Ch.16

Night came sooner than expected, but then again neither Roxas or the others were paying attention to the time. They had spent a lot of time trying to figure out more information. They specifically were trying to find one thing.

They wanted to know what the fabled weapon of light was. If they could find out more about that, then they would have something. They would have an idea how to get rid of Ansem. That would be taken care of, but the fate of everything still in the mansion was another task.

Roxas yawned before stretching his arms out. He finally took the chance to glance at the clock. It was already half past midnight.

He sighed. He almost couldn't believe how much time had gone by. The entire day had been spent researching and they still weren't all that far. Many of the leads they thought they had ended up being dead ends.

"I think we should call it a night," Roxas said.

The three others looked up from their computers. All of them had the same tired look. Roxas could only assume he has the same expression as they did. Slowly he ran his hands over his face.

"Sorry this day was a waste…" he mumbled from under his hands.

"Don't say that Roxas," Kairi interjected. "We've learned a lot today. We may not have found out everything, but I think we got a good bit."

"Yeah, Kairi's right. We learned there is a way to defeat Ansem, but we just need to find out where it is," Sora added.

"But where could it even be? Does it still exist? What if it doesn't? And what if it isn't in this town?" Roxas spat out. His mind was racing with hundreds of questions. Hundreds of questions he wasn't sure had answers.

"Roxas, I'm sure we will figure-" Riku started to say.

"And what if this weapon of light is in another town? We can't just up and go out there to search for it. And… And what if the longer we wait… the less likely is it that we can defeat him…"

Roxas lowered his head. He tried his best to hold his feelings back. The last thing he wanted was to break down crying again in front of his friends. He was suppose to be strong yet all of this felt far too heavy.

Kairi moved from her spot on the floor and stood next to Roxas. He could feel her hand gentle rest on his shoulder. He started to feel less secure about holding in what was burning up inside of him. All of his worries and fears were trying to break out and reveal themselves.

"Roxas," Kairi asked softly. "I know this is hard. None of us expected it to happen. But we can't lose hope or give up. We're doing this for Ventus. For Vanitas. And for everyone else who is still trapped in that mansion."

Hearing Ventus's name was what broke the wall he was trying to keep. His eyes watered, and his heart started to ache. Not wanting to show his tears to his friends again, he quickly buried his face into his hands. He only hoped he could muffle his sobs. But he knew his friends and they knew him. He couldn't easily hide what he was feeling from them.

"What if we fail? Wh-What if it's too late? If we wait too long it could be too late to save Ven… an… and then h-he'll be stuck there. F-Forever…"

Kairi moved closer to Roxas and embraced him. Riku and Sora took note of Roxas's state and stood up. They had been Roxas's friend for only a few years. Kairi was the one that knew him first and that's how they met. But in that short time they had gotten to know one another. And they knew that Roxas hardly ever showed this side of him. He rarely showed a negative outlook towards anything.

But now here they were. And there was Roxas; broken and hurt.

They moved closer before joining in the embrace. They wanted to help Roxas as much as possible. Neither of them knew what it must have been like for Roxas to see Ventus attacked by Ansem. They hadn't even seen Ansem. They only knew based on the images they found online and what Roxas described. And from that, it must have been terrifying.

"I'm a-afraid… afraid I'll fail and never see him again," Roxas murmured as he felt the warm embraces of his three friends.

"You can't give up," Kair said, keeping a strong determination in her tone. "But Roxas, if you need to talk about it, we're here for you."

"You can tell us," Sora said, adding on to what Kairi was talking about. "We don't want to see you struggling alone on this."

"But Namine trusted me. She wants me to find a way… and I just… I don't know…"

Now it was Riku's turn to add to the helpful words. "That doesn't mean you bash yourself over the head with it. Namine may have asked you to help, but we aren't going to let you do it all on your own."

"B-But…"

"No buts," Kair said. "We are going to keep trying. And that is that, right guys?"

Kairi looked towards Riku and Sora who nodded in agreement. Roxas raised his head to see them nodded. They then looked to Roxas and offered friendly smiles. He could see the honesty and sincerity in those smiles. They were his friends. They were his true, good-hearted friends who wouldn't turn their backs on him. And he couldn't be more grateful for that.

He closed his eyes to breath. He knew that was the first thing that had to come, otherwise his voice would crack and still sound dry and weak. He wanted to show his friends that he was strong like they were being. Though all of them were still afraid of what the mansion held, they were going in to this research with a fierce strength in their minds and hearts.

After a few moments passed, Roxas moved to stand up. His friends let go of him and stepped back as he got out of his chair. "Thanks guys. I guess I needed another peptalk to clear my head."

Sora smiled largely. "Always glad to give a pep talk to cheer people up."

Roxas smiled back. "Yeah I know." He glanced at the clock once more. He let out a yawn. "I think it may be best if we go to bed right now. I don't think researching without any brain power will be helpful."

Everyone nodded. They all were tired and could barely keep their eyes on their screens. Some well needed rest was what they all needed. And they all knew tomorrow would be another day to continue their search. But for now they needed to rest their weary minds, and hope that tomorrow could bring more information.

When Roxas first laid back in his bed, he wasn't sure he would be able to sleep. The day had started with him waking from a nightmare and the rest was spent researching. But he found out that his mind was exhausted. The moment hit head rested against the pillow, he was out.

His mind finally was calm and started to drift into dreamland. And everything started with a white blurry would around him.

It was weird. He was standing in a white word, and somehow in his mind he knew he was dreaming. It was the weirdest feeling he ever had. He couldn't remember if he had ever had a dream like this. A dream where he knew he was dreaming… it felt weird.

Roxas started to walk about the white world. But it was only blank and white in every direction.

"What even is this place?" Roxas thought as he wandered across the vacant land.

"It's where we can talk without Ansem knowing," a voice answered.

Roxas jumped, caught by surprise from the sudden presence of someone else. He whipped around and saw Namine standing behind him. Though she faced Roxas, her eyes not looking at him. Her expression was troubled as she fidgeted with her hands.

"Namine?" Roxas asked.

He breathed slowly as he took a step near her. He remembered what she said to him last night. Was this going to be the same? Was she going to ask him to save her and all the rest again? He waited to see what she was going to do, but she didn't move her eyes up to Roxas's gaze.

"Uh… Namine?" Roxas asked again, taking another step closer.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice was quiet and weak.

She lowered her head, waiting to keep herself from looking at Roxas. But that made him only more confused. He didn't understand why he would be dreaming Namine like this. She looked so sad and hurt for someone without the ability to feel emotions.

"Why are you sorry?" Roxas took another step and now was right besides Namine.

She seemed to have noticed her presence and shifted to the side. She bawled her hands into fists, hoping to keep them from fidgeting even more. But it only showed how shaky her hands really were.

"You know… in a dream, I can pretend. I can dream anything I want. I can even dream… that I have emotions," Namine said. "But it still doesn't actually help me understand how I would feel with them. I can mimic what it would be like all I want… but it's not the real thing."

Roxas stared at Namine as she talked. Confusion sinked into his mind as he listened. "Why is she talking about this? I don't get it… Why am I dreaming about her saying this?"

"I really wanted to understand emotions. I wanted to be able to feel them. I hoped one day there would be a way to stop Ansem and reverse what he's done. B-But… I wasn't thinking when I asked you. I'm sorry if I put too much pressure on you."

"Namine, it's… it's okay," Roxas spoke softly. "I've found out a lot. There is a way to defeat Ansem, or at least the creature he became. There some weapon of light or something. We haven't figured out what it is yet, but I know we can do it."

He hoped that he could comfort Namine, now starting to understand her view point. He never had given it much thought in the short time since meeting her. But now he saw how she must feel... or wished to feel.

Namine shook her head. "It's not okay. I used you to try and save all of us. I just did what I wished I could do and now it's all my fault…"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Roxas said as he reached out to place a hand on Namine's shoulder.

She pulled away and raised her head. While her voice had kept the same tone and strength the entire time, tears were flowing town her eyes. "I did though. Roxas… and now it's all for nothing."

Namine stared right into his eyes. Her blue eyes wide and hurt. "Ansem knows that I let you escape. And now… he has forced my hand."

Roxas's own eyes widened. Taking a step back, he tried to think what Namine could possibly mean. Though in his stomach he could feel an uneasy knot forming. Something in his mind was telling him that this was not actually a regular dream. Everything felt too surreal. Too serious. There was no way that this was just a regular dream.

"Is it possible that Namine has powers to do this? She entered my dream to talk to me? If so… there has to be some reason for it."

He waited for Namine to answer, but she closed herself off again. She tightened her composure and took another step away.

When Roxas realized that Namine wasn't going to answer, he saw that he had to continue to question. "Namine. What do you mean? What did Ansem do?"

Namine breathed out slowly. "He's making me bring you back to the mansion, otherwise… he'll hurt Vanitas."

"Wait what?! But I haven't finished researching how to defeat Ansem! How did he even know?"

More tears trailed down Namine's face. She shook her head back and forth. "I can't… I'm sorry Roxas. I didn't want it to end up like this. I'm really sorry Roxas. I'll understand if you don't choose to forgive me…"

"Namine! Wait! I don't understand what's going to-"

Even though the world around them was white and bland, everything started to blur. Roxas opened his mouth to continue speaking, but his brain could no longer process anything. He tried to move, but even his body refused to listen.

The last thing he saw was Namine staring at him with sadness in her eyes.

Kairi shifted in her sleeping bag. She had been tossing and turning for a while and she had yet to fall asleep. As she turned onto her left side, she heard something move in the room. She opened her eyes, and looked around. With being awake for so long her eyes were perfectly adjusted to see who was moving around.

Across the room she saw Roxas get up from his bed and slowly shuffle out the door. Kairi figured he may have been going to the bathroom, but for some reason her gut was telling her otherwise.

Kairi crawled out of her sleeping bag and tiptoed to the door of the room. She peered her head out of the door and saw Roxas shuffling slowly down the hall. She watched as he walked right past the bathroom and started to walk down the stairs.

That was when she really know that something was off. "Roxas?"

There was no response. Roxas only continued down the stairs.

"Roxas!" Kairi said. She raised her voice slightly as she walked over to the top of the stairs. "Hey Roxas! Where are you going?"

Roxas still did not answer. He didn't even stop or look back. There was no indication that he had even heard her. Kairi ran down the stairs and turned to face Roxas as he approached the bottom.

When she looked at him, she gasped in shock. She looked at his eyes, and what she saw wasn't what she expected. His eyes weren't closed, but instead wide open. But his eyes were glazed and vacant looking. He seemed to be spaced out as he wandered closer and closer to them.

Without blinking or stopping, Roxas kept walking. It was almost like he didn't even see Kairi. She reached around and held on to his wrist. "Roxas! Can you hear me? Are you okay? Are you awake?"

Roxas once again didn't even stop walking. He kept moving on and Kairi almost lost her balanced. She let go of Roxas so she wouldn't fall over or be dragged by him, but she had seen enough. She knew something was wrong.

Trying to hold in a panicked breath, she bolted up the stairs and back to the bedroom where she switched on the lights. "Sora! Riku! Wake up!"

The boys groaned, shielding their eyes from the sudden light. Kairi took no time in waiting on them. She ran over to them and shook them both by their shoulders. "Guys, come on! Something is weird with Roxas!"

Riku was the first of the two to sit up. "Weird with Roxas? What…" He yawned briefly. "What do you mean?"

"He's just walking down the stairs and he isn't listening. I'm really worried."

"Maybe he sleep walks?" Sora suggested.

"I don't think this is sleepwalking. Come on please." Kairi jumped to her feet and headed out of the bedroom door, not waiting for the others to respond.

Sora and Riku looked at each other, both having a mix of tired and confused looks. They got up and headed out to find Kairi already down the stairs and out the front door. Roxas was also nowhere in sight.

Riku and Sora, now worried and wake, ran out the front door and began to look for where Kairi and Roxas where. Thankfully Kairi was only a few feet in front of them. They picked up their pace and caught up to her.

"Where's Roxas?" Riku asked.

"He's up ahead I think," Kairi replied.

All three of them picked up speed and ran to where they thought Roxas may be. It wasn't too taxing on them mainly because Roxas was still walking at such a slow pace. When they got to him, they stood in front of him, hoping that they would be able to stop him.

"Roxas! Snap out of it! It's the middle of the night!" Sora shouted, but Roxas kept walking.

He walked right up to them, his eyes still dazed and unfocused. Without even stopped he pushed right past them. He didn't even hesitate or look in their direction. He kept on walking down the street, leaving the other three surprised. They watched him walk until he turned a corner.

"Where do you think he is headed?" Kairi asked once she regained her thoughts and began to walk again.

"I don't know… but isn't this path heading towards the Underground Tunnel area?" Riku asked as he quickly rounded the corner, trying to keep Roxas in sight.

"Yeah, but why he is walking that way?" Sora asked. He suddenly gasped. "What if it's the mansion's doing? Or Ansem's? Like Roxas entered the mansion, but escaped. Maybe he's being called back cause he wasn't supposed to do that."

Riku hummed as he thought over the idea. "I guess that could be a reason. But how he is going to get there? Pence closed the tunnels."

"I'm guessing that how," Kairi added as she pointed to what was ahead of them.

Roxas was standing before the gate that lead to the tunnels. The gate had a slight glow to it as it opened. Once again Riku, Sora, and Kairi were surprised. Within just a few days they had learned that magic still existed. And they were now seeing it in action. All of them only wished the circumstances were not as dire as they currently were, otherwise it would have been more enjoyable and amazing.

"We gotta stop him!" Kairi ran forward and to grab onto Roxas before he headed down into the tunnel system. " Roxas snap out of it!"

A flash of light burst around Roxas and Kairi was knocked to the ground. Riku and Sora ran up to her and helped up, not watching as Roxas walked on.

"You okay, Kairi?" Sora asked.

"I'm fine. But that was so weird. I went to try and hold him again, but something prevented me."

"I think I'll take a wild guess and say it was magic again," Riku answered.

Once the three of them were ready they followed into the tunnel system. They walked down the dark path. With the urgency from Kairi, none of them had thought to bring a flashlight. They were nearly encased in the darkness of the tunnels. But their eyes were already adjusted to the darkness that it was not as bad as they had thought.

They kept close together as they walked further through. Eventually they came to the gate that lead out to the mansion. It was already open which mean that Roxas was still ahead of them. Once they saw the faint moonlight from the end of the tunnel, they ran.

They ran all the way until they approached the mansion's gate. There they saw that it was already open and Roxas was halfway to the doors. Kairi pushed herself to go faster. She had to make to to Roxas before he got back in the mansion. She had to try. She wasn't about to lose one of her best friends to a cursed mansion.

"Kairi wait!"

Kairi was yanked back before she could cross onto the lawn. She looked back to see Riku was the one to grab and pull her back. She was about to protest, but the sound of the gate slamming shut answered her questions.

"Riku, let go of me! We have to get to Roxas!"

"And get trapped there like him? Think for a moment Kairi. If we go in there after him, we'll be trapped just like the rest."

"But…"

Kairi tried to say more, but she couldn't find her words anymore. She glanced to Roxas who now had walked through the doors. She tried to break from Riku's hold, but he kept his grip firm and tight. She wanted to break free though. Roxas was going to be trapped! Why couldn't they try something!

It seemed at least Sora was going to try something. He ran right up to the gate and held onto the bars. "ROXAS!" Sora shouted as loudly as he could while shaking the bars of the gate. "Snap out of it! Come back before it's too late!"

Roxas never heard anything Sora said and fully entered the mansion. The doors slammed behind him and now there was no way of knowing what was happening inside. Sora's hands tightened onto the bars. He felt a burst of anger inside of him at the sight of the doors closing. He wasn't ready to lose his friend. Using all his strength he started to climb up the gate.

"Sora! Get off there. We don't need you getting trapped as well," Riku scolded while trying to keep Kairi from doing the same thing as Sora.

"But someone has to go in after him! Maybe it's not too late!" Sora replied quickly.

Riku shook his head. "No! It's too risky! We have to go back and continue researching!

Just as Sora was ready to respond, a light glowed from the center of the lawn. All three looked at a young girl in a white dress appeared.

Namine.

"Please. You all must go back."

"But Roxas…" Sora said, he lowered his voice.

None of them had actually seen Namine up close. They only had seen her once the first time Roxas ran into the mansion. But now here she way, only a few feet away from the gate.

"You all must leave. Ansem is current… distracted with… Roxas. You need to turn back before he finished. And if you can, please continue to find information. I doubt we can do much here… but we can try."

"I don't want to leave Roxas though!" Kairi replied.

"I'll make sure he will be okay. I promise… but please leave now."

"Isn't there anything else you can do?" Sora asked. "Surely you can do something."

Namine shook her head. "No I can't. But I can keep you from being caught now. So please… I'm sorry…"

Namine raised her hand and moved her fingers slightly. A white glow formed around the gate. A bright flash was produced and Sora yelled in shock. He felt his fingers loosen around the bars, which now felt searing hot. The world around him seemed to move in slow motion as he saw he was falling back from the gate.

He closed his eyes tightly and braced for hitting the cold ground. But to his surprise it never happened. He opened his eyes and saw he was encased in the same glowing light. He was floating towards the ground. When he got close enough he shifted and put his feet first and felt them resting firmly on the ground.

Kairi and Riku watched and Sora turned around, and collapse right to the ground. Riku finally let go of Kairi and ran over to Sora. He felt a huge bit of relief when he saw that Sora was still breathing.

Quickly he turned to Namine. "What did you do?!"

Namine shook her head again, this time more vigorously. "I can't explain now. He'll be fine. But please… please leave. You need to hurry now."

Riku wanted to argue, but he realized that Namine was right. They had to get out of there now, unless they wanted to end up trapped. No matter what, they still had to solve the mystery of defeating Ansem. Otherwise it would be over for all of them.

Riku scooped up Sora into his arms and turned around. Kairi opened her mouth to protest, but she saw the serious look in Riku's eyes. It was a look that he only showed when he was truly serious about a matter. And right now escaping what that matter.

The two of them ran without looking back. If they had looked back, they would have seen Namine watching them run. Her hands clasped and over her chest. Once again trying to imagine what it would be like to have emotions. She knew she was putting on a big risk again. But this was all she had. She had to try.

If what Roxas briefly told her in the dream was true… there was a weapon of light out there. And it could be the key to defeating Ansem and breaking the curse. And that was all she needed to try and imagine hope again. Hope that this will all work out… even though Roxas was now apart of the mansion just like her.

Would you look at this. I updated another chapter relativity soon. I just got in a good swing and really wrote out crazy for this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed. And see you next time!