Chapter 7: I had a dream... but which parts... were the dream?

Beep... Beep... Beep...

"Nnnh..." My eyebrows furrowed as I regained conciousness. It was so bright. I opened my eyes slowly to see where I was. N-no way... I was in the hospital. Why...? I reached up and felt my forehead. It was bandaged. I looked at my arms and realized that there were I.V.'s in them. I also noticed that there was a Red-headed boy sitting next to my bed who appeared to be sleeping. His arms were on the side of my bed and his head was buried in his arms. I reached out to touch his soft looking red hair. He started to stir. When he looked up into my eyes, my hand froze. My heart started to pound faster and the beeps on the heart moniter increased in tempo. He squinted his blue eyes and raised his head. He appeared to be lost. He stretched and looked around, apparently he forgot that he was in the hospital. Then he looked at me. All traces of confusion were replaced with surprise and happiness. Sleepy happiness.

"Akari?" Eiichi said rather sleepily. I sighed and smiled. Eiichi... I reached towards him to try and tug on a strand of his hair. Quickly catching that I wanted to tug on his bangs, he leaned forward and allowed me to do so.

"Why am I here?" I said, realizing that my body felt weak. My hand dropped onto the comfy sheets with a soft *Plop*.

"You were... in an accident..." He answered hesitantly. I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes.

"Nami and my parents are dead?" The question came out more like a statement.

"Yes..."

"How long was I asleep?" I demanded. It couldn't have been a dream...C-could it?

"A few weeks... the doctors were afraid that you were in a coma..." He answered hesitantly again. I sighed.

"Eiichi... I had a dream... or at least I thought it was a dream..."

"What was it about?"

"Well,..." I told him everything. From the day he came to my house with my keyblade, to Twilight Town, all about King Mickey and Miku, The Destiny Islands, Sora, Axel, Roxas, Namine, Organization XIII.

"It was a weird dream... It felt so real... but... which parts... were the dream?"

"Heh, you have some imagination, Aki-chan."

"My name is Akari." I said smiling. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a dream. It couldn't have been...

"Welp, I should go get the doctor and tell him you woke up." He said leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

"'Kay." I said sleepily. I sighed and looked to the the window. Outside there was snow-covered Evergreen trees; they were barely visible from where I was. I sat up and leaned forward to try to get a better look. No use. I swung my legs over the side of the hospital bed and tried to stand. My legs were weak but they seemed well enough to walk. I took one step forward and felt pain on my arms. The I.V.'s were pulling my skin. I sighed and sat back on my bed. I sat there swinging my legs to get the feeling back in them and waited for the doctor.

"Riku..." I whispered to myself. I closed my eyes and thought about those other worlds and my crazy friends. Yes. It was real. But why am I here now? Or better yet, is this actually the past and that the future? What about the things I remembered over there that seemed to be memories of the past? Because honestly, that can't have happened before this happened. I touched the bandages on my head and sighed. It burns... Before I woke up... was I with really with Riku or was that just a memory? I furrowed my eyebrows and thought harder. It was a memory. It had to be. Riku was trapped in the darkness... but why do I know this? My journey only started a few weeks ago... And the memories with Axel, that doesn't really make sense either! But It was so familiar.

"UGH!" I screamed frustratedly. I covered my eyes with both my hands, ignoring the tugging sensation from the I.V's. Radiant Garden... Merlin the wizard... Yuffie... Aerith... Leon... Cloud... Cid... why...? Suddenly, the door opened and a tall handsome man with long blonde hair and brown eyes, holding a clip board walked in. Woah... talk about déjà vu...

"So, Akari, how are you feeling?" He said, gesturing to my obvious aware-ness.

"Um, I guess I feel okay." I said while quickly tucking my legs back onto my bed and into the covers. I scootched back towards the pillows and took the remote to recline the bed and fixed it to a sitting position.

"I see you have all feeling to your arms and legs." he said in a business-like tone, while scribbling on his clip board.

"Ah, yeah... I wanted to see outside the window but these I.V.'s were holding me back..." I said, looking longingly towards the window. He sighed and walked around the bed, on the side where the medical equipment was, and carefully removed the I.V.'s from my arms. He held up one hand, silently telling me not to move, and reached into a cupboard that was next to my bed; one that I didn't notice was there. He pulled out a small bottle with green liquid in it -disinfectant I'm guessing- some band-aids and cotton swabs. He placed his clip board on my lap and poured a little bit of the liquid on a cotton swab.

"Give me your arm." He said quietly. I obeyed and allowed him to rub the cotton swab at the point where the I.V. pierced my skin. It stung a little but wasn't too bad. He placed a band-aid over the the punctured skin and then repeated the process on my other arm. I moved the clipboard off my lap.

"Okay, I'm done... get up slowly... thats it..." He said as he guided me off the bed and towards the window. Not that I really need it... but okay! I stopped in front of the window and sighed. It was beautiful. A 'Winter wonderland' I thought smiling. The snow covered everything in sight. The only other color was the green from the Evergreen trees. But that showed just barely. The Doctor nodded and pulled a chair from the corner of the room so I can sit down.

"So, Eiichi told me that you are aware of your families' passing." He said. It sounded like a question coming from him. I nodded and sat down, feeling tired. I didn't want to go back on the bed, though, I wanted to stay here watching the beautiful scenery.

"Would you like something to eat?" He asked, concern lining his voice.

"Um... no, thank you." We stood there for a moment, looking at each other in silence. I furrowed my brows.

"And about the funeral preperations?"

"Ah, Akari... I took care of that. The funeral was about three days after the accident. Im sorry, but you were asleep, and it seemed like you were never going to wake up. It's amazing that you haven't had any brain trauma, considering you were in a coma." He said observing me.

"What else?"

"Well, it's unusual for a patient in your position to have woken up unscathed, besides the gash on your forehead. I mean, your vital signs seem to be working perfectly and your arms and legs are functioning perfectly. It's also quite baffling how it seems that the gash on your forehead was inflicted by a blade of some sort. And you were also placed beside the car, as if you were saved and left there."

This wasn't surprising to me. I know someone had saved me from an Organization XIII member. That would explain the gash. But it was still a mystery who saved me. Ah, did King Mickey say before? I can't recall. I sighed and looked up at the doctor.

"Wheres Eiichi?"

"He went to go get breakfast. He should be back soon. Man, when that boy found out about the accident, he came here and never left your side. I was the one who gave him permission to stay over night as long as he left for home once in a while to change clothes and shower."

I blushed and looked towards the door. My heart was missing Eiichi. But why? I didn't miss Axel one bit. And Riku... what was the story with Riku? Did my heart know something that my mind didn't? Do I love Riku in the future? Could it be that the past really isn't the past at all? Or am I being tested? What does all of this mean? I have a feeling that I will find out soon enough. And the dreams and memories mean more; something important. They all go together and I need to find out. Suddenly, the door opened.

"S-Sora?"

"Akari! I've come to visit you, darling!" Sora said casually. Eiichi was trailing close behind him looking like he was thinking something through. So this is a test... and Sora's here to get me out. When Sora got close enough he whispered in my ear when the doctor wasn't looking. "Summon your keyblade. We're getting you out of here."

Just then, Eiichi picked up a heavy looking metal tray and hit the doctor over the head with it. I quickly un-did the bandages on my head and ruffled my hair. I looked at the doctor worriedly.

"He'll be fine. He would have been in the way." Sora said. He threw a fresh pair of clothes at me and pulled Eiichi next to him; turning around so I can change.

"Lets do this." I said while summoning my keyblade. Sora nodded and ran to the door. Eiichi and I followed close behind. Heartless appeared up the corridor. Sora summoned his keyblade. He sprinted towards them and began attacking. I quickly realized that Eiichi had no weapon. 'I'll be fine.' He mouthed at me when he noticed me looking at him. I nodded and took his hand. We caught up to Sora just as we reached the stairs. A huge heartless appeared, it was big and round and was wearing unusual clothing. But the worst part was, it could breathe fire. Sora tried to attack it from the front, but his keyblade just bounced back. It's too fat! I thought as I dodged another ball of fire. I saw Eiichi sneaking up behind it and waving to me. Thats it! I ran to Eiichi, dodging the fire. Sora saw me and created a diversion. I began to attack the Heartless' backside. The Heartless turned around and shot fire at me.

"Akari!" Both Sora and Eiichi shouted in unsion. Eiichi tackled me out of the way just in time, the fire slightly charring our clothes. Damn it, these were new! I thought angrily.

"You've done it now, you big piece of..." I ran down the next flight of stairs. It had its back to me. I looked at my clothes and got even angrier.

"ARG! BLIZZARA!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. I raised my keyblade and pointed it at the Heartless' back. My keyblade shot out ice at the Heartless' back, causing it to freeze and later fall into pieces. How did I do that?

"Sora! How did I do that?" I called up to him. And why have I been getting such a bad temper lately?

"This is a problem..." He said, coming down the stairs with Eiichi.

"How so?"

"You're moving too far! This wasn't supposed to happen yet."

"Sora! Would you start making sense and tell me whats going on?"

"Yeah, I don't have the whole story either..." Eiichi said quietly.

"C'mon, I can't tell you here." Sora said. He ran down the stairs. Eiichi and I followed. I felt warm liquid on my forehead. I touched my forehead and looked at my hand. Blood.

"Sora! Shes bleeding!" Eiichi shouted. I stopped and slumped against the railing. I suddenly got so dizzy and tired.

"No... I can't pass out again..." I said faintly. I tried to keep walking but it felt as if time was slowing down and that I would dissapear any moment. I slumped farther to the ground and my eyes drooped.

"We wont let you." Sora said as he stopped in front of me. He pulled out a jar with green liquid-similar to the one the doctor had, only this one had a star on it- and took out the cork.

"Drink this."

"What is it?"

"Healing potion." He said, forcing the jar against my lips. I drank and drank; it tasted... good? I instantly felt warm and energized.

"Good?" He asked. I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck, using him as support while I got up. The whole time I was looking at my feet, so I was surprised to see that Sora was blushing when I looked up and into his eyes. I smiled, a little embarrased and tried to recover my balance. I stumbled backwards against the railing, taking Sora with me. His face just inches from mine, I blushed furiously and let go of him. I grabbed the railing for support. Ahhh and Eiichi is right there too! I looked up at Eiichi and sighed. His arms were crossed and he was looking the other way.

"Hehe, Lets not tell Kairi about this, 'kay?" Sora asked nervously.

"Heh, I'm all for that!" I said, standing upright. I walked to Eiichi and pulled his face so he was looking at me. I moved my body closer to his and tip-toed up so our faces would be at the same level. Hehe, Sora is the same height as me! I thought mischieviously. I smiled and closed my eyes. I got my lips closer to his but hesitated. Is this really okay? My heart says I love him...

"You don't have to worry, Eiichi-kun." I whispered, my lips just inches from his. The voice in the back of my head was screaming: 'Akari, you can't!' but my heart suggested something else. I held his face with both my hands and, just as I was about to kiss him, he pulled away.

"Eiichi-"

He grabbed my waist and pulled me into a tight embrace, holding my head against his chest.

"I wanna be good to you, Akari, your better than this." He whispered.

"Ahem!" Sora said, "Were in the middle of escaping here, in case you forgot." Sora had his arms crossed and his eyebrows were raised.

"Y-yeah I guess were lucky that this corridor is clear of Heartless." Eiichi replied, his chin resting on my head.

"C'mon, the Organization is probably aware that we're trying to escape with her."

"Ahhh! I wish you would tell me whats going on." I murmered against Eiichi's chest. I do love him don't I? I sighed and pulled myself out of his grasp and ran down the stairs.

"One more flight right Sora?" I asked.

"Yeah, go right and the lobby will be right there." He answered from the top of the stairs.

Sora never did explain that night. Because as soon as I made it to the lobby - alone - I blacked out. What took Sora so long to make it to the lobby? I don't know. But all I know is that when I woke up, I was alone. Very alone.

Sora stood there watching Akari go down the stairs. She'll be fine, He thought. I have to explain this to Eiichi. She has to end up with either Eiichi or Riku, or her future is at stake. She should be having visions about the other possible lives she could be living about now. And the one life the Organization has planned out for her CAN'T happen. Kingdom Hearts is at stake. We had to start all over. From the day of the accident, today, and lead her down the right path. Sora sighed and turned to Eiichi.

"Before we join her I have to tell you whats going on. I promised. But you can't tell her. She can't know yet." Sora said, holding out an arm to prevent Eiichi from going any further. he nodded.

"I'm listening." He crossed his arms and waited. Sora breathed deeply.

"Listen carefully. I'm only going to explain this once. We've already wasted enough time as it is."

"Just tell me already!"

"Akari has three different futures planned out for her. It all depends on the person she falls in love with and the life she feels is right to choose. I turned back time and took you with me to prevent one of those life choices from happening. I was told by Miku that it was already taking place, when I woke up. It happened at The Destiny Islands. She kissed an organization member named Axel. That life, must NOT happen. If it carries through, the Organization will use her to complete Kingdom Hearts. And that can't happen. So if she chooses you or my best friend Riku, she will help to prevent that from happening. So you see now? Why we have to be so careful with her? She can't be okay for long alone down there. We gotta go."

"But why did you say that she was moving too far when she used that magic spell?"

"Because even if its the right lifestyle, it can't progress too fast or too soon. The timing has to be just right. We only have two more chances after this, so c'mon lets go meet her."

"Why two more?"

"Damn it Eiichi you sure do ask alot of questions." Sora said as he grabbed Eiichi's arm.

"But-"

"Come on!" Sora said as he began to run down the stairs, dragging Eiichi with him. Sora dragged Eiichi to the lobby.

"What the!"

"Catch ya later, alligater." Axel said, balancing Akari on one of his arms and using the other to salute him, as he backed into the dark portal.

"No!" Eiichi and Sora shouted together.

Sorry for the late update, there have been tons of things keeping me busy, and i've been getting writers block ALOT lately. Sorry for the crappy ending ." Hope you enjoyed it. Please review, and look forward to chapter 8 :]

- NaminexXxKairi