XII

"What do you want?" Roxas stammered.

"In light of recent events," Saïx began, "I have a request to make, Roxas Slater."

Roxas took a step back, his shoulder blades pressing against the academy wall behind him. He didn't speak.

"I forbid you," Saïx continued, "from going anywhere near Axel Devereux."

"What does that mean?" Roxas snapped. "What recent events?" His pulse started to race, and he remembered his encounter with Axel just yesterday. He just hoped that Saïx didn't know about that.

"As if you did not know," Saïx responded. "You and he have gone out on far too many errands together, and what happened at the end of that last instance was inexcusable."

Roxas thought back to what had happened yesterday, just before Axel had left him. "How do you know about that? And anyway, that was not my fault," he protested.

Saïx laughed, once, sharply. "Indeed it was not," he answered sarcastically. "Whether you realize it or not, your presence is affecting Axel's ability to do his job. Our boss, as you must know, is quite displeased with him."

"So you are saying," Roxas began incredulously, "that you have come here to benefit Axel. To save him from your boss."

"Absolutely," Saïx answered.

"Somehow I doubt that," Roxas retorted. "Maybe you think I spend too much time with Axel, but whether I do or not, I know him. And I know the way you two act toward each other. Somehow I do not think you would have come here to warn me for his sake."

Saïx laughed again. "So what do you think I have come to tell you?"

"I do not know," Roxas said. "For all I know, you could have come to kill me."

The black-cloaked man fell silent, and one hand went to his chest, hovering over a place on his right side. After a moment, he said, "Think about it what you will. I forbid you from ever going to see Axel Devereux again. And if I see you together, I promise I will take any action I find necessary."

Roxas wanted to ask him why, but the combination of the facts that he probably would not receive and answer and that he was facing an assassin who was likely armed and dangerous convinced him not to speak. He clenched his fists at his sides.

"Heed this warning, Roxas Slater. This is an order."

Before Roxas could dare to step forward and ask why he should obey, or whom it was an order from, Saïx Bloodworth turned around and disappeared into the torrent of rain. Roxas swallowed hard, resisting the urge to let out his frustration in a scream, and turned around to go back inside. His short absence from the academy hadn't helped his headache at all, and he felt the pain throbbing at his temples, worse than before. He pressed the tips of his fingers to his forehead and made his way toward the infirmary.

The last time Roxas had been in the infirmary, he had woken up to a blurry circle of candlelight and concerned faces staring down at him. The circumstances resonated almost too closely: the room was full of old books and medicines and candles, the paint peeled; he felt the unsettling, painful throb of his headache pounding against his skull. Last time, none of his friends had been able to stand in the room with him, since the academy's medic, Vexen, had forced them out. Roxas still could not see anyone in the immediate area.

He wanted to call out, to see if anyone was around, but he couldn't find the strength to do so. Instead he sat down on the edge of one of the cots against the far wall and dropped his head into his hands.

It wasn't like Axel would ever come back to see him anyway.

Much as he hated Saïx, and didn't want to believe his words, Roxas found himself coming to the realization that the man wasn't off track. He didn't have to convince Roxas not to see Axel ever again, because Axel probably had no desire to see Roxas, and would not make the effort to do so.

I kept my promise, did I not? And you no longer wish to associate with me or the Organization, so I guess I have finished here… Goodbye, Roxas. And thank you.

Thank you for what? Roxas wanted to scream at him. All I've done is mess things up.

The side door opened, interrupting his train of thought, and Roxas looked up to see Vexen, the academy's medic, striding in.

"Oh? You have returned," he mused, stopping to close the door behind him. "I must say, I have been expecting you."

"You have?" Roxas asked.

"I have," Vexen repeated, smiling. Roxas guessed it was supposed to be reassuring, but somehow Vexen just couldn't quite pull off reassuring. "Remember? Back when you first hit your head, I reminded you to return to me in a little while."

Roxas thought back to his visit to the academy's infirmary, but somehow he just couldn't remember that bit of information. "Sorry. I guess I forgot," he replied.

"'Tis not a problem," Vexen replied, "but if you did not come here for a checkup, then why are you here, Roxas Slater?"

"I… ah…" Roxas rubbed the back of his head. "I have a headache."

"Hmm." Vexen raised an eyebrow. "That is troubling. I suggest you lie down for now. I will try to find a remedy."

He disappeared through the side door again, and Roxas lay back on the cot and closed his eyes. Sleep came to him almost immediately.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Sora standing over him. "Roxas? Roxas, wake up," he was saying, but no sound escaped his lips. Roxas squinted, trying to see his brother more clearly. He shifted his gaze and saw some of his other classmates standing at Sora's side—Kairi, Naminé. Kairi put her hand on Sora's arm and said something else to him. He stopped speaking, pressed his lips together, stepped back. They all looked up at someone across the room and nodded before walking out.

Roxas watched them until the door closed, and his vision faded again.

He jolted awake with a gasp. He was in the same room, but no one occupied it now. Had he dreamed up that whole encounter? He must have, because he had been unable to hear any of their voices.

A strange dream—almost too real. Roxas shook at the thought.

Vexen emerged from the side door once again, with a glass container half full of a blue liquid in his hand. He stopped next to Roxas and handed it to him, instructing, "Drink this." When he caught a glimpse of Roxas's face, though, his eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"

"I think so," Roxas answered, nodding as he stared down into the glass of blue liquid. "I just… dreamed something very strange."

"Ah." Vexen turned and strode to the other side of the room. "Your brother was here last time you came. Does he know you are here now?"

"He probably does," Roxas said into the glass. "If he sees I am not in class, he will probably assume I came here."

"Good," Vexen answered. "Otherwise, I will send out a messenger."

"No. 'Tis all right," Roxas answered. "I can make it home on my own if he does not come."

Vexen shot him a skeptical look, but he did not speak.

Roxas turned his attention back to the glass in his hand. Mustering up his courage, he tipped it back and drank the contents. They tasted vaguely like… like… something he couldn't remember. Damn it, why was he having these memory issues right now? He wiped his mouth and set the glass on the table beside him.

"Wait here for a few minutes," Vexen called out. "If the effects kick in when they should, I will allow you to go back to class. If you wish to, that is."

Roxas didn't respond. He sank heavily back down onto the shapeless pillows behind him and stared at the ceiling, counting his heartbeats. After a minute, he felt the pain in his head begin to recede. He sat up slowly, but even that didn't cause it to return.

"All right," he said. Vexen looked over his shoulder at him. "I think I will go back to class."

Vexen nodded. "Good. Be careful, then."

Roxas strode across the room, pushed the door open, and left the infirmary.

When classes had ended for the day, Roxas stood in the entryway of the academy, waiting for his brother. Sora showed up a few minutes late with Kairi and Naminé tailing him.

"You made it," he congratulated Roxas when he approached.

"Roxas, it's good to see you back," Naminé murmured. "I noticed you were not in class earlier."

"Yeah," Roxas answered. "I had… a headache. I am fine now," he added, in an attempt to reassure her. In the back of his mind he couldn't help but remember the scene from his dream, during which these same three classmates of his had stood around him. He couldn't allow himself to mention that.

"That's good," Naminé answered.

"Sora, are we walking home together today?" Kairi piped up. "I have not been able to talk to all three of you at once since before the day Roxas fell."

Thank you for the reminder, Roxas wanted to to say, but kept quiet.

"Of course," Sora answered. "And since you mentioned that, I should add that the four of us still have a standing invitation to go to dinner."

"Right!" Kairi exclaimed. "Let's go later this week. None of you are doing anything too important, I hope?"

Sora and Naminé gave murmurs of agreement, and Roxas joined them. Maybe it would keep his mind off of Axel and Saïx and what they called "recent events."

"'Tis a plan, then," Kairi answered with a smile. "See you three then."

They pulled on their coats and walked outside to brave Hollow Victoria's usual uncooperative weather. The rain still poured down outside, making the streets into rivers and creating a curtain of mist that obscured the city just a few feet in front of them. Sora hurried up to the front of the group and huddled close to Kairi, and before Roxas knew it, Naminé had moved to walk at his side.

"Roxas," she began. "How have you been? For real, I mean."

"I do not know," Roxas answered with a shrug. He pulled his cloak hood further over his face, recalling the feeling of Axel's lips colliding with his. If she—if Sora—knew about what had happened between him and Axel, they would never look at him the same way again. "All right. I guess you could say my head still bothers me from time to time."

"I am sorry," Naminé answered, her voice dropping to a murmur again. The rain almost drowned her out. "I hope you feel better soon, Roxas. Truly I do."

She quickened her pace just slightly, so that she walked between him and Sora. Roxas tucked his arms close to his torso. He felt as though he needed to keep them there just in case he fell apart.

A/N: Inception! Just kidding.

Wow, this shouldn't be news, but... Omg I LOVE this Kingdom Hearts 2.5 stuff. I seriously wish there were more than 24 hours in a day so I'd have more time for it.

Anyway, thank you all for following and reviewing. I'll be back soon. (MyHamstersHateMe - Just wait, I'm getting there ;3)