Chapter 81: A Sad Memory

Riku made it to the guest room, and quickly laid Namine down on the bed.

"Will she need anything when she wakes up?" Aerith asked. Riku turned, a little surprised to find she'd followed. Except, oh yeah, his hand… "We've got food," Aerith continued, lingering nervously in the doorway. "I think we still some of Cid's soup left over, and we can warm that up…"

"No, it's fine," Riku told her, shaking his head. There was a heaviness in his chest. "It- It could be a while before she wakes up, so…" he trailed off, gaze falling to rest on Namine's face. She had stopped screaming by now, but seemed restless. He swallowed, unsure of what to do. There was an insane amount of worry and sorrow raging through him. He hated seeing her hurt like this.

It made him hurt, too.

And he had no idea what to do with that hurt. It hurt so much more than any other kind of hurt he had ever felt in his life.

She shuddered.

Slowly, he sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand in his uninjured one. She seemed to calm a bit.

Aerith made her way over.

"Well, I need to finish bandaging your hand," she said, kneeling down next to him. "So if you don't mind…"

Riku only nodded, and Aerith got on with it. She carefully bandaged each of his fingers, and then his hand itself. It didn't really hurt, not anymore, especially when compared to the pain in his chest.

But… at least…

At least Namine had calmed down now.

"The memories…" Aerith said, suddenly. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she didn't even look up at Riku, though she was clearly addressing him. "They are all… your memories, right?"

Riku nodded. Of course they were.

"Always?" Aerith pressed.

Riku turned to her then, shocked and slightly confused. Why would she…?

Aerith's attention was on Namine, now. Riku followed her gaze. Namine's face was troubled, like whatever memory she was seeing wasn't entirely pleasant.

It's my memory, though, Riku thought, bitterly. I'm not surprised.

However…

The trouble on Namine's face was reflected in Aerith's eyes, as if she understood.

He frowned, starting to second guess himself.

"Why… do you ask?" he said slowly. "Is something wrong?"

Aerith glanced up at him, looking a bit surprised. "Wrong? Oh no, nothing's wrong!" she laughed. "It's just- that…" Her smile slowly fell. "I got a feeling, just for a moment…" Aerith stopped there, sighing, her eyes filled with sorrow and pain.

Riku swallowed, unsure of what to say.

Did she think Namine had seen one of her memories?

And if that was true… what kind of memory did Aerith have that…?

"Never mind," Aerith said, with a quick shake of her head. She finished tying the bandages.

There was silence for a moment, then Aerith got to her feet, brushing herself off. She considered Riku with a very stern expression.

"Listen," she said. "I think you should stay here, for a few days, so I can keep an eye on your hand."

That caught Riku's attention. He jolted.

"What? I can't do that!"

"Why not?" And then before Riku could answer, Aerith continued with: "It's not like you can fight, like this."

"I can."

"You shouldn't," Aerith argued. "And, honestly? That's why I'd be more comfortable with you staying. Then I could make sure you weren't."

Riku grumbled, looking away from her.

"I just… don't think I can afford to be away from Castle Oblivion for long right now…" he said. He'd been gone only twelve hours before and that had ended terribly. Wouldn't Saix just send someone again in his absence? Certainly, the Rebellion stood less of a chance with Riku around.

Aerith considered him for a few moments more, then relented with a disgruntled sigh.

"Can you stay overnight, at least?" she asked. "That seems like a fair compromise."

Riku sighed.

"Yeah. Fine. We can stay overnight."

It wasn't like he was going to leave while Namine was still out, anyway. It was better not to move her.

Satisfied, Aerith nodded. She started to move for the door, but then stopped, eyes widening.

"Riku!" she exclaimed. "You're still hurt!"

"Hmm?" he asked, and then glanced down at his side, where Aerith's gaze was firmly fixed. His shirt was torn, and there was plenty of blood, too. "Oh…" He'd forgotten about getting slashed in the side earlier by Tulip, with how much his hand had hurt and everything.

Aerith was kneeling down next to him again in no time, pushing his shirt aside so she could look at the wound. Riku tried to ignore the clutch in his chest, tried to think about anything and everything but the feel of her hand against his skin.

"Good, it's not too bad," Aerith said. "This will only take a second."

He wanted to tell her that she could just leave it alone, if she wanted, but her healing magic was already coursing through him again and—alright, it felt better now that it was healed, so that was good. The best part was when Aerith stopped touching him, though.

"There," Aerith said, standing up. "I'll leave you alone now." She headed for the door. "Come let me know if you need anything, alright?"

"Sure."

xxx

Aerith found herself lingering in the doorway for perhaps a few moments too long, watching Riku worriedly. She felt like she should do something more, even though she couldn't possibly figure out what else there was to do. So, finally, she just turned and headed out, closing the door behind her to give Riku and Namine some privacy.

Her mind was quickly filled with other worries.

I wonder if… if Namine really is seeing the memory I think she's seeing… Aerith thought slowly, as she closed the door behind her. She stood there a moment, shaking slightly at the thought.

It certainly seemed like it.

I mean… I'm not sure if it's possible... I don't know how the meltdowns work…

But…

She shook her head, and started down the stairs, still thinking…

The look on Namine's face was fresh in her mind; a look that reminded her all too much of the very hurt and anguish she had felt in that moment. Namine's scream still rang in her ears; a scream that sounded all too like the very scream that had escaped her own lips after—

Aerith paused, heart pounding, halfway down the stairs. She was far enough up Leon wouldn't see her, but…

Feeling silly, but barely regretting it, Aerith turned bac up the stairs and ducked into her own room, trying to fight the tears that were threatening to fall.

It was hardly any use.

She could still see, in her mind's eye, that smile on his face.

She wrung her hands together; she could almost still feel the blood on them.

Even though the blood and that smile were years behind her…

She could still feel the sorrow, and the anger, and the panic.

She could still feel—

No, she told herself, firmly, opening her eyes before she could picture the moment in her head. I will NOT force myself to relive it! Just… just stop thinking about it…

She quickly wiped away her tears.

Then, slowly, she made her way downstairs.

"Is she alright?" Leon called from the table, where he'd taken a seat.

Aerith turned to him. He was staring into what was probably his third cup of tea of the day, as if it held the answer to his question. She swallowed.

"Riku said that she'd be okay," she replied, shakily. She frowned slightly, not liking the fact her voice had been shaky when she had answered him. She hoped he wouldn't notice, even though she knew he would. He was her brother. Of course he'd notice.

"Is Riku alright?" Leon asked. He still hadn't looked up yet.

Aerith nodded. "I got him bandaged up just fine," she said. "He seemed worried about Namine, but… you know…" she trailed off.

Leon didn't say anything for a moment.

Then he looked up, meeting her eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked, simply.

She didn't reply right away. She was too busy trying to keep herself from crying again.

That was, however, all the answer Leon needed.

"Tea's still warm," he said. "You want me to get you some?"

"Y-yes please," she muttered.

Leon got up from the table and went into the kitchen. Aerith went and sat down at the table, across from where Leon had been sitting. Leon returned with her tea after only a moment, setting in front of her. She thanked him, quietly, and then, very slowly, she picked up her cup of tea and took a drink.

Leon sat down in front of her. He watched her carefully, hands folded in front of his face.

"Do you want to…?" he began.

Aerith shook her head before he could finish, taking a deep breath. She set her tea back down. "I'm alright," she told him.

He hesitated a moment, and then nodded. He relaxed in his chair, going back to enjoying his tea.

Aerith turned her thoughts back to Riku, trying to come up with something, still with that restless feeling she needed to do more under her skin. She had probably already done enough, but she couldn't help it. Maybe wanting to go above and beyond what was required made her much like her mother—but since when was that a bad thing?

A thought occurred to her, then, and she smiled.

"Leon?" she said. "Can I borrow one of your shirts?"

Leon stared at her, eyes narrowed skeptically. He slowly lowered his teacup back to the table.

"Why…?"