Chapter 37 – Erase
Xemnas sat at his desk with a fresh cup of coffee, musing over some paperwork. He found the paper rather dull and his mind wandered to something else. "Keep them out of Agrabah for now…they will find out when the time is right." His thoughts were interrupted abruptly by a knock on the door. "Come in."
The door opened cautiously and Vexen poked his head in. "Superior? Is now a good time?" he asked.
Xemnas let out a sigh and moved his coffee cup aside. "Proceed," he instructed.
Vexen looked relieved as he entered the superior's office and took a seat. And as soon as the Chilly Academic's rear hit the cushioned seat, his mouth started flapping. "Yes, well, superior, I just came here to inform you the condition of your men. Well actually two of your men aren't really men at all, which are Larxene and Xion. Now some may argue that Xion is a male because she is indeed a replica of Roxas made from Sora's leaked memories, but I have scientific proof she is indeed female. Now if you look at these reports you can see that she does undeniably have a vagina." He leaned over to show Xemnas the reports.
"I'm not interested in the puppet's anatomy!" Xemnas exclaimed, pushing the papers away. "What have you really come here to tell me?"
"Oh right," Vexen remember, folding up his "Xion Reports" and sticking them in his coat pocket. "Two of your men are unconscious." Then surprisingly, he closed his mouth and said nothing furthermore.
After a moment of silence, number I asked impatiently, "Well? Which ones?"
"The alienated bodybuilder and the bibliophile," Vexen answered simply.
Xemnas rolled his eyes. "In English, please?"
"Oh," number IV said, correcting his posture. "Lexaeus and Zexion."
Xemnas stroked his chin ponderously. "What exactly is wrong with them? Or do they have Demyx's 'disease'?"
"I don't know..." Vexen answered. He himself was stumped. "Maybe it's something going around…"
"Well have the dusks sanitize everything," Xemnas commanded with a very stern expression. "We don't want to lose anymore members; it'll slow down the process of completing Kingdom Hearts."
"Yes sir," Vexen responded. However, he didn't make any movement for the door. He just sat there, staring into space.
Xemnas raised an eyebrow. "Well, is that all? Or would you like to show me more reports on the replica's structure?" He had become irate and was dead-set on finishing his coffee in peace.
"Huh?" Vexen asked, coming out of dreamland. "Oh, that is all." As the superior let out a sigh of relief, the Chilly Academic exited the office.
Namine returned to the Grey Room via dark corridor, sketchpad in hand. She had just had an interesting conversation with Mrs. Potts that laid heavy on her mind. She looked down at her sketchbook and contemplated.
"I guess right now I can show Marluxia my drawing," she decided. "If he will talk to me…." She let out a depressed sigh. She secretly despised when people were upset with her, which any human can relate to. Except the thing was, Namine wasn't exactly a human. She was a Nobody. And still in the back of her mind she believe Nobodies couldn't feel; yet she proved herself wrong almost every second of her stay in the castle.
Meanwhile, Axel was having some complications of his own. He had planned to spend his evening eating ice cream with his two best buds, but he was starting to feel like just a spare tire. Plus the fact that he hadn't seen Larxene in a few days didn't make it any better. So he now lay sprawled on his bed, feeling dejected. "Where is Larxene anyways?" he muttered. Suddenly, as he was stretching his arms under his pillow, he felt an object. Taking it out from under the pillow, he recognized what it was. The WINNER ice cream stick. "Heh…I kind of miss you, Roxas," number VIII said with a humorless laugh. "It's not that I'm jealous or anything…Well actually I am jealous. Jealous that your Xion isn't a sadist like my Larxene." He cautiously rubbed the knife wounds in his back. "Kunai-happy quack." Little did he know he was about to meet a broken nymph.
At that instant there was a knock on the door. Axel let out a sigh and left his bed. But when he opened the door, what he saw left him in a state of shock. Larxene stood before him, her eyes red with tears. All Axel could do was blink.
"If you tell anyone about my current state I'll let you have it!" she exclaimed through tears, bringing her knives to Axel's neck.
Axel slowly took his hand and brought the knives down. "Larxene, what's wrong?"
"Oh, everything!" she cried out on frustration, flopping down on Axel's bed as if she owned the place.
Axel raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. "Oh really?" he asked, coming to his bedside. He tried his best not to acerbate number XII, listening patiently as she ranted.
"It's that Marluxia!" Larxene exclaimed, digging her nails into Axel's pillow. "He won't stop bugging me! On and on, finding new ways everyday to provoke me! There's only so much I can take! I want to kill him so badly!" She started to breath heavily, especially when she let out an earsplitting scream into Axel's pillow.
"Just calm down, Larx," Axel murmured, soothingly rubbing her back. He was attempting to calm her down, but he wondered if he would succeed. Eventually Larxene's screaming subsided and she began to breathe normally. "Well, looks like a tamed her," he chuckled.
Larxene let out a sigh. "Axel…Marluxia is such a liar…" she began softly.
"Now tell me what happened," Axel instructed gently, turning his soothing rub into a massage.
"Well…" she began with a sniff. "Last night he came to me and told me that Nobodies can't love."
Axel shook his head immediately. "Nonsense. Look at how Roxas and Xion are making out." As soon as those words had left his mouth, he realized how awkward they sounded. "Well that's not exactly what I meant but it fits too…"
Larxene was too distressed to catch the pun. "Yeah, I told him that. But he just said that since Sora had a strong heart it means that they have fragments of hearts. But since we don't…it means we can't…."
"Larxene," Axel interrupted, a serious look in his eyes. "Why does this mean anything to you? You're so savage that I didn't think you would care…"
"Axel, don't be ridiculous," Larxene said bitterly. "Savage or not, you know how I feel about you…"
A juvenile smile appeared on Axel's face. "Good. I was just checking before I reclaim my bed." Before Larxene knew what was happening, Axel appeared right beside her on the mattress.
"Hey-" Larxene protested. But Axel interrupted her by wrapping his arms around her and squeezing tightly.
"Seriously, Larx, don't worry about what that man tells you. If Nobodies can't love, how come he's going after you?"Axel asked.
Suddenly Larxene realized how foolish she had been. "Oh, I'm such a dumbbell!" she exclaimed, slapping her forehead.
Number VIII chuckled. "Nah, that's Marluxia." He then started to move his face closer to Larxene's.
Larxene's expression turned cross. "Are you trying to get fresh, pyro?"
"Maybe," Axel answered slickly, giving the corner of Larxene's mouth a quick lick.
Number XII let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Uh oh, you're in one of those moods again…"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Axel murmured, pulling the sadist even closer to him.
Larxene rolled her eyes again. "I surrender," she told him dully.
Axel blinked. He was surprised she was giving in so easily; she usually put up at least a small fight. "Really?"
In a flash Larxene pounced on top of him, pinning him down. "Tough luck, Charlie," she laughed sadistically, enjoying the fear she saw in Axel's eyes. She then swooped down to feed on her prey.
Axel let out a content sigh as he was caught in Larxene's kiss. His eyes shut tight and he felt as though he were tangled up in an unbelievable fantasy. He had spent all those years having a longing for what he thought was a heart, but he now realized that it was Larxene he had been yearning for. Finally when the kiss ended, he took in some air and said, "If that doesn't prove that pansy wrong, I don't know what will."
Larxene giggled at the name-calling – she personally loved name-calling – and flopped down next to Axel.
"You feeling better?" he asked, turning on his side to face her.
"Yeah," Larxene replied, stoking the side of his face with her fingernails.
Axel let out another peaceful sigh and felt foolish for complaining about Larxene to himself just a few minutes earlier. No matter how brutal she seemed, he knew she had a soft side. He chuckled lightly as she buried her head against his chest. For once she was acting like a little kitten instead of a ferocious lion. Axel placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"Axel?" Larxene asked, looking up at him with innocent eyes.
One look into Larxene's abnormal angelic eyes made Axel melt like his fiery chakrams would make objects do. "Yes Larxy?" he asked, eyes fixed on her.
"Can we go electrocute Marluxia and set him on fire?" Larxene asked, keeping her celestial gaze.
Axel let out a laugh. "Still thinking of destruction? Sure, I'd love to get even with him." He then drew Larxene in even closer to him, squeezing her and holding her in his thin arms. "You're mine, sadist…" He pulled her into another kiss, though this time he was in charge. Just as things were starting to heat up, the creak of the door startled them.
"Axel, can I borrow some let-" But as soon as Marluxia looked up, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Axel! Larxene! What in Mickey's name is going on here?" He was too shocked to move, he just stood in the doorway and stared, his blues eyes colossal.
Larxene and Axel quickly separated but they tried to keep their cool; they didn't want to seem as alarmed as Marluxia was. "Oops," Axel said sarcastically.
"Marluxia, really, can't you learn to knock?" Larxene asked, annoyed.
Marluxia's pupils dilated even more. "You…you…" Suddenly he raised his hand over his head and summoned his scythe. "All right, Axel, it's time I teach you a lesson."
"Oh it's a fight you want?" Axel asked casually, getting up from his bed. "Then might I say, Marluxia, that you picked the perfect time to do so."
"Yeah," Larxene added, getting up from the bed as well. "Because right now, Marluxia, you will have to fight both of us." She produced her knives with a wicked grin.
Marluxia showed a bit of hesitance but did not lower his weapon. "So be it," he answered. With a battle cry, Marluxia made the first move, thrusting his weapon forward at Axel. And so the mêlée for Larxene began.
Axel hopped out of the way, almost colliding into his lava lamp. But he was satisfied that he had dodged Marluxia's scythe. "You're too slow, old man," he mocked, sticking out his tongue. He then summoned his chakrams.
"How juvenile," Marluxia remarked emotionlessly, dodging Larxene's lunge.
As both Axel and Larxene sprung toward number XI, planning to pin him down together and painfully punish him, they were amazed at how quick he moved. And it wasn't easy in Axel's undersized bedroom, especially while carrying an oversized weapon. But Marluxia preformed it perfectly, appearing behind number VIII and XII. But Larxene and Axel were also quick, and moved away in time to avoid Marluxia's blow.
"Larxene, give it up," Marluxia said as his scythe clashed with Axel's chakrams. He looked over at Larxene who was blowing at her throwing knives, acting uninterested. "You cannot love this man!" He gathered his strength and pushed Axel back, causing the Flurry of Dancing Flames to tumble onto his bed.
As Larxene witnessed her Axel being thrown aside like a pair of old shoes, her anger boiled. "You mess with Axel you mess with me!" she exclaimed, striking him with her knives. The Graceful Assassin let out a yelp and jumped backwards. But Larxene wasn't finished with him yet. She jumped forward and kicked him in the gut, causing him to crash into Axel's wardrobe.
While this was going on, it gave Axel enough time to recover, and he shot up and blasted fireballs at Marluxia. "Burn baby!" Axel cried out as Marluxia's hair was engulfed in flames. Larxene stepped back and laughed.
Marluxia started to panic, afraid that his prize possession would burn up. He swiftly grabbed the closest thing he could find – which happened to be a pair of Axel's briefs – and started to pat out the flames on his head.
"Hey, those are mine!" Axel protested. Larxene just giggled, making the pyro's face turn red.
When Marluxia's hair was successfully put out, his threw the burned-up panties aside and got back into the brawl. Axel and Larxene lunged toward him, but he stopped their weapons with his scythe. As their weapons grinded against each others', they gritted their teeth and shouted insults.
"There's no way I'd like a pink-haired ballerina like you!" Larxene hollered, trying to sink her knives into his flesh.
"I'm a better pick than fire-pants!" Marluxia retorted, holding his scythe firmly in front of him.
"Hah!" Axel spat, pushing his chakrams up against Marluxia's pink weapon. "I'm not the idiot rubbing my hair with underwear!"
Marluxia's eyes narrowed. "You know perfectly well why I was doing that," he sneered, moving forward.
"Because you're arrogant and obsessed with your hair?" Larxene guessed with a smirk, holding him back.
"No…" Marluxia replied. He was about to speak more when Axel suddenly punched him in the face, causing him to fly backwards. The pyro then stood almost on top of him, preventing number XI from moving.
"I don't know what you've been telling my Larxene," Axel began in a low voice. "But I'll see to it that it stops! Or I will slit your throat." He pointed his chakram to Marluxia who was surprisingly shaking. "If you say love isn't real then why do you want Larxene so badly, hm?"
Marluxia tried to keep his dignity, but he felt strangely warn out. "Leave me alone, Axel."
Axel let out a laugh and got off of Marluxia. He then joined Larxene and dusted his hands off. "Checkmate."
Marluxia rubbed his sore head, wondering why he was feeling so weak. Suddenly a face flashed through his mind – Namine's face. He could hear her voice as well – such a soft, innocent sounding voice. At that moment he snapped out of his thoughts to see Larxene and Axel sharing a victory kiss. He groaned bitterly and picked up his scythe. He desperately wanted to teach Axel a lesson, but he just felt too feeble. So instead of heading towards the pyro, he headed for the door.
"Come again, anytime!" Axel laughed with a wave as Marluxia exited.
"Yeah," Larxene added. "I'll be waiting!" She then burst out in sadistic laughter.
As Marluxia stormed down the hall he felt so enraged that he killed all the dusks in his way. "I'll show them!" he exclaimed. "Love is foolish!"
"That sure was nice ice cream," Xion commented as she and Roxas entered the Grey Room, just returning from Twilight Town. "But I wonder where Axel was…"
"Same here," Roxas replied, putting away his mission gear. "He doesn't seem to eat ice cream with us anymore…And I kinda wanted to tell him about our date." Xion looked up at him in alarm. Realizing what she was worried about, Roxas put an arm around her. "Don't worry Xi, I won't tell him, I promise."
Xion's lips curved into an appreciative grin. "Thank you…"
Roxas chuckled and gave her a light squeeze. "That's my little Xion. What an adorable smile." He flashed one of his adoring smiles at the girl, causing her to giggle. Suddenly he had an idea which caused his eyes to light up. "Come on, let's sit down," he suggested, leading her to one of the couches. As they sat down, he continued. "We're alone now so why don't we…kiss?"
"K-kiss?" Xion stuttered, her face turning red. She felt especially shy for an unknown reason.
"Yeah," Roxas replied, his grin widening. He took Xion's hand and held it in his lap. "We were too busy eating and talking about Agrabah on the clock tower so we didn't get to. So how's about now?" He had a pleading look on his face as he leaned a bit closer.
"I don't know…" Xion said hesitantly, scooting back somewhat. "You did eat three ice creams…"
Roxas paused. "Are you scared of me?" he asked, sounding hurt.
Xion shook her head quickly. "N-no! It's just…"
But Roxas interrupted, gently pulling her into his grasp. "Xion…your coat is warm," he told her softly as he embraced her.
Xion tried to relax but she didn't know what he would do next. "I have to trust him," she told herself. "I love him…" She felt something inside her ache as Roxas let out a dejected sigh. She even heard him mumble 'she doesn't want to kiss me…', which filled her with sorrow. "R-Roxy?" she began quietly, looking up into his eyes.
"Yeah?" Roxas asked hopefully, holding his breath.
"Well…we are alone right now. C-can we kiss?" she asked, still a bit uneasy.
Roxas' blue eyes lit up excitedly and a wide grin graced his lips. "Oh Xion!" he said with a laugh, cuddling her tightly. "You really are so sweet…" He held her in his arms bridal style and gazed at her with wonder for a few seconds before starting to move his face closer. Just as he started to pucker up his lips, Xion put a finger to them.
"But first let's talk," she said in a low tone of voice, looking up at him with naïve eyes. "Please?"
Roxas sighed and let out a soft chortle. "All right, you, have it your way," he laughed, teasing her abdomen with light tickles. "Just make it pleasant, okay?"
Xion smiled and tried her hardest not to squirm. A relieved sigh escaped her lips as Roxas ended the tickles. "Okay, I will…" she reassured him. After a moment of lying in his arms in thought, Xion decided on a topic. "So tomorrow morning Namine will leave…"
A mischievous grin appeared on number XIII's face. "Yeah…Namine isn't the pleasant part of this topic, but her leaving sure is."
Xion let out a giggle at his remark. "Yep. I'm glad she didn't cause too much trouble." She reached up and stroked the side of Roxas' face. "But I still don't forgive her for hurting you."
Roxas gently took Xion's hand in his and stroked her palm. "Aw, forget about it, Xi. I'm healed, honest." He flashed her a big goofy grin, causing her to laugh. "Want me to prove it?" He didn't wait for her to answer; he just tipped her face closer to his and started for the kiss again.
Xion's pupils dilated and she let out a quiet 'meep' right before Roxas laid his lips upon hers. He tried to make the kiss a gentle one to soothe Xion from whatever might be bothering her. At first he even felt her shaking a bit which he noted as strange, but as soon as he started to cradle her she relaxed and began returning the kiss tenderly. The two held it out for as long as their lungs could stand, but eventually had to break up for air. As Roxas laid Xion's head down on his lap, he lightly caressed her delicate cheek for a moment before speak. "Thanks," he whispered, holding her wide-eyed gaze.
A giggle came from Xion's lips as she stared up at her number XIII. "I should be the one thanking you. You're…always there for me whenever I need you…even though I'm just a replica."
Roxas elevated her slightly and started to cradle her again. "I'll never forget you, Xion, even if we have to part again. Never in a million years, I promise."
"I promise that too," number XIV sniffed, feeling her eyes start to tear up. Their lips collided again for another kiss, though this time it was abbreviated. Once they separated they just gazed at each other lovingly for quite some time. Soon Xion began to dose off in Roxas' arms, due to all the rocking. Roxas chuckled softly as he watched his lover's eyes shut. As Xion felt herself drift off to sleep, she couldn't help but pick up a faint sonority. It sounded like soft, sweet singing, and the song was familiar.
You'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Suddenly recognizing the tune, Xion's eyes flickered open. The first thing she saw was Roxas' face, and he looked quite startled. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he asked, sounding fairly panicky.
Curious, Xion sat up part way. "Were you singing?" she inquired.
A light blush appeared on Roxas' face. "Yeah…I was," he admitted with an embarrassed smile.
"Isn't that the song Larxene once sang?" Xion asked him, blinking a few times. When Roxas nodded bashfully she wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him. "Do you really mean that? E-even though we don't have hearts?"
Roxas' eyes widened, feeling slightly hurt. "Of course, little Xi-Xi! I've told you many times how I feel. You…don't believe me?" He started to sniffle; Xion couldn't tell if he was serious or just faking to tease her.
"I'm sorry," Xion apologized, touching his cheek. "I believe you."
Roxas' pout morphed into a wide grin. "That's my Xi-Xi," he said affectionately, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned in for yet another kiss, but paused when he was only centimeters away to tease her with a few licks.
"Hey!" Xion squealed through laughter. "Stop!"
Roxas chuckled mischievously and continued on with his plan, attempting to kiss his Xion with more passion than he had ever used before. He firmly enveloped her lips with his and embraced her tightly against his body. He knew his heart would be racing swiftly if he possessed one, guessing Xion was feeling the same way. Xion returned his ardent kisses as best she could, which was enough to satisfy Roxas. As he focused on how sweet and tender her lips were and as Xion tried to keep herself from fainting, they were too occupied to notice someone else's presence. That is, until the beast started to bay.
"I can't take it anymore!" came a raging roar. Frightened, Roxas and Xion rapidly separated. Their eyes were stricken with fear as they identified the intruder – Marluxia. And he didn't look like he was too jolly to see them either. "Love this, love that! It's always love! This castle is full of it! It's ludicrous!"
"H-hey Marluxia," Roxas stuttered nervously.
Marluxia met the couple's eyes with a ferocious gaze. "And the superior does nothing about it…You two deserve to be swallowed up by the darkness you should posses."
"Now just wait a minute!" Roxas protested. He shot up off the couch, bringing Xion up with him.
Marluxia raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Roxas started to cower at Marluxia's irate gaze. "Um…n-nowhere in the Organization XIII handbook does it say we can't love…."
"It's a given," number XI replied in a deep tone of voice. The look in his eyes told of impending doom as his eyes scanned the fearful little Nobodies. "Now this relationship must be stopped."
"No!" Xion spoke up, clinging to Roxas. "I love Roxas so much! I won't be separated from him!" She felt her eyes fill up with tears, anticipating the worst. She looked up and saw how much afraid Roxas looked as well.
"That's quite a shame," Marluxia said, taking a step forward. "For I will see to it that you two never share another embrace."
"Leave us alone!" Roxas barked, summoning his keyblade. Seeing that it was most-likely dual time, Xion summoned her own keyblade as well.
But unfortunately, they were caught unaware and their weapons were flung from their grasp with one sharp strike of Marluxia's scythe. As the fear in their eyes rose, the Graceful Assassin let out a malevolent laugh. "It's too late you two…."
"Roxas…" Xion whimpered, clinging with all her might to Roxas' coat. Marluxia began to walk forward.
"Your friendship would have still been allowed to be kept if you hadn't broken the rules," he said in a menacing voice. "But you had to get tangled up in a deception which can only lead to destruction. Everybody knows Nobodies cannot love." As Roxas and Xion clung to each other timorously, Marluxia paused to decide just exactly how he was going to punish them. If he eliminated them he would undoubtedly be turned into a dusk, so he had to come up with a better plan. His mind suddenly wandered to the plan he had thought up a few nights ago. Suddenly the pitter-patter of little feet distracted him, causing him to turn around to see who was entering.
"Oh, Marluxia, I'm glad I found you," Namine said, coming up to the man with sketchpad in hand. She stopped dead in her tracks, however, when she saw Roxas and Xion, and how petrified they looked.
"Namine, come here," Marluxia instructed. Seeing how solemn the occasion was, Namine quickly obeyed and joined his side. He then turned back to Roxas and Xion, resting his hand on top of the witch's head. "Namine…erase their memories."
A/N: Hate the way I portrayed Larxene? Good, I hate the way you portray her too.