Chapter Four: Zexion
Glancing briefly at the grandfather clock perched in the corner of the gray room Zexion let out a sigh. Minutes seemed to be ticking away quite slowly. In fact, he was certain that the last few times he glanced up, the clock said the same thing. Snapping his book shut he set it down on his couch before walking over to it. He peered into its different mechanisms before simply walking away. He wasn't particularly interested in spending his evening fixing it. So, he would just leave it for the teachers. He smiled to himself, curious what Mr. Even's face would be, since he would be the obvious choice to fix it.
"Aww man, I'm going to fail..." Demyx said, flinging himself back into a chair and strumming on his sitar which had the tendency to irritate all other students beyond belief. Zexion disliked nothing more than the racket he made on the infernal instrument. And nothing could ruin concentration like it could.
Isa and Lea followed him into the room. The two immediately struck up a conversation, speaking overtop of Demyx's sitar playing. Knowing that the room would be too loud to concentrate in, Zexion lifted his book and left quickly. Besides, he knew that if he stuck around, Demyx would only begin begging him to help him with his schoolwork. Something he could excel at with his IQ, if only he actually tried.
"I can't believe the teachers wouldn't take me seriously! Come on Van. We've gotta find him. If Riku says he'll be back by a certain time, he means it. So something must have happened!"
Zexion flew to a stop right before he would have rounded a corner and onto the same hall that Sora and his twin were walking down. They spoke in urgent almost-whispers. His interest piqued, Zexion peered around the corner at their retreating backs. They were headed for the front doors.
"Look, I'm sure he's fine. I just don't see the point in looking for him," Vanitas replied, as Zexion began following them from a distance. "But fine, if you insist. I've been curious about seeing more of this city anyway."
The twins left the castle quietly and Zexion scowled. He should have stopped them before they left, a new rule set into place was that students weren't allowed to leave the castle without permission. However, he was very curious as to what they were talking about. Sora had sounded quite concerned.
Making a split second decision, Zexion followed them out, clutching his Lexicon in his hands. He tailed them in silence but paused behind a parked car when they also stopped.
"You seem to be forgetting something Sora, just how are we going to find him?" Vanitas inquired.
"Well..." Sora said. His shoulders slumped. "I dunno."
His twin let out an irritated noise. "Great. I'm just going to head back."
It couldn't hurt for him reveal himself, so Zexion stepped out from behind the car, quickly approaching the other two. Sora jumped, while Vanitas summoned his Keyblade.
"Aren't you two a bit jumpy? But no cause for concern really, it's just me," Zexion said with a smile. "Now, I trust you two read about the newest ruling? The one about not leaving the castle?"
Sora nodded. "Yeah, but Riku's in trouble! He went to see his dad and said that if he wasn't back by eight I should get the teachers to come and find him. None of them would take me seriously so Van and I are going by ourselves."
Lifting a hand to his chin, Zexion frowned. "I see... In that case, perhaps I might be of some help."
Sora grinned. "Really? Thanks!"
"How exactly are we going to find him?" Vanitas asked with a scowl.
Zexion spared him a brief glance before pulling out his cell from his coats pocket. He was aware of the twins watching him as he quickly typed in numerous codes. Finding Riku's school info was easy enough, and he scrolled down to where a record of his meeting with his father was kept. Glancing briefly at the name of the restaurant Zexion smiled slightly with satisfaction.
"Did you just...break into the school's classified info?" Vanitas demanded loudly, peering over Zexion's shoulder. "Isn't that one of the few things that can get you kicked out of the academy on the spot?"
Scowling, Zexion tucked his phone back into his pocket. "My apologies. I simply thought you both might like to find him."
Before Vanitas could say anything further Sora spoke up. "Okay, where is he?"
"Only a few blocks away," Zexion replied, starting off.
Zexion heard Sora and Vanitas running to catch up. Sora kept pace with him, a worried expression on his face, while Vanitas lingered a few paces behind.
It had been awhile since Zexion had left the castle unannounced. He used to spend much of his time after dark, wandering the streets. He wasn't in any danger, not with his abilities. He loved the feeling of being free. Unattended in such a huge city. As such, he had memorized much of the city, and knew the restaurant Riku was at. Or would, with any luck, be at.
He paused outside of the restaurants doors, peering carefully through a window. Of course it was the sort that blurred everything inside. However, Zexion could still easily tell that the interior was pitch black. Strange, since the restaurant was open for another half hour.
Treading silently as he had learned to do when he was still very young, Zexion tried the door. He wasn't surprised in the least to find it locked. He stepped back with a frown; it seemed that Sora was right, that Riku was in trouble. And judging by the locked doors, and no lights, he was also still inside the restaurant.
Seeing no other alternative, Zexion motioned that Sora should come over. "Use your Keyblade, unlock the door."
Summoning his weapon Sora scowled, glancing at the door. "How...exactly?"
Zexion was quickly losing patience. Surely the kid must have looked up any information he could find on his chosen weapon?
"Just point it at the door," Zexion said. "Think to unlock it, and it will unlock."
Sora did as instructed and Zexion heard the lock click. As he was sure, everyone else in the building did as well. He stepped past Sora quickly and swung the door open. Complete darkness greeted his vision. He didn't like that. Did not like it at all. Stepping further into the room, he strained his ears for the slightest sound. Yet he still didn't hear someone behind him other than Sora and Vanitas until he felt the cold metal of a blade against his throat. He paused mid-step, hardly daring to breathe.
"Who might you be?" inquired the person behind him.
Before he could respond he heard a yelp from Sora, and suddenly a light was back on. Revealing Sora pinned against someone who was wearing a dark coat, and Vanitas knocked out cold on the ground.
"...You first," Zexion said carefully. Scanning the room quickly for anything to use to escape.
"That one is trouble," said a voice from across the room.
A chill went up Zexion's spine, as he whipped around to stare in that direction. That voice, he knew only too well. All thoughts of still being able to get out of their current predicament fled his mind momentarily. Only momentarily. He opened his book, and with precision, quickly sucked the person behind him into it. He turned towards the man, or woman, who had ahold of Sora. Quickly realizing how foolhardy turning his back to that other voice would be, he instead changed the scenery. Making it appears as if they all were in the middle of a raging sandstorm. He made sure the sand swirled harder around their enemies. Yet around him, the sand was calm, blowing gently past. He could see everything and everyone before him. He made sure Sora could see around him as well. The teenager appeared baffled, but quickly got away from his captor, summoning his Keyblade.
Leaving Sora to manage for himself, Zexion walked steadily towards the person on the other side of the restaurant. He could smell Riku over there, and the sooner he got to him and back out, the better.
"The interesting thing about illusions, Ienzo, is that once you know what they are, they hardly hurt anymore," the voice said, as the man it belonged to appeared in front of him. He was wearing a coat like the rest, with a hood that obscured his face from view.
Zexion leapt back quickly, but not fast enough. A huge blast of sand flew up around him, and he was sent spiraling into the ceiling before landing face first on the ground. He moaned, but didn't hesitate to push himself up. Taking a deep and calming breath, he reminded himself that the sand blowing around him was an illusion. In fact, it was a mere copy of his own illusion. Fake.
Before he could take a step forward, the man gripped his collar in one hand, holding a sword in the other.
"It was a grave mistake, getting in my way Ienzo. But hey, thank you for saving me the trouble of finding you," the man said with a chuckle. "There's still a use for you yet. So I'll just be taking Riku and leaving I think." He let go of Zexion and strode over to where Riku lay unconscious a good ten feet away.
"This? This is why my taxi drove me to the opposite side of Midgar? Enough, leave my son alone."
Zexion looked up sharply. He let the storm die down, and soon all the sand had vanished. Not even a single piece left. Zexion watched as Sephiroth, the Sephiroth known the world over for his heroic efforts in the last Worlds War, strode right past him and towards the man standing before Riku. He lifted him by the collar, his eyes flashing in anger.
"Leave...now. I am in no mood for your games," he said icily. "Or perhaps I should do away with you and your little friends this instant."
Zexion watched in amazement as the people simply listened, quietly and quickly shuffling out of the restaurant. Zexion wondered briefly what they had done with the people that worked there. But a sudden noise in the cooking quarters answered that question. He quickly got to his feet and backed up a few steps, finding himself beside Sora and his barely conscious twin. Sephiroth meanwhile, knelt beside his son. Before Zexion could stop him, Sora had run over to Riku as well. He bent down on his other side and glared at Sephiroth.
"Don't hurt him," Sora said through clenched teeth. Zexion had to admit that the teen did have an abundance of courage.
Sephiroth chuckled. "He is my son, so why would I hurt him? Did you not just hear me speaking with those men?" He shifted his long sword from his weapons belt, quickly flipping it around until it rested against Sora's throat. Sora's eyes flew wide. "Now you on the other hand...are Cloud's son. Am I right? Yes, you have no such assurances. I'm very certain that you will only be a thorn in my side."
Zexion and Vanitas moved at the same time. Vanitas pointed his Keyblade at the man's chest while Zexion opened his book, ready to at least attempt to pull him into it. Sephiroth turned to look between them, a strange glint in his eye. Zexion had trouble identifying what it was at first but then he realized that it was a sort of amusement. As his eyes met the gray haired teens, Zexion blinked. Just what was he thinking pointing his weapon at such a man? Not only was he possibly the strongest most skilled man in existence, commonly revered as a hero. But he was also one of the thirteen world leaders. He ruled over a place called The End of the World. It was much more than the name implied, the place of world meetings and a favored vacation spot. It, Zexion had heard, was the hardest world to get into a leadership position for.
"I have no wish to make a scene," Sephiroth said simply. "See to it that my son gets back safely. And give your father my...warmest regards."
The man got to his feet, his sword still in hand as he walked back towards the door. He left without so much as a look back at them, and Zexion allowed himself to let out a sigh of relief. Clutching his book tightly he suddenly remembered that man he still had sealed within, and smiled slightly. Perhaps he would be able to get some answers as to just what was going on, even though he would have to let the teachers do the asking. Sora approached the cooking quarters, and lifting his Keyblade, unlocked the door for them. Vanitas still appeared slightly dizzy. Zexion approached the unconscious Riku. He quickly checked his vitals, and seeing that he was fine. He bent and lifted him onto his back, allowing his book to disappear regretfully.
"Come along, the teachers will know by now that we're gone," Zexion informed the other two, walking quickly out of the door before any of the servers and cooks dared to venture out. He heard Sora and Vanitas following him.
"What just happened exactly? I mean, was there a point to those guys doing any of this?" Vanitas asked, rubbing his head.
Zexion scowled. He wished he knew exactly what they were thinking. Though he did have one idea. And he was quite certain that it was correct. Now where Sephiroth fit into the equation, he wasn't entirely certain.
Choosing to say nothing the entire way back. Zexion paid no heed to Sora and Vanitas spinning theories behind him. He drew to a stop upon seeing Xemnas outside of the castle, along with Aeleus and Dilan. Zexion groaned inwardly. He was well known for never breaking any rules...at least as far as the teachers knew. He could only hope that this good record and the importance of his own family might help him not get in terrible trouble. Granted he didn't particularly like to be treated specially. Especially since he thought everyone going to the school was almost of equal importance.
He put on a smile as he approached them, and when Aeleus stepped forward, noticing Riku, Zexion carefully lowered him to the ground, where the teacher quickly stooped to lift him.
No one said a word until they were in the entry hall. Where Aeleus left with Riku. And Xemnas motioned the other three to follow him. He led them into the meeting room. Where without being asked, they all took their seats. Zexion across the way from the twins.
Unable to remain silent any longer Sora spoke up, his words coming out in a rush. "Is Riku going to be okay?"
Xemnas turned his gaze to him. "Even will be checking him as we speak. I cannot say as of yet."
"He was merely unconscious. He might perhaps suffer a concussion," Zexion told Sora. The younger teen visibly relaxed in his chair.
"With that assessment, Zexion, would you care to explain?" Xemnas inquired.
That would be easy enough. Once Zexion had done so, Xemnas leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"You three are fully aware that we have a new rule in order today about not leaving unattended? Regardless of age? Or reason? Unless you have permission and arrangements made to get you to your destination?" Xemnas said cooly. They answered in affirmation. "Then since this is a first time offense, I will simply have to punish you."
A deep scowl formed on Zexion's face, and he instinctively sat back sharply in his seat. He relaxed almost immediately however, recalling what the punishments were and arranged his face into a smile.
"Of course, we broke a rule," said Zexion.
Xemnas seemed to give it some thought before smiling slightly at his conclusion. "You must do a thorough clean of this entire castle."
The three students all said something different at once.
"That's all? Really?"
"The entire castle?"
"Of course if that is what you choose...but isn't that Demyx's permanent chore?"
"I am quite surprised you and Vanitas did not have the same reaction as Sora, Zexion. Be glad that is all you have to do," Xemnas said simply. "Now leave, I will convene about the latest events with the other teachers." Lifting his phone he glanced briefly at it. "You may see Riku in the morning. He is resting for now."
They didn't need to be told twice. Zexion was last out, leaving the doors open upon seeing all of the teachers walking towards it. He followed Sora and Vanitas back down the stairs. Lost in thought until he heard his name called twice, the second time much sharper than the first.
"Yes?"
"Sora and I were wondering. Just what reason you think those people had for attacking Riku. And then us like that?" Vanitas asked.
They followed Zexion to his room and when they still appeared to be waiting for an answer he turned to them with a small smile.
"Your father... Cloud Strife isn't he? Perhaps you should ask him. All I will say is that I am certain they didn't have good intentions. If Sephiroth didn't help us, we would have been at their mercy," said Zexion before entering his room and allowing the door to shut in their faces.
An hour later, Zexion sat in the meeting room once more. This time with all of the teachers present. His book was back in his hands, and he stared at it with a frown.
"All right Zexion, let him loose," Xemnas said simply, leaning forward in his chair.
Zexion did as instructed, opening his book on the right page and directing it to the chair beside him. Out flew a man wearing the same coat as before, however his hood fell down when he hit the chair. Revealing his painted face and tied back blond hair. Seeing everyone in the room he simply chuckled.
"Kefka," said Xemnas simply. "Oh why am I not surprised?"