No Author's Note.

(NOTE 4/22/2020: Reposted after document-implementation error)

Play: At Dusk, I Will Think of You... - KH 358/2 Days

Kirux walked up to his spot on the clock tower. Everyone was already there, talking amongst themselves.

When Kirux sat down next to Xion, she looked over and smiled at him, "Hey Kirux."

"Hey," He said, "What were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing. How was your mission today?"

Kirux shrugged, pulling the ice cream he had bought out from his pocket, "Fine, I guess. More of the same, really. You?"

"Roxas and I just went to Agrabah to take down some Heartless. Nothing too complicated."

Kirux sighed, "You guys are lucky. They only ever send me to Hollow Bastion. I've been going there everyday for the last week."

"Have you really? Why?" Roxas asked him.

Kirux could only give him a shrug, "Beats me. Saïx won't tell me anything any time I ask."

…

"So, have you been feeling any better since that thing a few weeks back?" Axel asked without looking over.

Kirux looked over at Axel, "Yeah. It hasn't happened again, so I guess you could say I've been feeling better."

"I think he means have you been, I dunno, fatigued or tired after fighting recently. You said that had been happening again earlier this week, right?"

"Oh yeah. That's right. It's stopped , thank goodness."

"That's good to hear." Roxas said.

"Yeah. What about you, Xion? Are you and Roxas making any progress?"

Xion and Roxas looked at each other, and both of them frowned. Xion looked back to Kirux, "No, we haven't."

Kirux frowned with them, "That stinks..."

"That's not all."

"Huh?"

"Saïx said that...tomorrow is the last day we'll be working together. If I don't get my Keyblade back, then..."

Xion stopped talking after that.

Kirux spoke up, "But...he can't do that, can he?"

Xion and Roxas both said nothing.

Kirux looked over to Axel, "You can do something to buy them more time, right?"

…

Axel shook his head, looking upset, "Sorry Kirux, but I was barely able to get Saïx to let them work together tomorrow."

He sighed, "At this point, there's nothing that we can do anymore."

"But," Kirux started, but Xion put her hand up.

"Kirux, it's not worth it."

He wanted to continue, but hesitated. After getting a glance from Xion, he stopped.

…

…

…

Axel stood up after a few minutes, "Alright, I've gotta head back. Now that I'm taking care of that Heartless for the two of you, I've gotta head back."

Roxas just said, "Oh...right. Okay."

Xion was more upset, "I'm sorry, Axel. It's my fault you have to cover for me..."

Axel just put his hand on her shoulder as he passed, "It's okay, Xion. Just...you and Roxas need to figure something out tomorrow, okay?"

"We'll think of something. Don't worry." Roxas told Axel, who just nodded to him.

Axel then departed the clock tower.

Kirux looked at Xion, "So...what are you guys gonna do?"

Roxas shrugged, "I don't know. We'll think of something before work tomorrow...not like we have a choice.

Kirux looked at Xion, who said nothing.

…

…

…

After ten more minutes, Roxas had left. Xion and Kirux were the only ones left.

Kirux was dangling the stick from his ice cream between his teeth. He thought about getting more, but didn't want to leave Xion by herself.

They were silent for the longest time. Kirux just watched the sunset, while Xion stared down at her feet, in her thoughts.

Kirux grabbed the ice cream stick from between his teeth, "Hey Xion?"

She looked up, "Yeah? What's up?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I dunno. I just...think I should be helping. Helping get your Keyblade back, I mean."

"But, what is there that you could do, Kirux? No offense, but you're not a Keyblade wielder."

"Yeah I know, and none taken. I just feel...useless, y'know? I wanna help, but I don't know how I possibly could."

Xion just shrugged, "I'm not sure, but...I appreciate your concern. It's nice to know that you care."

Kirux turned towards her, "I mean, we're friends. Of course I'm concerned."

Xion giggled at that, which Kirux retorted with, "What's so funny?"

"The way you're acting. It's different."

"What do you mean by "different"?"

"I dunno. I mean, you've always been concerned about me not getting my Keyblade back. But now...forget it. It's nothing."

"What? Am I being too good of a friend? I didn't even know that was possible."

That got Xion to laugh, and Kirux laughed too.

…

When they both calmed down, Xion spoke, "But seriously. Thanks Kirux. I'm glad you joined when you did. You've been a great friend."

Kirux shrugged, "I try my best. I mean, it's not like I have anyone else outside of you, Roxas, and Axel."

Xion giggled again, "True enough."

The two of them were there for another fifteen minutes. After that, Kirux asked her, "You wanna head back?"

"Yeah."

And with that, the two of them left the clock tower.

Stop: At Dusk, I Will Think of You... - KH 358/2 Days

Riku was watching the computer monitor intently. Kirux and Xion were walking through Twilight Town, just talking to themselves.

He heard a door open behind him, and small footsteps on the metal floor. The girl in white walked into the room.

"Still watching him?" She said to Riku, then she noticed his hand. Then she looked up at his eyes.

He had removed his blindfold. It was dangling from his hand.

"Isn't it dangerous to not be wearing that?" She asked him.

"Don't worry about me, Naminé." Riku said, not taking his eyes off of the monitor.

Naminé walked up next to him, "Riku, that's dangerous. You know what'll happen if-,"

"It won't happen. Not to me."

"Huh?"

Riku held the blindfold up, bringing his eyes away from the monitor, "Before, not wearing this would run the risk of Ansem coming out. But ever since he was created, I think Ansem has moved away."

Naminé was confused, "Moved away...but to who?"

Riku looked back up to the monitor, his eyes fixating onto Kirux, just as him and Xion were entering a corridor to return to the castle.

The Next Day...

Play: Hollow Bastion - KH Re:COM

Kirux ran forward, striking the Heartless up and then knocking it into the electric field of the heart shaped "window". The electricity caused the Heartless to burst into a cloud of black smoke.

…

He looked around. The area was clear.

Kirux relieved his sword, letting out a sigh, "And that's the entire castle...again."

He sat down on the step, "Why do I keep getting sent here? It's not like anything will change in the time I leave to the time I come back. It's like they're sending me here to waste time."

Kirux picked up a rock, and started juggling it in his hand.

"I wonder how Roxas and Xion are doing, and Axel too. I wonder if Axel is still upset with me about that Heartless from a few weeks back."

"Now that I think about it, he's been acting weird with me ever since that happened. I wonder if it has to do with that power that I used."

Kirux brought his other hand up, "Speaking of which, I wonder if it'll work this time."

He tossed to rock out of his right hand then snapped his fingers on his left hand. Sure enough, the rock burst into a flurry of dark flames. It landed in his right hand, while still on fire, and Kirux immediately dropped it.

"Ow!" He said, shaking his right hand, "That was stupid of me to do."

He then looked at his right hand, "Ever since that happened, I haven't been able to use that power outside of that small stuff. What do I gotta do to use that power again?"

…

Kirux sighed, "Well, I've still got some time to kill. Better do it somewhere a bit more pleasant. I wonder if the library has anything on Keyblades or Heartless. Would be a shame to let those things go to waste."

Kirux stood up, and was about to walk away.

But then, he heard something.

Footsteps.

Stop: Hollow Bastion - KH Re:COM

Play: Scherzo di Notte - KH Re:COM

Kirux hopped up onto the ledge, and couldn't believe it.

There was someone there, trying to leave the area.

"Hey!" Kirux yelled at them, and they stopped for a second.

They didn't stay for long before taking off.

"Hey, come back!" Kirux yelled before jumping down and running after them.

…

…

…

Kirux chased them until they got to the large lift. The guy got on before Kirux could get outside, and left without Kirux.

"Aw, come on!" Kirux said to himself, when he saw the lift heading to the other side of the castle.

"Come on Kirux. Think. If you don't hurry, he'll get away."

He turned to his left, seeing a smaller lift going towards the top of the castle. Only problem is that it was suspended over the air. The only ground anywhere close would lead to the bottom of the castle.

"No, absolutely not. That's a stupid idea." Kirux immediately said, "But, it's my only option..."

Kirux backed up, "Curse you, Hollow Bastion and your stupid lifts."

He ran forward, jumping right before getting to the ledge. He barely grabbed onto the lift, pulling himself onto it.

But he still had a long ways to go before getting to where the large lift stopped.

This jump was even farther away, but at least he had more height.

"Man, am I gonna have a story to tell when I get to the clock tower after this..." He said quietly before running forward and jumping.

For a second, it felt like everything was in slow-motion, and Kirux thought that he wouldn't make it for a second.

But he did. Kirux landed and rolled forward, right as the guy ran inside after the lift stopped.

"Oh, come on! Can't I get a break?!" Kirux yelled before getting up and chasing after the guy again.

…

…

Kirux chased him to the entrance hall. The guy vaulted over the edge and landed in front of the fountain.

Kirux jumped over and landed in front of him, pulling his sword out while he was in the air. He pointed it at the guy, who stopped in his tracks.

"You were a real pain to catch up to, y'know that?" Kirux said before he looked at the guy for a second longer.

He was in the Organization's coat.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." He thought to himself.

"Seriously?! One of you guys?! Come on, does Saïx really not trust me to do missions by myself?"

Kirux looked away from him and started ranting, "First, he sends me to Hollow Bastion for a week straight, and now he sends another member to SPY ON ME while I'm on my missions! Gah, what's his deal?!"

Thankfully for Kirux, the guy just stood there and let him rant, not trying to escape.

Kirux finished, looking back up at him, "So, who are you? Luxord? Demyx? Xaldin? Tell me who so I don't have to kick your ass to find out."

…

Finally, the guy spoke, "I should've known you'd find out I was watching you..."

"Huh?"

"I was careless in my escape. I've gotta be better with that..."

The guy started to walk towards Kirux, but Kirux stopped him after only two steps, "Whoa, hey! You're not going anywhere!"

"If you're smart, you'll let me go."

"And what are you gonna do if I don't?"

…

The guy vanished, and reappeared right behind Kirux.

Kirux turned around, "Wha- how did you...?"

Then, the guy removed his hood.

Kirux was even more stunned than before.

"What...y-you look like..."

He looked like him. Compared to Kirux, his hair was a lot longer and silver. He also wore a blindfold over his eyes.

…

"But...how...?" Kirux could only say.

The guy just said, "There's a lot going on that you don't know about, kid. So do everyone a favor and stay out of the way."

Kirux heard a portal appear behind him, and then the guy advanced on him.

The guy kicked Kirux hard in the stomach, sending Kirux back and into the portal. As soon as he was gone, the portal closed.

Stop: Scherzo di Notte - KH Re:COM

Play: Sacred Moon - KH 358/2 Days

Roxas, Xion, and Axel were walking through the castle, just talking to themselves.

"Hey Axel," Xion said, "You sure you never saw Kirux after this morning?"

Axel shook his head, "Nope. Sorry, Xion."

"That sucks. He missed the great news." Roxas said, "Maybe his mission took him longer than expected. Why don't you check his room and see if he's there?"

…

Out of nowhere, a portal appeared in thin air, and Kirux flew out of it straight onto the ground.

It took a second for anyone to respond, but Xion walked up to him and said, "Kirux! Are you okay?"

Kirux exhaled heavily, then yelled, "I've been flying...through the corridors...for THIRTY MINUTES!"

Xion helped him up, Roxas walking up to the two of them, "What happened to you?"

Kirux remembered what had happened, and said, "OH BOY, do I have a story to tell all of you. But first, do you mind if I...sit down. All that flying has me a bit...nauseous."

Roxas and Xion had to essentially carry Kirux to the Grey Area, as he could barely walk. When they got there, he told them the whole story. How he was just hanging out at the castle when he ran into the guy, how he chased them throughout the castle (he took great pride in the way he was able to cross the gap to catch up with him), and when he finally caught the guy, noticing he had the Organization coat and when he revealed his face to Kirux.

"I'm telling you, guys. He looked almost exactly like me. We had the same hair, the same face. Outside of the few differences, it's like I was looking into a mirror."

Roxas looked at Axel, "What do you think, Axel?"

…

Axel said, "Unless there's a doppelganger Heartless I don't know about, then Kirux...it looks like you just ran into your human self."

"But, how is that possible if Kirux is right here?"

"It isn't."

They all turned, seeing Saïx walk up to them.

"A Nobody and a Somebody cannot coexist. It's not possible." He looked down at Kirux, "What you saw wasn't real. It was an illusion."

"No way, man!" Kirux said, standing up (he still needed to hold on to the chair to steady himself), "What I saw, who I saw, was real. It wasn't fake, I know that for a fact."

Saïx just shook his head, "You've been with us for nearly a month, and yet you still understand so little."

He just walked away after that.

"What a jerk." Roxas said, his face having turned to anger.

Kirux sat back down, exhaling heavily. Xion just said, "Don't listen to him. Like Roxas said, he's just a jerk."

Kirux shook his head, "Whatever. So, what happened with you guys?"

Xion smiled, and said proudly, "Well, Roxas and I went to Beasts' Castle, and..."

She put her hand out, and her Keyblade appeared. Her, Roxas, and Axel all smiled proudly.

Kirux was in awe for a second, then smiled with them, "You got it back! That's awesome!"

"Yeah, and you missed the celebration. It didn't feel right without you, y'know." Axel said.

"I'm sorry, guys. I'll make up for it. I'll buy ice cream for everyone tomorrow."

"Kirux, you don't need to do that. Right now, I'm just glad to have it back." Xion said, dismissing her Keyblade.

Roxas spoke up, "I had to let Xion use mine for today so she could get it back."

"Oh yeah! You should've seen it! Roxas went the entire mission using a stick."

Kirux burst out laughing, "A stick?! That's amazing! Roxas, did you really do that?"

"Yeah, and it worked too! So I don't care what you have to say!"

They all laughed.

…

…

…

Xion and Kirux were walking back to their rooms, Roxas and Axel having already reached theirs.

When Kirux walked up to his door, he paused.

Xion noticed, and turned back to him, "Something wrong?"

"I know what I saw today..."

"Oh...you're talking about that guy."

"Something he said has been sticking with me. He said, "There's a lot going on that you don't know about. So do everyone a favor and stay out of it." What does that mean?"

Xion shrugged, "I don't know, Ki. Maybe one day, if you run into him again, you can ask."

"Yeah, maybe."

Kirux opened his door, saying, "Goodnight Xion."

Xion smiled and said, "Goodnight Kirux."

She walked down the hall, and Kirux entered his room, shutting the door behind him.

It feels good to be up until 1 AM working on fics again, even when I'm back at school.

Hope y'all enjoyed. See you next time.

-Broncozfan623