The Girl in the White Dress

Namine sighed as she looked down at the image she drew, an image of Sora holding his Keyblade. She was hunched over as she made sure the image was perfect

Invisible, unnoticed ...Until she was needed.

Invisible that was a good word to explain her situation right now. Constantly on the sidelines, just sitting in a corner with her tiny paper and crayons, looking at drawings of the one she wanted to meet above all others. Some would say it was obsessive, but she was fascinated by him, and would do anything to meet him at least once.

Knowing this kid, and knowing who he was.

That's why she was here after all.

Crude as it was, she was proud of her work and was ready to put it on the wall. It was the only color the room was given considering how dull and white everything else was. Yet this was the only room she was allowed to be in most of the time in the Castle, unless she was sent to somewhere else per order of her superiors. Otherwise this was it, just a single white room, a place of pure isolation and loneliness.

It was all she knew since she was born, or more when she came into being. She didn't really have what people would consider birth. All she had was an awakening, memories that she didn't really comprehend and a strange desire to know Sora. That was the one constant when she first felt life.

It was strange to be somewhat obsessed with someone she had never met. Yet when she saw him, her feelings began to rush in strange and unusual ways. She couldn't control and them and the desire to pursue them though was quite strong.

If only...If only…

"Ugh, well that was sure something" Namine turned around as a portal of darkness opened, Axel arriving looking exhausted, "Kid's got fight on him, I'll give him that"

From the couch in the room, another black coated figure laid. This one with blonde hair, cold green eyes, and a smirk that could kill. Larxene was her name, she had been keeping an eye on Namine most of the day. Though she kept to herself and that's how she liked it.

"Really? Can't handle a little bitty boy," Larxene cooed smugly, "Going soft in your old age Axel, thought you had a little fight in oyu"

"As if" Axel smirked, "And I don't get old remember, I've been age for...I honestly don't know how long"

"The boy is quite something isn't he. Reminds me of some of the kids I grew up with when I was a girl"

Axel just rolled his eyes, he looked at Larxene with a smug expression"I bet they enjoyed you"

"Oh believe me they did" Larxene snickered. Everyone tensed up for a moment. Her grin and expression became quite sadistic.

Namine cringed at the thought of Larxene being a child. Let alone probably a sadistic one at that "I can only imagine" she thought.

"Riiiiiight" Axel said his voice shiving, "Remind me to never look up your past"

"Eh, you aren't missing to much" Larxene said flipping her book again

"Nobody like me then," Axel chuckled.

Larxene just gave him a sly expression, "Aren't we all" she laughed.

"I would have kicked him around some more, as far as I'm concerned you went to soft on him" Larxene said as she turned another page of her book the Marquis de Sads, one of her favorites, "You know some emotional manipulation, mental breaking, that sorta thing...He seems like such a fragile flower".

"He's not a toy, he's a pawn," Axel reminded him, glaring at Larxene with a bit of disgust on his face "And one we aren't supposed to break just...prod in the right direction. Otherwise he's just a useless kid running around out castle...Boss person won't be happy about that. ``

"Whatever, you are so careful playing with him Axel, it's like you are holding back". Larxene eyes narrowed, "Almost like he reminds you of something...Or someone, don't let your personal feelings get in the way of the mission

Axel eyes narrowed, "I don't hold back, and I don't have feelings remember"

"That's not what I see," Larxene snickered looking up from her book now, "And I don't have feelings either but I do enjoy things either way"

"Well...What can I say the kids memories are fascinating, I mean given his situation after all, how can one not find them so".

Namine couldn't disagree. As long as she remembered her mind had been drawn to Sora, as if he was the one thing that she was sure about. A strange feeling to have for someone she has never met. But the more she heard about him from her superiors the more fascinated she became. The mysterious Keyblade Master in all his glory.

Oh the stories she heard that she knew. From his galavanting across the universe, defeating an evil Keyblade Master named Xehanort, an army of Heartless led by a witch named Maleficent, even having to battle his own friend for the greater good. Some of it sounded almost unreal, yet it was, it was all real. Though the part that struck him most was the part that struck everyone in this castle the most, the strength of his heart against the darkness from within.

Larxene laughed! "Whatever, besides we need him alive for their plan to work. Personally I say we just skin him now and be done with it, but hey that's just me".

"Yeah, to bad boss wouldn't appreciate it...This boss of course not the BIG BAD boss" Axel snickered as he leaned up against the wall, "But in all honesty, it's fascinating how we can be all worked up by one kid".

"It's not the kid, it's the blade, if he didn't have it, then he would just be another human being like everyone else...a true nobody with no purpose then to be nothing but just another civilian running around the world, being one in a million instead of standing out ." Larxene snickered as she sat up, "The fact the blade choose him at all is a mystery to pretty much everyone. Doesn't seem like a kid who really is the hero type".

"And what happened at Hollow Bastion"

"Ugh don't remind me" Larxene stuck out her tongue, "Sounds like something out of a fairy tale...The boy sacrifices himself to save the princess...Only to then be revived. Not everyone is lucky like that, some people don't get that satisfaction".

"To sacrifice themselves to the darkness?"

"To come back from it".

Now that too was something Namine was interested in learning as well. She had overheard what had happened to Sora at Maleficent fortress. How he sacrificed his heart for the person he loved and turned into a Heartless, letting the darkness consume him in the process. Through some miracle though not only was he able to overcome the darkness, but he was able to maintain some sort of consciousness while a Heartless, something that had never been done before ever in the history of hearts. That among from being the Keyblade Master was why her superiors were so interested in him.

As for her, she just thought the story was romantic as it was fascinating. It sounded like something straight out of a fairytale. Like an ancient story of a hero from so long ago. She wanted to meet him, to understand him, just to get it. That is why she was here with the rest of them.

A chance to meet Sora.

"It would be nice to know what sleeps in that heart" Axel muttered, "Only one other person has been able to do what Sora has done...and he's gone"

"Searching for the secrets of the Heart ...That is the purpose of organization"

Namine shivered, a dark portal emerged as a new hooded figure emerged and removed their hood, revealing long flow of pink hair. Neither man nor woman, they stood in the center of the room, a smirk on their face looking quite flamboyant. They were Marluxia, the leader of this little group of individuals, and master of Castle Oblivion. It was they who had Namine here, and it was they who wanted Sora to be here.

For what though, she wasn't entirely sure, all she knew was that his intent was not good, though she went along with it, if it meant she could meet Sora...Or more.

"Ah Marluxia, still enjoying being Ruler of Castle Oblivion I see…" Larxene snickered, "Never knew you were power mad"

"You've known me long enough to know what I am" Marluxia smirked, "Mad has never been one of them"

Larxene just rolled her eyes, "Perhaps...But still a annoyance"

"Harsh"

"Yes, yes, history aside, we have a Keyboy running around our Castle Oblivion and yet he is aware he is entering a world of memory" Axel reminded them, "I thought we were hoping for something a bit more...Immersive"

"We are," Marluxia replied, "And Namine is going to give us that, aren't you Namine"

Namine flinched at the sound of her name, she stood up and gave them all a small bow, "Yes, it will take time, the first memory was a mere test, something to see if it would work. I assure you the further along we go the more I will be able to make the perfect immersive world that Sora will think is completely real"

"Excellent" Marluxia clapped gleefully, "See Namine, those powers of yours are coming to good use after all"

Namine gave a slight forced smile, "I'm happy I can be of assistance...Anything to help the Organization, makes me very happy" she sighed, it was a lie but a lie she had to endure for now.

Larxene walked up to her and smirked "I wonder when Sora will finally...remember"

The way Larxene said that was sensual that Namine could feel her breath.

Larxene had a way of being that way with Namine, calm at some moments but other times her rage would get the better that her that...Well it would definitely make poor Namine flinch having to check her cheeks to see if it wasn't scratched. Hence why it was always best to keep one's head down whenever Larxene was around.

"Well perhaps a friendly introduction will trigger his ...memories," Marluxia stated, remaining calm as he watched the entire ordeal "What do you say Namine, are you ready to meet him, at least...In a way"

Namine took a deep breath and nodded, "It would be an honor" she said stoically.

"Good"

Namine just crouched in even more nervous. She had to go along with this plan, or else. It would be worth it in the end, she'd finally get to meet him. Perhaps then the feelings of emptiness will finally go away, and she can fill that empty hole in her heart that was gnawing at her since the day she was borne.

She'd finally get to meet the hero himself.

"Oh Namine" Marluxia interrupted, "Vexen requires your presence in the basement, immediately"

Namine sighed, "Of course, happy to comply"

It would all be worth it...When she got part of the story.

-000-

"Ugh, idiots all of them! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who gets things done around here, I mean really!" Vexen screeched loudly, being as overly bombastic as he was angry as possible.

Out of all the members of the Organization Vexen was perhaps Namine's least favorite, even more than Larxene. He was arrogant, full of himself, those green eyes filled with judgment upon anyone who gleamed upon even when covered by his long blonde layers of hair. Thankfully he kept to himself mostly in the basement away from everyone else save for a few of his fellow members.

Among his fellow members Namine saw Zexion, the most quote of the group, short blue hair that covered up an eye, he remained mostly stoic always deep in thought. She always wondered just what was going on in that brain of his, there was something in his eye beyond the normal blank stoicness that bequeathed most organization members.

Finally there was Lexaus, the brute, the muscle, not much to him. Didn't say much and preferred to speak only when necessary.

The three of them seemed to be in the middle of a conversation at this point.

"You sensed something in the Castle" Vexen replied, "I'm sure whatever it was, it was probably just Sora"

"No, this was different, beyond the dichotomy of light and dark" Zexion responded.

Vexen rolled his eyes, "You and your feelings, we don't even have them remember, otherwise none of us would be here. It's going to be our intellectual prowess that will enable our ultimate victory in the end. And, since I have the most intellect out of everyone here I will be the most victorious out of all of you ".

"I brought pickle vegetables" Lexaus said putting down the steamy food, Namine could smell it even from here, "Steamed them myself and everything, took a while though, you have to get them just the right temperature in order to-"

"No one cares!" Vexen snapped at him, silencing him mid sentence "Those three so called leaders spend their time doing whatever with Sora, and I'm stuck down here when I should be the one in command of this castle. They don't care about the Organizations unity at all".

"Unity is a myth" Zexion muttered, "Especially with our organization at the moment"

"Don't give me lip!"

Vexen sighed leaning back down on the couch rubbing his head, "Anything else of interest"

"Our spies have found Riku, in a world known as Gravity Falls. Not the most known world out there from what I heard...The Organization doesn't really even have a foothold in that world, although it was in our files. Mostly due to some sort of ...legend about a one eyed beast, a tad dramatic if you ask me".

"Hmm, so Sora ends up here and Riku ends up in some nothing place," Vexen replied in an annoyed tone, "How boring, and a tad disappointing if you ask me, especially on Riku's part. A child who gave himself to darkness and what is his faith, ending up some dinky town".

"Sounds like a proper punishment if one views it that way," Zexion said as he tapped his chin leaning back on the chair eyes wandering in thought, "The place does sound familiar, it's mentioned a few times in the Organizations records. Though why I don't really recall, something to do with some legendary demon from what little I remeber"

"It doesn't matter," Vexen replies, "It's all fairy tales and dreams. The point is that we now know were all the Key players are. Kairi is back on Destiny Island, where she will stay until the superior has need of him, Riku is in this little place called Gravity Falls, and Sora is here"

"Riku is a fascinating specimen," Zexion replied, "He shouldered the darkness in his heart perhaps that made him half dark"

Namine wondered if that's how a heart works as she listened in.

"Perhaps that dark powers facilitated his escape from the realm of darkness"

"He is truly a strange individual" Vexen said, "Especially when it comes towards his feelings of Sora, granted when I had a heart and was his age I could definitely see myself falling for him when I was his age"

"Both are quite tall drinks of water indeed" Zexion smirked leaning back, "Wish I was younger myself, and actually felt those things again".

Okay now it was time for Namine to make herself known the conversation was getting awkward even for her.

"Um, Vexen" Namine coughed finally gaining everyone's attention

"Ah good Namine, your here" Vexen said immediately became thrilled as he clasped his hands together.

"Uh, yes" She responded nervously taking a step back a happy Vexen never meant good things from what she could tell.

Vexen rolled her eyes, "Yes, but you aren't sure or yes, in that you are absolutely positive, for what comes next will require ABSOLUTE precision. The next phase will require the most delicate touches for everything to go absolutely perfect, understand".

"Yes" Namine said with more asuridiness, "Yes, the operation is commencing as planned"

"Good," Vexen said as he started pacing around the room, "Now Namine, remind me, what is our Organization's goal"

"To study the heart," Namine replied, trying to hide her annoyance.

Vexen nodded, he seemed quite pleased with himself. "Yes, and I've been doing that far longer than any of the others here in this castle...Well, at least in terms of our Castle's leaders Marluxia and Larxine…..I mean really, why did high command put them in charge, not only am I there senior in terms of being a member, I have been studying the heart since they were in diapers. Doesn't leadership know what sort of genius they are wasting by placing me under someone. If anything I should be in command of this castle….Not them"

"I'm sure one day leadership will see their mistake" Namine said, her voice deadpanned and dry.

Wasn't the first time Vexen went on one of these little tiraids. He was technically a more senior member yet always felt that if he wasn't on top then his so called 'genius' was being wasted by the Organization. Despite someone claiming to not have any feelings he sure was someone with enough ego to fill an entire hear with that feeling. Namine would sometimes have to hear this rantings all the time that it would hurt her ears and cause her to wince. Thankfully today was far tamer then usual.

"Yes-" Vexen coughed again, "Anywho, because of that, the Heart as you know is our prime objective, however ...What can and cannot have a heart"

"Well, people have hearts"

"Exactly, or so I thought" Vexen walked over to the computer and began typing again, "A while back some of our spies found in a world known as ...Halloween Town...They tried to make an artificial Heart, of course it was crude, hardly anything assembling our own heart but it got me thinking, if they wanted to put a heart in a heartless, what if we could do the same"

"Put a heart in a Heartless?"

"No!" Vexen snapped, "Put a heart, in an empty vessel"

Namine still looked confused.

Vexen sighed, "Look, when leadership discovered the Keyblade Wielder almost lost his heart, we realized that we needed contingencies, should his body ever be lost, but his heart survive, perhaps we could...help...in that situation"

"I still don't understand"

"Vessels" Vexen answered, "Empty vessels for hearts...Or as I call them, Replicas, my hope is that I will be able to perfectly replicate the body with the heart, allowing that heart to once again take life"

"I see...But what does that have to do with me"

"Since sadly we have no hearts, I require something something of a substitute and since memories come from the essence of the Heart, will need a bit memory in order for my latest experiment to work"

"Okay-" Namine was still confused, "But Marluxia wants the actual Sora, not a clone"

"Replica" Vexen corrected, "And I have no desire to step on Marlxuia's pet project, when mine is far more superior anyway"

"Okay...So...Who do you want memories of"

"The one person that matters" Vexen crooked smile rose, "Riku"