Chapter 25 The Keyhole
Saix and Xemnas met up in the meeting room.
"Is Xion all set?" Xemnas asked
"Yes. She can resume her duties as planned." Saix said
"Excellent." Xemnas said
"Are you certain that we have taken suitable measures with Xion and Roxas?" Saix asked
I will admit that Xion has strayed away from our original design." Xemnas admitted "However, we have seen an interesting side effect."
"Really?" Saix asked curious to what Xemnas meant.
"The Key. Xion was affected by Roxas, just as we anticipated and expected. However, Sora began to affect Xion as well and turned 'it' into 'her.' That gave Xion a sense of identity." Xemnas explained. "At first, I thought our plans were a failure, but then it occurred to me. Xion is keeping Sora's memories trapped, claiming them as her own. As long as we keep her close to Roxas, Sora will never awaken."
"I see…" Saix said understanding more now. "And what of the Imposter?"
"See to it that he stays away from Roxas. His existence is an impurity to Xion's existence that makes her incomplete. Same goes for the other one. Wherever he is." Xemnas ordered
"So, we go on with our original plan then…" Saix said
Day 300
Roxas sat down at the clock tower munching on his Ice cream as Axel joined him. Xion joined shortly after. All three ate in silence. Even though they were together again, there was too much tensions to have a conversation.
Hoshido:
Days have past since Kamui's been in Hoshido. Meeting her real family was definitely a big shock to her. Were they truly her real family? Why can't she remember them?
Her mother, Ryoma, Hinoka, and Sakura would try and talk to her, and she would engage in small talk, but that's as far as it goes. Azura she found herself talking to the most
"I mean, they are nice people but, I don't know if I belong here or in Nohr." Kamui said
"I can't imagine that struggle." Azura said
"I've been meaning to ask. What do you think of the Nohrian Royal family?" Kamui asked
Azura shrugged. "I honestly don't care."
"Why's that?" Kamui asked
"I don't want to talk about it Kamui." Azura said
"Well, if you change your mind, I am right here for you." Kamui offered
"Thank you." Azura said glad that Kamui wasn't pushing the issue. She really didn't want to remember her time in Nohr. "By the way, have you met Takumi yet?"
"Takumi? I've heard of him. He's apparently my younger brother, but I haven't seen him yet." Kamui said
"I see. I'll warn you now that he's not as easy to approach as the rest of the family. He has massive trust issues. I don't know how he'll act to you, but I figured I should warn you." Azura said
"I see…thank you." Kamui said
Takumi was in his room in deep thought. It had been a few days since Kamui returned. He still remembers hearing about her grand return. He wasn't thrilled that she didn't remember anything about her childhood and was even less thrilled that Ryoma didn't ask him to come along to help their sisters that were in danger. Though he didn't even bring his own retainers which was weird.
Takumi sighed and decided to take a walk outside of his room.
As he walked outside, he saw Ryoma talking with Corrin. He was about to leave, but Ryoma spotted him.
"Takumi. Come meet Kamui." Ryoma said with a smile.
"You're Takumi? Please to meet you." Kamui greeted
"I am not all that excited to me you." Takumi spat much to Kamui's confusion
"Where did this come from?" Ryoma asked
"I heard he was quite close to the Royal Family of Nohr, and on top of that, she doesn't even remember this place at all? Is she really my sister?" Takumi asked
"Of course, she is. I recognize her eyes and hair color." Ryoma said
"Fine then. Let me ask though, what kind of person plans an attack on the Hoshidan troops stationed at the Bottomless canyon?" Takumi asked. After hearing of Kamui and Ryoma's rescue mission, Takumi approached Saizo to get his opinion of Kamui. He was told everything that happened at the Bottomless Canyon.
"I tried to stop it. I said we should retreat without fighting." Kamui tried
"Well that's not what happened. Kamui was taken by Nohr, and despite mother and Yukimura's attempts, they wouldn't give her back. Why wouldn't I be suspicious?" Takumi asked "If you are planning on taking advantage of Ryoma and mother's kindness, I will never forgive you!" With that Takumi left.
Ryoma sighed. "I apologies about Takumi. He can be quite moody. I'll have to have a talk with him later."
"It's fine. I can see where he's coming from." Kamui admitted.
Day 322
Roxas woke up with tears in his eyes. He was dreaming about that imposter with the Keyblade somehow in hand leaving to a giant castle beyond a waterfall with a duck and dog following him.
Though to make matters even stranger, he felt weak. As he got up, he wobbled a bit.
"Am I sick?" Roxas asked as he approached the meeting room once he regained his balance.
Upon his arrival, Saix approached him with Xion in tow.
"Roxas. I am assigning you with Xion today. Make sure she doesn't dessert us again." Saix said making Roxas glare at him. "You are both to go to Agrabah and eliminate a powerful Heartless."
"Let's go Xion." Roxas said grabbing her hand and heading towards the Corridor.
"Roxas I…" Xion began
"Hey, don't worry about it Xion." Roxas smiled as they stepped through.
With Axel:
"We're best friends!" Roxas's words echoed
"If you could save one of them, why save the puppet?" Saix's voice asked
"…So, I have to make some hard choices huh?" Axel muttered upset about the whole situation. Things were going to get harder from here. He can feel it.
Roxas and Xion traversed through the Cave of Wonders, still in awkward silence.
"Are you okay Xion? Not tired?" Roxas asked trying to break the tension.
"I'm fine, but what about you? You look pale." Xion asked concerned
"It's probably it's just a cold. Don't worry about it." Roxas assured. "I think the dusk report says the Heartless is up ahead."
Roxas and Xion entered a familiar open room. The same room where Sora and co fought Jafar. The floor was now magically fixed, but up ahead was something that caught both of their attention. Mostly Xion's.
"Roxas…Look at that." Xion said pointing at the Keyhole ahead.
"What about it?" Roxas asked
"It's a Keyhole." Xion muttered rather absentminded before she collapsed. She had a vision of Sora sealing the Keyhole of Agrabah, following the cave shacking and Sora fleeing with the others on the magic carpet she and Roxas met before.
"Xion! Are you okay?" Roxas asked as he ran to her side.
"You look similar to him…" Xion muttered
"To who?" Roxas asked confused. Did Xion remind him of someone?
Before she could answer him, a large heartless appeared. It was round with spikes on its body including its head. It also had two holes on the sides for its hands and had the Heartless emblem on its chest.
"That must be the target! Back me up Xion!" Roxas declared as they both summoned their Keyblade's.
Roxas charged at the Heartless to deliver a powerful swing, but the attack bounced off the Heartless's body.
"Damn. This thing is a tough nut to crack." Roxas muttered. The Heartless slipped its arms inside its body and began to spin towards Roxas. Roxas was ready to jump out of the way, but all of a sudden, he felt that nearly all his energy left his body. Thanks to that, he wasn't able to dodge the oncoming attack that sent him flying across the room.
"ROXAS!" Xion shouted concerned
"What's wrong with me? It's like just holding the Keyblade wares me out." Roxas muttered weakly as the Heartless charged towards him.
Xion instinctively jumped towards the Heartless and delivered a powerful slash that ripped through the Heartless like paper much to both his and Xion's shock.
"Where did this power come from?" Xion asked herself before she turned her attention to Roxas.
"Are you okay?" Xion asked
"I guess my cold is a bit worse than I thought. Holding the Keyblade just drains me out. But I'm okay though. Don't worry." Roxas assured as he slowly got up though Xion didn't look convinced as the two left.
At the Clock Tower:
"Are you sure you are alright?" Xion asked as the two ate Ice Cream.
"I told you I feel fine!" Roxas assured.
Xion looked around a bit. "I guess Axel isn't coming today."
Roxas frowned. "Do you want him to?"
"What do you mean?" Xion asked concerned
"He attacked you. I can't believe he would do that. What a jerk!" Roxas grunted
"Don't say that, he's your best friend!" Xion said
"So are you!" Roxas said
"How did you feel when I pointed the Keyblade at you? If it wasn't for Axel, I wouldn't be here right now." Xion retorted and Roxas couldn't answer.
"It's not the same without all three of us…" Xion muttered
Later that evening:
"Axel!" Xion called out as she ran up to him. "I never got a chance to apologies to you. I put you through so much trouble."
"It's fine. I should apologies for being too rough." Axel said only turning his head to her.
"It's fine." Xion assured "It's thanks to you that I'm here."
Axel frowned slightly at that with a troubled look on his face.
"Axel?" Xion asked concerned
"Is that all you need?" Axel asked turning his head around.
"No wait. Something is wrong with Roxas. He says that holding the Keyblade alone wears him out. I don't think it's a simple cold like he thinks. I thought you might know something." Xion said getting in front of Axel.
"How are you feeling Xion?" Axel asked
"Why do you ask?" Xion asked confused
"I know that you know. You are a puppet meant to duplicate Roxas's power." Axel said as Xion's eyes widened "If he's getting weaker, and you're getting stronger, then that just means that you're borrowing a little more than you ought to be. That's what I think is happening."
"Wh-What should I do then?" Xion asked
Axel placed his hands on Xion's shoulders. "Think for yourself! Puppet or not, you and Roxas are both my best friends. Got it memorized?" Axel asked
"Yeah…" Xion said
Unknown to both of them, Xigbar was listening in on their conversation.
And that's a wrap!
So our trio is back together...Sort of.
With Kamui, she got to meet Takumi, and it went as well as expected. I used the Birthright Radio Drama in this as it did help further explain Takumi's thought process during chapters 4-6 in Fates.
Next chapter we look a little more at what is going on in Hoshido and Roxas looks for Xaldin.
Stay tuned.
Guest: Corrin will awaken when Sora does.
Reader: Technically, I could make any of the royals fall to darkness if I wanted to. Not just Takumi. Also, the end? Maybe for this arc but this story is just beginning XD
