Chapter 25: Bending the Rules--Please Read Memo
Now we will go back to that night, so we're backing up. Thought I'd tell you that to erase any confusion that this might evoke, haha. I loveloveloveloveloooooove the song Deep River. When I first listened to the album, I wasn't all that impressed, but then I saw the video and watched it with the song and it is soooo moving!! :DDDD Also, one of the children in the video looks like a younger Nami...XD To Harry, "we stupid." XDDDDDDDDDDDD
Nami's POV
"Um, okay, come in here," you say quietly, pulling Roxas by the arm into your room. "Keep your eyes closed, and don't open them until you know it's okay."
"Uhh, that's definitely not specific enough for me," he says, laughing nervously.
"You'll see, just...stand there for a sec, okay?" You release Roxas's arm and run back to Kira's room and grab the guitar gently. *I hope I can remember everything,* you think, running back to your room. Sitting on the bed, you let your left hand's fingers fall into place on the fretboard. *Now.*
You begin to play, stroking each string perfectly. Who knew it would come so naturally to you? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you play the piano. Now let's hope you can sing and play...
"Ten to ten wo tsunagu you ni sen wo egaku yubi ga nazoru no wa. Watashi no kita michi sore to mo yukusaki, oh," you sing. Ah, this IS working out. Crazy! "Sen to sen wo musubu futari yagate minna umi ni tadoritsuki hitotsu ni naru kara, kowakunai keredo..."
Roxas's POV
You can't help but stare at Nami as she starts to sing. Does she even know how talented she is? She must be a little nervous. But she sounds fine... Maybe that's what she was doing all day: practicing this song. Heh, if she thinks she's clever, she's got another thing coming.
"Oh, oh, ikutsumo no kawa wo nagare wake mo kikazu ni, ataerareta namae to tomo ni, ahhh. Oh, oh, subete wo ukeireru nante shinakute ii yo. Watashitachi no itami ga ima tobidatta~." You see her smile a little as she continues. "That's why..." That's why, what? "That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why I chose you..."
Wow...you wish you could understand the rest of what she was saying, too...
"Ken to ken ga butsukariau oto wo shiru tame ni takusareta ken janai yo. Sonna mujun de dare wo mamoreru no..."
Does Nami even realize how good she is at singing and stuff? Probably not, considering how modest she is. Does she know how much she basically...enchants you sometimes? Once again, probably not.
"Oh, oh, nandomo sugata wo kaete watashi no mae ni maiorita anata wo kyou wa sagashiteru. Oh, oh, doko demo ukeirerareyou to shinai de ii yo; jibun rashisa to iu tsurugi wo minna sazukatta. Oh, oh, toki ni wa nagare wo kaete nanimo motazu ni; ataerareta namae to tomo ni, ahhh. Oh, oh, subete wo ukeireru nante shinakute ii yo. Shiokaze ni mukai toritachi ga ima tobidatta~."
She strums the last chord, pauses for a moment, then blinks up at you.
"That made me nervous," she admits, giggling slightly.
"You sounded...really, really beautiful," you say, at a loss for words. How can you describe that sort of perfection, anyway?
She blushes. "Thank you. I tried not to show when I messed up."
"You messed up?"
She giggles modestly.
"No, I'm serious." You are. Did she really mess up? "I didn't notice. Really." Shaking your head, you can't help but laugh. "I'm surprised Kira let you borrow her guitar."
"I am, too, but she...seemed to understand. I was afraid she wouldn't have the sheet music for it or something. Heh...I probably should put it back, then."
Staring at you intently, Nami backs out of the room, then turns and runs down the hall.
Man, you wish you were that talented...and to go along with it, that modest. ...Maybe she DOESN'T realize what talent she has...
"What, was I that good?"
Nami reenters the room and puts her hands on your shoulders, pushing you backward.
"Helloooo? Earth to Roxas!"
You feel your legs hit the side of the bed at your knees, and they buckle, causing you to fall backward. Nami squeals, and you laugh. It sounded really weird.
"Have you snapped out of it now?" she asks, giggling.
"Share your talent," you command her, sitting upright.
"Say what?" she says, sitting indian style on the bed.
"Teach me how to do something like that, play, sing, something. Teach me that language."
"Ummm..." She wrings her hands together. "Okay, I could teach you Japanese...at least, I think I can." She inhales, then sighs it out. "O-kay..."
Nami's POV
What is his deal all of a sudden?
"Ummm...good morning is 'ohayou gozaimasu,'" you say, trying to make it as easy to pronounce as possible. But judging by the look on Roxas's face, you've lost him already. "...Maybe not. Hmm...what about goodbye? It's-"
"I don't want to know," he says quickly.
"Huh? Make up your mind!" you tease.
"No, you don't get it." He shakes his head.
"No, I don't then," you admit, completely confused.
"I don't want to even think about goodbyes. If I don't say it, then it can't happen, right?"
"..." It is taking every ounce of self-control in you right now not to scream. "I hope so," you finally squeak, throwing your arms around Roxas. *I wish it was that easy,* you think, biting your bottom lip.
Instead of returning the embrace, Roxas pushes you back, then kisses you.
"This is so unfair," you whisper when your lips part. "I can't believe this is happening to us."
"Just...try not to think about it, okay?"
A small smile makes its way onto your face, and, at the same time, you and Roxas place your foreheads together.
"Huh?"
You feel a small shock, then you feel your vision blur.
"Wha...?"
"Na..."
Your vision and hearing suddenly black out.
Moments Later
Still Nami's POV
"..."
Your eyes blink open to find yourself lying on the floor of a familiar place.
"How did I get here?" you wonder aloud, pushing yourself up. For some unknown reason...you're at home. Your old home. And from what it seems, you're in your old bedroom. "Hello?" You look over at your bed to see your "mom" kneeling beside it, sobbing into her arms. "Susan?" She doesn't respond; you can't say you blame her, since she hates you now as you hate her.
But then you notice something a little different with this picture. The last time you saw your "mom," her hair was grey.
Here now...it's auburn.
*Okay, that's not all that unusual, people can dye their hair,* you tell yourself, walking around the bed. Then you stop in your tracks.
"IYA~!" you shriek, stumbling backwards. "This-this can't be right...!"
But it is. Resting in your bed is the fifteen year old version of you. You can see various scars on your body where your clothes don't cover you. A machine is beeping quietly next to you, and by the way it's wired, it is definitely connected to you. Your hair is all short...it hasn't been that way in a while!
But none of this really seems...familiar.
Footsteps interrupt your thoughts, and you turn to see your "father" enter through the open doorway.
"How is she?" he asks quietly, kneeling by the opposite side of your bed.
"B-better, I think," Susan replies. "Warau..." She pauses, glancing at your lifeless body. "...I know I said...that...I wanted a daughter, but..." She pauses a little longer this time, staring at the old you. You grit your teeth, clenching your fists. "...This is...so much."
"It will get better, dear," he says, pressing his knuckles to his lips. "It's not like we have to really tell Namida any of this."
"Oh really," you mutter, crossing your arms. So that's what they thought.
All of a sudden you hear the younger you let out a whimper. Susan puts a hand to your forehead.
"Namida?"
Two hazel eyes flutter open, and you stare down into what might as well be your reflection.
*I look drugged,* you think as the younger you slowly shifts her eyes to Susan.
"Mom, Dad," a pathetic voice whispers. "What happened to me?..."
Before Susan can reply, Warau says, "You were in an accident, Namida."
You cringe, and so does the younger you. Why that name...?
"No, don't call me that! Call me Nami..."
"Your" head relaxes into the pillow, and you frown.
"I didn't know anything," you say, shaking your head slowly.
"Nami, dear, can you remember anything at all?"
The two, large, innocent, hazel eyes stare at the ceiling with a blank, clueless look.
"...No..."
"NO!"
"NO!" you scream, your ears ringing.
"Nami, what-"
Your head pops up to see Roxas staring at you warily.
"You...passed out," he says quietly. His voice seems to echo in the quiet of the house.
"I remembered something," you confirm with him, and you can feel a look of disgust trying to make its way onto your face. Some "parents"...
"You...did? Really?! But how?!"
"I don't know." You start to really think. *I played for him...we came in here...I hugged him...we kissed...and then...!*
"Your scar," Roxas says suddenly, pointing to your forehead. "It's bright pink."
Got it.
"That's it!" you cry, covering your mouth with your hands in surprise. "Roxas, give me your wrist...your right one."
"What? Why?"
Without answering him, you grab it and press it to your own.
"Itai," you murmur, feeling the same strange shock again. *I figured you out.*
"This little girl didn't care what anybody said," you watch the younger you sing, brushing your long, ink-colored hair. "She got the whole world dancing to the music in her head. They loved to trash her bad, laugh at her, and call her names. And now they all try to copy her; isn't that a shame? It only made her stronger."
Humming the rest of the song, the little you set down your hairbrush and placed a hand to her neck. A shiny, black ribbon is tied around it, with a moon charm hanging down. You self-conciously touch it now, outlining the shape with your index finger.
"...!"
And now you see it.
The younger version of you stares down at her hands, which are translucent. You can see a small shadow around them, as if darkness is trying to swallow them.
"M-mom!! Dad!!" she screams, staring in horror at such a sight to behold.
"What's happening to me here?" you wonder aloud, looking at your grown up hands now. They look fine.
"What's wrong, Namida?" your "father" calls as he walks around the corner, followed by Susan.
"I'm...I'm..."
The little you holds up her hands, and your "parents" gasp in horror.
"That man was right," Warau says quietly. Susan's eyes widen.
"I-I'll go call him now!" she cries, running off past you.
"What man?" you ask.
"What man?" the little you echoes.
"It's okay, never mind that," Warau says, giving the little you a hug. "Don't worry, just go sit down and be patient. We'll fix this. I promise."
"Okay."
Ignorantly the younger you stands there as Warau runs off after Susan. You feel your throat tighten.
"You're a stupid little kid, Namida Lee!" you shout at the afraid little you. "You're stupid, and you let them throw you around like a doll for two more years!! You're stupid!"
"...Stupid..."
"Then it works, doesn't it?"
You open your eyes to see Roxas's blue ones glowing with curiousity.
"Hai," you reply.
"Huh?"
"It means yes," you say bitterly.
"Try another one," he urges you, and you can't help but hesitate. Is this what he had meant when he said you might regret remembering? "Well?"
"Okay," you say, pressing your left wrist to his.
Nothing.
"Nani?" you chirp, removing your wrist and looking at it. "So does that mean only certain ones will work?"
"I don't know."
"What all is there...?"
"Try ankles, maybe?"
You nod in agreement and twist your left leg around to meet his left ankle.
A shock, and then darkness.
"Sweetie," your "mom" says, pushing the younger you forward a little, "these men are going to help you. It will take a while, and you'll be away from home, but...it's the only way." Susan puts a hand on the small shoulder that used to be yours. "Don't worry, they won't hurt you."
"You can trust them," Warau confirms, nodding once. The little you nods back obediently.
"I was so stupid," you mutter, shaking your head. "I didn't even ask any questions back then...I just...did what I was told."
You look at Zexion and Demyx, and you notice both look older and way more mature than you remember them from the games, especially Demyx.
"Please, Namida, come with us," Zexion says, holding out his hand. The little you stares at the strangers before her. All your life, you were sheltered from the outside. Now, suddenly, you're going away with these men you've never met before? Without asking any questions? With no real care?
"Either I was really afraid...or really stupid...or both," you say to yourself, crossing your arms as you watch the little you takes Zexion's hand.
The little you looks over her shoulder and whispers, "Bye."
A strong feeling of disgusts hits you as you watch your "mom" start to cry.
*It's all so...fake,* you think, sticking out your tongue as if you just ate something nasty.
You feel someone pinch your protruding tongue, and you instantly gag.
"What was that for?!" you cry playfully, hitting Roxas on the arm.
"Haha, sorry, couldn't resist," he admits, grinning. "How are your memories?"
"Sickening; my so-called parents are completely retarded. I don't even remember how I ended up with them, anyway."
"Couldn't tell ya, sorry."
"It's okay, I guess I'll be finding out soon enough."
*This is about to become extremely awkward, though...* you think as your right ankle meets his and has no effect. *VERY awkward.*
Roxas's POV
You can't believe you really came by this whole thing by chance. Who knows how long it would've taken you two to figure this out on your own.
You guys probably would've been like...eighty or something and...
"Hey, look, Roxas, we still have these darn scars!"
"Let's see what happens when we smack 'em together!"
Yeah, right.
Or you could've discovered it at a completely awkward time...
And speaking of awkward...