I hope all of you are staying safe! I would love to know your thoughts on this chapter and the last. Enjoy!

The ride through space to Radiant Garden was quiet, which Lauriam was grateful for. He didn't think he could handle much more of Vexen's—Even's—Vexen's outbursts, or more of Zexion pretending to be ever so helpful. Lexaeus seemed to be just as quiet as ever, a small blessing, though he scowled slightly less than he did before. Even Elrena was silent, sitting next to Lauriam in the back of the cockpit. She had her arms crossed like she was keeping herself from drawing one of her knives as she stared out the windows at the stars, or at the backs of the others gathered up at the control console. Occasionally she gave Lauriam a look, a frown with one eyebrow raised, but shrugged when he matched it, and said nothing.

Lauriam sighed very quietly through his nose. He knew that while she'd finally agreed to the present arrangement, Elrena still thought it was an insane idea to accept help from these three, and Lauriam couldn't blame her. He wasn't any happier than she was, though there were very few options for them to take at the moment. Beyond asking Namine, there was no one else he could think of that would be able to assist with his memories.

Namine was absolutely out of the question. He wasn't a fool; there was no way she would want to help him, not after how he had treated her at Castle Oblivion. What was more, he had no inclination to subject himself to the torrent of negative emotions he knew he would feel upon seeing her again. Even hearing her name made his stomach twist unpleasantly. No, it was best to not even contemplate her as an avenue for assistance—there was no reason for either of them to see one another at all.

And besides, he now had another option. It was nearly as unpleasant, in his opinion, but he was tired of wasting time. He'd spent the last couple of weeks trying to piece together the memories that had flooded him the second time he'd faded, but they were so disjointed that it was difficult to know where to start.

The most important memory was, of course, Strelitzia. His dearest little sister. Even now, he couldn't believe he'd ever been able to forget someone so precious to him. The memory of her, her soft voice and sweet smile and earnest heart, had come first and strongest, a bright and buoying presence in the tumult. It was as if he had been living in a house with heavily curtained windows, and one long forgotten window had suddenly opened, letting soft daylight into a darkened room. Elrena's memory was another window, the curtain falling away. The glass of both, though, was warped, and what was visible through them could be seen only in strange and discordant pieces. He knew there were other windows, other doorways, just beyond his reach, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite bring them into focus.

As a result, he had only been able to put together the major parts of his past. Strelitzia was his little sister, and long ago they had been keyblade wielders together in a city rather like the capital of Corona until…something had happened, something he couldn't quite reach but that gave him a sick feeling of fear whenever he tried to think of it. Whatever it was, he hadn't been able to find Strelitzia after, and Elrena had helped him search for her.

Beyond that, very little seemed to make sense. There were shadowed faces, muffled voices, flashes of emotion, but little to string them together. It was maddening, and had done nothing to improve his emotional state during his time in Corona. He'd spent most of his days since his recompletion going through the motions of normalcy while trying to think of any possible way off of the world, and he didn't regret leaving it behind, nor was he in a rush to return.

It wasn't that he hadn't missed the place-he had, even without his heart. He had particularly missed his parents. They weren't his birth parents, of course, but the two had taken him in when he still wasn't quite an adult, wandering alone without any memories, and he knew they considered him to be their son. They were kind people, and he regretted how much his absence had hurt them while he was gone as much as he regretted the pain and worry he could see in their eyes when he'd informed them he was leaving once again.

Lauriam resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. This was something he had not missed when he'd lacked a heart-all of the burdensome emotions like guilt and regret, which made it so much harder to make decisions with a cool head. He regretted hurting them with his absence, but leaving was something he simply had to do. He knew now, without any doubt, that he didn't belong there, that his home and family really were somewhere else. Here was proof at last that the void he had carried in his heart since he had first woken up in Corona years ago, knowing his name and little else, hadn't been merely a defect of his personality but the result of cherished parts of him having been sealed away. Suddenly gaining an opportunity to leave that world without having to experience the unpleasant process of losing his heart yet again was something he couldn't just throw away.

The arrival of his former colleagues had thus been the worst kind of blessing. Lauriam couldn't help but wonder if he should consider it a punishment for his previous actions in the Organization, being forced to ask Vexen, Zexion, and Lexaeus of all people for help. At least they had assisted in finding Elrena, something he really was grateful for, despite everything. Hearing her say his true name for the first time in years had filled him with a warm relief he hadn't known he was capable of feeling. It was proof that he wasn't losing his mind, that someone else remembered him as he had once been. But Elrena would only be in Radiant Garden for a day before leaving again, and then he would be alone with the others…

Lauriam folded his hands tightly in his lap. There was nothing to be done about it. Either they would be able to assist with his memories, and he would finally know what had happened to him so long ago, or their attempts would fail, and he would contact Elrena and they would leave Radiant Garden and its inhabitants far behind. Either way, it was as Zexion had said. It would be foolish to not use resources when they presented themselves, even if they were incredibly obnoxious and untrustworthy resources.

He glanced up at the three, and found to his annoyance that Vexen was watching him from the corner of his eye. Lauriam straightened up and met his gaze, holding it without a word. A muscle in Vexen's jaw twitched, but he turned away with a haughty sniff. Free of observation, Lauriam rolled his eyes. Truly as obnoxious as ever, heart or no.

"Ah," Ienzo said suddenly, "nearly there."

He pointed out the window, and Lauriam looked up to see a large world drawing nearer. Elrena leaned over slightly to look past him, interest or perhaps simply relief from boredom lightening her features. Lauriam's annoyance faded, replaced by curiosity, and he too leaned forward to take a better look at where he would be staying for the foreseeable future.

The world really was radiant, even in the dimming light as night approached. From this distance Lauriam could see that there were few other words to describe it—the world shone bright with color, light glimmering off waterways and fountains that cast rainbows into the air surrounding a huge castle at the center of a circular city. As they drew closer, he could see that parts of it weren't quite as lovely as the others, but there was evidence of construction. Cranes and other machinery ranged around the outer sections of the circular town, as well as in the sections to the left-hand side of the castle.

"Our world suffered greatly during its time in the darkness. Parts of the city are still under construction, as well as the gardens," Ienzo said as they descended. "But the castle is rebuilt, for the most part, and the residential areas and the marketplace are closed to being fully restored. The Restoration Committee is doing quite well, all things considered."

Lauriam could make out a long staircase connecting the castle to the rest of the city, terminating at a gate that opened to a town square surrounded by houses. Standing at the edge of the square, looking up at the ship as it descended, were three figures. Elrena made a noise of distaste as she recognized one of them at the same time Lauriam did: Xaldin, his hair a little neater in its ponytail and wearing a sharp blue uniform, but unmistakably their old colleague. His arms were crossed, and though Lauriam couldn't quite make out his expression, he could just picture the familiar frown. Beside him stood a tall older man in a long white coat, a red scarf resting on his shoulders just beneath the tips of his blonde hair. The third figure was a woman, her hair tied back in a neat braid with a pink ribbon that matched her dress, the skirts of which whipped in the wind kicked up by the gummiship engine.

They touched down with a slight jostle. Aeleus rose from his seat and went to the door, holding it open. Even exited quickly, and Ienzo followed. Aeleus waited, looking solemnly over at Lauriam and Elrena.

"Oh, how polite," Elrena muttered, but she stood up anyway, and together she and Lauriam left the ship, their bags slung over their shoulders.

Even the air of this world was light and refreshing, a gentle breeze carrying the scents of flowers and running water. Lauriam breathed it in as he went down the ramp towards the three who awaited them. Xaldin really was frowning, and it only deepened as he caught sight of Lauriam and Elrena, his violet eyes narrowing. The older man and the woman were smiling, however, and both greeted Zexion and Vexen cheerfully.

Zexion returned the greeting, but Vexen only nodded, wearing a frown identical to Xaldin's. As Vexen moved away, Lauriam thought he heard Xaldin murmur something, and while he couldn't quite make out the words, he did hear Vexen's response.

"As if this was my idea," he hissed, crossing his arms tightly.

Xaldin only shook his head in answer, gaze flickering back to Lauriam and Elrena. Lexaeus glanced at the unhappy pair with a slight frown, but if Zexion heard, he showed no sign. He had been chatting quietly with the woman, but now he turned to face the old man again, smiling.

"Master Ansem, this is Lauriam and Elrena," Zexion said, gesturing at the two of them in turn. "Elrena, Lauriam, this is our teacher, Lord Ansem the Wise.

"Please," Ansem said, "there's no need for titles. It's a pleasure to meet you both." He held out a hand to Lauriam, who shook it with a nod. He'd heard a few whispers about an Ansem the Wise during his time in the old Organization, and knew Xehanort had been searching for him quite recently too. The old man held himself as if he were used to ceremony, despite his words.

"An honor," Lauriam said. "We appreciate your hospitality." A few feet away, he heard Vexen cough, almost certainly to hide a snort. Lauriam ignored him entirely.

Ansem's mouth twitched, but he directed his smile to Elrena, holding out his hand again. She had been hovering just behind Lauriam, but after a moment she leaned forward and shook his hand too, quickly but firmly.

"And this," said Zexion, holding a hand out to the woman with the braid, "is Aerith. She's a member of the Restoration Committee, so she can tell you whatever you'd like to know about the world. She'll also show you where you'll be staying." He smiled at the pair, the picture of politeness. "If you need anything from us, we'll most likely be in the castle. It's getting late, so I'm sure you're both tired, but I'll try to visit later tomorrow once you're settled in."

Lauriam nodded, and Zexion nodded back with a polite smile before turning and heading for the large gate that stood in front of the castle steps. Ansem and the rest of his students followed, though Vexen threw one last look at them over his shoulder, eyes narrowed suspiciously once again. Lauriam only raised an eyebrow, but Elrena twiddled her fingers at him with a smirk. Vexen grimaced and stomped off after his colleagues.

"Finally," Elrena said, putting a hand on her hip. "I thought we'd have to put up with their garbage the whole night."

"Elrena," Lauriam said quietly.

"Come on, I know you're happy they're gone." The look she gave him was so familiar that Lauriam couldn't help but smile.

"You aren't wrong."

Elrena grinned. "Am I ever?"

Aerith let out a slight laugh. "You two are close, I take it."

"Guess so," Elrena said nonchalantly, but she was still smiling. "So, you're our tour guide?"

"I'd like to think of myself as a helpful new friend," Aerith said, and while her smile was sweet, there was something in her expression that told Lauriam she would not put up with Elrena's attitude if pressed. "The others should be putting the finishing touches on where you'll be staying right about now. Shall we?"

She waited just long enough for them to nod before she turned on her heel and led the way across the small bridge to the gate, pushing it open with ease

"He's staying in the castle?" Elrena asked, looking up at it with distaste. They could just see the others nearing the top of the long staircase.

"No, it's a house in the garden grounds," Aerith replied as they started up the stairs themselves. "We're still rebuilding some of the residential areas, and Ienzo told us you were intending to stay mostly in the gardens, so we thought it might be easier."

Lauriam wondered if Ienzo had also told them to isolate him from the rest of the town, but kept his thoughts to himself. If Aerith and her colleagues were unaware of precisely why Lauriam would be keeping to the gardens, he saw no reason to inform them until it was necessary. He looked around as they climbed, taking in the view of the town, and then up at the castle ahead. An enormous gear-work mechanism was embedded into the wall above the massive front doors, and for a split second they flashed in his vision, replaced by a similar set of gears above the swinging pendulum of an enormous clock-tower.

Lauriam's foot slipped on the edge of a step in surprise. He quickly regained his balance, and when he looked back up, the image was gone, the castle towering above them once again. Elrena shot him a questioning look, but he only shook his head. They could discuss their memories later, alone.

"Watch your step," Aerith said over her shoulder as they reached a landing halfway up to the castle. "You'll be able to access the eastern gardens from the inner and outer walls too, but you can cut across the city quickly using these paths."

From this height, Lauriam could see that the two paths that descended from the landing cut right through the cliffs surrounding the castle. Between the cliffs and the castle itself, however, was a deep moat, mist swirling through the gap.

Aerith pushed open the gate to the landing, and pointed down the left-hand path. "The west garden is down that way. It's already in bloom," she said with a smile, "we managed to get everything planted there before spring. The path circles around the back of the castle to the northern garden-that one is brand new, so it's empty right now-and keeps going until you reach the east garden. That one is pretty bare too, unfortunately."

She quickly crossed the landing to yet another gate to their right, pushing it open. Lauriam followed, but turned to look for a moment in the direction of the west garden. From this far up, he could see the tops of trees and splashes of color filling a large wedge-shaped section of city.

"We can take a walk through it tomorrow if you want," Aerith said. She was still holding the gate open for them, and Elrena stood beside her, hands on her hips.

"That would be nice," Lauriam said. "I'd like to know what grows here."

"All kinds of flowers and plants, really," Aerith replied as they set off down the path. "There's a seed bank in the castle, and luckily it was still intact when the world was restored."

"Seed bank?" Elrena asked.

"It's a vault that stores seeds for every variety of flower or plant that grows in this world, in case of disaster. We're very lucky that most of the seeds are still viable-it's been really helpful when it comes to replanting."

Yet another gate at the end of the path opened onto the eastern garden. It was another wide wedge-shaped area, though far less colorful than its twin on the other side of town; patchy grass grew around the path that led down through a combination of terraced beds and flat land, dotted by the occasional sparse bush or sapling. There was so little in this area that they could easily see the tall stone wall marking the boundary at the far end of the garden, at the base of which rested a small building.

"We weren't able to get much work done here before spring," Aerith said, leading the way once more. "We used the west garden as a testing ground for the seeds, but I wasn't able to spend much time in the other areas, since we still have work to do in town."

"You replanted it all yourself?"

"I had a lot of help, but I volunteered to oversee the project, yes. There are few species that I didn't have room to test, so you can give them a try, if you want to."

"I would love to." Lauriam had more questions-many more, he was surprised to find, but he didn't have time to ask, as they had quickly come upon the far end of the garden, the path terminating in front of the little building that he now realized was a small house.

"Is that it?" Elrena asked, sounding rather unimpressed.

"That's right," Aerith said. "It was supposed to be a temporary storage building for supplies while we worked on the garden, but when we heard you were coming, Leon and the others fixed it up a little for you."

It did look rather freshly assembled, almost patchwork, as if it had once been a smaller building suddenly forced to become a larger one in a hurry. The roof and walls matched the style of the rest of the residences in the town, but plainer, with fewer embellishments. On either side of the door was a sizable window, pale curtains visible through the glass. A shadow passed along the curtain, and Lauriam thought he could hear muffled voices from inside.

Aerith went to the door; as she pulled it open, the voices quieted for a moment before starting back up again, all speaking at once.

"Aerith!"

"'Bout time. Almost finished."

"Are they here?"

The owner of the last voice appeared in the doorway, a young man with shaggy brown hair and intense eyes. Aerith smiled at him and stepped aside so he could see the two newcomers.

"This is Leon," she said, "head of our Restoration Committee. He-"

"He helped move all your new furniture!" A girl with short dark hair bounded up to the doorway, squeezing between Leon and Aerith. "Cid's making you dinner. Merlin helped us rearrange some walls in here, too, but he left a little while ago."

"And what have you been doing, Yuffie?" Aerith asked.

"Supervising, obviously." Yuffie grinned at Lauriam and Elrena, hands on her hips. "Come in! We can show you around!"

Leon shook his head as she disappeared back into the house. "Sorry about this," he said. "We were trying to finish up before you arrived."

"We appreciate you taking the trouble," Lauriam said, and went to shake his hand. "I'm Lauriam. This is Elrena."

"Oh, you're the one taking the gummiship, right?" Leon asked Elrena. "Cid wants to show you a few things-"

"We can wait 'til tomorrow. Dinner's done." The last of the voices belonged to an older man with short blonde hair and a rough accent. "Nothin' special, but it's gettin' late, and Ienzo said you both had a long day." He chewed contemplatively on a toothpick as he crossed his arms, eyeing them over for a moment before nodding abruptly. "Name's Cid. C'mon in."

Lauriam glanced at Elrena, who only shrugged, and the two followed the others inside. Whatever Cid had cooked for them, it smelled rather good, though it didn't quite mask the scent of fresh paint that lingered in the air. Aerith pulled the curtains back from one of the front windows, which let in plenty of light even in the deepening twilight.

The front door opened almost directly onto what Lauriam assumed was a living room. A wooden table stood in the center of it, a few mis-matched chairs ranged around it, as well as a small couch set against the right-hand wall. The floors were wooden, covered in a rug that looked surprisingly ornate but curled at the edges as if it had been rolled up for a long time. Beyond the living room was a small kitchen, separated from the living room by a countertop, with a sink and stove set against the far wall, and a back door next to the stove. More of the fading sunlight shone through a large but empty garden window above the sink.

"It's a little bare right now," Aerith said, slightly apologetic. "We'll bring you some more furniture later, if you want, and you're welcome to decorate it however you like."

"It's perfectly fine," Lauriam said. "Truly. Thank you."

"Your room's over here!" Yuffie said, bounding to a small hallway to the left of the living room. "And the bathroom!"

The bedroom was small but neat, with a sturdy-looking bed against the far wall beneath a large window with curtains that matched those in the living room. Against the left hand wall was a desk, and a chest of drawers to the right.

"Wow. Cozy," Elrena said. Lauriam glanced at her, but her face was neutral, even if her tone was not.

"There's a shed in the backyard for you," Yuffie said as she pulled the curtains back to show them the view. A shed and a number of other tools were visible, situated between the house and the garden wall. "It's got all the stuff Aerith's been using for the west gardens-seeds and everything!"

"You can find more supplies in the castle, too," Aerith said. "We can go over any questions tomorrow. I'm sure you're both tired."

"A little, yes," Lauriam said; it had been a very long day indeed. He and Elrena stowed their bags in his room, and went back out to the living room. The committee members were lingering by the front door.

"We'll get outta your hair," Cid said. "Soup should keep for a bit if there's leftovers. I'll be at the workshop tomorrow, stop by whenever and I'll make sure you get your manual for the ship."

"Manual?" Elrena asked, scrunching up her nose.

"'Course! You gotta treat her right if you expect her to fly you all over the galaxy. C'mon, Yuffie. Night, y'all."

"Night, everyone!" Yuffie waved goodbye, and followed Cid out the door. Leon held it open, waiting for Aerith.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning to show you around the town," Aerith said. "We can talk to Cid after lunch. Ienzo said you wanted to leave as soon as possible, Elrena, but if you'd like to stay a little longer-"

"Thanks, but no thanks," Elrena said. "I've got my own plans."

"Fair enough. I'll see you both tomorrow, then," Aerith said, and with a smile from her and a nod from Leon, they left, shutting the door behind them.

At last, the house was quiet. Elrena and Lauriam looked at each other for a moment, and then Lauriam smirked, and Elrena rolled her eyes, and they both laughed quietly as they relaxed at last.

"An interesting group," Lauriam said.

"I guess. Way too helpful if you ask me. The food smells okay, though."

It smelled more than okay, in fact, and tasted even better-it was only a simple vegetable soup, but they both ate quickly, not speaking much. Lauriam finished first, and went through the cabinets in the kitchen curiously while Elrena ate; an adequate selection of plates and cookware had been stowed away, and someone had supplied a small cupboard with a decent amount of food.

Lauriam was rather stunned by this kindness. It was far more than he had anticipated, certainly, and he supposed he would have to thank the committe members again tomorrow, though he wasn't sure he liked feeling as if he owed them for their troubles. Satisfied with his findings, he sat back down at the table just as Elrena set down her spoon. She caught his eye, and tilted her head.

"So," she said.

"So," he said, and smiled at her twitch of annoyance.

"So, are you really going to stay here?" She looked around, green eyes flitting from one corner of the room to another. "It's fine, I guess, but…really?"

"It's not so different from where I lived in Corona," he said, folding his hands on the table. "I don't need much space."

"Yeah, but…" she sighed, and leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Look, are you seriously just going to let them poke around in your head? Let Vexen? He has to know we're the reasons Axel roasted him to a crisp."

"…I'm sure he does," Lauriam said. "But I don't have many options at the moment. Either I stay here and have them attempt to piece my memories back together, or I keep trying on my own. It hasn't been very effective so far."

Elrena's skepticism faded, replaced by hesitant curiosity. "What…do you remember, exactly?"

"Strelitzia, first and foremost. And you. And a town…a little like this one, actually. I think there was a clock tower." He closed his eyes, and a faint image of dozens of purple rooftops stretching towards high cliffs formed in his mind. "There were mountains past the town."

"And the sea was nearby." When Lauriam opened his eyes, Elrena was frowning down at the table. She glanced up at him, and back down. "I think."

"Yes, I think so too." He waited, and when she stayed silent, he quietly prompted, "Anything else?"

"…Your hair was shorter."

He laughed. "That's true. Yours was longer."

"The bangs kept getting in my eyes. It was easier to just push them back." She stared off to the side for a moment. "Strelitzia's was really long."

"Unreasonably long. She refused to cut it."

"…Do you—? I mean, do you…know where she is? What happened to her?" She crossed her arms, holding them tightly against herself. "I remember you asked me to help you find her, and I remember looking for her…" She trailed off, her brow furrowed as if in pain. "I dunno. It's all fuzzy. It hurts to think about it."

"I know what you mean. I don't know where she is. I'm fairly certain something terrible happened, and you and I and everyone else were separated, but beyond that…" He shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"Everyone else?"

"There were others in the town, and I remember other friends, to a degree. Not their faces. Yet."

"Ugh. You can't seriously think we were friends with Demyx. Or Luxord, either. No way."

"We have no way of knowing for certain until I recover more of my memories, or you yours. We really do need to find them."

"Yeah, yeah," she said with a roll of her eyes, "I'll look for them, I guess, but Xigbar? Seriously? What do they even want with that guy? He didn't seem like he cared if any of them came back or not. All he ever talked about was that stupid box."

"Zexion and the others were friends with him, in their old lives, or so they've said. It's unimportant. Demyx and Luxord may be useful to us in the future, at the very least, so it's vital that we locate them."

"And Strelitzia." Her tone was suddenly and uncharacteristically serious, as was her expression. "That's who we're really concerned about, right? I'm not dumb."

"Yes, she is my priority."

"Mine too. If I run into the others, fine, but I'm looking for her first. Whatever happened to us, we got flung to different worlds. She could be anywhere, alone, and she might not remember anything either..."

"I know," he said quietly. "But she was—is—stronger than she looks."

"Yeah." Elrena hesitated, and then reached out and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I'll find her. Promise. Wherever she is, I'll find her and then we'll come get you and we can get the hell out of here and figure out what happened. Together."

Lauriam gave her a small smile, and patted her hand. "Thank you."

She smiled back, her usual attitude returning. "And if those weirdos start messing with your brain, or if you realize how totally awful it is hanging out with them when you could be hanging out with me…"

"I already know, believe me," he said, still smiling. "I'll join you as soon as I'm able."

"You promise you'll call me if you need me?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Good." She leaned back in her chair, looking satisfied. "If any of them even think about trying something, they'll regret it."

"I'm not worried. Vexen has always been all bark, and Zexion seems determined to keep up that helpful new facade of his, so I don't think I need to be concerned about him or Lexaeus. And they've readily admitted to having trouble with their former powers, so they have no advantage there, either. So long as they remain civil, I'll do the same."

The pair stayed up talking for a long while, Lauriam going over every memory he had pieced together in the past few weeks. Elrena didn't remember any more than he did, but it was nice, almost reassuring, to talk about the little they both recalled. He'd been worried she wouldn't remember at all, so it made the memories feel that much more real, knowing they were shared by someone he trusted. Eventually, they went to bed, the events of the day exhausting them at last.

Lauriam awoke early the next morning, when the pre-dawn light had just begun to filter in through the window above his bed. It took him a moment to remember where he was, blinking blearily around at the unfamiliar walls, until he saw his still-packed bag in the corner, and remembered everything that had happened the previous day. It was quiet, which felt strange; in Corona much of the town was awake before dawn, and he had already grown used to the sounds of his parents beginning their day on the floor below his room. Perhaps the garden wall muffled any sounds the townspeople might have made this early in the morning.

With a sigh, he sat up at the edge of the bed, and slowly raised his hands to shoulder height, just managing to hold back a wince. His injuries upon recompletion could have been much worse, he supposed, but the stiffness in his joints upon waking each morning was not something he enjoyed. Corona's lack of easy access to resources like healing magic (the princess's former abilities aside) had forced him to rely on more old-fashioned methods of recovery. His adoptive father's medical knowledge had helped significantly, but it would be a few more weeks at least of careful movement and stretches before he would be back to his usual levels of activity.

He lifted his arms over his head, and did wince this time as the jagged scar in the center of his chest stretched uncomfortably. The injury had been healed by the time he awoke as a Nobody, but the scar had remained, bright white against his skin. Lauriam tried to ignore its presence, but the scar made itself known whenever he moved without thinking, an unpleasant reminder of his decision to give up his heart once more. He shut his eyes and focused on his heartbeat, thumping steadily along in his chest as he completed the stretching routine.

When the stiffness had disappeared as much as it could, he rose to his feet and quickly dressed for the day, and then went out to the living room. Elrena was asleep on the couch, buried under a pile of extra blankets they had found in his closet and looking far more peaceful than he had ever seen her look while awake. The warmth of affection filled his chest, and he basked in the feeling for a moment. Having his heart back was complicated, at best, but feelings like this were...pleasant. With a slight smile, he left her to her sleep and went outside as quietly as he could.

The sun had not quite risen, but it was getting lighter out by the minute. A light mist drifted above the ground, condensing into droplets on Lauriam's boots as he walked around to the back house. There was indeed a large shed built up against the stone wall, as well as bags of mulch and soil, heavy-looking stones, and a wheelbarrow. Not wanting to wake Elrena by rummaging around, he walked back around the house and set off down the path. If he was going to be working in this area, he wanted to familiarize himself with it as much as he could.

The eastern garden was, he guessed, about an acre and a half of land. Most of it was flat earth, but the gate to the path stood at the top of a section of empty terraces. The few shrubs that had been planted lined either the path or the walls of the garden, but they were so young that it was difficult to tell what kinds they were. He climbed to the top of the terraced area and looked back contemplatively, trying to picture what the garden would look like when completed.

There were more gardens on the other side of the grounds, he remembered, which had looked far fuller than this side. He turned and pushed the gate open, heading back to the central landing in front of the plaza. He glanced up at the castle as the first of the sun's rays flashed in the highest windows. This close, it was obvious that while the structure itself was stable, parts of it had been recently patched; unpainted areas of wall were visible in a few places, and a large construction crane stood dormant to its rear, invisible from the front of the castle.

The creak of the landing gate shifted his attention forward. His mood instantly dropped at the sight of the person coming towards him down the path: Vexen, wearing a white lab-coat so long the edges nearly dragged through the dirt. Lauriam wondered if he thought it made him look more scholarly, or if he just wasn't aware of how out of place he looked wearing it anywhere other than a lab. As their eyes met, Vexen grimaced, and though Lauriam felt quite the same, he kept his expression neutral as they came within hearing distance of each other.

"Ah. Hello," Lauriam said, slowing to a halt.

Vexen regarded him suspiciously. "What are you doing out here?"

Lauriam raised an eyebrow. "Taking a walk. What are you doing out here?"

"I live here. I can go wherever I like."

"At the moment, so can I."

"Hmph." Vexen crossed his arms. "And where is Larxene?"

"Elrena is still asleep. I wanted to take a look around on my own."

"Is that so."

It was more of an accusation than a question, but Lauriam answered it anyway. "Yes, it is," he replied blandly. "If you'll excuse me-"

"Wait." Vexen shoved a hand in his coat pocket, and withdrew two of the devices Zexion had been so attached to-a gummiphone, he had called it. "Ienzo made these for you. He wanted you to know that all of our contact information is stored in them, in case either of you need to speak with us." He did not sound as if he relished the idea of speaking to either of them in any capacity.

Lauriam took the gummiphones and examined them, tilting the screen of one to examine the display. A few labeled icons were visible, and he was interested in going through them, but definitely uninterested in continuing this conversation any longer. "I see. I'll pass that along. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to finish my walk."

Vexen narrowed his eyes. "Don't get comfortable. You are only here because we deemed it necessary. This world is not your home."

"Oh, not to worry," Lauriam said with a smile, though his tone had an edge to it. "I would never make that mistake."

He turned on his heel and went back down the path without another word, willing his irritation to stay hidden as long as it took to get back to the gate. It had been much easier to hide his emotions when they had been mere echoes. As he drew level with the gate, he glanced over his shoulder, but Vexen was no longer at the landing; Lauriam could just make out a white-coated figure stomping his way back up to the main doors of the castle. Lauriam shook his head and pushed the gate open, with a touch more force than necessary.

The walk back to the little house, at least, was long enough to calm him. By the time he reached the front door, he was only slightly annoyed, and content to avoid Vexen for the rest of the day if at all possible. As he went to open the door, he heard footsteps at the side of the house, and turned to see Elrena, still in her pajamas and looking rather harried.

"Hey!" She sped over and, to his surprise, grabbed him by the wrist. "Where'd you go?"

"I took a walk around the garden. You were still asleep, so I thought I'd let you rest." He glanced her over, and realized she must have left the house in a hurry, because she was standing barefoot in the grass. "Were you worried?"

She blinked, and dropped his wrist. "No way," she said as she turned to the door and yanked it open. "I was going to eat without you if you didn't hurry up.

"I see. Well, I'm sorry," he said with a slight smile as he followed her inside, "to have kept you from your breakfast."

"You should be."

They sat down to eat, and Lauriam told Elrena all about his encounter with Vexen, giving her plenty of time to interject and roll her eyes. By the time they finished up, he was feeling much better, and as Elrena went to change Lauriam took a look at the gummiphones Ienzo had made them. It was an interesting device-it could call anyone who had a similar phone, take photographs, hold notes, and there even seemed to be a number of games to play-but he didn't have much time to look through it before a knock sounded from the front door.

Aerith was waiting with a bright smile when he opened it. "Good morning!" she said. "I hope you slept well."

"Well enough," Lauriam said, letting her inside. "Just you today?"

"We're finishing up the last section of the outer wall today, so everyone else is helping out there. We'll probably run into them later."

"That old guy wants to teach me about his ship, right?" Elrena came into the room tugging a blue jacket over her shoulders. "Cid, or whatever?"

"Yes, we'll stop by and see him in a little while. I thought we could take a look at the western garden first," Aerith said to Lauriam, "since you were so interested yesterday."

"That would be nice, thank you," he said. "I'd like to see what grows here."

The walk from the eastern garden to western one was fairly quick, and mercifully free of any unwanted encounters. The mist had cleared up completely, evaporated by the sun glowing cheerfully above the city walls. The entrance to the western garden was marked by a gate quite similar to the one guarding the eastern garden, but even before Aerith opened it, Lauriam's eyes widened at the sight before him.

Lauriam had never seen so many flowers in one place in all his life. The garden behind the florist shop in Corona was a decent size, but this area was far larger, a lovingly cultivated plot of land with blooms of all kinds. The path cut down through a set of terraced beds filled to the brim with blossoms, and more lined the path as it wound around and out of sight. He recognized quite a few-wisterias, peonies, lilacs, hydrangeas, even a few dogwood trees farther on, and that was just what was visible from the gate. There were others he didn't recognize, perhaps natives of this world, and he found himself yearning to take a closer look.

"What do you think?" Aerith asked.

"It's beautiful," Lauriam said, with utter sincerity. "You've done an incredible job."

Aerith smiled proudly, holding the gate open for them to pass through. "I've been working on the western side for a while now," she said, "and the others have helped too, but there's only so much we can do with the rest of the city in the state it's in. We're intending to start work on the Outer Gardens soon too, so I'll be spending a lot of time past the walls. I'll do my best to check on this area as much as I can, but if you have the time, I wouldn't mind another set of eyes to look over it."

"I would be happy to. I'll do my best to look after them."

"Oh please," Elrena said. She was looking out at the garden, hands on her hips. "This'll be a cinch for you."

"Well…"

Aerith shut the gate, and gave them a curious look. "Ienzo said you were quite good with flowers. I got the feeling he didn't just mean that you liked to garden."

"Ah," Lauriam said, "well, not quite."

He looked around, and knelt down at the edge of the nearest bed. Common rue grew along the perimeter of the bed, and while small yellow flowers had sprouted from most of the stems, those that grew closer to the path had fewer buds, perhaps from spending more time in the shade of the gate.

He reached out a hand and held it just above a few bare stems, letting out a slow breath. As his hand passed over them, they shuddered slightly, and after a moment a couple of buds burst forth, petals falling slowly open. The flowers surrounding the new buds shifted in color from a pale greenish-yellow to a more golden hue, their stems more verdant than before.

Aerith gasped softly, and Lauriam looked up at her with a slight smile. To his left, Elrena shook her head.

"Show off," she said. "How much have you been practicing?"

"I'm afraid that's the extent of my abilities, at the moment," he said, withdrawing his hand. It was the truth; he had tried repeatedly to summon his scythe in Corona, and even his keyblade once or twice, though he hadn't quite admitted to himself that he was doing the latter. His scythe had appeared only once, and only for a few moments, when he was feeling particularly grim about his situation. He'd been so surprised that he'd unceremoniously dropped it, and had been unable to make it reappear since.

"I do intend to keep at it," he said as he got to his feet. "I haven't quite regained my usual level of skill." Elrena met his eyes briefly, and he knew that she felt just as frustrated with her depowered state as he was.

Aerith had knelt to examine the newly blooming flowers. "That's….handy. No wonder Ienzo recommended you for the job." She looked out at the rest of the garden."I've been using some magic myself to speed things along, but I think you may still have your work cut out for you."

"I don't mind," Lauriam said. "I may be here for some time, and I would hate to be idle. This will give me something to do."

Aerith walked them around the rest of the area,showing them a large section of fruit trees and rows of vegetables as well as many more flowers, but despite his interest, Lauriam's mind kept drifting back to what was quickly starting to think of as his section of the garden-the part he would apparently be given free reign over. That in itself was rather surprising; his former colleagues aside, the people of this world seemed almost eager to allow a total stranger to assist them in rebuilding an area of town that seemed quite important to its citizens.

But perhaps it wasn't so unusual-Aerith was cheerful as she answered their questions, but though the day had just begun, there was already a tiredness about her eyes. Lauriam knew the world of Hollow Bastion had been lifted from the darkness not long before he and the others had ventured to Castle Oblivion, a little over a year and a half ago. From the sound of it, Aerith and the rest of the Restoration Committee had been working constantly to restore their world since then. Leaving a few acres of garden to someone else's care might have been a great relief.

Despite her tiredness, Aerith was a helpful and informative guide. After a tour of the garden so thorough the sun had climbed a good distance into the sky by the time it was done, she led them to a small grated doorway in the outer wall. They went up a flight of stone stairs and came out at the top of the wall, looking out over the garden and, beyond, streets full of matching red-roofed houses. Water flowed through an aqueduct right beside them as they walked, heading presumably for one of the fountains visible throughout town.

"You can walk on the outer walls, for the most part, but the quickest way around town are the paths surrounding the castle," Aerith said as they crossed over the main gate in front of the central square. The gummiship was still parked in its center, and a large toolbox was visible next to it, but Cid was nowhere to be seen. "We had to put off finishing the northeast section of the outer wall so we could repair some of the machinery beneath, but it'll be finished in the next few weeks."

"Machinery?" Lauriam asked.

"The water that runs through the aqueducts in the walls and around town end up in a purification facility underground, and the water flow helps power the city," she said as they walked through another neighborhood. "Some of it has been a little unstable, but we think we were able to finally repair it all, thankfully. The castle archives have blueprints, and Ienzo and the others gave us some helpful suggestions for improving the design."

Lauriam saw Elrena roll her eyes, and had to hold back a small smile. "How kind of them," he said.

In the northeastern section of town was a marketplace, the busiest area they'd seen so far. There were signs of recent construction here too: some of the roofs looked rather hastily patched, and spare lumber leaned against the stone walls in shadowy corners. Still, it reminded Lauriam quite a bit of the markeplace in Corona-crowded and rather cheery, with an air of industriousness. Aerith pointed out stores as they passed-food, clothing, houseware, tools. There was even a bar, which was apparently a new addition to the area, though it was closed until evening. ("Shame," Elrena muttered.)

"The northern garden is just past here," Aerith said, leading them down a flight of stone stairs. "That area is brand new. We had to do some rearranging while we rebuilt, so we decided to try to help the town live up to its name by adding more gardens."

This garden was empty of flowers just as the eastern one had been, without even a shrub or sparse tree to fill the grassy space. It was quite flat, with little terracing, though there was another set of stairs that lead up to a raised area near the outer wall of the city. A sign hanging near the stairs proclaimed that it led towards the Fountain Court, whatever that might be.

Opposite the raised area were more rocky cliffs dividing the garden from the castle moat. The large construction crane Lauriam had seen this morning was still sitting dormant, parked on the dirt path connecting the garden to the other areas around the castle.

A loud grinding noise, the sound of metal on rock, echoed from across the empty garden. Elrena flinched, covering her ears.

"Ugh. More construction?" she asked.

"That section of the outer wall, I assume," Lauriam suggested.

"Probably! Let's go see," Aerith said. She walked off, leaving the other two little choice but to follow her to the source of the noise. They climbed the far staircase to get a better view, the grinding growing louder until it set Lauriam's teeth on edge. The higher they climbed, the more of the outer wall they could see; a large section of it was only half finished. The gap was big enough that the area surrounding the town was visible: a huge cavernous expanse, its crags and cliffs extending outward toward a range of mountains in the distance.

As they reached a landing halfway up the staircase, the grinding stopped, replaced by a low whistling noise like a strong gust of wind through trees. Suddenly, a handful of large square stones flew into the air near the outer wall, a dusty whirlwind surrounding them as they drifted towards the wall and settled into the gap.

"Oh, they've gotten a lot done already," Aerith said. There was a railing nearby, and she went over to it and looked down.

Lauriam and Elrena joined her, and Elrena made another noise of annoyance, and Lauriam couldn't blame her. A number of people were ranged below, but two in particular were instantly recognizable: Lexaeus and Xaldin, both in those unfamiliar blue uniforms, stood near a pile of stones. Lexaeus's axe was resting on his shoulder, and Lauriam thought he knew who was responsible for the grinding noise.

"They've got their powers back? Come on." Elrena propped herself up on her elbows, scowling down at them.

"They've had more time to get used to their...current situations," Lauriam murmured. "Comparisons are pointless."

"Yeah, yeah." Elrena didn't seem satisfied, but she went silent as Aerith called to some of the workers below, waving down to whoever she had recognized. Xaldin and Lexaeus looked up at the sound, and even from this distance, Lauriam could tell neither were pleased at the sight of them.

Elrena stiffened beside him, but didn't turn away. Instead she leaned her head on her hand as if bored, though Lauriam could tell from the set of her shoulders that she wasn't nearly as at ease as she pretended. He didn't bother to turn away either; he had no intention of letting them think that his newly regained heart had rendered him easily intimidated.

Perhaps Aerith noticed the sudden tension, because she quickly took them back down the stairs and past the construction area, cutting around it via the path near the castle. "I didn't see Cid down there, so he's probably at Merlin's house," she said.

Lauriam remembered the name from the previous night, but whoever this Merlin was, he was apparently quite the eccentric. The building Aerith led them to was shaped like a normal house, but the roof looked like a huge pointed hat, with a couple umbrellas sticking out of it, spinning steadily in the breeze. An actual pointed hat sat crookedly at the top of the structure.

"Let me guess. This Merlin guy's a wizard?" Elrena asked flatly, frowning up at the roof.

"He is! He has a tendency to wander off, though, so we probably won't see him today. Let's go inside."

The inside was just as strange as the outside-stacks of books and strange contraptions littered the floor and shelves. Across from the door, a number of computer screens were glowing and flashing. Cid sat in front of the main screen, hunched over a keyboard, his fingers tapping loudly across the keys. He glanced over his shoulder as they shut the door behind them.

"'Bout time y'all showed up. Gimme a sec." He jerked his head to his left. "Take a seat wherever."

There wasn't much place to sit, save a large table covered in books in the left half of the room.. Lauriam helped Aerith move a few stacks, but a moment later Cid slammed a heavy and rather clumsily bound collection of papers onto the table.

"All right!" Cid exclaimed, "here we are. Got yerself a manual, and here-" He went to a corner and unearthed a few large rolls of paper, laying them next to the manual. "These are the ship schematics."

He unfurled one of the rolls and spread it out on the table. It was indeed a diagram of the ship from three different angles, with various annotations and labels. Next to each note was a hand-written number. At the top of the diagram was scrawled SHERA LV. 1 in large letters.

"We'll go over these first," Cid said. "We got lunch goin', if y'all are hungry."

Lunch was a simple stew, still steaming in a pot hanging in a small fireplace. Lauriam wondered if Cid was capable of cooking anything that wasn't some form of vegetables in boiled liquid, but didn't complain-it was, once again, surprisingly satisfying. While they ate, Cid went over the diagrams thoroughly, pointing out each part of the ship and explaining it in turn. Elrena spent much of the lesson frowning, but it seemed to be more out of concentration than irritation.

"Each of the numbers on the diagram corresponds to a page in the manual. This here," Cid said, tapping the cover of the manual, "is your lifeline. Anything goes wrong, you look at this first."

"Didn't you build the thing? Why would something go wrong?" Elrena asked, still peering down at one of the diagrams.

"You're gonna be flyin' around all over space! My Shera's a damn good ship, but she ain't indestructible. You gotta be prepared for emergencies. Now, grab the manual and come with me."

"Come where?"

"To the ship, of course! We're gonna have you do a few test flights before you get going. I ain't about to send you off all alone without makin' sure you won't crash into a meteor first thing."

The streets of the surrounding neighborhood were fairly empty as they walked from Merlin's house to the square. Aerith waved to the few people they did encounter, greeting each by name; Cid occasionally nodded to those who greeted him but spent most of the time chattering to Elrena about flying. Lauriam received a few curious looks, but a handful of smiles, too.

When they reached the square, Cid immediately made a beeline for the ship. Elrena glanced back at Lauriam, who smiled slightly.

"Worried?" he asked.

"Me? Hmph. No way." She crossed her arms, and looked back at the ship. "If Lexaeus and that loser kid can fly one of these, I definitely can. Just watch."

She followed Cid to the ship and went inside, her boots thumping on the metal ramp. After a moment, Cid's head popped out of the hatch.

"I'm gonna put her through a few exercises, so it might take a while. Sit and wait or wander off, I don't care." With that, he pulled the hatch shut, and the ramp slid back into the ship.

Aerith, standing nearby, laughed quietly at the bemusement in Lauriam's face. "He can be a little single-minded, sometimes," she said. "But they really might be at it for most of the afternoon. We could go back to the market, if there was anything you wanted."

"It's fine," Lauriam said. "The supplies you all left for me are more than enough. Thank you again for your help."

"Not at all! Thank you for agreeing to look after the gardens. But are you sure you don't need anything else?

"No," he said, "I don't think I do. Besides," he said, as the ship's engine revved suddenly into life, "I think she would be a little unhappy if I didn't watch her give this try."

There were a couple of benches by the nearest building; he took a seat as the engine revved louder. Lauriam couldn't quite see into the cockpit, but the slowness with which the ship lifted into the air made him think it was Elrena at the helm. He smiled again-of course she wouldn't even wait to be shown what to do-and shielded his eyes with a hand at the sudden wind whipping up from the engine. Incrementally, the ship drifted higher and higher, and then without warning it rocketed off, zooming past the outer wall and out in the direction of the far-off mountains.

Aerith, who had come to stand next to Lauriam, folded her hands behind her back with a smile of her own, watching the ship shrink into the distance. "She's a natural."

"She works very hard when she has something to prove." He glanced up at her. "There's no need for you to stay, if there are other things that need your attention. You've done more than enough."

"Well, I did want to check in with Reeve about the plans for the Outer Garden…" She considered for a moment, and then nodded to herself. "I'll see you later, then. I know Elrena wanted to leave as soon as she could, so if I don't get a chance to say goodbye, please tell her it was nice to meet her."

"I will, thank you. Go on."

With a wave, Aerith left him, heading back the way they had come. Lauriam leaned back against the wall of the building, scanning the sky for the gummiship. It had shrunk to nearly a pinprick in the distance, dark against the purplish sky.

It really was nice to take a break, after walking so far-he hadn't moved around this much in weeks, and his muscles were starting to ache from overuse. He stretched his legs, wincing slightly, and looked out over the square with a sigh. Flowers lined the edges of the area, and rested in window boxes on most of the houses, too, swaying in the light breeze.

The red-roofed houses suddenly shifted in his vision, flashing to purple, and for a single second he could have sworn a large fountain rested at the center of the square. A handful of blurry silhouettes, some sitting at the fountain's edge while others moved past, wavering enough to make his eyes water, and then they were gone, the square empty once more.

Lauriam reached up and quickly wiped his eyes before shutting them tight, trying to hold the image in his head. That fountain was part of the town he couldn't quite remember, the one he had lived in so long ago. Details solidified momentarily-that clocktower again, looming in the background, and star-patterned pavement-before sliding away like the unsteady memory of a dream. He made a frustrated noise, and leaned his head against the wall behind him. If he could just remember a little more….

He stayed on the bench, willing himself to remember, until he heard the hum of the ship engine approaching once more. When he at last opened his eyes, the sun had dropped much farther in the sky than he would have expected, and his shoulders and legs felt quite stiff. He rose to his feet quickly, stretching his limbs a little as the ship hovered over the wall and lowered back to the ground.

The landing was steady, with only a slight jostling, and when the hatch door opened back up, Elrena came out looking quite pleased with herself. Cid followed, wearing a similar grin.

"How did it go?" Lauriam asked.

"She's got the basics down. Bit too eager to go zippin' off, but…" Cid shrugged. "Can't really blame her."

"You told me to go as fast as I was comfortable with," Elrena said breezily. "It's not like it was hard."

"Hey now," Cid said, "don't get too cocky. You still need to be careful-"

"Yeah, yeah," Elrena interrupted. "I got it already. Come on," she said to Lauriam. "I wanna get my stuff and get out of here before the sun goes down."

Lauriam didn't bother asking if she was sure about leaving; it was obvious from how she held herself that she didn't want to stay in this world any longer than absolutely necessary. He had hoped she would at least stay for dinner, but the eagerness with which she made for the gate indicated that she had little inclination to wait even that long. They made their way back to the little house in the empty eastern garden, and Elrena quickly gathered up her things.

"Aerith told me to tell you it was a pleasure to meet you," Lauriam told her as she shoved her night clothes into her bag.

"She would," Elrena said with a scoff, but then she shrugged. "It was actually pretty nice of her to show us around. She seems...okay. Tell her I said bye." She snapped the bag shut. "As for those weirdos in the castle, tell them they can-"

"I'll tell them you said goodbye, too."

"Ugh, fine. Ruin my fun."

Lauriam had made the decision to stay himself, and was determined to do so until his memories were restored, but now, as he watched Elrena hitch her bag over her shoulder and look at him expectantly, he couldn't help the creeping regret that had begun to weigh heavily in his chest. Despite this, he only smiled, and together they left the house again and headed back for the central plaza.

The hatch of the ship was still hanging open when they reached the square. As they crossed the bridge from the gate, Cid came out and tromped down the ramp, dusting his hands off.

"She's all ready to go," he called with a wave. "Just did the last walk-around. Shouldn't give ya any trouble."

"She better not," Elrena murmured. Louder, she said, oozing faux-politeness, "Great, thanks."

Cid didn't seem to notice her tone, or perhaps he'd already gotten used to her while they were out practicing. "Make sure you keep an eye out for Heartless ships," he said, picking up his toolbox. "They're still out causin' trouble. But my girl here will take care of ya." He patted the hull of the ship fondly, but then he put his hand on hip and nearly glared at Elrena. "If you take care of her. Treat her right, got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. I'm not gonna crash her or anything," Elrena said, and Lauriam could tell it took everything in her to not roll her eyes as she said it.

"You better not. You got one of those phone gizmos the guys at the castle were workin' on, right? Any problems, gimme a call, and whenever she needs repairing, just come back home and I'll look her over."

"Alright, already." Elrena turned to walk towards the ship, but after a moment, she turned back, not quite making eye contact with Cid. "Uh-thanks, I guess."

Cid's eyebrows raised slightly, but he nodded. "Yeah, yer welcome. Safe flight and all that. See ya, little lady."

He turned on his heel before Elrena could do more than make a noise of outrage as his words registered. She looked at Lauriam, who did his utmost to hold back a smile, knowing she would only get angrier, and then after Cid, who was already walking quickly away.

"I've got a name, old man!" she yelled after him. Cid only waved his free hand over his shoulder, and Lauriam could've sworn he heard a faint chuckle as he entered the nearest neighborhood. Elrena scoffed and stomped towards the ship.

Lauriam followed, still attempting not to smile but knowing he was losing the battle. Elrena flung her bag into the hatch, much harder than she needed to, and spun to face him, planting a fist on either hip.

"I am so over this world," she said. "Everyone here is just so helpful and friendly and annoying."

"A good thing you're leaving, then."

"No kidding. Sheesh." She shook her head, but then stopped suddenly, and looked almost guilty. "I mean…"

"No need," he said, lifting a hand to stop her. "I made my choice."

Elrena met his eyes, and looked at him for a long moment. "You sure you don't wanna come?"

"...I truly would prefer it. But we need to take advantage of whatever assistance we can find. This world is tolerable enough. I'll survive."

She nodded, though she was still frowning. "Let me know what happens, okay? I'll call you with that phone thing whenever I find something." She hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say more, but wasn't quite sure what. "I...I guess I should go."

She dropped her gaze, and Lauriam couldn't quite place the emotion in her expression-sadness? Uncertainty?-but then, without warning, she reached out and grabbed him in a one-armed hug. It was so quick he barely had the chance to register it was happening before she let him go and took a step back, her expression almost sheepish.

That comfortable affection was warming his chest again, but Lauriam knew better than to comment on her actions, and merely smiled. "I'll see you soon, Elrena."

"Yeah. See you, Lauriam."

She quickly turned and went into the ship, pulling the hatch down after her. As the ramp pulled back into the ship, Lauriam could just see her through the glass of the cockpit, settling down in front of the console. She looked up, and after a moment, she smirked, her usual self once more, before flapping a hand at him to back away.

Lauriam moved to the gate that lead back up to the castle, but turned to watch the ship as it lifted up into the sky, much more confidently than it had only hours before, and far higher. He waited until he couldn't see it at all before turning, opening the gate, and starting up the stairs.

The walk back to the little house felt longer with no one to accompany him. As he went inside and shut the door, the light of the setting sun shone into the front room as it had the evening before, but now there was nothing to distract him from how empty it really was, despite the others' best efforts. He took a breath as he looked at the silent room, let it out slowly, and set about making some dinner.

Eating alone was also less pleasant than eating with company. It was surprising, really, how used to being with others he had grown in only a few weeks; sharing meals with his parents had quickly become routine for him. With no one to talk to, somehow food seemed less appealing. He finished eating quickly, and shook his head as he brought his dishes to the sink. There was no point dwelling on his solitude. His choice was made, and there was nothing to be done for it.

A quiet knock on the door drew him from contemplation. He turned with a frown, leaving his dishes in the sink. Perhaps one of the Committee members had returned to tell him something else about the town. He went to the door, and pulled it open. As soon as he saw who it was, however, he wished that he hadn't.

"Good evening, Lauriam." Zexion smiled at him politely over what Lauriam thought, for a single tense moment, was his Lexicon, but he quickly realized it was actually a handful of much smaller books stacked together. Zexion had changed into an outfit identical to the one Vexen had been wearing that morning, down to the pristine white lab-coat. It looked just as out of place on him as it had on Vexen.

"...Good evening," Lauriam said, deliberately remaining in the doorway.

"I hope I didn't interrupt your dinner. I had intended to come earlier, but I'm afraid I was a little busy this afternoon. I did want to drop these off, however," Zexion said, shifting the books a little in his arms. "May I come in for a moment?"

Lauriam considered refusing, but Zexion had been the only person to actually seem interested in assisting him, though Lauriam was still not sure it was for entirely altruistic purposes. He nodded, and stepped aside, letting Zexion pass.

As Lauriam shut the door, Zexion looked around appraisingly, setting the stack of books on the table. "I'm impressed with how much the Committee was able to do with so little notice," he said. "I hope this house is satisfactory to you. If there's anything you need, please let me know."

"I'm fine," Lauriam said. "What are those?"

"Ah, yes. Two of them are books related to the flora of this world," he said, laying two of them to one side. "I thought you might be interested in taking a look. One is a record of weather patterns in the years before the world fell-the seasons seems to be about the same, according to the Committee, so it may be helpful for you to look through. The other is just a book I've enjoyed before, because, well...I thought it might help with any boredom, when you aren't working."

Zexion seemed almost sheepish as he pointed to this last book, but he smiled again at Lauriam, who found himself decidedly thrown off. Making deals that would benefit both of them was one thing, but bringing Lauriam books merely because he thought he might get bored? Such thoughtfulness was not something he was used to in most people, and from Zexion it was utterly alien.

"I...see," Lauriam said slowly." Thank you."

"Not at all. I had hoped to see Elrena off, but we saw the ship take off from the castle. I'm sure she was in a hurry to get going."

"Something like that."

"Well, regardless, we do appreciate her agreeing to look for Demyx and Braig. I know it wasn't something she was particularly enthusiastic about, but Demyx in particular has been worrying all of us-there's really no telling where he might have ended up. I'm afraid none of us were inclined to ask him where he was from, and Xemnas is the one who found him as a Nobody, so we really have little to go on."

"What is your concern with Demyx?" Lauriam asked. "I don't recall you ever making any particular effort to speak with him in the Organization."

"...You aren't wrong," Zexion said, looking down. "He was of little interest to me then. But he was quite helpful to us when it came to retrieving Even's replicas for Roxas and Namine, so we would really like to thank him if we can."

Lauriam's eyes widened. That was not what he had expected. "He assisted with their vessels?"

"Oh-of course, you wouldn't know. Even and Isa were quite secretive with their plan. Yes, he delivered one of Even's vessels to us so we could assist Roxas, and later was able to retrieve one for Namine, as well."

"Wait, one moment," Lauriam said. "What plan are you talking about? Isa-do you mean Saix?"

"Yes, that's his true name. It's rather a long story, but suffice to say that when he rejoined the real Organization, Isa was no longer willing to go along with Xehanort's plans. I believe he and Roxas had some bad blood between them-Dilan told us a little, apparently they didn't get along well at all in the year we missed-but he decided to do what he could to assist the Guardians, and ensure Roxas and Namine would be able to return. He couldn't maneuver on his own, however, as a chosen vessel, so he enlisted Even's help."

Lauriam was silent as he attempted to process Zexion's words. It was one thing to hear that Demyx had somehow procured vessels from Vexen's supply; it was quite another to be told that Vexen had parted with them willingly, under direction from Saix, of all people. Demyx had seemed as apathetic as usual, and neither Vexen nor Saix had appeared to be any less enthusiastic in their willingness to carry out Xemnas's commands as they had been before Castle Oblivion.

"His help?" Lauriam repeated. "Are you saying he provided their vessels knowingly?"

"Yes, of course. Apparently, he was quite eager to assist, after Isa proposed his plan."

"...You seem very confident."

"Shouldn't I be? Isa told me that himself. Is he not the one who invited Even back into the Organization?"

That much, at least, Lauriam knew to be true. Still, the rest of it sounded so wrong. Vexen, providing vessels for disappeared children out of...what, the goodness of his heart? "He is," Lauriam admitted, "but I'm not sure I share your assessment of Vexen's involvement in this."

Zexion tilted his head. "I'm not sure you need to. Even," he said, placing particular emphasis on the name, "has explained himself to us, and both Demyx and Isa's stories were the same as his. Personally, I believe the results of his actions speak for themselves."

"Do they? He seemed quite pleased to provide Xehanort with as many replicas as he needed. Are you so certain that he wasn't merely trying to play both sides, in order to save himself?"

"I am," Zexion said serenely. "I've known him for a very long time. We have not always gotten along, nor do we now, but I do believe he sincerely wanted to do good."

It took every last ounce of thinning patience within Lauriam to not scoff in Zexion's face. His tiredness and frustration was getting to him at last, and he found he rather liked the feeling, the irritation calcifying slowly into malice. But it wouldn't do to give in to anger, not now. He narrowed his eyes, surveying Zexion for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice held an edge he could not quite blunt.

"You can take off that mask now."

Zexion tilted his head slightly, perplexed. "Excuse me?"

"That mask you're wearing," Lauriam said. "You can remove it. I would prefer to speak to Zexion now, if it's all the same to you."

They stood in silence, both motionless, neither looking away. Zexion's expression was unreadable, but the deliberate way he held himself told Lauriam he was not nearly so calm as he appeared.

"...I see," Zexion said at last. "Well, I'm afraid Ienzo is all you're going to get."

"Is that so? I'm sorry to hear it. At least Zexion wasn't so naive."

Perhaps it was because the sunlight was nearly gone, the last few rays shining weakly through the curtains, but the room felt suddenly a touch colder. For a moment, Lauriam thought Zexion might attack him-he almost hoped for it, truth be told-but Zexion only sighed quietly, and spoke again.

"May I take a seat? If we're going to talk, I would prefer to do it comfortably."

Lauriam let out a long, slow breath, and then nodded, and took a seat. Zexion took one across from him, and folded his hands on the table.

"Please let me be clear," he said. "I don't have any particular wish to fight with you, Lauriam. I really would like to assist you. The others feel the same."

"That is not the impression I've been given."

"Oh?"

"I'm sure Vexen spoke to you about his errand this morning."

"He did. If he was rude, I apologize. I should have dropped the gummiphones off myself. But his behavior and personal opinions do not reflect my own."

"And what are your personal opinions of me?"

Zexion didn't answer immediately. He sighed again, closing his eyes momentarily.

"Please," Lauriam said. "I'm curious."

"...At the moment, I'm rather frustrated that you seem to want us to give you the benefit of the doubt, but refuse to do the same with us. I don't have any personal grudge against you."

"No?"

"No," Zexion repeated. "The events of Castle Oblivion were….unfortunate. I believe we all share in the blame. I also recognize why you and Elrena were so intent on your own goals there, and why you distrusted the rest of us. As it stands, Xemnas intended harm for everyone in the Organization, so your plan to overthrow him was a sympathetic one, in hindsight. I do, owever, find it interesting that you still distrust us, considering that besides Even, none of us decided to rejoin Xemnas in the Organization."

"Oh, I see. And you think that somehow makes you better than those of us who did?"

"Not at all. I'm sure you had your reasons for joining. I only mean that, as we disassociated ourselves from Xemnas, I don't see any reason for conflict between us."

"And had they approached you, I'm sure you would have refused," Lauriam said, voice full of false sympathy.

Zexion looked down at his hands. "...As I said, I'm sure you had your reasons for joining. I don't need to know what they are. As for myself, I'm genuinely unsure what I would have done, had I been approached. I most likely would have chosen to join, if only so I could be better positioned to maneuver against Xemnas and Xehanort, as Isa and Even did." His tone was almost contemplative, a slight frown on his face. "I wish I could say I would have refused, but somehow, I don't think that would have been tolerated, and I don't believe I would have given up my existence so easily, even at the cost of my heart."

"...On that, at least, we can find common ground." Lauriam did not like thinking of his first recompletion-that memory was one of only pain and desperation, two emotions he was not eager to revisit. Zexion nodded, and Lauriam hated the understanding expression he wore.

"I'm glad to hear it," Zexion said. "As for Even, you can believe whatever you like of him. Your personal feelings toward each other are, frankly, immaterial to the matters at hand. But I do ask that you recognize that you are here because I was able to convince Even and the others that assisting you was helpful for all of us in the long run, and that it was the right thing to do.

"Ah, was that a concern of yours?"

"Yes, it was." Ienzo sighed, unfolding his hands at last. "You can dislike us as much as you think we deserve, Lauriam, but I do request that you be civil. And not only with me."

"I don't think I need to be reminded about civility."

"I will speak with Even. I'll also make certain that he and everyone else uses your proper name. In return, I would appreciate it if you would use our preferred names.

"...Very well. Ienzo."

"Thank you. It's the least we can do for each other, I think."

With that, Zexion-Ienzo-rose from his seat. From his expression, he seemed to think the conversation had reached its end. Part of Lauriam wanted to throw another barb, to goad him into showing some hint of the calculating and cold persona he remembered, but his exhaustion overpowered his anger at last. He pushed himself to his feet and nodded at Ienzo, who nodded back, looking satisfied.

"It will take a couple of days to finish setting up for you," Ienzo said. "But we will work as fast as we can. I'll let you know when you can expect to report to the lab."

"That's fine," Lauriam said, not bothering to hide the tiredness in his voice.

"I'll be going, then. Please do take a look at the books. I hope they're helpful. Good night, Lauriam."

Ienzo left the house, leaving it silent once more. Lauriam dropped back into his chair, rubbing at his face. His head was beginning to hurt. He dimly wondered if the emotions he felt now were the ones he would grow used to in the coming weeks-irritation, suspicion, uncertainty, exhaustion. It was not a pleasant notion.

But if it meant he could recover his memories, he would endure whatever he must.

Flower: Common rue
Scientific name: Ruta graveolens
Meanings: Regret, disdain

Drought resistant, this plant can grow in many places. The sap can be painful, so make sure you wear gloves!