AUTHOR'S NOTES:
So I hadn't planned to post this chapter for another few days yet, but you guys I had the absolute sweetest review that made me so happy that I figured while I'm logged in to reply to it (which I finally figured out how to do!) I would put the next chapter up.
Shoutout to Scarlett-95 and to YumeTakato for your awesome reviews.
[Story Hack/Tip: If you feel like I haven't updated for a while, drop me a review or a DM. Things are pretty crazy right now and I'm losing track of stuff. Your review could be the reminder I need to pot the next chapter.]
I hope you enjoy today's chapter!
2020/02/06 EDIT: Formatting updated! Internal dialogue was supposed to be in italics (as per last chapter) but formatting was lost during upload. (Thanks to YumeTakato for helping me realise it wasn't right.)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN | AN UNEXPECTED ALLY
"Kairi, Naminé, you remember Luxord."
Shit.
The sound of Vanitas' voice made Kairi jump and she squeaked in surprise. Luxord tilted his head towards her.
"Don't be afraid, I'm not here to harm you," he said. "My name is Uldor, though I hold little affection for it. You may continue to call me Luxord if you prefer."
"Roxas, why did you bring him here?" Aqua asked.
"I didn't know where else to take him," Roxas answered. Then turning to Luxord, he added: "Show them. I don't think that anyone will believe me if you don't."
"And you'd rather not take that gamble," said Luxord.
"I'm pretty sure none of us want to take any gamble if you're involved," Axel grumbled, folding his arms with a huff. Luxard barely glanced at him before reaching his hand forward and flexing his fingers. A pulse of light flared from his palm, quickly taking shape.
A keyblade.
It was long and thick, its wide centre made from flat, black metal dotted with gleaming golden studs. The hilt was wrapped in black cloth and protected by a gleaming black guard with a golden stud at each corner. It's teeth were sharp and dangerous, several small blades coming together to form a deadly edge. At its other end the talisman – a delicate cream and crimson feather – fluttered at the end of a strong golden chain.
It's appearance caused a wave of horror and anger to wash over the group. Axel spluttered incoherently as Isa narrowed his eyes in a searing glare. Aqua and Terra stared in surprise while Ven outright gawked at the keyblade, his jaw hanging open and his eyes building. Goofy gulped, Donald squawked and Mickey uttered a surprised "Oh gosh!"
Roxas remained unmoved, having obviously seen it before. At his side Xion stared suspiciously. Kairi felt Naminé step closer, knitting their fingers together nervously and jumping when Riku slammed his hands down on the table with a furious glare.
"Where did you get that?" he demanded.
"That's exactly what I'd like to know," Luxord answered. Aqua straightened, smothering her horror as she tentatively reached towards it.
"May I take a look?" she asked. Luxord hesitated, eyeing her carefully. His grip tightened.
"She can't take it away, if that's what you're worried about," said Roxas. "You can call it back any time, even if someone else is holding it." Luxord nodded then and handed it over, though his eyes never left it as Aqua began to examine it closely.
"Why don't you tell us more about how you found it?" Mickey suggested through a strained smile.
"He stole it!" Donald snapped. Goofy placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Aw c'mon, Donald. You know keyblades don't work like that." Donald wrenched his shoulder from Goofy's grip and folded his arms, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Well?" he demanded. "Are you gonna tell us?" Mickey fixed Donald with a pleading glance and the mage rolled his eyes and grumbled something under his breath that made Goofy smother an affectionate chuckle as Mickey turned back to Luxord.
"Go ahead, Luxord, we're all ears." Luxord quickly scanned the room, his keen eyes daring to each of them in turn – lingering on Ven longer than the others – before he began.
"Very well," he said. "After my first recompletion following my fight with Sora in The World that Never Was, I saw glimpses of memories that I didn't recognise and yet they felt somehow familiar. When Xemnas approached me to return to his new Organisation, I saw it as an opportunity to find out more about these memories."
"And did you?" Kairi asked, thoughts of her own missing memories drifting to the forefront of her mind.
"Somewhat," he replied, "though the memories I recovered only served to confuse me further. I remembered a book, a room atop a tower, and you, Ventus." Ven's head snapped up from where he had been examining Luxord's keyblade.
"Me?" he asked. Luxord nodded. "Why me?"
"That is what I would like to know," he answered. "Xemnas once said that there was an ancient keyblade legacy slumbering within us, and that he invited us back to the Organisation to try and awaken it."
"Us?" Ven asked.
"Myself, Marluxia, Larxene and Demyx," he clarified. "When I was recompleted again and saw you so clearly I wondered if perhaps we were somehow bound to you and your keyblade and that was our involvement in the legacy that Xemnas spoke of, but now that it appears that I have my own I have begun to wonder."
"How did you find out you had it?" Terra asked.
"After my last recompletion I found myself back in Radiant Garden with Lauriam and Elrena. You knew them as Marluxia and Larxene," he added to counter the unspoken confusion. "They did not want to know about whatever secrets are hidden in our hearts but I could not let it go. For the last few years I have been wandering in search of some clue that might help me solve this puzzle. I was beginning to lose hope when fate threw me a lifeline and I crossed paths with a heartless. I attempted to defend myself, but since my recompletion my powers have been… somewhat lacking. I sensed something buried within my heart and I took a gamble on it. There lies my prize." He gestured to the keyblade in Aqua's hands. Ven frowned, twisting the cream and crimson feather through his fingers absently.
"So it was luck?" he asked.
"That, or an intervention of fate," Luxord answered. "And yet, as I summoned it for the first time it felt familiar, like unlocking an ancient memory." He flexed his fingers and the keyblade returned to him, settling perfectly in his grip.
"So what do you want from us?" Riku asked.
"I was hoping you might help me put the pieces of the puzzle together," he answered, "and perhaps help me to better understand the keyblade and the powers it possesses. In return I offer my services. I understand that you are still seeking to save Sora and I thought that I might be of some assistance."
An awkward silence fell over the room at the offer. Kairi was glad of Naminé's hand in hers; it helped her stay afloat amidst a wave of tension that threatened to drown her. She watched as several silent exchanges began to happen at once. Riku glanced to Mickey who answered with a shrug while Aqua turned to Terra and Ven who seemed to share in her uncertainty. Riku turned to Aqua next and the two exchanged a series of silent glances that left Kairi feeling painfully out of the loop. She and Sora used to do that, though to a lesser degree, and for the first time she wondered if this was how Riku used to feel.
"We will need to discuss it," Aqua said at long last. "Would you excuse us for a moment?" Luxord nodded.
"I understand," he said, banishing his keyblade. "I shall await your decision in the forecourt." And with that he graciously excused himself, closing the door quietly behind him. A silence settled over the room as they listened to his fading footsteps.
"Well?" Riku asked once they were certain he was out of earshot. "What does everyone think?" It seemed nobody wanted to be the first to answer and everyone spent several minutes studiously avoiding his gaze. Eventually Roxas folded his arms with a shrug.
"I got along with him okay when we were in the Organisation together," he said. "I wouldn't have brought him here if I thought he'd be a threat."
"He fought with the Organsation twice," Riku countered.
"So did Isa and Xion," Roxas argued.
"That was different-"
"Because they had their own motives? So did Luxord," he said. "I know what it's like to have missing memories and I know how far I went to get them back. Does that mean you can't trust me?"
"Ven," Terra interrupted, "what do you think? Do you have any memories of Luxord?" Ven shook his head.
"None from before the Organisation," he answered, "but then I've never been a Nobody, and I still have all those missing memories from before I came here. Who's to say I couldn't find some of them if I had to be recompleted like Luxord was?"
"Axel, Isa, you've both been recompleted," Aqua began. "Do you think it's possible that the process could have awakened hidden memories like that?" Isa nodded solemnly.
"When the heart and the body are reconnected, there is a moment when you catch glimpses of the memories stored within your heart," he answered. "It is certainly not impossible." Axel sniffed and folded his arms.
"He was never really anything special when we worked together," he said. "He did what he was told and mostly kept his head down when he wasn't trying to swindle all your munny on some game. Never went out of his way to cause trouble though."
"Can we trust him?" Riku asked. Axel glanced at Isa who looked back, impassive. Axel shrugged.
"I don't see why not," he said at long last. "After all, sounds like he has a personal interest in helping us out, and after today's fight I sure wouldn't say no to another man on our side." A shared wince rippled through the group and Kairi felt more than saw several eyes glancing in her direction. The scars on her chest itched.
"Then let's take it slow," Aqua decided. "Luxord can stay here with us and we will train him and try and help with his memories. After today… it will be a while before we can attempt to rescue Sora again. If Luxord stays here with us then we can take the time to get to know him a little better." A general murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Kairi was too tired to do much more than make a noncommittal hum, and when the others headed out to tell Luxord their decision she hung back, smiling politely as the others shuffled past her with murmured condolences about Sora. Isa lingered in the doorway as Axel brought up the rear, looking at her closely.
"How are you holding up?" he asked softly.
"I'll be okay," she answered. "I just need rest."
Liar, Vanitas hissed. She jumped. Axel narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You don't seem okay," he said. She rolled her eyes and forced a smile, shoving him lightly aside so she could catch Isa's eye.
"Will you take him with you? He can be such a mother hen sometimes." Her teasing fell flat when Isa too appeared to be watching her with something akin to pity in his eyes. It didn't suit him. "Honestly, I'll be okay. I just need to rest." Axel studied her carefully, eyes darting down to her heart once – twice – as his brow furrowed in to a frown.
"Kairi, you're not… you wouldn't do anything like… like that again, would you?" The accusation stung (or, rather, the knowledge that the accusation was entirely deserved fell like salt in a wound). She shook her head decisively.
"I won't, I promise," she said.
"I wouldn't let her," Naminé said firmly, "even if she wanted to." He seemed to relax a little at that which only served to irritate Kairi.
He's happy because you have a babysitter, Vanitas taunted.
Shut up, she thought. She was just tired, that was all. Tired and emotional.
You should let Naminé put you down for a nap before you throw a real tantrum, he bit back.
I'm warning you-
"I'm just a phone call away," Axel said, "unless you want me to stay-"
"Go," she ordered. "I'll be fine."
It took several more minutes of not-so-gentle persuasion before Isa would finally grab Axel by the elbow and drag him down the hallway. Kairi watched him go, waving until they were out of sight. Only then did she let the strained smile fall, and she was grateful when Naminé gave her hand a gentle, silent squeeze as they made their way up towards the bedrooms. When Kairi turned to go to her room Naminé squeezed again.
"Do you want to stay in my room?" she asked. Kairi frowned.
"Why?"
She wants to keep an eye on you, Vanitas hissed.
"Because my room has a door," Naminé answered. The realisation struck home and Kairi nodded sheepishly and let Naminé lead her to the guest room she and Xion had used last time they'd been here. The spare futon bed was still laid out on the floor, thought it had been stripped and left to air like the bed. Someone had left two neatly-folded piles of bedding atop the dresser.
"You okay?" Naminé asked as the door clicked shut behind her. "You seem distracted."
"It's Vanitas," she answered. "Nobody prepared me for the running commentary." She sat on the edge of the bed with a frustrated sigh.
"He can talk to you?"
"Apparently."
Trust me, I'm no happier about this than you are, he drawled. Kairi groaned.
"Did you talk this much to Sora?"
Yes.
"What?" Naminé asked. Kairi shook her head.
"Vanitas," she muttered.
"Oh."
If you'd just spoken to the others about me then we could have been making a plan to get me out of here already, he said. She groaned.
"I didn't expect Luxord to be there," she muttered. At Naminé's confused (and more than a little concerned) glance she added: "He's complaining that I didn't ask the others about a vessel." She nodded.
"I'm sure it's frustrating, but there really wasn't much we could do with Luxord there," she said lightly. Vanitas hummed but said nothing.
No snide comment for Naminé? she thought.
Why bother? She wouldn't hear it. Kairi huffed and flopped back on to the bed, earning a light laugh from Naminé who quickly hauled her back to her feet.
"At least make the bed before you get in it," she chided. Kairi rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You sound like my mother," she laughed, though the thought of home sent a jolt of pain lancing across her chest.
"Will you visit your parents?" Naminé asked as she handed Kairi the duvet cover. Kairi bit her lip and shook the cover violently to buy herself time to think.
"Not yet," she finally answered. She traded a corner of the cover for a corner of the duvet and together they slid one inside the other. "It's been so long, and I didn't exactly explain why I was leaving or where I was going." Naminé left her to fasten the cover as she turned her attention to the bedsheet.
"You can't say away forever," Naminé said.
Can't I? Kairi thought.
Coward, Vanitas retorted. Kairi frowned and shook the duvet harder than she intended.
"What would I even say to them?" she asked, throwing the duvet over the bed. Naminé threw her a pillow which she fluffed with a vigour. "'Hi mom and dad, sorry I missed curfew but I was super busy being dead-but-not-really.' That'll go down really well." Naminé intervened on the pillow's behalf, swaddling it delicately in its case.
"Mickey went to see them when you and Sora didn't come home," she explained. "He told them that you were doing something very important and that you wouldn't be home for a while."
"I'm sure that went well. Dad hates mice." Naminé fixed he with a look as they got to work on the second duvet.
"They just want to know that you're okay," she said. Kairi sighed. She wished she could go home and tell her parents she was fine – put their worried minds at ease – but she'd never been very good at lying to them.
You're scared, Vanitas observed.
"Shut up," she mumbled though a scowl, though it was half-hearted. He was right, after all.
"Vanitas, be nice," Naminé chided. "Kairi's going through a lot right now." Vanitas hummed again and Kairi handed the duvet over with no small amount of awe and frustration.
"How do you do that?" Kairi asked.
"Do what?"
"He never talks back to you," Kairi grumbled, fluffing a pillow. Naminé shrugged.
"I wouldn't hear him so I guess there's no point."
See? She gets it.
They finished making the beds in silence. Kairi felt her eyelids growing heavier by the minute and as soon as the futon was ready she stripped down to her shorts and undershirt and slipped under the covers.
"Are you sure you don't want the bed?" Naminé offered.
"I just want to sleep," Kairi answered. "I'm not really bothered about where. The blankets are a bonus." She had to roll on to her side to avoid Naminé's sad smile.
So will you go home and see them? Vanitas asked. Kairi bit her lip to keep from answering out loud.
Why do you care?
I don't, Vanitas sniffed. Just wondering if I'll have to endure some gushy reunion with them before I can get the vessel you promised me. She curled her hands in to fists, fingernails digging in to her palms. She heard Naminé changing for bed.
Don't worry, she thought. The last thing I'd want to you is bring you home to meet my parents.
Good news at last, he sneered. She rolled her eyes and shimmied further down the futon to get comfortable. The scars on her chest ached.
Will you at least be quiet so I can get some sleep? she asked.
As you wish, he retorted. Sweet dreams, princess.
Stay out of my dreams, she warned as Naminé turned out the light. Kairi listened as she tip-toed back across the room and crawled in to bed. The blankets whispered and sighed as she settled.
"Kairi?"
"Mmm?"
"I know you're probably sick of hearing this, but I'm sorry," she said. "It's not fair that you have to go through this after everything else you've been through. It really sucks."
Kairi's first instinct was to sweep it aside with a quiet "It's okay" or an "I'm fine" forced through gritted teeth accompanied by no small amount of thinly veiled exasperation. She bit her tongue as she realised that unlike every other condolence she'd heard in the dining room, Naminé's didn't mention Sora at all. It was all about her, and in a strange way it felt almost nice. If nothing else, acknowledging the sheer suck-y-ness of the situation made a break from the hollow "it's going to be okay"s that she'd heard earlier. She smiled a little, resting her hand over her heart.
"Yeah, it really does," she said. "Thanks, Naminé."
"Any time."
A little bit shorter this time, but we needed some space to breathe. Everyone's on a comedown right now as the adrenaline starts to wear off. So much can happen in a single day.
Quickly checking in – can you guys understand when Vanitas is talking to Kairi (and vice versa)? I tried to avoid too much direct inner monologue up until now to try and minimise the confusion. Vanitas likes to pipe up more often than not, and as we'll likely be staying with Kairi for a while you're probably going to be seeing a lot more of him.
Let me know what you think!