Whew, I got chapter 25 out! I'm sorry for lack of updates, I'm going on an impromptu trip to Sakuracon this weekend (I'm going to cosplay as Rhyme :D) and my time is being sucked dry in preparations. But here's chapter 25!
Chasing The Truth
By FlikFreak
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Open Sea
"You sure that's a good idea, J?" Sanae Hanekoma asked as he put away a few clean coffee mugs. "None of the higher ups have done anything like that before, and I'm pretty sure they'd protest in a heartbeat."
"There haven't been heartless or nobodies plaguing Shibuya either," Joshua pointed out, his usual smug tone and sarcastic smirk not present. This was not the time for that. "Besides, you know what's been happening with Shibuya lately. Haven't you heard it?"
Hanekoma paused, then nodded. "Yeah. I haven't really heard anything like that since…actually, I've never heard it before. What do you think's going on?"
Joshua looked away. "I have a vague idea, but I won't know for sure until I see it myself. I trust you'll explain my situation to any of the council if they ask why I'm doing this or where I am?"
"You got it, Boss," Hanekoma replied, closing the cupboard and heading to one of the tables to wipe it off. "I really can't say I really like this idea, though. Just make sure you don't do anything stupid."
Did he really have to remind him? Joshua sighed. "Sanae, far more than Shibuya is at stake here, and the erasure won't be by anyone from this world. Shibuya especially is tied into all of this, you know that. Why else would that be happening?" He pointed outside, not to what could be seen, but what could be heard. "The most foolish thing I'd do would be to help the enemy or actually dying, and I have no plans for either. As Shibuya's Composer, this should have been my responsibility from the start, but it's not. I think I may know why, but I won't be sure until I see with my own eyes."
Sighing, Hanekoma tossed a familiar pin toward Joshua. "Well, at least give that to him. If your guess is right, he'll be able to use it without having to re-tune his vibe. And save your thanks for when this is over, 'kay boss?"
Joshua nodded. "Right," he replied. "Make sure Shibuya stays intact while I'm gone." And with that, the Composer vanished.
Neku couldn't breathe, and didn't bother doing so. After all, he couldn't pull that off when underwater. The salt water stung his eyes, but he didn't care; his sight was important right now.
The water shifted and he saw a dark figure nearby. Neku's eyes widened as he recognized it as Axel. The nobody was flailing about wildly and without any kind of coordination whatsoever. Something prodded the back of Neku's mind, and he suddenly realized a very, very important fact.
Axel couldn't swim.
With determination and a sudden burst of strength that couldn't have been his own, Neku made toward Axel and grabbed him by the arm, swimming upward and pulling him above the water's surface. By then he was too late; Axel had swallowed too much sea water and was unconscious. Neku's vision sharpened – possibly from the sudden adrenalin rush he was experiencing – and he found shore nearby, littered with several remains of old wooden ships. Pulling Axel along, he dragged himself to shore and placed Axel on the sand (Geez, he's heavier than he looks…) before checking for signs of life. Thankfully, Axel had a pulse – or as much of a pulse that a nobody could have; being whole probably made it easier to find – but he wasn't breathing.
Behind him, Neku heard someone else approaching, turning to see Bolt doggy-paddling to shore and shaking off, his collar jingling loudly. He quickly returned his attention to Axel and groaned. Why me? he moaned, but he placed his hands heel-down on Axel's chest anyway. Sora, I hope you're thankful for this, or you're going to owe me big time.
Well, crud. I think Sora flubbed the landing again.
I doubt it. If Naxeyv is indeed in Port Royal, he may have interfered.
Wait…there's someone else in Port Royal as well. I think it's an off-worlder.
You sure it's not just one of the group?
Positive.
Is it a Nobody? One of the Zoners, maybe?
Not this one, no…what's he doing here…?
Gonna go take a look?
Yeah, I'd better keep an eye on music boy over there. Make sure Rhyme stays calm; it looks like things are about to get messy over there.
Right.
"Axel, you weren't breathing! It's just a standard life-saving procedure!"
"You still kissed me!"
"It's not a kiss! It's mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and if it were up to me I would've made Sora or someone else do it! And you smell like burnt wood, by the way."
"Not my fault I can control fire!"
"Look, you owe me for saving your life anyway, so just don't mention this to Sora and the debt will be repaid."
"Ugh, fine."
Axel grudgingly squeezed the last of the water out of his hair – which proved to be no easy task – and stared at the ocean. "That's why I didn't like Demyx. Fire and water never get along well."
"Demyx controlled water or something?" Neku asked, not knowing who exactly Demyx was (aside from a vague idea) and more than happy to get off the subject of CPR.
"Yep," Axel replied. "Pretty good musician, too. Played a sitar. Every now and then he'd be playing in his room…without a heart though he just wasn't quite as good, but he still drew attention from everyone else. I think that's why he joined the Organization. He wanted his heart back so he could play like he used to."
"That's a pretty modest reason," Neku commented, staring upward at the star-filled, yet somewhat cloudy sky. "I kinda feel sorry for him."
"Lucky you," Axel muttered. "Demyx was kind of an odd duck, though. He was always slacking off, way too laid back, really gullible, played around more than anything…and pretty obnoxious at times. We didn't get along really well. I didn't hate him or anything, if I could hate…we just didn't get along."
"Where is he now?"
Axel shrugged. "With any luck, he's probably whole again, like the real Axel. Who knows where he is, though…I bet he's off fooling around playing songs for someone right about now."
He sounds nice enough, Neku thought. Bolt, whom had been listening curiously, walked quietly between the two and sat down, one of his ears drooping lazily. With a grin, Neku stroked the little canine's fur. It was wet from the ocean, but still soft.
"Roxas was the only guy I actually liked in the Organization," Axel said after a short silence. "He went for answers, and he left when he couldn't get them. It's something I respect."
That was an interesting way to put it. "Why's that?" Neku asked.
Axel shook his head, sighing. "I kind of doubt Xemnas was really after getting his heart back," he said. "He kept going on about how hearts are only full of anger and hatred and all that junk…who'd want to wake up to that? I know I wouldn't. I think he forgot about the positive side of being whole and he just wanted power, so he gathered up a bunch of people and sweet-talked them into the Organization for his own wants."
"Was that really what he did?"
"Hell if I know. From what Roxas told me about Sora's memory, Xemnas's heartless was a real bastard." The redhead leaned back. "Leaving the Organization is seen as betrayal…I'm not sure why…so I knew something was fishy when I heard about it. Roxas was smarter than everyone else was. He came for answers, found out he wasn't getting them and never would, and left."
"You left the Organization too," Neku added, "Like he did. Why?"
There was a short laugh and Axel shook his head. "I guess I wanted Roxas back. He was my buddy, after all. He was different from everyone else. He didn't want just any heart like the rest of us. He'd only settle for his. That's why he left looking for Sora." A short pause. "He eventually did find him, whether he wanted to or not, but he didn't fade like all other nobodies do. He's kind of still there…still borrowing Sora from time to time when he needs to get something out. A lot of us thought that Roxas had a heart of his own, instead of just being an empty shell like the rest of us. Hanging out with him made me feel like I had one, too."
"Are you happy to be with him again?" Neku asked.
"Of course not," Axel replied, standing. "I'm a nobody. Nobodies can't feel. It's nice to be around Sora, though, even if he's not quite Roxas. They're one and the same, but still different, you know what I mean?"
Neku also stood, eliciting a disgruntled whimper from Bolt, whom stood up and shook off. "Yeah, I guess."
"I just hope the real me remembers him one way or another," The redhead said finally. "That'd be a bummer if I went through all that and I can't even remember him. Anyway…we'd better find the others. I can't open a corridor if they leave us behind, and even if I could I doubt you'd want to experience going into one yourself. It's no picnic."
Agreeing silently, Neku stood. "Sora said this place was called Port Royal," he remembered aloud. "If it's a port, then there should at least be some people around."
Bolt was on the case, sniffing the ground and walking forward a few paces. He glanced up, barked, and trotted forward. Neku and Axel followed.
"Well, they're not in the port and they're not on the Isla De Muerta," Riku reviewed. "So they're either in the middle of the ocean or they're probably in the ship graveyard."
"Better land than sea, mate," the familiar pirate known as Jack Sparrow commented as he glanced at his compass again.
Sora sighed, remembering how little he liked where the remains of the Interceptor had ended up. "Hopefully Bolt will be with them…or that Ventus guy."
Riku groaned and rolled his eyes. "You know Sora, you could have warned me about this. You've got no map of this place, a half-drunk pirate sailing a decrepit ship – I mean, geez, even Hook had a better boat than this one – and a compass that doesn't even point north."
"True," Jack commented, having overheard Riku's tirade, "This compass doesn't point north, but it's not north we're trying to find, savvy?"
The silver-haired boy blinked. "…I don't get it."
"I don't either," Sora admitted quietly, "But just trust him, Riku. He knows what he's doing."
"If you say so," Riku replied, obviously still having his doubts.
I have to agree with him, Sora. Jack seems pretty crazy.
You're right; he does seem a bit loopy. He's a lot smarter than he seems, though.
I know. I did my research. I still think he's nuts though.
And by research, you mean you went sifting through my memory again?
Does it really matter? It's not like I'm going to tell anyone that you really do like Kairi.
I – you – what did you say?!
"I don't believe I've ever seen anyone harbor such dislike for the wood paneling before like you, Zola."
"Sora," the keyblade master automatically corrected, doing his best to wipe the sudden frustrated look from his face. Great. Now look what you've done.
Not my fault.
Oh, shut up.
We're almost there, Sora. Look.
Sure enough, the ship graveyard was coming into view. Sora could make out the remains of the Interceptor as well as an old mess of wooden planks where he had fought his first Gambler nobody for one of the cursed medallions. He felt a twinge of distaste in his chest – probably Roxas mentally recalling something about Luxord – but his spirits were lifted when he heard a familiar bark. "Is that Bolt?" He asked no one in particular.
"You mean that barking noise or that little white spec next to the two people waving at us?" Riku said, smirking.
Jack made a flinching motion that he always did when hesitating before speech. "I take it those are Neko and Pat-shell?"
"Neku and Axel," Sora corrected. "Yeah, that's them." Thank the worlds, they're safe.
And wet. Looks like they went for a swim.
Ignoring Roxas's comment, Sora hurried for the dock to see for his own eyes. Neku and Axel (along with Bolt, whom was barking and wagging his tail happily) stood there, soaked with sea water, but looking very much alive.
After setting up the planks to reach the makeshift dock, Neku and Axel boarded the Black Pearl's deck and promptly fell on their backs, Bolt following obediently and laying down, exhausted.
"What happened to you two?!" Riku demanded. "We didn't see you anywhere!"
"You dropped us off in the middle of the ocean," Axel grumbled. "Nice work."
We did what?!
Weird. The landing device doesn't change locations on its own…
Not that, Sora. Axel can't swim.
Oh…
We're lucky he's still around.
Sora bit his lip, attempting to hide most of his guilt. "Sorry," He muttered.
"At least we're alive," Neku stated, sitting up. "Nice boat you got here."
"It's not ours," Riku said, jabbing a thumb to the wheel. "Belongs to Jack over there."
Jack made his way nimbly down the steps. "Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please."
Neku gave the man a very, very strange look, and then stood. "Captain, then. I take it you know Sora?"
"That I do," Jack replied, his movements as loose and exaggerated as they always were. "Helped me take care of Barbossa and those Organizers."
Sora noticed Neku staring blankly at the man and muttered, "Long story, explain later."
The music-loving boy nodded. "Got it."
"I do so dislike pirates…"
Sora spun around, whipping out the keyblade on pure instinct. There, standing ever-so-calmly on the deck of the Black Pearl, was a figure in black. Judging by the berserkers accompanying him and the accent in his voice, it could be none other than Naxeyv.
Obviously, the biggest challenge in this chapter was writing Jack. I hope I got him down right. D: Next chapter is going to be way spiffier than this one will ever hope to be...I hope...
Characters Met:
(Captain) Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean/Kingdom Hearts II)
Zoners:
The Deceptive Evoker, Meyxours (Chasing The Truth/???)
The Elegant Reaper, Jaxuk (Chasing The Truth/???)
The Fallen Prince, Zarxilt (Chasing The Truth/Final Fantasy XI)
The Ruthless Emperor, Naxeyv (Chasing The Truth/Final Fantasy XII)
