A/N: The next tome in our little tale here. Once again, any input on how it's going would be fantastic. I hope you enjoy it.

"Geez, man. Could you turn those down a notch?"

"What? It's dark down here."

"Whatever." Isa looked around at the sewer tunnel, dimly lit by Lea's weapons. Lea had been right about one thing: the water was pretty clean. "I hope you realize how much of an anomaly you are."

Lea grinned, "I don't know if I should be flattered or offended."

"Only you would escape the rain by hopping into a manhole."

Lea's grin grew even smugger grin, "I'm a creative spirit."

"I guess that is a fancy way to say stupid."

"You'll never understand my vision, Isa," Lea sighed as he turned and started to walk off.

Isa jogged ahead to keep pace with Lea and the light, "Where are you going?"

Lea chuckled, "Where do you think?"

Isa stopped in his tracks and thought, before finally realizing what Lea had meant. He ran back up to his stubborn friend.

"Oh no, man. C'mon. Getting thrown out on a nice warm day is one thing. In the freezing rain? No thanks."

"What else do you wanna do? Just sit here till the rain ends? That's the underground equivalent of playing a board game or reading a book." Lea shuddered at the very idea.

Fair point. Of course, Isa wasn't willing to admit that, him being the smart one in this duo. They really didn't have much else to do. If they were lucky, they probably wouldn't even get to the castle. They would've just kept wandering around without a clue before they got tired and went back up-ground to get some rest and bite to eat. The chances of them even finding a clue…

Lea stopped short, confused, "What was that?"

"What do you mean?" Isa peered ahead into the darkness, "I don't see anything."

Lea took a few steps forward., "I could've sworn I saw something. Like, two yellow lights…"

He took another step forward, only to walk right into…something clad in armor, razor sharp claws poised to rake at his face. Fortunately, Lea was aware enough to keep his weapons up to guard himself.

Isa grew pale, shock overtaking him. Lea's pleas for help snapped Isa out of it as he drew his own cudgel and struck out at the creature, sending it flying off into the darkness. There was a brief lull as silence fell. Feeling something was off, Isa moved farther up. All he could see were those same two yellow eyes before the beast came back into the light, clawed Isa's side and ran off down the tunnel, back the way Isa and Lea had come.

Isa winced in pain, grabbing at his side. His fingers were wet and red, stained with blood from open scars. He stumbled over to Lea, who was just getting up. Isa extended his hand to help him, and Lea got to his feet, panting from exhaustion.

For the most part, his face seemed unscathed. Before Isa could ask if his red-headed friend was alright, Lea threw one of his flaming discs at the creature, which had just attempted to come back around for a final slash, finishing it off at last.

The disc now back in his hand, Lea turned to Isa and asked, "You good?"

Isa nodded wincing as he reached into his back pocket for the flask he knew was there, "Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine."

He opened the flask and poured a careful amount of Potion it contained onto the wound. Contrary to Lea's belief, working with Moogles had some benefits, despite the low pay, "You?"

"Yeah." Lea panted, "What was that?"

"Bad news," Isa turned on his heel, starting back the way they'd come, "C'mon, we're heading home."

"No, Isa. We're moving on."

"I'm sure the rain's stopped, "said Isa without turning around, "This 'adventure' isn't worth it. At least, not now."

"It's not about the rain…"

Isa rounded back on Lea, voice rising in frustration, "Why then? Why would you want to even keep going after that?"

Lea shrugged. "Well…that."

That left Isa without words for a moment, "Lea, that thing almost killed us. That way, in that direction there…" he pointed back to the darkness ahead of them, "…there's probably more of them."

"And, also in that direction, Isa, is the castle."

"Are you really still on about that?" Isa sighed, "Why even try breaking in at this point? They're coming from the castle."

"Exactly. We have to go over there and bail those guys out."

"Oh, c'mon, Lea! Those guys hate us! Besides, they probably have it all under control."

"Or maybe they don't. Which is when we slip in…"

"…and get cut to pieces. Why don't you drop the 'dreamy hero' act cause the truth is we're not going…"

"Why don't you listen for just a sec, huh, Isa?" yelled Lea, his voice rebounding off the sides of the tunnel, "That one just snuck up on us. It was pretty easy to take out."

"Well, it did this," said Isa, pointing to the slowly closing scar on his side.

"'Cause you weren't ready," Lea replied, more positively, "'Sides, imagine what'd happen if we do save their butts from those monsters?"

Isa finally saw where Lea was going with all this, "We get those jobs…"

"…and instant promotions to guards. And, might I add, my good friend, that you'll be saving the one-and-only Ansem himself."

Isa brightened at the mention of their leader's name, reminded of everything he wanted to discuss with the scientist, the questions he wanted to ask, the things he wanted to learn. What was a heart? How did it work? Did people really need them? Isa would finally be able to…

"Well, Isa?" prompted Lea, breaking Isa out of his trance, "Got it memorized?"

Isa smirked, "Crystal."

Finally on the same page, the two started back down the tunnel toward the castle, this time on the lookout for sewer monsters.

Saix's careful balance was shaken by a strong gust of wind, carrying a cluster of brightly colored leaves into his face. Try as he might to keep to the undergrowth, Saix felt himself being pushed back into the open, landing clumsily on his back in the shadow of a willow tree.

Strangely, from where he was lying, the wind seemed almost to come from the tree. It was a odd looking tree besides, appearing almost to have a face made up of knots and grooves in the trunk. Whether the whole world was like this or this was quite literally an odd part of the woods, Saix could not be sure.

The woman he'd heard turned to face Saix, coming quickly to where he'd fallen, "Who are you?"

Saix struggled to get up, leaning on his Claymore for support, "I don't mean any harm."

A hummingbird zipped past the girl and flew around Saix as if to investigate him. It was quite a bother and Saix was tempted to swat it away, but for the sake of this conversation, he had to remain peaceful. There was another animal, a raccoon, hiding behind the girl's leg. It had shifty eyes, as if it were plotting something.

The woman approached Saix, unafraid of his weapon, "Then why were you so keen on hiding?"

It had been a long while since Saix had been logically disarmed like this.

The light…she's the light. This mission would've been over much faster if he'd been able to stay hidden and complete the task. Of course, due to unnaturally strong winds, his task would have to wait.

"I did mean to do harm, but not to you. I was just…hunting."

"Ah. Of course." Despite her words, she didn't seem to believe Saix. Echoing her hummingbird, she walked around him, looking him up and down, "I may have said you're with the English, looking for gold…"

If Xigbar had cared to get that information, this conversation would be a lot easier, thought Saix, feeling cornered.

"…but," her eye flicked up to Saix's hair, "You don't look like one of them." Surprisingly enough, her impassive face broke into a smile, "Who are you?"

Saix felt almost paralyzed, struggling for an answer. Before he could say anything, however, he was knocked to the ground, the raccoon pouncing on him, apparently keen on his weapon. Brushing himself off, Saix got back to his feet, grabbing for the Claymore. The raccoon didn't want to give up, clinging to the business end of the club even as Saix lifted it up off the ground.

The woman laughed, "Come now, Meeko. Leave him alone." She grinned knowingly, toward Saix, "He was hunting, after all." Apparently understanding the implications of that, the raccoon stiffened. Saix glared at it stonily, for good measure, and Meeko dropped his ill-gotten good, running back behind the girl's leg.

Feeling comfortable as he could, Saix, "I'm Saix. I'm just exploring."

"Hm." the woman nodded, her smile fading, "Exploring. You wouldn't be the first…" She paused, "I'm Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan."

Looking unsure, Pocahontas awkwardly offered her hand. Getting the idea, Saix shook it.

"That's Flit," she indicated the bird, "And you already know Meeko," she nodded to the raccoon.

Saix smiled weakly and, speaking more to her animal friends than anyone else, said "Pleasure," somewhat acerbically. He turned to leave, figuring he'd have to bide his time before making his move.

"Wait!" Pocahontas grabbed his shoulder, "You're on my tribe's land. The least you could do is tell me why you're here."

Saix stopped short. This girl was clever, no doubt about that. He realized he could spin this to his advantage, make it into a test.

"To be entirely truthful," he explained, "I'm tracking down these creatures, made entirely of darkness. Have you seen anything of the sort?"

Startled, Pocahontas asked, "How did you know?"

Saix repressed a satisfied smirk, "I'm here to exterminate them and protect the world from falling into their hands. Thank you for telling me."

"That isn't everything."

"Oh?"

A guilty shadow crossed her face, "I think they're here…because of me."

Saix disguised a look of recognition and of gratification, remaining silent for Pocahontas to continue.

"I don't want to believe it. There's a part of me that tells me it's not true. And I've been told that it isn't my fault…" Pocahontas looked to the willow tree, but kept on before Saix could think much on it, "…but my father, he…"

And with the most terrible timing, a group of Soldier Heartless materialized around the two of them. Tightening his grip on his Claymore, Saix called to Pocahontas, "Stay back!"

He lunged at one of the Soldiers, taking it out in one blow. Effortlessly making use of his weapon's range, Saix cut through whole groups of Heartless at once, though they kept appearing, wave upon wave. Soldiers, Shadows, Darkballs and Defenders, with no end in sight.

Saix was so absorbed in fighting that he almost forgot what had attracted the Heartless here in the first place.

"Pocahontas!" he hurried toward the willow where he'd left her, but she seemed to be faring just fine on her own. Somehow, Pocahontas seemed to be directing the wind, leaves and detritus from the forest floor moving fluidly against the Heartless.

She can fight back, thought Saix with his usual rational tact, That will complicate things. How would one neutralize…

His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp stinging pain, a thorn piercing his shoulder. He moved to pull it out, as another stuck in his thigh. Before he knew it, he was flanked on either side by Creeper Plants. He struggled to his feet, blocking the next thorn before it could hit.

The sight of his own blood filled Saix with rage, the moonlight above him filling him with strength. He lunged over to the first Creeper Plant, striking it down in one fell swoop before leaping behind to the next one, taking it out as well.

Wielding his Claymore backhand, Saix charged into a group of Shadows and Soldiers, knocking them into the air as easily as if they were leaves in Pocahontas' wind. Unable to defend themselves, the Heartless were easily dispensed with.

In the wake of battle, and with the adrenaline wearing off, Saix realized how badly he'd been hurt and how much he was bleeding. The thorns must have been poisonous as well.

"You're hurt." Pocahontas drew up to him, her animal associates emerging from the limbs of the willow tree to join her now that the cost was clear.

"I'm fine." he instinctively reached into his cloak before remembering that the Elixirs he'd packed were still at the camp, abandoned.

"Come, I'll take you to my village. You'll get help there…" Before she could say more, another girl came rushing from the underbrush, "Nakoma! What's wrong?"

The girl drew up besides them, ashen, "It's the village, Pocahontas! Those creatures have it under attack." She looked past her friend to Saix, "Another one of them?"

"Nakoma…"

"Pocahontas, can't you see your father's right? They're bringing those beasts onto our land. You can't be seeing these people…"

"Nakoma!" Pocahontas raised her voice, effectively silencing her, "We can't leave this man here to die. It's not our way, whether my father likes it or not." She nodded to Saix, who was slowly listing against his Claymore, the world going blurry.

"Now help me carry him home!"

Saix collapsed, his eyes closing on Pocahontas, Nakoma and, somewhere behind them, a shadowy figure blowing away in a rush of dried leaves.

Saix woke with a start, beads of sweat dripping from his brow. He was in his room, in his bed. His near death experience had just been a dream.

"About time you woke up."

Saix turned to the door, "Axel!"

"I figured you were knocked out for good," Axel smirked, "or you were just very lazy."

"Axel," Saix got up from bed, "Castle Oblivion. How was it? Were you able to…?"

Without warning, Axel grabbed hold of Saix's arm, pinned it behind his back and slammed him against the wall, his nose breaking with an audible crunch.

"Axel, what are you…?"

"You should've killed him, Saix."

"What?!"

"I'm doing this to help you out, man."

"Let me go!"

"Don't worry, it'll all be over soon."

A wave of Shadows hit the bedroom window, cracking it. "Axel, please…"

"It's too late, Isa."

Another wave hit the window, cracking it further. "Please!"

"Fair travels."

The window broke, enveloping Saix in darkness.

Saix opened his eyes, panting raggedly. He was lying in a dim place, walled in by canvas hangings. A tent. He tried to sit up, but was forced down by a sharp burst of pain.

On closer examination, Saix noticed cloth bandages over his waist and his shoulder, stained a raw and ruddy red shade. Noticing a faint burning sensation in his wrists, Saix noticed a frayed length of rope fall to the earth floor. The rope appeared to have been cut through.

He found his cloak lying beside him, looking as though it had been tossed aside.

They took it off to get to the wounds, leaving me vulnerable to the Heartless…the dream.

Forcing himself to forget about the pain, Saix put his cloak back on. He took his Claymore from where it was leaning and, using it as a crutch, limped back out into the open. It was still nighttime, Saix noticed, and the village was just as ravaged as Nakoma had said. Small fires still smoldered over ruined tents and wood structures, men were carrying bodies off, in various states of disfigurement. Yet it seemed the tribe had managed to fend off the Heartless, despite their losses.

"Father, if you'd just listen…"

"Your willfulness will do nothing but hurt us further, Pocahontas!"

Saix turned his head to find Pocahontas following the man who must be her father, "You didn't see him, Father. He was fighting against the creatures, not with them."

"In an attempt at self-preservation, no doubt. Men who meddle with such powers should expect to lose control of them." Pocahontas's father, the chief if Saix remembered correctly, didn't turn back to look at her once, "I only sent Kekata to that man so he might die with some honor. We're executing him tonight."

"Father, no!"

"It would lessen this curse only slightly but it's a start." the two passed into a large tent just off the center of the village.

Feeling it was only appropriate, Saix followed them inside, "Powhatan…" He grunted in, pain, his side protesting from the short walk. The tent appeared to house a kind of war council, with about a dozen solemn-faced men sitting around a fire.

Pocahontas turned at the sound of his voice, "Saix!" She crossed the tent in two long strides and hugged him. Before Saix could recover himself, she whispered in his ear, "Why are you still here?" Saix ignored the question, knowing the answer would be given soon enough.

"He was restrained," said Powhatan evenly, "tied down. Who…?" his eye came to rest on Pocahontas, and he nodded, "I see." he stared at Saix, face empty of expression, "Don't think too heavily on my daughter's hospitality. At sunup, you'll be executed, and your comrades will be struck down in battle."

Saix cocked an eyebrow, "If I really were your enemy, would I have saved your daughter from the darkness? Wouldn't I have run? I assure you, I'm here to eliminate those creatures. If you'll just hear my side…"

Powhatan looked from his daughter to Saix, sighing, "Speak, then."

"I'm not with these English your daughter spoke of. If you took one look at me, you'd see that."

"Tread lightly," said Powhatan warningly.

Saix nodded, "Secondly, I just wanted to ask about the creatures. How long have they been tormenting your people?"

"Since the English arrived." Powhatan looked bitterly at his daughter. "They've been plaguing us since my daughter took up with their captain."

Pocahontas blinked at him, taken aback, "How did you…?"

"Nakoma confessed. The child was swarmed with guilt from keeping your secrets."

Pocahontas looked to the ground, chastened, as Saix attempted to process this new development.

The Heartless came here with the English? They could still be after Pocahontas. But this does complicate things…

He was about to ask another question, when two men entered the tent, carrying a third, wounded, between them.

Powhatan moved to the new arrivals at once, "Why hasn't this man been brought to Kekata with the rest?"

The soldier on the man's right replied, "He wasn't defending the village. He was part of Kocoum's hunting party."

"Kocoum?" gasped Pocahontas, "He's returned?"

The wounded man spoke up, sounding as though every word caused him pain, "No…he's…he needs help."

"What happened on that hunt, Edel?" asked Powhatan.

"We found one of…their camps on our land." Edel looked at Saix, who couldn't help feel somewhat accountable despite himself, "They accused us…trespassed on their land…out for revenge…attacked us on sight…one of them, they claimed we killed…their captain…"

"John!" cried Pocahontas, stepping closer.

Powhatan looked at her with what seemed to be disappointed, but also a strange kind of sympathy. He turned back to Edel, "They did this to you?"

"N-no…we ran from them…no one was hurt, until we…until we saw it."

"It?"

Edel began to break down, speaking fitfully, "It was terrible…it was so fast, so big…it called more of those beasts to aid it. Kocoum, he sent me to get help…when we first encountered it, we were a party of six. When I left… four."

Powhatan knelt to face Edel, "Give me a place and I will send men there to save them."

"The clearing by the river…some ways in that direction."

Powhatan was silent for some time. Pocahontas had turned to face the opposite direction, hand pressed to her face.

The chief rose to his feet at last, turning to the other two men, "Bring him to Kekata. I'll gather some men, send them to the river…"

"You can't!" Saix exclaimed, stepping forward. "Your village needs to recover." He feigned a sigh, his plan in mind, "If you want my trust, allow me to go take care of this. Let me prove myself."

Pocahontas turned back to him, her composure evidently restored enough, "You're still hurt!"

"I'm well enough to fight!"

"Fine," Powhatan stood up and approached Saix, "Prove yourself."

Pocahontas cut in, "He has nothing to prove! He saved my life!"

"He's an enemy of the tribe until proven otherwise!" Powhatan turned to the other members of the council, speaking in a more measured voice, "The English will be preparing to strike soon enough in retaliation for…" he sniffed dismissively, "…their captain. We must be ready to reciprocate."

"Father!"

"Now is not the time, child!"

"Violence and chaos begets more bloodshed on both our peoples! That's not who we are! That's not what I was taught!"

Powhatan had nothing to say to that. Pocahontas turned to Saix, "I'm coming with you."

"Pocahontas!"

The chief's daughter snapped at her father. "Kocoum's my betrothed, Father! I have a duty to protect him." With that, Pocahontas stormed out of the tent.

Powhatan moved as if to follow her, but Saix spoke up, "She'll be safe. I'll make sure of it." Saix was sure enough Pocahontas could take care of herself, as that battle by the willow could testify, but he supposed he could ease the chief's mind.

Powhatan scowled at Saix before storming out of the tent as well. Saix followed to see if he was after Pocahontas, but he seemed to intent on checking with the wounded. The Nobody held his Claymore up, confident he no longer needed it to support himself.

Though he still felt a faint, persistent soreness, under the moonlight none of that seemed to matter. He ran toward the tree line, after Pocahontas.

After the Heartless is taken care of, take the girl, find Xigbar and leave. Saix had had more than his fair share of this world in the one night he'd been here, though he knew it was far from over.