Chapter Ten:
Borrowed Ideals
The cold tile of Castle Oblivion made for a painful landing base, and there was no graceful way for them to untangle themselves before hitting it. Somehow, Axel had maneuvered himself beneath Raxet, somewhat cushioning the blow, but she still knocked her elbow.
"My funny bone!" she complained, rubbing at her elbow as they separated and attempted to stand. Axel rubbed at his head, but didn't say anything. How could he? He was laughing too hard.
"What's so—Ohmigawd." She gave up, dissolving into giggles.
"What?" Axel was still laughing, clutching at his side, sitting on the tile. "You know…you've got snow in your hair."
"Yeah…" She brushed it out. "Dammit." She was patting herself down. "My whip…"
"You had it with you—it jabbed me in the gut."
"You must have knocked it off. Asshat!"
"Didn't do it on purpose. I'll go—" but she didn't hear the rest of what he said, because she had jerked herself through a darkness door, which for her seemed to work more like a darkness porthole.
Her landing was only a slightly more graceful, since the snow enveloped her and then pushed her back above. Someone grabbed her elbow to steady her.
"Thanks," she muttered, pushing her hair back. When she was able to see past her bangs, she made eye contact with the young man who had assisted her.
"Sora?" She asked, quietly. He nodded. She pulled her arm out of his hand, stepping carefully back.
"She's with that awful Organization!" roared the creature behind the keybearer, advancing menacingly. "I don't want them on my land!"
"Easy, Beast." Sora waved him back, and the Beast settled back with a grumble. "Who are you?" Sora asked, holding out something.
"My whip?" She reached out and took it, tentatively. Sora released it and she took another step back. "I'm…Raxet."
"Axel's girlfriend?"
"His WHAT?"
"well…" Sora began, stuttering a little. "I mean…you have to mean something to him…ya'll were…you know…right here in the…in the snow…"
"In my BACKYARD!" roared the Beast. Raxet's face flushed.
"We were doing NO such thing." She vehemently protested.
"Oh." Sora blushed. "Sorry. I just…assumed…"
"…." Raxet looked away, tying her whip at her side. She wanted to leave, but try as she might, she couldn't seem to concentrate on a darkness door. "You know Axel?"
"He…yeah. We've met. He's a good fighter."
"The best." She found herself believing it, too.
"Yeah…" Sora didn't sound convinced. He was staring at her in a most disconcerting way. "Um…Raxet, you said?"
"Yeah."
"….." Sora looked at the duck, who was making funny quacking, "What, Donald?"
"She's an enemy. Why are you talking to her? We should be fighting her!"
"Donald!"
"I agree," Rumbled the Beast, dropping into a fighting stance.
Raxet dropped too, bracing herself wearily. In her current state she knew she wouldn't last long, but what other way was there to respond to such aggression?
"We probably should," Sora sighed. "I mean, you are a bad person," He told her, sounding almost regretful.
"What?" That made her start, and she stood back up, dropping her arms. "I'm…a bad person? What gave you that idea?"
"You're with the Organization, aren't you?"
"Was the uniform your first clue?"
"Yeah. Why?" She stared at him. Had he not caught the sarcasm? Apparently not. "Anyway, the Organization's a bad group—I'm afraid I'll have to kill all of you before the end."
"Who told you we were bad? What did we do?" She was genuinely confused.
"YenSid said that you're trying to take over the universe," Sora shrugged. "I just know that you're after Kingdom Hearts."
"That's bad!" Quacked Donald, "So there!"
"But…all we want is to be whole," Raxet blinked. "That's so unfair."
"Don't get upset!" Sora looked like it was breaking his heart to watch her so confused.
"Sora," the Beast grumbled, "She's a Nobody."
"I know. I know. Nobodies don't have any real feelings." He didn't look so sure, though, "But…Oh drat…You're right."
"Did YenSid tell you that, too?" She asked, only barely keeping her voice from breaking.
"Yes. Nobodies have no feeling, no emotion, no heart. What you feel is only a shadow emotion, a pseudo feeling produced by your memories."
"Well…" She took a deep breath, pausing as if she'd no other option but to admit defeat. However, she crossed her arms and began to retaliate, in true temperamental style. "I've got news for you, little boy! Nobodies do feel, Sora. We hope and despair and dream and hate and love. And they aren't only the memories of feelings. They're every bit as strong as the emotions you feel!" She took another breath, this one less steady, her whole body shaking with the effort. She raised a hand to her head, trying to ward off the threatening seizure.
"I…." Sora was at a loss for words. Donald glared silently, and the Beast growled deep in his throat.
"I just...I think it's a little unfair of you to want to kill who we are for not remembering who we used to be." She looked around her, as if checking the time. In reality, she was trying to hide the glittering water in her eyes. "I hate to put an end to this lovely discussion, but I have to go now. It just wouldn't do if I died…excuse me…FADED…today. Maybe you should take a closer look at what you've been doing. Even heartless can do exactly as they're told. It takes someone with emotions to do what's right."
She reached behind her, trying desperately to open a door. There was a long pause while she struggled, feeling the trio's eyes boring into her. Then she was violently pulled through, flying out of control into the commons of Castle Oblivion. She would have hit the wall if Axel hadn't moved to stop her.
"I was about to come get you," Was he scolding? He sounded worried.
"I don't need you." She hissed up at him, meeting his eyes. He started, jerking back, startled by the ferocity of her gaze, by the tears he doubtless noticed there. He was still holding her, an aftereffect of having saved her face from certain destruction against the wall of the castle. She jerked away, fleeing up the stairs. She couldn't tell if he followed her or not.
