Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Namine shut her eyes after a few moments, feeling tears returning. She willed herself not to cry, though, no matter how bad this moment was or how badly her cheek stung. She couldn't cry in front of Roxas again, especially since he was going away soon. She needed to convince him that she would be alright, and so far, that wasn't going too well.

 

Roxas shook his head in disbelief. "I...I should have been here sooner," he started softly. "I could have prevented all of this. He wouldn't have even shown up if I was around..." His voice trailed off, the boy staring at the ground just to the side of them. Why was he always a few minutes too late?

 

Namine kept her eyes shut as she softly shook her head. "You couldn't have known this would happen," she stated quietly, speaking for the first time since everything occurred. Roxas had no reason to blame himself for any of this, and she was going to make sure he didn't.

 

That was just it. Roxas wasn't going to know if anything even happened to Namine while he was gone. Anything. Which meant, whenever he came back, he could find out something terrible happened to her...or worse... No. Roxas closed his eyes as he sighed softly. He was not going to think that way, not when he was going to leave in a few days.

 

Namine stayed where she was, eyes lowered to the ground as the silence surrounded them. She had no clue what to say to make things better. Maybe that just wasn't possible, anyway. After all, things were pretty bad.

 

Roxas lifted his hand, placing it on Namine's shoulder. His blue eyes were glued to her. "I don't want to leave you," he said, exhaling softly. "Not like this..." Things like this happening while he was gone? It was definitely something he was not happy about, even in consideration.

 

Namine lifted her eyes up, meeting Roxas' bright blue orbs. She didn't quite know what to say to that; obviously she felt the same way, but neither of them had a choice with this. He was called away for a greater purpose, and she understood that. "...But you have to go," she stated softly, hating that those words left her lips.

 

Roxas lowered his head, sighing softly as if in defeat. "I know..." he whispered quietly. It was evident he was against leaving Namine so vulnerable; even when he was a block away something seemed to happen. Being worlds away? There was a greater difference, a much greater difference.

 

Namine looked down, seeing Roxas' hand loosely by his side. She reached forward and grabbed it gently, lightly wrapping her hand around his. "I'll be alright," she whispered softly. She didn't know what exactly she was referring to--emotions or physical injuries. And she wasn't sure if she really would be alright, either. But she had to say that aloud for Roxas' sake.

 

Roxas nodded despite himself. He didn't want Namine to see him so down a day or two before he left; that was wrong in his eyes, because he was working hard to make these last few days with her the best he could. But Jeff ruined that, for today at least. Regardless, Roxas wasn't going to let the thought of Namine's vulnerability while he was away get to him. Besides, she wouldn't be that vulnerable after all, not after some of the training he'd gone through with her--teaching her moves to defend herself, and throwing a quick hit or a kick or two.

 

Namine looked up at Roxas when he nodded, but then looked down at the hand she held. She lightly ran her thumb over his skin, thoughts rushing to her mind. Right now, it seemed impossible that she would be alright. She hated to admit that, because she tried to be strong and brave in the face of uncertainty, but this was too much. So much could happen here. Who would she go to? Sure, she had Kairi, but it just wasn't the same as having Roxas.

 

At the light touch Roxas gently squeezed Namine's hand, his eyes tightly closing for a short moment. This was hard enough. He already knew actually leaving was going to leave him a wreck for a while. The blond boy raised his head, his eyes finding Namine's despite the fact that she wasn't looking at him. He moved his hand from her shoulder to the back of her long hair, gently pulling her head closer as he moved forward a little, bringing his lips to her forehead and his eyes closing.

 

Namine released a soft breath at Roxas' movement and gesture, her eyes closing at the kiss. She was going to miss this....so much. Words couldn't accurately describe how empty her life would be without Roxas, even if it was just going to be for a short time. But what if it wasn't a short time? How long was it going to take for him to do what he had to do? Weeks? Months? Years?

 

Roxas exhaled softly through his nose as his lips lingered on Namine's forehead, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. He wasn't going to be able to do this soon, even touch her...see her. He pulled back after a second, instantly resting his forehead against hers, his blond bangs touching her own. Roxas was dreading the day the Gummi ship arrived, because on that day he would have to leave Namine, and he wasn't sure on how long.

 

Namine bit down on her lip lightly, chasing the thoughts away. She didn't even want to consider that last one. Or the first two, for that matter. She just had to act like Roxas would be back someday soon...It would give her the motivation to keep moving forward and living her life. That's what she thought, anyway.

 

A few days later...

This was the day Roxas had been dreading. Dawn was approaching and the port was just as abandoned as the King said; the place was completely empty, the sheds and shacks nearby worn down and beginning to fall apart. Roxas raked a hand through his blond spikes as he descended the ramp from the Gummi ship, having just finished checking out some things with Sora. He was dressed in his cream-colored jacket and pants, his familiar black sneakers on his feet again. The last time he had worn this was when they arrived on Earth, but they had to buy new clothes to blend in. That wouldn't be the case anymore...not after today.

Kairi walked alongside Namine, her gaze resting on the area they were to meet the guys, their destination up just ahead. This place was deserted from what she could tell; there wasn't one person in sight, especially this early in the morning. The sun was providing a blue-ish color against the sky, showing some clouds, but that was all of dawn she could see. But she knew her eyes were about to rest on something else--the departure of her boyfriend and one of her good friends. Her heart ached at just the thought, but it was soon going to be a reality.

 

Sora looked over the interior of the Gummi ship one last time before a sigh left his lips. He knew that he'd be seeing a lot of this ship int he future...far too much of it for his enjoyment. But that was reality, and he had come to accept it. He hated that he was leaving, but he knew he had no other choice. He turned around and descended the ship's ramp behind Roxas, his clothing being the same as he wore his last journey. It was Roxas who had thought of that, and he had been quick to agree they didn't need clothes from this planet for any reason.

Namine looked down at the ground as she walked, the girl aware that Kairi was still right beside her. She hadn't brought tissues with her, because she was determined not to sob in front of Roxas. Once she got home, though, that would be completely different. But she had to leave a good impression on him when he left, since she didn't want him worried about her too much.

 

Roxas reached the concrete ground, walking a few steps along it before stopping. He sighed softly, finally lifting his head to the sky. His eyes darted around as the color of it slowly began to change, the blues beginning to turn into purples, which would soon turn to pinks, and then oranges before finally it was that beautiful sky-blue he saw every day. It wasn't only in the sky that he saw that color... He lowered his sight to one of the buildings a good twenty yards from him. As ready as Roxas was for battle, he wasn't prepared to leave Namine.

Kairi had been through this once before. She knew that she could hold herself together until the boys were out of sight. It was like putting on a mask. Of course, last time she had been so shocked at what was happening that she hadn't really known what emotion to portray, even though the mere memory of Sora's form fading in that blue light did make her heart quiver. She wasn't sure if today would be the same way.

 

Sora walked over to the side, giving himself a couple yards between himself and Roxas. When the girls arrived, he was sure that both of them would appreciate the privacy. Just the thought of saying goodbye to Kairi made his heart ache, but he did his best to try and ignore that emotion. After all, the pain wouldn't do anyone favors now, would it?

Namine finally lifted her eyes, seeing the building right in front of her. She knew that whether she looked it or not, it was time. And she wasn't ready for it. In fact, she never would be. But of course, this situation wasn't easy for anyone. She wouldn't act like she was the only one suffering, because she wasn't.

 

Roxas took in a breath and then exhaled softly just as a breeze passed over him, the tips of his spikes being blown slightly. He needed to calm himself--the anger, nerves, and sadness. It wasn't going to help, not in this situation, not now. But it was inevitable, he knew. Leaving Namine... It had to happen, whether he liked it or not.

Kairi pressed her lips together for a moment as the breeze brushed her red hair behind her shoulders a little. She couldn't deny that she was scared, the thought of Sora leaving and his safety both causing that. But she knew he was strong, and that he would be safe. And two were just as good as one, so it was good that Roxas was going along as well.