Chapter 14: Straight Circles
The group of Rexial, Demyx, Zexion, and Marluxia portaled back to the castle, Axel not far behind carrying Roxas.
"Let's take him to Vexen. I'm sure he has casts or something in that lab of his." Demyx suggested.
They all headed through the Gray Area to get to Vexen's lab, seeing Saix standing there near the window as usual.
"What has happened to him?" he asked in his usual monotone.
"We were attacked. Snapped his ankle I believe." Axel stated firmly, still set on getting to his destination.
"Where is the girl?" he asked, glancing about the group, "the Superior will not be pleased…"
Axel ignored him and kept walking, Zexion and Marluxia not far behind. Demyx and Rexial exchanged glances, Demyx looking worried.
"We'll find her. I'm not going to let my Tsuin stay out there alone for much longer." Rexial said, turning to follow the others. Demyx continued to watch Saix as he watched Rexial walk off. He looked suddenly to Demyx who gulped and ran off to catch up.
Axel approached a door reading 'Do Not Enter This Lab'. He kicked the door opened, startling the focused scientist.
"Gah! Axel! My experiment! You'd better be glad this isn't acidic for-"
"Shut it. Jeez it's freezing in here… Roxas, help him. I think he's got a broken ankle." He told Vexen, settling the mentioned blonde down on a table.
Vexen glared at the fire element before advancing toward them, causing Axel to retreat ever so slightly.
"Let's see here…" Vexen said to himself, grabbing Roxas' ankle causing him to shriek. "Ah yes. It is broken."
"Well no shit!" Axel exclaimed, patting Roxas' back soothingly.
"Hmm.." Vexen trailed off, searching for something in a nearby cabinet.
Rexial stepped into the room only to jump back from the bitter cold. Zexion stood curiously in the doorway as Demyx slowly peaked into the room.
"Here it is!" Vexen pulled out a bottle of something green, a potion, and headed back to Roxas. "This will hurt he warned."
"Wha-?" Roxas started but was quickly cut off by Vexen snapping his bone back into place. He gasped inward, feeling kind of sick.
"Here, drink this potion." He handed him the bottle. Roxas nodded with tears brimming his eyes and began gulping down the liquid.
"Does anyone know how to summon a Cure?" Vexen asked. Everyone hesitantly nodded. "Alright then, Roxas you are not allowed to walk on that ankle until it heals."
"When will that be?" Roxas asked, weakly.
"About a week or so. With the potions. Plus we heal faster than normal but, that you knew already." Vexen said.
"Alright we should get going then. You want to be carried to your room?" Axel asked Roxas. The blonde shot a look at Rexial then turned back to Axel nodding to be picked up.
"Be right back Rex." Axel added as he headed out the door.
"Hmm. Yes because none of us are here." Zexion said blankly with a hint of a smirk. Rexial knew he was kidding, unlike Roxas would have been.
"Where did Marly go?" Demyx asked innocently.
The three looked around, noticing the pink haired one missing.
"Probably tending to his garden." Zexion suggested.
Axel came back to where the others were still gathered.
"Yo. What are we all deep in thought about?" he asked, seeing the others in full concentration.
"Marly's gone missing." Demyx stated.
"Eh, probably just in his garden. Come on, we have to go find Tryx. Can't leave her lost out in some world." Axel stated, opening a portal. Rexial and Zexion hurried to leave and Demyx lagged behind a bit before following along.
For some reason, he had a bad feeling.
Riku and Sora walked down an alleyway looking for the gummi ship station.
"Hey Riku? Do you really think Tryxel is bad?" Sora asked turning his gaze toward his friend.
"She's one of them. Of course she is." Riku responded with a stern face. Sora sighed and looked to the ground.
"You know, what she was saying is most likely a lie. Ever since they somehow came back to life, they have been after you with twice the determination."
"Axel wasn't like that. He helped me…" Sora mumbled.
"Ugh, Sora! Roxas was a part of you then! Once you let him get out, all of this restarted! You're too easily manipulated, which is why I have to keep close eye on you." Riku wnet on, voice lowering to a near whisper.
Sora nodded then smiled up at Riku, although somewhat sadly.
"Yes, and for that, I thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes." he said.
Riku gasped, shocked by the response but turned his head and nodded, continuing to walk on.
"Hey! Don't walk off like that!" Sora exclaimed and followed him the rest of the way down the alley.
"This is it…." Axel said once they arrived in Traverse Town.
"Looks deserted…" Rexial stated, looking around then walking forward. She turned to the other three. "Maybe we should split up, cover more ground to find her faster.
Axel smirked at her determination.
"I agree. How about I go with Rex. Zex and Dem don't mind pairing up, right?" he added, stepping to Rexial's side. Demyx giggled while Zexion shook his head with a smirk.
"No, we don't mind." Demyx said between giggles.
"Wouldn't want to separate you two." Zexion added, turning and waving Demyx to follow.
Rexial and Axel both blushed, extremely visible due to their already high body temperatures.
"Um, uh, so, that way?" Axel stuttered, pointing in a random direction.
"Uh huh." Rexial nodded, still blushing.
Tryxel stepped through the portal, again having no idea where it would lead.
She looked around to see cherry blossom petals floating everywhere. Actually cherry blossom trees were seen for miles. The grass was an off white and the sky was pale pink, a few shades lighter than the cherry blossoms.
Tryxel stood in awe as a soft breeze blew through her hair.
"Hey." a voice said. Soft, yet masculine.
Tryxel turned around to see a blone with green eyes. He looked kind of like Roxas, but with a more blank, sleepy expression.
"Who are you?" Tryxel asked suspiciously, ready to summon her violin.
"Keiichi." he said slowly. "As for you?"
"Tryxel." she responded. 'Why am I telling everyone my name so freely?' she thought to herself.
"You are not from this world." He observed, eyeing Tryxel."No… can you tell me where I am?" Tryxel asked. Obviously he didn't think she was evil, whoever he was."This is Tenshii No Sakura Yume." he started in the same slow, bored, even tone. Tryxel began to think that was just his way of speaking. "Not many people happen to come here. I don't even believe people know it exists."
Tryxel couldn't tell if he was saddened by this or not. Another breeze blew by leaving a clean scent in the air.
"Come along. I will show you more of my village." Keiichi said, extending his hand from a long sleeve. Tryxel was just now noticing the white kimono he wore making him look all the more pure.
She hesitantly took his hand and it stung. She hissed and drew back her hand quickly. Keiichi's face held a flash of confusion.
"What is the matter? Has something displeased you?" he asked, voice still soft and emotionless.
"Uh, yea… lead the way…" Tryxel said, staring at her hands. Keiichi studied her for a moment before turning around.
"The village is this way. You follow." he said, beginning to walk.
Tryxel looked up at him, his figure now emitting a bright light which made her wince. What is this boy?
She started to follow him into his village, squinting along the way.