Yes, I know baking soda and vinegar are an explosive combination.

Ok so, I make a reference to Vexen's grossly large bug eyes, which only show up in Re:Chain of Memories. Don't worry, he still has some of his dignity.

This chapter was also partially inspired by the song "Just Like You" by Three Days Grace. Don't ask where I get the relevance.

IV

Day 4.

Hour...5, I assume.

An estimated 8 days and 19 hours left until we resume our duties.

How exciting.

You know, now that I ponder it...we haven't been really having a "vacation". I don't remember the first night, my laboratory had been destroyed the second night, the third felt like a haunted porn movie, and now I have the bodies of half of the Organization piled onto my operating table.

I need to get that sanitized when this is all over...

I sat on my stool, writing down notes concerning my inventory. All the while, I kept glancing back at the bodies, waiting for something to happen. Monitoring vital signs was useless, for we Nobodies had no hearts. Therefore we had no pulse; no blood. Our bodies did swell from abuse, but that was as human as our physical beings were going to act. Wounds were not wounds, they were just an opening to our empty insides. A gash was just a larger version of that. I paused, picking up the pen from the paper and placing the end of it in my mouth. That was one of my more embarrassing habits. After thoroughly chewing the pen, I placed it back down on the table, rereading my notes:

Inventory Count

Data 873 0f 873

Laboratory seems to be in better condition than yesterday. Quick surveillance concludes two broken tongs, one broken 10mm test tube, 6 missing/broken 5mm test tubes, 2 broken light bulbs, 3 missing/dismembered mannequins, broken door and a partially melted cabinet. Unable to open said cabinet, contents are unknown. Footprints seem to be tracking my ceiling, and fragments of what seem to be a lance litter my floors. Replaced items include a few pens, one 5mm test tube, and my stool.

I stared at the notes, trying to find something else to include. Unable to think of anything, I added my own personal note.

P.S. Buy sanitizers

Closing my notebook, I placed it softly in the desk drawer. I sighed, finally hearing some kind of indication that the Organization was still alive. Staring at the bodies, I noticed the hand of Number XI move ever so slightly. Getting up, I grabbed a hold of his twitching appendage, tugging his semi lifeless body from the pile. Freeing him, I let him sink to the floor on his knees, his arms wrapped around my waist for support.

"Ugh..." His eyes were closed, but my low body temperature seemed to provoke them otherwise. He shivered, hugging me tighter as if somehow expecting the temperature to change. I winced, the contact more than uncomfortable. Quickly, I grabbed his arms, shaking them lightly.

"Marluxia...? Marluxia...wake up..." I said in a gentle tone. I got him to let go, his arms falling limply to his sides.

"Huh...?" he mumbled, his eyes searching for something. Unable to find whatever it was, he settled on looking up at me.

"Vexen...?"

"Yes?"

"I...what...happened?"

"Your garden, it seems, had given off an aroma of ecstasy. You and a portion of the Organization had been infected. So Xaldin and Demyx rounded you up for me so I could cure you. That would explain your current position... " Blinking a couple of times, Marluxia slowly let go me, his arms falling to his sides. I stared at him for a few minutes, but found no attempts Marluxia made at trying to process the information.

"I'm hoping you can comprehend my explanation..."

"Vexen...?"

I sighed, be kept my composure and patience.

"Yes, Marluxia?"

"...I'm tired..."

"Of course...I'll have Xaldin or Zexion take you to your quarters..."

The rest of the morning followed suite in some way. I waited for a member to wake up, and after a small explanation, I would have another member remove them from my laboratory. Namely Xaldin; he started this whole mess.

"Is that the last of them?" Xaldin asked, Axel's weak form on his shoulder. I nodded, waving my hand in a signal for him to leave me alone. I had other things to do than to care for other members. After he left, I turned my attention to my test tubes and notes.

Or what was left of them anyways.

-Later-

I yawned, eying the green liquid that resided in the small tube in front of me. It didn't make me feel better.

Why is it not turning yellow?!

Growling, I rechecked my notes, hoping it wasn't something I had done. I have never been wrong before, so why isn't this time the same?

Maybe it's supposed to be green...?

I considered the possibility, but there was no reason why it should have to be that color. Yellow meant I did it all right, like always. Green meant...well it meant something wasn't processed correctly. I huffed, finally capping the tube and placing it into my coat pocket. Summoning a portal, I left for the kitchen. There were many things in that particular meeting area that helped with my experiments. Not having one of my own made me simulate the feeling a little human girl showed when they wanted one of those animal things.

They're called horses...right?

Reaching said destination, I opened the cabinets and began my mini quest. Baking soda and vinegar was on my list, but I didn't find them right away. This gave enough time for Zexion to approach me.

"Good morning Vexen..."

I was about to correct him, reminding him that it was way past the beginning of the day, but decided against it. It wasn't like you could tell anyways, what with the ever constant dark sky.

"Morning" I said quietly.

"How is your experiment going?"

"Fine I guess..."

"What are you doing this time?"

"Making things..."

It wasn't like I hated Zexion. It's just I wasn't the conversationalist. Some of the members didn't seem to comprehend that though.

"...What are you looking for?" he asked innocently, watching me dig through the cabinets.

"Stuff."

"Need help?"

"No."

"Oh...Well when you're done, remind Lexaeus that he has to get some more baking soda. We ran out earlier because of a stupid science project Demyx was doing."

I winced upon hearing the information. I needed that baking soda, and it was gone? Because of Demyx? At that moment I hated Science Projects, but I kept my composer while the hate bubbled up inside me.

"I'll make sure to do so..."

"Cool."

With that, Zexion left me alone. When the quiet settled once more, I pondered two things: Zexion was a much better conversationalist than he let on, and how in the hell could Demyx get on my nerves so often? I thought it was an impossibility, having someone annoy you so often. Grabbing the tube from my coat, I placed it inside the refrigerator, closing it tightly. If anything, I had to keep it cool and preserved while I began my search for Lexaeus. The faster I got him to find what I was looking for, the better. I thought about looking for Demyx, but decided it was not worth doing. He was younger than I was after all and was much more prone to moments of stupidity.

It's not like he did it solely for the purpose of annoying me...

Exiting the kitchen, I began my way down to the Library, the location where I would most likely find Lexaeus. It surprised me how often the man was in there. Whenever he wasn't in there, he was either in his quarters, or outside wandering the Dark City. I never really exchanged light chat with him, or everyday chat for that matter. I guess today was my chance. Quietly I opened the door to the Library, expecting to find Number V occupying it in silence. Instead I found Demyx, covered in a white powder that tainted whatever it touched. I crossed the room swiftly before standing above him and his small white covered frame on the floor.

"Demyx...why are you covered in baking soda?" I asked, amusement undetectable. He looked up at me, his eyes as innocent and naïve as ever. He was laying on his stomach, a cup of God knows what in his hand. Due to the white smears leading up to this spot, Demyx had just recently showed up here. Possibly a few moments before I had. How convenient.

He smiled up at me as if being covered in baking soda was the most normal thing in the world.

"Wrong combination" he said matter-of-factly. He shrugged, and went back to whatever it was that he was doing, sipping his cup of...something.

"I'll say...Couldn't you have saved some for me?" I muttered. Not getting an answer, I crouched down, a few inches higher than Demyx. He looked at me, that grin not leaving his face. He held up his cup.

"Want some?"

"I suppose so..." I sighed, taking the cup. I looked at the liquid, finding the color most unappealing. It was a light greenish yellow color, reminding me of human feces. Still, it had a fruity smell to it so I took a few sips, knowing at least 65 of it was Demyx's backwash.

"Good?" he asked. I swallowed the liquid, finding it to be pleasant. I nodded, making him gleam in happiness. Swirling the drink, I took another gulp.

"Who got it?" I asked between drinks. The stuff turned out to be a little addicting. Demyx shrugged, playing with the shag carpeting.

"I dunno. I found it in the fridge in this tube thing. It looked tasty so I decided to take some..." Suddenly I began choking, dropping the almost empty cup. Demyx sat up, alarmed at my sudden distress, but I was quick to regain my voice.

"T-tube?!" I said, my voice raspy from the choking. Demyx nodded his head, his eyes trying to prove he did nothing wrong. Rubbing my throat, I tried to get my breathing back to normal.

"Demyx that tube contained my experiment!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I'll make more lemonade I promise!"

"It wasn't lemonade! It was-"

I stopped. Demyx suddenly looked much too pale, his mouth open. He grasped his stomach, and looked at me painfully.

"Vexen...it hurts..." he whispered, hunching over in pain. I panicked, trying to find the cause of his sudden illness. I was certain it was the side effect of drinking my unfinished and possibly faulty experiment, but I had no time to confirm it. Demyx was now on the ground in a fetal position, his eyes shut tight and his whole body trembling from the effects. I was about to warp him to my lab when the mother of all headaches hit me. Gasping from the sudden sharp pain, I gripped my head in my hands.

Oh God, this isn't happening.

I slumped forward, resting most of myself on the possibly unconscious body of Demyx. My mouth went completely dry, and I felt a tingling sensation crawl up my legs. I was suddenly unable to get enough oxygen, and my breathing went ragged.

Then I blacked out.

-Later, Later-

"Demyx...?"

Ow...

"Demyx? Vexen?"

feel like I've been hit by...something...

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Still somewhat blurry, my vision didn't find anything worth focusing on. I let my eyes drift back closed, when a large hand roughly shook me.

"Demyx, get up."

My eyes opened again, this time focusing on the face of Number V. He seemed somewhat concerned, or something resembling that, and was looming over me. I squinted from the light above him.

"Lexaeus...?" I mumbled, holding my hand up above me to shield myself from the light. "Where...am I...?" He helped me sit up, passing me a glass of water. I was hesitant.

"You're in my bedroom. I found you and Vexen passed out in the Library and decided to take you here and wait for you to wake up."

"Vexen...?" I asked, the cup of water in my hand. Lexaeus nodded, then got up.

"I'll leave you guys alone. Let you rest ok?" But before I could reply, he left the room. I sighed, my head still throbbing from pain. It wasn't as harsh as before, and was much more tolerable. I reached up and scratched the back of my head.

Why...does my head feel naked?

I stopped, my fingers grazing over the short bristles of hair on the back of my head. A large tuft rested in the middle, almost like a fuzzy tail of some kind. The tuft went from the back of my neck to the front of my hair line, it's hight and width slightly bigger. My fingers closed over a few strands of hair that stuck out on the front, my breath completely gone.

This can't be...

Frantically, I turned to the body beside me, it's form concealed underneath the bed blanket. Grabbing the intruding fabric, I forced it off, the occupant now fully exposed.

"Demyx?!" I blurted, shaking him with all my might. He responded with a groan, shutting his grossly large eyes tighter and swatting my hands away.

"Ten more minutes..." he mumbled, turning away from me. His long light brown hair fell across his face, the light casting shadows on his sunken cheeks.

"DEMYX!"

"OK OK I'M UP!" he yelled back, his voice cracking. He sat up and yawned, casting me a glance. At least he wasn't the slow type.

"Vexen?! You're me!" He exclaimed, touching his head. He made a small sound of surprise every time he found something new about himself. After a few minutes of self examination he stated more calmly, "I'm...you..."

"Yes, it seems that's way..." I answered, folding my arms in front of my now slimmer and more slender chest. Demyx simply let his arms fall to his sides.

"Was it that potion?" he asked quietly.

"I'm assuming it has something to do with this, yes..."

"Did you make it for this...?"

"No, it was initially going to be for a type of emotion generator. It would have given us emotions, if only for a moment. However, it seems giving us emotions wasn't on its list of abilities..."

"I'll say" he answered. Getting up from the bed, he walked over to a mirror, examining his face. He didn't seem too happy.

"Ugh, I'm so old!" he groaned, pulling at the skin on his cheeks. Immediately I picked up a pillow and threw it at him.

"I AM NOT OLD!" I yelled, my face red in embarrassment. He laughed, enjoying my reaction. What I didn't like about that laugh was it was my own voice. Because our asunder souls had been switched, we didn't take any of our own physical characteristics with us. So hearing my own voice burst into laughter was more than unpleasant.

"You disgust me..." I said bitterly. He shrugged, heading for the door.

"Where are you going?! You can't just leave like that!" I said frantically. He looked at me, blinking a couple of times before replying, "I'll just pretend to be you. I promise not to tell ok?"

"You've got to be kidding me. You aren't anything like me. No one will believe you."

"Relax dude, I got it down pat. I know you more than you know yourself." In an attempt to prove himself, he conjured a blank, serious face and walked out the door. A few moments passed before I heard that damn giggling.

I'm doomed...

And to avoid having this drag on an on, I'm splitting this chapter into two. It's probably not that long in reality, but why take the chance you know? Anyway, I'll have part two up soon so hold your pants.