Chapter 7: Lies, Deceptions, and Apologies
Xion walked into the Round Room and stared up at the top throne, at the Superior, who had one leg crossed over the other, one hand on the arm of his throne to prop his head up, an almost bored look on his face. His hood was down, revealing his aged bald head, and pointy ears. The room was otherwise empty, all the other members off doing a mission or goofing off in the lounge, to her knowledge. Her stomach rolled slightly, when her eyes connected with the Superiors. He had done nothing to show ill will to her, but... she still felt unsettled by him now, with nothing but the words of her friend and the Voice as a reason why.
"Number Thirteen, what brings you to me today?" inquired the Superior, "Do you not have missions you could be doing?"
"Xaldin took the last one last I checked," said Xion evenly.
The Superior waved a hand. "Then you could be off training, or studying. If all else fails, I am aware that your colleagues are apt to waste time in the Gray Area, you could join them."
"I have a question for you, sir," said Xion.
The Superior raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Who is Kairi?" she asked, "Why do people say I look like her?"
Slowly, the Superior shifted his position to sit upright, staring down at her silently.
She summoned her Keyblade and looked at it. "Why do I have the Keyblade?"
There was a hint of a frown on the Superior's face as he studied her. "Pointed questions, to be sure young Xion. Yet, these are matters you should not trouble yourself with. The answers will come in time."
Xion frowned at him. "Superior... that's not good enough, I need to know now!"
The Superior frowned at her. "And why is that young Xion? Is something the matter?"
"I...," she began, hesitating, "I'm have these... visions, memories."
A slow, cruel smile crept across his face. "Is that so?"
"Yes... and... they hurt," she said, clutching a hand to her chest, "Every time they happen, it's a spike of pain right through me, and... they're so confusing."
The Superior blinked a few times before his smile slowly left his face. "I see."
He cleared his throat. "The pain will pass in time Xion as you begin to claim your purpose, and become who you were meant to be."
Xion stared at him, confused. "I don't understand..."
"You don't need to, now go," ordered the Superior, pointing towards the exit.
Xion narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. "Superior."
"I will not say it again number thirteen," said the Superior, his own eyes narrowing in turn.
Xion ground her teeth, made an abrupt turn, banished her keyblade, and left...
The Superior watched his puppet go before scowling, focusing his energy and snapping his fingers.
WARP
Vexen appeared on his throne, a bit disgruntled. "You called for me, Superior?"
"How long is the consumption process supposed to take?" demanded the Superior.
Vexen blinked a few times. "Well, it began the moment Kairi's heart was placed within the puppet. We should start seeing results sometime soon."
"Define results," said the Superior.
Vexen hesitated. "Well... she should already be seeing some of Kairi's memories, gaining some of her power, and start physically changing to match the princess."
The first two were happening. "And if she hasn't started to change yet?"
Vexen frowned. "Perhaps the Princess is resisting the process more than I anticipated. To be honest, something like this hasn't exactly been done before to my knowledge."
The Superior tapped his fingers on the throne. "Should the process be harmful?"
Vexen tilted his head, seeming confused. "For Kairi? Yes. The process should exhaust her heart, put her to sleep, and extract every scrap of who she is. I imagine the final stages will be quite painful for her as she is torn apart."
"And for my puppet?" he inquired, not showing a care for the Princess.
Vexen looked baffled. "The puppet? No. The process shouldn't hurt her at all, to be frank, it should be euphoric, as she gains more power, memories, and abilities."
"Then the Princess is interfering more in the process than we thought possible," murmured the Superior.
"Perhaps," said Vexen.
The Superior massaged his forehead. "Kairi, your not going to make this easy for my puppet, are you? You'll fight her for every scrap of memory and power you have."
"To drive my puppet to question me...," he murmured, "To stare at me so defiantly...
He shook his head. "You defeated Aqua's Heartless, you fulfilled your purpose, Princess..."
He grew cruel. "Now be consumed, give your power and purpose to my puppet, die, and fade away."
Xion stormed down the hall, furious. "That damn man. As far as I'm concerned, both of them are right! He's a..."
"A liar and a manipulative bastard?" inquired a voice.
Xion froze and turned her head, sighting Marluxia leaning against the wall down a hall to her right, she scowled at him. "What do you want?"
"Temper temper Xion," said Marluxia, wagging a finger, "Did I not say I could offer you truth?"
Xion went silent.
Marluxia grinned. "Tell me, how did your meeting with the Superior go?"
She glared at him. "I'm tired of being lied to, of people hiding things from me."
Marluxia chuckled. "I see."
He turned. "I think it's time to bring you in on a little secret, come."
Xion frowned and did not move.
"Did you not want the truth?" inquired Marluxia, "I can give it to you."
"You... you'll tell me who Kairi is?" she asked.
"I will tell you some of what I know," said Marluxia.
Xion fell in behind him, following him back to his room. She was surprised to find someone else also there, Larxene.
The woman stared at her for a moment before scowling at Marluxia. "You're serious? Bringing this dope of a kid into it?"
"There is more to Number Thirteen than you realize Larxene," he answered.
He turned to Xion. "Tell me Xion, do you like the way things are run around here? How the Superior mismanages the Organization? How he focuses so foolishly on the matters of the heart and..."
"I don't know or care about that," said Xion, "I just... want to know who Kairi is."
Marluxia frowned for a moment before he shrugged. "I see. I will make you an offer Xion. Larxene and I believe that Xehanort will lead the Organization to ruin. We wish to... remove him from power. Agree to help us do so, and I will tell you a bit about Kairi. Fulfill my desire and actually help us overthrow him, and I will tell you everything you wish to know."
"What would it mean to... 'overthrow' him?" she asked.
"Kill him, duh," said Larxene, "God your dumb."
Xion frowned at her, but didn't reply, thinking over Marluxia's offer. She... didn't like the thought of helping to murder someone...
Xehanort and Marluxia are both awful people... but... Marluxia is probably the much lesser evil.
"Oh, you're awake again. Feeling any better?" asked Xion.
No.
"Oh... sorry," said Xion.
Hmph.
"So... you think I should help Marluxia?" asked Xion.
I think anything that results in Xehanort being dead is the right thing to do.
Xion hesitated. "Hmm."
"Your aid would make this go much smoother," said Marluxia, "I'm not blind to how one of the lower branches are inclined towards you. If it came down to it, I believe they would step in to aid us on your behalf and..."
"No!" said Xion abruptly, "If I help, I don't want them involved! I don't want them to be hurt!"
You... don't?
"Why would I want them hurt?" Xion asked the voice, baffled.
...
Marluxia cleared his throat. "That would make things more difficult Xion."
"I don't care," said Xion, "I don't want them, or Axel, hurt."
Marluxia looked rather vexed. "Xion, the other branch is one thing, Axel is another..."
"And if you don't agree, I won't help," she butted in, "Deal with it."
Marluxia narrowed his eyes at her. "..."
Larxene suddenly laughed. "Some spice to this one, I like it. Just go with it, we ain't getting any younger and your little rebellion idea hasn't gone anywhere yet."
"We don't age," said Marxluxia dryly.
Xion blinked. "We don't?"
"Those without hears remain as they are," was all he said in response.
Marluxia studied Xion for a few moments before nodding. "Very well, we will not draw in the lesser branch, and will not attempt to harm Axel. However, if he gets in our way, if you wish him to survive, you had best have a way to... deal with him."
"I'll figure something out, now, who is Kairi?" she demanded.
Marluxia smiled a cruel smile. "Kairi is a young, redheaded blue-eyed girl, roughly fourteen or fifteen years old. Like you, she is a Keybearer, someone chosen to wield the Keyblade."
Her eyes widened. "We're both Keybearers?"
"You are," confirmed Marluxia.
"What else?" she asked eagerly.
Marluxia tilted his head back in thought. "She was 'intimately' involved with the end of the Heartless Apocalypse. If what the Superior said is to be believed, she might be directly responsible for it's finish. Afterwords though, she simply disappeared without a trace."
Xion frowned at that. Something about that stirred a memory, not one of the flashes, but her own...
Wait, Snow White...
"I had heard on recon from one of the people I was observing, that Kairi had been taken by people with black coats like our own," said Xion.
Marluxia went perfectly still for a moment, almost tense, before he a devious smirk played across his face, "Perhaps the Superior took her captive and has her held somewhere then?"
Clever cheeky bastard...
Xion's eyes went wide. "If that's true, we have to find and help her!"
Why... do you say things like that? It doesn't make sense...
Xion's eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong with wanting to help someone?"
N-nothing, but you... I...
"That may prove difficult to do until the Superior is removed from power," said Marluxia smoothly.
"Pff, who cares about some kid?" said Larxene, "Let her rot."
Grrr...
"Oh? I thought you'd be 'grateful' to Kairi," said Marluxia in an almost mocking tone, "She did kill your somebodie's murderer after all."
"You need a heart to be grateful," said Larxene dryly before sounding almost bitter, "Besides, I doubt that brat did in that blue haired heartless pycho for any of us, we're Nobodies, no one gives a damn about any of us."
That's... not true... Olette cares about Aqua's Nobody...
"True enough," said Marluxia.
"That's not true," said Xion, agreeing with the voice, "I'd care."
Larxene's eyebrows furrowed. "You don't even know me."
"So? You don't need to know someone to care if they die," said Xion quietly.
I... don't understand you...
Xion ignored the Voice and simply held Larxene's gaze, a soft smile on her face as she did.
Larxene stared at Xion with baffled look before she crossed her arms. "Hmph, stupid kid."
Grouchy bitch...
"You're one to talk," said Xion.
Hey! I have every right to be!
Xion thought for a moment before she slightly grinned. "So you admit it then?"
I hate you...
Xion took the words in stride, resisting the urge to giggle over her tiny victory.
"I still dunno about this," said Larxene, her eyes roaming Xion critically.
"If you are in doubt, then perhaps I could arrange with Saix for you and Xion to go on a mission together tomorrow, that way you could see for yourself," offered Marluxia.
"Pff, whatever," said Larxene, appearing indifference.
Xion smiled, eager to go on a mission with a comrade she didn't know to well. "Okay!"
Maybe if she could figure out why Larxene seemed grumpy and fix that, she could use it to try to make the Voice happier too.
There's only two things that could make me happy, maybe three.
"What's that?" asked Xion.
Xehanort dead, Master Aqua and my family and friends being whole, and me being back where I belong.
Xion blinked a few times. "You really don't like the Superior, do you?"
None of this would have happened if not for him
"You said you weren't where you belong, so where are...," began Xion.
"Yo, stop daydreaming kid!" said Larxene.
Xion jumped a little. "Huh? What?"
Larxene made a shooing motion. "Were done here, get lost."
"Why would I want to get lost?" Xion asked, confused.
"She means leave the room," said Marluxia dryly.
"Oh, it's one of those phrase things, okay!" said Xion cheerfully, turning and exiting the room.
"That kid is a serious dope," she heard Larxene mutter.
I kind of agree.
"Oh you," said Xion, shaking her head.
Xion walked down the hall and towards the Gray Area before a voice stopped her. "Fancy meeting you here Xion."
She turned her head to see Axel leaning on the inside of an open door. "Oh, hi Axel, what's... up?"
She frowned, noting how critically he was eyeing her.
"Hear or see anything interesting in Marluxia's room?" questioned Axel, giving her a very pointed look.
"Umm... no?" she said hesitatingly.
"That so?" he said before slowly shaking his head, "Xion, let me give you a piece of advice. Keeping your head down is the best way for a newbie to survive in this day and age. Causing trouble never ends well."
He knows...
Xion didn't answer.
Axel sighed. "Forget it, lets just go and get some ice cream."
Xion brightened. "Okay!"
Ten minutes later, the two of them were sitting on the clock tower in Twilight Town eating Sea Salt Ice cream.
"Hey Axel," she said.
"Yeah?" he answered.
"You hear anything about Kairi yet?" she asked.
Axel rolled his eyes. "Someones eager. It's been like a few hours since I said I'd look into it, give me time."
He gave her a sly look. "Unless you want me to drop ice cream time."
Xion gave him a horrified look. "No way!"
Axel laughed, and Xion joined in with a bit of giggling.
Axel finished off his ice cream. "You're lucky I spoil you, two ice cream visits in one day."
Xion playfully stuck her tongue out at him.
Axel returned the favor, but made a curious sound with his tongue.
Xion blinked a few times. "What was that?"
"Blowing a raspberry, got it memorized?" said Axel.
"A raspberry huh?" said Xion before an almost devious grin crossed her face, "Yeah, I think I got it memorized."
Xion took a deep breath...
"Uh Xion, wait a sec," began Axel.
BLAAAAAAAH
Axel raised a hand defensively as Xion tried blowing a raspberry. "Hey! Don't spray it!"
Xion couldn't help but start giggling uncontrollably. "That's fun!"
"You really are a kid, ya know?" said Axel before chuckling.
"Say Axel," she began, "Umm..."
Her face turned a little red. "Thanks again for taking me out for ice cream."
He waved a hand. "Eh, don't mention it. It's a great way to relax, have a good time, make someone feel better, or heck, even offer an apology."
Xion absorbed his advice, mulling it over as she finished her ice cream before focusing on that last part. "An apology?"
Axel nodded. "Yep, first time I really pissed Isa off, I got him an ice cream and he forgave me."
He tilted his head. "Though, we were much younger than we are now."
"Isa?" she asked.
Axel briefly frowned. "Saix's somebody, his and my somebody were good friends."
"Oh, should we get Saix to come up here?" she asked.
"Not unless you want him to ban us from having ice cream again," he answered.
Xion winced at that. "Uh... never mind on that then."
She mulled over a thought. "How much does ice cream cost?"
"Eh, not much, one bar is like fifty munny," he answered.
"How do I get money?" she asked, "I... have someone I think I want to apologize to."
Axel gave her a curious look. "Well, your first paycheck wont be for another week at least."
"We get paid?" she asked.
He nodded. "Based off mission successes and the number of them you take."
"Or ya know, you can just beat a bunch of heartless and collect some pocket change, dunno why the things carry munny but they do," he said.
"What does munny look like?" she asked.
Axel fished out a diamond like orb that was yellow on the top and blue on the bottom from his pocket. "Like this."
"Awww, that's money? I missed a bunch on that Heartless clearing mission with Marluxia!" whined Xion.
Axel grinned at her, tossed it to her, and then pulled out a few more. "Here, one-hundred munny, enough to buy yourself and one person some ice cream."
She beamed at him. "Thanks Axel!"
"No problem," he answered, "So, who do you want to apologize too? Can't think of anyone you pissed off."
Xion rose to her feet and made a Dark Corridor. "Well, I didn't like spying on her, felt kind of bad for it, so I wanna go apologize to miss Aqua. See ya later Axel!"
Axel coughed. "W-what?! Wait a sec!"
Xion was already through the Dark Corridor, coming out at the Twilight Town Mansion's gate. She hesitated a little, feeling the woman's strong presence in the mansion. She slowly opened the gate and walked up to the door. She licked her lips, a little nervous, before she raised her hand and knocked. She waited a minutes, before the pattering of feet was heard.
The door opened, and Aqua glanced out at her. "You again."
"Umm... hi," said Xion, fidgeting a bit.
"What do you want?" asked Aqua.
"Umm... I... wanted to apologize," Xion answered, "You know, for spying on you."
Aqua stared at her, impassively. "Is that it?"
"I mean, can I... um... take you out for ice cream as an apology?" Xion asked, a bit timidly.
Aqua blinked a few times, appearing to mull over her offer, before she stepped out and closed the door. "As you wish. Be warned, if this is some kind of ruse, it won't end well."
Xion felt... hurt... that she thought this was some kind of trap. "It's not a ruse... I just want to apologize."
"Then lead on," Aqua answered.
Xion walked away from the mansion and through the woods, her nervousness and apprehension growing. She felt the older Nobody's eyes on her back, watching and waiting. Xion walked up to the hole in the wall, and stepped through, Aqua coming out behind her. Xion took immediate notice, of how the inhabitants of Twilight Town took one look at Aqua and gave her a very wide berth, seeming a little scared of her. Xion frowned at that, and did her best to banish her own nervousness, not wanting to make Aqua feel bad.
She can't feel you dope.
"Maybe not, but Nobodies can remember what it's like to feel, right? She probably understands what she's supposed to feel by seeing those people treat her like that," Xion answered the Voice.
I doubt she cares. She's just an empty shell.
Xion felt her face heat up a bit and grew defensive for the woman. "Don't you call her that!"
Why do you care? She's not the real Aqua.
"She seems real enough to me," retorted Xion angrily.
Hmph.
Xion ignored the Voice, feeling peeved with her, and walked to the ice cream shop, stepping up to the counter. "Umm, two Sea Salt Ice Cream bars please!"
The cashier took a look at Aqua behind Xion and quickly grabbed the bars. "S-sure, that'll be one-hundred munny."
Xion fished the munny out of her pocket and handed it over. "Here."
She took the bars from him and left the shop.
"You have the ice cream to give, are we not done with this?" asked Aqua.
"Nope!" said Xion cheerfully, "Gotta have the view too."
"The view?" questioned Aqua.
"You'll see," said Xion.
Xion led her to the train station and up onto the clock tower. She was a bit disappointed to see Axel had left. Xion moved to her usual spot and sat down, glancing over at Aqua as she slowly stepped out onto the ledge. The woman stared at her for a moment before moving to sit down a bit to her left.
Xion offered her the wrapped bar. "Here."
Aqua took it, opened it, and stared at the bar. "Hmm."
"Ever had ice cream before?" Xion asked.
"Olette has brought me a few flavors before, some time ago," said Aqua, "She stopped in favor of tea."
"Why tea?" asked Xion.
"I can faintly recall that I drank tea in... a castle of sorts... in my previous life," said Aqua, appearing to ponder her answer, "I cannot say the same for ice cream."
She stared at the bar. "I cannot recall if I ever tried this flavor before."
The woman brought it up and took a bit. "Salty, and sweet, accurate to the name."
"Do you like it?" asked Xion hopefully.
"A Nobody cannot like," said Aqua.
Xion pouted a little at that.
"But, if I had a heart, I believe it would at least be... acceptable," said Aqua, taking another bite.
Xion smiled at that and opened her own bar. "I love these things. They're so good."
Aqua gave a none-committal hum, but didn't respond otherwise.
For a reason Xion couldn't figure out, being together with this woman eating ice cream made her feel all tingly inside, a happy smile on her face. It was as if there wasn't a single care in the world to be had.
It's not... she's not the real thing... it's not the same as what it would be... what I... wanted...
Xion paused and tilted her head, registering the raw bitterness and longing in the Voice's tone. "Do you want to come and join us?"
...
Xion frowned at the silence, wishing the Voice would take her up on the offer. She could just make a corridor to wherever the Voice was and take her to here. Though... she didn't exactly have any money to buy the Voice some ice cream. Maybe next time then.
I... I'm not falling for whatever sick game your playing! Acting all nice like this, you, your just a parasite!
Xion, for once, ignored the parasite jab, focusing on how scared the Voice sounded. "What's wrong?"
Just... shut up... and leave me alone...
Xion sighed quietly, wishing the Voice would let her help her for once.
"Something the matter?" inquired Aqua.
Xion shook her head. "No, just friend trouble I guess."
We're not friends!
"If you let me take you out for ice cream we could be," retorted Xion.
You think sharing ice cream with someone automatically makes you their friend?! Especially after what you've done? You stupid naive little... your just... just... a...
Xion felt her chest constrict and relax. There went the Voice, stressing herself and passing out again. She really needed to relax...
"Hmm," said Aqua, leaning back and staring out at the sunset, "Something about this... is familiar to me."
Xion turned her head. "It is?"
Aqua seemed to think on it for a minute. "I... can faintly recall sitting on the edge of a mountain, with two boys... or well, a young man and a boy. We stared off into the distance, just like this. I think we had done that several times, but something about this specific memory is... special to me."
Xion was a bit surprised when a faint hint of a smile appeared on Aqua's face. The woman reached into her pocket, as if to grab something, before coming up empty. Her smile faded, and she frowned intently, a baffled look on her face.
"There was something I had wanted to give to them," Aqua murmured, "I think I did, but I can't remember what it was."
"Do you know who the boy and the man are?" Xion asked.
Aqua nodded.
"Why not go ask them?" Xion asked.
Aqua slowly shook her head. "I have considered going to see them, and Olette has insisted on it. However, I do not believe it would be a wise decision."
"Why not?" asked Xion.
"Because of my Heartless," answered Aqua, "And because I am not the Aqua they knew. I know what the two young keybearers told me, however, knowing and remembering on my own are two separate things. I... could not be who they would want me to be."
"I would not hurt them like that," she whispered, her voice sounding oddly emotional unlike how she had been up to this point.
The woman abruptly shook her head and stood up. "I thank you for the ice cream I suppose."
"Your welcome," said Xion, beaming a bit.
"So... apology accepted?" asked Xion when the woman started to walk away.
Aqua paused briefly. "I suppose."
Xion smiled at that and watched the woman leave.
Xion scooted off the edge towards the clock tower itself and leaned against the wall, staring out, a soft smile on her face. "I love it like this. I hope I can keep coming up for ice cream every day until I get my heart and memories back, and maybe, even after..."
She stayed there, for a time, until she decided it was time to go back and go to sleep...
Author's Notes:
Bit of an 'everything happens' kind of chapter, lotta different stuff.
Next time, Xion gets to go on a mission with Larxene, wonder how that will go...
:tease:
