Under the Apple Tree

Chapter 2

“He’s coming to, go fetch the Superior.”
“Whaa? Why meee? I wanna stay here and watch him~…”
“You’re only going to scare him, go away. Get the Superior.”
“Pff.”

Saï’s pointed ears caught voices above him, discussing in a language he had never heard before. His eyes shifted under their lids, he willed them open and was startled to see a young man sitting beside him. A pure and total stranger, visibly of another race. Delicate, petite, round ears. Who could he be?

“Where am I?” Saï rubbed at his eyes tiredly, frowning.
“This is…” The boy scrunched his face up in concentration, visibly searching how to phrase it. “The World That Never Was. The Superior… I mean, Xemnas brought you here.”
“Xemnas?” The World That Never Was? What an odd name to give a city, he mused.
“Ah!”

Saï jumped up, his body abruptly moving into a seated position. Another city? They had left his homeland? But what about his brother! He couldn’t have given him proper goodbyes! He had to return at once.

“What’s the matter?” The boy asked, startled.
“My family. I must bid them farewell.”
“Oh. I’m afraid this won’t be possible now.”

There was a heavy silence following such heart-wrenching words, Saï looked up into the boy’s face. Maybe he had misheard him, maybe the young man merely didn’t fully master the berserker language and he did a mistake. Yes. This must have been it!

“Well good morning, Saï.” Xemnas came into the room, swiftly moving to the bed. “I had begun believing you would never rouse.” He smiled down at him.
“Xemnas..! Why have you brought me away before I could properly bid my family farewell?”
“You were unconscious, I reckoned it was the perfect time to take you away.”
“But!”
“Traveling through portals of darkness is taxing on a living creature such as you, I wanted to avoid you pain and discomfort. My apologies that in doing so you couldn’t bid your family farewell.”
“…I’d like to go back Xemnas.” He lifted begging eyes up to the man’s face, imploring.
“Haven’t you informed him of the situation, Six?” Xemnas turned to the boy.
“I tried to, Superior.”

There was another awkward silence, Xemnas pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down, taking Saï’s hand in his. He rubbed the long and pale fingers, then gave them a squeeze.

“Your world is no more.” He dully announced.
“What?” Saï raised an eyebrow. What could this possibly mean?
“Your world is no more. It was swallowed up by darkness. It appears that I have taken you away just in time.”
“Swallowed by darkness? Xemnas, I do not understand what you are talking about! What happened to my brother?”
“…Well, he died. You are the sole survivor of your race.”
“He’s dead?! That’s… That’s not true!” Saï took his hand from him, shocked.

Tetsu couldn’t be dead..! He was just an adolescent! Xemnas had to be lying, but for what purpose? He looked at the boy for help, his body trembled and fell forth. He ducked his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Confusion made it worse, he couldn’t understand what this all meant.

“Superior…” The boy tentatively started in his own tongue. “Let me talk to him. I believe I master his language enough to explain the situation.”
“I am no good am I, Six?” Xemnas said in a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. “I don’t know how to deal with situations such as these. Very well, I entrust him to you. He is precious to me, treat him with great care.”
“Of course, Superior. Do not worry.”

Saï didn’t look up. He couldn’t understand a word of what was being said anyway. He docilely placed his arms around Xemnas when the latter embraced him. His fingers clung onto the thick leather of his coat.

“I will leave you into the capable hands of Six for now, Saï. He will answer all of your questions.”
“Where are you going? Why are you leaving me with him? Xemnas, don’t go!” He clung tighter, slightly panicked.
“You’ll be just fine, I have an important matter to take care of.” Gods, he sucked at that. He never knew how to handle those situations. “I will return shortly, I am not abandoning you.”
“You promise?” His voice was small and timid, but his hands still firmly clung on Xemnas.
“Yes, Saï. I promise. Just calm yourself now.”

They kissed, and it felt wonderful. The warmth was familiar, the taste was sweet, it instantly reassured him. Reluctantly, his fingers released Xemnas, and Saï watched, distressed, his lover leaving the room. The boy coughed to clear his throat, sitting on the chair Xemnas had pulled near the bed.

“So, your name is Saï, right? I am Zexion.” He outstretched a hand, so small it vanished completely in Saï’s.
“…You are a friend of Xemnas? Why are you speaking my language?”
“I know many of them. But to answer your question, I’ve studied books the Superior brought from your world. And yes, you could say that I am a friend of his.”
“…You look so young.”

Zexion made a face, sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs. Saï sniffed, observing him through a silky fringe of blue hair.

“I’m eighteen, by human standards.” Well, technically he was older than that, but considering his body hadn’t changed a bit since that age, he had ceased counting the years.
“Barely a man.” He meant no harm by that, simply stating a fact.
“How old are you?” Zexion countered, visibly bothered by the discussion.
“I am twenty-five.” He had no idea what ‘human standards’ were.
“Berserkers are considered adults at..?”
“Seventeen.” Saï shrugged.

Zexion considered the information. Saï was a man then, although just looking at him he could have figured as much. His form was tall, muscular, a well-defined adult body.

“Would you like to shower?” He suddenly asked, sitting up.
“No, not yet. Tell me more about my world.”
“Ah. Of course. I’ll try to explain as much as I possibly can.”

He wished Xemnas had waited to inform Saï of this. Zexion didn’t feel him ready for this. He didn’t even know where to begin.

“Tell me, first, what do you know already? What has Xemnas told you?” That would help.
“Meaning?” Saï frowned, gathering his legs up to his chest, watching Zexion.
“Well! Regarding this world, what Xemnas is… What he expects of you.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “I do not know much I confess. He told me a couple of times of a place, called Kingdom Hearts. I did not seize the concept, it seemed vague to me. Xemnas was parsimonious in his explanations.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Go on.”
“He said my strength would serve him well, that if I joined him, I could help realize this dream of his. I could help him regain his heart.”

Zexion leant against the armrest of the chair, listening attentively. Xemnas had enrolled this man in their quest without explaining the whole implication? Albeit he had expected something of the like, he couldn’t agree with dragging a man here and stripping him of his heart. Was Saï even realizing the meaning of it? Xemnas was taking advantage of the berserker’s love. Zexion disapproved of it.

“Why did you accept? Do you know the cost of it?”
“I accepted… Because I love him. Partly. I also and mainly accepted in order to escape my world and turn the page on my past. Xemnas offered me liberty, I grasped it.”
“But at the cost of your heart?” What they were all striving to regain?
“I will retrieve it when this kingdom comes into completion, won’t I?”
“Well yes, but…”
“Then it’s a sacrifice I am ready to make.”

That was impressive, Zexion reverently nodded his head, observing the man. He hesitated a second then added.

“But your love for him will vanish with your heart Saï. There will be nothing left of it, just a hollow, oppressing emptiness.”
“It will not. I do not need my heart to love him. I will remember him, and that is all I need to love him.”

He didn’t have the heart, ha what a bad pun, to contradict him. His fervor and devotion were unwavering anyhow, Zexion saw no reason to push this further.

“Regarding your homeland… Worlds have begun disappearing lately. It is just as Xemnas said, darkness swallows them, they are destroyed by heartless. They vanish. Completely. Leaving nothing and no one behind. This is what happened to yours, sadly.”
“Nothing, and no one.” He repeated, dropping his head again. “Thus, my brother…”
“He died. I’m sorry. You were unconscious for two days, it happened yesterday.”

They were both silent, and Saï brought his hands up to his face, breathing into his palms, silent tears seeping through his fingers. He cried his brother’s death, bitter. Tetsu was the only person Saï would miss.

“Would you like for me to leave you alone..?” Zexion hesitated, half-rising from his seat.
“Yes, please.” He needed some time alone to think.
“Very well. Don’t wander out of this room alone, it’s not safe for you out of these walls.”

The boy stood, placing a hand to Saï’s shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. The berserker didn’t react. Zexion left the room, going in search of Vexen and Lexaeus to give them details regarding Saï.

The berserker sat for a while, and he dropped his hands to his lap after rubbing his nose with the back of one. A smell, something quite distinctive that he hadn’t noticed so far, tickled his nose and Saï tipped his head back, abruptly hopping out of bed.

“What the...? Who are you?” He realized then that he was naked, and he tugged the sheet up, covering his naughty bits.
“Yo~…” The creature on the ceiling drawled. “Sexy lil thing. Hogged by the Sup, eh?”
“I do not understand a word you are saying.” Saï shook his head, confused, holding the sheet tighter as if a protective shield.
“Heeh..?” Xigbar landed on the bed in a tiny bounce, eyebrow raised. “Whatcha saying? Ooooh that’s riiight, you don’t speak our language.”

Confusion was all over the berserker’s face. He had question marks in the eyes. Had this man been hanging at his ceiling for long? Where had he come from? He sighed in frustration, covering himself up better and sitting on the chair.

“Baah oh well.” He grinned, falling on his knees and offering a hand, pointing at himself.
“Xigbar.” He said.
“Saï…” He took the hand, gave it a firm shake, and fell back against his seat. What an odd duck.

Saï let his eyes roam over the other male, detailing him. Long, pointed ears, yellow eyes… But no fangs. This one was not of his race, nor was he of Zexion's whom, Saï gathered, was a 'human'. He flinched at the touch of fingers on his face, tracing the wide X-shaped scar running between his eyes.

“Gives ya a wild look. I like.” Xigbar babbled, tracing the outlines of the scar.
“Don’t touch me.” Saï repulsed, moving his face away. He had no idea what the other was saying, but he didn’t enjoy the intimate contact.
“Ooo~… Timid are we?” Xigbar didn’t back down, rather he got closer and sat on him.
“G—Go away!” Saï snapped, anxious. He made to move his arms but his body felt heavy like lead. It refused to move!
“So warm, so full of life, a living creature with a heart~… How selfish of Xemnas to hog you!” His eyes shone maliciously, chuckling at the vain struggle of Saï against gravity.
“What have you done to me?!” He was now panicking, his heart pounding in his ears, and he violently clamped his sharp teeth around Xigbar’s tongue when the man kissed him.

The taste filled his mouth, the frenetic fright filled his brain, his claws ripped through leather and dug into flesh, he raked and rent, deaf to the cries of pain and the gargle of bubbling blood. Something in Saï snapped, he heard the sickening sound of bones being crushed and the thick, crimson liquid made wet sounds as his fingers kept ragingly raking at the man’s sides. They landed on Saï’s bed, he was like a wild animal, his teeth released the swollen tongue and ferociously bit in flesh, tearing morsels of it. His left hand closed on something viscous and round, he crushed it.

“Saï!!” Somewhere someone screamed his name, hands grabbed him and pulled but the berserker refused to let go of his prey, his fangs dug deeper in the flesh, his fingers knocked against bare bones.

Then nothing. Only blackness, and a blinding pain on the side of his head. He was out like a bulb, his body fell limp onto Xigbar’s torn and ripped one.