Chapter 32

Yen Sid was waiting outside Riku's room when they arrived. Kairi nearly ran straight past him in her eagerness to see Riku, but was quickly stilled by the old wizard's outstretched arm.

"Not so fast Kairi, you'll be able to see him soon enough! I just need to inform you about a few things first." He began to tell them pretty much the same things that the healer had warned them about earlier- that Riku had sustained severe injuries and wasn't expected to wake for a few hours.

"Kairi, listen to me... he's going to need the support of his friends, especially now. The nerve damage in his right side is extensive, and while nobody knows how he'll be affected by it in the long run, the fact is... such injuries take a long time to mend, and some of them don't mend at all. He may never fully recover."

"Master!" Another healer nearly ran into Yen Sid in his rush. "We need you, quickly!"

"Calm down!" Yen Sid scolded, lifting the healer back onto his feet. "Now talk to me... calmly... what is going on?"

"It's the boy... Sora... he's taken a turn for the worse! We need your expertise, you could still save him!"

Kairi looked up suddenly, startled at the news. She suddenly rushed to Yen Sid and bowed low to him, clutching the hem of his robes desperately.

"Please Master!" She sobbed pleadingly. "Go to him! Don't let him die! I... I'll try to do everything I can to help in your absence. Just please, save him!"

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"I'm... glad you're here..." Roxas whispered. "It wouldn't be... so easy to do this... if I didn't get to... say goodbye first."

"Say goodbye? What are you talking about Roxas? You-you're gonna be fine, stop talking like you were dying!" Lea said, alarmed.

Roxas just chuckled softly, his face quickly returning to its relaxed state. "Sora's here... I can sense him... Lea... he's lost the will to fight. He'll die if he doesn't get the strength he needs."

"I'll go let the healers know then... they should set him right.." He was stopped in the middle of his rant by Roxas' weak but steady hand.

"This is something the healers won't be able to do for him. Lea... I'm going to return to Sora. My strength... should be enough..."

"NO! Roxas... there must be another way!" Lea pleaded. "I only just got you back and now you're gonna leave me again... please... no..." He lowered his head onto the boy's chest, crying quietly into it.

"Don't be sad for me... Lea..." Roxas whispered. "This is my decision... and I'm not scared..."

"You're like a son to me..." Lea cried quietly.

"Than love Sora like a son in my absence. Lea... so many people depend on him. If he dies... so many Hearts will break... so many more will be lost. I couldn't live with myself if I let that happen."

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Mickey was already seated at the bedside when Kairi and Aqua entered Riku's room. The mouse had a forlorn look on his face as he absently stroked the back of Riku's right hand.

"The ability to be strong and protect his friends is what matters the most to him. What will happen if it turns out he lost the ability to fight?" He asked sadly, watching the other two take a seat at either side of the bed.

"I'm not sure..." Kairi said quietly. "He may have already lost what he wanted to protect anyways..." she added as tears started to flow freely. "This war broke them... Sora... Riku... my poor, beloved boys!" She clutched desperately at Riku's free hand, only to loosen her grip as the boy gave an involuntary yelp of pain. She wasn't aware of the IV leading from the top of his hand, which dug into his skin when she gripped his hand so hard.

"What is that for?" Kairi asked in a mixture of curiosity and alarm.

"Painkiller..." Mickey answered without looking up. "He'd have a hard time coping with his injuries without it."

"Where am I?" Came a weak voice. All three of the others present looked up as Riku stirred slightly but did not wake. "Is Sora safe?"

"I hope I didn't disturb him because of that..." Kairi said.

"No... he's just dreaming..." Mickey answered.

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"Lea...I don't have... much time..." Roxas said with as much urgency as he could muster. "He's already dying... No, Lea... don't make this... harder than it must be..." he added as Lea suddenly lifted Roxas into a tight embrace, sobbing into the boy's shoulder.

"I don't care how hard this is... I'm not the one leaving you!" Lea muttered stubbornly.

"Lea... don't forget that I'm a part of Sora... whenever you need me... just go to him..." A strong glow began to form around the boy, and Roxas had a serene smile on his face as he began to vanish.

"No... Roxas... nooo..." Lea cried.

"I'll see you in the next life... big brother..." Roxas said quietly, returning Lea's embrace as his body completely vanished. There was nothing left for Lea to hold, and he collapsed against the bed Roxas had been lying on, hot bitter tears running down his cheeks.

"Roxas..." he whispered in quiet anguish.

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Meanwhile, a room several halls away was a flurry of activity. Sora was lying on the bed in the center of the room, surrounded by several healers. He was pale and cold, most traces of life slowly slipping away despite the combined efforts of all involved.

"Come on Sora, keep fighting, come back to us..." Yen Sid said encouragingly as he summoned a mass of pulsating green magic, laying it over Sora's heart.

Nothing happened for several minutes, and Yen Sid was beginning to lose hope, afraid he was about to lose this boy, who so many depended on. He couldn't let that happen. He gave a sad but resigned sigh, ready to extinguish his magic and try again when he was able to gather enough mana to do the job properly, when suddenly a strange magic other than the healing spell Yen Sid was using entered Sora's body.

A strong, resounding glow formed within his body the instant the magic was absorbed. It died down quickly, and color returned to Sora's face as soon as it did. His breathing deepened and he began to stir slightly, muttering something indiscernible in his sleep.

"What was that?" One of the healers asked as he watched Sora continue to improve.

"I think the boy has friends in high places..." Yen Sid answered, a smile forming on his face. "Welcome back, Sora..." He said to the sleeping boy as he extinguished his own magic.

End of Chapter 32.