Disclaimer: "I do not own Kingdom Hearts..."
Kiome-Yasha: "Sorry for the long wait everyone. Now for our last person, Sora ;D. You fangirls can have your Vanitas back! XD Also, Sora's chapter is going to be a lot different compared to Namine and Roxas's. It's also constructed differently, but I still think you guys may like it; at least I'm hoping lol. If I thought Roxas's chapter was long, then Sora's is holy crap long."
Chapter 37 Sora
It was the middle of the night, and Sora was already in deep sleep. His snores were loud and steady, proving that he was enjoying the comfort of his bed. Snuggling into his cushions, his lips twitched with satisfaction. He was having a pleasant dream about a certain blonde artist, and he wished to venture his needs peacefully. It was a very precious moment, and he dared anyone to disturb him.
"Sora..." He felt something shoving his shoulder lightly, "Sora...can you get up please...?"
He frowned a bit, whispering groggily, while recognizing the voice, "What is it...Namine?"
He looked at his nightstand, reading the bright red numbers on his clock. It was nearly four in the morning, right on cue.
The girl beside his bed spoke softly, "I need ice cream...now."
"Again?" He answered with a fatigued sigh, "Namine, don't you know what time it is? You can't keep having these cravings every night."
He could sense the pout on her lips when she spoke, "Do you know what it feels like to be this huge?" She sneered angrily, doing her best to cover her tears, "I'm carrying twins! I look like a whale! The least you can do is get me some Sea Salt ice-cream!"
'Honestly, this should be Roxas's job...' He mentally mused, 'Still, when she's like this...I can't help but to obey. She's too cute for her own good sometimes.'
He turned around, bouncing his body up from his bed. Bright blue eyes stared down at him, lips quivering in hopes that he wouldn't deny her wish.
He scratched the top of his chocolate mane, sighing with defeat, "Okay...I'll go."
She gave a pleasant smile, finding delight in the frozen treats. They secretly reminded her of Roxas. She didn't dare to tell Sora about that though, knowing it would just break his heart. A heart she still held and didn't want to lose.
In the meantime, Sora took the time to study the young female beside him. She was nearly four months pregnant by now, but she looked about seven. Rumors say twins develop faster than normal pregnancy, so he guessed he shouldn't be surprised. Still, looking at her, taking care of her like this, he couldn't help but to imagine. What of things were different? What if he was the father?
Namine broke his thoughts from going any further, "I'll be waiting in the living room when you get back."
That's when he realized, 'If only I told you...that I loved you...'
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Thank goodness Fantasia was open twenty-four hours, he wouldn't know what to do if they weren't. It was all he needed, after facing so much in his life. He sometimes even wondered how he could still remain sane after all that's happened. He opened the freezer, grabbing the box of popsicles. He read the cover and shrugged, finding his mission to be complete.
When he looked up though he was surprised to see a familiar face, "Terra?"
The older brunette was stunned for a moment, "Sora? What are you doing here?"
He signaled his eyes over at the box in his hand, "Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to calm her highness's cravings." He chuckled from his lighthearted joke.
Terra didn't seem all that amused though, "Is that so?"
The young Hikari nodded, "What about you? What are you doing here?"
The married man looked down at the gallon of milk in his hand, "We ran out of milk for Sol. So Aqua sent me out to buy some milk for her."
"Life of a parent, huh?" Sora said in a monotone voice.
He agreed, "Yeah..."
That's when things fell silent between the two, causing the air to feel uncomfortable. Terra's throat felt itchy, knowing he had something to say, but was too nervous to say it. Sora tried to keep his eyes open in the meantime, feeling his lack of sleep was getting to him.
He didn't want the artist's dessert to melt, "Um...I should get going. Namine will be mad if I get back home late."
Terra nodded, "You're right. I should be getting back home as well."
Sora didn't know why things seemed awkward, but he ignored it and began to press his way forward.
When the young musician made a move to walk pass him though, Terra took the opportunity to speak, "Have you heard what happened to Xehanort?"
Sora paused, taking a short intake of breath. He stood frozen, the aura around them becoming dense.
He slowly turned around, "What about him?"
He didn't answer right away, which only increased the young adult's suspicions even more.
Terra's eyes became slanted, his voice solemn, "He's dead, Sora."
His eyes widened in shock, "What...?"
"I thought you would have received the news?" Terra replied astonishingly, "Tseng told me a few days ago when it happened."
Sora couldn't even formulate words to respond, he was too much in shock, 'Xehanort's dead? That can't be a coincidence.'
"Sora?" The older brunette whispered cautiously, "Are you okay?"
He shook his head, "To be honest...I'm not sure." He looked up at him, "Thanks for letting me know Terra. I'll see you later."
And with that, he turned and took off to the cashier in a mad dash.
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'Xehanort's dead...Xehanort's...dead...' Sora kept repeating inside his mind, climbing up the stairs rather than the elevator to the apartment, 'But how?'
He opened the door to their floor, speaking aloud, "I just don't understand any of this anymore."
He walked down the hall until he made it to their apartment door. He took out the keys and unlocked it, entering inside the rather large dwelling. Ever since Roxas moved out, the apartment seemed bigger to him for some reason. Walking over pass the kitchen, he spotted Namine sleeping on the main couch. She woke up right away though when he closed the door.
She wobbled a bit inside her seat, turning her head towards him, "Sora, you're back. Did you get my ice cream?"
He couldn't help but to chuckle, "Yeah, yeah, I got it."
The window was glowing a faint blue, which meant dawn was approaching soon. He opened the box quickly from the side, taking out a piece of sea-salt ice cream. He walked over to the living room and passed it over to her. Namine quickly ripped the wrapping right open, moaning with delight when she bit the tip of the frozen yogurt. Her body tingled from the cold touch, cradling her swollen stomach with her other hand. She looked up though when she noticed Sora to be in deep thought.
"Sora...?" She asked lightly with concern, "Are you okay?"
She wondered if something happened while he was at the store.
He shook out of his trance, "Um...no just tired."
Guilt settled inside her heart, "I'm sorry. It's my fault for waking you up in the middle of the night like this."
He waved his hand, a smile spreading on his face, "Nah, I don't mind at all. After all, someone has to take care of your needs. And as the twins' Uncle, I'm proud to do my job in satisfying their mother."
She blushed from his statement, which he did the same.
"Uh...I mean..." His hands spontaneously began to move around in pure panic, "...I didn't mean it like that...unless you did...I mean...not that I wouldn't mind...! Ahhh..." His mind screamed at him, 'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!'
He scratched his hair from both sides, feeling ridiculous with his eyes closed shut in embarrassment. Namine couldn't help but to giggle though from his action.
She patted the seat next to her, "Just sit down with me. Please?"
When she gave him those eyes, he knew he couldn't refuse. He sat down next to her, already forgetting his humiliation. The artist offered to share her ice cream, which he cautiously took little licks and bites from. They both sat there in silence, looking over at the wall ahead. The room kept getting brighter and brighter, causing the soft shade of blue to eventually turn gold. Namine started to imagine Roxas waking up from down the hall, already getting prepared to make his famous papou pancakes. Keeping his shy smile, while flipping the pastry skillfully in the pan. A life with Roxas, just like that. But, a life without Sora was also hard to imagine. She turned to the brunette who was slowly falling asleep. The weight of slumber taking its toll on him, slipping to the side until his head met with her shoulder.
Sora groaned from the soft contact, muttering something under his breath. He felt at home like this, grasping forward until his hands managed to find hers. They laced their fingers together, giving each other a tender squeeze. He could hear Namine whisper something to him, but he was already losing too much consciousness to even make sense of what she said. All he knew was that time seemed to stop at that moment for the both of them. A moment he wished that could be eternal but was too good to last.
Unless...he asked her the lost question soon.
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Sora stuffed his guitar inside the back seat, closing the lid to the trunk quickly afterwards. He ran over to the passenger seat, helping Namine get inside. She gracefully took his hand and bowed her head.
She sighed restlessly when she sat down, "Each day gets harder to sit and get back up."
The musician snickered, "Don't worry, it'll only take a handful or more months until it's over."
She poked her stomach with a pout, "I sure hope so."
Sora ran over to the other side, opening the door to the driver's seat. He hopped inside, already putting on his seatbelt. He closed the door and inserted the keys into the ignition.
He brought the car to life, taking a hold of the wheel, "Listen, I'm sorry I can't be with you today at your doctor's appointment Namine."
He grabbed the gear and corrected his settings to drive in reverse.
The pregnant artist shook her head, "No, it's fine. I know it's important that you meet with the band today. Besides, Olette promised to meet me there."
Still, the brunette felt guilty, "Yeah...but..."
He froze when he felt her warm and comforting hand on his. Namine blushed from her boldness, giving the appendage a gentle squeeze. Sora was pleased by her action, a sense of security overcoming him. It showed that he still had a chance to claim her heart for his own. It seemed selfish of him, but having someone like Namine, was like a treasure that he didn't want to give up. Even if the twins weren't his, he would still treat them as if they were his own.
'Heh...Uncle Sora...' He looked over at the blonde's engorged stomach, 'Somehow...that doesn't have a bad ring to it.'
After a few seconds, Namine released his hand in order to let him drive. They drove out of the parking lot and into the busy streets of New Twilight. It felt rather natural to them by now, being inside the car like this. For some reason, it didn't feel strange or awkward at all. And because of that, it only caused Sora to focus on more important matters. The news on Xehanort's death was so unexpected. He didn't know how to take it. A part of him felt like the old bastard deserved it; but the other part felt like things just seemed so unfair and such a waste. He supposed he didn't have any reasons to dwell on the subject. Everything was now buried inside the past after all. It was about time they embraced the future. He instinctively brought his hand out and rubbed the sensitive spot in the middle of Namine's abdomen. It was warm, and he swore he could feel something kicking his hand.
A hurt smile spread across his face, 'Though Papa Sora would have been nice as well...'
After stopping at a few lights, and avoiding heavy amount of traffic so early in the morning, they had finally reached their destination. Namine looked through the window, beaming when she saw Olette waiting her by the entrance of Radiant Garden Hospital. Sora drove around the curve, stopping the vehicle in front of the female brunette. Olette waved at them from outside, waiting for the artist to step out.
Namine looked indecisive, her hand remaining still on the handle, "Um..." She looked over at Sora.
He quirked his head, "Something wrong?"
She bit her lip, "Well, it's been a couple of weeks since we last checked. So I'm hoping the twins are okay."
Sora chuckled and stated confidently, "It'll be fine. They are Roxas's kids after all." He shrugged, hoping his comment didn't seem too awkward, "The doctor is probably just going to say how big they got. You worry too much, Namine."
"Yeah...you're right." She agreed with a warm smile.
And just like that, she kissed him impulsively on the cheek. Sora's heart froze from the action. Maybe all his efforts in trying to win her back were paying off.
Namine quickly withdrew from the kiss. Her lower pelvic area tightened, causing her to feel a bit nauseous.
The brunette noticed her discomfort right away, "Namine, are you okay?"
She shook her head, "Yeah, don't worry. Just felt woozy all of a sudden."
He spoke, frowning deeply, "Maybe I should come with you then."
"No, it's fine. I don't want to seem like a burden." She clarified softly.
"You're never a burden to me...Namine." He answered sincerely, his eyes piercing into hers.
The young woman was taken back from the expression on his face, looking away in order to avoid it.
'My heart is racing...' She stated mentally to herself.
After a few more heartbeats, she quickly opened the door. Olette respectfully stood where she was, which Namine appreciated.
The artist halted from getting out though and turned around, "I'll see you later, Sora."
He seemed to be in a stupor, replying softly, "Um...yeah...see you later."
His tone held disappointment, his eyes shifting to the side.
Namine felt like saying something, but Olette decided to interrupt, "Come on, Namine. You two can catch up later. You can't miss your appointment."
"Oh...right."
She slipped out of the car, allowing Olette to say goodbye with a wink, "Don't worry lover boy, I'll make sure she's taken care of."
She closed the door, leaving a flushed Sora behind. He sat in his seat, feeling almost frustrated by her words.
'Lover boy...? Is that all I am?' He waited until they entered inside the medical center before punching the wheel, a small squeak coming from the horn.
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Sora made it to Destiny Studio without too much of a hassle, greeting the young secretary from behind the desk. He walked over to the female, hoping he wasn't disrupting her from anything too important. Scanning the area, he felt like he was either early or late for the recording today.
He bent his head over and whispered softly, "Selphie is it okay if I go up?"
She seemed confused on why he was asking her that, "Um, sure. Not like you need my permission or anything."
He blushed, realizing how stupid his question must have sounded, "Oh...right."
He glowered at the counter, 'What the hell is wrong with me? Seriously...I feel like I've finally lost it or something.'
Taking no reason to stay, he made his way over to the elevator. He pressed the switch to go up, happy to see a compartment already open for him. He got inside and pressed the floor he needed to stop at.
It was at this moment that Selphie had called out, "Oh Sora!"
He quickly caught the doors from closing, "Yeah?"
"You have a surprise waiting for you upstairs." He noticed her warm smile, "I think you'll be happy to see what it is."
Confused on what she meant, he only nodded and allowed the doors to close shut. His eyebrows furrowed with contemplation, wondering what could be waiting for him upstairs. He shrugged while sighing heavily, placing his hands behind the back of his head. He scratched his neck when he finally made it to the studio floor, the doors opening slowly to the side. He stepped out and leisurely made his way down the long and narrow hall. He held the case to his guitar closely. It wasn't until he made a swift turn around the corner that he gasped in astonishment.
Standing right there, just a few feet away from him, was Roxas. He was busy talking to Riku and Kairi, like it was the most normal thing to do since his departure from Kingdom Hearts. The brunette didn't know how to respond, his mouth gaping open in shock. Kairi and Riku smiled at him, which signaled the other twin to turn around.
Overwhelmed over the fact that he was there, he wheezed sharply, "Roxas...?"
The blond became self-conscious, whispering shyly with a short wave, "Hey, I took your offer and came back. I was just giving Riku and Kairi some new songs I've been writing since my...absence."
Sora gave him a fake glare, refusing to let the tears at the corner of his eyes fall, "You idiot..." His nostrils flared while looking to the side, "You could have at least called to tell me."
"Aww, Sora's flustered." Kairi teased with a soft giggle, "It's been awhile since him and Roxas played together."
The older Hikari shouted with embarrassment, his whole face turning red, "Kairi!"
The couple laughed while the twins just stood and chuckled bashfully with relief. Sora had to admit, he felt happy, almost to the point of bursting. Sure, him and Roxas had many confrontations since he moved out, but still. Knowing he was standing in the same room as him, ready to record; it just felt like things were returning back to the way they were. Now if only he could get him and Namine in the same room without things getting out of control. He knew there was some distance between the two still, and he needed to connect that gap again.
Or else he wouldn't be able to move on.
He wiped the corners to his eyes, speaking confidently, "Well, since you're back and all, you have a lot of catching up to do! So let's get started before I make you sing twenty songs in a row today without breaks!"
Sora stormed into the other room, avoiding the humiliation in crying in front of them. He entered the secluded area where his other bandmates were, already preparing to record. Roxas stood dumbfounded, knowing him and Sora had a lot more to talk about. He decided to probably leave it until practice was over though.
Kairi examined the blond closely, "You know, he really was a wreck without you around...even if it doesn't show."
Riku agreed with a small nod, wrapping his hand around his girlfriend's shoulder, "It was as if he was missing a part of himself."
Roxas didn't know what to say. He found himself to be at loss for words. True, him and Sora had always been together, ever since the beginning of their birth. They were inseparable, the dynamic duo, despite their past and differences. But eventually, even adults like them had to grow up a little more.
He gave a sheepish chuckle, "I guess I better go in there then."
Riku walked over and patted his shoulder, a proud smile playing on his lips, "I'll leave you guys to do your thing then. I have to talk to Mrs. Hikaru and see if I can get us another concert deal. One bigger than the last."
"No pressure, huh?" Roxas lightly joked.
The young manager chuckled, "None at all."
He passed a wink over to the redheaded technician, earning a blush from her. He soon took off down the hall, making no real rush to the famous singer's office.
Kairi swooned when he left, adoring the older male even more so than usual, "That man...I swear. He does that just to tease me."
Roxas felt uncomfortable by the sexual tension between the couple, "Yeah, I rather not hear about this." He looked to the side, a comical look of embarrassment on his face, 'Now this is weird...'
Sora burst out from the sound room, "What the heck you two? Roxas, get in here already! Don't think just because you're back you'll be getting special treatment!"
A pout played on the brunette's face, causing Kairi to snicker and the blond to look agitated.
"Alright~..." The younger twin stated dryly, obeying his brother's orders before he became restless.
He followed the older sibling inside. They picked up their own individual instrument, waiting for the signal. Kairi was double-checking everything inside the recording room, making sure everything was in order. Sora's fingers fiddled with the cords on his guitar. The melody he played was already a familiar sound, but it didn't help calm his racing mind. He looked over at Roxas who was adjusting his own guitar. The blond didn't take notice of him staring, closing his eyes momentarily in order to gain concentration.
'We have things to talk about.' Sora mused quietly with dread, 'Xehanort...Vanitas...' He then realized a bigger issue, 'And Namine...'
He soon remembered the item that was still resting inside the compartment of his car. The forgotten diamond; maybe it was about time for an encore.
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Band practice today actually went by smoothly, much to Sora's surprise. He didn't think Roxas could gain back his confidence inside the group so quickly. He was rather pleased by his performance, even if he was sort of envious towards the blond. After all, they were still competing for the young heiress of the Yoshida family's heart. Roxas tucked his guitar inside his personal suitcase.
Seifer came up to the blond and punched his shoulder, a grin plastered across his brawny cheeks, "Good to have you back, Chicken-wuss. You better not leave us hanging again, you hear me?" He shoved his fist into Roxas's face with a threatening gleam in his eyes, "Or else."
Pence sighed from the male's ignorance, stating humorously, "Oh cut it out, Seifer. You know as much as we do that you missed him."
The drummer flushed with embarrassment, "Pence!" He glared at the pianist, doing his best to act tough, "Do you really want to go that far for a bloody nose?"
Demyx stepped in, "Now...now! No need to fight." He nervously interjected; since he always got dragged into these arguments against his own will anyway.
Roxas smiled at his friends, his heart becoming warm from the scene. It felt good to be back, even if he was still healing from his mental wounds. He looked over at Sora who was too focused in packing his instrument away. The brunette seemed to be in deep thought, and Roxas had a pretty good guess of what it could be.
Xehanort was dead; he received news about it from Aqua who had contacted Xion during the week. It was still shocking to even think about it, and also, unexpected. How could he just be gone, just like that, after all he's done? What was his goal after causing so much torment? He wanted to know, and he had a feeling so did Sora.
The older Hikari shut the lid to his guitar case, flicking the locks from the side. He was trying to think of a solution in ending this whole Xehanort death theory. If he knew the truth, then he could probably just bypass all of this. He could finally earn his happily ever with the woman he loved.
'If only it was that simple.' He confided mentally to himself.
He jolted a bit from his stance when he heard Roxas's voice behind him, "Sora...? Can I...speak to you alone for a bit?"
The older sibling paused, his back going stiff.
He turned his head slightly around, "About what?"
The look the blond Hikari gave him was unsettling, causing beads of sweat to appear on his face.
"It's about...Xehanort." He answered with a blank expression.
Sora hitched his breath, halting his lungs from functioning, "You mean...you heard?"
Roxas nodded, "Yeah..."
The guitarist shifted his gaze over to the others who were left oblivious towards their conversation.
He returned his gaze back at his brother, "Okay, we'll talk when everyone leaves. Since I don't think they know yet."
Roxas agreed without arguing, figuring it was for the best. They stood quiet after that, taking the remainder of their time to just joke around with their friends. Kairi even joined in, and for once, her and Sora didn't hold any tension between their words to each other. Although, Sora still had to give her and Riku his blessings. That was something he still wasn't able to give yet.
'Soon though...soon...' He bravely stated, 'After all...we just weren't meant to be.'
He scanned his sights over at Roxas, who seemed to be at peace. Though honestly, his expression was clear as day to the older twin.
'He's thinking about Namine...of course he is.' He frowned deeply, a sharp pang entering inside his heart, 'She even thinks of him sometimes...' He clenched his fists, stating enviously, 'At this rate...I'll lose her if I don't act now.' Another thought soon came to him, 'I lost Kairi to Riku...am I really willing to give Namine away to Roxas as well?'
He studied his brother's face, knowing they had more important things to discuss than their love lives. The more he stared at him though, the more he began to realize something.
A smile bloomed on his face, 'In someway...we both have a second chance, don't we?'
With that clear in his mind, he finally met his resolve.
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Sora waved anxiously at the redhead who entered the car with Riku, "See you later, Kairi! And Riku, you behave yourself or she'll teach you a lesson!"
His words sounded suggestive, which caused the couple to blush madly. They were the last to leave the studio, leaving the twins the only ones left.
Roxas stuffed his hands inside his pockets, "Well~, you seem to support them together now." His tongue rolled, though he tried not to sound sarcastic about it.
Sora brought his hand down, a grin still etched on his face, "Maybe because I finally decided to grow up."
"Grow up, huh?" The blond questioned curiously, "You really have changed since I left."
The brunette declined the idea, "Nah, I haven't changed at all. I'm just...learning."
"Learning?"
He gave a confident nod, flipping his head back, grinning from cheek to cheek, "We all learn something about ourselves each day, until there's nothing left to learn. It's how we discover where we belong."
Roxas avoided his brother's enchanting words of wisdom, "Honestly, you're hopeless sometimes."
Sora glared playfully at him, pretending he was insulted, "Well, I never~. If that's the case, you're cuckoo for Choco Puffs."
It's been awhile since they were able to joke like this.
After a few seconds, Roxas brought up the issue they were in, cutting the joyful atmosphere, "So...Xehanort is dead..."
Sora froze, his smile flipping over to a frown, "Yeah..."
The blond scratched the back of his head, "I just don't get it..."
"Me neither...maybe though..." He stopped to think, "...It was from old age?"
"Really?" Roxas asked skeptically, "How the hell would he go through all this trouble just to die?"
"Well, think about it." Sora offered gently, "Why else would he have just spluttered all that information to you when you tried to kill him?"
"I just thought..." He stopped.
The brunette gazed over at the passing people, "I know it doesn't sound convincing, but it's the only thing I could think of as an explanation. That's why..." He looked down, afraid to continue.
"That's why what?" The blond offered lightly; he didn't like where this was going.
Sora lifted his head back up, "I think that's why we should go and visit Vanitas."
Roxas shouted instantly with distrust, "Are you crazy, Sora?" He was in disbelief, "You honestly want to go see that...that...person! After all he's done?"
"You said you were going to try and get pass all this, Roxas. Well..." He shrugged his shoulders, "Now's that time. I mean, I know it's insane, but...you read the will, didn't you?"
He looked away, "Yeah...but..."
"Then you should know where my feelings are." He answered softly, "This is something we both need to do...together."
The blond still seemed unsure by the idea, sighing from the predicament the other musician had put him in. He didn't feel comfortable with meeting the deranged sibling, knowing all the hell he had put them through. He could never forgive Vanitas for what he did to Namine. Those scars he inflicted on her bare skin will never fade away, they'll be stuck there for eternity. It made his head boil from the memory, his hands clenching into fists.
Sora saw the way his brother's hands shook, not that he could blame him. It's not like he could ever forgive Vanitas himself for what he did. Namine was someone precious to them, she didn't deserve the torture he had put her through. Either way, he couldn't say it was entirely the demented sibling's fault. If there was anyone who was at fault for what happened to her, it was his. He knew all of this wouldn't have happened if he were just honest with his feelings from the start. Now was that time to repent for not only his sins, but for his father's as well. It had to be him, and no one else. He was willing to carry that burden, if it meant stopping their suffering.
"Well...?" He had anticipated the young Hikari's answer long enough.
After much contemplation, he answered calmly, "Fine, I'll go with you."
A beamed formed on the brunette's face, nodding with approval. They left right away to their destination, heading towards the facility that kept their brother.
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Roxas was starting to think that all this was a mistake. He should have gone straight home to Xion's place. They've been driving for a while, and it was already late in the evening. He looked outside through the window, taking a glimpse of the road. They seemed to be far from the city now, entering some private domain that was unfamiliar to him. The speed of the car was steady. It seemed like Sora wasn't in any real rush.
Roxas positioned his hand on his right cheek, "You think by seeing Vanitas we'll find some answer to Xehanort? After all your meetings with him before; what makes you think he'll be willing to cooperate with us?"
Sora actually shrugged, "To be honest, it's just a feeling I have."
He shook his head and sighed, "You and your goodwill."
Sora gave a pitiful laugh, 'Yeah...that's me. Sora, the noble hero.'
After a few more minutes of silence, they both saw a large building in the distance. It looked to be some sort of special clinic, the words "Wayfinder Institute" painted on a sign they just passed.
"Wayfinder institute?" Roxas read aloud.
They were nearly at the entrance gate when Sora replied, "It's a mental clinic. I was able to transfer him here after so many papers to sign. I...I couldn't let him stay at that prison."
"I can't believe you got approval for him to stay here." Roxas responded in disbelief.
"Yeah...me neither." He let out a short wheeze when he spoke, "They separated him from the other patients though. Just can't seem to behave himself."
The blond didn't seem surprised, crossing his arms across his chest, "So what medications do they have him under?"
"Oh, a few I think. But mainly, I have him signed up for therapy sessions." They were near the entrance, "I come here often to visit him. Each time I do, it gets a little easier." He bent his head down, a sad smile appearing over his face, "In the end, I want us to be able to accept each other."
"Why?" Roxas sympathized and asked.
It was a easy answer, "Because...we're family." He simply stated, opening the door beside him after parking, "Come on, let's go in."
The blond was speechless for a moment, his eyes squinting when observing the building in front of them. Not too long, he got out of the car and followed his older brother up the short line of stairs. They walked pass nurses and doctors, all checking certain notes in their hands of different cases. Roxas didn't feel comfortable being here, keeping himself close to Sora's side. They made it down a long hallway, making their way towards a small booth. Behind the glass window was a woman with long brownish red hair; her body plumped in the right places.
Sora recognized the woman right away, sending out a cheerful greeting, "Hello there, Sally."
She was startled by his voice, almost dropping the box of files in her hands, "Oh! Hello, Sora. Come to visit Vanitas again?" She then noticed the blond next to him, forming a delightful smile, "How nice, you brought another visitor for him I believe."
A blush formed over Roxas's cheeks. The woman was very polite, she reminded him of Namine a bit.
Sora stared over at him and chuckled, "Yeah, this is my lame-o brother, Roxas. Anyway, is it okay if we see Vanitas?"
She nodded lightly, "Yes, of course. I think he's inside one of the private lounging areas. I can have Jack take you there if you like. I know you probably know where it is, but it's policy rules after all, and we have to obey them respectfully." She spoke apologetically with a crestfallen look on her face.
The older sibling dismissed her concerns, "Don't worry about it. I'm used to all these procedures already."
Roxas didn't seem all that relaxed though, dreading the moment in meeting the black-haired murderer. Sora noticed his frantic posture, wishing there was some way to encourage him. Unlike him, Roxas's last encounter with Vanitas was being shot at the altar. How could he even ask him to let bygones be bygones?
'I just don't know.' He softly stated, 'Ven, what am I supposed to do?'
Just then, a male's voice appeared, scaring both Hikari brothers out of their wits, "Sora, it's good to see you again! I hope I didn't scare you!"
The young adult laughed nervously, doing his best to calm his racing heart, "Hehe, not at all, Jack. It's good to see you're not busy."
Roxas studied the assistant in astonishment. He was really tall, and extremely thin, almost like a skeleton with his skin still on.
The bony man laughed merrily, "Well, Dr. Finkelstein is busy with another patient. So I found the time to make it back here; seems like I've returned with good timing!"
Sally sighed affectionately from the man's burst of energy, "Jack~. If you don't mind, will you help escort them to Vanitas?"
He pushed up his chest with pride, "Not at all, Sally! Why, I would be delighted!"
She gave him a pleasing smile, "Thank you."
He directed his long and lanky hand down another hallway, "This way gentlemen!"
They both waved at the young woman behind the desk before following Jack down the hall. The tall male hummed a certain tune along the way, dissipating the eerie silence. They didn't travel far, for they eventually arrived at a dead end, where one large room existed. Roxas examined the tall square room, spotting Vanitas right away as the only person inside. He was sitting down by a table, staring blankly at a chessboard in front of him. Some pieces were already scattered across the board, his index finger flicking the black king piece back and forth.
The blond shook out of his trance when Jack spoke, "He hasn't moved in awhile. I presume you'll be continuing your game?"
Roxas figured he meant the chessboard, finding he was right when Sora answered, "Yeah, we'll see who wins today."
The assistant bowed his head with respect, "Then I'll be attending to other matters." He then announced cheerfully, "Do let me know if you need anything else!"
The brunette smiled, "We will, don't worry. Thanks for all the help, Jack."
"You're very welcome, Sora!" He then took off down the hall in order to return to his other duties.
Sora stared at the door that led to Vanitas, turning to his younger brother, "You ready?"
He bit his lip, mindlessly placing his hand over his old wounds from when he was shot, "On second thought, maybe I should stay here."
"Roxas..." The older Hikari was about to lecture him, but stopped with a sigh, "Okay, if that's what you want."
He didn't want to put more pressure on him; after all, it was even a miracle that he even got him to tag along in the first place.
The young twin nodded, "Thanks. If anything, I'll just listen from here."
Sora nodded with understanding, pressing forward when he opened the door. It was locked from the inside, so he had nothing to worry about. He knew he could trust Roxas to open the door for him when he was done.
When the door clicked shut, the man across the room muttered, "You're late. How long were you planning to keep me waiting? Let's finish this damn game already."
Sora sighed playfully with disappointment, "With that type of attitude no wonder you keep losing."
He scoffed and turned around, "This game is clearly a waste of my time. Just like you coming here to visit." His eyes gleamed with annoyance when he saw Roxas behind the glass, "Great, I see the whole damn family is here. Now all we need is that fucking doctor to explain why I'm so damn screwed up." He let out a low snicker, "God, I love annoying that guy."
Sora reached over for another chair across the room, completely ignoring Vanitas's comment, "Hope you're ready to lose."
The yellow-eyed sibling didn't seem impressed, waiting for the brunette to take his seat. They made idol chatter after that, the usual 'how are you doing?' bit, mainly from Sora's part of the conversation. Vanitas answered everything with a sarcastic remark, moving his pieces around robotically without care. Still, there were moments when the brunette would ask a certain question that would cause the sadistic sibling to become mute.
"So, have you consider my offer yet?" He asked casually, moving his knight piece ahead.
He didn't answer, a pout forming on his lips. He sucked his teeth loudly with a smack, moving a pawn forward. Sora studied his expression and posture, knowing deep down he was getting through to him each time he came to visit. Vanitas was just stubborn that way; it reminded him a bit of how Roxas could act sometimes. Although, he was pretty sure the blond wouldn't appreciate the comparison.
"You ask the same damn question." The locked up patient stated lowly, "Why? You actually expect an answer? You're a dumbass if you think it'll be that easy."
Sora was speechless, never expecting him to actually speak. He wondered if it was because of Roxas's presence.
"What makes you think that, Vanitas?" He retorted calmly.
"After all the shit I did, can you really say there can be peace between us, Sora?" A wicked grin appeared on his face, "After what I did to Ven? To your beloved, Namine?"
His fingers twitched over the white queen piece.
Vanitas noticed the reaction, "You're so easy to read, I swear. You're probably just here out of pity."
Sora felt disgruntled from his words, "True...what you did was..." He clenched his teeth, doing his best to calm his emotions, "...Unforgivable. But what father did, wasn't any better." He looked up at the older sibling's face, "I want to be able to fix things in my own way. Not because of Dad, not because of Xehanort...but for us. You're our brother, and it's about time we realized that."
Roxas was shocked by his twin's display of words, not knowing how to feel about it.
Vanitas was also speechless, but soon laughed with amusement, "Heh, good luck with that." He pushed his rook ahead without any form of strategy.
Sora gave him a confident smile, "I don't need luck." He moved another piece forward, deciding to use his knight once more, "Checkmate."
He was beating him faster and faster.
Soren's first offspring was slightly impressed, "What do you know, you beat me again." He looked up and saw Sora's triumphant smile, "Damn, you're so annoying." He muttered grudgingly.
The brunette gave a humble laugh, which could only aggravate the male in front of him even more.
His laughter though soon died down, his expression becoming solemn, "Vanitas...as much as I did come here to visit you. There's something important I have to discuss with you."
The older brother picked up the black king piece, "It's about Xehanort, isn't it?"
Both Hikari twins gasped, becoming shocked.
Sora tried to speak, "How did you...?"
"He's dead isn't he?" He put down the piece, "I guess it was about time."
"Time?"
Vanitas shrugged, "The old fart had it coming."
"Vanitas, did you?"
"Kill him?" He snorted, "I wish. The geezer died from old age, nothing more. I knew his time was coming for a while."
The older Hikari twin was dumbfounded, "I don't understand. Why go through all this trouble? Just to die."
"Well...you remember Xemnas, don't you? His son?" Vanitas added, showing no shame in smiling from the irony, "He had hopes for him in taking his place. Why do you think he had him try to buy off Destiny Studio without knowing where he came from? He was spying on you guys from the start...but you were all too stupid to even realize it. I mean damn, are you guys really that slow?" He sighed with irritation, "To think I had to give you all the answers, how boring~. Geez, if it weren't for Ansem, that guy probably could have succeeded."
"That's all you have to say?"
Both males were startled by the shout, turning around to see tears in Roxas's eyes.
"Are you trying to tell me...that all this was because he was dying?" He exclaimed scornfully, "And now he's dead? Just like that?"
Vanitas was stunned by the blonde's sudden burst of emotion.
Even so, he spread his arms to the side and answered casually, "Yup! Just...like...that." He spoke each word slowly, mocking the situation like it was just some bad joke, "Nice work there, Roxy. You finally checkmated the King."
Roxas clenched his hands into fists, biting down on his bottom lip. He soon realized how pointless it was for him to even feel rage right now. What did it matter anyway? Xehanort was dead. Not like being angry would solve anything. There was nothing left, but a dead corpse of an old man, and for what? Just to prove that he was the Master of Hikari Keyblade, Inc? Don't make him laugh! If death was going to be his only award, then he truly was a sad man.
The civil conversation they were having was snuffed out, and Sora knew it was time for them to probably leave.
He pushed his seat back, "I think it's about time we leave. Vanitas...I..."
The menace declined his speech, "Don't bother." He put his hands behind his head, "Though I must say, this visit turned out more interesting than the other ones."
Sora looked hopeful, "That's good to hear."
"Who says it was a good interesting?" Vanitas barked rudely.
"Either way..." He thought about his next words, "I want to make our next game more interesting. This time, with a bet."
"A bet?" The dark haired male grinned from the challenge, "Sounds fun~."
The brunette nodded, feeling thrilled by his acceptance. He got up from his chair, not even caring about the whole Xehanort topic. For some reason, he felt sort of free from the truth; like he could finally go on without worrying about their past. Granted, their family obviously needed to spend a lot more time together, but; it was a working progress. At least he knew now, that not everything was hopeless.
He made it over to the door, waiting for Roxas to unlock and open it. The blond gave him passage to step out of the isolated room, closing it behind him. He was quiet, which sort of unnerved the older twin. He didn't want to deal with his sibling being damaged again from the past, not anymore.
Roxas whispered hoarsely, "Can you drop me back off at Destiny Studio now? I had enough for today."
"Oh! By the way little brothers~." Vanitas called out teasingly, catching the duo's attention, "Happy anniversary~."
Sora's eyes widened, knowing exactly what he meant. Next week was the memorial of Ventus's death. He had almost forgot! He turned to Roxas, wondering how he felt from the news, but there was no response. The only thing on his face was a content smile. Sora gawked at his brother, astonished by his calm behavior. He felt relieved by his expression though, producing his own smile. It just showed him how much the both of them have healed. That despite their cruel and violent past, they knew they had finally obtained closure.
Sora gave a short chuckle, "Yeah...happy anniversary."
For all that was left, were the good memories.
SNRSNRSNRSNRSNRSNR
They made it back to Destiny Studio before it could get too late in the evening. Roxas and Sora haven't said anything to each since they left Wayfinder Institute. Everything was quiet inside the car, which brought an unsettling mood between the twins. When Sora parked the vehicle at the front, he paused and studied his brother's face. The blond remained motionless, his eyes shifting to the door and soon to the compartment space in front of him. Sora felt nervous by his stare, wondering if he knew what was inside there.
He suddenly opened the door after a few seconds and muttered, "Thanks for the ride back. I can go back to Xion's place from here with my bike."
Sora nodded, deciding not to argue, "Sure." He gripped the stirring wheel tightly, calling out to him before he could close the door, "Roxas!"
He stopped and turned, "What?"
The guitarist began to stumble his words, "Um...well...thanks...for coming...with me today."
He blinked, "Yeah...no problem. You were right, this was something we both had to do together." He soon changed the subject, "Can you open the trunk so I can grab my stuff?"
"Oh, sure!" He pressed the switch for the lid, his voice faltering, "Hehe...sorry about that."
He watched the other Hikari make his way over to the back of the car after closing the door. He lifted the lid up, and hauled his belongings right out of the trunk without much struggle. Sora felt like his mind was ticking from his actions, his fingers tapping nervously against the wheel. There was so much tension between them, and even with their family issues slowly getting resolved, there was still one other person keeping them apart; Namine. That girl held such a strong force on them, that it was unbearable to let either of them lose it.
'So, why does my heart hurt from trying to take her away from him?' He asked desperately with turmoil, 'Even if she tells me she loves me, how can I accept her loving him as well? It's not fair! Why can't I just be selfish for once and have what makes me happy?'
He swore he could her Ven lecturing him, saying how they all deserved to be happy. But how was he going to achieve that if one of them gets hurt? How could he mend their suffering without losing anything in return? All he knew was that he needed an answer, and Namine was the only one who can give it to him.
He woke from his mental battle when Roxas slammed the trunk, locking it automatically. Sora jumped back a bit from the sound, turning his head to the side at the window. He saw Roxas wave at him, saying his goodbyes silently from outside the car. He had the urge to roll down the window and tell him to come home, but he was scared. If he did that, then he'll lose. He'll lose Namine, Roxas, and the twins. He sighed with dismay, hearing the motorcycle roar from outside. By the time he looked up, Roxas was already gone.
'It's better this way...' He confided softly with a hint of regret, 'Now...I can finally gain back that moment I lost.'
He opened the small storage area in front of the passenger seat, revealing the small velvet box inside.
SNRSNRSNRSNRSNRSNR
Namine watched the Mickey Mouse clock inside the kitchen tick. It was nearly 10:00pm and she was wondering where Sora could be right now. The only light that was on was the kitchen, which gave a faint glow where she sat. She took a sip of her papou juice, gaining the vitamins she needed that the doctor recommended. Her visit with Olette at the hospital turned out fine, though there were some concerns about her dieting. She was about four months pregnant now, so she had to be more careful. It made her reflect a lot about her life though, the dreams she once had. It seemed like destiny though had other plans. She jolted from her seat when she heard the doorknob to the door begin to rattle. She swiftly turned her head towards the sound, keys jingling loudly. The door swung open, and in, came Sora.
He was shocked right away to see her still awake, "Namine...? Why are you still up?"
Not that he should be complaining. Maybe this was fate giving him a second chance.
She spoke timidly, putting her cup down, "I was waiting for you."
Words from that night when they broke up came back to him.
'I'll be waiting...'
He gulped, closing the door behind him, "Sorry...I didn't mean to come back home this late."
She sensed something was different about him, "It's ok..." She looked down at the table, frantically changing the subject, "Oh...! I um...got my ultrasound pictures back!" She reached her hand over to the kitchen counter, sliding the chair back, "Do you want to see the twins?"
He flushed from the question, nodding meekly, "Oh...yeah."
He walked over to her, gently taking the photographs from her delicate hands. Tears wanted to fall from his face when he saw the photos. There they were, two siblings bond together inside the same woman. They both looked like peanuts, their fists so small and frail. Words couldn't describe how grateful he was to her for sharing this with him. Not even Roxas had the privilege to see them yet.
He choked under his words, "They look beautiful, Namine."
She smiled, "I was actually thinking of names today."
"You know their genders already?" He eagerly asked.
She shook her head, "No, but I have a feeling that I already know."
He gazed at her with a dreamy look on his face, "I'm sure whatever names you choose, they'll be perfect."
She beamed, "Thank you...but..." Her lips curved with an uneasy look, "...I could tell there's something bothering you." She tried not to seem upset, "I can't help but to feel responsible for it." She noticed how he wanted to interrupt, but she stopped him before he could say anything, "And don't tell me that it's not!"
He gave her a firm glare, "Namine...I'm bothered by a lot of things lately. And to be honest, yes, you're one of them. But how can I not? Everyday I see you..." He motioned his hands at her and her stomach, "...Like this! It kills me a bit inside! Like I've lost everything! And no matter how much I try...you still can't forget about him!"
'Woah...where did that come from?' He asked with bewilderment, not meaning to lose control like that, 'God! I was fine just a minute ago!'
Namine heaved in a gulp of air, her heart shattering from his declaration, "It's...it's not like that..." She tried to cover the hurt inside her voice, "Where's all this coming from anyway?"
He scratched the back of his head roughly, "I'm sorry..." He pushed his spikes back, "I've been having a off day." He suddenly confessed without thinking, "I saw Roxas today...he came back." She was startled by his words, "And I'm afraid...that it means...he'll eventually find his way back here into your heart." His lips began to tremble, "And...as much as I want the three of us together again...I just...I'm..." His voice cracked, "...I'm a terrible brother, aren't I, Namine?"
She shook her head, feeling confused, "No...you're a very good brother, Sora."
He wasn't convinced, "No, I'm not! Just look at me! I want to take the most precious thing my brother has ever cared to love! And me? I just want to take it away from him! Just like I did his childhood! I told him I hated him, did you know that Namine? How can you love someone who hated his own brother? I blamed him for so many years! I told him it was his fault that Ven was gone. And now, I plan to take his future away from him as well? Who does that? I'm not a good big brother at all!"
The artist felt so overwhelmed by his speech, she didn't know what to say. He must have been building all this up for so long, and now, he finally snapped.
'No...it's been more than that. It must have been years...' She concluded sadly, reaching over to embrace him.
They fell to the floor together, Sora protecting the twins with his hands, "I even lost Kairi because of it. I knew I couldn't tell her how much I loved her because I knew it would have been a lie. Just like my hate for my brother, all a lie. All a lie...all a lie..." He repeated over and over again, until he finally settled down, "I love my brothers. I loved my parents." He stroked his thumbs over the surface of her stomach, "I love the twins."
Namine's heart was beating fast, her eyes quivering with anticipation. Sora looked up and read her face, wondering if she will still accept his words. A part of him was scared, but he knew he couldn't afford to back out now. He was never one to be a coward, nor did he ever go back on his word. If he was going to make that leap, now was the time to do it. And even if she does deny his feelings, he would at least know where they stood.
"Namine..." He hoarsely whispered, edging his lips closer to hers, "I...I love you..."
Relief and happiness filled her heart, her eyes blurry with tears. He said it! He finally said it!
"Sora...I..." She was silenced with a kiss.
She responded much to his pleasure, allowing their tongues to interlock. She released a sweet moan when he sucked on her tongue, enjoying the smooth and wet texture. It gave him hope and courage, the fear of being rejected disappearing from his mind. Still though, there was a second in their kiss that she faltered. He knew very well what that meant. She could choose to deny it all she wanted, but he could tell. She was still also in love with Roxas. If he was going to win, now was that time.
He pulled away from her panting mouth, letting out a loud smack from their moist kiss, "Namine..." He breathlessly spoke.
She looked at him with hazy eyes, "Yes...?"
He slowly dug into his pocket, slipping out the black velvet box from inside. Namine stood frozen, not knowing how to respond when he opened the small casket. A bright diamond ring was framed inside the center. It shined under the dim darkness, breaking through like a small light.
With heavy sigh, he asked with a soft plea, "Will you marry me?"
End chapter
Kiome-Yasha: "Damn Sora, your chapter took almost 30 pages in Microsoft word! Now before any RokuNami fans start rioting in my inbox, please don't. I swear to you guys, RokuNami isn't over! I still have things left up my sleeve. Sonami needed their shine in this chapter, considering it was Sora's chapter. Even so, Rokunami will be returning in the chapters ahead, so please, don't worry :). This chapter was a difficult one to write, even with my notes. There were so many emotions I had to put in here that I was skeptical in some scenes. I'm hoping I managed to make everything to fit okay though. Now with only SEVEN chapters left, we'll be gearing down to the finale. As a word of thanks, I'm flabbergasted by the many reviews, favs, and alerts that came in. I know a lot of people have sponsored this story and I'm truly grateful to them. I have received many supporters, and I honestly don't think I deserve them. Thank you all for your words and encouragement! Here's Namine for thanks!"
Namine: "Kiome-Yasha will like to give special thanks to: Maxeyn, Nobdy'sMelody, Sara Crew, Chibixbabe, Janus-Juan, Sincerely Vienna, xLycheeRAiN, MemoryxKeeper, Fantasy Obsession, Mooseluver8, xHikarix3, Transitions End, Shinyitalianguy, Dracula-key, FanWitch98, Nami the Writer, Spellbound AKA Soragirl4ever, 53007, ztmas717, Starseeker358, Rosekun25, Acidic Wrath, Hoboruler, ComicalxMysterious, MonkeyGirlxoxo, an1995616, Allers3, Sora017, Nameless person (lol), YOUniquee, Artist13Namine, Roxxie-kun, Ultimate-Sky, Kunoichi-Dawn, Furby4537568, cj, Nameless person 2 (lol), Xelnna, PassingBanshee, Silver Rain, a-nobodyXIII, ShadowedEssence, Burai Stelar, masterkeyblade, Starkinz, silverrain1001, Ash, Lil'cuppyCAKEZ, TheWitchNamine, mousehole, Emiko Gale, and airimas. We hope to God that's everyone! Thank you all so much for your reviews and words! Until the next chapter! :D"
Kiome-Yasha: "Okay, usually I would respond to reviews that I couldn't, but considering how many came in I can't quite remember who I did and didn't. And I'm sorry for everyone who hoped for me to reply D:! I'm so disorganized lately because of school, so I hope you can forgive me. On further note, I would like to give tremendous thanks to the artists Annria2002 and TenchuFreak on Deviantart for actually liking my fanfic so much that they wanted to sponsor it to so many people. I'm truly grateful to you guys and I feel honored for what you have done...and planning to do in the future. Until next update everyone!"