courtings | to light the darkness.

[She can't say she was expecting him to just accept it easily, isn't sure he ever could have. Surely, these are all things no one ever told him, things no one could have told him about.

Naminé had been pretty clear, after all. No one would remember her.

So Xion simply nods.] Yeah, Roxas.

I know you've probably never heard of me... But that's okay.

But how's that possible? Roxas and I are linked... [Sora knows that he isn't aware of everything that his Other went through while he was asleep, or even before that, but he's got a decent idea of it now.

Honestly, he wishes he knew more, but he also realizes that Roxas' experiences are his own, and so maybe this is one part that his Other didn't want him to know about. Maybe...]

Was he keeping you a secret? [It sounds silly coming out of his mouth like that, but at this point Sora just wants to know. How is it that randomly running into a stranger turned into this? At least now he knows why Xion felt familiar.]

[She only nods at first, figuring he's on the right track so far. Roxas and Sora are linked. That's right. She can't be entirely sure just what Roxas did after she died, but judging from the way he's speaking...

It's not exactly hard to guess.

Sora's next conclusion, however, surprises Xion, and it's all she can do to shake her head, her eyes wide.] A secret...? No.

Do you know Naminé? [More like, "Do you remember Naminé?" All considered.]

[It's really no surprise that Naminé's been brought up, seeing how she's the one who disrupted his memories in the first place. Maybe Xion is just another part of that -- and the fact that she's mentioned that name almost answers the question on its own.]

Yeah, I do. [Sort of, anyway. In the end, their interaction has been pretty limited, but that doesn't mean that Sora doesn't care for Kairi's Nobody in his own way.]

Is she behind this? Me not remembering you?

Kind of... [She takes a deep breath to steady herself. At least he does remember Naminé then. That makes her explanation somewhat easier.]

When she had to fix your memories, some of them got mixed up. And they ended up with me... And to get them back to you, everyone's memories of me had to...

Everyone had to forget me. [Xion shakes her head and smiles at Sora, hoping it'll convey that she's really not bothered by it, not anymore.]

[So it does have to do with his memories being missing, in a way. Though even then, there's no way Sora could have predicted something like this. He takes a step back without realizing it and bows his head.]

Because of me... everyone had to forget you? That's not fair. [As if it wasn't bad enough that the Organization did all those terrible things to Roxas because of him. Now someone else has been caught up it too?]

[She quickly shakes her head and, almost without thinking about it, takes a step toward Sora.

No, this wasn't what was supposed to happen...] I told you... I made my choice.

It wasn't your fault.

Did you really have a choice, though? [There's no way that Sora can deny the fact that there were more than a few people who wanted his memories to go back where they belonged -- and while that's what's fair, it still bothers him that others were affected as a result.] There were probably people pushing you to do that, right?

[Naminé and Riku certainly encouraged her... and with Xemnas' plan looming over them, but...

No. She shakes her head.] There were a lot of people who wanted you to get back your memories. But there were people who didn't. [Like her boss.] I...

I did it because I wanted to, Sora. And because I wanted to help Roxas, too.

[Well, she does have a point there. If the Organization had it their way, he may not have woken up at all. Sora frowns, but when he looks up at Xion again, his eyes are clear. He puts a hand to his heart and smiles sadly at her.]

In that case, thank you.

[It might not have gone exactly like she wanted, but this result isn't quite so bad, is it?

Xion returns the smile, hesitating for a moment before speaking again.] I'm glad I got to meet you, Sora.

Me too! It... would have been wrong, if I never got to find out about you after all you've done for me.

[He moves forward hesitantly and then puts a hand on her shoulder.]

[She smiles a little wider at that, raising a hand to her chest. That warm feeling... She could get used to that.

When he puts his hand on her shoulder though, her next words are out before she even realizes it.]

Is Roxas... Roxas is okay too, right?

[It's no surprise that she's asking, if she and Roxas were friends. Sora smiles and nods, looking down at his chest for a moment.]

Yeah, he's right here with me. So... if the time comes that you have to return to me, you'll be with him.

['If the time comes.' So this must be before she's become a part of him. Somehow Roxas got ahead of Xion then, didn't he?

Did he get to meet Sora like this, too? She hopes he did.

--Just as she hopes she isn't actually on the verge of tears, happy tears?] Thank you... Thank you, Sora.

I'm really happy to hear that...

[Even though she says that, she looks sad. Sora can understand how it's a bittersweet thing, and he lets out a small sigh before he pulls Xion into a hug.

It doesn't matter that they barely know each other. In a way, they're closer than any two people can be, and they're definitely connected.]

It's no problem. Really.

[Xion doesn't resist when he hugs her and, after several moments, wraps her own arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. It's... not so bad, is it? Getting to meet the person she'll be part of now?

She can't even bring herself to say anything else. All she can do is nod into his shoulder and repeat her earlier words.]

Thank you.

[Suddenly, the body that's pressed against Sora's chest dissipates. It's slow, but there's nothing that Sora can do to stop it as Xion becomes a part of him, her body dematerializing and eventually becoming small pinpricks of light that hang around in the air.

Sora gasps for air as he feels his heart fill with a new warmth. While he wanted more of a chance to speak with Xion, apparently this is how it has to be.]

... You'll be safe here. I promise.

to light the darkness.

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I HOPE THIS OKAY. It seemed like an appropriate way to end the thread...

SCREAM THIS IS PERFECT <3

;A; SOBBING FOREVER but yes...