LARXIE
Yes…I have a secret that not even Melody knows about. Axel is the only one who knows the reason for my nurturing behavior. I am pregnant.
Yep…that's right…just a few more months to go and I'll be a mom.
I was lucky that I was just now staring to hit the pudgy stage. I know that Kairi and Melody have both noticed something different, but I'll put money on it that Mel will be the first one to find out. Axel helped me down from the clock tower, but tried to make it unnoticeable. Unfortunately, like I had predicted, Melody came up to Axel and I with a small smile.
"So…" She said in a soft voice as everyone else walked ahead. "Something you want to tell me?"
I felt my face turn red as I looked up at Axel. Axel chuckled as he brought his hand to the back of his head.
"Mel…I'm pregnant.." I muttered under my breath.
She didn't seem all that surprised, in fact, she only held her smile.
"How far along are you?"
"Well…we found out a few weeks before your birthday…."
"Five months ago??" She asked.
I nodded as her smile grew wider.
"Yeah…we didn't want to tell anyone yet…especially since Larxie really wanted to help you on your adventure…" Axel explained.
"I am happy that you came…but I really want you to be careful. Don't push yourself."
I nodded and smiled.
"Also…I'll keep it a secret…"
"Even from Riku?" I asked in surprise.
"If that's what you want…"
"I trust Riku to keep his mouth shut….but not Sora…"
"Okay……I'll only tell Riku…" Mel nodded.
We went back to the 'Usual Spot' as Mel and Sora call it and said our good-byes. Mel gave Hayner, Pence, and Seifer a kiss on the forehead and gave Aidley and Olette a hug. I noticed Riku seem to get a little flustered about the kisses, but he didn't say anything.
"Be careful….all of you." Melody said to them.
They nodded and Hayner's eyes seemed to glisten as she talked. She turned around to say something to Sora when I watched Hayner take off his necklace with a yellow 'X'. He tapped Mel on the shoulder and handed it to her.
"Here…so you won't forget us…" He smiled.
"Oh…." She smiled as she took it and put it on herself. "But you know that I could never forget you…"
Hayner seemed to beam as Olette rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I want you three to remember something…" Melody said as Olette and Pence stepped towards her. "Soon you will find two new people that have moved here. Please take care of them…and show them around…become their friends."
They nodded and then Pence looked down, a bit confused.
"But Mel….how do you know…?"
She giggled and tufted Pence's hair.
"I can see things that many people can't."
"Oh." He smiled.
"Well…I am very glad to have seen you all again." She said as she stood up straight. "And I hope to see you again…but if not…thank you for becoming a piece of my Heart." She smiled.
She hugged everyone again. I could almost say that I saw tears rimming up in Seifer's eyes. She hugged Seifer last and he put a kiss on the top of her head and then brought Aidley into his arms.
"Seifer…I think you might want to find Vivi, Rai, and Fuu. They all think that you have been the one to abandon them."
"Me? Why?"
"Because…they think that you have chosen Aidley over your friends…" She smiled apologetically.
Seifer lowered his head in thought.
"I know you didn't mean to on purpose. When someone finds love…they tend to block out important things. Love is important…but so are the other people around you."
I never had thought about Love that way, but it's true. Love isn't just between you and your Lover…it's between everyone around you. Seifer lifted his head and then brushed his lips carefully against Aidley's lips.
"Thanks Mel. I'll remember that." He said as he looked at Melody.
"Well……I-I guess this is goodbye…" She whispered.
RIKU
Melody quickly disappeared back to the ship. Hayner lowered his eyes as did everyone else.
Wonderful……she's probably crying…
I warped back to the gummi ship and went to our room. She sat on the couch that sat in front of a big window. Her knees were pulled into her chest and her forehead rested on her knees. I crossed the room and touched her hair. She quickly looked up at me, her eyes glistening.
"I didn't think saying goodbye to them would be this hard." She whispered.
I just nodded and stroked the side of her face.
"You didn't get jealous when Hayner gave me his necklace…did you?" She asked.
I looked away, unable to answer.
Of course I did. I can't help but be overprotective over you, Mel. You've been taken away from me far too many times…
"Well…no need to worry, Riku. Your Heart is the one for mine." She whispered as she looked out the window.
I lifted her chin and got down on one knee so I would be eye level with her.
"Melody…your Heart is connected with them. If you want to see them…then just look inside your Heart." I whispered.
She closed her eyes and smiled as a single tear traveled down her face. I wiped it away as I helped her stand up. Keekie and Ciro, having been asleep on the foot of my bed for the entire day, woke up and looked up at both of us.
"Come on…you have to lead the way. Only you can find Rylynn." I said softly.
I walked with her to the control room and leaned against the wall as she talked to Sora, Donald, and Goofy. She smiled and nodded a lot, but some how her eyes always traveled back to me. Every time her icy blue eyes fell on me, I felt squirmy inside. As wrong as it sounds…I wanted her…but I was afraid. I was afraid to take her for myself. Was I afraid of being selfish? Or was I afraid of loosing her all over again?
I watched carefully as Melody closed her eyes and pointed off to the right, telling Sora that Rylynn's world was in that direction. Sora grew excited and said something about Olympus Coliseum was that way.
"Oh, Mel! Can we go?! Can we go, please!? I want to see Meg and Hercules!" He pleaded in a small annoying voice.
"I suppose…but we can't stay long…"
"Alright…we should be there in a few days…then maybe a day after that we'll get to Rylynn's world…if your Heart's directions are correct."