Gone Chapter 3: The Phoenix
A/N: I know I ended the last chapter, on a sad and slow note. Well, things will start picking up in this chapter, I promise.
COPYRIGHT OF KINGDOM HEARTS BELONGS TO SQUARE ENIX
Shit, I forget that stupid copywrite EVERY time
Char Bios:
Namine: Age-16. A good natured, kind and gentle girl, who has a sweet personality. Namine works as a nurse-in-training/intern/volunteer at the Twilight Town Hospital. Her soft and soothing voice can calm even the most hysterical patients.
'Goodbye...' My last mumbled words exited my mouth, as I jumped over the ledge. I knew that I was gonna hit the ground soon, but while I fell, I felt strangely calm. As if this was the right choice. As if taking my life was the right thing to do. The ground met me soon enough, catching my right ankle and shattering it. I kept my mouth shut, the pain reverberating as other parts of my body were being stabbed and broken by the rocks and earth.
Coming to a stop, I felt my life draining out through the blood that flowed from the several cuts I had taken. I started to take an inventory of my body, but stopped, remembering that I wanted to die, not live. The water lapped, trying to drag me into its watery depths. I closed my eyes, saying goodbye for the final time.
(POV: 3rd)
A Graveyard digger was heading to work, when he saw a suspicious teen, making his way to the graveyard. The man followed the silver haired boy, wondering what was going on. There had been times in the past where stupid kids would come to the graveyard and disrespect the dead. The Twilight Town Graveyard was right before Lovers Leap. The digger, stopped at the edge of the graveyard, watching as the teen walked to the cliff. The man started to put two and two together, when the boy jumped. He gawked, for a second then pulled out his cell phone and called the ambulance.
"A silver haired teenager just committed suicide, by jumping off Lovers Leap." The digger said, running to the edge. He saw the crumpled body of the kid. After answering a few questions, the digger had slid down the cliff, and grabbed the boy, carefully scooping him up, and made his way to the open side of the cliff, where an ambulance was waiting for them.
xXx
Namine was helping a family out the door when the emergency doors opened, and there was a flood of people running past. They were ignoring everyone, trying to take care of the person on the stretcher. Namine followed, catching glimpses of a wet and silver mane. The EMTs pushed the kid into an operating room, where they set out to patch up the young adult. One side, there was a one way mirror, for doctors in training to see what the real doctors and nurses did. Namine, being a nurse in training, had access to the room. She slipped past someone with a clipboard, and watched, looking intently at the boy. The boy looked awfully familiar, but Namine couldnt put her finger on the name. Long silver hair that was pulled back into a ponytail so it didn't get in the way. Pale skin, that looked almost bloodless.
"Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me who the boy is?" Namine asked the doctor. He turned, looking up from his notes.
"No one has Id' the boy yet, but the nurses have been able to take some of his blood and put it into the system, to see who he is." Namine nodded, turning back to the window. A memory of earlier that day nagged at her thoughts. A silver haired boy gripping the table, as if it was a lifeline...
"RIKU!" Namine gasped, pressing her hands to the glass. The doctor turned to her.
"Riku?" Namine nodded, not taking her eyes off of the boy she barely knew.
"Yes. He goes to Twilight Town High School. Do you know what happened to him?"
"Well the Graveyard digger had informed us that the male you ID' as Riku, attempted suicide by jumping off of Lovers Leap." The doctor looked at the window, seeing the creased brows of the many doctors in the room. Namine bit her lip and looked at the window, seeing glimpses of a very limp Riku. She offered a small prayer, to the doctors and nurses to be able to keep him alive. The flaxen haired turned to the man in a lab coat and noticed he was the supervisor over the whole hospital. Mr. Ansem Darkhold.
"Mr. Darkhold... Riku is my friend. I know I'm not a full-fledged nurse, but can Riku be my responsibility? I can have one of the nurses watch over me, but I would really like to be his assigned nurse." Namine said, in a very responsible and authoritive voice. She never really got to talk to the head-honcho, but when she did, she always tried to sound responsible and capable of being a leader. The supervisor looked back at the young nurse. She was the youngest girl who wanted to be a nurse, for the actual meaning of being a nurse, and not for the pay. Ansem always got good word from the doctors and nurses, about Namine. She was always helpful, and willing to do the dirty work. Although Namine wasn't a real nurse, she showed a lot of promise, and made sure that her whole life was centered around helping the patients. After a few minutes of thought, Mr. Darkhold nodded and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Namine, I believe that you will have the confidence to help your friend. That's why I'm granting your wish to be this young boy's responsibility." smiled, and took back his hand, as Namine smiled.
"Thank you! I'll go get his room ready." The lavender eyed teen nodded, and passed the supervisor, walking to the nurses station.
xXx
The doctors and nurses, patching Riku up had taken several hours. He had a lot of injuries. Several broken bones, internal bleeding, a punctured lung. Namine couldn't stay at the hospital all night. After making sure she had Riku's room prepped, she went home. The next morning, Namine got to the hospital super early, as she did every morning before school. She gave patients their medications, and even helped an old woman go to the bathroom. Her last stop before heading to school was to see Riku.
The pale boy laid in one of the hospital's comfortable beds. His silver bangs covered his closed eyes. Namine lightly brushed away the hair, and placed her warm hand over his cheek.
"Oh Riku... I promise I'll take care of you." The blonde whispered, looking at the taller male. His left wrist was incased in plaster, along with his whole right leg. The clipboard on the table had said that Riku had shattered his entire knee and fractured the bones in his leg and foot. From several other cases, Namine knew a fractured bone took longer to heal than a broken one. With a clean break, the bone's internal structure could stitch together the broken part easily. It was painful, but a lot quicker. With a fracture, the bone had to repair all the broken pieces, along with stitching the bone back. Riku's chest rose and fell slightly, showing he still was breathing. There was no breathing apparatus to help, which was comforting to Namine. She couldn't tell how much pain he was in, with all the morphine and other drugs to keep the pain away, seeping into his veins. She hoped he couldn't feel it either. Namine took away her hand, walked away, heading to school.
xXx
Zexion and Xion sat in silence in their little hideout, looking at the empty chair. Zexion feared that Riku's stepfather had gone over the deep end and abused his stepson so much, that he could die. Xion just thought Riku was skipping school because he finally got to see his mom. Still, both teens hoped the best for their friend. The old battered TV had been turned on, with the local news channel broadcasting. The news casters were talking about a serious and very fatal crash that happened last night. The victims names hadn't been released yet, but they did know that three people had died. Clips of the crash site were being shown, and Xion gasped.
"Oh my God... That car... I hope the people died quickly." The dark haired female said, her sky blue eyes glued to the TV. Zexion didn't say anything, his intellectual mind working. Riku had said his mother was coming home. The crash was late enough that it was a possibility that Riku and his mother were in the car when the semi hurdled into them. Then... Zexion's heart cracked, thinking about his friend's lifeless body, laying in a heap, inside the small car. In the background the school bells rang, inviting the students into the building. Zexion got up, and turned the tv off. The two teens gathered their stuff and started for the school.
"Zexion! Xion!" Namine called waving her arm frantically. The sky started pouring, plastering everyone's hair to their faces and drenching their clothes and backpacks. Zexion and Xion jogged over to the blonde.
"Namine? What's up?" Xion asked, a little out of breath. Zexion doubled over, pulling the inhaler out of his bag, and taking the cap off. His mother and father were chain smokers when he was a kid, and he had a severe case of asthma. He was really lucky the school had that on file, and never made him take gym.
"It's about Riku... He..." Namine looked down, the rain, running down her cheek, as if she was crying. Zexion finished regaining his breath, and put one of his hands on her shoulder.
"What is it, Namine?" His voice strangely gentle. Namine looked up, and wiped the rain away with the edge of her white long sleeved shirt.
"He's in the hospital." Xion gasped, and her lip started to quiver. The site of the crash was brought to her mind, and she let out a choked noise. Zexion looked over to her, and dropped his hand from Namine's shoulder. This moment was awkward for all three of them. Namine rarely associated with Zexion. She talked to Xion, but not much. Zexion wasn't very touchy feely. All three of them stood in the rain, their thoats clentched in fear and sadness.
"Well, let's just hope that he's okay, and get on with our day." Zexion said, making everyone look up and nod. Zexion always knew what to do.
At lunch, everyone was silent, thinking about the silver haired boy. Xion's eyes were rimmed red, from crying. Zexion had skipped classes and cut, feeling the blood slid from the cut he had made on his side. The pain that Riku was in, had to be ten thousand times the pain Zexion was in. 'He's a fighter." Zexion thought, pressing two fingers against the cut. 'He'll pull through this.' Shortly before class was about to start, Xion came out to the hiding spot and had lunch with her.
"Zexion..." Xion's voice came out in a whimper. The grief was painful for the both of them. Even the air held the pain that they were feeling. Zexion looked up and saw that the tray that bent awkwardly under the weight of the food. He only saw her eat when something bad happened, and then she'd gorge herself. To Xion, the food was a bit of a comfort. She sat down and set the tray on the rickety table and began pigging out. Zexion helped himself, burying his pain in the consumtion of the food.
xXx (POV: Riku)
The world was black as I seemed to float on a cloud. Every once in a while I would hear a voice, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. It would always be the same voice. A light and cheery voice that always nagged at my heart, making me feel happy. I had no sense of time, as I floated. My body slowly got heavy and I started to feel pain. The pain was everywhere. From my head down to my feet. Different places had a series of pains. My right leg. chest and left wrist had the most pain. Pain was like fire, licking at me. Light floaded my vision, as I apperently opened, my eyes. I was awake.
The room I was in was a good sized room, with various posters about how to describe pain. A flat screen tv sat in the upper right corner of the room, the screen black. There was a big window right in front, with the curtins closed. My ears twitched, and I started hearing the occasional beeping of the Heart Rate monitor.
"Hello?" My voice was weak and raspy. I waited a minute and called a little louder. Still no one heard me. I looked down and saw a blanket that hid my injuries. My right leg was lifted into the air, and it was clear that it was broken. Looking down, I saw a red button that had black instructions.
'Push if a Nurses help is needed.' Wow, that was stupidly easy. I wished I had seen that before calling out. With my right hand, I pushed the button, and then looked at my hand. The skin was pale as it ever was, with me able to see the blood veins. My index finger had a pulse moniter on it. The more I looked at the hand, the more I saw the bruises and cuts that scaled up, and surely over my body.
"Oh, you're awake." A female nurse came in, and grabbed the chart, checking over something, then consulted the computer, which was mounted on the wall, typing.
"Uh... yeah... What am I doing here?" The more I spoke, the more my throat hurt. I definately felt the edges rubbing up against each other, like sandpaper. The nurse laughed, and turned to me.
"You're here because you were in a terrible accident." She smiled, and looked at the heart rate moniter, and punched a number in the computer. Terrible accident? A memory of me jumping off Lovers Leap came to mind. Huh. Maybe they think I have amnesia or something. I remember everything from my mom's death to my attempted suicide...
"Are you in any pain?" The nurse asked, pointing to a chart with ten yellow circle faces. On the side of one, the face was a poker face. At ten, the face looked like it was constipated. I thought about it, looking at the faces. Number 7 looked pretty close to what I felt. The face almost in tears.
"Seven." I said, then coughed. Usually when people cough, your chest and lungs are filling with air to get rid of the thing in your throat. When I coughed, blood spat into my hand. I pulled my hand away and the nurse gasped and walked out, calling for someone. I stared at my hand. Something was wrong with my lungs. the only time I ever coughed blood, was when my stepdad had taken me to the attic and pushed me into a glass armour and I accidently swallowed a shard. Luckily, I went to the hospital and got it removed before any more damage could happen. Another nurse and a doctor came in and checked over me, making sure nothing was wrong. My senses were freaking out, but I kept breathing normally, which helped. A few minutes later, a nurse came in with a tray of food, and pills. The other two medical techs left.
"You're really lucky. The doctors were worried that the puntured lung had filled with blood." She set the tray on a table that could slid over me, without bumping anything over. The nurse adjusted my seating and asked if there was anything that she could get. I just pointed to the tv and used my bruised right hand to dig in to the small cup of peaches. The tv flickered on, and a remote was set on the table.
"If you need anything else, just push the button." With that the nurse left. I pushed away the table, and threw off the blanket, and my stomach clentched. My whole body was covered in black and blue bruises. In places there were bandages tightly wrapped around a wound, or a white rectangle bandaid. This is the most bandages I've ever wore at one time. Replacing the table, and turning up the volume, I took my mind off of the pain and focused on the news broadcast alert.
"The authorites finally released the names of those killed in the Airport Highway crash. Mr. James Drew, Mrs. Inazuma Sommet, and Mr. Caine Johnson." I stopped listening, not really caring. I was halfway through the peaches when I started choking.
Inazuma Sommet...
My mother!
I stopped coughing and payed attention to the tv. They showed a picture of all three people. The moment my mother's wedding picture came onto the screen, I felt like I was sufficating. Seeing my mother, made me want to pull out the fancy medical equipment and throw myself out the window, ending my life. I had tried to do that once, but it was obvious that Fate or God or whatever had plans for me. I dont believe in a 'higher power' or God or anything. Like God was ever there for me when I was in need. My mother never went to church, but she was a very devote Christian. My heart rate seemed to go up, but I didnt pay attention to the faster beeping. I was locked in the pain of seeing my mother, beautiful on screen.
If it wasnt for her, I wouldnt be here...
It took me a few minutes to realize that I was angry at my mom. For never being there for me, and for dying on the way to see me. Sure, it wasnt her fault, but my anger flared thinking about how she just married my step-dad, so I would have someone to take care of me, while she was away. There was a tapping at my shoulder, and I realized someone was calling my name.
"Riku, you're awake." A flaxen haired girl said, with a sad smile. I blinked, the time catching up with me. Namine held out a napkin, and pressed it against my lip.
"I was afraid that you wouldn't make it..." She said, dabbing gentlely at my bleeding lip.
"Namine... Why am I alive?" I blurted, not thinking about what I was gonna say. I just wanted answers of what happened from my attempted suicide tell now. Her lavender eyes, watched mine and after a tense second she looked away.
"You tried to kill yourself... Thank God, that the Graveyard digger saw you, and called, or else you would have died." I frowned and without thinking, I roughly grabbed Namine's hand and jerked it away from my face. It hurt to move, but I didnt care.
"Thank God?! I was intentionally trying to kill myself. Why do you think I jumped? My mother had died, while on her way to see me. I was talking to her, when she died. Namine, you dont know who I am, or what hell I've been through." After tightening my grip, and hearing a small squeak come out of her lips, I let go. I wanted to release my anger at Namine, but I knew it was wrong. She rubbed her red wrist and stepped away from me, just in case I snapped again, and grabbed her neck instead of her wrist. Looking down, I squeezed my eyes shut, and started crying. All this pent up frustration and anger from my whole life was stressful. I couldnt take it any longer, that's why I had jumped. Just now, when I hurt Namine, I saw myself through my stepdad's eyes. How much anger he vented by hurting me... I realized that maybe, me and my stepdad are the same... I shook my head and looked up, wiping the tears from my eyes. No, I'm nothing like my stepdad.
"I'm sorry, Namine..." I breathed, looking a little protectively over her. She stopped rubbing her wrist and shook her head.
"Don't be. I understand you're scared and hurt." She brushed back a hair, and looked down at the floor. I kept my eyes on her wrist, hating the dark red against her porcelain skin. Time seemed to stop as I kept hating myself for what I did to the girl who was only trying to help.
"Riku? Why are you crying?" Namine asked, bending down a little and seeing me cry. Geez, what was wrong with me today? I was crying all over the place. I sniffled, and touched the napkin that she dropped, when I grabbed her hand, Namine looked at it, and without a word picked it up and patted the tears away. Her every move was soft and gentle. I slowed my breathing, and closed my eyes. I liked Namine's soft touch. It felt like my mothers. After a few seconds, Namine pulled away and I opened my eyes. Zexion and Xion were standing a few feet from my bed. Xion was having trouble holding back tears.
"Hey…" I said softly, looking at the two of them. Xion dropped her bag on the floor and almost threw herself at me, holding my head gently while crying. Through the corner of my eye, I saw Namine shut off the tv.
"Oh my God, Riku! You're alive…" I blushed slightly; since this was the first real time Xion's actually kinda hugged me. I raised my left casted hand and put it on her head, petting her soft black hair. Xion pulled away, wiping a stream of tears. Zexion was less weepy but definitely looked relieved that I was alive. I let out an airy laugh.
"Yeah, just barely…" Namine bowed her head, and excused herself from the room. Probably to do some other job, or whatever. I was happy enough to see my friends.
"We're very sorry for what happened to you're mother." Zexion said, after a few seconds. I reached out and touched Xion's shoulder, moving her slightly out of the way.
"It's okay… I'm sorry too." Xion looked confused, touching my hand.
"Why are you sorry? You're the one that lost his mom, and almost died in the same crash." I glanced from her to Zexion, wondering why she had said that. That's when I remembered that I hadn't given them the suicide note. I flinched, shaking my head, making my bangs slide to the left side, clearing my view.
"I know… I'm sorry that I made you guys worried." Xion's finger gently rubbed the back of my hand, and I couldn't help but smile just as gently back at her. Her eyes lit up, seeing me smile for the first time in forever.
"Don't worry about it. Zexion and I are just glad that you are alive." Xion slowly let her hand drift down my arm. I looked at her, carefully watching her. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I noticed I'm blushing.
"Xion. May I have a few minutes with Riku, alone?" Zexion spoke, making the two of us look at him. Xion nodded, and put my arm across my chest then nodded, leaving the room. Zexion followed her, only to shut the door.
"Zexion, I can explain…"
"You don't need to. I know what exactly is up. You weren't in that car crash." His glare practically sent daggers through my chest. I knew that Zexion could figure out that I wasn't in the crash. But stupid me, totally blanked it.
"You don't know what you're talking about. I almost died, alongside my mother. I was in that crash, and barely got out." My voice surprised me, being strong and aggressive.
"If you expect me to believe that bold faced lie, then you don't know me. Riku, tell me the truth. You can lie to Xion and Namine, all you want, but I'm smart enough to see through." Ouch. His words were like stones, hitting against my wounds.
"Fine… I committed suicide. You happy? But listen before you rant.I know I've done the unforgivable... Something that no one could forgive, but I'm asking one thing... Just please forgive me. If you understood the hurt and the pain that I was dealing with then you would understand... That's all I'm asking..." I carefully watched his face, trying to see any difference from the angery poker face he had on. Nothing.
"Too fucking late, Riku. You already decided that you think you can handle the world by yourself. Well fine. If you've got everything handled, then I guess that means you can work a friendship by yourself, because I'm no longer there." With that, Zexion left. In the hall, I heard Xion ask where Zexion was going. Namine had offered to give her a ride home, then the two girls walked into the room. The whole time I laid there, mouth agap slightly.
"Riku? Are you in pain?" Namine asked, checking the various moniters and then pressing the back of her hand to my forehead. I sighed, shaking my head, and taking her hand off my head.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired and hungry." Xion smiled, and walked over, taking my non casted hand.
"I'll go order you up some food. Xion, when I get back, I'll take you home." Namine said, then walked out. I watched her leave, then turned my attention to Xion. Her sky blue eyes were looking deeply my aquamarine eyes. I barely registered the blush that sprung to my cheeks.
"I'm really glad you're alive Riku. I dont know what I would do if..." Her face stared to twist into a pained one. I couldn't bare seeing her cry again, so I retracted my hand, and put it on her shoulder, pulling her close- like she had been when she first came in. Again, I petted her soft hair, closing my eyes and smiling a little. This was the first time, I've ever showed any physical attraction, or any hugging at all. If it wasnt for Namine walking in, and putting her hand on Xion's shoulder, I'm sure me and her would have stayed that way for a while. Xion had managed to not cry.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later..." She said, picking up her bag, that had been kicked under my bed. I nodded and brushed my bangs away.
"Yeah, its not like I'm going anywhere."
"Not for a while, you're not." Namine added, standing next to my broken knee. Xion giggled, and touched my hand again.
"Bye Riku."
"Later Xion."
xXx
I didnt remember Xion ever leaving. One minute she was saying goodbye, the next I remember, she was sitting on the counter next to my bed, intertwining her fingers through my hair. It was strange. I wasnt freaking out, or staring wide eyed at her, and her alien touch. I was actually smiling and laughing. This had to be a dream or something. Maybe I died, and was on my way to hell or purgatory.
"Riku." A voice floated in the air. I looked at Xion, but didnt see her mouth move. The voice kept calling my name, but Xion's lips never moved. Now that I think about it, the voice wasnt Xion's. Or anyone I knew.
"Riku, wake up." My eyes opened, and I saw the nurse that had been in here earlier was standing over me, with a large tray of food. I must have fell asleep right after Xion had said bye.
"I'm awake..." I said through a yawn, and rubbed my eyes with the one moveable hand I had. The nurse- her name tag had said Abigail- set the tray on the table, and adjusted the pillow, that was behind my back.
"Where'd Namine go?" The words came put of my mouth, without me really thinking about it. I was still groggy from the short nap.
"She took her break to take your dark haired friend home. She should be back anytime." Abigail said, consulting the computer. The smell of the food wafed up to my nose, begging for my attention. I got halfway through the chicken noodle soup when Namine walked in.
"Thank you Abigail." Namine said to the older nurse. She nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Namine drug up a high stool, and sat down next to me. To be honest, I wasnt paying attention to them. The soup was just too tastey for me to pay attention to anything else. Who knew hospital food tasted good?
"Enjoying your dinner, Riku?" Namine asked, and I nodded.
"Tastes better than I thought." She laughed, and reached up, grabbing the clipboard off the wall. I was suprised at how much I could eat. I knew I hadnt eaten for a few days, maybe a week, but I figured my stomach had shrunken to the size of a walnut or something.
"Riku... I need to talk to you..." I set my spoon down, and looked at her, with a skeptical face.
"Gee, I sure am popular today, huh. First Zexion, then you. I wonder who next." My sarcastic remark didnt phase Namine. In fact that only made her frown.
"When you were getting patched up, the doctors had noticed a thick and poor bandaging job that was on your chest. First they thought it was for your chest, but them they found out it was for your back." Namine started, looking at the clipboard. I refrained from looking at her, staring at the limp noodles and chicken chunks swimming in the golden broth.
"Riku... The doctors were are curious at what happened, and I am too. I need to know what happened, or I cant get you the correct treatment. I care for your health and well being." Just great. She was playing a sympathy card. I didnt need this. Im too hyped on drugs and pain to even try and lie. My head was like the bowl of soup. Namine the spoon, stirring up the juicy details of my life, having the chunks of chicken and noodles float to the top. I sighed, and began from the beginning.
"When I was born, my mom barely had enough time to take care of me. She was 17, with a child. I got passed off from daycare to nannys, for the first parts of my life. By like age 10, my mom had met my stepdad and started dating him. I was still being passed off from daycares, until they married and we moved here." I took a breath, this was where the pain started to steep into my voice.
"My mom's career had just started to take off, and she also started doing college. Business trips were a usual thing that forced her to leave for several weekends in a row. My stepdad hated me, not the 'you did something to hurt me, I hate you' type of hate. It was the type of hate where he would..." My throat couldnt say the word.
"Would what, Riku?" Namine's soft voice asked. I looked down at her.
"Abuse me. It started out every once in a while, whenever I would demand my mom's attention when she had just got home from a long trip or something. I didnt do much, all I wanted was a hug. The first time he beat me, you would have thought he was going to kill me, thats how much he hit me. I was only twelve when he started to abuse me." I barely noticed the tears that came streaming down my cheeks. It was tough to talk about it. I saw that Namine was having trouble holding back tears as well.
"The more my mom was gone, and the more I started to flunk school, turn to cutting, the more I was getting abused. I started to change, both physically and emotionally. I would go through these periods where I wouldn't eat, cut more, and worked out. I suffered a lot over the years, having Zexion keep my secret, doing bad in school and everything. When my mom had died, I felt like I was at my end. I had nothing to live for, that's why I chose suicide." I stopped coming to the end of the story. Namine was silently crying, biting her lip to keep from making a sound. If it was painful for me to tell the story, it must have been worse for her to hear it. From what I know of Namine, she was kind hearted. Whenever someone had a problem, she would listen to their problem and help them through it. All this emotional truama I went through, must be heartbreaking for her.
"Namine?" My voice was strangely calm. I reached over and lifted her head, so it was looking at me. Her lavender eyes, rimmed with ears, making the slight bit of mascara she had on, run. Namine touched my badly bruised hand and sniffled, stopping her crying.
"I'm sorry for crying... I just cant believe you went through so much." Subconsiously I wiped away a loose tear with my thumb. I hated seeing her cry. It was odd that to felt this way to someone I barely know. For her to know my secrets. Which reminded me...
"Namine... What did you tell everyone that happened to me?" I now was slightly angered, but I didnt show. I had to start keeping my emotions under control. She sniffled again, and removed my hand from her face.
"I just told Xion and Zexion you were in a terrible accident. I never said anything about what happened. That's not my business to tell." Her voice was stronger, as she wiped the tears away and began writing down something on the clipboard. My mouth twitched in a phantom smirk.
"You know... I owe you a lot. For keeping my secret, and taking care of me. I owe you my life Namine." I couldnt help think about what that intitled. Owing Namine my life meant that the only time I could repay her was to risk my life to save her. Life for a life. What was I getting myself into... Luckily Namine didnt think the same.
"No, Riku. You dont owe me anything. I wanted to help anyone in need, and now that's you." In any other case, I would be my stubborn self and argue with her about owing her, but this case wasnt normal. I moved my ears down and looked down at my hands that lay limp on my chest. I could move them but I didnt.
"Okay... Namine... What does this mean for the future though? I mean, I cant go back to my house. My stepdad hates me, and probably blames me for my mom's death. If I go back... I could die for real." I barely squeaked the last sentence, fearing for my life again. I didnt want to go back. Going back meant living in fear. I didnt want to live like that.
Hey young blood.
Doesnt it feel like our time is running out?
I'm gonna change you like a remix.
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix.
Wearing out vintage misery.
No, I think it looked a little better on me.
I'm gonna change you like a remix.
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix.
The lyrics to The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy jumped to my mind. It was like I could see the words imprinted in my vision. Change you like a remix. Raise you like a phoenix...
"I have an idea, but let me think about it okay?" Namine brought me back to reality, and I couldnt help but let a smirk come across my face.
"Thank you... Namine"
Lines from the next chapter: Decisions
"Choice two... Live with me."
"Oh, Riku... I believe this suicide note belongs to you."
"Namine... I've decided."
A/N: Well that wraps up chapter 3: The Phoenix. So far no one has even tried to figure out why I chose The Phoenix. I'm kinda upset that you guys dont wanna participate in my little game. I thought it would be fun and you guys would want a little something to think about before the next chapter. T.T. Well I guess I'll give you guys one more chapter before revealing the answer.
-Sazha