Xemnas scanned between the small circle of teens, eyes narrowing. Something seems to be brewing here...and I don't like it. "Alright, break it up," he cut between them. "This may be a sentimental moment, but money does not pay for it. So get to work, people!"

"Yes, sir!" Xion took one last look at the pained Roxas and then ran to the second stage to fix the lighting.

Roxas' eyes slowly wandered over to her. "..."

"I need some light over here!" Xion shouted to a man across from her. "Can you move that mirror over there a little? Thank you."

Why is SHE here...?

Namine rose to her feet and shakily made her way to Roxas. "What's wrong?" she asked. "You look kind of sad."

"Hmm, oh." Roxas blinked a few times and turned his head towards Namine, putting on his best smile. "It's nothing. I guess I'm just a little tired. I didn't get much sleep after all."

Namine looked at him with worried eyes. Tired? Who was that girl? Why were you two standing so close to each other? There are so many things I want to ask you! "Of course," she found herself say. "Please, don't overexert yourself. It's bad for your health."

"I won't," Roxas promised. I should change the subject. "By the way, Namine, why are you dressed like that again?"

"Mr. Xemnas wanted me to model this cosplay costume. The anime is quite popular, I hear."

"NO. You can't be a model! Dire-"

"No, don't!" Namine pulled on his arm. "I want to do this, Roxas. I want to contribute something, too. I can't just stand by like a ghost while you and Axel move on, working hard."

Roxas grabbed her shoulders. "But I'm doing this so that you don't NEED to put yourself through so much trouble!" he shook. "I want you to be happy, Namine."

"And I'm happy to do this for you, Roxas."

"...!" Roxas looked at her, expression serious. "It's too much." After what your father did, I can't allow you to get hurt.

"No its not," Namine assured him. "Really. Please...let me do this."

"But..." Roxas saw her pleading blue eyes, grimaced, and then sighed. "Fine," he conceded and then pulled her closer to him. "But only I can touch your body, got it? Your only modeling partner- if ever that happens- will be ME."

"Nh!" Namine nodded excitedly. Yes, I can keep this job! She closed her eyes as Roxas planted a soft kiss on her glossed lips.

From a short distance, Xion watched the whole thing, nearly dropping an empty box she held in her hands. So he has a new girlfriend, huh? She put the box down and went over to the food table, uncomfortably tucking strands of hair behind her ear.

Axel lightly tapped Roxas' shoulder. "Uh, Roxas?"

Roxas pulled away from Namine, turning around to face the crimson-haired male model. "Kind of busy here..." he muttered through gritted teeth. "Do you mind?"

"I think we need to have a little 'guy-to-guy' talk."

"What guy-to-guy ta-?" The skater saw his best friend's green eyes pierce through him like a scorching arrow and winced. "Oh, got it." He turned back to Namine. "Namine, I uh...gotta go. Little private talk with Axel."

Namine appeared disconcerted. "Oh...sure," she said uncertainly. She looked on sadly as his warm hands left her cold, a sorrowful sigh escaping her lips.

"So you and your boyfriend are modeling together, hm?" Xion asked from behind.

Namine spun around, slightly frightened. "Oh!" she breathed nervously. "I...I guess? We have our own reasons for wanting these jobs."

"And what's yours?"

"I don't think I'm very much obliged to tell you..."

"I see." Xion looked at the petite blond straight in the eye. "Just be careful. Roxas isn't exactly devoted. Once he gets tired of you, he'll leave you. He hates girls that are too clingy."

Namine's eyes widened. How does this person know so much about him? "That can't be true," she tried to defend the skater. "He-"

"He promised you things, right?" Xion interrupted, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Like how you'd always be together. How you'd love each other everyday, always? They're all lies."

"!" Namine looked down at the floor, tears forming in the corners of her sapphire eyes. "You're wrong..." she uttered weakly. "You don't...you don't know him!"

Oh, I know more about him than you, that's for sure. Xion shrugged. "If you say so," she scoffed and left.

Teardrops stained the floor beneath white boots. Just who IS she!?


"Axel, what is Xion doing here?"

"I don't know," Axel shrugged. "I thought she was working under Larxene. I guess Xemnas took her instead. Why? Are you bugged?"

Roxas' burrows furrowed. "..."

"What the hell? But you have Namine now!"

"I KNOW that! But..." Roxas bowed his head. "When I saw her just now, my chest ached. Her voice was nostalgic. She hasn't changed one bit... I can't help but feel this way."

"So then..." Axel's expression darkened. "What are you going to tell Namine?"

"Huh?"

"Are you going to break up with her?"

"O-of course not! I love her too much!" Roxas looked away. "I think it's better if I kept this topic secret. It's irrelevant."

"..."

"Hey, you two."

Axel and Roxas looked up from their seats. "Xion!"

Xion pulled up a chair and sat next to Roxas, their shoulder touching lightly. "This is nostalgic," she giggled. "The three of us sitting together like this. Don't you think so?"

"What do you want, Xion?" Roxas asked coldly.

"Why so rude?" Xion placed her hand on his. "Don't tell me you actually ended up hating me after all?"

"I don't..hate you."

Axel shook his head. "Xion, Roxas moved on," he said bluntly. "He has a new girlfriend now. And happens to like her very much."

"Just what are you trying to imply? I'm simply being a friend here."

"Keep a good distance between you two!"

"Fine." Xion scooted a few feet away from Roxas. "So," she turned back to the skater. "Are you two close lovers now? She's very cute. I think you suit each other very well."

Roxas looked up at her with anxious eyes. "Y-you think so?" he gulped.

Xion nodded, putting on a cool face. "Oh, yeah. And judging from how you talk to her, I can only assume intimacy is great between you two."

Am I that easy to read to her? Roxas looked back at the ground, trying to hide a blush.

The dark-haired girl grinned. Heh, way too easy. She brought her hand down on his shoulder. "Say!" she giggled. "We should catch up, Roxas. It's been so long since we talked. How about dinner tonight? Say...seven-ish?"

I don't like where this is going. Axel pulled on Roxas' arm. "C'mmon, Roxas. It's time to leave." His arm tightened when the blond refused to get up. "Roxas, let's go!"

"But it's only a friendly dinner!" Xion quickly blurted. "Really!"

"Save it," Axel hissed.

Roxas' ear perked. He turned to look at Xion again, his face conveying curiosity and transparent interest. "A...friendly..dinner?" he stuttered.

Xion nodded. "Just to talk about things like school and such."

"..."

Axel bent down to Roxas' ear and whispered angrily, "Roxas, don't do it!"

"...I'll be there." Roxas finally stood up, tearing his arm away from Axel, and walked away. Why did I just say that?

Xion smiled. "See you then." She felt the red-head's piercing glare burning through her and arched an eyebrow at him. "If there's something you want to say to me, then say it."

Axel marched towards her, green eyes flared with anger. "Xion, what you're doing is wrong," he growled. "You can't do this to Roxas."

"What are you talking about?"

"You two were over a long time ago. Now that you just see each other, you suddenly make a move on him? And when he has a girlfriend?!"

"Like I said- it's a friendly dinner," Xion snapped. "Don't get the wrong idea."

Axel continued to glare at her. "I'm not the one you should be telling that to," he stated.

Roxas walked up to Xemnas, scratching the back of his head. "Director," he muttered. "Am I...uh...done with my shoot?" He saw the busy man nod. "Alright. I'll change back to my regular clothes then."

Namine caught a glimpse of Roxas as she walked up to the stage and smiled brightly. "Roxas!" I hope he will be proud of me. Her smile instantly vanished when her voice failed to reach his ears; he was heading into the changing room. "Roxas..?" The door slammed behind him. He didn't hear me...why..?

"Focus!" Xemnas scolded. "We're about to start!"

"Y-yes, sir!" Namine stood firm in front of the camera, looking intently at its dark lenses. Why didn't he hear me?

Xemnas tapped a pencil on his lower lip, face scrunched. "Bend your knees and pout, putting an index finger on your lips. Make your eyes as puppy-ish as you can!"

Why isn't he here with me?Namine did as she was told, trying hard to keep herself from shaking.

"No good. Pout more!"

I need you, Roxas. Please...

"MORE! C'mmon. Get it right!"

I'm not strong enough. Namine strained to bring out her lower lip, eyes shimmering. I can't do this on my own.

"Hmm...not perfect, but good enough. Okay, stay like that. Take three shots!"

One flash. Namine fought back the urge to blink. Second flash. She bit her tongue as her body threatened to shake. Suddenly, the changing room's door opened. Roxas exited from behind, back in his regular clothes but with his makeup still on. Her eyes immediately found him. Third flash. Roxas... She looked on as he left the premises, not even taking a single look at her. A fourth flash exploded, surprising her. "Aah!" she yelped, falling on her butt.

"Sorry," Xemnas chuckled. "I couldn't help myself. Your face expression was just so good!"

"Oh...umm...thank you," Namine bowed.

Xemnas looked at her strangely. "Aren't you going to stand up?"

"N-no, I'm...I'm fine." Namine dug her nails into the ruffles of her skirt, her face flushed. "I'll be alright..." she struggled to say. My throat is burning. Her cat-eared hairband fell off, releasing hair to the front of her face.

"Miss, are you sure?" a staff member offered a hand.

Axel arrived with Xion beside him and gasped, "Namine!" He ran to her and bent down to eye level. "Namine, are you okay?" He looked down at her hands and found clear droplets on them, more descending. He looked around. He's gone. Damn it. "I'm sorry," he whispered to her. Turning to the crew, he put on a big smile. "Nothing to see here, folks! She's just in slight trauma. Happy to become a model!"

"Ahh," the crew hooted and went on about their business. Xion picked up her shoulder bag, giving Namine a suspicious look.

"Believe it," Xemnas winked. "You're in a modeling profession now. You're all dismissed." With that, he retreated into his office. Xion rolled her eyes and walked out the door. The studio was now empty.

Axel looked around one more time and shook Namine's shoulder lightly. "Namine."

"I was invisible to him."

"Who?" Axel pretended to be confused.

"Roxas," Namine sputtered, face stained with tears. "I needed him beside me so much. But he didn't hear my voice. For the first time, he didn't hear me. I don't understand!"

It's because he's pursuing another girl. "Ssshhh," Axel gently chided and hugged her. "Don't cry. I'm sure Roxas was just...er...tired."

Namine allowed herself to be enveloped by Axel's strong arms. That's what you all keep saying. But I just can't bring myself to believe it! She buried her face on his shoulder. I want Roxas to come back. Even if he already left, I want him to come back through that door and come for me. To take me away from here.

Roxas remained standing in front of the studio building, looking straight ahead with blank eyes. "Am I forgetting something..?" His body jerked. "N-Namine!" Just as he was about to run back inside, he collided into Xion, both landing on the floor and papers scattered about. His eyes caught a glimpse of her notebook sliding off a distance away. "Ah, sorry, I'll get that!"

Xion watched as the skater ran for her notebook and stood up, running her sore arm. "What's with you?" she questioned. She bent down and began picking up the papers.

"Oh..umm...no-nothing." Roxas hid his face and picked up the papers from his side. He tucked them inside the notebook and handed it to the girl. "Here." Her cool fingers touched his, causing him to snatch his hand away.

Xion quickly got a strong hold of the stuff. "Roxas!"

"S-sorry about that.. I kind of...electricity shock."

"I didn't feel anything."

"Well, I have sen-sensitive skin!"

Xion smiled, blinking slowly. "I want to take you somewhere," she offered.

Roxas shook his head and said, "Sorry, Xion. I have to go get Namine. I have to apologize. I can't believe I forgot her...! And even Axel."

"My, that IS strange. Forgetting your girlfriend AND your best friend." Xion grabbed his hand and leaned closely against him. "But, Roxas, it won't matter. I'm sure they'll understand if two old friends just want to catch up on some things. Besides, we're going out later, right?"

"No, Xion, I..I really can't." Namine's more important. He grasped the doorknob.

"Roxas."

The blond stopped and slowly turned around. "..."

"Please?" Xion pleaded softly. "I've really missed you."

Roxas' hand tightened on the knob. What should I do? I'm so confused right now. Xion... He closed his eyes, his hand slowly slipping. "...alright," he conceded and walked up to her. "I'll just call Axel to tell him-"

"Don't bother," Xion cut him off and hooked her arm with his. "They won't be upset- it's only for a little while." She gave him an assuring smile. "Okay?"

"I guess..." Roxas sighed and walked silently beside her. Will Axel and Namine really be okay? He shook his head.