I'd decided to include an updated version of an old chapter from my "Friendship Never Dies" fanfiction. hope you like it
"Hey, we have never met before, right?"
"Um… no, not really…" Shion muses, not entirely sure how to adequately react to this guy who seemed to have a rivalry with Roxas in that fake Twilight Town. But she supposes that's not the case in the real deal. "I'm Shion, nice to meet you." She introduces herself, trying to be nice, but if it worked or not, Shion does not know. The older boy gives her a weird look, and his cheeks are slightly red for some reason. Is that what Olette said is blushing? Heck if she knows.
"Name Seifer," the older boy introduces himself and taking a step closer to this very cute girl, not taking notice of the uncomfortable look on her face. "Say, what would you say if the two of..." a strange sound from behind makes him trail off and turn around by a male voice asking: "Is that one bothering you?" Turning around, he sees a man with blue hair and dressed in a black coat approaches. Annoyed at the interruption, Seifer crosses his arms as to look tough. "Hey, uncle, can you see that we are—" and he gets knocked to the ground by the older man.
Unsure what made Saix do that, Shion stares down at the knocked out Seifer. "Did he insult you?" She asks, no idea what uncle means, and although that knockout might be a bit uncalled for, she is happy Saix came and interrupted this chat.
"In the way he spoke the word, yes." Saix replies, glancing at the young adult who clearly tried to flirt with Shion. Eyeing her, by the looks of it, he saved her from an embarrassing conversation. He nods away from the place, and Shion, relieved to be rid of her first flirter, leaves the Sandlot along with him. Instead of going to the clock tower as expected, Shion brings him to another section of this world, a hill that gives a beautiful sight of the hills surrounding this town.
They both take a seat on the ground, Shion sitting close to Saix, smiles of the scene that he rests a hand behind her and allows Swift sleep on his lap. "You'd been busy?" she breaks the silence.
Saix hums and a bit to her bemusement, says: "The first week, yes, but lately, I have been benched." Shion blinks, then giggles at the thought of Saix being put on a timeout. "That does not sound like you." Axel often called him a workaholic and had more than once complained about how he couldn't drag Saix away from work. So hearing that Saix is practically doing nothing these past weeks, it's a funny thought.
At least it amuses her. He's not, sitting around doing nothing is boring as hell. And leaving is getting hard with Xaldin put on duty to keep an eye on him; the only reason he could come is that the man has been sent on a mission at Beast's castle. But it's only a matter of time before he will return. "No, it doesn't." He simply agrees. Most of the Organization members still see him like the yellow-eyed Saix, not the teal-eyed Nobody who tries to walk his Somebody's shadow.
They sit in comfortable silence, broken when Shion suddenly says something that truly catches Saix off guard. "I had a strange dream, about two boys. One of them looked very much like you. Said his name was… Isa." Saix looks down at her, and she meets his slightly wide eyes. "Do you know him?"
… so it was her they met those times he and Lea snuck into the castle. But… she has only aged a year. Has Xemnas Somebody destroyed her original body and thought it would've been fascinating to put her into a new one? The reports of Vexen did say that Xion's body was his proudest work. Not that it matters much anymore, Saix's just relieved he found her and spared Shion from being that monster's experiment. He nods at Shion's question, "Yes, it was me as human." and very rascal boy, but that Saix keeps for himself.
Shion gasps horrified. "Am I stealing your memory?" Saix shakes his head, replying: "No, that's how we first met." She blinks but does remember Saix said that back when she hadn't yet claimed Sora's memory, back when Saix was still mean but starting to thaw up around her. em'So we did meet before the Organization.'/em Bit strange considering she's a puppet, but, well, it did turn out for the better. "I see."
She lets the true name of Saix repeat in her mind and must say; "Isa huh? it suits you."
"Yeah, it does." Saix nods in agreement and looks forward to the day where he can claim his true name once again. "I've never liked my Nobody name." He admits after a moment of silence.
"Is it okay if I call you Isa?" Shion asks, and a faint smile appears on Saix lips, but he does not answer. Shion takes the smile as permission to call him Isa when in private settings.
Silence falls over them again. Saix quietly watches a train pass by, relaxing in this blissful moment before he has to get back to work–- his own work anyway. He has to deal with the issue of Sora, and even though it was good to know Roxas was still in there; that kid really likes to make things harder for him. Then again, that is sort of Roxas's trait.
Sora needs the encouragement to come to the Organization, make him strike with a fury fueled by the same emotions the Surge is powered out from: the wish to protect. Isa in him does not fancy doing it, but it is necessary. Besides, he's not going to follow the dark voice and harm the girl. There's no need as Kairi will only be the lure. Although he has to do it soon. It's only a matter of time before Xemnas will make his eyes turn yellow again and this time, he won't have friends around to help him fight it.
But Saix does not need to leave straight away; he can stay and keep Shion company for a while longer. "Besides that disrespectful boy, how are things going here in Twilight Town?"
"It's alright, I guess. Things are complicated, but people are kind enough to help me out." Shion replies, she has gotten herself a small place to live, earning munny by doing odd jobs, one of them is with those two lovely people that sell Sea-salt ice cream— oh, which reminds her. "I got a job here later today, and now you're here; perhaps you could help me out?"
"Is it a difficult job?" Saix asks somewhat indifferent about the subject, busier watching Swift being an oddball by playing around with a rock.
Shion shakes her head. "Not at all, but I would like to spend more time with you Saix...Isa." Saix blinks at her correction, but he does not seem to mind one bit, which encourages Shion to keep trying to practice using his human name. "Really missed the company. I mean, Olette and her friends are nice and all but…" Shion feels quite bad saying this, especially when they have been so kind and helpful in integrating her into life here. "They don't really understand me. Why I don't know the most common things and… can hear voices from the mansion."
Saix nods slowly; he can see why Shion is having trouble on that point. Unlike the kids, Shion hasn't been living a normal life before now. "I see." Well, he supposes he can stick around for a while. Sure, it might get him into trouble, but Saix doubts things can get any worse for where his path will lead. The least he can do is give Shion some good memories about him. "What's the job?"
"Babysitting." Shion replies and has to stifle down a laugh from how dismayed Saix suddenly looks as if it's the worst thing in the world. "It's not that bad, Mary is a sweet kid." Shion points out.
That may be so, but Saix really doesn't do children, hence why he treats Shion and Roxas more like naïve adults. "I'm really not good with young children…" that's more Axel's department; he adored younger children back when they were human and that trait stuck even when they became Nobodies. That's why he got the duty of taking care of Roxas back in the day.
Shion giggles, assures him it will be fine since she will be doing most of the job anyway, and not wanting to be a lousy friend, Saix, somewhat reluctant, agrees. All the time cursing this "leash" Xemnas put on him when it comes to Shion.
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after the mother has left, Saix appears by portal. Shion's not entirely sure why he just didn't accompany her into the house like a normal person, but she figures it has something to do with Organization members shouldn't be seen by the locals.
The child she's hired to babysit babblers some baby words as Mary jumps happily around the very awkward standing Saix. Shion finds that very amusing, "You can keep the other members in check but have no idea how to be around a little kid?" she laughs.
The difference is the bunch he used to keep in check understand basic words, and handle been thrown around. "We all have our weakness…" Saix can only shrug. He takes a seat on the couch, watching Shion play with the toddler girl. It's clear his friend does not really have a maternal instinct as she is unable to read certain signs from the toddler and depends on a list she got from the mother, but other than that: "You seem to be handling the kid well." Saix observes, adding inside his own head em'Better than I would have.'/em and sort of relived Axel is not around at the moment. He wouldn't have heard the end of it, otherwise.
Putting the toddler down so she can play with her toys. "Thanks, it was really hard in the start, but I'm glad the mother was so patient with me." Shion did not know about half the things the mother asked, still has trouble with some child care tasks, but she is learning new things from each babysitting job. One of the first was that pretty much every person starts out like this. It's common knowledge for most, but not for Shion and she's glad to have learned this fact. Swift jumps over to the toddler and the kid begin to chase it around, laughing like crazy. While her pet keeps the child entertained, Shion takes a seat beside Saix and asks him; "Saix, what are you planning?" something that has been troubling her since their last talk.
He is quiet for a painfully long time before he finally answers. "I told Roxas that all Nobodies have to return at one point."
"And that means…?"
Saix sighs and meets her ice-blue eyes. "I need to fade away, so Isa can return." Shion eyes widen slightly in horror, and after a moment of thinking, she slowly nods in understanding but looks quite upset that he is practically planning on killing himself. Saix finds himself wanting to cheer her up. If it's because of the leash or his memory, he does not know. "Don't be sad. I want to go back and will return as a complete person, as Axel sooner or later will come back."
"As people with hearts?" Shion asks and Saix nods. Yes, she can see why they both wanted that. All Nobodies wish to become human again, so why… "Why haven't you told the others about this?"
"Xemnas."
That's is answer enough, "Oh," but it makes sense that the superior does not want this kind of knowledge out. "do you really want Sora to make you fade away?" Before Saix can reply her, Swift makes sounds it only does when getting hostile around someone. Fearing that Mary has somehow made Swift angry and not wanting her pet to get all big angry monster on her, she quickly hurries into the girl's room but instead of finding the toddler being rough on Swift. She instead finds Swift climbing on some weird blue furry-bear creature, and the moment that one sees her.
It freaks out, comically and flees (still having Swift hanging on its arm) through the closet door. Dumbfounded by what just happened, Shion calls for Saix and walks over to the door. When she opens it, only clothing and whatever the mother has put inside shows up.
"What's wrong?" Saix asks, not sure why Shion is staring inside the closet door. She does not answer; instead, she starts calling for the toddler but gets no answer, not even a giggle. Saix is beginning to understand the situation, but not enough of how that kid managed to disappear without them knowing. "Shion, what happened?" He has to calm her down as Shion is getting into a bit of panic attack. When he does calm her down enough, Shion explains what she just saw. That description sounds a bit familiar. "A creature went through the closet door?" He muses and checks said door. It reminds him a bit of a world the Organization still goes to once and a while. Mostly for recon purposes. "I think I know what has happened." He turns back to the still— and understandably upset Shion. "There is a world that lives on screams from small children. They have a technology that allows them into other worlds," He points at the closet door, "by going through children's closet doors."
"Can you take us there?" Shion asks, she really does not want that creature to have the child she is supposed to care for. At least the mother won't be back before late evening, so they have some time to find Mary
Well, he would— if Shion still had her Organization coat. Unfortunately, all the coats in her size have been destroyed as a precaution so she couldn't leave. "I can't take you by dark portal, remember? The darkness in there will destroy you, but—" His teal eyes go to the ruby necklace around her neck. "your new friend might help us out." Shion grabs the necklace briefly, and with a determent look in her eyes, hurries outside. As he steps out from the house as well, the harpy eagle Keeper is summoned. The large bird lowers its head down to its new master and Shion pets the eagle's beak before crawling onto the Keeper's neck. Saix walks over, and like Shion, gets onto the giant eagle. It's a bit discomforting how little control he has over this sort of transport and can only hope Shion has full command over this Keeper.
Taking a firm grip about the silver metal around the harpy eagle's neck, Shion mentally commands the Keeper to take flight. It leaps off the ground and with its powerful wings, brings both her and Saix away from Twilight Town. When away from the world, Shion asks: "Where to?" Saix gives her the coordinates, and they do not make much sense to her. 'Do they make sense to you?' She asks the Keeper. It eyes her with the answer it does and begins to fly towards that world.
The harpy eagle lands on top of a building, letting both riders get off. It does jerk in surprise when Shion no longer looks like an ordinary teenage girl, but what Saix can only describe as a pale pink and cute looking gargoyle. It would've surprised him more if he didn't already know that certain world's magic does such large changes. Learned that the hard way. "Nice form." He remarks at the sight. Shion titles her head, to then jump in surprise when she checks her hands— now being claws.
"Whoa! What happened?!" She turns around herself, surprised to suddenly look so… weird! It's just like the world where they became deer. Looking back to Saix, he hasn't changed a bit and remembers what he and Axel explained about the Organization uniform. How it protects the person from both light and darkness. "I wonder how you would look like in this world." Shion wonders out loud.
Saix looks down at his black coat, protecting him from this world's light magic in turning him to look like the residence. "It's best I keep this on." He replies her and points out that this change might spare Shion some future trouble. "You see, everyone in this world is monsters." He gestures down to the street, proving to indeed be home to monsters. Shion follows his hand, then back to him when he speaks up again; "I need to stay out of sight. The monsters in this world are terrified of people, but that should prove useful if you get into trouble."
It sure would, especially now she does not have the keyblade. "That explains that big monster's reaction." Shion muses and walks over to her still dumbfound staring Keeper. It does snap out from it when she touches parts of its chest. "So the monsters won't know I'm from another world?"
Saix nods, "That's correct. It should make it easier for you to seek out the child." and turning his gaze out to this monster city. "Look after power fluctuating, the electricity is powered by children's scream." He will of course stay near if needed, but for now, "I will be in the shadows." and Saix teleports away.
Not how she expected a simple job would turn out, but hey, she will at least see a new world. Not something the local kids in Twilight Town can brag about. Shion looks up to the Harpy eagle Keeper. "Do you see anything?" The Keeper begins to scan the city, stops and says it can see an apartment building is fluctuating. That must be it! "Take me there." Shion tells the Keeper and climbs back on, the harpy eagles take to the sky and fly over to where an apartment's lights are flashing brightly.
The harpy eagle lands on the roof, and with a jag of the beak, breaks the window, letting Shion jump inside.
She wanted to yell at the kidnappers to leave the child alone but never gets the chance to it. For right as Shion jumps inside, she accidentally hits someone, making that monster rolls into a garbage can that bumps into a shelf, sending a stack of books into its mouth and this green monster spits them all out when a stereo speaker crashes right onto its head.
Shion didn't mean it, but she bursts out laughing and so did the toddler. Shion stops quickly when all of the lights shine ridiculously brightly, not that the child cares as she screams out laughing, making a power outage that turns all of the lights off.
"What was that?" One of the monster's asks, the green monster, still wedged inside the garbage can, jumps over with: "I have no idea, but it would be really great if it didn't do it again."
It's about there the two monsters notices Shion and the blue one she saw from the closet become visible nervous. "Who are you?"
Shion is about to tell that she is the same teenager girl he fled from, but a quick glance at herself and remembering Roxas said that they were on secret missions when out in other worlds, she decides to not tell she's from the same world as the toddler. "Shion, I um… here to bring this child back where she belongs." nodding to the still giggling child.
"Sully." The big blue- cat/bear monster introduces himself, and after have helped the green one-eyed monster out from the garbage can. "This is Mike." He hesitates but asks when noticing that this young monster shows no fear towards the human girl. "You're not afraid?" He asks, gesturing at the child. The young monster shakes her head and kneels down before the human child that begins to jump all giddily before her.
Good to see Mary is unharmed, Shion is so relieved, but now to a problem she hasn't realized before now. "I need to bring her back home." Shion would like to fly this girl back home but really does not dare take the chance. What if her Keeper gets into a fight with the Heartless roaming around in space between worlds? The child won't be able to hold on or know any sort of magic to protect herself, and the dark corridors are out of the question. They are dangerous to be inside for an extended of time if not wearing a black coat.
Mike is willing to not question this one monster's lack of fear to the human child as long this monster can take the child and no longer make it their problem. "Sure, you can take it." he waves his hand at the human child.
"But it has to be through the same way as she came." Shion tells the two, thinking it will be the safest route.
Greeaaat… knew it wouldn't be that easy. "Are you crazy? We can't bring a human child to the factory!" Mike exclaims, a quick glance and he hurries over to pull down the curtain over the broken window. Mike turns back to the young monster, "The place will be crawling with CDA!"
Shion really has to resist asking what CDA is, but she can guess from how much the green monster is freaking out that it can't be good.
The big furry blue monster eyes both her and the girl, then at some of the furniture at where he smiles "Hey, I got an idea".
I will draw Shion's monster form, but it has to be when things calm down again. Christmas is always a buzzing time for me. one of the disadvantages of being introverted and having a large family