"So what did you do to her, Roxas?" Pence asked suspiciously.
"For the last time, I didn't do a damn thing!" Roxas growled, "I just found her on the ground like this!" He pointed at Namine's lifeless form. "I don't know what happened to her."
"Sure you don't," Hayner mumbled sarcastically.
"She sure is cold," Olette informed the boys, a worried look on her face. "It's like she's been put inside a fridge and was turned into ice." She tried to touch Namine's forehead, but quickly snapped her hand back like the girl was on fire. "I can't touch her! It's like she's got stingers or something."
"What?" Hayner and Pence asked at the same time, surprised.
Roxas looked at Namine and shook his head. "She doesn't have stingers," he said, "She's just so cold that anything or anyone near her will instantly feel her temperature. Think of her as a 'crystallized maiden'. Only that she's really cold and jagged." He sighed. "What could've done this to her?"
"Who knows?" Pence remarked, "But who or whatever did, was really merciless. She could end up dying like this."
Roxas glared at him. "Not if I can help it!" He picked up Namine, ignoring the painful ice that entered his skin. "I'll try and take care of her in any way I can." He carried her back to his house.
"You guys are SO insensitive!" Olette hissed at Hayner and Pence, "Can't you tell that Roxas is in love with Namine?"
"Sorry," Pence said solemnly,"I didn't mean to hurt him like that. I was just being honest."
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Roxas laid Namine down on his bed and sat down on a chair beside her. Don't die on me, Namine. I need you. You're one of my bestest friends and I...I really like you. But I just wish that I could be something more to you. He sighed and buried his face in his arms that were resting on his bed. "But I just can't," he whispered.
Light. Roxas rose and found himself standing in the middle of a room with a white, circular platform below him. What the heck just happened? One second I'm in my room, the next...I'm in HERE! He looked to his left and saw a flight of spiraling stairs leading downward. "Where do you lead to?" he asked and walked it.
"Don't stop walking," a voice whispered, echoing around the stunned blonde, "You will find the person you seek. All it takes is courage."
"Who's there?" Roxas asked boldly, not halting in his tracks. He turned around and found the steps behind him melting away. "Shoot!" He quickly turned back around and ran down the stairs. He was only a few feet from the ground, but the steps beneath him vanished, and he landed on the glass floor with a small thud. "Ow," he moaned and rubbed his throbbing head. He looked up ahead and found a very familiar figure imprisoned inside a block of ice. He took a closer look and cried out, "Namine!"
Namine seemed to have heard his call because she opened her eyes and looked at him longingly. "Roxas," she begged, "Please, help me. I don't have much time." She reached out to him, but only managed to touch the walls of the solid ice block.
"Namine, what happened?" Roxas asked, connecting his finger tips with hers through the transparent wall. "Why are you in there?"
"I was just with Sora walking down in the Sandlot, but then he collapsed. I ran over to help him, but felt as if though my heart was litreally stolen and ended up here. It's so cold..." She sniffed as tears flowed from her shimmering blue eyes. "This may be the end for me." She pushed herself away from the wall and floated freely in the block.
"Don't say that!" Roxas chided, "It's not the end!" He watched her disappear further into the darkness. "I'm here for you, Namine! Now and forever! And I won't give up until I get you out of here and back into the real world!" He pounded his fist on the icy wall, but hissed when pain shot through his hand. It's not working! He suddenly felt a jolt of energy run through his whole body. He looked at his hand and a keyblade appeared in it. Without thinking much about it, he struck the ice prison.
"Oh," Namine gasped lightly. She watched him strike the persistent wall repeatedly and smiled. You try so hard, Roxas. Am I really THAT important to you? Everything around her started to glow. She felt Roxas strike the wall one last time and everything shattered to the floor. She felt herself leave the air and head for the ground, but then sighed with relief when she saw that Roxas had caught her. She looked up at him and he smiled at her. She blushed and said, "Thank you."
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Roxas brought his head back up again and found himself back inside his room. He looked towards Namine and found her still asleep. He felt his heart drop. It was all just a dream. He looked down at her and leaned down close to her ear. He felt her warm breath on his neck and whispered softly, "I'm sorry." He nearly jumped when he felt a warm hand on his arm. He pulled away slightly and found that she was awake...and warm! "Namine!"
Namine sat up and touched her chest, feeling her heartbeat. "Sora was right," she mumbled, "I DO have a heart. I just never took notice until someone reached out to it. That someone...is you, Roxas." She smiled fondly at him. "Thank you." She gave him a hug.
"I'm just glad that you're back," Roxas replied. He was confused when Nmaine slightly pulled away from him and looked at him in the eye. "What's wrong?" He instantly froze when she gently placed his lips on hers. What's going on? Is she KISSING me? For real? He felt his face heat up and his heartbeat quicken.
Namine felt his body tense in her kiss and broke away. "I'm sorry," she apologized, blushing furiously, "I let my feelings and emotions get the best of me again." She looked away. I can't believe I did that. He probably hates me right now. She gasped as she felt her head being gently turned around and looked into Roxas' deep blue eyes. "U-huh?"
"Don't apologize," Roxas whispered, "You've granted my greatest wish." He leaned forward and kissed Namine lovingly, running his hands through her silky blonde hair. Thank you...Namine. He pulled away for some air and asked, "So what happened to you?"
Namine was still blushing and timidly answered, "Someone must've casted some spell or something. That was probably the cause because there IS no other explanation."
"I hope it wasn't Riku."
"What?"
"You see, Riku and I formed some sort of a ritual to get me and Sora back to our original bodies. It must've had an effect on you, too." Roxas looked down. "I'm sorry."
At first, Namine's expression was that of shock and disbelief, but then she flashed a smile. "Why did you want to be back so bad?"
"Because I...I missed you. Even though it wasn't a long time, I already missed you. I guess what I'm trying to say is that...um...I-I love you." Roxas forced himself to look into the blonde girl's eyes when he said the last three words. "I really do love you."
Namine giggled and gave him a quick kiss. "I love you, too."
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Again, corny! Waaahhh! I just can't help it! Romantic corniness became a habit after reading some fics. Hmmm...