Note: This story will follow several characters, some of which haven't been introduced, but will usually focus more on Xicra. Also, some of the parts here will seem a little fast paced with the rate I sometimes switch scenes in each chapter.

Traitors Among Us: Chapter 3

Kixyu yawned as she finished off her morning coffee, still slightly tired from staying up with Demyx and catching up most of the night. She knew she probably should have waited for today to do that, but she was far too excited to see her older brother again. And despite not finding her younger brother there with him, she was almost bouncing off the walls the day before. Once Axel had finished showing her around the entire place with Xicra, she made a mad dash to find Demyx.

She stood up from the bar in the kitchen and stretched before looking to see that Xaldin had just entered, and looking very much in need of some coffee, himself. When he looked over at her, he seemed rather surprised to find her there, and almost annoyed at the same time. It seemed that she'd been the first few of the Nobodies up in the castle. Although what he didn't yet know was that despite the need for a morning coffee, she always woke up early like that.

"You look like you need some coffee, Xaldy", she said. "It's already done, too. I just finished mine. Nice and strong."

Xaldin grumbled a tired reply and went to get his coffee and sit down at the bar. After a few slugs of it, he looked back at the blond Nobody. "That's Xaldin, not Xaldy."

Kixyu sat back down and shrugged. "It's a thing with me, so get used to it. Are you always up early?"

"Yes", Xaldin said, taking another drink. "Usually, I'm the only one up this early. That way I have breakfast ready for the others."

"Well, I'm an early bird", said Kixyu. "When I had to take care of my brothers, I always had to be up early. Somehow, I managed to become like a mom to them."

"What about your parents", asked Xaldin.

Kixyu shrugged again. "Disappeared", she replied. "Kira never really got to know them, and I only knew them for so long. I had to learn how to cook and clean and do all that stuff. Not that our friends' families didn't help where they could, though. But we always had plenty to survive on."

Xaldin nodded. "You can cook, then maybe you and Xicra wouldn't mind-"

"Yeah, we'll help you and Zexy", said Kixyu. "Anyway, why'd you throw the knife at Axy yesterday?"

"He is not allowed to cook because he can't", Xaldin replied gruffly. "Every time someone tried to teach him, we've ended up with burnt patches of charcoal in here."

Kixyu snickered. "I can see why, then. Guess he's a lost cause." She watched as Xaldin finished his coffee and walked over to the sink and stove. "What's for breakfast?"

"You'll see when it's done", said Xaldin. He pulled out some cooking utensils and pans and some ingredients for breakfast. "Just wait, unless you want to go ahead and help already."

Kixyu stood and walked over. "I'm going to warn you now, actually", she said. "I'm either going to annoy the living daylights out of you at times, or do the opposite at other times. I tend to do that with some people."

Xaldin glanced at her and scowled. "You must be seriously bipolar, then."

"Yeah, well, I've always acted cheery", she laughed, pulling over the flour. "One of my friends either hated it, or loved it in tandem. But only because she's always been a bit emotionally... constipated."

"Alright, let's see what you can do."

Kixyu watched as simulated Dusks appeared in one of the separate training rooms. Breakfast had ended not even half an hour ago, and she was now beginning her training with one of the senior members. She glanced up at the impatient-looking Savage Nymph, Larxene, and studied her some, still retaining that cheerful smile of hers. Just because she was generally described as cheerful, didn't mean that she didn't take fights seriously. She often even liked using the apparent dissonant serenity as a mask to have others only underestimate her.

"If you can give Marluxia a hard time even without a weapon with that other brat, I'm sure you've got something up your sleeves", Larxene continued. "So show me what all you can do."

After a nod, Kixyu began her assault on the simulated lesser Nobodies, calling out several magic attacks and using her multiple shape-shifts to assist her. Of course, she didn't come away unscathed, but she could see that Larxene was rather intrigued by her lithe and quick movements. Not only that, but she was also using whatever was around her in the training room to help her. It almost amazed her what random items were in there, but she figured it was occasionally used to lounge around in when no one was training in there. As it was, there were some things that were mostly just for games, such as plastic/rubber outdoor toys like balls and frisbees.

She tossed one of the frisbees at a Dusk, and then swung a bat around at some more before calling out a Thunder spell. Larxene gave a smile and summoned her knives and charged them with electricity before throwing them at the younger girl. Kixyu noticed the attack in time enough to dodge and deflect a few of them with a rubber kickball. She hadn't exactly expected her to join in on the attacks, but wasn't going to balk if it helped show her strength to another member. Although it made it all the more difficult with her own speed and agility.

After a while longer and giving Larxene something of a rough fight after the simulated Dusks stopped appearing, Kixyu sighed as she slid down one of the walls. She was happy that Larxene, while extremely ruthless even with initial training, had allowed her to stop before getting seriously hurt. Wiping the sweat off her brow, she looked up at the somewhat tired Nymph and smiled again.

"Not bad", said Larxene. She watched the Morpher stand back up after a few minutes. "Why'd you use all the random stuff still in here?"

Kixyu chuckled. "Anything can be made a weapon if only you know how to do it", she said. "Good to know when you don't have something that's specifically and only a weapon and you're in a tight spot."

Larxene just shrugged and began to walk away. "Well, I was just told to see what you could do without a weapon, so I'm out of here. Spend more time if you want in here. You know, to go ahead and see about what your actual weapon is. I don't care."

Kixyu watched Larxene leave before chuckling again. She wouldn't tell the Savage Nymph yet, or even another of the members, but she already knew what her weapon was. She'd actually known about it, or rather, them, for years already. But she was just never really inclined to show it or even try to summon it for the first time. She wanted to wait until she really needed to use it before she did so, when she didn't have another choice. As it was, she preferred the randomness of her current style to a distinct style with a weapon.

Although she supposed now that she was in the Organization, she might as well see about summoning it and doing some training so she could use it.

Xicra sighed and slumped down onto to floor of the training room she and Xaldin were currently in. The Whirlwind Lancer hadn't been particularly easy with her initial training, since apparently he didn't believe it do just to ease her into it. After all, they had both agreed that enemies usually don't ease their opponents into a life or death battle. They tended to just go at it thinking, if it's another person, that the quicker they finish the job, the better. And Xicra admitted that it was what she would be more likely to do compared to the alternative. And he'd forgone bringing in the simulated Dusks until half-way through the training.

She had pretty much started out by spamming magic as she so loved to do to her enemies. And then slowly incorporated random metallic items from around them, also including the lead pipe-katana she'd used against Marluxia. Xaldin had quickly noted that she seemed to love katana for not letting the lead pipe-katana go and still going for temporary make-shift katana. Xicra had even admitted that katana were her preferred blades, even if she wasn't averse to others. And not to mention that when she did lose the lead pipe-katana, and was had to summon her own specific weapon, she ended up bringing out yet another katana.

Although Xaldin had in the end still over-powered her by his superior fighting skill, no matter how much practice she had against heartless. And with Xicra just really starting her more proper training, it was only expected he'd do so. As it was, it was still more just a test of what she could do already. Not to say that Xaldin wasn't a little bit impressed, just not enough to let her know he was.

After taking a few deep breaths and casting a Cure spell on herself, she stood and wiped away the accumulated sweat from her face.

"I think that's enough for right now", Xaldin said as he watched her walk over to him. "Not half bad."

Xicra smiled. "Then I'm going to get on back to my room and get cleaned up", she said, dismissing her new katana. She walked past Xaldin and out of the room. "Still got places to go."

She headed down the halls to her room, and had almost made it there when she was stopped by Demyx. She looked at the Nocturne curiously and expectantly, waiting for him to say something.

"Have you seen Kixyu", asked.

"Sorry, I just got done with my initial training with Xaldin", she said with a shrug. "Why? Did you need to see her?"

Demyx paused. "Well... I just wanted to make sure she was alright and that the witch didn't try to kill her or something..."

Xicra blinked in confusion before smiling. "I wouldn't worry about Kixyu. She can take care of herself pretty well."

Demyx relaxed a little, although still looked bothered. "Yeah..."

Xicra walked over to him and cheerfully looked straight into his eyes, placing a hand on his arm. "One does not make Kixyu angry without suffering some rather painful fate. Her expressions are generally not in proportionate to what she hands out to others. She's going to be just fine, if a little tired. Several months traveling with her has taught me not to underestimate her just because she's young yet. And after all, Xemnas did give her the title Deceptive Morpher. Obviously it would denote that she's not going to look like she's a threat, when she in fact is."

"Come on, Dem-Dem, I can take care of myself." Kixyu walked up behind the Nocturne. "Must I remind you of what happened to that thief that came scrounging our house?"

Demyx turned to see his younger sister and pulled her into a tight hug. "I just didn't want to find that witch hurt you bad enough to send you to Vexen and Zexion."

Kixyu smirked and rolled her eyes. "Hey, don't worry. Larx didn't try to kill me today. I just spent extra time training on my own."

Demyx sighed and pulled away before placing a hand on her head, grinning. "Alright, just as long as you're ok."

"You know, Demyx, you reminded me of Dad when he starts worrying about me", said Xicra. "Minus the shrieking, of course."

"You know, I'm surprised you didn't almost kill Kixyu today." Marluxia watched Larxene in one of the empty halls as they walked back to their rooms.

The blond woman shrugged. "I was explicitly ordered not to. Not that I wasn't tempted to send her to the old coot to be patched up and then stuck in bed for a week or so. Just to see what Demyx would do."

"Do you think she'll be of use to us", asked Marluxia.

"Maybe", Larxene said with a shrug. "I didn't find out what her weapon was, though. And she seemed to like using what was around her, and her shape-shifting. Pretty good with magic, too. She seemed oddly calm through the whole thing."

Marluxia stopped, forcing Larxene to do the same, and raised an eyebrow. "Calm?"

"She was smiling most of the time", said Larxene. "I think she's crazy or something."

"She did seem somewhat calm most of our fight", said Marluxia. "And there was Xicra. She seemed rather bored at first. But she seemed to be confident, too. And after a while, she just seemed crazy."

"Yeah... I heard she tried to give you mercury poisoning", said Larxene. "Maybe she'll be useful to us."

"We'll have to keep an eye on them", said Marluxia. "Why don't you see about befriending them?"

Larxene grimaced and groaned slightly. "Demyx's sister and the old coot's brat. Friends? They'll probably want them to avoid me. And besides, they're just kids. Do you-"

"For the plan", Marluxia interrupted.

She sighed. "Alright, I'll see if I can be friends with them."

Axel handed the group of Nobodies with him each a stick of ice-cream before sitting down by Roxas. "So, you two enjoying what time you've spent with the Organization?"

Xicra looked over at the Flurry Of Dancing Flames and smiled. "Yeah, I'm kind of enjoying myself. It's nice to be around my old friends again."

"Well, I'm sure you'll really feel at home soon", said Roxas. "Have you met everyone yet?"

"Not everyone", said Xicra. "But I'll meet them at some point, I know."

"I can't wait to meet everyone else", said Kixyu. She looked from the sunset to the three senior members. "I'm probably going to have a lot of fun pranking some of the Nobodies here. Can we do something to the Dusks?"

"I wouldn't suggest messing with some of the members, though", said Xion. "Xaldin hates pranks."

"And I already know that from the past", said Xicra. "Has Xigbar ever talked about teaming up with a cute little brunette? We all but terrorized him at times. Other times, I got along with him pretty well. He liked me when I was calm."

"Well, he's mentioned prank wars with a little girl", said Roxas. "I guess that was you."

Xicra nodded. "Yeah, that was me. But Dad tended to scold me a lot for it. And I think every time he did, he mentioned something about me being too much like my mom."

"Hey, your mom was cool", said Axel.

"I know." Xicra smirked and rolled her eyes. "But it seems she was always quite the handful when she was young."

Zexion sat in one of the chairs in the library at the castle reading later, almost boredly for once. Not that reading ever really bored him, but he'd been forced to re-read many books lately. And no matter how entertaining the plot, having to read them over again several times would bore even him. He sighed and closed it, standing up and then putting it away to see about another book, one he had hopefully not already re-read several times. He wished that Xemnas would allow him to get more books for the library.

However, his attention was caught when the door opened and Xicra walked inside with a bag. She caught sight of him and smiled brightly before hurrying over to him.

Zexion watched her for a second before speaking. "Is there something you need?"

Xicra grinned widely before opening the bag and pulling out a stick of sea-salt ice-cream. "I thought you might like some ice-cream", she said. "Xion invited me to have some today with a few of the others, and I figured I'd bring some back for you. After all, didn't you love sea-salt ice-cream when we were younger? We used to go out and get some a lot when I was with you guys."

Zexion smiled and took the ice-cream. "Well, thank you. I do remember all that sneaking out and behind the others. Those were probably some of my favorite times."

"Some of my favorite memories, too", said Xicra. She chuckled and sat down beside him. "I think those times made up for the ones when I was a little... too rambunctious."

"So how was your training with Xaldin", asked Zexion.

Xicra shrugged. "Found out my weapon, and it went pretty well. I was really tired afterwards, but only to be expected. Obviously, he won the fight. Not like I really had much of a chance, anyway. He's had more experience fighting than me, anyway. And am I talking too much?"

Zexion chuckled and shook his head before starting his ice-cream. "No, not yet. I'll let you know if you are."

Xicra blushed. "Right... So... Axel said you got the Superior to allow a library here. And Xion said you seem to prefer spending your free time in here."

"Both are right", said Zexion. "But as long as you can remain relatively quiet, you may come in here. Just don't allow Xigbar in here much. Least of all alone. No telling at all what he'll do."

"Got it memorized", Xicra said, grinning now. "And for being quiet, unless I have something to talk about, I've gotten really good at it."

"You do seem to have mellowed sufficiently", said Zexion.

"People have said I contrasted my more loud friends", said Xicra. "Not that they never rubbed off on me, anyway."

"Well, I can see that Axel rubbed off on you", said Zexion.

Xicra paused, but quickly stood. "Love to stick around more," she said, "but Dad wanted to see me in his lab when I wasn't too busy." She hurried over to the door, but looked back at Zexion and smiled. "I'll see you later, though. Maybe we can go for some ice-cream tomorrow? I know a place with a great view in TwilightTown we can go to."

Zexion nodded. "After missions, then."

Xicra's grin widened and she waved before heading back out of the library and to Vexen's lab.

Kixyu walked down one of the many halls of the castle, just exploring around some before someone needed her for something, likely her brother for some jam-time. She loved her brother dearly, but at the moment, she wanted to get a better look around the place. After all, her tour with Xicra and Axel had been about as brief as could have been, and didn't even cover everything. Axel had only talked briefly about a few of the places in there. And this hallway hadn't been visited.

Eventually, she came to a set of double-doors to what looked like a decently sized greenhouse. Axel had mentioned something about a garden the day before, but hadn't really said a lot about it. She could only assume that it belonged to the Graceful Assassin, Marluxia, and that he wouldn't mind if she explored it a little, as long as she didn't touch anything. She remembered that they hadn't gotten off on a very good foot, but hoped that they could at least not be enemies.

She carefully opened one of the doors to go inside, doing her best not to make any sounds. Although she was quite good at it, considering the fact that she was always able to sneak up on most people, even when not using her power. As she closed the door, she looked around and was amazed by all the flowers and plants there. Obviously, Marluxia had a very green thumb and took wonderful care of them all.

Before long, she was in the middle of the place just admiring all the flowers of all different colors. Her smile brightened and she suddenly couldn't resist the urge to change into a house cat and lay down in a bare patch amongst the sunflowers. They were her personal favorites, especially as they produced sunflower seeds, of which she loved almost as much as candy. So she quickly transformed into her famous ball of blond fur and curled up in the grass before falling into a little cat-nap.

To Be Continued