Sora had seen enough, and had used the tiny gem to return. The old man that had given it him took it back, noting the time he arrived, confirming his identity again, then sending him on his way.
He felt slightly betrayed. They weren't hunting for him. They just told people and hoped they'd see him. It was some, but scant consolation that he knew they might stumble over something that would lead them to the Dark Arcology, which even now he walked through again, deep in his thoughts as he returned to the suites owned by Merle, heading for his room. He'd never been in his room here as yet, he only knew where it was.
As he made his way there, the halls changed from the generic grey of an area without ownership to the signature orange. As an experiment, he concentrated on the glows, seeing if he could affect them, and smiled, feeling better, when he lit up the entire hall instead of just the part he was in. This power seemed so easy to use, he just had to think about the end result, and want it to happen, and so long as he had enough power stored up, it would happen. Oh, that was if his authority allowed it too, he remembered.
Some things still seemed beyond him though, such as channelling it into speed or strength, or throwing raw elements. That said, he hadn't really tried to do that either. He was trying not to use this power at all, since he hadn't wanted it in the first place.
His and Dog's rooms were at the very end of the hall, opposite each other, with the door to Merle's personal rooms on the wall at the end, between their rooms. He noted that his room already had a plaque with his name engraved on it in the same style of lettering as the markings.
"So you're Sora," someone said behind him. The speaker resembled Merle in tone and appearance, but clearly wasn't. She had normal eyes, with green irises, unlike Merle's pure black ones.
"Yeah, that's me. You are?"
"Me, I'm Mia. Short for Miasma, on account of my skill in creating poisons in any form, from nearly anywhere."
"That's kinda neat."
"Thanks. Mother always said I was special for it. No one else can do it like I can."
"I'm guessing Merle's-"
"Yup, I'm her daughter," she interrupted him. "I don't get special treatment though. I'm a third rank, like you. I've never been outside though."
"Never? Not even once?"
"Nope... born and raised right here."
"Who's your father?"
"Sand. He's another First. After she and him had a falling out, I was given choices, and I chose to stick around here."
"Well, nice to meet ya, Mia."
"Wait, Sora... could we, like... be friends?"
"You mean we aren't already?" he grinned back, letting himself in.
"Thanks Sora. I don't got many friends. They're all afraid of what I can do."
"Don't worry about it. See ya round, Mia."
He hadn't wanted to keep company with anyone here just yet. It was still his first day free, if only free within the limits set on him. Maybe in time...
His room wasn't large, but it wasn't small either. It was more like a one room apartment. The end of the room to his right had a small kitchen area, then opposite the door, a couch. A quick look beside him showed a TV mounted on the wall. At the other end of the room was a work desk with a computer terminal on it, not something he'd likely use often. He never had any great skill with them. Just beyond there was a bed, wardrobe, and another door. It led to a small room containing a toilet, shower and sink with a mirror over it.
A glance in the mirror showed his normal reflection once more. Here in the Arcology, there was no feeling of being nobody. There was no need for it here.
He though back to earlier, when he'd washed out Axel so he could become nobody again, and focused again, this time aiming to bring Axel back. Almost immediately, the fiery feeling was back, and his reflection blurred from him, to the same Axel he'd seen in his reflections earlier.
There was a clink sound from the wardrobe on the other side of the wall. No one was there. Maybe they were hiding in the wardrobe?
He opened it, expecting to see someone, but instead saw an empty wardrobe, empty hangers in rows.
Empty, that is, except for two. One had an outfit identical to the one he had on, the other... he'd just seen it in his reflection. It was Axel's Organization robe. Except... it was more like it was made for him, as if shrunken down to fit him.
Curiously, he went back to the reflection. It still showed Axel, but now, Axel was wearing the same outfit he had on. He had to admit, it didn't look right on him.
Curiosity growing, he returned, and changed into the robe and what accompanied it on the hanger. When he went back to the mirror, Axel was back to normal, robe and all.
One last experiment, he decided, and let Axel leave him, going back to himself. His reflection blurred again, and then showed himself in his usual outfit. There was no clink from the wardrobe this time, so he stepped clear, so his reflection wasn't visible, then back again. This time, he looked exactly how he was; himself, in an Organization robe styled the same as Axel's.
He thought for a moment, then grinned. In short order, he'd added three more outfits to the collection, one for Riku and two for Roxas, one his normal outfit, the other his own Organization one.
Seifer had been wrong. It was possible to do ones for people that existed. You just had to know them well enough.

"Hm, yes, taken you say? And there appears to be no cause, you say?"
"That's right, we were hoping you might have some answers."
Goofy had led the three of them to a small house on the edge of town, cluttered with books, papers, and all sorts of similar things, including one Professor Tom Smith. He was unremarkable in almost every way. Kairi had taken it from there, pressing on him the situation and that 'an acquaintance' had suggested the possibility of a more surreal solution. Oddly, no matter how much they tried, they couldn't quite remember the name of the person who'd suggested it, only that he was a friend.
"Very interesting, very interesting indeed, and the footsteps just cut off?"
"There was half of a print," Donald told him. "It was like he'd just stepped through a door."
"That narrows things to a half dozen possibilities... was there any sign of a struggle, or any blood?"
"Ugh, not a thing," Kairi replied. She didn't like the idea that something had attacked Sora and beaten him, he never let anything beat him.
"Three possibilities... any interference?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Is there anything trying to stop you from investigating?"
"My magic was blocked close to the place he disappeared," Donald supplied.
"Two possibilities... any strange occurrences?"
"Like what?"
"Strange people asking questions about master Sora, people you can't remember fully, people who seem to be no one, then someone, people who seem too believable."
"Those guys at the bar..." Goofy breathed. "What were their names... can't remember their names... they were worried about Sora too."
Kairi's eyes lit up. "I saw one of them before, at the park... he seemed to know me, and was surprised when I didn't know him."
"I'm sure there was something odd about them," Donald frowned. "It's like there's something stopping me remembering."
"I believe I know what has befallen poor master Sora..." the Professor said in a grave tone. "Of course, it's only a theory, and we could still be wrong... there's limited information regarding this theory too, as the persons involved are highly secretive."
"What is it? Tell us!"
"I believe your friend was, for reasons unknown, chosen and taken by..." he paused for dramatic effect, the lamp on his table flickering conveniently as well, then continued, "The Dark Arcology."
"What?" the answered in unison.
"I said, the Dark Arcology. Not much is known about it. People who it chooses have unusual dreams on the day they are going to be taken, then on that night, they're taken. No one's ever been able to stop it happening, no one ever sees or hears from the taken again."
"So I... uh, we'll never see Sora again?" Kairi's voice showed she didn't want to accept it.
"If we do nothing, then no... you won't. There is a remote possibility that the two strange people you mentioned could have been him, but there's no way to tell, at least not without my being able to examine both of them."
"What can we do?"
"I must read up on what I know to be sure... we have only just identified the most likely cause. Perhaps you could all assist me with this?"
"We'd be glad to," Kairi announced, then glared at the others. "Wouldn't we?"
Donald and Goofy looked at each other, sighed, then both said, "Yes, Kairi."

Sora dozed. It had been a long day, and he'd gone to sleep almost as soon as he lay in the bed.
Maybe it had been a dream. Maybe he'd wake up and find Donald stood over him nagging him about sleeping late. Maybe it had never happened.
He didn't want to move, or open his eyes, or do anything in case it dispelled everything.
As he slowly began to drift from half-sleep into wakefulness, he became more aware of his surroundings, without needing to do anything.
He was in the bed, no doubt about it now, and he also knew his clothes lay in an untidy heap beside the bed. He'd never been one for a tidy room.
"You're not a morning kinda guy, are you?" someone asked quietly. It was a familiar voice.
He sleepily opened his eyes, and when he saw nothing, glanced to one side and saw Mia crouched beside his bed.
It took him a few moments to think up a response, finally settling on, "Not really no. How did you get in?"
"You forgot to lock the door."
"So you just walked in?"
"Do you mind?"
"Well... no, but-"
"You weren't expecting it. I get it." She stood up, heading toward the door. "Danny's making breakfast."
"Danny?"
"He's my mom's Second, he always cooks breakfast. You'll get to meet the others too."
"How many others?" he asked, slightly nervous.
"Oh, not many, don't worry. If there ever gets to be too many under one First, there's some process that creates a new First, and everyone not a Second or a slave, like Dog, gets evenly distributed among all Firsts. It doesn't happen often, and the Firsts always indulge in a lot of trading, bargaining and scheming to get their favourite people back again." She saw his still faintly worried expression, then continued, "There'll only be three you don't know, Danny, King and Zemyx."
"Who?"
"He's my little brother... and a pest. He's only a kid still, and I can't stand being around him."
"Oh. Strange name."
"He used to be called Tyler, but didn't like it, so picked that for himself when he was three. Are you just gonna lay around there all day, or are you coming to breakfast?"
"I'll be up in a moment"
"I'll be waiting outside. Don't go back to sleep, or I'll come wake you again."
Once she'd left, he sunk back onto the pillow for a few moments, then threw off the covers, pausing again at the wardrobe to think. Instead of pulling on his usual clothes, he hung them up, instead taking out Roxas' ones instead. Since his life had been changed so much here, he decided to change his look to, and decided it didn't look bad on him. On the way out, he noted the clock telling him it was six in the morning. This was far too early, surely.
Mia was waiting outside for him, leaning against the wall.
"Nice look," she commented, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Not a morning kinda girl?"
"Not until I've had some coffee in the morning. Believe me, after a while even you'll start picking up the habit of some tea or coffee in the morning, it makes everything more bearable."
"Breakfast normally does that by itself for me."
"Tea is a part of my breakfast."
"Not mine. What's being cooked?"
"Probably his usual, bacon, eggs, baked beans on toast, a couple sausages and a few potatoes. He's always claimed to have a vegetarian alternative, but no one's ever asked what it is, let alone asked for it."
"I think I'll stick with the usual."
"I would. At least you know what's in it."
"How does he get the ingredients here?"
"Simple, some of the upper floors have been converted into farms and such, and since it's all produced in house, everything here is always fresh."
"Every time I learn something new about this place, it makes it seem like it's so much better than the outside world."
"Everyone outside who knows, thinks we're all evil and stuff, even you still think that, I can tell. It's really not so bad here."
"You're biased though, you've never left."
"Don't remind me. Mom won't even consider sending me to do any work outside."
"That's harsh."
"Not really. I prefer it here. This is the place," she told him, leading him into what was clearly a kitchen and dining area combined, with circular tables scattered around and squashy chairs at them. Smells of food wafted over to Sora, making him feel instantly hungry. Dog was dozing on his arms at one table, with Zemyx sat on it, on account of being too short to sit at one, and had a pack of playing cards, with a game of patience laid out in front of him. He wore a red shirt, and blue shorts, but had nothing on his feet yet.
King had his face buried in a book, his glasses looking like they were going to slip off his nose. Every so often he pushed them up again, and they began to slip down. His shirt was black, with lettering on it that read 'No, I will not fix your computer'. Out of all of them, he had the oddest hair, it reaching down past his chin in a vibrant blue.
Danny was a taller man, currently busy with a frying pan with eggs in. His markings were clearly visible, as were his lower arms, since he was wearing a camo styled t-shirt and pants, with an apron over the top.
The door closed with a click, and both Danny and Zemyx glanced over. Zemyx nodded, looked Sora over, then returned to his game, Danny turned back to cooking, but over his shoulder and the sounds of crackling eggs in oil, he said, "Nice to see you finally got up, Sora. I was wondering if you were planning on joining us."
"No one told me you cooked breakfast this early," he yawned back.
"Every morning. It's become a habit. Drink?"
"What have you got?"
"Tea, coffee, water and milk. And none of that decaffeinated nonsense either, if you want that, there's a café open just outside that opens in two hours.
"Uh, I'll have coffee."
"White or black, and how many sugars?"
"White and three?"
"I'll have it fixed up in a few. Quicker if someone nudges Dog for me."
Zemyx put down the cards he'd been holding, leaned over, and clipped Dog around the head, making him wake with a start.
"Danny wants ya to make the drinks," he told him, in a voice surprisingly low in tone for his age.
"Anyone not having usual?" he asked sleepily.
"Only Sora. He's having it white with three sugars."
Dog mumbled something, got up and wandered over to one side. Clearly he also wasn't a morning kind of person.
Sora and Mia joined Zemyx and King at their table. King finally looked up over his book and the table, mumbled a brief greeting, then returned to his book.
"Nerds," Mia sighed.
"Geek." King objected quietly.
"What's the difference?"
"Nerds have no social skills."
"Neither do you."
"I do have them."
"Stop teasing him Mia," Danny called, now putting the food onto plates. Apparently, he'd already counted on Sora joining them, except for the coffee.
Dog got to the table first, setting down a tray and handing the drinks out. Zemyx had a glass of water, King and Mia black coffees. Dog had white tea, which meant that the remaining cup of black tea was Danny's.
Dog then returned the tray, then sat down to wait for his tea to brew, promptly falling asleep again. Zemyx poked him this time.
Danny then came to the table with a trolley covered in trays, one for each of them, and handed them out. King finally put his book down only when his tray had been sat in front of him for a few moments, and even then regarded it carefully for a few more before starting to eat. Sora wasted no time, now feeling so hungry he attacked it immediately.
"Hungry much?" Danny asked him, taking a seat with the rest of them.
"I didn't have a large dinner," he replied between bites.
"Should have stopped by, unless I'm out doing something, I'm usually in here. Dog's sometimes around too in a pinch, he doesn't mind cooking once in a while, right Dog?"
"Sometimes I think I can cook better than you," Dog answered.
"Oh, you cook quicker, but I cook better."
"You two are as bad as King and Mia," Zemyx told them, wolfing down his meal quicker than all of them.
"You can talk, you're nothing but trouble," Mia protested.
Danny caught Sora's eye, then rolled his eyes upward with a meaningful grin. Breakfast was always like this, it seemed.