salut et quoi de neuf (hi and what's new)! whew, i was finally able to update - and unfortunately, this is the final chapter. i should have warned people, but i think i said that this was going to be a short story anyways... well, if anyone really enjoyed this story, i might be able to do a sequel (it depends on how closed i left the ending). merci beaucoup for all of the reviews/alerts/favs - they made me feel extra loved! enjoy the final chapter of Associated By Disaster, s'il vous plaît!

disclaimer: i do not own kingdom hearts

Nine

Roxas

There are some days when you need to be informed of everything happening in the world, and others when you want to be left in the dark. Today, I was silently begging for Axel to kick me into the dark. Anything that was wrong with her was most likely not good - especially the way Axel had tried to tell me the news. Even though my instincts were right, I wished they were absolutely wrong.

I kept directly behind him, following like a shadow, and avoiding eye contact with the families of other people involved in the accident, packed miserably in the hallways. That was the first time it truly hit me that there was an entire world still spinning, and Naminé and me were only a small part of it. We had other people we were connected to as well, and would we ever get another chance to be alone?

“Hey, still awake?” Axel halted unexpectedly, causing my nose to collide with his back. As I rubbed my sore nose, he answered his own question with, “I guess you’ll live.”

“Are you trying to make this as hard as possible?” I questioned him as he resumed a quick pace. “I mean, why…well, why couldn’t you fix what else is wrong?”

“Believe me, Roxas, there was no way to fix this. Only time can.” He stopped again and put a hand on my shoulder. The nurses in the hallway rolled their eyes, probably used to his attitude by now. “Don’t worry - she’s fine.”

“Then why does it seem like you’ve taken out half of her brain?” I pushed past him, not sure were Naminé’s room was, but hoping I could find it just by some kind of psychic coincidence. Crazy, I know, but it was worth a try.

“No, we can’t do that - it’s against the law…I think…” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Axel dig into his pocket for his handy-dandy legal medical handbook. I shuddered at the thought of him passing the legal exam. Then he would be unleashed on the public.

“Alright…can I help her through it?”

“Huh?” Axel caught up to me, shoving the handbook back into his pocket. “Through what?”

“You know - what’s wrong with her?”

“Hmm…probably.” He walked at a more relaxed pace, and even began to whistle. What did he have to be so bizarrely happy about?

I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t tell me anymore about her condition. Not until I saw her.

“But,” he began, with a calm smile on his face. “She’s really nice - sweet too.” He thought his words over carefully - another alien act of Axel’s. “And she wanted me to tell you something…”

My footsteps slowed when I heard the last few words. She had some final words for me? Honestly, she considered telling me what was on her mind before she had surgery?

“Axel…are you going to tell me the truth, or a joke?” Still unable to trust my somewhat changed friend, I asked what was in the back of my mind the entire night.

He didn’t slow down with me, and didn’t even glance back. “I can’t lie about her…it would be a crime.”

At first, I was relieved that he would be honest with me. But afterwards, I realized that he was using my exact same words to reassure me. I guess Naminé had an effect like an angel on him as well.

Stillness ensued, and the two of us were left to think, feeling as if the hushed hallways were the passages of a dream. The sensation of dizziness when you were awake and alert, but ready to fall asleep any moment was heavily weighing down on me. It seemed to take forever to find her room at the end of the longest hallway.

Finally, Axel stopped, and since I was too absorbed in my silent path, he had to grab my elbow and pull me back as I passed by.

“She’s in here.”

I gulped. This was it - when I would find out the truth of the outcome of Naminé’s surgery. The thought of anything harming her health almost made me punch the wall. When I couldn’t protect her, it made me furious, but not at the world - at myself. Sometimes, there is someone you don’t want to let go of that easily.

“Ready?” He leaned composedly by the door, his hand hovering over the handle.

His words echoed off of the wall, like ripples on water, and I waited until the last sounds of his voice entered my ears. That question was normally so simple…but now I had to wait, consider, and decide.

“I…” I ran my fingers through my hair, knowing that I would need to get home soon. My life needed to continue, and I had forgotten about that yesterday. If she didn’t remember, then would it matter anyway?

“You know, she’s not dead.” Axel smiled, amused at my uncertain attitude. “If she were, we’d have to go down a level.” Two seconds later, he laughed at his own joke.

I smacked him in the shoulder - his laugh was starting to sound like a squirrel that inhaled helium.

“Ow! Ah, okay, I get it!” He covered his head with his hands; worried I’d knock the medical knowledge out of him too. “Now, let’s go in there - she’s not supposed to have visitors, but I managed to let them make you an exception.”

Exhaling slowly, I brushed past him, my hand contacting with the unexpectedly frigid door handle. Even if I wasn’t ready, I had to see for myself. It wouldn’t mean as much if Axel tried to explain to me anyways. With doubt and hope side by side in my thoughts, I opened the door quietly. Two seconds later, I peeked in, nervous about what I would see…

“R-Roxas..?”

Naminé

I had an extraordinary dream that I believed I would never wake up from. Perhaps the drugs had heavily influenced it, but the contents of it were all of my own.

I was back at home, in my bed, the smell of my sister’s floral perfume across the hall mingling with mom’s warm buttery pancakes. Of course, I was still in bed, waiting until the sun had lit my room with enough sunlight to clearly read one of the novels I was reading that week. Kairi’s alarm clock screeched through the walls - she never ever remembered to turn it off.

Groggily climbing out of bed, I rubbed the back of my neck, the soreness gone. I had felt it so distinctly…and yet there was no pain? Was this a dream, or was the train wreck a dream? Desperately curious to learn more about which reality I was in, I left my hair untangled, and stepped into the main hallway of my house.

“Hello? Good morning…anyone?” I walked into the kitchen, only to find that no one was there, but the pancakes were placed neatly on the table. The television was turned off, and the morning newspaper that my dad often read was folded over, positioned next to an empty coffee mug.

Puzzled, I made my way to Kairi’s room, and opened her door, wondering if she would be missing as well. Her room was pretty much empty, except for the random school papers and accessories scattered throughout her floor. Yep, I happened to be home alone.

Taking my usual place at the table, I picked up two pancakes and set them on my plate. Before I could pour myself a glass of orange juice, I heard a few familiar voices outside of the door. Unable to hear them more clearly, I pushed a few strands of my messy hair away from my ears.

“Ready?” This voice seemed to be closer, and I began pouring a small puddle of maple syrup in the center of my plate.

“I…” My eyes widened. I knew that voice. I didn’t know how, but I knew…

For a few seconds, I heard nothing. I waited patiently, continuing to build my breakfast. When I thought they weren’t going to return, I almost got up from the table.

“You know, she’s not dead. If she were, we’d have to go down a level.” A peculiar mixture of maniac and high-pitched squirrel laughter sent shivers down my spine. I probably should have locked my door first.

Finally, the laughter was cut short by a strange popping sound. “Ow! Ah, okay, I get it!” I was mouthing the words ‘thank you’ to the other person, although it was really at the door, and wiped the side of the orange juice pitcher with a napkin. “Now, let’s go in there - she’s not supposed to have visitors, but I managed to let them make you an exception.”

“Huh?” My jaw dropped. “What in the world is going on?” Was I being cut off from human contact or something? Since I didn’t know why everything was so bizarre, I dropped my fork on the table, completely hypnotized by the words I heard. There had to be something else to say…there just had to!

I blinked as I felt my pulse begin to race, and then I was abruptly pulled out of my comfortable house, and when the blurriness of my vision had gone away, I found myself in the true reality - my hospital room.

The door was opening, and even though my eyes were heavy, I kept them open, having to know who was visiting. When I saw a familiar blonde spikes poke out from behind the door, I knew who it was.

“R-Roxas..?” I asked weakly. My tongue was still a bit clumsy, and I was sure that I would stutter at least more than once.

Timidly, he came out from behind the door, most likely just as scared as I was. Axel followed, grinning warmly.

“Congratulations, Naminé - the surgery was a success.”

I sighed with relief and closed my eyes. “Thank…you…”

“No problem,” Axel replied. “But…”

Roxas took a seat by my bed, watching me carefully. He had not said one word since he had came in. I guessed he was so grateful, that there were no words left for him to say.

“Hmm?” I turned my head towards him, but not too quickly. My neck didn’t hurt anymore, but now it was stiff. I sure hoped the recovery wouldn’t be too difficult.

“How…concerned are you about…” He drummed his fingers on the side of a handbook in his pocket. “About…your appearance?” He finished, looking for my reaction closely.

“Did y-you see me wearing lip gloss?” I shot back with a faint giggle.

“No.”

“That’s how c-concerned I am.” He laughed at my answer.

I glanced back at Roxas. Now, he was staring at the ground. I felt guilty that I had caused him so much worry. But shouldn’t he have been happier since I was awake, and actually remembered his name?

“Alright, that will make this much easier.” Axel flipped through my medical charts, and I could tell he wasn’t really reading any of the stats - just trying to look professional in front of his friend.

“And?” I waited for a few more seconds until he was done showing off.

“Well, the truth is…you’re kind of bald.”

“Kind of?!” I searched the room with my eyes for a mirror. “How can someone be…‘kind of’ bald?”

“Okay, okay…you are bald.” He hid behind my medical charts, expecting me to throw something at him.

Instead, I looked once again at Roxas. This time he met my gaze; his ocean blue eyes a copy of mine…or were mine a copy of his? He wasn’t disappointed or even worried. All that he wanted was to tell me something - I could feel it.

With a sigh, I reached up, and felt the bandage over my head. I guess it wasn’t a big deal - hair grew back, and I knew I had a history of having fast growing hair. When I saw Roxas’ reaction, it didn’t matter at all.

“Will I live?” I questioned at last, still exhausted.

“Yep. For now.” Roxas sent Axel a sharp glare. “A-at least you’re fine now, r-right?” His eyes darted around the room nervously.

At last, Roxas spoke, and I felt tranquility from hearing his voice. “Axel…could I speak to her for a few minutes - alone?”

Axel moaned. “Aw, do I have to? I like this room.”

Roxas got up and pushed Axel out of the room. “Out, now!” He muttered through gritted teeth as he slammed the door.

Waiting patiently until he returned, I resumed processing the news that I was bald. There was no way to push it out of my mind. Sure, maybe this was a short-term issue, but would I become more self-conscious?

“Hey…it’s good that you’re all right.” He sat next to me, and I watched him, absolutely mesmerized.

“Uh, yeah.” I blushed, unsure if I’d be able to stay awake for a few more minutes.

“Tired?”

I nodded, shifting my back against the pillow.

“Me too.”

“Um…” I was a bit embarrassed to ask, but since he was there, I figured he wouldn’t refuse. “Would you like to rest with me?”

He laughed and I scooted over to make some room. “Wow, you really are skinny.” He held my wrist in his hands, seeing how fragile I was. “It’s a good thing I’m going to be around to protect you.”

I felt the tears collecting by my eyes. “Really? Y-you’re going to stay with me?”’

“Of course - I didn’t come here just to leave.”

Now I couldn’t hold back the tears. From the beginning to the end, he was there with me. If that wasn’t proof enough, his expression at that time was. I wasn’t alone anymore because he wasn’t letting go of my wrist. His grip was strong yet loose, almost as if he was afraid to squeeze the life right out of me.

“You know…I’m going to have to leave for a while when your family gets here-” Roxas began reluctantly, and I sniffled quietly.

“N-no, it’s okay. I think they would k-know who you are.” With misty eyes and teardrops rolling lazily down my cheeks, I gazed up at him. Once again, it was just the two of us, being ourselves, with nothing else to do but enjoy the silence.

“They do?” Roxas broke the stillness at last, wondering when we had ever seen eachother before.

“I…I think my sister does.” I waited as he sat back against the pillow, but not releasing my wrist. When he was finished getting settled, I leaned my bandaged head against his shoulder, glad there wasn’t any sharp pain. With my free hand, I held his other hand, feeling every inch of my skin turn bright red.

“Are you going to drift off to sleep?”

“No.”

“Can I fall asleep again?” The darkness under his eyes was more noticeable to me now.

I nodded, even though he didn’t really need my permission. This complete trust that had fallen into our lives stunned me, making me unable to speak. I smiled, knowing that the day had settled into a more comfortable atmosphere.

“Can I tell you what I told Axel?” Reaching deep into my memory, I wanted to recite it word for word and see his reaction.

“What?” His voice was beginning to trail off as he became unconscious.

“That we were associated by disaster, and I planned on seeing you again.” I heard his breathing slow down calmly.

“That came true, huh?”

I closed my eyes, hearing his heartbeat as I rested against him, and feeling mine speeding up purely by how close we were. “Yes…and I’m relieved that they weren’t my final words.”

As we lay side by side, feeling the world drift out of our minds while we simply enjoyed each other’s company, I felt content in my situation. Although it may have felt like I was taking my last breaths yesterday, the air was fresher as I breathed in today. From now on, our connection would be strong - and it all started with a little disaster.

random babblehmm, i might need to repost or something because i wasn't able to sit down and write it all at once - that may explain some weird written/grammatically strange parts. i didn't expect my schedule to get so busy, so i felt swamped with seven unfinished stories (now six). once again, i'd like to thank the wonderful reviewers!!! i'd also like to get some feedback, and i might write some more oneshots (summer's coming up!). as my first completed story, this is a bit odd... a bientôt et au revoir (see you soon and good-bye)!