Chapter 24 Choices

Xion and Riku met up in the forest outside of Twilight Town.

"All right. We should be able to talk here." Riku said

"I do have something to ask you actually." Xion said

"What's that?" Riku asked

"Well, I had a dream where me, Axel and Roxas were on a small island leaning on a tree watching the sunset." Xion said

"Do you want to go back to them?" Riku asked

"I don't know. As of late, I've been having these memories in my head. But these memories, I'm not in it, so how am I having them?" Xion asked

"Those memories belong to Sora." Riku said

"What? Who is Sora? And why do I have his memories?" Xion asked shocked

"From what Namine was able to find out, you are not a normal nobody. You are a replica the Organization created. Somehow, some of Sora's memories that got lost a year ago ended up inside of you. That is why you've been seeing them." Riku explained

That was a surprise of Xion. Not as much as the replica thing, she was kind of expecting something about her was different with the memories that did involve her at Castle Oblivion, but she was holding Sora's memories?

"Who…Who is Sora?" Xion asked

"My best friend. About a year ago, he lost his memories. We've been trying to put them back, but because some of them ended up inside of you, he can't wake up." Riku said

"I see…Riku, do you hate me?" Xion asked

"No. You did nothing wrong." Riku said. Even if he did blame her, he couldn't ever find himself to hate her. Not when she looks too much like Kairi.

"I see…I want to go for a walk. I need to think long and hard about this." Xion said as she headed back to town.


At the Ice Cream Shop:

Roxas headed to his usual shop to get his usual ice cream.

"I hope Axel finds Xion peacefully." Roxas muttered as he approached the vendor.

"Three Sea-Salt Ice Cream please." Roxas requested.

"Coming right up." The woman said as she went to grab the Ice Cream

"Is that Ice Cream any good?" A familiar voice asked

Turning around, Roxas was face to face with Riku.

"The imposter!" Roxas shouted as he was about to summon his Keyblade, but Riku grabbed his had ad bent it behind him, immobilizing him.

"Look around. Do you really want to fight me in public?" Riku asked as he let go of Roxas

"Oh my. You two must not fight." The Ice Cream lady said with a bag of Roxas's order

"We weren't. I just offered to pay and he didn't want to let me." Riku said giving some munny for the Ice Cream.

"WHAT?!" Roxas shouted

"Well, come again." The lady said a bit unsure.

Once she was gone, Roxas decided to speak.

"What are you after?" He asked

"I just wanted to talk." Riku said

"Well I have nothing to say to you." Roxas said

"Do you want to see Xion?" Riku asked getting Roxas's full attention. "I'll take you to her."

"This…this better not be a trick." Roxas said as he started to follow Riku.

"It's not." Riku said a bit soft as he lead Roxas down the streets.

"Who are you exactly? And why are you pretending to be in the Organization?" Roxas asked

Riku said nothing.

"Don't ignore me!" Roxas cried

"Let me ask you something. Do you remember your human life?" Riku asked

Roxas humphed and turned away. "This is what you get for ignoring me."

Riku just chuckled "Real mature."

"HEY!" Roxas pouted giving Riku a bit of a nostalgia vibe.

"Can you feel Sora?" Riku asked

"Huh?" Roxas asked confused

"Can you feel Sora?" Riku repeated

"What are you talking about?" Roxas asked

"Never mind. Take care of Kairi…I mean Xion." Riku said as he pointed to a nearby turn. "Xion is down in that direction."

With that, Riku left.

Roxas felt that he should give chase, but right now, Xion was more important than Saix's orders and he headed to the direction Riku pointed.


Xion was sitting on a crate looking at the clock tower.

"I wonder if Roxas and Axel are up there right now?" Xion muttered.

"Xion!" Roxas shouted much to Xion's surprise

"Roxas." Xion gasped

"I've been looking everywhere for you. Let's go back. If you come back voluntarily, Saix will have to let this whole thing drop, he's just got to. Even if he doesn't me and Axel will be there for you." Roxas pleaded.

Xion was rather hesitant. "I can't Roxas."

"Why not?" Roxas asked. Why did she not want to go back with them.

Xion said nothing and tried to leave, but Roxas grabbed her hand. "Wait!"

'I want to go back but…I'm not like them.' Xion thought sadly as she summoned her Keyblade and pointed it at Roxas. Roxas let go of her hand in shock.

"Xion? Is this some kind of joke?" Roxas asked shocked

Just then, a Chakram flew at Xion that she managed to deflect.

"Give me a break. I look all over for you and you are both doing this?" Axel sighed as the Chakrams reappeared in his hands. "If you want a fight Xion, I'll give you one."

"Wait Axel! This isn't what it looks like." Roxas pleaded

"She was pointing her Keyblade at you Roxas? What else would it look like?" Axel asked

Before Roxas could protest any further, Xion attacked Axel and the two began to fight.

"Both of you…why are you fighting? Stop it." Roxas pleaded but fell on deaf ears. "I SAID STOP!"


In the Old Mansion:

"How is this possible? The restoration process has stopped completely!" DIZ asked shocked

"Sora's Nobody. There was a strong impact. His will has become even stronger." Namine said surprised herself

"How?" DIZ demanded


Roxas was holding his head in pain as Xion looked concern.

"Roxas…" Xion said sadly. Though Axel used this chance to knock her out.

"Axel! Why did you do that? There was no need for force!" Roxas shouted

"Was there? She attacked me if you don't remember." Axel retorted

"But still…Why? Aren't we all friends?" Roxas asked

"This isn't about friendship Roxas. I'm heading back." Axel said picking up Xion and heading back via Corridor of Darkness.


At the World that Never Was:

"I see you had to use force." Saix said approaching Axel as he arrived. "I'll take it from here."

Axel handed Xion to Saix. "Are you sure things are better this way?" Axel asked

"If you could save one of them? Why would you choose the puppet? Or better yet, ask yourself this. Would you rather suffer the loss of a make-believe friendship, or a real one?" Saix asked that Axel had no answer to. "Of course, things are better this way. Xemnas is exasperated from all the 'fixing' we had to do. You and I have too much on the line…Lea." With that Saix walked off with Xion.


Day 298

"I can't believe that he would attack her like that." Roxas muttered as he approached the door. "Xion. I'm coming in."

Roxas opened the door, but instead of Xion, he found Xemnas.

"I thought you would come here." Xemnas said

"Lord Xemnas? Where is Xion?" Roxas asked surprised

"She is getting some much-needed rest. She is a valued member of our Organization. So worry not." Xemnas said much to Roxas's relief. Then Roxas had a bit of a flashback to when he made his first week in the Organization. What Xemnas called him that day.

"Sora…" Roxas muttered as Xemnas gave a small smirk "Who is Sora?"

"He is the connection that makes you and Xion a part of each other's lives, and the reason I enlisted her among our numbers. If you wish for her to stay that way, I suggest you get your mind off these needless distractions. I will have Xion resume her duties tomorrow. For today, I suggest that you focus on yours." Xemnas said

"I understand." Roxas said as he left Xion's room.

"Very interesting." Xemnas muttered


As Roxas walked down the halls to his own room, he spotted Axel.

"Hey." Axel called out.

Roxas said nothing and kept walking.


Nohr:

"It is quite apparent that Kamui is in Hoshido." Xander said to the rest of his siblings.

"I'll go and retrieve her myself." Camilla declared as she grabbed her axe, but Xander stopped her.

"Did you forget the barrier? You will lose all of your will to fight the moment you set foot through that barrier. Once that happens you will ether be captured or killed." Xander reminded her.

"So, what is it we do then brother?" Leo asked

"Father said that he has a plan in motion. All we can do now is wait." Xander said

"I hope she is okay." Elise said worried

"I'm sure she is." Xander assured her. "She is tough after all." That did help Elise to smile a little bit.

Xander knew that Hoshido won't hurt Kamui. He wasn't sure if Camilla ad Leo knew, though he wouldn't put it past them to figure it out, but he knew that Kamui was originally from Hoshido.

'So, you will find out the truth little princess. Though I do hope that you will still come back to us. You may not be my actual sister, but I still love you the same all the same.' Xander thought.


And that's a wrap!

I kind of like the idea the manga had with Riku talking to Roxas. I had to add that.

Anyway, I have succeeded in writing a first draft for the rest of this arc. Now that doesn't mean the chapters are ready. Some may still be slow coming out.

Without giving anything away, some big plot points to the overall story is coming and I need to make sure it is written well.

Next chapter, Roxas and Xion get get paired up for a mission in the Cave of Wonders while Kamui meets a brother that has some of his own issues to deal with.

See you guys then.