A/N: I really did want to write my first official chaptered story with my OTP as the main pair. I love them so much, but people here have gone to forget about them cause of the other booming couples that I too love and adore (roxas x namine for one), not to mention the new pairs that will soon erupt from the two new addition to the KH series. So anyway, I've been trying out several POVs and I realized I never actually typed one for third person so, for this entire storyI'd be using third person. This is technically my first attempt to a serious story so, please be considerate if I mess up some words and grammar rules (feel free to point them out xD), and that's all Happy Reading!

06.19.09 update: I've gone down to editing this chapter (ugh, third person POV is tricky!), and hopefully the flow of words would be better, and many thanks to those that pointed out my mistakes. Still! If I happen to miss some things (it can't be helped) do notify me :D

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS SQUARE DOES.

Perhaps Love

--- --- ---

Wishing for something you've seen others throw away is a twisted kind of craving.

Perhaps love had something to do with, or maybe it's just your way to find yourself— to envy what others have.

--- --- ---

Morning routines do have their limits, and once you crossed that line you'll find yourself bordering being insane or maniacally OC in how you live. Sure, going to the coffee shop at approximately 15 till 9 is just normal, but sticking around for another hour and a half is another thing.

She sat there bringing a book along the journey; like she always did for the past few days, opening the book to the same chapter she could never find time to finish. She ordered her usual, no, rather it was more of the bartender giving her the order she has yet to pay for—she was a regular already, and the blonde bartender had already memorized her actions. Taking a sip of her icy latte, she took quick separate looks from the door to the counter, anticipating the arrival of the same person she's sticking around for.

Another 5 minutes, and the bell hanging on top of the door had rang; her attention being grabbed by the entrance of the same person she was hoping to see. 'The brunet's in a hurry today', she concluded and took another sip of her drink. The brunet walked towards the counter, plastering the grin he always had on his face, asking for his usual drink: Dark Cinnamon Chip Frappe.

She already knew that, she knew everything from what time, drink and place this brunet was going to sit at. What she's doing might be near stalking, but at least she's not out to get him—she just likes watching the brunet mingle with the people of the store, and drink his usual, which (although creepy sounding) is not criminal at all.

She tried walking closer to him or even lining-up with him at the front or back, but she couldn't seem to suck it up and talk civil with him. It was always her watching him from a far, and even though content, she was still being silently irritated by it.

"Kairi, you're staring again..." she was vaguely interrupted by the same bartender that gave her the White Mocha Ice Latte. She turned her head, to the side only to find that the blonde man was giving the other table their tray of orders. She sighed, and returned back to reading her abnormally short but never finished book, mildly glancing at the brunet that just sat 3 tables apart from her.

It was very much like her to stare at nowhere special yet still be interested, she loved looking into sights that no one seems to appreciate, it was just one of her quirks her friends have to live with.

"There you go again—ogling's not polite, Kairi ... and you call yourself a girl," commented the fleeting bartender that had passed her way back to the counter. She glared at the man behind the cashier, and shut her book. "You're leaving a little early ... don't you want to stay like always ..." he said loud enough to catch the brunet's attention.

She grimaced, "I would, Roxas... but I'm having a strange vibe, you know... the same one I get when I want to sue a bartender for being too nosy." Her tone became inexplicably harsh by the end.

Roxas laughed lightly, "Sure, sure—you'll come back tomorrow." He threw a smirk to her direction. The other just rolled her eyes, and glanced at the piqued brunet on the side.

"Shouldn't that be, 'Please come back again'?"

Another chuckle escaped the man's lips, "Why would I look for something I already know you're going to do?" He said cheekily, briefly making the redhead flush cherry tint on her cheeks.

It wasn't her fault she was undeniably predictable, but she somehow blamed the brunet that sat there idly watching their little teasing. 'If I wasn't sure he'd come here every morning, then I'll never step into this place ever again... but the chance of seeing him outside these four walls ... is extremely little.' She thought to herself, walking towards the exit of the café.

Upon exiting (and inwardly cursing) she saw a flash of blonde hair pass by her peripheral view; it passed with shades of purple and yellow dinging the bell that hung above the door. A little curious for her own good, she peeked at the same glass door the person went through.

Now if she was even more curious then the 'peeking' type, she'd be an eavesdropper (which she was not) and being so, she would have heard what the (now identified) blonde girl was talking about with the same brunet she had been watching. If she was ever to hear what the two were talking about, (which she didn't) she'd be hearing a light conversation between the two:

"Sorry I'm late... you don't know Olette when she says 'sale', it's a no-escape shopping trip till the mall closes," the blonde rolled her eyes quickly, before gluing them back to him. "Been waiting long?" she inquired at the silence of the seemingly amused brunet.

"... Oh not really, I just got down here. I came from Pence's house, so it's no big." He said clearly okay with the fact the blonde was late yet again. He didn't move to stand or to assist the girl with her things; it was different after a couple of years dating.

The blonde sighed, "You say it's nothing big, but you're going to make it something big—you're always like this Sora." She complained sitting down on the opposite chair facing him.

"I don't make it something big. In fact, we could forget about it, we don't have to talk about it—like we talk about everything else." He said simply drinking away his frappe, and idly sneaking glances at the door (where the redhead was peeking at).

He didn't mean to sound so fed up, but the message he was conveying to the other was pointing to that same direction, "What do you have against talking things out? It's perfectly normal for people to talk! We don't get together often, so I still want to be part of your life ... and I want you to be part of mine, we only meet at most thrice a week and you don't want to talk?" offended by his words, the insecurities she pushed aside were slowly crawling back into their place.

He lets a short sigh pass, "I want to talk ... but if we're just going to get into a fight, then I'd rather keep a code of silence, Naminé." He smiled, sincere with every word he had said.

Naminé just grimaced, and shrugged, "Alright, alright ... I guess you're right," she returned the smile Sora was giving her. It was another moment near perfect, he meant what he said, and finally he got through to her—now if only he could get her attention a little longer.

"Nami—"

A ringing sound from a mobile phone interrupted him from speaking longer, a hand sign waved across his face and she was no minute longer inside the café, she rushed out waving an apologetic smile towards him.

"—that's what I thought ...." he sighed, ordering up another round from the blonde behind the counter. Who was more than happy to give him another order of that cinnamon spiced drink, as the blonde served the drink, a pitied look was on his face.

Kairi never heard the conversation, nor did she linger long enough to see her friendly bartender give the brunet another frappe. She was too far gone; once she saw the blonde take the call and head for the door, she immediately high-tailed it out of there earning herself a ride to work an hour early.

-o-o-o-o-

Entering the Publishing Company was a dream come true for her, she loved to write—and sometimes edit the layout for proofing. It was a daily job that starts at 11 am (usually), and ends at whenever her boss would let her go. She never complains, she and her boss were in good terms anyway. In fact, if there was another place where she feels comfortable in is in her boss's office, just talking it out.

"Kairi, there's something I have to say, about your work in this magazine." Her boss started, it wasn't a nice tone, not a tone she'd like to hear after the morning she's had.

"What is it, Tifa?" She said a little unnerved at what's to come.

The black-brunette boss of hers took a few placement files from under her desk, and fixed them before handing them over to the redhead, "We're going to relocate you."

It wasn't a promotion per se, but definitely not a 'you're fired' line too, a small spark of happiness went off in her, "Oh... relocation—to where exactly, and why?"

Tifa sighed, obviously she was avoiding the topic as much as possible, but eventually it will come up. "I'm turning over the magazine business ... Cloud wanted me to go onto culinary arts, he says I'd be happier there than in a dreary room of an editor-in-chief, and I got to choose at least one of my employees to transfer to another branch in the publishing—I choose you." she explained, gaining an appreciative bow from the ex-EA (editorial assistant).

She jumped up and down, expressing vividly how happy she was that she wasn't in the line of unemployment. "So which branch will I be transferred to?" her optimistic tone was showing.

The brunette giggled, "There are a lot of other magazines under the Strife Publishing name, so ... maybe I could put in a good word, maybe a magazine for fashion and gossip?" she cooed, enticing the redhead more of her relocation and such.

A wide grin was apparent on her face, "... Really? That'd be so ..." she trailed finding the right word for her to say or even express her gratitude to the older woman, but try as she might she remained baffled. Tifa being the kind-hearted boss she was, assisted the stoic redhead to the door of her office. She was gently pushing her, towards the door's direction and finally as they reached the door she woke from her trance.

"Thank you so much!" She said finally having her words caught up with her. The brunette just laughed and opened the door for her to exit to. "Right, right! I'll fix my transfer papers tomorrow, thank you, thank you!" she yelled and ran back down to her cubicle.

-o-o-o-o-

If there was something about managing a business to constantly worry about is the income, and the constant demand of the consumers, not to mention the price of the products as well. But for Strife Publishing, it wasn't at all a problem; the company was family-ran and the branches are divided to the family and to other respected employees they felt capable of one. Cloud, who is the owner, is also the editor-in-chief of SOLDIER, a magazine that's focused more on the gears, gadgets, and some called it the 'men' magazine. Tifa was editor for Cetra, a magazine focused on womanhood, and independence. Then there was the other branch that their son headed, which was the problem of the head Strife right now.

"Yuffie ... where's Leon?" he said looking around, "I thought I called for a meeting, in discussion for Overdrive, what am I going to do without the week reports for that branch?" he complained; yet a smile was on his face as if to say 'I'm getting away with it, I'm getting away with it!' like a little kid avoiding homework would say.

The woman just raised a brow, "Oh c'mon, Capt'n if its Leon, I'm sure he's just telling somebody around the office off again, I found him doing that just minutes ago." She chirped, happily gaining more light-hearted laughs from her boss.

Cloud propped his chin up with one of his hands, "Overdrive's getting glitches from the crowd, Cetra's closing down... how do you suppose I manage things, I'm losing the female population interest by closing down Cetra ... there has to be some other way to get their money back," he was thinking idly to himself, the black-haired editorial assistant ignored the question and continued to watch the door for Leon.

The door swinged open, and the only view was a large pile of papers on legs. There was the relief of finally starting the meeting, and the dread of mountainous paperwork to do. Cloud's eyes popped from the sight; he turnsed to his cluttered paper-filled desk and back to the walking pile in front of him, "I'm not even half-done with these—what's with all the paperwork?" It's not like the two inside the room could sign it for him, no of course not, they're in no authority to do so. He sighs and the pile of papers was dropped on another side of his desk.

"So, are we ever going to get this little meeting over with?" Yuffie said nonchalantly, sitting down on the black leather couches inside the boss's room. Obviously used to how casual her boss is with 'meetings' and such, they are a big company—posters everywhere you turn about the all too known Strife family. It was the picture of a perfect family, as the people would say, but nonetheless there still would be the black sheep from the perfect white-coated flock.

The brunet in the room coughed, "I'll start. Overdrive's profit income is steady," a more relaxed look passed his boss's face, "Steadily going down that is." Leon said sharply, earning a narrowed look from the two.

"What do you propose we should do about it?" Cloud asked, the tension in the room getting more suffocating than usual. Yuffie sat upright and more attentive with a pen and notepad in hand just in case Cloud started making plans and ordered her to make a quick jot of things.

"Hmm ... if this was like before, I would've advised you to let it slide. The gross income from SOLDIER and Cetra were more than enough to come up for it, but seeing as Cetra has been closed down..." He trailed looking over to the side, trying to look for possibilities of more money-making schemes.

"There's less income, and although the final issue of Cetra would really make much income—it can't cover the glitches of Overdrive forever." Yuffie finished; she was getting a little fed up of the tension in the air, and apparently silence wasn't doing any good to that either. The two nodded, understanding what they had to do (even if they all thought of different things) they started to make small discussions about changes to both Overdrive, and the company.

Another feeble attempt of smiling came from the depressed head, "... I don't think he would like what we're all suggesting." Troubled laughter erupted from the blonde, and shaking heads from the two could be seen. The decision was a unanimous, and even though Cloud wasn't one for family squabbles ... this was something clearly out of his hand.

-o-o-o-o-

"Good afternoon, welcome to Café Oblivion!" the warm greeting of the blonde behind the counter never fails to bring sweet smiling (girl) customers to line up at the cashier. He loved where he worked, in fact Roxas could be the only contented bartender in the whole entirety.

The customers were always a colourful bunch; boring and flirty girls were never really his style, too predictable as he says. That's why he wounds up being friends with the same rainbow bunch; for example Kairi: the girl was prettier than half of the girls that tried to flirt with the brunet, but she couldn't find her voice in front of him, therefore settling to watching him instead.

He smiled invitingly at the customer, "I'd like the bestest, biggest brownie mister!" a little kid most likely 6 shouted from below the counter.

Roxas gave off a light laugh, "Of course, only the best brownies are sold here in Café Oblivion," he said taking a chilled brownie from the display sort of rack. Packing the palm-sized brownie into a paper bag, he returned to the kid and handed him the bag, "That'll be 140 munny."

The little kid jumped as he opened the bag, hearing the crisp sounds. "Here ya go mister!" he handed the blonde the munny and skipped happily back to his mother.

"Happy little kid, a little too much sugar and chocolate for his own good though," He commented to no one in particular; the next customer didn't mind his little spacing out, and waited for him to give her that welcoming smile. "Welcome to Café Oblivion—oh, I think you'll have the Dolce Strawberry, right?" his amazing memory of the customer's drinks and names made up for his constant spacing out.

The redhead grinned, for the first time actually happy to see him, "Yeah, I'm into celebrating right now," laughing and taking out 250, she slapped it on the counter.

Roxas was shocked at the uncanny mood of the redhead today, "Hmm ... I'm guessing, but you finally realized you're stupid, and had a chat with Sora?" he replied in a teasing tone, not waiting for her reply and got to working on her drink.

He left a miffed Kairi by the counter, quietly cursing the blonde for making her remember. He returned with the blended drink on his hand, and on the side of the plastic cup wasn't her name; in neat, black ink, the name Sora was scribbled on the side. He handed it to her with an impish grin, "Here's your Dolce Strawberry, Miss Kairi." Add half-ass tone, and he officially put off her happy aura.

"Hasn't your manager actually taught you to be nice to customers?" she said completely in a different mood. He just smiled, and oddly enough she seemed comforted by it.

"Please come again," He said in a happy sarcastic voice, grinning ear to ear to the redhead that made her way to the comforts of her usual table.

Kairi was in a good mood, a good mood even enough to make her go in Café Oblivion and risk getting pissed off at the bizarrely all-time-happy blonde that works there. Note the keyword there: was. She huffed, and set down her things on the glass table; she puts out her planner and a pen. Looking over the same table she was staring at (only the brunet was absent), sighing breathlessly.

"He has work, Kairi—he can't hang around here all the time."She didn't even turn to look at the owner of the voice; instead she grabbed her pen and started scribbling down words, notes on her planner. He peeked over, tried reading, but she made it clear it was completely private: the first thing she wrote in big and capital letters were 'STOP BEING NOSY ROXAS'.

An unconscious pout fell on his face, "Okay, okay~ sure, I just thought you wanted to know more about Sora," the mention of the name get her frozen. Unmoving and barely breathing she dropped her pen and turned to look at the retreating blonde that had a smirk hidden from her view.

"R-Roxas ... so ... his name is Sora?" she asked bashfully; her cheeks turning red as she asked the simple question. Roxas stopped in his tracks, nodded at the question, and continued to walk towards the counter. "... I guess ... I do want to know, what do, you know about him?" he smiled to himself, and turned towards her, she gave him a pleading look and a stare that just begs for the answer.

He grinned, "Okay~ but I'm doing this because you two are my best customers." He dragged out the words like he was being forced, but in truth he was liking playing matchmaker for once in his dreary life. "So what do you want to know?" he sat in front of the redhead, amused at her twinkling with eagerness eyes.

She took a deep breath, "What's his name?" I'm bordering stalker already, why not go all out? She said to herself. Her mind was giving her warning signals of possibly being duped, or even being used as a current amusement, but the day was so giving already—there might be a chance...

"Sora Hikari," her mouth was already forming: ready for another question, "—I know because I talked to the guy at least ten times for the past week, we're good friends actually—" a bright smile replaced her gaping mouth, "—But I'm not doing any set ups." He ended the inward cheering that was screaming from her mind.

She pouted, "Why not?" and complained to the rather entertained blonde.

He stood up, "Because," and started walking away from the table and back to his post, "He wouldn't like that." He ended leaning on the marble counter, smiling deviously at her.

She blinked her eyes a couple of times, her forehead crinkled; as she thought of possible reasons why he wouldn't like it. "He wouldn't?" she ended up repeating his words.

He sighed and rested his chin on his propped up hand, "Sora's a nice guy, the kind your parents would love for you to go out with, the kind that could have you alone in a room and yet you'll still come out of that room unharmed and untouched—much too much of a nice guy if you ask me," he explained, obviously he had known the brunet for some time—well enough to describe him in a nutshell.

"Okay. I still don't see why he wouldn't like a good old blind date," she was smiling still, and her tone held excitement in them. She grabbed her untouched drink, and sipped right through the third of it, before Roxas was able to find words to answer her with.

He grimaced, "Well truth is..." he trailed, "...if you'd stick around long enough, you'll see..." he seemed sincerely upset; a light shade of pink pass through his nose and cheeks, and his eyes grew just a little bit darker.

Kairi already knew what he was pertaining to, "... The pretty, perfect blonde in purple this morning?" she asked, not necessarily mad ... but depressed.

He nodded, "They've been together for a long time ... so ... don't expect so much."

Kairi was already out the door before another set of depressing news pass through her ears. She wasn't expecting the fairytale ending, nor was she expecting to even talk to the brunet ... it was somewhat a lose-lose thing from the start. She was happy more or less, she had a sort of promotion, and she finally found out the name of her recent obsession—it's more than enough, she told herself.

-o-o-o-o-

"Good morning, I'd like to see the Editor-in-chief please." Kairi was standing in front of the secretary of the franchise she was going to be assigned to. The man with a blonde mullet raised his brow at the redhead as if she had just said something so weird, "Is he in?" she tried again.

He apologized and asked for her to wait a second, and peeked through the room and the filled desks of the staff, "Hey guys, somebody's looking for the boss!" he announced; she felt like turning into a puddle, Well he didn't have to blurt it out to the world!

"He's not in." another redhead said as he entered, leaning on the doorway towards the inside. "You're the transferee?" he asked.

"Y-yes.." she answered, a light background of 'yes! Score!' came from the blonde. "When will he be back?"

The man snorted, "We'd like to know that too, the spiky blonde had some nerve leaving his team hanging like this." For Kairi the man in light green polo was talking in riddles, but for the blonde he knew exactly what his co-staff meant.

"Ah ... well. I'd like to just leave my papers on his desk, is that possible?"

"Kiddo, he's not coming in—he never does." He said in a snipping tone, "But you'll never know, there's still a chance, go ahead." He was smirking at her.

She sighed, "I'll just try to get in contact then," she opted for to ask the blonde the next few questions, "So ... who is the EIC for Overdrive?" she asked in a low voice.

The blonde grimaced, "The son of your recent boss—"he presented Kairi with a calling card, "—Roxas Strife." And suddenly the world started to turn differently, and Kairi felt like being stuck in two dimension of both her dream world and reality, "He's been missing for a long time."

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed reading the first chapter, don't forget to leave a review before leaving, thank you. :D