Day 298

"You're ordering me to do what?" Axel shouted angrily. Xurik could hear him from across the Grey Area. He seemed to be talking to Saix.

"Tell me what choice is left, now that Xion has had contact with that man in the black coat."

Xurik approached them cautiously. He was still upset with Axel from the day before, although his anger had cooled somewhat. Now he just felt upset and confused with Axel. Even so... very little made Axel angry. What on earth had Saix asked him to do?

"What's going on?" Xurik asked, looking at Saix and ignoring Axel.

"Xion has betrayed us," Saix said simply. Xurik's eyes widened.

"What? No!"

"You saw the creature consorting with that impostor. What more evidence do we need?"

Xurik opened his mouth to protest. He wanted to think of some argument to the contrary - but somehow he knew that he couldn't. Xion was going against the Organization by working with Sora, wasn't she? Whoever the boy was... he certainly wasn't on their side.

"You don't know why she was with him," Xurik stammered, bluffing. He did know why, but Saix didn't know that.

Saix glared at him. "I think we all know, and you just don't want to accept it."

"You're wrong!"

Xurik felt a pressure on his shoulder; Axel's hand was resting on it. Instead of feeling angry, Xurik just felt sick. Xion was being accused of the unthinkable - now wasn't the time to hold a grudge against one of his best friends.

"The impostor has resurfaced in Twilight Town," Saix said, ignoring Xurik's outburst. "Go and destroy him, Xurik - like I expected you to do yesterday."

He ignored Saix's condescending tone. "I had to bring Roxas back," Xurik said stubbornly. Roxas had still yet to wake up - he was lying motionless in his bed. It was as good an excuse as any for not destroying Sora.

Saix continued to ignore him. "Axel, you bring Xion back. Gagged and tied up, for all I care. If that proves too troublesome, then you are authorized to adopt a more permanent solution."

"What?" Xurik narrowed his eyes. A more permanent solution? "Saix, be reasonable!"

"Get going." Without another word, the blue-haired man stalked off to issue orders to the rest of the Organization. Axel sighed.

"Well, this is pretty icky, huh?"

Xurik nodded. He attempted to meet Axel's gaze, but was unable to. "Axel, I... about yesterday..."

"I know. It's cool, man." Axel smirked. "Friends fight, it happens. To be honest, I'd be pretty pissed off at myself too."

"Yeah." Xurik winced. "You're not... actually going to hurt Xion, are you?"

"Relax. I'll think of something clever once I find her. You just worry about yourself, huh? Sora isn't the type to go down without a fight."

Xurik didn't attempt to ask Axel about who the Sora kid was again - for now he would let it slide. "I mean, he didn't really seem like a bad guy..."

"He's not, but orders are orders," Axel said grimly. "Nice or not, he's not one of us... and I did give him a free pass yesterday. It's his own damn fault that he stuck around in Twilight Town after I told him to leave."

"Yeah... I guess so."

Xurik walked down the quiet streets of Twilight Town. Where would Sora be lurking? The city wasn't exactly small... he could be anywhere. If he failed his mission two days in a row...

A black blur darted past a nearby archway. Xurik gasped, then turned and ran after it.

"Hey - wait up!"

The figure continued running. From this far away, Xurik couldn't tell who it was, only that it was a hooded black figure. For a brief moment, Xurik froze - what was he supposed to do? Actually destroy Sora? Confront him? There had been a day when he would do anything for the Organization... but what if they issued a completely crooked order, like attacking Xion? Was he supposed to obey it blindly, like Axel would?

In any case, his target was now getting away.

Xurik scowled, then used some crates as stepping stones to climb onto the rooftops of the buildings. Running across them, he managed to head off the figure, dropping down in front of him.

"Stop!"

The figure quickly changed directions, darting down a side alleyway. Xurik followed just as quickly, but stopped at the opening - it was a dead end. There was nowhere else for him to run.

The person turned to face him, and immediately Xurik realized that he had been chasing the wrong target.

"Xion," he said quietly as she removed her hood. The girl smiled faintly. He smiled back - despite everything that was going on, just looking at her was enough to make his head feel light. He remembered his kiss from months before, back when Xion had been caught in sleep; he blushed. What did it mean that he wanted to kiss her again?

"Me and Axel and Roxas have been looking all over for you," he said quietly. The pain from months past filled his eyes - didn't Xion want to be with them? "Where have you been?"

"You have?" Her gaze dropped. "Sorry."

"Come back with us," he said quietly. "I know Sora's helping you, but... there are better ways of finding the truth. If you come back on your own, I'm sure Saix will drop the issue." He smiled. "No matter what, all three of us are going to be there for you. We miss you, Xion... we'll make sure -"

He extended his hand to take hers, but she withdrew as if by instinct. Seeing her pull away from him made him feel like someone had jabbed a knife into his chest.

"I really can't," she said quietly, taking a step back from him. As if... he were a danger to her, instead of a boy who wanted nothing more than to be with her.

"Why?" Xurik said, staring at her with pain in his eyes. "Xion... we're your friends. I'm not about to hurt you."

"I just can't."

Xurik reached out an arm again, and Xion backed further away. She suddenly turned and began to run, but he grabbed her arm as she tried to go past.

"Xion, wait!"

There was a flash of light - and before he knew what was happening, Xion's Keyblade was pointed straight at his chest.

He limply let go of her arm. His mind felt foggy. What was she doing? Was she really about to... attack him?

"Xion... no..."

Something bright flew down from the sky. The girl glanced up, but quickly blocked the flaming chakram with her Keyblade.

"Well, hello there... Xion."

Xurik glanced behind him as Axel approached. He was looking at the girl with a look of mock friendliness - but behind it, Xurik could see the gaze of a fierce tiger.

"Axel-"

Before Xurik could react, Xion lunged for Axel, slashing at him with the Keyblade. Axel countered with his chakrams, trading blow after blow as sparks flew. Xion jumped backward, then dashed at Axel again.

"No, wait!" Xurik cried out, helpless to watch as two of his best friends fiercely attacked each other. He reached out, trying to bring some order to things, but neither of them seemed to pay him any mind. Finally he squeezed his eyes shut, concentrating as hard as he could.

"STOP!"

A wave of darkness shot out of him; both Xion and Axel were knocked backward. Xurik quickly hurried between the two of them; he summoned his Keyblade.

"Xurik - what are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" he snapped, pointing the Keyblade at Axel. Xion watched from behind Xurik, wide-eyed. "Why are you using force on her?"

"Are you kidding me? She was about to attack you!"

"No she wasn't. She was just trying to get away, and I wasn't letting her." He glanced back at Xion - she looked up at him timidly, but didn't move. "Both of you cut it out! We're supposed to be best friends."

Axel scratched his head, sighing deeply. "This isn't about friendship."

"Xion..." Xurik turned to her. "Forget what I said. You don't have to come back with us. Actually... it's probably best."

Confusion and pain flashed across Xion's face. "What? Oh... but Xurik..."

He shook his head quickly. "No... I don't mean it like that, like I don't want you with us. I do. That's why... I'm coming with you."

"Like hell you are!" Axel snapped, but the boy ignored him.

"Screw the Organization," Xurik said quietly. "I've never been a part of it, not really. They tell me nothing... they don't respect me. All they use me for is the Keyblade... I'm just a tool. If being with you means that I have to leave, then so be it."

"Xurik," Axel said coldly, and Xurik turned to face him. The man's expression was icy. "Do you realize what you're saying right now? You can't turn on the Organization! You get on their bad side, and they'll destroy you!"

"But Xion -"

"Xurik, listen to Axel," Xion said desperately. She buried her face in her hands. "I'm... not the same as you. You have a future. I'm just..."

There was a flurry of movement. Before Xurik could react, Axel had dashed across the alleyway with blinding speed. With a flick of the wrist, he struck Xion in the back of her neck. She gave out a small cry, then fell unconcious; Axel caught her deftly in his arms. Her Keyblade fell to the ground with a metallic clang before vanishing in the flash of light.

Xurik stared at her for a moment, dumbstruck, before his head snapped up. "Axel!" he shouted furiously.

The man said nothing - he didn't even look at Xurik. Without another word, he vanished in a swirl of darkness - he had no doubt returned to the castle.

Xurik stood in the alleyway, frozen. He had no idea what to do.

He had offered to leave the Organization, but... that was mostly to be with Xion. Now she was back under Xemnas's control, like the rest of them. The thought of going back to the Organization made Xurik feel sick...

But where else was he supposed to go? Xion and Roxas were there, and it's not like he had anyone else. Especially not Axel. He had betrayed Xion... and as far as he was concerned, Xurik as well.

Or had he? Could Axel be just trying to get Xion back with them, or was he really just following orders?

How could he tell when Axel didn't tell him anything? His eyes felt wet. What the hell was happening to their friendship?

Day 299

"You're sure things are better this way?" Axel said quietly. Saix frowned.

"I never expected you to question it. If you could save one of them... why would you choose the puppet?" Saix turned and looked at Axel directly, piercing him with his gaze. "Or put it this way. Which would you rather suffer the loss of: some make-believe friendship... or a real one?"

Saix's words had their intended effect. Axel looked away, stung. Saix spread his arms.

"Things are finally right again. Of course we're better off this way. Xemnas is exasperated from all the 'fixing' we've had to do. We have to set things right. There is simply too much on the line... Lea."

Axel said nothing, turning to walk away. His mind was racing. Saix never used his human name - that showed the gravity of the situation. Lea and Isa had formed their plans long ago, yes... but did all of that still matter? Saix was so cold now... the only friendships that felt real these days were the ones forged by sunset. Roxas, Xion, Xurik... and then there was Saix. Isa.

How was he supposed to choose?

"Do you know where Xion is?"

Luxord glanced up from his cards. "I wasn't aware she had returned."

Xurik frowned. That was strange... normally everyone would be talking about it by now. "So is that a no?"

"That is generally what 'wasn't aware she had returned' means, yes."

Xurik rolled his eyes, not willing to deal with sarcasm at the moment. He had yet to talk to Xion since Axel had forcefully brought her in the day before. After asking Xaldin and Demyx about it, however, it soon became clear that no one seemed to have heard about Xion's capture. He could ask Saix, but he wasn't likely to get an answer. He sighed. He was just a lowly peon, right? No one owed him answers here.

Unless he went straight to the top...

The Round Room was silent. Xemnas often spent much of his time there in order to think and collect his thoughts - so it was no surprise to Xurik when he appeared in his chair in a swirl of darkness, and found that Xemnas was already in the tallest chair.

"Xemnas... I have a question."

Xemnas glanced down at him; his chair was far taller than the others, especially Xurik's. "And what would that be?"

Xurik stared up at the silver-haired man. He very rarely interacted with the leader of the Organization - and because Saix made no effort to hide his distaste for Xurik and Xion, it was almost startling to hear Xemnas speak with such courtesy. Since most of Xemnas's orders came through Saix, Xurik had usually just imagined them with the same condescending tone that Saix always seemed to give them.

"Where is Xion? I know she was brought back last night, but... no one else seems to know."

"Put your mind at ease. Xion is a valued member of the Organization, but she needs her rest."

Xurik frowned, but nodded. That was hardly an answer to his question... but it at least seemed to confirm that she was safe, and not being punished for her traitorous behavior. That was a relief.

Gazing up at the tanned man, he tried remembering the first time he had seen Xemnas. Unexpectedly, he suddenly remembered something... a memory from his first days within the Organization. How could he have forgotten? Everything from that time was just a blur.

Waves quietly lapped at the dark shore. Clouds blotted a dark sky - the only light came from a silvery moon, sitting far along the horizon. There was no vegitation on this shore, only dark stone.

A hooded figure stepped forth from the shadows. He moved forward slowly across the sand, approaching a second figure sitting on one of the rocks. After a moment, the second figure spoke.

"I've been to see him. He looks a lot like you."

He just felt confused and empty. "Who are you?"

The sitting figure gazed off into the ocean solemnly. "I'm what's left. Or... maybe I'm all there ever was."

"I meant your name."

"My name is of no importance. What about you? Do you remember your true name?"

"My true name is..."

He paused. What was it? Did he even know?

"You have been with us for six days now," the older man said suddenly. He stood, removing his hood - silver hair cascaded around his shoulders. He turned and began to walk past the boy. "The time has come..."

A hand pressed on his shoulder - the older man's lips began to form a word, a name. What was it? If only he could remember...

But no, now he did remember. For the first time, the name trickled for the from the depths of his memory.

"The time has come... Riku."

"...Riku."

Xemnas glanced down at him, eyes narrow. Xurik looked up at him expectantly.

"Who is Riku?"

Xemnas seemed to consider this for a moment before speaking. "He's the connection."

"...Connection? To what?"

"He is what makes you and Xion a part of each other's lives," Xemnas explained slowly. "Just as he is the reason I placed Xion among our number. And if you want her to stay that way, I must insist that you get your mind off these needless distractions. I will have Xion return to her duties tomorrow. Today, you must focus on yours."

Xurik nodded slowly. Bowing his head slightly to Xemnas, he vanished in a swirl of darkness. The message was clear - as long as Xurik kept his nose out of things, Xion would stay safe. He could live with that for now.

Besides, he felt content with the information he had gotten. His face was calm, but his mind was racing. He wasn't stupid. Riku. The name felt shockingly familiar. And his name, Xurik...

The letters for "RIKU" were contained within it, weren't they?

It all made sense... the flashes of the silver-haired boy, the vague sense of deja vu in places he had never been to before. How had he not figured it out before? Still, the discovery was somewhat anticlimactic. What good was a name with no memories connected to it? So his name was Riku... that said nothing about who he once was.

But what did Xemnas mean about Riku being the connection between Xurik and Xion? Who had she been before losing her heart? And what was her connection to Riku? Maybe that was what Sora had been helping her to discover.

On the way back to the Grey Area, Xurik passed by Axel. An icy feeling gathered at the pit of his stomach as he spotted him, one that only increased as the man grinned at him.

"Hey, Xurik."

Xurik said nothing in response. He had already exploded at Axel two days prior - and while he had been willing to give him a second chance to track down Xion, tricking her into submission (by force, no less) had been the final straw. What did Axel want him to do? Forget the whole thing and offer him ice cream?

"Fine, ignore me," Axel said quietly, suddenly dropping the friendly face. To Xurik's surprise, he didn't look angry, just sad. "But you should know - Roxas finally woke up. Just thought you'd wanna be told."

Xurik paused, then nodded gratefully. As Axel walked away, Xurik almost felt guilty - but stopped himself. This was Axel's doing, not his.

"Xurik!" Roxas said brightly, sitting up in bed. Xurik smiled as he approached. Roxas was far too cheerful - he obviously had yet to pick up on the feud between Xurik and Axel. Well, no need to ruin his good mood by saying something about it.

"Hey. Feeling better?"

"Yeah. My chest hurts a little, but Saix says I should be able to go on missions tomorrow. But guess what!"

Xurik shrugged, waiting for Roxas to tell him whatever the exciting news was. Instead, Roxas lifted his right hand.

There was a flash of light. Xurik's jaw dropped.

"Roxas, is that -"

"Yeah. It's a Keyblade!"

"But... but why?"

"I don't know," Roxas admitted. Despite his ignorance on the matter, he looked exctatic. "The last thing I remember is collapsing in Castle Oblivion, like you did. I think I might have dreamt while I was sleeping, but... I don't remember what about. But who cares? I can help collect hearts with you and Xion now!"

Xurik nodded. With three Keyblades at work, the Organization was liable to complete Kingdom Hearts even more quickly than before. Considering the rate at which the three of them seemed to pass out for weeks at a time, having a couple of spares was probably a good thing.

Xurik winced. Spares? That made them sound even more like the tools that he already knew they were. Was helping the Organization reach its goals more quickly necessarily a good thing? After all, its goals already included subduing Xion by force, and destroying Sora...

Was it possible that they, the Organization, were the bad guys? Or was there even really such a thing as the "right" and "wrong" side?

What were they planning on doing with Kingdom Hearts?

"Are you certain we've taken suitable measures with Xion and Xurik?" Saix asked quietly, later that evening. He and Xemnas were gathered alone in the Round Room.

"I will admit, Xion has strayed from our original designs. But this unpredictable behavior is proving to have an interesting side effect."

"Really?"

"We wanted the Key. Xion's exposure to Xurik effected a transfer of its power, just as we had hoped. Had things stopped there, Xion would have been an unequivocal success. But then, through Xurik, Riku himself began to shape 'it' into 'her', giving Xion a sense of identity. I was ready to scrap the whole project." Xemnas gave a cruel smile. "Then, it occurred to me: Xion is keeping Riku's memories trapped by claiming them as her own. Keeping her close to Xurik will prevent Riku from ever waking."

"I see," Saix said slowly. "And what do you want to do about the impostor in black?"

"That gadfly?" Xemnas shrugged. "See that he stays away from Xurik, but especially from Roxas. He only poses a threat if his buzzing reaches Xion's ears."

"Speaking of Roxas..."

"Yes... there is that matter," Xemnas said, smiling. "I couldn't have foreseen it myself. But there you have it - Roxas, too, has been chosen by the legendary Keyblade. Sora was never so fortunate... so it can be no coincidence that this transpired after his sole visit to Castle Oblivion."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"It can be no mistake that Roxas looks identical to him," Xemnas said quietly. "Now it seems he has taken to weilding his Keyblade as well. Roxas's proximity to the Chamber of Waking must have caused that unbreakable connection to be found again."

Saix frowned. So he had been correct - the Chamber of Waking was somewhere in Castle Oblivion. Who, then, lurked within it?

"Should our plans with Xion and Xurik fall apart, at least we have a third Key," Xemnas said finally, changing the subject.

"Then we are back on track."

Saix vanished in a swirl of darkness. Xemnas was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Finally he glanced over at Roxas's empty chair, where the thirteenth member of the Organization usually sat.

"It seems I have found you at last... Ven."

Xion buried her face in her hands. She was in her bed - through her window, the silvery light of Kingdom Hearts filled her bedroom. The knowledge gave her no happiness. How many thousands of hearts were being held captive, only to give Xemnas more power?

And here she was again, helping him.

"Sora... what should I do?"

Day 300

"Xion," Xurik called out, running up to her in the Grey Area the next morning. For a moment she seemed to ignore him, then thought better of it and turned to him. She smiled at him wearily.

"Good morning, Xurik."

"Listen," he said quietly, his voice dropping low so that no one else would be able to overhear. "About the other day..."

Her head drooped. "I know. I'm... sorry about fighting against you. That was wrong of me."

"No, that's not what I mean. When I said I wanted to help you, even if it meant leaving the Organization... I meant that."

Xion shook her head slowly, then looked up at him. "Thank you. But really... everything's fine. I've changed my mind. I'm staying."

"Okay," Xurik said slowly. What was with the sudden change in heart? Was she just saying that to appease him? Or had she simply decided that running away wasn't worth getting tracked down by her best friends?

He began to ask her, but Roxas suddenly ran up to them, cutting their private conversation short.

"Ready to go, Xurik?" Roxas said excitedly. Xurik hesitated, then nodded. That's right... he was supposed to be showing Roxas how to use the Keyblade. He glanced at Xion.

"I guess... see you on the clock tower later, Xion?"

"Of course," Xion said quietly. Her smile looked sad.

After Xurik and Roxas returned from Wonderland, Xurik, Axel, Xion, and Roxas gathered on the clock tower. It felt like an eternity since all four of them had all been able to gather together. Roxas tried to initiate conversation once or twice, but very quickly gave up. Surely he sensed the tension between them... it was as thick as the night. Would they ever be the same? Grudges couldn't last forever...

Or could they?

"Oh no..."

DiZ's eyes narrowed. He walked over to the young girl, who was staring up at Riku's memory pod.

"What has happened?"

"It's Riku," Naminé said quietly. "His memory has stopped."

"Stopped?" Could it be that the threat Naminé had mentioned had come to fruition? The other Nobody was interfering too much now. Xion...

"Unless something is done, he'll never wake from his slumber."

DiZ turned and began to walk away. "Then so be it. The gloves must come off."

Naminé turned to him, eyes wide. "But... what'll happen to..."

DiZ paused. "Those Nobodies had no business existing in the first place... as you know fully well, Naminé."

A hurt look flashed across her face briefly, but she nodded obediently. "Yes..."