CHAPTER TWELVE

With breakfast out of the way, notepads came out, on which to formulate the general outline of their demands. Axel and Roxas spoke in hushed whispers, not wanting to be overheard by Riku, who was, in their eyes at least, a stand-in for Ansem. Rolling his eyes, he left the table, giving them some space, while Sora remained, scribbling intently on his piece of paper, until Roxas faltered. He looked over at his twin, Axel curiously following his gaze to see Sora frowning deeply. It was then that he saw that Sora wasn't writing; he was drawing. The quality was crude at best, but he was creating with such focus that they couldn't help but watch.

When he was done, his face immediately cleared, and he sat up brightly. Noticing that he was under scrutiny, he hesitated. "Um." He glanced down at his drawing, then said, with some dismay, "Ah."

"…Is it her again?" Roxas asked, to which Sora, back to frowning, nodded. Axel twisted his head to peer it at the right angle. He saw… a poorly-sketched girl, sitting at a long table. It looked like she was blonde, judging by the occasional little areas of cross-hatching that Sora had used to indicate darkness or shadow, which, incidentally, surrounded the little figure in the middle. But that was as much as he was allowed – Sora crumpled it up in the next moment, tossing a nervous glance over his shoulder in Riku's direction. Axel turned his head to look at Riku, who, at the other side of the room trying to rub some lingering ash off the wall, hadn't noticed the occurrence.

In response to Axel's questioningly arched brow, Sora smiled thinly and said, "It's just this… this girl I dream about sometimes. No big deal. Don't tell Riku, okay? He worries."

"I worry," Roxas scowled. "Sora, I've told you before –"

"I'm not one of you," his brother sharply reminded him, causing Axel to blink at the sheer… causticity of the statement, albeit kept at a low volume. He really did reject the godhood, didn't he? What was he doing with Riku when he was so opposed to it all? "I'm just a human, okay? No reincarnation, or vessel, or anything. The dreams don't mean anything, Roxas."

This was all very new to Axel, whose eyes shifted to Roxas, who very carefully didn't look back. Okay. So an explanation was probably incoming at some point. If he'd met Axel's gaze, Sora would have noticed and made them promise not to gossip. Roxas let it drop, and Sora went and stuffed the drawing into the bin. Like, deep. He washed his hands afterwards. He was making sure no one saw that picture again, on purpose or by accident.

The two of them hesitated, clearly distracted by the moment, before Roxas hurriedly shook his head. "Wait, no, we're working on your argument here."

It was… a matter of wording, they had come to agree. Communication at its height was the only thing that was going to reach over Ansem's haughty walls and allow information to pass through. Which was really bad fucking news, because neither Axel nor Roxas was particularly… eloquently-inclined. Roxas spoke too plainly, and Axel's biggest issue to date was keeping his newly heightened 'passions' in check, meaning his temper, meaning… there was a good chance this whole thing was going to go to shit.

Just when they were looking at each other with a splinter of dread, Riku announced gravely, "It's time."

Fucking noon. Fucking Ansem. What was he, a fan of old cowboy movies?

They travelled there in Riku's car, Sora staying behind with uncertainty and guilt in his expression. Axel knew he hadn't meant for it to come to all this; he just hoped Roxas felt the same way. If things went sideways in there… he'd hate for it to come between the brothers in any way.

"This feels like marching you to your execution," Roxas muttered encouragingly as they parked and approached the black building. Riku used his card to gain them entry, leading to the way across the foyer to the elevators and up, up to where Ansem was waiting.

He was breaking the norm this time. Instead of being seated behind his impressive desk behind the water feature – which, glancing at it, Axel wondered if it could be turned into a type of… steam weapon, which was also not a good way to start the talks off – Ansem was seated on a long, leather lounge. It was a corner of the office devoted to basically being a pretentious douchebag. The books of the shelves looked impressive and thick enough to mug someone with. There was a small bar, to which Ansem had already helped himself, a crystal glass of brown liquor and ice in one hand as he waited for them. There were two other seats – another long one, and a single. Axel and Roxas gravitated to the lounge, while Riku assumed the lone chair, seated awkwardly between the two parties, who were separated only by a jet-black coffee table. There was… tension in the air.

Roxas's hand immediately wound through Axel's, a fact which did not go unnoticed by Ansem over the rim of his glass. As he lowered it, ice rattling, he politely offered, "Drink?"

"…Little early for me," Axel cautiously replied, "but thanks, anyway."

"Roxas," Ansem said, carefully eyeing him, "you look defensive. I'm not accustomed to this treatment from you."

Roxas glared. "Yeah, well, I'm feeling pretty defensive, thanks."

"It's not your head on the chopping block," Ansem remarked casually, causing the blond to flare.

"There's not going to be a 'chopping block'," he snapped. He was squeezing Axel's hand painfully. This was supposed to be his meeting with Ansem, yet so far he had yet to even open his mouth or be acknowledged. "If you start trying to mess with Axel again, I'll have him out of here in an instant." Hence the grip.

Ansem conceded this with a bow of his head. "I have no intention of causing Axel harm." He finally met Axel's gaze, steady and calm, but Roxas seemed unconvinced; his grip on Axel remained knuckle-grindingly tight. "We are here to talk, are we not?" the man continued, tone deliberately docile so as to lower their guard. He gestured, and added, "Riku here has a fine moral compass; I have given him full dispensation to tell me if I am crossing any lines."

Axel and Roxas glanced at Riku, who sat between them and tried his best to look impartial. The amount of conflicting interests this guy had… Axel had honestly no idea if the biases were so strong on each side that they cancelled each other out. Maybe he really was impartial. It was probably the only way to cope with the immense differences between Sora's existence and Ansem's. But still.

"Last time, you also told Riku to stop me from leaving," Axel told him. "What's to stop you from doing that again if you don't like what I have to say?"

"I'll be there to stop him." Axel's head jerked around as someone new entered from the direction of the elevator, seating himself alongside Ansem but containing none of his… airs. "I'm Cloud," he said, and held out a black-gloved to Axel. Carefully, Axel shook it. They had already met the one time, briefly, this man with his blond spikes and grim expression, but the last time Axel hadn't noticed his eyes, a piercing and glass-like blue stare that made him feel… uncomfortably seen.

"Cloud is a god of truth and purpose. He is here to ensure that everyone is speaking honestly," Ansem explained. "Thus, he will immediately know if I am bearing ill intentions, and will prevent anything… unforeseen from occurring."

Axel glanced down at Roxas for confirmation, receiving a small nod in return. Okay, then. "So, how do we start this?" he tensely asked.

"…With an apology." Ansem placed his drink down, took a breath, held himself up and, with great dignity, looked Axel full in the face. "I should not have attempted to harm you. It was irresponsible of me, and I apologise."

Kairi had been in his ear. It was all Axel could do to not smirk. "Thanks, I guess," he answered, unwilling to forgive but willing to let it go for now since he apparently had friends in high places who had arranged this for him. At his side, Roxas continued to look highly guarded.

"Next, I suppose we should talk… terms," Ansem went on, continuing to sound like he was remaining utterly calm as someone gave him a conscious colonoscopy.

"Then I'll go first," Axel said. "I get it now. I get that Demyx is… is one of them." His voice wavered slightly, but then resumed with strength, "What I want is for you to not – kill him. I actually don't think you should be killing anyone, except maybe that Xemnas guy."

"Unacceptable," Ansem responded, Axel balling up his fists, but it wasn't his demand that Ansem took exception to. "Xemnas can't be killed."

Eyebrows high, Axel demanded, "Excuse me? Can you repeat that? He can't be killed?"

"Not literally," Roxas told him. "You could technically kill Xemnas, but if you did, the soul would reincarnate and we'd lose track of him entirely."

"But… don't we want him reincarnating?" Axel asked doubtfully. He glanced about. "Wouldn't that – dilute his powers?"

"Only by one cycle," Cloud tersely said. "And we believe he has a way to awaken himself prematurely if such a contingency occurred. He would still overpower us."

"And even with Roxas's impressive skills of detection," Ansem bleakly went on, "it would be almost impossible to locate him again. He would do all in his power to evade detection until he was ready to be known again, and who knows how long that might take. He may end up taking advantage of the gap to learn knew knowledge, new ways to fight. Old age is nothing but a platform for Xehanort to display his power." He shook his head firmly. "Currently, our only real advantage is that we know Xehanort is currently using Xemnas as his primary vessel."

"But there has to be some way to get rid of him," Axel argued urgently. "Otherwise…" Otherwise, how was Demyx ever going to be free of him? He looked at the floor, frustrated.

"Our method so far has been to deprive him of an army," Ansem said, which caused Axel's eyes to flick back up with venom.

"You mean killing anyone who joins him. Or might join him."

"…I understand that this is not a method of which you approve," Ansem coolly replied, Roxas squeezing his hand. "Therefore, in the interests of keeping an open dialogue, I ask of you: what, instead, would you have us do?"

There was a long silence. Axel blinked at him. He was, what, three weeks into the god thing and this dude was asking him to solve their crisis on the spot, or give up his memories in order to become a useless Xehanort puppet?

"…Form a think tank?" Axel eventually suggested, causing Cloud to cough quietly to himself. "I don't have a clue," he went on, voice rising slightly. "I don't know what you've got at your disposal! I don't know what god powers you've got on the side! You can't just expect me to have an answer to something like that."

"No. I suppose not," Ansem granted, tilting his glass and studying the increasingly watery depths. "…The room is warmer just from having you in it," he commented. "You're growing into your powers. Doubtless assisted by your last… visit here." He sounded a little arch, but as he had already apologised for causing the situation, he knew he wouldn't gain anything by pursuing it.

"I had a real fun time after that, thanks," Axel retorted, just as arch.

"Slight temperature, was it?" Ansem nonchalantly asked, causing Roxas to visibly bristle. Noticing, Ansem eased off. "My apologies for that, as well. You came here for answers, and instead left with more questions."

"That's one way of putting it," Roxas scowled, and considering he had been the one previously telling him to behave himself around Ansem, Axel felt a rush of affection that Roxas was ready to turn hostile in a heartbeat on his behalf. Feeling the shift in his emotional state, Roxas glanced at him with some confusion.

"Yes, I am aware that you are quite intent on… protecting Axel," Ansem cautiously chose his words. "The loss of you these past few days, Roxas, has proved... inconvenient."

And suddenly, Axel was going, "Ohhhhhhh," causing Roxas's confusion to momentarily intensify. Ansem's expression darkened, while Riku, who was keeping as silent as possible, closed his eyes. Cloud, his mouth mostly hidden behind clasped hands as he leaned forward, showed a shadow of a smile that was gone before Axel could be sure he'd seen it. "This isn't about me at all," Axel realised. "You just want Roxas back."

Looking startled, Roxas turned to Ansem, who was practically glowering at this point. He was clutching his glass a little tightly, there. "…Roxas is an integral part of this team," Ansem admitted, the fingers of his other hand drumming unconsciously on the arm of his expensive leather lounge. "As much as any member," he firmly added, lest Roxas start thinking too much of himself, "and, as with any other member of my team, his unscheduled absence created… difficulties."

"What kind of difficulties?" Axel asked, to which Ansem responded, "It is of no concern to you."

There was a moment as the tension lifted back up, then was consciously lowered again by both parties. As far as Axel cared, anything that concerned Roxas was a concern of his. But Roxas could fight his own battles, and Ansem didn't need to see that deeply into their relationship just yet.

"So… you need me?" Roxas asked, uncertainly. His inferiority complex was showing.

"I have no doubt that Axel will prove a vital member of this team," Ansem told his crystal glass, "and as a result of your absence, with the ongoing threat of Xemnas, yes, we are in need of your continued services."

Axel kissed the side of Roxas's face, startling the blond, causing him to blush slightly considering the audience. "In that case," he said, with a just barely trembling swell of confidence, "I want us to find a way to free Xehanort's victims without killing them." Ansem sucked in a breath as Axel kissed Roxas on the mouth this time. Roxas pushed him back slightly. Not now. He took the note and leaned back to his side of the lounge, grinning.

"You understand," Ansem told him severely, "that this new direction could cause Xemnas to gather all the people he needs to launch an attack?"

"We can't just keep trying to hold him back." They all looked over at Cloud, who spoke quietly but decisively. "If Xemnas is intent on starting a war… maybe instead of disarming him, we should start figuring out how to fight back."

"He can't be killed," Ansem reminded them, frustrated.

"Then we'll find another way," Axel quickly suggested. "I mean – we're gods, right? Reincarnations, but powerful all the same. We're not exactly helpless against him."

"We're not a match for him, though," a vexed Ansem stated.

"So what? We'll slow him down. We'll try and figure out how to stop his influence over other people. We can work this out," Axel said, with some urgency, hoping against hope to sway this intransigent man.

Cloud glanced at Axel, then over at Ansem. "He's got some good energy," he remarked. "Who knows? Having a passion god around might help get things done."

Ansem seemed to consider, while simultaneously trying and failing to subdue his irritation at the situation. Axel wasn't sure what the man had expected from this, since he needed Roxas and therefore was required from the start let Axel live, but it definitely wasn't an actual argument for change.

"…I am not the only one needing convincing," he eventually grumbled.

Cloud stood up and stretched his neck. "Let's go, then."

Suddenly, everyone was looking at Riku, the last to let his opinion be known. He was frowning. Contemplating. Then he looked at Ansem. It was a troubled, pleading expression that made the older man sigh. Cloud stiffened slightly at the exchange, sensing something apparently – hidden, taking place. At length, Ansem said, "Let us take it to the others, then. I will abide by the decision of the group." It was said with some bitterness; an admission of loss, perhaps. Axel was more concerned with the fact that Riku had shut his eyes with relief, and that Cloud was glancing between them sharply. He noticed Axel, and locked gazes for a moment before turning away.

"Downstairs it is, then," he muttered.

Axel and Roxas stood, Roxas watching him with a small, questioning frown when he stared down at Riku, who remained in place. Only after Ansem rose did Riku, Axel following the group at a slight lag with Roxas clutching his arm. Even now, Roxas hadn't let down his guard. Very, very softly they quickly exchanged information.

"Ansem's lying about his intentions."

"Ansem's got something on Riku."

They blinked at each other, then looked forward at the others. Ansem was speaking quietly, rapidly to Riku, who nodded obediently along. Cloud was already waiting at the elevator, keeping the door open for them, looking bored. Shit was afoot, that much was clear, and Axel didn't need to be able to read people to tell that much. All this time, he'd been pissed off that Riku had tried to use his powers on him, but now that he thought about it, it had only been after Ansem told him to. So what was the deal here?

"Whenever you are ready," Ansem clearly said, Axel the last one to catch up, even Roxas ahead of him, tugging at his hand. They convened at the elevator and headed down to the same room that Ansem had taken Axel during their first meeting, before things had gone sour. Exiting out onto that staircase again, this time there was no meeting already taking place. When Ansem called, "A moment, if you please!" the various members of the team emerged from different directions, curiosity turning to surprise or glowers depending on the face. Ansem drew a breath as they collected before them. "We come before you today with a proposal. I felt it most important that everyone be included in the decision."

"Isn't that the guy who set fire to your office?" the one Axel remembered as Yuffie piped up.

Ansem lifted his gaze to the heavens, then, ignoring the question, lowered it back to the small group. "It has been suggested to me that our current tactic of stopping Xehanort's spread by nullifying the vessels he chooses to possess is lacking in long-term vision." He gazed at each face sternly. "We ask that you decide for yourselves if a more direct approach should instead be adopted. Rather than keeping Xehanort isolated, we will target him."

There was a ripple of gasps and grunts. "What kinda crap is that?" the grizzled Cid demanded, rubbing his jaw.

Cloud looked sideways at Axel. "The floor's yours."

Eyes widening slightly, Axel nevertheless turned to face the group. "My best friend is one of Xehanort's puppets. That's why you guys really wanted me in the first place, isn't it?" A few of them had the good grace to look ashamed. "Because up 'til now, your solution has always just been to kill them."

"What do you mean, 'up until now'?" the dark-haired Leon asked, warily.

Roxas spoke up, hesitant but convinced, "I think… we need to stop. I saw Demyx interact with Axel. I think… I think our intel was wrong. I think there are still people in the bodies that Xehanort takes."

"The personality might survive," Leon said, "but that doesn't mean it's the person. It's just Xehanort using their minds to pretend to be them."

But Roxas shook his head. "You didn't see what I saw, Leon. You didn't hear Demyx. He…" He stopped for a moment, but forged on, "He spoke of memories of having been lovers with the old god Lea, and how they should return to that."

Beside them, Ansem demanded, "What? Did he say anything else about memories of Lea?"

"There was reference to someone called Ventus," Roxas offered, "but other than that, nothing useful."

Ventus. The name meant nothing to Axel, and apparently the feeling was mutual. This was a mystery to everyone present. "What exactly about this… Ventus did Demyx say?" Ansem asked.

Roxas sighed. "He called him a slut. Said that he basically replaced Demyx as Lea's lover, since apparently Lea liked to get around," he added, with a long look at Axel, who inexplicably found himself the bad guy, despite the fact that this had absolutely nothing to with him. It was just his luck to be a reincarnated passion god. He raised his hands in surrender.

"I am a reformed man," he swore.

"We'll see," Roxas replied, but to the others said, "When Demyx spoke, he wasn't just some Xehanort puppet. And at the end there… it was like he overcame Xehanort for a second." He let that… previously impossible concept sink in, before continuing, "None of us has ever even seen them interacting with regular people. All we know is that by the time we're hunting them down, they've already started causing damage and they have to be annihilated or Xehanort just keeps them going. But what if it's not just Xehanort in their bodies? What if there's also still the real person, who was, I don't know… misled. Promised things," he added, glancing at Axel, who looked away. "And when we hurt those bodies… what if we're hurting real people, too?"

The group went still. Cloud shook his head faintly. "Wouldn't I see the truth of it? Of all people?"

"What if they need someone familiar to overcome Xehanort and let you even know they're there," Roxas suggested. "Like Axel with Demyx. When we fight, all we see is…" He hesitated, then glanced apologetically at Axel. "We call them… Nobodies."

Axel's expression was like stone. Quietly, after a beat, he said, "Let me say this one thing, without – without passion, or emotion, or anger, or anything you might mistake for a lack of good sense." He looked at each of them, hard. "Demyx is not a Nobody. He remembered me. He remembered me in this life, and in the past. That's what Xemnas promised him. That we could go back. That he could be the god of music, and I would be the god of passion, and together we'd create something." He shook his head. "Does that sound like a Nobody to you? Like Xehanort?"

"…Xehanort doesn't want to create anything," the woman called Aerith uneasily pointed out, her comrades listening closely, a generally stunned air having fallen over them all.

"That's true," Cid muttered, chewing savagely on a sodden toothpick. "That man knows nothing but destruction. Spreads like a virus 'til he's beaten back."

"But," Yuffie spoke up in a small voice, saying the thing they most feared, "we've – killed people. We thought they were beyond redemption, and now, now you're telling us that we were killing real people?" She angrily dashed tears from her eyes with her knuckles. "No way. I want to be convinced. I can't just change my mind because of one time a Nobody acted in a way you weren't expecting."

"She's right. We need proof," Leon agreed, arms folded, nodding resolutely.

Ansem looked at Roxas, Axel, and even included Riku in his question. "Well?" he asked simply. "Have we a means of obtaining this? This – proof?"

Roxas looked up at Axel, who was thinking fast. Then, slowly, he started nodding. He met Roxas's gaze, then looked out at the rest of them. "I think… I think we can show you."