Hello RokuNami fam! I am here to post one of my submissions for the RokuNami fanzine where the theme is soulmates and red string of fate.

Honestly I don't think this one is anything special but I hope all of you enjoy it anyway.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Square Enix, this is just a fanfic written by a fan.

Roxas and Namine laced hands and walked together, talking and laughing about anything. They were still carefree even though the twilight was fading to dark.

The couple had fun spending time with their friends the day before Namine leaves for a boarding school for the arts, relatively far away.

She would've started in the fall, but Namine had the option to start in spring.

Roxas was, of course, overjoyed that his girlfriend was going to a beautiful art school. Still, he was worried about how this would affect them.

Roxas and Namine stopped at a ledge as they watched the stars light up the sky in the mountains at a distance.

"It's so beautiful. I'm going to miss this place," Namine gave her boyfriend's hand a light squeeze.

Roxas squeezed back. "This place wouldn't be the same without you, Namine." Roxas couldn't hide his anguish.

Namine turned to him.

"Olette did say we were inseparable. She seemed kind of annoyed," Namine said.

Roxas didn't care. He was in love at such a young age. Everything felt better, except for goodbyes.

Namine held his hand close and looked down. She was afraid of leaving him as well.

But they both had to be mature, even if Roxas was more stubborn about it.

"Kairi said going separate ways makes the heart grow fonder," Namine suggested.

Roxas sighed. "Yeah, Sora left for almost a year, and she was a bit hopeless."

Roxas and Namine couldn't help but giggle a bit. And then stopped upon realizing they shouldn't tease their friend, even in private.

Regardless of laughter, Roxas had a bittersweet look on his face. Namine smiled at him with her baby blue eyes. But her eyes sparkled slightly, most likely from hiding pain.

"I want us to promise that the separation will make us stronger and not weaker," Namine said.

Roxas thought that the two of them being separated was not a reason to mope. Soon his expression became more determined, and Namine could soften up and show more vulnerability toward her boyfriend. She gently placed her hands on his chest and stayed close to him.

"You're right," Roxas said. "You'll make the most beautiful art around the world, and I will get better at struggle and skateboarding."

Namine couldn't help but let a few tears fall now, but she still felt strong enough to smile.

"Thank you…"

Roxas quickly wiped some tears that were on her face.

"I'll make you proud, Namine," Roxas said.

"I am always proud of you, Roxas."

Roxas pulled her into a hug and gently stroked her hair. Namine held Roxas as tightly as she needed.

"I just wish we had one more day," Roxas whispered in her ear.

Namine suddenly had an idea and broke the hug, much to Roxas' dismay.

She took a moment to unclip the silver amulet around her neck.

"Namine, your necklace," Roxas said.

Namine smiled. "It's a necklace that makes love stronger and attracts a soulmate."

Roxas was breathless as Namine got behind him and put the necklace around his neck. She then looked at the amulet around her boyfriend and commented on how cute he was.

The blonde-haired boy placed his fingers on the necklace, thinking about how he had a part of Namine with him.

Namine placed her hand on her heart. "This necklace proves we are connected, no matter what."

Roxas had an idea now that he had Namine's necklace around his neck.

"I need to give you something as well," he said.

But Roxas didn't plan something like this, and he mentally cursed himself until he saw the stainless silver ring around his finger.

It was a ring he bought from a vendor during a fair, shiny but straightforward and beautiful.

He took the ring off his finger and smiled at Namine.

"Roxas…" Namine cried. "That's your…."

Roxas took her hand to place the ring around his finger, but he realized the ring was far too big for her lovely little finger.

It figures. His fingers were strong, and hers was delicate.

"It's too big for you!" Roxas cried in frustration.

Namine smiled and shook her head, and took the pretty ring with her hands. "I will take care of it, I promise."

Roxas smiled and pulled her into another hug, where he lifted her up slightly.

"We'll be ok, Namine," Roxas said, making Namine feel more at ease about the road ahead for both of them.

When Roxas set her down, he gave her a sly grin which Namine returned with her own. Their lips met so they could remember each other's sweet taste. They broke off, with both of them feeling over the moon.

"I need to take you home now," Roxas said.

"Oh…" Namine said.

Roxas retook her hand. Neither of them wanted tonight to end, but they needed to be responsible.

"Your train leaves in the morning, and you need to get enough sleep," Roxas said as he played with a strand of her golden blonde hair.

Namine blushed and looked down. "Yes, I suppose."

"I want you to rest well tonight. It will make tomorrow a lot easier," Roxas said.

And without further argument, they walked back into the town as stars and streetlights guided them home. Their spirits did not fall as they savored every moment.

The next day they waited at the train station side by side. Namine already said her goodbyes to all their friends.

Namine gripped her bag as the train to her stop finally arrived.

Roxas placed his hand on Namine's back. They took a few slow steps to the train and stopped at the door.

Namine turned to Roxas one last time. Wasting not another moment, they threw their arms around each other for one last kiss. A fierce but short kiss as time was ticking for departure.

Namine had to force herself to pull away and grab her bag as she hurried inside the train.

The lovers stared at each other while the door was still open.

"I love you," they said together.

And then the automatic door finally closed between them. Namine placed her hand on the door window where her boyfriend was as the train started moving.

Roxas ran as far as he could before the train rode off in the distance.

The blonde-haired boy looked down, about ready to mope despite the promises they made, but then he saw the amulet around his neck. He held it with his strong hand and looked at the distance where Namine's train faded into the horizon.

I will always miss you, Namine, he thought. It's only natural, I would. But even though it sometimes hurts, I know we will be connected no matter what.

Namine sat on the train in solitude. Her bag to her left and her notebook to her right.

She was on a new journey alone, and that wasn't such a bad thing. She will become stronger and experience new things, and she knew Roxas and her friends would be there when she returns.

Her train passed the mountains and beach that she and her friends adored, and after a moment, she opened her notebook.

In her notebook was Roxas' silver ring tied with a red velvet string.

She tied it around her neck and held it close to her heart.

Namine didn't touch her phone at first, even if she heard a few notifications. Instead, she grabbed her notebook and doodled during the entire train ride. Until the train finally stopped in the vintage town where her school would be.

When Namine grabbed her things and got off the train, she was overwhelmed. The entire town was like a beautiful festival. With paintings on the cobblestone pathways and on the buildings. Paintings of rainbows and stars. It was a whole city of art where colorful flags were always hung and flowers decorated everything.

Oh, how she wished Roxas was here to see this, even if art was never his forte.

But it was still bittersweet knowing her muse was back at home.

She would message him later though, she had to run to the school and unpack in her dorm.

She rushed toward the school, which wasn't too far away as this art school was one of the highlights of this vintage town.

Students from all around flooded the school, either hanging out or going places. Namine felt the need to go to an isolated area in the middle of the campus. As Namine caught her breath, she looked around for the person who would be her roommate. A girl named Selphie, who she only talked to online.

After scanning through all the students, she saw a familiar girl with brown hair looking left and right and holding up a sign that said "Namine" in yellow marker.

Namine smiled and raised her hand, and after a moment, Selphie noticed the blonde-haired girl and rushed over.

"Namine!" Selphie cried. "It's great to finally meet you!"

Namine was overjoyed to finally be around someone semi-familiar in this new place.

"It's great to meet you as well," Namine said.

Selphie placed her sign next to a tree and clapped her hands together.

"Well, now that you're here, it's time for the welcoming ceremony," Selphie said.

Selphie threw her hands out. "Welcome Miss Namine to Sepia Academy!" She then turned to throw her hands at her fellow students walking around. "The school where something wild happens every week, and there is never a dull moment!"

Namine smiled. This school was a wonderful magical place where she could meet her fellow artists.

"I am so happy to be here," Namine placed her hands on her ring necklace. "Even if I miss my friends and my boyfriend."

Selphie felt sympathy for her new roommate. "Don't worry, we'll make the dorm feel just like home, and I will introduce you to my friends."

Selphie took a good look at Namine's necklace. "Ooo!" She cried.

"I love your necklace!" Selphie said.

Namine let the silver ring shine in the sunlight. "My boyfriend gave me his ring before I left. I just decided to tie it with a red string."

"A skilled artist and a fashionista!" Selphie exclaimed.

Namine looked away and smiled. "I am not so sure about that."

"Well, we have a fashion club as well!" Selphie said.

Well, Namine felt she should try new things.

"Let's not stand around anymore. Let's head to the dorm!" Selphie was about to run off.

"Wait!" Namine cried as Selphie turned around.

Namine held out her phone. "Can you take a photo of me, so my friends know I came here safely?"

Selphie eagerly took Namine's phone.

"As long as I get to take a photo with you afterward!" Selphie said.

Back in Twilight Town, Roxas was surrounded by his friends. It was a wonderful time really, they had as much fun as they usually did, and Roxas remained strong for Namine, for the most part. He would always yearn for her presence while she was gone.

Hayner and Axel sat by Roxas' sides.

"Is that Namine's amulet?" Axel asked.

Roxas gently stroked the silver amulet with his index finger and smiled sadly. "Yes…"

Hayner took a good look at the amulet and then back to Olette, who was busy talking to Kairi and Xion.

"I should get one for Olette," Hayner whispered.

"Hey, guys!" Sora cried, a bit too loudly. He waved his phone at everyone. "Namine posted a photo!"

Roxas and his friends eagerly peered at Sora's phone.

Roxas was overjoyed when he saw his girlfriend in the photo. She was standing under a tree, and he saw her wearing his silver ring around her neck with a red string.

The caption said, "I'm here!"

Roxas' friends were pleased that Namine was doing well, but they noticed the ring Namine was wearing that she never wore before.

Axel and Hayner gave Roxas sly smiles.

"Roxas, you dog!" Axel said as he wrapped his arm around Roxas and messed with his spikey blonde hair.

"That's really daring of you, Roxas," Hayner said.

The girls circled around Sora to look at Namine's photo, and after a moment, they understood.

Kairi walked up to Roxas and gave him an beaming look, just when the blonde-haired boy didn't feel smothered enough.

"Roxas, that is the most romantic thing ever!" Kairi said.

Sora stood behind her, looking a bit outclassed.

"Yeah, like a princess and a prince," Olette said.

Xion smiled. "I knew you two always had a connection."

Roxas blushed.

"And Namine already made a new friend as well," Olette said.

Roxas instinctively stood up and took Sora's phone. But Namine was only tagged by her new roommate, who took a picture of them together. The caption said "Finally met my new roommate!" by a girl named Selphie.

Roxas made a sigh of relief, and he didn't realize his friends smiling behind him.

Roxas was about to ask what they were planning, but Axel and Hayner grabbed his arms and led him to the wall.

"We need to take a picture of you as well, Roxas," Sora said as he prepared his camera.

"Wait!" Xion cried as she handed Roxas his skateboard.

Roxas gave a regular pose while holding his skateboard.

"Don't forget to smile!" Axel said. "Let Namine know you are doing alright."

Roxas forced himself to grin, but he felt he was about to laugh from nervousness as Sora took the photo.

"Perfect!" Hayner said.

Roxas had a funny feeling.

He was about to look at Sora's phone himself, but his own phone rumbled in his pocket.

Roxas gingerly took out his phone and swiped it open as he saw he was tagged by Sora.

He looked fine as usual, except his smile was a bit sheepish. In the caption, Sora said, "Roxas is having a good day!"

Hayner replied with "That's our boy Roxas!"

Axel replied with "We've been taking good care of him."

Roxas gave the boys a glare which the boys responded with some playful laughs.

Roxas would've told them off, but his phone beeped again.

He looked at his phone again and saw Namine replied with, "Are you ok Roxas?"

Roxas smiled and replied, "I was held against my will."

"But I am doing fine."

Roxas was about to say he missed her, but he turned to his friends.

"We should take a picture of all of us," Roxas said.

All his friends gathered around him, with Roxas in the center. The photo was taken by a phone on a tripod.

When Roxas posted the photo, he wrote "We miss you, Namine" in the caption.

Namine was so overjoyed that her friends were thinking about her that she printed out the photo of Roxas and others with the expensive professional printer at the school to place inside her dorm. She would always feel comforted with that picture of her friends.

Some days later, Roxas and Namine were both stunned. Kairi used her photoshop skills to photoshop Roxas and Namine's photos together, as if they were side by side.

Kairi gave innocent smiley face emojis to the couple. And after a while, Roxas and Namine were able to smile as well.

Roxas and Namine took it each day at a time.

Namine took pictures of all the adventures in boarding school. With her new friends and all the colors of the art-loving town.

The town had a lot of art festivals, festivals Roxas and Namine wished they could attend together.

At home, Roxas kept trying to make his mark in the world. Getting better at skateboarding, playing struggle, playing the guitar, and helping out in the community. Namine supported him from afar.

They did have a wonderful spring, but they awaited summer. Roxas' friends talked about finally going to the beach again to surf and have bonfires.

And summer would be when Namine finally returns home.

Roxas stood at the train station with all his friends behind him. They teased him for being eager, but Roxas could feel Namine coming soon as he held her amulet in his hand.

Soon the next train stopped, and a moment after the door opened, the blonde hair girl walked out with her bags.

Roxas and Namine took a moment to smile at each other.

"Roxas…"

"Namine…"

But before Roxas could run over to her, all their friends cheered.

"Namine! Welcome home!"

Roxas' ears nearly blew out, and he fell over slightly. Namine set her bags down and took Roxas' hands.

She held on to Roxas' hands and smiled at her enthusiastic friends. "I miss all of you too. All of you have to tell me what you've been up to."

Roxas' ears still rung. "Maybe in an area quieter like a library."

Namine and Roxas stood up and held each other's hands, smiling and blushing.

"Namine...I missed you so much," Roxas gave her delicate hands a gentle squeeze, and his blue eyes sparkled.

Namine grinned. "You seemed to have had enough fun without me, Roxas."

"I was just making history like I usually do, it was very fun, but I could never forget you," Roxas said.

"Now we can spend the entire summer together," Roxas said.

Namine wrapped her arms around Roxas for a hug, and Roxas did the same. They almost forgot their friends in the background.

"Hey! Are we gonna stand here and twiddle, or are we gonna go to the beach?" Axel cried.

Kairi, Xion, and Olette walked up to Namine.

"We already planned a day at the beach for your return," Xion said.

Namine was overjoyed, but then she remembered her bags.

"You guys go first. I need to take Namine home," Roxas said.

The girls understood, but Olette looked a bit conflicted.

"Don't take too long, you two," Olette said.

"We won't, I promise," Namine said.

Roxas blushed. "A few detours are a part of life."

"If we take too many detours, it will be too late to go to the beach," Namine said.

"You're right!" Roxas cried. "Don't worry, we will be as quick as possible."

Roxas and Namine waved as all their friends boarded the train and departed for the beach.

Roxas and Namine walked hand and hand for Namine's home, but they did stop at a turn for a moment because Roxas had something on his mind.

"I love what you did to my ring," Roxas said.

He thought the silver ring did look nice around her neck, tied to a red velvet ribbon.

Namine took the ring in her hand. "The fashion club thought it was cute as well."

"Fashion club?" Roxas said.

Namine giggled. "Yes, fashion club isn't really my thing, though, but the club members are nice."

Roxas smiled. "Your school always looked so fun in the pictures. Not like the school in Twilight Town. This is why I hate when summer vacation ends."

"It is a lot of fun to be a town filled with art and being around artists with different perspectives, but it's still a school with late hours of homework and studying," Namine said.

"Then again, sometimes my friends encouraged me to sneak out during curfew and study with them," she paused. "And have a lot of fun."

Roxas couldn't help but laugh. "I can't believe my girlfriend would sneak out past curfew. You are awesome, Namine!"

Namine was a bit bashful. "It is really fun to explore the school after curfew."

Roxas took Namine by the hand and continued on since they were close to Namine's home. He meant it when he said they would get to the beach before it was too late, but then Namine stopped him.

"By the way, I am so thankful you took care of my amulet," Namine said.

Roxas smirked and held his hand gently on the amulet. "It always gave me the strength to get through the rough days."

Namine was stunned. She didn't think her boyfriend was suffering without her.

"But I made it through, and it's made me stronger," Roxas said.

Namine took her free hand and placed it on his cheek, and the blonde-haired boy gently rested his face on her hand. A hand like silk on his face and the scent of jasmine. His face managed to relax again, and his smile became a bit devious.

"I considered visiting your school to see what it's like, and maybe I could transfer," Roxas said.

Namine was stunned. "Roxas! It's not all fun in that school. We are pushed to our full potential. And I thought I was the artist in this relationship!"

"I can get in for playing the guitar I have been practicing!" Roxas said.

Namine started laughing and caught Roxas off guard.

"I am serious Namine, I love you! And I would love to go to boarding school with you!"

"I mean, we managed to test our relationship by being long distance, but I would love to try," Roxas said.

Namine laced her hand with Roxas' hand again. "Yes, I would love for you to be a part of the boarding school life as well, Roxas."

Namine gave Roxas a soft peck on the cheek.

Roxas smiled down at her. "I can at least try! And if I don't get in, then I will always wait for you, Namine."

These were comforting thoughts, but now they finally had an entire summer to spend together at long last.