(Riku: Roxas - Somewhere In Time continued…)

Page 58:

Axel had said that they were “friends”. In spite of this, it is an act that that can only be played by the realm of humans. It is a connection that cannot exist in Nobodies because they do not have hearts. Then again, Roxas was not sure what to call this particular closeness that he had with Axel. No. This closeness was just stronger than that which he had with the other members.

“So, what do you want?”

“Xemnas is calling,” answered Axel, sitting on Roxas’ bed.

“What about Marluxia and the others?”

Axel hung his head slightly as Roxas asked.

“Didn’t they come back with you?”

Axel slowly looked up at Roxas, who kept enquiring, and stared at him. Roxas began to feel uncomfortable and looked away.

It had been a few months since Axel had been called to a place called Castle Oblivion on a mission. A handful of other members of the Organization, headed by Marluxia, had also gone there. In that castle’s network of white rooms, the Organization had conducted research. Roxas had no idea what had been researched, nor was he supposed to. Did Axel’s return mean something had happened at Castle Oblivion?

“So anyway, we have to go see Xemnas?”

“Right,” answered Axel, as he stood up and yawned.

As Roxas followed suit, Axel put his hand on his shoulder.

“When that’s done, why don’t we have some ice-cream in Twilight Town?”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Roxas looked up at Axel beside him, and smiled.

Eating ice-cream in that town is… not bad at all.

Sitting on his marble chair, Roxas listened to Xemnas. He was saying that five members, including Marluxia, had been eradicated by the Keyblade Wielder.

“So the Keyblade Wielder has stopped……”

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Xaldin folded his arms.

“The loss of Naminé is a blow. How do you intend to take responsibility for it, Axel?” demanded Saïx.

“I fled back here on the verge of defeat! How am I supposed to be responsible?” retorted Axel.

“Well, never mind. Perhaps we should ask the opinion of our own Keyblade Bearer?” said Xigbar as he gazed at Roxas.

“Well, I……”

He didn’t have an opinion. Keyblade…… the key to the worlds.

All he knew was that he had the same power as him, no more, no less. He was with the Organization because he had nowhere else to go and wasn’t even certain he wanted to retrieve his lost heart.

“Sora.”

Roxas looked up at Xigbar’s unprovoked call.

Sora?

He felt he’d heard that name before.

“What on earth’s that?” asked Demyx.

“Haha! I see, you don’t know anything,” chuckled Xigbar.

Saïx snorted, Axel frowned, and Demyx tilted his head. Luxord, Xaldin and Xemnas remained impassive.

Their individual reactions were worrisome.

“The fact that the Keyblade Wielder has gone into sleep matters not,” said Xemnas, easing the tension that had built up at Xigbar’s words. “Axel, you will take Roxas to Hollow Bastion. It appears something is afoot around the Keyhole.”

“But I just got back!” replied Axel indignantly at Xemnas’ order.

“It is your punishment for letting Naminé escape.”

Thanks to KHUltimania’s Mors for translating this, and thanks to our forum member Kh3fan02 for posting it. I edited and corrected spelling and grammar. It continues on the next pages.