The Price: Remembrance

[eiahmon]

Title: The Price
Rating: R for the mansex even if it's not graphic.
Disclaimer: Disney and Square Enix own it all, though I wouldn't mind “renting” Xehanort for a while. He's just so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute – even when he's summoning his keyblade and yanking out hearts with it.
Summary: An AU to the ending in which the apprentices still become Nobodies. What happens when Xemnas finds out that Marluxia is abusing Vexen in the same manner as Braig once abused Xehanort?
A/N: So the question got asked: What would have happened if the events of Rejection happened, but instead of fleeing to another world, the gang remains in Radiant Garden and the events of the games happen like normal? This is the result.
A/N 2: This thing was so awkward to write. Partially, I believe, because I just don't like Xemnas at all. I'm still not completely happy with how this came out, so maybe it the future, when I don't have Writer's Block threatening to take over my mind, I can do a rewrite and clean it up a bit.

Remembrance

Xemnas frowned down at the letter lying innocently on his desk. The single sheet of paper was covered with Zexion's neat, precise handwriting, and it had been delivered directly to him by one of VI's illusion clones through a portal, and the Superior of Organization XIII wondered why the letter couldn't have been delivered through the normal channels, namely the Dusks that acted as couriers between Castle Oblivion and The Castle That Never Was. Xemnas did not claim to be precognitive or have any other extra sensory abilities (Other than those granted to Nobodies of course.) but he had a strong feeling that he was not going to like the contents of the letter.

Finally, after staring at it for several minutes, he plucked the paper from the surface of his desk and started to read.

Lord Xemnas,

I hope this letter reaches you, as I fear that the others I that have sent did not. I do not claim to know the reason for your non response to my other letters, and I hope you will grant me your indulgence if you have received and read them and at least consider my words and my request.

Since our arrival at Castle Oblivion, XI has shown an unusually strong interest in IV. At first Marluxia would stay close to Vexen, never speaking to him or interacting with him in any way, only watching him, which I thought odd. I could tell that it made IV uncomfortable, but he would say nothing about it, regardless of how many times I questioned him about it. As the weeks passed, I began to detect XI's scent all over IV, yet questions about it revealed no answers. IV simply refused to speak of it.

Nine days ago, I walked into the lab unexpectedly, and found IV within, cleaning and bandaging several small puncture wounds on his arms and legs. He refused to say where they were from, and he threw me out of the lab when I pressed the issue, but I was clearly able to detect XI's scent on him. What's more, I could also tell that he had recently been... intimate with someone. I began to suspect then what he and XI had been doing, but it wasn't until earlier today that my suspicions were confirmed.

I am writing this letter in IV's room, while he sleeps on his bed nearby. His arms and legs are again wrapped in bandages, and the twin scents of blood and sex cling strongly to him. I found him earlier, stumbling from XI's room, half dressed, dazed, and in pain, and he was bleeding heavily from many small wounds again. I had to call for Lexaeus to carry IV to his room, as he was in no condition to walk. He denied that XI had done anything to him, but when V and I managed to hold onto him long enough to look at him, we saw all the telltale signs.

I firmly believe that Marluxia is abusing Vexen in the same manner that Braig once abused Xehanort. I had already written asking for you assistance in this matter, yet you have not responded, so I hope that this letter, which will be taken by one of my illusions, will reach you.

Your humble servant, VI, Zexion

Xemnas frowned as he laid the letter back on his desk. Despite the loss of his emotions, thinking of the months where Braig had treated Xehanort as a sex toy to be used until he broke always caused a residual ache in his empty chest. Upon finding out, Ansem had rejected his favored apprentice, and if it hadn't been for the protection of Even, Aeleus, Dilan, and even Ienzo, the abuse would have continued. The four had protected Xehanort fiercely for the next year, refusing to allow Braig near him, and shielding him from the hostility of the townspeople. It was only after they lost their hearts that the protection ended, but only because it was no longer needed. Xigbar simply didn't dare to try and treat Xemnas the way that Braig had treated Xehanort.

Vexen was not Even; Xemnas was not Xehanort. Any debt that the latter may have owed the former was canceled upon the loss of their hearts. IV could fend off XI's advances if he chose to -

But you made Marluxia his superior.

- and besides, maybe IV was willing and that was how they like to do things?

Xehanort was also willing in the beginning. Remember how that turned out?

Shoving those traitorous thoughts aside, Xemnas stood up from his desk, determined to think no more about IV and XI. If the two of them wanted to use each other in such a way, as long as they did as they were supposed to at Castle Oblivion, then it didn't matter to him.

******

Xehanort screamed in agony as Braig pounded into him. He was pinned down to Ansem's desk, with no means to get away, and he was screaming, crying and sobbing, pleading for someone, anyone, to come and help him, but no one was coming. No one cared; he was just Braig's little whore after all. Who cared about a whore?

He screamed again as he felt himself being torn apart inside, felt his blood pouring out of him. It hurt so much! He was going to die on the desk; he was going to bleed to death while pinned under Braig. Why wasn't anyone coming? Where was Even; Even had promised that he would be safe. Was Even still alive?

Braig was gone suddenly, and Xehanort's tear filled brown eyes met Even's bright green ones, and Even was there with him, and it was Even's arms that were scooping him up and holding him, and it was Even's voice that was cooing soothing words to him. Cradled on Even's lap, Xehanort cried in relief, misery, and pain as the Senior Apprentice gently rocked him.

"I've got you. You're safe."

******

Xemnas sat up in bed, gasping and sweating. He raked his hair back from his forehead and thought about the dream that he had just had. He had never dreamed of his life as Xehanort before, and he knew that, if he had a heart, it would have unnerved him greatly. As it was, it was still enough to make him turn the bedside lamp on and spent a few moments curled up with his head on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

He remembered clearly the incident that he had dreamed of. Angry at his inability to get to Xehanort, Braig had attacked Even instead, when the Senior Apprentice was alone in the library. Xehanort had wandered in before the sharpshooter could actually do anything, so Braig had left Even lying unconscious on a desk and dragged the terrified Xehanort to Ansem's office. Once there, he had thrown Xehanort down onto the desk and spent the next few hours repeatedly, violently, raping him until Even and the others had arrived.

Something had broken within Xehanort that day. Within mere weeks, he had delved so deep into the darkness of the heart that he had no hope, or desire, of escaping. Not long afterward, he had summoned the dark keyblade and attacked the others with it, not caring at all that he was destroying the very people that had fought so hard to keep him safe.

He had taken great pleasure in ripping out Braig's heart, as well.

Xemnas pushed thoughts of Xehanort aside as he turned the lamp off and laid back down. He had too much to do come morning to think about a past that no longer mattered.

You are safe, Xehanort. This I promise you.

Xemnas sighed; he would go to Castle Oblivion in the morning.

******

Xemnas portaled directly into Zexion's room inside Castle Oblivion, to find the Cloaked Schemer dressed and preparing to start his day.

"Superior." VI said, startled "I am glad that you came."

Xemnas folded his arms over his chest. "Tell me everything, VI, about XI and IV, and do not leave anything out."

Zexion nodded. "I told you most of everything in my letter, Superior, but there is one other thing that concerns me greatly." Xemnas simply looked at him and said nothing, so the youngest of the original six continued quickly. "Vexen has become... withdrawn. I know that he was never very sociable to begin with, but now V and I barely see him at all, and when we do, it's clear that he is losing weight and not sleeping well. I worry that he may fade away if something is not done."

Xemnas nodded. "Very well, VI. Take me to IV's room."

Zexion bowed his head and walked out of the room. Xemnas followed him. Vexen's room was just down the hall, but it was empty, and it looked as though the Chilly Academic had been pulled from his bed by someone. Zexion looked at the blankets and sheets lying on the floor for a moment before he turned to Xemnas.

"He was in here last night, Superior, sleeping as I wrote that letter to you. When I left to seek my own bed, he was still sleeping, and Lexaeus was told to leave him be and let him sleep."

"Could he have simply left of his own will?"

The Cloaked Schemer shook his head adamantly. "He was in no shape to get out of bed last night. He had to be carried here, so I'm certain that someone took him from the room."

"Then find him."

VI nodded his head, and he began to sniff the air. As Xemnas watched and followed, Zexion walked out of Vexen's empty room and down the hall, following the elder scientist's scent. Xemnas knew that chances were good that IV was simply down in his lab, working on something or other, but that was proven wrong when Zexion took the stairs leading up to the upper floors where Marluxia, Larxene, and Axel resided.

As they walked down the white halls, their booted steps echoing off the high ceilings, Xemnas felt the gaping hole where his heart used to be begin to ache in a hollow remembrance of sadness. It was clear that Vexen was in the company of the three that occupied the upper part of the castle, and while there was still a chance that he was there willingly...

VI paused in mid step, and then he spoke a single word:

"Blood."

He then broke into a run, apparently forgetting that he could portal anywhere instantly. Xemnas followed him, since he wasn't sure where they were going. They ran down the hall, up a flight of stairs, down a second hall, and then up another flight of stairs that ended in a short entryway. The entryway led into a lavish sitting room, with a few doors leading off in different directions. Zexion ran to one door that led of the left and stopped. The closed door had no lock, but Xemnas learned right away what had made the Cloaked Schemer pause.

They could clearly hear Marluxia's voice coming from the other side of the door, though they couldn't make out what he was saying. The rhythmic creaking of bed springs could also be heard, as well as small whimpers and muffled cries. Pushing past the shocked Zexion, Xemnas opened the door, and if he had been capable of feeling it, what he saw inside would have sickened him.

Marluxia was on his bed, which was perpendicular to the door, and naked save his mane of hair. He was leaning low over Vexen's equally naked form, murmuring something to him as he thrust into him at a leisurely pace. Vexen was lying on his back, his arms pulled up over his head and bound to the headboard with one of the Graceful Assassin's vines. More vines were wound around his lower legs, keeping them spread apart and lifting his lower body off of the mattress at just the perfect angle for penetration. Drops of blood were oozing out of from between the wraps of the vines around his arms and legs. A gag muffled his cries but did nothing to stop the tears that were rolling down his face.

" XI." Xemnas said dangerously, and Marluxia's head whipped up to stare at him in horror. Xemnas had a brief flashback to the night that Ansem had caught Xehanort and Braig in bed together, before he banished it in favor of checking on the Chilly Academic. He ignored Marluxia entirely as the pink haired man scrambled off of the bed.

"Release the vines, Marluxia." Xemnas commanded "Gently." The vines loosened and slithered away back to wherever the Graceful Assassin had summoned them from, and Vexen sagged into the mattress as blood began to stream from the countless puncture wounds since the thorns that created them were no longer there to keep them closed.

Vexen's green eyes were ringed with shadows and wide with pain as the scientist gazed up at his superior, and Xemnas slipped his black coat off, leaving himself naked from the waist up, and carefully wrapped Vexen in it before he gathered him into his arms. He turned to see that Axel had arrived at some point, and the Flurry of Dancing Flames' eyes were flicking back and forth between Marluxia and Vexen.

" VIII," Xemnas said "You are in charge of the castle until VI returns.' Axel nodded, still apparently trying to grasp what had happened. " VI, come with me." A portal then opened in the room, and Xemnas carried Vexen through.

The appeared in the infirmary in the Castle That Never Was, and Xemnas carefully laid Vexen down on an exam table before he turned to face Zexion as the younger Nobody came through the portal.

" VI," he said firmly "You are to treat IV's injuries; do whatever needs to be done. When that is done, send a Dusk to me; we have things that must be discussed."

Zexion bowed his head again. "Yes, Superior."

Xemnas nodded his head once, and then he swept out of the infirmary.

******

Vexen, The Chilly Academic and Rank IV within Organization XIII, felt himself rising from the depths of sleep, and he couldn't stop the whimper that slid past his lips at the pain flooded his senses as he woke.

"It is alright, Vexen," came a voice from somewhere.

"Ze... Zexion?"

"Shhhh, don't talk."

"What happened?" Why was his voice shaking so much? Was he ill?

"It is not for you to worry about now. Go back to sleep and rest." A hand came down to gently rest on his forehead.

"I am in pain."

There was rustling sound, a soft beep, and then the pain began to fade. "Is that better?" Vexen sighed in relief and managed a feeble nod as Zexion's hand moved to grasp his own. "Go back to sleep, IV. You will feel better when you wake up."

Vexen's weakly curled his fingers around Zexion's as what he assumed was a morphine drip helped him sink back into the blackness of sleep.

******

Murmuring voices fell upon his ears, and, as much he tried to ignore him and stay within the warm embrace of sleep, they began to wake him. As he came to, he realized that the pain was dulled this time, not as sharp as it had been before. The voices became clearer, and he realized that they belonged to Zexion and Xemnas.

That had him puzzled; Zexion he could understand. Zexion was Vexen's assistant when needed in the infirmary, so it stood to reason that if Vexen himself was down, then Zexion would be the one administering to his care. Xemnas' presence however made no sense to him. If a member of the Organization was seriously ill or injured, he preferred calling Vexen and Zexion up to his office to report, instead of coming down to the infirmary himself.

Vexen cracked his eyes open with a soft groan, and he saw Zexion's blurry outline sitting in a chair by the foot of the bed. He blinked a few times, and the Cloaked Schemer came into focus as his slate haired head turned to the right.

"He is awake, Superior."

"I see that, VI." Came Xemnas' voice from the opposite corner. "You are dismissed, and I expect a full report on my desk by tomorrow morning."

Zexion stood up from his chair and bowed his head. "Yes, Superior." And then he walked silently from the room.

Xemnas said nothing for several minutes, and Vexen closed his eyes and tried to will himself back to sleep to escape the oppressive silence when the Superior finally spoke.

"Were you willing?"

Vexen shook his head slightly. "No, Superior."

"Were you coerced or threatened in any way?"

This time, Vexen nodded. "Yes."

"Tell me what happened. Leave nothing out."

Without opening his eyes, Vexen heaved a sigh and began to talk. He told his superior of Marluxia's interest in him, how the flower elemental hovered around him frequently and demanded that Vexen drop whatever he was doing and join him in the garden or wherever the Graceful Assassin happened to be. He spoke of how the attention escalated into light touches and caresses that continued despite his obvious dislike and discomfort, how Marluxia had slapped him hard enough to loosen teeth when the he had firmly told him to stop touching him and leave him alone.

"I am your superior in this castle." Marluxia had said as he stood over Vexen as the latter sat slumped on the ground holding his hand to his throbbing jaw "And you will do as I demand, or I will have you wishing for the blackness of oblivion."

XI threatened to make a false report to Xemnas, claiming that Vexen was a traitor and use that as and excuse to execute him. Knowing that Marluxia was more than willing and capable to make good on his threat, Vexen had submitted himself to the neophyte's will, even as his touch make his skin crawl with disgust. The touches had then grown into more when the Lord of Castle Oblivion had pinned him to a wall and kissed him hard. Vexen had struggled to escape it, which resulted in another hard slap and being restrained by the vines so XI could practically molest him in the hallway.

It had been the following night when Marluxia had found him alone in the laboratory, and, using the vines to tie him to a lab table, had raped him for the first time. Things had continued from there, and Vexen quickly learned that any attempt to fight resulted in more pain, though Marluxia liked to say it was merely punishment for insubordination.

"It didn't matter to him what I was doing; if I was sleeping or eating, or working on the project that you assigned. If he demanded my attention, I couldn't refuse him. Doing so was... unpleasant." Vexen explained, his voice raspy from all the screaming and crying he had been doing over the past several days. He heard Xemnas shift in his chair, and a second later, a drinking straw touched his lips. Vexen greedily drank down the cool water in the cup until it was dry, and then he continued speaking. "I couldn't get any work done, I couldn't get any rest, nor could I eat anything. He just wouldn't let me; his 'needs' as he phrased it, were more important that my health and work."

The Chilly Academic could almost hear Xemnas' frown. The Nobody didn't give a damn about any of his subordinates emotionally – he wasn't capable of it – but he did want them to take care of themselves properly, so they could complete their assigned tasks efficiently. By endangering Vexen's health and preventing him from working on the next phase of the Replica Program, Marluxia had incurred the wrath of the Superior; he just didn't know it yet.

He heard Xemnas stand up. "You are to stay in the infirmary, IV," he said evenly "until VI has deemed you well enough to leave. You are to rest and heal, and we will discuss the situation with XI further once you are well."

Vexen opened his eyes then to see Xemnas looking down at him, and for a brief second, he thought he saw the young man that he knew as Xehanort in the Superior's eyes, before he dismissed it as a hallucination caused by the morphine. "Yes, Superior."

Xemnas then walked out of the room, and Vexen reached for the self medicate button on the morphine pump and gave it a press. As the painkiller flooded his veins and started to put him to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder if there had been another reason behind the Superior's rescue of him.

No, he thought as he closed his eyes and drifted off, that simply wasn't possible.

******

Xemnas, The Superior of the In-Between and Rank I within Organization XIII, stood at the Altar of Naught, looking up at the small cluster of hearts that was the start of their own Kingdom Hearts, deep in thought. VI had assured him that IV would heal, something that he knew anyway; he remembered well Xehanort's long path to recovery after Braig's last brutal attack. He also remembered that Even was a constant presence, never leaving the other's side unless it was to bathe or relieve himself and always making sure that either Aeleus or Dilan were with him if he did. Yet he had just left IV alone in the infirmary with no one to watch him...

Xemnas shook his head in an echo of exasperation. It didn't matter. Marluxia was not Braig; the Graceful Assassin wouldn't dare to go after Vexen after being caught in the act. IV was safe for now.

But that still left the question of what to do about XI. Xemnas believed that Vexen had been unwilling, yet he couldn't throw Marluxia from the Organization or punish him in such a way that he was left addled. Letting him go with no punishment at all was completely unacceptable. Doing so would weaken his position as the Superior, damage Vexen's trust, and show Marluxia that he could do whatever he wanted without repercussions. Of course, there was also his and Larxene's little plot to deal with.

Hmmm, maybe a conversation with Xigbar was in order. The Freeshooter would no doubt enjoy the results. Decision made, Xemnas opened a portal to II's rooms and stepped through. "II, I have need of you."

******

When Vexen next woke from his drug induced slumber, Zexion was at his bedside, watching him.

"You told him." the Chilly Academic said accusingly.

Zexion nodded. "I did."

"Why? I did not wish for it to become known."

"Lords Vexen, Marluxia was killing you. He wasn't allowing you to eat or rest, and his thrice damned vines caused you to bleed heavily. Were you waiting for him to injure you so badly that you dissolved into darkness under him before you admitted that he was hurting you?"

"I'm not..." Vexen turned away from the Cloaked Schemer's gaze. His empty chest ached with an echo of pain, and he knew that, if he had a heart, he would have been crying. "It wasn't important."

"Wasn't important... Are you mad? He was physically and sexually torturing you. How is that not important? Did you just expect me to stand by and do nothing?"

"You have no attachments to me."

"You raised me. You are the only parent that I can remember. We cannot feel anything for each other, but I remember that Ienzo loved Even more than anything, and I couldn't sit by and let Marluxia abuse you in such a way."

"Ienzo loved Even. Zexion cannot do the same for Vexen, so again, why did you say anything?"

Zexion sighed and hung his head. "Is it so hard for you to understand that I couldn't bear the thought of you being abused in such a way?"

"It does not matter what I do or do not understand. You shouldn't have said anything to the Superior."

"Well, I did, and it's done now, so now we need to pay attention to the more pressing issue."

"Which is?"

"What Xemnas will do about Marluxia."

"I doubt he'll do anything at all. After all, he did place Marluxia in charge of Castle Oblivion, so he'll probably just lecture him and send him back, with us going back as soon as I'm able."

Zexion was cut off before he could speak by the sound of the main doors to the infirmary opening.

"VI," came Xigbar's unmistakable voice "We need you out here."

Zexion leaned forward in his chair and gently laid his hand across Vexen's for a brief moment before he stood up and walked out of the small private room into the main area of the infirmary.

Vexen tried to go back to sleep, but the voices in the other room, which echoed into his small room, kept him awake. He could clearly hear every word that was being said.

"Kingdom Hearts, II, what did you do to him?"

"Superior's orders." Xigbar said, and though Vexen couldn't see him, he could just picture the grin on the Freeshooter's face. "Can you patch him up?" There was a pained cry -

Marluxia?

- and Zexion sighed in irritation. "I can."

"Get to it then, and report to the Superior once he's taken care of."

"Fine, you may leave, II."

"I'd better stay; he might decide to do something naughty, after all."

Zexion sighed again. "I doubt it. I haven't seen this kind of damage since the last time Braig got his hands on Xehanort, so it's highly unlikely that he'll do more than lay there and cry while I sew him up. So again, you may leave."

"If you're sure...?"

"Yes, Xigbar, I am sure! Now leave!"

"Fine, fine." Xigbar huffed, and Vexen heard his booted footsteps stomping out of the room "I really wanted to watch..." The infirmary door slammed, and Zexion sighed a third time.

"Let's get you taken care of, Marluxia." the Schemer said quietly, though something in his tone made Vexen shudder. With that, he reached over to the morphine pump and gave it a press. He had no desire to hear whatever revenge that Zexion was planning to inflict on the Assassin.

******

Xemnas walked calmly through the infirmary doors, past the others that were hanging about in the hallway, curious as to the source of the cries emanating from within. He found Marluxia restrained on a bloodied table, howling in pain while Zexion quietly sewed up the fissures inflicted by Xigbar.

"VI," he said flatly as he walked up to the table. Marluxia's eyes landed on him, pleading for rescue, but he ignored them. "Isn't such a procedure done normally under anesthesia?"

Zexion nodded once in acknowledgment of the question. "Normally, yes, but I decided to inflict my own punishment on him." He paused in his stitching. "Kindly quit your squalling XI; I'm almost done."

"Was my chosen punishment not enough to satisfy you?"

"Not completely, no. He has done far more to Vexen than Xigbar did to him. I decided that he could take a little more, to make sure the lesson was learned."

Xemnas thought for a second; he knew that Zexion should be punished for such insolence, but he decided to let it go this time. The Cloaked Schemer stubbornly clung to memories as Ienzo, the strongest of which featured Even as his surrogate father, so it was not a shock that he wished for Marluxia to suffer.

VI finished the final stitch, and then he cleaned XI up, before he released the restrains and stepped back. "You may go now, XI."

Still crying, Marluxia shakily sat up and gingerly stepped down from the table, but he crumpled into a sobbing heap on the floor when he tried to walk. Xemnas rolled his eyes, none too gently scooped Marluxia up and carried him out into the hall, where he shoved the bawling Assassin into Saïx's arms and told him to take him to his room. He then went back into the infirmary and shut the doors.

VI was busy sterilizing the table and cleaning his instruments, and a quick check into the private room showed that IV was sleeping deeply under the affects of the painkiller that he had been given.

"How many letters did you send me?" he asked as he leaned against a counter and watched Zexion work.

Zexion paused for a second. "Five, Superior."

"Five, yet only the last one reached me. How did you send the first four?"

"Via the Dusks."

Xemnas frowned. The Dusks took the mail and gave it to Saïx, who sorted it and passed it on to the appropriate people. Dusks were one step below Higher Nobodies, and they flawlessly performed any task that they were given. Losing four letters, all from the same person, was very unlike them, which meant...

Without another word to Zexion, Xemnas strode out of the infirmary, intent on having a word with the Luna Diviner.

******

Vexen was awakened by someone gently shaking him by the shoulder. He grumbled under his breath, and cracked one tired green eye open to see Zexion standing over him, wearing a satisfied smirk.

"What is it?" he grouched.

"The Superior called a meeting. Everyone must attend, even you."

Vexen growled angrily, but he allowed the Cloaked Schemer to help him stand and dress in the standard uniform of black clothing under a black leather coat. Once he was clothed, he portaled directly into his chair in Where Nothing Gathers. He winced upon sitting, expecting to find the hard seat uncomfortable at best, but to his surprise, he sank into a soft cushion, though he couldn't see one. Zexion then portaled into his own chair, and the younger Nobody nodded at him. Vexen understood; the cushion was hidden by an illusion, so no one else would see it and guess why it was needed.

Over the next few minutes, the other members of the Organization portaled into their seats. Saïx, Vexen noted, looked very subdued, and the Berserker kept his eyes on the floor. Marluxia yelped when he sat down, which drew a laugh from Xigbar and Xaldin, and the Graceful Assassin also kept his gaze averted. Xemnas appeared last, and the Superior looked over the assembled Nobodies for a long moment before he began to speak.

"I will not name names here," he said firmly "but there are some among us that think it is acceptable to take advantage of other members of the Organization. Such behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances." He sent a quick look at Marluxia, who flinched. "There are also those who take me for a fool." He looked at Marluxia again, followed by Larxene. "Did you think that I did not know? Or that I wouldn't find out?" He looked at Saïx and then Axel, who shrank back in their seats. Xemnas looked over the other Nobodies for a moment before his gaze landed briefly on Zexion. "XI, XII, and VIII, you three are to return to the Castle That Never Was, to resume your normal duties. IV, V, and VI, you three are to remain at Castle Oblivion, and others will be sent to join you later. VI, I am placing you in charge of Castle Oblivion. Let me make myself perfectly clear, in case some of you didn't understand it the first time. No one, at any time, for any reason, is to harm another member of the Organization outside of normal training. Furthermore, any more plots or hints of of treason against the Organization will result in the guilty party spending the rest of their non-existence as a Dusk. Am I understood?"

There was a general chorus of "Yes, Superior." and Xemnas nodded. "You are dismissed."

The Nobodies portaled out, and Vexen portaled directly into his bed in the infirmary. He was tired and sore, and all he wanted to do was get some sleep and try to catch up all the rest he hadn't been able to get at Castle Oblivion. Zexion appeared a few seconds later, and he helped Vexen undress and get into bed.

"We will return to the Castle Oblivion in the morning." the Cloaked Schemer said quietly as he patted the blankets around his shoulders. Vexen nodded sleepily and was almost asleep when -

"Step out of the room, VI," came Xemnas' voice "I would speak with IV alone."

Zexion's light footsteps walked out of the room, and a second later, the door closed behind him. "Look at me, Vexen." Xemnas said firmly. Vexen wearily turned his head and opened his eyes to see Xemnas standing by the bed looking down at him. The Superior said nothing for the longest moment, and Vexen thought he saw Xehanort instead of Xemnas looking at him again, but then Xemnas spoke, and the image vanished.

"Xehanort's debt to Even is paid." he said, and then he walked out of the room without saying another word. Vexen watched the empty doorway for a long moment before he laid his head back down and closed his eyes.

Maybe, he thought as he drifted off to sleep, it was possible after all.

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