burgeoning replacements

4 - connected

"It doesn't matter what your motives are. Stop with the invasive questions, all right? ...Compliments! People like compliments. Didn't your Other ever get one of those? Or know how to say 'please' and 'thank you?' Honey and vinegar, Ixta. Man, giving the Dusks instructions is easier than this..."

Zexion was a skilled magic-user, particularly talented in the art of illusions. The only spell Ixta shared with him was Vanish, but his ability to create tangible copies of himself amazed her. If she had the ability to clone herself (in a sense, as he rejected such terminology), her missions would be finished much faster. But Zexion was content with his own power and kept at simple illusory magic unless heavily threatened, which was never the case throughout his mission with Ixta.

It wasn't so much his mission as it was a simple favor to Lexaeus, who maintained that Ixta's pool of magical energy was hardly sufficient for one who so heavily relied on it, and that she was like as not to die than manage to take up arms for their Organization. So Zexion took her down to the Dark City to defeat as many Shadows with her poison without running out of power, and refused to return to the castle until he'd seen a fair amount of progress.

It was almost dinnertime when Ixta made it back to the Grey Area, much more fatigued than earlier that morning and ready to vomit the way she had in her first fight with Xaldin. Zexion walked in after her, slightly out of breath, but looked considerably pleased. At least, she thought he did. She couldn't quite see past his hair.

"You've improved, Ixta," he remarked, dusting off his coat. "Your work ethic is commendable. I've observed that your appetite matches nearly that of Lexaeus, so you may go and have your meal—unless you have any questions?"

Ixta had many—Zexion was one of the more curious members of the Organization, if only for how reserved he was, and how little she truly saw of him. This was only their third meeting since her introduction and their battle the week before. What was his age? She couldn't tell with his hair, and he was only slightly taller than her; Ixta stood between him and Larxene in terms of height. How many years had he spent as a Nobody? How did he experiment with his magic, given the broad nature of his power compared to the others?

But she remembered her talk with Axel. Rules 1 and 2: No invasive questions, and Only compliments. If not, then the other rules applied. She guessed it was as good a time as any to pay Zexion a compliment.

But first, a non-invasive question. "I do. Zexion, when do you think I can learn to use a Corridor of Darkness?"

The Schemer tilted his head. "Axel hasn't taught you? That is his responsibility."

"He said it was when they deemed me worthy."

"They?"

Ixta shrugged. "The other members, maybe. Or the Superior."

"No, no. It needs no ceremony. Axel must simply be emulating Demyx's sloth in misinforming you," Zexion murmured. "Nevertheless, I am a founding member of this Organization. Vexen has given his approval, and Lexaeus has effectively granted me his choice. You are capable, I think, of opening a Corridor without succumbing. Are you ready?"

"Now?" asked Ixta. "I want to learn, but my power is depleted."

Zexion seemed to smirk beneath his bangs. Ixta could never be certain. "It isn't a measure of your energy but a measure of your being. Come."

He took a seat on one of the couches and bade his companion sit across him. "Since this is your first time, it's better that you close your eyes. Go on. Hands on your lap, and sit up straight."

Ixta did so, taking a deep breath as she did. "I'm ready."

"I can see that. Now—there really is no easy way of explaining the process. Just as it was with summoning your weapon, it's simply a matter of knowing how. But I can guide you through it. You know what you are, do you not?"

She was tempted to open an eye and answer, but she kept both squeezed shut. "A Nobody."

"Yes. Cast aside by both light and darkness. Vexen has informed me that your memory recall is subpar. Perhaps this is best for now—the illusion of emotion will only distract you. Now, recognizing this, simply reach into the deepest recesses of what you are. When you have done so, nod."

Ixta didn't know it, but her brows furrowed in confusion. She wasn't certain what it was he wanted from her. She was a Nobody, just as he said. What more was there to it?

But as the silence stretched on in the Grey Area and it seemed almost as if Zexion had deserted her, Ixta found her mind pondering her two-week existence so far. Sora circumscribed all her thoughts and memories since her recruitment, it was true, especially since Xemnas promised that she would find him. But as she tried to recall past that, to the days she spent in the Dark City below, she remembered something more than Sora. Something about her self—or lack of it.

It was that moment, waking up in the dark and remembering her promise to find him and protect him—only to realize that she must have failed. That Sora was in another world, forever lost to her, or that the storm had swallowed him whole somehow. She had known then that it was proper to cry; that she should have been crying with all her heart, only she hadn't.

Because she had no heart. Even if she hadn't known the concept of a Nobody then, she'd understood it somehow. Because she had known that emptiness, felt it encompass her entire being until she realized that attempting to shed tears was utterly futile.

Ixta nodded.

"Good," said Zexion, as though returning to her as she did to him. "And what have you found?"

"...Nothing."

"Yes. And when you find nothing, neither Light nor Darkness—you realize that nothing bars you from moving where you please. That even the Darkness cannot reject you."

"It can't...?"

"No. Under the protection of your coat, you are free to summon a Corridor as you will without fear of reprisal from the darkness. Utilize its presence within all worlds with impunity. Summon a Corridor, Ixta."

Face relaxing, she knew now what he meant. A measure of one's being. In tapping into her nothingness, she could take whatever she wanted—even passage through the Darkness. In a wave of what was raw, almost painful, power, Ixta felt the Corridor ripple to life next to her.

When she opened her eyes, it beckoned. She wondered where it led.

"Now banish it," Zexion urged. "It should be as simple as closing a door. Go on."

Ixta held her palm to it as she saw so many of the others do—and Zexion was right. She willed it to dissipate, and it fell away as nothing.

She turned to her companion. "Thank you, Zexion. You..." Compliments. "You are a very effective teacher and an excellent fighter—especially despite your long bangs and short stature compared to my other superiors."

Zexion had almost smiled, she noticed. Almost. Just a twitch of the mouth. Instead, he looked unhappy—much like Vexen.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Unless they bring it up themselves, they don't want to talk about it. And if they do, only talk about it in a way makes them feel good about themselves, unless you can pretend to be close enough to tease them about it. Or you just don't care that you aren't. Don't do either, though. You can't pull it off."

"I'm confused."

A sigh. "Specifics, then. Xigbar's eye patch? Completely off-limits. Let Vexen talk about all the experiments he wants—you're better off with him thinking you're under his thumb. And Saïx's scars? ...You wanna keep your pretty face, right?"

"My Other would. What about the Superior?"

"What about—" Axel's eyes looked like they would pop out. "You haven't...talked to Xemnas since you started this inquisitive thing, have you?"

"No. I never see Lord Xemnas around the castle."

The redhead breathed, patting his chest. "Sheesh. If I had one, I'd have had a heart attack right then. Or just gotten zapped straight into a Dusk. If you want Xemnas to like you—stay away from him. Got it memorized? It's for your own good."

Though they were the tallest among the Organization, Lexaeus and Xaldin were two entirely different creatures.

It should have been easy enough to understand from their titles. Lexaeus was a great statue, an immovable object, while Xaldin was a hurricane, an unstoppable force, barraging his opponents so quickly that there was hardly any time to react. It was the same for him, whether in battle or in his admonitions—and Ixta had quickly discovered that he could find some weakness to lecture her about, no matter the activity. He was especially fond of discussing the inherent weakness of her attribute and the heart.

What emotion had he retained to give him that personality? Ixta had so many questions for him. About his sideburns, the way his hair was styled—even more pleasing to the eye than Demyx's—she thought there might be a science to how Nobodies looked in comparison to their Others. If there were any permanent changes, she wanted to know the reason. There was also the extent of his attribute, and his Lindworm lances, but she knew better than to ask.

In any case, she had to focus on the mission he gave her—to travel to worlds still standing and to lure the Heartless there to people's hearts. And then, when the Keyblade Master appeared, they would vanquish the Heartless and release those hearts into Kingdom Hearts. It had been easy enough. The Heartless could find those with hearts on their own, but according to Xaldin, many had a tendency to 'tarry about.' To expedite the process, all she had to do was threaten their existence with a little attack and lead them to the people, to whom their focus would shift.

It was an easy enough task. Ixta's ability to run had improved over the past two weeks. Hiding behind one of the newly abandoned houses, she watched the Heartless disappear through their own small Corridors, leaving their former town empty. When she was finished ensuring there was no Other left, she returned to her superior. He had remained at a safe vantage point, joined and monitoring her only because he didn't believe she was prepared for solo missions.

Xaldin answered her expectant look with a light snort. "Don't slack off simply because you're adequate. Daily effort is the only path to strength. Do you understand? Never allow yourself to get distracted by any foolish venture of the heart—or the illusion of one."

Ixta's eyes seemed to light up at that. "What kind of foolish venture?"

"Love, for example," Xaldin spat, predictably. Considering their dislike of each other, Larxene and Demyx mimicked his apparent 'anger' near perfectly. "Nothing should hold sway over your will—save, of course, the purposes of the Organization. More than hatred or any outside force—love is what ultimately destroys. Remember it well, even if we do regain our hearts."

The Nobody watched him rant. Was this open to discussion since he brought it up? "Xaldin, I can see that you're angry about hearts. I wonder if it's residue from your Other's memories, but whatever it is..." she paused, failing to register Xaldin's bewildered expression. She wasn't sure how to go on, but she had to try. This was something she only ever did for Sora, from what she could remember.

Ixta placed a hand on his arm. "...I'm always here for you."

Xaldin grunted and tore his arm from hers. "Are you a fool? This fake sentimentality will bring ruin to the Organization!"

That was what she'd thought initially, but everyone seemed to think otherwise. "Axel and Saïx said that if I practiced, I could fake it well enough with my brother when the time came to bring him into the fold."

Xaldin audibly growled under his breath. "I am practice, then."

"Yes. But your reaction lacks positivity...so I'm not sure I'm doing it right. Please feel free to correct me."

Xaldin's face contorted further, if that were possible. "You certainly need practice if you believe I merely lack positivity. Off with you!" he bellowed.

Ixta was confused, but she recognized an angry tone when she heard it. With speed that would rival that of her betters, she called open a Corridor—suddenly much easier to summon—and put Zexion's lesson to good use.

A dull, endless hallway all too familiar awaited her. The girl swiftly banished the Corridor as soon as she emerged from it—only to run into a wall.

Or what she'd thought was a wall as she rubbed her nose, recovering from the collision. While she would be unable to recognize members if they shared the same level of power, Ixta was fortunate in that most of her superiors varied in energy levels. The only presence she felt along the hallway possessed such great strength that she knew him at once: Lexaeus. He was so tall that he loomed, and it reminded Ixta of the gargoyles she saw in one of the Organization's files on the various worlds. Those belonged in castles, too.

"Hi, Lexaeus," she greeted. Craning her neck to look at him from such an angle, she realized just how square his jaw was. Ixta couldn't help but stare as she remembered Xaldin and his response to her question. Maybe Lexaeus would know. He seemed patient, though frank, and they were both founding members. He would know the Lancer better than Axel. "I have a question, if—"

Brows lifting in recognition, he seemed to have expected it. That encouraged Ixta—until he raised a finger and put it to her mouth. "Don't," he decided for them both, and walked past.

Ixta frowned. Had Xaldin found him first and told him of Ixta's attempts to make him feel good about himself? Was that really so unacceptable? Sora always appreciated them from her Other. She would have to ask Axel. Shrugging, she glanced at the door she'd arrived next to. The plaque read Number VIII.

Perfect.

Unfortunately for Ixta, Axel hadn't been in his room when she came knocking. He was busy getting chewed out in some other hallway in the great, empty castle, courtesy of Saïx.

That new kid was really starting to be a problem. Whatever amusement he pretended to get from the other members pretending to be harassed by her questions and comments wasn't worth getting blamed for her inability to adapt. The thought of Vexen giving him the cold shoulder was usually enough to get him fake-chuckling, but not when the reason was Ixta's blabbing.

He didn't even know why XIII was sent to him. Sure, it was to keep an eye on her development, but Saïx could have done that just fine with Luxord! The man was largely patient, kept to himself and had no ties to the founders, and was always spouting some dumb luck-related saying—he was the least likely to have any ulterior motive.

And if not X, it was obvious enough to everyone that she'd stick around with Lexaeus, given the choice—or maybe Vexen. She asked too many questions and made unnecessary observations too often not to have been some kind of scientist before. He wouldn't deny that he was a little curious about her—all she talked about when she wasn't being a pain was how she would find her Other's brother, and what kind of kid was that Sora if he was the entire focus of XIII's non-being?—but he'd had just about enough. Axel would rather be saddled with extra missions than have to spend another second with a zombie.

"...her abilities will only result in the other members relying on her support, in my opinion. She provides us with no benefit if she can't feign emotion."

Scratching the back of his head, Axel returned to paying attention to Saïx's lecture. He'd caught enough of the last sentence to know what Saïx was saying—though at this point, all his complaints about Ixta were a rehash of every discussion they'd had about her. Axel already knew the problem. He just didn't understand why it had to be solved.

"Why do we need her to be useful? We're bound to find another Nobody somewhere, right? Cut her loose if she's so useless."

Saïx glared at him. He wasn't sure when, but he'd gotten used to that look a long time ago. "That is not an option. Teach her to emulate her Other in every way. That is your primary mission."

"Wait," Axel called, before Saïx could enter a new Corridor. "You sure I'm the right guy for the job? I can see why you wouldn't pick Larxene, but Demyx and Vexen—they're the ones who get you wondering about hearts, you know?"

"I'm sure." Only Saïx could wear that intense expression on his face and still act like a zombie. "Number XIII seeks the companionship of her lost brother. You should know best what it means to cling to such feelings. Don't you, Lea?"

Axel grinned. "Yeah? What about you, Isa?"

He scoffed. "I've been told I'm not easy to live with. You've always been the friendlier one. But I can assure you that she will be useful when the time comes—if you do as ordered. So get to it."

Left in the dust as the man's Corridor closed, Axel thought it would be proper to throw his chakram at the wall. Something like that. He would have hated to be used like this. How did Saïx even know any of that information? But he didn't feel like even pretending to feel that way. And maybe that was exactly why he needed to do it.

For old time's sake.

Axel must have searched every corner in the castle before he finally found her in the last place he'd thought to look—right outside his room, and that was thanks to Lexaeus passing him in the kitchen and mentioning that he'd seen the little troublemaker there some time ago. When prompted about why she was there, her answer was apparently "obvious": she was looking for him.

He wanted to ask what made her think just standing outside his room was a good idea, except for the fact that it actually was.

Problem was, it wasn't something a normal person with a heart would do. Unless maybe if they were obsessed with someone... but Ixta wasn't like that about anyone but her Other's brother. She was almost exactly like Zexion—all logic and step-by-step processes, except for the part where she managed to piss off even the stoic Schemer—which meant she was just acting like her usual zombie self. He was only glad she remembered enough about people to know not to step inside.

"Oh, yeah," she'd replied, when he told her just that. "Luxord didn't seem too pleased when I entered his room last week."

Axel groaned. The little resolve he had after his talk with Saïx earlier was crumbling, fast. He hadn't failed a mission yet, but this was starting to look like it would be the first.

"I don't even know why the higher-ups think you're so important," he frowned. "You seem fine just with being a zombie. Vexen hates you but thinks you'd be useful to have around. Why change, right? I'm wasting my time here."

"No," Ixta said, to his surprise. She almost sounded urgent. Almost. "I'm not fine being a zombie."

"Then why doesn't it come naturally to you?"

"I don't know," she answered, eyes bearing—something else. Just like the Superior, Ixta never really glanced away, but unlike Xemnas, this actually looked... Axel didn't know. Genuine, maybe? That was a leap too far for her limited range of feigned emotion. But her eyebrows did furrow, and her answer ended in what was almost a sigh. At best, she sounded confused about why her shoelaces were untied. But that was better than nothing.

"When I first woke up," she continued, "I knew I wasn't in my world anymore, and that Sora was missing. My last memory was our mom telling me to find him and—"

"Yeah, I already know that," Axel waved dismissively. "Everyone remembers their emotions, even if we don't have them. They're supposed to help you naturally react the way you did even before you lost your heart. So why don't they help you? What happened to you down there that you're just—terrible at this?"

Now Ixta looked down in an attempt to recall. "When I first arrived, all I wanted to do was cry. I tried the first day, but I couldn't. I started to lose hope in the next, only to realize the third day that I didn't hope. It just seemed necessary to feel that way. When I met you all, I had already given up. But I was...thinking. About the emotion I remember my Other feeling most. Nothing else seems to matter in the face of that."

Now Axel was interested. Or he would be. "And what was that?"

"The need to find Sora and protect him," Ixta shrugged like it was the most obvious thing. "My Other braved a storm to find him, and he was always part of her life. Something—someone—she felt she couldn't live without. I don't feel that love myself, but I want to find the boy. It's what she would want. The life she had is all I know. If we're working toward regaining our hearts and I become her when we finally reach that goal, she would work to see her brother again when she returns. Why not pre-empt it? And if I do find him, he would never accept me as I am. That's why I need to at least pretend."

"Heh," Axel shook his head, hiding his own surprise for how much that actually made sense. He hadn't thought she could think things through by this much. "See, this is where you've lost me. If you care so much about what your Other wanted, why you can't act like her properly? If all your memories revolve around her brother..."

Axel's mouth remained open for a few seconds. Ixta paused, too, glancing around the hallway and then at her own hands. Had she paralyzed him without meaning to do so?

"That's it!"

Ixta blinked, subconsciously taking a step back. Axel had never really smiled her way, except when he was being sarcastic. "What is...it?"

"I'm a genius is what," he laughed. "Everyone has a focal point for their memories. Maybe a specific emotion—hating on love like Xaldin, for example. Or Vexen loving on his own experiments, Demyx caring too much about his hair... we're not really complicated creatures once you figure out a Nobody's strongest memory. Yours is that Sora kid. Your memories don't revolve around something—they revolve around someone. You're not applying how you remember feelings to everyone else because every feeling you remember is for your brother!"

He didn't wait for her to register his words with that usual blank look before patting himself on the back about it, grinning and giving his temple two proud taps. "See? Makes all the sense in the world, right?"

"It does," Ixta agreed, finally. "I have no reason to treat any of you with the compassion that she did Sora."

"Exactly. No reason to spare anyone a creepy laugh," Axel pointed out. "So let me give you a reason to treat everyone like Sora. Uh, but less lovey-dovey. Anyway. Reason is that the Superior thinks you're going to be best put to use if you're an expert at faking it."

"Why is that?"

Axel shrugged. "Because you're pretty? Because your attribute's the most useless? Who knows? Point is, serve your purpose for once. I bet Lexaeus drilled that into your head whenever you practiced, right?"

"Him and Xaldin, actually. I understand what you're saying, Axel. I should treat you all the way my Other treated Sora, but as if he wasn't my Other's brother."

"Yes!" Axel almost cheered. "That's it! ...Man. Was it really that hard to get it memorized?"

"Well—"

"Ah—" He raised a hand to silence her. "And another thing. No more step-by-step logical explanation stuff. Pretty sure your Other didn't do that to Sora, right?" Brotherly love only went so far.

When she agreed, Axel felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Or some of that survival instinct getting off his back about possibly being Dusked for failing, anyway. He still wasn't pleased with being promoted to babysitter and teacher, but maybe this mission would finally be interesting.

Whenever Ixta found herself alone—and that was often—she ruminated on how she would apply her memories of Sora to her superiors.

She wanted to consult her fire-wielding mentor, but he returned to the castle late more often than not, and by that time Ixta had usually grown bored enough to fall asleep. So she left him notes under his door instead, and he gave them back to her come morning with red marks all over. The first time he did, he asked her why exactly she went 'ha ha'—their compromise for whenever she thought it was appropriate to imitate laughter—when she was supposed to be disappointed for getting so much wrong again.

The answer was that she remembered Sora coming home from school with essays crammed the night before submission marked the same way. Her Other had felt amusement at her brother's indignation. Easygoing as he was, Sora had always been prideful about his work.

Axel visibly relaxed at that. And then he told her to try harder before zipping off to his next mission.

Neither did she interact with the others, much. Saïx had ensured that until VIII determined her fitness for 'exposure,' only Axel and Lexaeus would 'have to put up with her' for any reason. According to him, Number V was included because 'even a Nobody with such poor recall' would be instinctively fearful of V's great stature.

Despite all that, another week later, Ixta was ready. Axel had promised that he would return early today so that they could go over the ways she would practice acting around the others, but her Other had always been one to take the initiative—if she knew she could do it. And Ixta had read over her corrected notes long enough after missions to know what to do around the rest of the Organization.

The first member that evening was Saïx. It was simple with him. Sora had probably set the record for puberty's shortest rough patch: one entire week. Still, Ixta remembered it well. He kept to himself and hated being told what to do. Saïx was roughly the same: prideful and prone to lash out at irrelevant questions. The key with him, said Axel, was to "walk on eggshells"; speak when spoken to.

That done, she headed for the kitchen—surprisingly well-stocked, considering her rushed meals before missions usually consisted of whatever Lexaeus left behind. Her Other wasn't some master chef, but her meals had been good enough for her brother when their parents weren't home for dinner.

By the time she was finished, pancakes, syrup, eggs, hot dogs, fish, bacon, tea, and juice waited on the dining table, looking scrumptiously ready for consumption. The dining room was hardly ever used—Axel mentioned that members rose at different times and never really cared to eat together—but she would stay here for the rest of the evening in case anyone dropped by.

She had expected it to take a while, but to her fortune—or perhaps Luxord's—the Gambler was just in time, sighing to himself as he walked through the doorway.

"Hi, Luxord." Number X was suave and debonair—nothing like Sora, except they both liked being flattered. "Your beard is so neat today."

The Nobody froze, cards out and at the ready, but blinked when he faced her. "Oh, it's you. Sneaking up on people like that is rude, you know. Even if we aren't quite people. And..." the blond gave his beard a curious stroke. "Thank you, Ixta. What do we have here?"

"I'm sorry," she replied, and stood up to motion to the table. "I made this for everyone. Dig in. Consider it my apology for breaking into your room that one time."

"Hmm... Very well," the man nodded, and took a seat at the table. He'd just taken a bite of the scrambled egg when a familiar ponytail swung over his head.

"Bait! Heard Flamesilocks was keeping you out of sight till it was time for show and tell. Thought that'd last a bit longer."

"You win some, and you lose some," chuckled Luxord, ducking away from Xigbar's hair. "But today is a pleasure, Ixta. What are the odds that you'd reappear right as I'd nearly lost a particularly hairy game?"

Ixta shrugged at Luxord's question. Axel said that was the best recourse whenever he made odd gambling references. "Hi, Xigbar. I made this for everyone. Dig in. I hope you like it," she chose to say. Xigbar was playful, like Sora, with an ego just as easily wounded. She remembered a time when her Other pointed out a flaw of Sora's—the boy had brushed it off, but he was fairly standoffish for a time despite the way he continued joking. Saying anything at his expense would be a mistake—so she turned her lips up for a smile instead.

The look of it wasn't quite right, but Xigbar ignored that in favor of reappearing on the seat next to Luxord. A few bites of his hot dogs and he was already grinning.

"Not bad considering it's dinner time. So your Other was a cook, huh?"

"No, she was going to work at a Clinic."

"Ah. Now that explains a lot."

"What does?"

Ixta turned to the pink-haired newcomer at once with the same peculiar smile. "Hi, Marluxia. I made this for everyone. Dig in." And at the figure following in after him, "Axel, hello. I made this for everyone. Dig in."

Luxord nodded at the others in acknowledgment, but slowed his chewing at their dinner host's constant greeting. He glanced at her 'mentor.' "Why does she insist on...?"

"Looks like damage control wasn't a big success," Xigbar snickered. Marluxia quirked a brow in agreement. "Unless that brother she keeps mentioning is actually a broken record."

"Oh, jeez," Axel muttered, ignoring the others. "Ixta, let's talk outside."

She followed him into the hallway with a blink. "What's wrong, Axel? Are you upset that I began interacting with the others without you? Saïx seemed pleased enough when I turned in my report earlier, and I've gone over our notes several times. I think I'm ready."

Axel glanced back into the dining room and watched the others dig into the food just like she'd asked. He'd been lounging around away from their depressing little world when one of his Assassins came reporting about Saïx looking for him, asking if he'd given Ixta the go to start talking with members other than the assigned two. Rushing back to the castle, he had to admit he'd been a little apprehensive—but he'd faked it in front of Saïx, feigning all confidence.

Still, this was more progress than Axel had expected. He turned back to her with a scratch of his head. "Well... None of them seems to want to kill you yet, so I'd say you're doing a good job so far—except stop saying the same lines over and over! 'I made this for everyone. Dig in,'" the man mocked with a groan.

"Sora and my Other used to say 'Dig in' during meals—"

"Repeatedly?"

"No. Just once to one another."

Axel sighed. "You can't say the same things to everyone in front of each other. Even if you said it in front of Sora—they can't all be Sora together. Got it memorized? It's just weird, all right?"

Ixta paused, staring at Axel blankly, and then put a hand on his shoulder. With a light squeeze, she said, "I get it. Don't be upset."

He relaxed, shoulders slumping, before appearing to realize her ploy. He squinted at her. "Are you using a memory on me right now? Treating me like that kid?"

"You said I could be frank with you because you're my teacher. I thought that tricking you would mean my memory recall's improved. Has it?"

"Almost. That smile needs tweaking," Axel grinned, clapping her on the shoulder. "Not bad, though. All right. Get back in there and try not to get yourself killed."

Ixta obeyed, slipping back into the dining room and sitting next to Luxord. Axel took a plate across her, and nodded when she glanced at him.

"So," she said, glancing at everyone without her smile for the time being. "How did your missions go?"

Xigbar tilted his head side to side and shrugged, winking his eye at Axel. "Not bad."

Marluxia turned to her, setting his utensils down when he spoke. "I agree. I've hears terrible things in the Grey Area—but you are lovely, Ixta."

"Thank you, Marluxia."

Luxord spared Marluxia a curious glance before turning to Ixta. "So you remember your family, XIII?"

"Vaguely," she answered. Axel had told her not to trust anyone but him about information on her memory recall, though she didn't understand why. But because his lessons were working so far, she held her tongue. "Much less than you all remember, I'm sure. Your recall is much better than mine."

The man shrugged. "By now you must know that even in nothingness, we stand the hazard of the die."

"I disagree," said Marluxia, passing the Gambler a plate of bacon with the same calm smile. "If we simply took things as they came, there would be no Organization. No... We were meant for action. Hence the missions," he added, glancing sideways at Xigbar.

"Exactly," replied Luxord. "One works with the cards they are dealt."

"Mmm," Marluxia hummed dismissively.

"Or did you fail to understand my meaning?" Luxord smiled. "That is unfortunate."

Marluxia looked back at him with a glare. "Your first or your second? You changed your mind so quickly that I wasn't certain."

Meanwhile, Xigbar laughed. "You could learn a bit more from these two, Bait. Pretending like they care." He clapped his hands together thrice. "Bravo!"

Ixta stared at all of them, searching her memories for anything that might apply to this situation. Sora never fought with himself. And when he did fight with his friends... well, it was never about this. Whatever this was about. So she turned to Axel instead.

"...How did your mission go?"

Luckily for Ixta, Luxord and Marluxia were grown enough to put it aside when Xigbar began with his usual bout of teasing. Axel piped in every so often, playing off of their eyepatched superior's humor. XIII simply observed and stayed quiet.

Until everyone had gone, at least. No other member arrived for dinner, and Xigbar and Luxord had already cleared their sides of the table. It was silent all around after that—Axel didn't care to talk to Marluxia, and whatever he needed to say to his 'apprentice' could wait for privacy—with Ixta occasionally piping up with simple questions like the food or if Number XI himself could cook. Eventually, Marluxia rose to turn in.

"It's been a long day. Thank you for the meal, Ixta. It was surprisingly good."

To Axel's surprise, their newest member stood after him.

"Wait, Marluxia."

The man turned, stared down at her. "Yes?"

"You're very handsome."

He paused, then grinned, clearly amused, and took a step closer. Noticing the man eye him for a beat, Axel couldn't help his curled lip. "Hmm. You're quite pleasing to the eye yourself, Ixta."

She kept XI's gaze. "Thank you. Well, good night, Marluxia." With a nod, she walked past him and disappeared down the hallway.

Axel would have laughed at Marluxia's apparent shock if he wasn't thinking the same thing. Still, he couldn't pass up a chance to poke fun at the guy. "Smooth," he winked, then whipped up a Corridor and hopped in. He emerged outside of Ixta's room just in time to see her walk into the area with that usual blank look. Her head turned when she spotted him. Belatedly, she widened her eyes. He'd taught her a little bit about expressing surprise.

"Axel," she said, drawing up to him. "What did you think?"

He frowned. "What was that?"

Ixta stood there. "What was what? My dinner? My Other used to cook with Sora."

"Telling Marluxia he's pretty."

"He is pretty," she replied. "That's why I told him. Sora loved—loves being complimented. But I told Marluxia he was handsome instead. Sora's friend never liked being called pretty. Wasn't I right to do that?"

Axel paused, watching her as if to gauge the truth of her statement. But he knew she had no reason to lie. At this point, he didn't think she understood the point of lying yet. Only keeping quiet enough not to get killed. "...Yeah. Yeah, I guess you were."

"Thanks to your lessons. Thank you for not giving up on me, Axel."

The man smirked. "You don't mean that."

"If I had a heart, I would. Did I convince you?" She cleared her throat and repeated, softly this time, "Thank you, Axel. I mean it."

Axel rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand before she could touch his shoulder again. "Yeah, yeah, all right. You're welcome. Don't push it. You're good—but you're not that good."

"Then I'll have to practice more. But not on Xaldin," she noted aloud. "I'm tired. Good night, Axel."

Ixta sidestepped him and opened the door to her room, but turned back when she saw that he was still standing at the door—gaze never leaving her. "Was I wrong to do that?" she gave him no chance to reply when she recalled an old memory of her Other's. "Ah... Do you need tucking in? It was only then when... Well, Sora stopped needing tucking into bed after he..." She stopped when she recognized the look he was giving her. "Ah. You don't need tucking in. But why are you standing there?"

Axel snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. Just being a good mentor and making sure you don't run off with Marluxia in the middle of the night. Saïx wouldn't like that."

"Why not?"

Her mentor stared at her for a moment, and then laughed, pulling the door behind him as he finally left. "I'll tell you when you're older. Night. And work on that smile!"

"Good night," she called out before the door closed, then shrugged. Off to bed.

"An important meeting?"

Before Ixta, a silver and green Nobody nodded. It was a Devout—a Nobody recently discovered to thrive under her command. Though flexible like all its lesser brethren, it was large and wieldy and hardly ever attacked other creatures. Possessing a spiked crown and nothing else for a face, most of its power consisted of healing other Nobodies—unless it was alone and under heavy attack, in which case it would strike with various status conditions, distracting its opponent to buy itself time to flee. To Vexen's confusion, when paired with others, its kind had the puzzling tendency to draw all attention to itself with the green lines marking its body. Its lines would glow brightly, giving away its position while it healed itself and its allies until it was destroyed.

"About what?"

The Devout shook its head, lines illuminating the dull hallway as it murmured without a mouth. "The Superior," it said, "gave the order. We do not question, my liege."

"I guess not."

"Wow. They've got way better manners than you do, huh?"

Axel found her in a hallway with a smirk, motioning for the Devout to run along. With a nod from Ixta, it spun in the air, gave the two a polite flourish, and winked out of sight.

"That was rude," Ixta pointed out.

"Do you care?"

"No, but you shouldn't talk about anyone like they're not there," enunciated Ixta. "Rule number 16."

"Yeah, yeah. Just do as I say, not as I do. Still can't believe you wrote those down," sighed Axel, scratching the back of his head. "Anyway, meeting. Let's go."

"About what?" she repeated, allowing him to usher her into a Corridor.

"Your 'curious' has gotten better," Axel said. "But now isn't the time. Come on."

Ixta had last been to the Round Room during her introduction. Were they to have a new member? But one of her Devouts would have at least heard something—they were prone to gossip and got along especially with the Dancers, a large contrast to her own interactions with Demyx so far.

Given the new girl's stubbornness, Axel was surprised they weren't the last to arrive. Demyx popped into his chair insisting he wasn't late, and Xaldin told him to hush and calm down. Smug as always, Marluxia arrived with no apologies some time after that. Xemnas was still missing.

And then, on the highest seat in their circle, a Corridor disrupted the prickly silence. The Superior appeared, sitting casually on his throne like they were supposed to kowtow to him one by one. Not that Axel really cared. He sat back when their glorious leader began to talk.

"My friends," Xemnas addressed them. "Today we have cause for celebration! The Keyblade wielder has been found."

"When?"

"Who are they?"

"Are we to take them into the fold?"

He raised his hand, and all fell silent. "It is a child. A mere boy—but not one to be underestimated," he said at once. "The Keyblade's chosen is a being of great strength, no matter their station."

"He must be observed," said Vexen. "The laboratory is well-equipped for these purposes."

Marluxia chuckled. "I doubt one so powerful would agree to sit around and get poked at."

The scientist snarled. Zexion ignored them both. "They're both partially correct. Lord Xemnas, I suggest this boy be observed in his natural habitat. We must gauge his power without making contact before we make any further decisions."

Xemnas sent a slow nod his way. "A prudent choice. Ixta, you shall go in our place. Watch the boy. Learn his habits. Strengths. Weaknesses."

The entire room seemed to shrink as the other members turned to the girl in shock. Even Ixta blinked at his orders, turning a finger to point at herself. "The mission is mine?"

"She's a complete weakling," Larxene protested, not even looking at Ixta next to her as she spoke. Her tone was only slightly less disdainful before the Superior. "Why send her? Even Demyx makes more sense."

Number IX shot up in his seat and wildly waved his arms in the shape of an x. "Uh...! No, I don't! Actually, I think Ixta's a great choice. Say, doesn't she have that Vanish spell, like Zexion?"

"I must agree with Larxene," said Luxord. "Ixta's poor memory recall would leave her in a pinch were she to be caught. Why not send another?"

"Nah," Xigbar grinned, sitting back in his seat, obviously enjoying the show. "You think we're sending her alone? What's bait for? Reel 'em in, Ixta—then let someone else handle it. Right?"

"I'm confused," she answered, eyes on Axel. His were trained to Saïx.

"Number XIII is assigned to the mission," the Superior's voice boomed over the rest. He spoke with no more emotion than he normally did, but the room hushed immediately. "She is best able to measure the chosen one's strength and report to us. She will be joined by another should she need protection."

Beside him, arms crossed, Xaldin sighed. "Waste of resources."

His protest was drowned out by Marluxia's mellifluous voice. "I will go," he volunteered, smiling at the girl on his left. "My attribute's and Ixta's greatly complement each other. I am able to protect her if it comes to blows."

"No," Saïx frowned. "Axel should join her. He has so far successfully kept her in check, and is equally skilled to keep her intact."

"This is true," Lexaeus finally said.

As Xemnas looked over each of them, his stony gaze never faltered. It settled comfortably on Ixta. "XIII, take Axel with you and report back immediately. That is all."

Watching the others shift in either approval or protest, the girl could only nod. An order was an order, as Saïx often said—and though she understood why the others disagreed, she would fulfill the mission nonetheless. "Yes, Lord Xemnas."

"Glad they asked for my opinion on this mission."

Ixta stopped in her tracks. "Would you have refused the Superior?"

Axel shrugged.

She recognized that look, too. It meant he would say no more. That was all right; she wasn't too invested in the answer. After all, their mission here was to find the Keyblade Master.

"Here" was a world called Traverse Town. It was just as in their dark city, where night never shifted to day and the place was utterly radiant with artificial lights, except that it was home to quaint houses and shops instead of a floating castle and ambitious skyscrapers. And the world had its own charm—or it would, if she had a heart. Its main district was filled to the brim with refugees from worlds swallowed by the darkness, and she could imagine Sora staying at such a populated place if he had escaped their crumbling world. Maybe she would return here after another mission and make a search.

"So do you sense him?" Axel asked, stooping to press his nose against the window of a closed shop. The 1st District had so many types of people going to and fro that two cloaked figures were hardly a novel sight.

"Ah...yes." She tore her eyes from a litter of three ribboned kittens scurrying after two larger cats toward a back alley. "It's just as the Superior said. His strength seems boundless."

"Boundless?" Axel stood up straight. "You mean...stronger than the Superior?"

"No one is stronger than the Superior," was her quick response, but she paused when his face seemed to fall. In retrospect, it was odd and yet just fitting to compare the power she could sense to that of Lord Xemnas. "But maybe—he could be. I can't explain. Lord Xemnas's power is overwhelming. This one feels...dormant. As if the full extent of his strength is undetermined. At present, anyway."

"Huh." Ixta expected him to quip about their inability to 'feel,' and was surprised when only he nodded. "Okay. If anyone asks you that same question, answer with the first thing you said. Ah—" He interrupted her before she could even ask why. "Xemnas is proud that way. I know I told you not to bother faking and to be straight with him, but he'll get angry if he finds out."

"You mean I should lie in my report?"

"It wouldn't be lying—technically," Axel added. "You said you couldn't explain it. This is just the easier way of explaining it to them and keeping yourself safe at the same time. You sure you want to bear the brunt of Xemnas' anger?"

Her averted eyes answered that. When she looked back to him, her lips were pursed thoughtfully. It was the only thing that Axel found came naturally to her.

"And you'll keep it a secret, too?"

"I told you you could trust me, right?"

She nodded.

"So. Got it memorized?"

"Sure," she said, just as she always did when he asked the question. But mostly because his reason for it made sense. "I won't tell anyone about the boy's potential."

"Speaking of the kid," Axel frowned, casting his gaze over the people. "Where is he?"

"Around here somewhere..."

The crowd began to thin coming closer to a large accessory shop near one of the corners of the town, and further that, down a short flight of steps, was an alfresco restaurant illuminated only by soft candlelight. The sweet scent of syrup wafted over the plaza it fronted.

"There," she pointed to the establishment, weaving past a particularly noisy pair—a large, long-haired, muscular man carrying a noisy old woman all in purple relaxed in a shaded seat on his back. "If I could only see..."

The worlds her missions had so far sent her travelling to had gotten her used to the idea and sight of non-humans, but her sense of the Keyblade master still led her to a curious one. A large duck and a bipedal dog sat on one of the tables, the former devouring some sort of cake while the latter appeared to chatter amiably with his friends. These companions consisted of a duck and one more—a human boy with spiky hair, a hooded shirt, and fingerless gloves—

Ixta swerved back and ran face first into Axel.

"Hey!" He caught her by the shoulders and steadied her. "Going the wrong way there. Which one's our Keyblade Master? There are tons of kids in there, and I don't see any of 'em waving a big key around."

"It's him," she said, glancing over her shoulder but scrambling to switch places with her superior. For a moment, Axel resisted, but Ixta always explained herself to him eventually. As she peered over his shoulder, she murmured, "Sitting with the duck and the dog. The only one eating pancakes for dinner."

Axel found that last description suspect, but let it pass in favor of searching the tables. It was a little dark because of that dumb candle motif the place had going. "Oh. That kid, huh? The Keyblade Master?"

"No. Well, yes, but..."

Her grip on his arm was tighter than he remembered—since when was she even touchy?—but it loosened when he finally turned to look at her.

"That's Sora."

The words registered late with Axel. He didn't know what to double-take at first—that their newest member and the Keyblade Master were connected, or that Ixta's smile finally looked real.

Finally, we get to Sora! Not sure if the pacing's too fast or too slow, but Ixta needed better memory recall and Axel needed to see where Ixta was coming from. As for how close or far the last two scenes are from canon... We hope so?

They never address when the Organization was formed, and so we assumed it was already up and running during KH1's events, especially because of BBS. How active they were during those days is debatable, and what exactly Xemnas thought of the worlds disappearing and how much he knew of Ansem SOD is something we don't even want to think about, but here we're assuming (again) that he was at least aware of it. He does pop up close to the end of KH1 to see Sora for himself. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to tackle Organization concerns head on, so we hope it's plausible enough for him to throw peons at the issue first before dealing with them himself. As for why he chose Ixta for it, well, Axel's figuring that out himself, too.

We had concerns about Axel's characterization here, mostly because he changes so much throughout the series. In CoM, he's smooth and cunning, keeping the spotlight off himself while turning people against each other. In Days, he's still pretty secretive, but we see that he's driven by his friendships—the old one with Saïx and the new ones with Roxas and Xion. In KH2 he goes completely ballistic and first gives up on Roxas joining Sora then makes a 180 and decides he wants to turn Sora into a Heartless again. Total nutjob. Anyway, this is before CoM, so we're going with the smooth/cunning personality with a lighthearted facade. At this point he's sorta trying to maintain his old friendship with Isa/Saïx, but his heart's not really into it, y'know (he hasn't got one)?

Anyway, we'd say more, but that'd spoil everything! Maybe Elis will continue that^ little explanation in the next few chapters. PM if you like, though! We won't give spoilers, but hints are fine. Haha! Not that you don't already know the KH timeline. Just Ixta's involvement in it.

Also, apologies on the lack of environmental description. They're usually in the castle and its hallways don't usually look, smell, or sound different on most days.

Next update—more Sora! And Ixta. And Axel. And other members. Yay!

Review! Tell us what you think or what you think's going on! It's not a great mystery, really. Haha! We just can't wait for the developments. Thanks for the review, AllyM93! Nice to know someone's reading and likes it. And thanks to burgeoning replacements's new followers!