Oh my gosh! I finally got myself to get back to writing this! So sorry for the delay. It's the usually, life, school, and writers block stuff, but I finally managed to get through it! Anyways I hope you enjoy this long awaited chapter!

Ch.7

More time had passed as Saix observed Sora and everything he was going through. He watched as Sora made it through another world floor of the castle, and exiting out onto the next floor. There it was that he saw Sora finally encounter the replica. The replica of none other that Sora's childhood friend Riku.

Just before the replica had gone off to face Sora… something had been done that left Saix a little uncertain. At first the replica was basically his own person, he knew he was a replica of Riku, but thought that he was clearly better. Now that was no longer the case. Vexen had Namine rewrite the replicas memoires in mind and heart to make him believe that he was the real Riku. He now thought he was the real Riku, but with Namine apart of his past and a few other things like that.

While Saix knew this was all part of testing Sora as well as Vexen's replica, it still left an off feeling for Saix. He knew that the replica was just something Vexen had created… just a replica of an already existing person. But yet, it almost seemed at first that the replica could have been his own person, despite his appearance. Saix had watched quietly as the replica was taken aback and angered by the thought of his heart being rewritten to make him think he was the real Riku. He had seemed insulted and hurt by that though, shouting to Vexen that he was being betrayed.

Saix actually found himself looking away as he heard the replica scream in fear when he realized his fate was sealed. Even without a heart he couldn't deny that he thought doing something like that was wrong. To strip a being of their own personality and memories, even if they were something that was just created, just didn't seem right. But there was still nothing he could do about it. He couldn't step out and oppose the other's plans… not yet at least. There would be time for that later.

Saix continued to watch the events play out though, even if he wasn't happy how it had lead to that. Eventually after Sora fought the replica, he made his way to the next world While Saix watched, the other members left to go to other areas of the castle, doing who knows what. The only ones in the room at the moment were Saix and Namine. Though she was off to the side, Saix could see her glancing from time to time at the sphere that let him see what Sora was up to.

Sora was once again facing off against the replica of Riku after making through another world floor. Though Sora still believed it was the real Riku and vice versa for the replica. Saix saw as Sora tried to convince the replica to listen, to try to get him to understand, but without Namine had created certain memories, he wanted nothing to do with Sora. Namine watched carefully though as she saw the replica run away angrily from Sora and Sora tried to follow.

Saix didn't want to keep the silence going on any longer. He had to try to say something at least. "Are you going to be all right Namine? I know seeing them fight probably isn't something you would want to see."

Namine glanced up and sent an angered glare towards Saix. He figured she would, after all he was one of the one keeping her prisoner and making her use her powers. Though he was not the leader of the operation he was still apart of it. He still pity her though, he knew that she had no choice in the matter. He figured while Namine did want to meet Sora, she probably didn't really want to erase all of his memories to make new ones.

Still, Saix felt like he should try to talk to her. "You don't have to look that upset. I only wished to make a conversation."

Namine sighed and looked away, indicating that she had no desire to strike up a conversation with him. But then a moment later she ended up speaking, albeit it was quiet and hardly heard. "I don't know why you would want to just 'make a conversation' with me."

"I'm sorry if I've upset you. But if you do ever wish to talk, I will listen," Saix said as he shrugged it off before he went back to focusing on watching Sora. If Namine didn't want to talk to him, that was fine. He wouldn't want to pressure into talking, so he decided to let her be. Though he wondered if there ever would be anything he could do to help her. Another thing to add to the list of what he would try and do for later.

A little bit later Larxene and Vexen returned to the room and joined Saix in watching Soar trek through yet another world floor. When Sora exited out from there, he started to look around for the Riku replica, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Larxene scowled as she watched Sora look around the floor with worry. "So what's going on, Vexen?" Your Riku was suppose to counter Sora. What's he waiting for? Where he is?"

Vexen glared angrily back at Larxene and Saix could tell the tension in the room had risen. He quickly tried to think of something to make sure nothing escalated further. "There is most likely a logical explanation for this, Larxene. Sora is nearly at the top of the castle, so it is very probably the replica is waiting for a more opportune moment. The further Sora heads up in the castle, the better, right?"

Larxene let out a laugh. "A-ha! Is that right? Hmm I never would have guessed that." Larxene turned to look at Vexen, a cold smirk across her face. "So sorry Vexen." The taunting tone in her voice showed that she had nothing she was sorry for.

"Silence!" Vexen grumbled as he gritted his teeth.

Larxene rolled her eyes. "Predictable response. Forget it. Men without hearts are so boring."

"You're one to talk. As if you have such a heart to speak of yourself," Vexen replied in an accusing tone.

Saix tried to think of what else he could say, but these two were nearly impossible to deal with. Complete opposites that would never be able to get alone with one another. He thought of a few other things he could say to try to lower the tension, but he knew one of them would just turn it on the other to make things worse. Thankfully a dark portal appeared in the room and a voice spoke.

"That's enough," the familiar voice of Marluxia said as he stepped out from the portal.

All three members turned to look at him as he walked towards the group. He took off his hood as he looked over at Vexen. "Vexen, the simple fact is that your project was a failure. You'd best

not disappoint us again."

Vexen glowed with more anger than he did before. For a moment it really did look like he could have been ticked off, but it was all just a facade. All just being faked as he remembered those emotions. "Disappoint you? You go too far! In this Organization, you're No. 11! I'm No. 4 and I will not have you-"

Before Vexen could go further, Marluxia summoned his scythe and pointed it directly at him. Vexen let out a short gasp as he stared back at Marluxia. "I've been entrusted this castle and Namine by our leader. Defying me will be seen as treason against the Organization."

Saix listened carefully as Marluxia spoke. It almost wanted to find it amusing that Marluxia was talking about treason to the Organization. After all, Saix was the one who was supposed to keep an eye on the traitors and eliminate them when the time was right. The irony of the situation could have brought a laugh to Saix, but remained serious and composed. Though that did not stop him from at least adding to the conversation.

"The rules of the Organization state that if anyone betrays us, then they are deemed a traitor and will be eliminated," Saix replied as he looked to Vexen. "So unless you would want to put everything of yours at stake, it would be best to stay in line."

Vexen grumbled as he glared over to Saix, he looked at first as if he was going to say more, but no words came from his mouth. Larxene on the other hand still seemed like she wanted to cause more trouble and tension.

"Who needs a half-baked good-for-nothing, anyway?" she replied with another smirk.

Vexen now glanced over to her and narrowed his eyes. He gripped his fists as he would not look away from her.

"Larxene," Saix interjected, trying once again to keep things in order. "You do not need to try to make matters worse. No good will come from you throwing insults around."

Larxene rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "And what authority do you have to tell me what to do?"

Saix crossed his arms. "I only wish to keep some level of peace here between everyone."

Again Larxene rolled her eyes. "Peace? Ha! How funny. Like you could really do something like that."

"Never any harm in trying," Said replied.

Marluxia, on the other hand, did not seem interested in their conversation. Instead he was not done talking with Vexen from moments before.

"Vexen, you cannot win against Sora."

"Pity to be so ignorant. As you're only able to see the surface of things, I should not expect you to appreciate my true might," Vexen replied.

"Oh?" Marluxia asked as he desummoned his scythe. "Then let us watch as you prove it."

Vexen blinked in confusion. "What?"

"None of us wish to be suspicious of a comrade," Marluxia explained, while keeping a serious expression.

"Your insincerity is comforting," Vexen grumbled before disappearing from the room.

Saix had watched the scene play out in front of him, and he could feel the tension was still high, but now it seemed to be between Marluxia and Vexen. He knew that things were starting to get a bit tense now, which meant that sooner or later he would have to act. He would have to go ahead with what he was instructed to do within due time.

"I would be cautious of what you say to Vexen. You know very well that he will use anything he can get to his advantage."

"And what do you mean by that?" Marluxia asked, sounding as if he didn't know what Saix meant.

"Vexen will surely take this as a challenge, and with that he could very end up eliminating Sora."

Marluxia hummed thoughtfully. "You are correct about that, and it would be a rather unfortunate denouement." Marluxia then walked over towards Namine, who had remained quiet this entire time. He placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to tense up.

"What to do? Your hero is soon to be wiped from existence. But I believe there is a certain promise that he made you. Isn't that right, Namine?" Marluxia asked coldly.

Namine's fingers slowly tightened around her sketchpad. She let out a long breath before she answered quietly. "Yes…"

Saix once again felt pity for her. She was once again being forced to write in fake memories for Sora to now 'remember'. From the expression Namine made, Saic could tell that she was conflicted over what she had to do. While she did want to met Sora, she was still not exactly too happy about what she was doing. Saix could understand why she would feel like that. The only way she could meet Sora is to make him think he already knew her, but in the end to her it was still fake memories.

Saix could see how much Namine wished that she wasn't there. The more he watched her work her memories magic, the more he wished he could do something to help her. Maybe it was just memories of feelings from his past, but he felt like he had to do something to help her. A memory of wanting to do something, to try and be a friend. They lingered in his head as he analyzed the situation. There had to be something he could do. He knew eventually he could do something… but it was still the 'what' of it and then 'when' that he would do it. But he knew that he would do it.

So yeah I'm still getting through Castle Oblivion. Trying to do what I can. I got plans though for how Saix interacts with the replica though XD

Let me know what you guys think and thanks for reading!