Disclaimer: not mine

And here ends the Days time period. Enjoy.

Chapter 15

Xion slowly woke, feeling arms supporting her, and she forced her eyes open, looking up into a hooded face. "Who am I? What am I...here for?" She pleaded brokenly, not knowing who it was who held her, or even if it was all in her head.

The other hesitated, but then lowered their hood, revealing a head of spiky brown hair and wide blue eyes that she knew from her dreams and memory flashes.

"Are you..."

"Sora," he answered softly. "Riku's friend."

"Riku? You know Riku?" She asked shakily even as he moved away, letting her sit up on her own. That was the one name she knew from the dreams and memories, although she recognised the boy before her too, even if he looked older.

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

"Thank you. You saved me...but I don't know why you did."

"I guess I just felt like it," he shrugged slightly, looking away, shifting…nervously?

"Sora, please... Tell me more…about Riku and that girl he's always with." Why did she see them, all three of them, had she known them? Maybe she was real and had been their friend before becoming a Nobody?

"You mean Kairi," he told her, looking back at her.

"Kairi... That's right. She's the one who looks so much like me," Xion liked the name, maybe she was Kairi's Nobody?

"To Riku, she's someone very special," Sora smiled softly. "To me too." The way he said it, Kairi was still around which meant no Nobody, and no mention of her or another girl she could have come from. Did that mean…

"It's just... I remember things about the three of them. But I'm nothing more than a puppet…am I?" she moved away from him to look at the ocean, it was so big… "Something that somebody created. So why would I have... their memories? Do you know where Riku is now?" she pleaded.

"That secret stays with me," he answered, and she was surprised by the firm tone to his words.

"Why's that?" she turned to face him again.

"Xion...your memories...they really belong to Riku," Sora walked away to lean against a bent tree, and she followed him.

"So you mean...I'm like a part of him?" She really wasn't anything more than a puppet then and...it hurt. Why her?

"When his memories were scattered, some of them found their way inside you. Now, Riku has been put to sleep so that we can piece together his memory. Except..."

"You can't, because part of it is inside of me. That means...he can't wake up," she stared at him in horror, hand pressed to her chest. The idea that her existence was keeping someone asleep was repulsive but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Yeah," he whispered, staring at the sand. "But…if you go with me to Riku right now, we could give the memories inside you back to him."

Something about the offer made her wary, how would they take the memories from her and put them back in Riku? "Do you hate me for taking your friend away from you?" she asked instead.

He shook his head, looking up at her, blue eyes intense. "No, it's not your fault Xion. None of this is. Besides, you were originally made using date collected from me, it could have been my memories in you instead of his if things had gone even a little differently."

"I'm sorry, but...I can't go with you. It's my friend…he needs me. And I need him too." She had to go back, to Axel. Even if he was keeping secrets he was still her best friend.

Sora reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, offering a despondent smile. "Maybe... you should take some time and think about it. Figure out who really needs you more and where you belong," he offered, surprising her. If Riku couldn't wake without her, why let her go?

"How will I know where I belong, truly? I'm not sure I can promise you I'll come up with the right answer," she warned him, and he laughed sadly.

"Well, the answer you come up with can't just be right for you. It has to be one that works best for everybody, you and your friends and everyone else. I know you'll make the right choice because you're part of all of us really. And your friend, he's really lucky to have you."

"I'll try," she promised solemnly, what else could she do?

Sora nodded and pulled his hood up, walking away and into a Dark Corridor…how could he use those?

"Thank you, Sora," she whispered, at least she had some answers now. She flipped her hood up and opened her own, heading back to the only home she could remember.

,,,,,,,,,

Naminé nodded to herself, relieved that Sora hadn't done something he couldn't undo. She knew DiZ had wanted Sora to end Xion but that wasn't in Sora's nature. Yes, he had changed since becoming a vampire…even more since his friends had gone to sleep, but his heart was still unchanged at the core. He was still Sora, just a bit…darker.

She just hoped that Xion made the right choice.

,,,,,,,,,,,

Kairi walked onto the small island and towards their tree, pausing as she saw boot prints in the sand. They were very fresh and she looked around warily but she couldn't see any sign of people still being there. The Organisation? So maybe Sora had been right and they were keeping an eye on her. She shivered and left the small island, waving as she spotted Wakka and Tidus rowing towards the pier, it was time for another lesson.

,,,,,,,,,

Sora looked himself over, curious. It felt strange to not feel his wings on his back, but wings weren't much use under water. As far as he could tell, he looked the same as he had the last time he'd been in Atlantica. That was a relief, he'd been worried his form would have changed to something more…predatory.

He swam quickly through the ocean, searching for whatever had caused the trouble Mickey had reported, absently wondering what kind of aquatic creature the King would become. He avoided the Palace and areas where Ariel tended to explore, not in the mood to socialise after meeting Xion.

He really hoped she'd make the right choice but if she didn't…he may have to do something he didn't think he'd ever forgive himself for, but he would not leave her to DiZ's mercy.

,,,,,,,,

Axel could tell something was on Xion's mind but she wasn't talking about it. He was worried about how Saïx would look at her whenever they passed each other.

"Hey, Axel," she got his attention before taking a bite of her ice cream.

"Hmm?" Was she going to say what was bothering her?

"You know how you were talking the other day about how we all have pasts? When I sit here with you, it's weird... I get the strangest feeling I used to watch the sun set with somebody else. Or when I'm by the sea..." she took a seashell out of her pocket. "When I look at the water, and hear the waves lapping against the shore... it's almost like I can hear another voice."

"So...you mean you remembered something?" That would be interesting, probably confusing for her though since Sora was male.

Xion shook her head. "No... It's not quite like that. Well, I dunno. Maybe these ARE memories... It just seems weird that they're mine."

"Hey, don't ask me."

"But you have memories, don't you?" She pushed, and he began to wonder just what she may have remembered.

"Yeah. Not that they've ever done me any good," he shrugged as if unconcerned but he was, hoping she wouldn't do something rather Sora-like and get in trouble. They needed her and her Keyblade too much to do anything drastic, right?

,,,,,,,,,,

Naminé stood in the Pod Room, staring at the slumbering teen. "Riku..."

DiZ walked over to join her. "It appears we've truly come to a standstill. You still cannot retrieve the memories?

"No," she admitted.

"This has gone on long enough," he snapped. "Sora," he called, turning to face the vampire who was watching from where he was leaning against the wall.

Sora always kept a very close eye on DiZ and he was fast enough that even from across the room he would be able to intercept the man. It was definitely comforting when he was there, not that DiZ had tried anything when he wasn't.

"I think you know what needs to be done."

"Right," Sora nodded, but she could see the reluctance in his stance.

She didn't blame him, she knew eventually she would have to return to Kairi but Xion did not actually come from either of them so what would happen to her? Would she truly die, cease to exist? Or would she live on within Riku due to his memories?

Sora glanced at her and she nodded, she would be fine. He turned and left the room, going to gather what he might need.

Naminé knew he was still struggling with feeding from that young woman, despite the fact that she had offered her blood. She was thankful to Jane for doing so, Sora would never be able to deal with the guilt of attacking someone…or worse.

,,,,,,,,,

"Fancy meeting you here."

"Hi, Axel," she looked up at him as he joined her on the ledge.

"Whew, I slept like a log," he stretched, but then looked down at the streets below. "What's going on down there? Are the kids here on summer vacation? ...Nah, can't be. It's too early."

"Summer vacation? What's that?" She asked, curious, and wanting the conversation to remain light. Part of her wanted to tell him about what was happening to her, about meeting Sora but…another part whispered that it would be dangerous.

"A dream come true, that's what, a whole month off."

"A month!? I can't even figure out how to fill a day," she admitted. Her first ever day off and she'd been unable to think of anything to do except practice.

"Well, they do get a little help. Their teachers dish out plenty of homework. Trust me, it's over before you can blink."

"Hmm... I could deal with a week, maybe."

"Most kids spend summer vacation just goofing off with their friends. They save the homework till the end and then help each other finish it."

"That sounds fun, I guess," she smiled.

"Yeah. I hadn't really thought about it much since becoming a Nobody. So how'd you spend the day?"

"Asks the guy who slept?" she teased.

"Hey, unlike you lazybones, I work myself pretty hard!"

"Hah, maybe you're just out of shape!" She was happy to laugh with him at that.

"Tomorrow, it's back to work."

"Yeah...Hope we get another vacation soon."

"Oh, before I forget... I might not see you again for a little while."

"Why not?" She asked in alarm, she had stayed for him, despite her curiosity about Riku.

"They're sending me out on recon for a few days," he shrugged.

"Where?"

"Can't tell."

"What do you mean, "can't tell"?"

"It's classified." He reached over and ruffled her hair.

"But I thought we were friends," she pouted, even as she worried.

"Hey, I'm not about to tell you ALL my dark secrets. Got it memorized? I bet you keep a thing or two from me."

"I don't have any dark secrets," she denied, lying. Why couldn't she tell him?

"Ha ha, relax, would ya? I'm kidding. I just gotta keep my mouth shut about it, or else Saïx will get on my case. You know how he gets."

"Yeah," she fought back a shudder at the mention of him.

"Try not to bungle everything while I'm gone," he warned and it was playful, but there was something serious in his eyes.

,,,,,,,,,

"Hmph. What took you?" Saïx demanded as soon as he saw Axel.

"It's my vacation. I can take all the time I want. Since when do I have to check in with you?"

"You're letting yourself get too attached to her," he warned. He had the feeling it was becoming unstable, it was a prototype and there hadn't been enough data…

"Yes, sir, whatever you say," Axel drawled with a mock salute.

Saïx turned around. "You've changed," he told his childhood friend, but they weren't human anymore and hadn't been in a long time. They were simply working towards a common goal now, that was all. He left Axel and headed towards his own mission.

,,,,,,,,,

Xion arrived on the Bridge of Beast's Castle and saw Sora waiting for her, the hood of his coat thrown back. "Sora!"

She hadn't wanted to leave, not while Axel was away, but in a way it meant they'd said goodbye and no one could blame him for her disappearance. She didn't know how she'd known he'd be there but he was.

"Did you find the right answer?" he asked gently, sadness in his eyes.

"Yeah. I did. I'm on the verge of losing everything I ever cared about. I can't let that happen. Tell me what I need to do." She knew she was getting worse, there was a reason she'd been keeping her hood up more. The pain when the memories came was horrible and she'd slipped up on several missions because of it.

"Go to Twilight Town. You'll find a girl there by the name of Naminé in the old Mansion."

"Naminé? What's she like?" She had to see someone else? Why wasn't Sora going with her?

"You'll find out. I don't think you'll have much trouble tracking her down," he smiled and then shocked her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders, holding her close for a few seconds. "I'll keep the Organisation chasing their own tails for as long as I can," he promised, explaining why he wasn't coming.

"All right. Thanks, Sora... Goodbye..." she opened a Corridor.

"It's not goodbye, not yet," he called as she entered it.

That was good to know.

,,,,,,,,

Kairi walked down the path to the beach after school, wishing Sora would come again.

"Kairi! Wait up!"

She stopped and turned around as Selphie caught up to her.

"Hey, do you feel like going out to the island? Tidus and Wakka are all wrapped up in their ballgame and they won't go with me," Selphie pouted.

"Not today, sorry," Kairi denied, she'd been avoiding the Play Island since she'd found the boot prints.

"Aw, why not?"

"Do you remember those boys who used to hang out with us?" Did anyone remember Riku yet? She remembered more now then she had and she truly did miss him, she couldn't wait to see him again, to fully remember him.

"Sora?"

"Yeah," that answered that question then.

"I wonder whatever happened to him. I sure miss him."

"He's far away. But I know we'll see him again," she smiled softly. All of the search parties had come up empty handed, leaving most to assume he was dead, and she wished she could tell his parents something without sounding crazy.

"Sure. Of course we will." It was obvious Selphie didn't believe it.

"And the other boy?" Kairi pushed.

"What other boy?"

"The one who was with Sora and me all the time, we played together on that island. His voice always used to be there...but now it's gone. It's almost like he never existed, but he did."

Selphie looked at her in confusion. "Are you sure you didn't make him up?"

The two girls stopped walking as they reached the beach, looking to the island across the water. Kairi looked over at Selphie and smiled widely. She then ran to the beach, Selphie rushing to catch up.

"Kairi...?"

Kairi placed her bag down and pulled out a bottle with a rolled up piece of paper inside. She took off her shoes and socks, wading in to release the bottle where it could be dragged out to sea.

"What's that?"

"A letter... I wrote it yesterday, to the boy I can't fully remember. I said that no matter where he is... I'll find him. One day. And when I stopped writing, I remembered the three of us made a promise, something important. This letter is where it starts. I know it."

"Wow... I hope he gets it," Selphie offered and at least she wasn't calling her crazy.

"He will. Starts with an 'R'," she told Selphie who shook her head and headed back to the road. "Right, Riku?" she whispered, wondering if somehow, he would know she was thinking of him. How much longer did she have to wait?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Axel sighed, not sure whether or not to report what he'd learnt. It wasn't like he knew for sure, the person hadn't lowered their hood after all, and yet…he was positive the fake Organisation member that had been sighted a few times…was none other than Sora. How was that possible? The kid he'd watched in the Castle and then fought a battle beside hadn't been able to open Dark Corridors. What had happened since then to enable him to? Did it matter?

What made everything worse, Xion was gone. She'd just never returned from her mission a few days ago apparently, he'd been on recon so hadn't known. Did she leave then so that he wouldn't be able to stop her? He picked up the item he'd found on his windowsill, wishing she'd just come to him as he stared at the ice cream stick with the word WINNER on it.

,,,,,,,,,

Sora wanted to be at the mansion, to make sure things went okay with Xion, but the Organisation would be looking for her. So he needed to give them someone to chase. He was taller and more muscular than her, but from a distance it wouldn't be so noticeable. Then again, they were also after the 'imposter' after he'd been seen in the coat so either way, he'd have their attention. He would buy the others as much time as he could, he just hoped he didn't have to face Axel, for Xion's sake and because the guy didn't seem like the others.

,,,,,,,,,,

"Xion has vanished again," Xemnas announced, hidden gaze taking them all in.

"Do we know where she is?" Xaldin asked.

"'It, not 'she.' Xion is just a Replica...a puppet," he explained, it was time they all knew the truth about their thirteenth member.

"Puppet? Someone made her?" Luxord actually looked up from his cards.

"Puppets generally don't make themselves," Saïx helpfully pointed out.

"The Replica Program was one of our little pet projects," Xigbar shrugged.

"Replica whatza?" Demyx looked around in confusion, why had he ever recruited him?

"Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about this 'pet project'," Xaldin looked his way from his throne.

"The goal was to duplicate the Keyblade wielder's memories, and through them, his powers, thus making them our own. Vexen oversaw the project at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by his unexpected demise. And this particular Replica, the one we called Xion, came to form an identity of her own," Xemnas explained. It was somewhat puzzling considering how little data had been retrieved on Sora. No…there was something they were all forgetting which pointed to Naminé's involvement.

"That caught us off guard. If anything like that happened before, no one at Castle Oblivion ever reported it. Did they Axel?" Saïx looked to the redhead who looked bored but remained silent.

"Fortunately, the puppet has no means of dashing our plans now, even if she has learned to pull her own strings. Still, she knows our secrets. We need to shorten her leash... And perhaps tighten it," he looked them over and then at Axel. "Axel. Seeing as how she is your 'friend', the onus is on you to capture her and return her here. I am willing to overlook and nicks and scratches. Just ensure she still functions on arrival."

Xaldin shook his head. "Why you would allow a deserter back under our roof... She should be eradicated!"

"'Deserter' is hardly the term for a broken specimen who wandered out from under the microscope," Saïx scoffed.

"Axel, you have your orders. Dismissed," he ordered and then left. Either Axel obeyed or was punished and someone else retrieved her.

,,,,,,,,,,,

Mickey fell into a fighting stance as a figure in an Organisation coat appeared out of a Corridor and into the forest, but then the hands were held up in surrender before moving to lower the hood. "Sora!" he called in sheer relief. It had been far too long since he'd seen the boy, although he knew the teen had been by the mansion several times.

"Mickey," Sora smiled slightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Just leading the Organisation on a merry chase to buy Naminé the time she needs to finish."

"Then it's almost time?" he asked, hoping so, he wanted his friends back! He could remember more of the boy in the pod now but not quite everything.

Thankfully, Sora nodded. "Some of his memories were absorbed by another Replica, but she's at the mansion now."

"I'm very glad to hear it. You're being careful though?"

"Of course," Sora grinned, and Mickey smiled back, that was the happiest he had seen him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The curtains in the White Room gently swayed as two young girls sat at a long white table. The girl in black removed her hood hesitantly.

"Nice to meet you...Xion."

"Naminé, you can see my face?" she asked fearfully.

Naminé nodded solemnly. "Yes."

"What do you think I should do?" Xion was scared, which was ridiculous, wasn't it? She didn't have a heart to feel scared with.

"What do you want to do?"

Xion looked over at the sketch of her and Axel hanging on the wall. "I thought I knew at first. I wanted me and Axel to be together forever. But then I started to realize these memories don't belong to me," she admitted, hating to have abandoned the one person who always looked out for her.

"That's because you're Kairi. At least, the Kairi that Riku and even Sora to a point, remembers."

"The more I remember, the more I feel like I'm in the wrong place...like... Like I need to go back," she admitted, staring down at the table top.

"Back to Riku?"

Xion nodded miserably. She didn't want to though, even though she felt like she had to.

"If you return your memories to him, you'll disappear. And since everything about you was built on those memories...no one will remember you when you're gone. There won't be any "you" to remember. I can't save you, Xion…even a memory of you."

"I know. I'm ready. Otherwise I wouldn't be here." Her hands were shaking but she had made her choice.

"If you're ready, let's go see Riku," Naminé smiled and stood, holding out her hand.

A Dark Corridor appeared and Xion leapt to her feet, ready to fight, but a man in odd clothing appeared…she'd been hoping it was Sora.

"Naminé, they've found us! They are on their way! That blasted puppet led them right to our doorstep! See what you get for trusting it?" he snarled, and she swallowed but stood her ground, chin lifting.

"I'll get rid of them!" she told him and then took off, if it was her fault they'd been found then she had to fix it.

"No! Xion..."Naminé called after her but she kept going, leaving the mansion to search for intruders.

Another Corridor opened and Axel emerged, both freezing as they stared at each other. "Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?" he asked softly.

"Axel..."

"Xion...what are you gonna do?" he asked, and she knew what he wanted her to say, but she couldn't.

She hadn't wanted this to happen! He wasn't meant to see her again. "I've decided that I have to go back to where I belong."

"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 answered and she was shocked, had he known what she was all the time? Then why befriend her? He clenched his fist in anger.

"It's for the good of everyone," she told him, and he scoffed.

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

"This is right," she insisted. She'd give Riku back his memories and everyone would forget her.

"They're gonna destroy you!" he yelled only to gasp as she summoned her Keyblade.

"Please don't hold back, Axel. Promise."

Axel just gaped at her, obviously struggling. "What's your problem? You ...think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm sick of it. Go on, you just keep running. But I'll always be there to bring you back!" He summons hied chakrams and she readied herself.

Fighting Axel was so hard but she had to make him do it, she would not go back to the Organisation. They fought for what felt like forever and in the end she collapsed, barely conscious.

"Man... Why you always gotta...cause me...trouble..." Axel gasped out before collapsing as well.

A Dark Corridor opened and Xion forced her eyes open to see the strange man from before and Naminé… he moved over to Axel but then another Corridor appeared and Sora was there.

"DiZ," he snapped at the man.

"You would defend this Nobody?"

"He helped me, I owe him," was the answer, and Xion was relieved….Sora would keep Axel safe…

,,,,,,,,

Sora looked over to see Xion's eyes fall closed even as Naminé knelt over her. He knelt down and quickly used a potion on Axel to deal with the worst of his wounds before lifting him up, it was awkward due to the height difference. "I'll be back in a minute, I'll leave him somewhere that should keep their eyes off this place a little longer."

"You assume he won't tell them?"

"For Xion he won't and once he forgets her, he won't remember you're here," Sora pointed out and then carried Axel into a Corridor, carefully leaving him concealed behind some shrubs in Wonderland. He knelt down and gave him another potion. "I'm sorry, but there's no other way," he whispered before leaving.

He quickly made his way back to the mansion, finding DiZ and the still unconscious Xion in the basement where his computers were. He didn't understand how the machines were helping, he didn't do computer. He frowned when he realised Xion was slumped under something. "What is this?"

"We need a way to keep Xion concealed from the Organisation. I will send her into a digital reconstruction of the town to do so.

"Will it work?" Sora asked warily, how could you send someone into a computer?

"If we can maintain the simulated town until Naminé finishes chaining together Riku's memories."

"What will happen to Xion?" He asked sadly, wishing there was some way to change her fate.

"In the end, she'll have to give back everything that she has taken from Riku," he walked towards the monitors. "Until then, she'll need another personality to throw off her pursuers."

"It's not fair," Sora knelt down in front of her, reaching out to brush her hair back from her face. She'd come to them in the end, had agreed to the process, but she hadn't agreed to this!

DiZ sat down and punched in some keys. "It's the fate of a Nobody or Replica."

The machine started up, Sora leaping back, watching as Xion was changed into data and vanished. "Good luck," he whispered because what else could he do? He didn't know what they were doing exactly, had no way to help speed the process or anything.

He left, heading for the pod room to check on Riku and let him know what was going on. Even floating, Sora could tell Riku had grown, his pants were too short now, and his hair had grown even longer, falling part way down his back. Kairi was going to have fun cutting that.

"You'd like Xion, I wish you two could meet. You'll wake up soon now that she's here but…" he sighed and leant against the pod. "Please wake up Riku."

,,,,,,,,,,,,

Xion woke in her bedroom and stretched before sitting up to look out her window at Twilight Town. "Another dream about him..."

She heard the bells ring at the Clock Tower and opened the window to watch the eternal sunset for a few minutes before getting up to dress for the day. She grabbed some food and took off, running through the streets.

"Maybe...today we'll finally hit the beach!" She ran into the back alley, heading for the Usual Spot, happy to see her friends but also sad. There were only seven days left before summer vacation was over.

TBC…

Since she didn't fight Roxas to the death and I couldn't see Sora killing her I figured they would use the same method to keep her safe as they did Roxas while putting the memories back where they belong.