7 - Nobody's Concern

I apologize for the long hiatus prior to posting this chapter.

I'd sort of well... lost interest and got involved in other projects and I got caught up in other games, too.

I do hope to get this series finished or somewhere close, so don't worry :D

# # #

The day started off as always; Roxas woke up to the blank white ceiling of his room, quickly getting up and jumping out of his bare bed. Opening the equally lifeless door, he walked silently down the bland grey hall into The Grey Area.

Before Roxas could even stop and look around the room, he was quickly greeted by one of the Members.

"Good morning, Roxas," he said, brushing away some of his unkempt, light blue hair. The Member had a slim build, and looked a little younger than most of the other Members. Across his face was a frown befitting his uncaring voice, one of his dead serious, blue eyes mostly hidden by hair. By his side, he was holding a large, dark book.

"I am No. VI, Zexion," he introduced bluntly. "I shall be joining you on your mission today. Take care of what you need to do, and then check in with Saïx." He opened up his book and began reading at a quick pace. Roxas spotted the Organization's symbol on the front, followed by several strange characters. "I am all ready to go."

With that, Zexion turned and walked away to one of the grey couches, still reading that odd book.

As per his usual routine, Roxas decided to converse with the Members currently present in the room before work.

By one of the couches stood No. V, Lexaeus. He was definitely one of the physically strongest Members Roxas had met, with a large, muscular build accompanied by a gallant face. His arms were crossed and eyes closed, as if in deep thought. He would not say a word to Roxas, which didn't really surprise him.

Standing proudly by the window was Marluxia, gazing out at the moonless sky of The World That Never Was. Upon seeing Roxas, he turned quickly and looked at the younger Member with such fascination. "The Keyblade wielder's power..." Marluxia said in an interested tone, "How fascinating." He then tucked back a lock of his pink hair, and turned to observe the sky once again.

Lastly, Roxas decided to speak with Zexion once more, who was still on the couch reading the large black book. "If you've finished preparing, you need to report to Saïx, not me," he said, turning a page lazily.

Roxas took his word and spoke to Saïx by the middle of the window. The blue-haired Nobody turned and summoned a Corridor of Darkness, telling Roxas to do his best in a nonchalant expression. Roxas walked into the dark sphere, enveloped by its smoke and soon disappearing altogether.

# # #

Out of the Dark Corridor, Roxas and Zexion stepped out onto the quiet ground of Twilight Town. The bright setting sun was becoming familar to No. XIII, who basked in its orange, welcoming light. It shone on several tall buildings around the two Nobodies, casting large shadows on their already dark faces.

Zexion turned to catch Roxas's attention. "Your mission is to eliminate a set quantity of Heartless," he informed. "The Organization may call upon you to meet other objectives - perform recon, for example." Roxas wondered what recon was with a puzzled face. Zexion continued. "But regardless of the task you have been given, your primary orders still hold. You and that Keyblade of yours serve us best by collecting hearts."

Roxas pondered for a moment, then looked back at No. VI. "So, even if I'm given another job, I should keep taking out Heartless while I do it?"

Zexion nodded. "Correct. Today, however, the two happily coincide. Your mission is to eliminate seven Heartless. Quite simple, is it not?"

"Yes," Roxas replied.

"Alright then. We shall begin." With that, Zexion opened his large black book. He reads everywhere he goes? Roxas wondered.

Roxas summoned the Keyblade, grasping the silver handle with both hands.

The two ran down a dark brown trail to their right, Zexion still holding out his open book. In only a few steps, a small yellow Heartless popped up before them. It was cloaked in a yellow robe and pointy orange hat, making its black head look as if it were cast in shadow. Yellow, beady eyes blinked and stared at the Nobodies.

The Heartless floated up, a yellow aura suddenly surrounding it. A few seconds later, some stray bolts of lightning struck the ground, just faintly missing Roxas and Zexion. The former was stunned for a moment, but used the opening to rush up and strike the Heartless with two swings from the Keyblade. The mage-like creature fell to the ground, evaporating into a black smoke, a glowing heart floating out and into the open sky.

"Good work," Zexion complimented. "Keep that up and this mission will be finished quickly."

# # #

Roxas and Zexion continued about their work, navigating both the roads and rooftops in search of Heartless.

After the seventh Heartless disappeared and released its captive heart, Roxas willed the Keyblade to leave and turned to Zexion.

"All done. I defeated the number of Heartless you said. Now we get to RTC, right?"

Zexion looked at the younger Member with some disbelief. "Leave, already?" He closed his book. "I, for on, would apply myself a bit more."

"But I-"

"Yes, yes, you did as your were asked. Mission accomplished... but..."

He turned to his left, where another of the yellow, mage-like Heartlesses appeared.

"As you can plainly see," Zexion said, pointing to it, "There are still Heartless wandering about." As he finished his sentence, the Heartless quickly disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Zexion looked back at Roxas. "You don't have to eliminate them all. It's your choice. Just like I don't have to respect you for slinking back to the castle while there's still work to be done." He said this last point with a hint of contempt. "And if that doesn't matter to you, just remember the Organization rewards those who make the extra effort."

Roxas thought for a moment. "I... guess I don't have much else to do, so I'll continue."

"Good choice," Zexion said with a slightly lighter expression. "Starting good work ethics early will pay off in the long run. Let us move, then, before we waste too much time here."

# # #

The two once again traversed the section of the town, finding and eliminating some Heartless they hdan't seen before.

With the last of these extra enemies felled, Zexion closed his book. "Much better. I trust you'll exhibit equal diligence in your missions going forward." He outstretched his gloved hand, summoing a Dark Corridor. He turned to Roxas before entering.

"Yeah, umm... Just what is Kingdom Hearts? Marluxia said it was some kind of... force." Roxas had been thinking about this since yesterday, when the pink-haired Member had mentioned it.

"Yes...?" Zexion asked.

"And when I defeat the Heartless, those hearts pop out and become part of Kingdom Hearts, right? But like, what's the point?"

Zexion looked up to the orange-hued sky. "Kingdom Hearts will complete us," he said with more force than usual. "That's the Organization's goal."

"Complete us?" Roxas still didn't comprehend all of this. "Complete us how?"

"Roxas, you and I and all the Organization's members are what we call Nobodies."

"Well, that's not very nice," Roxas said in a slightly annoyed tone.

Zexion shook his head. "With a capital N. It's a name, for those of us who are missing a vital piece of who we are," He pointed to his chest. "A heart."

Roxas looked down at his own chest, feeling it with his left hand. "I don't have a heart?" It was a strange revelation, and confused him further.

Zexion nodded, resting his chin on his hand. "Correct. Like all of us, you entered the world without one. But you can help us get them. Kingdom Hearts is made of the very things we lack - a multitude of hearts.

"It has the power to complete us. Are you starting to see why you're so important? Each of us has a vital role in the Organization. Yours is collecting hearts."

Roxas thought this over for a moment. "Yeah, I get it."

"Well, I just hope we count on you to "get it" done." He turned towards the Dark Corridor. "Any more questions?"

Roxas hung his head and shook it. "No... sorry."

"Then we should be getting back." Zexion gestured towards the Corridor. "Come on."

The two Nobodies walked into the dark sphere and disappeared with it. All the while, Roxas thought of what it meant to have a heart.

I found out that I was a Nobody - that I was incomplete. Just like the rest of them, I came into the world without a heart. Would it have made a difference? If I had a heart... would that make me sombody?