A/N: and…Chapter 9's up! By the way, thanks talkstoangels77 and sillysally for the reviews!!! I'll try my best to make things as unconfusing as possible! There's explanation for everything that's happened so far later on, so… I should stop with the spoilers… o.o|||

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"After Aerith was taken from us and we were recaptured back into SOLDIER, Cloud lost the original light he had when he'd recovered. Back then, he was the happiest man I'd ever seen. But after she was raped by that man…," Zack's eyes darkened and he glared outside the glass tiled wall, his expression cold. The tension was so heavy in the atmosphere. Aerith was raped…who would do such a thing?

"Who would do something like that??"

"Shinra that bastard…"

I felt frozen, my lips parted and my eyes in shock. There was that moment where she tried to tell me something in the garden. She seemed so motherly…unless it was her personality there was a chance that…

…………………………………………………

"I didn't want to tell you this, Naminé—both you and Kairi. 'Ashe' never existed as your mother. Shinra just used the name of his deceased younger sister to create an imaginary mother in replace of the truth. Your true mother is Aerith. It didn't seem right to let him keep lying to you. The morning after you came back, the king greeted you. I overheard the beginning of his words, and as soon as I heard the word 'Ashe', I knew who he was truly talking about. That's why I decided to tell you about my past. Now you see your true origins."

I was horrified. There was a muffled whimper that came strangled from my throat as I pressed my hands over my mouth. It was one thing to be alone, grow up and realize your mother was. It was another thing to be alone, lied to, grow up and realize that your mother isn't who your father told you who she was. Moreover to find out that you were a child whose origins were derived from an unwanted method. I was an illegitimate child. I was a child that my mother didn't want.

"Zack…" The word tore out of my throat. "Don't…you hate me then?"

His eyes softened from his hard gaze at the sky. Reaching out, he took me into his lap as a father would to a crying child, and laid my head against his shoulder, wrapping me into his strong arms. "Naminé, why on Earth would I hate you? You can be considered a result of that, but to me, you're like my own child. That bastard may have assisted in your birth, but you didn't ask for him to be your biological parent."

"But doesn't looking at me remind you of that incident?"

"The only thing you remind me is of Aerith and Xion…and nothing more than that."

"You have her looks and that shy side of her personality too," he smiled.

I was surprised at this relation. The blood rushed to my cheeks at the compliment. But personally I felt deep down that Aerith was too beautiful to be compared to me. I paled by the million in contrast. In a way, a sudden lurch of happiness filled me. Aerith was my mother and she was still alive. My mother wasn't dead. "It's okay if I feel…if I regard as you my father… is it?"

"That's definitely okay! Now I've another daughter, hey." He winked at me and I beamed at him in response. "But right now, it's late, and you'll want to return back to your room before the maids notice and begin to panic. They're exceptionally noisy."

I took his advice and gave him a big hug before getting up to my feet. He kissed me lightly on the top of my head. "Sora, ikkimashou*!" He followed me willingly. I turned to wave goodbye to Zack, but when I did, his back was turned and he gazed at the moon with a longing expression there was no need to even ask him what was in his mind. I didn't want to disturb him, so we left quietly.

…………………………………………………10:00PM

Sora was quiet on the way back. I gave him a look of concern, but his face remained expressionless.

"Sora…I'm sorry." No response from him.

His eyes shut for a minute as he continued to walk without trouble. There were definitely things about Sora that I really didn't know about. "Sora…Are you alright?"

There was a little flash for a second to my right side, where he walked.

In surprise, I turned around just in time to be pushed gently into my room and as the door shut, my back made contact with the wall. My eyes flew wide in surprise to see Roxas with his arms pinning me to the wall on both sides of me. His face was solemn and he stared at me for a long time, while my cheeks blushed at the proximity between our face.

"Don't do anything rash for two days, no matter what happens to me." I stared at him wordlessly. His right hand left the wall and lifted my chin gently. "Do you promise?"

"Where's Sora? What are you going to do?"

"I'll tell you everything after it's over and we're gone. I didn't expect that he'd tell you about Aerith this soon, but since he did, we can't delay. We've only got two days."

My breathing quickened. We were leaving? What was going on? It became clear to me suddenly amongst all my thoughts. Because Zack told me something he shouldn't, major things were going to happen very soon. We were going to leave the Castle That Never Was before Rufus realizes what I've been told, otherwise consequences would follow.

"If all this was going to happen, why did Zack tell me?"

Roxas gave me a pained look. "He couldn't have you not know. He'd rather put his life in danger than have you not know forever."

Zack…he was always so selfless. Why did he have to do this for me? I bit my lower lip in hurt. He did this just for me even though I was the result of what happened to his wife, my mother. He truly was selfless. By doing this, Rufus would demand his death. Both he and Cloud would be hunted down even if they tried to escape. But if he died, what would happen to Aerith? She and their daughter would be in agony forever. There's no doubt he was a good father and husband to them.

"Where's Sora?"

"He's in his room."

"Then…all that time it was you?"

"No. After his confession, I told him to return to his room."

I blushed at the memory and sat on my bed in an air of awkwardness.

That night, Rufus didn't come, but Roxas stayed by my side. It was hard to sleep with all this sudden information crammed into my head all within an hour. He stroked my hair with his hand, smoothing the strands. I didn't object.

…………………………………………………11:00PM

She finally fell asleep. Naminé really looked innocent as she slept. You wouldn't think of her as the dangerous girl (she could be) at all. I couldn't really keep myself from stroking her hair. Definitely, I wasn't allowed to love her inside the Castle That Never Was, but of course, that was going to change soon. I have to look for Kingdom Hearts soon.

The truth was that I've always loved her ever since I began to talk to her while she was locked up in that chilly laboratory. She was so small then. Back then, when I told her things, I used to think it was just a one-sided conversation, but really. Some days when I'd speak to her there'd be a twitch in her lips as if she was laughing along with me. It kept me interested. Well recently I've been pinning her to the wall and I'd like to say that what I feel for her has nothing to do with that. Well, maybe just a little. But that wasn't my original intention. So far, our close proximity doesn't seem to bother her as much when I'm being serious. She still blushes of course, and it's cute, but the message still gets in her head.

Anyways, it'll be starting soon. There's no time to waste as of now.

Before I left, I didn't bother to restrain myself and kissed her on the cheek lightly before leaving. Sorry, Sora. But that Shinra bastard can go ahead and sue me all he wants. What amused me was that even in sleep, she smiled at the touch of my lips. Cool.

…………………………………………………7:00AM

When I woke up, he was gone, like he said he would be. For some reason, I felt that he was in the castle still; all I had to do was…no. I didn't want to break into someone's memory and accidentally kill them or something. I had that capability.

My room was so white when I opened my eyes. Just staring at the pure whiteness reminded me of the drawings I still owed my sketchbook. Breakfast didn't sound very appealing and I wasn't hungry. Sora would have lectured me about that. What upset me was last night though. Sora

I knew that it would never work out between the two of us as long as we stayed in the Castle That Never Was. Rufus would probably plan to marry me off to some other country's heir to the throne and just get me out of the house, or use me for an alliance. Basically I was most likely another pawn used for political deals. I wasn't interested in helping. I wasn't even sure if I felt that way towards Sora.

Flipping open my sketchbook, I reached an empty page and scribbled to my heart's content. Who ever said crayons were elementary? With the right techniques, a few crayons could turn a picture into a beautiful masterpiece. Though they were my favorite, I didn't like the wax getting on my fingers. Pale irises appeared on white and I drew devotedly on my work. Fresh green color for the stem, and yet a little on the base of the flower—I applied a dark tint of brown and some green to the stem. Fireflies appeared above the flowers, illuminating them in a bright golden light and the dark of the night was shaded in.

After a few more touches and more pictures developing on several other sheets, I pushed my sketchbook away.

I'd be working for about an hour. It was eight now. Roxas wasn't even going to come and visit me was he?

A flash shot through my head and I fell to the ground twitching slightly. Kairi, I thought, where are you? I was seeing another all white room. She sat in the center singing quietly. It'd been so long since I'd seen her, and her hair was longer than what I'd seen in Sora's memories. They passed the shoulders now, a beautiful burgundy color. Kairi sat in a pink dress decorated with zippers. Pink…it was her favorite color.

A portal opened up behind her and in surprise, she turned to see a hooded man. Run, Kairi, hurry and run away! The man spoke a few words that I couldn't hear, but what mattered to me most, was that she smiled. Kairi smiled at the man—it was a genuine and broad smile that touched her eyes. I wanted to see my sister again.

When my eyes opened again, I was gasping on the floor.

It suddenly became harder to breathe, as the room felt so empty. There was no one here except me, and my maids and guards weren't here at the moment. I heard the quiet shuffling and murmurs of my guards outside the door shifting places.

I wanted to find Roxas.

…………………………………………………8:00AM

Walking down the hall, I caught the scent of flowers that smelled so sweet.

Drifting towards the garden, I caught sight of Marluxia squatting in the middle of a patch of roses, plucking the weeds. I almost thought I saw an iris there, but it as probably just my imagination. When I blinked again, it was gone. The gardener turned towards me with a smile.

"Well, if it isn't Naminé-hime!"

"Eh…I'd really prefer it if you just called me Naminé…"

"No can do," he chuckled lightly and resumed his plucking.

"What if it's an order?"

"Yes, even if it's an order, Naminé-hime."

I sighed. I really didn't like being addressed so nobly. I didn't deserve that kind of thing anyways. Kidnapped for seven years and finally back—I didn't even help anyone yet.

"Don't think that way, Naminé-hime. There's nothing really bad in being called 'hime'. It's what you are anyways." Holy roses, did he just read my mind? I gaped at him and watched as he tugged at a large batch of weeds.

"How did you—"

"You're just an open book."

I was pouting now. Zack, Roxas, and Sora seemed to find me so easy to read too, and it bothered me a little. So I decided to enjoy the roses.

"Naminé!"

I turned around to the source of the voice and gasped. I found myself leaping into Aerith's open arms. Marluxia rolled his eyes, but they didn't go unnoticed. She stuck her tongue out at him in a reply. The gardener sighed and muttered something like "immature".

It didn't matter anyways. I was in the arms of my real mother. If only Zack could see me now…

"Aerith, I'm so glad you came—" Just as she'd appeared, I stumbled to find myself embracing mere air. Stunned, I looked around. She'd disappeared.

"Ae—" A hand came over my mouth and pulled me behind the bushes. I struggled until I realized it was Marluxia. Before I could question his action, he shushed me, gesturing over the roses. Looking over the bush, I saw one of Rufus' Turks, Tseng, the man with his raven black hair in a ponytail and a red dot between his brows. I used to think it was a permanent pimple.

He whispered Aerith's name and looked around with a wistful expression on his face. I was dumbfounded again. What did he know about my mother?

As I pondered behind the bushes, a streak of brown hair appeared in the corner of my eye. Sora!

"Tseng! Hi there," I plucked a poor ladybug off of a leaf and stood up from the bushes as Marluxia slapped his forehead with a groan. He crept to the side of the bush and tugged at the weeds sullenly. Tseng was shocked to see us and walked stiffly and awkwardly over.

"Good morning, Naminé-hime," he said slowly with his eyes on Marluxia.

"Aren't these cute? Marluxia was showing them to me just then!"

"Ah… well…I've never been fond of insects, Naminé-hime."

"Oh well…that's a pity."

"Be careful, Naminé-hime, don't let them urinate on you."

"You mean that? I could always just wash my hands."

Marluxia was quiet as I chattered away with Tseng, trying to find a way to ask how he knew Aerith. At least I was gifted with only 20% less talkativeness in me than Kairi. But then again…I didn't know how she was anymore. I wondered if I could just connect with her again…

As Tseng ended the conversation with a bow and left, I shut my eyes and focused. Kairi…I thought hard of everything I could of her. Everything I knew of her in the past that I could remember, I tried to shove into my head. But because of my recent conversation with Tseng, it was hard just to focus on her.

Connection at 99%…

My mind was shot with a sudden pain for a second and I almost lost concentration.

Connection at 100%…

I was seeing a door that I'd seen once in the Castle that Never was. Everything was a little fuzzy—this person's memories …it wasn't Kairi's!! She couldn't possibly be in the Castle!

The person walked to the door and opened it, greeting the beautiful face of—

Aerith.

It was Aerith. She entered with two large men grabbing both of her arms, struggling with no avail as she was brought before Rufus. A man in black—no wait, it was Zack. He appeared suddenly and ran towards the four but was shoved aside by the large men to the right of Aerith.

He came at them again with his Mako eyes shining a bright turquoise color and reached for Aerith once again whose eyes begged for help and reached for him.

Rufus gestured away with his head as two other SOLDIERs knocked him to the ground, grabbing his arms and carried him away. One of them muttered to Zack as if in condolences but Zack paid him no mind, only reaching for Aerith.

He disappeared from the scene as the person turned his attention back to the beautiful girl carried away from her husband. The person crept behind the guards, hiding in a corner as he waited for the four to turn another. He followed them down a hall and up the stairs to the entrance of Rufus's room.

I was horrified at this moment. I knew suddenly what was going to happen next, but I couldn't stop the flow of memories from reaching me.

The guards dispersed and the doors to the room were sealed shut. At this, the man walked closer to the door and pried it carefully and so quietly. There were screams that were muffled by the thick door, but it could just be heard so quietly.

Slap.

"Be quiet, Aerith. I'm much better than your husband and I hope you've realized that."

"No! Stop it!"

There was a sound of ripping cloth and the man could see two figures on a bed. Rufus was holding Aerith down as she struggled against his clutch.

STOP!! I don't want to see this!! I forced the memory out of my mind and everything disappeared.

I knew whose memory this was now, and I found myself in my bed, dried tears on my face. Tseng, I sobbed, how could you have watched all that and not done anything for my mother? It was sickening to have seen how I was born, how I was created. How could I not be an unwanted child? Zack couldn't have been telling the truth.

"You're finally awake."

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A/N: Well… I tried to keep that memory as away from rated M as I could.

Rufus: You're sick.

(Aerith sobs in the corner of the room)

WS: Oh shit…O_O|||

Tseng: I can't believe I… watched all that…

Naminé: I did too…and I'm only 15. My virgin eyes…

(Tseng pats her on the head in sympathy)

Tseng: Don't worry. I was forced to read porn ever since I was 15…

WS: Sucks to be you.