AN: Woooh boy, got ourselves a chapter here lol. It is a chapter... :D In which stuff happens. xD
End of AN!
Engrossed in his work as he was, Vexen was genuinely startled when a dark corridor appeared in the middle of his laboratory.
Had it been that long already?
Hmm...
Vexen found himself turning to observe the portal - awaiting her return. When she came striding out of it, Vexen felt relief at the sight.
"I take it you dispatched your target without any..." He trailed off as he examined her form. Her black coat was marred by stains of some kind - and her usually blue hair was streaked with deep scarlet. "What in the worlds happened to you?"
Perhaps an inaccurate question - based on a false assumption: of course the Replica couldn't bleed. That was certainly not her blood. But then...whose...was it?
Kana gave an infuriating smirk, then a shrug of her shoulders as she raised a steel, curved sword that was in her grasp. She gave it an expert twirl with a mere flick of a wrist.
"And what is that in your hand?" Vexen demanded, as she continued with this insolent silence!
"A sword," she finally said.
"Yes, I can see that - where in the world did you get it?" Vexen snapped. "And why have you brought such a rusting, dirty thing into my spotless laboratory!"
"That hot and sandy world I visited again today - for the mission-"
"Yes, Agrabah - though, no one else would have ever guessed correctly, with only your elementary description to go off of," Vexen interjected, scowling at her. "That still does not explain how you ended up taking away a weapon from that world. And why do you even need it?"
"I don't need it - I wanted it," Kana replied simply.
"For what reason?" Vexen said, exasperated.
"It looked...attractive," Kana said finally, clearly struggling with such advanced concepts of and in her own mind. "Anyway, it's mine now."
"Debatable - but we'll not quibble over such things now," Vexen agreed, eyeing her closely again. Those stains on her coat... "How did you acquire it, precisely? It's very important that you tell me...Kana."
"I got into a fight with over a dozen men - closer to two, I think - they had swords like these," Kana elaborated (though, not to Vexen's relief!).
"What in the world were you doing getting into battles with locals?"
"It wasn't much of a 'battle.'" Kana strode for the nearest chair and threw herself down into it, crossing an arm over her chest, and twisting that sword into figure-eight patterns casually. "But I was able to make it last a while..."
"Really? What would you call it, then?" Vexen snarled out, shooting to his feet and stalking toward her.
Her lips curved. "A slaughter?"
Vexen stopped before her, gazing down on her in disbelief. And a myriad of other emotions... "Yes - wonderful - and I repeat: what in the world were you doing slaughtering locals?!" he screeched. "Dear god, woman, do you realize the immense rise in suspicion you've no doubt caused our Organization - the incredible difficulties that any of us will have going back to that world after you decided to apparently go on a- a killing spree?! The black coat will mark us as trouble-makers, criminals, ones to perhaps even be detained or attacked on sight!"
The Replica- the woman- she continued to stare at the distant wall, slouching in her seat.
"Kana!" Vexen snapped, snapping his fingers at her.
She looked at him, a small smile on her face. "What? I wasn't listening - try again?"
"I'm not playing games with you today!"
"You never do," she scoffed. "How could someone so boring have made someone like me?"
"You will explain yourself to me, and you won't leave this place until you have," Vexen gritted.
"If it gets you to shut up, all right!" Kana exclaimed, sitting upright in her chair and pressing a hand to her forehead. "I was looking for a challenge - I saw the guards just standing around - and I thought I could use them for it. It was fun while it lasted - but they were way too easy to kill."
"Looking for a challenge...? So you just- you-" A part of Vexen, he realized, was actually somewhat horrified by her response. Yes, quite a strong word - but that was the emotion he had in him in that very moment. And he realized, as well, that...well, of course he had no one to blame but himself - for creating her, and then doing so very little to even control her. Perhaps curb her impulses, her...wild nature.
Yes, she wasn't even a person yet - not hardly. She was a feral animal with the ability to speak - a cut above the rest, but even so. She was a vicious tiger, dangerous and playful and clever - and he kept her in a cage when he wasn't unleashing her onto the unsuspecting masses!
Horror - yes - horror was rather appropriate a feeling to have at the moment, as he gazed upon this woman who was little more than a she-beast wearing human skin! And it was, naturally, entirely his fault. And responsibility. Such a weighty thing he'd bore before in life. And now he must, again...lest more untold carnage and disaster be wrought upon the worlds. Due to his own actions, due to his own idiotic, putrid, fanatical- Oh, he threw just about every word in the dictionary at himself, right then!
"Someone could kill you again," Kana's voice cut through the red haze of his vision. The trembling of his hands. The...squeezing sensation in his chest.
Vexen blinked, forcing himself to breathe again. He gazed at her, the absolute picture of sprawling unconcern once again...
He stepped forward and dropped to his knees before her.
She shifted, sitting up again and gazing down on him with confusion. "What are you doing?" she asked.
Vexen glanced around his lab, then reached out a shaking hand for one of hers. Small, warm, delicate - yet strong and certain. Beautiful and deadly. "Kana...you must listen to me...pl-please," he appealed to her, despite his tongue tripping over itself. "If you commit acts out there that would have a...negative impact upon this Organization...if Xemnas ever learns of it - he would destroy you. Without hesitation. In his eyes, you can always be replaced. Easily so, as long as he has...me and my work at hand. Tell me you understand this, at least. Can you see it - action and consequence? You don't want to be erased, do you?"
"No," she answered, serious and quiet. Her expression was...well, as concerned as she should be at the prospect.
"Then promise me...that you will not bother the locals during your missions. Confine yourself only to the destruction of the Heartless. Do not give Xemnas a reason to erase your existence."
"Do you think of me in the same way?" she spoke suddenly.
"In what way?" Vexen asked.
"In your eyes, am I...easily replaceable?"
Vexen saw the fear in her eyes. The worry at what his answer would be. And, up until recently, he would have indeed given her the answer to confirm her worst fears (without a thought, without hesitation). But the man who existed in the current moment... "No. You are powerful, beautiful, and above all - unique. In my eyes you are irreplaceable. My...greatest creation. Your destruction would be an...immeasurable loss to me."
The fear and worry fled her sharp features - and in their place came pure happiness. A shine to her eyes, as a wide smile broke over her face. "Thank you!" she said breathlessly.
"Think nothing of it..." Vexen whispered, meaning those words in more ways than one (not that she would have ever picked up on such double meanings). He released her hand and stood tall, straightening out his coat. "Oh, and- Kana-"
"What?" she said, attentive for once - such a rarity.
"You did very well today, it sounds like - at least in terms of sheer combat performance," Vexen told her awkwardly. "So, far be it from me to argue with you if you wish to keep a trophy." He nodded to the steel blade in her hand. "In fact...perhaps, in each and every world you go to, you might wish to return with another one? A token, a- memento. Something to remember it by. To remind you of the battles you fought in them. A...proof of victory. Of accomplishment, and triumph. You understand what I mean?"
"Okay," she spoke, in warm and excited tones. "I'll do that!"
"Excellent, then. Yes. I- look forward to seeing what you bring back next time..." Vexen murmured out, turning away swiftly as a heat crept up his neck.
He thanked the non-existent gods of Radiant Garden that he didn't even believe in that she hadn't come to him with a severed head! He shuddered at the very thought. And then again, as he realized it was a very real possibility with this one! He whirled back to her quickly, pointing at her, causing her to freeze and tilt her head at him. "While you're still listening to me - Kana-!"
"What?"
"Don't interrupt! Ahem: your trophies can only be objects, items - nothing organic! Nothing like, say - for example only - an organ or a body part from your slain opponents! Seeing as you'll be restricting yourself to the Heartless from now on, that shouldn't even be an issue, now should it?"
Kana looked extremely upset, sinking down in her chair again and crossing her arms. "I hadn't even thought of that. But I should have..."
"No, no you shouldn't have!" Vexen said fiercely. "And you'll do well never to think of it again!"
"Sure..." she muttered, snorting. "You know, you almost had me excited for a second. Usually you're boring..."
"So sorry to disappoint," Vexen said sarcastically.
Roxas might not have had a home, but coming back to Twilight Town felt like the closest thing to it, for him.
Master Aqua hadn't exactly wanted to let him return to this world on his own - not when it was a world that other members of the Organization seemed to come to pretty frequently as well. Although, that was part of the reason why he'd come back here today, honestly...just the hope that he might run into Xikira again, or Axel...
Aqua had only relented when Ventus had spoken up, saying he'd go with Roxas - just in case. Roxas didn't feel as upset with the boy as he had been the last couple days, and he appreciated Ven trying to help him out, so he'd agreed.
And with that, Aqua had let them go. Not through a dark portal, though - Ven had taken Roxas through those Lanes Between, on his glider. Roxas would've preferred just calling up a portal...but whatever. He was here now, again. That was all that mattered. Along with the chance...
Roxas tried, really, to just ignore his identical tag-along as he got his usual ice cream stick. Then he looked at Ven and bought a second one, after a moment of guilt. He led the way back up the streets, toward the train station. He showed Ven the way up the clocktower, and they emerged together high above the city's streets. Overlooking it all, and the grassy hills beyond, and the sunset. It was perfect timing. The right time...
He sat down, there, with Ventus - not saying a word.
Ven didn't say anything either, for which Roxas was grateful.
"The sunset's beautiful here," Ven spoke.
Roxas just nodded, taking another bite of his sea salt ice cream as he gazed out at the world.
"Your friend - Axel - and your sister...what're they like?" Ven spoke on, quiet.
Roxas gritted his teeth, turning his head aside. Then he let it go, along with a wooshing breath. "Xikira's...she's a lot like Kairi, I guess? And she's smart. She knows a lot. Thinks about stuff, all the time, that I never have. Complicated stuff. But she's still good in a fight. We've taken down some giant Heartlesses before, her and me. Though, she's...a lot more interested in things like- clothes and- dresses or whatever. Drawing, too. She said she likes to draw. But...I've never...seen any of it..." he trailed off, angry again. Bitter. He took another big bite of ice cream, bowing his head to stare at the ground far below. The train station's plaza.
"Sounds like a real girl, alright," Ven said, a grin on his face.
"I guess?" Roxas shrugged.
"She sounds great, though," Ven added quickly. "Can't wait to meet her."
"I can't wait to see her again, too," Roxas agreed.
"And your friend Axel?" Ven said.
"Um..." Roxas sighed. "I don't know how I'd describe him, exactly. Especially not now. But he was my friend. He looked out for me. He...we had fun, we laughed, joked around a lot. Ate ice cream, every day. Talked about things that I came across in the worlds - on missions. I'd talk to him about Xikira, too. About the things she told me. He was usually great about explaining it all more. Though, some things he just- never wanted to tell me about at all. Some things, he...kept to himself."
"Like what?"
"Well...I guess he fought Kairi, at Castle Oblivion," Roxas mused. "And I wonder, if I was still in the Organization, would he have told me he had? He never told me his real name, either...before..."
"His real name? You mean, uh, from when he was a human?" Ventus said cautiously.
"Yeah," Roxas nodded. "He still has memories of his life before - not like me or Xikira. Well, Xikira does, but I guess it's still a little different for her. Anyway, I learned his real name from Xikira. She was the one who told me. His, and Saix's human name, too."
"What were their names before?" Ven said, curious.
Roxas raised his head with another sigh. "Xikira told me they were called 'Lea' and 'Isa.'"
"Huh?"
Roxas glanced over at Ven, seeing a strange look on the boy's face. "What?" he said.
"Are you- are you sure that's what she said?"
"Yes - why?"
Ven glanced away now, his mouth closing tight. Then, he looked Roxas in the eye. "So, these two guys of yours - what do they look like?"
Roxas stared back at Ven, confused. What was with this guy all of a sudden? Why the interest? "If I answer, you have to tell me why."
"Sure - of course - just...please?" Ven said quickly.
"Axel's, um, tall - has long, spiky red hair. Green eyes. And these markings under his eyes. Saix has long blue hair and yellow eyes, and a big scar on his face like an X."
"And their names were Lea and Isa...?"
"Yes," Roxas said, irritated. "I told you already. Now you tell me why you're asking."
Ven nodded, looking troubled now. Even...upset. He sighed and let his head fall, kicking his feet over the ledge of the clocktower. "That just sounds a lot like these two kids I met before - ten years ago. It was in Radiant Garden. A flaming haired guy named Lea, and a blue-haired kid named Isa. Lea and I had a friendly fight...he fought with these two frisbee discs."
Roxas stared at Ven intensely. Ven shifted uncomfortably as he noticed. "Axel fights with these two spiked disc weapons - he calls them 'chakrams.'"
"Oh man..." Ven breathed, looking away again. "If that was ten years ago...Roxas, how old do you think Axel and Saix are?"
"I don't know? I don't know how old anyone is!" Roxas said heatedly, for reasons he couldn't explain.
"Um, okay, well do you think Axel's about the same age as Terra, or Aqua?" Ven said.
"I guess, yeah? Sure?" Roxas snapped.
Ven sighed. "Okay. Thanks. S'pose that's confirmation..."
"You really think you've met them before?" Roxas said sharply. "Get real."
Ven blinked at him, looking taken aback. "Roxas, it kinda all lines up. Especially if Xehanort, with Terra's body, was in Radiant Garden around that time too. If he was there as a scientist, if he was there to kidnap Kairi as a little kid...it makes sense that he'd pick people from that world to be members of this Organization now."
"You don't know them. You don't know Axel," Roxas retorted firmly.
"Yeah, okay, maybe," Ven said, holding up his hands. His ice cream dripped onto his clothes, but he didn't seem to notice. "Maybe it's just a big coincidence!"
"It is," Roxas said stubbornly, glaring. "You've got no idea what you're talking about."
"Look, sorry, okay? I'm sorry."
Roxas turned away from the boy, taking the last bite of his ice cream and stowing the stick away in his coat pocket. "Just shut up..." he muttered.
"Okay..." Ven said softly.
Roxas glanced back at him, then got to his feet and strode away.
"Hey, wait, Roxas-"
Roxas threw out a hand to form a dark portal, striding into it quickly.
It closed behind him - leaving Ventus behind, up on the clocktower.
Roxas felt a kind of smug satisfaction at that; that guy was too scared to go through a simple dark portal...hah!
Of course, the feeling didn't last. It gave way to other feelings, as Roxas walked the streets, alone and aimless.
Shame, more guilt - flat out remorse. Embarrassment, too.
Ventus had just been trying to...bond with him. Trying to listen to him.
But if any of that was true, if what the guy said was really true...
Roxas felt a new surge of rage inside.
He left the main streets and entered a narrow alley, passing by a gated entrance into the sewer tunnels. He strode further and further in, his footsteps echoing to himself.
All he had was this storm inside him. This feeling, this-
"Now how'd I know I might find you here? It only took over a week of staking the place out...sheesh, what a week it's been, let me tell ya! But I knew you'd turn up sooner or later."
Roxas froze at the familiar voice, the storm inside him instantly dying away. Those feelings fleeing his...Heart. He turned in the alley to see a familiar person standing there. The sight of the man caused too many emotions to rise in his Heart. A lot of them conflicting with one another. "Axel..." he breathed.
"Still got it memorized, I see - good!" Axel called out, setting a hand on his hip. The other, he raised up to tap at his temple. "Then I take it you still remember what I'm capable of in a fight?"
Roxas gaped, stepping back. Was this really...? Was what Kairi had said really...going to happen? Did it have to? Did this- "Hold on a sec - we're still- best friends- right?" he said quickly.
Axel gazed back at him for a long moment, silent. Then, he sighed, shaking his head and turning away. "Sure, but I'm not getting turned into a Dusk for you - or worse: getting myself destroyed along with you. Look, just try not to make this any harder than it has to be - on both of us. Just come quietly, Roxas, and we'll-"
Roxas summoned his Keyblade, holding it before him and narrowing his eyes at the man. Setting his jaw.
Axel's face showed pure shock. He slowly lowered his arms, straightening up tall. He gave Roxas's new weapon an appraising look. "Tch...alright...fine, if that's how you want it to be." He conjured his chakrams in a burst of flames, holding them at his sides.
Roxas glowered at the man, tightening his grip on his weapon. Then...he let it fall, relaxing out of his combat stance. "Axel...come with me."
"Huh?"
"The Organization, it's not...right. This isn't...right."
Axel's expression flickered. He gave a small smile, shaking his head again. "Don't I know it, Roxas. But what choice do I have? I run away with you, and it's both our heads. And, sorry, I'm just not going to stick my neck out that far for you. I won't go putting myself on the chopping block, too."
"Axel, come on, please - I don't- want to lose my friend," Roxas struggled. "I want to sit with you and eat ice cream again, I want to-!"
"Sorry, Roxas, but...those days are long gone. And there's no getting them back," Axel said sadly. "You can't kid yourself. There's no way forward for us - not anymore. Either we fight, and I win, and you get erased, or you win and I get erased. But there's no version of this story that can end with the two of us still alive - much less, still together as friends. You've just got to-"
"Trust you?" Roxas said harshly. "How can I? How could I...have ever? I don't, Axel - I can't. Especially not when you're here looking to destroy me," he added, with a ghost of a smile of his own.
"Well, I suppose you've got me there," Axel replied. He spun his chakrams, lighting them up with flames, and then he hurled one out at Roxas in an instant.
Roxas threw himself to the side and sprinted forward, raising his Keyblade and casting a Blizzard spell at the same time. Axel leapt back and threw his remaining weapon, which collided with Roxas's spell and became encased in thick ice. It fell to the ground like a stone. And Roxas continued to close the gap...between him and Axel - between him...and the man here to erase his existence!
Axel raised his arms and flames erupted from beneath his feet, scorching the floor and climbing up the walls of the alley to the rooftops. His chakrams reappeared in his hands, and he threw himself forward to meet Roxas, his green eyes narrowed.
Roxas leaped high into the air as the flames rippled across the ground, coming down swinging for Axel with a yell. Axel blocked his strike with both chakrams, skidding backwards down the alleyway! Roxas hung there in the air, glaring at Axel. Axel glared back.
"Not bad, Roxas - where'd this strength come from?" Axel said, voice strained.
"Like I'd tell you, now!" Roxas gritted. He flipped himself up over Axel and slashed for his backside, even as he sent a Blizzard spell at the ground to create a thick platform of magical ice to land on. Axel disappeared in a flash of darkness and flames, leaving the alley empty and hot. Roxas glanced around himself warily.
Suddenly a line of flames erupted from the left wall, crashing into Roxas with a shocking force and causing him to slam up against the right wall. Which was also burning hot.
Roxas cried out and quickly pushed off of it, using a gust of wind to carry himself up out of the alley completely. He came down on a flat, square rooftop with a gasp of relief.
He heard the burning flames and rushing wind of a hurtling chakram before he even saw it - and he reacted to it instinctively. He turned and ducked, slashing his Keyblade before him; Axel's chakram was redirected to impale itself into a chimney.
A second later and Axel himself reappeared out of a dark portal, standing before Roxas on the rooftops. He raised a hand absently to recall his lost chakram. "Nice new Keyblade you've got there, Roxas."
Roxas just glowered at the man, holding his weapon in front of himself defensively.
Axel made a little scoffing sound. "Alright, fine - forget it...just- what?"
Roxas turned and jumped back down into the alley (that was now not on fire anymore).
Axel came sailing down after him a moment later, weapons readied.
"If you think you have some kind of strategy in mind-" Axel began, a bit of caution and wariness on his face, now.
"Roxas? There you are! I've been lookin' all over for you-!"
"Huh?!" Axel gazed past Roxas, startling and turning pale. His jaw dropped wide open.
Roxas turned to see Ven walking into the alley.
Ven looked past him - right at Axel. His face changed, almost the same as Axel's had. He looked Axel up and down, slowly stepping up beside Roxas.
"V-Ventus...?" Axel finally gasped out. "What the hell?"
"Lea?" Ven spoke, a look of shocked realization coming to his face now. And sadness. "It really is you."
"Wait a sec, you remember me?" Axel choked.
"Yeah. That was what you wanted, right?" Ven spoke again, quiet and intense. "For everybody to remember you? To live forever in people's memories?"
"Damn, so you're really here too..." Axel breathed, taking a step backwards, almost tripping on his coat.
"You actually know him?" Roxas interjected, gazing at Axel intently, as a tightness clenched at his Heart. "Something else you didn't want to tell me, huh - Lea?" he added, harsh.
"L-look, Roxas, Ven was just some kid I met once when I was a kid!" Axel protested, regathering himself. "And how do you go about telling a guy he looks exactly like some kid you met ten years ago?! What was I supposed to say to you? How do you even bring that up?!"
"You could have just told me the truth!" Roxas said loudly, his keyblade shaking at his side. He raised it and thrust it out at Axel. "I thought we were friends - I thought friends were honest with each other. But you have so many secrets that I don't even know how much you still haven't told me! Even after Xikira told me your real name, even after I asked you, you still wouldn't talk about your life before, you still wouldn't tell me anything-!"
"Because that isn't who I am anymore!" Axel shouted over him, raising a chakram before him like a shield. Putting it between himself and Roxas and Ven. "The past is typically supposed to stay in the past - but I guess the universe never got that one memorized," he went on, with a look at Ventus. "By the way, how in the world do you still look exactly the same age as when I met you?"
"Kind of a long story," Ven said shortly. "Maybe if you stuck around, you could hear it," he added.
Axel gave a snort of disbelief. His eyes flitted between the two identical boys. "Ya know, as much as I'd love to...I'm out!" Darkness burst from beneath his feet, rising up to surround him - and then he was gone.
Roxas let his Keyblade vanish. He glanced at Ven, then turned away and stalked from the alley.
"Hey, hold on a sec - Roxas!" Ven called, hurrying after him.
Roxas kept on walking, his hands forming shaking fists at his sides. All he had was this red haze in his vision, this feeling in his chest, this-
"Roxas! Don't go runnin' off again-"
Roxas stopped. He turned back - and he found himself punching Ventus in the face.
"Hey, what was that-!" Ven began, shocked as he clutched his nose, his eyes wide.
Roxas ignored the boy and continued on down the street.
Ventus followed him, even still.
"Roxas, let's just talk about this-" Ven grabbed his shoulder.
"TALK ABOUT WHAT?!" Roxas erupted, whirling to face the boy. "Who even am I?! Am I even me, or am I just bits and pieces of other people?! Apparently I can't even have my own friends! He was already your friend - you already knew each other! Is that why I befriended Axel at all? Is that why he befriended me? Because I looked like YOU? Is this all I am?!" he shouted huskily - desperately.
Ven let him go, stepping back. "Roxas, it doesn't...have to mean anything-"
"BUT IT MEANS EVERYTHING!" Roxas yelled, darting forward and pushing the boy. Ven gasped, stumbling backwards. "And YOU are the last person in the world that I want to talk about any of this with, so GET LOST!"
"Look, Roxas, I can't even imagine how you feel right now, but we should go back home - back to the others. We can sort this out, we can talk-"
"HOME? You mean YOUR HOME, RIGHT? Because it's not MINE! Because I AM NOT YOU!" Roxas roared at the boy.
"I know you're not-"
"Then just- fuck OFF already!" Roxas snarled, turning away and throwing out a hand to summon a dark portal. He stepped into it, his body vibrating, his chest burning-
"NO!"
Roxas felt something slam into his backside, taking him to the ground, just as the portal closed behind him.
He struggled in the darkness, kicking and fighting - and then he emerged on the other side, into light and a new world, heaving and gasping.
He pushed himself up, and turned to see that Ventus was still there with him.
"You actually followed me through?" Roxas gasped.
Ventus sat up as well, drawing a deep, rattling breath, a hand going to his chest. His eyes were closed, and his face looked pained. Roxas saw flickering tendrils of darkness rising from under Ven's palm...but then it faded as the boy opened his eyes again at last. Those blue eyes gazed at him with blazing determination. "Enough with this," he said firmly. "Either talk to me or talk to somebody else - but don't go running off like some kinda idiot."
Roxas glowered, jumping to his feet. His hand trembled at his side...and then his fingers opened, and his weapon appeared in a flash of light. "Say that again!" he barked out.
Ventus eyed his weapon, rising to his feet slowly as well. He shook his head, his lips pressing. "You don't wanna do this. You'll lose."
"Say it, go on, call me an idiot again!" Roxas yelled furiously, jabbing his weapon at the boy.
Ventus's expression shifted. He raised a hand, and his own Keyblade appeared in a flash, held backwards. Inexplicably, his mouth changed from a frown...to an almost smile. "Okay: idiot."
Roxas lunged with a yell of fury, swinging for the boy's head!