"You're waking up!" A voice called out from the darkness that came from my closed eyelids.

"Ki…?" I didn't finish. I couldn't. My voice cracked.

"Here." A cold glass was put up to my lips. It was raised, and I opened my mouth for a small sip of water. I swallowed, after much difficulty.

"Thank, you." I opened my eyes. Kid smiled down upon me. He wore his normal suit and tie. I turned my head to see it was exactly two thirty. "Shouldn't you be in school…?"

He shrugged. "I got out like half an hour ago. I was worried about you."

I sat up, propping my pillow. I leaned against it for support over my pounding headache.

"You played hooky?"

"Sort of. Oh!" He reached into his small pocket and grabbed out a small orange bottle with black and white pills inside.

"I don't believe in modern medicine…" I don't. I crossed my arms.

"Well, believe it or not, neither does Stein." He popped opened the cap and shook out two pills. He pushed them in my face. "He made them himself." Kid pushed it against my lips. I kept them shut. I shook my head no.

"Oh come on. I trust Stein, and I would never give you anything that I thought was unsafe." He pushed it further. My eyes widened at his sudden words. Slowly, I smiled a bit and opened my mouth. He dropped it in. "Swallow."

I attempted, but the pill seemed resistant. I began to cough. I grabbed for the glass of water and swallowed the rest of it, along with the defiant pill. I panted hard after that thing took its toll on me.

"What did you give me?" I asked, grabbing an ice cube and sucking on it. My stomach gurgled, making my face red. It silenced.

"I asked Stein for some good medicine for the common cold." He smiled. I placed a hand over my forehead. My face still was warm, but the temperature definitely went down.

"Wow…" I said. "Give Stein my thanks."

He smiled. "Okay. Here," –he pressed the small bottle into my hands- "Take one every three hours for a few days, and the bug will completely go away." Kid stood up. "Would you like something to eat?"

My stomach answered for me. I giggled.

"Here." Kid handed me a small plate with toasted bread, fried eggs, and a small cup of tea.

"Thank you." I gave him a piece of toast before slowly tucking into my very late breakfast. He munched small bites while looking around the room, checking for symmetry, I guessed.

"So…" I began, wanting to have a conversation. There was really nothing else since I couldn't go out.

"Hmm…" He glanced at me.

"I don't know…" I stared back at him blankly. I was mostly staring at his hair, his three white stripes on the left side seemed like a punk dye. I decided against asking him what the hell they were, since it wasn't symmetrical.

"How about this…?" He wiped his hands together. "Why were you repeating my name in your sleep?" I choked on my eggs I was eating. I coughed, gulping all the tea down.

"W-what?" I didn't remember anything from my dream, except knowing I had a dream. I waved my arms in front of him. "I-I did not!" My face went red. Did I really dream about Kid?

"Hahaha, just kidding." Kid sipped his glass of water and crossed his hands together, setting his chin on the bridge of his knuckles, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "You're so funny went flustered."

"Shut up." I punched his forehead

"Oi, Kid! Heard you played hooky!" I opened my eyes to see Soul at the doorway with Roxas. I was laying down on the couch with a thin blanket pulled over me while Kid read on the opposite couch. I was just about to drift to sleep when the door slammed open and two intruders intruded.

I turned onto my side and covered my ears with my pillow. Soul was stomping towards me.

"Does Soul have to be so… loud…" Sleep called to me again. I felt weight near my feet, and let go of the pillow covering my face to see Soul sitting at the end of the couch.

"Well I'm sorry. Maybe you shouldn't play out in the rain." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Roxas flinch a little.

"What...?" I turned to where I was looking at the black couch. My white pajama shirt suddenly felt uncomfortable. Realization hit me.

How does Soul know I was sitting in the rain for so long I got sick?

…

Roxas.

The voices became fuzzy murmurs. I laid onto my back and kicked Soul in the arm, pressing my foot against him. I liked my leg space, and he was taking it.

"Hey!" Soul grabbed my ankle and threw it over the edge, turning me to where I was close to the edge also. I closed my eyes. I was so tired, I didn't want to move away from the couch that was slipping from me. I was falling.

Suddenly, someone caught me and placed me back on to the couch. The blanket was replaced on me. I heard a sigh of relief before I went back to sleep. A small smile crept onto my face.

"Nice catch." Soul smirked as I sat down on the floor, near Alice's head. I sighed.

"You're such an ass sometimes. You know that?" I nearly wanted to punch him in the face. First, he bullied me into spilling out what Alice had told me earlier, then he tries to drop her on the floor! Thankfully, I caught her in time before she smashed head-first into the carpet.

"How am I an ass? I'm cool, and cool people aren't asses to their friends." Soul crossed his arms.

"Cool?" I bursted. Okay, now I was pissed. His obsession with being known as a cool person ticked me off. "Being cool by being a jerk to someone who's sick?" I stood up. "Being cool is by being mean to someone who's never done anything to you?"

This time, Soul stood up. "Shut up! Seriously! You barely know the chick and you're acting as if you're her guardian! I didn't know she'd fall! Besides, Alice kicked me. That's not very lady-like!"

I slammed my foot down. "Guardian? I'm her friend! She was half asleep, she probably didn't know that she kicked you! That doesn't give you a reason to drop her onto the floor! Wait, besides, you don't even act as a friend at all!"

"What?" Soul grabbed my collar. "What the hell do you mean I don't act as a friend? Stupid chocolate-eating son of a-"

I pushed him away. I was all up in his face now. "You don't the first thing about being nice! Shut up!"

Everything seemed in slow motion. I threw my right fist out while Soul threw out his left. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur, rushing at rapid speed.

"Stop!" My fist was held back. My vision cleared and I saw Alice in the middle of us, grabbing our fists and holding us back with all her strength. I also noticed she was just wearing a familiar undershirt.

Kid's shirt?

"Shut it, both of you! You're both friends, so stop fighting!" Spills of water dripped from her eyes.

She was crying…?

I also noticed she had her legs spread apart to make sure she had enough strength to hold us back. I didn't see her face through her hair, but I could tell it was strained.

Soul backed off. "A-Alice…"

Alice didn't stop. "Stupid! You two take friendship for granite!" I walked away, and her hands dropped to her sides. My hand hurt from her grip. Suddenly, I saw her body go limp, like she was very tired. Her knees buckled, and she fell.

Both Kid and me both caught her, her knees almost touching the floor, but not quite. I had her right arm and slung it over my shoulder, while Kid had his head poking out her underarm and his arm around her waist. Soul looked worried and came over.

"A-a-Alice… are you okay?" He was about to touch her face, but stopped and put his hand back.

With one swipe, Kid pulled my arm off of Alice and picked her up, bridal style. Her bangs dropped, and revealed her eyes.

They were closed, and she was pale. Really pale. Tears stood still, creating a crystal path down her face. To me, she looked like a small child who got lost and started crying. But she was breathing heavily: She must've gone back to sleep.

"You should be ashamed, both of you. I didn't interfere, because I thought you could work it out, but I was wrong. Really- Alice had to come over and stop you two!" Kid shook his head. "I'm going to put her to bed so she doesn't have to wake up again." Under his breath, he added- "Seriously… you two are bad for her health."

That hit me. Hard. Right in the chest. I took a small step backwards as Kid took a sleeping Alice to her room. I reached for my inside jacket pocket and grabbed out a stick of Pocky. I chewed it slowly.

I… was bad for Alice? I hurt her? Well… that time… yeah, just now, I hurt her, but…

Soul stuck his hand out. "S-Sorry… I was kind of- no… I was a jerk."

"No, I was being rude… Sorry." I shook his hand and he grinned, flashing his spiky teeth. I smiled back.

*-.-.-.-*

"Ughh… what happened?" I got up and rubbed my aching forehead. "Huh…?" I felt my cheeks, and felt dried tears. Maybe I had a bad dream…?

Dreams…

Lately, I haven't been remembering my dreams, which is odd. I'm behind on my meditating, so maybe that's why… If I go up on that hill I may get rid of the headache…

"Huh…?" I whispered again. On my bed-stand was a note and a small chocolate candy.

Pocky…

I blushed. Roxas was here? As I slipped out of bed I tried to recall memories of last night. I slipped on my white tank top and orange shorts that cut at my thighs. With this, everyone could see my spiraling tattoos, but I knew a secret route so no one saw me. With my blue ribbon, I tied my hair back into a high ponytail.

I stared at the paper and Pocky for a long time. Hesitantly, I grabbed it and placed it in my mouth. The chocolate was absolutely heavenly, but I could barely taste it. Slipping the bottle and choking down another pill, I picked up the note. I read it slowly, my brain unable to process slowly.

Thanks –Roxas

I slipped my socks and shoes on.

"Why would he thank me?"

I realized I had stepped outside in a matter of days, so the sunlight burned my eyes, even though it was morning, making me feel like a vampire. I stretched. One, two- left hand over my head. One, two- right over my head. One, two- Stretch back. One, two- Stretch forward.

I began walking towards my destination. As soon as I found the second alleyway, I turned, hopping over the fence. The rain had finally stopped, making everything refreshing and the air clean. I made a sharp right and climbed up the rickety, metal stair case and landed on a brick roof. From there, I carefully positioned a slender, sturdy plank between two buildings and balanced myself across.

Drastic, some people may call this. I call it necessary. I was less likely to be seen up here than down on the sidewalk.

I climbed down on the last building of the block, landing on my feet like a cat. With that, I kept walked into the open woods.

When I finally reached my destination, I sighed at the view. The cliff overlooked the city, with winds rushing through the leaves, creating a soft and open atmosphere. I slipped off my shoes and socks and sat down on the earth. I placed my hand in my lap and sat upright.

I took a deep breath and let go of myself. All thoughts, cleared away.

Like water, wash my thoughts away. I thought. My mind began to wander, but I went back to concentrate on the scenery. Eventually, I closed my eyes and just breathed.

I sat there, in a state of peace, for who knows how long. My headache instantly cleared. I twitched when I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me.

Another movement. I could sense it. Something was spying on me. Opening my eyes, I tried to make out what it was.

Find the aura… find the soul.

I tried to sense their soul. I've never done it before, because it was unnecessary. I felt a gray presence, who would think before doing, calm, and had…

Insanity.

Rustle

Rustle