Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy with life (yeah I have a life - surprises me every time too). I try my best to get things out though...and done. Heh. Enjoy this chapter if you can!

Mei's POV-

I was running a little late to my usual meet up with Axel and Roxas. I couldn't help it since I needed to do some chores around my house for my Aunt. I ran up the stairs of the clock tower. Once nearing the top, I slowed down to a casual walk as I straightened out my cream-colored blouse.

I came out to the ledge to see my companions already there, no surprise.

"LATE!" Axel shouted at me as if he was an elementary schooler telling on me to the teacher. "YOU'RE LATE!"

"Oh be quiet," I snapped, taking a seat beside Roxas.

"Guess you don't want this then?" Axel held up a sea salt pop.

Is an ice pop really worth being nice to him…?

I mustered up my million dollar smile. "I didn't say anything, sweet sweet Axel. You're so kind and generous. We should all strive to follow in your example."

"Was that so hard?" Axel tossed the pop over.

"You have no idea," I groaned, exaggerating my displeasure.

"Shut up."

We both started to laugh with Roxas just smiling at our childish we were being.

"Why were you late today, Mei?" Roxas asked me as he took a small bite of his pop.

He probably thinks I got into some trouble today.

"I needed to finished a couple of chores before I left my house is all," I said reassuringly. "How was work for you two?" For some odd reason, Axel and Roxas both tensed up as if work was a sensitive topic. "Rough day?"

"You can say that…" Roxas started.

"Work is so tiring already. Every day seems like a hard day," Axel finished.

I leaned back on my free hand.

I suppose that's true.

The three of us joke around with one another with insults and just normal scenario jokes.

"Haha! This was great and all, but-"

I cut of Axel. "Are you breaking up with me?" I pretended to be emotionally distressed by putting my face into my hands and cracking my voice.

"It's not you. It's me." Axel said dramatically as he made his way into the clock tower. Before disappearing inside, he grinned at me. "Just kidding, it's you."

I threw my stick at his retreating figure and started cracking up with Roxas who was already trying to stifle a laugh from the start.

"You're not going with him?" I asked after calming myself down enough to properly get out a question. I wiped a tear from my eye from laughing too much.

"I'll go in a bit," he replied, leaning his elbows on his knees as he smiled at me softly.

"…"

Roxas…

"Mei? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" I flinched, straightening my back up as if I was caught doing something sinful. "Did you need something?"

"You zoned out there… Are you sure you're fine?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I didn't even notice I was out of it." I loosened up my shoulders. "I guess I was just enjoying the moment."

"That's your 'enjoying the moment' face?" I playfully punched his shoulder. "Ow!"

That didn't hurt you wuss!

"Do you have a problem with my face?"

"No. Your expressions are interesting."

I felt my face heat up.

It's getting hotter in summer now.

"T-Thank you… I think."

I stole a glance at Roxas' face as he was looking out at the eternal sunset. It was starting to get late, but the reflections of the twilight on Roxas' face just captivated me. Something about this scene gave me a tad sense of déjà vu, yet I've never had this moment with Roxas before. Maybe Roxas just reminded me of someone in my past before I moved, but I couldn't clearly remember from where.

It'll come to me eventually. It probably wasn't important if I forgot it too.

"Any big plans tomorrow, Mei?"

I tuned back into what Roxas was saying. "Oh, nothing in particular. I'm probably just going to go for a jog or something, but that will only be for thirty minutes."

"You can run for thirty minutes straight?"

"Oh gosh no, I would die. Axel and you would have to go plan my funeral. Mei, may her soul rest in peace. Died from jogging for thirty minutes straight. I can see it now."

"You're exaggerating."

I shrugged. "Probably, but it's obvious I will be taking some breaks. When will you be done with work tomorrow? Maybe we can do something."

I noticed Roxas looked a little alarmed. "Uhhh, there is no exact time really…"'

"Axel and you seem to have no probably getting here on time though, so I'm assuming you must finish before sunset."

"Well… I guess you can say that every day we have a goal to complete and if we don't complete that goal, we can't…leave work. So our end times vary."

"The company you work for seems very goal-oriented, which sounds like a good thing, but if you could get more things done in a day, I think that's more efficient than having one task a day.

"Ha ha ha… I just follow what I'm told."

"True, can't do anything about who you work for."

It was starting to get a little chilly. I stood up and Roxas followed heed.

"We've been out pretty late this time," I acknowledged as I rubbed my arms for warmth.

"Are you cold?"

I nodded. "A little, but it's nothing serious that would cause something like hypothermia. We should get going. Your family must be getting worried."

Roxas frowned. "Yeah… I'll go on ahead…"

Huh? His mood changed so suddenly. Maybe family is a touchy subject for him? That's none of my business…

"Ah, bye Roxas!" I managed to say right as he left for the stairs.

I felt my stomach contort.

Did I upset him? Ugh! Way to go Mei! Chase away all your friends while you're at it?

Despite my efforts the next day, it was just the same as any other day. Even jogging around town didn't feel different.

Am I really getting anywhere if I feel like I've been in the same place?

My mind flashed to images of the clock tower with Axel and Roxas.

I definitely feel like I can escape the cycle when I'm with them…but maybe because they're still a mystery to me… Do I want the mystery to stop?

I took a break on a bench in the town square to catch my breath.

"… Why do I feel so unsatisfied?" I leaned into the bench, hanging my head off the back so I could gaze up at the sky better.

Maybe I just miss Hayner and them…or maybe I just want to see Axel and-

"Roxas…"

"Yeah?" Said boy's face was upside-down, looking down at me. My face flushed from the embarrassment of realizing that I just called out his name.

I quickly sat up, forgetting his face was in front of mine and head-butted him in the process. I hunched over in my seat, clutching my forehead in pain. I imagine Roxas was doing the same, but crouching.

"Ugh, what was that for?"

"Sorry, Roxas. You surprised me." I took a deep breath and sat up as the pain was slowly subsiding. Roxas took a seat beside me. "I don't usually see you till later."

"I…finished work earlier."

He's making a weird face again…

I had a feeling that he was hiding something from me, but I pushed it aside because I didn't really know much about him in the first place.

I smiled at him. "I'm glad I get to spend the rest of the day with you then." He didn't reply, but he didn't have to. I wouldn't even know what to say in his position.

I managed to drag Roxas to ramen shop for lunch. Apparently this was his first time having ramen, shockingly enough. As we were eating, I couldn't help but be amused with the way Roxas' face lit up when he enjoyed something and scrunched up when he was hesitant on eating something foreign to him.

"Cute," I said out loud without meaning to. I blushed as Roxas looked up at me puzzled.

"Cute?"

"N-Nothing." I slurped some noodles.

"Hey Mei?" I nodded at him to tell him he had my attention. "Let's say you can live without having a heart somehow and someone was born without a heart. If we lack a heart, do you think we still exist?"

Again with the strange questions? You have an over-active imagination.

"Well, assuming it's possible to be as we are not without a heart… Yeah, I do believe we would still exist. If people can see you and interact with you, you're not invisible or anything."

"Aren't I- I mean we- insignificant to others though?"

"No because… Well, let's say you didn't have a heart Roxas. You would still be very significant to me."

"Why?"

I lightly blushed. "Because we're friends and I enjoy spending time with you….AND AXEL! A-Anyways, even if you left now, you'd still be here with me in my memories. If you feel empty and nonexistent, then wouldn't the people around you and your memories be all you have?"

"What if we don't have a memory of the past?"

"Roxas, I don't want to be a know-it-all, but… We make history every day. Our past is as sudden as when you first asked me this weird scenario. You have memories of Axel, you, and me eating sea salt ice cream every evening. You will have a memory of eating ramen with me today." I smiled. "So don't worry about having no memories."

"That's not that I mean…"

"What do you mean then?"

"Never mind! But…thank you for that point of view."

"No problem…"

Once we finished eating, we paid and started to stroll through town with no destination in mind. I started to slow down to the point where he was walking within arms' reach in front of me.

I…

I reached my hand out a little towards his back.

…want to get to know you more, Roxas…

I nearly grabbed ahold of his hood before I retracted my hand, realizing how strange I was acting myself. I shook my head and pinched my cheeks before speeding up. I grabbed Roxas' wrist and dragged him to an arcade.

"What's this place?" Roxas asked me as I led him to a coin exchange machine.

I raised my brow at him, wondering if he has been living under a rock or something. "An arcade…where people play games. Come on."

I motioned him to follow me. We played basketball, racing games, and skee ball.

We were laughing after just finishing up a shooting game where we shot at rival enemies.

"What's that?" Roxas pointed at a machine full of toys.

"Ah! That's a claw machine." We walked over to it. "You just move the claw over the prize you want and hit this button to send the claw down to retrieve it."

"Okay, sounds simple enough."

"Not exactly… It's really hard to play since the toy always slips out."

"This doesn't look that hard. See anything you want?"

"Huh?"

"What do you want?"

"I heard you the first time…it's just… You don't have to win me anything. Isn't there something you want?"

Roxas looked over the prizes. "Not particularly."

I looked at the prizes and spotted a small brown teddy bear with a red bow around its neck.

Ah…it looks so cute…

Roxas followed me gaze to the bear. "Okay, got it." He put in some coins and went to work.

I watched him expectantly. I know I shouldn't be so hopeful of him winning anything, but I couldn't help but feel giddy in this moment.

"Look at that couple over there. He's trying to win his girlfriend a stuff animal," I overheard someone say. I turned around, blushing.

C-Couple? U-Us? Roxas and me?

I looked over at how focused Roxas' face was on the claw, causing me to blush harder.

Do we look like a couple when we walk around together? What age is he even? He looks like he's my age, but he already has a job and looks can be deceiving.

I tried to convince myself that Roxas was a 24 year old man who was just short for his age.

"Ah!" Roxas dropped the bear so close to the drop box. "I was so close!"

I smiled, feeling a little disappointed. "Let's go Roxas."

"Are you sure?" Roxas looked conflicted about leaving, but I nodded and tugged his arm. As we were walking side by side down the sidewalk, Roxas reached up and scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry Mei. I couldn't get you that bear."

"It's the thought that counts. I told you it wouldn't be that easy." I noticed a lot of couples from different ages around us. Roxas didn't seem to register anything as he looked lost in his own thoughts.

We blend in with them…despite Roxas' poor choice in clothes.

I lightly slapped both of my cheeks with my hands.

I don't even know him! Just because people see one thing doesn't mean I should succumb to their wishes!

"What do we have here? Is that my little Mei I see?" I grunted in displeasure.

Seifer…

Roxas and I turned around to see the idiot brigade behind us.

Seifer averted his gaze over from me to Roxas. He narrowed his eyes as if analyzing Roxas.

"Who's this punk?"

"It's none of your business Seifer," I snapped, stepping in front of Roxas. "Just leave us alone."

Seifer glared at me and grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me forward towards him. Seifer glared daggers into Roxas. "Stay away from my woman."

Woman?! That's a first from him. As if I'd like someone with an ugly soul like yours.

"Let me go, stupid. You're making things up. Ack!" Seifer tightened his grip on me, causing me to crouch a bit in pain.

It all happened to fast.

"I don't know what's going on, but don't hurt Mei like that." I didn't fully register what happened, but Roxas somehow knocked Seifer on his butt and released his grip on me. I was safely tucked around Roxas' arm.

This was almost like how Axel roughed up Seifer and his gang a bit last time.

"This punk…"

"Hey, you dare push down our Boss like that?!" Rai shouted, gritting his teeth.

I lightly tugged on Roxas' coat. He looked down at me slightly, still alert of the idiot brigade. I whispered, "Let's make a run for it." He nodded and as Rai was helping Seifer up, Roxas grabbed my hand and we took off running. I directed Roxas to different paths as to try to lose and get as far away as possible from the trio.

"I think we lost them," I huffed, tugging at Roxas' hand to slow down.

"What are their problems?"

"They think they own the town. Seifer has had a grudge against me ever since I decided not to join his loser squad when I moved here."

Roxas' eyes widened, realizing something. "Were they the ones you beat you up?"

Oh yeah…that happened.

I nodded sadly as Roxas clenched his fists. I grabbed his arm and held it to me. "I'm fine now though! There's no need to do anything drastic."

"…"

We took a seat on a nearby bench.

"You hinted at this before also, but you're not from here?" Roxas asked me. I nodded. "Are you from a different world then?"

"A different world? I took a train to get here, not a space ship." I laughed. "I don't think there are any other forms of life on other planets Roxas. What have you been learning in school?"

"Where did you come from then before Twilight Town?"

"Haha, I came from… Where did I come from? The name is escaping me right now… I came here when I was really young though."

Why have I been having trouble remembering my past?

"We should pick up some sea salt ice cream and heat to the clock tower," Roxas said, standing up. I followed him and go the ice cream. We went up to the tower and sad down on the ledge as usual. Axel wasn't here yet.

I looked down at the train station below. "We should go to the beach next time you're off early Roxas…" I smiled to myself. "Axel too, and when my friends get back, I can introduce you guys to them. The more the merrier, right?"

Before Roxas could respond, Axel decided to show up and shove me jokingly. I screamed, afraid I would fall as Roxas grabbed me by my shoulders and held me to him slightly. Axel gave us a sly look.

"What have you two been up to?" Axel asked with his smirk growing.

Roxas let go of me. "I tried ramen today and went to the arcade. It's pretty fun."

"Eh? Sounds like a date to me," Axel said as my face heated up.

"Date?" Roxas asked as he took out the ice cream, handing it out to us.

"It was not a date! It was just a hangout between two friends of the opposite gender!" I shouted, punching Axel's shoulder.

"Aye! Alright, alright, I get it already." Axel popped his pop into his mouth.

"Get it memorized then," I said tauntingly to him.

He pushed me into Roxas, who stabilized me with his free arm. My face deepened its pink flush.

This is just ridiculous!

Roxas' POV-

After Mei left, Axel and I stayed at the clock tower.

"What do you think about Mei?" Axel asked me out of nowhere.

"Mei? She's our friend. She's nice and fun to hang out with."

Axel sighed as if my answer wasn't satisfying enough. "I think you should distance yourself from Mei."

"Huh? Why?"

"Girls like her with hearts; you don't want to lead them on. We don't have hearts and can't feel Roxas."

"I know that, but how am I leading her on? And what am I even leading her on?"

"It's hard to explain since we don't have hearts, but if she gets too close to us, she might get caught up in our organization."

"If she does, I'll just protect her then. There are heartless all around Twilight Town."

"What if she falls in love with you?"

"Love? What's love?"

"It's a gushy feeling that…we can't feel anything Roxas, so there's no point in explaining something we can't understand. This is why we need to complete Kingdom Hearts, so that we can get our own hearts."

"I know that much."

"Then know that we can't be hanging out with Mei every day like this anymore."

I felt something in me tighten at the idea.

"But she's our friend…"

"And if we know what's good for her we'd get out of her life."

"…"

Leave her to save her?

.

.

.

.

I walked out of my room, ready to start my day with more of my fun missions. I walked into the lounge, yawning.

"Oof, sorry." I looked who I bumped into. "Sorry, Xion."

"…" Xion said nothing to me and still wore her hood as usual.

Okay… Great conversation…

She walked away and I shrugged it off and went to Saix to get my mission for the day.

"Roxas, today you will be…"

Mei's POV-

"Aunt Molly, I'm heading out now!" I shouted into the house before closing the door.

"Wait!"

My aunt emerged from her study with a cloth in her hands. She slowly opened up the cloth and picked up a pendant. There was a clear small pebble surrounded by thin lines of silver to hold the pebble in place.

"What's this?" I asked, as my aunt pulled out a chain and attached the pendant to it.

"Your parents left this for you," she replied, putting the necklace over my head. The chain was long enough that the pendant rested just above my chest. "I feel like it's time you inherited it."

"It's pretty and simple," I commented, gently picking up the pendant.

"Don't lose it!"

"Of course! Bye!"

I tucked the necklace underneath my tank top. I was wearing a gray tank top with a thin green coat and jean shorts.

Today, I was going to go exploring around the Old Mansion. I stumbled upon it around the time I first came to Twilight Town and later showed my friends it. We gave up trying to break into the mansion a long time ago as well since we were too small to ever get over the gate and too weak to bring anything to help us up. The mansion just popped into my head in a dream last night.

I made sure no one in town as watching when I slipped through the hole that led to the woods. I stretched my arms, taking in the fresh air.

"It's nice to be out in nature for a change." I weaved my way through the trees with ease and arrived at the gates of the mansion.

It's a wonder why I never came back when I was big enough to climb trees.

"Well, there's no time lie the present." I picked a tree that was beside the brick wall and made my way towards it.

I stopped in mid-step, feeling an electric sensation go through my veins. Something in me screamed to barrel-roll to the right and that's what I did, just in time to dodge a giant chameleon.

Hold on. Giant chameleon? Did I just stumble on a new species of chameleons?

I felt adrenaline pumping through me as the chameleon disappeared. I still felt its eyes on my though, watching me.

It's dangerous here.

I got up to make a run for the woods, but before I could reach the safety of the trees, something pink wrapped itself around my waist and pulled me back.

"I-Is this a tongue!? Disgusting!"

Just as I was released, I watched helplessly as the giant chameleon slashed at me with its claws. I was knocked back a few meters away. I felt like my body was on fire from the attack.

If this is a dream, someone…please wake me up…

I pushed myself up into a standing position.

I should have taken martial arts, but would it have really helped in this situation?

The chameleon disappeared and I tried to tune into my sense of hearing to see if that would help me to locate it. It didn't. The creature appeared behind me and knocked me aside with its tail. I've never been in this much pain before. My shoulders hurt, my back hurt, my head hurt, the scratch marks burned, and my legs were aching.

Is this a nightmare…? Someone…please wake me up…

The monster roared and I looked up at it as it hovered over me. There was a weird red and black mark on its stomach, not that it mattered right now. I didn't even realize I was crying till I reached up to rub my eye and felt tears.

I need to get away!

I was slashed continuously, whimpering every time I was struck.

This is it…I'm going to die here… If only I could fight back… If only magic was real and I was full of it…

I closed my eyes, trying to suck up the pain.

If only I had a…

The darkness behind my eyelids started to lighten up as I whispered out shakily. "Barrier…"

I stopped feeling the slashes on my back and I didn't know if it was because I grew numb or because I died. I was tired. I don't know how long my eyes were closed, but when I managed to open them a little, I didn't know if I was hallucinating.

Roxas' POV-

Not here either? Where can the Veil Lizard be?

I went into the woods and fought off a few heartless before I heard a scream, a roar, and saw a beam of light in the distance. I quickly finished off the last heartless and ran towards the sounds. I appeared in front of the Old Mansion.

Good news, I found the Veil Lizard. Bad news, there was an unconscious girl there and the lizard appeared to have been attacking her. Worst news, the girl was Mei.

I felt anger boil up inside of me as I took out my keyblade. The Veil Lizard disappeared and I, having fought one before, knew how to take it down. After defeating the Veil Lizard, I put away my keyblade and ran over to Mei's side. Her eyes were slightly open.

"…Roxas…" Her eyes shut and her body fell limp in my arms. I panicked, not knowing if she died or not. Remembering what it means to be alive, I laid her down on the floor and carefully pressed my ear over the area her heart should be.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I sighed in relief.

She's alive… I need to get her wounds treated though. I don't think I have enough magic to use cure on her.

I scooped her up into my arms and carried her into town, making sure I took the paths not many people traveled on. I didn't want to draw attention. I managed to find a small clinic and I dropped Mei off to them much to the nurse's surprise.

Mei's POV-

I was lying in an endless field of grass under a clear blue sky. Was this kind of sky even possible? I've only ever been under a twilight sky. One by one different balls of light started to appear above me. They looked to be planets, but they weren't round. You could see building and trees sticking out of them. They appeared to be different worlds from mine entirely. I saw streams of blue weaving through these other worlds and in turn connecting to me, or more importantly, my pendant.

What is this…?

Everything disappeared into darkness and my eyes opened once against to a bright white room.

"Ah! You're awake now! Your friend fell asleep over there. He looked terrified when he brought you in. Think of our surprised when you came out of nowhere all beaten up." I turned my head to see a nurse talking to me. "You're in a clinic right now. The pain killers must be kicking in right now. The doctor will be back soon to see if you're fine to be released." The nurse left and I pressed a button on the bed to angle the top half up so I would be sitting up. I looked over to a comfy chair in the corner of the room. Roxas was curled up in the chair, fast asleep. On the small table beside him looked to be female clothes for what I guessed was my since I was just in a hospital gown. I winced as I took out the IV drip from my arm and slipped out of bed. I took a few minutes standing with the bed as a support to regain my sense of balance. After that, I walked over and grabbed the clothes and quickly changed before Roxas could wake up. There was no connected bathroom to this room. After changing into the grey sweat shirt and red shorts, I found my shoes and slipped them on.

I fell into the chair on the other side of the small table. These pain killers were amazing. I didn't feel a thing despite seeing cuts and bruises all fixed up. I looked over at Roxas' sleeping face in wonder.

That wasn't a dream… I saw Roxas…fighting that…thing. It just disappeared when Roxas finished it off…

I teared up, remembering what happened.

Roxas' face…

My heart ached.

I don't want to see that kind of expression on him.

When Roxas got to me, before I blacked out again, I saw his breathing hitched, his shoulders shaking, and his pupils small. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack. I can't even put into anymore words how painful it was to see his face or even look back on it.

I quickly wiped my tears as Roxas started to wake up.

"Morning, sleepy-head." I joked as he was still trying to wake up.

He looked at me with his drowsy face before it clicked what happened before he slept.

"Why are you out of bed?! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. They gave me some pain killers, so I feel fine!"

After the doctor released me Roxas and I went up to the clock tower. We were silent since we left the clinic.

"…How much do you remember?" Roxas asked, leaning on his knees with his elbows.

"Giant chameleon attacking."

"Veil Lizard."

"Oh sorry, Veil Lizard. How could I have not known before?"

"Be serious here."

"…" I looked down at the train as it pulled into the station. "I blacked out at one point when I was being attacked, and the next thing I knew, you were fighting it…and it disappeared once you defeated it… That is not a normal animal…and you were doing things not normal too…"

"…"

"…"

What no explanation for yourself?

"Roxas, what's going on here?"

"Let's stop meeting."

...Excuse me what?

"What are you-"

"After today, let's never see each other again."

My eyes widened. "No."

"No?"

"I'm not going to stop seeing you Roxas!" My heart was racing.

"It's for your own good! You think I want to leave you? I don't want you to get hurt like today."

"I don't even know what today was!"

"It's better you don't find out. The more you know, the more danger you'll be in."

"I would think otherwise. I should know what I should be expecting. The more cautious I can be the better!"

"It's too dangerous for you! What if I wasn't there to save you? What if I wasn't assigned to this mission?"

"Mission? I was attacked by chance not because I knew you unless you pissed off a lot of wildlife."

"Damn it." Roxas got up and pulled on his hood. "Good bye, Mei."

I got up and ran after him. I tackled him down so he fell on his chest and I fell onto his back. "No goodbyes. You can't just decide things for yourself." I started crying into his back.

"…"

"If you're leaving because you care then I don't want your care… I want you in my life Roxas…you can't leave that easily… Stupid. You're so stupid. Everything happened so suddenly and even this."

"…"

"I can't forget everything that has happened… I don't want you to make a face like that again…so I'll get stronger…"

"…"

"Please don't leave…I promise that I'll get stronger…just stay with me, Roxas…"

Roxas moved and I just wrapped my arms around him from behind and refused to let him go. "Let me sit up." I loosened my grip and the two of us sat up, facing each other as Roxas pulled down his hood. I wiped my eyes that still had tears falling. Roxas looked down at the floor below us in deep thought.

After what felt like hours Roxas finally spoke. "Give me your hands." I did as he asked and he held mine in both of his. He looked at me. "I promise, Mei, that I will protect you to the best of my abilities. Just try not to get yourself into trouble."

"Does this mean you'll tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know much myself…"

"But you know more than I do. I don't need everything in detail, just the basics."

"…Don't tell Axel you know… I need to figure out how to break it to him that I told you…" I nodded as Roxas let go of my hands and crossed his arms. "We're not really carpenters."

I gasped. "No! Really?!" I grinned despite my nose being a little clogged. Roxas playfully punched my shoulder in an attempt to wordlessly tell me to knock it off.

This anticipating feeling of being able to learn something new and out of the ordinary burned throughout my chest.

"We work for an organization that seeks out heartless and creatures like the one you saw. They contain hearts in them."

"Hearts? Like human hearts?"

"They don't have to necessarily be human…"

Animals too then?

"Tell me more."

"We collect hearts to complete something called Kingdom Hearts and once we complete it we ourselves get hearts."

"You get hearts?"

He nodded. "Members of the Organization do not have hearts apparently so we are considered Nobodies…"

That's why he kept asking me about hearts and being alive…

"Roxas, I'm not an expert, but I don't think that you lack a heart… You can't be able to make faces like that…you can't fake emotions you've never felt before as genuinely as you have shown to me."

Oops, I interrupted his explanation.

"…I don't know anything. I don't think the others do either."

He must mean his other coworkers like Axel. I wonder what the others are like?

"What was that giant key?"

"This?" He held out his arm and a giant golden key appeared. I flinched back in surprise. "This is called a keyblade. The Kingdom Key to be exact. I'm the only one in the Organization who can wield it."

"C-Cool."

This all sounds so made-up, but I just watched him make a giant key appear. If he uses a giant key to fight, what does Axel use? Probably his ego.

Roxas grinned. "I can also use magic. You questioned if magic existed before and it does."

Monsters, giant key weapons, collecting hearts and now… Now m-magic!?

"Prove it!" This was all starting to sound all too unbelievable.

"Heh, I don't want to use it recklessly. It takes up my magic power."

"Magic power…?"

"It's…I guess you can say having a lot of it lets you use more magic."

This sounds like some sort of fantasy role-playing game with bad guys and good guys!

"I want to learn magic! Teach me!" I shook one of Roxas' shoulders as if I was a child throwing a tantrum.

He laughed at my enthusiasm. "Magic isn't for everyone."

I pouted and crossed my arms. "Well it's for me."

"We'll see. We'll see, Mei."

I sighed. "I'll take what I can get. If you face creatures like the Lizard guy every day, doesn't it ever get scary?"

Roxas shrugged. "I don't really notice."

I sweat-dropped.

How can you not notice?

"What's up with the heat attracting clothes?"

"I told you I don't know everything. This is just our uniform."

"Don't you get hot in it?"

"Never noticed."

"…."

"What?"

"Nothing…"

You need to be more observant, Roxas… You're going to grow up all dense at this rate.

I smiled at Roxas, happy that he told me the truth even though it sounded really far-fetched. He smiled back at me with care.

I'm glad we're friends.

"What are you kids talking about? It looks like I'm late." Axel appeared holding up a bag of sea salt ice cream.

"N-Nothing!" both Roxas and I shouted out in unison. Axel raised his brow at us, questioning the situation while Roxas and I just looked at each other and laughed.

"Let me in on the joke guys! I want to laugh too!" Axel shouted which just resulting in our laughter increasing in intensity.

Roxas' POV-

"Oh!" I felt something in my pocket and pulled out a necklace with a pendant on it. "I forgot to give this back to Mei! Ah, I'll just give it to her tomorrow."

I smiled to myself, thinking of tomorrow.

Axel's POV-

I laid in bed thinking back on this day.

There's no way to get her away now…

I thought back to the clock tower where I listened in on Roxas explaining Kingdom Hearts to Mei.

She didn't sound fully convinced of everything either, but she seems like the kind of person to believe in her friends.

After I came out of my hiding place as if I just arrived there, I could tell they were hiding something that was an insider just between them. That being the truth I warned Roxas not to tell her.

Instead of distancing himself from her he just got closer. Geez! I only encouraged him in the end!

Roxas didn't even think of telling me anything. I saw some bandages on Mei, but I just decided to ignore them.

Roxas probably had no choice but to tell her…

If I remembered correctly, his mission today was in Twilight Town. I sighed knowing that he probably ran into her and she saw something she shouldn't have.

They don't give me enough credit on my deductive skills. I have a brain too, got it memorized?

I stretched on my bed before relaxing my muscles and turning on my side.

Things might get a little more interesting now.