Ah, what could be better than another chapter? A fruit smoothie... that's what's better. But you get a chapter instead.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or the characters.
"Already done with the interview?" Saïx asked, preparing coffee for Xaldin and Xigbar.
"I half expected Zexion to do the interview, but it looks like Riku was on it." Xigbar chuckled, sitting down.
"I think they're dividing up interviewing so that everyone has a part. Well, except Sora; he's against conducting an interview." Saïx chuckled a bit. "But he's not in their class and is helping in other ways." He smiled. "It is nice, seeing Sora so invested in something for fun and to help. And he loves working with video editing."
"And the mansion?" Xaldin asked. "You're okay with him showing interest in going in?"
Saïx sighed. "I'm worried, I won't deny that. Freaking terrified, actually." he admitted. "But… Sora has his reasons. He wants to help the ghosts and I can't stop him from that… not that I should. He's such a good boy with pure intentions." He had a worried yet happy look to his face. "He wants to help so much… and… I have faith that he can."
"What's Xem think?" Xaldin inquired.
"He's in the same boat and even going further with this if we can't stop him, we sure as hell can help him and make it easier and safer thing." Saïx responded. "Don't know what he's up to, though."
"Ah, he's rich, he's clever, and he's good at researching things. He's got a good plan up his sleeve, I'm sure." Xigbar said. "Hey, we can try to take that night off, be on standby in case we're needed. Right, Xal?"
"Even if we can't get it off, we can still be on standby to help." Xaldin confirmed.
"See?" Xigbar asked.
Saïx chuckled. "Thanks, guys. You're a great help." he said. "And Sora and the others will appreciate it, too. Hopefully nothing goes wrong, but we'll be ready to jump in if they do." He then sighed when the power surged a bit. "Sora! Keep Marluxia under control before I put that damn magnet in the shed!" he called.
"Sorry, Papa!" Sora called back from the basement where he and the others were working with video and audio files.
"Marluxia… oh yeah, he was in that accident a decade back." Xaldin asked. "Is he haunting Sora?"
"No, Sora found a way to bring him home from school since he wants to be their ghostly help in the mansion." Saïx said. "It's his condition to crossing over later. It's not too bad, though. Nothing serious happened, just an occasional surge that comes through when he gets excited; Axel probably got spooked or something and amused the ghost."
Xigbar chuckled. "Shame we can't see ghosts; this would've been interesting." he said. "So, Sora's getting along and befriending more people… or rather they're getting past him being unique and befriending him."
"I think it's good for him." Saïx said. "In fact, since this started a few days ago, Sora hasn't mentioned people talking about him; usually he does. So either he's distracted, or people are quieting down. Then again, Riku and Axel are both incredibly popular. Seeing them being friendly with Sora, others will take their cues."
"Ah, the hierarchy of high school." Xaldin said. "Don't miss that one bit. But the rest of us were more violent when someone picked on you."
"None of you were popular." Saïx chuckled a bit. "Well, I should get lunch ready for the kids. You two staying?"
"Gotta head out soon; work is a bit backed up." Xigbar admitted.
"Wouldn't say no to to-go cups of coffee." Xaldin said.
"Of course." Saïx nodded.
"Okay, so, you need to find seven objects, keys, to begin finding a way to free the ghosts?" Zexion asked, writing notes down. "And you already know where to find two of them?"
"Not entirely." Sora said. "I know one is in the study on the second floor behind the safe; the combination is thirteen, seven, twelve."
"Right." Zexion nodded, writing it down.
"The other is in a vase on top of a piano… but I don't know where the piano is." Sora admitted.
"Well, we know to keep an eye out for a piano." Axel pointed out. "So… we just need five more." He looked to Sora. "We're really going through with this ghost thing if we can get into the mansion?"
"If we can legally get into the mansion." Riku reminded the redhead.
"You guys don't have to get involved." Sora pointed out.
"Nope, we're involved." Axel stated. "Think there will be extra credit?"
"I doubt the teacher would even believe us about ghosts." Roxas said. "We'll get lucky if she doesn't fail us for the subject of our video."
"She wouldn't do that, would she?" Demyx asked.
"I had a language arts teacher in middle school put a nearly failing grade on my thesis report because she didn't like the subject." Zexion said. "I was two points from failing and everything was absolutely perfect, no marks anywhere on the assignment, even four pages past the minimum and well written, all my resources cited. Dad was pissed off with her and went off on her about it… the grade never changed."
"That's jut mean." Demyx whined.
"Well, our film teacher is more considerate." Riku said. "And if we get a low or failing grade, she wouldn't mind us asking about it." He then looked to Sora. "So… visions and astral projection… anything else that would give us a clue about the mansion?"
"Sadly I can't call upon things at will; they just happen." Sora said.
"Hey, video chat with the girls; we good?" Roxas said after his phone pinged, telling him he had a message.
"Let me set up..." Sora set up some things with the computer. "Okay." And the call went through. "Hey, girls."
"Looking pretty as usual, ladies." Axel said. "What's up?"
"We were going to see if Roxas would relay to Sora, but since you're all there, awesome!" Xion cheered. "Hey Sora, we mainly wanted to send you something. Can I e-mail adrawing to you? Naminé made it; she was in a state of mind and was doing that automatic writing… drawing thing."
"Send it over." Sora said, going to another computer screen to check his e-mail. "What's up?"
"Nam got this feeling and kept hearing Heart Manorover and over again as she drew." Kairi reported. "We figured it was important."
"E-mail is received, give me a sec." Sora said, opening the attachment, looking at an image. It was mostly drawn in black, looking like the nursery Sora was in during his little trip into the mansion. Red stood out and in a good way. There, he saw a little spin top sitting in the middle of a train set, not obscured or hidden like the key or locket, but out in the open. In real life, it wouldn't seem like much, but in the drawing, it seemed important.
"A spin top?" Marluxia asked, leaning over Sora's shoulder, giving the teen a chill. "Could it be one of your seven keys?"
"Yeah, that's probably it." Sora said.
"Sora?" Kairi asked.
"Ah, Marluxia; we managed to bring him home." Sora said. "Anyway, that spin top is important. We're trying to figure out the seven keys to the secret of Heart Manor and freeing the ghosts. So far, we have a key in a vase and a locket in a safe. And now it looks like we've got a spin top in the nursery. Or playroom. Could be one or the other."
"Hmm… just one. There's only a children's nursery, which could easily double as a playroom, on the second floor." Zexion said, checking some floor plans he managed to get. "That's where you were, right?"
"Yeah." Sora nodded.
"Wait a sec… Sora, you went in there?" Xion questioned.
"Not on purpose." Sora responded.
"He apparently can do astral projection." Riku said. "And ended up there."
"So, now we've got three." Roxas pointed out. "That just means four more."
"You girls did amazing! Thank you, Naminé, for this!" Demyx cheered.
"I just went with what I felt; the Xion and Kairi figured it was really important and we should let you know ASAP." Naminé said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Boys? You down here still?" came Saïx's voice as he came downstairs. "Oh, hello, ladies. Nice to meet you; I'm Saïx, Sora's papa." he said, seeing they were video chatting. "Actually, while I've got you all here, you kids all have permission to enter the manor next weekend, Saturday and Sunday."
"Seriously?!" Axel asked, looking amazed.
"Yes! Filming and ghost rescue, here we come!" Xion cheered.
"You're eerily excited." Naminé pointed out, though she didn't seem unnerved; Kairi was giggling next to her.
"Yeah, Xion likes this sort of thing." Roxas chuckled nervously.
"While we're on that subject, ladies, what day are you coming over?" Saïx inquired.
"School lets out early on Friday, so we'll be there sometimethat afternoon or early that evening. It depends on transportation departure." Kairi said. "We still need to arrange where we're staying."
"We have plenty of room here for you." Saïx said. "In fact, you girls and the boys can all stay over Friday night to go over things together and set up first thing Saturday morning."
"Really? You don't mind?" Naminé questioned.
"We've got enough room, plus, my husband and I want to talk to all of you before you go in." Saïx assured.
"Then we'll let the boys know when we arrive so we can go over to your place." Xion stated.
"They can also contact me because they don't have an early out that Friday; I can pick you girls up; no doubt you're taking the train?" Saïx asked.
"Yup, that's right." Xion confirmed.
"I'll see you then." Saïx nodded. "Now, I need to kidnap the boys; it's time for lunch."
"Okay, we'll chat another time." Kairi assured, nodding her head.
Heyo, lovelies!
You know what? Zexion mentioning the teacher who gave him an unreasonably low grade for no reason was based on my experience in the eighth grade. My language arts teacher left no marks on what I did wrong and I was a few points from failing my thesis report and she didn't ever explain why. Mama was pissed off because of it... but nothing changed. Years later, one of my friends said that teacher had a tendency of giving low grades just because she doesn't like the subjects people pick for reports.
Anyway! Yet another clue comes to the children, this time through Naminé! And they have permission to go into the mansion? Look out, kiddos, it's gonna be an interesting trip!
I hope you're all enjoying this fic. Until next time!
~chibi