It was early morning. Ari looked out at the vast empty plain below the castle. Kyra was still asleep. She tossed and turned and occasionally murmured things but she slept through the night, which was a good thing. She probably needed some solid rest. Ari was afraid the Corridors were wearing her out. Unprotected humans who used them would become drained of energy and eventually consumed. But at the same time, Kyra seemed fine. She didn't seem strangely exhausted or anything. She's certainly resilient, thought Ari.

Then the Nobody turned back toward the outside. She thought she could see some sort of town far in the distance. They would need food soon and that was probably their best bet. Unfortunately, if they were trying to avoid Corridor usage, they would have to walk all the way there and it was not a short hike. Ari was very tempted to just use the Corridors herself and go get food right now, but last time she did that, her friend almost became Heartless fodder.

Ari decided she didn't really have a choice. They hadn't eaten anything for nearly a day now and there was no way Kyra could trek all the way to the town on an empty stomach. Ari wasn't even sure she could. And even if the Heartless were in this world, they would be where all the people are. It was very unlikely that they'd come all the way out to the castle. Ari glanced over once more to make sure Kyra was sound asleep, then ran through a Corridor as fast as she could.

When she returned, Kyra was just waking up. Ari walked over and sat down, laying out everything she had snatched in front of her. "Hey, I got us some food. We haven't eaten in awhile, we'll need our strength." Kyra sat up, blinking away the tiredness in her eyes.

"Oh…thanks," she said, still coming to her senses. "Ari…do you think we're safe here? I mean, no one will find us way out here, will they?"

"Anything's possible," came a voice from behind. Ari and Kyra both whipped around, Ari jumping to her feet and instinctually drawing her Keyblade. Axel leaned against the back wall. Upon seeing Ari snap, he held up his hands defensively. "Whoa, settle down! It's just me!" Ari didn't ease up from her tensed defensive position. Kyra watched in shock. What had gotten into Ari? She had never seen her so angry.

"What are you doing here?" Number XIV spat through clenched teeth.

Axel stood up and started to walk over, but immediately stopped when Ari hunched even lower, ready to attack. "Look, Ari," he started. "I'm really sorry. About everything. But I'm here to help. You don't know what's really going on."

"No, I don't," Ari growled. "But whatever it is, it's not good. And you're helping them, you traitor."

"Traitor?" he chuckled. "You're the one running from them and disobeying orders."

At this, Ari leapt forward and shoved Axel against the wall, setting her key to his throat. "What is the Organization planning?"

"That's why I'm here! I'm trying to tell you! Sheesh, I sure taught you my violent side, didn't I?"

Ari held her glare, but finally relaxed and brought the weapon away from Axel's neck. Kyra stood clueless, waiting for an explanation as much as Ari was. The redhead glanced up at the ceiling and sighed, looking for the best place to begin. Then he looked back at Ari and Kyra.

"Do you wanna sit down?"

After the three had settled in and put a meal together, Axel began to explain everything. "Alright, well, you know the Organization is after hearts, right?"

Ari nodded. Kyra stared blankly.

"I, uh…haven't told her yet…" Ari scratched her head.

"Oh boy," Axel groaned. "Alright, Kyra-" Both girls jumped in shock. No one had mentioned Kyra's name yet. He just knew.

"See, the thing is…we aren't human. Me and your friend Ari here, we're not like you." Kyra looked confused but was listening intently. "We're what you call a Nobody," Axel continued. "We don't have hearts. We're just empty shells, left behind by people whose hearts have been consumed by darkness. So, we have no emotions."

Kyra glanced over at Ari as if asking if it was true. The brunette smiled weakly and looked away. There was no use in acting anymore. She knew the truth.

"So…this Organization is made up entirely of Nobodies?" Kyra confirmed. Axel nodded. "But they want hearts," she added.

"Yes."

"So what's going on then?" Ari joined in. Axel looked off into the distance. He sighed before speaking.

"Xemnas is convinced we can become our others."

"Our others? You mean…our human selves?"

"Yeah."

"But aren't they Heartless now?"

"Well, see, the Organization's Nobodies are special. We're all created from humans with exceptionally strong hearts. And those strong hearted people all found a way to regain themselves."

"But…how can we become our others?"

"Well," Axel swallowed hard. "That's where the Keybearers come in. Xemnas is going to force the Keybearers to release the hearts of all the others…so we, the Nobodies, can gain them."

"Me and Roxas have to do that?"

"No," he shook his head. "You are the Nobodies of the Keybearers. We've been searching for your others. The true Keyblade wielders…Ari, Roxas ran away too. If the Organization finds either of you, they'll kill you."

Kyra started breathing heavier and began to pace around the room.

"Hey, it's OK, Kyra," Ari tried to calm her down. "They won't find us. I'll be fine."

Kyra just shook her head. "No, no, it's not you…me. They want me. That's why they tried to kidnap me." She began to pace faster, growing more and more frightened.

Ari frowned. "I don't…understand…."

"I used to be able to wield a Keyblade, Ari!" The Nobody froze in shock. Axel was still sitting, his eyes closed as he listened to the two figure everything out. Ari was at a loss for words.

"Kyra, I…didn't know…" She focused intently now, trying to piece everything together. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she remembered a part of Axel and Saix's conversation that she had forgotten about. Axel had called Saix Isa. Ari's breathing picked up too, as a wave of realization swept over her. Her head shot up from thought and she looked straight at Axel.

"Axel…our others…Xemnas named us after our others, didn't he?"

Axel gave a long slow nod. Ari looked over at Kyra, her eyes wide with fear.

"Kyra…I'm your Nobody."