Chapter Twenty-One: An end and a Beginning
The next morning Roxas felt slightly ill. He knew he didn't sleep very well the night before. He joined the group in the kitchen. Riku smiled warmly to him.
"How do you feel, Riku?" Roxas asked and sat himself down in a chair. He really felt tired and warm, like he had a fever.
"Never better," Riku smiled and squeezed Sora's hand.
Riku began telling Roxas and the rest about two different ships that were passing near to where they were, and heading towards Riku and Roxas's home city.
Roxas listened passively as he picked at his breakfast. The food tasted more bitter than normal. Sora was flitting around the kitchen. As they finished eating, Zexion was the first to say goodbye. He shook the blond's hand and gave him a concerned look, before smiling and letting Demyx say his goodbye. Roxas repeated his promise he made to Axel the night before that he definitely would return. Demyx whispered in his ear, "Hurry back, for Axel," and then he and Zexion left.
"You didn't eat much," Axel said, looking at his young friend with worry and a bit of sadness.
"Yeah, I," Roxas took a deep breath and let in out in a sigh. "I'm not—" Roxas felt dizziness sweep over him. He gripped the table tightly.
"Sora!" Axel said urgently from his position beside the blond. Roxas felt a warm arm encircle his waist.
Sora immediately came over a looked at Roxas. His hands swept over Roxas's face. "You're warmer than usual," Sora remarked, and then gently moved his hands over Roxas's gills on his neck. They were fading.
"We need to get him to the surface, now," Sora said. The three were out the door and swimming upwards. Roxas felt Axel and Sora take each of his sides and guide him towards the immense brightness of the surface. They stopped at about three feet from the surface. On of Riku's ships was nearby.
"I'll miss you," Sora said. The two hugged, although it was a little feeble on the part of the blond.
"Take care of yourself, and don't forget to give those items to my parents," Riku said, and then hugged him quickly.
Axel looked at the blond with sadness. Roxas felt something inside of himself start to break. His breath was erratic, he glanced at his hands and noticed the webbing was fully receded, and his feet hit the water clumsily.
Axel quickly embraced the blond.
"I love you," he whispered into Roxas's ear. Roxas's eyes grew large and his lungs burned. He gave Axel one firm hug, then felt himself being pulled to the surface for air.
Roxas broke the bright surface with a gasp and started coughing and crying.