Epilogue
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kingdom Hearts・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
It was late, but the faces and setting were familiar. I was lucky to be surrounded by such noise. I was lucky to still be in this wonderful group of people. I had been gone for a while, but I was back now. I was amongst friends and good company. I was playing a round of cards with Luxord, Xigbar, and Larxene, Axel peaking over my shoulder and probably helping them cheat whether they wanted it or not. I didn't mind though- it was just hearts.
"So what do you think?" Demyx asked, leaning over his booth to talk to me. "About?" I asked, placing my card down. "Well I mean tomorrow we get to pick some newbwies for the Organization! This is your first time doing it, aren't you excited?" He asked me. I shrugged. "I guess. I mean you guys are like family I never asked for or wanted." I joked. "Some part of me thinks it kind of sucks that Vexen got transferred so far away, but at the same time I'm happy for him." Vexen had gotten transferred to a college several states away, but he was the head teacher and got to be in charge of a botanical garden as well as some research that would be used for it.
Axel elbowed me while Larxene growled as she took the pile of cards, three of them hearts. "…What, it's true." I said, a smirk wiggling its way into my features. Luxord snorted. "Well I certainly didn't want you either- you know I could take you to Vegas… Considering the places I'm not banned from and the place we will get banned from, it'll be a fun trip." Luxord said, shooting me a crooked grin. "Has anyone ever taught you how to count cards?" He asked.
I quickly shook my head. "Uh-uh. No way." Larxene scoffed. "Baby… Luxord never offers to take anyone else to Vegas…" She grumbled, clearly upset by that. "Aw, you jealous?" I teased, leaning forward a bit, but keeping my cards pressed to my chest. She snorted. "Go suck a dick." I blinked, looked over at Axel and snorted. "Nah. It's a little inflated from his ego. Maybe later." Demyx stuck his tongue out in disgust from behind me while I chuckled.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kingdom Hearts・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
It was in Mr. X's classroom- it was a different room from last year, but with the lights out and how the desks were set, it most definitely felt like his room. It was the usual- you write down what was wrong with you on cards and so on… However, this time I was the one doing the reviewing. There were some "fake" cards as usual, but… One of them stood out to me.
no.i is no virus. Nor bacteria nor parasite. I exist.
I almost dropped the card. I scanned everyone in the room, my heart racing. "…Roxas? You okay?" Axel asked, lightly putting his hand on my shoulder. "…They're here." He looked a bit confused. "Um… Who's-" I turned around, a wide smile on my face. "no.i! They're here!" I said, waving the card in front of his face. "I don't think I ever told you guys, but- actually, here!" I showed them all the card, each looking a bit shocked. "Wait… Isn't that the name of the virus or whatever in the group chat…?" Zexion asked, his eyes narrowed.
"But they're not! They're a real person!" I looked back at the gaggle of teenagers for some kind of clue as to who it was… And something stood out to me. There was one person in the back… They had their hood up and seemed to be hiding. …That person… I just knew it. I could just tell… Out of everyone here… That was no.i.
The group eventually decided that the card I had picked was serious enough to be considered. It was mostly a mystery, but that kind of lack of clarity was exactly why this person should be considered… We were a group of oddballs, misfits, odd one outs… And I loved them. Eventually, those who's cards were chosen got to stay, the rest left. My eyes were glued to the person in the back.
Xemnas told them he would take them to Oblivion if they didn't have rides, but if they did all the better. The meeting wouldn't be long. They would just have to answer some "preliminary" questions. Lucky me, I got to pick my own.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kingdom Hearts・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
The questions were exactly the same as the ones I had answered, only without Vexen's and mine was included. I was last, due to being the newest member. I had given a lot of thought to my question… I'm sure it wouldn't be as poetic as the others nor as confusing, but… It warranted thought. There was no right or wrong answer.
"…Do you feel you have the right to exist as you are?" The pair who's faces I could see looked surprised… The person with the hood, who I'm sure was no.i, didn't seem to react. The pair both answered in polar opposites of "Yes and no", but it resulted in a fight between them and a morale debate.
Xemnas calmed them down and then asked for the third person's reply. "…I don't. I deserve to be better than what I've been letting myself be used for. …I… Learned that from a friend." They then took their hood down and looked directly at me. They had short black hair and looked a bit sickly… But they were female in terms of biological gender. …I knew it. This person was… "…So… Can I finally have a name?" I said with a laugh.
"…Xion."
