Haha, finally got this sucker out! ^^ I've noticed that reviews are slowing down a bit, I think school and whatnot always gets busier around this time. So keep up the good work, dudes! Reviewers are my heroes and get my undying gratitude. ;) Thanks for all the reviewers for my last chapter: 73n5Hl, Ryuacchi, DieChan, Chaotic Darkness, Aindel S. Druida, FlurryDivider, Shinimegami7, Mirror and Darkling, Ultima Phoenix, zi-ling, Staple Queen, andhearts, Dust to Dusk, xLion-Heartx, A-chan, LiteraryMirage, CloudedMirror89!

I love you all! ^^

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Chapter 17


While Lexaeus was there, they found some peace and were able to eat their meal. Riku made sure to let Sora eat with his family, though he couldn't help but stay close to his charge. That meant that he had to sit on the ground next to the couch, but now wasn't the time to care about that sort of thing. When Namine came to sit next to him on the floor, he didn't protest. With her and Sora, Riku almost felt as if he was with some sort of family. It helped to calm him, to focus on eating instead of wondering what they were going to go up against.

Riku looked up when he felt a few feather-light touches on the top of his head, smirking softly when he saw Sora's hand draped over the arm of the couch. Reaching up he caught the hand and gave it a small squeeze. Sora returned the gesture, Riku could almost feel his smile, and then they each went back to their meals. Just that little touch though was enough for the moment, a small indication that they were both still there. Sitting next to him, Namine smiled, her knowing expression making him roll his eyes. "Do you have something to say?"

"Hm. No, I suppose it's just nice to see you happy. You never smiled when we were in Destiny Islands. I had half-thought that you had forgotten how."

Riku huffed, his dignity forcing his smile down as he refocused on his food. Namine merely giggled at the sight, clearly no longer buying his cool front anymore now that she had seen a hint of his smile.

Lexaeus remained with them until they had finished eating then collected everyone's plates and, with one last word to Zexion, left the room with them all balanced back on his arms. The burly man gave them one last look before closing the door behind him. When he was gone, Zexion turned to Leon and Cloud, the three of them bowing their heads together for close conversation. Seeing that they were coming up with a plan, Axel walked over from where he was standing behind Roxas at the couch to join them. Riku figured that he could benefit by going over as well, to see what the plan was, but he couldn't bring himself to care all that much. He still wasn't into fighting as a group too much; his job was to protect Sora. The others could take care of themselves.

He had just twisted around to talk to Sora when there was a knock on the door. More demanding this time. Zexion, closest to the door, didn't even have time to pull away from his conversation when the door swung open, revealing one of Saix's guards. His expression was blank as he announced in a dead tone. "Lord Superior has requested young Jenovan's presence."

There was a frozen silence. Then, all eyes turned to Riku.

Riku was shocked for a second then closed his eyes. Fine. He'd play Xemnas' game. Better him than one of the others anyway. With his dark elemental powers he might actually have a chance. With only a quiet grunt, he pushed himself up onto his feet, brushing his pants off before he straightened up.

He had barely moved half a step toward the door when a hand latched onto his. Aquamarine eyes flashed open and he looked down to see Sora clinging onto him. The sight broke his heart a little but he nonetheless pulled his hand away, lifting it to ruffle Sora's hair. "Don't worry, it will be okay."

Sora frowned then shook his head and grabbed Riku's hand again. He stood up, "I'm going with you."

Near the door, Leon crossed his arms, his glare icy as he addressed the guard. "If one of us is summoned, we are all summoned. We leave as a team or not at all."

The guard, who seemed to have not noticed that Leon, Cloud, Axel, and Zexion were standing quite so close, quailed a little, shrinking back behind the door though he kept at his duty. "The Lord Superior anticipated you would say that and said to tell you that he merely wishes to speak to Jenovan. He will not tolerate disobedience."

Leon bristled but before things could get out of hand, Riku spoke up. "I'll go." All eyes turned to him again, most of the gazes incredulous, especially Leon's. With a frown and firm hand on the shoulder, Riku gently pushed Sora back down onto the couch. "Look. If he only wants to talk, then I'll go see him." He smirked, a show of feigned confidence if nothing else. "He probably wants to try and convince me to go to his side again. Who knows, maybe I can cut some deal and get you guys out of this mess."

"Riku," Sora's voice was barely above a whisper. "Don't lie."

Shaking his head, Riku allowed his smirk to grow. "You don't think I'd lie to you, do you? Everything will be fine. He wouldn't kill another dark elemental. We are the master race after all. He wouldn't risk losing one of his own kind."

Sora still looked unconvinced; Riku figured if he were in his place he'd be skeptical too, but its not like they had any option to be unruly. None of them were at their best right now, everyone was sporting at least some exhaustion or injury, and if Xemnas really did mention conversation…well, he'd have to hope that there was at least some truth to that. He could talk his way out of a lot, hopefully even the death penalty. Ruffling Sora's hair one last time, he stepped away and sauntered toward the door.

Axel caught his arm on the way out, the redhead not saying anything though the look in his eyes was expressive enough. A warning for caution. Riku made sure to meet the acid-green gaze with a steady one of his own though and sure enough Axel released him a second later, allowing him to walk over to the guard. Inwardly, Riku was touched that Axel finally seemed to care about his wellbeing again, but he wasn't going to let anyone stir up a fuss. If he was going out, he was going to do it with quiet dignity or in a blaze of glory, not in some pell-mell scramble fighting alongside half-dead spirits. He did have some self-respect after all.

The guard appeared relieved to say the least as he pulled Riku out of the sitting room and back into the throne room, closing the door behind them with the definitive click of a lock. There were four more guards waiting just outside the door as an escort force, but Riku was surprised to see that except for them, the throne room had been emptied. "Hey," he turned to the guards as a group, "Where did Xemnas and Saix go? I thought he wanted to see me."

One of the guards, it was hard to distinguish them as individuals in full uniform with helmet and all, but certainly not the timid one from before, spoke up. "Silence, prisoner. The Superior has ordered we transfer you to the infirmary. Come quietly unless you want us to resort to physical violence."

Riku crossed his arms, not impressed. "They're taking me all the way to the infirmary?" He tisked. "This better be worth my time." It was easier to act like a spoiled rich kid when he didn't know what was going on. Sort of like a safety zone. At least he knew how people reacted to that attitude.

Sure enough the guard scowled but said little, undoubtedly disgusted yet intimidated. None of them tried to grab him though, everyone content with allowing him to walk in the middle of their circle. It was a silent walk, the only noise as they walked out of the throne room was the sound of the guard's clanking armor. Though Riku kept his calm and continued to walk at an even pace, he continued to look at his situation from his peripheral vision.

The guards looked weak on their own but all five of them together would be hard to take down. They were carrying spears anyway, and had short swords strapped onto their belt. The armor was rather troublesome too. Riku guessed that he could probably take two of them out immediately after summoning his sword with one strike, he could protect himself from the first few blows with a Dark Shield, but there was a strong possibility that they could still overwhelm him. And getting out of the palace would be a bother; he still wasn't quite familiar with the layout yet. Plus, he had the safety of Sora and the others to worry about.

So right now he would just have to wait it out. He pursed his lips and straightened his shoulders, setting his gaze to one of irritated indifference as he was marched down the halls.

The infirmary was a good distance away from the throne room, but still within the part of the palace which was the most elegantly decorated. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the light from the inner courtyards, scented with the flowers outside, shone into the large stretching windows along one side of the hallways. There was no warmth to the light though, no change in temperature when they crossed between shadow and light. Apparently a place overwhelmed by darkness could only manage a thin imitation of light that probably only existed for the sake of the flowers.

The doors to the infirmary were familiar yet at the same time foreign to Riku when they finally arrived. It seemed as if he had seen it for the first time only a few days ago, when he had been with Axel, looking for the princes for the first time. He had had no idea what he had been doing back then. Well, he still had no idea what he was doing, but at least he knew more now than he did then.

As the guards in front of him pushed open the double doors, Riku first saw Saix standing in the middle of the room. Their eyes locked, amber meeting teal, before Saix lifted his chin and turned his head to the side. "Superior! He's here."

The guards around Riku fell back, leaving him hovering a few feet inside the room as they went to line up against the door, insurance that he didn't try to escape. Crossing his arms again, Riku watched as Xemnas and Vexen came out from the side room, Vexen's office.

"Jenovan." It seemed as if Xemnas was back to acting cordial. "So good of you to come."

"It wasn't as if I had much of a choice." Riku's eyes narrowed as he saw Saix slip around to his side. The blue-haired spirit looked relaxed enough, but it was probable that they were getting in position for something or another. His gaze snapped back to Xemnas as the other shifted. "I heard you wanted a conversation."

"And I do. Vexen, finish your project."

Leaning against the door frame to his office, Vexen let out a quiet huff. "I only want you to know that this is not my forte. I am a scientist, not an engineer, and certainly not an expert in this subject."

"Yes well the current expert is currently in custody. Please, continue if you want to join him."

Vexen's face darkened but he held his tongue and sunk back into his office, turning Xemnas' attention back to Riku. For his part, Riku was filled with a burning curiosity as to what those two were working on. Whatever it was, it was undoubtedly going to be trouble.

"Now, Jenovan, I apologize for my actions earlier in the throne room. Though I have been disappointed in you in the past, I can recognize that you have been misguided up until now."

Riku frowned. "I don't plan on simply forgetting death threats."

Xemans looked down at him for a moment then let out a harsh laugh. "For a moment it was as if I was seeing your father again. You carry yourself the same way, radiate the same aura he did when he was first given the task of guarding the king. You went back to the human world not so long ago, how is he?"

Xemnas spoke so casually about the dead king and his father. Bristling, Riku clenched his fist, taking a deep breath to calm himself so as to not snap. He knew Xemnas was goading him, the best he could do was not give Xemnas the pleasure of seeing him riled up. "He's as successful as always. He'd have nothing to say to you though, and I certainly can't blame him. This world has gone to hell since you usurped the throne."

"You truly have been among degenerates. Only the weak can complain of what I have done to this world. I have simply wiped it clean of those who stood in my way of creating something greater, a greater race of spirits. Under Zack's rule, the animal population got out of control, he actually allowed it to run rampant. It was disturbing watching the spirit world fall so far; it was as if we were being forced to live with humans. Can you imagine? Wiping them out was a blessing. They were a part of history. With their deaths they opened the doors to a new greater species!"

Riku couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're insane," he spat out. "It's going to be hard to repopulate a world when there's no one left!"

"I have chosen specific remaining members to send back into the countryside. It will take time but the results will be worth the effort. I was considering allowing you to survive from amongst your group. It would be a shame to destroy another dark elemental after all. If you were to renounce your precious prince then a place in the new court could be in your future instead of death."

"Thanks, but I'll pass. I'm not going to have any part in your sick fantasy, especially if it would mean living in this world as it is now. I'd go crazy."

Xemnas sneered. "You accept the darkness of your element, yet choose to live in the light. I had anticipated such idealistic foolish words coming from your lips and yet I still find myself disappointed again. You would die with your pathetic group of dissidents and I would remain here as the only element of darkness in this world. Of course, I could always go to the human world and try to convince your father to return."

Riku threw his hand out, snapping "Leave him out of this. He wants nothing more to do with you. Didn't he make that clear by leaving and taking all of us with him?"

"It was not his right to take away the entire Jenovan family, the last great clan of dark elementals." Xemnas paused at this before a thoughtful frown replaced his frustration. Riku didn't like that expression. He didn't want his father involved with this man. Although he had no strong love for Sephiroth, he now could see what his father had dealt with when working with his man. He understood why his father had run, and he could now say respected his decision. "Although your father might not have any interest in the glorious future of this world, perhaps your brothers would. They were rather young when I last saw them, however I remember they were quite tenacious about the superiority of our race."

Now Riku was worried. His brothers would definitely listen to this guy. "What are you talking about? We're not even really a different race! We just deal with different magic! We just balance each other out, there's no one better or worse." He didn't even know what nonsense he was spouting, it sounded like something Sora would say, but maybe if he could just try and make a point. He clenched his fists. "Don't pretend we're any better than anyone else." His brothers would eat that stuff up.

Xemnas frowned, stalking forward. He grabbed the front of Riku's vest. "That is where you are wrong. Dark elemental is superior because we are nothingness. We can overwhelm everything in our paths. Light is weak compared to us, it can be snuffed with a snap of our fingers. Living things die, both creatures and plants. We can conquer everything."

Scowling, Riku lifted his head so that they were nearly nose to nose. He was not going to back down. "You're overestimating yourself. Darkness is just another power. Why else are there a few hours of dawn sneaking into the windows of your own palace, oh great Superior? That dawn is Sora and Roxas. Are you really saying that they can get an edge in on you?" Riku managed a laugh, "Besides, you couldn't even get to the human world if you wanted to. It takes an animal spirit which you hate so much. Or maybe you're going to have your dog go and get all three of my brothers, but I doubt he could manage it. He's not that strong."

Xemnas' face darkened, twisting into a silent sort of rumbling rage. Then he threw Riku to the side. Riku let out a cry of pain as his back connected with the metal footboard of one of the infirmary cots. He caught himself on the bed before he could fall onto the ground only to have Saix grab one of his shoulders. It probably wasn't a good idea to have just insulted Saix after all. He hissed as he felt claws dig into his skin, shaking his silver hair out of his face as he gazed up at Xemnas through his bangs. Still scowling, the other dark spirit nodded his head. The next second, Riku felt a fist connect with his stomach, so fast he hadn't been able to see it coming. It knocked the air out of him and sapped the strength out of his legs. If Saix hadn't also been holding onto him, he would have fallen to the floor.

Coughing, he tried to focus as he heard Xemnas bark in a loud voice. "Vexen! I want it finished, now!" He strode over to Riku in three steps. Grabbing him out of Saix's grasp, he heaved Riku up into a straight position again. "You might find Vexen's project interesting yourself, Jenovan. It is true that traveling to the human world and transporting pure-blood dark elementals would be taxing for my servant, and I certainly would not want to tire him when we have your little group to deal with. Even if Sephiroth will not come with us, your brothers certainly will; I recall their zeal well."

As Xemnas finished speaking, Vexen stepped out of his office, holding piece of paper in his hand. Exasperated, Vexen walked over to the two of them, waving the paper in frustration. "Your demanding makes it extremely difficult to focus, but I believe I have completed the spell to a significant level. Some of the symbols are irritatingly arcane."

Xemnas snatched the paper from Vexen's thin fingers, his amber eyes scanning the text. Then a smirk slowly appeared across his lips and he looked over to Vexen. "I am looking forward to see if this is successful. Take the guards and bring him to me."

"…at once, Superior."

As Vexen left the room with the guards, Xemnas left Riku to go to the center of the infirmary floor, between the two rows of empty cots. For some reason, Riku found it strange to watch him stoop down to set the paper on the floor; he had never seen the Superior do so much work by himself. The older dark spirit had become calm again, apparently satisfied by his situation.

Narrowing his eyes, Riku rubbed his stomach; there was definitely going to be a bruise there within a few hours. "You're crazier than I thought…What the hell is that anyway, some sort of spell?"

"Very good, Jenovan. I see that you have the capacity to learn after all. Although it is not so surprising that you would have identified this object as a spell. Zexion must have been a traitor far longer than what I had imagined." Riku bit his lip. Damn, he might have just messed things up. "This small piece of paper is the key to regaining the rest of your family. Instead of being forced to rely on those filthy animals we elementals have been working on a way to catch portals so to speak, trapping them as they whisk about from place to place."

Riku twisted around to glance back at Saix. "And you just take that? Being called a filthy animal?"

Xemnas answered for him. "One must accept the truth, no matter how harsh it may be."

Still looking at Saix, Riku sneered. "Cloud wouldn't put up with that. Guess that shows who's really the strongest though."

This got a reaction from him. With a snarl, the wolf spirit launched forward, tackling Riku to the ground. Riku threw up his hands to defend himself as Saix's clawed hands tore through the collar of his vest as he was heaved off of the ground. "That lone wolf is a disgrace to even our kind!"

Clenching his fist, Riku swung at Saix, catching the side of his jaw. A knee to the gut startled him just enough to twist out from underneath him, one hand flying to his slashed collar as his other swung down, summoning his new sword into his hand. Way to the Dawn flashed proudly and he clutched to it like his lifeline, both hands wrapping around the new hilt as he moved to get them both in his sights.

Xemnas took in the scene then let out a deep chuckle, his amusement sounding fake even to Riku's ears. "Such tenacity. And I see that your precious prince has tampered with my gift to you. It reeks of light magic now. Such a perfect creation ruined."

"An improvement from my perspective."

Xemnas scowled. "Such a disgrace. Despite your renewed confidence, you are still no match against my skills." He lifted his hand and Riku suddenly found himself surrounded by a field of transparent black, crackling energy. Grimacing, Riku ran to the shield, slashing at it with his sword only to be stung with a frozen strike of pain shooting down the weapon. He pulled back into the center of the field, panting as he shook out his numb hands. It must have been his imagination, but he suddenly felt more light-headed. What a horrible time to lose focus. "If you are feeling weaker, it is not your imagination. My magic shield is slowly draining you of your strength. It will take longer with you since you are a pure-blood dark elemental and have a great reservoir of strength, but soon enough you will barely be even to move."

Bristling, Riku lashed out at the field of energy again, putting all his energy behind the attack. Way of the Dawn struck the shield straight on. The black energy crackled and fractured, inky fissures spreading out from the strike point only to seal back up a moment later.

It had cracked but Riku knew that he could probably break through it. He didn't know what was happening next though, it might be a better idea to conserve his energy for whatever they were planning later on. So Riku lowered his sword, glowering at Xemnas as the tip touched the white marble floor. Xemnas smirked at the motion. "Very good. By not fighting, you are conserving your energy." The elder spirit turned back to the piece of paper on the ground, for all the world looking as if he had forgotten about Riku's presence at all and was instead merely speaking to himself. "Of course it is that same kind of energy which will activate this spell. Did you know that when an animal spirit comes across a portal, they need to use some of their energy in order to properly open it? Their particular strain of magic, undoubtedly connecting to the sordid energy of the human world, is unique in that regard, but luckily, just as your energy is being sapped from you as we speak, theirs can be taken as well. And once that energy is taken, it can be stored for eternity, simply waiting to be used."

Xemnas paused his monologue when there was a knock on the infirmary doors. He sent Saix a glance, inciting the wolf to walk over to open them. Vexen came in and Riku's eyes widened when he saw Zexion hustled along behind him by the guards.

Zexion's expression was blank. He only glanced once over to Riku in his cage of black magic but his sharp blue eyes showed no indication of acknowledgement.

As Zexion was escorted inside, Xemnas motioned down to the paper on the ground. "I assume you recognize this well enough?"

With a frown, Zexion strode stiffly forward to stand side by side his Superior. He looked so small, yet his voice was strong and as steady as Riku had ever heard it. "I must inquire what you are doing with that and which of you felt as if you had the expertise to complete the runes?"

"Vexen finished the spell for me, since you were indisposed."

"Vexen is not qualified for such a task." Vexen scowled but Zexion continued without even sparing a glance at the scientist. "This was a delicate spell. A mistake of a single ink stroke in one of the symbols could result in disastrous effects. I had not even finished the research myself, so I have no idea if this will even work. The runes in my notes were nothing but speculations."

"Speculations are tested by experimentation." Vexen's clipped tone cut through Zexion's quiet rant. "It does no good if theory simply sits on a moldy library shelf to rot."

Finally, Zexion turned to Vexen, his shoulders squared as he lifted his chin in a show of surprisingly fierce defiance. Apparently the way to rile him was to insult his work. "And just how are you going to run this little experiment? If you forget, that spell will be nothing but ink and paper until it receives the right amount of energy. Who are you going to use? One of the guards? Saix?"

"Why waste loyal servants?" Xemnas lifted his hand and suddenly the walls of black energy around Riku fell away. Riku was stunned and confused, his momentary hesitation allowing Xemnas to continue. The Superior clapped his gloved hand on Zexion's slim shoulder. "Good help is hard to come by during these times. It would be much more prudent to sacrifice those who are no longer useful. Besides, isn't it a researcher's dream to live and die for their work?"

Riku's saw Zexion's visible eye widen, the other covered by his screen of violet hair as Xemnas shoved him forward a few steps. Far enough for him to snap his fingers and cause the field of energy which was around Riku just a few moments ago to spring up around Zexion.

Riku was still in a slight state of shock, but Zexion immediately seemed to realize the danger he was in because when he spoke next his voice held a sharp edge. He reached forward to press his hands against the inside of the shield but was immediately rebuffed, the bookish spirit shaking his shocked hands out with barely a wince. "Don't do this Xemnas. This spell was meant to accompany pure animal magic. I am not an animal."

"No, you are some mixed and muddled half-breed, a disgusting freak of nature. Your intelligence saved you up to this point but now that you have disobeyed me you must be punished for your actions and even your existence."

Xemnas waved his hand, a judicious sweep over the air. The crackling black shield suddenly collapsed in onto Zexion, completely enveloping him in the dark shell. With a shout, Riku ran forward to help his comrade but was grabbed from the side by Saix, the wolf holding him back as Zexion let out a cry of pain. It appeared as though Zexion could barely move, his body twisting disturbingly before he suddenly slumped forward in a dead faint. The blackness seemed to only glow thicker and more opaque as Zexion fell to the ground, the smaller spirit's magic sapped into the shield.

Riku cried out, his face pale. "Hey! What the hell did you do to him?!" With a snarl, he used the side of his sword to push Saix away, taking a swipe at the wolf before rushing to Zexion's side. He tried to put his hand on the other's shoulder but the black shield around him, now molded tightly over his skin, zapped his fingertips. Hissing, he twisted around to glare at Xemnas. "Get this thing off of him!"

Xemnas smirked and made a small motion with his hand. The black shield plastering Zexion's body flew off, collecting into a small sphere in the palm of his gloved hand. Zexion was shaking violently, his skin ice cold as he sucked in desperate gasping breaths. Riku recognized the effects of overexposure to dark magic, but he himself could do little to help Zexion since his touch also undoubtedly felt freezing as well.

Riku stood up, eyes flashing with rage as he adjusted his hold on his sword. "Xemnas! What do you think you're doing?!"

"I am creating history." Xemnas walked over to the paper on the ground, sphere of energy in his hand.

Riku looked down when he felt fingers suddenly grasp onto the hem of his pants, eyebrows furrowing together with concern as Zexion attempted to speak. "…Stop….stop him….he mustn't touch the paper… !"

Not needing to be told twice, Riku launched himself forward. He saw Saix running at him from the side but he knew he could get at Xemnas first. He had just pulled his sword back for a strike when suddenly he felt a rush of cold cling onto his feet, stopping his movement instantly. His feet had been covered in ice, locking him to the hard floor. Riku twisted around to see Vexen smirking at him, the doctor's face cold as he flicked his finger upward, causing the ice to climb up Riku's legs, freezing him to his very bones. Their eyes made contact before he slashed down to chop away at the ice holding him. The damage had been done though, and just as he freed one of his feet Xemnas dropped the sphere of energy down onto the piece of paper.

There was a flash of light. The air crackled over the paper as a beam of light shot up from the sheet, the beam pulling apart to reveal the twisting glare of the pathway between worlds. From Riku's limited knowledge, it appeared unstable, the edges of the portal appearing ripped and frayed; not at all like the portal shape Namine had created.

Xemnas though, seemed fine with the appearance of the portal. In fact, he appeared more content than Riku had ever seen him, true pleasure on his face for the first time. He nodded to Saix. "Go to the human world, to the same place where you sent young Jenovan. Find the rest of his family and bring them back to this world. Let them know that they will be welcomed with all the glory befitting princes of a new species. That should attract their attention. And be quick, I have little patience left."

"No!" Riku hacked desperately at the ice clinging to his other foot. "Don't you dare! You don't know what you're doing!"

Scowling, Xemnas looked over Riku's head to the guards. "Take these two back with the others. I no longer wish to look at them."

Riku felt hands grabbing his arms but could only watch Saix disappear through the dangerous-looking portal. The wolf spirit had shown no hesitation using the portal. The rest of the ice around Riku's legs crumbled as he was dragged off, Vexen finally releasing him from his freezing prison as he was taken away. It required two of the men to carry Zexion away as the spirit didn't even have the energy to stand not to mention walk. Riku seethed as they were led out of the infirmary, but there was little he could say now that Xemnas was no longer within hearing range. That so-called Superior had no idea what he was doing. Bringing his brothers would lead to nothing but trouble. He knew that Kadaj especially was greedy for power. Yazoo and Loz always followed their brother, though fierce in their own rights. Each one would definitely take the chance to live in a world where they had ultimate power, where they could claim to be the ultimate race.

So he silently seethed as the guards ushered him along, taking quick glances every few seconds over to Zexion to make sure that the other was still breathing. Zexion's face was ashen white, his body nearly entirely limp. He needed to get Zexion help, but he didn't know what would give the smaller spirit his strength back.

They had been marched along for a few minutes, well away from the infirmary when they turned a corner to see Xigbar walking toward them. The spirit's expression was relaxed as he approached them, gun arrow weapons resting casually on his shoulders. His eyes brightened when he saw them and he switched both weapons to one hand, slinging the other now free one over the nearest guard's shoulders. "Hey guys, what's up?"

"Lord Xigbar, sir. We're taking these prisoners to the waiting room adjacent to the throne room, as per the Lord Superior's order."

"Man, that dude is so strict. He's probably kept you guys there forever right? That guy totally just keeps going on and one. Feels like my ears start to bleed whenever he opens his mouth, you know?" A weak chuckle rippled through the guards. They must have really liked Xigbar if he was able to loosen them just a little after being in the tense atmosphere Xemnas had created. "Hey, I've got an idea. You dudes definitely deserve a break. I'll take these losers off your hands so you can have some time to relax."

One of the guards frowned, speaking up anxiously as he adjusted his grip on his spear. "But Lord Xigbar, we couldn't. These are powerful spirits, Jenovan even dared to go against Lord Superior."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I can handle anything these two can throw at me." Chuckling, Xigbar walked over to Riku, his smirk turning feral as he jammed one of his gun arrows underneath Riku's chin. A gasp of pain escaped him against his will as the sharp point dug into the soft skin of his chin. "See, weak as a puppy. The Superior must have knocked the cocky right out of him. And that guy looks ready to keel over any second. But I guess that's what happens to smart-ass librarians, right? He got what he deserved in my opinion." He dropped his sword and winked at his guards. "Besides, you've got to give me the chance to work my magic every so often, don't want me to get rusty, right?"

One of the guards chuckled. "I don't think you'll ever get rusty."

"I will unless you dudes don't give me work to do every so often. Now get going, get some rest. I'll take care of these two then meet up with you guys in the guard tower for a game of cards, alright?"

It was a veiled command and the guards could do little to talk back to their commanders. They filed back and Xigbar grabbed onto Zexion before he could hit the ground, turning to Riku as his men left around the corner. "You walk beside me, got that, punk? Try running and you'll have an arrow through your gut and be dead before you even knew you were hit."

Riku raised an eyebrow, waiting a second before murmuring low, "What took you so long?"

"Look, little dude, a guy can't just waltz into one of Xemnas's meetings. I figured if I hovered around the door long enough I'd at least get to catch your dead bodies. And look at that, I was right. Hold on a sec." He disappeared with a small snap of air, reappearing a few seconds later. "Alright, grab hold."

Riku obediently latched onto Xigbar's arm, the familiar feeling of the world tumble around him before his feet were back on solid ground. Before he knew what had hit him, a smaller body was latched onto his chest.

It took Riku a moment but then he smiled, resting his hand on the other's head. "Sora…"

"You're okay! I'm so relieved!"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He lifted his head to see that they were apparently back in the kitchen. Xigbar had vanished but Cloud was guarding the swinging kitchen door. The burly Lexaeus was supporting Zexion as Demyx tried to get some response from the drained spirit, the water god doing his best with a damp cloth to revive Zexion a bit. Leon, Aerith, Namine, Axel, and Roxas were clustered tightly together, talking amongst themselves in hushed voices. Riku realized with a start that Leon and Cloud had managed to get their swords back somehow. "What's the plan?"

Having overheard the question, Leon turned around to face the two of them. "We'll need to know what happened between you and Xemnas, but as of now, the plan is to fight. If we can get out near the walls near to where Xigbar can muster as much men as he can, we can pull together a good fight." He paused for a moment then tilted his head to the side, possibly a hint of a smile finding its way onto his lips. "It's good that you at least came out unscathed; we'll need all the fighting strength we can get, and you've had more than enough training."


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