I'm glad that everyone seems to be enjoying this story so much, even if you're screaming at Lea to talk to someone about the issues bothering him. I swear that people will be finding out soon. But not just yet.

"We've been discussing this," said Hayner, leaning back and kicking his legs from his perch on the wooden crate, "and we've decided that since you two took us to the beach—"

"On a completely different world," added Pence from the old couch with Olette. "Which was really cool."

"—we wanted to do something for you," he continued. "Something that you haven't tried before. When we were little, our parents would let us spend the night at each other's houses sometimes. We'd stay up late playing games, eating junk food, telling scary stories, and things like that. It was fun. Honestly, I've missed doing it."

From the wooden spool that they'd eventually added to the Usual Spot to accommodate the extra people in the group, Xion asked, "They why did you stop?"

The trio exchanged glances, looking faintly uncertain. Either about their reason or how to explain it.

"After a certain point, boys and girls don't spend the night together as friends anymore," said Olette carefully.

"Why?" asked Roxas.

Shrugging, she said, "It's just how it usually goes when we're growing up… But I guess there's no reason why. Not really."

"Anyway," said Hayner, "I talked to my mom about it. I told her that Roxas and Xion missed out on a lot of things growing up. So we were wondering if you two would like to come over to my house for a sleepover this weekend? We'll camp out in the living room with a bunch of blankets and pillows like when we were six. Give you the entire sleepover experience."

They were getting better at guessing what types of things the two Keybearers would ask about. That was probably why Hayner started explaining what a sleepover was first before even calling it that. Her friends did a good job. Though a sleepover sounded a little like Game Night combined with a slumber party where they piled together in Lea's bed to sleep, except without the prior nightmares.

She exchanged a look with Roxas. It sounded like a lot of fun. And it was nice that their friends wanted to do something special for them. It was nice that they liked Roxas and Xion enough to arrange it.

Maybe they should actually consider taking Hayner to the Olympic Coliseum and let Phil train him instead of simply joking about it. As a way of saying thanks. He would like the chance to improve his skills. Not to mention that all three of their friends had fun visiting another world. Maybe they could arrange something in the future like that.

"So," said Pence slowly, "what do you think of our idea?"

"I think…" Roxas paused a moment thoughtfully. "I think we should try it. Tell us when the sleepover is exactly and we'll let Axel know."

Xion nodded. They would certainly need to let Lea know. He would probably be excited for them. He was always happy when she and Roxas got to experience something new and normal.

Lea couldn't say no. Not when Roxas and Xion looked at him with their big blue eyes and such excitement to spend time with their friends. Not when it was something so innocent, ordinary, and far removed from their time within Organization XIII. He used to sleep at Isa's place all the time growing up. Granted, that was partially because Isa's parents worried about him and Lea's own parents would barely notice his absence anyway. But for the half-pints, it was a chance to be just a couple of kids having a good time. He couldn't say no. He could only grin at them, tell them to have fun, and remind them to call him immediately if they needed anything.

His anxiety when he couldn't see them had improved somewhat over the past few months, turning into a form of background noise. He could handle a few hours at a time when he knew where they were and when they would return. But Lea doubted that he would be able to handle them being gone all night quite as easily. He needed something to distract himself from what it would be like.

He could try fighting Heartless. Just keep fighting them until he was too exhausted to think or feel. It had worked plenty of times in the past. But he couldn't risk fighting them while that distracted. Not anymore. He was trying to be more careful to avoid injuries and using healing items. If he wanted to keep himself busy, he needed something less physically dangerous to keep his mind occupied.

Lea considered visiting Isa for the afternoon. Maybe help with renovations or looking through the files for clues regarding the missing girl from the underground cell. But Isa was too observant for his own good and had been asking questions. Nothing too specific or prying yet. Just enough that Lea knew that he needed to be more cautious. Isa had known Lea for too long. And without the half-pints around as a buffer and distraction, there was no way that Isa wouldn't use the chance to dig a little deeper. He didn't want to worry Isa over nothing. He was fine. But it would be hard to convince Isa of that if he spent the entire evening with him while quietly freaking out about something happening to Roxas and Xion. If he was going to end up a bundle of barely-contained anxiety, being around Isa the entire time was not the best way to hide it.

He honestly wasn't quite certain why he finally decided on his plan. Maybe because he'd put it off for too long. He'd even ignored the perfect opportunity to talk when they'd gone to welcome back Naminé. He'd spent the entire time ignoring the man's presence. Or maybe he decided to do it because he figured that if he was already going to feel anxious about the half-pints being gone all night, he might as well go ahead and deal with another stressful issue. Couldn't make it worse, right?

Regardless of the reason, on the day of the planned sleepover, Lea put on his bespelled clothes and summoned a corridor of darkness. Not his old black coat. He didn't want to risk reminding the man of their last real encounter too strongly. It would be uncomfortable enough for both of them already without purposefully trying to antagonize him.

Lea followed the strange and familiar paths between the worlds. Following them back to the one place that he never wanted to return. He followed the dark corridor to the world that he once called home. To the hidden lab where he'd lost his heart and then gained it back.

The room was mostly empty when he arrived. Just as cold, clinical, and uninviting as always. The only soul immediately spun around at his arrival, summoning his shield defensively. On guard against the unexpected surprise.

Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Lea said, "Yeah, I guess I should have called ahead. I really need to get better at that."

Scowling, Even said, "And why are you here?"

Lea didn't immediately answer. He just studied the scientist for a moment. The way that he kept his back against the computer and hadn't banished his shield. The guarded and suspicious expression. The way his eyes flickered as if trying to search for anyone else who might be willing to interfere if things turned violent. Or perhaps ensuring that Ienzo was far way and safe. He'd undoubtedly heard what happened to Zexion by that point. Lea had vaguely noticed that when they arrived for Naminé's return, Even did his best to keep his distance from Lea and yet still stepped between them a couple of times when Iezno got too close. Protectiveness winning out over fear. He wouldn't want Ienzo there now.

He still looked at Lea like he was the same dangerous and murderous assassin. Even continued to see him as a threat.

"I'm not here to hurt you," said Lea.

Still eyeing him, Even said, "No witnesses. No one knows you're here. If you ever had any intentions of further unsavory actions towards me, this would be the ideal circumstances to get away with them without a hint of suspicion."

"But I wouldn't have any reason to harm you. Especially when your replicas are why the kids are here again." Crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, he said, "Trust me. I come in peace."

Lea's reassurances didn't seem to calm Even much. Not that Lea felt at ease either. He absolutely hated being there. He hated the room and he wasn't thrilled about the company. Even was the last person that he wanted to be in the lab with.

At least being uncomfortable because of bad memories of the creepy lab was better than stressing himself out about Roxas and Xion's absences.

"You will have to excuse me for my skepticism," said Even dryly. "We have avoided each other as much as possible recently, yes. Pretending that the other does not exist. And now you wish to change that dynamic by appearing without warning, where you have me cornered and alone? Considering that our last conversation was in the Keyblade Graveyard before my second destruction and the one before that was back in Castle Oblivion when…"

Lea winced and said, "That's what I came to talk to you about. What happened at Castle Oblivion—"

"You mean when you incinerated me without provocation?" he snapped sharply. "Do you have any comprehension of the sheer degree of pain such an experience causes?"

Actually, yes he did. Granted, burning himself out had most of the flames focused outwards while using himself to fuel the explosive attack and what happened to Vexen was focused inwards instead. Not to mention that Axel's destruction was on his own terms, not anyone else's. But destruction by fire couldn't be that different either way.

"Marluxia ordered me to eliminate the traitor," began Lea awkwardly, "but—"

"You burned me out of existence, what little that I had as a Nobody," he continued, unconcerned with Lea's explanations. "You had no knowledge that such an action would lead to my recompletion. You intended to end me in an excruciating manner without a shred of mercy or regret."

"Nobody, remember? Being heartless is kind of in the job description. But I am—"

"You waited until I was vulnerable and struck me down. Unprovoked and without warning. Burning me from the inside out when I never did anything to you and—"

"Even," said Lea.

The scientist stiffened and fell silent at Lea's tone. His voice came out cold enough that it gave the illusion that the two had traded elemental magics. Lea didn't know what his expression might look like in that moment, but Even's face turned paler than normal. Lea straightened from his casual slouch, shifting almost instinctively into something more aggressive. Old pain and anger washed over him, but it was a cold fury. For a moment, it was Axel, the assassin of Organization XIII, who was standing in the lab instead. Dangerous and ruthless.

Even months after regaining a heart, strong emotions could be overwhelming and difficult to control. But Lea held his temper tight. He refused to do something that he might regret later. No matter how tempting now.

Glaring coldly at Even, Lea said, "I know that you must have quite the impressive collection of victims that you experimented on until their hearts or bodies gave in, so I can understand that you might have difficulties recalling every life you stole or ruined in the pursuit of science. Perfectly reasonable. Just another data point in your research, right? But maybe it would be polite to remember when one of those people that you destroyed in this very room then spent a decade as your coworker. Burning out of existence maybe have been painful, Even, but it was far faster than what you put me through back then."

At least Even had the decency to look ashamed of himself. His head bowed at Lea's words. At the reminder of their history in that place.

"You are right. I should not have said such a thing. I caused you more harm than I can possibly apologize for," admitted Even. "I suppose I gave you every right to want revenge."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, trying to release some of his tension at the same time, Lea said, "It wasn't personal. I mean, the method might have been a bit of vengeance if I'm being honest since I could have probably taken you out a different way. But I took you down because it made it easier to get close to Marluxia and figure out what he was planning. And then, you know, make sure he was destroyed too. What happened between us was mostly a means to an end." Rubbing his arm briefly, he said, "But you didn't deserve what happened. And it is past time that I apologize for what I did that day."

"Neither of us are innocent. We both have blood on our hands," he said. "We've both done things that can never be undone. I suppose that if you can move past my actions enough to come here today, I can try to forgive you for the destruction of my Nobody." Even paused a moment. "On two conditions."

"Oh?" asked Lea, crossing his arms.

"First, you understand that if you ever lay a hand on Ienzo again, I swear that I will send an icicle straight through your chest. Do I make myself clear?"

Nodding, Lea said, "That's reasonable. And the second condition?"

"My second condition," he said, his eyes regaining some of their normal gleam of curiosity, "is that you finally get those scans of your heart that they should have done when you were first completed. We need more data points for our sample size."

Hayner's mother seemed nice. They'd met her briefly when she came to scold her son after they got in trouble at school for fighting, but the two of them hadn't really focused on her at the time. When Roxas and Xion arrived, their backpacks carrying their other clothes, she was quick to usher them into her home. She mentioned that she would be ordering pizza for everyone, but would otherwise be giving them space for their sleepover. Then she turned the pair loose in the living room.

It was a large room with pale blue walls covered in numerous paintings of the city at sunset. On one side of the room was a large window with a sill large enough to sit on and stare out towards the street. A pair of tan sofas, some wooden side tables, and the television set filled part of the space. The rest was a pile of blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags that lay scattered across the tan carpet. Hayner, Pence, and Oletter were already in there trying to arrange the improvised bedding.

"Hey, Xion," said Olette, waving at her. "I've got a spot fixed up for you over here."

Smiling, she said, "Thanks."

The folded blankets and pillows reminded Xion of when she, Roxas, and Lea all slept under the stars after painting the apartment. Though the carpet should make it more comfortable. She set her backpack on her makeshift bedding. Olette had set her up next to the window, giving her a good view of the outside.

The various blankets and sleeping bags were arranged in a semi-circle towards the television. She suspected that they would be watching a movie later in the evening.

Flopping on his sleeping bag, Pence said, "This is great. We haven't done this in ages."

"So what do we do?' asked Roxas, sitting down slowly.

Shrugging, Hayner said, "Whatever you want. We've got some games and some movies that we can pick from."

"Though we should save the scary stories until after the sun sets," said Pence. "They work better when it gets dark."

"How about we try a game first, watch a movie when the pizza gets here, and then decide on what to do next after that?" suggested Olette.

Hayner shrugged before grabbing a deck of cards from the side table. As he shuffled the deck, Xion caught a glimpse and could see enough to tell it wasn't a normal set of cards. They were too colorful.

"Have you two ever played Uno before?" he asked.

With the replica for Naminé finished, it felt good to have time for his other projects again. Though Even did intend to start working on a spare replica eventually. Considering the past history, there was a reasonable chance that someone else would need one in the future. Perhaps Sora, depending upon his state when he was located. But until then, he had different research that he wished to investigate further.

Even didn't need the deeper scans of the heart for his purposes. Not the ones that would involve the subject being unconscious. Well, he could try a deeper and more thorough scan. That would give him more date to work with and he needed all the information that he could get his hands on considering that there was such a tiny available sample size. But Ienzo had been trying to get Lea to come in for a proper check of his heart and how well it was reincorporated into his body since before the Keyblade War. The man was stubborn. Even highly doubted that he would be able to convince him to go along with anything that would leave Lea unable to defend himself.

After getting Lea into the chair and setting up the equipment, Even started pulling up the correct program on the computer. He tried not to let his hands tremble as he typed the keys. An unpleasant side effect of regaining his heart. That brief glimpse of his more deadly aspects, a reminder of his previous Axel persona, brought up unsettling memories and left him unnerved. Both of them might be trying to find redemption for their pasts, but that didn't mean that he was completely comfortable with the young man. Intellectually, Even knew that he was safe. Emotions were not nearly as rational.

Perhaps it would be easier to focus on his work rather than Lea.

"It is fascinating that the heart is as resilient as it is," he said, setting the parameters. "The fact that it can be torn from someone or plunge into darkness of its own accord and yet can then manage to reunite with the person's body if both Heartless and Nobody are destroyed is truly miraculous, yes. And certainly unexpected initially. Though I have reason to believe that there are limits on its ability to reconnect in such a way and I would like to gather enough evidence to corroborate that theory."

"Why do you say that?" asked Lea in a strained voice.

"While all the Nobodies were restored to their previous state of completed Somebodies upon their initial destruction, we have not observed that as clearly after the events of the Keyblade War. Myself and Isa managed to return a second time. The restored forms of Marluxia, Larxene, Luxord, and Xigbar are still missing without a trace. Despite everyone searching the various worlds for Sora, no one has reported find the others." Satisfied with the current settings, Even started up the scan. As a light moved up and down Lea's body with a faint hum, Even continued, "Now, I will admit that there are other possible explanations for their continued absences. Perhaps their Heartless have not been defeated with a Keyblade yet. Or perhaps they are on a world that we have not yet explored. There are too many variables to draw solid conclusions based only on the evidence of their absences. That's why I need more data."

The numbers started appearing on the computer screen. It would have worked better if he could have gotten the initial scan soon after Lea's recompletion. They knew that a heart could heal if provided the right stimuli and time. The scans of Ventus's heart and the reports of his heart shattering over a decade ago made him an effective case study of the extent of a heart's capacity to recover from traumatic damage. That complicated Even's studies of Lea's recompletion since he might have improved in the months since.

But he couldn't change what happened in the past. He would have to work with what he had. And Even did at least have a baseline of Lea's heart prior to the initial loss. Those old experiments on the heart had been mostly recovered from the computers and the corruption of the data repaired. That should include when they threw a black coat on the teenage boy and tried to see how long he could withstand varying levels of darkness.

Thinking about what they did back then caused another spark of guilt, making Even scowl. He needed to stop dwelling on it. It wouldn't do him any good. He could only move forward.

"My theory is that the viability of a heart and a body being able to reconnect may involve a number of variables," he continued. "For example, losing the heart repeatedly could make subsequent recompletions more difficult. Hearts are not meant to be lost and recovered again and again. As stated before, while not conclusive, the absence of the others after their second destruction as Nobodies support this hypothesis. As does the results of the readings on my own heart when comparing my first return to my second. Not enough data for a proper conclusion, but the best that I can do with my current limitations. Other possible factors that may affect whether or not a heart and body can reunite might include the method of destruction of the Nobody, whether via a Keyblade or by other means. Perhaps even the circumstances of losing the heart could influence if the person could be recompleted. A Heartless attack, succumbing to their own darkness, or…"

Even trailed off awkwardly. He may not have the greatest emotional awareness, but he had enough tact to realize that it might be better not to list artificially introducing darkness into a heart to someone that he did just that to.

He glanced away from the computer, trying to decide on a new topic while debating whether silence would be a better option. Then he noticed that Lea was sitting rather stiffly in the chair. His eyes were pressed shut tightly and his hands were clenched into fists as his sides. And no matter how many nightmares that he might have about Axel snapping his fingers to seal his fate, even didn't feel any satisfaction over Lea's silent distress.

All right, maybe a little satisfaction. He wasn't completely above a little payback.

As soon as the scan finished, Even said, "And that should be it. You can get up now."

If Lea got up faster than strictly necessary, Even was polite enough not to mention it. Not the brief way he rubbed at his wrists like he needed to banish the feeling of phantom restraints that were never there or that he seemed to be focusing more on the floor than the rest of the room.

"I will tabulate the results later," said Even slowly, "thought I suppose I should head upstairs for now. Ienzo has a tendency to worry if I work through dinner, yes."

Smiling weakly, Lea said, "And no one wants that. I'll get out of your way then." He paused briefly before adding, "I really am sorry, Even. For what I did to you."

"As am I for what I did to you."

One corridor of darkness a moment later and Even was alone in his lab again.

Hayner never thought that he would regret making friends with Roxas and Xion. But then, that was before he was on the receiving end of a chain of "Draw Four" cards courtesy of Xion. She had to be cheating somehow because no one could end up with that many of the things randomly. She was surprisingly evil when she put her mind to it. And when they moved onto Twister, Roxas seemed to ignore gravity as he bent and twisted around to reach each color. No one else had a chance.

But Hayner wasn't giving up yet. He was having way too much fun.

"Okay, I didn't originally plan to try this one out," said Olette. "But it is a classic for sleepovers. And we want Roxas and Xion to get the full experience. So it is time for a few rounds of… Truth or Dare."

Hayner slowly grinned. Not his usual choice of games, but he could work with it. The sheer chaotic potential was too tempting. They could certainly make it interesting.

"What's Truth or Dare?" asked Roxas.

Still grinning, Hayner said, "You'll see."

After a short lecture from Hayner's mother, a few new restrictions for Truth or Dare were quickly established. Rather like their rules for Struggle matches. Apparently, they needed to limit some of their more ambitious dares for "safety reasons."

Hayner didn't see what the big deal was. It wasn't like anyone was in any actual danger of falling off the roof.

Gina was locking up her shop when she caught a glimpse of red hair. There weren't that many people in town with hair that bright shade or as spiky. And even fewer who were also that tall and lanky. He seemed to be the type of person who was meant to stand out in a crowd.

"Lea," she called, waving briefly in his direction.

He paused at her voice before detouring in her direction. Gina rather liked the young man best out of the people that she was renting the apartments to. She couldn't help approving of anyone that would take in a couple of teenagers like that. She never had any children of her own, but she knew that it was a lot of hard work and responsibility. And he took it all on himself.

She could see how much he loved his two children. It had been clear from the moment that she met Lea. He absolutely adored Roxas and Xion. It was sweet. Gina enjoyed listening to them running around, laughing and excited without a single care in the world. He worked so hard to take care of the pair and give them a good life.

Though Gina had to wonder if he was working a little too hard. Being a single parent could be difficult and he'd seemed tired the last few times that she'd saw him.

"Hey, Gina," he said. "Busy day?"

Smiling, she said, "A few alterations. Enough to keep me from being bored. How are you doing? I don't see Roxas or Xion this evening."

"Yeah." Lea scratched the back of his head. "They're actually at a sleepover. They won't be back until tomorrow."

"Well, I hope that they have a good time. And what about you? Any big plans for yourself, Lea?"

"Not really. Might try cleaning or something for a couple of hours. Keep myself busy."

Patting his arm gently, she said, "Don't work too hard. Try to get some rest while you have a quiet evening to yourself."

"I'll try," he said softly. "Have a good evening, Gina."

"—And no one ever saw them again," said Pence, voice pitched low and a flashlight held under his chin for spooky effect.

"Boo!"

Hayner's sudden shout from the darkness and grabbing Roxas and Xion's shoulders right at the end of the scary story seemed like a good idea at the time. Until Keyblades were summoned in a flash, forcing him to fling himself to the floor to dodge them and Olette to turn back on the lights. Everyone remained frozen from a moment. Then the weapons vanished and the pair looked apologetic.

"Sorry," said Hayner. "Just me. It was just me."

"Are you okay?" asked Xion.

"I'm fine. Sorry. Scaring people like that during scary stories is tradition."

"It's all right." Roxas rubbed his arm briefly. "So… the story isn't real?"

Shaking his head, Pence said, "Nope. I made it up for fun."

"Oh," said Xion quietly.

She started giggling, hands pressed to her mouth. A moment later, Roxas was laughing with her. Then the others joined in until all five were laughing hard enough that staying seated upright was a challenge. And none of them were likely to stop anytime soon.

They tried to run away. To leave the Organization. It wasn't safe for them anymore. But Organization XIII wasn't exactly something that someone could quit. The only real choice was to remain or perish. Trying to run away was essentially an unforgivable betrayal.

And there was only one possible fate for traitors. The fact that they told Axel to bring Roxas and Xion back alive was more generous than he expected.

He found Xion first. Outside the Old Mansion in Twilight Town. The girl saying that she had no choice, that she needed to return to where she belonged. Which would mean he would lose her forever and Axel couldn't let that happen regardless of the cost. And when he made it clear that he wouldn't be leaving without dragging her back, all Xion could do was tell him not to hold back.

Axel didn't.

He wasn't quite certain how he managed to win that fight. But it ended with him standing while she sprawled unconscious on the grass. Limp like a puppet with its strings cut.

No. Not a puppet. Xion wasn't a puppet.

Axel moved inside and found Roxas. A vibrating bundle of fury, hurt, and misery, ready to lash out at everyone because his entire non-existence was a lie. Unable to trust anyone anymore. Cornered like a wild animal. For a Nobody, Roxas always seemed to have incredibly strong emotions. And Axel knew that there would be no reasoning with the boy. Another brutal battle of fury and flames followed, twin chakram against twin Keyblades. And somehow Axel remained standing.

Exhausted and sore, Axle managed to end up with both Keybearers. Both of his friends. He hadn't wanted to hurt them, but it was his only option. It was the only way to keep them all together and safe. He would play along with the Organization's game if that's what it took.

It wasn't safe there for the kids anymore. They were in danger there. Axel knew that. But he needed to keep them together. He refused to let go. If he could keep them close, he could protect them. Somehow. With enough time, maybe he would figure out something else. Roxas and Xion could hate him all that they wanted as long as he didn't have to let them go.

A small part of him whispered that he was selfish. Selfish, stupid, and blind. Axel ignored that part of him.

Despite being short, Roxas and Xion weren't exactly weightless. They were pure muscle and willfulness. But somehow Axel managed to sling one over each shoulder and stagger through a dark corridor. And he carried them back to the Castle That Never Was. To the white halls and cold emptiness that threatened to swallow them whole.

Axel didn't even notice when Xemnas arrived. He was simply there. Standing by his side as if he'd always been there.

"So you managed to retrieve the traitors," said Xemnas. "Exceptional work, Axel. You have always been reliable when it comes to dealing with traitors. Bring them this way. The others are already waiting to begin."

Xemnas gestured towards a door. Not one that Axel particularly remembered, but identical to every other door in the endless white hallways that filled the castle. Completely unnoteworthy.

Except when Axel followed him through the door, the room was far too colorful. Too much silver metal, machinery, strange red and yellow lights against one wall while the opposite wall was a window looking out towards a larger space. It didn't belong in the Castle That Never Was, but was familiar in a gut-wrenching way. He'd stepped right into the secret lab in Radiant Garden.

"There's my specimens," said Vexen. "Next time, do attempt to be more prompt. I do have other matters to attend to."

Axel saw that while not every member of Organization XIII was present, there were several of them. Vexen, Zexion, Xaldin, Laxaeus, and Xigbar. Xemnas walked over to join them.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision. It was hard to focus. Were they wearing black coats… or white lab coats?

"Axel?"

His head immediately snapped around as Xion's frightened voice. When did they take the kids from him? Because they were no longer on his shoulders, but across the room strapped to a pair of gurneys. She and Roxas were awake, blue eyes wide with confusion, fear, and betrayal. And above them, perfectly identical and ominous, was a pair of strange laser-like machines that—

"No!" shouted Axel, recognition jolting through him like lightning.

He lunged towards them, but Lexaeus grabbed him. His grip was unbreakable and ruthless. Axel couldn't break free. And thanks to the fighting earlier, he was too tired and drained to burn his way loose. He might as well be strapped down like the children. That didn't stop him from struggling.

"Let them go!" he yelled. "You can't do this!"

"Zexion, are you ready to record the results?" asked Vexen. "We would want reliable data, yes."

"Axel," called Roxas.

Tears choking her voice, Xion begged, "Axel, please help."

"Let them go," shouted Axel. He twisted and fought the iron grip on him. "Please don't do this."

No one seemed to be paying attention to him. Axel didn't matter. Only the Keyblade wielders restrained on the gurneys. The Keyblade wielders that he brought to them. He was responsible for what was about to happen. What would happen with Roxas, Xion, and those accursed machines that produced concentrated darkness that were aimed right at them.

Another experiment about to unfold.

"Don't hurt them! Don't hurt Roxas and Xion! Leave them alone," he shouted desperately. "Just leave us alone. Please stop it!"

A brief high-pitched whine was all the warning that there was. Then a blast of pure, concentrated, and intense amounts of darkness shot out of the twin machines. Slamming into the Keybearers.

A scream tore out of his throat as Axel finally broke free. He lunged forward, stumbling and scrambling to reach them. Trying to save his half-pints as Lea nearly tumbled onto Roxas's empty bed. Tears rolled down his face as he gasped and sobbed. Unable to separate reality from those tangled threads of horror.

When did he end up in Roxas's room? He didn't remember leaving his own.

Where were they? His friends. He needed to find them. They were in danger. That fact seemed to burn through him. Making the rest of his murky thoughts irrelevant.

Xion's room? A brief hope flickered. Lea threw himself out and stumbled towards her room. And sobbed hard when it was empty, the bed perfectly made and neat.

Gone. Both of them. He collapsed to his knees, struggling to breathe through the pain stabbing through his heart. The choking emotions and jumbled thoughts were clear enough for he to know one thing. He'd lost them. They were gone and he would never get them back.

Grief, horror, heartache, and loss tore at him. Adding a thick cloud of sorrow to his thoughts, making it even harder to concentrate. He could only curl in on himself as he sobbed. But eventually he unraveled the tangle of conflicting memories until he could remember the truth.

Sleepover. The half-pints were at a sleepover. That's why they were missing. He didn't take them to that awful lab. They weren't filled with pure darkness until they disappeared. They were safe. Lea knew that they should be fine.

But his heart refused to accept what his head was saying. He needed to see them. To hold them. To reassure himself that he hadn't lost them again due to his selfishness and stupidity. He needed them like he needed air to fill his lungs as tears continued to choke him.

Lea curled further in on himself as he sobbed quietly on the floor. No matter how much his heart ached and misplaced grief cut at him like broken glass, he knew that he couldn't go to see them. They were having a good time with their friends. He couldn't ruin everything because of his overactive imagination. They deserved better.

He would be fine. He just needed a moment to pull himself together. After that, he could figure out a way to distract himself. Maybe go practice with his Keyblade on the roof. Cool night air and the scent of Xion's flowers might help ground him a little. Regardless, he would be fine in a minute or two. Lea would be fine.

I think we can all agree that Lea is not fine. But on the bright side, if my plan works out, we'll finally get to see people finding out about his current issues in about two chapters. That's exciting.

And Even is so useful for exposition. I didn't want the characters to get too comfortable with the idea that getting turned into a Nobody was no big deal and an easy fix. So I'm introducing the possibility that doing it repeatedly might not be a good idea and that you might not be guaranteed to come back the more times your Nobody is destroyed. First time might work, but the odds can start stacking against you as it happens more and that other factors might influence things. It keeps the stakes high and keeps the characters from relaxing too much. Plus, I like worldbuilding.