Heya folks. This fic idea resulted from a combination of watching some of the Zexion cut scenes from Re:CoM and listening the "Secret Agent Man". Don't ask me why, but it just did.

NOTE: This chapter contains spoilers (sort of) for RE:CoM.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, or the characters therein. They Belong to Disney and Square Enix.

No. VI: The Heartless Illusionist Prologue: Betrayal and Survival

Zexion stumbled forward into the dim room, as the pitch-blackness around him dissipated. The room seemed so empty, now that it was only him. It wasn't that long ago that he, Vexen and Lexaeus shared this, room, discussing a number of topics, from microbiology to astrophysics.

And lately, Sora and Riku.

Riku. The silver haired boy responsible for Zexion's current state. His whole body ached, especially around his torso, where Riku had dealt a nasty blow to him. The blue haired nobody was having trouble keeping upright because of him.

That boy, that infuriating boy.

Rage began to build up in Zexion's usually calm mind as his weakened and shaken up body staggered over to the wall to help keep him from falling.

"Not possible…"

Zexion slammed his fist against the wall in anger.

"It's not possible! How can that boy gain so much control over the darkness so quickly!?"

It was a stupid question Zexion already knew the answer. He, Vexen and Lexaeus knew the youth had potential in manipulating the darkness. They knew Riku could become extremely powerful if he harnessed his power.

However it would seem Riku disagreed.

He had killed Lexaeus, a nobody Zexion would consider a friend, when he tried to convince Riku to do so. Riku wanted nothing to do with the darkness.

How ironic that he'd quickly jump to its power when he was desperate. While Zexion admired Riku's handling of the darkness, he couldn't help but be infuriated by his hypocrisy.

It was at that point that he noticed the scents in the room with him. He wasn't sure if they were there when he arrived or came in later, he had been too caught up in his anger to notice. Wearily, he looked over at who was there.

His eyes widened when he saw the silver haired youth standing there, staring right at him. He was darkness form, but didn't appear to have his weapon. Out of the corner of his eye, Zexion noticed a dark portal dissipating to reveal Axel, the organization's Flurry of Dancing Flames. But at the moment, Zexion was more focused on Riku rather than his fellow member.

He gasped and jumped back, pressing himself against the wall. Fear, an emotion Zexion had never really experienced as a nobody up to this point. But how was Riku here, after Zexion had just left him in a memory room only moments ago? Was Riku able to traverse the dark corridors now?

After a moment, Zexion finally realized that this was not the same Riku. Zexion never felt so relieved.

"Oh," Zexion sighed, "It's only the Replica."

Zexion looked up at his comrade.

"Good planning. With it, we can defeat the real Riku!" Zexion felt his confidence rising. Even with his new powers, Riku was no match for the three of them at once.

However, that confidence seemed to wane when neither Axel nor the Replica said anything.

"Axel?"

"You're tired of being a fake aren't you?"

Zexion was confused. What did Axel mean by him being a 'fake'? He only realized Axel wasn't talking to him when the Replica quietly nodded.

"Well, if you want to be real," Axel explained, "all you need to do is destroy the REAL Riku."

The Replica's eyes narrowed at the mention of the real Riku.

"And to do that," Axel continued, "You need a power that he doesn't have."

Zexion was starting to get a bit creeped out. What was Axel talking about? Why the hell wasn't he answering him? If it weren't for the fact that they were looking right at him, Zexion would have thought they didn't know he was in the room.

"Axel! What are you talking about!?"

"As a matter of fact," Axel continued as if Zexion didn't say anything, "Here looks like a good source for power."

"What are you going on abou-!" Zexion was cut off when the Replica grabbed the front of his coat. Zexion was shocked. He didn't even see the Replica approach him. When did it get so strong and fast.

Zexion gasped for air, trying to squirm from the Replica's grip. Then, to the nobody's horror, it's body began to glow a dark aura. What was it going to do?

Then he felt it. A similar aura began to surround his own body, as he felt his strength being sucked from him. It became clear to him. He Replica planned to drain him of his power and use it on the real Riku. Zexion weakly looked over at Axel. Why wasn't he doing anything?

A thin smirk appeared on the redhead's lips as he chuckled softly.

"I'm so sorry Zexion," he chuckled, "But look on the bright side. Your end will bring so much good to others."

Then it finally dawned on him. He knew why Axel was doing this.

Vexen.

The redhead had murdered his friend in cold blood, under Marluxia's orders. However, Axel had his own reason for committing the deed.

He would have revealed the existence of Roxas to Sora.

Axel didn't want anything to happen to his friend, and it would have been disastrous for him if Sora discovered his nobody's existence. So, Axel silenced him, killing him right in front of Sora. Zexion and Lexaeus had known the pyro had killed their friend.

But he also knew Axel knew Zexion knew.

So Axel was going to dispose of the only witness left, the only one who could testify against him and would undoubtly result in his own execution.

Anger filled Zexion's eyes as his vision blurred. His body falling limp as he no longer had the strength to struggle against the Replica.

Then, without warning, the Replica threw Zexion aside like a rag doll. The nobody's body bounced once before slide to a complete stop. Zexion had no strength to move at all. He just laid there, not moving a single muscle.

Axel chuckled.

"Nice throw there," he chuckled, eyeing Zexion's prone form.

"Let's go."

Axel turned to see the Replica leaving the room. Axel merely shrugged. Someone was eager for a fight.

He took one last look at Zexion's body before opening a dark portal and walking into the corridors. He figured Zexion would be dead anyway. Why worry over a body? It will simply vanish any moment now.

However, Axel was wrong. Zexion was not dead. He was not going to simply vanish. Not yet anyway.

He tried to move. He could just barely move his limbs. There was no way he was going to leave the castle like this.

Or was there? Zexion was a smart man. After all, he was a scientist before becoming a Nobody.

Focusing on what strength he had left, he felt the darkness of a portal surround him. Everything went black as he drifted aimlessly in the darkness. He silently prayed that wherever he end up be better then where he was now.

His vision was blurry, his consciousness fading fast. He felt the darkness dissipate and something course underneath his weakened body. Dirt? Or perhaps sand.

Zexion heard was sounded like waves as he finally drifted into unconsciousness.

Is this the end of Zexion? Of course not! He's the star of this fic! However, if you want to find out what happens to him, wait for the next chapter.

For those who are curious, I was using Zexion's 'death' scene from Re:CoM. It was in Japanese, so I added in my own dialogue.