Chapter 7: Plans to Unfold

The group managed to catch up with Gutts easily, he was only a few stairs ahead of them. They reached him in a silence that remained until they reached one of the midlevel floors and left the stairs. Gutts led in silence to a large room that had obviously been ignored and devoid of use until recently. In the far corner was a bed, and scattered around the room were several cots.

"Pick a cot boys, the girl gets the bed," Gutts said walking to a far corner.

"And you? That only makes eight," Ed said looking at the cots.

"The bed was placed for me, but I never used it, so I'm giving it the her," Gutts gestured Kairi, "I sleep better on the floor," he said taking his sword from his back and sitting in the far corner, leaning against the wall in a somewhat fetal position with his sword across his body from shoulder to feet.

"Thanks, mister Gutts," Kairi said a little frightened.

"Don't be scared, I'm on your side, and I'm not one to betray my allies," Gutts said looking at Kairi, but his stern, emotionless face didn't comfort her, little did she know, any emoting on that face would unnerve her worse than now.

"Lets get some sleep, we'll need it," Aarkan said taking his armor off.

"Yeah, no doubt," Ed said lying down, and with that the nine warrior were off to sleep.

---X---

The morning was soon to come, as was the sun. The door burst open and a blinding light shone though waking all he warriors and knocking Naruto and Sora off their cots.

"This sun is soon here, Maleficent will be here any moment, you are to be ready to go when she arrives," came Yen Sid's voice through the light before it vanished and no one was there.

"Never gets old," Gutts said standing up and putting his sword on his back, "I'll see you all downstairs," he said leaving the room.

A few minutes later most of the others where there as well, and after a few more Aarkan, the last of the group, appeared in his full armor, helm in his hands, "She here yet?" he asked as he approached the rest of the group.

"No," Sora said looking back at him.

"Yes," Yen Sid said a moment later, and a moment before Maleficent appeared in a bubble of darkness that soon vanished.

"Ah, I knew the keyblade master couldn't be contained," Maleficent said with a grin as she saw Sora, "is this all you gathered Yen Sid? You do know they have the Omegas to fight," Maleficent said turning her gaze towards the sorcerer.

"I have no doubts. Now, the sooner they get there, the sooner the castle can be yours," Yen Sid said, he was holding back some anger.

"True, so very true," Maleficent said as she opened a portal of darkness, "I can only get you to the city, but I'm sure you remember how to cast the bridge," Maleficent said looking at Sora who nodded, "Good. From what I could see, the heartless and nobodies of the city have been terminated, though that will only last so long in such a place," Maleficent said.

"They will be expecting you, from the moment you enter that portal until you have taken out the last of them you are not safe, remember that," Yen Sid said and the warriors nodded, "And Gutts, keep in mind what I told you, it will save your life," he added.

Gutts nodded and was first through the portal, Sora and the others were right behind him, Aarkan putting his helm on before he went though. The portal closed behind them leaving Maleficent and Yen Sid alone outside his tower.

"You have much faith in them, if you thing they can fall the Omegas," Maleficent said.

"I do not believe they will be fighting the Omegas. Either they will take this chance to expose their separate plan, or our dear friend, the other Sage, will step in and stop everything," Yen Sid said.

"Ah, relying on him so you don't need to act. I hope it works, for your sake," Maleficent said with a grin.

"Hope it for all our sakes," Yen Sid said turning towards the tower, "I fear the repercussions of my actions," he said as he walked through the doors, as they closed behind him, Maleficent vanished in a portal of darkness.

---X---

The group found themselves in the midst of the city of darkness. They were looking around for the right direction to get to the castle, the heartless were nowhere to be found.

"Anyone know which way?" Kairi asked looking around.

Sora was the only one not moving, he had Fenrir in his right hand, his eyes shut and his left hand over his heart. Everyone else was looking around for the right way, until Gutts noticed Sora and just stood, watching, after a while, all the others were doing the same.

"Um… Sora what're you doing?" Krillin finally asked.

Almost instantly Sora spun around pointing his keyblade directly behind where he was previously face, which happened to be pointing it at Krillin, "It's that way," he said before resting Fenrir on his shoulder and running off in that direction, forcing the others to run to follow.

"Can we trust that?" Ed asked.

"I think so, I've never been in this kind of situation with him before," Kairi said as she ran beside him.

"We have no choice," Gutts said.

"If he was doing what I think, then he'll be right," Vash said.

"What do you think he was doing?" Ed asked.

"Finding Riku's heart. They're best friends after all," Vash sad with a grin.

The trip through the city was eventless, not a single heartless or nobody appeared, until they reached the tower that marked the edge of the city, the tower that the castle was behind. Waiting there for the group was none other than Xeut.

"The Organization!" Sora yelled as he charged Xeut.

"Sora wait, he's on our side!" Naruto yelled stopping Sora in his tracks.

"What do you mean?" Sora asked looking back at Naruto.

"I'm the one that helped them on their last trip here. The army is ready to be released because of me, and I told them where to find you," Xeut said.

"Why then?" Sora asked.

"I do not want Xemnas back. Nor do I want this army of nobodies. All I want is a heart, or to be whole again, as the original Organization did," Xeut said.

"So you want kingdom hearts? That still makes you an enemy," Sora shouted.

"I care not for that kingdom. I want my own heart, and the only one to help me is Nax, but he's busy elsewhere, so I'll let you go," Xeut said.

"Let us go?" Kairi asked.

"Sure, I'm on guard, and if you wipe them all out, they won't know," Xeut said waving his arm at the path around the building.

"Apparently they made a bad choice selecting you," Aarkan said.

"That Nirxa did, I shall fix it for you," a voice called from atop the building.

"Ah, Xaal, that's where you were hiding. We were curious as to where you had vanished off to," Xeut said.

"Like hell, Nax may say you're good, but if you just let them go in, I'll kill you and stop them," Xaal said.

Xeut turned to look up the building, "I'll give you one free shot," he said slightly grinning.

"You forget who I am, one is all I need," Xaal called back.

Before another thing was said or done a large fireball shot down from the top of the building and hit Xeut dead on. As the smoke began to clear Xaal jumped down from her perch, now prepared to face off against the nine.

"There, now you have only nine of us to take care of, I've evened the playing field, you should thank me," Xaal said as she landed and walked towards the group.

"Blue cloak, you're an Omega," Krillin said.

"So the heroes can think. Name's Xaal, just incase Xeut's yelling didn't reach through your thick, bald skull," Xaal said as she stopped with the thinning smoke behind her.

"The, uh, scales aren't quite even yet," a voice said behind Xaal.

Xaal's eye twitched as a ball of thunder appeared in her left hand. She spun around and threw it into the smoke, casting it away in an instant. When the smoke was gone they caught a quick glimpse of Xeut standing there before he was hit in the chest by the electric ball. This explosion didn't give off any smoke and Xeut didn't even take a step back from impact.

"I even gave you two free hits, and you waste them both, it seems you've forgotten what they call me," Xeut said calmly.

Xaal was about to respond when she was split in two by the swing of Gutts' giant sword. The two halves instantly dissolved in a swirl of darkness.

"They don't usually die like that," Sora said confused.

"I know," Gutts said.

"Maybe it's cause she was an Omega," Krillin said hopefully.

"Or maybe she saw it coming, and let me do it," Gutts said looking around.

"Bravo, got it in one," said a large man who appeared behind Xeut. The man had green eyes and short blond hair, and was in a blue organization cloak.

"Who the hell are you?" Ed asked.

"Xaal you idiot. That body was killed, now I got this one," the man said.

"But Xaal's a girl!" Naruto yelled.

"I'm neither gender, and I'm both genders. God I hate explaining this, I'll just kill you then," Xaal said before charging the group, but Xeut grabbed her around the waist and threw her back as she past him.

"She must be the Doom's Wars Omega, shifting between all the soldiers," Aarkan said.

"Fun," Gutts said with a grin on his face.

"XEUT!" came a voice that echoed throughout the city as Xaal bust out of the hole Xeut had thrown her in.

"Hey, nobody," Gutts yelled and Xeut looked at him, "take the others through the castle, I'll take her out," he said with a grin.

"Gutts, are you sure you can? I mean, she survived the last one," Naruto said.

"Yeah, maybe we should just leave the Omegas alone," Krillin said.

"This fight is you're then," Xeut said backing out of the way.

"Oh no, you're dead now," Xaal said charging Xeut.

Gutts stopped her by cleaving her in two again at the waist, the halves vanished in the same way as the last and soon a tall lanky man with the same green eyes and short blond hair in the blue cloak appeared in front of the building.

"You get going, this one's mine," Gutts said.

Xaal charged him and everyone ran past him towards the castle as Gutts blocked Xaal's attack with his sword, she holding duel sais.

---X---

The nine ran around the building and stopped at the edge of the crater, the bridge was gone.

"Recast it keybearer," Xeut said looking back at Sora.

Sora nodded and pointed Fenrir at the castle as he did what felt like ages ago, and again the beam of light shot from the tip of the blade to the castle, forming a bridge for the group to cross.

"We have to run, if they find it we're caught, I'll dispel it when we get there," Xeut said as he started to run up the bridge, the others right behind him. As soon as they reached the top Xeut waved his hand and the bridge was gone.

"Hey, what about Gutts?" Naruto asked once the bridge was gone.

"He's fighting an Omega, he'll be lucky to hold her off long enough for the rest of you to finish what you're here to do," Xeut said.

"What do you get out of all this?" Aarkan asked.

"A heart, my heart. It's all I want. And this is the only way I see to get it. I'll leave you now, you know what you must do and where to go," Xeut said before vanishing.

"Are we getting Riku first?" Kairi asked.

"Can we guard him as he wakes up?" Krillin asked.

"We'll have to, if we really have to take out the Omegas we'll need him," Sora said.

"He'll probably be in the top tower, it's this way," Vash said as he started down a hallway.

"That he is, and look, my old enemy has returned," a voice called from another hall, the group stopped and looked to see Kuxog approaching them, "ah, but his aura is gone now, so pitiful," he said.

"Damn it, you guys go, I'll take him, and I'll win this time," Naruto said.

"You won't be alone this time," Krillin said stepping up next to Naruto.

"You pair off against your opponents and you'll run short," Kuxog said with a grin.

"We'll leave him to you guys," Sora said before Vash led the way off to Riku.

"How close are you to him?" Naruto asked.

"Best friend," Krillin said.

"I meant power," Naruto said.

"Oh, half, if I'm lucky. But if he goes super I'm nothing," Krillin said.

"Then lets kill him before he can change," Naruto said taking a fighting stance, Krillin follows suit.

"Ooh, a plan between the two, I wonder what the whispers could mean," Kuxog said with a grin as fell into a fighting stance.

---X---

Vash lead the way through the castle, he and Chad were the only two who knew how to get to the tower from here, and Chad hadn't made any sign like he remember the way as well. They exited the basements and got to the main floor of the castle, into the main hall where a figure stood in the white cloak of the Beta Organization, his hood up. The group stopped when they saw him.

"Intruders, in the castle. Xaal and Xeut must have failed. And Kuxog as well, for you to get this far," the figure said in a males voice.

"Who are you?" Sora demanded.

"Pardon my manners, my name is Xigochi," the figure said lowering his hood revealing his short spiky orange hair and brown eyes.

"Ichigo…" Chad said with wide eyes.

"Sounds right," Xigochi said with a grin, "and I won't fail like the others, you won't get one step closer to whatever it is you want," he said as a great sword appeared in his hand, two long cloth tails flowing off the handle.

"I'll stay back for this one, you might know his weakness better, but you might not be able to do what you must," Aarkan said looking at Chad.

"We can all fight him, we could've all fought Kuxog, why do we need to separate?" Kairi asked.

"Because that's how wars are," Aarkan said drawing a large sword and walking towards Xigochi, "Vash, take them out the first chance you get," he added over his shoulder.

"Ah, a volunteer to die first. I hope the others don't try to run once we start," Xigochi said.

"They wouldn't dare," Aarkan said before he shot forward insanely fast in a blaze of fire and knocked Xigochi back and down.

As soon as Xigochi was hit the group bolted through a side passage to continue on their way. Xigochi got up slowly, "You said they wouldn't run."

"I said they wouldn't dare once we start, because they won't dare wait for us to start," Aarkan said as he dropped into a fighting stance.

"Then let's start," Xigochi said with a grin.

---X---

"No, this way Vash, that's back down," Chad said as Vash turned left at a fork in the hall, his statement stopped the whole group.

"How do you know that? We didn't come this way," Vash said.

"No, but if we go this way and keep straight we'll hit the stairs to the second floor we used last time," Chad said pointing down the right path.

"How do you know that?" Sora asked.

"I'm left in even more wonder because he's right," a voice called from behind Vash, they spun to see a man with yellow eyes and black unkempt hair.

"Damnit! Did you plan all this out?" Ed demanded.

"Yes, we did actually. Placing ourselves at strategic locations each with the intention of completely stopping you at our station, except me that is," the man said.

"Who are you?" Vash asked.

"Ruxn. And I only intend to do what would inevitably happen, I'll fight one and the rest can go on ahead, let the others worry about stopping the whole group," Ruxn said with a grin.

"Then I'll fight you," Vash said.

"No, you got to pick up 'til now, now I get to, and I choose the guy with excellent geographical skills," Ruxn said pointing at Chad.

"Hell no, you don't get to pick, you're the bad guy," Ed yelled.

"No, I'll fight him, Vash knows the rest of the way anyway," Chad said.

"Until we get sidetracked again," Vash said.

"You shouldn't, as long as to take the right paths, and no one diverts from the plan," Ruxn said.

"Come on then, Chad, you can handle him right?" Sora asked.

"Yes, I know I can," Chad said.

Sora nodded and started down the hall past him, the others were forced to follow.

"Such a noble act. By the way, I saw your fight with Xeros, and I know how you fight," Ruxn said, Chad's eyes widened, but he soon regained control.

"Knowing what my weapon is different that knowing how I use it," Chad said as his right arm took on it's true, shield-like form.

---X---

The group made it back on track following Chad's direction, then Vash could take over again knowing the way. They made it up several levels and through several wide open rooms that Kairi remembered, but they never stayed on the paths she knew. It was a while since they had any problems, or said anything at all, the silence was deafening.

"Halt, this is where I must stop you," a figure said as it appeared before the group, it was in the white organization cloak.

The group stopped once the figure appeared, as with all the once before it, Sora called out Fenrir and got ready to fight, "Who're you?" he demanded.

"Lax," the figure said lowering its hood revealing brown eyes and short blond hair.

"No, no… it's impossible… Al, it's not possible…" Ed said with wide eyes and taking small steps towards Lax.

"Hello Edward. I have the faint memories of your brother, but I hold no compassion for you. It seems compassion is of the heart," Lax said.

"Brother? He's your brother?" Sora asked looking back at Ed.

"I… we were working on a way to get his body back… he lost it in an accident, but he has it now…" Ed said still wide eyed.

"Then I'll fight him, I don't want to put you though that," Vash said stepping forward.

"No, it has to be me," Ed said regaining himself, "Kairi and Sora, you need to get Riku, and Vash is the only one who knows the way, I have to be the one who fights," Ed said.

"Are you sure? Do you really want to fight him?" Kairi asked.

"No, but he's not my brother, he just looks like it. I think I can manage," Ed said walking towards Lax.

"You others may leave, the Omegas are waiting, they can handle three lost dogs," Lax said.

No one moved for a moment before Vash finally took off past Lax, Kairi and Sora behind him. Once they were gone Lax grinned, "Finally, a kill of my own," he said.

"No, no one dies here to day, because you're not real to begin with," Ed said as he took off his coat revealing that his black shirt was sleeveless, and that his right arm was mechanical.

"I suppose there is some truth to that, I do not exist, but you shall still die. Tell me, what would the cause of death be if you died be the hands of something that didn't exist? Certainly not suicide, nor accident, but it also could not be murder," Lax said with a grin.

"You'll never know, you'll never get that far," Ed said.

---X---

Vash Kairi and Sora were running through the castle as fast as they could, they had finally gotten to where Sora knew where he was, the upper levels near the towers, and he knew how to get where they were going now.

"Ah, so some did make it this far," a voice called behind the group, causing them to stop.

The three spun around and Sora instantly recognized who it was, "You! You're the one who showed up on Destiny Islands, and who the others said took Riku," Sora said pointing Fenrir at the red cloaked man who had spoken and stopped them.

"Yes, the name is Vaxer. Unfortunately, I will have to let you go, keybearer, another has claimed victory over you. The others however…" Vaxer said somewhat lazily.

"Damn, what do we do…? I'd take him alone but…" Vash said quietly.

"Can you?" Sora asked.

"Can I what?" Vash asked looking at Sora.

"Can you take him out alone?" Sora asked.

"Yeah, but then you'd be lost," Vash said.

"I've been here before, I know the way from this place," Sora said.

Vash was silent a moment, "Then go," he said before walking towards Vaxer, "I'll take you on alone, you already said Sora was out, and what aid could a little girl really add?" Vash asked as he walked towards Vaxer.

"I don't know, but she calm for a reason, I can only wonder as to what it would be… but yes, they can go," Vaxer said waiving his hand towards the door out.

Sora grabbed Kairi's hand and ran form the room leaving Vash and Vaxer alone. Once they were alone Vash drew his weapon, "You're an Omega right? Which one?" he asked.

"The planet one. If that mean's anything to you," Vaxer said with a straight face.

"Yeah, it does. Before we start, I got one last question, are you like the other nobodies, do you really exist, or are you just another shadow of shadows?" Vash asked.

"I am more of a shadow than the other nobodies. All the Omegas are," Vaxer said and Vash nodded, taking aim.

---X---

Sora had let go of Kairi's hand, but he hadn't slowed down, 'everyone else stayed back, just so we could get Riku and finish all of this… they may say it's because we need to take them all out, but I know… they already consider him, and each other, friends,' Sora thought at he ran. The two got to the tower and started up in silence, when they reached the top of the steps they saw a woman with silver hair and yellow eyes wearing a white organization cloak standing there waiting for them.

"My name is Nirxa, I'm the head of the Beta Organization and you two, with all your little friends, have done quite the job of messing things up," the woman said.

"You're Nirxa, the one who betrayed Yen Sid?" Sora asked.

"Yes, and I'll finish off his precious keybearer so that the founders won't have to worry about you, and you'll be one less obstacle in my armies way," Nirxa said with a grin.

"You'll have to get through me first," Kairi said stepping in front of Sora, her keyblade in her hand.

"Kairi? What are you doing?" Sora asked.

"Fighting, it's what I came here for," Kairi said looking back at Sora, then turned to face Nirxa again, "you Riku and the others fought so much, I can't come and not help. So this one is my fight, you go on ahead, I'll be fine."

"No… but Kairi…" Sora said, completely taken by surprise.

"If you stay back I won't know the rest of the way, it has to be you," Kairi said looking back at him again.

"Ah, young love. Fine, I'll kill you first, I'll even let him run along ahead, you won't reach the doors before I catch up with you after killing her," Nirxa said with a wide grin.

"NO! Kairi'll beat you to nothing, I know it!" Sora shouted.

"Thanks Sora, now go," Kairi said turning back to face Nirxa, tears on the verge of falling from her eyes.

"Kairi… I can't…" Sora said slowly.

"But you just said I can do it, so if you say I can, and think I can, let me prove you right," Kairi said with a small grin looking at the floor.

Sora didn't move for a moment before nodding, "I believe in you, you believed in me," he said before leaving the two and turning down the next hall.

"You're all dead, you know that right, you divided to get through this faster and signed over your own deaths," Nirxa said with a grin.

"If I die… as long as I take you with me… as long as you can't hurt my friends anymore, I'll give my life," Kairi said looking up at Nirxa, the tears gone.

"Silly girl, you're already dead, and I already won," Nirxa said as a giant maul appeared in her hand.

---X---

Sora was alone now, running through the last of the halls, there were no more stairs, no more rooms where fights could happen, just the wide halls. Sora turned the last corner, at the other end of the hall was the doors, the doors that held the thirteen chambers, one holding Riku. But standing in front of the doors was a large man in green organization robes, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Sora, the fifty seventh keyblade master, it's been fun watching you," the man said.

"Who're you, I know you're an Omega, but which one," Sora asked as he got into his fighting stance.

"I'm Bruxeus. And I'm the one with a claim over you," the man said.

"The keyblade nobody," Sora said and Bruxeus nodded.

"I intend to take what is mine here and now, to have the youngest one to become the master… I'd love to take you later, for you will no doubt become the strongest of them all, having so much life left in you to further master the blade. But then you might be too strong to take, so I'll do it now, hopefully the potential will transfer," Bruxeus said letting his arms drop to his sides.

"I'm too strong for you now," Sora said with a grin.

"Prove it, if you can, and I might leave you be, until other means gives me your power," Bruxeus said with a grin.

---X---

"Careful now, you don't want to bring attention to us do you?" Xeut asked.

"Watch your mouth, you don't know all that's going on, the keybearer just appeared on the other side of the door," Nax said walking towards the thirteen chambers.

"Everything's ready in the lower levels, you'll get me my heart when this is all done, right?" Xeut asked.

"Yes, if everything works and your body hasn't been destroyed," Nax said.

Xeut nodded, "What are you doing?" he demanded.

Nax ignored him and continued to the first chamber, "things have fallen where that shall, you've slept long enough, everyone's waiting for you, they're all here," Nax said placing a hand on each side of the door of the first chamber.

Xeut's eyes widened when he saw the scope of everything, the other twelve chambers weren't empty, or housing heartless, each one had a man, the twelfth had a woman, and each was in a black organization cloak, "Nax, what the hell?" Xeut asked worry shaking his voice.

"The pieces are set Xeut, and I'm eager for a good game, I just hope the pawns don't fall to fast, it's no fun to win without any pawns left," Nax said before his fingers dug into the metal of the chamber door, and in one swift motion, tore it off the rest of the chamber and threw it across the room, he reached in and pulled out the silver haired man inside, also in a black organization cloak, "White moves first," Nax said ripping the man from the chamber.

---X---

AN: here's who you've learned of, name- real name- title- number- where from

Xaal- Unknown- Deadly Shifter- Omega XVI- Original

Xigochi- Ichigo- Spirited Warrior- XXIV- Bleach

Lax- Al- Determined Alchemic- XXVI- Full Metal Alchemist

Vaxer- Unknown- Vanishing Edge- Omega XVII- Original

Bruxeus- Unknown- Earth Shaker- Omega XIV- Original

As for the Xeut, Nirxa, and Ruxn, I'll tell at the next chapter, just so there's a little enticement.