Chapter Thirty Five: Secrets

In The Castle That Never Was, Erxart rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he walked to the gray area after breakfast in his room. Sleeping was difficult once again last night as the vision of Aqua fighting in the dark in desperation haunted him. More than once he tried to reach out to her, only to find himself sitting up in his bed with an outstretched hand. Each time there was that same ghostly gold and silver armor repeating his refrain.

"Remember."

And he desperately wanted to. He wanted to know who Aqua was to him and why he still saw her so vividly. To try and remember some clue about where she was so Erxart could help her! But no matter how much he searched his memory, he couldn't remember anything about Aqua or Ventus.

And asking the Organization was right out. How would any of them listen to him long enough when they would just dismiss his visions as fantasy? Not to mention he had begun to distrust almost half of the Organization by his own suspicion or by their conduct. Only Roxas took him completely seriously, and there was no way he knew what had happened when he was alive. Erxart sighed as he lingered before the gray area. Even in this Organization made for the refuge of Nobodies, Erxart felt like he was out of place.

A tap on the shoulder ended Erxart's rumination as he turned to whoever wanted his attention before blinking in surprise. "Larxene?" He hadn't known her long since joining, but he quickly learned that her smile meant trouble for someone.

Folding her hands behind her back, Larxene tilted her head. "Mind if I ask you a question?"

Erxart gave a simple nod. "Very well." But inside, it was far from simple. Did she suspect that Axel and him were plotting against her? Was she going to try and make a move to get rid of him before today's mission even started? Or—?

"How do I look?"

His train of thought stopped as Larxene asked her question with a smile. She twirled around as if she were showing off the black cloak like a dress. "It suits me, right?"

"You," Erxart stuttered as he scratched the back of his head to think of a response to the out of nowhere question. Eventually he gave a nervous smile and offered, "It looks very nice on you."

That caused Larxene to stop in showing off her outfit mid-turn. Her mouth hanging open for a moment before she crossed her arms and faced him. "Funny. Last time I checked, we don't have hearts to find anything nice."

Erxart took a step back before shaking his head. "Then why did you bother asking?"

Larxene shrugged her shoulders as she turned away from him. "I was bored. Wanted to see if someone new to the organization would say something different if I asked them that question." Erxart clenched his fist as he felt annoyance building for Larxene's capricious whims. But before he could even open his mouth, she looked back at him with a grin and a wink. "Hey Erxart, do I remind you of someone special you used to know?"

His brow furrowed as he remembered Aqua from his dreams.

Determined yet compassionate, a heart that stood against the dark and fought for those she held dear.

Though he had no concrete memories, Erxart's answer was crystal clear.

"No. You're nothing like her."

Yet this just earned a laugh from Larxene as she replied, "You're right. I'm probably better than her. Now enough fun. Let's talk about secrets." Larxene's voice dropped to a whisper on the last word, and Erxart felt his blood turn cold. The fear that she had realized what Axel had been planning coming to the forefront of his mind. She moved close to Erxart, as she quietly explained,"You see, certain secrets need the right tool for the job. And for this one, we need a certain computer."

For the moment Erxart relaxed, Xemnas' disk then. A sensitive topic, but less stressful. Even so, he had to be careful. Erxart closed his eyes and sighed as he asked, "Where would we find it?"

"In the world we're going to. Now listen closely." She pointed to both him and her as she continued. "We're going to split up to find it. If you find it first, be a sweetie and don't tell Axel?"

That got Erxart's attention as his eyes opened and he took a step back. "Why shouldn't I?"

Larxene put a finger to her chin in mock thought as she conceded, "Well you could. But if he gets first crack at Xemnas' secrets, who knows when you'll get your answers?" She smiled before walking ahead of Erxart. "Just think about it."

Erxart stood for a moment as the offer sat in his mind, but he shook his head and followed. He would think it over if he found the computer. The two entered the gray area. Roxas and Saïx both stood by the window, with Luxord and Axel waiting on the furniture. Axel gave both of them a wave from one of the couches before getting up. "You made it. We were waiting for your Erxart. Wanted to share the news with you."

Saïx walked towards Erxart and began to explain, "We have deemed your training of Roxas to be most satisfactory."

Erxart looked to Roxas in surprise, the latter tense with balled fists. Luxord spoke up from his seat as he shuffled a deck of cards in his hands. "As such, he is no longer your concern."

Erxart shook his head as he tried to protest, "Roxas knows some powerful abilities, but a keyblade is more than just a weapon." It was a reflection of the user's own heart. Their experiences and their lives. Furthermore, the fact that Roxas wielded one with such skill without a heart made it all the more imperative that he understood what that meant as a Nobody.

If any of this was of concern to Saïx, he didn't show it. "We will ensure he is taken care of. For now you have your mission." He waved his hand and summoned the dark portal.

Axel smiled and put a hand on Erxart's shoulder "Relax, we've got our own work in Hollow Bastion to deal with, remember?" Of course, given their task was to observe without extreme interference, that might be easier said than done. Not to mention Larxene's offer. If he helped Axel, would he truly lose the one chance to uncover his past?

Larxene simply waved her hand as she strolled through the portal. "We'll talk more once we're there." Axel nodded and followed her into the darkness.

Erxart sighed and began to depart.

"Erxart."

Only for Roxas' voice to stop him. Erxart looked over to him as he asked, "We'll meet up after the mission, right?"

Erxart nodded with a smile. "Of course."

Yet even as he spoke those comforting words, he couldn't help an unsettling sense that this wasn't the first time he made such a promise.

And the subtle fear that he wouldn't be back from this.

Breakfast was a welcome break for everyone at Hollow Bastion after the morning's conversation, though there was still a tension in the air. Ventus sat with Yuffiie besides Naminé, while Leon watched from his seat. Although with the morning's revelations, none of them were quite in the mood for small talk. Each of them probably needed some time to digest everything they had talked about.

Having finished his food before anyone else, Ventus certainly had plenty of time to think. There was certainly some good found in the discussion. A weight was certainly lifted from his heart once it became clear that Aqua was likely alive. And even if people were a little shaky, they seemed willing enough to trust Naminé right now.

He glanced over at Naminé, who was slowly but surely finishing the last of her breakfast. Even if she did hold such a strong power over his memories, Ventus wasn't afraid of her. Not after she had done everything she could to help him and everyone else at Hollow Bastion. After she had been as honest as she could with who she was and what she knew about the Organization and her powers. He might have some regrets, but saving her was not one of them.

Of course, it was the regrets that were a bit harder to face. He tapped the plate with his fork as he thought back on how much he had just jumped in blindly in the past. From getting involved in the fights of other worlds, to just leaving his home in the first place. It had caused trouble for everyone at the Land of Departure. He wouldn't have beens surprised if Xehanort and Vanitas had counted on it for their plans.

Ventus might not have gotten in trouble for blindly saving Naminé, but he definitely paid for it long ago. It got Eraqus killed, lost him his friends, and almost killed him. Ventus set his plate aside. If he was going to help make things right, he would need to stop being reckless. Hopefully the one time it did good would be the last time.

Eventually, the four of them finished their meals, Leon getting up with a terse, "Let's go."

They were all quiet as they walked through town to the fort, Leon following behind. But eventually, Yuffie broke the silence between Ventus and Naminé as she put her hands behind her head. "You know, if we wrap up early, there might be time for you two to go on your date."

"It's not a date."

Ventus turned to Yuffie and blinked in surprise, since he saw that Naminé had not just done the same, but also said what he said. He shook his head and tried to explain,"It's just us having some fun together." Not to mention, Ven had never really had much experience with romance himself, much less dating.

Naminé tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. "Besides, didn't you say you were joking yesterday?"

Yuffie grinned and continued to walk head through the city. "Well, yeah. But if I get reactions like that, maybe I should call it a date."

He and Naminé stood there, a bit lost for words before Leon walked past with a smirk. "Let's think about afternoon plans once we're actually sure the afternoon is free. The fort's just up there."

At the edge of the city, the stone walls had miraculously held after a decade underwater. More importantly, the path leading up the rampart to the fort was still in one piece. No heartless had decided to appear yet. Likely from the weeks of hunting heartless throughout the city paying off.

But as they walked into the fort, Ventus cringed. He received a stark reminder that while the lack of heartless made a place safer, that did nothing for decades of disuse. Ventus clapped a hand over his mouth and nose as he groaned, "This place reeks!" An old musty smell permeated the building from the drained decade of water. He raised his keyblade and called out, "Wind!"

The group sighed with relief as the magical gust cleared out the stench. "Much better," Naminé complemented as she stepped and looked over the hallways. "Now let's see what we can find."

For an hour, it seemed like the answer would wind up being 'not much'. Half of the books were ruined by the flood, and most of the supplies were scattered and broken. But then Ventus turned down one corridor and came to a stop. "This seems like a nicer door than the rest." He called out to the group that had split up, "Hey! Come check this out!" Ventus opened the door to the room and walked in.

But then he stopped.

Most of the office was intact. Books and furniture almost untouched by the flood.

But Ventus could hardly notice it compared to the picture sitting against the wall.

With the exception of the hair and eye color, everything looked like Terra. From his face to the style of hair. Even with the lab coat, he was unmistakable.

And yet even from a portrait, he could tell this was far from Terra. There was none of the compassion, or the courage that Terra fought with. Not even a simple smile. It was a cold and calculating gaze that was drawn there. One that saw people as things to be used and discarded.

A gaze that haunted his memories of torturous training.

"Ven?"

Naminé's voice and her hand on his shoulder snapped Ventus from his rumination. It seemed that everyone else had arrived while he was lost in thought. Yuffie frowned in concern, while Leon had his eyes on Ventus. He smiled and put his hand on Naminé. "Just surprised to see the picture." Even if she was born a Nobody, Ventus just couldn't believe she had no heart. There was no faking the fear she showed when the Organization threatened her, or the happiness of freedom and finding friends. Or the kindness she showed him. It was probably why…

Ven's eyes widened for a moment.

Naminé tilted her head as she took a step closer. "Ven, you're a little red. Are you—?"

"Fine!" Ventus squawked as he took a step back and waved his hands. "I'm just fine! No problems at all!"

That was a lie and Ventus knew it. Right now his mind was desperately trying to catch up to what his heart might be saying. He wasn't even sure he was hearing what it was saying right! He had no training in this! Was this…

Was this what it was like to fall in love?

He took another glance at Naminé, her hand slightly outstretched as she looked back at him. "Well," she began to answer with a slowly growing smile, "if you say so."

It was a simple answer, and yet it caused another thought to run through Ventus' mind.

Did she like him back?

"You two finished?" Leon's voice got Ventus to come to his senses. Ventus saw Leon as he leaned on the wall next to an open door with a smirk.

Ventus took a breath and nodded. "Uh, sure. We're fine." He wasn't totally sure how to handle how he was feeling. But Naminé was important to him. That much hadn't changed.

However, Naminé frowned in some concern and looked around the room. "Where's Yuffie?"

Just then, her voice shouted from the open door, "Hey lovebirds! I think I hit the jackpot!"

It was at this moment that a blushing Ventus realized that no matter how this went, Yuffie would never let him or Naminé hear the end of it.