours ago. You were still in the land of dreams, so I went to see one of the nurses and asked if they could bring breakfast up to you.

Sora grinned and rubbed his hands. While he did not enjoy being kept in a hospital, he always enjoyed the food there. When he had been five, Sora had broken his arm and was kept in a hospital overnight. He had been reluctant to go to sleep, but did eventually drop off, waking up to find a plate of waffles topped with ice cream waiting for him. Sora licked his lips, remembering the taste. "I hope I'm getting waffles again."

Nikkou chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. "Well, Sora, I asked the nurse if you could have something-"

Before she could finish, there was a knock on the door. Nikkou got to her feet and approached the door. She opened it to find a nurse standing outside. Nikkou smiled and took a few steps back, allowing the nurse to step into the room. She had pale skin with long flowing brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a blue uniform and was carrying a bowl of fruit. She smiled when she saw Sora. "Good morning. I brought your breakfast."

"Thanks! Where is it?" Sora asked hungrily.

The nurse gave him a confused look, the approached the bedside table, setting the bowl of fruit down onto it. "Here it is. Some nice healthy fruit."

Sora looked at the bowl of fruit in surprise. He looked up at Nikkou, then at the nurse, trying to hide his disappointment. "Um...thank you."

"My pleasure." With a smile, the nurse walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Nikkou sat down on the wooden chair. She could sense her son's disappointment, but tried to encourage him to eat the fruit. "That looks nice, doesn't it, Sora?"

"Mom!" Sora whined, looking up at her. "Why did you get me fruit? I wanted something sweet to eat!"

"I know, Sora. But you've got to eat healthy food, especially with your condition."

Sora sighed and reached for the bowl of fruit. He took hold of a green grape that was on a bunch. Pulling it off, he put it into his mouth and chewed slowly. "I'll be glad to get out of here."

Later on, over at her house, Kuuki had just finished washing up her dishware. She was standing in her kitchen, which had black and white checkered floor tiles, pulling the plug out of her silver sink. The dirty water was sucked down the drain while she placed the last plate she had washed onto a large pile of dishes that were stacked up on the draining board, all sparkling white.

Kuuki then looked at the round clock that hung on one of the whitewalls of the kitchen. It had just gone ten to four in the afternoon. Kuuki checked the watch she was wearing on her left wrist. "It's nearly visiting time at the hospital. The dishes will dry while we are out."

Kuuki stepped out of the kitchen, walked past the doorway that led to her sitting room and walked though her corridor, which had a wooden floor and lime green painted walls, stopping at the foot of the staircase. "Riku! It's nearly time to go!"

Waiting patiently for her son, Kuuki heard Riku's door open and close. Slowly, the sixteen-year old boy made his way down the stairs. He stopped in front of his mother, looking down at his feet.

"What's wrong, Riku?" Kuuki placed a hand on her son's cheek, looking at him in worry. "Is it about Sora?"

Riku looked up at his mother with sad blue eyes. "I've just been on the phone to one of our friends. I told her about Sora's condition. She was so heartbroken. She's going to meet us down at the hospital."

Kuuki gently caressed her son's cheek. "Who is it?"

"When is Riku coming?" asked Sora, turning over in the bed.

"It's only four o'clock now," replied Nikkou with a smile. "He won't be long now. Eat some more fruit while your waiting."

Sora slowly turned his head to face the fruit. He had only eating since the morning a few grapes and an orange segment. He looked up at the white ceiling tiles. "No, thanks."

Then came the sound of a knock on the door. Nikkou smiled softly. "That'll be Riku now."

Sora smiled and watched Nikkou walk towards the door, opening it wide. Sure enough, Riku was standing there, a friendly smile on his face.

"Ah, Riku," exclaimed Nikkou. "Thank you for coming again. Is your mother here?"

"She's down the corridor. I ran on ahead of her."

"I'll leave you boys to chat." Holding her smile, Nikkou left the room and walked towards the corridor on her right, leaving the door to the room open. Sora and Riku smiled at each other.

"Thanks for coming again, Riku."

"No problem, Sora. Only this time, I'm not alone."

"Not alone?" Sora raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"You've got extra company, Sora," Riku smiled. "A girl, as a matter of fact."

"Extra company? A girl?" Sora instantly went into a state of alarm. He looked at Riku with an expression that was mixed of anger and shock.

"What?" Riku asked, looking at Sora with puzzlement.

"RIKU! I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL KAIRI!"

I would have carried on writing here, but for fun, I decided to end this on a cliffhanger, leaving you to wonder whether the extra company is Kairi or not. It could be. You never know. I'm not gonna reveal until the next chapter. Feel free to say in the reviews who you think it is. :)