Been a while since you heard from me on this story, huh? Well, wait no longer! Chapter 4 is here! REVIEW!
Chapter Four: The Hunt For Roxas Begins
The screen showed a large town. Not many people were outside at this hour, and the sky appeared to be either welcoming the rising sun or falling prey to the darkness of dusk. The camera centered on a small marketplace with several buildings. One of them was an armory shop, one was a item shop, one building looked like a giant refrigerator, and the final memorable building had what seemed to be a floating pig hovering behind the counter. Other than the pig, no one was out and about in this area. The camera went up a stone stairwell that led behind some tall houses to an otherwise unmemorable back alley. A dark portal opened above said alley hidden out of sight from the alleged marketplace. Roxas fell out of the portal, landing softly on the ground. Looking up, Roxas saw the sky, unsure of what time of day it was currently.
"Weird…" Roxas thought. Roxas tried sitting up, but a hand extended down in front of him. Roxas gasped in surprise, but when he looked up, he saw Namine. Namine smiled.
"You are Roxas, correct?" Namine asked politely. Roxas just stared at Namine's face, seeing a glimpse of Xion as he did so.
"Xion…" Roxas thought. Snapping back to reality, Roxas grabbed Namine's hand as she pulled him up gently. Roxas winced at some of his aches and pains from his brutal loss against Xaldin.
"Who are you? You look…you look just like…" Roxas began. Namine's smile turned to a frown.
"Xion. I know," Namine finished. Roxas looked surprised.
"How do you know about her?" Roxas asked in awe. "And why do you look so much like her?"
"…Xion…was created off of Sora's memories as you know," Namine began. "But as for me…well…it's hard to explain…"
"Please tell me," Roxas pleaded. "Look, I know I seem torn up right now, but I must know. I must free Kingdom Hearts…"
Namine seemed to gasp slightly at Roxas's mention of his goal. "…free Kingdom Hearts?" Namine squeaked.
"It…was her last wish…" Roxas trailed off in the end. Namine stared at Roxas, and Roxas stared back. They both continued to look into each other's eyes, trying to figure out not only each other, but themselves and the world existing around them. Roxas shed a small tear as he remembered Xion, and Namine caught this change in emotion.
"Roxas…you're crying," Namine pointed out softly.
"…I guess I am…or aren't I? I can never really tell; I'm just a lowlife Nobody, not meant to exist…" Roxas explained in a low tone, as he stared at the ground. Namine sighed, and she took Roxas's hand.
"Come on, Roxas. My name is Namine. I can help you…free Kingdom Hearts. For Xion," Namine offered, feeling remorse over knowing what had happened to Xion not too long ago. Roxas looked up into Namine's eyes.
"You…will? But you aren't involved in this…" Roxas wondered.
"…come with me, Roxas. I know a safe place for now where we can hide at," Namine offered. As Namine helped carry a limping Roxas around the corner of the alleyway they landed in, Namine shed a tear herself.
"I'm sorry for lying, Roxas. I know I'm involved in this…but I will make things right…for you…and her…" Namine thought, almost shutting her eyes completely out of sadness.
"Fellow Organization…we have a dire problem upon ourselves," Xemnas announced. Sitting in their own respective gleaming white marble chairs in the room they were at, Xemnas looked around at the remaining Organization members. Other than Xaldin and Sai"X, there was also a blonde man with a mustache-goatee combo, a brunette-haired man who looked like a easy-going teenager, a red-headed man with spiky hair, and an old man with several scars on his face and an eyepatch over his right eye socket.
"Roxas has become a great threat to us, and without out Keyblader, Kingdom Hearts will never be complete," Xemnas explained. "As we also know, Sora, the Keyblade Master, is part of Roxas and Xion in a way. I have a plan to end the charade once and for all."
Everyone looked up in anticipation. The red-headed man looked grim as Xemnas announced his plan. "If we destroy Roxas, he will eventually return to Sora. Since Xion is infused with Roxas, Sora will awaken. If Sora awakes…" Xemnas explained.
"…then we can use him to our advantage," Xaldin finished. Xemnas looked down at his new second-in-command, slyly smiling.
"Good observation, Number III," Xemnas commented. Xaldin kept looking up at Xemnas, but a faint grin slashed across his face.
"And speaking of Number III, I am pleased to announce our new second-in-command. Xaldin here has proven himself more worthy than Number VII to be my right-hand man," Xemnas explained. The man with the eyepatch chuckled a bit. Sai"X turned to him angry.
"What's so funny, Xigbar?" Sai"X asked angrily. Xigbar, the old man, looked down at Sai"X.
"It seems the moon man just got demoted. What'd you do this time?" Xigbar taunted. Sai"X got enraged, but Xemnas silenced him by speaking up again.
"He lost to Roxas in the most embarrassing manner," Xemnas revealed. Everyone looked at Sai"X in disgust, but Sai"X could note a slight smile on the red-headed man's face for a second.
"But I have good news as well," Xemnas stated, catching everyone's attention. "Thanks to the events that have transpired, we have restarted the Replica Program to fill in the spots of the Organization that were eliminated so callously not too long ago."
Everyone looked up in awe, before the click of walking feet on linoleum tile caught everyone's attention. Looking down, everyone saw a being in a black cloak walk into the middle of the room, standing atop the Organization's splintered upside-down heart symbol.
"Please welcome the replacement of Vexen, and our new Number IV: Sin Juxt, the Stoic Ranger. Just like Vexen, we have given him the power over ice and all under the cold's control," Xemnas announced. Sin Juxt flipped down his hood, revealing a teenage boy's face. This teen, however, had a dark blonde hair color with gleaming green eyes. Sin Juxt was holding what seemed to be a crossbow and arrow combination as a weapon in his right hand. Sin Juxt looked up at Xemnas, eyes filled with nothing. Xigbar smiled.
"Well, he seems like a toughie, doesn't he?" Xigbar noted. Xemnas turned to Xigbar.
"Yes, and considering his weapon, I wish for you to be his mentor until I assign him his first proper mission," Xemnas ordered.
"No prob, boss man," Xigbar replied smoothly. Xemnas rolled his eyes, and he looked down past Sin Juxt. Walking up behind him was a tall and tough-looking figure. Flipping down his hood, one could see another teenage boy. This teen had flat, brown hair, and he was holding what seemed to be a large axe in his right hand. The teen also had several scars going down his black eyes to below his chin, creating a tiger-like effect.
"Our next new member is Lexaeus's replacement: Number V, Phosnext, Ruler of Earth. And, as the name suggests, his axe gives him control over the Earth and all its glory," Xemnas explained. Phosnext just looked around at his fellow Organization members. Sai"X looked down at Phosnext with curiosity.
"Sai"X, because of his weapon, I will assign you to him as a mentor. Please do not disappoint me; he looks to be promising," Xemnas commanded. Sai"X looked down sternly at Phosnext, who returned an equally-oppressive stare. The stare was broken when another Organization member walked in. This Organization member was just as tall as Phosnext, and he flipped down his hood, revealing a guy with flat, black hair and red eyes. This teen had a plain face, and he was holding what seemed to be a large X with the Organization's symbol at the end in his right hand.
"This one is Zexion's replacement: Number VI, Elinx, the Illusory Punisher. Again, like Zexion, he controls the illusions and memories of others. As for his mentor…I assign Luxord," Xemnas ordered, pointing to the blonde man with the mustache-goatee combo. Luxord just smiled evilly.
"So, fate has played you into my hand, has it? So be it; fate controls destiny, but destiny can be altered by mere decisions," Luxord, the goatee man, ominously stated. Elinx's eyes seemed to shine with interest over this man, but Elinx continued looking on, emotionless. The next Organization member that walked in already had his hood flipped down. This teenager boy had a face covered with evil-looking craters, most likely from popped pimples when he was a Somebody. The new teen also had flat, blonde hair, and he sported a mustache with a small amount of peach fuzz. The teen also was holding a spear, decorated with spikes on all parts of it, minus the handle.
"I would like to introduce Marluxia's replacement: Number XI, Alexx, the Dragon Assassin. We have given him power over the essence of life, like Marluxia. As for his temporary mentor, I will assign Demyx," Xemnas ordered. Demyx looked up at Xemnas with a pouty face.
"Aw, man. I have to work more! Jeez, THIS'LL be fun…" Demyx noted sarcastically. The next Organization newbie then walked in. This being was a short teenage boy with flat, brown hair. The teen had tanned skin, and he was holding what appeared to be a hand cannon in his right hand. The teen looked around, observing everything he saw.
"Our next member is Larxene's replacement: Number XII, Exsan, the Fate's Escapist. We have given him power over the Electronic Arts (isn't that a video game company?). As for his mentor, I will personally oversee him," Xemnas explained. This earned quite a small tone of confused voices to begin talking, but Xemnas silenced them all with the raising of his hand.
"We have two final members to introduce," Xemnas announced as the second-to-last member walked in. This member was the second-shortest of them all, only barely beating Exsan in height. This member had flat, brown hair, along with a pale face. This member had what seemed to be a staff embedded with black gemstones. At the tip of the staff was a white sphere with a grey Organization symbol floating in a strange mist inside the sphere.
"Our second-to-last member is the replacement of Roxas: Number XIII, Stexven, the Obliterator of Betrayal. He has been given the power over light, and I am sure he would be of good use to us. I am assigning to him Xaldin," Xemnas issued. Xaldin looked down upon Stexven, and Stexven looked back, emotionless. The final new member walked in slowly. This new member was the tallest of the newbies. The new member had golden-brown hair that was curly; it looked to form what seemed to be a simple puffy hairstyle. The new member did not have any weapon in hand, and he looked around, curious about his surroundings.
"This final member is our new Number XIV: Cxnik, Seeker Of Destiny. I will assign him Axel as his mentor," Xemnas explained. The red-headed man, Axel, looked up at Xemnas.
"Well, that's fine with me, but what about his powers?" Axel asked. Everyone else in the Organization looked up at Xemnas, who remained silent as he studied Cxnik's eyes. Sai"X recognized this expression immediately.
"Xemnas…do you even know his powers?" Sai"X asked. Xemnas continued to stare down at the new recruits of the Organization, as quiet as…nothing itself.
"So…we have gained progress, then reached a second standstill. Is this what I am hearing?" DiZ asked Riku. Riku turned to DiZ.
"Whenever Xion perished, she merged with Roxas. Of course, before she did, she was slowly losing some memories of Kairi, and they returned to Sora," Riku mentioned. "So, I would say Sora has been regaining his memory, albeit slowly. But unless we can get Roxas…"
"…Sora shan't ever awaken," DiZ concluded. Both Riku and DiZ stared at the pod that held the boy called Sora. Sora continued hovering above the ground in a sleeping trance-like state.
"…where do you think Roxas is now?" DiZ asked Riku again after 30 seconds of silence.
"Probably with Namine. There's no doubt she would go after Roxas first," Riku answered.
"Fine then. But that still doesn't answer my question," DiZ replied.
"…Hollow Bastion," Riku speculated. DiZ looked at Riku in surprise.
"Why would they be there?" DiZ wondered. Riku never revealed how he knew this, as he left in a dark portal as soon as he realized where they might be. When Riku left, DiZ just turned around and continued to stare at the sleeping Sora.
"…awake soon, Sora. You have an engagement that needs to be met," DiZ ordered the sleeping Sora, obviously expecting no response.
Axel was refurbishing the room for Number XIV while Xemnas explained to them their purpose, their weaponry, and the usual antics of the Organization. Axel sighed as he remade the bed for Number XIV, remembering who once slept here before Roxas left the Organization.
"…where is Xion at?" Axel wondered. "No one's told me anything…"
"Maybe that's your punishment for straying off the objective…" Sai"X ominously stated, walking into the room as he did so. Axel stared at Sai"X with great intensity, and Sai"X returned the stare.
"Lea…what happened to you?" Sai"X asked. Axel looked to his side for a second, then returned his gaze to Sai"X.
"I made new friends," Axel answered. Sai"X shook his head.
"I will never understand what you would've seen with that puppet and the boy," Sai"X remarked. "I truly thought you were insane, but perhaps the time away from both of them should do you good."
"Sai"X, tell me what you know, NOW," Axel commanded. Sai"X turned back to him, with an emotionless expression.
"You tell me why I should. I trusted you with our plan to figure out what Xemnas REALLY is planning, but your nonexistent friendship with those deserters ruined everything for us," Sai"X commented.
"…they were my friends," Axel stated.
"And wasn't I your friend? Or do I need to remind you what happened when you tried to take your own life when we were Somebodies?" Sai"X reminded Axel. Axel looked away, quiet. Sai"X uttered a low 'humph,' and he left the room. Axel's gaze stared down at Number XIV's bed, but then his eyes caught something. Putting his hand onto the bedspread, Axel felt a crinkle of paper being pushing down. Axel's eyes widened, and he carefully stuck his hand under the bedspread to get the mysterious object. Pulling out a folded-up piece of paper, Axel unfolded it and read the contents of the inside, which were scribbled down in neatly-handwritten ink. As Axel read it, Xion's voice was overheard in Axel's head as a voiceover.
This life has become too much for me. I can't remember much, but I know everything now. I was born at Castle Oblivion. I was introduced as Number XIV. But I was truly created by Vexen as a mere Replica; a puppet to be toyed with until I break. And I truly did break, all right. Not once, but several times. First I fought against the Organization faker, and I lost. Then I began collapsing and having weird dreams about the boy in red. And now…it's coming to an end. The boy in red is Sora. He's the connection of my destiny. The Organization faker…that's Riku. He helped me find myself and my destiny. I had to return to Sora, no matter what. I will not stand for Xemnas's ploy for Kingdom Hearts to succeed. Not because Riku persuaded me (although I admit it DID influence my decision), but because of the unanswered questions. I asked why I felt so strange all the time; no one explained it. I asked why I could wield the Keyblade; Sai"X dismissed it as a simple 'need-to-know' basis that didn't fall under what I needed to know. But I DO need to know. I need to know everything about me. I want to know who I am. And sometimes I felt I would collapse like a stack of paper under the pressure of it all…but there were two people who helped me, even to my final days as a member of this dreaded and forsaken Organization. Axel and Roxas. Especially Roxas. They came to my rescue when I forgot to use the Keyblade. Roxas spent his time working alongside me so I could remember how to use the Keyblade. Even whenever I was misled by Riku into attacking my own friends, they helped me return; even though know I should've just fought to my last breath, but I don't care. I do remember what happened the day after I was brought back; Roxas was mad at Axel for attacking me. He's so sweet; I never expected him to care about me like that. After all, he's a bit rough around the edges, but I guess I am too. I remember Roxas telling me that we're both special Nobodies, as Xigbar called it. I thought back then, it was because we could wield the Keyblade and capture hearts. But I now see what could be the true reason, although (unsurprisingly) no know ever explained it: maybe Roxas and I…still have hearts. Maybe even Axel, too. But that'd be stretching my opinions. But I definitely think Roxas has a heart. Mainly because of two reasons…one being that, just like me, he is a part of Sora. The other reason being…on the day when the Organization pit us against each other…(I truly feel embarrassed for saying this)…he kissed me. Simple as that. Axel had left, and I about to head back when I noticed Roxas staring at the sunset. He looked so serene, and his earlier conversation about us leaving the Organization…which we should've done right there, right then…I feel sad. I know what I must do, but it's so tragic for me…but I think Roxas would suffer worse. I remember whenever his power seemed to be ebbing away, he still helped me destroy Heartless as if he was 10x stronger. His heart is powerful…even if it isn't there. After all, the emotions we seem to exude…maybe they may not come from hearts, but they have to come from somewhere. And I bet it's from our memories. I know when Nobodies disappear, they leave nothing behind…but what if that's a lie? I think Nobodies do leave something behind: their memories. The memories are intangible to usual senses, but if one believes truly, the memories can be stored inside someone else, or it can be recreated whole. This brings me to my last resort: no matter what, the Organization won't let Roxas or I co-exist. If I go to him and try to destroy him, he'll overpower me. If I don't, the Organization will destroy him. They only need one Keyblader, and they don't care which. I know Roxas is strong. I know what I must do. I know my memories will still exist, hopefully inside Roxas, or maybe even inside Kingdom Hearts itself. I am through with this. I will attempt to destroy Roxas. He will kill me, but I don't care. I must return to Sora. This charade has to end. There's no other way…it has come to this, Roxas. If you are reading this, please let me say…if I could feel true emotions, I would say I loved you. You would probably say the same thing back. If we could continue living on like this, masterless and free, I would take you and flee to Destiny Islands. Maybe Axel, too, if he finds himself like we both have. I saw you take down Sai"X, Roxas. You are strong. You can stop the Organization. And no matter what, we will continue to exist. Even if our bodies are apart, our memories will still be held together. We will live on…
Axel stared, and he felt truly empty inside. Pocketing the note, Axel turned around and left the new Number XIV's room, as silent as the empty city of darkness residing below the Organization's castle.
Well, that's Chapter 4 for ya! I know I made up Axel's backstory as a Somebody, but I felt it would work. After all, in the end credits of KH 358/2 Days, it seems as if Sai"X is staring at Axel, as if he owes something to him. So, I felt this would work. And if you are crying from the note left by Xion, I don't blame you. The note I completely made from scratch, so I hope it was good. And, finally, the new Organization members are also OC's of mine, and their names are based off of characters I use in my comedic series Sonic's Reality Check. Anyways, read, review, and repeat! I need the feedback…