Chapter 12

I felt as if I was floating in pure darkness. Where was I? Clearly I'm dead, or at least I think I am. What's going on, I wonder if this is the afterlife. I feel completely conscious but I can't open my eyes, or wait are my eyes already open? It's just everything around me is dark. I tried moving my arms up to my face. Huh! I didn't feel like I was floating I actually was floating. I laughed out loud hearing my laughter echo throughout what seemed like an empty void. Am I doomed to live forever just floating listening to myself think about well nothing? At first I didn't mind I was able to kind of swim around though it didn't really feel like I was actually moving. After what seemed like ages I became very tired, plenty of darkness to sleep in I guess.

"Don't sleep Roxas!" A voice shouted from out of nowhere.

"Who's there?" I called out into the dark.

"Don't sleep or you'll just give in to your coma."

I was shocked. "I'm not dead…how long have I been out. Better question just who the hell are you?"

"I'm your conscious technically." Axel suddenly appeared right in front of me.

"Wait my conscious is Axel?"

He spoke. "According to your brain your conscious is represented by Axel."

I chuckled. "It just had to be him didn't it?"

"Roxas you've been asleep for a week we need to get you up now or you may never wake up."

"How am I not dead? I was shot in the stomach and I had my ribs crushed with a bat!"

"You're alive or else we wouldn't be speaking let me show you."

An image flashed through my head of Xion holding my lifeless bloody body as an ambulance arrived. They all left the car when they got into it with me.

A few tears rolled down my face. "Even in death they've always been there for me. So how do I get out of here?"

"You just accomplished the hardest step…realize that you're still alive."

"Okay so what's next?"

"Close your eyes, take a deep breath then when they open you should be awake."

"Hmmm its really simple isn't? Sounds good well thank you conscious, I doubt will talk ever again?"

"You're just talking to yourself Roxas don't thank me."

With that he vanished from existence. I gulped before closing my eyes, the scenery was just as dark in my own head, I took my deep breath. I suddenly felt like I was falling down a tube, then I just stopped. I opened my eyes instantly shocked by the hospital's white square shaped room. I sat up finding I was immediately being swallowed by a hug from the real Axel, I was in a lot of pain but I didn't mind.

"Roxas the doctors told us that you were never going to wake up! But I knew you'd pull through man!" He shouted.

"Apparently I proved everyone wrong but how is everyone?"

"You'd be surprised how much can happen in a week."

"Just start from the beginning I have plenty of time." I laughed.

"When we got to the hospital they said you weren't dead, they told us not to hold our breaths. Saix was put in jail will never see him ever again. Larxene hasn't taken it to well but she convinced her parents to let Xion live with her so she can stay here."

"Xion, is she alright?"

Axel sighed. "She hasn't said much lately. Larxene hears her crying all the time at night. She started taking some kind of self defense class I think she blames your well death on herself."

"Where is she now?"

"She said she'd come here after a stop at the library. She's here more than half the day on most occasions."

Bless her heart. "Alright well call Larxene, tell her to take Xion to the tower and YOU will meet her there, say there aren't visiting hours or something like that."

"What about you?"

"Well I'm coming with you?"

"You can't do that, you're clearly in pain?"

I took one of the painkillers on the table. "I'll be okay."

"Roxas remember you have parents, their going to want to see you."

"After we go to the tower we can all come back here to greet them."

Axel scratched his head. "Okay fine I'm not going to stop you, let's sneak you out of here. Oh and Roxas, I'm glad your back it'd be hell here without you."

I smiled as we left the room.

It was nice to be back in Axel's car. He told me he might let me drive it sometime sense I didn't screw it up while we were gone. We stood in front of the clock tower I was able to see the tips of the girls feet from above. We took an elevator up, they had just put it in while I was out. Kind of symbolic, it was like the tower was trying to help me out or something. When I walked out of the doorway I saw Xion in the window just staring down at her untouched ice cream. I limped over to the window.

"Hey it's going to melt." I knocked. When she turned around Xion almost fell off the clock tower. She got up, ran through the doorway, and tackled me.

"Roxas! You're awake!" She showered me with hugs and tears of joy. I had quite the smile on my face.

"I'm in a fair amount of pain still but I'll be fine." The minute I got up Larxene grabbed me too. "Hah! I guess I was missed ey?"

When everyone was finished with the reunion we went back to the ledge of the tower.

"So guys what's next? Axel asked.

Larxene looked confused "What do you mean what's next?"

"There are still a lot of things we don't know like that Sora kid? Why does he have one of those things Roxas has?"

I laughed "Yeah we kind of just skipped over it all?"

"Yeah, we did. Also Xion we need to learn more about your father."

Xion looked down at her hands. "Why I'll probably never see him again?"

"I know but I still think we're missing something important, why the hell does he hate you so much? Enough to try to kill you I mean."

"I think I just reminded him of my mother. He loved my mother but he always said she like haunted him or something?"

He laughed. "So he's a loony? Still I'm going to look into this if you don't mind?"

Xion smiled. "Sure as long as you keep me out of it."

"Okay no more serious stuff. Everything is good now. Xion's living with me so she's safe, Roxas isn't dead, you and I are together, so are Roxas and Xion, biggest thing is that we're all together."

"Larxene's right while there's going to be a lot of shit ahead of us. At least now everything is good let's savor it."

Xion chuckled. "You sound ridiculous."

I poked her forehead. "Yeah I guess so."

"Roxas we gotta get you back to the hospital we don't want to keep your folks waiting." Axel stated.

With that we all went back to the hospital to greet my parents. They made us spill everything. (Except the keyblade of course) My mom was super pissed, my dad on the other hand my dad was impressed with my bravery and dedication to protect the girl I love. I'm glad in the end they all understood, who knows what will come next. The whole keyblade thing makes me really curious but that's another tale for another time. When I finally was able to sleep soundly I had one thought going through my head.

It was finally over after that.

Author's Note: Alright everyone that's it. I tried to incorporate the title into the story the best I could. I wanted to leave the story open for a sequel which I will write after a few other projects. Thanks to anyone who reviewed my story I love the nice comments or constructive criticism. (Which I need a lot) This is my first story so I hope to improve eventually. I hoped you enjoyed it, I probably will write another RokuShi fanfic again in the future but in wont be as long and it'll be in the actual game world.