Upstairs: Chapter One.

Summary: Namine is their prisoner, Zexion knows this, but as soon as he smells her sweet scent he is intrigued. But she is imprisoned upstairs and he stays locked away in the basement library. Zexion goes to Axel for help but can Axel be trusted? After all, no one knows what he is thinking.

And all the while, Marluxia is plotting to overthrow the Thirteenth Order...

Pairings: Zexion X Namine obviously. Perhaps slight Marluxia X Larxene and Axel X Larxene. I'm not entirely sure how this will pan out.

Disclaimer: CatrionaHearts does not own Kingdom Hearts or any Kingdom Hearts characters. She has also never played Chain of Memories so her telling of the story may be slightly off- wait, scrap that. The story will probably just be overhauled. In any case, Kingdom Hearts does NOT belong to me.

Zexion observed his fellow Nobodies with only mild interest. Xemnas had summoned them to a meeting for no apparent reason.

The Superior himself was allowing his minions to settle down on their own. He was in stern conversation with III, Xaldin, who sat in the throne beside him. II, Xigbar, had been kicked out of his usual throne so this conversation could take place and was now stroking one of his guns, the barrel pointing rather precariously at Vexen. The Chilly Academic obviously underestimated the Freeshooter's control and was consequently almost on the opposite arm of his throne. Lexeaus was edging away from Vexen and closer to Zexion. Zexion wrinkled his nose. The scent of all the Organisation members in the same room was almost overpowering for him.

On Zexion's other side sat Saix who was watching Xemnas intently. Beside him, Axel was teasing Demyx by setting his mullet on fire. The Melodious Nocturne seemed to have forgotten his ability to control water. Luxord was chuckling at the pair of them while shuffling his cards. He had failed to notice that the throne beside him, belonging to XI of the Organisation, was empty. Larxene hadn't noticed either: she was death-glaring any of the men around her who even tried to make eye contact with her. Zexion narrowly avoided this and turned to look at Roxas, the newest and youngest Organisation member. He looked slightly nervous, -OK, understatement, extremely nervous- especially since his throne was between the Savage Nymph and the Superior in the circular room.

Suddenly, Marluxia appeared in his throne, looking casual as if he'd been there all along.

"Well Marluxia?" The Superior said, "Is she there?"

"She is now," Marluxia replied.

"And is it ready?"

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," the Graceful Assassin snorted.

Zexion wondered why on earth Marluxia was being so cocky towards the leader of the Thirteenth Order. Zexion had been there far longer and had only heard Axel occasionally be insolent. However, that was in Axel's nature, but it wasn't it Marluxia's.

"We have acquired a new castle," Xemnas announced.

This caught everyone's attention. The Castle That Never Was was enormous, far too big even for its thirteen inhabitants. Why move everyone somewhere else?

"Now, only six of you have been selected to move to the new castle. This is so we can have our first encounter with the Keyblader and his lackeys-"

"Excuse me," Axel interrupted the Superior, "but, er, why?"

"We need the Keyblader-"

"- We already have one," Axel indicated to the newest organisation member.

Xemnas closed his eyes and took a deep breath before answering. "Having Roxas is an advantage. However, Sora is Roxas' Other. To have both Nobody and Other would be a great advantage to us. But thank you for your concern, Axel."

This last statement obviously took the Flurry of Dancing Flames by surprise. "Oh right, yeah, your welcome," he mumbled.

"I shall not be revealing all the details of this mission here. Marluxia is to be in charge."

Someone snorted in disgust. It could have been Axel. Or Larxene. Maybe Xigbar.

"I shall now announce who is to go," Xemnas said.

Just get on with it! Zexion was thinking longingly of his books.

"Larxene!"

The Nymph glared at the Superior. "I don't want to! I don't want to be stuck with flower-boy there!" She jerked her thumb at Marluxia.

"Well isn't it lucky you have Vexen, Lexeaus and Zexion to keep you company as well," Xemnas smirked.

Zexion started at his words. He had heard rumours about this castle ever since Luxord had joined. He had always assumed the newer members would be sent there, if it really did exist. He, Vexen and Lexeaus were part of the original six- why were they going instead of the likes of Demyx and Roxas?

Vexen had protests as well. "B-but Superior! My experiments! How can I carry out my experiments without my lab?"

"There will be a lab for you in the basement of Castle Oblivion," Xemnas replied. "Now, the five of you must leave at once. If you are needed back here you shall be summoned. The rest of you are dismissed- except you Axel. Please stay seated."

Zexion summoned his dark portal. To Castle Oblivion, he thought, with a sinking feeling in his hollow chest.

CatrionaHearts: I rarely suffer from insomnia but for a few nights I did and this little pairing popped into my head. I dunno, I guess with the whole Namine being a mind-witch and Zexion being an illusionist-type-person-thingy they seemed rather compatible.

Updates will be as regular as I can make them. All depends on the schoolwork load. Eeek! Highers! And if you're not Scottish you won't have a clue what I'm on about...