Chapter 11: Konya Mo Hoshi Ni Dakarete...

Memo: The title means "Wrapped in the Stars Tonight" and is the title of an awesome song by ayaka (iida, not hirahara). It was my inspiration, along with "Stay Gold" by Utada Hikaru, for this story. :) This one features Shii's Song, which is gorgeous! :D

)()()()()(A few hours later...)()()()()(

Riku's pOv

"Reinaaa," Amanda says, hugging Rei tightly as she sits on the piano bench in King Mickey's study.

"What," she mumbles, her eyes red-rimmed from crying so much.

"Do you need me to help you think of songs?" Amanda offers, grinning. "I'm a goldmine, you know."

Gently shoving Rei off of the bench, Amanda takes her place and begins to play a song.

"No, not this one," Rei says, smiling sadly.

"Just to warm you up, silly," Amanda assures her.

Sighing, Rei glances at you and smiles a little, still sad. You do your best to smile back, but your insides are torn up more than ever before. The one thing you've always wanted, the one thing you worked so hard to get, the one thing you love more than anything...it's her, and she might die tomorrow.

How did this happen?

"Wishing on a dream that seems far off, hoping it will come today," Rei sings as Amanda accompanies her. "Into the starlit night, foolish dreamers cast their gaze, waiting on a shooting star. But what if that star is not to come? Will their dreams fade to nothing? When the horizon darkens most, we all need to believe there is hope."

Rei lifts her face to the ceiling, closing her eyes tightly.

"Is an angel watching closely over me? Can there be a guiding light I've yet to see? I know my heart should guide me, but there's a hole within my soul. What can fill this emptiness inside of me? Am I to be satisfied without knowing? I wish then for my chance to see. Now all I need, desparately...is my star to come."

Slowly Rei lowers her head again, then smacks Amanda on the back of the head.

"I hate you for making me sing that song!" she cries, laughing through her tears.

Amanda pouts a little, then hugs Rei tightly.

)()()()()(

your pOv

"Your Majesty?" you say quietly, entering the courtyard in hopes of finding him.

"Rei, is that you?" To your great relief, the King wanders into view.

"Yes, um, can I make a request?" He doesn't say anything, so you continue. "Can we make a quick stop to Destiny Islands now? I...If I'm going to be spending one more night in this universe, then I want to spend it in my own ship, with my own things." You quickly lower your eyes, flushing. "I know that must seem silly..."

"No, of course not!" King Mickey smiles understandingly. "We can do that right now, if you'd like."

"Yes, please, that was my hope."

Waving you on, King Mickey leads you to the Gummi Garage and into his ship.

"Thank you so much," you say, gratefully bowing once you depart for the islands.

"It's no problem, but Rei..." King Mickey glances at you. "There is one more thing I need to ask you."

"What is it?" you say, nervous.

"Well...whether you succeed or not...everyone you've ever known, even your own family, will forget about you...unless they are present at the sacred grounds."

He pauses, but once again, you're too much in shock to respond.

"So, is there anyone else you can think of that you'd like to bring back to the castle with you?"

You think hard. Anybody you've ever known...

The only person you can think of is Yihen, but you don't even know where to begin looking for him. But besides him, there is no one else.

"No, actually. I think you've got it covered," you reply after a minute or two of racking your brain.

"Really?" The King seems surprised. "Not even your parents?"

"Trust me," you say as you land on the shores of Destiny Islands. "They don't miss me even now."

)()()()()(

still your pOv

You've never been a confident person. It's just not in your genes. Tashie isn't all that confident, either. It's just something neither of you can help.

Confidence would be a really wonderful thing to have right now.

You can hardly stand the looks everyone's been giving you all day. Like you're some sort of freak. Well, you didn't know you were so...supernatural either!!

Riku, as usual, is the only one who really knows what you're feeling and how to handle it. He's been giving you your space to think, which is just what you've needed.

What did you do to have this fate? Who did you piss off so greatly when you were a child to make your spirit this? This is no gift...this is a punishment! You've never felt so stretched in your whole life. On top of the fact that you don't feel all that great still, now you have to memorize songs and perform them for some holy creature that can kill you with one look in the eyes. Fab.

It'd be better if you weren't doing this completely on your own. In fact, you might even feel alright about this whole thing. But no, you're alone, as always. Why does your life insist upon separating you from the rest?

"Rei?"

Your thoughts come to a screeching halt as Riku calls your name, walking toward you.

"C'mon, Rei, it's getting late," Riku says, pulling you to your feet. You were comfortably huddled on the window seat of your gummi ship. "You need to rest."

"I feel like that's what I've been doing all day," you tell him. This. Is. Not. Fair.

"No, I can tell your mind has been at work all day long. Rest."

Sighing, you frown at the floor, defeated. He's right, you know it, but there's no way you'll be able to easily fall asleep.

"Rei, don't make that face," Riku says, lifting your chin with his index finger. Flicking your eyes up at him only for a moment, you continue to avoid eye contact, for fear of losing it. "You'll be alright. I know you can do this," he adds, embracing you.

"How can you say that?" you want to ask him.

"Rei..."

Riku pushes you away, staring you straight in the eye with such intensity that you can't look away.

"I knew from the moment I met you that you were incredibly special," he says. "Not only had I never seen eyes like yours before, but I had never met anyone with your personality. You're quiet, but I know better." A smile tugs at your lips. "You've got a lot going on inside that head of yours. I can hardly ever tell what, but that's what makes you you. I knew that...when I met you...I had to be with you and figure you out."

Riku sighs quietly.

"I can't; it's too hard," he admits, smirking. "But...I know you well enough by now to realize..."

He doesn't finish his sentence; something is holding him back.

"Well...I think...loving you has blinded me a little...but I can't complain, because at the same time you've opened my eyes to a totally different way of thinking." He sighs quietly. "I don't know what I'd be like if I had never met you."

You try to swallow your sobs, try to blink back your tears, but they escape defiantly as you embrace Riku tightly.

"What do you need me to do for you?" he mumurs in your ear, stroking your hair.

"What I need now...is you," you reply, your voice shaking. "You made me what I am. It's you..."

the next morning

Natasha's pOv

You know you're not the only one who feels this way, but you feel like you've failed.

When you were a kid, you always were jealous of Rei. She was so much prettier, so much more feminine. But, being the older one, you swore to protect her from the evils of your world: bullies, mean teachers, even your parents. Now...well, you weren't there to protect her, and now she might die. This isn't the small-town world you were used to. This is much more dangerous.

As you slowly exit Rei's ship onto the rocky ground of some sacred ground, you feel your heart sink. This is very, very real. Glancing at the King, you see where the Nobodies are being held, all five of them silently observing your group. If Rei succeeds, then you and Amanda will finally be safe. So will Rei, Riku, and her other friends.

"Rei, I'm sorry, but--"

You turn to see your sister walk out of the ship wearing only a simple white dress. King Mickey is in front of her, holding out his hand.

"...You're going to have to take off your ring," he finishes, referring to her beautiful engagement ring. She frowns, glancing at Riku. He frowns too, but he nods a little, glaring at the ground. Without a word, Rei slowly slips the ring off her finger.

"Only if Riku can hold it," she says suddenly.

King Mickey nods.

"Are you ready?" he asks her.

"No," she replies, "let me say goodbye."

At that last word, you feel your throat close up. Rei doesn't seem to happy to be saying that, either.

One by one, Rei hugs each of her friends...first Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie.

"Sorry about that time I almost broke your nose," Rei says as she hugs Sora. He grins, hugging her tightly.

"It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore," he tells her, his smile fading.

"And you...!" Rei practically tackles Kairi, who giggles. "What would I do without you?"

"I dunno," Kairi answers, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Rei smiles, squeezing her eyes shut. "Thank you."

She then turns to Amanda, grinning. Amanda grins back, but it wavers.

"Rei...after this, I'm staying in Destiny Islands," she says, pursing her lips. "There's no point in going home again." She glances at you, and you nod. Rei smiles, her eyes swimming with tears.

"Really?" she mouths, unable to speak. You nod again, smiling. Amanda sweeps Rei into a hug in response, and you join her.

"We'll always be together," you tell her.

"Yeah."

Rei sighs through her nose, pulling away from your grasp. She glances back at her other friends, then looks forward to Riku. Pursing her lips, she slowly walks toward him, then suddenly rushes into his arms. He apparently was expecting it, though, and so he holds her close.

Riku's pOv

"I can't do this," Rei whispers through sobs as she squeezes you tightly.

"It's okay, I'm here," you tell her, closing your eyes. She sobs, her small hands clutching onto your vest tightly.

"Riku...Riku, please," she pleads. "Please stop me."

"I can't do that, Rei. You know that."

"But what if I don't come back? What if I can't?" She pulls away from you, her silver eyes still drowning in tears.

"You'll come back. I know you will."

Rei lowers her eyes in thought, then nods a little.

"You can't stop now," you say, and she nods again.

"I...I know." Gently, she kisses you, then steps away.

"I love you," you say at the same time. She grins, wiping her eyes.

"I'll be back," she says, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Smiling half-heartedly, Rei turns away and walks to King Mickey, who guides her toward the light that will take her to Heaven.

You shouldn't be surprised. You always thought of her as an angel.