A/N: Seven here! Why are my Nobody's Perfect chapters always longer than the Trinity ones...? Dang, this is about 30 kb on WordPad, and my regular Trinity chapters are around 23 kb... okay, enough ranting. Just read on.

Disclaimer: I think there's a huge difference between 'Numina-Namine' and 'Tetsuya Nomura'. Jeez.

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VII: Solo Flight

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Luxord was whistling, something that he hadn't done for a long time now. He ran a hand over his bleached hair (don't tell anyone it's only bleached, he prefers everyone thinks it's his natural hair color; since his natural hair color was a very nasty shade of red, thank you very much), making sure it lay flat on his head as it always did. He walked leisurely along the white halls of the Castle, searching for the perfect room for the event tonight.

Well, no-one knew yet what he was planning to do, but they'll find out soon enough. The Castle was getting more...depressed than usual. From his point of view, of course. A very depressed Naminé had portalled into her and Roxas' room last night (or so he heard from a random Dusk), fresh from what seemed to be a catfight with her Other (said Dusk related that it and its buddies had placed bets on who would die first, but they all lost, since Naminé had backed out). Then another very mad Roxas had portalled inside the Castle, taking a now-hysterical Naminé with him as they portalled out to some place Luxord had a sneaking suspicion was---no, he'd really rather not say where; it's just a sneaky suspicion.

Marluxia had taken to holing himself up in his 'Radiant' garden and had neither spoken nor tried to kill anyone (save for Axel, whose best chakram was most probably sliced in two neat pieces by a swing of Marluxia's pink scythe) , which was something very unusual for Number XI. Well, he had started holing himself up when Xemnas officially declared the Right Wing unlivable and told all its occupants to find other rooms for the time being. Naturally the long-haired brunette chose to stay in his garden, snapping at everyone who dared to come inside except for Larxene. Why? Luxord's the Gambler of Time, not the Seer of Time, so don't bother asking him.

Miraculously, no violence was reported in the Castle yesterday; no events of flying kunais or chakrams lodged in the walls; not walls crashed open by claymores, and no number Nine messing up with Vexen's potions.

That was how he defined depressed. So he thought he could shake things up with a simple game for tonight. No, of course he wasn't stupid enough to say outright that they were actually playing a game, he'd nudge his plan into place.

He was rather hoping to get Axel and Larxene together, not in the roomate sort of way, but in the way that--he needed a heart to understand that. Why he wanted to do that? No he wasn't an aspiring matchmaker, he was just trying to find out how much he can manipulate peo--nobodies.

Of course, everyone can do without a randomly flying kunai or chakram, right?

He stopped at a random door (blank, mind you, he might walk in on Xemnas and Vexen again) and opened it carefully (you may never know if it would be Zexion's closet of undone Sudoku puzzles, or Roxas' collection of fluffy bedroom slippers). A glass case was inside, containing what seemed to be a woman's bronze mask connected to tubing. Lettered on the top was 'the Jenova Project'. Now if this was Demyx he'd go straight and take the lid off, but no, this was Luxord, the fine gentleman (unless he was losing a gamble) and he slowly backed away out of the room, closing the door silently behind him.

He walked again up to the next door. It was said collection of fluffy bedroom slippers, all in either a shade of yellow or blue. He snitched a pair decorated with a chocobo head and went on his way.

Next door contained all the old sphere movies Axel used for blackmail; there was the one where he filmed Larxene singing in the shower (and notice how the sphere is cracked from where it hit Axel's head when Larxene chucked it at him), and there was also the one where he had filmed the Superior gelling his hair (That sphere Axel had never used; simply because he was too busy finding out why he would blackmail the Superior in the first place). Luxord rummaged through the pile and found the sphere recording of him singing at the top of his voice (hey, he was drunk, it was unavoidable) on the top of the dining room table.

Next door he found Xaldin's spare lances, and a box of multicolored plastic beads that looked suspiciosly like the colored version of the black ones in his dreadlocks. He'd really love Xaldin in a multicolored 'do, that'd brighten up everyone's day. Maybe he could bribe Axel and Roxas to put them in while number Three's asleep. He picked up the entire box and shoved it into one of the slippers.

Next door he found Saïx's secret all-natural hair conditioner stash. He nicked one and went on his way, whistling.

Two hours and twenty doors later, his arms full of cosmetics, junk food, and bedroom accessories, Luxord finally decided that he'd hold the game in the dining hall, right after dinner. Yes, that was a better idea than finding an empty room in the Castle.

Whistling happily he spun on his heels and portalled out, snatching at a shampoo sachet at the last second.

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"Roxas, seriously, my ears are ringing."

"I should've talked to him. I should've talked to him."

Naminé watched him pace, his black shoes making a constant quiet thud on the paved walkway. She sighed and took out her sketchpad from her shoulder bag (never mind that's it a pink to rival Marluxia's scythe). She resisted the temptation to chew the end of her pencil, seeing firsthand how someone looked so retarded doing that (She'd never look the same way at Zexion doing his Sudoku puzzle again).

Well, she couldn't blame Roxas for being worried about his Other. The details weren't clear, but she had been crying quietly in her room the night before when a very disgruntled Roxas portalled in and grabbed her wrist, muttering something about hearts and breaking them, before portalling out to the house she supposed Riku and Sora shared. (Well, she had never actually been there before, Riku walked her home, not the other way around. Wait. When she was still merged with Kairi she actually had... it's giving her a headache, so let's move on) As soon as she appeared in what she supposed was the living room a white-faced Kairi had shot her a very irritated look.

Enough reason for her to sit on the seat farthest from where her Other was sitting. Roxas related to her in an undertone that the chains she had placed were now starting to break; and that Kairi was getting more and more pissed with each of her returning memories. Naminé had not dared to look Kairi in the eye last night.

She, Kairi, Riku, and Roxas had tried the best that they could to make Sora come out of his room, but to no avail. Every approach they tried were met by stony silence. Roxas had suggested breaking down his door, but Riku said he'd rather pass, for Sora had used the Keyblade to seal said bedroom door, and only his Keyblade could unseal it again. It was past midnight when they parted ways, and she portalled out behind Roxas, still afraid of Kairi's glare.

Why did her chains start to break down? She didn't know.

Will her chains continue to break down? If she didn't focus, they most probably will.

She shook her head vehemently, ignoring her inner monologue. "Roxas. Please. Stop." she said quietly, looking up from the open sketchpad on her lap. The boy paid her no heed and continued pacing. It was one trait he had inherited from his Other; both could be stubborn as hell if they wanted to.

"Come off it, you guys," Kairi said dismissively, waving a hand around. "Bipolar that he is, I bet you he'd walk through that gate as if all's fine and dandy."

"You are the most insensitive girl I have ever come to know," Roxas said curtly, stopping his pacing on the walkway.

"But it's true, and you know it."

Her brows furrowed at the tone of her Other's voice; it was almost offhandedly, the way she said it. She knew Kairi could never hate Sora, but from the way she acted now, she highly doubted that fact.

"Kairi, I think you should tone it down a bit," Riku said quietly, his mouth curving in a disapproving way. She glanced at him quickly before tearing away her gaze; after what had happened last night; she wasn't sure if she could look straight at him ever again.

"Riku. I am absolutely sure that he'll push this away, just as he pushed me away," Kairi laughed bitterly. "He's always been a happy boy."

Always been a happy boy? Have these people never seen Sora's angry side? From Naminé's first impression of Sora, she thought he was a cold-blooded Keyblade Master. Well, he did finish Larxene off quite nicely, but she had been terrified of his reaction when he found out she'd been implanting false memories in his head.

Oh. He didn't just finish off Larxene; he had practically wiped out the whole Organization XIII in a fit of rage; trying to find Naminé in Castle Oblivion, and trying to find Kairi hidden deep inside the Castle That Never Was.

"No he wasn't." She pointed out (and surprised at how her voice turned out to be even). "He killed the Organization. You don't think he's happy doing that, do you?"

Kairi raised an auburn eyebrow. "How would I know? You chained my memories down in the first place. You're scary for a friend, you know, and I'm still waiting for your explanation on why you would do that."

She bit her lip and bowed her head, not daring to say that she was only doing that because that was what Sora had wanted; he didn't want Kairi to go rushing after him just because he had brought back the very people he had killed a long time ago.

"Okay, here's the deal," the auburn-haired girl said loudly, making everyone's head swivel to her direction. "If Sora walks through that gate as if nothing's happened, we forget everything that had happened (she threw a not-literally look at Naminé) and we all become friends again, no bitterness, no nothing. Even Sora. Otherwise...well, you may forget that you have even met a Kairi Dalmasca in your lives."

Naminé felt her mouth drop open as she comprehended what Kairi was gambling about, and yes, it was a very risky gamble she was taking. She gripped her pencil and started to draw, trying to ignore Kairi's proposition.

"Hey!"

Her hand, about to make the outline of a face, froze above the white leaf of her sketchpad. She didn't need to look up to know whose voice that was, but, stunned as she is, she looked up nevertheless. The very Wielder they had been arguing about was waving at them energetically as he ran up to them, not a trace of sadness present on his face.

She heard Kairi say a faint "I told you so," before walking out briskly to where Sora stood.

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"Stop laughing!"

Axel muffled his mouth with a gloved hand (never mind where said gloved hand had been today, as long as it smelled alright), collapsing on the bed on his side of the room. He couldn't help it.

"I said stop laughing, you idiot!"

He quickly dove under the white (as if it'd be any other color) covers of his bed, laughing as he did so. He peeked out from under it to see the kunai lodged in the wall where his head would've been if he hadn't ducked (now how many times had that happened? He would've long faded by now if Larxene had caught on the fact that everytime she threw a kunai Axel always ducked out of the trajectory).

"Oh I hate you so much!" she screamed, chucking another kunai at him before burying her face into one of her pillows, her face a very deep shade of scarlet. Axel could hear a moan that sounded very much like a muffled 'I hate you Xemnas'.

"I-is it true, Superior?" he managed to get in between hysterical fits of laughter.

"Yes. I do not get what is it that you find amusing about this, Axel."

He laughed even more. "T-the Savage Nymph...oh the Savage Nymph, she can actually play violin! Simply amazing, Larxy!" He dodged another kunai, thrown by a furiously blushing number Twelve.

"Well, ignore Axel." The Superior said in a huff, facing Larxene. "I have just come from Disney Castle, and--"

"Whoa! Superior! You actually went there!" Axel stopped laughing, a look of awe on his face. "How come you aren't--"

"Axel, silence (in that melodramatic tone he always used, all he needed now was a dramatic atmosphere and theme music). They need a violinist."

"And so! Superior!" she almost howled into her pillow. Axel started laughing again. He never knew that Larxene had, of all things, stage fright.

"You play violin, correct?"

"But why do we have to help the King in this stupid Knighting in the first place?"

Xemnas almost rolled his eyes, but no, he was the Superior, he never rolled his eyes. "We are not helping the King. You just have to keep an eye on the two Wielders who are to be knighted. Sora and Riku."

"Oh please, what can possibly happen to them? I might as well kill the two! Why not send Demyx, he's the Melodious Nocturne, for crying out loud!"

"Kairi will recognize him."

"So?"

"Most likely she'd attack Demyx on the spot, screaming that Organization XIII is back. We work covertly, Twelve."

"Oh cut it out!"

Axel dodged another knife, he had been playing an imaginary violin a second ago. "What? Just imagining how'd you look like!"

"Stop throwing knives and doing terrible imitations of a musical performance." It was amazing how the Superior can make a scathing reply seem so boring.

"I propose a deal, then. Larxene, if you play on the Royal Orchestra tonight, I shall give you permission to move to your own room."

The blonde only moaned into her pillow.

"Three minutes. Disney Castle Library and Archives." And with a dramatic flip of his coat the Superior vanished into a portal.

"Hey, I never knew you liked music, let alone play a violin, Larxene."

She lifted her head up and stared at him for a good minute before chucking the pillow into his face. "I'm not the one who knows how to play, it's my Other, you idiot."

"So what? You can play, right?"

"..."

"Larxene?"

"Larx?"

"Larxy?"

She threw another kunai at him before vanishing into a portal of her own. For some reason, Axel felt a twinge in his nonexistent heart; Larxene chose stage fright over him (what? that was what it essentially was). Well, he understood why she wanted a separate room from her own killer (yes, he admitted it, she died because of his betrayal), but still...

Axel, what are you thinking!

He shook his head violently and portalled out, trying to find something to shove the thought of Larxene out of his head.

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Roxas watched Kairi's expression as she unfolded the note he had passed from Naminé to her. He wished he didn't, since the redhead then shot him one of her infamous death glares.

"Seriously, I'm terrified," he heard Naminé whisper.

He was tempted to say me too, but no, he was supposed to be the unfeeling one, so he shut his mouth and exchanged glances with the pale blonde instead.

What was up with Sora? The brunette's sanity must've already snapped. There he was, laughing at Tidus' imitation of Prof. Luccia's accent, as if nothing had happened the day before. He'd talked to them and chatted as if it was a perfectly normal day. Kairi was so freaked out that her fingernails left red marks on Riku's arm (well, he made clear to Naminé that he did not like claw marks on his own arm, so the girl clutched onto his backpack instead).

Any other time Roxas would've been relieved that Sora had gotten over the fact that his princess was ready to forget him, but he expected it to take a year at most. Sora had gotten over it in less than twenty-four hours, for crying out loud. He knew for a fact that his Other felt things more deeply than he let on(he'd been stuck in Sora's head, remember?), but this was insane. Sora was insane.

"Roxas!" Naminé hissed, shoving her drawing pencil over her table, and drawing his attention to the crumpled ball of paper Kairi had dropped. He surreptitiously picked both pencil and note, praying that the professor was too preoccupied to notice him. What was it with girls and notes, anyway? They could just wait for the class to end and talk outside, but no, they had to pass notes here in homeroom, and if anyone would get caught, it would be him. He rolled his eyes and Naminé elbowed him in the side.

"Hey--"

"Kirisawa? Hikari? Vat iz it that you vind vunny in my clazz?" Roxas struggled not to roll his eyes again, obviously, it was her accent. Tidus wiped his face clean of any trace of laughter (he was good at that), but all of the other people around him were struggling to contain their laughter. Sora was the one who failed the most miserably.

The professor, a severe woman with a prominent forehead, very thick glasses, a schoolmarm outfit, and dark blue hair tied up in a ponytail, raised a very thin eyebrow. "Detention zounds nice, doezn't it?"

Now, most of the normal student population would quail under that raised eyebrow, but Sora just grinned. That settled the fact that he was absolutely not a normal student.

"What does he think he's doing..?" he heard Naminé breathe down his neck. Her chair was now so close to his that if he stood up, she'd instantly fall down because she was actually leaning on him. He gave her a puzzled glance, and she immediately moved her chair away from his as fast as she could, her face scarlet.

Sora was shaking his head as he beamed up at the professor. "Uh, sorry, Prof. Luccia, but I kinda got somewhere to go to after class."

"And where might that ve?"

The dismissal bell rung as he rummaged in his bag and produced a tightly rolled piece of parchment bearing King Mickey's seal. The professor's raised eyebrow was now threatening to disappear into her hair, and that was saying something, since her hairline was about five inches from her eyebrows (yes, her forehead was that large).

"Don't worry, prof, I'll take the detention the next homeroom. I'll take everyone's detention; you can keep me here 'till midnight."

Cheers erupted from their classmates (mostly from those who were laughing at Tidus) and slapped the brunette on the back, whose grin was now so wide his face could actually crack. Tidus looked the most relieved; Roxas knew that he had promised to walk Yuna home today (and face her father, a very comandeering man named Braska; he had moaned over this fact the whole lunch break).

Sora suddenly turned to them, his grin fading into a smile, but still...Roxas slightly leant back. The redhead on his right would take the most of the damage if Sora suddenly went berserk, but hey! Kairi should get what she deserved, breaking his Other's heart just like that.

"So. You three coming with me and Riku tonight?" he asked.

Under any other circumstance, Roxas would've said yes, since he'd rather not be caught in another crossfire involving chakrams and kunais. But this wasn't any other circumstance, so he was currently racking his brain on how to say no in a good way.

"Uhhhm... I think no." Naminé stammered. "W-we have a..."

Think, Roxas, think!

"...it's that Lifestream Physics homework. It's kinda difficult," he continued. "Naminé has to teach me how exactly to do it."

It was true, he was going to ask her to tutor him, but he still winced at the glare the blonde shot at him, which said no-way-am-I-going-to-teach-you very much clearly.

Sora shrugged offhandedly. "Last time I took Physics it gave me one heck of a workout. I was never the same since."

Kairi exchanged bewildered glances with him and Naminé before sinking into deep thought (either that, or she was too freaked out to say something in front of the bipolar Wielder).

"Kairi! Did you eat today?" the brunette suddenly asked, waving a hand in front of the redhead.

"Huh? Of course I did! Why're you asking?"

"You keep spacing out on me."

"Uhm..."

"You're gonna go with us, right?"

"Yes, yes, sure, Sora, " Kairi answered.Roxas noticed that her chair was slowly moving towards his own.

"Alright!" he exclaimed, punching his fist in the air. "Riku'll pick you up at around seven. What about you two?" He turned his attention on him and Naminé. They simultaneously took in a sharp breath, and Roxas was suddenly very aware of how dull Sora's eyes were. For once he didn't mind Naminé's deathgrip on his arm; in fact, it felt positively comforting.

"Toldja we can't, Physics homework," he said in what he hoped was a normal voice, focusing not on his eyes, but on his eyebrows (stupid as it may sound, it was way better than staring into those eyes of Sora's).

"Well, say hi to the neighbors for me."

Neighbors? What neighbors?

Naminé discreetly traced the letters XIII on his arm (never mind her touch left his skin feeling very tingly)and squeezed his hand tightly (again, never mind the tingly feeling).

Oh. Those neighbors.

He determinedly avoided Kairi's once more bewildered stare and said quickly, "Yeah, okay. Come on, Nam, you'd better get started on teaching me that homework." He stood up and swung his backpack over his shoulder (in which he had already packed his things; he always believed in hasty escapes), grabbed Naminé's wrist (not the hand, they were friends, she made that clear as crystal), and threw Kairi what he supposed to be an apologetic look.

He had never been in so much of a hurry to get out of the classroom in his entire nonexistence. As soon as they were out that door Naminé pulled her hand out of his grip. He faced her, wearily expecting a lecture on leaving friends in tight situations.

"I am absolutely not teaching you Lifestream Physics, Roxas," she hissed. "I have my own homework to do, and--"

"But there's no school tomorrow!" he pleaded. "I'm going to flunk it if you don't teach me!" And for added measure, he pulled on his puppy-dog eyes look, at which Naminé's expression softened visibly. Yes, the puppy eyes always worked, especially when he was desperate. "I wasn't making it up, really, I can't understand the---"

"Oh, shut it, Rox," she sighed resignedly. "Alright. I'm sure that if I'd say no you'd pester me to death." And with that she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the hallway.

He had half a mind to point out the fact that she was holding his hand, and people would have the wrong impression, but as her fingers curled tightly around his own... well, he'd decided he'd rather not.

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Larxene stared around Disney Castle's Audience Hall, and she could feel the color drain out of her face. That was a weakness she shared with Naminé (although she'd rather share a room with Axel for the rest of her nonexistence that admit that). She hated large gatherings of people, especially those particular gatherings where they were watching her.

She resisted the urge not to portal out right then and there as she watched the King try to get the attention of someone hshe supposed was the conductress. Damn you Demyx, why the hell did you have to tell the Superior I can play violin!

Well, not exactly, it was her Other who had learned to play the violin, and she had only inherited her (actually very good) talents, thank you very much. She tapped her foot impatiently, trying to bore a hole in the back of the King's head. Finally Shelinda noticed that the King was trying to get her attention for the last fifty seconds, and she was now apologizing profusely.

"It is understandable, Shelinda. I have found you a violinist."

She was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts as the King swept a gloved hand towards her.

What, am I supposed to curtsy or something? Xemnas, as of now, I officially hate you.

The conductress looked at her in the most annoying appraising look Larxene had ever endured.

Don't throw a kunai. Don't throw a kunai. Don't throw a kunai.

"Play for her." King or not, she still shot the mouse in front of her one of the deadliest glares she had at her disposal before resignedly taking out the violin the King had lent her an hour ago.

I'm gonna kill Demyx. I'm gonna kill Demyx.

She took a deep breath, placed the bow on the strings of the violin, shut her eyes tight, and played her Other's favorite tune; a violin solo dedicated to a High Summoner a long time ago. The motions came to her naturally (it was memories from her Other) and the hall was completely silent when she stopped.

I'm gonna kill Demyx.

Applause suddenly erupted around her, and she winced at the volume. Normally she'd have cast Thundaga on all of them, but this required self-restraint.

Breathe, Larxene. Breathe. Kill Demyx later.

"I have never heard anything of the like, girl," the conductress said breathlessly (oh my god were those tears? Emotions were weird, how could a violin solo do that?). "Where did you learn to play like that?"

Larxene's hand strayed to the inside of her sleeve and her fingers almost closed on the cool metal of a kunai before she restrained herself. She shot the brunette her coldest glare instead. "First of all, don't call me girl, I have a name. And secondly, if I told you where, you most probably won't believe me."

Well ,she probably won't, who would believe that she's a Nobody? As far as she knew, half of the Court dismissed Organization XIII as the rantings of a madman (Ah, DiZ, you shall forever be remembered), and the other half refused to talk on said subject.

The King sighed audibly. "She is a bit feisty, but nothing (Larxene threw the King another glare, that was practically insulting) you cannot handle. Off with you two, and make sure tonight will be perfect."

She sighed as she turned her attetion back to her violin. If she was going to play tonight, she'd better play the best she possibly can, so the Superior won't have any complaints, and that she would finally be able to get her own room.

Yes. For my own room. That was a motivating thought.

"I am the Court Conductress, Shelinda," the brunette said loudly, snapping her out of her thoughts on how to kill number Nine.

Larxene, be civil. Yes. For my own room. She sighed again and stared at Shelinda. "I didn't exactly wish to be here, but... Larxene's the name."

Never mind that she was starting to sound like a lunatic. For my own room.

"Well, Larxene, the violinist you are replacing has a solo violin in the Knighting's final waltz, and--"

"What!"

"Ashe has the solo part---"

I am absolutely not going to play solo!

"Larxene, for someone of your talent, the piece will come naturally, and..."

She tuned out Shelinda's ramble (something about natural talent and constant practice) and debated with herself. Which would she rather do: play in front of the whole court or share a room with Axel for... who knows how long!

Wait.

"Shelinda, we are going to play sometime other than that...that final waltz, right?"

"Yes, yes, of course we are."

Larxenen didn't notice the puzzled expression on Shelinda's face as she smiled. Xemnas only wanted a violin performance, right? Screw Sora and Riku, most likely if she sees them, she'd chuck kunais in their faces. Maybe there was a way out of this, and she could still get her own room.

"This Ashe... where does she live...?"

Hah. Larxene playing violin was something I had in mind the whole time, but I just realized that it's gonna clash with the next chapter, so...man, I think next chapter's gonna be longer. She can't play violin that night 'coz Luxord has somethin' planned. What is it? If you know Luxord, you know what he's planning.

Question! Uhm... What exactly are Mary Sues...?

Yay for reviews!

Teh Pwnful Kiwi So it's either Sora, Riku, or Kairi...? Oh yeah... might turn out to be Larxel, this one. Might.

darkdude71 Kairi is heartless when she wants to be, you know. Screw princess of light-stereotype. Yay for reality!

Skitty 2004 I'm not even sure if Sora's sane in the first place. XD

hikari-aozora Actually in Japanese tradition, last names go first, so it's gonna be Hikari Sora. But I'm adopting the western style, so first names, well, go first. And sorry if I made you sad, but every multi-chapter in my head has somebody kicking the bucket. Man, I'm such a depressed author.

Masked Felix You do have something against the King, dontcha? Is it the squeaky voice, or his horrible fashion sense? And yeah, the search engine's dead for the past couple of days.

The Superior Dang, you're one funny dude. Powpoo... way better.

Arie Under Pressure You're very much welcome.

Namine's Heart Ahhh, my nonexistent heart fills with joy reading your words...XD

Chocolate bars for everyun! NYUUU!

Oh. Next chapter's almost exclusively about Nobodies, since Roxas and Naminé aren't going to the Knighting.