Sanctuary

The Gang

"Hayner! Pence! Olette! Sorry for blowing you off yesterday," I laughed as I pulled aside the curtain. "But I think I have a pretty good reason."

"Yeah? And what's that?" Hayner said, giving me a bit of a glare. Pence and Olette smiled nervously.

"You know who I had been hunting around town for? Well, I found them!"

"When do we get to meet them?" Olette asked excitedly.

"Uh, how about now?" I asked, reaching behind me and taking Xion's hand. "This is Xion!" I opened the curtain a bit wider and pulled Xion inside. Everyone's expression turned to one of fear.

"Is- Is that the girl that you fought in the Struggle Tournament? The one that was with Seifer?" Hayner shouted, stepping back a few paces. Pence and Olette forced a smile from where they sat on the couch.

"Yep!" I smiled. Xion waved, making everyone flinch. Xion looked at me confusedly. "Eh, what can I say, their terrified of Seifer- and anyone with Seifer. They'll get used to you!" Xion laughed, everyone calming down a bit. I can't blame them- she has a soft, nice laugh. How can you fear that? "Oh, and guys? If you want to meet Axel, then come up to the clock tower at about five. We'll all get some ice cream!"

"Hey Roxas. Hey Xion," I heard Axel say as he rounded the corner. "Sorry I'm late, Xemnas is such a- ah… Uh, hello there, children I don't know." Hayner, Pence and Olette waved, biting into their ice cream happily. We soon had everyone introduced and on the wall, watching the sun set.

Eventually Axel leaned around us, whispering to Hayner and the gang out of the corner of his mouth. Xion and I looked at each other, shaking out heads and shrugging again. Axel leaned back, grinning widely and about to laugh.

"Aw, Roxas! You never told us about you and Xion!" Olette clapped.

"What about us? I mean, I already told you guys that she and Axel were my best friends," I said confusedly.

"Yeah, but you didn't tell us that you- Oh, does she not know yet?" I looked at Axel, who sat beside me, trying hard not to laugh.

"What are you talking about? I didn't tell you that I what?" I asked as Pence and Olette stood up and began to walk towards the stairs. Olette cam back and grabbed Hayner by the ear, dragging him along, too.

"Well, we'll see you later, Roxas! Nice to meet you Xion!" Pence called, waving as he closed the door to the stairwell behind him.

"Axel, what did you tell them?" I asked, turning around to face him.

"Hey, Xion. Why don't you head back? I gotta' talk to Roxas for a minute," he grinned. Xion looked at me, so I just shrugged.

"Uh, okay," Xion shrugged. "See you later."

"Why'd you make everybody leave?" I asked after Xion started down the stairs, closing the door behind her.

"Roxas, buddy," Axel sighed, clapping his hand on my shoulder. "I expected this the moment you said that you went and got yourself a heart. And I want cha' to know, she likes you just as much as you like her." I stared at him a moment, confused. "Get what I'm sayin'?"

"I really don't, no."

"Your Sora's Nobody," he sighed. "Following me so far?" I sighed, nodding. "Xion was modeled after Kairi." I nodded.

"Yeah, and?"

"Well, do you know why she took on the form of Kairi?"

"No, how come?"

"Because Sora's strongest memory was of Kairi." He added in the baby-voice, messing up my hair again. "Because he loves her. Get it?"

"What do you mean, 'he loves her'?"

"Ugh, are you gonna' make me explain love to you again?" he laughed. I stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, you are, aren't you? Huh."