Sora was taken back.
Vanessa? What a lovely name…
Wait a minute, she's the only
person you've seen ever since you've come here, why's she here?
… could she be an enemy!
It was then Sora that asked the other questions.
"Um.. whatcha doing here? I mean, it's kinda dangerous out here…"
Vanessa didn't answer the question at first. She looked around, as if in a dreamy matter. After a few minutes she spoke once again.
"I'm not sure Sora"
Sora? Wait! I didn't even tell her my name!
"How do you know my name?"
Again the girl seemed dreamy, confused even. And Sora had to wait yet another few minutes for an answer.
"I.. don't know."
She hung her head slightly and kicked at the sand. Sora was confused himself. Who was this girl? He had never met her in her entire life. Wait! Perhaps, she was also a fragment? Perhaps the memories of one of the people he had met in the world from before? Well.. it made sense, that would explain why she, didn't know anything. Sora then decided to do what he thought best.
He held out a hand to the stranger and smiled.
"Well, if you know who I am, you can't be all that bad. Why don't you come back to where my friends are camping out?"
Vanessa looked a bit quizzically at Soras outstretched hand. But it didn't take too long for her to gently take it in her own.
"If that's alright with you Sora."
Sora grinned at the reply. Perhaps things were looking up for him and his friends. Perhaps they'd get a new ally to join their cause. After all, the girl seemed nice enough.
They walked back to the place where the rest of the team staked out. Nudging Donald lightly Sora managed to wake him up.
"Donald, Donald, get up! There's someone I'd like you to meet!"
Donalds eyes opened groggily as he gave a few nap clicks and looked around aimlessly.
"I'm up Sora, I-"
And his wandering eyes became transfixed upon the stranger Sora has found. His bill dropped as he continued to stare.
"Sora, who's that?"
Vanessa gave a cheeky smile and bowed slightly.
"Sorry Donald, my name's Vanessa."
Upon hearing his name being called by a complete stranger Donald turned to Sora and whispered.
"Sora, how does she know me?"
"I think she's like all the people that we've met, they know us, but, we've forgotten what purpose they served or who they exactly were. Does she ring a bell to you Donald?"
"I… I think I remember someone who resembled her…"
"Oh, what do you think Vanessa?"
Sora looked over his shoulder to find nothing. Not even a footprint in the sand. The girl had vanished. But to where? And why? Sora then looked back to Donald.
"Did you see her leave?"
"No… I was caught up in talking with you!"
Soras cheery smile sunk off his face and was replaced with a frown.
"Oh man… I guess, we'll just move on, hopefully we'll run into her again."
"I hope you're right Sora."
The two then planted themselves upon the sandy floor. Before sleep once again took them Donald mumbled softly.
"Lets not tell Goofy and Jiminy about this."
"… Fine with me Donald…."
Sora rolled over and looked into the watery abyss. Just who was that girl?
"Vanessa…."
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The thing franticly ran across the seafloor away from Sora. What had happened to it? What overcame its feelings of hatred and revenge? What had it felt? What had it felt?
What was it? What did.. Vanessa symbolize to it? What were the feelings that Sora had felt to it? The… Vanessa part of it liked it. It liked being treated nicely.
No! I want to kill Sora! KILL HIM! Who cares if he was nice to me! No one was ever nice to me! No one! Everyone deserves to DIE!
It dug its claws into the ground in a mad rage. There was something wrong with it! Perhaps there was a weakness with it? No, there was no weakness. It was perfect.
But feelings, perhaps feelings
What about feelings? What were feelings?
It didn't know, it was only here to kill, to kill anyone, to teach them a lesson for mistreating me!
But Sora… he was… so kind.
Maybe, memories do play a part?
Its eyes closed. It hunched onto the ground. It let sleep overtake it as it collapsed. It would get rid of the mad thoughts by sleeping.
And a sweet melody played through its head.
"Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora."
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Larxene was dumbfounded. Did Vexen think that he could actually have Lorenzo defeat all three of them?
"You're talking crazy," She blurted out, "The three will trash your little toy and the rest of us as well."
"Who said I was going to fight them alone?" Lorenzo retorted, her glazed eyes locking onto Larxene. She then gestured to Vexen and the others, "Vexen has all the desire to help us out as well, for he knows that what is before us will be the greatest challenge to the Organization…"
Vexen remained silent. Yes, he was willing to risk his life to vanquish the Shadow and the threat to his beloved guild, but there was something that he wished to protect even more. A certain blonde unknown in fact. But he quickly brushed the thought out of his mind as he acknowledged Lorenzos statement.
"I am willing to put my life on the line to ensure the safety of the Organization, however," He looked to Larxene, Riku Replica, and Namine, "are you willing to make such a sacrifice?"
Riku Replica immediately gave his answer.
"I'm going to protect Namine, even if that means having to work with you a little more."
Namine only nodded, what she could do, no one really knew, but it was good to have one of pure magical properties on the field.
Larxene knew that Vexen would once again hammer the question upon her. She nodded and held up an armed hand.
"Once I trash that shadow I'll teach your little toy not to make a fool out of me…"
Lorenzos reply to the threat came in the form of a cocky smile.
"Fine, and then I'll make a bigger fool out of you…."
Larxene clenched her knifes, wanting to strike her, but she'd knew that if she did that she'd be once again scolded and lectured by that cold duff Vexen. So she kept her cool.
Vexen smiled at the silent war and intervened.
"Well now that I have you all on my side, I suppose we should get down to business. Only one of us has encountered the actual shadow, and that is Riku Replica. He managed to survive, but judging by the wounds he received," He gestured to the scrapes made on his outfit, "The Shadows strength is unnaturally high, like that of the keybearers."
"So the shadow is on the same level as Sora?"
"Not quite," Namine said timidly, "The longer that Sora is staying within the castle the more powerful it becomes. The more feelings that Sora shows to his enemies and friends strengthens the shadows power at a steady rate. Seeing how he desires to save Riku and myself it won't be long until Marluxia will have trouble defeating it."
"Which means," Vexen exclaimed, "That we'll need to find and rub out that thorn in our side as quick as possible, since it poses the most threat."
"That's all fine and dandy Vexie, but that thing isn't exactly glued to one spot, we'll have to waste a bit of energy just battling through the hordes of Heartless, and on top of that, Lil' Sora's still in that world, so we'll have to account for him as well. Really, for a scientist and a strategist you sure are.. stupid."
Riku Replica and Namine had to hide their smirks, as it was Vexens turn to be livid. He held back the urge to spit an insult at his reluctant comrade. Instead, he decided to be the bigger person like he was and replied coolly.
"So I overlooked that fact. And I should be in your debt for reminding me." He then gave a smirk of his own; "Perhaps you have feelings for this old duff?"
Larxene felt a flood of red dance upon her cheeks.
"What do you know?"
"Really, what do I know.." Vexen said, ignoring the fact that Larxene was on the breaking point. "All I know is that we'll most likely have to deal with the shadow and Sora at the same time, and as for Marluxia, he'll be the leftovers of our crusade."
"Sounds like a plan to me Vexen." Lorenzo stepped forward and clanged her two shields together; "I'll follow through with it."
"Then it's settled, tomorrow morning we'll initiate the plan to turn that shadow and our other threats to memories."
And with that the group dispersed. Riku Replica and Namine went to a different part of the room to continue to mend his wounds. Vexen took Lorenzo away by the shoulder; he was quite content on upping her power in his lab. With that stated Larxene was left alone in the room. She sat down in Namines chair and began to go over the thoughts of that day.
It was pandemonium. Lorenzo, that stupid toy of Vexens, had defeated her in a fight. Namine telling them all about some vicious shadow that wanted them all dead. Riku Replica came back beaten up and barely able to move. And then there was.. that, ugh, the fact that Vexen was hitting upon her of all things. For crying out loud, he was almost ten years older than she was. Well, in appearance, since they were the nobodies..
Well it's not age or what's on the outside that really matters.
Larxenes eyes widened. What had she thought right now! She slapped herself, forgetting that she still had her knifes in her hands. She had to wipe the spots of blood that peeked from her face. Leaving her to think of one disturbing thought. One that she never wanted to think about.
Was she, actually attracted to Vexen?
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Marluxias calm surroundings were broken as a certain spiky haired Unknown appeared next to him.
"What do you want Axel?"
"Nuthin'" Axel said with a grin, "I don't want anything, I want you to know something."
"And that is?" Marluxia didn't even bother to turn around, not caring at what the wildcard wanted to say.
"Vexen knows your secret, he's got Larxene on his side now. They're planning on killing Sora and then coming after you."
Now Marluxia cared.
"What!" He bellowed, "how could she? She hates him!"
"Well you never know, perhaps he… persuaded her."
Marluxias eyes turned red with anger. He almost threw the table aside as he shot up and brought his scythe forward.
"Are you saying that he RAPED her!"
Axel held his hands up casually as if Marluxia hadn't showed violence.
"Hey, I'm merely suggesting, as our boss I thought you might liked to be informed."
"If this is a joke I'll personally mount your spiky head on my wall!"
"Fine with me."
Marluxia inched closer to Axel, his fiery eyes now turning into cold glaring orbs. His scythe was being brought up slowly.
"Well, I'm not joking Axel, if this atrocity you say Vexen committed is false, then heads will roll."
"Heh, lets hope it won't be yours."
And with that Axel once again teleported away.
Marluxia brought his scythe down in a violent manner and let his glare soften. It wasn't like Vexen to be so… bold in a sense. But with so many unexplainable things occurring he wouldn't be surprised if something… did happen.
His grip upon the scythes handle tightened. If Vexen HAD taken advantage of Larxene, he was going to be short of two important things. Even great scientists had weak points. Every man did. And Marluxia swore that he would do much, much worse, even though he was a superior to him. He would have to wait though. He would… question him before the next night.