Disclaimer:

I guess you may already know, KH not mine, original characters are, you steal you pay...the hard way.

VII: A Small, Growing Problem

"What d'ya mean you wont teach me!" You're the best fighter I've seen! Besides, Yuffie told me to ask you!"

"And I said no." Leon told Takeshi.

"How am I gonna learn magic! Everytime I fight, there's always one Heartless with eight legs or with a four height trying to crush me!" He exhauted himself. Leon didn't answer for a few seconds.

"Go to Merlin's."

"Huh?"

"There's a hut sourrounded with water in the Third District. Merlin might teach you."

"So I go to this Merlin...how am I gonna cross the water."

"There's a trick to it, and you'll be the one figuring that out." Leon said as he walked away to the Accessories Shop.

"I can't believe that guy! He wants me dead!" Takeshi said to Alexa as they both headed to the Second District.

TTR

"I think this is the place." Takeshi said. Both he and Alexa stood on a clear patch of grass, facing a hut in the middle of a body of water, and the stars flickering in the open sky.

Takeshi walked near the edge of the lake, looking across the water. "Now what? Don't tell me we have to swim!"

"Be patient Takeshi."

"For what!" He looked back at the water and saw dark stones surface, making a bridge to the hut.

"Cool! Let's go!" Takeshi instantly jumped to the first stone. "That was easy. Woa!" The stone started to move sideways, and so did the others.

"A magician's defense." Alexa said standing beside him.

"Doesn't matter." Takeshi said as he got up. He jumped to the second stone, then the third, and continued on as he saw one was faraway. Takeshi landed near the edge , trying to maitain balance. The rock jerked from left to right, causing him to slip and fall into the cold water. He swum back up, gasping for air. "Damn this water's cold!" Takeshi said trembling in the surface.

"Need a hand?" Alexa asked, stretching her arm.

"I won't even ask how you got there." He stretched his hand annoyed. Then, a sudden force pulled him back into the water.

"Takeshi!"

He was already underwater, feeling something tugging his feet to the dephs of the lake. Takeshi tried to shrug them off. Feeling that it wasn't working, he managed to kick one off and barely reaching the surface. Something pulled his leg again, and at that moment, he was grabbed by his shirt and pulled out of the water.

Takeshi cough while he was held in the air. He took out his rod and destroyed what was jerking his feet, and souded like a breaking glass.

"Pottery?" He asked amazed.

"'Fish' pottery"Alexa corrected him, letting him fall on the rock.

"I was gonna be killed by pottery that looked like fish!" Takeshi complaines as he took off a piece still hanging on his leg.

"A magician's defense; clearly this place isn't filled with the Heartless." She almost smiled.

They jumped the last moving rocks and then came inside the hut through a broken wall. They're were books everywhere inside the hut, with one bed and chair, plus a round platform in the center.

"Hello! Is there a Merlin in here!" Takeshi yelled when he came in.

"Oh my! Who are you?" A man asked. He was dressed in a blue robe with a pointy hat of the same color. He had a long, white beard, and small glasses.

"Takeshi. Leon told me to learn magic from you...are you Merlin?"

"Yes, indeed I'm Merlin. But I'm afraid I cannot teach you any magic." The sorceror sincerely said.

"What! After coming all the way here! (I'm gonna kill those two!) Why can't I!"

"You have to already know the magic. I can help you develop it, but not learn it."

"Is there some other way to learn it?" Alexa stepped in.

"...another way...ah yes. There is a witch called Wyka who might be able to teach you."

"Really! Know where she is?" Takeshi asked.

"I've heard that she lives in the Black Forest Ampar. Many say it's an ever changing forest."

"Ok! Let's get moving!"

"Wait." Alexa stopped Takeshi. She then turned to Merlin a bit curious. "What do you kow about this Wyka?"

"Well...she's as powerful as they come, and hardly picks an apprentice. I've never seen her myself, so mostly all you hear about her are rumors."

"I've got a question." Takeshi interrupted. "Why do you have fish pot--hey!"

"We'll be leaving now. Thank you for your time." Alexa said as she dragged Takeshi out of the hut.

"Hey! I didn't finished my question!" Takshi said, still being dragged. "Are you gonna let go of me? Now!"

Alexa jumped each stone swiftly, finally getting out of the place, and letting go of the boy.

"What's the rush for?"

"The Keyblade Master's coming. I can't allow him to know about me; at least not yet."

"Ok?...Then we go now to this forest. Oh and don't worry 'bout that instant travel thing; I think I got used to it." Takeshi said. He waited for it to happen; or at least a reply. Non came. "Alexa? You ok?" He asked when he saw her, with her eyes closed with a bit of frustation.

"...I can't do it." She whispered. "I can't. We'll have to search for some other way."

"Wh--what do you mean you can't!"

"I don't know."

"Well, how am I supposed to get there! Leon and Yuffie won't help that much!" He complained, this time trying to think of a solution. "Aerith might know something!"

TTR

"You can't travel?" Aerith said, cleaning a small room in the upper part of the Third District.

"Know of something that can get us anywhere?" Takeshi asked amussed.

"Cid's an engineer. He know a lot about gummi ships. Maybe if you ask, he can help you." Aerith said with a smile.

"Gummi ships?" Alexa and Takeshi said in unison.

""Cid can build you one out of the pieces of gummi." She said as she struggled to put a box high above a pile of more boxes. "But I think you still have to pay him."

"Look out!" Takeshi ran, as Aerith looked back. He quickly grabbed the box she handled earlier, but the sudden weight slammed him to the floor. "This is the worst day of my life!" He said as he got up.

"I don't think money's gonna be a problem. I've worked myself to death in his store."

"I wish tou luck then." Aerith waved her hand as they left, and as soon as she looked back , the whole pile of boxes fell on her.

TTR

"You need a gummi ship, kid? You have to pay." Cid said behind the counter.

"What! After all the work I did for you!"

"Why don't you disappear like you used to?"

"Why do you think I'm here!"

Both Takeshi and Cid stared at each other, while Alexa sat and grabbed another book.

"I'll build you a small one if you're that desperate, but you'll have to work and pay the difference later."

"You're gonna charge me!"

"I need to make a living kid. Nothings for free." He got out of the counter. "Start now kid. You're gonna take care of the shop while I work on your ship!"

"Yes sir!" He answered as Cid left.

"You already solved your traveling problem." Alexa said from behind the book.

"Yeah! I'm such a good negotiator." He grinned. Alexa stared at him with doubt, still thinking about her inability before.

"Right. Now what will you do if Wyka doesn't accept you?" She said.

"Heck, I'm still thinking about it. Besides, why can't you do your bubble thing?"

"I already told you, I don't know." Alexa replied. There was a short silence as Takeshi settled behind the counter. He lowered his head on the desk.

"How long do you think he'll take?" Takeshi asked bored on the table.

"The necessary time."

Author's note:

For the first time in this year (2006) I'm bored. And this chapter reminds me of one of those days where everything goes from bad to worse, even if ur optimistic...I lost count of those days. XP