A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter. Sorry for the wait, but this is actually the story that's getting the quickest updates. Weird, huh? Anywho, thanks to all that faved and read, and thanks to NinjaSheik as well for reviewing! And with that, I'm shutting up so that you can read. Happy Thanksgiving!

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is no belonging to me. Only Runa and plot is belonging to me. Yeesh.


Many days had passed since he had encountered that strange girl. And since then, Xemnas had not, thankfully, sent him on any other missions. Now back to his regular position of giving out missions to the other members of Organization XIII, Saix returned to his usual routine. However, he found that every once in awhile, his thoughts, albeit annoyed ones, soon turned to that girl…Runa, was it? But that was besides that point.

What actually bothered him was her audacity to speak out against him. Didn't she know who he was? Didn't she know danger when it stared her in the face? Did she lack any sense of self-preservation? These questions, amazingly enough, didn't fade over time; instead, they only seemed to grow stronger. When faced with danger, most either begged for mercy or rushed into battle without a strategy. These types never failed to disgust Saix as he watched their demise from the shadows with indifferent eyes. However, this girl had presented Saix with something that he had not foreseen.

Idiocy.

Narrowing his eyes at the thought of that particular trait, the Luna Diviner gave a low growl from the back of his throat. Taking it upon himself to pour some tea that Luxord had left behind, Saix hoped that it would serve to calm him. It had been a hard enough day as it was. Heartless were causing mayhem everywhere they went, more so than usual. In fact if the Organization had not intervened, many worlds would have surely disappeared by now. But despite the armies that were slain, Kingdom Hearts had become no larger or easier to obtain. According to Xemnas, the only way that that goal would become a reality was if a keyblade warrior was to join their ranks; hence, Saix's investigation in Hollow Bastion.

Continuing to sip at his tea delicately, Saix casually turned to look over his shoulder as he heard the sounds of footsteps steadily approaching The Grey Area. Much to his chagrin he found no other than the Superior himself. Masking his surprise with a slight nod of the head, Saix wondered why Xemnas had decided to leave his section of the castle. After all, he barely left that portion except for meetings and the like. Obviously something of importance had made itself known.

"Superior, is something amiss?" Saix questioned nonchalantly, setting down his drink.

"Number VII, do you recall the investigation you made in Hollow Bastion approximately a month ago?"

"Of course."

"Rumors of the keyblade warrior Sora have continued since then. It is likely that he and Ansem's heartless will soon confront each other."

"…And there is something you require of me," he murmured in a way that acted as a statement, not a question.

Walking over to the great windows that allowed the onlooker to observe every aspect of The World That Never Was, Xemnas directed his piercing gaze toward Kingdom Hearts itself. "You are to go to Ansem's castle in Hollow Bastion. There, you will find a main computer that stores the valuable information we have accumulated over the years."

"You wish for me to gather you this information, and bring it to you?" Saix mused. 'And thus another useless mission is assigned,' he thought, resisting the urge to glare holes in his tea.

"No, all of it has already been collected here. What I want you to do is to corrupt those files. Make sure that no one will ever be able to access the information. If the keyblade wielder or any of his comrades find a way to do so, then it may unravel everything we have worked for all these years."

"I shall leave immediately then," the Luna Diviner stated. Summoning a portal, he was about to depart from his world when the Superior continued to speak.

"That girl you encountered on your previous mission… Runa, correct?"

Not facing Xemnas, Saix simply continued to stand by the portal. "Yes, that is her name."

"She merits suspicion. If you come across her again, you are to inquire about her actions. More… forceful actions are permissible if she fails to comply."

"If I may Superior," Saix said, turning to face his leader. "Why should we be wary of her?"

"You think otherwise?"

"Without a doubt sir. That wretch does not possess the intelligence to attempt anything that could possibly be suspicious! She's ignorant beyond belief, as well as one of the most infuriating beings I have ever met."

"Nevertheless, your orders remain unchanged," Xemnas stated, giving the Nobody a stern glance. "Now go." Giving only a small nod in reply, Saix stepped through the portal leading to Hollow Bastion without a backward glance.


Typing away furiously at the keyboard before him, Saix stared unblinkingly at the glowing screen as he attempted to hack into its system. 'It shouldn't be this difficult to access a computer used by the Organization. Then again, this did belong to Ansem. It is probable that he put defenses against such events when he was still in possession of the device.' Little had ever been told to the neophytes about the man called Ansem, besides the necessary facts. Sometimes it made Saix wonder what else Xemnas could be hiding from the rest of the Organization.

Shaking his head of those thoughts, the Nobody returned to the current task. He was forced to admit that the system was fairly difficult; however, in but a few more seconds, his goal was accomplished. Satisfied that it was now near impossible to retrieve any sort of information from the computer, Saix prepared to make his way out of the castle. Casually throwing his hood over his head so as to remain anonymous, he had barely taken begun when the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears. As the sounds drew nearer and nearer, he summoned his claymore in anticipation of a possible battle. Crouching into a battle stance and gripping Lunatic tightly, he bared his teeth just as the person rounded the corner.

Imagine his delight when he saw that it was only that girl again.

She must have been running for quite awhile judging by the way she was panting. She had also failed to notice him thus far. One hand was against the wall, supporting her, while the other hung limply as she bent over, attempting to catch her breath. Loosening his grip on Lunatic slightly, Saix briefly considered keeping his word from their last meeting, and killing her on the spot. Alas, the Superior wanted her alive, and he would surely be punished if he ignored such a command. So instead of embedding his claymore through her neck, he simply barked out, "You, woman."

Apparently recognizing his voice, her head snapped up to face him as she fixed him with an intense glare. "Haven't I already told you that my name is Runa?!" she retorted while continuing to attempt to catch her breath.

"My apologies," Saix murmured mockingly. "It slipped my mind that you act more as a child than as a woman. I assure you, I shall not make that mistake again."

"Look you— " Giving a sudden sigh, the girl looked toward the sky briefly, as if praying to some deity. "Okay, can't I suggest one thing without you attempting to kill me?"

"I guarantee you, never have I attempted to kill you." Saix smirked, watching as she narrowed her eyes at him. "For if I had, you would surely be dead," he then added, wishing to see what emotion she would demonstrate.

"You arrogant dog!" she snarled. 'Ah, anger then. How utterly…predictable,' the Luna Diviner thought, his golden eyes peering into her hazel orbs. Although he knew that emotions were now beyond his reach, it amused him to no end to see that fire burn in her eyes. Briefly, he wondered what those very eyes looked like when she was happy.

His mind abruptly returning to Xemnas's orders concerning the girl, Saix scoffed at the idea of the girl succeeding to hide anything from his Superior. This weak, emotionally dependent wench probably could not even hide anything from Demyx for Kingdom Hearts' sake. And with that thought in mind, the hooded man opened a portal, and walked into it with a brisk stride. Just as it was about to close, he turned his face toward the girl who continued to glare furiously at him. "Your life is spared for today, little one. But rest assured, you will pay for your insolence next we meet."

And with that statement, Saix allowed himself to be enveloped in darkness.