Chapter 27: Don't Follow Me!

"Master Riku!" 19 said, calling him over.

Riku frowned, casting a glance over at Sora, who he had been previously making his way over to. Sora glanced up at him, and for a split second terror shot through him, before just fading into what appeared to be worry.

Riku's frown deepened, wondering what on earth Sora could be worried about. After a moment though he just shrugged in Sora's direction, and then walked over to 19.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Well, sir," 19 began to explain, sounding a bit sheepish. Riku found that a bit odd. It wasn't often that a Vexen Replica sounded nervous, let alone sheepish. "We've been doing a bit of research about Namine's meltdowns."

Riku's face paled. Whatever attempts he had been making before to appear casual, like nothing was happening, were instantly shattered.

And he was a bit confused as to why.

However, just the mention of a meltdown made his heart sink.

"What about them?" he asked, trying his best to sound like nothing was wrong.

"Well, we have been trying to figure out what, exactly, causes them, in hopes that will lead us to a way to stop them," 19 continued to explain. "We are all very worried about her, you see. This does not seem like a normal occurrence."

Riku wasn't quite sure what to say to that. Eventually, he just asked: "What do you mean by 'we'?"

"I've been helping too," came the voice of Alpha, who sat on the couch with a laptop in his lap, on which he was typing frantically. "I was trying to improve the security on the Main Computer so Saix couldn't get it, however this seemed a bit more important."

"Have you figured anything out?" Riku asked, a bit nervously.

Namine had told him that they would stop.

But, thinking about it now, she had probably said that just to comfort him.

It's funny… I'm usually the one comforting her.

Why are things like this now?

What is it about the meltdowns that make me so…

Nervous.

"Not much, sir," 19 said with a sigh. "Only a few small theories."

"However, we are betting on one rather obvious one," Alpha explained. "And I'm sure that you'll be glad to hear this."

He paused in his typing for a second, and cleared his throat as if he was going to say something drastically important.

"The main change between now and when she was on the islands is obvious. She's here now, and not there," Alpha said.

"I suppose that is obvious…" Riku muttered.

"We are only assuming that the sudden change of scenery has… startled her, and the meltdowns are feeding off of that," 19 shrugged. "It is a mere theory, though, and may be completely wrong."

Something about that just didn't quite click for Riku.

It didn't sound like that could be right.

"However, if it is correct, then the meltdowns should stop relatively soon," 19 continued.

Riku suddenly no longer cared that the theory didn't sound right.

Because maybe he'd be lucky, and it would be correct. And if it was correct then the meltdowns would stop.

And he wanted very much for them to stop.

xxx

"Riku, I need to talk to you," Sora said, as Riku walked over.

Riku raised his eyebrows. "Uh… about what?"

"I was thinking I'd go it alone from here on out," Sora said.

Now Riku frowned, concerned.

"Are… you sure?" he asked.

Sora nodded, quickly. He set his face in determination. "Yeah. I need to do this alone."

"Oh…"

Riku's face fell, and he looked—disappointed, really. Like he was really upset Sora didn't want him to come along. Sora tried not to laugh, not even sure if the laughter was genuine or just bitter.

"Look, Riku, what we're doing wasn't working," Sora said. "I need to try something else. And I think it'd be better if I did it alone."

Again, he wasn't going to find out who that shadow was if he dragged Riku around with him all the time.

And… if no one's with me, Sora thought to himself, wryly. No one gets hurt.

"If… If you're sure," Riku said, slowly.

"I am," Sora insisted. "Goodbye, Riku. Don't follow me!"

He activated his star shard, and left.

xxx

The Reports of Zexion Alpha. Report 234

These memory meltdowns of Namine's are quite… curious. I was completely serious when I told Riku that I found this matter more important. Not only does it seem more crucial, as the meltdowns seem to be painful to Namine (and to Riku, somehow) it is an absolutely excellent opportunity for research.

Oh dear… "Opportunity for research"? I've been hanging around too many Vexens.

Anyways, 19 and I were supposed to ask Riku what he thought concerning what causes the meltdowns, but somehow the subject was avoided. I'm not quite sure how we managed that.

However, Riku's feelings about the meltdowns are clear.

There have only been three, and the thought already upsets him.

For his sake, and Namine's, we must try harder to figure out these meltdowns. What causes them? How can we stop them? There has to be a way. And we should be able to find it.