Roxas pulled away from Neyla, trying to keep himself from wiping his mouth. "Uh...sorry," he apologized, "I'm not ready for that yet." He took three steps back and looked down in shame and embarrassment.

Neyla felt her cheeks heat up with fury, but calmly said, "It's okay. I understand." She turned and left. "See you in school, Roxas."

Roxas waited until he was sure Neyla was gone, and wiped his mouth and spat at the ground in disgust. "That was really unplanned!" he growled. He looked up at the sky and went off to re-visit Namine.

---------------------------------------------------

Namine sat by herself in the dark Library, huddled against the cold wall. Her tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably and her body shuddered as a reaction.

I thought you were my fairytale...a dream when I'm not sleeping.

A wish upon a star that's coming true.

She sadly mumbled the last few of her thoughts. "But everybody else could tell that I confused my feelings with the truth. When there was me and you." She shakily took in a breath of air and exhaled it in a sob.

----------------------------------------------------

Roxas looked around the mansion. He first went to the white room, but didn't find Namine there. "That's weird," he muttered and headed down the hall, towards the library. His heart pounded faster when he heard snivels and whispers behind the library door. "Namine?" He reached for the knob and opened it to reveal a young girl at a corner with her head down, choking and sniffing.

Namine heard Roxas' voice and looked up, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying. "Roxas!" she squeaked. She quickly wiped her eyes dry. "W-what are you...d-doing here?" She brought her knees up to her chest, not knowing that she was showing a sign of fear and helplessness.

Roxas looked at Namine, worry and shock in his eyes. "Namine!" he shouted, "What happened?" He ran over to her and placed a hand on her shaking shoulder for comfort. "Are you okay?"

Namine nodded weakly and averted her gaze from him. "Just fine," she grumpily replied. Her light blonde bangs covered her face, hiding its porcelain color and soft texture. Her rose pink lips moved and mouthed a repeated, "Just fine."

I swore I knew the melody that I heard you singing.

And when you smiled you made me feel like I could sing along.

But then you went and changed the words.

"Now my heart is empty," Namine thought out loud in a hushed whisper, "I'm only left with used-to-be's and once upon a song."

Roxas barely heard what Namine said, and asked hopefully, "What'd you say?"

Namine realized that she was speaking out her thoughts again and looked up at Roxas apologetically. "I-I'm sorry. I said, 'It used to be nice when I was still able to sing a song.' I used to sing when I was young." She faked a smile and stood up.

Roxas knew that Namine was lying, but decided to let it go. "Oh." He then remembered his 'present' and asked, "Namine, why did you give me a...you know." He blushed a bit.

Namine knew what he was talking about and laughed softly. She walked past him and walked towards the white room. "I thought you and Neyla-" she started.

"Neyla and I were NOT going to do IT, okay?" Roxas interrupted angrily, "Why would you ever think that?"

Namine sighed and opened the door to the white room. "I'm sorry, Roxas. But I just can't tell you the reason!" She ran to her chair and sat down.

Roxas ran over to her and asked irritatedly, "Namine, what are you hiding from me?"

Namine remained slient and kept her eyes from coming in contact with his.

"Namine!" Roxas shouted and shook the girl in an attempt to 'wake' her up. "Please, tell me! What is it that you know that I don't?"

"Some things are better left unsaid," Namine mumbled angrily, "Just...leave. Leave me alone."

"I don't want to," Roxas protested, letting Namine go, "I don't want to see you alone and depressed. I want to see you happy, social...alive."

Namine laughed, wiping her damp eyes. "I'm not depressed...even though I am alone. I'm happy being here all by myself. Drawing, reading books..."

"Namine! Look at the place you live in! It's broken down, empty, and a mess! Not to mention it has no electricity! What can be so cheerful about this mansion? There's hardly anything left here!"

Namine looked up at Roxas, wide-eyed and trembling.

"Ugh! Forget it! You live however you want to, Namine. You hardly seem to care about yourself...or notice the people around you that care how you live your life!" His blue eyes darkened with rage as he bellowed over the frightened girl.

"I don't have a life, Roxas," Namine managed to utter out, "At least...I used to."

Roxas heard her soft, timid tone and calmed down. "What do you mean?" he asked in a quieter tone.

"When there was me and you," Namine answered in a whisper. She smiled innocently. "Those were the times that I still had a life."

Roxas absorbed her words, and then it hit him. "This is about Neyla...isn't it?"

Namine felt her heart skip many beats. "N-no...it's not," she lied, "It's just that...we seemed to grow apart over the years, that's all. I guess I just miss the good times we had." She giggled. "But, hey. That's what growing up's all about, right? We can't actually expect to be together forever."

Roxas bit his lip at the last sentence. He nodded sadly.

"Good." Namine stood up and took Roxas' hand. She placed something in it and said, "Don't let me be a burden, Roxas. Live a free life...not one that is concealed." She smiled cheerfully at him.

Roxas looked down at his now closed hand. "This isn't another one...is it?" he asked nervously.

Namine laughed. "No. Just promise to keep it with you at all times, okay? It's one of my most beloved posessions. It can never be replaced." She released his hand.

Roxas nodded and said, "Thanks, Namine." before leaving.

Namine watched Roxas walk back to the woods from the window. She saw him turn around to get one last look at her and blushed. She mouthed a "See you soon" and waved goodbye.

Roxas smiled and continued his departure. He remembered the item Namine gave him and opened his hand to see what it was. "Wow," he whispered. It was the blue crystal orb that he and Namine lost two months ago. "She must've found it." After getting through the dark forest, he ran out of the hole and into Tram Common, a bright smile on his face.

Neyla peeked out from behind a building, scowling. She just saw Roxas run out of the hole...smiling, and was not very happy about it. "Wonder what he was up to?" she asked herself slyly and walked into the woods. She finally came to a path and ended up at the gate of the Old Mansion. "I bet this was where he came from." She boldly made her way through the fallen pillars.

Namine looked up from her work when she heard something break outside. She ran to her window and gasped when she saw a very angry Neyla making her way to the entrance. Her mind raced for an idea as Neyla came closer and closer. "I got it!" she finally exclaimed and went to her closet. She found a robe, similar to the black ones Organization 13 wore, only it was snowy white. "This should do quite well."

Neyla finally made it to the door and barged in. She angrily looked around, glaring at each wall and corner. "Alright!" she shouted, "Whoever's here, come out right now! I have a score to settle with you!"

"Hhhhhoooaaahhh..." a breathing echoed eerily, "Hhhhhhhh..."

Neyla looked up and saw a white-robed person. She took it as a ghost and turned pale. "W-what the-"

Namine, the white-robed person, held her hand out and hissed hoarsely, "Leave me be...or be cursed for all eternity!" Her hand started to glow.

Neyla gathered the last bit of her courage and asked, "A-are you the one who's always with MY Roxas?" Her eyes shot sharp glares.

Namine increased her dark magic, sending things flying all around the room. "I said leave!" she hissed venomously. She struggled to remain standing and to keep her dark magic working. "Leave!"

Neyla screamed as objects flew by her and ran outside. "Don't hurt me!" she begged as she disappeared into the woods.

Namine sighed and dropped all of the objects. Using the last of her energy, she closed the doors. She took off her hood and looked around. Her vision was blurry and she was sweating due to fatigue. "I'm not as absorbed in the dark...as I used to be." She held onto the rails as she made her way down the stairs, but collapsed and rolled all the way down to the floor- unconscious.