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

8. Chapter 8

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 finishes up Days and sets up KH2. Don't expect a happy ending here (just like in canon).

!~~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 8: 358 Days Over 2 (358/2 Days), Part 4

==Day 193: Memories==

~The Castle That Never Was~

A light appeared and a heart flowed out of Sora's chest and into the sleeping Kairi's, giving off a shine. The Keyhole and Sora glowed as Sora's eyes started to close. Sora started to fall back, splitting into tiny points of light. Kairi awoke and ran to grab him. As she did, the light scatters and fades away.

"Sora!" she cried out.

Xion opened her eyes and sat up with a gasp, stunning both Roxas, who was standing over her bed, and Naminé, who had been sitting on the bed.

"Whoa!" Roxas said. "Uh...Good morning, Xion."

"Oh...Morning..." Xion muttered.

"You woke up so suddenly," Roxas explained. "You just startled us."

"S-Sorry..."

"How are you feeling?" Naminé asked, as she got to her feet next to Roxas.

"Fine," Xion answered before seeing something beside her pillow. "Did you bring me these seashells?" She held one up to her ear.

"Me and Naminé both," Roxas said. He and Naminé had both vowed to work double duty in order to fill in for Xion, hoping that this drama with Saïx died down before she woke up. "Do you hear it?"

"Yeah, the sound of the waves," Xion smiled. "How long was I asleep?"

"About twenty days," Naminé answered.

Xion started, "That long?!"

"Yeah," Roxas replied. "You were sleeping so much that we and Axel were getting worried."

"I'm sorry about that," Xion apologized. "Kind of weird that we can feel anything at all. Without having hearts to feel with."

"Oh..."

"Don't worry, Xion," Naminé said with a smile. "We're just glad you're okay."

"Thank you." Xion then remembered, "Don't you two have work today?"

"Huh?" Roxas was confused at her question before he processed it, "Oh, yeah. We're about to head out actually." He and Naminé were given a mission in Twilight Town today with Axel.

"I'd like to tag along," Xion said.

"But don't you need some more rest?" Naminé asked.

"I'll be fine," Xion insisted. "C'mon, take me with you."

Roxas and Naminé shared a concerned look, before turning back to Xion. "Alright," Roxas said. "Sure."

Xion merely giggled.

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

~Twilight Town~

All four of them being on the same mission had never happened before. This was kind of exciting.

But they didn't get very far.

They made their way to the Station Plaza when Xion collapsed again.

"Xion!" Roxas called out to her.

A nostalgic wind blew, showing fragments of memory inquick succeession. Kairi was blown toward Sora's outstretched arms. He glowed in resonance with the Keyhole in Hollow Bastion. Kairi gave Sora her lucky charm.

"It's my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me."

Axel held Xion in his arms as the Destroyer Heartless appeared behind Roxas and Naminé. It fired a laser beam that they managed to dodge. Both blondes summoned their Keyblades and engaged it.

"Leave Xion to me!" Axel called after them.

"Got it!" Roxas said.

"Please do!" Naminé bowed slightly before turning back to the fight.

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

~The Castle That Never Was~

They were intercepted by Saïx as the four walked through Twilight's View.

"Well, that didn't take long," Saïx said. "Did it break again?"

"Shut up," Naminé growled. She was getting really tired of Saïx not treating Xion like he treated everybody else, like a real person.

"She's not an 'it'!" Roxas yelled after her.

Axel walked past Saïx, saying, "Keep your mouth shut." Roxas and Naminé quickly followed him.

Saïx watched them walk away from him, "You have changed...What happened at Castle Oblivion? Does the past mean nothing to you?"

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

Axel laid Xion down on her bed in her room. Naminé immediately sat on the bed next to her, hovering her hand over Xion's chest, and used her light to try and ease any pain Xion was experiencing.

"Are you worried about her, Axel?" Roxas asked.

"Of course I am," Axel replied.

"It just doesn't seem like you," Roxas replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Roxas explained, "you don't like things to be complicated."

Axel thought for a moment before saying, "You know, Roxas...Each day, the four of us meet up on the clock tower for ice cream. Now, why do you think that is?"

Roxas was confused, "Huh?" Where was he going with this?

"I mean, if you think about it," Axel continued, "I don't need to go out of my way to meet you guys, right?"

Roxas shrugged, "I don't know..."

"You want me to tell you why?" Axel said. "It's because you guys are my best friends."

Naminé smiled, as Roxas asked, "We are?"

"Get it memorized, alright?" Axel asked. "Both of you. We are best friends."

"Oh yeah..." Roxas realized. "Guess we are."

"It's like Naminé said," Axel said. "Our hearts are all connected, and they always will be."

To the other three's surprise, Xion gigggled. They turned to her, as she said, "Thanks, Axel. You're sweet."

Axel scratched his head and chuckled, obviously embarrassed. Roxas laughed as well, as Naminé smiled, the light from her hand fading, her healing done.

"Are you feeling better?" Roxas asked.

"I just got a little dizzy, that's all," Xion explained. "Sorry to worry you guys."

"It's okay," Naminé said, getting to her feet. "Just don't scare us like that anymore."

"Mm-hmm."

"Just take it easy today," Axel said, he, Roxas, and Naminé starting to walk out.

"I will. Thanks," Xion said. "All three of you."

The door closed behind them.

Roxas' Diary: Day 193: Best Friends

Xion's awake now. The four of us were gonna go get some ice cream after our mission, but she passed out again, so we had to take her home.

I talked with Axel and Naminé in her room until she woke up. Axel said the four of us were best friends—inseparable.

Secret Reports: Day 193: Dreams, or Memories?

Author: Xion

I finally wake up, just to pass out again? Why? Because I'm a failure? I dreamt the whole while I was out. It was something nostalgic, and I know Kairi was there, but what? Why can't I remember? It could be a key memory from my human life. All I can remember is the sound of waves, gentle, in the distance.

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

==Day 194: Like It Should Be==

~Twilight Town~

Axel searched through books in the castle library. He found one that piqued his interest, the one title "The Truth About Naminé — Vexen".

Today's mission with Roxas was with Luxord in Wonderland, while Naminé had a mission with Xigbar in Halloween Town.

They both got to Twilight Town at the same time, and they both found Xion already sitting on the clock tower together.

"Hey, Xion," Roxas greeted her as he and Naminé sat on either side of her. "You're here early."

"My mission wasn't that hard," Xion explained with a little smile.

They all watched the sunset together.

"So, how are you feeling?" Naminé asked her.

"I think I'll be okay now," Xion replied.

"That's good," Roxas said, before they take a few bites of their ice cream. "Hey, where's Axel?"

"I haven't seen him," Naminé answered, as Xion shrugged.

The clock tower bell rang above them.

"It's getting late," Xion said. "I don't think he's coming."

"You two wanna wait a little longer?" Roxas asked them.

Naminé nodded as Xion replied, "Okay." She paused for a moment. "You three are always there for me."

"Yeah," Naminé smiled at them. "Because we're best friends."

"I don't do anything special," Roxas replied. "Naminé's the one who cheers us up, and Axel's the one who sticks up for us."

"Well, I'm just glad the three of you are in the Organization with me," Xion said.

They ate a few more bites of their ice cream, before Naminé broke the silence.

"Hey, Roxas, Xion? I need to tell you something..." she paused.

"Sure, what is it?" Roxas asked, him and Xion with a bright smiles on their faces.

Naminé saw them smiling at her, no sadness or anger on their faces whatsoever. Could she really tell them what Riku told her and made her realize?

Truth be told, she didn't exactly know all the details, only the big ones. Was she really sure they would both disappear?

She can't do this. She made a promise, yes, but she can't sacrifice two of her best friends. She can't.

"Naminé?" She heard Xion ask, which derailed her train of thought.

She hadn't realize she had trailed off without explanation, so she immediately slapped a smile she hoped was real enough to convince them, and told them, "Nevermind. I'll tell you later." She turned back to the sunset. "I hope Axel turns up."

Roxas and Xion shared a concerned look with each other before shrugging and turning back to the sunset.

Roxas' Diary: Day 194: Even Far Apart

We've all started going back to our usual spot after work. Sometimes Axel and Xion are there waiting for me, other times I get there first, but Naminé always arrives when I do.

Things have gotten busier for us, so we can't all make it every day. But even if they're not there, at least now it seems like we're together again. I wonder if it seems that way to them, too.

I forgot to ask Xion and Naminé about the pictures in my head again... It was the same kid in red. Who is he? What does he have to do with me?

Secret Reports: Day 194: The Replica

Author: Axel

I thought I'd never see the word "replica" again. Any rational man would realize the Riku Replica was not likely unique, but I'm the only one in the Organization who knew of his exceptional copying functionality, and that he ultimately formed a sense of self, something I think Naminé realized the moment she laid eyes on him. The fact that I knew all that and still never noticed the truth about Xion speaks to how remarkable a Replica she must be.

But my questions remain unanswered. Who is she a Replica of? Naminé? Kairi? Or perhaps someone entirely different? Why did the Organization admit her into this membership? And why would such a fine Replica fall unconscious or sporadically lose its command of the Keyblade?

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

==Day 224: Anomaly==

~Twilight Town~

Naminé had begun to do some secret digging into Xion and her origins. She was one-hundred percent sure of what Roxas' connection to Sora was, but she was intrigued by Xion's.

She was the first one on the clock tower, drawing in her sketchbook the memories of Sora she could find. She had restored all of his memories of Riku. She had restored his memories of his parents, the other island kids, and right now, she was restoring his memories of the islands. Up next was his memories of his travels to the other worlds.

A few were missing, but she knew that Roxas had them, which was understandable, because Roxas was Sora's Nobody.

But there was a very large piece of memories missing. She was confused about where his memories of Kairi had gone (it was her fault they had gotten lost in the first place), but she quickly traced the connection as far as it went, and all chains pointed to one person.

Xion.

She still needed to ensure more details, but she was certain she knew who, or what, Xion really was, and it made sense. It explained why Naminé initially saw Xion as a faceless puppet, and, when she returned from Castle Oblivion, why Xion had developed a face Naminé had seen before in Sora's memories.

One by one, Roxas, Axel, and Xion joined her on the clock tower for ice cream (this is when she put her sketchbook away). She greeted them with enthusiasm, and they greeted her with comments about how relieved they were that she was no longer sad.

While they were having their ice cream, Xion sudden asked, "Hey, Axel?"

"Hm?"

"You've been to Castle Oblivion, right?" Xion asked. "I'd ask Naminé, but I know she doesn't like talking about it." Naminé mentally thanked her for that.

"Yeah," Axel replied. "Why are you bringing it up?"

"What is it like?" she asked.

"What's it like?" he repeated before answering, "Just an Organization research facility."

"For research, huh?" Roxas asked, not buying that. Something happened there, after all, that made Naminé forget all about it and receive nightmares. "Seems everyone gets sent there all the time. Especially you."

"Although..." Xion trailed off, "they only sent Naminé once, and they never send me or Roxas."

"Well...they probably just don't need you there," Axel said.

"I'm...I'm heading back," Xion stood up.

But she didn't take a single step before she had a flash and sudden felt dizzy. She fell forward off the edge of the clock tower, and Naminé thought she was going to have a heart attack. Fortunately, Roxas caught her in time and pulled her back up.

"Maybe you're not completely well yet," Roxas said.

"No, it's nothing like that," Xion tried to reassure them.

No one knew what to say. They were silent for a few moments, as Axel leaned on his knee and thought. She said nothing, but Naminé knew now, for certain, what was going on.

Xion had absorbed all of Sora's memories of Kairi, which had gotten lost when Naminé herself was rewriting Sora's memories. It was so large a piece, Sora cared about Kairi so much, that they became a whole new person (Naminé could sense her heart). Sora couldn't wake up without those memories. He needed them in order to do so. They were the key.

If Sora's memories became Xion's memories, Xion would never survive it.

"I know!" Naminé suddenly cried.

"Huh?" The other three turned to her.

"Know what?" Roxas asked.

"On our next day off, let's all go to the beach," Naminé suggested.

"The beach?" Xion asked. "Where did that idea come from?"

"I agree," Axel said. "We should go someplace different for a change. I'm in."

Roxas turned to Naminé, "You're talking about a vacation with friends."

"Mm-hmm," Naminé nodded, smiling.

"Then I'm in, too," Roxas smiled back.

"I'll join you...if I can," Xion replied.

"What are you talking about, Xion?" Roxas asked.

"Trust us, Xion," Axel told her. "It'll be a blast."

"Hmm..." Xion thought, before smiling too. "Yes, alright. Let's go."

Roxas' Diary: Day 224: What's Gotten Into Her?

I think something's wrong with Xion. Is she not feeling well again?

Naminé said we should all go to the beach next time we get a vacation. I think she and Axel sense something is wrong, too. That's why she suggested the beach—to make Xion feel better.

Secret Reports: Day 224: Xion

Author: Axel

I think Naminé knows something about Xion that I don't. She was drawing in her sketchbook all day.

Even if Xion is a replica—a puppet—she's still Xion. I understand that in my head, but how do I interact with her now? Riku Replica was just a tool, but I can't just use Xion. No, I was wrong to have just used Riku Replica in the first place. How is a man-made puppet any less worthy than a Nobody that was never meant to exist at all?

They're both ambiguous. Tenuous at best. And she's my friend. Even if neither of us should exist, that doesn't invalidate the bonds we form. I have no doubt Naminé knows this too, because next break we get, she told us we'd all go to the beach. I hope we get the chance. Our little summer vacation. I know if we can get together and laugh about stupid stuff, this nagging doubt will go away.

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

==Day 255: The Longest Day==

~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.

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

~Castle Oblivion~

Xion into the crystal orb, seeing the truth behind her origins. She saw the full version of the memory she had with Saïx. She saw how she was a replica created by Vexen.

And she saw how Naminé rewrote Sora's memories, scattering them to the winds of various worlds.

"Wh-What...Then I...wasn't who I am...?" Xion asked herself.

Roxas' Diary: Day 255: Now Axel's Acting Weird

I had ice cream with Axel and Naminé after work today, but Xion didn't show.

Axel said she got sent on an important mission, but he wouldn't look at either of us when he said it. I've been wondering what's wrong with Xion all this time, and I know Naminé's worried too, but now that I stop and think about it, Axel's not himself either.

Secret Reports: Day 255: Final Stages

Author: Xemnas

Xion's appearance should vary based on the relation of the viewer to her. Saïx sees her simply as a puppet. The Program approaches completion. Through Roxas, Xion is assembling a copy of the hero of the Keyblade. As proof, she sometimes appears to take on his form to my eyes.

I wonder who Naminé sees.

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

==Day 256: News==

~The Castle That Never Was~

The Organization (what remained of it) were seated in the Round Room, which Naminé still standing on the ground floor.

Xemnas delivered the news, "Xion is gone."

Everyone turned their attention and focus on him, as Naminé immediately thought about the last time Xion ran away (she lost the ability to summon her Keyblade), and she wondered what happened to Xion this time.

"What?!" Demyx cried out. "Whoa whoa, time...You mean she, like, flew the coop?"

"Hah, preposterous," Xaldin said. "What would drive her to choose her own demise?"

"On the contrary," Xemnas said. "No one is the go looking for Xion without my express permission."

"What?" Roxas immediately shouted. "Why not?!"

"What are you planning to do?" Naminé found herself asking.

Saïx addressed them both, "Your 'friend' will be left alone. Or would you two rather we find some punishment?"

"We'd rather you get her back!" Roxas yelled back. To back him up, Naminé nodded.

"And why would we do that?" Saïx asked, cold and expressionless.

Roxas growled and Naminé mentally asked him to calm down. He didn't.

"All will be revealed when the time comes," Xemnas said.

"Hmm..." Axel said. "Which means, if the time doesn't come, things can stay as they are..."

"Lord Xemnas has spoken. Obey or face your end."

Naminé was worried as Roxas was disheartened.

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

~Twilight Town~

It was just him and Naminé on the clock tower today.

"What now?" Naminé asked him, her voice quiet. "Xemnas forbade any of us from searching for her." She asked herself why Xemnas wouldn't care.

"I don't know..." Roxas muttered back. "Why isn't Axel here?" he asked, mostly to himself.

"I don't know..." Naminé repeated Roxas' words.

Unbeknowest to them, Axel was there. He stood at the entrance in silence, his arms crossed and head down.

Roxas' Diary: Day 256: Xion's Gone Missing

Xion has gone missing, but nobody said anything about her being hurt, so that's good...I guess.

Did she run off? That doesn't make any sense. Xemnas told us not to go after her. The way Saïx explained it, it's almost like they don't think she's worth getting back.

What is going on?

The only comfort I have is knowing Naminé feels the same way I do.

Secret Reports: Day 256: Who We Each See

Author: Xigbar

Xion's disappearance is fascinating. If she really is breaking from our control, it's a sign of her approaching the essence of the hero. It seems Saïx doesn't truly "see" her. I'm curious to know how she appears to the others, Naminé especially. I see her as...him, though I suspect that Xemnas sees entirely something else in her.

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

==Day 257: Hollow==

~Twilight Town~

The days passed without Xion, and things felt more hollow than they did before.

Because Axel no longer came to the usual spot, so it was just Roxas and Naminé now.

"Xion...Axel..." Roxas muttered. "Where are you?" At least, Naminé hadn't left him too. He didn't think he could handle it right now if she did, if he was left all alone.

But even then, he knew something was bothering Naminé, ever since that one mission with Axel, who was extremely vague in his answer. Neither of them would tell him.

Naminé was about to once, he suddenly remembered, but for whatever reason unknown to him, she changed her mind, and the subject, and said she'd tell him and Xion later.

"Naminé?" he quietly asked, unsure what his next question would do to their friendship. Would she run too? Or would she be vague like Axel always is? Or would she actually tell him?

"Yeah?" she asked him, turning to face him.

He decided to just go for it. "I'm worried about you too." Naminé's face lit up in surprise. "You've been sad a lot lately. Is it about your nightmares again?"

Her depressed expression returned and she turned back to face the sunset. "It's a lot deeper than that, but yes."

She was vague, but at least, she gave him an answer he could understand. "You...want to talk about what's bothering you?"

Not really, was the answer they both knew she wanted to say, but she didn't say that. Instead, she forced herself to be honest, "What's bothering me is the ghosts of my past."

That answer surprised him, but it surprised him more when she suddenly hugged him out of nowhere.

He felt his face heat up as she tightened her embrace. "N-Naminé?"

"Even when I'm far away from it," Naminé quietly replied, "Castle Oblivion will always follow me." She was even quieter when she asked, "Can we please stay like this for awhile?"

Roxas' surprise and shock weakened, turning into concern for one of his best friends, as well as understanding, as he wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug. "Sure..."

Naminé smiled and closed her eyes, glad he was there to comfort.

Her chest felt warm and bubbly when she heard him softly tell her, "I'll always be there, Naminé, to pick you up whenever you fall..."

"Thank you," she replied. "And I'll always be there for you." She broke the embrace, holding out her pinky finger. "Promise?"

He smiled and connected his pinky with hers, "Promise."

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

~The Castle That Never Was~

It was getting late, and Naminé knew she should be in bed already, but she couldn't rest now.

She wouldn't stop until every memory Xion had and every memory of Xion was preserved in her sketchbook.

Because once Xion was reabsorbed into Sora, then she would be completely forgotten, completely erased from every's minds

Naminé, personally, didn't want to forget about Xion, and she didn't want Xion to be forgotten, but she knew what she had to do.

Roxas' Diary: Day 257: He's Avoiding Me

I want to talk to Axel about Xion, but I can't seem to get ten seconds with the guy.

What am I supposed to do? I can't believe he's avoiding me. We're supposed to be friends.

At least, Naminé will always be there. We promised each other we would.

Secret Reports: Day 257: In the Cards

Author: Luxord

The air is charged. I can feel it. You go out on a big gamble at a time like this, and you're going to lose big. That said, it's betting against the worst odds that nets you the biggest win. I'm eager to see how this hand plays out.

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

==Day 276: Disorder==

Naminé was waiting in Wonderland. She fortunately had a solo mission today, and she had already completed it. She had connected her heart with Riku's and asked him to meet her there.

"You wanted to see me?" she heard Riku's voice behind her.

She turned to see the imposter, the tall boy with long, silver hair and wearing a black Organization coat and a black blindfold.

Glad that she had successfully connected to him, and that had listened to her, she took out her sketchbook. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again. Yes, I need to talk to you."

"Is this about your promise to Sora?" Riku asked her. "To restore his memories?"

"Yes," she replied. "I'm sorry...I've been trying my best, but I'm not sure I've kept that promise very well."

"What happened?" he asked. She felt better knowing that he had picked up on her tone.

"Some of Sora's memories are missing," she revealed.

"How can that be?"

"They're escaping through Sora's Nobody, Roxas, into a third person. Her name is Xion, and now those memories starting to become a part of her."

"You can't get the memories back out?" Riku asked.

"If they're still separate, then yes, I can. In fact, I've already done just that with a couple already." She looked down at her sketchbook, open to a drawing with all four of them on the clock tower. "But if they've joined with her memories, things get a lot more complicated. I would need to untangle her memory before I could finish Sora's...What was supposed to take months might take years. I'm sorry. I'm sure you're furious."

"A little," Riku honestly answered her. "But not enough to make me stop listening to you. So what's the solution?"

"If I try to just jump in and rearrange her memory...then I risk Sora waking up to find out that nobody remembers him anymore. I can't do that to him. It's too late either way. His awakening will have to be delayed. I never imagined Roxas and Xion would fight so hard to be their own people. Unfortunately, the only real solution..." she swallowed a large lump in her throat, "is for them both to go away."

Riku was quiet for a moment. "You're friends with them. Aren't you?" It was more a statement than a question, but she nodded anyway. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be," Naminé replied, sadly smiling at him. "Most of the memories she has...are all of Kairi." Like she knew it would, this got his attention.

"What?" he asked. She nodded. "So that's why she has Kairi's face."

Naminé nodded, before saying, "Did you know Xion's face was blank at first? Only now can you see someone. That proves some of Sora's memories are inside her. Some inside her, some inside Sora...others inside Roxas... I can't sort it out anymore. I've done all I canon my own. All I can do now is pick up the pieces once what has to be done, is done."

"Leave it to me," Riku said.

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

~Twilight Town~

In exchange for the information and her honesty, Riku had agreed to summon a Corridor for her to Twilight Town.

When she got up there, she found a nice surprise waiting for her. "Wow, you're actually up here, Axel."

Axel and Roxas were already there, waiting for her. Still no Xion, but Naminé was happy that Axel had decided to stop avoiding her and Roxas.

"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Axel asked, as Naminé sat on Roxas' other side.

"It has," Roxas immediately replied.

"Huh," was all Axel said.

"I got to go to the beach today for my mission," Roxas said. "There was this girl there who looked kind of like Xion...but I couldn't get close enough to tell for sure. I probably imagined it. To be honest, I'm not even sure today's mission really happened."

"What?" Naminé asked, worried. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he told her. "I just feel like I just woke up from a dream or something. This is gonna sound crazy, but you know how we promised each other we'd all go to the beach? Well, I think I only saw Xion there because I wanted her to be there.

Axel stood up. "You two wanna go look for her?"

"Huh? But Xemnas' orders..." Roxas trailed off.

"Orders, shmorders," Axel shrugged. "Starting tomorrow, let's use our spare time between work and coming here to try and find Xion."

Roxas stood up, "Okay...Yeah, it's a deal!"

Naminé stood up as well, "Right."

The three looked toward the sunset.

Roxas' Diary: Day 276: By the Sea

I don't remember much about today's mission—just that it was by the beach. Or was it? The mission didn't even feel real.

Me, Naminé, and Axel agreed to start looking for Xion tomorrow.

Secret Reports: Day 276: Behind the Truth

Author: Axel

Xion is gone. Roxas still doesn't know anything, but Xion found out, and I'm pretty sure Naminé figured it out herself. That's why I need to find Xion. We don't have hearts, so we accept the facts we're given as the truth. But something far more important lies behind that truth. Saïx would laugh at people with no hearts calling one another friends, but that doesn't make it not so.

As the Nobody of the hero of the Keyblade and the Replica of that Nobody, Roxas and Xion are special, and Naminé, as the Nobody of pure light, is special in her own way. All three of them are unique in every sense of the word. But that doesn't change the fact that we're friends. Nothing will. Got it memorized, Xion?

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

==Day 296: Confession==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas, Axel, and Naminé arrived on the clock tower ledge. Another day, another defeat. Where was Xion hiding?

"It's no use," Roxas said.

"We'll find her," Naminé replied, trying to be optimistic.

"You sure neither of you are forgetting some place?" Axel asked.

"What do you mean?" Naminé asked.

"Yeah," Roxas agreed. "We've been everywhere we know how to get to."

"Alright," Axel sighed as he sat down.

"The only place we haven't been to is Castle Oblivion," Roxas muttered. Axel gasped and Naminé immediately looked like she was going to have a heart attack. "It was just the other day that Xion was asking you what the place was like. And the day before she disappeared, you said she was put on an important mission. Remember?"

"Yeah...But there's nothing there anymore," Axel replied.

"It's empty now," Naminé added.

"All the more reason to suspect Xion might be there," Roxas made a good point.

Axel sighed, before revealing, "Apparently...Xion comes from Castle Oblivion."

"What?" Roxas asked.

"That's probably why she was asking about the place," Axel continued.

"I had no idea..." Roxas muttered.

"Me neither," Axel replied. "I only found out a little while ago."

"Castle Oblivion...Xion..." Roxas said.

"We'll go tomorrow," Naminé decided.

Axel turned to her, "I thought you were scared of that place, Naminé."

"I am," she truthfully answered. "But Xion is my friend. If there's a chance she's there, then we have to take it."

Roxas' mildly surprised expression turned to a determined smile.

Roxas' Diary: Day 296: Castle Oblivion

There's one place we haven't checked yet to see if Xion's there—Castle Oblivion. When I brought it up with Axel, he surprised me by saying that C.O. is where Xion comes from. I guess he just found out himself.

And then Naminé surprised us both by suggesting we go there tomorrow. She's scared of that place, after all.

Is that where Xion is?

Secret Reports: Day 296: Hidden Truths

Author: Xigbar

None of us really know everything that's going on in Castle Oblivion. Some rooms even Xemnas doesn't know about. Not many are even aware that Xion was born there. I wonder if the truth about that place will ever surface.

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

==Day 297: Contact==

~Castle Oblivion~

The trio entered through the front doors.

"So, this is Castle Oblivion..." Roxas said, walking ahead of the other two.

"I suggest we don't split up," Naminé nervously said.

Roxas groaned, his head starting to hurt, "I agree..."

"Roxas?!" he heard Axel behind him call out.

"Roxas, you okay?" he heard Naminé behind him ask.

He tried to keep walking forward as he held his head. What was going on? "Agh! My...my head!"

"Easy, man!" Axel said. "Let's retreat for now and—"

Roxas cut him off, "I'm fine! We have to...find Xion..." But he fell to his knees, clutching his head, before feeling Axel and Naminé rush up to him and fell to their knees at his sides. "Wh...What's happening?"

"Roxas!" Axel cried out.

"Stay with us, Roxas!" Naminé pleaded.

"So much...rushing into...my head..." Roxas muttered, before Naminé helped him stand up.

Naminé ushered Roxas to the Corridor that Axel summoned before helping Naminé with Roxas. "Let's get out of here for now!" Axel said.

"No, wait..." Roxas protested. "There's...something...I can...almost..."

But Axel and Naminé both walked him into the Corridor.

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

~Twilight Town~

"Giving up already? I thought you were stronger than that."

Roxas woke up in a cold sweat with one name on his lips, "Riku!"

He panted, before looking around at his surroundings. He was (now) sitting on the ground of the Side Street in Twilight Town. Axel was standing a little ways off, while Naminé was kneeling next to him, both of them obviously worried.

"Are you alright?" Axel asked.

"What...happened to me?" Roxas asked.

Naminé was the one who answered, "You collapsed just as you entered the castle doors. Don't you remember?"

"I only remember going inside," Roxas told them, before he stood up.

Naminé stood up as well, as Axel protested, "Just take it easy for now."

He brushed Axel off, "I'm fine. Let's go back to Castle Oblivion."

It was quiet until Naminé softly said, "Please, don't push yourself, Roxas."

Her plea made him stop. How worried was she when she saw him collapse? How did he collapse? And why?

Axel then sensed something. "Who's there?"

The three turned to see two cloacked figures watching them.

"Xion?" Roxas asked.

One lowered their head and opened a Corridor, before walking inside.

"Xion, wait!" Roxas immediately ran after her.

But the other (much taller) figure stepped in the way as the Corridor closed.

Roxas growled, "Out of the way!"

The figure said nothing and ran.

"Hey!" Roxas ran after him.

"Roxas, wait!" Axel said, before he and Naminé followed Roxas.

The three chased the imposter through the Underground Passage, following until he reached the grate to Sunset Terrace, where he escaped through a Dark Corridor. The trio arrived just when it closed and stopped to catch their breath.

"I thought the imposter was sighted in Castle Oblivion!" Axel said.

"Xion..." Roxas muttered.

"No way that was Xion!" Axel protested.

"The one who ran away first was Xion," Naminé corrected. "But...why run?"

Unbeknowest to them, Xion was hiding around the corner, overhearing their conversation. The imposter walked up to her and took his hood off, revealing Riku's face underneath.

"You want to go back?" he asked her.

Xion said nothing, only looking at Roxas, Naminé, and Axel.

Roxas' Diary: Day 297: Who is That Guy?

I went to Castle Oblivion to find Xion, but I don't remember anything about it. Axel and Naminé both said I collapsed as soon as I got there.

I woke up in Twilight Town, and incredibly enough, Xion was there. But she wasn't alone—there was this guy with her, and he was wearing the Organization's cloak. I could tell by his build that he wasn't one of us, though. Who is he?

Secret Reports: Day 297: Contact with Riku

Author: Axel

The man they're calling the impostor, that fake Organization member? It's Riku, which explains how he knows so much about Castle Oblivion. Roxas could very well remember that Riku's the imposter, somewhere deep in his memories. Still, it's too soon to report this. I need to know why Xion was with him first. If she's siding with the hero, it could easily mean her erasure. What are you planning to do, Xion?

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

==Day 298: Fracture==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas chased down a cloaked figure and managed to corner them into the south alcove in the Tram Commons. This is when the figure turned around and took off their head.

"Xion," Roxas said, before walking up to her. "Axel, Naminé, and I have been looking all over for you."

"You have?" Xion asked. "Sorry."

The two heard footsteps. "Roxas!" they heard Naminé's voice call out before she finally came into view. "Roxas, there you are! Don't run off like that again! You scared me!"

"Sorry about that, Naminé," he said. "But look who I found."

Naminé then laid her eyes on the black-haired girl next to him, and a smile immediately broke out on her face. "Xion!" she ran toward her, stopping at Roxas side. "We've been so worried. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Xion replied.

"C'mon," Roxas said. "Let's go home. If you come back voluntarily, Saïx will let all this drop. He has to."

Xion looked down.

"We don't care what he said to you," Roxas continued. "We'll be there. All three of us will make sure—"

He held out a hand, Naminé giving a welcome smile, but Xion took a step back, making both him and Naminé gasp in surprise.

"I really can't," Xion told them.

"Why not?" Roxas asked. "Come on..."

He tried to grab her, but she backed up further away. She looked down and tried to run.

"Wait!" Roxas cried, successfully grabbing her arm.

She stopped, before summoning her Keyblade, pointing it straight at the gasping Roxas. He let go of her arm as he stepped in front of Naminé, guarding her.

"Xion?" he heard Naminé ask, scared.

Just then a familiar chakram flew onto the scene. Xion block it with her Keyblade, making it fall to the ground. It lit on fire and disappeared just as Axel walked in.

"Well, hello there...Xion."

"Axel?" Roxas asked. The voice Axel just used didn't sound like he was too happy to see Xion again. When he felt Naminé grab onto his arm, he knew he wasn't the only one confused at what was happening.

Naminé watched as Xion lunged at Axel.

"No, wait!" she heard Roxas cry out.

Axel was her bodyguard at Castle Oblivion, and she wouldn't have trusted anyone else who went there with her, because the two were friends. Why was Axel being so aggressive toward Xion? They were friends too, right? She was tightly clutching onto Roxas' arm. If he began attacking Xion too, Naminé knew she'd shut down. But she knew Roxas would never think about harming his own friends.

Which was why she was glad that Roxas made no move to interfere in the fight that ensued, or try to pry her off of him.

But Xion and Axel weren't listening. Xion took a strike at Axel, who summoned his chakrams in a swirl of fire.

Roxas and Naminé both stood there, helpless, as the other two exchanged blows.

Xion blocked an attack and the chakrams flew back at Axel. Xion ran for him again.

"STOP!" Roxas cried out.

Xion hesitated, looking over at Roxas and Naminé, both watching the fight in shock and horror. But this gave her an opening, as Axel smacked her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious.

She fell forward, but Axel grabbed her. Her Keyblade fell to the ground with a metal clang before vanishing.

Roxas and Naminé were both helpless to stop Axel from carrying Xion over his shoulder through a Corridor.

"Wait!" Roxas ran forward, but the Corridor vanished, leaving the two blondes by themselves.

Roxas' Diary: Day 298: Some Other Way

I don't believe it. Axel attacked Xion. There had to have been some other way.

I know she's acting weird, but I hardly recognize Axel these days either. What's going through their heads? I feel so left out.

I wonder if Naminé's really the only one I can trust now.

Secret Reports: Day 298: Change of Plans

Author: Saïx

Axel failed to report that the impostor and Xion are working together. Instead, that news came from Roxas. The boy is far more easily handled than Axel, but now Axel has captured Xion and returned her to us. His motives are impossible to read. Our plans can be altered if necessary, but doing so can only delay their realization.

Xemnas had begun to tighten his grip on Naminé, and I understand why. It's evident that she knows too much for his liking.

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

==Day 299: Sora and Kairi==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Xemnas sat with Roxas in the Round Room.

"I need to know," Roxas said.

"About what?" Xemnas asked.

"Xion," Roxas replied. "Tell me what happened to her."

"Xion is a valued member of the Organization," Xemnas told him, but Roxas didn't buy that. If she was valued, then Xemnas wouldn't have ordered that nobody go look for her. "But she needs her rest. So worry not."

Roxas gasped as he remembered the conversation between them at The Dark Margin.

"Who is Sora?" he asked.

Xemnas was quick to answer. "The connection."

"Connection?" What did that mean?

Xemnas explained, "He is what makes you and Xion a part of each other's lives. And the reason I placed Xion among our number."

He remembered Xion's secret friend. "And...who is Kairi?"

He thought he saw Xemnas smile. "The reason you and Naminé exist at all."

Roxas blinked in surprise.

He didn't say anything, which allowed Xemnas to continue, "If you want Xion to stay a part of the Organization, I must insist you get your mind off these needless distractions. I will have Xion return to her duties tomorrow. Today, you must focus on yours."

"Understood."

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

Roxas left the Round Room, Xemnas' words haunting his mind. Sora was the connection between him and Xion, while Kairi was the reason he and Naminé existed at all.

He walked through Twilight's View, pondering over the possible meaning of those words.

When he saw Axel, he stopped in his tracks.

Axel, the one said Xion was their best friend and the one who Naminé said protected her while she was at Castle Oblivion. And yet, he fought Xion without provocation and scared Naminé so bad, she was tightly clinging to Roxas as if he was her last lifeline.

"Hey, Roxas," Axel greeted him.

Roxas turned away in disgust and walked past him.

Axel sighed.

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

Naminé was at the Altar of Naught, waiting for Xemnas like Saïx told her to do. No mission for her today, which she was rather grateful for, but she wondered why Xemnas needed to see her.

If he was nervous about her not giving them access to Kingdom Hearts, he didn't have to. She still planned on giving it to them.

"Naminé."

She jumped out of her skin. Xemnas had appeared out of nowhere. She turned around and bowed to him. "Y-Yes, Sir!"

"At ease," he calmly replied before walking past her.

"I...I apologize for my outburst the other day," Naminé quietly said. "It wasn't me talking."

"I know, Naminé," Xemnas surprised her.

"Y-You know?"

"I know," Xemnas continued. "The more Kingdom Hearts is completed, the closer we come to our goal, the more connected you feel with it. Your outburst, as you call it, was caused by feeling protective of it."

Naminé thought about it. She knew who her Somebody was: Kairi, and she even knew who Rainfell truly belonged to (the blue-haired woman; Naminé knew her name now), but she still didn't really understand where all these strange powers came from.

"You said that I was a special Nobody, because my Somebody is as well," Naminé said. "I know now that I was indeed born with a heart, but...it's not complete. It's only a piece of one. Nobodies are born without hearts, as I understand it, but I was born with a piece of one. Why? And I also have the power to manipulate the memories of Sora and anyone connected to him, but I don't understand why..."

Xemnas was quiet throughout her little speech, and he fortuantely had the answers.

"You are special because your Somebody is a Princess of Heart, one of the only seven maidens in existance without any darkness in their hearts. Their hearts are unable to hold any darkness, which makes it impossible for them to produce neither Heartless nor Nobody. As such, it should be impossible for you to exist."

"So then...how do I exist?" Naminé asked.

"You had to have been given a body by someone who could produce a Nobody," was all Xemnas said before Naminé connected the dots.

"Sora," she muttered, remembering what was in Sora's memories. "Sora turned himself into a Heartless in order to free Kairi's heart hiding within him. In that moment, both Nobodies were created. Roxas...and myself..." It all made sense now. "So that's why I can control Sora's memories. Because I was born from his body. And if I am Kairi's Nobody, a Princess of Heart, that also means I have her abilities. That's why I'm special, isn't it?"

"It is," he paused, letting that all sink in, before he asked, "You know the truth behind Xion, don't you?"

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, but Xemnas still expected an answer.

She couldn't hide anything from him, so she had to be honest, "Y-Yes."

He was stern now, as if he wasn't happy with her. "You are not to save her."

"I-I can't," Naminé honestly answered. "Either way, she's doomed." Either Xion would die from absorbing too many of Sora's memories, or she and the very memory of her would fade away without a trace.

Xemnas said nothing to this, but she could tell he didn't like that response. Instead, he changed the subject, "Do you know what a Princess of Heart is?"

"They have hearts of pure light, and they protect the words from darkness," Naminé replied. "Right?"

"Correct," Xemnas said, "but they also protect Kingdom Hearts, hence why you were so protective of it the other day. Only they can give others access to it. That is why you are needed."

Naminé nodded understanding, but she was suddenly very scared.

Because his next line, "And you will do as I ask of you," was very sinister and sounded more like a threat than it did a simple order.

"Y-Yes, Sir," she said.

"Good. You are dismissed."

Naminé quickly turned around and left.

Xemnas now had a reason to be nervous about her not giving them access to Kingdom Hearts, because for a moment, Kairi's old childhood memories had become her own.

And all she could think was that it was a good thing Kairi locked those memories away.

Roxas' Diary: Day 299: Sora?

I supposed I am grateful to Kairi for allowing me and Naminé to exist, but that doesn't really bother me.

Xemnas told me that "Sora" is the connection between me and Xion. But just who exactly is Sora?

Secret Reports: Day 299: The Value of a Lie

Author: Axel

I don't know about Naminé, but Roxas doesn't trust me after the whole Xion incident, but I can't tell him the truth yet. So I keep lying. It's no big deal when you're a Nobody. There's no guilt, no feeling at all. So why does it still sting, just a little, when I lie to him? All my dealings with Roxas give me this bizarre illusion of humanity.

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

==Day 321: Waning Power==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas was tired of these nightmares. After Xion had returned to the Organization, he grew weaker by the day, every time he summoned his Keyblade, but it was interesting that Xion continued to gain strength as he lost it.

After his and Xion's mission, the two sat on the clock tower.

"Are you really okay?" Xion asked him.

Roxas laughed, "This is getting weird."

"Huh?"

"Since when do you ever worry about me?" Roxas asked her.

"What do you mean 'weird'?" Xion asked. "Naminé worries about you and you don't seem to mind."

"Because you and Naminé aren't the same person, and it's in her nature," Roxas explained. "It's just, usually, I do all the worrying over you. I don't think it's ever been the other way around before. Just feels strange, that's all."

"Roxas, of course I worry about you," Xion said, "and don't feel bad. Naminé's just fine too, so it could just be you."

"Maybe," Roxas muttered. "I'm just glad you're back, Xion. Even though it might have been rough on you."

"Are Axel and Naminé coming today?" Xion asked.

"Naminé?" Roxas replied. "I'm not sure. I've been seeing her less and less lately. Axel...ah...who knows..."

"You and Axel didn't fight, did you?"

"How could he?" Roxas asked. "How could that jerk attack you like that?"

"...'That jerk'...? Do you mean Axel?" Roxas said nothing. "But...I wouldn't be sitting here with you if Axel hadn't done that." Roxas still said nothing. "He's your best friend."

"I know, but so are you and Naminé."

"It's just not the same without all four of us..." Xion said.

Roxas' Diary: Day 321: No Energy Left

I feel so tired—almost disconnected from my body. The dreams have gotten stranger. Now I wake up with water on my cheeks. I don't know how it got there, but I think there's something really wrong with me.

Today I was teamed up with Xion. She seems to be in a lot better shape than me. We had ice cream together, something we hadn't done in a while.

Secret Reports: Day 321: My Place

Author: Xion

Axel's always helping me out, so I just assumed he would again. How long has he known about me? Maybe since long before we met in Castle Oblivion. But he told me to think for myself. I was so happy. But now, as I get stronger, Roxas keeps getting weaker.

I shouldn't exist anymore. They say that Nobodies were never meant to exist, but I'm the real affront. But before I'm gone, I want to help Roxas and Axel. Even just a little. I think the boy I saw today is the same Sora from my memories.

Riku told me that Naminé knows what I should do. Does she really?

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

==Day 352: Sunset==

Xion stared at the moon outside her window.

"I'm going to wreck everything...What's the right thing to do? Riku would know..."

She thought back to when Riku found her the other day, after she woke up in his arms.

"Are you...?" She trailed off.

"Riku," he answered. "Sora and Kairi's friend."

"Sora? And Kairi? You know them?"

"Yeah." He stood up and offered a hand to help her up. She took it.

When both were on their feet, she said, "Thank you. You saved me...but I don't know why you did."

"I guess I just felt like it."

He turned to walk away, but she stopped him, "Riku, please...Tell me more! About Sora and Kairi! Who is she?"

"Kairi?" This stopped him, his interest piqued.

"Yes, the one who looks so much like me," Xion replied. "I see her in my dreams. We talk to each other, and being with her feels so nostalgic and natural. I also have memories about her and Sora together. But...I'm nothing more than a puppet, something that somebody created. So why would I have...their memories? Do you know where Sora and Kairi are now?"

Riku's answer was immediate. "Both of those secrets stay with me."

She understood why he would say that. "Fair enough, but why do I have their memories? And how am I able to talk to Kairi inside her heart."

"Xion, Naminé told me everything." This piqued Xion's interest. Naminé knew? "To Sora, Kairi is someone very special. Your memories...they really belong to Sora."

"So you mean...I'm like a part of him?"

"That's what Naminé says," Riku replied. "When his memories were scattered, some of them found their way inside you. You hold what is most precious to Sora."

"His memories of Kairi..." Xion muttered.

"Yes," Riku said. "Now, Sora has been put to sleep so that Naminé can piece together his memory. Except..."

"She can't," Xion realized, "because part of it is inside of me. That means...he can't wake up."

"Yeah," Riku said, before pausing. The silence was heavy, and Xion knew that what he wanted to say was very important. "Your connection with Kairi is making her ill."

"Ill?" Xion surprised Riku by reacting with tears in her eyes, extreme worry and guilt immediately forming on her face. "Kairi's sick? Because of me?"

Riku was quick to explain, "I've visited her a few times, and every time I see, she always seems to get worse. According to the people looking after her, her fever is very high and she refuses to wake up. Her heart is very close to fading away, especially she's been ill for almost a year now. I wasn't sure of the cause until now, when I met you." He tried to comfort Xion by admitting, "My intent is not to guilt-trip you, Xion. I'm just giving you the answers you need."

Xion tearfully nodded. She was about to ask how he knew her name, but if Naminé told him, then that would explain it. So instead, she asked, "Why did Kairi connect with me in the first place?"

"The most accurate reason I can give you is because she feels lost without her memories. She remembers nothing, not her childhood, nor her time from the islands. I suppose her heart just wanted to seek comfort in someone who remembered her, someone familiar to her."

"Someone like Sora," Xion tearfully replied.

"Exactly, but since you're not Sora, it made her fall ill instead," Riku replied. "Listen, if you go with me to Sora right now, we could give the memories inside you back to him, which in turn will most likely save Kairi."

Xion was quiet. "Do you hate me for taking your friends away from you?"

"No," Riku answered. "I guess...I'm just sad, but I am grateful that you're keeping Kairi company. Sora and I both know she doesn't like being alone, and what she needs right now is someone to talk to. So, on both Sora and Kairi's behalf, thank you."

His answer surprised her, but she felt relieved that he didn't intend on hurting her, "Oh...you're welcome. I'm sorry, but...I can't go with you. It's my friends. They need me. And I need them, too. You said Naminé knows what's going on, so I'm going to try and talk to her."

Riku placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Maybe...you should take some time and think about it. Figure out who really needs you more, and where you belong, and then talk to Naminé."

"How will I know where I belong, truly?" Xion asked him. "I'm not sure I can promise you I'll come up with the right answer."

"Well, the answer you come up with can't just be right for you," Riku advised. "It has to be one that works best for everybody, you and your friends and everyone else."

"I'll try," she smiled at him, grateful for his help. He came to her at just the right time.

He turned around to leave.

"Riku?" He stopped. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Riku gently said. His back was to her, but she could tell he was smiling at her. "I just want to make sure Sora and Kairi are safe."

Back on her bed, she pulled out a seashell and looked at it.

"I have to make the most of the time he's given me," she said, before looking back at the moon.

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

~Halloween Town~

This Heartless was strong.

Roxas had arrived in Halloween Town, fully intent on completing this mission despite being exhausted to the point where everybody else noticed and Axel was clearly worried about him.

But the Orcus had jumped out at out of nowhere. He had no time to think about how it got so close to him without him noticing, because he summoned his Keyblade in order to defend himself.

But blow after blow after blow, he couldn't do any damage. The Heartless was unfazed, no matter what he did.

He pulled back in order to catch his breath. "It's...it's too powerful. I've gotta finish this now, before it wears me down any further. It's all or nothing..."

And he charged in again.

But he was stopped by a flash and sound of flames, and all of a sudden, Axel was in front of him, blocking his attack, and on Axel's other side was Xion, in the same position as Roxas.

"STOP, both of you!" Axel told both of them.

"Xion?!" Roxas asked.

"Heal!" Naminé cried out, casting Curaga (all her spells had recently upgraded to the third tier), and Roxas felt the green glow that surrounded him heal his injuries.

"Naminé..." he muttered, and he let himself collapse in the blonde girl's arms. Naminé caught him, just as he knew she would, as his Keyblade fell to the ground with a clang, before both it and Rainfell vanished in a flash.

"Roxas?" Xion stuttered, de-summoning her Keyblade as well. "Wh...what are you doing here? W-Was the Heartless I was fighting...actually you?"

"This mission was a setup," Axel revealed.

"What?" Roxas asked, before turning to Naminé, who nodded.

"It was rigged so you two would battle each other," Axel explained, his vagueness gone for once. "They determined the loser would be the weaker one, so they set this up to get rid of them."

Naminé hugged Roxas tighter, knowing that the loser probably would've Roxas. She was watching the entire thing.

"Me and Xion?" Roxas asked. "But..."

"They would do that?" Xion asked, but she got no answer.

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

~Twilight Town~

The four were eating ice cream on the clock tower much later, just like it should have always been.

Xion winced after taking a bite of her ice cream, "Brain freeze, ha ha."

"It's been a while since we all hung out like this, huh?" Roxas asked.

"Yeah, it's nice," Naminé agreed.

"Well, we have had our share of drama," Axel told them. "Hey, I just remembered. Did you guys know you should be checking your ice cream sticks?"

"Really?" Xion's interest was piqued.

"For what?" Naminé asked.

"Once you finish your ice cream bar, check the stick," Axel explained. "It might say WINNER."

"Hey, wait a second..." Roxas exclaimed. "Oh yeah!"

"'Oh yeah', what?" Axel asked him.

Suddenly flustered, Roxas shook his head, "Uhh...n-nothing. So what do you win?"

"Heh, beats me."

"Ha ha, you don't know?" Naminé asked.

"It's gotta be something good, if you're a WINNER!" Axel replied.

"Right," Roxas replied.

Xion giggled, before saying, "Wow. The sun sure is beautiful. I know we've seen a lot of sunsets, but today's puts them all to shame."

"Yeah..." Naminé muttered. "If only things stayed like this..."

Axel said nothing.

"What if we all ran off?" Roxas suddenly suggested.

"What?" Naminé asked.

"The four of us," Roxas said. "Then we could always be together."

"We don't have any place to run," Xion said.

Axel stayed silent.

"I know," Roxas replied. "I was just thinking out loud."

"Well, even if things change," Axel said, "we'll never be apart—"

"—as long as we remember each other, right?" Naminé said.

"Don't worry, Axel," Xion said. "We got your hokey speech memorized."

"Good," Axel replied. "Just checking."

"I'll have these moments memorized for a long time," Xion said, the four of them looking back at the sunset. "Forever, I hope."

"Me too," Roxas replied. "Forever..."

That sunset was engrained in all four hearts forever.

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

~The Castle That Never Was~

Naminé was about to go to bed (she was sitting on it) when she got a knock on her door. "Come in," she said.

Her door opened and Xion walked in. "Naminé? I need to talk to you." The door closed, both girls inside.

"Of course," Naminé nodded.

"Riku told me that you know what I am," Xion said, sitting next to the blonde on her bed. "And that you knew what I should do."

Naminé nodded, "I'm the one who told him. You are a replica made from Sora's memories of Kairi, and a mirror that reflects Roxas. You get stronger as he gets weaker. That just proves it."

"Naminé, are you able...to see my face?" Xion asked.

"Yes," Naminé nodded. "At first, I only saw a faceless puppet, like Saïx does, but when I came back from Castle Oblivion...you had a face, one that was similar to Kairi's, but still a face to call your own. But lately, you've been turning into Sora on occassion. And that's not good."

"It's not?" Xion's face fell.

"It means that Sora's memories are becoming your memories," Naminé explained. "Once you completely become Sora to me, that means it's too late, for you and for Sora. By that point, you will not survive and Sora will never wake up the same again, if he does wake up at all, because his memories of Kairi will be lost forever."

And Kairi would die too, Xion mentally added. "Good thing I've already made my choice then," Xion muttered.

"Your choice?"

Xion nodded, before looking at the drawing Naminé had her sketchbook open to. It was a drawing of all four of them. "At first, I just wanted to be with you and Roxas and Axel forever. But then I started to realize that my memories...well, they aren't really even mine, are they?"

"You're not Sora," Naminé told her. "And you're not Roxas. You're Kairi as Sora remembers her."

"Right..." Xion continued. "As I remember more of my past, the more I feel the need to go back where I came from. What should I do...to go back?"

"That's your choice?" Naminé asked her. "You're going back to Sora?"

Xion smiled and nodded. "That's why I'm leaving the Organization. Tomorrow. This has gone on long enough."

Naminé looked down at her lap. "Xion...I'm leaving too."

"What? Why?" Xion asked her.

"I made a mistake by rewriting Sora's memories in the first place," she admitted. "I promised him I would restore them for him, and I've done all I can by myself. But in order to finish, I have to leave. Besides..." Xion noted the exhausted expression her friend had, as Naminé remembered Xemnas' threat, "Xemnas is tightening his grip on me. I can barely go anywhere now, and thanks to Kairi, I know now that he's just as bad as Marluxia and Larxene. Maybe even worse."

"You know Kairi?" Xion asked.

Naminé looked back at Xion and nodded. "I'm her Nobody. And she's experienced that same type of imprisonment as I have, probably even worse than mine. I think it's a good thing she doesn't remember her childhood."

Xion was sad, but she wrapped Naminé up in a hug, and the blonde immediately hugged her back.

"Tomorrow, Naminé," Xion whispered in her ear.

"Go to Destiny Islands," Naminé whispered. "Riku will meet us there." She would call out to him in her heart. He had responded to her once, so she had no doubt he would do so again, especially if she told him hers and Xion's choice.

"What about you?" Xion asked, breaking the hug. "You can't summon Corridors like I can."

Because Naminé didn't belong to the darkness. "I can't, but I've learned from somebody that I can create portals with my Keyblade."

It was the day she learned Aqua's name. She had decided to explore Aqua further after realizing Aqua was the true wielder of Rainfell, and she had learned that Aqua could open portals and unintentionally also taught Naminé how to as well.

"I'll be fine, Xion. I promise," Naminé whispered.

Xion nodded, before the two girls resumed their hug. They both somehow knew it could've been their last hug.

Because they both knew that leaving the Organization was do or die...

Roxas' Diary: Day 352: Us and the Sunset

Me, Naminé, Xion, and Axel had ice cream. The sunset was beautiful.

I don't have to write anything else down, because I'll never forget this day.

Secret Reports: Day 352: What I Must Do

Author: Xion

Riku gave me this time. Axel told me to spend it thinking for myself. The Organization is determined to erase either me or Roxas. They'll never allow us to coexist. I love Roxas, Naminé, and Axel. I'm sure Saïx would scoff at that. Call it a trick of my artificial memories. But the time I spent on that clock tower was real.

I wish the four of us could stay together, just like this, forever.

But I have to end this. I'll never forget today's sunset. Even if Roxas, Axel, and Naminé do, I won't forget.

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

==Day 353: Resolve==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Naminé wasn't given a mission today, and Xion leaving with Axel and Xigbar this morning didn't bode well for him. He was getting a bad feeling about today.

Roxas walked into The Grey Area to see Saïx speaking with Axel and Xigbar, and what they were talking about intrigued him.

"Explain yourself, Axel," Saïx was saying.

"The old man needs to get his eye checked," Axel excused. "She just got away."

"I'll give him that," Xigbar replied. "Can't toss the blame around."

Saïx saw Roxas walk in, "And now we're left with the one we can't use..."

"Did something happen?" Roxas asked.

Saïx left without a word, as Axel turned around and looked away.

"Where's Xion?" Roxas asked.

"She flew the coop, and Saïx just told us that Naminé did too. Left when no one was watching her," Xigbar explained. "Flamesilocks here couldn't trouble himself to clip their wings."

Axel said nothing.

"Huh?" Roxas asked. "What does he mean, Axel?"

Xigbar continued, "Your friend sat there sucking his thumb while Xion walked right off and gave us no hints that Naminé planned to leave...I'm going back to my room."

Xigbar left, and Roxas took this chance to drill Axel. "What happened out there?"

"Nothing, really." There were those vague answers again.

"'Nothing'?" Roxas was mad. "Xion and Naminé are both gone! How can that be nothing?"

"It's just like Xigbar said," Axel replied. "I just sat there sucking my thumb watching Xion run away."

Roxas ran up and stopped in front of Axel. "I'm asking you why you did that, and you know it!"

Axel crossed his arms, "Xion is like a mirror that reflects you."

"You're not making any sense," Roxas shook his head.

"Xion is a puppet," Axel explained, "created to duplicate your powers."

"Are you nuts?" Roxas asked. "Xion's a person, not a puppet."

"She's a mirror that reflects you," Axel shot back. "And when I looked in the mirror...It wasn't you I saw. Naminé figured out the truth a long time ago, and that's why she left."

"Xion is Xion," Roxas protested. "You can't expect her to be me. Naminé knows that too!"

"That's not what I mean," Axel sighed. "It was only a matter of time before someone broke the mirror."

Roxas started, "You mean...they have to destroy her?!"

Axel looked down. He knew that a future with all four of them together was impossible.

"Answer me!" Roxas cried.

"Roxas, if somebody doesn't...then you won't be you anymore," Axel told him.

"I'll always be me!" Roxas said. "I'm still your best friend, just Xion and Naminé are my best friends too!"

"That's not it," Axel shook his head. "You're missing the whole point, Roxas."

"Forget this." With that, Roxas ran away.

"Roxas!" Axel called out to him, but it was too late. "I wish you'd understand, Roxas..."

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

~Destiny Islands~

Xion stepped out of the Corridor next to the paopu tree to see Naminé and Riku waiting for her.

"Riku..." Naminé was right. Riku did meet them here.

"Naminé told me you found the answer," Riku said. "Did you?"

"Yes," Xion replied. "I certainly did. I'm on the verge of losing everything I care about. So please...Please, Riku, tell me what I should do now."

Riku answered with, "Both of you, go to Twilight Town. You'll find a man at the Old Mansion there named DiZ. Just introduce yourself to him, Naminé, and tell him that you're there to fix the rest of Sora's memories. He'll take it from there."

Naminé nodded. "Alright."

"Thanks, Riku," Xion said. "Goodbye."

Xion summoned another Corridor and Riku watched the two girls leave through it.

Roxas' Diary: Day 353: Broken Trust

Axel let Xion and Naminé both leave the Organization. Like he wanted them to go.

She's a puppet? A mirror that reflects me? He's talking nonsense. I can't trust him anymore.

Secret Reports: Day 353: A Future That Never Was

Author: Axel

I couldn't tell Xion she was wrong, and I can't bring myself to end her. But it's either that, or I have to erase Roxas, just as Naminé said. There's no future where the four of us can sit around and eat ice cream. Naminé understands that, which is why she left, but I know that Roxas never will. I don't want to acknowledge it myself.

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

==Day 354: Truth==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Xemnas had assembled the remaining Organization members in the Round Room.

"Xion has disappeared yet again."

"Do we know where she has headed?" Xaldin asked.

"'It', not 'she'," Xemnas corrected, "is a replica, merely a puppet."

"A puppet?" Luxord asked. "What does that mean exactly?"

"A puppet is a puppet," Saïx answered.

"Talking about the Replica Program, isn't it obvious?" Xigbar said.

"The what-ca?" Demyx asked.

"Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about this pet project of yours," Xaldin suggested.

Xemnas explained, "The purpose was to take a piece of the Keyblade wielder's memory and copy it, thus making his powers our own. This was one of several projects of ours being undertaken at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by Vexen's untimely demise. Needless to say, losing Vexen was not part of our plans. We were also caught off guard when this particular replica we called Xion formed an identity of its own."

"No one at Castle Oblivion ever reported any instance where a replica formed it's own identity," Saïx added. "Do you concur, Axel?"

Axel remained silent.

"Whatever the puppet may decide to do," Xemnas continued, "we can be certain it will no longer have an impact on our plans. Still, it knows our secrets. The most troubling matter is the sudden disappearance of Naminé. We need to shorten the leash. Perhaps even tighten it more."

This one really got to Roxas, "What exactly do you—?!"

Xemnas cut him off, "Axel. The onus is on you to capture and bring back both Xion and Naminé. The puppet's escape was on your watch, and you were the one assigned to keep a close watch on our prisoner, and yet you did not report any clues that she would run."

Naminé was...their prisoner?! Roxas couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Xemnas continued, "Try to avoid harming Naminé, but I will overlook any nicks or scratches concerning Xion. Just ensure she still functions on arrival."

"Why would you allow a deserter back?" Xaldin asked. "We should simply eradicate them!"

"Neither is a 'deserter'," Saïx cut in. "One is just a flawed specimen that has wandered and the other is just one of our crucial pawns."

"Are we clear, Axel? Dismissed," Xemnas ordered before vacating his chair via a Corridor.

"Bring them back alive? It's sheer madness," Xaldin said before leaving as well.

"All this time, I've been talking to a puppet..." Demyx left too.

"So now, we just sweep it all up, huh? As if," Xigbar muttered, before leaving.

"If only the whispers at the top carried to the bottom...heh," Luxord rambled before leaving.

"Axel," Saïx said. Axel looked up. "Those orders were absolute."

Axel snickered and left.

"Still here, Roxas?" Saïx turned to the boy. "Proceed with your mission."

"Xion is not a puppet," Roxas replied, before his fists clenched tighter, "and Naminé...is not our prisoner!"

"Neither a puppet nor a prisoner could ever be part of the Organization," Saïx's response chilled Roxas to the bone. "Just count the seats here. We have and always will be thirteen."

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

I'm sorry, Roxas, for breaking our promise. But this is something I have to do.

Roxas tightly clutched Naminé's note in his hand, as her written words replayed over and over in his head. It was left on his bed, next to his pillow, yesterday, and he's kept it in his pocket ever since.

He walked up to Axel in The Grey Area just as the redhead opened a Corridor.

"Axel!" His first friend turned to him. "I think it's best if Xion and Naminé never come back to the Organization," Roxas, with a heavy heart, said. "Do you really have to do what Xemnas says?"

"If I don't, they'll eradicate me next," Axel replied.

Roxas gasped. "In that case...can you at least try not to harm them?"

"Naminé? I'm not allowed to," Axel said, and Roxas felt a little better. "But Xion? That's up to her. Roxas...Xion is dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Have you got all your strength back?" Axel asked.

"Not yet..." Roxas muttered, and Axel looked away. "How long have you known about them? Could it be...that you've known about both of them for a long time, and not told me anything?"

Axel remained silent as he entered the Corridor without another word.

Roxas' Diary: Day 354: Who Am I?

I don't understand the Organization. I don't understand Axel... I understand myself least of all. Why do I keep coming back to the castle?

Me and Xion are special, connected by "Sora". If she's a puppet, maybe I am, too. Or am I a prisoner, like Naminé?

I don't know what I am.

Secret Reports: Day 354: Where I Belong

Author: Xion

I wanted to see Roxas one more time, but couldn't. What would I say? Did I ever really exist? Even if not, I just hope that those times we spent watching the sun set were real. But I know Naminé will help me get back where I belong.

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

==Day 355: Unsaid, Unheard==

~The Castle That Never Was~

Roxas laid awake in his room, reading the note from Naminé one more time before putting it back in his pocket.

'Xion...' he thought. 'Replica Program... Xion was a puppet made to replicate my powers—the Keyblade's powers...When Xion and Naminé left the Organization, Axel didn't stop either of them. Like he wanted them to go. Axel's probably known about Xion and Naminé for some time now, but has kept it from me. Xion, Naminé, and I are all special Nobodies. Naminé is actually our prisoner. Xion was a replica. A puppet. What about me? Am I a puppet, too? Xemnas said...Sora was what connects Xion and me. But who is Sora? And who am I...supposed to be?'

He sat up. "Axel..." he muttered. "If he's hiding things from me about Xion and Naminé, what could he be hiding about me?"

He got off his bed and walked out of his room. He needed answers from his best friend.

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

Roxas found Axel in The Grey Area and he walked up to him, "Axel."

"Hey, Roxas."

The two stood still for a moment. "Did you find Xion or Naminé yet?"

"You know it isn't gonna be that easy," Axel replied.

"I suppose not..." Roxas muttered. "Have you known...about Xion and Naminé this whole time?"

"No, not the whole time," Axel answered.

"Since when then?" Roxas asked.

"Naminé? The same time as you," Axel explained. "Apparently, Naminé being given a rank and treated as one of us was part of Xemnas' strategy to keep her under his thumb."

"Right. And Xion?"

"Xion? Uhhh...I can't exactly remember when that was," Axel replied.

"Didn't get it memorized, huh?" Roxas tried to force a smile but failed. He sighed, "Axel...who am I, really?" Axel said nothing. "I'm special, like Xion, but from a completely different reason than Naminé. I know that. But the Organization wanted me out of the picture. Am I right?"

"Yeah...They did." Axel mentally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that Roxas was trying to process this information.

"I guess it's 'cause Xion copied my powers, and the Keyblade's powers," Roxas continued, "and they didn't need me anymore. And Axel, I guess you felt the same way."

"You're wrong there," Axel immediately replied. "You'll always be...my best friend."

"Best friends are supposed to be honest with each other!" Roxas shot back. "Who am I, Axel? Xemnas says me and Xion are connection to each other through Sora. I don't even know a Sora! Am I a puppet like Xion? Or a prisoner like Naminé? Who?"

"You're different, Roxas, from both of them," Axel said.

"Then why d—!"

Axel cut him off, "Finding out the truth doesn't always work out for the best."

"For others or for you?" Roxas shot back, and his words immediately hit Axel hard. "What makes you so sure about that?! I have the right the to know the truth! How did I even get here? Why am I so special? Where did I learn how to use the Keyblade? I hardly know I am! What is so wrong with wanting some answers?!"

"Roxas..." Axel muttered.

"I need to know, Axel," Roxas repeated, his voice quieter now. "Please...who am I?"

"You've just gotta trust me, Roxas," Axel held out his hand for Roxas to take.

But Roxas took a step back, and Axel's smile fell. "I don't. I can't."

Axel watched him turn around and walk away. "Roxas..."

"Somebody knows where I came from," Roxas replied, still walking away. "If I can't get answers here, I'll get them somewhere else." He stopped. "That'll be the person...I trust."

He paused for a moment before continuing to leave.

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

Roxas took one last look at his bedroom, as he folded Naminé's first sketch, the one she gave him, and place it in his pocket. He then picked up the WINNER stick.

"I tried..." he whispered. "But I jave to find out about myself. There's no reason for me to be here...anymore."

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

Roxas had run into Saïx on the way out of the Castle, who told him that the Organization wasn't accepting letters of resignation. Roxas had just summoned his Keyblade and charged at him.

But due to his weakening strength, Saïx had easily defeated him. Now, the man had Roxas by his collar, holding him inches above the ground.

"So...you want to leave the Organization? What will you do after that?" Saïx asked him before throwing him against a wall. "Apart from the Organization, there is no other place that will tolerate you!"

Roxas cried out as his back hit the wall behind him.

"Think carefully," Saïx continued, his claymore in hand. "Who gave you a reason for existance? You were closer to nothing without memories or a heart...we—the Organization provided everything for you."

Roxas gritted his teeth in anger, before slowly getting to his feet. "So what id I don't have...memories or a heart...? These are my feelings and I will accept them!"

"How long will you continue to allow yourself be blinded by your memories?" Saïx calmly asked. "We can feel nothing...That alone is the absolute truth."

Roxas charged forward, "Nobody else decides what I feel! My feelings are my own!"

Roxas jumped up and swung his Kingdom Key down, only to be met with Saïx's claymore. "Ignorant. The puppet and the prisoner have both already left your side, so why do you persist?!"

"Because we made a promise!" Roxas cried back. "We will go to the beach! I will get Xion back! And I will protect Naminé from the likes of you!"

Suddenly his Keyblade flashed and turned into a red-colored Keyblade, made of a red luminescent stone that looked like fire, with a sun-like keychain.

Saïx could only watch in surprise as Roxas' new Keyblade gave him the necessary power to overcome his exhaustion, as Roxas broke his claymore in half, as Roxas injured his shoulder.

Saïx fell to his knees, gasping for air, "In...Inconceivable...how is this possible...?"

Roxas took a good look at his new Keyblade. Deep inside him, he knew that it was called Solarflare.

"You'll regret this...!" Saïx growled at him. "All you can do is follow that puppet and the prisoner...and wind up unwanted in oblivion...!"

Roxas walked past him unfazed, "That's fine. At least, your plans will be ruined."

Saïx didn't chase after him.

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

~Dark City~

Roxas walked through the neon-lit streets of the city on the borders of the Castle and the World itself, holding Solarflare in his hand.

He passed Axel, who was leaning against a building, when he heard Axel say, "Your mind's made up?"

Roxas stopped. "Why did the Keyblade choose me? I have to know."

"You can't turn on the Organization!" Axel shot back. "You get on their bad side, and they'll destroy you!"

"No one would miss me," was Roxas' reply before he walked away.

He didn't hear Axel say, "That's not true. I would."

Roxas' Diary: Day 355: I Am

I have to know who I am...

I am DONE WITH THIS

Secret Reports: Day 355: Mind

Author: Xigbar

The gears of Xemnas' plans have begun to spin wild since the loss of half our membership at Castle Oblivion. The results are there, but can this state of affairs fairly be called a success? If Kingdom Hearts can be said to possess a mind of its own, it is surely rejecting Xemnas—no, rejecting Xehanort. Roxas left the Organization today.

Xehanort needs a Princess of Heart to open Kingdom Hearts. Naminé is still a viable candidate, but with her disappearance, her Somebody is one now as well.

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

==Day 356: Place to Belong==

~Twilight Town~

Like Riku had said he would, DiZ did indeed let them into The Old Mansion after Naminé introduced herself and explained why she was here.

He had led the two girls to a room in the Mansion. In the room was a long white table, with a chair on both sides. She, Xion, and DiZ were in the room.

By this time, Naminé had shed her black cloak, and put on her white sundress.

She sat down in one of the chairs, her sketchbook in front of her, before turning to Xion, "Are you sure about this?"

Xion nodded.

"If you return your memories to Sora," Naminé revealed, "then you will disappear, Xion. In exchange for not having your own memory, you're connected through other's memories. So when you disappear, no one will remember you. There won't be any 'you' to remember. For all the powers I possess, I can't keep even one piece of the memory called 'you' connected."

DiZ watched Naminé tear up. Were his eyes deceiving him? According to the records and his notes, Nobodies had no hearts to cry with.

"I know," Xion replied, and for a moment, DiZ admired her courage, before he remembered she was just a puppet (she was probably programed to feel emotions). "I'm ready, Naminé. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here. I also know that Roxas should be going back with me. But...I don't think he would understand. Not yet."

"I know," Naminé's eyes lowered with sorrow. "Roxas can't feel Sora just yet..."

"Naminé," Xion paused, "will you please watch over Roxas once I'm gone? You won't be alone. I asked someone else, too. There just isn't anything else I can do."

Naminé nodded, "Alright."

"Thank you..." Xion said.

"Well, if you're ready," Naminé wiped her tears away before picking up her pencil, "let's begin."

Riku suddenly entered the room by way of the Dark Corridor. "The Organization has found us! They're almost here!"

"This blasted puppet led them right to our doorstep!" came DiZ's outburst. "See what you get for trusting it?"

Xion was unfazed. "I can handle this!" Riku, DiZ, and Naminé all watched her run out of the room.

Naminé stood up, "Wait! Xion..."

DiZ left the room via a Corridor, presumably to observe the action and watch carefully in case any Nobody tried to enter the gate.

Riku turned to a tearful Naminé. "You okay?" he asked.

Naminé sniffed, "I promise I will restore Sora's memories, even though I must sacrifice two of my best friends to do so. They'll both go back to Sora eventually, but without my guidance, Sora will wake up never being the same again. This is something I have to do."

Riku placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Nothing can be done to save Xion. You're already doing your best to ensure that she goes peacefully." Naminé tearfully nodded, unable to deny the truth in that. Everybody forgetting her as she peacefully returned to Sora was the best outcome for Xion. "But you and Roxas can still be together."

Naminé immediately turned to him. "Really?"

"Once they reunite, Sora and Kairi will see each other every day," Riku explained. "And you two will not fade into darkness. You two will be whole again."

Naminé smiled.

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

Outside the Mansion, next to the gate, Xion searched around for the intruder. Axel entered the scene through a Corridor.

"Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?" Axel asked.

"Axel..."

"Xion...what are you gonna go?" Axel asked.

"Naminé's not here," Xion immediately said. "I made this decision on my own. I've decided that I have to go back to where I belond."

"Well, to be honest, I always felt that was best, right from the very beginning. But you know, it still really bugs me. Something about this just stinks." He clenched his fist in anger.

"It's for the good of everyone," Xion quietly told him.

"But how do you know that?" Axel immediately asked. "Everybody thinks they're right..."

"This is right."

"They're gonna destroy you!" Axel shot back.

He gasped as she summoned her Keyblade, "Please don't hold back, Axel. Promise."

Axel was struggling hard. "What's your problem? You three...think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm sick of it!" He summoned his chakrams, and held one out to her. "Go on, you just keep running. But I'll always be there to bring you back!"

Then, the heavy battle began.

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

~The Castle That Never Was~

Axel carried Xion back to the Castle on his last legs. "Why you gotta cause me so much trouble?" he asked her unconscious form as they reached Nothing's Call.

He struggled to walk before falling to his knees, dropping Xion. They both laid there, out cold and unmoving.

In that moment, Xemnas arrived and picked up Xion as one would hold a cloth puppet.

Roxas' Diary: Day 356

N/A

Secret Reports: Day 356: Unforeseen Events

Author: Saïx

Our plans never accounted for the possibility of Xion, Naminé, and Roxas all leaving. How did this come to pass? When did Roxas grow strong enough to outmuscle me? What were you really after, Lea? We joined the Organization at the same time, and formulated our plan. At this point, it's just an idle fantasy. Everything changed. You, and me.

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

==Day 357: Tears==

~Twilight Town~

It was a long and painful battle, and Roxas had fought back in self-defense. Now his opponent was defeated.

His opponent fell to her knees, the darkness wrapped around her dissipating. Roxas held his head while walking toward her.

"Who are you...again?" Roxas asked. "It's weird. I feel like I'm fogetting something really important."

"You'll be...better off now...Roxas," she said.

She fell over, and Roxas caught her in his arms. She began to splinter, small shards of memory floating out of her body.

"Am I...the one who did this to you?" Roxas asked her.

"No..." she told him. "It was my choice...to go away now. Better than...than to do nothing...and let Xemnas have his way...now Naminé will be safe. I belong with Sora. And now I am going back...to be with him. Roxas..." She placed her hand on his. "I need you...to do me a favor. All those hearts that I've captured...Kingdom Hearts...Set them free."

"Kingdom Hearts," Roxas said. "Free them?"

Her legs started to become crystalline. Roxas gasped.

"It's too late..." the girl continued, "for me to undo my mistakes. But you can't let Xemnas...have Kingdom Hearts. You can't let him take Naminé. You can't. Goodbye, Roxas. See you again. I'm glad...I got to meet you...and Naminé...and of course, Axel, too. You're all my best friends." She placed a hand on Roxas' cheek. "Never forget. That's a truth."

Roxas continued to hold as her eyes closed. She dropped her hand, but he caught it, scattering more memories.

"No!" He pleaded. "Xion...Who else will I have ice cream with?"

The crystal enveloped her entire body. She was bathed in warm light until all that remained was a seashell. Roxas picked it up, remembering her smiling face as they sat on the clock tower together.

"Xion..." he said, one last time, as tears fell from his eyes.

Back at the Mansion, Naminé tightly clutched her sketchbook, the one filled with memories of Xion, open to a sketch of only Xion, as tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Xion..." she whispered, as her tears dropped onto the sketchbook, staining the page.

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

~Hollow Bastion~

Kairi stirred in her sleep, restless, but to Aerith, this was good news. This was the furthest she had moved in months.

"Xion!" Kairi cried out, still trapped in her heartscape, as the black-haired girl visited her one last time, quickly fading away in crystal. "Xion! What's happening?"

"It's time for me to go," Xion told the redhead. "I know who you are, Kairi, and who you were really looking for me. But I am not that person. I may be a part of him, but I am not Sora. I am a replica created to steal his powers, a puppet, an anomaly whose very existance is threatening yours."

"What?!" Kairi cried out. "You're not a replica, a puppet, or an anomaly! You are my friend, Xion! You have a heart that is all your own!"

"I'm sorry, Kairi," Xion smiled. "This is the best outcome for everybody. Thank you for the good memories. I only wish we could've met under better circumstances."

"And we will," Kairi promised. "One day."

Xion only smiled as she completely faded away in crystal.

Kairi's violet eyes snapped open and she immediately sat up.

"Kairi?" she heard a familiar voice.

She turned to the owner of the voice, "Aerith? Where am I?"

"You're in Hollow Bastion, in Merlin's house," Aerith replied. "Remember?"

Kairi nodded as the door to her room open, and in stepped Leon, Cloud, Tifa, CId, and Yuffie.

"What's going on?" Yuffie asked.

"Kairi's awake," Aerith explained, before turning back to Kairi and placing a hand on her forehead. "Amazing, when you were still asleep not five minutes ago, your tempature was incredibly high, Kairi. Now, you're back to normal."

"You were sick," Leon explained to the girl. "You were in a coma for almost a year."

Kairi nodded again, feeling her longer hair against her neck. "I dreamt that I made a new friend," Kairi quietly explained. "But I can't remember their name...or their face?"

"Why don't we all get dinner?" Cid asked. "That'll bring you back to fighting form."

Kairi nodded, before letting Aerith and Tifa help her out of bed and onto her feet.

Roxas' Diary: Day 357: Four Again?

I'm going to set Kingdom Hearts free and find my way to Sora. I'm going to get Xion and Naminé back. The four of us will have ice cream together again—I know it.

Secret Reports: Day 357: To My Best Friend

Author: Axel

Roxas left. It's so like him to just leave that WINNER ice cream stick behind. Come tomorrow, I'll probably get the order to hunt him down, but leaving that here makes it feel so permanent. I wish the four of us—four? No. That the three of us could share some ice cream again someday. That's what it is to be friends.

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

==Day 358: Believe==

~Dark City~

Roxas kept his hood up as he walked through the neon-lit streets. His destination: The Castle That Never Was. As he entered Memory's Skyscraper, it began to rain.

Neoshadows emerged from the grown where he walked. The neon lights of the city buzzed in his ears, the rain sizzling off their hot cores.

Roxas produced the Solarflare and the Lunaraqua Keyblades, spun them, and struck them together, challenging the Heartless to attack.

They did, and the Neoshadows fell to the deadly blades. But when one went down, two more seemed to sprout up.

Roxas stood at the base of the skyscraper and looked up.

There, at the top, stood Riku, over the large flickering video screen. Roxas jumped to the side of the building and ran up the length of it, striking down any Neoshadow as they followed him upward relentlessly. He then tossed Lunaraqua upward as Riku dove down to catch it.

As he did, he gasped from the flood of memories of Xion poured into his mind. Flashes of a wounded Xion on a bridge, and in his arms on an island.

Roxas and Riku passed each other over the large video screen.

Roxas reached the top of the skyscraper and looked down at the ground. More Heartless emerged around Riku, who clutched his head, as if it hurt. A Neoshadow lunged for him, but he struck it up. Roxas jumped from the top of the building and two attacked the rest of the Heartless without a sound.

The darkness was dispelled and Riku's memories of Xion flickered.

The two fighters turned towards each other and immediately jumped back.

"Who are you?" Roxas asked.

"What does it matter?" Riku replied. "I'm here for you."

"Why are you trying to stop me?" Roxas asked.

"Because I want back the rest of Sora's memories."

"Sora?!" Roxas cried out in anger and frustration. "Enough about Sora!"

"Do you have some kind of plan?" Riku asked him.

"I'll set Kingdom Hearts free!" Roxas shot back. "Then everything will be the way it was! She'll come back and Naminé will be safe...and the four of us can be together again!"

"'She'?" Riku asked. "You mean Xion? It's a struggle just to remember the name now...Either way, I can't let you go doing anything crazy."

"I'm freeing Kingdom Hearts and I'm going to find Sora!" Roxas vowed. "I want Xion back. I want my life back!"

"If you try and make contact with Kingdom Hearts," Riku warned, "the last thing you'll get is your life back. The Organization will destroy you."

"Enough!" Roxas yelled, before charging at Riku.

After a short, yet powerful and emotional fight, Roxas stood over Riku, who was sitting on the ground.

"Why?!" Riku asked. "Why do you have the Keyblade?"

Roxas looked at Solarflare in his hand, but shook it off, "Shut up!"

He attacked Riku, but Riku knocked him away, the Keyblade tossed from Roxas' hand. Riku walked up to him, whose head filled was memories of him, Naminé, Axel and Xion having ice cream.

Riku slammed Lunaraqua into the ground, and stood there for a moment. Then, he gasped as Roxas struggled to get up, using Lunaraqua for support.

Roxas finally stood on his feet and pulled the blue luminescent-stoned (that looked like water) Keyblade from the ground, before running at Riku, who shot a Dark Firaga spell at him. Roxas blasted through the spell and lunged at Riku, who jumped away.

"Why don't you quit?" Roxas asked, his hood now down.

"Come on, Sora," Riku said. "I thought you were stronger than that."

Without thinking, Roxas replied, "Huh? Get real! Look which one of us is winning."

But then he caught himself. Surprised at his outburst, he held a hand up to his mouth.

"So it's true," Riku muttered, more to himself than to Roxas. "You really are his Nobody. Guess DiZ was right after all."

"What are you talking about?" Roxas demanded. "I am me! Nobody else!"

Roxas summoned both of his Keyblades and ran to strike him again. Riku dodged the first attack, and failed to block the second one and got hit in the arm.

He then heard a voice, Xion's voice, call to him in his heart, "Riku, please! You have to stop him!"

"How many times do I have to beat you?" Roxas angrily asked, as Riku struggled to stand, holding his arm weakly.

"Alright," Riku quietly said. "You've left me with no other choice."

"What?"

"I have to release the power in my heart," Riku said, standing and taking off his blindfold, letting it fall to the ground, "the dark power that I've been holding back. Even...if it changes me forever." No turning back now.

Sora, Kairi, this is for you...

He let out a scream as pillars of dark energy surrounded him. Roxas readied his Keyblades once again. The energy cleared to reveal the body of a white-haired man and his Guardian counterpart, hovering in the air.

Riku teleported in front of Roxas and the Guardian grabbed him by the torso and arms, forcing him to drop his Keyblades in his anguish. They clattered to the ground and vanished.

"I have accepted it," Riku said.

Roxas felt him quickly faded. He had to do something, but there was nobody he could count on. He didn't trust Axel, Xion was gone, and Naminé was still missing.

So he called out to someone else.

KAIRI!

And he immediately felt the warmth of her welcoming embrace.

Roxas' Diary: Day 358

N/A

Secret Reports: Day 358: Goals

Author: Xemnas

With luck, we can bring Roxas back into our fold, but even if Sora should awaken, as the hero of the Keyblade, he is bound to keep unlocking hearts. If he should come to target us, we need simply subdue him and use his powers ourselves once more. I must become one with Kingdom Hearts. I will become a higher existence. All of my true ambitions begin there.

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

==Day 359: The First Day==

~Twilight Town~

Roxas awoke in his bedroom in Twilight Town. He sat up, muttering, "Another dream about him..."

He heard the clock tower bells chime. He opened the window to watch the enternal sunset, before getting dressed and running out the door and through the streets.

"Maybe...today we'll finally hit the beach!" He said to himself, as he ran to the usual spot, where Kairi was waiting for him.

"Only seven days to go, and then my summer vacation's over."

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: So, Naminé chooses to restore Sora and sacrifice her friends Roxas and Xion in the process (even if there are a couple of good reasons for her to do so), and her feelings of guilt and remorse will be addressed and further explored in the (Re)Coded segment. Now, Xion's gone and Kairi's awake.

Naminé preserving Xion's memories in her sketchbook will be important later, around Dream Drop Distance, so please be patient.

Roxas and Naminé were both born when Sora turned himself into a heartless to save Kairi. So when I said that "Kairi is the reason Roxas and Naminé exist at all", I'm mainly referring to Sora's motive there, if anyone wasn't clear on that.

That chat between Naminé and Xion before they leave the Organization together was my favorite scene to write in this chapter. I'm really proud of how it turned out.

Roxas's "that'll be the person I trust" line is one of my favorites in the entire series (and that scene is also one of Jesse McCartney's best performances, in my opinion), and I got to keep in it, because it still holds some weight here. So, I'm happy with how I wrote Days overall (the one I'm most nervous about is Coded).

Xigbar's Secret Report on the day Roxas leaves the Organization is meant to give you a hint as to Xemnas' reasons for targetting Kairi now, just FYI.

I hope you guys don't mind my characterization of DiZ. It's unclear to me when exactly in KH2 that he changes his mind about his treatment of Roxas and Naminé, from 'they're just nobodies, they don't have hearts' to 'oh no, I just ruined two more lives' and then in KH3, he's fully intent on saving them to atone for his mistakes. So here, I've decided to drop in clear hints that he's changing his mind and what exactly happens that secures him that atoner role.

The scene where Roxas gains Solarflare (symbolic of both the sun and the light; Axel and Naminé) is based on the manga, and if it wasn't clear, Roxas gains Lunaraqua (symbolic of both the moon and the darkness; Saïx and Xion) after defeating Xion. And if you're confused about the luminescent stone, think Axel's Flame Liberator and the blue handle of Destiny's Embrace.

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 KH2 Prologue, and the focus is turned back to Kairi as she tries to help Roxas avoid his fate.