Staring out the window of the Gummi ship, I'm amazed. There are different worlds everywhere I look. Some are so bright and happy looking. Others look darker. And then there are some that don't look like they belong. "Is that whole world underwater?" I'm really trying to not sound like a little kid, but I'm sure it isn't working. The last time I rode in one of these ships, I was hiding in the cargo hold so I didn't get to see all of this cool stuff.
"That's Atlantica. Most of the people who live there are sea creatures or merpeople." Roxas sits in the chair next to me. "It's a really nice place. You can breathe underwater."
"You've been there?"
"Sora has."
"I wish I could see it."
"I'll take you there one day." He weaves his fingers through mine. "Dexlin, why didn't you tell me you saw Maleficent in Xemnas's castle?"
I knew he was going to ask. The way he looked at me back on the island told me he was mad about it. But why? "I didn't know who she was at the time. And it didn't seem important to me. All I cared about while I was in that castle was finding you. She said she was running away from the Heartless and that scared me even more. I just wanted to get through that castle as fast as possible before I ran into any of them. I forgot all about her until King Mickey brought it up."
He's giving me that look again. Does he think I'm lying? Why would I do that? After all the bad things I did while looking for him, why would I lie about Maleficent?
"That castle is swarming with Heartless. That whole city is. You had to at least have seen them."
"I didn't. When Maleficent said something about them I ran through there as fast as I could. I didn't look for them, but I didn't see any as I was running." He looks down at the floor of the ship. "Why don't you believe me? Why are you mad at me, Roxas?
He looks back at me quickly. His eyes are bigger then I've ever seen them. "I'm not mad at you." His voice has changed. It's softer. "I'm worried. You were alone in that castle with Maleficent and the Heartless. They could have done anything to you without you even knowing it. They could've even turned you into one of them."
Now, I'm mad. "I have a heart."
"I know you do. You just can't be too careful when it comes to Maleficent."
"I saw her, but I didn't talk to her. And she didn't even see me there. There's no way she could have done anything to me. I don't know why I didn't see any Heartless. Maybe they were attracted to something else. But I'm not lying."
"I believe you. It's just…"
"Stop it, Roxas."
I can feel the Gummi ship begin to slow down. Sora turns around from the pilot's seat. "We're here, guys."
I look out the window and see that familiar clock tower. We're back in Twilight Town.
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The sky is that same pink haze that I always remembered. I don't feel comfortable here. There are too many bad memories associated with this place. Too many hurt feelings. Off in the distance, I can here the sounds of kids running around the Tram Common. From the sounds, I think they are practicing for the Struggle.
We're walking around the Sandlot. It's deserted, which isn't uncommon. Seifer's gang dominates the Sandlot, so people tend to stay away even when they're not around.
"How does it feel to be back home?" Riku asks me.
"This was never my home. Twilight Town is just a place I landed in for a while." That's exactly how I feel about this place. It was moderately better living here than in Traverse Town, but it never felt like home. And it wasn't just the way people treated me. The overall feeling of the place just didn't feel right to me.
"I know what you mean. The short amount of time I spent here, even in that virtual world DiZ created, this place always crept me out."
At least I'm not the only one who feels this way.
"Roxas?" We all turn around at the sound of a new voice in the area. Hayner is standing at the edge of the Sandlot with a shocked look on his face. "Roxas!"
"Hayner!" They run towards each other, hugging when they finally meet. Despite myself, I smile. It's nice to see them meet again. They were such good friends back then.
"Sora! Kairi!" Those two run to meet Hayner. "It's good to see you guys again. Wait until I tell Pence and Ollette."
The rest of us stand off to the side, watching them. I guess Riku and Namine never met the Twilight Town gang on their trips through here. "You two should go say hi. Hayner and his friends are good people." They might not have been nice to me, but they were to Roxas.
"You won't come with us? Maybe Hayner would like to see you too."
"Hayner and I weren't friends, Namine, but I'm sure he'd like to meet you. Besides, I should go check on my things. I left here so fast that I never picked anything up. Guess I just assumed I'd be back."
I start to walk away from them, heading towards Station Plaza. It'll be nice to see my old room again.
"Dexlin, wait up!" I turn back to find Hayner running towards me. I think this might actually be the first time ever that Hayner has stopped me to talk. "I just want to tell you thanks for bringing him back here. I never thought you'd actually do it. My mistake, huh?"
I just shrug my shoulders, not entirely sure what to say. I could agree with him saying that he's misjudged me all this time, but I'm not sure I even believe that myself. "He's missed you a lot."
"You're welcome in out group anytime." This is all it took to become a member of Hayner's gang? Run away. Make a deal with darkness. Almost kill your loved one's other half. And get a Keyblade. It seems almost too simple.
"Thanks. I'd like to join you sometime."
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Very little has changed since I left. But since I've only been gone a month or maybe two, that's not surprising. But I've changed so much that I guess I expected other things to as well.
Walking around the town alone is kind of nice. Roxas and the others are hanging out with Hayner and his gang for a while, but I really wanted to come and check out my room. Give Roxas some time to catch up on the life that I wasn't a part of.
"Dexlin? Is that you?" Ms. Rizla, my landlord and boss, sits in front of my building, rocking in her chair. "My dear boy, I was so afraid that something horrible had happened to you. Without a trace, you just disappeared."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Rizla. I didn't have a whole lot of warning that I was leaving. I would have stopped by to tell you if I had known."
"Oh, I'm just glad you're alright. Though I did have to hire someone else to work at the shop. And I tried to hold on, but I had to rent out your room last week. Hated to do it."
I'm kind of sad that I no longer have my room, but what did I expect. I left. She couldn't keep the room there forever. "I can pay for the time I was away."
"Keep your money, dear. You were the best tenant I ever had. I just hope you've found a nice place to live. Hopefully, somewhere with that boy who was around here so much. He was a nice boy."
I can feel my face getting hotter as I blush. "I have."
"Good. Good. That's good." She stands up from her rocking chair and reaches in through the doorway of what is her apartment. "I managed to save your things just in case you ever came back. Glad I did." She brings out a suitcase that isn't mine. I don't even own a suitcase. "I'm afraid there wasn't much. I put it all away in my son's suitcase here. Figured you could use it more than he could. This is your clothes and personal items. I took care of returning your books to school. And I put the pay I owe you for all those hours you worked before you left."
"Thank you, Ms. Rizla." I swear this woman is trying to make me cry. She always treated me like I was her own son.
"Think nothing of it, my boy. Just promise you'll come see an old lady from time to time. I could use more company than just my cat, you know."
"I will. I promise. And I'll bring Roxas too." I reach over to give her a hug.
I guess always thinking about how mean all the other people were to me, I never realized that there was at least one person in the town that was nice.