Well I am tired and my head hurts so this chapter may have some mistakes. But that's OK because this is mostly just a filler. I was trying to connect the characters more so that's what it's for. It does get back into the Kingdom Hearts plot, though.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Hope you like it.
Chapter Nine: Gone?
After the whole body switching ordeal, I stayed as far away from Vexen and his "lab" as possible. Axel wasn't around as often either so I just assumed he was doing the same thing I was and doing errands for Xemnas. It was alright with me but I did kind of miss the pyro.
I hung around Demyx a lot and Roxas, too, but he seemed a little more preoccupied to me. He didn't ignore me; if I asked him to hang out with me, he would and we'd have a good time but then he'd go back to thinking.
So it was only natural that I cuddled up to Demyx. I played more with his sitar and even though I couldn't play very much, Dems and I would resurrect oldies like 'Old Time Rock 'N' Roll' for the whole castle to hear. Neither of us were stupid, mind you, we did it when Saïx and Xemnas were gone. The rest of the inhabitants just ignored us and went about their usual business.
When Demyx was away, usually on scrounging duty (1), I hung out with our second in command: good ol' Bullseye. He didn't mind my company as far as I could tell. My atom board amused him and I wasn't offended if he used me as target practice because now I could escape.
If Xigbar and Bubbles were both gone, I usually went to the library which was when I started seeing more of Zexion. I read when I was in there so he didn't care if I sat across from him as long as I was quiet. We spoke a few more times but it was nothing major.
One time he asked me what my disability was called so he could look it up. (Hey, he had nothing better to read, he had just finished a book.) But other than that, we mostly kept to ourselves.
Once when Xigbar and Dems had been sent together on scrounging duty and Zexion was working on some project with Vexen, I dared to go ask Xaldin to train with me. What? Do you really want to hear another one of my near-death experiences? Didn't think so. Anyways, I came away with a cracked rib, torn back, a split lip plus numerous bruises and a guarantee that I wouldn't ever do that again.
The first time I was taken out of the castle was on scrounging duty with The Gentle Giant. He was very considerate and if I got behind, he waited for me to catch up. He asked my opinion on things and even explained some views he had which were very in-depth. All in all it was an enlightening trip.
Anyway, while we were out, I found a digital camera laying on a table in some random house. It was in good shape and even though I was no good with pictures (they usually turned out of my shoes), I liked technology so I took it along. I was out in the hall taking still pictures of plotted plants and shadows when Demyx showed up. He decided to take a shot at it and, after having me confirm his talent (2), he began taking pictures of the Organization.
At first it was the regulars: Axel, Roxas, Dems and I but after I took an accidental picture of Luxord in mid shuffle where the cards near his hands were blurred and the ones in the middle were clear, Demyx decided to expand the circle.
I had favorites of everyone. Yes, even I had a good picture. I was sitting in my black chair in the meeting room while we were waiting for everyone to show up. I had my legs up and crossed with my arms overtop. I had my head tilted and some wet hair from my loosed ponytail had fell in my face. The best part? I was wearing an actual smile.
This was special because I had come to realize that my emotions had been slowly deteriorating; things that used to make me cry or smile no longer did and I couldn't feel embarrassment, happiness or content. I was currently trying to ignore that.
Then there was the picture of Axel in the black leather recliner in the living room. I was in his lap with another rare smile on my face, leaning back with my hands behind his head. His hair was in my face as well as my own locks and his arms were wrapped around me.
Roxas and I had been caught slacking and playing Playstation. We had wireless controllers and I was stretched out over the couch and Roxas' legs with my head on the armrest. Roxas had his arms propped on my stomach. Demyx had snuck up and called to us while we were distracted so we weren't smiling but confused.
I had picked up a wire box later and gave it to Bubbles for his collection of photos. It was silver and had fish surrounding a place for a picture on the front. The one he put there was of myself and the musician. Dems had his sitar, his arm hooked over the top and his other arm around me and under my arm with a 'rock on' gesture. (3) I was standing and had my arm stretched up to his shoulder with the same gesture. We were both smiling and it was especially cool because we were standing in front of a white wall so it looked like we were hovering in blank space.
Shortly after that, I noticed that members of the Organization were beginning to disappear. Larxene was first and Vexen was next. I didn't really care about them because Vexen made me mad and I got Larxene's room but then Lexaeus disappeared and I was slightly disappointed.
Axel, one of the few times I saw him, told me that it was because of this kid named Sora who was a master of the fabled Keyblade, a weapon of power for the pure of heart. But the only reason I learned about that was because I found the pyro cut up in the hall and ordered him to tell me what happened while I wrapped him up. (He was delirious on potions for his pain at the time.)
Today was the day that I finally realized how our lovely X-I-I-I was now down to V-I-I-I (plus one) because now Marluxia and Sniffer had gone missing.
That Sora kid has really been busy but I guess he took a vacation to restore the memories that Naminé chick (who was working with us for awhile) took because he's been gone for almost a year.
All the time he's been running around, I've been training but I still haven't seen him. And I still haven't learned some certain, fairly important things...like how to teleport, for example.
The day seemed to pass like a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter. Xemnas was pissed beyond all measure about something and Saïx was pissed because Xemnas was pissed. Knowing this, I stayed in my room so I didn't send Psycho into berserk mode. Axel and Roxas were...somewhere and Dems was practicing with his dancers far away in the Dark City for the same reason I was hiding in my room. Everyone else was doing their own thing.
Around lunch, I ventured to the kitchen for a sandwich and also a chicken salad that would serve as dinner. Luckily, I only met Xigbar and we didn't exchange words.
At about eight, I heard Axel's door slam shut and because I really wanted to play a game before bed, I got up to ask where Roxas was.
I rode across the hall on my atom board and softly knocked on the door. Somehow, Axel always heard it. This time was no different as the door was thrown open by the redhead. He looked mad but I blamed it on fatigue, if a Nobody could even feel that.
"Hey, do you know where Roxas is? He's been gone all frickin' day," I spoke.
Axel's eyes narrowed and gleamed with something I had never seen before though I couldn't place what it was at the time. "Yeah, he's gone." That answer was a little curt.
I tilted my head. "Gone?"
"Yeah! Gone! He went AWOL!" I still held the tilt. This only seemed to grin on Axel's last nerve. "He's ditched the Organization! Do you understand now or do I need to make it simpler for you?!"
I slid back on my board out of shock. No matter how much I bugged Axel, he had never yelled at me. Never. I bowed my head and waited for the blame to be put on me. Involuntarily, my eyes welled up and I apologized, "I'm sorry."
No more came after that and the door wasn't slammed on my nose so I looked up. The pyro had just realized that who he had been yelling at would not take it very well. His eyes went back to normal and he calmed.
"Uhm..." He rubbed the back of his neck and then put a hand on my shoulder. "Come here."
I went inside and sat on his bed. "How come he left, Axel?"
He came over and did something we hadn't done in a while. He pulled me into his arms and we cuddled for a while. He rested his head on my shoulder.
"I don't know exactly why, Spitfire." I smiled at the name. "He said it was because he wanted to find out why the Keyblade chose him. So I guess he's going to meet Sora."
"Why would he want to do that?"
"Because, Kat...Roxas is Sora's Nobody."
I was silent for a long time. But wasn't Sora supposed to be a hero? I mean, I never thought the Organization was that bad, we were just looking for our place, so I thought Sora was an enemy. (Turns out I was on the wrong side but, hey, we can't all be heroes according to Hades.) But I knew Roxas was not evil so did that mean neither were the rest of us? And if Sora was a hero, how did he turn to the darkness and create a Nobody?
I mean, yeah, a Nobody (or something like it) could be created like the replica we made of that Riku guy. But then if that was how Roxas was made, he wouldn't belong to another person and he wouldn't want to meet him, right?
One thing fell from my mouth. "This is completely jacked."
Axel chuckled behind me. "Darn you. I'm trying to feel sad and then you make me laugh."
"Axel, if you can't feel sad that you just lost your best friend, then how can I make you laugh?"
"...I don't know."
I scoffed. "You're dumb."
"Shut up."
Wow, I haven't woke up in this room for a while. And not in this position for even longer. Of course, I wasn't bothered with spooning with Axel. Seriously, who wouldn't want to spoon with a hot guy?
Too bad it was short lived. We were called to the meeting room. All uh...one, two...seven of the real members plus one.
Xemnas got straight to the point. "You've noticed our numbers have decreased and now we've lost Number Thirteen?"
Ah, so he knew. That would explain why he was so mad earlier. I nodded.
"Your test was put off a while ago because of complications. I think now it is time we tested you."
Again I found myself in that white colosseum-like room. Only one problem. Marluxia had kicked the bucket, or whatever Nobodies do, so now I was facing Saïx.
"Oh fudge," I squeaked.
"Go easy on her, dude," Xigbar called.
Yeah right. Saïx, easy? Where have you been all this time, Patchy? OK, so a claymore against my six inch claws? How do you think this is going to end? I had a better chance against the six foot scythe. And that wasn't even me.
Saïx took his stance and I crossed my arms and then threw them down to my sides, making my claws. I also made my atom board and stood ready. Good for me, Saïx hadn't seen any of my attacks except for my Atom Gun.
In a flash, I was guarding my face from a crushing blow. I risked a swipe and barely caught Psycho's cloak before he jumped up and came down on his claymore, sending out a shock wave that sent me skidding into the invisible barrier.
"So much for going easy on me!" I yelled at Bullseye as my atoms set me back up. Saïx wasn't going to allow time for that either. I sent off an Atom Gun at his feet just as a distraction and ducked under the claymore.
After a few more minutes of fending for my life and not even attacking, I decided to be aggressive. I sent off another Atom Gun but at the ceiling to force him to move and then I shot one at his feet so he would jump away from me instead of at me. My plan worked and I was sliding between his legs before he even realized where I was.
I planted a bit of glowing energy on the floor and then got back up, grinning at the Psycho.
"What is so amusing, Katex?" he demanded in a growl that clearly said, 'Run!' I wouldn't have it.
I pointed at his feet and casually informed him of the glowing energy. "Flash Bomb."
The energy exploded and Saïx roared in frustration when he was temporarily blinded. I only had time to slide into the middle of the fighting area so that's where I put my next trap. I built up as much energy as I could without passing out into a fist and plunged it into the floor where I laid it. If this didn't work, I would be killed in seconds.
Saïx's vision returned to him and he glared death at me. I merely grinned in a way that said, 'Be afraid, I have something afoot.'
I skated over to the wall and turned to tell him, "Jump." I slid up onto the surface and continued up toward the ceiling as the ground erupted with the power of my Atomic Bomb.
I dropped my atom board as I reached the ceiling and flipped in midair to see Saïx had jumped from wall to wall and followed me. Yes! I crossed my arms, dropped through the air, and caught him by the shoulders, sending us both plummeting to the ground. Once we hit, I laid an arm over his throat and held a claw near his face.
"I misjudged you," Saïx admitted.
"That's OK, a lot of people do," I said using the atoms in the still tumultuous air to stand. "But that doesn't mean I'm too arrogant to know I could have been beaten." I offered him a hand but he ignored it and climbed to his feet.
"It won't happen again," he assured me.
Clapping sounded behind him and I looked to see the remaining members of the Organization, two of which were cheering a little loudly.
"Most impressive, Katex," Xemnas said.
Xaldin nodded. "Welcome to the Organization."
"You've earned it," Luxord told me.
"You will now be Number Thirteen, The Ally of Air's Atoms," Xemnas spoke again.
I looked at Axel. I had never thought I'd be official but apparently, they had a meeting without me and decided this. Red was, well, I guess you could call it smiling. The only reason I was Number Thirteen was because then we could still say we were Organization XIII. We both knew I couldn't take Roxas's place.
Hmm, this could very well be my longest chapter yet even if it was crappy, had a sucky fight scene, and was pretty pointless.
(1) Since The World That Never Was is pretty much deserted, I decided that they probably got their provisions from the buildings there or in other worlds where people used to live and left stuff behind.
(2) It seemed to me that Demyx didn't have much talent other than playing his sitar and looking cute so I decided to give him something new to do.
(3) I found a picture of Demyx like this on Google and got the idea to add me into it. Not very original. Oh well.
Comments? Suggestions? Questions about stuff that doesn't make sense? Leave it in a review!
Laters!!
