Another Meeting
"Everyone ready?Now Rixa, remember to be careful.", Axel said, "No pushing yourself to the extremes."
"Today's just a practice run.", Rixa groaned, "No dangerous objectives other than killing a few Shadows."
"Just making sure.", Axel said, "We're off."
"He's only looking out for you, Rixa.", Roxas whispered into her ear, "He doesn't mean any harm."
"I know, Roxas.I don't need you to remind me of anything.", Rixa scoffed, a bit annoyed at being nagged, "I'll see you guys at the Clock Tower, like always."
They went their ways, Axel and Roxas to Neverland and Rixa to the Mansion at Twilight Town.She had wanted to return there after her last visit with Roxas and Xion, who had been unwilling to enter and explore the inside of it.As soon as she entered and exited the portal to Twilight Town, she ran off toward the Mansion.Some Shadows had been lingering around and it was her mission to eliminate them.Axel had bothered Saix to the brink of almost attacking him just to give Rixa an easy mission.
"Fine, but only this one time.Never ask this of me again.", he had told Axel.
She was glad Axel had managed to do that for her, and she wasn't going to waste this chance.Perched on a tree limb, she waited for the Shadows to materialize and took them out with her throwing knives.She had to take it easy, or her wounds would open and Axel wouldn't let her out till who knows when.She sighed when she finished the last one and jumped down from the tree limb.As she landed, she heard some foot steps and hid behind a tree.She listened to each step, preparing to defend herself if need be and when they were close to her, she jumped out, sword in hand.She stepped back once she saw the person she had attacked was Riku.She hadn't seen him since her meeting in Beast's Castle.
"It's you.I never expected to see you here.", Riku said, staring at her sword, "Almost had me that time."
"Oh, shut it!", Rixa groaned angrily, "I could have killed you."
"I'm not easy to kill.", Riku laughed, "But it is nice to see you again."
"Why is that?We're supposed to be enemies.I let you go that day because I didn't want to follow Saix's orders.", she said, "He's such a pain."
"Don't know him.But we don't have to be enemies if you don't want to.", he said, extending his hand to her, "We could try to talk if you'd like."
Rixa stared at his hand, unsure of what to do.On one hand, he was the impostor and she knew that he would get in the way of the Organization's plans.But on the other, something about him made her like him.His aura felt so...assuring to her.She still hadn't been able to explain her comfort whenever she was in his presence.Maybe if she spent time with him, she would be able to learn more.She took his hand and greeted him.
"Let's start over.I'm Riku."
"I'm No. 15 in the Organization."
"Now now, you have to have a name.I'm not gonna call you No. 15 all the time."
"Fine...I'm Rixa and don't you forget it."
"Rixa...that's a nice name."
She blushed when he said her name, him smiling at her.She snapped herself out of it and regained her demeanor.
"Tell me more about the Organization.I'm sorry if I'm too forward with this, but I have to know more about them."
"I can't tell you.I'd get in trouble with Saix if I did."
"I thought so.Guess I'll have to find out on my own."
"We're not all bad...You already met Xion.Saix is the real bad apple in the Organization.And we haven't done anything wrong."
"Haven't done anything wrong?The Organization is up to bad things.It's best if you left."
"I can't.I'd have to leave Axel, Roxas and Xion...They're my best friends."
"Best friends?Alright, I'm not going to try to convince you, it's your choice."
"What about you?You get in the way of our plans and I have to eliminate you at some point."
"I'm just trying to protect my best friend and make sure no one disturbs his sleep."
"Do you mean Sora?"
"Wait, how did you know about Sora?"
"Axel told me about him...He said that Roxas is Sora's Nobody."
"Roxas?So he does have a Nobody...I'm not going to tell you Sora's whereabouts.You'd have to kill me before I told you."
"I'm not interested in Sora.You can calm down about that."
Riku watched Rixa, surprised that she wasn't like any of the members of the Organization that he had fought.He thought maybe that she was only playing with him back at Beast's Castle, but she proved him wrong.And something about her put him off.He could feel darkness flowing from her.It wasn't like Ansem's darkness, it was something diffrent, something...sad.
"Hey Riku, why do you wear a blindfold?"
He looked up at Rixa, hearing her question while returning from his thoughts.
"I wear it because of the darkness inside me.I can't let it control me and wearing this blindfold helps keep it at bay."
"I don't believe you.There's no way that could happen."
"Then I'll show you."
He put his hands behind his head, untangling the knot.He took off the blindfold, opening his eyes and looking at Rixa.She was mesmerized by his eyes as he stared at her.Suddenly, he changed form and shocked her.He had become a man that looked so similar to Xemnas.
"Xemnas?!?But how?"
"Don't be afraid.It's still me.", the man whispered, offering his hand, "This is why I wear the blindfold.His name is Ansem...he tried to control me a long time ago...I'm not proud of what I did back then.I'm still trying to redeem myself for my actions."
She looked into his eyes, seeing Riku instead of Ansem, whoever that was.She walked up to him and took his hand in hers.She grabbed the blindfold away from his hand and covered his eyes, tying the knot.He changed back and was surprise at how sad she looked.She suddenly hugged him and he didn't know what to do.He looked around, turning his head in confusion, but put his right hand over her head and left hand on her back.He caressed her hair, comforting her.
"It's okay to feel lonely...I know what's it like to be completely alone."
Riku looked at her as she lifted her face, her eyes full of complete sadness.For a moment, she looked like somebody else, a girl he didn't recognize.They stayed like that, looking at one another's face until Rixa closed her eyes and backed away.She realized what she had said and tried to explain it to herself.How had she known what it felt like to be alone, to not have someone by your side?Was this a memory of her past life?Riku walked to her and hugged her, careful to not make her uncomfortable.She liked it, being held in his arms, but she knew it couldn't go farther.
"I-I have to go.I'm expected back any moment now."
"If you have to.It was nice seeing you again."
She ran off, not looking back even if she wanted to.He watched her leave, suddenly wishing she didn't have to go.He felt comfortable in the presence of her darkness.
"It's nothing like Ansem's ever was.But how can darkness possibly be like that?His Majesty was right."
At the Clock Tower, Rixa sat quietly while Axel, Roxas and Xion discussed how their day had been.They laughed with one another, though Rixa didn't speak.They turned to face her, worried that she had a bad day or didn't enjoy it.
"It was just ordinry.Nothing exciting happened.", she said to answer their worried looks, "Nothing at all."
