A/N: First of all, I thank all those who reviewed! XD Really meant a lot to me. I know, I keep repeating myself, but it's the truth. Really. And it really helps a lot if you sign in and review. That way you'll definitely get a reply. If not, well, it makes it kinda troublesome, know what I mean? x3

Disclaimer: I shall never own KH in this life, that's for sure. And I don't own Nevaeh. She belongs rightfully to Talitha Koum. Sad life huh……meh……


Hold Me Tight, Don't Let Go

Chapter 8: Discoveries

"Now, don't be silly, I'm just giving you a shot……" Merlin tried to explain to a very frightened Nevaeh.

"NOOOO!!! You're going to kill me with that aren't you?! Don't lie! That……thing……is soooo sharp!! NOOO!!!" Nevaeh struggled strongly against the ropes that Leon tied her up with about ten minutes ago. He got fed up with her tantrums and got Merlin to do the 'dirty' work.

Kairi and Namine tried their best to calm her down but it was……quite unsuccessful, to say the least. Sora and Roxas were going over the stuff that happened with Leon. Aerith and Tifa insisted on putting Riku to bed and giving him a medical checkup after hearing what he did. Cloud was out patrolling, whether that was because he was bored, or he got fed up with Nevaeh's squeals, no one could tell.

"Look, Aerith, I'm fine. Really, now please let me go?" Riku pleaded. He had never told anyone, but……he was kinda scared of shots as well. He just didn't like the fact that a sharp, thin needle is going to be stuck into your arm and enter your blood vessel and……he shuddered just thinking about it.

"No, you're not fine. Honestly, there are cuts all over your body! Are you going to cooperate or not?" Tifa glared, cracking her knuckles to make sure that the message is clear. Riku immediately stiffened and replied quietly, "Yes Mdm."

Aerith then proceeded to inject some antibodies into his body to help him fight against any infections that might have occurred during the activation of Death Gigas. Tifa was placing cold towels on his forehead and making him as comfy as possible. They were like caring older sisters, taking care of their younger brother who got injured while playing around………in a way, it was true. Riku HAD gotten injured……'playing around'.

Just then, Leon came back and looked at Nevaeh, who was still yelling and struggling like mad, and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened and immediately grabbed the syringe from Merlin and began to inject the medical substance into herself obediently.

Merlin gasped in surprise, and looked at Leon. Leon merely shrugged and told him, "Next time, use your magic and transform the syringe to ten times its size and wave it in front of her face if she still acts like a baby." Merlin blinked at this statement, and chuckled, "I see……"

Leon then proceeded to chat with the girls and ever so slightly jerked his head towards the door at Sora and Roxas. Said two nodded and gently pranced towards the door. Yet, Sora being Sora, erm……'accidentally' tripped over Roxas' foot and that sent him hurling into poor Roxas and the result, well, both got their faces smashed onto the door.

Kairi and Namine heard this commotion and immediately understood what happened, "Where do you think you're going?"

Roxas glared at Sora in exasperation whilst Sora just grinned sheepishly. Leon sighed and rubbed his fingers on his forehead. What else could he do when watching two girls interrogating their boyfriends?

Roxas gulped and turned his head away, "Erm……we were……er……just going……for a walk! Yes, that's right! A little evening stroll never hurts anyone. Don't worry; you didn't think we would leave so soon now, did you? Hahaha……"

Namine narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Roxas……real carefully, "You're lying aren't you?"

"No I'm not! Roxas denied straight away.

Namine retaliated, "You are! See, every time you lie, you turn your face away and you blush faintly. See this red spot here?"

"OW!" Roxas yelped as Namine began to pull his cheek.

"See……now be a good boy and admit it……" Namine cooed, activating her puppy eyes for maximum effect.

Roxas gulped, oh no, don't give in, no, you can't say, she's going to kill you if you tell her………oh so tempting……NO! No way!

Sora wasn't having an easier time either. Kairi was standing there, hands on her hip, "If you don't tell me what you're going to do truthfully, don't even think about getting out of this room!"

Sora sighed, "Kairi! It's just a walk! No big deal!"

Kairi replied, "Why do I think you're just lying?"

Sora feigned a look of depression, "How could you, Kairi? I'm offended! Hmph!" And with that, he crossed his arms and went upstairs.

Kairi, even though she knew that the expression was fake, followed him. She cared for him and was going to reason with him upstairs……in private.

Roxas, meanwhile, was still unsuccessful in trying to convince Namine that he wasn't going to do anything dangerous. Leon shook his head at this and turned to Merlin, "How is she doing?"

Nevaeh was now sleeping peacefully; completely oblivious to what was happening around her due to the sedative Merlin applied to her. Riku too was asleep. Merlin replied, "Good. In fact, I think they will fully recover by tomorrow morning. Let's not disturb them, and what is with all the ruckus out there?"

Leon rolled his eyes, "Our junior heroes here are having trouble with their girlfriends." Merlin chuckled, "You think they need a little diversion?"

Aerith then thought of an idea, "Hey Tifa, how about we both argue about who gets to go on a date with Cloud? That way, the two girls over there would surely be interested."

Tifa's eyes widened and blushed, "Aerith!"

Aerith grinned, "Don't worry. I won't steal him from you. Just act like I'm your rival. Come on, it can't be too hard, can it?"

Tifa still hesitated, "Well……but……what if Cloud suddenly……"

Leon spoke up, "Don't worry. I'll be at the door, and I'll try to stall for time. Now hurry, before he actually gets back."

Tifa finally got ready and took in a deep breath. Aerith meanwhile, got hold of Leon and whispered something into his ear. Leon's eyes widened, looked at Aerith, and then laughed. "Sure." He replied.

Aerith nodded and signaled to Tifa that she was ready. Show's about to begin……

"Aerith! Are you going on a date with Cloud?"

"So what if I am?"

"I won't allow it!"

"Oh? What makes you think you can stop me?"

"You only like him for his good looks."

"Isn't that good enough?"

"Of course it isn't!"

"Oooh! Somebody jealous?"

"Who? Me?"

"I think you are jealous because Cloud agreed to go out with me and not you! Well, it's not my fault that you didn't want to ask."

"That's not the point! You don't love him! Why go out with him?"

"For fun, laughter, peace and joy, take your pick."

"Are you making fun of me?"

Leon was listening to it all the time outside and was trying really hard not to laugh. It was way too amusing hearing Aerith be so mean all of a sudden. Both Tifa and Aerith are kind and caring, even though Tifa definitely packs a punch and Aerith with her staff……best not to go there. Anyway, he wondered what Cloud would say when he heard all this. For in the distance, he could see a certain spiky blond haired guy carrying his huge buster sword on his back.

Kairi was upstairs trying to get the truth out of Sora when she heard the sudden outburst. Both teenagers exchanged a look and quietly tip-toed downstairs to see what was going on. They quietly hid behind Cid's huge computer and found that Namine and Roxas were hiding too, listening to the intense argument between Tifa and Aerith regarding the obvious subject: Cloud.

"I can't believe you would do this Aerith! Do you even like him?"

"Of course I like him, why else would I go on a date with him?"

"Argh! That's not what I meant; do you love him for who he is?"

Aerith knew she was getting there as she watched Tifa's frustrated face, "Oh, you mean do I love him for his charming face, his muscular body and his……"

"NO! Not just the outside, the inside as well! Do you?" Tifa yelled. To her, this was WAY more than just an argument.

"Would you care to elaborate?" Aerith tilted her head towards the door and sure enough, there was the slightest bit of blond hair sticking out in the doorway and she began to chuckle……evilly before she moved her body ever so slightly to block that particular view from Tifa's eyes. So, tonight will be the night where thick-headed Cloud finally understands how Tifa feels about him.

Tifa's eyes immediately glowed at the mention of Cloud and her voice softened, "Do you love him for how gentle he is with you? How much he cares about you, how he would even sacrifice his light just to be with you? Do you? Do you really want to help him get out of the shell he has created around himself and help him embrace light forever? Do you?"

Aerith really gasped this time, she knew Tifa loved Cloud, but she had no idea she loved him this bad. "So what you're saying is that whoever loves him should not just judge him by his appearance? Well, well, Tifa. I'm impressed. I'll remember that, thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to do what you just said. Oh, by the way, seeing how you'll never get Cloud, tell me, do you love him?"

Kairi and Namine both gasped, they had no idea that the Aerith they knew could become this evil. Sora and Roxas however saw that Cloud was at the door, stopped by Leon, and they knew something big was going to happen.

There were almost tears in Tifa's eyes, but she held her head up high and said, "Yes, I love him……with my heart and soul." And just as she was about to break down, Aerith however, was jumping up and down with glee, "All right! She said it! She confessed! YES!"

Everyone in the room, other than Nevaeh and Riku, had their jaws on the floor. Having Aerith act really mean was already incredibly unbelievable, yet, this was downright implausible.

Tifa too, looked at her confused. Aerith giggled before motioning towards the door, "Okay Leon, did you hear that?"

"Yeah, every word can be heard clearly from here." Leon's reply was filled with laughter.

Tifa was still confused, "Erm……Aerith? What's going on?"

Aerith gave her a big hug, "Good job Tifa, now let's let Cloud tell you what he thinks about your wonderful confession."

And then, they heard the door open. Once the smallest bit of spiky blond hair came into view, Tifa knew what was happening. Oh no, please no, HELL NO!

Ah, but hell yes, because there was Cloud standing at the doorway, eyes widened, yet there was a smile on his face. A big one.

Tifa was blushing like crazy, she had no idea Cloud was listening all this time. Oh……how is she going to face him now?

Cloud took a step towards her, "Tifa……I……I had no idea you……well……what I meant was……I……too……" He was at a loss for words. Damn it. Finally she confessed her feelings, yet he couldn't even bring himself to say three simple words. And he had always thought it was real easy. Hmph, apparently not.

Aerith frowned at his stuttering and poked him, "Hey, hey, hurry up! We don't want dear Tifa to be waiting all day for a goon like you to say it." Leon too came back in and quietly motioned to Roxas and Sora.

Cloud sighed, "All right, Aerith, calm down. Tifa, what I wanted to say is just that, I love you too." And he immediately jerked his head aside; a faint blush could be seen on his pale face.

Tears were flowing down her cheeks by now. Cloud was startled and immediately began to wipe them off with his fingers, panicked, "Wh……what's wrong Tifa? Did……I say something wrong?"

Tifa punched him playfully on the chest, stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Cloud just stood there, totally stunned. Ok, now he understood why Sora kept saying that women were an unpredictable species. Yet……

He looked at Tifa before smiling, and gently lifting her chin up, "I think I deserve more than that." Before kissing her deeply once again. Tifa had no objections as she kissed him back. Talk about dream come true. This was a golden moment.

Kairi and Namine both blushed at the scene and clapped along with the others and just when they wanted to melt into the arms of their beloved boyfriends……they realized that they were gone.

Sure enough, the door was open. "SORA!" "ROXAS!"


With Sora and Roxas……

"Can you believe that we actually made it?"

"Not quite. But thanks to Leon, yes, I can."

"Come now, open up a portal. We're going straight to Xemnas to inform him about Razor. Plus, it's training time."

Roxas nodded and sighed, it's always so troublesome trying to keep the girls from worrying.

Sora chuckled, "I know, but still, they're worth it, don't you think?"

Roxas blinked, and then grinned sheepishly, "Er……I said that out loud?"

"Uh huh." Sora's grin was as wide as his face.

"You wouldn't, would you?" Roxas asked.

"Nah, can't be bothered. Besides, I've got my own share of problems to deal with." Sora grinned.

Roxas gave a sigh of relief before opening up a portal……


Back in Radiant Garden……

"Grrr……I can't believe they sneaked off yet again!" Kairi pouted while she sat on the sofa, crossing her arms. Namine sighed, "We let our guard down. And I was looking forward to going with him again."

Just then, Riku began to stir. He slowly got up from his bed and tried to smoothen his hair before yawning and stretching himself. And it was then that he found his left arm to be extremely heavy. He then heard a slight moan and looked to his left. There was Nevaeh, snuggling against his arm, looking ever so comfy. Riku smirked, thinking, 'Who's the boss now……wait……why did I think that?' He shook his head and gently tried to pry her fingers.

Nevaeh merely held on tighter and mumbled, "No, don't go……" Riku blushed a little, but soon realized that there were two pairs of eyes staring at him and in an instant, he turned around, Way to the Dawn in hand, ready to strike down the enemy, only to find Kairi and Namine staring at him from a distance of five centimeters.

"Uagh! What the……jesus! What's wrong with you?!" Riku nearly fell off the bed due to the close distance between him and the girls. And he felt really uncomfortable, what with the sly grins on their faces.

"Riku, I had no idea you were that good at wooing a girl." Kairi smirked.

"I think you just broke another record." Chirped Namine.

Riku immediately slapped his hand to his forehead, why didn't he see this coming? He sighed, "Sadly, no. I'm just her friend. And I'm definitely not that desperate so as to get an enemy that I've just saved yesterday to be my girlfriend. That's just wrong."

Kairi looked puzzled, "Then why is she holding on to you so tightly?" She believed Riku because even though Riku flirts a lot AND lies a lot, like Sora and Roxas, he never lies when it comes to relationships. He was always truthful, painfully truthful actually, because all the girls that he broke up with were crying their hearts out for a week at least before they got over it.

Riku sighed, "Well, it looks like she's really longing for friends, and well, I think we get a pretty good picture of what kinds of people belong to the Chasers. Get my point?"

Namine nodded, "Poor thing, having to get along with all those mean men."

And just then, Merlin came in and said, "Kairi, could you please come for a moment. There is something we would like to inform you of. Namine can come if she wishes. And Riku, on no conditions are you allowed to get out of bed. Or else I'll zap you with ten thousand volts to make you suffer the consequences."

Riku gulped and lay down in bed straight away. Namine giggled at this and pretended to stroke his head as if he were a baby. The snarl he gave made the girls laugh even more.

Kairi then went to the living room and found Leon. He nodded and motioned for her to sit down. "Kairi, we received a letter from Master Yen Sid. He said he felt a faint aura within you when he met you. That is the will to fight. Now, try and recall what it felt like when you fought. Think about the person that's most important to you; think about someone that you would risk your life to protect."

Meanwhile, in the other room, Aerith too was relating this too Namine. The exact same questions were asked. And as both Kairi and Namine closed their eyes and thought about the questions, the answers came to their mind straight away. Spiky-hair, caring, loving………And in an instant, their clothes began to glow. However, they had no idea what was going on, all they had on their mind, was how Sora and Roxas were there for them all the time, how much they loved them………

And all of a sudden, an unknown element began to course through their veins; their entire body was filled with energy and ZAP! Their eyes snapped open.

Kairi gasped as she saw the familiar pink, flowery blade in her hand. Namine, on the other hand, had a blade that had different shades of color with the tip looking like crayons. Their clothing was unchanged. Yet, Kairi felt the abundant amount of energy within her. It wasn't strength……no, it was more like……

"Magic." Merlin answered for her. Kairi looked at him surprised. She had never had contact with magic before.

Merlin was stroking his beard and smiled merrily as Namine too entered with her blade. He beckoned Namine forward, along with Kairi and began to explain, "It's amazing really, and it's exactly like he says. The two of you, being the Princess of Heart and the nobody of the Princess of Heart possess extraordinary powers. No, not of physical strength or defense, but of magic. You see, this blade you think you have here, is more like a staff really. It can be used as a means of physical attack, yet the result would have been meager."

"Yet, if you are able to harness the power within you and focus it on magic, then, the result would be phenomenal. Your magic shall be far stronger than the keyblade wielders, for they possess the powers of physical properties and the ability to use magic is merely another means of attacking to them, nothing more."

"Now, Kairi, focus on your staff and tell me its name." Merlin then said.

Kairi's eyes widened, "This……this is insane! I……I don't have any powers! And……what do you mean it's NAME? How can a staff have a name? And this doesn't even look like a staff. I thought it was a keyblade!"

Merlin chuckled and said, "Now, no need to panic, calm down and take a deep breath. Good. Now, you can call it whatever you want. It can be a staff, it can be a keyblade. It's up to you. But to be able to harness its power, you've got to know the name of it."

Kairi looked at him, confused, but did as she was told and closed her eyes, picturing the keyblade in her mind, "May I know your name? If you have one……"

And all of a sudden, a teenage girl about her age popped into her head, "I do have a name you know! Haha! Did I frighten you? Don't worry. I'm just a conscience of the blade. Not a real person. Oh, by the way, my name is Floral Fallal. Nice to meet you. Teehee……"

"WHAT THE HELL???!!!!" Kairi snapped open her eyes in shock. Namine was curious as to what made Kairi freak out and therefore attempted to have a conversation with her blade, "Erm……hey, if you're there, erm……may I know your name?"

"Sure. At least you're polite! That's a good sign. Name's Full Throttle. Honestly, why would you name a keyblade Full Throttle?" A tomboyish teenage girl stood in her mind.

Namine grinned, "Well, then, nice to meet you." And with that she gently opened her eyes. "Hey, my keyblade's name is Full Throttle, what about yours?"

Kairi slowly calmed down and remembered, "Oh right, Floral Fallal." And with that, they both turned to look at Merlin, who was beaming.

"Excellent! Truly marvelous! So you two ARE the destined wielders of magic. Brilliant. Now, from here on, we shall be practicing your magic in the room upstairs, not the bedrooms, but in my study. I would like you two to be able to use your magic and power at will if the need comes. And this time, I'm sure the need comes. You shall be able to join the battle as well, if you use magic, you shall be able to fight from a distance and everything should become safer for you."

"So, shall we?" Merlin asked as he magically conjured a set of stairs that lead to the trap door up above.

Kairi and Namine looked at each other, both had the exact same thoughts on their mind, 'Being able to fight and help Sora and Roxas? Hell yeah I'm doing this……'

And with that, both gave a triumphant nod and proceeded to trek up the stairs……


Ooops, sorry for the late update! School's starting and I have to get ready. This chapter's pretty short, but the next one would be longer. And er……I hope I haven't made this too boring. LOL. Anyways, I would be updating once a week now, I think. Not much time. I have to juggle between work, music lessons, piano exams and school. Not exactly pleasant. Oh and of course, Read and review! Tell me whether you want less or more fluff. Up to you guys. XD