Radiating Dusk

[korky]

"Tch, I hope Xemnas doesn't expect me to chase that fricken kid to the ends of the earth and beyond. That AIN'T happenin." Undoubtedly he was heading to Twilight Town to check up on Sora's progress. Maybe he could figure out a way to break him out of cryogenics without KILLING him. With both keybladers temporarily out of commission, the influx of hearts had slowed significantly. That was never good, nosireebob. Xiggy sent a horde of Sniper Nobodies to keep an eye on the silver haired kid, make sure he didn't do anything dumb.

There was a LOT of more important things on his mind, mutinous thoughts that would anger their Superior but also... give them a clear advantage. The considerations started out as a request from Zexion the week of Roxas' disappearance:


"GWAHAHA, well, aren't YOU a sight for sore eyes. Man, what a pleasant thing to see at this time of day. Makes me really feel light and airy on the inside." Xiggy snorted, peering out of the corner of his good eye at the filthy Larxy, covered in evidence of a battle. Even the tips of her hair were charred with black soot. The squad from Castle Oblivion was asked to report to the Superior ever so often, so he could keep up with the happenings on both their ends. Larxene was a difficult one to keep on track.

That sick twisted grin stretched across the Savage Nymphs face as she noted Xigbar didn’t get quite close enough for her to make a killing move as he was taunting her, clever cautious bastard. Number two took another step backwards.

"You know, Larxene, you need to start using that NOGGIN of yours insteada thinkin about severed body parts flying every which way. I PROMISE, you’ll have a corpse to feast on soon enough, kiddo."

The duo was joined by several of the teammates in the infamous white room, but the guest of honor was Zexion. Number Six had been adamant about discussing a new course of action he concocted in one of his many brooding sessions in the recesses of his laboratory.

“I believe I have devised a way to restore the essence of our being WITHOUT the institution of the keyblade." The skilled manipulator began, "If I am correct in my hypothesis, it will render both Sora AND Roxas obsolete. Although I don’t have to tell you what that means, I’m going to. We will be able to rid ourselves of the only threats standing in our way. We’ll be free to claim Kingdom Hearts however we see fit. And no one will be able to stop us. HOWEVER, there is a price to what I am proposing. A very grave.. price.”

Number Six’s eyes darted wildly from side to side, trying to keep up with the complicated thoughts fighting hard to emerge all at once, “I know not whether my idea is plausible. I need to run painful extensive experimentation on a keyblade wielder to find what it is I’m looking for. The process will... likely end his life. If my speculations prove incorrect, we will be one keyblader short of Kingdom Hearts. However, I am confident in what I say, and I ask for permission to go through with it.”

For a kid not much older than Roxas, he was a fricken genius. He went into great detail regarding the process required to pull something of this magnitude off. He never, ever half-assed his theories, always scribbling out logs of vital reactions and possible components that they would encounter during the course. That information would come in handy now that he was gone.

Xigbar bit down on the frosty outer layer of a sea-salt icecream bar, scurrying, ONCE AGAIN, down the hallway of the lovely castle. He passed by the shattered remains of one of the windows - didn’t seem like Demyx got the message earlier. His messy note was still tacked on the jagged glass. OH WELL, he’d approach him about it later.

Dead ahead was a sight he did NOT expect to see this soon. The Chosen One, sitting hunched over on the floor with his back pressed against one of the walls. A soft draft from the bad windowsill, ruffled those wild spikes, it was kind of a funny sight, considering they were indoors. Without waiting for a verbal invitation from Demy OR the hothead, he claimed the scene for himself.

“Hey kid, you hungry?” He wiggled another bar of ice cream in front of his pale face, “See, I still remember your favorite snacks. We got ‘em stocked up for your return. Look, I even left it in the wrapper in case you thought I poisoned it ‘er something.” He dropped it at his feet.

“I got another one that needs claiming. But you two are going to have to fight to the death in order to win it.” He wrapped an arm around Demy, once again giving him the noogy of the century. That was just kind of his way to get closer to them, so he could speak in a hush, hush tone of voice meant only for their ears. “You know, I distinctly remember the boss saying to keep him under wraps. I don’t care if you have to bind and gag him, I think you should do what the man says. Maybe someone of more competence should take over. ME, perhaps? I’d love to get reacquainted with my best bud. What do ya say? Wanna release yourself of the burden?”

[Akuseru]

"Kingdom Hearts" Axel, who had merely stood outside the doorway- obviously still there but at least giving the illusion of being gone, snapped back to attention at the uttering of those words

"what did you jus-" he mouthed

"Kingdom Hearts" he heard the blonde repeat-although evidently not for him

"You know it?" he muttered quietly- at this point, virtually all the kid has mentioned was that which he was told or programmed to think in Twilight Town... there had never been any mention of that name

he'd heard that tone of voice before, even if the Nobody's had no feelings, something was always captivating about that giant luminescent orb- something that made members almost sound like zombies if they mumbled it too many times. Even now the Dusks gathered beneath it on a small plane below- almost invisible to the naked eye, like pale stars trying to find a ladder back up to the stars

Even if he didn't quite recieve an answer... Roxas grasped something no one had told him... that was....good.

“Hey kid, you hungry?” Axel whipped around at hearing Xigbar- if Roxas had chucked a keyblade at Demyx, Axel could scarcely imagine what the keyblader would do to the one who knocked him out...although he DID bring icecream

Besides- starting the brawls was NO.8's job >)
Axel allowed himself to slip out from under Xigbar's death-huddle
"If you hadn't noticed things are perfectly peachy here- who's to say I'm not following the bossman's orders- even if he did run where would he go?" he hissed the last part

"Besides" Axel grinnes with his teeth, starting to feel more chummy, "What about your orders- looking after the psycho-Xemmy-wannabe kid? Just because you lost your charge don't think about taking mine"

[Naminé]

[ooc; bringing Naminé over because she's bored and I said she'd come to the World that Never Was.]

Not finding Roxas in his own closed-off room, Naminé continued through the corridors of the Castle that Never Was. The corridors were empty and she had to walk carefully, lest the hard soles of her sandals clacked against the marble floor too loudly and let someone know she was there. She didn't want to be caught by anyone who would drag her immediately to Xemnas.

There was only one other place she could think of that Roxas might be and that was all the way across the castle. She headed that way, pausing when she saw Xigbar and Riku ahead of her. She quickly ducked behind a wall, hiding from their sight. She watched carefully as Riku ran off and Xigbar sent a handful of his Snipers to go after him, then ducked back behind it as Xigbar went off again.

Xigbar had been the one to take Roxas away, so perhaps he knew where Roxas had been taken to. Quietly, she followed him, careful to keep her distance until they reached another room. She kept back for the time being until she could tell just who exactly was in the room.

Roxas, Demyx, Axel and Xigbar. Three out of the four knew who she was. Though she knew who Demyx was, she hadn't really met him and it was likely that he had never been told who she was or what she could do. He wouldn't really be much danger to her. Xigbar was the only one she was really worried about hurting her.

She didn't want Xigbar getting his hands on Roxas again, though. So, despite the danger, she went into the room.

[korky]

‘Just because you lost your charge don't think about taking mine.’

Xigbar quirked a brow at number eights brusque accusation. As IF he would go around stealing the charges of comrades JUST because he HAPPENED to lose his own.

......

“Touché.” He slapped the lanky man against the back in a brotherly gesture. He was most certainly an admirable adversary, until he got bored of his attitude and used his high-rank power in the Organization to knock him down a few pegs. That was always fun. Life was unerringly beautiful and simple, when narrowed down and focused in the crosshairs of a high powered rifle.

“You make a good point. I don’t know, maybe showing him the ropes will jar somethin’ in that jumbled brain of his. The heartless out there are getting kind of lonely, it’s sad really, we need to get him back to work as soon as we possibly can. Oooh, and---” He began, just as the memory witch barged her way into a room she didn’t belong. Actually, she wasn’t permitted to set foot in the entire CASTLE, buuuut... he was going to pretend he didn’t see a thing. Ask him why, and you’d be lucky to get an answer.

“---that request I made before, ‘bout having time to get reacquainted with the little guy? It wasn’t really a request. It’s PRETTY much an order. Why don’t you bring him by my quarters later today? Jus’ got a few questions to ask, is all. Nothing too serious.”

Xiggy spun on the heels of his boots to face the guest of honor, whistling loudly for a few more of his snipers to join them, “Before I go, I thought I’d go ahead and give you a little something.”

One large black blob slid down the hallway, wiggling and squirming across the slick tiles, only stopping when it reached Number Two’s feet. He leaned forward, pulling off the encasement which turned out to be nothing more than a small Organization black cloak, just big enough to fit the youngest member, draped over the white Nobody. In a matter of seconds, two more snipers popped out of the floor, one holding a pair of boots, and the other clean gloves.

“Welcome home, kid. This is the attire we wear here. You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb, so I suggest you change.” He dropped the coat right on top of his head, “Whelp, see you melvins later tonight. You take good care of him, you hear?” He waved as he finally turned to take his leave.

[lexxeii]

Xigbar’s appearance had no bearing on the keybladers mind, he regarded him with little more than the cold shoulder and did not give him the luxury of a single glance. Until he had a better grasp on his surrounding and could learn more about the enigmatic people in black whom he had supposedly left behind, it was best not to cause a scene or to blindly attack, no matter how fired up he may feel. The hunger pangs in his stomach became apparent when the long-haired sniper tossed him a bar of ice-cream, probably waiting for him to eat it off the floor like a household dog.

Roxas pulled the chilled blue-treat into his possession, peeling back the plastic wrapper. Almost instantaneously, the sweet scent of sea-salt filled his nostrils, pleasantries he thought he would never experience again. Cautiously, he tapped the bar on the very edge of his lip. Left no burning residue behind... maybe he was telling the truth. Only one way to find out, wasn’t there? He bit down into the soft, creamy surface, closing his eyes as the cool liquid slid down his parched throat. “Mm.” It was the real deal all right.

It was obvious the small group was talking about him, frankly, he wasn’t at all curious to find out what was being said. He would face the challenges to come one problem at a time, figuring out who he really was and where he was going to go from there, along the way. A tough road lay ahead of him, he couldn’t say he had the strength to finish, only that... he was willing to give it a try.

The keyblader rose to stand upright, eyes scanning the narrow hallway. His attention was directed to a strange set of doors with numbers and symbols etched into heavy stone below them, one.....through thirteen. What did that mean? What were those markings? He was about to investigate when his vision suddenly went black.

‘What IS this?’ He pulled off the material covering his head, holding a replica of the cloak in his grasp. A frown creased the corners of his mouth, he didn’t know if he was ready to shed the person he was in Twilight Town, to become the blank servant they wanted him to be.

“What a jerk...” He grumbled under his breath, too angry and frustrated to even notice Naminé’s entrance.

[Akuseru]

Axel snorted to himself at Roxas' comment to stifle his laughter

"A jerk huh?... heh yeah I guess so" he smirked thoughtfully

"unfortunately.. that jerk has more power than me... and I don't really have a choice in what he says."
Axel's eyes wandered over to the moon as well, it's luminesence making his hair truly look on fire
"There are...ways around certain things; however, that order is something I can't find a loophole in"

The reflection of long blonde hair in the glass alerted him to Namine's prescence

"Ohh it's you- so you did stop by; he's been asking about you you know"
No.8 didn't avert his eyes other than to take a quick glance to see thirteen's reaction; who was overly engrossed in his icecream bar

if Axel didn't acknowledge her presence; than there was nothing to report, and therefore no penalty for not informing the superior about the Witch's appearance; Xigbar didn't seem in the mood to rat anyone out, he could only hope Demyx would be smart enough to control himself as well.

[Sprite]

Demyx glanced at the blonde girl standing in the corner. He didn't recognize her and was about to open his mouth to question her when Axel spoke.

"Ohh it's you- so you did stop by; he's been asking about you you know."

"Wait, what's going on?" the musician asked. "Axel, what do you know? Who is this girl?"

He glanced again at the girl, who remained standing quietly in the corner, her bright blue eyes focused almost sadly on Roxas. The Melodious Nocturne walked over to the girl and put a gloved hand on her head, ruffling her hair.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked. "Are you the girl Roxas was asking about?"

Demyx wondered how the girl got there, if she was another Nobody and could also channel the darkness to create the portals to the world of Betwixt and Between to get to other worlds. Did the Superior know about her? Come to think of it, wasn't there a young female Nobody with Marluxia and the others at Castle Oblivion? A girl that had caused a chain of events that led to the destruction of several of his fellow Organization members?

He backed away from her. "Err...Axel? She's not Marly's toy is she?"

[Naminé]

Naminé's glance shifted from the departing Xigbar, to Roxas, then to Axel as he spoke off-handedly to her. She gave a slight nod as a reply, knowing that he could see her in the glass. Then her eyes shifted back to Roxas, watching him quietly until she could go forward and let him know that she was there.

Before she could do so, the fourth Nobody in the room approached her. Demyx, she knew from listening to Marluxia speak about the others Organization members, was a relatively harmless Nobody for the most part, only showing his true power when he was forced into a corner. She flinched away from his hand as he ruffled her light blonde hair, then stepped back when he spoke.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Are you the girl Roxas was asking about?"

"I came because I told Roxas I would," she replied softly. "I know I shouldn't be here; the higher-ups will be angry. But I belong with Roxas."

Naminé's eyes turned cold when Demyx called her Marluxia's toy. "And I'm no-one's toy."

[lexxeii]

Upon closer inspection, Roxas found that he recognized a selection of the impressions in the numbered stones. One being the distinct circular chakram he had seen Axel wield in Twilight Town, during their first heated encounter. Number Eight. The second that jarred a sense of familiarization in his gut was the plate situated five doors away. Two keyblades were printed crossing in an 'X' pattern in the grey slab, with the number thirteen etched above it.

"..." He couldn't deny there were signs that he belonged in this cold, desolate realm, there was little room to push the evidence aside as coincidence. Still, inwardly, he heard a silent voice echoing in the depths of his subconscious, convinced that this was all just a horrible, terrible dream. The reality of it was beginning to settle over him, yet he was sure that lingering hope would remain in his system until he was presented irrefutable proof otherwise.

The Sniper Nobodies were hopping around his feet, hungrily staring at the blue bar held delicately in his grasp. They leaned to lap curiously at the sticky drippings that slid from the stick, splashing on the white floor of their castle. Roxas held out his hand, throwing the treat to the Organization puppet closest to him. It caught it, quickly shoving half its arm down its throat, ice-cream, stick and all. It didn’t look like they were going to leave anytime soon, masters orders?

When the keyblader finally turned, his reaction in seeing Naminé standing there in the flesh may not have been what was expected. He appeared... impartial, silent in his convictions. She kept her promise.... but hearing the Nobodies talk made him ponder on the cost of her doing so. He couldn’t help but feel that it was his DUTY to protect her, even if she displayed in the past that she could hold her own just fine by herself. It didn’t change the strange... protectiveness he held toward her, something he couldn’t even BEGIN to understand.

‘Thank you for coming...’

This very morning, this girl had been another face in the crowd to him, a complete stranger whom he wouldn’t have acknowledged had he not been forced to. And now, hours later, she was someone he felt he could fully trust, that was a precious commodity during this confusing time. All he wanted to know was that she hadn’t been harmed while he was out cold, and she obviously wasn’t, so---

“You should go, Naminé.” There was no reason for her to be subjected to this strange group in black cloaks, he would not be the selfish one to ask her to stay for his benefit.

He dropped the “gift” Xiggy had given him into a messy heap on the floor, moving to properly greet her. “There’s still a lot I have to ask you, but... I don’t think now’s the time. I think---”

---for now they had to part ways. And he would be... all right.

[Naminé]

Naminé nodded. "I wanted to make sure you'd be alright before I left again. I don't approve of Xigbar's methods of bringing you here." She stepped forward and put her arms around Roxas. "I'm sorry."

She hadn't meant for him to become a slave to the Organization, as it seemed to be going. She had merely wanted him away from DiZ's grasp, to be free from the digital prison the man had locked him in. Her hands gripped at his shirt as thoughts of guilt ran through her mind.

"I'm so sorry, Roxas," she murmured. "I just wanted you to be free."

She pulled back and took his hand. "If you ever need me, I'll come to you."

[lexxeii]

The keyblader could not help but stiffen when Naminé pulled him into an embrace, suddenly unsure of how he should react. He felt the material of his shirt bunch up and tighten, gripped in a harsh grasp as the girl profusely apologized for things she had no control over. However, he did not dare return the gesture, lost for a second in the recesses of his own mind.

Why would she willingly place her person in mortal danger to fight for a boy she hardly KNEW? The two of them were no more friends now than they were when their paths first crossed on the cobblestone streets of “Twilight Town.” Yet there she stood, breaking unspoken rules in order to see him one more time. Did she somehow feel the same connection that stirred in his own gut? Like... a hidden instinct he didn’t know he had.

Wrinkled brows softened and the tension in his limbs subsided enough for him to place a gentle hand to her back. He heard her words and appreciated them, in a strange sort of way.

"If you ever need me, I'll come to you."

“I know. We’ll see each other again, soon.” He knew that wasn’t true. He’d be lucky if he was given another opportunity to see the light of day, let alone meet with her.

Roxas broke free of her hold, turning to stare at the warmth of the Kingdom hanging in the sky, blanketed in darkness. He wondered if the appearance of the surroundings ever changed, or if they were always that lonely. He inhaled sharply, filling his lungs to their full capacity before he spoke what was on his mind, “What’s... going to happen to me now?” He took extra care not to glance into the eyes of his new/old comrades. One could not mistaken the miserable frown on the blondes face.

[Sprite]

Demyx watched the two younger Nobodies, sure now that the girl was one. He noticed something odd about the two of them; they looked alike in small details. He recalled someone, probably one of the higher-ups, say that there was another Nobody created at the same time as Roxas. This girl was probably that other Nobody.

He was quiet throughout the small exchange between Roxas and Naminé.

“What’s... going to happen to me now?”

"Hopefully, the big bad One-Two-Three won't be too harsh on you for disappearing," Demyx said. "We kinda need you, so I don't think they'd really Dusk you or destroy you." He stepped forward, putting a hand hesitantly on Roxas' shoulder. "Hey, Roxas, you still have the Keyblade, right?"

He figured, so long as Roxas had the ability to call on the Keyblades, the others would let him off the hook. Seeing as the Keyblade was, well, key to their plans, it wouldn't do them any good to off the younger Nobody.

[Akuseru]

Axel's eye twitched in irritation; Demyx really was an idiot
not only was he lacking the brains of talking to clearly an outsider who may even be regarded as an intruder- but he actually insulted her; although it WAS pretty humorous
"yes Demyx," he muttered quietly, hardly moving his lips "she's Marly's TOY"

Who knows how long she was in castle oblivion- for a place that erased your memories, it would certainly be hard to get the facts straight. Although had the appearance of a prisoner in the end; there must have been some point she willingly offered to help the organization-
No... she wasn't just "Marly's" toy, but Larxene, Vexen, and even Axel used her gentle spirit to their own advantages. Just how much of this she knew was quite unclear, but Axel intended to keep it that way- he refused to let her childish demeanor fool him into thinking her harmless
She was as much of a monster as the rest of them; her form just held a softer glow

Demyx too was comparable of this matter;
although he was... blissfully unaware of things at times; it at least always left him amusing and proved him to be a useful and cheerful pawn... surely he really was only there for the sake of seeing Roxas

Axel would let him off easy-
OR at least he was GOING to-

>"Hopefully, the big bad One-Two-Three won't be too harsh on >you for disappearing, We kinda need you, so I don't think >they'd really Dusk you or destroy you."

'Demyx!'
He gave him a slightly-burning slap on the shoulder, and tightened his grip in warning

it was much too early to talk about the destruction of members- especially when it was usually Axel's job to carry them out!

"Of course he still has the keyblade- didn't he just chuck it at your head? Maybe it connected harder than we thought" he teased in a quick mood swing

"Actually..." his tone turned more serious as he carefully edged Demyx away from the Sniper Nobody's listening range

"If you ask me- the big bad one himself seems to not to be sharing something. I don't have proof yet; but I swear he knew about Roxas' dissapearance- more than we did... They'd have no reason to terminate Rox if he EXPECTED this to happen" he whispered; hoping Roxas and the Sniper's would be too occupied with Namine

He stared at Demyx a long and hard- hoping to engrave the urgency of his underling's loyalty into his skull

"of course- for Rox's sake, your not going to tell anyone this, right?"

[Sprite]

Demyx yelped when Axel laid a hot hand on his shoulder, automatically drenching the other Nobody with his water in retaliation. Then he paused when Axel reminded him of Roxas' actions earlier. "Oh, yeah."

He listened to Axel for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "You think Xemmy's got something planned, then?" he asked in a low whisper. "Ax, I don't like this. Xigbar's already up to something. Don't leave Roxas alone with him."

For the moment, Demyx had dropped his act. He wanted to show that he had a serious side to him, that the stupid and useless Nobody everyone identified him as wasn't what he truly was.

"I won't say anything to anyone," he promised. "Who would I tell? The only ones I ever told anything were Roxas, Marluxia and Zexion. Two of three are dead and Roxas doesn't even remember me, it looks like."

He paused. "Hey, Axel. If anything else happens to Roxas, I'm out of the Organization. I don't care if I never get my heart back. Don't tell anyone that and I'll keep the girl a secret."

[lexxeii]

A warm hand connected with his shoulder, pulling him away from silent musings. He turned his head just enough to catch sight of the blonde-haired man through his peripheral vision.

What he proposed as a possible punishment for the insubordination he committed against his peers, alarmed him to the point that he spun around in the mans grasp to fully face him. For a split second, their eyes locked, but before he could inquire about what he meant by “dusking” him, Axel quickly intercepted the conversation, roughly yanking his comrade in arms aside to speak in private.

One could practically see the metaphorical question mark hanging above the puzzled keyblader’s head, though he knew for now, there was nothing he could do to alleviate the frustration and curiosity he experienced. Thinking otherwise was as foolish as believing that one could somehow command the wind to stop howling outside.

His “comrades” didn’t appear any better off then he was, always rushing off to huddle in one corner of the room to speak in hushed tones. Until they were able to get the situation properly squared away, he would not be included in the small conferences.

While they were talking, it might be advantageous for him to get a better feel of the place. Perhaps he would fall upon a landmark that jarred SOME sense of familiarity within him, ANYTHING was better than what he had now.

When he took his first few steps forward, the snipers came to a sloppy halt, each peering at one another as though they weren’t sure what to do. So they simply stood dumbfounded, practically scratching the tops of their “heads,” or what could only be presumed to BE their heads. Each cautious footstep he took echoed against the walls of the grand hallways, marring any possibility of him walking undetected. His eyes were glued on the industrial ceiling, covered with white pipes and artificial lights, so unlike the elegance of the polished floors and walls surrounding it.

An audible grumble in his stomach caused him to slouch forward a bit, though there was the SLIGHTEST indication of a smile on his face. How funny such a thing might bring him comfort, but it did. It made him feel..

...real.

[Akuseru]

"Of course Xemmy's up to something- when is he not?"
Ever since Axel first looked into those blank eyes, he caught inside their stare eons of chaos...and nothingness. They told stories of nothingness...yet the smiling curve of the silver haired into a smile, when he wrote out the name the red head had been trying to grasp; the scrambled bits of letters left in his head finally held to a place with a solid X, that told a story too far beyond the contemplation of a normal being; spoke a message of planning so intricate, cunning, and somehow too cruel to be called wisdom, it made Axel believe...everything.
This was why Xemnas was their leader

Axel somewhat smirked at Demyx's response; the boy's spirit was full of determination and wit, despite how vastly cloaked it was in foolishness. Yet to say so openly his allegience may have been just as foolish as the facade he wore
At the very least, it was somewhat good to know out of all the backstabbers in Organization XIII Demyx did not seem to be one of them...
Even if Demyx regarded Axel as ally, No.8 trusted no one. These sorts of tidbits were useful if he needed to predict his underling's behavior

"Watch your words carefully" he warned "Words can be one's undoing" He nodded that the conversation was over and gave him a hearty slap on the back, putting his put against the bent torso reling from the shock

"Well then- that clear enough of orders for you, mullet-boy? That's what'll happen next time you try and spy- and I likely won't be in such a good mood!" with a gentle boost he nudged the body out the door; completing his show for any watchful Snipers.

He returned to Roxas with his usual y attitude, although his voice was down
"came and went pretty fast;an you really call that a reunion?i]

He heard the stomach growl;
"ahh hungry are you? well we nobody may not exist, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy food"

OOC:
I know this isn't sufficient enough to post against- I plan to add more tommorow, just wanted to keep my end of the bargain ^^;
Sorry for the CCing, I just knew Sprite said she'd be in Maui, so I wanted to wrap things up fast rather than just leave em hanging without an explanation- I know I also filled some info on Xemnas that isn't quite backed up- but hey, it was MY past so I figured that gave good enough excuse, I just thought about the KH remix preview when he met Roxas and imagined a similar trend
Don't be afraid to let me know you disagree with I write or need me to change anything, you know by now it is all negotiable

okay- more tommorow; the Organization kitchen- I'll hop to it!

[Akuseru]

Axel led the silent (other than his growling stomach) No. 13 through a narrow hallway. The insignificantly proportioned room of large size seemed pretty meaningless when paired with the fact there was nothing inside of it, save for two equally climactic doors. The white pale walls that vacated the rest of the tower led an uncontrollable atmosphere of utter emptiness in this room possibly above all others.

“Over here,” he said occasionally, gesturing with a hand
With somewhat of a grunt, he pushed the large doors open to reveal an array of many shelves. There on display like trophy’s lay boxes upon boxes of different things, from snacks to ingredients, to a few boxes that didn’t even have labels. Millions of different colors and shapes, it was as if this void sucked the entire life out of the room. One might also notice, with a hint of amusement from what bickering must have started it, that certain shelves even went as far as to label a name or color code to prevent others from invading “their territory”. Lining the bottom of the pantry and between every few shelves were doors of different sizes, each emboldened with the number from 1 to 13.
The Organization XIII pantry.

“I guess you could say food in a Nobody’s perspective, isn’t a necessity but a pleasure.” He tried to summarize, almost embarrassed by how weird it felt to explain
Indeed the pantry looked less of a cupboard and more of a treasure trove!

“The stuff in the middle is free game- other things with a different looking shelf you’d better not touch- ESPECIALLY Xigbar’s pancakes- the mix to make it too.” That had been learned the HARD way.

He walked all the way towards the end, indicating a smaller door
“We didn’t know when you were coming back…if you were ever coming back. So your selection’s a little small I’m afraid” He came out of the small freezer with a large green striped spherical fruit-
It the watermelon they sold at the beach!
“Remembered you liked this, water-ma-somethin?…” he reached a blank at the name

OOC:
You know the drill- I am very very sorry T.T
you can exalt me if you are angry, I deserve to be severely beaten, scolded and reprimanded for disappearing so long. And this post (like all of my posts) are written based on careful assumption and popular belief. If you do not like them. Tell me so and I shall gladly rewrite them by pain of dusking! That is all ^.~ enjoy missed you all muches!

[lexxeii]

There were some interesting concoctions stuffed inside that overly large combination cupboard/refrigerator. Fresh pancakes still steaming after being pulled from the grill, towered on a small plate on a shelf he couldn't quite reach without a stool of some kind. A sticky layer of saran wrap held the warmth inside, it would keep the fluffy cakes warm for a short while. Tacked to the outside was a bright orange label that read “eat and die” with the one eyed mans signature messily scribbled out along the bottom. Scary thing was, he didn’t believe the threat to be idle. These people seemed deadly serious.

Sitting dangerously close to number two’s sacred morsels was a Petri dish filled with something green and fuzzy... Half the stuff he spotted couldn’t be identified as food and the semi-normal items within reach had already been claimed. For all he knew, traps were set to snap on the limbs of anyone who dared reach to take a piece. Ehhh, maybe he wasn’t THAT hungry, after all.

Thankfully, the fire mage didn’t expect him to scrounge for scraps left behind. He had a different plan. Roxas curiously peered over his shoulder as he dug through the freezer marked thirteen, slowly emerging holding a good-sized familiar fruit. Blue eyes widened to the size of saucers, his face lighting up with a smile for the first time since he reunited with his old comrade.

“Watermelon!” He immediately recognized it as the crop they sold in Twilight Town. It’s because they harvested their own watermelons, to make them look and grow a certain way for their consumers. They were a bit smaller than the average watermelon, but tasted just as rich. How did he know----? Oh... That pleased smile faded the more he thought about the situation. That’s right, he had stalked him for a time in that digital world. That’s how he found out the information he needed to lore him just a little bit more into their Organization.

...still... it WAS a nice gesture.

“Thanks... Axel.” He took the fruit, carrying it over to the sad little table in the middle of the room. Obviously, these Organization guys weren’t thrilled with the idea of hanging out with one another. It seemed they tried to keep their encounters to the absolute minimum.

The rind wasn’t difficult to break into, that was another good reason for growing their own fruit. Didn’t take a lot of tools to reach the goodness inside. Roxas sank his teeth into the sweetness, separating the seeds from the fruity red flesh right in his mouth. He looked at the lanky man standing in the room with him, spitting the seeds out into a white napkin he grabbed on the way to the chair.

...this man encountered him with great hostility to be sure, yet, there was a kindness there that none of the other members he had met thus far (save for maybe.. Demyx, but he still wasn’t sure about THAT one) had shown him. Regardless of how he behaved, he was grateful to be in the company of someone else.

Roxas lowered his gaze, biting off another chunk of watermelon before he spoke in a quiet tone, “You... want a piece? It’s really good.”

[Akuseru]

Axel’s grin broadened with curiosity at the pure sign of joyousness Roxas presented at the appearance of the offer.
‘Looks like for once I did something good’

To a Nobody, the very act of “eating” was itself a fulfilling notion. To take something that was real into one’s own body- shouldn’t that mean, at least a portion of it remains to its user? Even a black hole that sucks up all life around should still retain at least shards of that which was consumed. At least to Axel, to eat, made being nothing, at least a little REAL.

Axel smiled at the blonde’s feasting, he nodded a “no problem” at the kid’s gratitude, helping himself to the soda vending machine tucked in the corner.
The can dispensed actually had it’s own Org. XIII label, the same of which had lined many of the rooms back at Castle Oblivion. Despite it practically being a Nobody’s elixir; a liquid created for the sole purpose of consumption by their kind, someone had found it more appealing to disguise it as a canned drink in a blatant effort to feel more human.

The “soda” if that was indeed what it could be called, was blacker than pure ink with a hint of bubbling fizz; it didn’t quite have a taste all of its own, but it icily clung to every nerve of the throat on the way down each gulp. It burned within Axel’s very soul; touched him with an inferno so strong he could feel it form down to his fingertips. A drink that granted power to nothingness
The power of darkness

Axel wasn’t sure why he felt the need to drink it

>You... want a piece? It’s really good.”

“eh-wha?" Axel spun around in quick surprise
"Me?” Axel wanted to smack himself for his happy stupidity- as if there was anyone else in the general vicinity the blonde would inquire to!

“...Sure” he answered diminutively, scratching the back of his head hesitantly

He bit into the offered pinkish, angular, produce, letting the juices soak into his mouth. So sweet. Axel relished in the fact it seemed to have a strong taste. Even if it had "water" in it's flavor, he could still detect a good portion if not all of the rest

“It’s goo- CRNCH- ack” he awkwardly bit down on a seed. With a little difficulty, and plain confusion written all over the fire starter's face, he eventually swallowed it down, at last noticing Rox’s napkin full of the black abominations

“Oh, You spit that out?" he felt slightly embarrassed
"whoops"

[lexxeii]

Roxas lifted his eyes away from the surface of the table only when he heard Axel smack his lips together. The fire mage swished the fleshy red pulp around his mouth, slowly getting a taste of the sweet fruit for what seemed to be the first time. When finally he dared lower his teeth down into the chunk he tossed into his mouth, he visibly cringed, molars sinking into one of the tough seeds. He proceeded to chew it regardless of the positively baffled look falling across his pale features, as though he didn’t know what he was SUPPOSED to do after discovering something so... out of place.

His proclamation of ignorance came when he spotted the small pile of seeds on the napkin in front of him. He... had honestly never eaten a watermelon before...? Roxas stared. This was not an act. Genuine confusion was written in every subtle gesture he made since he spotted the oddly shaped morsel. The corners of his lips twitched into an amused smile at the dawn of this realization. He didn’t want to laugh. He bit down on the inside of his cheek, shoulders shaking lightly in his attempt to hold the chuckle back.

It was so silly... he almost felt he could release his wariness and relax for the first time since encountering Naminé on the streets of that digital world. Surely someone who displayed such “human” characteristics did not intend to bring him harm?

Roxas felt less inhibited, he allowed himself more freedom to study the man in the room with him: his narrow, cat-like, emerald eyes, the strange teardrop tattoos at the tops of his cheeks, the sharp angles of his face and body, nothing about him was predictable nor ordinary. He supposed that had a lot to do with his element. He could be frightening when he wanted to be, he witnessed that first hand. But also... he could be... kind and caring, though he wasn’t sure if there was an ulterior motive for the shift in attitude.

His own endlessly blue eyes softened; he seemed to drift away into a sort of trance for the longest time. He’d seen that confused look before. It was when... he had eaten a bar of sea-salt ice cream with him. The man thought it to be way too salty for his liking. Yet he continued to nibble at the cold treat for the benefit of his ‘friend,’ although he gagged the whole time.

Just as soon as the “memory” surfaced, it faded away. He tried to recall it once more, but reached only a sea of fog. It was... frustrating.

“Axel...” He said, when it seemed he had finally returned to whatever reality he suddenly found himself in. “We’re... friends, right? Best friends. If... if that’s true, then maybe you can answer a few of my questions. Why did you come to get me in Twilight Town? Is it like Naminé said. Is it because you cared about saving me from a false reality? Or... do you plan to use me like the others? What IS the Organization’s goal? What am I doing here?” Maybe the slew of questions was a test for the fire mage, to see if he could really trust him. Or maybe he was just... curious as to what dangers loomed before him.

[Saïx]

The light of the Kingdom had changed. The naked eye could not possibly spot the subtle difference in illumination upon the dead void of a world below it. He simply knew. It was a natural intuitive feeling he possessed - or rather IT did. He knew something was going to happen, something devastating to their progress.

The man sighed, sadly turning to look at the sight, his eyes glowing with a golden glint, "How enviable is our sky--forged out of nothing, and nothing exists there. Yet it holds our heart so proudly and allows it to shine in its never ending darkness..." It was his duty to prevent its fall from grace.

He would lift both gloved hands to pull down his hood, shaking cerulean hair from the confines. Brilliant amber oculars and the 'x' between his eyes would leave little room for speculation on his identity. It was Saïx, the cruel, twisted, emotionless seventh member of the organization. He paused for a moment, lifting his arms to fold across his chest in contempt at the unfavorable thoughts circulating his subconscious.

It was only when a voice of familiarity reached his range of hearing that his attention drifted away from the Kingdom. He turned, following the sounds to a lone figure standing with shoulders hunched as though he had been emotionally defeated for the last time. Demyx. Number Nine never stood tall with confidence, or otherwise, his back seemed permanently arched. A pathetic display to put on in the presence of his Superiors.

“You were conversing with Axel. He has returned? I didn’t expect him back so soon. Please, point me in the right direction. I'd like to speak with him." He didn’t bother looking at Demyx.

He assumed since Axel had once again shown his face in the castle, he had successfully killed the traitor. That was good.


[ I hope that passes. The other posts are so good, I fear I cannot compare]

[Sprite]

Demyx jumped when he heard Saïx's voice. In an attempt to gather himself, he stood up straighter and looked at the older Nobody. "Uh, hi, S-Saïx," he managed to stammer. He glanced back at the room he'd just come out of not moments ago. "Yeah, Axel's back. He--" the blond paused momentarily. He remembered that he was told not to let anyone else know about Roxas' return to the World that Never Was.

"He got back half an hour ago, maybe twenty minutes," he said, trying to act casual. It wasn't easy for him, especially since it was Saïx he was talking to; he was terrified of the Luna Diviner, non-existant emotions be damned.

He glanced down the hall, praying that Axel and Roxas didn't waltz right around the corner.

[Saïx]

“...” Silence settled between the two Nobodies. Head tilting from side to side like a boxer preparing to enter the ring, he would step forward to face his comrade, cold auburn eyes staring down the quivering mass of a man. He didn't trust Demyx to do anything more than take out the trash. What a useless excuse for a Nobody. He would have much rather clobbered the little git right there and then, ridding the Organization of his presence.

However, the powers that be didn't permit him to do so straight off. For some unknown reason, Xemnas found his existence behind those cold white walls useful, and he would never question his Superiors reasoning. That didn’t mean that he had to like it. His obvious disdain for the frightened whelp was shown in practically every gesture he made during his encounters with number nine.

Eyes flicked to the room he glanced toward, spotting Axel’s empty quarters. Blankets were ruffled and lay strewn about the floor. “Twenty minutes....” Indeed. He was there long enough to rest from his ordeal.

“That’s fine.” He said, voice scathing and disrespectful, “But I don’t recall asking how long he had been back. I asked you to show me where he has gone. I won’t say it again.”

[Sprite]

Demyx hesitated. He knew where Axel had gone and he knew that Roxas was with him. Saïx would not take the fact that Roxas was alive and back lightly. He could just tell Saïx that Axel was at Nothing's Call, rather than the kitchens. However, the downside to that is that Demyx could not lie to his superior. Well, he could, but the consequences wouldn't be good; likely, Saïx would maul him or attempt to straight-out kill him.

There was one lie that could keep Saïx from finding Axel and Roxas and spare Demyx.

"I don't know where he went," Demyx shrugged, hoping the Luna Diviner wouldn't see through him. It was bad enough Axel wanted to fight him and Xigbar was trying to use him against one of the few Organization members he had thought of as a friend. He really didn't need for Saïx to be after his blood as well.

Praying to whatever gods would listen to a Nobody, Demyx glanced at Saïx to see if the blue-haired Nobody believed him or not.

[Saïx]

Grace eluded the young sitar player at every walk of life. He had an incredible knack for screwing up the simplest of tasks; his master only sent him on missions as a last resort. Even now, Saïx noticed an unnatural hitch in his breathing. The rate at which he took in air fluctuated, all dependant on the thoughts his mind momentarily processed.

He was desperately trying to hide something he deemed vital, involuntarily giving away his plight in ways the conventional human may miss. The Luna Diviner paid careful attention to every detail. He stared unblinking at the invisible dark red aura burning from the trembling limbs of the annoying musician.

Dark red depicted nervousness.

A smile would adorn the mans lips, showing a hint of the sharpened white molars beneath. He enjoyed seeing the man cower at the mere sight of his shadow. This was a typical display, Saïx could not pinpoint anything out of the ordinary. He accepted it as nothing more than an exterior showing of his cowardly personality.

“How unfortunate. I did wish to welcome him back.” It did surprise him that Demyx didn’t attach himself to Number Eight’s feet, hounding him until he blew a head gasket. He seemed to be under the impression that Axel LIKED him, when it reality, he could barely stand his company, much like the rest of them. He’d be less then surprised if he found him laying dead in the ditch somewhere, burnt to an unrecognizable crisp.

“You are perfectly capable of filling me in on the situation.” A sort of smile appeared on his face that could not be described as anything less than “creepy.”

“I presume the problem has been... dealt with? Tell me everything he revealed to you.”

[Sprite]

Demyx gave a mental groan. He had hoped that Saïx would just drop the subject and go on. Luck was never on his side, though. No, she favored Luxord and his gambling ways because at least he could amuse her. Luck's less-than-pleasant twin brother, Misfortune, however, seemed to have a thing for Demyx, if his fascination with screwing the Nobody over was anything to judge by.

"Well, you just missed him," Demyx said, trying to calm the speeding pace of his physical heart. "He headed down the hall, so you might find him if you head that way."

He wasn't intending to tell Saïx anything that had gone on since Axel's return. He knew himself; he'd let something about Roxas slip and then everything would go downhill from there. Besides, he wanted to get away from Saïx. The man was scary.

"Uh, yeah," he said in response to the Luna Diviner's question. "Yeah, it's been dealt with."

Demyx turned to head down the hall, hoping to get away, but as mentioned before, Misfortune liked to screw with him. And he seemed to like working with Saïx as a means to make Demyx's plans go awry.

[Saïx]

Of all the impudent---

Demyx turned on the heels of the assigned Organization black boots, with no word to excuse himself from his company. Why was he not surprised at this ludicrous lack of tact? One did not turn their back on a Superior addressing them without suffering serious repercussions as a result.

A free hand would lift then, fingers snapping even through the material of his glove. Lower ranked Nobodies would slither from the darkness created, swaying and bobbing mindlessly as they closed in on the fleeting form of the musician. Lesser Nobodies; they did the hard work, so he didn’t have to.

Before the boy could realize what was happening, Saïx was upon him once more, nimble fingers curling around his twiggy little neck. His farcical exuberance was amusing on certain occasions. This was not one of that time. Quite the contrary, he was in a FOUL mood, growing worse with each passing second.

“I was giving you a chance to prove yourself to me. Naturally, you failed.” He loosened the grip of one hand to motion to a group of Dusks gathered behind him. They would hobble and stretch to stand by his side, holding a black cloak draped over their flimsy little arms.

“I found this laying in a pile on the floor of the hallway. Roxas is alive. Not only that, but he is here. Isn’t he?”

It was true he didn’t know that as a fact etched in cold stone. For all he knew, Axel had thrown the jacket at the boy to silence his incessant babbling. But when Demyx was flustered, he revealed things. And that’s what Saïx was aiming for.

[Akuseru]

Axel’s concentrated rhythmic chewing slowed as the blonde actually made a proclamation about their friendship.
Try as Axel might to make sense of Roxas with an inquiring gaze, there was too many visible features in No.13’s face to distinguish just how close to being the old Roxas he was. Still… something hopeful was there.

Axel would have smiled were it not for the uncomfortable bombardment of questions

>Why did you come to get me in Twilight Town? Is it like Naminé >said. Is it because you cared about saving me from a false >reality? Or... do you plan to use me like the others? What IS the >Organization’s goal? What am I doing here?”

He was unsure how to answer, too much information could get him destroyed- after all, they had Roxas back as the superior somehow expected. If Axel no longer retained any worth he could end up in a bad position.
Contemplating with his chin against his crossed hands, he decided to just simply NOT decide.
Just continue to chew

After a good few minutes he finally swallowed, hoping to break the silence
“Gee, that’s… a lot of questions Rox” his voice was soft but cracked a little in nervousness
“How about I just say “yes” and you guess which one it belongs to? heh” he joked, though he was sure it wouldn’t be well received

His brow furrowed deep in thought

“..We… don’t have hearts Roxas. Therefore, according to the laws that be, we are not bound by the pursuit of emotions” He knew the Keyblader had been told this before. Axel knew in his gut that he was probably tired of hearing it.
“ If we can’t have emotions, we can’t have desires; no matter how much we “feel” we do.” Axel somehow felt like he was talking to himself more than his fellow member

“The Organization’s goal… is to take back what was stolen from us- all we aim for is to take our hearts back by any means necessary”

A thought popped into his head
‘yeah… why not?’
Axel stood up abruptly walking towards an empty corner in the opposite side of the room
“You know,” his tone sounded much lighter, back his usual demeanor
“There is one place around where it isn’t always night”

Tracing his finger through the air, as if there was some special spot only he could sense, he ripped away at the fabricated edges of nothingness to display another of his swirling black vortexes.
Already a small tranquil glow of light violets, pinks and bright periwinkles were visible through the unsolidified passage way.
Meshed against the colors as if the wind had been repeatedly stamped through the sky, flowed the Organization's emblem, repeatedly as if it were property. Even something as freeflowing as the wind could be consumed by nothingness. The marks floated onward like reflections that couldn’t be touched:
It was the world Betwixt and Between

Half submerging into the swirling portal, he slowly outstretched a hand, his face divided in two by the rush of whatever magic beset the gateway to remain stationary, it flowed past his body like a mixture of wind and water… his hair adding an illusion of fire to the mix. His posture clearly saying ‘come’

“There’s something I want to show you”

OOC: I’ll create a new thread since I’m technically moving us from this one- but I’ll let you reply first (afterall, I won’t character control, I have no proof that Roxas would actually follow me or not ^.~) I already asked Xigbar if it was okay since he was sort of waiting for us but ehhh give the sharpshooter time

(and by the way you seem to be just fine Saix ^___^ Your posts are awesome! I would never have even guessed you had another language, you have the character down great too^^
no need to be nervous, it's MY posts that don't compare to yours! You're doing a fine job ^____^

[lexxeii]

At first, Axel gave no indication that he heard him speak. His concentration remained focused on finishing up the small piece of watermelon he'd been offered. Everything else may have very well went in one ear and right back out the other. If he had uttered one concerned inquiry, it was possible he COULD have missed it in the flurry of his own troubled thoughts, echoing in the deepest outreaches of his subconscious.

But Roxas did not come up with a solitary question on the spot. He spouted off EVERYTHING he could think of on the trail of a single breath. He had a hell of a lot of questions, things he NEEDED to be answered in order to help relieve his shoulders of the weight pressing down on them. They all had equal priority.

The only logical rationalization for the prolonged silence was that the redhead had chosen to blatantly ignore him, rather than grace him with a response. The boy supposed he thought he didn’t deserve an explanation... After all, HE was the one who left. His life was now devoid of any rights. Why couldn’t he remember anything...? If it was true that they didn’t have hearts, could memories EXIST?

Roxas nearly jumped when Axel’s voice finally did disperse the quiet of the room around them. He wasn’t sure if he was purposely trying to mock him by answering the questions with a general ‘yes’ answer, or if he was just being a jerk. He could take an educated guess and say a little of each option fit the situation. Whatever the reason behind the decision, it received the same response from the confused blonde, an annoyed glare. He was in no way amused. He was tempted to take his leave and explore the castle on his own. He might have, if Axel didn’t interject with the information he’d been waiting for.

He had a vague idea what the Organization was after, Axel only confirmed his suspicions as fact. It didn’t mean, however, that he had to like it. Nor that he honestly BELIEVED he was the same as these strangers in black. The uneasiness in his gut told him he wasn’t. That feeling was not a fabrication to mimic the actions of humans, it was as real as it could get.

When Axel abruptly rose from his chair, Roxas flinched for the second time in a matter of minutes, eyes immediately flicking to where he now stood. He watched as he drew a intricate, yet invisible pattern in midair, summoning a swirling black abyss that made his breath hitch nervously in the back of his throat.

He wanted him to follow? He didn’t know if he was comfortable walking into something like that... It couldn’t be healthy to enter a mass that was strong enough to rip a hole through space. Frankly, he liked his molecules right where they were.

It was a tad freaky to see half of Axel’s body sticking out of the pathway. Roxas looked away for a brief moment, before he stood from the chair and cautiously approached the corner where he created the portal.

“...all right.” He agreed, not bothering to take his hand. In the end, it came down to one thing: What did he have to lose?

[Sprite]

Demyx gave a choked noise as his hands reached up to attempt to pry Saïx’s hands from his throat. It was a futile act; the blue-haired Nobody was much stronger than himself. Unable to breathe and in a state of panic, the Melodious Nocturne gave a nod in response to Saïx’s probing about the thirteenth member of the Organization.

Immediately, he regretted it. He’d just sold out Roxas after trying to prove to the other blond that he was his friend. What kind of friend let the other down by telling one of the most dangerous Organization members know he was back, when it could put his friend in danger?

He had no idea what Saïx would do, now that Demyx had just confirmed Roxas’ return. The other Nobody would not be pleased, that was all he knew.

In another rush of panic, Demyx’s powers went wild and water shot out of nowhere, slamming into the Nobodies in the hall. The Dusks holding Roxas’ coat were carried away by the rushing water, their flimsy bodies unable to withstand the force. The black cloak was torn from them and danced on the water, disappearing down the hall.

[ooc; sorry I didn't get back to this sooner. I've been busy getting ready to leave for a job. =S]