The Luna Diviner

"Have you verified his story?"

"Yes, sir. Nathaniel's assumptions were correct."

"We lost five potential members. We cannot afford any more delays."

"I understand, sir, and I would like to offer a possible solution."

"I doubt there is any other way to reclaim the Chamber of Repo-"

"YAAAUGH!"

My head snapped to the right. A boy was sitting in the fetal position on the beaten path, gripping at a scraped knee. The corner of his eye twitched as tears streamed down his cheek. The bangs of his flame-red hair framed his flushed face.

I glared at him. "What's it now, Lea?!"

"I scraped my knee…" he whined.

I growled. "Yeah, so?! Get back up, we gotta keep moving!"

"You don't hafta be so mean, Isa!" His head jerked up, revealing puffy red eyes and a quivering lip.

"It's just a scraped knee! Man up, willya?!"

He lowered his head again and choked on a sob.

My lungs emptied. Why me…I walked over to him, dragging my feet, and pulled him up by the wrist. He winced as I slapped him on the injured knee, leaving a bandage behind. I let go.

"There. You happy?"

"That was Axel."

I found myself scratching the back of my neck. "Yes. I will take care of it, Superior."

He nodded. "Very well. Report to me later, Saïx."

I bowed as I walked off in the scream's direction, pulling my claymore out of thin air as I went, dragging it behind me. Axel…why don't you just behave yourself…

As I rounded the corner, the sound of a body dropping to the floor reached my ears. I swung my claymore upon my shoulders as I broke into a brisk jog. I stopped at the next corner and leaned against the wall.

My head peaked over the corner, and my eyes widened.

Axel was sprawled out on the floor, unmoving. The fragmented remains of his chakram laid scattered across the floor. A shadow fell on his hair.

It belonged to Nathaniel. The light from the window reflected off his glasses, hiding his eyes.

My eyebrows furrowed. Nathaniel grabbed Axel by the collar and threw him against the wall. Axel grunted as his limp arms flew forward and returned to his side. Nathaniel's fist retained its grip on the coat as his eyes leered, sneering in Axel's face. Axel did nothing.

Nathaniel finally released his grip, pushing his fist away. He walked towards me as Axel sunk down to the floor.

Nathaniel was sneering again as he passed me. "Saïx…" he groaned as he flipped a lock of hair away. He continued walking away, paying me no further attention.

I looked back at Axel. He was staring back at me.

I closed my eyes. "You fool…"

* * *

The dark portal faded around me. My eyes darted around the hallway. There he was!

"DreadBane!"

He stopped. He turned his head slightly. "I told you, Axel," he said, calmly, "you can call me Nathaniel."

I snarled. "Don't play games with me! I wanna know why you said that in the meeting!"

He scratched his head, and turned around to face me. "The Superior wanted my opinion, and I offered it. Plain and simple."

My face contorted. "Enough of that!"

"My, your face compliments your hair so nicely."

I made fists as my knuckles cracked.

Enough.

I stretched my left arm out to my side. Black and silver wisps traveled down my arm and ended in a fireball. It flattened out and formed my chakram.

In one swift motion I flung it from behind my back at Nathaniel's head. Almost immediately he caught it and flung it back. Then-

"YAAAAUGH!"

I got down on one knee and grasped my foot. I pulled the spike out and tossed it on the floor. My knuckles probably turned white, but I couldn't tell with my gloves on.

I looked back up at Nathaniel. He was looking down on me; one of his lenses reflected the moon light, hiding his right eye. A Cheshire grin was spreading across his face.

"What the hell's your prob - Ungh!"

Something was wrong; I felt this great pressure, as if I was on the bottom of the ocean. I could hardly breathe, hardly move. My vision became grainy like an old movie on film.

Nathaniel was still smiling.

It was him!

His grin dissipated as the pressure let up. I fell down to the floor, my legs and arms sprawled out like a bearskin rug. I saw nothing but the wall to my right until I heard footsteps. I gathered enough strength to turn my head so it faced dead center. Nathaniel stopped walking as I looked up.

His face bore a stoic mask. His eyebrows were drawn together.

He scooped his arm under mine and pulled me to my feet. I leaned against the wall.

"I'm sorry," he said, "but if I'm going to operate in the Organization, I'll have to do so with the cooperation of my fellow members. I hope you understand."

He let go of my arm and started walking in the opposite direction. I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding and dropped to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my knees.

I heard a scoff. I turned my head to where Nathaniel had headed; Saïx was there, scowling as usual.

"You fool…" was all he said before he vanished in a dark portal.

* * *

I walked down the hallway with my head held high. It certainly was an…interesting meeting.

I rounded the corner and passed by the wall length window. I stopped as I stared at the looming heart-shaped moon with awe.

Kingdom Hearts.

The heart of all worlds, the source of superior knowledge.

I snickered at the pun. Superior…heh.

I decided I had pondered enough, so I continued on my way. That is, until I heard the familiar whoosh of a dark corridor opening. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"DreadBane, you bastard!"

I grinned. I was expecting this.

I turned around. "Axel, I keep tellin' you, call me by my first name."

He scowled. "Don't screw with me! Why'd you say I killed the rest of the team?!"

I shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

His face turned crimson. "Enough of that!"
"You know, your face is putting your hair to shame."

His fists shook. I thought I heard a slight crack.

He growled as he thrust his left arm to the side. Thorny wisps of silver snaked down his arm as they formed his chakram.

With considerable effort he flung it at my hand. I swiped my hand, spread flat, through the air and it made contact, breaking it into several pieces.

One of the spikes broken off flew back, and with a chunk it lodged itself in Axel's foot. He howled like a banshee as he hopped on one foot, grabbing at his injured toe.

How pathetic.

Finally he dropped down to one knee, pulling the spike out like a giant splinter. He tossed it away, the blood glistening in the moonlight.

He really looked pathetic.

Then I got an idea; an awful one at that. I grinned, showing my top row of teeth. I started to flood spiritual pressure through my eyes.

"What the hell's your prob- Ungh!"

His body stiffened, like the joints of a rusty robot. His teeth clenched and his nostrils flared.

My grin melted; only a triangle of my teeth showed. That's enough. I stopped the flood and Axel went limp, his limbs making a star shape.

I walked towards him and scooped my arm under his armpit, picking him up like a rag doll. I leaned him against the wall and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I just have to be on the Superior's side if I don't wanna…you know…" I made a scratching sound in my throat and made a slashing motion with my hand. He nodded slightly. I smiled. "Be a good boy now," I said as I walked of, interestingly, the way I came.

Saïx was there, scowling. Jeez, doesn't he ever get tired of that? I tipped an imaginary hat and recited his name as I passed.

I heard the whoosh of a corridor opening ten seconds later.

I was having a good day.