Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Sora nodded weakly and took his hand off Roxas' shoulder, giving his friend a polite smile. Roxas was strong enough to get through this, and so was Namine, for that matter. Someday, things would be alright again. That's what he knew in his heart.

Namine walked down the hall, trying to recognize this place. Then she heard a slightly-familiar voice down the hall, in one of the rooms. She kept walking until she made a right turn into the kitchen, seeing three teenagers gathered around a table.

 

Roxas saw something move within his peripheral vision, and when he spotted it, his eyes widened, his hands separating. "Namine," he said, surprise evident by his tone and expression.

Kairi turned in her seat, looking behind her at Roxas's reaction. A smile immediately graced her lips, the girl happy to see her friend finally awake. "You're okay," she added softly, her voice representing her cheer.

 

Sora smiled happily, glad to see Namine was up and alright. Things were alright now.

Namine nodded slightly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I'm alright..." she said softly.

 

Roxas pushed himself up from his chair, his eyes never leaving the girl. His smile was real now, wider. "I'm so glad you're awake, Nam," he told her happily. He was overwhelmed with joy at seeing her standing before him, finally conscious.

Kairi's smile remained, the girl able to tell by Roxas's voice that he was relieved to see Namine up and moving. She was, too. She had been so worried for her friend. She guessed the crystal didn't do anything after all.

 

Namine forced a small smile, confused as to what was going on here. Nam? Since when has anybody called me by that name? she wondered. But she felt like it was a stupid question, so she just nodded her head slightly. "Yeah," she said quietly, still smiling faintly.

 

"You want some breakfast?" Kairi offered. "We were just about to have some cereal." Her smile softened some, the girl a little confused as to why Namine was just standing there. She would've thought she would have run straight to Roxas, because of yesterday's circumstances. Kairi dismissed it, figuring that maybe Namine was just still a little out of it after her coma.

 

Namine shook her head slightly, turning her head a little to look at the red-headed girl sitting at the table. "No thank you," she said politely. "I'm not hungry."

 

Kairi's smile faded a little more, her head turning so she could look at the boys. Not hungry...?

Roxas met Kairi's gaze and knew exactly what she was thinking. His blue eyes darted to Namine's as he took a few steps toward her. "Namine, are you sure? You haven't eaten in hours."

 

Namine shook her head slightly, more questions running through her head. How long had she been with these people? If they knew she hadn't eaten for a little bit, it must have been a while. But she ignored the questions nagging her and turned to look at the blond boy in front of her. "I'm sure; thanks though."

 

Roxas stopped a few feet from the girl, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh... Alright. If you're sure," he said with a small smile, letting his arm fall. He then turned a little to look at Sora and Kairi. It didn't make any sense. Namine hadn't eaten since they were at the mall the day before; that was nearly 24 hours ago. He knew he was starving by the time they reached home last night.

Kairi looked at Roxas, the girl resting her hands on the back of her chair, sitting in it sideways. She didn't know what to say. They couldn't force Namine to eat, but that didn't mean they couldn't be concerned about her condition.

 

Sora shrugged slightly when Roxas looked to him. Namine, having just woken up from an extended period of sleep, probably didn't realize that she was hungry. He was sure she'd want something to eat soon enough.

Namine noticed the looks that the three teens exchanged, and she couldn't help but shake the feeling that something here wasn't right. "...Is something wrong?" she asked hesitantly, making eye contact with the boy closest to her.

 

Roxas turned back at the question. "...No," he told her. "Everything's fine now that we know you're okay." He offered Namine a small smile, hoping it would comfort her some. He was still a little on edge, but now that she was conscious he was sure that'd go away soon enough.

Kairi listened to what Roxas said and nodded in agreement, despite her worries. True, it concerned her that Namine wouldn't be eating, but what could she expect after such a long sleep? The girl was probably still slightly confused as to what had happened, considering they were back home.

 

Namine wasn't so sure that she was alright. She just couldn't shake this feeling that something wasn't right here. "...Are you sure?" she asked. What did the question mean? She wasn't sure--maybe she was asking if the boy was sure nothing was wrong. Or maybe she was asking if she was actually okay. Perhaps it was a combination of the two.

Sora tilted his head slightly. What did she mean by that...?

 

Roxas's smile disappeared, a confused expression taking over his features. He arched an eyebrow slightly. "Um...yeah, I'm pretty sure," he told her, uncertainty apparent in his tone. His eyes widened a bit as he took a few more steps, realizing something. "I mean, unless you think there's something wrong, Nam. You know you can tell me anything." Roxas was positioned right in front of her now, his bright blue eyes looking deeply into hers. She could count on him, surely she knew that.

Kairi's forehead creased, the girl not quite understanding Namine's question. What she did understand, though, was Roxas's meaning behind things. She hoped Namine did as well.

 

Namine awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes darting to the ground. "I..." she bit her lip, stopping herself. But then she decided that she REALLY needed to know what was going on here; she couldn't stand the confusion that she felt in her heart. "I feel like I've forgotten something...really important." She took in a breath before summoning the courage to continue. "I'm sorry; it seems like you're good friends, but...I don't remember..."

Sora's eyes widened slightly, but he stayed silent. Namine...forgot her friends? That's what it sounded like she was saying.

 

Roxas's eyes widened even more, caught off guard. "What...? What do you mean, Namine?" The message wasn't clear here. Did she forget something, like what happened yesterday...or did she forget them?

Kairi wasn't sure what to make of what Namine said. There could have been many possibilities of what she had forgotten. But...there was something within her telling her there was one very important forgotten memory.

 

Namine blinked away the tears in her eyes, avoiding eye contact with any of the others. "I don't remember anything," she blurted out. "Yesterday, the last week...any of my past...my friends...whenever I try and remember something, I find that I can't." I'm scared, she thought to herself, not saying that aloud. What's wrong with me? Obviously I know these people, so why can't I remember...?

 

Kairi's eyes grew, her heart skipping a beat at the news. How...how could she forget them? Anything? It was a terrible thing to hear, and the redhead wasn't sure how to respond.

Every word... Every word made Roxas more stiff, the boy now frozen where he was. He couldn't move, immobilized by his fear. "...W-wha--? Why--? But...but how could this...?" He was stuttering, not able to even finish what he wanted to ask. It was useless... Namine...she didn't remember him?

 

Sora was as frozen as his two other friends were. Namine...forgot them? How was that even possible?

Namine's lower lip started to tremble and she turned away completely, tears starting to flow now. There was no point trying to stop them now--it was obvious these people cared about her, and she was hurting them. "Sorry," she whispered, wiping at one of her tears. It killed her inside knowing there was nothing she could do to make things alright again. Except to remember...but how was she supposed to do that.

 

Roxas didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't something she could control, and it wasn't her fault. These things happened--people forgot things about their lives. But...not this severely; that was what set this apart from anything else. Roxas stared at the back of Namine's head for a moment before he lowered his eyes, disbelief heavily taking over him.

Kairi let her eyes fall to the ground, the girl biting her lip. Her friend's memory...it was gone.