Part Two

The seven friends began the day with Axel and Isa showing them around their old neighborhood. It had seemed so long ago that they had been there. After a while of walking, the group of friends soon stopped at an unassuming house on the corner of the street.

"Here's where I used to live," Axel smiled, but soon frowned. "It's.. Been a while since I've been here.."

"Axel?"

Axel turned to Roxas and gave him a weak smile.

"It's in the past now.." he responded. "W-what matters now is being sure you enjoy the day."

Roxas looked a bit concerned but soon nodded. Soon they continued onward with Axel and Isa leading the way. As they began to head farther into the town, Roxas began to feel the dull pain in his head beginning to grow stronger, causing him to stagger a bit and wince as he rubbed his head. Taking notice of this, Sora turned around.

"Roxas?"

The young blonde glanced up, his vision blurring slightly. Roxas shook his head to clear it.

"Roxas, are you okay?" Sora asked, making his way over.

"Y..yeah.." he muttered softly.

He soon straightened himself up again.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Sora looked at him with growing concern.

"Maybe we should head back to-"

"NO! N-no, I'll be fine." Roxas replied. "B-besides, Axel's right.. I just needed some rest for a while."

Sora continued to look at him, nervously biting his lip.

"Sora, it's fine." Roxas replied. "I'll be fine."

Sora wanted to protest but soon nodded before turning to join with the others. Roxas hung back for a moment, taking in a shaky breath as he fought back a wave of nausea before taking off after the others.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

The seven friends spent the day together, seeing everything that Radiant Garden had to offer as they enjoyed the sights of the town. They traveled through the many districts, laughing and joking as they enjoyed the warm weather and events going on during the day. Roxas laughed as he followed behind his friends, running through the town square as he and Axel engaged in a race to see who would win in a race.

As they were nearing the town's fountain, the lightheaded feeling began to return and Roxas began to feel dizzy. He however, continued to push onward as he hurried to join his friends near the fountain.

Roxas soon began to feel the dizziness growing stronger and could feel a heaviness overtaking him. He felt.. Tired.. As Roxas slowed to a halt, he glanced up to see his friends' confused and then concerned expressions before he saw the world tip to the side and his legs gave out. Sora and the others gazed on horror as Roxas collapsed to the ground.

"ROXAS!"

Axel was the first to hurry to his friend's side. Very carefully, he rolled Roxas onto his back. Roxas was hit with a wracking coughing fit as he was rolled onto his back. Sora and the others hurried over to them.

Roxas looked up at Axel, his eyes half-lidded as he lay in his arms.

"Axel.. I-it's okay.." he rasped, and Axel was shocked to hear how weak and breathless his words were.

"Roxas! H-hang on buddy, we'll get you some help!"

"Axel.. It's.. Okay.."

Roxas gave him a weak smile. Axel stared at him for a moment before his vision began to blur.

"No, y-you're going to be FINE!" Axel assured, clutching his friend close, refusing to let him go.

"Ax.."

Axel froze at the use of his old nickname. Roxas took several long breaths, his eyes locked on Axel's.

"It's gonna.. Be okay.."

Axel's eyes grew wide as he looked at him, feeling tears beginning to well up in his eyes

"Roxas, I...I don't want you to go." he whispered, feeling hot tears start to cascade down his cheeks.

Roxas reached up to place a hand on his shoulder, only managing to have it rest on Axel's arm as he looked up at his best friend.

"You.. W-were the greatest friend I ever had.. T-thanks for e-everything.. Axel.."

He sunk further into Axel's arms, his eyes slowly drifting shut.

"R-Roxas?"

Axel gave him a gentle shake.

"R-Roxas! C'mon buddy, w-wake UP!"

Axel stared in horror as the boy he had always known as a close friend began to grow pale until his skin was a chalky white, Roxas's features slowly blurring until all that remained was a blank white face. Axel gently pulled the hood of the coat over the form's face, unwilling to look at it any longer.

Having heard the commotion, Ienzo had hurried out of the castle as a sinking feeling overtook him. At reaching the town's fountain, Ienzo skid to a halt as he took in the scene.

"Lea?"

At hearing Ienzo's voice, Axel clenched his eyes shut as fresh tears streamed down his face.

"Lea, I understand that you are in pain.."

Axel refused to look at Ienzo and only held the Replica tighter.

"Roxas.." he choked out. "R-Roxas.. I'm so sorry.."

Axel continued to hold the chalk-white humanoid mannequin which had once been so alive.

"T-this is all my fault.. I s-shouldn't have.." he stumbled over his words as he spoke to the inanimate object. "I should've LISTENED!"

Everyone around him was silent.

"Y-you were the first one to m-make me feel like I h-had a heart.." Axel choked out. "...and y-you were like a younger brother to me.."

He pulled back to look at what had once been his best friend.

"I'm so sorry..."

Sora slowly approached Axel's side, placing a hand on his shoulder like he expected him to knock it away. Axel turned to look at him. Sora stared back as his own tears slipped down his cheeks. Kairi, Riku, and Xion joined him, Isa soon doing the same.

Xion reached out to take the mannequin's hand, holding it tight. She didn't care if it had been an empty vessel, for she knew he was once her best friend, and nothing would ever change that. Xion gave the Replica a soft peck on the cheek as more tears slipped free down her face which soon dissolved into wracking sobs as she wrapped her arms around the limp form of what had once been Roxas, her tears falling onto its chest and neck. Sora and the others remained silent as they mourned over the loss of their friend.

They were unsure of how long they had been there, but it was soon evident that a crowd was beginning to gather around the group of friends. Axel looked up at the growing crowd and shooed them away with the threats of violence if they didn't leave. Sora felt a sudden warmth washing over him, making him look up. He soon turned to Axel. Hesitating for a moment, Sora finally spoke up.

"He's not gone.." he told him. "Not completely.."

Axel turned to look at him. Before Axel could ask him what hw could possibly mean, Sora placed a hand over his own heart and smiled as tears slipped down his cheeks.

"He's here."

Axel was about to yell at him for saying such a thing, but stopped as he realized Sora was right. Having been Sora's Nobody, Roxas had likely returned to Sora after-.

"The sun sets red because red travels the farthest." Sora suddenly stated.

Axel was confused at first as had never told Sora this. However, as the pieces clicked into place, Axel's eyes grew wide.

"Roxas.."

Sora smiled, the expression very much like his blonde counterpart. Axel moved closer to Sora and soon hugged him tight, Sora returning the hug.

"I'm still here, Axel.." Sora said, his voice now taking a very familiar tone Axel knew very well.

Xion took notice of the change as well, soon joining in the hug as Riku and the others did the same. Ienzo watched them with a soft smile before turning back to the Replica on the ground. He knew someday he would find a way to once again bring Roxas back like he had in the past. Though it may take time, there was no doubt that Roxas would return again someday.

The End

Author's Note: There had been many thoughts of trying to have the outcome be different, but in the end i had decided to end with this, as it would be a more fitting end to the story.. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the story and have a great day