It's You
chapter twenty-two
--

There's always something
In the way
There's always something
Getting through
But it's not me

It's you, it's you

Sometimes ignorance
Rings true
But hope is not in
What I know
It's not in me
It's in you, it's in you

It's all I know
It's all I know
It's all I know

-

"It's Sora! He's in critical condition! You have to come back!"

Sora!

My heartbeat raced.

Critical condition?

No, it was all a lie. It was all a stupid lie for me to get all worked up about him, and keep the two of us on better terms.

I just saw him! It's impossible for him to be hurt!

It was all some sort of sick prank.

But I looked into Riku's eyes, and there was no humor, no amusement in there. "Oh my god..." I muttered, looking around frantically for some way off this boat! "Stop this ship!" I cried out to no one in particular, and in return, no one heard me, as I was the only passenger, and the captain was buried away somewhere deeper in the ship. It would take far too long if I tried to find him!

I looked over the railing, my gaze in the rushing ice cold saltwater, fear in my eyes. I never was one to swim; not after practically drowning when Sora and Riku had teamed up on me, and dunked me into the sea one day years ago. I had never cared for swimming since.

I looked up, my gaze meeting Riku's. I could see his hope fading as he grew smaller and smaller with each passing second. I could hear the sound of a breathless girl panting echo throughout my head as I leaned over the railings, farther and farther...until I could feel myself falling.

My stomach flipped inside out, and I felt like my heart was flying away, as I dived into the deep cerulean.

And then I hit the sea, in a perfect diving form.

I broke out to the surface, gasping for air, the current strong. I looked back to the ship, sailing away at full speed. There was no turning back now. How was I supposed to get to shore? I could barely keep my face above water, and with each coming wave, the saltwater crashed against my face, filling my mouth, staining my eyes.

My eyes were pressed shut, darkness creeping in me, this vile liquid filling my lungs... I felt myself sinking...

Then, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, lifting me out of my watery grave. I choked and coughed out the seawater, my vision slowly fading back in. Aqua eyes stared back at me―Riku. His stare looked merciless, as if he was angry or something, but I knew him long enough to know just how worried he was inside.

With him carrying me in his arms, we quickly made it back to shore, where I coughed up some more of the water. "Th-thanks Riku..." I managed to say as I looked up to him, on my hands and knees, completely drenched. "There's no time for that," he muttered rashly, "Come on, let's go."

He lifted me to my feet, so easily, making me feel so light, leaving me to run after him with the little energy I had left in me. He was much faster than I had remembered, and quickly disappeared from my sight, reducing me to following his wet footprints. At the end of the trail, I found him with a cab, the passenger's seat door open widely.

"Come on, Kai," he mumbled, wrapping me with a blanket and ushering me into the vehicle, and I obeyed without a second thought. He slipped into the seat next to me, hardly closing the door before he ordered the driver, "Angita Hospital, and step on it!" And with that, the driver sped off, nearly throwing me out of my seat.

-

When.

Where.

Why.

How.

There were questions piling up in my mind that I wanted to ask him, but each little inquiry seemed so insignificant compared to the fact that Sora was hurt, and I needed to see him. I had to see him.

When did it happen?

Where did it happen?

Why did it happen?

How did it happen?

"It wasn't even an hour after he left you," Riku began, as if he were reading my thoughts, "I met him outside of his place, I could hear Janice crying and screaming, though I couldn't quite make out the words. He had just broken up with her."

"Really.." I mused, trying my best to sound sympathetic, despite the fact I could feel my spirits lighten in the slightest. "I'm so sorry for her!"

"Sure you are." Riku remarked, giving me a not-so-friendly look, not believing my act for a second. "Well anyways, she took it quite hard, you know, and Sora just couldn't stand seeing her like that, so he left the house, where I met him. We were going to go talk, but not before Janice ran outside and shouted straight to him 'I hope you choke on your own spit and go back to the hellhole you crawled out of!' I could see Sora's face staring wide at her in pain and sorrow. You just know there and then his heart was shattering into a million pieces.'

I felt myself cringing a bit.

"And can you guess why on earth he would break up with her?"

My eyes snapped shut, tight, Riku's sarcastic words ugly and vile.

"So we were walking down the street, Sora completely broken down," Riku continued, actually trying to make me feel horrible, "He didn't know what he was gonna do, or how things could possibly get better. All he wanted was just to get away from all of this. And you know what? He got his wish."

My gaze quickly averted to the window, where I found even less comfort, as my eyes widened in horror. Lined with the yellow CAUTION tape were police cars, and on the ground, pools of the garnet liquid.

"That's where it happened," Riku whispered into my ear, enveloping me in a nightmare I just couldn't wake up from. "Not a minute after he said that, a truck came down this street, at full speed. I managed to jump out of the way, but I guess with all that was weighing him down, he just couldn't react fast enough. I remember that look he gave me just before it happened. It was a haunting look, his eyes wide with horror, face pale with shock, screams unable to release, and it was in that haunting state that he was hit, and there I was, just a few inches from him; so close, yet so helpless."

I turned to look at Riku now.

I realized, it wasn't just me enshrouded within this torment, but Riku, who had to actually watch his best friend.

My icy hands felt their way into his, where I squeezed it tight. "We'll get through this together, Riku, Sora's gonna be fine."

I don't know if Riku really believed what I was saying, hell, I didn't even believe anything I was saying! I mean, I hadn't even seen him, or the condition he was in, but really, it couldn't be that bad! That boy can be a real thorn in my side sometimes, you know. That lack-of-common-less, stubborn boy won't, no can't, give up. He'll make it through without much help.

Right?

-

"Sora!" I cried out, taking off in a full-out sprint through the hospital wings, ignoring the little nurse who shouted 'No running!' at me. To hell with her!

"This way," Riku led me through the maze, all the while dodging victims in wheelchairs and crutches.

After what seemed to be an eternity of chasing, Riku led me into a mildly crowded room, a few of doctors surrounding what I could barely make out as a body covered by a clean white sheet. "S-Sora...?" I whispered, edging closer, hands out in front, lightly lifting the sheet from his face, as if I were afraid to touch him.

He was asleep―or at least I hoped he was. His reddened face showed stains of blood, which had been mopped away, it looked.

I'd stare intently at the patient monitor every now and then. The line wove up and down, and I think my stomach followed its course. And then...the pattern of lines straightened out to form a continuous straight line. I think I died right there.

"Sora!" I cried, tears spilling fast, "Don't you dare die on me! You can't! You promised you'd come with me to the carnival, remember! You - you -"

The green line shifted a little.

I felt my tears come to a halt.

"You can hear me, I know you can!" I cried, my appearance a mess, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I got all worked up! Sora, you idiot! I lo-"

"Sora!" a voice far too familiar interrupted mine.

The figure dashed in, pushing me out of the way. She pressed her pink tinted lips hard against his, all the while crying her apologies, and that 'she didn't mean anything she said.'

My whole body stiffened.

Oh silly me.

Janice will always be number one in his heart.

Gingerly, I wiped away the tears that stained my white face and straightened my posture. Without uttering another word, with my head in the air, I turned around and marched straight out the door.

"Kairi..."

My mind went blank.

I could've sworn I heard Sora's voice just now.

But I refused to face them, and I left the building, quick.

After all...Sora was dead...

-

I stood on the bow of the ship, the wind pressed against my face, the chill refreshing on my hot face. Tears stung, and I refused to let myself cry for him again.

After all, it's his loss.

One day, he'll awake from that coma, and he'll beat himself up, and think to himself,

I could've had something beautiful.

-

I find peace when
I'm confused
I find hope when
I'm let down
Not in me
In You
It's in you

I hope to lose myself
For good
I hope to find it in the end
Not in me
In You
In You
In You

It's all I know
It's all I know
It's all I know

-
-end part one
-

Author's Notes

Ugh...time's slipped by me again, and it's been another two months between updates... You know, I started this one week after my last post, and wow, I just hated this so much, and there's really nothing I can/want to do to it now to fix it, but I promise my writing will shape up by the time I start the second part of this fic!

I just want to say a BIG thank-you to the following:

aliasfan, Blowing Kisses, Daggerly, Zanisha, Araclyzm, Aurora Australias, luv1ny0u, Juzlovnsora, khfan, Astaldotholwen, madcow863, Brittany, Lady Hitokiri, classengurl, gssff, zilly, Shinimegami Sky, Da UnDeRsIgNeD, (yeah, we all hate you, but like Candace once said, you were still a reviewer...) Infrared Rayz, Ohbaby;, x3 Apolla, Kintora, pastel cutout, silentchill, NekoMiko-Kagome, Cmdr. Defiance Nighthawk, a girl, Me, Zaliassa, darkreality11, Xux, Ichigo Engine, meeeee-stir-eeee, wishingstargirl, kerricarri, Mai xp, Hikari of Hearts, Mah, psy001098121, Kiba's Mate, Lorok, COOL!, AeRiSdOnO, xlilxsaxkuxra, and YukKi.

I know how awesome a nice review can make you feel, but you have to remember this: the number of reviews you get doesn't measure how good an author you are (I know, cuz I suck! xP) Haha, but anyways, thank you guys so much! I've made so many close friends through this site and this story, and you know what, it's been a blast! If I still don't know you very well, feel free to drop me a line, saying 'Hi Lyphe' or "You don't suck! You're the best!' (haha, yeah right, I know xD) But really, thank you guys- hugs everyone -

Anyways, I have two new story ideas I want to try out right away. They're pretty original, I think, but I'm still debating with myself with category to submit the first one in. I think Kairi would be more in character as the main female in my idea, but Gippal would be so great as the leading guy... So I'm pretty torn. Any ideas? Suggestions?

Well anyways, happy Valentine's Day to anyone who's reading! (wow, I really should stop posting on holidays...) Wow...I should really get off my lazy ass and finish all those one-shots I started or write a Valentine's Day themed one... x3

-lyphe-