Isa cried for a very long time… And Lea just let him.
Didn't ask questions, just sat with him as the sun started to set and then it became dark while stars started to slowly appear above them… It was fine really, if Lea thought about it, back in the day. Isa had probably spend days worth of time just sitting like that too while Lea had been crying over nightmares or other more silly things.
It only seemed fair to return the favor. Furthermore what Isa was dealing with now was ten years of pain, loneliness and regret all hidden inside.
To think it took so much for Lea to realize… Out of the two of them Isa probably had the greatest emotions. He just didn't show them, he pinned them up inside instead until finally they burst out, often in rage... It had been the very source of Saix's power, his own tied down emotions released in one massive attack. It was kind of a scary power Lea reflected... Also a power that could only ever hurt the user. They had to find another way, this wouldn't do anymore.
They just stayed like that, till the middle of the night where Isa had finally run dry for tears but had become exhausted. So Lea guided him towards the castle, constantly holding a hand on Isa's shoulder so Isa wouldn't fall over.
"I hope I wont stay this weak." Isa admitted. "It is not pleasant not being able to control myself."
"Heh, don't want other people to see your weakness?" Lea asked. "Don't worry, ones you slept you'll feel a ton better and be back to your old grumpy self."
Isa glanced at Lea.
"That's a joke." Lea smirked. "I mean yeah you probably will be back to your old self ones you rested. But you're not… that grumpy…. I mean not all the time. I mean… Well, you weren't when we were kids... For the most part. Kind of... Sort of."
Isa didn't seem to impressed by Lea's speech as he looked at him.
"Okay so you've never been Mr rainbows and sunshine." Lea admitted. "What-ever. I already got two friends whom are the picture of innocence, I need someone more serious ones in a while to!"
"Do you really?" Isa asked.
"Yeah." Lea stated. "I do. Can you just imagine me, Roxas and Xion all on our own? We would get ourselves killed because of our own stupidity."
Isa smiled amused.
"So you see?" Lea asked. "We could use you around!"
Isa frowned. "Xion and Roxas..."
"Are great guys!" Lea stated then he sighed. "Look, i'm not asking you to become friends with them. And I am not asking them to become friends with you. How-ever, if you wouldn't kill each other. That would be super nice."
Isa nodded still looking slightly amused. "Okay." he stated as they finally entered the castle gate.
It was… a pretty awkward situation the next day as Roxas and Xion stood together on one side… and Isa was on the other with Lea in the middle.
Wide-eyed were Roxas and Xion looking at Isa, clearly having no idea what to do or say. Isa on the other hand… elected to just not to look at them at all and had his head turned away.
Lea cleared his throat. "Ahem." Making everybody look directly at him. "okay! I know this probably isn't easy. For anyone!" Lea exclaimed as he stepped between Isa and the two younger kids standing very together as if they were protecting each other. "Listen! I can only think of one way to fix this! We have to start over! All over!" Lea continued. "Roxas… Xion. I would like for you to meet Isa!" he gestured at the blue haired man behind him. "Isa.. He's been my friend for as long as I can remember. Back when I was just a little kid, way smaller than you two are now. Isa been kind of looking after me." he stated. "Isa!" he addressed the young man. "I would like for you to meet Roxas and Xion! They really helped me out at the lowest time in my life." he stated. "They kind of… helped me rediscover what it means to have friends." he stated. "How important friends are." he stated then he clasped his hands together and bowed his head. "Please! I know I am asking a lot! Just.." he hissed. "DON'T MURDER EACH OTHER THAT'S ALL I ASK!"
Xion hesitated as she looked up at the blue haired man, then slowly she stepped forward until she was in front of him looking up at him. "He… Hello." she spoke nervously then offered him a hand. "It is nice to meet you… Erhm Isa."
Isa looked at her, then slowly reached forward his own hand and took hers, shaking it lightly. "It's nice to meet you to Xion."
Roxas gaped, it looked like his eyeballs were nearly dropping out of his skull ans Isa glanced at him.
"Roxas.." he addressed the young man and Roxas swallowed. "Xion… Allow me to apologies, to the both of you." he asked. "I have treated you both unfairly, I've even been cruel. No words can make up for what I did in the past. Yet, the only thing I can do is this." at that he bowed for them. "I'm sorry."
Both young children gaped.
Never… Never in their wildest imagination could they have imagined Saix of all people to apologies to them, let alone BOW?! Was the world going to explode now?!
"That's all right!" Xion exclaimed holding up her hands. "It's not that bad, I mean…. You. You brought us together again!" she exclaimed. "If it wasn't for you. We wouldn't all be here so… So thank you!" she stammered.
"Xion we don't need to thank him. What he did recently hardly makes up for all he's done." Roxas stated as he crossed his arms. "You were really rude to Xion!" he stated. "And worse than that. You hurt her!" he exclaimed. "Your hurt Axel! You send him to do things he didn't want to do! Just because you knew he couldn't say no!"
"Roxas!" Lea gasped.
"No." Isa held up a hand silencing Lea. "Roxas is after all correct. It is as I said just a moment ago, no words can make up for what I have done."
Lea opened his mouth, then closed it as he swallowed.
"I did abuse our friendship Lea." Isa stated glancing at him. "And made you do things no true friend would ask another friend to do." he stated then turned back to Roxas and Xion. "As for these two. My feelings towards you two, were feelings of deep rooted jalousie." Isa plainly admitted. "I came to despise your mere existence. Even now when I look at you, it does hurt." he stated. "You both have what I ones had, then foolishly threw away. I have no right to reclaim it, yet… I still desire it… Is this the nature of hearts?" he asked.
Xion looked up at him, with her large blue eyes. "Sai..." she halted. "Isa." she corrected herself "Do you… Want to be our friend?" she asked.
There was absolute stunned silence as the two looked at each other, Roxas and Lea looked at the two.
"I..." Isa halted then looked down. "Yes." he admitted. "I think... Deep inside, there was a burning desire. To have what you have."
Then Xion smiled warmly. "Okay! On one condition though!"
Isa blinked as he looked at her. "Yes?" he asked.
"Ice-cream today is on you!" Xion cheered.
Isa blinked rather astounded.
Roxas smirked as he stepped up beside Xion. "I think I want two ice-creams today!" he stated.
"I want one of those nice ones in a glass bowl you eat with a spoon!" Xion gaped. "I saw one, it had like chocolate sauce and sprinkles!"
"You should get one that has fireworks in it." Roxas stated.
"You can get that?" Xion asked as she gaped.
Lea smirked amused then leaned over both kids laying arms across their shoulders as his head was between theirs. "You heard the kids Isa." he stated as he looked up. "You better buy us all the ice-cream we want!" he grinned.
Isa blinked, Lea standing like that looking like an absolute kid! Insisting to get in on the ice-cream splurge… It was… Ridicules! And so much like Lea.
Suddenly, Isa's lip curled a bit upwards, then he smirked and suddenly he laughed.
Concerned did Roxas and Xion look up at him.
"Seriously?" Isa asked. "You want me to buy you ice-cream?" he asked. "That's all you want from me? You could ask anything. I am at your mercy. And you go for the ice-cream?" he asked.
"Don't you ever underestimate the ice-cream." Lea snorted as he stood up. "Ice-cream… Is life." he stated.
And a snort escaped Isa's lip, that which signals a laugh he tried to hold back.
"Wow." Roxas gaped. "I've never seen you laugh before!" he stated. "You seem… human!" he exclaimed.
"Didn't I tell ya?" Lea asked. "Now with his heart back where it belongs! All human, back among the living. ISA!" he presented with out stretched hands.
Isa how-ever looked back at him with a deadpan expression on his face.
Lea how-ever was unphased as he continued. "Man oh man did we get into trouble when we were your age!" he stated blatantly leaning up against Isa. "You two got a lot of catching up to do!"
"Please get off me." Isa asked.
Lea clearly didn't even listen though as he kept leaning like that with a grin on his face. "We used to sneak into this very castle! And get our butts totally kicked by the guards!"
Isa groaned slightly.
"Hey Isa, do you remember when Dilan….."
"NO!" Isa shouted cutting Lea off.
And Lea laughed out loud finally removing his arm from Isa as he walked over to Roxas and Xion, bowing down so he could whisper to them. "Guys… Thank you so much for giving him a chance! I know this isn't easy for you."
"It's okay." Xion smiled. "He's your friend, this is very important to you."
Roxas nodded. "We owe this much at the very least." he stated.
And Lea smiled. "you guys are the best!" he stated.
Isa just decided to act like he absolutely couldn't hear any of it and turned his head away, looking like the tree to his left had suddenly become very important.
"Okay then! Let's go!" Lea grinned.
That made Isa turn his head back. "Go where?" he asked.
"I seem to recall that you owe us all ice-cream!" Lea laughed as he walked backwards. "And you better give Xion that bowl! A really big one!"
"That's okay! I can't even eat that much!" Xion gasped.
"A huge one!" Lea continued.
"AXEL!" Xion shouted.
Both Roxas and Xion seemed beyond astounded as Isa did in fact buy them their promised ice-cream. It just felt to weird they both noted.
Especially as Isa sat himself down a little away from the group at a fountain, quietly eating his own ice-cream.
"I.. I'm sorry." Roxas blinked. "It's just to weird." he stated looking at the lonely figure just quietly eating.
"No it's not." Lea replied. "That's just how Isa is."
"But… He's eating ice-cream!" Roxas exclaimed. "Saix!" he spelled out. "I'm pretty sure he kills people!"
"Roxas… I hate to break it to you. But Saix rarely killed any people himself. I did that for him." Lea pointed out.
"Oh." Roxas blinked. "I.. I'm sorry." he blushed.
Lea smirked amused. "I changed you know." he stated putting a hand on Roxas's hair. "Thanks to you two! If it weren't for the two of you, I would probably have stayed Isa's and Xemnas private assasin until the very end. So thank you!" he smiled as he removed his hand.
Roxas still blushed as he looked away while Xion smiled sweetly, then she glanced at Isa still sitting a space away.
"Is he all right?" Xion asked concerned.
"Yeah." Lea nodded. "This was how we used to hang out back in the day. I would run around acting like an idiot, and he would just kind of sit around… How-ever. For all that time, we would still be together."
"I see." Xion nodded thoughtfully.
It was nice… Isa actually quite enjoyed it. Just sitting here in peace, he could sense Leas presence at all time… just like back then.
He had forgotten how soothing it was, or perhaps he had never thought about it before. Just then a presence stepped beside him and Isa glanced up to see a girl with short black hair and dark blue eyes. Xion…. She looked pretty nervous as she looked at him.
"Do you mind if I sit down?" Xion finally managed to ask
Isa glanced at her then shrugged. "Be my guest."
"Thank you." Xion nodded politely then sat down next to him.
For a while there was quit, at first Isa wasn't acting like she was there, then finally he glanced down, to see how she was observing Lea and Roxas. Then he frowned making Xion glance up. "What are you doing?" he finally asked.
"I'm spending time with you." Xion blinked. "Am I doing wrong?"
Isa frowned looking puzzled.
"You know… When I hung out with Axel and Roxas back then." Xion smiled lightly as she looked at the two in question in front of them. "I really liked we could just talk about nothing. It's funny isn't it? It's the time where we were just… Wasting time. I enjoyed that the most. Sometimes just sitting, sometimes talking about absolutely nothing important at all… Sometimes not talking at all. It was just nice spending time with them regardless."
Isa nodded slowly.
"It would mean so much to Axel if we could be friends." Xion stated. "I know, you can't force people to be friends. But at least… I have to try."
"Lea has found himself some good friends." Isa stated in a soft voice and Xion looked up at him.
"You don't seem entirely happy about it." Xion then had to point.
"It still hurts, in here." Isa admitted as he held his chest. "how-ever… It is as you say. I must at least try. I owe him that much."
Xion nodded. "I see." she stated. "Well… If you can become friends with me and Roxas, you wont have to feel like that anymore." she pointed out. "Also… We're not really any replacement you know." she stated swinging her legs on the edge. "Axel… He's like my big brother. He's even… Kind of like my father." she admitted. "Don't tell him I said that!"
Isa smirked amused.
"It's true though." Xion blushed deeply. "When I was first made… I didn't know anything. Axel… he taught me everything I know today. About friendship… And ice-cream!" she smiled. "How you behave and..." she looked in front of herself. "He taught me so much stuff. I didn't know him when he was a kid though." Xion stated. "To me… He will always be that Axel whom is so much stronger than me, and knows a lot more than me. Whom will help me figure stuff out when things gets confusing and… Someone to look up to. I think… That is what you are to him." she smiled. "When he talked about you, about back in the day when you were kids… He really admired you. It sounds like you taught him a lot of stuff to."
Isa looked at Xion, his eyes incredible wondering as he looked over her. "You're very clever for a puppet." he commented.
"I'm not a puppet i'm Xion." Xion stated.
"That's a new attitude, you wouldn't have said that before." Isa reflected.
"Axel taught me I needed to stand up for myself." Xion stated.
Amused Isa looked down… A memory flashing in his mind, so long ago. Lea had been upset because an idiot bully had made fun of his hair and Isa… had told him he needed to stand up for himself, the next day Lea really did and had done since.
"You need to start think for yourself to." Isa pointed out.
"I know." Xion assured. "I can't just keep relying on Axel for-ever. Still… It's nice to know he's there when I need him." she stated. Then she continued. "I'm still pretty clueless about a lot of things." Xion admitted. "But… I also think that's kind of nice. I really like discovering all these new things." she smiled warmly. "Now that I can do what-ever I want, I want to learn how to swim!" she informed.
"Oh?" Isa asked.
"The ocean it looks so nice!" Xion breathed. "And the water feels so good when I put my feet in it. But I can't swim, I want to learn so I can swim in the ocean!" she stated. "I though... I was never taught how to swim." she muttered then she looked up. "So that's one goal! I want to learn how to swim!" she grinned.
"Then you should take Lea, he can't swim either." Isa informed.
"What?! Seriously?!" Xion asked.
"No, he always hated water." Isa replied. "Makes sense I suppose, the fire guy not liking water. Of course we didn't even know he could control fire back then. He was just making a big number out of it."
Xion gaped. "Really?" he asked.
Isa smirked. "Absolutely." he stated and then continued to tell a story, about how Lea had nearly drowned in the fountains and swore to never trust those specific contraptions again.
"What are they talking about?" Roxas asked bewildered looked at Xion and Isa actually talking, not just talking, they seemed to have fun!… erh how?!
"I… Kind of have a feeling." Lea admitted. "Isa got a lot of embarrassing stories about me."
Roxas blinked. "Oh.. You okay with that?" he asked Lea.
"Yeah." Lea smiled. "Those two are figuring things out, that's way more important than my pride." he stated. "Isa kind of needs friends, other people than me." he stated. "And well, I know you and Xion are the best friends a guy could ever ask for. So… If just one of you could make friends with him." he smiled. "I'll call that a big win."
Roxas smiled. "You're kind of mature ones in a while."
"Hey?! What do you mean kind of and ones in a while?!" Lea asked. "I'm plenty mature!"
"Oh really?" Roxas asked.
"Yeah!" Lea stated, then he smirked and he chuckled as Roxas did as well. "So, let's go again." he stated wiping out his keyblade.
"Hah! When it comes to keyblades, i'm still your senior!" Roxas stated.
"Don't get full of yourself kid." Lea stated. "You might be more familiar with a keyblade, but I could still beat you without one." he stated.
"Well why don't you?" Roxas asked and Lea lifted an eyebrow as he let the keyblade vanish, and then suddenly a chakra appeared instead.
Roxas gaped. "You still have those?" he asked.
"Why shouldn't I?" Lea asked. "I mean, it has happened before my keyblade broke. Also, being able to alternate between weapons might be useful."
"Oh." Roxas realized.
"You asked for it kid." Lea stated. "Now you got it."
Already Roxas looked like he was regretting his challenge, but there was no mercy as Lea ran forward and Roxas had to defend.
It ended up a surprisingly pleasant and fun day, there was a lot of things to figure out, but Roxas felt rather good and a lot more at ease as the day ended and the sky had grown dark revealing all the stars. Glancing up did Roxas see Xion sitting alone on the roof, looking towards the star, he didn't even think before he crawled up after her and finally sat down beside Xion as she smiled warmly.
"You seemed to do pretty well with Sai… I mean Isa today." Roxas commented.
Xion nodded. "yeah, he's not so bad." she informed. "I liked spending time with him."
"That's good. That'll mean a lot to Axel." Roxas nodded. "All though… Xion, please don't be mad but. I can't let you be alone with Isa, at least not yet." he stated.
Xion smiled amused. "That's so sweet." she stated then shook her head. "It's okay." she stated. "I don't think he'll hurt me. How-ever, if it means so much to you. All right." she stated.
"I just don't want you to get hurt like that again." Roxas stated.
"I know." Xion assured. "I'll stay on guard, and I am quite sure Axel wont let anything happen either." she stated. "All though." she looked to her left, to another roof and saw two other figures sitting there. One with red hair the other with blue. "He seems to trust Isa." she smiled lightly as she collected her legs in her arms and leaned her chin on her knees. "To think, after all that happened, those two still trust each other so much. It must be a very special kind of friendship. You think our friendship is as great?" she asked. "The three of ours?"
"Of course it is!" Roxas stated. "We were ripped about but found back together, our friendship is super strong!"
Xion smiled happily and she nodded. "Yeah! Hihi!"
Roxas smiled lightly, then he frowned as he looked at the backs of the two older men. "What do you think they are talking about?" he asked.
Xion shrugged. "maybe they aren't talking about anything." she stated. "Maybe they are just spending time together."
"Huh." Roxas blinked.
Xion sighed as she suddenly leaned her head on Roxas's shoulder making Roxas blink as he looked down at her.
"Roxas… I want to make more friends." Xion stated in a light smile. "And I want you and Axel to meet them all… You two will still be my best friends."
Roxas smiled amused. "Sure." he stated. "I'll look forward to meet them." he stated.
And Xion smiled. "I'm so happy." she stated looking drunk on the happiness. "I'm so glad I got to experience a day like this."
Roxas was silent, then slowly he wrapped an arm around Xion. "Yeah. Me to." he stated.
"The kids have found us." Lea observed, he didn't even need to look to know that Roxas and Xion was somewhere behind them looking at them.
"So it seems." Isa simply replied.
Lea smirked. "You seemed to be doing pretty well with Xion today."
"I will admit, she's rather pleasant company." Isa stated. "She's quiet and thoughtful, unlike some other people I could mention."
"Hey what is that supposed to mean?" Lea asked and Isa smiled amused.
"I was happy today." Isa then informed quietly. "I had actually forgotten, what it feels like to be happy."
Lea nodded. "Yeah me to… I mean." he halted. "I had forgotten back in the day, until I met Roxas and Xion. They reminded me." he stated. "But… Even then, I wasn't as happy as I was today."
Isa nodded thoughtfully. "They made you happy… I suppose that is what matters."
"That's how you know you have good friends." Lea stated. "You're happy just being able to spend time with them." he stated.
"Yes, indeed." Isa nodded. "That must have been how Janan felt when we came to visit her."
Lea quieted then he glanced up at Isa.
"So much happened..." Isa commented. "I actually haven't even thought about her for a while... All that business with Sora. I only thought about her again when I went to see you. At the clock tower."
"Yeah." Lea nodded. "I guess we both had a lot of shit on our plates... It feels unfair doesn't it?" He asked. "All this crap we've gone through, and we still have no idea what happened to her. Or promise… We still couldn't keep it."
"That bothers you?" Isa asked.
"Of course it does!" Lea snapped. "She was our friend! She was all alone and we swore to her! What if she is still out there? Cold and alone? Praying someone will come to help her?!" he asked.
Isa looked at Lea then he nodded as he glanced away. "We were pursuing a dead end from the start." He spoke in a distant tone. "Xehanort had no idea where she were either… He lied to us. He didn't have her. And didn't know what came of her."
"But maybe Ansem does… The real one." Lea commented.
Isa was quiet, then glanced at Lea.
"Heh, funny isn't it?" Lea asked. "Ansem... He's right here. We could go ask him... And i'm kind of scared." he admitted.
Isa nodded thoughtfully, he didn't seem to have much to add to that.
Lea swallowed. "Let your heart be your guiding key." he spoke. "I… I didn't understand this power when I was a kid. Now I know." he stated as he held a hand over his chest. "Isa… She's out there. I can feel her." he stated. "Calling for us. Both of us."
Isa looked astounded at Leas face.
Then slowly Isa's lips formed into a smile. "Well, if that is what you feel. It must be true. Keyblade wielder!" he stated.
"So… You're okay with going on another journey?" Lea asked.
"As if I was ever going to let you do this alone." Isa snorted.
Lea smiled. "This time though, we'll stick together!" he stated. "For real!"
"It might not be that easy to have me along." Isa pointed out. "The darkness Xehanort found in me, it's very real. That darkness, it will always be a part of me. Exactly like the power of a keyblade wielder will always be a part of you."
"So what?" Lea asked. "You're not the first one having to struggle with their own darkness you know! I got a couple of friends I can introduce you to." he blinked.
Isa frowned slightly.
"Hey! I am not saying it's going to be easy!" Lea stated. "Darkness is some serious shit, we both know that. But I know you can learn how to control it! And if you ever fall again, I'll be there to pull you right out! Keyblade honor!" he grinned.
"You really think it'll be that easy?" Isa asked. "That if I fall you can just drag me home? Again and again?" he asked. "What if it ends up like before?"
"Isa… It ended up like that ones." Lea pointed out. "And what happened? We are sitting here now, talking to each other now!" he stated. "We've become older, a heck of a lot stronger and a heck of a lot smarter. It wont have been for nothing. We aren't what we were anymore, we're better than what we were!" then he shook his head. "Remember what Janan taught me? Back when I first realized I could control fire."
Isa nodded slowly.
Lea held out a hand, then let a flame appear. "Don't be afraid of the fire... The fire is a part of you. To be afraid of it would be like being afraid of yourself. There is no need to be afraid." and he closed the hand letting the flame disappear. "I don't think you should be afraid of the darkness Isa." Lea stated. "You shouldn't be afraid of yourself."
Isa nodded very thoughtfully.
"In fact... Where we are going. We might need someone whom can traverse the darkness." Lea commented. "Someone... Like you."
"That's a dangerous card to play." Isa pointed.
"I know you can do it." Lea stated. "Beside. Xehanort is gone... We are no longer his pawns so... Let us think for ourselves all right?" Lea asked.
"How funny." Isa commented.
"Huh?" Lea asked.
"You comforting and lecturing me." Isa commented. "It used to be the other way around."
Lea shrugged. "Fair is fair. You would do the same for me."
Isa smiled. "All right." he nodded then reached up a hand. "Let's go find Janan."
And Lea grinned as he grabbed Isa's hand firmly. "Yup! Together!" he stated in a grin.
And Isa nodded. "Together." then they let go and both leaned back looking towards the stars.
Both a little bit intimidated but also excited about what their next great adventure was going to be all about.
"I'll always get my friends back." Lea breathed. "You'll see… Janan."
The end.