Author's Note: I have a very bad habit with starting things in the middle of other things. Forgive me T.T;; But this idea is fantabulous… at least I think so ;; Anyway. I'm actually trying to be a bit more darker with this one, so tell me if it works out okay. If you like it, please review :D Criticism, constructive criticism, feedback—anything is appreciated, as long as it's productive :D Thanks much! And yes, this is centered around Organization XIII. Fun fun. :D
ALSO. In the English version, the translations of the original 6 members of OrgXIII were modified (eg. Bleig is really Braig, etc), and so I'm using the original Japanese transliterations… shouldn't be too hard to follow. :x Braig, Even, Ienzo, Elaeus, Dilan. Okay? Okay. :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Hidden Beneath a Cloak
Chapter 10
Universus

I led the way along the Skyway with Xigbar, his gun arrows raised to the level of his eye, and Lexaeus, his hands shaking a tremendous deal, following behind me. I tried to quicken my pace, but Lexaeus would shout at me from behind to slow down. All the while, he kept muttering the phrase 'I can't believe I'm walking on air'. Xigbar would flash him stern looks, and then presume staying alert on the way towards the moon.

We passed the moon with ease although Lexaeus would occasionally look back. He seemed much like a little child at that time. It was such a difference from when he was Elaeus; I could see in his eyes that something had changed. I could sense that a part of him had vanished into the abyss.

We reached the castle gates. Needless to say, the two of them were amazed at its architecture as I once was. They stared up at its marvellous arks and cascade of windows and floors. It was as if this castle had been built on more than one occasion, growing different every time. Lexaeus took a step forward as if he was gravitating towards the building in an odd manner. I followed him. I was resolved in returning to this building. I could definitely sense there was another being here… one familiar to me, but one that was not here before.

I was startled, however, to find… there was not one new scent...

…but two.

There were two.

My feet froze at the entrance. Lexaeus instantly thought for the worse and assumed there was something wrong, so he stopped as well, looking around frantically. Xigbar raised an eyebrow at me in a frustrated manner. I could tell I was trying his patience just then. But I didn't care… I couldn't… believe… there were really two other beings in there? Two other beings that, although foreign and unknown, I knew because I could sense that—that I'd met them before…

I could sense Xigbar talking to me from my side, but I couldn't understand his words. It was all a foreign language. All that went through my complex, scattered mind was regret… I shouldn't have left. If I'd just stayed, I'd find them… I'd find them all. … would I not?

Fate is a mysterious thing, in this sense. Who's to say that if I'd stayed that they'd show up? Perhaps if I hadn't left to begin with, they would have found somewhere else to go… and then again, if I'd stayed, I would've met those two but not Xigbar and Lexaeus. Would Xigbar try to attack someone else? Would he eventually find out about this castle? How long would that take? Weeks? Months? … years?

All I'd heard from Xigbar was "Zexion—", and then my feet took off running. I ran in a frivolous way towards the castle. I wouldn't stop running until I'd found who I was looking for—a familiar face, a fellow scientist from Radiant Garden. I knew they were here.

I'd rushed by a confused Luxord and a troupe of cards on the first floor, but the scent was nowhere to be found. It was strongest by the staircase—someone I had recognized went up this staircase. I raced up the stairs instantly not even doubting the direction in which I was going. Led by only my senses, I felt my way through the second floor with my eyes used only to find the doorways.

My feet slowed to a stop right outside of Saix's study.

I should've known from the beginning; Saix's study. Where else would they be?

I squinted a great deal as I slowly entered the room. My being felt as if it was on fire… that kind of passion… I never thought I'd even feel similar to it again. My chest rose and fell with every nervous breath I took. Even though then was not the time to be skeptical… I was nervous. I found myself nervous. What if they weren't there? What if this was all some kind of bizarre hoax? Nothing in this nonexistent world seemed concrete anyway. All of a sudden, my footsteps slowed to a complete stop by the doorway. I couldn't… face them.

What was wrong with me?

I took a deep breath and willed my once hasty feet to move forward, but they wouldn't. I was overcome with this sort of phantom emotion—and I say phantom, because emotions are obviously something I lack—some form of state that I felt… everything… but nothing at all. I was guilty, I was angry, I was anxious, I was nervous, I was nauseous, I was thrilled, I was sad, I was… and yet I wasn't. What… what the hell was wrong with me?

I felt Xigbar breathing down my back frantically after scrambling to catch up with me. He seemed to be growing more and more impatient as I refused to take a step closer into the room. Lexaeus appeared by me, poking his head curiously over mine and scanning the inside of the room cautiously. My breath was caught in my chest. I couldn't speak.

"Excuse me." I glanced to my right to see a disgruntled Axel shoving past Lexaeus, who then seemed twice his size. Lexaeus proved immovable but Axel shoved by him anyway, ignoring his menacing glare fixated towards him. Xigbar seemed to have gotten a slight twinkle in his eye as Axel slithered past him; he clenched his fists firmly.

Saix suddenly appeared within my line of vision with his arms crossed. He approached Axel lackadaisically and gave a great sigh, though he didn't speak. This seemed to be typical for the both of them. Axel spoke first, his hands stuffed nonchalantly into his pockets. "I-I'm going out. So… if you want me to go anywhere… tell me now while I'm… feeling up to it."

Without taking his gaze off Axel, he pointed a strict finger towards his computer screen. He told him, "Detections in wards 5 and 6. If you want, there's ward 7."

"Whatever." Axel murmured and then turned on his heel to leave. He nearly bumped into me before he slithered by me—and straight into Lexaeus. Lexaeus was a deal taller than Axel but not enough to hover over him completely. Yet Axel still glared at him when he refused to move. With much aggravation, he shoved Lexaeus aside and ventured into the hallway. He definitely wasn't in such a good mood today.

Before I could say anything, I was being ushered inside by Xigbar. But—but I wasn't ready yet—that was all that went through my head. I tried to shut my eyes, but they wouldn't shut. I tried to open them, but they refused to fully open. I squinted, made sure to keep my eyes on the floor—

Suddenly there was a cough from the corner.

A violent, disturbing cough; one that could shake one's whole being.

It reminded me of when Demyx lay there, sick and unconscious, the night we found him. But that wasn't Demyx's coughing. It was a voice I'd heard before, but it definitely wasn't Demyx.

I turned slowly and opened my eyes. I spotted a man lying on one of the lounge sofas. His eyes were glazed over with sleep, but he still retained his gaze on me. I choked on my words, unable to speak. This man; long, locked hair pouring about his face, eyes that stopped you in their tracks, stolidity buried within his furry brow… this was—this was Xaldin… He stared at me piercingly. I didn't know what to say to him, but he looked as if he was waiting for an answer of some sort. What—did he expect me to apologize for abandoning them? I looked at him, trying to understand what was going through his head at that time. All my silent inquiries came back a blur.

I slowly approached him. When I reached his side, he sat up and gave another boisterous cough. I didn't know why I couldn't speak to him; I'd been looking for him and the others since I'd arrived here and now, it seemed as though I no longer cared about their existence! What the hell was wrong with me?

"Ah—" Two large hands, clasped on my shoulders, instantly pulled me away. They spun me around to face their owner. I was in nothing short of shock when I'd recognized the voice, the eyes, this person's pale skin… he smiled at me; a smug smile, one that I'd seen often from him in our days of rivalry. I was inclined to return his smile, but only because I had remembered our pointless rivalries from when we were. How we would vie for Sir Ansem's attention… it all seemed so trivial now. He chuckled, haughtily, "—and you must be Zexion, am I right?" he asked me, eyes aglow faintly.

I stared at him.

"Yes." I answered abruptly. "… and you're Xemnas…?"

He only nodded in acknowledgement.

"Do you… still value our teacher?"

At this, his smug expression melted off his face, replaced by something more befitting of his previous character; stoic and passive. This was the Xemnas I so fondly remembered. "What makes you think that?" he asked, sharply. I could tell he was growing angry with me.

But, as per usual, I didn't care. At this, I smiled at him. "No reason… Xemnas." I lied. Of course I lied! Is he seriously attempting to fool me out of spite? I know he and I wanted the attention of our teacher more than anything, and I know he and I turned against Sir Ansem as we all did! Did he really expect me to believe that he had no motives for taking on Sir Ansem's name rather than the name of his other? What was going on in his small, impudent mind anyway?

He removed his hands from my shoulders and seemed to be regretful of the warm embrace earlier. I was too focused on Xaldin that, when I first entered, I never even saw Xemnas. But now, he was emitting such a burning aura that I could be within five feet of him, and feel uneasy. I could feel his uncertainty. I turned away and approached Xaldin once more. "What happened to you?" I asked him. I was amazed that I was actually able to form proper words this time, since I was so 'star-struck' beforehand. I assumed my brief confrontation with Xemnas changed all that.

Xaldin gave another short cough, and held up a finger as he massaged his chest. "I think—" cough. "—toxins from Vexen's—" cough. "—experiment."

"Experiment?" I repeated. "What experiment?"

"He tried to get—" he gave another violent cough that might as well have shaken the room, and he continued, seemingly much more at ease than before. "—those dusks… uncover their true beings. I met up with him and tried to help him, but he disapproved and kicked me out."

Harsh.

"So then," he took a deep yet shaky breath. "I left on my way again trying to look for someone else, but the more I walked, the more I felt sick… I passed out."

Sad.

"Yes, it's the truth." Xemnas spoke up once more, as if we'd all been waiting to hear him speak. He had his arms crossed and was pacing around Saix's study with a look on his face that could've very well shown that he owned it. "I found dear Xaldin just by the Skyway here a day ago. He was unconscious, which I found rather odd for a Nobody. However, I took him with me back to this castle in order for him to get some rest."

"How did you know where it was?" I questioned him.

He flashed me a disturbed look, as if I was threatening his intelligence. His eyes seemed to shift about the room with a certain fondness and he drifted towards one of the walls. Touching it in an odd, reminiscent manner, he began to speak. "I… always knew where it was… dearest Zexion." At this, he snapped his attention on me fully. His eyes penetrated my being, which made for a most uncomfortable confrontation. His voice was sharp and low as he said this. But this, I remember boldly. He said to me, "I built this castle… I built it."

I was completely taken aback. I could even hear Xigbar behind me murmuring a string of profanities, and Lexaeus attempting to compete with Xigbar's homily. I couldn't believe what he told me. He built this castle? But how? Those that are alive can't come to this world. How is it possible that Xemnas managed to infiltrate this world that doesn't exist and yet breathes within the realms of reality? Even as Xehanort, it posed an impossible task! What was he talking about? I was stuttering, uncertainty spilling from my words like water. "You… y-you built… this?"

"Yes." He answered me most abruptly, his eyes still refusing to look elsewhere. "I built it. I recall… I recall in dreams I used to come here." He gave a deep, burdened sigh. "I never used to know what this place was, but I'd come here. Every time I dreamt of this world, I would be building another part of this castle—whether it be another hallway, another floor or another room… slowly, over the course of a year, the castle would grow bigger. But… but—" he slammed his fist against the wall, provoking a glorious rumble. I was caught off balance and braced my feet securely on the floor as I heard him continue his speech. "—but the Heartless and those stupid, stupid Nobodies—they'd come here and ruin everything! All my hard work… disappearing. With each passing dream, my time for repair and construction would become shorter and shorter." He looked at Xaldin on the sofa, and then towards Xigbar and Lexaeus behind me. His eyes seemed to portray a hidden remorse or regret… as if his eyes were a chasm of secrets. I suppose that's all they could be since they were portals to nothing anymore.

His voice was grave. "I found that the more experimentation I underwent, the longer I would remain in this world of dreams—building this castle, protecting it from those who tried to harm it… I felt it was my duty. I opted for more experimentation." As he said this, he looked none of us in the eye. But I had caught on quite well; his greed, his need to build this castle was the reason we all inhabited it at that moment. I had no words for him. No, not even anything profane. Just… no words.

"I had made it to this world at last." He continued to explain. "Finally… I was one who lived amidst the twilight. I was amazed when I first arrived here because I didn't think this world really existed… in a sense, it doesn't. But I was relieved… I wanted to search for my castle, the castle I had built with my own hands. And now… now I'd found it." A creepy grin appeared on his face. It only disgusted me. He found resolve in finding this castle, whereas I found no resolve in it at all. Look what we had to become to achieve this; beings not whole, not existing... is it really worth it to have this castle in the sky?

"I admire Saix for protecting it for me while I was gone." He wandered over to Saix and gave him a pat on the shoulder. Saix didn't show any form of gratitude towards Xemnas, but he rarely showed anything similar to anyone else. Xemnas would settle for an unresponsive Saix, because it was the same as a 'you're welcome'.

Suddenly, before anyone else could utter another word, an annoyed Marluxia entered the study at once. His normally frivolous hair seemed to be radiating the anger that would've inhabited his eyes. I had no idea what got him so worked up, but I assume that he was somewhere on the other side of the wall when Xemnas pounded his fist against it. His chest rose and fell with every vigorous breath. "Who touched the wall?" he snarled at us.

"Problem, Marluxia?" Saix asked him.

"Why yes, Saix." He replied, blatantly mocking his tone of voice. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and instantly turned on Xemnas. "Too wrapped up in your talk about the keyblade again?"

The keyblade?

"Why haven't you been excommunicated yet?" Xemnas leered at him, crossing his arms. "Is that all you came to bitch about?"

"You wish!"

"The keyblade…?"

Xemnas turned to me at once. He smiled widely, as if this was something else he could teach me since I clearly had no knowledge on it. I hated the way he looked at me, as if I was some idiot. He began to preach in his high and mighty voice once more. "The keyblade… said to bring chaos and peace at the same time. The only weapon said to unlock a person's heart. A captive heart… these hearts, the heart of every world, of every soul… Kingdom Hearts." He looked at me, as if hoping that I would ask what Kingdom Hearts was. What the hell—I knew what it was! The heart of all worlds—Kingdom Hearts. It was inane for a scientist to call themselves as such, and not know what Kingdom Hearts was.

"I've found Saix to be most resourceful…" Xemnas turned to Saix once more and gave him another pat on the shoulder. Saix stayed unmoved but he did give a simple nod. "We've… well in lamest terms, we've been discussing terms to becoming whole."

"Becoming whole?" Suddenly, Marluxia seemed interested. I felt relieved for him because I knew of his intentions. He took a step forward. "I was wondering if it was possible, but I'd—I'd never come up with a proper hypothesis—"

"Well that's because you, my dear Marluxia, are a rookie." He gave a careless wave of his hand and dismissed Marluxia's inquiry. I could see the defeat lingering by his eyes, but he didn't show it. Xemnas continued in his carefree manner. "I wouldn't expect you to ever have a hypothesis. However, we've uncovered that if we were to become whole… the easiest way would be through the power of the keyblade."

"The power of the keyblade?" Xigbar repeated bluntly. "I'd'a thought to wield the, uh, the keyblade, you need to be the, uh… well, the keyblade master. And you know we ain't none of that."

At this, Xemnas gave us each a smug smile. I couldn't read this look. At that time, I knew he knew something… something forbidden. But he never once told us. In fact, all the previous knowledge I'm sure is second nature to you, we only found out about after our numbers had increased. About Ansem, his Heartless… but that's a different story. Nevertheless, Xemnas retained his smile and he told us. "There is a boy." And he grinned.

I hoped he wasn't indulging in some foreign fantasy.

"A boy?" Lexaeus repeated. "So what?"

"There is a boy who is the chosen one; he is the keyblade master." He told us, nodding. "If we somehow find this boy, this keyblade master, we can use him to fulfill our aspirations of becoming whole. This keyblade fuels the essence of Kingdom Hearts. If we can somehow channel the hearts set free by the keyblade, then we can direct them to our database and use them… we can become whole. Saix—" he turned to him instantly. "—I'm sure that's something you wouldn't mind looking into, of course."

"Naturally." Saix nodded in acknowledgement.

I must admit; Xemnas' idea about this keyblade master was quite genius, but I was not willing on siding with him. I'd been led into destruction by him before, so I was skeptical. To me… it made no sense that Xemnas, whom I'd known to be most devious, would instantly trust Saix with such a task. I mean, here we stood—4 of his original 5 accomplices—and he wouldn't entrust us with such a task? Even though I wasn't fond of Xemnas in any way, he'd have sooner entrusted this task to me, as I'd known him longer.

"W-wait…" Marluxia began shakily, taking another step forward. Xemnas raised an eyebrow at him. "Xemnas… y-you mean to tell me that… w-we're going to use this boy in order to become whole—?"

"Well use would be an abnormal term, don't you think?" Xemnas spat quickly. He smiled. "Think of it as an unlikely partnership where the other will synonymously agree to said terms…"

Marluxia slowly, but surely, shook his head. I admired his bravery. Xemnas truly had inherited something special when he'd become a Nobody. He possessed something that no one could touch. But Marluxia… Marluxia was different. Only at that time could I understand Marluxia's internal conflict. He wanted to be whole. He wanted to be whole more than anything, to see his mother more than anything… but he'd been down this road before. He didn't want to use another being for his own selfish desires. Look what had happened to Demyx after all. Demyx, a soul that truly didn't belong here… and because of Marluxia… he wouldn't have anyone sharing in his mishaps ever again.

Xemnas was caught off guard by Marluxia's response. He looked slightly perturbed at the pink-haired man, and crossed his arms in a formidable manner. "So you disagree?" he questioned him. "You disagree—you don't want to become whole—"

"I want to be whole again, but there must be some other way!" he argued with him.

Xemnas gazed at him. His gaze, his discontent seemed to almost shake the room a slight bit. Even Xaldin on the sofa noticed and he slowly rose to his feet. Slowly, he trudged over to Xemnas' side and placed a hand on his shoulder as if to calm him. Xemnas gave a regretful sigh, as if we'd all wronged him in some way or another.

"Well what do you propose?" Saix spoke up, dropping his head to the side casually.

"You're siding with him?" Marluxia snapped at him, gesturing towards Xemnas. "You've just met him not more than a few days ago, and already you trust his motives? Why is it that you're only nervous about trusting us, and yet you'd trust this complete stranger?" he snarled angrily.

"I think that's enough out of you, flower boy." Xemnas spoke quite softly at most. A smile satisfyingly found its way to his lips, as he merely lifted a finger towards Marluxia. A pair of dark hands, or what have you, instantly formed and bound its way around Marluxia's neck as if to choke him. I stared on in awe as they hoisted him into the air by his neck. Marluxia held his breath and tried to pry the hands off him, but it was no use. The more Xemnas' maniacal smile grew, the tighter the bond was.

"Let—let him go, Xemnas." Xigbar spoke up, glancing at Marluxia cautiously. "There's no need for all of this—"

"Do you plan to kill him?" Saix shrugged in a carefree manner. "The boy can not die so easily, and we have work to do."

Gritting his teeth in defeat, Xemnas instantly dropped his arm to his side. The dark hands disappeared and Marluxia came crashing to the ground, coughing and sputtering incomprehensible speech. Xemnas turned and ignored him. My guess is that he was attempting to forget the defiance Marluxia had shown him. He was neutral with people who didn't care about his ideas, but he absolutely despised those that rebelled against him.

"Do you…" Neither of us had expected Marluxia to speak so soon after almost being choked to death. I turned to him and he slowly rose to his feet. I expected him to seem phased but he rose in an eloquent manner as if he wasn't just being strangled moments ago. With one hand on his neck, he spoke, breathily, "Do you really think your simplistic ideas will work?" This surely caught Xemnas' attention, though he refused to turn and face the angered Marluxia. "I suppose if we'd all left something behind in our others, yours was simply good logic—" and for good reason too, since no one seems to want to use it out here. "—because there's no way you could come up with that and still claim to be an intellectual!" He held his free hand out and instantly, a rather large scythe formed in it. Before I had time to run or even cover my head in confusion, he whirled it at our direction and—out burst a cascade of vines and branches. They began to swarm us, entomb us and bind us to the walls as if we were rogue plants. I had never felt so much restriction on my movement in my life. It was as if I was just a head—I could no longer feel anything else. … a perfect comparison, if I do say so myself.

"You will never understand!" he screamed at us. "Neither of you! Responsibility doesn't lie in the hands of the strong for a reason!" And with that… like a flustered girl, he stormed out of the study in a rage. I could hear his footsteps hounding the hallway, rushing down the stairs and out through the main gates… never to be seen or heard of for quite a while.

I wanted to tell him… I regret not telling him this: Responsibility may not lie in the hands of the strong, but it grows in the hands of the strong. For someone like him, whose hands nurtured a garden and knew what it meant to raise something that lives, I thought he would at least know this. I was wrong once more.

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Ooooookay. :D

So, I hope everything up till now it at least moderately okay and it's moderately easy to follow. :D AND YES. I'm aware I keep saying that, but just… yeah whatever. XD I'm just wasting space. Lalala. :D

Review please:D Because. I live off reviews. And feedback is always good. :D … BY THE WAY. 'Universus' is Latin for 'Whole'.