Jordan: If a tree falls in the woods and there's no one around, does it still make a noise?
Kaitlin: I'm hoping it landed on Uwe Boll, at least.
Jordan: Kaitlin…
(This Chapter takes place after Roxas defeats Saïx in 358/2 Days.)
No. VII
Lunatic
"Hahhh…Hahhh…"
Saïx's breathing was labored as he struggled to stand. The agony in his ribs throbbed as he got to his knees, setting a hand to the wall to support himself.
"Impossible…" he muttered as he limped forward. "Our plans…never accounted for the possibility…of both Xion and Roxas…leaving…"
"You actually did not see this coming?"
Saix looked up, startled, to see Kavma standing on top of the giant cylinder. Kavma raised an eyebrow. "Incapable of emotion you may be, you truly did not anticipate any of this? I'm disappointed in you, Saïx." "Kavma…" Saïx spat out the name in disgust. "Have you come…merely to lecture me?"
"I suppose you could say that." Kavma leapt down from the cylinder to land in front of Saïx. "You overestimated yourself. You believed that you could easily subdue Roxas, then take him to me so that I could make him more obedient, correct?" He scoffed at the look on Saïx's face. "Oh, don't look so surprised. Have you forgotten who you're dealing with?"
Saïx did not respond. Kavma sighed. "You're probably expecting me to go after Roxas and drag him back here, aren't you?" "Or, you could …" Saïx stammered as he tried to pick himself up off the battlefield floor. "… You could rejuvenate me; heal my wounds, and let me try again." He made eye contact with Kavma, having finally stood up fully. "This time, I underestimated him." The Luna Diviner narrowed his eyes. "Next time, I shall truly give him everything I have."
Kavma regarded him for a moment, examining his hands as if considering the suggestion, as if he was enjoying making Saïx wait. He opened his mouth to answer.
"I don't think so."
Saïx just stood there, looking as if he could not believe what he just heard. When he did speak, his voice was unnaturally calm. "…I'm sorry?"
Kavma rolled his eyes. "You heard me, Ïsa."
For the first time since his reawakening as a member of Organization XIII, Saïx felt near-emotion; this was the closest thing to actual shock and surprise that his Nobody consciousness could comprehend without the use of his heart. "What?"
"What, you didn't think that I knew your real name? Get your mind out of the gutter. You really didn't think I didn't know about this?"
Saïx roared in astonishment and staggered backward, horrified. What stood before him now was no longer Kavma, but what appeared to be a teenager with blue hair, his blue jacket sporting a crescent moon symbol. Saïx once again felt a surge of near-emotion. "How…?"
"The day you joined the Organization," the boy began, stepping toward Saïx, who continued to stagger backward, trying to get away, "you expected everything to go your way. Nowadays, however, things are spiraling out of control for you. Xion's disobedience, Axel's actions, Roxas' desire to know who he is…all of them things totally beyond your control. And who is the fool at fault?" He paused as he leveled an accusatory finger at the Luna Diviner. "You. A manipulative, heartless cretin who though he could get what he wanted through sheer force." The Nobody's Somebody placed his hands on his hips in disappointment. "Who did you think you were, Lexaeus? Either way, it looked like you were proven wrong again…you sniveling coward."
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Saïx, for lack of a better term, snapped.
"SILENCE!" he screamed, lifting his claymore and swinging at the faux-somebody before him.
Just as the weapon was about it strike his head, the boy swiftly gripped the blade, stopping it in his tracks. The boy sighed as he brushed some of his hair out of his face before tearing the weapon from Saïx' grip and impaling him with it. The Organization member's mind was reeling. "H-how..?"
"Marvelous technique, isn't it, Ïsa?"
Saïx blinked. Not only was he healed and standing, but Kavma was still in the form of Kavma, and Ïsa was nowhere to be seen. "I believe the ninjas call it 'genjutsu.' It's basically mind games. Fun, isn't it?" He kneeled so that his face was leveled with Ïsa. "Roxas left because of your treatment of Xion. My actions towards you tonight were a reflection of that. Do you think that you can have your way after what you've done to her? She may be a puppet to you, but she isn't to Roxas or Axel…or me for that matter." He stood up, glaring at Saïx. "You have lost. Goodbye, Ïsa." And with that, he vanished.
How…how could Kavma betray us? How could this come to pass? When did Roxas grow strong enough to outmuscle me? What were you really after, Lea? We joined the Organization at the same time, and formulated our plan. At this point, it's just an idle fantasy. Everything changed.
You, and me.