Chapter 6: Kaycex's Anger at Being Had!

And a New Darkness

Kaycex went with Zexion to the dining hall and ate a little bit of fruit, and then they headed to his room and laid down to rest. She woke up earlier than expected, Zexion was awake, of course, and was also reading. She yawned and arose. She checked the clock and realized it would be eight hours before she was to meet Xarsha in the arena later on that day. She felt herself flutter at the thought of being able to talk to her again, she desperately missed the one person she knew she could trust.

"Morning..." She stated, still sitting on the bed and had another yawn while she ruffled her wild hair.

"Evening." He corrected, as well as greeted, looking up from his book. "You should go back to sleep, there's no need for you to be up so early." He noted.

"Well, I am awake, so get over it." She barked, instinctively. She was not a morning person as her other, so she definitely was not a morning nobody. He frowned, though that didn't seem to change anything within his face anyways.

"Quite the attitude in the morning, hmm?" He mused.

She sighed. "Sorry, I just hate getting up, every time I do I feel like I am either dying or that I woke up from the grave and my body is some rotten corpse. C'est Horrible." She stated, and then caught herself, she just spoke French. "Er, I mean it's horrible."

He looked up at her and stifled a laugh. "That was quite the accent." He commented.

She felt a blush touch her cheek. "Thanks, but I have no idea where that came from."

"Hm? You never knew any different languages from your Other life?" He asked.

"I thought I only knew English and Japanese, but never French." She stated, speculating. He shrugged, not knowing what to tell her as he looked back down at his book. She got up slowly and turned to him.

"May I excuse myself out of this room?" She asked inquisitively. His eyes shifted upward.

"I would rather keep you here unless there was an emergency." He said, remembering how long she took when she left him yesterday and she came back, using a portal no less.

"Well, I would rather not be kept in the confines like some animal. I am not a toddler, I can make my way around on my own, unless you are willing to get up and follow me?" She asked.

"I would rather not just leave you alone. I'll follow if I must." He said, closing the book and standing.

"Aw, you left your book for me! I am flattered." She stated happily. He frowned a bit, shaking his head gently.

"You act so strange sometimes." He noticed.

"Strange? I'm not the one who willingly made himself into a nobody for the sake of research. Mr. Ienzo." She stated, reciting her research into the organization.

He sighed. "And you also felt sorry for me for dying once before." He recalled.

She nodded. "So don't dub me strange when we are one in the same, though on differing sides of the spectrum." She stated. He shrugged, definitely now believing her on the 'I am not a morning waking up person's excuse.

"So where did you want to go?"

"Anywhere, doesn't matter to me. I do need to take a shower soon though, I need to wake up." She mentioned to him.

He nodded, noticing she did look a bit exhausted.

"Perhaps you'd like a tour and then you can shower." He suggested.

She shrugged. "Just give me a tour to the shower and wait outside, if you don't trust me. If you do I will take my shower and then just teleport to the library." She told him. He sighed and nodded, summoning a portal with the small flick of his arm. He then stepped in and she followed, then they came to a door which looked like the door to any other member's rooms.

"Here you go." He said.

"Thanks Zexy." She stated, giving him a warm smile, a little embarrassed for her rash morning behavior. He frowned, wishing she would stop calling him that, but he decided to let it slide as he waved his hand goodbye and turned away to go to the library.

"Sorry about this morning by the way." She added at the end.

He looked to her and shook his head, forgiving her with silence. "I will meet you at the library." He reminded her.

She just watched him go, for some reason thinking he would disappear, and actually showing concern for him. She went into the shower room and turned on the water to warm. She undressed herself and got into the water, enjoying her shower as the water cascaded on her skin, sending s tingling sensation through her body. She felt herself breath in pure air as the water mixed with the oxygen and mist flowed through the large room full of separate showers. Eventually she finished and walked out, feeling refreshed and clean. She went to the mirror of the bathroom and let out her hair, wishing she could make it dry quicker. To no avail she couldn't do it, so she just put back on her black pants, socks, boots, tank, and then her cloak, becoming annoyed at how her hair wouldn't dry.

Off in the corner of the showering area, Axel came out, black towel wrapped snug around his waist. His hair wasn't its usual spiky-ness as usual; it was flat and clung to his back. He saw Kaycex near the line of sinks, seeing her mess with her hair. He didn't see Zexion around; maybe he was having another stroke of luck as last night.

"Well, hello. Long time no see." He called, walking up to her.

She turned to him and blushed, she couldn't help but notice his abs glistening with drops of water in the light, and how his green eyes sparkled at her and she couldn't help but be mesmerized.

"H-hello." She stated meekly.

He gave her a small smirk. "Having a bad hair day?" He asked.

She sighed and looked in the mirror. "It isn't necessarily that, it is just it won't dry no matter what I do...I get so tired of it being wild and curly sometimes.." She stated solemnly.

He shrugged. "I'm no stylist, but I could probably help." He offered, running his fingers through his own hair, the strands sticking out and down like they were before he had washed with the power of his fire.

"Sure, go for it." She stated, turning her back to him and taking her hair from the cloak. Axel smiled gently, rubbing his hands together a few times, and then he gently ran them through her hair, the curls shining delicately and her bangs curving to the outline of her face down to her jaw line. He smiled when he was done.

"There, how does that look?" He asked.

She turned to the mirror. "I-it's dry...wow, how'd…well your element is fire.." She stated, and then she remembered he was an assassin and her smile drooped to a frown, and her face went white.

"Hmm? Is something wrong?" He asked, seeing her face change drastically.

"Er." And she shuddered as his hand had a strand of her hair in his hand. "It's just...you're..."

"That I'm...?" He repeated, giving the strand a small sniff and he released it.

"The organization XIII's assassin." She stated in a rush of words, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

He froze for a minute and sighed, leaning against the counter next to her.

"So you read those files? You have to understand that it was all so long ago. I've changed." He claimed.

She sneered at him, confused. "How do I know? You betrayed so many people for your own selfish motives, you say your different from the rest but you aren't! You killed Zexion, maybe not by your own hand, but by your manipulation! And you also slaughtered Vexen!" She stated to him, almost unafraid, but the chills at arguing with him still went down her back. He moved so he could look her in the eye.

"Kaycex, I only did those things because they had betrayed this organization. What would you have done if you were in my position?" He asked, lying about the betrayal part, stepping closer to her.

"Not killed them for one. You betrayed the organization. It would be like the time you had to kill Roxas but you let him go, what about the rest you didn't let go? What if you were to kill me?" She asked, not falling for his wishy washy words. He leaned down close to her face.

"Why would I kill someone who's completely innocent?" He asked, his warm breath brushing her cheek and neck. "Unless you've killed someone like the Superior, I have no reason to hurt you in any way."

"If I came in your way you would kill me. And you know my differing theories; it could be considered a threat. For all I know you are dangerous, and it scares me." She explained, shakily. He then wrapped one of his arms around her, letting his palm rest on her lower back.

"I promised not to harm you or Zexion, remember?" He recalled, pulling her in closely.

She remembered this and blushed brightly, and then she chuckled. He was making her like a giggling girl! Hell no! "Listen, hot head! You better get the fire out of your *bleep* or stop with these tricks or you will have to face me. Got it memorized?" She asked.

"Oh, and now my little firecracker pops! And stealing my motto too, how rude." He sighed, brushing one of her bangs away from her face. "You should really learn to cool your flame." He said; his lips just inches from touching with hers.

"Your firecracker?! Since when in hell was I yours!? Never, so keep dreaming." She growled back.

"If I can't convince you with words, I'll make you understand with actions." He said, leaning her up against the walls.

She was pushed up against the wall and pinned there and she glared at him and pushed him off, forcing all her strength, but barely phasing.

"Stop!" She shouted.

He moved her hands and held her wrists firmly, but not to the point of pain when he finally made lip contact, pressing lightly at first. Eventually he became more firm as he pressed his lips harder against her, his body heat radiating against her. Kaycex pushed him with all her might, her eyes wide in anger as she growled in his mouth and made muffled screams. She beat her hands on his shoulders, angry that he had to take her first kiss like that! He didn't flinch, running a warm hand across her cheek as he tried to force in his tongue, but she wouldn't even falter, herself.

She opened slightly and then bit his tongue immediately, causing him to move back. "HA! Don't even try me!" She stated, arms crossed in anger at him. He frowned at her, his tongue throbbing a bit in pain. He sighed and grabbed his clothing, opening a portal to go through.

"I'll be seeing you later, firecracker. Don't get too comfortable with the illusions." He said, going through the portal.

"Hey! You come back here!" She shouted, ramming into him, making him drop his clothes in the bathroom and ruining his balance, causing them to fall into the darkness; although protected by her cloak, they were now not in control of where they would be going. "You jerk!" She shouted, her voice echoing in the nothingness as she hit him again and again. Not conscious of the fact he was clinging onto her to avoid being consumed by the darkness.

"You know, you really need to work on your physical abilities. If it weren't that fact that I was holding onto you for dear life, I'd imagine you weren't even here." He sighed as they went through another portal. She glared at him.

"You are the most ignorant, mean, selfish, annoying, pain in my ASS!" She shouted at him, angry. "If it weren't for you being... I actually don't know why I don't just drop you into the darkness!" She shouted, angry, very.

"I could say the same thing to you, firecracker, but don't forget I'm also holding onto you." He said as they fell through even more portals. "I thought you had trust in me, I only tried to be friendly to you." He claimed honestly.

"Yeah but how do I know you're not using me?" She asked, feeling awkward at being close to his chest as she were, and then she felt something poking her knee and her eyes went wide. "What the hell is that?" She asked, confused and scared. He blushed and adjusted his hips.

"What are you talking about, stop overreacting." He said. "And I would never use you. You're too good for that."

She frowned. "How do you know this? You're just a nobody like the rest of them. You don't even have emotion, you just want a heart, and would kill even Roxas for one, I'm sure." She stated. "But I don't know if you could live without your boyfriend." She growled.

"Then let me ask you the same, since you're a nobody as well. Would you kill Xarsha to regain your heart?" He snapped back.

"I'm not a nobody! I don't want to be!" She said back, feeling herself so sad, being reminded, and realized it must have done the same to him.

"That doesn't answer my question!" He growled.

She looked away. "Honestly? I don't know. I don't know if there is a way that this emotionless hole could take me over." She stated, her hands holding his shoulders gently, as if in need for security. He glared.

"Ha. And you say you're not a nobody. Admit it. That empty feeling eats at you and eventually, it will turn you into nothing but a shell. I could never kill Roxas. He's the closest thing I've ever had to filling that hole in any way since I first became a nobody."

She frowned and winced her eyes, feeling hurt. Eventually she felt the sun hitting on her back and got up from him. They were in a forest somewhere, she didn't know where they landed, but she immediately got off of him. "So, you are just as much of a shell as I am." She replied. He sighed, getting up and brushing the debris from his hair and back.

"At least I have something to prove I'm more than that." He claimed, looking around at the large canopy above them.

"I do too! I am angry as hell because you are one heck of a... Porcupine head!" She shouted angrily.

He tried to stifle his laugh, but couldn't hold it in and he was raged with a few giggles. "P-p-porcupine head?" He guffawed.

"Yes! You are so rude and arrogant and just plain mean!" She commented, dusting her outfit off and going to stand beside a tree to find a way out of the forest. He sighed and got up to follow her, his towel almost slipping off his waist.

"Kaycex, wait!" He called after her, holding the towel to his body with one hand, reaching out for her with the other. She didn't move from where she was, but not because he told her not to, but because in front of her was a huge field of shiny green grass, the blades shimmering in the sunlight. At the end of the meadow was a frog statue, cresting the tip end of stone steps, and around them were several buildings with red wooden frames, and smoke flew from the out of them. Her hand rested on the bark as she stared, her mouth wide, at the area, almost sadly, but then again, she had no feeling left.

He caught up with her and then looked to the scenery for a moment.

Looking back down at her, he asked; "What? It's just some meadow with buildings and stuff, what's with the gaping and astonished look?" She sighed, and then had to wait a few seconds before responding.

"This is my home, or it was." She told him, still staring at everything.

"Hmm? Oh, this is the world you're from. Hm. Quiet. Anyways, we should go." He sighed.

She felt his hand come to grab her shoulder and start to pull her away from the spot she was in and when she was one foot away she awoke from her daze and shouted what seemed a "no" as she struggled and felt something in her chest ache, but then it went away and she came back to her senses. She was now on the ground, and her hand was to her chest, she looked up at Axel who raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes actually reflected worry in them.

"S-sorry." She stated, a bit shocked by herself.

"What happened? Maybe we really should go back now?" He suggested. She saw the look on his face and then she sighed, not knowing what happened herself.

"It's just, I never got to say goodbye to them...and then not only that but I just don't want to go back." She explained, biting her lower lip, not understanding why she said all she did. He sighed, looking over to the meadow then down at her, a little sad.

"We will have to go back. I can't stay in this miserable towel forever. And besides...I know you want to go back, but...Kaycex, you are different now. Too different. It's almost...impossible to continue the life you did before as you are now. I hate to say it, but..." He sighed, shaking his head.

"I have no feeling, I'm very aware of that." She stated, her voice wanting to choke.

"Well, that too, yes, but...We should just go." He said, holding out his hand.

"I'm sorry...I know this seems silly, being a nobody, but while I am here may I at least have one last visit granted upon me?" She asked, and then continued, a solemn smile on her face. "Not that I would need your permission, I would go with or without you."

He sighed. "Well, I'd need to go with you, anyways. If anything happened, you probably wouldn't know what to do." He smirked.

"So is that a yes?" She asked.

"Why not?"

Her mouth widened into a huge ecstatic smile as she grabbed his hand to levy her up, she then pulled harder on his hand, causing them to hug as she stated thank you. Her excitement radiated as she held his hand and led him out into the field, coming up to the statue. She then stopped behind it and crouched down, Axel giving her a strange look.

"What? I don't want people to find me, this coat is intimidating, and if people know me they will likely want to kill a nobody." She stated, presumably.

He sighed and looked around for anything, any people, inhabitants. "Well, it's pretty empty here. We won't get caught. Besides, how would they know what a nobody is?" He asked rhetorically.

"I don't know..." She stated. "I'm just glad I didn't come out all freaky like the heartless, this way I can feel something besides all wiggly and... less evil than they are." She added, her excitement boosting her energy.

"Those with strong hearts are able to keep the shells that are their bodies when their heart flees." He recited, almost poetically. "Anyways, don't just sit there like this frog; let's go see where you used to live."

"I know, I know, Zexion gave me the rundown and so did the library." She mentioned and then crawled out, walking hastily through the streets and eventually she stopped at a tree with a huge sign on it, it sat a block or two before the bridge and then she pointed at the huge bathhouse. "There it is."

"Hm. Nice..." He commented, shrugging. "Looks sort of run down, though." He noticed.

She glared and then pointed out the trees and the gold painting on its frame and the red. "Wait until you get inside, it is quite magnificent."

He nodded and leaned his head towards the building. "After you. Though be on guard, there might be a few heartless still wandering around."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him up to the door, opening it casually. It seemed so quiet outside, but when the door opened sound exploded. Guests sauntered around and when Kaycex and Axel walked up the frog faced front desk clerk had an expression of shock and awe at them.

"W-welcome! You must be a fire spirit!" He stated, staring at Axel and then he looked toward Kaycex and scratched his head. "You look a lot like one of our old maids, sad she was killed by a heartless, along with her good friend too." He stated solemnly but then shook his head and smiled big. "But welcome, welcome! This is Yubaba's bathhouse, resort for spirits and gods alike!" He stated, motioning at the bottom floor, beckoning them to look over the balcony at the many baths and the many guests and the extraordinary design on the walls. When the toad stopped talking enough for Axel to speak with Kaycex, he whispered.

"Well, what do you know; they say I'm a fire spirit. And you were a maid? Did everyone have to be this nice to guests?" He wondered.

She nodded. The toad looked at them and noticed the "fire spirit" whispering to the girl in the kimono's ear and he blushed and pointed to tubs in the corner.

"We also have tubs for couples and newlyweds!"

The both of them became a bit shocked at the words, but Axel laughed it off.

"Eh, no, no. We're not married, we're...um, Very good friends." He explained. Kaycex blushed brightly, her voice caught on end and she waved it off with a laugh, her hand still waving up and down.

"Yes, just friends. That would never happen." She stated nervously, over exaggerating the 'never'.

"Never." He repeated after her.

She nodded again, making sure the clerk got the message, and he had the first time, already walking to his desk with his pen in hand and looking at them. "Well, we have different deals you can make and different suites you may stay in, you can save one or you can wander around and take a look at all we offer." He explained, holding up a pamphlet of deals.

Axel blinked as the pamphlets were handed to him and he eventually came back to reality. "Uh, I think we'll look around." He said, taking Kaycex's hand and leading her off into a balcony. She followed him as he explored and she stifled a giggle.

"I thought I was the one lea-" She started, but then she looked over the edge and saw a maid that she and Sarah, now Xarsha, were good friends with. She pointed at her and waved her finger as she was pulled by Axel's strength. "Hey! Hold up, I know that girl!" She stated.

He stopped and she slipped through his fingers as she walked away. He followed behind her, but gave her space as she walked up to the maid who looked quite...homely. The girl stopped working and almost dropped her bucket of water.

"K-kacey?" She asked, running up and almost slipping, the others still diligently working, not noticing. "Eh kinda." Kaycex stated. "Let's go outside and talk if you'd like!" The girl mentioned, grabbing Kaycex's hand, Axel tailing them. They soon came out of a sliding door and to a garden with a cherry tree. The girl held both of Kaycex's hands in wonder.

"So it happened..." She mentioned, catching Axel's attention. Axel raised an eyebrow, wondering how Kaycex managed to befriend someone so...strange. But he said nothing as they conversed.

"What happened?" Kaycex asked, confused.

"Well, you became a nobody! This is amazing!" She stated, circling Kaycex, and then she stared Axel up and down. "And it came with benefits!" She mentioned.

He looked to her, then Kaycex, feeling somewhat out of place. "Benefits?"

Kaycex shrugged. "Chelsi, how do you know?" She asked,

"Well, Yubaba taught me some things and I was her apprentice, but I had to keep quiet about it, but now I would like to try this thing you guys do." She mentioned.

"Thing?" Kaycex asked, raising an eyebrow.

Chelsi smirked. "You know, becoming a nobody." She explained.

"Someone who's willing to become a nobody? Wait, how do you even know about us?" Axel interrogated.

Chelsi stared at him. "Because Yubaba taught me, remember?" She stated, reciting herself. "But it fascinates me, and I would like to help everyone have a heart who doesn't." She mentioned, sounding altruistic.

"Hm." He lightly responded, looking her over, then back to Kaycex, unsure of what to do. Kaycex sighed, wanting to warn her.

"You do know the consequences, right?" She asked her, her brow furrowed.

Chelsi nodded. "Of course, but if one heart is sacrificed to save more I will do it."

Kaycex turned to Axel and raised an eyebrow, he was more experienced and involved, so she would let him decide.

He shrugged. "Alright, as long as you know what you want." He said, a shadow appearing in front of him, its eyes bright and body twitching in excitement.

Kaycex stepped to the side and watched what happened, it was then that another body formed beside the dead one, and then Axel lifted her and Kaycex opened a portal and they walked through and back into the shower room. Axel sighed.

"I'm going to need to take another shower. I'll go dump her with Vexen first, though. Don't you need to go see Zexion for something?" He asked.

She took one last look at Axel and nodded, running out of the bathroom, blushing as she remembered what had happened there.

"I'll see you later." She stated, walking out and then back to Zexion's room, forgetting where she was supposed to meet him. He was there, and reading, but when she appeared he glared at her, sniffing her scent. Zexion looked up, finally see his subordinate. He took a quick inhale and suppressed a cough. Rather than state the obvious, he sighed.

"It takes three hours for you to get clean?"

She could tell he knew she had ventured around. "Er...sorry." She mentioned, her head hung.

He sighed. "Please don't let anything like that happen again. We should hurry, I'm sure Roxas and Xarsha have waited long enough." He said, standing and taking her hand.

She blushed and then an alarm sounded, and she looked up and around. "What does that mean?"

"Hmm? Seems we have another member. We'll train you later, let's go." He said, opening a portal and landing in the meeting hall. She stumbled out of the hole and landed on his back, blushing as she gets up. He sighed, hiding his own blush and the two of them quickly took their seats as the others slowly flooded into the room. She sat at the end, and she was facing Zexion, who was staring at her, but then seemed to shake from thought and moved his gaze. It was then Chelsi walked in with Axel, Vexen was in his chair. The girl with long black straight hair presented herself and Xemnas boomed.

"This is our new member, number XVII, Xehclis!" He stated.

Xehclis bowed and then looked to Axel and Xemnas continued. "Axel, she is under your care." He mentioned.

Axel sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Understood." He said, unenthusiastically.

Xehclis turned to him and he summoned his assassin heartless. He sent them forward and she sliced through them, using extended claws and then she was done, actually getting a look of surprise and awe from Axel.

"Hm, not bad." He commented, a bit surprised at her strength. He noticed the others were also a bit amazed at their new subordinate's abilities.

Xemnas clapped. "Welcome to the organization Xehclis!" He stated. Kaycex stared, feeling almost jealousy overtake her as she stared at the two. But then she looked across the room and saw Zexion, her first friend here.

The members walked out, and so did Xehclis and Axel and then Kaycex found Zexion to cling to. She whispered in his ear. "Are we still fighting today? Or is Xehclis joining and we have to wait until tomorrow?" She asked him.

"Roxas hasn't told me any different, I guess our plans are still in place." He responded, patting her shoulder.

She nodded and then sighed. "We have about an hour, should we go there and I may practice with you?" She asked.

"If you would like. Don't over-do it, though." He said, taking a turn in the many halls that led to the arena. She followed him like a baby duck, still bothered by the fact they turned Chelsi so swiftly like that, she felt bad, and hurt almost. They finally entered a large corridor that led to a simple rectangular room. There was absolutely nothing within, just the droning patterns of white and black.

"Here we are." He turned to her to see her face in a frown. "What is it?"

She shook out of her stupor. "Nothing." She immediately replied.

He nodded his head over to the other side of the room. "Stand over there, we'll start with merely attacking, then move to dodging and blocking."

She moved over to the other end and waited for him. He stood opposite of her and summoned his lexicon. She then thought for a moment and tried to summon the scythe she had before, but it wouldn't come. She then thought of something else she could do, but before she could she was attacked by him and had to move, her jacket getting sliced. She sighed and then tried again, but only dark fog appeared around her hand. He waited for her, raising an eyebrow. She then shouted, aggravated, "It won't come!"

"Focus!" He replied. "You are in control of the darkness, don't let it control you!" He encouraged, starting to charge toward her again. She stared at him in horror and then suddenly a red line appeared in front of him and he stopped in his place, millions of red lines appeared around her, and in her hand was a red ribbon. "What? My weapon changed!?" She exclaimed, confused. He looked surprised as well, but quickly shook off the feeling, charging through.

"Don't let your guard down!" He warned, passing her.

It was then he was caught in her ribbon as she pulled her hand back, and it wrapped around him, trapping him. She felt a sensation come over her and he tried to figure out how to escape and she ran toward him, planning to hit him with the sharpened end of her ribbon. He tried to move back and dodge, but the ribbon held him tight and in place. This was definitely a force to be reckoned with, he thought to himself. She eventually came to him and the point was to his neck but then her eyes focused on its target and everything disappeared, her landing on him. He blinked, the shock of everything passing through him.

"Well..." He breathed. "That was...very good."

She nodded, breathing a little hard as she was laying on him. "Th-thanks." He helped her sit up, supporting himself as well.

"Want to rest now? Or should we move on to the next lesson?"

She laughed. "Lesson? In what? It looked like I beat the teacher the first round."

He rolled his eyes. "I also said something about dodging, right? And we'll work on honing your skills, not just your strength."

She hit him slightly in the shoulder. "Your being mean. Stop rolling your eyes."

He patted her shoulder again. "So want to go on to something new or rest for a while?"

"We can continue." She stated, rising up.

He nodded and stood up after her. He moved back a few paces, summoned his book, and opening it. He then conjured a few illusion shadow heartless that jerked around and sunk to the floor.

"Dodge them as they come. Don't let them touch you. Of course, they won't hurt you." He reminded her. "Stay on your toes." He added.

The shadows then slowly crept on the floor, mimicking the texture and form of the floor.

She did as told and dodged as much as she could, even teleporting in a flurry of movements, and then sometimes used that red piece of ribbon to help facilitate her speed. He smiled at her progress, then turned it up a notch when he created a few more than normal and sent them to her.

"Now try without using the portals." He challenged.

She nodded and tried to run but they were circling her in an ocean of their bodies and then she jumped up and landed on their heads, jumping from one head to the other like stepping stones, but then she wobbled and fell in the midst of them, screaming like a scared girl. He snapped his fingers and all the shadows disappeared into smoke. He walked up to her.

"Are you alright. You did well, Kaycex, quite well for your first try." He noted.

She was clutching herself in fear. "Th-those things were horrid!" She exclaimed.

He knelt down next to her and sat her up. "It's alright. They weren't real heartless, they were just illusions." He reminded her. "They couldn't have hurt you."

She smiled at him. "Master of Illusion." She stated, remembering her research. "The Cloaked Schemer." He nodded to her.

"Yes, see? Nothing to worry about."

She thought for a moment. "Unless you are an illusion yourself." She mentioned.

He put down his book and placed both hands on her shoulders, pressing down lightly.

"No, not at all."

She smiled faintly and then looked to the side. "Thanks, this organization is just hard to adjust to; I know I will need to do missions soon as well." She stated unhappily.

"At first, you'll be paired with me, but as time goes on, yes, you'll be on missions alone."

She frowned. "That wouldn't be good, knowing me I might run off." She explained, just stating the truth.

He stared at her, a bit of darkness in his eyes.

"I don't think you'd do that unless you had a death wish."

Her head tucked in recoil and her eyes looked from under the hood of her brow, her head hung low. "Sorry...It's just how I am, I would get interested in something and wander off."

He became slightly normal again and patted her shoulder yet again.

"Then maybe we should work on your focus." He joked.

She raised an eyebrow at him, still feeling a little fear from that darkness which he showed, but then her focus was disintegrated when in walked Xarsha....