A/N: Hello Peoples! I will be posting shout outs at the end of this chapter, as a special thank you for all your support and kindness for hanging with me and this story for so long! :P

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and all its characters belong to Square Enix! All I own is my OC Nora!

Twenty-one: The Darkest Hour

I didn't have a choice.

Nora and I had to go back to our father, it would save Roxas's life. Nora's too.

As I frantically move around the room gathering my belongings, I start to wonder if Mum's death wasn't an accident...

What if Dad actually DID push her down the stairs?

My stomach turned at that, Dad wasn't threatening me with the life's of Roxas and Nora. He meant it.

I rushed over to Marlene and Denzel's room, where Nora was staying.

Buttercup was on her bed all curled up in a little ball, his tail swaying slowly by him.

I only had so much time, I wanted out of here fast. Quickly, I started to frantically pack Nora's stuff. Having to think of which toys was her's so I wouldn't accidentally pack Marlene's.

When I gathered, most of what I thought were Nora's toys, next was Buttercup. Carefully, I scooped my hand underneath his warm and furry belly and held him against my chest with one hand while the other held the rest of our belongings. Buttercup didn't seem disturbed, he just let out a lazy yawn before snuggling closer into my chest.

He was like Nora, so little and helpless.

I make my way down the creaky stairs quietly, I wasn't sure if Cloud was still asleep. I was moving like a sloth, my legs were shaking as my fathers words echoed through out my mind.

"I'll always find you. So I suggest that you gather your things and get your ass home. You and Nora, and I wouldn't recommend telling anyone...that is...unless you'd like to LOOSE another person close to you!"

I couldn't allow that. No, I forbid it.

I won't lose anyone,but...what would I say to Roxas? What could I say that could fool him? You'll just have to wing it Namine, you have no choice.

Roxas, Ventus, Denzel, Marlene, and Nora were all at the breakfast table.

Vanitas was probably still asleep, Tifa as well.

"Oh, there she is!" Ventus announced and raised a brow. "With...all her stuff?"

Roxas spun around in his chair to give me a puzzled look. "Namine?"

This is your only chance, now don't blow it.

"It was my Aunt on the phone." I lied quickly. "She's been trying to get a hold of me ever since Mum died and...she wants to take care of me...and Nora." I could feel my heart racing as I spoke. Would he actually believe this? He had too.

"Really?" Roxas asked raising a confused brow. "Why wasn't this mentioned to me before?"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "She wasn't involved with the family much, she was afraid of my father...still is..."

"You mean, Auntie Aurora?" Nora asked gulping her juice.

I smiled. "Yes."

Roxas' expression went from confused to disappointed. It broke my heart, I know that he didn't want me to leave but if I didn't he'd be killed, and if I told him the truth he'd go after my father and that would also get him killed.

I was doing this to save our lives. I had no other choice, there was no other way.

"The reason why I didn't tell you..." I paused to look back at Roxas who was now standing in front of me not even a foot away. I looked up to meet his eyes, they were shiny, like he was about to cry. Don't crack now, Namine you HAVE to do this.

"The reason why I didn't tell you was because, we haven't seen our Aunt Aurora in awhile...and I didn't think she wanted us living with her..." I explained, feeling my heart jumping around in my chest and my stomach tighten painfully.

"Didn't you tell your Aunt that you're living here?"

I gulped hard and shook my head, trying to fight back the tears. "I don't want to be your burden anymore..." Those words just now, weren't a lie.

Roxas having to deal with all those rumors at school, defending me in alleyways, moving Nora and I in his home that's already crowded with his own family? No, Roxas didn't deserve this...much responsibility, he deserved to live a normal teenage life, the life he had before he met me. I took that away from him.

"Namine..." Roxas pulled me to him and encircled his arms around my waist. "Never, you're never ever a burden to me, do you understand? Ever."

I swallowed back a sob before responding. "Well...I think this would be the best...for the both of us. If we just went our own ways."

Roxas' grip around me loosened to look down at me. "Baby, what are you saying?"

This killed me, doing this here in front of his brothers and little sister, my little sister as well.

My throat burned, and my eyes started to flood with tears, couldn't hold them back any longer. Everyone was watching, waiting patiently as if they were announcing the winners at the Grammy awards.

I sucked in a deep breath and slowly pulled his arms off me. "You know what I mean, Roxas."

I watched his eyes go from concerning to emotionless, that's right. Dark and cold, like black ice.

"Alright...If that's what you wish...go, I won't stop you. I just want you and Nora to be happy."

I felt my heart split in two, his voice was flat with no feeling. I knew he was upset, I knew that he cared.

"I'm sorry, Roxas..."

Roxas shook his head and backed away from me. "Don't. It's for your own good...just...be safe..." And then he left the room without another word, he didn't look back either. It's like I've never existed to him. Was never a part of him.

I wanted to chase after him, hug him tightly and never let go, but that was something that happened only in fairy tales, and this wasn't a fairy tale. This was reality.

I turned to Nora, rubbing my damp cheek against my sweatshirt. "Ready to go, kitty?"

I watched her and Marlene exchange a look in disbelief. Ventus and Denzel looked no different. Did they really enjoy us living with them?

"But...Namie, I like living here...Marlene is my best friend!"

I could see little tears forming in her eyes, making me feel like a monster.

"I know, but Mr and Mrs Strife already have lots of mouths to feed in this house and we can't just keep staying with friends!" I spoke as soothingly as I could, I knew she wouldn't understand me. She's only five.

"But...they don't mind!" Nora whimpered. "They like us!"

I looked over at Ventus, Denzel, and Marlene, then down at Nora again. "We can always visit."

Nora sniffled. "Promise?"

I nodded. "Promise."

Nora ran over to give Marlene and Denzel one last hug. Ventus came over to me.

"Don't take it to personally, Namine. Roxas cares deeply for you. He's...he's just hard with goodbyes."

I smiled and threw my arms around him in a hug. "Thank you...for everything...please tell your parents that."

He patted my back gently. "I will, please visit soon Namine. We're going to miss you and Nora."

"I thought you said Auntie Aurora was gonna take care of us?" Nora spoke in a frightened voice, she watched me with panicked eyes as I started to unlock the door to our home.

I sighed. I hated lying to her, she trusts me more than anything and I lied to her.

"Aunt Aurora never called..." I crouched to my knees so I was eye level with her. "Nora...listen to me. We're in danger, dad called me this morning...he...he's angry and wanted us home and you know how daddy is when he's angry."

Nora swallowed and nodded slowly, hugging Buttercup close. "Please don't let him hurt me!"

I shook my head. "Never, nobody will ever hurt you."

Nora nodded, the tiniest of a smile on her face.

Slowly, I got up to open the door, carrying our belongings behind us, Nora slowly following behind me.

"D-dad?" I called out in a shaky voice, I could hear my own heart pounding frantically in my chest. "Were home..."

It was weird, the house was dark and quiet. As if nobody was home. Duh, Namine! The door was locked!

I placed my hand on the wall and felt around for a light switch.

"Hello?" I called out once more before turning on the lights, and all it took...was the sight before me.

To make me scream.

This Can't be happning. This Just can't be happening.

Roxas...

"ROXAS!"

A/N: Another Cliffhanger because I'm so evil like that XD Hahaha please stay tuned, and I apologize for the late update!

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