A/N:

Hello people!

Thanks for reading this far into my story. I hope it's been to your liking. As promised that every chapter will be dedicated to the people that review, this is dedicated to rarmaster for R&R even though she has her own KH fic. I'm glad that mine caught your attention amongst all the other fics. It stinks that we won't be posting neighbors anymore! :(

Without further ado, here's "Mission of Sleep" where questions are semi-answered and more are gained!

SL

Chapter 6:

Mission of Sleep

Shell 7 x Day 7

Kairi

Roxas stares blankly past me.

"Four—four days?" he stutters.

I nod slowly.

He turns, placing his legs on the floor, stunned. "How did that…happen?"

I'm not sure if by 'happen' he means what happened in his dreams or what made him sleep so long. I walk around the end of the bed to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Just as he's about to answer, his abdomen churns so loudly that everybody quiets down. We stare at him.

Roxas meekly holds his stomach. "I'm kind of hungry."

We burst into laughter with the guys glomping Roxas with affection.

"Hey listen!" I lift my hands up for peace, "You goofballs! Roxas's hungry. Let's go eat!"

"Ya, man!" Wakka pulls on Roxas's arm, standing him up. Roxas holds on weakly to Wakka's shoulder. We watch in silence as he struggles, comprehending the toll his slumber took on him.

He chuckles shyly, "Guess I haven't moved in a while."

"L-let's go!" Selphie hugs one of his arms. I try not to let that bother me. They walk out of the room, leaving behind the tranquil sound of silence. Tidus walks behind them, but stops at the door and turns around.

"Kairi, you coming?"

I don't notice I'm being left behind. Can it be I want it that way?

"I'll be there in a minute. You go on ahead."

He nods and steps out.

I sigh, running my fingers through my short hair, plopping down on the bed, trying to sort out my mixed feelings.

I make no sense.

I want Sora back but I don't want Roxas to leave. I don't want them together either. If they were together then that would make me have to choose. I groan out of exasperation. How can I be this confused over a boy I've just met? Why do I even have trouble being around him? Is it his striking resemblance to Sora?

I turn on my side, my head on the pillow where Roxas's head had laid. I unconsciously find myself seeking his warmth transmitted through the sheets. I take a small breath, his scent pouring into my lungs. I hug the pillow and curl into a ball.

I'm a horrible person.

Roxas

We went to Wakka's tree house to eat some seafood they brought from the other island. Selphie never let go of my arm as we ate. After a while, I somehow managed to get out of her grasp and excused myself.

...

"Wait! Where're you goin'?" Selphie whines.

Tidus frowns angrily, "Leave him alone, Selphie. When you gotta go, you gotta go."

Selphie sits back down on her chair. "Ohh."

I didn't stand up because I have to go to the restroom, but if that's my ticket out of here, I'm taking it.

"Yeah," I smile, scratching an itch on the back of my head. "I'll be back soon."

I walk outside the house, jump over to a nearby tree and slide down to the sand, stumbling over my shoes and fall face first. I cough out the sand I inhaled, sneezing up a storm. I struggle to lift myself up, rubbing my burnt nose. These naps of mine are really hindering my mobility. How can muscles atrophy in a couple of days? I stand up with more ease, wondering where I want to go, patting my body down. The only thing I want is solitude. I stare at the ground for a few minutes. When I look up, I realize my legs brought me to Paopu Island. I walk up to the oddly bent tree, hop onto it, and stare at the horizon.

My mind drifts to memories of peaceful days on this island. I remember when I was complaining about what I needed to do to get out of here. Now that I 'returned' from somewhere else, I realize how nice life is on this island. There's nothing to threaten me, nothing to expose me to emotions I'd rather not have felt or understood. These islands seem to be the last haven in the universe. Why would I want to leave?

The soft heat of the breeze mixed with the ocean mist caresses my tired face. I squint my eyes, trying to stare directly at the sun, challenging its power. I turn away quickly, feeling ridiculous for having such a notion. I grab a Paopu fruit and take a bite out of it, swallowing it after I savor the star for a moment, my mind drifting to the dream. I look at my hands, remembering the anesthesia that coursed throughout my body, immobilizing me completely. What a horrible sensation. It was so real that there's no way that could have been a dream. Those events must be memories. Aqua and Terra flash through my mind. How did I know who they were and why did I feel so much attachment to them? I correct myself. Those weren't my feelings. That wasn't my body. Those weren't my friends. Those weren't my memories. These memories have an owner and somehow, I can see them when I sleep. I place a hand where my heart should be, remembering the sensation of the sword going past my ribs, piercing my lungs, until it reached the vital, beating organ. I wait to feel that familiar drumming, but am sorely disappointed when my chest reciprocates emptiness. I clench my shirt with force, once again, deprived of that which makes Somebodies unique and enviable. Ventus's emotions surged through me like a cascade falling over a precipice without a dam to detain the flow, overwhelming me to the point of drowning. Ventus allowed me to see what it was like to bear a heart. He helped me understand that Somebodies and Nobodies aren't that different. The singular distinction between him and I is that emotions for him are magnified. If I felt worry, he would be anxious. The image of Aqua in the line of Vanitas's attack drove Ventus to the fringe of insanity. He couldn't even bear to think about her death, therefore, his solution was to die in her place. Even though I don't know their history as friends, I could sense that Aqua doesn't have the same attachment to Ventus as he does to her. The lack of logic—the lack of rational—astonished me. In the end, no matter how nonsensical his action was, I admire how Ventus went against his survival instincts to push her out of the way, essentially sacrificing himself to save her, knowing that his affections will never be requited. I just wish he hadn't tagged me along for the ride.

Who are M. Xehanort and Vanitas? What was Xigbar's Somebody doing there? What do they have to do with me?

I grab my head with my hands and press hard, hoping that I have enough strength to press my skull into my brain. I stop when I realize that all I'm managing to do is squish my hair. My arms drop to the side. I lie down on the trunk and inhale slowly. I close my eyes, waiting for the darkness to swallow me up. I wish there weren't any more questions.

I open my eyes again, only to find myself staring at Kairi's blue irises. I immediately sit up with a yelp of surprise.

"Kairi!"

Instead of laughing like she usually would, Kairi's forlorn. "Sorry, Roxas. I was worried because I thought you'd be sleeping like last time." She stares at the ground, "I don't know why, but I suddenly got the feeling that you wouldn't wake up again."

I tilt my head to side, enkindled by her concern. It's nice to have someone worry about me, especially a person that I met and befriended on my own.

"Don't worry about something like that, Kairi. If I fall asleep, I'll wake up." I pat her on the head with a smile, "I'm not going anywhere."

Her cheeks beget a reddish color. She leans on the tree, looking at the ocean.

"I wasn't sleeping anyway." I clarify. I don't want to anymore. Dreams give me false hopes of what could be my memories when none of them have been mine.

"Liar." She says.

I don't correct her this time, letting her believe what she wants while I torture myself with memories that don't belong to me, replaying them in my head again and again.

"Roxas, are you okay?" She asks with concern.

I smile forcefully, hoping it looks natural, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Kairi isn't convinced. "After sleeping for so long, it's hard to believe you're alright."

"It's nothing, Kairi. It's nothing." I repeat.

She gets on the tree, scooting close to me, pushing my legs down to the side of the trunk. She scoots closer until she's too close.

"Kairi…"

To my utter surprise, she wraps her arms around me, pinning my arms to my sides. I stay as stiff as a rock, speechless.

"I'm not moving from here until you tell me what happened! You have to tell me what's bothering you!"

I am stunned with her reactions. I come out of one conflict that nearly tore me apart, only to be placed in another that won't disappear as easily as waking up from a dream.

She looks up at me with a frown, "Why are you always walking off by yourself? Don't you like us? Why are you so lonely when we're here?"

I don't know how to respond. What does she want me to tell her? What's the right answer to just end this dispute? Xion's face suddenly replaces Kairi's. I turn away, not wanting to delude myself.

"Can you let go?"

"No!" she insists. "Not until you tell me what's happening!"

I squirm out of her grasp, not wanting to push her in case she falls off the tree, so I look at her and try persuading her.

"Kairi. I'm fine. You don't have to worry so much."

She shakes her head fervently. I can tell she isn't going to change her mind if I don't say something different.

"Roxas, how can you expect me to believe you when you just appeared out of nowhere? We don't know anything about you!"

"—And why do you need to?" I interrupt with a rough tone.

Kairi remains silent.

I look away from her, feeling as if I'm reprimanding Xion. "You don't need to know everything about me. What I do and don't do is none of your business." I close my eyes, partly to escape her gaze and partly because I'm thinking about Xion and how much I miss her. I don't like having to be like this, but if it's the only way to rid myself of her prying questions, then I'll do it. I don't need anyone pestering me right now. I just want to be alone.

Kairi is silent for a long time. I question whether she'd move if I left. I jump off the tree, heading to the cave.

"If you prove it, I'll drop it."

I turn to her.

She moves her body around to face me, "If you prove you're okay, I'll leave you alone, alright?"

I scoff, "What am I supposed to do—jump up and down?" This is the first time I'm being sarcastic, but tonight she crossed a boundary I'd firmly placed when I got here and I don't appreciate that. Her semblance is too difficult to process. I settle for staring at a point near her body.

"Spend more time with us—with the group. Then, I'll believe you."

I put my hands on my hips, leaning my head back, facing the sky. Why do I need to prove anything to anyone? My immediate thought is to deny her demand, but simultaneously, I don't know how much longer I'm going to be here. Having them on my good side is better than the opposite. How about I simply ignore what she just said?

I get a running start and jump off the island, splashing into the water underneath.

Kairi peaks from the edge in surprise, "Roxas!"

I smile triumphantly and wave, swimming backwards. She calls after me while I flip into the water, opening my eyes underneath. The salt burns them, but I try to get used to it. Holding my breath, I analyze my surroundings with a fresh mind. I enjoy the fish as some make their way towards me, probably because they're used to people. As I tread deeper into the water, my lungs demand for air. I return to the surface, taking only the necessary breaths I need before continuing my dive. I swim as much and as far as I can for one reason alone: escape. Before, I wondered when the ocean would end. Maybe if I swam far enough, I'd bump into the invisible barrier that's keeping this world together. But now, I want the ocean to remain infinite. I want it to take me to where no one has gone before and to continue taking me there, never stopping my quest, never detaining me from the truth. The water in my ears numbs all sound, the pressure building. While in the sanctity of the sea, I'm allowed to lose myself in my mind, thinking of one person: Xion. I don't know if given the choice, I'd want to go back to the Organization, but if it's to see Xion, then I can make the sacrifice.

I burst to the surface, taking a deep breath. In the distance, I see the small island about a mile away. I whistle a descending note, congratulating myself for swimming this far without breaks, since before coming here I didn't even know beaches existed. Oddly enough, I'm not scared that I'm this distant. I don't fear for my life or any of the things Tidus mentioned four days ago. I lie back, allowing myself to float, employing the technique Kairi and Riku showed me.

The water remains still. I stare up into the sky.

Why can't my life be like this ocean: deep, full, and infinite? At that notion, I wonder why it is that I like the ocean so much. Truth is, I want to leave this place—I really do. I don't know how much more I can stand this isolation, this absorption, this tiny island anymore. How can anyone bear this suffocation? It's like being at the bottom of the sea, rendered helpless to the tons of gallons of leagues above the shoulders until one's head just bursts from the pressure of it all.

I float in the water, letting the current take me even further away.

Instantly, I understand the reason why even against my own will I like this ocean. It's because it reminds me of Xion. Swimming in this sea is like basking in her presence. There are no words to describe her. Only seeing this expansive beach can fully illustrate her essence. Peaceful, serene, blue, and comforting come close. Lonely…

I sit up in the water, wading my arms and legs, disturbed by the thought. If exploited without moderation, even the ocean it all its wonder can seem lonely. It's something I hadn't taken into account. How is being the only person in the ocean not the same as being the only person anywhere else, be it an island or the Organization? I look at the other islands as they appear in the horizon, the waves around me getting rough. Not even islands come alone. It might seem like I seek solitude, but what I really search for is companionship, except from the right people. Right now, I want to be with Xion and Axel—not these children.

Xion's probably lonely right now somewhere in the Castle That Never Was without Axel nor I. I'm sure the Organization members don't even bother with her—too busy with their missions. Even Demyx who's the most amicable of the group can follow orders. Xion's even more alone than I am. At least I'm surrounded by people that care for me, even if they've only known me for a week.

I wish I could help her in some way. There must be a way. What can I do from Destiny Islands? I'm here and she's over there. I continue floating in the water, closing my eyes. Maybe Axel's been found. Maybe he's with her, keeping her company. I wish I could be there. If Axel's with her, then he's a lucky guy. I open my eyes, staring at the blue sky—the sun past the middle.

I want to find something to do on this measly island. Where is everyone else? Where's Sora? I straighten my body, the water reaching my chest. I look around, noticing one of the other islands closer than the main island. I decide to swim for it.

As I stroke, I realize I'm not gaining any distance. The new island keeps getting further away. I summon my Keyblade. With the help of my weapon, I create an ice bridge for myself until I reach the shore. I step off the ice, surveying my surroundings.

"Hello!" I call out, hoping to meet some of the people that the children interact with everyday. I receive no response, walking further into the island. This place is quite different from the other one. The land here is much more stable. The ground doesn't only consist of sand and the houses aren't made haphazardly. They line the entirety of the island, all built away from the volcano located in the center. I wonder if that has ever erupted. I continue my walk though the dirt paths, entering a long neighborhood with small hills and palm trees looming over the residences, looking for any signs of viability.

"Is anyone here?"

I keep moving, pondering if people don't like responding to strangers. Even so, the place is desolate.

After walking around for twenty minutes, I call forth the courage to knock on one of the doors of the houses. I receive no response. I stand outside the house, staring at the wooden entrance, pondering if I should just walk in. I listen to my thoughts and audaciously enter the household.

"Sorry for breaking in!"

The dwelling is empty. There isn't any form of furniture or sign that anyone ever inhabited here. A cold sensation develops in the pit of my stomach. I rush out of the house, leaving the door open, running into the one in front, only to see the same thing: emptiness. I deny what I see. I rush into another house, then another, and another, until I've seen all the houses on the island, ending up on the shore that faces the main isle.

"Hello!" I bellow, "Is anyone out there! Please answer me!"

My voice comes back as a hollow echo. I fall to the ground in shock. This can't be happening to me. This is not possible. There's no one on this island. I'm the only person here.

As the doubt erases from my mind with every passing thought, I come to realize the reality of the situation.

"There are no other people here because this isn't real." I speak out loud, only then will I believe what I'm saying. Even my thoughts can be false. I put a hand to my mouth, breathing slowly, staring at the other island. "I can't imagine anyone here because I don't know enough people to populate this area. Those children over there are kids I've met before, but I don't remember where."

I pick up sand and eat it, swallowing without difficulty.

"This is all in my head. I can eat wood if I wanted to and not have any problem."

I summon my Keyblade, turn it on myself, and shoot a fire blast. My clothes singes to my chest painfully, my face melting. I close my eyes, focusing on erasing the pain. Slowly, my clothes mend back and my face is normal once more. I chuckle. Suddenly everything is humorous. With this realization, I throw my Keyblade into the ocean, yelling and laughing as loudly as I can. The hysterical laughter contorts into tears. In this world, I can experience all the emotions I want as long as I want. Kairi comes to mind, her words echoing in my head.

"Why are you always walking off by yourself? Don't you like us? Why are you so lonely when we're here?"

"We don't know anything about you!"

"Spend more time with us—with the group. Then, I'll believe you."

I put my hands on my head, closing the space around me.

I recall the way I couldn't distinguish Kairi from Xion at times, her face suddenly changing. I could change it back to Kairi's face with effort, but if I wanted to, I could have kept it as Xion's face. Tidus was a fighting companion. Wakka was comic relief. Selphie was a fan girl. Kairi was Xion and Riku was Axel.

I claw at the sand in front of me.

They were created deep from within my subconscious to provide me with comfort. I even gave them fixed personalities to convince myself of their validity. I'll never be able to get out. None of this is real because all of it is a dream. I'm not on an island right now. I've never talked to anyone. I've been alone all this time.

I'm in a coma.

Xion

A horde of Heartless come at me.

I frantically cast all the spells I know, but the fiends overwhelm me. Survival becomes imperative in my mind. A Pure Heartless jumps up out of the legion and scratches me across the face. I groan in pain, running away, watching as they crawl close to my heels. I jump high in the air, raise my Keyblade, and summon pillars of light from beneath the ground, successfully eliminating all but four Heartless. That was my last Limit Break. I jump higher and glide, watching as they stare at me from down below. As I'm gliding, I extend my hand and create a dark portal. My body goes through the darkness, appearing in the Grey Area, my stomach sliding on the floor. The portal closes behind me. My eyes take a while to accustom to the paleness of the room.

"You." I hear a demeaning voice call out. I quickly get up, brushing off any dust from my coat. I check if my hood's still on and face Saïx. "Yes?"

"Why are you back so early?" Demyx, whom I hadn't noticed, is sitting on one of the couches. I quickly scan the rest of the room, wondering whom else I failed to see.

"Precisely my question." Saïx diverts my attention back to him, "Why're you back here? I'm certain that collecting hearts isn't a hasty process."

I ponder if I should tell him that there were simply too many Heartless attacking me at once that I had to run away. However, the thing I least what to do is prove to Saïx that I'm incapable of these missions—that I'm exactly what he says: weak.

"I'll go back later." I respond.

Saïx frowns, "Dodging the question?"

I remain silent.

He scoffs, directing his next statement at Demyx.

"This is the weakest link of the chain that makes up Organization XIII. It will be our downfall."

With that said, he walks away, down the corridor that leads to the rest of the Castle. I clench my fists until I feel my nails dig into my skin past my gloves. He called me 'it' again. Like I'm an object. He ridiculed me again in front of the only Organization member I don't mind. I'm nothing but a tool—a useless tool. One that can be discarded at any time.

I stand in place for a while, feeling Demyx's stare on me.

"Umm…" he finally says, "Are you okay?"

I lift my arm and summon a portal. "I'm going out." I turn slightly. "Don't look for me."

I walk in, letting myself succumb to darkness.

The portal opens to reveal a nice, quiet, and cool island.

The salty breeze caresses my face, the waves music to my ears. I'm glad I stumbled upon this place. It's odd how I could have stumbled on it because when summoning a portal, I've got to know where I want to go or else I'll be swallowed by the darkness. How did I think of this place if I've never been here before? Was it because Roxas mentioned it? How peculiar that his dream world actually existed.

I take off my boots and gloves, slip off my coat, and stay in my black undershirt and pants. I walk along the shore peacefully, enjoying the silence, loving the feeling of the sand in between my toes. A sort of excitement develops in my chest. My empty core fills up with the emotion to the point that I can't contain it. A small giggle and a smile erupt from within me. I jump around on the shore, letting the water and the sand stick to my toes. My pants get heavy with liquid. I remove them, staying in my girl boxers, tossing the clothes to the side. The cool water gives me a quick chill. I giggle like I've seen children do, bending down and picking up some water, throwing it into the air.

Suddenly, I stab my foot with something hard. The giddiness evaporates as the pain spreads to the rest of my leg.

I moan in pain, bending down to pick up the star-shaped rock. I flip it over, observing it's odd exterior. I decide to throw it back into the ocean. As I watch it sink into the water, I realize I want to jump in as well. I plunge in without boundaries, swimming as if I've known how to do it all my life. I swim for about ten minutes before finally letting myself float.

"Ah, I love this place." I murmur.

"Love," a distinct, yet distant voice calls out to me. "That's weird. How can a Nobody love anything?"

I quickly lift my head, looking at the shore, searching for the source of the voice.

"Who's there?" I yell above the sound of the waves.

"C'mon, Xion. Forgot about me already?"

Excitement quickly swells within me as I realize whose voice I'm listening to. Can it be? After all this time, is it Roxas's first friend?

"Axel?"

He appears through a portal—red, spiky hair that I hadn't seen for what seemed like forever fills my sight. He does his signature pose and says, "Yeah. Axel. Got it memorized?"

I swim as fast as I can toward him, pushing through the water, struggling. I finally feel sand underneath my feet. I pant, moving through the small waves. Axel's grin grows wider as he sees me get closer, extending his arms. I jump into the air, gliding to get to him faster.

"Axel!"

My first thought as he wraps his arms around me in a hug is that Roxas will be so happy.

He stumbles on the sand, pushed back by my weight and momentum, falling with me landing on him.

I chuckle at the situation, moving off of him, sitting with my legs in front of me. "Sorry for knocking you down! I was just so happy to see you! Where have you been? We thought you were destroyed!" It's ironic that I feel like I know him already just because of how much Roxas mentioned him.

He looks down, his joyous face growing somber, "I can't tell you yet. I'm not even supposed to be here."

I calm down and smile at him, understanding. "Okay. That's fine. Thank you for coming to see me, though. At least letting me know you're alive so I can tell Roxas. He was devastated when he heard that you'd been destroyed at Castle Oblivion."

Axel scoffs, "Listen to you. Devastated." He looks away, "We don't know what devastation is."

I frown, "Then if it's not devastation, then what is it?"

He returns his gaze to me.

I continue, "I know that I felt something when I saw you. I also know that Roxas was torn to shreds at the news. Devastated is the only word that comes to mind." I smile, pushing away any negative thoughts, "It's good to have you back, Axel."

His normally pale face for a moment clashes with his red hair as he stares into the distance. He reminds me of the time when I was with Roxas in his room.

"Xion, you should put on your coat."

I look down at myself confused, then at him, "Why?"

He stands, giving his back to me, "B-because. You just should."

I get up out of curiosity and walk around to stare at him. His face is ruby red. I laugh at his reaction, walking over to where I left my clothing. Before I put them on, I cup my hands, spreading them as I create a sphere of air, enlarging it until it sweeps past me and around me, blowing all the water and sand off my body. A small crater forms around me. I slip on the coat, gloves, pants, and boots. By the time I turn around, Axel's nowhere to be seen.

"Axel?"

I walk to where he'd been standing, staring at his footprints in the sand. He left a message etched into the ground.

Sorry I had to leave abruptly, but duty calls. If you miss me-like I know you will-come by here again tomorrow. Same time. I'll be here.

I bend down and trace the letters, smiling. My finger stumbles on another message:

P. S.

Don't tell anybody!

I let out a small chuckle and erase the message with my foot. I open a portal, but before I go in, I suddenly remember about Roxas. I walk over to the shore and grab a pretty shell, sticking it into my pocket. I walk to the portal and leave the island behind.

I arrive directly into Roxas's room so as to avoid any unwanted encounters. I place the seventh shell on his bed.

"Hey Roxas! How are you doing? I know you can't answer back, but I've got to ask you anyways!"

I sit down on the side of the bed and brush Roxas's hair. It stays to the side this time.

"Guess who I saw today?" I look around cautiously and lean close to his ear. "Axel…"

I lean back up, "But unfortunately, that's all I can tell you because even I don't know the whole story behind his disappearance. We're on the same page even though you're sleeping and I'm awake. There's one thing I can tell you, although I'm a little ashamed by it. Well…I failed a mission." I put my hands up defensively, "I know what you're going to say, not to beat myself up and try harder. I know. I'm trying. I'm not about to let Saïx get to me."

I frown in anger, but as I gaze at Roxas's blissful face, my anger can't help but dissipate. I lie down next to him, feeling his warmth. "I miss you, Roxas. It's unusual how you're here, yet I miss you. Today was a 'good day.' You're missing so much."

I grab his hand in mine, holding it as I close my eyes and let sleep begin it's course.

A/N:

Look at Roxas, the master of avoidance. I'm thinking that I should do something like that too. If someone tells me to do something I don't want to, I'm just gonna jump off a dock! SWIM AWAY! He also knows he's in a coma. Let's watch him test his theory in the next chapter...

In other important news, Axel's back! Finally, after being gone for forever! At least Xion knows he's alive. But what the heck is the guy doing? Why was he gone for so long and why couldn't he tell Xion?

More chapters coming up with more answers. It's almost time for Roxas's awakening.

SL