Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Disney, and so on.

A/N: Back finally with another chapter! A chapter that actually wasn't supposed to happen, but somehow it made its way in. This story was supposed to move on to the forest, but then this kind of happened without me meaning for it to happen so the forest will have to wait until the next chapter. Anyways, enjoy!

Sunset Dreams

Chapter 5: Xion

Roxas

Station Plaza, Twilight Town

Shuddering almost, but not quite, imperceptibly at Naminé's suggestion, Roxas glanced uncertainly at the shiny surface of the Keyblade clenched tightly in his hand, and unable to look at the concerned faces of his friends, all of whom were staring at him as if they were afraid he might try to make a run for the Gummi Ship orbiting above Twilight Town, he mumbled, "Do we have to?"

"What's wrong, Roxas?" Naminé asked quietly, watching him closely.

"Saix called her broken..."

Roxas avoided the female Nobody's eyes, and shaking his head, he said quietly, "Like you don't already know."

"Actually, she doesn't. Not really," Riku interrupted, coming to Naminé's defence. "If I remember correctly, you were talking to me the last time we were in Twilight Town, not Naminé. How many times do I have to tell you? We really don't know that much more than you do. We remember...some things, but not everything. It will take a while before all of us gain back our true memories, and even then whether or not we manage to remember everything about the past is still kind of up in the air."

"But-"

"Even the little we know now, we were never meant to remember," Riku said quietly, his aqua eyes scanning the plaza for answers that seemed to be eluding him. "That much, Naminé knows for sure. How this is happening when it should be impossible, we don't know, but it is happening and sooner or later all of the pieces of the puzzle are going to fall into place."

"She's smoke and mirrors, Roxas. And when I looked in the mirror...it wasn't you I saw."

"Riku!" Naminé gasped, whirling around to face the silver-haired wielder of the Keyblade. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

Shaking his head, Riku said quickly, "No, I didn't tell him anything. He's starting to remember, Naminé. Just like us."

For a moment, Naminé was silent, and watching her closely, Roxas was surprised to see that her sparkling blue eyes were filled with sadness. "Naminé?"

"Roxas, I...I'm sorry."

"Huh? For what?"

Naminé took his hand, the one not currently occupied by Oathkeeper, and wrapping it in both of hers, she said quietly, "I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner, but...Riku and I wanted you to start remembering without our help. I can't explain it, but for reasons I still don't understand, I feel like it's important for you to rely on your own memories, not the memories of others. I think...this is something you have to let happen naturally for it to work."

"Yeah, Riku said the same thing, but how, Naminé? How is this happening? If what you say is true, then how are we starting to remember something we were never meant to remember? How are we able to do the impossible? How do we distinguish the truth from the lies?"

"Maybe it's like with Castle Oblivion," Naminé said slowly, turning to gaze thoughtfully at the Keyblade Master, who was glancing back and forth between the two of them with an incredibly confused expression on his face. "Sora was never meant to retain any memories of Castle Oblivion, and yet for reasons we cannot explain entirely, after merging with you, he was eventually able to recall the entire incident."

Smiling softly, Roaxs said quietly, "Remembering one thing leads to remembering another and then another. I haven't forgotten what you said to me. Our memories are connected, like links in a chain, right?"

"Yes. Like his real memories, I don't think Sora ever forgot his memories of Castle Oblivion."

"But...if seeing you triggered Sora's memories of Castle Oblivion...then what could be triggering our memories of...of her?"

They both turned almost simultaneously to look at Kairi, and squeezing his hand, Naminé whispered, "Not all evidence has to be permanently erased. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have a familiar face around to remind us."

"Even if you take apart the chain of memories in my heart, the links will stay there. This memory will always be inside me somewhere."

Roxas dismissed the Keyblade in his hand, and placing his fingers against Naminé's cheek, he said softly, "Make that two faces. Naminé, what happened to her?"

"I don't know, Roxas, but...I do know it has something to do with me. I remember her name, I remember her face, and I remember, like us, she was never supposed to exist, but that's about all I know. Except for one other thing. She was never supposed to be remembered, just like the events of Castle Oblivion."

"Castle Oblivion...I was there once, with Axel, and now that I'm with Sora, free from Ansem's simulation of Twilight Town, I know that's one memory I'll never forget."

"All these...pictures...rushing into my head..."

"That's right," Sora suddenly interrupted, stepping towards him and reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. "I remember. You went to Castle Oblivion with Axel, but because of me...because of all my memories, the atmosphere of that place was so overwhelming, it made you pass out. It was too much for you and you couldn't handle it. No wonder Axel wanted to leave..."

"Maybe that's another reason why Sora was able to remember Castle Oblivion," Naminé said thoughtfully, a faint smile turning up the corners of her mouth.

Confused, Roxas blurted out, "What do you mean?"

"You were at Castle Oblivion, too. All those memories...even though Sora forgot, you still remembered. Even as he slept, those images were ingrained permanently inside of you. Inside your heart. Those memories weren't just Sora's and he was never alone in experiencing them. Those memories were always inside his heart, inside you, even if he couldn't remember them himself. The links in your chain of memories can be taken apart, but they can never be broken."

"But...that still doesn't explain her..."

"Maybe it does. You aren't the only one with memories of her. Though we've forgotten, her memory hasn't been entirely erased like it should have been. Kairi is a perfect example of that. Her appearance alone is a permanent mark of what we've forgotten, which means we can never truly forget. There are always loopholes in the chain, but...I think the real key lies with Sora. I can't explain it, but I think her memory lives inside of Sora. I feel it. When it comes to our memories, we can try to suppress them, we can try to forget them, but our true memories, the ones that matter to us most, whether they were real or not, we can never forget. Try as we might, they are forever burned into our hearts. A brand that can never be erased."

"Her memory lives in...Sora?"

Naminé reached out to take Sora's hand, and smiling at the Keyblade Master, she said firmly, "Yes, and if we continue to let our memories come to us naturally, without trying to force them, Sora will give us the answers. He won't let us forget."

"Guess he musta rubbed off on me."

"Huh? Who did?"

"Heh. Let's just say you can thank yourself that we get to sit here again and laugh like idiots over ice cream."

Sora...

"Who are you really? And why do you have a Keyblade?" Riku murmured, turning to gaze unseeingly at the twilit sun shining faintly in the distance.

Roxas looked up in surprise, and frowning at the silver-haired wielder of the Keyblade, uncertain of whether or not to intrude, he said hesitantly, "Riku?"

Without looking at him, Riku said, "I'm no different from you or Naminé. I have flashes of memories in my head, of a face I know so well, and a name that means nothing to me, though for reasons I can't explain, the name seems somehow familiar. It feels familiar."

"Like it does with me."

Riku twirled his Keyblade lightly in his hand, the twilit sun reflecting off its shiny surface, and shaking his head, he said dryly, "You could say I am...the biggest nobody of them all."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Just a memory. Do you see now why Naminé and I kept quiet? It's important that we let ourselves remember our own memories of her first. Then, once we do, we can put all of our memories together to fill in all the gaps. That's the only way all of the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place where they belong. Once our memories have returned to us, you can be the one to tell Sora the truth about the past. Only you can do that, which is why you have to remember for yourself. Sora might be the key to our lost memories, but that doesn't mean he understands what's going on."

"Actually, now that you mention it, I have no clue what's going on," Sora interrupted, glaring accusingly at the silver-haired wielder of the Keyblade.

"Neither do I," Kairi added, gazing curiously at her Nobody. "What are you guys talking about?"

"None of you are making any sense!" Donald complained.

"Gawrsh, I'm more confused now than I was when there were two Twilight Towns," Goofy said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"Who is this girl you guys keep talking about?" Sora demanded, impatiently crossing his arms over his chest. "It's obviously not Kairi or Naminé, and I'm pretty sure you're not talking about Olette."

"Remember, Roxas," Riku said quietly, gazing directly into his eyes. "Only you have the right to tell Sora about your past. He needs to hear it from you. Only you have the right to tell Sora who you are and how you came to be the person you are today. No one else."

I understand now. Riku and Naminé. They want to protect me. Me and Sora...

Roxas took a deep breath, and slowly he placed his hands on Sora's shoulders, ignoring the fact that he could feel his whole body trembling. Gazing directly into the Keyblade Master's eyes, he managed to whisper, "Xion."

The girl I can't remember. The girl who sat with me and Axel. The girl who wore our coat...

For a moment, Sora merely stared back at him, and then almost against his will, the Keyblade Master said quietly, "I worry about you all the time, Roxas."

It really is her!

Though Sora did worry about him a lot, Roxas knew instinctively that those words did not belong to the Keyblade Master.

They were her words. Xion's.

"Well, we may both be exceptional, Roxas. But I don't think we're the same."

Startled, Sora clapped a hand over his mouth in surprise, and looking a little bit embarrassed, the Keyblade Master said hastily "Sorry, I...I don't know where that came from..."

No, not yet, but I have a feeling sooner or later the two of us are going to find out...

To his surprise, Roxas felt a sudden spark of affection for the Keyblade Master and his naivety, and smiling, he said, "It's okay. I guess...you both feel the same way."

"Huh?"

"Forget it. It's not important."

"Roxas, who is Xion?" Sora asked curiously, abruptly changing the subject.

"I don't know. I don't remember."

Except...I think she might have been a member of the Organization. But...how can that be? We were always only thirteen...

"What do you mean you don't remember?"

Turning his face away, Roxas said quietly, "I think...there's a lot that you and I still need to learn about my past."

And maybe I know more than Riku and Naminé...

"You mean...Xion is someone from the past?"

"I think so, but I can't be sure."

"Maybe not, but Naminé and I are pretty sure," Riku interrupted, a frown on his face.

Glancing at the silver-haired wielder of the Keyblade, Roxas said slowly, "I don't get it. Both you and Naminé barely know more about her, Xion, than I do, but...you guys started to remember sooner than me. Why is that?"

"Roxas, though it happened in different ways, both you and Sora lost all of your memories of the past, and you've had to spend a lot of time gaining them back again," Naminé said quietly, clasping her hands together beneath her chin and giving him a warm smile. "Is it any wonder it's taken you so long to start recalling the face of someone you were never meant to remember? Riku and I never lost our memories so we haven't had as much information to sift through in order to search for the truth."

"We haven't had to spend time restringing the chain that links all of our memories back together again," Riku explained, waving aside the question with a flick of his wrist. "Unlike you and Sora, we haven't had to work as hard to remember our pasts. The girl, Xion, is just another memory in a long line of past events that you're going to have to rebuild inside your heart like you have with all your other memories."

"But unlike what happened to me, this isn't something Naminé's going to be able to help with, is it," Sora said quietly, interrupting before Roxas had a chance to respond.

Studying his best friend closely, Riku said quietly, "No, this is something he has to do on his own, but...a little help from the other side of his heart couldn't hurt."

For a moment, Sora looked a little bit confused, but then his face lit up with sudden understanding, and he said, "Yeah, I can do that."

What?

Roxas jerked around to stare at the Keyblade Master in surprise, a frown on his face. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know who this Xion is, but...if she's that important to you then we'll find out together."

"We'll all help you," Kairi said firmly, reaching out to give his hand a quick squeeze.

"But-"

"I haven't forgotten what Riku said. We might not be able to help you directly, but we can still give you our support."

"Gawrsh, Kairi's right," Goofy said cheerfully, nodding vigorously in agreement. "Isn't that what friends are for?"

"Just don't take forever to figure it out," Donald grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "We have enough problems to deal with as it is."

Overcome with emotion, Roxas took a deep breath and said hastily, "Thanks, guys. I'm counting on you."

"Is this what was bugging you earlier?" Sora asked quietly, leaning close to whisper the words quietly in his ear.

"Um...not exactly. Well, it's part of it, but not the whole thing."

"Huh?"

Roxas blushed, and moving closer to Sora, he mumbled, "Later."

There's nothing in the forest. It's just my imagination.

"Roxas, what was Xion like?" Kairi asked softly, her deep blue eyes growing dark and stormy.

"Well...I don't remember much, at least not when it comes to how she acted and who she was, but..."

"But what?"

Gazing into Kairi's eyes, he said quietly, "Her face. She looked like you. Like you and Naminé, only her hair was black. Even her voice sounded like yours. And her eyes...She had your eyes, just like Naminé does..."

Kairi stared at him for a moment, and nodding her head, she said firmly, "You'll remember, Roxas. I know you will. We believe in you. All of us do."

"I know."

But...what about Axel? He'll never have a chance to remember her now...Not like me...

"Are you ready to go now?" Riku demanded, interrupting his thoughts.

Roxas brushed past the silver-haired wielder of the Keyblade, and heading towards the entrance to Station Heights, he glanced over his shoulder and said shortly, "What do you think? And for the record, it wasn't Xion that was worrying me earlier."

The forest...am I really just imagining things or...

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Roxas just managed to catch the looks of surprise on both Riku's and Naminé's faces before disappearing around the corner of the garage to his right in a huff, leaving the others to stare after him in astonishment.