Disclaimer: Characters, names, locations and the 13th Order are all property of Square and/or Disney.

The Discovered Key

Chapter Two
Juusan Kikan

…Roxas.

He had a name now, an identity. And he had been given a purpose.

The hooded man had answered some of his questions, although what he was told only served to confuse Roxas more. The man referred to himself as 'Xemnas' and spoke of a group of people that he was the leader of, a group that he called "The Order." He explained how they were all the same; they were Nobodies. A group of people that lacked a heart, and that had joined together to conduct research into discovering its secrets. They were shadows of their former selves, no longer the same person that they used to be when they had a heart.

And he offered Roxas a place to join them. He asked him to become their last member, the Thirteenth. He assured him that this was the only way that Roxas would ever learn the truth behind who he used to be.

Roxas couldn't say no.

With no further instructions, a bewildered Roxas was dismissed as though he was no longer of interest. Re-emerging back into the same building from earlier through another of the vortexes that had been opened for him to leave by, Roxas found two members waiting for him. Unlike the others he'd so far came across, they both had their hoods pulled back, giving him his first look at the faces of these people.

He was almost disappointed with what he saw. For the trouble they went through to appear so mysterious, these two sure didn't look all that out of place. The first, a spiky haired red-head, was watching him with emerald eyes. Roxas didn't move, unsure if he was supposed to approach them first or not. He removed his own hood as he waited for them to make a move.

The red-haired one turned to his companion. "Looks like we're the first to officially greet him, Demyx."

"Lucky him." 'Demyx', stepped forward with a grin. "They give you your new name yet?"

"Eh…" He titled his head. Give him a new name? "…Roxas."

"Not bad. They could of picked worse."

Noting his confusion, the other joined in. "Everyone is assigned a new name based off their old one when they become a member."

Roxas frowned. "I don't remember my old name."

"That's probably a good thing..."

"Would have been a good thing for you, Axel," Demyx interrupted, smirking. "At least yours is an improvement."

'Axel' gave him a distasteful look. "Don't start."

Roxas stared blankly at them both. "You can remember who you used to be? Then why can't I?"

"Probably because you used to be the K…" An elbow was shoved firmly into Demyx's side silencing him. "Ow. What was that for?"

Ignoring him, Axel answered instead. "Usually, those of us who can keep our old forms keep our memories, but in your case it doesn't seem to have worked like that."

"You're a special Nobody." Demyx added, none too helpfully.

"What's so special about me?"

"That's what we can help you find out." Axel replied. "You've been told what the Order is for?"

Roxas nodded slowly. "To study the heart?"

"Right. It might take time, but I'm sure you'll get all the answers you want when we reach our goal."

He missed the look that Demyx shot Axel, and the exchanged glance between them both; Roxas' mind was only focused on one thing. Xemnas had said something similar. Through their research Roxas believed that he could learn more about himself… and his past self. Axel's comment had only seemed to confirm that.

"So, who've you met other than the Superior so far?" Demyx questioned, stirring him out of his thoughts.

"I only caught one of their names… Zexion, I think it was."

"Mr Personality himself?" Axel asked with a slight smirk.

Roxas was glad he wasn't the only one who had noticed that. He felt himself relaxing, feeling more at ease around them both. "Is everyone that stuffy around here?"

"Pretty much." Demyx pulled a discontented face. "The higher ups seem to think we all should be."

"But you two don't?"

"We're Nobodies, we're not supposed to feel emotions anymore…" Axel shrugged. "I suppose us neophytes find it harder to let go of things like that. Maybe when we've been here as long as the others have we'll end up like that."

"Great." Roxas groaned. "I'm really going to look forward to staying here if I end up like that."

"Don't you two have work to do?" A new, authoritative voice ended their conversation.

Demyx cringed at the sound, turning away. "I was just on my way." He gave a brief wave over his shoulder before disappearing down the corridor and out of sight.

Another cloaked figure took his place, pulling down his hood to reveal a scarred face with a patch covering one eye, as he spoke. "And you, Axel?"

"I'm done. I have a few hours to spare."

The older member studied Roxas through his single good eye before responding. "Then why don't you make yourself useful and show our new arrival around?" He examined the blonde-haired boy for a moment more before he moved to leave, heading the same way that Demyx had left.

Roxas watched him go. "Who was that?"

"Number Two, Xigbar."

"So, he's like the second in command around here?"

"Not really." Axel started walking, leaving Roxas to follow him. "He should be, but Saix fills that role. Another reason why the higher ups aren't too fond of us neophytes. I don't think they like answering to someone who joined after they did."

"He didn't look too friendly…" Roxas commented. "Is that why Demyx took off?"

He was surprised to hear Axel laugh. "Demyx is just lazy. I imagine he's off looking for somewhere else to hide until the next person comes along to try and get him to do some work."

Roxas came to an abrupt stop. "Is the work you do really that bad?"

"Most of it is just research." He glanced back at him, as he kept moving. "And most of it is boring. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

He took a moment to ponder just what kind of research they were going to have him doing before he realized he was being left behind and hurried to catch up. "Maybe I'll ask Demyx for some tips on avoiding it later…"

The remark seemed to please Axel. He drew to a halt, grinning. "You'll fit right in." He gestured for Roxas to step through a doorway at the side of the corridor. "Now, how about that tour?"

"Here's another empty white room. And there's another on the left."

Roxas sighed. So far, he really wasn't impressed with his new 'home'. Axel had just finished explaining to him about the Dark Corridors, the strange vortexes that served as passageways, such as those that he had passed through earlier, and was continuing to show him around. There didn't seem to be much to see however; every room looked the same to him. "Isn't there anything interesting here?"

"I could take you to the lab area. Only, Vexen might take an unhealthy interest in you and not let you leave."

Roxas shuddered. He'd take the dull rooms over becoming some kind of guinea pig. "I think I'll pass."

"I thought you might." Axel guided him into another area, only this one, to Roxas' relief, was different than the others.

Small glowing rectangular shapes adorned the floor, lining the sides of the room. Each one pulsed with a blue hue. Roxas stepped over to one, studying the strangely shaped pattern in it; something that resembled a scythe. "What's this place?"

"This is the Proof of Existence room." Axel moved over to join him. "These things show the status of each of us."

"Do I have one?"

"You will, but not yet. You still need to become an official member."

Roxas stared at him uncertainly. "I thought I already was. What am I supposed to do?"

"You still need to get your own group of Nobodies assigned to you. And then there's the little matter of what weapons you're going to be using…"

The boy blinked at him. "I thought we are Nobodies? What do you mean by my own group?" He shook his head, confused. "And no one said anything about using any kind of weapons. Why would I need them?"

"There are Nobodies like us, and there are those that didn't retain their human forms…we each have control over a different type." Roxas was grateful that Axel at least seemed patient with him and willing to answer his questions. "As for the weapons…you never know when something like that might be useful."

"I don't know how to fight," He protested.

"Sure you do."

"I don't remember how to fight."

Axel folded his arms as he inclined his head to the side. "You will." He looked past Roxas, towards the doorway that they had entered through.

Roxas turned around to see someone standing there. He couldn't tell if it was one of the people that he had already met; their hood was up obscuring their faces. Now that both had fixed their attention on them, they wandered over to stand nearby and addressed Axel. "If you're finished here, I have instructions to take the boy to Saix."

"We're done."

Looking between them both, Roxas hesitated. He was getting tired of been shuffled between people, but at least Axel didn't seem as cold as the others he'd encountered so far.

Seeing he wasn't moving, Axel gestured to the waiting individual. "Luxord will show you where you need to go. I'll check up on how you're doing later."

Reluctantly, Roxas nodded and followed the other member out of the room. They halted briefly at the doorway, as Luxord faced Axel. "Marluxia has requested your assistance. He and Larxene are having problems locating the girl's Nobody. It's possible she didn't arrive in Twilight Town, seeing as she was born in such a unique way." Having delivered his message, he started on his way again, with an inquisitive Roxas falling into step alongside him.

"Aren't I the last member?"

"You are."

"Then what girl?"

"That isn't something that you need to concern yourself with." He gave him a sideways glance before he added, "She will assist us with our research."

The vague answer was enough to appease Roxas' curiosity for now, and he fell silent as he was lead to their destination. He tried to keep track of the twists and turns they took, but if anyone would have asked him to find his way back to where they'd just came from, he would have been totally lost. He realized getting to know his way around this place without someone escorting him was going to take some time.

Luxord stopped and opened one of the Dark Corridors that Axel had told him about, motioning for Roxas to enter. He rolled his eyes before stepping through. Why couldn't they just use normal doors?

The room on the other side still appeared to be part of the same building, but it was far more fancy in Roxas' eyes compared to the rest of it. What seemed to be a statue of some sort, composed of feathered wings that jutted from the sides and a larger version of the insignia that was spread throughout the many hallways was located at the back of the room. A seat was formed into it.

Roxas took an immediate dislike to the man sat upon it. The cross-shaped scar that marked his forehead and blazing amber eyes that gazed at him made him feel uncomfortable. If this was the same Saix that Axel had mentioned, then Roxas had a feeling he knew why people disliked answering to him. He was outright creepy.

"Number Thirteen… Roxas."

He shifted, agitated, as Saix stood up approaching him. While the man spoke with a calm voice, Roxas wasn't going to let that be enough to mislead him into relaxing.

Saix circled him briefly, then ceased, settling those unnatural eyes on Roxas. "Let's see what our very own Keyblade Master is capable of, shall we?"

Notes: My disc ate half this chapter. :( Thankfully I was able to recover most of it and re-write the bit that was lost.

Writing with the full Order is so much fun. Although juggling with thirteen members is a little hard, I'm trying to introduce them all slowly. And it's a little difficult when it comes to some of them seeing as they get like, three lines of dialogue to base their personalities off.

Going to try and throw some action into the next chapter - Roxas needs an excuse to show off his fancy Keyblades now, doesn't he? However, I'll probably switch to working on BTC some more, so the next update may not be as fast. I'll see how it goes.