Chapter 216: I just

They stepped out of the dark corridor and into a very… interesting place. Kairi paused and gaped as she took in her surroundings. Everything was some shade of grey, and there was a lot of incredibly large machinery. Not to mention a lot of open space in the not-quite walls that seemed to lead to a void of nothingness.

Kairi resolved to stay as close to the inside of the path as she could.

She turned to Riku. "I'm… assuming this isn't Castle Oblivion, is it?" she asked, jogging to catch up to him. He was setting a very brisk pace.

Riku shook his head. "Skipped that bit."

"Do you know where Namine is?" Kairi countered.

"One of the editing rooms, probably," Riku answered, voice tight. "Or if she's not there now, she will be eventually, so."

Editing room…? Kairi peered at Riku. "What's—"

"They only kidnapped her so they could Rewrite her to kill me," Riku said, before Kairi could finish asking. "So—"

"Holy shit," Kairi swore in surprise.

Riku turned and raised his eyebrows at her.

"Was anyone gonna tell me that bit?" she demanded.

"Now you see why we're on a ticking clock," Riku answered. Kairi figured if he wasn't so distraught, he might sound a little smug.

An uneasy thing roiled in her chest. Kairi didn't understand everything about being a Replica, but what Riku said had been pretty clear. It was a terrifying thought, at the least. If that happened to Namine—

Kairi shook her head and took the sick feeling in her stomach and the uneasy thoughts in her mind and locked them up where they couldn't reach her. It was going to be okay. They'd get there in time. They just had to hurry.

"How much time do we have?" she asked.

"I'd give them an hour, tops," Riku answered, his voice still tight.

Kairi nodded. Pushed the sick thing in her stomach back down. It was going to be fine.

She readjusted her bag, tightening the strap and fastening it to one of her belt loops, so it was secured against her lower back. Here, it was within reach, but nowhere where it would get in the way of movement. That taken care of, she lengthened her stride to keep up with Riku, grateful that her height came largely from her long legs.

They didn't get far before they were stopped by a large group of Nobodies. These looked different from the stringy ones Kairi was used to seeing—they looked more natural, and carried swords.

They were also efficiently blocking the path to the next area.

"Great, just what we don't have time for!" Riku snapped, summoning his blade. He hacked at the creatures to get them out of his way, pushing forward, grumbling the whole way. "Stick close to me," he called to Kairi. "I won't have time to come back for you if we get separated."

"That's a little harsh," Kairi muttered, but supposed she couldn't argue. Namine was in danger, after all.

She stuck close to Riku as told, and started helping clear out Nobodies. She didn't bother with light—that hadn't worked against the stringy ones—and instead went with Fire. It was pretty effective.

The sound of a Keyblade made Kairi perk up, and her heart skipped a beat before she could remind herself that Sora was not the only person who could wield a Keyblade. She looked around anyway, just in case, and found Roxas.

Had she not been avoiding being attacked, she would've waved or called out to him. He made his way over to them, cutting through the Nobodies with ease. Almost… too much ease…

"Oof!"

In her distraction, Kairi'd bumped into Riku. Actually, it wasn't even entirely her fault. He'd stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Roxas, a quiet snarl on his lips and anger in his eyes. Kairi frowned a little, wondering what warranted this attitude, when the Nobodies suddenly all pulled away from them and—

—and formed a very effective barricade in front of the entrance to the next area.

Roxas stood in front of the barricade, blade bared, a smirk on his face.

"How 'bout a friendly duel?" he asked.

"Now is not the time, Roxas!" Riku screamed.

Kairi looked between the two of them, still confused, but slowly piecing it together. The barricade. Riku's lack of patience with Roxas. The black cloak. She'd seen that cloak before.

How could she have been so blind?

"Yeah, that's sorta the point," Roxas laughed. He took a step back, preparing himself, then threw himself at Riku. Riku blocked just fine, but Roxas didn't seem fazed. "My orders were 'stall Riku'. So."

Kairi gaped.

"You work for- for Organization 13!?"

"Well, forgive me for having to keep hush hush about it," Roxas said. She couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. After a second, once he'd gained his ground, he flashed her a grin. "They don't pay me for killing Heartless, by the way."

"Why would I care?"

He shrugged.

Riku pulled away from Roxas, and ran at the wall of Nobodies. He barely even started attacking one when two others threw him back.

"Just thought you'd be interested," Roxas said, as he grabbed Riku by the arm and shoved him backwards. "I wouldn't bother with that again," he told Riku. "You really won't be able to get past."

Riku growled and attacked Roxas again. Roxas only laughed. He didn't seem too worried about Riku's attacks—he could block or avoid them all with incredible ease. After a few seconds of clanging blades, Roxas turned to Kairi again.

"By the way, Kairi! We still up for that beach date?"

Riku paused. Kairi blushed red, as angry as she was embarrassed. Riku turned to her, face scrunched up with surprise.

"You agreed to go on a date with him?"

"It all happened rather quickly!" Kairi protested. Her voice squeaked as she said it, and she cursed herself.

"So is that a no, or…?" Roxas shrugged. "I mean I totally get it if you don't want to. Especially after the whole finding-out-I-work-for-a-sketchy-Organization thing."

Kairi opened her mouth. Shut it again when the first noise that left her mouth was a squeak. She growled a little in frustration, then tried to speak again. It was still squeaky. She shut her mouth again and decided not to say anything.

"Damn! I was almost past them!" Riku shouted, as the Nobodies threw him back again. And, again, Roxas grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away from the wall of Nobodies.

"I am really sorry. I just have to follow orders," Roxas said. "Though I'd let you pass if you'd actually duel me."

Riku screamed very loudly before throwing three blasts of darkness at the ground.

"I'll duel you," Kairi said.

"Oh, I'd love to, but…" Roxas sighed. "I can't guarantee Riku's not going to slip off while we're dueling, and it's him I've got to stall. I guess I could always let you past—"

"I'm not leaving Riku behind," Kairi said, firmly. Also, she had no idea how to navigate this castle and would get thoroughly lost rather than be of any use to Namine, but, she didn't need to tell Roxas that.

Roxas shrugged again. "Okay. Up to you."

Kairi clucked her tongue in annoyance, and then grabbed Riku and dragged him further away from Roxas. She wanted to discuss a plan of action with him and would want to do it preferably not within earshot of Roxas.

"Okay, maybe we should distract him and then, like, dart past," Kairi suggested.

"IT'S NOT HIM IT'S HIS FRIKKEN SAMURAIS."

"That's why I suggested a duel!" Roxas sang.

"Shut up!" Kairi shouted, sending a glare at him. "Riku—" She stopped there, grimacing. Riku wasn't going to be any use at this point. He was too frustrated and likely incoherent. She chewed her lip, thinking.

How could she distract Roxas? And she needed to distract him enough for him to call off his Nobodies—Samurais. The more she thought about it, the more she thought convincing Riku to just duel Roxas would be faster.

Unless…

"Roxas, I take that shut up back." She took a few steps closer to him, so she wouldn't quite be yelling at him. She took a breath, preparing herself. There was no telling what effect this question would have—if it had any. But it was something.

"Who's Xion?"

Roxas stopped completely, and his arms dropped to his sides, his blade going slack in his hand. His eyes glazed over, too, staring unfocused at Kairi. "Xion?" he repeated, then let out a wistful sigh. After a moment, he blinked, and his eyes focused again. The grip on his blade didn't tighten. "I don't know anyone named Xion. It's a nice name, though…"

"Y'sure?" Kairi asked. "Because you totally accidentally called me Xion the other day."

"…did I?"

Roxas's expression was completely blank. He kept blinking, as if trying to get himself to focus, but the distant look kept returning to his eyes.

"Wait, back up." Riku's anger faded to confusion, and he squinted at Roxas. "You don't remember her?"

Kairi smiled a little. Maybe this plan would work. The Samurais even seemed to be getting nervous.

"No…? Should I?" Roxas asked. He looked at Riku, urgently. "Do you know someone named Xion?"

"Not well, no. And she's… gone…" Riku coughed. Kairi winced. "But- but you and- you and her were… you don't remember?"

"Remember what?" Roxas's voice rose with frustration, and Kairi winced further.

"XION!" Riku shouted back. "Who the he- I don't have time for this." He turned to Kairi, the anger returning. "We don't have time to argue with him! We are on a ticking clock! We need to get Namine!" He opened a dark corridor beside him and went through, muttering under his breath. "Can't believe I didn't just try this soon—ow!" He fell back out of the dark corridor, cursing as he did so.

"What's wrong?" Kairi asked, bending over to help him up.

"Blocked. It's blocked." Riku turned to Roxas, and groaned. "I'll have to fight him."

"But whatever we're doing seems—"

"He's not going to remember her!"

Kairi looked at Roxas, who hadn't moved, despite the perfect opportunity he'd had to attack Riku. Roxas was still standing there, face scrunched up and his eyes unfocused. Obviously their words were doing something, and it would be a shame to quit now. Whoever this Xion girl was, she was important to Roxas. Kairi was more than happy to try and jog his memory.

"We'll see about that," she scoffed, and marched right over to Roxas. He didn't move away from her—he hardly noticed her approach.

"Look at me," Kairi said, grabbing him by the shoulders. When he didn't turn to her, she grabbed his face and forced him to. "Look at me. You said I looked like her. I reminded you of her. I remind you of Xion. Look at me and think. What is it about me that reminds you of her?"

"Your… voice…" Roxas said, slowly. "Your face. You…"

"Remember, Roxas!"

"Xion…"

He scrunched his face up in what looked like pain, and then stumbled back, cradling his head in his hands. His shoulders shook, and after a moment, a terrible, painful scream tore itself from his lips. Then he straightened, and Kairi took a step back.

There were furious tears in his eyes. He took a deep shuddering breath, then summoned a second blade, settling into something of a fighting stance. His eyes locked on Riku, mouth quivering.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE DIED," he screamed, and he attacked.