Hey, guess what? We're at Chapter 13.

That has zero relevance to anything that's going to happen in this chapter. It's just a neat, little fact. (I'm not referencing the thirteen seekers of darkness or anything. Nope, not at all.)

Now that that's out of the way, continue on.

Xion had been waiting for Kirux to return for hours now.

She was concerned that something had happened to either him or Roxas. If either of them got hurt, things would only be pushed back further. And that DiZ guy would not lie that.

So she just sat there, and waited.

...

In time, she had gotten sick of all the waiting. She stood up, and headed for the exit.

"Hold on, Xion." Someone said from behind her.

When she turned around, she found him leaning against the back wall.

Him. The one she had fought that one day.

"You're..."

"Riku. Sora's friend."

"Sora? You know Sora?"

"Yeah. I know your best friend Kirux well, too."

...

'He knows Kirux?'

'Oh, who am I kidding? Of course he does. Kirux has been working with him this whole time.'

...

Xion looked back up at Riku, "Riku, please. Is there anything you can tell me about Kirux? Anything that I don't already know."

Play: Riku - KH2

Quick Note: I know that they're about to talk about Kirux, but he doesn't have his own theme because he's an OC. So, Riku's will have to do.

"Let me guess. You want to know how he truly feels about you. Right?"

Xion shrugged, "I guess."

Riku shook his head, but smiled, "Alright. I'll indulge you. But make sure this conversation stays between us for now. You can tell Kirux about it later."

"Okay."

"First off, Kirux is my Nobody. Did he tell you that already?"

"Yes."

"Alright, so he obviously shouldn't be able to have any feelings or show any emotion."

"But Kirux, and you as well, are special. The two of you obviously are very close, and Kirux has shown to me that he can show emotion on more than one occasion."

"Which means, either we were wrong about Nobodies and they do have hearts, or that Kirux has a heart of his own. That goes for you, too."

He shook his head, crossing his arms, "I don't think either is likely."

"Then what do you think it might be?"

"I'm not sure, but that's really not the point. Kirux has feelings, that's no secret."

"And I think those feelings came from you, Xion."

"If you didn't exist, Kirux wouldn't have anything in the world."

"What do you mean?"

...

Riku's arms fell back to his sides, "If I were to put that shortly, it would mean that,"

"Kirux loves you, Xion."

...

...

...

Xion was speechless.

'Kirux...loves me?'

"I-," She was at a loss for words.

"You don't understand, do you?"

"No. Not really."

"Love is when somebody has a deep affection for somebody. They get very close and attached to that person."

"And to Kirux, that somebody is you, Xion."

"You two are like Sora and Kairi in that way."

Even after Riku's short explanation, Xion still couldn't explain it.

She didn't know how or why Kirux would feel that way.

Why would he feel that way about her, of all people? All she is is a puppet made up of somebody else's memories. She was never meant to exist in the first place.

Then again, Kirux was pretty much the same way. He was a Nobody, created by the darkness inside Riku's heart. He was never meant to exist either.

The two were practically the same, in that department.

...

She remembered everything now.

All the times they had lifted each other up when they were down.

The times they had saved one another from danger, time and time again.

When everytime she had woken up from her comas, and he'd be there at her bedside everytime.

How he promised that he'd be there for her, if things ever got bad.

...

She smiled. A tear ran down her face. Not one of sadness, but one of joy.

She clutched her hands over her chest, "I see. I get it now."

Riku smiled, "The only question is: Do you feel the same way, Xion?"

She nodded. She didn't need to say anything else.

Kirux approached the clock tower slowly, making sure his footsteps were soft. He didn't want to let anybody know he was there.

When he peaked around the corner, he saw Axel sitting there.

'He's here. Good.'

He turned the corner, "Axel."

Axel turned around to face him, not seeming fazed by his presence, "Here to finish me off? Or are you coming back to the Organization?"

Kirux shook his head, "Neither. I just want to talk, that's all. After that, I'll go."

Axel looked away, waving his hand, "Well, be my guest. It's not like anyone else will show up or anything."

Kirux sat down beside him. The two were silent initially, until Axel broke it.

"So, what is it that's on your mind?"

"Earlier, after our fight, you said you knew what was going on with Sora."

Axel shrugged, "Well, of course I do. I know what happened at Castle Oblivion because I was there."

Kirux gasped, "You were AT Castle Oblivion? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to blow your cover."

Kirux got it then, "You were watching me?"

"Yeah, I was. I wanted to make sure you were okay, for Xion's sake. You know, she missed you a lot when you left."

Kirux looked down, "Yeah, I know. It's just...I didn't want to leave. I'd much rather be up here, with you three, but..."

He shook his head, "It's complicated. But still, you were watching me the whole time I was gone. But why?"

"Like I said, I wanted to make sure you were okay. Plus, I just wanted some answers on why you left, for-,"

Kirux smiled, "Let me guess, for Xion's sake?"

Axel laughed, "Yeah. You got it."

...

Kirux couldn't help but laugh.

That feeling he got when he thought of her came back.

'Oh Xion. I wish you knew what I was feeling on the inside.'

'What's it called? That feeling Roxas talked about one day up here?'

'Was it...love?'

'Yeah. It was love. I remember now.'

He had no idea (not yet, at least) that Xion felt the same way.

'I wonder...is this feeling that I've got love?'

'Do I love Xion? I don't even know what it means. I can just...sense it.'

...

Kirux pushed his thoughts away for the time being, "Hey Axel."

Axel looked over at him, "Yeah. What's up?"

"I've been thinking a lot lately, about us Nobodies. And..."

He looked over at him, "Do you really believe that we don't have hearts?"

Axel thought this over, "You know, I wonder that a lot myself."

"It's just, they say that we're not supposed to feel or show emotions."

"But, when I saw Xion again for the first time since I left, she...started crying. And I had this weird feeling come up from inside me."

He put his hand up to his chest, "Ever since, I've really started to believe that we can grow hearts of our own, or that we've had them the whole time, and they lied to us."

...

Axel looked back at the sunset, "You make a good point."

"But that feeling you say you got. Do you get it often?"

Kirux shrugged, "Only...only when I'm with Xion. Any other time, nothing."

Axel considered that, "Kirux. I think I know what the answer to your problem is."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I might. Do you remember when Roxas came up here and started talking about love?"

'Okay. Is Axel reading my mind? Where did he get that from?'

Kirux was surprised, but he played along, "Yeah. Why?"

"He said Xaldin told him love was when people feel very close and connected to one another. Is that how you feel with Xion?"

"I...I guess."

"Then, there you go. Problem solved."

"But you didn't even tell me what it was."

Axel laughed, patting his shoulder, "Come on, Kirux. It's simple. You're in love with Xion."

...

Kirux tried to speak, but couldn't find the words.

'So that is it. I love Xion.'

'Man, that sounds weird to say.'

'I love Xion.'

'I'll just have to get used to it.'

He was happy though. At long last, he knew what it was that was tearing him apart ever since they left.

She wasn't just his best friend to him.

He loved her.

It was good to finally know that.

...

He smiled, "Yeah. I guess I do."

Axel laughed, "Yeah. It totally wasn't obvious for everybody else."

"Hey!"

The two of them laughed.

...

Kirux was glad that the fight earlier hadn't ruined his relationship with Axel.

Even after all of that, the two of them were still friends.

Plus, he had finally learned about what he was feeling for Xion.

'It was love the whole time, and I never picked up on it. Nice observation skills, Kirux.'

...

...

...

The two of them were up there for a long time, until Kirux stood up.

"Well, I've got to get going. They're waiting for me."

"They? Or Xion?"

Kirux shook his head, "Both. Ugh, she's not gonna be happy I'm back so late."

Axel laughed, "Well, take care."

"You too. See you soon, Axel."

Kirux left the clock tower.

Stop: Riku - KH2

Kirux walked up to the mansion, but he heard a faint voice calling to him.

"Kirux..."

"Kirux..."

He stopped then, "Who's there?"

"I know you can feel it, the grip that I have on the darkness inside."

Kirux knew it then.

"No, it can't be. Not now."

The voice laughed evilly, "Yes. Remember me. Let me drift back into your mind."

"Ansem!"

Play: Disquieting - KH ReCOM

"That's right. Every time you remember my name, it brings me closer to control of your mind. Your mind and body will become an all-consuming darkness."

Kirux shook his head, "No. That will never happen. I won't lose to the darkness inside me, not without her help."

Ansem laughed, "Do you really think that you and that puppet will be able to defeat me? That thing couldn't even defeat Riku."

"I don't care! Her and I can never be driven apart!"

"Yes you can. I could do it oh so easily."

...

That got to Kirux.

He knew what Ansem meant.

He was going to hurt Xion.

...

"Xion!"

He opened the main gate to the mansion, and ran inside as fast as he could. He burst the doors open with his shoulder, finding Riku standing there.

"Where's Xion? Is she safe?"

Riku pointed to a doorway on the left, in which Kirux immediately ran over and opened it as fast as he could.

...

He looked around the room, frantically.

Xion was nowhere to be seen.

"No..."

"No no no no! XION!"

...

Somebody appeared from the other side of the room.

Kirux took a step back.

Ansem was standing before him.

There was a knock on the door behind Kirux, "Kirux, what's going on in there?"

Ansem waved his hand, and a light barricade was put on the door.

Kirux was trapped with him.

...

"Don't you see? You're powerless to protect her."

Kirux scrunched his face in anger.

"You cannot protect Xion if you don't succumb to the darkness inside."

"That will never happen! I don't need the darkness! I don't need you!"

Ansem pointed to him, "But don't you see? If you use the dark powers you have, nobody would be able to stop you. You'd be invincible, and you can be with her as long as you like."

"All the darkness would do is turn me into a monster!"

"It is there that you are wrong."

Kirux summoned his Keyblade, "Stop talking!"

...

Ansem laughed, "If it's a fight you want, you're not going to get one. I am here simply to deliver you a message."

Kirux was confused on the inside, but he didn't back down.

"Your days with the girl you cherish are becoming ever so slim. Before you know it, your memories of her will be gone."

"You will have nothing left to live for, nothing to protect. Then, you would have no choice but to succumb to your own darkness."

...

'My memories of Xion...will be gone?'

'There's no way. I'll never forget about Xion, not as long as I'm alive.'

...

"That's not true! I'll always have my memories of Xion. They'll never go away!"

Ansem smiled, "A hopeless claim. Mark my words, your darkness will be mine very soon."

"Farewell, Kirux."

Ansem disappeared. The barricade vanished, and the door finally opened.

Riku burst in, "What's happening?!"

Kirux was staring down at the ground, "Ansem..."

"What?"

"Ansem."

Riku was shocked, "Please tell me you're lying."

"I'm not. It's Ansem. He...Xion is gone."

...

Kirux let his Keyblade fade away, "It's all my fault. I wasn't here to protect her. I could have stopped him from hurting her."

Riku shook his head, "I'm sure Xion will be fine. She's tough. How long has Ansem been bothering you?"

"Ever since I was created. He tried taking me over pretty early, but I was able to stop him."

Kirux's hand went to his chest, "And now, he's trying to take over my body yet again."

...

Riku didn't say anything.

Kirux walked out of the room, his mind racing.

'If Ansem hurt Xion, I swear I will put an end to him so fast.'

'If you heard that, Ansem. Be on your guard.'

'Don't ever come after her again, or I will destroy you once and for all.'

Stop: Disquieting - KH ReCOM

Xion stirred slowly, finding herself on a white floor.

She looked at the walls, around her.

'Oh no...'

"At last, you have returned, No. XIV."

...

Xion turned around, and found Xemnas hovering over her.

Do you like cliffhangers? I sure don't, but it worked well here.

Tell me what you thought. I'll hope to see you next time.

Until then.

-Broncozfan623