Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts (II), Sora, Kairi, Riku, etc.

Author's Note: Hi, everybody! Sorry this took so long…I had a lot on my mind. I'm sorry! But anyway, I'm glad most of you really liked Chapter 13. Most people called it my best chapter! (13 is my lucky number, after all, even though that's pretty weird…) Well, I hope you like this one. I found it kind of corny and pointless, so…sorry.

Warning: Corniness up ahe…wait a second!!! What's with the roses are red…? (Cut off)

Quick Author Babble: Cough. I apologize for the corny chapter name.

Chapter 14: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

It was scary, where Sora was. He beat himself up everyday for letting Kairi do this to herself. He'd visit her everyday, was at her bedside every free moment of his time. It was scary where Naminé was too—she realized it was hard to live without her sister. She would go into Kairi's room and look through all her pictures, letting out the tiniest sob as she passed hers. It was scary where Yuffie was, wondering where her best girl friend had gone, her high spirits sinking as low as it could possibly go. It was scary where Mr. Ire was, not being able to concentrate at work knowing one of his daughters was unconscious in the hospital. It was scary where Mrs. Ire was, because whenever she was in private, she cried as hard as she could, worrying over Kairi. It was scary where all of SCARF was, knowing their friend and most important member was gone, and maybe gone forever.

But Kairi was in a place beyond all that. She was in a place far scarier than the rest, far more lonely, far more life sucking. She was trapped in her own mind, in an endless abyss of darkness. Her eyes refused to open, her ears refused to listen, her mouth refused to speak, her nose refused to smell…sometimes her lungs even refused to breathe. She was unaware of all the people around her, because even though she was almost never alone, inside her it was empty—far away from reality. She was unaware of the tears that were cried everyday for her, unaware of the hands that held hers, unaware of the doctors that kept her alive each day. Kairi was unaware of the time passing by. But Kairi was always aware for something…a voice. Every moment she was lost in her mind, giving up hope to find a way out, a voice spoke to her, calming her, from deep within the darkness.

"I miss you. I bumped into Riku today and he asked me where you were. I told him you were in the hospital, and he was quiet after that. He just left. He's so strange that way."

That's what the voice said to her one day, waking Kairi up from her long sleep in the shadows.

"Dr. Ryan said you were doing much better…that your skull is patching up quickly. You're hydrated again, and your blood is starting to flow normally. Kairi, you've come such a long way…You can't give up. Not now. Not when I'm finally seeing hope after all this time."

Deep inside her heart, Kairi was listening, aching for her lips to move, to say she was trying, but her mind was still dark and empty and contained no thoughts and barely any demands to her body.

"You're looking better too. You're face isn't pale anymore, and you're so…beautiful."

There was another urge to open her eyes and see who was talking to her, but once again, her brain refused.

"My friends think I'm crazy, coming here everyday just to see you and talk to you as if you were listening. You know what? I believe them. But what's the point of coming here and just looking at you as if you're already dead? It's like asking you to die, and I'm not going to do that. Because I know you're going to live, Kairi…I know you will."

Kairi felt the smallest glimmer of hope go through her heart.

"I'm…kind of tired. It's getting late. I should be heading home, before it snows. I…I…"

Then there was silence. Kairi felt herself return to the quietness of her mind, returning to the long sleep that awaited her.

111

Something different greeted Kairi's eyes one day. It wasn't the usual darkness of the cold loneliness of her mind, but instead light. Light—Kairi hadn't seen light in so long, that her eyes nearly burned as she opened them.

She was surprised at all the whiteness surrounding her. It was quiet, but in a comfortable sort of way, like it was meant to be. Faint streaks of golden sunshine shone across the pearl tiles.

It took Kairi a moment to realize who she was. The last thing she remembered was a very frantic person leaning over her and the warm sand brushing her skin. She was on a bed now, covered in a warm, thick sheet. It was white, like the rest of the room.

She put her arms up over the sheet. Her right arm was connected to two, long wires connected to bags filled with water and blood. Her left was connected to a machine checking her pulse. There were two shelves stacked high with fruit baskets, chocolates, "Get Well" cards, stuffed animals and other things.

Kairi reached over and picked one of the teddy bears off the shelf. It looked strangely familiar. It was brown and incredibly soft, and had the name "Kairi" stitched in it with blue thread. Yes, Kairi remembered this—it was her birthday present from Leon.

There was a small card attached to its ear. She opened it up and read:

I thought you might like this. I hate hospitals, and I'm sure you do too.

-Leon

Kairi giggled. Obviously it wasn't only the voice that had faith in her waking up. Kairi picked up a fruit basket and picked up another note from it.

I thought you might be hungry when you wake up, and hospital food must be awful, so I got you this. Enjoy.

-Hayner

Kairi smiled and picked up a box of chocolates.

Naminé told me you had a sweet tooth.

-Roxas

There was a stack of CDs, and Kairi immediately knew who that was from.

If you ever get bored of the quiet, MAKE SOME NOISE!

-Yuffie

Kairi laughed, remembering her good friend. Her hand grabbed a picture frame and she felt a tear streak down her face at the picture of all of her friends waving at the camera.

We miss you.

-Olette

She picked up a hairbrush and looked at the note attached to it.

You may be in the hospital, but you've still got to keep up on your looks!

-Naminé

Kairi laughed. That was her sister alright. She picked up a box of cards lying close to the front.

Let's play when I visit.

-Pence

There was a vase of freshly picked flowers right beside Kairi, with a note stuck onto it.

I know you've always loved the flowers in my garden, sweetie, and the hospital rooms are so dreadfully dull.

-Mom

Kairi felt another tear go down her cheek. Her mom. She missed her so much. A stack of books lay on the other side of her.

I know how much you hate to go without reading, and it must be so boring all by yourself.

-Dad

Kairi smiled. Mr. Ire had picked her favorite books. She gasped at the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen. She picked one of them up and smelled them.

They smell just as sweet as you are. If only they were as pretty as you are.

-Sora

Kairi's heart skipped a beat as she read the note over and over again. She felt her face flush. And she quickly put the rose down. As she moved her hand back down, she felt her fingers skim something—something hard and cold.

Kairi backtracked and she picked that something up, and gasped in surprise at the golden locket that was now hanging from her fingers.

Don't forget this.

-Riku

Riku had visited her! Riku had come. She opened the locket to reveal Sora's picture, and she laughed, even though tears were streaking down her face. He did care. Everyone had been wrong.

Kairi put the locket around her neck and realized how much it stuck out compared to her bland, white, hospital robe. And that's when she heard it—the soft snoring. Kairi halted and turned to see Sora, fast asleep in his chair.

"Sora," Kairi whispered, as if telling herself not to forget.

Sora turned, clearly still asleep.

"Kairi," he said, startling her.

Kairi kept quiet, and realized that voice sounded incredibly familiar. He was the one who had been talking to her. Him!

Kairi decided not to wake him up. Instead, she hugged the teddy bear Leon had given her. It really was the softest thing she had ever touched. She removed a rose from the bouquet Sora had given her and smelled it, letting it soothe her.

That's when everything hit her.

She was in the hospital for some reason. She didn't know what time it was or how she'd gotten here. She was suddenly scared. She squeezed the teddy bear harder.

Kairi took a book from the stack and started to read to calm her nerves. It wasn't working—she was trembling too hard to read it properly.

Sora had been the person she'd seen before going unconscious. Sora had to be the person who had taken her here. Sora had to be the person who told everybody that she'd been…

Hit.

Kairi suddenly remembered it now. She'd been hit by a rock—a big one. But where had it come from? She looked at her left arm. Her wrist was in a cast. She felt her numb ankle.

It had been Logan and Landon. It had to be. There was no other explanation.

Kairi felt her head and yelped as she touched the tender scar she now had. Sora stirred. Kairi held her breath. His eyelids fluttered for a second, but once again returned to their peaceful stillness.

Kairi put the rose back into its bouquet. She looked down at her book, Ulysses by James Joyce. It was her all-time favorite novel. Kairi flipped it open and started to read.

111

After an hour, Kairi realized the sun was rather pale. Sora was still asleep. What time was it? It had to be early morning.

One of the weak sunrays sank through the window, shining its dull light on Sora's face. His eyelids trembled. Kairi slammed her book shut and put it back on her bedside table. With a mischievous giggle, she fell against her pillow and pretended to be asleep.

"Mm…" Sora murmured.

He shook his head and his eyes opened a tiny bit. He sat up, letting out a big yawn, and stretched. He blinked a couple of times and looked around the room he was in.

"Don't tell me I fell asleep here again…" he remarked with a sigh. "Mom's going to kill me."

Sora looked up at Kairi, who was desperately trying to keep a straight face as she pretended to be asleep. He walked over to her and touched her softly on the lips. Something inside Kairi leaped.

"Smiling, are you?" he asked. "I don't know how anyone smiles in a place like this…Huh?"

He pulled away suddenly.

"What's this?" Sora questioned, and Kairi felt the chain around her neck move. "Kairi wasn't wearing this yesterday…Don't tell me Naminé came here and didn't wake me up!"

Kairi heard something click open. Sora had opened the pendant. There was a long moment of silence, and she felt him drop the chain back down. Sora neared her, and his face was so close to hers she could feel his breath.

"You're more than you appear, Kairi Ire," he said.

Kairi couldn't help it. Her violet eyes snapped open, her face glowing. Sora jumped back, surprised.

"Kairi!" he shouted.

"H-Hi, Sora…" Kairi stuttered.

There was a very long moment of silence. They just sat there, looking at each other—Sora stunned, Kairi confused. Finally, Sora drew in a breath.

"You're alive," he breathed.

"You're here," Kairi said with a smile.

Sora smiled back at her, tears of relief sliding down his face. He hugged her, his breathing hard.

"I was so worried about you," he said, his grip tightening around her. "Don't ever do that again, got it?"

"You idiot!" cried Kairi, her voice a bit choked. "You've got some nerve, giving me orders after I saved your life!"

Sora laughed, even though it sounded rather forced.

"Why'd you do it, anyway?" he asked. "If anyone should've been hit…"

"It should've been me," Kairi finished for him. "You…you didn't deserve it…"

"Don't say that!"

Sora just sounded angry now. He was trembling.

"If I'd protected you like I should've…none of this would've happened…"

"S-Sora…y-you moron…stop beating yourself up over nothing…"

Kairi buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent—a mixture of sea salt and cinnamon.

Oh, God… Kairi thought. I'm crying. I'm actually crying.

"How long have I been out?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

Sora tore away from her, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Well…it's Christmas holidays…" he said.

"What?!" cried Kairi, tempted to leap up. "I haven't bought any presents yet! Oh no…oh no…"

Sora laughed.

"It's okay," he said. "I think you have a pretty good reason."

As Kairi urgently ran through the list of presents she had to buy through her head, another idea struck her.

"Sora, if it's Christmas holidays, what are you doing in this miserable place?" Kairi asked.

"Um…well…"

"Sora, you're not visiting me, are you?"

"Uh…"

"Sora!"

"What?!"

"I can't believe you're missing your Christmas holidays just because of me!"

"What, you'd prefer it if I didn't visit you?"

"Well…you don't have to come everyday! Ugh…I hate you! How could you do this to yourself?! You're such an idiot!"

"Kairi…"

"No! No, no, no! Go celebrate Christmas with the people you love!"

Sora crossed his arms. Kairi glared at him.

"Go!" she shouted. "You're making me feel worse about this…coming in everyday…You're crazy…"

"You really want to be alone?" Sora asked.

Kairi looked around the empty, soul-sucking room. No, she didn't, and she honestly really wanted Sora to stay, but he had to go. It was Christmas holidays—Sora should be with his family at home in front of a warm fireplace, not in a cold, quiet hospital.

"Y-Yeah," Kairi stuttered. "Go."

Sora looked at her, obviously unconvinced.

"You're lying, aren't you?"

Kairi shot up.

"No, I'm not! Go…really…It's okay…"

"Liar."

Kairi looked up at Sora, whose blue eyes were twinkling knowledgeably. Kairi suddenly realized she probably looked terrified.

"I'm going to stay right here until everyone else comes," Sora said. "It shouldn't be too long now. The doctors check up on you every morning."

It was obvious Sora had made up his mind. Kairi moved over and Sora lied down beside her. Kairi listened to the quiet and the loneliness of the hospital.

"I want to get out of here," Kairi said.

"And you will," Sora remarked, looking at her. "As soon as we make sure you're okay. How's you're ankle and wrist doing?"

"They're numb. I can't feel them."

"I'm just glad you're alive. I was…"

Sora turned away from her.

"I was scared."

"Sora…"

"Promise me you won't ever do anything like that ever again."

"But…"

"Promise me."

Sora stared at Kairi, his cerulean eyes sinking right though her.

"I promise," she whispered.

"Good. I worry about you, you know."

"Well, someone's getting sappy! I can be sappy too, you know…Let's see…Roses are red…"

Kairi picked up a rose from the bouquet and tickled his face with it, making Sora laugh like crazy.

"Violets are blue…"

Sora grabbed the rose from her and twirled it around in his fingers.

"Uh…"

Kairi paused, trying to think of something sappy.

"Love never crossed my mind until the day that I met you," she finished, turning to look at him.

"Hmm…that was alright," he said.

"You have something better?" Kairi asked, crossing her arms.

Sora shrugged.

"Do tell," Kairi remarked.

"Roses are red, violets are blue…" Sora began. "When I'm with you, my heart feels brand new."

"Roses are red, violets are blue. At times when I'm blind, I could only still see you."

"Roses are red, violets are blue. When I have nothing else to look forward for, I still have you."

"Roses are red, violets are blue. When thinking of love, it's like thinking of you."

"Roses are red, violets are blue. I'll save my last dance only to dance with you."

The competition went on like this for what seemed like hours, until finally Dr. Ryan came in and nearly jumped in surprise as he saw Kairi wide awake.

"Oh, Kairi, this is a miracle!" he cried happily. "I'm sorry, Sora, but you'll have to leave for inspection."

"Okay. Bye, Kairi."

Roses are red…

Sora stopped as he was about to leave the hospital room.

"Whoops," he said, turning around and chucking the rose to her. "I forgot to give this back."

Kairi caught it with her good hand and twirled it around in her fingers.

Violets are blue…

"Oh, and Sora!" cried Kairi, making him halt again.

Sora turned around. Kairi reached into the vase of garden flowers her mom had given her. She threw one of the flowers at him. Sora caught it and looked at it, laughing a bit.

"A violet," he said. "Very funny, Kairi."

Dr. Ryan also laughed, looking patient as ever.

My heart jumps at your smile…

Kairi laughed lightly along with Sora.

"I guess I better go. I'll come back soon, okay?"

Kairi waved and watched as Sora disappeared through the doorway. She looked at the rose sitting in her lap and sighed.

And I promise that I'll wait for you.

Spam Hearts Zexion: Oh…I'm sorry you have the flu! It wasn't Zexion. It was Logan and Landon (as I explained in this chapter). Thanks, and Kairi does get into a lot of 'em…

- d a y j u a n a: I like angst too. Yeah, Kairi doesn't deserve it, but Sora doesn't either…and ONE of them had to get hit, because I was getting bored. Doesn't know who Shakespeare is??? Wow. I already checked out your update.

SimplySarah1221: Ha, he's already crazy. Logan and Landon. I honestly don't know what they did…They're just JERKS, is all. I know…Banana Phone…I wonder who thought of that…

Inspire-Illuminate: Ha, Sora needs a big hug. (Pushes Kairi towards him) Do your job, darling. Thanks for reviewing!

Midnight's Falling Star: AND MIRACLES HAPPEN!!! (After a month and a half or so…) There's another statement, though. "Revenge is sweet." (Hint, hint.) Poor all of them! Oh, that's good. Maybe I'll check it out sometime.

Rahi-1: I see. Oh, I'm sorry you didn't like it. Yeah, I know my ending sucked. Sorry, sorry, sorry! Cookie? (Holds out box of cookies) I made this chapter happier…Actually, the happiest it could be, considering all the stuff that's going on…Sorry. (That's, like, the hundredth time I've said that.)

LOTRchic: She won't die! She didn't die! Thanks for reviewing, though. I'm glad people actually care for this story.

Bexmar: Yeah, she won't. Case closed. (Slams down red stamp on the computer screen) Thanks! Oh…yeah…well…Leon CAN be emotional when it comes to things he cares about. I'm glad people besides me like depressing stuff! Thanks for reviewing!

MOOnlite-dUSk: Yeah! And…yeah. Well, yes, there are more Riku fans than I thought. (I even found a website all about him. It's so CREEPY…) Well, thanks for reviewing!

KeiraLoveKH: Yeah…Well, he's always had a soft spot for Kairi…Well, here's your update!

Valor999: Thanks! Here's your update!

Isler: Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it! Here's your update!

Cheychey41: Thanks! Yeah, poor Sora. I should!

KiaraFay: You are?! Were?! Thanks! Here's your update!

xMiStReSsOfHeArTsx: Thanks for your anxiousness! New reader? Well, thanks for reviewing…and reading!

Zestychicken2: Okay, good. Yeah, she is. Thanks! Oh, I don't think so…The normal story is pretty tragic, if you ask me. Thanks! I'm glad I'm in your top five! I know, I guess they thought since they were all together on a beach they didn't need a cell phone. I mean, all their friends are there, right? Who is there to talk to? Yeah, neither have I…but at the beach there are these HUGE rocks, and I think they could do some pretty serious damage. Thanks for reviewing and here's your update!

JesusRocks!!!: I know. Well, my answer to your question is in the answer I gave to zestychicken2, but thanks so much for reviewing and I'm glad you liked it!

Well, now I feel awful, you guys. To top the last chapter which I got tons of awesome reviews for with THIS one makes me feel horrible and stupid. But…I hope you review anyway. Please? I'll give you cookies.

Anyway, just to make it clear, this was supposed to show (obviously) that Kairi woke up. It's also supposed to show that Riku still cares about her, and she WANTS TO GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. Alright, I'm done.

Read and review!