A/N: Update!

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Disclaimer: I am not Square Enix or Disney...honestly.

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Chapter 19: The Unraveling

Location: 12th floor

(Sora's POV)

"NAMINE!"

I yell out her name as I pace down the halls. I come to a dead end and see her standing before me, her head is bowed as if in disappointment. She hesitantly looks up at me as I approach. Her once glimmering eyes turn to cerulean stone. The brilliance of her smile fades and an empty frown takes it's rightful place. If looks could kill, I would be in my deathbed. I've never seen her like this before and it's shaking me to the very core. I can't stand to see her in such agony, such pain.

"Namine! Please talk to me," I plead.

"Sora…"

"The girl who is most important to me," I whisper, "it isn't you, right?"

"That's right," she sadly answered, "I'm not the girl you really love…and I never will be."

"Then, who is she? I can't recall her name."

Silence.

"If she is so special why can't I remember her?"

"Well…it's because…I went into your memories and…"

At that precise moment, Riku entered the room and rudely interrupted before Namine had the chance to finish her thoughts.

"LET ME EXPLAIN!"

"IT'S SIMPLE, SORA!"

"YOUR MEMORY IS MESSING EVERYTHING UP! LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOU ALWAYS GET IN THE WAY!"

"I AM THE ONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP NAMINE SAFE! YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO BACK OFF, DO YOU?"

"NOW, I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU A LESSON YOU'LL NEVER FORGET."

"Riku! Please stop, I don't want to fight you anymore," I beg.

"Haha, give it a rest! You're so pathetic, Sora."

"We don't have to do this…"

"Don't you get it, I want to fight YOU. I hate you, Sora! You're always trying to pull the peace card on me and I'm getting sick of it."

Namine watched in horror as the exchange of words became an exchange of punches and blows. She tried in vain to separate the two of us throughout our battle. I saw the tears and I heard the desperation straining her voice. I wanted to stop fighting. I wanted to reach out to Namine and comfort her. I never wanted to see her cry. However, Riku never gave up easily and the fighting would continue until he was satisfied or worn out—whichever came first. I summoned every ounce of strength I had and delivered a powerful blow that sent him flying across the floor. He sat there in defeat and shook his head in disapproval. I slowly approached to make sure he was alright.

"Riku, I'm sorry."

"WANT SOME MORE?"

"Huh?"

Before I knew it I was thrown a few feet away. He stood above me and raised his keyblade above his head. He was more than willing to finish me off, he'd kill me in an instant. I froze in place and waited for my inevitable doom.

"STOP!"

Riku was momentarily caught off guard and I breathed a sigh of relief. The demand came from Namine. Riku threw a cocky smile in her direction and then turned back to the task at hand. He was determined to get rid of me for good. Nothing was going to stop him, or so I thought.

"RIKU, I SAID STOP!"

At that moment, Riku gripped his forehead and fell to his knees. He was hunched over in anguish and the screams were excrutiatingly loud. I looked at Namine in disbelief. Did she bring this pain upon him? Soon, Riku lay motionless across the cold tiled floor.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO RIKU?"

Silence and muffled cries.

Larxene joined the room and immediately reversed the silence.

"She broke his heart! Or, I guess, you could say she crushed it."

"Crushed his heart? What's going to happen to him?" I ask.

Maniacal laughter.

"Will he be okay? ANSWER ME!"

"Aww…don't worry about him. It's not like he even exists," she hissed.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not going to say, that would take away all the fun!"

"I DEMAND AN ANSWER!"

I step closer and she forcibly knocks me to the ground.

"I'd hate to break the news to you, but…that isn't Riku."

"Huh?"

"It's just a lifeless puppet, nothing more."

"What?"

"It's ironic, it called you a fake but it was the fake all along."

"A fake Riku?"

"Yes, fake in every way…"

She picked the motionless replica off the floor and threw it against the wall. I saw Namine shudder and wipe a stray tear from her cheek.

"This whole time, you've been fighting with a puppet."

I glanced at Namine and she averted my gaze.

Larxene continued, "She looks so sweet and innocent but she does such horrible things."

"Namine, is this true?" I whispered.

"You're so stupid! Did you actually fall for her evil tricks? You let her shackle your heart!"

"My memories, they were all…"

"Lies, lies, and more lies," Larxene interjected.

"Why, Namine?" I murmur.

"Don't even bother asking her! She doesn't know how to tell the truth."

"I just want to know why…"

"It was central to our plans," Larxene exclaimed, "and everything was going well until Axel intervened. I can't believe he let her run off."

"What exactly were the plans?"

"It doesn't even matter anymore, considering that it's ruined."

"Now what?" I mutter.

"Now, I have no choice but to eliminate the both of you."

"You'll never get away with this!"

"Oh, but I will."

She slowly paces to where I stand and begins taking out her knives. She lets out an obnoxious cackle and says, "This will be too easy." I brace myself and take a deep breath. I am still weak from the previous fight and I'm not sure I have it in me to face another enemy.

Maybe this really is the end.