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Just A Chance Chapter Twenty Eight

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Secret Report: Lexaeus II

Another fruitless search for Ansem today. The only sign he is even here are the heartless slowly spreading across the floors. Even as combatants leave the memories behind, they pursue those with the keyblade.

But to what end? None of them seem to be anywhere close to the forces the heartless once fielded, so what is Ansem trying to accomplish? Releasing more hearts? If that is the case, why not join the organization himself if he is so willing to aid Xemnas?

Though given they are one and the same, perhaps it is not so strange.

Yet, as far as strange discoveries go, there is one I would be remiss to ignore. We have been monitoring Roxas and Naminé during their missions at Zexion’s request. Something to break up the monotony during our search. Yet the results show an undeniable trend.

There is something growing in the two of them. Even faster now that the two are fighting together. Of course, it may simply be residual light or darkness gathering from being so close to two major sources of both. If only locating Ansem was not a priority.

Because if I’m right, this could change the Organization entirely.

Sleep didn’t come easy for Roxas that night. Even as he lay down in his bed his mind raced to think of a way to find a way out for Sora and Kairi as well as Naminé and him. Even if Marluxia and Larxene couldn’t be convinced to stop, there had to be some way to escape. Some way off this world they could use. The dark corridors could work, but how could he get Axel or Zexion to open one for everyone? Axel still seemed tied up in Marluxia’s and Larxene’s plans, and letting Zexion know about the conspiracy might cause other problems

The only other option was to fight the two.

But could he really do that? Was he even strong enough? What would happen to him in the Organization if he did that?

Did he even want to stay in the Organization anymore?

That was the thought that eventually settled in Roxas’ mind as sleep finally overtook him that night.

A blue sky…The ocean…An island…

Once again, he watched from within Sora. Saw him with Kairi, Riku, and Naminé.

But something was pulling him away. Dragging him down into shadow. Roxas struggled, tried to see what was taking him away. But all he could see was the shadow, as if his black cloak was taking him into darkness. He tried to shout, to scream, to fight, but his keyblade wouldn’t answer his silent pleas.

He couldn’t tell what happened after that, all that kept his company was silent emptiness. His sleep was a blur of uncomfortable nothing, only broken by the sound of knocking at his door.

A glance to the clock confirmed that yes, it was morning now, and Roxas needed to be up. So reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed and grabbed his cloak from the trunk, same as it ever was. Though as he stuck his arm through one of the sleeves, he paused as the white clothes in the corner caught his eye. He couldn’t help himself from running his free hand over the white jacket and pants.

Would it be so bad to wear them again?

The sound of knocking forced him to shelve the thought for now. Quickly dressing himself, he made his way to the door, opening it and hoping for a friendly face.

“Roxas.”

“Marluxia.” He groaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, disappointment setting in as his guest entered the room..

“I wanted to follow up on my earlier question,” Marluxia elaborated as he stared down at Roxas and folded his hands behind his back. “Do you understand the weakness of Sora’s heart?”

The weakness? Roxas recalled how Marluxia pressed him regarding the charm, giving it back when Sora was so desperate to reclaim Kairi’s gift.

The one she had given him after he stabbed himself. He hadn’t done it expecting to be saved or rewarded. He did it because….

“Sora would do anything for his friends,” Roxas murmured as the answer became perfectly clear. He clenched his fists as he realized the fault in that devotion “And he won’t care if it kills him to save them.”

Marluxia chuckled as he spread his arms at the answer. “Exactly. Threaten that which he holds dear, and Sora would throw his life away. Even if all he had to believe in was the slimmest of hopes.” As his smile grew, Roxas could feel his stomach grow uneasy. “Manipulate him by putting that which he cherishes in jeopardy, and his mistakes will pile up. And your victory will be in sight.”

It would be an easy victory, but even before yesterday Roxas wouldn’t have been satisfied with a manipulative victory like that. After what Naminé had shown him, Roxas couldn’t accept that plan whatsoever. Yet there was one idea that came to him. Simple but it might just be their ticket out. Taking a step forward Roxas asked, “Can’t we just ask Sora to help us? If he’s so caring, he might be willing to help us if we just explain things.”

Even as Marluxia’s smile vanished in an instant, Roxas stood his ground. The idea seemed sensible enough, yet Marluxia began to shake his head. “While there is some logic in what you propose, there is one critical detail you are overlooking.” He raised a hand before him as he declared, “We are beyond those with hearts. Where conscience falters, we act decisively.” Closing the hand before him into a fist, Marluxia sneered, “That is the path to our true potential. One that Xemnas does not believe in, even as he proclaims how the Organization is to go beyond those with hearts.”

Roxas was quiet at Marluxia’s diatribe before he began to nod and mutter, “I think I understand.” And in a sickening way he did. Marluxia and Larxene wanted to continue on as they were. Unfettered without feelings to get in the way. But for Roxas, that would mean ignoring his friendships. Treating the people he met as amusements at best and tools at worst. If surpassing hearts meant throwing those connections away, Roxas didn’t want any of it.

Of course that raised another question. If Marluxia wanted to surpass hearts by discarding his, how did Xemnas want to do it?

It was a question Roxas wasn’t sure he wanted answered.

Either way, Marluxia was satisfied enough with him and he headed back to the door. “Once you realize what can be gained by surpassing the heart, you will understand the truth.”

Roxas sighed as all the increasing demands stood in contrast to Marluxia’s seeming generosity. “And you’ll make things harder for me until I understand?”

There was a chuckle as Marluxia glanced back at Roxas with a smile. “A rather uncharitable interpretation. All I want is for you to realize your true potential.” Though he walked away, his next words were rather clear. “And to avoid Sora’s flaws in your own relationships.”

And they were words that shook Roxas to his core.

Marluxia suspected something.

Was it his plot with Axel? What he planned with Naminé? All of Marluxia’s warnings seemed to ring even clearer now. Just dropping the plans he made to try and fix things would be easy. Just to ignore everyone else and focus on him. But Roxas couldn’t. Trying to ignore his friends when they were in need was like asking him to throw away his heart.

Well, if he had one.

Though given how much this whole situation was winding him up, Roxas might as well have one.

Axel and Zexion had arrived at Naminé’s room earlier than usual. It seemed to make sense, given she held the cards to create the worlds they went to. Though for a few minutes, she was keenly aware of a particular absence. And given that Roxas’ friends were also surprised by his absence, it was fair cause for concern.

Fortunately, Roxas showed up soon enough, much to Axel’s relief. “Hey, we were worried you were sleeping in.”

Roxas stretched as he began to grumble, “Marluxia wanted to talk. Not sure if he was giving me advice or…”

“Or?” Naminé couldn’t help but ask, because she knew all too well how often Marluxia’s advice were merely thinly veiled orders or threats. And if he was putting pressure on Roxas, there was no telling what he might do.

Roxas sighed before crossing his arms and looking to the side, “Or if he wanted to ramble on.”

Okay, she had to stifle a giggle at that conclusion, because Marluxia also had a habit of going on monologues with little prompting. So at least Roxas still had the courage to joke about things.

“Yeah, that’ll do it.” And from Axel’s quip, she wasn’t the only one amused. He shook his head and turned to Zexion. “So, what world is next again?”

Zexion held up a finger as he recounted, “Atlantica. The court magician used magic to fit in with the local inhabitants, but given we are going through an illusion, we should be fine.”

Roxas perked up in concern at Zexion’s words, “Should be fine?”

Nodding Naminé walked up beside him as she elaborated, “Atlantica’s kingdom is underwater. Donald had magic to change Sora, Goofy, and him into forms that could stay in the sea as long as they needed.” Calling the card of the world to her hand, she smiled. “But like Zexion said, it’s an illusion I can modify so we don’t need to worry about air.”

Clapping his hands, Axel walked ahead to the door. ”The mission is simple, we just follow a mermaid called Ariel, fight the sea witch, and we’ll be on our way!”

But Roxas didn’t follow, tilting his head and asking, “Who’s Ariel? Is she someone important in the world?”

Zexion cupped his chin as he began to explain, “In a way. A princess, but not a princess of heart.”

Turning back, Axel shrugged the back of his head. “I’m surprised you’re so curious. A few weeks ago you barely could string a sentence together, but now you’re really getting interested in where we’re going.”

Roxas scratched his cheek with a weak chuckle, “Yeah, I was kind of a zombie.” Though the levity only lasted for a moment as Roxas placed his hand to his chest and pondered, “But if we want to get hearts and feel things, maybe caring about others is a start?”

It was a simple idea, and she was sure that Marluxia and Larxene would laugh if they were here. Yet it was what Naminé tried to live by as much as she could. As trapped as she was, she wanted to do some kind of good. Before she met Roxas, it was the closest thing she had to feeling like she had a heart. Even if she couldn’t truly have one, she tried to hold on.

“In absence, a heart’s value is understood.” Zexion’s muttering roused her from her musings as she looked over to see him tapping his tome in thought. “Given how it is a slight change from our usual procedure of staying out of sight, there might be merit in such an approach.”

Slowly nodding, Axel began to smile as he admitted, “And since this isn’t going to blow our cover to real people if we screw up, it’s worth a shot.” Opening the door, Axel glanced over to her, “If Naminé’s up for it, we might as well see what kind of friends a mermaid has.”

“Yes, I can do that.” It was almost easier to let the memory world run its course than to edit it so heavily as she had in the past. So as they made their way through the castle to an open floor, Naminé let the illusion expand beyond Ariel. To her father and her friends, letting what once was be a little more real. Arriving at the door she glanced at Roxas with a smile, ready to start the day’s mission.

Yet something in his expression made her falter. The way he stared at the door and almost sagged. As if everything that had happened from their predicament to Marluxia’s orders and Sora and Kairi’s fate weighed down on him. Even now, something in her clenched as she saw him try to carry that burden on. She began to reach out, hoping she could remind him that he wasn’t alone.

Only for Axel to pat Roxas on the back with a smirk. “You don’t need to hold your breath, remember? It’s just magic”

Shaking his head, Roxas reached out for the door. “Right. Just needed a moment.” Naminé wished she had a way to give him more than a moment. But for now, she had to be content with a helping hand. The only other thing she wanted to give him needed to wait until they were alone. The gift she worked on after he left, once intended to mask in deception, now to be given in sincerity.

She wondered what Roxas would think of it.

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