Disclaimer- Kingdom Hearts 2 (C) Disney & Square Enix Inc. I don't claim to own any of it.

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2
Pairing: RokuRiku / RoxasxRiku
Rating: K

Theme #10 - Death

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"Why do people die?"

Roxas knew the question was childish even as he said it, but he spoke all the same. He was holding a picture of all of the old members of Organization XIII in his hands, looking through the faces with a detached feeling of pity. Several lives—thrown aside carelessly. They'd been able to save Axel and separate Roxas. All eleven of the others were dead.

Riku, his expression softer than usual, sat down next to Roxas and looked at the picture. For a moment, both of them were silent, their eyes scanning the lost faces. After a moment, Roxas broke the silence.

"I mean, sure, most of them were all but asking for it by trying to kill Sora… but…" Roxas's eyes drifted to a smiling blond in the corner of the picture. Riku followed his gaze and frowned.

"That one's Demyx, right?" Riku asked in a soft voice. It wasn't like he'd been on friendly terms with them in life, though Roxas had talked about them with Axel enough for Riku to know their names and a little of their personalities. Roxas nodded.

"He was like everyone's little brother, even if he was older than me. He was a bit of a wimp, and an idiot sometimes…" Roxas laughed lightly, but then his expression softened into a sad smile. "He loved his music—it was his 'life'. And he hated fighting. It wasn't like he wanted to fight Sora. Superior told him to. And really," Roxas went on. "He wouldn't have killed Sora. He couldn't have… he just couldn't kill. We all knew that…"

Roxas drifted into a thoughtful silence, his smile slipping into a frown. Riku, frowning as well, slipped an arm around Roxas's shoulder and pulled the younger boy gently to lean on him. Roxas didn't complain, but he didn't look up.

After a few minutes of silence, Riku spoke up. "Roxas… that's the way things go." His voice was soft. "Everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. We're brought into the world, we live a little while, and then we're taken back out." Roxas looked at him for a second and Riku sighed. "I'm not going to comfort you with little nothings. We all eventually die. It's not something to fear or be sorry for, not really. Just be thankful for the time you have, the time he had, and the time you shared together."

Roxas watched Riku for a moment before looking at Demyx's smiling face. He'd been the most childish, the most innocent…

"I wonder where he is now," Roxas muttered. Everyone always told him that he and Axel couldn't go with everyone else without hearts. It was all but fact.

"Dunno," Riku said, shrugging. "I guess we'll both figure that out eventually."

Roxas blinked lightly, then smiled. "Yeah. 'Guess we will."

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*I created my own 100 Themes for a couple for myself, as I never could really find one.*

Author's Notes

A little sad one, and it shows a little more thought than anything.

Demyx (aside from the obvious Axel) seemed most likely to me to be close to Roxas, especially how he says "Roxas... come back to us." He sounded sad, so... and really, he is much sweeter, and whether he's lying or not when he tries to pacify Sora with the thought that they might have emotions is optional. For all we know, he's the only one that thought they did. In any case, we all miss him.

-Joey