Author's Note: This is quite unlike anything I've written before, except Regret, really. But this conveys far more emotion, I believe. I was given the prompt from my friend, who gave me no less than 50 themes for an art challenge. The image I drew (that will never see the internet, I believe), is of a hand disintegrating. I only recently made the connection with how a Nobody fades when they die. I was going to write this for Axel, but then I realised Zexion would be most likely thinking about carbon and matter while dying. I never thought I'd write this as character death isn't my thing, although I did want a break from smut and relationships. I would have ended it on a lighter note, but somehow, I think it's better this way.

Carbon.

Carbon. The single word that floats into Zexion's head as he watches black particles begin to mark an almost grid like pattern on his fingertips before floating up and fading like smoke. It should bother him more than it does; half knelt against a wall, his attacker long departed once he was sure the Cloaked Schemer wouldn't be getting up again. He should curse himself for not being faster; for not portaling away, ensnaring the other in an illusion, dodging or even attempting to fight back. But Zexion leans back against the cool stone and watches as he crumbles away. If he had a microscope and could still the progress of his death, he believed, that the blackness would make up thousands, millions of tiny dots on his skin, like pixels on a screen or atoms in everything. Carbon. Despite his predicament as a Nobody, a phenomenon science itself could not explain, Zexion believes that despite being a denizen of darkness, he is still made of carbon. Just like he has always believed Nobodies retain their emotions as the feelings came from the brain, not the heart he and his comrades lacked. The analytical part of his mind tells him his thoughts are truth, whereas any feeling from his non existent heart is, unsurprisingly, absent. He knows now, and has done since he lost his heart, that there are many things science will never explain. The argument against a God would weaken were anyone to examine his body.

If it were not fading away.

His mind whispers almost cruelly in his ear. But Zexion does not believe in a God, no higher, loving deity. He never did as a child, not now, when he is watching his body turn to dust, alone and strangely cold.

Zexion had always preferred solitude over being surrounded by others. Put it down to his like of peace. But yet, he, like every other being, heart or no, yearned for some form of affection. Be it a small smile, a hand on his shoulder breaking his concentration and telling him that he really needed to get some sleep or very rarely, another in the room, not saying anything, not needing to, speaking every word they needed to just by being with the same four walls as he. Zexion had never pictured dying alone. He'd never even pictured dying. He'd pushed that and everything related to the back of his mind, it wasn't necessary to worry about death. He had been so certain in his abilities that he was sure he would be able to choose his death, to a certain extent. He should have seen it coming. Should have known he would be next after Vexen, Larxene and even Lexaeus...Oh Kingdom Hearts, Lexaeus. Zexion felt a pang of...something...every time he thought of the Silent Hero's death. He had been the closest thing Zexion had had to a friend. He had not cried though. No. He had felt number than usual, retreated to somewhere outside. A beautiful garden. He hadn't seen the bright, bold colours of the flowers in bloom though. Had only seen their evanescent beauty for what it was; short lived.

Like me.

He thought it almost bitterly. He had hoped to see the completion of Kingdom Hearts, to get his own heart back and be something again. Had hoped to smile and rejoice with the others...And maybe hoped to one day find someone who truly understood him and settle down somewhere quiet. But most of all, he had hoped he wouldn't die like this. Pitiful, pathetic, weak. He wasn't a fighter, that much Zexion knew. But he wanted to have at least made an effort. Not an epic battle with swords and guns, no. But comprised of sharp wits and quick thinking.

Guess my name will never make it into a book.

Zexion allowed himself a small laugh as the disintegration seemed to hasten, spreading outwards now from the hole in his chest where the fatal blow had struck.

Won't be long now.

Thinking back, Zexion had no regrets, losing his heart aside. He hadn't done a lot of things he would have liked to, but he had done what he could while he was able. That was enough. Slowly, the Schemer's mind began to slow, his vision dimming, his sense of smell dulling, the deafening silence was still there, consuming him like the darkness.

I'll never touch a book again. Never curl up in one of those sinfully comfortable chairs in the library...

A tear, solitary, slid down the uncovered side of Zexion's face, it faded before it hit the floor.

I wonder what comes after this? Or will there be darkness?

Matter swirling upwards like feathers in the wind, carbon that would mingle with the carbon in everything else. A part of everything, and a part of nothing.

Nothing.

That was what he was. Most certainly now. Zexion closed his eyes before he was robbed of his vision, a small act of defiance.

If I am to be born again, I wish to live far away from any kind of conflict.

A small sigh, almost gasping, left him as he relaxed into his fate completely. A burst of bright light erupted as the last of him faded. Seconds later, the light too, was gone. Then, there was nothing. Nothing but carbon.

Post Script:Please review, as I would like to know what you think. This is my first piece of Kingdom Hearts fan fiction and any criticism would be appreciated. I didn't mention Zexion's killer as apparently a Riku Replica kills him in Chain of Memories (GBA) and Axel in RE: Chain of Memories...so I left it unsaid. Being stabbed in the chest was necessary for this to be written, as being decapitated...well, you can see how it would work.

I have 49 more themes awaiting. Expect more.

Next theme: Trust.

EDIT: Sorry for confusion, but I decided I might try to write the popular 100 Art Themes as well after this...so to save my story list, I'll compile everything into one story. Crappy title is crappy.