HELLO EVERYONE!

OMG! I'm so late again, aren't I OTL

I'm so sorry! I have many family gatherings nowadays

And so very busy in Goethe T_T

(Also busy playing video games)

I swear I will try to update as usual next time!

For now, enjoy the chapter ^^

Thank you also for the reviews, and subs, and favs!

Keep em coming~

That lazy Sunday afternoon, where most people would just lay back off and enjoy the rest of their free time, while Naminè was enjoying her afternoon killing zombies with Roxas. On the computer, of course. But once in a while, she'd pick up her phone and text Axel back. Yes, she's still texting with Axel. And playing with Roxas. At the same time. And she managed to keep winning in her match.

"You're so dope, Nams!" said Roxas on the internet call.

"Why, thank you" said Naminè back.

And at the time she texted Axel back "I'm in a match now, Ax. You should eat something you know"

"Yeah, still busy with homework. Later, Naminè. Worried, are you?"

Naminè blushed at the reply and she thought for a while of what to reply. Then she typed in "Shut up. Just eat something"

"Naminè! Look out! Behind you!" shouted Roxas over the call.

Naminè put her phone down and swung her mouse and swiftly killed another zombie with her favorite carbine. She almost had a heart attack there. If it wasn't because of Roxas, she wouldn't even play that zombie mode. She's terrified of surprises. The bad kind of surprises.

What surprised her was the fact that she actually enjoyed the playthrough with Roxas. They were playing for roughly 4 hours that day. She could really have a lot of fun with Roxas.

But then suddenly, something she didn't expect happened. Axel called her.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! was the only thing she repeatted in her mind. But then she picked up the phone, allowing the zombies to kill her and turn her into one of their kind. Roxas on the other line was panicking because of her sudden leave.

"Hello? Why are you calling me?" asked Naminè. She really didn't know what to say. And of course, Roxas could hear that. He was also still on the line. And he chose to stay silent to hear who was calling.

"I just want to. Can't I?" asked Axel back "I know you're happy that I call"

"Ugh, you and your narcism, Axel" said Naminè.

Right at that second, Roxas frowned. He didn't like the sound of that name at all. He despised it so much. But he kept silent and kept listening to it.

"Hey, do you have a date to the Winter Formal?" asked Axel.

Roxas' expression turned sour and Naminè was blushing to the question. They both knew what was coming. Roxas sighed and just listened to what Naminè was about to say.

"I don't. Why?" answered Naminè after the long pause.

"You don't? A girl like you don't have a date to the Winter Formal? And it's a week away" said Axel casually. Then he continued, "I thought you'll be going with Roxas?"

"Roxas... is my bestfriend" she said and paused to think of the next thing to say "Besides, he's going with Xion"

Roxas on the other line was quenching on his stomach. He growled, hating to keep hearing the conversation. But he wanted to know what will Naminè's next move be. Whatever happens, he had to protect her.

"Xion? That girl always know how to get what she wants, eh?"

"Roxas told me he has a crush on her, so... yeah"

"He did, did he?" asked Axel. There was a short pause until Axel continued, "Well, I'm sure you already know what I'm about to say"

"W-what?" asked Naminè pretending she didn't have any idea.

"Would you go to the Winter Formal with me?"

There was a long pause there. Both Roxas and Axel were waiting for her answer. The guys waited patiently. Naminè herself knew she couldn't let him wait any longer than that. Axel has been clearing his throat to remind her that he was waiting and Roxas tried to stay silent so that Naminè won't hear him.

"Well, umm" said Naminè as she paused again before continuing "Okay, Axel. I will"

"Then I will pick you up at 7 next Saturday" said Axel "See ya"

Roxas clicked the end call button and threw his headsets away from his red hot ears. He was devastated, but there was nothing he could do. Out of a sudden, he heard his phone rang and he saw the caller ID. It was Xion. He sighed and picked up the phone.

"Hello, Xion" he greeted.

"Hey, Roxas" said Xion with her playful voice "So, what are you doing now?"

"I was just in a match online, Xi" answered him, trying to sound happy.

"I heard Naminè got a date for the Winter Formal" said Xion.

Roxas was shocked to hear that. How the hell did she know that? Naminè just said yes a couple of minute ago and she already knew it? Roxas knew Naminè is not the kind of girl who likes to share her private life moments in the internet. So what other way could Xion knew about it?

"How did you know, Xion?" asked Roxas. His voice started to get serious.

"Darling, no need to get so serious" said Xion casually.

At this point Roxas was getting very worried. He knew Xion could do anything she wants with Naminè. What could she possibly want from her now?

"Well, why did you bring it up then?" asked Roxas again, trying to sound as casual as he could to keep up with her.

"Well, I just thought maybe you should know" said Xion "You are her bestfriend right?"

"Yeah, I am, Xi" said Roxas. He knew what she was doing. She wanted to make his position clear. She wanted to make sure that everything is under her control.

"Sooooo then, aren't you happy that your bestfriend is getting a date to the dance?" asked Xion again.

Roxas clenched his fist but he kept his smile formed beside his phone. Roxas realized what she was implying. Xion was clearly mocking him and making him look so low. He swore under his breath but he kept his voice strong and said "Yeah, Xion. What time shall I pick you up next Saturday?"

"Ah I'm glad you asked, Roxas. At 7 pm. And don't forget to wear black shirt and red tie so that you'll match my outfit" said Xion in her usual playful voice.

"Okay, Xion. I will" said Roxas.

"Bye, dear"

Roxas hung up. He sighed again and lied flat on his stomach on his bed. His room was quite big. Not as big as Naminè's, but bigger than a regular room. The color of the paint was blue and the wall was adorned by posters of his favorite animes and games. He liked it that way.

He turned his body over and looked at the ceiling. He sighed again. He clenched his chest. There was a pain storming through his chest. It felt like the pain was squeezing his heart. He took a deep breath and sighed again. Then he heard a ping from his PC.

He pulled himself up and dragged himself to his desk. It was a chat from Naminè saying: "Roxas? Is there something wrong? Why did you end up the call?"

"Probably bad connection, Nams. I'll call back" he replied while clicking the call button again.

"Roxas! Axel asked me to the dance!" she exclaimed once they were on call. Roxas couldn't help but notice the excitement in her voice.

"And what did you say?" asked him almost losing his energy. And he cleared her throat and tried one more time, "Did you say yes?"

"Yeah" answered Naminè "I thought it might also be a good way to learn more about the connection between him and my past"

Naminè lowered her voice and took a deep breath. Roxas noticed that. She was trying to say something to him and he waited patiently for it without rushing it. Then she said "There's this strange feeling inside me"

Roxas lifted his eyebrows for a moment and shifted the way he sit. He then clenched his own chest, wondering if what she felt was something like that. And he said "Tell me"

"I don't know. I'm scared. Yeah, I guess that's it" said Naminè as she clenched her own chest too.

"Fear is okay, Naminè" he said hypocrating on himself.

"Would it mean anything if he has anything to do with my past? I mean, if he really was someone in my past, it's not necessarily mean he's someone in my present" said Naminè while laying her back down in her seat.

"I know, Naminè. But wouldn't it be relieving to know about the truth? Just knowing would be great, no?" said Roxas. He took a deep breath away from the mic and said again "I think, you are afraid of falling in love"

That last sentence hit Naminè right in the core. He was right. She was afraid of that possibility. But why would she afraid of that? But she has been building her walls. Even in her previous places, a lot of guys have been making advances to her. She now realized that she has been protecting herself.

"I... I am..." she said struttering through her words "Roxas... I..."

Before Naminè could finish her sentence, a knock on her door stopped her. She told Roxas that she'd be back and put her headsets away and strolled to her door. She grabbed the silver door knob and turned it.

"Hello, sweetheart. How are you?" said the man's voice.

"Dad?"

He hugged the confused Naminè, pouring out his longing to see his daughter after a long time. They haven't seen each other for 6 months. Her dad might always be away, but if there's something that he loves the most, it's his family.

"I miss you a lot, honey bun" he said while examining here "Have you grown taller?"

"I- I'm not so sure, Dad" answered her, still shocked that her father was already there.

"Naminè, my dear, why do you ask me about your past?" asked him while coming into her room. He sat on her bed and signaled her to sit next to him. After she sat next to him, he asked, "Is it because of someone named Axel Flamerose?"

It was as if a force is pinching her soul. What? He knew about Axel? What's going on?, she thought. Of course her father read that expression. He took out a small wooden box from his pocket. He looked at it very carefully, as if he was considering something.

He reached deep into his sleek jacket's inside pocket and drew out something. It looks like a bell. It is a bell. A golden bell adorned with red ribbon on the handle. On the bell's gold surface was a letter N crafted finely as if it was the art itself.

"Naminè, before you remember, I have to say, I'm very sorry" said her father.

"Remember what? Sorry for what, Dad? What are you talking about?" she said. She was panicking inside. But she remained still in her place. She wanted to know what her father meant.

"I'm sorry to take your memories away" at that moment, her father moved the bell and made it ring.

The ring was very smooth and soft. But to Naminè's ears, it felt as if the sound was piercing sharply through her ears. She put her palms on her ears, trying to protect herself from that sound. But the sound was still echoing loudly inside her ears.

She fell to the floor while still holding her own head. She could really feel the clatters of the bell peeling her insides. Her head feels like it was going to explode. And then after the pain, the sound of the bell became smoother and smoother. It almost felt like a lullaby. And she fell asleep.

The boy sat next to her, carving something on the tree. Naminè herself was just sitting against the tree and looked at nothing on the sky. She looked as blue as the sky. Something was troubling her beautiful little mind.

"Hey, is Italy far?" she asked to him making him stop what he was doing.

"Why?" he asked back.

"I'm moving there" she said.

"You're going away?" he asked as he turned and looked at her.

"My dad said he got a new job there..." she said. Then neither of them talked. They were just kids, but they knew what that means, goodbye.

"Where is Italy?" he asked innocently "Can I go and visit you?"

"I think it's far..." she said and she began to cry "I don't want to go again"

"Is this your last day here?" he asked as he drew out a handkerchief from his pocket.

She took the handkerchief and wiped her tears and looked at him and answered "Yes"

"Come on, let's go to the flower field then" he said while smiling hoping that she would smile too.

She took his hand and got up. But before they could run and go frolicking on the flower field, a black car stopped at the bottom of the hill. She could hear the man calling for her. And she knew it was her father.

She looked at her own father in horror as he came to her. He wanted her to go, she knew it. It was time for her one way flight to Italy. It was her goodbye.

"Daddy! I don't want to go!" she screamed as her father pulled her by the hand asking her to hurry up. The other hand still holding the boy's hand, not wanting to let go.

"Naminè, don't be like that. We're gonna miss our flight" said her dad. Then he had no other choice but to just pick her up and left with her.

"Naminè! Don't forget about me!" he shouted as her dad carry her away "Be safe!"

She cried as she punched her father's back and she screamed with all her might "AXEL! I DON'T WANT TO GO, DAD!"

A week later...

"Naminè dear, please come here and eat with us" asked her mom while knocking her door. It's been a week since she lost the light in her eyes. She was like a body without soul, still shattered by the departure.

She wouldn't answer her mom. She just sat near her window and stared blankly at the city. Even the beautiful sight of Italy can't make her curve her lips.

A month later, still no smile on her face. She really looked like a walking dead. She had no aura. There was nothing that could be read from her. Sand she always just stare blankly outside her window.

Then suddenly, her father forced open her door. She was startled. She locked her door and her father just broke the doorknob. And he wasn't alone. A very well dressed man in a suit was with him. His hair and beard were getting white. She never saw him before.

"Naminè you can't be like this forever. I'm sorry to do this" he said while letting the man walk to her.

She was scared. What did her father mean by that?

"Hello little one," he said "Don't be scared, I won't hurt you"

She moved away from the man until she couldn't go anywhere. Then that man drew out a little bell from his pocket. He rang it freely. She felt pain surging through her ears. The pain was so excrutiating that she fell to the floor. She could still hear her mom cry to see her like that. And her father, he was calming her mother saying that she'll be alright.

"Don't fight it, it's okay now. You will be sleepy" he said. And that was really what she felt. Sleepy.

As her eyes began to close slowly, he said "And you will forget everything about Axel Flamerose"