Disclaimer- I do not own Kingdom Hearts

Heartlessness

Chapter 2

Narcissus

Weeks later, Xehanort found himself still amused at the little girl, Aerith. She was nowhere on his level but the stubbornness she projected was rather refreshing. When he first came to Radiant Garden all the girls were such crybabies or hyperactive idiots. The boys were all trying to act like some sort of heroes or trying to portray their manliness by sparring.

He even found himself between pages of studying that his mind strayed to that girl. He did have a nice reminder of her. Sitting in a jar on his desk, near the window was the hydrangea she gave him that night. Even though it was slowly dying off, he did not bother to throw it out, even if it messed up his spotless room.

As he studied, he heard voices coming from outside his window. Even though he was not on ground level, he could very well hear someone outside his room. He peered out discover his master guiding a group of children though his courtyard. The apprentice snorted in annoyance. Ansem was too softhearted, allowing kids into his home when he could be doing something important. When he was about to go back to his work he spied a familiar pink bow out of the corner of his eye.

Standing amongst the group with her hair tied with that stupid pink bow was Aerith. She was standing next to a short black haired girl who seemed to be one of those hyperactive girls that he disliked so much. In her hands, she was holding that basket he broke now taped together. He smirked. Why did not throw that stupid basket out? It was pointless to keep.

He quietly opened his window, feeling his room was a bit stifling. Yes, now he could study better that is if the children remained quiet. Returning to his textbook, he began to read when he heard Ansem speaking to them.

"You are free to play here and eat your lunches," Ansem said. "Then I shall show you children one of laboratories and the library."

Children are so easily pleased. Just give them food and let them run around like fools. Xehanort thought.

"Mr. Ansem," said a voice, one that Xehanort could heart clearly.

"Yes, Aerith?" he asked, obviously he learned the girl's name sometime during the tour.

"May I go wash my hands before I eat?"

"Of course just go strait down the hall and up the staircase at the end. The washroom will be the first door you see."

"Thank you," Aerith said politely.

Xehanort looked up from his textbook. He was feeling a tad hungry now. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was lunchtime already. No wonder he wanted to eat. Getting up, he strode quietly out of his room.

Aerith managed to find the washroom, just fine. She scrubbed her hands clean and rinsed them under lukewarm water. She always washed her hands before meals because her mother told her to. She wiped her hands on a towel and then walked out of the washroom, taking her basket it in her hands. As she walked out, she passed by someone who had been leaning against the wall.

Turning to face him, she looked up to discover Xehanort looking at her. Slightly surprised the young girl did not greet him right away. The last time they were together, she had told him off.

"Hello," she finally spoke in her usual cheerful tone.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Washing my hands," She stated simply. "Now excuse me, I have to go back outside."

"You know that courtyard doesn't even have any flowers." Xehanort said with a grin. "Master Ansem has a whole garden."

Aerith turned to him, her eyes bright with excitement. Xehanort lips curved upwards at the corners. Yet she frowned.

"Mr. Ansem isn't taking us to the garden."

"I can take you," he hastily replied.

"Am I allowed to… maybe I should ask permission…"

Xehanort ignored her concerns. He waved his hand, brushing it off completely. "I'm his apprentice; I can go wherever I want."

"If Mr. Ansem will be alright with it…" her voice was still full of worry.

"He'll be fine I… promise."

Xehanort's coaxing persuaded her to follow him. She followed him down the hallway they were already in to the back of the entire structure. As the name of the world, this garden was very radiant. Aerith herself extremely impressed at how beautiful it was. She set down her basket near the door and looked around not sure what to view up close first.

"Iris, chrysanthemums, and gardenias," She named softly.

Finally choosing, she came up to a patch of beautiful narcissuses. Xehanort wondered why she picked those to go to first. He was sure of all the flowers she had seen those would be one of them. It was such a common flower.

"You are so lucky you get to see this garden."

"They're not that great," he rolled his eyes, "Much like your friends. I bet none of them even knows what a narcissus looks like. I know about every flower that grows in my master's garden."

Aerith arched an eyebrow and turned her head toward him. Xehanort learned a lot more since they met. He held his head up, grinning.

"My friends are great," she retorted softly. "They are smart too."

Xehanort smirked, "I highly doubt that. I bet none of them knows that plants go through a process called photosynthesis. I do… and I bet they don't know plants are living things."

"Some people know things others do not." Aerith pointed out, but Xehanort ignored her.

"I'm the smartest pupil in Radiant Garden Academy. The teachers praise me and put me in advanced placement classes. How many of your friends are learning about Biophysics or even be allowed an independent study of pseudomathematics as extra credit?"

Aerith gave him a weak smile as he continued to talk highly of himself on such things a little girl would not know about. She returned to her flowers. Xehanort continued to talk moving toward her. As he approached her, the girl was speaking. This caused the boy to arch an eyebrow now. What was she muttering now?

"Narcissus means egotism," she spoke.

She looked back at him. She went up to him and politely bowed her head.

"Thank you for showing me this garden."

Xehanort rolled his eyes. "It's just some stupid weed patch."

Aerith furrowed her eyebrows. Yet before she could protest, a person appeared next to them. The two looked up to find Ansem the Wise before them.

"You were gone long," Ansem said to Aerith. "You're friends have been worried."

Xehanort shoved Aerith to his master. "I caught her snooping around out here! Probably came to steal your flowers."

Xehanort wanted his master to snap at the young girl. That would show her from calling him heartless was the thought in his head.

Aerith turned to the young apprentice, her mouth open slightly at his accusation. She turned to Ansem to try to explain when he brought a hand to head gently stroking her brown locks.

"It's quite alright." He smiled gently at her. "If she wanted to see them I would have been happy to oblige."

"Master," Xehanort complained. "She could have ruined them."

Ansem ignored his apprentice, reached over, and plucked a narcissus for Aerith. He handed it to her.

"I'm sure we can spare a flower for her."

He turned his back to the children and headed up the steps to lead inside. "Come along Aerith… and Xehanort I thought you would be studying."

Xehanort gave his master a scowl before saying a tense, "I'll be in my room."

Aerith began to go toward Ansem when she stopped. She looked back at the young apprentice and walked back toward him. She handed him the flower and smiled.

"I think you deserve this."

After shoving it into his hand, she jogged back to Ansem, basket in hand. The two left the young apprentice in the garden. When they were gone, did it occur to Xehanort that Aerith was calling him an egotist.

"Son of a bitch…" he said softly as he stared down at the flower.

In her own little way, she got him again.

X, X, X,

Author Note- Xehanort was owned by Aerith again! Well, I hope you guys are enjoying this. Leave a review if you want.

Princess