Kairi awoke face down on a bed, in a large red sweater and sweat pants, a figure hovering over her. She tried to turn on her side, but failed terribly.
"Oh! Sora! She's awake!"
A young woman's voice, she thought. Does Sora already have a girlfriend?
Sora came into the room, groggy from a recent nap. "Belle thanks again for coming on such short notice."
"Anything for my little bro'!" she squeaked.
I suppose I stand corrected, Kairi thought, surprised.
Sora squat down next to her. "You alright, Kai?"
She realized she couldn't talk. He was literally breathing in her face. So, she nodded to keep herself from saying something stupid.
He smiled. "Wanna sit up and eat something?"
She nodded again.
He smiled wider as he helped her sit up. Belle stepped back a little. Their chemistry was gonna make her hurl. "Hey, Sora? Imma go search for food in your kitchen, 'kay?"
Sora nodded blindly.
Namine cursed under her breath. Riku's blood was getting on her favorite dress. She lugged him across the grass and lifted him into the carriage. He didn't start bleeding until they left. And then he passed out a minute later. Damn side-effects.
'I don't think my life can any worse,' she thought. 'I mean, I've got a bun in the oven, the gods won't leave me alone, and I got screwed by some guy I don't know! What the hell?'
One of the minor goddesses laughed hysterically.
"Shut up!" She yelled at the setting sun. "If only Roxas were here," she whispered.
'You found a boy and you didn't tell us?' Haravela and Lezarta tapped their feet impatiently.
"You know you could care less, Lezarta, so leave. As for Haravela, if you are so godly, why the hell didn't you just search the earth for him and strike him dead?"
Lezarta left dumbfounded, and Haravela stretched. 'Too lazy,' she replied.
"Rozen and Zoren are the more lethargic goddesses," Namine muttered, driving the horses to a nearby hospital. Rockrema Memorial Hospital almost glittered in the distance.
Namine pulled the horses to a halt, and dragged Riku out to the entrance.
"Need some help?" A cool, calm, masculine voice called from the top of the concrete stairs.
Namine knew this voice by heart. She loved the person this voice belonged to. "Roxas?"
The dirty-blonde sixteen year old back flipped off of the stairs and landed on his feet in the grass. "If it isn't the lovely Namine Delancey Kuchica..."
She dropped Riku where he was and ran to Roxas. He swept her in his arms, and planted a chaste kiss on her lips.
"We'll catch up later, but first we gotta get Big Bro inside first, right?" Roxas ran his fingers through his hair and grinned.
"Alright," they both grabbed Riku by his arms and legs, "on three. One, two, three!"
They heaved him up the stairs and into the hospital. The receptionist saw blood, called her nurses, and they pushed Riku away on a rolling stretch.
As Namine and Roxas sat in the waiting room, Namine froze. "Why are you two here?"
Aqua and Terra were sitting across the room, staring up at the others. "Side effects," Aqua said, putting her head in her hands.
"Damn, you too?"
She nodded tiredly.
Namine sat down and leaned against Roxas's medium build figure. He exhaled heavily. "Mind introducin' me, Nami?"
"Oh right! Roxas, these are my mortal enemies, Aqua and Terra. Terra and Blue Lizard Lady, this is my boyfriend, Roxas."
Terra quirked an eyebrow. "And how do you know my name?"
"I was at your execution."
Terra was speechless. 'So the little blonde haired girl in the middle row, being held up by her mother's arms, gaping in happy awe at the man about to chop my freakin' head off... That was Namine? What the—'
"Excuse me, Terra Dalorian?" A nurse poked her head into the waiting room.
Terra stood and Aqua looked up questioningly. "Is Xion okay?" she asked.
The nurse sighed. "Would you like to see her, ma'am?"
Aqua stood up next to Terra and nodded. "Let's go."
They walked down the hallway and Aqua whispered in Terra's ear, "Did you see looks on the nurses' faces when they escorted us to the waiting room?"
He grimaced. "Now isn't the time for that, Saphira."
She deflated, her grin coming clean off. "I was just trying to brighten the mood."
Outside the door, he stopped in his tracks. "My little sister is in the hospital for some shit you pulled out there on the battlefield, and you expect me to respond to you 'brightening the mood'?" he yelled.
"I was saving our lives!"
"You sure as hell did a damn good of a job!"
Aqua took a step forward. "You think I'm afraid of you, don't you, Terra? I tried my best! And apparently, that's not good enough for you!"
He raised his hand above his head. Aqua didn't even flinch. "Why the hell are you so difficult?"
"I am Eraqus Draggonet's daughter. Difficulty runs in my blood. I fear nothing now." she walked away, out of the hospital, and she didn't look back.
Terra ran his fingers through his hair and tried to calm down. He walked into Xion's room with a fake grin plastered on his face. "Hey, kiddo. How ya doin'?"
Xion grinned weakly. "I'm okay. Where's Aqua?"
"She left."
Xion frowned. "Why?"
"To pick up some fried chicken. She knows hospital food sucks."
Xion chuckled. "Where's Riku?"
Terra scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "He's in the next room over. You worried about him?"
"A little."
"You like him?"
She was quiet. She couldn't really deny it in front of her brother. He'd see right through it. She exhaled heavily. "Yeah..."
The look on his face was real; a genuine grin. He was happy Xion found somebody she liked. "Can I tell Aqua?"
"No," she pouted, folding her arms over her chest, the IV in her wrist jiggling.
"Why?" Terra whined.
"'Cause she'll rub it in my face."
"Alright, alright. Get some rest, kiddo. I'll see you in the morning." Terra kissed his little sister's forehead and backed out of the room. The second he was away, he began sprinting towards the entrance. He couldn't bear to lose her. Terra burst through the entrance and stopped short. She wasn't out there. He looked up at the sky for some answers, only to see her sitting on the roof instead. "Aqua!"
She ignored him.
"Aqua!"
She ignored him still.
"C'mon, Aqua! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"
"Sure you didn't, Terra. And I'm not on the roof right now." She said, pulling her hair up calmly. Her nerves weren't going to get the better of her. Not this time.
"Aqua! Please! Come down! I wanna talk!"
She sighed, jumped off the building, front-flipped, and stuck the landing next to Terra.
"I'd give that a ten," he said, chuckling.
She didn't laugh, so his died down awkwardly. "Listen," he said, rubbing his neck, "I'm sorry, Aqua. I really am. I'm just stressed, what with my sister in the hospital, and the baby, and Xehanort out to kill me again and all that... But—"
She pulled him close and kissed him. "It's about time." she said, smacking the back of his head.
He grinned. "We cool?"
"Nah dippity," she grinned back, smacking him again.
"Abusive!"
"Psshh. I'm hungry. Do you know where a KFC or a Popeye's is?"
"Down the street?"
"Yes! Okay, be right back!"
Terra smiled as Aqua straddled a black horse and rode off to the nearest place that sold fried chicken.
He went back inside the hospital and back into Xion's room. He stood in the doorway and watched her sleep for a couple of minutes, chuckling whenever she snored loudly.
As he stepped outside her room, a woman walked toward him, her off-white hair and pale skin clashing tremendously with her clad-black outfit. Terra stepped back in shock.
"Lady Rozen Garten," he got down on one knee and bowed his head, "Goddess of Time, how may I be of your assistance?"
"Stand, Terra Dalorian. I am here to warn you."
"What is it, mi'lady?" He asked, standing.
"I am afraid that you're borrowing time on the earth."
He folded his arms across his chest. "Excuse me?"
"Eventually, you will have to return to the spirits until we find a permanent alternative."
"When?" Terra's voice wavered. "And will I be able to see my baby be born?"
"I do not have all of the answers, Terra. I told you what I know. I will tell you anything else if I hear it. Have a good night."
Lady Rozen faded from existence.
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "How am I gonna tell Aqua?"
"How are you gonna tell me what?" Aqua came back with a huge bucket of Popeye's chicken, grinning and clutching the bucket close.
"It's nothing."
She brushed it off and continued munching on a leg. "Can we go see Riku?"
"Sure."
They walked into the room and Aqua almost dropped her fried chicken. Riku was attached to dozens of different wires, with an oxygen mask over his face. Next to him, Namine was grabbing his hand and sobbing while Roxas tried to console her. She looked up, blood-shot eyes filled with anger and more tears.
"You did this!" She yelled.
"What?"
"You gave me this baby," she yelled at Terra and ran her hands over her stomach, "And you're killing my brother slowly, just by living! What next, Terra? You gonna kill Roxas, too?"
Aqua put her bucket of chicken down in one of the seats near the door. "Terra, what is this about? Did... Did you get her pregnant? You're the father to her baby?"
Terra stood stock-still, in full-blown shock. "Who told you that?"
Namine pressed herself closer to Roxas as he spoke. "A goddess came into the room and told us everything."
"Which goddess?"
"Haravela."
Terra's heart cracked, but didn't shatter. It was holding itself together due to the fact that Aqua was still in the room. He turned to her and began to say something, but she stopped him.
"How long have you known but didn't tell me?"
"A month or so."
Aqua pressed a hand to her stomach, her face twisted in pain. When she regained her composure, she immediately left the room. Ignoring Terra's calls, she continued walking down the hallway to the door, passed the door, outside, where she made a phone call.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Aqua!"
"Hey, Nathan. I'm not feeling too great right now. Do you think you could come and get me, please?"
"Of course! Where are you?"
"Rockrema Memorial Hospital."
She heard the car start in the background. "What happened?"
"I'll explain when you get here."
An hour later, Nathan's clunky blue Ford pulled up and Aqua got in. He pulled her into a hug and ruffled her hair.
"Explain, Little Dragon."
Aqua told him everything from beginning to present. "I do not feel any emotions now."
"Or maybe you're feeling too many emotions at once," he countered softly.
Tears began to fall from her eyelashes. "Maybe that's it, Nathan," she whispered.
"Lemme take you home."
"Okay."
He pulled out from the hospital entrance quietly, and turned the radio up to quiet his own thoughts. He turned it down and called his wife, Audrey, to let her know where he was. He loved her to death, and he couldn't break his habit of randomly checking up on her.
Nathan handed his phone to his little sister. "She wants to talk to you."
Aqua gingerly put the phone to her ear. "Hey, Pancakes. How's it going?"
Audrey chuckled and smiled brightly, curling into a ball on the bed and turning her bedside lamp on. "I'm great, Aqua. How's my favorite sister-in-law?"
"I could be better, but for now I'm fine. You're keeping Nathan happy, enough to see a grin on his face! I'm happy he decided to keep you. You must be really great in bed."
Nathan nearly had a heart-attack. He pried the phone from Aqua's fingers, while driving, and abruptly ended the call. "Bad Aqua." he scolded.
Meanwhile, Aqua was giggling madly, giddy from Nathan's bright red face. When she calmed down to a quiet snicker, Nathan stopped the car. "Home."
"But what if..."
"I'm right outside if he tries anything."
She slowly got out the car and walked up the winding path to her house. Inside was dark, too dark, and Aqua heard sobs from her room. She opened the door to see Xehanort hovering over Adele, her knees close to her chest. Her face was tear-streaked, and when she saw Aqua in the doorway, she ran to her. Aqua bent down.
"Adele, what did he do to you?"
"He was gonna hurt me, Mommy. He took off his shirt and said for me to do it too. I didn't because you told me never to do that in front of boys. And then he hit me, Mommy. Daddy hit me." Adele showed Aqua the bruises all over her body, and Aqua had to force back tears.
"Baby, do Mommy a favor and go in your room and pack up all your toys and clothes and when you're done, take your suitcases down stairs and you'll see Uncle Nathan's truck. Put your stuff in there, okay? Can you do that for Mommy?"
The ten-year-old nodded and ran out of the door. Aqua straightened up and stared at Xehanort.
"Today, I will kill you."
Heyyyy! Long time no talk! How are you guys doing? Do you guys still like this? Okay, um, I working on a story about a murder case and all that, and I was wondering if u guys wanted me to post it here? Idk if it'll be a one shot or something. Review and give Saphy FEEDBACK! I live off of that and sugar!
Thanks ppl who have stuck with this! I trust u'll review this with some ideas? And tell your friends! I'll give you a cookie if u does! HELL, I'LL GIVE YOU FIVE! XD
Did anyone see the super huge "HAVEN" reference? ANYBODY?
(I WUV NATEN! :3)
Love you! -
Saphira!