Jessica's Point of View

I hadn't even noticed Xigbar in the room until Xemnas told him to leave. I assumed Xemnas would give me some small explanation and be done with it, but instead, he tried changing the subject. "That chair does not belong to you," He commented.

I had entered the Round Room on Zexion's chair rather than on the platform in the center because I didn't want him to see me as any more inferior than anyone else in the Organization. "It's not as though Zexion's coming back to reclaim it," I scoffed. A lump formed in my throat. Even though they came out of my mouth, the words stung. I forced myself not to cry. I couldn't allow myself to look weak. I needed to know what Ventus was doing there.

"Perhaps we should take this conversation someplace else," Xemnas suggested. I could tell he was stalling.

I glared at him. "Here is fine."

"Very well. He is not Ventus. In truth, we do not know why he looks like Ventus. His name is Roxas. He is the Nobody of someone else," Xemnas explained.

"You expect me to believe that? Just because I'm hurting doesn't make me gullible," I huffed.

"When he wakes up, you will see for yourself," Xemnas mentioned.

"Fine. Don't tell me. I'll figure it out myself," I grumbled.

Xemnas teleported to the center platform. I became curious and leapt down from Zexion's seat, using an aero to break my fall. He lifted my chin, so I was looking directly into his eyes. "I am not lying to you. That boy is not Ventus, nor is he Ventus's Nobody. I don't know what connection he has to Ventus, if any. It is likely a complete coincidence. Please do not worry yourself about it," He said. The longer I looked into his eyes, the more my resolve was weakened, so I pulled away. "What is this about, Jessica? Are you still mad at me for what happened in the lab?"

"Of course I am, but this has nothing to do with that!" I shouted.

"I am truly sorry about that incident. I should have found another way to get my point across," Xemnas apologized.

He was trying to change the subject. That much was obvious. If I had any hope for answers of any kind, I needed to stay on target and keep a level head. I couldn't let emotions cloud my judgment. I turned my back toward him so he wouldn't be able to read my expressions in case my face betrayed me. "You're not listening. I don't even care about that right now. I'm just worried for my friend," I groaned.

"You are the one who doesn't listen. I keep telling you that Roxas is not Ventus. That is the truth," Xemnas insisted.

I still didn't believe that this Roxas person had nothing to do with Ventus, but I knew that if he were Ventus, Xemnas wouldn't directly tell me that he wasn't. "Okay. I'm sorry for bothering you," I sighed.

"You don't need to be sorry. I understand the confusion. I was surprised myself when I first saw him," Xemnas commented. He placed his hands around me from behind. "Everything I do is for you."

I flinched. "I'm sorry, what?" I was sure I misheard him.

"You'll understand someday," Xemnas stated. It was a strange thing for him to say. I didn't want to jump to any conclusions about what he meant by that. I forced myself to assume he just worded what he was trying to say incorrectly and took it as he cared about me a lot and didn't want any harm to come to me. "You seem to be doing much better today with walking."

"Yes. I'm still a bit weak, but I'm recovering," I replied.

"Good. I do hope you make a full recovery soon. We have been short-handed, and I could use you in the field," Xemnas said.

"Do I have to?" I asked. While I yearned for some action, I didn't feel even close to ready to going back to my old routine. My pain was too deep and fresh.

"Of course not. I suppose I just assumed that you would want to. It would make a good distraction of sorts. If you do not wish to resume taking missions, I understand," Xemnas answered.

"It's not that I don't want to... I'm just not ready," I explained.

"I understand. Take your time. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like, regardless of whether you go on missions or not. This castle has been your home for years and doesn't cease to be. I will always ensure you have someplace where you belong," Xemnas added. He released me from his embrace.

I turned around again to face him once more, and emotions flooded me in a wave that I couldn't stop. My walls broke down, and I cried. "Is this really all I have left? How did this even happen? I have you and what's left of the Organization, and now someone who looks like Ven. I don't even know what the point of anything is anymore. Everyone I love dies." As conflicted as I was about him, I threw myself back into Xemnas's arms. He was the closest thing I had to family, which was pretty pathetic.

"You'll get through this. Just take it one day at a time. You are so strong, Jessica. Just a little bit longer now. Someday, all of this will be a distant memory, and you will be happy again," Xemnas assured me.

"I take it becoming a Nobody is still not an option for me?" I brought up.

"Absolutely not," Xemnas insisted immediately.

"I know. Worth a try," I sobbed.

"You'll just have to find another way to cope," Xemnas mentioned.

I buried my face in his coat and cried harder. Though I knew the pain of loss, it didn't get easier. Especially not with so many gone. I wanted to do so much more with Zexion after discovering that he was Mamoru. My father had just opened up more about my mother. My uncle was always so good to me. Axel was a good friend, too. If it truly was that everyone I was close to died, I knew it was only a matter of time before more death came about. "Xemnas, what am I going to do when the rest of the Organization is gone?"

"You won't have to worry about that. We're not going anywhere. What happened was an anomaly that won't happen again." Xemnas reassured me.

An old memory sprung to the front of my mind from years ago after the first time I met my mother.

My father was sitting on my bed with me. "So, I heard you met your mother," My father said.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

"What did you think?" My father wondered.

"I don't know. I'd rather not see her again," I grumbled.

"Surely you don't mean that," My father denied. Tears fell from my eyes. I buried my face in my father's coat.

"Yes I do. I don't want more family," I whined, muffled by his coat.

"But you'll love your mother," My father argued.

"That's the problem. Everyone I love dies," I cried.

"You mean you don't love me?" My father asked softly.

"Well, I do, but you already died," I sniffed.

"Jessica, I'm not dead. I didn't die. Things are just going to be different for a while, that's all. Now, I'm sure that your mother will be just fine. She's been wanting to meet you and I'm sure it made her very happy to see you at last. You wouldn't want to take that happiness away from her, would you?" My father questioned.

"No," I stated.

"Good, it's settled then. I'll take you by tomorrow after your mission," My father decided.

"What? Wait, no!" I exclaimed.

"Yes. I know you don't want her to get hurt, but not everyone will. What's happened to you in the past was an anomaly. It won't happen again," My father reassured me.

"Promise?" I checked.

"I promise." My father agreed.

As fear crept into me, I felt nauseous and dizzy. I had never felt so scared in all my life, and something was wrong with me. I could tell that much. "Xemnas, I don't think I'm okay." I pulled away as the dizziness increased, making me feel sicker.

"Jessica, what's-" Xemnas started. The world around me disappeared.