Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.

"Seriously? You had a sleepover?" Axel asked.

"Mm-hmm." Roxas nodded. "It was fun." He looked to Riku. "Hey, Ri, Sora's as big o' dork as you; his anime collection is bigger than yours, actually."

"Roxas!" Sora whined.

"Is that so?" Riku asked. "Maybe one day we can compare collections."

"Ooh, careful, Sora, he may just pounce you if you invite him over." Marluxia teased.

"Oh, will you shut up?" Sora asked, looking to the ghost. He then waved it off.

"It's interesting that you can talk to ghosts." Riku said, getting the idea that that's who Sora told to shut up. "Must be Marluxia, huh? That's the one you seem to talk to the most here."

"He's one of the few in school that's paid mind to me or can even see the living." Sora explained.

"So some can't see people? Just like we can't see ghosts?" Riku asked.

"Pretty much." Sora explained. "Even some ghosts can't see each other. It's like being in different dimensional planes but still in the same place."

"That's… both interesting and sad..." Axel said. "The afterlife has got to be lonely..."

"It can be as a ghost. I mean, I heard that the light is better, but… it's overrated." Marluxia commented. "Sora makes it better. So does picking on bullies and perverts when I can."

"And you need to stop that and just cross over, Marluxia." Sora said, crossing his arms. "The more you put it off, the harder it'll be, I'm sure. And Papa said that sometimes horrible things happen to ghosts who linger too long."

"I'll tell ya what, Sor, you find a way to get me unbound from this school and let me go to the mansion with you and find Lux, he crosses over, I'll go with him." Marluxia stated, pretty much bribing Sora.

"But I don't know how to do that. We don't even have any physical object of yours that could have bound you here." Sora stated, confusing the others. Zexion just put his hand up, silently telling the others to let his friend continue before explaining.

"Your bubbly water boy here has my old locker; they've not been replaced. I had a magnet in the locker; it was my favourite one that Larxene got me for my birthday during sophomore year. It was of a rose." Marluxia explained. "It's still in the locker, actually. It may be what's binding me here. Find a way to unbind me, then we can get on with things if you get permission for the manor. Maybe if you burn it..."

"I don't want to risk getting rid of you, though." Sora said. "There's a difference between getting rid of a ghost and crossing one over; Papa made sure I knew that by the time I was seven."

"Then carry it around. MaybeI'll be able to follow you." Marluxia responded.

"Oh yeah, I can imagine it now. Hey Papa, Marluxia here is following me around so I can take him to the manor with us if we get to go in. It'll be a lively sleepover. Hope you don't mind." Sora said in the most chipper and sarcastic voice. "You know what, fine. If it crosses over your flower loving ass-"

"Sora. Wow." Zexion chuckled, not used to Sora swearing in English.

"-then I will put up with you all week and hope we can get into that manor legally." Sora finished. "Okay?"

"This'll be fun! I won't even drain your electronics or surge the house!" Marluxia promised.

"So… are you two done?" Axel asked. "What was that about? I get that he wants to go to the mansion with us, thank you context clues."

"Dem… have you seen a rose magnet in your locker?" Sora asked.

"Huh? Yeah!" Demyx nodded. "It's been there a while and there's a note that says please keep this rose here for the one who loved it most." He was caught between excitement and horror. "Wait… was that Marluxia's locker?"

"Larxene's such a sweet girl, making sure my rose stayed." Marluxia hummed.

"That may be what's binding Marluxia… and he only wants to cross over if he has Luxord back… his friend who went missing and is most likely one of the many trapped souls." Sora said.

"Then we'll get it after school, okay?" Demyx asked.

"I've been here ten years. What's another few hours?" Marluxia asked, chuckling some.

"Yeah, he seems fine with it." Sora said, nodding.

"Just like how I last saw it..." Marluxia said, looking at the mansion, just barely passing the gate with the living. After school, the teens decided to look at the mansion again, mainly to find out if Sora saw anything again. This was also to see if it really was the magnet Marluxia was attached to; the moment it was removed from school, the pink haired ghost could walk off of the property, going with the others to check it out. "Don't worry, buddy, we'll find out what happened to you and everyone else." He stared a bit longer before sighing. "I see nothing… Sora?"

"I… I can't believe this..." Sora covered his mouth.

"Sora?" Riku asked, hand on the brunette's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Roxas, our research yesterday… it was thirteen deaths and fifty three disappearances?" Sora asked.

"Yeah, that's right." Roxas confirmed. "Why?"

"Either there are more from before there was a mansion… or there were more that were never confirmed to have involved this place..." Sora responded, earning worried looks from the others. "There are at least eighty in there… at least… at least… at… least..."

"Sora? Sora!" Zexion called as the boy collapsed, Riku's arms quickly going around the brunette so he didn't really fall and could be laid down.

"Huh?" Sora looked around, standing in a grand looking room; he figured it was the foyer according to the photos. "I didn't walk into the manor, though." He looked himself over. "Oh… this sensation… Papa called it astral projection. Guess I should be diligent. I feel fine, so my body should be fine, too." He sighed and walked up the grand staircase, wiping his hand up the banister, actually disturbing the dust. "If this place didn't eat people, it'd make an amazing bed and breakfast or even historical landmark museum."

He got to the top and took a left, heading down a hall. He didn't know where he was going, but it felt like he did know. "Hmm… odd. When Papa and I do this, we're more sensitive… but I can't detect any of the ghosts… well, haunted locations, ghosts tend to quiet down and wait when people first show up, so..."

Sora reached a room and opened it. It looked like an old nursery. He went to a wall and saw hand indentations in plaster with a name at the bottom. Xemnas.

"Daddy never lived here, though…" he said.

"His grandfather wanted him to." came a voice that made Sora turn around. There, sitting in a chair was Ventus, clear as day. "Good thing Xemnas' mother knew better. She let Xehanort have a few things, but… that was it. He had hoped to have Xemnas grow up here… that's why he had this nursery set up. But Xemnas never moved in. If he did… he'd have probably never left..."

"Ventus..." Sora whispered. "Where are the others?"

"Hiding." Ventus said. "They're afraid..."

"Of me?"

"Of the Light..." Ventus sighed. "They're so used to the Dark… but you… you're a light." He shook his head. "You can't stay long, Sora, not alone." He got up and went to the brunette. "If you're alone and you linger, you'll be found… and you'll get trapped. And you can't be trapped the way you are. You're separated from your body… just like what Saïx could do." He looked the boy over. "But you're different. You're even more powerful than Saïx."

"Yeah, Papa's told me that before, which is why he's so careful in teaching me so I can understand what is going on." Sora admitted. He then jumped at a sound, almost like a rumble through the house. "That can't possibly be an earthquake, right? Is the foundation sinking?"

"No, it's Xehanort." Ventus said, grabbing Sora's hand, the touch surprisingly warm to the brunette; normally when ghosts touched him, it was noticeably cold. "You need to get out, but first I have to show you something."

"The key?" Sora asked.

"No, I already gave you that clue." Ventus replied. He ran down another hall and into what looked to be a study. "In that safe is a locket… The locket acts as a key you'll need, just like the other key I showed you. Remember the combination. Thirteen. Seven. Twelve."

"Thirteen. Seven. Twelve." Sora repeated.

"I'll try to get more hints to you, Sora. You need seven keys to get to the Heart family's secret… one that died with Xehanort… and keeps us all trapped." Ventus explained. "Now, you need to leave the manor. Return to your friends… and try not to come back in without help. You are the Light, you're strong… but even a light will go out without fuel. Friends are the greatest power and source of energy."

"Right." Sora nodded. "I understand."

"You understand? Sora…?" Sora opened his eyes to see the others there, looking him over.

"I just got a big clue to finding a secret that died with Xehanort… one that keeps everyone stuck there." Sora responded.

"You're okay, though?" Zexion asked, looking concerned. "What happened? Was it astral projection?"

"Mm-hmm." Sora nodded. "And I'm fine and… um..." Sora looked to see he was resting on Riku's lap. He did his best to maintain the blush that tried to conquer his face. "So… let's go. I'm getting cold and could use some cocoa."

"Sounds good." Zexion nodded.

Heyo, lovelies!

Ah! The air is crisp, cooling off, and Sora's learning a bit more about the mansion. I'd make a horrible joke about Sora resting on Riku's lap and wanting cocoa, but it's probably best I don't.

Anywho! Until next time, you lovely people!

~chibi