Hi people, sorry I haven't updated in a while – exams and all that jazz :(
Anyway, here is the next instalment of this little number!
I must say, I didn't like this chapter as much until it got towards the end.
Anyway, hope you enjoy ^^ Let me know what you think.
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Eleven. Marluxia effortlessly glides into the portal he has created. I exhale and wait for the echos of his chime to cease and mine to begin. It's a stupid system to file in by, of course it is; Xemnas created it. I stand up and extend my hand out in front of me, drawing from my energy to create a dark portal. Twelve. That's my cue. My feet tiptoe their way in and I am transported to my throne.
No matter how ridiculous the concept of meetings is, nor how over the top everything is, I'll never admit to anyone how damn superior I feel whenever I'm sat on my throne. Imperial, unstoppable, like the Queen I was born to be. What I wouldn't give for all those filthy peasants to be begging at my feet. I don't need a King - I would rule supreme. And I'd do it perfectly on my own.
Sadly, before I can drift off into my regal little fantasy, Xemnas' deep, monotone voice fills the throne room and we are silenced. I lean on the arm and support my already lolling head - this was going to be a long one. If there was one thing that topped the rest of this Organization's flaws, it had to be our Superior. The so-called maestro and leader who would supposedly make us whole once again. Yep, keep talking. We haven't progressed any further since us neophytes joined. He knew that, that and the fact that we were all getting impatient. Someone was bound to speak up soon, and when they do I hope they put that bastard in his place. He looks like he's about to say something, another load of crap, filled to the brim with lies.
"Where are Xigbar and Axel?"
Ok, not was I was expecting. But this gets heads turning as we realise the heads of the Idiot Brigade haven't showed up. Typical, I guess. I had lost count of how many times they had chosen to be 'fashionably late' to either a lesson or meeting. Yet somehow they always managed to get away with it. This would be no different. Everyone takes this as an opportunity to converse while they have the chance and are not under Xemnas' watchful glare. I sink back into my throne and look either side of me to see who I've ended up by.
To my left, and below me for once, sits Zexion who is deeply absorbed in some book. I can barely see his face for the sharply styled cobalt hair that falls over it. He's another member that I rarely speak to, but then hardly anyone speaks to him at all. I only ever see Marluxia and Axel talk to him, and when they do it's like I exist even less. Despite how much this infuriates me, I will never, ever speak a word against the boy for two sole reasons. One; the last person to do so writhed in Axel's raging fire, unforgiven and forever regretting their decision. Two; the quiet demeanour was an illusion, just like Zexion's gift, he could conjure images more terrifying than any human's mind could even begin to create. Just a boy, and he was untouchable.
He notices that I've taken to staring at him and slowly lifts his head from his page to reveal his visible eye. I flinch slightly, but that is unnecessary as he simply nods with a small smile then resumes his reading. A sudden impulse to cuddle him rushes through me and I am confused. He may have been the youngest, but I wasn't that much him. Could this be broodiness? I blink a couple of times and shake my head - word couldn't let out that I had the potential to be soft.
A sound from down below grabs everyone's attention. We all look down to see a remotely battered contraption heaving itself through the small doorway at the bottom and into the centre of the circular room. It wheezes and splutters, coughing big puffs of black smoke. And riding on top are the belated blockheads themselves, roaring at the top of their voices.
"I DID IT MYYYY WAAAAAAAAAY!"
About half the room starts cheering and whooping, or laughing uncontrollably. I see Zexion let out a small giggle and quickly turn away before the urge to glomp him takes over. Lexaeus is seething over the damage made to his treadmill, with Vexen rubbing his temples in frustration. Xemnas and Saix do not look amused, at all. In the midst of all the commotion, Axel and Xiggy absorb their glory, doing a small victory dance and such like. I slap my palm to my face - idiots.
"I am glad that you could join us..." Xemnas says bitterly.
Neither of them pay much attention to his comment as they both go to sit in their thrones, and I must say, for utter morons they do it in style. Xiggy teleports from the floor to above his seat and chooses to suspend himself from the back of it upside down. Meanwhile, flames erupt from Axel's hands that are pointing downwards and he launches himself up in a flurry of spiralling inferno. Whoa, our entrances should be like that. I make a mental note to bring this up if Xemnas feels like taking in our opinions. Still, the redhead sprawls out sideways along his seat and stretches his hands behind his head, obviously not caring about the glares he is receiving.
"Ahh," he shifts to get comfortable. "So, whatcha got lined up for us today, Mansex?"
A few of us chuckle at this, even me - I am forever in debt to whoever discovered that anagram. Xemnas twitches and chooses to ignore this, then carries on as normal. It still doesn't stop the odd snigger being let out into the whiteness of this room. Right, cue monotonous drone.
"The issue I would like to address today," he pauses. Yawn. "is teamwork."
Teamwork? Ha! The man doesn't know the meaning of the word! He's more self-absorbed than me, and that's saying something. This gets people murmuring and shifting uncomfortably. Xemnas holds his hand up for silence.
"Lately I have noticed a lack of co-operation between you all, be it in work, games or battles. You all choose to band off into your own little cliques, and from then on shun yourselves from the rest of the group"- That gorgeous surfer's voice adds some colour to this meeting.
"Says you who's bumming Señor Psychopath every twenty seconds? Get with the programme dude!" More laughs. That was the nickname we had for Saix - when provoked he quite literally went stark raving mad. When you weren't the one being chased it was usually quite funny to watch. Especially if you got Demyx on the receiving end. Anyway, the man himself tenses in his seat, I notice his eyes glower red slightly. Xemnas waits for quiet, then continues.
"As I was saying. You only stay with certain people. I bet that half of you in this room have only so much as acknowledged certain members."
At this people start to fidget and look around guiltily, including me. Now that I think about it, the only people I ever properly speak to are Marluxia and Xiggy on the odd occasion. That's bad. Everyone else seems to be realising they are just the same. Who knew, Xemnas was finally talking some sense.
"Exactly," he muses. "Which is why I have had several team building exercises devised in order to overcome this obstacle."
I can't help but snort. This is so unlike the guy. The others start talking excitedly before he can take notice that I laughed. Marluxia gets my attention and asks why Xemnas is doing this through a bunch of frantic hand signals. I signal him back saying I have no idea and insult the man in one way or another. He laughs and so do I, but then the next voice to silence us is is not monotonous at all, and I actually melt in my seat.
"Excuse me," Luxord's perfectly spoken British voice rings out like Big Ben. I bet he has a Big Ben of his own - ring-a-ding-ding. Ok, stop, pay attention. "But what are the odds that we'll undergo these tasks while Saix and yourself sit and observe us?"
"I agree!" Xaldin is the first to start up a chorus of protest and accusation. Even I throw the odd insult - I love rebelling. Xemnas holds up his hand again, but this doesn't stop us this time. So, for the first time this meeting, Saix stands up and it only takes one word to have us shitting ourselves.
"Silence." His piercing eyes scan each and every one of us as we sink back into our seats. Scary bastard.
"Thank you," Xemnas picks up. "Now, I knew that you would bring this up. However, contrary to what you may think, this will include all of the Organization, including Saix and myself."
"But how will you manage that?" Vexen makes his voice heard, waving a sarcastic arm in the air.
"I never said I myself devised them," the Superior counters, but then seems to exhale in annoyance. "It will not be me who is conducting the exercises. It will be..." he pauses again, I get the feeling he is almost embarrassed to say this. "King Mickey."
At first no one says anything, a little shell shocked from what has just been said. Then Demyx, surprisingly, is the first to break the silence, laughing hysterically. He is soon joined by pretty much all of us. King Mickey? Seriously? Him and Xemnas were like polar opposites! Some find this so funny to the extent of clutching their sides, banging their fists and tears bursting from their eyes. Xemnas remarkably keeps a straight face.
"...I'm glad you are amused."
We eventually shut up and wipe our faces dry. Oh dear, no one needed to be a mind reader to know that he hated it. And that was probably the funniest part. He drums his fingers until we are completely silent, then speaks up again.
"He will arrive in the next half hour or so and we will assemble at the Altar of Naught. Does anyone have anything to say about this?"
Immediately out of nowhere comes a long, growling noise. We all turn to Axel who is patting his stomach. Xemnas turns to him slowly.
"Thank you for that intellectual contribution, Axel."
Yet even more laughter. Superior is just about at wit's end as he decides to give up on keeping us quiet and says one last thing.
"This meeting is over. Now go, before I kill the lot of you."
Beyond caring at this point, everyone exits the throne room in one way or another. I open another portal and teleport back to where I was before the meeting had started. Marluxia shortly joins me, followed by several others who flop on the sofas. We only have to look at each other to initiate what will probably be the biggest bitch about Xemnas to date.