Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts/ Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Resemblance to any other fanfic is purely coincidental. So no one try to sue me or anything of the sort!

Day 12

I was confused. During battles things were always clearer. I was almost able to feel each move that was made with all my body, have the power coursing through my veins. It was like I had another sense that was awake when I fought. It felt that I knew everything.

But when I clashed with Sora again, he and I stumbled upon a very strange thing. Remember the good luck charm that I got from Naminé when I made her the promise? Sora had the exact same one! Not to mention that he knew every detail of what happened that night!

Two identical charms face to face.

I knew mine was the real one. I didn't know how Sora got his or how he knew about the promise, but I was sure that I was right. I had the memory to prove it. I was even more incensed that he dared to make a mockery of my promise, faking things to confuse me. He was so self-righteous too. Going on about how I was in need of help.

"If you'd just listen to me, Riku, we can save Naminé together!"

"I don't need your help! I can take care of her just fine without you butting in!"

Anyway, after I retreated (I'm not going in detail there), I found that I had dropped my charm. Of all the stupid things to do! I went back when I was sure that Sora had left, but it was already gone. It was pretty clear to me who had taken it. I was so furious that I went straight to the 'trashing room' and went at the rose sculptures with everything I had, imagining that they were Sora's face. I let myself go completely berserk.

This time, no one interrupted.

I was too ashamed to go see Naminé after what I had done. That good luck charm had meant so much to her and I had just lost it like that. Was Sora gloating over my loss? My fingers curled tighter over the handle of my sword at the thought of it. It was no matter; he might have the charm, but I had Namine with me. It helped... a little, and even though I was really pissed off, I wasn't a complete idiot.

How could we both had the exact same memory? Unless... Sora was telling a lie. I shook my head in disgust as I realized it. How low would he go just to trouble Naminé and me?

But it still bothered me. Sora had seemed so innocent and his words so sincere. I never remembered him to be much of an actor. Nah, always honest and open, that's Sora for you. And yet, he had been so convincing that I had believed him for a split second.

Was there a chance that he had been telling the truth? But... if he had, that would mean that I was the one lying. How could that be? I would know if I was lying, wouldn't I? Larxene's words of "How do you know that your memories aren't all lies" returned to me. There was something very wrong about all this...

---

That Sora was really something. You know, one of those rare special ones that you only meet once in a lifetime. He performed a whole lot better than I would have even guessed. But then, I suppose that he was the Keyblade Master after all. The Keyblade had chosen well.

By the twelfth day since my creation, he was already up the higher floors of Castle Oblivion.

I was becoming more and more jittery as my attempts to stop him failed time and again. It was becoming harder to pretend that I was completely unworried. What if he actually reached Naminé? Even as the two of us went about our usual businesses, she appeared more and more disturbed.

"Riku, why... Why are you so nice to me?" That was the question Naminé asked me, faltering halfway. I didn't get why she was always so insecure. Didn't she know by now that I was serious about guarding her?

I was quick to reply. "Because I promised that I would keep you safe, and because you're my best friend. There's no one I care more about than you, Naminé," I said reassuring her.

Naminé seemed confused. "B-But you already know there're things I'm not telling you..."

Of course I had always suspected it. Gently, I laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't worry about it. If there's something you don't feel like telling me for any reason, then don't." I would always be there for her, no matter what. I never could've guessed that she would have a secret big enough to harm me, not with the mind wipes everytime I came close to figuring out the truth.

Even with my pledge of eternal frienship, Namine was still visibly worried. "Where does your trust end...? If you knew, you would hate me..." It was barely a murmur, but I heard it and chose to ignore it for the moment. In time, everything would come to light, I was sure.

Don't worry. Sora will not reach you, Naminé. You can count on me, I thought as I watched her move away from me to stared longingly at the door. I counted the days until I found a way to free both of us.

Yes, tension was gripping us all. All but Axel and Marluxia, that is.

Marluxia was predictable enough. It was plain arrogance, nothing more. He was still certain that Sora would play into his hands. Somehow he wanted to use the power of the Keyblade Master to help in his little scheme to take over the Organization. It was ambitious, but he seemed confident enough. I really didn't care if his plan succeeded or not, as long as I wasn't involved.

But Axel... How do I begin to explain?

I think he treated all of the events like a game. Or a play, whichever, just something fun. We all played roles, like good puppets whose strings were being pulled. He stood above us, on a different plane, seeing all. The thing was, I wondered what he saw that we didn't.

By this time, Vexen had already been disposed off. I heard that he had turned traitor by giving Sora some sort of special card. And so, Axel gladly finished him off under Marluxia's orders. It was no bug loss to anybody, but somehow it felt like things as I knew them were beginning to collapse with his departure. Like there was a whole new game being played.

And even though I couldn't remember that Vexen was my creator, he had always been there since Day One, so it came as a shock for him to be there one day primly reprimanding Larxene and I for fighting and the next day gone. Finished.

It made me think about whether I too could disappear so easily. Surely not. I was Riku, wasn't I? I was infallible. I was the best. I could do anything.

I believed in false things too readily. So, I was always easily trapped.

"Hey!" I shouted as I saw the training room door slam shut and lock out of the corner of my eye. I dispelled my sword quickly and charged lightning fast to stop whomever was outside from finishing the deed. Too late.

I skidded to a stop just centimeters before I crashed face first into the wood. It was shut tight. This is not good, I thought with a groan, thumping the door with my fist. I tried every single card that I owned, but none of them worked. Neither did 'Open Sesame'.

Obviously, someone had locked me inside with the intent of keeping me in there until they chose to free me. "Open this door, whoever you are! Too chicken to face me!" I yelled and bellowed angrily. But there was only silence.

Realizing that no one was going to help me, I tried to bust myself out. Of course, Castle Oblivion's doors and walls had to be built for strength– probably magically enhanced or something— and no matter how many blows I landed on either, they wouldn't give way. "Oh, this is just great..." I mumbled darkly.

I folded my arms across my chest and started pacing, thinking. I surveyed the white room. To me, it looked like a cell in a mental hospital to keep in the crazies. It was an unpleasant sort of room, and I wanted out.

Who could've locked me in? And what for? There was no reason, unless Larxene thought that she could play a clever trick on me. Or... There was something going on outside that I wasn't supposed to see. A smirk spread across my face. If there was something forbidden, I would just have to try to find it. Personal policy.

Glancing up at the ceiling, I saw that it was perfectly cemented. I wouldn't be getting out through there. Finally, I realized that the only way out was through the door. But if I couldn't break it... I drew on the darkness inside myself, willing it into an almost tangible form.

It traveled from my body and slipped into the cracks of the doors. It shifted the mechanisms inside and before long, I heard a click and the doors swung open. I should've done this a lot earlier, I thought, rolling my eyes at my own slowness.

Whoever shut me in obviously hadn't known the full extent of the powers of darkness. It was very flexible. It could do everything from engulfing the field in searing dark light to manipulating a lock mechanism, depending on the user's strength. I was capable of all of the above.

Now to see what's going on.

I strode out, trying to track the culprit. The scent was extremely familiar, and I let my senses lead me. Imagine my surprise when the trail ended in Naminé's quarters. It couldn't have been her, could it? My heart started to beat a little faster in nervousness. But all soon came to light when I pushed opened the door and found her, in her usual spot... with Axel.

As I entered, their voices stopped abruptly and they stared at me in my disheveled state. I hadn't cleaned up after training since I was so eager to catch the culprit. "Is there a problem?" Axel asked, raising an eyebrow. Quietly, hoping not to drawn my attention, he took a cautious step away from Naminé. There something was up.

I glanced at both of them suspiciously. One of them had done it, I was sure. "Problem?" I asked, my voice rising. "Nah, everything's been great, except that I was locked in. You don't happen to know who did it, do you, Axel?" I asked sharply. Naminé was standing up now, grasping her right arm with her left hand in a movement that appeared nervous. I ignored it since most things made Naminé nervous, even if they didn't concern her.

"I guess the jig is up! Sorry," Axel apologized, confirming my suspicions. He scratched his head sheepishly, "I did it." I glared and he hurried to continue. "But you know I wouldn't have done such a terrible thing if I didn't have to."

"Do tell."

Axel sighed heavily, a very theatrical act. "No offense, Riku, but you're always hovering around Naminé. There's no way any of us can talk to her without you standing behind her burning holes in our backs. I just bought myself a bit of time, that's all." He shrugged. "Not like you took that long to get out. I should've known."

"What's so important that I can't hear?" I questioned him, determined to make the truth emerge.

"Don't be so suspicious, Riku. It's not like your Naminé's only friend. Sure, Larxene may not care much for her, but I do," Axel said, touching a hand to his heart. I bristled at his mocking tone.

I turned to Naminé. "Is that true?" I swear, if she had said otherwise, I would have blasted Axel right out the door. But she nodded, and I finally dropped my glare away from the grinning red-haired liar. Yes, I knew that he was lying! But I couldn't say anything because it would mean that I didn't trust Naminé, and there was nothing further from the truth. Still, it was worrying that there were things that Naminé was deliberately keeping from me that Axel knew about. Axel, of all people!

"There's something fishy about this," I said finally. Everything about Axel was fishy. "Exactly what were you talking about?"

"Anything and everything," Axel answered smoothly in a statement that revealed nothing. From him, I had expected nothing more. With a swagger in his step, he left, with a backward glance at Naminé, then me. I saw his eyes flashing in amusement again, as a grin spread on his face. He turned away and went out.

"You know what that was about?" I asked Naminé who hadn't said a word. She looked surprised, but certainly less nervous now.

Naminé shifted a little, trying to put on a cheerful face. "It's like what Axel said. It was nothing too important." An actress she was not.

I wasn't satisfied. "Then why did he go to all the trouble?"

"Well... You know Axel. Everything he does is a little blown out of proportion."

"Hmm..." I thought about it. "Good point." Sometimes I wondered if he wasn't a bit crazy. "I don't trust him though. Try not to talk too much with them, especially not alone," I advised wisely.

Naminé looked away. "All right." She met my eyes, and even though she was trying, I could still read some of her emotions. I picked up that she was feeling guilty. "You haven't seen Sora today, have you?" she asked, hopefully.

"No, though I would like to. That kid just won't take a hint. He still hasn't given up trying to get up here." I shook my head scornfully.

"I feel sorry for him..." I was puzzled. Why should she ever feel sorry for Sora, when he should be the one she disliked? "And I'm sorry you got locked in too..."

I laughed at her words. "No problem. It was easy to pick the lock." But my laughter was only half-hearted, as it always was these days. There were only fake smiles or evil laughs.

Was it the mysterious effect of Castle Oblivion, that no one could find true happiness within its walls? It was an unhealthy place for anyone to be in for too long. Another thing I should've known.