Chapter Ten: Jealousy

When I return to consciousness I'm vaguely aware of something cold and damp being pressed against my forehead. It's several minutes before I can open my eyes. When I finally do I see Lea looking down at me worriedly. In his hand is a white cloth. He smiles slightly, one that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey there, Xion," he says. When I try to sit up he pushes me back down, gently but firmly at the same time. "Just take it easy, you've been out cold for a couple days."

My eyes widen as I look around somewhat frantically, my mind feeling as though it has a fog settled upon it.

"What happened? Are we safe? What about Roxas?" I ask in one breath, struggling in to get up again, this time Lea does let me. Placing his hands on either side of my face he smiles reassuringly at me.

"Hey, it's okay. Everything is okay," he tells me, waiting until I calm down somewhat before continuing. "We're safe for now, in Halloween Town, or Christmas Town, agh whatever it's called. As for Roxas he's...okay too."

My mind is working well enough again that I catch the strangeness in his tone when he mentions Roxas. I let out a gasp as a sharp pain shoots up my side and into my chest, causing me to fall forward into Lea. He moves to sit beside me, holding me steady. When I look up at him again he doesn't manage to entirely mask the worry from his face fast enough for me not to notice.

"What...happened to me? That guy's attack shouldn't still be hurting...should it?" I ask, confused.

Lea looks away. "We're working on that. But don't worry, you're gonna be fine."

I try to think of an argument because I know something isn't right, but I can't seem to find a way to form a realistic explanation. Letting out a gasp in pain I lean against Lea, trying to fight against screaming because of it. He leans his head against mine, wiping my bangs from my face silently. I feel the cold cloth on my head again, it's only then that I realize I'm strangely cold but sweating.

I hear a door opening and force my eyes open. Roxas walks towards us, his eyes filled with a combination of concern and some strange anger that I can't identify.

"Hi Xion," he greets. "How are you feeling?"

I blink, again struggling to figure out what's different about his eyes. "Not the best... Roxas come here."

He frowns, seeming surprised but he walks closer before sitting down on the bed across from me. I lean forward, noticing for the first time how my vision is blurry. My eyes widen. His eyes certainly have changed. They now have the distinct amber-yellowy color associated with Xehanort. I turn to look back at Lea, to find his eyes share my worry. So that's what he meant when he answered about Roxas being fine... The pain pierces through me again and I fall back against Lea, a small cry from the pain escaping me. He holds me against him gently.

"What is going on?" Roxas demands, anger clear in his tone. "What are you guys hiding?"

I look up at Lea and he shakes his head no ever so slightly. Lea sighs, running his hand that isn't against my head, through his hair.

"Nothing Roxas," he mutters.

Roxas only glares at us. Would it be better to tell him? Or perhaps now just really isn't the time. All I know is that it hurts to think. The anger in his eyes fades only slightly as seems to realize how much pain I'm in.

"...Is she okay Lea?" he asks quietly.

"...She's gonna be fine," he replies simply, his tone strangely flat.

This seems to once again anger Roxas who after looking at us for a moment leaves the room in a hurry, letting the door close loudly behind him. Lea sighs, clearly from frustration, as he resumes stroking my hair back.

"Is he...going to turn into one of the Xehanort's?" I ask.

"He already is mostly Xehanort. I can hardly get anything through to him," Lea says, sounding almost defeated.

"Should we, tell him?" I ask.

"I don't know if it's better to tell him or not to at this point. He isn't going to take it well," Lea says. "But, I guess he's gonna have to find out. Better from us then Xehanort..."

I nod. "Do you think...he'll be able to break free from him?"

"Eh, yeah, why wouldn't he be able to? I mean Isa has managed to, somewhat," Lea tells me, reassuringly.

Though I think he probably just said that to reassure me I allow it to for the moment. My thoughts becoming more foggy and groggy as time passes. As my side starts throbbing I lean my cheek back against Lea's shoulder, letting him keep me upright as dreams overtake me.

Lea's Point of View

Xion's breathing slows as she falls asleep. After a moment she lets out a soft moan from the pain I'm sure she's in, but doesn't wake. I lean my head against hers. What a pickle we all are in. Xion was clearly poisoned by Vanitas's Keyblade. I wish I knew what type of poison! Isa and I have been trying to figure it out, but currently with no luck. The only person, if he can be called that, with any idea is Frankenstein. He's made some concoction he swears will work. If Xion gets much worse I guess I'll be left having to use it.

Isa certainly still isn't himself, but seems like he's trying to be. He's certainly less Xehanort though, and has been very helpful. I trust him. And then there's Roxas...I can't even begin to figure out how to help him. Everything I say seems to make him angry. If much more time passes with us being blocked from reaching help, he'll be lost to Xehanort.

My eyes snap upwards when the door opens again. It's Roxas. I watch as he sits down at the foot of the bed, looking intently at Xion. There's something even more strange in his eyes then the light amber color. Some emotion I can't quite put my finger on.

"She looks so peaceful..." Roxas says quietly. He frowns. "Do you like her, Lea?"

I frown, what a question. I chuckle softly. "Of course I like her."

His eyes turn to mine and he scowls. "You know what I mean. Do you have...feelings for her?"

My eyes widen in surprise. I look away from his gaze, heat rising into my cheeks as I struggle to find an answer. And the right one. At least he's asking me a friendly question...I guess.

"Well, yeah I do. I think...agh, it's kinda confusing. I'm still adjusting to having any feelings like this," I say, checking to make sure Xion is still sleeping soundly. "But the more I think about it, yeah, I think it might be more than just some silly crush."

The bed creeks as Roxas gets to his feet quickly. I stare up at him, shocked at the intense anger in his eyes and the other emotion that I finally am able to recognize; jealousy. Dang, how could I be so stupid? Back when I was a Nobody I used to think Roxas had a crush on her. But doesn't he like that other girl? Naminé?

"Roxas...I didn't—" I start but he cuts me off.

"Then stop liking her!" he yells, so loudly that I'm surprised it doesn't wake her up. She does stir slightly, turning her face into my shoulder slightly. Well, that isn't gonna make Roxas any happier.

I sigh. "It's not something you can just 'stop', Roxas."

"Why not?" he demands.

I run my fingers through my hair, becoming thoroughly frustrated. I know there's no way to reason with him now.

"Because, it just doesn't work like that," I say, fighting to keep my voice quiet.

He glares at me and I stare back steadily. After several minutes of this he turns and leaves the room, barreling past Isa in the doorway. I sigh, what can I do to help him? To help any of my friends for that matter.

Stepping inside with a scowl back Roxas's direction, Isa drops a large bird on the floor. I jump, surprised. It's clearly dead, he must have caught it... He looks over at me.

"...Is that our dinner?" I ask.

He nods. "Yes...unless you'd rather eat that green meal of Frankensteins that made us vomit the last time... How is she?"

"Sleeping now, but otherwise the same," I say, looking down. I look at the bird. "...Tell me you're going to be cooking that before eating it?"

"Of course not, and ruin all the nutritious value?" Isa says. He scowls, crossing his arms over his chest. "...Come fry it."

I chuckle slightly. At least his sense of humor is back. I lay Xion gently against her pillows, careful not to bang her injured side. I brush her bangs back from her face one final time and set the cloth on her forehead before sliding past her off of the bed. Isa slings the bird over his shoulder and I follow him from the room. He walks outside Frankenstein's house a short ways, setting the bird on top of a makeshift stove-thing. There are wooden sticks and logs underneath it, clearly what I'm supposed to light. And seeing as he's already readied the bird I set it ablaze. Perhaps with a little too much gusto as it briefly fully engulfs the bird and stove-like thing before dying back down to where it should be. I sit down hard a short distance away, resting my arms on my knees. Isa sits down to my left, I see him looking sideways at me out of the corner of his eye. Silence falls around us...this world is either filled with strange noises or entirely quiet.

"You know, it's nice to be on the same side as you again," I tell Isa.

He nods, without looking at me. "Same."

A smile spreads across my lips for a moment, glancing backwards at Frankenstein's house I sigh. Xion's getting worse, if something happens to her... No, it won't. I just might have to trust the doctor, insane as he is.

"Any luck, finding a way to get past the organization members looking for us between worlds?" I ask.

Isa shakes his head no. "They are being very thorough. Only a couple surrounding worlds aren't constantly watched."

A loud thud sounds beside me and I spin around. Isa's up on his feet, glaring at three annoying children named Lock, Shock and Barrel, as he rubs his head. I'm just glad they've decided to mainly aim pranks at Isa. But am mildly surprised with how well he's put up with it. My blue haired friend starts towards them but they run off squealing.

"Those infernal brats," he mutters, walking off.

I sigh, covering my eyes with a gloved hand. I'm not sure how much more of this madness I can take. Speaking of madness... I wonder why Roxas isn't back yet? I sigh, getting to my feet. Guess I should go look for him.