Hello, all. I enjoyed the few nice reviews I got, and the favorites and follows I saw I received as well. And yes, I decided to change the title, I hope y'all don't mind! Anyways, enjoy the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts

'And I was in the darkness,

So darkness I became'

~Florence + the Machine 'Cosmic Love'

Kairi

Kairi stayed in bed until the last possible second the next day. She contemplated calling in sick and laying there for the entire weekend, but she knew that she had to face her incredibly irrational fear and go to work, whether she wanted to or not. The red head washed away all signs of tears and sadness, scrubbing until there was hardly a face at all, just a blank expression tied to a body. Kairi continually reminded herself of the past five years, telling herself that she had braved college, left everyone she loved behind, and became an exotic dancer. If she could successfully do that without feeling anything, then she was certain that she could brave a few men staring at her. Or so she argued. But just the thought of those men made her heart pound in her chest and she found herself weeping again, longing for someone to look at her the way her friends used to. As if she was a person, and a valued person at that, not just a woman to throw money at. She wanted someone to hold her and take her hand and assure her that everything would be okay, even if it wouldn't be.

Sora.

As soon as she thought of him, she wished she hadn't, her makeup began to drip down her face, mixing with the salty tears washing her face clear of makeup once again. She hated that she missed him. She hated that he was so far away, wherever he was. She hated that she was still dutifully waiting for him while she threw her life away without even caring. She hated not knowing if he was alive, married, homeless, anything. But most of all, she hated that she loved him still. It wasn't fair. The powers that be should have given her someone else to fall in love with if she wasn't going to have the brunette. She didn't want to be alone. She didn't want to have to look at another man, and have him look at her ever again. Not if it wasn't Sora.

Kairi pulled into the parking lot of the club fifteen minutes later, and wiped her eyes. She reapplied her makeup in record time, and focused on her job-to please others. There was one thing that she was rather good at. Pleasing others. She could do almost anything to make someone happy, and most of the time, she enjoyed that. She focused and meditated on pleasing the people around her, her boss, her coworkers, even the men watching her. She would act happy and pleased with them all, and the sad thing was, was that everyone would believe her. That was another thing she was good at-acting. Even in high school, she had been able to fool almost anyone if she had wanted to. That is, except Sora. She could flash anyone a smile and tell them anything, and they would believe her. Xion, Naminé, Riku, Roxas. Even now, Selphie, her friend from work, would believe anything the red head said. But not Sora. Sora had a way of looking into her eyes, tipping his head to one side, and saying "Kairi, what's wrong?" and she would always tell him. Even if it was something stupid like how she felt ignored when he and Riku were together, or how she felt so much less desirable than Naminé or Xion.

She missed him immensely. So much that it ached. But she was such a good actress that sometimes she even fooled herself into believing that she was happy without her friends. Not on days like today, though. Kairi couldn't stand it anymore. She couldn't wallow in her misery anymore. It was pointless. So she got out of her car and entered the club, a smile plastered onto her face. When Selphie asked her if she was okay and that she looked like she'd been crying, Kairi told her with a shrug and a smile that her allergies were killing her that spring, and that she's love a Claritin. After flushing the pill down the toilet, she dressed into her designated outfit for the night and zipped herself into it. It was, to her, like a suit of armor. If she was wearing that, then she couldn't be hurt. She was another woman, a working woman, one meant to please. Her stage shrouded her in a haze that couldn't be broken; her eyes did not register a single blink, grin, or grimace that night. She proceeded through the evening as if in a trance. A dream.

At the end of the night, she met a man with unusually kind antics and a small smile. She didn't even register what color his hair was. She thought his eyes might have been blue. But that did not matter. He did not matter. Nothing mattered, and it seemed like it took years for the two of them to get back to her apartment. Her apartment seemed colder than usual that night, and she let the man hold her more than she would normally let a man hold her. She was gracious and smiled and did everything he wanted her to. She was the perfect whore, was what she thought as she laid in her bed next to the stranger in the early hours of the morning. The man's heavy breaths of slumber finally lulled her into sleep, but before she fell asleep, she realized that this dream world that she had created wasn't a dream at all. It was a nightmare. And if she wanted to get away from the nightmare, she would have to wake up.

Roxas

Roxas was growing restless. It had been just three days since his talk with Axel, and he could hardly function knowing that he should be out looking for his friends. But he couldn't simply get up and go. He had a job, and a house to pay for, and people to see. Even though it was just excuses that Axel liked to poke holes in and pester him about every time they talked about it. The poor blonde was terrified to death, and he couldn't fathom what it would be like seeing Sora again. Of course, Sora was probably successful; he probably had everything that he could ask for, and he was no doubt happy. Kairi was probably with him, his little wifey, popping out kids for him. Riku was probably rich and never bored. He probably had all of the women he could ask for. Xion, his best friend, he grimaced when he thought of her. He knew that she had been scared for college. He fervently hoped that she was happy. He wanted her to be content. Maybe she was married; maybe she was a teacher, an author, a mother.

Naminé. His stomach dropped and he frowned when he thought of her. What would she say if she saw what he did? He knew that nobody would respect someone who drank everything away every weekend and barely held down a job. But he was trapped in that life. No matter what Naminé would think about it. He didn't even know why he was doing this anymore. He just knew that he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop and he couldn't keep going. Roxas was stuck, and he didn't care anymore. All he cared about were his friends. And they were all gone now.

"My God, you zombie, what's with you the past few days?" Axel asked him that night as they sat up against a tombstone, sharing a package of Chips Ahoy cookies. Roxas shrugged, "I don't know, I guess I've just been a little off the past couple days, nothing big." Axel shoveled another cookie into his mouth and crunched on it loudly, "You know, Roxas, you can't act so out of it and then expect me not to wonder about you. I mean, you are pretty fucking weird. Especially lately. No offense, I mean, you're cool and everything, I'm just worried about you I guess." Roxas felt a pang in his chest and he cleared his throat before responding, "Axel, I'm fine. I guess I'm just permanently stuck like this. It's nothing." And then he took a handful of cookies and pressed one to him mouth. The red head beside him snorted and shook his head, "You know, Rox, when I first met you, you weren't this off. Hell, last year you weren't this weird. If this chick is still screwing with your head this much I'm about to send out a warrant for her arrest so I can find her for you."

Roxas rolled his eyes and told his friend, "Axel, I'm fine. Naminé has nothing to do with anything; I just haven't been getting enough sleep lately." Axel snorted and muttered, "Yeah, likely story." He paused and gave his friend a frown, "Roxas, honestly, if you love her as much as it seems like you do, then you'll go after her, simple as that. I'm just worried that you do love her that much, but you're too scared to do anything about it." Roxas scowled, "What? I'm not afraid, Axel! I can't just pack up and go on some journey to go find her when I have a job, a house to pay for, friends who will wonder why I'm gone-" "And God forbid you leave your beer money behind!" Axel interjected, leaving Roxas seething. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Roxas hissed, "I would be sober for her!" Axel raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but said nothing more. But Roxas knew what his friend's silence meant, and he hated it.

Sora

Sora and Naminé stayed at her house for three more days while she explained her new job offer with her advisors and boss, ultimately leaving the school she helped at, and while she signed the paperwork tying her to Kingdom 13 Inc. And to Sora. He was both terrified and thrilled to have one of his old friends back, and she seemed to feel the same. "Who are we finding next?" The blonde woman asked on the morning of the third day when she came downstairs to see him packing up his things. "Well, I'd rather save Riku and Kairi for last, so that leaves Roxas or Xion." He watched her eyes dart around the room, and finally land on him determinedly. "I sent Roxas a Christmas card a few years back, if the address is still correct, then I think I know where we can find him." Sora nodded slowly, and said, "Thank you, Naminé." She smiled at him and he smiled at her in return. While he waited for her to pack her belongings into two travel bags, he pulled up the address she had given him and entered it into MapQuest.

Hollow Bastian. He scribbled down the address and called Demyx, who had been waiting patiently in the doorway of the kitchen, sipping a mug of black coffee. "Demyx, hold onto this, and do not lose it! We'll need that when we get to Hollow Bastian." Demyx nodded vigorously, and asked, "Should I call for a taxi?" Sora nodded, and Demyx pulled out his smart phone and called the taxi service. In all honesty, Sora had hoped they could have gone for Xion next, even though he would probably have an easier time finding Roxas over Xion. But Roxas had been his best friend, and after Naminé first reacted when she saw him, he was skeptical to think that his meeting with Roxas would be anything but disastrous. Then there was Naminé to worry about. He hoped that she wasn't still hopelessly in love with the blonde boy that had secretly been in love with her for years. She was fragile and he worried that this meeting would ruin her.

As he thought this the blonde woman descended the steps with two full sized bags of luggage, one in each hand. He stood and smiled at her, "Are you ready to go?" he asked as nicely as he possibly could muster. She gave him a small smile and nodded, "I'm ready." He nodded, "Good, Demyx is calling us a cab right now." She smiled again, a little too big, and he noticed for the first time that her face was an unusual shade of white, the flush in her cheeks washed out. He glanced at the whites of her eyes, the rim of crystal blue around dilated pupils. "Oh, Naminé." He muttered, and gathered her in a hug, which she returned immediately. He felt the slight tremble of nerves course through her body, and he rubbed her back in a soothing manner. "It'll be okay. He'll be overjoyed to see you." Sora murmured into her ear, and he felt her stiffen. "But Sora, what if he's completely over us? What if he's a drug addict, or dating someone, or married? What then?" she questioned, a tremble lacing its way through her voice. Sora exhaled slowly and told her, "Naminé, he loves you so much. I know it, he has to. When you two see each other again, it will be amazing."

She relaxed slightly, and Demyx called from the front room, "Sora, Naminé, the taxi is here!" Sora gave her one last squeeze and said, "Don't worry, if anything, Roxas won't be happy with me, not you." She giggles a little, and replied, "I'll make sure that he doesn't." "Oh, good!" Sora exclaimed loudly as he lead her out the door. Naminé chuckled lightly and followed him out of the house and into the taxi. Sora wished he could be as easily calmed as Naminé, because he was terrified.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, as I rather like it. And everyone who celebrated thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you all had a fantastic holiday! As always, favorite, follow, etc. And please, my goodness, I really love your guy's reviews and I appreciate feedback. So if you feel up to it, please review! And as always, have a wonderful day!

Special thanks to: Light-Sakura and Sookdeo, thanks for reviewing, guys!