A/N: Sorry it's taken so long for me to update. I've currently been obsessing over my Final Fantasy X-2 story, Pray for Rain. Anyway, replies:

Okamin-nin: Sorry if all the names are a little confusing. Of course, it all makes sense up inside my head.

Oathkeepera: Well, I guess you'll have to keep reading and find out!

RubberDuckiesWhoLikePieAndCake: Whoo! I got FOUR smilies!

Okiegirlforever: Once again, you'll just have to read and find out.

Readergirl-290: Yeah, she is a little on the creepy side. She's supposed to be.

Forgotten Lies: (catches cookies) Yup, she is, so watch out!

Animelover44: thanks!

Kris126: OMG, I love chocolate covered strawberries!

Cindamcjinga Thanks!

Y'know what would be totally, totally wicked? If I didn't say who the Keyblade wielder was. Then you'd all have to deal with it for another whole chapter….

Next to Nothing:

Chapter Nine:

"Déjà Vu"

"Now, Riax, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?" And as my worst fear was realized, Xemnas materialized right behind Catássa. For a split second, the rage masked on her face flickered into something like fear, her black eyes flashing green, but it passed so quickly that I wondered if it had really happened after all. "Wouldn't want to use our trump card a trick too early. I know these two, and they are clever, to a certain extent."

That was just the kind of off-hand compliment I would have appreciated two years ago, but it only irritated me now. I had searched for praise from the higher members, especially Xemnas, but it didn't seem to matter anymore. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what Xemnas would want with me.

"As Catássa may have told you, I was very impressed at your return, Number XII, although you don't much resemble your Nobody anymore. So I assume you have rejoined with your heart, correct? But I'm sure you couldn't have pulled it off without our good friend Tempest." Xemnas said, in his trademark greasy, oiled voice that glossed smoothly over the words he spoke. Tempest? I didn't know any Tempest.

"I didn't tell her about Tempest." Catássa said guiltily, cringing slightly, obviously bracing herself for the Superior's disappointment. It disgusted me how much she reminded me of myself, when I had first joined the Organization. I was so desperate to please, and all of a sudden, seeing Catássa acting the same way, I hated myself for it. I was desperate to please, desperate to serve. I narrowed my eyes further, in anger both at myself as well as Catássa. I felt Axel glance at me, but I was too wrapped up in my own emotions to worry about what he was going through.

"You didn't?" Xemnas asked, his eyebrows raised. I had remembered seeing that look, and the emotions associated with it washed over me. I clenched my eyes shut in a fit of déjà vu, but it passed within moments. Apparently, Xemnas noticed. "Fascinating. Even though you have rejoined with your heart, Relena, you are still troubled by déjà vu and flashbacks. One would think that such a thing would pass once your Nobody and your heart had rejoined, but it seems that you are still not whole…"

My eyes were narrowed in suppressed fury. Who was he, who was he to observe me like some kind of scientific experiment? Who was he to decide that I was still not whole? "Just shut up, Xemnas." Never before had I had such nerve to speak to Xemnas that way, but I was different now. I had rejoined with my heart, my soul. Larissa Davis had returned to this world, and Xemnas was about to get a taste of my full-fledged, warm-blooded anger.

But before I could attack Xemnas and rip him to pieces, Catássa stepped up. I'm still not sure who she stepped up to protect, whether it be to protect Xemnas from my long bottled up fury, or myself from being "put back in my place" as the Superior had often called it. Either way, she stepped between us and spoke.

"Relena, Superior, we still have our negotiations to conduct." Why had she called me Relena? She knew perfectly well that my name was—oh. I remembered that I had lied to the Organization, giving them my mother's name instead of mine. My actions were based on a fear that had been placed upon me at a young age, coming from folktales my parents had told me at a young age, to keep me at bay.

In Midlight Village, from where my parents had come, there had been stories about people who wandered around in mysterious black capes in the dead of night, and took control over you by using the power associated with your name. Even as a small child, I had been wary about telling people my name, even other students at school. I suppose that that long dormant fear had awakened itself once again when my heart had been stolen by the Organization. The Gatekeeper had been right; I had lied to the Organzation. Catássa knew that, and she used Relena to keep me safe. Maybe there was some sanity left, deep down inside of her.

I glanced over at Axel, who had strangely been silent. Even for his soul, Avery, being silent in a conversation like this was unusual. But from the distant look on his face, he couldn't get past what had happened to his little sister. The rage had taken over her, and would not relinquish it's hold on her soul, and her sanity. He knew this, and it was painful for him. I could tell, just by looking into his emerald green eyes for a short moment.

"You're right, Riax. We wouldn't want to hold up the negotiations." Xemnas' glance traveled back and forth between me and Axel, his orange eyes sweeping the area. "Now, let's be formal. We'll conduct our negotiations within the castle. Please follow. It wouldn't hurt to look around the castle. After all, you haven't seen it in so long…" It took every ounce of self control not to rip one of those knives out of the wall behind me and stick it in Xemnas' back. First, though, I decided, I wanted to hear what he had to say. After all, he could know where Avery was, and we would never find out if I stuck that knife in his back…Nevertheless, it was tempting.

Xemnas and Catássa both began walking in the direction of the castle, and after sharing a glance, Axel and I followed. Our footsteps seemed to echo eerily off of the empty buildings and houses, as we traveled through the shadows. In an odd move, Xemnas stopped suddenly, craned his neck up towards the roofs of the houses, and called,

"And Sora, would you kindly accompany us?"

A/N: Haha. And you thought I wasn't going to tell you…