Chapter 206: Q and A

Vexen paced around his room, mumbling to himself. He'd been given a room, but why? Why not lock him up in one of the dungeons, especially if they didn't plan on doing anything with him right away? No one would have to guard him, then.

Of course, the only reason someone was guarding him was because that person was Xigbar and apparently he enjoyed the job. He apparently enjoyed the job so much that he didn't think he needed to lock the door—though that was largely overconfidence. Not a surprise, though, coming from Xigbar.

Vexen sent a hesitant glance at the door, and after a moment's consideration, went over to open it. It was still unlocked, just like he suspected. And, also just as suspected, Xigbar was on the other side, waiting for him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Xigbar asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Nowhere," Vexen said, tersely.

Hopefully, one of these times, he'd be able to surprise Xigbar and manage to escape. Or, it was the plan, anyway. Xigbar's overconfidence would eventually be his downfall.

"Why are you keeping me in a random room, anyway?" Vexen asked. He might as well pester Xigbar with questions while he was here. Xigbar would be bored enough to answer most of them if he was lucky.

"You're in a holding pattern, that's all," Xigbar replied, smirking his typical smirk. "Xemnas isn't sure what to do with you quite yet. We've got a lot of other things we're dealing with."

"What sort of things?"

"None of your business sort."

Vexen grimaced, though he'd expected an answer similar to that one.

"Alright, well," he sighed. "Then tell me why you haven't bothered locking the door, at least."

"It's fun to stop you like this," Xigbar laughed. "Besides, this is the only second time you've dared open it, and even if you did have the guts to open it and run, you'd still actually have to get past me." There was that smirk on his face again.

"Are you implying I'm a coward?" Vexen demanded, standing up a little straighter and scowling at Xigbar.

"Oh I don't need to imply it," Xigbar replied, casually, his smirk widening. "Everyone knows you are one."

"I am not a coward!"

"Yeah?" Xigbar chuckled. "If you weren't a coward, you wouldn't be here right now, would you?"

"There were two of you and you ambushed me!" Vexen protested. He puffed out his chest, as if that would change matters. "And, technically, it's a not a matter of cowardice that put me here," he continued. "It's a matter of the fact you overpowered me—a lack of strength opposed to a lack of will or bravery."

"Whatever," Xigbar shrugged. "We still caught you. That's all that really matters."

"I don't think it is, Braig," Vexen spat.

Xigbar's eyes—well, eye—went wide, and he rounded on Vexen. "Hey! Don't go using my name on me! Even!" He glared, but it somehow turned out more like a pout. After a second he paused, grimacing. "It, uh, is Even, right?"

Vexen stared.

"…Yes…."

Xigbar put his hands up in defeat. "Just gotta check, y'know, with the different universe thing and all. Though… I suppose there aren't too many ways you can rearrange Even…"

Vexen frowned, considering that. "Well if you think about it," he muttered. "There are four letters and the factorial of—"

"Ah, no, wait- I- I don't care you don't need to- it was a rhetorical question!"

"—and since factorials are—"

"I really honestly don't care that much! You can be quiet now!"

"I think it's 24," Vexen said, satisfied. Then he paused, reconsidering. "Though there are two e's…. so maybe it's—"

"Really I don't care. Now back in your room."

"I'd have to actually write down all possible combinations but I think it's—" He stopped, as Xigbar had just slammed the door in his face. He glared a moment, and opened it again. Well, he tried to open it, but Xigbar tried to hold it shut.

"Are you going to blabber math at me again?" Xigbar asked.

Vexen rolled his eyes. "I wasn't 'blabbering math' at you, I was using algebra to solve a question you—"

"Nope I'm keeping this door shut."

Vexen groaned. Of course, this would happen. He'd leave it at this, but he still had a few questions to ask Xigbar….

"Well I'd like to know what Xemnas intends to… use me for!" he said, raising his voice slightly with frustration.

"Oh." Xigbar stopped trying to hold the door shut, and Vexen staggered backwards a little, overcompensating for the force that was suddenly absent. He stood there a moment, disgruntled, as Xigbar kept talking. "Yeah I guess you can ask that."

Vexen waited a moment, but Xigbar apparently wasn't going to answer. "Well?" he asked. "Does Xemnas want me for anything besides restarting the Replica Program?"

"Not sure," Xigbar admitted, with a very nonchalant shrug. "We aren't sure what we want from you yet."

That wasn't a very clear answer… Then again, Vexen hadn't entirely expected one. Xigbar was hit and miss on whether or not he was going to be cryptic. He liked being blunt because it threw people off, but often his bluntness was vague in of itself.

"Why didn't you lock me in one of the dungeons?" Vexen asked.

"I don't think I signed up for a Q and A session with you," Xigbar replied, frowning now.

"You didn't seem to mind five seconds ago," Vexen argued.

"Xigbar!" someone else called, before Xigbar could answer. Well, actually, it didn't sound like someone else. It sounded like… Xigbar. Obviously, his clone—no, Replica would be the proper term. Anyway, sure enough, Xigbar's Replica warped in right next to Xigbar. "Xemnas wants us," he said. "Or. You. Do you want me to go or…?"

"Ah, nah, I'm coming," Xigbar said. He sent one last smirk at Vexen. "Looks like our chitchat is over, eh?"

"What are you planning to do with Riku?" Vexen asked, quickly, a little desperately. He hadn't wanted to ask that question straight-off, but it was information he wanted—needed—to know. If he knew what the Organization was planning—how they were planning to kill Riku, perhaps—then he could warn someone. Warn Riku.

"Don't know," Xigbar laughed. "Kill him, probably, when he finally becomes a nuisance."

"Pity you're not a Replica, or we'd rewrite you to do it, seeing as you care so much," Xigbar's Replica added, with a sneer.

Xigbar shot him a look, seeming a little surprised. "You've been hanging around Larxenes, haven't you?"

"I dunno, I thought that one plan to rewrite Namine was a good one, didn't you?" his Replica replied, with a shrug.

"It's a horrible idea!" Vexen hissed, and then all but refrained from clapping a hand over his mouth. He really shouldn't have said that… because now Xigbar turned back to him, a sick smirk of pleasure on his face.

"Is it, now?" he asked. "Horrible as in it's not gonna work, or horrible as in it's absolutely cruel?"

"Both!" Vexen replied, angrily.

Xigbar just chuckled. "The thing is, Even," he said, pushing Vexen back into his room. "You've never been a good liar."

And then he closed the door, and Vexen could hear the faint click as the door was locked.

xxx

They were talking to the local magician about a tracking spell to hunt down Sora. Kairi hugged her knees to her chest—she and Tifa and Cloud and the magician (Merlin) were all crowded around a small (not to mention low) table, seated in a variety of chairs. Kairi had a comfortable armchair, but she was too preoccupied to relax in it.

"Now, I'm not too experienced in tracking spells," Merlin warned, rolling up his sleeves. "But I can give it a shot." He paused, grimacing a little, one of his sleeves falling back down. "Ah. Do you have something of his?"

Cloud and Tifa both shook their heads, and Kairi started to shake hers, before remembering that she was wearing his necklace.

"I do," she said, slipping the necklace off. Merlin turned to her excitedly, shuffling over to her—stepping on the table as he did so. He held out his hand expectantly.

"Here, here," he said. "Give it here."

Kairi found herself smiling as she handed the necklace over. Merlin held it up to examine it, dangling it in front of his face, squinting his eyes. After a moment, he nodded.

"Yes, this will do. Now!" He placed the necklace down on the table and rolled his sleeves up again, brandishing his wand. "Ahh… what were the words again? Oh yes oh yes."

Tifa and Cloud exchanged skeptical glances, but Kairi watched eagerly.

Merlin cleared his throat and chanted words they couldn't understand, and then he poked Sora's necklace with his wand. There was an eruption of light, followed by colorful sparks that slowly swirled through the air, taking shape as some sort of foggy picture. Merlin watched intently, as the sparks swirled faster and faster—

—and then vanished.

Merlin crinkled his nose.

"Well drat," he muttered, scratching his beard. "I was afraid that might happen."

"Didn't work?" Kairi asked, slowly.

Merlin shook his head. "I'm afraid not." He picked up Sora's necklace, then dropped it in Kairi's awaiting hand. He patted her on the head, giving her an apologetic smile. "Terribly sorry about that."

Kairi shrugged, slipping the necklace back on. "That's alright. Thank you for trying."

She, Tifa, and Cloud all got up, then, and after brief goodbyes, headed back to Aerith's house.