The strange encounter between Roxas and Xion was an inevitable one. Roxas was aware of this and waited patiently for that day to come. In the meantime, he completed his day-to-day missions without much thought.

Day 9

Roxas struck the last heartless, completing his mission for the day. He looked at the heart float to the sky as Marluxia walked up to him.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Marluxia asked referring to the heart. "Because of you, that heart will join the millions that make up Kingdom Hearts. Do you know why?"

"I have the keyblade," Roxas explained as he stared at his key, "Which means that I am the only one who can collect these hearts. That is why the organization needs me. Without me, you guys would destroy the heartless and they would just take the heart back to reappear again." He paused for a moment and then continued. "That's why I'm… special."

Marluxia looked at him, surprised. How did he know all of this? He's only been here for a while. "Um, yes that's… right."

"We should probably RTC now." Roxas opened a portal to the castle and the two of them walked in.

Day 11

"So, Saix wants me to teach you to use magic since you're so hopeless in that department." Larxene looked around for heartless. To her luck, she found a large group of them roaming around Twilight Town. "Perfect! You see those heartless over there? Take them out using only your magic, and no cheating." She pointed at Roxas's keyblade, hinting that he should put it away.

"You're so dependent on that key that a blockhead like you wouldn't even know how to use magic, am I right?"

Roxas stood there quietly glaring at the heartless. He completely ignored Larxene, not really caring what she had to say.

"Of course you don't, but that's ok. A sorry sap like you wouldn't know a damn thing. Talk about weak and pathetic, but I guess that's why I'm here." She paused for a moment as she lost herself in her thoughts. "Who would've guessed a nobody of my status would be teaching a nobody so…"

"Thunder!"

Larxene was startled as she heard this yell. She couldn't help but realize that the voice sounded so familiar. She looked over to where the group of heartless were, and to her surprise, Roxas was using his magic, and it was… incredible. When he screamed thunder, thick strands of thunder would come raining down from the sky. When he shouted fire, a huge fireball would appear right from his hand; it almost looked like he had an enormous cannon in there.

"Amazing…" she whispered to herself. Larxene was taken aback. She watched as Roxas destroyed all the heartless that would appear every time he wiped out a few.

When Roxas finished, he walked passed Larxene, who was still in shock. He opened a portal to RTC and looked back at her. "You coming?"

She snapped out of her daze and began to walk towards him. "You just got lucky." She said arrogantly.

Roxas laughed as the two walked through, knowing she was amazed. Larxene looked at Roxas and punched him in the shoulder, letting him know that she was still the superior one.

Day 13

"Do you know what a limit break is?"

"Yea…"

Lexaeus looked at Roxas with an eyebrow raised. "How can you know something you haven't learned yet?"

"When you know, you know," Roxas explained, trying to confuse him.

The two stayed quiet for a long time. No one moved, no one said a word. At this rate, they would never meet quota in time. Roxas grew impatient, however, and decided to leave and finish the mission on his own.

When he finished, he rejoined with Lexaeus who was still sitting quietly, almost as if meditating. He walked up to him, not knowing what to do. "So, um, should we RTC? I finished the mission."

Lexaeus stood up, opened a portal, and walked right in without a word. Roxas followed wondering why he was so quiet. "Was it something I said?"

"When you know, you know," Lexaeus thought, trying to figure out what it meant.

Day 22

Roxas had grown accustomed to getting a Sea Salt with Axel after every mission. It was a sort of routine, one that Roxas still enjoyed. Being with his friend again, eating some of the best ice cream in the world, just made him feel a lot happier, even if he didn't have a heart.

As the two sat on top of the clock tower, Axel looked at Roxas who was happily eating his Sea Salt with a smile on his face. He looked back at the sunset and sighed. "I'm going to miss this ice cream thing we do."

"Huh?"

"Gonna be away for awhile starting tomorrow. I can fill you in since we're friends. I'm gonna be at Castle Oblivion."

"Castle Oblivion?" Roxas thought, knowing exactly where Axel was going. "That's right. Marluxia, Larxene, Lexaeus, everyone that goes to that castle disappears." He looked at Axel who lay against the tower. "Everyone except for Axel." He paused for a moment, realizing what was about to happen. "Wait… if Axel's going to Castle Oblivion tomorrow, then that means…"

"Well, I gotta head back and get ready. Nothing but fun fun fun." He joked as he got up and opened a portal.

"Axel?"

He looked at Roxas wondering what was wrong. "Yea?"

"Have you… ever cared about anyone?" He asked, putting his hand to his chest. "So much that it hurts where your heart is supposed to be?"

Axel looked at Roxas puzzled at what he had said. "What's that about?"

Roxas stood up and faced Axel. "I… never mind."

He looked at Roxas for a second, straight in the eyes; those blue eyes. They went perfectly with his blond hair. Axel began to turn a little red. He turned around quickly and headed for the portal as he continued. "Yea, I… I have." He walked through as fast as he could, leaving Roxas all alone.

Roxas sat back down, looking at the sunset. "What was that about?" he thought as he admired the view.

Day 23

This day was different than the others and Roxas knew it. Axel had gone to Castle Oblivion, and today was the day that he had been waiting for.

Arriving at the mission room, Roxas looked around for his silent companion who was standing right next to Saix. It was going to finally be their first mission together, a chance to finally be able to talk to his friend.

"Roxas," Saix said as Roxas walked up to him. "Your mission is in Twilight Town. We need you to eliminate a specific heartless. You will be accompanied by Xion, which means that you are in charge." Saix scribbled some notes on his clipboard and went to look for Demyx, who was nowhere to be found.

"Me? In charge?" He thought to himself. He looked at Xion who stood there silently. Trying to break the quietness, Roxas tried to lighten up the mood. "So, um, Xion… Let's do our best today!" He smiled awkwardly seeing that Xion stood there quietly not saying a word. A little embarrassed, Roxas opened a portal to Twilight Town and continued. "Well then, let's go." He said as he gestured for her to go in first. Xion walked right in as Roxas followed from behind.

The duo looked far and wide for this specific target. According to Saix, it was a large poison plant that was somewhere in this very large town. As they looked, the two destroyed some heartless with ease. Roxas would swing away at them with his keyblade while Xion used her magic against them, the perfect combination for the perfect team.

The heartless didn't always attack the team however, which lead to some very quiet moments. Roxas didn't like this. He needed to become friends with her as fast as he could. Otherwise, his best friend would be a goner.

At one particular moment, Roxas stopped walking and faced Xion. He looked at her for a second and then put his hands on her shoulders. "Xion. My name is Roxas, okay? Do you think you can remember that?"

Xion, with her hood up, looked at Roxas and said nothing.

Roxas smiled at her and continued. "I want you to get that memorized, okay?" He said with a chuckle. He then let go of her shoulders and the two began searching for the plant again.

It took them a while, but once they found the target, the duo destroyed it in a short amount of time. This allowed the two to RTC early. Roxas, however, decided to go back to the clock tower like he always did. He opened a portal and faced Xion. "You go on ahead and RTC. I have someplace to be."

She looked at him, as if confused, and walked right through. Roxas then closed portal and headed to the top of the tower, where he would enjoy the view for a while.

Day 24

Demyx sat on the couch in the mission room, trying to get himself comfortable. "Man, this place is so much nicer without all the loudmouths around."

"Loudmouths?" Roxas asked walking into the mission room. "You mean Axel, Larxene, and Marluxia?"

"Well yea," Demyx paused and closed his eyes as he daydreamed about his fantasy. "I mean, except for Larxene." At that moment, Demyx was lost in his thoughts of him and Larxene. "Oh how that blonde hair of hers splits making them look like antennas, and how her blue eyes look like the ocean tide on a sunset evening. Also her smile is nice."

Xigbar, who was sitting on the couch across from him, began to laugh loudly. "Man 'o man, guitar hero is in love with that crazy bat? If only she was here to see this."

Demyx ignored him, still daydreaming about Larxene. Oh the pranks they use to pull on people.

Xigbar turned to Roxas who at this point was confused beyond reason. "Well, I do have to admit that it's too bad you and poppet didn't get to spend quality time with them like cupid over here."

"Poppet? You mean Xion, right?" Roxas asked, remembering that nickname.

"That's right, kiddo."

"Kiddo?"

Saix interrupted the two, reminding them of their duties. "Roxas, get to work."

Roxas nodded and walked over to Xion. "Ready?" he asked with a smile on his face. Xion just stared at him and didn't say a word. He took that as a yes and opened a portal. "Whenever you're ready," he said cheerfully. She walked in as Roxas followed from behind.

The mission was simple. Find and destroy a few dozen heartless. Then RTC when finished.

Roxas knew that they would finish early, so he stalled the mission a bit. He, instead, took Xion around town showing and telling her what things were. He showed her many things from books, lamps, and bells to the clock tower he and Axel would hang out at. It really seemed like Roxas was a tour guide of some sort. "That building is called a store," he would say. "It's where people buy things, and if you have enough munny, you could buy some Sea Salt ice cream."

Xion was quiet the whole time, but Roxas didn't mind. He was having a lot of fun showing her around and teaching her about certain things. It felt good to finally hang out with his best friend again. After a long tour, however, the two had to get back to their mission.

As Roxas predicted, the duo finished fast and reached quota within minutes. It was finally time to RTC. Roxas opened a portal back to the castle and turned to Xion. "I had a lot of fun today," he said with a smile.

Xion stared at him. Not a word came out of those lips.

"Hey Xion, do you still remember my name?" he asked, waiting for an answer.

She just stood there, as quiet as a mouse.

Roxas couldn't bear it anymore. He was tired of waiting. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. "Xion, why won't you answer me? It's me remember? I'm your best friend! Please, stop being so quiet and say something to me. Anything!"

Xion stayed as silent as can be. She just looked at him.

Roxas sighed and took his hands off her shoulders. He was a little sad that someone he knew so well had no idea who he was. "I'm sorry," he said walking towards the clock tower. "It's not your fault. You've only been here for a while. You probably can't remember a thing just yet."

"R… Roxas."

"Huh?" Roxas turned around swiftly, surprised at what he had just heard. Xion had said her first word.

"Roxas… is your name," she stated as she smiled at him.

Roxas looked at Xion still in shock. "Yeah…"

Xion began to walk towards the portal that led back to the castle. Before she went through, however, she glanced at Roxas one last time and then proceeded to walk through the gateway of darkness. Once she disappeared, Roxas closed the portal and continued walking towards the clock tower. As he walked, he couldn't help but smile. "…That is my name."

A/N: Jesus! I haven't posted a new chapter in ages! Sorry! My Ps4 and Xbox One have been keeping me busy lately, but now it's died down. I also want to really thank that guest reviewer who reviewed a while back. Reading what you wrote is what made me get off the consoles and on to the computer writing again! =D I am also very thankful for all the other reviewers, followers, and favoriters. It's nice to know that you guys like this story so far. If you're reading this story, please review/follow/favorite! Tell me what you think of this chapter or the whole story. Love to hear other people's thoughts on this. Well, thank you again and I'll see you all in Killzone!