Vol 1 Chapter 5 (1/2)

x.x.x

It’s been 26 days since I joined the Organisation.

Roxas woke up, like always, and headed for the lobby, like always.

But, unlike always, the atmosphere in the lobby was different.

“So you don’t understand the situation?” Xaldin folded his arms, his normally stern expression now even more severe.

“I only just heard too. What the heck is happening? It’d suck if it was true.” Demyx’s expression also looked darker than usual.

I’m getting… a really bad feeling about this.

“Did something happen?” Roxas asked Xigbar, who was standing next to Saïx.

“Hm? Yeah—one of the members who went to Castle Oblivion got annihilated, as they say.”

“Annihilated…?”

It was an unfamiliar word.

I know the meaning of the word. To disappear and go away.

But, what does that mean—?

I’m sure Axel went to Castle Oblivion.

Axel, annihilated…?

“Roxas, you have a mission. You’re going with Xigbar to a new world—Agrabah.”

At the sudden order, Roxas looked up in surprise. The mission had been issued by—Saïx, of course. Saïx’s atmosphere was no different to always.

“…they were saying something happened at Castle Oblivion, but…” Roxas asked, head down.

“It’s got nothing to do with you,” stated Saïx, coldly.

“…what about Axel?” Roxas pressed, plucking up the courage, but all Saïx did was narrow his eyes a little. However, Roxas didn’t notice.

“…well… maybe he was annihilated.”

“…uh…”

His words dried up.

That’s—

“From today, you will also be using the shop. You can purchase goods from that moogle over there with the munny you get during missions.”

“…”

“Are you listening to me?”

“Uh… yeah…”

Looking in the direction Saïx was pointing, a creature wearing the same coat as the Organisation—a moogle—was floating with a ‘flap –flap’.

“Once you’ve arranged your equipment from the shop, hurry and leave.”

“…Understood.”

Roxas went to speak to the moogle. “Thanks for coming, kupo. What do they call you, kupo?”

“Roxas… and you?” he answered, looking at the moogle.A big red nose in a white face—is this moogle a n.o.body, too?

Upon hearing Roxas’ question the moogle paused for a moment, and then answered, “there’s no meaning in such a thing, kupo.”

“Huh…?”

“You here to shop, kupo? Take your time, kupo.”

“Ah, yeah…”

At the moogle’s shop, there were various things that until now could only have been obtained by defeating heartless or from treasure chests.

Purchasing a few items, Roxas arranged them.

“Haven’t forgotten anything, kupo?”

“Um……”

Even so, annihilation is…

“Let’s go, Roxas,” called Xigbar, who had been waiting the whole time for Roxas to finish his exchange with the moogle. “Hurry up.”

“…yeah…”

Roxas stepped into a dark corridor, as if being pushed in the back by Xigbar.

x.x.x

On the other side of the darkness was a town bathed in strong sunlight, and surrounded by desert—Agrabah.

Today’s mission is to investigate this new world.

“This world is sweltering.”Xigbar surveyed the area, then turned back to Roxas, coming after him. “Let’s finish investigating quick, and RTC.”

Even when pressed, Roxas was kind of zoned out.

“What’s up? Is this new world really that much of a novelty?”

“They said that someone who went to Castle Oblivion was annihilated…” mumbled Roxas, shaking his head.

“Haha—that’s the thing that’s got you like this?”

Looking down, Roxas scuffed his foot. The dry earth skittered. “Thing…?”

“Let’s get going.”

“…Was everyone annihilated?” said Roxas, head still down, and Xigbar shrugged exaggeratedly.

“Weeeell…. We’ll know the details when we’ve RTC’d, as they say. Let’s go, kiddo.”

At those words, Roxas finally got moving, and began the investigation.

x.x.x

The city of Agrabah seemed to have been disturbed by a sandstorm, and the town was right in the middle of repair work, under their ruler.

When the investigation had come to a conclusion, and Roxas looked up at Xigbar. “…What do we do now? Do we check out the inside of the palace, too?”

“Nah, we’ve done enough for today. We managed to identify the ruler, so.” Xigbar answered, casting a glance at Roxas. He still looked depressed, as always.

“Well then, can we go back to the castle now?”

“Heh heh heh… you just wanna hurry up and go home, don’t you. That’s fine—let’s RTC.” Xigbar started walking, and Roxas followed after him.

A Heartless sprang at Xigbar’s back. But, Xigbar spun around, and fired his weapons, the Arrowguns. In one hit, the Heartless faded away into the air.

“All right. Now let’s return for real, kiddo.”

However, Roxas was staring at the place where the Heartless has disappeared.

Xigbar shrugged, as if to say, ‘well?’ “Didn’t you wanna hurry up and go back?”

“…Hey, what happens to Heartless after they disappear?”

“They leave a heart. And it is gathered into the great Kingdom Hearts, as they say,” answered Xigbar, looking right at Roxas.

“Well, what about n.o.bodies, then? We don’t have hearts…”

“Nothing is left behind. Cause we don’t really exist in the first place, you know.”

“And the member who got annihilated at Castle Oblivion?”

“Nothing’s left.”

Roxas looked down.

“If they disappear, does that mean we won’t see them again?”

“Yep.”

Roxas clenched his fists.

Maybe I can’t see Axel again…

“Let’s go back.”

“Huh? Yeah…”

And just as he went to go with Xigbar—

The world is swaying.

I can’t hear a thing.

The ground is rus.h.i.+ng up.

—His consciousness was engulfed by darkness.

x.x.x

Who are you?

x.x.x

He could hear a girl’s voice coming from somewhere.

Are you…. Xion…? Or….

Roxas blacked out.

x.x.x

In a corner of a room with a crystal ball, Naminé sat in a chair, looking down. In her hands was a large sketchbook—and, a blue ocean and a little island had been drawn on the uppermost page.

She was rewriting Sora’s memories into something more ‘favourable’.

The memories relating to Kairi had vanished, and the fragments of memories were starting to scatter. And so, memories of Naminé were planted in order to fill the s.p.a.ce where Kairi had disappeared.

“Naminé,” Axel called. Axel and Naminé were the only ones in the room.

“You’re all he has, now.”

Naminé didn’t stir.

The crystal ball in the centre of the room was showing Sora, alone on that island.

“You’re the only one who can save him.”

Naminé looked up.

“Shall I say it one more time? You’re the only one who can save him.”

“But… it’s too late.” Naminé hung her head once more.

But, Axel didn’t think so. Here and now, it’s necessary—to liberate Naminé from under Marluxia’s control. And then, Marluxia will lose his power over the castle in one go. It isn’t necessary for ‘traitors’ to have any extra power.

“It’s too early to decide that… Hey, Naminé. Have you noticed? Marluxia isn’t here right now.”

“What do you…”

“I mean, there’s no one here to stop you.”

Naminé got to her feet at last.

“Don’t screw it up.”

Naminé gave a slight nod, and rushed out of the room.

Naminé’s probably heading for—Sora. That island, Destiny Islands.

All alone in the room, Axel smiled.

“It finally got interesting. She’s fighting against her own nature.”

Axel stepped up to the crystal ball, and looked at Sora, displayed there.

Maybe—Sora’s annihilation would lead to Roxas’. I want to avoid that, if I can. I wasn’t ordered to destroy Sora in the first place. There’s no way of knowing what the other members of the Organisation have been told, though.

“Well then… Sora, Naminé, Riku, Marluxia, Larxene! This clash better be one h.e.l.l of a show; I wanna enjoy this, okay?”

No one was there to hear him.

x.x.x

On top of his bed, Roxas was breathing peacefully as he slept. Two shadows entered the empty room. One was Xemnas—and one was Saïx.

“It definitely appears to be Naminé’s influence,” Saïx reported, staring at Roxas’ sleeping face. Xemnas was doing the same thing beside him.

What on earth is happening in Castle Oblivion…? Apart from that concerning the annihilation, no contact has been made. It’s possible that the information is being cut off deliberately. All I can do is trust in Axel’s actions.

“Can he awaken?”

“I have received information that if all the Hero’s memories are peeled away, Roxas will come back to us,” Saïx answered.

“So everything depends on Castle Oblivion,” Xemnas said, as if to himself, and looked at Roxas again.

“Xion has become able to use the Keyblade as planned, and so for now, we can make Xion perform heart collection,” Saïx informed, in a detached manner.

If Xion can use the Keyblade, it doesn’t matter if Roxas sleeps.

Silence flowed between them.

When, by and by, Saïx went to leave the room, Xemnas opened his mouth again. “And, how fares the search for the room?”

That’s an important question relating to the very existence of Castle Oblivion. However, as always, we haven’t been able to find the room.

“Apparently, things aren’t progressing over there in the manner we thought they would,” answered Saïx, and walked at a leisurely pace out of Roxas’ room.

And so, Xemnas was the only one left there.

He gazed at Roxas’ sleeping face.

“So you’re still asleep…”

There was no one there to hear Xemnas’ murmured words but the sleeping Roxas.

x.x.x

I’ve slipped inside Sora’s memories—into Destiny Islands. This created world should have a ‘me’ made from memories in it somewhere, too.

Naminé ran along the stormy beach.

She could see Sora, fighting a huge Heartless.

Naminé hurried towards a small island.

“Naminé…” called Sora, who had defeated the Heartless, and the illusion Naminé turned around.

An illusion—a fake Naminé being projected by the real one.

“Sora… you came for me.”

The storm raging around the island died down.

“I finally… finally get to meet you…” said Sora, unbearably happy. But, the illusion shook her head slightly. “I, I wanted to meet you, I fought my way here.”

“Yeah… me too…”

I wanted to meet you, too.

Naminé smiled, sadly.

Naminé’s power—moved.

“But I, I made a mistake. I wanted to meet you, but, it was a mistake like this.” Naminé turned her back on Sora, and looked out at the ocean.

The ocean, which had been storming until just now, was hideously quiet, and not even the sound of waves could be heard.

Nothing could be heard.

x.x.x

Waking up was just like always.

On top of my bed, in my own room.

But I feel even hazier than I usually do.

Xion got out of bed, and looked in the mirror in the middle of the room.

It’s the same me as always in there.

Getting ready, she went to the lobby, to find Saïx and Xigbar standing there.

I don’t see Roxas.

“…Where’s Roxas?” she asked Saïx.

“It’s got nothing to do with you.”

I thought he’d say that.

Saïx never answers my questions for me.

Then, Xigbar poked his face in.

“As cold to Poppet as always, aren’t you—Saïx.” Saïx ignored him.

Xigbar is always coming to talk to me. He talks to me a lot more than Saïx, so I like him.

“Roxas fainted and now he’s sleeping it off, as they say—”

“Huh?”

Surprised, her words wouldn’t come out.

Roxas fainted…?

“You worried?” Xion nodded at Xigbar. “Heh heh, you’re so cute, Poppet. I can take you to see him after.”

“Okay…”

Xigbar patted Xion on the head.

Even so, I wonder why Xigbar calls me Poppet.

“You can’t just do as you—well, I don’t mind if you go see him, but complete your mission first.”

Saïx didn’t stop me, which is rare.

“What should we do today?”

“The same as yesterday, investigation. But, in a different world,” answered Saïx, and told them the place.

“…Got it,” Xion nodded, and stepped into the darkness that opened up beside her.

x.x.x

The sea and sky were both jet black.

The world—Destiny Islands—was covered by darkness.

This darkness was straight out of Sora’s memory of the last time he had seen the island.

“Look, weren’t you the one who gave this to me!” Sora yelled at Naminé, pulling out the keepsake made of paopu fruit.

That’s a fake keepsake made for the sake of fake memories.

“That’s right. I gave that to you.” Naminé smiled gently, while looking out at the ocean.

But this was the illusion Naminé.

“No, Sora! Don’t believe me!”

One more Naminé, this time the real one, appeared at last beside Sora.

Yes—this is a vague world from inside his memories. In can be changed in any way.

The other Naminé faded away.

“Hey, Sora. Think back, one more time. Your most important person. That faintly s.h.i.+ning fragment of memory that slipped into the deepest part of your chest; try calling it with your heart. No matter how far away that light is, your heart’s voice will surely reach.”

At Naminé’s pleading voice, Sora stared long and hard at the keepsake in the palm of his hand.

“My important person?” He kept staring at the keepsake. “That’s easy. It’s Na—” Sora went to say, and that instant, the keepsake glittered. Then, the yellow star-shaped keepsake made from Paopu fruit changed into something made of five sea sh.e.l.ls joined together.

“Sora!” someone called, and—the world, Destiny Islands, was wrapped in light.

“Just now…”

Sora looked around.

The ocean was blue, as always, and the sky was serene.

And, no one was on the beach.

All that could be heard was the sound of waves.

“Just now… who was that? I can’t remember her, but… she felt so familiar…”

Sora started walking along the sand.

x.x.x

Xion walked alone along the beach. There was a little island, surrounded by a very pretty blue ocean.

That’s right—this world is called Destiny Islands.

The sand crunched under her feet as she walked. And, the sound of waves could be heard, constantly.

“…What a pretty place,” Xion murmured, and looked down at her feet. There was a sh.e.l.l there. She gently picked it up, and put it in her pocket.

Voices could be heard from afar, and Xion separated herself from the sh.o.r.eline, rus.h.i.+ng to hide in the shadow of a rock.

It was a basic rule of the Organisation that they must not be discovered by the inhabitants of the worlds.

“Hurry up~!”

A lone boy charged along the beach.

“Waaait, Tidus!”

“I don’t wait just cause I’m told to!”

Behind him, a girl whose outwards-curling hair waved in the wind and one more slightly older-looking boy followed after.

The boy called Tidus came to a sudden halt.

“Ooow~! Don’t just stop all of a sudden!”

“Over there…”

Over where the boy was pointing, at the tip of the small island, someone was sitting. It was a girl with red hair.

“Kairi’s pretty blue…” said the girl, worriedly.

“She’ll cheer up soon,” replied the older boy, brightly.

Xion, so as not to be noticed, followed them quietly.

x.x.x

Castle Oblivion—Floor 12.

Sora, who had returned from Destiny Islands, was fighting the Replica.

The Replica swung his blade up over Sora.

“Riku, no!” Naminé shouted.

Ignoring Naminé, the Replica hit Sora. “Vanish, you fake!”