Shado: And thus the story continues. Sorry this took a while, I had an unexpected bad cold during Turkey Week, and now I finally got this done after the stress of making up for two days, that took a whole week. T.T sad I know.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2 Something's Missing

I groaned, my eyes just barely opened enough to see the owner of the soft hand that was caressing my head. I saw auburn brown hair, and a pink bow. Instantly I knew it was Aerith, she was saying soothing words when I flinched from the bright light above us. I didn't exactly catch what she said, but I knew it was comforting words she always used.

The pain was still there, all over my body. It was so hot, my body was only sweating around my head where the fever hit the hardest. There was a thin sheet of sweat over the rest of my body, but it was almost unnoticable to the point the sweat wasn't there. I groaned again, unsure how my body isn't reacting like it's supposed to. The heat coursing through my veins was unbearable! Why was there such hot, piercing pain flowing through me like it was in my blood? It was as if someone replaced my blood supply with oil and lit a flame within my veins.

"How do you feel?" Aerith asked, now that my hearing had somewhat returned.

"Hot...pain...like my...veins are on...fire..." I gasped out weakly, surprised at my own hoarse voice.

She frowned at me, while her thumb made a small circle around my temple. My strength was weakening, my chest felt like it was filled with stuff you get from the cold, and it hurt to breathe. Even in my state, I couldn't tell if I was wheezing, I wouldn't be surprised if I was. I groaned again, struggling to stay awake.

"Roxas, I'll be right back. I think I have something that may help, but I need to find it. Luckily I left it in Cloud's kitchen a while back." Aerith told me, her thumb rubbing a few more circles before she left.

I watched her leave, everything was still a bit blurry. With the last of my strength, I remained awake as the minutes ticked by. While I laid there, I realized that my arms and legs were shaking, was I having the chills? How could that be, when my veins felt like they were burning? I groaned, trying to brush away my confusion and concentrate on staying awake. It was the least I could do, since whatever Aerith was getting I would have to swallow.

It wasn't until my eyes were just about to close, did I hear the door open. Aerith was by my side again, but this time she wasn't alone. I recognized the face of Demyx, and the blue hair of Zexion standing by the door. I couldn't exactly catch the words they were saying, and it wasn't until I saw that Demyx was holding a book, did I see that he was telling her illnesses that fit my condition.

Aerith tried to tell me something, as she held a clear glass bottle, the liquid was a glowing blue. I gave her a confused look, telling her that I didn't hear her. She seemed to frown, she explained again but my hearing still couldn't catch a single sound. My eyes were just about to cry, I couldn't understand!

Then Zexion stepped forward, using his hands to tell me to watch his lips. I did as told, and read them as he slowly explained.

"This...potion...will...help...your illness...at least...until...they find...out...what's wrong." I repeated, making sure I read him right. They nodded, assuring me that I was right.

Aerith smiled softly, but I could see the worry behind it. Zexion stepped closer and helped me sit up carefully, one hand was on my shoulder and the other on the back of my head. I was so weak, but it was nice to have friends for help. I blinked, when I realized that this position looked like Zexion was trying to hug me, and partially failing. I blinked when Aerith opened the bottle, gently pressing it to my mouth.

Reluctantly I opened my mouth, and swallowed. I coughed at first, she pulled the bottle away so I wouldn't spill any. The taste was disgusting! But it had some odd sweet after taste. But strangely enough, the pain in my chest began to ease, only slightly. And once my breathing had calmed, I willingly opened my mouth enough for another sip.

It was just as disgusting as the fist sip, but I swallowed without having another coughing fit. When I managed to swallow about eight gulps, Aerith pulled the bottle away. Weakly I pulled my arm up to wipe my mouth. I couldn't let Zexion do everything for me anyway.

Slowly and gently, Zexion set me back down in the bed. I gave him an appreciated look, and it turned into a smile when I saw a smile creep on his face. He stepped back to stand next to the door again, while Demyx began reading out loud again, listing any illnesses that seemed to have matched mine. But with each one, Aerith shook her head. She may not know my condition, but she'll know it once she heard the name.

Just when my eyes began to close again, Axel bursted through the door. I blinked, trying to regain some strength to stay awake. A few moments he came in, I noticed a familiar emotion flowing through me from my other. I look up, and grimaced when I saw the unmistakable figure of Sora standing outside the door. I tried to growl, but it ended up with a coughing fit.

I felt his emotion, hurt, and a bit betrayed.

I came to feel what you're going through. And with me around, you seem stronger. Sora told me with great difficulty, with my mental walls surrounding me, it was hard for him to reach me through our link. I could tell he's frustrated, he didn't understand why I put up so many walls between us, when technically he's the closest person to me.

The reason behind the amount of walls between us, was built during the time I grew distant. For some reason, it affected my view of my close link of me and Sora. In a way it was so Sora wouldn't feel my feelings, while the other way was that I didn't realize that the walls were up until now.

Biting my lower lip, I glanced at Axel, and at the instant I calmed. He tried to grin at me, while his hand softly caressed my cheek. I weakly smiled back, and the mental walls disappeared. When I realized the mental walls were gone, it was too late. Sora was already in, feeling my emotions and the pain from my condition.

In moments, our minds became one, as I stared blankly at the ceiling, while Sora stared into space. Our thoughts became blank, as we focused on one thing. Before I could stop him, Sora saw the dreams, the dreams of Aqua and Terra. He saw one of the most recent, to the first time I saw them in a dream. The time where they were interacting with me, trying to say my name but I couldn't hear it.

I wanted to scream, scream at him. But I couldn't, our minds were one, and neither of us could do anything until I faint or Sora pulls out, since he has enough strength to do so. I didn't know what was going on in the room, I imagine they're silent, watching for any indication of either of us coming back from just staring unblinkingly into space.

While Sora explored my memories, I explored his. I saw how well Sukai was doing, and how happy he and his parents were on Destiny Islands. I caught a few glimpses of Kairi now and then, probably coming around to say hello or babysitting Sukai. I could see, from the protected walls within me, Sora felt no sense of pain or worry towards me. He seemed really happy the past few years, especially when he had family time with Riku and Sukai.

Then the pain came again. My veins were on fire again, and I was aware enough that I was whimpering. I could tell my breathing was irregular, my chest tightened as if my lungs were being constricted. I wasn't aware I was screaming, until Sora pulled away and our minds became our own again.

I didn't know who's hands that were trying to calm me down, and it didn't seem to matter to me at the time. It wasn't until I finally opened my eyes, did I see that it was Axel who was desperately trying to calm me down. One look into his intense green eyes, and I stilled. Without breaking eye contact, Axel stepped to the side for Aerith to make sure I didn't recieve another symptom from the freak out session seconds before.

My eyes became heavy again. My strength was diminishing too fast. For a moment my eyes closed, trying to ease off the hot pain through out my body. But when I tried to reopen my eyes, the lids were too heavy to lift. With a sigh, I still tried to remain awake. It was harder now, with my eyes closed, silently promising me a chance of relief.

And with a deep breath, I welcomed the warmth of sleep.

Zexion's P.O.V.

I watched as Roxas fell asleep from outside the room. The stench his illness was giving off, it made me feel uncomfortable. My nose wrinkled in protest of the hedious stench. His illness was giving off a horrible smell, it was worse than the stench Demyx gave off when he got the cold last spring.

Refraining a groan, I slipped away from the door frame and made my way downstairs to the kitchen. My stomach called for something to fill it with food. I didn't feel like eating a whole meal, for the stench ruined my appetite. But my stomach was strong enough to consume a small snack. That was enough for me.

As I made my way down, I thought over Roxas' symptoms.

As of now Roxas had a fever of around 104, yet his body wasn't showing it. His face wasn't flushed, he wasn't sweating, even when he was twitching from the effect of the chills. And then there was also another strange symptom, he had trouble hearing when we tried to explain to him about the potion that Aerith gave him earlier. The fever wasn't high enough to affect the brain, so why would he have trouble hearing?

There was something else. The stench. I'm not usually one to complain, but the smell was so strong I'm surprised the others haven't noticed. Ugh. I don't think anyone else would use the scent as a symptom, but from what I've experienced about illnesses, the stronger the stench, the more serious the illness.

And this was definately serious.

I stood there in the kitchen, staring off into space while my hands were on autopilot. I didn't pay attention to what my hands were making, I was so into what was wrong with Roxas. It was very odd, he's only been sick for a few hours, but it's like he's been sick for days if not weeks. Something was very wrong. Very wrong.

With a sigh, my mind concentrated on any books that may give us a clue as to what's going on. For some reason, the stench clicked something in my brain. I couldn't come up with an answer to why the scent was a big clue, but it was enough for me to search in my memories. Again I listed the symptoms.

Stench, fever but no flushed skin, trouble hearing but fever not high enough to affect it, chills, hot searing pain, and having trouble breathing. I knew that there was something else. Something that I had missed. Something that could give us a bigger clue. I wasn't sure how I knew that there had to be another symptom, but it seemed that way right now. Another symptom, but what was it?

I back tracked. Mako. Mako must be the source of this. But how? Roxas was having a completely different intake of the mako than Cloud. That, and Roxas didn't have such an extensive amount of mako compared to the blond swordsman. Could it be Roxas' heart?

My thoughts went to the Roxas-look-a-like five years back. He gave up his heart for Roxas. There must have been something wrong with that heart. It must have been the combination of that mako, the heart, and that figure who looked like Roxas but with a slightly different voice. Something was off though.

That's when it hit me.

The connection between Roxas and Sora.

Quickly I dropped what I was doing and ran upstairs. They heard me, for Axel and Sora stood outside of Roxas' room and the door closed. They probably wanted to know what my rush was. Once I reached them I stopped, gasping for breath from the flight of stairs. They waited patiently, watching me carefully as I caught my breath.

"You...are you able to feel anything from Roxas? Any pain? Anything at all?" I gasped out.

"Not...really. He has mental walls up." Sora frowned, not sure what I'm getting at.

With a groan I shook my head. "Even with mental walls up, did you still feel anything? Anything even if it was the slightest or the softest feeling?"

He thought for a moment. Axel glancec between us, still a bit confused.

"Now that you mention it...usually I do. This time it's different. I feel nothing, not even the slightest emotion or pain." Sora stared at me, his eyes worried.

"What does this mean?" Axel blinked at me.

"I have a theory, there's a book I've read, similiar symptoms to his condition. I have to find it, it's in our library." I gave a small glance at the redhead, who understood immediately.

"No. You're not going alone." he crossed his arms.

"Axel, we have no time! If we argue who's coming with me, it'll be too late for Roxas. I don't know how much time we have left to save him, but I'm not taking any chances." I snarled at him.

"And neither am I. You're important here, maybe if-"

"No! Axel, I know what the book looks like, I can find it. Let me go and find it." I interrupted him, growing a little more irritated by the second.

"But-"

"I'll go with him."

I turned around to see Demyx standing behind me. A frown tugged on my lips, I didn't like this. Not one bit. I like the idea best with one of us staying here to keep an eye with Zaixou. She's so small and fragile, I worry about her everytime I step outside the mansion. With Demyx staying behind, it always put my mind at ease.

"No." I told him.

He pouted. "Zexoin, when's the last time I ever helped you? Please, let me come along. Zaixou would be fine with Xentshi."

"Let him go with you. He's such a klutz, he might injure Roxas or one of the kids when he's running around with a stack of books." Axel added.

A heavy sigh escaped me. My shoulders slumped in defeat. Demyx perked up, grinning from ear to ear. He almost squealed, but with my glare at him he kept it down. Axel grinned, almost as wide as Demy's. Sora tried to grin with them, but from the corner of my eye he seemed a little worried.

"Don't worry, I'm positive you'll still have a connection with him." I assured him. "Demyx, let's go get our cloaks."

"Huh? But I thought Axel threw them out." he tilted his head, following me anyway.

"I saved them. All four of them, just in case we needed them in the future." I started to frown.

My measurements weren't the same as five years ago.

About thirty minutes to an hour later, I stood in front of a mirror. Somehow, after having a baby, and five years later, the cloak still somehow fit snug and comfortable. I was worried around the hip area would cause some discomfort, but it felt fine. After I had Zaixou, my pants had to be bigger around the rim of the waist which irritated me for quite a while. Still does.

But with the cloak, it was as if Zaixou never happened. The leather stretched a little, but not noticable enough for people to stare at me in wonder. With a heavy sigh, I glanced to the grinning love of my life. He looked good as ever in the cloak, even if he gained a few pounds. He still looked sexy enough for me.

"You look good." I commented, trying to hide my growing lust.

"And you look like my Sexy Zexy." his grin widened if possible.

I shook my head. "After all these years, you're still calling me that?"

"You know it turns you on." he teased, leaning closer with a knowing expression.

I took a step back, right now I couldn't give in. We were going on a mission.

"We need to go. Roxas can't wait much longer." I said, gently pulling him along to the living room.

"All right." he followed.

When we reached our destination, Axel, Aerith, and the two kids were there. They were waiting. Subconsciously I squeezed Dem's hand when I saw Zaixou. She had a flower in her hair, she looked so adorable I was afraid of leaving. But a squeeze on my hand and I brushed those thoughts out, Roxas needed all the help he could get now.

"They wanted to give you hugs." the Ancient smiled at us.

I just nodded, letting go of Dem's hand to reach out for Zaixou. She spread her arms out and launched herself at me. Using all of my strength I pulled her up and held onto her. She giggled, she loved to be picked up. A weak smile tugged the corner of my lips.

"Hey Zaixou. Demyx and I will be leaving, we don't know how long we'll take. We're on a mission to find help for Roxas." I told her softly, she wasn't like most children. My daughter was very much like me when it came down to long terms.

"Roxas is sick isn't he? Is that why the house stinks so much?" she made a face.

I blinked. That was a first my daughter referenced to smell.

"You could smell it?" My eyes blinked.

"My nose isn't as strong as yours, but I can still smell it. It stinks! It's worse than when Dad was sick last spring." Zaixiou pouted, obviously hating the scent.

"Well just stay downstairs and occupy your mind. I'm sure it won't affect you like it does me, my nose is too sensitive for it's own good." I would have glared at my nose if I could.

"All right. Be careful ok?" she said as I set her down on her own two feet again.

"You know me, cautious. That doesn't mean you can get to mess around too much all right?" I reminded her.

"You know me, taking care of Xentshi." she smiled.

"Hey!" Xentshi frowned an Axel frown.

"You know you're loved." Zaixou and I said at the same time.

"True." he grinned.

"We need to go. Demyx, if you will?" I turned to him.

"Righto." he said, turning to open a portal.

"Take care." Aerith waved.

"Come back soon." Zaixou waved with a smile.

"Make sure you come back with that book." Axel added.

"We will." Demyx grinned, waving back.

We both turned and stepped into the portal.

Roxas P.O.V.

I didn't know where I was, or how I got here, all I knew was that when I opened my eyes, I was standing in the rain with my cloak on. It was the only protection I had from the cold rain, which poured down in heavy drops. I stood there, in the middle of the street, just staring what was in front of me. It wasn't much, just a few buildings on each side of the road. But they seemed familiar somehow. Then I realized, I was standing somewhere in Twilight Town.

I knew it rains here in the winter, but not this much. The storm was cold, so very cold against my skin. My body shivered, but not from the cold, but because of the feeling of loneliness. My fever was high, and somehow it kept me warm despite the fact the storm raged heavily on my body. Within minutes the wet rain soaked me, the cloak heavy on my body like armor. My hair was flat on my head, now a dark brown than strawberry blond.

Even with the cold, wet rain soaked closer and closer to my bones, I didn't have the need to panic to find shelter. My instincts told me to wait. Wait for what? I didn't know. Why was I here? Waiting for someone. But who? I guessed I would have to wait and see. Even if it meant standing here in the middle of the street in the cold, heavy rain. I'm sure anyone else would just scream that I was crazy. Maybe I was.

But I didn't feel like pondering the idea right now. I was more worried on who I was waiting for.

Thunder echoed in the clouds above, not too long later lightning cracked and flashed in the heavens. The storm seemed to have picked up in it's rage, as if it was trying to dissuade me from waiting any longer. But I stood where I was, not minding at all about the heavy cloak that seemed to have weighed me down. I felt tempted to take the cloak off, take some of the weight off, but instead I left it on. It was the only clothing besides my pants that protected me.

And the cold, wet rain would get soak right to my bones faster with the cloak off. So I continued to stand there, waiting as the storm raged over my head. It was then, I realized, that maybe I should head to the clock tower. It was a sudden pull, and even with my legs weak, and my cloak and pants heavy, I took a step. Pain shot through me, it felt like stepping on pieces of glass. Even with the shoes on while continuing to walk, the feeling of stepping on glass continued with each step.

Now with the odds against me, I still walked on. The gravitational pull towards the clock tower was strong, so strong that even with all this pain I had to walk. The pull was painful, my chest hurt from both my condition and the gravitational instinct. I had to reach the clock tower, and I hoped that whoever I was waiting for, would remain there. It took me ten minutes, with the added weight on my body and walking uphill wasn't easy. Still, I somehow managed to reach the Station Plaza.

I limped to the middle of the Station Plaza, glancing around through the heavy rain. It was then I saw what I was waiting for. Someone moved inside the Station Plaza, someone very familiar. But by this time I didn't have anymore strength, at least to walk. My legs gave out, and I sat there, unsure how to grasp the person's attention to help me.

"Hey..." my voice was so hoarse, I barely managed a whisper.

My eyelids began to feel weak and heavy. I never anticipated to walk up an agonizing steep hill to the Station Plaza just to catch a glance of someone I was supposed to be waiting for. As my body shivered from the rain, I reached out with my hand. In an instant, Oblivian was summoned into my hand. My arm weakened and collaped to the ground.

Clank.

That was loud, even with the wet concrete ground that had splotches of puddles.

At in instant, the two figures -when was there two?- stopped in the Station Plaza. They cautiously walked outside, one I couldn't see their face. I could tell by the figure that it was a man, and he wore the Organization cloak with the hood over his head. The other, I nearly cried out. The other figure, it was none other than Aqua. She looked the same in my dreams, only a bit taller and her hair longer, it was down below her shoulders now.

Aqua gasped, she ran to my side, helping me up. I involuntarily leaned against her, my eyes barely able to stay open.

"Ven! Are you all right? I thought you were gone..." Aqua stared at me, momentarily confused.

"I...I'm Rox...as..." I barely managed to say to her.

She blinked. "Roxas?"

I nodded slightly, before glancing up at the stranger. He was tall, with broad shoulders and chest. It was strangely familiar, but with my body so tired and my brain so fuzzy, I couldn't tell who it was. As of now, my keyblade was gone, so my arm didn't have any weight to drag along. I could barely stand, let alone keep my head up to stare at the stranger.

"Do you know each other?" Aqua asked, staring at the stranger.

The cloaked man glanced at her, before staring back at me. I was so weak, the strange man gently raised a hand to my face, softly caressing my cheek. My eyes closed, leaning into the soft touch, something tugged in my chest. It was like a warning, almost, but I didn't know what for.

"Roxas?" Aqua's voice was fading.

The last thing I remembered was the soft hand still affectionately caressing my cheek.

A few minutes later something soft met my lips.

Slowly I drifted from my warm, fuzzy slumber. The sheets around me were soft, and by the weight on top of me I could feel that I had a lot of blankets. My eyelids were heavy, so even though I was awake, I couldn't fully grasp where I was. The event in the rain, was slowly coming back. It was so odd, because I was sure that I felt Axel's soft lips on mine before I lost consciousness. And the pain, the hot searing pain was no longer there.

I felt a hand gently brushed away my bangs, feeling my temperature. I nearly winced on how cold the hand felt. Then again, I still had a fever. At first, I thought it was Aerith. Then I remembered that I met Aqua, at Twilight Town of all places, with a somewhat familiar cloaked stranger.

My eyelids were still heavy, and my vision was blurry when I tried to open them. The hand was on my cheek again, the affection was evident. The tug in my chest made me gasp, I remembered the same tug last time. It was then I knew, that I was accepting the affection from someone that wasn't from Axel. My chest hurt from the realization, and even though my eyes were barely open, the tears fell.

"Ax...el..."

The hand paused, the owner of the hand grew tense.

"Axel...oh my god...what am I doing?!" I wailed and sat up, even if I was weak, it didn't matter at the moment.

At in instant Aqua was at my bedside, trying to set me back down while the stranger gently ran his hand through my hair.

"Roxas, it's ok, we're taking care of you. When you've healed, we'll help you get home." Aqua reassured.

I whimpered. "No...Axel..."

"Who's Axel, sweetie?" Aqua frowned at me.

"He...my boyfriend...Axel..." I cried, and felt the hand reluctantly pulled away from my hair.

"Allow us to take care of you, and you'll see your boyfriend soon." she assured, gently resting her hand over my forehead.

Her hand reminded me of Aerith. I wasn't sure if it was right, being here. I didn't know how I got my cloak on, or how or why I left the mansion. I wasn't supposed to be here! The word mansion rang a bell in my head. Mansion. The mansion in Twilight Town! Namine left Hollow Bastion a few years back to return to the mansion in Twilight Town.

I decided then that when I'm less sick, I'll sneak out and rush to Namine for help. It's not like I don't trust Aqua, but there was something odd about this situation. The stranger in the cloak, I couldn't at all tell who he was. Something about him was familiar, it was as if his identity was trying to keep itself unknown to me. And no matter what there was a nagging feeling that made me just reach out and pull the hood off.

But there was a stronger instinct, which told me to never awknowledge the Organization imposter. There was a fear, a fear that destroyed my curiosity on the face of the man. I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. My slightly enhanced hearing told me Aqua was still in the room, most likely staying by my side until I fell asleep.

And sleep I welcomed.

Shado: And there ya go. The second chap.

So, what's gonna happen to Roxas? Who's the Organizaion imposter/stranger? And what's Aqua doing in Twilight Town? Would Zexion find the book he needs to figure out Roxas' condition?

-Sigh- So many questions, so little time.

Review plz!