A/N: Continuation from the previous chapter, Street Rats.

Rags to Riches

Without Ku around, Sora found himself bored, and a little lonely. He was getting a little too old to be a street rat: children were street rats. Children were overlooked because they were too young to find useful work, but teenagers and adults became criminals. Many learned that the hard way, and others by those examples. Sora's friends were sharp, and quickly found work for merchants, and travelling caravans. Sora contemplated joining a caravan, too, but he still hoped to find Ku again. So that meant he had to stay in the capital, because Ku definitely lived in the capital. Sora was sure of it.

He was still an excellent pickpocket, which kept him fed in a pinch, but he also learned new skills. He burgled some of the wealthier homes, because really, they could stand to share their wealth, and truth be told, Sora was searching for Ku's shiny silver hair as he chose his targets. He always tried to be discreet, to take things that wouldn't be missed-to avoid any unnecessary attention.

Really, the little oil lamp didn't look like anything special. It was tarnished, and tucked into a chest with so many baubles and jewelry, that he was certain it wouldn't be missed. And if he cleaned it up, maybe he could get a handful of silver pieces for it. Into his bag it went, along with a couple of the less impressive pieces, and Sora snuck back out into the night.

Back in the nook he called home, Sora sorted through the trinkets, pulling the lamp out to study it. It looked old, but just as he suspected, a spot of polishing already made a difference. Shining bronze caught the light of a candle where he'd wiped a rag over it, so he set to work.

He didn't get very far.

The room shook suddenly, and Sora dropped his prize, startled. He'd heard of the earth shaking, but only in far off places. Never here. He was already turning towards the doorway when the room grew hazy with smoke, the air heavy and charged, and finally, with a loud crack, everything seemed to settle and return to normal.

Except for the girl. "Hello, Master." Sora blinked at the room's new occupant. She had wine-red hair and blue-violet eyes: an obvious foreigner, especially in her strange pink dress. She smiled expectantly at Sora.

"Uhm, hi?"

Taking in his puzzled expression, she explained, "I'm the great genie, Kairi! Here to grant you three wishes." She paused and pointed at the lamp at Sora's feet, frowning. "You summoned me by rubbing my lamp."

Sora bent and picked it up, studying it. "You came from this?" Kairi nodded. "And…you grant wishes?"

"Of course!" She clapped her hands. "That's what genies do!"

"I'm Sora," he said slowly, taking it in.

"Well, Master Sora, I'm pleased to meet you. Have you any wishes?"

Sora only took a moment to think it over. "I do have a wish! How does it work? Do I just say what I want?"

Kairi nodded, smiling. It had been a long time since she'd been out of the lamp, and even longer since she'd had a master with such a bright heart. She could sense it, even from within the lamp, and she'd hoped he would be her new master. "Just say 'I wish…' and make your wish. But be careful, wishes can be dangerous things! And they fly away so fast, so choose wisely."

Sora beamed. "There's nothing to worry about. I just want to see my friend Ku again! So, uhm. I wish to find Ku!"

"That's simple," Kairi chirped. She clapped her hands together, and as she pulled them apart, violet smoke puffed between them. "Ku, hmm? Picture him in your mind, and…" The cloud of smoke between her hands cleared at the center, and Sora concentrated hard, eyes closing as he remembered silky silver hair, aqua eyes, and a kind and confident demeanor. "Ah, there he is," Kairi murmured. In the center of the smoke was an image of Ku exactly as Sora pictured him, dressed in rags, with a teasing smirk. "But that's not quite right. This isn't him now." Kairi frowned. "Let's see…"

The image flickered, changing bit by bit. The round cheeks disappeared, soft features replaced with sharp, more mature ones, the smile and sparkling eyes replaced with a more somber expression. Silver hair longer, now, adorned with jewels and a golden circlet. Sora had never believed Ku's rags, but even he hadn't expected the rich silks draped over his friend, or the gold that shone everywhere on his person.

"My, what a beautiful person," Kairi whispered.

Sora frowned. He agreed, but, "He doesn't look very happy. Where is he? You said you'd find him, right?"

Kairi closed her eyes, as if thinking. "Aha! He's at the palace!"

"At the palace…" Sora was a good house burglar, but the palace was swarming with guards. There was no way for him to get in there. He wilted.

"Why don't I take you there?"

Sora shrugged and gestured at his patched and filthy clothing. "They'd only throw me out. Or worse, put me in the dungeon."

Kairi tilted her head. "That's no trouble at all." She snapped her fingers, and Sora found himself wearing something similar to Ku, all in blues, with some jewelry of his own. It was more modest, but still far richer than anything he'd ever owned.

"But I didn't wish for—"

"Call it a package deal. I help you with anything you need to find your friend Ku, including a makeover. This fashion is really quite lovely, anyway. You look good." She practically glowed as she made a circuit around Sora, adjusting folds of fabric here and there. She paused to tuck her lamp into a pocket that Sora wouldn't have known was even there. "There we are. Keep it safe for me, Master. Ready?"

Sora didn't get a chance to reply before Kairi transported them into the palace.