Author's Note: Gah! It's been a while. First I had no time to write, then when I do have time, my computer malfunctions. It is still malfunctioning, I'm borrowing my brother's. That means updates will still be few and far between. Sorry. Okay, so far we had the introductory chapter, then the chapter with Rex and Dax fighting, as well as Mary Sue pestering Zexion, Tarix and Exort stealing the 358/2 Day's group's spot, and Xemnas talking to what seems to be bit of an echo. Did I forget to name any OCs? Oh yes, I did. The nameless one. Why don't we see what he's up to?
Also, bkwrmnlvnit is still my beta reader.
"Ah, Chi! I was wondering when you'd show up in the Gray Room. I'ven't seen you since the day you were introduced." A hand clapped against Number Twenty's shoulder. Without turning to see who it belonged to, Chi knew it belonged to Sixteen. It simply was.
He turned around. "I had several tasks to perform."
The other Nobody chuckled. "Heh, don't we all... Hey, kid, I was wondering if you wanted to fight with me. Y'know, sparring."
"I do not," he replied. He didn't quite understand the question, as Sixteen should have already known the answer. It wasn't possible for a being without emotion to really want anything. That was how One explained it to him. No heart, no emotions. Desire was an emotion. He didn't need to spar with him either. Both he and Xemnas had used the word "want" when they meant need, like the need to complete a task in order to further the Organization's goals. He found that need was saved for occasions where an action was necessary to continue existence, such as eating or sleeping. Chi was about to turn around and walk towards one of the available seats, when Sixteen interrupted him.
"Aw, c'mon! Is there any reason you won't spar with me a bit? It's probably not going to take long…" Sixteen was attempting to look pitiful, and failed. Considering the company, it was of no consequence.
"I have no reason to not spar with you. Have you reason to spar with me?" It was at this point that Chi realized two things. The first was that Sixteen was nothing like his master. The second was that he knew nothing of Sixteen. That had to change.
Sixteen sighed. "Well, duh, why else would I ask you? Look at it this way. You're the only person who isn't busy who I'ven't the chance to fight against. I've defeated everyone else. So, whad'ya say? Let's fight for a round. One round. Please?"
"Yes." Chi drew his weapon, a simple sword now, and swung at Sixteen, who quickly put up a barrier of darkness.
"Whoa! Not here! Have you ever sparred before?" asked Sixteen, incredulous.
"No," Chi said simply.
"I'd better teach you, then. Come we me. We're going to the Hall of Empty Melodies. That's where we spar."
[-~-~-]
"Okay. You're supposed to start on the other end over there." Sixteen pointed towards the other end of the Hall. Chi nodded and quickly travelled there through a corridor of darkness. "When we're both ready, not a moment before or after, we start fighting. There are two rules: First, we aren't allowed to destroy or permanently injure each other. Second, we don't go out of this area until we're done," Sixteen explained, motioning to the room around them. "You got all'a that?"
The twentieth member of the Organization nodded. "Yes," he said. "Are you ready?"
Sixteen grinned. "Why, yes I am." He drew his bowguns and started firing immediately, while Twenty had already moved to Sixteen's side of the battlefield. Twenty's weapon, now a clawed glove, swiped at Sixteen, who was barely quick enough to dodge backward. Sixteen was about to draw his sword when he found himself unable to move. Twenty's weapon was now two bright orbs, sparking and crackling too close to Sixteen's head for comfort, whirling at a disorienting pace.
"Have we finished?"
Sixteen considered his options. "Yeah, we're done." The orbs disappeared, and Chi along with them.
[-~-~-]
Chi sat on one of the few couches in the Gray Room, watching the other Nobodies walk by. Two, Eight, Five, Fifteen. Nobodies came, some talked to Seven, some spoke with each other, and all eventually left. Nothing concerning happened. Then another Nobody passed, though he couldn't tell if it was Thirteen or Fourteen, which led him to start wondering if it was possible for the Nobody to be both. Chi was still attempting to determine the Nobody when Thirteen walked in. As Thirteen was Thirteen, the other one was most certainly Fourteen.
The two Nobodies spoke to Seven, then left.
Chi got up and walked to the entrance and waited. He started to alter his weapon, shifting it through a thousand forms in a minute. Things he had seen, things he had not seen, things which simply were. It then stopped shifting, remaining in the shape of what stars weren't. A pale imitation that never existed, yet insisted to remain.
After an amount of time had passed, which Chi had no means of measuring, he was noticed.
"Hey, you're the newest member. Chi, right?" It was Thirteen. No, it was Fourteen. Thirteen was behind Fourteen, yet it was Fourteen who spoke.
"Yes."
"So what've you been doing? Roxas and I haven't seen you since Xemnas introduced you." Fourteen had fully turned to face Chi and Thirteen stood beside her.
"What I have been ordered to do. Have you two just finished your tasks?"
"Yes," answered Thirteen, "We had to go collect hearts. We were just going to tell Saix that we're done." Chi nodded, and the two walked over to Seven, talked to him, and turned to walk out.
"What are you going to do now?"
"We're going to eat ice cream, on the clock tower, if we get there first." Thirteen paused, then smiled. "Hey, do you want to come with us? Well, if Xion and Axel don't mind." He turned to face Fourteen, who was smiling as well.
"I'm fine with it, and I don't see why Axel would mind. So, Chi, do you want to?" Fourteen looked at Chi questioningly, almost hopefully.
"Yes, I do."
[-~-~-]
The Nobody followed behind Thirteen and Fourteen. Though Chi could barely see past their heads, Chi knew that Eight was already waiting for them. Eight held three sticks of light-blue ice-cream.
"Hey, you're late," he said, passing ice cream to Thirteen and Fourteen.
"No, you're just early," replied Thirteen, taking the cold treat with a grin.
"We invited Chi to join us. We said he could come if you didn't mind," Fourteen explained, stepping to the side and motioning Chi forward.
"Should I get an ice cream for him?" asked Eight.
"No, Roxas bought one for him." Fourteen looked towards Thirteen. "That's why we're late."
The four of them went over to the edge and sat down. Eight, Thirteen, and Fourteen unwrapped their ice creams and started eating. Chi followed suit. Eight and Thirteen started talking, and Fourteen soon joined in. Their words weren't directed at Chi, so he didn't didn't listen, choosing instead to eat his ice cream.
Thirteen turned to him. "It's good, isn't it?"
"It tastes salty and sweet." Chi had no idea whether the taste could count as "good". It was just how the icy lump tasted.
Apparently Eight found this amusing, as he said something to Thirteen and they both started laughing. Eight, Thirteen, and Fourteen continued to talk.
"How about you?" asked Eight, seemingly out of nowhere, several minutes after the ice cream was gone.
"Hmm?"
"You weren't listening at all, were you?" questioned Eight. Before Chi could answer that, no, he wasn't listening, Fourteen giggled.
"Guess he didn't have it memorized." This had Thirteen start giggling as well, while Eight had a half-amused, half-fakingly offended look on his face.
"Well, I was talking about my past, you know, from before…. and we were wondering if you had any interesting memories to share from back when you had a heart." Eight tilted his head questioningly.
Chi shook his head. "No, I don't. I might never have had a heart."
They stared at him for a moment.
"You don't have any memories either?"
Chi listened to the following conversation, which included remarks on how there were now three people sitting on the clock with no memories of their pasts lives, jokes involving Eight's favourite phrase, jests from Eight about feeling left out, and an invitation for Chi to return the next day.
[-~-~-]
"Is there anything else to report?"
"No. Is that all?"
"It is not. Continue."
"I will."
...
"Is sea salt ice cream good?"
Authour's Note: Well… Chi's certainly different… Sorry to anyone who hates numbers.