Chapter Fifteen: Simple

Secret Report: Axel III

I was sure that with everything going on in this castle, it was only a matter of time before someone did something drastic. But Naminé trying to learn how to use a keyblade?

If she really succeeds, I can't let her just walk away. Xemnas would read me the riot act for sure if I let a keyblade wielder slip from the Organization's fingers into the wild. Especially when it isn't a surprise. Either she's coming with me, or stays in this castle forever. Dead or...

Roxas wanted to train her. He seemed so eager to help her. It's crazy to say he cares about her since Nobodies don't have hearts…

But if I have to kill her, and he ever finds out? I'm the assassin that can plan for almost anything, but that? My mind just comes up blank about what to do if that happens.

Missions before this were easy. Predictable. Get in. Do the job. Get out. Rinse and repeat, day after day.

I just need to keep things simple. Keep this job from getting icky.

Roxas ran a hand through his hair as he sat on his bed that night. He had desperately been trying to calm down enough to fall asleep. All for nothing. Even though he agreed to training Naminé, Marluxia's reaction wasn't quite the pleased acceptance or accommodation he had been hoping for. He could clearly remember the command Marluxia gave before he left in another dark portal.

"Your training begins tomorrow. If we do not see results in a few days, your tutoring of her ends. This also cannot interfere with your own efforts to improve your strength. Sora is nearly halfway up the castle."

Guess it was too much to ask for a little slack with how much he was working. Ever since he came to this castle he'd been put to the test. These weren't just missions anymore. Roxas had to fight for his life.

It was a good thing he had friends to help him though it. Axel was easy to trust, he was his first friend in the organization. And Zexion? He was willing to open up, even if just a bit about his past. At first, he seemed just like a younger version of Vexen, stuffy and studious. But after they had talked, maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe deep down, Zexion just needed someone who could listen. Maybe he and Axel could help him with that.

And maybe together, they could help Naminé too.

With that hope he could finally lie down and get some sleep. Even with friends, he was definitely going to need rest for tomorrow.

A blue sky…The ocean…An island…

On a small island there were children. Spending time together as most children did. Looking out to sea and wondering what lay beyond the horizon. Imagining adventures with little more than props and toys. Fighting fake monsters or villains with wooden swords. Or even just fighting for fun and a small token of appreciation.

Such as now.

"So whoever wins, Naminé makes a picture of next?"

Riku smirked at Sora as he rested the toy sword on his shoulder. "You can give up any time you know."

"Not a chance!" Sora settled into a stance with his weapon in both hands. But then he paused as he saw someone else run up. "Huh?"

Sora's eyes widened in surprise. "Kairi?"

Kairi grinned as she came to a stop in front of the two of them, wooden sword in her hand. "Whoever wins the fight gets a picture from Naminé right? Well, I want to give it a shot too!"

Riku stuttered for a moment, "I...I don't think—"

"Hey Naminé!" Only to be interrupted by Sora calling out to the girl sitting under the shade of the seaside shack. "Is it okay if Kairi wins the fight Naminé?"

Sitting on a blanket, notepad and crayon in hand, Naminé simply smiled at the three of them. "I'm perfectly fine drawing whoever wins."

Sora nodded and looked at Kairi and Riku. "Alright! Ready?"

Riku nervously held up a hand. "Hold on! If it's three of us, we've got to have some rules!"

Kairi giggled, "You seemed fine fighting Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie all together."

"Well that's…"

Naminé's focus on Riku's voice stopped as she heard a creak from the door next to her. She relaxed as she saw a familiar face peeking out from the crack in the doorway. The face of a boy who both was and wasn't. Roxas looked out to the three on the beach before turning back to Naminé with a raised eyebrow. "Are they always like this?"

She shook her head, setting aside one of the crayons she held over the page. "Usually It's just Sora and Riku fighting. But sometimes Kairi gets involved too."

Looking back to the trio, Roxas had his eyes on Sora, as he pointed the toy sword to the sky as he talked. Roxas asked a bit more quietly, "Who usually wins?"

"Riku."

At Naminé's answer, Sora's pose was interrupted by Riku knocking him back with a nonchalant swing of his sword. Roxas leaned back in surprise before turning to Naminé again. "It's not Sora?"

"Riku's always been the best," Naminé explained as Sora fell to the sand. "But Sora never gives up." As Kairi moved to his side, he dusted himself off and readied himself again.

Roxas watched as both Kairi and Sora began to charge Riku, who blocked each attack before leaping over the two of them. Roxas saw as Kairi began parrying each one of Riku's counterattacks before it hit him. "Hey Naminé" At her name, she looked over to Roxas. "Maybe you could try fighting too?"

Naminé stared for a moment towards the horizon in surprise before slowly looking to the barrel full of familiar toys. In an instant, she ran over and began to rummage through it. Roxas smiled seeing her get ready.

But then he froze. Was...was he imagining things?

Or was Sora looking at him?

He quickly shuffled back behind the door and let it shut. It...it was just for a moment, he might not have actually seen him. He held his breath as he waited.

"Is...there room for one more?"

"Naminé?"

And at the sound of her voice and Riku's response, he let it go with a smile. Slowly he peeked through one of the gaps in the wooden door and looked out to the beach. Naminé held a toy sword of her own as she stood in front of the trio. Sora asked in amazement, "Are you sure?"

It wasn't very loud. But Roxas heard Naminé's answer clearly enough. "I want to try."

Kairi began to...

Naminé began to wake up, the image of the island fading away again into nothingness. She only had the sensation of the flimsy blanket keeping her warm, and the hard floor underneath.

Eventually, she got up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The memory-dream was fresh in her mind, if a bit hazy. At the moment, she was grateful that Roxas still kept hidden. Even if she wasn't actively working on making memories, that didn't mean that they weren't being made in the dreams or in subconscious. Naminé just needed to make sure they were shaped into something consistent across everyone's memories.

Which led to the problem. How would she even finish the fight in that memory? Originally, she would probably have had Sora win. But with Kairi still so present in Sora's mind, that had complicated things. Granted, it gave Naminé a chance to step up and learn something. Even if it was only through studying a memory.

Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, for all she knew last night might not have happened. What good was fighting if Marluxia wouldn't listen?

*Knock Knock Knock* "Naminé? Are you up?"

No. Last night's promise wasn't a dream. Hearing Roxas knocking outside her door made that clear. And if that was the case, then today she wasn't going to be focusing on Sora's memories. Fortunately, if the memory was somewhat hazy for Naminé then it would be harder for Sora to recall in full. She could come back to it later and fill in the gaps.

With that in mind, she wasted no time getting to her feet and jogging to the door. "Just a second!" She opened it as Roxas had his hand up ready to knock once again.

Pausing in surprise, his hand was still for a moment before he slowly gave an awkward smile and a wave. "G...good morning."

A small giggle escaped her lips seeing Roxas like this. "Good morning Roxas." But her smile faded as Naminé realized Roxas wasn't alone. "Axel, Zexion? You're here too?"

Axel gave a more relaxed wave as he leaned on the wall outside. "Hey. Sorry to show up unannounced."

Zexion nodded as he looked over Naminé's room for a moment. "Considering you two are pivotal in the Organization's plans, it would be prudent to keep an eye on you as you both train."

"Not to mention we need to make sure Ansem doesn't try anything with our two leading actors." Axel stepped away from the wall and clapped his hands together. "Well then. First things first, Roxas. How can Naminé get a keyblade?"

Roxas eagerly began to explain, "Well you need to…"

Only for that eagerness to end just as soon as Roxas had found it. He began to rub the back of his head as he admitted, "Actually I don't know. For me, it's something that's always there. Like you can just reach out and call on it when you truly need it.

Zexion sighed, and Axel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Real helpful piece of advice there. This might be the shortest training session I've seen."

But after thinking for a moment, Naminé shook her head. "I think I understand what he means. It's like with my power over memories. It's not something I can put into words easily. But it's something that's just...there." In her mind's eye, she saw all the chains woven from Sora's memories. How they connected to everyone he ever met.

And if she focused a bit past the mass of memories…

"I think I can see...something else." Naminé furrowed her brow as she tried to call whatever it was towards her. Yet for some reason, it just would not come to her. "But it's just out of reach, if it's even a keyblade."

Axel shook his head at the result, while Zexion simply continued jotting notes in his lexicon. Roxas began to pace as he listened to her explanation. But then came to a stop and snapped his fingers. "I've got it!" In a flash, he summoned his keyblade to his hands before holding it across both hands and turning to Naminé. "Try using mine!"

Zexion smiled as he watched the two of them. "It might be worthwhile to use an intermediary for this initial lesson." Axel said nothing, only nodding at the suggestion.

Naminé hesitated before reaching out to the Kingdom Key in Roxas' hands. Slowly, her hand wrapped around the grip as she picked it up. The weapon had some weight to be sure, but it was light enough for her to hold onto. There was nothing that happened around her. No rush of wind, no light, no voice that spoke to her.

And yet just holding the keyblade, she felt something more. Some kind of connection to Roxas. Even though it was similar to Sora's own weapon, she knew deep down that the keyblade was tied to who Roxas was.

So who was she?

Who was Naminé?

"Well." Her thoughts were interrupted by Axel as he leaned in closer. "Any idea how we can check if that worked?"

"Perhaps if we test her magical aptitude." Zexion nodded as he walked over to Naminé and Roxas. "You are familiar with the fire spell?"

"Yes. It was one of Sora's first. Let me try." She knew the memory easily enough. How Sora was able to call upon the energy within himself and channel it into a ball of flame. Now she knew she had some kind of power within her. She just needed to focus, let it ignite into a ball of—

"Ah!"

A ball of fire shot out from the keyblade, causing her to yelp as it shot towards the wall. Axel surveyed the leftover scorch marks before grinning. "Alright. Not bad to start off."

Roxas shook his head with a smile. "Not bad? That was pretty good! She learned magic faster than I did."

Axel waved his hand as his eyes were on Naminé. "Sure sure, now what about an actual fight? Any ideas?"

Roxas had an answer almost immediately. "Traverse Town!"

Zexion and Axel looked at him in slight confusion. "I'm guessing you mean going back to the memory. Because the real one isn't much of an option for her"

Roxas' mouth twitched and he slowly nodded. "Yeah. The memory card. Not the real one." Naminé shook her head. She could hardly blame him for wanting to find a way to get her out of the castle.

With a flourish, Zexion held the appropriate card in his hands. "That's rather fitting. Sora stopped there too at around this point and had to fight to seal the Keyhole."

Axel rolled his arms as the four of them walked up to the doors as Roxas moved to close them. "Alright then. Perfect place to run double duty!"

Namine paused at the door, looking down to the keyblade in her hand and then to Roxas."Will you be fine without a weapon?"

Roxas stopped with his hands on the doorknobs for a moment before turning to reach for the card in Zexion's hand. "I'll think of something."

Seeing Roxas hold the card up in front of the door, Zexion could only sigh. "Well, at the very least we'll see how good you are at improvising."

The seeker crept from floor to floor. Shadow hiding them from all and providing safe passage. Ansem knew that the inhabitants of the castle used the cards to transform the empty floors into facsimiles of worlds and their inhabitants. Complete with heartless menace that was just as threatening. Even if they were not truly born from the darkness of hearts.

He saw there were three that had been changing the floors through the power of memory. One was the boy who had defeated him and left him in no position to withstand the accursed light of Kingdom Hearts. To face him now would be most unwise.

The other was the princess. Her heart had forged a door of light to lead her to her heart's desire. To her friends. Even after regaining control, he was in no position to face that power of light again, lest his foothold slip.

And the third floor was transformed by the hollow ones. The nobodies that ruled this castle. Ones desperately trying to control the power of the keyblade. And though they were without heart, that emptiness could be advantageous to him.

It only needed the right push.