I was almost there
Just a moment away from becoming unclear
Ever get the feeling you're gone
I'll show you the way, the way I'm going

So I run and hide and tell myself I'll
I'll start again with a brand new name
And eyes that see into infinity

I will disappear…

--30 Seconds to Mars, "Capricorn"

Chapter IV

Xaras gave a wide yawn and took a sip of coffee. She was in the café, eating a breakfast of bagels and Java with Axel.

"Did my snoring keep you awake last night?" Axel questioned. "You've got shadows under your eyes."

"No. I just had nightmares." She tried not to remember the disturbing dreams. Three times she'd been forced to relive the last moments of her past life.

Axel dipped his bagel into the coffee. "Wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Understood. Anyway, here's our agenda for today: I'm supposed to help you find out what your Attribute is, then I've got to teach you to summon a weapon. After that, we'll come back here for lunch and come up with a Proof of Existence for you. Got it memorized?"

"Sure, but, what exactly is a Proof of Existence?"

"Just a nickname that describes you. Like, my Proof is the Flurry of Dancing Flames."

"That's it?" exclaimed Xaras. "I don't have to actually prove that I exist?"

Axel snorted. "Hell no. It's just a lame way to reference yourself."

"Oh…."

He rose up and noisily pushed his chair under the table. "C'mon. We might as well get started."

Xaras discarded her trash and followed Axel into a darkness portal.

The portal led Xaras and her mentor to a sunlit clearing in a secluded forest. She observed the gorgeous scenery and said quietly, "Where are we?"

"Just near a little city called Twilight Town. We hang out there, sometimes. So, do have any idea what your Attribute is?"

"Attribute?"

"Your element!" he huffed impatiently. "Have you been reading any of that stuff Xemnas gave you?"

"No."

Axel rolled his eyes. "Well that's your homework. Now, since you apparently don't know what your Attribute is, I'll have to provoke you in order to find out." Flames shot from his fingers and formed two large Chakrams in his hands.

Xaras stepped backward in fear. "Provoke me?"

"DEFEND YOURSELF!!" A flaming Chakram whizzed past her, almost slicing through her arm.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Xaras screeched at Axel, dodging the Chakram as it boomeranged back to him.

Axel ignored her. Instead, he charged towards Xaras, twirling his Chakrams in blurred circles. She threw her hands up to defend herself.

All at once, a geyser of water fountained out of the ground. It hit Axel square in the face and threw him ten feet backwards. He sputtered a violent curse. His normally spiky hair had been flattened against his head. He stomped over to Xaras and grabbed her by the collar.

"What was that for?!" He glowered at her.

"You fucking tried to kill me!!" Xaras snapped.

"I was not trying to kill you! I was trying to make you use your Attribute."

"Well, I used it, didn't I?" she replied coolly.

Axel let her go, grumbling incoherently. With a flash of flame, his clothes were dried and his hair in its normal position.

"Okay, fair enough," he said, still scowling. "We have the Attribute–water. On to Lesson Two. I need you to focus on your hand and summon your weapon. And, yes, I know, you don't know what your weapon is," he mocked in a whiney voice. He closed his eyes and re-summoned his Chakram. "Just concentrate. The weapon will choose you."

Xaras was peeved at him for mocking her but followed his instructions. She focused all her energy on the palm of her hand. With a sudden burst of water, an odd contraption materialized in her right hand.

It looked like a large black and blue gun, only instead of a barrel, there was a tank inscribed with the Nobody symbol.

Axel stifled a laugh. "Wow. A pump action water gun. Now, that's what I call unique."

"Bite. Me."

"Such language!" Axel smirked. "Very unbecoming of a young lady like yourself."

Xaras angrily pumped the gun and fired it at Axel's hair. Three liquid spheres shot through his hair, flattening it again.

"Dammit, Xaras!!" Axel yowled. "My hairrrr!"

–––

Axel gave his sea-salt ice cream stick a ferocious lick. "Don't do that again," he warned.

"Sure." Xaras smirked at him. They were in the café now, brainstorming ideas for Xaras's Proof and eating sea-salt ice cream (which she thought was disgusting).

"Okay….erm, how about…the….Tsunami?" Xaras asked. She was really having trouble coming up with a name for herself.

"Nah. Too boring. How about––"

"Axel! Wazzup, man?" A thin hand slapped Axel on the back, almost knocking him over. It was Xigbar, the older member with the eye-patch. Xaras only then noticed a long scar running from his left eye to his chin.

"Whatcha doing with the newbie? Playing tic-tac-toe?" Xigbar chuckled.

"No," said Axel. "Brainstorming for the POE."

"Oh, really? Scoot over, chick. I'm bored." The tall figure sat down next to her. Although he was quite a frightening sight to behold, Xaras's instincts insisted that he wasn't a danger to her.

"My Proof is the 'Freeshooter.' Hey, did Axel tell his POE? The Flurry of Dancing Flames. Isn't that gay?"

Axel flipped him off. Xigbar didn't notice. "So what's yer Attribute?" he asked her.

"Water," she said in confident tone. It felt good to know what she was talking about, for once.

"Cool," he replied. "Weapon?"

Before she could answer, Axel interrupted. "Aw, Xig, you're gonna love this. She's got a water gun."

"A gun? Hey, that's my thing!" He ruffled Xaras's hair. "Guess that means you get to be my mini-me?"

"She's got the black and white stripes, too! We can call her the Pea-shooter!" She frowned at Axel and rubbed the white stripe that went down her hair part.

Xigbar cackled. "No. She's only got one stripe. I know, let's call her Skunk Head. Huh? Huh?" He nudged her in the ribs (in her right side, luckily).

"No," she grumbled.

"No?" Axel sighed in disappointment and finished off his ice cream. "It would have been perfect. Oh well. Hey, I know! How about the Liquidy Assassin?"

Xigbar scoffed. "Stupid. Besides, Marluxia's taken the 'assassin' title."

"The Ocean Soul?"

"You trying to get us sued by Nightwish?"

"Well, then let's see you think of something better!"

The gunman examined Xaras from head to toe. He scratched the back of his head. "Hmmm. The Aggressive Small-fry."

Axel laughed. "No! No! I got it–the Wet Maiden!!"

Xigbar almost fell out of the booth. He banged the table with his fist, roaring with laughter. "OHGODOHGODSTOPITICANTBREATHE!!!"

Xaras felt her face turn beet-red. "You both can kiss my ass," she said.

Axel wiped the tears off his face. "Oh, man, we're just playin'! Okay, okay, we'll stop, but I deserved a laugh after you screwed up my hair."

"Oh boo-hoo."

"The Sarcastic Mermaid!" chimed Axel.

"Are you ever going to let me try? It is my Proof."

"Okay, go for it," said Xigbar.

Xaras closed her eyes. She tried to think of the words that might describe herself best. But, being that she was only a few days old, she couldn't say she knew herself very well.

"I've got it," she said after a few minutes.

"What?" Axel asked.

"The Obscure Aquatic."

"The Obscure Aquatic?" He raised an eyebrow.

Xigbar nodded, impressed. "I like it."

"It's too emo," said Axel.

Xaras stuck out her tongue at him.

"I guess it'll have to do for now. This is taking us wayyyy too long."