2057-

The room was colder than usually and Roxas felt his skin crawl and his body shiver. Normally, this situation called for a raise in temperature but it was an average 75 degrees. There was no reason for him to be reacting like this.

There was something in his mind that was ticking at him. As if, trying to tell him something. Something important, but he just tried to push his conscience aside and turned his heater on instead.

After another 30 minutes of tossing in his bed, still shaking, he knew it was no use. His mind began to thump, as if something in his skull was trying to break out. It was no average headache.

Roxas sat up on his bed and put his head in his hands.

'What is wrong with me?' he thought to himself

The throbbing only became harder and soon he could hear static in his ears. It became threatening and ear piercing to his mind as he collapsed on his bed in agony and pain. The only thing he could do was shut his eyes, hoping to ease a bit of his pain, but the sound only became louder and the throbbing became harder.

The darkness that was provided from the back of his eyelids turned to light blue and gray. Roxas found himself underwater and unable to move or even speak. The static then became a disoriented voice. It sounded like his own but it was distant and no words were coming from his mouth. It seemed to be groaning, as if the person was tired and angry. Eventually, Roxas could hear his words clearly.

"Someone get me out of here!"

'What?' Roxas questioned to himself 'Who are you?'

The water he was under soon became darkness. He was able to regain control of his body and slowly flickered his eyes open. There, over looking him, was Namine. Sitting by his side and looking worried and scared as he removed his hands from his ears.

"Roxas, are you ok?" she asked and placed a hand on his cheek

Her hand felt cold against his hot and sweaty face and he found himself breathing extremely hard.

Roxas cradled his cheek in her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"You're…ok," he slowly whispered

"I'm fine. But what about you? You seemed to be having a nightmare"

"It's not unusual. I'm always having bad dreams" he explained and wrapped another arm around her waist.

"That's not a good sign." She informed him and brought her hand from his cheek to behind his neck while the other began to raffle his wild hair.

"Who cares? You're here now and I won't be getting nightmares now"

Roxas pulled their bodies together till their chests pressed against each other. Namine could feel his heart beating and laid her head on his shoulder while he took in the sweet aroma of her lavender scented hair that was now rubbing against his cheek.

"Roxas" she breathed onto his neck, sending shivers up his spine "I…I have to go"

"No you're not" he groaned and held her more tightly

"But…" she tried to speak but his hands were loose and were now beginning to feel her body "…but I really need to"

"How? I'm the last person you come to," he whispered in her ear

"Well, …I need to go back and see Xemnas"

The mention of his boss caught Roxas' attention immediately. He backed away from Namine to see her face and saw she was being serious, and a little sad.

"Why do you need to see Xemnas?" he questioned a little upset

"You say his name as if he was evil"

"Don't tell me that you think he's an angel. Making up all kinds of ridiculous rules and sending us out to do crazy assignments. Not to mention pairing me up with Demyx for one of them."

"He provided a solution for survival for the virus and…"

"Oh please don't start like that!" he groaned and got up from the bed "Why can't you except the fact that he is a bit insane"

Namine looked down.

"I'm not allowed those emotions. To him or anyone"

"Namine, you may not have your own heart but that doesn't mean you can't have certain feelings for others"

"But… but I can't. I'm just a Nobody. I not allowed to feel emotions at all. Only what I programmed"

"You're not a damn machine!" he explained beginning to get aggravated "You know the rules and break them. For me. To be with me. And that's desire and passion."

Namine couldn't look at him. Right now, a mixture of guilt and sadness overwhelmed her as she tried to believe his words. Roxas was getting impatient with her and lifted her face up so he could see her eyes.

"Tell me" He began "How do you really feel towards Xemnas?"

Namine breathed in deeply before answering.

"I…don't…really like him" she told him as if assuring herself instead of Roxas.

Roxas smiled at her.

"That's a start" he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Namine returned a smile and got up from the bed.

"But I still have to go" she reminded

"Why?"

"When I first came to him, he was acting very…unusual. Almost in a violent way and told me to comeback later"

"Violent? Any reason why?"

"I don't know. But he was throwing stuff all over his room and punching mirrors and his walls."

Her description began to make Roxas feel uneasy and concerned as she headed to the door.

"Wait a second" he said and grabbed her wrist before she left "Maybe you shouldn't go. Xemnas can be a bit aggressive to others when pissed off"

"Don't worry, I'll be back in 10 minutes"

"Yeah, but…"

Namine smiled and placed a small kiss on his cheek.

"I'll be fine" she assured "Xemnas won't hurt me. He can't"

"That's what Xigbar said after shooting down a chandelier in the dining hall." He smiled and soon watched her enter the dark hallway.

The door was, of course, unlocked and Namine made her way inside Xemnas' dark room. She was normally used to dark places, after all, half of the castle was dark but this darkness told her she was in dangerous territory. She looked around the room with caution and saw her Superior looking over a table covered in files and papers. Some were even on the floor. Namine approached him from behind and could hear him talking to himself but, luckily, he seemed calmer than before.

"It's 2 o'clock Xemnas" she told him "I am ready whenever you are"

Xemnas seemed to groan a little before replying.

"I'm almost done" he grunted and turned to her "Why don't you take a seat"

Xemnas then turned back to the table while Namine looked around the room. Almost all of the furniture was turned over but she eventually found a small stool and placed it in its upright position and sat down. Seated at a distant 10 feet from him, she could still hear himself talking.

"I don't know how we lost it" she heard him say, "We had complete control and surrounded the city"

He ran a hand through his hair while the other punched the table. It was a fast and hard movement and startled Namine making her jump.

"Damn it!" he yelled, "We were so close!"

Xemnas walked away from the table and rubbed his eyes in frustration as he paced around. It was not much longer till he went back to the table and flipped it over.

"So damn close!" he yelled again and kicked the table.

Namine could only watch with fear as papers flew all around the room. One floated by her seat and she picked it up with curiosity.

It was a map. A map of a town called Traverse Town. She never heard of it but it was obviously in ruins and deserted. So what was he getting upset about? That's when she looked at the bottom of the page and found it dated '2055'

"'2055'?" she read aloud and looked up at Xemnas who was examining more papers "How can there be a map of a place that no longer exists?"

Her question caught his attention and he immediately turned to her. Anger filled his eyes as he observed her reviewing the map and quickly snatched it from her fingers.

"Mind your eyes Namine" he enforced as he ripped the map in half and though it to the floor then turned to the rest of his mess "Curiosity killed the cat"

It was then obvious to her that curiosity would seriously get her in trouble, but it soon overpowered her and her mind began to question itself. It was something that had never happened to her before. Having a mixture of suspense and having the desire to solve a mystery.

"But…" she quietly began "…what are you doing with a map of a city that doesn't exist?"

Xemnas turned back to her.

"That is not your concern," he told her as if trying not to yell. His facial expressions told her this.

"Well… why not? I mean…"

Xemnas came closer to her. So close, that Namine found it to be threatening.

"It's not your concern!" he scolded.

His yelling made her fall out of her seat in fear. He left her in the corner and began to pick up papers. Namine took the opportunity to sit back up. Roxas was right. Xemnas DID get angry easily. This was the first time he actually yelled at her and it was because she was acting out of her code. Not behaving 'properly'. Namine didn't like being scared of him. It was a feeling that she had never experienced before. Especially from just asking a few questions. She took a breath and stood up to him with determined eyes.

"You don't have to yell at me." she told him "It was only a question"

Xemnas did not expect her statement and became more upset.

"I think you are forgetting the position you are in Namine," he told her with a glare

"Well…I think you need to be in more control of your temper"

"I think you need to mind your business" he replied and stepped towards her

"What's wrong with questioning!?"

"You do not question me! That's what's wrong with it!"

It was then that Namine knew something was up. Something she did not know. Something he did not WANT her to know.

"What are you hiding from me!?" she exclaimed "Why is it that…!?"

Xemnas found himself above aggravation with all of her talking and quickly took her by the throat with a tight grip.

Namine reacted with surprise and wrapped her hands around his single wrist to help relieve some of the squeezing. It was no use though. He was too strong for her and for the first time, she felt weak.

She began to find it hard to breathe and got angrier as well.

"Let me go!" she yelled out

"Look here you little brat!" Xemnas yelled back while shaking her body "No one questions or goes against me!"

"But…I…" breathing became an obstacle as his grip became tighter, let alone speaking. She tried to remove his hand from her small throat more. "Let…GO!"

"I have never been disrespected in all of my years of being the head of this Organization!" he yelled and shook her tiny body more You will not be the first!"

Namine began to feel light headed while her vision became blurry from his choking and her tears.

"Please!…" she begged "…stop! Help!"

"Don't you dare start yelling for help!" he commanded and shook her violently "You got yourself into this and I will make sure it will never happen again!"

"….Stop!" she coughed "Someone…help me!"

"Shut up! You need to learn to mind your eyes and watch your tongue!"

Xemnas picked her body up from the floor and she realized she was now being strangled and practically hung by his hand.

"Help!" she began to screech "Please! Help!"

"No one will come in." he smiled to her "Unlike you, all of my council members RESPECT me!"

Time went by slowly and she felt as if this would never end. Her eyes closed and her grip on his wrist weakened.

"Please" she cried with less tears "Let go!"

"Stop yelling! No one is going to come!"

Darkness did not come from behind her eyelids but instead filled her mind. That was when her muscles gave in. Her hands dropped to her side and she became a rag doll.

"…Roxas" she whispered

Xemnas' smile vanished at her last words.

"Roxas?" he questioned

Namine's eyes shut and her head fell back. It was not a moment later that his bedroom door slammed open. Xemnas turned to his intruder and saw a very nervous and anxious Roxas standing in the doorway.

With one glance at Namine's hanging body, Roxas' eyes widen and filled with sadness.

"Namine!" he cried out and looked up to his boss "What did you do?"

Xemnas merely released his grip on the girl and let her body collapse to the ground with a thud. She laid still and motionless.

After dropping her, he went to approach Roxas, who began to look nervous. At the moment, Roxas did not know exactly what to do. Go after her and put up with the strongest person in the Organization, or go straight to Sarabi.

As he thought, standing in shock, he stared at Namine sprawled on the floor. Xemnas came close to the entrance and began to close his door as if Roxas wasn't there. But he was, and immediately pushed the door wide open, pushing Xemnas into a wall and ran to Namine. As he bent down to examine her, Xemnas felt his bruised forehead in confusion. Did one of his followers go against him?

"Namine!" Roxas cried and took her into his arms. "Namine! Please, wake up!"

"I think it's time you left Roxas" Xemnas told him beginning to get upset again.

Roxas looked up at his powerful superior and knew that this was the moment of truth.

"I'm not leaving without her" he replied flatly

"Excuse me?" Xemnas asked with a raised eyebrow

Roxas got up to face him.

"I'm not leaving her here with you" he repeated

Xemnas got fueled with anger again and charged at Roxas. Meanwhile Roxas, being limited to his options, looked around for something to defend himself with and saw a long metal rod by his side. When Xemnas was a foot away from attack, Roxas found the opportunity and swung the rod right into Xemnas' side temple. The swing was full of force and sent Xemnas to the floor and into an unconscious state.

Unable to believe what he just did, Roxas let the rod slip out of his hand. He did it. He went against Xemnas and actually won. Still filled fueled with fear, he returned to Namine, picked her up and quickly left the room. He could only imagine the trouble he was going to be in after tonight.

The hallway was empty and quiet. He couldn't believe no one else heard her screams and didn't come to help. It was unbelievable, especially since he heard her from down the hallway. There was absolutely no reason any of the ones closer couldn't possibly have not heard her.

Namine's body felt lighter than usual as Roxas walked down the corridor to Axel's room. She was a bit blue and pale as he felt her neck for a pulse. It was weak but her heart was still beating. After tonight, he didn't couldn't care less about whatever punishment he would receive. He only cared about her health.

Roxas banged on Axel's door with his elbow, still wondering if this was a good decision. After banging 10 times, the door slowly opened to a very tired looking Axel. He was wearing the same attire as Roxas, since everyone was entitled to wearing the same ones, and rubbing his eyes.

"R…Roxas?" he yawned, "Do you know what time it is?"

"Almost 3 in the morning." He replied quickly "Look, I need help"

Axel finished rubbing his eyes and finally noticed the motionless girl in his friend's arms. His eyes immediately widened in surprise.

"What did you do now?" he asked and opened the door wider to let Roxas in.

Once Roxas was inside, he closed the door and turned to Roxas who was now laying Namine on the bed.

"Xemnas got violent with her and … tried to kill her" Roxas explained "I heard her screaming and…and… and ran inside his room to help her"

He then looked down at the ground.

"But I was to late" he whispered

"Wait a second!" Axel came in "You mean to tell me you burst into our Superiors PRIVATE room, because of her, yet you refuse to save me a cheesecake at dinner because 'that would't be fair'?"

"Axel! This is serious!"

"I AM serious! You're doing all of these crazy and dangerous things for her and it's going to get you terminated!"

"So, you don't want to help me?" Roxas concluded with crossed arms

"I didn't say that" Axel replied sheepishly

"Then what are you implying?"

"I'm…I'm implying that…" Axel found himself with no words and shook his head "I don't even know! I'll help you guys, ok?"

Roxas smiled and turned back to Namine.

"So, what happened to her?" Axel asked

"She was choked"

"Hmm… maybe you should take her to the hospital wing"

"No way! They will turn us in and tell Xemnas. Plus, they are all asleep"

"What about the old crazy guy?"

"Sarabi? Xemnas is probably going to go there first to look for her"

"How about Vexen? He's as good as a doctor"

"I am NOT going to another council member"

"So why bring her to me? I go to the hospital wing whenever I get a 1st degree burn!"

"I always thought you went to flirt with nurses. Look, I just need a place for her to recover. And hide while Xemnas comes looking for me. Her heart rate is just slow but it will pick up after a while"

"You're expecting him to get you?"

"Yeah. He'll probably make a battle out of this"

Axel turned to Namine, who was still breathing slowly, and then back to Roxas.

"So, I just need to watch her?" he questioned

"Yep, that shouldn't be to hard" he smiled "In fact, I want you to look over her or help her whenever I can't from now on"

Roxas held out a hand. Axel smiled and took the hand.

"Ok, I promise" Axel told him.

Roxas felt like the luckiest guy in the world to have such a great friend like Axel. Before leaving, he sat beside Namine. He slowly brought his face close to hers till he could hear her heartbeats and felt the faint breaths escaping from her lips.

"I'm not going to be separated from you," he whispered to her "And we're going to be able to be together. I promise"

He hugged her lifeless body lightly and let go slowly before exiting the room, leaving the two most important people of his life inside.

"Roxas!" Xemnas yelled out in Sarabi's empty lab.

For the first time the lab was silent. All machines were off, computers were not flashing error messages, no sparks were flying everywhere and all lights were off, except one that was all the way in the back.

Not caring about anything other than revenge, he ran to the light in hopes of finding the trader. Instead, he found Sarabi sleeping on his desk and drooling on a book.

"Sarabi!" Xemnas yelled to wake the man up

Sarabi reacted to the voice with a jump and a small heart attack.

"Xemnas?" he yawned and wipe off his drool "It's a bit late for visits"

"Where is Roxas?!"

Sarabi shrugged

"Hell if I know. Asleep? Teenagers need 8 hours of decent sleep. For a council member like him, I'd say about 10"

"He's not here?" he asked a bit disappointed

"No. Why would he be?"

Xemnas then rubbed his hand through his hair in thought and aggravation. That's when Sarabi knew something bad had come up and something told him it had to do with Namine and Roxas.

"What happened?" he asked and stood up. "Does it have anything to do with Namine?"

Xemnas turned to Sarabi furiously.

"What do you know about Roxas and Namine?" he growled

"Umm… just that they are really good friends."

Xemnas thought a while and glared at Sarabi.

"Are they, seeing each other?" he asked

Sarabi swallowed hard.

"Sure, they see each other everyday and…"

Beginning to get aggravated, Xemnas slammed a fist on a table causing books to fall to the floor.

"Stop playing with me!" he yelled "Even them seeing each other is a risk! Let alone them having feelings for each other!"

"Look, maybe this won't be such a big deal and such a problem if we just leave them alone"

"NO! I won't leave this…" Xemnas then had a thought that caused him to realize something. "Wait a minute. You knew about their affair?"

Feeling a bit nervous, Sarabi choked out his next words.

"Yes"

"And you didn't say anything!" Xemnas yelled and flipped over a table in anger and approached the engineer angrily. "How dare you betray me like this!?"

"I am not betraying anyone!" Sarabi shot back "And if you do anything to Namine I will sign out of his Organization today and take all of my research with me!"

"Don't you dare try to speak back to ME!"

"She is under my jurisdiction and I will sign off all of my projects or destroy them if I hear a word of violence to her! Of course, Roxas is your problem"

Sarabi then turned to all of this books and supplies that were on the floor and began to pick them up.

"You know where the exit is," he told Xemnas from over his shoulder.

For the first time, Xemnas got struck back. This was the third time in a day that someone had gone against him. It was seriously beginning to tick him off.

He looked around and saw there were no cameras watching over him. Even if he was the Head of the Organization, Sarabi was seen as untouchable because of all of his hard work and years of being in the Organization. He was probably the next best official, next to Xemnas of course.

Without second thoughts, Xemnas turned towards the exit. With Sarabi's back turned, Xemnas took his chance and pulled a tall metal bookshelf, filled with large textbooks and small gadgets, on the old mans body. The incident gave Sarabi only a few seconds to yelp in shock as the shelf fell on him, practically crashing every part of his body. It tumbled on him easily and happened so quickly that Sarabi didn't even have time to realize what happened before a large drill fell on his head and knocked him out. The shelves jammed into various parts of his leg while the books and other mechanical devices piled on top his body.

Xemnas turned to his crushed co-worker and smiled.

"Now where's Roxas?" he asked himself

Roxas sat on his bed thinking about Namine and waiting for Xemnas. And just as he predicted, about 5 minutes later, there was a soft knock on the door. He took a deep breath before walking to the door and slowly opened it to reveal his boss. Trying not to show fear, he stared up at his Superior, who simply handed him a slip of paper. With a raised eyebrow, Roxas took the paper and quickly scanned it.

"What's this?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"I'm not going to bother doing anything tonight" he informed Roxas and turned away "Best to save all my energy for the real battle."

So I want to thank everyone for taking out 30 seconds of his or her day to type a quick comment about my story. (It really means A LOT to me)

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I had making it. The next time we view the past will be Roxas and Xemnas' fight so I know everyone is looking forward to that! (I know I am!) Till then, see you in chapter 26!