Bloom Into Love
Chapter Nine

A/N: I am sooo sorry for basically neglecting this story! I had a chapter on it, but I didn't like it. So for awhile I was thinking of a way to make it better. . . Then I got writer's block. Or pure laziness. . .Then for a while then I was focusing on Blissful Moments (another RxN fic) But I'll assure to you that my next update won't be like 4 months away. Thank you for all you loyal fans who have stuck with this story with me.

Disclaimer: (Woo! I didn't get to type this in awhile!) I don't own Kingdom Hearts series.

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In the Last Chapter. . .

Why couldn't everyday be like this? Just Roxas and me… No one else. Not my stupid dad or mom… Not stupid people staring at us while we're together. Not anything to interrupt us…Naminé was lost in these thoughts as Roxas carried her away.

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Roxas laid Naminé gently on the couch of the apartment and covered her with a thin blanket that usually hung over the side of the couch. "I'm sorry Naminé, I wish i could stay with you but I still have to finish my shift."

"That's alright, Roxas. I'll be okay." She answered back quietly.

"Besides my roommate will be here if you need anything. SORA—SORA!" Sora came out from the hallway, still in his black and dark blue pajamas. But I don't want anyone watching me, except you… Naminé whined silently.

"Geez Roxas, you could of told me that you were inviting guests over." Sora said lazily as he scratched his messy hair and sat on a lounge chair. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision and looked at the pale girl on the couch. Aww man, Roxas's girl sort of looks like Kairi! Nah, I think I'm just hallucinating.

"Sorry, but my boss is gonna kill me if she finds out I took my shift off without telling her, so I need you to watch Naminé until I come back."

"Sure. No problem."

"Thanks, I owe you one." Roxas was about to leave, but stopped. "Naminé, I try to be back in an hour if I can."

"Okay." Naminé answered. He gave her a small peck on the cheek before taking off. There was a silence between Sora and her.

"Hi! I'm Sora!"

"Yeah, I kinda heard." Sora's perkiness cheered Naminé up a bit, but it also scared her…a lot.

"So do you want anything?" Uhh…can you get out of my face and let me be? Naminé just felt like being alone right now to think.

"A glass of water would be nice."

"Here you go, sir." Roxas was panting very heavy and skated to his destination as fast as he could, so he can be finished with his job for today. But he still had a little more than half his bag to finish. "Arrggghhh! Why do so many people in this town have mail!" Roxas steamed. Maybe Rikku can help me…

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"So…are you Roxas's girlfriend?" Sora asked with a small grin on his face. Naminé felt like spitting out the water she was drinking. Whoops. Too late. Sora was sprayed with water from his chest and up. He had a mixed expression of digust and surprise.

"Uh—sorry." She placed the glass on the end table next to her.

"It's okay." He said while he wiped his face with his sleeve. This is what I get for trying to tease Roxas's new 'girlfriend.' Just great. "So are you and Roxas dating or something?" Naminé coughed.

"Umm—not really…"

"Well if you need me just yell my name ok? I'll be in my room."

"Okay." She watched him disappear from her sight. "Finally, some peace." She dug her head into the soft cushions of the couch.

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"Finished!" Roxas finally finished and leaned against a brick wall in exhaustion. Rikku was willing to help saying, 'Anything for Roxas and his girl!' And took the larger half of the stack. "I don't think…I've ever been exhausted this much...in my whole life…" But he still had one more stop before he could return to Naminé.

He quickly skated to where his boss was reading a magazine and told her he was already done. "You finished a whole bag in less than one hour?" She questioned.

"Y-Yeah." He panted heavily.

"By yourself?"

"Y-Yeah."

"To all the right people?"

"Yes, yes! I'm sorry but I've got a lot to do and I gotta go, bye!" He rushed off, but along the way he had to stop to catch his breath. Naminé, I'm coming. She was on his mind the whole time, he couldn't help but keep thinking about why she was hurt.After a minute or two, he got up and skated back to the apartment.

Inside, Sora was rummaging through the refrigerator and Naminé was sleeping. "Don't worry, your girlfriend's okay." His head popped out of the fridge and worriedly stared at Roxas. "But you sure aren't. Go sit down before you pass out."

He ignored Sora and walked over to Naminé. Her eyes immediately fluttered open as he approached her.

"Hi Roxas." She cheerfully said and gave him a small peck on the lips. Sora quickly left the room.

"Naminé…we need to talk." She let out a reluctant sigh.

"But Roxas—"

"Why don't you want to go home?"

"I just don't like it there…"

"That's all?" He raised an eyebrow.

"…Y-yes." She yawned again and leaned into the couch cushions more. All she wanted right now was to avoid this subject.

"Naminé, you're a really bad liar." She sat up now, but still looked down. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She shook her head and finally said in frustration,

"I can't!"

"Naminé!" He grasped her shoulders.

"OW! Stop! That hurts!" She slapped Roxas's hands away and started crying on his chest.

"Naminé, I'm sorry…" It was then when he noticed swollen pink and purple patches above her shoulder blades. He brushed his fingers against one of the blotches and immediately felt the girl wince in pain. "Who did this to you!?"

"Naminé please tell me!!" She held on to Roxas tightly before replying.

"Sometimes…my father—he abuses me."

"He what?" He couldn't believe it. He couldn't imagine someone's father beating their own child.

"I don't know…why." She was starting to cry again. "He just—does." Her sobs almost broke Roxas's heart. He didn't want to see Naminé in pain and it hurt him to see those tears run down her cheeks.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Naminé screeched, but her father whipped her with his belt harder with each swing. The belt stung into her back and Naminé screamed in pain.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Her father yelled back even louder. Another swing. Another scream. She clenched the carpet underneath her, trying to grasp something that might ease her pain. Anything.

She woke up, shaking violently from her nightmare. It was completely dark and Naminé fumbled around, tangling herself with the blanket before she realized she was still on Roxas's couch. She guessed it was about 1 A.M. or 2 A.M. She sat up and slowly stood up, only to collapse flat on her face against the carpet. She was still weak from the incident and moaned, sweeping her bangs out of her eyes.

Okay, second try.

Naminé used the edge of the couch to support her weight as she got up once again. She leaned against the walls of the apartment as she slowly walked towards the hallway. Through the first door, she peeked inside and saw the moonlight shining peacefully on Roxas as he slept in the comfort of his bed. She walked towards the bed and lied next to Roxas.

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Roxas awoke with the sound of sniffling behind him. Bewildered, he turned around to see Naminé. The moonlight shone her wet, pink cheeks with tears coming down them. He wrapped his arms around her thin body and turned her so she faced him. He snuggled closer to her and wiped her tears away with his thumb.

"It's okay, Naminé. Everything will be fine now." He felt her arms wrap his body and her sobs were muffled into his shirt.

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"Oi, where the heck is Roxas?" Rikku crossed her arms impatiently.

"Rikku? Has Roxas arrived yet?" The boss called from the back room.

"Umm…err—yeah! He just came! Y'know, standing right beside me…heh!" She laughed nervously.

"Oh okay! Tell him that his bag is full and ready for him to deliver!"

'Oh great, now what?' She put a finger to her chin and thought for a second. "Ugh, Roxas owes me one…" She sighed and slouched over, letting her arms dangle lazily underneath her. Finally, she lifted Roxas's heavy messenger bag and put it over her shoulder.

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Naminé awoke and felt Roxas's breath ruffling her bangs. For once, she actually felt protected…not isolated or afraid, not abandoned or lonely, she didn't have the need to worry about her father or anything else. She felt safe. But how long could this feeling last for?

"Eh?" Roxas was surprised not to see Naminé beside him. He immediately got up and noticed the letter on his end table. He rubbed his eyes and tried to scanned through its contents. His vision was still blurry and his eyes kept shutting themselves. Luckily it wasn't a long letter.

Dear Roxas,

Sorry for leaving without telling you. I just needed some time for myself to think about some things. . . I'll be sure to avoid my father.

Naminé

P.S. Thanks for not taking advantage of me last night. I really appreciate it.

Roxas let Naminé have her time alone, although he did worry about her safety around Twilight Town. Her father could be searching madly around the town for his daughter. Then again, he could be not worrying at all about her. He told himself that if she wasn't back in one hour, he would set off to look for her.

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Naminé breathed in the fresh, cool air deeply. Of course, she was in Twilight Gardens, where else could she go? The garden looked so much different during daytime. She could specially see each and every single flower and its colorful beauty. There were also many couples that would stroll by, holding hands and making lovey-dovey faces at each other. She watched one couple sit by the pond, throwing small bits of food to the ducks.

They seem so happy together…But how long can Roxas and I stay happy together? Surely my father would be looking for me and if I know him, he won't stop looking until he finds me.

And...what is Roxas going to do? I bet he's going to do what's best for me...but what exactly will that be? I don't want to be separated from Roxas...He's-- the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I don't want to lose him.

After what seemed like half an hour to Naminé, she got up and decided to head back to Roxas's apartment. I bet he's worried sick about me! Heh… She brushed off any dirt or loose grass that clung to her dress or her legs. As she entered the Tram Common, several people walked about, Naminé couldn't help but feel nervous if any of the pedestrians were co-workers of her father. She walked slowly throughout the crowds and almost at the end when she saw a familiar face in front of her.

"THERE YOU ARE!" Naminé's eyes grew and she gasped in fear. The voice was not a happy one, rather an angry, malicious one. Her father's voice. "YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO RUN AWAY EVER IN YOUR LIFE!" He grabbed his daughter's wrists and dragged her to the Woods. "I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!"

"No! Lemme…go!" Rikku watched from behind a random building the blonde girl try to release herself from the man's grasp, but couldn't. She was dragged helplessly by the man until they were out of Rikku's view.

"I wonder who that is?" Maybe I should follow them? It seemed like he was gonna hurt her! She shifted Roxas's messenger bag uncomfortably on her shoulder as she began to walk over to where the man and girl disappeared to. But she was stopped by a certain voice.

"Rikku? Is that Roxas's bag?" Rikku's eyes widened and swung around only to see her boss with her arms folded.

"Ur hu!" (Oh no!)

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A/N: Once again I am sorry for the four month delay...I got like homework and stuff waiting for me so until next time! Oh yeah, my bad for any spelling or grammar errors i may have missed here, I was rushing through the proofreading