Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Namine blinked and one tear fell, but she brought up her hand and wiped it away before it could go anyway. Save it for later, she told herself. She needed to be as composed as possible for now; later she could lose control and cry all she wanted.

Sora felt his heart breaking when Kairi kept her grip on his jacket. "Kai," he called softly, his gentle, sad blue eyes staying on the girl he loved so much. He needed to tell her something before he left, something that would help to keep both of them going.

 

Roxas took in a breath and straightened a little, lifting his head to lay his sight back on Namine. He had a feeling the time to leave was only a minute or two away, and it made him freeze in his spot. He could only gaze at the girl before him, taking in the color of her hair, the pale-blue shade of her eyes, everything. He had to remember her. Because if he forgot her, he didn't think he could come back.

Kairi sucked in a breath at the name, fighting the burning tears in her eyes. She was not going to cry. She refused to. She was strong last time...she could do it again. The girl's blue eyes glanced up from her grip on Sora's jacket, her fists not uncurling as she looked into his eyes, only to see the emotion there. This was happening... It was really happening...

 

Namine met Roxas' gaze and acted on impulse because of the look in them. She stood up taller, on her toes a little bit, and brought her lips to Roxas' in a kiss. Her eyes shut as she lifted a hand and brought it to his chest, her hand gripping the front of his jacket.

Sora's lips parted at the look in Kairi's eyes, making him freeze for a moment. He composed himself quickly by swallowing and clearing his throat. "....I'll come back," he promised softly. "I always do." At the last phrase, he offered Kairi a crooked smile. This was a promise he would keep or die trying to keep.

 

Roxas's eyes instantly closed, his hand instantly finding Namine's cheek. He kissed her back with dedication, desire, and as much love as he could portray. The last kiss. Those three words made his heart skip a beat in sadness and fear, the boy's expression imitating sorrow even as he kissed the girl he adored.

Kairi couldn't help but smile weakly at Sora's expression, and his words. She blinked once, and that was enough to trigger a small tear to trail down her cheek. He was leaving... Sora was leaving.

 

One tear slid down Namine's cheek, but other than that, she was fine. This can't be the last one, she thought, referring to the kiss. I refuse to believe that. This isn't a permanent goodbye... Those thoughts kept her from shedding the rest of the tears that hovered behind her closed eyelids.

Sora's smile faded as quickly as it appeared, the teen bringing a hand off Kairi's shoulder and to her face. He used his index finger to brush away the tear, his eyes following the movement before they went back to Kairi.

 

Roxas let his other hand find a place to rest on Namine's waist, continuing to kiss her. He wanted this to last as long as possible. He already knew he was beginning to break down, but he had to be strong when he left, that way Namine wouldn't feel doubt as he left this world. He had to be brave for her. It was always for her.

Kairi lowered her eyes again at the feeling of Sora's finger against her cheek, taking it in while she still could. She stared at his crown necklace as she took in a shaky breath, wishing she had the strength to let him go. Right now she didn't think she could, but she knew she had to, no matter what.

 

Namine brought her other hand to Roxas' lower back a moment after she felt him set his on her waist. She wanted to be as close to him as she could for as long as possible, even if this current moment was it. She had to have something to hold on to...something that would keep her hoping for a better future with Roxas.

Sora kept his eyes on Kairi, his hand falling back to his side after a few seconds. The other, though, stayed on her shoulder. "...We have to go," he said softly, though his voice was loud enough to be picked up by Roxas.

 

Roxas felt himself stiffen at Sora's voice, the words that were said. He kissed Namine for another moment before he gently pulled away, his eyes opening to look at her. He had to leave. It was time to go.

Kairi swallowed, her throat thick with the urge to cry. She nodded silently and looked to her fists, hesitating before she finally released Sora's jacket from her grip.

 

Namine exhaled and then inhaled, a reaction both to the emotions she was feeling and to Roxas breaking off the kiss. She opened her eyes, a trace of fear crossing them before sadness replaced that look. She wordlessly brought her one hand back to her side, the other loosening its grip on Roxas' jacket.

"I love you," Sora whispered to Kairi, his eyes staying on her. "With all my heart I love you." He would say it over and over again to make sure she understood what he was saying, but there was no time for that. It really was time to leave.

 

Roxas stroked Namine's cheek, sighing softly as he gazed into her eyes. "Be strong," he told her again, aware he had said it earlier. "And take good care of yourself...okay?" There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn't have time to anymore.

Kairi felt tears escape her at that, the girl nodding wordlessly as she lifted her eyes to him. "I love you too, Sora," she said, meaning it with all her heart. "Please be careful." She didn't know what she would do if he didn't come back... She might not be able to live without him.

 

Namine nodded slightly, careful not to make Roxas' hand come off her cheek. "Be careful," she whispered, her moist eyes staying on Roxas. She knew he was strong, but she worried nonetheless. If he got hurt, she didn't know what she would do.

Sora nodded at the words and brought up his hands and wiped at the tears, his hands resting on her cheeks as his thumbs wiped them away. "Be safe," he said softly. "You and Namine...watch out for each other, okay?" If there was one thing he was thankful for in this situation, it was that the girls would still have each other while he and Roxas were gone.

 

Roxas nodded once in assurance, his face expressing determination and sadness at the same time. "I love you, Namine," he said softly, gazing into her eyes deeply. The amount of love he had for her was indescribable. He was going to miss her, very much. He brought his hand off her waist and set it on his chest. "You'll be right here with me. Always."

Kairi nodded again, smiling weakly as tears threatened to escape her eyes. She had forgotten for a moment that Roxas and Namine were nearby, but now that she remembered, she realized she had the urge to give one of her best guy friends a hug goodbye. But first, she wanted to spend what few seconds she had left with Sora.

 

Namine smiled weakly at Roxas' words. "Same for you," she whispered, meaning that Roxas would be in her heart as well. "I love you." Words can't describe how much I love you, she added silently, her misty eyes looking up into Roxas' blue orbs.

Sora kept his hands on Kairi's cheeks, wiping at whatever was left of the tears that had fallen. Once the wet trails were gone, he leaned forward, connecting his lips with hers in a gentle kiss before his eyes fell shut.

 

Roxas smiled crookedly at the sound of Namine's voice repeating those words. But it faded just as quickly as it had come. He let his hand on her cheek travel to the back of her head as his other hand wound around her side and back, the blond bringing her into a gentle hug--the last before he left.

Kairi closed her eyes instantly at the gesture. Her hands automatically lifted to rest on Sora's forearms, which were up because he was still touching her face. She tried her hardest to remember this feeling, because if she didn't, she didn't know how long the sensation would last.

 

Namine wrapped both her arms around Roxas' back, her head immediately finding its place on Roxas' shoulder. The tears immediately started returning, threatening to overflow and slide down her cheeks. She forced her eyes to stay open in hopes that the water would dry out, but she desperately just wanted to shut them and hold onto this moment longer.

After a moment, Sora pulled back, his forehead against Kairi's as his eyes stayed shut. He just wanted to hang on for one more minute...then there would be a possibility things would be alright. Hopefully things would be alright. He honestly didn't know what things would be like after this point. And that scared him.

 

Roxas squeezed Namine lovingly, his eyes closing as he took in a breath. No matter how long he was away, Roxas knew he was not going to forget Namine. She was his light in the darkness; he wasn't able to see without her. As long as she was within him, he would be able to move throughout the Heartless-infested worlds and come back to her, just as he internally vowed.

Kairi exhaled, but opened her eyes. She wanted to look at Sora's face for as long as possible. His unruly hair, bright-but-deep ocean-blue eyes...everything. She loved him, and everything about him. She didn't want to forget him; she couldn't. She wouldn't allow herself to.

 

When she was sure the tears wouldn't fall, Namine allowed her eyes to flicker shut. She had her arms lightly wrapped around Roxas' lower back as her cheek rested on his shoulder. One stray sniffle left her, since she was unable to hold back all her emotion. Honestly, she didn't ever want to hide anything she was feeling from Roxas. At this time, though, it was necessary to at least make them appear less than they really were.

Sora opened his eyes, immediately greeted by Kairi's bright blue eyes. "I love you," he whispered again, speaking without thought. He wasn't sure how the words left his lips, but he was glad they did, because they were absolutely true.

 

Roxas rubbed Namine's back slightly, moving his wrist as his fingers ran along her T-shirt. He was going to miss her, dearly. And he was sure that the feeling was mutual. "I'll be back," he announced without thought, his voice gentle. After the words left him, Roxas discovered he not only said them to assure her, but himself as well.

Kairi smiled faintly, but it faded just quickly as she gazed into Sora's eyes. "I love you too. So much," she replied softly. She didn't think it mattered how much she said it, because it would never be enough. And whenever Sora came back, he would hear it from her again. However far away from now that was.

 

Namine nodded faintly against Roxas' shoulder, her eyes staying shut. Not only did she believe his promise, but she was looking forward to the day he returned. "I'll be here," she promised, whispering. Nothing was going to take her away from her home, not while she was waiting for Roxas. He would know where to find her.

After a few more moments of silence, Sora pulled back his hands, the two of them falling to his sides as he brought his forehead off of Kairi's. He couldn't deny that their time was up; they had already taken a bit too long.

 

Roxas squeezed Namine once more before he gently pulled back. He didn't completely release her, though. Instead, he brought his lips to her forehead, closing his eyes for a moment as he took in her presence one final time. Then, after a few seconds, he pulled back, his eyes resting on Namine as his hands fell away from her.

Kairi's hands slowly found her sides, the girl playing with the hem of her T-shirt nervously, but also out of sadness. She was scared for them both--Sora and Roxas. Who knew what could happen? Then she remembered that there was one more boy she had to worry about. Her eyes resting on Sora, the girl smiled both sadly and sweetly at the thought of her best friend. "Tell Riku I say hello," she requested softly.