The Oathkeeper

by SepticAbzies

Kairi knew in that moment that her life was changed forever. How it would change, she couldn't tell you. / Major AU, Kairi-Centric, Major SoKai, Platonic SoRiKai, Some RokuNami / Revised Version / Chapter 16: DDD Part 2, Kairi visits Snow White / Next Part: DDD, Part 3

7. Chapter 7

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).

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.

This chapter goes back to Days, and Axel and Naminé meet Xion for the first time, and vice versa.

!~~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 7: 358 Days Over 2 (358/2 Days), Part 3

==Day 28: The Dark Margin==

~Agrabah~

Xion sighed in relief as the heart she just released flew up into the air. She was told by Saïx this morning that, since Roxas was still asleep (and it was unknown when he would wake up), Xion had to work double-time in order to fill in for him.

"Nice job, poppet," Xigbar, her mission partner for today, told her. "Just one more and we're done."

Xion had also asked Saïx about Naminé, specifically who she was. Saïx just told her that they all needed to find her as soon as possible.

But Xion decided to focus on that later. Right now, she needed to focus on the last Heartless, who had decided to be very elusive.

She turned to Xigbar, confused as to where this Heartless was hiding, but she said nothing when noticing that he was looking around too.

This is when she saw the same red-haired girl, Kairi, from last night, and her violet eyes were looking directly at Xion.

Xion was about to call out to her when Kairi turned around and began walking, before turning down an alleyway.

Xion chose to run after her, ignoring Xigbar's "You found it already?"

But when she turned into the alleyway she saw Kairi enter, all she found was the Heartless she and Xigbar were looking for right there.

Xigbar managed to catch up with Xion right as the girl took down the Heartless. As the heart was freed, he asked, "How'd you know where to find it?"

Xion didn't know how to answer this. Last night's dream was just that, wasn't it? Then what just happened? So she truthfully replied, "I don't know..."

Xigbar shrugged, "Well, it works in our favor, so I'm going to question it." He then summoned a Corridor, "C'mon. Let's head back."

Xion de-summoned her Keyblade before following him. Right as she entered the Corridor, she heard Kairi tell her 'I'm real, Xion, and I'm always happy to help you.' She smiled after digesting this.

The dream last night felt real. The seashell that she had placed in her pocket in that very same dream was also there this morning, in the exact same place. And just now, Kairi knew where to find the Heartless when nobody else did.

Kairi was indeed real, wasn't she?

Roxas' Diary: Day 28

N/A

Secret Reports: Day 28: Dealing with the Traitors

Author: Axel

I've uncovered most of what I need to know about the Replica Program, but where's the other one? I can't find any trace of it.

...Vexen was caught in the middle. Pitiable, but unavoidable. I could not risk his Program falling into their hands. Of greater concern were the traitors. Not the obvious turncoats, but the ones who would get in his and my way. The Keyblade master is not our enemy.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 45: The Dark Margin==

~Castle Oblivion~

Saïx didn't want to leave, but he knew he had to eventually. There wasn't much to find other than an empty castle, on all levels.

No Lexaeus. No Zexion. No Vexen. No Marluxia. No Larxene. No Axel.

And still no sign of Naminé.

There was no proof she was gone, but there was no proof that she was still alive either. He'd have to go back to Xemnas empty handed once again.

He didn't know what possessed him to exit the Castle, but he was thankful for it (or he would be, if he had a heart), because that's where he found her.

Right outside the Castle doors, resting on the steps, out cold.

As he picked her up in his arms, he wondered what could have happened to her and how long she's been out.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~The Castle That Never Was~

Xion returned from her mission, exhausted, fully intent on returning to her room to rest, when she saw a door opening down the hall, and Xemnas and Saïx both exited soon after.

As the two men passed her, she asked, "What's going on?"

"Naminé has returned to us," Xemnas told her, Saïx not saying a word, the two not stopping their walk.

Naminé was back?

Xion ignored her exhaustion and chose to let her curiosity take over. She let herself walk down the hall and enter the room she saw Xemnas and Saïx leave.

Right there, on the bed, lay a blonde-haired girl about Xion's height. Her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping peacefully.

"So...you're Naminé?" Xion asked her, before smiling. "Roxas would not stop talking about you, and the way he did made me curious about you. I really wanted to meet you. I still do." She was quiet for a minute. "Please, wake up soon, Naminé. For Roxas if not yourself. He really misses you."

She then reached into her pocket and pulled out the seashell she retreived from Kairi's dreamscape. She smiled at it before placing it next to Naminé's pillow.

"I'll be back tomorrow, okay?" she vowed before leaving.

Roxas' Diary: Day 45

N/A

Secret Reports: Day 45: First Meeting

Author: Xion

I finally met Naminé today. She's exactly how Roxas described her, at least appearance-wise. I can't wait for her to wake up. I feel like she and I will be really good friends.

I've decided to bring her a seashell everyday, the same thing I'm currently doing with Roxas.

Speaking of Roxas, he still hasn't woken up yet. But when he does, I'm sure he'd be glad to see Naminé again.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 50: Familiar Sound==

~Twilight Town~

'I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here.' Seriously, who was this girl?

Roxas had woken up today after hearing that girl's voice talk to him. He walked into the Grey Area, and after seeing no one around, he decided to go to Twilight Town.

He was currently sitting on the clock tower.

"Roxas!?"

Roxas' ears perked up when he heard a familiar voice. He turned his head and saw Xion. "Xion...What happened to me?"

She walked over to him, saying, "You were sleeping for a long time. Saïx said there was no telling when you might wake up..." She sat down next to him. "But I'm glad you did."

She was starting to feel rather lonely.

"I kinda feel like a zombie, though," Roxas said, before the two shared a laugh.

Xion took a seashell out of her pocket and handed it to Roxas. "I brought you this."

"Huh?" Roxas was confused, but he took it anyway.

"It's a seashell," Xion explained. "A friend told me all about them, and I've been picking up a couple on every mission. Hold it up to your ear." She didn't tell him about Naminé, deciding to let Roxas bring up the topic when he felt like it. He seemed really sad the last time they spoke about it.

Roxas did, and he immediately got a flash of a girl and a boy on the docks of a beach.

Why did this feel so familiar?

Roxas' Diary: Day 50: Xion's Seashells

I must have missed a lot. It's like I had the longest dream. I woke up to find a bunch of seashells by my pillow. I counted them—one for each day they said I was asleep.

I was wondering who left them there, but then when I got to the clock tower, Xion gave me another one. I held it up to my ear, and I could hear the ocean... Why did it sound so familiar?

The stuff I dreamed about felt strangely familiar too. I remember being in a white room with somebody the same age as me wearing red clothes...and then he sort of disappeared into the white.

And there was a girl's voice—she said she knew I'd be 'snoozing'. Why would she know that? The voice was a little like Xion's.

Secret Reports: Day 50: Strange Feeling

Author: Xion

Roxas woke up today. I think he was dreaming the whole time.

Being with him feels strange. Familiar. Like listening to the waves crash up against the shore. But why?

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 51: Missing==

~The Castle That Never Was~

The whereabouts of the members who were sent to Castle Oblivion were still unknown. To Roxas' dismay, this group still included Axel and Naminé.

He still had a difficult time believing that he was probably never going to see them again.

Roxas had received a solo mission today, and he had sat on the clock tower by himself, so he was alone for most of the day.

It was only until he RTC'd when he found Xion.

"Hey, Roxas," Xion told him, "I heard about what happened at Castle Oblivion."

"It's not your fault," Roxas replied. "I just wish I could've at least said 'goodbye' to Axel and Naminé. They were my friends before I met you."

Xion seemed a little nervous, "Well, I don't know about Axel, but Naminé..."

Just as she knew he would be, Roxas' interest was immediately perked. "What about Naminé?"

Xion paused, before grabbing his hand, "I think it's better if I just show you."

Roxas was confused, but he let Xion lead him to Naminé's room. As soon the door opened, Roxas appreciated Xion's decision to just show him.

Because words could not express his happy Roxas felt in that moment, when he actually lay eyes on Naminé's sleeping form.

Xion watched as Roxas immediately rushed over to Naminé's side, as he cried out, "Naminé!"

Xion smiled, happy that she helped the two friends reunite, that she made Roxas happy again, and that's all she wanted. "Saïx found her outside Castle Oblivion six days ago," she explained. "We don't know how long she's been asleep, but we're all hoping she wakes up soon. There's a lot of answers she can give us."

Roxas' attention turned to the five seashells next to Naminé's bed when Xion came up beside him and placed a sixth one there. "So you've been giving Naminé seashells too?"

Xion nodded, smiling, "Everyday until she wakes up. A friend of yours, Roxas, is a friend of mine. The way you always talked about her made me curious enough to want to meet her. C'mon. Let's go to my room. I need to show you something else."

"Right." Roxas didn't realize he was holding onto Naminé's hand until he had to let go. He didn't want to, but he did. He quietly told her, "I'll be back tomorrow. I promise," before leaving the room after Xion.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~Kairi's Heartscape~

He and Xion had connected hands and fallen asleep together, just as Xion told him to do. And when he opened his eyes, he wasn't in Xion's room anymore. He was in a flower garden that was next to a large castle on one side and a beach on the other.

"Well?" Xion asked him. "What do you think?"

"It's nice," he relied. "What world is this?"

"It's not a world," Xion explained. "We're inside someone's heart. Can't you feel a faint beat?"

Roxas paused before listening, Xion staying quiet so he could hear it. "Yeah," he replied after a short silence. It was subtle, but there was a heartbeat whispering to them both in the wind. "So, who's heart is this?"

"Again," Xion answered, "it's better to show you."

He let her grab his hand and pull her along, towards the beach. "We're not going to explore the castle?" he asked.

"No," Xion looked sad suddenly, for some reason. "The gates are locked. We can't. And please don't ask that anymore. She'll answer that question when she's ready. She got really sad when I did."

"'She'?" he repeated. "Who's this she?"

Xion stopped and Roxas looked to the shoreline, where he saw a red-headed girl standing. This girl was the 'she' Xion was referring to. He could only see her profile, but he could tell she was content. The girl was smiling.

"W-Who are you?" he asked her. The girl turned to him, her smile not disappearing.

"Hello," the girl greeted. "You must be Roxas." He nodded. "My name is Kairi. Xion's told me a lot about you."

"She has?" Kairi nodded. "So you're the one who told Xion what seashells were?" Roxas remembered.

"I am," Kairi answered, before bending over and picking up a seashell from the shoreline. "I know this all seems like a dream, but I am real and this place is real. These seashells can be found on my home island, the Destiny Islands."

"And the castle?" Everything went quiet as soon as the question left his mouth.

But to Xion's surprise, Kairi actually answered the question, "The castle and the flower garden resemble the memories from before I came to the islands." She looked towards the castle, and Roxas and Xion followed her gaze. "The garden holds the few memories I have of my grandmother. The castle gates are locked because...I guess, because I choose not to remember them."

Roxas didn't understand why anyone would choose not to remember their past. He didn't remember his, and he wanted to know why. "Why would you choose that?"

"Some memories are locked away for a reason," Kairi answered, before changing the subject. "Anyways, I'm really glad you're here. I'm tired of being lonely."

Her words haunted Roxas long after he woke up.

Roxas' Diary: Day 51: Annihilated

It sounds like the worst has come to pass: the whole C.O. team, wiped from existence. It's hard to come to grips with the idea that Axel and Naminé are both gone. I feel...choked up? I don't know what you'd call it. I've never had this kind of sensation.

I went up to the clock tower to have ice cream, but nobody else showed up.

But then Xion suprised me by showing proof that Naminé, at least, was still alive. Words alone can not express how happy this news makes me. And if Naminé survived Castle Oblivion, then maybe Axel did too.

Xion also introduced me to her secret friend. Her name was Kairi. Why did she feel so familiar?

Secret Reports: Day 51: Measures Must Be Taken

Author: Saïx

The Replica Program continues apace, but something has gone wrong at Castle Oblivion. The Dusks returned with word that none of those we dispatched survived—but the news came in fragments. I still know too little to extract the truth.

I doubt Axel would be among those lost, but I must plan for the worst. First, I must locate the Keyblade master.

But Naminé has been returned to us, and she has the answers we need. She just needs to awaken.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 64: Unexpected Connection (Part 1)==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Roxas placed the nineteenth seashell next to Naminé's pillow that night.

He had stepped up when he noticed that Xion had missed three days in a row. At first, he just assumed that Xion hadn't visited yet but became concerned when it was evident that something was going on the next day. He had found the world Kairi had told him about, the Destiny Islands, on the third day, and he had found some seashells on the beach. And that's when he decided to step in.

But he didn't mind. Naminé was his friend. He had visited her every day ever since he found out she was still alive, and he didn't plan on breaking that record now.

He turned his gaze to Naminé and he held it there, just studying her sleeping face.

"Please, wake up soon, Naminé," he muttered, before kneeling next to her bedside. He grabbed her hand and rested his head on his arm. He whispered, "I miss you," before falling asleep.

Roxas' Diary: Day 64: All I Can Do

I wish Naminé would wake up. No one shows up on the clock tower anymore. Not Naminé, understandably. Not Axel. Not even Xion. Kairi named the emotion I was feeling as 'loneliness', and I'm tired of being alone.

But I can't do much right now. All I can do is wait.

Secret Reports: Day 64: Concerned

Author: Aerith

It's been thirty-seven days since Kairi fell ill. Her fever is at an all time high, and there is no sign that she will wake up soon. Her health is deteriorating bit by bit every single day, and it's concerning.

But the scariest part of all is that there is nothing we can do to help her. All we can do is wait.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 65: Unexpected Connection (Part 2)==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Naminé's mind was groggy when she finally became aware of her surroundings after a long time in the dark abyss of her subconcious.

Her vision was blurry when she finally opened her eyes, due to not using them for so long, but it soon cleared up, allowing her take everything in.

She was in her room. She was no longer at Castle Oblivion. She didn't know why she felt so relieved to be back here, why she felt safer here, but she was.

She felt tired, like she could sleep a while longer, even though she had already been asleep for who-knows-how-many days.

She then began to feel a pressure on her left hand. She moved her head to get a better look as to what the cause of the pressure was, and when she saw it, her breath immediately caught in her throat.

"Roxas...?"

He was asleep, but when she said his name, he began to stir. He opened his eyes and her fond smile was the first thing he saw.

"Naminé?" His brain was a little clouded due to just waking up, but as his mind cleared, he was soon able to focus on what he just said and saw. "Naminé!"

Roxas immediately jumped to his feet and wrapped Naminé in a giant bear hug. He had water welling up in eyes, but he didn't care. Naminé was here. She was alive. She was awake.

In that moment, he vowed that he would never lose her again.

"Good to see you again, Roxas," he heard Naminé say. "I missed you."

Roxas sniffed, "I missed you too." He was getting lonely.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~Twilight Town~

The two had snuck off to the clock tower to watch the sunrise there together. Roxas sat down next to her before handing her an ice cream bar. She smiled at him as she took it, before taking a bite. Roxas was glad when she let out a content smile.

Naminé really missed this.

"So you don't remember anything?" Roxas asked her, slightly concerned.

"The things I do remember are blurry, and I think that's a good thing," Naminé quietly replied, and Roxas immediately remembered Kairi's words.

'Some memories are locked away for a reason.'

Naminé continued, "Because the clearest memory is Axel covering me, just...flames. Everywhere." She swallowed a noticeable lump in her throat. "I hope he's okay."

Roxas closed his eyes, feeling a sense of solidarity in knowing that Naminé felt the same way as he did. "Me too. It hasn't been easy on this end either. Four days after you all left, the rest of us got word that you guys were all annihilated. I passed out later that same day, and I was asleep for twenty-four days." The reason why still was a mystery to him, but he didn't say that.

He fell quiet, and Naminé began fidgeting before whispering, "I'm sorry."

He tried his best to slap on a smile. He didn't like seeing her sad. "Don't worry, Naminé. I'm fine now. You're back, and that's all that really matters."

Her smile returned, and his false smile turned real.

But something quickly came to mind that immediately ruined the moment.

Saïx was going to kill them.

Roxas' Diary: Day 65: She's Awake

Naminé woke up this morning! My eyes were leaking, even though I wasn't sad at all. She doesn't have a clear view on what happened at Castle Oblivion, so there's not that many answers she can give us, but that doesn't really bother me or anybody else. We're all just glad she's back.

Watching the sunrise on the clock tower really cheered me up, but we had to quickly RTC. We got in trouble with Saïx, but the punishment could've been worse, because after chewing us out, he just sent us out on our mission together.

Secret Reports: Day 65: Lost

Author: Naminé

How long have I been out? Was I out as long as Roxas was? I don't know. I have so many questions that no one can answer.

Why are my memories of Castle Oblivion so blurry? Why is Axel coveirng me the only thing I can remember?

I feel so lost...

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 71: Reunion==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas and Naminé de-summoned their Keyblades after they finished today's mission in the Twilight Town Side Street.

"Hey, Roxas! Hey, Naminé!" came a familiar voice.

Both blondes paused and turned around. There was Axel, and they couldn't believe it.

Where has he been? Why was he showing up out of the blue?

"It's been a while," Axel continued. As he walked closer, he saw Roxas' eyes widen and Naminé tear up. "What's the matter? You two look like you've seen a ghost."

"Axel..." Roxas was the first to speak. "The rest of us heard that everyone at Castle Oblivion was annihilated...Naminé was the only one who came back..."

"Not me," Axel replied. "I'm tough."

"You had me worried," Roxas said.

"You had us both worried," Naminé quickly corrected. "You were covering me."

"Worry?" Axel told them. "We Nobodies don't have the hearts to worry, you know! And have a little more faith in me, will ya'? It takes a lot to take me down."

"I'll go buy us some ice cream!" Roxas said before running off.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

Later, the three sat on the clock tower, eating their ice cream. To Roxas, this felt normal. This is what they should've been doing every day.

"I gotta check in with the boss, or he's gonna let me have it," Axel told them.

"You haven't reported back yet?" Roxas asked.

"Hm? No."

"Then, why'd you come here?" Naminé asked.

"I guess I just needed a little time to sort out my feelings, you know?" Axel said.

"I thought you didn't have a heart," Roxas sassed.

"Hm?" Axel looked at the blonde boy, before the silence was broken by Naminé's laugh. Roxas and Axel soon joined in. "Hey, your ice cream's melting. Eat up, you two."

Both blondes took a bite, before Roxas remembered something, "You know, I started inviting Xion up here while you two were gone."

"Xion?" Axel repeated.

"Yeah," Roxas replied. "I made her a promise that the four of us could have ice cream when you both got back. Xion...she's my friend, too."

Roxas' Diary: Day 71: Axel's Back

After work with Naminé, Axel turned up. Just like that, out of nowhere. I didn't know what to say. We both thought we'd lost him for good.

We went up to the clock tower and talked for a while. I told them both about Xion.

The choked-up sensation has gone away.

Secret Reports: Day 71: The Traitors' End

Author: Xigbar

Saïx had a hand in what went down at Castle Oblivion—well, more like a whole arm. Which means Axel was in on it as well.

It's a fact that Xemnas ordered Axel to take out the traitors, orders which went through Saïx. No specific names were given, but naturally Xemnas knew who the turncoats were right from the get-go.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 73: The Promise==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Naminé was resting in The Grey Area, drawing in a brand new sketchbook Axel had gotten her (she didn't know what happened to her old one), waiting for Saïx to come and give out the mission assignments for today. She didn't notice Roxas come in until he called her name.

"Hey, Naminé," she looked up at him. "Have you seen Xion?"

Naminé shook her head, but before she could verbally answer, Axel walked in, "Hey, Roxas, Naminé."

Roxas turned to the redhead, "Axel, you seen Number XV?"

"Xion?" Axel pondered. "Hmm...Now that you mention it, no."

"It's been days now...Ten days, at least," Roxas said. Maybe even longer than that, he remembered, the fact that she seemed to stop giving Naminé seashells while the blonde was still asleep, so Roxas had to pick it up for her.

He was worried. They had yet to fulfill their promise of all four of them having ice cream on the clock tower together.

"Sorry, Roxas," came Naminé's voice. "I haven't seen her either." I haven't even met her yet, Naminé chose not to say.

"Wish I could help too," Axel added. "But Naminé and I both took off for Castle Oblivion almost as soon as Xion joined up. There's a lot we missed."

"I feel bad," Roxas said. "I promise we'd all get together for some ice cream."

"And we will," Naminé comforted him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You shouldn't blame yourself for this."

"She's right," Axel quickly cut in. "You and Xion are friends, right? Tell ya what. I'll pick Saïx's brain, see what I can find out. But for now, you two just go on your missions like normal."

"Right," Naminé said.

Roxas replied with, "Thanks, both of you."

That was when Saïx came in.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~Twilight Town~

Roxas visited a new world today, called Beast's Castle. It was a solo mission, so he was tired.

He was sitting on the clock tower now, eating his ice cream by himself.

"Where's Axel?" he asked himself. "I hope Xion's okay..."

But he knew where Naminé was. She had been given a solo mission today in Twilight Town.

He looked down when he heard the sounds of metal clashing below. Sure enough, there was Naminé, fighting off Heartless left and right effortlessly.

When all the Heartless were gone, her mission completed, he smiled with pride for her. But it quickly faded when she de-summoned her Keyblade and leaned against a wall to catch her breath.

He was glad to know he wasn't the only one who was exhausted. He remembered Luxord's comment earlier today, about everything being tougher with there being so few of them now.

And he wondered if she was going to be too tired to join him.

He didn't have to wait long for the answer, because soon, she glanced up at Roxas and gave him a tired smile and held up a finger, before rushing in the direction of the ice cream parlor.

'I'll be there soon.'

And he smiled.

Roxas' Diary: Day 73: Where's Xion?

After I finished my mission I wanted all three of us to have ice cream, but I couldn't find Xion. It's been at least ten days since I've seen her.

Axel said he'd ask Saïx what was going on. Speaking of Axel, I didn't see him at the clock tower today.

I did see Naminé, though. She was just as tired as I was.

Secret Reports: Day 73: What Now?

Author: Xion

I lost the ability to use the Keyblade, and I have no idea why. I don't know what to do about it. About anything.

It happened suddenly, after Roxas woke up. If I can't collect hearts anymore, the Organization has no use for me. This is terrible.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 74: Quartet==

~Twilight Town~

Saïx had caved to Axel's insistence. Now, Axel led Roxas and Naminé on their search for Xion. When arriving to Twilight Town, they had encountered a Veil Lizard Heartless on the grounds of The Old Mansion.

Roxas gasped when he saw Xion appear and run across the field in the creature's direction. "Xion!"

Xion stopped when he called out to her, "Roxas?!"

But this caused her become distracted, allowing the Veil Lizard's tongue lash out and knock her unconscious.

"Xion!"

Axel stopped Roxas, "Not so fast, Roxas! We have to take that thing out first!" He then summoned his chakrams, and Roxas summoned his Keyblade. "Naminé, go secure Xion."

"Right," and Naminé let the two provide cover for her as she ran toward Xion, summoning Rainfell on the way and putting up a barrier once she reached Xion (and then healing her with Cura).

After a short while, Axel and Roxas defeated the Heartless, and immediately afterwards, Roxas ran over to the two girls as Naminé dropped the barrier.

"Xion! Are you okay?" Roxas asked, as he and Naminé kneeled on either side of Xion, who was resting on Naminé's arms.

"Hngh..." Xion woke up. "Roxas?" He also noticed the blonde girl there. "And Naminé? You're awake?"

"Take it easy," Naminé told her, as Roxas held out his hand, which Xion took.

"Are you hurt?" Roxas asked, as the two blondes helped her back to her feet.

"I'm fine..." Xion replied. "Thank you. It's just..."

She trailed off and Axel, who was quiet up to this point, said, "You can tell us all about it, but why don't we head back first?"

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

The four of the were on the clock tower, and Axel handed them some sea salt ice cream, "There ya go."

"Thank you..." Xion replied.

They sat in silence for a moment, but Xion didn't eat her ice cream.

Roxas took notice, "Eat up. It's gonna melt."

"Yeah..." she trailed off again.

"What's wrong?" Axel asked. "I thought you'd wolf it down."

"Did something happen?" Roxas asked her.

"We're here for you if you want to get it off your chest," Axel said. "Right, you two?" He asked Roxas and Naminé this, and Roxas immediately nodded.

"He's right," Naminé replied, giving Xion a gentle smile. "That's what friends are for."

Xion found it strange that Naminé's smile was what gave her the courage to tell them the truth.

"I can't..." she muttered, before speaking louder, "I can't use the Keyblade anymore. And without the Keyblade, I can't do my job."

"What exactly happened?" Roxas asked.

"I don't know," Xion replied. "But if I don't defeat Heartless with the Keyblade...the hearts they release will just find their way into other Heartless instead. I swat them in one place and they just pop up in another. My mission is to go out and collect hearts. If I'm unable to use the Keyblade...I'll...I'll be useless."

"Is there anything you can do, Axel?" Roxas asked the redhead.

"I wish there was," Axel replied, "but...it's just like she said. Without the Keyblade, she can't collect hearts."

"And once they find out, they're gonna turn me into a Dusk," Xion sulked.

"We can't do anything?" Roxas asked again.

"I already told you, there's nothing we ca—" Axel repeated, but Naminé cut him off.

"Hold on..." Naminé just thought of an idea.

"Did you think of something, Naminé?"

"I think so," Naminé replied. "Roxas, would you be willing to work double duty?"

"Huh?" Roxas was confused.

"What do you mean?" Xion asked.

Naminé explained, "Xion, make sure your missions are with either me or Roxas, until you can use the Keyblade again. That way, we can collect the hearts, and no one will know that you can't use the Keyblade."

"That's it!" Roxas sounded like she agreed.

"But, that means you two will have to collect twice as many hearts," Axel pointed out.

"True," Naminé's smile disappeared.

"Don't worry, Naminé," Roxas cheered her up. "We can do it."

"Would you?" Xion asked them.

"Of course we would!" Roxas replied.

"But—!"

Axel cut Xion off, "Friends need to lean on each other every now and then. Ain't that right, Roxas? Naminé?"

The two nodded, as Xion smiled, "We're friends...Axel...does that mean you and I are friends, too?"

Axel was surprised at her question, and he scratched his head, "Well, if you're friends with Roxas, then yeah, of course you're my friend."

Xion then turned to Naminé, who smiled and nodded.

"Roxas, Axel, Naminé..." Xion said. "Thank you."

Roxas and Naminé smiled back at her, while Axel shrugged it off, "Just eat your ice cream."

Roxas' Diary: Day 74: The Three of Us

My job today was to help Axel and Naminé find Xion. It turns out she had gone missing, but we managed to find her.

We finally got to all have ice cream together, which was nice, but Xion can't use her Keyblade anymore. Axel says friends help each other out, so Naminé and I are gonna go on missions with her until she remembers how to work the Keyblade herself.

Secret Reports: Day 74: Xion's Face

Author: Axel

Honestly, I never got why Roxas was so crazy about Xion, and why Naminé easily got on board. I know they all joined up around the same time, and they're all rookies, but how do you get so close to somebody who hides their face all the time?

Well, I saw it today. All of a sudden, No. XV up and takes off...her hood. Xion is a girl, and she looks just like Naminé.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 75: Inseparable==

~The Castle That Never Was~

'Why can't I just put Sora's memory back now while it's still mostly the real thing?'

'Naminé gave me and Sora both good luck charms! We both have the same memory! Who's charm is fake?!'

'Looks like I win.'

'Riku, stop!'

'Don't say another word, you traitor! You've done enough damage!'

'We gave you a place among us, Naminé. We offered you our friendship and this is how you repay us?'

'I said STOP!'

'Naminé! Who are you really?'

'I'm so sorry, you two. This is all because of me...'

Naminé's eyes snapped open, the heart-she-wasn't-sure-she-really-had beating hard in her chest, her body in a cold sweat.

She didn't know where all of that came from. That was horrible. She never wanted to experience any of that again.

It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. She kept telling herself this.

But a part of her didn't believe it.

Roxas' Diary: Day 75: Inseparable

Me and Xion are working together now. The Genie we met in Agrabah said he and his friend Al are 'inseparable'. Axel told us best friends can be inseparable even if they're not always together, but it sounded like he wasn't too sure about it himself.

I thought Axel knew everything. Oh well...

That reminds me, those weird pictures flashed through my head again while I was in Agrabah. The guy in red I wrote about before... Has he been to Agrabah or something?

Naminé didn't show up for ice cream today. I wonder if something's bothering her.

Secret Reports: Day 75: Gotta Do Something

Author: Xion

Roxas has been coming along on my missions to help out, since I can't use the Keyblade. Naminé is also helping and Axel is covering for me, so I should be safe for now. But what am I going to do if I never get the Keyblade back? I can't lie forever.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 94: Hearts==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Xemnas had summoned everyone (that was left) to the Altar of Naught.

"The time has arrived," Xemnas spoke, and Naminé immediately felt a pain in her head. Their leader raised his arms high. "And at long last, we see before us the great collection of hearts. Hearts full of rage...hate...sadness...and bliss. Shining down upon us is the crystallization of all hearts—Kingdom Hearts. There, in the sky, hangs the promise of a new world." He lowered his arms and faced the group. "My friends! Let us gain further power, to conquer the human heart, and claim it as our own. Let us remember why we are here and what we hope to achieve. Hearts shall be gathered, and be made our own. Hearts shall never again have power over us."

By this point, Naminé's headache began too much to ignore, and she placed her head in her hand before falling to her knees.

Roxas noticed her pain, "Naminé, you okay? What's wrong?"

"My head hurts," she replied. She wasn't receiving any new memories. It was just white noise within her mind. She didn't understand what was happening. She then the white noise take over, unable to bear it anymore, and when she spoke next, it wasn't her voice coming out, "Don't underestimate the power of the human heart, Xehanort. Kingdom Hearts won't bow to you. Over my dead body."

This wasn't Naminé, was Roxas' first thought. That wasn't her voice. And looking around at everyone's surprised and confused faces that he wasn't the only one who knew this. Roxas was cautious as he called out to her, "N-Naminé?"

"S-Sorry," Naminé seemed to snap out of it. Her voice was back to normal. She addressed Xemnas, "I need to be excused, Sir."

Xemnas simply nodded, and Axel was quick to rush to her side and escort her far away from there and back to Twilight Town, where Roxas and Xion soon follow.

But he had now seen how Naminé was the Nobody of a Princess of Heart. Naminé had inherited her Somebody's special abilities.

"Don't hold it against her," Xemnas explained. He seemed miraculously unfazed, Roxas thought. Maybe because Naminé called him a name that wasn't 'Xemnas'. "Her Somebody is a Princess of Heart, one of the seven maidens who has direct access to Kingdom Hearts. It's only natural that she'd feel so protective of it."

Roxas and Xion both let his words haunt them as they all stared up at the great moon.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~Twilight Town~

Roxas and Xion did indeed join Axel and Naminé later on the clock tower. They were having their ice cream now. Naminé, however, was still feeling the ache in her head, and it was obvious that she was trying to let it down die down.

After a while in silence, Naminé finally spoke, "I'm sorry, everyone. I don't know where my outburst came from."

"Is your headache gone?" Xion asked.

"Almost," Naminé managed a small smile. "Ice cream with my friends is helping." The other three smiled at her. "I'm really sorry for my outburst," she repeated her apology. "I feel a connection to Kingdom Hearts that I can't really explain."

"No one's holding it against you," Xion reassured. "Xemnas told us about your Somebody."

Naminé smiled.

"All this fighting..." Roxas pondered, quiet until now. "I wondered what it's for."

"Come on," Axel said, "you know what it's for. We have to complete the great Kingdom Hearts. You saw it, too, didn't you?"

"But what is Kingdom Hearts?" Roxas asked.

"It's the gathering place of hearts...isn't it?" Xion said.

"It's where all the hearts wind up after they're released by you three," Axel explained. "When we gather enough, we might finally get hearts of our own."

"Hearts shall be made our own..." Xion repeated.

"Is Kingdom Hearts really that important?" Roxas asked.

"Are you crazy?" Axel asked.

"I just don't see why having a heart is that important, you know," Roxas said. "Especially if the way to get one only causes Naminé pain?"

Naminé was surprised and touched at his question, "Roxas..."

"Come on," Axel replied. "You're wondering about that now?"

"Well, I don't understand," Roxas shot back, "since I don't have a heart."

"Roxas..." Xion muttered.

"We'll understand once we have our own hearts," Axel reassured them. "That's why we fight, to find out what it's about."

"Yeah," Naminé agreed, "and don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"Okay..." Roxas relented. "I guess you're right."

Roxas' Diary: Day 94: Kingdom Hearts

Xemnas summoned us. Nothing he says ever makes sense to me. He showed us Kingdom Hearts, a big heart-shaped moon floating up there in the night sky, and said the human heart will never have power over us. Great...I guess? So why are we trying to get hearts again?

Axel said I'll understand better once I have a heart, but I'm not so sure...

Naminé was also affected by this meeting. The voice that came out of her mouth was not Naminé at all. Xemnas told us that it's because of who she's the Nobody of. Is that why she feels so special?

Secret Reports: Day 94: All Goes Apace

Author: Saïx

The hearts collected by our three Keyblade wielders, Roxas, Naminé, and Xion, have gathered together; and now, almighty Kingdom Hearts waxes large in the night sky.

Our efforts have come to bear fruit, nearly ripe for the plucking. All plans proceed smoothly—alarmingly so, in fact, though this is no time to be deterred by paranoia.

But we'll need to keep a closer eye on Naminé, if today's outburst was any indication.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 95: Nobodies==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas and Xion were the first ones at the usual spot today, with Axel and Naminé joining later.

While Roxas and Xion had begin to get used to going on missions together, Axel was rather unsettled by Saïx's order to keep a very close eye on Naminé today and to report any weird outbursts like the one yesterday.

What were they planned to do with Naminé? Were they really planning to tighten their fist around her?

As the four had ice cream together on the clock tower, Roxas began today's conversation.

"It looks like every Nobody in the Organization is good at different things."

"That's right," Axel said. "Everybody's unique."

"Even Nobodies without hearts?" Xion asked.

"Just because we don't all have hearts doesn't mean that we're all exactly the same," Axel explained. "We each have memories of our pasts."

"Memories?" Xion asked.

"You remember your past?" Roxas asked Axel.

"Yeah," the redhead replied. "That's one of the things that makes each member of the Organization special. We remember who we were as humans."

"But I don't," Roxas said.

"Me neither," Xion added.

"Neither do I," came Naminé's voice, for the first time in the conversation.

"Well," Axel said, "maybe that right there is what makes you guys the most unique in the Organization."

Roxas thought of something and asked Axel, "What were you like before were a Nobody?"

"Huh? Me?" He seemed put off by the question. "Oh, I dunno. I think I've always been pretty much the same."

"I wish I could remember stuff," Roxas muttered.

"Really?" Axel couldn't beleive it. "It's just baggage, you know."

"But I..." Roxas replied, "—I can't remember anything. Not even from when I was born a Nobody."

"Yeah, all you did was stare into space," Naminé smiled.

"Oh, thanks, Naminé!" Roxas sassed back.

The four broke out into laughs.

When the laughing died down, Xion said, "You know, I don't remember much, either."

"I remember a bit," Naminé admitted. Her Keyblade came from her memories, after all. "But it's awfully blurry."

"You three sure do have a lot in common," Axel noted.

They all sat silently for a few seconds, and Roxas looked to the sunset, "I wonder what kind of guy I was before..."

And for some reason that escaped her, Naminé immediately thought of a brunette, spikey-haired boy in red clothes sleeping.

But she didn't say anything.

Roxas' Diary: Day 95: My Past

I went to Agrabah today with Xion. We make a pretty good team now.

Afterwards me, her, Naminé, and Axel talked about us and the other Nobodies. The ones who make it into the Organization are powerful enough to keep their memories... But me, Xion, and Naminé can't remember our pasts. What was I like?

Secret Reports: Day 95: My Past

Author: Xion

Neither Roxas, Naminé, nor I have any memory of our human lives. I don't even remember my first days as a Nobody.

Roxas and Naminé both said they were the same, but I'm not so sure. For me, it's a total blank. I can't even remember the day I met Roxas, Axel, or Naminé, my very first day here. It's all a blur.

Should I ask Kairi about this too?

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 96: Xion's Keyblade==

~Twilight Town~

This morning, Saïx informed Xion that she and Roxas would no longer go on missions together, and that Naminé couldn't be separated from Axel right now (he didn't say why). This concerned her, since she was still unable to use her Keyblade.

On today's mission, Roxas lent her his Keyblade, and it seemed to do the trick.

The two were on the clock tower now, and Axel and Naminé were already there. Axel was resting, while Naminé was watching the sunset with a content smile.

Naminé was the first to notice them. She motioned them to be quiet because Axel was trying to sleep. They nodded, before they both motioned Naminé to be quiet herself, and the blonde girl smiled, knowing the idea they just got.

Axel rested on his back, taking in the peace and quiet. It was ruined by Roxas popping his head into Axel's line of sight.

"Axel!"

Startled, the redhead immediately sat up. "Woah! Where'd you come from?"

The other three laughed at him.

"How was your guys' mission?" Roxas asked Axel and Naminé, the two having gone a mission together again today.

"You know," Axel complained, "I sure wish the Heartless would hold still once in a while. I fell right on my butt chasing them around."

"Yeah," Naminé added, not bothering to hide a smile. "I had to save him. More than once."

Roxas snickered, before turning to Axel, "I thought you said you were tough."

"Yeah, whatever," Axel shrugged it off, "that's got nothing to do with it. And I had to save Naminé too."

"Only once," came Naminé's completely calm voice.

"Shut up," Axel bit back before turning to Roxas and Xion. "So how did your guys' caper go?"

Xion responded by proudly summoning her Keyblade. "Ta-daaah!"

Axel gasped as Xion de-summoned her Keyblade.

Naminé applauded with a bright smile, "I knew you could do it."

"Roxas, Axel, Naminé," Xion said, "thank you."

"Hey, it was Naminé's idea," Axel replied. "I didn't do anything."

"You made it possible for us to go on a mission together," Xion told him.

"If it weren't for you two," Roxas added, "Xion might never have remembered how to use the Keyblade."

"So thanks, Axel, Naminé. Both of you," Xion said. Naminé smiled at all.

Axel, meanwhile, scratched his head and thought. "How 'bout a sea salt ice cream, then?"

"Huh?" Xion was confused.

"They're on you today, Xion," Axel replied. "Then we'll call it even."

Xion smiled, "You got it. I'll be right back."

Roxas laughed and Naminé smiled, as Xion ran off, returning with the ice cream a few minutes later.

They had all sat down and watched the sunset together.

"I hope we can always be just like this forever," Roxas said.

"Me too," Xion added.

"What's that all about?" Axel asked.

"I just...want these days to last forever," Roxas quietly explained. "Hanging out, the ice cream, the sunsets..."

"Well, nothing lasts forever, you know?" Axel pointed out. "Least of all for a bunch of Nobodies like us. But it's okay if things change and we can't meet up here."

"Huh?" Roxas raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"As long as we keep each other in our thoughts, none of us will ever have to be apart," Axel said. "Got it memorized?"

Roxas laughed, "Wow, that was so not you."

Axel shoved him, "Hey!"

The other three laughed. Naminé stopped prematurely, but kept her smile on, "He's right, though. Even if we're far apart, our hearts will always be connected."

Roxas' Diary: Day 96: Out of Trouble

Today's mission was with Xion, in Beast's Castle. I tried loaning her my Keyblade, and she had no problem using it. That meant I had to fight without it, but we got the job done.

Afterwards Xion remembered how to summon her own Keyblade, so I guess we're out of trouble. When we were done, we all had ice cream together.

Secret Reports: Day 96: Friends

Author: Axel

Xion regained her ability to wield the Keyblade. I don't know how or why. Maybe there's more to the Keyblade master they're not telling me about. It seems possible, though, when looking at Naminé's Keyblade.

I feel like I've been spending more time talking to Roxas, Naminé, and Xion lately than my old friend, Saïx. This has to have been what it was like, friendship.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 119: Work to Do==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas returned to the clock tower from his mission with Xaldin, finding Xion and Naminé sitting there, eating ice cream, already.

"You two're here early," Roxas announced his prescence. The two girls had a mission together today in Agrabah.

"Work was easy today," Xion said.

"Yeah," Naminé agreed. "We make a pretty good team." The two girls smiled at each other.

"I quess Axel's still out on that classified mission, huh?" Roxas asked, as he sat next to Naminé, making it so she was in the middle.

"So where'd they send you, Roxas" Xion asked, as Naminé handed him an ice cream bar.

"Beast's Castle," Roxas replied, "with Xaldin. You remember the castle's master, Xion?"

"Yeah, the beast we saw," Xion remembered.

"Well, you were right. He does have something he wants to protect," he explained. "Something he cares about."

"Really?" Xion asked.

"Yeah, but Xaldin says that's a weakness."

"Why would caring about something be a weakness?" Naminé asked.

"I dunno," Roxas replied. "I didn't get it either."

As the three watched the sunset while eating their ice cream, Xion muttered, "I hope Axel comes home soon."

"Me too," Naminé agreed.

Roxas' Diary: Day 119: Something to Protect

Axel has been gone forever. It's been just me, Naminé, and Xion at the clock tower.

While me and Xaldin explored Beast's Castle, we found something he wants to protect... Xaldin says that's a weakness, but I'm not so sure. What does it mean to care about something that much? I don't, so it's hard to wrap my head around the whole idea.

Secret Reports: Day 119: Hearts and Emotion

Author: Xaldin

Watching that foolish beast flail about only deepens my disdain for humans and their incessant need to be pinned down by feelings.

We became Nobodies precisely to avoid the shackles of emotion. It was only later that we realized the scale of that loss: that some things simply cannot be done without a heart.

Nonetheless, I see nary a pleasant thing about it.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 149: Unlike Minds==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas and Naminé were on top of the clock tower by themselves today. There wasn't really much to talk about, and Naminé didn't really want to talk to anybody today, but the two blondes were comfortable with the silence.

"Hey, chatterboxes!" came a familiar voice. The two looked up to see Axel.

"Axel...You're back!" Roxas said.

"Welcome back, Axel," Naminé greeted him with a smile.

Axel sat down next to Roxas, replying with, "Thanks. I just got home." He sighed. "So, are you two holding up?"

"Yeah," Roxas said.

Axel noticed Naminé's mood, "You okay, Naminé? You look like you've been dragged through the mud."

"I'm fine," Naminé gave them a smile that she hoped was real enough to convince them. "I just didn't sleep well last night. I had another nightmare. And today's solo mission in Beast's Castle didn't help."

"You've been having nightmares?" Roxas asked, and Naminé almost jumped out of her skin.

She never told them about her nightmares.

"I...don't want to talk it," she quietly pleaded.

Axel, thankfully, respected her choice and changed the subject, "Where's Xion?"

"She's not here yet," Roxas replied.

"Huh?" Axel asked.

"She's usually here by now," Naminé said.

Roxas and Naminé bit into their ice cream, as Axel looked toward the sunset.

"This isn't like her..." Roxas muttered, as the three worried.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~The Castle That Never Was~

Xion sat alone in her room, curled up on her bed.

'Xion?' she heard Kairi asked. 'What's wrong?'

"How could he..." Xion muttered, almost growled.

She remembered the confrontation she had on the bridge of Beast's Castle, when she took her Keyblade and ran forward, but was struck down. She remembered her opponent having silver and a black coat.

"I'm not a sham..."

Roxas' Diary: Day 149: WINNER

Today's mission took me to a new world. It was a weird place. I was up on the clock tower afterwards with Naminé when Axel turned up after being away forever. He said he finished that long mission. But this time Xion didn't show.

I was gonna give Axel that WINNER stick, but I should wait until I get two more. It wouldn't be fair to leave Xion or Naminé out.

Speaking of Naminé, she said she's been having nightmares. About what? And why won't she tell me?

Secret Reports: Day 149: He's the Sham

Author: Xion

That man wearing the Organization's coat—that jerk! He's too powerful. I can't beat him unless I get stronger.

And I'm not a sham. I'M NOT. He is. He's the one pretending to be something he isn't!

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 150: Fear==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Naminé was walking through Twilight's View when she heard Xion's voice.

"Just give me another chance!"

Naminé looked up to see Xion speaking with Saïx.

"We can't afford to take any more chances on you," came Saïx's response. "We were a mistake we never should have made."

Naminé worriedly watched as Xion looked down at the floor. Saïx left, allowing Naminé to walk over to her friend.

"Xion?" Naminé carefully asked.

Xion laid eyes on Naminé, the blonde's expression obviously telling the black-ette that they were friends, that they could tell each other anything. But Xion surprised her.

She instead ran away, leaving Naminé all alone, wondering what was going on.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

~Twilight Town~

Axel joined Roxas at the top of the clock tower, surprised to only see Roxas.

"Oh. Where's Xion?" he asked.

"Haven't seen her today," Roxas replied.

"And Naminé?"

"Haven't seen her either."

Axel sat down next to Roxas, "Oh well."

The two took a bite of their ice cream, before Roxas began the conversation, "Axel..."

"Hm?"

"Is there anything you couldn't bear to lose?" Roxas asked.

"Anything I couldn't bear to lose? What's that about?"

"Well, I met someone today who had something like that," Roxas explained. "This thing was so important to him he couldn't bear to lose it...and Xaldin said that was his weakness. Why don't I have anything like that?"

"It's because you don't have a heart." This seemed to be Axel's default answer.

"I guess..." Roxas replied. "But Demyx doesn't have a heart, and I bet he'd get upset if you took his sitar away." He pretended to take something from Axel, who responded by laughing.

"Huh...I think you have a point there," Axel said. "So you don't need a heart to have something that you can't bear to lose then. If that's true, then I guess the closest thing that we Nobodies have would be memories of our past. It's the memories that create the things that we don't want to lose."

"Memories of the past...I don't remember my past," Roxas reminded Axel.

"Even though you might not remember the past," Axel explained, "I'm sure you have things you don't wanna lose."

"Like what?"

"You've got memories since you joined us, right?"

"I dunno..." Roxas thought about this. "I do, don't I? I couldn't bear to lose my memories of you, or Naminé, or Xion."

"So then you really do have something that you can't bear to lose, right?" Axel said. "Every one of us, including us Nobodies, we all have something that we want to hang on to."

"It's scary," Roxas commented.

"You can't be scared without a heart!" Axel protested.

But Roxas was ready, "If my friends...If you, or Naminé, or Xion were to disappear...It's...scary to think of what it would be like without you guys. I almost lost you and Naminé once, to Castle Oblivion, and I'm grateful I didn't, but...my point still stands."

"'Scared' is not an emotion that can exist inside us," Axel said.

"Well...I am scared right now, for sure."

"Maybe it's just that you remember what it's like to be scared, you know?" Axel suggested. "Somewhere deep inside your memories."

"Maybe...but that doesn't invalidate any of what I just said." Roxas was quiet, and it was an intense silence. Axel knew that what Roxas was thinking about, what he was about to ask, was crucial. "Axel...what happened in Castle Oblivion? And don't tell me nothing happened! Only you and Naminé survived, she couldn't remember anything when she got back, and now she's having nightmares about it! So tell me the truth."

Axel was quiet himself, before replying, "I can't tell you. It's not really my story to tell." Roxas was a little frustrated that Axel's answer was so vague, but he stayed silent. "She'll tell you when she's ready, so for now, it's best to leave her alone about it. However, you did say that only me and her made it out alive, so maybe you should start with that."

"She's scared too," Roxas realized. "Isn't she?"

Axel said nothing.

Roxas' Diary: Day 150: Too Precious to Lose

Xion didn't come to the clock tower again today. Neither did Naminé.

Axel and I talked for a while about the things we can't bear to lose. Axel thinks that for Nobodies, it's our pasts, because that's all we have to remember the pain of losing something. I don't remember my past, but the idea of losing the present—Axel, Naminé, or Xion—scares me.

Secret Reports: Day 150: Dealing with Xion

Author: Saïx

As expected, the Duplicate is starting to show its limits. The Program showed promise, but a puppet is just a puppet: something to be toyed with until it breaks.

I am utterly at a loss as to what Roxas, Naminé, and Axel see in that thing. How best to dispose of it merits my consideration going forward.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 151: Distress==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas and Xion were given the same post today. Turned out she failed a mission and was reprimanded by Saïx. She put up a strong front for Roxas, who was at a loss for words. He had suggested going on missions together to cheer her up.

They were on the clock tower now, ice cream in hand. Xion was silent as Roxas looked around.

"Still no Naminé, huh?" Roxas asked, worried. "Or Axel. Guess we got the work done a little too fast, huh?" He bit into his ice cream.

Meanwhile, Xion couldn't keep the encounter with that imposter out of her mind.

Xion's Keyblade flew to the ground. She fell to her knees, panting, before collapsing. This guy was strong for an imposter. Too strong.

The silver-haired man, the imposter, Riku, turned around and de-summoned his own black-colored Keyblade, Oblivion. He knelt over her and pulled her hood back. He lifted one side of his blindfold, showing an aquamarine eye, and gasped, before stepping back from her.

Why did this girl have Kairi's face?

The black-haired girl tried to get up, clutching her side.

"Your face..." the imposter muttered. "Who are you really? And why do you have a Keyblade?"

She put her hood back on. "Tell me first...why are you dressed as one of us?"

He walked over to her Keyblade, where it was stuck in the ground. "To make sure my best friends...sleep in peace."

Xion caught this quickly. Friends?

The imposter pulled the Keyblade from the brick. "I don't know who you're supposed to be, and why you look like her, but...you can't fight fire with sparks. This Keyblade, it's a sham. Worthless."

She gasped when he tossed it aside.

"My Keyblade is not a sham! What gives you the right to say that?!"

She snatched the Keyblade from the ground and ran at him, shouting. He moved left to dodge her attack before slamming his fist into her bruised side. She fell to the ground and her Keyblade disappeared.

He stood up, saying, "Find a new crowd. Trust me. Those guys are bad news."

As he walked away, Xion struggled to her knees. "Why? You're the real sham." She clutched her side in pain.

"Fair enough," the imposter replied. "You could say I am...the biggest nobody of them all."

Xion screamed as he walked away.

Roxas calling out, "Xion? Xion!" snapped her out of her flashback. "Something wrong?"

"Sorry," Xion said. "My mind's on other things. Roxas, do you ever think...about why we're doing all of this?"

"What do you mean, why?" Roxas asked. "So we can get hearts of our own right?"

"But what do we need hearts for?"

"I don't know," Roxas answered. "But I think once we have hearts, we probably won't have to think about why we're doing all this, or if we need hearts."

"I'm not sure. I just wish I knew what I was doing here." Xion covered her face in the palm of her hand. "I started having the strangest dreams."

"Like nightmares?" Roxas' interest was perked.

"I can never remember what they're about," Xion answered. "And I haven't seen Kairi in a while. I just...wake up scared." She stood up and began to walk away.

"Xigbar said you and me were pretty special," Roxas told her. "Not as much as Naminé, of course, but still special. 'Exceptional', he said."

"Special?" Xion asked. "Isn't that...just another way of saying that I'm a mistake?"

"You're not a mistake."

Who told her that?

"Well, you and I may both be exceptional, Roxas, but...I don't think we're quite the same." She handed Roxas her ice cream and walked off.

"Xion..."

Roxas sat alone until Axel arrived. "Heya, Roxas!"

"Axel..."

"Naminé and Xion couldn't make it again today?" Axel asked.

"I haven't seen Naminé today, actually," Roxas admitted, "but you just missed Xion."

Axel sighed, as Roxas had a flash of a red-clothed, brunette boy on a moonlit road.

Roxas' Diary: Day 151: What Makes Us Different

I ran into Xion in Twilight Town. I guess she messed up a mission pretty bad the other day, and it's been bugging her.

We went up to the clock tower afterwards. She said me and her are different—which is pretty obvious if you look at us, but I don't think that's what she meant. A lot seems to be on her mind, and it's not the same as what's on mine.

Secret Reports: Day 151: These Dreams

Author: Xion

I wasn't ready to see Roxas again. I can't help but compare us. We both use the Keyblade, but we're so different. I couldn't even stand to talk to Naminé yesterday.

Does Roxas dream? It seems like that's all I do anymore. Last night I didn't see Kairi. Instead I dreamt of the ocean. I was drowning.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 152: The Wrong Buttons==

~Twilight Town~

Axel joined Roxas for ice cream on the clock tower. Once again, it was just Roxas.

"Hey! No Xion or Naminé still?"

"Don't hold your breath," Roxas said.

Axel sat next to him, "Did something happen yesterday?"

"Nah, it's nothing."

"...Girls sure are complicated, huh?"

Roxas turned to Axel, surprised, "How did you know that's what I was thinking?"

"Because you're not so complicated," Axel told him. "But don't take it personal. Most Nobodies aren't."

"You mean...real people are more complex than us?"

"Well sure! Especially if they're real and female. That's like a double dose of complicated."

"So...what about Nobody girls like Xion and Naminé?"

"Single dose each," Axel replied.

"I am so lost."

"Well, the important thing to remember when dealing with girls is not to push the wrong buttons," Axel explained. "Got it memorized?"

"Hmm...yeah...Wish you'd told me that before."

"Well, just give them both some time," Axel advised.

"Why?"

"Because if you rush in there and try to fix things, you'll just press more buttons."

"Fine, whatever."

Axel chuckled, "You're alright, kid."

"Don't call me 'kid'!" Axel just laughed. "Stop laughing!"

Axel nodded as he replied, "You'll patch things up with them. Trust me."

"I hope so," Roxas said.

Roxas' Diary: Day 152: I Don't Get It

I think Xion and Naminé might be mad at me, but I don't know why. Axel says girls are complicated. You can't press the wrong buttons. Like I'm supposed to know what the right ones are.

Secret Reports: Day 152: Like a Real Person

Author: Axel

Roxas and Xion must have had it out over something. Knowing them, it's something dumb, but still. And he should know that what's going on with Naminé is not his fault.

Watching the three of them, it's like they're human. It's messing with my head.

I kind of wonder if Roxas understood all that about the wrong buttons. I get the sense a lot of it went right over his head.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 159: A Certain Familiarity==

~Beast's Castle~

Roxas was assigned a mission with Naminé today. He felt a bit relieved because he hadn't seen her in a while. He was afraid something had happened to her.

Their teamwork was as seamless as ever. They took out the Heartless in record time.

After the fight, Roxas remembered what Axel told him about Castle Oblivion, about what Naminé's nightmares could be about.

"Naminé?" She turned to him, both of them de-summoning their Keyblades. "I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pressed you about your nightmares. It's obviously not something you're ready to talk about."

She surprised him by responding with a tearful smile, "It's okay, Roxas. I was never mad at you."

"You weren't?" Roxas asked.

"No," Naminé shook her head, not losing her smile. "I was scared. I don't remember what happened, and for a while, I was fine with that, because I assumed that those memories were locked away for a reason..." She paused, and her smile faded. "Then the nightmares started, and they made me fear that I had done something terrible, made me wonder if I was the one who annihilated everybody...and...made me fear that I would lose you guys if you found out."

"You're not going to lose us, Naminé," Roxas vowed. "You, me, Axel, and Xion...we'll always be friends. No matter what you've done...we'll always be there for you."

Naminé just smiled, feeling comforted by his words.

"Excuse me," came a female's voice behind them. Roxas and Naminé turned to see a brunette-haired woman in a blue dress. "Did you take out that Heartless?"

Roxas nodded.

"Thank you," the woman continued. She then paused, as if she was studying them. "Have we met before?"

The two blondes looked at each other before turning back to the woman. "I don't think so," Roxas quietly replied.

"I'm sorry," the woman apologized. "You two just seem familiar to me, like I've met you two before."

The two watched the woman curtsy before walking away. They stared after before Roxas turned around and summoned a Corridor.

"Ice cream?"

Naminé smiled and eagerly nodded.

"Then after you," Roxas let Naminé enter the Corridor first, quickly following her.

In that moment, both blondes felt comforted that a sense of normalcy had been restored.

Roxas' Diary: Day 159: I Can't Lose Her

I may not have fully understood Axel's advice the other day, but he was right. He said that Naminé and I would patch things up, and we did today.

The woman who resides in Beast's Castle recognized us, but neither of us recognized her.

This whole ordeal with her being scared of what her nightmares could tell her has made me scared to lose her. I can't. Not again. I will protect her no matter what.

Secret Reports: Day 159: Not His Fault

Author: Naminé

Today's mission with Roxas went smoothly. The woman there found us familiar for some reason, and I felt the same thing from her too. I don't really understand that.

Roxas apologized to me today. I appreciate his comfort, but he didn't have to apologize. What happened at Castle Oblivion is not, and will never be, his fault.

I'm glad to have Roxas as my friend.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 171: Love==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas found Axel and Naminé (who had a mission together today) already sitting on the clock tower, eating their ice cream.

"Hey, here comes the hard worker," Axel said.

"Hi, Roxas!" Naminé greeted.

He waved at her as he sat down next to her. "Xion around?"

"Haven't seen her," Axel answered.

Naminé merely shook her head.

"Oh..."

"Somebody's gotta tlak to that girl," Axel said.

Naminé remembered Xion's reaction to Naminé revealing herself to be watching Saïx reprimand her. Xion chose not to talk. Naminé felt hurt, but she knew Xion must have a good reason. "It's her choice if she wants to come with us or not."

"I guess that's fair," Axel accepted this.

Roxas spoke up, "Axel, Naminé, I need to ask you two something."

"What's up? Did something happen?" Axel replied.

Roxas shook his head, "Nah, it's just...This is gonna sound stupid. Do either of you know what love is?"

"'Scuse me?"

"Where'd this come from?" Naminé asked.

"I found out about love on today's mission," Roxas replied. "That it's something powerful."

"That's true," Axel answered. "It is. But I'll never get to experience it."

"Nobodies can't love?" Roxas asked.

"You need a heart, man."

"Right..." Typical response, Roxas thought.

"Love is what happens if there's something really special between two people," Axel explained.

"You mean, like, if they're best friends?" Roxas asked.

"Well," Axel stuttered, "you can care about your friends, I guess, but that's not what I'm talking about." Naminé didn't really understand, but she left it as that.

"So then...love is like a step above friends?" Roxas asked, still confused.

"Yes...Well, no. There aren't 'steps'," the redhead stuttered.

"I don't get it." That's obvious, Roxas, Naminé thought.

"What does it matter?" Axel asked. "We'll never know the difference."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Naminé told him. "We'll get hearts one day."

"If I had a heart, do you two think I could love somebody?" Roxas asked them.

"Once Kingdom Hearts is complete," Axel said, "you two'll be able to do all kinds of things."

"That's good," Roxas said, before he and Naminé turned to look at each other at the same time.

They both paused, before blushing and turning away, their faces hot and red.

Axel snickered at this exchange.

"What are you laughing at?" Roxas playfully demanded.

"Nothing, nothing," Axel waved him off.

The three stared off into the twilit sky.

Roxas' Diary: Day 171: What's Love?

On my mission at Beast's Castle, Xaldin told me about "love" and the special power it has over people.

I tried to ask Axel and Naminé about it, but his explanation didn't make any sense to me. Every time I ask him about this kind of thing, he tells me I need a heart to understand. It's like he's dodging the questions.

Why did my face get hot around Naminé earlier? What's going on there?

Secret Reports: Day 171: The No. i Project

Author: Saïx

Xion failed to complete its mission. If this continues, destroying it and using the next Replica as the Duplicate would undoubtedly yield a higher-grade copy.

No. i was among the initial lot, which naturally raises questions about its capabilities. At present, it is nothing short of broken. I cannot fathom why Xemnas would want to keep it.

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 172: Sound of the Surf==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Roxas walked into The Grey Area and was greeted by Luxord. He managed a little wave over at Naminé, who was standing by Xigbar, her mission partner for today. She waved back, as Luxord addressed Roxas.

"Roxas. How has the game been treating you?"

"Uhh...fine, I guess."

"Saïx shuffled us together for today's mission," Luxord said. "I wager we'll make a good enough team."

"I don't see why not."

"Did you two kiddos hear what happened to Poppet?" Xigbar suddenly asked him and Naminé.

"Xion? No," Naminé replied.

"What happened?" Roxas demanded.

"She bungled her last mission and has been in a deep sleep ever since," Luxord explained. "Can't win them all, I suppose."

Roxas and Naminé shared a look of concern and worry, before they both turned to run out of the room, but the two were stopped by Saïx.

"And where do you think you two are going?" he asked them.

"To see Xion," Naminé answered.

"But you two have missions."

"Which we'll do," Roxas replied, not missing a beat.

"You cannot help your comrade," Saïx said. "Xion will not wake up."

Naminé gave him a hurt look (which didn't faze him) as Roxas looked down and shook his head.

"That's not the point," Roxas said. "We should still be with her."

The two tried to run again.

"What do you care?" Saïx asked. "The creature is broken. Defective."

The two immediately stopped and turned around, a glare forming on Roxas' face.

"Don't call her that!" Roxas growled.

"I'll call that thing whatever I want. How we deal with Xion is no concern of yours."

"We never asked you if it was!" Naminé shot back. "She's our friend! We're going to see her!"

"Look at you two," Saïx remained unfazed. "Up in arms over a nobody."

"We're all Nobodies!" Roxas reminded them.

"Settle down, Roxas. Xion's failings won't affect your standing with us. You've nothing to worry about."

"Won't affect me—" he cut himself off. "What is wrong with you?!"

Naminé cut him off by placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll do our missions, Saïx. Later."

She then turned and Roxas let her lead him to Xion's room.

Roxas and Naminé stood by Xion's bedside now.

"Xion..." Roxas muttered.

"She'll be fine. We can pull double duty until she wakes up," Naminé reassured him, before taking a seashell out of her pocket. "Now, let's return the favor."

Roxas smiled and nodded, before pulling a seashell out of his pocket.

The two left their seashells by her pillow, just as she did for them (or started to for Naminé).

Fortunately, Luxord and Xigbar were rather understanding of the two blondes' reasons for running to Xion.

Meanwhile, Axel spoke with Saïx at Nothing's Call.

"Hey, that was uncalled for!"

"I told you," Saïx's response was calm and cold. "Keep out of this."

"And I'm telling you that I have to know what's the deal with Xion," Axel shot back. "If there's something going on, just be straight with me for once, will ya?"

"Do you mean just like you are always honest with me?"

Saïx's answer made Axel sigh and scratch his head. "Well, you've got me there, I guess."

"Xion has no right to be among our number."

Axel gasped. "What do you mean?"

"What is it you three see in that thing?" Saïx replied. "Just look at it."

Saïx then walked away.

Meanwhile, Xion slept, two seashells laying by her pillows, as she dreamt of the sound of waves.

'Welcome back, Xion,' came Kairi's familiar voice. 'I missed you.'

In her sleep, Xion managed a smile. 'I missed you too, Kairi.'

Roxas' Diary: Day 172: Xion Collapsed

Xion failed her mission and now she's in a deep sleep. I thought they were lying to me when they told me, but Naminé and I both went to see her, and she really was just asleep. We both left a seashell by her pillow, just like she did for us.

Saïx hates her. I don't know why. Maybe he knows more about her than the rest of us do.

Those pictures flashed through my mind again on today's mission (the same boy in red as usual). I guess he's been to Wonderland. I'm still trying to figure out what it is I'm seeing.

Secret Reports: Day 172: Meaning Behind the Words

Author: Axel

There has to be something to what Saïx said. Why isn't Xion qualified to be one of us? He said to just look at her, but at what? The fact that she looks like Naminé?

Xion and Naminé must be connected. Whose Nobody is Xion, anyway? What is Saïx hiding?

!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!

==Day 185: Guilt Trip==

~Wonderland~

It was supposed to be a simple mission to Wonderland. How did that go so wrong?

It went wrong because they just so happened to run into the imposter.

"I finally found you," the imposter said. "You must be Naminé."

"How do you know my name?" Naminé immediately asked, on edge.

The imposter answered her question with one of his own, "Do you remember what happened in Castle Oblivion?"

It was a simple question, and the way the imposter asked didn't imply any harm or hate, but it still froze her up.

Her nightmares were making her remember, but there was still a lot of things she didn't know.

So, she didn't answer the question. But it seemed like the imposter already knew what her answer was.

"That's what I thought," he replied. "If I didn't have a reason for meeting you, I would have already told you that what happened in Castle Oblivion is too painful to be worth remembering. But I do have a reason for this meeting, which is why it's imperitive that you remember everything."

Why? Naminé wanted to ask, but she was speechless.

Fortunately, Axel, her mission partner, stepped in front of her, his chakrams out. "Who are you?! And what do you want with Naminé?!"

"Please, don't interfere," the imposter told Axel. "This doesn't concern you."

When Axel didn't budge, Naminé pleaded, "Axel, please." Her grip around Rainfell tightened. Axel met her eyes, and he couldn't deny her, so he stepped back. When he did, Naminé turned back to the imposter. "Who are you?"

"Who I am doesn't matter," he replied.

"Yes it does!" Naminé cried out. "You know what happened! You have the answers that I need!"

The imposter summoned his black-colored Keyblade as she charged at him. "So you plan to fight me to get them? Interesting..."

He easily dodged her and parying her blow, in a way that caused her to lose her ground. But he was expecting her to retaliate with full force, and she did, knocking him back and getting a slid hit in.

"C'mon, Kairi," the imposter taunted. "I thought you were better than that."

"Oh, hush!" she immediately shot back. "Like you could do any better than me!"

She immediately stopped when she thought back to what he said. He had called her Kairi and she had immediately responded without hesitation. She held a hand up to mouth, unable to beleive what had just happened.

"DiZ was right," the imposter quietly said, mostly to himself more than to Naminé or Axel. "You are her Nobody." He then directly addressed Naminé, "You said you wanted answers, so I will give them. I don't know what you remember, but Sora had to go to sleep in order to preserve his memories and keep them from completely coming apart."

'I'm sorry, Sora. The memories I gave you, the memories of me...are all false. They never happened.'

'Wait, what?'

'I can enter, rearrange, and even create new memories for you or anyone connected to you.'

She remembered everything now.

"DiZ said that only you have the power to correct his memories, to put them back in the right place," the imposter added.

"But..." Naminé didn't want to believe any of this. Roxas and Xion both had Sora's light scent. She didn't know why, but she knew that in order to restore Sora, she'd have to sacrifice both of them.

She couldn't do that.

"I can't," she finally replied.

"It's your choice," the imposter—Riku—told her. "But you wanted answers. Don't blame me for giving them."

He then turned to walk away, leaving through a Corridor.

When he did, Naminé allowed herself to collapse to her knees and begin to sob. Axel immediately ran to and knelt at her side.

"Naminé?!" Axel asked. "You okay?"

She sniffed before replying, "No. I forgot everything because I chose to. He made me remember. I wronged Sora, and he forgave me. I promised him I'd fix everything, but I ran away instead." She sniffed again. "I know what I have to do, but I can't do anything."

"It's gonna be okay, Naminé," he tried to reassure.

"No, it won't," Naminé replied. "Because in order to restore Sora, I have to sacrifice Roxas and Xion both!"

Oh...Axel realized. That's why she was crying.

He tried his best to comfort her, but he knew that he couldn't do much of anything.

Roxas' Diary: Day 185: What's Wrong, Naminé?

Naminé didn't come to the clock tower today. I asked Axel, her mission partner, what happened, but his answer didn't tell me anything.

Why are Axel's answers always so vague? What's wrong with Naminé?

Why does it feel like everything's starting to fall apart?

Secret Reports: Day 185: Why Her?

Author: Axel

We managed to finish the mission. Well, I did. Naminé couldn't. After she turned down ice cream today, she asked me not to tell Roxas about this. So I didn't.

Who is the imposter? How does he know so much about Castle Oblivion? Why is he everybody targetting Naminé?

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: Kairi helping Xion with missions during the day is a parallel to how she helped Sora in KH1.

Xion bringing Roxas to Kairi's Heartscape will have relevance later when Days ends and KH2 starts up, and Xion was only able to do so because Roxas is Sora's Nobody, so she can't bring just anybody (and again, I'll explain why in the next chapter).

Naminé sees Xion as Xion due to her True Sight abilities, but only when Xion is not remembering "her past". When this happens, her appearance briefly flickers to Sora.

On Day 94, Kairi is the one who talks through Naminé, FYI.

Yes, Riku says 'friends', plural, because Sora and Kairi both need saving right now (again, I'll explain why in the next chapter, though I gave a hint in this one via Aerith's Secret Report).

If anyone didn't understand, on Day 159, Belle senses Roxas and Naminé has Sora and Kairi through their light. Again, as a Princess of Heart, Belle would have the ability of True Sight, wouldn't she? By this point, Roxas and Naminé have become their own people, which is why Belle is so vague.

I'm not going to lie, the fight between Riku and Kairi in KH1, Part 1 was added partly so I could create a parallel to that during Riku and Naminé's fight on Day 185.

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 finishes up Days and sets up KH2.