Well, hello. It's been forever, hasn't it? Just a little over a year. I'm so sorry about that. I completely lost interest, had a series of computers die, and eventually decided heck with it—I just won't write. Now, I realize that my old writing is different. It's a lot worse. I don't want to rewrite. I have absolutely lost interest in Kingdom Hearts. I've combined the last two chapters so I could finish this story. But, honestly, I've moved onAnonymous: Thanks a ton!

Hegodart: Thank you! I like setting up chapters with fun names and stuff, but this is the only story I've ever been able to do it with.

Macilla: I know! I get so sick of hearing people say they're going to die because they're boyfriend/girlfriend left them.

Chapter 15: Kairi's Wedding, or The Happy Ending for Everyone

I'm getting sick of telling myself I'm fine. Is it wrong for a girl to want to be in love?

It was one of those days you don't want to get out of bed. It's too cold to be spring, but too warm to be winter, meaning you sweat when you were a jacket, but freeze without. Luckily for me, I had nothing to do but lie around my house and maybe work on a few sketches. Yes, the life of an artist is good.

I heard the squeak of the mail truck as it stopped and slipped a couple of envelopes in the box. Mostly bills, I bet. Thinking back to a show I'd seen the other day, I frowned. I hope there aren't any spiders in my mailbox.

I untangled myself from my warm, cotton blanket, debating whether it was worth it to change from my pajamas before I fetched the mail. It wasn't. Instead, I simply pulled an old gray hoodie I'd stolen from Xion over my head and tumbled out the door, not even bothering with shoes. A mixture of dead and live grass entangled in my freezing toes, I walked all the way across the yard to fetch the mail. What an accomplishment. I turned each envelope over in my hands carefully, making sure I hadn't missed anything important. Like coupons. I like coupons, especially coupons for stores that have clothes.

"Bill, bill, bill, bill, Kairi—" I froze. Kairi had sent me something?

Whatever it was, the envelope was too nice to just be standing out in the mist with. It was getting wet! I rushed back in and plopped down on my couch, making sure to move the watercolors to the coffee table.

"'You are cordially invited to the wedding of Kairi Kobayashi and Sora— Oh my freakin' gosh, Kairi's getting married!" I squealed. I tossed the invitation and the rest of the contents to the side as I raced to the nearest phone. I dialed the number as quickly as I could. Why wasn't she picking up? Kairi!

"Hello?"

"Kairi, you're getting married!"

She laughed. "Well, yeah. I'd kind of hope that I'd be the first one to know that."

"Why didn't you call me?" I complained. "I wanted to know sooner."

"Okay, okay, sorry." I heard a little buzz as she shifted the phone around. "So will you?"

I point-blanked. "Will I what?"

". . . Be my maid of honor?"

"Kairi," I said in my best dead-pan voice, "if you asked anyone else, I would kill you."

"Thanks. Nice to know how great of a friend you are. Fly over next weekend. You can stay with us—well, in our house. I do expect you gone by the time we get home from the honeymoon though. Nami, I want you here to plan this wedding with me. You'll come, right?" I had to laugh. She was practically begging.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

X

"Kairi!" I hugged my best friend.

"I'm so glad you could make it, Naminé," Kairi said. "I've got almost everything ready, really. I just wanted you to come down early. I never get to see you anymore. All you do is whole yourself up in your house and paint!"

I shrugged. "I'm an artist. It kind of comes with the job." Speaking of which, I think I forgot some of my paints. Well, crap.

I climbed into the passenger seat of Kairi's car (which was by the way the same color as her hair) and buckled my seat belt. "Ouch!" I pulled my legs up. Great. I'm in Twilight Town during summer, it's hot, and the seats are leather. All while I'm wearing shorts. "Can we stop at the art store? I forgot some paints, and I really need to finish this painting. I've been slacking off."

"Just like you. Sure. Then we'll go back to my place. Sora is making dinner, and— Oh." Kairi's grip on the wheel tightened, but she didn't take her eyes of the road. Thank goodness. She's a bad enough driver as it is. "Naminé, I totally forgot. Since Roxas is Sora's best man, he's staying with us too. Sorry."

The charcoal in my fingers slipped, leaving a large streak across the page.

"Kairi! How could you not tell me?" I shrieked.

She winced. "I'm sorry! I forgot! I wasn't thinking; I promise! It won't be so bad. He's gotten a lot better since high school. I mean, I can actually stand being around him!"

I had to giggle. "It's just . . . he was such a jerk that last year. I don't really want to see him again, but—"

"Well, let's put it this way: you get to test your aisle walk with him."

"Kairi!"

X

Kairi unlocked the door to her charming little house and walked right in. "Sora, we're home! Well, I'm home, and Naminé is here."

My nails dug into the packaging of the paints, stretching the plastic. The clomp of feet on carpet came from the stairway. I looked up at Roxas.

Oh crap.

"Naminé."

"Um, hey?" I said awkwardly.

"Well, dinner!" Kairi cheered. Inwardly, I did the same. No more awkward staring.

"Actually, Kairi, I'm really not hungry. Is there some place I could work on my art . . . ?" I trailed off. Kairi nodded, rattling off directions to the attic. I hurried away from that room. I couldn't stay one more second with Roxas. How the heck am I still in love with him? I have to wonder. I sighed. I can't change anything.

I set up my easel and began.

X

The next thing I was aware of was a finished painting in front of me and the words "I'm sorry" from the doorway. I set down the paintbrush and spun the chair so I was facing Roxas.

"Sorry for what?"

That caught him off-guard.

"You have a lot to be sorry for," I said. "Which is it?"

He smiled. "I guess . . . everything?"

I nodded. Some of the details were off. I tried to fix them.

"Naminé— I . . . ."

I looked back at him. I cut him off with, "I guess I'll see you at the wedding. We'll be walking down together, right?"

"Right," Roxas agreed. "Naminé, please."

"Please what?"

He left. I'd never felt so good in my entire life. Sure, I loved him, but he needed to learn that I wasn't someone he could take for granted. Maybe he'd learned that by then, but now, he had to prove himself to me again. I was no longer Roxas's best friend-that-just-maybe-will-be-his-girlfriend. I am Roxas's cousin's fiancée's best friend. He'll have to work his way up again.

The ceremony was beautiful. The reception even more so. Everything was going exactly to Kairi's plan, and I couldn't be happier for her. Key words: for her. I certainly could be happier for myself. I rubbed my fingers against the fabric of my bridesmaid dress, memorizing the sound. It distracted me.

"Wanna dance?"

I smiled at Roxas. "Sure."

We awkwardly tried to move the music while speaking.

"Naminé, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said half the things I did, but I— I thought," he said.

"You thought what?" I said, urging him to go on.

Roxas took my hand into his and squeezed it. "When you told me that— well, I thought you were just saying that because you felt sorry for me. You know, the typical story where the guy falls for his best friend? And then, you felt guilty for lying and told me the truth, and I was just . . . angry. I wanted you to love me."

He didn't believe me? I bit my lip. "Roxas—"

"Then, everyone else told that you'd liked me for such a long time. I don't know how I didn't know." His eyes sparkled. "Naminé, I'm so sorry. I love you."

"I . . . love you too," I spoke slowly.

"You won't take it back this time?"

I frowned. "Of course not."

The next song started to play. Kairi waved at me from her spot on the dance floor with Sora. I smiled at Xion and all of my other friends. They helped me get through this mess I'd made of my life.

"Why do you love me after this whole thing?" I asked. Roxas pulled me closer and kissed me.

"Why not?"

Sorry for the short chapter and boring ending. I didn't get rid of anything major. I hope nobody hated it too much. Anyway, I guess this is my last goodbye to Kingdom Hearts. Maybe I'll come back one day. See you!