DAY 346

Axel walked through Twilight's View. He stopped when he saw Saix.

"Looks like you've meddled again." Saix said.

"Sorry, did you say something?" Axel said, pretending to clear something out of his ear.

"The Organization doesn't need both of them. Just one will suffice. Stop pretending." Saix said, approaching Axel until they stood side-by-side. "Think about that."

Saix walked away, leaving Axel to ponder.


"Now here's an unlikely trio. Me, Xigbar, and Xion?" Callum heard Axel say as Callum walked into the Grey Area. He saw the three Nobodies standing in front of Saix.

"Worried I'll slow you down?" Xigbar said with a chuckle.

"'Course not. Touchy, touchy... It's just not every day we get to go for a stroll with Number II himself. Ain't that right, Xion?"

"Yeah." Xion said quietly. Her hood was draped over her head, hiding her face.

Callum approached the group of Nobodies. "So, you guys are all teamed up for today? It's not everyday there's a trio mission." he said.

"You have your own mission, Callum." Saix said.

"Um... can't I trade with Xigbar or something?"

"What an extraordinarily childish notion. Do you need your friends to escort you everywhere now?"

Callum scowled and turned away. Xigbar walked over and slapped his hand on Callum's shoulder.

"No worries, little man. I'll make sure your girlfriend's safe and sound." Xigbar said.

Callum jerked his shoulder away from the one-eyed Nobody's grip and glared at him. Xigbar smirked and walked towards the corridor of darkness, followed by Xion and Axel.

"Xion..." Callum said as she walked past. She paused to look over her shoulder at him. "Be careful. Please."

Xion smiled, and Callum could see her blue eyes glistening through the black hood. "I will. Don't worry. I'll see you later."

Callum nodded and watched his friends disappear into the corridor of darkness.

"They can handle their mission. You hurry up and see to your own." Saix said.

"Aye, aye, sir." Callum mumbled.

A foreboding chill rushed through Callum. Pairing Xion with Xigbar left a bitter taste in his mouth. After the Organization rigged yesterday's mission, almost ending in Xion and Roxas killing each other, Callum knew some of the members were directly involved in it, Xigbar being one of them. Saix was the one who sent them all to the same world on the same mission, and remembering the conversation he heard between him and Axel many months ago about Castle Oblivion and the deceased members, Callum suspected that Saix was also part of a sinister plot brewing behind his back.

Another chill ran down his spine. Could it be possible that Xemnas was also a part of this? Callum wanted to shake the thought from his mind, but it kept coming back relentlessly.

One thing he knew for sure. He had to finish his mission as quickly as possible and find Axel and Xion. He had an unsettling feeling that something bad was going to happen in today's mission.


Callum stepped into Twilight Town's Station Plaza. His mission was to defeat six giant and powerful Heartless. Callum stretched his arms in preparation of the rigorous exercise he'd get today. He couldn't keep his mind off of Xion. He was deeply concerned with her traveling with Xigbar.

Callum took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on his mission. Shadows and Possessors appeared, but Callum ran past them. As he ran into the Sandlot, the Powered Armor appeared. Once it was defeated, he headed to Market Street, where he saw an Orcus flying around. This time, it was the real thing. Heading up to the Station Plaza, he found and defeated the Stalwart Blade. In the entrance to the Haunted Mansion, the Veil Lizard waited for him. In the tunnel concourse, he found a Gigas Shadow and a Poison Plant. Counting six Heartless, Callum took a deep breath and headed back to the Station Plaza. A Duskflier emerged from the side of the plaza and dove towards him. Callum gasped, lunged out of the way, and landed in a somersault. The Duskflier landed, creating a large shockwave that made his teeth rattle. Callum scrambled to his feet and threw his Keyblade at the Heartless. It smashed into its head and it roared angrily. It turned to Callum and swung its large wing. It made direct contact, knocking the young Nobody to the ground. He groaned and climbed to his feet.

"Light!" he cried as he raised his Keyblade and activated his Limit. Balls of intense light smacked into the Heartless. As it laid wounded on the ground, Callum jumped in the air. He turned his Keyblade upside-down and slammed it into the Heartless, stabbing it in the chest. The Heartless squirmed around as it roared in agony. Callum jumped away and watched as the Heartless disappeared and its heart flew up into the air. A scowl etched into his face and he stared down at his Keyblade.

A corridor of darkness appeared, and Xion stepped out.

"Xion?" Callum said. He dispelled his Keyblade and ran over to her. "Thank goodness you're okay. I was so worried about you."

"It's okay." Xion said. "Axel let me escape the mission."

"What? But what about Xigbar?"

"I knocked him out."

Callum was extremely impressed. He wished he could've done the same.

"I'm going to go find Riku." Xion said. "I've... made up my mind..."

Fearful chills rushed down Callum's spine, creating a cold sweat that pooled at the back of his neck. Xion reached her hand out to Callum, and he grasped it tightly.

"Then I'll support you. No matter what." Callum said quietly.

Xion smiled and the two Nobodies entered the corridor of darkness, hand-in-hand.


Roxas entered the Grey Area after his mission was complete. He saw Xigbar, Axel, and Saix standing around. He saw the furious look in Saix's eyes, and he knew immediately that something bad had happened.

"Explain yourself, Axel." Saix hissed.

"The old man needs to get his eye checked." Axel said, running a nervous hand through his hair. "She just got away."

Roxas gasped quietly. She? As in Xion?

"I'll give him that. Can't toss the blame around." Xigbar said.

Roxas approached the group, and Saix shot a disgusted glare at him.

"And now we're left with the one we can't use..." he mumbled.

"What happened?" Roxas said. Saix ignored his question and walked away. He turned towards Axel. "Axel, where's Xion?"

Axel avoided Roxas's gaze and walked away. Xigbar looked at the blonde Nobody with a smile.

"She flew the coop!" Xigbar said with a chuckle. "Flamesilocks here couldn't trouble himself to clip her wings."

"What does he mean, Axel?" Roxas said.

"Your friend sat there sucking his thumb while Xion walked right off. I bet all the munny I have that she dragged Callum away with her. After all, those two little lovebirds have a connection that exists far past their nonexistences..."

"What?"

"...I'm going back to my room." Xigbar said, shrugging it off and leaving the Grey Area.

Roxas turned his angry gaze at Axel. "What happened during your mission?"

"Nothing, really." Axel said quietly.

"'Nothing'?! Xion and Callum are gone again! How can that be nothing?!" Roxas said.

"It's just like Xigbar said. I just sat there sucking my thumb watching Xion run away."

Roxas ran around so he faced Axel.

"I'm asking you WHY you did that, and you know it!" he cried.

Axel crossed his arms. "Xion is like a mirror that reflects you."

"You're not making any sense!"

Axel sighed. "Xion is a puppet, created to duplicate your powers."

Roxas gasped. "Are you nuts? Xion's a person, not a puppet!"

"That was Callum's exact reaction. He refuses to look at the truth, and instead focuses on the feelings he has for her." Axel chuckled. "Funny... I used to think Nobodies couldn't feel anything. Xion is a mirror that reflects you. And when I looked in the mirror... It wasn't you I saw."

"Xion is Xion! You can't expect her to be me!"

"That's not what I mean. It was only a matter of time before someone broke the mirror."

"You mean... they have to destroy her?!"

Axel bowed his head.

"Answer me!" Roxas shrieked.

"Roxas..." Axel said. "If somebody doesn't, then you won't be you anymore."

Roxas's scowl faltered for a moment, showing his confusion. "I'll always be me! I'm still your best friend- just like Xion and Callum are my best friends!"

"That's not it. You're missing the whole point, Roxas."

"Forget this!"

Roxas took off past the fiery-headed Nobody and out of the Grey Area.

"Roxas!" Axel called, but the boy ignored him. He sighed and looked out the window towards the yellow Kingdom Hearts moon. "I wish you'd understand, Roxas..."


Callum and Xion stepped out of the corridor of darkness onto the bridge that lead to Beast's Castle. They looked up and saw Riku standing before them.

"Riku." Xion said.

"Did you find the answer?" Riku said.

"Yes, I certainly did." Xion held a hand to her chest. "I'm on the verge of losing everything I care about. So please... Please Riku, tell me what I should do now."

"Go to Twilight Town. You'll find a girl there named Naminé."

"Who is she?" Xion said.

"You'll find out. I don't think you'll have trouble finding her."

"All right. Thanks, Riku..." Xion said. The corridor of darkness returned behind them, and Callum and Xion walked towards it. "Goodbye..."

The word filled Callum with dread.


How long will it be before Xion says the same thing to me?