FINALLY IT'S HERE! Sorry about that, lovelies. Hopefully this makes sense. More plot! Or, well, diving deeper into it anyway, haha. We're getting there.
Reacting to Marluxia's flower crown was easy because I was genuinely happy about it. I always wanted a flower crown, but… I sucked really badly at them. I also had a bad phase when I was little where I rejected everything girly, flowers included, even though I really liked them. It was a pain. But considering the current situation, I took the distraction happily and used it, not wanting to focus on the guilt I felt.
Lexaeus said everything was fine and that my gratitude was unnecessary, but… it hurt. If I hadn't gotten so upset with Larxene… then none of this would have happened. I just wanted her to stop. I didn't intend for her to fall to the ground; I expected her to have a better stance than what she did. She was an extremely powerful Nobody with magic powers and experience in fighting, after all.
But she did fall and I nearly got her and two of my favorite organization members badly injured. Heck, I nearly got myself killed…
A shiver ran down my spine and I quickened my pace, wanting to hurry up to meet the Superior so I could go hide in my bedroom underneath the covers. This was too much. Holly was scary, but Larxene… with all her clones…
My throat still hurts from the way she had held me up and strangled me earlier. I honestly don't even remember how I got out of that; it all went so fast. Everything was a blur. The adrenaline was still pumping through my veins from the battle. My lungs- they ached and burned, but the pressure wasn't as intense as what I was used to. Heck, the fear wasn't nearly as intense as it was with Holly, which was interesting seeing as there were far more opponents this time around. I repeat; how did I survive?
It was mostly in thanks to Lexaeus, I bet, what with him holding off several of the Larxene's. What was Zexion doing prior to him summoning the illusions? I can't recall. Gods, this is making my head hurt.
"Hey. Kid." My thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt by Maria's rough voice. Something about her made me feel like she was greatly uncomfortable, but it was hard to tell what. "Stop talking."
What? "O-Oh… sorry." I clamped my mouth shut, stiffening up and looking at the ground as I walked. It was then that I felt something bop me hard on the top of my head and I flinched, reaching up to catch what had hit me. A… vial? "What-?"
"Drink it." She demanded. "You're still bleeding."
"Oh… um… thanks." I took the vial and looked at it, confused. It looked a lot like the one Larxene and Demyx both drank, so are they both regular potions? I never had one before. I shook it a little, watching as the green liquid sloshed about, ignoring some of the stares I was receiving. Then I popped the cork, sniffed it, made a face, and took a swig. I almost spat it back out- it was so sour. Ugh. I could feel it spreading throughout my body, warm and tingly, the pain leaving my body at an incredible rate. Then the bottle disappeared from my hands into several little lights and I stuck my tongue out. "Gross!"
Laughter hit my ears and I scrunched my nose up at the blonde. "Of course it's gross; it's medicine, stupid! What'd you expect? Sugar and sweets?"
"Mm, no thanks." I deadpanned. I puffed my cheeks out and stared at my hands where the vial once was. "I can't stand sweets. They make me sick. Although I love tea- but I can't drink soda. Halfway through a bottle I wanna vomit. Ohhh, hey! Hey! Do you guys like sweets!?"
An idea popped into my head as I whirled around to look up at Lexaeus and Zexion.
"Like, cookies or muffins or something? Out of curiosity."
"...Are you planning on baking, flower?" Marluxia asked, seemingly amused. "Do you know how?"
Xaldin was paying more attention to conversation now, which reminded me of that time back in the kitchen when he said something about how he wasn't going to cook anymore because Marluxia ate the pancakes he had made. Raspberry ones… wasn't it? "You, bake? I highly doubt it."
"Okay, rude. And I don't bake." Mom normally helped when I wanted to give cookies to my friends for Valentine's Day, but I did most of the work and they always came out rock hard… sadly. But practice makes perfect, doesn't it? I hope. At least my friends were nice and tried to eat them. In return I would always force myself to stomach Skylar's sickly sweet heart-shaped reese cups. The things one would sacrifice for friendship. Oof. "Just a question."
"Well, I'll have you know I'm quite fond of blueberries." Marluxia informed as he rested a hand lightly on top of my head- right where Maria had bumped me earlier with the potion. "Larxene is more a fan of cherries."
"Don't destroy the kitchen." Xaldin warned. Oh my god. They're trying to ruin my master plan.
"I said I can't bake!"
He crossed his arms over his chest. "I am no fool; I know a schemer when I see one." His gaze drifted to Marluxia and landed on Zexion for a brief second, before returning to me. "You are plotting something and I warn you-ruin the kitchen, you clean it."
"I. Can't. Bake." I waved my hands around for emphasis, making lots of weird faces as a result. "And- Maria?"
She was completely silent. I stopped walking, staring at her curiously as worry began to eat away at me. The woman appeared bothered by something- so much so that it wasn't just mere uncomfortability by this point. It was then that I noticed how close Xaldin was walking next to her, almost protectively- trying to hide her from my view. Was… she really that annoyed by me?
I know… we're supposed be Keepers. Light and Darkness, two sides of the same coin. But… there's a good chance we're also sisters, so… maybe that's what irritates her so much? I'm not panicking over it as much anymore, which is probably due to all the other bull crap being thrown at me, not to mention the conversation I had with Luxord, but… what would I do if she really was my sister?
I wanted to meet her for so long, but now that we're actually here… and she could be this person in front of me right now…
I just don't know. How is one supposed to react in this situation? How would she react if it were confirmed? Would she become more distant? Meaner? She had random bouts of niceness that went away as quickly as they came- as shown as when she gave both Larxene and me potions. She was totally willing to beat up the blonde earlier, too, which was greatly concerning. It's just… hard to think about.
"Will you trust her?" Holly's voice seemed to echo in my mind, speaking out loud the doubts hiding in the depths of my heart. I wondered if I had become so stressed I was imagining her speaking to me, staring me down with that icy gaze. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, blinking several times to fight anymore tears. "She could betray you. It would be so easy…"
Would it though? Maybe. I'm not the most guarded person out there… or the smartest.
"You'd let her in, give her all your trust… and then when it mattered most you'd be gone."
Broken. Shattered.
"It's easier to just block them all out. Not letting them in."
But then it becomes lonely, cold, sad. You start to long for others, without having the energy to get up and find them. To interact. You just become numb. It's… heartbreaking.
And Michael… was heartbreaking. Maria is too. I want… to change that. To help. But… I'm still so confused. Who is he? Who is she? Who are any of the people surrounding me? What are Nobodies and Heartless? What are the Keepers of Heart? Why do the Organization claim to want to protect us, act as such, and then have a few members stray and try to kill us? I'm scared. I may be playing the fool, but I'm so scared. I want to go home so bad. Who even am I? I'm even sure if I'm me anymore.
It's like… someone else is trying to take over.
Someone I recognize, but don't really know. These memories… they don't belong to me, do they? That person on my platform… they're his, aren't they? If I exist and he truly was the past Keeper of Light, then… there's no way of returning them. He's dead. I'm stuck here. With him.
I've been having dreams about him all my life… so maybe I was never really me to begin with. A shadow of Michael… and a shadow of Maria. A light trapped in the dark.
"Xaldin." Maria suddenly spoke up, almost as if sensing my agitation and growing only more irritated by it. My eyes snapped up, wide and alarmed, staring at her. "I'm going up ahead to the Northern Terrace."
"I beg pardon?" The woman opened a corridor of darkness- blacker than any of the ones I've seen so far. And- interestingly enough- while the organization members corridors were filled with purple hues, Maria's… was a dark red. She disappeared through it, without giving her caretaker anytime to react. Xaldin was left reaching for thin air, grabbing nothing but wisps of darkness as the portal vanished. "Insufferable-"
He stopped himself, lowered his hand, and sighed.
"Such a child."
I blinked at Xaldin. "She's, like, twenty-three. Wait." I counted with my fingers, eyebrows knitting together. "Yeah, twenty-three; hold on, no. Twenty-two?"
"If we go by the assumption she is your biological sister," Zexion began, bringing a hand up to his head as though he had a headache, "twenty-two would be exact. A six year difference, yes?"
I snapped my fingers and pointed at him, grinning. "Yeah! See, this is why we have you. You're the smart one. Also- which way is the Superior? I wanna ask him about the poptarts."
A blank stare was all I received in response from the researcher.
"What? It's a legitimate question! I wanna know if they're really his! They went missing a while back, I think. I dunno; I don't really remember, but it's a question! And it's, like, the second time I'll be seeing him so-! You know. Ice breaker?" My eyes widened then and I gasped, bringing my hands up to my face in excitement as I looked at Marluxia, then at Lexaeus, and then back at my favorite resident scientist. "How much does a polar bear weigh?"
"Around seven hundred and seventy-two pounds to-" Zexion began, answering my senseless question with a blank look on his face, when I cut in with a big stupid grin.
"Enough to break the ice." Gods, I couldn't keep my expression from changing. Their looks were too much. The silence was so awkward and frick it was beautiful. "Pfft-bwahaha! Ahahaha!" I clapped my hands together, doubling over and waving my hands in the air excitedly. "Your faces!" So expressionless. So done. A snort escaped me. "I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna ask him that. I'mma commit."
I guess in a way… you could say they were Xal-done with my jokes.
With that I turned around, still snickering and giggling away, and began to continue down the hallway- swinging my arms in a weird marching fashion. Left, left, left, right, left!
"We're off to see the wizard~! The wonderful wizard of Oz, yes!"
Xaldin shared a look with Lexaeus, while Larxene rolled her eyes and whined. "This is our Keeper of Light? Seriously? She's a total baby!"
"I can hear you~!" I sang loudly, stopping when I came to a crossroads. I looked at both ends of the hallway and turned to look at the guys and Larxene, lost. "Uh… which direction is it?"
Lexaeus, eyes closed, walked forward. He placed a hand on my upper back- and the next thing I knew I was letting out a yelp as he picked me up and set me on his shoulder. This was even weirder than how he normally carried me, but at least it wasn't Xaldin. That was uncomfortable. And awkward. And I had really wanted to be put down but I was injured and couldn't really talk, which was the only reason he carried me in the first place.
"I-I can walk this time, you know- no? No. Okay. Cool. Okay. This is happening- heyyy, Marluxia! Marluxia!" The pink-haired assassin looked up at me as Lexaeus carried me away to the Northern Terrance where the Superior was waiting. "I'm taller than you now! Haha!"
"Indeed you are, flower." He said with a smile, something seeming fake about the sweetness he was trying so hard to portray. "Indeed you are."
The walk lasted some time. I almost fell asleep on Lexaeus' shoulder as a result, bored out of my mind and trying my best not to focus on the impending anxiety that was going to be chatting with Xemnas. I had a bad feeling Saix might be there as well- that guy really unnerved me. I didn't like him very much. All he did was stare super intently when I was talking with Demyx on the couch before. Rude. I leaned over Lex's shoulder, placing an arm on the top of his head and glancing down at Zexion.
Why did he come with us? I still can't figure it out.
Suddenly, Xaldin spoke up, coming to a halt. The others glanced at him in confusion. "This is as far as we go. You must head towards the Superior alone, Irene."
"W-Wait, what? You're kidding, right?" I stared him, alarmed. "I-I don't know how to get there!"
"It's just up the staircases." He said, gesturing to the flight of clear stairs. Zexion and Marluxia were boring into the man with their blue orbs, something akin to annoyance flickering in their expressions. "The rest of us are not privy to the conversation the Superior wishes to hold with you."
Oh gods. Welp. It's official. I'm screwed.
Larxene, on the other hand, looked pleased that she wouldn't have to deal with me for a short while. Or… ever, depending on how things turned out. Oh gods, please, please, please, don't let Xemnas kill me. I don't want to die. I-no. No, deep breaths. Calm down. This is fine. We've done it before, right? We're fine. Any confidence I would have had with the others, particularly Lexaeus, beside me was now gone.
Legs shaking, I forced myself to climb up the terrible flights of stairs- mentally declaring them my worst enemy.
…
Maria stood outside the northern terrace, leaning her forearms against the railing and gazing at the misshapen gold moon- as though it might hold all the answers. If only. The more time she spent here, the more confusing everything became. She had been taught from the beginning that she was meant to protect the Light, to be the one sword to cast away all that would do them and the worlds harm. That all would be well once the Light was found. But now?
Now that she had found the Light, had seen that fragile and scared heart, and felt the fear and pain there? Maria wasn't so sure anymore. Yes, she would train Irene- teach her about magic and survival, but everything else that she was…
Maria didn't know how to handle that. Irene's belief that all would be good- that they all could be friends... was so childish. So naive. She was…
She was so much like Dean.
Full of wonder and hope, and so different than Maria.
The scent of earth snapped Maria out of her memories, fresh formed soil and… flowers hitting her senses. Marluxia… his scent was all over the kid. Yet, it was distant. He wasn't travelling with her- and given the echo along the stairs, neither was the earthen giant. Turning to rest her hip against the railing, arms crossed, she watched as the messy mop of dark chocolate hair peeked over the landing. Irene's voice muttered about "all the fudge-nutting stairs" as her brown eyes locked on Maria's, the young girl's step halting midway.
Irene went to speak, concern written in her gaze, but Maria cut her off. "I'm impressed they let you come up by yourself."
"Wh-What? Oh… Oh! Yeah, I, uh…"
Maria had turned away during her stammering, looking over her shoulder at her. "Come on, kid. You coming?"
The startled squeak was followed by a quick, "R-Right!" With a roll of her eyes, Maria smiled despite herself. Her face almost hurt at the action. The girl really was a child. At least for now, anyway.
No one involved with the Keepers is a child for long, Maria thought bitterly, lips tilting downwards.
Upon approaching the terrace landing, Maria noticed three things: first off, the castle- despite its sleek white walls- was beautiful. And enormous. Second, the moon wasn't misshapen at all, but fractured as though incomplete. Its golden hues dulled and lacking. And lastly, the frost-haired man before them was not to be messed with.
Ever.
The man radiated power- a raw, surging darkness that settled into his very core. It was different than looking at the other members. With them, she could feel that sort of emptiness, like a longing, deep in her bones. But with him? This man? He felt every inch the dark monstrosity the King had thought Maria to be. And although she knew his darkness wasn't the black like hers, for once, she wasn't sure if that was a fight she could win.
That set her on edge.
It wasn't until Saix appeared- number seven, as she recalled- that this Superior finally tore his attention away from the moon and focused on the two females. And by Kingdom Hearts, his gaze made her skin crawl. It was a dark feeling, a sick feeling. As though he was slicing her open and pulling apart her darkest fears; taking her heart and measuring it for some impossible task, yet finding it lacking.
Like a poison you only realized you'd swallowed after you took your last breath.
Liquid gold eyes flashed up to her own stare, a smirk hiding behind those eyes as if sensing her trepidation. Casually, he spread his arms out- as if in greeting. His smile did not reach his eyes. "Keepers of Light and Darkness, Irene and Maria, thank you both… for meeting with me. I trust that you have enjoyed your stay thus far?"
"I-I guess…?" The younger shifted uncomfortably, muttering quietly as if in answer, but not daring to meet his cold and empty gaze.
Maria guessed she would be doing all the talking then. Fine. Crossing her arms, the woman let out a bored huff, "A prison is a prison no matter how pretty the walls."
Xemnas stared for a short moment and let out a low chuckle, the sound setting her nerves on fire. Something about him was just so unnerving. "I must admit… our hosting skills are severely… lacking, at best."
"Lacking." Maria repeated, voice quieting. An irate scoff escaped her as she let out an air of annoyance, refusing to let him see just how off-balance he made her by being there. "Look, I appreciate the pleasantries as much as the next guy, but we both know that's not why we're here." Glancing quickly at the younger girl and seeing the tense set of her shoulders, Maria opted for a softer tone. It wouldn't do to scare her more. "Mind if we cut to the chase?"
The man hummed thoughtfully and nodded. "Hm… ever to the point. As wick to flame is bound to be… Yes. I believe you are owed an explanation."
Her brow twitched at that, eyes flashing red briefly before settling again. She could feel Irene shift closer, clearly distrusting of Xemnas to a point- so much so that she forewent her fear of Maria and sought solace in her presence. That was… different. Casually, Maria shifted her weight to her off-foot. Bringing her closer to the other and letting the long drape of her sleeve dangle by the child, it was only coincidence the kid saw it as an unspoken offering for comfort. Irene's shaky hand reached out, clasping the soft fabric gratefully.
Coincidence. That's all it was. Only… coincidence.
Maria gestured with her free arm for him him to continue, scowling at his knowing smirk.
"Tell me, Keepers, what do you know about…. Nobodies?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I know they're like Heartless… but in reverse. Unlike them, they can retain human form…"
"A-And… they don't have hearts." Irene's sudden, although quiet, statement made Maria pause.
"What?"
Brown eyes glanced up at her, then away. She was clearly uncomfortable under Maria's piercing gaze. "Th-They don't have hearts? Or emotions. I-It-It's weird? B-But, like, they only have the memories of what it was like to feel? I guess? I don't get it. They're just kinda… empty? I think."
No hearts. Maria vaguely remembered the girl saying something like that before- when she had been so determined to stand against her in favor of helping the other members. But Maria had dismissed it at the time- and why? Because that was impossible. Wasn't it? Then again, Xemnas radiated darkness and power. A longing emptiness hidden within the black, as though something was missing. Lacking.
"That is correct." Xemnas informed, appearing pleased that the girl knew this. Yet, somehow, Maria knew that expression was fake. "We Nobodies do not possess hearts or feelings… like you do. We are the empty husks left behind when a heart is taken from the body. Those with stronger wills keep their human form, while others grow into the dusks you've seen around you."
"A dusk?" Maria echoed, recalling the words of a certain firestarter. "What is that? It keeps getting mentioned."
Irene's eyes lit up. "O-Oh! Oh! I know what that is!" She practically bounced on her feet, finding relief in the distraction, tugging on the woman's sleeve and forcing her to look down at her. "They're the weaker Nobodies! They listen to the Organization because they're higher-up than them, kinda, like… like a class system! Or a hierarchy, or… or something! They're stronger Nobodies, so the weaker Nobodies listen to them!"
"Alright…" The woman processed this. "So basically they're the result of a Heartless forming?"
"Yes." Xemnas said. "The forgotten pieces of humanity. Just as the Heartless take form, seeking what once was, we, too, are given life to seek our lost hearts and memories."
"Wait, what?" Irene was startled. "You don't have memories? I-I thought you guys did! E-Everyone else said that… that you, uh, remember what it's like to feel!?"
"That's what he meant." Maria informed. "You're just not picturing it right."
Irene was greatly confused. Maria knew they had memories of before; she could see it in Axel's playful banter and in Xaldin's exasperated sighs when they got into mischief. They had memory- just not the feeling to go along with it. The heart. Xemnas lowered his gaze, lips spreading in a broad smirk. "A wise Keeper." He mused, touching his chest as if feigning loss. "We do have memories, but… not always at first. Some take time to recover the memories of our former selves, others even longer than that. It is not just the memory we seek, but what that memory holds. Its purpose."
The brunette girl gasped, as if coming to a profound revelation. Chocolate eyes beaming, she looked up at Xemnas. "Your hearts! You want the emotion that comes with the memory, i-instead of the… the… the freaking- uh, memory of the emotion!?" She seemed to have trouble putting her words together. Her hands were flying all over the place, the child almost smacking herself in the face in her enthusiasm. "The emotion with the heart to… to go with the memory!
Ignoring the child's hyperactive behavior, Maria looked up at the broken moon, suspicious hazel green eyes taking in its shape and form. Now that she had the story things were starting to make a little more sense now. "You want to be whole."
It wasn't a question. It wasn't an observation either. This was simply a fact. A statement of solid truth begging to question one simple thing; why were the Keepers involved? They weren't observers, nor were they capable of bringing a heart back to the body after its release to darkness. Except- no. That power was reserved only for the Keyblade Masters. So then why are Maria and Irene involved?
Frosty- er, Vexen- was adamant about taking her to the castle when they first met. Enough so as to freeze her instead of explaining. Whatever they wanted was dangerous and they needed them for it; both of them…
Hearts in motion…
Xemnas' dark chuckle stole Maria out of her thoughts. "I can see why Kingdom Hearts has chosen you both as its champions."
Chosen? That was laughable.
"Our goal… it is to be complete through Kingdom Hearts itself."
Wait, what?
"If you get enough hearts…" Irene murmured to herself, thinking deeply with furrowed brows. Maria glanced down at her, wondering what all she knew. She was slow, but she wasn't an idiot. She caught on eventually- maybe even noticed or figured out a few things herself. "Kingdom Hearts can… give you hearts of your own?"
"Kingdom Hearts doesn't just give out hearts." Maria countered, hoping the kid would catch on. If not… they'd just have to talk again. Later. Until she understood. "It's the light of all the worlds united."
"Yes…" Xemnas interjected calmly. "But what is Kingdom Hearts and its Keepers, but a heart divided?"
His words were collected, cold, yet they resonated within her for a reason she couldn't describe. Flashes of indigo and sky blue hair, of ice and fire against a shattered sun. An eclipse that couldn't stay together. There and gone in her memory, leaving nothing except a pulsing pain within her head, the woman fighting the urge to grip the invisible wound. She could feel Irene reach out towards her as if wanting to help, but uncertain how. Hmph. Ever the healer, wasn't she?
Gritting her teeth, Maria shifted to face Irene slightly- to reassure her without turning her back to Xemnas. "It can't give what it doesn't have."
"Oh, but it does." Xemnas responded smoothly, turning back to the moon and gazing at it with longing eyes. "As hearts are released from the Heartless they reside in, they gather here. Awaiting purpose."
Purpose…?
"You're trying to build Kingdom hearts." Maria accused. "To give heart to body."
"In a sense… yes."
Irene glanced at them, still at a loss. "What does that mean? I-I don't get it."
Maria sighed at the question. "They want to be whole, to have hearts again. So they're forming a gate to Kingdom Hearts so that they can get their hearts back."
"But… what do we have to do with that?"
Hazel shot over to gold, unwavering. Finally she's asking the right questions. "We're to keep everything balanced. The guiding key to all those who are lost. That includes hearts."
"Fret not, Keepers," Xemnas said, spreading his arms wide as he smiled, as if he had won some kind of game they weren't even aware they were playing, "for we only seek to regain humanity. And most notably, in our endeavour for feeling, we are ridding the worlds of the Heartless that seek to consume them. We wish for harmony above all, just the same as you. Peace throughout the words united… balanced… as all things should be."
Maria shifted her gaze to the fractured gold moon again, thinking over his words. She didn't trust him- not quite at least. He was telling her what they thought she wanted to hear; not like she could blame them. The vengeful Keeper of Darkness staring you down? She'd tell them what they wanted to hear, too.
Yet, still… there was something more going on in this castle. A shift, an energy surrounding its occupants even if they hadn't realized it. They would all play a part in something- she just wasn't sure what.
Time keeps its own secrets, after all.
Placing a hand on her hip, Maria feigned boredom. "Right. Well, are we done here? I'm not really one for philosophy."
"Tell me, Maria," Xemnas began, his heavy tenor carrying easily through the open air, "you've had every chance thus far to leave. You can travel through the corridors of darkness unhindered and create them at will." Golden irises pierced into her unwavering hazel, cold and unyielding. "Why do you choose to stay?"
The briefest flash of red shimmering in her gaze- there and gone. She huffed, ignoring the curious glance from Irene. "What, you think I'm worried you'll find me if I run?"
A chuckle- not quite a laugh- but probably the closest he could get. "No, I am certain that if you did we would not find you… unless you wanted to be found." The faint smile was easily replaced by his normal stone cold expression, stern and intimidating. Maria felt Irene fidget slightly from the shift in his presence. This was not someone you wanted to fuck with. It was no wonder everyone was afraid of him. Xemnas gestured widely with his arms, emphasizing his point. "I wish to know why you stay with us- when you can so freely walk away."
As much as Maria hated to admit it… his question was valid. She had agreed to train Irene, but what about after? She had no ties, no reason to stay. And despite what the younger girl tried to do, Maria was not going to be friends with any of the members here. She was not sisters with her either. No matter… what the world tried to do to convince her otherwise. No matter how soft she appeared to be when with her or how fond she seemed to be of some of the other members.
No.
And although Irene was the original reason she chose to stay- there was something else pulling at her. This place, these people… they were all going to play a much larger role. For what, only Kingdom Hearts knew. But she wasn't going to be left out. As a Keeper she was meant to protect the balance, but as Maria? She wanted to see it all set in motion. Curious as a cat, she was, and oh how that curiosity was going to haunt her later.
If only both the girls knew what their actions would cause in the future. The crazed cycle of events that would follow them. Haunting them.
"There are hearts in motion." Maria finally responded, placing a hand over her chest, staring down Xemnas, determined. Her expression had hardened, eyes cold and unwavering. Fierce. She was not going to bow down to this new threat in front of her. This… Nobody. "I want to find the cause and see the outcome."
The tell-tale smirk from Xemnas sent unwelcome chills down her spine. He had expected her answer. The squeaky voice that spoke up next almost brought something akin to relief to the female soldier.
"I-I'm really getting tired of asking this a-and I'm really sorry, but…" Irene took a deep breath, bringing her hands in front of her and clapping them together. "What does that mean? Hearts in motion? It doesn't… I-I don't get that either. I'm sorry..."
Sighing again, Maria relaxed her posture, not wanting to seem like she was scolding the poor kid. "We're Keepers. We're meant to keep the balance and protect the hearts of the world. Something has caused a shift in that balance." Her eyes cut to the Superior sharply, a promise lurking in her gaze. "And this place will play a large part in it eventually. I plan to be there to see it."
Xemnas was smiling now, the kind of smile one has when they know for certain the die that had been cast. As though he could see all the cards before they were even dealt. The cat that ate the canary. Question was, which one of them was the cat… and which one was the canary?
"Good. I await to see what role we all will play in the events to come."
Maria scowled at that. "Are we done here?"
Letting out an amused huff, the man gestured over to the blue-haired stranger beside him. "Yes. Saix will you show back to your rooms."
"No thanks." Maria stated quickly, turning on her heel and walking off. Just before she reached the door, she called back over her shoulder. "Kid! Move it or lose it."
"Y-Yes, ma'am! Sorry!" Irene yelped as she hurriedly chased after the older girl. Casting one last unsettled glance back at Xemnas, eyes briefly flashing pale silver as she met his empty gaze, she left the terrace. "Bye!"
As soon as the two were out of earshot, the Lunar Diviner stepped closer to the Superior, face a blank slate. He showed not a single trace of emotion, appearing more empty than any of the other members in the castle. "What will you do now?" He inquired calmly, voice barely audible. "The Keeper of Darkness obviously distrusts us."
"It is not distrust, but uncertainty." Xemnas corrected. He waved him off, hands folded across his broad chest. "We will simply guide her doubts elsewhere and show her that we are doing as is needed."
"And what of the Keeper of Light?"
"Irene will follow her out of her misguided sense of hope to bond with her sister. In keeping Maria close, we ensure the girl remains complacent."
"Very well… I'll ensure our preparations are proceeding as planned." Saix remarked, soon vanishing within his own dark corridor. Grinning, Xemnas let out a laugh, not bothering to hide the malicious gleam in his amber orbs.
"Her pride will be her own undoing," He commented to no one in the empty room, staring in the distance where the two girls had left, "just as it's always been. Hearts, both light and dark and inbetween, are already in motion. Now, come, Keepers of Heart!" Xemnas declared, raising his arms up towards the sky almost longingly as he faced the broken ethereal moon, raising his voice just slightly. "Bring me Kingdom Hearts!"
...
The two girls walked down the halls and winding platforms in silence for a long time, Irene casting furtive glances at her auburn-haired companion. Taking a deep breath, the girl looked up at Maria, asking the questions that had been rolling around in her head with a quiet voice.
"H-How did you know there was a shift?" She gulped, trying to calm her nervous jitters, hands fidgeting and fingers twisting about each other. The girl clearly thought of this as some form of confrontation, not too fond of speaking her thoughts out loud. Irene felt foolish as she spoke. "I-I think… I mean, I could be wrong, I'm not the brightest, but… uh, Xemnas didn't really seem… surprised? By your answer. Um. I-I just, uh, how… how do you know something is going to happen?"
Maria regarded her for a moment before speaking, her tone soft and controlled. "As Keepers we protect the hearts of the worlds. We are connected- in a sense- to all hearts. So we can tell when things are… out of place. You'll understand it more once you start training your magic."
"But you know this place is a part of it… right? How?"
Mulling over the best way to respond, Maria halted once they reached the landing. Turning to give Irene her full attention and seeming, for once, to be the most calm and still Irene had seen her yet. "I'm the darkness, yes?" She waited for Irene to nod and continued. "That makes me both sword and shield. The knight to defend the Light at all costs." Pointedly ignoring the array of emotions that moved across Irene's face at that, she held out her hand, a small loop of flame encircling her palm. "As the sword, I can sense the shift in the worlds; the physical plain where hearts, people, reside. As the Light, the healer, you can pinpoint the shift in one's heart and locate it. Regardless of the world they're in. You feel their distress. Their pain."
Irene looked conflicted about the new information. Maria grimaced, not very good at comforting people as she had not the slightest idea as to how to do so. Suddenly, a deep voice spoke in her head, calm. Different from the person before. This one was less aggravating. "Then give her an example."
What, like you?
"If you must."
She let out a soft hum, looking back to the child. She rambled on, "Salem's other was particularly good at that, you could say. I believe his name was Noah?"
"Salem? Wait, who's Noah?" All these names were confusing to the girl. "I'm lost."
"Oh. I guess that hadn't been explained yet." The auburn-haired girl ran a hand through her hair, thinking for a long moment. "He's… one of my previous. A Keeper of Darkness before I was born. The hearts of the previous live inside us; they help teach and guide us." Maria watched the tension fill Irene almost instantly, the child practically freezing in place. Cocking her head to the side, she spoke quietly, understanding that tension all too well. "Who'd you meet, kid?"
A pause. Uncertainty. Then in a voice almost too soft to hear, "H… Holly. She said- She said her name was Holly. She was really pretty."
"Shit." The curse was out of her mouth before she could stop it. No wonder the kid was so beat up when she found her on the platform; Holly was merciless. "She's a rough one. Especially right out of the gate. I'm sorry." The younger brunette nodded slowly, clearly uncomfortable. Maria placed a hand on her hip, aiming for relaxed to help ease her. "They're… They're not all bad. Some are really nice; they'll all talk to you in time."
They both stayed quiet for a time, just standing in each others company. At some point it was Irene who broke the awkward silence of the hall. Stuttering out her question, she asked, "D-Did you have a mean one? L-Like her?"
"Like Holly? Yeah, I do."
"Wh-What did they do?"
A simple question, but it made Maria's face turn voice all the same. A dark, sadistic laugh echoing in her head. "He killed his charge."
Irene's face paled, having not expected that. Maria had been so blatant about it, so casual. The girl blinked. "He… what?"
"Yeah. Well, not directly. That part is a bit more complicated. But he is the reason they died."
Brown orbs looked away before glancing back, a question on Irene's tongue. "You called them a charge. What's that? Like a ward?"
Maria looked off towards on of the many windows, gazing at the broken gold moon, her expression almost forlorn. "A charge is someone we're supposed to protect. So, yeah; like a ward. Like how Lexaeus watches over Zexion. I'm the defender, remember? A Dark Keeper's charge is always the Keeper of Light, yet that Keeper of Light had been murdered by their protector."
Maria waited for Irene's response, seeing if the child caught the meaning in her heavy words. The truth there. The younger nodded slowly, solemnly, gazing at the floor with blank eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed as she struggled to connect the dots, taking much longer than what the woman had been predicting. Maria wasn't sure if she was simple-minded or just plain dense. "Oh… oh. Oh my gods." Irene's eyes snapped up, wide and brimming with emotion, horror in her brown gaze. "H-Holly? He… t-to Holly..."
"Yeah." She responded with a weak smile, hazel eyes sad. It was just their life. Always, always full of grief. There was never a happy ending for their kind. "He killed Holly."
"Wh-Why!? What was his name!?"
"Don't leave her hanging. Tell her." A familiar voice called, different from earlier yet clearly the same one from her argument with Xaldin and Marluxia. Cold, cruel, malicious. "Tell. Her."
With gritted teeth and hands balled into fists, she didn't bother to hide the resentment in her tone. After all, he had caused her pain as well.
"Alexander." She informed her. "His name… is Alexander."
…
Oh. Oh jeez. Oh frick. Oh god damn that explained so much. My hands flew up to my mouth as the emotions welled up, heart pained and twisting in my chest, squeezing so tight it was hard to breathe. Everything suddenly made sense. My hands slid down to my throat, recalling the feeling of that rapier-like staff being pressed to my flesh, her question ringing in my mind.
"Even if it meant being hurt, being betrayed... or being lied to… would you allow yourself to get close to someone?"
That look in her eyes. The fear and hatred and bitterness in her gaze; it was so intense. Full of feeling. Full of heartbreak. Now I understood. She had cared so much for Alexander, didn't she? Yet, for whatever reason, he backstabbed her. He used and abused her, getting her killed in the process. I thought she hated me, but she didn't… did she? If anything she would just resent me for living in her stead.
Doomed to live trapped forever in a heart… nothing more than a ghost.
"O-Oh damn, are you- why are you crying!?"
It's so sad. Holly deserved so much better than that. I only met her once, but I could tell… something had been bothering her. Holly, Maria, Michael… they were all so tragic. They've lived such awful lives. It was no wonder they were all so jaded; a person can only take so much heartbreak before their very soul starts to shatter. What Holly said back then- about how betrayal can tear you apart inside- I can tell that Maria's been through that herself. She wasn't killed, no, but she was definitely betrayed.
And, honestly, I think that's just as bad. Not getting physically wounded can sometimes hurt worse, depending the situation. "I-I'm sorry…"
"What?"
My shoulders shook, bottom lip trembling as my vision began to blur once more with tears. "I-I should've… I should've been with you. Wh-When… When you were taken. Instead, y-you had to… to suffer… a-alone." My fingers tugged at my sweater, digging right into my chest. All the pain, all the hurt she must have suffered- being raised to believed she was nothing more than a tool. A monster. I wish I could have been there. "I'm so sorry…"
No one should have to be alone in such agony.
Why did no one ever think to raise a hand to help her? One simple act of kindness might have been enough. Why did people just let her suffer? I can't understand it.
I hate humanity. We're such cruel, greedy, selfish creatures. I watched as Maria froze, the woman recoiling away as the color drained from her face. I sniffled, eyes growing wide as I realized at once that I must have said the wrong thing. With her… it seemed like that was all I did. My very presence seems to bother her. Every step back Maria took was shaky, her body jerking away ungracefully, her head hanging low as her face became shadowed by hair- the woman's eyes somehow vacant and glazing over with an emotion I could not describe.
"Don't…" Maria started, pausing as her voice threatened to tremble. It was low, cold. The woman took a deep breath, raising her head up to level her gaze with mine. My body seemed to freeze, heart sinking deep into my stomach from what I saw. "Don't you ever say that you should have been taken… Ever."
Blinking away the stinging sensation, I swallowed down the lump in my throat and lowered my head, choking. "I-I'm sorry…"
Maria shook her head and stood up straight, clearing her throat, and made to reach a hand out- stopping short of my right shoulder and dropping her arm back down to her side as if in defeat. "It's… best things happened the way they did. The two of us- we'd be dead otherwise. Just two more ghosts." She shoved her hands into her pockets, spinning on her heel, the woman beginning to march down the hall. "Fickle kings don't care for rebellious shadows, after all…"
I almost didn't hear that last part. What kings? Ah- wait a minute. "Uh… h-hey, um, so… frick. Drat monkeys!" Maria turned, hearing me cry out, and watched as I smacked my hands to my very puffy tear-stained face. "I totally forgot to ask Xemnas about the poptarts!"
The woman said nothing, merely staring at me, and doing my best to lighten the mood by pretending the conversation we just had never happened I hurried to catch up to her, not fond of being left behind, and stuck out my lips in a dramatic pout when we began to head back down the ridiculously long staircase.
"Hey, I feel bad eating all their food! I made some awesome grilled cheeses earlier, though. Lex and Zex ate them! It's, like, the only thing I can cook though. I'm not very good at it. But like, when they don't bring me meals to eat and we just head to the kitchen I normally just snack on the poptarts- they're easy and it's not like anyone would notice them gone, right? It's not real food and while I don't really like sweets and it kinda made me feeling a bit sick eating so much of them, it wasn't like I was raiding the pantry or anything! But apparently they're Xemnas' favorite? And I was totally going to ask them if they were actually his! And I forgot! 'Cause I'm a doofus!"
I doubted she was even really listening to me anymore. Still, I kept rambling, trying to remove the tension in the air and make up for my stupid behavior earlier. I really wished I knew how to interact with people better; I was so bad at it. I always say the wrong things. Maria looked so distracted. I'm such a terrible person. Was what I said that insensitive? I wish there was an instruction manual for these things.
And I'm supposed to live in a castle with a bunch of people who don't even feel. Urk. Yeah. I don't know how I've survived this long. "But, uh, I guess you're staying? In the castle. W-We can hang out a stuff then, so…" I pumped my fists in the air, waving them excitedly as I bounced on my feet, taking advantage of my newfound lung capacity. "Yeah! It'll be great!"
On the positive side of things, if Maria is planning to see what will happen with everyone that means she won't hurt them, right? So no more fighting. to see what will happen with everyone that means she won't hurt them, right? No more fighting. We might even be able to get Vexen or Zexion to do a DNA test to see if Maria and I are actually related. I'm sort of hoping she is truly my sister. My Maria. That would be great. She's a lot nicer now compared to when we first met. Even though… I keep screwing things up with her. Frick.
"I mean, I guess you don't really like Vexen, I don't either actually, and Larxene is kinda bratty… but the others are nice! Well, Marly is a bit… yeah. But he tries! I think. Demyx, Lex, and Zexion are the best though! Lexaeus and I are friends now, actually!"
Yeah. She definitely stopped listening to me.
"S-So, that's… a thing…" I trailed off, losing confidence, lowering my head and fiddling with my fingers as we headed down another staircase. "Yeah."
I really, seriously screwed up.
But, I had to wonder… who came first? There was Alexander and Holly, both of whom were half of each other. Salem and Noah were another pair. Alexander… betrayed Holly, which resulted in death; that would explain why she wanted to hurt me so bad. She was bitter. An angry ghost was not a good thing. She clearly must have cared about her Keeper of Darkness a lot in order to harbor so much hatred. Noah, on the other hand, was a Keeper of Light that… was good at his job? I guess? Maria didn't give much context. What was Salem like?
I hoped he was a good guy.
Hopefully Alexander didn't hurt Maria too much either. I know she said he was violent like Holly, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's done anything to Maria. Holly… she really did just need a hug. A great, big, warm, and fuzzy hug. I think everyone in this castle needed one- well, except maybe Xemnas and Saix. They were scary. Heck, even Larxene could probably use one; I bet that was why she was so mean.
She didn't get enough hugs as a human growing up. Clearly. Hmm.
We'll have to fix that.
"Foolish."
Huh? I blinked, almost tripping over my own feet and tumbling down the stairs in response. I barely caught myself in time, latching my hands onto the railing and yelping as my foot slid against the glass. Maria whirled around, hearing my shriek, and scowled when she saw that I was fine. I offered a sheepish grin in response and she turned away, marching down the staircase with an irritable fire in her eyes. Yeah. She was so not happy.
"You'll get yourself killed with that naivety."
Also, it's official. I'm going crazy.
My eyebrows raised and I shook my head, slowly standing up and keeping both hands on the railing to avoid falling again. I really didn't want to tumble down into the black abyss below. There was no pretty bookworm to save me from that fate this time- and Maria was far too distracted by her own thoughts to help, most likely. Heck, I wouldn't even help me if I were here; not after that insensitive thing I said.
...It was insensitive, wasn't it? I can't tell. I think it was. I don't even remember exactly what on earth it was that I said. Granted, I don't really remember the things I say three seconds after saying them. Oof. What a pain. Oh, wait, now I remember. Okay. Frig.
I need a nap.
…
If there was a way to describe it, Zexion would say he is very much not… pleased. The entire reason for his trailing along with the others was to learn what the Superior was going to tell the Keepers, so as to make manipulating them easier. Xemnas had entrusted him to make ascertain that the Keeper of Light would not stray from them, yet he won't allow him in the room while a key conversation is taking place? He'll have to be careful, have his steps tread cautiously…
If they weren't so vital for their goal the schemer wouldn't even be trying so hard. Lexaeus had it easy; he only ever did as told and went along with the younger girl's whims. To think she was already so attached to him- hmph. So gullible. And yet she was clearly wary of Marluxia… so, given time, would she perhaps grow wary of Zexion himself? Did Lexaeus warn the girl at all? Why?
His visible blue eye turned towards the silent giant, seeing the way he was leaning against the staircase railing, arms folded across his broad chest. As if sensing the stare, Lexaeus lifted his gaze and looked at Zexion, eyes devoid of all emotion- his expression eternally stern. Inflexible. If memory serves correct, he recalled Larxene once making fun of the man for his "resting bitch face" in an attempt to get a rise out of him. One would think the Keeper of Light would be fearful of him as a result, but they were so much alike she found solace in him.
It was… almost entertaining, the way Marluxia's face had darkened when she reached out to Lexaeus instead of him. Things were not going the way the assassin wanted. Not that Zexion cared, the teen physically couldn't, and with him not being able to be present for the Superior's conversation… he was going to have no choice but to subject himself to the Light Keeper's rambling nonsense to figure out what exactly they were told.
If he could feel… the boy would most certainly be irritated.
"Oh, goody." Larxene drawled, standing up straight from her spot against a wall, rolling her eyes. "They're back."
Indeed they were. Heading down the stairs was a bubbly brunette, rushing down the steps without a care in the world, hand on the railing, with a silent auburn-haired woman trailing slowly behind her.
…
I waved my free hand wildly in the air, waving at everyone from atop the staircase. "We're baaaack!"
It was surprising that they didn't leave to go somewhere else, but they were there right where we left them. I wholly believed Larxene to have ditched the group, yet she was leaning against a wall with her arms folded, her foot tapping impatiently against the ground. Marluxia was beside her, fiddling with several roses and tying the stems together to pass time, and pacing the floor was Xaldin- who stopped upon hearing my voice and focused his attention on Maria. Lexaeus was a few steps up off the ground, leaning against the railing, his eyes closed and probably the calmest in the room next to Zexion, who was actually sitting on the stairs- one legged draped over the other.
The bookworm glanced over upon hearing me call out, Lexaeus opening his eyes. Marluxia smiled, lifting his head, and Xaldin frowned deeply. I hopped down the staircase two steps at a time, rushing down with my hands against the railing. I came to an abrupt stop next to Zexion, crouching down next to him and leaning over without getting to close- keeping in mind his dislike for close proximity- and gave the man the brightest smile I could manage. "Hiiii~! What's up?"
He barely spared me a glance, not turning his head so much as shifting his gaze. Oof. I'd be upset if I didn't know that was just how he was. "I assume the talk went well?"
"Uh…" I hesitated to answer, glancing back at Maria anxious. Xaldin clearly noticed the way she was behaving- despondent and still. I looked at Zexion, bright smile fading to an awkward grin. "I-I guess? Most of it was super confusing, the rest of it I already kinda knew?"
I huffed and sat down, exhausted from all the exercise, and made a face. As great as my stamina was, I really wasn't that physically fit save for my leg muscle. Marching band only helped so much and being as sickly as I was in the past it really limited the amount of exercise I could do. It didn't stop my father from badgering me about it though. Hypocrite. Still loved him though, as much as I wanted to smack him sometimes.
"He talked some more about Nobodies, explained how you created and whatnot, so that confirmed some of my theories, and, like, uh… friggle fraggles. What was it?"
I moved my head sideways making clicking noises with my tongue, like some kind of clock, waving my index finger in the air.
"Oh! Kingdom Hearts! ...You'd think I'd remember that." I laughed. Marluxia began to make his way over, eyeing Maria distastefully before focusing his attention on me. The woman seriously wasn't moving at all. Urk. I really regretted what I had said before. "Um, but it's what you guys are after, right? I still don't really get how you collect hearts and whatnot, but he said that when Kingdom Hearts gets enough of them you guys will get hearts of your own! And that… Maria and I are to help with the balance?"
It really made no sense. My head hurt trying to understand it.
"It's weird."
That was when Larxene began to laugh. "It's only weird because you're too dumb to understand it!" She brought a hand up to her chin, grinning snidely at me from her spot on the wall. Marluxia eyed her sharply. "Just give it a rest, kiddo. You're lucky you even survived Xemnas. Actually, scratch that- it's a wonder you've even survived at all!"
Ugh, I wanna smack her. I was hoping after that large fiasco she would start to be a bit nicer, but nope. Clearly not. Frigging fragrel mongrels. I decided to ignore her, not responding to her threats. Zexion was finally looking at me. I clapped my hands together. "Either way, doesn't really change what I said before. Still wanna help ya. Maria is… I dunno. Uh, Maria?"
I glanced back at her, hoping she would speak up. The guilt was growing stronger with each passing second. Xaldin moved up the staircase, calling out to the woman when I failed. Her head snapped up, hazel green eyes glazed over and vacant- obviously coming out of deep thought. Maria glanced at me and then around at the rest of the group before settling on Xaldin, a deep sigh escaping her. "I'm… good. Tomorrow… we'll start magic training then." She glanced up towards the ceiling, eyes slightly misty. "I'm… gonna go. I need to center my remnants."
Before the man could even question what that meant the woman vanished in a portal of black and red. She was gone. I cringed, ducking my head and worrying my bottom lip nervously.
She's so mad.
I wish… I wish I knew how to interact with people better. This was so hard. I was forcing myself to act normal while being out of my comfort zone, despite knowing how that never ended well, and now Maria was upset. What a mess. I hate myself sometimes.
"Remnants?" Larxene echoed, scowling. "The hell does that mean?"
"O-Oh, that's…" I thought about it, cringing even more when everyone focused their attention on me. "It's… complicated? It's like…" I raised my hands up in the air, pressing my fingertips together and bringing them close to my chest, palms not quite touching. "I mean, I could be wrong, but I think she means… her previous? They're apparently inside of us? Like… ghosts."
Lexaeus opened his eyes, understanding dawning on him. "Holly."
I tensed, lowering my head, recalling all the information I was just given not too long again. "Y-Yeah, like… her."
"What happened with the Superior?" Xaldin demanded, making his way back down the stairs to where the rest of us were. "What has made her so distant? Why are her previous unsettled?"
"Th-That…" I really don't want to talk about this. My hands folded together, resting in my lap as I hunched over, more uncomfortable the longer this conversation went on. "We just… talked about it. About… the previous. I asked her about Holly and she mentioned some others, and… it wasn't a fun topic, you know?"
A hand suddenly rested on the top of my head, the scent of flowers invading my senses as Marluxia approached, leaning down and smiling softly at me. The rose crown he was making was gone from sight. "It'll be alright, Flower. Can you tell us… who this "Holly" person is? Lexaeus seems to already know."
That's because he was the only one I've actually told. My eyes flickered to the giant in question for help, not quite ready to talk to the others about. Lexaeus closed his eyes and I stood, pulling away from the pink-haired man and laughing awkwardly as I brought a hand up to the back of my neck. "W-Well, that's… uh, c-circum… circumstantial? Is that the word for it?" I can't think. "I-It's just- um, it's a Keeper thing. Aha… s-sorry. Let's just say she's like this ghost that lives inside me? One of the previous lights…"
I grabbed at the hem of my sleeves, fiddling with my sweater.
"When Zexion sent me into my heart the one time- she was there. It's… It's what Maria and I were talking about on our way back here. She… didn't like that, so… yeah."
Marluxia didn't look too terribly satisfied with my answer, knowing full well that I was hiding stuff. I didn't explain the true reason why Maria was mad- that was something I needed to keep to myself. She was upset because of what I said to her. I really was a foolish small child. The teen sitting beside me brought a hand up to his chin in thought, eyelids fluttering as his gaze became calculating. "The previous Keepers of Heart… inside of your hearts? Intriguing. That would explain why you're so readily able to dive into each other's hearts… and-"
His expression lit up, the male standing and turning back to look at me.
"There is much we need to discuss. Lexaeus, we should make haste to the lab. Light Keeper- you will be coming with us."
"O-Okay?" I was so confused. "Sure?"
Wait. Oh. Oh. This is about the dusk thing, isn't it? Probably.
"A-And call me Irene!"
The two began to head down the stairs onto the floor below and I made to follow after, instinctively reaching out to grab onto Lexaeus' hand like a small child, when suddenly there was a weight on my shoulders. Marluxia. The assassin looked as if he were about to say something, but a large shadow appeared as the giant approached and then Marluxia and Lexaeus were staring each other down. Cool blue eyes met harsh azure, both as devoid of life as the rest. It was still so hard to believe they couldn't feel. I knew it, for their eyes were as dead as could be, but their expressions were so human and real. It was insane. And despite my best efforts I was unable to see the look on the pink-haired man's face, forcibly pulled away and distracted by a certain scientist.
"Irene." The name spilled so smoothly from his lips. My heart almost jumped and I whirled around, attention instantly caught as I stared at the slate-haired man before me. Did I imagine that? Zexion stared me down, gloved fingers wrapped firmly around my wrist. My fingers twitched, face feeling oddly warm. "Do not waste time. Or would you rather stay with Marluxia and be left in the dark even longer?"
So intense. I could almost make out his other eye from this angle- the color just as brilliant blue as the other.
"Do you not wish to know about yourself?"
"I-I mean, uh," I gave an awkward giggle, almost cringing at the sound when I heard my voice squeak, oddly flustered. I scratched the back of my neck with my free hand, eyes darting away to the ground and then back at him, having trouble meeting his gaze all of a sudden, "I-I'm not… against it?"
I cleared my throat, eyebrows knitting together as I glance up at the two tall men staring each other down and then at Zexion. I was starting to notice a pattern with Marluxia- every time I went to spend time with someone else, he would try to intervene. Was I imagining it? I can never see it expression during those times. Maybe it was just coincidence. However, there were things I wasn't quite comfortable talking about with him or anyone else around; there was a reason I only trusted Lexaeus and Zexion with the dusk conversation.
Lips tilting upwards I put on my best act, I beamed at them, trying to focus on the bright side of the situation. "I like spending time with you!"
Zexion stared at me and I quickly corrected myself.
"You and Lexaeus! Well, and Demyx, but he's not here, so…" I looked at Marluxia, seeing him and Lexaeus finally turn away from each other. "We can hang out later, okay, Marluxia? You can teach me how to make flower crowns! Oooh- or we can have tea! Maria said she was gonna make Xaldin make tea!"
The pink-haired assassin almost chuckled at that, seeing the muttonchop man frown. "I beg pardon?" Xaldin asked.
"Yup!" I grinned, pointing at him and then at my chest. "In my heart, after we beat up a big bad Heartless, she said she was gonna make you make tea! Which, quite frankly, I thought sounded tea-riffic at the time! Haha! You… You okay with that?"
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We shall see."
"Until then," Zexion spoke again, tugging on my wrist, "we must go. There is much about the Keepers we still don't know."
"Uh, right! Bye-bye!" I waved at the others, even at Larxene despite the way she turned her nose away at me, and followed the scientist. Lexaeus trailed after and Zexion eventually released me, allowing me to grab the giant's sleeve and hum random songs, trying very hard to distract myself from the guilt and regret I was feeling. "This is gonna be weird, ain't it? Oh well. More lab stuff! Woo! Feels like I spend most of my time there..."
Alright! Starting to delve deeper into the lore of the Keepers. Ya'll ready? :D
It's been a while, so hopefully everyone is still in character. Xemnas is always a tricky one. He talks so slowly I just want to put a bunch of "..." between words and I have to resist. XD
Read and review! It's nice to know your guys' theories and opinions. :3