Roxas

"You make a good other."

- Roxas

Roxas is one of the main characters of the Disney/Square Enix series Kingdom Hearts and the main protagonist of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, as well as the first half of Kingdom Hearts II.

He is the Nobody of Sora and was Rank XIII within the original Organization XIII, and although Sora's heart was restored after his creation, Roxas continued to endure and exist. He is voiced by Jesse McCartney in English, and Kouki Uchiyama in Japanese.

Personality
As he has gained his own heart, Roxas geniunely has his own emotions and personality. Similarly to Sora and Ventus, he is kind, likeable and friendly. He cares about others and is brave.

Roxas is generally more mature and will think rationally before moving forward, unlike the happy-go-lucky Sora. However, Roxas also displays a much more aggressive personality compared to Sora when teased or confused, and can be irritable and impatient. He can also be cocky and arrogant at times.

A defining trait to Roxas is his desire to have a life of his own and to be acknowledged as a single being. He spends his entire existence wanting to have friends and to spend time with them like a normal teenager, ever since he first sees children in Twilight Town doing so. Though he will still help people in need, he actually would prefer not to have the keyblade, as it prevents him from living the normal life he wants.

He intensely dislikes being compared to Sora, because he would rather people see him as his own person. He ultimately opts to merge with Sora regardless of all the afformentioned, proving him to be responsible and selfless.

Roxas mellows out considerably after he learns of and accepts his fate as Sora's nobody.

When he was first created, he was somewhat "blank", not yet understanding what life and what it means to have one. He was naive and very curious about his surroundings as his new best friend Axel showed him the world.

Physical Appearance
Though he is Sora's nobody, Roxas primarily resembles Ventus due to Ventus's heart residing within Sora during his creation; he and Ventus are virtually identical.

Though he is chronologically only a few years old, Roxas appears to be 15-year-old teenager with striking blue eyes and short, spiky dirty-blonde hair. He is thin and somewhat short, especially compared to his older fellow Organization members.

He spends much of his existence in a standard Organization XIII uniform, a black zipped-up hooded coat that reaches his ankles, and simple black shoes. His sleeve fit him somewhat looser than some other members.

At his creation, and after his time in the Organization, he wears an off-white, short-sleeved jacket with a red collar lined with black and accented with black checkers. Under it he wears a sleeveless black zip-up jacket, with the zipper resembling the nobody symbol. He wears two-toned jeans, that are charcoal on around the top, but beige beginning halfway through his thigh. On his left had, he has a wristband with a black-and-white checkered pattern and two similar finger coverings, a black one on his index finger and a white one on his middle finger.

Powers and abilities
Roxas holds a unique ability to wield two keyblades, because he was created from two hearts with wielding abilities, Sora and Ventus. He dual-wields the Oathkeeper and Oblivion keyblades -- that respectively represent his link to Kairi and Riku through Sora.

He also has the ability to manipulate light, earning him the "Light" attribute within Organization XIII.

All official members of Organization XIII were given a sub-species of nobodies to command; Roxas was given control of Samurai Nobodies. After leaving the Organization he appears to have lost command over them.

Kingdom Hearts
Roxas makes an appearance in the game's secret ending albeit obscured by his Organization cloak. He meets with Xemnas at the Dark Margin, where Xemnas reveals that he had seen Sora, as Xemnas had encountered him at Hollow Bastion in the Final Mix version.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
After finishing Riku's Story, there is a picture of Roxas that is shown after the credits. During the end credits, Axel is seen to converse with him, Roxas completely oblivious to his presence.

Kingdom Hearts II
Roxas is fully introduced in the beginning of the game in a digital version of Twilight Town created by DiZ following his capture from Organization XIII. In the virtual world, Roxas' mind was altered to believe that he lives a normal life and is friends with three kids - Hayner, Pence, and Olette. As Naminé nears the completion of the task of restoring Sora's memories, Roxas soon begins seeing brief fleeting memories of Sora through a number of his dreams. It is during this time that Axel manages to enter the virtual world to try and free Roxas, although Roxas is unable to remember Axel. Roxas also encounters Naminé several times after re-obtaining the Keyblade. Eventually, Naminé's contact with Roxas allows him to briefly connect his heart with Kairi's, where Sora himself, despite being asleep at that time, is able to talk to Kairi through Roxas to remind her of who he is.

Eventually, the truth is revealed: Naminé informs Roxas that he is a Nobody, and that he is supposed to merge with Sora in order to complete him. Along with that, Roxas discovers that his life in Twilight Town isn't real. Desiring to see Sora, Roxas makes his way through the Old Mansion and begins to recall his former life. Roxas then meets with Axel one last time, but due to Roxas' reactions from before, Axel battles him, but Roxas defeats his old friend. Axel then retreats into the darkness while Roxas then enters the pod room where Sora is kept. As Sora's pod emerges, Roxas respectfully accepts his fate and rejoins with his original self, allowing Sora to finally awaken and begin the game. Though he does not actually appear to Sora throughout most of the game, Roxas is frequently mentioned, and his presence and memories often appear through Sora.

When Sora enters The World That Never Was, the Organization members make references to Roxas to Sora's confusion until Sora learns the truth behind the Nobody's origin from Riku.

After Xemnas's seeming defeat and the demise of most of the Organization members, Roxas projects himself through Sora after Naminé joins with Kairi. They are happy that they met again, and say that unlike other Nobodies, they got to meet their original selves and become whole. They state that they accept their place within Sora and Kairi after being promised by their counterparts that they would always be together. With that, both Nobodies merge back with their original selves. In the game's ending, Sora and Kairi briefly take on the appearances of Roxas and Naminé when Sora and Riku return to Destiny Islands.

Kingdom Hearts coded
While the real Roxas does not appear, a data version of Roxas makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts coded and is fought as the final boss. In Castle Oblivion, Data-Naminé reveals to Data-Sora and King Mickey that Roxas is one of the people that, while gone, is still connected to Sora's heart.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
The game focuses on the time period between Roxas's birth and his departure from the Organization, eventually leading to his capture at the hands of Riku and DiZ. After Sora took his own heart to restore Kairi's, Roxas was born in Twilight Town and soon discovered by Xemnas, who gave him his name and invited him into the Organization. In Roxas' early days, Axel took a liking to Roxas and kept watch of the young Nobody. Soon, the two become best of friends. When Axel is sent to Castle Oblivion to interfere in Marluxia's plans to control Sora and overthrow the organization, Roxas is placed in charge of Xion, the newest member of the Organization who can also wield a Keyblade. Slowly, Xion and Roxas become close friends. However, when Sora becomes placed in suspended animated by Naminé, Roxas falls into a coma for several weeks. After awakening, Roxas begins to question why he wields the Keyblade and doubts the Organization's motives, and becomes increasingly impatient. Xion eventually leaves the Organization to find herself. Roxas and Axel try and find her, and eventually convince her to return. It isn't long however, before Xion leaves again, trying to return to Sora. Roxas then finds out that Xion was not a Nobody but a Replica. When he learns that Axel knew about this, Roxas becomes angered and departs from the Organization.

In Twilight Town, Roxas encounters Xion, and is shocked to discover that Xion was created as a replacement for both Sora and Roxas in case Roxas failed the Organization. After defeating her, Roxas learns that Xion purposely faked the ruse of attacking him to prevent Xemnas from succeeding. Roxas, however, loses all of his memories of Xion after the battle. In her final moments, she informs Roxas of the truth behind the Organization and pleads with him not to let Xemnas use Kingdom Hearts before dying peacefully in his arms. At this moment, Roxas remembers Xion, but he is too late, as Xion disappears leaving behind a seashell.

Xion's death awakens Ventus' Keyblade within Roxas, allowing him to dual-wield following her absorption into Roxas. With the knowledge gained, Roxas seeks to find Sora and returns to The World That Never Was, planning to "set Kingdom Hearts free" and bring Xion back. Upon his arrival, Roxas is attacked by Neoshadow Heartless, until Riku appears and they both defeat the Neoshadows. They then fight each other, Riku intending to capture Roxas to rejoin him with Sora. Realizing he cannot beat Roxas on his own, Riku unleashes his inner darkness and takes on the physical appearance of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. Riku-Ansem successfully captures Roxas and brings him to DiZ, who places him in a virtual Twilight Town to be kept safely away from the Organization, leading into the events of Kingdom Hearts II.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Roxas appears in a dream Lea had where he was Axel, reminding him that Axel made a promise to always bring his friends back. Later on, Roxas appears before Sora in his dreams in the World That Never Was. He tells Sora that "it has to be you," even as Sora says that Roxas deserves to be his own person. Roxas shows Sora his memories, making him feel his pain, before fading. When Sora finally confronts Xigbar and Xemnas, declaring that his friends are his power, an image of Roxas is seen behind Sora along with many others that are connected to Sora fighting for him.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

 * "I dunno. I can't... just look inside. But I figure... if there is something in there—inside us— then we'd feel it, wouldn't we?"
 * "No, you're just late."
 * "Today makes 255."
 * "It's been that many days since I first joined the Organization. Man, time flies."
 * "Yeah. Have to hang onto something, right? It's not like I have memories from before the Organization. Don't you remember? I acted like a zombie."
 * "That's all I have to do?"
 * "I said, I could have done that blindfolded."
 * "It's salty... but sweet, too."
 * "Okay. What do I have to do today?"
 * "Um, how do I do that?"
 * "Well...sure, all right."
 * "Whoa, what are those?"
 * "But what are Heartless?"
 * "Why are they so special?"
 * "Right..."
 * "Is there any trick to it?"
 * "I see. And what happens to the hearts I collect?"
 * "Which is...good, right?"
 * "So that's what the Organization does? Collect hearts?"
 * "Wait, then-"
 * "Hmm..."
 * (turns to Marluxia) "Umm..."
 * (nods) "Um, all right..."
 * "So, even if I'm given another job, I should keep taking out Heartless while I do it?"
 * "All done. I defeated the number of Heartless you said. Now we get to RTC, right?"
 * "But I-"
 * (looks down) "Yeah, umm...(looks up) Just what is Kingdom Hearts? Marluxia said it was some kind of...of force."
 * "And when I defeat the Heartless, those hearts pop out and become part of Kingdom Hearts, right? But like, what's the point?"
 * "Complete us? Complete us how?"
 * "Well, that's not very nice."
 * "I don't have a heart?"
 * "Yeah, I get it."
 * (looks up) "No...Sorry."
 * "Larxene...right. Um..."
 * (nods) "Oh...All right."
 * "Magic? I know magic?"
 * "Umm, hi."
 * "No..."
 * (shocked) "What? Why!?"
 * "Yeah-sink! I don't know how to use magic."
 * (looks down) "Yeah, but..."
 * (looks at her) "Wait, what happened to learning magic?"
 * (looks up, surprised) "What? You have somebody else?"
 * (nods) "Uh, all right..."
 * "Reconna-what? What about fighting Heartless and collecting hearts?"
 * "You figured all that out just now?"
 * (stops walking as Vexen stops as well) "We've been through the whole area."
 * "Well, umm...let's see. The town has a lot of overpasses and underpasses. And the tram seems to circle the plaza. Oh, and there was that entrance that looked like it led underground, but it was shuttered."
 * "Huh? Oh, ummm...Err..."
 * (looks down) "I could've figured it out if I had more time."
 * "Oh...right."
 * (nods) "I understand."
 * "Umn...How often do I have to do this?"
 * "Wait, "every world"? You mean there's more than one?"
 * (nods) "Kingdom Hearts."
 * "So, um-"
 * "No..."
 * "A Heartless."
 * "Huh?"
 * "Ow.. Mutt muzz zat for? Nngh..."
 * "Yeah?"
 * "So I've noticed. Nngh..."
 * "And I have to face them if we're gonna complete Kingdom Hearts, right?"
 * "So what happens when Kingdom Hearts is finished? What good does that do us?"
 * "I don't understand."
 * "So you need me."
 * "Are they good deeds?"
 * (unsure) "Right..."
 * "Reconna— what?"
 * "I've got someplace to be. You go ahead and RTC without me."
 * "You did great. In fact, you deserve a little something extra."
 * "Do you think it's true— about the members stationed at Castle Oblivion."
 * "Hey— where do Heartless go when they're defeated?"
 * "I dunno, I can't just look inside. But I figure, if there is something in there, inside of us, we'd feel it, wouldn't we?"
 * (To Saix After he says We don't accept resignations.) "I've got nothing to say to you.'
 * "Why did the Keyblade choose me?... I have to know."
 * "No one would miss me."
 * "No! Xion! Who else will I have ice cream with?"
 * "Sora, Sora, Sora! Enough about Sora!"
 * "I'm going to set Kingdom Hearts free! Then everything can go back to the way it was!"
 * "I have to find this Sora person, and freeing Kingdom Hearts is the only way!"
 * "Why don't you quit?"
 * "Get real. Look which one of us is winning."
 * "What are you talking about? I am me. Nobody else!"
 * "How many times do I have to beat you?"
 * "Maybe... today we can finally hit the beach!'"
 * "Only seven days to go... And then my summer vacation is over"
 * "Sora, Sora, Sora! Enough about Sora!"
 * "I'm going to set Kingdom Hearts free! Then everything can go back to the way it was!"
 * "I have to find this Sora person, and freeing Kingdom Hearts is the only way!"
 * "Why don't you quit?"
 * "Get real. Look which one of us is winning."
 * "What are you talking about? I am me. Nobody else!"
 * "How many times do I have to beat you?"
 * "Maybe... today we can finally hit the beach!'"
 * "Only seven days to go... And then my summer vacation is over"

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX cutscenes

 * "She's not an 'it'!"
 * "How could he? How could that jerk attack you like that?"
 * "I'm asking you why you did that, and you know it!"
 * "What exactly do you-?!"
 * "Axel, who am I really? I'm special, like Xion, I know that. But the Organization wanted me out of the picture. Am I right?"
 * "I guess it's cause Xion copied my powers and the Keyblade's powers, and they didn't need me anymore. And Axel, I guess you felt the same way."
 * "Best friends are supposed to be honest with each other! Who am I, Axel? Xemnas says me and Xion are connected to each other through someone named Sora. I don't even know a Sora! Am I a puppet like Xion?!"
 * "What makes you so sure about that?! I have the right to know the truth! How did I even get here?! Why am I so special?! Where did I learn how to use the Keyblade?! I hardly know who I am! What is so wrong with wanting some answers?!"
 * "I need to know, Axel. Please, who am I?"
 * "I don't. I can't. Somebody knows where I came from. If I can't get answers here, I'll get them somewhere else. That'll be the person... I trust."
 * "I tried, but I have to find out about myself. There's no reason for me to be here... anymore"
 * "Why are you trying to stop me?!"
 * "Sora?! Enough about Sora!"
 * "I'll set Kingdom Hearts free, then everything will be back the way it was! She'll come back... and the three of us can be together again!"
 * "I'm freeing Kingdom Hearts, and I'm going to find Sora! I want Xion back! I want my life back!"

Kingdom Hearts II

 * "Another dream about him..."
 * "We could find the real thieves. That would set the record straight."
 * "What...what is this thing?"
 * "A key... blade?"
 * "Maybe you forgot, but we're broke."
 * "Hey, you're that pickpocket!"
 * "What's going ON?"
 * "Ok, fine! You asked for it!"
 * "Hayner! Pence! Olette!"
 * "Naminé...? What's happening to me?"
 * "Yesterday, I fell off the station tower, didn't I?"
 * "You know, that last wonder wasn't exactly wonderful."
 * "What's the catch? There's gotta be a catch, right?"
 * "Suddenly, I feel like I don't know myself at all."
 * "How could you even say such a thing... even if it were true?"
 * "Don't call me and then lock me out..."
 * "Who are you talking to? Me? Or Sora?"
 * "Was that... Was that supposed to be a joke? 'Cause I'm not laughing!"
 * "I hate you so much..."
 * "No! My heart belongs to me!"
 * "Sora, you're lucky. It looks like my summer vacation is... over."
 * "Sora?"
 * "Tell me... tell me why he picked you!"
 * "You make a good other."
 * "I think I understand. I see myself the way you remember me, and you see yourself the way I remember you."
 * "Look sharp!"

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

 * "Me? I'm nobody. In this place, to find is to lose and to lose is to find. That's the way of things in Castle Oblivion."
 * "Oh, my mistake. Did someone press the reset button on your memory? Just the same, you'll remember the folks you meet here."
 * "There's no script you have to follow. The journal's the closest thing you've got, but that doesn't mean you’ll see the things it says. And you know, who really cares? Everything that happens here, everyone you meet, is an illusion."
 * "Like I said, everything in this castle is an illusion. You're action may lead to true endings or paradoxes, and each outcome will stay with you in the form of a card. But once the illusions vanish, you'll forget all about your little reunion as if it never happened."
 * "All of these were created from the data in the journal. And all of them will show you more illusions. But from now on, they won't be your friends. You're fresh off the island, which makes them total strangers. Here's a fun little thought. The folks you're about to meet? You can use and abuse them all you like."
 * "What do you care? They're all strangers, and illusions at that. Just empty bits of data. They can't tell what's real. They'll look at this castle and see the world they call home. Anyway, the truth would be wasted on them. They're only there until they're not. See where I'm going with this? You can break the little hearts they don't have and forget right away. No hurt feelings, no baggage. You don't have a heart. It's 100% guilt free."
 * "The sadness of knowing you forgot someone who matters- that'll gnaw at you forever. And you believe carrying around that kind of hurt will bring back the memories you lost? Really, Sora?"
 * "I told you when you arrived. In this place, to find is to lose and to lose is to find. Well, you've lost your memories and found hurt in return. By deciding that hurt was the key to remembering, you gave up all your hope of ever being free from it. Don't you see? The hurt owns you now, Sora. It's a wound that will never mend. A hole in your heart will grow bigger and bigger, until darkness finally claims it."
 * "It's not too late to run. You can still be free of the hurt. Just tell yourself that you forget them because they don't really matter. You'll have no one to miss. No cause for loneliness. No hurt to keep eating away at your heart. It's your call, Sora. Cling to the memories you've lost and the hurt you bring until it drags you into the darkness. Or... you could let it all go. Be free, be happy. Think it over."
 * "You've used the last of the cards. I'd ask if you enjoyed the trip, but we both know you've forgotten. Bet you feel pretty empty. ...And so you hurt. Well, let's hope you didn't forget my warning. That hurt will drag you into the darkness. You have to cut it loose."
 * "You... accept it? Heh! Don't make me laugh! It's time you learned what real hurt feels like!"
 * "Come on, Sora. Do it! Finish me off! What are you—Ah! Hmm. I guess you've seen through the last illusion. ...Me. I'm data, just like the rest. Not even worth the effort, right? No point in destroying what never really existed... Heh."
 * "I don't know if I have one, but... there's a place I'd like to be."

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

 * "Hey, Axel. You haven't forgotten? You made us a promise. That you'd always be there... to bring us back."
 * "Got it memorized?"
 * "This could have been the other way around, but it really has to be you."
 * "There are so many hearts that are connected to yours. You’re me, so you can feel what I felt."
 * "Sora, see? That's why it has to be you."
 * "What is it that you're so afraid of?"

Trivia

 * The scene in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix where Axel bids Roxas goodbye is similar to the one in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days where Xion greeted Roxas on the clocktower before their battle. In both cases, Roxas is seen cradling himself before being surprised by the appearance of his friends. He is then offered to share one final sea-salt ice cream with them.
 * It appears that Roxas is fond of star and moon shapes, as his bedroom in the simulated Twilight Town is filled with the shapes in the furniture. Examples include: a star-shaped desk chair, a moon phase calendar on his wall, star-shaped clothing hooks, and even a night sky-theme glass window on his bedroom door.
 * Roxas has appeared in every entry in the Kingdom Hearts series, even before his formal introduction in Kingdom Hearts II. In the first Kingdom Hearts he is featured in the secret ending, though his identity would not be revealed until KHII's release.

Notes and references
Roxas