Kokoro

ココロ

Chapter One

"Kiseki"

"Now…Open your eyes."

I opened these "eyes" that this voice was telling me about. A bright flash of "light" was all I saw, until the blur faded.

I was in a room. The wall were dark, though you could see everything without a problem. There was a large computer, giving off a cyber-blue light into the room. Papers were scattered everywhere, along with scientific equipment. Wires were spread out everywhere, including hanging from the ceiling. I was not uncomfortable looking at all of this, because this is what made me.

I looked down at myself. I was tall, wearing a plain grey jacket and matching pants. My hand has a weird black and white strap onto it. It might be a program…I thought to myself. Yes, I can think. I am not just a robot. I am what they call…Kiseki.

I looked up, and that is when I first realized someone else was in the room. A tall, thin man, wearing a black button-up shirt, but the top buttons were undone, and dark pants. He had flaming red hair put into a spiky-like fashion, and bright green eyes that made him look like….What is it called…"Christmas."

He was studying me, and I stood still to let him. I knew that this man was my creator. He was the one that brought me into this world.

"Good morning," he said. His voice was deep and heavy, perfect for his appearance, but his mouth curved upward in a look that I had never heard of; that knowledge was not programmed into me. I tried to imitate him, but I could not.

"Good morning," I replied back. My voice was new to me, but I did not startle myself. It was soft and light, but still sounding like a boy, which is what the creator made me.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked, his eyes filled with something called "concern." He obviously cared for me in some way or another. I was clueless in that room about emotion. I did not have it.

"Yes, you are my professor," I replied monotonously. The knowledge was sweeping over me now, I was starting to figure out a lot of essential things just as I was standing there. I was even starting to learn the creator's name.

"Is the system working properly?" he asked. He must have an inquisitive mind, I thought to myself. "There is no problem with the system." He did the upward mouth thing at me again. "Then…You're name is…Roxas."

Roxas…I mulled over my new name. I did not know what "Roxas" meant, for every name has a meaning, but I did not think further into it, because the creator knew what was best for me. I instantly knew that without the help of a programmer.

"My name is Roxas," I repeated out loud to drive it into my artificial mind. He did the face to me again, the one with the curved mouth, and he led me out of the room, the laboratory. His hand felt firm yet soft onto my wrist as he led me, and I walked with him, eyes lingering onto the area. The laboratory emptied into a large library filled with thousands of books, articles, and other things filled with information that I hoped to read one day.

He led me to one of the tables and motioned for me to sit. I did so, and he sat right next to me.

"Roxas, this is the library. You're welcome to read and borrow anything in it. You are also allowed to roam the house whenever, I will not let you be cooped in the same room day after day," he explained. I nodded, meaning that I understood everything he said. He would've wanted me to, I know I wouldn't want one of my experiments to be a failure.

"I'll be working most of the day, but you are welcome to keep me company at your own will, and I will take care of you. I'm here to help you, Roxas…" I nodded again, and spoke out. "I will help you, too, Professor." His name slid through my mouth in an almost pleasant manner, but I felt nothing from this. He obviously did, for his mouth curved more, and he looked…"happy."

Tilting my head slightly, I asked him, "What are you doing with your mouth, Professor?" His face fell slightly, obviously confused. Then it struck him: he remembered that I had no emotion, so I did not know these things.

"I was smiling, Roxas. Smiling is what you do when you're happy, it shows emotion," he said briefly. He did not mind though, he wanted me to learn. "Ohh.." I understood now. "Smiling" is what everyone does. Everyone but me, because I did not feel "happy." I wanted to, it seemed interesting.

"Come," he said suddenly, standing up. I did the same. "I'll lead you to your room, and you can change in more comfortable clothes." He took my wrist again and led me out of the library. We walked past hallways, doors, stairwells, until we entered the main room. It was dark an empty. Two stairwells were leading into the east and west wing. The Professor led me up the one to the west wing. We turned a few corners until we reached a door. He let go of my wrist, and pushed the door open. "Roxas, this is your room."

I walked in slowly, taking in the surroundings. The walls were sand colored, shelves standing against them in various places. There was a closet and a few drawers for clothing. The bed was made and it had a star-shaped pillow on top of it, as well as regular pillows for comfortable resting. There various objects for amusement around the room, even a tiki-shaped tissue holder onto the nightstand. I really liked the room, it felt really comfortable in a sense.

"Thank you…" I said to the Professor, turning around to face him. He "smiled" again. "It was no trouble. I'll let you get dressed, I'll be in the library if you need me." And with that. He walked out of the room, closing the door shut behind him.

I immediately started exploring the room. I laid on the bed for a few minutes, picked up everything I could to study it and poke it, got myself stuck in the closet behind a layer of clothes and my foot trapped in a box, and dropped the tiki-tissue holder twice. I better be more careful, I advised myself. Items can be a death trap. Then I figured I outta find something to wear so I could meet the Professor in the library before he would think that I shut down on him.

I dug through the closet again, careful not to get stuck again, and pulled out a white vest with a black and white checkered pattern at the bust line, a black shirt to go under it, pants and sneakers. It took me a few tries to put on the clothes properly, but I finally got it right. I noticed a small mirror on one of the shelves, and I picked it up to look at myself fully.

I had the build of a sixteen year old boy, which was on purpose, thanks to the Professor. I had spiky blond hair, but not as spiky as the Professor's, and bright blue eyes. The vest, shirt, and pants fit perfectly, and I looked decent. Wiping a smudge of dirt off of my face, I set the mirror down and walked out of the room.

I remembered exactly where the library was so I had no problems with this feat. As I opened the door, I saw the Professor sitting at one of the tables, a book propped open at his visual and he was taking notes.

I walked over. He must not have noticed me, because he jumped as I said, "Professor, what are you doing?"

Sighing in relief, he said "I'm doing some research on a special project for you. And please, call me Axel. That's my real name."

"Okay…Axel." The name slid out of my mouth smoothly and it felt very good. Not to me, but obviously to him, because he smiled again.

"Come, sit with me. Don't feel as if you need to be invited," he said, motioning yet again to the chair at his side. I sat and watched him work, often taking glances at the book. My program had installed reading while I was stuck in the closet, so I could understand some of the words in the book, but not all since it was tilted in a way that I could barely see.

I did see some of what he was researching. Data based on emotions, feelings, and other personal things. I did not know why he was looking over these things, I did not have them. So what was the point?

Then again, I knew better than to judge the Professor's--I mean Axel's--knowledge. He may be doing this for my own good. But why?

I was a bit hesitant to ask. I don't know why, but I was. It seemed like hours later before Axel sighed and shut the book. He stuffed his notes into a folder, and I stood up. "Is something wrong, Axel?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, I figured I'd stop with work and show you around Twilight Town for a while." He smiled and motioned for me to follow him. I did so and he led me out of the house.

The sun was so bright that I had to cover my eyes for a few seconds. When I stopped, I saw everything. There was a large gate leading to the outside world, and boy, was it green. The forest stretched out for miles, looking as if it would never end. In the distance I saw a large clock tower looking over a small town.

"That's the Dark Forest, and the clock tower you see is part of Twilight Town, our home," Axel explained to me. "It looks…big," I said slowly. He chuckled slightly. "It's actually small, but big enough to live. You're funny, Roxas." He was smiling again. I didn't know what was so "funny" but I figured it was a human thing. So I did not ask. I'd probably learn later anyway.

When we finally walked into the town, Axel showed me all of the good places to buy stuff and where to eat at. I was built with a system that allowed me to eat food, so I felt more normal than most robots built by other people. When we reached an ice cream store, he asked me if I wanted anything. I pointed to a blue popsicle called "sea-salt ice cream."

"Trust me, you might not like it…" Axel warned as I took a bite. Sea-salt ice cream became my favorite from then on.

Then we walked to take a look at the train station, where Axel said that the trains carried people over to the beach, where he had never been. The beach sounded a bit interesting, but I didn't want to go anytime soon. There was a thief out, so it wouldn't be much fun if someone stole your belongings while you were splashing in the water.

As we walked back to the other side of town after the train station, I accidentally bumped into a boy with blond hair and hazel eyes.

"Oww!" he exclaimed after we both collided with the sidewalk. When we both got up, he pointed an accusing finger at me. "Watch where you're going!"

"Hayner, don't be so rude!" A chubby boy with brunette hair ran up to us along with a girl, her brown hair tied in two braids. The girl turned to me and Axel. "Sorry about him, he's very mean at times. Are you two new? I don't think I've seen you around here…" she said as the chubby boy tried to calm the boy Hayner down.

"We live up in the woods," Axel explained. "My name is Axel, and this is my friend Roxas." I nodded in agreement. Obviously he didn't want anyone to know I was a robot. I don't know why, though…

"It's nice to meet you!" the girl exclaimed. "My name is Olette." The chubby boy dragged Hayner back over to the rest of us. "Pence here," he said, smiling. Hayner gave out a smirk. "And I'm Hayner. Well, we gotta go. See ya around, new guys!" All three of them ran off without another word.

"Weird kids around here, huh…" Axel mused. Then he looked back at me. "Come on, it's getting late." We both started walking back to the forest.

On the way there, I thought for a moment, and finally asked the question I've been meaning to ask. "Axel…What kind of project are you making for me?"

He stopped in his tracks. Turning to me, he placed his hands on my shoulders. The touch felt warm for some reason. "Roxas…I'm trying to make kokoro."

I tilted my head. "What is kokoro…"

"Kokoro…It is what will give you emotions and feelings…Kokoro is the heart."

The heart…He's going to make me a heart…"But…why are you going through all of this…to make me a heart…?" I couldn't stop myself. I wanted to know. Why was I so important to him?

Axel kneeled down so we could look eye to eye. He smiled at me, but it had a more kind twinge to it other than just being happy. That was when he hugged me. I froze up, not knowing what to do, so I just stood there, standing as he hugged me.

"Because, Roxas…You are my kiseki…You are my miracle."

I hope you liked it! I based it off of the song "KOKORO" by Vocaloid. I was really touched by the song and somehow it made me think of these two. I'll try my best to continue the series. Please review and rate!!! AKUROKU FOREVER!!!