AN/ This chapter was ENTIRELY Vexen's idea. magik was like "umm... Vexen wants to talk to Namine" and I'm just like: "Okay..." so... yeah... that's how this chapter came to be

and, magik wrote most of it. I wrote a smidge at the beginning, but that's it

Chapter 26: Questions and Research

Vexen stood somewhere down the hallway, doing his best to take notes, even though he could hardly hear the conversation between Namine and Riku. He was shocked to find a moment later that the door opened and Riku stepped out.

Is he going to help Sora already? Vexen wondered, a bit confused. That conversation didn't take nearly as long as they usually do…

No matter, this would be my chance to talk to Namine.

He shrunk back against the wall so Riku wouldn't notice him. He waited until Riku was around the corner and most likely out of earshot. He then waited a second, just to be sure. He wasn't sure how well he had programmed Riku's hearing to be. Once he felt safe that Riku was far enough away, he went over to the door. He started to open it, before realizing how rude that would be. He knocked.

"May I come in?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure," Namine called.

He slowly opened the door. Namine glanced up at him and smiled, before returning to what she had previously doing, which was attempting to draw a picture with her fingers on the sheets of the bed.

"May I ask you a few questions?" Vexen said.

Namine nodded, not bothering to look up.

Vexen glanced around, figuring it would be best if he sat down. However, there was only one chair in the room. He raised his eyebrows, noticing how close the chair was in proximity to the bed.

Ah, that must be were Riku sits.

After a moment he pulled the chair away from the bed and sat down.

What exactly am I supposed to say though? I probably can't just flat out ask about the meltdowns. That would be rude, and not a good way to start a conversation. I should probably ask something else first, but-

"Do you have a piece of paper?" Namine asked suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts. "And maybe something to write with?"

"Uhh… yes," Vexen replied. He tore a page out of the back of his notebook, and then quickly located a spare pen. He handed these to Namine. She took them happily and quickly began to draw.

"So what was it that you wanted to ask me?" she said, seeming much happier now that she could actually draw.

"Erm," Vexen said, noting the swiftness with which Namine was drawing. "Do you have the capability to draw and hold a conversation at the same time?"

After he asked this, he realized how rude that might sound. Namine, however, didn't seem offended by this.

"Of course," she replied, smiling. "I draw and talk to Riku all the time..."

She started to add something after that, but thought better of it. Vexen wanted to ask what it was, but figured it wasn't going to go anywhere. He knew he didn't have much time, so he had to get to the point…

But what point?

"Your meltdowns," he said.

"Mm? What about them?"

"What causes them, if you don't mind me asking?"

Namine paused in the picture she was drawing, it was of her and Riku sitting together on a couch. "I'm not sure really. Usually it's just something someone says that triggers a memory of Riku's that's similar in one way or another. Then, after that first memory, they all just pound into my head..."

She rubbed her temples and Vexen was worried that he was going to bring on a meltdown just asking about them. Riku would kill him if that happened. Literally kill. Faster than he had killed that Larxene Replica that one time.

"And they are memories of Riku's?"

"I guess so," Namine said, frowning. "When I ask about them, he explains them... well, the ones I remember, anyway. I don't like to remember them."

Vexen was starting to feel guilty about asking all these personal questions-the downside of having a heart. But this was for research! And it was probably necessary to understand the connection between Riku and this Namine sitting in front of him.

"How many of these memory meltdowns have you had?"

"Six," Namine responded quickly.

"Have they been getting worse or staying about the same?"

Namine half wondered if this particular Vexen Replica was a medic. For a brief moment she wondered if he would try and fix her. She wasn't sure what her opinion of that was yet. She would have to come up with one soon.

"They've been getting more frequent, that's for sure," she muttered.

Vexen scribbled this all down in his notebook.

"Well, enough about the meltdowns, I see it's a touchy subject."

"Why are you here?" Namine asked.

Vexen looked up at her. She had not asked the question accusingly, but rather as if she honestly wondered why he was interested.

In fact, Namine was wondering why this random Vexen Replica was interested in her memory meltdowns. The only person who had shown more interest was Riku... and well, that was Riku.

"I am merely trying to understand the connection between Riku and you, Miss Namine," Vexen replied.

Namine was slightly taken aback at being called "Miss Namine," but she didn't question it. She'd ask Riku about it later.

"Why is that?" she asked.

Vexen sighed and closed his eyes. "I had wondered. Riku has not mentioned me, has he?"

Namine shook her head. "He's mentioned some basics regarding Vexen Replicas. He's mentioned a few specific ones like 19 and 23. And he's pointed out 29 to me. However, I do not know who you are, specifically." She bowed her head. "My apologies."

"Is it your goal to learn each Replica by Number?"

Namine nodded. "Riku does it, why can't I?"

Of course, Vexen thought. Some of the programming I gave Riku has been transferred into this Namine by proxy. Interesting.

"What number are you?" Namine asked. "I feel bad, you know who I am, but I don't know who you are."

"I am not a Replica," Vexen said.

Namine frowned. "Riku eliminated the original Vexen..."

"I am also not from this universe," Vexen continued. "I come from the same universe Riku does. Please tell me he told you that he came from another universe, because, otherwise, I am so dead."

Namine nodded.

"I am Riku's creator, actually," Vexen said.

Namine's eyes grew wide. She looked down, unsure if she should meet his eye or not. It wasn't like she felt inferior as a Replica. She didn't feel inferior to Sora or Kairi in the slightest. She considered them all equals. But, here she was, sitting across from the man who made... Riku. And she wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Well, she did have one thought...

"Thank you," she said quietly.

Vexen was taken aback. "For what?"

"For making Riku. I mean, I know he didn't have the... greatest of starts... but you were the one who actually decided to make him. And without him, I wouldn't exist. So, thank you."

Vexen didn't feel like correcting her. It hadn't exactly gone like that... Marluxia... and the Organization... however...

"You're welcome," he said finally. "Now, I should probably go. I may be Riku's creator, but he doesn't particularly like me. He finds it awkward, which I don't understand, it's against what I... oh, never mind."

"Can I have another piece of paper please?" Namine said, cutting off his fumbled attempts to not mention things like: the original Namine and shattering memories, and original programming.

Vexen tore out another sheet of paper from his notebook.

"Thank you," Namine said. "I need to draw a picture for Sora. I want him to see that Kairi doesn't hate him..."

Vexen smiled. "Of course."

With that, he left before Riku came back.