For such a composed man, DiZ's office looked like the aftermath of a hurricane followed by a dozen tornadoes. Things from unfiled papers to books to diagrams and even misplaced wrappers from takeout cluttered the room. Only a few were brave enough to suggest that DiZ clean it or at least organize it, but they all got the same "genius has its own methods" speech about how if the room was disturbed in even the slightest bit, DiZ wouldn't know where to find anything. Regardless, he took into stride that he needed a desk to work at, so the only thing really visible was said desk, and the chairs on either side of it. DiZ sat with his back to the window at his desk, erect purely to assure others their leader was fine. Kairi sat across from him, arms on the rests of the chair in defiant fists.

"A broken heart?" DiZ stroked his chin as though his beard was still there from decades ago.

"Well, yeah, what else would it be?"

"It could be a number of things related to the heart."

"I'm telling you, I know it's a broken heart!"

"Prove to me it is."

"I don't know, but, you could just tell by looking at it," Kairi's voice turned somber, "You could feel this ache in your chest. Not from fear or fatigue or anything like that. It felt like losing someone. Someone… very important."

"That all sounds very interesting, and I will keep it in consideration, but I hope you know that hallucinations are a common side effect of demon poisoning."

Kairi slammed her fist on the desk, "I know what I saw, asshole! Ask any of the others, they'll testify!"

"Inside voice, Rosekey. Language."

Kairi opened her mouth wide and yelled, punching the desk with each word, "FUCK. YOUR. LANGUAGE."

The chair skid back when Kairi stood up and left the office, stomping her feet on the way. All down the hallway she growled under her breath.

"Fucking asshole shitdick prick donkeyfucker I went all the way to the first floor without a shirt or a bra to tell you this fucking important detail and you're all like," Kairi closed one eye and spoke in a mock-deep voice, "Oh you were just hallucinating stupid bitch you didn't practically die for nothing yeah well," she flipped off the office door now a few meters behind her, "UP YOURS, ASSHOLE!"

"Geez, Kai! Get your twat in a twister?"

Kairi jumped, swerving to see a woman in black gear enter the Institute. Yuffie Crosswheel, an elder cousin of Kairi's that lived at the Institute, smirked at her and approached.

"DiZ giving ya trouble?"

"Motherfucker wouldn't listen to me."

"I'm sure he took into account what ya said and ya just read it wrong."

"How do you know?"

"Cuz that's the kind of bitches we are," Yuffie put her hand on her chest, using a fake Shakespearian accent, "'Our fire doth burn so bright, it easily blindeth us.'"

"That was the cheesiest bullshit I have ever heard."

"Hey, The Great Shadowhunter Yuffie can be poetic!"

"She can try."

Yuffie shoved Kairi playfully to get shoved back. Ten years older than Kairi, and the only difference between them was that Yuffie was more of a lech while Kairi couldn't care less about romance of any kind. As Kairi's parents were important Clave members, they resided in Idris, the homeland of Shadowhunters, to keep the government running. They left tomboy Yuffie to care for Kairi. Yuffie undoubtedly rubbed off on her, though kept her lust under control so she could raise Kairi properly. She taught the little redhead that it was alright to love things other girls didn't, like monster trucks instead of princesses. If it'd been anyone else teaching her the ropes, Kairi would've never cursed as much as she did, especially in front of her superiors.

"Well, I'm done with the fuckin' night shift if ya wanna go mano-a-mano. Or are ya still recovering?"

"I'm fine, just lemme get my gear."

"Oh, no, I wanted ya to fight without a shirt on."

Kairi was momentarily startled by Yuffie's serious tone. Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was kidding or not, "Um."

"What? Ya never know if a demon's gonna rip your armour off. Gotta learn what it's like to throw away dignity and focus on the enemy, even when your tits are flappin' in the wind."

"Because The Great Shadowhunter Yuffie knows so much about dignity."

"Listen, that one time was an accident - -"

"You ran after a guy completely naked into the middle of the street calling him a, and I quote, 'filthy demon-herpes infested pile of elephant shit'."

"Yeah, fucker deserved worse…"

"Yuffie, all he did was use your damn toothbrush. That was after you fucked him, and after his tongue was in your mouth."

"I don't fucking care if we exchanged saliva! Sharing a toothbrush is just gross!"

"... Okay, I'm getting my gear. I'll meet you in the training room, slut."

"Back atcha, bitch."

The two went their separate ways, Yuffie to the training room, Kairi to the lift. She pressed the up button and leaned back against the elevator's walls, heaving a sigh. This wasn't the first time Kairi had faced off with death. Once, she came even closer to it, when she was only three years old. She still lived with her parents at the time. The Rosekey couple were instructed to join the party on their way to an area where demonic activity was reported. Kairi wanted to help, but was too young and had little to no training. Her parents told her to stay home with the babysitter. Whether it was Nephilim instinct or plain stubbornness, Kairi waited until the sitter fell asleep, then slipped out and followed her parents' party. She was one of the lucky Shadowhunters that could prematurely summon their Keyblade. This fact gave her confidence that she had enough talent and skill to help take down any enemy. Consequentially, Kairi's ribs were shattered by a Gigas Shadow, though her spirit remained strong. Kairi was always one to dive head-first into danger, but the first time she was gravely injured was long before she had made any friends. Now there were more people besides her family that cared about her.

I hope I didn't worry them…

A few minutes later the doors slide open into the third floor. Kairi pushed herself off the wall, readjusting the blanket around her torso, and continued walking. Her room was near the farthest end. As she passed the first few doors, Kairi heard a small thud behind one. Her heart set off when she realized it was Sora's.

"Sora?"

There was no response.

"Sora, I'm coming in!"

The door wasn't locked. It actually opened quite easily. A limp figure was what was leaning on the door, and slumped forward onto the floor when it gave way. Kairi's head buzzed in a frenzy. She bent down to turn it over.

"Sora?"

Sora didn't move. Instead, he let out a sort of snort, rolling onto his side, facing Kairi. She saw the dark bags hallowing his cheekbones, the jumble of brown spikes all messed up. The brunette was still in the same pants he wore yesterday, but his shirt was missing for some reason. Kairi placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled slightly so she could see the faint remains of an iratze between his shoulderblades. Other than that, Sora seemed perfectly fine. He was just exhausted from staying up all night after the fight.

Kairi smiled, "Oh, Sora…"

It was then that Sora's eyes opened. They were a little hazy from the brief slumber, but quickly cleared up as he blinked a few times. Sora looked awestricken up at Kairi's face. A moment passed, and Sora moved. He pulled himself toward her with his arms, not getting up, staying on the floor. Sora reached her, muscles tense on his back and biceps. Kairi kept completely still as he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her stomach. The boy began shaking, and Kairi felt the blanket dampening.

"Sora…"

She leaned forward to enclose Sora's head in her arms, placing her head on his. Kairi rubbed his hair soothingly.

"C'mon, you need some sleep. DiZ told me training was put on hold, so you can sleep all day if you want. Up we go."

Kairi gradually got to her feet, Sora reluctantly releasing her. She took Sora's arm and held him up, letting him use her as support as they hobbled to his bed. The girl tucked him in, bringing the covers up to his chin and fluffing his pillow. Before Kairi could get up and leave, Sora grabbed her wrist.

"Don't…" he whispered, "Don't leave me."

Kairi sat back down.

"I thought I could accept it, but… I can't… Don't go, Kairi. Please."

"It's okay, Sora. Go to sleep." Kairi whispered back, brushing his bangs out of his eyes with her fingertips.

"Just… promise me you'll be there, when I wake up."

It was a while before Kairi replied, "Sora, I can't say that I'll live longer than you. We're Shadowhunters. Every day is a surprise. But, I can assure you," she met his eyes with a warm smile, "I will always, always, be there," she pointed to her heart, "In here."

Sora's tears lessened. He beamed at her, eventually nodding off. Kairi made sure he was fully out, then spoke hushedly.

"I'm so sorry, Sora. You stayed up all night waiting for me. When I finally came, you were barely there. I'm so sorry for worrying you. I… I swear on the name of the Angel, that I'll be more careful… Sleep well."

The curtains were closed, the doors were shut, and Kairi left Sora to the sleep he so needed.

Okay, Kairi. This is good. Now you know your purpose.

It's really simple.

Every time Sora wakes up, you need to be there.

Always.