A/N: This is a story that is basically an AU I've had on my mind for a while now, where Kairi is far from useless or defenseless and actually has her own role to play. This story is Kairi-centric, which means most changes will revolve around Kairi, but since Days and COM are now here, that means most of the changes will now revolve around Naminé (and somewhat Xion, but only until much later). Again, get ready for a heavy helping of RokuNami (one of my other OTPs). RokuShi will still be there, don't worry (I just like RokuNami more).
Also, please review! Tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Disney in any way, shape, or form! I only own an OC who will appear much later in the story (about KH3-ish).
Note: Remember that if I don't add a scene (or don't write out the whole thing; same goes with the designs), it means that it's the same as in canon. Just FYI.
!~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~O~A~T~H~K~E~E~P~E~R~~A~U~~!
Kingdom Hearts: The Oathkeeper
Chapter 5: 358 Days Over 2 (358/2 Days), Part 1
==Day 255: Why the Sun Sets Red==
~Twilight Town~
Roxas sat on top of the clock tower, watching the sunset, by himself. After everything crazy that's been going on lately, it was nice to have a moment of reprieve.
"You're early," came a familiar voice.
Roxas looked up to see Axel and Naminé standing at the corner entrance. Saïx gave them separate missions today, so Roxas assumed the two had arrived at the same time by coincidence.
"No, you two're just late," Roxas sassed.
Naminé giggled—a sound Roxas never got tired of hearing—and she and Axel sat down on either side of Roxas, Axel smiling at Roxas' comment.
After a few moments of silence, during which sea salt ice cream was eaten, Roxas spoke up, "Today makes 255."
"Huh?" Naminé wasn't sure what he was talking about.
"What's that about?" Axel asked.
"It's been that many days since I first joined the Organization," the blonde boy explained. "Man, time flies."
"So, you got the number memorized, do you?" Axel said.
"Yeah," Roxas replied. "Have to hang onto something, right? It's not like I have memories from before the Organization. Don't you guys remember? I acted like a zombie."
Naminé smiled as Axel put his hand on Roxas' shoulder, "Right, that first week you could barely form a sentence. But come on, you're still kind of a zombie." Axel gave Roxas a playable pat on the back.
"Oh, thanks!" was Roxas's response.
They all laughed.
After another moment of silence, Axel spoke up, "Hey, Roxas, Naminé. Bet you two don't know why the sun sets red. You see, light is made up of lots of colors. And out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest."
Roxas elbowed him, "Like we asked! Know-it-all."
They all laughed again, letting more silence settle as time passed. After a few minutes, Roxas had finished his ice cream, Axel was resting on his back, and Naminé was fidgeting with her hands.
"Seriously, where is she?" Roxas asked. The question wasn't aimed at Naminé, but he was looking right at her, so feeling like she had to give an answer, Naminé merely shrugged.
The two blondes both turned to look at the corner entrance, which was empty. Axel's face turned serious and he sat back up, as Roxas recalled the past 255 days.
"The destiny that is about to unfold actually started when we first met on the third day after I came here."
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 3: Number XIV==
~Twilight Town~
Xemnas watched the blonde girl in a white sundress and blue sandals wander through the streets, alone, her face blank and emotionless. He'd been following her for some time now.
Because she was a Nobody, as she was born when someone lost their heart. He could feel it, and he knew who her Somebody was, and she was special because of that. As such, she was born under special circumstances, and had special abilities no other Nobody had. She was a Nobody in every sense of the word, because going by the definition of what a Nobody was, and considering who her Somebody was, this girl shouldn't exist. Period
But it was her special abilities he was interested in. In order for his plans to succeed, he needed her on his side.
Xemnas continued following her until she found herself outside the Old Mansion, where a swarm of Shadows popped up and surrounded her.
She paused, frozen with fear. Despite being at a distance, he could still see the fear in her blue eyes. He was about to step in and help her—he couldn't let the Heartless get to her first—when she summoned a very familiar Keyblade and reluctantly charged into the fray herself.
That Keyblade...
Rainfell.
Now that was a connection he never thought about making. This Nobody had the ability to wield a Keyblade, because her Somebody could, and Rainfell was Aqua's Keyblade. Aqua and this girl's Somebody...
Going farther, this girl looked like a female Ventus. Her hair color was a couple shades lighter, but the eyes were just as blue as his. Ventus and this girl's Somebody...
Two connections he never knew existed until now.
After a few more minutes, Xemnas saw that all the Shadows were gone and the girl was looking at Rainfell surprised, leading him to believe that it had come to her when she needed it the most, that she was not born with the knowledge that she had it and knew how to use it. Which intrigued him.
He added 'Can use a Keyblade' to his list of her special abilities, with a little note saying 'But needs training'.
He decided to show himself now. He appeared in her proximity right as she turned around.
"W-Wha...?" she asked in surprise, obviously not expecting anyone to appear out of the blue.
"You are lost, alone," Xemnas told her. "You seek answers. Don't you?"
The girl's nostalgic blue eyes lowered in sadness, confirming to Xemnas that he had hit a nail on the head. Who was she? Where did she come from? What was she here for?
He waved his hand between the two of them and the name of the girl's Somebody appeared in the air, the letters shiny and hovering.
"Fear not, young one. I can give you purpose," Xemnas continued.
He waved his hand again and the letters swirled around her, gaining momentum until they were barely visible as letters. He slammed his hand into them and four points of golden light shot out, causing the girl to flinch. She opened her eyes in time to see the name 'XIRAKI' shatter into pieces, and she watched those pieces fall to the ground.
Xemnas wasn't all that surprised to see this. Her Somebody was a Princess of Heart. Her heart was too pure for a sigil, so he had to come up with something else.
He waved his hand again, picking up the broken pieces and causing them to form another name.
The girl read it aloud, "Naminé..."
"That is right," Xemnas told her. "The new you. Come. Everyone is waiting."
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~The Castle That Never Was~
The Organization had gathered in the Round Room, where Xemnas addressed them.
"Good tidings, everyone," Xemnas said. "I am pleased to announce that a new comrade has chosen to wear the coat."
Xemnas looked down toward the floor, and everyone's gazes followed. Naminé walked into the room and stood in the center, wearing the same black coat as everyone else.
"Let us all welcome one of the Keyblade's chosen," Xemnas introduced her. "Number XIV, Naminé, the Witch of Purity."
Naminé looked around at each of her new friends, taking in each of their faces. She couldn't read their facial expressions very well, but she knew that some of them didn't like her already.
But then her eyes met the blonde boy's, who was obviously more blank than she was. Their eyes connected, and she didn't want to look away.
"I met Naminé first after Axel. I don't remember much about our first meeting. I was still out of it, but I do remember feeling a strange sense of familiarity, like I had met her before."
Meanwhile, Axel and Saïx both sensed something familiar about Naminé as well, though they couldn't place a finger on it.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 7: Genesis==
~The Castle That Never Was~
The Organization members gathered in the Round Room again, on Xemnas' orders. Naminé was the only one standing, on the floor below, because there were only thirteen seats.
"Good tidings, friends," Xemnas was saying. "Today is a momentous day."
Axel scratched his chin, as Luxord sat back in his chair.
"I am pleased to announce that a new comrade has been chosen to wear the coat."
Vexen smirked. Demyx adjusted his seat. Xemnas looked down toward the floor, as a small cloaked figure walked into the room and stood in the center with its hood up.
"Number XV. Let us all welcome another of the Keyblade's chosen."
Roxas blinked, remembering when he was brought before them, remembering when Axel walked in behind him, Xemnas holding his head up with a smirk on his face.
Roxas was brought out of his reverie as the figure looked toward him, and he gasped.
Naminé couldn't take her eyes off the figure, unable to determine why she couldn't see a human face at all, wondering why all she could see was a white doll underneath the coat.
"For the seven days since my arrival, the name Roxas, the number thirteen, and that strange connection to Naminé were all I had. Who the people around me were, what they wanted, or what they were trying to do, I had no idea..."
Roxas' Diary: Day 7
It's been a week since I got here. Saïx told me to keep a diary, but he said nobody would check it. What am I supposed to write about?
Today they told us to go to the Round Room, where we met our new member, No. XV. Was I like that when I first got here? I think I was. But I don't remember too well.
Secret Reports: Day 7: Meaning
Author: Xemnas
A name defines an object. Describes the span of it. Gives it purpose.
We embarked upon the Replica Program to ensure our new power stays ours. Now, our shadow puppet, "No. i," lives. It needs a name. Something to define it. To give the hollow vessel purpose.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 8: Icing on the Cake==
~The Castle That Never Was~
Saïx addressed Roxas, Naminé, and Axel in The Grey Area, "Teach them well, Axel."
"Don't worry," Axel replied. "I'll be sure they make the grade. Roxas, Naminé, let's go. Hmm?" Axel stopped when he noticed Roxas staring at the new recruit, Number XV, who was standing in the corner of the room. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You worried about the new kid? What was that name again...?"
"Number XV, Xion," Saïx answered.
"Right. I knew that."
"Xion..." Roxas muttered.
"Got it memorized, Roxas?" Axel asked.
"Yeah..."
"Yeah? How 'bout my name, then?"
"Axel..."
The redhead pointed to Naminé beside him, "What about her name?"
"Naminé..."
"Good," Axel replied. "And how about our boss's name, huh?"
"Xemnas..."
"No way you're gonna forget his name, right? Let's go."
Axel opened a corridor of darkness and walked inside, with Roxas and Naminé following suit.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~Twilight Town~
Roxas and Naminé worked together to complete their first mission. Afterwards, instead of returning straight to the castle, Axel took the two to a special place of his - something he called the clock tower.
The three sat on the ledge before Axel handed the two a bar of blue-colored ice cream.
"The icing on the cake," Axel said.
"Huh?" Roxas took the bar, as did Naminé, as Axel took a bite.
"You remember what this ice cream is called?" Axel asked, taking the gentle smile on Naminé's face as her enjoying the ice cream.
"It's umm..." Axel slumped when Roxas had to pause and search his already clouded memory.
"Sea-salt ice cream," Axel replied. "I already told you before, Roxas. Get it memorized."
Roxas took a bite, "It's salt...but sweet."
Axel laughed, "Roxas, you said the same exact thing the other day."
Naminé let a smile slip, as Roxas replied, "I did? I don't remember..."
"So what has it been, a week since you joined the Organization?" Axel asked. Which meant it had been at least five days since Naminé had joined.
"I guess it has..."
"You guess it has? C'mon, you must remember that much," Axel nudged him. "Well, here you are, finally out in the field, working for the Organization, right?"
"For the Organization..." Roxas muttered.
"You might even say that today is where it all really begins for you two," Axel addressed them both.
"Where it all begins?" Roxas asked.
"As a member of the Organization, I'll be receiving missions everyday... But I'm still not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do."
Roxas, in real time, suddenly thought of something, "Hey, Naminé, how come you don't have an X in your name?"
Naminé's face immediately turned red, not knowing how to respond to this. Her eyes turned away from Roxas, and down at the ice cream bar still in her hands.
Fortunately, Axel stepped in for her, "Because the boss didn't think she'd need one."
"I also got the feeling that Naminé was special and that she needed to be protected. At this point, I didn't know why, but looking back now, I certainly wish I did know then."
Roxas' Diary: Day 8
Axel, Naminé, and I went to Twilight Town today. He taught us a lot.
Before we RTC'd (Returned To the Castle) we swung by the clock tower and had some sea-salt ice cream. Axel called it the "icing on the cake" after a successful mission. Well, except there was no cake—just the ice cream.
I don't know what to write in this thing!
Secret Reports: Day 8: Roxas and Naminé
Author: Axel
Seems like we're getting new members every day. No. XIII was a boy, Roxas. Now we've got a No. XIV, Naminé, and a No. XV, Xion.
Today's mission was to show Roxas and Naminé the ropes. I feel like they've had me babysitting them since they got here. They're not bad kids, but Roxas is a little spacey and Naminé doesn't talk much. Good fighters, though, and their teamwork is seamless. At least I won't be bored.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 9: Heartless==
~The Castle That Never Was~
Everyone else had gone out to complete their missions, but Saïx had told Naminé to stay at the Castle today, because Xemnas wanted to speak with her.
Naminé reached the Altar of Naught, were Saïx told her to go.
Xemnas had his back towards her, and all she had done was walk up to him, but staying a fair distance away.
Which is why it surprised her when he suddenly said, "Look above you, Naminé."
Her heart skipped a beat. How did he know she was there? She didn't say anything. But she did as he told her to do. There she saw a moon in the shape of a heart. "Kingdom Hearts..." she breathed.
But she quickly caught herself. She brought a surprised hand up to her mouth as soon as she said it. How did she know what it was? She's never seen it before. Has she?
Her mind was incredibly fuzzy, after all.
But to Xemnas, this only confirmed what he already knew. "That is correct," he told her. "But it is incomplete. To do so, we need hearts, which can only be collected by a Keyblade."
"Like the one Roxas has?" Naminé quietly asked. It was weird. Part of her was telling her that she had seen his Keyblade before, but she just couldn't remember where.
"And yours," Xemnas added. "Summon it." It was a command, not a request, but he wasn't being pushy about it, less scary and more business-like.
So she did. It was effortless, like she had summoned it so many times before, like it was second nature to her.
"It's called 'Rainfell'," Xemnas told her. "Where did you receive it?"
"I faintly remember a woman wielding it," Naminé explained, "to protect me."
Xemnas paused briefly, before he continued, "As the only Keyblade Wielders, it will be both yours and Roxas' jobs to collect hearts for us, by defeating what we call Emblem Heartless."
"Right," Naminé understood that. Apparently, having a Keyblade was special, and only she and Roxas had one. She paused, before shyly speaking up, "May I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Why do we need to complete Kingdom Hearts?" She asked. "What happens when we do?"
"As Nobodies, we don't have hearts," Xemnas explained to her. "We are all incomplete ourselves, even you. Kingdom Hearts is our only hope to becoming whole again."
"Even me?" Naminé tilted her head confusion.
"You are a special Nobody, because your Somebody is as well," Xemnas told her. "You were born under strange circumstances, so it's safe to assume that you were born with a heart, unlike the rest of us. Tell me, Naminé, do you feel a piece missing?"
The blonde paused as she searched the heart Xemnas said she had.
There was a piece missing. She was just one half of a person, and she felt herself longing to meet the other half of her.
Xemnas took Naminé's solemn silence as the answer he was looking for, so he quietly added, "Because you are a special Nobody, we also need you to grant us access to Kingdom Hearts. You're the only one who can."
Naminé nodded, unable to stop thinking about her Somebody, her other half.
Where was her Somebody now? Was she still alive? Was she out of commission due to her Nobody's special birth? Or was it the other way around? Was Naminé was born because her Somebody was out of commission?
Roxas' Diary: Day 9
The past few days, the other members have been showing me how to fight and do mission stuff. They also told me more about the Organization, and about myself. I still don't really get what a "heart" is. But apparently, it's a vital piece of who I am—so I've decided to cooperate. If I collect enough hearts, I can complete Kingdom Hearts. Then I'll be whole.
Secret Reports: Day 9: On Track
Author: Saïx
Xion is being monitored. Roxas, meanwhile, has begun his training exercises. And Naminé has been informed of the reason why she is crucial to our operation.
It is imperative we keep Xion from having undue contact with Roxas until we are certain it will perform as expected—which will take another 10 days, if Vexen's convictions are to be trusted.
As for the Keyblade master, Marluxia will no doubt be keeping an eye on him.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 14: Friends==
~Twilight Town~
Roxas, Naminé, and Axel stood in the Side Street of Twilight Town, after having completed today's mission. To be honest, Axel didn't do much. Roxas and Naminé, once again, seamlessly worked together to defeat the Heartless.
A trio of kids, consisting a boy with dirty blonde hair wearing camo pants, a boy with black hair wearing a red basketball skirt, and a girl with brunette hair with a orange tank top, ran past them and down the nearby stairs.
"Who were they?" Roxas asked, after the trio was long gone.
"Probably...just some kids who live here," Ael replied.
Roxas pondered for a moment, "Hmmm... So does everybody act that way?"
"What do you mean?" Axel asked.
"Like running around chasing each other, making all that noise..."
"Well, yeah...if they have hearts, I suppose that's what they do," the redhead answered.
"Hearts..." Roxas muttered, as Naminé placed a hand of her chest, where her own heart supposedly was.
She wondered if Roxas could feel his own missing piece, if Axel would tell that he was to be unified with his own Somebody...
"C'mon, let's get some ice cream," Axel said.
"Why?" Roxas asked.
"'Why'? Uh, well...'cause... Because we're friends," Axel replied. "You, me, and Naminé."
"Friends..." Roxas muttered.
"Friends eat ice cream together, and talk and laugh about the stupidest things. Like those kids we just saw. C'mon, let's go," Axel proceeded to lead the two to their spot on the clock tower.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
The trio was later sitting on the clock tower, biting into their ice cream. Naminé watched as the three kids from before chased one another down below at the Station Plaza.
"Hey, Roxas, Naminé. After your next mission, let's meet up for ice cream again. No fun just going back and forth between the castle and work, right?" Axel suggested.
"Yeah. Right. We're friends, huh..." Roxas agreed.
Naminé smiled and nodded at them. She felt safe with these two. She didn't know why, but she wanted to reach out and desparately grab hold of them and never let go.
She felt safe with Roxas and his mutual confusion about everything. The two had joined the Organization around the same time, so who's to say they weren't also born around the same time?
She felt safe with Axel and his funny way of explaining things and answering any questions she and Roxas had.
She giggled, before taking another bite of her ice cream.
Little did she know, when she giggle, Axel and Roxas immediately turned to her. Axel let off a smirk before turning back to his ice cream, while Roxas let slip a small smile.
He liked her laugh, and he sincerely wished she'd do it more often.
Roxas' Diary: Day 14
Me, Naminé, and Axel went on a mission to Twilight Town. Afterwards, we went and had ice cream again up on the clock tower.
Axel said friends do stuff like that. Or they laugh together. So does that mean the three of us are friends?
Secret Reports: Day 14: These Kids?
Author: Axel
Another mission with Roxas and Naminé today. Are they seriously my responsibility? At least Roxas is starting to talk like a normal person, and even if Naminé's still not talking, she's becoming more expressive. Maybe that means their memories are coming back.
Still, these two are supposed to be the Nobodies of the Keyblade Master and a Princess of Heart? I don't see it.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 15: Missions==
~The Castle That Never Was~
She didn't intend for them to be anything special. They were just drawings. But apparently, they were special to everyone else.
Last night, before going to bed, Naminé decided to pick up a stack of paper and a pencil (both of which she bought from Twilight Town the day before out of sheer curiosity) and sketch her, Axel, and Roxas sitting on the clock tower, enjoying their ice cream.
She decided to draw this particular scene, because she wanted to remember it forever, and she was afraid she would forget it if she didn't sketch it out.
After finishing said sketch, she decided to draw something else, this time one of her faded memories, of that woman the protected her, of the woman to whom her Keyblade truly belonged.
She found it interesting that after drawing the woman, her memory of her protector became a little clearer. She now knew that the woman had vibrant blue hair, bright blue eyes, a gentle smile, and a prescence that demanded respect.
She reminded Naminé of the ocean, calm and collected until provoked, by which time it became, quite literally, a storm, a hurricane.
She also remembered that Rainfell had an affinity for magic.
But Naminé found it especially interesting that her memory became clearer when she drew it.
The next thing Naminé knew, it was (what Somebodies would consider) the next morning, and the Grey Area was littered with sketches of Naminé's various faded memories. She didn't realize it was morning until she heard Larxene screech.
"What is this?!"
Naminé nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound and looked up from the sketch that was currently perplexing her to see the other Organization members off to the side, looking around the room, seeing all the pieces of paper scattered around the room like flower petals.
"Wow, it looks like a paper bomb went off in here," Demyx commented, before picking up a sketch Naminé had done of him. "Wow, is this me? It's pretty good!"
Naminé shyly nodded, knowing she was in trouble now.
"You're quite the artist, Naminé," came Axel's comforting voice. He and Roxas were behind her now, with Roxas holding the very first sketch she did—the one of the three of them on the clock tower. Roxas was smiling at her, evidentally thinking the same as Axel.
And Naminé blushed, feeling unworthy of the praise, before turning to pick up every piece of paper she had left on the ground, bashfully smiling her apologies, leaving the sketch she was already holding on the top of the stack in her arms, giving Marluxia and Larxene clear view of it.
It was a sketch of a brunette haired boy, wearing a red jumpsuit, yellow sneakers, and a white jacket. Naminé had also written the boy's name down: 'Sora'.
And it gave them an idea.
Once all the pieces of paper were picked up, Roxas walked over to Naminé and gave her the sketch he was holding, the first sketch, "Here."
She warmly smiled as she took it from him, before going down the hallway back to her room to store the sketches while she was off on today's mission.
On the way, she wondered why her cheeks always felt warm, and why her voice suddenly disappeared, whenever Roxas was there. But she got no answer.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Today's mission was in Twilight Town with Marluxia. He had asked her questions about her sketches this morning, noting how certain memories were connected to them.
When the mission was over, Naminé said she wanted to scour the town for any more Heartless, just in case (even though it was an excuse to ensure that she could make it to the clock tower for ice cream). Marluxia accepted this and returned to the castle without her.
Now, three ice creams in hand, Naminé was on top of the clock tower by herself, watching the sunset and waiting for Axel and Roxas to arrive from their own missions. She wasn't sure about Axel, but Roxas was with Larxene today, learning basic magic.
And she felt content. The sunset felt nostalgic and calming.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when two hands were suddenly placed over her eyes. She heard Roxas chuckle as he removed his hands and sat beside her.
"Sorry," he apologized with a smile, finding great delight in her (cute) playful pout. He took one of the ice cream bars she offered him, before he heard her giggle.
He had never heard her speak, and he wasn't sure if he ever would, but he certainly loved her laugh, and he now knew not to take her being mute around him personally. Axel had told him that Naminé was shy (he didn't understand what that meant exactly), but she obviously still enjoyed his company.
And pretty soon, Roxas found himself laughing with her.
"It looks like you kids have been having fun," came Axel's voice. After getting two smiles in return, he cleared his throat and averted his eyes before holding out something that resembled a stack of paper to Naminé, bound with sprial twine.
Naminé's smile disappeared, turning into a confused look.
"It's a sketchbook," Axel explained. "I noticed this morning that it took a while for you to gather up all your drawings. A sketchbook will allow you to keep track of them for you."
Naminé smiled as she took the sketchbook from him, returning the favor by giving him the extra ice cream. He took it before sitting down on her other side.
"You're welcome," Axel said. "That's what friends do."
Roxas' Diary: Day 15
The other members have been teaching me more about how to fight and stuff. It's going, I guess.
Every day after work, I've been meeting Axel and Naminé at the clock tower to have sea-salt ice cream. It really is salty! But still sweet, too. How come it tastes so familiar?
Naminé loves to draw, and she's really good at it. I wonder if she'll let me keep the one she did of me, her, and Axel on the clock tower.
Secret Report: Day 15: How Dare They
Author: Larxene
Ugh! How DARE they shut me out of monitoring the Keyblade master! And then to send me off to teach that half-baked Nobody basic magic!? I should've had him light ME on fire.
It won't be long now, though. Once I'm over at C.O., our plan goes into action. No more playing nanny. Ever.
As long as we have that drawing brat with us, nothing can go wrong.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 22: Left Behind==
~Twilight Town~
Everything had been normal until today. Xemnas had given out the assignments for Castle Oblivion, and the fact that Naminé was included disturbed Axel greatly.
He had gone to Xemnas directly about this, and the boss explained that Marluxia had requested Naminé specifically. Xemnas had accepted on the one condition that Axel went with her to act as her bodyguard.
He and Naminé were with Roxas having ice cream on the clock tower now. Axel didn't want to break the news to Roxas, but the kid deserved to know. He was going to be alone for a while, starting tomorrow.
"I'm gonna miss this ice cream thing we do," Axel commented.
"Huh?" Roxas was understandably confused.
Might as well go for it now. "Naminé and I are gonna be away for a while...starting tomorrow."
"Really..." Roxas was quiet, and taking this way better than the other two expected him to.
"We can fill you in since we're friends," Axel continued. "We're gonna be at Castle Oblivion."
"Castle Oblivion?" Roxas asked, and he saw Naminé nod at him.
"The Organization's got a second castle in the world between worlds. It's called Castle Oblivion," Axel explained. "Got it memorized?"
"I wish somebody told me these things," Roxas muttered.
"We'll be back, Roxas," Naminé's gentle voice immediately made Roxas turn to her, a smile on her face. "We promise." She handed him the sketch of the three of them sitting on the clock tower—the one he wanted to keep, the one she was letting him keep.
Roxas returned her smile, accepting the sketch. He really liked her voice.
"That was the first time Naminé ever spoke to me. Little did I know that it may very well could have been the last time she ever spoke to me."
Axel stood up after a second. "Well, we gotta head back and get ready. Nothing but fun fun fun... C'mon, Naminé."
After Axel and Naminé left, Roxas looked toward the ground and took a few bites of his ice cream. When all that's left was the popsicle stick, he saw the word 'WINNER' written on it.
Roxas' Diary: Day 22
Axel and Naminé is going to some place called Castle Oblivion. They told me because we're friends.
They had to go home early to get ready, and after they left I noticed the word WINNER on my ice cream stick. I wonder what I won... I'll ask Axel when I see him tomorrow.
Naminé finally spoke to me. I like how soft and gentle her voice is. She also gave me the sketch I wanted, and I've hung it up in my room.
Secret Reports: Day 22: Castle Oblivion
Author: Axel
They pushed up the C.O. plan. Our little hero with the key must've made a move.
Me, Naminé, and his Nobody have been meeting up for ice cream the last few days. Not the best conversationalists, but at least Roxas has mastered a few facial expressions besides "doom" and "gloom", and Naminé finally spoke words.
I told Roxas about C.O., but he didn't seem to follow. Guess that's understandable. But why do I get the feeling that he's really going to miss Naminé?
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 23: Silent Companion==
~The Castle that Never Was~
Axel walked through Nothing's Call, where Naminé was waiting for him, and he met with Saïx along the way.
"Axel," Saïx spoke. "I have a message from Lord Xemnas. Among the members assigned to Castle Oblivion, there are traitors. Find them, and dispose of them."
"I trust, that really came from Lord Xemnas himself," Axel said, before walking away.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Roxas entered the Grey Area, "Hey, Axel? Naminé?"
He looked around, but he only saw Demyx and Xion in the room, and Saïx soon walked in.
"If you're looking for Axel and Naminé, they're gone," Saïx told him, walking to the window.
Roxas stared at the popsicle stick with 'WINNER' on it, wondering what to do with it.
He soon received orders to carry out today's mission with Xion as his partner.
Xion kept her hood up and hid any facial expression from him, not speaking a word throughout the mission.
Roxas began to wonder if this was what loneliness felt like.
Roxas' Diary: Day 23
Axel and Naminé left before I woke up this morning. I never got to ask him Axel about the ice cream stick.
I was partnered up with No. XV for today's mission. Xion wore a hood the whole time and wouldn't say a word to me. Come to think of it, I didn't have a whole lot to say, either.
Afterwards I went and had ice cream by myself.
Secret Reports: Day 23: Research Entry 326
Author: Vexen
The Program is largely on target. No. i, my finest Replica, has proven an even greater success than anticipated.
I intend to take the other vessel—judged unfit for number status—to Castle Oblivion, where I will subject it to further testing.
One thing is clear: could these Replicas not be classified as a special sort of Nobody?
To Be Continued...
!~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~O~A~T~H~K~E~E~P~E~R~~A~U~~!
Author's Note About Various Changes: Since most of Xion's arc, and by extension, Days itself, is tied to what happens in Chain of Memories, I realized that I had to add it, or a version of it, somehow. So in this AU, Chain of Memories would be a special game mode included with the main game. It would tell Naminé's story of what happened in Castle Oblivion, much like BBS was told in three separate segments each in Aqua, Terra, and Ventus' POVs. After finishing the main story (Days), the COM side story unlocks.
In line with Naminé having copied Rainfell from Kairi's faded memories of Aqua, Naminé's common battle techniques are Barrier Surge and Stop. She dodges by using Cartwheel and jumps via Doubleflight. Her Limit Break is "Lightbloom", Aqua's ultimate Level 6 Shotlock in BBS. Her battle stance is similar to Kairi's in canon (due to Namine also being from Sora, and a little bit of influence from Ventus). Also, while Kairi's fighting style is focused on offense (much like Terra), Naminé's fighting style is mainly focused on magic.
It's never explained in canon why Namine has blonde hair instead of red like Kairi's, but many fans have theorized that it's because of Ventus. It's the best (read 'only') explanation I've heard, so I'm going with that. In this story, it stands out more, because Namine still has blonde hair and blue eyes (same as Ven), but Kairi now has violet eyes.
Namine's moniker, given to her by Xemnas, is a reference to not only her canon nickname of "witch", but also of who her Somebody is. Also, if you couldn't tell, "Xiraki" is "Kairi + X", and Namine's heart being too pure for a sigil comes from the fact that she's the only Nobody without an X in her name (which there is no canon explanation for, fyi). Namine being referred to as No. XIV is part of Xemnas' strategy. He needs to keep Namine under his thumb, and the best way he knows how is to make her believe she's part of the Organization, that she's one of them (and not a prisoner). Xion is referred to as No. XV simply due to Namine already being No. XIV.
Also, as you can tell, it's going to be a Sea Salt Quartet, because there is no rule that says it has to be a trio, and I hate the fact that Naminé's usually the one left out, so hence the group of four (and later five when Isa joins in what would be considered III).
Note: While I am a big fan of Kingdom Hearts, I just recently got into the fandom, which means I still don't understand most of the lore. So if I get anything wrong, I'm sorry. I'm trying my best to stick to canon as closely as this AU will allow me to. Please, no flaming. Instead, just politely inform me in a PM or a review, so I can correct any mistake I make. If you have any ideas or questions, please let me know.
If you want to know what I imagine Kairi to look like, then go to my DeviantArt page, titled "SepticAbzies", and go to the piece titled "Kairi ~ Oathkeeper AU (Full Color)", and if you want an idea of what I have in mind for Naminé, then you can find it on the piece titled "Number 14 AU". I will update the cover image to match Kairi's appearance (as well as Naminé's and Xion's) as I update each chapter, but keep in mind, Kairi's design in this AU matches how I imagine her growth to be.
Next chapter begins the Chain of Memories segment. Lots of Naminé interacting with Sora and Axel.