Chapter Thirty Two: Promise

Secret Report: Axel V

When this all started I couldn't care less about anyone here, much less Naminé. At best I might prod her at the right time to throw a wrench in Marluxia's plan at a major point.

Now? I've honestly started to root for her, and it's not just the fun of seeing Larxene getting knocked down a peg. She's actually got more courage than I thought. Probably because of Roxas.

Though really he's been the biggest surprise. This whole bet lit a fire under him, and it's not slowing anytime soon. Just a week, and the difference is like night and day. It's almost like he's got…

…I can't finish that sentence. But I can't say what he's got isn't nothing. Hell, I'm willing to bet Naminé has it too.

Maybe that's why they're so close nowadays.

"There they go again." Axel watched as Naminé and Roxas left the room they had eaten in. The two had eaten their meal quietly, but were in decent enough spirits. Most of Roxas and Naminé's conversation during dinner was some variation of 'We're fine' or 'We're tired'.

Zexion shrugged as he stacked the trays and put their silverware on top of the stack. "It's been a rather full day with Ursula and the fight against Larxene. That they decided to head back early is hardly a shock"

Axel couldn't help a quick snicker, and Zexion's face fell to a flat look as he muttered, "I didn't mean that pun."

"I still enjoyed it. And you're right, today was a bit more than usual." With Larxene's 'test', it was hardly a wonder that Roxas and Naminé would prefer time to themselves. Not to mention the heights Ursula grew to was a stark reminder that Heartless weren't the only thing the Organization had to deal with. But right now, Axel's biggest worry was coming from within the Organization. A worry he couldn't help but vocalize. "Hopefully, Marluxia can talk with her so Larxene doesn't blow a gasket."

Nodding, Zexion dumped the used trays and wiped his hands clean. "Especially since she seems to focus her ire on Naminé and Roxas." Crossing his arms, he looked to Axel and asked, "What are those two up to with them? From the beginning they've been almost laser focused on anyone with a keyblade."

Axel grimaced, as he pondered the wisdom of telling Zexion that Marluxia and Larxene had rebellion in mind. It'd be good to have someone on his side in taking the two down. And after what Zexion and him went through this past week, Axel was willing to trust him.

Still, there was the problem of Larxene and Marluxia walking by any second. Which meant he needed to be subtle. Axel walked up to Zexion as he began to explain, "You've got to remember, they wanted to get Sora under our control to start."

Rubbing his chin, Zexion began to theorize, "If their plan worked, that power might be considered theirs by virtue of controlling Naminé."

"And in trying to keep a keyblade in their pocket, they're getting desperate," Axel finished. Zexion didn't need to know the details of the coup. All he needed to know was that Marluxia and Larxene would do anything to get their hands on a keyblade wielder.

"And their ambition makes them all the more dangerous." With Zexion's nod and tightening fists, Axel knew the point was made. The question now was what to do with it. His pondering was stopped however as he felt Zexion put a firm hand to his shoulder. "You're closest to their plans. If something goes awry, let me know. We can't let Roxas or Naminé get hurt."

Sensible enough, and probably what Axel would default to. However, that last point got Axel's attention. Raising an eyebrow with a smirk, he asked, "Speaking as a member of the Organization, or as their friend?" Zexion rarely let his professionalism slip, and it was just too fun to poke at the gaps.

Yet instead of flustered denial, Zexion sighed as he gently pulled his hand away. Slowly, a smile came to his face as he admitted, "I suppose it's both."

That was really it, wasn't it? Sure there was the standard duty of making sure the Organization runs like clockwork, but Axel couldn't deny to himself that this had slowly been becoming because Roxas and Naminé started to matter to him. With a grin, Axel gave Zexion a gentle pat on the back as they turned to leave. "Then as a member of the Organization and a friend, I promise you'll be the first to know if it all goes sideways."

After watching the fight, Roxas was just as drained as if he'd been the one fighting the senior Nobody. Dinner was a simple reprieve instead of a chance to talk. Part of him just wanted to go back to bed, another wanted to just spend time with Naminé.

Though another part of Roxas wanted to talk to her. As quiet as she was, there seemed to be something more to Naminé's simple answers during dinner. As if she wanted to get back to her room and do something important.

Still, probably best to wait in case it was something Marluxia or Larxene shouldn't overhear. Since Naminé had won her fight, Roxas was in no hurry to give them something that could be used against them.

So he waited until after dinner. After the two of them walked hand in hand back to her room. Though a few stray glances from her along the way gave him a sense that it was something to do with him.

When they had finally reached the safety of her room, Roxas relaxed and asked, "Naminé, what's on your mind?"

Looking at him with a smile, Naminé gently pulled him to her chair. "I want to do something for you. For helping me get this far."

Roxas gave a faint chuckle as she let go and made her way over to a pile of notebooks."You do a lot to help me already with your keyblade."

Naminé sifted through the stack to find one particular book before turning back to him."Not just that. Ever since we've met, I could always trust you." Picking up her crayons, she walked over to where Roxas stood as she continued, "You're the first one here that's really listened to me and…" Letting go of a breath as she sat down, she admitted, "You're important to me, more than anything."

"Naminé," Roxas murmured back as he heard her confession. It shook him to his core, yet he couldn't regret hearing the words. Not when they resonated so much with what was in him as well. As she flipped through the book, Roxas placed a hand to his chest. "You've shown me so much, helped me realize what's important in life." His own words caused Naminé to look at him with widening eyes. " I don't think I'd be who I am now if I hadn't met you."

For a moment, she looked at him with a beaming smile. And something in Roxas couldn't help but thrum in contentment. Then with a nod, she took one of the crayons and put it to paper.

Roxas watched as she began to sketch on the page, A hue of yellow taking shape. Curiosity stirred and he asked, "What're you drawing?"

Without taking her eyes off the page, Naminé continued to move her crayon across as she answered, "A charm." By now, a yellow star had taken shape.

Seeing her take a silver crayon and add a top to the yellow star with a loop, Roxas pondered, "What kind of charm?"

"I came up with it. It doesn't really exist yet except in my head." Link by link Naminé built a chain from the star. "I started thinking of a wayfinder to protect someone close to me." Setting it aside, she grabbed another crayon and began to shade the charm. "Then a star shining in the sky, like a guiding light." Every darker hue helped to make it more real, till eventually she reached for a brighter crayon. "And finally a paopu fruit, that I'd share with someone I'd want to be with forever."

With a few more touches, she gave it a hint of a shine. As the picture neared completion Roxas murmured, "It's beautiful." He couldn't say if it was her art, or her description of the charm. Either way, he could feel the thought she put into it. And he couldn't help but put the pieces together from her description.

Something that protected the one you cared about, to guide them home, a symbol of an eternal promise.

Wouldn't it be something you'd give to someone you loved?

And then the spell was broken when Roxas heard tearing paper.

Seeing Naminé pull the page from the notebook, he sputtered, "H-Hey! You worked hard on it! Why are you tearing…it…?" But his fear subsided as he saw the drawing was intact.

Naminé glanced at the unharmed picture with a wistful smile."It's not a real charm, and it may never be real." She held the drawing of the charm to Roxas as she looked in his eyes. "But if it was, I'd give it to you. So I'm giving you what I can."

Gently, Roxas let one finger touch the paper, then another. A tiny part of him feared his grip might slip and crumple it in their hands. And he couldn't bear it if he ruined this picture. Not when it meant so much to her.

And…

She wanted to give it to him.

Something inside him felt like it was tight, yet at any moment it could burst.

What was inside him.

He didn't know if it was real.

It might not be real at all.

But he wanted to share it with Naminé.

Finding his breath, Roxas held onto the picture of the charm and managed to say, "I...I promise I'll take good care of it!" Feeling a warmth come to his cheeks, he laid a hand on top of her own as he continued, "I promise, one day when this is over, I promise you'll be free. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to see, you'll be able to do it!"

Whether or not it was love she was giving, It was the only thing Roxas could offer Naminé in return for this gift.

Naminé's eyes looked to his, a blush coming to her as she gently pressed her hand to Roxas' the paper in their grasp. "Can you promise me one more thing?"

It was a quiet, trembling question, but Roxas answered it with a firm nod.

Keeping her eyes on his as she rose from her chair, Naminé asked with a murmur, "If I'm free someday, will you be with me? Wherever I go? I want to see it all with you."

Roxas hardly had to think about the answer.

"I promise."

Living with her was something he wanted. With all his hea—

"Huh? Roxas!"

"Wha?" Naminé's startled cry was a shock, but Roxas couldn't bring himself to let go of her hands or the paper. Paper that seemed to glow with a brilliant light as Roxas felt it shift in his hands. But as the light faded and the paper disappeared, he realized there was something besides Naminé's hands he was holding.

Pulling away her fingers, Naminé gasped as she saw a flash of yellow and a small silver chain fall from her grip. Slowly she lifted her hands, revealing the charm she had just drawn and murmured in surprise, "It's real?"

Roxas looked at her with a growing grin. "We both want it to be real, right? And it's real enough for us to make our promise. So…"

The shock on Naminé's face ebbed away, and she began to giggle as she ran a thumb over the yellow star in their hands."So the charm might as well be real." She let go of her gift, and Roxas brought it close to his chest with a hand. A miracle created from her magic and what had grown between them.

Though it was a miracle he didn't have too much time to contemplate as Naminé brought her arms to his back and pulled him close. With Roxas stunned in silence, it was easy to hear her whisper,"Thank you, Roxas. For everything."

Slowly, Roxas returned the hug and quietly answered, "Thank you, Naminé." Right now, he wasn't worried about his fight to survive, or having to protect others. Being here in her arms right now?

This just felt right to him.

From darkness he watched. Watched the two nobodies embrace as they made their promise. In all his observations of the Organization, none of the number would go this far in trying to recall sentiment.

And from what DiZ knew, their original selves had hardly gotten to this point in their own relationship.

If Roxas and Naminé had forged such a bond themselves. Then perhaps there was something more to these two. Perhaps it was something he could turn them to his favor when the time was right.

And King Mickey might be instrumental in that.

A spark of light illuminated the cosmos. Faint and distant, but Mickey was well aware how rare such light was in the dark world. Moreover, it was close to where Riku was. The connection between them faded now that Ansem had taken over.

Mickey tried to help Riku hang onto himself, but a moment where the boy was overwhelmed caused the control to slip. A chance that Ansem had seized.

But even so, some part of Riku hadn't quite given up. A part that was slowly becoming bigger. Sending what energy he could as he traveled to the sparks, Mickey muttered, "Hold on Riku. I'll get you out."

"I promise."

The three of them were separated, even though they were in the same world, in the same castle.

Riku struggled from within Ansem. His heart trying desperately to grasp more control than maintaining his form. Even in the swirling maelstrom of shadows holding him back, he held onto one thing. One light that held the darkness at bay each day.

Kairi had set up refuge in one of the castle saferooms. The quiet ascent to find her friends was slowly wearing on her. Though the memory of seeing one of her friends was one thing that kept her going. The other was that which spurred her to travel here and drove her to continue.

Sora was still having trouble sleeping. Floor after floor and there was no sign of Kairi, Riku, or Naminé. Honestly, he was a little worried about Roxas too. But despite the danger, he couldn't give up on them. Not with the promise he had made to himself.

The same promise, shared in three of their hearts.

One day, we'll be together again.