Chapter 23: What Lies Within
"A member has fallen. Yet again. I swear if it is that Key Weilding misfit-" Xemnas ran a stressed hand through his hair.
"He may not be able to return again, Superior." Saix said. "Sora must be stopped."
"He must. But we cannot jump into things as we did before. It takes patience. Planning."
Saix nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps we should call for a meeting? It's time the two new members were told about Sora and his friends." he suggested.
"Good idea. This is why you are second in command." Xemnas said. "First thing tomorrow. I'm calling it a night."
"Yes, Superior. I shall retire as well." Saix said, leaving the office.
Saix took a portal into the Gray Area, seeing Zexion and Tryxel standing near a wall. The two immediately fell into silence upon seeing him. He tilted his head to the side quizzically before leaving them.
"Suddenly I do not feel that talking here is very safe." Zexion said, watching him leave.
"Me neither. My room or yours?" Tryxel asked. Zexion smirked before they both started laughing.
"Oh, come on." Zexion said and they walked down the corridor to the room area. They walked into Zexion's room and sat on his bed.
"What were you going to say?" Tryxel asked.
The slate-haired boy blushed lightly and cleared his throat.
"I-I… I am not mistaken in the thought of you having feelings for me, correct?" he managed to get out without much stuttering.
Tryxel looked away and nodded.
"And, upon coming into realization that your actions were not some sort of form of entertainment for you, I can freely say that the feelings are returned." he said.
The girl's head jerked up toward him.
"Really?" she asked in disbelief. Zexion nodded.
"But I, I um, I never. I don't want to run and tell everyone. I want to test it awhile first. I hope you will understand and not be-" Zexion rambled until Tryxel stood up.
"I'm not upset. I understand." she said and hugged him. The boy blushed and returned the hug. "Just, thanks for giving me a chance."
Zexion smiled. This could definitely work.
"But then, I pulled out an ace! Ahahaha! A bloody ace!" Luxord went on and Rexial sighed. She regretted going into the Game Room now.
"Hey Dearie, how about a game of poker?" the English man offered.
"Sure." Rexial agreed right as they heard a thump followed by a string of curse words. "Axy!" the girl sang and ran to hug him.
"Hey Rex." he said, hugging her back. "Damn stairway. I always run into the wall coming down here!"
Luxord cleared his throat loudly.
"The game?" he said.
"Well, if you're gonna be rude about it…" Rexial mumbled.
"Ask nicely to the lady and she'll think about it." Axel said with a smirk, pulling Rexial close with protectiveness.
The platinum blonde opened his mouth in disbelief. His expression soon changed into a smug grin.
"Did you two finally confess your love to each other?" he asked, leaning back and shuffling his cards. "I mean, it was so obvious."
Rexial blushed and Axel opened his mouth to speak but a scream was heard, nearly rattling the walls of the castle.
The three exchanged a look that said 'what the fuck?' before hearing another scream.
They bolted up the stairs, exiting the Game Room.
The ground began to shake violently, pieces of plaster raining down from the ceiling and walls.
"THIS IS BIGGER THAN ANY OF YOU EVER IMAGINED." a voice boomed. It was loud and demonic, causing everyone to cover their ears. "EVEN YOU, XEMNAS."
"Superior!" someone yelled, most likely Demyx.
Zexion grabbed hold of Tryxel tightly as they listened to the voice carry on.
"YOU ARE A HOPELESS BUNCH. AIMLESSLY LOOKING FOR YOUR HEARTS. YOUR HEARTS DIED WITH YOU. THIS IS ALL THAT IS LEFT, CAN'T YOU ALL BE GRATEFUL?"
Zexion hugged Tryxel tightly before teleporting them to the Room Where Nothing Gathers. Many other members had already gone there.
"Zexion…" Tryxel started but he put a finger to her lips.
"This is where we are to go in case of emergency. We really never told you guys anything." he shrugged.
The Superior already sat in his high seat with a look of rage crossing his face.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" he screamed into the air.
There was a loud chuckle that shook the room.
"FOOL! YOU KNOW NOT OF WHOM YOU SPEAK. TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE, OH GREAT SUPERIOR, FOR YOU CAN NO LONGER DECIPHER WHAT I AM FROM LOOKING WITHIN YOURSELF."
"I will go, Superior." Saix stated.
"No, I will." Xemnas said back.
"We all go." Axel broke in looking to Saix then the Superior. Rexial looked to him in shock.
"Ax-"
"HAHAHA. CAN'T EVEN GET YOUR USELESS GROUP TO AGREE. I'LL HELP YOU ALL."
Suddenly a blinding light shone through the room which caused pain to everyone. Once the light settled, they were in the Gray Area.
"I see no one." Xemnas said quietly, weakened from the light and unsure of what was going on.
"LOOK AGAIN. WISE UP." the voice said, rattling the glass at the window.
Tryxel pointed out the window.
"Th-The…" she stuttered as her eyes began to flash orange in a blinking motion.
"XV!" Zexion exclaimed then looked to the window. "Is that…"
The boy was cut off by his eyes turning black and his Lexicon was summoned.
"Number 6! Number 15, what are you-" suddenly the two smirked, the room went pitch black and the soft melody of a violin rang through the air.
Demyx's face went blank, eyes turned all solid blue, and he began to mindlessly wander toward the sound.
"Tsuin! Tsuin, where are you? Stop that." Rexial said, growing terrified. A whirling sound was heard and Zexion stood where Axel once was.
"Do not bother her, Fire Demon!" he spat out with disgust and turned back into Axel. His eyes turned black and he passed out.
"Axel!" she screamed.
"YOUR ORGANIZATION IS FAILING, XEMNAS. WHAT CAN YOU DO?" the voice chuckled.
"Superior! It-It's" Saix struggled to say something but began to shake.
"What! Number 7, what is it?" Xemnas reached for him getting desperate.
"K-King-Kingdom HEART!" Saix nearly roared the last word as he entered Berserker mode.
"S-Superior. W-Where is R-Rox, and M-Marluxia and Larxene and… EVERYONE?" Rexial stuttered.
Xemnas realized the others had never came to the Room Where Nothing Gathers.
"Who needs em, better yet Xemmy, I'd make a far better ruler, got it memorized?" Axel said, standing suddenly. A red light emitted from his body as he stood tense, black eyes and chakrams in hand.
"What the fuck?" Tryxel said from somewhere in the dark. The violin music paused and one low note ran out as a shadow flew by and landed in front of Axel.
"If anyone is leader, it'll be ME." Tryxel's voice was between a hiss and her normal voice.
"Tsuin, what's happening? Axel? Snap out of it, please?" Rexial pleaded with them.
Tryxel squinted at her then snapped, Zexion appearing at her side.
"Who is this. I cannot see." she said.
"You can't.. see?" Rexial asked.
"It is the Fire Demon Girl." Zexion stated in the same tone as earlier, Tryxel's face also wrinkled in disgust.
"Tsuin, it's me. Rex." the girl defended, taking a step closer.
"Back away from the Kage Amour!" Zexion's voice became a demonic growl as he jumped in front of Rexial.
"XIV!" Xemnas yelled gaining her attention, she turned to him just as in odd mist reached her, pulling her from the room.
Rexial dropped onto the ground of the Computer Room, shaking in fear.
"I do not know what is happening. You were the only one unaffected. I do not have knowledge of where the others are. I-" Xemnas stopped rambling and turned to the girl. "Will you be alright?"
Rexial looked up at him, eyes void of emotion.
"I don't know." she said. "That, back there. Saix said it was the Kingdom Heart?"
"Yes, but I, didn't look. I didn't want to stick around in there for long." he paused. "I fail as a leader. I haven't the slightest idea what to do."
"Do not look for or at the Kingdom Heart. That's what is making all of this happen." Rexial said, finally standing. "Tryxel and Zexion looked at it and that happened. Saix looked. I'm not sure about Demyx, but Axel glanced over right before Zexion did his illusion and caused him to faint."
Xemnas nodded listening.
"That would make sense, if only we knew how. If only I could find the others!" Xemnas yelled, slamming down on the keyboard.
Rexial ignored him and tried to make a connection with Tryxel, somehow knowing it wouldn't work.
Everyone in that room that she once knew, well, they were gone.
Sora sat outside and looked up at the sky, noticing an extra bright sparkle.
He stood up slowly, eyes not leaving the sky.
The Kingdom Heart.
It was complete.
But how?
Something was off.
Sora looked back at the house, he was still upset with Riku.
"I can take care of myself." Sora said.
And with that, he ran off into the night.