I know I took FOREVER to get this up. Please forgive me. I've been quite busy and my writing muse has been laughing at me and taunting me. But here is the next chapter. And as an added bonus for my readers, in appology for taking so long, I have a oneshot NamiZeku piece up called "A Thousand Paper Cranes". And also, I've put up a piece of NamiZeku fanart on my DA. The link to my DA account is in my BIO. I only have like five pieces of art so it shouldn't be hard to find. Hehehe... Well, I hope you enjoy this!

Namine was conflicted. She didn't know what to do. What to think. She didn't want Zexion to get hurt because of her. But it seemed she'd hurt him anyway.

"That's how it seems at least." She thought to herself. "Marluxia could be telling the truth. I hardly know Zexion. He seems so nice. But what if it's a lie?"

She frowned and scribbled over the picture she was drawing. She couldn't concentrate. She was so lost.

Marluxia was kind too. But his kindness was obviously faked. He showed that whenever he lost patience with her. However, Zexion's seemed so real. And yet Marluxia had said that it was Zexion's strong point. Tricking others.

But why would he? Who was she to anyone? Nothing. What could he possibly hope to gain from treating her kindly. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't see what value she could have to him. Unless he knew what she could do. And intended to use her as Marluxia did.

"But if that's so, how much do I risk losing by going to see him? The worst that could happen is that he will do exactly what Marluxia does now and have me alter Sora's memories for his own purpose. Would that really be so different? And if he really does care..."

She bit her lip and thought on it only a moment longer before she made her decision.

That night, she left her room once again and made her way to the library.

When she pushed open the door, she froze, disappointment welling up inside her. He was nowhere to be seen. She made her way slowly to the sofa anyway, sinking down on it. She tugged the blanket down from the back of the sofa, pulling it over herself. She wrapped up in it tightly and closed her eyes.

Somewhere inside there was an ache. She'd never felt such a pain. It wasn't like hunger. Or the sort of pain she got when she bumped into something. Or fell down. It was deep inside. And she wondered if she were sick. If she were dying.

And then there were tears on her face. She wiped at them furiously but they continued to stream down her cheeks like little salty rivers, zigzagging awkwardly. She curled up tighter and willed the pain to go away.

She gasped and opened her eyes quickly when something brushed across her cheek, gentle and warm.

Through bleary, tear-filled eyes she saw him kneeling by the sofa, fingers brushing over her cheeks carefully.

"Why are you crying, now? Has someone hurt you? Am I the one to blame for your sorrow?"

She grabbed his hand and held onto it with all her might. She wanted to believe him. So very much, she just wanted to believe that this young man could love her. Could care for her. She wanted nothing more than to be important to someone. Not because of what she could do. But because of who she was.

"Shhhh..." He soothed gently, his free hand smoothing back her hair. "It will be alright. I am going to take care of you, Namine. I am going to keep you safe. You have my word."

Such kind words. Such a kind voice. Such kind eyes. She needed desperately to believe that he meant it.

She closed her eyes, willing her tears to stop. After several moments they final subsided and she sat up, still clutching his hand.

"I... was afraid you weren't coming. I was afraid... Marluxia had..."

"Marluxia does not frighten me. He has no power over me. He may be the one chosen to rule over this castle, however that is as far as his reign goes."

"He said he would kill you!" It came spilling out. She squeezed his hand. "If I left... If I came to see you again... he said..."

"Do you trust me, Namine?" He asked, cutting her off.

She hesitated, bit her lip, but then she nodded. Slowly. Yes. She did. Or she wanted to. At the very least, she could trust him more than Marluxia. Or that's how she felt at least.

"I am glad. I need you to trust me, Namine. I need you to trust me so that I can help you. Do you understand?"

She nodded again, more firmly this time. He seemed so sincere.

"Please, please let him be telling the truth. I don't know what this is between us. But I want to keep it. I selfishly want to hold on to it. I selfishly want to hold on to him."

He gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand back.

And she felt like it was honestly going to be okay.

She needed it to be okay.