To my relief, I was put back on normal duties again come morning. Not that I really considered the mission 'normal duties' – an outbreak of Shadow Globs in Twilight Town. To further bother me, Saïx ensured that Xion and I received our missions separately and in such a way that neither of us had any idea where the other was headed. Either he'd learned about Xion joining me yesterday, or he was deliberately stalling Xion's progress for some reason. I will never understand Saïx.

I didn't let that get me down though, not since I was fairly certain that today, I'd meet someone else who was conspicuously missing up on the clock tower, and made a mental note to pick up an extra ice cream in advance. Worst that could happen was that I'd be wrong and have a spare ice cream to myself, but that's not really a problem.

Now, ordinarily, this mission is a run-of-the-mill, find it, hack it, destroy it kind of mission. Barely any thought needed to it at all. I had once more figured without, you guessed it, Liam's Influences.

After eliminating a few Shadow Globs, I became aware there was someone watching me. I looked around surreptitiously , as if looking for more Globs to go after, but spotted nothing at first. I'd heard a sound like someone gulping in surprise when I'd looked over to that raised path in the tram common that leads to where they store the trams. There was someone there for sure.

Well, two could play at that game I decided. I followed the tram's route further, then ducked down one of the small side routes that lead to the other side, flattening myself against the wall right underneath the bridge connecting the rooftops. The building behind me, if I wasn't mistaken, was where my mystery watcher was.

"He can't have just disappeared," a voice I didn't recognise said. "He's gotta be here somewheres."

I could have just found out by searching with my mind instead, but given the boredom of the mission thus far, I decided to find out without falling back on it. Besides, my curiosity had been piqued – who was watching me, and why?

Heavy footsteps crossed the bridge above me to the next rooftop. I could just see whoever it was waddling over. They were either fat or big, and not too bright either. My simple deception had outwitted them too easily.

I spotted another Shadow Glob not far away, quickly handling it with a few silently cast Fire spells.

"What was that?" the voice said again. I knew I hadn't made a sound, and the fireballs had barely made any noise at all when they'd hit the Glob. There was a growl, then, "Maleficent ain't gonna like it if I don't find out about this kid."

"Maleficent, huh?" I murmured to myself. I knew the name, of course – but Liam had destroyed her. This meant that my watcher had to be Pete, but why was he so interested in me? Had Maleficent known something of the future herself somehow, and directed Pete to watch me because I was Lee's Nobody?

I risked a glance out from under the bridge. I could see Pete now, surveying the area ahead of him with one hand raised to block out the sunlight as if it would somehow reveal me. I took the opportunity to pull myself up onto the raised path I mentioned before, from there following the rooftops until I was right behind him.

Then I summoned my Keyblade, which makes a very distinctive sound as it appears. Pete jumped, turning quickly to see me.

"Hi Pete," I grinned. "Whatcha doing?" Exactly the same line Liam later unconsciously nicked from me when he found Pete in the Underworld.

"Ah! You're, uh... I mean... I was just taking in the sights!" Not bad for him.

"Oh yeah? So what makes me one of them?"

"Now what makes you think a pipsqueak like you is worthy of my attention?"

"Let me think a moment. Oh right – I overheard you saying something about Maleficent not liking it if you didn't find out about me. Isn't that right?"

"You must be mistaken kid, I've got eyes only for people with Keyblades!"

"You mean like this one?" I suggested, holding up mine so the tip was right in front of his face. Pete gave a startled cry, then fell backwards off the roof. "Something wrong?" I called down pleasantly.

"Why, you – I'll get you for this, see if I don't!" he answered shaking one fist, then ran off. I never did find out how he'd got here, or how he left.

But this was interesting news all the same – Maleficent was interested in people with Keyblades, and Pete was the one looking for them in her absence. Even if he didn't know she was gone yet. Something worth sharing with Xion next time I saw him, I decided – maybe between the two of us we could find out why she was so interested.

Then I realized I'd effectively run off a potential source of entertainment to alleviate the boredom of the mission. Thankfully there weren't that many more of them to deal with, so I picked up the ice creams and headed up to the clock tower.

Axel tried to sneak up on me, but it's hard to sneak up on someone who can use his mind to keep a watch out behind him.

"About time," was all I said.

"Oh, come on, Roxas – give me a chance," Axel sighed.

"I'm sorry, how's this?" I turned to look at him with an expression of exaggerated surprise. "Can it be? You're really back?"

"Stop that," he chided. "Honestly, what am I gonna do with you?"

"Sit and have an ice cream?" I suggested, handing him one.

"You knew I'd be here, didn't you?"

"Naturally," I replied smugly. "Foresight's a wonderful thing."

"Sometimes I wonder," Axel murmured as he took his usual place beside me. "Seems like forever since I last did this."

"Month and a bit, by my reckoning. I slept through most of it."

"Seriously? I knew you didn't want to work, but are you really that lazy?"

"Hey, gimme a break. It's Liam's fault. When he got put to sleep, I got hit for the same."

"Guess you really are his Nobody then."

"Was there ever any doubt?"

"You don't look like him," Axel pointed out. "And you don't entirely act like a Nobody – too much feeling to you."

I nodded, "There's an explanation for it, but I'm lazy remember?"

"You're terrible," Axel accused. "Go on, what is it?"

"What?"

"Your explanation."

"Oh, simple. Lee's been sheltering the damaged heart of someone you once knew – Ventus. When Liam created me, Ven's heart came to me..."

"And that gives you his appearance and feelings from his heart," Axel completed. "You know, I never saw the resemblance until you mentioned it just now. Reminds me," he added. "I heard word you showed up at Castle Oblivion, and had to have Demyx drag you out again."

"I wanted to find something out," I shrugged. "Castle Oblivion isn't good for me though. Can't stay there for too long."

"So I heard. Also heard you and Xion have been coming up here."

"Well, sometimes. I found a few other things to do other times. Maybe I'll show you."

"Later," Axel replied. "I've gotta check in with the boss before I get in trouble."

"Why not check in sooner?"

"You mean you didn't know?"

I shook my head, "Can't see what happens in Castle Oblivion without going there. All I could tell was that you were there.

"Convenient," he murmured. "I guess I just needed time to sort my feelings out."

"Feelings? You? Neat trick for someone who doesn't have a heart."

"It's your fault," he accused me. "You, Xion and your Somebody... I dunno, you give me this weird feeling of having feelings. Most alive I've felt since, well, I was alive I guess."

"Go on – you check in. Stop me having to worry about you."

"Neat trick, mister I don't have a heart," he teased.

Xemnas summoned me late that night again. I don't know what he thought he'd achieve by it.

"Roxas," he greeted me with a slight incline of his head.

"Didn't we agree last time that calling me at this kind of time does nothing for my temper?" I asked irritably.

"You may have, I never did."

"Yeah, well, this time remember it next time. I want to get back to sleep, so let's get this over with already. What do you want this time?"

"Besides the obvious?"

"Oh, for gods sakes, give it up already, will you?" I demanded. "I'm not going to change my mind, and you don't have anything I want still!"

"For now," he replied, completely unconcerned as usual unless I really got to him. "Xigbar tells me you gave him some assistance."

"I owed him a favour. That's the only reason I helped him with his plans."

"Do you not also owe anything to me?" I gave him a flat glare. "Clearly you do not think so."

"If I owe you anything, it's a sound punch in the face," I told him. "Notice how I'm restraining myself from doing it. If anything, you owe me for that restraint."

"All I ask is information, Roxas. Something you can provide for me where others have failed to do so."

"What makes you think I want to tell you anything?"

"You are still a member of the Organization, and subject to my orders."

"When it suits me. I'm sure I made that clear already. I'll do what I deem necessary, no more."

"Even when it bears no significant relation to you or Liam?"

"I'll decide whether it has 'significant relation' to him or not." Xemnas said nothing more, so grudgingly I added, "You can ask, but don't get your hopes up for an answer."

"There is a chamber in Hollow Bastion known as the Chamber of Repose. I have long sought the companion room to it known as the Chamber of Waking. I had thought it was in Castle Oblivion, but searches have returned nothing."

"Well naturally. The entire castle is designed to misdirect anyone who goes looking for it – anyone except the one who turned the Land of Departure into Castle Oblivion. You'll never find it without her help, and she'll never help you."

"So the friend spoke truly," Xemnas murmured softly, apparently not intending me to hear. "Perhaps you would accompany me then to the Chamber of Repose – perhaps she will be more willing to speak to you than I."

"What gives you that impression?"

"You know of Ventus, that much you have shown with your ties to him. And you at least appear to know something of Aqua. But do you also know of Terra?"

I nodded, "One of the two beings that comprise the Xehanort you're the Nobody of."

"Precisely. I believe it is the reason Aqua's armour within the Chamber of Repose is willing to speak with me. You, like me, have a link to a friend of hers. Perhaps she will speak with you too."

I considered this. Again, not something meant to happen as such, but it could be interesting to see what Aqua's armour, if not some remnant part of Aqua herself, would say to me.

"Not tomorrow," I said. "Day after. Don't expect anything from me in return for doing this though."

Xemnas nodded once, then disappeared into a corridor, effectively ending our conversation.

It did make me wonder though – Xemnas is the only one that doesn't have a bedroom, at least not in the same place as the rest of us did. Surely he had to sleep somewhere, but I couldn't help wonder where.