A/N: Sorry about the long wait... I had to kick my muses. That got the first third of this done, and I didn't get them going until this morning, when I decided to take a slightly different approach to the chapter. It worked. u.u

Enjoy!

Encounter 5- Why
At last, the carefully bred and cultivated flowers were coaxed into full bloom by his power as he knelt beside the plot, burying his bare fingers in the slightly damp soil. Marluxia sat back onto his haunches, admiring his work. Before him bloomed a patch of yellow wildflowers, replicas crafted from what he could remember of his homeland. Just one more thing to thank Zexion for later.

XI straightened, stretching. He had been working since yesterday, breeding wildflowers between monitoring Naminé and filling in paperwork. A leader's job was never done; when he was Superior, he mused as he pulled on his gloves, that would be the first thing to change.

"Marluxia."

The Assassin jumped, trying not to look guilty, and turned to see a hulking form step out of a portal nearby.

"Lexaeus," he said, forcing a smile and battling down the uncomfortable almost-envy which still lingered. "What can I do for you?"

"Leave Zexion alone," Lexaeus said shortly. "He will not admit it, but he can't delve into the memories of others without suffering his own. I cannot allow it."

"Unfortunately, the Superior is the one who ordered this research," Marluxia replied, smirking. "You'll just have to bring it up with him."

"You will bring it up with him," Lexaeus rumbled. "You are, after all, the master of affairs in this castle."

"Why would I put a stop to such beneficial research?"

Lexaeus scowled.

"For Zexion's sake, you will."

Marluxia's smirk grew somewhat as he raised an eyebrow.

"And you thought that I would be more willing to listen to Lexaeus?" he asked. "An admirable effort, but next time you want to persuade me, come as yourself. Is that really so humiliating, Zexion?"

Hardly as humiliating as being caught in the act, he figured silently, as the illusion faded away, leaving a very annoyed-looking Zexion.

"How could you tell?" VI asked. Marluxia half-bowed, very pleased with himself and not afraid to show it.

"Perhaps I am more clever than you give me credit for." He winked. "Lexaeus always uses numbers. You, however, have lately taken to calling me by name, for some reason or another," he explained. "And no, I will not stop the research. Would you really like to ask the Superior to change his mind?"

He saw Zexion flinch. Xemnas was unpredictable at any time, and he would be most unhappy if VI compromised this project. He had gambled that Zexion would not be willing to place his very existence on the line, and that gamble had paid off.

Good grief, I'm starting to think like Luxord, he thought with a little inward smile as Zexion's hands clenched into fists.

"Fine," he hissed. He turned to leave, raising a hand as though to summon the darkness.

"Zexion!" Marluxia called, and the smaller man paused. XI hesitated, bewildered, wondering why he had called VI back. "What will you be searching for today?" he asked finally.

"I think we'll focus on your… on Aramuil's, that is… family," Zexion said, after a moment of contemplation. Marluxia regarded him for a moment. All traces of yesterday's weakness had vanished, leaving him stoic once more.

Was that a mask, he wondered? Did Zexion, too, lie awake at night, trying desperately to feel? When he was alone, did he also break down and despair? Was there ever a time when Zexion had felt that empty ache in his chest, felt Ienzo just beneath the surface, clawing to get out? Was there another side to him, one only Lexaeus was allowed to see?

"What's the point?" he asked at last. Zexion blinked.

"Beg pardon?"

"Why are you researching memories at all?" Marluxia clarified. "What is Xemnas trying to do?"

Zexion gazed at him thoughtfully for a moment, then shook his head and looked away.

"Don't ask me to try and comprehend the Superior," he said. "His motives are beyond any of us."

"Even you?" Marluxia asked, amazed and mystified. He had always viewed the "original" six as a close-knit group, all-knowing, keeping secrets great and powerful from the neophytes. But apparently the Superior was a secret in himself, a mystery that not even the other five could solve.

"Even I," Zexion confirmed. He hesitated, then went on slowly. "Xehanort was always… strange. He and Ienzo were… close, but he was always… well, distant. Xemnas in the same way. He's searching for something, but he won't tell us what it is."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"Xehanort claimed to have no memory of who he was before our master took him in," Zexion told him. Marluxia scrambled to recall what he knew about the elders. All he knew was that they had been scientists conducting some sort of dangerous research, and that numerous men named Ansem were somehow involved. It was all very confusing, and he never really thought about it. "Perhaps he merely wishes to find a way to regain his lost memories, but with Xemnas, you can never tell. There's always a double motive."

"You said he claimed to have no memory," XI realized. "Do you think he was lying?"

Zexion's face was unreadable.

"Perhaps," he replied. "We have no way of knowing. But there are… certain things that he does, which make me think that perhaps… he really does remember. There is a room—"

Zexion was interrupted by a portal opening between them. Axel stepped through, glancing around and taking in the two of them.

"So sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "Have I interrupted something?"

"No," Zexion said shortly. It was clear he wasn't going to discuss Xemnas or Xehanort around Axel. "I was just leaving."

He turned to call the darkness, but Axel reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Don't be so rushed," he said, grinning. "Stay and chat a while."

"Release me, Number Eight," Zexion said coldly. Axel let go and stepped back, raising his hand in a "don't hurt me," gesture, his smile still plastered firmly on his face. "You've been shirking your duties."

Axel placed a hand over his nonexistent heart, feigning hurt.

"Me?" he asked, the picture of innocence. "Never. I've always been loyal to the Organisation." Marluxia smirked as the secret joke passed between them. Zexion appeared not to notice. "And I always follow orders."

"Then why is Lexaeus doing your job?" Zexion asked coolly. Axel raised an eyebrow, and Marluxia responded for him.

"Because I ordered him to," he replied. "Axel has been relieved of his duties, and is helping to prepare the castle for the arrival of the Key-Bearer."

Zexion turned and shot him a furious glare. Again, Marluxia was impressed at how well he retained the memory of emotion. VI opened his mouth as though to say something, but the Assassin tilted his head haughtily and he closed it again. Without a word, he summoned a portal and left. The moment the corridor closed, Axel's grin faded away, leaving his thin face twisted with annoyance.

"Now, I know that when we take the Organisation, we're supposed to take them alive," he murmured, "but in his case…"

"Don't you touch him," Marluxia snapped, suddenly swamped with the memory of fury. Axel looked at him oddly.

"Getting a little possessive, are we?" he asked, his grin returning. This time, however, it had a sinister edge to it. Marluxia didn't like that smile at all. He stepped closer to the other man threateningly.

"When the time comes, leave Zexion to me," he snarled. "He's mine."

Axel's eyes flickered with something inscrutable, but he bowed.

"As you wish," he said. Marluxia turned away, but still caught the redhead's added mutter of "Hypocrite." He gave Axel his best imperious glare over his shoulder, and VIII shrugged, looking around. "Hey, if you want to kill him yourself, go for it," he said. "Unless you wanted to keep him as some strange little play-toy, that is."

It was just like Number Eight, Marluxia thought with an internal sigh, as Axel grew bored with his silence and left.

But the question was a serious one, one which he had not fully pondered. What would he do with Zexion when they overthrew the Superior? He really should kill him; VI's power was frighteningly strong and could easily be turned against the usurpers. And yet… Marluxia knew that he would never, ever find any other way to regain his lost past.

I'll keep him until his usefulness runs out, he decided. Then… I'll dispose of him. That's the only sensible thing to do, a good plan. It was a sensible plan, he knew.

Then why, why did it pain him to imagine Zexion's death?

A/N: Because you liiiiiiiike him! XD

Ahem. No fun memory-stuff in this one, but trust me, I'll make it up to you in chapter... um, seven, I think. If all goes as planned. Which it will, because it always does. 8D

Every time a reader fails to press the magic review button, Marluxia kills a kitten. Please. Think of the kittens. 8D