Jacob: Fun fact: During the development of KH: Chain of Memories, Marluxia was originally intended to be female.

Rika: No, seriously! Look it up.

Ch. 11

Graceful Dahlia

It was like a triple staredown: Axel, Larxene, and Vexen stood in the room, eyeing each other. Larxene had an arrogant smirk on her face; Vexen wore an expression of frustration. Namine sat quietly in the corner, trying her best to remain inconspicuous.

"So, what's going on, Vexen?" Larxene inquired smugly. "Your Riku was supposed to counter Sora. So what's he waiting for? Where is he?"

Vexen didn't say a word, though his expression clearly indicated that he wanted Larxene to shut up.

"He's hiding somewhere to lure Sora deeper into the castle, right?" Axel asked. "I suppose we could just leave it at that-you know…" He had a smirk on his face.

"Ah-ha!" Larxene exclaimed. "Oh, I see know! I would've never guessed that! So sorry, Vexen!" Her tone had a mocking ring to it.

"SILENCE!" Vexen shrieked, his face contorting with anger.

Larxene sniffed, all of her mocking manner gone. "Predictable response." She sighed. "Forget it-men without hearts are so boring."

Vexen scoffed. "You're one to talk!" he exclaimed arrogantly. "As if you had a heart to speak of yourself!"
"That's enough."

All three Nobodies simultaneously turned to see the cloaked man warp into the room. "Marluxia!"

No. XI took off his hood and approached the wielder of the Frozen Pride shield. "Vexen, the simple fact is that your project was a failure. You'd best not disappoint us again."

"Disappoint YOU!" Vexen yelled, both hurt and offended by Marluxia's words. "You go too far! In this Organization you're ; I'm No. IV and I will NOT have you-"

SHING! Vexen said nothing more-mostly because of the fact that a sharp, pink scythe was pointed at his throat.

Marluxia raised an eyebrow. "I have been entrusted this castle and Naminé by our leader," he said patiently. "Defying me will be seen as treason-against the Organization."

"'Traitors are eliminated," Axel recited. "I believe that's what the rules say."
"Who needs a half-baked good for nothing anyway?" Larxene asked sarcastically.

"Nnng…" Vexen gritted his teeth.

"Vexen… You cannot win against Sora." Marluxia stated, regaining the Chilly Alchemist's attention.

After a moment of silence, Vexen smiled. "Pity to be so ignorant. As you're only able to see the surface of things I should expect you to appreciate my full might."

"Oh?" Marluxia withdrew the scythe. "Then let us watch as you prove it."

Vexen was momentarily stunned. "What?"
Marluxia turned his back on him. "None of us wish to be suspicious of a comrade."
Vexen snorted. "Your insincerity is comforting" he said sarcastically as he vanished.

Axel looked mildly impressed. "You give a challenge like that to Vexen and he'll—seriously want to eliminate Sora."
Marluxia shook his head. "That would be an unfortunate denouement." The scythe-wielder then walked over to a blonde little girl in a plain white dress and stark blue eyes sitting in a bland white chair. She was Naminé, Kairi's Nobody.

"What to do…" Marluxia trailed off as he put a hand on her should her, shocking her out of a soundless thought. "Your hero is soon to be wiped from existence." He bent down to her ear. "But I believe… that he made a certain promise to you."

Naminé's eyes widened. Marluxia's lips curled into a grin. "Isn't that right… Naminé?"

Naminé bit her lip. "Yes…"

Suddenly, without warning, it felt as if the room's temperature dropped a degree or two. "It'll be alright, Naminé. No need to look so glum," A sudden voice startled the room's occupants.

Marluxia's eyes widened, and he stood up and spun on the spot in the same movement. "Kavma?

The villain in question was leaning against the orb in the middle of the room, examining his fingernails. He barely raised his eyes as he said, "Ten points for me." He showcased the sudden arrival of a dry-erase board floating in the air next to him, denoting scores for the room's occupants. Kavma's shifted from 100 to 110 points, Naminé had 100, Axel had 10, Vexen and Larxene both had zero, and Marluxia had an astonishing -100.

Axel raised an eyebrow. "What, only ten? Geeze…"
"You lost points for repeatedly bursting into flames."
Larxene took one look at her score. "What the-? Why don't I have any? I can understand Vexen, but—"

"That was for siding with Marluxia. Oh, and that's not a smudge, either; Marluxia has 100 points below 0."

Larxene still looked angry. "And why does SHE have a hundred?" she demanded, pointing at Namine.

"She has more of a spine than all three of you together. No offense, Axel."

"Plenty taken."

Larxene gritted her teeth, but said nothing. It was a smart move on her part.

Marluxia got over his surprise rather quickly. "W-well, ahem, Kavma… To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"Observation," said Kavma, again not bothering to look up from his hands. "I thought I'd stop by and seeing what you're all doing." He looked up at Marluxia. "I heard that Sora is in the castle."
Marluxia grew tense. "And…?"

"'And…' what?"

Marluxia looked confused. "Do you not have any—"
"I honestly would not care less about what Sora is doing or where he is right now. Thank you very much for not asking in great unnecessary detail."

Marluxia's confusion only deepened. "Then what was the point of com—"

"A: There are more important things than dealing with little Sora. B: To see how you're holding up. C…" He thought for a moment. "Oh, wait, there is no C." He simply smiled apologetically. "My bad."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "More important things, you say? I didn't think there were more important things than the Keyblade master."
"Oh, you would be AMAZED, my friend. Now then, Marluxia." He gave the Graceful Assassin a steely look. "I have been rather curious about your actions in regards to Sora in this castle."

The pink-haired male narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Such as..?"

"Throwing him into the card worlds. Agreeing to have a replica of Riku thrown at him time and again. His MEMORIES, Marluxia, are becoming undone and distorted." He glanced at Naminé once, with a sympathetic and reassuring smile, then redirected his gaze toward Marluxia.

The pink haired one did not blink. "Have you any proof of this?"
"Proof? Proof?" Kavma raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Well, let me think…hmmm, yes, I know! Think about it, Marluxia. Who is the Lord of the Castle?"

"Myself."
"Thus giving you total authority over all those who reside in it, am I correct, Marluxia?"

"Yes…where are you going with this?"
Kavma directed his gaze toward Naminé. "Some time ago, a young girl was found within this very castle's walls, and was soon discovered to have the ability to manipulate the memories of the Keyblade master and those associated with him. And guess what? She's in this room now. So who else could be doing it? And on WHOSE orders, hmmmm?"

Naminé was tensing up. She was fearing that Kavma would soon shift his wrath from the Graceful Assassin onto herself.

"Speak, Marluxia! Or perhaps you would like me to take her into MY custody for a while?"
Everyone who wasn't Kavma was shocked. Marluxia's eyes narrowed. "You would not—no, you CANNOT-"

"I can, and trust me, I rather would—" He shot another glance at Naminé. "—but only in the event that I feel that she no longer has any place here. OR if you were abusing her or her powers—in any shape or form. And HAVE you done so, my flowery friend?"

Larxene tried not to snicker at Marluxia being called 'flower,' but it was a serious moment, and she managed to suppress any laughter she had.

"I'm waiting for an answer."
Marluxia stood silently, a look of frustration on his face. "…No."
Kavma snorted. "No?"
"No."

"So, if I went up to Sora right now and asked his who 'Kairi' was, he'd know exactly who she'd be, right?" Kavma was quickly reaching his limit, Marluxia clenched a fist, and Naminé looked as if she were about to cry.

"Kavma…" Marluxia's teeth were clenched, much like his fist. "I must ask that you leave."
"Or what?" Kavma's voice was low. Marluxia said nothing.

Kavma gave one last glance at Naminé, then appeared to calm down. "I will stay here for a time. Keeping an eye on things, really." He glared at Marluxia. "Especially this doomed plan of yours." He looked at Axel and Larxene. "Larxene. Axel. Good day to you." He then sent a soft glace at Naminé, saying, "I hope you have a great day, my dear…" before vanishing.

Larxene immediately spoke. "That arrogant, no good piece of—"

"Larxene!" Marluxia snapped. He looked tired. "This…is the last thing we need."

Jacob: Well, that was an emotionally charged chapter!

Jordan: Hi mom!

Jacob: …