A/N: T-T Have your tissues ready, cuz this chapter is the last chapter of the days plot in this story. I seriously did cry, but only after I went back and reread this! Yeah…So, songs used in this, I don't own, but Naraku no Hana lyrics have been made to fit this story, so they belong to me. This chapter is another long one :D, but who cares? So, prepare your tissues, and enjoy!
"Explain yourselves, both of you." Saix demanded, glaring at Hope and Axel as they stood in the Grey Area with Saix and Xigbar.
"We didn't let her go. The old man needs to get his eyes checked. Anyway, she wasn't taking no for an answer." Axel explained.
"I'll give them that. Can't toss the blame around when I couldn't stop her either." Xigbar stated.
Hope looked up from the floor just in time to see Roxas walk over to them, catching everyone's attention. "And now we're left with the one we can't use…" Saix spoke quietly, exasperated by the whole situation. He immediately turned and left.
Roxas frowned after him before turning to look at Axel and Hope. "What was that all about? Where's Xion?"
Xigbar began to chuckle. "She flew the coop. Flamesilocks and Little Princess here couldn't trouble themselves to clip her wings."
Hope and Axel both turned their gazes to the ground guiltily, silence coming from them. "….."
"Axel, he's kidding, right?"
Hope looked back up, and gave Roxas a sad look as he stared up at Axel. "….."
"As if. Your friends sat there sucking there thumbs while Xion walked right off….I'm going back to my room." Xigbar mumbled, leaving only Hope, Roxas, and Axel in the room.
"What happened out there?" Roxas demanded, glaring up at Axel.
"Look, nothing…." Axel mumbled softly.
"Xion's gone! How's that nothing?"
"It's just like Xigbar said. We couldn't stop her from going."
"Don't give me that! Why not?" Roxas yelled, causing Hope to mentally flinch.
Axel crossed his arms across his chest, sighing softly. "Roxas….Xion is like a mirror that reflects you."
"What?"
"The Organization made her to duplicate your powers. She's a puppet."
"Have you gone nuts? Xion's a person, not a puppet!" Roxas exclaimed, growling slightly.
"She's smoke and mirrors, Roxas. And when I looked in the mirror….It wasn't you I saw."
"You really have gone nuts! Hope, tell him that it's not true. Tell him that Xion is a person!" Roxas demanded, giving the brunette a pleading look.
Hope glanced at him, her eyes closing as saddened look appeared on her face. "I….Roxas, he's telling the truth…I'm sorry…"
Roxas's face turned into one of disappointment before it became one full of anger again. "I don't know what you two are talking about, but Xion is Xion. You can't expect her to be me."
Axel shook his head, letting out a sigh. "That's not what we mean, Roxas. It was only a matter of time before somebody had to break the mirror."
"You mean destroy her." Roxas stated. Axel looked off to the side, while Hope only stared at Roxas sadly as he yelled at them. "ANSWER ME!"
"Roxas, if somebody doesn't, you'll…You won't be you anymore."
"I'll always be me! Your best friend-just like Xion!"
Axel shook his head, letting out a frustrated sigh, "Roxas, you're….you're not seeing the bigger picture. Any of it."
"Ugh, forget this." He turned around, letting his back face Axel and Hope, and took a step forward.
"Roxas!" Axel yelled, tying to get him to come back, but he was ignored. He watched sadly as Hope ran forward, and grabbed Roxas's arm, causing him to look back at her.
The look he gave her was one of resentment, pain, and sadness. Even though he only stared back at her, it felt like she had just been stung. She let her grip on him loosen, allowing him to take his arm back and run out of the room, leaving Hope and Axel.
"Why can't you just understand…." Axel mumbled, pulling Hope into a hug as she walked to him, about ready to cry her eyes out.
Meanwhile~
Riku's theme begins~
Xion ran out of the dark portal she had made to Beasts Castle. Her blue eyes widened when she saw a familiar silver haired boy. "Riku!" She ran over and stopped in front of him.
"Did you find the right answer?" Riku asked Xion as she stood in front of him.
Xion nodded, smiling happily. "Yeah. I did. I'm on the verge of losing everything I ever cared about. I can't let that happen. Tell me what I need to do."
"Go to Twilight Town. You'll find a girl there by the name of Namine."
"Namine? What's she like?"
"You'll find out. I don't think you'll have much trouble tracking her down."
"All right. Thanks, Riku."
"Wiku, when do I get to see my momma again?" A child exclaimed, surprising Xion. Out from behind Riku popped a small child that looked somewhat familiar to Xion.
Riku sighed. "Would you mind taking him back with you? He's been staying with us in Twilight Town since I found him." Riku explained.
Xion nodded. "I don't mind. Come on, let's go little guy." Xion said, allowing the small boy to take a hold of her hand. "Good-bye…" Xion said, before she and the child walked through the portal, and left.
Day 354~Truth~
"Xion has vanished again." Xemnas spoke, his tone sounding a bit angry and frustrated.
"Do we know where she is?" Xaldin asked.
" "It", not "she". Xion is just a replica…a puppet." Xemnas corrected.
"Puppet? Someone made her?" Luxord asked, shocked by the revelation.
"Puppets don't generally make themselves." Saix scoffed.
"The Replica Program was one of our little pet projects." Xigbar explained.
"Replica whatza?" Demyx asked, confused by the whole thing.
"Perhaps you would care to enlighten us about this "pet project"." Xaldin stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
"The goal was to duplicate the Keyblade wielder's memories, and through them, his powers-thus making them our own. Vexen oversaw the project at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by his unexpected demise. And this particular Replica-the one we called Xion- came to form an identity of her own." Xemnas explained.
"That caught us off guard. If anything like that happened before, no one at C.O. ever reported it." Saix stated, glancing over at Axel. "Did they, Axel?"
Axel did not reply, and Hope only frowned, while Xemnas merely shook his head. "Fortunately, the puppet has no means of dashing our plans now, even if she has learned to pull her own strings. Still, she knows our secrets. We need to shorten her leash…And perhaps tighten it."
Hope's head shot up, her lilac orbs wide and full of fear and worry, while Roxas had a similar reaction. "You don't mean-"
"Axel, Hope," Said people looked up at Xemnas, giving him their full attention. "Seeing as how she escaped on your watch, the onus is on the both of you to capture her and return her here. I am willing to overlook a few nicks and scratches. Just ensure she still functions on arrival."
"Why would you allow a deserter back under our roof...She should be eradicated!" Xaldin stated, unpleased of how everyone was going about this.
" 'Deserter' is hardly the term for a broken specimen who wandered out from under the microscope." Saix stated.
"Axel, Hope, you have your orders. Dismissed."
The two stopped in the Grey Area, Axel opening up a portal and moving to walk in it, only to stop when Hope didn't follow him. "Hope?"
"Axel, I'm not going with you."
"But, the orders-"
"Screw the orders. Xemnas won't hurt me if I don't go. I just…I'm exhausted with all this stress. I can't stand to fight any of my friends….I'm sorry, but you have to do this yourself." With that said, she walked off, leaving him behind.
"Axel!"
Axel turned around to see Roxas stop in front of him. "I don't think Xion's safe here anymore. You're not really gonna do what Xemnas says?"
"I have to, or else I'm not safe here either."
"Well…could you at least try not to hurt her this time?"
"That's up to her. Roxas…Xion is dangerous."
"Dangerous how?"
"Have you got all your strength back?"
Roxas looked down sadly. "Not yet…How long have you two known about her?"
"….."
"You knew it all this time, and kept it from me?" Roxas asked, shocked.
Axel didn't reply, only walked through the open portal, leaving Roxas behind.
Dear diary,
The peace has come to an end at last. Xemnas sent Axel to bring Xion back again, and Roxas….I think my favorite little blonde has last his faith in us completely. The guilt is so painful…I don't know how much longer I can stay sane here…I remember when life was much better than it is now. I remember my home, before it was taken over by heartless, and before I was even taken away from there. I miss the way things used to be. I wish they would go back to how they used to be. I miss my two friends being Somebodies. I have a gut feeling there isn't any hope for Saix, but….I just know that there is a chance for Axel…I just know it. He may be a nobody now, but to me, he's still a somebody…and that's how I like to think about it. I just wish…that things could go back in time… I miss taking care of little Ienzo, teaching him about nature, and taking walks around the castle with him and Grandfather, eating Sea-salt ice-cream with the both of them. I miss being able to sit in the town square, and telling stories to the little kids, and singing to them. I miss Ienzo…and I miss Grandfather…I miss Lea, and Isa. I miss the boy that we knew as Ventus. I miss all my other friends, like Squall, Cloud, and Aerith. I miss…everything…and everyone.
I think…I was the only one that didn't turn into a nobody. All the people I was around in the castle…was turned into a nobody…and even my best friends. I remember many things. Like my mother, and her death. I remember not crying, because I knew that she was going somewhere that I would go someday, too…and that she would always be with me, inside my heart. I know I'm not alone in this empty and dark world. Because, there will always be a light, shining at the end of the tunnel.
And in my heart.
0o0o0o0o0o
Day 355~Unsaid, Unheard~
Roxas stared at the WINNER stick in his hand. "I tried, but…there's nothing left for me here. The answers are out there." He pulled the envelope he had stuffed in his pocket out and slipped the WINNER stick inside, sealing it and laying it on Axel's bed, turning and walking out of the room and downstairs, immediately met by dusks, slashing through them easily and continuing his run downstairs. He made it to the lift and took it to the very last floor, running off of it as soon as it stopped, making it to Nothing's Call, where Saix awaited him.
"We don't accept resignations." Saix said calmly, his eyes closed and arms crossed across his chest.
"I've got nothing to say to you." Roxas said, looking down at the floor sadly.
"Then let's keep this sort and sweet." Saix said, summoning his weapon and darting at Roxas.
"NO!" A bright light emitted from Roxas's pocket, and the sound of swords clashing could be heard. Roxas opened his eyes to see Hope pushing Saix back with her sword, shooting a glance over at him. "Roxas, run!"
"But-"
"Don't worry! I can handle him! Just go!"
Roxas nodded, mouthing thank you to the only one who truly seemed to care about him anymore, before running out of the castle, leaving Hope and Saix to fight.
"And to think that I was once friends with such an ignorant person…Hmph. So be it. Your fate will be sealed soon anyway. What better way to start it off by defeating you." Saix said, smirking widely and launching himself in the air, heading down towards Hope.
Always remember to look up when they jump.
Hope remembered Sephiroth's words, jumping up into the air as well, and shooting a large blast of energy at him, knocking him back to the ground. He wasn't the least bit fazed by it, and stood up easily, absorbing the moons power, going into berserk mode. "I will leave you with nothing!"
He launched at her again, coming at her full force. She nearly fell trying to block him, her arms weakening some each time she blocked him. "You're a fool, Saix. Whenever Kingdom Hearts is complete, I hope that you never get a heart!" She exclaimed, pushing him back with all her strength, her limit break already at the point. She threw Hope's Sky into the air, and jumped up with it as it became engulfed with a light purple light. "Have a load of this! ETERNAL LIGHT!" She exclaimed, slashing down on him and successfully knocking him to the floor. He got up on his knees, and put a heart to his empty chest.
"Kingdom….Hearts….Will your strength never be mine?"
Hope opened a portal and walked through it, exiting out on the dark streets of the City that Never was. She noticed Axel leaning against the wall, and walked over to him. "He's leaving…."
"…!"
Their attention turned to behind them, where they saw Roxas walking down, moving past them as if they weren't even there. Axel spoke to him. "Your minds made up?"
Roxas stopped, glancing over his shoulder at his two friends. "Why did the Keyblade choose me? I have to know."
"Roxas!" Hope exclaimed in shock.
Axel jumped away from the wall. "You can't turn on the Organization! You get on their bad side, and they'll destroy you!"
"No one would miss me." Roxas stated, earning a small gasp from Hope as she fell on her knees, staring at him as he walked away, not once turning around.
"That's not true….We would…" Axel mumbled sadly.
Thunder rumbled through the city, and it began to rain.
Day 356~Place to Belong~
Namine smile as Xion walked out of the portal, the child immediately running over to Namine, who patted his head. "Nice to meet you…Xion."
Xion's theme begins to play~
"Namine, you can see my face?"
Namine nodded, "Yes."
"Nami, when am I gonna see my momma?"
Namine smiled at the child, "She'll be here, soon…Ienzo."
Ienzo smiled happily, moving off to play in the corner with some crayons and paper, while Xion and Namine talked. Suddenly, DiZ portaled in. "Namine, they've found us! They're on their way! That blasted puppet led them right to our doorstep! See what you get for trusting it?"
The necklace with the green heart that was around Ienzo's neck glowed a little, and the child got a happy smile on his face. "Momma!" He took off, DiZ and Namine shouting for him to come back.
"I'll get rid of them and get him back!"
"No! Xion…" Namine called, but Xion was already gone, and out the door.
0o0o0o0
A portal opened up, and Axel and Hope walked out, Hope sadly frowning. "Why do we always get stuck with the icky jobs?"
"I dunno, you tell me…" Hope mumbled sadly,
"Axel…Hope…" Xion spoke sadly. She had managed to catch the little boy and send him back to Namine and DiZ, before going out to face her friends.
"Xion…What are you gonna do?" Axel asked, frustration showing on his face.
"I've decided that I have to go back to where I belong."
"Well, to be honest, I always felt that was best, right from the very beginning. But you know, it still really bugs me. Something about this just stinks." Axel stated, tightening his gloved hand into a fist.
"It's for the good of everyone."
"But how do you know that? Everybody thinks they're right…" Axel grumbled angrily.
"Calm down…" Hope mumbled.
"This is right…"
"THEY'RE GONNA DESTROY YOU!" Axel exclaimed, gasping when Xion summoned her Keyblade and got into a stance.
"Please don't hold back, Axel and Hope. Promise."
Hope's eyes began to water, and Axel turned and looked at the side, panting heavily. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?"
"Axel…" Hope mumbled worriedly.
"You both…think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm sick of it." He put a hand out in front of him and summoned a Chakram. "Go on, you just keep on running. But I'll always be there to bring you back!" With that said, he lunged at her, and the battle ensued, Hope standing on the sidelines.
"NOO!"
Axel panted heavily as he carried Xion over his shoulder, Hope right beside him. "Man…Why you always gotta…cause me trouble…"
He limped along, while Hope walked in silence next to him, her head pounding from exhaustion, caused by trying to heal some of Axel's wounds. Axel took a few more weak steps before groaning and falling forward, dropping Xion. "Axel!" Hope exclaimed, kneeling down next to him, trying to heal him some more, but proving to be useless, because the exhaustion finally caught up to her, and she passed out right next to him."
Day 357~Tears~
Xion fell to her knees as she transformed back into her normal self, Roxas holding his head in his hands. "Who are you, again? It's weird. I feel like I'm forgetting something really important."
Xion's theme begins to play~
"You'll be….better off now…Roxas." Xion said weakly, falling forward, only to have Roxas catch her, tiny bits of sparkles flying up from her body and up to the sky.
"Am I…the one who did this to you?" Roxas asked, frowning slightly at the very thought.
Xion shook her head weakly. "No…It was my choice…to go away now. Better that, than to do nothing…and let Xemnas have his way. I belong with Sora. And now, I am going back…to be with him." She reached her hand back to grasp Roxas's. "Roxas…I need you…to do me a favor. All those hearts that I've captured…Kingdom Hearts…set them free."
"Kingdom Hearts…Free them?" He frowned in confusion, before he gasped when Xion's legs were beginning to crystallize.
"It's too late…for me to undo my mistakes. But you can't let Xemnas…have Kingdom Hearts. You can't." Roxas frowned sadly. "Good-bye, Roxas. See you again. I'm glad…I got to meet you. Oh…and of course, Axel and Hope, too. You are all my best friends." She reached a hand up and put it to Roxas's cheek. "Never forget. That's the truth."
As Xion's hand fell away from his cheek, Roxas, grabbed it. "No! Xion…Who else will I have ice-cream with?" Xion was consumed by light, and once the light was gone, a single little seashell and her heart charm that Hope had made her remained, Roxas picking up both, a single tear falling down his cheek. "Xion…"
Hope gasped as the vision ended, tears forming in her eyes as she and Axel sat on his bed. "How did this happen?" Axel asked, sitting up and spying the envelope that Roxas had left, grabbing it and opening it up, pulling out stick and smiling sadly at it.
"Why…WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?" Hope screamed, sobbing uncontrollably, Axel pulling her to his chest.
"Shh….I've got you…" Axel mumbled, pressing soft kisses into her hair as he held her.
"Why….Why?"
What had any of it ever been for?
A/N: T-T *SOOOOOOBBBBB!* T-this w-as so-so sad to write! I cried! Next chapter is day 358, Believe. And believe me, it's gonna be a very important chapter. LATER TATERS!