Home? -open-

[Roxas]

"Thank you, but I don't need your help. I just want to leave and go home." He conveniently left out the fact that he didn't know where "home" was. No need to look even more confused. "Unless you're committed to escalating this, I'd rather you just let me leave."

In sync with the word "leave", a strange noise warbled behind Roxas. It sounded suction-like, but made even the air shiver visibly. Glancing over his shoulder, Roxas' eyes grew wide at the ominous black hole that had appeared. It swirled and twisted. The middle was darker than black, like it was feeding on the light that came too close. It looked terrifying. Like you would be swallowed up, never to be heard from again.

Roxas felt immense relief wash over him at the sight.
He didn't know how, but he instinctively knew that he had to enter the portal if he wanted to leave this place, and this strange boy who also had a Keyblade. He looked forward once more, to make sure the boy hadn't moved towards him, then turned and entered the portal.

The moment Roxas was completely inside, the opening collapsed in on itself, leaving him in pitch darkness. Almost immediately Roxas started regretting his decision. The air here was hot and thick, making breathing nearly impossible. Roxas felt like he was practically suffocating. Maybe the darkness really was trying to swallow him up, suck the very life out of him. Fighting down the urge to flat out run, he briskly walked forward, or at least what he thought was forward. He couldn't really tell if he was moving at all. Nothing changed.

But then, finally, after what felt like minutes, but was in reality only seconds, a bright opening appeared before him. It should have grown gradually, like walking out of a tunnel, but the proportions of this place seemed all wrong. One second it was a pinpoint of light. One step more and it was big enough for Roxas to walk through. He found it odd that the sudden brightness didn't hurt his eyes in the least. Then again, after how claustrophobic this place was, he wasn't about to complain. Two more steps and he was out. The blackness faded behind him.

Roxas was standing in a grey room with an enormous window spanning the entire wall he faced.

[Luxord X]

He awoke to a gray room with a curious symbol on it's wall. Apparently it had worked, Luxord's last minute switch and escape had evaded the cold kiss of the Keyblade. I wonder how many of us escaped like I had, surly Xemnas had a backup contingency in case he failed, the others however, Luxord wasn't so sure about. No matter he had more pressing things to attend to.

He hurried out of the room and set a brisk pace down the halls of the castle checking each room for signs of the others. Xemnas, Saix nothing so far, Luxord grew worried. Had they not escaped, was he all that was left of the Thirteen? He passed by Axel's room, nothing. Xigbar, Xaldin and Demyx were all missing, a thought crossed into Luxord's mind and chilled him to the core, was he all that remained?

As he walked passed Roxas's room he heard something. What? he thought. Someone was in Roxas's room? He prepared his deck in his hand and slowly opened the door.

"Roxas!" He gasped.

"Why have you returned? To mock our defeat?" Luxord snarled the accusation with teeth clenched.

He knew that the answer would matter little, cause if it was true and Xemnas was dead, Luxord would not have a master anymore and the Thirteen would be no more.

[Roxas]

An endless night sky exploding with stars. Turrets and towers rising up from the ground almost too far below to see. Roxas was entranced by the view from this enormous window. It took him a minute to pull himself away. Turning around, he realized he was in a bedroom. It was very monotone, everything in the room was light grey, from the ceiling and walls to the bed and wardrobe. He felt a little nervous. He shouldn't be in someone else's bedroom. What if they came back? What if they got mad? How would he explain himself? Roxas didn't even know how he'd ended up here!

He hesitated, thinking. As uncomfortable as he felt being here, it would probably be worse to go wondering around without some clue as to where he was. Making up his mind, Roxas set about exploring the room, looking for hints to his location. First he dropped to his knees and peeked under the bed. Nothing but dust. He got up and walked over to the wardrobe. It contained several long black coats, boots, and gloves. This discovery surprised Roxas, because it was full of the clothing he was currently wearing. He turned toward the desk, the last piece of furniture in the room. There was nothing on it, so he opened the drawer.

Inside was a piece of paper and a small wooden stick. Curious, Roxas picked up the paper first. There was a note hand written on it. 'This is yours. Until you come back, it's meaningless.' He stared at the page for a second. Something was tugging at the back of his mind, like these words meant something, but...he could figure out what. Putting the note back, he took out the wooden stick. The word 'Winner' and the silhouette of a crown was printed onto the stick.

A blood red sunset. A cocky, yet warm smirk. Something salty...salty and sweet.

"Icing on the cake" Roxas murmured absentmindedly. Then, "Is this...my room?"

Suddenly, someone exclaimed his name behind him. Extremely startled, Roxas dropped the popsicle stick and spun around. Standing in the doorway was a tall man wearing the same coat as Roxas. He had very short blonde, almost white hair, a goatee, and piercings along both his ears. He looked livid to see Roxas.

"No! I'm not mocking you!" Roxas took a step back, but bumped into the desk and couldn't go any farther. "Wha...what do you mean? Defeat? Who are you and how do you know my name?" Roxas felt completely cornered.

[Luxord X]

Luxord was surprised by the response he had received. "who are you and how do you know my name?" Is Roxas trying to pull one over on him? Why would he do so?

He remembered how he had barely escaped being undone by the boy Sora and how it was Roxas who had inadvertently led him straight to us. Could it be that Roxas had avoided his rejoining to Sora? If so he would not remember anything.

Luxord brightened at the thought and lowered his weapons. If that were true and it very well may be, Roxas would have no memory of his misdeeds. If only Vexen were here, he had been so much better at dealing with these sort of things. Even if being around the man had caused Luxord to freeze to his very core, nevertheless Vexen knew his stuff when it came to nobodies.

"I apologize Roxas, it seems I have forgotten my manners in my excitement." he said flatly while straightening himself up into proper posture.

"If you truly do not know who you are then you are no threat to me." Luxord said it truthfully, as he didn't believe Roxas to be any threat.

"Tell me then Roxas, do you remember the Keyblade?" He queried.

[Roxas]

Roxas was a little surprised by the sudden change of attitude towards him. Even though the man seemed to have calmed down and even maybe brightened up a bit, Roxas was still shaken and hesitant. But the mention of the Keyblade changed that. This person knew about the Keyblade? Did he have one too? That other boy did. Did everyone have one? If so, maybe this man would be able to explain everything.

"The Keyblade?" Roxas began. "Yes, I remember it." As if it had been waiting in the wings for someone to mention it, the Kingdom Key materialized in Roxas' hand on it's own. That was the second time it had shown up without being asked. The first time, Roxas had been relieved to feel it in his hand. Now it was getting a little annoying. He needed to get a better handle on this thing, lest it keep popping up at the mere thought or mention of it. He concentrated on making it go away, and after a second or two, it disappeared.

Turning his attention back to the man in front of him, he continued. "How did you know about the Keyblade? Do you have one too? Who are you? And where are we? What is this place? It feels so familiar, but I...can't quite remember." Roxas wasn't sure who this guy was or if he could entirely trust him, but having someone to talk to, especially someone who seemed to have a handle on things, was enough for all of Roxas' questions to flood out. Once he realized he'd started firing off questions without waiting for any answers, he felt his face get hot. He wasn't sure why, but his shoes had suddenly become very interesting to him. He stared down.