Day 356
"This is the place?" The warm afternoon breeze blew through Saix's long blue hair - he ignored it, squinting at the setting sun with distaste.
"Yeah," Roxas said quietly. It felt wrong bringing Saix to the clock tower - he was an outsider, someone who didn't care at all about any of them, with the exception of Axel. The man's mere presence here seemed to defile it somehow. But still... he had demanded that Roxas bring him to the place where he, Xurik, Xion, and Axel hung out. If he refused, it would seem like he was trying to protect Xurik - and he didn't even know if Xurik would be here.
To his relief, the steel-haired boy was nowhere to be found. He was too smart to hang around such an obvious place for long - and he would be looking for Xion now, anyway. Saix peered down over the edge of the clock tower in boredom.
"What is the purpose of coming here?"
Roxas shrugged. "I dunno. It's just... fun, I guess."
"Fun... for a bunch of Nobodies and a puppet, none of whom have hearts to feel 'fun' with? Laughable." Saix shook his head. Finally he turned away. "In any case, Xurik is not here either. We must continue our search. Come, Number XIII."
Roxas nodded reluctantly. The longer it took to find Xurik, the better.
The delicate curtains swayed in the window's breeze, filling the white room with the warmth of the sunset and the sweet scent of flowers. At opposite ends of the long, white table sat two girls - one in a hooded black cloak, another in a simple white sundress.
Xion slowly lowered her hood, not knowing what reaction to expect from the girl in white. To her surprise, Naminé simply smiled.
"Nice to meet you... Xion."
Xion's eyes widened. She knew that her appearance changed based on how other people perceived her - so how did Naminé recognize her after her transformation? "Naminé, you can see my face?"
"Yes." To Naminé, Xion appeared to be a girl with short black hair, as always. The same way that Xion saw herself.
"What do you think I should do?" Xion said quietly.
"What do you want to do?"
Xion didn't know what to say at first. She glanced around the room, then realized that on the wall was a small crayon drawing - was it Naminé's? The drawing showed four people in black robes... it only took a moment for her to realize that it was her, Xurik, Roxas, and Axel. Just looking at it made her heart ache.
"I thought I knew at first. I wanted me, Xurik, Roxas and Axel to be together forever." She ran a gloved hand through her hair. "But then I started to realize these memories don't belong to me."
Naminé nodded slowly. "That's because you're Kairi. At least, the Kairi Riku remembers."
"The more I remember, the more I feel like I'm in the wrong place... like..." She paused, searching for the words to describe the sensation. "Like I need to go back."
"Back to Riku?"
Xion looked surprised, but nodded slowly.
"If you return your memories to him, you'll disappear. And since everything about you was built on those memories... no one will remember you when you're gone. There won't be any 'you' to remember." Naminé shook her head sadly. "I can't save you, Xion - even a memory of you."
A tear ran down Xion's cheek, but she nodded regardless, allowing a sad smile to show through. "I know. I'm ready. Otherwise I wouldn't be here. Xurik belongs with Riku too. But... I don't think he would understand. Not yet."
"He can't feel Riku," Naminé said, nodding in agreement. "But he will."
Xion hesitated, then looked up at the girl. "Naminé, will you watch over Xurik once I'm gone? You won't be alone. I asked somebody else to look after him, too. It's just... there isn't anything else I can do for him."
Namine thought for a moment, then smiled. "All right."
"Thank you."
"If you're ready, let's go see Riku."
Xion began to answer, but was interrupted when a dark corridor opened within the room. A man with red bandages covering his face stepped through; he looked outraged.
"Naminé, they've found us! They are on their way! That blasted puppet led them right to our doorstep! See what you get for trusting it?"
Xion looked horrified. She had never meant to bring harm to Naminé - not when the girl had already done so much for her. She stood up quickly.
"I'll get rid of them!"
As Xion sprinted out of the room, Namine stood up quickly, but it was too late.
"No! Xion..."
Xion stood outside of the gate in front of the Old Mansion, cautiously peering around the clearing as she searched for intruders. She had expected to see a few Dusks or the other lesser Nobodies - so it was with shock and heartache that she saw a dark portal open up, and a man with fiery red hair step out.
"Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?" Axel said quietly. Xion just stared at him as if she was seeing a ghost.
"Axel..."
"Xion..." He paused, searching for words that could express the thoughts racing through his mind. Finally he shook his head. "What are you gonna do?"
Xion lowered her head, staring at the ground. "I've decided that I have to go back to where I belong."
Axel sighed. "Well, to be honest, I always felt that was best, right from the very beginning." He clenched his fist in the air, staring down at it darkly. "But you know, it still really bugs me. Something about this just stinks."
"It's for the good of everyone," Xion said weakly, but Axel scowled.
"But how do you know that? Everybody thinks they're right..."
Xion stared at him, then shook her head more firmly. "This is right."
"They're gonna destroy you!" Axel shouted desperately. Xion sighed - then summoned her Keyblade. Axel's eyes narrowed.
"Please don't hold back, Axel. Promise."
Axel gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He might not have a heart - but this burning feeling in his chest was the closest thing he had felt in years.
"What's your problem?" he shouted, shaking his head furiously. She would rather fight him than go back - she would rather disappear forever? His voice shook, hoarse with rage and despair. "You both... think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm sick of it!" With a mighty shout, he summoned his chackrams in a flurry of flames. "Go on, you just keep running. But I'll always be there to bring you back!"
Xion smiled faintly. So... he did care.
Thank you... Axel.
Their weapons smashed into each other, metal clashing against metal as the battle raged.
Xurik sighed, staring out over horizon at Sunset Hill, at the far side of Sunset Terrace. This Naminé girl could be anywhere within the city - how was he supposed to find her? He knew Twilight Town better than any other world... but that didn't make this an easy task. It was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Well, she obviously wasn't here. There were still a few other places he could try, like some of the underground tunnels or the Old Mansion...
He turned to go, then froze as he spotted a black cloak standing nearby. He felt his chest swell as he recognized who it was.
"Roxas!" he called out, beginning to walk closer. He suddenly slowed as he got a good look at Roxas's face - the boy looked frightened. Was something wrong?
"Well, well. If it isn't Number XIV." Saix stepped forward from the shadows, glaring at Xurik. "You've finally turned up. We don't accept resignations, you know."
Xurik glanced at Roxas - the fear in the boy's eyes made it clear what was going on. He had been ordered to help Saix find him, just like when Xurik and Axel had been forced to capture Xion.
"I'm not coming back," Xurik said bluntly. A cruel smile spread across Saix's lips.
"Ah. How nice of you to assume that we want you back."
He held up his hand - in a surge of silver moonlight, a huge claymore-like weapon appeared.
"No, Xurik. Organization XIV has no use for traitors... especially ones as useless as you."
The blow came before Xurik expected it; the cold steel smashed into his stomach at blinding speed, sending him sprawling across the ground as he cried out in pain. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to push himself back to his feet. Saix walked towards him slowly.
"Pathetic. A weakling like you-"
"Shut up!" Xurik dashed forward, slashing at Saix with the Keyblade, but the man deftly blocked his blows. The two weapons clashed at the center; Xurik struggled to push Saix back, but the older man was stronger and slowly began to advance.
"I see your so-called 'friend' has taken a bit too much of your power. That's what happens when you trust a puppet."
"I don't care what she is!" Xurik shouted. He cried out, gathering forth all his strength and pushing Saix stumbling backwards; while Saix was off his guard, Xurik dealt him a fierce, slashing blow across the chest. "I don't need all of my power to defeat you!"
Saix scowled, clutching his chest. Suddenly he whipped around, glaring at Roxas, who had been standing uselessly on the sidelines.
"Roxas! What are you waiting for?"
"I..."
"Eliminate the traitor!"
Xurik and Roxas met eyes, and the older boy could see the conflict in his deep blue eyes. What would he do? He knew Roxas was afraid to betray the Organization - but would he pull an Axel and actually come to blows against his best friend?
The confusion in the boy's eyes was replaced by determination, and Xurik smiled slightly.
Roxas... thank you.
There was a blinding flash of light as something whirled through the air at him - Xurik deftly caught Roxas's Keyblade in his left hand. Saix's eyes widened in rage.
"Number XIII, you would dare-" he began, but his words were cut off as Xurik charged forward, lashing out at Saix with both Keyblades. The two weapons beat relentlessly against the man's raised claymore as Saix slowly began to weaken. Behind him, Roxas lifted his hand - a beam of light shot forward, smashing into Saix's back. The man fell to his knees, panting.
"Xurik, you have to run!" Roxas shouted. Xurik shook his head.
"You're coming with me."
"But I..."
"Roxas, come on. Think. Do you really think you're safe in the Organization now?" Xurik nodded down at the weakened Saix grimly.
Roxas hesitated, then slowly stepped toward his friend.
It happened in an instant, and neither of them had time to react - Saix was suddenly back on his feet, swinging the heavy weapon into Xurik's side with all of his might.
Though the pain was excruciating, he couldn't cry out - the blow had knocked the wind out of him as he went flying backwards. With a sickening splintering sound, he smashed into the wooden fence surrounding the hill; only by jamming his two Keyblades into the dirt and grass was he able to keep from tumbling over the edge of the cliff. Far below him the trains chugged along, blissfully unaware of the fierce battle going on overhead, or of the boy dangling precariously from the steep cliffside.
"You have meddled in our affairs for far too long," Saix said quietly, raising his claymore and preparing to bring it down upon Xurik's head as the boy struggled in vain to regain his footing. "Riku's Nobody or not, you are more trouble than you are worth."
Xurik's second Keyblade suddenly vanished in a flash of light, leaving him clinging desperately to the one remaining in his right hand, the blade still embedded in the hillside. Saix's eyes narrowed, but before he was able to whip around, Roxas's Keyblade was in its owner's hands once more, striking at him with all the might he could muster. The force of the attack set Saix off-balance; he snatched desperately at the air as he began to fall, managing at the last second to take hold of Roxas's sleeve. Xurik gasped in horror as he watched Saix plummet to the ground far below them, dragging his best friend with him.
"No - Roxas!"
Moments before the two crashed into the train tracks, he saw them vanish in a swirl of darkness. He breathed a sigh of relief; Saix might have gotten away, but at least Roxas was safe.
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed at handfulls of grass and dirt as he scrabbled his way back up the cliff, stopping when he was a safe distance away from the edge. He sighed, chest still pounding from adrenaline left over from the battle. So, the Organization was determined to destroy him - not just bring him back like they once had done with Xion. Would they issue the same fate for Roxas now that he, too, had raised weapons against Saix?
No... they still needed a Keyblade to complete Kingdom Hearts. They might try harder to control Roxas, even punish him, but they were too smart to destroy their last means of collecting hearts.
Clearly, Xurik was no longer safe. Roxas had granted him this much time at great risk to his own safety within the Organization - or Organization XIV as Saix seemed to be calling it now that they were rid of their "fake" fifteenth member, Xion. He needed to use this time as best he could... he needed to find Naminé, so that she could help him find Xion.
Axel struggled through the corridors of the Castle That Never Was, an unconcious Xion cradled precariously in his arms. He had just barely managed to defeat her - it was clear that Xion was borrowing much of Xurik's power. She had grown so strong...
And now she was back within the Organization. He wasn't willing to lose her... or Xurik. And yet... what would Xemnas do with her, now that she was back? Had Axel's selfish desire to keep her close doomed her?
"Man... why you always gotta... cause me... trouble..."
With that last thought, he collapsed, completely spent from the battle. Xion fell limply from his arms. A moment later, Xemnas stepped forth from the shadows. He peered down at Axel and Xion, then slowly bent down and picked up Xion. She dangled limply from his arm, looking more like a puppet than ever.
The shadows warped beside him; to Xemnas's surprise, Saix and Roxas suddenly fell out of midair, crashing into the floor, as if they had just fallen from a great height.
"Xemnas," Saix said weakly, wincing as he stood. He was gripping Roxas's arm so tightly that it was beginning to lose circulation. "We found Xurik in Twilight Town. This one allowed him to get away, and even fought against me." Roxas yelped as Saix jerked him forward roughly, nearly pulling his arm out of socket.
"I see," Xemnas said quietly. He glanced down at the Xion held in his arms, then at Roxas. "He must be punished, but we cannot afford to lose our third key. We have recaptured Xion, but she has escaped our grasp time and time again - we must have some sort of backup plan. For now, put him in the castle dungeon until we decide what to do with him."
"And Xurik?"
"He was in Twilight Town for a reason - he would not linger so close to The World That Never Was if he wasn't." Xemnas smiled down at Xion. "Perhaps... he is searching for his puppet friend. We should help him find her."
Day 357
Xurik had to wonder why he had never ventured within the Old Mansion before. Sure, the gate was locked... but he had a Keyblade, didn't he? A single beam of light had taken care of the enormous padlock. He pushed open the front door slowly, peering inside at the spacious, dusty foyer. The place was fascinating in its strangeness. And this was one of the only places in Twilight Town he hadn't looked yet...
"Hello, Xurik."
Xurik nearly jumped in surprise, summoning his Keyblade - but froze when he saw a young girl with blond hair standing on one of the stair landings. He peered up at her, eyes narrowed; she looked so much like Xion.
"You're... Naminé?" he asked slowly, and she nodded with a smile.
"Yes. It's very good to meet you. I've been... wanting to for a long time." She slowly began to walk down the stairs towards him; Xurik watched her hesitantly, but stood his ground.
"I was told that Xion was coming to meet you. Is she here?"
Naminé's eyes lowered. "Yes... she was. Unfortunately, the Organization..."
Panic flickered across Xurik's face. "What? You don't mean she-"
"Oh, no no," Naminé said quickly. "No, she's safe, just... they recaptured her."
Xurik stared at the floor silently. She was back in the Organization? But part of the reason Xurik had even left was so that he could go find Xion... what was he supposed to do now?
No. He had left for his own reasons, too.
"Why was Xion coming to see you?" he asked slowly. "Was it to get answers?"
Naminé considered this for a moment, then shook her head.
"No... Xion already knew all that she needed to know about herself. She discovered the truth - much of it on her own. She came to me because... she had made up her mind."
"About what?"
Naminé's gaze lowered. "I shouldn't say."
"Naminé," Xurik pleaded desperately, taking her hands in his. "Naminé, please. I have to know the truth. I know she was made to copy my - no - Riku's powers. What was she deciding to do? To give in? To stop it somehow?"
"Xurik, the truth will destroy you!"
Xurik froze, looking stunned. Naminé shook her head, squeezing his hands desperately.
"Sora said he already told you that Xion soon won't be herself... but you have to realize that soon you won't be, either."
"Bullshit," Xurik said quietly. "I'll always be me."
Naminé smiled at him sadly. "Xurik, you've only been you for about a year now. For about 15 years before that... you were someone else entirely. For Nobodies, nothing is certain."
"I know I'm Riku's Nobody. You're not telling me anything I don't already know."
"But what if you were to become-"
"Naminé," a voice said coldly from behind them. Xurik turned and saw a man wearing flowing red robes, with crimson bandages covering everything on his face but his mouth and a single golden eye. "You didn't tell me that we had a visitor."
Naminé looked frightened. "I-"
"You've told this Nobody quite enough, don't you think?" The man glared at Xurik; he glared back.
"Who the hell are you?"
"That is none of your concern. Though I must say, I'm quite pleased that you managed to find your way here on your own." A wicked smile spread across the man's face. "It saves us much of the trouble of capturing you."
"Capturing...?" Xurik turned to face Naminé, eyes wide. The girl looked horrified. "You mean... this was a set-up?"
"No, I-"
"Well of course," the man said quietly. "How else are we supposed to reawaken Riku without his missing half?"
"DiZ!" Naminé said desperately.
"Shut up," Xurik said, heart pounding. DiZ suddenly lifted his hand, and a ring of Neoshadows appeared, surrounding Xurik.
"Capture the Nobody!" he commanded. "It's high time he returned to where he belongs."
Xurik's reflexes were too quick, however; as the Heartless began to snatch at the hems of his cloak, they were suddenly blown back by a wave of darkness radiating out from him. DiZ stepped forward to grab him himself, but his hand was knocked away painfully by the Keyblade. Without wasting another second, Xurik vanished into darkness.
"Damn it all," DiZ said quietly. "I underestimated him. Perhaps I should have acted first and spoken later."
"Xurik..." Naminé said quietly, tears streaming down her face.
"Stop pretending to have emotions," the man said bluntly. He sighed. "I suppose I'll have to send Sora to clean up this mess." DiZ glanced behind him, at the entrance to the mansion's library. "If nothing else... at least now we know that Riku's power isn't just a myth. If his Nobody can do that much, and a weakened one at that... imagine the power we will gain once the real Riku is an acting force."
Naminé buried her face in her hands, trembling silently.
Xurik reappeared, breath heavy from exhilaration. First the Organization, now Naminé and this DiZ person... why was nowhere safe for him anymore?
For the first time, he realized where he was standing. He had vanished as quickly as possible, with no thought as to what his destination would be - but now he saw that he was standing on the clock tower ledge. A small smile spread across his face. Apparently coming here was second nature now. He couldn't stay long - the Organization was bound to be searching for him still, and this was the most obvious spot to look.
But still... a few minutes couldn't hurt. If only for old time's sake.
"You doing okay?"
"What do you care?" Roxas muttered, looking away. He was locked up in the Organization's prison cell - Axel was staring in at him from the outside, like he was an exhibit at the zoo.
Axel sighed. He understood why Roxas was upset - he had kept Xion's "condition" of being a puppet a secret for months, after all - but this was no time for him to lose the only friend he had left.
"I do care, and you know it."
"No, I don't know that. Xurik and Xion cared," Roxas said quietly. "They would have done anything to keep any of us safe. What have you done? You've always saved your own skin, and even brought back Xion... you know she's not safe here."
"Roxas, I didn't have a choice!" Axel said, voice straining from frustration.
"You always had a choice." Roxas smiled up at him bitterly. "And you made it. You're the only one who's not being hunted down or sitting in jail. So yeah, maybe you're right. Who cares about helping your friends if you get to stay safe? You must be the wisest of us all. Good job, you win." He dug through his pocket; pulling out a thin piece of wood, he tossed it roughly at Axel, hitting the man on the head. Axel frowned - it hadn't hurt at all, but the message of the action was clear enough.
"What the hell, Roxas?"
"Just leave me alone. Got it memorized?" Without another word, Roxas walked to the far end of the prison, sitting down and facing the wall silently.
Axel sighed. His friends were all leaving him one by one. Was this all his fault? He turned to go, but paused as the piece of wood caught his eye. He hadn't paid it any mind when Roxas threw it at him, but now he realized that it was a sea-salt ice-cream stick. He bent down to pick it up. On its side in faint printed letters was the word "WINNER". An icy feeling of misery and shame washed over him.
So, he really was the biggest loser of them all.
((So sorry about the huge delay in posting! I was playing Birth By Sleep (of course) and have been majorly busy with work and school - but after a certain point it can't be excused as anything but blatant procrastination. Sorry about that. On the plus side, most of this time was spent perfecting the next chapter, which used to be part of a super-long one that I decided to split in two (the chapter you just read being the first half). So while I still have a few things to edit, you shouldn't have to wait too long for the next one. We're nearly there! ))