Chp 9: Angel

Disclaimer: I don't own KH or "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan

A/N: The other day I was listening to my Linkin Park Meteora CD for the first time. As I was listening to it, I was filled with inspiration for this story. I then sat down with the lyrics and came up with a plan for the rest of the story and I finally decided how I wanted it to end. I decided to go in a totally different direction for ending the story. The story is gonna be more angst now so brace yourself if your sensitive. And if y'all read this story and are very confused by what Riku's feeling and are all like "what's his problem?" then I'm glad because I'm going for Riku's emotions coming out in a confusing way and I want people to also be like "he's so stupid!". So bare with me.

~*~

Kairi ran as fast as she could through Traverse Town, turning corners and running through puddles. She finally reached the Traverse Town hospital inn and pushed the doors open as she ran in at full speed. She bent down in exhaustion as she was breathing heavily. When she bent back up she saw Faye sitting in a chair with her hands folded nervously in her lap, the neighborhood guys standing around talking sadly, and Betsy crying softly in the corner. Kairi hurried over to Betsy and sat down beside her. When she did Betsy grabbed Kairi's hands and continued to cry. Seeing Betsy cry was unbearable. Tears were starting to form in her own eyes.

"Betsy, what happened?" Kairi asked with tears on her breath. Betsy continued to cry.

"Oh Kairi, I can't say it. It's too unbearable for me to even think about it. The doctor is over there in that room baby, he'll tell you what happened to him."

"Ok," Kairi replied. She was starting to grow very scared. She squeezed Betsy's hand affectionately and took a deep breath and got up to talk to the doctor. She walked over to the door and opened it slowly. A doctor was inside looking at the skeletal charts of a patient.

"Um, doctor?" she said timidly.

"Yes? How can I help you?" he replied.

"Are...Are you treating Riku?"

"Yes I am." Kairi paused.

"...What happened to him?"

"He had a nervous breakdown and fainted, breaking two rib bones in the process."

"What?" Kairi asked in an appalled tone. She couldn't believe it.

"I'm sorry ma'm but that's what happened to him."

"Now what exactly happens in a nervous breakdown?" Kairi asked.

"You get a nervous break down when you can't psychologically adjust to the situation that you are in." Kairi froze. She eyes grew wide and she became numb all over.

"Is something wrong miss?" the doctor asked. Kairi didn't respond for several seconds.

"No, I'm fine." She replied slowly. Kairi turned around and walked slowly to the door. As soon as she closed the door to that room Kairi burst into tears. She ran over to Betsy and hugged her. Betsy continued to sob and hugged Kairi back tightly.

"I'm so sorry baby." Betsy said through her tears. Kairi sat down beside Betsy and continued to cry.

"Betsy this is my fault! People his age don't GET nervous break downs!"

"Aw honey," Betsy sniffed, "It wasn't all your fault. Faye had a lot to do with it too." Kairi continued to cry.

"Yah but I still feel awful in being partly responsible." Betsy hugged Kairi tightly once more. They continued to cry together for a while. Then they heard a door open. They pulled out of their embrace. Faye walked through the door as it closed slowly behind her. Faye didn't move for a while. She just stood at the edge of the door. She wiped away her tears softly and then sat back down.

"That door that Faye just came out of," Betsy said, "that's Riku's room. You can go visit him now." Kairi paused for a while. She gazed at the door. She got up slowly and inched to the door. She turned around and looked at Betsy with a scared expression on her face. She smiled at her reassuringly. Kairi smiled back. She took a deep breath and walked into Riku's room.

~*~

Kairi sat in a chair beside where Riku was lying. He was sleeping. He had just had surgery in his ribs. A nurse was walking here and there fixing the room up and thumbing through files. Kairi never took her eyes off of him. Her eyes were lost in this stare. Her purple eyes, shining with tears, gazed into his face as her heavy thoughts sifted through dust. A single tear fell down her cheek. The nurse turned around from her work and saw Kairi's eyes filled with tears of sadness. This brought a smile to her face.

"You must really care for him don't you?" she asked softly. Kairi nodded slowly. The nurse smiled.

"You know when he came in here and he found out that he had a nervous break down, he was furious. He kept screaming about how he was weak. When we tried to get a psychiatrist to come and talk to him to see what was troubling him, he threw a letter opener at her. Before his surgery he even told us not to give him the pain medicine because it was for the weak. He's such a silly boy, yet he's so remarkable." Kairi smiled.

"Yep that's Riku." The nurse smiled.

"Well I'm gonna leave you two alone right now. Good-bye." Then she left the room. Kairi continued to gaze at Riku with tears in her eyes. So much was going through her head. She couldn't put all her emotions into words. She wanted to go where Riku was right now. She wanted to take him into her arms and never let go. She wanted to run one million miles just so she could see him smile. Tears fell again from Kairi's face. She lifted her hand and held Riku's hand. His fingers were hanging limply above hers. She closed her eyes tightly to fight back her tears. A tear fell from her eyes and she sang the song she sang to him earlier slowly.

"When will you laugh again?

Laugh like ya did back when

We'll make noise till 3 am

And the neighbors would complain."

Kairi bent her head down and cried softly. Then she felt something move in her hand that was holding Riku's. His fingers slowly clasped down onto her hand. Kairi smiled. Her spirit was lifted but she still mourned for Riku.

"Oh Riku, when will you ever find comfort again?"

//Spend all your time waiting for that second chance

For the break that will make it ok

There's always some reason to feel not good enough

And it's hard at the end of the day

You need some distraction or a beautiful release

Memories seep from your veins

Let you be empty and weightless and maybe

You'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the Angel, far away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn

There are vultures and thieves at you back

The storm keeps on twisting, you keep building on the lies

That you make up for all that you lack

It don't make no difference, escaping one last time

It's easier to believe

In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness

That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the Angel, far away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

In the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here//

~*~

The hospital had closed for visitors. Kairi stepped outside and took a deep breath. She wiped away the last of her tears. She took one step but when she did someone called out to her.

"HEY!" they shouted aggressively. Kairi turned around it was Faye. She was stomping towards her with tears of anger in her eyes. Her mascara was running to almost the bottom of her face.

"Who do you think you are!" she shouted. "This is ENTIRELY your fault."

"No it's not," Kairi replied calmly and softly.

"YES IT IS!" she yelled back.

"You're the one who slapped him!" Kairi said back in a defensive tone.

"I don't care! You still are the one who...."

"WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?" Kairi boomed. "Riku's laying in the hospital right now and you wanna fight about THIS? Are you THAT self-absorbed." Faye gazed at her with icy eyes.

"I'm not fighting. I'm TELLING. This is REALLY your fault. People just don't GET nervous break downs Kairi. Did he ever have one when he lived with you? No! But he had one after you came back into his life! You screwed it all up big time Kairi! If you hadn't have come here I wouldn't have slapped him...we wouldn't be fighting so much...he wouldn't be so angry...he wouldn't cry..he wouldn't..." then Faye couldn't go on speaking her sobbing broke her words up. She bent over and continued to cry. Kairi didn't now what to do. She looked so sad and helpless.

"Faye..." Kairi said softly. Faye turned her head and gazed at Kairi with her tear-filled emerald eyes.

"..It's all you fault," she repeated in an icy tone. And then she stormed off sobbing. Kairi watched her run off in a confused way.

"...Maybe there's more to her than I think.."

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That's all for now! I'll get the next chappie up as quick as I can! Please R/R ^_^

Peace Out,

Kia Saphia