*******

It wasn't until fifteen minutes later Sora returned. Something wasn't right, I could tell by the look on his face. He sat down next to me again. I waited for him to say something, but I figured that he was waiting for me to say something as well.

-What's up? I asked concerned.

-Its Riku. said Sora suddenly. Oh my god, I knew it!

-What about.?

-You were right, he said quietly looking at me. -He was in some kind of accident, ah. I guess his dad and him got into a fight and it got a little carried away. All they told me was that he had a concussion. I sighed, sure I had assumed the worst, but I couldn't help but pray that I was wrong.

-Is he okay? I asked urgently.

-Yeah, the doctors say that he should be ready to leave by Thursday at the latest. I mean, I'm sure, knowing Riku, he's ready to leave right now, but they just want to make sure that there's nothing else wrong with him. Sora explained. I nodded, this was only a little overwhelming, I mean. Who would have ever expected something like this to happen?

-Can we go see him? I questioned, still picking at the remains of my muffin.

-Yeah, actually, my mom is here. I guess we could go now if you want to.

-Of course, I insisted as he stood back up and I slowly followed. We checked out in the office and I called my mom to tell her that I wasn't going to be at school and everything. I followed Sora and his mom out to her car and we drove to the hospital.

The only hospital on Destiny Islands was pretty far away from it all. It was way passed town nearly on the whole other side of the island, mainly where the 'richies' lived. I supposed they figured that they needed first class attendance if one of them were to get hurt.

I watched the rain pour over the interstate. It was such a dreary day and I guess it kind of brought my mood down. I leaned my head on the window and rested my head in my hands.

The entire car ride was silent. When we finally got to the hospital I waited for Sora to get out and followed him around to the other side of the car where his mother rolled down her window.

-Okay kids, I'm only on my lunch break and I don't really prefer hospital food. I'll be back in, oh, say fifteen minutes or so. I'll meet you there all right? She questioned as Sora nodded and began to turn away. -Oh yeah, and don't do anything that you're not supposed to. Remember, it's a public place. A strangely lit expression came upon Sora's face as he raised one of his eyebrows and gave his mom a confused frown. -Oh, now, you know what I mean, have fun. She called after us as she began to pull away.

Sora and I silently walked into the building and stopped at the front desk. Obviously Riku's mom had been waiting for us there, because there she was, standing, before we got a chance to do anything, pulling us along to room number fifty-six.

-Oh, thank you guys for coming down to see him. He's in a bit of tight spot right now and I really feel he needs some friends to talk to. He's very angry you see, because they won't let him go home. He doesn't quite seem to understand that he needs to stay here. His mom rambled. Sora and I casually nodded a she left us at the door. -Well, I'm starved, and Riku wants me to go find him. what was it again? Some kind of mineral substance; oh I don't know, well he's in there. She said as she walked away. -Oh and try not to be too loud, he's been having these really bad headaches this morning, I suppose just some withdrawal symptoms from the concussion, but other than that he seems to be okay.

-All right, I smiled. Man she just keeps talking and talking, leave already.

-Okay, you three be good now. She smiled as she turned and walked away. What was with it and parents telling us to be good, did I really have that bad of a reputation?

Sora slowly opened the door to the darkened room; the only light coming from a dimly lit fluorescent on a ceiling tile. Sora and I entered slowly as I tried closing the door without making a sound, but squeaked a horrible noise as I clicked it shut. Riku looked over to us, obviously startled.

-Oh, hi guys. he said slowly. I smiled as I pulled up two chairs by his bedside, one for me and one for Sora.

-How do you feel? I questioned, as I was blissfully unaware of what else to ask. What do you ask someone who is in the hospital?

-I'm fine, really. I seriously don't see why they won't let me go home. He replied with a little annoyed tone in his voice. -I mean, maybe it's the fact that I can't stand up without falling down, but that's only a minor set back, nothing we can't improve with modern science. I laughed. I guess he was feeling okay. But I couldn't help but notice that he was lying in an awkward position that didn't look at all to be comfortable.

-So, what really happened? Sora questioned intently as he drew his hands up to his chin much like a physiatrist would.

-I donno, my dad just got kind of mad, you know, like he normally does. Got a little drunk, threw something's, apparently knocked me out I guess. But I can't really remember any of that. They also said that I had amnesia for a little while there and that I couldn't even remember who I was. Oh well, can't really expect me to remember that either.

I sighed, -Well, I'm just glad that you're okay. I smiled as I sat back in my chair a little.

-Yeah, Kairi was all freaked out this morning because you weren't in school. In fact, she was flippy just because you weren't on the bus. Said Sora.

Riku laughed a little and looked over at me. -Thanks. for worrying, but I'm okay. Always have been, always will be. He smiled, showing all of his perfectly aligned, perfectly whitened teeth.

-So, you'll still be going to the dance, right? I questioned.

-Wouldn't miss it for the world. He replied. I smiled. I guess this was a good way for us to start over, maybe he didn't remember what he had said last night. I was glad because things didn't seem awkward between us, like I thought they would be. Riku's mom appeared at the door carrying a tray of 'things'. She set it down on Riku's nightstand and handed each of us a Styrofoam cup of coffee. To Riku, she handed a cup of milk. Man that kid, he drinks more milk in a day than a cow produces in a lifetime.

-Thank you, I smiled as I took a few creams from the tray and handed Sora a packet of sugar, four packets actually, the guy was a little obsessed.

We sat there for another ten minutes taking about randomly selected topics of which really had nothing to do with anything.

-You know, maybe you guys could go and walk around a little. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt; you've been sitting down for quite a while. Riku's mom suggested. Riku began to sit up when his mom stood up to stop him. -Now not so fast, you'll get lightheaded. Remember what happened this morning? Riku sighed and threw his legs over the side of the bed in mock- slow motion.

-That better? He questioned angrily.

-Yes, thank you. Do you think you can walk? His mom questioned as he his feet feel to the floor and he held onto the bed for his life.

-No, he replied. -But what's wrong with standing? He questioned as a small grin came to his face. His mom sighed and pulled out a wheelchair from the other side of the bed.

-Use this, she said as she took his Iv and attached it to the little stand on the. thingy. Oh yeah, I suppose that I forgot to mention that Riku's mom was also a nurse. I guess that's a good thing in times such as these. His mom took his arm and helped him move over to it.

-Look, I'm not paralyzed; I still have the ability to move on my own! He exclaimed as he plopped himself down in the chair. And gave his mom an 'I told you so' kind of look. I suppressed a small giggle as I stood up next to Sora. The three of us walked, and 'wheeled', around for a little bit, discussing the last time the three of us had been here together when Sora had broken his leg. Of course, we were only here for a few hours because Sora didn't have to stay over night or anything. I just took a long tome because attempting to use crutches only hurt him more then they were supposed to help. Oh well, good times. We eventually found ourselves hanging out in the cafeteria. That's when we ran into Sora's mom and after much discussion finally convinced her to let us stay with Riku for the rest of the day. Who needs school any how, knowledge may give you power, but power leads to corruption and this was not at all a good thing to have. Anyway, time passed by like it used to, without a care. And when three o'clock rolled around we had some more visitors. Well, Selphie, to be precise. But someone was with her, almost like a miracle, it was Tidus.

-Hey guys, how's life been? Tidus questioned as he walked into room number 56 behind Selphie. Selphie was purely beaming as she dragged him in after her. Man, I hadn't seen Tidus since the beginning of last summer, before I went to camp, what a surprise.

-What are you doing here? I questioned as the two of them pulled up more folding chairs and sat down.

-Well, Selphie called me and told me about Riku here, I figured, hey, I'm going on vacation today any how so I got the 'rents to drive me over and we came to say hi. He explained.

-So, if I had known someone getting hurt was all you he needed to come for a visit then I would have landed myself in this place months ago. Selphie exclaimed. Tidus smiled, though unwilling to show any teeth. He closed his eyes for a second then began nodding slowly.

-So Riku, how are you feeling? I wanted to come earlier with these two, but no one told me, said Selphie as she frowned indignantly.

-Yeah, we were all very shocked. Said Tidus looking over at Riku.

-We? Riku questioned almost aggressively.

-Well. I was at least. Prep. School guys aren't very friendly. In fact, they nearly celebrated my leaving. Obviously thought that I wouldn't be coming back. Quiet a bit of a shock to them when they see my return. He smiled. I nodded knowingly, sounds like the girls at my camp, I suppose that's why I tended to hang out with the guys, but then the girls would get mad at me, saying that I was 'stealing there men'. Oh well, the guys didn't seem to like them much either.

The rest of the day wore on like this, lost in meaningless conversation. Sora's mom came by later to pick the two of us up. That's also when Selphie and Tidus decided they'd leave as well. I felt kind of bad for Riku though, the noticeable disappointment on his face when the room became empty. His mom had left again to tend to some patients and I something didn't feel right about leaving him alone. I stood by the door watching him as he stared out the window. The rain still refusing to stop.

-Kairi, you coming? Sora called as him and his mom stood out in the hall.

-Um, sure, just give me a minute. I replied as he nodded and led his mom further down the hall. I closed the door slightly and stepped back over to Riku's bed.

-I'm sorry we have to leave you, I said as I sat back down. He turned to me and gave a half0hearted smile.

-Don't worry 'bout it, you'll be back tomorrow, right? He questioned.

-After school. I said lightly suppressing a smile.

-That's okay, he replied. I stood back up and kissed his forehead.

-Feel better, all right. I smiled as I walked back over to the door and sighed, with my back facing him. -And, Riku, you're not just some meaningless heartache, I said turning back around. The smile, thank god, on his face didn't fade, not even a little.

-I know, he replied lightly. I smiled again and turned back around to leave, this time making it out the door not turning back to look at him, not even once.

*******