Retreat

The van turned down the road and idled. Maneuvering a telephoto lens out of the window, a journalist snapped a photograph when a man speed-walked across the road.

Bright blue eyes narrowed in confusion, Clavius weaseled through a narrow alleyway, desperately trying to shake off the media crews crawling out of the woodworks.

"Go," the journalist prompted. "I need a better shot. This is my scoop, like hell I'll let a rival newspaper get it," she cursed under her breath when the van lurched.

Their prey emerged on the Borscht Bowl Club sidewalk. The diner's neon sign-light winked under mid-morning sun and mist seeped from beneath its doors, echoing the Russian motherland's freezing climate. Clavius entered the restaurant and the van stopped on the far, opposite side. Gathering her honey blonde hair in a high ponytail and grabbing a pair of binoculars, the journalist observed the entrance like a hawk.

Barely ten minutes later, the quarry emerged, drawing an expensive muffler protectively over his rosy, frost nipped face. A man with sunglasses followed him and she frowned. "There is someone else tailing him," she agitatedly informed. "Quick, get behind, I want a good shot. He thinks he can strut around after defending a guilty client," she raged. "Goddamn scum the entire lot of them."

The media van cut through a street and squealed to a stop before Sora. He ground to a halt and blinked against the assaulting flash of light. The journalist at the passenger seat, a fierce lady which reminded him painfully of the model, Larxene, flipped him off and the car tore down the road.

What was that about?

06:10 a.m.

Wright and Co Law offices

Office boardroom

No matter how early he left the house, a person tailed him. Sora cut through corners, took the early and late cabs to the agency, but some mercilessly determined journalist always made it through and asked him uncomfortable questions. Their faces rippled each time he tried to make eye contact, like water dripping into a pond. He only recalled individual aspects: a slightly crooked nose. The malicious gleam of eyes. Peacock blue eye shadow or a cross-shaped stud in a man's ear.

Today, he made it to work without a creep hounding him and hoping the stalking stopped; he spread his papers on the desk and watched the people outside.

Sounds of construction seeped through the wood paneled walls of the boardroom. Rattled, Sora retreated to the middle. He refused to let Vanitas know of his predicament, his twin had enough worries about an upcoming mission with Organization XIII.

The harsh cacophony of a drill screamed in his ears when Athena opened the door, she apologized courteously for the noise.

"What's going on?" Sora grumbled. "Why is Mr. Wright doing construction work? I can't hear myself think." He scribbled in a file. Lately, his boss piled more paperwork. Athena placed a cup of steaming coffee at his side. "Where is senior Apollo?"

She unloaded her own work across the table, tripped over the legs of an easy chair and landed perfectly in its cushioned seat. "Ach," she exclaimed. "Polly has an off day and he's on a date with Vera." Her eyes twinkled. "Is something bothering you?"

This agency could make good money if all of them launched careers in mind reading.

Hesitating, Sora scratched the back of his head. "It's nothing," he eventually replied." I'm sure those journalists will stop hounding me. The seniors probably have such problems too. "Apollo on a date," he absentmindedly drew circles on a piece of paper. "I wish I had someone to go on a date with..."

I said it aloud.

His senior laughed and he briefly wondered if Athena had a special someone of her own. Light reflected off the chunky, jewel stone bracelet wreathing her wrist. "Polly looked good too. I wish I had a photo!"

Picturing Apollo in casual clothes and having fun, a miserable sensation clouded Sora. Why couldn't I be normal?

"We should all go on a group outing!" Athena clapped her hands delightedly; work forgotten as she planned furiously. "The next time we get a day off…" she tilted her head, "you probably need more time off don't you?"

He shook his head. "I'm fine." Sora worked, pen gliding smoothly over paper. "I had a sparring session with Nox and Cloud two weeks ago, I teamed up with Vanitas... unfortunately we lost." He summarized how his twin ranted at home and for days onwards, seethed at his failure. "My scars don't prickle anymore," he quickly reassured his co-worker.

When Trucy entered the boardroom, his knees grew weak. She brought her personal ray of sunshine along and bustled about, her single earring swinging jubilantly.

I promised Vanitas.

Athena is here.

But I promised Vanitas.

And if Mr. Wright is around, I don't think I could ask her.

Ugh… let me get it over and done with.

"Trucy..." he began tentatively and to his private relief, Athena slipped on earphones, blaring with classical music. "I was uh... wondering if you... if you had time. I mean, I was wondering if you would," he stammered and she patiently waited, expression open. "...Vanitas and I wanted to go to the amusement park sometime later this week, he wanted... he wondered if you could tag along."

God, please smite me.

She beamed and rocked on her heels. "I'd love to come." Trucy curled a lock of her hair. "I'm sure Daddy won't mind," she answered Sora's unasked question. "Hehe, I'm excited already."

The self-styled magician whirled out of the boardroom and the construction noise resumed with renewed intensity. Phoenix, clipboard in hand, conferred with a workman and the door closed.

I hope Mr. Wright isn't going to kill me.

The teenager planted in front of the chair, lips pulled into an infuriating smirk. Aching, tired and throat parched from thirst, Xigbar blinked slowly. It could be night, it could be day.

He couldn't tell anymore.

The KBWA blueprints he stole did not have this particular cell in their schematics. The convict's mind whirred, there should be no space for this chamber, underground or otherwise. The dim lightning strained his eyes and he squinted to glean details. Perhaps a few papers on the floor, their edges yellowed with age and dirt; and to his right, an entire counter of eerily glowing flowers.

Exhaustion nestled in his bones. The government agents tasked to cover him obviously did not have any jurisdiction here.

"Or maybe you stopped being an asset to them," the teen retorted. "You must be tired Xiggy," he lifted a sneaker and a plump rat scampered up the chair, "and thirsty... but mostly you want to dig a grave for yourself and die."

Sharp teeth punctured the skin on Xigbar's wrist. Another rat joined the first, tiny claws ripping his skin. He swallowed when a snake hissed, its forked tongue licking over the outer rim of his ear.

"I don't have information for you," Xigbar drawled. "I killed Zack and you know Hollow Bastion is a heartless factory, what else can I tell you?" His head jerked painfully to the side when a wildcat raked through the sticky, tangled locks of his hair, its eyes glinting yellow in the gloom. "Get these things off me," he hissed when a furry body darted between his legs.

A melodious tune floated in the chamber and Xigbar recoiled when the stinking breath of a beast fluttered in his face.

"Who do you work for?" the teen continued, smile distorted by shadow. "Not Xemnas. Don't think I was born yesterday."

The animals scurried off and he exhaled. Ever since the KBWA holed him in here, pain and fatigue became his bosom companions. Enduring this airless chamber wreathed in anti-darkness barriers proved to be a bigger torture than anticipated.

"Who do you think I work for?" Xigbar croaked and received a blast of icy water to his face. "Xemnas Terra-Xehanort," he sputtered, "is there anyone else? Can you think of anyone else?"

A sharp whistle. Claws and beaks attacked him. Pecking sores in his scalp and tearing the barely healed wounds on his throat. The rank odor of fetid blood polluted the air. Darkness see-sawed around him.

"Xehanort," the teenager repeated. "You're trying to coax him back from when he fused with the Elemental. I suppose none of you anticipated the strength of will. The teenager paced. "I'm getting blood all over my sneakers," he snorted in disgust. A hawk dived, tearing a clump of matted hair from the convict's head. "Your ultimate goal is to forge the x-blade and make the worlds collide. Except Xehanort can't control his current vessel fully and it has already begun to degenerate."

A curved beak pressed into the delicate tissue under Xigbar's eye and it watered in pain. "You underestimate Xehanort's influence."

"Silence." The teen commanded. "You are slow in giving the information we want... ah... this is so boring." He punched keys into a flip phone. "I think I'll crush your skull for entertainment." The half-smile cut the corner of his mouth when a giant, ivory tub of water sloshed above Xigbar's head. "You were thirsty. Here, drink."

The tub crashed into Xigbar and the chair shattered.

"Tsk," Joshua toed Xigbar with his sneaker, "he's unconscious." He shoved his phone back into the pocket of his cargo pants. "Come on Snow," he said to the lady waiting in the shadows, a boa constrictor coiling around her pale shoulders. "We'll resume interrogating when he wakes up."

A mouse sat vigil at the convicts head. "If he wakes up," she muttered and led the way out of the Special Assignment room.

Fizzing with excitement, Vanitas ran an extra thirty minutes on the treadmill, competing with Yuffie before her inexhaustible energy got the better of him.

He flopped on a yoga mat and Yuffie stopped teasing, promptly switching her attention to Hercules when he entered. His sculpted physique successfully snared the admiring looks of every member sweating in the gym. The trainer dutifully slotted wayward equipment into their proper places, before balancing on an exercise ball and unfolding a newspaper tucked into the waistband of his tunic.

On the mat and silently hoping Yuffie falls off the treadmill, Vanitas glanced at the front page of the newspaper and scowled.

Dread poisoning his excitement, he crouched before Herc and read the bold faced headline splashed across a picture of Sora.

Lawyer smiles days after defending guilty client.

It showed Sora, muffler under his chin, grinning serenely at the camera.

"What the heck?" Vanitas growled. More people congregated around Hercules. "Sora avoids the media like a plague so how did they get this picture of him?" he rhetorically asked. "He never told me about this!" Herc offered him the newspaper. "Sora got Xigbar the Guilty verdict," Vanitas agitatedly stated. "He's in possession by the KBWA. What crap is this?" he swore. "Can't the KBWA do something? This isn't good!" A weight pressed on Vanitas' shoulders, Yuffie leaned on him and skimmed the article. "Herc?"

The trainer stayed silent for a moment longer. "The KBWA does not want to stir up trouble," he tactfully said. "Although, if Sora didn't discuss this with you, maybe it's not a big of a problem as it is. Everyone gets bad publicity, it will pass, don't worry."

As soon as Vanitas collected his phone from the reception, he frowned at the three missed calls from his brother. He dialed Sora's number and impatiently marched the short path leading to the KBWA's outer gate.

"Why didn't you tell me the media was stalking you?" Vanitas exploded the moment the call connected. His brother exhaled, static cackled through the receiver. "Yes it's a goddamn big deal, don't downplay these problems. Org XIII could be keeping an eye on you. Those stupid government people might be tailing you - what was that you pansy?" Vanitas held the phone away from his ear and shrieked at a cab driver. "I don't have any more munny, I'm telling you to drop me off at the agency my twin-" Tires squealed and the cab shot off. "-Hey!" he yelled, "I'm leaving a one star rating on your website you freak!" he threatened. "Your service sucks!

"Anyway," Vanitas continued seamlessly, the phone wedged between his shoulder and ear as another car approached. "I'm taking you to work from now on and you get Mr. Wright or senior Apollo to walk you back home. Please." His brother reluctantly conceded. "...Uh, I don't have enough munny for the full fare," Vanitas politely explained to the driver, an elderly man who nodded understandingly, "if you could please drop me off at the Wright and Co. Lawyer agency, my brother will pay the rest." He slid into the cab's air-conditioned interior. "Thank you. Like I was saying-"

Ears numb from his twin's nonstop, worried chattering, Sora interjected, "Okay. Okay. Fine. I'll do whatever you want just get here before Mr. Wright changes his mind about letting Trucy come with us. I won't be surprised if the seniors pop up at the amusement park armed with binoculars. I'm getting an ulcer and I can feel my boss glaring at me from his office."

Click.

Ugh!

After enduring an hour of subtly veiled threats from the staff of the Wright and Co. Lawyers office, Vanitas basked in attention. A passing couple lowered their matching sunglasses to momentarily stare at him, before striding away, hand laced firmly in hand.

"Can we get a move on?" Sora complained. The day dawned cheery and sunny, perfect weather to hit the great outdoors and scream on the rollercoaster zipping dangerously across the twisted tracks. Why are there so many people? It's off season. "Vanitas, get me an ice-cream."

A refreshingly cold ice-cream soothed Sora's mood. Cream and strawberry melted on his tongue.

"Where do you want to go next?" Vanitas held out the amusement park map he snagged from the kiosk. He smelled of citrus and leather, his shirt stretching a little too tight around the shoulders and arms. "How about the rotor thing?" He stabbed his finger on the map. "There is a haunted mansion too," he chirped.

A sunflower yellow summer dress hugged Trucy and he respectfully piloted his wandering gaze to her face. She smiled at him and for those few seconds, Vanitas forgot to breath.

Popcorn and the aroma of caramel apples wafted in the air. Children trailed striped, candy hued balloons on their arms and hugged the mascot waving at them from near the entrance.

"I want to watch the magic show!" Trucy exuberantly said and Vanitas resisted the overwhelming urge to tuck the bangs framing her face. "A haunted house huh?" she thoughtfully tapped a finger to her chin.

Loosening his muffler, Sora added, "Haunted mansion sounds good. Though Vanitas hates zombies and stuff, he'll probably start clinging to you." His brother scowled in embarrassment, faint pink staining fair cheeks.

"I'll protect him!" Trucy laughed and swung the little golden cane she carried around all the time. "Come on, let's go!" she tugged them both and wary of the crowds, Sora dodged in her heels, cramming the last bit of cone in his mouth. He sensibly opted out of wearing a sweater in his unseasonable heat and self-consciously tugged the orange and black oversized shirt. "Both of you look good today," Trucy complimented and did a little skip.

The rollercoaster made Sora sick, he tumbled out, muttering curses under his breath while Trucy and Vanitas giggled like toddlers on a sugar rush. Hesitating at the haunted mansion, Vanitas paraded in, swallowing nervously when the musty tang of dust hit his nostrils. Fisting Sora's shirt, he meekly followed the twisting, gloomy corridors.

He ducked underneath a spider strung cobweb, acutely aware of Trucy's fingers wrapping around his wrist. Vanitas exhaled explosively when a one-eyed pirate jumped him and screamed bloody murder when a zombie tumbled from the rafters. He choked Sora in his fright and gasped for air once they got outside.

"Geez, you shouldn't have gone in there Sora," Trucy lightly admonished while Vanitas gulped a can of crème soda. "Are you alright?" she asked and sat next to Vanitas on the bench. A bunch of pre-teenagers bounced along. "Let's rest here for a while."

Vanilla and cinnamon scents steamed from a paper bag and Sora bit into a syrupy snack. "I'll check out what other stuff they have to offer," he said. "You and Trucy sit-"

"Leave me alone and I'll suffocate you in your sleep," Vanitas muttered. The sun beat down on the amusement park in waves and seas of colors shimmered on the field. Screams of delight punctuated the merriment, happiness snuggled like warm soup in his stomach. Sighing, Sora crashed on the bench and Vanitas gathered them together for a selfie. "I should get a new phone," he stated. "This KBWA issued one doesn't take good pictures." Head bent, he flipped through the photos, his smile growing, the previous jump scares fading. "Let's try the bumper car races next," he suggested.

They purchased the tickets relatively quickly and entered the racecourse. Strips of emerald green lawn ran on both sides and cars crashed into each other. "Don't any of your dare go easy on me," Trucy warned when the twins whispered. "I never rode one of these before, but I think I can handle myself." She winked; a stray beam of sunlight glinting on the jeweled choker around her neck.

"Why don't the two of you team up against me?" Sora proposed, a vicious grin curling on his face. "Loser... hmm... loser gets to cook dinner for an entire month." His sky blue eyes sharpened.

A car whooshed around the track, tires screeching on the tarmac. "Won't it be unfair?" Trucy asked.

Groaning, Vanitas toyed with the chain around his jeans. "Not really, he's very good at games." He trudged behind Sora. They selected their cars and rolled on the track.

By the time they got off the course, light headed from the thrill and faces flushed, the sun began its downward descent.

"Hah! Hahaha! I win. All five races." Sora crowed, his muffler lost while racing. The glimmer of a silver necklace disappeared into the collar of his shirt. Wind swept his hair backwards and his eyes crinkled in glee. Vanitas hooked an arm around his sputtering brother and drove his knuckles in Sora's hair. "Whew, I'm getting tired," he yawned and Trucy popped a mini-cake in his open mouth.

Dragging a limp Sora, Vanitas glared at the crowds. "We'll check out the magic show and go home," he placated. "Not much time now."

It's okay. I'm enjoying myself. It's refreshing to see everyone smile and laugh so openly.

A fairy castle with pale blue turrets, provided the stage backdrop. Dark stars spangled the white, stone towers and shoving through the masses, Vanitas clawed for the front row.

His hand slipped from Sora's.

"Sora?" he whipped around, heart beating in his throat. An extended family jostled behind him. "Sora!" he stood on tiptoes, keeping a firm hold on Trucy while he searched for his brother. A shock of caramel brown hair bobbed in the ocean of people. "Wait, I'm coming-"

His brother valiantly pushed forward, emerging a few rows behind them. "I'm fine!" He shouted over the shifting voices. "Stay there," he instructed as Vanitas waded backwards. "I can see perfectly well from here."

Stage fireworks, in iridescent tints of amber and gold, announced the dramatic entry of a magician.

"It's uncle Valant!" Trucy squealed and eagerly stood straighter.

The magician, swamped in luxurious silks, awed the crowd as dusk fell. He released pure white doves from a gilded cage and the birds flitted across the scarlet tinged sky. Red fire raced around the stage and the viewers gasped when it changed to a bewitching purple before fading. Smoke clouded the front and rolled over the audience. The mist tasted sweet on the tongue.

Valant emerged from the rolling fog and tossed his top hat. The velvet black material unraveled, turning into a sheet and he whisked the silk apart to reveal a beautiful assistant. Blood red roses rained from above, the petals changing color as they drifted to the ground.

Despite the riveting display, Vanitas found himself constantly snatching peeks at Trucy.

Worming right behind them, Sora fired a text.

Tell her.

Startled, Vanitas twisted backwards, brows furrowed uncertainly. "What about your work?" he mouthed. "Your boss doesn't like me."

Star shaped confetti sprayed from above, glitzing in the sunset.

"Just tell her. You... you really like her don't you?" Sora pressed.

More stars flitted to the ground, one landed on Trucy's eyelash.

"Look Sora!" she exclaimed and grabbed Vanitas' forearm. "Oh," she blinked bashfully when he smiled indulgently at her, "did you see the trick uncle Valant performed? I have to learn it."

I was too busy staring at you, Vanitas shuffled closer.

Framing the two in his phone, Sora smiled. The sunset and magic show colors leached into the picture and he snapped a photograph. His twin bent his head towards Trucy, while she clutched his forearm, entranced by the dazzling display of fireworks and sparks.

Boom!

The entire castle collapsed in a shower of flames and glitter. Euphoria set the night alight.

Retreat

Dawn

Castle Oblivion

The marble whiteness pounded his cranium. Xemnas glided through the corridors, dutifully followed by his sorcerer nobodies. The castle stirred old memories. Painful recollections buzzed in his brain like trapped bees but for the life of him, he could not remember.

Los Angeles could not support them any longer, the lucrative deals he struck with other prominent business groups became obsolete as Organization XIII plunged further into debt. No self-respecting firm wanted to strike deals with a business tethering on the verge of bankruptcy.

He stopped at a grand hall, its ceiling lost in shadow. Ceremonial thrones circled a central stage. What did we do here? Xemnas wondered and gritted his teeth at the intruding, fragmented memory broken by flashes of regret.

Regret? Since when did he regret anything?

Roxas... Saix... Xigbar... All gone.

And so were Ventus... Aqua... Eraqus...

Eraqus?

A wellspring of rage and grief squeezed his chest. He leaned his head against the wall and dismissed his loyal, mute attendants. Xemnas rubbed his temples, golden eyes pensive as he gazed at what was once his home.

Home.

He closed his eyes. Sounds of moving and banging echoed from within the castle. The dusks and lesser nobodies pranced around in flurries of activity; they wasted no time.

The CEO opened his eyes, blazing orange-gold in determination. He would rebuild his Organization.

A deeper thought lurked into the twisting labyrinthine of his conscious but it never surfaced.

Xehanort smiled.

A/N: I like to balance happy things out with the almighty doom and gloom. The amusement park scenes were equal parts relieving and harrowing to write, but I'm glad with the way it turned out.

Read and review people. Help Xemnas get his memories back!