Jessica's Point of View

Xigbar was waiting for me in the Grey Area. "Hey. It's just you and me, Rabbit. Wanna give the papers a lookover before we head out?" Xigbar asked.

"Yeah. I'll take a look," I replied. I took the mission papers from Xigbar to find that it was just a recon mission. The location of it surprised me. Hollow Bastion. "Isn't that the new name for Radiant Gardens?"

"Sure is. The area really has changed since that fairy got what was coming to her. We're just going to take a look around," Xigbar answered. He opened a dark corridor. He stopped me by grabbing my shoulder when I was about to go in. "One more thing. This is a covert operation. I heard you started getting reckless since Atlantica. Don't make yourself known to the residents, and don't make any scenes. I don't care what situation we're in, don't talk to anyone unless I tell you directly. You got it?"

"Yes, I got it. Axel already drilled it into my head. Would you give it a rest?" I groaned. Xigbar's usual smirk was wiped from his face as it settled into a frown. He released my shoulder and uncharacteristically remained silent. It was almost scary. We went through the dark corridor without a word and came out near the castle. "Can I go inside?"

"No," Xigbar stated.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"We're supposed to look around town. This isn't the time to reminisce," Xigbar explained. I hesitated as he started walking on. "Come on. I don't have all day."

"I liked Axel better," I grumbled.

"Tough. How'd you get to be such a whiny brat? Did living as a mermaid really get you that soft? You used to be so focused, but now you're sloppy, reckless, and lack work ethic. I may as well be on a mission with Demyx," Xigbar snapped.

I wanted to shoot a comeback his way, but I held my tongue. If Xigbar, who was nearly always nonchalant, was that wound up with me, he was probably right. When we got to the town, Xigbar grabbed my waist. Without warning, he teleported us to the roof of a building before letting go of me. Disoriented, I stumbled a bit. I slipped and nearly fell off, but he caught me. He let out a grunt of displeasure. "That one wasn't on me. You need to warn me next time," I huffed.

He gave me a stern glare but eventually sighed and put his arms up in surrender. "I'll give you that one."

We stuck to the rooftops. They appeared to be reconstructing Radiant Gardens. Xigbar and I stopped and kneeled down when we saw a girl with short black hair except for a long braid in the back and brown eyes dressed in a black crop top and vest, brown shorts, and grey boots talking with a man with brown hair and blue eyes in a black short-sleeved jacket, a white shirt, black pants, and black shoes. "I need you to patrol while I oversee some developments. Think you can handle that, Yuffie?" The boy asked.

"You got it, Leon," The girl agreed.

"That's Yuffie and Leon. They were kids in the town back when-" I stopped mid-sentence and stood up.

"What are you doing?" Xigbar hissed, but it was too late. I was already jumping down.

"Hi. Long time, no see," I greeted.

"I haven't seen you before. Who are you?" Yuffie asked.

"You don't remember? I'm Jessica," I explained. I was met with blank stares. I sighed. "The blond girl who hung around Ienzo?" Recognition passed over their faces.

"You're alive?!" Leon exclaimed.

"I'm just as surprised as you are. I thought you both were gone," I commented.

"It's been so long since I've seen you. How's Ienzo? Did he make it out to?" Yuffie wondered.

"He- he did, but he's gone now. He died earlier this year," I replied.

"Oh no," Yuffie gasped.

"Hey, do you want to come with us back to our headquarters? It's really just Merlin's house. We can help you," Leon offered.

I realized just how much I messed up by talking to them. "Thanks, but I already have other arrangements. It was great catching up. We should do it again sometime," I smiled. I ran and turned the corner. That was all Xigbar needed to teleport me back to the roof. I saw his single eye glaring down at me and knew that I was in loads of trouble. He opened a dark corridor and pushed me inside it. When we left, instead of The Castle That Never Was, he had taken me to the forest in Twilight Town.

"Let's have a talk," Xigbar said, plopping down at the base of a tree.

My shoulders sagged in relief. From how Xigbar had been looking at me, I thought he would hit me. I sat down across from him. "I know. I thought since I knew them, it would be fine. I didn't even know there was anyone else left."

I could see the Xigbar's tension dissipate, though he still didn't break into his usual smirk. "Regardless of whether you knew them or not, talking to civilians just because you can is unacceptable. You know we don't tolerate repeat offenses like that. We even went over this before we left."

The disappointment in his tone stung deeper than it would have if he had yelled at me. If he had yelled at me, I would have had someone to be angry at. To yell back at. Instead, all I could do was feel guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Good. You should be sorry. I know Axel already told you how dangerous disrupting the world order can be. You already should know that. Especially as a keyblade wielder," Xigbar commented.

"What's that have to do with anything?" I wondered.

"Come on. Didn't your master tell you?" Xigbar scoffed.

"Maybe. I don't know. That was ages ago. What do you know about keyblade wielders?" I demanded.

"Me?" Xigbar paused in thought. He seemed to be crafting his words cautiously. "I knew a few back in the day. That was forever ago."

"You knew other keyblade wielders? What were they like? Were any of them like me?" I couldn't get my questions out fast enough. I wanted to know everything.

Xigbar stood up. "That's enough story time. We'll say you learned your lesson and you don't ask any more questions. Sound good?"

"Are you bribing me? Come on, I wanna know. You can't just tell me you knew keyblade wielders and then leave me hanging. Were they trained traditionally? Where did you meet them? How much time did you spend with them? Were they your friends?" The questions kept tumbling out of me.

Xigbar opened a dark corridor and turned back to show me his signature smirk. "When this freak show is over, I'll tell you all about it. Until then, you don't ask me more questions, and I don't tell Xemnas that you put the Organization at risk. Deal?"

"If that's how it has to be. I'll hold you to that, you know. When the Organization is over, you'll tell me all about it," I smiled.

He ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand away, though I secretly enjoyed it. "It's a promise. Let's get going."

"Actually, I have somewhere to be. I'll see you later," I mentioned.

Xigbar frowned. "Hold on a minute. I need to know where you'll be."

"That's actually kind of personal. I can't really tell you," I replied.

"As if. You know that Xemnas has me keeping an eye on you. I don't think it'll go over well if I go back without you or an explanation of where you are," Xigbar huffed.

"I'll be with Axel. Does that help?" I asked.

Xigbar gave me a stern look before something in him seemed to give, and his eye softened. "Yeah, Rabbit. That helps. Be warned, I'll check with Axel to see if you're lying to me later." He started to leave but then turned back to me. "One more thing. Don't tell anyone about what I told you about the keyblade wielders. It'll be our little secret." He vanished through the dark corridor.

I bought an ice cream and headed to the Clock Tower. Axel, Roxas, and Xion were already there. "How'd your mission go? I was lonely without you," Axel wondered.

"I got in trouble again. I'll tell you about it later." I wanted to tell Axel that I talked to Yuffie and Leon, but I wasn't about to in front of Roxas and Xion. Luckily, Axel didn't press for more details.

"All this fighting... I wonder what it's for," Roxas mentioned.

"Come on, you know what it's for. We have to complete the great Kingdom Hearts. You saw it, too, didn't you?" Axel pointed out.

"But what is Kingdom Hearts?" Roxas wondered.

"It's the gathering place of hearts... isn't it?" Xion checked.

"Yep. When enough hearts are gathered, you guys will have hearts of your own. Or at least that's what they say," I sighed.

"Is Kingdom Hearts really that important?" Roxas questioned.

"Are you crazy?" Axel scoffed.

"I just don't see why having a heart is that important, you know," Roxas added.

"Come on, you're wondering about that now?" Axel said in disbelief.

"Well, I don't understand, since I don't have a heart," Roxas groaned.

"Roxas..." Xion trailed off.

"We'll understand once we have our own hearts. That's why we fight, to find out what it's about," Axel smiled.

"Okay... I guess you're right," Roxas agreed reluctantly.

"Actually, I was upset after the meeting this morning," I brought up.

"Oh? What about?" Axel inquired.

"Kingdom Hearts is almost complete. That means if my dad, Zexion, and Lexaeus had held out just a little longer... they would finally be able to feel again. I know I shouldn't feel sad for them since I should be happy for everyone that's left, but I just can't get them off my mind," I explained.

"Hey, who said you shouldn't feel sad for them? That's stupid," Axel declared.

"But you-" I started.

"Can't fill the void of a father, an uncle, or a- whatever Zexion was. It's okay to miss them. It's even okay to feel sad that they aren't here for Kingdom Hearts. None of us can fill their shoes no matter how much we try," Axel interrupted.

I wanted to fall into another fit of tears then and there, but I used all my strength to keep myself together. "Thank you. I needed to hear that." I stared into the sunset and thought about happier times when I had both parents in my life.

When we got back to the castle, Axel pulled me aside. "You said you got into trouble on your mission today. What kind of trouble?"

I winced. "I hoped you forgot about that. Look, please don't tell anyone. I'm only telling you because we're friends. Xigbar and I were doing recon in Radiant Gardens today. I guess it's Hollow Bastion now, but still the same place. Do you remember Yuffie and Leon? I saw them."

Axel crossed his arms. "And?"

"And I might've, sort of, maybe, talked to them," I finished.

"Jess-" Axel began condescendingly.

"Xigbar already told me off. I know it was stupid and wrong," I tried.

"Yeah. Well, I guess nothing can be done about it now. Goodnight. It's not my problem anymore," Axel commented before heading to his room.

I felt a hand on my back, and I glanced behind me to see Xigbar with his usual smirk. "Good to see you made it back. I already took care of our report. Get to bed. We've got another mission ahead of us tomorrow."

"Yeah. Great," I groaned. I wasn't particularly looking forward to the endless days of missions to follow, but I went to my room and collapsed on my bed to prepare for what the next day brought regardless.