Choosing Sides - Chapter 2

Xemnas walked down the corridor of the Castle That Never Was that led to his office. Pausing at the Grey Area, he stuck his head inside and was promptly greeted by Vexen's voice shrilling loudly.

"No Demyx! Please put that back where it was, please?! If things aren't in the exact correct place this could go horribly wrong! Don't you understand that?!" The academic snatched a vial from the musician's hands and looked around for any more missing items from his inventory. His eyes met Xemnas' and he gave a start. "Oh, superior! Can I help you right now?"

Xemnas waved a hand and shook his head, "Not at the moment, no. Demyx, could you accompany me for a small while?"

Demyx blinked and then, not really having much say in the matter, exited the room.

"Now then, I know you feel that you aren't the right member for missions requiring force, but we do expect you to be able to have some combat skills. To this end, I have requested that Saïx take you on a training mission. He will oversee your progress and report back to me. Am I clear on this matter?" The organization leader's stare rather intimidated Demyx, so the Nocturne simply gulped and nodded.

"Good, report to number vii's room immediately then if you would." Xemnas patted Demyx on the shoulder and walked off down the hall to his office.

Sinking down to the floor Demyx whined to himself. "Why does it have to be with Saïx? He's scary! Couldn't it be with someone like Xigbar?"

Now, being a nobody with control over space does have its perks and one of them is being able to hear your name if anyone says it. Hearing said name, Number II of the organization emerged from a portal above Demyx and staring down at him, asked "Hey Demy buddy, what's the problem?"

Sniffling, Demyx glanced up at the Freeshooter and explained his dilemna.

Rotating in a circle, Xigbar sucked air through his teeth. "Mmmn, that is pretty unfortunate dude. But I'd not recommend going against the superior, ya know? Bad times and all that." Patting Demyx on the head, he winked with his good eye and said, "Tell ya what, I'll go see Moony and tell him to go easy on you, kay?"

Demyx smiled and said, "Thanks Xiggy!" Pausing, Number IX poked Xigbar and said, "You know, he's not really all that mean, he's just scary and so serious all the time."

Xigbar nodded and grinned, "Know what you mean man. Later!" He opened a portal and stepped into Saïx's room

Without opening his eyes or moving from where he was, Saïx asked in a resigned tone of voice, "What do you want Xigbar?"

"Nothing, actually. Just had a request."

"Do tell." The blue-haired man drawled.

"Well, ya know how Demyx's combat abilities are pretty non-existant? The superior asked him to see you about training and I was hoping you could go easy on the guy." Xigbar said, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish look on his face.

Waving a hand, Saïx grunted and said, "Define easy, if the superior wants me to increase the combat ability of number IX, I'll make sure it increases. That's my job."

Xigbar stepped back into the portal and said, "I know man, just cut the kid some slack, okay." He stepped through and vanished from Saïx's room.

"Great, another dull task. Why don't Lexaeus or Zexion get any of these tasks?" He groaned and pulled a pillow over his head.

A knock on the door made him sigh. "Come in Demyx." He called out and sat up.

Demyx hesitantly walked in and glanced around at the mess that was Saïx's room. "Xemnas said I was to..."

"Yes, I know. Xigbar came and plead your case to me." About to make a snappy remark about asking Xigbar to plead your case for you was as useful as asking Sora when his conversation his Axel returned to him. "You know number IX, I think I will attempt to make this as non-painful for both of us as I can. If I promise not to yell or use any of my more violent methods of encouragement, do you promise to try your damnedest to learn something?"

Demyx grinned and let out a held breath. "Definitely. Now where are we heading?"

Saïx let a small smile escape before he turned to a map of the worlds and pointed at Hollow Bastion. "We'll be going to the Dark Depths. Bring your sitar and meet me at the bailey in an hour."

Demyx nodded enthusiastically and dashed off. Saïx merely sat and started writing down the lesson plans on a sheet of paper.