Disclaimer: See chapter 1, nothing has changed since then.
Authors Note: Thank you so much to the people who left a comment, faved or are watching this story - there aren't many of you but I'm thank full none the less. I said it would be 3 chapters and it's now going to be 4. Next chapter will be up as soon as it's finished and proof read.
Their rooms are beautiful, now fully finished and Kairi is over whelmed by the changes Riku and Sora have made. The biggest and best of these is the bed. It's almost identical to their bed from christmas town, though the covers are different - a gradient of deep to light blue with embroidered patterns across it - Kairi loves it. She loves all of it, the large shower and two ornate sinks in their bathroom. There's also a bath carved out of a pale white stone with more taps than she's sure she knows what to do with but there will be time to find out.
Their research books and a few other things are here but the rest of their belongings will be brought with them after they graduate. For now it's all very new.
She stops short when she heads back into the bedroom and finds Sora pushed up against the wall, Riku flat against him with his hand in his hair. Sora's hands are tight in the back of Riku's jacket. Riku's arm shoots out to the side to beckon her to them and she would laugh if she wasn't so eager to join in.
His arm is warm against her back and traps her against both him and Sora. She kisses along Sora's neck and slides her hand underneath Riku's shirt at the back, delights when she feels him shiver at her touch. Then Sora's mouth is on hers and Riku's hand is in her hair and it's perfect, the blissed out kind of perfect they have when they're alone together.
"They're going to expect us at dinner," Riku pants against her hair, they've moved from the wall and are all sat together on the ornate sofa in the sitting room come library. She lets out a breathless chuckle and lifts her legs up into Sora's lap as she lays herself down against Riku's chest.
"I asked Axel and Roxas to knock on our door when it's time to head down," she explains.
Sora looks at her, narrows his eyes and tilts his head to the right. "Are you sure they won't get too carried away to come and get us?"
"Yes." She's certain, though she realises Sora would probably otherwise be right. "They're not in their rooms, they said they had to head to the library and see Rinoa to sort something out."
"Do you think we should get them something for Christmas?" Sora asks and it's Riku this time who chuckles.
"You mean aside from the present you've already gotten them?" he asks.
"I know… I know but it's not their fault and they won't have anything to open on Christmas morning, besides this was what I asked for for christmas, not them."
"Sora, Rinoa isn't going to let that happen, she's probably already sorted a few things out for them and they can shop for each other," Kairi says gently, but then looks up to Riku. "I know what he means though, we could get them something. There's an hour until dinner." She remembers something then, something she bought in Traverse town before she was taken home, and no one has ever seen that world since. "I think I might have something."
"Here?"
She nods. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She stands and heads for the armour and trinket chest and settles herself down as she goes through the compartments and finds what she's looking for.
"Perfect." When she gets back to the main room, Riku is sat on the sofa but Sora is rummaging in the freezer unit in their kitchen.
"We've got two boxes of sea salt ice cream left over from our last trip to Twilight Town, Sora thinks they'll appreciate it coming from there rather than the shop here. He's going to ask you to put a freezing status spell on them."
Kairi smiles, "No problem, have you seen the wrapping paper?"
"It's in my bag, there's tape and ribbon and the little gift tags you helped Santa make as well." He sits up and gestures to what she's holding in her hands. "What are they?"
"Oh, a pair of bracelets I bought from Traverse Town before it disappeared. The shop owner wasn't exactly sure what they did but I've never wanted to use them."
"Why give them to Axel and Roxas?"
"Because I know the bracelets are powerful and that they'll protect those who wear them… but they can only be used as a pair. It won't work for us, we're a three." She shows them to him, their beautifully carved surface and small jewels woven into the metal. The magic thrums on the surface of them and if Kairi can feel it then it's likely Riku can too, Sora could if he concentrated but for the most part he tends to leave that kind of thing to Kairi.
"I'll help you wrap them," Riku tells her, standing and leading her back to their bedroom, Sora follows them shortly after.
Dinner is bustling and their table is filled with conversation. There are four circular tables spread out in the large open hall. Kairi is sat with Sora and Riku on one side and Axel and Roxas on the other. Rinoa, Leon, Areith and Yuffie make up the rest of their table and the conversation barely breaks. Leon even stops flinching when Rinoa calls him Squall, Areith catches Kairi noticing and they share an amused look.
Axel seems wary of Leon and Kairi's sure he's holding back during their conversations.
"He won't bite," Kairi whispers.
Axel just stares at her and sends a wary glance across the table.
"Leon, he's really grumpy sometimes but it's only because he cares so much. He seems to think he's responsible for the safety and wellbeing of everyone in Radiant Garden and it's taking a long time to remind him that he's not in this alone." Kairi makes sure Axel is still listening before continuing. "Even with Rinoa having made her way back, Cloud and Tifa too, he puts a lot of pressure on himself."
"Does he see us as a threat?" Axel asks, looking genuinely confused.
Kairi shakes her head. "No, of course not. He sees you as people he needs to protect and keep from harm. Roxas because of Sora and you because this is where you were from." Axel nods and Kairi bites her lip.
"What is it?"
"I want to ask you something but I don't know if I should."
"Kairi, you can ask me anything," he says, regarding her seriously.
She nods then says, "Do you remember him? Or any of them?" She wants to ask if he remembers her but she's not brave enough to say so yet. Being a Nobody froze him at the age he would have been - or close to it - when he lost his heart. Now he's human again she knows he'll age as well. It's strange though, Roxas looks taller and older but then his connection with Sora is different. Was different, she corrects herself.
"I would love to tell you that I do… but it wouldn't be the truth. I don't know if I'd just never met them or if I did and just can't remember. Most of my memories from before are hazy at best and the only other person from here that I can remember clearly is Isa, Saix," he clarifies. Kairi's eyes widen. "We used to be best friends growing up… didn't last though. I think we would have grown apart eventually but he went too far, then tried to make a mockery of mine and Roxas' friendship."
"I'm sorry," Kairi says, placing her hand over his on the table.
Axel nods and looks away for a moment. Roxas is deep in conversation with Areith on his other side, Sora and Riku are talking with Leon and Rinoa on hers. When he looks back at Kairi she can see sadness in his eyes but also acceptance.
"I've had time to think about it and deal with it. It still hurts but it is what it is. I wouldn't give up what I have now for a friend who couldn't and wouldn't stand by me, not when I have Roxas and you guys."
Kairi looks to Riku and Sora and understands what Axel means. Everything they have done, they have done for each other, even if it lead them astray. She knows Axel and Roxas are the same and though their friendships started strangely, it's comforting to know that they can get closer to each other now.
"You'll always have us."
"That is true." He pauses for a moment but adds. "There's something else though Kairi, what is it?"
"This was my world too," she almost whispers, her voice is very quiet. "And I can't remember much about it either. I only know the library and my Grand Mother's stories. When it fell into darkness I fell out of the sky and washed up on Destiny Islands. I still have no idea why or how." She sighs. "I think the King knows, he keeps saying that he'll tell us once we complete our Masters training but I don't know…. Sorry, I didn't mean for this to get so serious."
Axel's smile is kind. "It's been one of those days." He tilts his head to the side. "I wish I could remember and I hope we met at some point, though it sounds silly."
Kairi shakes her head. "It doesn't."
"Everything okay?" Roxas asks, he's looking between the two of them and Kairi's hand on top of Axel's.
Kairi nods and glances at Axel.
"We're both from here," he tell's Roxas. "We were just trying to see if we remember each other, we can't but it would have been nice if we could."
"You mean there is someone out there who didn't 'Have it memorised?'" Roxas' tone and the look on his face mean the comment isn't harsh or hurtful and both Axel and Kairi laugh. She squeezes his hand and lets go.
"If you ever want to visit Destiny Islands I can tell my parents you're my long lost brother."
Axel blinks and Kairi smiles. "You'd do that?"
She nods. "Of course. Roxas doesn't look enough like Sora to raise suspicion and they'll finally have a reason for all the wandering off we do. Plus, even if it's not true, it'd be nice to introduce our families to some of our friends."
"Okay." Roxas is smiling now. "When you finish school and want to join us here, we'll come and spend the week with you and we can all travel back together." Axel agrees and Kairi is left smiling and happy.
That evening after dinner the five of them head out into the town and walk around. Heartless duty has already been finished for the day and none of them feel like fighting. It's also cold enough to wear a coat and Kairi is glad she remembered to pack them. They have matching hats too, made by the moogles. Her's is lilac, Riku's is white and Sora's is red and they're helping keep them warm. Axel doesn't appear to need one, though he does buy a grey hat when Roxas buys a new cream coat.
"It's a fire thing," Axel tells Kairi, "I don't really feel the cold so much and extreme heat doesn't bother me either."
They head back to the castle after a while and sit together on one of the public balconies towards the entrance and talk, catching up and sharing stories. It's surreal to do this outside of their night time reunions but it's better because of it, even if Kairi keeps yawning.
"Sora's asleep on my shoulder," she whispers to Riku a couple of hours later.
Riku bends down to check and chuckles lightly. "All that sugar finally caught up with him." It's not the whole truth, they all know it but it's definitely a contributing factor.
"We could float him back," Kairi suggests. Axel stifles his laugher against his sleeve and Roxas rolls his eyes.
Riku looks at both of them. "We've done it before, he just doesn't stay still for very long."
"We should head in then," Kairi announces and the others all agree, getting to their feet and helping to set Sora on Riku's back so he can carry him to their room. He snuggles closer in his sleep and Kairi can't help the affectionate roll of her eyes.
"See you in the morning?" Roxas asks as they enter the Castle and secure the door behind them.
"Of course, we're not leaving without saying good bye." Kairi yawns and puts her hand on Sora's back.
"We'll be back in a few weeks anyway," Riku adds. "So we'll see you then, if you're still here."
"We will be." Roxas is quick to say.
"Good."
Axel and Roxas help them get Sora into their rooms and they leave him on the sofa whilst the others all say goodnight. Axel holds onto Kairi for longer than she expects but she understands all the same and holds on just as tightly, then allows Roxas to do the same. Riku shakes both of their hands and bids them goodnight, he waits until they are settled in bed on either side of Sora before asking her about it.
"Me and Axel have a few more things in common than we thought."
"Is he okay?" Riku actually sounds concerned.
"He will be, just a lot to take in. It's been a long day - a good one - but a long one." She looks at Sora between them and kisses his cheek. "Sora will be fine too, Riku, you know he will."
"Because he has us?"
She nods, she wants to tell him that he'll be fine too but she knows the words will likely hinder rather than help. In some ways Riku is a lot like Leon, it's a shame they don't talk more.
"And everyone else. But mostly because he's Sora and I don't think Santa or anyone else would have helped him if they thought it would hurt him."
"I just…"
Kairi brushes his cheek with her hand. "Love him? Me too." He leans into her touch.
"I love both of you," he tells her, meeting her eyes in the soft light.
"And we love you too." So much. So much that sometimes she feels like she's overflowing with it, she probably is - they all are - it's their greatest strength and it will hold them together. "Merry Christmas," she whispers and smiles when he kisses her fingers. They settle down together and Riku falls asleep with his head over Sora's heart and Kairi's hand in his hair. His arm is on her waist and though it loosens in sleep, he never really lets go.
Mornings are strange, Roxas decides as he pads back from the bathroom to shake Axel awake. The presents to their friends sit wrapped in boxes on the table near the door and though Roxas is freshly showered and dressed, Axel is hiding underneath the covers in protest at how early it is.
"It is not that early Axel, it's just dark because of the time of year." He prods his temple with his finger and can't help the laugh that escapes when Axel shakes his head to stop him and red spikes flash from side to side then duck underneath the white comforter. "It's after 7, we should head down to breakfast."
"I need to shower," Axel mumbles and Roxas sighs.
"It takes you five minutes and you can literally heat yourself dry, unless that's changed?" It might have, it's been a couple of years and although they've both showered in the mean time, it hasn't been real. Not like this anyway.
"No, it hasn't. My magic works the same, might even be stronger now." Axel pokes his head out of the covers, looks at Roxas and visibly gives in. "Fine, I'll be five minutes. What am I supposed to wear afterwards?"
Roxas smiles, kisses him on the head and follows him to the bathroom door. "I've already sorted it. Just hurry up."
"You could go down without me you know." Axel's voice and eyes are soft but Roxas fights down a sudden moment of panic. He focusses on Axel in front of him, how close and how real he is.
"I'll wait," he tells him and meets his gaze. Something passes between them, fear and firm reassurance. They'll talk about it later - probably days, weeks or months later - it doesn't really need to be voice now, or at all. But they will, when Roxas can find the words and Axel can voice his thoughts. This is enough though, they both already understand.
"I won't be long."
Roxas nods and closes the door, listening to Axel sing in the shower as he opens up the delivery of new clothes that arrived first thing that morning.
Sora doesn't stop bouncing from the moment he sees them, all the way down the stairs. Kairi and Riku behind him, they are dressed for home but with thick jumpers over their summer clothes.
Roxas accepts a hug from Sora and Kairi and exchanges a nod with Riku, Roxas wouldn't be apposed to hugging him as well but he can appreciate Riku's apprehension.
They're all sat together again at breakfast, only this morning it's in the communal dining room they were shown on their tour yesterday. Almost all the suites of rooms have their own kitchen and eating space but Radiant Garden is a world that encourages its community and survivors to socialise and spend time with each other, Roxas finds he likes the idea.
Their table is small, Kairi, Sora and Riku sit across from them whilst Axel sits opposite Kairi with Roxas next to him. They're greeted with hot spiced apple juice and cinnamon buns in honour of Christmas eve. The large tree near the windows is lit with tiny white lights and other groups of people sit around them, some at tables and others on sofas or large comfortable chairs. There are garlands strung across the tops of the long, wide windows and he can see tinsel looped though the gaps of the railings on the walkway outside. It feels more like a cafe than anything else, the warm and relaxed atmosphere a welcome change to what he's used to, though it's all going to take a long time to sink in.
"I almost forgot," Axel says at his side. "Leon said I should as you about being able to use a Keyblade, said he had a feeling I should try and train with you."
Riku's mouth moves into a smirk and Kairi widens her eyes, Sora just gives him a beaming smile. They seem to decide that Riku is the best person to explain though and Roxas puts down his half eaten pastry to hear his reply. He has the feeling that Axel isn't entirely serious about actually having a Keyblade of his own but he's curious enough to ask.
"Since training with Mickey and Master Yen Sid we've learnt that it's possible to perform a Keyblade inheritance ceremony, though it's not really a ceremony at all. It means that those with potential can then use a Keyblade of their own. It doesn't always happen that way, sometimes people can do it alone given time but from what Mickey has told us, it's how me and Kairi are able to use them."
Roxas squints at them. "How does the ceremony work? Didn't Kairi start using one in the World that Never Was?" he asks, looking between both her and Riku.
"The ceremony." She stops talking to glare at Sora, who is giggling to himself. "Just means that someone with potential touches a Keyblade that already belongs to a Keyblade user or Master. If it resonates then you have the potential to one day use your own."
"So, who's did you touch?" Axel asks and Roxas inwardly groans. "Sora's or Rikus?" He wiggles his eyebrows at her for just a moment and Kairi rolls her eyes.
"Neither." She looks down at the table for a moment. "There were three other Keyblade users before us that traveled the worlds - besides the King - and he says I met one of them and apparently accidentally performed the right of inheritance. I was living here at the time and I don't remember." She has a small smile on her face but there is more to this story, more than she's willing to tell over breakfast.
"But just so you know," Riku adds, looking at Kairi and giving her a warm smile. "I'd have let her touch mine. I'd already found her Keyblade after all." He looks at Axel and waits for his comeback.
Roxas ignores Axel as he tries to find a suitable reply and instead says, "You found her Keyblade?" He's seen Destiny's Embrace and watched her fight with it. It's clearly hers, he just didn't think someone else could keep one in waiting.
"It's more accurate to say that it found me and I gave it to Kairi after she'd talked some much needed sense into me," Riku admits.
"So, I just need to touch someones Keyblade?" Axel muses and looks directly at Roxas.
"At the risk of falling into whatever joke or comment you want to make, can I ask why?"
"Because it might be fun, I mean it'll be strange not to fight with two weapons - I'm guessing there aren't too many people who can fight with two like you do - and I don't want to be the odd one out. You all have them and if you're going to train together then I want to join in." Roxas really doesn't know what to say to that, it was more honest than he expected and it sends flutters of warm sensation through his chest.
"You can always train with us Axel," Sora tells him. "Even if you can't use a Keyblade." He's actually brimming with happiness at the thought of them all working together. Roxas finds himself continually amazed by how caring and trusting Sora is and he hopes that he can learn to be a little more like that, his time in Organisation XIII has made him wary though.
Kairi kisses Sora's cheek and leans over him to do the same to Riku. "You can try before we leave if you want to but not in here. We have a couple of hours before we need to go and there's a large training area on the lower levels of the castle, we could head there?"
"Okay," Axel agrees.
"Axel? I'd have let her touch mine too," Sora announces and even Roxas is laughing at the look he's sending Axel as well as Riku's bright red face. Kairi meets his eyes and smiles.
"Any weather you don't like?" Kairi asks Axel as they take the outdoor route to the training rooms. It's still very cold but despite not needing it, Axel has put his hat back on.
"Rain." He wrinkles his nose and shudders. "Or humidity. It's the only thing I can't deal with."
"Me neither, different reasons but I find it oppressive."
Axel agrees. "Is it ever like that here?"
"It rains, but even in the middle of summer it's always cool in the shade or the castle."
"Good to know." He looks up at the castle for a moment and watches his breath in the cold early morning air. "I wish I could remember more of my life here but it doesn't even look right. Only the castle seems the same."
"Areith said that sometimes she walks through the town and for a moment she's a little girl again walking home from school. Then she remembers everything that's happened and it's like feeling the world fall into darkness all over again." Kairi's voice is quiet when she speaks, she's stood at his side and the others aren't too far away but he suspects that they're giving them space to talk. Two survivors of the same world and neither ready to call it home just yet.
"I can remember a few things, playing in the gardens, running through the square…. play fighting with friends but sometimes my memories play tricks on me and I see Roxas there too, different and the same."
"I see my Keyblade in the hands of someone else, a woman. Blurred images of monsters surrounding the castle walls and the lights in the sky going out one by one."
Axel turns his head sharply, Kairi is stood still in the freezing air, her eyes fixed on the balcony they had been sat on the night before. There are flower beds there, barely visible at this distance, with pink, blue and white perpetual blooms.
"Kairi." He speaks so quietly that even he can barely hear himself.
"I've only told Sora and Riku. When the King tells us about the Keyblade Masters of the past he always does it in vague terms and I can't ask him because I know he won't tell me. He's protecting us until we're ready and I'm glad… I think I need to be ready and strong enough to face whatever might be out there when we're all Masters but part of me wishes I could just remember everything else."
"Do you think she could be who you inherited your Keyblade from?"
"I think Destiny's Embrace has always been mine…. she was just using it." she sounds certain, a quiet confidence that Axel has always admired because she only uses it when her intuition is right.
"Then how do I explain Roxas being here when I was younger?" The question burns his throat as he speaks it. It doesn't matter, it shouldn't matter.
"Because maybe you have always been connected in one way or another. Riku dreamed of me falling out of the sky for months before it happened, maybe it was the same for you." Kairi bites her lip and glances up at him for a moment. "It's not the right time to be talking about this, I know that, but Roxas has always had a heart, maybe not a whole one but there was something there and DiZ needed it to complete Sora. You and I both know that it wasn't because he was his nobody. DiZ ordered Riku to kill Naminé and he wouldn't have done so if I needed her. I've read his reports - his real reports - and he knew who I was and who she was, he wouldn't have risked damaging a Princess of Heart."
"But Roxas was Sora's Nobody, he had his memories towards the end and he told me about his battle with Riku."
"I know but it doesn't mean he didn't have a heart of his own." She looks worried that she might have said something she shouldn't have.
"Kairi, what do you mean?"
She looks to the ground, then at her hands before pushing them deep into the front pouch of her jumper.
"Sora has been doing research of his own but so have I and so has Riku. Sora has all the reports from his travels and Tron has given us access to as much of the archive as he could. I think the King is holding the final pieces of information we need for a very good reason but once we know that, everything else will fall into place. What I'm saying is that maybe, in some way, you and Roxas did meet before. It doesn't matter how or when, you've been connected for a long time. Either because you dreamt of him or because you knew him all along." Neither of them speaks for a few minutes as Axel tries to process everything he has just been told and Kairi calms herself down.
"When you do become a Keyblade Master, will you let me know what you find out?" Axel can feel tears trying to run down his cheeks but his magic is too fast for them and they rise like mist above his face, blurring the landscape and returning it to the world it once had been in blurred moments of memory.
"I won't hide your past from you Axel. I'll tell you and Roxas anything we discovered. I promise."
"Thank you." They turn and walk slowly back to the others who are, by now, quite a way ahead of them. "I hope you find her," he adds and she smiles.
"Me too, I'm really glad that you're both here. I don't know what Sora had to do to make it happen but I'm happy you and Roxas have a proper life of your own now."
"Me too."
"So, I just touch it?" Axel asks, they're in one of the lager training rooms and Roxas, who's stood just in front of him, has summoned Bond of Flame and Two Become One.
"Or Roxas can give one of them to you to hold." Riku is clearly trying - and succeeding to avoid innuendo. Kairi is sat on the ledge in the wall next to where Riku is standing, with Sora next to her. She's swinging her legs back and forth and has her hands tucked beneath her knees, she looks both curious and amused. It occurs to Roxas that none of them have ever seen this happen before.
Roxas studies both Keyblades for a few minutes and knows Axel will understand why. Bond of Flame was made from Axel's sacrifice and Two Become One (though he prefers the name Serendipitous Duo, Axel insists it's too hard to say) was created when he relented and gave Sora control. It's never slipped his notice that he forged a blade to represent both he and Axel. He wonders if the others have made the same connection.
"Here." He steps towards Axel and holds out the hilt of Two Become One to him, feels his warm bare fingers brush his own as he takes hold of it and Roxas lets go. Light shimmers where Axel holds it and there is a light, clear sound - like the ringing of tiny bells - before the Keyblade settles in his hand. It doesn't disappear or return to Roxas, he meets Axel's eyes and smiles. He knows that if he calls it, his Keyblade will come back to him but he doesn't, it's always been half Axel's anyway. He thinks that, if he wanted to, he could give it to Axel, have it be his and it would answer to and for him. In the future he might but he wants to see what Axel's will look like on its own first.
"Congratulations," Riku says in a very matter of fact tone but he looks pleased. "It may take a while for you to summon your own but you will be able to and you'll have to join us for training now, if you both want to."
Axel is looking at Roxas, mouth slightly parted in amazement and green eyes shining brightly. He wants to kiss him, feels his free hand itching to reach out and hold Axel's but instead he smiles at him, warm and open. It doesn't matter that their friends can see them, they'll understand - best of all Sora.
"Here." Axel repeats what Roxas did earlier and holds the Keyblade hilt upwards between them. Roxas places his hand around Axel's and feels the flash of combined power run through him. Me and you, they dismiss it between them. Axel opens his hand and laces his fingers with Roxas'. "Thank you." He turns to the others. "Count us in."
Roxas dismisses Bond of Flame and turns back to the others. It's getting closer to when they have to leave. "We'll walk you back to your ship if you want, we have some things to give you on the way there." He's a little too raw to want to say anything about what has just happened but they seem to understand. Kairi looks a bit teary - Sora too - and Riku looks up at them both with warm affection.
"We have some things for you too," he says and the others nod in agreement.
"Don't open them until tomorrow morning." Sora is firm in his warning and he looks oddly serious. Roxas holds the colder of the two presents, he can feel the spell woven over it and can't help but wonder whats in the box. Axel is holding the other present covered in silver paper with little christmas trees and stars.
"These are for you too." Riku jumps down from the Gummy Ship platform and holds out two hastily wrapped presents. Axel takes those too, though he can't really hide his confusion. Riku smiles kindly. "They'll come in handy, I promise." Kairi looks up at him and when he meets her eyes she nods in recognition.
Roxas hands them their presents, carefully wrapped boxes with name tags on each. "You also have to wait until tomorrow to open them." Then Axel surprises him by also handing them three other presents. Whatever is inside them is softer and larger. He gives Roxas a smile and kisses the top of his head.
"I couldn't tell you - got you one to match."
"When?"
"Last night after you went to sleep."
"Is that why you were so tired this morning?" suddenly things make a little bit more sense.
Axel scratches the back of his head. "Couldn't leave you without something to open tomorrow could I? I mean I haven't had much time to think or buy anything but I had to try." Roxas nods, he's done the same thing after all, when he made the clothing order he'd added a couple of things for Axel too.
Kairi gathers the gifts for the three of them and stores them in the ship with the others then heads back outside to rejoin them. She hugs Axel, then Roxas and just as she steps away, Naminé steps forwards, properly steps forward. She's herself again for just little while.
"Naminé?" Roxas breathes, surprised to see her even though, really, he shouldn't be. Everyone else makes their way to the ship entrance to give them their privacy for a moment.
"Hello Roxas."
"Hi."
"Kairi thinks I should say goodbye too, I won't be able to reach you in dreams as easily anymore," she explains.
Roxas nods. "Can't you… can't you come back too?" he asks. It seems unfair that he and Axel are back but not Naminé.
She smiles kindly at him and clasps her hands in front of her. "The truth is, I could if I wanted to. Kairi has said she'd be happy for me to be my own person and I know she means it but I don't think that's what I want."
"Can I ask why not?" He's gentle when he asks her, Naminé is strong but she's also fragile like glass sometimes. He thinks that she, above all of them, has struggled the most with existing as her own person. It's easy to understand why - for most of her existence she was manipulated and imprisoned. Maybe being part of Kairi again is freedom? But Roxas hasn't ever been brave enough to ask directly, until now.
"It's not just because I wouldn't know what to do, how to live in the worlds… I belong with Kairi in a way you have never belonged to Sora. You always had your own heart Roxas, always."
"I don't understand."
Naminé smiles sadly for just a moment. "You don't need to and it's nothing to worry about. You and me, we were unique when we were created - just in different ways." She's so honest that Roxas accepts her answer, she may know more about it but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with that. Sora probably asked her for help - he could have done so without Kairi knowing anything about it. After all, she took apart his heart and rewove he memories, she would know best. He also knows that this isn't the time to ask her about it, that'll come later. He's curious but not worried because whatever the explanation is, it won't change who he is now.
"Okay."
She looks so happy with his acceptance. "It is true that she doesn't need me to be part of her the way Sora once needed you but I want to stay. If I separate then it's permanent and I can't go back… Kairi's parents would adopt me as her long lost sister and I would have a home until we all come here. I know this, just like I know that my magic and powers are my own and I wouldn't be helpless anymore. But there are other complications that I wouldn't know how to face." She looks behind her for just a moment and Roxas knows exactly what she means. Oh, ohhh. He doesn't want to say it though.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
Roxas places his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, he's your best friend isn't he. You've been close all this time, since you both escaped Castle Oblivion but you think you'd be intruding as an outsider, intruding on something you're not part of."
"Kairi understands that I just want to be close to him and like this I can be, we spent time together when the others are sleeping and we have what we've always had. I don't want to intrude on their time awake, I don't want to be part of what they are… I want things to stay the way they are now."
"You wouldn't be intruding," he tells her, firm in his answer, though he really doesn't understand where the resolve comes from. He doesn't have any basis for this, he shouldn't know what it feels like to be on the other side of it and have a close friend outside of a relationship. Somehow he does though. He's become pretty close to Kairi and he knows Axel has too, maybe that's why he can be so sure.
Naminé's eyes are wide with surprise. "Roxas…"
"Have you asked him?"
Naminé shakes her head and she shivers, she looks so cold that Roxas is suddenly worried for her.
"Wait here," he tells her and runs over to Axel. "You're not cold right?"
"No, seriously it takes snow drifts on mountains," Axel tells him kindly and shrugs out of the new red coat Roxas had given him that morning.
"Good to know." Roxas kisses him. "I just need to borrow it."
"It's fine Rox, I get it." He looks over at Naminé and gives her a friendly wave, she returns it shyly, arm shaking with the cold.
"Here," Roxas offers when he returns to her. "You can borrow it until you leave." She slides her arms into the coat and wraps it snugly around her. It's so long it's below her knees and she flips the hood over her head.
"Thank you." After a minute or two she stops shaking. "For the coat and what you said. It's just such a strange thing to think about, being a person again."
Roxas shrugs. "It's only been a day for us but it's already better than I could have imagined. I know your life and mine before this were very different but for me? I wouldn't want this any other way." It's not what he wants to say, he wants to tell her that she never really got to be anything more than other peoples puppet but he's staring to understand that it's probably more complicated than that. Especially her friendship and closeness with Riku and Kairi.
"I… I'd have to go to school, though I pay attention when Kairi's there so I wouldn't need to catch up but the rest would be up to me. Kairi always steps back when there is something I want to do but I can always return to her and it's nice, not to have the responsibility."
"Or worry that you might hurt someone or be hurt."
"I'm sorry Roxas." She sounds so sad and Roxas is quick to correct her.
"No, no that's not what I meant. You did what you thought was right - what you had to do to fix things and we were all part of someone else's plans. All of us." He thinks they still might be, just not in the same way. If the King is training them to be Keyblade Masters then it must be for a reason, even if it's just to protect the worlds. "I don't blame you." He looks to Axel. "We don't blame you. I may have had a heart back then but it wasn't whole. It is now - or it feels like it is - everything is much clearer, it's better like this."
"You and Axel, you deserve this, both of you," Naminé tells him quietly, reaching for him and holding his hand in hers. Her grip is light but she doesn't feel like she'd shatter if he squeezed his fingers around her own.
"And so do you, if you want it. But if you do this, it has to be because you want it, not because other people decide for you. Talk to Riku, I know you've already spoken to Kairi and I'm betting she told you to do whatever feels right?"
"She said she wants whatever I want but we only found out about it yesterday and although we spoke last night once she was asleep…" She sighs. "You're right. I need to talk to Riku."
Roxas smiles and walks with her, rejoining the others to say a final good bye. Naminé gives Axel back his coat and hugs him before fading back into Kairi.
Kairi hugs Roxas again in thanks before they leave then follows Sora and Riku into their Gummy ship.
"Everything okay?" Axel asks as they wave their friends off until the ship has gone from the sky. It seems like such an odd way to travel but it's one they'll have to get used to. Dark portals won't work for them anymore after all and Roxas can't help but be relieved.
"Yeah, Naminé just has some thinking to do."
"Ah, so she could be like us if she wanted to?"
"Yeah."
"I wonder if she'll be able to use a Keyblade too?"
Roxas glared when Axel smirked at him and he elbowed him in the side.
"Ow! sorry, just thinking out loud."
"She's a pretty powerful witch, not sure if she'll want to."
"Well I'm pretty powerful too but I'm going to learn how to use one." Axel starts walking back to the platform that will take them back down into the rest of the castle. Roxas catch up with him and takes his hand.
"Once you can summon your own."
Axel shrugs. "There's plenty of time, I don't want to try yet, I don't want to fight today - unless the others need our help."
Roxas leans against him as they step onto the platform and activate the crystal. "We can ask once we head back, Rinoa said she'll have a tree ready and waiting in our rooms, she also wants to talk to us about what we want to do tomorrow."
Axel smiles softly and wraps his arms around Roxas, the ride takes about ten minutes and they're alone above the castle and the town below.
"Whatever you want to do is fine," Axel says into his hair. He's quiet for the rest of the way down and lets Roxas lead them back to their rooms. He's not unhappy, Roxas would be able to tell if he was, he looks content, still strange without his tattoos but it's only been a day. They both have plenty of time to decide if they miss them.
"I was thinking of spending the morning to ourselves then joining people for dinner, I've never really had christmas before, not a real one."
"Sounds good to me." And Axel kisses him just before they enter the Castle again. Roxas suspects he could have said he wanted them to dance naked on the balcony and Axel would have agreed but that's supposed to be the point isn't it? Spending time with people you love.
