You Don't Miss It Till It's Gone Chapter 32: Goodbye, a kingdom hearts fanfic

A/N: SERIOUSLY. Is there something up with 'cause I'm not getting any e-mail. Aaaand I'm getting kinda frustrated...

Anyway.

skitty 2004, your twoshot is called Look Not Back, and I'll upload it maybe halfday after I upload this. I'm still reading through the thing.

Aww. Yer reviews made me feel all WARM and FUZZY. Yeppers. XD

The guys who reviewed but still didn't get a review reply? Sorry, I'll do those later. X3

This chapter clears some things up.

I do recommend listening to Let Me Go, by 3 Doors Down --- it really captures the spirit of the story. Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls, also fits it.

Enjoy!

Disclaimers: Kingdom Hearts (c) Square Enix and Disney.

You Don't Miss It 'til It's Gone (c) Numina-Namine.

Hikari (c) Utada Hikaru.

Dearly Beloved: Reprise (c) Kaoru Wada.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Goodbye

- - - - - - - - - - - -

T r i n i t y L i m i t

N o b o d y L i m i t

-wasurenaide kudasai-

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"donna toki datte

zutto futari de--"

King Mickey's hand flew upwards and groped in the darkness for his cellphone. Queen Minnie shifted beside him, murmuring incoherently. He groaned as his hand found the phone and automatically flipped it open; who at this time of the morning would be in their right mind to call the King of Disney Castle?

It was an unlisted number, and he gritted his teeth. Whoever tried playing pranks on the King would pay.

"Who is this?" he asked irritably, sitting up straight in the bed.

"King Mickey...don't you recognize my voice?"

He sat up even straighter. "Listen, whoever you are. Once I get this number traced, you shall know firsthand what I do to pranksters who call me up at two in the morning, trying to be smart-alecky with me."

"...you, of all people, should recognize who I am."

Mickey froze; it was a voice he knew very well. The owner of the voice no longer scared him; what frightened his Majesty was the reason that prompted the silver-haired Nobody to try and contact him at this ungodly hour.

"Xemnas," he breathed, not really wanting to wake up his wife. "Can't this wait until morning?"

Number One's voice sounded uneven; his breaths were coming in ragged gasps--such an unnatural thing to happen to someone who was usually cool, calm, and collected all the time. "I tried portalling in, but it seems that the Cornerstone has been reactivated..."

"Dear," Minnie said softly, voice muffled under the covers. "Who is it...?

Mickey cringed; he hated lying to his wife. "Uhn--"

"...I have to inform you; Sora's dead."

He shook his head violently, trying to wake himself up. He had heard Xemnas' last sentence wrong, that's for sure.

"What?" he asked into the mouthpiece.

"King Mickey," Xemnas said loudly and clearly, volume enough so that even Queen Minnie could hear it faintly. His wife looked at him interestedly as the Nobody cleared his throat. "Sora Hikari has completely Faded already; in Somebody terms, that means he's dead."

"--did I just hear that correctly?" she whispered, her ebony eyes staring at him fearfully as her hands involuntarily clutched the bedspread's edge. However, he was too stunned to comprehend anything other than Xemnas' trembling voice.

"S-sora's...dead?"

"Yes."

The phone slipped from his hands, bouncing off the mattress and onto the carpeted floor silently, the metallic sound muffled by the velvet material.

"King Mickey, I have lost one of my own too. Naminé... King Mickey, are you still there? King --- "

Mickey stared at it, unseeing, until a warm hand closed over his shoulder and a finger turned his face to his wife's. "Mickey, is it true? Sora... the boy's gone?"

His voice died in his throat as he locked eyes with the Queen--somehow, he knew that he had, indirectly, been the cause of the innocent Wielder's death. Well, screw indirectly...it was his fault. This was a guilt that he'd carry until he the day he dies.

"Oh, oh, M-minnie," his voice cracked, and a tear slid down his face. "I-it's all my fault...oh God, it's all my fault..."

That night, the King wept, and after he did, the Queen wept for him. It had to be done, for the good of all. A few lives had to be given up.

Sora had done an outstanding job.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"Roxas? You...wanted to see me?"

Kairi pushed the door slightly more open, her fingers resting lightly on the white painted wood. Roxas was hunched over the edge of his bed, shuffling his feet. At the sound of her voice he looked up, and Kairi wasn't surprised to see remains of dried tears on his face. She had been told that Roxas had been crying nonstop ever since the night before--not that she hasn't been doing that.

He cried over Naminé, she cried over Sora--both Nobodies gone and faded from existence.

She and Riku was still intruding on Organization XIII's hospitality; they planned to portal out a little bit later in the day, just in time for Destiny Islands' picture-perfect sunset. Xemnas had called and informed his Majesty; there was no doubt that the King would arrive very soon here in the Castle, and Kairi was in no mood to meet the King who had a hand in the disaster that was Sora's life.

"Hey," he said, halfheartedly raising a hand in greeting. Haunted eyes that had no more tears to cry stared at her. He motioned for her to close the door.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly, shutting the door but not taking up on his offer to sit beside him. Right now, Roxas was the person she liked the least--honestly, if she had her own Keyblade, she'd kill him. But no matter; her own hands would suffice--

Kairi gasped as the Oathkeeper coalesced into her clenched fist, the Keyblade answering her furious call. Roxas made a derisive noise as she immediately dismissed it. She had enough of the thalassa-keychained silver Key for about forever.

"You planning to do me in?" Roxas chuckled bemusedly, a noise that somehow infuriated her.

"If I could, I will, you murderer," she spat, whipping around and placing a clammy hand on the silver doorknob of XIII's threshold. "I don't know why the hell I came here, anyway."

"You're wishing I'm the one who died, right?" he murmured in a hurt voice.

"Yes."

Roxas made a choking noise. Kairi turned the knob and pulled the door open. No matter how cruel that sounded, that was what she felt.

"You do have to know...Sora planned that."

She spun on her heels and stared at the blonde in disbelief, shutting the door once more. "What do you mean he planned it?"

He shrugged. "He planned it."

"He planned on dying?" she asked incredulously, honestly afraid of the answer. Maybe this was Sora's last laugh or something. Whatever joke it was, nobody was laughing.

Roxas tilted his head again, motioning that she come sit beside her. Taking a deep breath, Kairi crossed the room in a few unsteady steps and she seated herself, sinking into the white mattress. "Spill it," she ordered in a shaky voice.

He tore away his haunted gaze from her and suddenly found his hands very interesting. "We--we already talked about this, Kairi. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I just didn't think it would be this soon."

"What do you mean it was bound to happen sooner or later?" she screeched into his ear, probably shattering his eardrum, but she didn't regret that--Roxas didn't flinch.

"It...was a plan, you see. When he could still fight Antiform...we talked about whatever would happen if he went completely renegade. It sounded stupid back then, because we really believed he'd be able to fight it. Turned out he couldn't get it under control unless I completely remerged with him...the same's been happening to you and Naminé. So he knew this was going to happen--there was no way in hell he'd allow me to give up my existence."

Kairi kept silent, trying to process what Roxas was saying. Sora knew that this would happen--if he did, why didn't he do anything to stop it?

"It was pointless to try and avoid it," he said sullenly. "So I promised that I'd kill him if he turned completely Heartless. He'd summon all the Heartless he could, binding them to himself. Then I'd hit him with the Oathkeeper, and because it's my Keyblade of control...it'll destroy Antiform and all Heartless he had bound--"

"...and Sora with him," she breathed. Destroying Antifrom was destroying Sora; one couldn't exist without the other. Dark can't exist without light, and vice versa. Stupid, stupid Sora. Hit two birds with one stone when he was supposed to hit only one.

"Yeah..." Roxas said flatly.

She shut her eyes tightly, fearing that if she opened them she'd never stop crying.

The idiot protected them from everything...including himself.

"...but that's not why I sent the Oathkeeper flying."

Kairi snapped her eyes open, flabbergasted. Roxas suddenly sat up straighter, and anger flashed in his eyes. "So why then?"

"He deserved it. Naminé was innocent," he stated in a tight voice. "Naminé had nothing to do with this; her shard of heart was originally mine. Naminé had no reason to die..." Roxas' voice crumbled, and he put his head in his hands, hiding his face from view. But Kairi knew that he was crying.

"Uhm, Naminé didn't really die, Roxas," she said weakly. Sora didn't kill Naminé; Nobodies don't die. Antiform just released her shard of heart and...well, returned her to where she really was supposed to be--inside Kairi.

Roxas suddenly turned to her, cerulean eyes bright with hope as he clutched her shoulders tightly. "You mean, she just remerged with you?" he asked in a painfully hopeful voice.

Kairi had had enough of crushing hearts, but she couldn't avoid it. "Technically, she remerged with me..."

She remembered watching, stunned, as Naminé faded away in Roxas' arms. She didn't fade away; she faded back into Kairi, but since she was supposed to be dead, the blonde had completely remerged. Naminé was there, but she was no longer Naminé. Maybe it was the way existing Others made it to be?

"...but Naminé's gone." She cringed as Roxas' face fell, and his shoulders slumped.

He heaved a sigh. "Just like he did."

Her heart skipped a beat. "W-what?"

"Sora...since he was the Nobody, he...was the one who remerged with me," Roxas said sadly, clasping his hands. "And he's gone too."

She felt like screaming; life was so unfair. But one was to take what life had to offer and make the best of it; trouble was, she and Roxas had no idea how. The fact that Roxas looked just like Sora didn't help much. It didn't help at all.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"I call this meeting to order."

Roxas stared blankly at the Nobody symbol in the middle of their circle of white chairs, not really seeing it as he did.

Truth be told, he was still in shock.

Xemnas cleared his throat. "In the light of the recent events, we have to make a few...reevaluations of our plan to reclaim Kingdom Hearts. We have lost the only Keyblade Master who was willing to slay Heartless. We now have to find a way to slay Heartless without the Keyblade...and as we all know, number Thirteen absolutely refuses to associate with King Mickey."

"How about that Riku kid?" Axel asked, swinging a leg over his marble armrest. The pyro was torn between what to feel; Roxas could say that. Larxene was back, but Naminé was gone. Whatever it was, he was grateful that Axel kept his temperament under wraps.

Zexion snorted derisively. "Riku? Help us? You have got to be kidding me, Eight."

The Cloaked Schemer was still quite talkative...well, compared to his old self. It was an improvement, hopefully permanent.

"Or, how 'bout we all go to Disney Castle, " Xigbar suggested, "And just go force King Mick to replace Sora?"

Xemnas shot number Two a glare, and the eyepatched Nobody fell silent. "We'll research again--"

"...I know a way," Roxas said heavily, drawing back his hood. The silence that blanketed the room as he spoke was so quiet it was actually deafening. Eleven and a half pairs of eyes swung to face him.

He dropped his gaze.

"And," Xemnas asked, "That would be?"

He swallowed painfully, wondering how his felllow Nobodies would react. The idea had come to him only hours after Sora had merged with him completely --- it was ironic, actually. But he had to do what he has to do. Roxas lifted up his right hand before him and concentrated.

Pain, sorrow, blood

A collective gasp and more than a few vehement exclamations told him he had summoned it successfully. Scarlet metal met with cool ebony, ending with the shape of a heart with a deludingly razor-sharp edge. As a Keyblade Master, all Keyblades answered his call, if he concentrated enough. And here, clutched in his right black-gloved fist, rested the Dark Keyblade.

"Ro--" A panicked Axel started, but Roxas held up a hand. The pyro fell silent.

"It's simple. This," he twirled the Keyblade around, "releases hearts, doesn't it? The Knighting didn't affect that particular function. It still releases hearts as it did with Sora's. Now, if I stab myself," the Keyblade came to a stop, and he rested it on his lap, "It will release Sora's heart. Normally, a Nobody will be created, but I already have Sora as my Nobody. So Sora comes back. Antiform is gone, so I can't turn Heartless. The only thing left for me is to remerge," Roxas paused, biting his lip. "Completely. And so there."

"You're crazy," Demyx breathed.

Roxas frowned. "What? You people get Sora back, and once his Antiform returns, I'll be there to control it! It's a win-win situation!"

Marluxia looked like he would sorely like to give Roxas a good smack on the head with the blunt end of his scythe. "Win-win?" he asked disbelievingly.

He sunk back into his seat, and dismissed the Keyblade. "You guys'll get your own hearts! It's either me or all of them! Sora, Riku, Kairi, the realm of darkness and the realm of light, you Nobodies! While...while..." his voice broke. "Naminé and I...we'll be...we'll be..." he trailed off, and he put his hood up once more to hide the tears that threatened to overflow.

Xemnas shifted in his seat and sat straight up, gloved hands gripping tightly at the marble armrests. "I will not agree to that, Roxas! I will not stand losing another Organiza--"

"That's what we are to you, aren't we!" Roxas bellowed suddenly. "We're just numbers to you! Members of this godforsaken group who're all the same, all people who want to use each other and kill and do anything to get their own hearts back! We're just numbers to you, not existing beings, not individuals! You don't care about what we feel or what we remember to feel, Xemnas! You just don't!"

Breathing hard, he glared at the silver-haired Superior. Axel's mouth was hanging open, while Marluxia had on an approving smirk. Demyx and Xigbar alternated a helpless gaze between Roxas and Xemnas. The rest was staring at him as if they had never seen him before.

Xemnas sighed. "As I was saying, I will not stand losing another Organization member..."

"...and another friend."

Roxas stared.

The Superior palmed his forehead resignedly. "No matter what we are, no matter how we treat each other...we are still the closest each other has to a family. Whether you," he swept a gloved hand across the white room, "like it or not, we are all each other has. Roxas," he turned his amber eyes on him, "You're not the only one who has lost Naminé. All of us lost her. We are each other's hearts, in a sense --- we support the whole of our Organization. And we will help you get through this, Roxas. You're," Xemnas paused, and if Roxas' wasn't mistaken, his gaze softened. "not alone. You're never alone. We'll never leave a great kid like you alone."

"I..." Roxas trailed off, stunned.

"Superior..." Axel whispered loudly.

"Well, the Superior's right," Xaldin said boredly, lances hovering around him. "No matter how much I hate it when either you or Axel or Demyx mess with my dreadlocks, you are still something like family."

"Oh, pssh," Larxene rolled her eyes. "You people getting soft?"

Xemnas glanced at her bemusedly. "I do seem to remember Luxord telling me that you and a certain pyrokinetic kissed."

Number Twelve blushed furiously before hurling a kunai at where number Ten's head would be if he hadn't ducked. Axel seemed to find his hands very interesting. Vexen and Marluxia snickered, and Demyx burst into a wedding march whistle.

Roxas suddenly felt a warm feeling spread throughout his chest. Something like...like affection. Affection for these group of mistfits so much like him. Yes...he had acknowledged them as his family long ago. And for them, he was grateful.

"We'll help you get through this, Roxas," Xemnas said firmly. "We will."

"Aww!" Demyx gleefully screeched. "Group huuug!"

That meted him a lance in the arm, thrown by a glaring Xaldin. "You wish, kid."

Roxas looked around, and felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards into the beginnings of a smile. Somehow, seeing them all in one place, laughing, smirking, staring, glaring, he didn't feel as alone anymore.

But still, he felt alone.

Sora's heart felt foreign, fluttering in his chest.

He knew his heart had faded away, together with the pale blonde Nobody, Naminé, on that fateful night. He owed his life to the girl, and it hurt all the more, because he had failed to protect her.

He failed his heart.

He failed Naminé.

Somehow, he knew it would never go away.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"Are you sure?"

She bobbed her head in reply, holding onto herself tightly. He knew she wanted to salvage any memory that his best friend had left behind, and this was the most probable place that held the most of those.

Riku tilted his head slightly, and he sighed in resignation. Kairi watched, fascinated, as he summoned his Way to the Dawn, Heartless Keychain sparkling in the afternoon sun that streamed through the windows, creating patches of sun that dotted the hallway. Taking a deep breath, he set on breaking the unbreakable lock Sora had put on his bedroom--unbreakable to anything short of a Keyblade.

The lock appeared; a void of black shaped like a Keyhole. He aimed his Keyblade right at the center, and the satisfying click of a keyhole being unlocked ensued. He stepped backward as Kairi reached gingerly for the brass doorknob. She twisted it clockwise, and the door opened with a resounding creak.

Biting her lip, she took a tentative step forward, as if frightened of what she would see inside the brunet Wielder's room. Riku sensed that this moment was for her and her alone to live--Riku had all the time in the world to go through his former housemate's room.

In time, their broken hearts would heal. They just didn't know how long it would take.

But for now, this respite, this refuge in Sora's own sanctuary would suffice. It would be a nice start in starting over. Today was only the afternoon after the incident...they had their whole lives ahead of them.

"If you need me, just holler," Riku said offhandedly, swinging his Keyblade over his shoulder, cringing at the way it reminded him of Sora.

She nodded silently, and glided into the room. Riku silently shut the door behind her, leaving Kairi with her memories. All they needed was time.

---------------------

Kairi picked her way gingerly across the scattered Keychains littering Sora's floor, internally wondering how the boy managed to get around without tripping flat on his face every few minutes or so. She wanted to laugh at the memory, but laughter would not come to her, not for a long, long time.

Sora's room was an averagely-sized one, and somehow decorated in a way that normal teenagers would. Posters stuck to the pale blue walls. Loose-leaf notebooks and thick textbooks scribbled with undecipherable squiggles were stacked unceremoniously on the table in the corner. There was a Gummi Ship Schedule tacked above said desk, along with a list of all the projects he had to pass months ago, somthing that seemed like eternity for Kairi.

Clothes were strewn all across the bedsheets; it looked just like it did one autumn morning ago when Sora last woke up as a Somebody. A set of headphones were partly buried under the avalanche of shirts, attached to a music player. Her forehead wrinkled as she unearthed said pair of headphones...underneath which was a photograph.

This one had been taken in Traverse Town, she realized, recognizing the house which served as their temporary headquarters. It was the short time of peace between restoring her heart and fighting Xehanort's Heartless. Kairi suspected a certain Yuffie had taken the snapshot, in a rare moment of seriousness courtesy of Sora.

Imprinted on the glossy three-by-five inch rectangle of paper was her and the brunette Wielder, both fourteen years old at that time. Sora was staring directly at the camera, his gaze serious and unyielding, his head tilted slightly to accomodate her resting own. His fingers were lightly brushing the ground, and his elbows were resting above his spread knees, massive shoes looking even larger because of perspective.

She was staring at something off-camera, her head leaning against his neck, her hand propped up on the ground.

Kairi stared. She had never seen this picture before. She flipped it over, and only three words were inscribed in Sora's precise handwriting.

I love you.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she collapsed on his bed, dejected.

ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring---beep.

Kairi blinked.

Sora's phone was ringing, and in the moment she was frozen in surprise, his answering machine had picked it up.

"You do know that this is Sora's number, right? Well, he's not here at the moment, so leave your message after that long, irritating sound we call a beep. He promises that he'll try to call you back within this lifetime." Beep.

"Hello? Sora? This is Yuffie," a very clipped voice filtered over. "Listen, if you don't call back in ten minutes, Leon's going to be the one the call you and chew you out. He's pissed b'cause you're not answering! You don't want to be lectured by mister Ray of Sunshine, do ya, do ya? Call back in ten, or else, -Aerith, can't you do something, put him to sleep or-- beep."

Kairi stared at the blinking piece of machinery. An unpleasant thought hit her; only the King, Organization XIII, her, and Riku knew Sora was already gone. How would they tell the realm of light that one of their protectors was dead? Radiant Garden? All the worlds he had visited? Destiny Islands?

She sprung up from the bed and walked over to the answering machine, which was perched precariously near the tottering stack of Disney Castle Library books. Her finger hovered for a second before pushing the history button.

"Sora, hey, this is Aladdin, just got your number today. Uhm, m-me and Jasmine were wondering, uh, hey! --Don't mind him. This is Jasmine, and we'd like to invite you to our wedding...you've done so much for us, let Agrabah repay it. Aaand...it's okay if you bring Kairi and Riku...Aladdin! Haha, and maybe if Jasmine throws the bouquet, Kairi'll catch it, and...just come, okay? Call us back." beep.

"Sora Sora Sora Sora Sora! This is Grand Ninja Yuffie -owwie Aerith that hurts! Go make out with Cloud or something OW okay shutting my mouth already- we just wanna know how you been doing--we heard that you already came back to your home World. Congratulations! Give us a call when you can. 'bye!" beep.

"This is stupid, Sora, your answering machine doesn't need testing! I'm just in the next room, do I really have to call you?" beep.

"Hey, Sora? Jack speaking...ehem, as you might notice, Halloween is just around the corner--care to join Halloweentown in celebrating this momentous occasion? Feel free to drop by... be sure to wear something scary!" beep.

"Soraaa! Yuff again... just reminding you we're still alive and waiting for you to call...or something." beep.

"Uhmmm, Sora? This is Olette...mind helping me, Hayner and Pence in that independent study I told you about? Unlimited supply of Sea-Salt ice cream! And I won't let Hayner steal anything! haha Call me back, 'kay? Thank you." beep.

"Dude, Sora, Tidus calling...just wanted you to know, I'm going out with Yuna already...maybe you should get a move on with Kairi? You two are so obvious--heheheh." beep.

"Wheee! Sora! You're a knight! Congratulations! Leon says hi...we saw you at the Knighting, but you didn't see us! Heehee...lovelots, Yuffie!" beep.

"Sora? Is something wrong there? We have had no word from you...anyway, you missed a great wedding, me and Jasmine are leaving for our honeymoon tonight...call us when you have time." beep.

"Sora, this is Scrooge McDuck. Care to be our model for this new skateboard we're marketing? Drop by Radiant Garden if you have the chance, okay? Thank you." beep.

"K-keyblade Master, this is Marty from B-black Market extension A... w-we're sorry to say we're still out of stock of the paopu flavor...it's arriving tomorrow, but we're happy to present you with a free strawberry sampler! Portal over to our shop...t-thank you." beep.

"Good afternoon, this is Aerith Gainsborough. I'd really appreciate it, Sora, if you gave us a call...we're becoming worried over here. You've not picked up your phone in almost six months. Call back. Thanks." beep.

"S-sir Sora? The shipment's just come in...feel free to pick up the blood anytime; it'll s-set you back for only five hundred munny." beep.

"Yuffie here! Sora, pick up! Even Cid's going crazy, not that he's not already crazed, but still! We're all worrying our brains out--the guy who attacked the King must've been after the Keyblade! Don't let your guard down!" beep.

"HEY KIDDO PICK THE DAMN PHONE UP YOU LITTLE--gah!--Sorry, sorry, we shouldn't have given the phone to Cid, heheh, anyway, call back, Sora! Yuff-" beep.

"Hey, that attack was brilliant! Sad that he still lived, though...oh yeah, this is Marty--we're celebrating down here in Fragment Crossing. It'd be great if you came, Sir Sora. And thanks for teaching me how to speak without stammering, ha! You're the best--uhm, don't tell the Superior that. See you down here!" beep.

ring ring ring ring ring--beep.

She blinked; the answering machine had taken an incoming call.

"Sora, this is Leon speaking. Where the hell are you? We've tried reaching you for almost a year now...and you are not answering! What is the matter with you? You have us all worried sick now--and when we last called King Mickey, he told us he had no idea where you are...I've still to get hold of Riku's number. Don't give me the excuse you had school or something, pick up this phone right now! Sora--"

Fingers trembling, she picked up the reciever, cutting off Leon's rant. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.

"Hello?" she ventured timidly.

"Sor -- who is this?"

"Kairi Dalmasca."

Leon was obviously surprised that she had picked up the phone, judging from the silence that followed her nervous greeting. "K-kairi?" he finally stammered. Yuffie could be heard shouting her name in the background.

"Kairi, where's Sora?"

Her breath caught in her throat; this was like reality catching up with her, affirming that her Keyblade Master was gone, gone forever, gone into the depths of Roxas' mind--like he never existed. The truth crushed her; the very fact that she was standing in his room seemed to mock her.

"Kairi?" Leon said worriedly. "Are you there?"

Yes I'm here, standing in a dead boy's room, trying to figure out how I'll survive without him.

She burst into tears.

"Leon...Sora can't answer the phone right now..." she whispered raggedly into the reciever, sinking on her knees to the floor.

"Huh? ...why not?" he asked in a frightened voice.

Kairi bowed her head, tears running down her cheeks and dripping onto the photograph which had fluttered out of her loose grasp earlier. She could never let him go, not ever. They said time heals everything--an eternity would not be enough to mend her broken heart.

"S-sora...Sora's gone, oh he's gone forever..."

It was a different feeling, she knew. Even if Sora wasn't with her, she knew for sure that he was somewhere out there, and that she could reach him whenever she needed him, no matter how far from her grasp. She didn't really miss him, for she knew he was there. But now, Sora truly was gone...he was never coming back, she could never really reach him.

She missed him. His smile, his sky-blue eyes, Sora Hikari.

"Kairi! Remember what I told you? Wherever you are, I'm always there with you! I'll come back to you! I promise!"

This time, he won't keep his promise.

-----------

Naminé

May 28, 2081 - May 29, 2084

Organization XIII honorary number XIV;

The Forger of Memories.

A trustworthy confidant.

An excellent summoner.

A loved Nobody.

We remember and cherish her.

She who walked the knife-edge of existence

with great control and dedication.

The Thirteenth Order is indebted to her memory.

Our memories may be erased; but in our souls you shall remain forever.

------------

Roxas had already memorized the inscription on her very own Proof; memorized every detail of the intricately-made marble doorway to her white room. He should know. He was the one who made both.

Carved on her own sapphire tile was the simple engraving of a star--a paopu fruit. Above it, the lock he summoned. A medium-sized keyhole, yawning blackness swirling inside.

Heaving a final sigh, and not restraining the tears that traced their lonely path down his cheeks, he called his Oathkeeper forth.

And with a whispered prayer, he sealed her Proof of Existence, with a lock only a Keyblade Master can break. Which meant only him, and Riku now.

"I love you, Naminé." he murmured, letting the words drift in the nonexistent wind.

It was odd...he was always used to her walking around the halls of the Castle. Whether teasing him, tutoring him, or trying to kill him...no difference. She was just there. Always there.

Not anymore.

"I LOVE YOU!" Roxas screamed, repeating himself, dropping to his knees, heart rent asunder by pain he had never felt before. So this was the burden of having a heart. He knew the pain would lessen with time; but right now, only one thing echoed in the dull, empty corners of his mind.

You really didn't miss it until it's gone.

-----------------------

Sir Sora Hikari

August 13, 2067 A.E - May 29, 2084 A.E.

Legendary Keyblade Master, Beloved Knight of the Court, Cherished Friend.

-We celebrate the memory of the boy who saved us.-

-He who celebrated life, and saw light in the darkest of places.-

-He who gave up everything to protect the ones he loved.-

His sacrifice shall forever be remembered.

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wasurenaide kudasai - Please never forget me.

A/N: Wheee! That was so damn hard to write...It kinda scrunched my emotions up. It's true, isn't it? You don't miss something until it's gone, right? -cries-

Wooh. Naminé had existed for almost three years. -explains- 'cause Naminé restored Hayner, Pence, and Olette's memories the day they arrived for the field trip, as a sort of welcome-to-your-nonlife gift to Roxas. They came to existence on the same day, so her birthday is on May 28th. Day after that, she kicked the bucket.

Sora's birthday? Well... it's a tribute. To something... you guys can figure it out. Uhm. I really had no idea when his birthday was, so, what the heck...

I have nothing against May 29th. I know, weird schedule for a field trip, but hey! Who in the world knows how Destiny Islands people reckon time?

The photograph is cover art for the Final Mix soundtrack...I think it's cute. The theme music for the chapter is Dearly Beloved: Reprise, the last track on the KHII soundtrack, and the last music you'll hear in the game; it's the music that plays in the battle report screen.

Read and review, as always. Flames are accepted.

Hope I made your day a little bit more interesting.

Epilogue's coming up...Yeppers. So this fic isn't really finished on Halloween...er. If you squint real hard, you'll kinda see what the epilogue is about. Yay.

One of you guys actually guessed what it's about. You know who you are. Great minds think alike, I guess.

And the sequel too. You people might kill me if I don't put up one, right? Right?

Happy Halloween, guys!