Yuki sat in a chair backward. Her legs wrapped around the chairs back while her arms rested crossed across the top. Her chin rested on her arms as she watched the lively group argue about better ways to manage the Heartless in town. Her favorite by far came from Cid who had suggested building a mobile cannon. Though she wasn't fond of the idea of hurting too many Heartless she did think it would be cool to see.

This was the first time Yuki had been assigned to Hallow Bastion since her first meeting with the group. It surprised Yuki that the moment she had met her quota for the day Yuffie appeared and dragged her to meet with the other members of the group. Leon had left upon Yuki's arrival, saying he had something he wanted to go look at. The others, however, greeted Yuki kindly. Aerith even hugged Yuki, which surprised her most of all.

"What do you think Yuki?" Yuffie asked, dragging Yuki into the conversation.

"I think whatever those little cylinders are hurt a lot and if you can perfect them that should be enough," Yuki replied. Yuffie gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of her head. Aerith gave Yuki a soft smile while Cid looked caught between proud and ashamed. Their reactions confused Yuki momentarily, but she caught on quickly. They had forgotten she was a Heartless.

"It's easy to forget you're a Heartless kid." Cid said nervously. Yuffie nodded in agreement.

"We're sorry for bringing you into this conversation. It must have been weird listening to us talk about how to destroy your own kind." Aerith said softly. Yuki shook her head.

"It's fine. I'm supposed to kill others of my own kind anyway. Nothing unusual in this conversation." Yuki insisted. The others nodded but didn't look very convinced themselves.

Leon walked into the room, breaking the awkward moment the group had been having. Yuffie jumped up in surprise. She covered it up well by putting her hands on her hips and frowning at Leon.

"Where have you been?" She demanded. Leon rolled his eyes leaning on a wall beside where Yuki sat.

"I was doing some digging around in Ansem's lab." Leon said calmly. At the mention of the name Ansem, the room tensed up. Yuki glanced around confused.

"And? What did you find?" Yuffie asked.

"Something I think might interest Yuki." Leon said looking towards the young Heartless. Yuki looked at him in confusion.

"What?" She asked. It was the first time Leon was really acknowledging Yuki as something close to human. It was a strange occurrence.

"It appears he knew about elite Heartless like yourself. He had a note sheet dedicated to one he met." Leon replied. He reached into his pocket and handed her a piece of folded up paper. Yuki took it from him cautiously.

"Really?" She asked before even opening the paper. Leon nodded.

"She was pretty free with information, he learned a lot about their creation from her." Leon explained. Yuki unfolded the paper and skimmed over it. She found a name written in the top corner, above an orange Heartless emblem outlined in red. Zaya.

"I wonder if that's how his experiments started," Aerith said softly. Yuki looked up at her in question.

"What do you mean?" She asked, glancing back down at the paper. There was a question scrawled across the bottom. Can I repeat this act? The question sent shivers down Yuki's spine.

"Ansem did a lot of experiments on the heart. Some say that his experiments are what led this world to fall into darkness." Yuffie explained solemnly. It was strange on Yuffie, who was usually so happy.

"Oh," Yuki said. She couldn't think of anything else to say. She directed her attention back down to the paper, skimming over it.

"Yeah," Yuffie said, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, was that all you found interesting?"

"No, actually the reason I brought it back was because it mentioned how elites came to be, and how they were different," Leon said. His focus was on Yuki as she read the paper.

"How?" Yuki asked. All she had read was how he had met Zaya. She had come to the world specifically looking for him. She wanted the help of a brilliant scientist, so she claimed.

"Someone with a strong heart must willingly give up that heart," Leon said. He was quiet like the idea was terrible to him.

"A strong heart?" Yuffie asked. "So like a pure one?" Yuki narrowed her eyes in confusion. It was another term she didn't understand.

"I don't think pure. Just strong." Leon replied. Yuki sighed heavily.

"This is going to sound really stupid," Yuki announced. The others in the room turned their attention to her. "What's a pure heart?" There was a passage of silence. Yuki could tell her question had surprised the others.

"Are you sure you're a Heartless?" Cid asked in surprise. Yuki glared at him.

"Yes." She said, slightly annoyed. Aerith laughed softly.

"Pure hearts are hearts that aren't tainted by darkness." She explained. Yuki looked at her in surprise. She blinked a few times before speaking.

"Is that even possible?" Yuki asked.

"Must be. It's pretty rare though." Cid replied. Yuki looked back to the paper in thought.

"Huh." She said in thought.

"So you don't remember being a someone at all?" Yuffie asked. She sounded like she wasn't sure she wanted to ask. Like she was afraid of Yuki's reply.

"Nothing," Yuki confirmed. Her eyes were moving across the paper. She wasn't reading, however, just trying to look like she was doing something. Her mind was racing with questions.

"Wonder why you gave up your heart," Yuffie said softly. Yuki smiled a little.

"Me too." She replied. Still not looking up.

*<3*

Day 299- Pure Hearts,
I was in Hallow Bastion today. Yuffie dragged me to talk to the others. Leon didn't try to kill me, which was kinda weird but I was ok with it. He even found some information on elite Heartless for me.
During the conversation, pure hearts were brought up. It amazes me that people can have them. It just seems too perfect.

*<3*

The Heartless twins walked side by side through the unknown halls of the World That Never Was. Y looked around in awe, her eyes scanning over every detail. X was looking straight ahead, leading the way for the most part. He would occasionally glance at his sister but never said anything. Y felt his gaze but never reacted, he often looked towards her when they were on missions together, keeping an eye on her.

"I told Yuki you were looking for Aqua," X said suddenly. Y looked at him with interest. He rarely spoke of the searches, and he rarely spoke to Yuki about anything concerning the past.

"What did she say?" Y asked, returning her gaze to the halls around them.

"She asked if you were only looking for one friend." X replied nonchalantly. Y nodded.

"And what did you tell her?" She asked.

"That you knew where the other two were." X answered. He was looking off to the side. They were on the edge of a pathway overlooking a very long fall.

"I'm not really sure I can say I know where they are." Y said with a frown.

"Why not?" X asked, glancing at his sister curiously.

"Well, sure I know where Ven's body is but I don't have a clue where his heart is. As for Terra, all I know is his heart was taken over by Xehanort. I don't know what happened to him, so I don't know where Terra is." Y replied softly. The thought of her old friends always made her sad. She missed them more than words could express.

"Aqua just happens to be the easiest to find then?" X asked. Y nodded.

"Yup." She agreed. She looked up at the castle in front of her. It didn't look very welcoming. More a maze meant for people to get lost inside of. "Do you know the leader of this organization at all?" She asked, looking at X.

"No, can't say I do. He's usually pretty hidden, only the boss sees him." X replied, looking at the castle himself. Y wished at that moment she could really read his mind.

"Do you know his name?" Y asked.

"Xemnas," X replied, without a delay. Y frowned, trying to work out what his name might have once been.

"Hm, wonder what he could want with us." Y said, thinking out loud. She wasn't expecting a response. It was a great surprise to hear one that didn't come from X.

"I should think it's pretty obvious blondy." A familiar voice said from behind them. Y tensed and spun around to face the owner. Behind them was an older man, not too old but older than most other members of either organization, at least in looks. He had long black hair striped with grey. He had scars on his face and an eye patch, leaving only one yellow eye visible.

"You bastard," Y growled between gritted teeth.

"Whoa, looks like blondy has got a mouth on her." The man said with a laugh. Y glared at him harshly. Her ears were buzzing, all she could think was she hated this man. He hurt her friends.

"Shut up." Y said fiercely. X looked between the two warily, ready to step in at a moments notice.

"There you go again, looking at me like I drowned your goldfish." The man said, rather than comply with her request. He looked amused by her behavior. Y summoned her keyblade and went to raise it. X placed his hand on Y's arm stopping her. Her eyes met with his. She sighed and banished the keyblade.

"What do you want Xigbar?" X asked, stepping in front of his sister only slightly.

"I've been ordered to take you two up to see the boss," Xigbar replied with a grin. X frowned.

"I'm not sure I'm so eager to follow through with that. With you being the messenger and all." X said, looking at Xigbar with distrust.

"Who exactly is your leader?" Y demanded. Xigbar only laughed.

"I'm sure you know the answer blondy. Come on, no dilly-dallying." He said turning and leading the twins on through the castle. Y took a hold of X's hand and gripped it tightly. X squeezed her hand in a reassuring way.

"I don't like this." Y whispered.

"Neither do I. But we don't have a choice in the matter at the moment." X whispered back. Xigbar glanced over his shoulder at the twins. He smirked seeing their interlocking hands.

"You know blondy, I'm surprised." He stated. Y glared at the back of his head rather than humor him with a question of what had surprised him. "Didn't he steal your heart? And yet you forgave him. And yet I never did anything to you directly, and you hate me." Xigbar continued. Y continued to glare.

"Shut up." She hissed once again.

"Just wondering," Xigbar said with a shrug.

Xigbar took the twins into a round room with tall chairs much like the meeting room the Heartless had. Two of the chairs were filled. In one a member with blue hair and an X shaped scar across his face sat, looking down at the two Heartless with disdain. Y was familiar with him. Isa, or Saix now. The other sat in the chair directly in front of them. It was the highest chair in the room, meaning they had to look up to see who was sitting there. He had silver hair that reached his shoulders with tan skin and yellow eyes. Upon seeing the twins the man smiled.

Y's eyes widen in fear and shock. They weren't identical, but the similarities were there enough for her to know who this was. Beside her X glared up at the man.

"T-Terra." Y stuttered out. Almost in unison with X speaking.

"Xehanort." X said in anger. Xigbar disappeared from behind the twins and reappeared in his chair beside the leader. Xemnas, supposedly. "What do you want?" X demanded.

"Peace, young pupil of who I once was." Xemnas said in a calm voice. X continued to glare up at him.

"You expect me to believe that?" X asked in disbelief. "That you've changed at all? The only thing you have going for you is you're younger. You're still the same old coot you've always been." He continued. He stepped forward, standing in between Y and Xemnas.

"Perhaps you are right," Xemnas admitted. He looked at X with mild interest. "But I find myself a very changed man. Losing my heart has taken its toll on me."

"You mean losing Terra's heart." X snapped. Behind him, Y was muttering under her breath. Words of denial. X clenched his fist in anger.

"His heart too is lost. But that is not the matter I wish to discuss with you both." Xemnas said calmly. X could tell he was amused, though there was no real show. But he knew Xehanort would delight in the pain he was causing.

"Hurry up and speak. We won't stay long." X said through gritted teeth.

"Where is the loyal follower I remember from all those years ago?" Xemnas said. X couldn't help but laugh.

"Now I'm really confused. Could you ever really consider me loyal? Or are you talking about Vanitas? Because if you think he was loyal do I have some stories to tell you." X said, giving Xemnas a defiant glare. Xemnas chose to ignore that statement.

"Where do you stand?" He asked. X thought about this a moment then looked down.

"On the floor, I'm pretty sure." X decided. He looked back up at Xemnas. "Are you blind now too?"  He asked. Behind him, Y gave a small laugh. That was enough to make X smile a bit. Xigbar laughed loudly from the chair to Xemnas' right.

"Still as clever as always." He said, grinning at X.

"With a sharp tongue as well," Saix said from his chair.

"I mean to ask on whose side do you fight?" Xemnas asked, wisely ignoring his subordinates. X rolled his eyes.

"Not yours," X said simply.

"But you have helped us attain Kingdom Hearts. Does that not put us on the same side?" Xemnas asked. He was trying to sound confused but to X he sounded more arrogant than anything.

"You know as well as I do this Kingdom Hearts isn't the one you truly want. I refuse to help you find the one you want." X snapped. He lifted his chin, holding his head up high. He wasn't going to bow to this man.

"But you will if I could return to you your dear sisters lost friends." Xemnas said, a sly grin appearing on his face. X glared at him for a moment, his mind racing. It was a bluff. It had to be. He might be capable, but he never would.

"There's no way you can." X said finally, his voice hardly above a whisper.

"I see the doubt in your mind. You know I could." Xemnas said.

"And I know you won't. Why did you call us here, it was more than to just ask us questions?" X replied.

"You two are important pieces of the puzzle. Just as we need our key-bearers, we need you two." Xemnas explained calmly. X frowned again. Keybearers, that could mean several people.

"Keybearers?" X asked, feigning ignorance. It wasn't lost on Xemnas.

"You know of whom I speak, Roxas and Yuki." Xemnas said. His eyes met with X's conveying a message meant only for him.

"And what about Xion?" X asked.

"A tool," Saix answered for Xemnas. X considered his reply. He knew Xemnas wouldn't give up, even if X refused. But Y would hate him if he agreed. She was still shaking behind him. He hated knowing she was scared. He hated himself even more for knowing he had a hand in why she was like that.

"I won't help you. Never again." X said. Before Xemnas could speak again X grabbed his sisters arm and pulled her from the room.

They walked in silence, trying to get as far from that room as they could. Both felt their minds racing. Too much had happened.

"I'm sorry." Y said softly.

"Don't be. You had every right to act that way." X replied briefly. Y nodded, glancing at her brother.

"He's still the same then?" She asked. X nodded slowly.

"Calmer, and appears more patient, but still the same." He confirmed.

"Why does he need us to find Kingdom Hearts?" Y asked warily. X was silent, considering his answer. Y didn't rush him, just waited for him to speak.

"It's a long story." X finally said. Y frowned.

"We have time." She said. X shook his head stubbornly.

"I can't, sorry." He insisted. Y frowned but nodded. X would talk when he was ready. No use in pushing the subject. Especially since they had had a very trying day.

"It's fine. Just tell me when you're ready." Y said, looking away. X was silent for a moment.

"Right." He finally agreed. There was another pause between the siblings. Once again Y was the one to break it.

"Don't you think it's weird?" Y asked. X glanced at her confused.

"What's weird?" He asked.

"The ones he had there were his next in lines so to speak. And he's made it clear Roxas is really valuable, right?" Y asked. X nodded unsure of her point of bringing these things up.

"So?" X asked.

"The ones he keeps closest are the old man scarred by darkness, the loyal blue haired one, and a boy who looks so much like Ven. Maybe it's wrong to think, but it seems like whatever is left of Terra is trying to put our lost family back together." Y said, her voice thick like she was about to cry. X was speechless, unsure what to say.

"What about you?" He finally asked. Y smiled looking at X.

"He called me here today, didn't he?"

*<3*

When Yuki had reached the clock tower she was surprised to see all three of the Nobodies. She hadn't heard anything, so she had just assumed Roxas was alone. She sat down beside Xion silently. No one said anything. A few minutes later X and Y arrived. They looked between each other but didn't speak. They sat down in silence.

The silence wasn't like others Yuki had experienced. It was heavy. Like each person wanted to speak but couldn't say what they wanted to. They couldn't find the right words. So instead they wrapped themselves up in their own thoughts.

Yuki didn't like it.

*<3*

Day 300- Silent,
Today was the first day in a long time all six of us made it to the clock tower. But it was different. No one said a word. I didn't like it.