Shadows of the Past

Set during All That's Left, Chapter 47;

x.x.x

"Xemnas, wait! Before you go, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you…"

"Then proceed," he said. "I suppose I have a few more moments to spare."

"And a few moments are all I need." A faint grin stretched across his face. "In any case, do you know anyone by the name of Ven?"

One mystery after another, since the day 'Xehanort' arrived in the town square. Though, deep down, Zexion had known the answer.

Ever since that fateful night…

Freshly formed, an empty husk, toddling down the hall. The creak of a door. The heavy, deliberate thuds of footsteps. A crackle in the air…

And so, tip toeing, he'd wandered, following these telltale sounds. An imposing figure had loomed at the heart of Xigbar's room, silver hair down to his shoulders. A weapon drawn, too dark to tell, beyond the eerie glint of an eye…

Piercing, unblinking, staring through him…

Until a gasp made the strange eye disappear. And Xehanort—Ansem—Xemnas—he turned around…

And dragged Zexion far from those trespassed quarters.

And now, well over a decade later, Zexion gazed distantly into his steaming teacup. Reclined on a couch and lost in his own recollection, it begged the question, what now?

"I remember now…"

They'd stood alone in the dark, with only the faint flickers of lightning to illuminate the chamber.

"Then why were you—"

And for some reason, he'd crouched low to the ground. He'd smiled, gently, as he looked into Zexion's eyes.

"I'll tell you, but you have to keep it a secret."

And so, ever the precocious child, he'd agreed…

But even then, only the faintest slivers of truth reached his ears.

"You know me as Xehanort—and I know Xehanort as the man who ruined my life."

The man whose very existence sparked young Ienzo's curiosity… a man with many names…

"My true name is…"

But the past remained under lock and key, and subsequent answers drip fed over the years. Perhaps his Superior hadn't trusted him in full. He was, after all, among 'Xehanort's' colleagues…

"It's your choice whether you trust me or tell the others what I've said. Just remember, Xehanort's the reason you lost your heart. But I'm willing to get it back…"

A bold promise indeed…

One still far from fruition.

And now, a scent unlike any other pierced through the veil of nothingness all around Zexion. Sharp, snappy. Potent, yet sweet… To think she and the Replica had 'graced' them with their presence.

To think they'd knowingly thrust themselves into enemy territory…

To think that, for one reason or another, Xemnas held her in high regard. An honor few could—

A thud on the back of the couch jolted Zexion upright, and he peered up just in time to see… Demyx. Of course.

Zexion heaved a heavy, intentionally audible sigh. "What is it?"

"Everything, dude!" Demyx gestured wildly with his arms, as if to emphasize the scope of the situation. "I mean, c'mon. There's a Keyblade Master here. Aren't you at least a little freaked out?"

Off by the window, Saïx scoffed. "I would like to remind you that we are Nobodies."

"So? Heart or not, that chick's—"

"Completely powerless," Zexion said as he sipped his tea. "Or have you forgotten about Syndrome's handiwork?"

Demyx pouted, pulling up one of his sleeves to reveal a metallic bracelet. "I mean, sure. I get the idea of it, but I dunno. Just seems weird that some random tech wiz could outdo a legendary weapon."

The sound of shuffling cards drew Zexion's focus from the fool standing behind him to the man sitting across the table.

"It isn't wise to question a winning hand, Demyx. As of now, our dear Master Aqua has no choice but to ante up. What she brings to the table remains to be seen, but I have faith our Superior will reap the spoils one way or another."

"…Geez. Do you have to make everything a gambling metaphor? I only got, like, half of that."

Zexion covered his face with his free hand. Luxord, on the other hand, chuckled at Demyx's words.

"Well, to put it another way, I doubt that Aqua would risk visiting our domain if she had a proper solution. Yet here she is, traveling with a traitor and forced to negotiate on our terms."

Demyx raised a hand, then dropped it. "Oh. Well, sheesh, why didn't you say that in the first place?"

Saïx folded his arms, back to the glass. "Because it's not our job to coddle you."

"Whoa, whoa!" Demyx threw up his hands, backing away from the couch. "I wasn't asking for cuddles, dude. Didn't think you were the type."

At this point, Zexion had to suppress the urge to shout. "For crying out loud, he said—"

But Luxord silenced him with a wave of the hand. "You must admit, the mental image is amusing."

…Perhaps a little, but, "I refuse to answer while Saïx is in earshot."

To his credit, Saïx merely shook his head before returning his focus to the window and Kingdom Hearts.

Demyx, all the while, flopped onto one of the neighboring couches. "C'mon, Zex. Lighten up!"

Rather than give Demyx more of a reason to run his mouth, Zexion returned to his tea, sipping in silence.

In truth, he could see a cause for concern. Syndrome's technology was, after all, a relatively new feature in the castle. Had it failed, then Lexaeus would have died in vain…

The teacup quivered in his grasp ever so slightly. He forced himself to take another swig. In, out, in, out, just steady breathing. He was a Nobody, after all. It didn't behoove him to fall victim to delusions…

Fortunately, it seemed Demyx had no further interest in that line of discussion, as he cushioned his head with his arms and looked to Saïx. "Sooo… how's everyone feelin' about that newbie?"

"I'll reserve judgment until he completes his first mission." Saïx gazed to the distant moon, half-obscured by clouds. "But I believe it was wise to expand our number, in light of Lexaeus' demise."

Zexion averted his eyes to conceal a grimace. He spoke as if Nahxs was Lexaeus' replacement. But none could replace him.

Still, he managed a level tone when he said, "At the very least, his abilities seem promising. That Xaldin worked alongside him for so long gives him a certain level of credibility that rivals several of his seniors."

And before Demyx could utter another syllable, Zexion added, "And for the record, you aren't the only one I had in mind."

"You mean Axel," said Saïx, and Zexion nodded.

"It goes without saying, though I'll admit. He has improved, if only slightly." And if only by force.

Demyx's fingers tapped on his thigh, and he propped his cheek up with his other hand. "Y'know, that kiiinda makes me wonder, though. We've lost, what? Five members now? Six if you count the Replica. Seven if you count Naminé."

"Neither held official rankings," said Saïx. "But nonetheless, you have a point."

Even Zexion couldn't dispute that. Perhaps Demyx noticed, because he gave him a cursory glance before continuing.

"Yeah, but that's not all! Axel's had about a billion chances. And don't get me wrong, I'm not itching to get out on the front lines, but how come we're only getting new members now?"

"That's… actually a fair question." Though Zexion was reluctant to admit it. That Demyx had voiced it at all left him staring for a few seconds. How was he even supposed to answer that when, by all accounts, they should have taken this step the day they lost Vexen, Roxas, Naminé, and the Replica?

Luxord drew a card. "Frankly, I think it wise to wait 'til one draws the right cards. A weak hand could cost us the game."

Demyx moaned. "Sheesh. How many stinking metaphors do you have, dude?"

Grinning, Luxord set the card down. "One for every occasion. Perhaps you'd find more enjoyment with them if you actually participated in game night."

"No way! Do you know how long it took for me to get my baby back? And Xigbar had no business betting it in the first place!"

Zexion smirked. "It's not our fault you lost to a Moogle."

"Hey! That Moogle was a dirty, stinkin' cheater, and one of these days I'll prove it!"

Rolling his eyes, Zexion considered quipping in return, but the words faded as he inhaled through his nose.

A strange scent wafted across the room, like saltwater and sand concealed by a deep, corrosive smog.

The others must not have noticed, as Saïx joined the conversation. "At any rate, I think Luxord has the right idea. Too many times, we've dealt with insubordination and infiltration. Sometimes it pays to be cautious."

"Oh? But I thought that this was Organization XIII…"

The new voice seized everyone's attention, prying their eyes off one another and toward the hallway.

Toward the boy in an all too familiar black coat.

Zexion set his teacup down, then rose from his seat. He scowled at the hooded stranger who dared don their uniform. "Who are you?"

He wasn't alone. Saïx, at long last, trudged away from his place at the windows. His posture was tense, fists clenched and eyes reduced to slits.

Unlike Demyx, who just sank into his seat and said, "Uh… Maybe we got another newbie?"

"No. This scent just materialized." Which made no sense. The castle was fortified. Protected by an impenetrable barrier. "And if we'd gained another new recruit, I am certain we would have known."

The stranger, seemingly unfazed, said, "Just think of me as a guest."

Saïx scoffed. "I see nothing but an intruder."

"Really? So he hasn't told you…" The boy removed his hood, revealing… tanned skin. Silver hair. Piercing gold eyes.

This was… It couldn't…

Zexion staggered back, trying to process the situation.

His focus shattered when Demyx shouted, "WHOA! Are you Xemnas' KID!?"

That…

No. Zexion couldn't even claim it was stupid. The boy bore similar traits to the Superior. So, yes, at a glance, one might assume he was his… offspring.

Disregarding the fact that Xemnas kept others at an arm's length. Disregarding the fact that this boy looked roughly Zexion's age, while Xemnas couldn't have been older than thirty.

So… no. This was wholly and utterly stupid, and it seemed at this boy and Saïx agreed, as they shared a collective groan.

"…I'm beginning to question your recruitment standards," said the boy.

At this point, Demyx glared—or tried. It was hardly intimidating. "Oh, c'mon! Is everyone gonna get on my case today?"

"Ah, so this is recurring. All the more reason to doubt, then."

But Luxord let out a breathy laugh. "Well, I must admit, the resemblance is uncanny."

The boy tipped his chin up. "I should hope so. He is my Nobody."

His Nobody.

No. That was a bald-faced lie.

Vividly, Zexion still recalled Xemnas glaring at his own reflection. A fleeting moment in their shared solitude so very long ago. Back then, Zexion was too young to understand. The 'truth' behind his colleague was too fresh. Too confusing.

"Even now, he's left his mark. These eyes…" Xemnas' hand had curled into a tight, trembling fist. He'd drawn back his arm, as if he'd intended to shatter the glass, and then, just as swiftly, his fist unclenched, and his arm dropped. "They're… an asset. No one else will know the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"When I lost control, my body changed. He corrupted it into this… But now, I can use that to my advantage."

Of course. Perhaps that explained the discrepancy…

Thus, Zexion tore himself from his daze. He met the strange boy's gaze and said, "You know, I'd almost assume that Ansem found a new vessel."

"But isn't Ansem toast?" said Demyx.

"Yes. But, then again, he already cheated death once by seeking refuge in Riku's heart." Still, that was once, and surely his defeat within the simulated town was a more… permanent arrangement.

"So I've heard." The boy frowned, brushing past Zexion and resting his arm on the back of one of the couches. "But no, I'm neither Heartless nor vessel, nor a hollowed out husk."

Saïx tipped his chin up, his scowl ever fixed to his face. "Then tell us what you are."

"You mean you haven't figured it out?" The boy placed his palm over his chest. "If I am not a lowly shell, nor his child, nor his Heartless, there is but one possibility. And surely at least three of you possess the intellect to connect the dots."

"Hoo boy…" Demyx rubbed at his temple, grumbling. "Lemme guess. Long lost brother? Clone? I mean, it's not like replicas are anything new."

"I'm aware," said the boy. "But no. Not quite."

Had Zexion a heart with which to feel, one thing was certain: he would loathe this boy based on pretentiousness alone. Really, who did he think he was, strutting into their castle, expecting them to partake in his pitiful attempts at mind games?

Saïx must have thought similarly, as he raised his arm and called his claymore forth in a twist of thorny tendrils.

"You are trying my patience."

The entire time, Luxord remained comfortably in his chair, now tossing a pair of dice ever so casually. "Ah, but wait, Saïx! Allow me to humor this boy." And so, he straightened his posture and smirked that the interloper. "Could it be, perhaps, that you're Xehanort himself?"

Oh, for the love of. "Luxord, you can't possibly—"

But before Zexion could finish, the boy smirked back. "Congratulations. You've figured me out."

But… No. Zexion's face tightened into a scowl. "Impossible. You're far too young!"

"Well, you're not wrong." The boy shrugged. "By all accounts, I should not exist, in this place, at this time, in my present state."

Saïx let out a short, hushed chuckle. Though he still held his weapon, he lowered it to his side. "And I suppose we're to believe you're a time traveler."

"Oh, I don't expect you to believe me. But that is what I am." His grin only widened. "A vagrant from a bygone era, sailing down the sea of time to witness destiny itself. It's rather poetic, isn't it?"

"No, just ludicrous," Zexion said. Though he had to admit, it would explain a thing or two.

Luxord tipped his chin up. "Ah, but what of the Phoenix Gate? Merlin the Wizard. There are many ships one can sake to chart those restless currents."

"…A fair point." With all the time Zexion spent in Manhattan, he couldn't outright dispute Luxord's claims. And Merlin had a knack for defying logic as well. "All right, then. Let's assume for a moment that you are a younger Xehanort. Why are you here? And why now?"

Stepping past the couch, the would-be Xehanort peered at the moon. "It's like I said: I'm here to see my destiny unfold. To view the World as it is well past my time… though, frankly, I'm a bit disappointed."

"Is that so?" said Saïx. "Kingdom Hearts' light shines upon us. The heroes of the Keyblade are splintered. As we speak, our Superior holds Master Aqua at his mercy."

"Ah, the blue one? She certainly was a competent adversary."

"You've faced her in battle?"

"Oh, I've faced all three." When the others gave him a questioning look, the boy elaborated. "It wouldn't be much of a journey if I rushed to my destination. So, perhaps I meddled where I shouldn't have and challenged the Keyblade's best and brightest. At least I know what to expect."

Saïx raised an eyebrow. "That would make you an invaluable ally. Still, I find it odd that you waited until now to grace us with your presence."

"I had no intention to at first." An odd admission, to be sure, and Xehanort continued to the window and straight into Kingdom Hearts' otherworldly glow. "But you've said it yourselves. You've lost pillars of this Organization. What should have been thirteen has dwindled and you're only now picking up the pieces. All this, while your Superior continues bloating Kingdom Hearts… and to what end?"

Demyx rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, to be fair, there's a lot of Nobodies out there."

"Ah. Of course." He didn't sound too convinced. "But I'd still like to speak with Xemnas directly. Perhaps it would shed some light on your current predicament."

"Perhaps, but our Superior tends to keep his cards close to his chest," said Luxord. "But I suppose if I were in his position, I'd be more forthcoming with myself."

Or, more likely, even more tight-lipped. But the others didn't need to know that.

Instead, Zexion said, "I wouldn't get my hopes up. Lord Xemnas is a very busy man."

"And I wouldn't dream of impeding on his negotiations with Master Aqua. But, if what Xigbar says is true, he spends a remarkable amount of time here in the castle while the rest of you carry out your duties."

"Ah. That explains how you entered the castle," said Saïx. "So. Are the others aware of your existence?"

"Only Xigbar, but by all means, inform the rest as you see fit." He paused, cracking a wry smile. "Or bludgeon me with a claymore, if you must, but I warn you that I will not go down easily."

Saïx stepped closer. "And you're aware of our defenses?"

Rather than respond verbally, the boy tugged his sleeve down, revealing a metallic bracelet.

Zexion looked away to hide his scowl. Someone within the Organization must have granted him that neutralizer. That, or he stole it.

Regardless, this did not bode well.

Xehanort, or some vague facsimile of him, within the castle… On one hand, this presented an intriguing opportunity to learn the other side of the story. On the other hand, just how long had he held contact with Xigbar? How much did he know about the Organization and its proceedings?

What was their goal?

Yet again, Zexion's mind wound back…

"Then you aren't going to tell the others."

"No. I missed my chance with Xigbar. As long as he's alive, I have to play the part that's expected of me."

"And would Xehanort restore us?"

And oh, Xemnas had wheezed a dry, hollow, broken laugh.

"No, but he'd make you think that he could."

Xemnas had withheld many secrets over the years. He'd failed to inform Zexion that Xehanort wielded a Keyblade before he gleaned the words from Aqua's lips that fateful day in Twilight Town. Even Ventus and Aqua remained close to Xemnas' chest until Zexion dared ask, and yet…

"You held onto the armor…"

"Indeed. It is… a reminder of an old friend."

"That's oddly sentimental of you."

"Perhaps. I see it as an anchor, lest I lose myself entirely to this charade."

"I just wish you were more forthcoming. All these years, and there's still so much I don't know."

"The walls have ears, Zexion. You alone have earned my trust, but I cannot take chances."

And when the time came, Xemnas' reasoning held ground.

He still recalled Xigbar's oh-so-probing question. "Isn't it about time you told me about Xemnas' secret?"

Zexion grimaced, inhaling sharply through clenched teeth.

"Well, Zexion?" said Saïx, and he knew that he'd have to answer one way or another.

And so, letting all his pent up breath out in a single sigh, Zexion forced a smile. "It is as you said, Saïx. He is an invaluable asset. We would be fools to turn him away."

There was a saying that spoke volumes to the present situation. One Xemnas applied in his everyday life.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

x.x.x

A/N: This is a scene I've had in mind for a while, but there just wasn't a place to fit it into the main fic and keep the pacing during the Treasure Planet arc. Some of what was covered here will also be covered in the main fic (albeit from different perspectives), but I thought it worth addressing how much the Organization knows about our little time traveler as well as some silly Organization interactions.

There are some allusions to KH2 Final Mix as well as the Birth by Sleep secret boss as well. O:

Anyway, I hope to get started on the next chapter of All That's Left very soon, so stay tuned!