Chapter Eleven: Illusion

Secret Report: Larxene I

Some gamble this turned out to be. The keyblade space case needs to blunder his way through Sora's memories, just so he can maybe get good. And now Roxas is cozying up to Naminé?!

What does that brat think he's doing!? He's either smarter than he looks or a complete moron. Either way, he could deep six our entire operation! The little witch could start getting too many ideas.

Of course, Marluxia wants to make his pitch to the punk. Or at least butter him up. Whatever. Either way tomorrow, we remind them who's really in charge. And if they don't listen…

Then it gets fun.

Something was wrong. This was clear to Roxas as he looked up at Marluxia. It wasn't just that he was up to see him this early, and it wasn't because he had showed up unannounced out of the blue. No, there was some little voice in the back of Roxas' mind that screamed as Marluxia looked down at him. Nevertheless, he managed to ask, "Is there a problem?"

"Not as of yet," he walked into Roxas' room, barely acknowledging his presence. Marluxia ran his fingers along the empty desk to the side as he continued, "You only began to work for the organization little over a week ago. I would not expect you to understand what it truly means to be a Nobody."

Wait, was that it? Even Roxas knew this much, "We don't have hearts. According to Xemnas, we don't exist." It was all he knew. What had been taught to him from the beginning, "But..."

Marluxia turned back to him with a raised eyebrow, "But?"

But right now, Roxas really wasn't sure he could believe that. He really didn't want to believe it. Yet he knew saying Naminé had something to do with it was a bad idea. So he had to think of another way to talk about it. He made his way over to where he woke up, "This exists." Grabbing the sheets, he began to make the bed, "I can move this." Roxas slowly turned to Marluxia, "So wouldn't I have to be here? Be real?"

To Roxas' surprise, Marluxia nodded with a smile, "Indeed. That is the core paradox of our existence as described by Xemnas. We are not truly alive, and yet we think. We are. We affect the world around us" Marluxia turned his back to Roxas as he continued his speech, "But the rest of the Organization does not see that. Instead, they cling to the past. They cannot realize their true potential. Not while their existence is bound by the pull of memory. Of knowing what they once were." Marluxia turned back and placed a hand to his chest, "Unlike you and me."

It wasn't too hard for Roxas to understand, given the conversation. He took a step forward, "You don't remember anything from before either?"

Marluxia waved a hand, "Nothing clear enough to matter. Thus it is irrelevant." It seemed simple. And yet to Roxas it didn't sit well. Just ignoring things that weren't important. Not when his own past, Sora's past, had such a hold on him. Nevertheless, Marluxia continued. "I have no irrational impulses to ignore. Which brings me to my question."

He looked down at Roxas, "Is there a reason why you decided to visit Naminé?"

There it was again, the voice that wanted to run. Unfortunately, Marluxia was blocking the exit, and there was no way Roxas could be honest. Just hearing what was said made it clear that Marluxia didn't want to hear anything about what Roxas believed in. But eventually, Roxas came up with an answer, "I wanted to make sure she was okay." At Marluxia's raised eyebrow he continued, "You and Larxene don't seem to be treating her well."

"She has no emotions. Nothing in her that feels." He walked toward Roxas, arms crossed behind him. Eyes unwavering.

Taking a step back Roxas tried his best to speak up, "But she can hurt."

Marluxia continued to advance, "And because of that pain, she knows not to defy us."

And then Roxas couldn't take it anymore. "But she's doing what she can to help. Why keep hurting her no matter what she does?" Because it made no sense. What kept on driving Marluxia and Larxene to treat her like a tool?!

"It is less than before. Now that she is more compliant, Larxene and I raise a hand against her less and less."

Roxas was stunned. Did..did Marluxia really not understand what he was asking? If all he was worried about was Naminé doing her job then, "Why do you care about how I treat her?"

"I was concerned that you were simply following impulses based on Sora. Caring for the remnant of the girl that he cares for."

Roxas tensed at Marluxia's words. No...no It wasn't an impulse. There was more. There had to be more.

"But if it is simply practicality, then there is no issue."

…

Well, if Marluxia was willing to take that answer to back off, "Yes. That's all I wanted to know about her." At least at first. He didn't need to tell Marluxia about how things changed as he kept visiting Naminé. About their dinners. Their conversations.

How everything didn't hurt so much when he was with her.

For now though, Marluxia was satisfied and walked away, "Focus on what is here and now. Then you will no longer be bound by memory." Darkness surrounded him and he vanished, speaking, "Only then will we be truly free."

There was a moment of silence before Roxas' hand balled into a fist. Free, huh?

Would Naminé be free in that future Marluxia wanted?

Deep down, Roxas knew the answer. And he couldn't stand it. That's why he had to keep getting stronger. He had to win for her. So she wouldn't have to keep making fake memories. So Naminé could be free. Could be happy.

Just the smallest chance was worth it.

Naminé knew she was being selfish. Larxene and Marluxia never failed to remind her of the implications of their plan. And discarding those plans for her own sake was just further proof. But even so. Roxas' words wouldn't leave her. Couldn't leave her.

Real.

What she wanted more than anything was to be someone to somebody. To belong without any worry or fear. And when she was with Roxas, it seemed like she did. Shouldn't she take that chance? Wasn't it worth it?

But she sighed as she looked back to the notebook of Sora. Marluxia and Larxene didn't care, they made that clear even before they unveiled their grand plan. As if on cue there was a swirl of darkness. Of course morning inspections were routine. Making sure she was ready for the day of taking Sora's memor—.

"So Roxas has been seeing you."

With Larxene's words, she froze, crayon hovering above the page. Naminé swallowed the lump in her throat, "Yes."

"Do you like seeing him?" The voice was closer now, right behind her.

She didn't want to answer back. It would only make things worse. Upset them that their plans were getting so far off track. It would be easier to keep quiet. Or just say…

No. It wasn't possible. Something inside of her couldn't do it. Couldn't even deny what he meant to her. Some part of her desperately wanted to answer Y—.

"Oh Yeah! I forgot!" A barking laugh accompanied the hand at her shoulder, "You're a Nobody! As if you could like anyone." Stepping around, Larxene leaned down so she was eye level with Naminé "So quit getting distracted."

She tensed, hand gripping the notepad in her lap, "He only sees me for dinner. When I'm done with my work."

"He comes to see you?" Larxene stood up at the answer before scoffing, "You think that rucksack cares about you? He's only visiting you because you're someone new." She began to tap her fingers on the crystal ball, images swirling within showing Roxas walking the halls, "What happens when he finds someone better to spend his time with?"

Despite everything, there was no way Naminé could speak back. Not with anything that wouldn't make things worse.

"We both know how this ends," Larxene snapped her fingers and Roxas' image vanished, "Once he gets bored of you he'll leave you behind. So are you going to daydream? Or get back to work?" Larxene glared down at Naminé who was still silent. Until finally, she flipped to the latest page of Sora's book and resumed her picture. "Good. Now behave while I go take care of business downstairs," and with that, Larxene vanished into shadow.

Naminé once again continued to outline Sora's figure travelling Wonderland. But after a few lines she stopped, her crayon hovering above the page before she set it aside with a sigh. Despite Larxene's lecture being the same as ever, for once she couldn't really believe it. Something deep inside of her just knew that Roxas was right. There was some part of her that was real, some part of her that had hurt with how she was being treated by the Organization.

A part of her that Roxas' visits had helped to mend.

Axel stretched, groaning as he joined Roxas and Zexion, "Ugh. Slept like a log last night. Of course, having a decent breakfast helped too." He clapped his hands together, "So. Next up on our world tour?"

Zexion held up a card showing a massive forest of a world,"The Deep Jungle."

Axel winced at the sight, "Oh yeah. Going to be a pain going back there. The weather's a mess and there's bugs everywhere."

Roxas raised an eyebrow as he turned to Axel, "Wait. You've been there before?"

Zexion nodded and began to explain, "Before you arrived, Naminé attempted an escape using a world card. In fact, it was likely the first world card created."

"It's how we discovered her powers. We were able to handle it well enough back then," Axel gave a shrug, "so It shouldn't be too tough on you."

"Indeed, we have been studying the card in the lower levels. It's been useful in crafting cards of our own, should the need arise. It's rather fascinating when you get down to it," Zexion turned the card over in his hand as he rambled, "Even if the memory of a desired world is incomplete, the card will often fashion details as needed where none exist. From that—."

"Um...Zexion?" Roxas spoke up to interrupt, "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to figure something like that out right now."

Axel chuckled, "Don't worry, I helped out with the lab work once or twice, and even I don't get it. Still, Roxas' got a point. We're on the clock for training, not research."

Zexion sighed and turned to the door, "Very well. A reasonable enough point." He raised the card and engravings on the doorway glowed with familiar light. "Shall we?

As they walked through, Roxas could definitely feel the heat through his cloak. It was a miracle that he wasn't overheating in the thing. The door opened to a house made completely out of wood. Roxas walked carefully as the boards creaked. Something was...off...

Axel strode across the length of the room, looking over the wooden crates and shelves covered by moss. He scoffed, "Can't say much for the decor," then leaned out the window and whistled, "Though the view isn't half bad." Roxas wished he could be as relaxed as Axel. But something told him this just wasn't right.

Zexion narrowed his eyes, "Mind you, this seems to have been made more with survival as a priority rather than aesthetics."

Then Roxas realized just what was bothering him, "You said there was a bug problem. Are they like...big?"

Axel pulled his head back in the house, "Nah, just everywhere. Why do you ask?"

"Cause I really want to know what that rumbling sound is."

Everyone went quiet at that. And as they did, the rumbling sound could be heard by everyone. Rumbling that turned into a growl. The three of them got closer together, looking to see where it was coming from. Only for a roaring sound to precede Roxas getting slammed into the floor by a snarling spotted beast from above. A beast with bared fangs that snarled as it tried to bite through the Keyblade Roxas was using to hold it back.