Notes: I'm so sorry! I know it's been about three months since I posted anything. I'm doing chapter 8 in parts again since it's turning out to be really long. I'm about a third of the way done with the second part so I should have it up soon. I just wanted everyone who is following this story to have something after so long.
I rewrote all the previous chapters and reposted them, (basically why it took me so long to update) I think the story flows a lot better now and I changed a lot of the dialog between Axel and Xemnas in chapter 7 so there's a lot more bite to it.
Thanks for putting up with me and for reviewing and this is just one of those weird transition chapters that takes place 5 months later.
Chapter 8: Remembrance
He was on the ground sitting in an alleyway with his body slumped against a brick wall. It was dark but there were lights up ahead. His head hurt as if he'd just been thrown against something and he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Something warm, wet, and slick ran up his cheek. He blinked to clear his vision, seeing a yellow dog standing right in front of him. Its long pink tongue was hanging limply from its mouth and it had long black ears and a thin black tail that was wagging franticly.
"Oh...Where am I?" he asked. The dog didn't answer.
Placing, his hand on the wall he stood up, overcome for a moment by dizziness but quickly pushed it aside and ran out of the alleyway. He was in some kind of town with a shady and dusky atmosphere but there were several shops and flashing lights that formed patterns of zigzags and stars. The place looked deserted.
"What happened to my home? My island?" he called to the empty air.
A moment later, Neoshadows rose out of the ground, quickly surrounding him in a small ring. The keyblade materialized in his hands and he held it defensively in front of himself. "Riku! Kai-!"
He didn't have a chance to finish the second name before a flickering and unclear image of a redheaded girl appeared in his mind, only lasting a fraction of a second, before the heartless descended.
He was in a different part of the town but he was still holding the keyblade out to his side. There was a young man standing in front of him with a leather jacket, a scar across his face, and hair the color of bronze that fell to his shoulders.
He unconsciously tightened his grip on the keyblade. "Who are you?"
The stranger didn't answer but pointed at the keyblade. "They will come at you out of nowhere, as long as you continue to wield the keyblade."
A dog and duck were falling from the sky. He stood underneath of them, watching in fascination but did not have a chance to move before they collided into him. The impact knocked him to the ground and he hit the side of his head, making him see a flash of yellow light. The duck and the dog were lying heavily on top of him with their limbs sticking out in all directions and entangled with his. All three of them, too stunned to move.
The duck and the dog were standing before him. The bronze haired guy from earlier was standing slightly to his right along with a girl with short dark hair.
The dog gave a cheerful grin. "Hey, why don't you come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel."
He turned his head to his right. The girl nodded enthusiastically and the guy folded his arms with a determined expression. "Sora go with them especially if you want to find your friends"
He looked back to the duck and the dog.
The duck placed a hand in front of him "Donald"
The dog smiled broadly before doing the same. "Name's Goofy"
He placed his hand on top of theirs. "I'm Sora. I'll go with you guys"
He was in a small room, sitting on a bed, holding the keyblade. The guy was there and so was a different girl with long chestnut hair tied back in a ribbon and a pink dress.
"The Heartless have great fear of the keyblade," The guy said impassively.
"That's right. The keyblade." The girl added from where she was seated on another bed opposite to his.
He turned the silver and gold form of Kingdom Key in his hands. "So...this is the key?"
He was in another world and inside of a dark and rocky cavern that was cast in an orange glow, lit by several flaming torches. A keyhole was in front of him, looking to be carved into the cavern's wall, the open space of it was blue-black in color and swirled like midnight. He lifted the keyblade, the tip flaring with an intense light and he could feel the power vibrating through it and in turn spinning around him. A strong and dazzling beam shot outward, striking the keyhole, sealing it.
He could hear a deep voice from someplace far off that was filled with a mixture of scorn and agitation. "But the boy is a problem. He found one of the keyholes"
Roxas shot up from his bed clutching his shoulders, gasping for breath. It didn't take long for his breathing to even out, his body to stop shaking, and his racing mind to begin to slow. He just had a dream about Sora. It felt so real and vivid as if he'd really been there. Roxas could almost feel the brick digging into his back in the alleyway, almost smell the musty air from the cavern.
The last time he experienced Sora's memories he'd been in DIZ's underground lab. That was nearly five months ago and there had been no dreams of Sora since, no memories, nothing. Roxas ran a hand through his sweaty hair, so why now? He didn't understand. Sora wasn't apart of his life anymore and Roxas wanted to keep it that way. After meeting Hayner, Pence, and Olette he tried to completely forget about the sleeping form in the pod and yet somehow Roxas often found his thoughts straying back to him.
He and Sora were two separate identities. Sora's memories belonged with Sora, but Roxas had just watched them play out in front of his eyes like he was nothing more then some trivial outsider, being forced to suffer through everything Sora had experienced. Roxas couldn't even have this new life he was able to scrape together without Sora's presence and it only made his contempt for his other grow.
"Sora" Roxas's throat was dry and the name came out in a breathless hiss. "I still hate you."
Roxas sat back in his bed, his light blue sheets falling from around his waist and pooling over his legs. Still panting, he glanced around the comforting surroundings of his room, seeing nothing out of place. The colors were mostly in earth tones, walls a rich shade of brown and carpet a light tan. There was a stained glass picture of a moon carved into his door and his clothes were scattered everywhere on the floor. His blue and gold light in the shape of a star was prompted up against his overly large shelf, flickering and casting speckled patterns against the wall.
His room was small and cluttered, just enough for him to live in. There was a small bathroom and Roxas had a small fridge that he kept in a corner. For everything else like laundry he had to go to other places mainly Hayner's, Pence's, and Olette's which was fine since Roxas didn't like to spend a lot of time here. One thing he did like about his room was the large window that was right beside his bed and nearly took up the entire wall, offering an ideal view of Twilight Town. Roxas kept it open a majority of the time, especially since the weather was usually hot and muggy regardless the time of year.
It was awkward and different staying in Twilight Town at first but with the help of his three friends, Roxas was quickly able to adjust. Finding a room hadn't been hard either. He switched off staying with Hayner, Pence, and Olette for a couple of weeks before he found a place. The Twilight Town inhabitants hadn't seemed to care that he was only supposed to be fifteen, just as long as he could pay for it. Axel had been generous in the munny department and Roxas had enough to rent a place, keep it for a few months, and support himself. Then Roxas wanting to be self-sufficient had taken up various odd jobs including the poster job and something where he moved trash around.
Roxas jerked his head to the side when he heard the fast and upbeat tempo of music, eyes landing on the soft blue glow of his fish lamp on a table right beside his bed. Roxas hastily flipped the switch off, the thing could blast out music at the most random times but Roxas had liked the way it looked and couldn't bring himself to get rid of it. Grabbing, his watch off the same table Roxas saw it was only 7:30, plus it was Saturday, meaning Hayner, Pence, and Olette would be off from school but wouldn't be up for another few hours yet. Roxas didn't have to work today and the times when the four of them were off together were becoming further and further apart.
Olette, wanting to make the most of it suggested they meet at The Usual Spot, which was nothing more then a deserted plot of concrete littered with boxes and closed off by a chain link fence. They had moved a couch that someone was throwing away, a dartboard, and various other things into it but no matter what the place looked liked, it was theirs and they were happy with it. Hayner had yet to beat him at darts either, Roxas found he was insanely good at them like he was at basically everything.
They were planning to catch a movie, Hayner wanting to see the new horror movie, something with the word 'skull' in the title, which he and Pence quickly agreed too. Olette had wanted to see a romantic comedy but reluctantly gave in, not wanting to be the odd one out. Afterwards, the four of them were going to go over to Pence's to order take out and play his new video game, Pence always seemed to have some new electronic thing not to mention the camera he was always carrying around.
Their initial plan was to go down to the beach since Roxas had never been and his friends were dying to show him around but despite the warm temperature, it was a bit too chilly to go swimming, so they decided to save the trip for next summer. Roxas did have to admit he was a little disappointed, still beach or no beach, he was sure it would be an interesting evening especially since Olette didn't do so well with horror movies.
Staying in his room after his dream about Sora was the last thing Roxas wanted, being it was still fresh in his mind and his small room was beginning to make him feel closed in and slightly jittery. Roxas needed somewhere to go or something to do to occupy himself, throwing his pajamas onto the floor, which were nothing more, then a blue and white T-shirt and a pair of dark gray sweatpants, he quickly got dressed, and left his room, feeling much better once he was outside. There was a soft cool breeze and the sun had not completely risen yet, Roxas could tell it was going to be a nice day and it only took him a few minutes to decide to head to the Clock Tower.
The view from his bedroom window was nothing compared to the one from the Clock Tower. The place was massive, easily the tallest structure in Twilight Town, even making Sunset Hill look insignificant. It was made up of russet colored bricks, winding staircases, several ledges, and stained glass windows. From so high up Twilight Town looked to shine, roads and buildings seeming like nothing more then mere gleaming lines and dots, the colors of the town blurring together making it resemble a prism of pink, orange, yellow, brown, and gray shadows. Roxas swore if he reached out a hand, he would be able to touch a cloud. This had quickly became his favorite place.
He, Hayner, Pence, and Olette would come up here often to sit on the ledge while watching the sunset, talking, and eating sea salt ice cream. There was no rail on the Clock Tower, for Roxas that held little danger, if he slipped, he was sure he could catch himself, for Hayner, Pence, or Olette it meant instant death but the risk of falling was slight and they were willing to take if for the view.
Roxas was on the ledge, leaning forward, legs dangling off the side, wind blowing his hair back, feeling nice against his heated skin. He let his eyes travel up to the sky. Roxas had begun to notice small changes in Twilight Town. They were nearly non-existent at first but he could see the sky was starting to developed hairline cracks around the edges, leaving only black open spaces. Shaded areas on the ground and everyday shadows were branching out further, the whole world becoming darker. Twilight Town was starting the process of dying and Roxas only saw because he knew what to look for. The others hadn't noticed anything yet and wouldn't until it was too late.
Roxas let his eyes fall shut, preferring not to think about it, he still had time before the town completely died. He only wanted to focus on now, on this moment, with the warm sun, the crisp air he was breathing into his lungs, and the twisting feeling he had in his stomach from being so high up. He wanted to forget the dream, the danger, forget everything, just concentrate on being alive.
There was a rush of air as a portal opened from behind him, snapping his eyes open and without turning around, Roxas automatically reached his hand out to summon the keyblade but stopped when he was only half way through the motion. The presence behind him was familiar and not a threat. Roxas let his hand fall back down to his side, hearing a soft thud as someone jumped from the portal and a droning hum as the black mass disappeared.
There was silence for a few minutes before someone spoke in an unsure and soft voice "Hello Roxas."
Roxas didn't even have to glace back to know who it was and let his fingers dig into the rough and rocky ledge of the Clock Tower. "It figures" He replied bitterly. "I have a dream about him and you show up."
Naminé walked over to him, feet scraping against the stone of the Clock Tower. She had her sketchbook with her, sitting down beside Roxas, she placed it on her lap. Naminé leaned forward mimicking his position, turning her head as she peered curiously into his face. "You had a dream about Sora?"
Roxas met her gaze, eyes hardening. "You should know, shouldn't you?"
Naminé shook her head, looking towards the sky. "It wasn't me Roxas, if you're remembering Sora you're doing it on your own but I wouldn't be worried about it. It's normal I think."
Roxas continued to watch her. The last time he saw Naminé it had been five months ago, she had stepped between him and Sora, then he'd inadvertently thrown her against a wall. Now she was talking to him as if it happened everyday. "What do you want Naminé?" He snapped.
Naminé blinked, looking back toward him. "Nothing, I just…I wanted to talk to you"
There was only thing Roxas could think of that Naminé would want to talk about. Sora. Roxas angrily lifted himself from the ledge of the Clock Tower, planning to walk off and leave all together. "I'm not interested."
Naminé's eyes were shinning and she looked as if she wanted to reach out a hand towards him, but instead curled her finger around her palm, placing a fist to her chest. "Roxas no please, if you think I came here because of Sora, I didn't. I said I wanted to talk to you"
Roxas sighed, he hadn't even gotten the chance to fully stand up yet but he let himself settle back down beside her. "About what?" He asked in a chipped tone.
Naminé glanced down at her sketchbook, distractedly playing with the edge of it. "I don't know. How do you like Twilight Town?"
Roxas laughed mostly out of nervous tension. "That's it? You came up here to ask me how I like Twilight Town?"
"Well I…saw you up here and I was lonely" Naminé replied quietly. "Riku is gone, DIZ left awhile ago. Sometimes Donald and Goofy come by to check on Sora when they get the chance. There's another group that comes by too. They live in Hollow Bastion. Aerith even asked me once if I wanted to go back with them but I can't. I need to stay with Sora."
"Aerith" Roxas repeated thoughtfully. He recognized the name and pressed his lips together, narrowing his eyes in concentration, trying to recall his dream, surprised when everything easily came back to him. "I think I know who you're talking about. She has long brown hair and she wears a lot of pink right? Then there's Leon, Yuffie, and some others. Donald and Goofy were those two animals asleep with Sora. They were all in my dream."
Naminé nodded enthusiastically, eyes brightening. "Yes! That's them. See you really are starting to remember Sora, Roxas!"
"It's not like it matters" Roxas replied coldly.
"Maybe not..."
"So Donald and Goofy" Roxas said quickly changing the subject. "You said they come to see you? Meaning they're awake now?"
"Oh that's right you wouldn't know. I was able to wake them up and they left to try and help the worlds so now it's basically just Sora and me…" Naminé trailed off looking solemn before, forcing a faint smile. "Sora is a very good listener but he doesn't like to talk much."
Roxas stretched out on the ledge, making himself more comfortable, crossing his legs and placing his hands behind his back "Yeah, I've figured that out" He said idly.
Naminé brushed a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear and folded her arms on top of her sketchbook. "So you know about me then. What about you? You never did answer on how you like Twilight Town."
Roxas shrugged. "Twilight Town is okay or as good as any other place. I usually work while my friends are at school and then we hang out. It's kind of like a cycle but today we were going to see a movie. It's really nice to have them around. Hayner, Pence, and Olette those are my friends."
"Yes, I know"
Roxas shot her a stunned look. "You do?"
Naminé tensed, looking uneasy. "Those were the friends DIZ was going to give you in the simulation. It would have played out as if you really were in Twilight Town and… I've also been watching you."
"Okay the simulation I can understand but you've been watching me?" Roxas grinned, running a hand through his hair. "You sound like you're infatuated with me or something but hey it's not like I'm not used to it."
Naminé gasped. "Really? I mean no. I mean I'm sorry…that was just apart of the plan that DIZ, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and I came up with…in case anything would happen…and there's…I mean I don't really have anything else."
Roxas's grin broadened. "Why can no one ever tell when I'm joking? I wasn't serious Naminé. I know. I get it. Don't worry about it okay?"
Naminé nodded and returned Roxas's smile instantly relived. "So" She said while swinging her legs absently. "Have you heard anything from the organization?"
"No, nothing at all. Either they've given up on me, their completely ignoring me, or Axel is finally coming through for once."
"That's still kind of odd don't you think?"
"I don't know it's the organization. I gave up trying to figure them out a long time ago."
"Either way" Naminé said reflectively. "I hope it's a good thing they're keeping quite. I have some connections too since I've been talking back and fourth with Leon and the others and Donald and Goofy. I haven't heard anything either but I'll let you know if I do."
"Thanks"
Naminé straightened her shoulders and leaned forward, looking pensively at Roxas. "Is there any reason you decided to stay in Twilight Town. Are you happy here?"
"I could say I'm happy or as much as I'm capable of it. As for staying in Twilight Town I needed somewhere to go to avoid the organization and to start over. Twilight Town was the best choice, plus it's the closest place to Sora and if anything were to happen which I'm sure it will eventually, it would be right here, so it's not like I'm missing out on anything. I'm binding my time until then."
Naminé lifted a hand to her mouth, stifling laughter. "Kind of like undercover?"
"Sure, you could say that" Roxas paused. He found it easy to talk to Naminé and for once he didn't have to watch what he said, before he knew it, he was saying more then what he intended, voice coming out in a rush. "It's nice not having to be apart of the organization anymore. I don't have to worry about death every other day. It wasn't easy being the youngest out of everyone either. Seriously, imagine living with Larxene and eleven power hungry guys, which at least half are about three times your age, you're made to go out and fight heartless until you can hardly move, and even though you're the lowest ranked you're still Xemnas's 'favorite' and he's constantly breathing down your neck. I do miss the fighting sometimes but overall I like it better out here and I get to make my own decisions for once."
Naminé rested her chin on her hand and looked intently up at the sky. "I'm glad you like it here and…I can imagine that. I even lived through some of it at Castle Oblivion, but not like you did…and I never did meet Xemnas or not that I know of anyway."
"You're not missing anything"
"Hmmm…it's really pretty up here isn't it?" Naminé asked distantly.
"It's nice" Roxas relented.
"I like talking to you Roxas" Naminé said in the same far off voice without taking her eyes from the sky.
Roxas watched her in silence for a few minutes before he was struck with an idea. "Have you ever tried sea salt ice cream?" He asked quickly.
Naminé turned her head, face brightening instantly. "Yes! Once Riku brought me some and he-" Naminé cut herself short realizing what she just said and that Roxas was deeply frowning at her. "I'm…I….Sorry"
"The dog?" Roxas smirked.
Naminé's expression turned somber as she cast her eyes back down to her sketchbook, once more starting to pick at the edge of it. "Riku" She said, her voice tight. "His name was Riku."
Roxas was sure Naminé wanted to ask more about what really happened that night, he could see it in the way her body had stiffened and the blank look in her eyes but she remained quiet. That night had led to a lot of things Roxas didn't want to revisit and he wasn't about to mention anything on what really happened to Riku. He would leave first and guessed Naminé must have realized this and didn't want to take the chance. She was practically desperate just to talk to him. Roxas stood up from the ledge of the Clock Tower, lifting his arms over his head and stretching. "Yeah I know so do you want to go get some?"
Naminé jerked her head up, confusion evident on her face. "Get some what?"
"Sea salt ice cream."
Naminé blinked. "Now."
"Sure, why not?" Roxas said dismissively "It's better then sitting around here."
A smile slowly came to Naminé's face. "Alright, that sounds nice."
Roxas extended his hand and Naminé took it, her slim fingers curling around his. Roxas could feel something there, the same connection from the first time he'd met her and it flowed between them, strong and familiar but he over looked it, quickly pulled Naminé to her feet, and walked toward the stairway of the Clock Tower. "And we have to walk down no teleporting."
"Why not?" Naminé asked as she quickened her pace so she was walking beside him.
"If someone else came into the Clock Tower or if someone saw us from down below it couldn't led to anything good."
Naminé ran a hand through her hair. "That's right" She said guiltily. "I never had to worry about that before."
"Plus" Roxas replied coolly, even if he was biting his tongue to keep the laughter out of his voice. "It would kind of ruin the whole undercover thing."
Naminé couldn't help her smile as they reached the stairway.
0o0o0o0
Kairi was sitting on the beach, her bare feet barely brushing the edge of the surf, the sand cool and wet, clumping together, sticking to her legs. She could smell the weak and frosty wind, mixed in with the normal salty and warm breeze from the sea, making her feel chilled to the bone as if needles made of ice had pierced her skin. Hugging her knees, she shivered despite how hot it was.
It was still in the early hours of morning but the sun had already risen, making most of the sky its usual pale blue but another and distant part of the sky brimmed with darkness, filled with heavy clouds the color of ash and charcoal. Sheer black rose from the sea like an empty void, obscuring water into a pool of glinting and murky ebony. Darkness branched out like searching claws corrupting anything it touched. This wasn't anything new, the darkness had been building up over the past five months, starting as nothing more then a single speck in the sky but slowly it began to spread.
Kairi lived on a topical island, storms came and went almost every week. Some were nothing more then a refreshing and warm mist while others had winds strong enough to bend trees and sheets of rain so heavy they felt more like falling fragments of crystal, so no one paid any attention to the gathering mass in the sky. They said it was just a storm, it would pass but it hadn't passed and Kairi knew it never would. There was so much more to it, she could sense the danger whenever she looked into the remote and hollow darkness, leaving her feeling terrified and a cold sense of death.
Somewhere she knew this had happened before. There had been another storm exactly like this one, a storm that started everything. The only difference was there'd been no build up, it came one night out of nowhere, without warning, fast and lethal, bringing the heartless, and ripping apart Destiny Islands until there was nothing left. She never had the chance to defend herself or to even blink. The storm separated her, the boy, and Riku, and because of it she was here alone but there was something more. She'd lost something that night but her memory of it was vague. Something was torn from her body. What had it been? Her essence, her soul, her heart? Then she'd fallen asleep, into a coma? It was so hard for her to remember.
A flash of lightening brought Kairi out of her thoughts. It was so far off but the gleaming yellow stood out intensely against the black part of the sky like some sort of twisted snake. Kairi felt a sense of hopelessness and dread cut through her stomach and for a split second she wanted to scream, to run, but she was surrounded by water and there was nowhere to escape.
Kairi absently reached for her charm, her charm that she made with her own hands, spent hours on threading seashells together. It was in the shape of a five pointed star and she often found herself, gripping it whenever she was frightened until her knuckles turned white. So many times she'd ran her fingers over it, feeling the glassy surface, clutching it to her chest, holding it to her heart, keeping it with her constantly, never letting go. She yearned for its comforting and familiar weight and her hand was half way to her leg, before realizing she didn't have it anymore because he'd given it to him, that boy.
Kairi's hands traveled to the white pendent at her throat instead, grasping it between her palms and twirling her fingers in the thin black string. She shut her eyes tightly and pressed her forehead to her knees. She couldn't stand to see Destiny Islands crash again, she didn't even know if she would survive it this time. Kairi only wanted to disappear, she felt abandoned, as if she was drowning but no matter how she called, struggled, or fought no one would throw her the lifeline. Whatever the storm brought she would have to face alone, save herself, sink or swim. Then came the sudden shrill call of an island bird, the gentle lapping of waves, and the moment was gone. Kairi let her hands fall from her throat and dig into the sand, anchoring herself for another day spent waiting.
"Hey Kairi!"
Kairi glanced over her shoulder, seeing Selphie waving to her in the distance. Selphie smiled brightly and bounded over, her yellow sundress blowing behind her in the faint breeze and her caramel colored hair bouncing at her shoulders. She skidded to a halt, sitting down beside Kairi all in one motion, causing a spray of sand to hit the redhead's arm.
Selphie lifted a hand to her mouth, muffling an apologetic shriek. "Sorry!"
Kairi forced a smile that did not reach her eyes, brushing herself off. "It's alright."
"Cool" Selphie replied in her usual cheery and energetic voice. "So hey Kairi, anything up?"
"No, not really"
Selphie pushed her legs out in front of her and leaned forward, relaxing into the sand before tilting her head, glancing at Kairi inquisitively. "Still waiting for Riku and that boy?"
Kairi could see Selphie's eyes had hardened and there was a little bit of an edge to her voice when she said the word 'boy' but it was easily hidden under her still gleeful expression. Kairi nodded, but didn't say anything.
"How long has it been now?" Selphie asked strangely solemn. "A year and a half?"
"About that."
"Okay so anyway!" Selphie nearly shouted all smiles again and dismissing the issue as soon as she'd brought it up. "I wanted to know if you would like to come to the blitzball game with me tonight."
"Blitzball game?" Kairi repeated puzzled. "What blitzball game?"
"Sorry Kairi but duh! It's only what the whole school was been so hyped up about. You know the championship. Tidus and Wakka are going to be in it. They've only been talking about it since forever. It's like the biggest game of their lives. You have to come see it."
Kairi ran a hand through her hair, casting her eyes down to the sand. "Right, I remember. I just didn't know it was today. I forgot about it."
Selphie shrugged. "That doesn't matter you can still go. It's going to be so much fun. You should see Tidus. He's the star. You wouldn't really know since you've never been to any of his games but he's really grown up a lot and he's so much better then what he used to be. I bet you no one can beat him."
"And he practices every night for exactly two hours" Kairi said carelessly.
"Really? He does?"
"Yes, he comes out at the same time every night just on the other side of the beach. I can hear him out there sometimes."
"I didn't know that." Selphie said with a mock pout. "You should come get me next time and then we can sneak up on him and watch."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Yeah, I know" Selphie sighed dreamily. "But you have to admit Tidus has gotten pretty hot and I know we're just friends and everything but you can't blame a girl for wanting to watch, can you?"
"Selphie-"
"Okay, okay" Selphie continued lightheartedly. "I'm just playing around but you should come to the blitzball game, if nothing else just to cheer Tidus and Wakka on."
"Selphie, I can't"
"Aww c'mon" The brown haired girl just about whined. "I'm sure your mystery boy can take a break for a day."
"Selphie I'm sorry but I don't want to leave or take the chance that when he comes back there'll be no one here for him. I can't go with you…this is where I want to stay."
Selphie fell silent her smile all but disappearing and folded her hands in her lap, turning her head, looking out to sea. "Kairi" She said softly, after a long pause. "Its been a really long time" Selphie lifted an arm and pointed into the distance. "Look there's nothing out there. I don't think he's coming."
"He'll come" Kairi replied defensively, her voice coming out harsher then she meant it too. "And I'll be here when he does."
Selphie's shoulders slumped, her expression uncharacteristically serious but she mainly just seemed sad and defeated. "I don't know what happened to Riku or why he left and I admire your devotion to wait for him and that boy. I really do, it's almost like something out of a romance novel but you're wasting away out here Kairi. I'm worried about you."
Kairi felt instantly guilty. She reached out a hand, wanting to comfort her friend but quickly decided against it, letting her arm drop back to her side and curling her fingers into the wet sand. "Selphie, please don't, I'm fine really."
Selphie frowned and narrowed her eyes, jerking her head to meet Kairi's gaze. "No you're not!" She snapped "You're waiting for a boy who no one remembers. He doesn't even have a name. You made him up. He doesn't exist Kairi. It's the only thing that makes sense!"
"He's real" Kairi replied, her voice calm and unwavering. "Rather you believe in him or not."
"What do you expect, for him to come running out of the ocean and magically sweep you off your feet?"
"I don't-"
"You're living a dream Kairi!"
Kairi had never seen Selphie so worked up before and it left her friend panting slightly. Selphie looked away from her and they both lapsed into uneasy silence, but it didn't last long before Selphie audibly groaned. "Oh would some just apologize before I go insane."
Kairi bit her tongue holding back the relieved laughter that rose to her throat "Sorry."
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. It's just I miss you Kairi. Without you there's only Tidus and Wakka to hang out with, which don't get me wrong I like having them around and everything but sometimes I want someone to do girl stuff with. You know? Really what I'm trying to say is I miss my friend."
"I'm still here."
"No you're not, not really. I mean you're here but it's like your mind is always someplace else."
Kairi frowned. "It's hard to explain. It's just…it feels like there's a piece of me missing without him, without something more…" She trailed off and shrugged. "I'm doing the best I can."
"I know you are" Selphie said slowly, looking deep in thought. "That boy, he's really important to you isn't he?"
"He means so much to me" Kairi answered firmly. "Even if I can't remember the reason but he's my hope, my dreams, my world. The key to everything…"
Selphie sighed. "Wow, he must really be something."
"And he's out there Selphie. I know he is somewhere and what if he needs my help? I won't be the one to abandon him."
There was a minute of silence as Selphie looked to turn over what Kairi had just said. "I believe you" She said at last.
"You do?"
"Yeah" Selphie answered with startling honesty in her voice. "I don't think I'm the one to tell you he's not real. I know you Kairi and you're smart, dedicated, and wonderful. You wouldn't be distancing yourself like this unless there was a reason and you wouldn't be so sure of yourself. You always seem to know what you're doing and I trust you, so maybe there is something I'm forgetting or that only you can see but I want you to know, I believe you."
Kairi felt completely grateful to Selphie, feeling a sense of belonging that she hadn't experienced in a long time, and she smiled faintly. "Thanks, that's nice to hear."
"Is it okay if I just sit with you for a few minutes?"
"Of course it is, I'd like that."
"We can wait together" Selphie said confidently "Who knows maybe he will come today."
Kairi looked back to the sky, feeling the instant chill. She turned her head to see if maybe Selphie had noticed it too, but the brown haired girl was staring fixedly at the ground and had restored to drawing patterns in the sand. "Selphie look at the sky. What do you see?"
Selphie jerked her head up, gazing into the over looming darkness, and frowned. "Oh you mean the storm?"
"It's been building up for five months."
"I wouldn't worry about it" Selphie shrugged dismissively. "A storm is just a storm. I mean we practically get them all the time even if that looks like a big one…okay a really big one but it's probably going to pass right over us. It's so far away."
"It's more then a storm." Kairi stated. "There's something coming."
"Really? Like what?"
"I'm not sure exactly" Kairi said reflectively. "But this has happened before. There was another storm like this and it tore apart Destiny Islands and it brought the darkness…"
Selphie blinked. "But Destiny Islands is still here."
"I know you can't remember it but-"
"Lighten up Kairi" Selphie said, cutting her friend off with a giggle. "It's just a storm besides even if it struck today it's not like it can ruin the blitzball game since you play blitzball in a pool in the first place and so the game is inside a stadium."
Kairi shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant"
"What is it then?"
Kairi turned her head to look back over at Selphie. Her friend had taken back to poking through the sand before she dug out a pearl gray clamshell. She dusted the sand off, completely unconcerned and Kairi let the issue go. "Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"If you say so" Selphie replied airily as she continued to clean the clam shell before, holding it up to the sun.
0o0o0o0
Roxas and Naminé were walking through the downtown area of Twilight Town. There were several shops and winding paths made of yellow and brown stone. Not many people were out yet but there were still a few, mostly just vendors setting their things up to sell.
Naminé was staying close beside Roxas, to the point where their shoulders were almost touching. She was acting like some kind of coiled up spring, with a death grip on her sketchbook, and eyes constantly darting in all directions. Roxas could feel her body had stiffened and had to remind himself that she wasn't used to this. The sounds of ringing bells, chattering voices, the smells of cooking food, perfume, and leather, the gleam of polished metal from displays, and the shops with brightly colored signs were all new to her.
"You don't like the crowd" Roxas stated finally.
Naminé spun her head towards him as if she was surprised he'd spoken. "I'm not used to it."
"I know how you feel. I didn't like it at first either and I still don't. I'm not going to say you get used to it but you learn to tolerate it."
"It's not that I don't like it" Naminé replied anxiously. "It's nice but it's just different."
Roxas shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway." He pointed to a stand a few feet in front of them, framed by a blue curtain and looked liked it had been carved into the surrounding brick wall. "We're here."
Roxas left Naminé's side before she could say anything and returned shortly with two sea salt ice cream bars. He held one out to her and Naminé took it pressing it to her lips, savoring the taste, and smiled. The only time she ever had one had been so long ago. "Thanks Roxas"
"Sure, I figured it's the least I could do after…" Roxas trailed off, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "You know."
Naminé's thoughts inadvertently strayed back to the night when Roxas, enraged and desperate, had broken into DIZ's lab, almost ending everything, almost ending Sora, but no matter how hopeless the situation, Naminé knew Roxas could have never really gone through with it but still it had been close, a lot closer then she waned to admit and Naminé quickly shook her head, ridding herself of the unwanted image. "It's alright don't mention it."
Roxas turned away from her, scanning the area. "Right, so lets go find a place to sit down before the ice cream melts all over my hand."
Naminé felt a small sense of accomplishment when she spotted a place before Roxas. It was a small bench just to her right and in an opened area but away from most of the main shops with a tree shading it that looked to be coming up from the stone walkway. Naminé wondered how it was able to grow that way, it seemed entirely out of place. "What about over there?"
Roxas followed her line of vision, noticing the bench "Fine with me"
Naminé started toward it, but only managed a couple of steps before she realized Roxas wasn't following. She looked back to him, seeing his entire body had gone ridged, his ice cream hanging limply from his fingers, his knees bent, leaning forward, looking ready to run or defend himself. His face was expressionless but his eyes were narrowed in deep concentration, staring ahead at something she couldn't see.
Naminé's blood ran cold with instant distress as she looked around frantically, trying to find what had Roxas so on edge, nothing to her came across as being any different, but what if they were being pursued, had someone from the organization found them? "Roxas…" Naminé said trying to keep her voice level but it came out no more then a whisper. "What's-"
Naminé was cut off when Roxas sprinted forward, his hand closing securely around her wrist, making her nearly drop her ice cream and sketchbook. The next thing she knew they were running, their surroundings going by in a blur. Roxas was fast, almost impossibly fast and Naminé stumble trying to keep up with him but Roxas didn't appear to notice. All she could do was continue to blindly let him drag her forward.
Roxas stopped without warning and Naminé was pulled roughly downwards, her knees nearly skidding across the concrete. As soon as she could focus she realized they were ducking behind a deserted hotdog stand and kneeling on the ground with their backs against the stand's metal frame. Naminé was practically crushed against Roxas's side, and he still hadn't let go of her wrist. His body was turned so he was looking over his shoulder and out onto the street, scowling.
"Roxas-" Naminé gasped. It was all she was able to say before Roxas's hand left her wrist and clamped tightly over her mouth. Naminé remained still as she felt panic consume her, not even daring to breathe, thinking about the organization, being locked in a room, pictures, and endless white. Larxene, knocking her across the floor and gripping her chin with long, cool fingers, forcefully turning her head. 'Behind that cute little face you do some awful things.' Marluxia's hand on her shoulder, as he leaned forward to whisper to her, his hot breath at her ear. 'Draw me a picture' Naminé shivered, hoping above anything Roxas hadn't felt it.
She still couldn't see anything wrong and the only thing even remotely out of place was a man walking down one of the many curving pathways. He was wearing a green suit, had a large stomach, black sideburns, but a bald head that the sun was glinting off of, whistling happily and carrying what looked like a large stack of papers. Roxas was trailing him with his eyes and as soon as the man disappeared around a corner, Roxas's hand left her mouth. He stood up pulling her with him and walked out from behind the hotdog stand without saying anything. Naminé followed, still slightly shaky, with wide eyes.
"That was close" Roxas said sounding proud of himself and turning to her.
"What was close?" Naminé asked as she blinked in confusion. "Is everything okay? Was it the organization?"
It was Roxas's turn to look puzzled. "You thought it was the organization?"
"It wasn't?"
"No" Roxas said, looking somewhat guilty. "If it was the organization I would have acted sooner and we wouldn't have hidden in plain sight…it wasn't the organization. Did I scare you?"
"A little."
"Sorry, I didn't really explain anything did I?"
"What were we hiding from?" Naminé asked, her trembling had stilled but she couldn't help a small amount of alarm and fear from showing through her voice. "Are you sure everything's okay?"
"It's fine, didn't you see that large guy walking down the road a minute ago?"
"We were hiding from the guy with the papers?" Naminé asked blankly.
"Posters" Roxas corrected, smiling weakly, looking uncomfortable and hesitant. "He's my boss and I'm off today but from the looks of it he just got in a new batch of posters and if he saw me out here, he would probably ask me to work and I don't want to right now since I already told you I'm hanging out with my friends today…so there you go"
Doubt and worry was replaced by cold relief as Naminé realized she'd been worked up over nothing. Everything Roxas had said, including his reaction seemed so completely ordinary, and when she thought about it, so completely 'Roxas'. The vacant expression faded from Naminé's face and she smiled, lifting a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back laughter and failing.
"It's not funny!" Roxas shot back defensively.
"Sorry" Naminé said but didn't make a further move to suppress her laughter, only clutched at her chest, laughing harder. "But yes…it is…"
"Okay, maybe it is kind of funny." Roxas relented.
"You're very dynamic Roxas" Naminé chocked out.
"I swear if you say one more word…"
"Sorry" Naminé picked her head up, wiping away the wetness that had gathered at corner of her eyes, before quickly holding up her dripping and somewhat smashed sea salt ice cream. "Should we go finish these?"
Roxas nodded, looking at his own ice cream which wasn't in any better shape. He walked over to the bench, sat down moodily, followed shortly by Naminé.
They ate in silence for a minute, quickly finishing what was left of their ice cream before Naminé noticed a couple of white birds a few feet away, pecking at bread crumbs from between the crevices of the stone pathway. She wasn't really used to birds, especially seeing them this close and her eyes brightened as she watched them. "I like the birds."
Roxas turned his head, eyes flickering to the birds. "Birds are another thing you have to get used too. They're everywhere here."
Naminé had the sudden inspiration to sketch them. She opened her sketchbook, placing it on her lap, and took out a pencil that she had stored in the metal spiral, beginning to draw.
Roxas watched her. "Do you carry that thing around with you everywhere you go?"
"Its been with me from the first moment I was aware of anything and I've kept it that way ever since"
"Then that would mean you've almost had it what? A year and a half? Don't you ever run out of pages on it?"
"It's magic" Naminé answered without looking away from her drawing. "The pages grow back."
"Wait that's not…and you're not serious."
Naminé looked up, seeing Roxas's disbelieving stare and grinned. "I replace the pages or sometimes I just use loose paper."
"I knew that."
"Did you?"
"Yes, so why are you always drawing anyway?" Roxas countered.
"I like to draw" Naminé said easily while tapping her pencil against the edge of her sketchbook. "Plus it helps me focus and… I can draw scenes and make others believe they're true or that they really happened, so it's connected with my power."
"And your power is completely manipulating the memories of others?" Roxas asked thoughtfully.
"Yes" Naminé replied, her tone emotionless.
"Okay, I don't really know much about the Castle Oblivion thing but I wasn't entirely out of the loop. Wasn't the reason the organization had you there because you could only control the memories of those whose hearts are aligned with Sora's? Or can you do it with others too?"
"It's a lot easier if they are connected with Sora's but I've learned I can do it with others." The Riku Replica Naminé's mind screamed. She almost flinched at the thought and her hand tightened around her pencil. "I have done it with others…other."
Unconcerned, Roxas leaned forward, his eyes shinning in interest. "So you can alter the memories of anyone you want?"
Naminé half frowned at Roxas, wondering where he was going with this. "Basically, yes."
Roxas straightened himself and pointed to a skinny, beaming, and waving man behind the sea salt ice cream stand. "Okay, so you see that guy over there?"
"You mean the one you brought the sea salt ice cream from?"
"Right, can you make him think I gave him…I don't know 10,000 munny to much?"
"What? Roxas no!"
Roxas chuckled. "Hey, I'm just kidding, but seriously what good are mind altering powers if you can't have some fun with them?"
"Then maybe it's a good thing you don't have them" Naminé replied idly.
Roxas placed his hands behind his head and leaned back on the bench, the gesture strangely reminiscent of Sora "If I did. I wouldn't even need keyblades. Everyone I fought I could just make them forget all their abilities. That probably wouldn't work so good on heartless though."
"It's not like that, but that is kind of the point on why the organization wanted me in the first place."
"Yeah, well Xemnas should have made you apart of the organization" Roxas continued absently. "Then we could have been Organization XIV, if you don't share in Xemnas's obsession and the glory that is his precious Kingdom Hearts, then we have the power to brain wash you."
Naminé shook her head, working on shading in the wing of a bird. "You have the strangest sense of humor Roxas."
Roxas shrugged. "I won't argue with that, but compared to most of the Organization at least I have a sense of humor. I think it comes from hanging around Hayner, Pence, and Olette too much."
Naminé sighed as she set her pencil down and looked up to the sky, seeming deep in thought, silent for a long moment. "This world is staring to die. Can you feel it?" She asked distantly.
"I've noticed" Roxas said dryly, all traces of humor leaving his voice.
"It won't be too much longer until it begins to fall apart."
"So, it's not like it matters all I have to do is leave."
"You're right " Naminé said softly. "I can leave too, for us it's easy but what about all of the others. They're stuck here. Whatever happens to their world happens to them."
"I already know that!" Roxas snapped. "I've seen exactly what happens when the heartless come and worlds fall. I've even lived in one. Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you care don't you?" Naminé replied honestly. "You care about what happens to Hayner, Pence, and Olette."
"I thought we weren't talking about this" Roxas answered coldly.
Naminé nodded, hearing the venom in Roxas's words but also noticing he hadn't denied it. "Sorry" She whispered.
"Don't mention it" Roxas said grudgingly and after a pause "Your birds flew away."
Naminé glanced at the ground, noticing where the birds had been was only empty space. "It's alright I finished the outline. I can fill in the details later" She reached a hand up to close her sketchbook.
"Can I see?" Roxas asked when she was half way through the motion.
Naminé turned her head toward him. "See what?"
"Your sketchbook. I want to see the pictures."
A small smile formed on Naminé's lips. "Really?"
"Sure, if that's okay."
Naminé nodded excitedly. "Of course it is! I'd love to show you Roxas. It's just no one has ever asked to see them before."
"Then I'm the first" Roxas said as he held his hand out.
Naminé flipped her sketchbook back to the beginning and quickly gave it to Roxas. She leaned toward him, so she was peering over his arm, her smile growing.
The first picture was of a spiral staircase that was so long it seemed virtually endless. It was done in pencil and so detailed it looked as if it was coming off the page. Roxas wondered, if he reached in if he would be able to touch it. "Wow, that's really good."
Naminé beamed at the praise. "Thank you, it's the staircase in Castle Oblivion."
Roxas looked over the picture again, seeing it in a different light. "I always did wonder what that looked liked. I didn't realize it was so infinite…Did Sora actually have to climb all those stairs?"
"Yes, and he did."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I almost feel sorry for him, keyword being almost. The organization had to have given him a hard time…and that's really a lot of stairs."
"He made it through."
Roxas grunted and turned the page. The next picture was of Sora in the process of being enclosed by a white pod. The brunet's eyes were staring blankly ahead and partially closed, it looked haunting. "You put Sora to sleep right? To restore his memories after the whole Castle Oblivion disaster and this is when it happened?"
"Yes, that was after he reached the top of the tower."
Roxas felt a sudden chill, although he wasn't sure why and hastily flipped the page to see four figures in black robes. Two were in the background that he couldn't identify but the other two in front, he recognized as himself and Axel, standing side by side. The picture was blurred, looking as if it was no more then scribbled flashes of color put together.
"That's you and Axel" Naminé said helpfully.
"I noticed, why are we so sketchy?"
"Because I didn't know you at the time."
The answer strangely made sense and Roxas nodded, shrugging if off, turning the page. "Nice job on Axel's hair by the way."
Naminé held back a giggle. "Thanks."
The next picture was of an island, done in crayon and all of the colors were bright with a large sun. There were four figures of kids each of them lined up and…
"Why is everyone holding hands?" Roxas smirked.
"Because they're all happy to be together."
Roxas's eyes skimmed over the picture, studying it intently. "That's Destiny Islands right? Before the storm came, so who is everyone?"
"It's Destiny Islands" Naminé confirmed, shifting closer to Roxas so she could reach a hand over his arm and point to all of the figures. "That's me."
Roxas gave her a strange look.
"I was never on Destiny Islands." She answered the unasked question.
"Then why…?"
"I kind of wanted to add myself in and I was made to…I drew it in the tower." Naminé said uneasily.
Roxas made a small noise in acknowledgment, not wanting to go further into the issue. "What about the others?"
Naminé shot him a relived look, sweeping her finger further across the page. "That's Riku, Sora, and-"
"Kairi" Roxas finished breathlessly.
"Kairi" Naminé repeated.
Roxas traced the rough figure with the red hair and blue-violet eyes that was nothing more then crayon marks. He felt strange, knew that somewhere he cared about her, that she was the most important person to him. Kairi was only a shadowed memory in his mind and he barely knew her name but Roxas felt he wanted to be with her, to hold on to her even if he didn't understand why. He pressed his fingers into the page as if he could pull her out from it. "This is Kairi" Roxas said again, liking the way her name sounded on his tongue.
Naminé nodded but didn't reply.
"She's that girl that I…that Sora likes"
"Was she in your dream?" Naminé asked quietly.
Roxas pictured Kairi standing in a cave by a closed door, a violent gust of wind knocking her backwards, and he'd opened his arms to catch her but she passed right through him, then how desperate he was to save her after. "Yeah…she lost her heart I think. I'm supposed to find her. I have to get to her but I don't know where she is or even what happened to her." Roxas lifted his arms, running his hands through his hair, voice coming out choked and desperate. "I hate this! I hate not being able to remember anything!"
"She's okay Roxas" Naminé said softly. "Sora rescued her and restored her heart, she's back on Destiny Islands."
Roxas jerked his head toward Naminé, staring at her with a mixture of uncertainty and relief. "Sora restored her heart? How?"
"I'm not sure."
"But you just said Kairi is okay. Then how can you know that?"
Naminé attempted a half smile. "I don't have a lot of the details but I know the basic story. You're forgetting I've been with DIZ and Riku for the last year."
"And what? Riku told you this?"
"He lived through it."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It wasn't all Riku, actually most of it wasn't since Riku didn't like to talk about it. When the organization had me I was supposed to make Sora listen to me by replacing Kairi's identity with my own and I'm sure you already know a lot of the story, anyway I picked up a lot of it then."
Roxas sighed but looked to accept the answer and handed the sketchbook roughly back to Naminé. "I shouldn't go any further."
"I understand" Naminé replied a bit forlornly.
"I want to see Kairi" Roxas said absently. "If only to make sure she's okay."
"It's probably only right that you would want to see her, she is very important to Sora."
Roxas clenched his hands in frustration. "I know, I feel this connection with her even if I'm just looking at a picture. Kairi means so much to me when she shouldn't. I've never even met her. She's important to Sora, so who cares?! That doesn't mean I have to feel the same way about her but I do or at least a fraction of it and I hate it!"
"Maybe, you'll remember more about her in time and it will make it easier. I'm not sure but " Naminé stared down at her drawing longingly, of herself, Riku, Sora, and Kairi holding hands under a smiling sun, quickly closing her sketchbook. "One thing I do know is Kairi is very lucky."
"So is Sora."
"I used to want to be Kairi" Naminé said distantly. "I was so jealous. I would have given anything to have her life. Everything about her seemed so perfect. She's even a princess and she has people who love her. All I ever had were empty rooms, I couldn't even begin to compare to her and I still can't. I listened to the organization and I did things I regret but I realized the pain I was causing Kairi and the others important to her…now I don't feel jealous towards her at all. I only hope she knows how special she is and that she's happy."
"Jealously, being alone, having nothing I can relate."
"I know you can…" Naminé trailed off, looking pensive before she took a deep breath and continued. "When I was in the tower, Axel told me once that nobodies can't be somebodies. Do you think that's true?"
"I don't know" Roxas answered uncaringly.
"I don't believe it" Naminé said defiantly. "Maybe I did then but I don't now" She lowered her head, blonde hair falling to shadow her face, loosing any of her pervious confidence and looking between sad and wistful. "I want to see Kairi too, maybe that's why, so I can feel important. I'm sure I will someday but I don't think the time is right yet. I wonder what she's like, what she would think of me."
Roxas wanted to brush her hair back, to see if it felt as soft as it looked. The impulse was strange like some disjointed feeling and he didn't understand it, so Roxas's made his hand stay carefully motionless by his side. Looking, at Naminé he almost felt the same as he did with Kairi but it was different, sensing a link with the blonde haired girl that ran deeper but more obscured.
Then something clicked in Roxas's mind, his words coming out in a rush, voice rising in excitement. "You're connected with Sora somehow aren't you? That's why you could manipulate his memories so easily and when I'm around you I feel like there's something tying us together. I felt a connection with the…with Riku too. And I can feel one with Kairi from just looking at a drawing of her but with you…it's like you bring something out in me like I've always known you. Do you feel it too?"
Naminé looked at him out of dulled eyes. "I feel it. I felt it from the first moment I met you."
"Me too" Roxas replied quickly "Then you are connected with Sora. What happened in your past life?"
"I don't remember" Naminé answered simply.
That instantly had Roxas's full attention. In the next second his hand was gripping the back of the bench and he was leaning over Naminé, looking directly into her face, eyes shining with desperation. "That doesn't make any sense!" Roxas said frantically. "All nobodies remember their past lives. That's almost all they remember. I'm supposed to be the only one."
"We seem to have a lot more in common then you might think Roxas" Naminé replied unfazed.
Roxas smirked, forcing himself to lower his voice and move back a little. "I'm beginning to realize that, so you really can't remember anything?"
"No, nothing it's completely blank, kind of strange when the girl who controls memories can't remember anything about her own life."
Most of Roxas's initial shock had faded only leaving confusion and a desire for the truth. "But how…how is that possible?"
"You're not alone it that your other is still alive."
Roxas felt something in his stomach twist and his eyes widened. All this time he'd thought he'd been unique, thought he'd been alone but Naminé had been here the whole time. It was another thing the organization failed to tell him, more deceit Xemnas feed him. Roxas wondered if Naminé spent endless nights like he had in turmoil, trying anything to remember, or if she felt there was something more out there. She must have, she went against the organization. Roxas wanted to ask her so much but he was able to only form one word from his suddenly tight throat "Who?"
Naminé turned her head, her face impassive, hollowed eyes staring into his sapphire blue and somehow Roxas knew. In an instant it all came together, why he felt almost the same connection to her as he did with Kairi, why the organization had wanted her, why she almost succeeded in controlling Sora, Naminé's jealously over Kairi, her desire to meet her. Naminé was right they really were a lot alike when he allowed himself to think about it. "Kairi" Roxas whispered. "You're Kairi's nobody."
Naminé didn't answer, only studied his face, looking for a reaction.
Roxas jerked completely away from her like he'd been burned. They both stared at each other as if they were in a type of trance, afraid to move. Then slowly Roxas forced a smile, it was half amused, half shattered, and he laughed. "Well that's just perfect. It's like something out of a fairytale. Sora and Kairi, you and me. We both have the ability to join with them, so lets say we do and we get our hearts back, then Sora and Kairi stay together and so do we. We all live happily ever after. The end."
Naminé looked away from him, glancing up at the fractured sky. "Somehow this doesn't seem so perfect."
"It's as close or as messed up as we're going to get" Roxas said icily.
Naminé let her head fall backwards against the bench. "We can make our own destiny."
"My destiny was decided for me by Xemnas and DIZ from the first moment I opened my eyes. My whole life I've been lied to until I put a stop to it. I never even knew there was someone else out there like me. There are still things that I want to know, that I want to ask you."
"You can ask me anything Roxas."
Roxas didn't hesitate, the words coming from his mouth before he could even think about them. "Everyone at the Castle That Never Was knew how they died and how they were born. I can remember pieces of it. I can vaguely see Twilight Town and I know Xemnas found me. He gave me my name but it's so hazy. Is it the same for you? Do you remember how you were born?"
"Not really, like you said it's hazy. Marluxia found me. He said that I was shivering and that I was soaked with water. I don't remember any of it. There are flashes sometimes but that's all."
Roxas accepted her answer indifferently. "What about dreams?" He asked instead. "You know I've dreamed of Sora before. Have you ever dreamed of Kairi?" Roxas breathed in deeply, his voice thickening. "Can you tell me about her?"
Naminé sat up straighter on the bench, her eyes clouded, looking far away. "I don't think I have dreams like you do… I can vaguely see Destiny Islands and three kids leaning against a paopu tree "Naminé trailed off, biting her lip, swallowing hard. "But there is something more, deeper only I'm not sure if it's of Kairi or not. I have this dream where it's completely dark. I can feel something coming but I'm trapped inside my own body. I want so badly to move but no matter what I do, I can't. I try to say something but it's like my throat is fused together. "
Naminé paused for a moment, body tensing and eyes glistening, but eerily calm. "There's another where I'm drowning. The waves are crashing over my head. I fight to get to the surface only to keep getting pushed back under. Water starts to fill my lungs and then I'm pulled out by someone or something. I only know that I can breathe again."
"That doesn't sound like the best memory" Roxas said gravely.
"I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more."
"It's alright"
Naminé sighed, shifting her sketchbook in her lap and looking to be considering something before she spoke next. "Right after I was born everything was so new. I didn't know anything about right and wrong just what Marluxia told me. This might sound strange but I liked all of the white in my room." Naminé broke off into a nervous laugh before quickly schooling her features. "Even if sometimes I felt lost in it. White always represented to me an open canvas, a blank slate. You can create anything you want but it can also swallow you."
Roxas suppressed a shiver. "That's deep but it doesn't sound strange" He replied automatically.
Naminé tilted her head, blonde hair falling over her shoulder. "Was everything new for you too then?"
"No" Roxas said rigidly. "I was out of it for maybe the first day, then it was like I blinked my eyes and I was standing on my own. The others knew a lot of things I didn't and sometimes it was hard to keep up with them but it hardly mattered, fighting was the only important thing in that place. Fighting was like a reaction for me. It was effortless, familiar, and the keyblade always felt like it belonged in my hand. It was easy to kill the heartless, to summon keyblades, and surpass the others. I never understood why until I found out about Sora."
Naminé didn't reply and they both fell silent. There was barking in the distance as a large brown dog ran through a crowd of more white birds, sending them scattering into the sky. Naminé went back to studying the streets of Twilight Town, looking almost happy. Roxas felt a smile tugging at the corners of his lips and didn't want to risk speaking and distracting her. The early morning chill had disappeared and the sun was fully out, making Roxas feel oddly warm and content as if he could stay this way forever.
"It wasn't our fault" She said faintly, breaking Roxas out of his trance.
Roxas jerked his head toward her, not sure if he heard right. "What?"
Naminé wasn't even looking at him, staring straight ahead. ""I've been thinking a lot about that. Marluxia found me, Xemnas found you. The organization used me because of what I can do. I could give them what they wanted, the ability to control Sora. They wanted you because you are his other and you have the keyblades. There had to be so many things the organization could have accomplished with you maybe, even get to Sora…I'm not sure but I know it wasn't our fault. We were both used, manipulated, corrupted…we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Roxas had never thought of it that way before and he didn't know how to reply. He repeated what Naminé said in his mind, feeling as if a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders. She'd just given him a way out and he wanted so much to take it but knew he couldn't, knew it was only a half truth, would mean he wasn't responsible for anything when Roxas knew he was. He alone had committed mass destruction and silt Riku's throat. Maybe Naminé hated the violence but Roxas liked it, craved it even, there was something about holding Oathkeeper and Oblivion in his hands and swinging them with fatal accuracy.
In battle, there wasn't time to think and in that split second before Roxas slashed through a heartless he felt almost complete. For a moment Roxas wanted so badly to summon Oathkeeper and Oblivion, to feel the familiar weight in his hands, it had been so long, wanted to be back under the black and vacant sky with the icy rain on his face, locked in a never-racking battle for life and death. Roxas felt something jerk inside of him and his throat go dry. He forced the longing back and shrugged. "Sure, if that's how you want to look at it."
Naminé turned to him, her face blank but looking lost and complete at the same time. Roxas felt the urge to reach out to her again, if only to anchor himself but gritted his teeth and dug his fingers into the smooth wood of the bench instead.
"Its helped me to move on" Naminé said quietly. "Because of when I think of what I've put others through, of what I put Kairi though all I know is guilt, but there's no time for guilt. Its never solved anything, acting does. I've figured that out and Kairi's confirmed it for me…because I can feel her. She's stranded and lost but even through the pain she'll never give up hope. I know she's alive, and she's strong, and will keep fighting so I was wondering can you feel Sora?"
"Every second" Roxas said, his voice strained and slightly breathless.
Naminé's eyes brightened and she smiled, leaning towards him. "Sora's and Kairi's hearts are connected. They have a bond so strong nothing can break it and even though we don't have hearts we're still linked with Sora and Kairi. There's something between us and maybe because we're in contact with each other, it puts Sora and Kairi together too."
Roxas frowned, not completely understanding. "Where are you going with this?"
"There could be a way to reach Kairi" Naminé said eagerly.
"I still don't…how?"
"I'm not sure I do either but we both want to reach her and it feels like something we should try, something that could work just as long as we're together."
Somewhere Roxas felt the same and if there was a way to connect to Kairi, the redheaded girl that haunted him, he was instantly for it, just to feel her presence for himself, to know she was safe, and make the burring worry he felt in the back of his mind disappear. "Show me."
Naminé nodded, placing her hand on top of his. Roxas's arm jolted but he remained still and five months ago knew he would have pulled away but being with Hayner, Pence, and Olette made him more used to contact. Naminé's hand was light on top of his, their skin barely skimming but Roxas could feel a type of energy grow between them; heated, familiar, and powerful. He felt as if he could do anything, like everything he experienced came down to this one moment, all his abstract memories, what he felt with Naminé, the fleeting images of Kairi.
"Roxas" Naminé mouthed his name, closing her eyes and Roxas copied her, focusing on the link between them, on the heat flowing through his fingers, almost smiling because he liked this, a small sense of he and Naminé being together, making him feel whole, and he formed a clear picture of Kairi in his mind, surprised by how easy it was. Roxas knew she was out there, that he could find her, all he had to do was look, to keep going. That was when the steadily building flames that had been growing through their joined hands ignited.