Looking down at the red-haired boy, the boy with strange silver hair, and the brunette girl who was shaking her head and had her hands covering her mouth, Roxas mouthed "Don't worry." He looked to the sky, perhaps for an answer. The dark, looming, purple-grey clouds above foresaw only doom, and Roxas almost couldn't swallow the lump in his throat. Riku, the silver headed one, shook his head, too, but in disgust instead of grief or worry. He could only think, My Lord, seriously, Roxas? This is what you've gone to do? For a girl! Good God, what is the matter with you?
Axel, the one with fantastic, spiky red hair, seeing the look on Riku's face, smacked him on the arm. "Have some respect for the near-dead, Riku. That could be you some day." That got Riku to think. No, I would never do that. Would I? He shook his head once. Never. Girls are girls. Even if I found true love, for God's sake, I wouldn't throw myself off a building for her.
Spying him from the corner of her eye, shaking his head, Olette turned her head and glared at Riku. He did not notice her, for he too was eying the frightening clouds overhead. With both their heads turned up, Riku and Roxas looked almost alike, Axel noted mentally. Alike but completely different at the same time. Namine noticed, too. From where she was, far away. A tear ran down her delicate face like a snake. She looked up at the tall man adorned in black who stood behind her, watching as she was. He did not look at her, though, so she turned her face back to the images in front of her.
With his eyes closed and his head upturned, Roxas imagined himself next to his sweetheart, next to Namine. He imagined caressing her face and seeing her blue eyes again. He imagined too much, and nearly fell. The tip of his black shoe nearly slid out from under him and all his imagination-related bliss. Namine saw this and nearly cried out, nearly fell down with him. Riku saw this and almost grinned wide, almost laughed. Axel, too, almost laughed, but only because Roxas hadn't fallen. And also, it was a stupid thing to do. Olette nearly fainted, her schoolgirl crush on him had gone too far over the years to end that night.
Roxas looked down, now, over the edge he was so near too. He shuddered as he thought about how it would feel if she did not come and he did end up jumping, hitting the ground below. It would be over after that. She would cry and grieve, have nightmares and try hopelessly to find Roxas again. Namine was that type of girl; she never gave up. So when she fell to her knees and gazed intently into the pool of reality, she didn't scream or cry, she didn't faint or plead. She rested her head on it, stood up, and turned to face the cloaked man.
Suddenly, Riku spoke. More shouted than spoke, but that doesn't matter. "Roxas! Don't be an idiot!" he called, "You know everyone will regret this evening!" Roxas heard him. He closed his eyes tight and balled his hands into fists, and said to himself "I won't regret a thing," his eyes opened, just barely, "even if she doesn't come."
Suddenly, there was a light. It was not Namine as Roxas (and partially Riku) had hoped, but Demyx, another Organization member. He sighed deeply and said "Roxas, you know you can't do this. And I hate to be the one who has to tell you, but I drew the shortest straw. I don't see why Axel didn't tell you, though. Anyway, she's not coming back, and you're not leaving this rooftop without really admitting that you know that. Understood?"
Roxas' face became cold and emotionless when he reluctantly said "Understood." Demyx nodded but then proceeded to grab Roxas by the arm and drag him into the cloud of light that he had appeared in. "Demyx! Knock it off!" Demyx shook his head and said, "This is the only way we can be sure, Roxas child." Roxas struggled to get away, saying things like "I need to stay here! What if something does happen, Demyx? What if someone sees something and I'm not there? Demyx!"
Olette jumped up as high as she could but still was unable to see what was happening. "Axel! Let me get on your shoulders!" Axel rolled his eyes and told her: "It's merely Demyx, he's dealing with Roxas. Foolish child." Olette was not sure if that last statement was aimed at her or Roxas, but before she could question it, Riku spoke again, kinder words than before. "He'll be fine, they'll just talk to him and slap a cloak on him. Then they'll probably bring him to her." He shrugged. Olette turned red; partly from being talked to by Riku, and partly from fury, for they would take Roxas to her.Her was not Olette.
Namine heard everything that was happening behind her while she spoke softly to the tall, dark man. "Will they do as Riku has said?" she asked him after some time of him simply shaking his head. First he looked around, up, down, left, right, back, then forward again. Then he kneeled so he was Namine's height, and lowered the hood that was covering his face. A boy who looked stunningly like Riku, perhaps even was, nodded and whispered, "He'll be here shortly, my dear." Then he kissed her cheek and was gone. She then realized it had been so long since she'd seen her friends last, and she wept.
Roxas shielded his eyes with his arm. He was wearing a cloak now, like Demyx had on. They were practically walking through a tunnel of light, so he didn't understand why they wore thick black cloaks. He was overheating, but he knew that he would soon be in a dimly lit room with few others dressed exactly the same. He sighed, still being dragged by the arm. His footsteps were loud and slow. Tragedy in each one.