In a few weeks, Naminé's medicine was gone, and she woke to flower petals on her pillow.

Aerith refilled her supply, but urged her to take action soon. The medicine was only to ease the pain, after all, not stop the hanahaki from spreading.

Naminé had hoped to muster the courage to say something - anything - but everytime she looked into his eyes, it never felt right. She'd still just become whole, and there were many more pressing matters at hand. So instead, everyday she'd swallow the words that had danced in her head the night before and poured all of her energy into tracing Sora's memories.

Seeing the way Riku's face lit up everytime she showed him a drawing of another vision made it all worthwhile anyways.

Not much new or substantial had been seen. More cityscapes of what she assumed was the same metropolis, occasionally a memory of a past adventure or, if Naminé was sitting with Kairi, often a recounting of one of their moments together.

Naminé visited Kairi in the mornings, and though she slumbered, unable to respond with words, the visions Naminé received of Sora's memories told her enough.

She showed no one else their memories together, already feeling like she'd intruded enough viewing them herself. Naminé could only hope that in return for her vulnerability, Kairi would be able to recover her own lost memories.

To both her delight and the detriment of her medicinal supply, she saw Riku daily, though their sessions together weren't nearly as emotionally charged as the first.

"So, what are we supposed to talk about exactly?" He'd asked the first time.

She'd shrugged. "Anything you like, I suppose, until I figure out how my powers work."

And so they had, and though not every visit gave her a vision, she was content to just talk and learn more about him. And hoped he felt the same.

One day, they moved their conversation from within the castle to the gardens outside. Between the towering walls, the maze of hedges, and the tall water fountains, Naminé was confident no one would be able to see or hear them.

"You know," she said, taking a seat on one of the benches, "I feel bad that I don't know more about you. We did spend a whole year together."

He stretched but opted to remain standing. "That was different. For both of us."

"Maybe if I'd had a heart back then…"

He chuckled. "I promise it wasn't you. I had one, and I was probably the worst company to have back then."

She giggled. "I suppose. I'm just happy to finally hear your side of Sora's memories."

"Yea-wait what?" He froze mid-stretch, with his arms frozen above his head.

Naminé sensed his shift and panicked. Had she said something wrong? She'd assumed he knew that she'd seen Sora's earliest memories, but perhaps not. Was he...embarrassed? She fumbled with her sketchbook and contemplated lying or changing the subject, but she needed to be honest if they were going to get anywhere - with Sora's memories or otherwise.

She waited for his arms to finally drop to his sides before responding. "I've seen many of Sora's memories, including ones from his early childhood...many with you there."

She was gifted with an expression she'd never seen from Riku before. Normally so calm and well put together, it quickly changed. His eyes went wide, his face as bright as the sun

He sank beside her on the bench. "So you've seen...everything embarrassing I've ever done basically."

"Only what Sora knows about." She tried to reassure him, but realized she'd probably said something worse. Again.

"So the time we raced on the beach after it rained?"

"Y-yes, with the slippery mud."

"And the time I was late to class."

She stifled a giggle. "And you still forgot your-"

"Don't. I get it." He slouched in his seat and quickly covered his face with his hands. "Why didn't I realize this earlier? You sifted through Sora's memories, of course you know."

Embarrassment was an interesting emotion, if it could even be counted as one. Nobodies, beings who supposedly couldn't feel emotions, still often acted to avoid shame and humiliation.

Naminé couldn't speak from experience, having no childhood to be embarrassed about, but Riku's shame was unique. From Sora's perspective, he hadn't had that many moments of humiliation. He'd had a habit of talking a big game and playing himself up, experiencing shame mostly when he couldn't meet the expectations he'd set himself up for. A lost race or sparring match, or failing to row himself one-handed through heavy tides.

She didn't need Sora's memories to know what he was mostly ashamed of, but that wasn't what this was about.

Seeing Riku in such a state surprised her. It was as if a wall had crumbled - one that he hadn't wanted to fall down quite yet. He'd never been more vulnerable in front of her, and she felt the need to comfort him in the same way he had for her.

"Riku, it's okay." She reached out and touched his arm. "Sora's memories of you brought only joy from your childhoods together." He finally pulled his hand down his face and regarded her. His cheeks were as bright as the roses that bloomed around them, but she resisted the urge to laugh. "Plus," she added. "Your memories are safe with me. I would never…" she paused, biting her lip to buy her time to find the right words. "I'd never use them against you or pry where I'm not wanted."

The tension in his shoulders began to dissipate. His eyes grew wide again, not with horror and humiliation, but with something new. "Really?" he asked, and lowered the arm she touched to rest between them.

Her fingers trailed down his gloved forearm before stopping at his wrist. "I meant what I said, about getting to know you better. Anything you choose to reveal stays with me. Even if the Organization were to reappear and try to force them out of me, I'd never let them."

"Don't...don't joke about that." His gaze softened.

"I'm serious," she said, tracing small circles. "And besides, memories will only get me so much."

"What do you mean?"

"I want to hear your memories from you, Riku, not from my powers, or Sora, or anyone else."

For a moment, Riku froze, his mouth hanging open as if he was about to respond. Her nerves kept her hand in place just below his hand, but she also wanted to leave that doorway open. To give him the chance to close the distance or back away if he wanted. After a minute of contemplative silence, he answered her, moving his hand beneath hers so her fingers brushed his palm. He squeezed her hand lightly and nodded. "Thank you."

She smiled brightly, uncontrollably. "If only I hadn't been a Nobody, or else I'd repay you by telling childhood stories of my own."

He chuckled. "That's okay, I'll find other ways to get you back."

Naminé tried to think of a place in her heart where he wasn't welcome, and came up empty. As she imagined what he could possibly come up with, another vision hit her.

The backdrop of the vast dark city was the same, but this time her point of view was elevated. Almost like Sora was on a rooftop. A face she hadn't seen before confronted her from straight ahead. Her sketchbook was already in front of her, so her pencil began to move right away.

Faces certainly weren't her strength, but this one in particular resembled one she'd drawn a few times.

She came back to Riku watching her with silent anticipation. By then, he could recognize when her focus shifted and merely sat and waited for her to finish. When she pulled her hand back, his head tilted to the side to get a better look.

"Are you drawing...me?"

Not today, she refrained from saying aloud.

"I don't think so." She pulled out her colored pencils and began shading in the features. "Not your replica either. This man's eyes had different colors, and I don't think you've ever wielded a weapon like this one." Her hand drifted down the page and tapped at the crossbow she'd roughly sketched.

His expression wasn't necessarily hostile or angry, but at the same time he wasn't smiling either. The fact that his weapon had been directed at her vision's point of view - at Sora - didn't sit well.

"Do you think he's in danger?" She asked.

"Sora's always in danger."

She giggled at that, whether it was meant as a joke or not. "I...I don't know who this is, and I can't really feel any emotions through these memories."

"I'd remember meeting another person who resembles me this much."

"Maybe someone else will recognize him."

And so the focus shifted from gathering more memories to finding the man's identity. Neither the Restoration Committee nor anyone in the castle recognized him. Their initial reactions had been the same as Riku's, and by the time they'd finished showing everyone, Naminé considered prefacing each conversation with an 'it's not Riku' disclaimer.

In the evening, Naminé fell with a plop onto her bed, only for a knock at her doorway to bring her back to a decent sitting position.

"No luck?" Riku leaned against her room's entryway. She shook her head and motioned for him to come in. He took up the same position against her desk, standing and facing her with folded contemplative arms. "Maybe we should ask people...off world."

"Like in Twilight Town?"

"Or the Land of Departure, Mickey's Castle, anywhere Sora had travelled, really."

"That's...alot of places." She hid her hands beneath her legs and slouched her back.

He ducked his head and averted his gaze. "I'd hate to leave after promising Kairi I'd be here."

He had promised to be with her everyday, that she'd never be alone, but he hadn't been the only one to make that promise. Her mind began to wander, and she hated the suggestion that soon spilled from her mouth. "What if...I stayed and you went?"

His eyebrows raised, and he seemed much more relieved at her idea than she was. Maybe the thought of being apart for so long didn't pain him as much.

"You wouldn't mind?" He asked.

"I'd be fine, probably more worried about you travelling alone." A lie and a truth told together.

He nodded. "First, we'll ask everyone we can call, to save the trip. If we get any leads, we'll follow those. If not, then I guess we've got quite the search effort."

She wanted to protest her own suggestion. To guarantee that Kairi would be fine and safe. The thought of travelling the worlds with Riku, even if it wasn't quite a vacation, sounded wonderful.

But she knew going with him would only slow everything down. The guilt from leaving Kairi alone would weigh heavily, and anything she could do to help unlock her memories was more important than any wish fulfilment. Not to mention how much she'd slow Riku down if they needed to fight anything. She couldn't deny that the image of Riku standing between her and danger, Keyblade drawn and battle-ready, sent a delightful shiver up her spine, but again, it was too selfish.

"Naminé?"

She blinked and realized her lips had been hanging slightly open. A quick shake of her head brought her mind back to the present.

"You zoned out for a sec. Everything okay?" He was still in the same position she'd last seen him in, only with his head tilted inquisitively to the side.

"Y-yeah. Just going through plans in my head." She couldn't keep lying to him about her thoughts forever. Riku was good at reading people, especially people he knew, but if he noticed her evasion, he never brought it up. "Who should we call first?" She asked, deciding to stay on topic.

"The ones who know the most, probably. Terra, Aqua, and Ven."

"Sorry, I can't say we know him," Aqua said, as all three of them tried to fit into the screen's tiny frame.

"Who is it? I can't see," Ven said.

"Riku and Naminé."

"Oh, hey guys! Can't say I recognize him, but he does look familiar, like I've seen him somewhere."

"Very helpful, Ven," Terra nudged him. "I'm glad your powers are back, Naminé, but there's been no luck here either." He opened his mouth as if to say something, but stayed silent for a thoughtful moment. "Hey Riku, if you happen to be travelling anytime soon, mind stopping by here? I've got something to ask you, and it's better done in-person."

"It's looking like I might be soon, so sure thing." Riku turned the phone back to himself from Naminé's sketch. "Should I be nervous?"

The man chuckled. "Only if big empty castles scare you."

Riku smirked and shot a quick glance around the room. "Considering I'm in one, probably not."

The call to Twilight Town was as chaotic and off-topic as they'd expected. They hadn't recognized the man's face either, and eventually Naminé had to leave Roxas and Xion with the promise to visit soon. Some sentiments couldn't be communicated over a call.

Out of everyone, King Mickey had probably seen the most worlds. Seeing his big eyes go over the image she held up to the screen with confusion made her heart sink even further. They were about to hang up and plan for a very long rabbit chase to each world Sora had visited when two familiar voices came in from behind the King.

"Hey, Your Majesty, who're ya talkin to?"

"Goofy?" Riku asked.

"Is that Riku?!" nearly incomprehensible quacking shouted through the phone's tiny speaker.

"Donald, Goofy, of course!" Naminé cheered.

Riku nodded. "You guys have been everywhere Sora has, so maybe you know."

Their faces squeezed into frame, pushing Mickey behind them in the process. "Know what?" Donald asked.

"Gawrsh, it's good to see you guys again. Feels like the beach was too long ago."

"We miss you guys too," Naminé smiled. "But we might have a lead on finding Sora." She held up her sketchbook for what felt like the millionth time that day. "Do you recognize-"

"Why that's-"

"Yozora!"

Naminé froze, unable to even get out the rest of her question.

"Who?" Riku sat forward attentively.

"Yozora," Goofy said more clearly. "Did you guys buy his game or something?"

Riku and Naminé looked to one another with raised eyebrows. "Game?" she asked.

"Yeah, he was in a videogame!" Donald shouted.

"We went to this world of toys, disguised as toys ourselves thanks to Donald here's magic. Yozora was the main character of this videogame there. Too bad we never got to actually meet him."

"How do you know about Yozora?" Donald asked.

Naminé's head began to ache. If he was just a character from a game, then how would he be with Sora? Unless Sora got sucked and trapped within his world.

At her silence, Riku answered for her. "Naminé can see Sora's current memories sometimes. Last one she saw had this man's face, pointing his weapon at Sora."

"Gawrsh, Yozora's a bad guy?"

"Whaaaa! So Sora's been in a game this whole time?!" Donald screeched.

Mickey butted his ears into frame again. "Well think, fellas. You guys came there as toys, but you still existed as people..."

"What're you saying, Mickey?" Riku asked. "Yozora could be from another world too, not just a game character?"

Goofy scratched his head. "That place was real complicated."

"Yeah," Donald nodded. "All the living toys there had hearts too."

Naminé squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to focus her thoughts. "Wait wait. Before we go on these crazy theories, are you two sure this is Yozora?" A part of her doubted her own vision. Maybe it was no more than a memory from Sora's visit to this world, or her powers were beginning to mix memories together somehow, or her drawing just wasn't as detailed as she needed it to be.

If they had a real lead, then that also meant Riku would have a lead to move forward. She wasn't sure if she was ready to say goodbye yet.

"Positive," Donald nodded.

"One hundred percent." Goofy tapped his head.

Naminé's mind scrambled as Riku continued the conversation. Either way, she supposed, Riku would have to leave soon. Maybe he wouldn't be gone long. And it was a good thing too; they were one step closer to finding Sora.

Watching him eagerly plan his journey, asking Donald and Goofy where this world was and how to get there, she just hoped that a part of him would be sad to leave her. Maybe all that time he'd spent with her was just for their mission. Unlock Sora's memories and piece the puzzle together.

Maybe that was why he hadn't wanted her to see memories of his childhood.

The conversation tuned out, but there was still so much noise. It grew louder, with voices everywhere. She closed her eyes, but losing her vision only made it worse. She pictured herself back in Castle Oblivion, overhearing voices arguing outside her room until one hooded figure would enter and taunt her. Or she was standing between Sora and Marluxia, or Sora and Riku's Replica.

Voices.

There had always been voices everywhere, whether arguing or shouting behind closed doors, or whispering deviously next to her ear.

She covered her ears, but the ones in her head only grew louder. A sudden grip on her wrists startled her, forcing her eyes to snap open and take in the light of reality again. Aquamarine greeted her, calm and grounding. Her hands were slowly pried from her temples.

"Naminé, come back." His lone voice spoke, banishing the others.

"I...What happened?" She looked around for the phone, only to find it lying black-screened on the table. "The call."

"I let them go when I noticed you…" He refrained from describing her panicked state, which she was grateful for. She already felt embarrassed enough that she didn't get to say goodbye over the phone, so the thought of others witnessing it made her heart sink. He called her back to the present once more. "Talk to me. Was it DiZ again?"

He hadn't let go of her wrists yet, though his grip had softened. She turned her hands and brushed along the texture of his gloves until landing on the exposed skin of his fingers. Not much, but enough. It had become her way of reaching out for a connection. A way to ground herself in what was real. And though not every one of her anxieties had been appeased, she atleast knew the voices in her head were only memories.

"Him, among others," she said, keeping her gaze low. She almost asked him how he did it, how he held himself together so well. But she already knew from their conversations together that that wasn't true. From the outside, he already had a natural 'togetherness' about him, and it wasn't unusual for him to reserve himself out of necessity for the task at hand. But she knew he'd been hurting too.

Maybe getting to see her in such a state could count as his 'payback' for letting her witness his childhood through Sora's memories.

Riku didn't move his hands, but he didn't pull away either. Had she crossed the boundary too far or too soon?

"Just breathe, okay?" She could tell he was struggling to find the right words to comfort her, but the effort itself was enough. "They can't hurt you anymore."

He'd also done the brave task of confronting the shadow that had followed him. Naminé hadn't so much as said a word to Ansem the Wise, and she'd avoided him at all costs.

She could feel her medicine beginning to fail and knew she had to leave soon.

But he'd be gone soon too.

I love you she wanted to say for the sake of her throat, but even thinking it in her mind made her cringe a little. She took her thoughts a few pegs down. "I'm sad." Her fingers curled more into his. "Sad that you're leaving."

"Oh." This time, his hands responded and squeezed her own, less out of tenderness and more out of reassurance. "I am too, but I'll be back soon."

He hadn't mentioned the usefulness of her powers or Sora's memories, which calmed her nerves. He's not just here for my powers, she told herself. Maybe he actually likes me too.

"Promise?" She asked.

His eyes softened. Promises with her weren't taken lightly, and he knew that better than anyone. A light smile tugged at his lips before he spoke.

"I promise."

A/N:

Riku: Atleast Sora's not here to spill all the embarrassing dirt he has on me to anyone.

Naminé, who has direct access to Sora's memories: Not so fast.

Anyways, happy Rikunami/Namiku week! Please show some love and support to the amazing artists and writers that are participating :)