Chapter 6

Irix's POV

We sat on the clock tower. Roxas grinned as he admired his new trophy. He took the yellow crystal off, threw it to Olette, and did the same with the others. Handed the orange one to me and he kept the blue one.

"Thanks a ton, Roxas!" Pence exclaimed.

"One more treasure for us to share." Hayner said.

"I've got a present too... for all of us!" she had pit the crystal in her pocket and took out five sea-salt ice creams.

Roxas stood up a little to quickly and lost his balance. I gasped and grabbed him. That pulled me out off my spot. We screamed our heads off.

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No one's POV

"Kairi, wait up!" Selphie shouted. The auburn 15-year old girl was walking up a slope. She wore a white shirt, blue plaid skirt, navy knee high socks, and brown shoes. Kairi turned around and smiled at Selphie.

They turned around and walked side by side. Kairi looked down; this day marked a year of their disappearance.

"Hey, do you feel like going to the Island?" Selphie asked and Kairi looked at her. "Tidus and Wakka are wrapped up in their ballgame and they won't go with me."

"Not today, sorry..."

"Aw, why not?"

"Well, do you remember those kids that used to hang out with us?"

"Riku and Piri?"

"Yeah." Kairi smiled.

"I wonder whatever happened to them."

"There far away, I know, but they are together." she sighed and smiled, dreamily. Those two were really cute together. "And what about that other boy?"

"What other boy?"

"The one who was with Riku, me, and Piri all the time. We played together on that island. His voice was always used to be there, but now it's gone. I can't think of his name. I feel awful about it. So I told myself, I'm not going to the Island until I remember everything about him."

"Are you sure you didn't make him up?" Selphie asked.

"Naminé?"

Voices asked in Kairi's head and she placed a forehead.

"Naminé! What's happening to us?" the two voices said.

"Who are you two? And that's not my name. I'm Kairi."

"Kairi..." the girl's voice repeated.

"Oh, she's the girl he likes!" the boy's voice said.

"Who? Please, a name!"

"I'm Roxas and this is Irix."

"Okay, Roxas, Irix, but can you tell me HIS name?"

"You don't remember my name? Thanks a lot, Kairi..."

"It's okay, little brother! She'll remember if you give her a hint..." there was two different voices but Kairi recognized them.

"Well, okay... Starts with an 'S'!"

Kairi opened her eyes and Selphie helped her stand up. "Are you okay?" She nodded with a smile.

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Restoration at 79%

"Their progress is astounding." DiZ said and Riku fiddled with the orange and blue crystals Roxas and Irix had.

"So what happened?"

"Naminé's encounter with Roxas and Irix put their hearts in contact with Kairi's. Just as Lumina affected Piri, Naminé affected Sora and Piri. You see?"

"Naminé and Lumina are wonders." Riku said.

"They're not like other Nobodies. Naminé has the power to interfere with the hearts and memories of Sora and those aligned to him. Lumina can find and draw out Piri's heart." they went silent until Riku put his blindfold back on and turned back to his regular self.

"I'm going to check on Kiyoko and the others." the silver headed teen said, opening a dark corridor.

"Give Akira my best regards," DiZ said, smiling and slightly blushing under his wraps.

Riku smiled as he could since this, "Okay, I will."

After Riku was gone, DiZ sat there thinking about Akira. "My light, we will reunited soon enough..."

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Irix's POV

I opened my eyes and gulped. I sat upright and saw I was in my old room. I put my hand on my heart, "I'm... I'm alive?"

"Irix..." Roxas stood at the doorway, leaning his forehead against the door frame. I felt the cold wind brush up against my skin and I shivered. "You okay?"

"C-cold chill..." I said, rubbing my arms. Roxy walked up to me and put his hand on my forehead.

"No wonder, you're cold to the touch!" I chuckled at this.

"Well, you don't call me 'Ice' for nothing!" Roxas snickered and covered me up. He left and came back with a thermometer and more covers. He stuck it in my mouth and after awhile, it went off.

"Wow, twenty degrees Celsius?" Roxas, "How did you manage that?"

"How am I s'pose to know?" I whined.

"Well, you're staying in here until you get over this?" I gasped at this.

"What if those Dusks find me?" I said, scared if we got separated again.

"You got your keyblade, right?" he asked and I raised my hand to summon my key. It appeared right on cue.

"Yeah, but I'm still nervous about being alone. Notably, there's more than just those Dusks after us."

"What do you mean?" Roxas asked, throwing more covers over me.

"Well-"

"Know what? Don't tell me." he interrupted, "I want to find out for myself."

"Roxy, don't get yourself hurt!" I frowned.

"Don't worry I won't." he ran his fingers through my hair, "Just get some rest, okay?"

"If I'm cold, shouldn't I stay active?" he paused.

"Well, that is a good point..." he looked at the thermometer and let out a long sigh of defeat. "Fine, just bring a blanket."

"Thank you!" I smirked.

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We were walking to the Usual Spot and I decided to meet Roxas with them later. I went to the Sandlot and the warm sun rays hit my skin. I sighed in delight. It feels so much better. I got brave and lowered my blanket off my shoulders.

"Hey, Irix!" I heard Vivi's voice and turned around to see him, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, I woke up with my body temperature lower than usual."

"Oh, uh..." Vivi had a package of hot cocoa mix, "I was heading home to make this for myself but you can have it, if you wanna."

"No, it's yours. Keep it!" I smiled at him.

"You need it more than I do!" I gently laughed and shook my head in defeat.

"You sure?" he nodded and placed it in my hand. "Thank you, Vivi. You're really sweet."

"Anything for a friend! I got to go find Seifer." he waved while running off. "Bye-bye, Irix!"

"See ya later!" I waved and looked at the package. I smiled, 'Wait til I tell Roxy!'

I ran to the Usual Spot and found a note. It said that they were investigating a few things for the project we were suppose to do for our independent studies. I mean, theirs since everyone forgot about me. Hell, it's going to be hard this year.

Anyway, nobody likes those independent studies. Even Olette hates them! You know if she does, I do to. And we're the brains of the group.

There was a list and a few check marks next to some of them. I knew were they were then. I ran all the way to Sunset Terrance and found Pence, Roxas, and a dog.

"Woof! Woof!" the dog ran up to me and stuck it's hind end in the air like it wanted to play. I giggled.

"Hey there, boy!" I found a bone in its mouth and it placed it in my hand. It whined. I raised it in the air and it's tail wagged.

"Irix, toss it! He wants to play fetch!" Roxy grinned.

I giggled and tossed it. It went to get it and it came to me with the bone but dropped it. It nudged me and I scratched it behind the ear. It barked happily and We heard a whistle. The dogs ears perked up and it grabbed it's bone and ran off.

"Man, you're good with dogs." Pence said.

"I love dogs!" I proudly said.

"Roxas, here, freed the dog from the sack." I looked at Roxas and smiled.

"Aw, you're really sweet, Roxy!" I said and he blushed. Hayner and Olette came running.

"Hey, Irix. Roxas said you woke up extremely cold." Olette said, "Are you okay?"

"Eh, little chilly but can't complain." I giggled, "So, were to next?"

"We're going to Sunset Hill." Hayner said. They must be going to see the ghost train.

"Mind if I tag along?" I asked.

"Nah, you don't even have to ask!" Pence said.

"Yeah! You are our friend!" Olette grinned.

Once we got there, I looked over the edge to see a tunnel.

"If rumors are true, it will be here any minute." Hayner said.

"For they say the train is empty, no driver, no passengers, no conductor, no return..." he mysteriously said and a shiver went up and down my spine.

"Pence!" I whined, "I'm cold enough as is! Don't be saying stuff like that!"

"What, are you afraid?" Hayner asked. I rubbed the back of my neck and nervously laughed.

"Of course not!"

We sat down and I cuddled up next to Roxas, trying to stay warm. He kissed me on the forehead.

"Whatever you say, Irix." Hayner mumbled.

"At least I'm not scared of the..." I closed my eyes and I heard Riku's voice.

"What if I do open my eyes and all I see... is darkness?"

"Irix!" Roxas yelled and I snapped out off... whatever happened.

"I'm sorry, I... I must be going crazy..." he hugged me and sat me in his lap.

"Good afternoon, slackers." I heard that voice and I sighed, trying to ignore him. "What are you doing out here?"

"Why do you care?" Hayner said.

'Since when does he ever care?' I wanted to say.

"Why are you hanging out with these losers, Irix?" he asked.

"Because I want to." I simply said and hugged Roxas.

"Aw, two lovers. Better be careful, if you don't want cooties." I snickered at his comment. So mature.

"Well, I rather have his than yours." of course, I wasn't any better...

"Whatever, what are you guys doing here?" Seifer asked.

"We're waiting for the ghost train." Pence said.

"The ghost train?!" the jerk off blurted and laughed. Raised an eyebrow and looked at Roxas. He was glaring daggers at him. "Why does looking at you always tick me off?"

I stood up and get in his face, "Back. Off." I muttered murderously.

"Oh? Does little kitty want to play?" Oh, that cheap bastard!

Roxas held me back as I tried to punch him, "LITTLE! I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S LITTLE!"

He laughed, "You're fun to taunt!"

"Dude, I'm saving your life." Roxas said, still holding me back. "If you want to keep it, I think you should go."

He put a hand up and walked away, "Yeah, I need to go anyway."

"Yeah, that's right! Keep walking!" I spat in his direction.

"Sorry you had to deal with that guy, Irix." Olette said and I shook my head. He wasn't as bad as Xigbar but still taunting was enough for me.

I walked over to the edge. When I looked down, I gasped and leaned against the guard rail; A train with a purple body and yellow stars. Roxas ran to my side and stared in awe.

"Is... that the...?" I quickly looked at Roxas then back at the train, which was turning left. We turned back to our friends.

"That was the ghost train!" Roxas said, "It's really true... and there's really no one in it!"

"That's way too cool!" I said in amazement.

"What the catch? There's got to be a catch, right?" he asked and Olette, Pence, and Hayner looked at each other.

"It's heading to the station." I said and Roxas followed me to the station. There it was, the train was sitting there.

"Let's go in!" Roxas said but Hayner stopped us.

"You'll get hurt!" I turned around and smirked.

"Heh, are you scared?" I teased.

"N-no, just... concerned is all..." I laughed at this.

"Don't worry. I am, too." I admitted, which shocked Roxas.

"It's gone!" Pence said and me and Roxas turned around. It was gone.

"Um... what..." I couldn't wrap my head around this. "What... what just happened?"

"The train will be arriving shortly." the speaker said and gently wind went through my hair, which sent a shiver down my spine. I wrapped myself tighter with the blanket and I went into the train. I fell asleep during the train ride and Roxas woke me when the train stopped. I didn't know what to do next so I just followed Roxas. We ended up in front of the mansion. I looked at the gates.

"You've changed. You're not frightened by it."

"How can you tell?"

"Because I'm you."

"No, I'M me."

" 'I'm me.' he says."

"You know something..." I yelped in surprise and hugged Roxas. We turned to see Pence.

"Don't startle me like, Pence!" Roxas chuckled at me and I pouted.

"Sorry..." he nervously laughed, "We were going to check out the mansion tomorrow. It is a the most suspicious place."

"I've always wanted to check this place out!" she grinned and Roxas widened his eyes.

"I think your nuts!" he said, "They say a girl appears at the second floor window..."

"Even though no one's lived there for years." Pence added.

"I want to even more!!" I clapped my hands and Roxas shook his head.

"Riku's right!"

I closed my eyes and opened them. There was Riku and Piri in front of the gates. They were face another Riku. I closed my eyes and I could see it all in Piri's point of view.

"You have your own Identity... you aren't exactly like him." I said. "I can tell, your darkness is different from his... and not only that, but a different personality, too. You seem to be more smug then the real Riku."

"YOU'RE WRONG!" he shouted at me. "I'm a phony, a fake! The way I look, the way I feel, everything I remember! And even this newfound power!" he glowed with Zexion's darkness and me and Riku gasped. "I thought by finding some new power, I could finally be someone- someone who is not at all you. But... nothing changes... I'm still empty!" he whimpered and a tear fell down his cheek. "Everything about me is burrowed. As long as you're around, I'll never be more than a shadow!" he drew his sword and Riku drew his.

"Wait, Riku. Don't hurt him!" I stood in between them. I turned to the replica, "I'm not sure if I can get through to you... but I know you deserve your own life. Well, how about you come with us?"

"What?"

"Yeah, you can be Riku's new twin brother!" I grinned. "Well, if you do come with us... you can have a family. You can be an uncle to my child and even meet our friends and family."

"Sounds nice, but..." he lowered his weapon and looked at it. What he did next was unexpected; he stabbed himself.

"NO!"

He fell on his back and darkness surrounded him.

"It's over... hmph, good riddance to a phony life. My heart was never real. I'm sure even what I'm feeling is fake."

"What are you feeling?" Riku asked.

"What happens when a fake dies? Where will my heart go?" he asked. "Does it disappear?"

"It will go somewhere, you idiot." I said with a tear that won't go.

"Maybe to the same place as mine." Riku said.

The 'replica' tsked, "A faithful replica to the end. That's... okay..." his last words were.

I sighed, shakily, as the tear finally fell, "He was... different. I could tell..." Riku hugged me as he, himself, was in shock.

Everything flashed and I seen a girl with black hair and Deep-Sea Blue eyes. She looked sadly at me.

"Don't let... him go!" she said in my mind, or was it a memory?

I looked at her and I felt something squeezing my heart. I closed my eyes again and I saw me, Axel, Roxas, and her on top of the clock tower, eating ice cream and laughing. She slowly faded away until she was gone.

"Xion." I heard Roxas and Axel's voices say.

A tear ran down my face, "Xion..."

"Irix! Roxas!" Pence tapped me and him on the shoulder and we snapped out of it.

"Huh?" we said in unison.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention..." I said, turning to Pence.

"Did you see her, Roxas?" he asked him.

"Yeah, watch the window closely," he pointed at the window. Who I saw was...

'Naminé!' I gasped and I figured out were I was at once I was kidnapped. It was inside the mansion! Sora was inside there! Meaning, this is where I'll never see him again... the truth stabbed me several times like a double-edged blade stabbing continuously away at a Chocobo.

"Listen, guys this has been nice and all but I need to go!" Roxas looked at me.

"Wha-"

"I gotta go!" I ran away as fast as I could to our house. I ran inside and locked myself in my bedroom. I cried until nightfall. That's when I heard Roxas's voice.

"Ice, I remember..." he said from the other side of the door and I gasped at this, "I remember our goal. We still need to find Sora and Piri... correct?"

I stood on the side of the door, "What are we going to do?"

"I have to go back soon."

I screamed and unlock the door, slinging it open. I jumped into his arms and burst with more tears, "Roxy, please! I don't want you to go! You can go!"

"As long as Sora is around, I'll be around. So please..." he said gently and kissed me, "Don't stop smiling."