Isa was gone.
He was Saix again.
And in the hand of this damned Xehanort.
Why was fate so cruel to him?
Growling in frustration, Lea rubbed his neck while he walked the way up to the castle. He would prefer to be happy, to celebrate right now. He had helped to save Sora, gaining some of his and Riku's trust and he had been able to summon his Keyblade for the first time.
But the shock and anger of seeing Isa…Saix as one of Xehanort's vessels…well it certainly did it's part to motivate him to train more. He needed to get the abilities to save Isa from this cruel faith, to be able to save his friend just like he had promised…
Oh, how he wished he could bash up something right now, he needed to get this frustration out of his system, to do something instead of thinking how shitty everything was.
But Merlin and the fairies had told him that their time spell always needed a while, before they could use it again.
The next thing that had come to his mind was a sparring match with Akira.
For him it had been almost a month since he had last seen her and honestly he already missed that feeling of lighthearted and familiarity he had with her. Besides, he would like to test how they would compete against each other now compared to the old days.
And maybe…he would tell her what had happened to him the last decade. But alone the thought of it caused him to feel queasy. Maybe...another time.
Merlin had told him that Akira was currently in the castle. This gave Lea a good opportunity to look after his fellow Ex-Nobodies and update them on the whereabouts of Isa and Braig. He wondered if they had already met Akira by now. Hopefully not. They could have said things he didn't want her to hear yet.
On his way to the castle, Lea got attacked a few times by Heartless, a good chance for him to let out some of his frustration and test the Keyblade in action. After years and years of using throwing weapons, it was a big adjustment for him to fight with a sword. Despite the occasional urge to throw his weapon, Lea managed to defeat the Heartless with ease.
Huh, he surely could get used to a Keyblade.
He also felt that his fire magic worked a bit different now, actually bursting out of him and he had a hard time to control it. Maybe he should stop using it for now until Merlin had taught him how to use magic with a Keyblade.
When he finally entered the castle, Lea wondered where he should look first. After a moment thought he came to the conclusion that Ansem's studies sounded like the best place to start.
'Has it really been a month already ?' Lea wondered, while he walked through the corridors.
For him it was like he had woken up as human just this morning. Whenever his mind wasn't occupied - like now - it became clear to him how...weird it still felt to have a heart again.
How long would it take for him to get used to it?
Being lost so deep into this thoughts, Lea didn't pay attention to his surroundings and when he turned around another corner, he suddenly collided into someone.
"Hey, can't look where you walking?" the other man complained, while they rubbed his head.
"Could ask the same," Lea said and gritted his teeth, holding his own head.
After both had calmed down, the man looked suspicious at Lea.
"Watcha doing here anyway? People usually don't go up here."
"Just looking for someone," he answered with a shrug. Maybe it would have been nicer to be more specific and it would have helped him to find Akira. But Lea wasn't used to give his intentions away so easily.
It was obvious from the 'tsk' the guy made, that he didn't like this answer. But instead of asking more, he put his thumb and index finger on his chin and inspected Lea, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
"Say, aren't you that Lea guy?" he suddenly asked then.
Lea raised his eyebrows in surprise. "How'd you know?. Who are you?"
"Name is Cid, I'm the engineer of the RGRC." Cid introduced himself with a knock to his chest. He then grinned widely. "Sparks talks a lot about you. Said to keep an eye out for a guy in a black coat with red hair."
"Sparks?"
"Akira. You two are old friends right?"
"You could say that." Lea had to put his hand over his mouth to cover his smile. "So what? She's already gossiping about me?"
"On the contrary, she speaks very highly of you," Cid said with a smug grin. "Almost sounds like a bit of hero worshiping to me."
That...he didn't see coming.
"I'm sure she's exaggerating," he muttered and rubbed his neck flustered.
"Haha, maybe." Cid laughed. "Anyway, it's nice to see her being excited for once."
For once? As far as Lea remembered Akira was a little bundle of excitement all the time.
"So, guess you're looking for Sparks?"
Lea really had to keep that nickname in mind.
"Yep, Merlin told me she would be here."
"That's right, she's down in the dungeon. Come, I'll show ya the way," Cid said and turned around right away back to the direction he had come from.
"What's she doing in the dungeon?" Lea asked and followed him.
"Dealing with some nasty business. Seems it's the time of old faces showing up again," he explained and sighed irritated.
Lea hummed thoughtful at that.
"Akira told me she is the security boss. So she got to throw someone into jail?" he asked offhandedly, since internally he was deep in his thoughts. Cid could only mean Ienzo and the others.
"She finally got her chance, yeah. And now she is interrogating them.."
Cid lead him down a few stairs. They barely had entered the dungeon, when they could hear someone arguing.
"…should calm down."
"I am calm. I'm the perfect picture of calmness."
"Tell that the guy who's head you bashed against the bars."
"You heard how he talked Leon. Like that all this shit was a necessity. That accidents happen when you do work in the name of science ."
Lea could recognize the rather angry voice as Akira's and she was definitely talking about Even.
"I understand. It's a sensitive spot for all of us. Still, you shouldn't harm someone who is in your custody."
A frustrated growl was all Lea could hear, before Cid turned around the corner to greet Akira and the other person.
"Sounds like the interrogation doesn't went as you hoped."
"Not really. I'm just glad that Akira didn't kill Even."
"You exaggerate it." Akira muttered.
"You need more tactfulness Sparks." Akira looked angrily at Cid for that comment. He just sighed and shrugged, before his face split into a grin. "And a better mood. For the latter I have something: Look who's visiting."
Lea had kept himself behind Cid and now came forward.
"Hey there Aki," he greeted her with a wave of his hand.
Akira's irritated expression made place for a smile, when she spotted Lea.
"Well, well. And here I thought I wouldn't see you for another ten years," she said with a laugh and walked towards him. She hold her fist towards him and in a heartbeat he bumped his own against hers.
"Nah, was just on a quick trip to safe Sora and his friends."
"Are Sora and the others okay?" the other man asked in a worried tone.
"Don't worry, they're all safe and sound." Lea reassured him, causing him to sigh in relief.
"This is Leon by the way." Akira introduced him. "He is kinda the leader of the RGRC."
"I am not." Leon grumbled, crossing his arms.
Akira just grinned and then nodded to Cid.
"And you have already met Cid."
"So, how're Sora and the guys doing?" Cid asked.
"Lively as ever. Sora just failed his Mastery exam, but he was already hitting the road again when I left."
"Oh, the old man said that he and his friend Riku were doing some kind of Keyblade test. Must be really bumped that he didn't pass it."
"Quite the opposite. He was elated that Riku became a master. That guy's good mood is to envy."
"Well, that's Sora for you." Leon said, getting an agreeing hum from the other two men.
A clap of hands drew their attention to Akira.
"In any case, great that we have one more Keyblade master. Can never have enough of those." Akira said and gave Lea a challenging grin.
"What a luck that I'm on a good way to become one."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, you just started your training."
"Well, I'd say.." he summoned his Keyblade "That this is good progress."
Lea had to bide down a laugh when the three looked utterly dumbfounded at his Keyblade. Just like the others at Yen Sid's tower.
When the first shock was gone, Akira's expression became more of a curious one and as she stepped closer, he hold the Keyblade to her so she could inspect it better.
"Man, that's pretty cool." She said in wonder and trailed with her fingers over the flame shaped blade. Then she smiled at him. "It really suits you."
"Thanks. Think it does compliment my hair," Lea mused, running his hand through his hair with a swift move.
"You vain peacock," Akira laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, I'm sure you thought the same," he grinned with a wink.
"As if," she snorted and gave his shoulder a playful punch.
Cid and Leon smiled amused at this exchange, when the latter addressed Lea again.
"So, when you are under Merlin's training, what brings you to the castle?"
"The wizard said that he and the fairies need a day to recharge their magic. They doin' some time hocus pocus, making it so that one day for you is one month for me."
"I see. Since experienced Keyblade wielder are needed, they don't wanna waste any time and get you on the same level as the others." Akira mused.
"Yep, but seems it costs a lot of energy, therefore the recharge day. And that's where you come to play." Lea said with a grin to Akira.
She blinked confused. "Me?"
"Exactly. Have to see for myself how my former pupil is doing."
Akira's confusion turned into a confident smile.
"Pupil, huh? Hope you don't expect me to call you master."
"It would be appropriated, don't ya think?"
"Let's talk about that after I beat your ass up."
"I won't go easy on you"
"Now that is going to be interesting," Cid laughed
"But what about our…guests?" Leon pointed out.
"Ah, they won't run away," Cid waved his concern away, but Leon only made an uncertain sound. "Besides, our two hotheads here are already fire and flame for their little match."
Looking back at Akira and Lea, he saw how they had their heads forcefully pressed against each other, grinning and eyes sparking with pugnaciousness. The air around them literally burned.
Leon could only shake his head at this.
Several minutes later, they found themselves before the front doors of the castle, having enough space there for a little sparring-match.
While Cid and Leon stood a bit aside from the imaginary arena, Akira and Lea were already facing each other and summoned their weapons.
"So, ready to get your beatdown?" Lea asked with a smirk, while getting in a fighting position.
"Was about to ask you the same," Akira answered, already being in her stance. But after eying him up for a few seconds, she stood relaxed again. "Then again, I doubt you'll even land a hit when you hold your Keyblade like this."
"Whatcha mean?" he asked confused and also stepped out of his battle stance, looking at his hand that held his blade.
"You hold it so loose and unhandy, a quick blow and it will be thrown out of your hand," she explained while approaching him.
Confused he looked up at her, just in time to see her swing with one of her blades at him. Reacting quick, he raised his Keyblade to defend himself from the blow. But he did so with just one arm and the blade was quivering. Seeing her chance, Akira swung her other sword at him. Angle and force were enough to make Lea loose grip of the Keyblade and it was sent flying through the air. It landed a few feet away from them on the ground.
"Just like that," she said with a bemused grin at his dumbfounded face.
Cracking an awkward smile, Lea stretched his arm out to call the Keyblade back into his hand.
"Guess you're not used to hold a sword, right?"
"Yeah, was always using Chakrams the last years," he said, scratching his neck.
"Little upgrade from the frisbee's, huh?" she grinned at him.
Lea felt a pang at those words. Oh, if she only knew.
"So throwing weapons. You handle those quite different than something like sword," Akira mused and dispelled her own swords.
"Hey, what's the matter with you two? Fight already over?" Cid shouted over to them.
"Need to address a little issue here first!" she shouted back.
"Issue?" Lea asked and arched an eyebrow at her when she looked at him again. She met it with a cheeky grin.
"You're in serious need of some training on how to use a sword, my friend." She poked him playfully, before she put a hand in a confident gesture on her chest. "Lucky for you I would be willing to lend you a hand with it while Merlin can't."
"Little role reversal, huh?" he said smiling lopsided at her suggestion and her demeanor. "Very well then. Teach me the fine art of sword fighting, master."
He did a ridiculous bow at the last word, making her laugh, but also pleased that he accepts her offer.
They didn't lose any time and started right away on Lea's handling with his Keyblade.
While Akira showed him how to have a secure hold on the weapon, they also tested out which would be his favored sword hand. It turned out that he was equally skilled with both, thanks to the years of him using the Chakrams.
"Sounds like this could come quite in handy," Lea said with a goofy grin.
Akira just gave him a smack on the head for this lame joke.
In the meantime, Leon and Cid had left, for Cid had to work on a machine of his and Leon wanted to look after their prisoners.
Next on the list were movesets, which posed bigger trouble than the handling. That bit of fighting Lea had done so far against the few Heartless had been just hit and miss, mostly just imitating things he had seen Roxas doing. He had not much in his repertoire that didn't involve throwing his weapon or relying on fire magic. Still they quickly found a way to adapt most of his moves to the Keyblade.
On the topic of magic, Lea demonstrated Akira just how much the Keyblade boosted his attacks and he nearly burnt Leon, who just left the castle.
Lea still waved apologetic to the other man, when Akira patted his shoulder with a smile.
"Yeah, we really should let Merlin handle this. And when you get that back under control, we will work on some flashy moves with your magic."
"Ah, Sparks. You just know me so well," Lea said with a deep sigh and a wide grin. Akira put her hand on her face and groaned.
"You spent not even an hour with Cid and you already adapt that stupid nickname?"
"Hey, I think it suits you perfectly," he chuckled and tousled her hair. With a sound akin to a hiss, she swatted his hand away, but when he started to laugh she did as well.
When Leon approached them, he still didn't look that happy.
"Hey man, sorry about that. Was really just an accident," Lea apologized again, but received only a short nod from him.
"It's fine." Leon then turned to Akira. "Can I speak with you for a moment? Alone?"
Akira and Lea exchanged puzzled glances, but she nodded and followed Leon to the castle gates.
To past the time, while the two were talking, Lea reiterated a few of the moves he had just learned to get a better feeling for them. He glanced on and off towards Akira and Leon and got a bit nervous after a while.
The other man talked to Akira, but was looking in Lea's direction. At first he had thought he was annoyed because of the little incident before, but he looked more...suspiciously at him. Whatever he was telling Akira obviously upset her, since she had her head lowered and her fist clenched.
Given the fact that Leon had said he would talk to Ienzo and the others, Lea had a very bad feeling about this.
After several more minutes they were finished with their discussion and walked towards him. While Leon went past him without giving him another look, Akira stood before him, a neutral expression on her face.
He shouldered his Keyblade and was about to make a joke about all the doom and gloom, but she already spoke up.
"I have to go back down to our guests, continuing the interrogation. Would you please come with me?"
Well, that sounded less like a question, but like a demand. The way her smile was strained and her voice had this cold business tone to it...yeah, he didn't like this at all.
"Uh, sure," he agreed with his eyes averted to the ground.
If he went down with her, the others surely would blubber it out, what he used to be. He should come clean with her before that, to limit the damage.
"But..I would like to tell you something first," Lea said, but when he looked up Akira was shaking her head, still having this weird smile on her face.
"I'm sure it's not that important, otherwise you would have told me earlier, right? Let's just go."
Without giving him a chance to protest, she turned around to walk back to the castle.
She knew. He was absolutely sure she knew it.
Sighing deeply, Lea dispelled his Keyblade, put his hands in his pockets and followed her.
The queasy feeling was even worse than before.