Chapter Eight:: Human
Often I lie wide awake
think of things I can make
but I don't seem to have the parts to build them
.thud. I ran as fast and as hard as I could across the sand, panting loudly as I attempted to catch my breath. My legs were throbbing, my lungs were burning, my eyes were watering: I had no clue where I was going, but I was going there as fast as I could. The Heartless Roxas and I were after, Antlion, was nothing like what we were expecting. It's Sand Waves caused even the ground to become and enemy. Roxas and I had ran out of Cures long before we reached the hiding spot of the Antlion. "Roxas!" I yelled, as I quickly jumped up in the air, avoiding another Sand Wave. "Just keep running! Get to higher ground! Then use FIRE!" he yelled back, as I continued to run forward, towards the pile of crushed rock that once was a column of some kind. As I began to approach the crushed column, I heard something hit the ground beside me, and then an explosion sent me flying through the air.
I looked up slowly after I crashed into the ground; my eyes were burning now that sand had got in them, and I could feel the side of my face tingling from the heat of the explosion. I tried to ignore the ringing in my ears as I slowly stumbled to my feet. Through the ringing in my ears, I could hear Roxas screaming at me. "Move! Climb! Use fire!" he yelled, as I tried to regain my senses. I looked up and saw the crumpled rocks I was trying to climb earlier, and attempted to climb them again. This time, I successfully made it on top of them, giving me a chance to take in the area. With all the sand flying around, it'd be hard to get a clean shot-but I had to try. Roxas and I were getting beat, not jut by the Antlion, but by the weather and sand as well. I finally caught sight of the Antlion as it jumped out of the sand, and before it had a chance to dive back under, I aimed my keyblade and hit it with a fire attack. I could see it stumble back some, as Roxas hit it with his own, slightly more powerful, fire attack. Together, the two of us kept hitting it with fire until our magic was slowing down. "Roxas, we have to attack it! Keep hitting it with all you've got while I get closer!" I yelled, as Roxas nodded. I quickly jumped down, and began running toward the Antlion, while Roxas continued to use fire on it. As soon as I got close to Roxas, he too jumped down, and we both rushed at the Antlion, attacking with everything we had left in us. Before too long, the Antlion was defeated, and Roxas and I fell back into the sand.
Oh, how did I get stuck in this predicament, I don't know.
I want to throw this repetition out the window.
I'm gettin' tired, of wondering why I'm still here.
"That was intense," Roxas said, as we laid in the sand, catching our breath. After defeating the Antlion, the sand had settled down into a calm that both of us needed. "It was, at least we took care of it, right?" I said, as Roxas nodded. "We heading to Twilight Town after this for ice cream?" Roxas asked, as I smiled and nodded. "I could use some Sea Salt ice cream," I replied, as Roxas smiled. "Well, what do you say we head back into the streets and make sure everything is fine and then we'll go?" he said, as I stood up, shaking the sand off of me. I looked over and saw Roxas doing the same. "Sounds good," I said, as we both headed back into the dusty streets of Agrabah.
I rubbed my eyes as we walked along the edge of town. The sand was still burning my eyes, the burn on the side of my face was throbbing-i was ready to leave. We roamed the city, making sure everything was fine, before finally Roxas turned and faced me. "Let's go, I don't see anything out of the ordinary, do you?" he asked, as I looked up at the outline of the buildings. As I looked up, I saw a the hooded figure, the one I encountered at Beast's Castle, but he vanished before I could say anything. "No, nothing at all,".
. .drip. "Xion, your ice cream is melting," Roxas said, as I looked down at the now melting ice cream in my hand. "Oh, right," I said, as I lifted the ice cream to my mouth and took a huge bite off of it. "You okay? You seem...distant," Roxas asked, as I nodded. So badly I wanted to scream and tell him about the new world and Riku, but instead I just smiled. "It's been a good past few days," I said, as he nodded. "Aside from the extra workload, I do agree," he replied, as I took another bite off my ice-cream. As we sat silently eating our ice cream-i looked below us and saw kids our age playing. "Hayner! Come on! We're going to miss the train!" the brunette girl yelled, as a blonde hair boy came running up the hill. "Pence left the Munny at the Usual Spot!" the blonde boy, Hayner, yelled back. "I forgot," the brunette boy, Pence, said. "Pence," the girl started, but the boy interrupted- "I know Olette, I know, I was just excited is all," he said, as the girl smiled. "Pence, it's okay, but now that we're all here and have the Munny, let's go," she said, as the three kids went into the Train Station.
"Looks like they're having fun," Roxas said, as I turned to face him. He too was gazing, almost longingly at them. "Yeah," I replied, as I looked up at the sunset. "So, what are you getting into tonight? I'm supposed to do a bit of training with Xaldin," Roxas said, as he took the last bite of his ice cream. He then set the stick down beside him and turned to face me. "I have training too-with Xigbar, then i'm going to relax in my room for awhile," I replied, instantly wishing I could tell Roxas the truth- that I had training and afterwards, I was going back to the islands, to Destiny Island...it was then my eyes widened. How did I know the name of it? Riku never told me, but i'd see it before-i felt like it had. I couldn't figure it out, but it felt like home, which now that I look back on it-was confusing in itself. "Xion, you okay?" Roxas asked, as I faked a smile. "Yeah, just, just dreading training, i'm tired," I replied, as Roxas placed his hand on my shoulder. "You've been distant lately, and i'm not going to ask about it, but remember, we are friends-you can talk to me," he said, as I smiled at him. "I know," I said, as he slowly stood up. He then held his hand out, and helped me up. "Let's go get our training on!" Roxas said, as I laughed. "As long as you don't word it like that ever again," I said, as we both laughed. Roxas then opened a Dark Cloud and we both walked through it.
No I can't slow down
I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
No there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good
.yawn. I felt exhausted, wore out, and beaten. Xigbar wasn't taking it easy on me, and it didn't help that he was confusing my exhaustion for laziness. I let out a sigh as I layed flat on the cold, white marble floor. "Xion-explain yourself, laziness is not excepted," Xigbar said, as he sent a fire attack right beside my face-making the burn I already had feel ten times worse. I slowly moved my hand up to my face to try and feel it-but as soon as my fingers grazed the burn, I had to jerk my hand away. "It's not laziness, i'm just, i'm really tired," I said, as Xigbar walked over to stand over top of me. He gave me what appeared to be a death glare before letting out a sigh. "Go get some rest. You're no use to us if you're eliminated," he said, before helping me up. I simply nodded my hand and headed towards to my room. Once there, I opened the door, stepped inside-shutting the door behind me and let out a sigh. I wanted nothing more than to lay down-but with supplies running short, and no Cure or Elixirs could be used without a very good reason-i knew my burn would keep me up. Thus, I decided to leave for Destiny Islands, and let the cool ocean water cool my face-i knew it would burn or hurt it-but the cold sensation would still feel amazing. I let out a deep sigh, before opening a dark cloud for Destiny Islands.
. .splash. The water splashed slowly underneath my boots, as I let out a smile. I slowly slipped my boots and hood off, revealing my black pants and tee-shirt. I then let my bare feet hit the cold water, before I slowly cupped my hands in the water- and splashed water on my face. I shut my eyes tightly as I felt the icy cool water sting against my burns. I cringed as I repeated the process one more time, this time, the sting felt worse. "Salt water isn't good for that," I heard a voice say. I then turned and saw Riku. "Hi," I said, smiling at him. "That looks painful," he said, as he looked at my burn. "Yeah, I was hoping the cool water would help." I replied, honestly. "Well, the salt in it won't help too much, but there is a small pond here that could help it better," Riku said, as I nodded at him. "That would help it more, where is this pond?" I asked, as Riku smiled. "It's this way, follow me," he said, as he lead me farther into the island.
.splash. The water hitting my face stung-but not as bad as the salt water had from the ocean. "Better?" Riku asked, as I nodded my head. "Thanks," I replied, as he smiled. "So, how did that happen?" he asked, as I looked down, trying to think of what to tell him. "Eh, you know what happens when you play too close to fire," I said, as he nodded. "I didn't think you'd come back," Riku said, as I shrugged. "I like it here," I replied, as I looked around at the island. "It is a nice place," Riku replied, as I nodded, returning my eye sight to my bare feet. I didn't know what to say, but I didn't enjoy the awkward silence. "So, " I started, before I looked up to see Riku walking away. "You ever seen a tree like that before?" Riku asked, walking towards the smaller island, that had a single tree on it. Looking at it, I couldn't recognize the tree, but I also felt this weird wave that hit me. I couldn't describe the wave. It was like the word was on the tip of my tounge-but it wasn't. So instead, I quietly shook my head "no". "It's a Paopu tree. The fruit on it is the Paopu fruit, they say if two people share one, their destiny's will be intertwined forever," Riku explained, as we walked over onto the smaller island. "Really?" I asked, looking up at the yellow, star shaped fruit. "Yeah," Riku said, climbing onto the base of the tree, grabbing one of the fruits. "What's it taste like?" I asked, as Riku smiled. "It's hard to describe, try it," he said, climbing back down the tree. He then split the fruit, and handed me half. "Doesn't this mean our destiny's will be intertwined forever?" I asked, as Riku smirked, and replied, "I have a feeling ours are anyway,".
