~Ayame's POV~
The sun bathed her all, as she could feel stone behind her as well as her feet now on the ground. A chime was then heard, while pigeons flew around in the air, stressed for the sound. She covered her ears, shutting her eyes and gasping at how loud that sounded in her ear.
~Chime?~
The sound kept going over and over, which made her knees weak, as she could feel herself floating, coming back to reality, and going away.
~No...~
The sound was now gone, and all was quiet, except for the occasionaly coo or two.
~Bells...~
Slowly opening her eyes, one of the most magnificent sights was before her, which made her gasp, and take a step forward...and then falling. With eyes wide open, she could not feel herself at all, as she could see something brown coming at her fast. Having nothing more to do, she put her arms infront of herself, trying to protect herself as good as she could...
But nothing
She gulped, as she could feel her now dry throat with saliva, as it gooed down. Opening her eyes she could see lines as well as a reddish-brown color. Blinking, her vision came to even faster, and she could now see herself face-to-face with the floor. Blinking once more, she could feel herself falling again, while her face made contact, and just laid there, trying to keep her mind on track, though it was quite difficult, since her face had hit the floor, and then she bounced, and hit the back of her head with the floor. She could hear footsteps, which made her eyes open instantly, which was a bad mistake, and only made her groan. The footsteps came quicker, and then a rough hand clamped on her shoulder, and brought her up, which made her squeek, as she was now on her feet, trying to gain balance.
"What are you doing here?"
She stiffened, and slowly opened one of her eyes as they came in contact with bare skin. Her eyes widened, as she could feel her cheeks heat up, and took a step back, trying to see who was the mysterious somewhat bare-chested person, though the voice gave it all away.
"Don't walk away from me! I said, what are you doing here " The same hand came in contact with her arm, which made her wince, as her eyes went up and glared at the person.
Bennie hat
That gave it all away
Standing infront of her was the infamous trio group, if not counting Vivi.
Twilight Town's "Disciplinary Committee"
"Nothing" She said quietly, while trying to get her arm free without him knowing.
"Do I look stupid to you?" Seifer said, while squeezing her arm even more.
"Don't get Seifer mad, y'know?" Rai had suddenly come to the conversation with the quiet Fuu behind him, just watching.
"Not really, but I really do have to get going" Ayame said, while yanking her arm free, and trying to walk around them.
"Woah, woah, woah, who said you could leave just yet!?" Her arm was yanked back again, and this time, made her look up at him, a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, y'know?"
She was slowly getting irritated, and just glared at him fully, trying not to do anything reckless.
~Of course, if Hikaru was here, she would have pounded this guy...~
Her eyes went distant for a minute but she made herself get focused, and still kept glaring at Seifer. With another quick yank, she turned on her heel, and walked away, passing by Fuu and Rai. Rai was about to grab her, but she managed to take a giant leap, and made him lose his balance and fall to the floor. She could hear Seifer shout at her to stop, but she just ignored it, and ran down the slope down to where the train was usually at. Running as fast as she could, she passed by many buildings, but no people, which made her wonder. She was getting closer and closer, until finally, she could see the entrance of the Sandlot...and to see it completely empty. Blinking, she slowed down and stood at the middle of the place, a memory coming to her mind.
(Treasure Memories)
~Flashback~
"Hey.....are you ok?" somebody said. She recognized it, but couldnt put her finger at who it was......
She felt the person shake her up again. She then opened her eyes. She saw a little bit blurry but after a second her eyes adjusted. The first thing she saw was big sapphire eyes.
~End of Flashback~
She just kept looking around, her eyes still distant, remembering those sweet memories.
~Flashback~
~Ayame,
Next time dont go falling off of clock towers, it's not very 'healthy' if you know what I mean....~
That was all that the note said. It didnt have a name or anything else for that matter....
~End of Flashback~
She hummed the melodie...that sweet, sad melodie...
~Flashback~
"OI!!!! AYAME!!!!" Quickly turning around, she only saw herself on the floor, while white hair sprawled around on the floor. She blinked, and saw that she was a victim of what it's now called a 'glomp'.
"Hello to you too, Hikaru" She murmured, as she pulled of the weight off her.
"OI, AYAME, AYAME, AYAME! DO YOU THINK MAYBE YOU CAN PLAY THAT REEEEALLY PRETTY SONG!?" White hair still kept floating around, as the hyperactive teenager jumped up and down and all around the young black haired girl, making her get another one of her famous headaches.
"What song Hikaru?" Asked an irritated Ayame.
"YOU KNOOOOOOW! THAT SOOOOOOONG!!!" Hikaru kept shouting, while cuddling to Ayame, which made the young girl flinch, and sigh, while prawling her best friend off her.
"Well, if I knew what 'SOOOOOOOOONG' you are talking about, well, maybe I'll play it, no!?" Ayame said sarcastically, while grinning ear to ear. The young white haired girl just stopped jumping, and gave off her famous soft smile, which made the black haired girl stop smiling, and instead, have a shocked look at the sudden change of attitude.
" Treasured Memories of course..."
~End of Flashback~
~That soft smile of hers...~
Ayame still kept humming that tune to herself, her eyes still distant. She could feel her feet lifting and then down, lifting and then down, many times. She could feel herself stop, which made her blink, and come back to the harsh reality that she knew of.
Thing was...she wasn't there anymore...
Blinking many times, she found herself at a little house. She took a step back, and soon recognized it, while tears started streaming down her pale face.
Roxas' house
"Why...why here? Why now!?" She whispered to herself, as she sniffed and rubbed her arm against her nose, while her other arm was trying to dry her face from the tears. She didn't know as to what to do now. She could either go in, or walk away from it...
But the screams that she soon heard made the decision for her...
~Sandlot~
(Desire For All That Is Lost)
Quickly running through the entrance, she could see Seifers gang standing at the sidelines, and Donald and Goofy attacking Dusks. She could also see Sora coming into the middle, and the fight began. Still standing at the entrance, she could perfectly see as to why he was called the Keyblade master. Completely perfectly.
~He...is amazing~
That was the only thing that came into mind as she saw the three in action. Never has she seen them like this, which made her feel quite stupid, since she has been with them since they woke up. Goofy kept blocking most of the attacks, and then his shield would go flying through the air afterwards, knocking the Nobodies down to the floor. Donald was now sending off many Blizzards at the Dusks, which the only thing she could mostly see was a ball of feathers and something blue moving around from how fast he was going. Sora on the other hand...
Looked as if he had been taught MANY times to do what he was doing, since he was moving like a master
Her mouth was still ajared, as she slowly closed it, and leaned against the wall, close to a tree, so if they looked her way, she could hide, and also as far away from the Disciplinary Committee's eyes and bodies. The hoard of Dusks were quickly eliminated, and now, the big guys came.
~Beserkers...~
She thought as she leaned a bit forward, getting more interested with the fight. And they came. Oh yes they came, in packs of twenty that is...
Eyes going wide, she could hear herself gasp as the Sandlot was soon surrounded by the bulky Nobodies. She could hear footsteps, and then something, or to be more precise, someone pushing her away, and into the tree. Scrunching her nose, she wiggled herself free, and stumbled on to the floor, as she could feel a leaf in her mouth. Spitting it out, she combed her hair, getting out some more leaves, and dusting herself off. She Nobodies were slowly, very slowly depleating, as she could hear someone shout 'Thunder'. When she saw nothing, she blinked, and took a step fowards...and then something cackling behind her, as well as an explosion, and she went inside the tree agin. With widened eyes, she could feel her back and the back of her legs starting to ache, as well as her head spin. Putting a hand behind her, she lifted herself up, only to land back on the mushy dirt with her body aching, and a tear close to coming out.
~What...what was that?~
Trying once more, she lifted herself up, and made herself go forward, and to the floor. Wincing, she lifted herself up yet again, and dusted herself off, looking to see as to what she battle has become. Three more Beserkers remained, as Goofy was on the floor, panting, and Donald falling to the floor, doing the same. Sora went forward, and dodge rolled one of the claymore attacks, and letting his Keyblade fly into the air like a boomerang, hitting one of the Nobodies, and the claymore was loose, and had stuck to the ground. Grabbing it, she noticed that he was doing a Reaction Command, and had now finished the remaining Nobodies.
"Impressive"
She could feel all the darkness next to her, as her eyes went wide when she saw something black besides her. Looking to her side and then up, she came face to face with The Luna Diviner. Gasping, she ran several steps back, her face pale, while her body was shaking, and her breathing came out short.
"It is very nice to have finally meet you, Ms. Ogitaka" Saix, Number VII of Organization XIII, said darkly while chuckling. But she was the only one that knew who he was, for his hood was up, just like in Hollow Bastion. She could see that his hood was now turned to the young Keyblade Master and his two companions, which made her eyes narrow slightly, while trying to control her breathing and shaking.
"By the way, have you seen a man named Axel?" The 'mysterious' hooded person asked, while taking two steps forward. Since Ayame was the closests person there, she took two steps back, while her Keyblade came out, and just hanged loosely from her hand, her shaking slowly stopping, her breathing now normal.
"I expect he's here somewhere"
"Like I care" Ayame stiffened slightly, while looking back from the corner of her eye. She had forgotten that Saix and her were not alone. But Sora's response was what shocked her a little.
~And what bothers me the most, is that it shouldn't...I'm waaay too nice -_-''~
But the hooded man paid no attention to Sora's responce, and kept on talking.
"You see, Axel's no longer acting in our best interest" The hooded figure took some more steps back, but Ayame didn't take steps back this time. Instead, she stood her ground, just examening him, waiting for him to make a move.
"Is he in the Organization, too?" Goofy asked out of curiosity, his guard slightly down.
"Yes"
"You havin' a fight?" Donald asked, also getting curious, his guard also coming down slightly, though he still knew as to who he was up to, and not like Goofy, which made Ayame slightly nervous, but it went away the second it came.
"Not a very organized Organization..." Sora murmured darkly, still glaring at the man. He knew exactly as to who he was up to, and kept his guard up through the whole entire conversation.
"Don't let your guard down! Axel will stop at nothing to turn you both into Heartless" Much to Ayame's surprise, Saix was pointing to her first, and then at Sora when he said that sentence.
"Gee, thanks for looking out for us, mister. But I'm sure we can take care of ourselves just fine" Sora said sarcastically, while Donald and Goofy's weapons were up, their guards up finally. Ayame just stared at the hooded figure, which she could have sworn that he was looking at her when Sora spoke, but couldn't tell, since his head did not move an inch.
"Glad to hear it. Axel aside, it would break our hearts to hear something happened to you" The man said dramatically, though it was quite weak, and put a hand over his 'heart' when he said that.
"Hearts? You don't have any hearts!" Donald shouted, while waving his wand a bit.
"True, we don't have hearts. But we remember what it was like. That's what makes up special" As the hooded figure spoke those words, he slowly pulled down his hood, now revealing his face. Ayame's eyes widened for a second, as she continued to stare. He was the same as how she and Hikaru saw on the game, but the thought of him being here was what shocked her. But what puzzled her, and got her out of her shock, was that a portal never appeared, like how in the game it did. His eyes trailed down from the trio, and into hers, which made her stand up straight. Never in her life had she ever seen cold eyes such as his, and she was glad that she hadn't.
"You look exactly like her...now lets see if you're the true thing..." Ayame just gave him a confused look, but it soon faltered when she could feel herself hit something, and very hard. Gasping, she could feel herself slid off, and into the floor. Wincing, she slowly stood up, and just in time to block a head on attack. She grabbed her Keyblade with both hands, both apart from each other, as the Luna Diviner tried to over power her.
"Exactly like her...but nothing alike" With a quick turn, she was now flying through the air, and almost hit the ground, until she regained contious, and instead, put her hand on the floor, and made a backflip, sliding back some feet, her Keyblade up. She was taking short breaths through her nose, while she still kept looking over at Saix, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes...nothing like her at all...She would have blocked me and said a sarcastic comment" Saix said, while he stayed in place, his weapon now out, the Claymore.
"I don't even know who you're talking about!" Ayame shouted, while her gaze was still connected with his. His lips soon formed a smirk, as his weapon was now on the floor, his grip loose.
"No...but you will soon if you continue to do what you are doing" He said, while this time, a portal formed behind him. He turned slowly, and started walking into the portal, and then quickly turned around, blocking one of her head on attacks. The difference was, he forgot the other hand, and was sent flying a couple of feet. But he recoperated soon after, and threw his Claymore at her, which she blocked, but it was too heavy for her, and she also went flying, but not before he appeared behind her, and had grabbed both of her arms and legs, both almost touching. She looked alot like the letter 'U' if you looked at her side ways. Wincing slightly, she saw Saix stare at her with cold eyes.
"Don't be reckless. Do you want to have the consequences both Riku and Hikaru had?" Saix sneered in her ear, though he said the two names loud and clear for a certain person to hear.
"Riku!?"
"Wait, Hikaru!?"
Saix only smirked, while she could feel behind hit at her back, and went flying once more, and this time, she hit the bench, well, where she got hit that is. She let out a gasp, while she screamed, but stopped seconds later, and she rolled off, her front hitting the floor, her face in the dirt. Her whole entire body was in pain, her spine more than ever. She could not hear any footsteps at all, but knew that he was gone. Footsteps were heard, and then she was shaken up carefully. Opening one eye, she could see Sora staring down at her with worried eyes, Pence right besides him, Donald and Goofy at his other side.
"Ayame!" Sora shouted, while bringing her up to a sit. She winced slightly, while she could hear Donald yell 'Cure'. She could feel herself glow, and the pain soon subsided, which made her sigh.
"Thank you, Donald" She said softly, while looking back as to where Saix was standing before hand.
"He left...But who was he talking about?" Sora asked, though she didn't know whether he was asking her, or himself. She put her hand on the ground, and stood up, while giving a hand to a shocked Sora.
"Ayame, are you okay?" Pence finally spoke out, while giving her a concerned look.
"I'm fine" She said while smiling, but it then turned upside down.
"But...why are you here, Pence?" She asked, while she helped Sora up.
"Oh, that's right-"
"Hey, how 'bout you get out of my town now? You've caused enought trouble"
Pence eyes got wide, as he feared to turn around, since he knew exactly who was behind him. Ayame took a step to her left, and saw Seifer, Fuu, and Rai there, and apperantely, they saw her as well from their shocked faces.
"Girl" Fuu said, while pointing to her, which made Ayame feel uncomfortable.
"It's you, the girl from the train station..." Seifer said, while she didn't know as to how he said it, since it came out calmly.
"Riku..." Ayame heard that name, and turned around. Her eyes softened, while she bit her lip. Sora was just staring at the floor, not having to listen to the conversation. Donald also saw Sora, and glared over at the three.
"Have it your way! C'mon guys" Donald said, while he started to take a step. Sora seemed to hear that, and looked up with a confused look.
"Hold it"
Donald had one foot up, and turn around with the other, glaring daggers at Seifer,
"Make up your mind!" He shouted, as he tried to control his anger as best as he could. But his face held confussion when he saw the young man hold something with his hand, that resembled a lot like a trophy. It held four small crystal balls, all different colors, while the trophy itself was a dark shade of blue, and maybe purple, the two colors mixed together.
"This goes to the strongest guy in Twilight Town" Seifer said seriously, but Ayame could detect a slight hint of regret as he said that, though on the outside he was composed. Sora's eyes widened, as he pointed to himself, not really believing it, but when he heard no one say anything, he just smiled warmly as seifer, shaking his head.
"Thanks, but...we don't really need it" He said softly. But Seifer wasn't going to take no for an answer, and instead, walked passed Ayame and Sora, literally pushing the trophy towards Goofy as if it was poisoned.
"We're still not even" Seifer murmured darkly, while walking away.
"Well then, we can make it even"
At that, he stopped, and turned to look at her over his shoulder, interested, though his face showed otherwise.
"What do you say of a quick game..."
Ayame was now walking around the entire space, walking slowly and calmly, her hand over her upper right arm, while her other arm was resting at her side.
"Cut to the chase" Seifer snapped, his eyes narrowing slightly at her petite form.
"Struggle"
That was all he needed to hear apperantly, since his eyes shined for a second, the corner of his lip lifting up to a smirk.
"You, Struggle? Please" He said, while he turned around, and started to walk again.
"I understand that your scared of me Seifer, scared that you will be beaten by a girl, but walking away from it, and not facing it like a man ..."
He stopped walking, and this time, turned half of his body towards her, his half smirk still on there.
"Alright...we'll Struggle, since I can see you want to be a pesternizing pest" He said, while nodding towards Rai. He seemed to get the message, and run to the opposite direction to who-knows-where. Fuu stared at Ayame for a minute, before she started to walk away, and farther away from the place, probably to give the place some space.
"Uh, Ayame...?"
Her ears perked up at the sound of her name, and she looked back with an innocent look.
"Um...what does...uh what does....Strootle?"
"Struggle" She corrected, while a smile was on her face.
"Yeah! That!"
She just kept on smiling, and turned around, now seeing that Rai now had Struggle Bats on his hands.
"Um, Ayame?"
She turned to look at her side, and saw that Pence was now besides her. He slowly bent to his side, his hips and above only moving.
"What are you doing?" He whispered in her ear. She bend to her side as well, her hips and above also only moving.
"I don't think you wanna know" She whispered back, while he nodded, and both of them bend back to their original standing.
"Here"
She was thrown a Struggle bat, which she caught with one hand and examined it carefully, turning it around many times.
"Not good enough for you, princess ..." Seifer sneered at her, as he walked to the other side of the Sandlot.
"No, it's just fine" Ayame said plainly, while she stayed in her spot.
"Alrighty then, Sora, Donald, Goofy, we're going to watch from the sidelines" Pence said, while walking away, the three boys following behind him.
"Oh, and Pence?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have your camera?"
Pence just smiled mysteriously, as he slowly lifted up his camera, which she didn't know that he even had it with him.
"Good, so you can take a picture when Seifer had wiped the floor by a GIRL" Ayame said, while winking at him. He smiled and nodded, camera in his hands, his finger rubbing the big red button, waiting for the time to come.
"You think you're so cool and cocky, don't you?" Seifer said, as he started to circle the sandlot, his moves slow and careful.
"On the contrary, I'm just telling the truth" Ayame retorted, a smirk on her face. With almost lightning speed, Seifer had made a head on move, attacking her with speeds she never knew he could have. Blocking his attacks with some difficulty, they were soon head on, both Struggle Bats touching each other.
"Just another wuss" He said, while he pushed her back, and ran towards her, about to attack her. But she knew better than to be shocked, and instead went down to the floor, swipping her leg on the floor, meaning to trip him. But he saw that attack, and jumped, though he didn't see the attack that hit his back, which sent him flying a couple of feet before he caught himself. But she took that chance, and hit him on his back with the bat, and then diving on the floor, hitting him on his stomach with some force, not really wanting to cause him harm. He landed on his back, and jumped up from the inpact, and hit the floor again, and stayed there. After a couple of seconds of waiting and seeing no responce, her eyes softened, and she did the nose thing, just how Cid did, and turned to look at her friends.
"Ayame! Go and make a pose!" Pence shouted, while running close to where the fight ended. She got infront of Seifer, and put her hand that had the Struggle bat to her hit, her other arm up, close to her face, making a peace sign, one eye closed, while the other one was opened, and her tounge out. A flash was then seen, and she got out of the pose, as the picture came out of Pence's camera. She heard a groan, and then footsteps. She moved away, and walked to her friends, just watching as Rai and Fuu grabbed a beaten up Seifer. One of his eyes opened, as he searched for Ayame, and when he finally found her, it was the death glare that he was sending her.
"It's...not over" He said weakly, as the three fleed from the scene.
"Wow Ayame! When did you learn how to fight like that!?" Pence complimented, as he gave Ayame the picture to see.
"Oh, that...when my best friend, Hikaru and I were at out world, we used to fight each other, but not in a grudge kind of way" She said softly, giving the picture back to Pence, which he gave to the group.
"Oh, Pence! What were you going to say before Seifer interupted you?" Ayame asked, while cocking her head to the side.
"Oh, right! Do you know a girl named Kairi?"
Kairi
Kairi
Kairi
She could feel her heart constrict, as well as her brain shutting down.
"K...Kairi!? I sure do!" Sora shouted, his face completely happy
"Then...you better come to the station" Pence said, stunned at how Sora was reacting. Sora nodded, while turning around to look at Ayame, but his face soon faltered at the sight of her face.
"Ayame? Are you okay? You look really pale..." Sora said softly, while taking a step forward, about to put a hand on her shoulder, until she blinked and took a step back, shaking her head.
"S-Sorry...Spaced out for a minute" She said, while giving Sora a smile.
That smile...
Smile...
Smile...
"Oh...okay! Let's go!" Sora shouted, while nodding his head at Pence, and then Donald and Goofy"
"Now you can finally see Kairi, Ayame!" Sora shouted, while jumping up and down.
"Um...I'm sorry Sora, but I'm was planning on buying Potions, Hi-Potions, Ethers, Tents, and maybe ask the Moogles if they can make some Elxirs...You can go and see her Sora, I'm pretty sure she'll be extremely happy to see you again after a long time" Ayame said, while smiling sweetly. Sora's smile faltered at the sound of her voice, but ignored it.
"She'll be happy to see you..." He said, trying to convince her, though his tone was dry, his sentence weak.
"I know...but, it'll save us time. Donald, Goofy, and yourself can go and see her, while I go and get some more materials for our quest. We're almost out, y'know" She said, while copying Rai's catch fraze.
"Okay..." Sora said quietly. She nodded and took some steps backwards, until she turned around, and ran, ran as far as she could. Once she found herself out of the Sandlot, she ran to her fullest, head bowed down, beads of what looked like rain leading a trail.
Sora just stared at the empty spot, and then turned to look at his friends with a.smile on his face.
"Let's not keep Kairi waiting" He said happily, while everyone nodded, and ran towards the direction of the station, completely forgetting about her...
~Thirty Minutes Later~
The sun came through the trees, barely. The whole entire place was deserted, but it still had it's calm and peaceful self. Soft sobbings could be heard, echoing through the forest, but she knew that nobody was coming. That's why she picked the Woods to cry, since all of Twilight Town knew that beyond that, there was a 'haunted' mansion. Curling even more into a shape of a ball, she grabbed a piece of bark from the tree she was leaning against. Running her fingers through it, her hand glowed white, and the bark was suddenly gone. She unfolded her hand, and turned it sideways, brown ash came down, leaving a small pile a foot away from her. Tears still streamed down her face, as she let out another sob, turning around, her back facing away from the tree.
"Weak..."
She mumbled that sentence to herself, her eyes shutting tight. Sniffing, she sat up, her hair falling to her face, as she wipped away her endless tears.
"The only thing I do is just cry...I didn't even cry this often back on Earth..." She said to herself, her eyes opened and narrowed. Standing up, she dusted herself off, and also wipped her face clean from any signs of tears. Grabbing her backpack, she took out her money bag, and put her backpack on her back, walking away from the woods, and into the Tram Commotion. Looking around, she saw the Moogle Shop, and a sign that said 'Grand Opening!'. She walked towards it, and saw the chart for synthesizing. Slapping her forehead, she forgot the most important thing:
You need Gems, Crystals, Shards, ect., for synthesizing
"Can we help you, kupo?" Jumping up from being startled, she looked over as to who said that, and found a cute little rede pom-pomed Moogle infront of the counter, which was practically infront of her.
"Um...yes. Good Afternoon, Mr. Moogle. One question, since it's the grand opening for this Moogle Shop, do I have to bring Gems, Crystals, ect.,?" She asked, while looking down at the Moogle, which made her feel bad, since she knew that she knew that he knew he was looking down upon him.
"Nope, kupo. You just need to bring money, and we'll make whatever you need, kupo" The Moogle said politely, which made Ayame relieved from the inside, since she could see that the Moogle had not noticed that he was much shorter than her.
"Alrighty. Um, do you think maybe you make, uh, lets say...25 Elixirs? And can I buy about 30 potions, 30 Hi-Potions, 30 Ethers, and 25 Tents?" Ayame asked innocently. She could see the Moogle completely shocked, and slowly nodded.
"I-I-I can do t-that, k-kupo. B-B-But do you h-have the m-m-m-money for all of t-that?" The Moogle asked.
"Um...I think so..." She said, while opening her money bag.
"Is this okay?" And she emptied everything from the money bag...and the money bag was as big as both of her hands put together, or in other words, double or triple the size of the bag Olette had hand made herself.
"Y-Yes....kupo" The Moogle squeeked out. Ayame just smiled, and then pulled out a golden box from her backpack.
"And also..."
