Author's Note: I think this chappie officially makes this story AU b/c of the presence of the Riku Replica. I needed someone to keep Roxas occupied while Axel was busy and well, who else could fill the void?
I'd like to thank everyone who's still reading this. I know it's not as good as DYTR.
Warning: Aku/Dem
Disclaimer: I don't own KH
Introducing the Competition
Axel staggered towards his door. If Xaldin ever complained of talking bric-a-brac again, he was getting a chakrum in the eye. As much as he liked cats, he had the distinct feeling that heavily artillery should not meow and purr. He was looking forward to a long, hot bath (and something extremely alcoholic) and if he ever saw another elf again it would be too soon.
He was just opening the door to his room when the scream rang out through the castle.
It was Roxas. He could never mistake his friend's voice. In fact, he was so attuned to Roxas that he could tell the difference between his dammit-Bowser-that-was-my-last-continue scream and his Xigbar's-found-my-Pocky-stash-again scream.
This, however, was the scream of someone in deep distress, like and innocent soul suddenly finding itself in the seventh level.
His fatigue forgotten, Axel began running towards the noise and his friend's aid.
888
"Roxas! For the love of Kingdom Hearts stop!" Xaldin shouted at his subordinate. He didn't need this. Today had been perfectly rotten and here was the icing on the cake. Roxas throwing a tantrum was bad enough and it was sure to bring Axel running. The absolute last thing he wanted to deal with today was the twitchy pyromaniac.
He'd known the mac and cheese ban would get him into trouble.
"It wasn't my idea Number XIII. Superior forbid me to make it again," Xaldin groaned rubbing his temples. "You'll just have to eat something else."
"I don't like anything else!"
"You like ice cream," Lexaeus said calmly.
"That's beside the point!"
"You like eating my blood, sweat, and tears," Demyx said nastily. In his initial outburst, Roxas had (accidentally) knocked over Number IX's half-built sugar and chocolate model of Castle Oblivion. The Melodious Nocturne was now sweeping up the shattered sugar.
Roxas subsided a little. He was sorry about the castle but that was it. The macaroni and cheese ban was unforgivable. He'd just spent eighteen grueling hours trying to play a card game that even Luxord couldn't make sense of (the Gambler was currently having a lie down with a cold compress on his forehead to soothe his strained synapses). If he ever heard the phrase "duelist spirit" again someone was getting a Keyblade up their nose. He wanted his comfort food!
The door to the kitchen burst open.
"Where's the fire?" Axel shouted flaring up.
"Well, now it's here," Demyx spat and snapped his fingers effectively dousing the flame.
Roxas, Xaldin, and Lexaeus as one Nobody, edged away from Demyx. Axel stood there steaming and looking completely dumbfounded. He was sure Roxas had been the one to yell, but the only damage he could see was to Demyx's castle. It was also just dawning on him that he'd, with flames at the ready, burst into Xaldin's kitchen and Xaldin was standing right there!
He gave into the confusion.
"What the hell is going on?" he asked sagging.
"Xaldin says he's not gonna make mac and cheese anymore," Roxas complained.
Axel looked at his superior. Xaldin groaned and pressed his fingers to his temples again, trying to ward off the oncoming headache.
"Xemnas forbid me to make it anymore. I don't know why. I didn't think it would be such a big problem since he mostly eats the microwave stuff anyway, but apparently before Lexaeus left to go grocery shopping, Superior told him not to buy anymore either."
Lexaeus nodded and turned his back to them and proceeded to put the groceries away.
"So Roxas started yelling when he found out and knocked over Demyx's chocolate sculpture" Xaldin continued. "And now you're here. Dripping on my tile," he observed.
Axel looked down at the puddle he was now standing in. Come to think of it, why had he barged in like a firework display?
"Um, I guess I was still in mission mode," he answered lamely. It was the only explanation he could come up with. Normally he knew better. Well, normally he did know better but more often then not choose to temp fate.
"Whatever," he grumbled shaking his head. This was, he decided, one battle Roxas could fight himself. "I'm going to go soak and then I'm gonna sleep for a week."
"But Axel—"
"Sorry Rox. It was a long mission and you're the addict, not me." And with that he squelched out of the kitchen.
Roxas glared at his friend's retreating back.
"But what am I going to eat?"
Xaldin had had enough. "You'll just have to eat what I make. Now I've got to get dinner started and there's water all over the floor."
"That's Demyx's fault," Roxas sulked.
"Funny thing is you're going to be the one mopping it up."
888
Vexen carefully adjusted the height of the flame on the Bunsen burner and carefully held the sample in the fire.
Please! Oh please!
The sample flashed green.
Vexen swore.
"What color was it supposed to be?" a curious voice at his elbow asked.
Vexen looked down at the snow-blonde boy. He was curious about everything and had turned out to be, much to the scientist's surprise, a rather good lab assistant.
"It ought to have been violet," he said. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Do you remember how to get to Marluxia's greenhouse?"
"Of course I do," the boy's tone suggested that he was insulted that Vexen would even consider doubting him. The Academic's lips twitched slightly in amusement. So little, so new to the world, yet still so macho.
"Well then, I would like you to go up there and tell him…urg, scratch that…ask him for another twenty grams of fresh cut Nightshade."
"You want me to be polite to Marluxia?"
"Think of it as avoiding damage control," Vexen grumbled. "And make sure you say Atropa belladonna. Last time he gave me Solanum nigrum. The bastard loves to play botanical name games." Vexen paused and then added, "Don't repeat that last part." He was still in the doghouse for the comment about Zexion's haircut. "Should I write any of this down?"
"If you like," the copy shrugged. Vexen wrote down the Latin names.
Considering the original, Vexen had thought this boy was going to be more of a trial, even with a few biochemical tweaks to keep his hormone level manageable.
Instead he seemed to have imprinted on the Chilly Academic. There was there, Vexen thought, something very similar to Xeahnort. It was a blank mind capable of accomplishing anything, anything at all. And the very first thing, this blank slate had encountered was Vexen and his research, but that was no longer the only thing.
Even though he'd rarely been out of the lab, the copy had learned quite a lot. He'd learned (or possibly recalled) how use the Darkness. He'd learned some basic self-defense from Lexaeus. He'd learned impudence from Xigbar (the Freeshooter had mercilessly teased the pair; accusing them of have empty-nest-syndrome now that Zexion spent more time with Luxord and Demyx). More recently, he allowed the copy to go with Lexaeus to get a feel for the castle, so he would not become lost, and he'd learned card tricks from Luxord. The boy liked the Gambler immensely.
The Cloaked Schemer was another story. Zexion didn't like replica and regarded him with something akin to the fascinated, jealousy-laden horror that is known exclusively to an only child who is now faced with a younger sibling.
But as far as Vexen was concerned, Zexion the least of the replica's worries.
888
Not here, the replica thought grumpily. Looks like I came down here for nothing.
He was about to turn back, when a soft voice quavered:
"Who are you?"
The boy turned around to see what was probably the most interesting creature he'd yet encountered in his short life. Half hidden in the ferns, it was about his height, slightly shorter, with sunny blonde hair and clear crystal blue eyes. It was slimmer than he was, with softer features, and a suggestion of curves.
He was almost certain it was a girl. He'd seen pictures.
"Umm…I'm well, not sure come to think of it. I know I'm a copy of someone named Riku."
"Are you one of you one of Vexen's experiments?"
"Yes." He saw no reason to be bothered by that fact. The suspected girl moved out of the foliage and came a few steps closer. Something reached deep within him and plucked a heartstring. She was important. Somehow he knew that. He remembered a feeling but with no context to classify it.
"Have I seen you before somewhere?" he asked.
"I don't think so."
"What's your name?"
"Naminé."
Ah he'd heard the name before, but that still didn't explain the odd emotion he felt. "Vexen mentions you sometimes. You're the girl that Marluxia guards. You are a girl right?"
She giggled and for some reason that pleased him.
"Of course, silly."
He didn't think he liked being called silly.
"Well Vexen sent me down here for some," he looked at his note, "Atropa belladonna. But you're the only one here."
"I can get it for you. I know which one it is."
"Okay."
"You should say thank you."
"I should?"
Naminé sighed and went to get the scissors.
888
Axel sank back in the lovely, lovely hot water. He'd opted for the communal bath because a) it was closer to the kitchen than his room and b) it was bigger than his private bath. He rested his head against the side a stared at the ceiling. He felt bit guilty for leaving Roxas in the kitchen, but it wasn't as if Xaldin would kill him.
Probably.
Not over mac and cheese anyway.
Maybe.
Not in front of witnesses.
He was fairly certain.
Well, Demyx wouldn't let him.
Number IX wasn't very fond Roxas at the moment.
He wasn't that mad.
Was he?
He'd have to do something extra nice for Demyx to make up for the castle.
A number of pleasant options streamed through his mind.
If he didn't let Xaldin kill Roxas, that is.
Axel shook his head. Roxas had two Keyblades. He could take care of himself.
He was just dozing off when he heard voices. He silently willed them to go away but they kept getting closer. He glowered to himself unconsciously raising the water temperature. He could make out what they were saying now.
"—'m not shy about manipulation, but this seems rather unnecessary."
"It's for the best, and you know it."
Larxene and Marluxia. Wonderful.
"If Roxas finds out what you're doing, he's going to shove both keyblades up your ass."
Axel paused. Marluxia was plotting against Roxas? Maybe he should stick around for bit of low-tech espionage. Meaning of course he was going to eavesdrop.
"How kind of you to worry about me."
"Oh, I'm not."
Good to know she hasn't changed, Axel thought as he slid out of sight.
888
Stupid old windbag! Roxas snarled to himself as he stalked down the hall. Was there any way this day could get more annoying? Not likely.
Then he rounded the corner and collided with someone.
888
Vexen hurried down the hallway, trying to convince himself that he wasn't worried. But the replica should have been back by now. In all likelihood, Marluxia was probably trying to wheedle information out of him, or maybe he'd met up with Luxord. Nothing that should concern him.
There was a shout and the ringing clash of steel.
Vexen began to run.
What greeted him was the worst possible of all scenarios. The replica had run afoul of Roxas.
The Key of Destiny had the copy pinned against the wall. Oblivion hovered just under the snow blonde' s chin. Oathkeeper was planted firmly on Souleater. The replica glared at the Nobody with a look of pure hatred. Roxas regarded the other boy with a mixture of anger, confusion, and worst of all (to Vexen's mind) vague recognition.
Nothing upset Roxas as much as vague hints of his Somebody's identity. They threw him off balance and when Roxas was uncertain, he became violent. And when he got like that he didn't stop. It was worse than Saïx berserking. The Lunar Diviner could only do it short bursts before he had to soak up more moonlight. Roxas didn't have to recharge. He just kept coming. The only person who'd ever been able to snap him out of it was Axel.
A glittering diamond blue stare was turned on Vexen.
"Who is he?" The Keyblade Master demanded. Vexen wondered how much he could say without giving away too much.
"He is a replica," the scientist answered simply trying to buy time while his mind raced.
"Of what?"
"A potential wielder of the Keyblade," Vexen answered deciding that when it came to the Keyblade Roxas would smell an outright lie.
"I'm the Keyblade Master," ever syllable rang down clear and brilliant, like edged light.
"Yes, you're the Keyblade's chosen one," Vexen said evenly, "But that in and of itself implies that there were many to choose from."
There was a glimmer of curiosity in those harsh eyes. Vexen gestured to the replica.
"He's simply a copy of another suitable candidate."
"Why was I chosen instead?"
"I can only assume the Keyblade had it's own reasons."
"What happened to the original?"
Vexen shrugged. "Swallowed by the Darkness. The Heartless are fond of strong Hearts."
Seeing his captor distracted, the replica risked a twitch. Oblivion pressed ever so gently against his windpipe.
"Don't move," Roxas said calmly. He turned back to Vexen.
"Did he have a Nobody?"
Vexen was dismayed by the tinge of hope in the boy's voice. "Not to my knowledge," he said truthfully.
Roxas stared back at the replica. They locked gazes for a moment, and then Roxas brought Oblivion high over his head.
To his credit, the replica didn't flinch, even when the Keyblade was embedded into the wall nest to his ear.
"Take it."
"What?"
"I want to see if you can."
The replica shot to his feet. He took the Keyblade by the hilt and with no apparent effort yanked it from the wall.
"You look surprised blondey," he grinned nastily.
Blue eyes narrowed and then widened in surprise again. He snapped a glare at Vexen.
"Focus," the Academic offered. Roxas closed his eyes and tried again. This time Oblivion returned to his hand.
"May I have my experiment back?" Vexen asked coolly. Roxas snarled at both of them and stalked off.
The replica retrieved Souleater and inspected it for damage before shouldering it.
"Well that was fun," he commented blithely. Vexen gave him a stern look.
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are to still be alive?"
"Hey! He ran into me!"
"And he nearly ran you through. Don't provoke him."
"But…" the copy looked longingly over his shoulder. Vexen stifled a sigh. There it was again. The irresistible pull of finding "someone like me".
"Why don't you wait until Luxord comes by again? Roxas likes him so he should be able to tell you the least life threatening way of approaching him."
"Won't big brother get mad if he sees me talking to his boyfriend?" the copy asked snidely.
"I'm positive Luxord will make it up to him."
Too be continued….