Jessica's Point of View

True to his word, Xemnas did show up to my room a few hours later, offering to keep me company. He seemed hopeful that I was finally coming around. I agreed and asked him if we had a deck of cards. We looked for a deck of cards for the next several hours. "There has to be a deck of cards somewhere," Xemnas huffed.

"I don't know. I've never seen any except for Luxord's. Maybe we don't have any," I mused as we stepped inside the Gray Area.

"Did you say cards, Kupo? I have a deck, Kupo," The moogle that hung around the Gray Area piped up.

"I'll take it. How much?" I asked.

"200 Munny, Kupo," Moogle replied.

I reached for my munny purse inside my coat but hesitated. If I were to find a way to get away from the Organization, I would need all the munny I could get to survive.

Xemnas placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll get it." He gave the moogle the munny and took the deck of cards. He turned back to me. "Here you are." He placed the deck of cards in my hands.

"Thank you. Will you play with me?" I requested.

"Of course," Xemnas agreed.

I took the cards out of the box, shuffled the deck, and began playing just about every game Luxord had taught me. Strangely enough, as I played with Xemnas, I felt content, happy even. I had to constantly remind myself that I was leaving the first chance I got.

Xaldin and Xigbar, who were teamed up for the day, were the first to return. "What's this?" Xaldin asked when he noticed Xemnas and me playing cards and coexisting without testing each other's will not to strangle one another.

"I was bored, so we've been playing card games," I answered sweetly.

"How did this happen?" Xigbar wondered curiously.

"I was bored. Luxord has been teaching me to play card games from the moment he joined the Organization, so I thought that it was a good way to pass the time," I explained.

Something seemed to bother Xaldin as he looked uneasy. "You're too cheerful today. What happened?"

I played dumb. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"There is no need to interrogate her. The pressure and stress of work were too much for her to handle, and she's finally starting to relax a little. Is that really so hard to believe?" Xemnas questioned.

Xemnas's conclusion was startling, not only because he was standing up for me for a change but also because I realized he was right. I wasn't handling the pressure and stress of work very well, and I felt better when I allowed myself to forget my situation and enjoy my time off. Under different circumstances, I may have even enjoyed my vacation, but these weren't different circumstances.

"Ah, I see. My apologies. Good to see you getting along with others again, Jessica. I hope it stays that way this time." Xaldin came closer to me. "And Jessica? Don't you dare take all the seating in the Gray Area again." His tone was clear. Xaldin almost always rested in the Gray Area before every mission, so he didn't take it too well when he had no place to sit.

"Of course. It won't happen again."

Xaldin and Xigbar left, though Xigbar went out of his way to pass by me and ruffle my hair. "Would you rather see if one of those two would agree to do something with you?" Xemnas suggested.

I wanted to get as much card practice in as I could. "Not really. I'd rather keep playing cards with you if you don't mind," I replied.

"Of course, Jessica. I will always make time for you whenever I am able."

We kept playing. When Roxas, Xion, and Axel came home, Roxas and Xion gawked. Axel seemed mildly interested, but he wasn't in shock. Unlike Roxas and Xion, Axel knew a bit about the kind of relationship I used to have with Xemnas. It was the kind where a friendly game of cards here and there wouldn't be entirely unheard of for us. Axel noticed Roxas and Xion. "Quit staring, you two. It's not like you've never seen a game of cards before," Axel scolded.

"But Axel-" Roxas started.

"Stop. Just go to bed. There's nothing to see here," Axel interrupted. I understood. He didn't want their stares to bother Xemnas. Still, Xemnas noticed their attention and looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Perhaps you would like to take over for me. I've been at this for a while and have become rather tired of it, yet Jessica has yet to lose interest," Xemnas suggested.

"Sure thing, boss," Axel agreed instantly. He took Xemnas's cards and began playing instead. Xemnas left the room, and Axel began questioning me while playing. "So, what did you do today?"

"Xemnas gave me a video game this morning to pass the time. I was grateful and told him I wanted to rebuild our relationship. After a couple of hours, he came to me and offered to do something with me. I decided I wanted to play card games, so Xemnas bought me a deck from Moogle, and we have been playing ever since."

"You must've been playing for a long time then. Any idea how long?"

"Oh, somewhere between four and five hours."

"I see. Jess, what's your endgame here?"

"To win at cards, of course."

"Yeah, the act is cute, but I know you. You wouldn't play cards with Xemnas for more than two hours unless it were to further your personal goals or you were forced to. It doesn't sound like the latter, so why are you playing cards with Xemnas?"

I laughed, hoping it didn't show how nervous I was. "Oh, Axel, don't be ridiculous. I have a lot of time on my hands now that I'm stuck in the castle. What else was I supposed to do?"

"Call me crazy, but I never got the impression that you preferred cards with Xemnas over a new video game."

"Luxord taught me card games for a reason, you know?"

Axel's eyes narrowed as he took his turn. "Right. Luxord. So that's your play."

I was found out. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't do it, Jess. It's a bad idea. The times anyone won any card games against him aren't often, and whenever people do, it's usually only small sums of munny on the line. He goes easy on you because you're everyone's favorite, but he won't let you win if the stakes are high enough. There is no way that this will end well."

I dropped my facade. "I have to try. I can't just stay here forever. It won't be long until I'm fourteen. Then what? I'll never get a chance to experience what real life is like at this rate." Based on Axel's expression, I knew I had said the wrong thing.

"I was sixteen when I joined the Organization. I'm not getting out anytime soon. Still think you got it rough?"

"At least you had a normal childhood. I didn't get that. Like, ever. I was an unloved princess, then a keyblade wielder, then an orphan, then a daughter, then an orphan again, and then I was raised by Organization XIII. Stop me when I start sounding like my life wasn't just as hard."

Axel's face seemed to soften. "Alright. I'll give you that. Look, just don't do anything stupid. I'm still practically your big brother, and as your big brother, I'm not going to let you get hurt."

"Then drop me off at Sunset Kingdom and don't look back. I'll be better off there."

"Are you insane?!" Axel screamed. I flinched, and Axel went back to his calm, cool exterior. "Absolutely not. One, if they find out it's me, I'm done. Forget Dusk; I'm an absolute goner. Two, Sunset Kingdom is the worst place for you to go. Vexen told me they would kill you if anyone were to find out about you."

"That's why it's the perfect place for me to go. Xemnas would never look for me there."

Axel won the game. "I would rather you have you alive than happy. I'm warning you, don't do anything stupid. I'll personally chase you down and make sure you don't put yourself in harm's way again."

"I understand. I'm sorry, Axel."

Axel shook his head. "No, you're not. I know you better than that." He walked away.