A.N.) Yes, a large portion of this chapter is flashback, and to be honest, this chapter was not planned to exist until about a days before Chapter 9 went up. These parts minus the flashback where going to be dispersed in the others. Nevertheless, I think it's important for the story and characters as a whole; not foreshadow, because this is based on Romeo & Juliet, and whether the ending here is faithful or deviates (I think you guys already know which though), everyone who knows the story already knows the gist of what's to come at the very least.

Disclaimer) I do not own Kingdom Hearts. (I've been doing this disclaimer. Always will do it.)

At First Sight

Chapter 10: My Dearly Beloved

-Flashback-

"Roxas?" Xion called out to her blonde friend staring out to the sunset. Just like everyday, Xion had done her mission and afterwards, came up to the balcony of the Clock Tower in Twilight Town to eat sea salt ice cream with her two best friends.

So far, the fiery Axel had not made it. She knew Roxas missed him, and didn't like the guilt of causing Roxas any disappointment.

She wondered if she stopped coming, Axel would.

He didn't want to be around her—he knew the truth about her! The disgusting, unnatural truth of her creation… And she knew that Axel had mixed feelings about that and about her relationship with the Organization Imposter.

Recently, he fought with her to have her return to Organization XIII after she ran away to get a clear picture of her situation; one only Riku, the Imposter, could provide. For an approximate twenty days she was away from the two most important people in her life, but quietly hid in the same town they went to everyday. In the Old Mansion she resided, and talked to Riku. With patience, he helped her understand how important Sora was: to the whole universe, a girl named Kairi, and to him.

The memories she had gained through dreams and her forbidden expedition in Castle Oblivion—they were not hers. There was never a "Xion" before Vexen's Replication projects. They only pre-existence she could ever claim was for herself was some notes left from Number IV entitled "No. i". "i" as in "imaginary"—not existent.

And that was the bare truth: she was never supposed to exist. Some would say Nobodies, in general, weren't supposed to exist, but at least they were ordinary happenings that resulted from cycles. She was literally a doll that took this form in a tube of liquid.

Saïx, for how cruel he could be, was 100% right about her. She was a puppet, an It.

She didn't get hurt, but simply break. And when she perished, it shouldn't have been any different than a toy being lost.

That was the situation's pieces in a nutshell. But she couldn't bring herself to do what was right, not yet at any rate.

She had to die and return to Sora, whether that meant her consciousness would be trapped or fade away. It was how it had to be. She was created to absorb Roxas, and since she was just a doll, just how bendable was her mind and body? It could not be as sturdy as a regular person's, nor could it be as independent. Vexen's notes had an entire section on how to remold her mind to make her do certain tasks, like some kind of Puppet Mode that could be activated like flipping a switch. If Xemnas wanted to, he could take away every bit of her free will away; make her do things she'd never wish to.

She had to die. It was best for everybody.

She just couldn't bear to let go of him though.

One day, she would, but there was still time. Or she just hoped there was.

"—Xion?" Roxas's voice broke threw her thoughts. She blinked away her troubles and focused on the boy who seemed to have been talking for sometime before settling to wave his ice cream in front of her like it was some anti-hypnotizing wand of sort.

"Well you did call me, but you just kept staring at me," he informed her.

"I'm sorry, Roxas. I guess I just zoned out," she grinned sheepishly, like nothing was different.

"That's okay," he smiled bigger than he ever had at her. For over three weeks, she went without that smile, and the thought of never being able to see it again scared her. It made her inevitable fate even more painful to expect.

It seemed Axel never told him the truth about her when she was gone. She kind of wished he had though. Every second she was with him was blissful for his presence but sour in shame for technically lying to him every second he talked to her thinking she was Xion, another Nobody just like him.

"It's so great that you can start coming back up here again," Roxas said, happily biting into his frozen treat while humming.

Despite everything that was and what would be, Xion was glad to have Roxas in her life. He made everything seem okay. Had she not been a Replica Nobody, something that, logically, couldn't feel, she'd go as far as to say that he did make her feel in the greatest ways imaginable. He made her realized how much she wanted to be there with him and Axel at least one more time before she executed her choice.

Nervously, she turned away to peer the way of the stairs. "Isn't Axel…" Doesn't want to see you, she told herself. "…Coming today?"

Roxas's eyes darkened with the same rage she had seen whenever he saw Riku. His smile was gone.

"Hmph… Who cares?"

Xion gasped lightly.

"He… I can't believe he actually attacked you…" he muttered, glaring to the pavement below.

All Xion could do for a moment was witness the sweetest boy saying such things with no consideration. Roxas always had an aura of kindness for Axel and her, and this change... the fact that it was happening at all worried Xion to the core of her hollow husk of a body.

"Hey…" she tried to ease. "You don't have to treat him like that. You are best friends after all…"

"No, you and I are best friends, Xion."

She couldn't believe it. He was not in the slightest bit angry that she raised her Keyblade to him when he tried to talk her into to returning to the Organization. True, she was never going to hurt him; she had just wanted to intimidate him so she could run (or get him to kill her first). But no traces of resentment or betrayal or distrust could be found directed toward her.

Roxas was mad at Axel because he hit her? That was it? If Axel hadn't fought and knocked her out, she wouldn't have been there sitting with Roxas that very moment. The blow wasn't even severe and Roxas was ready to choose her over his best friend?

What did that say? She was a friendship-destroyer too?

Perhaps he really would be better off without me.

Roxas was soundlessly seething him his seat.

"Roxas."

She called his attention, and received it instantly with his face molding back into delight and unconditional devotion. To have that wonderful smile of his at her felt even more bittersweet. "If I were to… not be around anymore… You wouldn't be too sad for a long time, right?"

Not exactly what she wanted to say, but she had to preserve the secrets. She knew he'd be sad; Roxas was so nice, surly he would be a little sad. She was afraid he'd be insulted insinuating otherwise.

Though she tried not to, her words made his smile decline to a look of alarm.

"Why? Are you going to run away again?" he demanded with a raising voice.

I was thinking more along the lines of death… So she quickly said, "No," holding up her hands in defense.

He relaxed, but still looked uneasy.

"I wouldn't be sad if you were gone, Xion—"

She sighed in relief. He won't be sad!

"—I'd be destroyed. Crushed. Broken. All of that at once."

Stunned by the very degree of seriousness saturating his tone, Xion could only stare at the blonde and think.

His own glare was in her direction but he wasn't seeing her, but all the various threats out there to harm her.

"When you were gone, Xi, it was like something was repeatedly stabbing me over and over in my chest."

I was stabbing you… Xion lamented, ashamed.

"I was lost without you. I don't know why. Axel was important to me, but when I thought he had been annihilated didn't hurt like it does with you. You're really special to me, Xion, in a way where I don't think I'd want to live in a universe you aren't."

"Roxas…" Xion mumbled. She really didn't want to go through with it now. What Xion wanted most out of her life before death was to eat ice cream with her best friends—and ensure Roxas would be okay. I'll have to go… But I don't want to hurt him again!

"If Axel or Saïx or anyone else gives you a rough time, you don't have to run away again! Just tell me and I'll protect you! Or… if you have to go, let me go too!"

Emotions don't exist for Nobodies, so why did he look so genuinely hysterical? His eyes were pleading to her now, desperate for something to ease his paranoia.

Xion wanted him to smile again so badly, so she covered all her worries and grinned at him. "I'd be the same if something ever happened to you." So now I know I have to cooperate with Riku.

This seemed to make Roxas loosen again, like everything she'd ask was all just "what-if", but the fear was still there inside.

"Well… I'm not going anywhere…"

"Good then," she laughed everything off, hoping to finally sweep this under the rug. It wasn't working too well. Roxas's shoulders still showed lingering suspicion, and it was obvious he was holding back questions of where she had been, why she never came to him if things were so bad, and if the Imposter did anything to her. The fact that he didn't probe showed plenty of self-control. It appeared Roxas developed a protective character though.

She chopped quietly on her ice cream.

My chest… hurts.

Why do things have to turn out like this?

What should I do?

-End of Flashback-

"Dark… Corridor…" Xion groaned as she struggled to stand with her brain feeling smashed. Raking both hands through her hair, she closed her eyes; the aching of her body took its toll. She counted backwards from ten and once she felt safer in her skin, she tried to identify her surroundings.

It didn't take long for her to recognize the beach and tree houses that made up the Destiny Islands, the particular island that Sora called home. I've never been here after dark before, but why haven't I?

The sky was so clear the stars sparkled like diamonds. Breezes brushing her cheek were so cool and refreshing, coming from the ocean that was a dark abyss, nonetheless still beautiful and inviting. So wonderful… I've been missing out!

Looking down she saw scuffs in the sand that were like skid marks leading to the little crater her body made. She must have tumbled after she landed…

…Out of a Dark Corridor!

Xion had been too frightened to notice it before, but that passage of aura and darkness was all too familiar. Somehow she was able to open a corridor that took her to where she really wanted to be, which was the beach.

I have to go tell Roxas I still have that power, and my heart wasn't snatched by the darkness! And I have to tell him about Seifer kicking me out of the group, and about Fuu… I can't trust her anymore.

Now having a goal, Xion struggled to rekindle that control she had before to rip a passage between worlds; and since she still had that, she also tried to summon her Keyblade.

She thought about holding Roxas's hand and how she felt so warm inside with him. All that fear she'd experienced thinking she'd die, it was not weighing her down a bit. She wasn't afraid to keep going on her own.

Deep down, in her heart, Roxas was there with her.

His true love was dead.

He lost her.

Again.

Just having to admit that put a dense strain on Roxas's heart, squeezing mercilessly. Before, he felt intense grief and heart-crushing anger. The aftertaste was still those things, only accompanied by a sullenness that helped smooth out his thoughts. What he knew and had to do was clear. It was difficult to breathe thinking of how he and Xion were so far and he couldn't get to her. Not yet that is.

Over and over, Roxas wondered if Xion resented him for not being there when she needed him. How much pain was she put through, quick or slow?

All this was going to help him decide if he would kill Seifer if they ran into each other, before he could finish his plans.

Xion's body was like a Nobody's. Same as his, because he was coexisting with his Somebody. Yen Sid made it clear that if he were to die by a blow to his heart, or if his body were mangled enough, he'd fade away just like when Sora absorbed him. Roxas inferred that meant Xion's body had faded then, but what about her consciousness? Her heart and soul? Did those fade too or was she sent back to Sora?

Xion couldn't summon her Keyblade, so maybe that means her revival severed the connection to Sora. Her heart would not have gone back to him.

If that were the case, stabbing himself with his Keyblade wouldn't take him to where Xion was. His heart would go right back to Sora if he did that.

Roxas was able to come up with something else though.

The main roads were loaded with people getting last views of the fireworks just finishing up. The XIII-th maneuvered through shadows and rooftops to get across, and from atop a store, he saw Sora, Riku, Lea and the others were talking in a group. They were so distracted he snuck right past them. Momentarily, Roxas stilled when Riku appeared to have gotten a glimpse of him but must have only shrugged it off as a chill, because Roxas still got away.

And he knew where to go. The far eastern part of Twilight Town was neglected in terms of the well-visited shopping district. Except Roxas knew a Moogle sold items traded from Moogles of other worlds in a little shop on the outskirts. That made a grand variety of products.

"Guaranteed, I have what you need, kupo!" the Moogle greeted as the cold-eyed blonde entering the shop.

"I need something a bit more unusual than the average potion," Roxas warned.

The Moogle raised a brow muscle. "How unusual are we talkin', kupo?"

"I need something that can cause death."

"Like…poison, kupo?"

"Pretty much."

"…I'm not sure I'm comfortable selling you something like that, kupo."

Roxas seemed unfazed. "It's not for anybody but myself. Trust me when I say that poison will be my medicine."

The Moogle gasped. "You want to off yourself, kupo? Why, kupo?"

"Do you need to know? I have plenty of munny."

A jab to the weak spot. Moogles were munny-loving business-beings at their cores. The saying was true: Every Moogle had their price.

He didn't look proud of it, but the Moogle descended into the backroom and emerged after a few minutes with a ruby-red apple.

"Here's something I got from another Moogle fresh out of the Dwarf Woodlands: a poison apple, kupo. They say take one bite and you'll drop like a sack of potatoes, kupo. 'Sleeping Death' as they worded it, 'cause, uh… the effects really sneak up on you, kupo."

Satisfied, Roxas tossed a sack of munny the size of his palm onto the Moogle's register counter.

The Moogle felt his spine tingle when he heard the heavy smack against the wood.

"Here's your apple, kupo! Have a pleasant afterlife, kupo!"

Roxas left holding the menacing red fruit close to his heart. This was his salvation. It was his key.

I'm coming, Xion.

A.N.) Just in case anyone wants to know, the flashback was inspired and the dialogue was taken from a section of the Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days manga. I don't remember which chapter it's from but it's little after Axel captures Xion for running away from the Organization to go to Riku.

I hope you review and smile today! We all need to.