Disclaimer: I think we all know that I don't own it. Except for my crazy OC's, which are all mine.=)
Warnings: Mostly language. New OC's in this chapter.
Author's Note: Yay! New chapter! Well, let's see how Xemmy reacts to everything he's just learned! Should be interesting.=)
End of Chapter 18: Zack's Diaries Part IV
"Do you see it now? Why I couldn't tell you?"
'Haydn.' Xemnas thought angrily. A rage swept through his veins so suddenly that it almost scared him. Zack wasn't the only one who had lied to him. It seemed that much of what he knew about Haydn was just a big lie as well. It angered him to no end. How could they? What right did they have to keep this from him? He should have known from the beginning. Maybe if he had…
'Maybe I could have helped and Zack would still be alive.'
"You bastards." Xemnas said lowly as he stood. He couldn't forgive either Zack or Haydn for what they had done. Not yet.
Chapter 19: Introductions
Xemnas couldn't believe it. How dare he show his face after what he had just found out.
"You fucking bastards. How dare you!" Xemnas said as he summoned one of his Ethereal Blades and charged at Haydn. The other man blocked the attack easily with his acoustic guitar and shoved Xemnas into the very tree that had once been a portal many years ago.
"Stop it." Haydn said calmly, his dark green eyes burning into Xemnas's amber ones. His tone only made Xemnas angrier. He had just found out about all of Haydn and Zack's dirty little secrets and the man didn't even have the nerve to look ashamed?!
"Why should I?!" Xemnas spat as he struggled to break free from Haydn's powerful hold. "You lied! You both lied to me!"
"I know we did Xemnas…but you need to calm down. There are a lot of things that happened that you still don't understand." Haydn said evenly, becoming very cautious when he sensed that Xemnas's rage had tripled within a matter of seconds.
"Fuck you! I don't need to understand any more! How could you?!" Xemnas screamed as he attempted to strike Haydn again. The brunette knew he would need more than his guitar this time. As he dropped his acoustic back in its case with one hand, he pulled out his sword with the other. This time, Xemnas's blow almost hit him.
"I know what you're thinking Xemnas, but Zack loved you with everything he had." Haydn said as he deflected yet another attack. Xemnas gave an astringent, bark-life laugh that almost rivaled that of Zack and Haydn's.
"Like that makes any difference. I never really knew what he had exactly, now did I? He lied to me about everything!" Xemnas shouted with the deliver of an attack that nicked Haydn's shoulder.
"You're not making any sense! He was lying to protect you!" Haydn was now yelling too. His patience was beginning to wear thin.
"He should have told me! Maybe if I had I could of-"
"Could have done what, Xemnas?" Haydn said only inches away from Xemnas's face, their weapons connected and struggling for dominance. "Do you honestly think you could have done anything to save him with the information you have now?! Zack and I were dead men walking long before you showed up. Don't think yourself so high and mighty that you could have done anything to stop them. They were too powerful. That's why we need to stop fighting. We can defeat them if we work together. If you really want to take your anger out on somebody, take it out on them because-"
"Don't you dare bring those disgusting creatures into this! We're talking about you and Zack, remember?!"
Haydn gave a loud, humorless laugh. "Surely Zack's journals filled in enough blanks for you to figure out that we are those disgusting creatures. How could I not bring them into this?! They have everything to do with the well constructed lies that Zack and I fed you all those years ago. They killed your lover, my best friend…"
"Shut up! You don't even know what you're talking about, you monster!"
"I'm a monster? Should I remind you of all the things my clan has done? You can't possibly think that I would ever stoop as low as them?"
"But wouldn't you? You are from the same bloodline. I've never seen creatures so capable of destruction."
"Ah, but Xemnas, that's where you're wrong. You're very familiar with a beast that was just as detrimental at one point in time. You committed nearly the exact same crimes that my clan did as a Nobody, didn't you?"
"I…I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, but you do, don't you?" Haydn asked callously. "Maybe that's why you don't want to talk about them."
"Haydn…what are you talking about?!" Xemnas said almost fearfully, his amber orbs widening at the other man's words. Haydn leaned over, his lips right next to Xemnas's ear, their weapons still struggling for power between them as he whispered:
"You're just as foul as them and you know it. That's why you wish not to discuss them. You can't stand the fact that you are just as much of a monster as the man who took your beloved Zack away."
Xemnas's breath hitched as the truth all but slapped him in the face. His defense weakened, allowing Haydn's sword to defeat his Ethereal Blade. Haydn slammed him into the tree-that-was-once-a-portal again, and Xemnas remembered for an instant that he had been in a similar situation with Sephiroth. Although he was certain that even with all the intimidation the other silver haired man could muster, he still wouldn't be able to terrify him as much as Haydn was in this moment. Xemnas's breathing became shallow as Haydn's sword dug into his neck, causing a small trail of blood to trickle down his chest.
"I swear to god, if he hadn't loved you so much I'd…" Haydn trailed off quietly, the harsh, angry lines etched into his face disappearing as he became calm and thoughtful, yet somehow still cold and indifferent. After a moment or two he dropped his sword to his side before incasing it in it's sheath.
"Go. Do whatever you need to compose yourself before we leave. We need to start moving soon."
Xemnas nodded in what could only be called agreement before he started to walk off in a random direction. He didn't really know where he was going, but that didn't seem to matter. He just wanted to get away from everything, if only for a while.
After thirty minutes, Xemnas found himself at a clearing with a stream, giving the feeling of being far away from the rubble left behind. Xemnas sat next to the small stream, dipping his hands in the cool, clear water only to find that it stung. Xemnas winced and looked down at his tan skin that was residing in the water. He had almost forgotten about his dirt-caked scars and the possibility of infection that came with them. Xemnas began to scrub his hands furiously, trying to rub the dirt out of his wounds and Haydn's words, which still resided strongly in his mind.
'You know it's true.' Xemnas's subconscious whispered. 'You're nothing but a monster. You're just like them.'
'Stop it!' Xemnas begged his inner demons, trying to wash away his sins. Yet, like the dirt caked in his wounds, they wouldn't go away no matter how hard he scrubbed. His hands were starting to become painfully raw.
"Xemnas." A familiar baritone pulled him out of his thoughts. Sephiroth. Xemnas was confused at first. How had the other man found him? He only had to look at Sephiroth to know the answer. Xemnas had forgotten about the powerful black wings Sephiroth possessed and so carefully disguised. They were as beautiful as the first time Xemnas had seen them. There was just one difference…
'How did that scar get there?' Xemnas asked himself, taking in the long, jagged scar that marred one of Sephiroth's wings. Xemnas scanned his brain for anything that could have caused the injury.
It hit him quite suddenly.
The scar was from the fight with the giant dog that had occurred before they left Radiant Garden. Xemnas couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He had inadvertently been the cause of that wound. The giant dog had been after him. Xemnas pushed those thoughts away and focused on the man in front of him.
"What do you want?" Xemnas snapped in what he hoped to be a cold tone. If it was, Sephiroth didn't seem to notice, or care.
"The others are looking for you."
"Are they now?"
"We need to leave soon." Sephiroth stated as he kneeled next to Xemnas.
'What if I don't want to go with?' Xemnas thought. He had just taken quite a bit of information in and he wasn't sure if he could handle questioning right now, or even worse, the worried gazes of those traveling with him. They would know that something was wrong. Xemnas knew Haydn well enough to know that when he was angry he became aloof and indifferent, two characteristics that were uncommon for the usually friendly male. As for himself, he was sure he would just appear grumpier than he usually did. That would be enough to raise suspicion amongst even the most dim-witted of the group. Xemnas wasn't sure he could handle their incessant questioning as well as everything else.
"What did you do to your hands?" Sephiroth asked, taking Xemnas out of his own little world. When he didn't answer, Sephiroth sighed impatiently and began to dig for something in a bag that the other male hadn't even realized he had. What emerged was a first aid kit. Xemnas was surprised that Sephiroth had one. He didn't seem like the type of man to carry something like that around.
Xemnas was even more surprised at what Sephiroth did next. The green eyed man took Xemnas's hands in his own and began cleaning his wounds with cotton swabs and peroxide.
"I was digging through the dirt and rubble…there was a lot of glass…" Xemnas said quietly. Sephiroth stopped with his ministrations to look at Xemnas. Slight confusion passed through his green eyes before he shook his head in understanding, or maybe disapproval, before continuing his work.
"Fool." Sephiroth mumbled half heartedly before beginning to wrap Xemnas's hands with gauze.
"I did it to find Zack's things." Xemnas mumbled softly. Sephiroth stopped his work once again and looked Xemnas in the eyes for the first time since this strange encounter started. Xemnas thought he saw sympathy in those sea foam green eyes, but it was gone before he had a chance to analyze it. Sephiroth looked down and continued his work, the air growing thick and uncomfortable around the two. Xemnas was somehow disturbed by the awkward silence and quickly changed the subject.
"How did you learn to do this?" Xemnas asked as he gestured to his hands with a movement of his head.
"I've been around Aerith long enough to know a few simple healing techniques." Sephiroth said as he finished wrapping the gauze. The amber eyed man could tell Sephiroth wanted to say something else, but wasn't sure if he wanted to know what that something was. Sephiroth never hesitated.
"I picked up his remains." Sephiroth said in a hushed tone. Xemnas could only stare at the other man. Sephiroth had done what?
'Zack's remains.'
"Oh." Xemnas replied. He couldn't help but snort inwardly at his inability to come up with a better response. Xemnas looked down and noticed that Sephiroth was still holding his gauze covered hands. The other man followed his gaze and pulled his hands away quickly, a little too quickly.
"I also took this." Sephiroth said as he pulled a small, shiny object out of his pocket. It was a ring. Zack's engagement ring to be precise. Two amber gems glittered in the sunlight. Xemnas remembered Zack's exact response when he questioned him about the ring.
'I made sure to get a ring with gems the exact color of your eyes. That way, even when I'm not with you, I can look at the ring and remember your beautiful eyes. It comforts me.'
Xemnas stared at the ring's gems and swore that they were several shades brighter than his eyes were now. He couldn't help but wonder if his eyes had actually been that light once.
"I thought you would want it." Sephiroth said as he held the ring out for Xemnas to take. Xemnas only nodded as he took the ring before placing it on the chain around his neck where his own ring resided.
"We should leave. The others are waiting." Sephiroth stood up and extended his hand to Xemnas, grunting in irritation when the other ignored his offer and stood up on his own. Sephiroth picked Xemnas up wordlessly, flying off before he could so much as complain or struggle.
It wasn't long before Sephiroth and Xemnas were back with the others. It seemed that Haydn had found his way back too, albeit his strong nose probably made it very easy to find such a large group. It occurred to Xemnas that that was most likely how Haydn came across him earlier and was probably the one to point Sephiroth in the right direction. Xemnas also noticed that everyone else was positioned with quite a bit of distance between themselves and Haydn. It seemed that they had noticed his ill-temper and were smart enough to steer clear of him. Xemnas hoped that he looked as though he were in just as rotten of a mood so that they would stay away from him too. Upon seeing Xemnas, Haydn stood up and quickly stuffed something in his bag. Xemnas realized, with a bit of remorse, that Haydn was packing up Zack's belongings that he had found buried beneath the ground. Xemnas felt a surge of anger, feeling that the box and all its contents belonged to him. He shook the thoughts away, not wanting to starting another fight with Zack's childhood friend.
"We should go." Haydn said gruffly. "We still have a good distance to cover."
No one had the nerve to ask him how much longer they had, never mind where they were going.
After an hour of walking, a certain ninja of the group began to complain.
"Are we there yet?" Yuffie whined, her shoulders slumped and a rather convincing pout plastered on her face. She looked like an overgrown child, which, to Xemnas's disdain, realized that she was. He was once again reminded that Yuffie shouldn't be with them. This wasn't child's play.
"Stop complaining Yuffie. Now isn't exactly the best time for it." Tifa muttered as she nudged the other girl in the side.
"But Tifa-"
"We should be there shortly." Haydn interjected. The two women fell silent.
A certain fiery red head, however, was quite bored, and incidentally, very horny. It wasn't a surprised really. This often happened when Axel got too bored. It was somewhat shocking, however, that Roxas was surprised when Axel decided to grab his ass. So surprised, in fact, that the blonde jumped about a foot in the air and squeaked as if he were some kind of chew toy.
"Axel, stop it!" Roxas grumbled. Axel feigned innocence.
"What are you talking about Roxas? I didn't do anything?" Axel said as he batted his eyelashes at his blonde boyfriend. Somehow, the gesture only left Roxas slightly disturbed.
"Right. Sure you didn't. Just stop it."
"But…why? It's so much fun." Axel said lowly as he slipped his hands into Roxas's back pocket and-
"You know, some of us would enjoy not watching you frisk your boyfriend in broad daylight!" Leon sneered as Axel removed his hands from Roxas with vague annoyance.
"Well Squall," Axel said maliciously "maybe if you just stopped being such a pervert and watching, no one would have to see us."
"That doesn't even make sense you twat."
"Fuck off, Leonhart!"
"Oh, such a great comeback…for a twat."
"You're such a fucking-"
"Guys! Shut up!" Haydn yelled, breaking up the argument in under a second. The others were relieved.
That relief was short lived.
"They're coming." Haydn muttered. Everyone was on guard at once. Xemnas was sure he saw Haydn's ears perk up a little and his pupils dilate, an instinct that was surely attributed to his clan.
"What? Are you sure? How do you know?" Cloud asked as he pulled out his buster sword.
"Just trust me, I know. They should be here soo-"
Haydn was cut off when a distinct growl met everyone's ears.
Haydn cursed under his breath. There were more of them this time. Several more. The dogs were around them instantly. They were angrier this time, making the entire group uneasy.
"Damn…if these guys keep multiplying…" Axel trailed off as the demonic dogs managed to surround him on all sides.
"I know, but this doesn't make any sense." Haydn said. "They don't usually send this many unless…oh fuck."
"What are you talking about Haydn?" Sora asked; everyone took notice of Haydn's now large, fearful eyes. They soon found out what caused the sudden change.
What they found out that day, what that when that many demonic mutts were around…
Their owners, their very powerful owners, were sure to be close by.
"Haydn, its been far too long." A deep male voice growled. Everyone looked to a high cliff not far from them. On top of it were five individuals. Xemnas realized with a sudden fear that the one who had spoken was the same man who killed Zack. He had come back as he had promised.
"Hidenori." Haydn snarled, an animalistic growl escaping his throat. So that was his name. Hidenori. This was the man who had haunted him for so long.
"Now Haydn dear, that's no way to talk to the leader of your clan." A sultry female voice said next. It was the woman standing next to Zack's murderer. She looked human enough. She had long black hair and dark eyes. These features were accented by skin so pale that it looked as though it had never seen the light of day. Her facial features were sharp and angular, giving her an air of being attractive in a frightening way.
"Oh look, it's my father's whore." Haydn stated in an almost casual tone. At least that's how it would have appeared if the comment hadn't been followed by a profound sneer.
"That's no way to talk to your mother!" The woman snapped. Haydn managed a strangled laugh.
"You've never been my mother." Haydn claimed. Ah, Xemnas understood now. This must be Haydn's step-mother that he had read about in Zack's journals. The one who killed Haydn's real mother. The one who bore Zack's first "lover", Naoki.
"Speaking of parents, where's my old man? I thought you would bring him with." Haydn remarked sarcastically. The woman he was addressing gave a rather disturbing smile.
"He's dead. He became far too weak in his age so I disposed of him and found someone else." Haydn's step-mother claimed as she latched on to Hidenori's arm. That supposed someone was him.
"Meaning you killed him and slept with the next best thing. How becoming of you Shigemi." Haydn snarled. Xemnas now knew the whorish woman's name. Shigemi. He took the opportunity to look at the others, who couldn't possibly follow along without the information he possessed. Xemnas noted that they seemed to watch with confusion and a little bit of awe.
"Hmm, you always were a little brat." Shigemi said mercilessly. "We don't always get our way sweetheart, but I do think there's someone here you'd like to see."
Shigemi moved aside to reveal someone who had been standing behind her the entire time. Xemnas hadn't noticed him. That meant there were six of them. The male that now stood before them was younger than the others, only eighteen at best. Xemnas had no clue who the young man could be, but Haydn's eyes were wide with shock and recognition.
"Brother." Haydn uttered, seemingly dumbfounded. Xemnas understood. It was Kane, Haydn's half brother. The one whom Haydn had been forced to leave behind ten years ago…
The one who was now on the wrong side of this battle.
"Shut up, traitor." Kane growled. Xemnas noticed that the two looked very much alike. Although Kane was taller, lighter skinned, and had whitish blonde hair that wasn't nearly as long as Haydn's darker locks, the two had similar faces. The shape of Kane's jaw, nose, eyebrows, and mouth were all very analogous to Haydn's. Yet, there was one very striking similarity that could let anyone with a decent pair of eyes know that they were brothers.
His eyes.
Kane had two almond shaped, dark green eyes. A feature that was odd, yet lovely, against his pale skin and light hair.
It was just as Zack had said.
Or written, for that matter.
Haydn seemed vaguely hurt by Kane's words, but recovered quickly, searching for any clues in his brother's face that may have shown that he didn't mean what he said.
Xemnas sure wasn't able to find any.
"Kane…what…but how…?" Haydn stumbled around his words, unable to make a simple sentence.
"You were always so good with words Haydn, always seemed so tasty…" Another male voice interjected. The man was short, maybe even more so than Haydn and Zexion, and appeared to be impish. Even in his human form, his teeth were overly sharp and his fingers twitched constantly. His head moved from side to side as though he were sizing everyone up. Thick, unruly, almost matted dull red hair fell into his blood shot eyes that took on a sickly yellowish glow. Despite all of this, he looked like he could be no older than Haydn. The male kept licking his lips every once in a while as his eyes hungrily scanned the people below him. Xemnas recognized this look immediately.
He was blood thirsty.
"Now now Ken, there will be plenty of time for that later." Hidenori chided. Now that Xemnas new the impish man's name, that only left two…
The remaining two who had yet to utter a single word were standing next to one another. One was clearly female, while the other…well…Xemnas wasn't quite sure what it was.
The one whom was clearly a woman stood scowling down at everyone. Her nose was upturned and pointy and her mouth was set in a grimace, as if she were disgusted by the mere sight of so many humans. Thin and long light blue hair fell across her shoulders and face like flimsy curtains. It looked like it hadn't been cut in years. Her eyes were the exact same color as her stringy hair. Her skin was papery, thin, and yellowish. It reminded Xemnas of aged wallpaper that had been poorly cared for. She was thin and bony looking, maybe in her early thirties. Yet, despite this, she looked as though she may have been pretty at one point in her life.
"Can we just get this over with Hidenori?!" This girl yelled at her master.
"Patience, child." Hidenori spat back.
"I am no child Hidenori. I haven't been for quite some time."
"You'd do well not to talk to your leader in that manner." Shigemi hissed.
"Piss off, old hag!" The girl retorted. Before Shigemi could so much as round on the other girl, Haydn broke up their argument with his laughter.
"Dear God, is that really you Ren? What happened? You were actually pretty the last time I saw you. Then again, I guess working for that bastard over there would turn your insides and outsides ugly." Haydn said with a snigger.
"Watch your tongue filth!" Ren shrieked. Before she could go on, an irritatingly high pitched voice cut through. It was the last member of the group, the one Xemnas couldn't properly identify the gender of. It looked to be about Ren's age.
"Really Renny, you are set off far too easily." The he-she stated as it twirled a finger around its long lavender colored hair. Xemnas still couldn't figure out the gender of this individual. It had no breasts, but everything else seemed completely feminine. This person's figure was slim, yet curvier than any man's should be, and the lavender hair swept across slim shoulders in a feminine cut. Slightly tanned skin was clothed by tight black pants that certainly should belong to a woman and wore a light pink button up shirt that could have belonged to a female as well. Hazel eyes peered at something Xemnas couldn't see with greed and, if Xemnas wasn't mistaken, lust. He followed that hungry gaze to find that it was directed at Saix. Xemnas felt a little bile rise in his throat when he realized what that probably meant. If Saix knew that he was being stared at in such a way, he didn't show it and seemed only vaguely confused when Marluxia wrapped his arms around the blunette protectively and glared at the offender.
"Like you have any room to judge you gender confused ingrate!" Ren shouted at the he-she.
"Gender confused?! I'll have you know that I'm completely male, Ren!"
"Holy shit, that's a guy?!" Axel asked.
"I know this is going to be hard to believe, but yeah, he is." Haydn muttered, casting a sideways glance at Axel.
"He makes Marly look like the epitome of masculinity."
"I'll overlook that comment for now, Axel." Marluxia stated curtly. An argument was still taking place between Ren and the shemale.
"Yeah right. Whatever you say Ikuya."
"I have the equipment to prove it if you don't believe me. Perhaps I should show it to you." The supposedly male Ikuya snapped. Ren only laughed.
"I don't think anyone would benefit from that Ikuya. Nobody wants to see your ugly-"
"I wouldn't judge anyone by their looks if I were you Ren!"
"You bastard! How dare you-"
"Ikuya, stop toying with the poor ugly girl." Hidenori said with a hint of cruel amusement.
"I'm sorry master. I should have realized that dear RenRen was only jealous." Ikuya snickered.
"As if I would ever be jealous of a-"
"Enough!" Hidenori barked. The two stopped fighting immediately.
"Having trouble controlling your minions, Hidenori?" Haydn asked with a wry smile.
"Not at all Haydn. They just tend to get a little antsy when I don't let them kill right away. But it's better this way. The longer I keep them waiting, the more vicious they get. I doubt it will take them long to kill all of you. Attack!" Hidenori shouted. His five minions were off the cliff before he could even snap his fingers.
And so it began…
Author's Note: Hehehe. Cliffhanger. As you can see, this ones a lot shorter than the others. I was going to include the battle in this chapter, but I liked the way it ended here. The next chapter should be up very soon, because I'm almost done writing it. Please leave reviews!!! I llllloooovvveeeesss my reviews!!! Pllleeeeaaaassse? I'll give you a cookie…=D
