"Well?" Saïx asked as Axel stepped out of the dark corridor.
"No sign of him at the Coliseum," Axel replied. "Heartless count is pretty average, so I don't think he's been there either."
Saïx scowled and looked away, obviously frustrated. It had been two days since Vexen and Zexion had come back from Radiant Garden, their mission and utter failure. Since then, no word on Sora's location has come to the Castle That Never Was.
Axel could only imagine that tensions were high among the higher-ups of the Organization. Without wanting to get more involved, he made his way towards one of the pairs of couches in the Gray Area and sat. He glanced over and saw Xerisa sitting in one of the couches across the room. Demyx occupied the opposite couch, strumming his sitar as usual. There was the sound of a Dark Corridor opening behind Axel, and soon Luxord and Xigbar walked into his view, heading right for Xerisa.
This should be interesting, Axel thought, raising a brow.
"Xerisa!" Luxord exclaimed, shuffling his cards as he approached, "fancy a game?"
"What makes you think I would even talk to you?" Xerisa spat.
"Ya just did, Mystery," Xigbar pointed out, using the nickname he had selected for her.
"You look terribly bored," Luxord went on. "C'mon, how 'bout it? You pick the game."
"No," Xerisa spat.
"Hey, you got a good voice?" Demyx asked. "I'm workin' on this song, but I kinda need someone who can hit higher notes than me."
"I could help you hit those notes," Xigbar took out an arrowgun and aimed just below where Demyx's sitar rested on his lap.
"No thanks!" Demyx pushed his Sitar lower to act as a shield.
As if there's anything there, Axel thought with a grin.
"So how 'bout it?" Demyx leaned towards Xerisa.
"No," Xerisa replied shortly.
"Aww, so much for testing this new gear I bought," Xigbar sighed. "I'm gonna take it out to the Hall of Empty Melodies and do some damage there. C'mon, Mystery." He put hit hand on Xerisa's shoulder and tried to ease her off the couch.
"I know you can't be talking to me," Xerisa snapped, "'cause that's not my name!"
"Nobodies don't have names," Xigbar said. "'Cept the one they used to have when they were whole, and the new one Xemnas gave us."
"I'll admit you've got me on that one," Xerisa said, her tone betrayed a slight amusement, and Axel could envision a smirk forming on her face, but it would have disappeared shortly. "But why the hell would I watch you shoot stuff?"
"Not watch me," Xigbar said, "set up some jars and junk for me to shoot."
"Just because you out-rank me doesn't make me a servant," Xerisa said.
"You've got a point there," the teasing voice of the Savage Nymph carried over to them as she entered the room. "But at the same time, you've gotta earn the right to refuse to work, and you definitely haven't."
"I take it you've got some sick and twisted job for me, then?" Xerisa asked.
"Sadly, no," Larxene leaned over the back of the sofa, "but I'm bored, so I'll take whatever I can get. Are you offering?"
"As if," Xerisa scoffed. "You know, I was fine just sitting here and listening to the wet blanket play out of tune."
"Hey!" Demyx sat up indignantly. "I'll have you know my Sitar can't be out of tune!"
"So then you're just that bad at playing it!" Xerisa snapped.
Demyx opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out.
"Aww, did da widdle wash-out get burned?" Larxene teased. "We should get Vexen in here to cool you down."
"Don't even think about it!" Xerisa grumbled. "As if you all weren't bad enough! Now would everyone please go the hell away?"
"Well since you asked so nicely," Xigbar said, "no!"
"I take it you don't enjoy this hollow shell of a life you're living!" Xerisa snapped.
"Was that a threat?!" Xigbar exclaimed. "You think you can take me down?!"
"You being Number II only means you were second to join up," Xerisa said, "not that you're the second strongest."
"Well if you're so confident, why don't we just have ourselves a little match?" Xigbar asked, with a smug grin.
"Hey," Axel broke it up as he walked over.
"Whada you want?" Xerisa snapped.
"Well, nice talking to you too!" Axel sassed. "Look, I'm gonna head over to Twilight Town for some ice cream, wanna come?"
"You think just cause we're partners almost every day that we can be all buddy buddy?" Xerisa snapped. "And are you seriously that desperate for company?"
I'm trying to help you get away here! Axel thought, hoping Xerisa would pick it up.
And if I go with you, that would make it look like I'm going soft, actually made a friend, or have a crush on you, Xerisa's voice echoed in Axel's mind, I want none of the above, so see ya!
"Fine, I was just asking," grumbled as he turned to leave.
"How about this, then," Luxord spoke up, "one game." He shuffled his cards as he sat down beside Demyx, across from Xerisa. "You win, we leave."
"And on the off-chance you win?" Xerisa asked.
"Well, then I'd say you have to do something with one of us," Luxord said. "Sing with Demyx, set up targets for Xigbar, or entertain Larxene."
"And I pick the game?" Xerisa asked.
"Sure, name it," Luxord said.
"Go Fish," Xerisa answered, "short sweet and to the point. Winner is the one with the most pairs."
"Alright," Luxord chuckled as he dealt.
"Larxene, move it, I don't want you seeing my cards," Xerisa snapped.
Larxene said nothing, but moved to stand at the other end of the table.
This'll be a quick game, Axel thought. She can practically see his hand. But she's running the risk of someone getting wise to her powers.
"Ladies first," Luxord said.
"You'll regret that," Xerisa said, confidently. "7's, fork 'em over!" she held out her hand and Luxord placed the card in it.
"Beginner's luck," Luxord scoffed.
"Queens. Now," Xerisa said after laying down the pair.
Luxord blinked in surprise, but complied with the demand.
"The ace is mine too," Xerisa said.
"Woa, she's already got more pairs than I get in one game!" Demyx exclaimed.
"I think you've met your match, Card Shark," Xigbar teased.
"Gimme your Jacks," Xerisa said.
"And that's where your luck ends!" Luxord said, confidently. "Go fish!"
Xerisa picked up a card and waited for Luxord to take his turn.
"Any twos?" Luxord asked.
"Not a chance," Xerisa said. "Go fish."
Axel easily saw where this was going and saw no point in sticking around. He created a Dark Corridor and took it to Twilight Town. He bought himself and ice cream at the shop, but only stood there with it.
"Not often I only get one," Axel sighed, reminiscing, "but I suppose I should get used to it…."
He walked lazily up to Station Heights, licking up the drops of melted ice cream before they could fall. He entered the station and climbed up to the top. As he rounded the corner, there was a vain hope of seeing a cloaked friend sitting there waiting for him. He sighed when his hopes were dashed and sat down on the edge of the tower, hanging his feet over the edge. He stared, longingly, at the setting sun that never got lower.
"If only our time together had lasted as long as the sunsets in Twilight Town, Roxas," Axel said with a sigh.
"Just a guess, but I don't think he can hear you," a voice said from behind Axel.
"Didn't expect to see you here," Axel said, not turning around.
"Only place where I can get some peace," Xerisa sat down beside him and removed her hood.
"But didn't you win that game of go-fish?" Axel asked. "They shoulda left you alone."
Xerisa said nothing and licked her own Sea Salt ice cream, looking down.
"Heh, I get it," Axel said. "So what made you change your mind?"
Xerisa tilted her head to look at him with a smirk playing across her lips, "call me stupid, but I pitied you."
"I'll call you insensitive, how about that?!" Axel snapped, partly teasing.
"Xigbar calls me Mystery, so why not?" Xerisa said. "Not like I'll answer to any of those names anyway." She took a bite of her own ice cream and stared at the sunset.
"So," Axel said after a moment of silence, "seriously, why'd you decide to come?"
"I told you, I feel sorry for you," Xerisa said, "and don't go pointing out that I can't actually feel." She pointed her ice cream at Axel accusingly. "It's not just that you feel alone and are desperate to talk to someone, you just miss Roxas."
"Yea," Axel sighed, "he and I were really buds. Then he left the Organization, got locked in a digital re-creation of Twilight Town and lost his memories."
"I know it's hard, not being able to be with your friend," Xerisa said.
"You have no idea," Axel said.
"No, I do," Xerisa sighed. "I know what it feels like to be separated from a friend by borders you can't even comprehend. You're both in two separate worlds, both alone, you can only imagine they feel the same way."
Axel looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. He was immensely curious as to what she meant, but knew it would be rude to ask. But then again, she's done worse to me. "So….mind if I ask what happened?"
"I don't mind," Xerisa said, "just don't expect an answer."
"Figured," Axel said.
"We all leave something behind, when we become Nobodies," Xerisa went on, "or someone. Even without a heart to miss them, it's still hard."
"You could always go back to your home world and find them," Axel said.
"It's not that easy," Xerisa said, with a dark amusement in her tone. "Going back to your home world after becoming a Nobody is….well, not the best idea."
"And why's that?" Axel asked.
"It's not the same," Xerisa said, "you're not the same, and you never will be. You have to get up and move on. If you go back, you'll only try and make things the way they were, try to live in the past; that's not healthy. And besides, who's to say they'll even recognize you? And if they do, you'll only hang around there, chasing after what's long since gone."
Axel sat there, staring at his half-eaten, melting ice cream, pondering what she meant. Can't go back? Does that apply to me an Roxas? Nothing's changed, we're both still Nobodies….
"Is he?" Xerisa asked, startling Axel. "Is he really still a Nobody? The answer is 'no,' Axel. He's more than a Nobody, he's done what everyone in the Organization wants to do: become whole. He has a heart now. Sure he shares it with Sora, but that's more than can be said for you, right?"
"B…but how does that change….anything?" Axel asked, already arriving at an answer to that on his own.
"Even if you could get him back," Xerisa said, "would he really want to come back? Would he give up a heart to be with you? Would you?"
"I….I don't know," Axel admitted.
"I know it's hard," Xerisa said, "but you've just gotta let it go."
"Have you?" Axel asked. "Have you let go whoever you left behind?"
"I've let a lot of things go," Xerisa said. "Almost everything from my old life. I've decided on my new life, and have already set off on that path…..at least, that's what I thought."
"What you….thought?" Axel repeated. "What do you me-"
"My problems are my own," Xerisa said, standing up, "and you haven't earned the right to try and help. It's too complicated for your tiny brain to grasp."
"Well excuse me for trying to help," Axel said.
"You're excused," Xerisa said.
Axel frowned, but should have expected this. "Say, I bet I won't get an answer for this either, but how long have you been a Nobody?"
"One year, 5 months, and 19 days," Xerisa replied simply.
"Wasn't expecting such a precise answer," Axel said. "But I see you've got the number memorized."
"Not really," Xerisa replied, staring up at the sky, "I just know the date I became a Nobody and I can do math. But, seeing who you hang around with all day, I can see why you'd never think of that as a possibility."
Axel let out a slight chuckle along with a shrug. "Are you heading back, then?"
"I dunno…." Xerisa replied, still staring upwards. "I suppose I'll have to eventually. And other than staying here, there doesn't seem to be anything else to do…."
"Don't say it like staying here is such a bad thing," Axel said.
Xerisa smiled. It shocked Axel, since it was the first time he'd seen her smile in a way that was not conniving, evil, or sadistic. "I guess it's not," she said, "but being seen returning with you would be as bad as being seen leaving with you."
"Fair enough," Axel said. "You gonna sit?"
"Nah," Xerisa said, "sometimes I prefer to stand." She put the ice cream in her mouth and held it like that.
"I won't bite," Axel said.
"It's not that," Xerisa said. "It's just easier to stand than to go through the trouble of sitting down again."
"I won't let you fall," Axel said.
"I could levitate myself back up with telekinesis," Xerisa replied.
"Have it your way," Axel said.
"I usually do," Xerisa said with a smirk.
"I believe that," Axel said, "you act spoiled enough."
Xerisa looked at him, then down at the ground below, "don't think you'd survive if I pushed you. Please don't tempt me; it'd be a shame for the Organization to lose you."
"I know some people who would be very happy if that happened," Axel said.
"Ah yes, the traitors of C.O.," Xerisa said, thoughtfully. "Hmm, getting Vexen to kill you would kill two birds with one stone, or should I say two Nobodies with one stone."
"I don't really think Vexen can kill me," Axel said.
"Maybe not without a little help," Xerisa said. "But you know I'm not serious….yet. This is why I said don't tempt me."
"I'll keep that in mind," Axel said. But somehow, I get the feeling she really wouldn't do anything like that.
Out of the corner of his eye, Axel caught Xerisa looking at him, and remembered that she could read his mind. He braced himself for a retort, but none came. Hm, I must be right.