Hey guys! I just want to apologize for how late this chapter is. I had a serious case of writer's block and I've been busy as well. But the good news is I've finally thought out on how I want this story to go, so I now have a little more inspiration. I'm trying hard not to rush into it though, so I'm sorry if you find that the gummi scenes will tend to drag on. Trust me, you'll thank me later when the good bits come along.

Also I'm going to try and say this without giving too much away, but I will be adding a yaoi relationship into the story. It's not gonna be like a main thing or too heavy. It's just gonna be a cute, light, on the side little add on. Nothing major. I hope it won't ruin things for any of you but it's something I really want to put in here.

Also, I'm gonna be in Paris for a week, so there won't be an update for a week. Sorry :(

Anyways, thanks for all the support so far and keep the reviews coming. I adore reviews x

Chapter 8

Content silence hung over a huge pristine white room. White walls, white floor, white furniture.

A long well-designed dining table sat in the middle of the room with tall elegant chairs dotted around it. The walls were lightly patterned with a slightly darker shade of white, showing odd shapes and a repeated symbol. The symbol was carved into the backs of the chairs, as well as painted into the middle of the dining table. Even the ceiling had the huge mysterious symbol painting across it.

The only thing that wasn't white or didn't bare the symbol in the room was the contrasted man at the head of the table. He sat alone, dressed in a black robe. Long silver hair draped on his shoulders, small spiky bangs covering the sides of his forehead, showing up his tanned skin. His eyes were shut and his gloved hands rested upon the table quietly.

Not anyone could possibly tell what was running through the man's mind at that moment. His face was a picture of complete emptiness. You'd know that he was thinking, but you'd never know what about.

A blurred sound came to his right and a black portal circled upward in an area next to him. Once the wires vanished the silence was met again, and another man dressed in the same black cloak stood beside the man at the table with his hood hiding his face.

The man at the table opened his eyes slowly, revealing striking golden yellow orbs. He stared forward, not bothering to look at the other man. "What is it, Marluxia?"

The man next to him brought his hand to his hood, and in one delicate move he removed it. Light pink feathered hair carelessly bounced from the freedom and the man known as Marluxia looked toward his master. "I found some survivors in Destiny Islands, only three. Two male, one female."

The man at the table nodded slightly. "You're leading them here, I hope."

"Yes."

"Very good."

"But…" Marluxia lifted his head, "One of them, the younger male, he bares a striking resemblance…"

"To Roxas?"

Marluxia looked surprised at the remark for a second, suddenly weary about his own lack of knowledge compared to his master's.

The silver haired man smiled. "You should already know the explanation to that, Marluxia."

Marluxia's eyes concentrated for a minute at his face. "You mean…?"

"Do not worry about the boy. Just be sure their journey is successful."

Marluxia remained silent for a few seconds, looking down at the floor. Then his eyes went back to their emotionless state, looking back at his master.

"Xemnas, sir, can I ask… has anyone found Roxas yet?"

His master, Xemnas, looked at Marluxia, turning his head slowly. "Indeed."

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The gummi ship flew steadily through the enormous black sky. Sora had lost count of how many shooting stars he'd seen flash across it. It was still a huge experience to him, flying, travelling, leaving his home world to find another, this beautiful atmosphere. He was loving every minute of it… but there was still a part of him that already began to miss the Islands. He'd probably never see the beach again, build tree houses, climb paopu trees or eat coconuts.

He'd remembered to take a small reminder with him incase he never went home again, he'd picked a paopu fruit just before they left and shoved it into the small pocket of his hospital gown. They only ever grew in Destiny Islands and no where else. Riku used to say there was a small myth of the paopu fruit, that if two people shared it together, both their destinies would become intertwined, and they'd forever be apart of each other.

Sora smiled as he remembered when Riku told him the myth, and then his eyes slowly fell toward Kairi, who was sat in the seat next to him behind Riku's eating away at a bar of chocolate. His blue eyes lingered on her calm face as he thought about the paopu fruit in his pocket. Sharing a destiny with Kairi would make him more than happy. He was totally unaware of the fond smile taking over his face when he stared at his red haired friend.

Riku took a small glance over his shoulder to see the expression plastered over Sora's face, and then noticed the yellow fruit in his hand. Riku grinned with mischief to himself then returned to look out into the dark sky, resting his hands behind his head.

"Hey Riku, why don't you tell us that story of when Sora ate a slug, thinking it was a Wine Gum," Kairi chirped.

Sora looked mortified as Riku suddenly burst into laughter from his chair at Kairi's random conversation starter.

Kairi giggled in-tow, looking at Sora's face. "You weren't drunk were you?"

"He was perfectly sober!" Riku laughed, holding his stomach with one hand.

Sora puffed out his cheeks with a pout then quickly shoved the paopu fruit back into his pocket, feeling the moment completely ruined. "In my defence, it was a weird colour."

"You still don't pick things off the floor and eat them."

"Shut up Riku, it was in your bedroom!"

"Ewwwww!" Kairi laughed. Riku's cheeks were now going red.

"You should clean it more often," Sora smugly smiled, folding his arms.

"And you should stop eating slugs." Riku glared, folding his arms back.

"What did it taste like?" Kairi asked in curiosity, still giggling.

"Like…" Sora tried to remember the memory he normally tried desperately to forget. The slimy texture, the wiggly feeling in his mouth, the lack of fruity taste. "Ugh." Sora suddenly felt sick.

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Back in Twilight Town, Roxas and his mysterious companion walked along the empty streets. Roxas wanted to go for a walk and clear his head. His mind recently had been going into completely manic overdrive because of the recent events that had occurred, but who could blame him?

The mysterious man who walked alongside him was only there to make sure nothing popped out at Roxas. For some reason he didn't get Roxas' feelings and literally wasn't understanding what he was going through. The only thing he thought would help him was to stay here with him. He knew leaving a human on their own for too long would drive them to hysteria, so he thought this was the least he could do after just killing someone who meant a lot to Roxas.

"Hey, um, whoever you are… you know you don't have to do this." Roxas said quietly, his hand resting in his pockets as they walked.

The man looked at Roxas, the black hood still draped over his head. "Do what?"

"You know, protect me and stuff. You and I both know this can't go on forever."

"I'll stay with you until you're safe."

Roxas looked up at the tall man, feeling a rush of gratitude at the comment he made. The he looked back down at the ground, suddenly remembering why he was here in the first place. Remembering how Hayner's deformed body burst into flames at the command of this stranger. This stranger who wouldn't leave him alone. The stranger who was constantly protecting him, even went as far as killing his best friend to make sure he was safe. Roxas closed his eyes, wishing that one memory would disappear already.

"There must be a reason you're here, can't you at least tell me that?"

"Not yet, no."

"When can you?"

The man was silent for a few seconds as they kept walking through the silent street. Walking past broken windows and battered lampposts.

"As soon as you start remembering things, Roxas."

Roxas frowned but didn't question that statement at all. Nearly everything the man said confused Roxas to no extent. This must have been another confusing riddle that spurred out of the man's mouth. He could have a little fun with it.

"Remember what?"

"That's for you to remember."

"What if I already remember?"

"Remember what?"

"What there is to remember."

"And that is?"

"What, you don't remember?"

"Of course I remember."

"Then what is it?"

"That you're… WAIT!"

Roxas laughed at the man and the man just stared at him through the hood, totally stunned at how Roxas managed to do that, and slightly aggravated. Still, something stirred in his chest when he watched the smile grace Roxas' face. The soft childish laughter was almost like music to his ears.

"That was too easy; you know you're not as clever and mysterious as you think you're made out to be."

The man sighed. "I'm glad you remember that, at least."

Roxas' laugh died a little at the confusing statement, wondering whether to take that one seriously or not. But the man suddenly straightened up and carried on walking.

"Let's just go. To wherever it was you wanted to go."

Roxas shook his head and took a quick jog to the man, catching up with him and walking alongside him again. The man could be a weird one at times, but at least he was there.

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"Okay guys I think we're almost there," Riku announced to his two slumbering friends. Sora and Kairi were curled up the seats behind Riku's as hours had past since they left Destiny Islands.

Sora mumbled something then curled even tighter, not wanting to wake up.

"Sora wake up you lazy turd," Riku huffed.

Kairi yawned and then rose from her seat with a stretch. "Where are we?" she asked groggily.

"I don't know, but we need to stop there, the tank's almost empty."

Kairi nodded then walked towards Sora's body, giving him a hard poke in the side of his stomach.

Sora yelped loudly and flexed quickly to the side to see Kairi stood there with a grin. "Get up."

"You're not my mum," Sora mumbled.

"Thank god," she replied and went to sit in the passenger seat next to Riku.

Riku looked at her from the side and grinned to himself, remembering the paopu fruit Sora had hidden in his pocket, then remembering the way he was looking at Kairi. He'd always known for ages that Sora had a crush on Kairi. Even though Sora wouldn't admit it, it was blatantly obvious.

"We're not stopping for long are we?" Kairi asked.

"Depends how long it takes to find the gas we need. We must need to stock up on food as well."

Kairi mumbled in accord and leaned her head back on the chair, watching as the world before them became closer and closer.