Chapter 9: The return

Xarsha sat on the railing of the many balconies randomly placed around the castle, but this particular one had the best view to watch the heart shaped moon, Kingdom Hearts. Her legs hanged delicately from the outside of the railing as she stared at the blank sky, the moon giving a quiet glow, a small frown on her face. She hadn't been too cheerful these past few weeks. Her best friend's sudden disappearance, especially how she had ran away from her that day, slowly turned her slightly less talkative, even though she was never talkative in the first place. Roxas and Xehclis had noticed her sudden change and tried to divert her attention. It worked, for a time, but then she would just look at the empty bed next to her in their room and the thoughts would rematerialize within.

She admired the fact that they had wanted to help, but she just couldn't forget the pained look on her friend's face as she ran into the dark hole, leaving her behind with no reason. Xehclis soon explained the reason to her, but that only saddened Xarsha more. She slowly turned her gaze downward to the never-ending ground below and she quickly looked back up, tightening her grip on the rail. She then heard a sound and she jumped, almost falling off, but rebalancing herself as she turned around, turning her whole body with her at the portal that appeared behind her.

Kaycex walked through, seemingly stiff, and she stared at her best friend, whom she found looked as bad as she did. She then felt bad for what she did to her friend, finding that even being a nobody her absence affected her friend. "Hey." She stated, waving with two fingers.

She quickly jumped from where she was and practically lunged herself at Kaycex, giving her a hug, not too constricting. She didn't let go for a little while, trying to hope that this wasn't a dream. She then looked up at Kaycex's darkened eyes and exasperated a trembling sigh. Axel appeared behind the two of them, but didn't want to cut it. "Where were you?!" The small girl cried, her voice pitched highly and almost shrill, she couldn't even make out what she had said herself.

"My secret place." She explained to her. "A place where I could think on some things, and plan, just where I can make decisions for myself. But I am here now." She continued.

"I was so...I just...Please, don't do that again!" She begged, her eyes wide at her best friend's response. "You look so tired..." She said again, her voice back in its normal state.

Kaycex gave her a warm smile. "I'm fine! See?" She stated, using two of her fingers to pry her eyes wider. She looked at her for a moment, then smiled, a small laugh escaping and then she laughed freely, Axel giving a small chuckle as well.

"But, I would like a nap here for a while, you two might as well let the rest and the superior know I am back so I can go on missions, finally." She stated, opening a portal to their room and going to lay down, already closing her eyes.

Xarsha and Axel exchanged a glance and Axel shook his head with a small smile. "C'mon, let's go tell everyone." Xarsha's eyes brightened a bit and she quickly sprinted down the hall to Roxas' room to tell him the news, Axel following her, but then trailed off to the Superior's office to inform Xemnas.

Xarsha tapped on Roxas' door, her mind now thinking, wondering if he was even her. She tapped once again and waited for an answer.

Roxas opened the door, automatically smiling from knowing it was her.

"Hey!" He stated, glad to see her smiling on her own.

She tried to stop herself from becoming too overexcited. "Kaycex is back!" She exclaimed, her voice not used to the high level, but she still held her smile. Roxas' eyes grew wide, and a smile was on his face. "Seriously? That's..well, it's great!" He exclaimed, lifting her up in a hug. "I'm just glad you won't be so sad anymore."

She gave a small cry of excitement as she was lifted and then smiled gently to him. "I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm glad you tried to get my mind off of it." She admitted, her voice grateful.

Roxas set her down. "Why wouldn't I? There is no need to thank me..." He told her, looking down at her.

"I'm just glad you...cared." She blushed, looking away.

Roxas blushed slightly and then sighed, hearing an announcement come on. "All members, upon the arrival of Kaycex new missions will be sent out and partners may be rearranged." Xemnas boomed.

Roxas scratched his head. "Looks like missions are back up." He half whined.

She gave a small giggle and then took his hand, a blush heating her face, but she ignored it, pulling him away from the door. "Let's go!" She encouraged.

Roxas fumbled as he was drag, surprised by her enthusiasm. She ran and he eventually ran beside her and then they were in the room full of chairs, the girl's seats at the very bottom. Kaycex was already in her seat, still looking a bit gloomy. Xarsha gave her a small smile and wave, then she hopped into her chair, her ankles bent so the toes of her boots touched together. She then looked to Kaycex and spoke softly, but loud enough for her voice to cross the medium distance between them. "Are you feeling better now?" She asked.

Kaycex realized their chairs were side by side. "Yes, a little."

"That's good. I hope you're well enough to go on missions." She said, she looked to the door as a few more members flowed in, taking their places. Kaycex saw Zexion walk in but she kept her head hung low and her eyes downcast so she didn't need to see him. She had already received the many welcomes and hellos and etcetera. She even received a more than excited hug from Demyx, who told her of several pranks he did in her name. She crossed her legs and then looked to the superior as he began to speak.

"Welcome. Now, most people are paired with who they should be paired with. But we have a few changes. Xehclis is with Axel and is no longer paired with Xigbar. Xigbar is back with Demyx who is no longer paired with Zexion. Kaycex is paired with Zexion. That is all. Missions are in the computer for each of you to take." He stated, and then motioned their leave.

Zexion was mentally shocked at the Superior's words as he looked uninterested at Kaycex, whom looked back at him with tired but pained eyes. Kaycex got up immediately, heading to the computer to check any updates on things. She waited for Zexion to come and she heard him come beside her, but she kept quiet. He stood next to her, but averted his gaze from her, his mind trying to drown out what had happened previously with the sound of the keyboard clacking. She looked at the keyboard as he typed in their names and then a mission came up. They were to dispose of Maleficent, because she was once again, trying to form up an army of heartless. Zexion quickly glanced at the screen and then opened a portal and going through it, motioning for her to follow him but not looked at her.

She followed and they landed in a dark and dank castle, the smell horrifying. Kaycex only ignored it and looked at Zexion for where they were supposed to head. "What direction." She asked, finally breaking the silence between them. He closed his eyes, ignoring the repulsive stench. He opened his eyes again and began to walk towards a staircase heading upward. She followed him instinctively and they went through the dank area. Kaycex noticed how his face cringed at the smell and then she sighed, not knowing how to help him, and then she realized her sigh resonated through the halls of the castle. She just followed him, the stairs a little slippery from who knows what.

He almost slipped, but quickly regained balance and he glanced over his shoulder, looking down at her, but not at her eyes. "Be careful." He warned, his voice a bit strained.

She only replied with a mild "hm" and continued behind him until they finally reached the top of the stairs, leading to a big wooden door. "Do we go in?" She asked.

"Wait." He breathed, going towards it, trying to listen for any sounds that might indicate that someone was inside. He heard nothing so he slowly put his hand on the knob and opened it carefully, peeking inside.

Inside was a huge rock built room, with colossal windows showing the dark desolate world outside. She walked past Zexion, her feet making clunks on the floor as she walked. She went to the middle to find anything peculiar and just then green fire appeared in a circle around her, caging her, and then Maleficent appeared.

"Kaycex!" He called, seeing the fire appear and lock her within her spot. He looked around and then Malificent appeared behind him, ready to strike with her staff, but he swiftly side-stepped out of the way, his book already in hand, the pages flipping wildly.

Kaycex looked around, trying to find her way out, the fire was starting to get closer to her, but then she called upon her ribbon and used it as a rope to try to swing out, as she was climbing the top of it caught on fire and she fell onto the rock, hitting her back hard and knocking the wind out of her. She was no longer in the fire circle, but now she was hurt pretty badly on her spine.

White orbs surrounded Malificent as they began to copy her abilities, her attacks. The orbs then flew back into the Lexicon, the pages ceasing their flipping. He summoned up his power and the green flames ensnared the dragon witch as she quickly burned alive, her staff dropping to the floor and the green orb shattering into flickers. He then looked over to the center, seeing Kaycex laying limply over a rock. He quickly ran to her and noticed how she was laying up close. He was afraid to move her, any more movement to her spine could cause it to break and she would become paralyzed. He knelt down next to her face, slowly cupping a cheek with his gloved hand. "Kaycex, can you hear me?" He asked, practically stunned.

She winced. "Yeah." She stated swiftly in a whisper. "Fu-" She started, "I should have done better than that."

He almost wanted to smile, but his face still masked concern. "Yeah, you could have, but that's not important right now." He agreed. "Can you still move your arms and legs?" He asked.

She sighed and moved her arm, wincing a bit. "It hurts pretty badly, but I think I can do it." She told him. She tried to sit up but cringed and started to fall back on her back, but his hand was behind it to keep it from doing that. "I guess this is what I get for leaving."

He sighed. "Don't over-do it. You could hurt yourself even more." He noted, and then started to hook his arm under her knees, his hand gently supporting her back. "I might as well carry you, I want to get out of this horrid place as soon as possible." He practically growled, looking at the remains of Maleficent and the shattered staff.

She blushed brightly. "You could just leave me, you know."

He glared, looking away. As much as I'd like to... He thought. "I can't." He responded simply, a portal opening before them.

Kaycex sighed, annoyed at him as he carried her through the portal and into his room. "Please don't tell me Vexen is the nurse." She told him. He held back a laugh, a quick tss escaping his semi-pursed lips. Once he regained his composure, he set her down gently on the bed.

"No, it's not like that. No one's a nurse, really. You just need to take this and rest." He explained, pulling out a small jar with a glowing green liquid inside. She sighed, reaching for it, but he took his hand and moved hers back down, he lifted her neck and opened the jar and let her drink some of it, color returning to her cheeks. "I can't believe I fell." She told him, sighing when she finished as she laid her head back down on the pillow, him going to throw the empty bottle away.

"Then once you feel better, we'll practice your...climbing skills." He said, moving over to his chair, yet another book laid open and face down on the arm.

She frowned. "It wasn't necessarily my climbing, it was more of my timing and planning, I shouldn't have done it so close to the fire." She told him. "And then it snapped and I fell."

He nodded. "Well, now you know not to do that." He sighed, flipping the pages of the book, occasionally glancing at her.

She just stopped talking, deciding it was pointless to try anything at this point to try small talk, but then she sighed, summing up her strength. 'I'm sorry." She told him.

He looked up from his book again. "For what?" He asked, nonchalantly.

"For not telling you about how I was going to meet with Axel. I know I didn't have to but I knew it would have bothered you if you knew, I mean, I don't know what I am trying to say. I went away to think to myself about things, and I came to the conclusion that I have to face what I've done...I know it isn't much, but it hurt the fact that you might have considered me a friend. So, I'm sorry." She said, her voice quiet, sad, her words coming out jumbled and confused, but the point was across.

He looked at her for a few moments after she finished, her words echoing within the air of his room. "I supposed...I should say sorry as well...When you left, I had realized...I should have just listened to you, maybe you had a good reason...But of course, if it's with number VII, I don't suppose there ever was any good reason." He spat towards the end, frowning, but his features softened. "I'm sorry, I should have just listened to you...It was immature of me to just walk away..." He admitted.

She shook her head, flinching when she found it hurt her to do that movement.

"No, you had good reason he had killed you before and you thought he was your friend, you had every reason to storm off as you did. Axel...I don't know what to think of him to be honest. He is kind to me but when we first met I hated him and was terrified of him, of what he could do to me. And then one day in the showers he cornered me after I got dressed and forced a kiss on me, which I then beat him five times over for and then he was going to just walk away like nothing happened so I chased him down and accidently caused him to drop his clothing and that lead us to falling into the darkness with him clinging onto me for dear life and then we ended up in another world where I stayed but then found Chelsi and then she wanted to become a nobody because I guess she did research on us or something and then it led to Axel turning her and then we came back and then I noticed how everyone hung onto her, even you, and it made me somehow miffed at dinner. I didn't realize I was jealous until I ran away from here. But anyway, then I left and Axel followed me and pinned me against a wall, again, and told me to meet him, so I went and saw him and Xehclis kiss which bothered me, for some reason, and then I ran to sit in the showers like an idiot and then I met Demyx and then I returned back to you and then Xehclis came and told you and then that hurt me because I didn't so much care about Xehclis and Axel but of the fact that you would hate me. So then I walked around the castle, not knowing what to do and thinking on some things,

like how Sarah and I became heartless when Yubaba should have been watching over the bath house and keeping that from happening and how her and I were the only ones killed and then I wondered how it would be around everyone and how I would only have Xarsha but then Xarsha would have Roxas, I guess, and then I wouldn't have nobody because you had your book, Axel had Xehclis, vice versa, and Xarsha would be absorbed into Roxas. And I was just confused and hating that gaping feeling in my freaking chest and then how I messed it up between us and didn't tell you the truth. But there it all is." She ended, sighing as she finished and realizing it had took a lot of her energy to say all of that in her weakened state.

He sat there somewhat dumbfounded at her words, the whole truth coming out from her in practically one breath. He stared into nothingness for a minute or two, sponging in what she had said and trying to make simple and coherent sentences before he even said anything as much as a sigh. "Regardless..." He began, breathing in deeply. "I failed...I had been trying to protect you from him in the first place...And then, it just...I wanted to protect you." He repeated, closing his book and putting it on the small table next to him. "To think...That's the reason you were late that day. He k-kissed you and you chased after him..." He stopped himself, realizing his voice was sort of trembling in anger. "I know, I know...I'm mad, but...I don't know...That just doesn't seem to matter now...I had also done some thinking that day...I just thought how...How you, I guess, cared so much that we almost..." He stopped himself from saying the word. "Anyways...I still need to say sorry, because even though to you, it was a good reason, it was still unlike me and not what I should have done in the first place. I'm sorry." He said, getting up and moving to the bed, sitting at the foot of it.

She saw him hunched over, surprised that her saying sorry changed so much in him. "Well thank you very much. It's good to know now that you won't dread saving me. Earlier I had a feeling you wanted to leave me there, atleast a part of me did. You seemed a bit flustered and didn't know what to do.." She told him.

He looked away. "To be honest, I was still mad, so I did think about leaving you, but I quickly extinguished the thought. It was wrong of me." He explained, looking back into her eyes. "I probably wouldn't have been able to anyways."

She saw his caring and blushed, giving out a quiet laugh and noticing him looking at her and she looked away. "I didn't know things would get so awkward upon my return..."

He shook his head, looking at the sheets next to him, his visible eye wide. "Y-yes...Neither did I." He admitted. "But...I'm glad you did come back." He said, relaxing his face and looking back at her again.

"Thanks, I'm pretty glad I did too." She told him, her eyes growing tired as she closed them.

He noticed her expression as she slowly drifted off as he took the blanket and placed it over her shoulders, brushing back her bangs with the back of his hand. "Night." He sighed.