A:N: Well, thanks for reviewing on this, guys! Glad that you like it!

Well thanks to Blader 25 (yes, I'll definately continue. ^.^) and NagiraAkisa (LOL! That made my day!) for reviewing!

Now, Happy Halloween! (But by the time you're reading this it'll be past, lol.)

Chapter 1: Visitor

Xion opened her eyes, startled.

She was somewhat surprised to find that no longer was she on the Dauntless- she was in her room, covers safely tucked over her body. She wasn't staring at the ship that chased away a good night's sleep- all that was there was her vanity, the wallpaper of her dark room and a bit of her canopy peeked from the corner of her eye.

No longer was Xion twelve- now, in the real world, she was twenty.

Xion didn't dare move a millimeter, too focused on the memory- or had it possibly been a dream?

No, it had been a memory.

Xion carefully looked as far as she could from the corners of her eyes without moving, taking in her every surrounding. What if-

Finally Xion turned her body to check if anyone was there.

She was alone.

Xion sat up, arcing her back with a short stretch. She wasn't used to the silence- it was... Unearthly. Eerie.

She quickly shook it off, scolding herself for being naive. She wasn't adjusted to it simply because it was always crowded in here- servants checking up on her, maids cleaning up after her and fitted her, tailors who measured her body parts so they could make the dress just right.

She should be relishing this time alone.

Xion turned up the flame on the oil lamp standing proudly on her bedside table. The metallic handle was cold to the touch at first, but rapidly Xion got adjusted to it.

Xion swung her legs over her mattress, stood up, and crossed over to her vanity. She stole a glance at herself in the mirror as she sat down.

The governor's daughter had changed much over eight years. Her features were now sharply defined, and she had grown quite considerably. She now also had long lashes and, most noticeably, had cut her hair down to a bop. The royal haircutter had messed up badly and her father had protested, but she actually liked it and had somehow been able to convince him to let her keep this appearance for a year or so.

Xion then looked down, setting aside the oil lamp and pulling one of the drawers open. She rummaged through it for a few moments before she found what she was looking for.

The medallion.

Xion unconsciously slid the drawer back to it's proper position as she stared at it hungrily. Eight years... After all this time she was still fascinated by it. The depth of the hollow eyes of the skull, glaring at her, as if it wanted something...

A sharp rapping out of the door nearly had Xion's insides jumping out of her skin, knocking over her chair with a clatter.

"Xion?" Governor Swann called from outside. "Are you all right? Are you decent?"

Xion hurridly stuffed the face of the medallion into the bodice of her dress and threw on a robe over her thin white nightdress. "Yes, yes!"

Governor Swann entered the room with not a moment to spare. Ansem Swann had also changed over the years- his hair had greyed considerably and now it was even longer than before. Small, almost indiscernible wrinkles had begun to wither his face somewhat.

Xion noticed Aerith and another maid coming in being her father before noticing the package in his hands. She tilted her head in interest.

"Still abed at this hour?" Governor Swann inquired. He crossed over to the window and split the curtain, which then allowed tendrils of bright sunlight to point at various places throughout her room.

Xion peered through the window. She could see the multiple shapes of stone buildings and houses riding over a ribbon of sand, the expanse of the ocean hardly visible. Palm trees throught loomed overhead the buildings and made sure to cast shadows stratigically, only to penetrated by the sun's drizzling rays. To top it all off, a clear, light blue sky stretched over the town and veins the horizon, only a few white cloud whisps overcoming it.

"It's a beautiful day!" Governor Swann exclaimed excitedly before noticing that he still had the package in his hands. "I have a gift for you."

Xion walked over to the package, excited. Her insides seemed to be bouncing in her body in anticipation when the Governor opened it.

Xion gasped- it was a dress, and quite a lovely one at that. The waist was quite thin, which worried Xion, but it was easily made up for by the gorgeous design and elaborate velvet material.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Xion cried in delight.

The Governor smiled at Xion's happiness. "Isn't it?"

Suddenly a thought caught Xion off-guard. Fingering the smooth pearls sewn into the gown, she asked, "May I inquire as to the occaision?"

Governor Swann smiled genuinely. "Does a father need an occasion to dote upon his daughter?" He briefly turned to the maids and prodded them on. "Go on."

Heart swimming with joy, Xion happily took the dress and quickly disappeared behind the changing screen, Aerith on her heels.

"Actually, I, um, I had hoped you might wear it for the ceremony today," Gocernor Swann continued almost uneasily as Xion began to undress from her nightgown.

"The ceremony?" Xion inquired, arching a thin eyebrow behind the screen.

"Captain Norrington's promotion ceremony," answered Governor Swann.

Xion hoisted herself up on her toes to look at him. "I knew it!" she said, now getting ready to get into the corset and pettycoat.

"Or rather, Commodore Norrington, as he's about to become," he continued. "A fine gentleman, don't you think? He fancies you, you know."

Xion didn't hear the last part. Suddenly she felt as if her organs were being squashed together painfully. Her waist felt like it had just shrunk to half it's size, and her air was cut off abruptly. She gasped, desperate for her breath.

"Xion? How's it coming?" Governor Swann said when he heard Xion gasp.

Xion looked down to see that Aerith was pulling the strings of her corset tight. Of course... Bloody corsets!

Once Xion had enough breath to speak, she managed to get out something.

"It's difficult to say," she wheezed once she sucked in enough air to talk.

"I heard it was the latest fashion in Radiant Garden," Governor Swann remarked fondly.

"Well, women in Radiant Garden must have learned not to breathe," Xion grumbled, managing to grasp some air as Aerith pulled some more strings to the corset.

Almost right when she was done voicing her opinion, Aerith and the other maids stepped back to indicate that their work was done.

Xion reeled in a breath. She was able to breathe efficiently, but her lungs seemed to be stabbed a million times over with a knife due to the torture device they called a corset. She winced at the pain.

Fortunately, the door swung open to reveal a well-groomed butler. What he said next helped Xion take her mind off of the blinding pain somewhat.

"Milord, you have a visitor."

Down at the entrance of the Swann Manor, back turned to the glistening tile, spiral staircase, and polished furniture was Roxas Turner.

Roxas traced his forefinger through the crevices of the sconce's intricate design, impressed by the worksmanship. He would never cease to wonder how people could even afford-

Crack!

One second Roxas had been admiring the sconce, and the next a piece of it had broken apart. He mentally cursed himself.

His head avidly spun from side to side, checking if there was anyone looking. When he was satisfied that there wasn't, Roxas quickly stuffed it in a vase that contained canes and parasols.

It was things just like that that set him apart effectively from Xion's high social class- his somewhat clumsiness, his clothes- pretty much everything.

All that social classes segregation thing was pretty stupid. But that was likely just him- after all, it was because of this that Roxas hadn't dared to tell Xion he loved her yet.

Just in time, Roxas began to hear shoes neatly clicking on the tile. He spun around to see Governor Swann following the butler that he had sent.

"Ah, Mr. Turner," Governor Swann greeted happily. "Good to see you again!"

"Good day sir," Roxas returned. "I have your order." He crossed over to a small, circular table and, eager to impress Xion's father, opened a long case and pulled out a filled sheath. Roxas presented it to the Governor.

Curious, Governor Swann took the sheath from Roxas and revealed the sword gracefully, a hissing noise echoing through the marbled room. The beautiful, finely made, polished sword quickly left Swann wide-eyed, reverently staring at the sword.

Governor Swann opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came from it. His lips fumbled for a second, as if hurridly trying to decide what to say. Finally, all he said was, "Well."

Roxas saw this as his chance to impress him even more.

"The blade is folded steel," he continued. "That's gold filigree laid into the handle. If I may," Roxas gestured for Governor Swann to return the sword to him for a moment. He nodded and obliged. Roxas, intending to show off, spun the sword until the bottom of the blade was resting comfortably in between his thumb and forefinger alone.

"Perfectly balanced. The tang is nearly full width of the blade." Roxas flipped the sword in midair again, relishing the awed expression on Governor Swann's face as it rotated in a perfect, arced circle in the air before he neatly caught it, handle up. He gracefully offered it to Governor Swann once more.

"Impressive," Governor Swann remarked as he took the sword back. "Very impressive." Roxas beamed with pride of his work, delighted to know that it had impressed the Governor. "Commodore Norrington will be very pleased. Do pass on my compliments to your master, hmm?" He handed it yet again to the apprentice.

Roxas's face fell, and his muscles slumped with disappointment.

Not willing to show his sullenness to Governor Swann, Roxas humbly accepted the sword. He depressedly but easily flipped the saber in the air once more, sheathed it, and laid it back inside the case.

He realized he hadn't replied to him. "I shall," Roxas said somewhat coldly. "A craftsman is always pleased to hear his work appreciated." His own words stung into him, and thought about telling Swann that the sword wasn't his master's work- it was his own.

But soon enough, all of his thoughts fell when he saw her coming down the stairs.

Xion, dressed in a green and gold dress and a wide-brimmed, flat wide hat laced around her head. Her blue eyes shone, her heart-shaped face a perfect complement to her short black hair that had been styled as effectively as possible into something reminiscent of a coil.

The corners of his mouth edged into a small smile that showed off some of his teeth as his eyes traced Xion walking down the stairs. Roxas still absently wondered when the best time to tell her would be.

Governor Swann was the first to compliment on her beauty. "Oh, Xion, you look absolutely stunning!"

Roxas tried to add to that, but couldn't. He opened his mouth similar to how Governor Swann had upon first seeing the sword. Eventually, he gave up and nodded dumbly.

Xion's attention was focused solely on Roxas. Her heart began to flutter in many different directions, at ease even though the corset was killing her. She hitched up her skirt and walked down at a faster pace.

She broke out into a smile once she joined Roxas and her father. "Roxas! It's so good to see you!" Then she added as she fingered the chain, "I had a dream about you last night."

"About me?" Roxas asked, shocked.

"Yes, well, is that entirely proper for you too?" interrupted Governor Swann hurriedly.

Both Roxas and Xion ignored him. "About the day we met, don't you remember?" she asked.

"How could I forget, Miss Swann?" Roxas replied, smiling and barely realizing he was addressing Xion formally again.

Xion huffed in annoyance. "Roxas, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Xion?" she asked impatiently.

Now Roxas's genuine grin was replaced with a sly one. "At least once more, Miss Swann, as always." He winked at her.

But Xion didn't get it. A short wave of hurt overcame her formerly joyous expression.

"There, see? At least the boy has a sense of propriety. Now we really must be going," Governor Swann interrupted again, speaking rapidly. Before Xion could ask why he added the 'at least' to the beginning, he handed her a parasol. "There you are."

Swann took the case from Roxas and crossed over to the door. He opened it and held it open, waiting for Xion to pass through.

Xion hitched her skirts, and straightened her back properly. She was no longer Roxas's childhood friend- now she was assuming the identity of a noblewoman.

"Good day, Mr. Turner," she said coldly as she exited the door and out into the day. Governor Swann shrugged and followed her.

Roxas turned around, feeling as if he had no insides suddenly. What had he done? He had been joking, but at the same time, he knew how Xion felt about those sorts of things.

"Good day," Roxas said, standing on the balls of his feet so he could get a better view of Xion being helped aboard a carriage by the driver after Governor Swann.

Regret really bubbled inside him once the carriage door slammed closed and the driver hopped onto the sleek horses.

The carriage gradually began to bob out of sight, and Roxas continued to watch mournfully.

"…Xion," he completed the sentence softly.

Back in the carriage, Xion snuck a look back at Roxas.