For some months now, the investigation around Organization XIII got us only so far in our plans. Things have gradually begun to improve since I met Roxas, but I still only knew so much about the Nobodies. I've learned of them by name through talking with Roxas. The two of us have continued working together in various worlds to take out Heartless.

A really big obstacle? Getting around Axel. He nearly exposed me the other day if it weren't for Roxas interrupting. If only it wasn't so hard to get a hint of their plans.

What do they intend on doing? I need to find out.

DiZ and Namine have been working very hard with a way to prevent the Organization from infiltrating the mansion. A barrier that surrounds the entire place. No outsider, including us, can get inside without using the Keyblade to undo the seal. It protects Sora, so I'm glad he decided to do something about the security. I feel better knowing my friend doesn't immediately need me around.

As for Riku and I... we're hard at work with figuring out the Organization's true motives. He made contact with a girl named Xion, another Keyblade Wielder that uses the Kingdom Key. A friend of Roxas and Axel. Somehow, Riku was able to get some vital information off her concerning their headquarters.

Our mission together was to infiltrate their base of operations and get a closer look at Organization XIII. And, thanks to that information he gathered, we were able to get much closer to where we needed to be. Dangerous. Sure. However, the two of us together made it all that much better. We knew what we were doing, and it seemed like the Organization had no idea that we were even there. That was how it went for a time, at least. Until we discovered the whereabouts of a mysterious looking castle floating in the sky.

Only a matter of time before they caught onto us. Those empty husks of Nobodies that did their bidding were quite the problem, so the chances of it happening were rather high. A quick get in and get out. That was the plan. Our report to DiZ took place some days after our long mission was over.

"They will not let us do as we please for much longer," DiZ said, resting his gloved hands in his lap. The three of us- DiZ, Riku, and myself- sat in the dining hall to discuss the findings we made in the Organization's world. "I am astonished the both of you were able to return... whole."

"The World That Never Was..." Riku muttered. "Fitting name."

"Well, it's not like we could get very far with all those Nobodies running around," I sighed.

"Indeed," DiZ nodded. Wetting his lips with a cup of tea, the older gentleman let out a breath and shook his head. "The mission continues... We must hurry before time runs out. To ensure that our efforts for your friend do not go to waste, we must take the boy and rid ourselves of the anomaly."

"You mean Roxas?" I leaned forward with interest in his words. "Him and Xion."

"Yes, that is correct." He was very short with his response. And cold. The three of them were all connected, but it was hard to explain Xion. Roxas was much closer, I thought. He and Sora shared so many similarities, and the way he wielded the Keyblade was so much like Sora.

I don't want to betray his trust, even if we aren't exactly on the same side. My eyes closed as I leaned back into the chair. To save a friend and make the odds more favorable against the enemy, doing it this way was most likely the best way. It might have been the only way.

DiZ stood up a moment later and approached the door, his hands clasped behind his back. Wrapping his fingers around the knob, he cracked it open but stopped abruptly to look to us. "Riku, do what you can to retrieve Roxas," he said. Turning to me, his eye single to one goal, DiZ smirked softly in his drawn out pause. "I want you to remain behind and monitor the Organization's movements around town. See to it that they do not interfere."

"Really? That old job?" I groaned a little.

He left without uttering another word. When I looked at Riku, he only shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. Monitoring was such a tedious thing to do. I felt better being right in there with the action, not observing from afar.

"DiZ trusts you, and I do, too," Riku said, resting his hand on my shoulder. Keeping my arms folded, I shot him an unsure eye and pursed my lips. "Watch over Sora for me. I'll be back with Roxas real soon."

"I wish I could go with you," I looked up at my best friend. "Isn't it hard to do anything with that blindfold?"

"At least it keeps the darkness at bay." He gave a small smile and left to take care of this big mission. I was a little worried that he'd get hurt, but it was Riku. That guy knew how to get out of tight situations. But, would he resort to using the darkness in him to do it? I didn't want to have to dive into any dark abysses to drag him back.

Get back here safely. Quietly, I wished him the best. Soon after he left Twilight Town did I begin with my own mission of watching over the town. On occasion, I'd pay a visit to the basement to see what all there was to do for Sora. We were getting closer to waking him up, with the countdown drawing to a close.