Chapter 34: Can't Stand It
"Joseph says no one's seen your sketchbook," Riku said, as he joined Namine on their couch in the Main Room. "Which, isn't exactly a surprise."
"I know," Namine said. "He told me."
"Oh…" Riku grimaced a little, but still sat down. "Well, like I said, we probably just have to buy you a new one."
Namine nodded. "Alright," she said. "Hey, uh, about bringing Kairi here, again—"
Riku groaned. "Namine, I keep telling you she'd hate it here."
"And I keep saying she wouldn't care!" Namine turned to Riku, studying him very seriously. "Don't you miss her?" she asked.
"Of course I do!" Riku argued, and, he looked like he meant it. He also looked a little guilty, though? He sighed shortly and turned to look at her, to meet her eyes. "Of course I do," he repeated, and Namine believed him.
She believed him. It was just…
"But?" she prompted, knowing one was there.
"I just don't think there's a point going to bother her with this when it's gonna be done soon," Riku said.
Namine squinted at him, not quite following. "What do you mean this is gonna be done soon?"
"The Rebellion," Riku answered. "It should be done soon."
"Uh, three months says otherwise?"
Riku rolled his eyes. "I was looking for Sora, then, though! Now that I know where he is, and that he's okay, I can pour all my efforts into helping the Rebellion."
"You… really think it's gonna be done soon, though?" Namine asked, cautiously.
Riku nodded confidently. "Yeah, sure!" he said. "Then we'll go home."
"Alright, fine…"
"I mean, I guess if you wanna go back home…" Riku began. He didn't sound entirely like he wanted that, though.
Namine considered it. She supposed she hadn't been gone that long, though. And, she'd like to spend some more time with Riku, since she wasn't so sure she could convince him to go anywhere…
"Well, I'll stay for a little longer," Namine said. "Kairi will understand."
A nagging part of her told her no, Kairi wouldn't, but she chose to ignore it. Just, a few more days. Just a few more days, then she'd go back. Or, she'd go get Kairi and bring her here, regardless of what Riku said.
Riku beamed at her.
"Cool!"
A pair of Marluxia's passed by behind them.
"I am so tired of Saix sending in all these search parties," one of them groaned. "I thought we were going to finally be rid of them, but apparently not."
"Oh come on," the other said. "You can't expect him to give up so easily. Even I knew that we couldn't keep them away forever."
At this Namine gasped in pain, as a sudden memory sprung to life within her.
"I knew I couldn't keep you away forever," Sora said. But there was something off about his voice, as if someone else was speaking with him.
"Sora…? Sora, what did you DO?" Riku asked.
"Hmph," Sora said. "What does it matter to you?"
Crying out, Namine clutched at her head. This was like the images that haunted her nightmares, some nights. Except, it was worse. She wasn't sleeping, she was wide awake, and this memory was here, playing on top of everything else that was going on and there was a searing pain in her head and—
"You know that the darkness will devour you!" Riku shouted.
Sora laughed. "The darkness holds no power over ME."
"Who are you? You're- You're not Sora!"
"No, of course I'm not—Sora's long gone. I'm ANSEM, the Seeker of Darkness!"
"Stop…" Namine mumbled. She just wanted this to stop.
By this point she was in tears.
Maybe it was because of how much the memory hurt.
Maybe it was just out of pure bitterness and being absolutely sick of the meltdowns.
But, before long, she was sobbing into Riku's shoulder.
Riku paused, rather shocked by this fact. After a moment he wrapped an arm around her, trying to comfort her.
"I'll care for Naminé. Anyone who goes near her… goes through me!"
Riku readied his blade against Sora and flashed into dark mode.
"W-what are you thinking!" Sora shouted, appalled. "We're supposed to be friends!"
Riku laughed slightly. "Well, Sora. You didn't think about my feelings, either. Naminé's not the only one who's sick of looking at you. So am I!" Riku snapped, and leapt.
'Why don't I want to see Sora?' his thoughts screamed, though. 'Why am I so angry?'
That is a very good question Riku… why are- Namine began, but the pain of the memory stifled that thought.
Riku brought his blade down, doubt after doubt floating up inside his heart.
They were going to make Namine sick.
"Riku, stop!" Sora shouted, barely able to block Riku's attack with his Keyblade.
"Got a little stronger, have you?" Riku taunted.
In his memories, Sora had always lost their matches.
Memories? Namine wondered. Again… what are they talking-
She gasped in pain. Emotions, half of which did not belong to her, were welling up inside her. There was the anger, the hate, the hurt, the fear, all colliding together.
That, and more memories were starting to flash over this one. This memory remained pretty clear, but…
"You don't want to see my face again…?" Sora asked, confused and sounding hurt. "Why would you say that, Riku!"
Namine winced at just how hurt he sounded.
But the memory wouldn't stop.
"Huh… I didn't say it all this time, that's all. I've always hated you," Riku, then hesitated.
'Always…?' he thought slowly.'Have I really always hated Sora? I don't know. I can't remember…'
You don't hate him Riku… Namine thought. You… you can't-
Oh my gosh this hurts!
"If you're serious, Riku… I'm not holding back on you…!" Sora said, swinging his Keyblade down.
Riku gasped and then began to panic.
'I was barely able to block that...' he thought in shock. 'When did he get so strong?'
"Maybe, Riku… you're the one who got a little weaker?" Sora laughed with a smile.
'The slight smile showing on Sora's face… It's the best smile turned at people you're close to.'Riku thought and then shook his head, confusion welling up inside him. 'I don't understand how Sora can smile at me like that. I don't understand! I'm sad. I'm angry at myself. It hurts…'
"It hurts…" Namine mumbled, tears falling harder now. "Why does it hurt so much?"
She was crying out, but no one could hear her.
The memories were clouding together.
She could hardly think.
Riku continued to hold her, still trying to calm her down.
"It's going to be alright," he whispered to her. "It will stop soon."
It has to…
Oh gosh! I can't stand this!
He was so tired of seeing her hurt—and, because of something he couldn't protect her from!
He turned his gaze to the floor, trying to hide the tears that were beginning to form in his eyes.
It was about this time when quite a few dark corridors opened and another party that Saix had sent appeared.
Riku groaned slightly.
"They have the absolute worst timing," Riku laughed quietly. Only Namine would have been able to hear him. If she could hear him. He didn't actually know if she could hear him during a meltdown or not.
Quickly, he formed a dark corridor around them.
They appeared in Namine's room, sitting on her bed.
Riku swallowed and gently laid her down.
"I'll be right back," he said with a small smile as he rose to his feet. "Promise."
He formed another dark corridor around himself and left.