Hey, people. Sorry about this being a whole week late. I think the rest of the chapters will probably be like that. 'nyways, I know I've said this before but I'll just say it again: Happy New Year, dudes! Yeah, hopefully, it'll be happy.

Disclaimer: All Kingdom Hearts characters belong to Square Enix and Disney.

Passion

Chapter 13 : People Say

The next day, Luxord woke up to find Xigbar gone and the space next to him cold, probably form being unoccupied for some time. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, feeling slightly dizzy form the movement.

Remembering the mission, he got off the bed, grabbed his jacket and slipped into it. He started in the direction of the door before thinking better of it. Halting in his steps, Luxord opened a portal to the kitchen and stepped into it, deciding against walking all the way to the kitchen. As he entered the kitchen, he had to blink a few times, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the sudden light.

When he could see properly again, he looked around the kitchen, taking in its silent and unoccupied condition. Spotting the coffee maker, he moved towards it, stopping by a cupboard to get himself a mug first before reaching out for the coffee pot. Judging from the amount of coffee still present, he decided it was safe to assume most of the Organization was still asleep–else the coffee would be half gone–and that meant he could–hopefully–take his time before leaving for the mission.

Pulling out a chair and sitting on it, he took a small sip form the mug in his hands, feeling refreshed as warmth made its way through his body. He had just settled down to slowly drinking the coffee when the sounds of footsteps reached his ears, each footstep becoming louder as the seconds ticked by. Abandoning the initial plan of savoring the still hot liquid, Luxord drank it as fast as he could, ignoring the way his throat protested, quickly emptying the mug.

Having no desire to see any of the Organization's early risers–in fact, the only he didn't mind was probably Xigbar–, he got up and hurriedly deposited the empty mug into the sink. Just as he was about to teleport to a different part of the castle–he'd leave for Port Royal later–, the owner of the footsteps spoke up. "Good morning, Number X."

Recognizing the voice, Luxord closed his eyes briefly, not at all pleased to have his suspicions confirmed, before opening them and turning around to face the last man he wanted to see that morning. "Good morning, Number XI."

Marluxia stood in the doorway of the kitchen, the ever present fake smile on his face. "You're certainly up early. Any reason in particular?" he asked as he sat down at the table.

He regretted his earlier decision; the better choice would have been to warp back to his room, taking the coffee with him. "Xemnas assigned a mission to me."

"Did he?" The other man's eyes seemed to light up slightly, the expression on his face changing slightly to something that faintly resembled unfriendly eagerness. "What does the Superior want you to do?"

Feeling oddly repulsed by the other man's expression, Luxord turned away, moving towards the snack cupboard. He opened it and randomly picked a jar of biscuits, taking two out for himself before replacing the lid on the jar. "That," he said as he returned to the container to its place, "does not concern you."

"Ah, of course. My apologies. Please, ignore that question," was Marluxia's response.

Luxord didn't turn back to look at the other man, nor did he say anything else. Instead he opened a portal back to his room, desiring no further conversation with he other man and wanting to leave as soon as possible.

He had just taken a step towards the portal when Marluxia said, "However, I do have another question."

Pausing in his movements, Luxord looked back at the man sitting at the table, forcing himself to maintain a blank expression. "What is it?" he asked, fighting to keep the reluctance from becoming apparent.

Marluxia's face remained pleasant but Luxord didn't think he appreciated the somewhat smug smile the other man wore. "Is there, by any chance, anyone accompanying you on the mission?"

He felt surprised by the question, curious as to what brought it up. "No," he answered shortly. After a moment's consideration, he added, "Why do you ask?"

The smile grew, cutting through the innocent expression Luxord had never believed. "Oh, no reason. I was just wondering."

Luxord didn't bother prodding for a more specific answer; he stepped into the portal in front of him, leaving the kitchen and its sole occupant behind. Soon after, he found himself in his room again, standing next to the bed. Remembering the biscuits in his hand, he sat down on his bed and took a bite out of one of them, absently chewing as he pondered the question earlier. He had no idea as to why the man had asked the question; did Marluxia think he'd be taking someone along with him? And even if that was what the other man was thinking, who could he have in mind?

The only person he could think of was Xigbar, since he preferred no company at all to everyone else's; in fact, the only reason he put up with the sniper was because Xigbar had persisted in irritating him with his presence and the only choices he had were either to continue resenting the other man's company or learn to tolerate it. Should that be the answer, why would Marluxia even be interested to begin with?

He bit back a sigh and finished the last of his morning meal, feeling less and less eager about going to Port Royal. Seeing no way to get out of it–not that he would have, even if there was a way–, he got up and covered his head with his jacket's hood. Calling once more to the darkness, he pictured his destination in his mind, concentrating as hard as he could. When he felt like he had a reasonably good image of it, Luxord summoned a portal connected to the place he had thought of and stepped into it.

A blue-filled sight greeted him, decorated with shades of red–in certain parts–and white markings. Xigbar had told him about this place. The pathway was apparently connected to the pathways of darkness they used, accessible only when they were trying to access a place in a different world. He walked on, closing in on the other portal some distance away and stepping into that one.

The first thing he noticed was the brightness and warmth of the sunlight. The next thing he noticed–and this he noticed with a small amount of satisfaction and quite a bit of relief–was that he had teleported himself to a spot different from the one he had come to the first time he found himself here.

Luxord took a moment to familiarize himself with the almost-forgotten heat and bright light of the sun, enjoying the feel of authentic warmth that far surpassed the heat of the artificial lights back in the other world. Then he started walking, moving in the direction of the loud voices and various other sounds.

Soon a town came into view, alive with activity as large, bustling crowds occupied the streets. The almost deafening noise unbalanced him; he had gotten so used to the quite castle–meaning the times without Axel's childish pranks–and its dark and even quieter city. It seemed like he'd have to learn to get used to the clamor all over again.

He stepped into the crowd, trying to avoid contact as much as possible and ignoring the few heads turned his way, silently repeating to himself that they were just curious at the sight of his odd–to them–clothing as he attempted to convince himself to not worry unnecessarily. If Xemnas had been here before and the man had sent him back here with such ease, it meant curiosity was of no problem; so long as he didn't accidentally reveal himself, all would go well.

Turning around a corner, Luxord searched for someplace with a lower noise level. The Heartless–if there were any–were probably avoiding making their presence known; else the whole town would be enveloped in chaotic fear and so far, he hadn't seen anything that even mildly fit that description. At one point, he came to a place that seemed slightly quieter than the earlier streets, though not by much. The crowd, although thinner, was in no other way different from the crowds before, so chances of Heartless being present were probably also minimal.

Only when he came to an isolated place, a distance away from the busy crowds and completely devoid of people, did he stop. Bricks had been stationed in certain places, traces of the beginnings of walls that had probably been abandoned. The place didn't look anymore suspicious than the streets he had just walked before, the only difference being the more silent surroundings. Still, he needed a starting point somewhere and this might as well be it.

Luxord started walking again, his steps cautious and his guard up, ready for any form of surprises. Over the past few days, he had learned to recognize the vague difference between the two types of darkness; the one that lashed out, bit and clawed at any being within their reach was filled with a certain sort of malice, buzzing slightly with energy, whereas the darkness that readily obeyed his commands hummed silently in the air, remaining still unless prodded. It was something Xigbar had taught him, the sniper saying that having one of the Organization being torn apart by a couple of Shadows was hardly going to be of any benefit.

He supposed the ocean was quite close; he could hear the sounds of waves crashing against the rocks and the beaches but he couldn't see it. The air was accompanied occasionally by breezes, causing the branches to sway and the leaves to rustle. The loud voices had been reduced to a low buzz, barely audible from the place he was. So far, there hadn't been a single living creature in sight–save for the trees–, the only way he knew of them were the cawing sounds they made and the seldom flapping of their wings.

Crows were pitiable creatures and in an odd, unexplainable way, they reminded him of the Organization; both fully clad in black and both giving off the aura of a mystery. What exactly was the purpose of their existence, the feathery birds painted as black as night with a voice so unpleasant that one 'caw' would ring in a person's ears a good time after it was first heard?

They were often associated with bad luck, he had heard, a warning of the coming of unhappy times. The presence of a crow–to certain superstitious people–could mean a various number of things and avoiding them were usually in people's best interests. Most of the times, crows were considered an omen, bringing misfortune to any who see the ebony creatures. In extreme cases of the ridiculous belief, to have a crow landing on the roof of a person's home meant death was lingering close by.

It was preposterous, having so much faith in such an incredulous belief. How could crows possibly bring signs of future events with them? The future was an uncertain thing, a time meant to be known only when it became the present, not a moment before.

The future depended on fate. Luck may have something to do with things but the future was mostly in destiny's hands. People were not meant to tamper with events to come, not meant to play with the future and changing it to fit their liking. A person could do everything imaginable to predict the many possible futures but no once could actually envisage it completely. Alterations should be left to fate and fate alone.

The future was unpredictable; no matter how people might say otherwise, the future has always been and always will be a time out of reach.

His thoughts were brought to an abrupt stop when a low rumble interrupted the silence. His head snapped up, instantly noticing what he had missed earlier as he took in the threateningly dark clouds that had already covered a large portion of the sky. He paused, absently wondering why he hadn't noticed the change before as he debated his next step. If he went back to the castle now, he would be returning empty–handed and his mission would be labeled a failure, being put into the same category as Number IX–who had made a miserable mess of his simple task, something Xigbar had enjoyed telling him about very much–and that wasn't a very appealing thought.

However, if he did decide to stay here and attempt to complete the mission later on, after the rain stops, he'd have to look for shelter first. That was simple enough–all he had to do was find a tavern nearby and he'd have a good enough shelter–but Xemnas had specifically said to stay away from such places. Going into a tavern increased the chances of bumping into someone that might recognize him, though he wouldn't mind taking his chances and playing the game.

A brief flash of light pierced through the sky, followed by another growl of thunder, almost like a warning to him; if he wanted to stay dry, he would have to make up his mind soon. The clouds seemed to signify a long, heavy shower, judging from the dark color it was, so he wasn't sure if he'd be able to continue his search afterwards.

He reached a decision as the third lightning streaked the sky, a flash of white contrasting against the dark shades of the rain clouds. Luxord quickly walked back towards the crowded streets, now having become more chaotic as people moved in a hurry, saving themselves and their belongings. Looking around, he spotted a tavern nearby. He hesitated only for a short moment before briskly cutting through the crowd, deciding he'd worry about the consequences later; technically, as long as he kept his hood up and stayed away from gambling tables, he should be fine.

Pushing the entrance door open, Luxord was instantly greeted with more loud voices and drunken laugher. He closed the door behind him, searching for a safe place to sit; a corner would be the best, of course, but a place a good distance away from the erratic group of stumbling drunk customers would serve its purpose well enough. Finding a place that would have to do, he moved over to it and sat down, deciding not to stop for a drink first.

A group of men were playing a game of cards a few tables in away, their voices barely perceptible amongst the noise. It was all he could do to resist the temptation to walk over there and join them; it had been so long since he'd played a good game of poker with money as the risks. He looked away, trying to ignore their presence and stifling the slowly-building urge.

It was at that moment when a drunkard stumbled Luxord's way, banging his knee against the table and causing it to shake slightly as he lost his balance. The man clutched the table for support, using one hand to steady himself as the other held his drink uncertainly in the air, before giving Luxord a toothy grin. "Sorry 'bout that. The walls have taken to dancing lately and the floor's decided to join 'em."

Luxord didn't say anything, watching as the intruder sat uninvited in the vacant seat in front of him as he debated whether or not it was safe to speak. He couldn't remember ever seeing this particular man before but he couldn't say he was sure; he had seen far too many unimportant faces to be able to recall each and every one perfectly.

The man in front of him slammed the mug in his hand onto the table, spilling some of its contents. He mumbled something under his breath but the words were far too slurred and voice too low for it to be audible. Then he leaned back, looking at Luxord. "Not having anything to drink?"

Then again, taking into account the staggering and the shaky movements, the man was probably drunken enough that he won't be able to remember anything that happened before he passes out later. "Not today, no."

He nodded, raising the glass in his hand. "Good choice there. I'd rather not get any myself, but once you start on your first…" he trailed off, leaving his sentence unfinished in favor of drinking the alcoholic liquid.

A thought occurred to him and he wondered if this man–even if he was drunk–could provide some useful information. If he did, then Luxord wouldn't have to return empty-handed and it would excuse him for seeking shelter in a tavern. "Tell me, have there been any strange events occurring around here lately? Things that seem out of place and have no reasonable explanations?"

"None that I cant think of. Just the usual everyday stuff; pirates attacks, pirates take and kill what and who they want, pirates leave."

"So there have been no signs of anything out of the ordinary?"

He took a few more swigs from his drink. "Nope." More incoherent mumbling followed at this point, effectively halting the conversation. Luxord considered what little he had managed to get from the man. Either the Heartless had not reached this place yet or these people welcomed the creatures with open hands. He wasn't sure if that would qualify as evidence worth believing to Xemnas, so the risks of returning empty-handed were still there.

Suddenly, the other man's head snapped up from its downcast position, a dazed look apparent in his eyes. "Can I interest you in a story? It's a rather good one I heard from a friend of mine from work."

Deciding he still had time to spare, Luxord accepted the offer. "What kind of tale are you proposing?"

The man's grin grew, stretching as it length grew. "It's a strange tale, indeed. One you won't regret hearing. Have you ever heard of the Black Pearl?" He took another few gulps from the almost-finished drink, not seeming to want an answer. "People say the Black Pearl is the fastest ship ever to sail the ocean seas. She moves as swift as the ocean's breezes, carrying the vilest crew of pirates ever. A hundred times more violent and even more dangerous, the pirates of the Black Pearl are notorious for their greedy looting and treachery."

The tale sounded familiar but Luxord couldn't place it; perhaps he had overheard a similar story before. "There was news of them all over the place. Everyone was warned to be careful, to report all possible sightings of the ship. Then," he paused, unsteadily gazing at Luxord, "all of sudden, they disappeared. They vanished without a trace, ship and crew. No one knows what became of them. Some say they were caught and thrown into Davy Jones's locker, submitted to eternal slavery. Some said they found a great treasure and are now spending it all away on life's many pleasures." Finished with his tale, the man leaned back once more, right hand never leaving the glass of intoxicating drink.

Luxord considered the tale, debating its authenticity. "How true is the Black Pearl?" he asked

"Well, that depends. I, for one, can tell you that the Black Pearl is very much real. Others might think differently. It's entirely up to you."

"I see." He wondered if Xemnas would consider the story as useful information. It was hard to tell what their 'leader' was thinking most of the time; the man seemed to spend a lot of his time in his room and the few times Luxord had seen him, the man had worn an unreadable expression.

His thoughts were once again interrupted when the man sitting in front of him said, "You look kind of familiar. Have we perhaps run into each other before?"

Luxord took that as his cue to leave. Getting up, he said, "I can't say I can recall ever meeting you before. Either way, I thank you for your…interesting tale. It was a very entertaining listen." Before the other man could say anything else, he left the table, walking to the door of the tavern. Once outside, he made his way back towards the isolated place earlier, ignoring the rain falling on him, wetting his clothes. Only when he was sure no one would see him did he open a portal back to the castle.

After making his way through the completely still blue path, he arrived in his room, only mildly surprised to see the Gambler Nobodies on his bed. At his entrance, they got off his bed, floating in the air for a while before settling on his chair and table. Luxord decided there was no harm in leaving them in his room while he reported to Xemnas–it wasn't like he had ever witnessed them doing anything havoc-inducing–, so he didn't say anything.

Instead of walking to his destination, he again opted for warping, summoning another portal in front of him. A few steps found him gazing at Xemnas's door and he knocked a couple of times on it. He heard the man's voice soon after, granting him permission to enter, so he turned the doorknob and did so.

Not very much to his surprise, Xemnas was not alone; he had noticed that some of the first six members of the Organization tend to spend a good deal of time with the silver-haired man, discussing things Luxord had stopped pestering himself with. He did, however, feel quite surprised to see Xigbar being the one in Xemnas's room this time, standing next to the table.

The sniper looked just as shocked as Luxord felt, surprise coloring his face before it was replaced with a wide grin. "Well, look who's back from his first mission. Kicked any Heartless ass, by any chance?"

Unsure of whether he should stay or leave, Luxord left the door open, ignoring Xigbar's words as he looked at Xemnas. "If I'm interrupting something, I can come by again some time later."

The dark-skinned man shook his head, his movements as slow as always. "No, you're not interrupting. The conversation Xigbar and I were having has already ended." At his words, Xigbar glanced sharply at Xemnas, grin never leaving his face but expression hardening slightly. "What news do you have of Port Royal?"

"Yeah, tell us all about your mission." Xigbar's gaze had left Xemnas and was now being directed his way, the grin having changed to the usual smirk. "Make sure you include everything that happened. Don't leave out a single thing, including the reason why you're wet." He paused, gazing thoughtfully. "You know, you always seem to end up wet somehow. I wonder why. It's not like you're much of a water person anyways."

He resisted the temptation to ask about the two men's earlier conversation; he pushed the door close, hearing it shut gently. He glanced briefly at Xigbar–who had made absolutely no move to excuse himself–, still curious about the reason behind the sharp look and ignoring the jab about him being wet–apparently, he had forgotten about that–, before obliging, relating the past events in Port Royal, including the story he had heard from the drunk man at the tavern.

End of 13th chapter

You know, when I started this story, I honestly didn't think it'd get very many reviews; my highest hopes were around 5 or so. It's got 21 now! does a little dance in mind It makes me so HAPPY! Thank you, everyone!

I understand how my pessimism is annoying (it annoys me too, sometimes, believe me) so I'd like to apologize about that. It's just that it comes naturally for some stupid reason. So, that being said, this time around I'll keep my opinions to myself, 'kay? Not a word from me.

By the way, Porporino the III, I'm a girl. And no, I don't think you're an ass. Why would I? I thought about putting it in my profile thingy but then I didn't. And thanks for the review for the other story.

Thanks again, you guys! You people are really great dudes and I owe you big, big time!