burgeoning replacements

8 – deviations

After the first time Axel showed Ixta his spot in Twilight Town, she had only occasionally visited.

Now that they were stuck together for missions—or rather, now that Axel was tasked with keeping her away from Zexion, Ixta had become a constant in his Twilight Town wind-downs.

It wasn't too bad. It was the missions that were starting to get tedious.

Sitting back into his chair, Axel looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "Collection mission again? What gives? I thought I was supposed to be training Ixta."

"Do so on your spare time," said Saïx. "For now, this is the priority."

"What's so important that Vexen's got her working overtime?"

"Nothing worth mentioning yet. Which is why you should get to work."

"I mean," Axel scoffed, "if it's so important that it's got the Superior's stamp of approval, then Zexion's gotta know about it, too, right? Maybe I'll ask him."

He didn't know why he had to make that jab, but he did. On Saïx's part, he took the insult—narrowing his eyes with what was almost fury. Axel didn't know if he was supposed to be happy to see that.

"Without the correct materials, this will all be for naught. All you must do is ensure that Ixta stays on track. We don't want a repeat of… Hollow Bastion."

"Right. Don't think I didn't notice that we stopped baiting Heartless around everywhere when she ran into the wicked witch."

"The witch," Saïx began, "will play her part, as we have ours. Now it's time for the girl to complete the collection missions. Trust me, Axel."

"While I'm kept in the dark? I think you'd call that stupidity."

Saïx only exhaled through his nose.

"All right, all right." Axel raised his hands in surrender. "Might as well tell her yourself. Let's go."

The Grey Area was strangely lively that morning. Usually, Marluxia and Larxene had the run of the place, but they had been off tending XI's garden lately and so the others swept in during their absence.

Ixta put down her cards, a small, pleased grin forming on her mouth.

"Straight flush? I hate playing with you," Demyx whined, throwing the rest of his cards on the table. "How am I supposed to beat a zombie?"

"Axel says I don't seem like a zombie anymore," she replied.

"He means you have a hell of a poker face. Not bad," Luxord remarked, "But not good enough. Royal flush."

He showed his own hand, winking his victory at them. Ixta sighed, and Demyx continued to sulk, muttering something while glaring at nothing.

Shutting his book, Zexion left his place across Lexaeus to approach the trio from the couch over. "Don't you three have any missions today?" He asked with a strangely docile tone. He was curious.

"I should," Ixta thought aloud. "But I haven't seen Axel today, and I'm not supposed to go without him."

Zexion and Lexaeus exchanged glances at that.

"And what's wrong with taking a break every now and again, anyway?" Demyx said, suddenly completely over the game he'd humiliatingly lost. "If we keep going without breaks, we'll eventually end up like Ixta and then need a nanny." He elbowed Luxord next to him. "Right?"

"Perhaps, but I wouldn't say it's in the cards."

"Ughhh."

"It's important to note the difference between 'every now and again' and 'every other day,' however," Lexaeus said. His eyes were now back on his own book.

"Don't you have a mission to do?" Demyx muttered, wrinkling his nose.

By now Luxord had gathered all his cards and reshuffled them. "You're welcome to join us if you'd like, Zexion."

"Oh." VI blinked. "Well, I admit I've never gotten the chance to learn or to play."

Ixta looked up at that and patted the seat next to her twice. "I'd forgotten the rules, but Luxord taught me again. And I've already almost beaten Demyx twice."

"Not a herculean task, but a win all the same," Luxord grinned. Demyx pointedly rolled his eyes.

Zexion glanced between Ixta and the two across her. "…Very well," he said, taking her side. "How is this all done?"

"Lexaeus, do you want to play?" asked Ixta.

"Thank you, but no."

"Figures," Demyx harrumphed.

Luxord snorted in amusement, and then turned to Zexion. "To begin, I'm going to deal each of us five cards. And then—"

"What is going on here?"

Demyx glanced over his shoulder to look at the new arrivals: Saïx, and Axel strolling into the room behind him. "We actually managed to get Zexion to try playing poker." He turned to Ixta and pointed to VII. "Try him next."

Saïx snarled, but so low that it was barely audible.

"My fault. I woke up late." Axel scratched the back of his head, and then patted Ixta's shoulder. "Let's get going."

Ixta looked around the couch and gave an apologetic shrug as she got to her feet. "Maybe next time, everyone."

"Heh." Opening a Corridor, Axel sent a cheeky grin their way. "Good luck, Demyx. Maybe you can get one over Zexion. If he tries to lose."

"Hey!"

"Bye!" Axel laughed, heading in. Ixta waved at the rest before she followed.

Saïx looked even more irritated watching them go. "Playing around first thing in the morning does not serve your purpose in the Organization."

"What is our purpose these days?" Demyx challenged. "I mean, there's only so many worlds to recon now that we've had Heartless feed on so many."

To everyone's surprise, Saïx only paused. And then he frowned. "I expected better of you, Zexion. All of you, get back to work."

The Schemer didn't look at all chastised, but responded politely all the same. "All right."

"You heard the boss," Luxord muttered, gathering the cards he had already dealt out. "I can teach you after dinner if you're still interested, Zexion."

"I am."

Demyx sighed audibly. "See you around."

One by one, each of the players disappeared with a wave of pulsating darkness until only Lexaeus was left with Number VII. Saïx glanced over at him, and the look was returned with an undaunted one.

Eventually, it was Lexaeus who broke the silence with a grunt. Soon the darkness swallowed him, too.

If Axel disliked Deep Jungle, Ixta hated Agrabah.

The sand constantly buffeted her face and found its way into her boots. How did that even work? They were zipped up to her shins, which were covered by her cloak! It was nothing like her Other's love for the sand and the beach and watching the waves come and go.

Unfortunately, this was the best place to find whatever it was Vexen needed today.

While Ixta collected the materials, handing them to a Devout to carry, Axel stood around and was, suffice to say, playing bodyguard. Sometimes, a more powerful Heartless wandered by, looking for hearts, and he dispatched it to ease the boredom.

It was a slow day. And a hot one, too. They had removed their cloaks and laid them on a nearby boulder, where Axel sat as he watched his ward.

"So what's Sora like?"

Crouched in the sand in her green crop top and Organization-issue pants and boots, Ixta looked up. "Huh?"

"What's Sora like?" he repeated. "We're gonna have to take him into the fold one day, right? So I'm gonna have to know how to deal with him."

"Hmm…" Ixta didn't realize it, but she was smiling. "Sora is—naïve. It can be frustrating at times. It was. He sees the best in people, where my Other didn't. I find it difficult to imagine that he would destroy Heartless, or anyone, so easily. It's not like him."

"You make him sound like a helpless kid. The Dusks have him in sight most of the time, you know. He's defeated some pretty strong people in those Coliseum matches."

"I watched one of the tournaments."

"Oh ho," Axel started to chuckle. "So you have been going behind my back. Wasn't it tiring to stay Vanished the whole time?"

"It was harder to keep from entering the match. My Other's memories told me to starting screaming for him to stop."

"Did you?"

Ixta gave Axel an indignant look that made the man proud. Getting to her feet, she dusted off her pants. "No. My Other may not have known it, but I know that Sora is more than just a child. He's the Keyblade Master. As I said before… his potential rivals that of Lord Xemnas."

"Right. But I already knew that," said Axel, yawning. "Tell me something else!"

"Hmm… He doesn't like being treated like a child. Taunting him is very easy… but my Other never did that."

"Dedicated in life as in nothingness, huh?" Axel remarked.

"In a sense…"

"What else?"

Ixta appeared to think, and then her shoulders slumped. "He's not the type to like being alone. His friends are… very important to him."

That made Axel look at her. He knew what she was thinking. Riku and Kairi, and that ragtag group of refugees in Traverse Town.

Well. No more ragtag than the Organization. At least Squall and most of his friends had managed to stay together and keep their hearts to themselves.

Ixta was quiet again.

"Hey," Axel called, leaning against the boulder where their cloaks lay. "You lived on a beach before, right?"

Dismissing the Devout waiting on her, she approached him. "An island. Why do you ask?"

"You any good at swimming?"

Ixta quirked a brow. "My Other was an excellent swimmer, but I haven't tried as a Nobody…"

Axel grinned at the wary curiosity in her voice. "All right. I might have something for us to do at some point." Reaching into his cloak, he whipped out two small, fat test tubes. "I swiped these from Vexen's lab."

That inquisitive part of her made her blue eyes sparkle. "What do these do?" She reached out for them, and he let her take one.

"Some kind of serum… tonic thing. It's supposed to help us survive an underwater world called Atlantica. Way, way under the sea."

Ixta inspected her tube, which contained a deep green liquid. "Did Vexen say these were ready for testing?"

Axel laughed. "Is the Killing Nostrum actually showing fear? Or foresight?"

That struck something like pride in Ixta. Her instinct told her that her Other would never have acted on such an easy taunt—she had suffered more silliness from Sora and Riku and her own friends and never let the pride or anger get the best of her.

Tai, she meant. Not herself. Tai always wanted to give the appearance of maturity. Ixta understood that innately, somehow, listening to Axel's taunt, looking at his almost-sneer.

Tai would never take the bait. But Ixta wanted to—and besides, she had a feeling that it would humor Axel if she did.

"I'm not afraid," she huffed. "I could very likely dispel the magic if it came down to that... I think."

"That's what Vexen said. He just hasn't had the time to test—hey! Wait!" Axel reached out, trying to grab the test tube from her. "We're only supposed to take these right before we—"

It was too late. Ixta had uncorked the test tube and knocked it back. She had the gall to make a disgusted face as she downed it.

"Damn it," Axel groaned, and drank his own as he summoned a Corridor.

The transformation was strange, to say the least. Ixta started out feeling like wanting to vomit, only for the nausea to subside into a tingling in her feet. Soon they became numb, and she turned with urgency to Axel—who grabbed her and took her into the Corridor before her knees gave way.

If the darkness was cold, the bottom of the ocean was even colder. Ixta covered her mouth and her nose, feeling her lungs start to flutter with lack of air—but only for a second. After a moment of sputtering, squeezing her eyes shut, she felt… fine. Her hands flew to her chest, preparing to suffer for the water she'd inhaled, only for nothing to happen.

"I'm breathing," she murmured to herself. "I'm—Axel!"

He was floating not far from her, hands similarly over his mouth. She was about to swim to him, only to witness exactly what had just happened to her: a strange light surrounded his body, and suddenly… He was half-naked. Half-naked with a long, deep-red tail where his legs had been, and small, spiked finlets from his waist to the end of his tail.

When the magic of the serum faded, he opened his eyes and blinked. "Huh…" he looked over himself, tail moving every which way, and then his gaze found its way to her.

"Ixta," he called, and swam closer. "That actually worked!"

"You mean you weren't sure?"

His eyes widened, caught—and then he frowned. "Well, it was available for testing, right? Besides—I didn't tell you to drink it yet!"

Ixta shrugged, and then finally gave herself a look, too. Her own tail was a deep green, with long, winglike fins on each side below her waist. She was also wearing a strapless bra made of two coral-colored seashells.

When she glanced up, Axel was watching her with a wide-eyed expression.

"What?"

He stopped gawking to shake his head. "What? Nothing. What's with those fins?" Axel reached over to gesture at her extra fins.

Ixta gingerly touched them and found that she felt it. "I think we're each supposed to be some manner of fish… This looks familiar, but I don't remember what I would be."

"That so?" Axel flicked his tail and laughed as he did a somersault before her."Hey, I'm pretty good at this! Island girl, right? What kind of fish am I?"

"Hmm…" Ixta crossed her arms and gave him a once-over. Her eyes lingered on his chest, but in the end focused on his tail. It would have irked her Other that using her tail didn't come to her as naturally as it did Axel. "I recognize those spikes along your tail… I think you're a tuna."

"A tuna?" Axel made a face. "Of all the sea creatures I've ever read about—I'm a tuna!?"

"Don't say that. Tuna are tasty. I—or my Other. My Other liked tuna. So did Sora."

Axel seemed to relax at her words, but he kept the irritated expression. "Island food. Amazing. Anyway, speaking of which… there's a reason we came here."

"What's that?"

"Uhh…" Axel squinted his eyes, and then sighed. "Don't think I thought this through."

He snapped his bare fingers, and a Nobody that looked like a small jellyfish appeared. He muttered something to it and it spun in the water, looking almost gleeful. Seeing the question in Ixta's eyes, Axel shrugged. "Dusks reported that there were Heartless here. Figured if there were aquatic Heartless, there'd be aquatic Nobodies, too. Come on." He turned to the Nobody. "Lead the way."

The small Nobody led them through narrow underwater caverns and past a great old shipwreck until they were floating in front of a great, swirling pillar of water. Inside, she could sense a few powerful creatures—one of them weakening, and the other, incredibly powerful…

Ixta's head whipped in Axel's direction. "Sora. What are we doing here?"

"I guess it's for the best that we came here now. Looks like they're squaring up. More than that, even." Before she could ask, Axel held out his hand, and another Corridor swallowed them whole.

They emerged within the frightening torrent, which revealed something even more terrifying: a woman who must have been half the size of the castle back at the World That Never Was. Wielding a majestic golden trident, she had violet skin and a golden crown over her white hair. Not to mention tentacles where Ixta expected legs, though at this point she should have already known better.

"What is that?"

"A witch. Not yours," Axel said, eyes to the woman. "A sea witch. The one helping bring Heartless into this world."

Her gaze followed his upward, higher within the torrent where Sora and his friends emerged from behind the witch's crown, casting spells or charging at her while avoiding her attacks.

One narrowly missed them, in fact. "She's preparing a—a thunder spell. Move!" Ixta grabbed Axel's arm and pushed, propelling them forward right as a flash of lightning lashed in jagged lines from above, striking where they once stood.

"Yikes! "How does that even—Ixta!" Axel grabbed her bare wrist before she could dart forward, and she turned on him with a frown. He didn't release her even as she tried to yank her arm back.

"My Other would want me to protect him against that creature."

"No!" Axel said in a furious whisper. "Can't you sense it? I don't have your abilities, and even I can tell she's on her last legs." He paused, hearing his own words. "Heh."

Ixta replied with a deadpan look, but he was right. This woman was the creature whose life she felt failing. And as if on cue, the sea witch let out a devastated wail.

"Noooooooo!" she screamed, right as Sora dealt the final blow.

A grimace overcame Ixta's features as she watched the darkness devour what was left of the sea witch. Axel shook his head with the same expression. "That's what happens when you give yourself to the darkness. When it's done with you…"

"You become nothing," Ixta murmured. "…What does that make us?"

Axel looked over to her. He really shouldn't have been surprised—he would never forget that inquisitive phase of hers—but he found that he was. He was about to attempt a wry response when she grabbed his wrist, and then she was out of sight.

So was he, he realized, when he looked down at his hand and saw nothing, even when he felt her touch.

He found out why soon enough. Sora was suddenly swimming toward them, head turning left and right as he searched the area. By now the torrent of water had ceased and the sea was calm again, and behind Sora a red-haired mermaid held the golden trident in her hands. But what had Axel's attention was the uncanny resemblance between the boy and Ixta. Sure, Ixta's features were softer, more mature, pretty, but the eyes, and that worried expression…

"Sora?" the duck asked. Except right now, he had octopus legs despite his anatine head. Axel was confused. So was the duck. "What's wrong?"

"I thought I…" Sora trailed off, sighing and then turning back to his friends with a smile. "Just my imagination! Let's go."

Axel waited for Sora and his friends to swim away. When they were out of sight and earshot, he finally winced audibly, tapping at Ixta's fingers with his free hand. "Ixta, you're crushing me."

"Sorry," she exhaled, releasing him, and as she did the Vanish fell away from them both. "That was unexpected."

Axel kneaded at his wrist, stretching it and watching her. "Sorry about that. Didn't think we'd end up that close to the kid."

Ixta met his gaze. "Why did you take me here?"

"…I don't really know," he shrugged. "I had the potions in hand for a while and Dusks handed me the report this morning. Probably by mistake. Figured I'd use it all for something."

It wasn't an answer and they both knew it, but Ixta didn't question it. "Thank you."

Axel glanced away. He didn't understand much of what was happening; only knew that he was very tempted to disappear again. But even if he tried to, he wouldn't be able to.

Ixta was hugging him. At least, it was the definition of a hug. Her arms were wrapped around him, chest pressed to his, and the side of her cheek rested against his collarbone.

For Ixta, it was a hug. Not something familiar to her based on her Other's memories… It was impossible, because Tai always wanted to give the appearance of composure. Seeking another's embrace was unthinkable.

So this memory of hugging someone – however nonexistent he should be – was new for this body. She found that Axel was surprisingly warm, even when he was supposed to be cold-blooded.

Ixta also found that despite the fact that her Other would never have done this, it was something Tai would have needed. She knew that innately.

"Sora looked right through me," Ixta expressed. As she spoke those words, the place where her heart should have been swelled with the ache that had filled her when she first discovered Sora and his friends in Traverse Town. "It was my doing. But even then my body hurts. I know I don't care… but it hurts having to hide."

Axel understood, to a point. The anger that should have brimmed in him when Saïx dismissed him, treated him like a pawn, showed how little he cared for their former connection – even if he didn't care – it made his fists clench and his chest ache. The pain came from somewhere deep, felt like a memory he could actually touch instead of just imagine—but before he could, it became shallow again. Fake. And then it left him.

But Axel understood, even if he didn't know what to say. Slowly, he put his arms around her in return.

Ixta knew that tears wanted to come, but they didn't. As soon as the emotion came, right as she thought they might reach the surface… they ebbed away, out of her reach again.

She pulled away, that perfunctory smile on her face. "Let's go."

Axel nodded, and Ixta opened the Corridor this time.

Soon enough, they were back on the clocktower, winding down after what had felt like a long day. The whole ordeal had enervated Axel, who opted to go for ice cream, as expected. Ixta, meanwhile, had been struck by a distinct lack of appetite this time.

They were quiet, watching the sunset until Ixta clicked her tongue.

Axel turned to her, already finished with his popsicle. "What?"

"I forgot to touch your hair while it was wet," she sighed while removing her glove. Her bare finger pointed down to the city. "What's that?"

"Huh?"

Ixta reached for Axel's hair as he glanced down, only for his free hand to catch hers midair. He turned on her with a grin.

"Come on, Ixta. I taught you that. It might work on Vexen, but not on me. I'm not easily distracted."

She pressed her lips together in a line to express disappointment. "You mean you're no fun."

"That's my line," Axel laughed, wagging his ice cream stick at her. "You're gonna have to try a little harder to learn the secrets of my hair."

"Ugh." Ixta wrinkled her nose, watching him from the corner of her eye. "When I first met you, I never thought you would be so ridiculous. Hair secrets, of all things…"

"And you're less of a zombie than I expected, but that's probably 'cause I'm such a great teacher."

Axel grinned, all toothy and triumphant. He expected her to scoff, but she only laughed.

"Well, try not to get too predictable, sir," she said. "Hmm. Maybe I will go get some ice cream." Her smile was wide again, and her eyes crinkled at him before turning back toward the sunset.

His gaze lingered.

Saïx sat in his room, going over reports—Vexen's in particular. It was finally time to move forward with their plans, given the state of the moon above their castle. Often he sat in the Grey Area where other members could hand in their reports, but he had retired early for this reason.

So a knock on the door surprised him. It couldn't be Axel, who had not been speaking to him of late other than to mention that he was indeed keeping Ixta away from Zexion and occasionally Lexaeus... Besides, he never bothered to knock. And the Dusks always announced themselves.

Getting to his feet, he opened the door himself. Looking up at him was XIII, with that usual disarming smile on her face.

"Ixta. What are you doing here?" he asked. "You look…strangely unkempt."

"Oh?" Ixta reached up and patted down her hair. "I'm sorry. There was a storm in Agrabah, and… I just came by to give you this."

She whipped something out from behind her: a piece of paper she had neglected to give him earlier. Her report.

"Ah." He took it and would have closed the door, had she not been giving him an expectant look of her own. "Is there something else, XIII?"

Ixta met his gaze unflinchingly. He wondered if this was a reveal of her true nature as a Nobody – that she truly feared nothing, not even him – or if this was an imitation of her Other, who might not fear him. In any case, he disliked it.

She continued to search his face, and he thought she might ask about his scars again. "Do you know Axel very well, Saïx?"

A flash of the memory of anger struck him at that. "What?"

"Never mind. I'm sorry I asked," she said, inclining her head. Before he could respond, ask her how it was her business, she stepped back into a Corridor.

Saïx slammed the door behind him as he returned to his desk.

What had Axel been telling her? Had he told anyone else? He seemed friends enough with Demyx at times…

Taking a seat, he let out a huff of air and shook his head. He had other, more important matters to attend to. His eyes fell to the new piece of paper on his desk.

Ixta's report on Agrabah, with handwriting almost as neat as Zexion's… and blue stains.

Ice cream stains.

Saïx crumpled the report, crushing it in his grip until his fingers dug into his palm, and went back to work.

There was an urgency to Sora's actions lately. Ixta didn't know what happened to him, but Devout reports said he had entered the Hercules Cup in Olympus Coliseum almost reluctantly. She made it just in time to watch his first match, only to realize…

She used to watch him out of her Other's desire to be near Sora, of her own need to regain memories, but now? The thought of watching him fight was unbearable, or at least it would have been. Just the inkling that she should feel that way made her uncomfortable. It was now instinct to either stop him or leave, and she knew she couldn't do the former.

So Ixta left at once, returning to the castle with what would have been a breath of relief.

"Ixta!"

An enthusiastic greeting took that away from her. She stiffened, only to relax slightly at the sight of Xigbar. He was entering an empty Grey Area, though he seemed like he had meant to find her.

"Where's Axel?" he asked before she could respond.

"Um…" Ixta hesitated. Axel had given her the day off, knowing that the Hercules Cup was ongoing. They agreed to go to Twilight Town afterward, but she wasn't sure where he had gone. "I don't know."

"That's strange. You guys are as attached to the hip as Mother Nature and Larxene lately."

Ixta shook her head, not quite sure what to say. "Why were you looking for him?"

He shrugged. "Plans are moving along. Gotta make sure he's ready for what's coming."

"What's coming?" she asked. Reminiscent of her earlier self, she added, "Why Axel?"

Xigbar was being patient today, it seemed, because he happily answered without the sarcasm or taunting she had come to expect. "You'll find out soon enough. And Axel because he's a fighter first and foremost. Right? So he should be put to use that way. Unless…"

He disappeared, and Ixta took a step back. She felt his presence behind her and turned—he was looking down at her, his face incredibly close. "You would like to spar with me," he said, voice suddenly deep and raspy. It sent something rushing through her—discomfort, or what would have been that. She knew him well enough now to understand that it was a threat.

"No thank you," she said. She hadn't forgotten all the times she had been forced to spar with him for her initial training. In hindsight, those were really one-sided battles than anything more.

Xigbar stepped back with a bark of laughter. "I know. You're not made of the same stuff as the others," he said. So much for a lack of taunting that afternoon.

"Don't give me that look," he rolled his good eye. "You've got something the others don't have—that cute little nose of yours. How about you sniff your babysitter out for me?"

Ixta covered her nose before he could reach over and flick at it. "I'll do that," she said quickly. However lively Xigbar could be, his company was something she had never considered pleasant.

But before she could, Vexen strode into the Grey Area, shaking his head. His expression was one that tutted at them both without him even clicking his tongue. "None of that, Xigbar. Unfortunately, I need to speak with Ixta."

"Sooner than I thought," II chuckled.

"What is it about, Vexen?" Ixta asked.

"Ixta," said another voice, its owner stepping out of tendrils of darkness. "Ready for our..."

Axel stopped, blinking at Vexen and Xigbar before he looked at her. He continued to speak, hardly missing a beat. "…next mission?"

"Actually," Xigbar grinned, "I was thinking you and I should get some training in together."

"Training?" Axel quirked a brow. "Why? Need some pointers, old man?"

"As if," Xigbar scoffed, then waved his hand. "Nah, it's all right. I understand if you're too busy… or scared."

Behind them, Vexen groaned. Ixta glanced between the two fighters in confusion. It was clearly just a taunt by Xigbar, and not something Axel would fall for. This was something Riku and Sora or their other friends would start sparring about. Not two grown men…

Or so she thought.

"Ha!" Axel snorted, summoning his chakram and tossing one up in the air before catching it. "As if, right? First one out of the ring loses."

Xigbar grinned. "Sometimes I forget I like you, Flamesilocks."

"Don't get used to it."

"Never do. Hey Ixta," Xigbar smacked her shoulder, "why don't you come and watch your babysitter get a beatdown?"

"Xigbar, are you getting delusional from all the warping you've been doing?" Axel asked. "Is that why Vexen's here? Impromptu checkup?"

"I'm glad somebody finally asked, and I'm disappointed that it had to be Axel," Vexen re-announced his presence, lip curled as he stepped forward. "No. I am here to collect Ixta."

"Ixta, come with us," Xigbar insisted. "Vexen, you can learn something from this, too."

"Ridiculous," Vexen grumbled. "Very early on, we determined that her abilities were better geared toward support than offense. What would she have to learn from watching you that she didn't already when you kept shooting her within an inch of her life months ago?"

If Ixta cared about all this, she might have turned red in embarrassment. As it stood, she only wanted to leave the room.

"I dunno, Vexen," Xigbar singsonged. "Think about it this way. It'll be good to have Ixta around to nurse Axel when I wipe the floor with him. And don't you want to see the guy finally kiss the ground you walk on?"

"What makes you think that's ever gonna happen?" Axel laughed. "Endurance, Xigbar. That's my secret."

"Really?" Xigbar grinned. "Pretty sure you're still wet behind the ears. Or have you been sparring with Ixta in secret?"

The man waggled his eyebrows, and to Ixta's curiosity, Axel seemed taken aback. "What? No!" he exclaimed.

"It's true," said Ixta. "Vexen's had me on collection missions, so we never have the time to spar."

Xigbar burst into laughter. At that point, Axel had regained his composure and was rolling his eyes. Ixta didn't understand what was so funny, and Vexen looked annoyed.

"Disgusting and unnecessary. Ixta, come along," he decided.

"No," Xigbar said slowly. "We need an audience. Come along, Vexen."

Vexen stiffened, lips set in a line. "Are you pulling rank, Xigbar?"

The man shrugged. "I'm just saying… It'll be educational for you, too. Come on."

Vexen glared, but inclined his head. "Very well."

"Come out, come out, Xigbar!" Axel grinned, his chakram twirling about in one hand.

Xigbar appeared behind him. "You summoned?"

Axel whirled even before he heard his voice and blocked Xigbar's attack with one chakram. The other floated before his hand, spinning at his side until he swung his right arm and threw it in the air.

"You weren't even two feet from me and you missed?" Xigbar laughed, blipping out of sight and reappearing far to the side. Raising one of his arrowguns, he fired a few rounds at Axel, who barely just leapt out of the way. "Come on, Axel!"

Axel hissed at the shots still burning in his coat. "Relax," he grinned, staying on his feet and holding his hand outstretched. "Gotta wait for it to pick up steam, you know?"

Still spinning wildly in the air, the chakram was engulfed in flames as it hurtled toward Xigbar.

"Whoa!" The Freeshooter yelped and warped from his spot, prompting the chakram to return to its master.

Axel let out a chuckle, only to grunt when Xigbar appeared behind him and pointed a sharp barrel to his forehead. "Damn!" He ducked just in time, lunging forward with a flaming weapon. But he only headbutted the air as his opponent disappeared again.

A battle between Xigbar and Axel was difficult to track mainly because they were both so fast. Xigbar naturally zipped around wherever he wanted to, even without shifting landscapes, and Axel's reflexes were fast enough to counter most of his attacks. His long range chakram came in handy, too. Ixta supposed she had at least learned how to follow their movements some during her sparring with the Freeshooter.

It took some time for Xigbar to reappear again—Ixta had never lasted this long in a fight with him. "Where is he? Didn't we agree that leaving the battlefield would result in an instant loss?"

"Xigbar is reloading his weapons. His most vulnerable moment," Vexen pointed out, arms crossed and looking bored. "Look up."

"Gotcha!" Axel threw both chakram at Xigbar, high up in a corner of the ceiling. Vexen and Ixta toed the line where the designated ring ended, and technically, Xigbar was still inside.

The chakram might have cleaved him roughly in half had he not winked out of his spot again. Axel spun in place and then leapt back as Xigbar popped in behind him again, the barrel of his gun swiping at him.

"That trick's getting older than you are," Axel taunted. His chakram spun back toward him, and he let his chakram float and spin over his hands as his weapons burst into flame. He was getting ready to come at his opponent. "Try a new one!"

"Like this?" Xigbar appeared far across him. Axel charged forward, chakram ready. He would have thrown one in anticipation of the Freeshooter disappearing again, but Xigbar only prepared his guns.

Axel chuckled, but he should have paid attention. As soon as he was close enough to hit Xigbar, the man lunged out of the way, revealing a shocked Ixta behind him. She drew her arms up in an X, instinctively summoning her temporary green shield, but the momentum of the chakram couldn't be stopped. Its spinning burst through the barrier.

"No!" Axel withdrew the weapon as quickly as he could, but Ixta had fallen back, recoiling in pain. He rushed forward, crouching next to her. "Ixta?"

"I'm fine," she said, a learned habit from her Other. But his fire had hissed through her coat sleeves, and her arms were burned. She crossed them over herself without letting them touch, attempting to heal one arm with the other as she breathed heavily.

"Sorry," he said, reaching to support her elbow. Xigbar's guffaw snapped him out of it.

"I win!" he grinned, letting his weapons vanish. "First one out of the ring loses. I'm disappointed, Axel."

Ixta looked up, watching Xigbar with a look unfamiliar to Axel. Dislike. "You cheated."

"First one out of the ring loses. Never said anything about bringing anything outside in, bait." Xigbar shrugged. "Hey, I heard Lexaeus has been giving you a few pointers. Here's mine: use everything in your arsenal when you're fighting, Ixta. You should figure out that Limit Break of yours soon. Might come in handy one day." He hummed. Of course he wasn't finished speaking yet. Was he ever? "Want some help with that? Well—maybe Axel here can help a little more."

"No thank you," Ixta responded while Axel ignored him.

"I'm going back to the laboratory, now that things have gotten incredibly dull," Vexen said, sounding disgusted. "I learned nothing here today, Xigbar. Ixta, I will call upon you when you've decided not to be utterly useless."

"Okay," was all Ixta said.

Vexen sighed and disappeared into the darkness.

"I'll take you back to your room," Axel turned to Ixta when he was gone. "Vexen probably has something in the lab to speed that up."

"I'm fine, Axel," Ixta insisted. "But I'll go back to my—"

"Ohh, hey, Saïx!" Xigbar cut in. "You made it! What did you think?"

Axel glanced over his shoulder. He didn't noticed when Saïx had arrived, but judging by the especially dour look on his face, he'd done so some time ago. But there wasn't much to say other than what he already knew—Saïx would be unhappy that Axel let Xigbar trick him, and he didn't want to or care to hear any of it right now.

"Come on," he said to Ixta, who got to her feet. She waved at Saïx as Axel walked her into a Corridor.

Xigbar watched them go, and then looked at the only one left in the room. "Trouble in paradise, Number Two?"

"That is none of your concern. Don't waste my time like this again."

"You sure?" Xigbar grinned, circling the Diviner. "I know Vexen is pretty dense, but I think I gave you pretty important information just there."

"Hmph."

"Welp, I'm off. You should be careful, Saïx," said Xigbar, opening his own Corridor. "Still got a few pieces to knock off the board before you can be the Superior's top dog."

With a conspiratorial wink, Xigbar disappeared.

Only the sound of running water filled the bathroom. With her cloak off, Ixta held one bare arm under the faucet while the other healed it, and then switched them every so often. Axel watched her quietly.

"Do you – or would you – feel guilty?" Ixta asked, looking at him from across the mirror. "It was Xigbar's fault."

"I'm—I'm not guilty," Axel replied, though he had seemed surprised at the question. "I'm just… Or I guess if I cared, I would be annoyed. Can't believe I let Xigbar trick me like that. Come to think of it, I've never really sparred with him…"

Ixta shook her head. "I've sparred with him enough to last me several lifetimes."

Axel grinned, only to see the reflection of her burns in the mirror. Ixta watched his face fall.

"It'll take time to heal," she said, "but my abilities will make things faster."

"Can't believe Vexen locked the lab." Axel paused. "Actually, I can."

Ixta chuckled, only to wince when she moved her arm. He grimaced at the sight, and exhaled slowly.

"Listen," he said, touching her elbow. "It probably doesn't matter to you, but… it's a hassle, at least. So, uh… sorry."

"It's all right," she murmured, looking up at him and freezing. She hadn't noticed their sudden proximity or the heat that he exuded until just that moment.

Ixta was unable to will herself to move. For a beat, she wondered if she was paralyzed – or if he was, because he wasn't moving, either. But she wasn't. Because she was moving, little by little. She drew forward, and his grip supporting her elbow tugged her closer. Suddenly Ixta found herself fascinated with his mouth, and he…

"Ow!" she yelped. Axel had pulled at her too hard, too fast, and the sudden pain broke the spell.

"Sorry," he repeated, raising his hands as though burnt.

Ixta was breathing heavily. Inexplicably. She searched her Other's memories for experience – what was she going to do? This was all so strange. Suddenly, it was difficult to look at Axel. This reminded her of the almost-embarrassment she felt earlier, but it was still different. She wanted desperately to be here, but she didn't, either.

"I need to focus on healing," she finally said, raising her head but glancing away. She saw it from the corner of her eye and felt it, too – Axel's gaze – but she couldn't meet it. "Or I won't be able to perform missions properly."

"Oh… right," Axel nodded. "See you tomorrow."

"All right."

By then, she had turned back to the sink. Axel stepped out of the bathroom, only to look back, but Ixta didn't. Any strong tug of emotion, or the memory of it, she could trace back to Sora. But just then? Even now?

The feeling was completely foreign. For Axel alone.

How could that be?

Hello again!

So things here seem to be moving along... a little too fast, right? Maybe? It's physical attraction. If you're keeping track of Ixta's development as well as Axel's, we would say Axel's a little further ahead mostly because Ixta is so obsessed with Sora and isn't really thinking about her own feelings the way Axel might. Don't worry. Next chapter will slow things down...unfortunately. Haha! If you think Axel's going way too fast, just think of it this way. I know Axel is this super cool super smooth dude, but we see that in his interactions with children (Xion and Roxas). And with people he's going to murder (Vexen, Zexion).

If you notice, when Larxene gets touchy in Re:CoM, he kind of just looks away or avoids it. Mostly because he IS starting to have a conscience when it comes to Sora, but also probably because he became a Nobody early and never really had girls flirting with him? If we assume that Lea got turned almost immediately at the end of BBS, or even if he was trapped with the apprentices without turning into a Nobody, he still wouldn't have had experience with girls. And now that he's begun to see Ixta in a different light because she has grown on him a bit (especially because she has grown touchy, and the added jealousy in Ch6 (green-eyed)), he's going to be a little unsure of things himself.

As for Ixta... she is starting to notice Axel, or the way she reacts to him, but her obsession with Sora slows things down. She's still doing what Tai would do, after all. But there is something here that is genuinely Ixta, in that she deviates from Tai's behavior: seeking comfort. Something that, if you remember one of the previous chapters, Tai never did (ex. crying about a boy lol she didn't even go to her friends) . Get it? Deviates? Deviations? Can you find the others in this chapter? Why do I sound like a children's show character now?

ANYWAY.

Now for the reviews!

sailorsenshi13: We're so glad you still read and liked it too! Thank you c:

Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Thank you for the reviews per chapter! Ixta definitely had and still has a lot to learn. XD

Thanks to everyone who added this to their favs and alerts! We'd love to hear from you too, so please feel free to leave a review! And we hope you enjoyed the chapter. Till next time!