SL: I'M DONE WITH FINAAAAALSSSS!

A few things:

Now that that's out of my system, I would like to present to you the long delayed chapter three! It's not as exciting as I am right now for finally being able to post something without the guilt ripping through my organs for procrastinating for a few hours. Now, I can write in peace. Which means I'll be able to update more regularly. Not with a set schedule or anything, since I'm on vacation, but expect to get chapters up sooner. Good thing I already have all these written down in my notebook. All I have to do is type and edit them on my computer. :))

I would also like to dedicate this chapter to SapphireRose, awesomefanficlova, and the guest Zigbon for either leaving comments or having faith in my story and following/favoriting me. Thanks, you guys! If there are more out there that like what they read, please feel free to review, follow, or favorite my story. I might even dedicate the next chapter to you, hmmmm...

So thanks again to those that viewed, reviewed, followed, and/or favorited Infallibility. I'll let you get to reading!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3:

Mission of Nostalgia

Xion

Roxas is the first thing on my mind as soon as I return from my mission.

I'm anxious to tell him how scary it was to fight the Heartless by myself, now that I know what's its like having him by my side to back me up. I also want to tell him that I've been looking for Axel but he's nowhere to be seen. I know he's not gone. He can't be. I haven't been able to meet him yet. I enter the Grey Area, asking if Roxas returned from his mission.

"Lookin' for the kiddo?" Xigbar answers me, "He's takin' a snooze—has been for some while now."

I walk through the many corridors of the Castle That Never Was, finally reaching Roxas's room. I find him asleep on his bed, as Xigbar said. I sigh, putting my hands in my pockets. My hand touches something with a peculiar texture. Curious, I take it out and instantly recognize it. I place it near Roxas's pillow.

"This is a shell, Roxas. I got it from a beach in another world called Destiny Islands. I know you'll love it. You were right. About everything. The sun never got too hot."

I caress his face, moving some hair out of his eyes. It springs back into place. I scoff, giving up.

"I hope we get to see it together soon. Then we can explore all the nooks and crannies of the place." I bring my head down to his cheek before leaving, "Just wake up soon, okay?"

I step out and close the door quietly behind me, leaving the shell in my place.

Roxas

"Roxas…" Kairi ponders, "How do you spell it?" She stares eagerly, waiting.

I sigh, writing my name in the sand.

She nods and writes another word next to it. "It looks like Sora's name."

I tilt my head to the side, finding it interesting that rearranging the letters and taking out the x makes his name. "Would you look at that?"

Kairi smiles again, "I should call Riku over to meet you."

"Riku?" I pause, an image of silver hair flashes through my mind. I haven't met him yet, but how do I know what he looks like? Could he and I be linked in some way?

"I love Riku." Kairi continues, "He's one of my best friends. You'll like him."

I nod, "And Sora's your other best friend?"

Kairi's face changes from playful to pensive. Another emotion clouds her eyes. I look away with discretion. Somehow that look is not meant for me.

"Where is he?" I ask, trying to change the atmosphere.

She shrugs, "He's not on Destiny Islands. Not on this one, at least. I think he's on one of the other islands. But he never said anything. He was just gone one day. I don't know when he's coming back." Her expression becomes melancholy. In an instant, she's happy again, "But I hope he gets here in time for you to meet him!"

I nod jaggedly, not quite adjusting to her emotional changes.

"He's a great guy."

I nod again.

"Oh! But so is Riku! Here, I'll call him."

I nod once more, watching as she cleans the sand off her purple skirt, running to a side of the island blocked off by a shack. She disappears behind it. The crashing of the waves onto the shore soothes my overexerted ears. Kairi's nice, but talkative. I feel like I've just been through a typhoon. Bizarrely enough, as she speaks, there are times when I feel like I'm talking to Xion. Maybe I miss her abundantly enough to imagine her in a little, talkative girl. It doesn't help that they look so much alike. The only differences are their hair color and personalities. In a few minutes, I see Kairi walking in the distance, pulling the arm of a silver-haired boy.

My eyes widen. I've seen him before—maybe in my past life. How else would I know him? Did I meet him as myself or as the past me? If I remember him, could he help me recall who I used to be? If this is real, is this a memory? Could this be a dream?

"-xas."

Is none of this real?

"Ro-"

Is nothing about me real?

"Rox-"

Is this all a figment of my imagination?

"Roxas!" A male voice shouts as he pushes me onto the sand.

"Riku!" Kairi yells, "That was mean! Here," Kairi holds out her hand.

"Well, he wasn't saying anything. He was just staring. I thought he needed some convincing." Riku justifies.

I take her small hand, tiny compared to mine, and stand up.

"Thanks," I mumble, brushing off the sand from my coat with my left hand.

She doesn't let go of my other hand. She notices and jerks it away, "Oh, ha-ha. Sorry." She rubs her hands together, "It was bigger than I expected."

Riku frowns at me. I innocently look back. Am I interrupting something?

I finish brushing off the sand when Kairi speaks, "Well, time for introductions. Riku, Roxas. Roxas, Riku."

I wave a hand. "Hi."

Riku crosses his arms, "Hmph."

Kairi leans over to my ear and whispers: "He's always like that. Don't mind him."

I glance back at Riku and watch his eyes tear me to shreds. I step back from Kairi. He turns to look at the ocean. I don't think we'll be best buds like Kairi thought.

"Um…do you mind if I ask?" Kairi tugs at my coat, "Aren't you hot?"

As soon as she asks, I feel the heat creeping down my neck and back.

"A little." I admit.

"Well, then, take the coat off!" she laughs.

Her eagerness bothers me. I hesitate. I've never taken my uniform off. Ever since I joined the Organization I've only worn this. Of course, I'm wearing something underneath, but it's never been exposed before. I grab at my zipper, turning to face the other side of the island bashfully. I free my arms first, letting my coat hit the sand, and step out of it. A breeze hits my naked torso for the first time since I was created. My exposed back tingles as sweat trickles down my skin. I throw my gloves onto my coat, opening and closing my hands, getting re-accustomed to the raw and exhilarating sensation of skin-to-skin contact. I remove my black shoes and socks, digging my feet into the sand. Different textures equate to different sensations, both equally pleasurable. I take a deep breath, relieving myself of all my Organizational preoccupations. After I'm done, leaving my pants on, I turn to Kairi and Riku, ready for plunging into the ocean water.

Kairi's face turns bright red. Riku puts his hand over her eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" He demands to know. "Haven't you ever heard of a shirt before?"

I nod in all sincerity, "Of course I have. It's just not customary to use one under the coat. It affects mobility. Isn't this a beach? Is it normal to jump into the sea with clothes on?"

Riku scoffs with arrogance, "Some! Yeah!"

A cool breeze sweeps through the area. Small bumps I'd never felt before line my entire body.

"Riku!" Kairi yanks his hand away from her eyes, "Stop being so immature. You go around shirtless, too! When you were younger, you wouldn't even wear shorts—"

"Kairi! I get it!" He scoffs, folding his arms against his chest again.

"So, don't you want to take a swim?" Kairi suggests.

Suddenly, I am rooted to the spot. "Swim? How do you do that?"

She laughs, "Like this, silly!" She removes her shoes, rushing to the shore, arms open to the water. I charge over, but stop before the water touches my feet.

"Roxas! Riku! What are you guys waiting for? The water's warm today!" Kairi encourages.

Riku finally allows a smile to his face. He takes his shirt off as he's running into the water, throwing his sandals behind, leaving them sprawled on the sand. He whoops, swimming toward Kairi, splashing water on her. Between laughs, Kairi calls out to me.

"Roxas!" Her face is a mirror image of Xion's, "Let's go!" Xion's face disappears, Kairi's youthful semblance returns.

I blink, clearing my head. Why do I keep seeing her? She's not here.

"Roxas!"

I'm surprised to hear Riku call out my name. I look up.

"Stop ignoring us! Come in or not!"

"Are you coming in with pants?" Kairi asks.

"I don't have anything else to wear." I explain.

I take a few cautionary steps into the water, confirming Kairi's statement. It is really warm. I sink into the bank, walking to where the kids swim. The water reaches my chest while it reaches their necks. Being underwater can only be described as wrapping the body around rain and keeping it there. There's no comparison for how weightless and compressed a person's body feels like in water. I'm light and heavy all at once. My pants stick to my legs while floating around them simultaneously. I lean my head back, closing my eyes, the water seeping into the untouched surfaces of my body. My ears hear the light drone of nothingness.

A stained glass floor appears behind my eyelids. Suddenly gravity pulls me down further. I jolt out of the water, startled.

"What?" Kairi worries, "You okay?"

I shake my head, getting the water out of my ears. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just need some getting used to this."

Kairi nods with a smile, "You'll get it. Just don't forget to breathe if you're going to float in the water."

I scoff at myself. Of course I'm going to sink if I don't breathe. "Duly noted."

I run a hand over my drooping hair, getting it out of my eyes. I watch Kairi flush again. I don't understand why that keeps happening to her. I'm not even hugging her.

She looks down at the water, moving her fingers through it in a swirling formation. A small whirlpool forms with the circulating current. Her redness recedes. She looks up at me before I lean back into the water again, searching for something in my eyes. I peer back through my dripping bangs, waiting.

She approaches me, gazing intently.

"Kairi, what are you doing?" Riku swims toward us.

She ignores him. My eyes veer from side to side, seeking answers to my arising questions. What am I supposed to do? What's happening to her?

She places her hands on my cheeks, freezing time and space around us. Her single word rips through the air.

"Sora?"

I become rigid, the name sounding familiar, yet foreign. The cognitive dissonance disconcerts me. I place my hands on her small shoulders in an attempt to push her back. But as I do that, I make the mistake of linking eyes with her.

Her face reflects Xion's face. I blink hard, ridding myself of the image. Clearly, I am facing a red haired girl and not Xion.

"Kairi," I force myself to say, "I'm not So—"

"No." She interrupts authoritatively, "Your eyes, your face. Sora, is that you?"

Xion's face slowly disappears.

"Kairi, I'm not Sora." I correct her, feeling more confident with my mind now that I am looking at things as they should appear.

She refuses to believe me, "But you are! You're him! You're Sora!" Suddenly, she's frantic to prove that I am her childhood friend. Why does she want me to be him so badly? Did something happen to him?

"But…why are you older?" She rationalizes after I don't say a word, searching my face for answers.

I grab her hands and sink them in the water, "I'm not Sora. My name is Roxas."

She shakes her head slightly, still attempting to deny what I've said. Kairi's face contorts to an expression I cannot replicate even if I knew the name of the emotion. She appears to be in excruciating, internal pain, incapable of finding solace or freedom from her incapacitation. Have I ever made an expression like that?

"Kairi…" Riku mumbles, having no words from which to comfort her.

I smile weakly at her against the frigid atmosphere, "Don't be sad, Kairi. Sora'll come back soon."

She attempts to smile back with poor execution. "I-I don't know what came over me. Sorry, Roxas. I'm very sorry." She turns the other way, swimming back to the shore. Once she reaches it, she grabs her shoes in one hand and runs to the other side of the island. Riku looks from me to her, but finally chooses to hurry after her, leaving me to literally wallow in silence.

I float alone in the water, my arms and legs spread out before me, listening to the sound of nothingness. I watch the sky darken with the light of the setting sun receding under the horizon, encompassing my disconcerting pseudo-emotions.

I close my eyes, welcoming the darkness, "Xion…"

Why does she look so much like you?

Xion

"Still sleeping for the whole day? I just came back from another mission, Roxas."

I caress his cheek again, placing a second shell near his pillow. I sit on the edge of his bed and stare at him in silent hopes that he will suddenly awaken. My worry only grows with the passing hours. Is it normal for him to be sleeping like this?

"Hey! Did you know I fought a huge Heartless today? It was really scary and huge. It appeared in Twilight Town, too. I know—very surprising. Twilight Town is so peaceful, yet Heartless love to gather there. I can't imagine what would happen if they hurt the civilians."

I listen to my own voice making conversation to an unconscious person. It dawns on me that maybe I should feel ridiculous, but oddly enough, I don't. Roxas did this for me the first days of my birth. I can only return the favor.

"I saw that trio that we'd seen before on the clock tower. I think their names are Hayner, Pence and Olette. They were going around Twilight Town trying to find the 'Seven Wonders.' I followed them out of curiosity and because I had free time, but I got bored since none of them weren't true.

"So, I went up to the clock tower after defeating the Heartless and ate Sea-salt ice cream. I became addicted to the flavor ever since you showed it to me. Not to mention it was one of the first flavors I ever tasted. Didn't you tell me that it was Axel's favorite?"

I lower my gaze to the floor, "I'm about to go out and look for him again, Roxas. But I wanted to come by and say 'be right back' before I left."

I stand up from the firm bed, moving his bangs to the side, only to watch them return over his eyes once more.

I chuckle, "See you later, Roxas."

Opening the door, I step out, taking a final glance at his sleeping body before closing the door softly.

Shell 2 x Day 2

Roxas

My aural and tactile senses process my surroundings before my eyes. Heat and humidity beats on my face and chest. Misty air envelops my body. Even with these clues, I assume I'm back at the Castle That Never Was, in my pale, blank room on my firm bed.

"Roxas? You awake?" says a familiar voice.

I rub my eyes, while stretching my legs. A sudden chill comes over me. I open my eyes in shock, my mind blocking what it doesn't want to see, only focusing on Xion's face.

"Xion, where am I—"

"Roxas."

Xion's face slowly reverts to an eleven-year-old Kairi.

"Kairi? What am I still doing here? Where is here, anyway? Why haven't I woken up from this dream, yet?"

Kairi stares at me in confusion, looking around herself.

"This is Destiny Islands, Roxas. You slept on the beach. You've been here the whole night."

I put my hand on my forehead, attempting to push back the pounding sensation.

Was this never a dream? If that is so, then what is this? A horrible thought occurs to me. Could it be that the world I'm from is a dream? Have I been dreaming all this time and just woken up for the first time? I cradle my head in my hands, moaning. Something like that is impossible. Xion is real. She's not someone I made up. This place has to be either a dream or reality.

"Roxas, are you okay?" Kairi places her hand on my bare shoulder. "Sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have run off like that. You just surprised me. The resemblance between you and Sora's scary."

I calm down melancholically, "Where am I?"

I notice she carries clothes in her small arms.

"Oh. This is my house. Riku stays here once in a while. More often that not when Sora isn't around, since him and Sora are real close. Actually, all three of us are." She quickly shakes her head, "Well, enough about us. Riku helped me carry you here after we went back to look for you to ask if you had a place to sleep." She smiles, "But we found you asleep on the shore."

I nod, putting the events of last night into sequence.

Kairi sways her body back and forth, "Um…I got you this while you were sleeping." She hands me the clothes in her arm, and then bends down to pick up something under the bed. "Here. I hope you don't mind me using your shoes to get your size."

I shake my head, grabbing them. I smile gratefully at her, not used to this much hospitality anywhere, "Thanks, Kairi. Did you wake up early to get all this?"

"You're welcome. And no, its actually 1300 right now. You've been asleep for about 14 hours."

I widen my eyes in surprise, "That long?"

She nods. "Yeah, You must have been exhausted since when I found you last night, you were already sleeping."

I frown. Why have I been doing that lately? "Oh."

She chuckles, walking toward the door, "Lazy bum."

I tilt my head to the side, perturbed that she keeps calling me that. I'm not accustomed to doing this at all.

She laughs, "Try the clothes on. I want to see if they fit." She steps out and closes the door behind her.

Kairi

I lean my back against the door, exhaling slowly. I put my hand over my face to stifle a cry. He's Sora. He pouts like him, looks like him, acts like him. I don't know why he's here, but that boy's Sora. This means that something happens to him, something that eliminates him from this world. Is the age Roxas is in now representative of when that event happens to Sora? He's so close, so close but he couldn't be any farther. If Roxas is here, where are you, Sora?

Roxas

I slip on the last article of clothing Kairi bought me: a vest with short sleeves. The cloth feels refreshing and breathable, perfect for this kind of weather. Wearing a black vest with another vest on top feels a little odd, but I like how she coordinated the colors. I zip up the vest underneath, contemplating the symbol on the slider. I can't tell if it is a cross or an X.

I open the door of the house, immediately immersed in the outside, salty breeze. Somehow, Kairi's house is able to expel most of the sun's heat. It must be in the carpentry. As I take a closer look at the handy work, I notice that the houses are built quite messily, with wooden boards on top of each other. However anti-aesthetic it may seem, this structure still gets the job done.

I look around only to realize I'm in one of the tree houses I saw yesterday. I look to the left to admire the view from this altitude. The sea shines majestically with the sunlight hitting it's waves, making the whole surface of the ocean seem as if it's glittering. Nothing that I've ever seen in my short days of life can match the magnificence of the ocean. I sigh involuntarily, the empty place in my chest squeezing.

Even though I'm at peace with myself, what I now recognize as loneliness and anxiety pesters me inside. If I ever wanted to leave this place, would I be able to?

"Roxas!"

I follow the voice to the shore. Kairi comes into sight. I wave.

"Did they fit?" She yells.

"Yeah!" I nod, "Thanks again!"

She signals with her hand for me to go down. I look to the nearby tree and jump off the wooden veranda, double-sliding to reach it, figuring that this is less work than climbing down the wooden ladder I'd spotted on my reconnaissance.

Kairi shakes her head when I reach her, "Did you have to do that? That ladder's right over there."

I shrug. It doesn't hurt to maintain myself agile in this world in case any Heartless show up. Speaking of Heartless, so far, there haven't been any. I wonder what it is that's keeping them off this world.

"You don't seem too surprised." I smirk, "Telling me this has happened before?"

Kairi rolls her eyes, her gaze distant. Clearly I remind her of someone, most likely Sora.

"You look good." She changes the subject. "I've got a good eye."

I tug at my new clothes, self-consciously, "Thanks…"

"Hey, I want you to meet some friends of mine." Again, I am swept with her tangents.

"There are more people on the island?"

She frowns in confusion, "Of course there are! Did you think it was just me and Riku?"

I shrug, staring at the ground, "I didn't know what to think."

Kairi scrunches her lips together in thought, "Hold on. I forgot to give you this" She sticks her hand in her small pocket and takes out a checkered sweatband and two matching checkered rings: one black and one white.

She grins as she hands them to me, "I thought they would look stylish."

I slip them on, admiring the accessories. "Thanks, Kairi. Really. I feel like I've told you that a million times already."

"That's no problem to me, of course." She smiles, suddenly grabbing my hand and yanking me toward the other side of the island.

"Whoa!" I exclaim in surprise.

Laughing, she says, "I want you to see them already! Let's go! Riku's with them, too!"

I shake my head with a smirk, wondering how she thought that last bit would convince me the most.

We run past the waterfall, the shack, and the dock that leads to the separate island with the slanted tree. I slow her down to observe it.

"What's that tree called?" I ask.

Kairi follows my gaze, "That's the Paopu tree. It has star-shaped fruit that tastes delicious. Legend has it that if two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."

I raise an eyebrow, "No matter what, huh?" Xion and Axel come to mind. What if we could share one?

"Does it have to be two people?"

Kairi puts a hand to her chin, "I don't know. Maybe. Anyways, enough delays. Let's go!"

She takes me to the opposite side of the island, going through an old door. I take in my surroundings in a new light as I see three kids around Kairi's age competing with each other on the odd terrain. They jump across a bridge split off into sections that looks like it could break at any moment. The boy with spiky, red hair steps on a weak part of the dilapidating bridge and falls to the shallow water underneath. The spunky, brown-haired girl laughs.

"Sucks to be you, Wakka!"

The older boy runs to catch up to her and their other blonde friend. I watch as they race on what I barely understand is an obstacle course. I admire how they use the trees and protruding parts of the mountain as stepping-stones to aid them, or more accurately, cheat. The three of them are closing in to where Kairi and I stand at the entrance. It looks like it'll be a tie.

Suddenly, the girl pushes Wakka and the other boy to the side, knocking them into each other, successfully winning the race.

"Selphie! That wasn't fair!"

The girl, Selphie, smirks at the blonde, "You should never underestimate a girl, Tidus. Right, Kairi?" She turns to us, changing her expression as she sees me, "Oh, is this who you were talking about? You were right. He looks like Sora."

The boys forget about the unfairness of the game and focus on me.

"He does!" Tidus confirms.

"Alright, guys. Come closer. Let me introduce you." We close our proximity until we're all standing in front of each other.

Before Kairi says a word, I notice someone's missing. "Where's Riku?"

"He'll show up." She assures me nonchalantly.

Kairi introduces me first, "Gang, this is Roxas. Roxas, meet the gang."

I wave bashfully, "Hi."

"Roxas, this is Tidus." She points to the blonde wearing a yellow vest and odd shorts. One side is short and the other doesn't reach the bottom of his sandals.

"Hey." I greet.

"'Sup." He says back.

"This is Wakka." She points me to the other guy with a vest, his hair lifting into the air, defying gravity. I wasn't able to appreciate its similarities to mine until he stood up close.

"How's it goin', man?" He welcomes. "Like the hair."

I smile, "Not bad yourself."

"And last, but not least," Kairi continues, "Selphie. The only other girl in the group." I regard the girl's yellow sundress as it accentuates her emerald, green eyes.

"Hi there, handsome." She giggles.

I look down, instantly.

"Oh, look! He's blushing! How cute!" Selphie smacks the two guys on the arm, "Why can't you two be as cute as him?"

I hug my left arm against my body in embarrassment, not knowing what to say. I hadn't given this much thought until now, but everyone here is significantly younger than me. Although I haven't established any set age for girls I prefer, younger ones don't appeal to me as much.

While Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie argue, Kairi whispers to me, "Now that you've met them, let's go back to the other side. There's something I want you to see."

She takes my hand again, leading me back to the side of the island that always has the most beautiful sunsets. I pull my hand out of hers, not because I don't like her, but because I'm not used to so much skin contact. Kairi glances back as we move through the door separating the two sides. In the darkness I'm not able to discern her features, yet I can tell she's hurt. I sigh, the thought of returning to the Castle That Never Was suddenly sounds very appealing. Never did I think I would actually miss it. I haven't even been here for two days.

We pass the dock leading to the Paopu tree, enter the Shack, pass the small cascade, the tree houses, until we finally reach the other dock where Kairi points to three small boats.

"This is mine, this is Sora's and this is Riku's. We're planning on traveling to many worlds, but we've still got a lot to build. We decided to make a raft for all three of us, instead of using three separate boats. Traveling alone is no fun." Her eyes veer past me. "Let's go over there, now."

I turn, following her gaze to the Paopu tree. She must be trying to entertain me. Maybe to keep me from being bored. Does it show on my face that I've had enough?

As we arrive, I watch as she sits on the curved tree, her small back and short hair reminding me of Xion. She rotates her body, signaling me to join her.

I pace slowly to the tree, stopping in front of it, touching the bark with my bare hand, and realizing the difference between the way it felt past my glove and now. I never understood how smooth it was to the touch. I trace my hand along the creases with a smile on my face. Why does this seem so familiar?

"Isn't it a beautiful day?" Kairi sighs as she looks out to the sea, the light from the sun shining through her hair melting the red into violet.

I recall the way I thought about sitting on the tree a few days ago—what appears to have been years ago for Kairi—and not wanting to experience the anxious loneliness that eats away at the chest, leaving it more empty than it already was. More than anything, I want to spare myself that feeling. If I don't, I'm frightened that I'll be devoured inside.

I jump onto the tree, relaxing my tense muscles, attempting to enjoy the view like the little girl. "Yeah." I take a deep breath of salty air, filling my lungs.

"Where's Riku?" She asks no one in particular.

"Here." Riku confirms, spooking Kairi and I. He apparently just arrived on a small boat which he hooks onto a ladder I hadn't notice on the back of Paopu island.

"Riku! What're you doin'?" Kairi chuckles, in a much better mood than a few seconds past.

"Just some daily errands for my parents." He answers. Riku stands to my left, leaning against the tree while Kairi sits on my right. Gradually, like the time in the mornings when I least want to wake up but allow the grogginess to slip away, this setting feels pleasantly familiar. The thought of returning to the Castle erases from my mind. Why would I want to leave my home? I shake my head, correcting myself. This isn't my home. This isn't my place. I am extremely out of place. I raise a hand to my head, which suddenly started to pound.

"It's funny." I grimace.

"What is?" Kairi asks.

"Even though we've just met, I feel like I can get along with you guys very well. Like I've been friends with you before." Even if that doesn't make any sense, does it sound odd to admit it if it's the truth?

Kairi hides her eyes beneath her bangs.

Riku looks up at me, "That's weird. Why do you think that?"

I realize the discrepancy in my statement. I can't feel anything, therefore what's happening to me must not be emotions, rather I am remembering something from my past.

"Maybe I've sat on this tree before. I don't know, Riku. I can think many things, but I'll never know if they're right or wrong. I've probably never met you guys before but maybe I've been here and sat on this very tree, looking out at this very ocean."

It disheartens me knowing that I'll never know what happened in my past. If I can even call it mine.

"Déjà vu." Kairi mutters.

"What's that?" I inquire. I can tell Riku doesn't know either.

"It's when you've done something , said something, been to a certain place and feel like you've done the exact same thing before." She explicates, "It sounds like you've had a déjà vu experience."

I smile, grateful that Kairi was contemplating what I said and able to come up with a theoretical explanation. "Yeah, that about sums it up. Have you had any of those, Kairi?"

She stares me straight into the eyes. I want to look away, apprehensive that she might see into the empty cave behind my blue irises.

"Yeah, I've had some." She answers, unaware of my hidden turmoil.

Riku frowns at us, "Ahem. If anyone cares, I've had some myself, too. In fact, they've happened when I'm near you, Roxas."

I point at myself warily, "Me? Do I remind you of—" My eyes veer off to Kairi who's staring at the sand, "—someone?" I finish quietly.

I recall yesterday when Kairi wanted me to be Sora. What is it that we have so much in common? I saw him for myself and we didn't resemble each other, other than in appearance. How could she confuse us?

"It's the way you talk," Riku continues, "the way you move. Your face. It reminds me of…a friend of mine."

Kairi shakes her head, "Don't say that, Riku. Sora is Sora and Roxas is Roxas. They just happen to look like each other. It doesn't mean anything." Her voice takes on a forlorn tone.

"When's…Sora coming back?" I dare to ask. Sora's suddenly become a topic of dread.

Riku speaks in place of Kairi as she sighs, "He hasn't come back for a few months. We're really worried. We ask ourselves, 'what could he possibly be doing?' or 'why's he taking so stinkin' long?' It's just…hard to wait, I guess. I know both me and Kairi feel the same about that—don't you, Kairi?" Riku leans forward to see the young girl's face as she jumps from the tree, walking into his arms. She stifles a cry. His grip on her tightens, shielding her from me.

Why do they act as if they'll never see him again or as if something horrible happened? Why are they being so…emotional?

Then, I understand. Emotions come with having a heart. Something I might never have. This is why I don't understand their pain. In all likelihood, I'll never be able to. They have hearts, while I don't. There will be many things in this universe that I will only be able to contemplate but never experience or even come close to understanding their true meanings. I suppose I'll just have to live with that knowledge.

Sora must have been missing for a long time for them to worry about his safety. Hasn't he been on the other islands? In the distance, I can make out many more, at least two or three. Why are they so distressed? He's not destroyed, is he?

A terrible thought strikes me. Could the Heartless have invaded the other islands? I shouldn't rush to conclusions. It's most likely in Kairi's and Riku's best interest not to know about the Heartless or the reason for why I may be here.

I jump off the tree, unable to bask in the once peaceful aura anymore. "You guys, I think I'm going to go…elsewhere."

Where else can I go from here? I've seen nearly all there is to see. I suppose I'll explore the island without the reserves of recon. Perhaps, I'll find a way to go to the other islands.

"But where are you going?" Kairi steps out of Riku's embrace.

"Around." I mutter uninvitingly.

"Can—can I come?" she questions unexpectedly.

Although I'm surprised, I don't want her to notice. How can I deny her nicely?

"I wanted to explore by myself." Why does she want to go with me? Won't it bring her pain?

She nods hesitantly, resigning, "Ok…come back soon!"

I acquiesce. It's not like I have anywhere else to go until I figure out what I was sent here to do and how I can return to the Castle. As I walk away, I feel cold stares on my back. I place my index finger and thumb on the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes in an attempt to escape the attention. Why am I here? Why haven't I gone back? I want to see Xion. I want to find Axel. I have more things to do over there. Here I'm just stuck and I can't do anything. It's almost asphyxiating how quant and quiet this world is. No wonder Kairi and her friends want to leave it. Maybe that's what Sora did. What if he got so tired of it and just left? Somehow, that doesn't sound like something he'd do. I sneak a peek behind me to check if they are still looking at me.

I turn back swiftly, having linked eyes with them. I approach the Shack and run in, locking myself within its pleasant darkness, away from their prying eyes. I slide down to the sand, pondering what I should do. Should I go with the other group? Exploring's the same on either side of the island: monotonous. Perchance things won't be as awkward with them. I nod to myself and step out of the Shack in the hopes of getting to know new people. I leave through the other exit, hiding so Kairi and Riku can't see me. I safely reach the other door leading to the posterior side of the island and walk through.

SL:

Poor Roxas! I feel claustrophobic for him! I've never lived on an island, but I can imagine that it must be kind of nice. For him, however, his situation is a little bit different since the only people inhabiting the island are children and one, if not all of them, look at him like he's some sort of clone of Sora (which he kind of is.. but not really) So where is this going? Where is all this monotony leading to? Oddly enough, it's about what's happening on both sides together that makes the story make more sense. I promise the next chapter will have a little more action than these with-if not-more mystery and ambiguity that all Kingdom Hearts fans are used to!

Until next time!