Kingdom Hearts: World Keeper [Re:Joined]

[B]ouquets From Sisters

With only the lanterns of a seating area and the moon available as light sources, it's quite a challenge to see properly. The wound on Lauriam's arm glitters minimally now that it spreads towards his hand. Yet it doesn't seem to hurt him as much as it used to.
"Is what you are looking for truly this important?"

Xemnas refuses to answer and only focuses to walk along the wooden pier and stare at the ground. It couldn't have fallen into the sea, could it?

Rolling alongside him, Emil starts to berate Xemnas with all sorts of questions, to which Xemnas tucks on his collar: "I need it as a reminder. That is all."
"Huh? Reminder for what?", Emil asks.
Xemnas stops and stares at the ball in front of his feet, slightly lifting his prosthetic: "So I never underestimate my enemies again."
"Oh, I get it. But doesn't it remind you of the day when... you know?"
"It does. And that is good.", Xemnas explains as he notices a small white and round object between the floorboards. It's stuck between two wooden planks, thank goodness. However he can't pool it out of the gap, turning to the others and Isa attempts getting it, but he also fails. Approaching with a confident smile, Davis bends down to the two who are now very desperate on getting it.

The brunette boy sticks his index finger inside and hooks around it, tugging until it plops out and rolls towards Isa. Xemnas grabs it as quickly as he can and stays frozen on the floor, with his hands on his chest. A sigh of relief from his side is enough of a hint that the search is over.
In his hand is a pearl. A painful reminder Davis suppressed thinking of. It is not only painful to Xemnas.

"No wonder you lost it, don't keep it loose like that.", Isa scolds. Davis first agrees and gulps: "Make a bracelet or something? I'm sure Vi, Naminé or Kairi can help you with that."
"I haven't thought of it.", Xemnas mumbles. "I might as well ask your sister."

Emil rolls on the edge of the pier, staring at his own reflection in the water. The sea is quite calm, low tide. Sister.
"Dodgeball? What's wrong, my friend?", Lauriam asks with a soft tone in his voice.
"I'm fine. Let's go back!", Emil shouts victoriously. He's the first one going through the corridor.

Ansem combs his silver hair back with his hands and just looks at the group, Xemnas holding his beloved possession up, Ansem acknowledges it and nods. Despite Xemnas not necessarily seeming that way, he is thankful towards the others for helping him find the white pearl, to which Isa apologizes: "If I didn't take you to the pier, you may not have lost it in the first place."
"It is alright.", Xemnas quickly adds on, claiming that Isa couldn't have known. It is normal for a loose object to get lost easily.

Davis now begins to wonder about the two: "Say, what exactly did you guys talk about?"
Isa and Xemnas look at each other, before Isa answers honestly: "An old friend Lea- uh- Axel and I used to know."
"I however do not remember her, nor what happened to her.", Xemnas mumbles in defeat, Ansem tilting his head: "You've asked me about it as well, but none of us recieved those memories. This part of our lives is a mystery to us now."

"You mean the time when Xehanort was an apprentice?", Lauriam asks out of curiosity and Ansem nods. "I fondly remember her face, but that is all."

Davis and Emil slowly back out of the conversation, as Lauriam sinks to the ground. The man trembles until he reaches for the table to support himself standing.
The boys take him from the main hall to the outside entrance area. The boys in this case meaning, Day dragging Lauriam out and Emil just rolling alongside them.

The three sit on the wooden bench, listening to grass hoppers chirping and breathing in the cool evening air, until Lauriam feels better again. Pulling up his sleeve, he stares at the new salt growing on his skin.
"Should I get El?", Emil wants to storm off, but Lauriam refuses. "I'll be alright."