Lea hissed as he grabbed his head, this pain… What was this pain?
It was weird. Kairi… His feelings towards her were many and confusing, mostly it was overwhelming guilt when he remembered what he had done to her. And yet she was so kind to him in spite of everything.
Still… There was something else. And it was painful, like there was a big gaping hole inside of Lea's chest.
Could it be… Had his heart become damaged? Why did it feel like something was missing! Something important! Something extremely important.
And yet he didn't even know what it was! He only knew it hurt. It hurt just as much as when he remembered that Roxas was gone… That Isa was gone…. That Janan was gone.
This wasn't good, this pain… It was seriously holding back his development. At this rate he couldn't do his bit when the time came.
"Urgh." Lea hissed as he held a hand over his heart.
"AXEL!" Kairi shouted as she came to his aid. "Are you okay?"
Lea had to turn his head away from her, looking at her was just to painful at the moment. "Yeah… Yeah I'm fine."
"No, no you're not. You look like you're in pain!" Kairi stated.
Lea took in a deep breath as he closed his eyes then he stood up. "I'm fine." he stated finally turning to her. "Really."
Kairi bit her lip. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yeah." Lea nodded…. Pretty thankful he had become a much better liar with age.
"Well… okay. If you insist." Kairi chewed on her lip.
Great, now he was worrying Kairi for no reason! Why did Lea only ever bring other people trouble?! Damn it.
Why though? What was missing?! What was he missing?!
It was an interesting development Saix had gone through, searching through the old archives of organization thirteen he had come across Vexens files… A folder of them named. "Project Xion."
Reading the files had made Saix's head hurt, a great sense of anger, even hate, had overwhelmed him for seemingly no reason as he read through the file then his eyes widened as he remembered… That faceless puppet! Xion…
It had not just been Roxas befriending Axel, it had been her to! And his hate towards her had been burning and very real… He felt it even now merely holding the folder.
That though didn't matter… He ignored his own feelings as he called in Vexen and showed him the folder, making Vexens eyes widen. Saix observed the confusion and then pain going across his face before his eyes widened in realization.
Quickly the work began, the story Vexen told Xehanort to justify this work was simple. "This mindless puppet will be your perfect vessel!"
The reality was something different though as finally the completed puppet was laying on his work table. The puppet though still lacked a face and a heart.
"Now all we need is someone with a strong connection to her to bring her here." Vexen stated.
Saix frowned as he folded his arms, this one was tricky… How could they create a situation to have Lea call upon her.
"It is up to you, Saix." Vexen stated.
Saix blinked. "Me?" he asked. "I was not friends with her, I hated her."
"Who ever says that strong bonds needs to be bonds of friendship or love?" Vexen asked. "Bonds of hate should work just as well."
Saix smirked. "I see, how convenient."
"Her new body will be much different than the old one." Vexen informed. "Her old body worked like a mirror of sorts. Her true appearance would be a puppet with no face just like what you see now. Yet people would be able to see their own hearts reflected in her face. Thus different people would see her very differently. Now how-ever. Her face will be a reflection of her own heart, so everyone will be seeing the same thing." he stated. "Further more, her old body was designed to absorb other peoples powers, this new body has no such ability and any power she will have will be her own. She will look, function and live like a normal human being."
Saix nodded. "Good." he stated.
"Saix, I know you to desire forgiveness. Which is why I agreed to this." Vexen stated. "How-ever, if any harm comes to this child!" he stated. "What point would there be for me to seek atonement if my creations only created even more hurt?!" he asked. "This is a child I brought into this world only for her to suffer. This is my chance to make it well again for her, that is what we agreed is it not?" he asked.
Saix nodded. "It is. She will be returned to the one true friend she has left in this world. When the two are reunited. It should help them both move on." he stated. "How very kind of you to refer to her as a child and not a puppet."
"How kind of you to bring her back even though you hate her." Vexen retorted as he rolled his eyes. "I only had my heart back for a very short time, but it made me see reason." he stated. "I allowed me to realize just how…. Inhuman I have been." he then admitted. "You must feel something similar or we wouldn't even be here!" he snorted. "Well then, Saix. I've done my part! The vessel her heart needs is right there. Now it's your turn!" he stated as he walked to the door. "Get to it." he demanded as he walked out and Saix returned to the faceless puppet.
So… he had to reach for the bond he shared with her. How ironic… The hate… the jalousie… The darkness within him.
Well, he supposed his darkness had always been his greatest power. That was after all why Xemnas had ensured his returned to the organization. And he recalled their days together, how much he despised her.
Then he thought of her going away with Lea and it was the cringiest feeling, he just wanted to punch that puppet right now! He wanted to destroy her! You took him Xion! You turned him against me! The day he said we were no longer friends, it was your fault… Yours alone!
And he felt the burning hate in his soul as his eyes glared at the puppet… As it did… a glimmer of light came zooming towards them and then went straight into the puppet.
Then suddenly… It was no longer a faceless puppet laying there. But a girl, with short black hair and a innocent looking face.
Saix blinked… So, this was how you always saw her Lea? … I have to admit that is a cute face you gave her
Where… Where was she. Xion groaned… What was happening? She was no longer with Sora… Why?
She had a body? She could move it, how? Slowly Xion opened her eyes to see a white ceiling, then she sat up as she groaned.
"So." A cold voice spoke. "You woken at last. Xion."
Wide-eyed Xion looked up to see a man with blue hair sitting right in front of him, his voice had been dripping with hate and his eyes glaring at her truly looked like they despised her… Scared did Xion push herself back. "Saix." she gasped.
The older man looked at cold as always, his didn't even move. Xion swallowed… Desperately looking around but saw there was no one else there. Only the two of them.
"Xion." Saix spoke in that cold voice. "It is now one year ago since you choose to give up your own existence, by doing so you also erased the memories people have of you. Right now, only two people remembers you and what you have done."
Xion's eyes widened as she swallowed. "Rox.." she began.
"Is not in this world." Saix stated cutting her off. "He to returned to Sora, and thus do not exist. And before you ask, no. Axel does not remember you. All though he is still alive, his memories of you are gone. No, the only two who remembers is me and your own creator, Vexen." he stated. "The reason why we remember is simple… Vexen ever the scientist kept a log on you." he stated lifting up the papers. "Reading this, jared memories."
Xion swallowed, her eyes welled up. "Roxas… Is gone?" she asked and her eyes grew even more teary. "Axel.." she shook.
"Doesn't know who you are." Saix stated as he stood up. "You are here, because we need thirteen vessels of darkness to clash with seven guardians of light. You will be one of these thirteen vessels!"
Xion hissed. "Why?" she asked. "Why would you bring me back just for that?" she asked.
Saix's eyes narrowed. "Let me ask you a question." he asked.
Xion squinted her eyes as she held her head.
"Do you want to see Axel?" Saix asked.
At that Xions eyes widened and she looked up.
Saix smirked. "If you want to see Axel, then just keep your head down and follow orders. You will be brought to him." he stated. "Thirteen vessels of darkness are to clash with seven guardians of light. Seven keyblade wielders whom belongs to the light… An interesting development has happened while you were gone. Axel… Is now one of those seven keyblade wielders."
That made Xions eyes widen and slowly she looked up. "What?" she asked.
"Axel… Left the organization. He turned against us." Saix informed calmly. "Then he regained his heart and became a full person ones more. Upon regaining his heart, he also regained the powers he lost back when his heart was first taken. A very special power, you should know it well. A power to connect to peoples heart." he stated.
Xion gasped. "The powers of a keyblade wielder."
"Having the potential to be a keyblade wielder is not enough though." Saix stated. "Someone must pass on a keyblade to the potential wielder. How very nice of you and Roxas to fill that role."
"I.." Xion breathed. "I don't understand what this means."
"What this means is that Lea… Or Axel as you know him as. Will be at the keyblade graveyard as one of the seven guardians of light." Saix stated. "If you want, I can make sure you will be the vessel of darkness to face him."
"Why?" Xion asked. "Why would you do this? I don't want to fight my friend!" she cried. "Not again!"
"Maybe think about it this way." Saix commented tilting his head. "Axel could die out there. This will be a battle of life and death. And just after he got his heart back to."
Xions eyes widened.
"How-ever… If you were the one to face him. You could make sure that doesn't happen." Saix stated. "Of course, you would have to play your part. You would have to fight and make it look real, you would have to put your whole being into the fight. How-ever when the correct moment comes… You can let him have the final blow. It wont hurt him, he wont even know who you are. To him you will just be yet another servant of the dark to be cut down in cold blood."
Xion sniffed, tears rolling down her face. "So you brought me back… To let me be killed by my only friend?" she asked.
Saix face was cold as eyes, his golden eyes just glowing slightly as they were festooned on him.
Then Xion wiped her eyes. "But… If I can safe him." she closed her eyes. "Axel… I caused him so much trouble. If I could do something for him, just ones then… " she nodded, then though she blinked confused. "But why do you want me to throw the match?" she asked. "Are you going to hurt him yourself?!" she asked. "I wont let you!"
Saix smirked amused.
"Don't laugh!" Xion demanded. "I mean it! If this is just to hurt Axel even more."
Then Saix turned cold. "If you want to safe him. Don't ask anymore questions, and do what you are told." he asked. "And puppet, put your hood back on. Your faceless head disturbs me."
At that Xion gasped as she grabbed her hood and pulled it up covering her honestly very nice looking face…. Saix had removed all the mirrors in her quarters, then Xion wouldn't find out she actually had a face now.
Things were going to be fine… Sora would bring Roxas back. Saix would bring Xion to Lea… Lea would not be able to actually strike her down.
Nothing is ever truly forgotten… Especially connections between hearts. Lea would be able to feel the connection he had to her, protect her and take her back home.
He would be with Xion and Roxas again… His friends.
"Saix." Xion gasped and Saix glanced up. "You..." she sounded astounded. "You're sad!" she realized in a confused bewildered tone.
Saix stood up. "I have to rely on a puppet, that is rather sad." he stated shortly as he stood up. "Get ready, the final clash will soon come. And remember…. If you do not fight. Axel will be the one to suffer." he stated as he walked out, closing the door behind him.
Xion though looked confused after the closed door… Saix… At first he had seemed the same, cold and scary as ever but… he was different. His sadness was enough to fill the entire room. Why though? What had changed? "Saix.." she breathed then looked up. "Axel… I… I want to see you." she swallowed. "Even if you don't know who I am… I want to see you." she stated as she curled together. "Axel.."