Roxas went through the Central Square, not at all bothering with his surroundings. He was wondering why Lea refused they left Radiant Garden, was there something out there worse than the Heartless? If there were, then what was it? it must be pretty scary if even Lea refuses to leave before his strength has fully returned.

Roxas did not have more time thinking about it, for seconds later, after collide with someone else. Roxas found himself on his butt and dizzy from the sudden collide "sorry" he said and turned to the one he had bumped into.

Roxas eyes wide in a gasp, for the person he has bumped into looked exactly like him! the only diffidence was the clothing, but even that looked more or less the same. he has seen this guy before, this was Ventus.

his look alike Ventus smiled back to him "that´s alright... hey I know you" the boy said when first now got a better look at the very baffled Roxas.

Roxas blinked "you do?" he asked and got on his feet as well as his look alike. They have never met in person, or have they?

Ventus nodded with a smile "yeah, we met, sorta" he admitted and crossed his arms with a slight frown "you were unconscious, so I guess this is actually the first time we meet"

Roxas did not answer, still trying getting used to there was someone before him with that face. But why should he be surprised? After all, everything about him was from someone else…

"I´m Ventus, but most call me Ven" Ventus presented himself with a big smile. well, Roxas could tell their personalities were pretty different, Ventus was so… cheerful.

"I´m Roxas" Roxas said, he crossed his arms in thoughts, then asked "how is it you—"

"Ven!" someone suddenly called and both boys turned to Mickey who smiled in great relief "you´re awake!"

"Mickey!" Ventus called happy and Mickey ran over to the boy, they both began chattering like real good friends.

Roxas stood baffled, not sure how to react on this sudden reunion. "um…"

Ventus and Mickey stopped their chattering and Ventus said kind of embarrassed of leaving Roxas out "oh, Mickey, this is my new friend Roxas"

"friend?" Roxas asked confused and Ventus nodded "yeah, we´re friends, right?" he asked and sat smiling his hands behind his head.

Roxas did have gotten more friends here in Radiant Garden, but with them it had been weeks before any of them called each other friends, and Ventus, who only have met him, called him a friend already? just like that?

He did not answer Ventus, not sure he should agree with his look alike or just tell the boy he did not see him as a friend, not yet at least.

"gosh, you DO really look identical"

Roxas blinked and looked down to the mouse."I know" he said and turned back to Ventus, admitting "something I need getting used to"

"same here!" Ventus grinned with hands behind his head, "but I think it´s pretty awesome too" suddenly Ventus smile faded slightly when he saw someone behind Roxas, but seconds later, Ventus laughed waved to someone behind "hey, Lea!"

Lea who stood also pretty baffled over the scene, seeing Ventus speaking with Roxas like nothing was wrong and Roxas didn´t have his appearance. However, he did quickly get over it and went over to the small group "I didn´t know you were here Ventus" Lea said to the boy with a smile.

"you know him?" Roxas asked the older male who nodded "yeah, we met each other when I was on your age"

Roxas frowned "why didn´t you tell me?" his eyes harden "was it the reason you befriended me?"

better stop this before Roxas would blow a fuse, "whoa easy with the accusations Roxas, I have never seen you and Ventus as the same person" he told the boy and added a little embarrassed he actually forgot Ventus "I uhh, only remembered Ventus when I saw him in CO"

"CO?" Ventus asked, not at all seeing to be bothered that Lea forgot about him.

Roxas made a quick explanation that CO was a short name for Castle Oblivion.

the fire wielder eyed Ventus, a little surprised over the boy wasn´t bothered of being forgotten "you don´t seemed upset I forgot about you"

Ventus shrugged casually "we only met once, and that was very quick, so it´s no big deal." He smiled up to Lea "for you did remember our little promise"

now it was Roxas turn to ask "what promise?" and Ventus repeated what Lea said back then "something about: I´ll see you when I see ya, because, we´re friends now"

"let me guess" Roxas friendly interrupted "he used his "got it memorized" as the last touch?"

"yup!" and both blonds chuckled.

Lea rolled his eyes, at least they seems to be on good terms with each other and that´s good. Roxas was known to get quickly confused and angry if he didn´t get the answers he was looking for. Lea´s smile faded slightly when Roxas began asking Ventus about his past "how was Lea as a kid?"

Ventus eyed Lea who wasn´t sure if he liked that intense stare or not, it was like Ven looked right into his soul, it made him wonder if Ventus still saw the childish upbeat and what Isa would obnoxious brat he was back then? Deep inside, he did hope he was the same as Ventus saw him the first time they met.

after a few painfully moments of waiting, Ventus smiled turned back to Roxas "more or less the same, I guess"

"you guess?"

Ventus chuckled embarrassed "hey, I only met him once, and back then, he challenged me to a childish fight, I won of course" he added with a grin up to Lea who protested with just as big a grin "hey, it was a draw"

"right, although I do agree with Isa on that one, where is he anyway?" Ventus asked, first now realizing that Isa wasn´t around. Lea gasped and turned away. of course Ventus knew about Isa, back when they were kids, him and the blue haired never was far from each other back then. While now… could the void between them ever be repaired? He turned away from the boys and the small king, hoping they haven´t seen the pain in his eyes "he´s… not around"

"whose Isa?" Roxas asked and Lea was somehow happy that Roxas haven´t yet seen the connection between Isa and his Nobody Saix, but Roxas was a smart kid and it would only be in matter of time before the cat was out from the bag.

he sighted and briefly told the boy "Isa was a childhood friend of mine." Better tell half the truth before Ventus gives more information he did not want to reveal, not yet at least. "our friendship was broken when… I turned into a Nobody" he had been close to say "we" but had succeed correction himself in the last second.

"okay" Roxas nodded. Both him and Lea saw the hurt stare Ventus gave Lea "I´m sorry Lea"

Lea just nodded, forced a smile and asked Mickey, trying to change to subject "so, what are you doing here?"

"I was going to speak with Ansem the wise" Mickey said and added more seriously "he may have information about where to find Xehanort"

"whose Xehanort?" Roxas asked Lea, but it was Ventus who replied with a angry voice "a very evil and powerful Keyblade master. " he hesitated and sat his hand up to his chest "Aqua told me, he did something really bad against Terra. Trapping him inside the darkness"

Mickey nodded and said to the blond "he´s our enemy and it´s our duty to stop him and save our friends"

Roxas did not get all of this, all he did know from Ventus´s and Mickey´s explanation; that this Xehanort was an enemy and he has done something bad against Ventus´s friend. That made him wonder "do you think he got Xion too?"

Lea gasped when Roxas asked that question, but he kept quiet and letting Ventus and Mickey exchange a glance, before Mickey replied "it could be possible"

"then, we have to find Xehanort!"

this time, Lea stepped in before Roxas would do something really reckless, that was Lea´s job, not the boy´s "whoa there, you´re not ready to face Xehanort"

"Lea is right" Mickey said and turned his eyes up to Ventus "none of us are"

Ventus nodded in agreement, Aqua had told him everything and how much it counts they are strong enough to face thirteen powerful Seekers of Darkness. this was a fight they just couldn´t lose. "Mickey and Lea are right Roxas, we´re not ready to face them just yet"

Lea sighted in relief, seeing that Mickey´s and Ventus´s words seemed to calm Roxas down. however, he knew he couldn´t keep Roxas in the dark. Maybe it was time to show him more of the truth. Lea turned to Mickey "mind we go with you up to the castle? I need to speak with Ienzo about a few things."

"sure!" Mickey smiled "we can all go together!"

Lea nodded and glanced down to Roxas with a more seriously smile "I think it´s time you meet some old faces"

Roxas blinked, not sure what he meant.