"...We're going to always be together.  And no one's going to tear us apart.  If one of us becomes stupid, it's up to the rest of us to go up to that person and smack some good common sense into them, with a shovel."  


Xion smiled at this very thought.


"And...I'll be the one bringing in the shovel."

-----------------------

At least...that was what Namine had always thought things would always be.

Never-changing.

Maybe no one took her quite seriously back then, but she took every pact that she made with Xion and Roxas very seriously.  Every word meant so much to her...  She wanted to believe that those words were true, that the three of them would be together forever, that someday--when they leave the Organization, they would go live in a nice house.  Maybe when they all get married, they can live next door to one another and have a minature Roxas, Xion, and Namine play with each other.  They'll grow old together, and they'll have lots of family parties as well...  Everything was colorful in her world.  There was laughter and running everywhere.  There was so much sun and blue skies...

But one day, she noticed a lonely figure standing in the background of their fun and games.

Namine wanted everyone to be happy, so she asked the boy, "You there~! What's your name?"

He stared, startled that Namine caught him in sight.  He had been watching the trio so intently, he laughed at their silly jokes from so faraway...and now, he's been finally noticed.

"...R-Riku." he answered.

"Ehhh?!" Namine's face lit up; the same went for her blue eyes. "Ehh?! Riku-san?! Ah~ sugoi ne! Riku-san, come over here and join us! Come talk to us here, and stop hanging out there by yourself! You look so lonely!"

You probably had no idea how happy Namine was when Riku actually walked over to the Trio and started talking to them.  Immediately, he became fast friends with them three...and eventually, the "Otou-san" figure.

She was so happy.

And so was Xion.


Xion really...liked Riku.

But as the days flew by, Xion seemed to be resenting Roxas for being close to the new boy...  Namine began to notice the darkness that Xion was giving off...however, she thought nothing big about it and went on with her daily "happy" self, having fun with the Family she has.  It was just her, Roxas, Xion, and now, Riku.  She thought there would never be a day when they'd be miserable.  Everyday was just another day of sunshine, love, and laughter.


Then, one day, Xion was telling Roxas that it wasn't fair that he was getting more attention in the Organization than Xion was.  Namine never really thought attention was that important to Xion before; eventually, the darkness around her began to flare and spiral even more out of control.  The little Witch grew afraid...sensing this, but kept quiet.  She wanted to do something to help, to stop Xion, and to save Roxas from a possible disaster.  In spite of this, Namine hesitated.  She didn't want to break apart the Family.

Roxas, though, was feeling miserable.  He didn't know why Xion was throwing out dark remarks and comments.  After telling the Witch, Namine couldn't take it anymore.  She was tired of trying to make Xion happy if they two were getting hurt.  She didn't want to live every day in the Organization, trying to steer out of the way of Xion.  She didn't believe it was fair for Riku to not know what was going on anymore.  Little did he know, every word that he would tell Namine and Roxas--it was just tearing another piece of her heart.  It was hurting, because they couldn't tell him anything.

Riku didn't know he was the Source.

Namine knew if Riku finds out, he might take her Sketchbook and erase himself, so the Trio may never find him ever again.  The boy was stronger than her, and she knew he was capable of what she may even imagine.  She didn't want Riku to run away from them.

So, they didn't tell Riku about the Source; instead, they told him about Xion and her darkness.  Not only that, they had to tell a few of the Organization members too about it.  Namine and Roxas knew they were not strong enough to face Xion yet.  They needed all the help they needed.

Her pride...as a little Witch was lowered for Help.

She knew they needed help because their softness for Xion could be their biggest weakness as well.

When they finally confronted Xion in a long epic battle...most of the darkness left her body, and she was almost normal again.  The darkness had been in her heart for so long, she nearly lost her way back into the Light.  The Trio was re-united again, and they were happy.

But Namine would look to Riku, and just the look of his pained eyes...would hurt.


Riku doesn't know anything yet...and it's killing him inside, slowly, because he doesn't feel like the Trio trust him as much as they claimed they do.  If he's really their friend, why can't they tell him anything?  He cares so much for them, he would give his LIFE for them! So, why wouldn't they tell him what was the Source? He would kill it, anyone, whoever, whatever it is! Anything in order to protect his friends, anything to make them happy.

Just reading his eyes...made the little Witch cry.

They were far too painful for her to bear anymore.


When the battle was over and it was time for them all to go home, Namine pulled Riku to the side and asked if he was okay.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He then paused, murmuring a few other phrases under his breath.

Her blue eyes narrowed down. "Riku-san, what did you say?"

"...I can't say it again.  I don't know... I just..." He closed his eyes tightly. "I just can't..."

"...Riku-san..."

"I'm sorry..."


Namine's sorry...

But someday, he'll know.

Then, he'd understand...