Chapter 3

"This world is where all the Nobodies live. It's right in the middle of Twilight, neither in the Realm of Light or Dark. Have a look around, Roxas. Maybe some more memories will come back." Axel said while heading towards a large building. "I'll be here at Memory's Skyscraper. When you're done, we'll go have a visit with the Organization. Bet they want to see you, after all this time."

"Somehow I doubt that." Roxas said, looking at the large Skyscraper. It was light blue, with what appeared to be ocean waves painted on it. Around the base of the building were music notes and various instruments. The front of the building had a large picture of a sitar, with broken hearts floating around it. As Roxas watched it closely, he saw that the other sides were moving. Each side had a continuing movie playing, starring a young man with blonde hair and a large smile. A woman approached the man, and they fell into a deep embrace. It faded into the man being approached by a group holding a large sitar. As the man accepted the sitar, it quickly changed to a concert where the man played the sitar, causing the audience to applaud loudly. As the concert ended, it was replaced by the group handing the man a slip of paper and the man crumpling to the floor with sorrow. In the final scene the young man drown the woman from the beginning, playing once more on the sitar as her body floated out to sea. With the ending chords beginning to fade, the young man stepped into a portal of Darkness. At the other side of the portal, two figures stepped out each holding the large sitar. One figure looked just as the young man had before he stepped in, while the other was shadowed and hazy. Both looked towards each other and nodded, walking off in opposite directions. The movie ended then, and began to replay.

After it ended, Roxas looked around at him. It appeared to be early evening, as there was no sunlight and yet he could still easily see. There were houses around him, but they looked insubstantial, almost like a memory. He walked up to one and ran his hand across it, half expecting it to vanish with his touch. Instead, his hand went straight through it, as if it were a projection. "What the…"

"There's no point in touching them, you know. They aren't real." Axel called towards him from the Skyscraper. "They're just memories, The Superior's memories in fact. All of this is. Since he's the boss, he got to design. Except for the Skyscraper, that's not his."

"The Superior?"

Axel gave him a shocked look. "Don't tell me you don't remember who The Superior is! That's Xemnas. You know, our Boss?"

Roxas dumbly nodded, remembering Xemnas but not willing to call him his Boss. "You said the Skyscraper isn't his. Whose is it, then?"

"All of ours. It's like a combination of all the memories of our past selves. Except yours of course, you didn't have any memories to contribute. Or maybe you didn't want to. Beats me. Anyway, every hour, it changes to reflect a member's memories. Right now, it's on Demyx's life. Pretty boring memories, if you ask me."

"Demyx?" Roxas asked, inspecting another fake building.

"Number 9, the Melodious Nocturne. He keeps to himself a lot and would do anything to help out Xemnas. I've never talked to him that much before, seeing he's Water and I'm Fire. If we fought, I'd be toast." Roxas could faintly hear Axel's laugh as he continued to inspect the town. He tentatively walked down an alleyway, unsure of what it would hold. He knew not to fear his surrounding, as they were memories, but the thought of meeting another member made him anxious. He could not remember much about them, which made him uneasy. If he were to meet one now, without Axel near by to help, they could- and would if it fit their plans, easily kill him.

Still, Roxas walked down the alley, looking at the buildings and wondering about them. Was this Xemnas' hometown that he was seeing? Or was it just some town he had come across while he was still in the Light? As curious as he was, Roxas hoped he never got the opportunity to ask him.

Roxas turned another corner, his eyes watching a sign on a building that blinked "Items" in neon lights. In front of him, a shadow scurried across the ground, zigzagging its way closer to Roxas. Roxas took no notice of the shadow, still caught up wondering about what this town really was. The shadow continued to move closer, until it was feet from Roxas. It rose up from the ground, claws outstretched, reaching for Roxas. "Watch it!" Someone yelled towards Roxas, alerting him to the shadow's presence. Roxas quickly fell back, the shadows claws grazing his shoulders.

Roxas screamed and scrambled back away from the shadow, confused by the shout and by the shadow. Before he could scream again, the shadow was hit by a large water clone and dissolved back into the ground. Roxas fell back, breathing hard, wondering exactly what that thing was. "You ok?" Roxas heard someone call, but was unable to reply. He felt footsteps coming towards him and he shut his eyes, willing for them to turn away. But still they came, and a figure stooped down to his level, lightly poking his shoulder. Roxas groaned and opened one eye, quickly shutting it again.

"C'mon, wake up! It was just a Shadow, quit being such a baby." The figure said, jostling Roxas' shoulders. Roxas began to breathe faster, fearing the man before him. He kept his eyes shut and his body tense, ready to react at any time. He felt the figure rise and sigh. "Man… and they say I'm the weak one. Hah. The way Roxas is acting, he…"

"You know me?" Roxas interrupted, daring to crack an eye to watch for the man's response.

"Sure do. You're Roxas, number 13, The Key of Destiny." The man gave a small half-smile and giggled. "Xemnas is pretty angry at you, you know. I'd watch my back if I were you, O Mighty Keyblader."

Roxas' eyes narrowed. "All right, so you know me. But who are you?"

"I'm Demyx. It's amazing how quickly I'm forgotten…" Demyx sighed, raising a hand in front of his face, but quickly bringing it down with a large grin.

Roxas stood and faced the newly identified Demyx. He recalled the Skyscraper and closely looked at the man before him. It had to be true; both the man on the Skyscraper and the man in front of him had the same blonde hair, cut short in the front, but long in the back and the same light blue eyes. Convinced and curious about his attacker, Roxas' eyes drifted to the spot where he was ambushed. "What was that thing?"

Demyx gave Roxas a long, hard glance and shook his head. "What did they do to you, Roxas?"

Roxas kept his eyes locked on the spot, certain that a gaze would give away his past to Demyx. Roxas was uncertain whether he could trust him. "I asked you first."

"So? Mine's more important. You go away, and come back knowing nothing. I think that warrants a story or two."

"Look, I don't have to tell you anything. My past is my own, got it?"

Demyx held up his hands in surrender and took a step back. "All right, Keyblader. Don't go crazy on me. Man, try to show some concern and what do you get? Nothing. Absolutely no respect. Apparently the Mighty Keyblader lost his manners with his last disappearance."

"And could you stop calling me 'Keyblader?' I haven't got a Keyblade. I'm not even certain what a Keyblade is." Roxas turned away, intent on going back to the Skyscraper. "Anyway, if you're not going to answer me, then I'll go to someone who will."

"Ah, yes. Run away, run away and hide behind Axel." A cool smile was plastered on Demyx face. " He's gotta protect his little Roxie."

Roxas stopped in mid step and turned, anger spread across on his face. "Will you quit it? All you do is mock me!"

"It's only because you're so easy to mock. Go on now. Go see Axel. He's not a patient guy, you know and I know he's just been dying to be with you." With a quick wave and an icy smile, Demyx stepped backwards into a Corridor.

Roxas scowled and walked away, trying to suppress images of him beating Demyx to a pulp. And yet as he pictured them, the thoughts soothed him in a morbid way. Picturing Demyx no longer jeering him but begging him for mercy caused him to smile. The rage felt good, but the power he had in the mental image felt even better.