Hello everyone, this is an special update since this story has a year of being published! YAAAY! I wanted to post to chapters on a row but I couldn't since I have a lot of studying to do, but here at least I bring you this and not on a weekend xD
Enjoy
Chapter 42: Castle Oblivion
Roxas and Axel spent their spare time after missions to try and find Xion, just like Axel had suggested, they however didn't had any luck since no matter how much they tried and searched for the girl, it was impossible for them to find her. It had passed at least a week since they started searching for all the known worlds, but Xion wasn't in any of them. Roxas started to loose all of his hopes on finding the girl, but Axel still cheered him up saying she must be somewhere.
One day, Axel had a really important mission so he wouldn't be able to search for Xion with Roxas. The blonde decided to rest a day since he wasn't motivated to search and went to have some ice cream with Izumi.
The little girl observed Roxas carefully as she gave a bite to her ice cream. It's true she still didn't know him well enough, but she was sure that was the first time the blonde wasn't cheerfully talking or telling jokes or anything, he was just there staring at the sunset while his ice cream was slowly melting.
-Roxas…you're ice cream is melting. –the girl pointed out, Roxas quickly gasped at this when he heard the girl's voice
-Yeah…thank you.
They stayed quiet for a few minutes. Izumi was sad because she knew how Roxas had searched for every place hoping to find the girl he loved, but destiny didn't seem to be his friend. She even started to feel frustrated since she couldn't help Roxas the way she wanted to, the only she could do was to wait and cheer just like she had to do this time.
A weak smile suddenly appeared on Roxas lips which make Izumi gasped. The boy started searching for something on his pockets. The girl was surprised as she saw how Roxas took out the same collar she gave him some time ago.
-Is that…the collar I gave you? –Izumi asked surprised that the boy still had it with him
-Yeah…I wanted to give it to Xion, but…I didn't. –Roxas said staring at the collar directly.
-Why you didn't? I gave it to you a long time ago AND I remember Xion got mad when I told you to give it to your girlfriend! –Izumi said, Roxas laughed when he remembered how angry Xion was with him that night
-I didn't give it to her on that moment because she was going to think the only reason I gave it to her was because she told me to. I wanted to wait sometime but… -Roxas explained, Izumi nodded.
-It makes sense.
The next day Roxas had another exhausting mission on Olympus Colliseum, as almost always he went there, he was ordered to train against his will with that strange coat guy named Phill. Not wanting to do anything after training, he went directly to the Clock Tower again since he had practically lost hope on finding Xion.
This time, Axel had also appeared on the Clock Tower, but also not feeling in mood for doing some searching both of them decided to call it a day off. Roxas thought it over for a minute, not only he wasn't in mood for doing some searching, but also there wasn't any place for exploring and searching for Xion. It was just like if she had completely disappeared from existence or something like that. Having this last thought on his mind Roxas sighed in defeat.
-It's no use. We're never going to find her.
-You sure there isn't someplace you're forgetting to check? –Axel asked what was obvious, a weak smile appeared on Roxas lips since Axel was asking the same as Izumi. With a sigh the blonde guy shook his head
-I've been everywhere I know how to get to.
-Right… -Axel nodded while scratching the back of his head. Roxas closed his eyes searching on his mind for hints of a location where Xion could be. Maybe searching for beaches wasn't a good idea, so he quickly discarded it. Suddenly, Roxas remembered a place where it had sense the girl could be.
-What about Castle Oblivion? Xion was asking about it, remember? And remember that was the place where you last saw her, Axel. We've been assuming she escaped as soon as she saw you, but what if she stayed there for some reason? If she's trapped or something else?
-Yeah, but the place has been cleaned out, man. There's nothing there. –Axel said in a not to convincing tone, Roxas stared at him for a moment and then sighed
-Xion might be there.
-You know that where she comes from, Castle Oblivion? –Axel suddenly said surprising and making Roxas gasp
-What? Really!?
-That's probably why she was asking so much about it.
-I had no idea.
-Hey, neither did I. I only found out about it a little while ago by myself. –Axel explained, Roxas remembered some time ago when he and Xion accessed Xemnas computer for information about them. It was odd for them to discover all the information about the girl was stored on Castle Oblivion's computer, but now it made sense for him.
-She must have a lot of questions. Poor Xion…
The next day, Roxas was lazily walking through the halls of the Castle. He sure was tired of doing the same every day. He hated his life so much at this point! As soon as he entered the Grey Area, he noticed Saix and Axel were waiting for him.
-Great, I have just arrived and I already have a mission. Fantastic. –Roxas protested lazily but Saix completely ignored him
-The impostor has been sighted again. –Saix informed. The information about the Impostor actually attracted Roxas attention.
-Impostor? You mean the one Xion…
-He's prowling around Castle Oblivion as we speak. –Saix interrupted. This interested Roxas even more! His first thought was to use the mission as an excuse to search for Xion on Castle Oblivion.
-Castle Oblivion? I'll go.
-Not by yourself, you won't. The target is extremely dangerous. –Saix reminded. Roxas nodded as he remembered how Xion returned from the mission the Impostor defeated her.
-Then how 'bout I tag along? I know C.O, better than anybody else in this outfit. –Axel suggested making Roxas smile. After thinking it for some seconds, Saix nodded
-Fine. Go, then and teach this fraud the price for wearing the coat. –Saix said walking away from them. Roxas and Axel stared at each other and nodded in agreement. Roxas grinned at the thought of taking this as a double opportunity, not only he was going to search for his girlfriend, but also he was going to make pay the guy who beat her some time ago. Sweet revenge.
A few minutes later, Roxas and Axel had teleported to Castle Oblivion. Roxas stared at the whole place which was strangely familiar for him, but at the same time he was pretty sure that was the first time he was on that place. Deciding not to give it that importance he just decided to ignore that feeling.
-So this is Castle Oblivion… -he muttered not being able to ignore the familiar feeling of being in that place before. Axel nodded
-Yep. Let's search for this impostor fast so that we'll have more time for searching Xion. –Axel suggested, Roxas grinned and happily nodded
Roxas and Axel started walking through the Castle, but Roxas suddenly started feeling a little dizzy. He shook his head trying to ignore the feeling, but the dizziness was followed by a strong headache that made Roxas hold his head with his hands from the pain.
-Roxas!? –Axel said alarmed as Roxas fell to his knees from the pain
-AGH…my…my head… -Roxas managed to said. Axel grabbed him by the arm trying to pick him up from the floor
-Hey, easy man! C'mon, let's retreat for now and…
-Noo…we have to…find Xion… -Roxas interrupted violently removing Axel's grip from him. Roxas stayed in his knees there for a moment until he felt the pain was starting to go away.
-You feeling better? –Roxas heard Axel's distant voice echoed in his head.
-What's happening?
-Roxas!? –he listened once again Axel's voice echo, but this time even farther.
-All these…pictures…rushing into my head… -Roxas muttered as the pain came back on him
-We're leaving, NOW! –Axel said grabbing Roxas arm once again
-No…wait. There's something…I can almost… -Roxas said weakly as he passed out
Giving up already? I thought you were stronger than that.
-RIKU! –Roxas shouted alarmed. He blinked for a few seconds trying to recognize were he was. After a few seconds he realized he was now on the alleys of Twilight Town.
-Whoa, you okay there? –Axel asked helping Roxas to get on his feet
-What happened to me? –Roxas asked clearly confused. Axel blinked not believing he couldn't remember anything that happened a few moments ago.
-You collapsed right into the castle doors, don't you remember? –Axel asked somehow surprised, the blonde kid shook his head
-I remember going in, that's it.
-You should take a rest. –Axel suggested but Roxas shook his head
-I'm okay, we should get back to… -Roxas started but stopped as he stared at a certain direction. Axel curious stared at the same direction as Roxas and there they were: Two hooded figures. By the height of one of them, he was sure that was Xion.
-You…who are you? –Axel said staring at both of them
-Xion…is that you? –Roxas asked in disbelief staring at the short hooded figure.
The mysterious figure opened a dark corridor and stepped in it. Roxas noticing this started running in that direction but the other guy stepped on his way making the other one escape.
-Get out of the way! –Roxas said glaring at the impostor. They stared at each other for a while and then it started running. Roxas gasped at this but immediately started running behind him.
-Roxas, wait up! –Axel said as he started running behind them also.
Roxas and Axel started following the impostor as he tried to escape through the underground tunnels. Just as Roxas was about to catch him, the impostor used a light attack to stop Roxas which he barley dodged. Even though the impostor gained some distance, he was shortly trapped in a dead end.
-You're trapped! Give up, now! –Roxas said firmly. The impostor smiled teasingly as he disappeared in a dark corridor.
-I thought the impostor was sighted on Castle Oblivion, what's he doing here? –Axel said angrily, Roxas by the other side fell with a thud to the floor and sighed
-Xion…
-No way that was Xion! –Axel cheered him up, but Roxas shook his head
-The other one was. The one who escaped before. But, I don't get it. Why would she run away from me?
Well, very similar to the game this chapter, but I assure you changes are near. It's been a year since I started this story and I want to thank everyone who was being reading and following it, you're all awesome. It's thanks to you and your reviews I keep updating it.
I'm thinking on doing a Kingdom Hearts Halloween One Shot, but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, stay tuned so that you can read it if I write it.
And as I always say, Please read and review :D
