AN: This chapter contains an insert song to go with the mood I wish to set (the first of many possible insert songs). The song in this particular chapter is Precious, performed by Depeche Mode, from their album Playing the Angel. If you are unfamiliar with it, look it up on YouTube in order to get the proper feel for the song and the emotion its meant to elicit from you. Now, lets begins...

Roxas faces down a group of ten Proud Wilds and Soldiers class Heartless, easily counter and blocking their attacks, then striking out at them; dispatching them with ease. Once they fell, he could see one last Heartless remaining which resembled a bat with a hook for legs trying to fly up out of his attack range.

"Oh no you don't" he yells as he runs at a wall, leaps at it, then rebounds off while shifting the Kingdom Key into Pumpkinhead for the added length. "...Get back here" he yells as he swings ride, making contact with the Heartless and sending it slamming back into the ground where it burst into nonexistence as well.

As he lands back on the ground, he hears hands clapping and looks over to see Axel walking towards him. "Alright Roxas, you're getting better at this. Heck, I wasn't even needed here today, huh?"

"I doubt you had any complaints though seeing as you got to pull a Demyx on me" says Roxas which gets Axel to huff.

"Well if that's the way you feel..." Axel then reach's out and ruffles Roxas hair. "I won't ever help you again. Got it memorized?"

Roxas laughs as he push's Axel's hand off him, saying "Sorry, sorry. So, what now?"

Axel pulls out his com device and scans the area with it. "I'm not getting any more Heartless readings right now and we haven't detected any signs of the Keyhole's location either...and it's getting late. Let's head back for now and save the world saving for another day."

"Alright" says Roxas as he lets the Keyblade disappear. Axel creates a portal for them as Roxas says "I wonder if Xion has already finished her mission yet?"

"We won't know by just standing here" says Axel as he walks towards the portal.

"Yeah, let's head ba..." Roxas stops mid sentence and mid step as his vision suddenly blurs and his head become dizzy and disoriented. Before his mind could even register what was happening with him, he begins to fall as the darkness takes his him.

"What were you saying Roxas?" asked Axel as he looks back and sees Roxas falling towards the ground with glazed over eyes. "ROXAS?" he yells as he runs over and catch's Roxas at the last second, letting his limp body rest against his arms.

Axel gives Roxas a little shake, trying to wake him up but he doesn't respond which sends Axel into a panicked state. He then stands while holding Roxas in his arms, saying "Don't worry. I get you some help back home." Axel then runs into the portal to get Roxas back to Never Was.

Realm Hearts

chpt.11: A Precious and Fragile Thing

Xemnas, Vexen, and Zexion stood around several machines, looking at readings coming from the devices that were scanning Roxas, who was currently laying unconscious on an examination table. Behind a glass viewing screen, the other members of the Organization stood there and watched patiently for some news.

"Man, I hate waiting" says Axel in a grumpy tone.

"Hating it won't make things go by faster, you know that right" asked Saix.

"Yeah, yeah, I know that" says Axel, though he still didn't like it.

"Axel..." comes Xion, getting Axel's attention. "Will Roxas be alright?" In both her tone and the look on her face, she was worried. Maybe even terrified though Axel didn't know she could feel that yet. Well, maybe it would be more accurate to say that she could but wouldn't understand what she was feeling.

His eyes drift away from her as he didn't know what to say. "Xion...I'm sure he'll be just fine once he gets some rest. He's been working pretty hard lately and I'm sure he's just tired."

"A comforting lie is still a lie regardless" comes Vexen as he and Zexion exit the examination room while Xemnas was still inside, though sitting at a computer consul, doing some checking in the database. "There's no need to pretend that things are going to be OK."

"Why you..." growls Axel, angered by Vexen's seemingly lack of concern for Roxas or at least trying to reassure Xion, who he saw as still being emotionally fragile.

Saix reach's out and places a hand on Axel's shoulder to silence him, then he ask "Have you found anything?"

Zexion shakes his head and says "We don't have a clue as to what's wrong with him. On the surface, it would like he's just suffering from physical exhaustion. But it's much worse than that..."

"In a nut shell, our heroic Keybearer has fallen into a coma of some kind and there's nothing we can do to wake him up right now." says Vexen.

"Nothing at all?" asked Marluxia.

Zexion's eyes lower, saying "From what our readings can tell, he appears to be losing energy; his life force is weakening and even with the medical technology we have here, we can't figure out why this is happening or how to stop it."

"So what are his chances then?" asked Luxord, knowing that Roxas was in a fight against time.

"Well..." says Zexion, hesitant to tell them.

"Less than two days" says Vexen. "If his condition continues to deteriorate as it is and doesn't either stop or go into reverse, he'll be gone by sunrise the day after tomorrow."

"What are you saying?" asked a confused Xion. "Roxas isn't going to be leaving us; leave the Organization is he?"

"Xion..." says Axel, not sure how to explain this to her.

"He's going to die and we'll never get to see or talk with him again" says Vexen, not feeling the need to sugar coat the truth just for her sake.

"Die? Never see or talk with him again?" repeats Xion, looking confused. "I don't understand."

"Xion, come walk with me a bit" says Larxene, much to everyone's surprise. Larxene walks to stand before Xion and says "I'll explain it to you, OK?" Larxene then rest a hand on Xion's shoulder and leads her out of the room.

"Better her than me" says Xaldin, referring to Larxene given this talk to Xion.

"No kidding" agreed Demyx.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Xigbar.

"There's nothing any of us can do. Lord Xemnas will continue to monitor Roxas while looking through An...I mean, the old database from back home to see if there may be any information inside we can us to help Roxas" says Zexion.

"Until then, we should return to doing our jobs" says Saix. "Roxas would want us to, not stand around worrying about him and who knows, maybe we'll find something that can help him."

"Here's an idea" says Axel, getting everyone's attention. "Why don't we all go to the world's Roxas has visited since coming here and look around, maybe get scans using our com-devices. Maybe we'll find out what's wrong with him by looking back at where he has been."

Vexen rubs his chin with his hand, saying "That's a possibility. Places like that Underworld or Sleepy Hollow may have exposed him to something that could effect him that wouldn't affect us seeing as we're Nobodies and as such, we can't catch any type of diseases."

"But wouldn't Xion have been affected as well, at least in the world's were she and Roxas were working together?" asked Demyx.

"Not if the world she's from granted her an immunity to a disease that Roxas didn't get while living in Twilight Town. If nothing else, it is a possibility worth investigating" says Zexion.

"Hand me your com-devices and I'll tweek them for the search" says Vexen while holding hid hands out to receive them. Who knows, maybe he did care about Roxas health and safety too but just had a weird way of showing that concern?

Several hours later, everyone but Xion and Xemnas had left to investigate the worlds Roxas had visited before. Xemnas had retreated to his private lab with samples taken from Roxas body for various test to try finding a solution to this dilemma. And Xion had just been asked to hold down the fort for today.

"Can I come in?" asked Xion as she stands at the door to Roxas room, knowing she wouldn't get a response. She had just said it because it was the polite thing to do. She steps in and moves to be at Roxas side, pulling a seat over to sit down in.

"He looks so peaceful" she says, her eyes glued onto his face.

It was hard to believe his existence was in danger. Even after Larxene had talked to her, she had to admit that she still didn't fully understand what death meant. But the thought that she would never get to talk with him, laugh with him, just be around him again, had caused an intense and uncomfortable feeling to arise within her. She had asked Larxene about it and had been told it was pain and hurt; sadness and fear. Many things Xion didn't understand.

"Roxas, can you hear me? If you can, say something..." she asked as she subconsciously reach's out and takes his hand into her own, giving it a squeeze. He doesn't respond and she leans in closer.

"Roxas, please..." she says again, the feeling inside she didn't like growing stronger and stronger. And then she feels something wet hit her hand that was holding his.

"Huh? What's this?" she asked, realizing her cheeks were wet and her eyes were becoming blurred and watery. Reaching up with her free hand, she wipes her eyes and finds water now on her finger. She then recalls something Larxene had told her, how she had said that it was OK to cry. She hadn't understood what that meant.

"Is this crying? Am I crying now?" she ask as more tears fall, then sniffles subconsciously. "No, I don't...I hate this. I hate this feeling, the pain and sadness inside. Roxas, please don't go away..."

Precious and fragile things

need special handling

my god, what have we done to you

We always tried to share

the tenderest of care

now look at what we have put you through

things get damaged, things get broken

I thought we'd manage, but words left unspoken

left us so brittle

there was so little left to give

Angel's with silver wings

shouldn't know suffering

I wish I could take the pain from you

If God has a master plan

that only he understands

I hope its your eyes he's seeing through

things get damaged, things get broken

I thought we'd manage, but words left unspoken

left us so brittle

there was so little left to give

I bring you lots of trust

have faith in both of us

keep room in your heart for two

things get damaged, things get broken

I thought we'd manage, but words left unspoken

left us so brittle

there was so little left to give

"Please Roxas..." cried Xion, her tears falling hard from her eyes. "Don't leave me..."

Xemnas starts to enter the room and stops, seeing Xion as she buries her face against Roxas chest, clinging to him with her all her might as her sorrow echoes throughout the room. His eyes only remain on her for a moment before he turns around and walks back to wards his private chambers.

A thin smile had formed as this, while the Roxas situation had been sudden, it was not unexpected. And the reactions it was causing within Xion made it all the more worth it, no matter how it ends.

(the next morning)

Xion found herself begin roused from her sleep by a gentle shaking against her shoulder. Opening her sore eyes, she found she she had fallen asleep with her head resting against Roxas, likely a result of crying so hard, she figured. Wiping her eyes, she looks to her side and sees Saix looking down at her.

"Has anyone found anything yet?" she asked him.

Saix shakes his head, then says "Unfortunately, no. But they're still looking though."

"I see..." says Xion, feeling a new wave of tear starting to build up.

"Sorry Xion, but you can't stay glued to his side forever, you know. I need you to head out yourself and undertake a mission today" says Saix.

"But, I want to..." argues Xion, but Saix cuts her off mid sentence.

"I know what it is you want, but is something we all need you to do. Including Roxas" says Saix, getting Xion to look at Roxas, then back at Saix. "Besides continuing to destroy Heartless, perhaps you might find something that can help him that we won't. We...HE needs you to do more than just sit around and wait, Xion."

Perhaps she could find the answer the others couldn't? That thought hadn't crossed her mind before. Could she be the one to save him? "OK, I'll go..." she says before looking back at Roxas with a determined look on her face. '...for you, Roxas.'

Less than an hour later, Xion found herself exiting the portal into a world she had never seen before. The first thing she noticed was there was sand; lots and lots of sand all around her. And it was bright and hot out here as well, very hot. For a moment, she was tempted to toss her coat off but then reconsidered as all she had on underneath were pants and a thin string shirt that covered her chest and with the sun bearing down so intensely in this world, she would get some very bad sun burn quickly if she did so, thus she chose to keep her coat on, though modesty may have also been a factor.

She raises a hand up to help deal with the glare as she looks around, seeing the wall of a city not to far from her right. A wall was likely the sign of civilization, though she wondered how anyone could live in a place like this. Still, it was a good place to start if there really was people living there.

Stepping away from the portal to let it vanish, she begins to walk towards the walled city. But not five steps in, a powerful blast of wind hits her from behind, knocking her off her feet and sending her falling into the sandy ground hard.

Pulling herself up quickly, needing a moment to cough and spit the sand that had gotten into her mouth out, she looks back and sees a giant sand twister off in the distance. And from it, she sensed something dark an ominous; a possible cause behind both the twister and the winds it was kicking up.

"Is there...a Heartless inside there?" she wonders aloud. Could a Heartless actually cause something like THAT? While her first instinct was to go investigate, that feeling is quickly squashed down by remembering Roxas plight. From what she could tell, the twister was stationary thus didn't show any signs of being a threat to the walled city or its inhabitants. And as long as that was the case, then worrying about it was secondary now. Getting back on her feet, she continues towards the city to find something that might help Roxas.

Once she had made it to the walls, it had only taken her a small amount of time of searching before she had located the massive double doors that would allow her access within, though the guards had viewed her suspiciously though, given her clothes. Once inside, she had begun to look around and ask question's of everyone she saw and the most she had gotten was directions to the markets.

But sadly, none there had anything that could help cure the ailment she had described. Crestfallen and depressed, Xion begins to wander around, wondering if she would ever find anything of use her that could help Roxas.

"I couldn't help but overhear your plight before, little one" comes a voice, bringing her out of her sorrow. Looking around, she finds the voice having come from a small peddler with long whiskered mustache and chin hair with a large light bulb shaped hat. And he had called her little when he was even smaller in size than her.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Perhaps we can help each other" he says before reaching into his tunic and pulling out an emerald green vial and showing it to her. "Perhaps this elixir here can help you in your needs."

"It can? Really?" she asked, getting a nod from the peddler. "Thank you, sir. I'll take..." she says as she reach's out to claim the vial, but the peddler quickly pulls his hand back while raising the other to wave a finger at her.

"Oh no, no, no, little one. That isn't the way we do business here. If you want this, then you'll have to pay for it first" says the peddler.

"Pay?" asked Xion, confused.

"That's right, pay. For something this powerful, I'll say 10,000 munny should do" says the peddler.

"But I don't have any munny" says Xion.

"What? You don't have any munny? Then why are you wasting my time, you street rat...er, street mouse. Go bother someone else with your needs. I have a business to run" says the peddler in a huff before turning around to walk off in a huff.

"Wait sir, please" comes Xion, reaching out and stopping him. "You have to give me that elixir My friends life is at stake."

"I don't give a flying fig about your friends life. If you can't pay for it, then you don't get it. Those are the rules of trade her in Agrabah" says the peddler.

"Please, sir, I need it. I'll do anything" pleads Xion.

"Anything, huh?" says the peddler, looking her over. In his eyes and mind, she didn't look like much; just some street mouse in a weird get-up. But maybe her need was great enough to make her want to take any risk? Well, it was worth a shot, he thought. "Oh, I have an idea..."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Well, not far from here are some old ruins. I heard there is a rather valuable gem covered statue hidden there. If you can go get it for me, then I'll give you this elixir as a trade for the statue" says the peddler.

"Go get a gem covered statue and you'll give me the elixir? OK, I'll do it" says Xion.

"Just a word of warning though" says the peddler. "A fierce sand twister has been appearing upon those ruins often for quite some time so it will be dangerous..." There was also the rumors that those ruins were haunted as well, which is why he hadn't gone himself before to seek out the statue.

"A sand twister? Oh, I know where that is" says Xion, recalling what she had seen upon her arrival here in this world. Getting a determined look on her face, she says "Leave it to me, sir. I'll get that statue no problem. I'll be back soon." And with that, she turns and runs off towards the gate.

The trek across the desert, heading towards the ruins, had not been easy for Xion. The heat alone and the chaos it was causing with her vision; making things blurry, had been a pain. Not to mention the walk alone was very tiring. But at last, she had made it and the twister had seemingly died down for now.

"OK, now where is it?" she wondered, looking around. From the sand, she could see the remains of some buildings sticking out of the sand but no way into them. And then, off in the distance, she spotted a building that did have an way into it. "I'll start looking there..."

She runs forward, but immediately loses her footing as the ground starts to shake and sink downwards, causing her to fall into the pit. And from its center, I giant machine like creature begins to rise up. From its top half, she could make out metal pincers, eyes, and the Heartless crest. Then the rest of its triangular shaped body that ended with a drill appeared.

"The Heartless that's been causing these twisters..." she says, needing to cover her eyes due to all the sand that was being blasted outwards by the Antlion Heartless. "So, you're gonna stand in my way and keep me from helping Roxas..."

Her Keyblade appears in her hand as she charges at the Heartless, yelling out a battle cry. "I won't let you..." she yells as she leaps up into her first attack.

Her target was the Heartless head; the only part of it that didn't look to be made of metal, she figured. The sections that make up its body begin to spin, blasting out air and sand from little vent like openings upon the sections. Xion gets hit with several of the blast, being sent flying back down onto the ground.

She recovers quickly, back flipping as she prepares herself to go in for a second attack. The Antlion reorients its body, now blowing through the sand and heading towards in an attack pattern. Gripping her Keyblade tightly, Xion charges forward as well, intending to meet it half way.

Though the ground was unsteady due to the effect the Heartless was having upon it, she's able to maintain her balance and continue forward. She when she thought she was going to get close enough to strike out, the Heartless opens its mouth while its pincers spread wide and a funnel of wind and sand come blasting out, nailing her hard and sending her flying back to impact against some exposed ruins.

The hit against the ruin coughs her to cough up saliva and blood and she remains pressed against it, stunned for a moment as the Heartless comes racing at her; its aim was to smash her through the ruins. Though still in a daze, she recovers just enough to react in time; dodging clear as the Antlion collides with the structure, causing it to explode from the impact.

Xion goes rolling on the ground, then tries to pick herself up but finds her body not as responsive as she would like it to be. Though her vision was becoming blurred, she could make out the Antlion was circling around, aiming to try another attempt at taking her out.

Was this it for her? Would she be defeated here and now by this Heartless? Would she fail to save Roxas...NO, that thought was unacceptable to her. Finding herself being filled with anger at the thought that she would fail to save her friend causes her to shake in rage. Though this feeling was new, it felt like it could trigger something within her.

"You...I won't let you...you won't...stop me from...SAVING HIM" she screams out as her right hand suddenly thrust outwards, a ball of black and purple colored fire blasting outwards that slams into the Antlion's face, making it roar in pain as it's angle of attack shifts, causing it to miss Xion.

Xion blinks in surprise, looking at her right hand and wondering what had just happened? She didn't know she had a power like this. It was...she didn't know what it was to be honest, but if it could help her win here, then she would use it no matter what.

Her grip now back to being firm with her Keyblade, she charges at the Antlion, who senses her approach, and swings its drill like bottom at her. Xion jumps over the attack, releasing more Dark Fire attacks that collide with the Antlion, making it roar in pain again before it re-angles itself directly upwards at Xion, launching toward her for a final attempt at defeating her.

"I'm finishing this now" she yells, coming down at it and sending another Dark Fire spell raining down at it, nailing the Heartless right between the eyes which momentarily blinds it, creating enough of a distraction for her to send her Keyblade thrusting down hard into its face, piercing it.

The Heartless roars one final time as light begins to shoot from the various parts of its body before the whole creatures explodes in a blast of pure light, releasing a massive heart and sending Xion falling to the ground, making a hard landing. She was hurting from the impact, but she smiles all the same as she had defeated the Heartless. Now, all that was left why getting inside and finding the statue...

Night had fallen by the time Xion had made it back to Agrabah with the statue in hand. She was tired, dirty, and feeling winded. Getting into the ruins hadn't been a problem with the Antlion's defeat. Getting around some collapsed rubble and the cobwebs had been a little more trying. But she had found her target which made it all worth the trouble.

Once she was back inside the city, she waste no time in returning to the peddler's stand. Upon seeing her and the statue, his eyes light up and he says "You did it? You actually did it. I can't believe it. I thought I had sent you off to your death back there."

"No one...or thing, was going to stop me from getting that elixir of yours" pants out Xion, feeling out of breath as she places the statue on the counter. "Now, for your end of the deal..."

"Of course my dear, of course..." says the peddler as he pulls the elixir out and goes to hand it to her.

But at that moment, a small monkey wearing a purple colored vest and a fez hat comes running across the table, knocking the elixir from the peddlers hands onto the ground which causes it to shatter. Seconds later, a young man with tanned skin comes running past with an air born dagger in hot pursuit that hits the statue, also causing it to shatter as well.

"Get back here, you lousy street rat" shouts the captain of the guard as he and his men come running past.

"Thanks for the invite, but I'm gonna have to decline" shouts back the youth named Aladdin as he and his partner in crime, Abu, turn a corner in their attempt to escape the guards pursuing them.

"Oh no, the elixir" cries Xion, her eyes having gone wide and tearing up.

"NO, MY POOR TREASURE" shrieks the peddler. "My fortune, gone. And that blasted monkey destroyed that bottle of sun stroke cure as well."

"Huh?" asked Xion. "What do you mean by sun stroke cure?"

"The elixir I gave you. It was an instant cure for those suffering from sun stroke. What, that wasn't the problem your friend was having?" asked the peddler, getting a no from Xion. "Then it would have been wasted either way. Oh well, that stuff is cheap to get and doesn't work anyways..."

"Wait, you mean you lied to me?" asked Xion, recalling his price for it was far from being cheap.

"Yeah, that's right. Welcome to the world of business" growls the peddler as he gathers up his things. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a shop to relocate."

Xion sinks to her knees, unable to believe what she had just been told. Everything she had done since coming here...it had all been for nothing. Sure, she had defeated a giant Heartless and saved the people of this world from any serious trouble for the time being. But that didn't seem all that important at the moment to her. Xion balls her hands into fist as her tears fall onto the ground.

"Roxas...I'm so sorry. I failed..."

Her words are stopped suddenly as she senses something. Opening her eyes, she sees a glow coming from some of the shattered statue that had fallen onto the ground. Curious as to what was causing that glow, she reach's out and push's the statue pieces off to the side, revealing a petal like object that was yellow and green in color. This object, which also had a bit of silver at its pointed end and a hole cut into the silver, was the source of the glow.

"What is this?" she wonders aloud as she reach's out and touch's it. The moment her fingers make contact, an image appears in her mind of a boy who had the same face as Roxas. "That was...Roxas? Maybe this belongs to him?" She wasn't sure why, but she felt that maybe this could help so she picks it up and heads to exit the city so she could return to the castle.

(Never Was)

"How long does he have?" asked Zexion.

"A few hours at best" says Xemnas. "Such a sad way for this to end..."

"So we really can't do anything for him then?" asked Zexion.

"All we can do is to make him comfortable in his final hours" says Xemnas. "Now, you should go get some rest. I'll stay here and keep an eye on him for now."

"Understood" says Zexion as he turns and leaves the room.

Once they were alone, Xemnas looks at Roxas and says "It's to bad things had to end this way. It had been my hope that I would be able to restore your memories and you, in your gratitude, would lead me to..." He stops as he hears footsteps fast approaching the room. Moving back, he hides himself in the shadows so he won't be seen just in time as Xion comes running into the room.

"I'm back, Roxas" she says in between breaths. She wasn't sure what this things she had found would do, but she knew that it would do something and that alone had to be enough.

Walking forward, Xion takes a seat by him then takes his hand with her free hand, saying "Roxas, I'm here with you. So please, come back to me..." She then places the object into his hand and holds it there with her own.

For a second, nothing happens. And then Roxas body begins to glow as the monitors light up. Color returns to Roxas pale skin and his breathing becomes more relaxed and regular. Xion sits there, waiting with baited breath in the hopes that all of this was a good sign.

And then Roxas eyes open. "Uh...where am I? Xion, what...?" says Roxas weakly, his head turning and seeing her looking at him.

"Roxas...Roxas..." she says, tears falling from her eyes before lunging forward and wrapping him in as tight a hug as she could.

"Xi...on...I can't...choking me" says Roxas, barely able to talk as her hug was practically crushing. Who knew that she was this strong.

"You're OK now. I'm so glad" she says happily, though she does let up on her hold enough to let him breath a little. Roxas, though unsure of what was going one, just reach's out and hugs her back on instinct. He then sits up and Xion breaks the hug though she keeps herself leaning in close to him.

"What...I don't understand?" she says suddenly.

"Don't understand what?" he asked.

"Your awake and I'm happy, yet I'm crying. But people only cry when they're sad and I'm not..."

Roxas chuckles lightly as he reach's up and catches a tear with a finger. "Xion, people can cry when they're happy too. That why they call it tears of joy."

"Tears of joy?" she asked, getting a nod from him. "I like this, I like these kinds of tears." She then begins to tell him about all the stuff that had happened when he had fallen into his "coma" while off to the side, unseen and unnoticed, Xemnas stood and listened closely. It seemed things were progressing with Xion in the way he had hoped they would.

And as for Roxas? There was now no longer any doubt about it. He knew exactly what Roxas was...

When morning had come, the other Organization members had arrived and found Roxas still alive and kicking, which had made all of them feel some manner of relief. Though he was ready to get back out there and get back to work, Xemnas had insisted he take the day off which the others had agreed with. After all, there was no need to exhaust himself and risk a relapse of whatever he had been suffering from returning to cause him trouble again.

By the time the day had ended, he had been allowed to leave and wander around again though he would still have to stay in Never Was for another day or two before he would be cleared for active duty again. And so, to pass the time before bed, he along with Xion and Axel had headed to his floor in Memory Skyscraper.

"That was a close call, huh?" asked Roxas before taking a bite from the ice cream bar.

"That's one way to put it" agreed Xion.

"Just as long as you don't do it again" says Axel. "Got that memorized?"

"Yeah, no problem" says Roxas.

"But what do you think happened anyways?" asked Xion.

"Who knows?" says Roxas. "But, and I don't know where the confidence is coming in me saying this, I feel like it won't be an issue again..." He the brings his free hand up and holds the petal shaped object out from hanging around his neck so they could see it.

"Any idea what that is though?" asked Axel, curious due to what Xion had told him.

"Haven't a clue, though it does feel familiar to me somehow" says Roxas. "But..."

"But what?" asked Xion.

"Well...this is gonna sound weird, but I think I regained some of my lost memories" says Roxas.

"You have? Seriously?" asked Axel.

"Yeah, every since I got this. I can recall a few things I couldn't before" says Roxas.

"What did you remember?" asked Xion.

"Let's see..." says Roxas, taking a moment to decide what the order was before telling them what he had recalled.

To be continued...

Secret Report 9:

Xemnas was doing some work at his computer, an image of Xion being on the screen. After hearing her tell Roxas about the power she had awakened during her fight with the Heartless, he had wanted to check something. As he thought, she was progressing well and it looked like she would be ready sooner rather than later.

The door opens and Xigbar walks in. "Well, it seems the little princess has awakened her knight in shining armor. That's a nice twist to the old tales."

"Speaking of that. Has anyone else within the founding members made mention of Xion's physical appearance yet?"

"Zexion has found it curious and Lexaeus more or less said the same. Vexen is assuming she's just some look alike and Xaldin...well, he doesn't say. As for Saix and Axel? Like those two would say anything to me" says Xigbar. "What about Roxas? Just how did he recover like that?"

"I believe he found his anchor...or at least a piece of it" says Xemnas cryptically.

"And that means?" asked Xigbar, only getting a slight chuckle in response from Xemnas.

"Time will reveal that answer..."