A/N: DOUBLE UPDATE to make up for the week or so of none. I hope you still reviewed the last chapter. Hehe.

I realized that I can't be serious all the time. If you thought it was lame or whatever for Riku to be the one that killed Vanitas, then you're depressing. Go somewhere. Sora can't do that shit. He's too nice... like Goku. Damn it, I turned Sora into Goku. Now I'm convinced that Roxas is his super saiyan form, simply because of the hair.

I'm babbling.

Anyway, read on!

o.o.o

Follow Me Home

Chapter Thirty-Six

o.o.o

'Whoever it is, look carefully, don't make her cry
I have nothing more to lose
The sadness in my heart that no one else knows about

Tick tock, tick tock, may it all disappear..."

o.o.o

Sora joined Riku, Cloud, Zidane and Tifa outside of the hospital in a secluded area. Genesis and Yuffie went home. Kairi had fallen back asleep. Leon went off somewhere—he probably didn't want to be bothered. Losing Sora's aunt really took its toll; he could hardly believe it himself. His mother was bound to find out eventually, as well as about the death of Vanitas.

Sora paced around nervously. They had committed crimes—no, sins, that were unforgivable. However, the others were more worried about everything but that.

"Riku... what are you going to do?" he asked him.

"What do you mean?" Riku raised an eyebrow.

"Sora," Cloud started, knowing what Sora was talking about, "the police will assume this is just mafia business. As far as we're concerned, we have nothing to do with this."

"But-"

"What matters is—everyone is safe." Zidane placed his hand on Sora's shoulder.

"Besides, from what I heard they were only doing this favor for Vanitas because Auron was good friends with his 'dad.' Auron won't hold any secret vendetta against you. His life revolves around death." Tifa chuckled. "Not like they were getting anything out of it."

"Yeah." Cloud agreed.

"Sora, if it bothers you that much," Riku went over to him, "I'll go and turn myself in. You'll just have to help Namine and Ken from time to time. You and Kairi may even have to move in. Can you handle two wives?"

Okay, now Riku was guilt tripping him and being a sarcastic ass.

"Fine! I'll... get over it..." Sora clenched his fists. "By the way... why do you think Vanitas was so attached to Kairi?"

"He was a narcissistic, sociopathic, serial rapist. Does that answer your question?" Cloud responded.

"Uh..."

"He didn't have a heart. Now... the chances of him targeting Kairi of all people just really baffles me..."Riku said. "It's almost like a terrible movie..."

"It's anything but." Tifa said. "Look, Sora... I don't want you to feel bad for Vanitas. Like Cloud and Riku just said, he doesn't care about anyone but himself. Karma or not, we all met him for a reason—and we overcame it. You're going to have to just look towards the future now. He may have been your twin, but he was deranged and evil. To me, that says you're not related at all. So just forget about him—and help Kairi do the same."

"He did so many terrible things to her... do you think that Kairi will ever recover?" Sora asked anxiously.

"As long as you're by her side, I'm sure she will." Riku told him.

"Riku, you've really softened up about all of this." Sora grinned.

Riku shrugged, "Yeah, well... you have to admit, that's a lot to go through just for cheating... not saying that the cheating was right. It was just like... overkill."

"...right." Sora agreed.

Just then, his phone rang. His mother was calling. "Hey... mom..."

"Sora, where are you?! What's going on?"

Reluctantly, Sora told her where he was but didn't state why. He wasn't sure how she would react if she knew he was here because of Kairi and Roxas—and what just happened. Of course he would never reveal the truth; he didn't even want to tell Kairi who actually killed Vanitas. All she needed to know was that he was taken care of.

Sora glanced nervously back at Riku and the others before going back inside.

o.o.o

Mr. and Mrs. Yamada rushed into the hospital looking for their son. They were directed up to Kairi's room. Furious, Mrs. Yamada almost didn't go.

Sora was sitting by her bedside with his eyes shut; he was trying really hard to relax. He hadn't gone to see Roxas—not that there was much to see anyway. He knew that once Kairi woke up she would want to. He didn't know how he felt about that.

However, Sora was at a crossroads once again—he needed to let Roxas' family know. He was the only one that knew their number.

"Should I tell Xion too...?"

Roxas didn't deserve his kindness.

But he had been through so much that Sora almost felt that he had been punished enough.

He may or may not have protected Kairi at that warehouse; Sora didn't know what really happened when he wasn't there, besides the obvious rape and beatings, but he was sure that Roxas at least tried.

As terrible as Roxas was in his eyes, Roxas did him a huge favor.

He gave Sora the reality check that he so desperately needed. Kairi helped as well, but...

Sora was always in denial—optimistic and hoping for the best. He didn't see what was going on right in front of him. He didn't want to believe that the people close to him could betray him.

Boy, was he wrong.

If Sora got any lesson out of all this—it was that nobody could be trusted—not so easily, at least.

He looked over at Kairi, who was sleeping soundly in her bed. Sure, they promised to put this all behind them, but Sora knew that it wasn't going to be so simple.

He got out his phone and called Ventus. Instead of calling Xion himself, he decided to ask Ventus to do it and gave him her number. He was a little confused as to why he needed to inform her, but said he would. Sora emphasized that she should probably come with him—as well as her daughter.

Sora had done his part.

As soon as he put his phone down, his mother bust open the door.

"Sora! You're back with her?! After what she did?!" She yelled. Kairi woke up in a groggy manner. "You little slut!" Mrs. Yamada yelled, ready to pounce on Kairi. Sora and Mr. Yamada held her back.

Kairi knew that she would have to face Sora's mother again eventually, but she wasn't exactly in the best condition to think properly. Sora tried to reason with his mother. Surprisingly, Mr. Yamada walked over to Kairi's bed.

"How are you feeling?" He asked amongst all of the noise.

Taken aback, even Sora and Mrs. Yamada stared.

"Umm... better... now..." Kairi said nervously, glancing back and forth from Sora to Mr. Yamada.

"Don't mind my wife. She'll get used to you."

"What are you saying?! I hate that girl! My son won't be anywhere near her!"

Mr. Yamada escorted her out. Sora rubbed the back of his head, still a bit confused. He and Kairi exchanged strange looks, but just shrugged them off. Smiling, Sora went over to her and kissed her forehead.

"You're really okay?"

"I am now." For the first time in a while, Kairi truly smiled.

o.o.o

The awkward conversation with Xion lingered on Ventus' mind as he went to pick her up. Why was it so important to bring her with him?

He pulled up to the apartment where Xion, a seven month old and Ienzo were standing there, ready to go. Xion put the car seat in the back and secured Ayaka in it. She had no idea how long she would stay on the islands, but she was prepared. They looked as if they were moving with all of the stuff they had with them. After Ienzo and Ventus put them in the trunk, they were on their way.

"I can't believe he's... in a coma..." Xion said anxiously, mostly to herself as they drove down the road.

"Sora insisted that you come with me..." Ventus said.

"That's because-" Ienzo started, but Xion interrupted him. She knew he was about to tell the truth.

"Because Ayaka is your niece." Xion finished, feeling a bit ashamed.

Ventus nearly stopped the car. "W-What?!"

"Roxas... doesn't know that... he has a daughter." Xion sunk in her seat sheepishly. Ienzo gave her a sympathetic look, but he was glad that Xion was finally coming to terms with it.

"And now... he may never know." Ventus sped up, but not too fast. "We need to get to the islands."

o.o.o

Sora heard what sounded like his mother busting out in tears and went to see what was going on. Kairi also got out of bed and pushed the IV machine along with her as she followed him.

"MY SISTER IS DEAD?!"

She found out.

Leon had returned to the hospital after retrieving Rinoa's body from the cottage. What he did with the body, only he knew.

"Sorry, Uncle Leon..." Sora said; tears itching to come out. He leaned down and comforted his mother. Kairi stood and watched.

So that's what happened to her.

She couldn't save her.

Suddenly, Kairi fell to the floor and cried her eyes out. The guy that kidnapped her did this right in front of her, but she couldn't remember what happened right before she was knocked out.

It was dark...

A scream...

"Oh... God..." Kairi curled up and shook uncontrollably. "This... this is my fault... she was trying to protect me..."

"Kairi!" Sora went to her side, "please don't blame yourself!"

"It was my fault for underestimating the situation." Leon said.

"This is nobody's fault but Vanitas'!" Sora yelled. "He was the one that did all of this!"
"Vanitas?!" Mrs. Yamada shrieked, "Sora, what happened to your brother?!"

"He... he's..." Sora couldn't say it.

"He's dead." Leon answered for him.

If his mother's face could turn anymore pale, it would have. Even though she didn't consider Vanitas as a son, he still came out of her womb. She was numb, broken—a side of her that not even Sora had ever seen.

Kairi lifted herself up; she had no idea why she felt like she just had to hold her. Slowly, Kairi wrapped her arms around Mrs. Yamada and cried. She expected to be pushed away and scolded, but that didn't happen. Everyone watched in shock.

The death of her sister and son at the same time must have really scarred her to let Kairi touch her.

After a few moments, Sora pulled Kairi off of her and helped her stand. Mr. Yamada brought Mrs. Yamada to her feet. She didn't say a word.

"Mom..." Sora watched as his father walked his grief-stricken mother down the hallway. Leon followed them.

Was that how she was when she thought Sora was dead?

Kairi hugged him tightly and sniffled. Eventually, Sora hugged back, not taking his eyes off of his parents.

o.o.o

A few hours later, Xion, Ventus, Ienzo and Ayaka arrived at the hospital.

"My brother is here..." Ventus said to the lady at the counter. They got the room number and hurried down the hall. Ayaka was wide awake and just examining her surroundings as Ienzo carried her. They loaded into an elevator.

"4th floor... Intensive care unit..." Ventus pressed the button.

Xion was extremely nervous at this point. How would she react...? Should she even let her daughter see her father that way?

"I've been to hospitals way too much lately..." Ventus mumbled under his breath. The elevator door opened. Ienzo and Ayaka went first, followed by Xion and him.

They were shocked to see Sora down at the end of the hall, standing outside of what was presumably Roxas' room with his arms crossed and eyes shut.

"Sora!" Xion called out.

"Oh, you're... here..." Sora straightened up. "W-Wait..." he stopped Ventus from rushing in. "Kairi's in there."

"So?!" Ventus said, trying to push past him.

"She's almost done... let her have her closure..." Sora's eyes lowered. Ventus backed off.

Sora hated this.

o.o.o

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A/N: I love Cloud's description of Vanitas. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS?! I watch too much ID Discovery. I blame that.

You should leave a review.

It's what all the cool kids do.

Uh. I may just update faster if you do.

=D

Anyway, back to the party.

"Boots and pants and boots and pants..."