Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter Thirteen
Moving On

It was a challenge just getting out of bed. I'd been sick these past few days, too weak to really do anything other than sleep.

I took a few shaky steps. I'd probably be fine in a few days, of course.

Would I still be here in a few days?

What would I do now? Now that I was finally away from the Organization, I had a choice to make. The Restoration Committee obviously had some form of compassion/pity for me, seeing as they'd helped me.

Both Yuffie and Aerith had said that Sora was worried. That was shocking. I had been pretty much useless as an ally, and we hadn't even really talked. Maybe he was just that kind of person.

Maybe I should wait for him. I wasn't ready to face Xemnas again, of course, but at least I could see him. It would be nice to know how he was doing.

My cloak was hanging on a peg on the wall. Whoever had found me put it there. I wore clothes under it; of course- they provided extra warmth.

I couldn't convince myself to put it back on, though. To me, that cloak was just bad news, and bad times. I didn't need it to stay warm anymore. It was nearly summer. I had no excuses anymore to put it back in.

I pulled on my shoes and went out the door.

I recognized this room almost instantly- it was the main room of Merlin's house. Cid was at his computer, typing away. Merlin was absent, as always. Everyone else was gone, aside from Aerith, who appeared to be sewing something.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

"My ribbon was fraying," she told me, and smiled.

"Can't you just have gotten a new one?"

She shook her head and looked down, as if keeping a secret. "No, this one's special."

Cid looked up. "Kid," he said to me finally. "It's about time."

I stood there for a moment.

Aerith tied off a piece of string. "You can sit down, you know."

I sat across from her at the table.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks."

She tied the ribbon back in her hair. "You're uncomfortable, aren't you?"

"Why do you say that?"

She shrugged.

"I'm not, honestly. It's just that… why are you guys being so nice to me? I randomly disappear and end up with the enemy. I'm surprised you guys don't think I exposed you." I crossed my arms.

"I won't say I didn't think of that," Cid admitted. "Besides, you don't have much information on us. Why do you say something like that? Are you still with them?"

"No." I looked down. "Of course not. Why would I be?"

He turned back to his computer. "Don't know. Why would you?" It was a hypothetical question at this point.

I walked over and leaned against the dais. "They wanted me to tell them how to become human. What I don't really get, though, is that they first tried to kill me when I was brought back to them, before I met Sora- and now they really want this. Something must have gone wrong."

"…Like how?" Aerith asked.

"I don't know. But suddenly they wouldn't stop at anything to…" I paused. Panic was starting to build. What would he do to them to get to me? "I have to leave! You guys could get hurt!"

They both stared at me.

"Myde, it's okay," Aerith said, reaching down and putting a hand on my shoulder. "I doubt they'll be able to find the world you're on, much less you. There are billions of humans."

Had they maybe put a tracker in my cloak? "Wait a second." I went back into the other room and came back carrying the coat. "This could have a tracker in it," I told Cid. "We've got to get rid of it." I'd had that bracelet, sure. But the Organization had a tendency to over prepare when it came to me.

He took the coat and set it aside. "I'll look over it later. If it had a tracker in it, odds would be they would have found you already. It's been two days, kid."

I relaxed and sat back down. "Thank you," I said. "For trusting me."

For a long while, I sat and watched Cid and Aerith go about their day. Merlin was, as always, out somewhere, dealing with matters that 'had to do with world order' or 'conferring with Masters.' By 'Masters' I found out, they meant Keyblade Masters.

Huh. Were they old wizards, like him?

The day was perfectly boring. Cid worked on his computer, with blueprints and programming and the claymore system. It seemed like a lot of work for so little to do.

Aerith was different. She sold flower seeds and fertilizer, and also a was healer. She was the kind of person you had to know of to get to- she didn't advertise at all. "The work just comes to me," she told me.

Later in the afternoon, she took me with her on errands, considering I hadn't done anything all day, and I really shouldn't, according to her, because I was still recovering.

I was still in a state of shock, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing anymore. I was around people that not only tolerated me, and even better, seemed to trust me. I wondered how long it would take to hit me- I was safe, I was free, and I was human. I could finally continue on with my life. No one would ever force me to intertwine with the Organization again.

Yet something still nagged me. I felt so much better, but what was happening to my soul? Was what Xemnas told Axel (and Axel told me) a lie? Was I really poisoned? I hadn't tried using my powers yet, or even summoning my sitar. I had been advised to take it easy when it came to magic, and I obliged, after having been short-circuited and stalled for so long.

Sora had dropped by once or twice to speak with the committee during the time I was gone. He usually did, Aerith told me, to gather supplies, drop information he gathered, and get information in return, and did this once every three weeks or so.

"He's been asking about you, like if we've seen you," she told me, counting out a few munny and handing them over to a Moogle. "I think he knew you were taken."

"He was so nice," I said. "He took me in, when he had every right to assume I was still with them. He heard me out."

"He's very intuitive. I don't think he saw you as evil. You've got a very pure heart."

How do you respond to that? Is it a sort of compliment, or a statement? "Um… thanks?"

She beamed. "Yuffie's also been worried about you, for some reason. She's not normally so quiet or contrite. Cid would say it's a pleasant change, but I'm not too sure… make sure and tell her you're okay, alright, Myde?"

I wasn't quite sure if I was okay myself. Sure, I felt happy, but I didn't want that to be ruined by worry. …Was I still falling apart?

And another thing. I'd just let them call me Myde, not bothering to correct them. What was my name? Who was I? One thing was for sure, I wanted to drop that name and all the hurt that it entailed. But was I Demyx, lazy, selfish, and inconsiderate?

…I could change. I could be anyone I wanted now, no set rules. No one would want me to be different. My name was still new. All I'd have to do was wring it dry, change the opinions of the people I knew and mold the thoughts of the ones I'd just met.

I bobbed my head in response to her question. "Yeah… I'm fine. Just thinking."

"You seem to be doing an awful lot of that."

"It's a big change." I hiked a bag higher up my arm. I had chosen to come along- so I had to help. Oddly enough, I didn't care. I should have, even though it was something as stupid and simple as carrying bags. "I wonder what Sora will think."

She stared at me. "That was out of the blue. What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "I still don't get why you guys buy my story."

"I'm guessing you're a bad liar." She shrugged, too. "Seems like your type."

"I don't know if he'll get it, too. I wonder if he still wants me to help him fight." Or if I want to help him.

"You don't have to worry about it yet. What will happen will happen. We should get back. It's almost dinnertime."

When we got back, Yuffie and Leon were there, too. Leon nodded once in my direction. Aerith set down the grocery bags and went over to him. Yuffie came over to me.

"Myde! How are you?"

"I'm much better." I could feel a blush creeping on, for some reason. "How was patrol?"

She shrugged. "Same as usual. Boring. At least it wasn't raining. It's been doing that a lot lately."

"Does it usually?"

"Sometimes, in spring. It's spring now."

"Is it?" Sometimes, it felt like I was locked in one season. Not quite winter, not quite summer, but not pretty enough or bright enough to be spring. "Can I tell you something?"

She looked confused. "Sure."

"My name's not Myde."

Yuffie seemed to think I was joking. "Well, then, what is it?"

"…Demyx. I just didn't want to hang onto that name anymore…"

She looked down. "Because of the pain attached to it, huh?"

I almost had to strain my ears. "Yeah… but I'm better now, okay? I can forget."

She smiled. "It reminds me of what Squall did. When… when the Heartless invaded this world the first time, he blamed himself for the world falling to darkness. He made a few new resolutions, and changed his name to Leon."

I blinked, and looked to Leon. He and Aerith were chatting away.

"He's much happier than he used to be, though. I think it's because of the progress we've made when it comes to putting our world back together."

"…That's good. That you guys are like this, I mean. Friends." I decided to take the plunge. "You call him Squall. Will I always be… Myde in your eyes?"

She touched my arm. "Only if you want to be."

We stayed in silence for a few beats. I was red in the face.

"I'm glad I'm here," I said decisively. "I like you guys. You know… you're like the first friend I've ever had."

"Really? You've never, ever had another friend?"

If she counted Axel and Xigbar. Axel and I had joined up to survive, and Xigbar had at last tried to help me stop Xemnas. But were they friends? And it was pretty definite that all kids my age hated me when I was younger. "… In a way, yes. I'm not used to being liked or even tolerated. And I don't mean that to be depressing. It's the truth, and I'm different now. The whole world is open to me." I laughed a little. "I'm sorry. It's all a little overwhelming."

Yuffie shrugged. "I like your babbling."

"…When did you meet everyone here?" I asked. "I know almost nothing about it."

Yuffie opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"Guys! Dinner!"

"…That was fast," she said. "Normally, they struggle a lot longer. Aerith and Squall argue. Aerith can't cook for anything, and doesn't realize it." We laughed. "I'll tell you about it later, okay?"

Dinner was easy. I felt more at comfortable around everyone now, and they me. We talked for hours, again about nothing. I guess friends acted like this.

I still felt a bit shocked with the change in things. I had gone from being sick and surrounded by people who hated me to feeling better and being around people I liked. I felt confident about my friendship with Yuffie. I felt confident that I had cheated death, and I was finally going to be fine now.

After the dishes were dealt with, Yuffie and I went outside. "Such a nice afternoon," she said, stretching. "I'm so tired."

I yawned. "Yeah, what time is it?"

"Dunno. I don't have a watch."

"Oh well." I looked up. "Hey… the sun is setting."

"Let's go up there!" She said. "Maybe you can see the light reflect on the water."

"…Water?"

She grabbed my hand, pulled me up the stairs, and leaned on the wall. "Look! You can just barely see it."

I squinted. "Is that the ocean?"

She smiled. "Uh-huh!"

It had been so long since I'd been to the beach. "All the way out here?"

"Beyond the stone. It seems out of place, I know. I haven't been in years."

I walked towards the fence, touched it with one hand. "If only this fence wasn't here…"

"…I know."

I went back over and sat next to her. "Wow. We should go one day, this summer."

"So you're staying?"

I smiled and nodded. "I want to."

"…That would be fun," she said in a soft voice, and then she laughed. She had such a nice laugh. "I used to practically live there when I was little. We'd rent a cottage there, and just play in the water, all day long. I miss those days."

"I know what you mean." I turned to her. "Maybe this year."

"Yeah."

Silence again.

She breathed in deep. "If I breathe deeply, I can kind of smell it."

I closed my eyes. "I haven't been there in years, either."

She looked over, and our eyes locked for at least a full minute. I flushed bright red, glad that the sunset partially disguised it. It was starting to get dark now.

"…We should get home," I said. "Before it gets too late."

"…Right! You need someplace to stay." She paused. "The owner of a boarding house owes me a favor. You could probably stay on for free."

…She'd do that for me? "Thank you…" I felt unexpectedly grateful.

"Let's go. You're right. The Heartless get vicious if anyone stays out on the streets for too long." She took my hand. "This way."

As we walked, I couldn't help but think of the handholding. My face was bright red. I wasn't sure about hers, in the darkness. Was she usually like this? Did friends hold hands, especially those of the opposite sex?

Yeah, if they were like six.

We parted ways only a few minutes later, after Yuffie spoke to the manager. He was happy to let me stay as payment to her. Sitting in my new room, hand still feeling like it was burning slightly from where she touched it; I only had one train of thought.

Could I be falling in love?

Something about this chapter doesn't flow right :/
What did you think of the interactions between Demyx and Yuffie? Be honest with me, I really want to know. :)
This past week has just flown! Even though it's been really hot and ungainly. XD Before we know it, it'll be summer and time to sleep in.
Not sure if I said so in the last AN, but I finished BBS. It's a really good game, if you haven't played it. I thought I wouldn't like it, but I was surprised. Good gameplay, nice storyline, even the overall feel is nice, even if it doesn't really achieve much according to the storyline of the series.
Check out my deviantART! My username there is Princess-of-Rose. I've got the two first chapters of this posted there. I'd also really like to see you guys there.

Thank you The Chel, Ravenr20, The Ninja and the Writer, SoraIsMyHomeboy, The Moon's Berserk, Chairoscurist, AsianTwinkiesFTW, annonie Mystical, and Anna for reviewing last chapter. I really love you guys and thanks for your support. :D

Next update: Approx. May 5th