Coup

Chapter Three: More

The next few days were spent with Xehanort locked in his room, meditating, and the other apprentices keeping a very close eye on Even. It was a painstaking week.

"Hey!" Braig yelled, as they all worked in the communal laboratory. "Where'd all the scalpel's go?"

Everyone looked around their stations and shrugged, save for Dilan. Everyone knew how he guarded his set of personally customized knifes, scissors, and scalpels. He gave an exasperated sigh.

"Find, Braig, you may use one of my scalpels," he said melodramatically. "You must return it to me, though."

Everyone knew his next statement.

"Or I will find you."

Suddenly, the doors flew open and banged into the wall, and Even strode in, looking extremely proud of himself. He had a smirk on his face that said 'I know something you don't know', and the others were wary of it.

"Oh, you," Xehanort said, not interested in anything he had to say. "What do you want?"

"I have discovered something no one else has ever seen!" he said, sounding as excited as he could, which wasn't a lot. "It will amaze all of you."

"You got a better haircut?" Braig asked in mock-happiness.

"No, take a look at his hair," Elaeus said. "It's the same."

"Mock me while you still have the spines to do so," Even snarled. "Follow me."

He motioned with his finger as he turned and left. The others—with nothing better to do—followed.

The 'journey' to Even's private lab was a long and quiet one. Xehanort began walking slower and slower as he contemplated the meaning of the memory.

Upon passing one of the windows, Xehanort absentmindedly gazed out—and stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened and his heart hammered as he saw one of those dark bug creatures staring back at him from behind the glass. He looked away…

Xehanort put a hand on his friend's forehead, where an X-shaped wound was, dripping blood that ran down his forehead, parting around his nose and down his cheeks. Like red tears. His friend grimaced but didn't otherwise move.

"…How could this have happened?" Xehanort wondered aloud. He grabbed his friend's shoulder and heaved him upright, supporting him.

"What…are you d-doing?"

"I'm not leaving without you."

"Xehanort, just go, I'm finished."

"No, …! I'm not leaving without you!"

Xehanort recoiled as if a column of air slammed into his chest. His heart was beating rapidly and he felt like hyperventilating. "Another memory? Who…"

"Yo! Xehanort! You okay?"

It was Braig. The others had stopped outside a door to watch him curiously.

He looked outside the window, but the yellow eyes were no longer there. He nodded and ran to catch up with the others.

Even boldly unlocked the door and strode in, the others at his heels like loyal hunting dogs. Xehanort had to squint his eyes and hold up a hand to block out the intense light of the small room. There was a small box in the center of the room, and in it…was one of those small black creatures.

Xehanort stepped back cautiously. "What is that?"

"I found it trying to take the heart essence," Even said, holding a finger to the glass and watching in interest as the small creature tried to grab his hand. "I do not know what it is."

Ienzo stepped forward, and Xehanort vaguely heard Even warn him to be careful. Is this the same one I just saw? But that's not possible…are there more?

He heard a rather girlish shriek, and he turned to see Ienzo fall on his backside. The black creature was pressed flat on the glass near him. If it had a mouth, it would have smiled.

"What is this demonic being?" Ienzo asked, most likely to himself, clutching his heart.

"I ran tests," Even said professionally. "The creature has no beating heart inside its body, so I named it a 'Heartless'."

"No heart?" Dilan echoed. "Preposterous. How does it live?"

Even shrugged.

"We cannot keep this creature a secret from Master Ansem," Xehanort said uneasily. "Surely you do not intend to do so!"

"Oh, I most certainly do intent to keep this a secret," Even scoffed. "And so will you five."

"You are mad!" Elaeus boomed, making everyone flinch.

"I am most certainly not mad, Goliath," Even sneered, frowning. "If you tell Master Ansem of this creature, I will release it…it seems attracted to people…" He trailed off suggestively.

"Fine," Xehanort hissed. "But if this thing turned out to be a threat, I will tell Master Ansem."

Even blinked. He didn't expect such an exclamation from the shy and timid Xehanort.

"Very well…the Heartless—"

Suddenly, Xehanort's head throbbed angrily, and his head felt like it was going to explode…

Xehanort released his friend when he was assured of the fact that he could stand on his own. He eyed the X wound on his face. "Should we…"

"It will scar," was the simple reply, the tone that of a person used to cheating death. "I am lucky to be alive. Next time, they will not—!"

His eyes widened and his next words turned into a pained gurgle. A bug creature had managed to stab him in the back, its hands phasing through his skin, near his heart.

"—shall remain here. It must remain under constant light; it becomes intangible in shadows."

"What the heck was that?" Xehanort whispered to himself.

"We had better not get into trouble, Even," Dilan warned.

"Yeah!" Braig agreed.

"You'll only get in trouble if you leave your mouths unhinged," Even said calmly. "Remember, I have my own hide to worry about, too.

Sorry for the late posting. My friend kept nagging me. I had it all written out, too.

I'm working on a Kingdom Hearts crossover with the best book ever, so keep an eye out!