"This place is refreshingly quiet with Demyx gone." Xaldin said as Roxas sat next to him in the Grey room.
"...He wasn't sent to Castle Oblivion was he?" Roxas asked, recalling yesterday's conversation.
"No, but he is probably wishing that was the case." Xaldin remarked. "He was sent off on a mission with Lexaeus to recon new worlds."
"...New Worlds?" Roxas questioned. But then heard someone else approaching. For the first time in a few days, Roxas felt some eagerness as he saw Xion walk in Grey room.
"Good morning, Xion." Roxas said with a smile walking towards them, but then became a little disheartened as they didn't respond immediately. " Umm... Something the matter?"
"...Good...morning, Roxas." Xion said, mirroring his words.
"Hm?" Roxas tilted his head curiously, but before he could ask anything else Saïx walked in.
"Both of you, finish your preparations as soon as possible. A giant Heartless has surfaced. It must be exterminated today." He said, summoning a corridor for the two of them. "Be careful." He warned.
As they stepped into Twilight Town within its alley's Roxas felt a dark presence immediately, far stronger than any he had sensed before. Howver...he felt a familiarity with the feeling, as though he had felt this kind of dark power before...
"Roxas."
"Ah-" Roxas gasped as he turned to Xion, who didn't appear to be affected by the same power that he felt. But even more surprising she removed her hood, revealing her dark hair and bright blue eyes.
"Good luck today." She said.
"Th-thanks. You too, Xion." Roxas said, stuttering a bit as for a second he felt something familiar about her...about her face...but he couldn't quite place it.
As they entered the Station Plaza Roxas was confused for a second. He knew he sensed the dark energy within this area, but he didn't see any-
"ROXAS!" Xion called out, pushing him out of the way as a giant hand slammed down, releasing dark energy all around them.
A single name popped into his head as Roxas looked up at the Heartless with terror in his eyes.
Darkside
"What is THAT?" Roxas asked as Xion pulled him to his feet.
"Our target! You ready for this?" She asked with a determined expression, surprising him for a second as he nodded with a smile of affirmation on his face, summoning his weapon.
"Yeah."
The battle was the hardest he believed that he had fought so far. Even with the aid of Xion's magic, the Darkside was a force of nature as it summoned pure darkness that would damage them heavily along with normal Heartless that would crowd around him and attack. They seemed to solely be trained on him as he held the key in hand.
However as the battle was reaching its end and Roxas was prepared to strike down the Heartless he flinched for a second as something painful overtook him, causing him to cradle his head, making his world spin.
"Give me back- [_]!"
The memory was hazy, however, it left him open as the Darkside attacked him again, knocking him back and causing the Keyblade to fall out of his hands. Roxas looked up to the giant heartless about to attack him, but the Nobody raised his hand reflexively. As the Heartless attacked him, a shield appeared before him, blocking the attack and protecting him. However, it quickly began to crack until the strength of the Heartless.
Xion acted quickly, as the Keyblade materialized in her hand, jumping on the hand that was attacking her teammate and delivering a powerful blow to finish off the Darkside. As it returned to the darkness he watched in awe as Xion stood up, looking at the Keyblade in her hand just before it disappeared.
"Whoa! Xion, I didn't know you could use the Keyblade." He said as he felt excitement bubble up.
"Yeah...neither did I." Xion said wistfully, mirroring Roxas's smile as he was radiating pride for his teammate.
"You did great. In fact, you deserve a little something extra." He said walking past her and towards the shop.
"Something extra?" Xion question as Roxas turned back to her for a second.
"Yeah, the icing on the cake!"
Roxas had a large grin on his face, watching Xion look out at the scenery in awe as he sat down next to her atop the clocktower.
"How'd you find such a great place?" She asked.
"Heeere ya go." He said handing her a ice cream bar. "Axel showed it to me, on my first day he also showed me this ice cream, Sea-salt ice cream!"
Xion looked at the ice cream questioningly.
"Well? Go on, try it." Roxas prompted, feeling like he was about to explode in excitement as he saw her eat it.
"It's sweet. But kinda salty, too." She said plainly.
" It's really good, right? Me and Axel always meet up here for ice cream after work." Roxas said with a smile as he took a bite of his own. "Sea-salt is Axel's favorite."
"Sounds like it's yours, too!" Xion said as she watched him eat it happily.
" Heh, yeah. I don't remember it too well, but Axel said he took me here my very first day with the Organization. And then he bought me some ice cream again after my first mission. Said it was the "icing on the cake." Roxas explained. For some reason, even though he still missed Axel, talking about him made him feel elated.
"A little something extra?" Xion question, repeating his words from earlier.
"Exactly." Roxas said.
"You guys must be close." Xion said. "I remember I would see you two together alot."
Roxas nodded as his eyes grew lidded with remembrance. "Axel's my first friend. He's great, he knows everything. Anything I ask him something he always knows the answer!" Roxas said proudly. "When he comes back there's a bunch of new things I want to ask him. I didn't realize being a Nobody would be so confusing, but I know that I can trust him with anything."
"Your...friend?" Xion murmured. "Roxas, do you think I could be a friend?" She asked hesitantly, looking down at the ice cream in her hand.
Roxas hummed to himself thoughtfully. Axel had never mentioned anything about having more than one friend, but he would probably know what to do. "When Axel gets back, let's ask him. Then all three of us can have ice cream together!"
Xion's face lit up. "Okay!" She said as they both smiled at each other; eating ice cream and watching the sunset together.
-Roxas's Diary Entry: Day 25-
Today was my third day with Xion. I've gotten to know a little more about her. That's right -she's a girl, with black hair, and she can use the Keyblade just like me! She basically saved me back then when my head started to hurt. I don't remember what happened, or what caused it, it's all kind of a blur. But after the fight, I took her out for ice cream afterwards!
Oh, but I'm saving the WINNER stick. Axel deserves a reward when he gets back. Xion wants to have ice cream with us from now on. Maybe we'll all be friends.
I sure hope so, Xion is really nice. Much nicer than some of the other members.
...I think I'm starting to understand why Demyx was so happy to be rid of a few of the members, even if it's for a little while.
-Secret Report: Lexaeus-
Pressing Zexion for answers would be a waste of time when the lines of communication are possibly being monitored. I know that, but this dearth of information is hard to accept when he is now stationed at Castle Oblivion while I'm still here. From what he's informed me, it appears that Vexen and Marluxia have decided to manipulate the Princess of Heart as well as the Boy of Darkness using the replica, but to what end he and I are uncertain at this point.
Those who were sent to the castle...they hug their truths close and leave the rest of us to speculate. Zexion talks of the bond we share as The Organization, but how could such a thing exist?
Still, he remains the only one I can truly trust stationed within Castle Oblivion. Until his return, I can only relay this information to the only other member I can truly trust.
Notes:
-Roxas uses barrier! It's somewhat effective!
-Reference to the omake of chapter 25
-Trying to keep everything consistent
-If ya'll are wondering why there are multiple chapter releases, it's just because they're usually easier to write when in groups, also I don't like releasing just 800-1000 word chapters.
-Can't wait for Roxas's first heartbreak.