Disclaimer: Doesn't own them.

A/N: Hello again! I got to post again before the break ends. Yay! Haha! Thanks for reading the last chapter by the way. :)

I'm doing the chapters in a hurry so I'm really sorry if there's wrong in here. You know, the usual grammar and stuff. And I'm really sorry if the characters are a little OOC. This story is AU after all. Haha!

Oh, and lastly, I would just like to note that the italicized words after the Sender: [insert character name here] are their text messages. It looks better in Word since I can change the font. Sorry for the inconvenience. :P

So, I hope you'll enjoy this. :)

Their Eyes that Couldn't See

V. Notes and Messages

Aqua checked on her sister first thing in the morning, gently knocking on her door a few times. When Kairi didn't answer the door, Aqua just pushed the door open, entering her sister's room silently.

Kairi's room is a total mess. Pillows are thrown everywhere and her bags and clothes are strewn on the floor. She's curled up in a ball on her bed, the sheets wrapped around her like a cocoon. Her eyes are swollen and her cheeks are stained with dried up tears.

She's still fast asleep, though, but one look at her told Aqua something's off. She looks a little bit pale and her lips are trembling.

"Kairi? Kairi, is something wrong?" Aqua said, rushing to her sister and touching her face. She's burning.

"Oh my, why didn't I realized this would happen?! Stupid, stupid me!" Of course she'll have a fever. She's soaked in the rain for who knows how long. Of course she'll get sick!

Kairi groaned and slightly opened her eyes. They're red from crying all night.

"Aqua?" Kairi said her name weakly, her voice a little bit muffled from sleep.

"Yes, I'm here. How do you feel?"

Her head is pounding, her sinuses are inflamed, her throat is tight and scratchy but she still said, "I'm fine, I'm alright."

Aqua gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. "Enough!" she hissed, slapping her forehead and tried to calm herself. "I'm not an idiot to believe that you're alright. You're burning!"

"Alright, alright," Kairi said in defeat, burying her face on her pillow. "I'm sick because I'm stupid enough to stay under the rain. I just want to rest. Here. At home. So please just tell my teachers that I can't go to class today."

Good thing this fever came up. She doesn't really want to see Riku for now since she's still angry because of how he mocked her – even though almost all of the things that he said were somewhat true – and she really can't face Roxas now. She has a lot of explaining to do for that guy and she doesn't know where to start.

Just the thought of yesterday's events made Kairi want to burst out crying again. She turned away from her sister and pulled up her blanket over her face.

Aqua eyed her sister. "So you're asking me to leave you here. Alone."

Kairi nodded. "I'll be just fine," she said weakly; she seems to be really tired, like her body is too heavy for her "I don't have the energy to leave the house and do anything stupid. I swear I'll just stay here and rest."

"Okay…" Aqua said slowly. "I'll tell dad. Just wait here and rest."

"Thanks," Kairi mumbled as her sister turned to leave. Aqua gave her sister a smile, though of course she couldn't see it, and nodded before she closed the door.

Aqua went downstairs and saw that their dad is already at the kitchen. She could smell the breakfast he's preparing.

"Good morning, Aqua," their dad said, beaming at her. He has red hair just like Kairi but he doesn't have their calm, blue eyes which they got from their mom. "Where's Kairi?"

"Kairi's sick, dad," Aqua said with a frown, opening the fridge and grabbing some milk. "Her fever's really high."

"What?!" their dad said in panic. Aqua could see his green eyes tremble a little. "Why? How come? Is she alright?"

"She said she just wanted to rest and be alone," Aqua replied, looking up from her glass.

Their father ran a hand over his hair. "I've got tons to do at work…" Aqua heard him mumble to himself.

Aqua went for the eggs and bacons that their dad was frying. It seems he already forgot that he was cooking. "You don't need to worry, dad. I'll just go home as soon as classes are over."

"You mean we'll leave her here, at home, alone?"

"That's what she actually wants."

Silence.

"Don't worry, dad," Aqua said, smiling at him. She's already putting their food on their plates. "She promised me she won't be doing anything stupid."

Their dad frowned but just nodded. It seems like they're already used to this kind of thing.

It was already nine in the morning when Kairi next woke up. There were some medicines and a glass of water on her bedside table. There is also a note lying beside them. She picked it up and read it while drinking the water.

Drink your meds after you eat. Dad made some soup for you. Call me if you need anything.

Aqua

P.S. Dad said not to wake you up since you look 'peaceful'.

Kairi smiled, folded the paper neatly, and stood up from her bed. She's wobbly and she feels so weak. Her head is still pounding and breathing seems hard for her; her sinuses are still inflammed. Maybe she really needs to rest.

Kairi went downstairs and got herself some food. Halfway through her soup, Kairi noticed another note at the fridge.

Call me if you need anything. I hope you'll like the soup. Rest well, Kairi.

Dad

Kairi smiled at the paper. When she folded it, she noticed something written on the back.

You could talk to us you know. We would listen.

Kairi felt her throat tighten. Her dad worries about her constantly like all fathers usually do. But, ever since Sora left, it was like he's always afraid Kairi would have an emotional breakdown. He doesn't know how to cheer her up especially when she's still in the mourning phase. During those times, he's always by her door, talking to her nonstop even though she never really replies. Sometimes, when he thinks Kairi's already sleeping, he would go in her room and kiss her forehead, whispering that he hope she'll be back to the happy and cheerful Kairi that she was.

Sometimes she thinks these simple gestures of their dad and Aqua's silent support is what made her continue to live on again. To somehow forget the pain and suppress it.

Kairi heaved out a sigh. She pocketed the note and went back to her soup. When she's done eating, she drank her meds and goes back to her room. She's feeling a bit better now though she's still weak. The itchiness and tightness of her throat are almost gone.

When she got back her room, she noticed for the first time that it really is in chaos.

Nothing seems to be in their right place. Some of her pillows are thrown at her study table, knocking some of the picture frames and books to the floor. Her bag, which is still wet, is lying on the floor, her books and notebooks spilling out. She cried in the bathroom while taking a bath last night that she forgot to put her uniform in the hamper – now they are all over the place.

Was I drunk yesterday? What have I done?! I must be really, really angry to do this, Kairithought, picking up her clothes first then dumping them in the hamper. And then she started with the stuffs in her bag.

No, you are just really, really upset.

"Shut up," Kairi mumbled to herself while lining her stuff by her open window to try and salvage her books and notes. The sun's up now and its light through the window give Kairi's room a soft glow.

She heard her phone beeping a few times. Maybe it's Aqua or their dad or her friends. She already felt tired just by picking up her things – and her head is pounding again that she's already feeling a bit dizzy – that she decided that she'll just read them later.

When she started on her study table, she noticed a black umbrella sitting on top of it. It's already folded but she could smell that it's still wet.

Roxas.

So that's why some of the pillows are thrown on her desk. She picked it up and stared at it.

"He's so nice to me and I yelled and snapped at him. What the hell's my problem," Kairi groaned, tapping the handles of the umbrella to her forehead. She could feel her guilt rising up inside of her. "He doesn't even know exactly why I'm acting like this. How could I even explain all this to him?"

Kairi was just standing there for a while, the umbrella's tip touching her forehead. What happened at the beach is so clear in her mind that every time she thinks about it, it was like watching a movie. Every detail so vivid. Before she knew it, tears are falling down her cheeks, but, this time, she doesn't feel pain. It was like the more she cries, the more the pain lessens, the more she feels relieved.

"Maybe this is fate slapping me in the face and telling me to get up and gather my shit together." She wiped her face and opened the umbrella. She placed it just under her window to let it dry. Before she goes back to fixing her room, she looked at the umbrella and gave it a tired smile and whispered, "I will set things straight this time."

And then another tear fell down.

Kairi's eyes widened. She wiped the tear from her face and stared at it until it dried on the back of her hand. She clenched her hand into a fist.

"This is absurd…" Kairi pressed her lips into a thin line and just shook her head.

After a while of contemplating, she just shrugged that bugging feeling and continued to arrange her room. When she's done, she went to the bathroom to take a hot bath and change into some fresh pajamas.

Cleaning her room exhausted her and the hot bath made her feel sleepy so it didn't took long after she collapsed on her bed to fall asleep. The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was Roxas' umbrella sitting wide open under her window.

How could I ever look at Roxas without thinking about 'him' and breaking down like this?

When she next woke up, it was just about noon and she felt her stomach grumble. She picked her phone then trotted down the stairs groggily. Her head's still pounding.

She checked her messages while she ate. She got a message from her dad, Olette, Selphie and three from Aqua. She read them all.

Sender: Dad

How are you feeling, Kairi?

Kairi is pretty sure her dad's not just asking about her fever. She just shrugged it off and texted back with 'head still pounding but i think i'm a bit alright now. thanks for the soup.'

Sender: Selphie

Aqua told us. We'll visit later. Do you need anything? Get well soon.

Sender: Olette

Are you alright? I'm going with Selphie. Text us if you want something. Too bad you can't have ice cream. :P

Kairi smiled at Olette's message. She replied with 'let's just save that ice cream for later then, Olette. thanks, guys. see you both later, i guess.'

Sender: Aqua

I already talked to your teachers and friends. Maybe Selphie and Olette are going to visit later.

Sender: Aqua

Have you been eating? Drinking your meds? Have you stood up from bed since we left? Keep that promise, okay? Just stay there and rest.

Sender: Aqua

Shoot! Emergency club meeting later. Hard to escape. Can't come home immediately. I'll find a way. Sorry! Just stay there!

Kairi sighed. Aqua's really panicking. She massages her head while texting her back with 'i'm still at home and haven't fled anywhere. calm down.'

She closed her phone and finished her food then she drank her medicines. On her way to her room, she heard her phone beep again. She opened it in her room and when she saw who it was from, her face scrunched up and she closed her eyes to try and calm her nerves.

Riku…

Her head swirled with memory. Or was she just dizzy? Maybe. Maybe the meds are just kicking in. She shook her head a few times and opened the message.

Sender: Riku

You could've stayed at your place and bawled there, you moron.

Kairi gripped her phone. Why is Riku being like this? Why is he being so mean to her? She just threw her phone on the bed in frustration and curled up in her bed, her back on her phone. Not long after, she was asleep again.

The first beep of the doorbell woke her with a start.

Kairi got up lazily and looked at her clock. It's already half past three. She stood up, grabbed a cardigan and pulled them over her pajamas.

When she opened the door, instead of beaming at her, both of her friends gasped. Both of them looked down.

"What's wrong?" Kairi asked, frowning.

"Kairi you…"

"You look awful…" Selphie whispered, jumping to hug her and burying her face on Kairi's shoulder. "Oh, Kairi…"

She hasn't had the time – or the thought – to look in the mirror almost the whole day. She bit her lower lip. I-Is it… Is it really obvious in my face? How wasted do I look?

Kairi looked straight at Olette's eyes, not hugging Selphie back. Olette's face contorted with sadness that the girl just looked down. "What happened?" Olette whispered on the floor.

When Selphie released her, the three of them went silent. Kairi clenched her fists. "I… this is not about… I just… I'm just…"

No, Kairi. We need to fix this. We are going fix everything.

"I mean, O-Of course I'll look awful. I'm sick, you guys! Look, you could even hear it from my voice." Kairi tried to smile brightly with all her might.

Silence.

"You two don't have to worry anymore. I promise."

Her friend's eyes flew up to her face, searching. Kairi took a step forward and squeezed their hands.

"I'm done with this whole Roxas fiasco. There's no need to worry now, okay?"

Selphie stifled a sob and then smiled a little. Olette pressed her lips into a thin line but still managed to lift the corner a little as if grinning. They squeezed Kairi's hand back and held each other's hand, forming a little circle.

But you're still not over Sora… How could this be over?

Kairi shook her head as if brushing this thought away. "Anyway–"

"Oh, we almost forgot," Selphie said, breaking their little circle to reach inside her bag. "We were asked to bring these to you." She handed Kairi some papers. Assignments. "We also had a quiz so you need to have a make-up exam when you get back."

"Just call us later if you need anything. Just ask away," Olette followed hurriedly, taking a little step back.

"Wait," Kairi said, taking a step as if trying to catch Olette. Selphie, too, took as step back. "Aren't you guys staying for a while? I'm really not that contagious anymore."

"Now, we… Kairi…" Selphie stammered.

"We need to do something. You can call us, really. But we can't stay. Sorry, Kairi," Olette said with a sorry look on her face.

"We need to go now. We're really sorry, Kairi," Selphie said with a frown. She waved at her and turned around.

"Hurry. You don't have much time," Olette said under her breath before turning around and hurried after Selphie.

"Be careful and take care of yourself, Kairi!" Selphie shouted before turning again and then they were off.

"What's with the hurry?" Kairi stared at the direction where her friends went until they turned around a corner, blocking them from her view.

She closed the door and went back to her room after drinking some water. She's feeling a lot better now. She could do her homework now and maybe go to school tomorrow.

Her thoughts are still with her friends even up until she reached her room. She placed the papers she was holding on her desk and went to the window to pick up her books and notebooks. Some of them have little creases but all in all, they seem fine and dry.

She picked up the umbrella too and folded it neatly. She stared at it, lost in thought.

And then something crashed down on her from her left. A human.

They fell down on the floor, the person landing above her. The umbrella flew out of her hand and rolled out of reach. Kairi's mind raced. She opened her mouth to scream and raised her hand but the person caught her arm and a hand flew to her mouth and stifled her cry.

"Calm down."

In the darkness of the room, Kairi's eyes focused on a pair of piercing blue eyes. Her eyes widened.

Thanks for reading!

A/N: How was it? I hope you liked it. :D

Anyway, I'll be having an ojt soon so I don't think I could post this soon but I'll do my best. Promise!

A review would really help. Really. :) But again, please no flames.