Axel bids you a distracted farewell by your brother's grave, waving absent-mindedly as he wanders away into the strange light. Your feet carry you from the damp grass and forgotten stone; Drag you back into the streets, Mirroring Axel's footsteps. The buildings begin to sprout from the ground once more, Towering around you, effectively trapping you physically and mentally. Your mind struggles to place the conversation between you and Axel together, a jigsaw he's stolen the pieces to. How easily he steals not only your attention, He crawls inside your head and uproots your memories, and all with that fake, Painful grin.
He'd mentioned anger, Emotions he experienced when he found himself someone else's victim. You struggle to see Axel label himself a victim in any situation. Even with Saix claws embedded in his throat, Axel would maintain 'til the very end he had provoked it purposely.
Your mind creates thousands of situations, Conclusions, Epilogues to Axel's story, but none seem to fit properly, that's a jigsaw piece he holds right now. You wonder what's torn his dignity from him and forced him into the streets, trying to make friends with people who only consider relationships for money. It scares you how well he fits the scene.
Your mind, In turn, strays to the setting in the dark, deteriorating little office from earlier, Saix perched by the window while Xemnas studies you with a stare that makes your skin burn. Your thoughts run to the brief history account Axel had given, Xemnas' past. You think of Axel. You think of Melody. And your eyes finally recognise where your feet have mindlessly led you. These buildings groan and grunt in the night, although you question whether it's the buildings, or their inhabitants. A fitting soundtrack to your life. Your eyes scan the scene, the shadows remain still. There's no one here. This is Melody's corner, this is her home, and this is her life. She's left it all behind, you included. You stand there, looking so small among the torn material and over turned trash cans.
You call her name quietly, Raw from your throat. Any minute now she'll skip around the corner, Eyes bright and wide. She'll tell you you're weird, wonder why you don't speak a lot, and you'll just find comfort in the fact that someone knows your name.
For now, you study her home. The graffiti seems brighter here. Spirals and happy scenes, Sunsets and numbers scratched out. You don't dwell on the numbers for long. Your sense of smell is overpowered by her cheap perfume, a pleasant surprise after you notice the strange stains decorating the tarmac.
You reach your hand to reach out and touch her memories, but a voice stops you.
"Hey, Blondie? Still lookin' for someone eh?"
You spin to glare at the source, but your eyes soften when you see the maroon-haired young girl from what seems like another life story.
You see no point in intimidating this girl; you've witnessed her flirt with Axel, A boy wound up to the skies with a dangerous violence in him. She knows how to play with fire and not get burned. You're just fakin' your way through.
You nod slowly in response to your question, a pleasant and honest smile spreads across her glossy lips, her eyes strong lavender, carefully studying you and the damage you're capable of.
"If it's Melody you're after, she hasn't been 'round in a while" she says, immediately losing interest in you, studying her nails and fluffing her hair. You watch her go through the motions, a bad movie on repeat. Once again it's a struggle to converse with the natural street life.
"Where is she?"
The young girl looks surprised that you've spoken, a shocked smirk worn expertly on her lips. She ponders the question, Lavender eyes rolled towards the sky. She steps closer, and the urge to back away be incredible. She holds out a dirty hand, Fingernails embedded with dirt.
"I'm Kairi"
Reluctantly, You reach out and finally attach yourself to this life. And she knows that, Snatching and gripping your trembling hand, carefully measuring your face the whole time.
"Roxas".
She nods slowly, seemingly a little shocked with your introduction. You raise an eyebrow, tightening your grip on her hand, reminding her you're still alive. And you're slightly alarmed by how much you find yourself doing that in these streets. This is the fast life, but you're content to sit back and stare at the stares and the smoke. Life forgets you.
"You just remind me of someone" she utters eventually, Peeling her eyes away but leaving her hand resting in yours a while longer. She's holding onto that humanity you crave so much.
She changes the hand, slipping her other hand into yours before you have a chance to withdraw it. She smiles innocently, Leads you away from what remains of Melody. She doesn't have to urge you. Your still a naive, Idiot little boy. And this human touch is more than you could ever ask for.
You navigate the streets, holding a whores hand as if it's the most important thing in the world. She's thought to make you react this way. Strange shadows throw her green-eyed glares from the darkness. She clenches your hand tighter, and instinctively you clasp fingers, ensuring her you're still there.
The flickering street lamps light your way, and these buildings begin to look familiar. These buildings are all the same, Always will be. You remind yourself to tune out, Let her lead you. She knows.
The whispering, choked sound, screaming in the nightlife. Because of the silence between the two of you, these nocturnal noises assault your ears. You attempt to piece a conversation together.
"Who do I remind you of?"
She jumps a little, raising her head from your shoulder, the choking smell of herbal smoke finally drifting away from you.
"Sorry?"
"I said who do I remind you of? You said earlier ... I reminded you of someone".
She gazes at you wide-eyed, momentarily halting your tracks. Tyres screech in the background.
"You' know. I had a boyfriend. Looked awfully like you Blondie. But I guess war is generous with its tragedies."
She doesn't seem that phased. But as Axel says, War brings death, and it didn't forget to visit this tragic young girl. Maybe she was a little rich-girl, Spoiled and smiling before she lost her lover. You bite your lip and convince yourself not to laugh.
"What was his name?" You question, deliberately busying your mouth, trying not to laugh at the disaster you've collectively called life.
"He was a good kid. A fucking gullible idiot. Fell straight into this war story. Never got to finish writing his own."
"But his name?"
"His name was Sora," and her grasp on your hand is wringing your knuckles. You found someone who's suffered like you, Axel found Xemnas, and you've found this strange little wine-haired prostitute with a tender touch and a genuine smile. Kairi. You warp an arm around her shoulder and pull her closer, soon enough the tears soak through to your skin.