*dances* Look! I got the second chapter up. Granted, it was already up on DA, and I just needed to edit it, but... I still feel overly happy about it.
I don't think I have a whole lot to say... 'Obesa cantavit' is Latin for 'The fat lady has sung.' The end. Not. But... I want that on my grave stone.
What else... Oh, right. Reviews. Thank you very much for them ^^ I find it uplifting that no one found any mistakes. Or maybe they were just too nice to tell me. But all of these are generally self-beta'd. I leave them on DA for about a week, then go and fix things.
Requests for pairings: SoraxRiku, Saix/Demyx, Leon/Cloud, AkuRoku. Any objections? Any additions. Speak now, because the next chapter will finalize most of them. Which is not to say that more can't be added later.
Also, I didn't totally forget Xion. Okay, maybe I sorta did. But that's beside the point. I'm only on day 28 of 358/2. :/ Sad, yes. But if I want to play, I have to steal my brother's DS, as I have none. Because of this, I don't really always think of her as a part of the Organization. But I love her to death, anyway. From what I've played, she's sorta Mary-Sue-ish, but then, so's Kairi, who can also be pretty awesome. I blame Disney.
The point of the above rant is to say that: Xion won't be an angel. But she gets a special part, and will most certainly show up in the next chapter!
Quick re-cap, in case anyone didn't get how they died. Feel free to skip.
Xemnas - Heart attack
Xigbar - Shot. Probably in a war zone somewhere...
Xaldin - Slipped, got tangled up in some chain, and suffocated
Vexen - Froze to death
Lexaeus - Crushed by an avalance
Zexion - Had a brain tumor, but actually died by suicide via overdose of sleeping pills
Saix - Mauled by a rabid wolf
Axel - Trapped in a burning building
Demyx - Drowned
Luxord - Clocked by a clock (pun totally intended)
Marluxia - Poisoned by a plant.
Larxene - Electrocuted (by a blender)
Roxas - Trapped under a collapsed building
Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue. Kay? Kay.
***#Chapter Two: Obesa Cantavit#***
Namine flew down the road. Literally. This was not considered to be unusual in any way, because she was just like everyone else here. An angel.
The unusual thing was the distress that clearly showed on her face. The Crossroads was a peaceful place, much like a calm office building. Oh, wait, that doesn't exist. Never mind. Anyway, it had to be peaceful and calm and run sort of like an office building because backups on the road to the Afterlife are NOT good things. Everything needed to be carried out in a timely, efficient manner.
Usually, Namine's supervisor was one of the best when it came to keeping things timely and efficient.
Apparently, 'usually' did not apply to today.
"RUFUS, WHAT IN THE NAME OF HEARTS POSSESSED YOU TO TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT?!" The angel demanded, slamming her folder onto the other blonde's desk.
He glanced up from his paperwork. "Hello, Namine. I see you found your list..."
Namine scowled at her boss, plopping down in the chair across the desk from him. "Of course I found it. Not that I wanted to... Rufus, you know my history with this. I can't. It... it just won't work."
"On the contrary, I believe that it will work out better for you than anyone else. At least give it a shot. Zack and I will help you, and because of the nature of this Assignment, we don't get any other work until it's cleared up." This apparently settled, Rufus turned back to his paperwork, making shooing motions at her. "Zack's started gathering them in the Atrium. It would probably be best for you to go help him."
Namine sighed. Much as she didn't want to admit it, he had several good points. She grabbed her folder and set out to go find Zack.
***#Luxord#***
His head hurt. That was the first thing that he noticed.
The second was that he was lying on a cloud. While this fact should have set alarm bells of in his head, it strangely did not.
The third thing that came to his attention was that someone else was there, and that someone else was talking. "-pect him to remember as much just yet, it'll take a while for both lives to come to him, he did die of a concussion..."
.... both lives? Die? The only thing that made any sense was the bit about the concussion. Let's see... there had been a...
.... clock. Yes, that was it; the clock had fallen and hit him on the head.
So much for time being able to fly.
As soon as this piece of information was processed, it seemed to open a door. Memories were rushing in, and he was pretty sure they were all his, but there were two different hims and ....
"Ow." Great, now his head hurt worse. He opened is eyes to see two people looking at him. Both had... halos. Okay, correction. He opened his eyes to see two angels looking at him.
Only... he knew one... "Namine?"
She smiled. "Good. Looks like your memories are intact. C'mon, you were the last to wake up."
The other one offered his hand. The newly deceased took it, and allowed the angel to pull him upright.
***#At the Atrium#***
Namine surveyed the collection of spirits that had once been known as Organization XIII.
Death had been kinder to some than others, but left a mark on each. Observing this, Namine rubbed at her upper arm, which was still a dull ache that would never go away.
See, when you died, you kept an aspect or two of how you had died. So, if you got stabbed, you would still have the scar. Most other ails would have been 'healed' to a certain extent, however. That means that if you were arthritic, and got stabbed, you would have the scar, but no more arthritis.
Saix, for example, had managed to go through most of his life without regaining the scars that criss-crossed his face as a Nobody. But now they were there, the X an obvious mark of the wolf.
Likewise, Xigbar had scars all over from flying shrapnel, and was once again missing his eye.
Demyx's hair would now always be damp.
Zexion looked sleepy, and would probably never by completely awake again.
Vexen shivered, his nose slightly red, and seemed to keep close to Axel, who had burn marks below his eyes.
Roxas was also sticking close to Axel, close to whoever was nearest, really. He seemed to now need to be able to touch someone to feel safe.
Xaldin neck looked pretty bruised, and breathing seemed to be a little uncomfortable.
Luxord had a sizable dent in his skull, and appeared to have a headache.
Marluxia kept rubbing at his hand like it hurt.
Lexeaus just looked plain battered.
Larxene's hair stuck up oddly.
Xemnas looked like he was half in shock.
Kay, Role-call over.
"Alright, let's get started!" She called out. "No doubt you're wondering why you're here, but first I have to take questions. It's policy..."
Demyx tentatively raised a hand. "Where are we, exactly...?"
Namine's smile seemed far too cheerful for this kind of request. "You're at the Crossroads. It's where we sort people to make sure everyone gets sent to the right Eternity... or not so long, if they get reincarnated. Anyway, this place specifically is the Atrium of my divisions. Which is basically just me, Zack, and Rufus."
"So... shouldn't we be going somewhere, then? If we're dead and all." Marluxia scowled slightly as he reminded himself that, yes, he was indeed quite dead.
"Now... That's where it gets a little complicated. See, our division deals with what you might term 'Special Circumstances.' Such as you. Since you guys were Nobodies, there's some problems getting the process adjusted for you, so we're going to give you a job until we get it sorted out." Namine's smile was by now a bit forced. She didn't want to have to deal with this...
"Job?" Lexaeus was as straight to the point and monosyllabic as ever.
"Yep!" Zack called from wherever he had disappeared to. A few moments later, he reappeared, dragging a large box with various outlandish weapons. "Get ready for a crash course in 'How To Be A Guardian Angel!"
13 pointed gazes turned on Namine, demanding answers.
"Management does not particularly like us, as you can probably tell by the fact that there's only three of us. We've got a completely impossible deadline to get you guys on Earth and doing your jobs..." She glanced upward as she spoke, then stepped about a foot to the left.
The ground where she had been standing smoked. "Alright, alright..."
She motioned to Zack to give out the weaponry. "You all get back the weapons you used as Nobodies, so that'll be one less thing we need to teach you... You'll also sorta get your powers back, but there might be a few changes."
Namine waved a hand, and a chalkboard materialized behind her. She started writing, commenting as she went. Obviously, they were completely expected to remember this...
Rules and Guidelines of Being a Guardian Angel
I. You are mostly invisible, inaudible, and intangible on Earth. Only your charge and other Angels can see you. ("That means that you cant' move anything. With some minor exceptions... Gravity also mostly doesn't apply. And be careful, some animals will be able to sense you...")
II. You can only manipulate your element. You may use your element to move other objects that you cannot directly touch.
III. You must both protect your charge ("Physically, mentally, AND emotionally!") and be a friend to them. ("At very least, just get along.")
IV. You must perform the Binding ceremony in order for any power to exist. ("Basically, if you don't Bind to your charge, you can't do anything.") Binding consists of the charge giving the Guardian a kiss on the cheek. ("Don't look at me like that! I didn't write the rules! Besides, it's just on the cheek. It could be worse.")
V. You may not stray from your charge. ("There's not really an exact distance. It seems to be about shouting range.") If your charge utters your name, you will return to their side.
"Everyone got that?" Nods of 'yes' were seen throughout the room.
"Alrighty, then. I'll give you your Assignments, and then we can go to Earth!"
After Namine arranged them in what had previously been their numerical order, she began.
"Xemnas." She fluttered up a bit so she was over his head, then waved her hands in a circle. A halo and wings appeared. "You are Assigned to Guard Ansem Wise. Your Element is Emotion."
"Xigbar." Again the circle, again the halo and wings. "You are Assigned to Guard Cid Highwind. Your Element is Space."
"Xaldin" Circle. Wings. Halo. You get the idea. "You are Assigned to Guard Squall Leonhart. Your Element is Air."
"Vexen" You know what? I'm not narrating this bit anymore. "You are Assigned to Guard Riku Kisaragi. Your Element is Ice."
"Lexaeus. You are Assigned to Guard Yuffie Kisaragi Your Element is Earth."
"Zexion. You are Assigned to Guard Kairi Flamma. Your Element is Dream."
"Saix. You are Assigned to Guard Ollette Delafloat. Your Element is Moon."
"Axel. You are Assigned to Guard Reno Flamma. Your Element is Fire."
"Demyx. You are Assigned to Guard Cloud Strife. Your Element is Water."
"Luxord. You are Assigned to Guard Vincent Valentine. Your Element is Time."
"Marluxia. You are Assigned to Guard Sora Strife. Your Element is Flora."
"Larxene. You are Assigned to Guard Tifa Lockhart. Your Element is Electricity."
"Roxas. You are Assigned to Gaurd Hayner Miles. Your Element is Light."
***#Chapter Two: End#***
So, there you have it. Yes, some of them may seem totally incompatible. Sometimes that was the point. Others, like Larxene and Tifa, are because I'm of the opinion that they would actually get along. Seriously, can't you see the two of them tormenting everyone?
Ollette and Hayner's last names were chosen completely at random. But 'Flamma' is Latin for 'fire.'
I think that's it...
Mistakes, questions, whatever... feel free to speak up!