~It’s been said that Time is supposed to heal all wounds…It’s been while and I’m still on my knees…bleeding out the pain caused by being torn from the inside out…They told me it wasn’t real; just ignore it…But how can you ignore the black hole where your heart once was?…~

                                     Evaporating Your Tears…

        Chapter Three: Weariness (The Caged Cockatiel Must Be Free!)

Though in The World That Never Was Time didn’t really exist, in other worlds’ time a month has passed. As the days went by, Roxas forced himself to develop a callous, invisible shield around himself, making Axel more and more concerned for his young friend. Ironically, as Roxas grew more bitter (and emo), Axel grew to be more warm and human. He didn’t show it too much around the other members, but when he was with Roxas, he felt comfortable acting as such.

Soon, the other members grudgingly accepted Roxas as one of them, though underneath they scoffed, scorned, or envied him. All because of his two weapons known as Keyblades and the fact that Xemnas would keep Roxas in their world while the other members had to be sent out. Roxas went on with his life as a Nobody and did the one duty Xemnas ever gave him: to take out any Heartless he saw wandering in their world.
                    ~

Demyx got over his embarrassment and was once again on the curb, strumming his sitar while humming a tune. Suddenly, he caught himself humming a sad lullaby. Two water figures formed and began to act out a silent play. Demyx began to sing the words and watched as the water figures continued their act. It was so strange; his water figures never did that before.

The short one looked like Roxas and was acting mad as the taller one, which kind of looked like Axel, seemed to be explaining something. The Roxas water clone shook his head and stomped a foot hard on the ground, which made a small splash. The Axel clone seemed saddened and turned into a puddle while the water clone Roxas went into a fighting stance with his water key blades. A Xemnas looking water figure formed from the puddle and was standing calmly in front of Roxas. Some angry gestures from Roxas, then a battle ensued. As usual, since Xemnas was the leader of Organization XIII, he beat Roxas without much effort. Then both figures turned into puddles, leaving Demyx dumbfounded.  

“What the heck was that?” Demyx asked himself as he walked up to the two puddles. “That new guy…and Superior…what does it mean?”

“Hey, there you are.” Another Organization member said as a portal opened behind Demyx.

“Gah! Who is it?!” Demyx asked as he turned around sharply and nearly lost his balance.

“Easy Guppy, it’s me, good ol’ Xigbar.” Xigbar threw his hood back to show Demyx he was telling the truth. “Playing with your imaginary friends, eh?” he asked in a playful tone as his eye focused on the two puddles behind Demyx.

“Oh, do you always have to insult my water clones?” Demyx asked while clutching his sitar tightly.

“Yep, until I see them in action, they’re as good as little dollies for you to play with.” Xigbar jested with a grin.

“You take that back!” Demyx snapped.

“Not until you show me and the Superior.”

Demyx frowned as he looked at his sitar. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“C’mon, Guppy. You’re the only one besides Number Thirteen that hasn’t been on a mission. Frankly, Xemnas is getting annoyed.” Xigbar saw Demyx flinch slightly. “You wouldn’t want to see Xemnas annoyed now, do you?”

“N-never.” Demyx whispered.

“Good, now I got a mission for you-”

“I don’t want it!” Demyx glared at Xigbar.

“I thought you said you didn’t want to see our Superior angry.”

“I don’t it’s just-I-it’s not-I just don’t want to do missions, okay!” Demyx stammered and the puddles began to boil.

“I can’t believe this. And you are supposed to be part of this Organization? Tch, that’s a joke. Do you know where we come from? From people with strong hearts, but you must be a fluke-no way you came from a strong heart!” Xigbar sneered.

“I did so come from a strong heart!” Demyx defended.

“Please, like you remember! You’re a clueless Nobody!”

“Why does everyone have to pick on me?! I just want to be left alone, okay?!” Demyx yelled and quickly strummed his sitar’s strings. The two puddles became giant arms and swung crazily everywhere; making Xigbar jump around.

“Finally, some bite behind that yapping!” Xigbar exclaimed. He leapt onto a building rooftop and summoned his sniper gun. He aimed and was ready to shoot, when he realized his target was gone. The colossal arms slowly died down into steam, leaving a bunch of rubble and destruction. Xigbar stood there with his big gun and muttered a couple curses, then smirked. ‘Well, you’re a survivor, I’ll give you that, Guppy. Maybe you do belong in this organization…’ he thought as he saw all the destruction Demyx made. He chuckled as he disappeared into his portal.

~A blind man who searches for his pair of glasses. That’s seems to suit this wacky group called an “organization” well. If we have no hearts, then why collect a bunch of them? We can’t use them for ourselves. As I sink deeper in the icy sea that is my Abyss, a bright epiphany dawns within me…~

“Have you lost your mind?!” Axel asked incredulously as he paced in front of Roxas. They were outside of Castle Oblivion and it made the red head extremely uncomfortable to be so close to the leader when Number Thirteen was speaking blasphemous.

Roxas was sitting on the concrete stairs, his chin on his knees since he unconsciously held himself. He watched his so called friend pace like a startled, caged animal. “I lost my heart, might as well lose my mind.” he said flatly. ‘How can you understand, Axel? Just like all the others, you’re trapped in an invisible cage with blindfolds on…eyes hidden from the Light…that accursed Light that haunts me…’ Roxas thought and realized Axel stopped moving.

“Roxas, what happened? You’re so different.” Axel crouched down so he was eye level with his blonde buddy.  

“Half of the Organization is dead, that’s what different.” Roxas replied coldly. “While our so-called leader sits on his throne. It’s sickening and frustrating, Axel.”

“Superior does do his share, a big chunk…and though half of the members are gone; at least we’re alive.” Axel reasoned and he sighed as Roxas’ eyes grew cold.

“Are we alive, Axel? Truly, can you say that? A while ago you told me that we’re neither dead nor alive. I still have this feeling though-”

“Roxas, get it through your head! We have no hearts, so we have no feelings-”

“Try telling whatever’s inside me that!!!” Roxas roared and pushed Axel away from him. “I need answers, Axel! And I know who has them!” he turned his head to the castle with a scowl on his face.

“Roxas, don’t even think about it! You know what’ll happen if you question the Superior?!” Axel blurted as he got up and grabbed Roxas’ right arm.

“I. Don’t. Care.” Roxas replied so icily that Axel let go and stood back.

Axel gawked as Number Thirteen made his ascent up the stairs. He growled in his throat, which soon escalated to yelling in seconds. “Well fine! Go and be stubborn!” His voice echoed throughout the city and in a flash he disappeared in his portal. ‘I don’t care either. Stupid boy. Why can’t he just accept the truth?!’ he thought angrily, then as quickly as his anger came, it dispelled as once again rain came to The World That Never Was. “Who am I kidding? I do care…” Axel whispered and the rain fell harder as if crying for the redhead.

~I need to escape the chains that bind me to this world. Why do I feel like I’m playing the wrong role in this life? It feels as if half of me is asleep…the most important half is dreaming in the realm of Light. While I suffer in the Grayness.~

Roxas stormed into the chamber that the Superior was mostly seen at; the place where Roxas swore allegiance to Organization XIII. This time, there was no fear, only anger and bitterness swelled within him. He searched, with his eyes, until finally he saw the big black figure and the silver hair.

“Such a rude intrusion, Number Thirteen. I hope you have a very important subject to discuss.” Xemnas said calmly as he turned to face the boy.

“I do.” Roxas replied.

Xemnas raised an eyebrow and smiled. It made Roxas angrier. “Oh? What is the matter?”

Without a word, Roxas summoned his key blades and charged his Superior. He planted his first swing at Xemnas’ legs, but the silver haired man easily dodged by jumping in the air. Roxas looked up with a frown and jumped up as well. This time Roxas swung both key blades downward, causing him to do a 360 summersault. When he landed he looked to see if he got at least the Superior’s coat. Judging by Xemnas’ smug look, Roxas concluded he did no damage whatsoever.

“It’s a lot harder to fight an opponent with a brain, isn’t it Roxas?” Xemnas asked and tapped his chin with an index finger.

“You just got lucky!” Roxas barked, but realized that he was feeling a bit tired.

“I’m sure that it’s because of luck that I was able to survive your uncontrollable power.” Xemnas sneered sarcastically. “Now what would make you act this way, Number Thirteen?” he asked with feigned innocence.

“Shut up, you know why!” Roxas roared and charged again. This time Xemnas didn’t even move; he stood his ground. Roxas yelled and once again swung to where both key blades would sink into the Superior’s flesh. When he felt the contact, he smirked confidently, then he gasped as he stared closely where his key blades where.

Xemnas had one of his red energy beams hold the key blades just inches from his midsection. “It hurts, doesn’t it, little Roxas? To feel that you can be so much stronger if only…you knew the other side?”

“I hate all of this…” Roxas seethed darkly.

“Of course you do. Being only half strong, half nothing. Must be painful…” Xemnas mused and shoved Roxas back.

The spiky blonde observed Xemnas carefully; he wasn’t letting his guard down. “Why do you keep saying half? What does that-”

“Don’t get me wrong; you’re still a wonderful asset to my plan. You’ve done a great job killing countless Heartless. As a matter of fact, why don’t you go back outside and fulfill your duty?” Xemnas said calmly.

“I’m not some pet that’ll obey your every command!” Roxas retorted hotly.

“Oh, now you see, that’s where we differ on the fence.” Xemnas said and teleported in front of Roxas. “You are our tool-a weapon if you will. You swore allegiance to me, so you must obey me.” he said coldly and punched Roxas in the stomach. “You see, Roxas, you need this place, you need this Organization because the worlds outside this one would never understand you. The Light that you seem so attracted to would reject your very existence in disgust. The realm of Light and Darkness spit upon you…spit upon us…because we’re Nothing.” Xemnas explained as Roxas dry heaved.

“I…I don’t care.” Roxas coughed and his key blades disappeared. He swung his arm with all his might and punched Xemnas in the face-catching the Superior off guard. ‘One hit, that’s all I wanted.’ he thought and smiled briefly at Number One’s expression.

~No you’re wrong! I know……without…doubt…Hearts…Light!~

“Fool.” Xemnas replied as his eyes flashed with a mechanical glare. He smacked Roxas across his face, sending Number Thirteen flying to the right into the bland wall.

‘I must get away!’ Roxas’ voice of reason finally kicked in and he focused all his energy towards the darkness, creating a portal. He tumbled into it and shut his eyes. Within seconds, he felt multiple raindrops all over his face. He opened his eyes to see the dreary sky of The World That Never Was. He felt sick and it wasn’t from the bruised abdomen; he felt this way because for those few seconds, he truly believed that the portal would’ve lead him into one of those worlds that Xemnas mentioned. The worlds…of Light…

~It’s not fair…but then again…tools don’t talk. If a shovel breaks, it’s useless to the farmer. Well I’m broken, therefore, I must be useless. I need to escape this nightmare and enter the worlds of sleeping Light…~