Cold…Cold…why is everything…so…

Cold.

He snapped out of his daydream as he continued, at a brisk pace, down the darkened hallways of the castle. He didn't bother looking into Demyx room; he knew the boy was dead, gone. Just like that. He was sent to find Zexion by the Superior, who felt it necessary that the boy be punished for his out spoken rudeness at the meeting before. But, Zexion…had left over an hour ago. If not longer. Something was wrong…horribly wrong and Vexen knew, even he didn't want to know, what had happened to the Cloaked Schemer.

He was a scientist. With it, came a highly insurmountable duty. This he knew. And yet. With it came an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, knowledge that could one day break him, or, possibly help him. He never looked into the future for he never believed in fate. Fate was just an excuse for those too simple minded and fearful of their own mortality. Blaming it on something that they could not prove, nor see. Destiny. Fate. These words were but empty lifeless strings of vowels and consonants their meaning void, and useless, to him. For he believed in things, which he could see, feel, and touch. Not these supernatural frivolous lies people used to go about their daily lives. He gagged at the thought, when he first was sent to the other worlds, to collect hearts; he twitched as he looked up at the bright golden statue of the people's god. He smiled wickedly as he watched number eight burn the temple to the ground. Foolish mortals. You believe in that which you cannot see. And look where it gets you. Death and unending servitude to the Organization. His words came crashing back into his head like a ton of bricks.

Wasn't he…the same? Just a lap dog for this…Organization. A scientist, yes. But under the control of the Superior. He discarded the thought. He thought too much, he envied the others. How they did things with out the least bit of thought. Science was his passion. He always turned to it even if the odds of a finding an answer were slim. It comforted him. Like a blanketing snow…his eyes widened as he paused mid-step in the hallway. A gloved hand going to his head, gripping his throbbing temple.

Snow…why…why did it.

"Why…Why did you risk your life…for me?"

"I love you. That…my darling. Is exactly why."

"But! Eve…"

"Sh! You needn't worry about them anymore. I shall…protect you."

He gasped, falling onto one knee as he panted from the pain flowing through his head like a raging rive. One eye was shut, and his teeth clenched. The pain died down, and then completely vanished. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, blinking in confusion. His hands…they were.

"Shaking…" he whispered his eyes narrowing. He shook his head, running a hand through his long dirty blonde hair, as he got shakily to his feet once more, and trudged on.

"Where could he be?" Vexen muttered as he came to number six's door. It looked darker. Of course, Zexion was always the one enveloping himself in an air of mystery, shadow, and smoke. The scientist remembered vaguely asking the teen why he did it. He remembered chuckling at the boy's response.

"Why. Vexen. Surely we must become one with our surroundings. I am but…embracing, my power, darkness."

"It disgusts you…doesn't it?" Zexion looked up from his puzzle, his hand wavering over a piece, about to be set into place. The boy didn't respond.

"It disgusts me." He replied, breaking the silence, and having the boy finally look up at him.

"Everything about this place disgusts me." He spat. "Our lives. Our meaninglessness, our hopes. Nothing will really come of it, if we do get hearts. What the hell have we to go back to? Nothing. And that's precisely why I can't stand this…this life we're leading." Vexen replied his eyes going to the floor. He never once confided in anyone his true feelings. Yet, here he was, telling this boy everything. Zexion stared with those cold, uncaring, lifeless eyes.

"I understand." He replied monotonously turning back to his puzzle. Vexen sighed as he hung his head a little.

"Well. I see you're quite the conversationalist, number six. Don't let me waste anymore of your precious time." Vexen said sarcastically as he turned around.

"Your eyes…they used to be…full of life. Am I correct?" Vexen jerked to a halt, turning around, his hair flying out and settling neatly behind him.

"Don't be ridiculous, Zexion! I don't remember what my eyes used to be. And probably never will. Now. I expect you to come to my room after you're done with that…puzzle. I have much research and work to do." He heard the boy snort as he walked out of the room. He paused in front of the window. His hollow eyes staring back at him.

"Life you say…" he let out a quick laugh, "Ridiculous." And continued back to his lab.

He blinked. His eyes tracing the pool of blood in the room. He bent down to examine it. It was fresh enough. Not dried completely yet. Which suggested Zexion had just been…killed. He paused on the word as a slight shiver went through his body. He spun around as the door slammed shut, bathing the room in darkness.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath, fumbling for the light switch. Found it. He flipped on the lights, and gasped. A man draped in black sat, legs crossed over one another, on the Schemers bed. He brought a hand to his masked chin, and chuckled.

"Well, well, well. You seem to lose no time when it comes to…investigating, Vexen." The man said, hissing his name as if it were a vile word. Vexen's green eyes narrowed as he summoned his shield.

"Who are you…and what business do you have here?"

"I should be asking you the same question…Vexen." Vexen's eyebrows knitted together.

"What do you mean by that statement? I'm here to obtain a heart. Why else would I be in this wretched place? For kicks?" he stated harshly. The man barked a laugh as his head tilted backwards.

"Fool. Tell me. Why do you think you're so obsessed with science? Do you think it's because you have an undying obligation to your Superior, and therefore feel you are fulfilling it by studying and constantly experimenting…never stopping your quest for knowledge…is that what you feel…or should I say think?"

"Of course not! I have no ties to this Organization…I'm merely here because they…they…"

"Share the same fate as you, am I correct?" Vexen paused. What was the man trying to get at? The man came in fast. Too fast for Vexen to catch and defend himself, he gasped as his arm, holding his shield, was twisted behind his back. He growled as he was shoved up against the door, his shield clattering lifelessly to the floor.

"You FOOL! Then what other reason have you for staying here! You could've had a heart already! A life of your own! Instead you insist on staying here as the Chilly Academic! What's the point!" The man yelled shoving Vexen harder into the wall. He gasped his blonde hair falling over one shoulder, as his other hand was pinned to the wall by the man's other hand.

"I…IT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE! It's the only thing that makes me nostalgic! I walk through these halls, day after day, night after unending night! And nothing! Nothing makes me feel the same way as studying or reading a book! None of this matters to me! I need to know! Need to know who I am! And these books…these experiments…they will lead me to my answers!" The man smiled a wicked smile from underneath his hood.

"You idiot…I thought you'd be smarter, Vexen." Vexen gasped as a felt cold steel cut into his abdomen. He looked down and saw blood dripping from a dagger that was embedded into his stomach. He looked back up, emerald eyes lingering on the man. He had to escape…this was…this was the man who killed Demyx and Zexion! He shoved the man away, and grabbed his shield. Gasping and gripping his stomach with his left hand. He turned to the door, a chill running down his spin.

"You need to know…because you don't know. You've learned…so much about the present and yet…you know nothing of the past. Going about your meaningless life as if you know every tangible truth. I. Vexen. Shall show you…the truth. The truth of just who you truly are." Vexen's eyes widened as he spun around shield slicing into empty air. He panted, the bottom of his shield hitting the ground with a soft thud as his left hand went to the wall, so as to support himself. With a shaking hand he turned the knob of the door, fumbling due to the blood on his black glove. The golden knob became a light red as he slammed the door open, unable to carry his shield it dissipated into a cloud of bluish black smoke.

"I-I have to get...to the lab..." he gasped his right hand holding the dagger so as not to move it too much, for fear of it cutting deeper than it already was.

"W-What did he mean…" he whispered as he shakily walked from number six's door to his own. He saw, from the bottom, mist rising and curling, like snakes dancing, as his subzero room's temperature collided with the normal temperature of the hallway. He knew everyone complained, about his room. It was the coldest place in the castle, and that….he could definitely deduce without even testing. He let out a shaky breath as he winced, with every step the pain becoming more and more real. He lunged for the door, his hair flying out behind him as he shoved the door open, gasping as he felt the dagger move a little, cutting up his stomach. He walked over to his desk, scrambling to find a potion. He knew he had one! He had just made one this morning, due to an accident during one Xigbar's poorly thought out training sessions, which was basically him taking target practice on anyone he could con into doing it. The results were a very angry Saix, and a disgruntled, and yet calm, Xaldin. He smirked at the thought, as he heard, after the unusual sleep he fell into, Xigbar slamming open his door and pointing, eyes wide, about what happened. He coughed, his lungs burning like they were on fire. He let out a gasp as he saw blood dripping through his hand, as he brought it away from his mouth. He coughed again, more harshly then before, doubling over his desk as he knocked various bottles and vials, filled with various liquids, to the floor.

"W-What's happening to me…" he panted running a hand through his dirty blood hair.

V-Vex…Vexennnn. His eyes widened at the cryptic voice, resounding in his ear. It sounded like dead leaves brushing against one another in a harsh autumn wind.

He was perplexed. He didn't know what to make of this situation. Nothing. Nothing made sense! Yes. He was the oldest in the organization, but never. In all his time as a nobody had he encountered a man like him. What did it mean? Who was he? He needed…no. He must know! For the good of the organization.

"VEXEN! Do you not wish to look at me!" His eyes widened as he spun around a woman with long flowing chocolate brown hair was on her knees, she grasped him around the waist. He coughed again, blood splashing to the floor, as he felt the dagger get pushed further into his stomach from the woman's grasp.

"I said NO!" A man with a blonde ponytail cried rushing out in front on the swords edge. He hissed in pain as he felt the tip slice clean through his shoulder, dislocating it.

"E-EVEN!"

"Lord Even!" He panted, his hands going to the swords blade, he cried out in pain as he tore the blade from his shoulder. The fancily dressed, young man holding the sword stared dumbly at his lord, who was now on one knee, the snow around him red.

"L-Lord Even! Why! Why did you do!" various men cried out.

"Stay away from her! I said Stay AWAY!" he yelled. His throat felt like it was burning, along with his eyes. He turned to the frightened girl behind him, her brown hair in a tangled mess, from being dragged by her hair. Her eyes were red and swollen she clasped her trembling hands together as she gazed at his figure. He wasn't very muscular; rather, he had delicate features, for a male. He was beautiful. A picturesque noble, and yet…unreachable like the sun, or a golden crown a top a hill of jewels. Her eyes watered.

"W-Why…?"

Vexen cried out in pain as he felt warm liquid run down his shoulder. He gasped grabbing his shoulder, and then looking down at the woman.

"W-Who are you! Get away from me!" He shoved the woman off his person, and she landed in a heap on the floor, her pale white skin glowing in Kingdom Hearts light. Her brown hair pooled at her feet she turned, looking at him.

"Why. Why have you forgotten me!" she yelled. Vexen backed up into his desk. He growled as the pain wracked his whole body. He felt the woman grip his coat.

"I-I will make you remember!" she hissed as he felt her nails dig into his arms. She was somehow level with him now, he didn't see or hear her move though and he flinched as her finger cut into his cheek.

"Why d-did you do it?" she whispered. Sniffing as her body shook underneath the blanket he had provided for her. He chuckled. His arm in a sling as he brought over two cups of steaming hot tea.

"I…I love you. That's why." He smiled, his emerald eyes sparkling in the rooms light.

"Why…I-I'm nothing. A peasant! You have no right to…"

"Enough! I will ask for your hand in marriage and you shall accept!" he blurted out. The woman gasped.

"E-Even…you…" he felt his cheek flush as he looked into his cup, the hot liquid causing steam to rise from the porcelain cup.

"M-Mia…I…I love you. Like no other woman. You. You aren't like the rest!" he stated, looking up at her, his blonde bangs falling about his face. She coughed. His eyes narrowed as he leaned over, a hand going to her head.

"Come. You're hot with fever. You should rest." He said getting up. She coughed once more before getting up.

"I-I love you. Even." She replied before moving into him, her hands wrapping around his lithe waist, as her lips pressed against his.

He felt her lips against his. So…cold. His eyes snapped open and he pushed her away again.

"Wh-Who are you! How did you get here!" Vexen demanded, cursing under his breath at the stammering and shakiness of his voice. The woman's eyes dulled, sadness over taking her expression.

"You…you really don't remember me!" she wailed. Vexen cringed as he tried to move his shoulder...it wouldn't budge. He gasped, holding his head as another wave of shot through his head.

"You look…magnificent tonight." He replied his emerald green eyes sparkling in the crystal chandeliers rainbow infused light. She blushed as she walked down the intricately carpeted stairs, her white-gloved hand resting on the golden railing. She was wearing a blue dress, it flowed out behind her like a river, as it was dotted with tiny diamonds. She wore, on her head, a blue sapphire jewel, which was clasped around her head with a golden chain. Her hands were adorned with various rings all of which sparkled and glittered in the moonlight. She was breath taking. And he. His breath…was taken. He bent down on one knee, and pulled from his back pocket a small box.

"Oh. Even!" she gasped, her hands going to her face as she stopped in front of him. He smiled grabbing her delicate hand and bringing it to his lips.

"Will you…marry me? Mia?" He heard her gasp.

"Y-yes. I will. My love."

"Stop it…" he growled. It was a lie! It had to be a lie! None of this was real.

"You can't fake the past, my love! YOU CAN'T!" The woman yelled into his ear. He was trembling. His breath coming out in short gasps as he lay against the table holding his head, his eyes burning as he blinked.

"It's…beautiful." She replied, holding up the locket, and matching music box. He smiled.

"I'm glad you like it." He replied brushing some of her hair out of her face, as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I want this to last for ever." She whispered closing her eyes as he stroked her hair softly.

"Why. My dear. We could always have a picture painted, if that was the case. But. There will be many days like this to come." He replied, smirking as she sat up a sarcastic smile on her face.

"A wise guy? Huh?" she replied as he laughed. He stood up his expression changing.

"My father…won't approve of this." He said sorrowfully, his eyes down casted.

"Even…we could…perhaps, persuaded him?"

"He's too caught up in the past! He'll never accept it! I-I have to tell him anyway…it wouldn't be right. But, you. Our." He let out a tired sigh, as he ran a hand through his long hair. She rested a hand on his shaking arm.

"It'll be alright. You'll see." He looked up and smiled, nodding as they both walked out of the sun drenched room.

His head throbbed. He groaned in pain. Music? Yes. That tune. His head shot up to the music box on the tabletop. A silver box, with a blue heart in its center lay on the table, he turned to the woman who gazed at it longingly.

"Do you remember me now? My love." She whispered. She ran at him, ripping the dagger out of his stomach and slashing his arms and shoulder. He cried out and fell to the floor, blood seeping through his coat as he looked up at her, his eyes cold and unwavering.

"Answer me!" she cried, in a pitiful tone of voice. He cringed, as he shakily got to his feet, his stomach…it hurt. So much. He tried hard to fight the pain.

"M-MIA! Hold on! I-I'm coming!" he gasped.

"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU BRING…BRING THAT PEASANT INTO OUR HOUSEHOLD!" a fist collided with his face his head flew downward, his face covered by his blonde hair. His shoulders shook, as his hands clenched into fists.

"Why do you care! It's not your problem! I'm marrying her! NOT YOU!" Even yelled back, his eyes burning. His father grabbed him by the collar.

"Fool. What the hell do you think the others will say? Seeing you with a cheap whore like her!"

"That…is…IT!" He pushed away his eyes furious. "How dare you call her that! You don't even…you don't even know her! I will marry her, and you can't do anything about it!" He yelled storming out of the room, his cape flying out behind him.

"Get out! I rather disown you then have that…that peasant living here!" The door slammed shut. Leaving nothing but a deadly silence.

He felt the punch. As if it just happened. His right hand went to his cheek, he stared at his hand, as it shook. He looked down at the woman now wrapped around his waist, once more.

"Don't leave me…don't leave me alone." His eyes widened. His whole body shaking.

"I-I'll return soon. My love. Please wait. Hold on for me." He whispered kissing her fevered forehead. He ran through the icy snow. His tattered cape flying out behind him. His legs told him to stop, with their burning and refusal to move faster. But no. He wouldn't not after all the work. All the time he put into this research. His scientist background finally came into place. He had finally found it. The cure. His lungs burned as he took short haggard breaths of ice-cold air. The snow began to fall thicker, faster, and harder blinding his vision. He trudged through the snow as a mansion came into view. He ran up to its frozen snow covered doors and banged.

"Open up! It's me! Even!" he replied, clutching a vial, of some unknown liquid, tightly to his chest. The door creaked open and he scrambled through, pushing past the worried maid.

"L-Lord Even! Please! You must rest! Otherwise you will…you will get sick as well!" she yelled to his fleeting figure. He ran down the marble tiled floor, rushing past antique paintings and porcelain objects all of little, if no, materialistic value to him. He panted, the melted snow dripping off him, as he stood in front of a large oak door. He opened it slowly and then rushed inside. A huge hearth was at the far west side of the room, and in front of it, a bed. Big enough for two people to lie in, but only one person occupied it.

"M-Mia! Mia I did it! I found the cure!" he replied happily rushing over to her bedside. His green eyes widened as he felt the vial slip from his hands. Blood. So much…blood.

"N-NO! Who…who could've…MIA!" He grabbed her limp figure, his hands shaking as he saw shining blood coat them, her head rolling towards him weakly. A dagger was embedded into her stomach. Her eyes opened weakly, as she lifted her hand and stroked his bangs out of his eyes.

"Who did this to you! My…Love!" he gasped clenching her tightly to his chest his eyes burning.

"Y-Your father…I would guess." His eyes widened. "I-I'm so…so sorry."

"You never…found." She coughed, blood trickling down the corner of her mouth. "A cure." She replied…smiling weakly as he looked to the floor, the vial shattered into a million pieces, just like his world, like his…heart.

"Love…no other…besides me." She replied taking the dagger out of her stomach. He gasped.

"S-stop it! I-I can save you! There has to be a way!" he replied his eyes widening as he felt the cold steel tip bit into his flesh.

"A marking…of our…" she coughed the dagger falling from her hands as he went limp.

"Mia! Please, god, please stay with me! I-I need you! My world is nothing without you! Don't die on me…please." He sobbed into her neck her fragrance filling his nostrils, for one last time. She laughed a little before coughing again.

"Remember me…Even. I-I am the only one…who you can ever…love." She whispered looking at him, his disgruntled, broken figure. Tears glistening on his cheeks, reflecting the warm fireplaces glow.

He looked down at her, hand shaking has he brought them to his face. Warm tears streaming down his cold, unfeeling cheeks. How? How was he able to cry? The Chilly Academic…frozen inside. How was he... They shook his hands visibly shook as he looked down at the woman before him. She was weeping, crying into his blood drenched coat.

"M-Mia…you…" he gasped as the face of his beloved melted before his very eyes. He backed away, gasping in horror as her beautiful clear face, melted into nothing but gray bone. Her lush brown eyes fell to the floor leaving nothing but empty eyes sockets.

"Even…how could you…could you FORGET ME!" She hollered her skinless hand gripping his coat as he tried desperately to get away. He finally summoned his shield and used his good arm to knock the corpse to the floor.

"I…I trusted you!" she wailed her voice hurting his ears as he saw her crawl back to him, pieces of skin still clinging to her lifeless body.

"This isn't happening! I can't feel! This has to be a dream!" he yelled as he felt the dagger point cut into his cheek. Her breath was like decaying meat. Rotten and putrid, her skin no longer soft to the touch, but callus and hard. Cold…everything was becoming so cold. He fell into a heap on the floor his back against his bed. He gulped in air as he saw her skeletal figure smirk, white teeth shining in the dim light. He gasped as he looked to his chest, the dagger…the one from the past! It was…the same.

"I-I'm so…sorry." He whispered, his eyes half open, as he reached out and stroked what little remainder of hair she had left.

"Hold me. Like you did…when we were…" no longer was she the skeleton, but the real Mia. The one he finally remembered. He blinked tears rolling down his cheeks as she began to dissipate.

"I'm sorry Even…"

"AH!" His eyes widened as he looked down to find a giant ice shard sticking out of his stomach. He coughed, blood gushing from his mouth. It hit the icicle and dripped off pattering to the floor in a rythmic beat. He sighed.

"Your eyes…they're so…cold now." He smirked remember what Zexion had said...all those years ago.

"Say...Braig." the older boy looked up, grumbling as he threw a dart and hit it just a little higher than the bullseye.
"What is it Ienzo?" he grumbled looking at the boy who had his face in yet another puzzle.
"Why...is Even so obsessed with science?" Braig paused. Silence filling the room. He looked at the floor.
"I...I don't think I should be the one to tell you that, Ienzo." he heard the boy sigh.
"You ever notice how dull hs eyes look, too? So strange..." someone cleared their throat, and the two looked up. Even stood in the door way, his eyes dull and uncaring. Braig jumped backwards.
"E-Even! I didn't tell him anything! I swear!" the man held up a hand.
"It's alright. Tell him if he wants to know...I'm...going out for a few days. Please try to keep Medy from hurting himself, the boy needs to calm, I swear." Ienzo blinked at Braig, who stared dumfounded as the older man left, shutting the door quietly behind him.
"Shit..." he whispered turning back to a confused Ienzo.
"What is it?" Braig laughed...his eyes tearing up a bit, as he ruffled Ienzo's hair.
"Today would've...been...Her, and his...second anniversary." he whispered. Ienzo stared at the door.
"I think...Even needs a student." Braig blinked. "What?"
"You know. To keep his mind off things like that. I think I'll become his student! He'd like that wouldn't he, Braig?" Braig laughed, ruffling the boys hair.
"Sure...I think he'd like it a lot...Ienzo. Now...let me tell you the story about a girl named Mia." Braig began, the other boy listening intently.
He watched her go, just as fast as she came. And he. Lay there. Unmoving as he felt his body go cold, colder than anything before…and his eyes finally closed, as a silence washed over him, blanketing him in a comforting, soothing, darkness.

"You whose heart has been frozen in time. Be at peace once more, with your dearly beloved." A man said stepping out from the shadows. He opened up Vexen's hand, and took the locket, crushing in with his bare hand. He smirked noticing the heart shape scar cut into the Academic cheek, his teeth flashing in the light. He turned on his heel and stepped through the portal, the only sound resonating in the room was the sound of the silver music box, playing its melodious tune.

A promise ending in tragedy…

Heartache felt through out the ages.

Love can be…such a fickle thing. Yet. We need it to move on.

Survive.

A heart of ice. You who are the chilly, academic. Striving to obtain something you once had…and yet. Who would you share it with?

No one.

Eyes cold and uncaring…seeing only the believable and natural.

Your science is an obsession, striving to find the cure.

Who is it for?

A love once so peacefully, ends in darkness.

A symbol…cut into flesh. A heart. So as not to forget.

Let me live on in your heart, she spoke.

But…where does one go, when there is no heart to be found?

"Your eyes…they're so cold…cold as ice…"

Thaw.

End.