Finally, I've finished Chapter 8! Sorry it took so long, guys. I hope everyone had a good New Years, Xmas, Hanukah, Winter Break, and everything that the month of December entails! I also hope everyone enjoys the chapter, and the next will be coming in a few days! I've already started working on it. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Kingdom Hearts related; I just own Rianxan.


The Spirted Reverie

By

LadyDarkDreamer


Chapter 8:

Rianxan stood there, staring at Zexion for several minutes. She had no idea what to say to him.

"Are you okay?" he asked simply.

She let out the breath she had been holding in silent thanks.

"I'm fine," she replied, and frowned. "Where…why did you take me away from the fight?"

Zexion had half-turned away from her, but he quickly faced her and gave her a look. "Axel could have hurt you, Rianxan," he stated, "He could have killed you."

Ria was a bit taken aback by this; Zexion's bluntness and the way he looked at her had caught her off guard. This was different side to the quiet man she had met this morning. "What…what are you talking about? Xemnas said no one was supposed to kill me."

He shook his head. "You're new, Ria," he continued, "New to being a Nobody, to your powers, your abilities, and the way things work around here. Axel is Axel, and he's been around here a great deal longer than you have. He's stronger and more dangerous to your well-being. He's pissed right now, and he won't think twice about picking a fight with anyone."

This Ria did not take very well. "So what you're saying is I can't defend myself?" she demanded, growing angry now.

"That is not what I said," Zexion protested.

"Yes, it is," she retaliated, "I'm not strong enough to protect myself, so you rescue me before I can get hurt."

She could see him growing frustrated by her words, and she held up a hand as he opened his mouth to speak.

"No, I don't want to hear it. I barely even know you, Zexion, and I certainly don't need to be saved," she spat angrily, and brushed past him in a determined walk.

She heard what she guessed was a sound of irritation, and then the echo of pacing steps.

"Where are you going?"

Ria shook her head, and make a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Leaving."

After a few minutes of wandering around, though, she sighed heavily. Sitting cross-legged on the dark ground, she let her head fall into her hands.

She'd forgotten she couldn't even conjure a dark portal. She was stuck here until Zexion decided to open a portal of his own.

Ria let out another sigh.

"Something wrong, Number XVI?"

She flinched at the clipped tone of his voice. Immediately, she felt sorry for what she had said to him. Ria cursed inwardly at herself for being selfish, and treating Zexion like he was no better than a hated stranger. She turned her head in his direction, staring at her shoulder as she bit her lip in hesitation. Finally, she stood slowly and turned to face him.

She found him pacing back a forth a short distance. But at seeing her stand, he stopped, his hands held behind his back.

"I asked you, Number XVI, if something was wrong."

She flinched again, feeling guiltier. "Zexion…"

"I am of higher rank than you; you will address me as such."

Okay, she thought, I definitely deserved that. She paused, taking a deep breath before walked towards him.

"Zexion, I'm sorry," she said, ignoring the order he'd given her. "You're right; I…I am new, and weaker than everyone else in the Castle. I shouldn't have picked a fight with Axel, and…I should thank you for saving me." She stopped a moment, coming to stand in front of Zexion. He just watched her, and she took that moment to admire his unique eyes. Ria then laid a hand on his shoulder and said, "Thank you." He watched her curiously, but she ignored the look as she continued, "Again, I'm sorry for saying those things, Zexion. You've been friendlier to me to anyone else, and—"

She stopped as Zexion put a hand on his shoulder, over hers.

"It's okay," he replied. "I shouldn't have been so…harsh. I couldn't let Axel hurt you, so—"

Ria smiled a bit; it was her turn to stop him. She raised her hand slowly and took her hand from his shoulder.

"It's alright Zexion, we're even," she said, "And harsh is kind of a…harsh word."

She got the briefest of smiles at this, but it was a smile nonetheless.

"So..."

"You asked what was wrong before?" Ria asked quickly.

"Yes, I did."

"Well…" she began, hesitating, "You see…I have no idea how to open a dark portal."

"You don't?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

She shook her head, feeling slightly embarrassed at admitting the fact.

"Superior didn't teach you?" he asked.

"No, at least not yet," she admitted.

Zexion seemed surprised by this. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Well, then let's start with the first lesson."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Demyx groaned, and began to lean his sitar against the wall of the training room—the still dirty wall.

Then he thought twice about it, and simply vanished the instrument.

He'd gotten rid of all the water in the Castle, but that had been the easy task. The last three hours he'd spent here, trying desperately to get the stains off the wall. It wasn't working.

First, Demyx had tired calling his water-clones. He had directed them to slam against the walls, in the hopes of washing the stains away. That had failed, as had every other trick he'd tried with his element.

Sighing, Demyx made his way over to the door. As must as he hated to admit it, perhaps a sponge and soap were the best way to go.

It was going to be a very long night.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"So," Zexion said, "We travel through corridors of darkness, pathways that both Nobodies and Heartless utilize. To get to the corridors, we open a portal to darkness by focusing our power. This can be done with a gesture, or even a thought. Since you're newer, it's best to stick with a gesture for now."

Ria nodded. Zexion had told her they weren't leaving until she learned how to open a portal; she would be the one to bring them back to the Castle.

"This is a corridor of darkness we're in now, right?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Okay, I'll show you how to open a portal now, but then I'm going to close it."

He turned a bit to stand beside Ria more, and raised his arm. His hand was closed in a fist, and as he lifted his arm, he opened his hand with a graceful flick of his wrist. Immediately, a dark portal opened, and pulsated as energy hovered around it.

Then, just as quickly, he closed his fist and the portal disappeared.

Ria quietly admired the move, and jumped a little when Zexion touched her elbow.

"Your turn."

Taking a breath, Ria shifted a bit. She glanced over at Zexion quickly, and took another breath. Slowly, she focused on her power as best she could, and willed it to open a portal inside the Castle That Never Was. She sent her power along her arm as she raised it, mimicking Zexion's gesture. Then she waited.

And nothing happened.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and lowered her arm to her side.

"It's alright," Zexion said, "Just try again."


Reviews would be awesome, guys. :) I've got ideas for the next couple chapters, so they should be coming quick.