a short chapter, but chapter 7 is going to be REALLY LONG so this is more of a pre-chapter

Chapter 6: To Compromise What Never Was

She was screaming, blood seeping from her body like a stream. He was trying to pin her down to the table with the help of the only man who was the closet thing to a doctor they had. This was all his fault. It never would've happened if it wasn't for him.

"Hold her!"

The screaming only grew louder, and he struggled to remove the cloak. It fell away from her shoulders and revealed the 3 gashes raking directly down the center of her chest.

He could finally make out the words she was shrieking: "GET AWAY FROM ME! MAKE IT STOP!" It was his fault, and she was blaming him—but she wanted the pain to end more than anything. He wanted to make it end for her sake…

"Hold her, Marluxia!" Vexen barked over the sound of her voice, and he elbowed Larxene in the face, silencing her briefly.

The echo was still in his mind, even as he sat—alone—in the lounging room by himself. The blood was still smeared on his hands, on his cloak; drops on his face and neck. Marluxia stared down at his quivering palms, and he quickly balled them into fists to keep them steady. "I'm so stupid…"

"Marluxia?" I entered the room and noticed the Graceful Assassin sulking on the sofa, "Hey, what happened to you two on that mission?"

There was a silence from the pink-haired Nobody, but he spoke up after a moment, "That mission… I don't think I should talk about it right now…"

"Vexen told the Organization her injuries are fine, so she'll live," I slapped my hand on his shoulder, "But I think you should take a look. Physically, she will recover in a matter of weeks… And emotionally she might go right back to being a bitch."

Marluxia stood and faced me, "Did she say anything?"

I bit my lower lip, "That's the thing I need to talk to you about, Mar… Actually, maybe you should see for yourself…"

Marluxia entered Larxene's bedroom where she was now buried beneath the sheets. Her cloak was still off, and she was just glaring up at the ceiling. Vexen sat on a chair in the corner, his expression distraught. I waited patiently at the doorway as the scythe-wielding Nobody approached the edge of XII's bed.

"Hey, Larxene, are you alright?" He went to touch her shoulder but she rolled over to face away from him.

A whimper erupted from her throat, probably from the pain in her body. "I didn't want to mention this to you, but there's no avoiding it," I continued from where I had left off before, "Physically and Emotionally she should return to normal. But mentally…"

Marluxia faced me, "She doesn't want to be touched?"

"No, she doesn't…" I inhaled sharply, "And she may never talk again. Her vocals are fine… But she just doesn't seem to want to speak, and she probably won't ever again." At first the idea may have seemed wonderful to the Organization, but after what had happened on the mission Marluxia found himself falling to his knees.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" He muttered and cringed, "This is all my fault… Everything!"

It wasn't like a Heartless to feel, but his memories told him he shouldn't start acting like he didn't care—especially since she wouldn't be in this state if it wasn't for him.

"Hey, Marluxia," I began, but he had already disappeared with the darkness.

"Scout, I need to tell you something," Vexen didn't move from his spot, but instead he kept focused on me, "I think it might be more… appropriate if you change her bandaging from now on. Think you can do that? I'll give you all the medical items you'll need."

I glanced over at Larxene briskly, her slender form shivering beneath the sheets, "Yeah, I think I can do that…"

"I am stuffed!" Demyx flexed his arms and let one drop around my shoulders, "and you barely ate anything! Is something on your mind? Hm?"

"Nothing's wrong! I just wasn't all that hungry…" I couldn't stop thinking about Zexion or Larxene, about my father, and my mother… I had been living on hatred for so long, now I couldn't even think straight. There were four of us in the room, Demyx and myself, and Xigbar who was trying to shoot a an apple off the top of a blindfolded Axel's head.

"Hey, don't bullshit me," His tone was serious, "Come on, you can tell me anything! You know that!"

I let a sigh escape my lips, "Dem… I became a nobody because I hated him," I glanced over at my father, "And now… I just don't know what to think anymore…" My friend was giving me a confused look. "Never mind… Maybe I'm just tired. I should get some sleep…"

That was when Saix entered the room. "Scout… Can I talk with you in private for a few minutes?"

How demanding. I let my golden fire eyes fall upon him, "About what?"

"I just want to ask you something."

Xigbar's arrow nailed Axel in the shoulder and he hit the ground, "No, you can't date my daughter until she's sixteen!"

"I'm twenty-six, Dad."

Tears streamed down his cheeks and he ducked his face into his good arm, "They grow up so fast!"

"YOU SHOT ME IN THE FREAKING ARM!" Axel cried out and Xigbar reloaded.

"Shuddup, you pansy. I was using my bad arm, anyway!"

Saix ignored him and glanced at me, "Uhm… Is now OK?" His eyes wandered to the ground, unable to bring himself to look at me. Ever since he had lost his memories only a few days ago, it was like he was a totally different person.

"I don't know," I hissed and glared at my dad, "It depends on what Pops says."

He barked a laugh, "As if! You're a grown girl! Make your own decisions!"

I slapped my hand over my face and stood, "Dem, I'll be right back." And I silently left the room with the slightly distracted Saix. I heard Xigbar order Axel to stand back up and reposition the apple so he could get another round in.

"I'm starting to get my memories back, but not as fast as I would like…" Saix was lying. He was trying to reassure himself after realizing he still couldn't figure out how to work his weapon—if he even had one. Axel kept telling him otherwise, but every time he tried to fight nothing would happen.

And he still couldn't remember his life before he became a Nobody, as Xemnas says, and even afterwards.

"Do you think you'll be able to get all your memories back?" I questioned, hoping to avoid the main topic.

"I don't know… But that's what I wanted to talk to you about." You're kidding, right? So much for avoiding the planned conversation. "I… remembered something very… interesting. And it sort of involved you…"

"Me?" I retorted but with little tone in my voice, "What was it?"

"I think it might have been a dream… or a feeling based off a distant memory…" I was suddenly shoved against the wall, my arms pinned on either side of my head. "Can I try something?"

"You may as well since you probably have me where you want me," I hissed. He leaned forward, his gentle breath warming my face. I felt a blush come on but I let my eyes screw shut; I wanted to sink into the wall and disappear forever.

The kiss was small, more like a peck on the lips, but he closed his mouth on mine a second time. It was passionate, and my lips fell open to allow his tongue entry. He explored my cavern for a moment as his grip fell away and pressed more into the wall. My arms snaked around his neck and I moaned into the kiss as my own tongue began to crush against his.

Suddenly he broke away and I let my arms fall away from his being. "That…" He gasped for air before continuing, "Was strange. It didn't feel right but…"

I ducked under his arm and started down the hall, "That's why we don't have hearts, idiot."

Saix was abandoned in utter silence.

From nearby, a familiar presence was watching the scene around the corner. Fury, most likely from jealousy, flared through his being and his once gentle expression twisted up. With his fists balled, he stormed towards his room.

How stupid to think she could ever have been his.

-END OF CH 7-

Guess who the spy was?
Yeah, Chapter 7 might be a little while because it's going to cover A LOT so yeah... I'll try to get it up ASAP! BUT HERE'S A PREVEIW! [Warning: Marluxia's brief cursing]

~Its two lower limbs held Larxene down by her arms, and it sneered over at Marluxia.

His jaw dropped, "That did nothing?" He was out of options. "Hey! Keep away from her! Don't you dare hurt her!"

Tryklaw's grin barred its jagged fangs, and with one free arm it began to unzip the gasping Larxene's cloak.

"NO! Don't touch her! You f-cking Shadow come kill me! Leave her alone!"

His cries were rendered useless when it touched its claws against the Nobody's chest—and raked its way down her exposed flesh. Blood ruptured and spilled from her mouth. She was screaming now, and so was he. "LARXENE! NO!"

The Tryklaw lifted its claws away from her body and moved away from her, chuckling with a demonic laughter. It was going for him now. He suddenly felt the scythe starting to come free. Limit Break, limit break, please! BREAK!~