Gah. I don't think is up to par with my normal writing abilities =/ I've been having some issues... boy issues.. some other ones. Too much going on to write well apparently =| But I'll try to step it up on Chapter 5!

Chapter Four: The Beginning of the Future

Roxas was bored. Not that he didn't know what he wanted to do. He was always in the mood to skateboard, but now seemed inappropriate. He just couldn't sit still. He tried laying down on his bed; he got up instantaneously. He looked around his room. His backpack was thrown haphazardly on his chair, his skateboard propped up against the wall closest to the door. He stared at his skateboard, debating whether or not to go outside. He rejected the idea when he heard his phone ringing. Checking his caller ID, he figured it was Sora.

"Hello?"

"Hey Roxas, can you tell me what was wrong with Nami today? Kairi isn't answering her phone."

"Sure buddy," Roxas answered.

Roxas recited the exact same speech Kairi had given him earlier that day. After he finished, he could feel the tension and anger radiating from Sora through his cell phone.

"I can't believe Riku! He used to be decent, nothing like that would have happened a few years ago. I have to go see Namine."

Roxas could hear Sora getting up from his bed, and him falling on the floor.

"Are you going to tell her?" Roxas asked.

"Tell her? Tell her what?"

Roxas could picture Sora's head tilted slightly as he asked his question. He sighed.

"How you feel about her."

Sora was quiet for a long time.

".. I don't know what you mean."

But Sora was lying. He knew exactly what Roxas meant. Namine was his most special person, someone he cared for deeply. But he couldn't tell her how he truly felt, he was scared. Not just for himself, but for Namine as well. She was so innocent, so naive at times, but her naivety was what made her cute in Sora's eyes. He remembered the first time he had stood up for her.

~Flashback~

An 8 year old Sora walked into his second grade classroom and saw three of his classmates surrounding the desk of a little blonde girl who had transferred in at the beginning of the week. The leader of the group was Seifer, followed by his two lackeys, Hayner and Rai. Sora watched as Hayner slammed his hand onto the little girl's desk.

"How dare you say no to Seifer!" He yelled in her face.

"No one ever says no to Seifer, ya' know?" Rai said, routinely following suit in harassing the girl.

"I-I'm sorry!" the girl started to cry, "I didn't know, I had no idea!"

The girl put her head in her hands and let the tears flow freely. Seifer pushed Hayner and Rai out of the way and leaned down to make his eyes level with hers.

"This is the last time I'm going to tell you," he said threateningly. "Draw a picture of me."

The girl continued to cry and shook her head no.

"Why you little-" Hayner started to say.

By this time Sora had had enough. He raced to the girl's desk, and stood in front of her with his arms spread out, blocking her from Seifer and his followers.

"Leave her alone! Can't you see that she's crying? How does that make you feel?" Sora shouted into their faces.

The three boys mumbled something incoherently to themselves and started to walk away. As they reached the door, Hayner turned to Sora and said, "You better watch your back." The trio then disappeared through the doorway, and Sora sighed, turning to the little girl behind him.

"Are you alright?" he asked calmly.

Slowly, the girl nodded.

"What's your name?" Sora had been absent the day the girl had enrolled in his class.

"N-Namine," she whispered, to quiet for Sora to hear.

"What was that?" he asked, leaning forward so his head and ear were at level with her mouth.

"Namine," she said again, a little more strongly.

"Well then Namine, from now on you can count on me to protect you from people like them!" Sora jumped up, his left fist clenched at shoulder level. A friendly smile spread across his face.

Namine flashed a small smile back at Sora. "Thank you, Sora. Would you like me to draw something for you?"

"Sure!" Excitedly, Sora drew up a desk next to Namine's and watched her draw what was to be one of his most treasured possessions. When she had finished, she handed the paper to Sora, who gasped.

"What? Do you not like it?" Namine asked, slightly worried.

"No! I love it! I'm going to keep this forever and ever!"

Namine smiled, and laughed. "Thank you, Sora. I appreciate it."

Namine had drawn Sora and herself holding hands, walking through a park in midafternoon. To this day, Sora still had the picture tucked away in his secret drawer of his dresser.

~End Flashback~

"Are you sure you aren't going to tell her?" Roxas pressed.

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure."

"Ha! I knew I could get you to admit it!"

Sora pictured the smug look Roxas always got when he was right about something.

"Augh, shut up Roxas. I wasn't thinking about my answer to that question and that's what came out."

"Stop lying, you know I'm right!"

Sora sighed deeply. "Fine, you win. You're right. I have some homework I need to get done, I'll see you later."

"Alright, bye buddy!"

Sora placed his phone on his bedside table and flopped down onto his bed. His eyes wandered around the room until they landed on the dresser which contained his most prized possessions. He got up, opened the top drawer, and opened his secret drawer. Reaching in, his hand emerged with his favorite of all his possessions, the picture of him and Namine walking through a park. Sitting back on his bed, he stared at the picture thinking, "I can't let her get hurt ever again..."

Eyes drooping, Sora slowly drifted off into sleep.

Well, I guess it got better near the end. Flashbacks for the win! I'll try and get chapter five up soon, but I can't promise anything. Please review!