The scent had died down from the coming of the rain. Zexion shifted to the side, trying to catch it once more, but to no avail. Vexen pulled Zexion's hood over his head then pulled on his own hood.
"It's gone, isn't it, Zexion?" Vexen whispered to the smaller one.
"Yes, but we've got to keep trying. What if it tries to destroy the Organization?"
"There are thirteen of us, fourteen if you count Rixa. We can manage. Plus, the Dusks can take care of whatever it is."
"…Good point. I wasn't thinking clearly." Zexion sighed heavily.
"It's alright. Let's just get Lexaeus and return to the castle. I've got a student to teach."
The two teleported through the darkness and quickly
arrived behind Lexaeus. Zexion looked around with his nose in the
air.
'The smell is strong here, even in the rain,' he thought
to himself.
"Lexaeus, did you happen to encounter anything?" Vexen asked.
Lexaeus turned to face his companions and shook his head. "Afraid not."
Zexion narrowed his eyes, attempting to hack into Lexaeus's mind. No doubt Lexaeus was lying. He knew him well enough to tell if he was telling the truth or not.
"We shall return to the castle," Vexen said and glanced to Zexion. "We could always search after the rain stops." Vexen teleported back to the floating castle.
That left Zexion and Lexaeus alone and they were silent. Zexion was still trying to get into Lexaeus's thoughts. He'd never really tried it before, so it was hard to do.
"Zexion?" Lexaeus finally shattered the silence.
"What?" Zexion's concentration broke.
"You zoned out, I believe. Is something troubling you?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Well then," Lexaeus said with his eyebrow raised slightly. "I'll be leaving." He too, returned to the castle.
"I almost had it!" Zexion growled to himself. "I almost got into his mind. I've got to learn to do it faster…"
Just as he was bout to join Vexen, he noticed two shuriken on the ground. Zexion bent over to pick them up. 'That smell… it's all over these things. They must've belonged to whatever it was.'
Zexion quickly stood up and pocketed the small weapons. He nervously glanced around, frantically trying to find something he didn't even know too much about.
"Come out! Come out and fight me, you coward!" He was being rash again. Had he forgotten entirely that he had no weapon, other than his brilliant mind?
But if there was something out there trying to destroy the Organization, he was willing to do something stop it. Or at least buy some time to get the others prepared for an assault.
"Come out, damn it!" Zexion continued to glance around. He soon felt himself shivering from the cold rain. 'I'll come back later… I'll find that fool…'
And he reprieved to Vexen's room, where he saw Vexen and Rixa. They were speaking to each other, and Zexion chose not to interrupt them, until Rixa finally looked to him and waved.
"Hey…Rixa, right?"
"Yes. I don't think we've really met."
"I am Zexion, sixth in ranking of the Organization." Zexion sniffed around and got a bit of a confused glare from Rixa. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got things to do. Vexen, did Lexaeus come back here?"
"No, he should be in his room, check there."
"Vexen, Lexaeus is hiding something from us. He reeks of that scent we were following."
"Don't be so quick to assume things like this. You know that Lexaeus would tell us if something happened."
"We've all got our deepest, darkest secrets. Like that you secretly sit at your computer and jac-"
"I don't need to hear that…" Rixa cringed and stuck her tongue out in disgust. Vexen coughed loudly and glared down at Zexion.
"Are you forgetting that someone else is here, Zexion? I can always let out one of your secrets."
"I haven't got any. But we're getting a bit off topic here, aren't we?"
"You're over exaggerating. Like I said, Lexaeus would tell us. And you've got nothing to worry about. There's-"
"Fourteen of us. I know, I know! But what if…"
Rixa glanced at the two as they bickered back and forth. She chuckled nervously to herself and headed for the door. "I'll be going then…I don't think this concerns me."
Neither of the two arguing males so much as took a glimpse of her. She just stood there, listening to their quarrel. Even thought it was none of her business, she chose to stay there.
"Zexion, I'm telling you, it's not that big of a deal!"
"I thought scientists were supposed to be smart! Apparently you aren't! I'm going to track down whatever it was, whether someone comes with me or not."
"As number four of the Organization, I command you to remain in the castle for the remainder of the time that the essence is still settled in the air."
Zexion gulped. "Wha-? What! You can't do that to me!"
"Unfortunately for you, I can. I'm two ranks higher than you."
"Damn it… Fine. When the Organization falls, don't say that I didn't warn you."
Zexion swore under his breath and walked over to Rixa and looked to her. "Nice meeting you." With that, he stormed out the door. She quickly walked after him.
"Wait, Zexion, sir!"
The Cloaked Schemer stopped in his tracks. "What do you want?"
Rixa halted when she was at a mild distance. "Do you plan to sneak out…?"
"Of course."
"I'd like to come with you."
"No."
Rixa was shocked at what he just said to her. "Why not?"
"Vexen will yell at both of us. Plus, if there happens to be a fight, and you perish in the crossfire, I'll be severely punished for allowing a fellow member to die and for disobeying orders of a higher-up. Besides, I could always ask Xigbar to help me. He was always cool with helping someone in a 'pickle'."
"But I'm not a member yet, right? I'll help you out, maybe that'll show Xemnas that I am worthy of joining."
"…Fine then. I'll meet you at your room in two hours. The rain should end by then."
"Alright. Thank you, sir."
"Just call me Zexion."
