Hmmm, it's late again. I need to sleep for school, haha, but I want to write! I know it just updated and there hasn't been a review o.O But, I want to write! So here's the update! Oh, typos? Sorry...

Chapter 13: A Beginning to an End

Italicized: thoughts

"Underlined": Sora's spirit talking

Axel drove back in silence. He didn't know how to comfort Roxas who sat limped, staring out the window. He sighed and gave a small chuckle.

"Well, we went through a lot today. Why don't you sleep it off? Think of it this way, now that Riku doesn't remember you, you can finally move on!" he said.

Roxas gave no response and continued to stare out the window. But...I finally realized my feelings...Why did it have to come to this? Either way, both of us were bound to never be together...It must be fate telling us there's no way us two can work out...Roxas shed a single tear at the thought. Even though I hoped for it so much...I was a fool. Axel is right...I should move on now...Riku doesn't need me anymore...He pulled his gaze away from the side window and sighed.

"You're right Axel...I should move on..." he muttered.

"Yeah...It's over then..." replied Axel with a sad smile.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Riku tossed in his sleep. He groaned in pain, sweat beading from his head. He woke up abruptly, but it was bright and not dark. He frowned slightly and realized that he wasn't in the hospital room anymore. There were footsteps behind, making him turn around. The person who stood before him, the boy he was looking for all this time.

"Sora? Is it...really you?" he asked as he walked towards him.

"Yeah...it's me alright..." replied Sora with a sorrowful smile, "But...I'm not there Riku...I'm not with you and I never will be. I can't be with you...because my time had already came, but Riku, you still got yours. You still have a life ahead of you, one filled with many happiness...one that will make you feel complete."

"I don't understand? What are saying Sora?"

"...You forgot...I feel a bit sorry for him. After he finally discovered his own feelings, he is thrust back into the shadows where he came from.

"Who?"

"Someone you know very well Riku. Someone who has been besides you and will always be besides you if you could remember."

"Stop speaking like that. I don't understand!"

"Do you truly still love me?"

"What?! Of course I do!"

Sora appeared before him, which surprised him. Sora touched his chest where his heart was located and looked up at him in the eyes.

"Roxas has your heart now...realize that Riku. He needs you and you need him. No one can replace me in your heart, but I am the past, Roxas is the present and the future. He will become the most precious thing to you, that's why Riku, please remember him," said Sora

"...Roxas? You mean the boy who came to visit me today?" asked Riku

"Yes..."

Riku shook his head. He took a step away from Sora and turned away.

"How can you tell me to love someone else?" asked Riku painfully.

"Because I want you to be happy! Because I can't be there for you anymore! Because...you have to move on...Riku! Remember him!"

Riku turned around and then a flash of memory collided with him. Roxas came into view and he saw him smile that sweet smile. He saw him crying, making him want to embrace Roxas and comfort him. He saw Roxas with eyes full of lust and then he saw their passionate kiss. He blushed as the scene from the beach replayed over his head. When it ended, Riku was left speechless. Sora was gone, the dream was ending and he was waking up. He groaned and blinked his eyes open. He saw a pair of sapphire eyes staring him, making him yelp. He sat up and saw Cloud looking at him with worry. Leon was there as well, along with Cid and Kairi. Riku looked out the window swiftly. The sun was already up and the birds were already chirping. The dream...Sora...no...Roxas!

"Riku?" said Kairi in a cautious tone, "Is something wrong?"

"You sounded like you were in pain," said Cloud.

"What?" said Riku as he brought his attention back to the others, "No, I mean, I'm fine. Umm, why am I at the hospital? I don't remember getting injured or anything..."

"...No. Look, Riku...about Sora. You said you wanted to see him?" asked Cid as he heaved a sigh, "Okay, we're going to tell you now. You can't see Sora because...because he's already gone from this world."

"...Yeah? I know that...Why are you telling me that?" asked Riku confusingly.

"What?!" said Kairi in shock.

She rushed over to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. He stared at her in puzzlement and a bit of fear. She looked him straight in the eyes and began sobbing loudly. She hugged him and cried onto his shoulder.

"Did something happen?" asked Riku, still confused.

"You...you remember!" exclaimed Cloud as he rushed over to his side as well.

"Urm...yes I remember? What did I forget?" asked Riku, "Why am I here? Why are you guys so clingy?!"

They merely laughed, leaving Riku in confusion.

They were heading back to Riku's home now. He sat in the car, laughing with the others.

"Wait...I had what?" asked Riku.

"You were suffering through a repressed memory! Sheesh, who would have though you were this troublesome. Scaring us like that," said Cloud.

Riku rolled his eyes, leaving the conversation at that. It became silent in the car and no one dared to talk, especially about Roxas. As they arrived, there was someone waiting by his house. Riku arched a brow as they approached closer. He took a look at the stranger and he realized that it was Axel. They stopped the car and Riku got out quickly, running to Axel.

"Oh, good, you're back!" said Axel hurriedly.

The others came and walked up behind Riku. Cid and Leon glared at Axel.

"Who's this punk?" asked Leon.

"Excuse me! The name is Axel! Ugh, never mind, I don't have time to introduce myself!" said Axel as he ran his fingers through is red fiery hair, "Look. You like Roxas right? Maybe even love him? If you do...you have got to save him!"

Riku stared at Axel and frowned slightly and then said, "What?"

"You have to remember Roxas!"

"No, no, I mean...I remember Roxas now...What do you mean though...by saving him?"

"Damn it! I guess I'll have to explain. Roxas was an orphan. He was taken in by Organization XIII, but at the time, the Organization didn't know that Roxas had a weak heart. When they finally found out, Roxas was too good of a member to just kill him. They began researching up people to see if anyone had a compatible heart to his. They found...they found out that Sora's heart was the perfect match. So I guess you can say...Sora's death was because of Roxas...he even killed Sora, during that burglary, he was the one who shot Sora, because it was an assignment. Roxas didn't want to die, he did it for himself...but...BUT, if you can go pass all that and see Roxas for who he is now, if you can...please save him! He went to visit you when you were in the hospital. At the time, you didn't remember who he was. We went back, but the Organization found out that Roxas left to see you! They have spies everywhere, but don't worry, I made sure no one followed me. Anyways, Roxas took the blame for it. He said he was the one who forced me into taking him to see you. They thought that Roxas told you about them and now they have him prisoned! They're going to kill him! If you have the heart to forgive the murderer of your ex-lover and if you love him, save him! I can't do anything by myself! So I'm begging you...please save him!

Axel begged him with desperation, but it was all too much for Riku to take. Roxas...killed Sora? Then...that's why he...was so upset over that time I told him about Sora...Riku was in shock and couldn't speak.

"How do we know if you're not making it up?" asked Kairi, "For all we know, you're a member of the Organization too! Wouldn't that mean you're after Riku as well!"

"I'm not! I'm on Roxas's side! Because...I like him. He was my first friend and I'm not going to let him kill him!" exclaimed Axel as he nearly came to tears.

Leon and Cid frowned and grabbed Axel by the shoulders.

"Enough of this! We don't want to be associated with criminals!" said Cid firmly.

He and Leon dragged Axel away from the house with Cloud followed them all the while, Riku was still trying to get the message. Kairi took him by the hands and pulled him inside. She made him sit down on the couch.

"Relax...you don't need to worry yourself over this. Just forget about him, okay Riku?" said Kairi gently.

Riku shook his head and finally found his voice again. He looked up at Kairi and smiled sadly.

"I can't just forget him. He's Sora's murderer...and he's the one I love now. Even if he killed Sora...I think, Sora has already forgiven him. So if Sora can...then so can I. Sora came to me, you know that Kairi? He came to me in my dreams and told me that I have to move on. He told me that, Roxas needs me...and I need him. It's true...right now, Roxas needs me...and I do need him. He's the only one. You can hate me...but I don't want to lose someone I love again. I'm not giving him to death again...this time, I want to be able to save the one I love..." he whispered quietly.

"Why? He's the one who caused all this!" yelled Kairi.

"But...I love him. Maybe I already fell in love with him the first time I saw him. I want to forgive him. There's no solution in hating...that will only cause more problems."

"You're to nice."

Riku chuckled lightly.

"Maybe I am..." he muttered.

Just then, Cloud, Leon and Cid came in. They stared at the two in silence.

"I'm guessing you decided to go save the boy?" asked Cid.

"That's a stupid choice. Cloud and I are in the police force and our group has already been asked to help bust Organization XII, but we found nothing. They're criminals, scary ones too, and Roxas is one of them. That means, Roxas is a criminal too. Organization XII isn't a group you want to mess with Riku. They're not just there for fun and games. They're real, and they will kill you without any hesitation," said Leon seriously.

"Even still...I want to save him," replied Riku as he got up from the seat.

"You're a fool..." muttered Kairi.

"Call me whatever you want, but it isn't going to change my mind," said Riku with a smile.

"Fine," said Cloud.

The other three looked at him like he was crazy. Cloud merely stared back at them.

"Roxas isn't a bad kid!" said Cloud, trying to defend himself.

"What? Not a bad kid?! Roxas murdered Sora!" exclaimed Kairi.

"And? If you were in the same situation as him, you would have done the same. Anyone would fear death at such an age. To be born with a weak heart, only to know you don't have a long time to live and you could die anytime, it's a scary thought. He did what he thought was right. He was raised in a house of criminals! Of course he would do that! But during the time we spent with him, did he really seem like he was evil? He's a child, probably lost and confused! Take Sora for an example! He was an orphan child. Leon found him on the streets. He was a thug, a thief, a little brat, and he even tried to kill someone! But did Sora seem like a bad person to you? No! He was raised on the streets, his only method of survival is how he lived on the streets. If it wasn't for Cid, Sora might have became a criminal himself...What difference does that make Roxas? He's probably the same...just a lost child. Give him a chance. I'm willing to help Riku go save him," said Cloud.

The others were silent and Riku smiled at Cloud.

"Thanks," said Riku.

He was glad Cloud was on his side. At least someone agreed with him.

"If you put it that way...then I guess there's no use to argue," said Leon, "I'm in then."

Kairi looked over to Cid who shrugged.

"I guess, why not?" said Cid.

They were now waiting on Kairi's answer. Kairi fidgeted under their intense gaze.

"Agh! Fine! But I'm staying here! I just don't have anything against it," she said.

"Haha, that's more like it. Don't worry, I'm staying here as well. Just in case something happens to Kairi. You three go on. Prepare yourself though," said Cid.

They nodded and left Riku's house only to find Axel still waiting. He was inside his car, in deep thought. Riku gave a tap on his window, making him jump. Axel rolled down the window and looked behind him where Cloud and Leon were standing.

"We're going. Cloud and Leon are coming with us. Don't worry, they know how to fight," said Riku.

"Yeah...the problem is...do you?" asked Axel as he arched a brow at him.

"Yeah...surprisingly...I took military training before. Only because I was force to, but at least now I know it's going to come in handy."

"Hmph, don't get too cocky. Organization XIII isn't some laid back criminal group who's easy to beat. They're the criminal group that are wanted. They skilled, so be careful."

"Got it."

"Okay, then get in!"

"What about weapons?"

"Got them already."

"..."

"I brought them just in case you decided you would save Roxas. You are, so, it works out."

"Sure."

Riku nodded to Cloud and Leon to get in. They followed suit after Riku got in and so, they're battle begins...