Chapter 9:

One Step Closer part 2

The group climbed the huge stair case, chatting and laughing the whole time, except for Roxas, who was sulking quietly 3 steps behind Riku, making Roxas the furthest back in the whole group. He didn't try to get their attention, he didn't want it. He just wanted to get this over with, since not only was Naminé still missing, but now he was in his old home, and his best friends didn't even know him. Roxas was very irritated with the whole thing, he just wanted to go home.

"FINALLY!!!!! We made it!" Sora called from ahead.

Great! More memories. Roxas thought.

When he got to the top, loads of memories of his past came to his mind at once. Ones with Axel, ones with Hayner and the gang, and even a few with Xion. Roxas sighed, and went to stand by the others and look for anything suspicious in the town below.

"I don't see anything out of the ordinary over here, let's check the other side." Olette said, walking to the corner of the tower and turning to walk to where she could see the other side of town.

"I've never been on the other side of town, maybe it's like the really rich side of town or something!" Sora said cheesyly, putting his hands behing his head.

"Nah! It's nothin' special, just houses." Hayner explained, before following Olette.

"I'll show you guys where I live! It's really close to the tower!" Pence grinned.

Everyone walked to the other side of the tower and looked at all the houses.

"Wow, it looks even more peaceful over here!" Kairi smiled.

"It is, everybody hangs out on the other side of town, so nothing really happens on this side." Olette told sweetly.

"Kind of reminds me of the islands, y'know, how we live on one island, and goof off on the other one." Sora smiled from his seat on the edge.

"Yeah." Riku and Kairi agreed.

"Roxas, why're you so quiet? I mean, if you're related to Sora, it shouldn't be possible for you to stay so quiet for so long." Pence asked, before snapping a picture of the sunset.

"He's just... tired." Kairi covered for him.

"Well, it is kinda late, do you guys wanna stay at my place? My parents won't care." Hayner offered.

"Oh! Thanks but, we can stay at the mansion!" Kairi waved her hands around, she didn't want to intrude.

"That place is really creepy at night, you sure you wanna stay there? I have loads of room, and we can buy somethin' cheap in town to eat." Hayner pushed.

"We'd be glad to, thank you for the offer." Sora said, before Kairi could say anything else.

"Ok, let's go get some food then!" Pence exclaimed.

Everyone walked ahead, except for Roxas, Sora, and Kairi.

"Roxas, look, we're gonna find her ok. So please try to have a little fun, you're so depressed lately that it's freaking me out." Sora said.

"Yeah, I know it's hard, but just try t-"

"ENOUGH! You guys, I'm fine, it's just really...weird to be here, when Hayner, Pence, and Olette don't even know me. I used to come here a lot with Axel and Xion too, so I'm just... I dunno." Roxas said, pushing past Sora and Kairi.

"He's not ok." Kairi said, glaring at Sora.

"What?" Sora asked.

"This isn't a joke to him ok. Roxas may be you're nobody, but he's different, he can't just smile, and let it go. He's sensitive. He's just confused. Don't try to make him be you ok, let him be him." Kairi growled.

"Sorry." Sora whispered, looking at the ground.

"Don't tell it to me, tell him!" Kairi said.

Sora kept looking at the ground with a frown. Kairi sighed, and hugged him.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't yell at you, we're all really stressed right now." She said into his ear.

Sora put his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly to him. She kissed his cheek gently, before he put his lips on hers.

When they parted, Sora frowned again, "I feel so selfish. I've been telling myself ever since we heard the news about Naminé, 'At least it's not Riku and Kairi again.' Roxas probably hates me."

"Sora, he can't hate you. He's just frustrated, like me. We just have to work as hard as we can to find her and get back home." Kairi comforted him.

"Ok then, promise me something." Sora teased.

"What?"

"That we'll find her, and everything will go back to normal."

Kairi felt a lump grow in her throat, that was a big promise to keep. But when she looked into Sora's eyes, she couldn't refuse.

"I promise." She croaked, before burying her head in he shoulder again, "Promise me too."

"I promise." He said when he felt his shoulder begin to get wet.

Kairi wrapped her arms around him tighter, as she continued to cry.

"Hey, it's ok, we promised, so now, it'll happen, right!" Sora comforted, his hand stroking her auburn hair.

As she continued to cry, a single tear fell down Sora's cheek, and into her hair, the tear was soon followed by many, as the two teens tried to tell eachother that it would all be fine.

"Hey guys, are yo- What's wrong?" Riku asked when he found the lovers sitting by the clock, tears running down their faces.

"It's nothing," Sora sniffed, "Let's go Kai."

Sora helped Kairi get up, and they wiped away their tears as they ran down the steps, holding hands.

I know we'll find her. We have to. Sora thought, as he continued to descend.

A/N

Sorry the end of this chapter's so cheesy, I dunno why it is.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews! They make my heart smile. Should I do crossovers in this? If you think I should, be sure to tell me if there are any animes, or shows, or whatever that you absoulutly hate so I don't write them into this story ^^. I'll turn on my PM thingy so noone can see your opinions but me, cuz then it'll be more of a surprise for everyone else ^^.