Chapter 8: An Unknown Fate

The Room was round. Round with chairs that looked like skyscrapers, all different heights, stretching in a 360 degree radius.

I stepped out of the portal hesitantly after Axel, looking around cautiously.

"Number 8." A voice from above us I assumed addressed Axel.

I looked up.

Silver hair that hid his bright eerie eyes that were still distinctly orange even from the distance that he was perched. My eyes widened with realization, my body tensing in fear.

Xemnas!

I gasped, taking a step back. I couldn't hide behind Axel. He hadn't shown any signs of friendliness. How could I have gotten any protection from him? I didn't feel safe at all.

"Superior." Axel greeted back, giving him a half-respected solute.

Superior?

Oh.

Well that explains their conversation back at Castle Oblivion.

Xemnas looked down at us, reducing my confidence to absolute zilch. I looked to my sides. To the right, Axel, and to the left, another chair that stretched upwards when you craned your neck to look up at it. Nowhere to hide.

"Kairi. I'm glad to see you're here, unharmed." He nodded, leaning forward as he folded his hands together, my attention averted back to the silver haired man.

A portal appeared in the chair adjacent to him. Out stepped Saix, as he tossed back his hair over his shoulder. He took a seat next to Xemnas.

What was he doing here…?

Axel took a stepped forward, an angry expression settling on his features.

"Hey! If you were just coming here already, why didn't you just take her yourself? Lazy ass." Axel shook his fist upwards.

Saix looked down, amused.

"I'm just making sure you do your job." He scoffed, his brown eyes seeming to bore down at the redhead.

Axel rolled his eyes.

"You know, ever since we've gotten back, you've been doing nothing but hounding my ass and monitoring my every damn move. I suggest that if you don't want to have to suffer any third degree burns, you'd better lay off of me or else I'm gonna have to-"

"Relax, Axel. And besides, what language you're using in front of our guest!" Saix shook his head sardonically gazing at him, gesturing to me in what was supposed to be polite acknowledgment.

Axel sneered up at the Superior's right hand, giving him a nasty glare. He turned to me.

"Guest? Yeah right." His eyes burned with incredible self-restraint. He excused himself from the round room, conjuring a portal.

The other two nobodies in the room said nothing as he stepped into the gaping hole, leaving myself alone on the floor to watch his portal disappear.

What did he mean by that?

"Quite the fiery temper." Saix commented under his breath.

I stepped forward, shaking slightly, glaring upward.

"What do you want from me?"

My question was greeted with a fit of laughter from the two.

"I thought the Organization's objective had been made quite clear to you."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"Don't give me that crap! Tell me what you and the organization are up to!" I demanded, yelling at the so called 'superior'.

Xemnas disappeared from his chair, and appeared in front of me. The shadowy wisps faded from behind him, as he stepped forward.

"You wanna fight me?" I challenged.

Are you stupid? There's no way in-

"Try me." Xemnas chuckled, taking a step forward. I could see Saix smirk above us, ready to enjoy a brawl.

Oh, great job Kairi. Just fantastic…

I kept my ground. I had gotten myself into this mess; I could get out… at least that's what I thought.

Okay…now hit him!

I threw a punch, but he dodged. I punched again, and again, and went for a kick.

He dodged them all.

"If you're gonna fight, then fight!" I yelled at him.

And yet he was making no moves to attack me. Only dodging.

I became frustrated and confused. I threw a few more punches, going for his face, then to his chest, his stomach. Even with my nonstop flurry of punches, he was dodging them all.

Wait.

You're dumb. Summon the keyblade!

I summoned my keyblade, the floral blade replacing my fist, as I swung at Xemnas. He dodged that one.

He made no attempt in summoning his own weapons, a pair of glowing red blades. Still, he remained unarmed.

What was this guy's problem?

"ARGH!" I swung at him again, and this time, went for a direct chest hit.

He jumped back.

His speed and ability to dodge seemed impenetrable.

"Make a move, Xemnas!" I challenged.

Xemnas simply smirked, and zipped away. I whipped around.

He wasn't there.

Disappeared?

Where in Kingdom Hearts did he go?

"Oh, so you're gonna hide now?" I called for him. I kept spinning in circles, swinging my keyblade a few times.

Where was he? He couldn't have gone too far.

I looked up.

Saix was missing too.

What were they trying to do? Where in Kingdom Hearts had they both go-

That's when I saw a blue-haired man jump in front of me, swinging his own weapon at me.

"Hey!" I yelled, and countered his attack with my keyblade.

So where was Xemnas…?

Saix continued swinging. Now I had something to attack, block, and dodge. I wasn't prepared for this, I quickly realized, and found that my strength was beginning to drain. I was panting. Finally, he started to make a few successful hits to my arms, my legs. I started to slow down, making weaker and off-target swings. But they weren't powerful enough to make me stop fighting him.

I spun around, swinging. He never bothered to move out of the way.

However, he blocked my attacks, his steel weapon pressing against mine.

I pulled my keyblade away from his pressure, and swung again. That's when he struck my leg pretty badly. That would bruise, I knew.

"Ah-!" I gasped in pain, and foolishly set my weapon to the side. I looked up in time to parry a blow.

His weapon clashed against my own, sparks coming from the point of contact. He pressed against me, hard as he gave me an intense, intimidating battle stare.

I needed to pay more attention! I couldn't back down now!

"Where are my friends? What have you done with them?" I shouted, demanding as the friction our weapons created a loud scraping noise.

Saix only smirked, pressing harder.

"What we'll do to you." He replied.

"What?"

Oof!

That's when I felt a blow from behind me.

It was powerful, knocking the wind out of me, and sending me to collapse to the ground.

"Ahhh!" I cried, wincing as I caught myself weakly on all fours.

I moaned in pain, my back throbbing. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to make my intense pain obvious. Man that really hurt…

I heard footsteps behind me, slowly crossing in front of me. I saw the black boots, as I opened my eyes from squinting. Next thing I knew, he grabbed my jaw, clenching it and forcing me to look into those creepy orange eyes.

"You need to show respect to your leaders." He hissed.

All rebellion in me died, and quickly reincarnated into fear, my whole body trembling.

"You are one of us now. Join us, or die."

J-join? I would never… Sora…

I gave a shaky exhale, my eyes darting around, trying to avoid his stare. I couldn't run. I couldn't run. I was in too much pain…too much fear.

"What is your decision, child?" Saix asked Xemnas' side.

I could see him, his weapon put away, only looking at me with an amused expression. Mocking me with his derisive gaze.

"I am not a child." I spat at him, but winced at my lurch forward.

"What is your decision?" Xemnas demanded, strengthening his grip on my jaw and pulling me closer.

I gasped, squeezing my eyes shut.

I couldn't stand looking in those eyes.

What were my options?

I couldn't escape, I already decided. I bit my lip. I had no idea where Roxas and Xion were. Could I find them? Maybe…

But I didn't want to be a part of them. Destroying, being assigned violent objectives for one dangerous purpose. I couldn't do it…

And Sora… I wanted to save him! Was this the only way?

Was this how I would stay alive?

What would he think? I would be restrained, captured, owned. One in their forces.

A member of Organization XIII…

Just the idea already made me feel corrupted.

Could I really consider myself one of them?

My head spun in an endless chaos of colliding emotions and considerations, traffic rushing by in blurs that crashed into every corner of my brain. Thoughts went by at unimaginable speeds. I couldn't think straight.

"Tell us now, or we'll decide your fate for you." Xemnas threatened, and I heard his weapon summoned, the blearing sound of energy capsule in his blades.

I opened my eyes, widely looking at them.

They wouldn't kill me…would they?

Xemnas studied me, as I still remained silent. I said nothing in soundless panic.

"Fine." He said, and held his weapon back, ready to strike.

No!

I gasped in fear, so afraid, my mind made my tongue work, instinctually working to save my life in a desperate frenzy.

"I GIVE IN! I GIVE IN! I GIVE IN!" I repeated over and over, shouting at him, almost screaming.

" I GIVE IN! I give in! I give in…" I cried out in desperation, dropping my head, letting sobs escape me.

They both laughed, triumphant chuckles that rang through the room.

So much shame. All I felt was defeat and disappointment…in myself.

"Good." Xemnas' voice rumbled low, as he lifted my chin up to gaze at him, those blazing orange eyes causing my heart to beat quickly, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't keep them in any longer.

"You will listen to us, and follow my commands. Saix will give your orders, and you will carry out your deeds, no questions asked. You will live with us, and will not betray us, abandon us, or do anything that might cause suspicion. Are we perfectly clear on this?" he asked, leaning in closer, his nose not even a ¼ of an inch away from mine.

It was uncomfortably close.

"Clear as crystal." I choked out.

This made his smirk only widen. My obedience gave him confidence.

I wanted to spit into his face, make a run for it, do something, get out…get out…

" You will be given a cloak and a private room. For now, you may retire to there. Zexion will help you settle in. Do you understand, child?"

I'm not a child!

"Yes." I said, glaring at him.

"You will address me as 'Superior'." He commanded.

No. I will never give you that authority. Never!

But I had to. It was the only way to survive. And I realized that that was what I had to do; survive.

I swallowed, not ready to let that high title roll off my tongue, for someone as evil as someone like Xemnas. I took in a shaky breath.

"Yes, Superior." I said regrettably.

He smiled, triumph etched all across the tanned curve of his lips.

"Good. You're learning quickly." He released my chin, rather roughly, as I collapsed back on all my fours.

My back hurt so bad…

The sound of a portal could be heard as I silently cried, tears hitting the marble floor.

"Ah, Zexion."

"I came, as requested?" a young voice answered Xemnas.

"Yes. Take Kairi to her room. She's accepted her fate."

Zexion nodded, and strode toward me, bending down and offering me a hand.

"Come now; you've had a long day." He said softly, outstretching his leathered palm.

I looked up, to be greeted by understanding blue eyes. He didn't wear a smile, but a passive frown.

I must have looked terrible to him.

Puffy red eyes with tears streaming down my face, bruises and cuts all over, along with scraped knees.

I raised my arm, accepting his hand, and allowed my weak body to be aided in rising. He made no move to grab me, or keep me in line, but instead, gestured me to the portal.

I was astonished by his manners. It was as if he were giving me a choice on whether I could follow him or not, to join their ranks. I would have gladly run away, if my strength were still in me, if a heart-forsaken door was anywhere to be found, and if it wasn't for Xemnas and Saix standing behind me. Oh how I wished I could run! I looked over my shoulder back to the nobodies that had reduced me to a fragile mess. I looked forward, and bowed to Zexion. He pressed at my upper back, leading me into the portal.

"This way." He allowed me to step inside the void.

And once again, darkness swallowed me.