A/N-Sorry for the delay-ish! I meant to work on this soon but stuff got in the way. I also cut it short so I could extend a future scene. Let me know if you like the shorter/longer chapters so I can write accordingly. ATM it's all over the place. Okay, so enough of me prattling on, read and enjoy!

Xion closed the door behind her and hung her sunhat on the hanger. She flicked her hair to loosen it. The day had grown rather warm and being back in the shade of the indoors was quite the relief. She smiled to herself and went to see where her little family ended up. Xion poked her head into the doorway of the kitchen and found Roxas cutting up a menagerie of vegetables.

"Hey!" she greeted. Roxas glanced over his shoulder.

"Hey, you're home," he replied with a smile. Xion skipped over and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Of course I am! You two are too precious for me to leave alone." Roxas chuckled.

"You just don't want to clean the house by yourself."

"…okay so that's true. But Naminé does such a nice job I couldn't possibly take her chores," she replied sarcastically.

"So what did you do today?" Roxas asked, changing the subject. Xion snuggled her cheek into Roxas's back between his shoulder blades.

"Boring stuff. What did you do today?"

"Not much, but a friend of Naminé's came to visit."

"Oh?" Xion perked up and peered at Roxas's face.

"They were friends a long time ago and he's been out…traveling…so Naminé almost forgot about him."

"Well that was nice of him to stop by. I'm sure Naminé appreciated it."

"Oh, I'm sure she did."

"So I take it he left already?"

"Correct. Say, Xion, I'm going to be leaving in a few days."

"For what?" Xion let go of Roxas and sat on the island counter behind him. She swung her legs, tapping her heels on the wood.

"Someone asked me for a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Xion was growing wary.

"They want help rescuing a kid."

"That's rather noble of you."

"Yeah…anyway, after we get him out, we'll need to lay low for awhile so I might not be home right away."

"Oh. Alright then. Just don't do anything reckless or stupid. We need you to come home in one piece." Roxas set down his knife and turned to face Xion.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'll be fine."

"I'll still worry, you goofball." Roxas stepped over to her, lifted her chin, and planted a kiss on her lips.

"As will I." Xion smiled and leaned against his chest. Roxas hugged her shoulders.

"So where's Naminé?"

"Nam's up in her room. She said she wanted to be alone for awhile."

"Did her friend say anything to bother her?" Xion pressed.

"The shock of seeing him after all these years probably just spooked her. I know I would be freaked out if one of my old friends walked through the door when I thought they were dead."

"Hmm, you raise a good point. I can't say I had a lot of friends but it would be spooky to see them again." Roxas nodded thoughtfully.

"Hey Xion. How did you escape Radiant Garden, if you don't mind me asking?"

"They put me on a ship," Xion recalled.

"Was there anything about that day that stood out?"

"More than our world getting destroyed? Now that you mention it, I saw something that was a bit off but at the time I did stop to think about it. I ran by someone and their heart was…well glowing. It was weird but I don't really know how to explain it."

"When you read hearts, are there situations where they are easier to read?"

"Sure. Strong emotions usually shine through. I know Naminé isn't the best at reading hearts but even she can see those."

"She's gotten better of the years too." Xion chuckled.

"She has, hasn't she? I'll have to talk to her about it later. Say, did you want to learn how to read hearts? I know it's not conventional for someone not from Radiant Garden, but the principals are the same." Roxas let Xion go and sat on the counter next to her.

"I suppose I could give it a try."

"Great! First you need to be able to read the emotions on your own heart. What does your heart say?" Roxas pondered it for a bit.

"Content but unnerved." Xion laughed.

"Okay. Now you have to calm those emotions so you're a blank slate."

"You mean feel nothing?"

"Sort of. It's more like you push your emotions aside so another's can enter your heart."

"Got it." Roxas closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself. "Okay, now what?"

"Reach out with your heart and look for my emotions. I'll try and portray a strong one to make it easy." Roxas sat there for a good two minutes before sighing. He hadn't felt anything different.

"Sorry, Xion. I didn't feel anything," Roxas apologized.

"It's okay! Not everyone can pick it up right away and it takes awhile to get used to. Just keep trying by clearing your heart and reaching out to pick up other's emotions. You might get it one of these days." Roxas rolled his eyes.

"Key word is might." They laughed heartedly and shoved each other playfully. Then Roxas slid off the counter and returned to his work while Xion went upstairs to find Naminé. She found the blonde girl sitting in her room looking out of the window.

"Hey," Xion greeted. Naminé turned and gave Xion a light smile.

"Welcome home," she replied.

"Thanks. You missed an awesome session of me trying to teach Roxas how to read hearts." Naminé giggled.

"How did that go?"

"Didn't feel a thing. He's like a rock!" The girls burst out laughing. "So are you doing okay? Roxas said you wanted to be alone for awhile." Naminé was sitting on her window seat with her knees brought up to her chest.

"I'm doing better."

"Seeing your friend came as a shock, huh?" Naminé nodded and turned her gaze out the window again.

"It frightened me but I think I'm good now. I just wanted some time to think."

"About what?" Xion sat on the spare space on the window seat.

"Where all of this is going."

"I don't follow," Xion said with a frown. Naminé sighed.

"I guess I'm just tired of this war."

"Twelve years is a long time. Fifteen if you count when Radiant Garden was destroyed."

"Sixteen," Naminé corrected.

"Sixteen?"

"You don't remember?" Xion stared blankly back at her friend. "Oh, well, maybe it wasn't connected then."

"You need to stop overthinking so much," Xion teased, ruffling Naminé's hair. She stood and gave the blonde's shoulder a squeeze. "Don't dwell on it too much. You'll worry Roxas." Naminé sighed.

"Right…" Xion smiled softly and left Naminé alone to continue to stare out the window.

XxXxX

Roxas lay on his back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. For some reason he couldn't sleep. Tomorrow was the supposed day of the raid he was going to perform with Demyx yet Roxas couldn't help but wonder if the whole thing was a trap just to get him killed. He reached his hand towards the inky blackness above him and clenched his fingers into a fist.

"What am I doing?" he asked himself quietly. Roxas dropped his arm onto his chest and took a deep breath. He suddenly recalled Xion's pestering of trying to read hearts. Roxas had kept trying but he always fell flat.

Roxas tried to clear the emotions in his heart. 'Feel nothing, like a nobody. Then reach out. Damn it, they make it seem so easy!'

Roxas let out a huff and squirmed so his sheets were down by his waist. He took some calming breaths and tried to think about something to feel for. He remembered the wave of rouge emotions he felt when he held onto Axel's Keyblade.

'I just need to look for emotions like those. Strong ones that are easy to read.' Roxas took one last calming breath and closed his eyes.

He felt a sharp tug on his heart and a sudden feeling like he was falling through the floor. Roxas's body tensed. Then he was hit with a wave of loneliness. Roxas felt it tear at his chest and his hand clutched his shirt over his heart.

Then the feeling shifted to fear. His heart rate increased to match the others, racing with thoughts of failure or death. Roxas gasped and slapped his free hand over his mouth to stifle himself.

'Please, make it stop! It hurts!' Roxas begged his heart.

The feeling shifted to quiet. It was soft and warm, like sunlight. Roxas felt himself drifting. When he opened his eyes, he was standing on a large stained glass platform. He stepped back and tried to take in the colored shard. There was a heart in the center surrounded by seven smaller ones glowing with light. A series of sixteen circles edged the platform: eight with various symbols and eight with silhouettes.

"What is this place?" Roxas asked.

Can you protect the hearts?

Roxas heard the voice in his head even though it hadn't spoken out loud.

"You mean the Shards?"

You are the one to bind them together.

"I don't understand!"

You will. The glass shattered and Roxas was sent falling downward with the colorful shards into the darkness.

Roxas woke with a start, gasping for air. He ran a hand through his hair and found he was sweating. He steadied his breathing and gently lay back down.

"Calm down, Roxas. You're psyching yourself out." Roxas closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.

XxXxX

Roxas woke early in the morning with a pounding headache. He groaned and rolled out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom where he downed several pain relievers. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and noticed the heavy bags under his eyes and how strained his face looked. Roxas ran his fingers gently over his face.

'Shit, what did I do? I look like fuck…' Roxas rubbed his face with the palms of his hands. Then he fixed his hair and returned to his room to get changed. He settled for a blank tank top, white cargo pants, his black fingerless gloves, and a sturdy belt. He packed some minor medical supplies in his pockets and headed downstairs.

Naminé was sitting at the kitchen table when he arrived. She was quietly reading the paper while sipping a steaming mug of tea.

"You're up early," Roxas noticed. Naminé looked up from her paper.

"As are you. What gives, Roxas? You're never up at this hour," Naminé retorted. Roxas shrugged and started making himself some coffee.

"I didn't sleep well."

"You too?" Roxas turned to Naminé. She set her mug down and rubbed a finger along the rim. "I'm worried, Roxas. I…I don't know. Would I be a bad person if I asked you not to go today?" she asked, her eyes pleading to his. Roxas frowned.

"It's natural to worry, Naminé. I should be fine so long as I don't make any stupid mistakes. Then I'll be back here in a few days. Can you handle keeping the house safe until I get back?" he asked with a grin. Naminé stuck out her tongue at him.

"Of course I can! I'm just playing my role as the younger sister worrying over her older brother."

"You do a pretty good job at it." Roxas poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped it. The caffeine rushed to his head and he started feeling better.

"That's good. I would hate to get fired." The pair chuckled. Naminé rose from her seat and poked around in the fridge. "Would you like something to eat? I can make you some toast or eggs or something."

"Toast sounds great." Naminé nodded and shut the fridge. She found the bread on the counter and popped a couple of slices into the toaster. Roxas continued to sip at his coffee. "Say Naminé, do you ever have weird dreams?"

"Well, sure. Doesn't everyone?"

"I guess."

"Did something in this dream bother you?" Roxas chewed on his bottom lip. Naminé stared at the side of his head and stared at the earrings he was wearing. He had two studs and a ring in the upper cartilage and a stud with a short chain on the lobe. They were all either black or white. His other ear had a matching set. "Roxas?" Naminé pressed.

"Never mind, Nam. It was stupid. Sorry I brought it up." The toaster popped and Naminé put the toast on a small plate.

"Alright…if you say so." Roxas grabbed some jam from the fridge and smeared it on his toast. Then he dug in while Naminé watched him eat. Roxas felt a bit uncomfortable by her starting. He swallowed hard and turned to her.

"Something on my face?" he joked. Naminé shook her head and went back to the table. She picked up her paper and began to read in silence. Roxas was a bit thrown off by her sudden silence but he didn't press. He finished his breakfast and put the dishes in the sink. Then he gave Naminé a quick kiss on her temple before heading upstairs.

Roxas went to Xion's room and knocked on the door before cracking it open. Xion was fast asleep. Roxas smiled. He went over to her and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Then he headed downstairs, being careful to close the door behind him silently. Roxas went outside and stretched. He had no idea when he was going to be summoned but he wanted to be ready when he was.

His eyes snapped up as a dark portal appeared about fifty feet from the house. Roxas stood up straight and waited, his every fiber twitching for battle.

Demyx stuck his head out.

"Howdy!" he greeted with a cheesy grin. Roxas relaxed a bit but his muscles were still tense.

"Geez, Demyx, couldn't you be more discrete?" Roxas snapped. Demyx frowned.

"Be happy I came for you like this at all. Would you rather take the sky way in again?" Roxas shuddered at the memory of being blasted from the sky in a G. Ship. His side ached, giving him a second reminder.

"Let's just get going."

"Alright, no need to get your pants in a bunch." Roxas stood at attention and pounded his shoulder. His armor and swords materialized around him. Demyx's eyes went wide with wonder. "Whoa! Disney tech! That's so rad! I am SO jealous right now." Roxas grunted and walked over to the portal. He adjusted his helmet to make sure it was secure.

"Are you sure this will get us into the castle?"

"Definitely, but we have to hurry up. If Zexion is caught holding the portal open this whole thing is a bust." Roxas nodded and took a step inside the portal.

"WAIT!" Roxas turned to see Xion running out of the house, her nightgown flowing freely behind her. "Roxas!" she cried. Roxas smiled and gave her a wave. Then he stepped through the portal completely and it shut.

Xion fell to her knees and started crying. She didn't understand why since she knew he would be coming back in a few days. Naminé came running from the house and knelt next to her. She rubbed the black beauty's back gingerly.

"I don't understand!" Xion sobbed. "Why did he leave?"

"He's repaying a favor. Xion, he'll be back soon. Roxas is going to be fine."

"Then why does my heart hurt so much?" Naminé smiled softly.

"It's because you love him." Xion looked up at Naminé with teary eyes.

"Do you think…?"

"I'm sure he does. If anything were to happen to you, he would be devastated." Xion lowered her gaze to the ground. Naminé hugged her friend tightly. "Now come on. Let's get you something to eat."

Inside the dark portal, Roxas felt like he was walking through a freezer filled with spiders. The creepy crawly feeling on his skin wouldn't go away.

"How much further?" he pressed, shivering.

"Not long now. Icky, isn't it?"

"Ugh…" Roxas shuddered and rubbed his hands on his arms. Demyx chuckled.

"Tell me about it. Zexion says you get used to it but every time I step into this place I feel like I'm drowning in acid."

"That's…twisted."

"Tell me about it." Suddenly, a patch of light appeared in front of them and they hurried towards it. They leapt through and ended up in a lab. Zexion shut the portal and let out a long sigh of relief.

"You're safe," he noted. He turned to Roxas and frowned. Roxas nodded his greeting.

"Don't worry, Zex. We'll get your brother out," Demyx reassured him.

"And you're seriously okay with being branded as a traitor?!" Zexion snapped, whirling around to face Demyx. The dirty blonde shrugged.

"It was bound to happen eventually." Zexion crossed his arms and let out a long exhale. Then he turned back to Roxas.

"I see you're doing well."

"You owe me for this," Roxas stated. Zexion nodded.

"I will make sure to repay my debt, if I manage to make it out alive that is. No." Zexion shook his head. "I will repay it, one way or another. You have my word."

"I'll hold you too it."

"R-Roxas." Zexion put a hand on the soldier's shoulder. "Please, keep Ienzo safe. The things they've done him…please just get him out of here!" Roxas placed one of his own hands on top of Zexion's.

"I promise," he replied strongly. Zexion's face, tight from the stress, relaxed a bit and his eyes softened.

"You're a good person, Roxas. I won't forget this."

"Don't sell yourself short." Roxas removed Zexion's hand from his shoulder and started to follow Demyx out of the lab. Zexion stared at their backs in confusion. "Next time, don't wear the cloak!" Roxas shouted over his shoulder. "It's way too obvious!"

Zexion twitched as he realized Roxas knew he was the one there at Twilight Town that day. Then a light smile brushed against his lips.

"I'll remember that," he murmured.

A/N- Musical Muse: Radioactive-Imagine Dragons (No ownsies)