Author's Note (rarmaster): In response to KKBeckett's question, this takes place during Nothing's Fair. well, maybe around that 2 week period between the ending of Nothing's Fair and the beginning of Dead Inside. Honestly, i hope you laugh at this chapter. If you don't then =P because I thought it was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS (love ya Joseph! ;D)

"Really?" he asked. "And how did this Replicated Namine turn out?"

Joseph started to answer, but Riku covered his mouth with his hand before he could get anything out.

"Just be quiet for a bit, alright?" Riku hissed.

Joseph nodded. "Yes, sir," he managed to mumble.

Satisfied, Riku let go of him. Joseph, not expecting this, fell to the floor with a thud! He quickly got up and dusted himself off, acting as if nothing happened. He didn't dare try to run again though.

"She turned out alright, I guess," Riku said, turning to Vexen. Joseph noticed that all anger he had moments before had nearly disappeared from his voice, and rolled his eyes. "Well, more than alright," Riku continued after a moment. "I don't think there's anything wrong with her."

"Of course you don't," Joseph muttered, but was quickly silenced by a glare from Riku.

Vexen was jotting down notes as fast as he could. "No problems at all?" he asked.

"Well, nothing besides that weird memory thing," Riku replied, kind of tapping his head as he said it.

"'Memory thing'?" Vexen asked, looking up.

Riku frowned, instantly wishing he hadn't mentioned it. He quickly thought up an excuse, and though he came up with at least ten, none of them would have worked. After a moment, he sighed and explained: "She's has an odd tendency to see my memories, because that's what she was created from."

"That's simply fascinating!" Vexen exclaimed, writing that down. "Anything else?"

"No," Riku lied.

"What about the connection between the two of you?" Joseph asked, and then gasped, covering his mouth and flinching away from the glare Riku was giving him.

"How do you know about that?" Riku hissed.

"Alpha mentioned something…" Joseph muttered, and then cowered, muttering something along the lines of: "Don't hurt me!"

"Connection?" Vexen asked, looking up again.

Riku decided he'd deal with Joseph later, and turned back to Vexen. "It's nothing," he said calmly.

Vexen frowned. "You're lying," he said after a moment.

Riku's eyes slowly formed a glare, and his fists slowly clenched in frustration. Of course Vexen would be able to notice that. Of course.

"It's nothing," he repeated coldly.

"You're not telling me everything," Vexen said, sounding slightly offended.

"I assure you, sir," Riku said as calmly as he could while keeping eye contact with Vexen. He did, however, spit out the word "sir" loathingly. "I have told you everything I know."

"I don't believe you…" Vexen muttered slowly. He had learned, that with Riku, that phrase meant Riku wasn't telling him everything, but trying to squeeze the rest out of him was pointless. His eyes darted to Joseph, almost hoping that he would blurt something. Joseph was intent on staying silent though, as he knew if he said anymore Riku would kill him.

However, after a moment (filled only with Vexen and Riku glaring at each other), Joseph got an idea. He laughed quietly to himself and opened his mouth. Then he paused, wondering for just a second how angry Riku would be if he said it.

Totally worth it, he decided.

"Riku loves her!" he blurted. Both Vexen and Riku turned to look at him, shocked.

"Shut up!" Riku snapped. Joseph laughed, as he could tell Riku wasn't mad. Just a bit annoyed. He grinned.

"Still pining after Namine, are we?" Vexen laughed. "The only difference is that this one is a Replica like yourself…"

"Hey! That's not the only difference," Riku said. He was, however, relieved that this had gotten Vexen off the previous subject, as trying to explain the connection that stood between him and Namine to Vexen would have been a pain (and not worth it). "This Namine's nicer, easier to talk to, can't manipulate memories-"

Riku continued to list off a number of other things. Joseph pantomimed barfing behind Riku's back, though made sure he stopped while Riku wasn't looking.

Riku paused suddenly, staring at Vexen in shock. "Are you writing this all down?" he asked, surprised. Vexen had, indeed, been copying down every word Riku said. And he continued to take notes as Riku gaped in shock.

"Hey," Joseph whispered, grabbing Riku's attention. "You're welcome by the way, for getting you out of that mess."

"Yeah. Thanks," Riku replied.

"You mentioned the Organization?" Vexen said suddenly, looking up.