Story 5 – A Journey for the Prince

"Rooooxxaaasss~! Time to get up~!"

Roxas jerked off from his sleeping form when a loud banging noises were right next to his ears. Trying to calm his fast heartbeat, Roxas turned to his right with surprised expression and found a wide grin.

"Yu-Yuffie!" Roxas squeaked, then coughed to clear his dry throat. "What's that for?"

"We're moving soon!" the short-haired girl announced cheerfully as she swung around a rather big metal basin and a big wooden mixing spoon. So that's what she used to make such loud noises. Roxas was never woken rudely like that so he was really shocked now. "After breakfast, we'll move to the next town~!" Yuffie realized the blond boy didn't respond and waved her hand in front of him. "Hello? Earth to, Roxas?"

"I told you don't wake him like that!" Axel entered the small tent with amused smirk. "Can't you use ordinary way to wake people? Demyx complained that his ears lost slightly its sensitivity because of this."

"Well, that's his fault that he's so difficult to wake!" Yuffie whined and pouted.

"You don't have to use the same technique to Roxas," Axel snorted. The slim girl was about to talk back when they heard small laugh. Roxas was laughing on his bed, with a pale hand covered his mouth. Both Axel and Yuffie raised their eyebrows, confused.

"What's so funny?" the only girl there asked, a bit peeved since she felt Roxas was laughing at her. The small blond controlled himself, then smiled at the other two.

"No, it's just… it's early in morning, but it's already so merry!" he said, happy. "Besides, your way to wake me… it's funny!"

Yuffie was beyond confused now, but Axel just stared at the smiling blond with awe. This boy practically screamed innocent in each thing his doing; Axel almost wanted to warn him that he had got into wrong people to run with, but… Axel didn't want Roxas to get into more wrong bunch. Well, at least here Axel could watch Roxas and protect him…. So the last night's incident wouldn't be repeated….

"Right," Axel said to himself loudly and quickly dove his hand into his trousers' pocket. He lifted a necklace – it was made from a strong, thin black string with a cross-shaped silver hung onto it – and gave it to Roxas. "This. Wear this."

"What…," Roxas accepted the plain necklace and eyed it curiously.

"Just wear it!" Yuffie encouraged. She took the same necklace from her sleeveless tight shirt, showing it to Roxas. "All of us wear this charm! With this, the Heartless can't attack us!"

"O-oh…," Roxas nodded, a bit hesitant. With all those studies with Ansem about Heartless, he never heard about any charm that could defend them from Heartless like this. But, with two pairs of eyes eyeing him, Roxas slipped the necklace around his neck.

"Good. Now, how's your feeling?" Axel asked.

"I'm totally fine!" Roxas answered happily. "I slept fine last night. The bed smelled so good I could sleep comfortably!"

Axel blushed a bit while Yuffie giggled. "That's Axel's bed, for your information~!" She nudged the lanky man's rib teasingly. "Axey, the new kid has taken a fancy to your scent already~!"

"Yuffie, shut up!" Axel shouted, trying to smack the naughty girl but the latter had already gone out from the tent while giggling like mad, but the blush on his face was deepened. Roxas blushed too even not as red as the redhead. "Uh, just… don't mind that little devil…. Let's go get breakfast."

"…yeah!" Roxas immediately got up and both of them went out from the tent together. Roxas inhaled the fresh morning air deeply before let it go with wide smile. The sky still bluish grey, and the sun still hid in the east. The cool wind blew Roxas' spiky hair, making it ruffled a bit. It was still quiet, but the hall was already half-empty from the kiosks. The bazaar had ended, and Roxas still hadn't enjoyed it yet. The blond boy slumped a bit.

"Don't worry, there are still many similar, if not bigger, events in other places," Axel tapped his shoulder, reminding Roxas about his presence. "That's why we have to be fast and go to other town if you want to get to another experience with such events!"

"How-how do you know I'm disappointed because of that?" Roxas looked at the taller man disbelivingly. Axel laughed.

"The way you gazed at the half-empty hall and then sulked like a little kid," he answered with amusement. Roxas blushed. "C'mon, Xaldin's heavenly food have called for us!" Suddenly, Roxas could smell delicious aroma from the dining tent. Axel laughed again when the smaller boy's stomach growled to the smell. "See?"

"Uh, o-okay…," Roxas answered, embarassed. He looked at his surroundings while they walked into the dining tent. "Where are the other tents, though?"

"We have tidied them while you're asleep before," the redhead answered. "That way we can immediately go to our next destination. Right now, I think Lexaeus, Demyx, and Luxord are taking care of my tent."

"Sorry…," Roxas said with blush on his cheeks. "I slowed down you guys…."

"That's okay, really!" Axel smacked the blond's back a bit hard. "Since you're the new fellow and whatnot!"

"Roxas! How are you?" Aerith immediately approached Roxas when they got into the dining tent. Almost all the caravan's members were here, eating and talking to each other. Roxas didn't find Xemnas or Saïx, though. He blushed when he saw Naminé waved at him and Axel from one of the table. "I heard you were attacked by the Heartless last night…."

"I'm okay, Aerith…," Roxas smiled assuringly to the brunette woman. "Besides, I got a great sleep last night!"

"That's good to hear!" Aerith beamed, and pulled Roxas to sit next to the blonde girl. "Now, you have to eat!" She walked away to get some food for Roxas.

"Good morning, Roxas," Naminé greeted the boy sweetly as Axel sat on her other side. "Have a good night sleep?"

"Yes," Roxas nodded, glad to see such pretty girl in the morning. "How about you?"

"Pleasant," the blonde girl smiled. "Has Axel given you the charm?"

"Huh? Oh, y-yes, he has."

"Good. Xion made it straightly after you're attacked by Heartless last night. She was really sorry to forget giving the charm to you."

'Is that why she apologized to me last night?' Roxas thought. 'But… how does she make such impressive charm? Does she have some special power? I never found something like that charm from Master Ansem's books, and his books are century aged….'

"Roxas?" Naminé called said boy from his reverie.

"Uh, nothing," Roxas forced a strained smile. "Thanks for the charm! Where is she, though?"

"She is helping Xaldin taking care of the horses," Naminé replied. "We will go through long journey, the horses have to be prepared."

"I see…," Roxas nodded. Suddenly, a plate that (over) stuffed with food was placed in front of him. The blond boy gaped. "Wha…?"

"You have to eat much to gain more energy!" Aerith said from his other side. "Now, eat up all the food, or I won't let you go anywhere!"

"B-but, this is too much!" Roxas eyed the food mountain in front of him with disbelieve stare. How could he finish that much?

"C'mon, Lexaeus can finish more than this!" Aerith demanded the poor blond. "You're too skinny, Roxas, you have to gain more fat to your body!"

"Just follow her want, Roxas," Naminé whispered. "She is really fussy in health-related things; but that means she cares about you."

"O-okay…," Roxas still had his eyes glued onto the pile in front of him. But this was still too much!

"Well, I think I will go helping others while you eat all of this," Axel stood from his seat. He winked at Roxas. "Happy eating, Rox."

He laughed when he heard Roxas groaned as Naminé cheered him, then walked out from the dining tent. He looked around for a while, then decided to help Zexion stacked cooking utensils into one of the carriage.

"How is he?" was Zexion's immediate question when Axel was in speaking radius with him. Axel took a huge iron pot from the ground and handed it to the slate-haired man so he didn't have to get down from the carriage.

"Great," the redhead answered dryly. He put down a box contain of small cooking utensils on the carriage, and Zexion drew it deeper into the carriage.

"Nothing suspicious?" the shorter man asked curiously. Axel shrugged.

"If being too innocent can be count as that," he said as he handed a bigger and heavier box to the other man. "He acts like he never sees outside world, and stuttered like he never talks to other people." Axel stared at a large sack of potatoes, thinking. "…it's like he was trapped inside a room without other people and never got out before."

"But he said he is an orphan," Zexion said, taking over the sack and putting it inside the carriage. "Who would do that to him?"

"Who knows?" Axel leaned against the wooden material of the carriage. "He still doesn't trust us. Understandable, since we just met him yesterday. We can't push him too much now; we don't have that right."

"You're right," Zexion nodded as he jumped out from the carriage, landing right next to Axel. He looked up to the taller man – his height just on Axel's chin. "And how about Xemnas?"

"What about him?" Axel questioned back.

"How if Xemnas does not approve him to be one of us?" the slate haired man asked. "We can't let a Keyblade wielder like him strays alone."

"Well, I won't let it happen," Axel said, determinated. "It's too dangerous for an innocent boy like him. Besides, I think he will be the key for our freedom."

"True," Zexion nodded. "But… I think Xemnas felt something about him as well. He never let other people easily in our caravan like that. The risk that our true identity discovered is too high."

"No, I won't let Xemnas use him," the lanky man shook his head firmly. He looked at the shorter man's indigo eyes. "He is too special to be used by that man."

"What?" Zexion smirked, amused. "I feel a sudden attachment to our new comrade. Am I wrong?"

"I just don't want his innocence being corrupted," Axel scratched his head.

'If only there were person thought the same about me few years ago…,' Zexion thought bitterly. 'And if I had enough courage to hold the innocence he once held…. Everything would not turn like this….'

But Zexion still realized Axel never said 'no'.

"Sora! Sora, wake up!"

The young prince groaned as the warm blanket was taken away from his curled body. He tried to take back the warmth and reached the blanket, but the amused raven guardian held it far from him. Sora wasn't a morning person – no matter how many trainings he had been through – and it was rather entertaining to see the prince waving his hands weakly to reach the blanket with still closed eyes.

"Gimme a few minutes…," Sora mumbled lazily as a pillow still covering half of his face. The night before he complained endlessly about the pillow being reeked of musty stench, but now he prefer to hold the pillow closer to his face so the light from opened window didn't reach his eyes.

"C'mon, being out from the castle doesn't mean you can be sleep in, you lazy prince!" Zack laughed. He grabbed Sora's portruding hand and pulled it so the boy sat on the bed, earning a surprised squeak from said boy. "Cheer, my Prince!"

"Shut up, you fool!" Sora threw the musty pillow in his hand right at his guardian's face, and this time it's his time to laugh when Zack fell on his back from the surprise attack. "That's for waking me rudely!" He looked around. "Where's Cloud?"

"He got out early to watch the caravan," Zack threw the pillow – which smelled like Sora now, which was more pleasant than musty stench – toward his own already made up bed. Last night they searched for an inn to stay that night, and they found this small, simple inn but the nearest from the hall. Sora was complaining all the time about the small room, creaking wooden floor, uncomfortable bed, to the cold shower, but after Cloud told him about his experience sleeping in a jungle, Sora shut up. Afterall, all this time Sora always got number one service, so this extreme decrease in service made him whine a lot. "Please get ready, and we can get some breakfast for you downstairs."

"Okay…," Sora grumbled when he remembered the shower – no bath! Could you imagine that? was Sora's complain when he found out – had no warm water. Oh well, at least he still could take a shower….

After got ready, the prince and his guardian went out from their room on the second floor in the inn – where all rooms were – and got down to the first floor where the eating place was located. There are not many people there since it was still early, and just a few round wooden tables in that room that occupied. Sora and Zack sat on a table in the corner.

"So, we are going to follow the caravan after this?" the guardian spoke up after the waiter gave them their food. Sora bit a bread without any complaining – the prince never complained about food, anyway – then looked at the raven. "Even if they go out from Twilight Kingdom territory? When will we get Roxas back?"

"Well…," Sora hadn't thought about this. He just wanted to give some time for both of them, but he never thought when he would take Roxas back to the castle. It would be the day when his existence would be erased – the same like he died. So, thought about that would be the same as thinking about his death. "We'll see. But… if they are about to go out from our territory, that's the time we step in." Eventhough Sora was dying to see the outside from Twilight Kingdom.

"Okay," Zack nodded. "But it'll take long time, though. I heard the caravan go from one town to other, and Twilight Kingdom has hundreds towns."

"Well−"

Sora didn't continue his sentences when his cerulean eyes caught something on the front desk where they ordered food and checked in for a night. There, between a large wooden desk and a few empty glasses, the inn owner – a middle aged man with scary muscular body – and him were talking in low voice. Yes, him. Sora couldn't be wrong to those silvery strands and aquamarine sharp eyes. He spent almost the entire time observing the silverette on the play yesterday.

"Isn't that the prince player yesterday?" Zack narrowed his eyes, following Sora's gaze. "If I'm not wrong, his name is Riku."

"How do you know?" Sora asked, surprised, but his eyes still fixed onto those moving pink lips. Oops, it seemed Sora had stared at a could-turn-into-dangerous-object-if-seen-too-long thing. Zack snickered.

"All females around us yesterday kept screaming Riku whenever he was on the stage," he explained. "So I think it's his name. Don't you realize it?" He smirked teasingly. "Oh, I know, you were too busy staring at him to realize your surroundings!"

Sora threw his bread toward the older man's chest with visible blush on his cheeks while Zack laughed hard. "I command you to shut up!" he demanded firmly, but his authrority was less controlling with heavy blush on his cheeks. He was about to avert his gaze from the silverette – Riku, Sora noted – when said teen took out an envelope from his cloak and gave it to the inn owner. Sora was really curious now; what's in that envelope?

After giving the envelope, Riku nodded to the older man, and went out from the inn straightly with fast movement. A moment later, from the same door where Riku went before, a familiar blond man entered the room. His turquoise-blue eyes recognized his prince and comrade immediately and he approached them.

"Hey, Cloud," Zack greeted. "What's the hurry?"

"They are leaving this city," Cloud informed without replying Zack's greet. "We're better hurry as well."

"Okay," Sora nodded. "I'm finished eating anyway."

Zack paid for their food and the stay, while Sora and Cloud waited outside, where a large caravan moving out from the city's gate. Cloud brought Sora to the inn's front, where three horses tied on a wooden pole. One of it was bright white, when the other two were jet black.

"Donald!" Sora exclaimed as he approached the white horse. Cloud still didn't understand why Sora gave such name to a horse, but oh well… his Prince's taste could never be explained anyway. "When did you get him?"

"This morning, as well as Fenrir and Fair," Cloud answered as he waved to his and Zack's horse. "I thought we will in a journey if we want to follow Roxas, so I got our horses since we won't manage to follow a caravan with feet."

"Great!" Sora hugged Donald happily and stroked its neck gently. Cloud smiled seeing him, but an event that morning was back into his mind.

When he was watching Kingdom Hearts caravan and its occupants from behind a wall, he felt someone watching him, and once again his eyes encountered a pair of stormy grey eyes not so far from him.

'That was the guy from last night,' Cloud thought. 'Why does he always stare at me like that? His eyes are so… intense, and cold. It's unnerving being stared by him. Who is he exactly?'

"Cloud?" Zack's voice snapped him from his thought. He didn't realize that Zack had stood near him and Sora had already on Donald's back, ready to go anytime. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Cloud shook his head, then walked to his own horse. "Let's go, so we won't be left too far behind."

Zack nodded, and he climbed Fair, his horse. Once all of them were ready, they went out from the city, ready for the new journey.

'Let's enjoy this, Roxas…. Our first, and last journey together! Although I'm not on your side right now, but I always watch you now I know where are you. Let this be our best memory before we go to our prison!''

"Xemnas doesn't test me first?"

Roxas looked at his side, where Xion and Naminé were sitting next to him on top of rather large wooden chests. There were many various size chests in this carriage and it was a bit stuffy, but at least he could sit comfortably on top of a chest. Besides, he was in this carriage with Naminé, so he couldn't complain.

"Uh, I think…," Naminé glanced at the girl next to her – who was silent all the time since their departure. "We have to go out from this town first. You know… it's the best to get away from lurking Heartless as fast as possible…."

They never knew Xemnas' true reason why he wanted to move that soon.

Roxas nodded, understanding, then he leaned onto carriage's shaking wall. The sound of horse's footpaces were heard, but not only from the front where the horses dragged this carriage, but also from behind. Apparently Kingdom Hearts Caravan was consisted of six large carriage, each of them was tracked by two horses and driven by one person while one person or a few people settled inside the carriage to prevent someone got into the carriage and stole something.

"At least you're still with us until next town!" Naminé smiled brightly. "Or maybe Xemnas has claimed you as one of us!"

"Uh… re-really?" Roxas asked, not believing while a blush crept on his face. Naminé was indeed very pretty…. Roxas was grateful it was a bit dark inside the carriage so the two other girls couldn't see his blushing face. "Where is our next destination?" he asked, changing the topic before his face went redder.

"Olympus Coliseum," Xion answered, finally speaking up. She still didn't reply the stares from her companions, though. "The city where all the heroes come to test their strength in the Coliseum."

"Coliseum?" Roxas asked, happy that Xion started speaking to him. Since last night, Xion hadn't talked to him again, and it makes him… sad. Xion was the first person he met, aside from Axel and Demyx. Xion nodded.

"Yes, it's the place where all heroes fight each other, to find who is the strongest," she explained. "The winner will get the fame and their name will be known through the world. Right now, the owner of the strongest hero title is Hercules."

"Wow…," Roxas nodded his head unconsciously, amazed. The strongest hero? He wondered what kind the person was to hold that title…. "He must be really strong…."

"Well, I think the true hero is not just about strength," Naminé shrugged. She smiled softly, her pale blue eyes stared to the wooden wall of the carriage dreamily. "The true hero must have a heart of golden and protect them who need help…."

Roxas quickly noted it inside his mind and swore he would never forget Naminé's criteria of a hero. Who knew, someday he could become that kind of hero and then Naminé will−

"Hey, continue your chit-chat outside, would you?" a head with spiky red hair poked from between a large, thick jute fabric that covered the inside of the carriage from outside. "We're getting a rest now."

"About time!" Naminé squealed happily. She got up while Axel opened the curtain widely, letting the sun rays seeped into the shady carriage. Roxas narrowed his eyes a bit. He didn't realize when the carriage had stopped moving. "I feel a bit sore sitting on top a shaking hard chests for hours!"

"I saw you having fun in there just now," Axel snorted as he helped the petite girl jumped down from the carriage. Roxas felt a bit tug in his chest when he saw Axel's hand wrapped around Naminé's small one, but he tried to ignore it. "We're waiting for you to get out, you know. You didn't even realize we had stopped moving."

"Uh, well," Naminé blushed, then stuck her tongue toward Axel playfully. "Mind your own business!" And then she ran toward where Aerith and Yuffie arranged cooking utensils near a carriage, where Demyx and Zexion got the ingredient from inside it.

"Girls," Axel shrugged as he helped Xion as well.

"Hey, I'm here!" Xion pouted. "Don't think you boys are better than us!"

"…girls," Axel repeated when the raven girl ran to same direction with Naminé, leaving him alone with a chuckling Roxas there. He stared at the blond boy for a moment, then he offered his hand. "C'mon."

Roxas, not knowing why he was blushing, accepted the hand and got down from the carriage. He looked up at his comrade.

"Is Olympus Coliseum still far away?" he asked.

"Uhmm… not really," Axel answered. "Give it two or three more hours and you get there. Not so far from Destiny Capital, apparently."

"Oh," Roxas nodded, then looked around him. They had stopped in the middle of wide grassy land, with a few trees and bushes here and there. The women (plus Xaldin) was cooking under a huge tree, while the carriages was set near them. The horses were eating the grass around them, with Luxord watching them and giving them drink. It was really sunny, and the wind blew softly, giving Roxas a new smell he never knew before; wild flower mixed with dry grass and sun scent – somehow it felt like the scent of freedom. He was so happy his heart could stopped from this. "Oh my…."

"The first time in a clear, spacious field?" Axel grinned. "Yeah, it gives you a feeling of… I don't know, freedom? Since nothing blocks your vision up, and it feels like… relieving." He glanced at the shorter boy next to him. "When you're usually inside a closed room or something like that."

Roxas stiffened. How did Axel know? No, it's impossible; Axel must be just saying. It's impossible that Axel was talking about him, wasn't it?

"It is sad to live like that…," Roxas said, trying hard to be normal. At least, he hoped Axel heard him normal. "Could not see such beautiful scene like this…."

'He doesn't trust me yet,' Axel sighed silently. 'Understandable, but… I hope he trust me soon. So I can protect him from Xemnas….'

"Umm… Axel?" Roxas called, nervous tone in his voice. Axel looked at him. The boy blushed. "I… I just want to say… uh… your performance last night… it was really amazing…."

Jade eyes widened, then a blush crept onto those tatt00-ed cheeks. To hide his embarrassment, Axel scratched his back head harshly. "…thanks."

It was only a compliment. Many people complimented him for his playing – in acting or music playing – so why Roxas' compliment made him so… happy?

"Axel! Roxas!" Demyx waved from his place, right in front of where Xaldin was cooking something; making both males sighed in relief since it broke the awkward silence between them. "Come here! Zexion has eyeing the food all the time! You won't get anything if you don't hurry!"

"I'm not eyeing anything, Demyx," Zexion said calmly. It earned a pout from Demyx and a rather long speech about how Zexion was really lacking in humorous department and it affected said man's height, and a thick book placed rather hard on Demyx head later. Axel chuckled softly.

"Those two…," he shook his head, amused. "Always like that. Very close."

"Really?" Roxas turned toward the redhead, curious. He didn't see that, though. Well, he couldn't say he was good in reading people's behavior, since he almost never communicated with anyone aside from Sora and Ansem before.

Axel nodded. "I think they love each other." Roxas gasped.

"But… how can that be happened?" he asked, disebelief in his tone. "Both of them are male! Same genders can't love each other!" 'Or that's what I read from books.'

"Why not?" Axel snorted. Such old, narrow thinking. He hated it. "Everyone can love anybody. We love someone because of the person, not their gender. It's sad if we can't love the person we truly love just because they have the same gender like us, right?"

"I… I don't know…," Roxas drooped his head, sad. "…besides, I don't know what is love, actually…. I just read from the books that male and female will fall in love to each other, and spend all their time together until death do them apart…."

"You… never love someone?" Axel, somehow wasn't too surprised. He already guessed Roxas lived in some kind of closed chamber before, and it's normal that he never loved someone, or knew nothing about it. Nonetheless, this made him more interested toward the blond boy. "Well… it's hard to explain…. I just can say that when you love someone, you will make the person you love is more important than others, or even youself."

"Really…?" 'But I never claim myself as 'important'…. Everyone is more important than me…. That's what I think all this time, since Father erased my existence….'

"You'll know someday," Axel smiled gently, those emerald eyes peered into Roxas' cerulean ones – hypnotizing Roxas with its intensity but also its tenderness…. Roxas almost said he could find love there. He didn't know; he just felt it. But it was impossible – why did Axel want to look at him with love? Yes, Roxas must be wrong.

"Axel! Roxas! C'mon, come here!" Demyx voice broke the serenity between them, and after a reverberating smiles, they quickly got to where the other were. Realizing that he was amazed by Axel's eyes, Roxas blushed furiously but didn't say anything when Aerith asked him about it.

Roxas was still confused and didn't understand what he felt toward both Naminé and Axel….

"Olympus Coliseum?"

Sora and Cloud turned their heads hearing that reluctant groan. It was strange, to find the usually cheerful raven haired guardian being slumped on his jet black horse. The deep frown and upside-down smile on said man's face increased the other two's worry. Sora stopped his horse from walking and turned to Zack's side; commanding his horse to stay on their spot, right in front of a giant stony gate where many people went in and out of it, followed by Cloud.

The gate to the huge city of Olympus Coliseum; a well-known city near Destiny Capital in Twilight Kingdom; almost everyone knew about this city's tales, from the Coliseum where every heroes from around the world come and compete there to get the 'Strongest Hero' title, the greatest temples for worshipping the God, and even the heroism story from this city. It was said, once upon a time, Twilight Kingdom was attacked by some powerful insurgents and was almost destoyed and taken over, but with the heroes of Olympus Coliseum's bravery and power, they could take down all the enemies. Many strong people were born and trained here. The Soldiers in Destiny Capital were mostly come from this city as well. But, the city was famous for its mystical architectural design as well, since it was said that once God come to this city to give a bless for the heroes so they could fight for protecting said kingdom. Sora only heard it all these times, but now, when he saw two giant states of great heroes in their armors, he knew the stories were true.

"What's wrong, Zack?" the brunette prince asked his guardian, worried. Zack was rarely behaving like this. Usually, he was like this when these three things were happened: Cloud wasn't around him, no food for him, or when someone talk or ask him about his hometown. Which it meant…. Sora gasped in realization. "This is your hometown?"

Zack grumbled incoherently, but Cloud kindly translated it to the confused teen by nodding slowly. Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, Zack…," he said carefully. "I've never really known why you hate your hometown so much…. Well, hate to talk about it, at least."

"Well, Sora…," Zack sighed as he scratched his back head. "It's just…. How I say it…."

"You don't have to tell me if you can't," Sora shrugged. "But I'll be waiting for your story, so you can tell me whenever you want."

"It's nothing important," Zack shook his head. "It's just…."

"He is too stubborn to admit something," Cloud finished his comrade's sentences calmly. The raven man glared at his direction, but he ignored it. "It's really an unimportant story, Sora."

"So, Cloud knows about it?" Sora exclaimed while staring at his oldest companion unbelievingly. "How he knows it when I don't?"

"Because he can shut his mouth," the older guardian grinned mockingly. "While you would have been spread all of my words through the castle; Roxas and Kairi being the first to know."

Sora blushed; angry and embarrasssed but couldn't say anything since it was a truth. He did tell everyone what he heard – not all, though! Well, but he indeed couldn't keep anything from Roxas…. But Roxas was his twin! It's normal to tell him everything! And Kairi… well, Kairi was always with him, and Sora couldn't shut his mouth for only a minute, so….

"L-let's move!" Sora said with a pout, trying to hide his embarrassement. He commanded Donald to walk toward the entrance gate without waiting his guardians' response. The older men glanced at each other, smiled amusedly, then followed their prince.

"I'll tell you later, Sora," Zack said when they reached the brunette. "When the time is right."

"Whatever," Sora snorted, trying to make him looked careless by a shrug, but a small smile on his lips revealing everything. "Let's go, we have to know where Roxas is."

"Okay Sir," the raven Soldier grinned then drew out his hand to ruffle the brunette hair. Ignoring pouty protests, Zack got down from his Fair right in front of the gate. "We can walk and lead our horses from here. It's rather impolite to walk around in the town on a horse."

"Lead us, then," Sora followed Zack's suggestion and got down from his horse as well. "You know the city better than us."

"Will do," Zack grinned widely. Though he seemed reluctant at the first, now his deep blue eyes glinted with excitement. "Welcome to Olympus Coliseum, the City of Heroes!"

Roxas gaped at the sight before him.

He was standing at the center of a huge spacious hall with stony ground, arranged well shaping a neat rows of gray bricks. Many people walked around him, crowding the hall with their bodies and voices, but that didn't prevent Roxas to get the scene around him. A great statue of a naked man was on the corner of the spacious ground, in front of a large and long building. Next to it was a huge building with big pillars kept the marble building on top of high stairs. Everything was really great, giving an aura of mightiness, and really different from Destiny Capital. The central capital was artistic, crowdy, and somewhat arrogant, and this city was really artistic and arrogant as well, but… something made Roxas think that this city had a different arrogance from his hometown. Destiny Capital was arrogant by its authority, while this city… was arrogant by its mightiness.

But the one made Roxas gaping was the giant building in front of the boy; a giant building created from stone-like material standing there with its graciousness. The building had four stories (from Roxas' perception by its window row's amount) and had oval shape. Arches decorated the outer wall of the building, but another wall inside the building prevented anyone to see the inside of the building. Many people went in and out the building and many noises could be heard from the huge stonework building.

"Amazed?"

Roxas turned his head and found grinning young man beside him. The blond boy smiled to the man and nodded as the answer for the prior question. "This city is really great. I can almost feel the great aura of mightiness."

"That's Olympus Coliseum for you," Demyx shrugged. "This is the first time I'm here too. Looks like this city is famous by its Coliseum." He frowned. "…I don't really like this city."

"Why?" Roxas startled. He really liked this city! Why didn't Demyx? "This is your first time here, right?"

"Yeah, but…," Demyx scratched his dirty blond hair. "You haven't known the real reason of why Coliseum was founded, have you?"

"Uhh… no…?" the younger teen said, hesitant. "Why…?"

"Demyx! Roxas! Help us here please!" Luxord's voice stopped their conversation. "We have to build the tent here so we can sleep tonight."

"Can we build it here?" Demyx asked. "It seems this is the central of the city…."

"It's alright," another voice answered Demyx' question. Saïx approached them. "I have got the permission from the Senator." Getting quizzical stare from the blond boy, Saïx continued. "The ruler of this city."

"I see…," Roxas nodded. So they called their ruler with different name here….

"By the way, Roxas," the blue haired man called. The golden eyes gazed at him with judging look. "After the preparation of the stage and tents are finished, we ready to see your performance."

Roxas' heart throbbed. That's right, Xemnas hadn't seen him playing yet. How if he didn't like Roxas' playing then threw him alone in this unfamiliar place…? Even he was planning to go alone before, but now, after making so many friends and being with them for a while, the blond teen didn't want to separate from them….

"A-alright…," he nodded weakly, nervous and fear being rejected. Saïx raised an eyebrow seeing Roxas' sudden down state, but didn't say anything about it. He called for Aerith and Yuffie instead.

"Bring Roxas with you," he commanded when the two girls approached him. Yuffie squealed happily while Aerith frowned.

"Is it okay?" she asked while Yuffie strangled the poor blond tightly. "He is still unfamiliar with this place…. You know how this place is…."

"It's okay," the scarred man nodded. "As long as you keep him with you, it supposed to be alright."

"…okay," Aerith nodded, then turned to the two teens. "C'mon, you two! If we don't hurry, the market will be closed!"

"Market?" Roxas looked at the raven girl. "What market?"

"We are shopping, Roxy~!" Yuffie said as she dragged the smaller boy while Aerith walked in front of him toward a small street between the large buildings with many people there. "We have to eat, remember? And now you have to help us shopping~!"

"How Aerith knows the market is?" Roxas asked, feeling difficult to walk while many people pressed onto him – why was this place so crowdy anyway?

"We have been here a few times," Yuffie answered loudly, trying to beat the noise around them. The street was much smaller now, but the amount of people didn't decrease. "Don't let go of my hand!"

But of course right after she said that, Roxas was tripped on something – seemed someone's foot – and fell to the hard surface below him. People passed him by, not caring at all even there was a red spot on his white knickerbockers right on his left knee. Yuffied couldn't be seen anywhere – most likely was brought by the human flow. After someone's bark about him blocking up the way, Roxas hurriedly stood up while ignoring the pain on his knee. He looked at his surroundings; not knowing what to do or even where he was exactly.

'God, I'm lost now…,' he said mentally, panic. People passed by around him, pushing him around until he stumbled into a smaller alley where no one there. 'Where am I…?'

Roxas walked into the dark alley, feeling alone. It was a bit cold while the other part of the city was warm. Maybe because of the amount of the people out there. This alley was really quiet; like a different world from the central of city. A few wooden doors was on the brownish, dirty wall on both of his side. It was really narrow there, and a few fabrics hung on a rope above didn't help the lighting there. Roxas could smell moss scent here – the wall and road was damp being never touched by the sunlight. He couldn't help but thought the greatness of the city was only on the surface, while under it was laid the bitter truth….

"No… please don't…."

The small, choked plea reached Roxas' ears easily since it was really quiet here. Driven by instinct, Roxas immediately ran toward the strangled voice – as fast as he could through the sinuous small alley and slippery ground – and finally found the source of the voice. Azure blue eyes widened in horror seeing the scene in front of him.

It was similar with the day he attacked Sora – thick, red liquid everywhere, staining the mossy ground. On the middle of the pool of blood, a small body laid there, limp and weak, almost shapeless with many wounds and blood oozing from there. Roxas almost vomitted – the moss smell that mixed with tangy and rancid smell was overwhelming.

"Mom…," the cracked voice whispered as a blood covered hand raised, trying to reach another figure there. A woman in her middle age, was kneeling next to the agonizing body, panted and disheveled. A knife loosely on her hand, covered with fresh blood. "Mom…."

"SHUT UP!" the woman screamed with screechy voice, stabbing a part of the body in front of her harshly in the process, repeating it a few more times until the hand fell limply to indicate the body was completely lifeless now. Roxas could feel bitterness in his mouth while he knew where the woman stabbed before – right on the child's face. He knew it even it was utterly covered by blood – a small reddish white ball was planted on the knife could be ssen by him.

"Why…?" Roxas said in low voice, shaking and feeling very weak. He couldn't move his body at all and it felt so cold. It was really… terrifying. "Why did you kill your own child…?"

The woman, now recognizing Roxas' presence, turned her head harshly toward the boy. Her face was wet with sweat, her raven hair was unruly, and her light brown eyes impaled into Roxas' azure ones with great hate and anger. She slowly stood up, drooping the knife in her hand to the ground below her.

"Who are you…?" she said slowly. Her voice was cracked, weak, and shaky. It was really sad to see something like this – Roxas didn't know something like this. Inside his cage in the Twilight Castle, Roxas only knew good things from the books Ansem brought him – human needed each other to live, making a family, men and women loved each other, women raised their children caringly…. Then why was something like this happened…? "What do you understand…?"

"Eh…?" Roxas stepped back when the woman approached him slowly with unsettled steps. "W-what…?"

"How do you understand my sufferings?" the woman yelled, tears leaking out swiftly from her redden eyes. "How do you understand to have a cursed child like me?"

"W-what do you…"

"It is as cursed as its father!" she cut Roxas' words – or rather she didn't care whatever the blond's saying. "I suffer just seeing at it!"

"Ma'am, I−"

"I don't care," she shook her head rapidly. She smirked with unstable grin toward the unexpecting teen. "I won't make this damnation suffer me anymore…."

"P-please, Ma'am, I don't understand−"

"GUARDS! THERE IS A KILLER HERE!"

Roxas was taken aback by the sudden outburst. He didn't realize two guards passed by behind him, but it's too late. The footsteps' noise approached them, and a finger pointed at him.

"HE KILLED MY CHILD!"