Heartlessness

Chapter 3

Hyacinth

Xehanort watched as his master, Ansem the Wise, demonstrated the new research project to a room of simple-minded people. Yes, the Radiant Garden School had been invited to watch one of Ansem's projects. Xehanort snorted as he stood behind the entire assembly. The project was meager. It would help in transportation around the city. Yet everyone seemed so astounded by it. Xehanort could imagine showing them a pair of keys and he jingling it in front of them would amaze them.

The apprentice only attended this demonstration via his master's request. He already knew about the project and knew how it worked but his master STILL insisted on it. It greatly frustrated him. Especially since none of these pathetic students in this auditorium were on his level of brilliance.

After the lengthy demonstration was over, Ansem thanked the students for coming and they filed out of the auditorium. The lights brightened giving people easier visibility. Xehanort could not wait to get back to his studies. He turned on his heels to get away, when out of the corner something oddly familiar caught his eye. It actually stuck out like a sore thumb. It was that stupid pink bow bobbing through the crowd toward the stage.

It was her, again. The insufferable little girl who seemed to think she was able to outsmart Xehanort. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her approach the stage. She was discussing something with Ansem. Xehanort rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment.

Oh, I forgot my master needed my help, he thought.

He made his way to the stage, avoiding the other students' still filing out. The last thing he wanted was their filthy hands touching his clean robes. He watched as Aerith chatted with Ansem, who was smiling graciously at him. It had actually been a long while since he last saw the girl. Maybe, give or take a few, a year was the last time he saw her. Not like, he cared anyway.

Xehanort walked up onto the stage to join his master who was still discussing something with the girl. She was dressed in a ridiculous outfit, a pink dress and brown boots. Was that all she had, pink? Ansem noticed his apprentice out of the corner of his eye.

"Xehanort, I'm glad you did not run off." Ansem smiled.

Almost, he thought.

"Anyway, I believe you remember Aerith," the master continued.

"Vaguely," Xehanort said dryly.

Ansem ignored his comment and continued. "Well, I have asked the young lady to be a caretaker to my garden. After all, my last caretaker has left, I believe she will do a splendid job, won't you my dear?"

"It's an honor," Aerith said. "Your garden is very beautiful."

Xehanort snorted but it went unnoticed.

"She will be starting tomorrow," Ansem said. "I hope you treat her well."

X, X, X,

Aerith sprinkled water against a bright patch of golden color flowers. The flowers seemed to tilt toward her gentle spirit, accepting her water. She knelt down to them making sure the soil was firm so they would not fall over or uprooted.

Xehanort sneered slightly at the peasant work that she was doing. He would never be caught dead doing such labor. It was trivial work that anyone with half a brain could do or lack there of. His master asked him to escort her to the gardens. Xehanort would have responded that she already knew where but he did not need his master's disapproving glare directed toward him. He grudgingly agreed and when he showed her, he went to leave to return to his studies when he heard her humming.

He watched her merrily work. Watering plants, pulling weeds, tilling the soil, and all the other things gardeners do. He could not believe she actually enjoyed this. Who in their right mind enjoyed hard labor?

"You are all growing nicely." She told them.

Xehanort snorted, gaining the girl's attention. She lifted her green eyes to him.

"Is something funny?" she asked.

"You talk to plants?" he held in his laugh.

Aerith placed her hands on her hips. She held her head up high and looked at him without blinking.

"Yes, I do." She admitted. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Indeed there is. You are insane!"

Aerith opened her mouth, appalled at his comment.

"It just so happens that people believe that talking to plants helps them grow."

"What people, insane ones?"

Aerith ignored him and continued her duty. Xehanort sighed and watched her work. He actually thought she would have a comeback. Perhaps she did not have one this time. He moved closer.

"No retort?" he asked.

"I don't have time," Aerith said. "I have a job and shouldn't you return to your studies? You seem to complain when you are not studying."

She ignored him and went back to work. Yet, instead of fussing over the plants, she was writing something. She was writing the name of the plant on the sign.

Xehanort turned around to return to his room to study, maybe. Maybe she was not so bad after all was the thought fluttering in his mind. She did not seem very stupid and giggly like most girls. She did dress if she belonged in kindergarten classroom, which made his overall impression of her actually being intelligent weaken.

X, X, X,

Weeks went by and Aerith continued her work in the garden. Xehanort found himself outside in the garden daily. When he would come across the flower girl, he merely stated he was doing research, yet he never clearly stated what kind of research. Aerith pretended that he was not there and did her job well. The flowers grew quite beautifully, thick, and luscious.

On a particular day, Xehanort closed the book titled: "Quantum Physics" and laid it on his desk. It was early in the afternoon and his stomach was empty. He exited his room to go the kitchens, which coincidently passed the gardens. As he passed by, he saw Aerith crouched over several white colored flowers. She fiddled with them, doing whatever gardeners do.

"I'm sorry I won't be around long today, it's my friend's birthday." She said.

She plucked several of the flowers and placed them in her brown basket. She carefully laid them inside. Xehanort noticed the basket was not the one he tripped over the first time he met her. He rubbed his chin absently. He approached her silently. He stood behind her, his shadow looming over her, gaining her attention.

She turned her head and in the process stood up. She tilted her head up; he was much taller than she was. Xehanort looked down at the basket, which had a collection of blue flowers and several of the flowers she was picking now.

"Sir Ansem said I could take flowers home with me," Aerith stated, tilting her chin up. It was almost as if she was daring him to complain.

"I could care less what you do," he hissed.

"Good, then I need to finish making my bouquet. My friend will be here soon and I want to give these to him."

Him? Why would a boy want flowers? Why would she want to give a boy flowers anyway? It was an absurd idea to Xehanort, very absurd.

She turned back around and began picking those clusters of white flowers. Xehanort had seen them often they were daffodils. They grew nearly everywhere in Radiant Garden. The blue ones he was not so sure.

"The blue ones are Myosotis." She said, noticing him staring at them.

"I don't care what they are," Xehanort said through gritted teeth. "Are you going to tell me they mean something in an attempt to insult me?"

"I don't think forget-me-nots can insult you."

Aerith pointed to the sign that she had made for the flowers. Each one of the patches of flowers now had a tiny sign with their names and information about them.

She continued to collect the forget-me-nots. She placed them in her bouquet, carefully arranging them so the flowers looked neat and full. When she was finished arranging them she tied them together with a pink ribbon.

Xehanort rolled his eyes. Why did she always use that color? Black would have been a nice color to use. She carefully set them in her basket and stood up. She pulled off her soiled garden gloves and placed them in the basket as well.

"Why would a boy want flowers?" Xehanort snorted. "Wouldn't one of your idiot friends want a sword?"

"My friend already has a sword." Aerith said. "Besides it's the thought that counts."

"He'll probably think your gift is stupid."

Aerith rolled her eyes at him. "Boys like getting gifts too even if they are flowers. You just don't like it because no one ever gave YOU one as a gift."

Xehanort would have argued that she gave him one but it was never an actual gift. That stupid flower wilted away long ago and he threw it in the trash, where it belonged. Just then, the sound of the door opening to the garden alerted the two they were no longer alone. Aerith craned her neck to see who was there. When she did, she smiled. Xehanort noticed her smile and turned to see why she was smiling.

To his chagrin, he saw a boy younger than him standing at the doorway. He was one of those boys who was always sparing with someone. Why was he here? Was this the boy Aerith was waiting for?

"Hi Cloud," She greeted him pleasantly, walking toward him with her basket in hand.

He moved toward her, stopped when she was a foot away. He averted his eyes, embarrassed slightly by her. She bent forward to look at his face. He turned slightly, still stiff.

"Hello," he said quietly.

Aerith giggled and handed him the bouquet she made.

"Happy birthday," she said as he took it.

Cloud was quiet for a long time. Aerith's eyebrows furrowed.

"Thank you…" he said finally.

Aerith smiled when she saw Xehanort pass by swiftly. He was heading for the door and Aerith could feel a sort of tension radiating from him.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she called after him.

The silver haired apprentice turned around. He snorted, lifting his head in a dignified manner.

"I don't care," he said. He started walking backwards as he talked. "Talking to you is a waste of my time."

"Stop…" Aerith said, her eyes widening.

"Don't tell me to stop. You are not my master you are just some hired help."

"But…"

"Shut up you…"

Before Xehanort could even finish his sentence he felt the back his heel hit something. He then found himself falling backwards. He landed hard on the ground in a patch of yellow flowers.

Aerith gasped and rushed over. Cloud stayed put, not really wanting to see if someone so rude needed help. Aerith bent over examining the accident. Xehanort opened his eyes.

"Are you all right?" She asked.

Xehanort blinked. She was not kneeling over him at all. She was looking at the stupid flowers! She was making sure they were all right. The headache Xehanort received from the fall was now becoming even more painful due to his rising temper.

"You crushed the hyacinths." She informed him.

Now she was holding her little sign that he inadvertently broke in half when he fell over. She handed it to him and smiled.

"Please fix my sign." She said in such a sweet tone. "I'll fix the flowers tomorrow or else Cloud and I will be late for his birthday party. Oh and don't be like that."

She turned around returned to Cloud and the two left.

Xehanort sat there dumbfounded, holding the sign. Who was she to tell him that HE should fix her stupid sign? In addition, what did she mean by that? He looked down at it. He clutched the sign in his hands threatening to break it. Written on the sign was "Hyacinth (Yellow) - Grows best in spring, known for its fragrance and long blooming. In the language of flowers, it means jealousy."

Now he knew what she meant. He let out a growl between his clenched teeth as the two pieces of the sign snapped again in his hand.

X, X, X,

Author note- Sorry it took so long to write this chapter. Just for the record, it is set a year or so after Aerith and Xehanort saw each other last. I love how Aerith always gets the last word in with Xehanort and I loved how she ignored him for the flowers. It doesn't pay to be rude. Thanks for reading.

Princess