This chapter took quite a while to do. But we're reaching the final chapter of the story now. What will happen now? Read on to find out.

But thanks again to everyone who has been favouriting, following, and reviewing this story.

Chapter 10: Sacrifice

I jumped when I heard the sound of footsteps charging down the corridor. I bit my lip, thinking it was Isa. However, I was relieved to see Namine dash through the door when it swung open violently. She seemed frightened though. She slammed the door shut, resting her forehead on the wood and panting heavily. Her hand stayed on the door.

"P-Professor Haibara… He was killed… W-We've lost…"

My eyes widened slightly in horror. He's… dead? I watched as Namine slowly sank to her knees, trembling horridly.

"Asou might not know about this place yet, but we've still lost. I lost m-my friends because of this!"

Namine looked like she was about to cry. I frowned worriedly. I wanted to do something to help, but I figured I wouldn't be too helpful.

"I-I'm sorry Kairi… I'm sorry Lea… And Riku… I tried everything I could, and screwed up! I-I'm so sorry…"

Namine's gaze seemed to fall onto her school bag. Moving her hand off the door, Namine rummaged through her bag and took out my CD-ROM. Her eyes began to fill with tears.

"I lost my friends over this stupid thesis!"

She angrily threw the CD-ROM across the room. I watched silently as it landed beside my foot unscathed. My gaze went back to Namine. Her hands were in her lap now. Her head was hung towards the floor sadly. Her hair completely covered her face. She was still trembling horridly.

As Namine said, she'd only done this for Kairi's sake. And now, everything had just gone down the drain. But why was she blaming herself? Professor Haibara should be the one to blame, right? It was his fault. He didn't plan this out well at all. But who I am to judge? I'm a pawn to him anyway. But I guess I should try and distract Namine from the current topic. I need to confirm something before I voice my findings. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll find out soon enough.

I slowly stood up off the bed with the drawing still clutched tightly in my hands. I cautiously walked to Namine until I was stood behind her.

"Namine, I have a question. My sister doesn't exist, right?"

At that Namine angrily stood up and glared at me horridly. I was prepared for this, and backed up a little in advance. She hadn't started crying yet.

"No! No! She doesn't exist! You've been told over and over again! Why do you keep asking me Xion?!"

I watched as she began taking deep breaths. There was fire in her eyes. This whole plan failure seemed to be annoying her.

I slowly held up the drawing, turning it around so that she could see the picture.

"If that's the case, then why do I have this hand-drawn picture? A picture that was given to me as a present from my sister"

Namine's eyes widened at the drawing. She seemed astonished at first.

"…. Y-You still… have that?"

After a short silence, Namine scoffed then. Her expression was neutral.

"I can't believe you kept that after all this time…"

She stared at me horridly.

"I'm only going to say this one last time, so listen well Xion. That drawing that you have wasn't from "your sister". I drew it. Okay? It was me! I needed something realistic enough to give to you in order to help prove your memories were real! Do you understand now?! Will you stop asking me about "your sister"?!"

Yep. I was right. I gave her a small smile.

"I knew it. I mean, it was obvious. You carry that sketchbook around with you everywhere"

Namine stared at me confused.

"W-What are you talking about now?"

I turned the drawing back to face me, staring at it carefully.

"I can remember when you first gave me this…"

Namine slowly started shaking her head. She was in shock. That I could clearly see.

"T-That's not possible. The chip erased those memories. There is no way you…"

I looked up at Namine, giving her a small smile.

"But I do remember. I was in this room, trying to fall asleep. I heard the door click, and so I ducked under the quilt thinking it was Professor Haibara. But it wasn't. It was you. I watched you from under the quilt as you approached my bed with this in your hand. You went to leave it on the chair beside the bed; however you spotted me looking at you from under the blankets. You shrieked out of fright and fell backwards. I quickly sat up and became concerned when you landed on the floor on your back, but I was surprised. You weren't in pain. You were laughing…-"

Namine couldn't seem to believe what I was saying. She seemed absolutely speechless. I chuckled a little.

"-And that was when you gave me the drawing. I remember you telling me, "Xion, I know you're nervous about your operation tomorrow. But don't worry. Everything will be fine. I made this drawing in order to keep you happy. That way, the operation won't be too bad for you". That is what you said, isn't it?"

Silence fell in between us as Namine stared at my face with curiosity, almost as if she was trying to read my mind.

"Y-Yes, but… This is impossible. How have you remembered those memories?"

She placed a hand to her forehead.

"This is hurting my head…"

I slowly shook my head, smiling warmly.

"Don't you see, Namine? I shouldn't remember, but I have. I have because the memories you created were based off events that occurred while I was with you and Professor Haibara. They were all happy memories, memories that you thought were positive and comforting. Memories that you thought were in encouraging"

I slowly took a step towards her.

"But these memories have shown that my sister does exist. She has been real all along"

At that, Namine became annoyed again. She sighed heavily and removed her hand from her forehead.

"Xion, for the final time, your-"

I quickly pulled her into a small hug. I felt Namine tense up. Her back stiffened. She cut her sentence off out of shock.

"You're my sister, Namine. The girl who you based "my sister" off was you, because you cared about me, didn't you? Despite the fact I look like Kairi, and that my purpose was to be used as a pawn, you still cared. You gave me memories to help give me encouragement and to keep me happy, despite them being fake. And for that… I want to thank you"

Namine seemed to relax a little, but I could tell she was still in shock.

"Xion…"

Silence fell. After a few moments, I nearly jumped when I felt Namine hug me back tightly. I could feel her face buried into my shoulder. Muffled sobs began to fill the silence surrounding us. I hugged Namine a bit tighter, trying my best to comfort her.

The sound of a mobile phone ringing broke the silence. I quickly moved away from her as Namine pulled the phone out of her bag, quietening her sobs. I watched her stare at it for a moment in silence as she used one hand to wipe away her tears, before answering it. She put the phone to her ear. Her eyes were still a bit teared up.

"Hello? … Yes, I am. … I see. So, you're the journalist's assistant? …. Professor Haibara won't be able to, but I shall come in his stead. … Yes, I'll meet you by the pond in the park. I'll be there momentarily"

I watched as Namine quickly cut off the call, tossing her phone into her bag. She stared at me with a blank expression. She had managed to control her tone, and keep it normal. It was as if she never cried.

"Since you're still my responsibility in the stead of the Professor, I'm letting you go. Get away from here as soon as you can Xion. Understand?"

"But Namine-"

She placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Asou is still looking for you. You need to run while you can. It's not safe for you here. I have some unfinished business to take care of"

And with that, Namine quickly left the room with a determined look on her face. I stared after her for a moment longer confused. Where was she going? Was she going to hand in the 5th Report to whoever was on the phone?

As I walked back towards my bag, I noticed something was stuck to the front of the CD-ROM on the floor. Confused, I slowly walked over to it and yanked it off. It appeared to be a note. I carefully unfolded it and started to read it:

Dear Xion,

I know you're finding it hard to accept the truth about who you really are. But I can tell you this: You might be a clone of Kairi, but you have lived your life and formed your own personality. You are your own person. Professor Haibara may have treated you nothing more than a guinea pig, but… I saw you as a normal human being. Like Kairi, you were my family.

Please don't worry about how you were born, and what you are. It's your life. You have a right to decide your actions, and so you should live it happily. I'm sorry Xion for what I've put you through. You… You were stronger than I ever thought you'd be. I know you can overcome your fate.

I leave the decision up to you. Kairi's thesis is in good hands now. You decide what should be done with it. I hope that you will continue to live a happy life, my… my dear sister.

~Namine

My eyes widened at the letter. N-No way! So that means…

I glanced down at the CD-ROM still on the floor. Namine… I've got to stop her!

Without thinking I quickly picked up the CD-ROM, shoved it into my bag, hooked my bag over my shoulder and dashed out of the room as fast as I could. I have to get to Namine before it's too late!

I ran out of the hospital and off the University campus. The park is just a little way down the road. It was right next to the lab. If I run fast enough, I should get there in time, right? I have to! I can't let Namine be so careless! She doesn't know what she's doing!

I dashed into the park and past numerous crowds of people who were staring at me weirdly. They thought I'd gone insane. But I didn't care. I wasn't going to let her do this. Why did she leave me the real CD-ROM when she made a promise to Kairi? She swore along with Riku and Lea that she would get that thesis known to the public! It's not my duty to do that! She needs to do it too!

I ran to the hill over-looking the pond just as I heard a gunshot fire. It echoed around the whole area I was in. Oh no… Please, please don't be…

I ran to the top of the hill and glanced down with widened eyes. There was Namine, lying in her own pool of blood on her side. I began to tremble horridly. N-No… I-I was too late…

But that wasn't the odd part. When I glanced beside her I got the biggest shock of my life. The person curled up in a foetal position beside her was… Isa?!

He was lying lifeless beside Namine in a pool of blood underneath his head. All of a sudden another Isa appeared out of nowhere and ran to Namine's side. He rummaged through her bag and pulled out the fake CD-ROM. I watched as he dashed off, only to suddenly see another Isa come dashing out from behind the trees holding a gun. This Isa was different however. Unlike the others, who had all been wearing jumpers, he was wearing his school shirt only. I watched as he cursed under his breath and stared after the Isa that just ran away.

"Damn you Asou!"

He paused however when he glanced up in my direction. I became frightened and started to back away; however he stared at me seriously, just like he always would when I greeted him.

"And so we meet again, Miss Kamijo. It almost seems like fate has wanted us to cross paths again"

I stared at Isa confused. He spoke like he knew me. But why are there two Isa's here right now? I have no idea what is going on. And yet he's speaking like he did whenever I spoke to him.

I watched as Isa turned towards Namine lying on the ground.

"Do not worry about White. She is alive. She has merely fainted from loss of blood. And as for my clone… Well, I am sorry to say he is no longer alive"

I cautiously made my way down towards Isa. I was relieved to hear that Namine wasn't badly hurt, but I was confused. A clone of Isa? I frowned at him.

"What's going on? Why is there more than one of you?"

Isa folded his arms, sighing heavily.

"You do not believe that I am the Isa who you saw in the lab, do you Miss Kamijo? I did not die in the basement. That again was another one of my clones. Kairi wasn't the only one who was cloned. And besides, I'm shocked you have not worked out my real name yet…"

I frowned.

"Your real name?"

He nodded.

"What do you think the letters "I" "S" and "A" stand for, hm?"

I scratched the back of my head in thought for a moment. What did he mean? His name represented something?

"…There was a record that they made however, detailing the children who were born from the same gene. I found one other clone besides Ienzo and I on that list, but they were only recorded by a number as a name…"

Wait! I think I get it! The letters represent numbers. So…

"1… 5… 8… 158! You're the…!"

Isa gave me a small smirk.

"Precisely. I'm the third clone who survived the experiments all those years ago. I was raised by Asou as a spy to keep an eye on the inhabitants of the lab, hence why my name represents numbers. It was a code Asou could use to identify me from my brethren. I am the original of all my clones…"

He sighed heavily then.

"I did not agree with what he was doing. The way I was being treated made me feel like I was nothing. He saw me as nothing more than what Professor Haibara saw you as: A mere puppet. Lea however…"

Isa closed his eyes.

"Lea Hikari was the closest thing I had as a friend. He treated me like I was a real person, even though he knew nothing about what I really was. He was the only one who was the same age as me in that lab. When I arrived there for the first time, he was the one I grew close to. But when he died right before my eyes, I blamed Asou for this horrid fate of mine. I was shocked, along with the rest of you, when he jumped from the roof. And so the only reason I was trying to get to the bottom of what was going on in the lab, was so I could help you Miss Kamijo… I want to get revenge for Lea"

He folded his arms.

"I knew what you really were, but I wanted answers as to why Lea helped you. That is why I questioned White on the matter. However, we both grew suspicious of each other. She suspected I was with Asou, while I suspected she was with Haibara. I followed her as she followed you to keep my eye on her. And just now, she made me realise why Lea committed suicide. He couldn't bear the guilt of not helping Kairi when she was killed…"

I was shocked that Isa had said this. He was trying to help all along. I doubted him all this time. I feel horrible. And I could tell he seemed to care for Lea. He only addressed Lea by his first name, and obviously Kairi to distinguish her from me. I frowned worriedly at Isa.

"Isa, I-"

The two of us jumped suddenly as the sound of a phone rang around the area. It was coming from Namine's bag. I glanced at Isa hesitantly as he slowly approached her bag and rummaged through it.

"I have a feeling I know who is trying to contact White…"

He carefully took out the phone and walked back over to me, putting the phone on speaker so we both could hear. He raised an eyebrow at the screen however.

"Well, this isn't who I expected at all…"

"What are you doing? It's time to fight. You are surrounded in the campus. If you run away, they will catch you. Go to the lab!"

The call suddenly cut off. Isa chuckled.

"Well, well, it seems White left you a voice mail, Miss Kamijo. She must have thought her life would end and that you would come right to her body"

I glanced down at Namine with worry. I cannot believe Namine would do such a thing just to help me…

"Will she live?"

"Her injuries aren't serious. She suffered two stab wounds to her left arm. My clones seem to have terrible aim… I can patch up those injuries easily, but she's right Miss Kamijo. You need to head to the lab. Well, that's if you still want to prosecute Asou…"

I glanced down towards the CD-ROM inside my bag. We still have a shot at this. I should listen to Namine. The campus is surrounded by Asou's assassins. If I try to leave, they could end up getting the 5th Report because of my carelessness. I gave Isa a stiff nod.

"I'll go. Please take good care of Namine"

Isa gave a small nod.

"I can assure you, she is in safe hands. Now go, Miss Kamijo. And… Good luck"

He gave me a quick pat on the head before walking towards Namine and picking her up into his arms. I frowned then.

"W-Wait, Isa! How do I get to the lab if the whole of the University campus is surrounded by Asou's assassins?"

Isa turned towards the left and pointed towards the fence.

"Ienzo thought ahead with this plan and made a hole in the fence that leads behind the lab. You can use that as a short cut. The park is at the back of the lab anyway, and that is the last place Asou would think to search for you"

"Thank you Isa"

I quickly dashed away from the pond, following Isa's instructions. I have to end this once and for all. I must save everyone from their cursed fates.

"And Miss Kamijo-!"

I quickly halted and glanced back at Isa.

"-When you get to the lab, head for Professor Mikozuka's Office!"

I blinked in surprise.

"Why?"

"I can't say. You need to find out for yourself. But make sure you go there if you get inside the lab. Don't go anywhere else. Asou's assassins are hiding in all of the rooms, searching for you. Be careful"

I nodded stiffly.

"Okay. Thank you Isa! Good luck!"

"You too, Miss Kamijo"

I quickly turned back around and charged towards the lab. I have to end this for everyone's sake. Don't worry Kairi. For your sake and everyone else's, I will reveal the nightmare that is Mikozuka Lab for the public to see. I will take down Asou!

Isa calmly walked away from the pond with Namine in his arms as Xion dashed away. He had Namine's bag hooked over his shoulder. He had decided to move away from the area in case the rest of Asou's assassins came looking for them.

As he headed towards a quiet area within the park underneath a large tree, Isa took a glance down at Namine. Her current expression seemed so peaceful. His eyes travelled down to her left arm. It was coated in blood. He realised that needed to be cleaned up once he'd patched up her wound.

Having reached the tree, Isa carefully knelt underneath it and laid Namine down on the ground on her back, resting her head on his knees. He removed her schoolbag from his shoulder and placed it beside him. Isa continued to stare down at Namine's face for a moment.

"Hmph. And to think you did all of this just to defend a puppet of your friend… You astonish me sometimes, White"

As he searched through her bag for bandages, Namine stirred a little. Isa paused for a brief moment as her eyes slowly fluttered open. Namine groaned, blinking a few times and wincing at the light suddenly flooding into her eyes.

"Ugh… W-Where…?"

Isa chuckled a little, causing Namine's eyes to widen at how familiar it sounded.

"Nice to finally see you awake, White"

She immediately sat up, turning her head to face Isa in surprise.

"I-I…"

She quickly shook her head.

"No… I keep forgetting you're just another clone"

Isa smirked at that.

"Are you so sure about that White?"

Namine only frowned at Isa confused as he continued to speak.

"Kairi told you everything she wrote in that thesis, did she not? So surely you should know about the third clone who survived that experiment"

Namine frowned in thought then.

"Clone 158…?"

Then it clicked. Namine stared at Isa in shock as he smirked at her.

"Y-You're… No way"

"Yes. I am clone 158"

Namine winced in pain then and glanced down at her injured arm. She remembered what had happened beforehand.

"… Why am I not dead? I-I thought…"

"My clones have a terrible aim. You are lucky. It seems fate is not ready for you to leave this world just yet"

Namine stared at Isa in confusion as he continued to search for the bandages in her bag.

"What do you mean?"

After finally locating said bandages, Isa slowly lifted up his head and stared at Namine seriously.

"You, Dawn and Hikari swore you would help Kairi, did you not?"

Namine's eyes closed then as her head slowly fell to the ground.

"W-We did, but-"

"So your role hasn't ended just yet. Hikari and Dawn have played their parts, but you must finish yours. You don't expect Miss Kamijo to do your bidding, now do you?"

Namine opened her eyes and stared at the ground silently. She said nothing as Isa gently grabbed her injured arm in order to keep it still. He slowly began wrapping the bandage around her wounds tightly in order to stop the bleeding.

"Did Xion…?"

Namine couldn't finish her sentence. She muttered it, but Isa still picked up what she said. He nodded stiffly.

"Yes, she saw what happened to you. She's made her choice"

Namine looked up a little at Isa then.

"So, she's chosen to take down Asou?"

"She has"

Namine glanced away again as Isa finally finished bandaging up her arm. She chuckled softly. Isa raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"What's so funny, White?"

Namine smiled slightly as Isa let go of her arm. Her gaze flitted towards her bandages for a moment.

"She has the same will and determination as Kairi had. It's no wonder she was able to open up the door and get to the thesis in the first place…"

She sighed heavily then however and slowly stood up. Isa stood up with her and handed back her bag, which she took from him gratefully.

"So what does that mean you are going to do? Are you going to finish what Kairi started?"

Determination lit up Namine's face as she turned to Isa and nodded stiffly.

"I will. I'm going to avenge everyone who has fallen prey to that lab. I should have stopped Asou from hurting Kairi when I had the chance…"

Her hand clenched into a fist.

"But if Xion is willing to fight for something that doesn't concern her, then I'll aid her all the way. Kairi will get the vengeance she rightfully deserves"

A small smirk made its way onto Isa's face as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small gun and held it out to Namine. She stared at Isa in surprise.

"Then I'm right behind you, White. Let's finish this once and for all"

Namine's shock quickly disappeared as she took the gun from Isa.

"Thank you"

Isa looked towards the other end of the park.

"We had better follow the same path Miss Kamijo took in order to avoid being spotted. Just stay close behind me, and make no noise whatsoever"

Namine nodded in agreement as Isa started to run off. She was close behind him, checking the gun to see if they had any bullets. Sure enough, the gun had been reloaded. Yet as Namine stared at the gun, she realised it was the same one she'd dropped outside the lab. Her gaze then switched to Isa's face as they ran on across the park.

(Isa reloaded my gun for me. I guess I misjudged his actions after all. He really did care for Lea…)

I made sure I followed Isa's instructions, and sure enough I found the hole in the fence. I was surprised that it was big enough for me to fit through! It was quiet outside the back of the lab. I didn't like it very much at all. It wasn't helping my nerves.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid. I was about to face the man behind the experiments at this lab, and the one responsible for the deaths of the students and clones involved. However, I wasn't going to back down. Kairi wants those people avenged. And since I am her clone, it is my responsibility to finish what she started for the sake of everyone who risked their lives to help me.

I quickly slid through the hole in the fence and took the long way around towards the main entrance, all the while having the CD-ROM clutched tightly in my hand. I couldn't see Ienzo around anywhere. I was beginning to worry. Had something happened to him?

When I reached the emergency exit however, a tall man with long silver hair entered my view. He had bright yellow eyes that could pierce through any soul he gazed into. He was wearing a grey business suit, along with a black tie and white shirt underneath.

It was Xemnas Asou. This was the man who had murdered Kairi, and forced Namine, Lea and Riku to swear to secrecy on their lives while at gunpoint. This is the man who had been hunting down Kairi's thesis in order to destroy it.

My eyes then fell upon the Isa clone beside him. He was holding out to Xemnas the fake CD-ROM that Namine had placed in her bag. I heard Xemnas chuckle.

"Excellent work. White has finally fallen prey to her deserved fate. I knew I should have killed those three troublesome children when I had the chance…"

He frowned suddenly however at the CD-ROM. He'd noticed something was wrong. Urgently, he snatched the CD-ROM from the clone's hand and quickly backhanded him across the face. The clone fell onto his back on the floor, staring at Xemnas with widened as the CD-ROM was thrown next to the right side of his face.

"You imbecile! This CD-ROM is fake! The thesis isn't here!"

He placed his hands to his head out of frustration.

"Haibara taught that little brat well… She set up her own death, just like Hikari and Dawn!"

Xemnas seemed to calm down then however. He placed a hand thoughtfully to his chin.

"But then that means White gave the CD-ROM to Kamijo's little clone. Where is she I wonder…"

That was my cue. Taking a deep breath in, I slowly but confidently walked towards Xemnas.

"Is this what you're after, Asou?"

Isa's clone stared at me in shock and quickly got to his feet, clumsily running away from the scene. I think he was trying to avoid the anger that Xemnas was about to unleash, if there was even going to be anyway…

Xemnas on the other hand slowly turned around to face me, greeting me with an amused smile.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kairi Kamijo's clone. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person"

I watched as he studied me carefully with his eyes.

"So you're the one who Haibara and White have been keeping from me for the last two years? It is true after all. I can sense you and Miss Kamijo have the same sense of will. You have the same genes of course"

His smile soon turned into an amused smirk.

"But you also have the same foolishness as she did"

I remained silent. All I did was narrow my eyes. Xemnas placed his hands behind his back.

"Haibara and White were very sneaky with their motives. White, Dawn and Hikari tricked me well. Yet I could tell by the looks in their eyes as the guns were placed to their temples, that they would break the allegiance that was forced upon them in the near future. And White was the first one to do so. I never would have guessed that Haibara would create a clone of Mikozuka's daughter, and then have someone else implant fake memories in order to convince the entire lab and myself that you were not connected to Kairi Kamijo in anyway. But I'm not a fool. Once Mikozuka alerted me that students had infiltrated the basement on the first floor, I knew Haibara had the 5th Report. My clones did well in keeping an eye on you and White while you were in the lab…"

He began to chuckle a little, staring towards the fake CD-ROM on the floor.

"But to think, I almost fell for White's little trick. Entrusting you with the real CD-ROM and using a fake one… Huh. What a child she is. And like Hikari and Dawn, she gave up her life in order to ensure Kairi Kamijo succeeded. Pathetic"

Xemnas slowly turned his gaze back to me then, giving me a comforting yet sinister smile.

"And from what I can see in your hand there, White did give you the real one, didn't she? It's almost like the incident two years ago all over again. Kairi stood in that very spot you're standing in now, giving me the same look of determination and spitefulness. Sadly, she met her end because of her foolishness. She thought she could accuse me for the experiments and get away with it. Foolish girl…"

He outstretched his arms wide.

"And yet here we are again. The regret of Kairi's research has caused you to be stood here in front of me once again, Miss Kamijo"

I shook my head defiantly at that.

"That is not possible. The CD-ROM that I have in my hand could only be accessed through Kairi's will and determination. Kairi's research had nothing to do with having herself cloned!"

Xemnas smirked at my remark.

"And what point are you trying to make? It gave Haibara the incentive to create you, didn't it?"

My spare hand clenched into a fist as he shook his head.

"But of course, that no longer matters. With the research I have gathered from the previous experiments, and from the current student's research, I no longer care about the 5th Report. The cloning process can be expanded into cloning a lot of brilliant scientists with gene manipulation. From birth we can brainwash them to continue the research. Then, we can make more brilliant and intelligent humans that will be controlled by me"

"That's enough, Asou! Everyone is born with the right to be happy! No one will let you do something like that! It's inhumane! It's cruel!"

"No one will let me, hm? I am already doing so"

My eyes widened in horror as Asou suddenly took out a cell-phone like device. He spoke down the receiver.

"Xion Kamijo is within the facility. Kill her"

I froze as I heard footsteps slowly approaching the main entrance door from within the inside of the lab. What was going on?! What had Xemnas done?!

"Stop this Asou! Your plans are about to crumble!"

I glanced behind me to find Namine and Isa running from behind the lab. I was shocked.

"I-Isa?! Namine?!"

The two stood on either side of me as Xemnas narrowed his eyes towards them.

"158… So it is true. You have sided with the puppet after all. How unfortunate…"

Isa only snarled at his creator in response. Xemnas' gaze then switched to Namine, who was holding a gun tightly in both hands.

"And White, you survived that attack after all I see"

She glared at Asou in response.

"You need to teach your clones to have better aiming skills next time…"

Isa snorted at that, causing Xemnas' gaze to switch to him.

"What's so funny, 158?"

"That's Isa to you, Asou"

Xemnas blinked in surprise at him as Namine raised her gun higher, aiming at Xemnas' forehead.

"It's over Asou! Just admit defeat! Once the 5th Report reaches the public, there will be no hope left for you or this pathetic lab!"

Xemnas smirked as the footsteps I'd heard before got louder.

"You'll wish you'd taken those words back soon enough, White…"

The main entrance suddenly opened. My eyes widened in horror as a large swarm of Isa clones piled out of the lab, each one holding a set of two knives in either hand. I could also see Larxene amongst them all. It seemed she had also been cloned. So that explains why she appeared to be unhurt when I last saw her. Namine had shot down a clone.

Isa clenched his fists in anger as we were surrounded by the large swarm. Namine began to panic and looked around at the clones. Isa cursed under his breath.

"There are too many of them…"

Xemnas laughed at the three of us evilly as the clones began advancing with their weapons raised. Namine held the gun upright towards her chest.

"It's no good! There are too many of them! I won't be able to shoot them all in time!"

Isa shook his head solemnly.

"I guess this is where the three of us meet our end. Despite everything, we have still failed…"

"Wait! If you touch either Isa, Namine or Xion, I'll jump from the roof!"

Everyone turned at the sound of the voice towards the roof of the lab. The clones stopped in their tracks immediately, also turning to face the voice. Namine placed a hand to her mouth in horror.

"Roxas! What are you doing up there?!"

Sure enough, there was Roxas. He was standing on the roof of the lab. His jumper was around his waist, and I noticed his tie had been pulled halfway down his neck. I was relieved to see that he was alive after all. But then realised that he wouldn't be for long if he decided to jump…

"Roxas, get down from there!"

I was backing Namine up on this one. No one else was going to die because of me. Roxas shook his head defiantly.

"There's no time! Run! You three get out of here while you can!"

Xemnas growled angrily towards the roof.

"Mr Destiny, what do you think you're doing up there?!"

I noticed that the group of clones were distracted. Now was our chance. Isa grabbed my wrist however when I went to run off.

"Miss Kamijo. Head to Mikozuka's office. Hurry"

I turned to Namine who gave a stiff nod in agreement.

"We'll cover you. Just focus on getting to the second floor. And be careful"

"Thank you both"

After Isa let go of my wrist, I darted through the crowd of clones towards the lab as fast as and quietly as I could. Roxas saw this and frowned in confusion.

"Xion! Where are you going?!"

Xemnas chuckled to himself as I ran by.

"The puppet has lost her mind… Clones, hunt her down! I want her dead!"

I looked back to find Namine and Isa had managed to escape from the circle of clones also. Isa looked up towards the roof as he ran.

"Destiny, get down from there! We need you here!"

I charged into the entrance of the lab and quickly shut the door behind me. It was now a race against time.