Chapter 5

--

Until the day when the next trip would be, Nikko and Lucrecia became close friends. It started out easy going of course, with Lucrecia just working at the Cafe and Nikko stopping by to say hi and vice versa when Nikko was at Cid's.

Nikko shared his room with Lu every night, with the usual ritual of Lu singing them to sleep. Without it, Nikko couldn't sleep at all, because with the surplus of energy it would be impossible. They no longer fought, and Nikko tried his best to stay calm at all times around Lucrecia. He knew he scared her badly whenever he got mad, and he didn't want her to be scared of him all the time. Lucrecia in turn also learned to stay calm with him, knowing that he was sensitive to fighting.

Soon it was like before Lucrecia had come here, when she was with her friend back at her world. Lucrecia and Nikko had inside jokes, games, and they always usually knew what the other was thinking without even asking. They almost were, like brother and sister.

It was only a few days until the next trip, and that night when they were getting ready for bed Lola told them to get extra sleep those days for the adventure ahead. Lucrecia was so excited she knew she couldn't sleep, or dare to sleep, without her doing her "thing." Other than singing, Lucrecia did something every night that no one knew about...literally no one but her, even her old friend didn't know about it. She looked over at Nikko who was just climbing in to the usual mattress he slept on that lay on the floor next to her bed.

"What?" He asked smiling, noticing her staring at him.

"Nothing!" She laughed.

"Ok then, well, turn off the light," Nikko said and turned around.

Lu climbed in her bed and blew out the candle, and asked in the dark giggling, "Ya want me to sing now?"

"Yes," Came back a sleepy voice and Lu laughed. She sang softly until she heard the faint snores coming from Nikko.

Like every night, she waited a little then climbed out of bed and stepped onto his mattress. She gently turned him around so that he was on his back, and grabbed his arm. She looked at his peaceful face and smiled, then gently took off one of her fingerless gloves. Climbing back in bed but holding his hand, she put the palm of her bare hand on his palm, and awaited for the flood of thoughts and images to come.

She saw that he was excited to be going to the trip, especially with her. But he was worried, because he didn't want her to get hurt or possibly lost. "Don't worry Nikko, I'm a big girl," She muttered happily, not really meaning for it be out loud. Then she saw that Nikko was dreaming of a jungle, a beautiful one at that with trees and green shiny leaves everywhere. He was with her, and they walked hand in hand toward a wonderful lake, with crystal clear water. Rainbows appeared above a huge waterfall, Lucrecia seeing Nikko say something but the water fall was too loud to hear anything. Leon, Cid, and even Lola came up to them moments later, and another woman Lucrecia did not know. She appeared sometimes in Nikko's dreams, but seeing how she did not look like Nikko Lucrecia wondered whether or not she was his mother.

They walked to the edge and set up a picnic, and hung out there happily. Lucrecia opened her eyes just as Leon and Nikko had jumped into the lake, splashing everyone, and everyone laughed back. She sighed. She loved Nikko's dreams, so wonderfully detailed and happy. That's what they always were. Happy. Sometimes Lucrecia wondered, if they were everything his life was not. Having a happy family and going to places like that, just to have fun and not think of the troubles in life. Lucrecia didn't have much dreams, not ever since the day she landed in Traverse Town. Everyday she would just think of past memories, and the events of that horrible night. Though Nikko sometimes thought and dreamt of his special night too, he mostly had nice dreams that helped Lu go to sleep.

She's never told anyone of her gift of reading thoughts and dreams from the touch of her hand, she's been too self-conscious about it. She always wears gloves so that she could touch people and things without being flooded with feelings, thoughts, and memories. One mind was enough for one person, Lucrecia often thought. Lu then yawned and fell asleep without meaning too. She usually rested Nikko's arm back, so he wouldn't suspect anything, but she was eager to continue what happens at the wonderful jungle.

--

Nikko woke up and realized his arm was attached to something. "Huh?" He asked aloud groggily and he saw with shock that he was holding Lu's hand. He pulled his arm back and Lucrecia shifted in her bed but continued to sleep. Nikko scratched his head and wondered how on earth he ended up holding hands with her. Did he do it in his sleep? He rubbed his hand softly as if he had burnt it.

"What's wrong?" Lucrecia asked suddenly. She had woken and was watching him with squinted and sleepy eyes.

"I-I-just, I found that-," But he stopped and just shrugged.

Lucrecia felt like kicking herself. She must have forgotten to lay his arm back down. Lu straightened up and rubbed her eyes. She then sat on her bed and watched Nikko put his shoes on.

Should I tell him? She debated the idea in her mind for minutes. She'd have to someday. But what if he didn't let her do it anymore, once he found out? Lucrecia decided to do it in the nicest way possible, so he wouldn't be threatened by it.

"Nikko...," She called.

Nikko didn't look up, but replied, "Hmm?"

Lucrecia climbed down and sat next to him. She poked his leg, and looked him in the eyes when he looked up at her.

"What? What is it?" He asked a little alarmed. Lucrecia laughed softly and smiled at him.

"I have to tell you a secret, but...the thing is, I don't want you to be mad at me," She explained, fiddling with her fingers.

"Ok...," Nikko replied puzzled.

Lucrecia gave out a sigh, and said, "I have...something...different about me." Nikko nodded. "I um...have this 'unique' gift that, well...I can read people's memories and minds, and dreams," Lucrecia explained slowly. Nikko's eyes widened.

"Really?" He asked softly. Lucrecia nodded.

"I do it, by touching the palm of their hand...like this," She took his hand and ran her bare palm over it.

"What am I thinking?" Nikko asked nervously. Lucrecia laughed. "You're wondering how you're ever going to pay back Leon from that munny you 'borrowed' from him last week," She replied. Nikko laughed nervously back, and took his hand away from her. He slipped on his own fingerless gloves, which he put on just for battle and not so he can avoid reading people's minds. Lucrecia's face turned serious again. "Anyway...ever since I came here, I've had a horrible time trying to sleep. I couldn't get the images of that horrible night off my head. The night of what happened to me before I came to Traverse Town. Anyway, knowing about my gift, I tried it on you...and, well...ever since, before I go to sleep, I see what you're dreaming so I can dream of it too, all those happy things you dream about," She explained.

Nikko's eyes widened more, and his eyebrows raised to his hair line. "What?" He cried.

"Oh please Nikko, you have to understand, I didn't mean to intrude your privacy-," Lucrecia said hurriedly, grabbing his arm. Nikko pulled away. Anger was forming inside of him, ever so quickly.

"Intruding? You were practically trespassing!" He cried again.

"I know! And I'm sorry, I know we're friends, so I thought you'd understand-" Lucrecia was dead worried now that they were going to have a fight.

"When were you planning on telling me this, huh? It's not my fault you have no dreams of your own or whatever," Nikko got up. His eyes turned a light orange red.

"Nikko! Your eyes!" Lucrecia cried all of a sudden. Nikko stopped and he turned away from her.

"Yeah? What about them?" He asked haughtily.

"They changed colors-"

"Yeah, well, they do that ok? Leave me alone," He got the rest of his blankets and threw them in a heap on the bed.

"I never knew you could do that," Lucrecia continued, following him.

"It only happens when I'm feeling heavy emotions. They turn a different color, depending on a different emotion, ok? But if you don't watch out you might as well only see them turn red," He threatened.

"That's awful!" Lucrecia breathed.

"Thanks for the support," Nikko replied sarcastically.

"No, I mean, I don't mind if your eyes change color. I don't care what's different about you Nikko, you have to get that. I also think you should not care if I could read minds," Lucrecia said calmly.

"I don't care as long as it's not my mind you're reading," He fired back. His eyes were pulsing red now. Lucrecia kept back a gasp.

"I said I was sorry, I was going to tell you," Lucrecia said with a shaky voice.

"Anything else you want to tell me? I mean if you were lying this whole time, then there must be something else going on in that mind of yours. Of course, I wouldn't know, I can't read it so I can't find out about it without asking you," He replied nastily.

"Oh Nikko!" Lucrecia cried stomping her foot. He was no longer in the room, he had stomped off outside.

"What happened?" Lola asked sleepily, coming in. Tears were streaming down slowly on Lucrecia's face.

"He got mad at me. His eyes pulsed red Lola! Just because of my damn secret...," Lucrecia said and looked down.

"Secret? Tell me what happened," Lola asked leading Lucrecia to the bed. As they sat down Lucrecia explained about her gift, and how she used Nikko. "Oh my," Lola murmured.

"I hate how I can do that. I can never tell anyone, because I may get taken advantage of. But I thought Nikko would understand out of all people, he's my friend and he can do different things too," Lucrecia replied with a croaky voice from crying.

"His eyes can not only change colors, you know. And he can do more than just spells and combos with his keyblade," Lola told her.

"Really? Does he have a secret power too?" Lucrecia asked. Lola shook her head in that way she does.

"You should ask him yourself. He should have cooled off by now," She said. Lu sighed, nodding.

--

Lucrecia reluctantly changed to her everyday clothes and went outside to find Nikko. Looking everywhere, and still no sign, Lucrecia went to the Second District and aimed her search for the roofs of the buildings, where Nikko has always liked to rest and think. She heaved some crates together, and climbed on a roof. Sure enough, she saw Nikko sitting and looking forward, his arms hugging his knees.

She walked over to him silently and sat next to him. "Are you mad at me?" She asked a moment later.

"Yes," Nikko replied, still not looking at her.

"How come? I said I was sorry. Isn't that enough?" She asked. There was a moment of silence. Lucrecia barely even breathed.

"I can't believe you never told me. You should have asked first," He said finally.

"I thought at the time you would think I was strange. That was before we were friends, and when we became friends, I was scared you'd not want to be friends with me anymore," Lucrecia replied.

"Yeah, me think you're weird. As if I'm so normal," He said sarcastically.

"You always say that. I haven't noticed one thing different about you until that whole eye color thing," Lucrecia replied.

"Well, I suppose since you told me your secret talent, I assume you want to know my secrets as well?"

Lucrecia wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic again. "Only if all is forgiven," She replied softly.

"Fine, I guess. Only...why did you like my dreams so much?" He asked. This had been bugging him a lot.

"Because, they were so happy. They involved wonderful scenarios with the people I love, like Lola and Cid, and not to mention Leon. And you were there with me too," Lu explained with a small smile.

"Hmm," Nikko grunted, but added that he accepted her apology. "But only if you promise not to do it again, without asking my permission first," He said. Lucrecia nodded, relieved that they were friends once again.

"Well...my eyes not only change colors with my emotions, but...I have three, and maybe even more if I found out about them, powers that I can do which include my eyes and my mind and stuff. I can turn invisible when it is dark around me, I have binocular vision, and night vision," He prompted.

Lucrecia sat silent after awhile. "I don't know about you, but it would be awesome to have those powers. I don't think they're freaky at all," She replied and smiled at him.

He looked at her briefly and continued in a cool like voice, "Yeah, well, they're not all pieces of cake you know. You have to concentrate hard, and not to mention practice."

"I'm sure you're wonderful at them. Better than I'd ever be anyway," She said. Nikko grunted in reply, and lay down on the roof, looking at the sky. An action Lucrecia knew all too well. But instead of leaving him alone to his thoughts, like she'd always do, she lay down next to him. And as she poised her head on his shoulder, she looked at the stars too. That night, they shone brighter than they've ever shone before.