Chapter 10
Confessions
"Namine is mine!" Riku shouted at his old childhood friend as he went to slash him with his keyblade.
"Riku!" Sora blocked his keyblade with his own. He felt sorrow in his heart. He just wished things would go back to the way it used to be. He just wanted to be with his two best friends and live in peace on their little island.
Sora didn't want to fight Riku at all. Sometimes he wished he wasn't chosen to be the next keyblade master; he just wished he lived a normal life when it wasn't so complicated.
Namine is trapped here with the Organization and Riku's heart is filled with darkness. Sora won't give up on helping his childhood friends. He'll do anything in his power just for them both to be safe with him.
Riku kept slashing at Sora as Sora kept blocking every swing. Sora refused to strike back. Riku isn't letting up, though. He wants Namine all to himself, and he'll fight anyone who tries and get in his way. Namine will be his and no one else's.
"Fight back, Sora! You are making this way too easy." Riku kept slashing at Sora, and Sora kept blocking, still refusing to attack his best friend.
"No! I don't want to fight you, Riku! Why can't things be the way it used to be?!" Sora is out of breath from blocking all of Riku's attacks.
"Because she doesn't belong to you, she belongs to me!" Riku swung low and Sora went to block Riku's keyblade, but he is a second too late. Riku cut Sora's stomach.
Sora dropped on one knee and his keyblade fell next to him. Sora looked up at his friend with pain. He felt so betrayed.
Riku smirked as he pointed his keyblade at Sora. "I don't get how you were chosen to be the keyblade master… I was always better than you on everything…"
"Riku…" Sora is still on one knee, holding his wounded stomach. Blood is dripping on his hand and on the white floor.
Before Riku had the chance to finish Sora off, Axel appeared from the darkness. He shook his head as he saw the two younger boys.
"It's a shame that two best friends are fighting over a girl…" Axel sighed as he walked up to them.
"What are you doing here?" Riku glared at Axel.
"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here…" Axel said innocently.
"All the members of the Organization Thirteen are bad guys." Riku snapped.
"I wouldn't say that, especially when I can be the one who helps you get Namine back. You see Marluxia is the true bad guy. He has the poor girl brained washed… She thinks he's her friend, but he is only using her. If you both care about her so much maybe you should work together to stop him." Axel suggested.
He hopes this plan works, he and the other members are running out of time.
"I can save her on my own." Riku's keyblade disappeared as he turned to go to the stairwell. He needed to get Namine out of here and fast. He doesn't need Sora by his side.
Sora slowly stood up, even though he is still in pain. He watched his friend go. He wants to team up with Riku. They could've been inseparable just like the old days…
Axel placed his hand on Sora's slumped shoulder. "I know how you feel to lose a best friend that means the world to you. It's hard, kid."
Sora looked up at Axel and sighed. "I just wish the three of us were all friends again, but after I became the keyblade master and darkness took over our home, things got… Complicated."
"It only gets worse, but there's still hope for your friends… It's too late for me…"
"No, it's not! If your friend is a true friend, they'll come back around!"
Axel smiled at the naïve boy. "You remind me a lot like him… It's strange…"
Sora tilted his head and grinned. "Thanks… I guess?"
Axel laughed and took a small bottle of medicine out of his coat pocket. "Put this on your wound and go get your friends back, they need you."
Without hesitation, Sora took the medicine and drank it. "Wow, I feel a little better already… Thanks, Axel!" Sora hurried and ran up to the stairwell to catch up with Riku.
He is still in a little pain, but he will do anything to get his two childhood friends back.
Axel watched Sora as he left him. He never felt any type of emotion unless it was about his old friend... "Roxas, I sure hope everything is well."
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
Namine sat up in bed, but it wasn't her bed… It was… Marluxia's? She smiled to herself for his gratitude. He knew she was uncomfortable sleeping in her own bed ever since that incident happened.
She shook her head to get rid of that memory… He not only let her sleep in his bed, but he put clothes on her so she wasn't naked when she woke up…
Namine looked around the room, but Marluxia was nowhere to be found… She leaned her back against his headboard. She wished he were always there when she woke up so she would feel at ease, but that was only wishful thinking…
As she was lost in thought, she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She felt joy well up inside her, thinking it was Marluxia, but her mood changed when she heard Larxene's voice…
"I hope Axel's plan works…" Larxene said as she was walking passed Marluxia's room.
"Sh!" Zexion hissed harshly.
"Relax! He's not in his room! I saw him going to take a shower, chill."
Namine slowly got out of his bed and pressed her ear against the door. She wondered what evil scheme they came up with to go against Marluxia… She heard Zexion mumble something, but she couldn't make out his words…
"Do you seriously think Riku and Sora have a chance on killing Marluxia?" Larxene asked.
Namine's eyes widened. They are using Sora AND Riku against Marluxia?!
"They might be kids, but they can truly fight. Our precious leader doesn't stand a chance!" Zexion mocked.
"Whatever, you say…" Larxene's voice trailed off.
Namine can tell they are away from Marluxia's room now, but she heard more than enough. How would they get Riku and Sora to go against Marluxia?
She understood Riku because Riku thinks Marluxia is no good for her, but Sora, she doesn't understand… Should she tell Marluxia? If she did that, then he would surely kill them both!
Namine couldn't let him kill Riku and Sora… Kairi needs them!
Should she just give them their memories back? If she did that then Marluxia would be angry towards her, but her changing their memories back will prevent them from hurting him…
"Namine?" Marluxia entered the room; his hair is damp from the shower he just took.
"Oh, hi… How was your shower?"
"It was good. How did you sleep?" He kissed her forehead sweetly.
"Good. Thank you for letting me sleep in your bed…"
"I'm making this your room too."
"You don't have to do that!" Namine knew how much Marluxia liked his privacy.
"No, I want to. I am always around you anyways…" He went to look through his dresser and pulled out her sketchpad. "Here…" He handed it to her.
She accepted it and held it close to her chest. "Thank… You."
"I'm going to go in my garden, do you want to come with me?"
Namine is shocked that Marluxia is offering her to come with him to his garden.
He never let her outside this castle before. She really wanted to, but maybe it's best if she didn't go with him. She might want to give Riku's and Sora's memories back. It will go against her lover's orders, but she wants to protect him…
"No, I think I am just going to stay here…" She gave him a warm smile.
Marluxia raised a brow at her. "You sure?"
"Yes, maybe tomorrow?" She asked.
"Sure." Marluxia nodded as he went to leave.
Namine watched him walk out the door and frowned. "Sorry, I have to go against your orders, Marluxia…" She whispered to herself.
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
Axel sat in his room by himself. After his confrontation with Sora and Riku, he couldn't get his mind off of Roxas. He missed his childhood friend so much. They used to eat sea-salt ice cream together after their missions. Axel never had sea-salt ice cream after his friendship was over with Roxas. He can't even look at it without feeling empty inside.
He and Roxas had a falling out during a mission and now they are not on speaking terms, but Axel would do anything to be friends with him again.
"Axel?" Larxene entered his room.
"Yeah?" Axel snapped out of his train of thought.
"Did you get Riku and Sora to be friends again?"
"No… But, they both believe Marluxia is hurting the girl, so one of them will surely kill him."
"I see…" Larxene whispered. "Why the long face?"
"It's… Nothing."
Larxene knew why Axel was upset. She knew he always gets depressed when it came to Roxas. She wants to talk to him about it, but she knew he would get mad if she even brought his name up. She decided to just sit next to him in silence.
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
Namine rushed down the stairs quietly; she is trying to find Sora and Riku.
She has her sketchpad in one hand while she held writing utensils in the other. Namine was just going to erase herself out of her drawings, but she thought it wasn't fair to do that.
She thought the right thing to do was to explain herself to them. It was the least she can do for the both of them.
She expects them to be mad at her, and she doesn't blame them one bit.
She felt guilty for taking something so precious away from them.
Their memories of Kairi mean everything to them, and Namine erased them like it meant nothing. She won't bother to ask forgiveness, but she'll try her best to get them out of this depressing castle.
She kept running down the stairs until she saw Riku standing before her. His teal eyes widened when he saw her here.
"Namine?"
"I need to talk to you, and Sora…"
"I want nothing to do with Sora." Riku snapped.
"Please, it's important!" Namine pleaded. She just wanted to see the three reunite.
"What is this about?" He crossed his arms.
"Your memories…"
"My memories?"
"Let's just find Sora and I'll explain everything!"
Riku nodded and Namine rushed down the stairs, taking Riku's hand in hers. As soon as these two leave the castle her love will be safe.
She knew the consequences afterward will be brutal, but she doesn't care. She won't rest easy until she knows that no one will harm Marluxia.
As they kept running, Sora is running up the stairs, almost crashing into Namine, but Riku hurried and pulled her to the side so Sora didn't collide into her.
"Thanks," she said to Riku. She is clearly out of breath from running down these stairs.
"Oh, ugh. Sorry!" Sora scratched his head in embarrassment.
"We need to talk." Namine knew she didn't have much time left before Marluxia returns, so she wanted to explain to them fast.
"About?" Sora questioned.
Namine wanted to take them into her room, so they had a place to sit. She knew if they heard this news that they would be shocked and confused, but she has no time. She has to tell them here and now in this stairwell…
"Riku's and your memories," she answered.
"Our memories?" Sora looked at Riku, but Riku refused to look back at him.
"Let me explain. I first want to apologize for hurting you two. I toyed with your memories and it was wrong of me. I am not asking for your forgiveness, but I am asking for you both to leave this castle after I tell you this." Namine paused and Riku and Sora looked at her like she has three heads.
She took a deep breath and started to explain herself. "I am a witch. I have the power to toy with Sora's and his friend's memories with this." She showed them her sketchpad with pictures of them in it. "I can erase your memories and replace them with false memories…"
"That's impossible!" Sora shouted.
"No, it's really not. I am not the girl you think I am… You think I am Kairi. I look like her because I am her nobody."
"Nobody?" Riku and Sora asked in unison. They both are clearly confused.
"Yes, I am the darkness in her heart. I have no heart, nor a soul," Namine said. "I am just like the Organization in this castle."
"You can't be! You are a human being just like Riku and me!" Sora argued.
"You are thinking of Kairi, not me." Namine gave Sora a weak smile.
"Who's Kairi?" Sora asked.
"Let me show you…" She sat on a step and started to erase herself out of the drawings with Sora and Riku. She then hurried and replaced herself with Kairi. After she did that Sora and Riku blinked multiple times.
She gently smiled when they realized who Kairi was, their childhood friend that they both admired deeply.
"Kairi…" Sora whispered softly. "I can't believe I would forget someone so special to me."
"It isn't your fault, but mine…" Namine said as her voice choked out.
"Why would you erase our memories?" Riku asked sternly.
"I was ordered to do so if I didn't then I would be stuck in this castle forever, but I don't mind now. I got so close to the leader in this castle that I don't care if I spend my lifeless life here," Namine explained.
"Marluxia isn't good Namine. Axel said so himself!" Sora spoke up. "He said he has you brainwashed! I think you should come back with us to Destiny's Island. All four of us can be together."
Namine is shocked that Sora is offering her to go back to the islands with him. She always dreamed of being there with them, but now that she got really close to Marluxia, she doesn't desire to go there anymore.
She is surprised they aren't mad at her, but she knew they both have hearts.
They both forgive easily even though they are opposite of each other. Riku might have fallen into the darkness, but he still is a gentle person. He isn't mad at her and neither is Sora.
"I don't want to leave Marluxia. I love him," Namine said softly.
"If he loved you back he wouldn't have imprisoned you in here…" Riku muttered.
Namine frowned. "You don't understand… No one does… Our relationship isn't perfect, but I would die for him and I know he would do the same."
"He's no good for you. Why would a member of the Organization go against their leader?" Sora asked loudly.
Before Namine could explain herself, a black portal appeared before them and Zexion stepped out, smirking.
"Namine, you are going against your lover's wishes?" Zexion asked coldly.
"No… I…" Namine stuttered. She tried to find the right words, but she couldn't.
"Marluxia is not going to be happy about this…" Zexion grabbed Namine's wrist violently and she dropped her sketchpad and her writing utensils.
A dark portal appeared, and he dragged her into the darkness leaving Riku and Sora screaming her name while chasing after her. They both charged at the portal but it vanished like the wind.
"We have to save her…" Sora bent down to get her sketchpad. He is determined to free Namine even if she wishes to stay in this castle. He knew this was no place for her.
"Sora…" Riku whispered his old friend's name with sorrow.
"What is it, Riku?"
"I remembered when we were in Kingdom Hearts. I made you promise me to take care of Kairi. I remembered going through the door of darkness… I have to fight this darkness within me, Sora. I think you should go back to Destiny's Island with Kairi and let me handle this. Kairi is waiting for you, go see her."
"No, I want to help too. We can save Namine, and we can take down the darkness together!" Sora held his hand out for a handshake. "What do you say? After we help Namine, we can play our roles as keyblade masters and stop the darkness… THEN we can all see Kairi!"
Riku gave Sora a small smile and accepted his handshake. "Let's do this!"
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
Marluxia is in his room, dumbfounded.
He wonders where Namine ran off too. He knew it wasn't like her to roam around this castle without his permission. He then felt anger well up in him. What if one of the remaining members has her?
We went to leave the room, but a portal appeared and Zexion came out with his hand tightly around Namine's wrist.
"Why do you have Namine?" Marluxia asked sternly.
"I caught her talking to Riku and Sora. She told them everything… She also gave their memories back." Zexion let go of Namine's wrist and she dropped on her hands and knees. She is on the ground sobbing.
Marluxia's faced darkened. "Why would you do that?" At this very moment, he knew he couldn't trust anyone. Not only did his followers go against him, but the love of his nonexistent life did too. Why would she betray him like that?
"Marluxia I had to…" Namine kept sobbing. She couldn't look at him. She knew that deep down he wanted to kill her.
"I don't want to hear no more. Get the fuck out of my room!" He yelled.
"I had to protect you from them." She slowly got up and whimpered. "The members were going to use Sora and Riku against you, so I thought..."
"I SAID GET OUT!" Marluxia didn't want to hear her pretty little lies; he just wanted her out of his sight.
Namine looked at Marluxia for the last time before she left him. There is hurt in her eyes, but she knew he would not want her anymore after she gave Sora's and Riku's memories back.
It is for the best. The two of them can return to Kairi and Marluxia can be safe in his white castle.
She walked out of his room not knowing where to go next. She is back to feeling all, alone.
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
A couple hours have passed and Zexion is in Axel's room, telling Larxene and Axel all that happened between Namine and Marluxia.
They dared not to disrupt him; they listened to every little detail about the assassin and the white witch.
After Zexion was done telling his story, the room grew silent. Larxene and Axel are still processing on what Zexion just told them.
"Why would she disobey Marluxia?" Larxene asked.
"I think she knew Riku and Sora was a threat to Marluxia. She probably figured if she gave their memories back then they would just leave this place." Axel expressed his opinion.
"Whatever her reasoning is, she really pissed Marluxia off. He's DONE with her…" Zexion smirked.
"Can we kill her then?!" Larxene raised her voice, pleading they would say yes.
"Just wait… We have to worry if Riku and Sora will leave. If they leave, we might not have a chance on killing Marluxia…" Zexion said.
"Fine…" Larxene muttered.
Axel sat there quietly. He still couldn't get Roxas out of his mind, and he was keeping a secret from his two loyal companions. He wanted to tell them his purpose here, but he's afraid they would go against him like they are going against Marluxia.
"Are you still sad about Roxas?" Larxene asked annoyingly.
"Yeah, but there's something else bothering me…" Axel should just tell them. They have the right to know.
If Sora and Riku weren't mad at Namine for what she did, he's sure his friends wouldn't be mad at him, right?
"What?" Zexion and Larxene asked in unison.
"I came in this castle not to go against Xemnas, but to kill you all off. It was an order from Xemnas, himself." Axel bit his lip, refusing to look at his allies' expressions.
Larxene gasped. "Please tell me this isn't true!"
"Axel…" Zexion said his name harshly.
"But, after I got close to you two and know I can trust you. I changed my mind, but I will kill Marluxia if Sora and Riku don't do it." Axel sighed. "You both probably hate me, huh?"
Larxene grabbed his face with her hand and lifted it up so he is staring up at her. "I don't hate you! How could I? Yes, you were going to betray us, but you changed your mind. I still trust you!"
"Me too," Zexion whispered.
"You both mean a lot to me. I am glad I can call you guys my friends…" Axel looked at both of them and smiled. "You don't know how hard it was to tell you both the truth…"
"I'm glad you did, though," Larxene muttered.
"Yeah, same," Axel answered.
"No more secrets from here on out, okay?" Larxene glared at Axel.
"No more secrets!" Axel laughed.
"No more secrets," Zexion repeated.
*~*~*~*~Angel In Disguise~*~*~*
Namine walked down the stairwell. She didn't want to linger on the top floor anymore. She never could face Marluxia ever again.
He probably wouldn't care if she dropped dead and parish.
She is of no use to him anymore, and he hates her for going against him. She should be happy, though. He will be okay now. He will not die from Sora and Riku.
Marluxia can go through with his plan on trying to out rule Xemnas. Namine knows he has no chance to have the power of the keyblade, but he is very strong. He can take Xemnas without it.
She wiped away her tears from her face. She must not cry anymore. She must be strong. Her existence means nothing to anyone. She was in this world to be alone and she can't change her fate. She has to accept that no one wants her.