LENGTHY DRIVES AND STUPID PEOPLE
A Companion fic to Mashed Potatoes and Family Reunions
Bonus Scene

Author's Note: Okay, just a short bonus chapter to tie up some loose ends. Remember when Roxas couldn't find Naminé after he met Sora and Axel in the kitchen (in part IV)? Demyx told Roxas that he saw her with Aunt Yuna, then she disappeared. Ever wondered what she was up to? Bet you do!

I didn't want to add this chapter to Lengthy Drives and Stupid People initially, because LD&SP was solely from Roxas' POV. However, I guess I've finally decided to stick this deleted bit in because… well, I have my reasons. It's written in third-person this time. :) Treat is as a 'missing scene' during Part IV (The Kitchen Convergence) and Part V (The Talk with Demyx).

IV/V. Naminé's Private Conversation

Flicking her radiant locks of feathery blonde hair over her shoulder in one fluid motion, Naminé smiled a warm smile, bowed her head in apology and excused herself from her aunt's presence. The young woman seemed to want to be left alone with her fiancé anyhow. Naminé didn't want to stick around and prevent the couple from having some time to themselves; after all, poor Tidus did look a tad awkward and out of place at the family reunion.

There was something to be said about Aunt Yuna. For one, she was unquestionably heterochronic. Naminé had read somewhere that heterochromia was extremely rare. And Yuna, oh, she looked absurdly pretty with those dual-coloured eyes of hers. An odd combination of crystal blue and bright green with beautiful spiral-patterned swirls around the iris. At twenty-four years of age, the young woman was engaged to Tidus Kandarzand and they were due to marry very soon.

The Strife twin smiled to herself as she wandered away from the two lovers, her thoughts running astray, and she briefly wondered whether her brother had managed to find Sora yet. She really didn't mean to blow him off like that. She certainly didn't mean to seem frustrated or exasperated. But the way Roxas had reacted to Reno's sudden appearance made her wonder if all his waiting and all his believing that 'he' would turn up had finally taken a toll on him.

Naminé sighed softly and adjusted the light-reflecting gold bangle around her wrist. Life can be cruel, she told herself sadly, shutting her eyes for a few moments and trying to block out the sounds of loud chattering around her.

But then, an affectionately quiet, almost husky, voice caused her to open her eyes and look up; straight into strikingly emerald green eyes.

"Hey there, princess."

And a bright grin immediately plastered itself onto her face. It was something of a reflex reaction to her by now.

"Riku!" she exclaimed, surprise flitting across her face momentarily. She immediately extended her arms to embrace her older cousin, taking care not to spill the half-filled cup that was clutched in his hand. "How are you?" she asked cheerfully.

Riku Mesna returned her hug and ruffled her hair adoringly with his free hand, grinning back.

"Little Nami! It's been ages since we've last talked. Well, how am I? I've been doing good. Just got into college and all." He stepped back a little. "And what about you?"

"Me?" Naminé tilted her head to one side, her hair dropping into her eyes. "Coping I suppose," she said finally.

"Oh." Riku's expression changed entirely and he frowned. "Just 'coping', huh? Why, Nam? Why is it always just 'coping' whenever it comes to you?"

Naminé smiled but said nothing. She knew what he meant by that.

Riku sighed, shaking his head. Naminé, the quaintly picturesque girl he's known since forever, was always always always so evasive and vague – like wisps of smoke and mist. He could never remember a time when he didn't feel like she was keeping deep, hidden secrets from him. Sometimes, he had trouble trying to tell if she was happy or sad or really telling him the truth. It bothered him a great deal. He didn't know how many fabrications of emotions he was going to take from her before he had enough.

He decided not to question her about it this time.

"Well." He coughed delicately. "And your brother?" he finally mumbled, as though not really wanting to ask in the first place but knowing he owed it to the girl before him. It was only logical that he asked.

"Which?" she replied.

Riku gave her a look as if reprimanding her for feigning ignorance. "You know which," he said simply.

Naminé shook her head, expression saddening. Yeah, she knew which. Really, Riku had no particular reason to ask about Cloud, of all people.

"He's doing worse than me," she revealed quietly, voice low and just a little hollow.

"… I see."

A short silence.

"Riku? Why do you make it a point not to get close to him? Why do you insist on keeping yourself in the dark from him?"

The silver-haired boy looked startled at the sudden question. Hadn't he already gone over this with Naminé years ago? "He hates me enough as it is," he answered, voice strained. He was avoiding her gaze. It always made him uncomfortable to talk to her about her twin brother. He was always a tricky subject to Riku.

Naminé looked dubious. "I'm sure he'd give you a chance if you told him," she murmured, looking away with a hint of a pout. "You told me."

"I told you because you're not Roxas. He doesn't need to know about me. He only needs you to be there for him."

"We all need each other."

Riku disagreed. "He doesn't need me."

"Doesn't need you? He needs all he can get! You're being selfish, Riku."

"No way."

"Just cuz you've found what you've been looking for," Naminé muttered, shaking her head. "Riku, they've been with you all your life. All your lives, I should say. This one and the last one."

Riku was contemplative for a few moments. He didn't have to ask to know that she was talking about Sora and Kairi. And what she said held some truth. Both of his friends (now-turned-cousins) have been with him forever. He looked at Naminé understandingly. The way her shoulders sagged and carried all that melancholic despondency for both herself and her brother. It was very much upsetting.

Well. Maybe some of her burdens would be lifted one day. Soon.

"… He's still looking for him, isn't he?" he asked quietly at last.

She nodded with tired eyes. "Yes."

"Well," Riku gave a half-smirk and took a sip from his drink, "he won't have very far to look tonight."

Naminé couldn't help but frown at that. What did he mean by that?

"I met Sora's best friend a few minutes ago. Y'know, his best friend from school, or something like that. Don't think you've met him yet. But you will." Riku's green eyes twinkled. "I'm sure you will. He's staying the night, apparently."

Naminé blinked, and she opened her mouth to say something. But before she had the chance, a jubilant voice piped up from out of nowhere.

It was Kairi.

"Riku! They said we could go outside now!" the young Lexa sibling called, running over to them both. "Oh! Hey, Naminé!" She practically beamed at her blonde cousin. "You're looking well!"

"Hello Kairi," Naminé nodded in acknowledgement. "You look stunning tonight. And your hair! Did you do something to it?"

Kairi looked positively ecstatic that Naminé had noticed. "Yeah! I re-dyed it a shade lighter!" And she twirled around on the spot, her hair fanning out behind her.

"It looks fantastic! Very pretty," Naminé remarked sincerely.

The redhead laughed a tinkling laugh. "Coming from the prettiest fashionista I know, that's a huge compliment. Thank you!" And then, she turned to Riku. "Um, oh yeah! I asked Aunt Raine and Uncle Laguna and they both said we could go out on the veranda now! So, I was just wondering… Wanna go claim the table outside before everyone else gets the good seats?"

At that, Riku smiled and nodded. "Definitely." He looked towards Naminé and extended an arm. "Care to join us?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

And so, concerns about the previous conversation already leaving her mind, Naminé Strife took Riku's arm and followed both him and Kairi out to the veranda to wait for dinner to arrive.

Fin.

Author's Note: Done and done.

Riku knowssssss.

Eh. Why did I pick these two characters to have that little private conversation? Well, our pretty Half-Princess of Heart and her Dark Knight were just so… neglected. Plus, following the events of Castle Oblivion, the KH2 novels hinted a profound friendship between these two. And of course, they wouldn't forsake their friendship in the afterlife, right? ) Okay, so whilst this little scene had hardly anything 'AkuRoku' about it, I just wanted an excuse to expand the relationship of Naminé and Riku a little and show that the two are a lot closer than just 'normal cousins' (behind Roxas' back, of course). I'm definitely going to be writing more for this universe; probably a huge sequel thingy to the whole Mashed Potatoes/Lengthy Drives series. Don't know when I'll do it though. Check back for future instalments.

Random commentary on the twins (that you don't have to read):
Naminé – Truthfully, I never once gave Naminé's character very much thought, especially after getting into the whole Axel/Roxas thing. Lengthy Drives and Stupid People was sort of a character development project and it made me realise (on a whole new level) how deep and complex her character can be. Sure, AkuRoku fans tend to diss Naminé for the sole reason that she's a potential 'obstacle' for the boys. Personally, after making her Roxas' perceptive sibling, I've come to adore her character. The downside is, now, whenever I come across RokuNami fics, I instantly think: INCEST. D:
Roxas – Lengthy Drives was actually planned prior to completing Mashed Potatoes. I had two minds about posting it up though. Because I knew that as soon as I published it, I was taking a risk in potentially destroying the whole Mashed Potatoes fic. I know that 'Afterlife' fics have been overdone to the max. I was glad that the fact Roxas 'remembered everything' was something the readers took on in a positive light.