Crossover Part Eleven
Chapter Eleven: Deception
"It's no use, Master. I just can't seem to find them." Akira wearily said as he slumped on the counter.
Master watched the dejected teen carefully. "…Akira-kun, you just need to be patient." He smiled, "It's no use fretting over it if you still have a way to fix it."
Akira looked at him, "Yeah, but…"
"You've had some troubles in the past with Shirogane-san, have you not?"
"I have, but none of them have been as bad as this." Akira sat up and rested his head on his hand, "Normally Shirogane would just be the hyper Shirogane all over again."
"Akira-kun."
Akira faced him.
"You should ask yourself. 'What could I do that would make Shirogane the way he is now? What could I possibly have done to make him feel as bad as he does?'"
The teen thought over what Master was saying, "…I'm not sure." He finally answered. "I don't know."
"Hmm…" Master faced his countertop in thought, "Was there anything he said before he disappeared?"
Akira thought a minute, remembering.
"You broke your promise, Akira."
"…What did he mean by that?" He wondered out loud, "I didn't promise him anything, did I?"
Master faced him with an expecting expression, "You made a promise?"
"No…at least…I don't think I did…"
"Akira-kun," Master began again, "Try to remember. Remember well. Think about it."
Akira let his gaze wander from Master back to the countertop, trying to remember. "It was…several days ago…"
Shirogane smiled, "A lie would be me chasing a person other than you. I could never-would never do that."
"I remember taking his hand…"
"Neither would I."
"…You really mean that?" The shadow asked.
"You don't believe me? Fine. Hook your pinky around mine."
Akira's eyes grew wide and he looked at his pinky. "'Needle in my eye…" "…I won't lie.'" He recited. "…Oh, no…"
"It seems as if you've come to a conclusion…?" the bartender asked. "So? What is it?"
Akira continued thinking about it, not giving Master an answer.
"…Akira-kun?"
"Sorry Master, but I've got to think about something." The teen replied, standing up and grabbing his jacket. "Thanks for everything."
"Uh…of course…" Master heard the door to his bar close. "Hmm…" he began only to hear it open again, "Hm?"
"Hey…"
It's the voice of a female… light footsteps… it all sounds so familiar…
"Oh…" Master looked a bit pained as he smiled, "The girl from that night…" He rubbed the sore spot on his head for emphasis, "Is there something I can help you with this time? I pray it may not require another blow to my head…"
Larxene shifted her weight from side to side in front of the dark haired man, "…You know a girl named Lulu?" She asked.
He nodded, "Yes, I do in fact. Are you a friend of hers?"
"…Do you meet with her often?"
"I'm afraid I don't."
Larxene folded her arms, "…Listen, blind man…"
"My name is Shuichi."
She shrugged, "…Well, whatever…I just want to tell you…Lulu's behind all of this. She's the one who started this charade…"
Master listened intently. "And…why are you telling me?"
Larxene shrugged again, "…I'm only telling you this because…um…look, it's an apology. For hitting you on the head…you know?" She twirled a string of her hair with her fingers. "That's all."
The elder smiled, "Well, thank you. That information is very helpful, miss…ah, what's your name?"
"That…that's none of your business. If you want more information about what Lulu put into their drinks, find her. Good-bye." She opened the door to leave the bar but paused. "...Larxene."
"Hmm?" The bartender looked up.
"My name. It's Larxene." And she left.
Master faced his countertop. "She must have been involved somehow. Drinks? Well, Akira-kun and Axel were complaining about what they drank…" he looked back up at the door way. "…Who was she? Akira-kun nor Shirogane-san ever mentioned a Larxene before, so they don't know her…" A thought of Axel and Roxas passed his mind. "…Unless…those two might…"
Larxene opened her portal home outside of the bar, "Jeez, I'm breaking the rules now. I'm just as bad as Roxas and Axel," she pouted, "Oh, well. That bartender doesn't know what I look like. And even if Axel and Roxas do find out it's me…they aren't gonna find me anytime soon." She paused before stepping through the corridor and turned to face the world behind her.
Larxene would never admit it. Back in the bar, she wouldn't tell Master about her involvement in the whole thing. Of course, he must've knew-she was the one who put a bump on his head, after all, and he wasn't that dense.
"Hmm…" she chuckled. "I won't be coming back here again." And with her head held high, she walked through the gate, on her way to her biggest mission yet in Castle Oblivion with some others from the Organization.
Inside that bar, the apology wasn't meant just for Master. It was also an apology meant for ever meddling in that world in the first place.
xXx
Xion walked out of the dark corridor and looked around. Axel followed her out, looking at the familiar back alley.
"Coast is clear." She said, smiling to a withdrawn Axel.
He looked at the surrounding area with some sort of sadness.
"Hey…" She tugged at his arm, removing him from his trance, "Axel, come on! Now's not the time to be a wuss. Let's get that one heartless and look for information on what happened with you and Roxas."
He smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Sorry about that, Xion. Let's go." They walked side by side out of the alleyway.
"Aggh, what am I going to do?" Lulu whined, walking the streets, "It's gonna take a whole lot off thinking to create a big Kokuchi that Sawaki-sama demands…and it's gonna have to get rid of Akira…" She knew that wasn't going to be easy. "Well as long as Shirogane-san doesn't come along any time, then it's not gonna be that hard…"
Something caught her eye. "Hey, it's that red-head!" She almost yelled. "What's he doing back here? And he's brought another one?" She looked at Xion, "…It's a girl this time…wow, isn't he a player."
A brilliant idea suddenly popped into her head. "Ahh…" she smiled and giggled, "Killing two birds with one stone, huh? You're a genius, Lulu!"
Axel was still caught in his thoughts as he followed Xion blindly. First off, what would he do once he did find Shirogane or Akira? What would he say and how would he explain it? And then if he did get the truth, how would he explain it to Roxas who was still locked up in his room?
"Axel, you're grumbling to yourself." Xion laughed at him.
"Uh…yeah. Migraine."
"Are you sure you'll be okay for the mission?"
"Um…you know what? I think I'll go and investigate over here for a while. That wall looks suspicious, don't you think?"
Xion only smiled at him, "It's okay, Axel, I'll find the Heartless. Just get some rest, okay?" She left him behind. He's still not back to normal… she looked back at him, But at least he's smiling now…
Xion looked up from the ground and saw a…Heartless? It was a big one, but it was different looking. "I found it!" She yelled, "Axel!" There was no response.
He probably didn't hear me… "No matter." She took her Keyblade out, "He needs to rest anyway. Here goes! Hyaaaaah-!"
xXx
Too many ideas raced through the chocolate-haired boy's mind. My promise to Shirogane was that I wouldn't go after anyone else…the way he charged at Axel…could it be…?
Akira shook his head, "No way. I don't remember anything of it! But if my hypothesis is correct…" he didn't complete the sentence. "…If my hypothesis is correct then it would explain why Roxas and Shirogane were acting so strangely…" he sighed.
Things were starting to get too complicated and all mixed up for the adolescent. But the one thing he feared the most…
If my hypothesis is correct…then Axel and I probably- "Augh!"
Aya tackled him to the ground, narrowly dodging an attack, "Akira, will you pay attention?" she screamed at him, getting her sword.
Akira turned around to see what the hell had just happened, "Kokuchi!"
"It's looks like a combat type!" Aya yelled.
"Yeah, it's combat, but it's…"
"Way too big!" Kengo finished his sentence as he planned to punch it out through the top.
It dodged instantly and one of its claws slashed at his leg.
"Ow!"
Akira grabbed his weapon, (by then he had already become shin) and stabbed the Kokuchi. It recoiled, but it didn't stop attacking. "Not even a permanent damage!" He yelled.
"Akira, watch out!" Aya yelled jumping past him and leaping to slash the side of the monster. "Hyah!" She was suddenly kicked in the side and flung into a nearby wall.
"Aya!" Akira jumped above the monster, weapons pointed down at it like missiles. The monster suddenly swung its sharp edge of an arm to get him in an uppercut counter. He gasped and would've been finished there, but…
"STOP IT!"
Akira's blades made a loud clang on impact with Axel's weapon. And on the other side of Axel, Xion was there, her Keyblade deflected by his weapon as well. "What the hell are you guys doing?" He yelled.
Xion blinked and Akira landed back on the earth. Aya and Kengo stood where they were, confused.
Akira looked at the small girl standing on the other side of Axel. "…You were the Kokuchi…?"
Axel looked at Xion for an answer.
"No!" She shook her head, "You were the heartless! And so were they!" She pointed at Kengo and Aya, recognizing them. "Hey! It's you guys from before…"
"You've met?" Akira asked, looking at his friends.
Axel scratched his head, "Okay, before anything else happens, I think we should all explain what just went on back there. How do you guys know Xion and…" he trailed off, looking at Akira. "Us? We need to talk."
Author's Note:
This is the last chapter Larxene will be in, although she might be mentioned later on. Wow, in this chapter, I kept putting 'Akira's daggers' and then I stopped and was all like, 'Wait a minute, Nanaya already died, so his daggers are broken!' I don't know what the hell you call those new, shiny weapons of his, though. -get's shot- So anyway, things are starting to come together now...hmm…
Hanawei: I'm so happy you liked that last chapter! Actually, it was never in my mind to let them fight, but I really wanted to, knowing how Larxene wouldn't put up without one if she was messed around with. Like Akira, she doesn't like being taken advantage of. And just so you know…Lulu's punishment was actually dealt with by Sawaki when he told her that she was meddling. And Larxene…well…I guess her punishment would be going to Castle Oblivion and getting killed by Sora. Karma is a b*tch.
MonochromeFox: Thank you so much for the very kind review! It makes my day!
Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated!
So yeah…
