I don't own the rights to Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 25

"So his name is Vanitas?" Roxas asked Aqua after she finished explaining her story to everyone in the room.

"Yes, that's his name and he did something similar to one of my friends in the past. Right now Sora is fighting with all his strength against Vanitas but Master Xehanort is giving Vanitas a helping hand in overwhealming him" Aqua said.

Master Yensid nodded "Yes, Sora once did fail to stand against Xehanort's darkness in the sleeping worlds. However, Xehanort still needs to keep both Sora and Vanitas alive" Master Yensid said to them.

"Well what do we do?" Roxas asked them.

"Nothing much besides from breaking into their base and taking both Sora and Namine back" Lea answered.

"Paitence Lea! We must plan our next step careful. I'm afraid time is running short and if we fail this time. Xehanort will have already won" Master Yensid told them.

"We have to do something! We can't stand around here hoping for a miracle to happen" Roxas said.

"Sorry Roxas, but you're not coming with us" Riku told him.

"Excuse me? Since when were you my new boss?" Roxas asked sending a glare at him.

"From the moment I found you laying on the ground almost half dead back in Radient Garden" Riku answered him crossing his arms. "If you had died then Sora might've been affected too" Riku said. "I refuse to take that risk again"

"Tough talk coming from someone who already lost against Vanitas" Roxas said as he closed the distance between him and Riku to only a mere few inches away from each other. "Maybe the title of Keyblade Master has gone to your head" he mocked to him.

"Yeah...maybe you're right about that" Riku said showing Roxas a sight he never thought he'll see from Riku. Doubt. "Even after defeating my own darkness. I'm still not strong enough to protect my own friends from harm. That's why I should be the one to go. If I can't save Sora from Vanitas then I don't even deserve the title of either a Keyblade Master or his friend" Riku said.

"Riku…" Roxas replied stunned as the gulit started to form.

"Stop it both of you! If someone has to go then it should be me" Aqua demanded.

"No way! You're in no better condition to go than Roxas" Riku replied.

"It doesn't matter! It's mine fault that Vanitas was able to return. Sora risked his life to save mine and I refuse to rest until I see him here safe and sound" Aqua said summoning her Keyblade.

"Heal!" She casted a cure on herself as the bandages covering her wounds soon fell to the ground. "See all healed..." Aqua huffed as she took one step forward before collapsing to the ground.

"WOW! Aqua!" Roxas shouted rushing to catch her from hitting the ground. Riku was right besides him as he caught Aqua too. They both placed her down by the wall in a comfortable postion.

"That spell might've healed her wounds but she's still drained mentally and her magic must be way past her limits" Riku said as he clenched his fist.

"She's been fighting against the darkness for a very long time" Mickey said going over to her with a frown on his face. "It must have been a frighting experience for her to face alone. Almost a decade long, she had no one for support. No one to draw strength from... I'm so sorry Aqua" Mickey told her closing his eyes.

Roxas couldn't help but feel emphaty too. He remembered how fast his world came crashing down when he found out the truth about himself. It was only thanks to Namine that he luckly didn't have his own mental breakdown. That's why he had to save her no matter what price he had to pay.

In the Round room sat Xemnas, Xigbar and a hooded figure. Each were sitting in their assigned seats with the expection of Xemnas who was now sitting right on the third ranked chair.

"I'm getting all nostalgic being back here in this room" Xigbar said leaning back in his chair. "Nice to know my seat hasn't been replaced" he added with a grin.

"Was that a insult towards me?" Xemnas asked him.

"Don't know really! Maybe I just really like this chair" Xigbar replied seeing Xemnas scowl at him.

"Enough! We're here to discuss the importance of Namine" The hooded figure told the two seekers.

"Yes, how long has it been since she has been out of our grasp" Xemnas said closing his eyes. "The witch's power is a unique one at most. I see why she was chosen for this task" Xemnas said.

"Task?...Ohh you mean the assignment to completely erase both Sora's and Vanitas's memories in order to make a new person entirely? Frankly I don't see her having the guts to do something like that" Xigbar replied.

"It's not a matter of her doing it out of free will, It never was in the first place" The hooded figure said.

"I must agree, Namine will follow our orders or else we will use other methods to make sure she follows through them" Xemnas said before looking back down at the hooded figure. "No other member is more quality to handle this than you..."

The hooded figure then removed his hood as pink flower petals descended gracefully from his rose pink ruffled head.

"Marluxia.."

Marluixa then opened his eyes as his now golden orbs shined.

"Ofcourse, it would be my pleasure to keep a eye on our precious gift" he said looking back up at Xemnas. "I do request Larxene to accompany me"

Xemnas nodded "I will summon her to join you shortly then" he told him.

"Very well, I shall take my leave if you don't mind" he said before vanishing in darkness.

"You sure that's a good idea paring those two up together?" Xigbar asked him.

"If you expect them to pull another attempt at taking over the Organization then do not fear" Xemnas replied. "The hurt over mistrusted bonds is over, for we have something special that they both need dearly as do we need from them as well"

Xigbar's eyes widen before tapping his fingers against his chair sides. "Just what is that old coot Xehanort thinking?!" he said outloud.

Xemnas could only lower his head. "Even with all my knowledge of the human heart. His is the most troublesome of all to read" he said.

Namine frowned holding her sketchpad close to her chest. 'What am I going to do?' Namine thought. 'I can only delay them for so long and even then...I don't know if the actions I preform will work out...'

She then opened her notepad and flipped to a familiar page. It was a drawing she glazed at many times in the past. The drawing was of Sora and Roxas becoming one.

"And...in order for Sora to become completely whole again..."

"He needs you, Roxas. More than ever does he need you now...and me too" Namine whispered lowering her head onto the drawing. She then heard her door open up as a pair of boots marched into her room.

"How does it feel to be back safe and sound, Namine?" Marluxia asked her.

She then glared up at him. "No different than my doll being locked in it's cage" Namine replied to him.

Marluxia snickered "Seeing you feisty is a new sight to see" he said.

"Better get used to it" Namine muttered as she felt Marluxia come closer to her.

"Come now Namine, let's start over" he said looming over her. "My actions done in Castle Oblivion were out of misguided hatred" he told her but she remained silent.

"I see... you don't believe me at all do you?" he questioned her as she kept quiet. He then sighed before walking around the room.

"Ever since I turned back into a Nobody. My memories..." Marluxia began touching his forehead. "They have been getting more disorganized than usually" Marluxia said. "I sometimes would dream of being in a room with people that I was sure I had never seen before in my human life but each time I woke up" His hand then went over to his chest. "I felt my heart ache out but those dreams can never be compare to that one pain I felt" he stopped awaiting her responds.

"Pain?" Namine asked him.

Marluxia nodded still not turning around to face her. "It's the most haziness out of them all infact and it drives me to my wits end. I would imagine seeing a girl in all white... similar to you but each time I try to remember her face or name. My heart would cry out in a intense agony until she would drift away again" Marluxia said.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Namine asked him.

Marluxia then finally turned to face her. "It's because I want your forgiveness Namine" he said kneeling down to her. "Perhaps the pain would go away or maybe even settle if you would forgive me for the pain I had you suffered through" he told her.

Namine then looked back to her sketchpad before holding it close against her chest. "I'm sorry for the pain you're dealing with... but I can't forgive you!" Namine answered him.

Marluxia closed his eyes and nodded. "I understand" he then stood up and started walking to the door. His feet then stopped as he turned to glance at her. "Don't expect our next meeting to be similar to this one" He told her before exiting out of the room. He then began his own journey back to his own room. When suddenly he gasped out loud and wobbled. He caught himself and leaned on the castle's walls for support. His breathing increased heavily as his free hand latched onto his coat and clutched it tight.

"N-no! N-Not rig-h-ht now!" He groaned in pain closing his eyes as his mind went white.

"L... Lau...am..! Look!..."

"What's this?"

"Cherry Blossoms! They remind me a lot of you Big Br-" she said smiling innocently at him.

"Thank you -"

Marluxia regained control forcing his eyes open as small patches of water were underneath his feet. He then held his fingers up to his face and noticed there were tears flowing down. He quickly wiped them away with his coat and slowly got back up.

"Who...are you?" He questioned looking down at his now wet gloves before curling them into a shaking fist.

To be Continued

End of Chapter 25

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