Chapter Three

Evening came at last. The sun set with vivid colors of red, yellow, and orange that streaked across the sky. Roxas and Naminé sat back on the beach, counting the hours they had left before sunlight came again. Twilight…something about it made Roxas feel nostalgic. It was so different here compared to view from the Clock Tower where he used to live…well, almost lived.

"What do you think nothingness feels like?" Roxas said. Naminé shrugged her shoulders.

"At least it won't be cold there."

"You're cold?"

Naminé laughed. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Come here."

Naminé crawled in between Roxas' legs and leaned back on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Better?"

"Mm-hmm. Thank you."

The sun disappeared completely under the horizon. The stars lit up like tiny specks of white fire. Naminé pointed to one off far to the west.

"That's Radiant Garden. It looks so small from here."

Roxas pulled her close and hid his face in her hair. It smelled like the salty water they'd swam in most of the day.

"I'm sorry. It would have been different if we'd had hearts."

Naminé laughed. It gave Roxas a start, and then he blushed. "What's so funny?"

"You're always so serious. You don't need to apologize for anything. You gave me one more day. Thank you." Roxas gave a "hmph!"

"Depending on where we are tomorrow…then you can thank me."

"That's just the thing," Naminé sighed. "I won't be able to."

Have heart my dear

We're bound to be afraid

Even if it's just for a few days

Making up for all this mess

He woke up as if coming out of a gray, hazy fog. His throat was sticky and thick with it. In his mind there was the sound of keyblades grinding against each other. He clenched his right hand instinctively, but only grabbed a handful of hot sand. It slipped through his fingers and trickled back to the ground. His skin felt like it was on fire.

"You awake?"

Sora opened his eyes fully, but all he could see was bright red. He leaned back, but there was a weight around his legs so that he couldn't move far. He suddenly realized the red was Kairi's hair, seeing as she was sitting in his lap. His entire face spread into the same color.

His mind raced in a wild circle of questions: What happened? What did they do yesterday? When did he get out of his bed at home and make his way to the beach over on the next island? Why was Kairi sitting in his lap?

Kairi leaned back and tilted her face up to his. She giggled and put her hands on her cheeks to try and hold them in. "G'morning sleepy head."

"Kairi…what happened? How'd we get on the beach?"

Kairi looked around as if finding this out for the first time. She shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know."

Sora mumbled to himself. Did Riku set this up? Donald and Goofy? No, the two of them were back home now, some planet far away from here.

"Thank you," Kairi abruptly said. "I don't know what for, but I feel like I have to tell you. Thank you."

Immediately a feeling washed over Sora of sorrow and happiness, fatigue and joy, darkness and light, all in one. He didn't know why or how, but only two words felt right.

Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you cannot hear my voice

I'll be right beside you dear

"You're welcome."

And together they watched the sunrise on a new day.