Okay, here's the last of the "In which" chapters. I managed to get all of the Org members so far, yay! The three chapters after this will be titled with the alters of the first three, with the last chapter being a new character.


Chapter Summary: Xaldin is a bully, an unexpected person is accidentally a hero, Zexion experiments, and Demyx, well... Demyx could use a hug.


In which Xaldin is hateful

(As in, "full of hate," not as in "causes hate," although I suppose this version does that too)


Xaldin knew that out of the other members, only the Superior and Saïx loathed Demyx. (Although Vexen by no means got along with him, the feelings between them were more repulsion than actual dislike.) Xaldin was sure, however, that out of all the members, he was the one who despised Number IX the most.

The boy insisted he had emotions, for one thing. And did he have to pretend so flamboyantly? The fact that at least three of the other members seemed to be not only attracted to him, but also willing to cater to his whims was appalling. Axel and Braig were one thing, but why was Ienzo going along with him? The boy was lazy and Xaldin knew that Ienzo couldn't stand laziness almost as much as him. Demyx was weak, which was something no member of Organization XIII could respect. He was noisy, and there were times when Xaldin was sorely tempted to snatch the sitar from the coward and break it over his knee. He was also stupid. Even Axel and Saïx had been accepted as apprentices, albeit just before the fall of Radiant Garden, but there was no way Master Ansem would have looked twice at Demyx.

Xaldin could not imagine how a boy like that could have used his pheromones to dominate the organization. He hadn't done it since, so perhaps it was just a fluke.

Xaldin stepped into the kitchen to make himself a late lunch, only to find the object of his thoughts making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the counter.

"Oh... hey... Xaldin." Demyx greeted in a small voice, cringing slightly. At least this time the boy had greeted him. Better, but not acceptable. Perhaps another punch to the stomach would finally teach the boy how to greet him properly?

"Filth," Xaldin returned, "you should know better than to greet your superiors so casually. Or perhaps you'd care for me to enlighten you?"

"No, I mean, there is no need, Number III, sir!"

"Better. You are nothing but an abomination. Since you've shown no use so far, it's a wonder the Superior doesn't order you to spread your legs for the Organization and prove yourself that way." Demyx paled considerably. "If you don't show improvement in your attitude, perhaps I will advise the Superior to do so." He didn't need to mention that he had, in fact, already suggested it, but while Xemnas approved the idea, something was holding the Superior back. He had said that he didn't want to risk testing loyalties, but whose loyalties, Xaldin was unsure.

"I-I-I-I, I un-under-underst-stand, s-s-sir." Clearly the thought of being used like a pack Omega terrified the boy. This would be a useful threat to ensure future compliance.

Xaldin turned to the refrigerator, and looked for the dim sum he had ordered in the Land of Dragons and had brought back.

It wasn't in there.

He turned to Demyx, who reflexively squeaked, "I didn't do it!"

"What didn't you do?" Xaldin's gaze was heavy on the boy.

"Taken whatever it is you're looking for! I, uh, only eat the stuff I buy with my own munny or that someone says I can eat. Sir." Once finished with his little speech, Number IX began trembling.

As tempted as he was to hit the boy just to get him to stop that irritating motion, Xaldin believed him. The most likely culprit was Axel or Xigbar. But Xaldin didn't have to tell Demyx that.

"You're expecting me to believe it wasn't you? Why should I, when you've given me no reason to trust your words?" He sneered.

"R-re-reason? L-like what?" He walked right into that trap. Purple eyes danced with sadistic glee.

"Perhaps if you agree to service me, I'll find it reason enough to believe you." Now the boy was looking a bit green. And staring at the butter knife in his right hand as if it might help him. (It wouldn't.)

"N-no!"

"No?"

"No! I, I won't!"

"Then I don't believe that you didn't take my dim sum." Xaldin started to approach the boy, determined to have his pound of flesh one way or another, when Saïx walked in.


"There you are, Number IX. I've been looking for you. Where is your mission report from—"

"Right! The mission report! It's in my room! I'll get it for you at once! Ahaha. Where would you like me to bring it to you?"

Saïx stared in confusion at the manic blond. Number IX was never so forthcoming with his mission reports, even when he had "finished" them. And this frantic behavior was not normal.

"Bringing it to me in the Gray Area after you've finished lunch would be fine." Saïx waved at the half made sandwich.

"No, no. I'll go get it right now. No time like the present." Demyx immediately portaled out. Saïx blinked perplexedly at the empty, Demyxless space. He turned to Xaldin, wondering if the older man had any answers, but before he could open his mouth, Demyx had portaled back, stuffed the mission report into his chest, and scooped up the plate, spoon, knife, peanut butter jar, jelly jar, and bread before disappearing back in the portal.

Shrugging to himself, Saïx left the room.


"Okay, Demyx. We're just going to run a series of tests to determine if you can go into heat or rut, okay?" Zexion soothed the nervous blond who was sitting on the patient's table in Vexen's lab.

"Now, here's how the tests are going to go: do you remember my neighbors on Uriel, the three Mrs. Ws?" Demyx nodded. "Mrs. Whatsit was gracious enough to supply me with the clothes she was wearing during one of her heats, and from them I created two smell samples. One of which I'm going to give to you today. Once I've given you the sample, I'm going to go over to the other side of the room so that I don't interfere with the results. If you go into rut, I'll come right back to calm you down, although it will take a minute, okay?" Demyx took a deep breath and nodded again.

"Now, as Vexen told you the day you arrived, ruts can only be triggered by an Omega's heat. And an Omega's heat is triggered only by his or her cycle. However," he emphasized. "You're an unusual case, so I've prepared another sample with the smell of an Alpha's rut, just in case. That shouldn't trigger you, but we should explore all possibilities. I took the second sample from Mrs. Whatsit and gave it to Lexaeus who agreed to go into rut and provide his clothes so I could create a sample for this experiment."

"Do I really need to go through with this?" Demyx implored.

"Yes, Demyx. It's important that we know how you might react if during a mission you come across an Omega in heat or an Alpha in rut. At school, Alphas are usually trained on how to avoid succumbing to rut quickly and finding the nearest Beta in an emergency. And Omegas are trained in how to tell the signs of their oncoming heat, so they can find a Beta or a safe space. This is for your safety as much as everyone else's."

"Okay." Demyx reached for Zexion's hand and squeezed it. "Okay."

"Remember, Demyx. I'll be right here. If you go into heat or into rut, I'll be right here to calm you down."


Demyx stared down at the lidded Petri dish containing the liquid holding Mrs. Whatsit's smell. He watched as Zexion traveled to the other end of the room, and man, was that far away, before giving him a small wave. He carefully removed the lid off the dish. A warm smell, like the Sun, filled his nose, immediately relaxing him. He closed his eyes and a scene came to him, of standing on a hill, looking out across to a town covered in mist and a tall tower in the distance. The Sun was warm, though muted, and didn't have that much longer to live. Soon, it would be torn apart as the world would, lost in the fight to the Darkness.

"Demyx, are you all right?" He opened his eyes, and looked into Zexion's worried face. Then he felt the tears that were running down his cheeks. He wiped them away and gave a wobbly smile. He had a feeling that the Sun had a new life now.

"I'm fine. Have I passed your test, Professor?" He joked.

"Demyx, how do you feel?" Zexion frowned.

"Fine. Relaxed. I think the smell might have triggered part of a memory, hence the crying."

"Smells are linked to the memory centers of the brain," Zexion muttered doubtfully. "Well, it doesn't seem like you've gone into rut. Why don't you put the lid back on and we'll try the other sample."

One Aero later and the room was cleared of all traces of the scent. Demyx was holding the second, identical Petri dish, and this time more confidentially lifted the lid.

He smelled the earth after rain. It was such a pleasant smell that he breathed deep, and immediately felt something spark within him.

"Ze-zexion," he called, slightly panicked at the strange and sudden arousal that was welling up.

"How are you feeling?" Zexion called back, as he picked his way over slowly.

"Weird." But oh, the smell of vanilla and roses were taking away the edge off his panic, but not the heat that was filling him.

And then there was a knock on the door.

"Don't come in!" Zexion shouted, but it was too late. The door opened, and Xigbar stuck his head in.


"Vexen, I need a po—." Xigbar stopped mid sentence and felt himself mindlessly enter the room. There was a delicious fragrance coming from close by and he needed it now. He stalked toward his prey, knowing he needed to claim it before any other Alpha could get to it. Like the Alpha he could faintly smell near his prey.

"Stars!" His prey exclaimed once he was close, swaying. "Give, give me the Stars!" His prey's voice was registering as familiar, almost like…

"M-master?" Xigbar groaned. The word was enough to kick some part of his brain that knew it was dangerous to utter that aloud and in front of people. With what felt like a Herculean effort, he managed to switch the tracks of his brain just enough. "D-demyx?" His prey lurched and tackled him. Xigbar's back hit the ground, but he didn't care as more of that wonderful scent filled him. His prey was wriggling on top of him, and he stilled its hips enough for him to thrust once, before

"Xigbar, Demyx, calm down." Something was holding his arm and hissing at him. Oh, right, that would be Zexion. Xigbar blinked and the world came back into focus. On top of him, Demyx gave one last half whine of "Stars?" before he sat up.

"Xiggy, what are you doing underneath me?" The blond muttered curiously, rubbing his eyes as though that would help in regaining clarity.

"You tackled me, Dem." The blond didn't protest the new nickname and Xigbar inwardly celebrated.

"Oh. Sorry." He shrugged and got up. Xigbar lay there for a few more seconds, wishing his rut hadn't been interrupted, before standing back up himself.

"Well," Zexion tugged at Demyx's clothes, pulling them invisibly further into place, because there hadn't been anything wrong with them in the first place. "Now we know you do go into heat. It may be that you have a cycle that we aren't aware of yet, but we know now that you are triggered by an Alpha's rut. As for you," he turned to Xigbar. "Didn't you see the 'Keep Out' sign on the door?!" Xigbar winced.

"I thought it was Vexen in here, and I knew he wouldn't get mad, er, too mad at me. And I needed a potion just in case for my mission today." A part of him wanted to glare at Zexion for interrupting his rut, but it really was his fault for ignoring the sign. Not that he regretted it for a second. He was definitely going to use this as fantasy fuel first chance he got. But first, to make sure Demyx was okay.

"You okay, Dem? I didn't freak you out by being here, did I?" The blond shook his head.

"Nah. I'm pretty sure I was the one molesting you." He either ignored or didn't hear Xigbar's muttered, "As if!"

"Sorry," Demyx winced. "You just smelled really, really good." Beside Demyx, Zexion looked pensive.

"Well," Xigbar clapped the blond on the shoulder with false bravado. "If you ever decide to go through your heat and want a partner, you know where to find me." Before he could come across as threatening, he moved past the two toward the cupboard where Vexen kept the excess potions. Picking one up, he closed the cupboard and motioned with his hand. "See you guys later."

He portaled out to his mission.


Well, I got stuck with a conundrum this chapter. I suddenly realized that if I wanted to continue focusing the start of each chapter on a new character, only Xaldin was left. And unfortunately, Xaldin is the character I understand the least. (Not like the least, just understand the least. Although with the help of the wiki, I think I nailed the intelligent sadism part.) I would have loved to make this a Luxord chapter instead, but that comes with its own problems. I'm not sure what to do about future chapters, since I want there to be a time gap for each new member to join, but I'm not ready for the story itself to have a large time gap. So either I start off each chapter as a flash far forward, or I change the format of the chapters. I had had the idea in the back of my head that it would be fitting to tie up and end the story once each Org member got some screen time (except for Vexen, who ended up not getting a POV because I hadn't figured out the format yet, sorry Vexen), but that doesn't seem possible at the moment?

You might be wondering, why show Zexion running the experiments on Demyx? We already know all this! Well, no, I hinted at it, but I wanted a section making it very clear whether Demyx can or cannot go into rut and what triggers his heat. And besides, Demyx has no memory and no one else knows about his triggers. Like Zexion says, it is a matter of safety, so these experiments were going to happen, whether you saw them or not. They also happened to be one of the first scenes I had in my head when I thought up this story, although I didn't know until chapter 4 who the helpful, sample providing Omega was going to be. And yes, Mrs. Whatsit is now officially the sun of Daybreak Town. ;P And, well, Daybreak Town didn't have training, so Xigbar succumbed immediately.