~Nine ♥ Hearts~

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[Naminé is too upset to move right now.

She's sitting, away from most structures and features and whatnot, just staring at the stars on the "floor" in front of her. Her knees are pulled up to her chest and her chin is resting on top. She's tense, worried, and waiting for news that can in no way be good news.

She doesn't know who won the deathmatch yet. It would be a lie to say she doesn't care. She can't stand that it happened at all, and she'd rather not think about it, but she's so worried... She's stopped crying, for the moment, but she knows she'll start again if she so much as tries to speak to anyone, maybe if she just even thinks about the wrong thing. It's so hard to be strong in a situation like this.

So she waits, wondering which of her friends is left to come see her, if they come at all. And, not for the first time, she wishes on a star here in the Plane:]

I don't want to be alone right now...

Comments

[smolderingdark.livejournal.com]

[From the shadows, Axel emerges. He'd rather not talk to Naminé at all but he knows that she's alone in this, just as he is, and he has a duty. No, more than a duty. He has an oath. If he doesn't take care of her, who will? No one at home would understand the kinds of trials they're going through. All the kids have is each other.

Even if Axel doesn't want to admit it.]

... Naminé.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She looks to Axel when he says her name, and stands. She's stuck with a difficult mix of emotions -- she's so glad that he's alive, so very glad of that, but she knows that his presence means Roxas is... ...]

Axel? [Her voice shakes, along with her bottom lip, and she starts to walk toward him. Just like she thought would happen, the tears have returned.]

[smolderingdark.livejournal.com]

[Oh, God. It's unbearable. His heart twists in ways he hasn't felt for a year and a half, and it shows on his face. He moves toward her.

Seeing her cry is the worst.]

Come here.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She does as she's told, and stares up at him as he towers over her like always. One tear, and another, and then she has to close her eyes and tilt her head downward again. She doesn't know what to say or do, so she just waits, hoping her best friend will have some sort of advice, some sort of guidance for her. Anything.]

[smolderingdark.livejournal.com]

[Though he feels himself starting to tremble, he grits his teeth against it and pulls Naminé into a close hug. She can cry on him all she wants. It's his fault, anyway.]

I'm sorry, Naminé. I couldn't stop him. Once Roxas makes up his mind, he won't change it, you know? [He sighs, though it's a bit ragged— he's been crying too. And he's not a crier. So it's new for him.] He'll come back, just like last time. You can hit him then.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She's grateful for the hug, clinging to him tightly, burying herself in his arms like she could just stay there forever. She's a quiet crier, but her tears are still enough in number to rival a flood of any sort.

What he says confuses her at first since she didn't stick around to watch, but his addition of "just like last time" gives her all the information she needs about what happened.]

It couldn't have been your fault. I'm just sorry the whole thing happened at all. [She's heartbroken, so while she knows she shouldn't ask, it slips out:] Why did it have to happen at all?

[smolderingdark.livejournal.com]

[He strokes her hair as she cries, feeling more and more like a douche as this goes on.]

The people who run this place are sick and twisted. I think until recently we were convinced they were nothing more than a nuisance.

[lowly]

That's gonna change.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[It might not take a psychic to know something is wrong but it being one does help Shion find her.] Namine?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She looks up when she hears her name. She tries to smile, but it completely fails and she just ends up sniffling.]

Shion...

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Will kneel next to her] ...What is the matter?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

The d-deathmatches... [Just saying that word makes her cringe, causes tears to form in her eyes.] Roxas and Axel are f-fighting. Each other.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Hesitates a moment, those words alone enough to give him pause. He can see why she wouldn't want to be there.] It is beyond cruel to force friends to fight each other.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She nods, but says nothing for a long moment. It's difficult for her to talk through tears anyway.]

I don't know what to do...

[realitymods]

[To grant the wish of a princess, the stars send out a king.]

What grieves you, child?

[The man, robed royally in black sable and gold thread, looks down on the girl. His palm rests on the hilt of his sword. His mouth is turned in a frown. He does not like to see a child in pain.]

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, puzzled. He looks powerful, royal, and because of that she believes it best to stand. She rubs at her eyes with both hands before looking to him again.]

My best friends have to f-fight, to... ["the death". She can't say it, not at all. Her voice is quivering already.]

[realitymods]

There's no need to rise. [The man draws three cards from his robes, and when he does, an silk carpet appears beneath her feet.] You must sit on more comfortable ground.

[He pockets her cards and considers her words.] It is natural for friends to fight. My closest friend and I often clashed with vehemence in our swords and words. It displays and strengthens the bonds of friendship.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She stares at the silk carpet in awe before finally taking a seat, Indian-style, hands in her lap. She looks up at him and shakes her head.] Th-thank you.

N-No, sir, you don't understand... this place is making them fight. A d-deathm--... [She can't finish the word.] One of them has to... [Or that sentence. She just covers her face with both hands and tries not to sob.]

[realitymods]

[He is quiet for a moment. Then he sits across from her, offering her a pillow conjured up from nowhere for her to hold.] I am familiar with that practice. Do you know if the match is done?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She takes the pillow with a "thank you," and clings it to her chest. She shakes her head, causing a few tears to finally fall.]

No, sir... I left. I couldn't watch.

[behindhiswords.livejournal.com]

[Merlin was wandering around, lost in his own deathmatch thoughts, when he sees Naminé. He stops and steps closer, worrying already.]

Naminé? What's happened?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, and it only takes him asking to make her tear up all over again. She's quiet for a moment, not trusting herself to speak, but gives in between teary sniffles.]

Merlin... th-the Colosseum... my best friends are fighting. Each other.

[behindhiswords.livejournal.com]

[Having talked to Weber, Merlin knows what she means. He kneels down beside her, at a loss and feeling a mix of anger and sadness.]

Oh, no... Naminé... [He reaches out and puts his hand on hers.] I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I tried to stop this. I couldn't, I wasn't... I'm going to do whatever I can to put an end to this, all right?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head when he begins apologizing.]

Merlin, it isn't your fault... Not at all. [She rubs her eyes with the back of her free hand.] But... how can you stop this? Is it even possible?

[behindhiswords.livejournal.com]

[He hesitates, then tries to give a reassuring smile.] I'm Merlin, right? Apparently everyone thinks my magic is the best. There must be some spell or...or something that can stop this.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She nods.]

Maybe. I hope so. But... do you think just one person can do it? I mean, won't you need help?