When You Are Empty, There Is Only

by ShadowCloak

Being a Nobody means no heart, only memories. Over time, the void which consumed the heart will take the memories as well. Therefore, it's much easier to make and keep to a plan while the memories are still fresh, right? Saix and Axel.

3. Suspicion

If you've read the second chapter before July 12, 2010, when chapter three was posted, there has been some editing from the second break downwards in chapter two. The content is the same, just changed some wording and added/changed descriptions. You will still understand this chapter as long as you've read the previous one at some point. I'm sorry for any inconvenience it may cause.

A/N: Sorry for the wait, but here's chapter three! (Don't blame art, it's awesome. Especially when it's Saix related. *hides*)

An~yways, I think is Xigbar okay. He's not how he is in Days. Nor is he really Braig. Yeah.

I have nothing else to say but enjoy the long read~ (I hope it isn't too long...)

Disclaimer: Do not own.

When You Are Empty, There Is Only…

SUSPICION

OooooooO

It was after another day of training that Axel found himself wandering the castle. It was the Organization's rule that a member was not to leave the castle unless assigned a mission though Axel doubted it applied to all the members. Training left him tired so he didn't feel like going out anyways. There wasn't anyone to talk to other than Saix, and he had been busy with the paper work Xemnas had kindly dumped on him. So unless he found out something of interest to inform Saix, he stayed away to avoid raising further suspicion. Axel was aware that the last incident, the battle Saix had against Lexaeus, still had some points to support their past friendship, but he hoped that it wouldn't linger in their minds too long. Perhaps if Axel could appear to distance himself from Saix, then maybe they might eventually forget about it.

Xaldin was showing promise in that regard. He never teased him about the day other than relating to Axel's undeveloped skills. All he cared about now was increasing Axel's skill as rapidly as possible. It was a tiring pace that Axel found it difficult to keep up with. Compared to the other times he had seen Xaldin, this was the time he looked alive, enjoying what he was doing, even if he was the only one. Training others in combat was probably something Xaldin did as a human. Or maybe it was something he wanted to do.

It was from Xaldin he learned that food was no longer mandatory for their form. As long as they rested in some way each day, like sleeping, it would help recover their bodies. Food was just another way of recovering energy. What mattered was that the member stayed in the castle because it would help repair their bodies from daily exhaustion. The more they stayed in the realm of nothing, where this castle was, the more they could recover. It took Axel a while to notice, but it was the walls that provided the lighting for the castle. During the day the walls of the rooms would be lighter. At night, they would turn a dark grey.

In a way the castle itself was alive. A non living thing was given life. Life which it shouldn't have. Just like the existence they weren't allowed. Yet, they were still here. They could still feel things physically. Pain, exhaustion, gaining strength from training, he could feel all of that. It felt real. But they weren't really existing anything emotionally, were they? Much like how their names were now. Rearranging the letters, adding an X...a subtle reminder of who they once were, and at the same time being something completely different. What was wrong with keeping the same name they once had? Did Xemnas want them to forget who they were? What was the point if the goal was to become complete?

With this extra time that he would usually hang out with Isa, he had more time just to think and time to find those hidden rooms. Xemnas' office, the library, the basement levels, and many more. Axel wondered if the reason he couldn't find it was because it was a Corridor only location, just like the room with all those high chairs where he and Saix were brought into the Organization. Corridors could only be created if the Nobody knew the location of where it was going to be created. It wasn't just visualizing what the room looked like, but there was the actual location, almost like it was placed on a grid fixed into a Nobody's mind. It was a strange feeling, but it was something Axel was getting used to as he practised moving about the castle using Corridors. The issue of lack of colour or finding the architect slowly became less interesting as he continued his search. He found the almost childish concern die away.

What bothered him now was how the castle was designed. Saix had said it was in the basement of the castle where the scientists did their experiments. Despite that he not find the labs in any of basement levels of the towers. The castle had the main tower, or the core as Axel would refer to it, with several towers connected to it. As far as Axel could tell, he was going as far down every tower he could go.

It was one day when he had given up looking for it, did he find it. In one of the larger side towers he was going up the stairs to a higher floor. After walking around the floor he realized there was an extra set of stairs leading downwards, different from the ones he had come up on. Curious, he went down them and immediately noticed how new it looked. Most walkways were rarely used, but these looked like no one had used them. The hallway spiralled down around the tower, walls slowly fading to a darker grey and eventually coming to an end with a door. Axel had to throw his weight against it to open, causing the door to slam against the wall of the new room. Axel flinched at the echoing sound and waited for a response. When nothing happened, he stepped out into the new room.

The new room Axel had found wasn't a room, but a set of three branching hallways. One went straight ahead of him, and the one to his left curved off to what Axel assumed would wrap around the tower. The one on his right also curved off but went downwards as well. These hallways were darker, only brightening near an entrance to a room. There were no windows along the curving paths. It was when he came across a lab did he realize he was in the basement levels where the scientists dwelled. Unless, there were other labs hidden in the other towers. Still, Axel moved quietly, not wanting alert any Nobody that might be here.

Aside from small lab rooms, he found storerooms that contained flasks, cords, needles, and other objects that Axel wondered what they were experimenting on or from things they used to. There was one room that caught his interest that contained a large computer. It had a main monitor and two side ones. He approached it slowly, entering the dull red light provided by the main monitor. The main screen had an image of a red lock on it. In the black keyhole there was a blinking line to show where he could type text in. He didn't dare type anything in case it would set off an alarm. Unable to gather anything here, Axel left the room.

There was one more room down the hallway Axel was going to check out before he stopped for today. As Axel approached the last doorway he slowed his footsteps, hardly leaving a whisper of sound. This time as he came closer, he heard voices.

A cracking voice came, "Xemnas, this isn't a good idea." The voice was loud enough to hear, only Axel had to listen carefully to make out the words. He pressed himself against the wall right beside the doorframe. He looked above and saw a label with 'IV' written perfectly straight, clear and clean. It was Vexen's lab.

"Damn right it isn't." Vexen's bitter voice came clearly. Axel didn't dare peek into the room, in case the doorway was in Vexen's line of sight.

Another crackling voice, this time Axel recognized it was Xemnas' dull tone. "There will be no harm to come from this. If it doesn't work then we'll exterminate him." Axel tensed from Xemnas' words, as it was only a small possibility it didn't refer to him or Saix. Judging from the quality of the voices, Xemnas was talking with another Nobody elsewhere, and Vexen was eavesdropping.

The first voice spoke, "Why are you bothering? We can't allow just anyone into our circle!" He recognized it as Zexion's voice. They were talking about Saix. It now seemed less likely it was a kind of trap as he could see the sudden invitation of Saix joining wasn't a group decision. "Surely between us four, can't we run the administrative positions? We don't need an outsider-"

"Zexion." Xemnas said calmly and quietly. "You know that won't be possible." Axel heard Vexen shuffle around. Suddenly the voices got a bit louder. "You and Vexen are researchers, both pursuing important tasks. You know Xigbar, he won't be helping us. While I could handle designing plans for the Organization, there are other things I need to pursue. I do not have the time to hand out roles to other members."

Axel had hoped for Xemnas to expand on the 'other things' he had mentioned, but unfortunately neither Xemnas nor Zexion said any more on that. Zexion must already know. What didn't make sense was Xemnas' plans for Saix. To what members was Saix suppose to 'hand out roles' to? There was himself, but what was the point? Xaldin and Lexaeus weren't mentioned, but he couldn't see them taking any orders from Saix seriously. As for Xigbar, Axel wasn't sure what to think of him. He hadn't dealt much with him at all.

As the Organization is now, there isn't much for Saix to be ordering around. Which meant that...Xemnas was looking to expand. Or he was looking at the possibility. Zexion asked the question on Axel's mind quietly. "How large is this Organization suppose to get, Xemnas?"

"Depending on what the worlds have to offer as they fall," Xemnas spoke as if calculating, "but I believe double the original size would suffice."

Axel took take a sharp intake of breath as Vexen cried out "Double?" Axel was startled, almost forgetting he was there. Vexen muttered quietly "What would he need twelve members for?" A total of twelve, meaning there was six original members. He agreed with Vexen. Why was there a certain amount he was looking for?

"Do you trust them?" Zexion spoke again, a warning creeping into his tone. "It has been a while since any of us had seen a Nobody that could take on a form like we have. Most people who fall to Darkness are not strong enough. They had strong wills too. Don't forget that."

Xemnas let out a dry laugh, making his stomach turn over. "Do what your instincts desire, Zexion. They will not harm us because like all of us, they only want their hearts back. We're going to need more to complete our goal. Regaining what we lost will not be a pleasant walk. Now Zexion, about that report you wrote up..."

Vexen seemed not to care about the rest of Xemnas' speech as he had turned off the device. Quietly Axel let go of the breath he was holding. So everyone but him and Saix knew each other. Whether they all knew each other as humans or they banded together as Nobodies about the same time, it didn't matter. If they could get one onto their side, they would have a major advantage.

He heard the swirling sound of a Corridor opening inside the room. Footsteps and Zexion's voice followed. "I still think this move is a mistake. At least, it's far too early."

"It seems what little memories he retained he seems intent on holding onto them." Vexen muttered. "Perhaps they mean something to him, but we're better off holding onto the ones as Nobodies." Axel frowned. So then, Zexion spoke with Xemnas and had Vexen listen in. But couldn't have Vexen went as well? "What about this expansion? This is the first I've heard about it."

"He won't care about the new members," Zexion replied. Axel heard a click. "He's just looking for that Key. The tool for regaining our hearts and..." Zexion trailed off. "Someone's there." He shuffled closer towards the doorway. Axel tensed. He couldn't run, it would make too much sound. If he slunk away, he wouldn't get away quick enough. And a Corridor would make-

"Don't bother. Whoever else you might you think it is, it's not. It's Xigbar." Vexen said coldly and Zexion stopped. "After all, he's the only one who knows where this lab is that would eavesdrop."

"Yes," Zexion said more to himself, "He does like to eavesdrop doesn't he?" Then he addressed Vexen, "You don't think it's the newcomers, do you?"

"Pah. Even though Xemnas seems keen on bringing number VII into his 'circle' he hasn't sent him to this lab. Yet." Vexen spat out the last word. "In another words, it's still safe here."

Zexion moved away from the doorway. Axel relaxed and slowly inched away. "We don't need to worry about them now. Besides, Xemnas wanted you to report in on your results before-"

"Yes, yes," Vexen said angrily, "it was too simple of a task. I'll go now..." Axel heard him shuffling some papers before a Corridor opened up. Axel decided he should be going too.

He heard faint murmurings from the room fading away. Axel only dared to open a Corridor once he had turned into an empty room. He needed to find Saix, but not yet. If Zexion still suspected him or Saix listening, then he would probably keep an eye on Saix, who was easier to keep track of. He chose to go to the city below the castle. He had been there a few times for training. He would stay out there for a bit before heading back into the castle.

As he travelled through the Corridor he felt a bit of a stronger pull coming from the Darkness. Axel ignored it and when he appeared in the city below the castle he remembered the incident from Saix's training with Lexaeus. Since then Lexaeus was quiet, hardly speaking to anyone, no where as expressive as before. Then again, Lexaeus' title was the Silent Hero. It only made him wonder why that day he was different. Were they against the decision as well? Was that their way of showing it?

Aside from it not being a group decision for Saix, Axel felt more relieved that the group already had rifts growing in it. Vexen didn't go with Zexion to talk with Xemnas was one. To eavesdrop, well, Axel being one, but Vexen listening on their conversation, especially since Zexion was in on it? No wonder why they could trust newcomers if they couldn't even trust their own circle. Their own leader. It wasn't just some kind of suspicion he and Saix felt.

At least Xemnas had put some kind of trust in Saix. Was it really the scolding he gave? It couldn't be something as simple as that. There had to be more. If Xemnas didn't trust Saix, then he didn't tell Zexion. This also meant that as close as these members were now, there were still things Xemnas didn't tell them.

OoooooO

"Heartless experiment log 204." Saix read the title of the crumpled and poorly sewn thick log. Holes were put into the sides of the paper and a durable string tied it together. Saix would have thought a metal or plastic ring would have been more stable, like the rings Zexion used to bind his logs. It was Vexen's writing, always legible, even if the writing was rather old fashioned if his memory served correctly. Zexion's handwriting was fairly neat which Saix was thankful for as he had seen how horrible his writing could be from rough drafts. Below the title the long tilted handwriting continued. "Beginning of combining living creatures and darkness," Saix muttered as he flipped open the log randomly, scanning the charts but not looking for anything in particular as he leaned back against the bookcase behind him.

He had not expected to be left alone for so long after the his battle against Lexaeus. Zexion must have been satisfied, no matter how out of the blue the results were, leaving Saix alone for well over a week, almost reaching two. The promised training Zexion had spoke of never came. Axel had been on a fairly tight training schedule while he had been given more freedom. He had only seen Axel briefly, and it was always with Xaldin around. Axel was getting trained for more combat from Xaldin since their styles were the closest in similarity, both using multiple weapons with magic to support them. Neither Axel nor Xaldin said a word about his own training which Saix didn't care about it. Being trained by either Lexaeus or Xaldin was not something he looked forward to.

During that time Saix had resumed his task of learning anything he could about the Organization. He started in the library which Zexion had shown him. There were summaries of the results from experiments put into proper reports, usually written by Zexion or Xemnas. They contained direction and theories of the results. What should be tested next, what should be looked further into. All experiments related to either the heart or Darkness. There were also the actual logs of the experiments of the two scientists – Vexen and Zexion, which Saix was currently going through and organizing the files. After writing them they would shove them neatly but disorderedly onto the shelves. The library was like what anyone would expect. Shelves, books, narrow pathways between bookcases. The room wasn't terribly large, about two to three times the size of Xemnas' office without windows or tables. This library was designed to hold the documents, not for sitting and reading. There were plenty of other rooms for that.

Compared to some of Vexen's questionable writing, the diagrams he drew were surprising clear. Most of the diagrams in this log were either of quick sketches of unstable experiments showing the Darkness either pouring out of the subject until it vanished or a detailed drawing of the subject being frozen in ice so Vexen could sketch it. Below any diagrams of frozen Heartless Vexen would indicate any unique qualities of the Heartless before 'storing it away' to an unmentioned location. Occasionally the frozen Heartless would be in an aggressive pose, sometimes appearing as if it was ready to attack. For those, Vexen would write it was destroyed, showing aggression to those without hearts, creating a threat to the Nobodies.

Another part that caught his interest was the materials list. Darkness was expected, as well as the living creatures. Sometimes animals or plants were listed. However, a few entries contained humans as the living creature which a very small part of him stirred. These results were surprisingly stable most of the time. The feeling felt more like a memory, of something he once believed in but grew out of long ago. A human was an equal as another other living being Vexen could test. Again, it was the fact that he didn't care that made him uneasy. To lose what we had once cared for, his own kind...is that what it is to live without a heart? To not care for those he should?

The feeling, if Saix could even call it that, was so minor it could be easily quelled. In order to look through the rest of this log, and any other logs that dealt with humans and who knows how much worse, he would have to put it on the side. Besides, if he was to be trusted, he would have to tolerate the same things they could. He would have to suppress anything that gave away the hint of heart. Even though they didn't have hearts, acting on memories was a sign of the past, of a heart. But shouldn't acting on the heart show support of wanting one back? Saix shook his head. He would deal with these thoughts later.

Saix flipped to the back of the back of the log to read Vexen's final notes. In summary, he wanted to continue experimenting with the animals and plants because he wanted to discover their stability point. Humans he found could easily be done and could be completed with someone of 'lower intelligence'. He had lots of materials for everything but further human experiment. He knew finding more humans for experimenting shouldn't be difficult for Zexion to find.

Saix closed the log as he mulled over the contents. Vexen didn't think Zexion was on the same level as him and Zexion was not apart of these experiments based on both of their logs, yet. Zexion's logs contained experimental data as well but a lot of it was theoretical. It was uncommon of him to do the experiments himself, as he would either pick up from the results of experiments Vexen had done or gather information from other members. At times Saix would come across some of Zexion's horrendous scribbled writing along the margins of the page. After wasting some time deciphering it, Saix found it was minor personal information Zexion had jotted down. The first one Saix had decoded had to do with a favourite type of sandwich he had liked as a human. After that, Saix decided it wasn't worth his time.

From what he had gathered, Zexion was always cautious when Vexen experimented. He tended to take risks that Zexion would prefer to stay away. Zexion wasn't the only one who wrote personal messages in the margins. Vexen's logs would contain some tiny rants which gave Saix some minor insight into his thoughts. Anything that spoke of another member was negative. Xemnas was rarely written about, and when he was, it was always in what felt like a rivalry. If it was in some way like that, then Saix felt he could use Vexen in some way.

Saix put the log back onto the shelf, but this time placing it at the far right end, a place he put any logs that held more importance than others. During his time here he had noticed that hardly anyone else accessed this room. Occasionally Zexion would come to get one of Vexen's logs to theorize on it, Saix suspected, and paid Saix hardly any notice. He hadn't seen Vexen and Xemnas enter this room, but that didn't mean they didn't need to.

Aside from the experiments, he had found some further information on Kingdom Hearts. There was only one report which was written by Xemnas. There was never any specifications on what Kingdom Hearts was but it could be completed by sending hearts to it. A Keyblade was a special tool deeply connected to hearts that could accomplish the task. It could free any heart it came in contact with. Unfortunately, there weren't any records on any Keyblade bearers running around now. It was odd how Xemnas never wrote that the completion of Kingdom Hearts would return their hearts. It was a piece of information that was told by Nobodies. This lack of 'official' confirmation only reinforced his suspicions that Kingdom Hearts could do more than what everyone else said.

Axel had been spending his time training, but to Saix, it seemed like they were wasting time. They had no enemy to fight against. Would they need defend against some unforeseen, or unmentioned, threat? The only threat Saix could see would be another world's inhabitants. Was the plan to go from world to world, finding someone who could use the Keyblade to defeat the Heartless? Like the Heartless Vexen had created in his lab? To regain their own hearts, they would have to take the hearts of others. How many would they need to gather? Saix grabbed another log, flipping it open without reading the cover. He couldn't find the answers here. For now, he needed to read anything to empty his mind at the moment.

It was a few days later when a Corridor appeared in the library while he reading. Saix looked at the Corridor for a moment, wondering how Xemnas would know where he was, as Corridors require a precise location to be summoned. Not coming up with an answer on his own, he entered the Corridor. Upon entering the office he saw Vexen placing papers on Xemnas' desk, where Xemnas was sitting reading over the them. He swept his eyes to the corner Vexen was last in, finding the low seated chair piled with books and rolls of paper. Vexen and Xemnas looked up at him as he approached. Vexen quickly flipped over the papers and picked up two round pebbles that had blended with the desk and walked up to Saix.

Vexen reached out and grabbed Saix's wrist roughly, shoving the two objects into his hand. "This is for you, so you can make yourself useful," he said with distaste. He let go quickly as if Saix had a contagious disease.

Immediately Saix could feel something buzzing in his head as he opened his hand. He felt his vision blurring slightly and then focusing sharply on the two objects. The two objects were tiny white spheres with a little stud coming from each of the objects. They glowed softy against the black gloves. He picked one up in his other hand, examining it closer. He heard a muffled voice nearby but paid it no mind. He noted that there were little dents and dips in white pebble. He looked back at the other one in his palm and saw it was covered in the same gorges. The single glowing white pebble against the black glove...

Tonight the moon was perfectly round. It hung larger in the night sky than usual, announcing its presence to the people below it. Even without a telescope, the the craters on the moon were easily visible. The glow covered the streets below, mixing with the streetlights.

Saix felt a swift whack on his head and turned around to Vexen who had his hand raised. His eyes were narrowed in impatience. "Pay attention! Xemnas asked you a question! You don't ignore questions from-"

"Vexen," Xemnas cut Vexen off calmly, "the reason he didn't answer is enough proof that it will work." Vexen turned away from Saix. Xemnas' tone was gentle though his face and eyes were blank. "Saix, I heard of your unusual strength from Zexion's report. He was able to hypothesize the source of your power from that one battle, which was quite amazing. Those earrings are a new creation from Vexen which imitates the moon. By wearing those you will be able to have access to the moon's power anytime. You would not be limited to night time to summon its power." For a moment Xemnas' eyes glowed. Saix didn't know if this place truly had a day and night, but these earrings would be useful in places that did have days and nights. But didn't he and Zexion agree that it was imagining the moon that summoned his...power? Or would an actual moon make it stronger?

"Lunar Diviner," Saix said slowly, preparing his words carefully, "is a title I've heard to prove, not earn. It is most unusual to know of one's potential beforehand." Last time he had asked, it was a fancy title. After the battle, there was something off.

Vexen interjected, "You asked this last time and you still don't understand? Xemnas," he turned towards him, "do we really need a Nobody who is infuriating among us?"

"Right now," Saix continued unfazed by Vexen, "there is evidence of to support this title. But before, it would have been based on conjecture. I would find that unlikely, sir." He knew that revisiting the topic would be dangerous. Now was the time to go back at it, but he needed to be careful.

Vexen was about to reply when Xemnas beat him to it, "Everything," Xemnas spoke slowly, "is predetermined." Vexen clamped his mouth shut, watching Xemnas. "I saw what you had to offer the Organization, and assigned you a role." Xemnas' eyes were flat and void of any depth they held a moment ago. He was not going to speak anymore on that subject. "There is a new task that I have for you Saix. First of all, Vexen..."

Xemnas turned towards Vexen now who was still unusually still and quiet. Saix pretended to look back at the earrings in his hand as he watched out of the corner Xemnas picked up the papers that Vexen had placed on his desk when he had entered. He could feel his vision shifting again but this time he had expected it and was able to restrain the change in focus. He was free to look at the earrings without losing focus of his surroundings. His question remained unanswered, and he doubted he would ever find the answer from Xemnas.

"As much I don't think they're worth it," Vexen spoke quietly but still easy to hear as he took the papers back from Xemnas, "it would be in the Organization's interest to make similar items for increasing our success. O-Of course," Saix frowned slightly at the faltering in Vexen's voice, "it won't take long at all. It'll be done in a day. Half a day. I guarantee it."

Xemnas didn't reply at first and Saix resisted the urge to look up. Instead turned an earring over to look at the stud. It wasn't anything special as far as Saix could tell, not that he was an expert on earrings. Finally Xemnas spoke firmly and even quieter than Vexen, "It had better not take any longer that half a day. I expect they will be done before tomorrow's mission. Take a currently owned item from the others to save you the trouble of creating them and just modify them. Give them an amplification on their strong point, nothing else."

"What about number-"

"No, it won't be necessary. Just those things." Saix finally looked up, he couldn't pretend any longer. Xemnas continued without pausing, "Remember, they must be completed before-"

"Of course," Vexen cut him off as he summoned a Corridor behind him. He gave Saix one last look and stepped through it.

The moment Vexen left Xemnas walked around the desk. Saix tensed as Xemnas placed a hand on Saix's shoulder and steered him towards one of the doors in his office. Without speaking Xemnas opened the white door to show only black shadows leaking out. The office room's light faded as the shadows hazed the room. Xemnas stepped into the room, Darkness swallowing him. Saix hesitantly stepped forwards, pausing at the mouth of the Darkness. From the Darkness he could hear the slow drone of Xemnas' voice. "Use your eyes, Saix. You will be protected." Saix stepped forward and for a moment he felt the Darkness press against his body then quickly scurried away like dogs inspecting a new visitor, backing off once disinterested. Looking behind him, he saw a faint rectangular haze of light, back where the office was.

Turning towards what Saix suspected was the center of the dark room, he found he could make out shapes from the eerie green radiance emitted from the hovering monitors and keyboard from the central mass. Along the walls of the room pods were lined up, about the size of coffins, all appearing dark grey in colour. Cords, wires, cables and beams sprung from the pods, the low ceiling of the room, and the upper walls, entwining and twisting with each other, some meddling together to the central mass in the room. This central mass had a spherical base that seemed to shift its form, never having a defined shape. From the top of the changing spherical base came an iconic heart shape reaching the ceiling. The heart as far as Saix could tell from the coloured light, was lined with a reddish brown rim with the same reddish brown crossing the heart forming an 'X' with jagged lines. Xemnas stood beside the terminal, black coat looking more blue green and his eyes dull green. The shifting base reached up to his waist, jutting out a keyboard above it. In the center of the large heart shape were three monitors.

Saix approached the terminal, warily watching the shifting base. His boot caught on the ground cables but he caught himself from tripping. He then stepped carefully avoiding the wire and cables, his eyes slowly adjusting. Once when he was in front of the central mass did he look up at Xemnas who was typing away at the keyboard. Saix watched the windows on the screen open and close too quickly for his eyes to read. The only thing that did not change was symbol in the bottom right corner. It was similar to the one the monitors rested on except the colours were clearer. Black background with a deep red outline and jagged 'X'. This one however had a three spiked base. "What is this?"

"Our Organization's hopes and dreams." Xemnas answered without pause. "This is how we will gain back our hearts." The windows changed from showing text and charts to diagrams. The diagrams showed sketches and wire framed plans of a creature. The creature's design has two legs and two arms with a helmet of some sort on its head.

The base began to shift faster, before having a piece separate from the base. The piece formed the heart with the jagged lines first, then forming a shape beneath it. The shape stretched into what looked like arms and legs, finally producing a head with a silvery helmet with yellow glowing eyes beneath it. It had taken on the form of the creature in the diagram. Once fully formed it landed on the ground and danced about on its feet. It looked at Xemnas and Saix curiously then suddenly plopped itself down on the wires on the ground and sat motionless.

"Heartless always seek hearts, and if there are no hearts..." Xemnas turned to look at the motionless Heartless. Then he turned back to the machine, typing away. "This machine replicates the process of heart becoming contaminated with Darkness to become a Heartless. To differentiate Heartless created from this machine than those created naturally, an Emblem is placed on it, earning the name Emblem Heartless. Natural Heartless which do not bear the Emblem are called Pureblood Heartless and are worthless to us. The creation of the Emblem Heartless is our current priority."

"A Keyblade can release the Hearts trapped by a Heartless." Saix recalled from his readings. "So then why must we focus on Emblem Heartless rather than Pureblood Heartless?" What he had read so far hadn't differentiated between the two.

"A Keyblade destroying a Pureblood will only put the heart back into Darkness, forming more Purebloods." Xemnas turned his head towards the Heartless with his usually hollow eyes. He gestured to the motionless Emblem Heartless on the ground. "A Keyblade destroying an Emblem Heartless will release those hearts to Kingdom Hearts."

"And the Keyblade? Do we have the tool?"

"Not yet. It is another reason why we must create more Heartless. The Heartless fear the Keyblade and seek it to destroy the Keyblade bearer. Do you see now why we must create more Heartless?" Saix nodded. "Now to aid our goal," Xemnas reached into the shifting base and pulled drew from it a long rod. The black liquid like Darkness slowly fell off of it, revealing a round musty green sphere at the end of the rod. "We need someone who can summon the Heartless and guide them to other worlds to consume more hearts." Xemnas handed the rod to Saix, the Darkness fizzing off.

Beneath the Darkness the rod was made out of dark wood. The end jewel of the rod was about the size of his fist. Saix could feel Darkness emitting from the rod. He glanced at the Heartless that had formed earlier and saw it's attention focused on the rod. It got up and began to dance again, bouncing in front of Saix. "This rod controls the Heartless?"

"Indeed. Whenever anyone refers to Heartless, we mean the Emblem Heartless. This staff is a replica of the original that could not control massive amounts of Darkness. This replica allows the user to have greater control of the Darkness. However, it also invites Darkness into the user the more it is used and can become overpowering. I believe we've found someone who can use this staff without the knowledge of being used as well. Therefore the next task is to ensure that this staff get delivered to the target and the original staff is destroyed. The location has been given to Xigbar, and I would like you to inform Axel that he will be going along as well." Saix gripped the staff harder. Axel was going to go out already?

"When do they depart?" Saix asked, not missing a step at Axel's name.

"Tomorrow," Xemnas answered simply. They watched each other, trying to read the other. "Sooner the better."

Not getting anything from Xemnas, Saix eyed the Heartless reaching up to touch the staff. "The only way to create the Emblem Heartless, is through this machine, and from experiments, correct?" Saix watched the large machine shift and turn. "It's inefficient. I understand that after being created, the Emblem Heartless will seek other hearts, collecting more. But perhaps, there could be a way to make it more...portable. A machine that could release Darkness into a forest turning everything into it's path into Heartless...wouldn't that speed the process up?"

When Xemnas didn't reply right away, Saix returned his eyes back to Xemnas'. Calm swirls of gold swam around. "Amusing you should suggest that, Saix. This machine is old. Part of Vexen and Zexion's task is to develop a way to mass produce Heartless. A device like that...Perhaps I could add that to their list."

"There could still be a main machine," Saix added rather quickly for his liking. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, "But perhaps a portalble one would allow better results. I've read through some of Vexen's logs and saw one pertaining to creating Heartless from living creatures. It's a shame that the unstable results must be destroyed to prevent destruction to Nobodies. However, if it was carried out elsewhere, in another world, we could just leave it there. It could consume that world with Darkness, without harming the Organization and creating more Heartless in the process." For something that was made up on the spot, it sounded good to Saix.

Xemnas smiled, his eyes holding a swirling storm. "I like the way your mind works. We'll see what Vexen has to say, it may be possible. There's one more another task for you- creating a database. You've done some reading, so you know the topics we research. Your next task will be to compile the data into the computer. There is a Chamber, the name of these computers, that you can use."

"How many are there?"

"This Heartless machine is one. It will access data on Heartless from the one you will be using and another Chamber that the scientists will use to input their results, rather than writing logs. The one you're using is very important. The other Chambers that I've mentioned will direct their data to yours, making it the center of information for the Organization. Your task is to organize it so for other members to access it from closely monitored branches." Xemnas paused in his explanation. How kind of him, Saix thought, for allowing members access to information. "Vexen and Zexion will also have access to the information on the Chamber you're using, as it will aid their research."

Saix noted he never answered the question. He suspected there must be more. At least one, a master Chamber, one that was more superior to the one he would be using. There must be a way for Xemnas to access the information too, especially from the sounds of it that Saix would be using it most of the time. Perhaps he could find information on Kingdom Hearts there. "Understood."

"Then go and take a break. Do not forget about giving the staff to Axel tomorrow." Saix looked down at the staff, twirling it slightly. The beady eyes of the Heartless followed the orb. When he heard Xemnas' voice whisper he had to look up to watch his mouth move to confirm that he spoke. "Do you still trust him?"

Saix closed his eyes, formulating a response. He kept in mind the reason Xemnas had supplied him for why he was to be his second. Not wanting to raise suspicion he replied, "I hardly remember who he once was," he opened his eyes, focused on the Nobody in front of him, "and who he is now is no one I could care about. I only care about becoming complete." Saix summoned a Corridor, but held Xemnas' gaze. Would he buy it?

When Xemnas didn't speak, Saix turned to enter the Corridor. He saw the Heartless follow his steps into the Darkness. As he left, he heard pieces of Xemnas' voice through the Corridor, "A Nobody is different, and cannot be trusted as the original may have been. I'm ecstatic you have learned that." Once surrounded by the Darkness of the Corridor he stopped and relaxed.

How could he lie so easily? It wasn't the truth. It wasn't...

He could trust Axel. They had a friendship to keep them together. Keeping bonds is how people could get through any kind of difficult patches of life. The clanking of the Heartless' helmet drew Saix's eyes to it. He moved the orb of the staff in front of the Heartless. It reached its hand up to touch the orb. Its eyes began to glow.

"Go on," Saix muttered, "go find yourself a heart." It retracted its hand and blinked. Then it vanished into the Darkness.

Back in his room, he left the staff propped against his desk and approached the mirror. The mirror hung on the wall with a small ledge below it. Saix imagined all bedrooms contained the same basic furniture as his and Axel's did. A bed, a desk with stationary items, a closest with extra clothing, a mirror...these items were somehow deemed to be necessary. A reminder of being human.

In front of the mirror he pulled his hair back to reveal his pointed ear. He held the tip of the stud at the earlobe and paused. Didn't he need a pierce a hole to put and earring on? He frowned in annoyance as he poked the surface of the earlobe as if to test it and found it slipped through. Saix eyes widened, knowing he hadn't had his ears pierced. He took the earring out, examining his ear and found there was a small hole right where the earring went through. He checked the other ear. It was not pierced as it should be. He raised the other earring to his non pierced ear and and poked the surface, finding it slipping it through easily as the other one did. He frowned but secured it in place and put the other earring on as well. Perhaps part of their non existence allowed such strange actions.

Once they were in place he could feel something buzz lightly in his head, like in Xemnas' office, but this time it was duller. Slowly it died down leaving a strange presence around him, as if he was wrapped in a heavy blanket. He closed his eyes.

He laid on Lea's bed with his arms folded on the window's sill as he buried his face into the sleeves. He had borrowed the pyjamas from Lea. They were fuzzy and soft, handmade by Lea's mom. They hid the fact that his hair was still damp, only feeling the coolness on his face where his hair dangled over it. He tilted his head up, staring at the moon and stars. It was late at night. No, it was very very early chilly morning. He didn't care that the cool air to spill into the room.

Isa felt Lea's weight as he clambered onto the bed and laid on top of his back. He turned his head and saw Lea's eyes turned sleepily towards the sky. He blinked slowly a few times before grinning weakly and burrowing his head into the back Isa's borrowed pyjamas, wrapping his arms tightly around him. Isa giggled as Lea's spiky hair tickled his neck. He turned back to the night sky with a smile on his face. He closed his eyes, relaxing in the warmth.

"Isa…" Lea mumbled into his back and he felt his smile die away."I'm really sorry. I shouldn't…I shouldn't have said that. I'm such an idiot…" Isa didn't say anything as he dug his head back into his arms as he felt the memory and the tears returning to his eyes again that night. Lea's voice wavered. "I just wished I had done something. Anything else than what I…"

He remembered that even ten years after that night's events, recalling the memory would make him sad. But now he felt nothing as if the memory didn't belong to him, despite the pieces of that night falling one after another…

Isa turned over in Lea's grip so that Lea was now lying on his chest. He lifted his head off the sill by propping himself on his elbows. "Lea…it's not…it's not your fault. Really. What you said…it actually helped. I wasn't expecting anything like…that." Isa twisted to his right to as best as he could and tried to reach the pillow at the end of the bed. He shifted himself, moving his head away from the sill.

Lea halfheartedly laughed as he tightened his hug on Isa. "I…I know. Your expression…" Isa smiled as he struggled to reach the pillow. Now they were lying on the bed completely, Isa just short of reaching the pillow. The tiny laughter lasted a few moments before turning into a gloomy voice. "But really, I should have seen the glass…but more importantly, the blood. You weren't going to die from such bleeding but still…It's just not fair. Why does everything…bad have to happen to you? What did you do wrong…?" Suddenly his head shot up, causing Isa to lose balance and falling flat on the bed. Isa groaned as he landed on his one arm stretched awkwardly above his head. Lea didn't notice, as usual. "I-I mean not that I expect that you did or anything wrong or something like that!" Isa tilted his head down at Lea as he wiped away the small tears in his eyes. His lips pouted as he said quietly, "I still don't get why you have to live with her. I know she's your mom and all but...you would be better off staying here."

Isa brought his arm from above his head, given up on grabbing the pillow, and wrapped it around Lea instead. He felt his voice catch, thinking about the idea many times before as he spoke, preventing his voice to stay steady even though it was pointless, "You know she can be really nice Lea. Mother and father…they weren't always like this. Your mother said it was a phase, right? They'll grow out of it…" He swallowed. Isa knew she only told him that to comfort him the first few times it had happened. Sometimes he really wished he couldn't read people's eyes so easily. He slowly rubbed Lea's back as if to comfort himself.

"Don't bother…" Lea rested his head on Isa's chest again. "I know that you know that she knows that she's lying…" Lea paused for a moment, thinking his words through. He yawned. "I'm sorry…"

Saix opened his eyes and saw his reflection in the mirror looking back with a forgotten softness in his eyes. It quickly vanished as he tossed the memory aside, not needing to show any weakness. He didn't need a child's memory here. In this empty castle he would have to be equally as empty. If he was to get closer and earn the trust of Xemnas and those close to him, he would have to ignore his memories. Memories of emotions.

Already Xemnas didn't mind the way Saix was around him. He wasn't provoking him like Vexen. If he could be everything Xemnas could tolerate...then perhaps it would be possible. So far, it looked like that fell under the definition of being heartless. Emotionless. A Nobody, a being who lacks a heart. Therefore, heartless in nature. He would have to become like that around all the Nobodies, not caring. Even though he and Axel had discussed this earlier...it now felt real. He really had to become this. He couldn't lose all his memories. He doubted he would become lost in his heartless state that he would completely forget what his goal was. With the ghost of the image he was fighting for always nearby, it would be impossible to forget.

He looked over at the two notebooks that lay on his desk. The blue one was barely used, as there hadn't been much to write about. Nothing that he didn't want another to read, anyways. He didn't trust Xemnas' words for a moment. He didn't expect someone to be looking through it daily. No, it would if Xemnas or another Nobody distrusted him after a time. The grey one remained blank, as Saix found no point in writing draft reports in it like Xemnas had suggested. Saix walked over to the desk and opened up the blue book to the newest page. He used the pen next to the notebook to add a tick to the ten ticks on the first line on the page. Each tick represented a day he chose not to write in the book. A day he chose to write an entry he would circle the ticks to indicate how many days had passed between entries. He had no other way of keeping track of time.

Saix capped the pen and opened the desk drawer, tossing the pen in. He stared at the grey notebook for a moment before tossing it in as well. There would be a use for it one day. He kicked off his boots, not bothering with his coat or gloves as he laid down on his bed and faced the staff. Slowly as he drifted off to sleep he felt his hands wrap around the pillow beneath his head.

Absentmindedly Isa stopped rubbing Lea's back and began twirling his fingers around his spiked strands of hair. Isa stared up at the ceiling, listening to Lea's breathing as he fell asleep.

He had gone home the following evening. She hadn't apologized for the destruction she caused. In fact, she ignored the matter all together. All the pieces were cleaned up from the front lawn by the time he came home.

OooooooO

The next morning Axel went down to the central room where he would meet Xaldin for training. This morning he found Xigbar and Saix talking in the room. When he entered, Xigbar called him over, waving a staff with a green orb on top. Axel's eyes flickered over to Saix's briefly, silently greeting each other, before returning to Xigbar.

"Ready to embark on your first mission?" Xigbar welcomed Axel.

"I guess," Axel replied, "What is it?" Were they finally going to do something other than training?

"Delivery." Xigbar answered and Axel felt disappointed. It was a change from training but... "Come on little Pyro, I'll show you the guidelines on how missions will be done. Course, there may may be some fixing that may need to be done, but we'll test run it."

Axel scratched his head, frowning at the nickname. "Delivery of the staff?" Xigbar nodded. Axel looked over at Saix. "Is that it?"

"The staff is a replication. The original must be disposed of so the replica can take its place. This replicated staff," Saix paused, calling a Heartless. It had a dark blue body with brown wings and wore goggles. The Heartless stayed near the staff and Xigbar curiously waved the staff around. The Heartless hovered near the orb of the staff and follow it as it moved. "Attracts Heartless. We will give this staff to a witch that can harness its powers, expanding the number of Heartless, and eventually leading the way to a Keyblade bearer. Xigbar is going to back you up, as you will encounter Heartless because of this staff."

"You don't have a problem with that, do you?" Xigbar teased as he tapped Axel's shoulder with the staff. Xigbar let Axel take the staff from him, frowning as the Heartless settled on his shoulder.

"No, but they are after hearts, aren't they? Why would they attack us? To take the staff away from us?" Axel looked at the Heartless then said, "Go away." It cocked its head curiously before vanishing into Darkness.

"Yes, that should be the case." Saix answered. Axel frowned. Should be the case?

A Corridor appeared and Vexen exited from it with a very small jar filled with some kind of black substance. Axel tensed as Vexen came closer, wondering if he been found out from the previous day. Vexen's eyes locked with Axel's and he felt Vexen's icy staring him down. He swallowed.

"For you," He said to Axel as he tossed a black jar at Axel like it was on fire. Axel caught it, cautiously watching Vexen. "It will amplify your ability to control fire. It's a special soot," Vexen said hurriedly as he glanced at Saix, "as promised." At this Axel gave a quick glance towards Saix, but saw that Saix made no acknowledgement to Vexen's promise, whatever it was. He heard Xigbar chuckle at which Vexen hissed at him, "And you should stop with your annoying habits!" Xigbar waved off Vexen's words as if it were smoke. "You better not break that staff. Or you," he looked at Axel.

Hesitantly Axel opened the jar. He put a gloved finger in and could tell while wearing his gloves it was some kind of jell than it was powdery like soot. "How am I supposed to use it?"

Vexen scowled, "Apply it to your skin. Face, hands, I don't care." Before Axel could say another word, Vexen spun around, turning to facing Xigbar now. He pulled something from his coat's pocket, an optional style of a coat a member can wear, and held out his hand. His face still wore an annoyed expression.

Xigbar reached out and accepted the item from Vexen. He opened his hand and two white bullets rolled on his gloved palm. Xigbar inspected them before speaking. "So you really did?"

Vexen scowled. "It's still in development. Don't use it unless you have to." Vexen's gaze was still fixed on him.

Xigbar finally caught Vexen's gaze and nodded. "It's hard to fix something that's broken and doesn't want to be fixed, right?" The bullets blurred in his hand and then disappeared from Xigbar's hand as he laughed. His eyes flicked to Axel's curious expression and then said, "Thanks for fulfilling my request. Go on, get back to work before Xemnas gets angry."

Axel saw Vexen's eyes swing over his own as well before muttering, "Do whatever you want," before vanishing into the Corridor.

The second Vexen disappeared Xigbar turned his attention to Axel and grinned. "Pyro, you can be just like me now!" He pointed to his scar. "Of course your tale won't be as grand as mine, but no one else has to know, right?" Before Axel could get a word in, Xigbar grabbed the staff from Axel and tucked the staff under his arm and then dropped his gloved finger into the jar. With the other hand he held Axel's wriggling head still as his jell-soot finger he drew one vertical line below his eyes on both sides of his checks. Then he pulled back just as Axel was ready to bat him away.

"Hey, hey-!" He stopped as he felt warmth from the spot where Xigbar had applied the soot. It spread across the surface of his cheeks before feeling the heat dig into his face and then throughout his body. The warmth settled down comfortably across his skin. He opened his palm and could almost see fire hovering above it. He pushed in his mind the image of a fiery castle, like the one in the town's center and saw a small tower of flame rise from his palm. It shifted to create castle with all of it's towers just as detailed as he could remember, the flames reflected in the same detail. Axel leaned over the small flame sculpture and breathed on it. It didn't waver one bit like he had expected it to. "Wow…" he said to himself.

"Now Pyro, this isn't the time to be digging around in memory lane." Axel looked up at Xigbar and saw he looked at it with a slight frown on his face. Axel felt a strange unease pipe up in his brain. For a moment Axel caught a far away look on Xigbar's face as if he was also caught in his memories before meeting Axel's eyes, his one eye as aware as ever.

"How do you know that I didn't make it up? I've got a great imagination."

Xigbar grinned once again as he tapped Axel's forehead, "It's got to come from somewhere. A castle that grand isn't something that can be created on the spot." Axel was about to ignore what he thought was an insult to his imagination before realized Xigbar's voice wasn't doubting his imagination. It was like a statement. A fact.

He had chosen to recreate the castle from his home because lately he had been thinking about it. Right now, they were living in a castle. While he had never rarely been in the castle from his world, he couldn't help comparing the two designs from the faintest traces of his memories. The occasional times he had been there was for rare dinner occasions that Isa had invited him to, or times they had sneaked further into the castle than usual. Only during those fancy dinner parties had he taken in the castle's interior, but was always overly decorated and dimly lit. The times when they had sneaked in they never paid much attention. Always keeping an eye out for patrolling soldiers.

Xaldin's training also reminded him of the soldier's training program he had heard many times before. It was rigorous if one wanted to be more than a a simple patrolman. The same sternness that Xaldin held for his training expectations was what he had imagined it would have been like.

Now Xigbar was commenting on his castle. It seemed that here that the memories of not only his past, but the central castle, was coming back with everything he did. A castle like that had to be one of a kind, since it had been long built before the recent ability to travel between worlds. For Xigbar to make such a comment, was it possible...Was he there the day Darkness was brought into his home?

"You say that as if you seen this castle before."

Xigbar's eye narrowed slightly causing Axel to feel cornered. He felt the fire in his palm waver. "So you say, but what does it matter?" Axel was taken aback by a strange response that even the fiery castle went out for a moment before rising up again.

"Axel." Saix's voice caused both Nobodies to turn towards him. Axel stared at him as if he had appeared out of nowhere, forgetting he was there the whole time. "Xigbar. You should head out on your mission. You can waste time chattering once your mission has been completed." His face held no emotion at all. Only his eyes held a slight alertness in them which held a slight warning in them. Saix was getting a little too good at playing this game. He felt the castle in his hands vanish.

Xigbar took the interruption to their conversation as an invitation to start their mission. "Alrightly Pyro, let's go." Xigbar grabbed the jar from Axel's hand and tossed it to Saix. "Sorry to bother you, but could you hold that for little Pyro here? I'm afraid he might lose it on his mission." Saix blinked blankly at the jar in his hands before watching Xigbar drag Axel through a Corridor.

"Whoa, wait!" Axel called out as he was pulled through the Corridor. As Xigbar vanished into the Corridor Axel turned around to see Saix watching him with a tiny smile of amusement. He felt at ease. It had been a while since he last saw Saix, let alone seeing him smile. Saix's face darkened from the surrounding Darkness as Axel was pulled in further. For a moment everything was covered in dark shades of blue and purple before dispersing into the walls of their new location.

The Corridor lead to a darkly lit hallway. It seemed that less than half of the hallway's lights worked, flicking on and off as if functioning on a faulty connection. From one direction, Axel could make out lighting, much lighter than the hallway's lights. The direction led further into the darker depths of the building. As his eyes travelled around, he noticed there were vines with thorns that wrapped around the light's rods from the wall. The vines hung down from the ceiling were parts were removed to reveal pipes criss-crossing over each other, draping down mostly along the walls, easily reaching the floor and making many piles that wove with each other. The vines were larger than what Axel had seen before, smallest ones easily reaching twice the diameter of a balled fist.

"Looks like you can't use your fire here," Xigbar warned, "Let's move without drawing attention to ourselves." He summoned a gun in his hand, holding the staff in the other. "Get your weapon out. I'll hold onto the staff."

Axel nodded. "Isn't there just Heartless here? And the witch?"

Xigbar stepped carefully on a thorny vine, slowly putting his weight on it. It crackled softly and crunched into pieces and he stepped down on it. "Hopefully. If there were people that are still alive we'll need to avoid them. They don't need to know of us. Try not to step on the vines if you can." Xigbar made his way down the hallway that led towards the lighter area, indicating for Axel to follow.

As they travelled down it the light became a light orange red and lighter. The end of the hallway led to another massive hallway that stretched out to the left and right of them. The source of the light came from the large windows that hung above them and along the hallway. From their position, they could only see the clouded evening sky. Seeing as how the hallway they were now in was covered with many of these large windows, and how it curved out of Axel's view, he guessed that the hallway that ran around the outside of this place. They mainly stayed along pathways similar to this one as they climbed up the large building. Occasionally they would have to weave deeper into the building. It was only when they had to go further away from the natural light when they might run into a dead end.

Even then, it was rare. Xigbar's guiding was going smoothly. Too smoothly.

"You seem to know where we are headed," Axel observed as he watched Xigbar briefly deciding which way to go at another branch of the hallway. They were inside one of the deeper hallways, having travelled away from the outer hallways for a while. "Have you been here before?"

Xigbar stopped and Axel saw his mouth frown slightly before turning into a grin. "Recon." A Heartless fell from the ceiling and Axel threw his chakram at it, destroying it easily. The Heartless that appeared here were not a threat, though they appeared more frequently the further they strayed from the outside hallway of the castle.

"Recon?"

"Reconnaissance." Xigbar spoke with a hint of triumph. He scanned the hallway for further Heartless. "I've been assigned recon here before. Why else do you think I would be assigned to work with you?" Axel was puzzled. What happened to the whole combat backup? Saix hadn't mentioned this. Not mentioning recon was rather unusual. Maybe on the off hand chance Saix had forgotten to mention this, seeing as Vexen had interrupted them. He would ask him later.

Axel changed topics. "So you don't have some kind of administrative position, do you? I mean, you are ranked as the second one..."

"Nope," Xigbar replied as he turned back to walking, "not for me. Numbers mean nothing. Look at Saix. It's all about impressions and choices, Pyro. I'm not interested in that stuff." Xigbar didn't show any disapproval towards Saix's rank. It was a good sign.

Axel didn't know what else to say as they turned another corner. Natural light glowed softly from the end of the hallway. Xigbar headed towards it which Axel appreciated. The twisting layers of thorns had grown thicker and covered more of the floors that it seemed impossible to walk without stepping on them. All they could do was crunch down on each piece without making too much sound.

Upon reaching the outer hallway again, Axel couldn't help but stop and watch the dusky sky. Usually sunsets or sunrises passed quickly. He felt he had been here a while, yet the sky hadn't changed at all. It a way it was comforting, as it had been a while since he could watch the sunset.

"Come on Pyro," Xigbar interrupted his thoughts, "let's get this done before the day is over." Axel faced Xigbar who was fighting a couple Heartless easily. He twirled the staff, vanishing a Heartless in the process. He whipped around, firing his gun at the ceiling. Axel heard the dissipation of a few more Heartless.

"Can't we continue this mission another day if we don't complete it today?" Axel asked out of curiosity as continued walking, not paying attention to the thorny ground anymore. It was all thorns and vines anyways. He felt a Heartless behind him so he spun quickly and threw his chakram at it. Instead of hitting a Heartless, it cut through a raised vine. Axel blinked. He was sure there was a Heartless.

"We can't return until we've been granted permission, which is given once we complete the mission." Axel slowly turned back to Xigbar who was scanning the ceiling for more Heartless. Finally, Xigbar lowered his gun. "It's one of the test run things. Don't want us to spend forever on a mission."

"How would they know when we've completed a mission?" He didn't carry any sort of communication device. Axel thought that the Organization would have something like that. Unless Xigbar had one with him.

"Who knows? Never know where a Dusk will be hiding." Axel glanced around the hallway out of instinct of the thought. He could see Xigbar was grinning as he stopped walking.

Axel muttered to himself, "Wonder if Xemnas put some kind of tracking or monitoring device in us when we became Nobodies…" Though Xemnas may have faith, for a lack of a better term, that Saix would become his loyal second or whatever, there still must be a way he was planning on making sure he wouldn't betray him. Would these 'tracking devices' be used to monitor what they were up to, besides being on a mission? Axel shuddered. If Xemnas had done that, then there wouldn't be a way for him and Saix to work together easily.

In his mind, he saw himself sleeping at night on the white bed in the castle. From the darkness Xemnas appeared. Slowly he approached, his dark skin barely visible from the shadows that formed his coat, framed by the silvery hair that was a pale ghostly glow. The two glowing yellow eyes watched his sleeping self as he stood towering over him. Xemnas leaned down and moved aside the bed sheet just enough to reveal a bare arm. From the darkness of his coat he pulled a long needle. Slowly, it was injected into his skin, a small pickle on his arm...

Xigbar's hollow laugh pulled him out of his thoughts. Subconsciously Axel rubbed the spot where he had imagined Xemnas had injected the needle into him. "Don't trust him do you?" Axel opened his mouth to reply but Xigbar continued, "Why would he? He's not the one in charge of missions. He just keeps everything in check."

The ghostly white hair dyed a darkened blue and the skin paled. The same haunting yellow eyes stayed, now with a scar between them. It would be such an easy task since Saix would know how to approach him without waking him up. Axel immediately denied such a possibility. "You mean Saix…" Axel attempted to speak steadily.

Xigbar took a step back towards Axel, seemingly enjoying their chat, "Yes, isn't he a nice fellow? I suppose he has to make sure the work is done properly because it's going to be his responsibility. Guess even friendship can't get in his way, hmm? Seems inhumane but hey, we're not even human, are we?" His mouth twisted in a grin and he leaned forward to keep his eye level with Axel's.

Axel stepped back as his mind whirled back to dark room. Saix wouldn't do that. Not to him. He shook his head slowly to clear his thoughts and looked Xigbar right back in the same glowing golden eye that Saix and Xemnas had. By ease of his memories he crafted an arrogant grin showing indifference. Would they ever stop picking at their friendship? Sure they arrived together... "You must be mistaken. Saix has never been a friend of mine. Saix is...someone I know."

Xigbar didn't falter as he tapped his left temple, "Oh I think there's been enough evidence. But I guess the past is behind you now, isn't it?" He was getting tired of this. What did the Nobodies know? All they had off of him and Saix was the fact that they came together, Axel knew Saix from before, saved him from destruction for being lost to the berserker...they could have just known each other from the same world and still stay with each other for company, not just because they were friends before.

Was everyone paranoid of newcomers? They wouldn't give them a chance to even prove they could be trusted. Other than Xemnas, oddly enough. This tracking device was only theoretical at this point. Xigbar didn't seem against them just...teasing them?

But there was something else that was off today. Maybe he was spending too much time around Xigbar but, if he had done recon, then why didn't they Corridor up? Surely he would know a room much closer that they could go to. He could understand not going there directly, not wanting to attract the witch's attention, but still...

"Why don't we Corridor up?" Axel broke the silence. He really wanted to get this mission over with. "You've done recon here so why don't we speed this up?"

"It's not safe." Light crunches echoed around them, both of them turning tense. The thorny vines shifted everywhere around them, moving about as if it was one big nest of snakes. Xigbar jumped up high appearing to land beside Axel but landing on an invisible plane a few feet off the ground. Axel blinked at the invisible block Xigbar had landed on as his gun disappeared, offering his hand to Axel. "Quickly. And don't let go."

Axel grabbed it and was lifted onto this invisible platform. It was flat and level just like any hard floor. He moved his hand to Xigbar's other wrist, the one holding the staff, so Xigbar could summon his gun again. Xigbar led the way moving more cautiously with his gun trained beneath them where the loudest scratching of vines was.

Axel looked out the window again and with a slightly higher viewpoint, he could see water. The ocean stretched out everywhere, bleeding into the dusky sky.

"Xigbar," he said quietly, not wanting to break his concentration, "Can you use this...ability, to move outside? Could we go up like this?" The vines were growing restless and began to pool together beneath their feet. If he could do this, why couldn't he...?

"Rather not," he said finally.

A large crackling exploded from the ceiling as the both looked to see streams of vines coming their way. Unable to move quickly, Xigbar let out rapid shots from his gun, only snipping off pieces as they were both knocked down to the ground. He lost grip of Xigbar as he tumbled on the vines, feeling the thorns scratch against his face. He quickly got up amongst the shifting thorns and vines, cutting himself a path with both chakrams. He heard the rushing of vines beside him as climbed up the vines hanging over the window. He followed their trail path, Xigbar being the target. The vines wrapped around his torso spreading to cover him completely. They held him outside of the building, beyond the ledge of the window. Before Axel could judge how to throw his chakram without hurting Xigbar, he flung the staff away from the vines and summoned his second gun, shooting the vines that reached from the building. The connecting vines snapped as Xigbar fell with pieces of vines wrapped around him. The air below him warped as he fell through the hole and disappeared.

Axel scrambled towards the ledge of the massive window and searched around wildly for Xigbar. He balanced carefully on the ledge of the window, watching the staff falling towards the raging waters below with the vines extending towards it. Waves crashed against the building and whirlpools surrounded it.

Temperature was typically warm. All year around they had seasons, but it was moderated by the surrounding ocean. The patches of ocean that was blocked in by the extending pieces of Radiant Garden was always peaceful. Outside of Radiant Garden, the ocean surrounding it varied. Some days it was equally as quiet. Other days it could be stormy and crash against the less protected areas of Radiant Garden. Lower levels would flood, damaging homes and streets. Those who lived in less protected area would move up closer to the castle. On those days the doors to the castle would be open for temporary shelter.

Where was the grounds for this land? He shook his head, dispelling the memory flash and the questions. The staff was priority. He took a couple steps back and then ran towards the ledge, leaping off of it and grabbing onto the vines pouring over the ledge. He felt the thorns pierce his gloves as he held onto the vines tightly. The wind blasted around him as he rode the vines closing in on the staff. Slowly he clambered down the vines, closer towards the leading ends. It caught the staff, engulfing it completely in thorns. The surrounding thorns began to blacken and grow larger.

The air beside the blackening thorns warped and purple darts shot out of it. The darts cut through the thorns quickly. Xigbar stepped through the portal, walking once again on an invisible platform in mid air, both guns glowing bright purple. The bullets freed the staff from the vines again as it continued its downward fall. Xigbar vanished a gun and put his hand through a warped air space. The staff's fall halted as a floating black gloved hand caught it, disappearing through the warped air beside it. Xigbar pulled his arm back from the hole and the staff appeared with his hand. The vines reared back from the vanished staff and paused for a moment before launching back at Xigbar. He quickly stepped backwards, vanishing into another warp hole.

The vines continued their launch through the already vanished warp hole. They turned in their course, doubling back and striking itself right beside Axel. In reflex he shut his eyes as he felt the pieces of thorns fly out and cut into his face again. He opened his eyes, as he felt the vines coil around his feet, torso, arms, cutting through the fabric of his coat, scratching his skin.

He let the fire build up inside him. Once he felt it burn underneath all of his body he released it creating a fiery aura to protect himself from the vines. He heard the vines snap and crinkle from the flames. He felt the wind rush past him as he fell from their grasp. He dispelled the protective fire and watched the vines withering, smoke pluming towards the sky. He glanced at the giant building. No, it was an old rusted thorn covered castle with-

His arm jerked upwards suddenly as a black glove gripped his arm tightly. He cried out in from the painful stop and looked up at Xigbar leaning out of a warp hole. He glanced down at how close to the water he had fallen. "Thanks." He felt a plane rise to meet his feet. Xigbar didn't let go, tugging towards the warp hole.

"We're going back," Xigbar explained, "It's not safe here."

"Whoa, what about the permission to return to the castle?"

"Tch," Xigbar gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll get you somewhere safe then I'll-" A large roar of splashing drowned out his words and they looked around for the source of the sound. Fluid movement caught Axel's eye as he looked at the castle to their left. A wall of water spiralled upwards from the ocean around the castle. It gathered into one large sphere level with them. The sphere bent out towards them before breaking out, jetting out at the pair. The narrow stream missed Axel but hit Xigbar in the head. The platform beneath Axel vanished as he fell, with Xigbar tumbling out of the warp hole. The staff fell from his grip, plunging into the water with them.

He felt the water pound his body and surfaced quickly, looking around for Xigbar with his soaked bangs covering his eyes. He gathered a large breath of air and dove under the water. He forced his eyes open and saw Xigbar sinking into the water. Beyond Xigbar, he could see the castle continued far below the surface of the water. He kicked furiously, unzipping the now weighty coat and swam out of it. He grabbed Xigbar and struggled his way back up. Surfacing, he kept Xigbar's unconscious head above the water, searching for the staff. It floated not far off and he swam over to it. With his teeth he yanked off the gloves, tossing them to the waves. With his bare hand he gripped the staff, feeling the wood tingling on his hands.

Xigbar coughed, spiting water out of his mouth. He squirmed out of Axel's grip, drawing both his guns at Axel. Axel defensively held the staff between him and Xigbar. Xigbar blinked, registering it was Axel and not some vines that was holding him. He lowered his guns, dissolving one as he grabbed Axel's arm and pulled him through a warp hole. His stomach turned as he felt the water waver and vanish. The water and Xigbar blurred for a moment before his sight on Xigbar sharpen again, but the surroundings changed. They were right beside the castle on a rocky shore.

"Stay here," Xigbar said as he grabbed the staff from Axel. He opened a Corridor and vanished before Axel could follow.

Axel's mouth hung open at the vanished Corridor. "You said you couldn't-!" Axel yelled pointlessly at the thin air.

Axel kicked the ground. Water dripped down from his drooping hair, making small splatters on the ground. He began to wring out the water from his hair but then he paused. He let his hands heat up, much like how a hair straightener would work and slowly ran his hands over his hair. It dried quickly. He heated up his body the same way to dry himself off as he combed his hair back with his fingers.

He thought that maybe taking a cold shower would reduce the dizzying sickening heat of the fever. It only lasted while he was in the shower. Half an hour after he got out from the shower, his hair and skin was just as dry and shakily hot as it had been before he had the icy shower.

Once dry he allowed the fires inside to burn a little to keep him warm. It was more for comfort in this place. He wanted to get out of here now. It made him feel sick and his head hurt. Nothing here made sense to him. He looked up at the castle above him. From his angle, he couldn't get a good view of it, since he was right below it.

The castle from home was pretty high too. Axel sighed and walked around its base, trying to piece together what was going on here.

Xigbar just used a Corridor when he said it wasn't safe. Xigbar said he had done recon, so he knew the layout of the castle, but it wasn't mentioned from before the mission. It made sense he could Corridor up without a problem. Then the question was why it wasn't safe? They had been planning on walking to the location together, so Axel couldn't see it as him being inexperienced as a problem. Then maybe, had the castle changed since he had last been here? So he would know where to go if he was in it, but afraid it had changed too much that he couldn't go higher?

Xigbar stepped carefully on a thorny vine, slowly putting his weight on it. It crackled softly and crunched into pieces and he stepped down on it.

But Xigbar hadn't been in the castle recently. He hadn't seen the thorns before. Axel wondered what the castle must have been like without those thorns. Perhaps he should ask Xigbar. Could it compare to the clean and decorated castle of Radiant Garden?

...a small tower of flame rise from his palm. It shifted to create castle with all of it's towers just as detailed as he could remember...

He remembered Xigbar's comment on the castle. Then his knowledge of this castle in front of him. Axel felt his chest tightened. Had they really come to his world and spread the Darkness? Did they also explore the castle to such extent when they did?

Axel shook his head. There was too many castles. It was crazy to even propose that this castle was even remotely like the one back home. He tried clearing his mind as he looked at where he had walked. He hadn't gotten far from where Xigbar told him to stay put. The tanned sharp rocks that surrounded the castle paled to a cold white almost in the shape of a door in front of him. He abandoned his confusing thoughts for curiosity. He reached out to touch the white rocks. They were much smoother than the tanned rocks appeared to be. The rock his hand rested on pulled into the other rocks sharply and Axel stepped back quickly. The rest of the white rocks moved away from the center of the door like shape. They mysteriously buried into the surrounding tanned rocks, revealing an opening.

Beyond where the white rocks were, a dark grey hallway led downwards into the darkness. Axel cautiously stepped towards it, leaning inside. The walls where the same grey white that the current castle he was at had. Even the very texture looked the same...

"Axel." Axel turned around sharply at Xigbar's cold voice, mind jumping from the lack of nickname he had quickly grown used to. An unamused gold eye watched him, finger pointing at a Corridor beside him. "Let's go." He was still wet.

Axel looked between the hallway he had found and Xigbar. He didn't look like he was in the mood for debate. Not only that, but Xigbar had his gun out still. Instead of it's usual light purple colour, it was white. Were they still not safe here?

"Xigbar, there's this passage that-"

"Not now." Axel flinched at the sudden cut off. "We've done what we were assigned to do. We're getting out of here. Now."

Not wishing to make this mission any worse than it already was, Axel walked towards the Corridor. He was right; they weren't here for exploring. "Alright, alright. Let's head back then. But I think someone should come back another time and take a look at that doorway." His feet stepped into the darkness.

He heard Xigbar walking slowly behind him. He kept walking as the Darkness swallowed the landscape around him. Once in the Darkness of the Corridor he felt an itch on his back. As he reached back to scratch it as the whole area around him lit up. He closed his eyes from the brightness, but it still persistently blinded him. He felt himself hit the ground, a dull throb in his head. Slowly the white light darkened as if he was falling asleep.

"Ahh, but Flamsilocks," Xigbar's voice echoed strangely as if he was dreaming, "there are some things that are better off forgotten."

OoooooO

Right after Axel and Xigbar left Saix went straight to Axel's room to drop off the jar. He took off a glove and stuck a finger in the black gel. He could feel it was warm as he spread out the gel to a thin layer so that he could see the tiny black flecks of soot mixed in. He rubbed the gel between his fingers and then cupped his hand.

He thought of the sun. The lacking sun in this nighttime world. From the black gel small flaming spirals rose to hover above his palm, weaving together to make a sphere. The sphere was small, something Saix found himself easily handling this time. While he could use magic, like any Nobody, he had less control due to his 'berserker' attribute. He had next to no time in training in magic as well as combat. Axel had given him a start back when he first began training, but there was no time for that anymore. It had to be the soot that made it easier. It was like Vexen had said.

He didn't understand why Vexen had insisted to him that he had completed it on time. It was Xemnas that had told him the deadline, not himself. Then why...?

He extinguished the flames, leaving the smoke to slowly waft up. He put the lid back on the jar and decided that Axel would probably need some kind of brush to apply the gel, unless he wanted sooty hands all day. Brushing what he could of the soot off on his coat he put the glove back on and tried to recall what Axel had found in the castle. He had come across some storage rooms containing various items in the side towers of the castle. The tower closest to the large room which was turning into a lounge room.

Down on the floor, there was a main hallway which led in a circle which had a bunch of smaller rooms attached to it. Each room was sorted based on what it contained, but not in any particular order. All rooms matched the grey tones of the castle. One room had extra clean and neatly folded bed sheets and pillows. Another had old gears of all sizes. Some were damaged, badly cracked, and some were even in good shape. They weren't white, but a coppery colour instead, standing out from their surroundings.

Finally he found the room Axel mentioned containing writing materials. Saix felt a slight chill as he entered the small room with shelves lining the walls. There was a small darker grey step ladder so that someone of Saix's height could reach all the shelves. On the shelves there were light grey boxes sorted by what they contained. Saix didn't move the step ladder from where it already was, the spot where Axel might have used it, and took the least dusty box and opened it. After pulling out a sheet of paper stacked inside the box it was evident it wasn't the usual paper that Vexen and Zexion used to write on. Saix checked the box next to it and found the same thing. Axel didn't mention was the paper stored in that room was not meant for writing. If he had pulled it into the light he couldn't have missed the rough texture of the paper. Each box stored different thickness of paper and size too. Some of the top papers were stained. Mostly black, but sometimes a pale blue.

Frowning, Saix looked around the room at the boxes on the shelves. On the other side of the room there were smaller boxes which had been moved recently by the gloves prints on the dust. Moving the step ladder over, he began going through the recently opened boxes. There was an entire box full of the standard pens that he had were stored in the desk in his room. Another box had frail pens he had seen Xemnas use. Another box held the finer tipped pens. They seemed familiar and he wondered if maybe it was the kind Zexion or Vexen used, as those were the only other two he had seen write. He could remember Xemnas' because of how frail it was. He imagined it would crush easily, not making it ideal for one to write with. Then again, it was Xemnas using it.

Saix picked up a few pens of different styles that didn't match Xemnas' or the scientists' style and placed them on a small space between boxes on the shelf. Just as he was going to put the mixed box back, he saw another box behind it. Even though it was hiding in the shadows of the shelf above it, Saix could see it wasn't grey like the other boxes. Putting the mixed pen box down on the ground he reached for the other box.

A rare colour of olive green spotted with other shades of green, blue, and pale pink covered the box. The lid of the box had fewer patches of colour but there were patches of olive green that was worn out showing the wooden base beneath. He felt the need to take the lid off carefully and placed it on the open shelf space. It felt like the source of colour for the castle was contained in one box. Brushes with varying colour of handles in shades of reds, blacks, blues, and green filled the box. The tips had different lengths and widths and were stained with faded colours, most of them being grey, blue or green. Most brushes had the bristles bent. Handles were stained with colours as well and chipped revealing the wooden handle.

Saix stuck his stuck his hand into the box and dug around hoping there would be an unused brush. The further he looked down the less abused they looked. Finally at the bottom there were a couple used brushes, only slightly worn from being at the bottom. Saix picked a small one with thin hairs and placed it next to the pens on the shelf. As Saix put the box back he noticed that beneath the spotted coating there was some faded writing. Pulling it back out he tried to read the loose looping handwriting. He didn't recognize it as Xemnas', or the scientists, and it was a lot softer and delicate. He looked over the box for more writing, trying to find the phrase that was once written on it hidden from coloured spots and worn from time. Unable to find the completed phase, Saix stared at the one word that was legible. Perhaps it was the beginning of a longer word, but he couldn't read beyond the 'n'.

Saix put the box back, mentally adding it to the mysteries of the castle. The colourful box that is 'Even'.

OooooooO

"…wake up." A tug on his shoulder, "you don't want to be late for work, again."

"Isa…just a bit…" Lea mumbled folding his arm over his head to cover his ear. Already he could feel the sunlight peek into his eyes.

Isa's voice sighed. A rap on his head. "Time to wake up-"

"-Axel." The dream- or perhaps it was a memory- was erased by the dull grey walls and the open window of darkness. The illusion of sunlight tingled against the skin of his face. A voice without any hurry spoke quietly again. "Time to come back," Axel rolled over and saw Saix sitting on the edge of the bed calmly. He sat up slowly and stopped when he felt the smooth material of the black glove against his shoulder. Axel blinked as he stared at Saix's gloved hand. He looked down his waist nestled by the thin white sheet of the bed, the black pants hiding beneath. He scanned around his room. It was just him and Saix in his room. The only other article of clothing he could see was his boots set neatly on the floor by the edge of the bed.

What had happened to his coat? And his gloves? Had Saix put them in the closet?

"Why…?" Axel trailed off, not sure what to ask. Why didn't he remember going to sleep? Why was Saix with him? He felt slightly chilled by the lack of fabric against his arms and rubbed them lightly.

"You messed up and your mission," Saix replied as he got up from the bed as soon as Axel had rubbed his arms. Axel's arms felt sore as he rubbed them. He couldn't remember why though. Suddenly he felt a bundle of cloth thrown against his head and turned to its direction at Saix. His mouth formed a hint of a smile as if to say 'Sorry, it was an accident' as he closed the closet door.

"Thanks," Axel said quietly with a smile as Saix walked back to the bed and sat back down. Saix also placed a new pair of gloves beside him as Axel slipped on the clean coat, but didn't bother zipping it up, just wrapping it around himself. "What the hell happened to me? My arms are sore, everything feels sore...and what happened to my coat?"

"You don't remember?" Saix asked. Axel shook his head. "Xigbar said you may not remember, as you had taken a hit to the head from a giant Heartless. It was attracted to the staff that you two delivered." Saix concluded his short report.

Axel rubbed his head, not recalling being attacked by a large Heartless. He remembered there was Heartless, but smaller ones. "The mission with Xigbar...Was it anywhere near water? I remember seeing that. And..." He trailed off. He was drawing a blank.

"No, there was no mention of it." Saix paused, flicking through his memories. "However...Xigbar wasn't dry. He wasn't soaking wet either. A little damp one might say..."

Axel frowned. "Wasn't the mission reported to you? You were in charge of it after all."

Saix sighed, "Only briefly. The entire mission wasn't reported to me. Xigbar came back and literally dumped you on me and told me to leave and 'clean up my subordinate's mistakes'. The rest was reported to Xemnas. As I left, I did catch him saying he didn't want anyone going there again. Do you know why he would say that?"

Axel shook his head. "No. Other than the Heartless threat that knock me out I guess..." Then he remembered he had something more important to tell Saix. While it bugged him not to remember, he should deal with what he could remember. Recalling Vexen's comment on Xigbar, Axel leaned forward and whispered in Saix's ear, "Is it just us here?"

Saix pulled back, reading Axel's eyes. He nodded. "What is it?" He asked quietly.

"Two things." Axel said quietly. "One, we're the outsiders to this group. They all know each other. In fact, I'm certain that they all came from the same world. Or at the very least, they joined at the same time. Zexion and Vexen don't trust outsiders. Us."

"You were eavesdropping?" Axel nodded. For a moment he felt like Saix should scold him for doing something like that. "What else?"

"That strange thing is that...Xemnas trusts you." Mild surprise crossed his face. "I know. Well, he doesn't believe you'll be a threat. If that counts as trust. And...he's looking to expand the Organization."

"We can use that. Especially since the members already here don't trust us..." Saix muttered. "Why don't they trust us?"

"Well, 'they', being Zexion and Vexen. I can't speak for Lexaeus and Xaldin." Other than that one day, neither one of them had shown any grudge against them. The more he hung around Xaldin, he saw it was more in a competitive spirit than a grudge. "The two scientists don't have a reason, other than not knowing us. And Vexen isn't very high on Xemnas' list...he was eavesdropping on his and Zexion's conversation. With Zexion's knowledge."

Saix thought it over, coming to the same conclusion Axel had. "He would probably be the easiest to use. He won't work for us...but we can make him follow our plans without him knowing. There will be an opportunity, I'm sure of it."

Axel nodded, ending their conversation. They sat in silence for a moment before Saix got up.

"Rest," Saix said quietly. "there's something I wish to show you, but another day." Axel looked at him and felt a slight nagging of curiosity. When Saix didn't continue, his curiosity died as well. Saix began to leave.

"Wait." Saix paused before the Corridor. "A Key. Xemnas is looking for a Key. Do you know what it is...?"

"A Keyblade," Saix answered immediately. "A tool that can release hearts from Heartless. The released hearts will form Kingdom Hearts. Which in theory..."

"...Would bring back our hearts." Axel picked up. "Be careful, Saix. I don't think Xemnas gave you a Second's position because he think you're capable. It's a trap." Even though Xemnas had said otherwise, maybe he had something else planned. If he didn't, then the scientists might. "If there's something odd going on, you need to tell me. Playing along wouldn't be worth it. Getting through this together is important."

Saix nodded. "Goodnight," he said as he left the room.

Axel laid down on his bed, not moving or thinking for a few minutes. Eventually his eyes travelled to the jar on his desk. He got up and noticed a small brush and a white cloth with black smudges on it beside the jar. He picked up brush and ran his finger over it. It was smooth, never used. It was fine tip, used for painting with delicate mediums.

They were at another small art gallery. Most of the artwork displayed had the artists who made them there as well. Some were collections that richer families displayed for others to see or envy. Lea followed his mom as she went from one piece to another. She said he was too much of a teenager to appreciate such fine art. To Lea, if it looked like a flower, then it was a flower. The praises his mom would talk about brush strokes or techniques about the type of paint used didn't mean much to him. She was fond of landscape paintings from the islands nearby Radiant Garden and some of the rare plants that grew there.

At one point his mom was given a chance to look at some of paint brushes used to make a painting of a flower. "Look Lea," she smiled excitedly, showing him the brush, "See how fine this brush is? Well, some of the bristles aren't as straight as they were, but the hairs are much finer than say, this one." She held out another brush for him to feel. It felt much coarser than the fine brush she was talking about.

Axel picked up the jar and brush and brought it over to the mirror. He unscrewed the lid and dipped the brush into the gel.

A small girl appeared beside them in a white dress. "Are you an artist too?" Her blue eyes watched curiously. "You know a lot."

His mom laughed lightly and bent down meet eye level with the girl. "No, I'm afraid I can't afford the munny or time for painting. I took lessons when I went to school many years ago. Is this your mother's display?"

The girl nodded and Lea looked at the paintings. Most of them were of flowers. They varied from one flower or bouquets of flowers. The occasional landscape was there as well, depicting the wild plants that grew from some of the islands. This artist was lucky enough to travel to the islands. Lea had been lucky enough to see them for himself when Isa's family had taken him one summer.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw scratch marks covering his face. He frowned. More things he didn't remember. The black markings Xigbar had given him were gone. He glanced back at the white cloth on his desk. Saix must have wiped it off. He wondered what he should paint on his face. Or maybe his wrists. He looked at them and realized he wouldn't be able to paint both wrists easily.

"They aren't hers though. A friend gave them to her."

"Wow. She is quite lucky." She was amazed, and Lea could also hear a bit of envy in her voice. To begin painting cost a lot of munny and time. Even if a painting is completed, it didn't mean it would sell. The price a painting needed to be sold at would need to cover the costs of the materials used and time. An artist would that would have to have lots of munny to give away such a consuming task was unbelievable.

He held the brush tip below his eyes. Maybe where Xigbar placed the marks was a good idea. He placed a small black dot below both of his eyes.

"Yeah, but he doesn't paint anymore." Lea was surprised that it wasn't her father who gave them to the girl's mother, but a friend. "He was really nice though. I wish he would visit again." He looked back at the girl with saddened eyes. His mom placed a reassuring hand on her hand, lightly brushing her dark red hair.

He added a small triangle to both circles. His intention was to draw two halves of a heart. He realized they looked more like upside down tears than hearts. He put the jar down and screwed the lid back on. He grabbed the white cloth, wrapping it around the brush and placed the brush beside the jar. They rested on the small ledge the mirror offered.

Back at the desk he opened the small notebook Saix had given him. He opened it a few pages in and drew the two upside down tears. Then he drew them overlapping each other and lightly shaded over it. It formed a heart.

That's what they were after. Getting his and Saix's heart back. They had to find a way for Saix to rise up, to be on par with Xemnas, and finding out exactly how to get their hearts back. If Xemnas was going to get in their way then they also had to find a way of taking him down without having the remaining members kill them. They would have to make allies with any new members. Well, Axel at least. He doubt Saix could afford to risk the small trust, no matter how strange it was from Xemnas, by being friendly all the sudden with the new members. Unless, Xemnas called for it.

Axel could finally see how things might shape up. He had hope. A faint dull hope, but more hope than he had for a while.

OoooooO

A/N: First trip back to Radiant Gar-well, Hollow Bastion.

Vexen's name is Even but...if you saw that, wouldn't you think it's a word, not a name too? Could be 'Even though...' 'Event' 'Eventually...' or 'Evening box of colour'. You get the point.

Next chapter will be posted...I don't know when. I'm hoping before school starts, but I really don't know.