"You lost your partner."

Water met the metallic Nobody's face as her body was thrown into the stream. Her arms shook as she struggled to push herself up, coughing. A gloved hand grabbed the back of her head and pushed it towards the water, causing her to struggle.

"We don't lose our partners."

Axis' body began to flail wildly as she began to claw for air. Her head was lifted out of the water.

"Understand me? We... do... not… lose… our… partners!"

With each accentuated word, the steely Nobody's face met the water in a frenzy. She began to become desperate, gasping desperately for air each time her head came out. Her vision started to blur out of panic.

"Xanok."

The ice Nobody turned towards where the voice came from. Clexia, Xyre, and Xeac were all standing together, watching their leader attempt to drown their companion. Xeac looked unmoved, as the other two Nobodies appeared obviously distraught. Her boots clicked against the stone and dirt ground as she approached the trio.

"Now, I know Xeac didn't say anything, but what about you two?" Every breath caused fog to appear in the air, "Which one of you two wants to take her place?" Xyre and Clexia both kept their eyes locked on the girl, "Well? Which one of you spineless beings opened their mouth?" Both figures kept calm throughout the interrogation, "No response, huh? Xeac."

"Y-yes?" He stuttered.

"Scan them and tell me which one said it." He hesitated, looking at the two Nobodies. Their gaze shifted to him, waiting for him to make his move.

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't? You can dive through a person's mind. Do it… now."

"They need to be asleep, I can only scan dreams."

Xanok paused, thinking for a moment.

"That can be arranged." Summoning her knives, she placed them against both of the Nobodies' throats. "If you don't confess now, I'll put you both in a cold nap, letting Xeac do his job." She moved the clear metal against both of their necks, causing crimson to slowly leak, "I promise it won't be half as bad if you do it before I freeze you." Her silver eyes seemed to spark for a second. "Fine, have it your way." Her orbs began to narrow as the air around the three Nobodies began to drop in temperature. One by one, the hair on Xyre's and Clexia's heads began to slowly cover with frost as neither of them flinched or moved. Xanok's mouth began to curve into a ghastly smile as she noticed Clexia being the first to shake, her body trying to make up for the lack of heat. The smaller Nobody fell to her knees, her body beginning to shut down. Her violet eyes started to haze over as her breathing slowed.

"Stop!" The temperature change stopped. "It was me." The two knives disappeared in flurry of snow and darkness.

"Wasn't that easy, Xyre?" Xanok brought up a gloved hand under his chin, acting like she was caressing it, "See how much easier it is when you take responsibility?" Her fingers tensed grabbing his jowl. "I knew you said it; you never liked me from the first moment you saw me." She pulled him closer. "You need to be trained, like a dog." Her right hand made a fist before connecting with his face. He coughed up blood—some of it was frozen. Xyre returned to standing tall, not moving. She punched him again, this time in the gut, causing him to double over in pain. A black boot connected with his side, causing him to curl into a ball. "You're weak, Xyre." She grabbed his face again, lifting him up. "But I'm going to make you stronger." She threw him onto his back. "Xeac," The Dreamer snapped out of his daze, looking at his commander, "Take him back, we're finished here. I'll take Clexia." Xeac nodded before lifting up the bruised Xyre and summoning a Corridor of Darkness. Xanok had Clexia in her arms and went first.

Dexlyk walked into the checkpoint just in time to see Axis slowly climbing to her feet, spitting out water. He lowered his headphones as he helped her to her feet.

"What happened?" Axis sputtered out, between spurts of water.

"Nothing."

"…" She looked at the boy before lowering her head in exhaustion. She raised it back up to him as he summoned a Corridor of Darkness, "Honestly." Dexlyk looked down, connecting his cobalt orbs with her red ones. Her gaze seemed to haunt him. He shuddered before brushing his hair in front of his eyes and placing his headphones back over his ears.

"Xyre, you're so stupid."

"Heh, I know you are, but what am I?"

"I mean it, don't keep getting on Xanok's bad side. You don't know what she's capable of."

"Eh, I can handle it, man." The archer's left eye was swollen shut as he stared at his roommate.

"I really don't think you can." Dexlyk looked downwards, annoyed at Xyre's ignorance, "I'm not saying this to control you; I'm saying this because you're my… Well, you're my…" The Nobody stumbled over his words.

"Friend?"

"What? No. Don't be stupid." Dexlyk's face reddened as he turned his back on his friend. He rose to his feet as he placed his headphones over his ears, "I was gonna say roommate." He walked out of the door, into the foyer of the mansion and towards the library, where Xanok spends most of her days.

"Hehe, he thinks I'm his friend," Xyre summoned an arrow in his taped hand, inspecting the feathers and the head, "He's not half bad himself." The arrow disappeared as he drifted off to sleep.

Xeac sat in his room, legs crossed on his bed with Axis laying down, her head resting in his lap. He seemed on edge, a rarity for the usually stoic Nobody. Looking down, he brushed some hair out of Axis' face. I never should've spoken out. His hands clenched, angry with himself for not following orders. I fucked up. He raised his head towards the wall as a tear went down his cheek and his brow was furrowed. He had to know what he caused. Shaking, he closed his eyes and attempted to visualize.

He saw the color green. His whole vision was filled with this putrid emerald. He knew he was in the right place. "Xyre!" He called out, floating in this void, "Xyre, it's Xeac! We need to talk!"

"Talk?"

"Talk?"

"Talk?" Various voices echoed around him, taunting him, all cutting each other off before the first one finishes.

"Why didn't you talk earlier?" They began to meld together, forming one unified voice, "I would've appreciated that."

"I—I couldn't." His gaze lowered, disappointed in himself.

"You couldn't!?" The voice became harsh as the green changed to a black. A thumping could be heard in the distant, "You couldn't open your pathetic little mouth? You said her name. You wanted her to stop. You should've suffered."

"I know."

"Face it, you're a coward." The words began to fade and shift tone, now all clashing with each other.

"I—I couldn't."

"Could the lapdog not speak out against orders?"

"Could he not bite the hand of abuse?"

"Could he not see what was wrong with the scene?"

"No." The darkness began to fade, slowly taking on a more surreal, earthly olive. The sound of birds began to fill the void, and it seemed more natural. The voice became calming as a figure appeared before him. Its grey eyes filled in first before his emerald hair and tan skin and a grey coat appeared on him.

He said three words: "Then I will."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Two more identical figures appeared next to him—one in a black coat, one in a white one, "It's just who you are."

"And this is who I am." The three came together forming Xyre, "and I will speak out. I will call her out. No one deserves that."

"Xyre, listen, just don't." Xeac floated closer to the archer, "Don't be a hero. You don't have the stuff."

"..."

"Ok."

"I'm glad your head's still in tact." Xeac returned to his normal, commanding self.

"Ok."

"I just wanted to apologize."

"Ok."

"I'm leaving now."

"Ok." Xyre's image slowly rotated away before fading into the green void around him.

Xeac's eyes slowly opened, their yellow irises now at ease, free of Xyre's mind. He looked down at Axis, who was now curled up against him, at ease. He sighed before resting his back against the wall and drifting off to sleep.

Xyre's eyes opened to Clexia staring at him, "Eh, what's up, doc?" He tried to chuckle before grasping his chest. She didn't laugh.

"Idiot." Her hair was covering most of her eyes. Her arms were crossed and her feet were raised up onto the bed.

"Hey—oww—I didn't want you to get hurt." He tried raising himself up in bed, to get a better look at the girl. She moved her head to the side, breaking eye contact, "You and I both know what happened today was messed up." She winced as she turned her head even further. The cut Xanok left on her neck was covered with bandages, but it still stung if too much strain was placed on it. Xyre squeaked out a laugh, "Yours hurts, too, huh?" His good hand pulled down the neck of his shirt, to show off the same mark. Her eyes slowly moved back to him before she brushed some hair out of her face.

"Burns."

"Yeah, you're telling me," He raised his bad arm, "Try having this also."

"Idiot." Clexia's tone seemed more upbeat than robotic this time; a smile almost broke her lips.

"That's me," Xyre tried to smile through all the pain, "The idiot who always opens his mouth." She smirked before moving to his bed, sitting on the edge. She brushed more hair out of her face, only leaving one strand down the middle, "You're not too banged up, are you?" She shook her head, "Mind coming closer so I can have an easier time checking? In case you haven't noticed, my eye is kinda swollen shut." She nodded before scooting closer, "Closer?" She lowered her head as his good hand brushed the last strand of hair out of her eyes before moving to her chin, pulling her closer. Her violet eyes caught a glimpse of his grey ones before they closed and their lips parted. Their lips touched for a second before she pulled back, cheeks burning red.

"I have to go." A Corridor of Darkness appeared before her; she ran through it, leaving Xyre alone in his room.

"Uh… bye?"

"Morning, Organization." Xanok was at her usual position in front of the Nobodies. Xeac and Dexlyk were by her side. She stopped in front of Xyre, who was in the middle, and eyeing her, "Since a week has passed since the little incident," Her silver eyes shot daggers at Axis, who was staring forward, diligently, "I have decided that it is time we recruited some more members." She took a few more steps, stopping in front of Clexia, "And since we all know how kindhearted and welcoming I am, I found two new Nobodies, fresh off the boat." She snapped her fingers, " Yelx. Xeol. Come introduce yourselves." Two hooded figures walked through the doors of the mansion, stopping on either side of Dexlyk and Xeac, "You two can remove your hoods, you're home, now." Xyre's teeth scraped as he heard the fakeness in her voice. Axis blinked for the first time, today, hearing her ruse. Clexia snorted air out her nose, annoyed at her motion.

The two, new Nobodies removed their hoods. Xeol's shaggy black hair fell to the tips of his ears with some random clumps pointing to the side, trying to look neat, but failing miserably. His hazel eyes seemed dull and expressionless. He seemed reminiscent of a spider, with long, spindly arms, and legs. Each finger looked to be unusually long. He stood with a slight bow in his legs, making his figure look like something straight out of a nightmare.

The second Nobody, Yelx had a slight smile as his hood lowered—a stark contrast to his neat, brown hair, pushed flat against his scalp. His blue eyes had a natural radiance about them. Clexia and Xyre flinched, being reminded of someone they know. Compared to Xeol, Yelx appeared as a bodybuilder—the only person with more muscle mass in the room was Xeac. He opened his mouth, showcasing white teeth, "So now what, introductions?"

"No." Xanok placed her hands behind her back, "First, we have to see how well you fare in combat." She stepped forward, "I would personally love to challenge you, but I just don't feel it would be right. Dexlyk. Xyre. Step Forward." Three Nobodies walked towards Xanok, "These two will be your challengers. I find their specializations to be fitting to you two."

"Xanok, wait." Silver eyes glared towards Xeac, who also stepped forward, "Let me prove myself, today. Xyre is clearly not yet able to fight to the maximum of his abilities. I have yet to have a worthy skirmish. Let me take his spot." The leader gazed at the Dreamer.

"Fine," She began to walk towards the back garden with the rest of the Nobodies in tow, "Good job, Xeac. Always stepping up."

After Xanok left, he caught the gaze of the archer, and saw his mouth move, "Thank you."

The back garden composed mainly of dying grass, brown patches of dirt and trampled flowers, much to the chagrin of Xyre. The four Nobodies who weren't fighting stood near the doors to the Foyer as Yelx and Xeol stood on one side of the garden while Xeac and Dexlyk stood on the other side.

"Summon your weapons." Xanok commanded. Yelx held out his hand as a blowgun appeared in it. His face hasn't changed since he first removed his hood. Xeol was next; he held out both arms as a silver guitar manifested and he leaned back, supporting its weight. His right hand readied to pluck. Dexlyk cracked his knuckles before spinning around and causing his sickle to appear. He grinned as he rested it against his shoulders as he placed his headphones upon his ears. Lastly, Xeac widened his legs and clapped his hands together, summoning his massive claymore. His knuckles tightened around the hilt, readied for battle.

"Start."

Dexlyk was first to rush, charging at Xeol with his scythe behind his back, but the assassin nobody was ready. He brought his weapon to his mouth and launched numerous darts at his foe, Dexlyk bent his body around, dodging most of the shots before leaping into the air and spinning in a circle, bringing his weapon down full force. Xeol slinked away, using his limbs to avoid, revealing Yelx standing behind him who played a single chord on his instrument, causing Dexlyk to go flying in a small tornado. Dexlyk slammed into the wall, feet first, swiping his weapon in an arc downward, destroying the wind.

Xeac took his chance while the spider-y nobody wasn't paying attention. He let out a guttural roar as he swiped his blade down, just missing the Nobody who dodged last minute. Screaming, he brought the heavy blade back up, slamming into the blowgun, causing Xeol to lose balance. Again and again, strikes were thrown at the assassin, but he was too quick. Xeol barely seemed to even break a sweat, avoiding the oversized sword.

Dexlyk laughed, "You like sound, dontcha?" He opened his mouth wide as he scraped his sickle against the ground, creating a shrieking shockwave. The guitarist braced himself, strumming as many chords as possible, trying to cancel out the never-ending sound, but every blast of wind just was met headfirst with a shriek. Yelx began to lose his footing as the sound finally hit his body, sending him tumbling backwards, towards Xeac who reacted last minute by swinging his claymore up, striking the musical Nobody in the side. Yelx rolled on the ground before slamming into the far wall of the garden. Xeol looked over and rolled his eyes at his partner. He took this time to go on the offensive, lunging at the Dreamer with a dart poking out of his blowgun, stabbing the Nobody in the chest before finally shaking the spider off. Xeac and Dexlyk approached the assassin, now huddled in a pile on the ground with their weapons drawn. They both nodded at each other before readying their final strike.

Just before they're weapons connected, however, they were swept up into the air as the musician played numerous tabs. The dervish picked up in speed and intensity as Yelx played his instrument faster and faster. Soon, the duo was twenty feet off of the ground, as Yelx provided cover for his partner, who slowly rose to his feet.

"Oi! You okay, dude?" Xeol nodded as he looked up at the enemies swirling around as an idea hit him. He aimed his darts at the guitar, "Uhhh, you're not thinking about shooting me with those, are you?" He shook his head as seven darts left his weapon, suddenly picked up at the beginning of the vortex and gaining speed as they spun around and around, nearing the two Nobodies in the air.

"Dexlyk, incoming." Xeac tapped the reaper who nodded and clapped his hands, creating a wave rivaling the vortex before cancelling it out and rendering the darts useless, flying off to far corners of the forest before disappearing into darkness.

Dexlyk came crashing down onto Xeol in a frenzy, placing the shaft of the scythe behind his neck and pulling him close, unleashing one final shriek in his face, knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Xeac came crashing back to earth with his blade pointing straight down, creating a crater before Yelx, pushing him onto his back Slowly, Xeac made his way out of the fog before rushing at the musician hacking his sword down. In a last ditch effort, the blue eyed boy grabbed his guitar by the neck clashed it against the claymore, rivaling Xeac.

"Not half bad, kid."

"Thanks, I like to work out," Yelx joked as the two separated before he rushed against Xeac. The golden-eyed boy blocked every attack with ease. Finally, he used his strength to shove Yelx back one more time, who was now panting extremely heavy. Summoning all of his strength, he charged as fast as his legs would carry him towards Xeac. With all of his might, he swung his guitar like a bat, hoping to nail the challenger in the head.

Xeac remained calm, however. He raised his claymore and brought it crashing down in the perfect moment to collide and smash the guitar to pieces. The musician fell to his side from the blow. The tip of the claymore was placed below his chin.

"We win."

Wow, talk about a long hiatus, right? Haha well, I had this in my laptop forever, so I decided to look it over and after doing so, I felt the need to actually make some changes and publish this bad boy. I apologize again for the wait, but I hope this chapter is worth it...

Anyway, it is balls late, and I'm tired as hell after actually making this brain vomit legible. I hope you like it... And Oh! One More Thing! There is one more OC spot open... Yeah... I kinda forgot to mention that haha, anyways, the rubric is in the first chapter. So fill that out and send it in, first come, first serve. Best of luck, Peace.

The Guy46