AN: Time for the second half of this story (arc). Let's get into the meat of things...new meat...muahahaha! xD


After returning from Castle Oblivion, back to the World That Never Was - back to the main castle of the Organization - Xikira was sent straight to her room by Xigbar.

He told her to stay there, to "just get some rest after everything that happened."

And then he left her to it.

He seemed...actually on edge, she had noticed. Tense.

So she obeyed.

After she woke in the morning, she entered the Grey Room to the sight of Saix and Xigbar there. Xaldin and Demyx, Luxord, Axel and Vexen were all sitting around the lounge too.

Everybody looked...well, either tense like Xigbar, or like nothing had even changed at all.

Xikira wasn't sure which way she should be pretending to be.

Lauriam would know...

She felt an immediate, intense longing in her chest. Her throat hurt, and her vision blurred.

She missed him, she missed Elrena already! God, she was stupid, wasn't she? She should have gone with them, this was a mistake - maybe they were right and Xigbar was fine here and she should have just left him to it and-

"Morning, Xikira."

She blinked as a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Xigbar looming over her.

He put a hand on her shoulder, gripping her tight. His expression was...

She used her sleeve to wipe at her eyes quickly, sucking in a deep breath.

He pulled her in and spun around with her, letting out a laugh and dragging her over to Saix. "Look at this - our sole remaining Keyblade wielder, safe and sound!" he said to Saix with a wide grin on his face. "How about you try smiling a little for us, Saix? Isn't this news just the best?"

Saix gazed down at Xikira. "I'm positively weeping for joy," he said flatly. "She was my favorite person, after all."

"Haha, good one, man!" Xigbar let Xikira go, moving to stand with Saix again.

Xikira frowned, looking between them. "What do you mean...sole remaining Keyblade wielder?" She looked around the Grey Room in alarm. "Where's Roxas?"

"Apparently he flew the coop," Xigbar said, waving an arm grandly. "Disappeared sometime yesterday - right out of this castle! And all on his own, too! Who knew the kid had it in him, am I right?"

Roxas was gone? He'd left all on his own?! A part of Xikira was relieved - and stricken with guilt. She hadn't even thought about Roxas...about getting him out with her and her friends...or even about getting him out after coming back. Just..Xigbar...

How could she not have thought about her own brother, too? Lauriam was almost always thinking about his sister! Was Xikira a horrible person, then? A terrible sister? Was she just...bad?

Really and truly?

And Lexaeus was dead, and Zexion too (by Xikira's own hands)...

"And on that dramatic note," Xigbar spoke loudly, his eye sweeping the room. "All of you, gather up: meeting time! The boss wants to discuss the situation with us all in a bit more detail. No stone unturned, you know..."

Everyone got to their feet, and began to vanish in dark portals.

Xikira looked at the floor as Xigbar raised a hand to her, wrapping her in darkness, transporting her into the Round Room. She reappeared in a high throne - everyone else appearing around her too.

She looked up to Xemnas, to his highest throne of all. He was already there. His gaze fell, and fell...and met hers.

Xikira looked down again, clasping her hands in her lap.

"I presume..." Xemnas's deep voice echoed out to them all. "that I need not tell you what we are here to discuss today. However, for those who might not be aware, I refer to the highly troubling series of events that transpired at Castle Oblivion just yesterday. Several of our members betrayed the cause, their own comrades, the goal of regaining our Hearts, and instead sided with the Princess of Heart turned Keyblade wielder - Kairi. Their combined actions...resulted in the death of Zexion, the regrettable loss of certain research materials, as well as the death of one such traitor himself...Lexaeus. I personally confronted these traitors, as well as the Keyblade heroine and her companions, but alas, they managed to elude me. Marluxia and Larxene fled with them. Only Vexen, Axel, and our ever-valued Xikira managed to return to us safely."

A long, heavy silence.

"But," Xemnas continued. "though Xikira has returned to us, we have still halved our Heart collection rate - seeing as Roxas also fled from this very castle yesterday as well. Whether it was a coincidental choice and time to abandon his duties and comrades, or if he was also working in tandem with the traitors in Castle Oblivion, I could not say. But, regardless, the fact remains that we have lost one of our two Keyblade wielders. Fortunately, Vexen believes he may soon have a solution; one of the projects he has long been working on over at Castle Oblivion was the 'Replica Program.' The creation of artificial beings that are programmed to imitate the appearances and abilities of others. You all may be aware of the Keyblade heroine's 'sister,' Xion? It was one of Vexen's earliest prototypes. Its actual designation is 'No. i.'"

"Yes, No. i...was a failure in nearly every regard," Vexen spoke, sounding pained to have to say such a thing at all. "A crude piece of work, not an ounce of intelligence in its poor excuse for a mind. But it did succeed in replicating Kairi's Keyblade - and its abilities - which was, of course, the main goal. I'll be dedicating myself to the creation of a new Replica soon, one to surpass all others! One to fill Roxas's traitorous shoes!"

"And how long do you expect this to take?" Xemnas said slowly.

"From scratch, it would take months," Vexen replied. "If I could be allowed to return to Castle Oblivion and retrieve one of my in-progress Replicas, however...it might only take me a matter of weeks. Of course, if this one is to be of truly superior quality, I-"

"Then you will return, and retrieve the fruits of your labor - all of them," Xemnas said, waving a hand. "Xaldin, Saix, you will accompany him, in case the Keyblade heroine and her friends - or possibly even Marluxia and Larxene - attempt to return to Castle Oblivion. You will also assist him in clearing out the entire facility of anything noteworthy."

Xaldin gave a silent nod, while Saix didn't react.

"Axel..." Xemnas's voice rang out.

Xikira looked up - at Axel, not Xemnas.

Axel looked surprised - and wary - as he met Xemnas's eye.

"I will be tasking you with retrieving Roxas," Xemnas stated. "If he refuses, you will destroy him, of course."

Axel looked like he wanted to argue, but changed his mind. He dropped his head, nodding. "Fine...if that's the order, boss."

"Excellent. Now then-"

"WHY?" Xikira shouted out.

Xemnas stopped. His gaze traveled down to land on Xikira. His face showed surprise, for a moment.

The Round Room was dead silent, in a far different way than before.

"Keep your mouth shut, you insolent-" Saix started furiously.

But Xemnas stopped him, raising his hand. "Saix, please, allow her...to speak her mind."

Xikira tried not to glare up at him. She didn't think she succeeded. She didn't think she cared too much. "Why?" she said loudly. "Why bring Roxas back? Why destroy him if he doesn't want to? Where's the logic? Whether he's out there or in here, he's still doing his job, isn't he? He's collecting Hearts, fighting the Heartless out there in the worlds! He has to - because...the Keyblade draws Heartless to its wielders by default! So why...would you even want to mess with him like that, drag him back and stop him from doing that? Why would you destroy him and lose that forever? That's just stupid! Just let him be and let him do his thing; that's the smart thing to do! Just sit back and- reap the benefits while he does all the work out there! That's what I'd do, if I were you!"

She risked a half glance Xigbar's way, in the ensuing moment of further strained silence. He looked like he wanted to legitimately murder her - but he also looked...amused? Or was that-

Laughter echoed throughout the Round Room. Loud, booming laughter.

Xemnas's laughter.

"Would you now?" he spoke, his lips twisting into a smile. "Unfortunately, this isn't merely a matter of logic, or efficiency in the name of our goal - it is about principle. It is about sending a message."

"What message?" Xikira snapped.

"The message that those who would betray their comrades and shared mission will not be allowed to merely...get away with it, scot-free," Xemnas responded firmly. "That we who were betrayed...will have justice, in punishing the deserters. The message from myself to my comrades...that I will take action when they have been betrayed, harmed...and killed by those who call themselves our enemies. We have lost Zexion, as well as Lexaeus. Perhaps directly to an enemy attack, in the former's case. And I...cannot let such a thing stand."

Xikira almost wanted to believe him again. Taken in by that voice, by those tones of his, by that look of conviction on his face...

But she didn't. She couldn't.

And what did it matter if she did or not, anyways?

She didn't even have a stake in this now. Any of this.

She was just here for Xigbar.

She sighed, letting her head fall. "Okay. I understand that," she said quietly.

"Good. Now..." Xemnas began to address the rest of the room again. "With only Xikira here to continue collecting the Hearts we need, I will also be tasking you all with...spurring on the Keyblade heroine's fighting spirit. Her determined little Heart, which fights for 'good' and 'righteousness.' For 'innocence.' She must be driven to slay the Heartless like never before, pushed until she has nearly no breath left in her body. Though, of course, my standing orders when engaging with her remain: she is not to be killed, or permanently harmed in any way. However, extra caution must be taken when approaching her now, for it would seem the Keyblade heroine has gained herself...a Master."

"A Master?" Xaldin grunted out, gazing up at Xemnas with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"He means an old 'friend' has come back from the dark depths," Xigbar suddenly spoke up, humorous and loud. "Man, does this take me back!"

"What on earth are you talking about?" Saix said harshly.

Xemnas raised his hand, silencing them all instantly. "While confronting Kairi and the traitors, I was also faced with a Keyblade 'Master', who called herself...'Master Aqua.' She came to Radiant Garden twice before, having...dealings...with Braig, as well as an encounter with my own original self. Though, I had no memory of this until I encountered her in Castle Oblivion," he finished quietly. His gaze swept over them all again. "Those of you who were apprentices alongside me know I was a man stricken with a case of amnesia, taken in by Ansem The Wise. It would seem that my elusive past...has returned to trouble me."

Xemnas looked to Xaldin, his lips turning into a frown, almost. "You recall, do you not, the day that we first met? When you and Braig found me in the square...along with that armor, and a weapon that now should seem quite familiar to us all?"

Xaldin audibly gasped as he stared at Xemnas. "Yes, I recall it quite well, of course. That was a-"

"A Keyblade, that's right," Xigbar drawled, a big grin on his face. "Yep, back in the day, there used to be Keyslingers all over the damn place! Running amok, following their pure little Hearts. Seemed like everybody had one of those things. This Aqua chick was one of them, apparently!"

"It is still unclear to me what our exact association was, or how events transpired to place in me that square without my memories," Xemnas said carefully. "but what is clear to me is that this figure from my unknown past has returned, and she will no doubt be aiding the Keyblade heroine. She is not to be underestimated."

"Gotcha!" Xigbar laughed, giving a thumbs up, up at Xemnas. "So, is that just about everything? We can call this meeting a wrap?"

"One final word." Xemnas spoke. "If Marluxia or Larxene are encountered out there in the worlds, they are to be eliminated on sight. That is all: return to your duties as normal. Any out of the ordinary assignments will be passed on to you through Saix, of course, when it is required."

Everyone began to vanish from the Round Room.

Xikira left as quick as she could, without meeting anyone's eyes.


Late at night - very, very late at night, Xikira tossed and turned in her bed.

The castle was silent.

Lifeless.

Empty.

People were literally missing from it, after all...

Because of her-

She sat up as her door opened without a sound, and a slender figure slipped inside - also silently. Totally silent.

"Xig-?"

"Shhh."

She closed her mouth.

Xigbar strode up to her bed, standing there. Over her. Like he had before, that morning before Castle Oblivion. Except this time...

Xigbar gazed at her with utmost seriousness. In that way that almost scared her. "Come with me..." he spoke, in a low, husky kind of voice.

He threw out a hand, creating a portal in her room. His eye still fixed on her. Unmoving. Unblinking.

She slowly got out of bed, and followed him silently through the portal.

They emerged into a new world, out in some forest that was really hot and wet.

Then Xigbar created another portal, and they went through it too.

Out onto a high cliff overlooking an ocean, storm clouds overhead.

A third portal!

Xigbar led her through four more before finally...

They emerged out of a final portal, into a dark, small room - maybe in some far off world Xikira couldn't imagine. It was small, almost cramped, and bare. A window, a bed with a nightstand. A rickety wooden chair. But that was it.

And there, sitting up on that bed, was a woman.

A woman with brownish-orange eyes, and long dark hair that went past her waist. She was in her mid twenties, maybe. Xikira wasn't the best judge of ages - she just knew the woman looked about Axel's age.

"Hello-" Xikira began to greet her.

"Listen to me."

Xikira went silent immediately.

Xigbar crouched down before her, grasping her shoulders. His face...gazing at her... "I need you to understand...the kind of risk I'm taking here - even just bringing you to this place. Even just letting you see her. And I need you to swear with all you've got...that you'll never breathe a single word of this to anyone. Ever. On any world, at any time in your life going forward. But especially not anywhere near the Organization. Because the kind of danger you'd put her in if anyone learned she even still existed...well, you've seen for yourself what Xemnas is capable of now. What he did to your friends, what he did to Kairi and hers? He'd do that...to her." He gave a tight nod to the woman. "And that's something I can never let happen, for as long as I live. You understand me?"

"Yes."

"Do you, Xikira?" Xigbar said, sudden and harsh. His voice was almost shaking. "Let me make it a little clearer for you: if anything ever happens to her, I'm holding you responsible for it - and I will kill you for it. Now...tell me you understand me."

"Y-yes," Xikira repeated, whispered, her own voice shaking now. Fear spiking in her Heart. But...this person had to mean a lot to Xigbar for him to ever make a threat like that...

"Good. Now...the reason I took this risk with you...is that I need you to use your powers on her. I need you to get into her Heart, and see what's what. What's the situation? And how can it be fixed. How much, if anything...can be salvaged in there?"

"I...what's- wrong with her?" Xikira said quietly, eyeing the woman.

The woman who hadn't once blinked, who hadn't moved, but for a slight dip of her head and a twitch of her fingers in her lap.

Xigbar's face twisted. With pain. With...so much that Xikira was shocked to see it on him. "Not a word. To anyone. Do you. Understand me?"

"Yes."

"She was one of Xemnas- err, Xehanort's lab rats, from the days back when the first six members of the Organization were scientists and researchers of the Heart. They worked at the castle in Radiant Garden. You know by now that Xehanort took Kairi, don't you? Did things to her? And then sent her off in a...machine?"

"Yes..."

"Well, this woman here...was another one of the test subjects back then," Xigbar went on softly. "She had total amnesia, when they found her. She wasn't lucid, most of the time. And then one day, I went down there and I got her out of there. I thought that was...going to be the end of it. I thought I'd- done something good...kept my promises...after so long...but-" He drew a sharp breath, closing his eye tightly. Clenching his teeth. "I thought she was going to get better, that it was all going to work out fine - but she hasn't. Over the course of these near-ten goddamn years, she's just gotten worse and worse. Until she's become...what you see here now."

"But you...all your powers about memories, minds and Hearts...and...I want to trust you, Xikira. You have no idea...the risks I'm taking here with this. For almost ten years there's only been one or two other people who even know about her - and that's her native caretakers on this world. A necessity while I'm away. But other than that...the only reason you're here is because of what I hope you can do for her. Because you are literally the only person in any of these millions of worlds...who can do what you can do. Because you're that unique, that special, Xikira. And I had to take this chance while I have you."

"O-okay..." Xikira nodded, her voice high. "I- what do you- need me to do, exactly? I...I'm not a doctor, Xigbar, I'm just a- weird little witch."

Xigbar squeezed her shoulders, straightening up tall again. "I know. I know..." He let a breath go in a big woosh, and took slow steps toward the bed, guiding her over to it. "Just look inside her - just look but don't touch...yet. See what's happening in there, tell me how it is. And then tell me...what you think you can do for her."

"Okay. Look but don't touch."

Xigbar made a strange face, almost like he was remembering something - he almost maybe smiled, maybe almost laughed - but he didn't say anything, ultimately.

He stopped at the bedside, pulling up that old chair and forcing Xikira down into it.

He stood behind her, hand on the chair's back.

His eye was glued to the woman. Shaking in its socket, Xikira noticed with a glance up at him...

"Um...I need my sketchbook, please..." Xikira whispered. "I can't focus as well anymore without- I mean, it helps to- figure out the pieces, to connect them and-"

She hadn't even finished speaking when Xigbar was turning away, throwing out a hand to make a dark portal again.

"Do anything and you're dead," Xigbar spoke almost casually, striding into the portal.

Xikira sat there, closing her legs and putting her hands in her lap. Willing her paler than normal hands not to shake.

Even with everything she'd ever seen from Xigbar before, this was...all new. And scary.

But...he was just looking out for this- person he clearly...cared so much about. To look after her for ten years...

People got scary about people they loved, she guessed.

She'd seen it from Sora, when he'd turned back into a Heartless somehow and fought Xemnas alone...

And she'd seen it from Kairi, too, about Xion...a few times, actually. And to Riku, about the islands, about her lost family...

Xikira wondered...if she would ever be that scary over people she cared for and loved too.

If she could ever feel that much for someone...

She didn't think she did, about Lauriam or Elrena. Not yet. And not for Xigbar, either.

But maybe...someday?

Xigbar returned silently, kneeling down beside her and setting her sketchbook and a fresh pencil right in her lap.

And he stayed there, hand gripping the nightstand next to the bed.

"Thank you," Xikira whispered, opening up her sketchbook and taking pencil in hand.

He just nodded, his face taut. His eye fixed on the woman again, and nothing else.

"What's her name...?" Xikira asked.

"You'll find out." Xigbar hesitated. "They called her 'Subject X.'

Xikira gazed at the woman, into her face. Her eyes. Taking in all of her appearance. Her hair, her clothes. She breathed, and she smiled. "Hello...my name is Xikira. It's nice to meet you."

"She can't talk to you..." Xigbar murmured.

"I still need to talk to her - and I need her name," Xikira told him quietly. "This whole thing works better with...a connection. No matter how small, how thin the thread. I need that. I wouldn't want to just...brute force my way over to her."

"Point taken," Xigbar conceded, looking- almost disturbed for a split second.

"So?"

Xigbar sighed. "Her name...is- is-" He hesitated again, looking so uncertain and lost and- "...Skuld. Her name is Skuld."

Xikira nodded, looking to the woman anew. A woman with a face, and now a name. An identity, and a connection...

"Hello, Skuld," she said softly.


After half an hour, Xikira resurfaced from the Heart of the woman named Skuld.

Xigbar was still right there beside her, looking at her. Like he hadn't moved or even blinked in all this time.

"What's it look like in there?" he asked immediately. Anxiously!

Xikira blinked, letting out a breath and sitting back in her chair. She shifted uncomfortably. "I...I've never- seen anything like it before." Sort of a lie. Skuld's Heart, her mind, her memories...it was similar to Lauriam's and Elrena's, but...it was also so, so much worse. "The- her memories, thoughts, ideas, concepts, knowledge, it's- it's all- it's not just that they're...all disconnected, floating free in the darkness. It's-" She stopped, struggling with her own tongue.

"Take your time," Xigbar said gently. Surprisingly gentle. "What do you mean by 'disconnected and floating free in the darkness?'" he added, in a murmur.

Xikira turned to him, surprised. "Um...I- I would say that she...her memories are- erased. Except...there's no such thing as really erasing memories. Just...cutting the threads between them. Unlinking them from one another. Disrupting the whole...cohesive picture that makes up a person's...Heart or mind? Like a-"

"A mosaic?"

"A what?"

"It's a form of art," Xigbar said, with a tiny twitch of his lips. A hint of a smile wanting to form. "You create a big, whole image by putting together dozens, hundreds, thousands, even millions of tinier pieces of certain colors and shapes. All arranged just right...to make something great, when you step back and look at it as a complete picture."

"Yes, then," Xikira said, smiling freely. "It's like that - a mosaic. And when those pieces are unlinked and scattered...the person can't...see the full picture - the whole mosaic. They can't access any of what they have in them. Their...Heart, their mind, just doesn't recognize them as...as anything useful, I guess. So it's like they had their memory erased, but in truth it's still there. It's always there. Even if they don't know it anymore."

Xigbar gazed at her for a long moment - with amazement. It made Xikira feel so warm in her chest! "Alright...so that's what's going on with her, then? Her threads were cut, her pieces of memory and knowledge were scattered inside her?"

"Well...worse..."

"Worse? How?"

"The pieces themselves...are damaged," Xikira whispered. "Every pane of glass, every image, every- the way I see it in her, they're...chipped? Pieces of the pieces are missing. Like...corrosion?"

Xigbar slowly leaned back, his eye moving to Skuld. He had a deep frown on his face. Worry. So much worry... "Can you fix it? Can you- do something about that for her?"

"I...I don't know," Xikira said honestly. "I'm sorry, I-"

Xigbar held up a hand. His head fell, his lips twisting. His eye closed tight, screwing up his whole face. Then, he raised his head again, and relaxed it all. "What can you do for her?"

"I...could try to just...reconnect the pieces, stitch them back together. Recreate her- mosaic. That should...be a big help," Xikira said quickly. "But...with how much inside her is just...it's going to take me a long time. Longer, because I have to be- careful with her, Xigbar. I...when I'm in there, when I'm- moving around, touching things, moving things, I...I can break things as easily as I can fix them. No, more easily. It's easier to break...than to fix. And I- even if I do put it all back together, the way they're damaged, she might still never be a hundred percent...healthy? Restored?"

"But you can do that much for her, can't you? Put it all back together again?"

"Yes. With...time. Xigbar - this could take me...weeks. Maybe- months. And- and- and there are pieces in there that are- stuck together, they're- twisted and merged and- and I can't- I c-can't-"

"Hey now, take a breather!" Xigbar put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing her. "Come on, calm down for me. No need to panic. I'm not blaming you, I'm not- judging you, I'm not...going to be upset with you. Or mad at you. And-"

"A-are you going to k-kill me if I f-fail?"

He froze. His hand fell from her. He, himself, fell back to sit against the nightstand with a thud. He shook his head, raised a hand to his face. He smacked his fist to his forehead. "Xikira...look, I- that was- I...listen, princess, I...damnit..." He drew in a sharp breath, then let it go again. His hand fell, and he looked up at her. "Come on, don't- don't cry, don't...you don't have to be scared of me like that. I- I'm sorry, alright? I was just so...damn worried about her, I'm still so- I've never done anything like this before. I've never done anything as big as this before! The kind of dangers she could be exposed to, the dangers I-" He cut himself off, then slammed his fist back against the nightstand. "I didn't mean it. I was just...trying to make sure you behaved. Okay? I didn't mean it..."

Xikira breathed, and wiped at her eyes and nose with her coat sleeve. At least it was still good for something... But she found she couldn't talk again.

"What would the point be in killing you if you did fail? That's a little counter-productive, isn't it? " Xigbar joked. "Then you wouldn't be able to try to fix whatever it is you messed up."

"Y-you...think I'm going to mess up?"

"What? No! Come on, I believe in you, princess, okay? Totally. Full throttle. You've got this! So don't sweat it!"

Xikira turned her head away, putting her hands over her face.

"Xikira..."

"R-Roxas is gone, Lauriam and Elrena are gone, and I'm still here! I want to be with them again, I want my friends, I want my brother, I don't want to be here, I-" Xikira froze as she realized what she had just said. She lowered her shaking hands and turned to Xigbar fearfully.

"What?" he said quietly. "What're you scared of now?"

"I...I..."

"What? That you - said Marluxia and Larxene's human names?" Xigbar cocked a grin, waving a hand. "Oooh, huge secret! You think that's going to get you into trouble? How about I let you in on a secret of my own, princess..."

"What secret...?" she quavered.

"I'm the guy who recruited them in the first place. I found 'em. I brought them in. I knew their names from the start. It's just Organization etiquette that we don't use them - but you know that one already, don't you? Given how much you love pissing off Saix with his."

"You...really?"

"Yeah. So don't go bawling your eyes out on me, okay? You didn't mess up or anything. I'm not going to run to the boss and report you. I haven't so far, have I? Not about a lot of shit you've done and said," Xigbar said casually.

"But...that was me, not them. They're my friends, and I- I could have...put them in danger."

"More danger than being outright deserters with death marks on their heads?" Xigbar laughed. "That's sort of missing the forest for the trees, Xikira!"

"Another figure of speech..."

"That's right."

Xikira slowly...began to breathe again. Normally. Back to normal...

"There you go. Just cool it now, let's get it under control...nothing to worry about..." Xigbar encouraged. "I need you focused and calm while you're rummaging around in Skuld's Heart and mind. Or you really might do some damage - right?"

"Right! I- I'm sorry!"

"No, don't do that. Don't be sorry. You didn't do...anything wrong. I did. I messed up. I- said the wrong thing. I let my own feelings get the better of me, too. I threatened you, I was out of line. I'm sorry."

Xikira straightened, brushing at her hair. She looked down at her sketchbook, gripping it tight. "There's...just so much that could go wrong. And it's not going to be easy at all. And...it's going to take a long time. It really is."

Xigbar finally pushed himself forward, sitting up properly. He ran a hand over his hair, and he gave a small grin.

"Hey...I've got all the time in the World."