AN/ I'd say this is surreal but I got over finishing Dead Inside being surreal like a month or two ago. (I finished writing it in like. July. Here we are posting in September.) I bet it's pretty surreal to you guys though? One more chapter after this one. Just one more.

Epilogue: Riku's Side

"Kay… so… I really hate to interrupt…"

Riku looked up. Kairi was standing in front of them, hands placed awkwardly at her hips—as if they were there only because she wasn't sure what else to do with them. Sora stood next to her, arms folded across his chest, but otherwise looking as laid back as usual.

"We tried to wait until you looked like you were done," Kairi said. "But like…"

Sora picked up where she trailed off. "We just wanted to know when you planned on heading back home—no sense in us not all going back together."

Riku stared, squinting his eyes as if that would help him think. Namine shifted to pull away from him, not that it made any difference when it came to his thinking process.

"Home?" he asked.

"Destiny Islands," Namine told him, in a slight whisper.

Riku very suddenly felt like an idiot. Of course. Of course they'd meant…

"Oh…"

"I take that as a… you're not coming back?" Kairi asked. There was a sad look in her eyes, and she moved to rub one of her wrists in a nervous matter.

"Not that you have to," Sora said. He sent a look over at Kairi, and then smiled in Riku and Namine's direction. "I get it. It's weird to me to consider going back after all that's happened. But I've got family…"

"And they've got us," Kairi argued. "My dad's gonna be worried about Namine, at least, and—"

"But it's not your decision whether or not they come back," Sora interrupted.

From the sounds of it, they'd been arguing over this for a while.

"Well…. We're definitely not going back today," Namine said. "I was planning on staying around here a little while longer just to make sure my data's all… y'know… in order."

"Really?" Sora seemed legitimately surprised. "But I thought your data was all fixed."

Namine shifted uncomfortably. "7 said he got most of it but he didn't seem very certain that he got all of it," she explained. "There me be some traces of something or other—I forget if it was some of 37's failsafes or the Larxene data. Or both. But he says there's probably still some, uh, 'undesirable' data and- and long story short there may be a small chance something could slip and I try and kill Riku again and I'd rather not have that happen on Destiny Islands."

"Mm… That is a good point," Sora mused.

"He really didn't get everything?" Riku asked. He sent a worried look down at Namine.

She nodded. "He said he probably should've been looking at my data for longer than three hours, but I was getting worried about worrying you too much—I mean he swears he got most of it I just… I'll probably have to go have him look at it again pretty soon here, actually."

"Well as long as it gets taken care of, I guess," Kairi said.

Namine nodded.

Riku licked his lips, but decided against saying anything.

"So… what about after that?" Kairi asked. She gave Namine a saddened look. "Will you come home then?"

"I dunno. I think I'd like to go back, but… Riku…" She sent a look at him. He tried not to squirm too much.

It wasn't that he didn't like Destiny Islands, it was just… going back there permanently seemed about as bad of an idea as staying in Castle Oblivion permanently.

"Look, don't worry about it now," Sora told them, with a grin. "You don't have to make a decision right away—it can wait a week or so, or even longer I guess. No big deal."

"Just… let us know," Kairi said. She sighed, but put a smile on. "I guess I get if you don't wanna go back but… I just feel like we only got back together again. All of us."

"It's not like visiting each other will be hard, once we know where we're all staying," Riku said.

"Still…" Kairi sighed again, deeply now.

Namine got to her feet, and hugged Kairi.

"We'll let you know," she said. "Promise."

Kairi hugged her back.

"Alright…"

"See ya!" Sora said. Namine pulled away from Kairi to hug him, too.

Riku shifted a little in his seat. What was he supposed to do? Did they expect him to get all hug-y, too? Hugging wasn't exactly his thing…

But the look Kairi was giving him didn't leave much room for argument.

Riku sighed and got to his feet, letting Kairi hug him. It was strange, how short she was—or, rather, how tall he was. He didn't notice it with Namine, but she'd always been quite a bit shorter than him.

"Take care of yourself, alright?" Kairi said.

Riku nodded.

"I will."

"You better."

Kairi let go of him. Before Riku could fully recover, Sora'd wrapped him in a bear hug. At least Sora didn't linger long.

"See you, Riku," Sora laughed. He pulled out his star shard—or, the new one Joseph had given him—and linked his arm through Kairi's. "You ready?" he asked, looking her in the eye.

She nodded.

The star shard went off.

Riku sent a glance over at Namine. "So, uh, you… you really need to go talk to 7 again?"

"Not quite yet," Namine replied. "I think, actually, we need to discuss where we are planning on going, once we're done here—and we're not staying here. There's too many bad memories."

Riku shook his head, cutting her off before she got any further.

"I didn't plan on staying here," he said. "I didn't plan on staying here for as long as I did, honestly, but things happened…"

"But where are we heading, after this?"

"You're coming with me?" He tried not to sound surprise. That'd be the second time she'd mentioned them going somewhere. 'We' –plural. We, as in the both of them. But that only made it more surprising. She really did intend to go with him.

"Depends on where you're going," she answered.

Oh. That put a slight damper on things.

"I don't… I don't know…" Riku sighed. He swallowed the disappointment in his voice. "I mean. I guess I don't have anywhere to go besides Destiny Islands…"

"There's Hollow Bastion."

Riku stared for a moment, surprised. Honestly, he was more surprised about the fact he hadn't considered it. Not as a long term thing.

"Aerith wouldn't turn you away and you know it," Namine said.

"No, I know that. I know…" Riku cleared his throat. "What about- what about you?"

"I don't think Aerith would turn me away, either."

"No! I mean-" Riku could feel himself blushing, and it was quite embarrassing. "I mean, are… are you- would you stay there too? Would you really?"

"It's not like I can't," Namine replied. She shrugged. "I want to stay with you. Though I think Kairi'd be pretty upset… Not that it'd be hard to visit you. Either of you. Regardless of who I'd stay with."

It took Riku another second to remember that, back on the Islands, Namine'd been staying with Kairi. He supposed he did understand why Kairi'd be a little upset… But…

"I'd like you to stay with me," he mumbled.

"I think I'd like that, too," Namine assured him.

She stepped closer to him, so their toes were about touching—or, their shoes were. She reached up to brush her fingers across his cheek. A gentle touch. A lingering touch. He tried not to lean into it too much, not sure how much would be seen as needy. He wanted to just wrap his arms around her again, and bury his face in her hair. Never let her go. But they were trying to have a conversation…

"Oh no," Riku said, with a small gasp.

Namine sent a worried look up at him. She pulled her hand away from his face, and it fell to rest on his chest.

"I just realized—that sky you painted me. In my room. If we leave…"

"I'll paint you a new one," Namine said, without hesitation.

Riku smiled down at her. He tried to tease, but probably didn't succeed:

"I think Aerith might mind…"

"And she might not."

"Ehh…"

"Maybe one day we'll get our own—I mean. You'll get your own place." Namine's cheeks flared red. "Or- or something. I'll paint every room for you, then. If you'd like."

Riku was just as embarrassed about her slip up. Nearly suggesting they'd live together? In their own house? He wasn't sure if he should laugh at the idea or if he liked the sound of it. Either way, he didn't have the energy to attempt to tease her anymore.

"M-maybe just my room, if I get my own place," he told her. "A whole house seems like a lot of work."

Namine grinned. "Then maybe you- you could help me."

Riku grinned back.

"Why is it I always seem to walk in on something?"

Riku and Namine both jumped in shock, and pulled away from each other. It was Roxas who'd called at them—he was currently leaning with his elbows propped on the back of the couch, his chin in his hands.

"No, by all means," Roxas said. "Continue. I don't mind waiting a little longer."

Riku couldn't quite tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Regardless, Riku reached out and grabbed Namine's hand, clasping her fingers between his own. He didn't want to let go of her yet, even if he was only holding onto her with little touches.

"What do you want?" Namine asked Roxas. There was a sharpness in her voice, and it sounded sharper than normal. Was she angry? At what…? Being interrupted? That seemed a little strange, for her.

"Well, congrats on getting back to normal, first off," Roxas said. He flashed her a grin, but then his attention returned to Riku specifically. He didn't give Namine a chance to reply. "You got any idea when Axel's gonna be back, Reeks?"

Riku flushed with anger.

"Stop calling me that."

He could handle it when Kairi did it—she was only teasing. But he hardly knew Roxas, and the teasing didn't seem friendly, coming from him. It felt like it was meant to be mocking.

Namine snorted at it, though.

"Reeks?" she whispered.

Riku grimaced.

"Do you?" Roxas pressed. Riku swore he saw the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile.

"No, I don't know," Riku said. He swallowed. "I just know he's coming back."

"And not when or where?"

Riku shook his head. He'd already said that, hadn't he?

"Drat." Roxas sighed. "Well, I guess I better start looking for him."

"He might stop by the World that Never Was or Twilight Town or—" Namine began.

"But he could show up anywhere," Roxas interrupted. He didn't give her a chance to say anything more, he just waved at the two of them and walked off.

Namine tensed and took a step forward, but Riku grabbed her by the shoulder to hold her back.

"He's not worth it."

Namine didn't relax at all, but she also didn't move to continue after him.

"Here, come here," Riku whispered. He tugged on her, pulling her closer to him, backing up so they could sit on the couch. "Let's just—"

He gave up hope on moving her any further once she caught sight of 29. The Vexen looked rather distraught, walking forward only to remember something mid-step, turn around, only to disregard the thought and turn around again. He was mumbling to himself, too, and while Riku could make out the words, he didn't care to mull them over. He was a little more worried about Namine. Clearly, the Rewrite left its mark on her. Even if he'd wanted to, he wouldn't be able to move her now short of dragging her, and even then… she was too strong.

At least she relaxed considerably, now that Roxas was long out of sight and there was 29 to worry about. Riku didn't see why she insisted on calling out to 29—asking him what was wrong. Why couldn't they just sit back down and…

"I just don't think keeping Joseph here any longer is a good idea," 29 replied, distractedly, as he made his way towards them. "But… where would I take him instead? Where is there to go?"

Riku sighed and sat back down on the couch. Namine could talk to 29, if she so wanted. He didn't have the energy to.

"You could try Hollow Bastion," Namine suggested. She sent a glance over at Riku, frowning slightly when she saw he'd sat down. He just shrugged in answer to the assumed question, which only made her frown deeper. She turned back to 29.

"We know some people there," she began.

"I've been there," 29 told her, holding up a hand to interrupt her.

"Oh that's right. You have." Namine sent another look over at Riku.

Riku let out another sigh in response. "I think Leon mentioned they just finished a house, or were close to it," he said. He might as well offer the information, especially considering the look Namine was giving him. "You may be able to get dibs on it—even if you just ask and he should be able to work something out for you, just maybe not right away or anything."

"Don't let Aerith talk you into staying with her, though," Namine added, quickly. "I'm sure she'll try but there's not nearly enough room in that house, especially if me 'n Riku are going to stay there."

29 chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I won't. And I won't let Joseph talk me into it, either."

There was a pause of a considerable amount. Namine cleared her throat to speak before 29 could turn and leave.

"Uhm… what about Toby?" she asked.

Riku's heart seized in his chest. She didn't know. 29's features all fell as the heartbreak washed over him, and stole the color from his face.

"He's, uh. He fried his data," Riku explained, so 29 wouldn't have to. He found himself getting to his feet, just so he wouldn't feel like a jerk, sitting while everyone else was standing. "He did some powerful attack to keep Saix away from him, I think Kairi said. It burned him from the inside out."

"How horrible!" Namine exclaimed. Her voice caught in her throat.

"There was no saving him," 29 added.

Riku felt that Namine had gathered that, but what was said was said, and correcting him seemed mean.

Namine nodded solemnly. Riku gripped her shoulder, steadying her. He sent a look at 29. It was strange seeing a Vexen so close to tears. The whole situation seemed to squeeze at Riku's chest.

29 cleared his throat.

"Well, I'll- I'll go ask Joseph about Hollow Bastion… though I'm sure he'll- he'll love the idea."

He nodded at them and gave a slight wave, excusing himself from the conversation.

Riku swallowed and looked at Namine again. He felt like he should do something to comfort her… but what? The news about Toby had tied his own stomach in knots, and Namine had certainly cared about the boy much more…

"I… I should go talk to 7," Namine said, slipping away from his grasp, and then out of his reach.

"Namine! Wait!"

She turned back to look at him. Unfortunately, from this distance, he couldn't tell whether or not she was crying. Riku cleared his throat.

"Can… can I come with?"

Namine stared at him a moment. Then she shrugged.

"You could. Or… or you could go gather our things."

Riku blinked.

"What things?"

"My sketchbook…" Namine said. He couldn't tell if that was an actual smile on her face, or a forced one. "My other sketchbook. All my pencils. Any loose drawings. And then anything you want from your room—like that horde of munny."

"Oh yeah… I suppose I would want that. Not that I have any idea what I'll do with it…"

"I definitely want my sketchbooks."

"I wasn't going to forget those!"

Namine smiled for sure, now—at least it looked like a real smile—and headed off again. Riku waited a moment, but then went after her anyway, catching her by the arm.

"Wait," he said again, calmer this time. "About Toby…"

Just because he hadn't felt too upset about the boy's death didn't mean she wasn't going to.

She pushed him off. "I need to go talk to 7," was all she said, and then she was gone.

Riku let out a long breath. Alright. There was nothing he could do about this now. He should go get their things. Her sketchbooks… his munny… right.

He set off to get them.