Chapter Nineteen :: Inner Darkness, Outer Light

"Namine, it's going to be okay. Trust me," Sora said, releasing his keyblade. He walked towards her unarmed. The darkness around her bit at his skin, but he refused to let pain stop him from saving her. "We'll go find Axel. Listen to me, Namine. When have I ever lied to you?"

Namine shook her head, feeling a weird sensation in her chest. It was too late. She began to allow herself to accept the feeling of lonliness again. The darkness that had settled its way deep into the confines of her chest began to loosen and arise. It wrapped around her and whispered things of lonliness, things she didn't want to accept. She grabbed at the air, feeling the strings of memory woven tightly around Sora. Her clentched fist threatened to end a large segment of Sora's existance. If she gave in to him now, he would only hurt her. After all, she had become a monster, a monster enslaved to revenge.

"You're not wrong. There's nothing wrong with living with what you have," Sora continued, grimacing as he inched closer Namine through the darkness. He reached out his hand to her, light radiating from his own body. He knew he could save her, only if he could reach her. If he could touch her heart, he knew that he could find the light in her heart and save her. He didn't know how he knew, but it just felt right.

Namine felt a familiar warmth radiate from the brown-haired keyblade wielder. She shook her head, refusing to be touched by such a warmth again. No longer would she be fooled by smiles. It all led to the same place anyway. She had fallen too deep into darkness to turn back now. She was drowning in this dark place that she led herself to, a dark place where she thought she had a chance of finding light. All she could do is feel the unending darkness engulf her, tearing her apart mentally.

"Namine, take my hand," Sora said, stretching his hand as far as he could go. He couldn't move any closer. The darkness was too dense. If she reached out to him, then she would be okay. "Namine, I won't stop you from your mission. Please, just stop fighting. I'm okay with staying this way, I promise. You just wanted to be happy, right? You wanted to live your life, making your own decisions, right? I'm not going to stop you, so you don't have to be angry anymore."

"But Axel—"

"Axel is alive! I wouldn't lie to you, Namine," Sora said. "I don't remember you, but something inside of me tells me that you're important to me too."

The darkness around Namine thickened immensely as she was further confused by Sora's words. She gripped her head, feeling a deadly pulsation rip its way through her mind. The light from his heart was reaching her, but she was too afraid to reach out for it. She didn't want to be hurt again. She never wanted to feel that sort of helplessness when she lost Axel again.

"Roxas still loves you too, you know," Sora continued. "He was just confused because he was afraid. He still loves you, Namine. He just doesn't know it."

"Aren't you scared?" Namine finally asked, her empty eyes gazing at Sora through the darkness.

"I'm not," Sora replied. "You just look like a lonely girl. You're just a girl whose been through too much for someone to bear alone."

"I'm a monster!" Namine screeched. She said it aloud again, something for the world to record. She covered her mouth. She laughed bitterly "It makes sense that Roxas doesn't love me."

"Don't be ridiculous, Namine!" Sora shouted. He tried to stretch once more. "You're confused because you've been hurt too many times. It's normal. All you need is for someone to love you."

"Who will love me?"

"Roxas loves you, Namine. Axel loves you too," Sora repeated. He looked at her with gentle eyes. "I'll love you, Namine."

The darkness in Namine's heart overflowed, sending out a shockwave that almost swept Sora off his feet. There were too many sensations for Namine to understand. The dark feelings within her that demanded for revenge were conflicted with the words of light that came from Sora's mouth. Her mind pulsated painfully and she fell to her knees, releasing the threads of Sora's memory. The darkness had finally disappeared from around her.

"Namine," Sora said, standing above her and holding out a hand to her. "Are you ready? Let's go find Axel."

Namine's eyes darkened. Blood splashed onto Namine's face as she stabbed Sora with her chakram.

Namine gasped when she felt the blood hit her face. Feeling Sora's blood on her face awakened her to the reality she had placed herself in. She backed away, shaking her head. She dropped her chakram and they disappeared, returning as threads of Sora's memory. Tears bit at her eyes. How could she hurt the one person who did nothing but help her? Sora was the only one who asked absolutely nothing of her. He showered her with the light of his heart. He had loved her. He had forgiven her. He had given her hope when her entire world made her helpless. Namine felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes.

What had she been trying to accomplish all this time? Killing Sora wouldn't bring Roxas or Axel back. She had no right to hurt him when he had done nothing wrong.

Sora stood as strongly as he could. He smiled gently towards her, his arms still outstretched. Blood dripped down his leg and he shook, but he refused to fall. "See? You don't look scary at all. Just lonely."

The warmth eminating from Sora was becoming too much for Namine. It reminded her of Axel and Roxas. It was the same type of hope, even though neither of them were here. The darkness began to disappear around Namine's heart. It faded away more and more with every smile Sora gave her. Sora held out his hand once more to her.

"Namine, let's go find Axel and we'll make him go apologize for not going back to you right away, okay? He misses you very much. After all, you're very important to him, right?" Sora asked. Namine blinked, letting down her guard. She smiled.

"I believe you," Namine replied, reaching out her hand.

Suddenly, Namine gasped as a chakram went right through her body. Blood splattered against Sora's shocked face. Axel had dealt the blow. The cycle of hatred finally ended with redhead caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Namine, I'm sorry."

::Author's Note::

Poor Namine. She's been fighting all day and she's pooped out.

Namine, as a character, is actually easily swayed by words. Although, Kairi thought differently in Chapter 14, Namine just needed to hear the right words. Namine didn't want to have to change so drastically to get what she wanted, but she saw it as the only way out. I guess it's a little like cognitive dissonance, where your thoughts don't match your actions. Eventually, she settled with the idea that revenge was the only way out because Sora wouldn't want to be separated. Thus, Sora was in her way and anyone protecting Sora would also be in her way. So, she hurt them all.

Knowing that Sora actually supported her decision redeemed him and everyone sided with him.

BUT NOW SHE'S STABBED. :D

Sorry, that doesn't deserve a smile.

Thanks for reading!