A/N: Okay… so I checked out my homework for the upcoming week… and it's not that bad! So here, have another chapter!

But first, a guest review reply!

Gamergirl: Yes it has! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. I'm also loving writing the Twilight Town days with Aurora included, and I'm glad it's blending well for you! Riku tries, but outside sources are making it really hard. And it's actually through connecting with Riku that Aurora's destiny became connected to not just Sora, but all of them (DiZ is just fixated on Sora right now). Here it is!

This is going to be a short chapter, since almost all of this day happens in Roxas's head, and Aurora's presence doesn't change a thing with that.

Now… ONWARD!

…

Chapter Three: Day Three – Differences

Black Coat watched the alleyway again, from the same rooftop, as the two girls made their way to the Usual Spot, giggling about something. He smiled slightly, watching the blond and the way she pushed her hair out of her eyes.

Deep, deep down, his heart ached. Especially as the light of the setting sun flashed off of the locket around her neck.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, before stepping through a portal.

Stories below, the blond stopped and looked up at the roofs. The other girl stopped as well, turning to her.

"What's up?" she asked, looking in the same direction.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. I just… thought I heard something," the blond said with a smile, before walking forward again.

…

"Yes! I can't believe Hayner's uncle gave him Munny for all of us!" Aurora cheered as she, Olette, and Pence made their way to the train station to meet with Hayner.

"Think Roxas will get our note?" Olette asked.

"How can he not? I'm sure he'll noticed we all just up and vanished on him," Pence replied with a grin. As they rounded the turn in Market Street, they saw him on the hill just above them. He seemed to hear their steps and turned.

"Hey!" he called.

"Morning!" Olette called back as the three walked towards him.

Suddenly, Roxas was a little closer, with a confused look on his face. The three continued forward anyway.

"Olette and Aurora dragged me along to go shopping," Pence complained.

"Hey, you wanna come with us?" Olette asked.

"Yeah, we could do with a few things before going to the beach," Aurora added with a smile.

"Um, uhh, wait…" Roxas stammered, staring towards Tram Commons. "Did you just see that…"

The other three looked over, confused for a moment, especially when he took a few steps that way.

"He's stalling," Pence said. Olette put a hand on her hip with a grin.

"Very well, then," she said with a smile. Aurora crossed her arms.

"We'll see you later, Roxas. When we meet at the train station, okay?" she added.

Roxas turned to face them.

"Y-yeah," he muttered as those three took off towards yet another shop.

The three shopped for a bit longer, picking up snacks, beach blankets, and even a picnic basket to put it all in, before meeting Hayner at the train station.

"About time, you guys!" Hayner said with a grin, before looking at them. "Hey, where's Roxas?"

"He bailed on shopping with us," Pence said.

"And he took off towards the Haunted Mansion," Aurora added thoughtfully.

"Huh. Well, we still have a little time. Let's go find him," Hayner said.

"Yeah!" the other three agreed, before running out into the town.

When they reached the Sandlot, Hayner froze. Aurora looked around him, and bit her lip.

Roxas was there, talking to Seifer and their gang. No Struggle Batons were being held, no harsh expressions or angry words.

Just a normal conversation.

Fuu noticed them first, prompting Roxas to look over.

"Hayner, I'm sure it's not what—" Aurora began. Hayner scowled.

"Hmph!" he huffed, before turning away and running back to the Usual Spot. Pence and Olette looked between Roxas and Hayner, before following after the latter. Aurora hesitated a moment more, throwing Roxas a questioning look, before following too.

"Wait up!" she heard Roxas call. Hayner ignored him, instead stopping by the ice cream shop and buying four bars. Aurora frowned slightly at the pettiness of that – he could have at least bought one for Roxas! – but kept her mouth shut.

Once they reached the Usual Spot, Hayner chomped angrily at his ice cream, while the other three simply sat, looking at theirs'.

Roxas walked in, glanced between the four of them. Hayner ignored him, continuing at his ice cream.

"So… you hung out with Seifer's gang today?" Pence asked hesitantly.

"N-no… it's not like that…" Roxas said, his voice almost pleading. He suddenly decided to change the subject. "Oh yeah! How was the beach? Wasn't that today?" he asked.

"We didn't go," Aurora said softly.

"It wouldn't be the same without you, right?" Olette asked. Pence glanced over at Hayner again, who'd been silent this whole time.

"…Sorry…" Roxas muttered, looking down. He then turned to Hayner, having also noticed his quietness. "Hey… how 'bout we go tomorrow?" Aurora winced at the suggestion. "We could get those pretzels and—"

"I promised I'd be somewhere," Hayner cut him off, looking over at Aurora. "Right?"

"Hmm…" she hummed, not wanting to get in the middle of this.

"Ohh…" Roxas sighed, looking down. His head snapped up as he suddenly remembered. "Oh!"

Hayner tossed his empty stick aside, before standing. "I'm outta here," he said, walking past Roxas. He didn't even glance at him once. Roxas looked over his shoulder, watching him walk away, while the other three stood, glancing at each other in worry.

…

"Was that Naminé made of data?" Black Coat asked, standing behind Red Robe. Aurora, once again, was crouched at the door, having opened it a crack to listen. Today had been pretty uneventful – mostly her and Hayner practicing for tomorrow's Struggle Tournament, while Pence and Olette watched. Once again, however, she found herself checking up on these two strange people in the basement of the mansion.

(Who's… Naminé?)

"No," Red Robe replied, anger in his voice. "Naminé hijacked the data herself. Look what she's done now… she's totally beyond my control!" He slammed his fist into one of the Keyboards, causing Aurora to jump.

"Calm down," Black Coat replied, making a pacifying gesture with his hand.

"It doesn't matter," Red Robe finally said, letting his fist drop back into his lap. "As long as Naminé accomplishes her goal… we needn't worry about what befalls Roxas."

A small gasp did escape Aurora this time as she fell back from her crouch, landing on her butt. (Roxas!? What does he mean by that?)

Both men turned towards the noise, and Aurora knew she had to disappear. She quickly jumped to her feet and ran, hard and fast, back up the steps.

"Quick! In here!" a voice suddenly said from the top of the steps. Aurora looked up and found a girl in a white dress. Her face as vaguely familiar, but Aurora couldn't place it. "Hurry!" the girl added. Aurora took the steps two at a time and dove through the door the girl held open. The room was blindingly white, but safe for the moment. The girl quickly closed the door behind her, leaving Aurora alone in the room.

"Naminé, have you seen a stranger in the Mansion?" the voice of Black Coat asked from outside.

(So this is Naminé?) Aurora thought, ducking under the table.

"No. I just left my room to go check on Sora," Naminé said softly.

(Sora's here!? I wonder… does Riku know?)

"Alright. If you do see someone though, please let me know."

"What about that girl who practices magic outback?" Naminé asked. Aurora could hear her tone was careful. There was a moment of silence.

"She's fine. She doesn't know we're here," the voice finally said, before his footsteps receded. A few minutes later, Naminé re-entered the room.

"It's safe," she called. Aurora crept out from under the table.

"Thank you," she said.

"Of course," Naminé said with a kind smile. Aurora fidgeted for a moment. Naminé smiled wider and motioned for her to sit. Aurora did so, looking at the other girl.

"You have questions?" Naminé asked.

"Yes. The first is… who are you?" Aurora asked.

Naminé proceeded to tell her, explaining that she was a special Nobody and a Memory Witch, with powers over Sora's memories and those connected to him. Organization XIII made her rearrange the links in Sora's chain of memories, so now she was fixing them under the watchful eye of DiZ, the man in red. Sora would be awakening soon, but she needed just a few more days.

"And Roxas?" Aurora asked. Naminé hesitated.

"Nobodies… were never meant to exist," she finally said. Aurora frowned.

"That's not true. Roxas might be… special, but I've met my brother's Nobody. There were small changes, but he was the same person. Saying Nobodies aren't meant to exist is like say he's not. Or you, or Roxas," Aurora said passionately. Naminé was taken aback, but gave a sad smile all the same.

"Still. Roxas… needs to return to Sora. But he's not going to disappear. He'll become whole again," Naminé explained. Aurora's shoulders dropped.

"Roxas… said that's all he ever wanted while he was part of the Organization. But he left them for a reason," Aurora pointed out.

"He didn't agree with their tendency to keep secrets," Naminé replied, picking up a crayon and sketching in the book in front of her. "And who can blame him?"

"That's true," Aurora said softly. She hesitated for a moment, pressing her fingers against her locket.

"Naminé. Do you know where Riku is? He was searching for a way to wake Sora up, so I would assume he'd be here, if Sora is too…"

"Riku is—" Naminé suddenly cut off, turning towards the door. "Hide!" she whispered. Aurora dove under the table again, painfully aware that it wasn't the best spot, but a little limited on options. Naminé stood, planting herself in between the door and where Aurora crouched.

The door opened, and Red Robe, DiZ, entered.

"Naminé. Here you are. Come. We must check on Sora, after the stunt you pulled with Roxas," he said.

"Yes, DiZ," Naminé replied, following the man out. She glanced back at Aurora with a small nod, before exiting.

Aurora waited for a few minutes before carefully slipping out of the Mansion. She glanced at the back yard, her training ground, but decided against it.

After all of that, she just didn't have it in her after her discussion with Naminé.

…

A/N: Well, that conversation with Naminé was unplanned and unexpected. But I like it! Next chapter will have two surprises, so stay tuned!