Chapter 26 The Middle Child

Day 323

Xigbar called Xemnas and Saix into the round room to tell them what he heard.

"Sora has a powerful effect on her, is all that I'm saying." Xigbar said

"Yes. It was not supposed to gain a mind of its own, nor become the person we see. But in the end, it shows that the puppet is the more worthy vessel." Xemnas said as he turned to Saix. "The time has come. Are the devises ready yet?"

"In a matter of days, they will be." Saix assured.

"Good." Xemnas said

"And what of Roxas?" Saix asked

"While both of them have a connection to Sora, we only need one of them under our thumb. Whether Xion takes what Roxas has left to give, or Roxas destroys her and takes back what is his, it matters not. Sora's power will be ours." Xemnas said.

Day 350

"Roxas, I have a special mission for you." Saix said getting Roxas's attention. "Xaldin hasn't reported in from yesterday. I want you to find him."

Roxas nodded and left to the Beast's Castle.

Hoshido:

Takumi was even more ticked off. As it turns out, Kamui was taken to weapons training with everyone else, and he wasn't invited. He had to find out from Kaze. It seems that ever since Kamui returned, Takumi couldn't go a minute without hearig something about Kamui. They had recently returned and Takumi overheard that Kamui was actually pretty skilled with a bow. Looking at the Fujin Yumi, Takumi couldn't help but worry.

"Did mother original plan on having the Fujin Yumi be inherited by Kamui?" Takumi asked himself. He had to speak with mother.

Knocking on his mother's room, he was allowed to enter where Mikoto greeted him. That Nohrian person was here as well. He had also heard about him from Saizo and Ryoma. Silas his name was. He did save some of the Hoshidan troops from being slaughtered so, maybe he isn't too bad…but even still, it could be a trick. But for now, that could wait. He had something else on his mind.

"Hello mother." Takumi greeted. "I heard you gave Kamui some archery lessons."

"Ah yes. I'm sorry we didn't invite you. I didn't see you fast enough and Kamui and Azura wanted to get a move on." Mikoto said

"I see. It's fine." Takumi said with a sigh. "How was she?"

"She was amazing. Despite training well with swords, she had a talent with archery as well." Mikoto smiled. "And she'll only get better."

"Then perhaps she should train with this next." Takumi said bitterly presenting the Fujin Yumi to Mikoto much to her surprise. "The Fujin Yumi was supposed to go to Kamui, right? I better return it to her."

"What do you mean?" Mikoto asked

"You already know. Hinoka can't wield a bow to save her life, so Kamui would be next in line to wield this. I was just a replacement for her!" Takumi snapped as he tossed the bow and ran off.

"Takumi wait!" Mikoto cried out

"Is he okay?" Silas asked. He stayed silent throughout the whole thing.

"He's always been rather insecure. I was so happy that Kamui came home, that I forgot to talk to him about it. And when I did, I was worried that his trust issue would push Kamui away." Mikoto said sadly

"ROAR!" A monster's voice was heard in the distance.

"That is not good." Silas said.

"Takumi!" Mikoto gasped as she remembered the Fujin Yumi was with her at the moment.

"I'll take it to him!" Silas said grabbing the bow and running off.

"Crap!" Takumi cursed. He went outside for some fresh air, but was ambushed by some Faceless, and he was no unarmed

"Lord Takumi!" Two voices shouted.

One was a young man about Takumi's age with brown spiky hair. He was dressed in Samurai garb with a katanna in his hands.

The other was a woman the same age. She had long dark blue hair and had an blue and orange outfit on covered by armor. She also had a nagatia in her hands.

"Hinata, Oboro." Takumi gasped

"You ambush Lord Takumi in the night? Not on our watch!" Oboro growled as the two got to work taking out the Faceless.

"You two…" Takumi gasped as another group of Faceless approached him.

Silas then appeared before Takumi and slashed one killing it. He then turned to Takumi and handed him the Fujin Yumi.

"You shouldn't leave this stuff laying around." Silas smiled

Kaze also arrived to fight as Takumi took the Fujin Yumi and started shooting at the Faceless. Once they were taken care of, Takumi turned to his savors.

"Thank you but, how did you know I was hear.

Hinata and Oboro bowed their heads in shame

"We might have been eavesdropping on your conversation with Queen Mikoto." Oboro admitted

"We apologies, but we want you to know that with or without the Fujin Yumi, we would still serve you." Hinata said "We are also ready for any punishment you have for eavesdropping."

Takumi sighed. "There is no punishment."

Mikoto then approached the group.

"I'm glad to see you all alive and well." Mikoto said before turning to Takumi. "Takumi. The Fujin Yumi chose you. Even if Kamui was never taken, it would still go to you. You are my child just as much as Kamui is. Never forget that."

Takumi started to sob. "I'm so sorry mother."

Mikoto pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry to. I should have spoken to you earlier."

Takumi then turned to Silas. "I guess I should thank you as well." He admitted

"It's nothing. I know I'm from Nohr, I know what our people did to you and your father, but I assure you that I am not here to make an enemy of you." Silas assured

"Then if you don't mind me asking, why are you here? A Nohrian that frequently speaks with the Hoshidan Queen is kind of suspicious." Takumi asked

Silas looked at Mikoto who nodded. Silas sighed.

"I am here to keep an eye out from a powerful group that has been keeping tabs on both Kingdoms." Silas said

"A group?" Takumi asked

"They are called Organization XIII. I don't know what they want here, but I feel it is linked to the missing prince."

"Missing prince?" Takumi asked

"Takumi. This may sound a bit strange but, Kamui has a twin brother." Mikoto revealed.

"WHAT?! Why is this the first I've heard of this?" Takumi asked shocked

"Because I can't remember him. Though through my visions, I see him and I saw this young man alongside him. I've asked him to stay so that I can remember him." Mikoto said

Takumi was about to retort on how ridiculous that was, but something in his heart stopped him from doing that. His mind went to a vague picture of his childhood. He was playing with…someone. The vision was blurred but he could make out silver hair. Was it Kamui's? No. The person looked to be a boy. Why can't he remember?

"He was taken by Nohr at the same time that Kamui was taken. But the Organization took him from Nohr. Why? I don't know." Silas said

"I haven't even told Ryoma about this yet. Much less Kamui." Mikoto said

Takumi was silent. This was definitely going to bug him for a while. Though speaking of Kamui…

"Why don't you have Kamui sit on the Hoshidan throne?" Takumi suggested

"Pardon?" Mikoto asked

"The throne has the power to reveal one's true self and heart. If Kamui sits on it, it would at least bring back her old memories." Takumi suggested

"That could work. Thank you, Takumi. I'm glad to see you care so much." Mikoto smiled

"And hey, maybe if it works on Kamui, we can try and see if it could bring back the memories of my missing brother." Takumi added

"I'm so glad to see you care. That's a wonderful idea. We will try with Kamui first and see how it does on missing memories since we have more of an idea as to why her memories are missing than my other son." Mikoto smiled. Things were starting to look up.

"Wow. The throne has that kind of power?" Silas asked and Mikoto nodded.

"I still wonder how those monsters managed to get so close to the palace." Hinata commented.

Mikoto frowned. The only explanation for someone to summon Faceless so close meant that her barrier's power was starting to fall. Things were defiantly getting tougher from here on out.

Beast's Castle:

Roxas slowly approached the Beast's room.

"Xaldin was always so interested in the Beast. Maybe this will lead me to where he is." Roxas muttered to himself.

Inside he saw the Beast looking rather angry as he talked to himself.

"No…he must have been lying! Belle wouldn't betray me, would she?" The Beast muttered to himself.

"Is he talking about Xaldin? Maybe he's around somewhere…" Roxas said as he left.

Taking a look outside, he spotted Xaldin walking away from the castle.

"Xaldin!" Roxas called out getting his attention.

"Roxas. What are you doing here?" Xaldin asked

"I was asked to find you. You didn't report in." Roxas said

"Hmph. How presumptuous." Xaldin said

"What were you doing here anyway?" Roxas asked

"Making some preparations." Xaldin said "Things will get quite interesting around her soon."

'Is that why he made contact with the Beast?' Roxas wondered

"Come now. We should head back." Xaldin said as the two left through a corridor of darkness.

And that's a wrap!

So, Takumi got his first clue on Corrin. Also Organization XIII, but with the war coming up, that's not going to be on the top of his mind...For now.

On the note of the vague memories of Corrin, Kairi was able to remember that someone existed with Sora, so I went with that.

As for the Hoshidan throne, I don't think it could work remembering Corrin because technically, the memories are stolen. I mean, I don't fully understand it as to why Donald and Goofy were also forgotten with Sora, but from what I could guess, their memories are connected with Sora's missing memories that are inside Roxas and Xion. (Mostly Xion) Sounds confusing? Well that's Namine's powers in a nut shell. Plot convenience.

Besides, we are close to the end of Days. The memories of Corrin will be back soon regardless.

Added note: After I posted the chapter the first time, I had another idea for the throne and I liked it better. That's why I took down the chapter at first.

Next chapter, Roxas goes on an extermination mission and some big things come into light. Stay tuned!

Guest: Yeah, Kind of.