Kairi woke feeling disorientated and groggy, confused to find herself in a room she hadn't fallen asleep in. It took her a moment to recognise where she was, and when she did she realised how she had gotten there. Dammit Riku...

She wondered how long she had been there and rushed back to the office and Sora's room, anxious and now thoroughly pissed off with Riku. She pushed open the door and found the room full of people. Donald and Goofy were sitting beside the bed chatting to Baymax, while Mickey and an exhausted-looking Riku sat at the table talking, serious expressions on their faces. They all turned as they heard her come in.

"Good morning Kairi!" Goofy greeted her enthusiastically.

"How are you feeling?" Donald asked.

"Better, thanks." She smiled at them, relieved to see everyone there, before shooting Riku a deadly glare. He did his best to look apologetic rather than amused. She'd have a go at him later though. "How is he?"

She hurried over to the bed and found Sora looking no different from the night before. His skin was still ghostly pale, and breathing weak and laboured. Goofy stood up and offered her his chair, which she took gratefully and reached out to touch Sora's hand. His fingers felt cold despite the warmth of the room.

"Unfortunately, there has been no change in his condition," Baymax reported. "Even taking into account his acute exhaustion, I would have expected some improvement at this point."

"What? He's not getting better?" Everyone shook their heads sombrely. "I don't understand, why? Is it the same thing that stopped the healing magic?"

"I think I may have an answer to that." They all turned, not having realised Yen Sid was standing in the doorway. He walked in and stood at the foot of the bed. "Whatever darkness was affecting Sora and blocking the magic has now faded, so it is unlikely to be the cause." He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his next words. "I believe that it is not just Sora's body that has been drained of its strength. I can sense that his heart has also suffered a great deal, and his mind most likely has as well."

"What do you mean?" Riku asked.

"When did you first begin having dreams of that city Riku?"

"Close to a year ago I guess, it was two or three months after he disappeared."

"In that case, we can assume that Sora spent close to a year in that place, possibly longer. He may have been trapped there since the day he faded from this world, and we do not know what he experienced during that time. I believe it would be safe to assume it was not pleasant or easy though. Whoever attacked him may have been trying to do more than physically harm him." He paused, his usually stern face becoming sorrowful. "Like his body, his heart has been through a great ordeal and is struggling to recover."

"Does that mean his heart is sleeping?" Mickey asked.

"No, his heart is not sleeping." Yen Sid answered. "But it may have been… greatly weakened." There was silence for a few moments.

"My medical knowledge extends only to the physical heart, not the heart you speak of sir," Baymax said as he raised a chubby finger. "But, based on my limited understanding, this would be consistent with my observations."

Yen Sid nodded. "If it were just physical injuries then, as Baymax has said, he would heal. However, the combination of these and the weakened and drained state of his heart… it may be too much."

Donald and Goofy looked at each other in horror. Mickey and Riku stared incredulously at Yen Sid, unsure what to say. Kairi on the other hand was staring at Sora. Her fists were clenched and she was trembling. Her face and throat were burning, but not from crying. She leapt from her seat and rounded on Yen Sid, blue eyes blazing with anger. "Weak state? Might be too much? Do you really think his heart is that weak?!"

They all stared, speechless, shocked to see Kairi yelling and so furious. Even Yen Sid was at a loss for words.

"You seriously think Sora, SORA, doesn't have a strong enough heart to get through this?!"

It took a few moments for Yen Sid to regain the power of speech. "I did not mean he has a weak heart Kairi, I meant his heart may have been-" but she cut him off.

"It doesn't matter if it's been damaged, or drained, or hurt or.. or whatever!" She yelled, clenching her hand into a fist over her own heart. "His heart is not weak. It will never be weak. His heart is stronger than anyone's! So you can't say he might not make it because of his heart, you just can't, you just… you're wrong." She trailed off and clenched her eyes shut, shaking and breathing hard.

"You're wrong."

There was a long, stunned silence.

Donald was the one to break it. "Yeah! You said it Kairi!"

She opened her eyes and turned, taken aback. "Uh-huh, you're right," Goofy agreed. Riku and Mickey looked at each other, smiled, and nodded at Kairi. She stared around at them all, shocked by their reactions, and beamed. Goofy quickly turned to Yen Sid and apologised though. "No disrespect intended Master Yen Sid!"

Donald wheeled around looking mortified, but Yen Sid had a small smile on his face. "None taken Goofy, or from any of the rest of you," he said, glancing around at them all.

Kairi immediately felt embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm sorry Master Yen Sid, I shouldn't have yelled."

He raised his hand though. "It is quite alright Kairi." She was, of course, correct that Sora's heart was strong. Everything had its breaking point though, and Sora's had fallen into darkness before.

"But, now I think it is time for most of us to leave." He looked pointedly at Donald and Goofy and they sighed. Mickey, them, Baymax, and Yen Sid filed out of the room, leaving Riku and Kairi alone with Sora.

Despite Kairi's declaration, they were both terribly afraid. Riku made his way over to where she was sitting and pulled another chair close to her. He put his arm around her and took Sora's hand in his free one. She lay her head on his shoulder and he kissed her forehead, as she began to cry quietly.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and painfully slow. Kairi and Riku stayed at Sora's side and waited. But nothing changed. All day they simply sat and waited. Waited for him to make a sound, or move, or show any sign of recovery. But he didn't. He just lay there, pale and cold, his breathing shallow.

They alternated between silence, discussing the world they had seen, and reliving memories of their childhood on the islands together. They talked as though Sora were awake with them, hoping he could hear them.

Every few hours, Baymax would perform his routine checks. He would scan Sora and then attempt to wake him with a pinch to his collarbone, checking if he had drifted away from comatose and any closer to sleep. Each time he remained still and silent. Riku and Kairi soon stopped asking Baymax for updates. They knew he would tell them if anything changed. Riku fell asleep on the couch for several hours since, despite Baymax's recommendation, he had only slept for two or three the night before.

Towards the end of the day, Yen Sid came to let them know he had left a portal open to the place where Kairi and Axel had trained a long time ago. He said they were welcome to visit it if they wished, expecting they would both go mad if they didn't leave that room occasionally. Riku was thankful for the chance to blow off some steam. Sitting all day was getting to him, and he went to the training ground immediately, hoping some physical activity may help keep his guilt and anxiety at bay.

Kairi had no energy to train though. She still had no idea how she had summoned that shield of light, but whatever had happened had drained her completely. As night came, she fell asleep on the couch again, feeling unable to leave Sora's side.

When Riku returned and found her there, he retrieved a blanket from the bedrooms and threw it over her. The morning had been so intense that luckily she had forgotten she was mad at him, but he thought it probably wasn't worth moving her again and risking her wrath.

He took the chair beside Sora's bed and brushed some of his messy hair from his face, stroking his forehead with his thumb. He sat for a while, hand in Sora's hair and eyes on his face, not wanting to leave. But his lack of rest was catching up with him again, and he expected the next few days would be long ones. After Baymax reassured him that he would monitor Sora overnight, he left for one of the spare bedrooms and attempted, with limited success, to sleep.

The next day passed in much the same way. They fielded a few calls from the others, desperate to know if there had been any changes in Sora's condition, but each time they had nothing to report. Riku disappeared to the training grounds for a while in the afternoon, and Kairi fell asleep sitting beside Sora, leant forward with her head and chest on the bed, holding his hand.

She dreamt of darkness and stained glass windows atop enormous towers, one full of cracks and crumbling at the edges. She woke with a deep ache in her chest and no memory of the dream.

Riku had intended on making use of the phantom Heartless and targets Merlin had created for them to practice with, but as he came to the end of a warm-up run he found himself unable to stop. This world wasn't large; the area they could access was probably less than five kilometres across. It only took him ten minutes or so to complete the track through the forest he ran on.
But he turned at each end, running laps back and forth. Back and forth. Each one faster than the last.

"...it hurts"

His thoughts were racing, each one running over the top of the next, screaming at him, so fast he didn't even know what they were. His legs and lungs began burning, but the fury and fear wouldn't fade. It just kept following him, pulsing through him like a darkness he couldn't hold back. He sprinted, desperate to outrace the memories.

"Riku...it hurts"

He tripped and fell onto the gravel path, scraping his arms and hands along it. Gasping for air, he pushed himself back on to his knees and put his head in his left hand, fist clenched in his hair as though he were trying to pull it out. He smashed the other into the path over and over again, letting the stones dig in and cut at the skin.

"Riku... it hurts"

Those couldn't be his last words. They just couldn't be.

He returned several hours later in the early evening, with his scrapes magicked away so Kairi wouldn't see. They spent the remainder of the day talking, partially to distract themselves from the awful waiting, and partially in the hope again that Sora might hear them and start drifting back.

Kairi told Riku about her experiences training with Master Aqua over the past several months, and how much she had enjoyed spending time with her and Ven. It had taken her a week or so to feel comfortable being around Terra, the memories of Xehanort's eyes and silver hair on his body still vivid in her mind. Over time they had become good friends as well. The three felt like family now. She had planned on returning to finish her training, but now that would have to wait…

Riku tried to claim the sofa before she had a chance, but she simply shoved him over to make room and curled up beside him. He sighed resignedly and let her pull his arm around her so she could use him as a pillow. At least it's a big couch, he thought, as he tried to resist pushing her off the edge.

On the fourth day after they arrived at the tower Mickey, Donald, and Goofy came to visit. Mickey had brought a large collection of books from the castle library, hoping they might help the time go by a little faster as they waited.

Riku sat with the three and chatted, and Yen Sid showed his face for the first time in a few days to speak with the King. He seemed to have been avoiding his visitors in order to give them some privacy, which they appreciated. Making small talk with him wasn't something they particularly felt up to, and Riku disliked being around him anyway. He was still unable, or maybe simply unwilling, to forgive him for the disastrous mastery exam.

Kairi, however, didn't stay to spend time with the others. She knew it would probably make her feel better, but she just couldn't cope with it right now. Instead, she went to the training ground, telling them she was feeling too restless to sit around anymore. In truth, while she did need to get out of that room for a while, she was still exhausted. She walked through the trees for a time before sitting down in her and Axel's old spot for several hours, staring out into space.

She remembered how she used to sit here and write Sora letters she never sent. Looking back now she regretted this. Why had she never sent any of the letters? Why had she wasted all that time when she could have spent it talking with him? Even if it would have just been on paper...

It was early evening by the time she returned, and the others had left. As she walked through Yen Sid's office, a box on one of the shelves caught her eye; she'd seen an identical one hundreds of times while she stayed in the Land of Departure. She pulled it off the shelf and, after wiping a thick layer of dust from the lid, found it was the exact same board game she had played with Aqua and the others so many times. She hurried back to the other room, excited to show Riku what she had found and teach him to play. It wasn't quite as fun with only two players, but when Sora woke up they could teach him as well.

She opened the door and a wave of fear passed over her, as though she'd just been dowsed in icy water. Something was wrong.

Riku was sitting beside the bed with his head in his hands. She froze and as the door closed behind her Riku looked up. His eyes looked swollen and dead. "Riku…?" She didn't need to finish the question.

"He's getting worse."

"What do you mean?!" Kairi rushed over to look at Sora, dropping the box on the table. He looked almost lifeless, the movement of his chest barely noticeable as his breathing had become so weak. His lips had a faint tinge of blue to them.

"Baymax checked in a little while ago and said he's getting weaker… he can't breathe properly and-" He closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. "He said if he doesn't start getting better soon then we should… prepare for the worst."

For a moment the world stood still. Kairi felt as though the ground was falling away. Riku's voice was a monotone as he tried to maintain his usual stoic appearance, but inside he was screaming. "Maybe Master Yen Sid was right after all."

Kairi had been sure Yen Sid was wrong, but if Sora really had taken a turn for the worse… She didn't know what to say. They stood in silence for several long minutes.

"Kairi?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't lose him again."

She took the empty chair beside Riku and sat sideways on it so she was facing him. He stared down at the floor. She'd never seen him look so lost before, so utterly lost and helpless. She took his hands in hers.

"I've lost you both so many times and... I need him, I can't lose him again, I just can't."

His breathing was accelerating. He shut his eyes tight as he tried not to cry, but tears were already running down his face. His mind was reeling. He never lost control like this. He was never the one to break down, never the one to cry in front of others. But just sitting here uselessly and seeing Sora like this... he didn't know how much more of this he could take. He'd thought once they had found him, they would finally be able to be together, that they would never have to leave each other's side again.

"I can't lose him..."

Kairi let go of his hands and wrapped him in a tight hug. He stayed frozen for a while, then gripped her tightly back and sobbed into the crook of her neck. When Sora was missing he had worked tirelessly to find him and rescue him. Back then, he had at least been able to do something to help. But now, all he could do was sit here and watch him fade away.

"I can't Kairi- I can't- I can't lose him-"

He repeated the words over and over between chest-rattling sobs, like a chant, as though getting the words out might be enough to prevent it from happening. They sat there a long time as Kairi let him weep. Her heart was breaking, but right now he needed her to be the strong one, so she would do that for him.

She waited and let him cry himself out, knowing how much he needed it, before speaking again. As he gradually calmed and went quiet she reached up and stroked his hair. "You won't." He pulled back slowly and stared at her, looking as though he felt completely defeated. "We're not going to lose him."

"How can you know that?"

She smiled and took his hands again. "Riku, has Sora ever let you down before?"

He couldn't help but half return her smile. "Apart from slacking off with the raft?"

"Yes, apart from that!"

"... No."

"Exactly, and I don't think he's about to start now."

He laughed quietly and stared down at her small hands in his. He could tell she didn't fully believe her own words; she was just as unsure and afraid as he was. But she had hope, and sensing hers helped him cling on to the last scrap of his. He had always believed in Sora, always believed in his strength and his ability to pull off miracles, even when no one else seemed to. Even when Sora didn't believe in himself. He couldn't stop now.

"Thanks Kairi." He squeezed her hands and then leaned over to place a hand briefly on Sora's shoulder. "I need to get out of here for a bit I think. I'll be back later."

She nodded and watched as he stood up and left, her confident smile fading as he closed the door. She moved over into the seat closer to Sora and placed a hand on his. He felt so cold… "Please Sora, please don't give up."

Riku returned late in the evening to find Kairi sleeping on the couch once again, and decided it was his turn to shove her over and use her arm as a pillow. Despite his exasperation the night before, he had to admit that it was much better than sleeping in a proper bed by himself, and being further away from Sora.

They spent the morning sitting with Sora in silence, each lost in bleak and melancholic thought.

As the day went on, Kairi finally felt her energy returning, but this just made her restless and added to her constant anxiety. In the early afternoon, she found herself pacing around the room, too agitated to read, wondering if maybe she should go to the training ground later. Riku hadn't left that long ago, so it would be a while before she had a chance.

Sick of pacing and staring out the window, she walked over to the chair where Sora's clothes were hanging. Yen Sid had magicked away the blood on all of their clothing, but the tears in Sora's remained. She picked up the singlet and looked sadly at the frayed edges of the slash down the front. Maybe she should find a way to contact the good fairies and ask them to fix his clothes…

As she put the shirt down she noticed something, a Thalassa shell poking out of Sora's jacket pocket. She reached into it and pulled out the remains of the Wayfinder she had given to him so long ago. The lucky charm she had made to protect them on their raft.

They'd been passing it back and forth to each other for years now. He'd returned it after bringing her back when Xehanort had almost destroyed her. Then she had given it to him again, moments before he disappeared from this world, hoping he'd be able to keep his promise a third time and return it to her again.

And now, it was broken. Just like he had been.

She stared at her hands in disbelief, then quickly took the jacket and emptied all of the pocket's contents onto the table. Two of the shells were still mostly intact and tied together, and the remains of a third were still clinging on, though most of it had cracked away. The small crown that had sat at its centre had survived as well. But the other two shells, including the one she had drawn the little face on, had completely shattered. The jacket pocket had been full of pieces, so many that Kairi thought the entire original charm might still be there.

She sat down and picked up one of the smallest pieces, running her fingers over the edges. It was part of a pink-tipped tail from one of the shattered shells. He'd promised he would bring it back again, and even though it was broken, she considered this a promise kept. She turned to him and smiled.

"Thank you."

Riku returned from training a few hours later, intending to take his usual seat at the side of the bed. He found Kairi sitting at the table, hunched over and concentrating on something. He peered over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

"Agh!" Kairi jumped and almost dropped the shell in her hand, having not heard him come in.

"Sorry!"

She took a deep breath and laughed. "It's OK, you're lucky I didn't break this though, then you would have been in trouble!"

"Heh… so what are you doing?"

She showed him the remains of the Wayfinder sitting on the table. She had arranged the broken pieces into their original shapes and was carefully glueing them back together. Riku had no idea where she got the glue from, perhaps Yen Sid kept craft supplies?

"I found this in Sora's pocket. He must have had it with him when we found him"

"How did it break?"

"I don't know, maybe during the fight, or the fall?"

"I guess we'll have to ask him when he wakes up…" Riku said with a half-hearted smile. He looked at Sora and saw he was just as pale and still as when he left. Kairi gave a small sound of agreement and turned back to the shells.

"I want to fix it for him, for when he wakes up."

"Do you need new shells? I could go get some from the island."

"No it's fine" she smiled, "I think all the pieces are here"

He nodded and drew a chair up close to the bed. He reached out to touch Sora's hand and found he was still cold. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. He and Kairi sat again in mutual silence, as they waited for Baymax's next update.

"Finished!"

Riku was the one to jump this time, he'd been dozing off and Kairi's yell had him almost fall out of his chair. "Wha..?"

"I finished it!" She held out the charm, beaming proudly at her handiwork.

From where Riku was sitting it looked good as new. "Nice job."

It had taken a few hours, but she was pleased with how it had turned out. "It's a little bit wonky and the glue shows in some parts, but I think it's OK." She turned it over and over a few times, playing with it in her hands.

"I remember you making that when we were building the raft, they say Wayfinders are meant to provide luck to travellers, right?" Riku asked.

She nodded. "They're also meant to keep people connected, just like Paopu fruit." She placed it on the bedside table next to Sora's necklace. "This is going to sound silly, but I can't help but hope it helps… maybe it will help guide his heart back."

Riku smiled at her. "It's not silly, I hope you're right as well."

She was sure he was just humouring her but was grateful anyway. She had been worried he might just laugh at her. Sitting down on the bed beside Sora she surveyed his injuries. The bruises on his chest and arms still seemed as dark and purple as the day he got them. "He looks like he hasn't healed at all."

"Yeah…" Riku nodded sadly.

They sat in silence for a little while longer, then Kairi yawned widely and stretched. "All right then, I think I'm going to go to bed"

"And by bed, I assume you mean..?"

"The couch, yep."

Riku smirked. "Do you want me to wake you up if Baymax-" but he stopped short, as he heard a quiet murmur. He turned back to Sora, heart racing.

"What's wrong?" Kairi asked.

Riku leant forward and put his hand on Sora's shoulder. "Sora?"

His eyes were moving beneath his lids and he murmured again. He furrowed his brow slightly and shifted his head on the pillow. Kairi ran forward and stood behind Riku, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly, hardly daring to breathe.

"Sora? Can you hear me?" Riku called.

He turned his head, as though he had indeed heard Riku's voice. But then his face slackened, and he fell still once again.

"Sora!" Riku gave his shoulder a gentle shake, but his eyes stayed closed. For just a moment, he and Kairi had both thought the waiting was finally over.

But he had moved, he'd almost woken up!

Riku smiled and ran a shaking hand through Sora's hair. "Kairi, I think you might have been right."