Thirty-Ninth Keychain-[Written]

[perplexme]

Naminé's gone, isn't she.

It's that time of year again, isn't it? For the snow and everything...it's kind of nice. Just means it's closer to Christmas.

How many worlds are there that actually get snow? My world never did.

[Filtered to Xion]

Hey...I'm ready to talk about...whatever it was you wanted to tell me.

[Filtered to Axel]

We need to talk.

[Filtered to Sora]

...have you met Xion?

Comments

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... yes.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

...why would you want that?

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

There was no other way. If things had kept on going the way they were ... I think I would have absorbed you anyway. You would have died, and Sora ... would never have woken up. Not ever.

It just had to be that way. There wasn't any other choice. Besides, I wanted to go back to Sora. And that's what happened, when I faded. At least, that's what was supposed to happen.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

And instead you ended up here.

...so the upper ranks, they knew? Xemnas and everybody?

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... I don't know. Xigbar knew. I think Xaldin might have known, but I'm not sure. Vexen knew. [ her voice grows dark and a bit angry on that one. ] He's the one who created me.

Xemnas must have known. I think Saix knew, too. If anyone else knew ... I'm not sure. Axel figured it out, eventually, but he didn't know from the start any more than I did.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

Yeah, apparently Vexen's got a thing for creating things.

...I don't get it. Why would they...

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

The Riku Replica. [ she still sounds angry. ]

Why would they what?

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

I'm sorry.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... what? Why?

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

I'm just not really getting why they tried doing it.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... I've thought about it a lot. I'm the "puppet," remember? I guess they thought, if I absorbed you, they'd be able to control me ... and we were the only two members able to collect hearts.

I'm just guessing, though. Xigbar would know. Either way, there's nothing to be sorry for.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

Well...you're not a puppet here, so I guess it doesn't matter. Axel and I didn't remember any of that, not until you told us.

...you did tell him, right?

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

[ eep! ]

... tell him which part?

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

Exactly what you just told me.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... that I died? That I made you kill me?

No, Roxas. I haven't told him. I wasn't going to.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

...guess I shouldn't say it either, then.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

I just...

I didn't want either of you to know. It's too much, you were never supposed to remember in the first place, it's all my fault anyway, and...

And I've been scared, Roxas. Really scared. I didn't think I was ever going to have to explain ... any of this.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

...it's okay. [And really, what else can he say? It's a lot to take in, and he's not really in a good spot to say something more than that.]

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

[ she's silent for a long time, just trying to calm herself down and gather her wits. ]

... there are two things I should tell him, if he doesn't already remember. He and I fought twice. The first time I ran away ... you and he both caught up with me in Twilight Town. He won that time, too ... by knocking me out. I think you were mad at him about it.

And then the second time. I'll ... explain that stuff to him.

[ sighs ] It's so weird Riku is so different, here. I wish he was normal ... the Riku I remember. It'd make all of this so much easier, since, well, he was there for a lot of it.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

He says he's told me everything he remembers...but I don't know if I believe that. It's weird.

...are you sure?

[There's a bit of a disgruntled noise from Roxas' end] It'd be easier if Riku wasn't so annoying here.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

... I don't know. Maybe he's already remembered something bad and doesn't want to talk about it.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Annoying? Roxas, I don't understand. I know you and he fought, but ... that was the older him. Why do you dislike him so much?

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

Like I'm going to just let him ignore it.

If you say so.

He...mm. Because he's annoying. It's really kind of just a bunch of stuff put together.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

I know. It's not like there's any point in hiding anything now.

... like what? Roxas ... without him, I don't know if I ever would have made the right choice. I owe him so much, and he was so kind to me. I just ... wish you wouldn't.

[Filtered]

[perplexme]

Exactly my point.

You've never met the younger Riku before now, have you? I don't doubt he's a nice guy when he's older...actually I know he's okay when he's older.

[Filtered]

[fourteen]

I can talk to him too, if you want. After all, I'll already know everything he's not saying.

... no, I haven't. He ... well, he is really different. Really, really different. I don't think I ever saw him smile once until I came here. And he's a lot ... louder.