Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Disney, or in other words this awesome gaming franchise.

A/N: Hello, everyone! Sorry about the wait, but I am back with another chapter. Just to inform you all, I believe at this point in time this story will have either nine or ten chapters, so we're at the half way point now. Hope you all like this newest update! (I'll make sure to check the chapter again for any mistakes I might have missed.)

Chapter 6: Memories

Roxas

The Woods/ Old Mansion, Twilight Town

The walk back to the Tram Common was a quiet affair, and standing just outside the entrance to the forest, Roxas squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to gain control over his emotions, which only succeeded in making him even more nervous.

He had to admit, he was afraid, but despite his fear, he knew this was something he had to do.

For Hayner, Pence, and Olette. For Axel and Xion...

"I hope we always have each other."

His own words, and he had meant every one of them.

Some things you can let go, but when it comes to the people who are most important to you, you have to fight. You can't give up. Sora never gave up on searching for his friends and neither can I.

"Roxas?" Sora suddenly said quietly in his ear, tugging on his arm to get his attention. "It's now or never. You do want to find your friends, don't you?"

"Of course I do! It's just..."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I..."

"You can't fool me," Sora said simply, a slight frown on the Keyblade Master's face. "This is more than just about Xion. Something about this place bothers you. What's going on?"

"I thought you said you weren't going to try to force me to talk."

"I don't want to, but...I'm worried. I'm worried by the time you tell me, it might be too late."

Roxas could see the disappointment and uncertainty in the Keyblade Master's eyes, and feeling guilty, he pulled Sora closer and whispered, "I'm sorry, I just...I can't right now."

"But-"

"Look, Sora, just...stay with me, okay? Stay close and be careful. I...I'll feel better if you're with me."

"It's the woods, isn't it. Or maybe...the mansion?"

"How did you..."

"You've been acting strange ever since we left the forest the last time we were here," Sora said slowly, looking away from him. "I might not always pick up on all the little details right away, but that doesn't mean you can fool me either, especially since you're my Nobody."

"I have to find this Sora person, and freeing Kingdom Hearts is the only way! I want Xion back! I want my life back!"

He had gotten his life back, but what about Xion?

"Roxas."

Roxas turned slowly to look at the Keyblade Master, and staring directly into Sora's eyes, he said quietly, "It wasn't just about me. Why I wanted to find you so badly. It was about her too...and you know...him."

Axel, Xion...

Roxas jumped when Sora's arm suddenly went around his shoulders, and leaning close the Keyblade Master said quietly, "I'll stay with you. If that's what you want, I won't leave your side. We're going to save them, Roxas. All of your friends."

"But...Axel..."

You can't save somebody who's already gone. What if the same thing is true for Xion? What if she's gone forever, like Axel?

Roxas didn't expect Sora to reply, so he was surprised when the Keyblade Master said shortly, "Never say never."

"Huh? But you said..."

"I can't bring Axel back, I know," Sora interrupted, a slight smile on his face. "But maybe..."

"Maybe what?"

Sora refused to answer, but he didn't have to. Roxas already knew what the Keyblade Master had been about to say.

"But maybe you can."

Axel...

"Are you guys coming or are you just going to stand around here all day?" Riku demanded, startling Roxas out of his thoughts.

He turned to see the others standing in front of the entrance to the forest, clearly waiting for both him and Sora to join them, and smiling sadly, Naminé murmured, "Hayner and the others are waiting for us."

"Wherever they are," Donald grumbled.

"Right. Sorry, guys, I just...forget it. Come on, Sora."

Without waiting for an answer, Roxas dragged his Other into the woods and glancing nervously between the tall trees he felt a slight shiver race down his spine. As usual, the forest was dark, much darker than the rest of Twilight Town, and the trees seemed to be whispering to him, calling out his name. A quick glance behind him proved they weren't being followed, but despite the lack of anything out of the ordinary, he still felt like they were being watched. Perhaps not by someone, but by something.

There are eyes everywhere. It's like the forest itself is watching us.

Or maybe it wasn't the forest. Maybe it was the shadows lurking between the trees, following their every move.

"Gawrsh, I never realized before how creepy it is in here," Goofy whispered, glancing anxiously back towards the entrance to the Tram Common.

"What are you talking about?" Donald snorted. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark. It's just a bunch of trees."

"Maybe, but they have their secrets too," Naminé said quietly, reaching out to take Kairi's hand and giving it a tight squeeze.

"Stay on your guard," Sora warned.

Compared to Oblivion, which Sora was carrying over his shoulders, Oathkeeper was much easier to spot in the heavy gloom of the forest, and clinging tightly to the Keyblade in his hand, Roxas silently followed Sora through the trees, his sapphire eyes darting towards either side of the path they'd chosen.

There were no Heartless or Nobodies, but there was something. He could feel it, and it was making him edgy.

But how do I explain it to Sora and the others when I don't even understand what it is I'm feeling myself? The last time we were here...I know I saw something. It couldn't have just been my imagination. Something moved in the darkness, near the entrance to the mansion. It wasn't a Heartless because our Keyblades would have warned us, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a Nobody either. My Samurai Nobodies would have warned me if there was another Nobody close by. Unless it only appeared after they left...

Whatever the case, he knew he couldn't deny it anymore. He had seen something, and whatever that something was he was pretty sure he hadn't seen the last of it.

So far, this time nothing had moved. Even the shadows were almost stationary in their appearance and the forest was oddly still and silent.

"The three of us...We're inseparable."

If only that were true...

It should have made him feel a little better, but instead it almost made him feel even more nervous.

It's almost like the forest is waiting...waiting for something to happen.

"This way," Riku instructed, motioning for the rest of the group to follow him. "We're almost there."

Roxas could see faint sunlight up ahead, shining through the forest, and peering through the trees he spotted the opening in the woods that would lead them directly to the gates of the old mansion.

Only something didn't feel right. Something was off.

"Wait!"

It was only when the others turned to look at him that Roxas realized the desperate cry echoing through the trees came from him, and blushing slightly he quickly looked at his feet, trying unsuccessfully to hide his embarrassment.

"What's wrong, Roxas?" Kairi asked gently, encouraging him to speak.

Still embarrassed over his sudden outburst, Roxas wasn't quite sure how to explain himself, but as he continued to gaze in the direction of the mansion, he forced himself to say, "There's something about this whole thing that...bugs me."

"What do you mean?" Sora asked curiously.

"This forest...Look, we have no idea what's waiting for us at the mansion, and I feel like we're missing something..."

"And what exactly do you want us to do about it?" Riku demanded, studying him closely.

Roxas didn't reply. Instead, he closed his eyes and proceeded to call out to the darkness of The World That Never Was and almost instantly two of his Samurai Nobodies appeared in front of him.

"Yikes!" Donald quacked, leaping backwards and almost dropping his staff in surprise. "Don't do that, Roxas!"

"A-hyuck, you sure scare easily, Donald," Goofy teased.

"Quiet you! I wasn't asking for your opinion!"

"Next time warn us first," Kairi laughed, shaking her head in amusement.

Roxas managed a sheepish grin and turning to his Nobodies, he said, "That was quick."

"You called, my liege?" the Samurai Nobody on the right inquired, leaning down to peer closely at him.

"Yes, I did. Something about this place doesn't sit right with me. I want you two to check it out before we go any further, just to be safe. Look for anything out of the ordinary and report back to me whether you sense anything suspicious or not. I want to know what's going on."

"Yes, my liege. We shall return in a moment."

True to their word, the two Samurai Nobodies took off, their sleek bodies moving through the trees, like silver streaks of light spinning through the darkness, and crossing his arms over his chest, he waited in silence, conscious of the fact that it still felt like the forest was watching him.

"I don't have any dark secrets."

"Roxas, what are they looking for?" Sora asked hesitantly, his deep blue eyes following the two Nobodies and their progress as they made their way through the trees.

"I'm not sure."

And maybe I don't want to know...

"But-"

"We'll just have to wait and see. Here they come now."

Roxas waited until the two Nobodies were once again hovering in front of him, and studying them closely, he said calmly, "Well? What have you found out?"

"There is nothing here, my liege," the Samurai Nobody on the left whispered softly in his head. "The forest is silent."

"Nothing but old memories remain," the Nobody on the right murmured.

"Old memories? What do you mean?"

The right Nobody turned its head slowly to gaze in the direction of the old mansion, and making a soft sound deep in its throat, it whispered, "This forest is full of memories. The mansion, as well. The hearts of the innocent have suffered here. Bleeding hearts for those they've saved and those they cannot save."

"Those they feel they cannot save," the left Nobody added.

What?

Roxas stared at his Samurai Nobodies in shock, and turning to look at Sora beside him, he flinched when he realized the Keyblade Master had also heard their words.

"Bleeding...hearts?" Sora said slowly, a slight frown on his face.

"There are painful memories here," the right Samurai Nobody agreed, nodding to the Keyblade Master in acknowledgment. "A perfect place for the Heartless to feed."

"Are there Heartless here?" Sora demanded.

"No, only memories."

"Whose memories?"

"Yours and all those who are close to you. Those who call you 'friend' and those who share their hearts with you."

Roxas hesitated before saying, "You mean me?"

"Those who are remembered and those who are not."

"You mean...Xion?" Sora gasped.

Neither of the two Nobodies answered. Instead they merely stood there waiting, their silence speaking volumes.

"You mean...real people are more complex than us?"

"Well sure! Especially if they're real and female. That's like a double dose of complicated."

"What did they say?" Donald demanded, looking impatient. "Come on, tell us."

Xion...

Roxas turned to his Nobodies and said hastily, "Anything else to report?"

"No, my liege," the left Nobody replied.

"I see. Okay then, you guys can head back. What about The World That Never Was?"

"The same, my liege. All is quiet."

"Figures."

The Samurai Nobody on the left quickly disappeared, but the one on the right remained, its head turned in the direction of the mansion.

"What?"

The Samurai Nobody seemed to hesitate for a moment and lifting its head, it whispered, "He is the key, my liege. The memories tell me this is so. The residue left behind by the hearts of those who've passed through here cannot lie. Neither can the Nobodies who've wandered these woods. Those tied to the mansion...Humans and Nobodies. Perhaps we are not so different. Be careful, my liege. All is not as it seems."

Huh?

Roxas was about to reply, but before he could get a single word out, his Samurai Nobody disappeared, leaving him in darkness.

"Roxas, what did they say?" Naminé asked quietly, urging him to reply.

All is not as it seems...What does that mean?

It took Roxas a few moments to tell the others what his Nobodies had said, and when he was done they stared at him in silence, contemplating his words.

At last, Riku said shortly, "Are you satisfied then? We can keep moving?"

"I guess..."

"Old memories," Naminé mumbled to herself, a faraway look in her eyes. "Do you think maybe the mansion might give us some clues about Xion?"

"There's only one way to find out," Kairi insisted. "Let's visit the mansion ourselves and see what we can find. Who knows? We might even get lucky and run into Hayner and the others. They've always been pretty fascinated by this place, especially Pence."

Roxas looked at Sora, who stared back at him, and blushing he quickly ducked his head. He hadn't told the others about his Samurai Nobody's final warning, but Sora knew.

The Keyblade Master knew. He had heard the words and he was going to get to the bottom of it, whatever the cost. Roxas could tell.

No wonder Axel was always telling me to cool it. Sora and I really are a lot alike...

"Come on, then. We need to hurry," Riku insisted, once again moving towards the entrance to the old mansion.

They reached the gate to their destination in silence, and Roxas felt his heart leap into his throat.

The gate was open.

"Gawrsh, you think maybe Hayner and the others really are here?" Goofy asked hopefully, though he didn't look all that convinced himself.

"Only one way to find out!" Donald declared, lifting his staff into the air and pointing it towards the mansion. "Let's go."

"It sure feels good to be out of the forest," Kairi sighed, a slight smile on her face. "It's so dark in there compared to here."

Roxas had to agree. It was a huge relief to be free of the shadows lurking in the forest, but before he could voice his opinion, Sora suddenly collapsed in front of the open gates to the mansion, his face turning a ghostly shade of white.

"Sora!" Naminé cried, running to the Kayblade Master's side and kneeling next to him.

Sora!

Roxas knelt on Sora's other side and placing his hand on the Keyblade Master's shoulder, he said hesitantly, "Sora?"

Instead of answering, Sora suddenly leaped to his feet, nearly knocking Roxas off balance, and whirling around the Keyblade Master walked a few feet way from the gate before turning to once again look at the mansion.

"Sora?" Kairi gasped, concern evident on her face.

"They were here," the Keyblade Master said quietly, his sapphire gaze focusing on the ground just in front of the gate, as if he were seeing something they couldn't see.

Roxas slowly moved to stand next to Sora, his heart pounding frantically in his ears. He wanted to say something, but instead he waited, knowing that Sora would tell him.

"They were here," Sora insisted, waving his Keyblade at the gate for emphasis. "Axel and...and her..."

"What...what are you talking about?"

Sora's face crumpled, and the look in his eyes made Roxas wince. "Axel...he was standing right where I'm standing now, and she was there."

"You mean...by the gate?"

"So...much...pain..."

"Sora?"

Sora suddenly sank to his knees again, and staring at the gate, he mumbled, "Everybody thinks they're right..."

"Huh?"

"That's what he said."

"You mean...Axel?"

"She wanted to go back," Sora gasped, once again pointing Oblivion at the gate, his sapphire eyes full of pain and his breath coming in short spurts. "She wore the coat. She looked like Kairi. She had the Keyblade! But...she wanted to go back. She wanted to leave."

No. Xion, why?

Roxas collapsed onto the ground next to Sora again, and clinging tightly to the Keyblade Master's shoulder, he said urgently, "Go where?"

"I don't know. But...Axel didn't want her to go."

"He...didn't?"

Sora leaped to his feet again and gazing at a face only he could see, the Keyblade Master said firmly, "He thought it was the right thing to do, too, but it didn't matter. He wanted her to stay."

"Axel..."

"He...he said..."

"What?" Riku demanded, growing impatient.

"Go on, you just keep running," Sora murmured, as if he were seeing the scene from someone else's eyes, his Keyblade dropping to his side. "But I'll always be there to bring you back. That's what he said. Always."

Xion's eyes. He's seeing it from her eyes. Axel...he really did care...

Roxas stared at the spot where, according to Sora, the girl he couldn't remember had confronted Axel, and before he knew what was happening, there were tears in his eyes.

"It's for the good of everyone."

But was it really? He didn't know.

"You both...think you can do whatever you want..."

"Come on, Sora, we should get going," Kairi suddenly said quietly, reaching out to take the Keyblade Master's hand. "It's time to go."

Sora allowed himself to be pulled towards the gate, and shaking his head, he said with a faint smile on his face, "Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?"

"What are you going on about?" Donald demanded, eyeing the Keyblade Master with suspicion.

"Nothing. Just a memory, I think."

"Axel, Xion..."

Roxas remained standing there even after Sora and the others had already entered through the gates, the strong presence of his two friends from the past swirling around him like a thick fog, and shaking his head he lifted his sapphire eyes to gaze at the twilit atmosphere hovering over the old mansion and the trees obscuring it from the rest of Twilight Town.

Xion...what happened to you?

"Roxas!"

Roxas jumped in surprise at the sound of Naminé's voice and whirling around he spotted the female Nobody, along with Sora, waving to him from the gates to the mansion.

"Come on," Sora shouted, motioning for him to hurry.

Roxas quickly summoned Oathkeeper again, his hands clenching tightly around the Keyblade's shiny surface, and racing over to his Other's side, he gasped, "What's going on?"

"Look!" Sora insisted, pointing towards the mansion.

Roxas did as he was told and instantly spotting what Sora was trying to show him, he sank to the ground in relief.

Standing just inside the front doors to the mansion were his friends, Hayner, Pence, and Olette.