Important Author Note: I know I promised this chapter to be long, but I still have plot issues to work out. I'm sorry, but I've just been preoccupied.


3rd


"What the hell!" Roxas growled, catching Namine before she hit the ground. He held her close, protectively. "Was that necessary?" Xemnas chuckled.

He walked to the side of the ship, gazing a the massive void of darkness in front of them. A sadistic grin was starting to show on his lips. "Axel, sail straight. Roxas, you're coming with me," he said, and motioned for the pirate to follow him down to Roxas' own cabin.

Great... we're all screwed, Roxas thought, taking a seat at the table, but refusing to let Namine go. She was still unconscious, which ticked Roxas off immensely.

"News around town is that Namine was seen on land," Xemnas stated, leaning back in his own chair. Roxas was disgusted, why did he look so carefree and smug? "Even after my specific orders to keep her on board?"

Roxas glared at him, "You don't think it would seem odd, to have only one crew member docked, while the others were on land. I thought that would seem suspicious. Besides, what if heartless attacked, they would go straight for her."

Xemnas sighed. "Don't take me for a fool, Roxas. I know you've gotten close to her, though perhaps I can use that."

Roxas remained silent. Xemnas chuckled again.

"Where are we going?" Roxas asked, not looking up at Xemnas. "The void, what is it?"

"Research," Xemnas replied.

"Research?" Roxas asked timidly. The atmosphere was too tense, he hated it.

"Yes. I suppose you could call it subspace. A demention being covered by darkness, ruled by Yours Truly," Xemnas said, both his voice and his grin was smug.

Roxas' grip around Namine tightened. "And you don't think anyone would...notice?" He asked, raising his eyebrow, trying not to show his disgust.

"No," Xemnas answered immediately. "Not if we have her." Xemnas pointed over to Namine. Roxas flinched back, and Namine stirred in his arms. "Oh, looks like the princess is finally waking."

Roxas glanced down, and moved Namine's hair out of her eyes. She wasn't awake. "What does this have to do with her? What's going to stop every single navy ship from sailing right on through and giving us everything they've got?

Xemnas wasn't even phased. "Her little ability, has she told you yet?" He chuckled again, loving the confusion on Roxas' face. Everything was according to plan, it was working all to well.

Roxas' glare turned blank. "...what...ability?"

"How she can tamper with the minds of those that are closest to her, play with people's memories," Xemnas said, Roxas was speechless. "Oh, she didn't tell you?" Xemnas seemed to be enjoying himself. Roxas, on the other hand, was still in shock. If she could tamper with memories, could she do the same with feelings? Feeling he could do nothing else, he gazed out of one of the windows, trying to loose himself in the waves.

No, Roxas thought. She wouldn't.

He was hesitant to think so at first, that the past few days were real. But the way she refused Leon, everything. Namine wouldn't do that to him, right?

"No matter, I'm sure your memories are safe. Sora's, on the other hand, wont be," Xemnas said, looking fondly at Namine, as if she were a tool rather than a person.

Roxas now found his anger boiling. Maybe it was because of what Xemnas wanted Namine to do, because he knew it would hurt her in the end. Or, perhaps it was becuase he was just trying to use her. Either way, it ticked him off. "What make's you think she will cooperate?" Roxas asked, hardly able to keep his temper under control. He wanted to leap across the table, possibly throw Xemnas off the ship, but he knew he couldn't. It would end badly for the both of them if he did. The ship rocked, and he resisted the urge to curse Axel. Why were the waters so rough? Now that he thought about it, it was much darker than it should be for this hour... He pushed the thought aside.

"I'm sure she won't mind," Xemnas said, giving Roxas one of those evil smirks of his. He knew he wouldn't say much more than that, though Roxas had a few ideas of what he might do to convince her.

I'm such an idiot, Roxas thought. This is all my fault.

"I'm guessing you're staying here then?" Roxas asked, his own bitterness becoming more evident in his voice. Xemnas shook his head.

"I'll be around, though for now I'll take my leave. I have much more important matters to take care of before I implement the rest of my plan. I expect you to comply with it, Roxas. If you don't... well, I'm sure you know," Xemnas said, daring Roxas to object. When he remained silent, his grin returned and he got up, exiting through another portal.

Too stunned to move, Roxas just sat there, clutching Namine as if there was nothing else he could do.


Author Note:

Uhh, the length is killing me. I hate writing ones that are so short. And I'm really, really sorry for taking so long to update, but I had writers block. I'm sorry.