Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose. Well, I wanted as ever to hold onto the memories of my family. Their warm embraces, their loving faces. I will always remember them. I will not let my memory be tainted by the warp instinct of the Heartless, no matter to what extent they haunted my dreams...
I moulded over my thoughts as I entered the kitchen. The edible aroma knocked me into a stupor. Herbs and salts masked the air, filling my senses, stirring my empty stomach. I blushed as my stomach made its presence known with an audible growl.
"Oh, dear, you must be starved."
I yelped, heart racing, as I searched franticly for the source of the warm caring voice. I didn't even realize that there was anyone in here along with me. My searching led my eyes to a young brunette woman. Standing over the stove, she stirred the unknown contents of a boiling pot with a wooden spoon. Her hair tied back in a long platted ponytail with a soft pink ribbon; it hung like rope past the curve of her waist, curls framing her lifted cheekbones and green eyes. Her smile lifted the tense stance that had instinctively settled into my muscles.
"U-uh, yes, ma'am."
She giggled light-heartedly. "You don't have to call me 'ma'am'. My name is Aeris." she halted her stirring to walk over to me. I offered her a smile, glad to have someone for whom I could address normally.
"My name is Danella. Um, Aeris," my curiosity got the better of my good manners as I looked into her evergreen eyes, "do you"-it felt rude to say "serve"-"work here too?"
Her smile faltered slightly, looking on me with sadness before she regained composure.
"Yes, but I do so voluntarily. I've known the little master for a long time."
I was taken aback as she referred to...Sora as "the little master". It was hard to imagine Sora ever being little to anyone; he brought upon his person such a threatening feeling. Almost like he looked down on everyone, daring them to speak up.
"I must say you look charming in that dress." Aeris quickly changed the course of our discussion as she clapped her hands together softly, beaming. I blushed, fiddling around with the hem of the sundress, self-consciously.
"Are all those dresses for me?"
"Of course. The little master made sure to send someone off to the town to get appropriate attire for you. Your clothes were soiled from the night."
"Oh, that was...kind of him." I could not stop the frown that slipped across my face. It was a kind gesture. Knowing all those dresses – the ones for which I could never hope to deem myself worthy of – had been bought for me alone. They were lovely garments. However, a servant should not be expected to wear such things. In all honesty, I was braced for rags.
"The little master may be cold, but it is not..." she drifted off as a musical ringing filled the air, singing over Aeris' voice. A silver bell, hanging over the kitchen door. Aeris was back over to her boiling pot in the blink of an eye.
"That would be the little master, he's on his way to the dining room," she dashed from station to station, brown hiking boots scuffing across the tile floor as she went, "you might want to seat yourself before he does I'm afraid, Danella."
"Right," I said quickly rushing through to the dining room, "thanks, again."
"Think nothing of it, dear."
And with that, I was out the door and seating myself on the freshly set dining room table.
My heart was hammering against my chest as Sora entered the room, hushed footsteps tracing across the mahogany floor. He did not acknowledge my presence in any way – not that I expected him to, of course. I don't know why he wanted me to sit with him; it was beyond senseless - he wasn't making any other effort to make me feel welcome. I bit back a greeting, not wishing to be ignored by any other means.
Maybe he was giving me a taste of what it was like to be...equal. To meet and dine with him, dressed in fine clothes and served food that could make me drool for more. And once he was finished hanging my half eaten roast in front of my eyes, he would snatch it all back, never to be seen again. The dresses, the food, and the company. All of it.
I am a servant after all.
I tried to remember my table etiquette from my past formal dinners. I hadn't attended many. Why did they have to give us, poor souls, so many forks and knives? I can just as easily use one set for two or so courses. Oh, but no, that would never do. They had to have four forks, two knives, and two spoons. With them placed down all at once, from the very beginning, how was I supposed to tell steak from butter? The soup spoon, the pudding spoon, the steak knife, and the butter knife. It was confusing enough. Sora knew that I had no idea of how things were set. He would have counted on it.
He wasn't going to beat me that easily.
Hiding under my lashes I glanced up at the beginning of each course, keeping track of which utensil he chose. I prayed I was being sneaky about it...
"I presume," I jumped as Sora's voice splintered the ice curtain dangling between us, "that your room is cleaned thoroughly."
"U-uh, yes Sor-sir." No - I wasn't allowed to address him by name. "Sir". Always "sir".
Oh, for pities sake! I sounded like a total blubbering idiot!
He didn't look up to acknowledge my little blunder once again. He hid his cerulean eyes quite well. "Good. I would hate to think you were abusing my hospitality by defying my simple instructions."
I sucked in a quivering breath before speaking, "Of course not, sir. I must pay homage to you, sir - for you were gracious enough to grant me the use of your spare room and clothes."
I almost stumbled over myself as he looked up, blue depths smouldering with some unknown emotion. "I...am truly thankful. You saved my life; I could never cross you..."
My gaze finally faltered, I could no longer look into those eyes. They burned, deep within me.
"Yes...well," he paused, as if uncertain how to continue, "I see you have gone through the garments I have supplied you."
Did my change in attire really stand out so well? Aeris and now Sora had both commented on it. His tentative eyes lingered on me longer than was necessary. Or was it just my wishful thinking?
"It suits you," he said as if it were such a simple thing to say, "I do not want you dressing in your own clothes as long as you are under my services, do you understand?" I was still flushed from his complement, but I nodded with a whimpering "yes, sir" as I nervously picked at my own finger nails.
One more course to go, and then I would be free to go off to my room – right after I thank Aeris for the lovely meal of course. A bowl of crystallized gold cream, glistening like spring snow, was placed before me. A single mint leaf decorated the rim of the bowl. The aroma was so enticing; I couldn't wait to dive into it.
"Aah," I barely heard Sora's sigh of pleasure over my own mind's musings, "Aeris' favourite dish. She has chosen to treat us tonight."
He said her name with such ease, so normal and light.
"...May I ask what this dessert is?"
"Paopu fruit ice-cream."
Ice-cream? "Paopu fruit" ice-cream? Never heard of that before.
"It is one of Aeris' specialties. It has been so long since she has last made this dish for me..." for each word that passed through his lips, his brow pulled further and further together, troubled, as his eyes grew more and more distant. Memories are powerful things; they can take a hold of you so suddenly and strongly. With Sora, right at this moment, there was no exception.
"Soraaa!" the door bashed the wall in as a lean young man slipped into the room. A dark purple-black silk wrapped top hat adorned his head of messy crimson tresses. Never had I seen such a hedgehog looking head of hair before. A cluster of spikes fanning out behind his head and down his neck. Lime green eyes glowed under his maroon brows that were raised up high into his hair line. Purple tear-drop tattoos marked his cheekbones, right under each eye. So properly dressed and polished, there was no way he was a servant.
"Sora, Sora, Sora," he mocked disappointment as he closed his eyes, slipped his hat from his head, and placed a gloved hand over his "wounded" heart, "I'm hurt."
I heard Sora's scoff turn into a groan as the crimson-haired man trudged his way over to his seat, wrapping a casual arm round the brunette's shoulders.
"How dare you keep this young lady all to yourself! Introductions must be made. It's good manners y'know."
I stared, wide-eyed, as he made his way over to me. Grinning like a Cheshire cat as he ghosted his fingers along my arm before drawing my hand up, never taking his eyes off of mine as he brushed his lips against the skin of my knuckles.
I'm surprised all the feeling remained in my limbs as I felt my cheeks flame with blood. Certainly all of it was filling up my face at this very moment.
"My name is Axel. And what a lovely flower you are, my dear. Surely your name is just as pure."
Gawking like a fish, I tried to blink away the flaming urge to scream in embarrassment. His flirting was so obvious, and so overdone. I didn't deserve his attention.
"Back off, Axel!" Sora said curtly through gritted teeth, eyes steely as he glared daggers into the back of the lean man's head.
"My, my," Axel raised a teasing brow at Sora as he pulled his lips away from my fingers, and yet refused to let go, "aren't we possessive?"
"I am nothing of the sort!!" he said sharply, looking away, red filling his right cheek angrily.
Axel chuckled, and failed miserably to cover it up with a cough.
"Whatever you say," he turned back to me, dazzling his lime green eyes at me as he released my hand, "I'm sorry but I must leave you to your captor, my little rose petal."
Your rose petal? He couldn't honestly be that interested...right?
I must've looked like a doe caught in the headlight as I watched Axel exit the dining room, adorning his head with his top hat once again.
"...in the way..."
I turned back to Sora, catching only a second of what he had been muttering under his breath. "I'm sorry, pardon?"
"Nothing!"
I bit my lip, if he hadn't been in a mood before; he was defiantly in one now. Eyes sour and cold, my throat dried up at the mere sight of them. Why was he so mad? It was not like I did anything to lead Axel on. No doubt he was an honoured guest of this castle of Sora's. Maybe I had embarrassed Sora with my blank surprise and presence. I suppose he had wanted me to go unnoticed by the others that lived amongst the castle. I was of no importance; he wanted to keep it that way.
"I'm sorry..."
Without a word, Sora was out of his seat, ice-cream long forgotten and melted, and stormed out of the room. I was left to my shame. He was defiantly mad with me. Why did Axel have to come along?? He ruined what little progress I had made with my master.
Sighing, I gathered the uneaten ice-cream bowls and glimmering silver cutlery, hair hiding me away as I walked back to the kitchen.
"Lemme take those off your hands, dear." Before I could protest, the bowls were slipped out of my grasp and placed into the bubbled sink. I felt the responsibility fell upon my shoulders to past my regrets onto Aeris.
"I'm sorry that we were unable to sample your Paopu fruit ice-cream – we were a little distracted."
"That's alright, dear. I'll be sure to save the rest of it for tomorrow night," she leaned forward, cupping a hand on the side of her mouth as if she were telling me a secret, "just for you and me, Sora can sulk off to bed without dessert."
I giggled; Aeris really was a good soul.
"Looking forward to it. Would you like any help with the dishes?"
"Oh, no, no, no," she smiled sweetly, turning me round and urging me out the door, "you just leave the kitchen to me. Now off to bed with you, you've got a big day ahead of you."
"I-I-I do??"
"Yes, of course. We can't have you falling asleep on us."
I didn't know what to say. What could possibly be so draining that I had to go to bed and rest up for at...I looked up at the ticking cuckoo clock propped over the stove...nine o'clock. Must be pretty something.
"'Kay. I'll see you in the morning than, Aeris." I couldn't help but mirror her smile.
"And I'll have breakfast all ready for you, Danny...you don't mind me calling you "Danny" right?"
"Of course not." It made me feel so much more welcome. Like I was home, back in my town.
"I hope you like vanilla pancakes and syrup."
"I love vanilla pancakes and syrup. Especially with whipped cream." I said before I left Aeris, remembering the last time I had vanilla pancakes. Mother, Father, and Roxas... Memories are powerful things, especially when it comes to remembering the ones you love...and loved.