Chapter 14

PROLOGUE AND ALONE… SENSING THAT SORA AND HIS FRIENDS HAD SET OUT on their journey, Naminé opened her eyes. Her hands, clasped as if in prayer, fell to her sides, and she lifted her gaze to the man in the black cloak beside her. “So we’re leaving, too?” said Ansem—who was actually Riku. They were on a quiet beach not too far from Twilight Town. “Do you two even have anywhere to go?” Axel wondered from his perch on one of the boulders that dotted the shore. “Do you?” Riku replied, staring out at the horizon. “I never had anywhere to go in the first place. We Nobodies don’t belong, period. Nowhere to go and nowhere to come home to. Right, Naminé?” She didn’t answer, but only looked down at the sand. He’s right. We Nobodies don’t know why we were born or where we should go. “The bargain’s over now,” Riku said to Naminé’s back. “We don’t have to listen to that guy anymore, do we?” He sounded as if he wanted to confirm it with her. “Well…,” Naminé faltered, unable to raise her eyes. What was she supposed to do now? Should she go with Riku? Should she part ways with Axel? Riku and I are different, she thought. But Axel and I are…the same. As if he had picked up on her hesitation, Axel stood and stretched. “I’m gonna have to go a different direction. You and me, we don’t want the same thing. Just like you and DiZ didn’t. I don’t know about Naminé, though.” Riku winced momentarily at his words. “I…I want to help Sora and his friends,” Naminé said, eyes still downcast, but determination audible in her voice. “Well then, that guy right there behind you is gonna get rid of you,” Axel remarked. “Just like he did to Roxas.” Naminé whirled toward Riku. “DiZ…told you to eliminate me?” Riku didn’t move. “He did, didn’t he…?” she demanded again, and finally Riku gave her a tiny nod. “So, I really shouldn’t go with you.” “…That’s not true.” Naminé shook her head. “Let’s go, Naminé,” Axel called to her. Without a word, she nodded to Axel, and behind them, a dark portal opened up. “Where are you going?” Riku clenched his fists to keep from reaching out for her. “I don’t know… But we’ll meet again, Riku.” She smiled at him. “…Is that a promise?” Riku asked hesitantly. She dipped her head once. “Yes. A promise. We might go separate ways for now, but we’ll see each other again. Won’t we?” “Okay. I promise.” Riku nodded more forcefully. And then Naminé and Axel vanished into the dark portal. “I’m sorry, Riku,” she told him softly, but the whisper never reached him. Alone on the beach, all Riku could hear was the sound of the waves, sending his memory back to the island.