I couldn't believe my luck. Here I was, fully clothed in black being brought to a room by Axel where he said I could 'choose my poison,' whatever that meant. I now had a purpose. I was part of Organization XIII. They were all very willing to have me part of their Organization. In fact, Xaldin had asked if I even had to ask to be part of it and no one said anything otherwise. I don't know why they were so willing, but I had a purpose now and needless to say, I FELT happy. I kept my whole feeling thing to myself. I didn't think it would be wise telling everyone that I could feel. I couldn't feel pain. I guess that was something. Anyway, he opened a door for me and bowed me in. I suppressed a grin. I didn't want Axel knowing either, or Roxas. Roxas and Axel were always seen together; I assumed they worked together. Anyway, I entered the door and we were in a large storage room full of weapons and other odds and ends. "Choose your poison," Axel repeated.
"I don't understand..."
"Choose a weapon. Xemnas has asked me to show you our private wares and you are to have whatever you desire." I looked around a bit and then realized that there were three I couldn't choose from. I looked over at Axel, who was watching me intently and then picked up all three. A set of Chinese throwing stars, a set of daggers and a spear with an elaborate top. I brought them over and showed Axel. "These are my poisons," I said as I swung my spear at him, barely missing the top of his skull. I wanted to look at him all smug like, but I refrained.
I had to admit, I was impressed. Who would of thought a girl would be able to wield that sort of weapon? Anyway, I grinned at her, and asked "Think you could handle a little one on one with yours truly?"
"I suppose so." I almost laughed, and then led her out to the courtyard. I 'summoned' my weapons and took my battle stance. I waited for her to make the first move; she waited for me; watching me with her orange eyes...her cat eyes...Eyes of a huntress. I was so distracted by her eyes I didn't catch her coming towards me until it was almost too late. I blocked her stroke with my weapons and then jumped back.
6
"Very clever of you, attacking when your opponent is distracted." I didn't realize she had come behind me either until I heard her say,
"Very stupid, taking time to talk during a battle." I felt one of her daggers at my neck. "I do believe I win," she said in her monotone voice. Only, there was something else there. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I would. I shrugged her off me and turned to face her.
" I was going easy on you. I almost let you beat me. This time, I won't hold back as much." She nodded, but then took her fighting stance, holding the spear out in front of her. I threw one of my weapons at her, fire coming out of the sides, but she jumped sideways and backflipped over me and thrust the blunt end of the spear into my stomach...HARD. I sepressed a grunt, and then stood erect just as she placed a dagger aiming at where my heart should have been.
"I win again," she remarked, looking at me with her orange eyes. I pushed her dagger aside. I was upset. Who did she was think she's dealing with here? Some worthless Dusk? She was dealing with AXEL, one of the Organization!
"This time I'm not holding back," I shouted back at her, creating a ring of fire around us. She held her spear ready, and I rushed at her, swinging my weapons full force at her. She blocked my attacks as easy as swatting flies and then spun around quickly, dragging the end of her spear in the ground while she tossed three Chinese stars at me. I blocked those, but I hadn't realized how close we had gotten and the end of her spear tripped me. I stumbled and she pushed me back where I fell into a puddle. And, as if my humiliation couldn't have been worse, I heard laughter.
"She got you GOOD Axel," came the voice of my best friend, Roxas. I glared at him as I stood up, dripping wet. In outrage, I threw my weapon when her back was turned, looking at Roxas, and fire came out the end. She spun around and pointed the spear at it and ice came out of the end. "I guess her power is ice...Fire and ice, how cute." I glared even more at him. He laughed again, and said "Hey Zephyra, want to have a REAL challenge?" She nodded, and turned to face me again.
"Fight him," I muttered and slouched off to the sidelines. I was so pissed off, I wouldn't be surprised if fire was coming out of my eyes and mouth.
7
I could tell he was pissed. I didn't know why. I beat him, fair and square. I had some fighting experience, especially meeting the black bodies I now know as Heartless stalking me everywhere. Don't ask me why they were following me! I was a being without a heart. I watched after Axel for a bit, and then shrugged. It was his problem he couldn't accept me beating him. I turned to face Roxas, who had produced 2 swords, only, they looked more like keys. "Like 'em? They're called Keyblades," he said, and took a position opposite me. I lowered my spear really quickly and went to take off my robe. It was never noticed under my white robe, but I had a special outfit. It was blood red and it was made for movement. It was shorts with leggings ending at my mid thigh and a belt that had a length of fabric in the back and front, covering the middle. My top was a series of straps and strips, wrapped around and over, leaving my arms bare and free. It was a halter top, not entirely covering my flat stomach. I tossed the cloak aside and picked up my spear again. I saw Roxas looking at me like I was going to be easy to beat. Oh was he in for a surprise.
I almost laughed at her. She was taking on Roxas wearing only that? I had to admit though, it was really appealing. It showed off her figure quite well. She was tall for a woman, with hair going down to the mid-thigh. She watched Roxas with her orange eyes, her lips a straight line. He ran at her first and she whipped out a dagger and blocked his two sword attack. I thought they would break, but they didn't. Then, I remembered that THOSE particular daggers were made for either throwing or blocking attacks. I just didn't think that it was made for blocking swords. Apparently, I was wrong. He bounced back, a little amazed, as she ran at him, throwing stars in hand. She jumped over him and backflipped, throwing the stars at him. He ran after her, blocking her throwing stars and as she landed, he took a swipe at her and she bent down and swung her leg around, tripping him. He stumbled and then regained his balance before she swung her dagger at him. He swung at her and she used her spear to pole-vault over him and she took one of her smaller daggers and threw it at him. He blocked it with a casual flick of his sword and almost missed the second one heading his way. He rolled away from that one and got to his feet just as Zephyra was thrusting her spear at him. Ice came out of it and froze his leg in place. He looked over at me for help, but I wasn't about to get involved.
8
Zephyra brought her dagger up and was surprised when he knocked it out of her hand. She ran to get it as Roxas struggled to get free. The ice broke just as Zephyra poked her dagger into the middle of his back, gently, so she wouldn't break skin. "I win," I heard her say, but I stormed off in a rage.
"You're a great opponent Zephyra," I heard Roxas say to me. I lowered my weapon and looked in the direction Axel had gone. "You might want to chase after him. He's in a mood."
"But I didn't do anything," I said as I picked up my robe and hung it over my arm. Roxas shrugged as he made his Keyblades disappear.
"You beat him, that was enough." Now I was irritated. I motioned at his hands.
"How do you make your weapons disappear like that?"
"Just swing your arm and think of your weapons as gone. When you need them, swing your arm again and think of your weapons as in your hand." I did what he said and then followed Axel, not bothering to put on my robe. I caught up with him just as he entered a hallway.
"Axel! Hey Axel!" I called, running to catch up to him. I caught up to him and said, "What's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me? Nothing's the matter with me. I just got beaten by a GIRL, but I'm okay."
"And what does me being a girl have anything to do with this?"
"EVERYTHING," he shouted at me, gesturing with his arms. "I GOT BEATEN BY A GIRL! GUYS ARE STRONGER THAN GIRLS...END OF STORY! TO BE BEATEN BY ONE IS A GUY'S ULTIMATE SHAME!"
"HEY! I FOUGHT WELL AND YOU KNOW IT AXEL," I shouted back, too angry to care if he saw me like this or not. "AND IF YOU'RE TOO MUCH OF A PUSSY TO ACCEPT THAT, THEN MAYBE WE CAN FORGET ABOUT EVER BEING FRIENDS!" I saw a strange look in his eyes, a confusion. Then, anger overcame his confusion.
9
"WE NEVER COULD BE FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING!"
"WELL, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO'S HEARTLESS!"
"WE'RE ALL HEARTLESS! THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, TRYING TO EXIST!" Tears filled my eyes, but I hid them. I whispered at first,
"And to think, all this time we've been trying to exist, well you know what..."I looked up at him then, "MAYBE SOME OF US WEREN'T MEANT TO TRULY EXIST!" With that, I ran off to my room.
Okay, so maybe I was being a bit too touchy, but her parting words stung worse than being beaten by her in combat. I walked outside to the courtyard where Roxas was standing. "Burn off some steam," he asked. I merely grunted. "What was the matter anyway? And where's Zephyra?"
"My...pride was hurt that's all. Zephyra...I don't know where she went. I think she went to her room."
"Axel, what did you do THIS time?" I glared at him for a moment, and then sighed and rolled my eyes.
"I suppose I was being a bit too touchy. Either way, we got into an argument, and she ran off after pouring lemon juice on the wounds I was licking clean."
"Honestly Axel, sometimes you can be a real idiot."
"Why am I the idiot? SHE'S the one who was saying all the mean things."
"You probably deserved them. Now, tell me the whole conversation." I gave him the details, and when I finished, he shook his head and said, "like I said Axel, you're an idiot sometimes. You didn't need to get so upset about her beating you. She's good; real good and it's nothing to be ashamed about. I suggest you apologize after she's cooled off some steam." I looked away from him, because for once... he was right.
10
I was lying on my bed later that evening, regretting some of the things I said to Axel, when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to reveal Axel and Roxas. Axel couldn't look at me. "Hey Zephyra," said Roxas, "mind if we come in?" I shook my head no and allowed them to enter my room. They sat in chairs next to the bed and I sat on the bed. Everyone was quiet for a moment and then Roxas elbowed Axel. Axel looked over at Roxas, who nodded pointedly over to me. Axel sighed and began to speak, his head hanging so I couldn't see his face.
"I...I guess I'm sorry Zephyra. For...being so sexist and...you know,...saying all those things and...yeah. I'm...I'm sorry."
"I guess I apologize to," I said in my monotone voice. "There were some things I said that were uncalled for and for that, I'm sorry." I think I saw him flinch at my cold, unfeeling voice. "If that's it gentlemen, I'd really appreciate it if..." Axel's head shot up.
"Look Zephyra, I really AM sorry. Don't just kick us out. Can't we just...all talk for a bit?" I looked at him for a second, his green eyes almost pleading with me. Now how could I say no to those pleading eyes? I gave him a small smile and sat back down on the bed.
"Yes...let's."