I HAVN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER. –bows- I'm so sorry!

~Clean Slate~

It was just a normal day, just like any other.

Xion was on her way home from the market. In her hand, she held a bag of ingredients, which she swung happily.

She hummed to herself happily. She was actually in a very nice mood today, but she couldn't tell why.

I wonder what I should bake today, she thought while she pushed her key into its designated slot. Maybe some biscuits; I know Mother Aerith loves those.

The halls of the cathedral were quiet, but Xi didn't pay too much attention. She just continued to walk along her home.

To her dismay, before the main hall, there was a red curtain. She looked at it curiously. Then, she pushed it aside, only to find-

"SURPRISE!"

…Only to find herself with a face full of confetti. In the dinner table, there was a massive, triple-layer, purple cake. Namine and Olette grinned sheepishly, holding a huge, red present. Zack and Aerith held each other while smiling kindly. Terra and Aqua had huge smiles on their faces.

All her friends from the town were there, too. Roxas and Sora tried to be organized, but the cousins couldn't seem to stay still. Along with them there was Kairi, Fuu, Demyx, and Riku… Riku! Her heart soared at the sight of him. And Vanitas was there! He almost never leaves the house, AND he was SMILING! He was actually SMILING! They all said the same thing, and she felt stupid to have forgotten.

"Happy birthday, Xion!"

~0~

With all the festivities over, and with everyone in the safety of their homes, Xion sat in Terra's room with said man, Olette, Namine, and Aqua. They talked about random things, until a question arose in Terra's head.

"So, now I know Xion's birthday, but what of all of you. I want to make sure that none of them catch me by surprise."

Olette said hers was on the 9th of March, and Namine was born on the 1st of February.

He turned to Aqua, who was staring at her lap intensely.

"What about you, Aqua?" He asked.

"I… don't know." She answered, but before Terra could respond, she stormed off.

"…If she didn't want me to know, she could have just said so." He said, sounding hurt.

"That's not it, Terra…" Namine said.

"She's telling you the truth. Aqua doesn't know when she was born because…" Olette added.

"…she doesn't remember." Xion finished, her voice coming out as a whisper.

"What?"

~0~

"Post-traumatic amnesia?" Terra asked; the thought of such a thing was horrifying to the young man.

"Yes," Namine answered. "Aqua has no memory of her past since a certain event-"

"-A certain event that only a few people of the village have knowledge of, Mother Aerith and Father Zack being some examples. " Olette said, concern creeping into her voice.

"Even Aqua doesn't know." Xion added. "I can only imagine how bad it must be… not knowing anything about your family, or your childhood."

Terra felt rage boil in the pit of his stomach. "So, ever since she arrived, Aqua has never had a birthday? Not even a present?"

All three girls shook their heads.

"That's… That's…." Blood boiling, she stormed out his own room. In the hallway, he saw Aqua. He tried to tell her something, but she ran away, leaving Terra feeling lonelier than ever before.

~0~

She needed to get away. She didn't care to where, she just had to.

She just wanted to live a normal life, that's all she ever wanted.

How can you live your life if you can't remember it?

Her life was just a big blank. It's like her biography begins with a question mark.

Aqua stopped when she saw there was nowhere left to run. The moon shone brightly; has it really been that long since she left the cathedral?

She didn't have anywhere to go. She might as well return home.

Even though the last thing she wanted to do was to face Terra, nor the truth.

~0~

At this late at night, Aqua thought. Everyone should be asleep. I'll be able to sneak in without making any commotion.

She quietly opened the door, careful to not make any noise. She tip-toed through her own home, pushing the red curtain aside. The girl's face was hit with a blinding light, and she saw what must've been a dream.

Olette, Namine, and Xion all had presents, carefully wrapped in sky-blue linen paper. Aerith and Zack were smiling with all the kindness in the world. A homemade chocolate cake was in Terra's hands, with a single candle on top.

"You guys…" Aqua's voice cracked.

"If you've never had a birthday before…" Aerith spoke.

"…Then, let this be your first." Zack added.

"From now on, today is your birthday, too." Xion smiled.

"Happy birthday, Aqua." Terra said as he walked towards her, keeping balance so the cake wouldn't fall.

"I couldn't thank everyone enough." She said, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, don't thank us~" Olette said, and Terra was to slow to realize what she was doing.

Namine picked up her idea. "Yeah, Terra was the one with the brilliant idea. Isn't that right, Terra?"

Terra wanted to glare at both of them, but with Aqua staring at him, he couldn't.

"You did this, Terra?" She asked.

"Yes, he did." Zack said. "He even baked the cake."

"I'm not the best cook in the world, but I suppose-"

He was stopped by Aqua's hug, making him drop the cake.

"Thank you, Terra. Thank you…"

"You spilled the cake, dummy! It's ruined!" Xion complained.

Aqua looked, and there was a bit of cake on his face. With her finger, she wiped it off and put the finger in her mouth. Terra blushed intensely, but she didn't notice.

"Delicious! Did you really bake this, Terra?" She exclaimed.

"Yeah…"

"Let's go out for pizza, then." Aerith suggested.

The girls cheered in response.

Zack and Aerith opened the door and headed outside, with Xion, Namine and Olette at their heels.

Terra walked calmly, with Aqua behind him.

"Aqua…" he began.

"Yes?" she asked, feeling the calmest she's felt today.

"I… Just don't take your life like a joke. Everything happens for a reason. If you forgot your past, maybe it was a good thing."

She stared at him for a while, which made him blush again and turn around. She smiled at this.

Maybe you're right, Terra. Maybe this is another chance. This might be a clean slate for me.

~0~

~OmegaStarShooter14~