Heart to Heart Chapter 9

[eiahmon]

Title: Heart to Heart
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Disney and Square own it all; I only wish I did. Why in the hell cant I come up with these wickedly cool characters and twisted plots? Why?
Summary: Sequel to Burning Heart and Earth's Rebirth. A special assignment from Ansem sets Dilan's conscience on edge, and he reaches out to the only person that he knows can help, the one person that he though he would never speak to again; Xehanort.

9.

Xehanort was quiet after breakfast, but he didn't try to avoid anyone. Instead he stayed close to Xavier's side and allowed himself to be held and comforted. After having his identity torn to shreds, the clinginess was to be expected, and Xavier was glad to see that he seemed to be accepting it.

Xehanort was still hanging onto him when Isa appeared early in the afternoon as they were all sitting down to lunch.

"Isa!" Elissa exclaimed "How are you? Will you join us for lunch?"

Isa eyed the meal laid out on the table and smiled. "I think I will. Thank you." He sat down across from Xavier and smiled at Xehanort as he began to fill his plate. "Unfortunately, I didn't come here just to socialize. I have a favor I need to ask."

"What is it?" Jascha asked.

Isa accepted a glass of iced tea from Alexander. "Taylor is discharging Lea tomorrow, but he's still not well enough to be on his own. I've been neglecting the business to take care of him, and so I have a lot of work to catch up on and won't have time to look after him. I was wondering if he could stay here for a week while I get things caught up?"

Elissa and Jascha looked at each other, and then they turned and looked at Xavier, who nodded.

"We'd be happy to have him." Elissa said with a smile "In fact, why don't you stay overnight with him? That way, you'll be able to spend more time with him."

Isa smiled in relief. "I'll do that. Thank you. That takes a lot off of my mind."

"Where will we put him?" Masa asked "All the bedrooms are taken."

Xavier looked down at Xehanort, who was sitting so close to him that getting any closer would have meant climbing up onto his lap. Xehanort gave him a feeble smile and nodded, so Xavier looked back up at the others. "Xehanort can stay with me for now, and Lea can have his room until he goes home."

"Are you sure, Xehanort?" Isa asked, and Xehanort nodded again. "Thank you, Xehanort." Isa then finished the last of his meal and drank down the rest of his tea and stood up. "I'm sorry to eat and run, but I really need to get back to Lea. I'll probably bring him by in the morning tomorrow. I'll let you know before I come by. Thank you for lunch."

Isa showed himself out, and Xavier looked down at Xehanort, who looked up at him. "Eat, little one. We have things to do after lunch, and then I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

He lightly tapped Xehanort on the nose. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it? You'll find out later. Now eat your lunch." Xehanort looked at him for a long moment before he turned back to his lunch.

Once the meal was over and the washing up was done, the two went upstairs to Xehanort's room to gather his things. Xavier frowned when he realized that other than his clothes, shoes, coat, and quilt, Xehanort had no personal effects. No books, no toys, no games, nothing. They would have to do something about that soon. They took everything, including the pillows from the bed, next door to Xavier's room, where they saw Akim and Heras setting up a smaller bed for Xehanort to sleep on. They finished assembling it as Xehanort put his clothes away and hung his coat up. Elissa appeared them with sheets for it, and she quickly made it up and laid the quilt over the top. The days were pleasantly warm, but Xehanort still found the nights a bit chilly, so he loved sleeping under the heavy quilt.

"Are you ready for your surprise?" Xavier asked once everything had been taken care of. Xehanort looked up at him in confusion for a moment and didn't answer, so Xavier ushered him out of the room, down the stairs, and out through the backdoor. As they walked in the direction of the barn, he felt a hand slip into his own, and he smiled down at Xehanort, who was looking down at the ground. He was still upset, but he hadn't lost him.

They stepped out of the bright spring sunlight into the cool darkness of the barn, where they found Alexander waiting for them, holding Hannah by a halter rope.

"Thanks for fetching her, Alexander." Xavier said as he took the rope "Run along now." Alexander skipped out of the barn, off to do who knows what, and Xavier turned to Xehanort, who was staring at his feet. "Would you like to learn how to ride?"

Xehanort's head snapped up. "Really?" he asked "I can?"

"Of course you can, but before you can do that, you need to learn how to saddle, so come over here so I can teach you."

Xehanort walked up, looking as though he scarcely dared to believe what he had been told, and Hannah reached out and nuzzled him with her nose in greeting. Xehanort giggled slightly and petted her head for a moment before he walked up to stand beside Xavier.

Xavier spent the next several minutes patiently explaining to Xehanort how to saddle a horse. He then had him saddle Hannah himself a few times to make sure he had it. He then showed him how to put the bridle on before he allowed him to climb up into the saddle.

"Reach up and grab a hold of her mane in your left hand and rest your right on the back of the saddle." he explained and waited until Xehanort had done so. "Now, you're standing on her left side, so you need to reach up and put your left foot in the stirrup. Make sure you have it in there good enough that it won't slip out, but not so far that it gets stuck. Now use her mane to pull yourself up and swing your right leg over the saddle."

Xehanort looked over his shoulder at him. "Won't that hurt her?"

"She won't even notice you're there. Go ahead."

The leather saddle creaked as Xehanort pulled himself up, but he soon encountered a problem. He was too short to climb up all the way. Xavier grinned and boosted him the rest of the way up, and soon he was sitting in the saddle and looking around like he couldn't believe he was actually on the back of a horse. Xavier adjusted the stirrups for him and told him to sit up straight. "I should be able to draw a straight vertical line between your hips and shoulders. If you don't sit right, you'll kill your back." He then took Hannah by the reins. "Ready?" he asked Xehanort, who nodded eagerly. "Hold on to her mane now." He checked to make sure that Xehanort had done so, and then he led Hannah and her new rider out of the barn.

He walked her over to the west field, which had been plowed but not yet planted, which made it an ideal spot to teach a new rider. The soft dirt would make it harder for Hannah to throw Xehanort, and easier on him if she did. Not that he was worried about that. As far as he knew Hannah had never thrown anyone.

Once they were out in the field, Xavier tossed the reins back over Hannah's head and began to instruct Xehanort on how to direct her. He then stood back and watched with a smile as Xehanort rode her around the field. The boy's smile could have outshone the sun, and Xavier felt his heart fill with warmth as he watched him.

There was no sign of the sick, abused, frightened child that he had rescued two months ago. Xehanort had regained the weight that he had lost in the prison, and he was slowly building muscle back up by doing chores everyday. He was nowhere near as tanned as Xavier had been at that age, but that was to be expected after a month in a lightless cell, followed by two months in weak sunlight. His hair was smooth, soft, and shining from proper meals and good care, and the sunlight shining off of it was nearly blinding.

He allowed Xehanort to ride around for an hour or so, and then he waved him back towards the barn. Xehanort pouted but did as he was told, and once they were in the barn, he directed him to climb down.

"Just do the opposite of what you did to get up there."

Xehanort slipped down from the saddle, and he turned to Xavier with a bright smile and went to walk over to him, but the smile turned into a pained grimace.

"Owwww," he groaned "My legs hurt."

Xavier laughed quietly. "All new riders experience that." he said "Walk around while I get Hannah taken care of, and then we'll go in the house and do something about your aches."

"Can't I just sit down?"

"Not unless you want your sore muscles to lock up. Just keep moving around and when we get back in the house, I'll draw you a hot bath to soak in for a while."

Xehanort mumbled something that Xavier didn't catch, but he could hear him walking around the barn floor as he removed the saddle and bridle from Hannah and turned her out to pasture. They then walked back towards the house, or rather, Xavier walked. Xehanort hobbled along, grimacing as his muscles protested the movement. Once they were in the house, he could not lift his legs well enough to ascend the stairs to the second floor bath, so Xavier carried him up. Someone had already guessed that Xehanort was in need of a hot bath, because they found one waiting. Xehanort gratefully peeled out of his clothing, but he still needed Xavier's help to get into the large tub. He sank into the hot water with a sigh, while Xavier stepped out to fetch a bottle of the wintergreen oil that he had used on Isa during his physical therapy. A quick rub down with it would prevent Xehanort's sore leg muscles from locking back up once he was out of the water.

After a while, Xehanort was able to get out of the tub without assistance, and he dried himself, wrapped himself in a towel and wandering into the bedroom looking for clothes.

"Just put a shirt on for now." Xavier told him "I've got something for you legs before you finish dressing." He waited while Xehanort slipped a shirt over his head and then told him to sit down on the bed.

"What is that?" the boy asked as he sat.

"This is wintergreen oil." Xavier explained as he uncapped the bottle and poured a little bit out onto his hand "It's great for relaxing stiff muscles and easing aches." He reached out and began working it into the muscles of Xehanort's right leg, which caused the boy to groan and flop backwards to the bed.

"I love that stuff already." he said.

Xavier grinned. "This stuff is the only reason that Isa was able to get through his physical therapy sessions years ago."

"I can see why." He raised his head to look at Xavier. "It won't hurt like this every time I ride will it?"

"No," Xavier replied as he switched to the other leg. "Give it a few more rides, and you'll get used to it. First time you have a long ride, you'll hurt afterwards, but then that will also stop bothering you."

"Mmm, okay."

Xavier laughed. "Don't go to sleep on me yet. You still have to eat dinner and help clear the table like usual."

"Okay, okay."

Xavier let go and stood up. "Now finished getting dressed. I'm going to go wash this stuff off of my hands."

"M'kay."

Xehanort went back to the bathroom to wash his hands, and once that done, he met Xehanort in the hallway, and they went down to dinner together.

******

In the morning, Xavier traveled to Radiant Garden and met with Even to ask him about him visiting Haven's Bridge to talk with Xehanort.

Even gave him an odd look. "Not for a few days at least. I have things to do, and I can't just up and leave without arousing Master Ansem's suspicions."

Master Ansem...

"It would probably be easier for you to come here."

"I'd rather not do that." Xavier said after he had swallowed a lump that had appeared suddenly in his throat "I'm sure you can understand why."

"Depending on how things work out, you may have no other option. Master Ansem has been watching us closely lately, so actually leaving the world for a day or two might be extremely difficult."

"Why is he watching you?"

"I am unsure. Ienzo believes that it has something to do with that child's escape from the prison and the search for him."

"Is it possible that he suspects one of you was involved in the escape?"

"Possible? Yes, that could be the case. None of us know for sure." Even thought for a second. "I will try to come by in a week or so, but I can't promise anything."

"Bring Vexen with you."

"Of course." Even looked over his shoulder as faint voices echoed down to them. "You'd best leave, before someone hears you down here."

Xavier stepped back and waved. "I'll see you later then." he whispered.

Even returned the wave. "Hurry and go."

Xavier portaled out, and as he went, he saw Even vanishing into his own portal, likely to prevent being seen down in the lower levels of the castle without a valid reason.

He arrived home just in time for Isa to arrive with Lea.

The double pneumonia had left Lea a pale, weak shadow of his normal self. He had lost nearly fifteen pounds, and on his skinny frame, such a loss was painfully visible. His face was pale and drawn, and there were bags under his eyes. He shuffled into the house with Isa's support and didn't protest when he was picked up and carried up the stairs.

Xavier followed them up, and he frowned when he saw Lea, normally so full of energy, meekly allowing himself to be tucked into bed without a word.

"I will be back tonight." Isa told him quietly "Just rest, and I'll see you later, alright?" Lea nodded without making a sound, and he was asleep before Isa had a chance to step away from the bed. Isa smiled faintly at him and then walked over to where Xavier was standing by the door.

"Thank you, Xavier." he said quietly "At least I know that he'll be looked after while I get things caught up at home."

"You're welcome, Isa." Xavier replied "I'll take care of him for you."

"I'll be back tonight."

"We'll see you then."

Isa nodded, and after one last glance at Lea, he scurried downstairs and out of the house, pausing to ruffle Xehanort's hair as he went. Xehanort grumbled something and smoothed out his hair as Xavier checked on Lea.

"Is he okay?" he asked.

"He's better." Xavier said as he checked Lea over "The pneumonia is gone, but he's still very weak right now. He has a long recovery ahead of him, so I imagine that it will be weeks before he's fit for keyblade training again." He patted the blanket around Lea's shoulder's and stood up. "Let's leave him to sleep for now. Later, we'll bring him lunch and visit with him then."

He ushered Xehanort out of the room and down the stairs. "I'm bored, Xavier." the boy complained "Can we go for another ride?"

"No, little one. I have to stay close to Lea until Isa comes back. Why don't you go ask your grandfather or uncles if they have anything for you to do?"

Xehanort winced at "grandfather", but he nodded anyway. "Okay," He then walked off, and Xavier shook his head.

******

He didn't see Xehanort for a few hours, and it wasn't until he went to call him in for lunch, he found him in the woodshed behind the house, which Jascha used as a workshop of sorts. He made small wooden sculptures and tinker toys in his spare time, and Xavier found him inside, showing Xehanort how to whittle.

Xehanort was sitting on a stool next to his grandfather, with a knife in one hand and a small block of wood in the other, and small little cuts on his hands showed that he had gotten himself a couple of times. Jascha was holding his own knife and wood block, and he was leaned over to show Xehanort how to carefully shave off bits of the wood to get the desired shape. Xehanort was watching intently, and Xavier smiled to himself at the sight. He was loathe to interrupt the scene, but lunch was ready, and he didn't want Xehanort skipping a meal.

He knocked lightly on the door frame to catch their attention. "Lunch is ready." he said when they looked up. Jascha smiled at his grandson and set his tools down, and Xehanort frowned in disappointment.

"Can I eat later?" he asked, and Xavier shook his head.

"No, child. You don't need to miss a meal. You can work on this some more later."

"But-"

Jascha stood up. "You need to do what your Papa -"

Papa...

" - says." he said fondly "We can work on this some more later. Now let's go see what your Gram has made us for lunch."

Xehanort reluctantly put his knife and wood down and followed his grandfather out of the shed. Xavier reached out and put his arm around the boy's shoulders as the walked towards the house, and he smiled again when he leaned against him.

After lunch, Xavier went up to take Lea his lunch and found him awake, sitting up in bed, and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Is Isa back yet?" he mumbled.

"No," Xavier replied as he sat down, "not yet. He won't be back until later tonight."

Lea yawned, which caused him to start coughing. "Okay." he said once he was done.

"Are you hungry?"

"A little. Got any soup?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"You know me too well."

"I've known you since you were fourteen. That might have something to do with it."

"Okay. I'm hungry now."

Xavier smiled faintly as he laid the lunch he had brought across Lea's lap on a tray. Lea happily dug in, so Xavier parked himself in the nearby chair and watched him.

By the time he finished the bowl, Lea's eyes were drooping again, so Xavier took the tray away and set it aside. Lea curled up under the blanket and closed his eyes. "Thanks, Xavier."

"You're welcome, Lea. I'll be back up later to check on you."
"M'kay."

Xavier tucked the blanket around Lea's shoulders and gently raked his hair back from his forehead. Lea smiled faintly at the touch, and Xavier echoed it as he picked up the tray and carried it downstairs.

******

Isa reappeared just after dinner was through. He had bathed and changed his clothes at home, and he quickly sat down at the table to eat a plate of potatoes and beans before he went upstairs to see Lea. Lea had just finished his own dinner and was being walked into the bathroom by Xavier to take a bath before going back to bed.

"I'll take him from here, Xavier." Isa said as he took Lea by the shoulders to guide him through the bathroom door. Xavier nodded in agreement and stepped away as Isa walked Lea into the bathroom and shut the door. He walked down the hall to his own room and found Xehanort sitting in the middle of his bed, reading a book.

"Ready for bed?" he asked, and Xehanort put the book aside with a sigh. Hmm, he needed to see about getting Xehanort into school soon. There was a small schoolhouse in town, but it was primarily for younger children. Older children were rarely educated past age 13, unless they accepted an apprenticeship. Higher education really didn't have a place on a world that had no use for it. At the very least, he would have to have Xehanort tested to see how much knowledge he had absorbed from his implanted memories and go from there.

Xehanort curled up under his quilt on his side and closed his eyes, and Xavier tucked him in and brushed his hair back. "Goodnight, Xehanort."

"G'night."

******

Things were quiet for the next week. After five days, Isa took Lea home, and on day six, Roxas arrived to visit him and to pass on a note from Even to Xavier.

The note stated that Even didn't think that he would be able to slip offworld anytime soon, because he was still being watched, so if Xavier wanted to meet him, it would have to be on Radiant Garden. The note included a date and time, plus a location in a little used area of the lower levels of the castle. Xavier frowned; he didn't want to take Xehanort anywhere near Radiant Garden, but he supposed he didn't have much of a choice. He simply informed Xehanort that we would be going offworld in a few more days. Xehanort seemed intrigued, but he was more interested in the small block of wood he was whittling on.

The following day, the entire family went on a horseback ride to a lake a few hours away from the house. Xehanort loved the ride, but he loved the opportunity to go swimming even more, though he grumbled about the fresh water. He did help catch dinner, though jaws dropped when he threw an improvised spear and nailed a large catfish with it with the ease of an islander born and raised. Xavier could remember doing such a thing back on the Destiny Islands, and he got a good laugh at the gobsmacked expressions on everyone else's faces.

Xehanort's catch was big enough to feed three people.

As they were preparing for the ride home in the late afternoon, Xavier spotted Xehanort carefully gathering up some of the sand from the lake shore and putting inside a small leather pouch that he then slipped into a pocket. He asked what the sand was for and only received a smile in return.

"Fine then," he said as he ruffled the boy's hair "Keep your secrets. Now let's get going."

The sun had vanished from the sky by the time they made it back home. Xehanort helped put the horses away, and then he took a bath. Alexander had already bathed and was dressed in his pajamas, and he asked Xehanort to play with him in the family room. Xavier expected him to refuse – what teenager wants to play with a seven year old? - but Xehanort agreed, and the two spent a quiet half hour playing with some action figures that Jascha had made for the younger child. Alexander was then sent to bed, and Xehanort gathered up the toys and put them away before he curled up on the couch beside Xavier, who had been reading a book and watching them.

Xavier put the book aside. "Ready for bed?" he asked.

Xehanort shook his head. "I'm thinking."

"About?"

"About what Even may say to me when we go to Radiant Garden."

'Are you worried?"

"If he looks at me and says 'Yes, Xehanort, you are a Replica.' that means that it's all true." He sighed. "I just keep hoping that it's not real."

Xavier gently raked his finger's through the child's hair. "I understand. It will get better though, with time."

"I don't want it to get better." Xehanort said quietly. "I want it to all just go away. I want to wake up in my room at home and hear Mom scolding me about being late for school. I don't want any of this to be real."

"If I could make it better for you, little one, I would, but I can't."

"I know, I know. I just need to face reality, but I... I just... I can't. I don't want to." He leaned against Xavier, who put an arm around him. "I want to go home."

Xavier frowned in thought. Maybe sometime he could, if he was extremely careful, take Xehanort back to the Destiny Islands. The islands (With the exception of the play island, which Xavier had a feeling would remain the same until the islands sank into the sea.) had changed greatly in the years since he had left, so maybe seeing the differences would give Xehanort some form of closure. Denying the reality in front of him couldn't be good for his mental well being.

He looked down to see that Xehanort was fallen asleep against him, and he carefully scooped the child up into his arms and carried him upstairs to bed.

******

In the morning, Xavier made the short trip to Lea and Isa's house to check on Lea, and he was pleased to find him up and about, though he only moved between the bedroom, living room, and bathroom. Isa reported that he was eating well and coughing less, and his energy levels were slowly returning to normal.

"You look worried about something." Lea said during the visit "What is it?"

"Oh, it's just that I'm taking Xehanort to Radiant Garden to see Even and Vexen tomorrow," Xavier explained. "when I really don't want him anywhere near that world."

"Can't Even and Vexen come here?" Isa asked as he sat down in a chair on Lea's other side.

"No," Xavier replied with a shake of his head. "Even says that he's being watched too closely to safely leave the world."

"Is it safe for you to take Xehanort there then?" Lea asked with concern.

"That is what has me worried. I don't want to take him there, but he has questions that only Even can answer. It doesn't help that he's still in denial about being a Replica, so I'm hoping that speaking with Even will put a stop to that."

"Hmph," Lea shrugged. "I'm not sure why anyone would want to go back there. I practically never go back to Radiant Garden."

"There's nothing for us there." Isa said sadly, and Xavier gave him a sympathetic look. Isa's parents had disowned him once Saïx's actions had come to light, and they had refused to stand up for him or try and prevent his imprisonment. Even though they knew that he had escaped and was alive somewhere, they had shown no interest in finding him.

"If it wasn't for Even, I would probably say the same." Xavier said with a sigh.

Lea gave him a knowing look. "You miss Ansem still, don't you."

I'm sorry.

"I do, even though I know that he hates my very existence and wouldn't hesitate to have me executed if he were to find me."

"Just be careful okay?" Lea said quietly. "Don't get the two of you caught."

"That's why Even asked me to come late at night, when the castle will only have the skeleton staff up and about."

"All the same, be careful." Isa added.

"I will." Xavier stood up. "I need to go. Just keep doing what you've been doing, Lea. I want you to take it easy for at least another week."

Lea nodded. "Alright."

"I will come by again after I get back from Radiant Garden."

"We'll see you then."

Xavier showed himself out and he made the short walk home without any trouble, yet when he walked in the door, he didn't hear or see Xehanort anywhere.

"Where did Xehanort get off to?" he asked Elissa, who was at her quilting frame, working on another quilt.

"Your father took him into town." she replied without looking up from her work. "There was something that Xehanort wanted to do."

"Any idea what?"

"None at all. I'm sure you'll find out later though. I know when a child trying to hide a gift from a parent when I see one."

"A gift?"

"Of course. Why else would he ask your father instead of you? He's planning something for you and doesn't want you to find out what it is."

"You're sure?" Xehanort was planning a gift for him? After everything that he had been told? Xavier didn't understand it.

"Quite sure. Now quit worrying about it. You'll find out what it is soon enough, I imagine."

"Alright fine. Do you know when they'll be back?"

"Xavier! Stop worrying! Xehanort is fine, and he'll be back later. Go find something to do."

"Yes, Mother."

She made a shooing motion with her free hand. "Off with you now. Go for a ride or something."

Xavier sighed and walked out of the room, but he didn't head out the back door towards the barn. Instead he went upstairs to his room where he settled into a chair with a book to pass the time.

Xehanort and Jascha returned just before lunch time, and Xehanort was carrying a small package wrapped in brown paper, which he took up to his room and put away. He didn't say a word to Xavier about it, and Elissa gave him a knowing smile.

After lunch was over and the washing up was done, Xehanort begged Xavier to take him for another ride.

"Are all your chores done?" Xavier asked.

"They are."

"I suppose we can go then." Xehanort smiled a wide smile and started to run for the back door. "No running in the house young man!" Xehanort slowed to a walk, and Xavier smiled to himself as he followed him out to the barn.

They took Hannah and Kema out for a slow ride around the farm, and in sharp contrast with his earlier excitement, Xehanort was strangely silent.

"Xehanort?"

The boy shook his head and said nothing. Xavier decided to press forward. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

"A little." Xehanort said in a near whisper.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I have to go. I need to know how... how I was brought into being. You said only Even would know right?"

"Well, there are the ones that conceived you, but I don't think it would be safe to track them down and ask them, but Even does know quite a bit about Replicas. He'll be able to answer your questions."

"I need to know, but at the same time, I don't want to know." Xehanort looked over at him. "Does that make sense?"

"It does. I felt the same way when my memories started to return. I wanted to know who I had once been, but at the same time I was afraid of what I would find out."

"Why were you afraid?"

"I had encountered fear and hostility, and I was afraid of what I had done in the past to warrant such feelings from people."

"Oh." Xehanort looked down, and Xavier stepped Kema closer to Hannah so he could reach out and touch him on the shoulder.

"It will be alright, Xehanort." he said gently "Nothing that Even says tomorrow will change anything. I will still love you as I do now, and this will still be your home."

Xehanort squeezed his eyes shut, and he brought Hannah to a stop as tears began to run down his face. Xavier stopped Kema and slipped down from the saddle, not worried at all about the well trained horse wandering off without him. He stepped over to Hannah and reached up to Xehanort.

"Let go of the reins, little one." he said gently "Take your feet out of the stirrups."

A sob shook Xehanort's body as he released his white knuckled grip on the reins and allowed Xavier to pull him from the saddle and into his arms. Xehanort put his arms around his neck and cried into his hair as he sat down in the tall grass aside the field with the boy in his lap. Xavier murmured soothingly to him and rubbed his back as he felt tears soaking into his shirt.

"Maybe we'll go to Radiant Garden another time." he said quietly.

Xehanort shook his head and looked up at him. "I want to go." he insisted as he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.

"I don't like seeing you so upset, child."

"Please, Xavier, I need to know."

"There is nothing that Even can tell you that can't wait until you've settled down a little."

"I have to know!"

"Xehanort -"

"Xavier, please!"

"Xehanort -"

"If you love me like you say you do, then you'll let me do this!"

Xavier sighed and turned his head away from his child's pleading face. "Alright, I'll take you to Radiant Garden." Xehanort laid his head down, which prompted Xavier to hold him tighter. "If you get too upset though, we're leaving. I don't care how much you protest. I don't want you getting hysterical in such a dangerous place. Understood?"

Xehanort nodded. "Thank you." he whispered.

"Don't thank me yet. I guarantee that you're not going to like what Even says tomorrow. Now,' He stood up and put Xehanort down on his feet. "Let's get home before they sent out the search parties."

Xehanort reached out and surprised him with a hug. Xavier returned it, and they stood in silence before Xehanort leg go and went over to Hannah. He climbed back up into the saddle (With a little help from Xavier.) and waited for Xavier to get back up on Kema, and then he nudged Hannah towards home.


Chapter 8 -- Chapter 10
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