A/N: Hey it's me again. I give up, I'll write this fic even if nobody likes it. Go flame me or anything, I don't care. Yes, I'm thinking whether to make this and Trinity a tragedy, because I think the last chapter has the theme "Always on my Mind" from the KH1 soundtrack. You go hear it, it's a sad, sad piece.

Summary: They think and feel as they can only remember. Does he really love her, or is it only because he loves her? How much of one's emotions can be borrowed?

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, obviously.

III: Starry Starry Night

She didn't think Roxas' face could lose color that fast.

"You're kidding, right?"

She shook her head bemusedly as she straightened a stray feather in front of her mirror. Demyx was such a good costume maker. She didn't know what came over Larxene when she offered to make her a halo. She had misgivings on anything that had to do with Larxene; why a week ago she and Axel almost turned the castle library into tiny pieces of rubble. Maybe the violent streaks kinda dried out?

She watched Roxas collapse on her bed and sigh.

"It's on every poster of this dance, Roxas. There's tiny little letters on the top that says "Academy of Destiny Islands and Twilight Academy presents" then in huge font "Annual Halloween Dance". It's right there, you know."

"Who even reads the fine print? Man, I should've known!"

"What's so wrong about Twilight Academy, anyway? I mean..." she trailed off at the look on his face. "Oh. That."

"No, there's nothing wrong about it, really, it's just that..." he sighed again. "It's going to be so hard to see everyone. Hayner, Pence, Olette, Fuu... even Seifer. I recognize them but they don't. Even if they were my best friends or mortal enemies... Still."

Naminé tore away her gaze from Roxas' forlorn face. Guilt gnawed at her (why was she even feeling guilt? go figure) because she was the one who chained those people's memories, she was why no-one in Twilight Town remembered a Roxas ever came into their lives. DiZ can take some of the credit (hey, he was the one who told her to do so; she didn't really jump for joy whenever she manipulated memories) but it was really her doing. She really did try her best not to, but Sora was the only one who could restore their hearts.

"Nam, don't. It's not your fault."

"It is." She said quietly as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to dry the tears that were threatening to fall. 'I did it because I wanted to be whole so much. I was selfish. I---"

"C'mon. I hate seeing girls cry," he said in what Naminé hoped was a comforting voice (there's something about Nobodies; sometimes their emotions are just so hard to read) as he placed a hand on her shoulder and wiped her tears on his other sleeve. "Forget about it."

"Memory witch as I am, I can't chain my own memories, Roxas, "she sniffed.

Roxas suddenly laughed. "I didn't mean it too literally, Nam. Stop crying already, because you're kinda ugly when your eyes are all puffed up and red like that."

Her forehead wrinkled at the comment. Funny how one simple sentence can make you feel the opposite. (oh, remembering feeling). Distraught as she was she couldn't help but laugh. She shoved him off and laughed again.

"Shut it, Roxie."

"Don't call me that."

She blinked. Somehow, at some point back in time, they both had said the same thing. And from the surprise on Roxas' face, he had noticed it too. (a/n: readers of Alive: XD) "What's that...?"

"Déja vu, I think," he said. "But whatever it is, don't call me Roxie. Ever. Let's go already and get this dance over with."

----------

Axel watched as Roxas and Naminé created a joint entrance into the Corridors and portaled out. They (as he heard Roxas explain to a very amused Xemnas) were going to their Academy's annual Halloween dance, in full costume. Well, he had to admit, Naminé looked stunning as an angel (what? he did notice how girls look, thank you very much). He didn't quite approve of Roxas' costume, however. It was a costume party, so he had expected Roxas would, at least, have some burst of inspiration. The idiot dressed as a Nobody, for crying out loud (no matter how eloquently he tried to say that he was an unknown, not a nobody).

Party. Dance. Was there any difference between the two?

Whatever. As far as he could remember (from his Other's memories, that is) dances were stuffy meetings between people he didn't know. Oh, wait. A smile crept into his face as he remembered how his Other's promenade went.

"Why are you smiling?"

Axel snapped out of his daydreaming to find Larxene staring at him, a puzzled expression on her face. He waited for her to throw the usual kunai at him.

"Why are you smiling?" She asked again. He noticed her arms were crossed; he'd have enough warning if she decided to throw one.

"What? Never seen me smile before, Larx?"

Larxene flinched; Axel knew calling her by that nickname often set off one of her violent streaks of anger. But she only flinched. What was up with her? Had she taken something Vexen made to calm her? Maybe she had just killed a fellow Organization XIII member. Yeah, maybe that was it. She shook her head as if she read his mind.

"I've seen you smile far too many times more than I'd care to, but I know whether you're forcing one or if you really are smiling." She walked up to him and peered into his face. Axel's mouth fell open; he never knew Larxene even noticed his expressions, much less know whether he was faking it or not. And this was the closest she ever got to him without drawing a knife. "And right now you're smiling because I think you're happy," she continued.

Axel stared at her. Since when did she care about what he felt (fine, remembered feeling)? "I--I (and for some reason he seemed at a loss for words) remembered something. Something happy. Got it memorized?"

"Do I really want to memorize something that you're not even really feeling?"

"Shut up Larxene, don't remind me," he huffed as he turned around and started to walk away. He knew it. Whether physical, mental, or emotional torture, she knew it all.

"I remember my Other's first dance," he heard a quiet voice say behind him. He shut his mouth before it even fell open as he spun to face the blonde-haired Nobody. "Huh?"

"It was a palace ball," Larxene continued dreamily (yes, believe it or not, she was capable of doing that) as she leaned against the white wall of this white hallway, sighing. "At first she hated it, but it was there she met her perfect match... dances are so memorable..." she trailed off.

"Are you really Larxene?" Axel asked, not believing that number 12 (she's the Savage Nymph! as in savage!) could even say something about love so easily. No Nobody talked about emotions easily (look at Zexion---he's forgone emotion altogether).

She raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you were that stupid, Axel."

That's the Larxene he knew. So far.

"Then why talk about... dances...?"

"Don't deny it, you were smiling because you remembered your Other's first dance." She smiled knowingly. Another first. Usually (okay, so always) she sneered. She never smiled a sincere smile. Right until now. How did he know she wasn't faking it?

Her royal blue eyes were smiling too.

"Stop staring at me, you idiot."

----------

As far as she had read on dances, this was exactly how she envisioned one was like.

The clearing in the middle of the forest where Advanced SHM (a/n: Sword Handling and Maneuvering) field training was often held had been transformed into a posh restaurant. With all the fixings. Black-tied waiters circulated around tables seated for ten, carrying trays of assorted food (hey that looked something like wine!) The mood lighting was taken care of multicolored paper lamps that she had seen Selphie carrying around the last few days (And get singed by improper Materia handling in the process).

And the people themselves. Costumes of all sizes and shapes. Some took ideas from History; she had spotted at least three High Summoners (and one blushing Gunner) and four High Guardians (none of which were originally blonde). Some dressed as Heartless (The Rare Truffle guy was just so adorable) and Nobodies (white jumpsuited people) who got the Nobody symbol wrong (hey, she should be mad, she drew that symbol!). She caught sight of a Chocobo once. Of course there were the usual: ghosts, dead people with knives sticking out of their ribs (they really should see how Demyx looked like after a training session with Larxene), vampires, zombies, mummified people, and all the scary things young kids dream about at night.

"This is just amazing," Roxas said beside her, his eyes even wider than they usually are. "The things Selphie can do..."

Naminé grinned. And of course nobody would comment on what Roxas was wearing unless they were Nobodies themselves.

"You could've gone as a chocobo or something."

She received a withering look as a reply.

"Naminé! Roxas!" Tidus waved energetically from a table in front of them.

"There they are," she giggled, pulling Roxas by the sleeve.

He rolled his eyes and let himself get dragged along. Then he suddenly stopped short as Hayner and Olette blocked the way between the chairs. Hayner (dressed as a SeeD) raised an eyebrow as he led Olette up to where they stopped. Naminé could feel Roxas tense up as they came nearer and stopped next to them. For a split second she thought they were going to recognize Roxas.

"Uhhh..." Hayner trailed off. Olette shoved him in the ribs. "Excuse us...?"

Roxas bit his lip.

"Sure," Naminé shrugged as she went to Roxas' side to let them pass through. She patted his back comfortingly as he muttered something along the lines of "not even a simple 'haven't I seen you before' or something'. "Rox..."

"Was that Roxas?" Olette suddenly piped up, making them stare at her. "Haven't we ever met before, Roxas?"

"Yeah...you look familiar..." Hayner added.

Naminé glanced at Roxas.

"Um, whoever you are...I don't think so." he said flatly. She could only nod in agreement as guilt suddenly popped up in her head.

"Obviously," Olette giggled, making Hayner roll his eyes. "I'm Olette, and this is Hayner. From Twilight Academy."

"Right. This is Naminé, I'm Roxas. We're both from Acad of Destiny."

"Wow, catchy nickname," the brunette smiled as Hayner put an arm around her shoulders. Naminé couldn't help but smile at the spontaneous display of affection. "Come 'round our table, 'kay? We're way over there," she pointed out to a corner.

"The table with Tidus' twin, yeah," Roxas grinned. "See you."

"Nice meeting you, Hayner, Olette," Naminé waved her hand goodbye as she watched the couple thread their way through the maze of tables. She didn't have the heart (really, she didn't) to tell Roxas what she overheard the two say as they parted ways.

"Hey, Olette, now I know why he's so familiar."

"Huh?"

"It's like he's the reflection of Sora."

"Yeah..."

----------

Marluxia looked up from the sunflowers he was examining. He couldn't believe who just portaled in.

"Larxene, if you haven't noticed, you're in the wrong place."

"I'm not," replied the blonde nonchalantly as she walked among his carefully tended garden situated in a secluded corner of Radiant Garden (actually not just secluded, but heavily guarded by some Snipers he borrowed from Xigbar). The World That Never Was wasn't exactly suited to gardening. Some gardeners have problems with the lack of sunlight; Marluxia had problems because there was no sunlight.

His brows drew together as he tried to flip stray hairs out of his face and glower at the same time. "Don't touch anything."

"I'm not," she said again as she disappeared behind a cherry blossom tree (his favorite one), staring up at the swirling blizzard of petals (and when Marluxia used them, Demyx usually called it Swirling-Pink-Blizzard-of-Agonizing-Death)that was expected this season.

"What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Looking. Isn't it obvious?" She rolled her eyes. Typical of her. "Marly, has Kingdom Hearts twisted your common sense or something?"

"I didn't think you were the type who likes flowers.You're called the Savage Nymph."

"As in barbaric? Is that what you're thinking? I'm a girl, Marly."

Something was definitely up with Larxene.

"Have you been drinking Vexen's potions? Are you a test subject? Or did you just leave some drink that could tempt Demyx to taint?"

"No." She was staring up into the branches of cherry blossoms, her mouth slightly open. Was it just him, or did she look like she was actually enjoying this?

"What the hell is up with you?" He asked frustratedly.

"Nothing." She faced him, puzzled. "I just wanted to take a break."

"From what? From being the most merciless of Organization XIII!"

"Yeah."

Marluxia sighed. He had meant the last part as a joke. This conversation was going nowhere.

"Marly, have you ever thought what's the first thing you'll do after you get your own heart?" Larxene asked him, that usually sardonic tone absent.

"Huh?"

"Like..what's the first thing that comes to your mind?"

He frowned. Was the heartless Savage Nymph just a facade? Was this really who Larxene was; a calm and enjoyable young lady? It was unthinkable that Larxene was anyone else than the one who provoked Sora's anger in Castle Oblivion, that she was anyone else than a sadistic Nobody. And why would she hide behind such a facade? Maybe that was how she was able to be so unmerciful. And maybe that was why he chose her to be part of the plan to take over Castle Oblivion.

"Marly, I think you should go to Vex, Kingdom Hearts must've messed up with your head for you to keep spacing out like that." Larxene said loudly.

"I'm not spacing out. Larx... what are you really like? Are you just pretending to be somebody else?"

"Easy on the philosophical questions," she shrugged. "Am I really that different when I'm non-violent?"

"Yes."

She shrugged again. "It's not easy to be the only female in a group of thirteen psychos. No offense, but that's what we are, or what we want others to see, because essentially we've got nothing. We're only huge mistakes. All you guys have something to be feared. Me? My Other was a priestess in her time. Gentle, kind... everything I strive to be not, because I want to be different. I'm not a shadow, I'm not a reflection, I'm who I am. And it's fun to see you guys run away whenever I'm in one of my violent streaks."

"And you trust me not to tell anyone else this (the way Organization XIII works, any hint of weakness could be exploited) piece of your existence?" he asked unbelievingly, still quite surprised that Larxene's mind worked that way.

"Yes. We stood by each other in Castle Oblivion. That's enough for me."

"Larx..." he trailed off, grateful for the fact that someone trusted him in this circle of incomplete people.

"Don't worry, sooner or later I'll get violent again and I'm going to go kill Axel." She giggled softly. "I'm still thinking how, but I'll cross the bridge when I get there."

Marluxia smiled as the sakura petals continued to fall. Somehow Larxene had a human side, too, even if she was a Nobody. No heart, doomed to existence. The Savage Nymph; now laughing under a snowfall of pink. Not sadistically, not sarcastically, but because she was happy, even if she was just remembering how.

"Marly, this tree is great!"

Now he knew what he the first thing he was going to do when he had his heart restored. He'd laugh and be happy.

"Larx, you're really something..." he said quietly as he watched the blonde play among the petals.

----------

"You can sing!" Roxas grinned at a Naminé who had just collapsed on the vacant chair next to him. She had just performed in front of the whole student body; a slow version of a song titled "Sanctuary". "Really fits the moment! Aaand loverboy there---"

"Shut it, Rox," she cut him off, shooting him a glare. "You looked like you were really enjoying yourself with Kairi."

"What? It's just a dance!" He shot back, ignoring the fact that his ears were heating up. So what if he danced with Kairi? Almost every (as he had learned in the boy's bathroom) male student in the school liked her; she was a very approachable girl. Always had a ready smile for everyone. "Besides, everyone else wants to dance with her, I'm lucky I got to dance with her (right after teaching a furiously blushing Riku how to slow dance--no, he did not want to tell Naminé that Kairi was giving Riku a crash course on slow dance while she was singing), there's some kind of a line for her last dance or something."

"A line? Seriously."

Roxas rolled his eyes, Naminé still haven't noticed the guys who were actually fighting over who would get to dance with her first. He took a fork and speared a random fruit off a random plate, sticking it in his mouth.

"What is that?"

He swallowed. It was like a cross between a mango and a peach. "I dunno. I think it's safe to eat, anyway."

She reached for her own fork. "Mind if I take a taste, food inspector?"

"Go ahead, but if you don't wake up tomorrow, don't blame me," he replied absently as he chewed another piece. He bit his lip to keep from laughing as he watched Riku turn red as the girl he was currently dancing with pull him closer.

"Hey, this stuff's pretty good," Naminé said, taking another slice.

"Wipe your mouth, Nam, the juice kinda..." Roxas made a wiping motion with his hand.

"Thanks."

He fell silent. Whatever DiZ said, he knew one thing: he liked Naminé. But he's a friend; friends stay out of the way of love. He shrugged at the unfairness of it all.

"Hey, want this last one?" There was only one slice of fruit left on the white plate, and he handed the plate to her.

She stared at him. "No, you take take it," she shook her head.

Now as far as Roxas knew, it was improper for guys to take something that was supposed to go to a girl, like the last piece of something. "I don't want it, Nam."

"Well, I don't want it either."

A perfectly good piece of fruit going to waste.

"Nam.."

"Go on, it's yours."

"Uh..."

"This is getting stupid," he said loudly, knowing that given the chance this pointless conversation would go on until the dance was over. "Let's just split."

"I was going to say the same thing. Great minds think alike, I guess."

"No, you were just copying me, admit it," he snickered as he took a knife and chopped the piece into two. They both took a piece at the same time.

"Roxas, first to finish, wins," she said mischievously as she held her fork. "One, two, hey!"

He had already swallowed his piece (good thing it was soft; he couldn't die of choking that way.). "What? Is that a new counting system or something?" He laughed at the amused yet irritated expression on the blonde girl's face.

She ate her own slice and stuck out her tongue at him. "Meanie."

"Nice going you two," Tidus said, annoyed.

"What?"

"You ate my paopu fruit. I was gonna share one with Yuna..." he huffed at them. Naminé stared at him bemusedly. Roxas rolled his eyes.

"Tidus, do you really think they'd ever run out of paopu here?"

Naminé giggled. "See that guy over there? That tray he's holding...it's loaded with paopu fruit."

Irritation drained out of Tidus' face, replaced by nervousness as Yuna came up to him. "Riight. Okay, you two, I forgive you. Yuna.. uhhh, come on, I want to show you something." Mood swings were a wonderful thing, Roxas thought as he watched the two disappear into the crowd.

"They're just so cute, aren't they?" Naminé said dreamily, resting her chin in her hands.

"You know, cute is just another word for slightly ugly but still acceptable, Nam." he remarked as he dodged her hand. He smiled as they watched the dance floor. Roxas' brows drew together as he played with his fork.

"Ohhh... so that's a paopu fruit."

Naminé stared at him. He stared back and watched her blanch.

"What?"

"Roxas, I cannot believe this! I shared a paopu! with you!" she almost screamed.

"Nam, keep it down, people are staring at us!"

"Why? Why you?" she continued in a whisper no less venomous than her scream. Roxas couldn't see why she was so upset; after all, the thing about the paopu was just a stupid legend. "It's just some legend, Naminé," he voiced out his thoughts.

"I've been through far too much and seen far too many things to believe anything is a legend, Roxas."

"It's a fruit, Nam," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "And so what if we shared one? Our destinies can't get anymore tangled than they already are."

She seemed to take this in stride as she nodded thoughtfully. "You know, that makes sense. Okay, so the Paopu Effect is officially doesn't apply to us."

"Yeah. Stop worrying about the 'Paopu Effect'. You'll share a paopu with Riku someday," he dodged another one of Naminé's backhands (she was strong for a girl of her stature) and catcalled Kairi, who grinned as she took to the stage. He stole a glance at Naminé; she could sing well only because Kairi could sing, they both knew that. He couldn't see any bitterness in her expression, but Roxas knew she was (remembering!) feeling jealous inside.

"When you walk away

you don't hear me say

please oh baby, dont go--"

"C'mon, destiny, let's dance," Roxas said loudly as he pulled Naminé to the dance floor. Strangely enough, she made no protest; she only grinned back at him as she placed her hand in his.

"Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

It's hard to let go."

----------

Naminé snapped her head up from where it had been leaning on Roxas' chest a second earlier. She felt his arms wrap around her protectively they watched Sora fall from the corner hedge. She buried her face behind his arm, clutching it tightly. She didn't want to see how Sora turned from boy to broken bones.

"Nam, he'll live, he's driven into Final Form," she heard Roxas' muffled voice. "Oh, he looks pretty mad. I hate it when he rages like this..."

"What do we do?" She asked, raising her head, still not releasing her deathgrip on Roxas' arm. She had good reason to be afraid because she knew Sora killed when he was really mad. (Look at the slaughter in Castle Oblivion!) "Whatdowedowhatdowedo..." she whimpered.

Suddenly the crowd exploded into chaos as somebody screamed "Heartless!" She tightened her grip. If she had a heart, it would've been pounding really hard right now. She opened her eyes wide as she felt a portal form around her.

"Roxas! Are you crazy!" she hissed, staring up at him. No wonder people would panic. Who wouldn't if a portal of darkness suddenly sprang up in front of you? "The people!"

"Riku's here. Sora's here. Plus me equals three Wielders. That adds up to a whole lot of Heartless," he breathed. "I need to get out now."

Crazy as it sounded, Naminé had to admit, Roxas was right. She still kept a deathgrip on his arm as they stepped through the portal. She still wanted to lean on his chest, though, although she knew it was Kairi's feelings for Sora.

Naminé, stop it.

----------

That was the longest chapter I have ever written. When you get inspired... well, you get inspired. Go figure. Yeah, I'm listening to "Always on my Mind" right now. It's the music that plays when Sora and Riku close Kingdom Hearts on the opposite sides of the door. Sad... yes. Tragedy or happily ever after? Or cliffie ending? oh the possibilities... I'll try to update as soon as possible.

Read. Review. Flamers go ahead, I don't send death threats, viruses, or anything of the sort. Thanks for anything whether positive, negative, or neutral (wait... how can that happen?). Go on, click the review button. And yeah, thanks for the PM's! XD