Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

x.x.x

That place is always lit up by the same scarlet sunset.

I wonder where that place was. It must have been Twilight Town.

“Roxas…”

I wonder who it was that spoke to me.

I don’t remember the name of the person that stood in front of me, wearing a black coat.

But I must have been given a name there.

And then I met him.

Him—that guy with the red hair, and of course wearing a black coat.

And then, we ate ice cream.

I remember.

I remember that, I haven’t forgotten.

I won’t forget.

x.x.x

The preparations for his awakening are complete.

As a Heartless, he has already vanished, the n.o.body remaining—and, it is he, returned to normal.

x.x.x

The sound of waves could be heard.

The tide was moving in and out, was.h.i.+ng sand away from the beach.

The boy’s body sank slowly into the water.

Or, perhaps he was trying to be caught by the waves.

And then, the boy opened his eyes.

A stark white room. A stark white bed. Through the wide window, a pitch black sky and the neon of skysc.r.a.pers were visible.

Where is this place, again?

This is my room.

This is a place called ‘The World That Never Was’.

And, my name is Roxas.

That’s my name.

I’m number 13 of the Organisation.

I feel like I’ve been dreaming the whole time.

No, I also feel like I was awake the whole time.

Yesterday—yesterday, I was by a dark ocean. I met him there.

Our boss.

After that—I don’t really remember so well.

Maybe the stuff that happened yesterday didn’t really happen at all.

Maybe I’m still dreaming.

The boy—Roxas got out of bed, and left the room.

He continued along a corridor, white just like his room, and made of something inorganic. It was a little like stone, and a little like something artificial; Roxas didn’t know what it was. Only that there was a s.p.a.ce that continued along there. Many doors, like the one to his own room, lined the corridor. The design of the rooms on the other side of the doors were also probably the same. And so, inside were probably people just like him.

Shortly, the s.p.a.ce opened out, and he started descending a sloping hallway. At the end of it was The Garden of Weaving Light and Dark—the lobby, it was called. He had been told to come here upon waking.

By who?

He didn’t really remember.

The lobby was chilly, enclosed in transparent gla.s.s, outside of which there was nothing but pitch black darkness and white buildings.

‘Huh? You finally up?’

Roxas turned. A blonde woman, wearing the same black coat as Roxas, was looking down at him. Roxas couldn’t answer at all, and she—Larxene curled her lip, resting her hip on the side of the sofa. Roxas had no idea what on earth the change in her expression meant. But, when he saw that look, he got just a little uneasy.

There were three people other than Larxene wearing that same black coat, spending the extra time they didn’t know what to do with inside the lobby.

Roxas approached someone who was looking at the pitch dark outside the window; a person with red hair.

Perhaps there was a reason he was chosen to pair up with Roxas, perhaps there wasn’t. Roxas didn’t know that, either.

But, when Roxas drew nearer to that person, he turned around, a smile showing on his face.

“Hey, Roxas.”

“…………”

Roxas cast his gaze downwards. He didn’t really know what he should say in reply.

“What’s up? You need something?”

I don’t really need anything, but I was thinking maybe it would be nice to talk to someone, that’s all.

The red-haired person—Axel looked at Roxas, who was still looking down.

That reminds me—that’s right, that day, it must have been the first day, the one who was with me was—

“Oh yeah, they said we have to meet at the Round Room today… what a pain in the a.s.s…’

“Round Room…” Roxas murmured.

I remember the place they call the Round Room.

That was also on the first day—no, wasn’t it after that?

Roxas looked up at Axel.

“Apparently there’s something we have to hear. Let’s hurry up and go.”

Axel held up one hand, and darkness opened up before it.

Oh, I know. We people of the Organisation can manipulate that darkness at will.

That darkness must be a—

“You wanna hurry and use a dark corridor?”

“Dark corridor…”

That’s right, a dark corridor.

On the other side of the darkness, other worlds open up. Instead of using doors, so to speak.

“I hate it, always get a sore a.s.s from sitting on those hard seats,” said Axel, laughing as he spoke.

He was interrupted by a person standing in the centre of the lobby.

“You two, hurry up.”

Axel and Roxas were the only ones left in the lobby, apart from a man with long blue hair and a large scar on his forehead—Saïx. Larxene had already left. The others had probably left to be present at the Round Room long since.

“Yeah yeah—let’s go, Roxas. Open a dark corridor for yourself, too,” said Axel, entering the darkness he had opened.

“…………”

The darkness closed up before Roxas’ eyes.

“Hurry up,” announced Saïx, and he also disappeared into a dark opening.

Roxas was the only one left in the lobby.

Roxas stared at his own hand.

How do I open the dark like that?

Roxas lifted a hand, like Axel had, and closed his eyes for a second.

He recalled that darkness.

I have to get to that place—the Round Room.

Beside Roxas, the darkness opened its gaping mouth.

Is the Round Room really at the end of that?

Roxas stepped inside.

x.x.x

The hall that they called the Round Room was enclosed by a circular wall. The walls were made of the same white material as the other rooms. In the middle of the room was a large circular table—a stage-like ‘round table’, and thirteen seats surrounded it. The chairs were tall, and each had a different height.

And, twelve other black-coated people had also taken their seats.

Roxas couldn’t remember all their names very clearly, and he stared vaguely at the ‘round table’ placed in the middle of the room. Painted there was a mark that was very similar to a cross; it was also painted on Roxas’ bed. Roxas knew what it meant.

That’s the seal of the Organisation—of the n.o.bodies.

But, I don’t know who told me that.

“Today is a day that deserves commemoration.”

The air quivered with the resounding voice.

Oh, I know. That voice belongs to—that guy, our boss, Xemnas.

And then, a lone person appeared in the Round Room.

“A new comrade has joined our ranks.”

I can’t tell what that person’s face looks like, what with it hidden so deep in their hood.

“The 14th…”

Thing were suddenly flitting across Roxas’ mind. It was only a few days ago—probably six days ago.

Axel dressed him in a black coat, and then brought him to this room.

The one chosen by the Keyblade—

Xemnas must have said that to me, that day.

The Keyblade?

I don’t even know what that is.

Roxas looked at the person standing in the middle of the Round Room.

The person lifted their face for just a moment, and Roxas stirred, getting the feeling that they were looking at him.

It looked like that person’s mouth, which should have been concealed and unseeable under the hood, was smiling.

I feel like I’ve seen that smile somewhere before.

But I can’t remember where.

Until now, these seven days past, I haven’t once been scared of the things I can’t remember.

But now, I’m somehow—scared.

Scared?

What does it mean, to be scared?

Roxas sensed something flicker, and he looked up.

Xemnas had disappeared, wrapped in darkness. And then, one after the other, the members of the Organisation disappeared.

The 14th was still looking at him.

And then, Roxas pa.s.sed out.

x.x.x

What’ll happen to me—?

I’m—fad——ing—into the dark…

x.x.x

Xemnas watched Roxas, who had been put down to sleep on his bed.

“—Hurry up and awaken.”

There was no answer.

Xemnas’ figure vanished from Roxas’ room.

x.x.x

The air in the Round Room quivered.

As if the darkness was burning, many dark corridors opened into the seats, and the figures of the black-coated members appeared.

There were seven of them. The seven people between No. I and No. VII—in other words, Xemnas, Xigbar, Xaldin, Vexen, Lexeaus, Zexion, and Saïx.

“To allow the newcomer to attend.”

The biggest newcomer amongst the members in attendance—Saïx stared straight at the centre of the Round Room, without showing any particular reaction to Vexen’s words.

“Have we been able to extract the ‘key’?” Xigbar asked.

“Key? You must be talking about the fragments. If it’s only the fragments, we can take them out without the aid of the witch’s power,” Vexen answered.

“Are more fragments necessary?” asked Zexion.

“That depends on the movement of the hero,” Vexen said, without hesitation.

Lexeaus opened his mouth. “More importantly, are the movements of the heroes being properly monitored?”

“Marluxia has been ordered to act without any slipups,” answered Saïx, this time.

“The hero’s n.o.body appearing was pretty irregular in itself, anyway,” said Xaldin, and all gazes concentrated on him. “Doesn’t the existence of the hero’s n.o.body make continuing the plan meaningless?”

“Well, we need some kinda insurance, is what I’m sayin,” said Xigbar.

“The plan has been set in motion,” Xemnas interrupted, and all six faces lifted. “In order to a.s.sure our new power, we will put our first plan into action,” he stated, in conclusion at last, and the other six each nodded.

x.x.x

He opened his eyes, and found himself on top of his bed.

What happened yesterday?

I can’t really remember, like always.

Roxas got out of bed, and went to look out the window.

The sky is as pitch dark as always, so I don’t really know, but it seems like the date has changed.

I have to go to the lobby once I’ve woken up. At the moment, that’s all I understand.

Roxas left his room and walked the hallways just like had had the day before, heading for the lobby.

“Roxas,” came the call, the instant he stepped into his place of destination. It was Saïx. Roxas stared vaguely up at him.

Mission.

Somehow I get that it’s not okay for me to just be here.

I don’t really understand what I’m here for, though, like always.

“It’s closer to training than a mission. There are various things we’d like you to remember before going out on missions. Today you will be moving with Axel. Isn’t that nice, Axel.”

Roxas s.h.i.+fted his gaze to the side of Saïx, and Axel was standing there. And, behind him, Roxas saw one more member was standing there.

That was the 14th.

“What is this… am I supposed to be his mentor or something?” Axel answered, scratching his head.

“Yes. Teach Roxas mission basics.”

“Yeah yeah. Understood.”

Removed from Axel and Saïx’s conversation, Roxas watched the 14th.