Yes, it's been a few months since I've updated. I'm really sorry about that. I'm just really, really caught up with Twisted Fate at the moment, and still have classes. I hope to get farther on this particular story soon, though. Also, while this story tends to follow Xicra a lot, it's also about several characters, not just her.

Anyway, happy reading, and please review.

Traitors Among Us: Chapter 5

Zexion had to restrain a snicker as he walked out of the library as Xigbar passed by it on his way to Vexen's lab. "What happened?"

Xigbar stopped and glared at Zexion. "How long did you think it would be before Xicra pulled a prank on someone", he asked irately.

"And how do you know it was her", asked Zexion. He watched Xigbar carefully for a few seconds before he answered.

"Axel and I called a bit of a truce", said Xigbar. "Demyx doesn't have careful enough hands to put together a fake present. I don't know what Kixyu's capable of, and no one else would have done it."

"What about Larxene", asked Zexion.

"She tortures, not pranks", said Xigbar.

Zexion sighed. "Well, it's going to be dinner in a little while, and Xaldin and Xicra are cooking at the moment. So I wouldn't be so keen on finding her if you don't want to add a knife to the things that are stuck on you." He glanced down and rolled his eyes at the small spring that was not so discreetly stuck at where Xigbar's crotch would be. "Well, you never know."

Xigbar sighed and continued on past Zexion to Vexen's lab, but stopped after a camera flashed.

Kixyu laughed as she watched Xigbar fume. "Ok, I've got to hand it to whoever did this to you, Xiggy. This is awesome!"

Xigbar quickly walked over to the blond girl and attempted to take the camera from her. "Did you do this", he asked her, as she just as quickly transformed into a sparrow and flew up high with the camera.

She shook her head, and flew off down the hall, forcing Xigbar to chase her, showing Xicra and Larxene's work off to everyone who was there to see. Axel had told her that she needed to find Xigbar for him and take a picture of whatever he looked like when she saw him. Not that he told her who's work it had been, even though she figured Xicra had played a hand in it. She would have to pat her on the back for it, since it was probably her best prank yet.

Eventually, she lead him to the Grey Area and he blanched as he came face to face with a smirking Larxene.

"Wow, you look real funny", she said. She looked up at Kixyu and the camera she held in her beak. "Picture, right? Think I could get a copy? Xicra's going to want one, too."

Kixyu watched Larxene's eyes, where amusement and satisfaction danced. She nodded and returned the look.

"So you and Xicra did this?" Xigbar glared at Larxene.

Larxene shrugged. "She said she hasn't pulled a great prank on you in ages. I thought messing with you would be fun." She glanced down at the small spring at where his crotch was. "So do you have a small dick to go with it?"

Xigbar flushed and glared even harsher. "No!"

Kixyu finally transformed back to normal and laughed. She looked at Larxene and handed her the camera, which she took just as Xigbar lunged for it.

"Oh, don't get so pissy", said Larxene. "Don't you just love pranks?"

Xicra hummed to herself as she helped Xaldin finish up the dinner. Although she glanced over at the door as she heard it open for a man with short, platinum blond hair to walk in. "Luxord, right?"

The man nodded and walked over. "And you must be Number XVI, Xicra", he said, a British accent tinting his voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally."

"I'm surprised I haven't met you before now", she said with a smile.

"I've been away in Wonderland on a rather long-term mission", said Luxord.

Xaldin looked over at Luxord and gave a slight glare. "If you're looking for any rum, I got rid of it all."

Luxord's expression fell. "Why-"

"I'm sick of the smell of it", said Xaldin. "Why don't you try some sake instead. I'm going to bet it's just as good."

Xicra sighed and turned back to what she was working on. "Really? More alcohol? I thought it was already suggested you quit drinking. And Luxord, you drink, too? I certainly hope you're not an alcoholic. Either way, though, I'm not cleaning up after any messes again."

"We're not alcoholics", they replied together, although Xaldin almost shouted.

Xicra sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'll let time tell that tale", she said. "And Lux, dinner's almost ready, anyway. Even if there was rum here, you wouldn't want to fill up on that, first, and leave no room for your meal, would you? Surely you're hungry for some home-style cooking."

Luxord sighed and walked over to sit at the bar-table. "What are we having, anyway?"

"Wait and find out", Xaldin replied rather gruffly.

Aster idly twirled her longer, silver hair between her fingers as she watched the train head out of the Twilight Town station. There wasn't exactly a lot to be done around the town but observe, especially when one wasn't a particularly social person. It wasn't that the girl didn't like to socialize with others, per say, of course. It was more that she wasn't particularly socially adept and didn't even socialize with more than her three friends and older, adopted brother. However, she was currently very separated from them, considering she was very far away from Destiny Islands.

She longed for the feel of the ocean breeze and the paopu trees, as well as the succulent taste of their fruit. She missed hanging out with Lumaria, the brother that had so generously spent time with her and taught her domestic skills. She wanted to see Sora's bright smile and hear him laughing at something along with their friends, Kairi and Riku. She dearly missed hanging out with Kairi, as they seemed to just balance each other in an odd way. And she even missed the silverette Riku, and his remarks to her.

But as it stood now, she didn't know how to get back to the islands, or if she even could, for that matter. All she knew is that it had been attacked by creatures called heartless and swallowed up by the darkness. She didn't even know what had happened to her friends, and her brother had already been missing before then. So at the time, all she really had was her three friends and own possesions, along with Lumaria's garden. And she felt her friends were more important than those material things, which heaven forbid if they were hurt somewhere or as emotionally constipated as she felt.

Eventually, she watched as a girl with brown hair walked up to her, away from two boys who were watching. "Um... Is there... anything I can help you with", she asked the brunette nervously.

"Hey, you look kind of lonely", the girl said. "You want to join us for some ice-cream?"

Aster blinked once before speaking. "A-are you sure...? I wouldn't want to impose..."

The girl nodded. "Yeah, totally sure. I'm Olette, by the way. And my two friends are Pence and Hayner." She nodded to both boys respectively. "What's your name?"

"I... I'm Aster", she said.

"Nice to meet you, Aster", Olette said as she grabbed her hand and pulled her up. "Now, really, come on and join us."

Aster paused, but smiled and quickly followed the friendly girl. "Alright, if you so insist."

"We've seen you around for a while", Pence spoke as the two girls neared him and Hayner. "You kind of just showed up."

Aster nodded carefully, her smile fading some. "Yeah... And I'm not sure if I'm going to stick around much longer, either. I'm looking for some friends of mine... And my older brother", she said without a thought. "I haven't seen them in however long it's been since I got here. We all kind of got split up."

Hayner nodded. "Well, we can help you find them if you want."

Aster blinked again and quickly shook her head. "Well, you don't have to", she stammered. "I wouldn't want to impose my problems onto you."

"Well why don't you stay with us while you're not looking for them, then", said Olette. "At least until you leave, anyway."

Aster carefully nodded. "Alright. If you're sure-"

"We are", said Olette.

Vexen pulled Xicra aside a few days later before she left after helping him with something. "Xicra..."

The Silver looked up at her dad expectantly, knowing something was on his mind to pull her away as he did. It had been a long time since he last did so, but she could remember most of the times he would. She could figure what he wanted to talk to her about, too. After all, it had seemed to everyone else lately that she and Larxene had really been hitting it off as friends. And a few of the other members already seemed a bit nervous about their alleged budding friendship, even if they weren't saying anything.

"If this is about Larxene, I know", she said.

Vexen sighed. "I know I don't need to tell you this, but just... be careful around her."

Xicra was thankful they were still in the back of Vexen's lab. "You're right, I don't need to be told to be careful around Larxene. Yes, we've found things we have in common. But I am keeping some distance between us. I don't trust her motives of befriending me, something seems wrong. For what you'd said before I met her, she seemed a little too friendly. I've got my eyes on her when we hang out. Kixyu also knows to be careful, since Demyx has already given his own warnings about her. She may not strike one as the most intelligent of people around, being so incredibly cheerful, but believe me. She's not stupid. She may feign a bit of innocence and naïveté at times, but she's very observant. And I have, as you've seen, mellowed out a lot for still having my certain antics. I'm more observant than before."

"Alright", Vexen said cautiously.

"One way or another, I'm going to find out why Larxene's been so friendly to me and Kixyu", said Xicra. "I know she has ulterior motives. I can see so in her eyes. I know who my original friends here are. I know who I can trust."

"I just want to make sure you know what you're doing", said Vexen. "I suspect something from her and Marluxia. Be careful of the both of them."

Xicra nodded. "I will. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go take care of a little something." She turned away from Vexen without waiting for a reply and headed to the door to leave. Before she opened it, though, she stopped and looked back at her dad. "I would never intentionally betray you. Not unless it was for your own good. I want you to remember that, Dad. I don't care if it goes against what we are, I still love you."

Vexen watched as she turned back around and left the lab, leaving him just about speechless. He knew to trust her, but he couldn't help to worry about her and what she was getting herself into. It was his instinct as a father, even if he hadn't always been around to help take care of her. His work for Ansem The Wise had made things strained with his wife, Xicra's mom, as she wasn't keen to leave her house out in the middle of the woods. And after they agreed on the arrangements of everything, years later, he lost his heart and was completely out of Xicra's life.

He'd always worried about his daughter's safety, but after just being reunited not two weeks ago, he felt even more protective of her. And he didn't want her to fall in with Marluxia and Larxene, whatever they were planning to do. He knew they were planning something that could get them demoted to dusks or worse by Xemnas. And he didn't want Xicra to suffer whatever fate they also would if she were to fall too much in with them.

The Chilly Academic's expression hardened as he knew what he was going to do next. He knew all too well Xicra was an adult and could take care of herself enough to not have to be raised much more by him. But he still felt like he had to do something to help protect her, no matter what it meant for himself and his own pride. Not much would force him into sacrificing it, not much but his family. And he needed to be there for Xicra more than he'd been before they were separated completely.

After a few minutes of waiting, he quickly exited his lab and stalked the halls in search of any one of the Nobodies he would trust. He needed someone to help watch over her and make sure she stayed relatively safe for a Nobody in the Organization. There was just something about her that still made her look to need protected. She may have become more aloof over time, but she still looked something like a child, and was still very cute. And it wasn't just Vexen's fatherly instinct.

Eventually, he was almost run over by Demyx, who quickly apologized and helped the scientist up.

Vexen brushed himself off and watched Demyx with a scowl, noting that he looked rather frantic. "What are you in such a hurry for, Number IX?"

Demyx looked down and shuffled his feet nervously. "Look... Vexen... I-I need some... help. It's about Kixyu..."

"Really?" Vexen raised an eyebrow.

"I'm... worried about her hanging out and being friends with the witch", said Demyx. "I've warned her, but... She said not to worry. But I am worried..." He looked back up at Vexen, with determination mixed in with his nervous, almost scared expression. "I'm even more scared of Xemnas than I am of Larxene. And I actually kind of think Larxene's planning something with Marly. I don't want Kixyu to get in any kind of trouble 'cause she decides to fall in with them. You have a daughter, Xicra. She seems to be pretty friendly with Larxene already, like Kixyu. You must be worried about her, too. You know what I'm feeling. I'll help you look after Xicra if you'll help me look after Kixyu."

Vexen watched Demyx in mild surprise. He hadn't suspected that the Nocturne wasn't quite as dim as he'd always seemed. But then again, perhaps he just used it as a facade to keep others from thinking he was more observant than they thought. It suddenly made all the more sense why they tended to send the boy on mostly recon missions instead of fighting.

"Neither girl is stupid enough to not think that Larxene is up to something", said Vexen. "They both know something is going on, and they do know to be careful of both of them. It seems they can take care of themselves well, and I know they don't need to be outright protected. But you're right, I'm also worried. But I'm not sure that even if we were to work together to look after them, we would be enough. But yes, I can agree to help you, as long as you help me."

Demyx sighed in relief and almost smiled, but for the fact Vexen pointed out that they wouldn't be able to do much on their own but seem almost over-protective. "So what do we do?"

"Just follow me", Vexen said, quickly walking past Demyx. He had never once expected to form any kind of alliance with the boy, but they both had family and they were both worried for them, empty beings or not. "We need to have others looking out for them, as well."

Demyx nodded and followed after Vexen, stalking the halls again for anyone he was looking for. Before Kixyu had joined the Organization and seemed to start getting cozy with Larxene, he'd never thought of trying to form an alliance with the senior member. But since he didn't like Larxene at all, and seemed a little wary of Marluxia, he knew that he had to do something. He had to protect his little sister, no matter how right Vexen was about her being intelligent and observant. Kixyu may have always been something of a mother to him and Akira, but he was still her older brother.

The silverette girl who had wielded the cross-motif keyblade groaned as she woke from her sleep. After having gotten out of the forest days ago, she passed out for some reason she didn't understand. Whatever happened, though, her body hurt from what she guessed was falling on something hard. Specifically, it was her back that hurt, and when she felt it, it seemed to have been bandaged up. She looked around to find herself on a couch in someone's living room, even though she didn't know who lived here. All she could figure was that a family lived here, with the family photo right above the television.

She carefully stood up, doing her best to avoid her back hurting even more, though it wasn't exactly easy, and walked over to the picture to pick it up and look at it. There were three people in it, a man with long blond hair, a woman with wavy brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail, and a small girl who looked suspiciously like the woman. Although the one difference was that she wore glasses where the woman didn't. The silverette girl figured that the man and woman were the girl's parents. She gave a small smile, the family looked so happy together.

When she heard someone walk into the living room her smile faded and she turned to see the woman from the picture. She carefully placed the picture back on the television. "Oh, sorry, I was just looking, ma'am. I-"

The woman only walked closer and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. How are you feeling? I found you when I was coming back from the store. You were passed out."

"I'm feeling alright", said the silverette. "Well, pinging back, aside."

The woman nodded and smiled. "That's good. I'm Molly." She walked over to the television and picked the picture back up. "I see you were looking at my family photo." Her expression became melancholic.

"I'm Garnet", the silverette said. Molly had given her own name, so she figured it would be rude not to return the gesture. "I was looking, yes. Are they home?"

Molly sighed sadly and shook her head. "They're missing. Even disappeared years ago, although we haven't really lived together longer than that. His work made it difficult, since I wasn't keen on moving out of this house. I like wooded areas. My daughter, though, she disappeared several months ago."

Garnet's expression saddened slightly. "Oh... I'm sorry. What was her name, though?"

"Cari. At least, it's what everyone called her", said Molly. "Her proper name was Carolyn, named after her one grandma. But Cari was shorter and fit her better than Carolyn. This picture was taken about eleven years ago, when she was seven years old."

"So she's eighteen now", said Garnet. "Wherever she is." She paused. "Could you tell me where I am, exactly?" She glanced out the window. "I don't recognize this forest."

"This town used to be called Radiant Garden, but now it's called Hollow Bastion. It's a rather long story, but creatures called heartless came and eventually overran this world."

"World?" Garnet looked back at Molly and raised an eyebrow. "I know what heartless are, I've run into them before."

"There seem to be different worlds in this 'realm'", said Molly. She placed the picture back and looked back at Garnet. "I've never seen you around here before, so you must not be from this world. I don't know why there are different worlds, but I'm not too concerned to find out."

"I'm from a place called Valley Grove", said Garnet. "When did you find all this out?"

"When I ended up in Traverse Town", said Molly. "In fact, Cari disappeared just before then..."

"Maybe her heart was stolen by a heartless", Garnet thought aloud. At Molly's confused expression, she sighed. "I've heard that heartless are creatures of darkness that will attack us for our hearts. And then when we lose them, we disappear. I don't know what happens after that, though. I've been able to fight them off with this key-cross thing that appeared in my hands." She paused and looked around for the keyblade.

Molly shook her head. "I didn't see anything with you. Are you talking about a keyblade?" It was her turn to sigh at Garnet's confused expression. "Let's go into the kitchen and we can talk."

Garnet nodded and followed as Molly lead her into the kitchen.

To Be Continued