Hello! I meant to update a few days ago, but then I got this insane urge to write for my other story With Love. So I'm a little late. And I really don't feel like going through my email and trying to find all my reviews… especially since my inbox has been deleted… so…

IF YOU REVIEWED YOU ARE MUCH LOVED AND GET A COOKIE!

Disclaimer: Do I LOOK like I own anything? Huh? Do I? No. No I do not.

Axel: Got it memorized?

Demyx, Larxene, Zexion, Roxas, and Sora: SHUT UP, AXEL!

Xion lay stretched out on her stone table, the sharp pieces of rock dug into her back and into the cuts and gashes on her legs, but she didn't have the will to care.

Roxas was dead.

Acantha had sent her best captain and best crew to find the Luminata, and there was no way he survived.

She started to drift off to sleep, exhausted from the constant torture Acantha, Muerta, and Decessa put on her. Sleeping was easy. Maybe, God willing, she just wouldn't wake back up. Death was easier than sleep.

The moon was shining bright over the water, making a dancing silver circle in the sea. Roxas and Xion stood on a dock next to each other, hands barely touching.

"It's a beautiful night." Xion said quietly, staring at the stars.

"It is." Roxas agreed. "But not half so pretty as you."

She smiled and took his hand. He squeezed hers and continued to stare out in front of them, at the huge expanse of water.

"Roxas." She said suddenly, turning towards him.

He took her other hand in his and squeezed it also. "Hmm?" he said, staring at her eyes.

"Do you love me?"

Those four words. The worst Xion had ever uttered, but the best at the same time. Almost instantly, she regretted asking. Of course he didn't love her. He was betrothed to the Warrior Princess of a native tribe in Deep Jungle. He loved her… right?

"Yes. I love you."

And those were the worst four words Xion had ever heard. Because as soon as she heard them, she fell deeply and impossibly in love.

And now he would never be hers.

"Oh, Xion, darling!"

Xion's eyes snapped open. She knew that voice all too well. It was the voice that had haunted this living nightmare for the past 6 months.

"Acantha." She spat, turning her face to the wall.

"Oh, come now, don't be like that dearest." Acantha smiled. Today Her Majesty was dressed in red, a color as deep as blood and as rich as wine. She had a circlet of rubies on her forehead, the center of it dripping with diamonds and the red jewels that formed a flower. The queen took Xion's face in her hands and turned it towards herself. "Come now, dearie. Don't you have a bit of information for dear Auntie Acantha?"

"I hope you rot, Acantha." Xion said quietly, her voice as deadly as a thousand knives.

"You first, love." Acantha replied, still smiling. She dropped Xion's face and walked about the small room. "If you tell me what I wish to know, I will set you free." She said, turning back towards Xion. "And then you can live your happy little royal life."

"You killed Roxas. I'd rather die than see you rise to power, you selfish cow!" Xion screamed, shaking her chains. "MURDERESS!"

"Yes, I suppose you could add that on my list of accomplishments now couldn't you?" Acantha said, smiling wider. She planted her hands firmly on her hips. "And as for you rathering dying, I'm sure an arrangement can be made." She spun towards the door. "Muerta will bring your food in an hour, my dear. In the meantime, I'm planning a gorgeous party. Keep your noise down so as not to disturb me. Try not to scream too much when Decessa's knife rips through your pretty flesh."

She slammed the door shut, leaving Xion all alone in the dank, foul dungeon.

"Roxas…" she sobbed. "Oh my Roxas…"

Luminata, 3rd Person POV, Roxas' Quarters

Larxene, Axel, Demyx, Zexion, Marluxia, Sora, Kairi, and Namine stood in front of Roxas' bed, begging him to wake up. It had been two days since Namine had watched over him, and he had yet to call out in his sleep or anything. Marluxia could not explain his coma, nor could he explain the raging fever that made him toss in his sleep. But now the fever just seemed to be killing him. He lay motionless, his face grim and his eyes flickering behind their lids.

Every now and then he would cry out in his sleep, it was clear his nightmares were torturing him. He would scream as if in agony, cry 'no!', laugh maniacally, and other times he just whimpered and moaned, whispering Xion's name.

Marluxia moved to his bed, touching his forehead lightly. "He's burning." He said under his breath. "I need a polituce of herbs to bring the fever down. But I don't have them on the ship. We'll have to stop."

"Stop?" Sora said disbelievingly. "Marly, we can't stop. The queen's searching for us. By now she'll have soldiers in every town."

"But she only has the crew's names. We could put you and the two girls off a little ways away from the town and you could go in and get the herbs from the nearest apothecary."

"Why me?"

"You're the least noticeable. Axel would get spotted instantly because of his hair color and the tattoos under his eyes. My hair color would get me noticed. Luxord's too big of a gambler to resist going into a tavern and when he's drunk he spills all his secrets." Marluxia explained, counting off people on his fingers. "Larxene attracts trouble, and she has a history in Traverse Town. Demyx gives in under pressure too easily. Saix's scars are too noticeable. Xigbar-"

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Sora said holding up his hands in defeat. "I'll need different clothes. I scream pirate. They'll need cloaks or something; the nearest town is Traverse Town and its wicked cold there this time of year."

Larxene's Quarters

"Alright, midgets." Larxene said, throwing open the door to her wardrobe.

Kairi and Namine stood in the middle of what looked like a cross between a weapons room and a leather and corset outlet. Larxene's quarters were messy, boots and black clothes were strewn everywhere. Katanas and cutlasses were mounted on the wall, kunai were scattered across her dresser, and the hilt of a dagger was clearly visible under the blankets on the bed.

Larxene dug through her wardrobe, past tons of black and gray clothes, before reaching to the very back and pulling out a white dress, a blue cloak, a red dress, and a white cloak.

"Here!" she said, tossing them to the two girls.

"Are these yours, Larxene?" Kairi asked, astonished. The older girl was definitely not someone that she would picture to wear color.

"Yes." Larxene answered. "From a different lifetime. Remember when Marly said I had a history in dear old T Town? Until about 6 months ago, I was the Governor's daughter, heiress to the most gorgeous fortune ever seen."

"But, you're still his daughter, aren't you?" Namine asked, confused. She pulled off the white nightshirt she'd borrowed from Roxas' closet and stepped into the white dress.

"No. When he married that slut he divorced my mother for, I stopped being his child. My mother died of grief when he left her. I hate that man. So, when I heard that a pirate ship was looking for a weapons master, I tried out for the job. My father hired a tutor to tell me how to defend myself at a very young age. Traverse Town is almost always crawling with undesirable people. I made the cut, and ran away that same night. And now here I am, searching the sea with 2 runaway royals and a ragtag band of misfits looking for some Asian princess." She slammed the wardrobe door shut and turned back to the sisters.

"That must have been terrible." Kairi said sympathetically.

"Not really." Larxene shrugged, motioning for Kairi to turn around so she could help her lace up the back of the dress. "Axel's story is much worse than mine."

"What's his story?" Namine asked, curious.

"Never you mind." Larxene snapped, giving a final tug on Kairi's laces. "Put that cloak on and wash your faces in that basin over there. There's perfume in the bottom drawer of the dressing table, put a little on your wrists and collarbones. Hurry up. We'll be there soon."

On deck of the Luminata

"This better work, Marly." Sora said, staring out to sea at the black dot that was Traverse Town. He had changed into the attire like that of a poor farm boy, dirty brown breeches and a white cotton shirt. They had even rubbed dirt on his face to make him look the part.

"It will." Marluxia assured him. "Now don't talk. You look like a farm boy but your accent and way of speaking will give you away. And don't stand so straight! God you scream 'royal' with that posture. Slump your shoulders!"

While Sora was receiving orders, Namine and Kairi stepped out on deck.

"Heeeey! It's the little Gypsies!" Axel whistled. "C'mere, beauties!"

Namine and Kairi shyly walked towards him, smiling from ear to ear.

"You clean up real good!" He said, laughing. He took them both by the hand and twirled them before turning to Sora. "Ain't they purty, Sor?"

Sora looked slightly shocked, he stared at Kairi with his mouth open. "Gorgeous." He said, still staring.

Kairi looked at the ground, embarrassed.

"Alright, alright, alright. Stop mooning over my midgets!" Larxene said, striding up. "We're almost there."

Traverse Town

Kairi and Namine tried their best not to be dazzled by the lights of Traverse Town. They tried to look prim and proper and to remember the story they had been taught.

They were from a rich farm; the boy with them was their chaperone, an indentured servant by the name of Taro. He was mute. Their mother had a terrible fever and their father was away on business, so they were sent to the nearest town for herbs to make medicine for their mother. Their names were Noelle and Kyah.

The trio walked through First District quickly, eager to get what they needed and leave. Every now and then a moogle walked up to them, asking them about rare items and synthesizing nonsense.

"Hey there, dearest." A woman called from a corner. She had a short dress on and a revealing, tight shirt. "Wanna play?" She walked up to Sora, and kissed his neck, running a hand through his hair. Sora pushed her off and kept walking. He grabbed Namine and Kairi and pulled them away quickly.

"Oh my God!" Kairi exclaimed as soon as they were safely away.

Sora nodded fiercely and kept walking, his eyes furious. He pointed to a sign in front of a store that read "Merlin's Apothecary"

They walked in quickly.

The store was very homey, there was a cheerful fire burning and it had the spicy smell of herbs. Kairi walked straight up to the counter and rang the bell.

Almost instantly a little man in a blue robe and round glasses appeared. "Welcome to Merlin's Apothecary!" he beamed. "I am the great healer Merlin. How may I help you?"

"Yes. I mean hello. I mean, how do you do? Um…" Kairi smiled nervously, ignoring Namine and Sora who were face-palming. "I need some dogwood and willow bark, and also witch hazel."

"Ah. Do you have a sick patient?" Merlin asked, turning to rummage in drawers for their herbs.

"Yes sir." Namine said. "Our mother is very ill."

"Ah. Are you all her children?" he asked pleasantly.

"No sir." Kairi piped up. "My sister and I are her daughters. Taro, the boy, is our servant. He's mute, but very strong."

"Ah. That's nice." Merlin said, handing over a box full of herbs. "Here you are Miss…?"

"Noelle." Namine said quickly. "Miss Noelle and Miss Kyah."

"Here you are Miss Noelle and Miss Kyah." He said, bowing politely. "I wish the best for your mother."

"Thank you, sir." The girls said together before walking out of the apothecary.

As they got outside, the woman from the corner was standing at the door.

She snatched the back of Sora's shirt as he walked out the door. She pulled him close to her. "I know who you are." She whispered, stroking his face lovingly. "But if you give me a little money, and maybe a little of what you have down there…" she said suggestively, stroking the front of his breeches. "I won't tell."

Sora shoved her off again and grabbed Namine and Kairi by the shoulders.

"Suit yourself." The woman called. "GUARDS!" she screamed. "WANTED MAN! SORA OF HOLLOW BASTION, ENEMY TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN!"

5 soldiers looked in the direction of where she was pointing and ran to Sora.

"RUN!" he screamed to Namine and Kairi, snatching out a dirk from his belt.

Namine took a stunned Kairi by the hand and ran back to ship, dragging her screaming sister along with her.

"NO! SORA!" Kairi wailed, fighting against Namine. "SORA!"

They reached the ship just as Sora was clapped in irons and dragged away.

Okay, it'll really pick up after this I promise. I didn't have much to work with because it seemed too soon for Roxas to wake up but eh. Here we have it.

I know it sucked, but make me happy an review. Please? For me?

THANKS!

~rUnWaY