This is going to be the second to last chapter of this story.
I know, very sad. I'm going to miss it as much as anybody else, and I couldn't be sadder to see it go. But, life must go on.
As for why the chapter took longer than usual, I had some technical issues. Everything is fixed though, I hope.
Anyways, second to last one. Let's get on with it.
When Xion entered the mansion, the foyer was empty. Sora and the others were nowhere to be seen.
Kirux wasn't there either, but that wasn't any surprise.
"Wonder where he ran off to." She said to herself, even though she already knew the answer.
...
He's definitely gone back to the Organization's world. Where else would he go?
There was a problem, though.
The corridors Xion had been using this whole time could not get into that world, at least she assumed they couldn't.
If she wanted to get in, she'd have to help out Sora and company, something she really didn't want to do.
It's not that she didn't trust Sora, she just didn't want to get in there way, that's all.
"I guess," she said to herself, "I'd better go find Sora."
...
She walked off, finding Sora and the others inside DiZ's old computer room. Sora was surprised when she entered the room.
"Xion! Are...you okay?"
She nodded, "You don't have to worry about me, Sora. I'm fine."
"What happened to Kirux?"
She looked down, "He's...he's gone."
"Any idea where he went?"
King Mickey spoke up, "Maybe he went back to the Organization's world."
"That's what I was thinking, but...I don't have any way to get there. Do you guys know a way?"
...
Sora shook his head, "No. We're trying to find a way in ourselves."
"Oh. I see."
"We would be, if we could figure out the password to this computer. Does anybody know what it possibly could be?"
"Did you guys find any clues on your journey? Anything at all?"
...
They all thought about it for a second, before Goofy spoke up, "Well, we only got this photo..."
"And the salty-sweet ice cream bar!"
"Yeah, the one Donald are up."
"It was in the box right next to the photo."
"Photo?"
King Mickey spoke up then, "Hey, that's it! Ansem the Wise loved ice cream!"
"Okay, what's the name of the flavor?"
...
'Ice cream? Photos? What are they talking about?'
'Wow, I just have missed a lot when I was looking for Kirux.'
...
"I...think I might know what it is."
Sora looked back up, "Well, what is it?"
"Try "Sea-salt ice cream". That might work."
The boy at the computer typed it in, "Hey! It worked!"
"Nice going, Xion."
She just smiled.
...
To the right, a beam of light appeared.
"Where will that take us?" She asked.
"To the alternate Twilight Town. There, we may find a way into the Organization's home world."
...
Xion had been a little confused before then, but what Sora just said made it even worse.
'Alternate Twilight Town?'
'Man, what was going on when I was out there?'
...
"We'll be here to hold down the fort."
"Say hi to Kairi."
"Will do!"
...
Xion, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey all stood around the pillar of light. In a sudden flash, they were transported away.
...
...
...
They reappeared, back in the same room. Once they all stepped out, they noticed the computer was completely destroyed and shattered.
Sora spoke, "This is the other Twilight Town."
"Roxas's Twilight Town."
...
'Wait. What?'
'Roxas's Twilight Town?'
'That's it. I give up now.'
...
"Okay, hold on." She started, "I'm so confused."
"What-," she sighed, "Goofy, you mentioned a photo earlier. Can I see it?"
He nodded, handing her the photo.
...
It was of four people, three of which were in the computer room in the other Twilight Town.
The fourth one?
Roxas.
...
Xion felt betrayed.
Why? Well, she didn't know.
Looking at that photo made her slightly angry at Roxas. What about Axel, Kirux, and her? While they were all out suffering, he was out making all new friends.
As if all that time they had all spent together meant nothing. They were all just...expendable.
...
She felt herself getting sad, which the rest of them all noticed.
"What's the matter?" Goofy had asked.
She shook her head, "It's...nothing. Do you mind...if I hold onto this?"
"Of course. You can keep it."
She nodded, putting it in her pocket, "Thank you."
"Now that that's settled," Mickey said, "We should look around. There's got to be an entrance to the dark realm somewhere."
...
They all walked off, entering an open room. In the back left corner, there was a dark orb.
"There!" Sora said, walking up to it.
"This is it." King Mickey said.
Play: Tension Rising - KH2
Just as they were going to walk in, Dusks formed behind them.
Xion immediately summoned her Keyblade, "I'll handle these guys. You guys go ahead!"
"But Xion-,"
"I'll be okay, Sora. Now go!"
Sora didn't hesitate to go through, and neither did the others.
"Alright," she said, "Let's get this over with quickly."
She ran at them, swatting them away whenever they'd get close. Dusks continued to form in the room, but they never proved any real challenge.
...
Other Nobodies appeared in the room, ones that would sink into the ground and attack from below.
To Xion, they were the most annoying of them all. She could never eliminate them fast enough, and they'd just sink down and attack.
This time though, she got lucky, and was able to take them down pretty quickly.
...
She looked around the room, but no more showed up.
Her Keyblade faded away.
"Alright. Better go catch up."
Stop: Tension Rising - KH2
Play: Organization XIII - KH2
"Axel, what were you trying to do?"
He was fading away, as Sora had mentioned earlier.
Axel put his existence on the line, just for Sora.
...
"I wanted to see my friends."
"Roxas, Xion, Kirux. They...were the only ones I liked..."
"They made me feel...like I had a heart..."
...
After he said that, she approached.
"Axel!"
She ran over, standing behind Sora.
...
He smiled up at her, "Hey there, Xion..."
Sora stepped aside, so she could kneel down next to him.
"Wha-what's happening to you?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm just...fading away. 'tis the fate of a Nobody, like me."
"Kirux isn't going to be able to save me." He laughed, but there was no humor in it.
...
"Listen, Xion. I'm-I'm sorry, for everything."
"I...wasn't a good friend. I should have been there for you...more often, like Kirux was."
He looked up at her eyes, which were filled with tears, "When you find him, tell him...the same thing."
"Axel...why?"
...
"Because...at least after I'm gone...you two would still have each other."
He smiled once again, "And...I'm okay with that..."
...
Xion wiped tears from her eyes.
She nodded, "Okay, Axel."
"I'll...let him know."
"Thank you, Xion..."
...
"Now Sora, Kairi is in the castle dungeon. All of you, go."
Axel raised his hand, opening a portal.
Xion spoke one last time, "Goodbye, Axel..."
He faded away entirely.
Axel was no more.
...
...
...
Xion struggled to hold the tears back. She felt Sora's hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Xion."
She looked back at him, "Let's just keep going."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
They all walked forward, Xion looking back on where Axel once was.
...
'I'm sorry too, Axel.'
'I wish...things could be like they were before.'
"The house is looking pretty empty, huh?"
All the members, or what was left, were in the Round Room. Xemnas, Xigbar, Luxord, Saix, and Kirux.
Kirux was silent, only looking down at his feet.
"I thought I'd get a little enjoyment watching Axel throw one last tantrum."
"He went a lot quieter than I thought."
...
That statement made Kirux gasp, "You don't mean he's-"
"Gone, boy. He's faded away. Perhaps, he was ready for it."
"Perhaps he put his existence on the line, and won what he'd been longing for."
"Wait a minute, how would that even be possible? We don't exist, remember? What you're saying goes against the laws of nature."
"Then, perhaps he bet his NON-existence. Either way, he came out a winner."
"Oh Axel. A grifter till the end."
...
Kirux couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mind was racing as the others continued to talk around him.
"That's absurd. He won nothing, and IS nothing. He couldn't stand the emptiness of being without a heart."
"And THAT led to his demise. He was foolish and weak."
Xemnas started then, "But, weakness has the power to awaken that which is dormant."
"It is clear that through his actions, however foolish they may have been, Axel has touched the hearts of both Sora and Xion."
Xigbar laughed, "They're not the only ones, right kid?"
...
Kirux shook his head, and didn't speak.
"Perhaps HE will awaken soon."
He knew Xemnas was talking about Roxas.
But his mind couldn't get off of Axel.
...
"I can't believe...he's really gone." He said quietly.
"What does it matter? I thought you hated them, the girl especially."
"I...could never hate any of them."
...
Xigbar looked at Saix, "Looks like your little bubble got burst."
Saix grunted, "Kirux. What is it that your heart truly desires?"
"To...to..."
"To be with my friends! Roxas, Axel, and Xion too!"
...
"I thought we agreed that she would be left out of this, and the first thing you make me do is attack her!"
"You've driven me away from all of the ones I care about!"
"What did you expect? It is your mistake for coming back."
Kirux looked down, "Yeah, it was."
...
He shook his head, "I'm done with this."
He disappeared.
"You better hope that final solution kicks in soon."
"In time, it will."
"Mark my words, Xion and Kirux will both be destroyed by the final solution."
The members dispersed.
Stop: Organization XIII - KH2
Play: Sacred Moon - KH2
When they exited the portal, they found themselves in a dark alley.
Xion looked up, seeing the Organization's castle way in the distance.
"You know," she said, "I never thought I'd actually come back here."
...
She looked back at the others, "There's no time to lose. Let's go."
She ran off, leaving the others behind.
"Let her go," Mickey said, "She's going to find her friend. Let's not get in her way."
"Are you sure? What if she gets hurt?"
...
Mickey looked up at Sora, "Sora, I'm sure she can handle herself just fine."
Sora was hesitant, but he agreed.
...
...
...
Meanwhile, Xion was pretty much running past every Nobody and Heartless she encountered.
She wasn't going to let them get in her way.
She was going to find Kirux, no matter what.
Stop: Sacred Moon - KH2
She reached Memory's Skyscraper in no time, where there was a figure in a black coat standing there.
She could tell it wasn't Kirux, but she couldn't figure out who it was.
...
"You've come here for Kirux, I take it?"
"I would ask if you're looking for anybody else, but we both know that you don't care about any of the others."
"You look pretty selfish, to an outsider, you know."
"Who are you to say that?"
...
The figure removed their hood.
Roxas.
...
"Roxas? What-,"
"I'm not here for you. But, since you stopped by, I thought I'd let you know that I'm still around."
"Not that you care though, am I right?"
...
"No, you're not."
"My main goal may be to find Kirux, but...that doesn't mean I didn't want to see you and Axel."
"I...missed you both. You were...my best friends."
...
"Key word: Were."
"Huh?"
"Axel isn't here anymore, and well...I won't be here much longer."
"Knowing that we were all once friends is hurting you, and you want to set things right. But that's not gonna happen."
"Because...you're too focused on helping Kirux, that you've forgotten about me and Axel."
"You betrayed us, just like Kirux betrayed us as well."
...
"Roxas, I would never betray you and Axel. Not now, and not ever."
"Yes, what you mentioned does hurt, but that hurt only helps me to remember the good things."
"One day, when it's all over, I know that we'll find a way to be together again."
"The four of us, just like before."
...
"That hurt...will only drag you down into the darkness."
"That will never happen. I won't fall to the darkness, and neither will Kirux."
She walked past him, "Our hearts together are too strong. We'll all be together again, Roxas."
"But...it all starts with finding Kirux."
...
She went to continue walking, which made Roxas angry.
"Seriously? This isn't a game, Xion!"
Play: The Other Promise - KH re:Coded
AN: Let's show re:Coded some love, why don't we. That's for you, pokeheroaadyn.
The area faded away, and they were standing on a white platform, four pillars standing along the edges.
She gasped, and then a Keyblade appeared over he shoulder.
...
"It is way past time that you learn what real hurt feels like!"
...
Roxas swung at her, as she dodged backwards.
She landed on her feet, her Keyblade appearing. She then noticed that Roxas was holding two, but she didn't let that distract her.
He ran at her, bringing both of his Keyblades downward.
...
The blades collided. Xion struggled to hold him back, but eventually threw him off.
"Why are you doing this, Roxas?!"
He didn't respond, and ran at her again. She dodged his next attacks, before attacking herself.
The outcome was the same. Neither could lay a hit on one another.
...
Until Xion knocked one of his Keyblades out of his hands, the blade falling over the edge.
Roxas still had the other one, however.
He sent Xion flying back with one hit, all the way to the edge of the arena.
...
She was barely able to stay up, as Roxas ran back towards her, his second Keyblade reappearing in his hand.
She rolled underneath when he jumped in the air, his blades slamming into the ground.
She hit him once, and then he dashed to the center of the arena.
...
"You're finished!" He yelled, and pillars of light started flashing across the arena.
They pillars were random, though, and didn't hit Xion. When Roxas landed back on the ground, she finished him off.
Stop: The Other Promise - KH re:Coded
The arena faded, and they were back in front of Memory's Skyscraper. Roxas was hunched over, defeated.
"Come on, Xion. Do it. Finish me off!"
...
She shook her head, her Keyblade fading away.
"Why won't you do it?"
"...I get it. You think if you eliminate me, Kirux won't want to see you anymore."
"I'm just like Axel, nothing...but an empty shell."
He stood up straight, pointing his Keyblade at her, "I'm not even worth the effort, is that what it is?"
"Guess there's no point in destroying something if it never truly existed."
...
"Not at all, but man. You really pack a punch."
She walked up to him, "It's like I said earlier, all of us will be together again one day."
"Besides, how could I destroy you? You're my best friend, Roxas. Friends don't do that to one another."
...
Roxas turned away, his Keyblades faded away, "You...still think of me as your friend?"
"But...what about the photo? Weren't you upset?"
"Well, yeah. I was a little. But...I probably would have done the same thing if I were you."
...
He smiled, "Then...I guess I picked a fight all for nothing."
"Now...it's time for me to go back..."
"Go back? But...where?"
"To where I truly belong. With Sora."
He looked over at her, "Don't worry about me. You'll still have Kirux, and...as long as you two are still around."
"I don't have anything to worry about."
...
"See you soon, Xion."
Roxas disappeared.
...
Xion was left on the brink.
Twice now, she's seen her best friends disappear.
First Axel, now Roxas.
Her and Kirux were the only ones left.
'He's...all I've got now.'
...
That only meant she had to find him even faster.
She ran towards the castle, just as Sora and the others arrived at the skyscraper.
She was just outside his room.
The words on the door said that it was his.
"The Soldier of Darkness."
...
Maybe, just maybe, he'd be in there.
So, she opened the door slowly.
But nothing. He wasn't there.
...
Well, there wasn't nothing in the room.
A book was sitting on his bed. His journal, the one they had given him once he first arrived.
'Maybe I'll find something in that.' She thought to herself.
She knew she probably shouldn't, but she did anyway.
She picked it up, and started to skin through it.
...
...
...
What she read was both heartbreaking, terrifying, and just...well.
It wasn't pleasant.
...
He had been suffering for so long.
The journal talked about Ansem and the countless attempts at trying to take over. Also, the days he had to go through without her, after she returned to Sora.
The worst part was the last few days, when he was under their control.
...
Here's a few examples.
"Roxas, Xion, Axel. What am I gonna do about them? They're my friends, but...they..."
"They betrayed me. They left me here alone..."
"I hate them...all of them. I hate...her the most..."
"What did she try to do to me? How could I be so weak, and fall in love with a...worthless puppet..."
The most frequent one was the worst. She could only assume it was after they had fought in front of the mansion.
Here it is.
...
"What have I done? Why? WHY?! How could I be so weak and easily manipulated?!"
"I...I attacked her. Twice! And now, she hates me."
"No...she...she could never...She's too pure..."
Xion shook her head in disbelief, but kept reading.
"She's...so much to me. I've said it so many times, but it's the truth. I would be nothing if I didn't have her."
"And now...all I've done is make her resent me, for...what I am..."
"I don't deserve to be here, in the realm of light. I...don't deserve her..."
"Somebody so pure of light deserves someone perfect. And, well...I'm anything but that..."
"Xion, if for some reason you're reading this, please."
"Stay away from me. I...don't want to hurt you anymore."
...
She stopped there, putting it back on the bed.
"I've...got to fix this." She said, and left his room.
Play: Cases of Foretellers - KH X Back Cover
She finally found him, in the Grey Area. His arm was resting on the glass as he looked out.
When she got close, he spoke, "Did you read my journal?"
"I did. And, Kirux, I...had no idea that was how you felt."
"Is...everything you wrote in that thing true?"
...
He nodded slightly, "I meant every word."
"Every confession I made, every time I talked about Ansem, every...all those words I wrote down."
"It's all true. All of it is."
...
Xion just stood there.
She had gone through pretty much all of it.
She had lost count very quickly on how many times Kirux had said he loved her.
She knew that he did, but she didn't think Kirux thought that highly about her.
He had said she was everything to him, and that he'd do anything for her.
...
"I...don't know what to say."
"Well," he started, "It's not about what you should say, it's about what you should do."
"Huh?"
He turned back towards her, "I said that...you should stay away from me."
"I'm...I'm dangerous. I've been easily manipulated because of the darkness in my heart too many times, and...I've hurt people, Xion."
"I tried to destroy you again twice. I nearly destroyed Sora. I..."
He trailed off, Xion noticing tears were falling from his eyes.
He looked down at his hands, "I'm just...a pawn of the darkness. There is no light in my heart."
"You were right, Xion. I am obsessed with it, because...it's all I am."
"So just go. Live your life, because I don't deserve to be a part of it."
...
"Kirux..."
He's doing it again. He's beating himself down.
Only this time, he was so far down, Xion didn't know if she'd be able to bring him back up.
...
'I've got to try,' she thought to herself, 'He's...all I have left.'
'I don't want to lose him. I won't lose him.'
...
"Kirux, please don't do this to yourself."
He shook his head, "You don-"
"No. I do get it."
"Kirux, I've...felt the same way about you for the longest time. Every word you wrote down, it..."
She walked up to him, "It made me feel...like I was actually wanted in this world."
He looked up at her, as she continued, "Both Axel and Roxas are gone. I...don't have anything or anyone in this world."
"Except...you. Kirux, I...I've loved you from the day we first met. And...it breaks my heart to see you do this to yourself."
...
"But I," he started, "I...destroyed you."
"And you brought me back. You walked head on into the darkness in Sora's heart, made it through, and defeated Vanitas. You did all of that...for me."
She grabbed his hands, "You've done so much, just for me, Kirux. If that doesn't show me that there is light in your heart, then...I don't know what will."
...
Kirux didn't say anything.
"Kirux?"
He remained silent, just staring down at his feet.
"Kirux, please say something."
...
After a few seconds, he responded.
Not with words, but with his actions.
He grabbed her face, and kissed her. Xion was surprised at first, but did kiss him back.
And they stayed like that for as long as either of them could remember.
...
...
...
After a while, the two of them pulled back, both breathing heavily.
"Xion..." Kirux said, between breaths, "I...don't know what to say."
She smiled, "You could start with "I love you," but that doesn't sound like you."
He shook his head, laughing.
He brushed some of her hair out of her face, "I love you, Xion."
"I love you too."
...
...
...
Eventually, the two of them broke apart.
"What are we gonna do now?" Xion asked him.
He thought about it for a second.
...
"I'm...I'm gonna do what I should have done long ago."
"And what's that?"
He looked over at her, his sword appearing in his hand, "I'm gonna take down Xemnas, and...set things right."
...
She nodded, "Alright. Let's do it."
The two of them ran off.
...
'Xemnas, or really...Xehanort.'
'He's going to pay for what he's done. Not just to me, but to my friends as well.'
...
'We will be together again.'
And done.
Just one more left...
I'll see you then.
-Broncozfan623