AN: I'm starting a oneshot series, because I believe there's more to Namine than we got to see. I hope you like it, and feedback is greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Square-Enix.

A Learning Experience

"Must I watch her?" Vexen sneered at the girl, who was actually hiding behind Marluxia.

Namine couldn't help but gaze at the strange man in fear. Even during her time at the World That Never Was, she had never seen him. He had maniacal green eyes and blonde hair that hung limply. Something told her that he wasn't going to be nicer than Marluxia or Larxene. She had only been in Castle Oblivion for two weeks, but she had already discovered no one cared about her.

Marluxia raised an eyebrow and shoved Namine towards Vexen. She stumbled and nearly landed on a boiling pot of water. "I order you to, everyone else is busy."

It was a lie, only he himself was busy, but Vexen did not need to know that.

"Be careful, if you had knocked her into something… Moreover, mind your manners! I'll have you know that I outrank you!"

Marluxia appeared bored. "Yes, but I am lord of the castle, and therefore your superior. You're not committing treason now, are you Vexen?"

Vexen looked away, restraining a growl. Marluxia left the room, leaving a trembling Namine against a fuming Vexen.

"…Just don't touch anything. I bet you're just as disrespectful as that fool!"

Namine flinched and sat there. After hearing his tirade about respect for several minutes, she asked. "Is there anything I can do to help… sir?"

Vexen snorted. "At least you're not too awful. Figures. That's the problem these days. The neophytes are much too arrogant."

This continued and eventually Namine got bored. Guiltily, she began to tune the Nobody out. She began sketching the underground lab, and all the beakers and Bunsen burners. For a moment, she was puzzled as to why she knew the names of such weird equipment, but quickly figured her somebody had taken chemistry. There wasn't a whole lot she knew about her, besides that she had gone to school with Sora, and the other intruder, Riku. For some strange reason, she knew more about Sora than Kairi.

Soon, Vexen became silent, too engrossed in his work to bother continuing his rant. He cautiously stirred a thick clear liquid. After several minutes, he poured it into a strange mold. Namine wished she knew what he was doing, but was too scared of angering him and starting another outburst to ask.

The basement was cold and she allowed a lone shiver to escape. While it was much colder than the top floor, she didn't mind. The dark setting was definitely better than the blinding white of upstairs, and she wanted to stay for as long as possible. If she complained, she doubted Vexen would hesitate to kick her out...

"Girl!"

Namine looked up, to see Vexen glaring at her impatiently. "…Yes?"

"Try and hold this." Vexen tossed a silver key blade at her. She fumbled with it, and cocked her head at the scientist.

"See if you can fight with it."

Vexen summoned a dusk. Namine tentatively swung at it, expecting it to disappear like she had seen Sora do countless times. To her surprise, the key blade appeared to turn into sparkling pixels and vanished. She flinched away from the dusk, not sure if it would hurt her or not.

Vexen vanished the dusk. "Stop flinching. Dusks won't harm you. Doesn't anyone teach you anything?"

He muttered the last part under his breath, but Namine still picked up on it. She shook her head.

Vexen seemed appalled. "You know how your powers work right?"

Namine nodded.

"Good, but is there anything else you know?"

Namine hesitated before answering. "Just a little about my somebody, sir."

"Yes, Kairi can use the key blade. That's why, theoretically, you should be able to as well."

This greatly puzzled Vexen, perhaps she had just never felt in danger enough. 'XIII can, but the girl should have already shown signs…'

"That's why I had you try that key blade. I've been trying to make an artificial one in my spare time, if we had three key blade wielders, then we could farther are goal."

"Sir, could you explain to me how everything works? Marluxia… he doesn't tell me much…" Namine played with a strand of hair, positive he would scold her. But she really didn't know anything, including who XIII was or that there were two key blade wielders in the Organization.

The switch from mad scientist to professor was startling, but Namine wasn't going to complain. "Yes of course. When a person gives into the darkness, they become a heartless. When a strong person does that, they create a lower ranking nobody and a heartless. Nobodies like us were exceptionally strong people, so strong, that the remaining shell, us, retains their appearance and thoughts, but without emotion. You on the other hand, are a special case. Kairi was a Princess of Heart, in other words, her heart had no darkness. Instead of creating a heartless, only you were born. Actually, when I have more time, I'll run some tests and see exactly what effect that has on you…"

"Did you ever know my somebody?" Namine wasn't quite sure why she asked that, but ever since he had started lecturing her, she had a nagging feeling of déjà vu.

Vexen looked at her sharply. "Your somebody knew mine at one point, yes. But that is none of your concern."

Namine nodded and looked down. Vexen continued as if nothing had happened. "Every Nobody can control the lower ranking nobodies. Also, each Nobody has their own unique weapon, along with a certain 'power.' For example, I have a shield I can summon at will, and I fight with ice. Marluxia uses a scythe, as you know, and controls flowers."

"You on the other hand, are different, your power is more precise, and I don't believe you have a weapon…" Vexen trailed off, thinking about the experiments that he would have to do. In fact, her power might be vaguer than they were lead to believe. Vexen would like conduct some experiments if Marluxia, the bastard, would let him. Vexen would probably have to trick him; the neophyte would never do anything to benefit him.

Namine blinked at the man who had suddenly fallen silent. Vexen continued. "Do you even know our goal?"

"To capture Sora?"

Vexen sneered at how naïve she was. Maybe he would have to have a talk with Marluxia. Namine shrunk back, thinking the glare was directed at her. "While that is one small goal, ultimately, we desire Kingdom Hearts. If XIII, along with Sora, release enough hearts, Kingdom Hearts will be complete. Along with more power, we will also get our hearts back."

Vexen wondered if that would even work on the young Nobody, seeing as her somebody was alive, and she didn't have a heartless. He stopped himself from sighing. He probably shouldn't have told her all of that, but it would spite Marluxia for sure. Besides the girl would most likely be dead as soon as she finished with Sora's memories. Vexen almost wished he had a heart so he could feel bad for her.

Namine returned to her forgotten drawing. There was the table full of materials. She thought of something. Within several minutes, there was a lone key blade slowly dissolving.

Vexen stared at the girl. She brought back memories he wished he had forgotten. He envied some who forgot. Vexen was cursed with remembering his old life in full detail. Kairi had always been bright for her age, and he could see it in Namine. Although she was only three, he had brought the princess in the lab, and had assisted him with experiments. Namine was soaking up the information like a sponge.

Eventually, nostalgia got the best of him. "Namine, get over here. I require your assistance."

"Sir…?"

"Don't just stand there! Come over here and pour that blue vial into the red one."

Namine complied, and the familiarity grew. She shook her head, there was no use dwelling on things that she doubted her somebody even remembered.

They continued for what seemed like hours. Vexen would occasionally explain what it was she was doing, but most of the time, she was just told to grab a certain colored test tube. It didn't bother her though. She honestly did not want to know what awful thing it would be used for. Besides, if she asked too many questions, he might get annoyed.

Eventually, a dark portal appeared at the edge of the lab. Vexen frowned and hissed, "Drop it."

Namine frowned, but did as she was told. The glass vial shattered, sending purple liquid everywhere. Smoke started to form. Namine held her breath.

Vexen's expression quickly snapped from alarm to anger. "You insolent girl! I told you not to touch anything! You're just as bad as the rest. There's such a lack of respect in the castle!"

Marluxia raised an eyebrow. He had not been out of the portal in time to see the vial fall, but could derive a conclusion. "What was that, IV?"

Vexen looked abashed, while inwardly smirking. Marluxia had taken the bait. "Nothing at all, XI. …Please, take your girl before she does any other damage."

Namine looked downwards. Vexen had vaguely explained Nobodies couldn't feel emotions. Still, Namine appeared to feel hurt.

"Very well, I'll be nice. Although… I might need you to watch her again." Marluxia descended up the stairs, with Namine in tow.

Vexen rolled his eyes. Stupid girl… Didn't she realize? If Marluxia knew he actually didn't mind her, he would never see her again. He started at the forgotten drawing on the floor. The Nobody knew he should throw it out, but he picked it up and put it into his research journal, for scientific purposes, of course. It was an accurate rendition of the key blade.