Chapter Fourteen

Take It All Away

The memories came to him in droves. There were images of Fuu, Rai and Vivi in Twilight Town. There were faces of different people and events. He saw images of his parents and the Struggle matches he always won.

Those memories began to fade away and long forgotten memories bubbled up to the surface. There were images of a blond boy who loved music and the water. He also saw a tall black haired gunslinger who constantly wore a scowl on his face.

There was also a red head present. His bright green eyes shone with mischief and he constantly stayed with the singing blond. Those people were important to him, Seifer knew that now, especially the blond boy.

He raked his brain for their names as more memories of two separate lives bubbled up to the surface of his overheating mind. He saw a castle being invaded by black creatures...the Heartless.

Seifer wanted to scream and rant at the unfairness of it all. The Heartless had invaded Radiant Garden and they had been powerless to stop it. What had happened to Vincent and Reno and...Myde. His little brother had been there when the darkness had come. After the castle had fallen Seifer couldn't remember anything after that. Only a deep darkness and a feeling of such emptiness remained.

He wanted to wake up, to be free from the dark oblivion he was trapped in. The face of a man with lavender hair and cold eyes came to his mind unbidden. Seifer remembered the feeling of unease as the stranger approached him.

All he could recall was a fist coming towards his face and then agonizing waves of fire spreading across his body and into his mind. Seifer wanted to scream, he couldn't move his body and inch and the fiery pain continued to spike through his skull.

"Myde..." he whispered his brother's name, a plea for his family to help him.

The World That Never Was

Castle Dungeon

Xemnas stared down at the blond boy in the prison cell, a scowl evident on his face as he kept his arms crossed over his chest. He teenager was still asleep although he often mumbled the name Myde in his dreams. Xemnas turned away from the slumbering human as he thought over his options.

Axel wasn't the only Nobody working a different agenda now. With Zexion obviously up to something this could complicate things. Xemnas did not want his plans foiled after working so hard to achieve the goal of Kingdom Hearts.

Whatever had happened to Demyx was causing great unrest within the Organization and the Keyblade Master had gone silent. Xemnas knew he had to check things out for himself. The only one he could fully trust now in the Organization was Saix. The Lunar Diviner was currently completing a mission at Hollow Bastion so Xemnas would have to carry out this recon mission by himself. He heard the boy mutter something in his sleep.

That was another problem he would have to deal with. Zexion would have to be dealt with along with Axel. The blond boy in the cage would either go back to his own world or Xemnas could easily throw him to the Heartless.

If the boy had a strong heart then his Nobody could be of use to the Organization. But keeping the blond in that cage could serve Xemnas a better purpose. Eventually Zexion would return for his prisoner and then Xemnas could learn some truths.

Number I waved his hand to conjure up a portal. It was no good sitting around and waiting for everything to proceed according to plan. Stepping into the portal Xemnas travelled to the world that the Keyblade master now walked upon. Hollow Bastion was a world that spawned resilient humans. The Restoration Committee, as they were known as, were already back to rebuilding their world. Xemnas stood within the Crystal Fissure.

He scanned the Great Maw from where he now stood. Sora should have been down there, killing the Heartless and providing Xemnas with more power. Glancing towards the castle he smirked as he recalled how Maleficent thought she could control the Heartless and the darkness within her own heart. She was a power hungry fool and she got what she so richly deserved. Xemnas turned his back on the ruined castle and made his way up towards the Bailey.

"Xemnas..." a familiar voice called out ho him.

"Saix." Number I looked towards the black portal that popped up near the Postern entrance. "What is happening with the Keyblade Master?"

"The Keyblade was broken by Demyx." Saix reported. Xemnas didn't bother trying to hide his shock at the report.

"How did that come about?" he demanded icily.

"From what I could see the blade shattered once it contacted Demyx. I would have reported back soon bit I wished to further observe what would happen." Saix said apologetically.

"So what have you learned?" Xemnas growled.

"It seems Demyx left Hollow Bastion to retrieve something dear to him." Saix snorted. "They are all gathered back at that wizard's house."

"Then we shall have to investigate further." Xemnas said.

"What would you have me do?" Saix asked.

"Stay here for now. I want to have a word with Zexion." the Superior stated.

"What does Number VI have to do with any of this?" Saix raised an eyebrow.

"He seems quite adamant about retrieving Demyx. Zexion always did have an...unhealthy fixation concerning Number IX." Xemnas turned back towards the Bailey.

"Then I shall take care of Axel." Saix smirked.

"Do not fail me." Xemnas warned.

Merlin's House

When Sora, Donald and Goofy made it back to Hollow Bastion they entered Merlin's House in time for the completion of the Keyblade. Myde had just finished explaining about Seifer and Reno's connection just as Sora entered the house.

Before they could be welcomed back the Keyblade immediately found its way back into the hands of its rightful master. Sora smiled as the familiar weight and feel of the hilt fitted into his hand. He could feel his strength returning already.

"It worked!" Donald cried.

"It's good to have it back." Sora grinned. His sapphire ryes fell on Myde as the blond moved back towards the bed. "So you're Myde now?"

"Yeah." aqua eyes glittered innocently. "It's weird though. I remember fighting you as Demyx."

"How are you feeling now?" Vincent sat down on the bed beside Myde.

"I gotta find Seifer." Myde exclaimed.

"He was kidnapped. I think Zexion might have him." Sora spoke up.

"Zexy?" Myde gasped.

"Looks like he wants you back Demyx." Axel sneered.

"Myde told us that Reno's heart is within Seifer." Leon said.

"Like how Kairi's heart was within me?" Sora raised an eyebrow.

"I had no other choice and Seifer was the only one there who could handle it." Myde cried suddenly.

"If he's that important we should find him." Cloud said.

"If Zexion ahs him then Seifer will be in the World That Never Was." Axel spoke up.

"Can't you just take us there?" Yuffie demanded. Axel rolled his jade eyes at the girl.

"That world is unlike anything you've ever seen. The Heartless swarm around the place while the Nobodies guard the main buildings. And need I remind you all that Xemnas and his cronies will be there." Axel snorted.

"He's right." Myde sighed heavily. "You won't get through the city without being torn to pieces."

"So what should we do now?" Aerith asked.

"Let me talk to Zexion." Myde suggested.

"Is that a good idea?" Cloud narrowed his eyes.

"It's the only option we've got right now." Axel pointed out.

"Why are we even entertaining the thought of helping this guy out?" Cloud pointed out.

"Well he did fix the Keyblade. We owe him." Sora scratched his head.

"He may have his heart back but he was with Organization XIII." Cloud sighed.

"There is a security risk but he did help us." Leon rubbed his temple.

"So he's staying with us now?" Yuffie turned to the stoic brunet.

As soon as Yuffie uttered that sentence a portal opened in the house and a cloaked figure stepped through. Lavender hair fell across one side of a porcelain white face and one eye narrowed to a slit.

Zexion scowled at the group assembled in the room and then his eyes fell on Leon. The brunet was already holding his Gunblade in a defensive stance. Zexion wanted nothing more than to simply kill the human. Glancing around the room his eyes finally found what he was looking for.

There stood Demyx, long legs uncovered and a cloak hanging off his lithe body. Creamy skin glowed in the firelight as he wrapped the cloak tightly around his body. The material fell off his shoulders slightly and those endless sea green eyes were wide with fear and surprise. Those rose petal lips were parted and the tip of a pink tongue was visible. Zexion could feel a damn nosebleed coming on. He forced to take his mind out of the gutter.

"We were wondering when you'd show up." Yuffie declared.

"What do you want?" Cloud growled. Zexion kept his steely gaze fixed on the beautiful blond before him.

"You know what I want." he stated calmly. Axel bit back a laugh at the double meaning in that sentence.

"Too bad. You're not taking him anywhere." Leon affirmed. His grip tightened on the Gunblade.

"I don't think he'll be able to refuse me." Zexion replied.

"You took Seifer didn't you?" Sora said.

"He's safe for now." Zexion drawled.

"Please take me to him." Myde sprang up from the bed.

"Give me a reason why I should listen to you, Myde?" Zexion growled.

"We were friends right?" Myde said in a small voice.

"No...I was friends with Demyx. I don't know Myde." Zexion raised a hand.

"Then why are you here?" Aerith spoke.

"I'm going to fix him." Zexion replied. Vincent was standing in front of Myde, his gun already drawn.

"You're not touching him." Vincent snapped.

"Zexy..." Myde whimpered.

"Don't call me that!" Zexion roared. "Only Demyx can call me that."

"But I have his memories." Myde pleaded.

"I'm going to fix you and get Demyx back." Zexion said in a calm tone.

"Get out now." Leon growled.

Before anymore threats could be made a startled yelp turned everyone's attention towards Myde. Axel had his arm around the blond's waist and was pressing him forcibly against his own lanky body.

The red head had grabbed hold of Myde when Vincent, Leon and the others squared off against Zexion. Myde tried to break free from Axel but the red head had an iron grip on his waist. Fiery jade eyes twinkled in mirth when the Cloaked Schemer balled his fists.

"Let him go Number VIII." Zexion warned.

"No can do. Besides I'm making sure Myde sticks to our deal." Axel conjured up a portal. "I'll have him back in one piece soon enough." With that said Axel pulled Myde into the portal.

"Great." Leon snarled.

"So the Organization are just a bunch of backstabbers." Cloud snorted.

"What did he mean by a deal?" Yuffie asked.

"I don't care. I'll get Demyx back one way or another." Zexion said and, if it were possible, he was able to feel a burning rage within him. "And when I find Axel I'm going to kill him myself."

Sora felt a sharp pang in his chest when Zexion said that. Looking towards the Cloaked Schemer Sora heard a single sentence echo through his mind. He honestly didn't know why he thought it or why he felt the need to listen to it. But the Keyblade Master did listen as he let the pain in his heart consume him. If he hurts Axel Zexion will die.

Note-Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Zemyx day on this lovely June 9th. Keep watching as the story unfolds. More concerning Seifer and Reno will be revealed.