Chapter IX: Stranger
Hey again guys. Hope you all enjoyed the "feel" moment with Xathe, because this story is now taking off like a rocket! The plot is coming together now, so let's do it.
Xathe: The Key To Darkness owns nothing. Not one thing. In fact I own him, not vice versa. You hear that, Key?
Me: Just get on with the story…
[Song Inspiration: What I've Done by Linkin Park]
-KtD
Day 275-276
…
Xathe walks sleepily to the grey room, yet again. The daily routine was a usual thing for Xathe now, but it still bored him. Couldn't they like… alternate rooms or something?
Xathe feels a strange new presence in the room that instantly puts Xathe in defense mode. There were only two presences in the room, Saix and the new one.
He immediately turns to the corner of the room to see a hooded man with the Organization's clothing. The only visible feature that was unique about him was the three silver locks of hair that barely stuck out from under the hood.
The stranger looks up at Xathe, the darkness of his hood covering his unknown expression. Xathe shoots him a slow, suspicious glare but the stranger simply chuckles lightly and then looks back down again, with his arms crossed.
Xathe stares at him for a few seconds but then looks back to Saix and walks towards him.
He could have sworn he saw Saix smirk with amusement when Xathe glared at the newcomer but Xathe couldn't say for sure.
"Saix… what is my job for the day?" Xathe deadpans, still suspicious of the newcomer.
"Today, XV, you are going to partner with our new Number XVI and you will show him the ropes," Saix explains, his voice monotone as usual.
"Number XVI?" Xathe gasps, spinning around to look at the stranger again. Xathe turns his head to Saix, pointing at the stranger, "Him?"
Saix nods.
'Why the hell do we have another member?' Xathe exclaims inwardly.
"Go to Twilight Town. I want you to train him, there," Saix explains.
"Yes… sir," murmurs Xathe.
Xathe walks over to the mysterious Number XVI and brings his eyes to his… or where Xathe thought they were anyways…
The stranger looks to him as well. Surprisingly, they were nearly the same in height.
"Alright, newbie. I don't know who you are… or why you're here… but I've been assigned to train you, so follow me," explains Xathe.
The stranger gives a hand-gesture for Xathe to lead the way, and he does so. Xathe opens a dark corridor that the two walk into and the corridor disappears into nothingness.
"This… may turn out even better than I expected…" Saix states, smiling darkly.
…
Xathe and Number XVI walk out of the corridor into the sandlot of Twilight Town. "Here we are," Xathe states, turning around to XVI and walking backwards to the center of the sandlot. "You talk at all?"
The stranger shrugs lightly, crossing his arms.
"I can tell we're going to get along…" Xathe sighs. 'Jeez, is this how I am all the time? No wonder everybody hates me…"
XVI fake-coughs loudly, turning Xathe's attention back to the task at hand.
"Oh, right," Xathe rubs the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "Alright… umm… do you know what a Heartless is?"
Number XVI looks up to the sky for a second before looking back to Xathe and nodding.
"Alright… at least you know that much. Do you know what a Nobody is? Nobodies are who we are," Xathe asks.
XVI has to think about it for a second before nodding slowly.
"Wow… okay. Wait, have you already been explained to, before?" asks Xathe in surprise.
The stranger gives a hand gesture, meaning 'Sort of…'
"Oh… well it makes my job easier, so no big deal. Now, do you have any fighting experience whatsoever?"
XVI does nothing but stare at Xathe in wait.
Xathe took that as a 'Maybe' but for all he knew it could have meant anything… he wasn't sure what to think of the newcomer or his mute personality.
"Do you have a name? Or at least something I can call you, besides 'newbie?'"
Number XVI has to concentrate for a second, seeming to zone out on finding his own name.
"Well?" growls Xathe, impatiently.
"X-X-Xe-Xe-tah…" the new one sounds out slowly.
"Xetah?" Xathe asks.
Number XVI nods. So his name is now known… but everything else is a mystery. This "Xetah" was most ominous, yet… he kind of reminded Xathe of himself when he first joined the Organization…
(Flashback)
Axel slowly pushes Xathe towards the Superior, Xemnas who's hood covers his face.
Xemnas looks at him with slight suspicion, "What… is your name, boy?"
Xathe looks to Axel, as if begging for help. Axel nods with a smile, showing that Xathe can trust Xemnas.
"Do you remember anything, at all?" Xemnas asks, slightly impatient.
"M-My name's X-Xathe, sir," Xathe slowly answers.
This makes Xemnas half-smile. He looks to Axel and does a hand gesture, allowing Axel to leave. Axel sighs with relief and does so.
"So, Xathe, what did Axel tell you, back at Castle Oblivion?" Xemnas asks, suspiciously.
The name, Castle Oblivion, makes Xathe wince. He didn't even like the very name anymore. It reminded him too much of what Namine` did to him. Namine` betrayed him, used him, and destroyed who he once was. "He just told me that Organization XIII would help me. He said you guys had a p-purpose for me."
Xemnas smiles, "Very good. Now… are you prepared for the challenges and hardships you will face while serving us? Even when you have no idea what they might be?" Xemnas asks.
Xathe looks down for a second, before nodding with confidence in himself.
"Good… but are you prepared to take the most drastic of measures, to assure that Organization XIII's goal is accomplished, even if it means the harm or possible destruction of others?"
Xathe nods, "I'll try."
Xemnas removes his hood from his head, "Try you will. Through us, you will receive the answers you seek. Welcome to Organization XIII, Number XV…" Xemnas proclaims.
…
Except back then, at least Xathe could talk…
"Alright then, Xetah… let's begin our training…" Xathe exclaims, summoning his Keyblade.
Xetah stares at his weapon with awe.
"What? Oh… you've never seen a Keyblade before, have you?" Xathe rubs the back of his head.
"I have…" Xetah whispers, "just… it's been a w-while." Xetah is obviously not very good at speaking yet. He's probably just getting used to existing again. Or at least that's what he seemed to be doing. Xathe was still suspicious that the Organization needed a "Number XVI". What was the point in it? Unless…
Unless they were trying to replace Xion.
"Oh. Okay then. Well let's begin, summon your weapon and prepare to fight," Xathe proclaims, slashing at the air. The slash turns into four separate lines and then the lines become large circles.
The circles open up and drop a Heartless out from each one.
Xetah crosses his arms.
"Well? Go!" Xathe spits harshly. Xetah uncrosses his arms and holds his hand out.
Xetah fires a blast of dark energy in the center of the five creatures that detonates in a flash of dark magic. Instantly, the five Heartless explode into crystalline hearts that fade into the air.
"What… I thought you didn't have any fighting experience?" Xathe gasps.
Xetah shakes his head in disappointment and stares at Xathe very strangely for a moment… but then walks away.
"Wait, where are you going?" Xathe shouts.
Xetah completely ignores him and simply walks out of the sandlot… not even turning to Xathe or anything.
"Guess that means the end of training…" Xathe sighs, gripping the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. Everybody just had to stress him out, didn't they?
"Whatever… I'm done with you, anyways."
And with that, Xathe walked away from the sandlot, disappearing into darkness.
…
Meanwhile, Xion watched from one of the buildings. She watched the short training session with surprise glued to her face. They replaced her already? Well… she was right… she always was expendable.
"I should have known from the start…" Xion sighs, walking away.
…
…
…
Axel sits on the couch of the grey room, bored out of his mind and waiting for Xathe to come back. Axel wanted to talk to Xathe again. Roxas was out looking for Xion. And of course, Xathe was the substitute for Roxas and Xion on the short ice-cream escapades.
As if God answered Axel's prayer for an end to his boredom, a dark corridor opened in the center of the grey room, letting Xathe out from it.
"Hey, newbie! Well I guess I can't call you that anymore… but anyways, how 'bout we go get some ice cream?" Axel exclaims.
Xathe's breathing is heavy and sweat drips down his face. His face is blood red and his body shakes from immense pain.
"Xathe? Are you okay-" Axel is interrupted by Xathe's quiet voice, "Shit…" Xathe spits, dropping to his knees and then to his face.
"Xathe!" Axel shouts, rushing to his side and rolling him onto his back. Xathe is knocked out, cold.
Xathe lays flat with his eyes closed, unresponsive to anything.
"Come on, man! Damn it," Axel curses, picking Xathe up with one arm and walking down the hallway with Xathe slumped over his shoulder. "Let's get you to your room, big guy."
…
Xathe sees another vision, through the darkness of unconsciousness. The vision is faded and blurry… but he can still see it.
(Flashback)
Tahe` helps Cloud over to Merlin's House.
"Sorry, Cloud. If I had seen him, I would have warned you before he got to you…" Tahe` sighs out his apology.
"Don't worry about it. I should have paid closer attention. There's no room for weakness like that," Cloud curses himself.
"Stop saying stuff like that. You did fine, you just didn't see him."
The fight between Tahe` and the masked boy began once the masked boy struck Cloud from behind in a sneak attack. If he didn't hit just the right spot to knock Cloud out, Cloud could have fought him. But Tahe` ended up being the one to fight him. The rest was self-explanatory.
Tahe` fought and lost. But he could guarantee that the next time he fought the masked boy: Tahe` would win.
"I can walk from here," Cloud states, removing his arm from around Tahe`'s shoulders and walking along with him to Merlin's House. They walk up to the door of the simple house and Tahe` knocks on the door three times.
Aerith Gainsborough answers the door and gasps at the sight of Cloud limping towards the door. She quickly rushes to him and helps him into the door, smiling at Xathe as she walked Cloud in.
Tahe` blushes, rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.
"Come in!" Aerith suggests, inviting Tahe` into the home.
"Okay," Tahe` gleams, gratefully. He walks into the home and instantly his ears rang from the squirrely voice of Yuffie, "Hey Tahe`!"
Yuffie rushes up to Tahe`, making him back up a step, "Um, hi, Yuffie."
"You did really well out there on the field! You're almost as good as me, right now," she boasts, making Tahe` roll his eyes.
"I doubt that… but thanks anyways," Tahe` sighs, walking over to where Cloud and Aerith went and Yuffie follows.
Aerith sits Cloud down on Merlin's bed and Cloud sighs with relief from the comfort. Tahe` smiles to see his new friend in comfort instead of pain. He'd be fine, but Tahe` had a tendency to worry about the people he cared about.
Aerith stands from the bedside and turns to Tahe`, smiling.
"Thank you for bringing Cloud back here. Is there anything we could do to show our gratitude?" Aerith asks.
"Oh no, I'm perfectly fine with knowing that Cloud is okay! Thanks for the offer, though," Tahe` smiles.
"Okay. But remember, the offer is always out there since Cloud is kind of in your debt now," Aerith chuckles.
Tahe` laughs and then crosses his arms, "So do you guys live here?" he asks looking around at the house.
"Sure do! You like it?" Yuffie exclaims.
"Yeah… it's nice." Tahe` states slowly, looking around at everything before looking back to Cloud. "Will he be alright?" Tahe` asks.
"Knowing Cloud… yes," Aerith rolls her eyes sarcastically.
"Alright. Well then I better get going… I'm looking for somebody," Tahe` trails off towards the end as he turns around and walks towards the door.
"Wait… you'll come back and visit, won't you?" Aerith asks.
Tahe` stops and his expression becomes serious as he thinks about it for a second before turning around and smiling at them, "I sure hope so. Seeya!" Tahe` gives a peace-sign and walks out the door.
...
Xathe opens his eyes to see the gray ceiling of his roof yet again. All the dull gray that colored the walls of Organization XIII's Castle really got old, pretty fast.
He groans as he sits up and rubs his head, remembering, slowly, everything that transpired the day before.
The last thing he remembered was the newcomer, Xetah, killing the Heartless, staring at Xathe strangely and then walking away… then after that…
Something happened. All he could remember was feeling as if all his power was being sapped from his body and he could barely find the energy to hold himself up.
Xathe remembered Axel's voice, though not the words. Then after that, everything was black… except for the vision.
The visions were becoming stronger, the pictures clearer. It seemed as if all those memories were becoming a part of who he was, even though he didn't understand even one of them.
But all Xathe knew was that he needed answers from Xemnas as to why he felt so sapped of power. Why he felt as if he was suffering emotional turmoil, even though he didn't have a heart to suffer such a thing with. Was all of this the result of his visions? Or maybe it was the mysterious raven-haired teen inside of his head?
"Enough asking. I'm going to Xemnas right this instant," Xathe spits, disappearing into darkness.
…
Xemnas sits on his high throne in the room Where Nothing Gathers with his eyes closed in relaxation. This was one of those few moments where Xemnas could simply be at peace and think about his plans for Project XV.
Now that Xetah has become an official member of Organization XIII, the plans of Project XV were coming together as if it were a detailed puzzle. Xemnas could already see it panning out… and it was most enjoyable to him.
'Yes… I'm sure Xathe and Xetah will get along just fine…' Xemnas chuckles inwardly.
Suddenly, his thoughts are interrupted by a pillar of darkness dropping Xathe into a throne that was a few seats away from Xemnas' throne.
"XV… what brings you to me at this hour?" Xemnas asks, his voice sounding as if he were pleased to see Xathe.
"There are some things I need answers to," Xathe deadpans.
"If it is of your past, then you will receive nothing from me, as stated before," states Xemnas.
"It's not. I need answers to what's happening to me, and apparently, you of all people would know…" Xathe hints.
"And who told you that?" asks Xemnas.
"Nobody. It was my own assumption."
"Well then, ask. I will see how I can assist in your search for answers."
Xathe explained almost everything that was going on. Mostly of the unknown visions and the berserk power-up he gets when he is angered. He told of the yellowing of his eyes and the emotional distress that he should not be having at all.
He explained just about everything.
…
Xemnas looks to the floor with a thinking look on his face. He took everything in quite well; it was the emotional distress part that he was struggling to explain.
"As far as the feeling of feeling sapped of your strength… I cannot explain. As far as the flurry of emotions you feel… it seems to me that you may be getting negative "recoil" from the berserk power boosts that you have a tendency of using," Xemnas explains.
"Are you saying that me using my special ability… has a recoil effect on my emotions, which shouldn't even exist?" Xathe asks, disbelieving.
"That's basically what I said. This raven-haired boy sounds as if he is the one who is the source behind the boosts in strength. He may be providing you with a little more than visions…"
"E-Emotions?" gasps Xathe.
Xemnas nods, "It would seem the return of your memory comes at quite a hefty price. Your memories… for your body."
Xathe looks to the floor, trying to comprehend what Xemnas has told him, "So you're saying that… this strange boy… takes a short possession over my body at certain times… in return for my memories?"
Xemnas looks down and sighs, "It would appear that way…"
Xathe's eyes open wide in shock, his pupils dilating in utter surprise. There was no way…
The boy in Xathe's mind… was slowly taking control of him… and by Xathe's permission…
Was that Chapter long enough? I hope so. Let me know if I should make them longer or shorter… cuz I'm flexible with both.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed it! And I bet I can guess what you're thinking. "Oh great. A Number XVI? That's so dull and overused! Too many OC's!" or maybe you're thinking, "Does this mean you're just going to keep adding more members? Cuz that's lame!"
The answer to both is, "No." There's more to Xetah that you don't know about yet, so don't judge until you know the whole picture!
But R&R, and I'll be sure to update again, soon!
Catch ya later! -KtD
