Sorry Vexen fans, but I had too much fun making my Nekozawa. In case you haven't already figured it out, I stopped going in order of the anime a long time ago. So this is technically like episode 3 but I'm making it later. Cuz I can. Hope you like.

Chapter 13 -- The Strange Tea Girl

A week after their "relaxing" vacation at the beach, the Organization Host Club was once again making business in Twilight Town at the railroad station headquarters. Axel was happily chatting with five young ladies about their successful trip.

"So you see, it turns out that Demmy-chan was already back at the beach," Axel finished.

"Aw, so all that searching was for nothing?" one girl mused.

Meanwhile, over at Zexion's table...

"Zexy-kun, I hear that you're really good at sports!"

"Really? Zexy-kun? I never would have expected my cute lil' emo kid to be so athletic!"

"How did you do it, Zexy-kun?"

"You really showed those two little brats a lesson, huh?"

"Zexy-kun is so mature!"

Zexion nodded at all of these comments, while making sure to sneak a lethal glare at Axel. He really felt that the whole blitzball affair was quite stupid.

Roxas was pouring tea for Olette when suddenly the lights all went out.

"I wonder what that's all about?" Roxas muttered.

"Uh-oh, I hope it's not a storm!" Olette whispered.

Then a loud cackling could be heard from the corner of the room.

"Look at all these lovely subjects! I wonder, would any of you be interested in participating in some 'beneficial' studies for the betterment of science?"

A tall Organization member with long, blonde hair and an elderly face appeared. His large green eyes completed his overall creepy appearance.

"Vexen! Wh-what are you doing here?!" Axel squeaked.

"Just wondering what you all were up to," Vexen replied with a crazy smile. "You all look like you're quite successful here!"

"These ladies aren't here for you to examine for your experiments, Number IV," Zexion said with a sigh. "I suggest you look elsewhere. We are busy here, and you seem to be drowning out the nice atmosphere we have here." Then he sniffed the air. "The formaldehyde scent also isn't that flattering."

"Aww, fine. I see none of you are interested." Vexen sighed. "Well, if any of you wish to participate in one of my experiments, just send a message and I will happily oblige." With that, he disappeared in a black portal, and the lights went back on.

"What was that all about?" Roxas groaned.

"That was Vexen!" Axel squeaked as he rushed over to Roxas' table. "He's a mad scientist! He'll put something in your food and make you crazy or something! If you get on his bad side he'll sneak in and use you for one of his experiments! HE'S SCARY!!"

"Just seemed like an idiot to me," Roxas mumbled.

"I hope he doesn't come back," said Olette. "He seemed kinda creepy..."

Roxas quickly took the cue. "If he does, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you."

"Oh, Roxas!" Olette then began to blush, and Vexen's strage appearance was quickly forgotten.

Demyx explained to Roxas later that he, Marluxia, and Axel were all scared of Vexen because of his creepy appearance and maniacal laughter.

He is a bit creepy, but he seems more like a bored old man who has too much time on his hands, Roxas thought.

About an hour later, a girl with lavender hair came in looked around curiously. She was wearing a blue vest and grey cargo pants, and she had an emotionless expression on her face. Then, on spotting Roxas, she came over and sat down at his table.

"Ah, ma'am, are you designating Roxas today?" Zexion asked politely.

"Yes," was her reply.

Zexion walked off, and Roxas began putting his charm on her.

"So, miss, what is your name?" he asked.

"Fuu."

"Ah, such a lovely name! Have you ever been to the host club before?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well then I'm sure you will have a good time today. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" Roxas continued politely as he poured her tea.

"Not much to say."

"Oh, well..." Her short replies were beginning to freak Roxas out a bit. "Oh, we're out of sugar! Let me get you some!"

Fuu remained silent, but Roxas got up anyway. He really just wanted an excuse to be able to ask Axel what to do with this strange girl. When he came to Axel's table, he noticed that the other club members were discussing the strange girl as well. They quickly looked up when he approached.

"What's her deal?" Roxas asked them.

"We're not really sure," Marluxia answered.

"She's already been through each of us once," Demyx explained. "Is she saying anything to you?"

"All her answers are really short," replied Roxas.

"Yeah, that's the way she was with us. Her last host was Axel, actually," Demyx continued. They all turned to Axel, who was not happy that his latest customer had switched to his daughter.

"Honestly, we need to figure out what is up with her!" Axel exclaimed.

"Well, that's probably her own business," Zexion countered, but the others weren't really paying attention.

"Roxas, go ask her if she has a boyfriend or something!"

"She won't say anything to me!" Roxas protested.

"Be really really nice to her and maybe she will!"

"Marly, I think we already tried that," blurted Axel. "Just try to read her or something."

"Easy for you to say..." Roxas grabbed the sugar and slowly walked back to his table. He felt the club members' eyes on him as he went.

"Here you go, miss!" He gave his biggest smile as he handed the sugar to her. "You don't have to be shy. We're all here to fulfill your greatest fantasies." He had borrowed that last line from Axel several times, and it usually worked. But not on Fuu.

"Thank you." She sipped her tea. Then she stopped and looked at the cup. "This is an expensive brand," she observed. "Quite a nice color."

"You seem to know a lot about teacups," Roxas noted.

"No I don't!" she shouted. Then she quickly regained her composure and continued drinking the tea. Roxas was lost for words by this point. The rest of their conversation was mostly Roxas using small-talk, with Fuu providing occasional one-word replies. After she finished her tea, she got up and said, "Thank you. I have quite enjoyed myself." However, her face was as emotionless as it had been when she entered.

"Oh, well, I'm glad you had a good time!" Roxas replied, trying to hide his confusion. "Come back again sometime!"

She left the table without a word and exited the building.

When the host club was finished for the day, they all packed up and returned to the Castle That Never Was. Before long they were discussing Fuu's unusual behavior.

"It seems as though she likes porcelain," Roxas pointed out. "But maybe she's embarassed about it or something?"

"Her family owns a porcelain business," Zexion explained. "I found out from one of my customers. Apparently she has an admirer in town, but she avoids him as much as possible."

"That's weird," Marluxia replied.

Xaldin looked through his tea packets and suggested, "We could have a day where we only serve tea in various brands of teacups."

"Oh, and then she'll be so overwhelmed that she'll have to talk about her passion for porcelain!" Axel exclaimed. "Xaldin, you're a genius!"

"That still doesn't explain why she continually moves from one host to another," Zexion murmured.

"Maybe she's investigating each brand we use?" Demyx suggested.

"All right, the club's newest mission: Figure out the strange tea girl!" Axel proclaimed.

"It's really not our business," Zexion muttered, though once again no one heard him. Everyone was too busy planning on how they would find out what Fuu's problem was.

In fact, they had all forgotten about Vexen's random appearance earlier in the day. The Chilly Academic, who was listening in on their meeting, slowly wandered back to his room and sobbed.

"I was hoping to make an impression on the day's events!" Vexen sighed. "No one cares about my experiments... Next time I shall have to find a more dramatic way to advertise..."