Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OC.

Sorry for the long author's note, but I'm hoping this is my only one so I want to get it over with . . .

WARNING: There's going to be some references and spoilers to Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days throughout the story. I tried to stay true to the details, so if I got something pretty messed up I'd like to know.

About the Organization: I'll explain their return in future chapters. I wouldn't like myself if I just had them pop up without any explanations.

I'd be very grateful for any criticism. Though I'll admit now I don't like this chapter.. If I disagree or if it's a point that I'm planning on explaining/using later, I'll mention that-hopefully without spoiling the rest of the story.

-I fixed a mistake...Axel introduced himself in Chapter 2 as well, so I deleted that line in this chapter. Hehe...that's embarrassing on my part. Sorry!-

Thanks very much for your patience in this ridiculously long note!

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CHAPTER 1

To become a part of something striving for more than nothing, every past memory must be was gone now, as was everything she had known and loved. Xenalor was the body still moving, the soul still wandering. She couldn't miss Lenora even if she were able to-it was like missing a familiar figure from a distant dream. Though she could identify Lenora's face as what was once her own, there was no attachment to it. Despite what she was told, Xenalor knew that she and that girl were separate beings. Lenora had been strong, but not strong enough to survive. Her Nobody was determined not to repeat that mistake.

"So, Xenalor, what will it be?" The hooded figure before her asked. There was no impatience in his tone, only a strikingly natural authority.

He offered a chance to join an Organization, focused on regaining their hearts to become "whole." Something to live for and to fight for. Besides, she couldn't deny it offered the opportunity to battle against the exact thing Lenora lost everything to.

"I'll go."

His lips curled upwards for the first time, but the gesture wasn't pleasant. "Excellent."

She followed him through the dark streets of a place a civilian called "Traverse Town."

The town was a contrast to the home she remembered. Lenora had lived for years in that place. It was a world she loved, filled with people she would die for. While this town was steady and silent, Xenalor could recall memories of a bustling city full of noise and laughter. Passions and angers raged strongly in the vibrant variety of inhabitants, who were always in a rush to complete every routine of their day. The monotony of these habits was broken in a single night, as was the entire city and all who lived in it. Family, friends, even Lenora herself . . . wiped from existence in a single, swift strike.

"My name is Xemnas. You may refer to me as the Superior." He spoke, breaking the silence.

Somehow, it didn't seem like a request. Xenalor nodded, but he didn't seem to have bothered checking for a response.

A deep voice broke her rumination of his unique potency and almost random bursts of frank statements, "There."

She didn't have to ask what. The massive castle made the answer obvious enough.

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"Remind me again why we're here?" Larxene complained impatiently, filing her nails with a bored expression.

"With Xemnas, who the hell knows?" Axel replied with closed eyes, leaning against the back of his chair.

"If I were you, I would show proper respect." Saïx growled and leered down at him from his own seat.

If Axel's eyes were open, he would have rolled them. "I'll show respect when I'm not woken up at three in the fucking morning!" He growled, flashing a look of agitation as his outburst ended.

The other members watched the fight impassively. It wasn't the first time Axel and Saïx had fought. Normally, they would've told them, meaning mainly Axel, to shut up, but this was a rare occasion. It offered some form of entertainment while also filling the silence that had lasted for the forty-five minutes they had been waiting. The Organization gathered in what was known as the 'meeting room', A room they soon learned to dread. Their Superior only gathered them there for his long discussions or when there was something extremely important to say, which surprisingly didn't happen often.

"The Superior," Saïx said loyally, "called us here for a reason." He was now struggling to remain calm.

"Well I'm not seeing it! Unless he's testing how long we can wait in this godforsaken room when we should be sleeping." Axel snarled.

He had never been exactly what one would describe as a "morning person." Actually, he was well known amongst his fellow members for throwing his alarm clock across the room. An event that occurred so often that there had to be an indestructible alarm set in the wall. However, he was not to blame for being angry this time. Everyone-except perhaps, Saïx-had found it on some scale ridiculous to call an emergency meeting so early.

Just when Saïx was about to snap, a portal opened.

"This," Xemnas said, putting a hand on the shoulder of a short girl cloaked in the Organization's attire, "is Number XIII, Xenalor. The Whisper of Delusions."

Several eyes widened and took in the sight as the girl reached up and tugged back her hood. Another member, after so much chaos caused by all the others, was not what was expected.

Axel's eyes narrowed as he measured her appearance. She didn't even look like Organization material. Only just a small hourglass figure more fit to brush her hair or worry about that sickly pale skin rather than to engage in combat. She never even looked at a member directly, opting to stare straight ahead with an impassive expression, completely indifferent to what took place around her.

"You've got to be joking."

"Do you question me, Number VIII?" Xemnas' voice was glacial.

Axel stopped short and smoothed his expression. "No, Superior."

He already had a reputation for being called a traitor. It was best to stay on Xemnas' good side, even if this joke of a member wasn't nearly as competent as Ro-

"Perhaps you'd like to get to know her." Of course he couldn't walk out without some form of punishment, and Axel had a bad feeling of where this was headed. "I want you to give her a tour of the castle and show her to her room. Explain to her how things are done here. I think it may be a good reminder to you both."

Those eyes looked up at him meaningfully. "Don't lose her."

Axel nodded. The threat behind that short sentence didn't have to be spelled-out any clearer. "Dismissed." Xemnas said, satisfied.

The other members didn't take their time leaving. It was only a matter of seconds when Axel appeared next to the girl.

She raised her gray eyes at him reluctantly.

"I always get stuck with the icky jobs." Axel shook his head and stretched out an arm to create a portal for both of them.

He opened a portal to the extra room of the castle."Well?" He prompted, pushing her roughly through when she didn't respond.