AD: Here's the ninth chapter of Destiny's Gust. Hope you guys like it. And just to answer several questions, I'm not entirely sure if the entire game will be typed out. I skipped the beginning because I'm not typing like it's Roxas's first days in the organization and I had to get Axel out on the mission for Namine. Don't worry; she'll come into play even if it's not in the actual game. Enjoy the newest chapter!
Disclaimer: I especially don't own Kingdom Hearts or some of the words and ideas for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
Roxas entered the Grey Area as usual to gather today's mission info and head out. Today he found Demyx, Xigbar, and, strangely, Xion talking. Though Xion said nothing as the other two Nobodies did the talking.
Demyx laughed (Please excuse the sudden character change in Demyx...I tried my best to fit it in.) "I have to say this place is, like, a hundred times better minus everyone else, right? Though it's still a tragic loss."
"…" Xion had nothing to say in reply.
Xigbar nodded. "Yeah, damn those bossy coworkers."
"Bossy coworkers?" Roxas asked coming into the conversation.
Demyx turned towards him. "Yeah, the "Dream Team" that got shipped off to Castle Oblivion. Dreamy for me, they're gone! Didn't anyone tell you?"
"Oh…" It seemed like everyone had heard about it. Roxas had overheard a few conversations in the hallways, but he didn't want to believe any of it. Speaking of which, he had seen Claire talking to Demyx the other day. She looked sad. Looking closer, Roxas could see through Demyx's mask he had up. He was definitely hiding something.
Before he could say anything to Demyx, Xigbar interrupted saying, "Too bad you and Poppet didn't get to spend more quality time with them."
"Poppet? Who's that?"
Xigbar laughed. "Xion, of course. Who else, kiddo?"
"My name's not kiddo," Roxas corrected clearly irritated by the nickname.
Demyx looked over Roxas's shoulder making Roxas turn around to see Saix approaching.
"Get to work Roxas," he ordered before walking away.
Ignoring the order, Roxas turned back to Demyx. "Can I talk to you? Seeing the others look at them funny, Roxas added, "Alone?"
"Sure," Demyx said following him into the hallway. "What is it?" he asked when they were alone.
"What's wrong? Even I can tell something's up."
Demyx looked down and away. "I-it's nothing…really."
"I won't fight you, but I would be pleased if you would tell me." Demyx saw a threat in Roxas's eyes. Sighing, he knew he had to tell.
"Xemnas……he…did something to Claire. I know she's Xarla…I know it."
"I believe you. What's wrong with her?"
"Xemnas put her in a coma. He said she 'knew too much'. What do you think?" Demyx asked finally looking at Roxas.
"He must've been threatened by something," Roxas said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?"
"Xemnas wouldn't ever go to extreme measures like this unless something was threatening him."
"But Claire isn't threatening anyone, except stealing Xarla from me, but that's beside the point at the moment! She wouldn't, couldn't, hurt a fly! She can't use a weapon like the rest of us can. But…" Breathlessly, Demyx related what had happened a few nights ago with Claire disappearing into a portal.
"There's nothing we can do…I'm sorry, Demyx," Roxas said not knowing anything else to say. He knew if he didn't get mission info fast, Saix would be on his heels wanting to know why.
"You will be teamed with Xion again toady," Saix said when Roxas neared. Roxas nodded.
Today they were to defeat the deserters. "They were to known to become belligerent if you take down another of their number," as Saix and the report had said. Roxas rolled his eyes. It wasn't anything they couldn't handle.
The mission was easy. The duo found the deserters quickly. They were green soldiers that attacked by slashing with their claws. They were fast, but a combo with his Keyblade or Xion's fire magic defeated them easily though it was still time consuming to track them all down.
They stopped in front of the dark portal. "I've got someplace to be again," Roxas said. "Go on ahead without me." He walked away, expecting Xion to do as she was told.
"R…Roxas…"
"Huh?" Roxas whirled around startled. "What did you say?"
Xion still faced the portal. She turned around then. "Your name…it's…Roxas, isn't it?"
"Yeah, Xion…that's right." Roxas said a little surprised that she had spoken. Suddenly, he remembered the day he had received his name from Xemnas. His name had floated in the air in front of him. That was his first word, saying his own name.
He now sat up on the Clock Tower with a Sea Salt Ice Cream in hand. "My name…was that the first thing Xion's ever said?" I guess no Axel today…Maybe Demyx and Xigbar were right. Maybe the entire group sent to Castle Oblivion had been eliminated. Roxas sighed and went home.
*
Demyx held the Heart of Memories in front of him in his open palm. A golden mist swirled around it. He held it above Claire. The same gold mist formed around where her heart would be.
Xemnas gasped when he walked in though his face quickly turned emotionless. He slapped the Heart of Memories out of Demyx's hand somehow knowing it would ruin his plan. The Heart flew out of Demyx's hand and crashed on the floor shattering and releasing gold mist. The mist around Claire's chest disappeared.
"What have you done?!" Demyx cried. There went the only hope for returning Xarla, shattered on the floor.
"I have preserved my plan," Xemnas replied almost to himself. With that, he left.
Demyx stifled a sob and fell to his knees next to Claire and the broken Heart, cracked zigzagged right down the middle, the color had vanished from it. "Oh Xarla…what am I going to do now?" he cried into his hands.
Tears peeled off of his cheeks and the floor where some had splattered. Making a bubble, it engulfed the two pieces of the Heart and the smaller ones around it. The chain went through the top area of the bubble as it hardened hanging around his neck against his bare chest where he had unzipped his cloak.
A cold breeze caressed his cheek.
I am always with you, my dear.
