"Roxas, on your left!"

"Thunder!"

There was a loud crack as Roxas lifted Oathkeeper and Oblivion into the air and cast Thundaga, vaporizing two Large Bodies and sending several Shadows and Neoshadows fleeing. He lowered his weapons, breathing heavy, and looked over his shoulder to check on the three local residents of Twilight Town. Despite all three looking scared, none of them seemed hurt, and Roxas let a small smile flit across his face for a second. Hayner was standing in front of Olette, fists raised as the girl held her purse up as a shield, while Pence had both hands raised and poised to grapple anything that got close. Although that seemed unlikely, due to the four warriors prowess against lower level Heartless.

"Take this!"

Roxas turned to see Xion take her Kingdom Key and throw it with incredible force forward, sending it spinning through several Soldier heartless. After travelling nearly fifty feet from her, the blade turned back and flew towards Xion, who caught it with both hands. Axel and Isa both dismissed their weapons, and Xion let the Kingdom Key rest on her shoulder as the three approached Roxas and the other trio.

"You guys are awesome!" Pence jumped in the air, pumping his fists into the air.

"Soooo... Cooooool..." Olette clutched her chest while she looked at Xion, making the former fourteenth member raise a brow and tilt her head.

"Definitely don't see that everyday." Hayner said, giving Roxas a fist bump. "It'll be nice having people around who can actually take care of those monsters."

Olette nodded and looked between the four fighters. "Totally! They show up randomly, kidnap people, and the town guards haven't been able to do much about them!" she added.

"H-Hold it! Excuse me! Just a moment!"

Their conversation came to a halt as another man suddenly ran up to them, having come out of a nearby alleyway.

"He looks familiar..." Roxas thought to himself as he looked the other man over - portly, with a bushy mustache, orange sweater, and tan slacks, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he took a moment to gather his breath.

"Oh, ahem, excuse me... I don't believe we met before." The man sighed and cleared his throat. "I'm the Mayor, and uh... Who might you be?"

Everyone exchanged glances, and Roxas stepped forward to shake hands with him. "My name's Roxas. That's Xion, Axel, and Isa. I'm sure you've met them before."

The Mayor nodded at the Twilight Town natives, and shook hands with the warriors. "Listen, I'm not a man to beat around the bush, so let me explain - I was on my way home from the bistro when I was suddenly attacked by all those monsters. It's been no secret that lately, they've been popping in the valley and the wilderness outside of town, but for the most part they've not come into - eh, mostly. But lately, they've been popping up in alleyways and sewers and peoples attics!" The Mayor laughed like he'd told a funny joke, but stopped when he saw nobody joined in. "Our guards have been pulling double overtime and to be honest, the situation hasn't gotten any better." He looked between the four warriors and continued. "But then the monsters suddenly came this way, and I overheard the commotion, saw y'all fighting them, holding your own, and -"

"And what!?" Xion cried out, having nearly bent her Keyblade in two while listening to the Mayor's long winded story.

"Oh! Well, how would you like to work for me, and more importantly for the good of Twilight Town by getting rid of those monsters? You can clearly hold your own, and it would mean a lot to us around here, you know, easing everyone's mind knowing that the issue is finally being resolved." The Mayor fiddled with his thumbs, and the hope in his eyes was clearly evident.

Axel looked back at Isa, then at the two Keyblade wielders. "We're actually looking for a place to stay. We're... from outta town, so we don't have anywhere to stay. Help us out, and we'll help you. Whaddya say?"

The Mayor nodded and smiled. "That can be easily arranged. Here-" He pulled out a pen and notebook, wrote something on the front page, tore it off, and handed it to Axel. "That's the address of a couple of empty homes down near River Street, and I wrote a note to the landlord as you can see. Should be plenty of space for the four of you. If the old lady gives you any trouble, come and find me at my office." The Mayor reached forward and shook hands with everyone, then walked away. "And thank you, thank you again! Hurry on home!"

They waited till he was out of sight, then Axel smiled and lifted the Mayor's note. "Well, that's one problem solved."

"Indeed." Isa mumbled.

"Axel, what about the castle?" Roxas asked.

"Hmm? What about it?"

"Why would we get a place here when the castle is empty now? In The World That Never Was?" He clarified.

"Because when Sora went and fought the Organization, he did a real number on that place, that's why. There's nothing left there anymore. Just a ruined castle and a ruined city. Besides, why bother running back and forth there every day anyways?"

"Yeah..." Xion shrugged. "Good point, I guess. It would suck if we got brought back and the first thing we did was clean up the old castle. Besides..." She shivered and made a disgusted face. "There are too many bad memories there. I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable living there again."

"Brought back? What do you mean?" Pence asked.

He immediately wilted under the gaze of the Roxas and Xion, who turned at him with a look on their faces like he'd just cursed at them.

But, they both immediately realized he hadn't meant any harm when he asked, and Xion cleared her throat. "It's a bit of a long story, but basically Roxas and I each had a piece of Sora's heart that he'd lost. We had to give it back, and disappeared from the world. But it's alright now! Once he found out, he made it his goal to bring us back, and - here we are!" She gave them a bright smile, one infectious enough to get one out of Roxas too.

"You're right, that does sound like a long story." Hayner noted.

"We can save it for another time. It is getting late." Axel stretched his arms over his head. "Do you three live close by? Need us to take you home?"

"We'll be alright. Thanks so much! See you guys tomorrow!" Olette, Pence, and Hayner gave a wave and walked away.

"Cozy." Xion said as she looked around the small home.

There was very little furniture: a single couch in the living room and one twin bed each bedroom. The bathroom looked relatively clean, but all four members silently acknowledged the fact that their living conditions had been better in the old Organization. It wasn't some rundown, barely held together shack with rusty walls, but it was a downgrade all the same. "Guess some things about the old days weren't so bad." Roxas thought to himself. "But I'm sure having an entire army of Nobodies to construct a castle and take care of it for you has its perks."

"Well, once we get settled in, we can make it feel like a real home, not just a house." Axel said. "Here." He took the key for the house next door and tossed it Isa, who caught it with one hand. "You and Xion go get settled in. Tomorrow, we can-"

"No way!"

Axel blinked and turned to Roxas.

"She's not staying with him!"

Isa sighed and rolled his eyes.

Roxas glared at him.

Axel shook his head. "That's Xion's decision, not yours."

"I'm not staying with him."

Axel groaned.

"Look, he's your friend." Xion put one hand on her hip and rolled the other in the air. "Doesn't it make sense for me and Roxas to room together and for you and Saix to take the other place?"

"That's - That's not going to happen." Axel said, lifting both hands as if to stop Roxas and Xion in their trains of thought.

"Why not?" Roxas asked.

Isa snorted, and Roxas turned on him with fire in his eyes.

"Roxas, can I speak to you for a second?"

Grabbing the Keyblade wielder by the arm, he pulled him outside and closed the door behind them.

Roxas pulled his arm out of Axel's grasp and straightened his sleeve. "Axel, she can't stay with him." He gestured to the door.

"Look man, I know you don't like Isa-"

"That has nothing to do with it! He doesn't like her!" He hissed, trying not to yell. "Do I need to remind you how he treated her? What he said to her? He always called her an 'it', a puppet, and kicked her while she was down everytime she failed a mission. She's not staying with him!"

Axel saw Roxas clench his hands into fists, his teeth grit and his eyes narrow, and took a deep breath. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, debating what he should say next. After a few moments consideration, he said a soft tone, "Roxas, listen to me. You're right - about Saix. He treated all three of us like dirt in the Organization, but - that's Isa in there. He has his heart back, and he's not working for Xemnas anymore. He isn't going to be the same guy you knew back then."

"So I'm just supposed to forget about everything he did?"

"Not forget. Forgive." Axel looked at the door. "If it wasn't for him, we might not have gotten Replicas for you and Xion. He's the one who helped Vexen sneak away, you know?" He watched Roxas shake his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "And like it or not Roxas, he's still my friend. He might have lost his way, but I've known him a lot longer than I've known you. He's been looking out for me since we were younger than Hayner, Pence, and Olette, and I've been doing the same for him. I'm willing to give him a second chance if he's willing to earn it. Will you at least give him a chance? If not because he's trying, then for me?"

Roxas exhaled slowly, and he looked between the front door and Axel. "If he steps out of line once..." He muttered after a while.

"I know, I know. I'm not dumb Roxas; you really think I'd let him walk all over us a second time?"

He smirked. "You don't want me to answer that." He turned to the door and mumbled, "I still think it would be better if me and Xion lived together."

"And that's not gonna happen!" Axel exclaimed. "Trust me Roxas, you're not ready for the..." He trailed off when he saw the studious look Roxas was giving him. "Well, probably shouldn't bring that up." He cleared his throat and continued "Look, Isa's older and can take of himself and Xion at the same time. You may not like him, but give him a little credit, at least."

While Roxas and Axel talked outside, Xion and Saix stood in an uncomfortable silence. They could hear the other two talking through the door, but it was muffled and they couldn't make out any particulars.

After a moment, Xion turned on her heel and went into the kitchen. "I'm not living with you." She said over her shoulder.

Isa looked up at the roof. "By Kingdom Hearts pale moonlight..." He frowned and turned to the young girl. "I'm afraid that's the only option we have. You and Roxas can't live together."

"Oh yeah? Why not?" She turned to him with a challenging look in her eyes.

For the first time in a long time, he smiled - more of a smirk, but the humour of neither Keyblade wielder quite understanding why they couldn't be left alone with each other for too long was cracking him up internally. "I guess Vexen can give them the talk later." He shook his head, and knowing that he wouldn't be the one to give it, opted to try and change the course of the conversation. "Xion, I know I wronged you in the past. But the past can't be changed - we can only try and make the best of today and make a better future for ourselves. But we can't do that if we're holding onto the past."

"Oh - ha! It almost sounds like you're implying I should just forgive you for the way you treated me! Is 'I'm sorry' too much for you?" Xion spun on her heel and frowned at Isa. It wasn't quite as intimidating as Roxas's death glare, but it still managed to get the point across.

"Xion, I'm not going to put you down anymore or try to exclude you from anything. Now that all the fighting is over with, there isn't a 'your side' or 'my side'. It's just us. And I promise I will try to do right by you and Roxas and Lea. And if I don't..." He shrugged. "Roxas is going to be right next door. He'll kick a hole in the wall trying to protect you."

Xion laughed - the mental image of an angry Roxas flying through a hole in the wall unexpectedly funny to her. It made her heart flutter in her chest when she thought about how much Roxas cared. Isa smiled too, a real one, and she sighed. "I still don't like you. But you're right - Roxas will be close by. And I know for sure he's not going to live with you. If you and Axel are dead set on splitting us up - which you still haven't explained why - then I guess if you're going to start being nice, I can be nice too."

Isa nodded. "I can live with that."

At that moment, the front door opened, and Roxas and Axel walked back in.

"Alright, we're all set."

Roxas walked up to Xion and pulled her into a gentle hug. Even with the heels on her new boots, she had to rise onto her toes to link her arms behind his neck. He let his arms rest against the small of her back, and even though he wanted to indulge in the moment and keep holding her, he pulled his head back enough to softly say, "I'll stay with Axel. If Saix says or does anything..."

Xion grinned up at him. "You'll be the second person who gets to beat him up. I'm just as strong as I used to be. This new Replica body hasn't changed anything."

He smiled at her, and in a moment of impulsiveness she turned her head to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling back. "I'll see you in the morning." She whispered as she squeezed his hand. "Good night, Roxas."

"Night, Xion."

"Get ready Roxas!"

"Xion, stop! Please, we don't have to do this!"

"Stop holding back!"

"No!" Roxas snapped upright in bed, breathing heavily.

He looked around his dark room, slowly calming down and wiping away the sweat on his forehead. He swallowed hard, clenching the sheets tightly. "Why? Why would I dream about that day?" He stood up, tossing the covers off him and opening the window to let cool air in. His foot tapped incessantly, and he shook his head repeatedly, as though the motion would clear his head of the bad dream and horrible feeling in his stomach. He sighed, sticking his head out the window and taking a deep breath of the night air. He let it out slowly, and turned his head to the side, where Xion's new home was. All he had to do was knock and she would be there. "I want to... No. I shouldn't. I'm fine. She's fine. We're fine."

He closed the window and sat on the edge of his bed.

Unfortunately, the idea of his dreams turning back into nightmares of days he didn't want to relive kept him from returning to sleep.

The next morning, the four warriors gathered at the Bistro for breakfast.

Xion saw the dark gray circles under Roxas's eyes, and the way he kept glancing at her and looking away quickly made her finger tap against the table as she wondered, "I wonder what's wrong with him? We've gotta talk... but when am I gonna get a chance to talk with him without the other guys around?"

"So!"

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Axel suddenly spoke up.

"You three go and talk to the Mayor. Find out what you all can do to help fight the Heartless in and around town."

"Us three? Where are you going?" Roxas asked.

"To find Aqua - uh, Master Aqua of course!" He stood up and brushed his hands off on a napkin. "I still have to become a Keyblade Master, after all. Got it memorized?"

"I still don't know what that is." Roxas pointed out. "I mean, it's cool that you can wield a Keyblade now, but what's so important about becoming a master?"

Axel grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

But his sarcastic tone of voice did not phase Isa, and when the two looked at each other, the berserker said to Roxas and Xion, "You two can go on ahead. I'll catch up."

"Sure." Xion said quickly. Roxas didn't need an excuse to get away from Isa, so he mumbled that he'd see them later and walked away.

Once they were out of ear shot, Isa raised a brow at Axel. "Why are you trying to become a Keyblade master? They're not the only ones that are confused."

Axel sighed. "Well... It's because of Sora. And Roxas. After the mysterious girl in Radiant Garden disappeared, I was always afraid we'd never catch up to her, and I guess over time I realized I never would. But once I'd found new friends with Roxas and Xion, I'd gotten back that same old fear - that they'd disappear on me one day and I'd never be able to catch up to them. But when I met Sora in Castle Oblivion, I realized Keyblade wielders were special - that they were always connected to people by their hearts. So when I woke up recompleted, I decided that if I wanted to get Roxas back, I'd get my own Keyblade!" He lifted his hand overhead and summoned it. "And now, I'm going to master it, too. That way, no matter where you or Roxas or Xion run off to, our hearts will... uh... be connected..." He coughed awkwardly into his other hand when he saw Isa cringing.

"Sounds like something Sora would say." He said after a moment.

Dismissing the Keyblade, Axel shrugged. "Well, Kairi talked about him day in and day out while we were training. Not to mention I've been around him for a little while too, so I was bound to pick up on some things here and there."

"Hmph." Isa stood up. "Well, good luck with your goal. I'm going to make sure those two don't get into trouble." He turned and took two steps, then stopped and looked back. "Mind if I ask you something? Since you know them better?" When Axel nodded, he asked, "Are they... together? As a couple?"

Axel's brow raised. "Not as far as I know." He answered. "I mean, I saw her give him that peck last night and I wondered... but back in the Organization, they were total amnesiacs, as innocent children you know? Despite everything they've been through, too... I don't think they know what it even means, being a couple..." He looked away, lost in thought. "But I mean, they are important to each other... And they aren't really children... But Roxas didn't seem to understand why he couldn't be left alone with Xion-"

"Neither did she."

"...Hmm. We'll have to make sure someone talks to both of them. I don't really have a problem if they want to date, but if it leads to something they're not ready for..."

Isa nodded. "Right. I'll keep an eye on them while you're training with Aqua."

"Master Aqua."

"She's no master of mine, and I've no interest in learning how to summon a Keyblade."

Axel snorted. "You really don't know how to play nice, do you?"

Isa gave him an insolent grin. "See you later."

"Long night?" Xion asked after they'd walked away, breaking the silence. "You look tired." She added softly when he looked over at her.

"...Yeah. I guess."

There was another long pause, and she asked hesitantly, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Roxas looked at her quickly, a shocked look in his eyes before he looked straight ahead again. "I'm not gonna bother her about it." He decided. "It's nothing." He said quickly.

Xion opened her mouth to object, but she sighed quietly as she realized it might start an argument. "I don't want to fight with him." She cleared her throat, then reached over and took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. She gave him a bright smile, although it felt a little forced, and said, "So, Saix said we should go furniture shopping to decorate. I don't know when, but you and Axel should come with!"

"Sure." He agreed, letting his thumb brush over hers gently. "She has nice hands..." He thought to himself, then looked forward as his face felt hot. "Sounds like fun."

She noticed him blush, and leaned into him. "Great!" There was a pause before she added, "But you and I should do something too... Just us."

"Hmm?"

"Well, I just mean..." She gripped his hand a little tighter, "With Saix joining us, and Hayner, Pence, and Olette joining us, I wanted to spend more time with you. Alone. Well, not alone, but just you and me... Which I guess is alone, but..."

"I get it." He smiled and nodded, "I want to do that too. Maybe we could go to another world and spend time there?"

Xion nodded happily, resting her head on his shoulder. "Sounds like a plan."