Hey! Welcome back! I finally got the next chapter done! Woo!
So sorry it took so long. Writers block, school, life, other stories, etc. But hey I got it done!

Thank you everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed!

Also I don't remember if I mentioned before but I have changed the cover image. Originally it was a drawing of Axel with amber eyes, but then I did a photoshop and it is what it is now.

Now let's on to the story!

Ch.4

The following morning Saix woke up earlier than normal, as he would be leaving with the five other members headed to Castle Oblivion. After getting prepared and grabbed some food he headed out to leave.

He was walking through Nothing's Call when Axel came walking from the other direction. Just as they were to pass each other Axel placed a hand on Saix's shoulder and looked over at him.

"So got some info for you from Lord Xemnas. Some of the members going to Castle Oblivion are traitors to the Organization. When the moment is right…" Axel chuckled a little, "Find them, and dispose of them."

"And I would assume that Lord Xemnas actually said that?"

Axel chuckled again and gave Saix the cynical smile, the smile that he used so much more since becoming second in command. The smile that made him seem so different than before. "Heh, just don't forget your instructions. You know what to do," And with that Axel walked off.

Saix stood there for a moment, thinking over everything. After a moment of being alone, he sighed and made his way to where he was supposed to meet up with the other Castle Oblivion members. There was a lot he had to prepare for.

Later that morning Roxas came into the Grey Room. "Saix?" He asked looked around the room, hoping to see his friend. But unfortunately he wasn't there. The only members in the Grey Room at the time were Demyx and Xion.

"Don't bother looking. Saix already left," Axel said as he walked up from behind Roxas. He didn't even give Roxas a chance to respond as he walked to his spot near the window.

Roxas sighed and looked down at the ground. He pulled out the ice cream stick from his pocket, "But I wanted to ask Saix what I won…" He muttered quietly. "I'll just have to remember to ask him when he gets back." After Roxas placed the ice cream stick back in his pocket he walked up to Axel to get his mission for the day.

"Alright," Axel began with a sigh, "listen carefully. Starting today you will be doing your missions alongside Xion. Make sure you read exactly what I wrote in your mission briefs." Axel then leaned forward and glared at Roxas, "Don't think I will go easy on you. I expect no slacking from you. Just because Saix isn't here to babysit you doesn't mean you can be lazy like Demyx. Prove that you are actually worth wasting my energy talking to."

Roxas nodded slowly before getting some items to bring along on the mission. Once he had what he needed he walked back over to Axel. Xion was now standing near him, her hood still up.

"Alright you two….today is the first mission you guys got together. There is a specific Heartless to eliminate. So don't screw it up. I guess you will have to be in charge Roxas." Axel sighed.

Roxas looked up with a little surprise. "Me?"

"Yes you. You're still such a zombie… But you are the slightly more competent one between you guys," Axel groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Now stop wasting time and get going already."

Roxas nodded with a sigh. He was starting to catch on now that Axel would probably alway find a way to insult him. He looked over at Xion as he opened a dark corridor, "Are you ready to leave?" He asked and Xion nodded slowly.

The two then entered into the corridor and went to start their mission. They entered into the sandlot in Twilight Town. Roxas thought for a moment what he should do. He had never been put in charge of his mission before. He had only been with other members before. How exactly was he supposed to be in charge? Roxas thought back to the missions he had with Saix. He remembered how calm and serious Saix was when they did their missions.

Roxas cleared his throat, "Ready to do the mission?"

Xion didn't say a word, but she nodded in response.

"Well...let's get going then…" Roxas said as he started towards where the Heartless was located.

In silence the two of them headed into the Underground Tunnel, taking out Heartless on their way down. Eventually they reached the area where the the main target was; a Poison Plant Heartless. It sported up from the ground and the two began their attack on it. Once it was defeated they headed back to the Dark Corridor. Once again neither of them talked, and the air held that awkward silence all the way back to the corridor.

Just before Roxas headed into the Dark Corridor he faced Xion, "Um… You go RTC without me. There is something I need to do."

Without a word Xion entered the Dark Corridor, leaving Roxas all alone. Roxas then headed into the main part of town. He bought himself a bar of ice cream and head up to the clock tower. He looked around, hoping that Saix might just be there, but there was no one else. With a sigh Roxas sat down and ate his ice cream. He was use to having a lot of silence when he would eat ice cream with Saix, but it was strange to just be by himself. He sat there and ate his ice cream, wondering when Saix would be back.

Roxas Diary Entry: Day 23

I hoped to see Saix this morning, but Saix left before I even woke up. I didn't get to ask him about the ice cream stick.

I was partnered up with No. XIV for today's mission. Xion wore a hood the whole time and wouldn't say a word to me. Come to think of it, I didn't have a whole to say, either. I couldn't think of anything to say, though if Saix were here I know we would at least say something to each other. This was different though.

Afterwards I went and had ice cream by myself.

The following day Roxas got up, grabbed some food, and headed to the Grey Room as usual. As Roxas headed down the hallways, he hoped again that Saix would be back. He would be back and they could enjoy their time having ice cream again. But sadly upon entering the Grey Room, Saix was not there again.

The only members in there at the time where Xigbar, Demyx and Xion. She still had her hood up and Roxas still could not figure out why. Roxas wondered if she would ever take off her hood, but then dismissed the thought as he joined into the conversation with Demyx and Xigbar.

They briefly talked about how it was much more peaceful now that half the team had gone off to castle oblivion, with Demyx referring to them as "Bossy co-workers." Roxas frowned slightly at the sound of that. He didn't see Saix as bossy. While Saix was serious and hard working, he never had come off as bossy before.

Just a few minutes later Axel came into the room. He walked by Roxas, shoving him slightly and giving a glare. "Stop standing around and get to work. I don't have the time to wait on you while you chat with everyone. Same goes to the rest of you."

The members then went off to different areas of the room, to prepare or do whatever it was they did. Roxas really never knew what the other members did when he was out on missions. He knew it was probably something important, but couldn't figure out what it was.

As he was getting his items he passed by Demyx, who was sitting on one of the couches. He was quietly strumming his sitar with a cheerful look on his face. He looked over at Roxas, " I love days when Larxene is out. I can sit around playing my sitar...instead of being a gopher!" His little smile faded away, "Well… until Axel yells at me to stop…I hardly ever get to have time to practice."

Roxas shrugged at Demyx's comment. He didn't play an instrument like him so he didn't know how to respond. After all his items were garther he went up to Axel to get his mission report.

Axel flipped through some papers before handing them over to Roxas, "So, you're paired up with Xion again today. Blah blah...you should hopefully understand what you are doing now. So go and complete your mission."

Roxas and Xion headed out into Twilight Town again. They went along their mission to defeat some Heartless like they had the last time. Again neither of them spoke to one another, so it created some awkward tension. But Roxas pushed through it. It wasn't all that bad, but Roxas did wish that they were able to talk a little to each other. Once their mission was complete the two walked back to the Dark Corridor.

A few feet away from it, Roxas stopped. "I have something to do again today. Go on without me." Roxas turned around and started to walk away, knowing Xion would have nothing to say back.

"R… Roxas…" A faint voice spoke from behind him.

"Huh?" Roxas asked as he turned around, looking at Xion. "Did you say something?"

Xion turned to face Roxas, her hood still up, "Your name… is Roxas. Isn't it?"

Roxas slowly nodded. He was surprised at this. He didn't think that Xion would ever say a word. "Yeah… that's right."

Xion then turned to leave through the Dark Corridor. Roxas was alone again, but now he had new thoughts to think over. He slowly made his way to get ice cream and then headed to the clock tower. Sitting on the clock tower he thought more about Xion, still wondering about what she said.

"My name… Was that the first thing Xion ever said?" He wondered to himself. He tried thinking back to when Xion first arrived to try to remember if she had said anything beforehand. But Roxas still had some fuzzy memories from back then. "If Saix were here...he would probably know." Roxas said with a sigh he continued to eat his ice cream.

Roxas Diary Entry: Day 24

I was teamed up with No. XIV again today. We finally talked a little...Xion even said my name for the first time.
Afterwards I had ice cream by myself again. Saix still hasn't come back yet.
The lady at the shop said you can trade the 'Winner' stick for an extra bar. But I can't eat more than one.
I wonder when Saix will be back.

The next day when Roxas entered the Grey Room he walked right up to Xion. He had begun to wonder if Xion would talk to him again. "Morning, Xion." He said as he walked over to her. Her hood was still up and she didn't say anything. "Umm...something the matter?"

"Good...morning….Roxas…" Xion finally said, although it was almost inaudible.

Before Roxas could try to talk to Xion anymore Axel came into the room, his hands full of papers. "Hey zombies, stop standing around and get prepared for today! There is a giant Heartless that has shown up and I would like it if it could be eliminated sometime today. Preferably now. I don't pay you two to sit around and chat."

"But...you don't even pay us…" Roxas stated. He never got anything for doing any missions before. He just had to always fill out those annoying mission reports after each mission. There was nothing he did for the Organization that he got "paid" for.

Axel glared with a look of annoyance, "I pay you by not burning your ass. Now unless you want me to punish you for slacking, like I have done to Demyx before, get going already!"

Not wanting to deal with, or make Axel even more angry, Roxas and Xion immediately left for their mission. The two entered out onto the Side Street of Twilight Town.

"Roxas," Xion said, drawing the attention of him. She reached up and pulled off her hood and revealed her face. She had short black hair and deep blue eyes. "Good luck today."

"Th-thanks. You too, Xion," Roxas said as he started with surprise. He knew that Xion had a face, but he didn't ever think that he would see her taking off her hood. Roxas still wondered why she had kept her hood on for so long, but he didn't feel like asking at the moment. They had a mission to do.

They headed up to the Station Plaza where the Heartless was said to be roaming around. As they looked around the ground shook as a large Heartless appeared behind them. Standing several feet tall was a Darkside Heartless and it was preparing to strike. Roxas and Xion went right into fighting it. The battle when on for a little while, but eventually the Darkside smacked its hand down at Roxas, knocking him back and causing him to drop his keyblade. In a flash of light the keyblade appeared in Xion's hand. Without anytime to think what just happened Xion ran at the Darkside and delivered the final blow.

"Whoa!" Roxas said as he stood back up, "Xion, I didn't know you could use the keyblade."

"Yeah… neither did I."

Roxas thought for a moment. He thought it was amazing that Xion was able to use the keyblade. He had thought he was the only one that could do it, but now here was Xion. She really had shown a lot of effort today in the battle and that caused Roxas to remember back to his first mission with Saix. An idea formed in his head.

"You did great. In fact, you deserve a little something extra," Roxas said as he stated walking up to the station.

Xion tilted her head, "Something extra?"

"Yeah, a reward for your effort today. C'mon. There's this place I wanna show you, but first…" Roxas trailed off, "Wait here a moment." He ran off towards the main area of Twilight Town, where all the shops were. When he returned he had Xion follow him up to the top of the clock tower.

Xion looked around, "How'd you find such a great place?"

The two of them sat down as Roxas handed an ice cream bar over to her, "Here ya go." Xion reached out and took the ice cream. "It's called Sea-salt ice cream. Go ahead and try it."

"Okay…" Xion said as she looked over to Roxas before looking back at her ice cream and taking a bite. "It's sweet. But kinda salty, too."

"It's really good right? Saix and I always meet up here after work for the day." Roxas said before taking a bit of his own ice cream. "Sea-salt is Saix's favorite flavor."

Xion giggled, "Sounds like it's yours, too!"

"Heh, yeah… I don't remember it very much, but Saix said he brought me here my very first day with the Organization and that we had ice cream. Then after my first mission Saix brought me here to have ice cream again. Saying that it was 'a reward for my effort'."

"Like what you said to me?" Xion asked.

Roxas nodded, "Exactly."

"You guys must be really close."

"Well, Saix and I are friends. He's my first friend." Roxas explained.

"Friends… Roxas, do you think I could be a friend?"

Roxas pondered for a moment. He didn't know what Saix would think, but Roxas didn't think it would hurt. "When Saix gets back, we can ask him. Then we all can have ice cream together."

"Okay." Xion responded cheerful as she took another bit of her ice cream.

Roxas Diary Entry: Day 25

Today was my third day with Xion. I have gotten to know a little more about her. I even saw her face! She can also use to keyblade, just like me!

After we finished our mission I took her to the clock tower for ice cream, but I am holding on to the 'winner' stick. I want to show it to Saix and get him a free ice cream when he returns. Xion also wants to have ice cream with us from now on. Maybe we'll be friends. I think it will be nice.

The following morning Roxas woke up and got out of his bed. Roxas yawned and stretched, "I wonder what today's mission is. I hope it's with Xion." While Roxas hoped that his mission was with Xion, he also kept hoping that today would be the day Saix returned. He already had so much he wanted to tell him.

Roxas headed into the Grey Room and overheard a conversation coming from Demyx and Xigbar. Roxas walked a little closer to hear what they were talking about.

"... Then what in blazes did happen?" Xigbar asked.

Demyx shook his head, "Don't look at me, man. I just found out minutes ago."

"Is everything okay?" Roxas asked.

"Okay? As if. Word has it at least one of the folks we sent to Castle Oblivion has been terminated."

Roxas's eyes widened, "Terminated? But that means…" Roxas started to think about Saix. Was he the one terminated or was he safe? Many questions began to form in Roxas's head over this news.

Axel entered the room and walked over Roxas. He handed over the mission papers to Roxas briskly, "Today you get to go to another world. You are going to go to Agrabah with Xigbar. Get ready."

"Um… Is it true about Castle Oblivion?" Roxas asked. He had a feeling that Axel probably would not tell him, but he had to try at least.

"That is not something you need to be concerned about," Axel stated as he looked over the other remaining papers in his hand.

"But what about Saix?"

Axel looked up from his papers, giving a cynical smile towards Roxas, "I don't know. Maybe he was the one that was terminated."

Roxas covered his mouth as he gasped, "But…"

Before Roxas could continue Axel grabbed onto his wrist. He squeezed it tightly, causing Roxas to wince. Axel's eyes seemed to be filled with frustration and anger. "No buts. Just shut the hell up. I will not tolerate you asking so many stupid questions today. I got a lot of work to do dealing with what happened. It isn't fun. So stop asking me about what happened at Castle Oblivion and get to your mission. Or there will be consequences. Understood?" Axel squeezed Roxas's wrist a little tighter.

Roxas slowly nodded. He muttered quietly through gritted teeth, "Understood…"

"Louder so I can actually hear your pitiful response." Axel instructed harshly, not once loosening his grip on Roxas's wrist.

"I understand," Roxas said, speaking up a little louder. He wanted to say something more, but he knew it was not a good idea to speak out against Axel.

Axel let go of Roxas's wrist, giving a cold-hearted sneer, "Good. Now let me know when you are ready to leave. Don't take forever."

Roxas nodded as he went to prepare for his mission, rubbing his now sore wrist as he did so. He could help thinking about what happened at Castle Oblivion though. Was Saix the one who was terminated? Or was Axel just saying that to mess with him? Roxas didn't know and now he had worried thoughts floating around in his head. He knew he couldn't ask Axel about it, but maybe he would try to ask Xigbar during their mission.

As soon as Roxas was ready he and Xigbar headed out to Agrabah to conduct some recon. Though during the mission Xigbar wasn't all to helpful on giving any information. He didn't seem to know anything more about what happened, nor did it seem he really cared about it. Xigbar kept telling him though if he just focused on the mission and got it down he could maybe get some answers back at the castle. Roxas went about the mission with Xigbar until he started feeling light headed. When they returned to the Dark Corridor his head started to hurt even more and then he collapsed.

And that wraps up Chapter 4.

Only diaries from Roxas this time as Saix is off doing Castle Oblivion stuff.

Next chapter will be the Castle Oblivion Arc with Saix since Roxas is now asleep for a while. So I shall get working on that.

Until then, thanks for reading! See you guys next time!