Disclaimer: All characters from Kingdom Hearts are copyright SquareEnix.
Warning: Spoilers for all three games. If you haven't played them yet and hate spoilers, do not continue.
Author's Notes: This is part of a long-term project: novelizing all three Kingdom Hearts games. This story was meant to bridge the gap between Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II. I'm also working on additional stories to add to the general novel.
To avoid confusion, here's a timeline:
Kingdom Hearts
Weep Not For the Memories
Chain of Memories
Vital Signs
While Sora Slept
Kingdom Hearts II
Over the course of the story, several characters will refer to Demyx as "Shamisen Boy." If your sole intent of reviewing is to tell me that Demyx's weapon is a sitar and not a shamisen, save your energy. A sitar has seventeen to twenty strings, depending on the style. A shamisen has three strings. Demyx's weapon has three strings, so it's not a sitar. Jiminy's journal is a mistranslation.
The stories in the Speeding Time collection are not part of the novel storyline.
Enjoy,
Mona
Chapter One: Advance and Be Recognized
Axel hated formalities, but they were a necessary evil in the Organization. Still hooded, he opened the door, and entered the meeting room.
Xemnas, the Superior, sat in the middle of the table, with Saïx, Xigbar, and Xaldin to his right. Demyx and Luxord were seated to Xemnas's left.
Giving this report and getting out of it alive would be tough enough without having to see their faces. But Axel savored a challenge.
"Advance and be recognized." Xemnas said.
Axel stood before the table and unhooded himself.
"Your report?"
Axel cleared his throat. "It was just as you expected, Superior. Marluxia and Larxene were planning to use Sora as a trump card to overtake the Organization."
Xigbar looked around. "Where are Old Frosty, Rocky, and Priss-Pants?"
Never let 'em see ya sweat. Axel shrugged. "Long story."
"We're listening," said Xemnas.
"Vexen got loose-lipped. He was about to tell Sora about you-know-who. Good thing Sora wasn't too interested and killed Vexy on the spot." Sometimes a lie is the most potent magic of all. "Naminé told Sora the truth. He went on to kill Larxene and Marluxia."
"But Sora is safe?" Xemnas asked.
"Yes, Superior. Naminé is probably fixing his memory right now."
"What of Lexaeus and Zexion?" Saïx interrupted.
"Well, that white-haired kid…Riku somehow ended up in the basement. So Lexaeus and Zexion thought they could use Riku to block Marluxia. Except Riku wasn't too keen on the idea. Lexaeus and Riku got into a fight and Riku won. Vexen made a copy of Riku, but it was unstable. The Replica killed Zexion in a fit of pique. I would have killed that Replica, but…heh. Riku beat me to it."
"And you expect us to believe that?" Saïx asked coolly.
"It wasn't my fault."
"I thought you couldn't possibly botch this mission, but you surprised me." Saïx's voice was louder, though his tone remained even. "You let three of our loyalists die. Our plans have been set back months, maybe even years because of you."
Saïx reminded Axel of those cartoon gags – the punching glove on a spring that would hit the hapless lead character. The tighter the spring, the harder the punch. The thing with Saïx was that his spring was perpetually compressed. And you never knew the cue that would release that spring. When something did, it would hurt. Sometimes Saïx was even scarier than the Superior.
"Calm down, Saïx," Xemnas said. "The loss of Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion has a grave impact on our future plans, but you have no right to yell at Axel. If he says the circumstances were beyond his control, then we should give him the benefit of the doubt."
"We're talking about Axel here," said Saïx.
"I'm aware of that."
This must be my lucky day. I killed Vexen and arranged for Zexion's demise, and all I'm getting is a slap on the wrist? Axel resisted the temptation to mutter 'nyah, nyah' under his breath.
"Are we going to recruit replacement nobodies?" Saïx asked.
"No," replied Xemnas. "We're all just going to have to work a little harder. Each of you is expected to undertake additional duties."
Demyx glared. "Thanks a lot, Axel."
Axel snorted. "Since when you have lifted a finger around here, Shamisen Boy?" Larxene came up with the nickname, Axel recalled. It was just so fitting.
"Don't call me Shamisen Boy," Demyx snapped.
"Then don't be an idiot," quipped Xigbar.
Xemnas raised his hand. "Enough." Silence.
The door suddenly flew open. A teenage boy came in.
"Is something wrong, Roxas?" Axel asked.
"No. I couldn't sleep, so I went to the library to read. And then I thought I heard voices. I didn't know we were having a meeting tonight."
"No, no, my boy," Luxord replied. "We were just discussing…um…"
"Paychecks," Saïx finished. "You'd have been bored."
"I've decided to give everyone a five percent raise," added Xemnas.
"What are you talking about?" Demyx said. "You don't pay…" Luxord quickly clapped a hand over Demyx's mouth.
Roxas seemed to accept it. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow." He saluted and left.
Everyone sighed in relief.
Xemnas nodded. "As I was about to say, until Sora is ready to awaken, we'll wait and watch. You're all dismissed."
"Wait!" Demyx said. "One last question."
"Yes?" asked Xemnas.
"Are we really getting five percent raises?"
"…No."
End of Chapter One