Chapter III - New Bonds
Play: Sacred Moon - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kirux and Axel were walking down the halls, having just returned to the castle a few minutes prior.
Out of nowhere, someone yelled at them from behind, "Hey, Axel!"
The two of them turned around and saw someone running up to the two of them.
Axel smiled as he came up to them, "Hey Roxas. We missed you at the clock tower today."
Roxas stopped a few feet in front of the two of them, "Sorry. Work was long today. I just got back a few minutes ago."
…
Roxas then turned to Kirux, "You must be the new guy. I'm Roxas, it's nice to meet you."
He put his hand out towards Kirux, who just stared at him in confusion.
"Y'know Kirux," Axel said, "Normally when someone extends their hand to you, you shake it."
"Huh? Oh, sorry." Kirux responded, knocking himself out of his confused daze, "I'm Kirux."
He grabbed Roxas's hand and shook it as Axel said to.
Roxas pulled his hand back, "So Axel's the one training you too, huh?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Well, for today yes," Axel said, "He'll be paired with somebody else tomorrow."
"Really?" Kirux asked him.
"Yeah. Everyone's gotta pull their weight around here. Saïx will let you know who you're with tomorrow morning."
Kirux frowned, "I thought you were the one that was training me..."
"I was...for today. Tomorrow, it'll be either Xigbar or Luxord. One or the other."
Axel ruffled Kirux's hair, "Don't worry. Once you're done, come back up to the clock tower and hang out with us."
"Us?"
"Yeah, me and Roxas. We're friends now."
"Friends? What does that mean?"
Roxas laughed, "You must be really new."
"I've only been around for a few hours."
Axel put his hand on Kirux's shoulder, "Don't worry. Roxas and I will explain everything. Come back to the clock tower tomorrow after you're done, then we'll talk some more."
"For now though," Axel continued, "Get some rest. You're gonna learn to fight tomorrow."
Kirux went up to his door, "I guess I'll talk to you guys tomorrow then."
"Yeah. Talk to you tomorrow, Kirux." Roxas said, him and Axel walking down the hall.
…
Kirux went into his room and sat down on his bed. He noticed the nightstand next to the bed, him reaching over and opening the drawer. There was a book inside, which he pulled out.
"Is this a journal or something?" He said to himself, opening it up to the first page.
He pulled out the pen that was next to the journal in the drawer and started writing.
...
Day 1:
"Well, I guess I'm a part of Organization XIII. I've only been around for a few hours, and yet I still don't understand so much."
"At least I met Axel. He's the only one that's explained anything to me. He and his friend Roxas are cool. Axel told me that I'm a "Nobody" and that I don't have a heart. Everyone in this group is a Nobody, apparently."
But if we don't have hearts, how do we even exist? Don't people need hearts to live? Are we not even people at all? If I'm number fifteen, and there are only nine members left, what happened to the others?
What does Xemnas even want with me? Why was I chosen to be a part of the Organization?
There's also the thing with Riku. Who is Riku? Was my name Riku before I became Kirux? What caused me to lose my heart and become a Nobody?
I just hope that I can get answers. Whether I get it from Axel, the other members, or someone else.
He stopped writing, putting the journal and pen back on the nightstand.
"Man, I'm tired. I'd better get some sleep."
He lay down on his bed and fell asleep a few minutes later.
Stop: Sacred Moon - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Riku walked down into the computer room, with DiZ.
"So," he said, "You got a plan for that guy?"
"You mean your clone?"
"Who else would I be talking about? If he's with Organization XIII, then they've gotta have a good reason for bringing him in."
DiZ looked back towards his computer, "The main question...is how he was created..."
"Yeah. There's that too. They've been training him in town. If you want me to bring him in, I can."
DiZ didn't respond.
…
"Riku," he said, after a few seconds, "I want you to answer this question."
"What is it?" He said as the girl in white walked in.
"You wear the blindfold to prevent yourself from releasing the darkness in your heart. Am I correct?"
"Yeah...so?"
"I want to take off the blindfold."
…
"But-,"
"Do it. I want to see something..."
Riku was hesitant, but he reached to the back of the blindfold, untying it and pulling it off.
He didn't open his eyes. He only waited.
Nothing happened.
Riku did open his eyes, surprised.
"What..?"
"As I suspected..." DiZ said, "Things are worse than I once thought..."
Four Days Later...
Play: Sacred Moon - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kirux was walking to the Grey Area. He'd just finished his training yesterday with Xaldin. The day after he joined, he was taught about Heartless and how to fight by Xigbar, how to use magic with Luxord, how to perform recon with Demyx, and finally Limit Breaks with Xaldin the day before (he did end up getting punched in the face by him, but Kirux just shrugged it off).
He was upset to not get to go with Axel or Roxas, with who he'd become friends (now that he understood what that meant). He learned that Roxas was special, and could wield something called the "Keyblade". The Organization used his and their fourteenth member's Keyblades to collect hearts, and those hearts would be used to create "Kingdom Hearts." Once they did that, they would gain back their hearts and become people again.
Kirux didn't understand it the first time Axel explained it, but he cleared it up with him after so he understood.
…
Today was supposed to be Kirux's first real mission. After his training was finished, Saïx told him he'd have to start going on missions alone or with another member. He hoped his first would be with another member, specifically Roxas or Axel. Having a familiar face with him would be good to have.
He reached the Grey Area, seeing Roxas and Axel by the glass, talking with Saïx.
Kirux walked up, "Hey guys." He said as he approached.
Roxas turned back, "Hey Kirux. Your first mission is today, right?"
"Yep. What about you guys?"
Axel answered, "Roxas and I have been tasked with finding one of our missing members."
"Oh. So...what about me?"
"I'm sending you to a new world." Saïx said to him, "You'll be tasked with investigating the area and bringing any intel back here. You'll be going alone."
"You're sending him to a new world by himself?" Axel questioned him, "That seems a bit much for his first mission."
"There is no one else I can send. It's either he goes, or nobody goes. Now, you two need to depart."
Axel glared at him but just turned to Roxas, "Let's head out, Roxas. We've gotta go find Xion."
"Xion? Is that the one who went missing?"
"Yeah, that's her name. She's a friend of mine. We'll introduce you to her once we get back." Roxas said to Kirux.
"Huh. Cool. Well, good luck."
"You too."
Roxas nodded to Kirux, and he turned and walked into a dark corridor with Axel.
Saïx looked down at Kirux, "You need to head out now. Remember your mission."
"Got it."
Kirux opened a dark corridor and entered.
Stop: Sacred Moon - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kirux exited, hearing the sounds of rushing waterfalls and stones underneath his feet.
He looked up, and gasped, "Whoa. What is this place?"
Entered New World: Hollow Bastion
Play: Hollow Bastion - KH Re: Chain of Memories
He saw a bunch of floating platforms, as well as a massive castle in the distance. There was one large platform with a lift that he assumed would take him to the castle.
"Well, Saïx said to investigate. Guess he meant he wanted me to investigate the castle."
He took a deep breath, "Okay Kirux. This is your first mission. Let's make a good first impression. Okay? Okay. Let's do this."
Kirux ran forward, hopping up on the next platform. He kept jumping onto each platform until he reached the lift.
"This ought to take me to the castle." He said, stepping onto the lift.
It started up and moved towards the castle.
…
…
…
The lift reached the castle, and Kirux stepped off. He then ran over to the castle doors.
"Okay, time to head inside." He pushed, but the doors didn't budge. He then tried pulling one of the handles, only for that to not work either.
He took a step back, "Well, that's just great. How am I supposed to get inside?"
Kirux started walking back towards the lift, but instead walked past it and headed down a path that led to another lift. This one took him down, and he was now in some strange corridors. The floor was flooded, but the walls all seemed to be intact.
"Maybe there's a switch to the front door down here." He said as he walked through.
After passing by some walls that needed to be moved by switches, he found himself at a large contraption on the wall.
Kirux walked up to a button on the wall and pressed it. Soon after, there was a large rumbling.
"The doors must be open now. Time to head back up."
He turned around, heading back the way he came. He took the lift back to the castle entrance, running back to the castle doors.
The doors were opened now and led down a dark hallway.
"Perfect."
Kirux entered the dark hallway, the massive doors closing behind him.
…
A smaller set of doors opened as he approached them, leading into the entrance hall.
Kirux walked up to the center of the room. Two staircases led to the same place, with a doorway being to the left and another one (supposedly) if you went straight from the door.
Kirux went to walk up the staircase to his left, but he felt...uneasy.
As if somebody was watching him.
He turned around, "Who's there?"
There was nobody around.
Kirux didn't know that Riku was hiding behind a column, watching him.
"If there's anybody there, come out now."
No response.
Stop: Hollow Bastion - KH Re: Chain of Memories
Play: Scherzo Di Notte - KH Re: Chain of Memories
Kirux heard something appear behind him, and when he turned back, a Heartless was right there.
He jumped back, just as more Heartless started appearing.
"Maybe it was the Heartless that were watching me."
He pulled his sword out, preparing himself to fight, "I hope Xigbar's training pays off..."
Riku peeked around the column he was behind, "He's even got my fighting style, and my weapon...let's see how he does..."
…
…
…
The closest Heartless to him lunged at Kirux, swinging its claws at him. Kirux stepped back, striking the Heartless down. It evaporated into dark smoke.
Two more came at him from above, so Kirux swung at them, dispersing them both with one swing. Another one came from above, but he just had to put his sword up and knock it back to the ground.
One of the Heartless shot a blast of fire at Kirux, who swatted it away and fired his own at the Heartless. However, this Heartless must have been resistant to fire, because the Heartless just absorbed the fireball like it was nothing.
The Heartless retaliated, summoning a thundercloud above Kirux. A lightning bolt struck the ground directly in front of him, causing Kirux to stumble backward.
Kirux ran up to that Heartless, striking down a fireball the Heartless fired at him and stabbed it through the chest. The Heartless dispersed, releasing a heart into the air.
More Heartless appeared around him, one carrying a shield with a large dog-like face. It lunged at Kirux, biting at him. Kirux hopped back, jumping to get behind it.
Kirux struck the Heartless from above, which didn't take it out but did make it angry. It swung its shield back at Kirux, who dodged the attack and took the Heartless down with a Thunder spell.
The other two Heartless attacked Kirux at once, who rolled away from them and took them both out with one slice.
Stop: Scherzo Di Notte - KH Re: Chain of Memories
Play: Hollow Bastion - KH Re: Chain of Memories
Kirux looked up, searching the area.
No more Heartless appeared.
His sword faded out of his hand, exhaling, "Whew. That went pretty well."
"Now, I can explore more of the castle."
He walked up the staircase, heading further into the castle.
Riku walked out from behind the column, "Well, he's raw. But...not bad..."
He went to follow Kirux.
…
…
…
Kirux entered a new area, where there was a massive heart-shaped...thing in the wall. It was glowing with a mixture of colors.
Kirux looked up into it, admiring the colors.
"I wonder what this place was used for."
…
Suddenly, a memory flashed through his head.
Kirux put his hand up to his head, "Ahh...what the?"
"Have I...been here before? Why does this place feel so familiar?"
He let his hand fall, sighing, "Doesn't matter, maybe I can ask Axel about it later."
"Anyways, this looks like this is as far as I can go. Guess I can head back."
He turned to leave, "I wonder if Roxas and Axel are done with their mission. It'll be nice to meet Xion, and gain another friend."
Kirux had left the hall when Riku resurfaced from the shadows again.
…
"He's remembering stuff...from my memories?"
He sighed, "DiZ, I hope you know what you're doing..."
Stop: Hollow Bastion - KH Re: Chain of Memories
Kirux was walking through the castle halls. Roxas and Axel weren't at the clock tower, so he assumed that they were either not done with their mission or had already come back.
And just his luck, he saw them walking towards him.
"Roxas! Axel!" He ran over to them.
"Oh, hey Kirux." Roxas smiled as he approached, "How did your first mission go?"
"Pretty good. The world they sent me to was weird, but the Heartless didn't give me any trouble."
"Well, good thing you made it through. There's someone we want you to meet." Axel said.
…
Axel turned back, "Come on. It's the new guy Roxas and I told you about."
The two of them split, and someone walked between them. It was a girl. She had short black hair, pale white skin, and blue eyes similar to Roxas's.
She didn't say anything to Kirux, just staring down at the floor.
Kirux just stared at her.
"Wow, she's...she looks amazing."
"Wait, what am I saying? I don't have emotions...wait, do I? I'm not supposed to."
Kirux rubbed his hair, "So, uh..."
"Come on, you two! Say hi to one another." Axel said.
…
Xion started, "Hi, I'm...my name's Xion."
Kirux smiled, "I'm Kirux."
He put his hand out, "It's nice to meet you."
Xion hesitated, but grabbed his hand and shook it.
She smiled at him, "It's nice to meet you too, Kirux."
Kirux said nothing, but his mind was going crazy.
"Okay, what's going on? What is this I'm feeling? Axel said I couldn't feel anything! What's going on?! I'm freaking out, man!"
He released Xion's hand, and Axel walked next to the two of them, "So, you two friends now?"
"I don't know...are we?" Xion asked Kirux.
Kirux nodded, "Yeah. If you're friends with Roxas and Axel, then, of course, we're friends."
Xion smiled at him, only making his mind go even crazier.