Reflection of the Heart

Reflection of the Heart

Chapter Three: Strange Worlds, Strange People & Strange Dogs that Pee on Strange People in Strange Worlds

Kikyo paused and her snow white companions paused as well, just inches behind her. Her eyes narrowed.

There was a boy just ahead of her–a rather strange looking boy, like that girl that followed Inuyasha. Only he was more so. His hair was in odd fashion, going quite frankly, all over the place. His head was down so she couldn’t see it but even sitting, she knew he was rather short. He didn’t wear tradition clothing of the era–no he wore–well she wasn’t exactly sure what he was wearing to be honest. Though the silver pendant that hung around his neck, gleaming everything the sun hit it just right certainly stood out. Though what it was, she wasn’t close enough to tell.

While the boy had peaked her interest, the two figures that stood on either side of him certainly had done it more so.

One was a demon, she was positive. She had what seemed to be permanent narrowed eyes, heavy lidded in a coal color for iris but her eye itself was a livid green. Piecing really. She wore some sort of black attire, long and draping, with black horns protruding from her head. Long, spider like pale fingers with long black nails and very large ring on a single finger. In her hand, a staff with a large green orb on the top. The woman, pale and sinister, was speaking to what Kikyo guessed was another, though more than likely less powerful demon by his demeanor.

It looked like an odd...dog. Maybe. She wasn’t sure. But he wore an outfit almost similar to the young boy’s, though his had a large black and red heart insignia on the front. And this demon was large both in size and height. His fur was short and black though and his snout was broad. He was frowning at the demon that spoke to him, shaking his head slowly as both looked down at the young man on the floor.

Kikyo crept closer still, her bare feet making no sound as she made her way behind the closes tree to the intruders.

“...really need this little punk Maleficent?” the second demon asked the first. His manner was respectful, almost timid. Yes, he was under her command and was indeed, the weaker of the two.

The woman only gave a soft mirthless laugh, her long fingers wrapping around her staff as she examined it in almost a bored fashion before looking at the boy. “Do you question my motives?”

The man quickly shook his hands in front of him and his head and Kikyo saw that he immediately began to sweat. “No-NO Maleficent I would never question you ” He laughed nervously. “I was just...curious–”
“Curiosity kills, my dear Pete,” she replied in a cold manner, pointing the staff at the boy though the second demon, now know to Kikyo as Pete, jumped. Maleficent saw this out of the corner of her eye and a smirk that reminded Kikyo of Naraku appeared across those thin blood stained lips.

“Do not tell me you afraid my dear Pete,” she continued. “Do you think I mean to harm you for such a minor insult?”

“Well–I–”

Her eyes narrowed and she paused in whatever activity she was about to proceed in with the boy. She raised her staff, her eyes now boring into his. Pete meanwhile, began to sweat more as a panicked look crossed his face and took a few more steps away from the demon.

“Of course not Maleficent You just moved to fast is all” he laughed nervously. The demon did not share his amusement. Her eyes only narrowed further. “I-I didn’t mean no harm, honest I was just wonderin what’s so important about this little punk when you’ve already got that other little punk in mind ”

Now it was Kikyo’s turn to narrow her eyes. So the demon needed the boy for something. Two of them it seemed. Perhaps the boy wasn’t with the pair then. That made things easier.
“You still question me then Pete.”

“N-no ” he stammered. “I mean–I questioned what you were doin but–”

“You have questioned my motives. I see. So you have no trust in me, is that what you mean?” she questioned calmly, eyeing a single raven that had flown in and landed on the green orb on her staff in almost an adoring manner. She stroked it’s back with her free hand and Kikyo could swear the bird smiled when she smiled down at it. Another demon?

“That’s not it Maleficent ” the second demon insisted, almost desperately now. Kikyo frowned. This first demon was obviously something most feared if single none threatening words had the man nearly begging for no reason. That or he was a coward.

“Silence you fool,” she snapped in a loud, sharp tone, slamming the end of he staff on the ground, starting her raven and causing the second demon to shrink back in fear.

She seemed to calm down almost as quickly as she’d become angered, once again stroking the raven in a loving fashion to calm it as well before turning her attention back to the young boy leaning against the tree.

Kikyo took this moment to stand. Whatever the motive of this ‘Maleficent’, Kikyo was sure the demon could not be trusted. She pulled out her wooden bow, drawing back the string close to lower lobe of her right ear, aiming one of her trademark arrows directly at the demon’s chest. Without a moment’s hesitation, she released it, watching without emotion as the demon, without turning to face her, stopped the arrow with her orb, letting the jewel be hit instead.
The arrow disappeared into a small burst of bright light, and the demon looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing at Kikyo. This caused the lesser demon to look up.

“It appears we have a visitor,” she stated in an amused tone, turning to face Kikyo fully now, her raven seeming to stare narrowed eyed at the fallen priestess as well.

“Depart demon.” A warning.

“Demon?” the woman replied in mock surprise, her eyes widening before becoming naturally heavy lidded again and closing. She broke into a mirthless laugh. “How interesting, don’t you agree Pete? She thinks we are demons ”

The lesser being joined in her laughter and they both shared the amusement–that is until Kikyo shot another arrow, this one coming dangerously close to hitting the leading demon in the face. It pieced the tree behind her instead.

The woman narrowed her eyes at Kikyo, her grip tightening on her staff. She hit the ground once and odd black creatures crept out of the shadows.

Kikyo’s cold eyes watched as the jumpy demons crept closer towards her, circling her. Cornering her.

She pulled another arrow from it’s quiver and aligned it with her bow but did not raise it up to take aim, simply watching her adversaries. They got closer and closer still until suddenly–they stopped.

They were close to her, almost seeming ready to attack however, they simply stayed in their place, bobbing around on their legs, a few even seeming to sink back into the shadows cast by the setting sun.

Kikyo continued to watch them, only looking up when she heard the head demon ‘hmph’, drawing the sound out as she narrowed her eyes further at Kikyo.

“They don’t seem that interested Maleficent,” the lesser demon called in a questioning manner as both continued to watch.

“It would appear our new found ‘friend’ does not have a heart,” she replied with mild interested. Her companion looked flabbergast but she paid him no mind. “Very well...” She slammed the end of her staff down again the shadow demons attacked Kikyo at once.

The priestess did not flinch in fear, only took a step backward as she raised her bow, now lined with several arrows and let them loose, not pausing to watch them hit their marks as she refilled her bow quickly with more and spinning around, shot her second round at the shadows attacking from the back.

These she watched fade into thin air, another arrow at the ready before quickly turning around to face the head demon. She had chosen to take this chance to lift the boy from his resting place, the orb on her staff seeming to glow bright as he was engulfed in darkness. Kikyo shot her arrow, not at the demon, but at the flicker of silver she saw at the boy’s neck.

It hit it’s mark and on impact, a light was produced, causing the head demon to take a few steps back, the darkness around him fading.

Kikyo drew yet another arrow and aimed it for the second time at the demon named ‘Maleficent’ but was met with crimson lips curling upwards into a smirk as a thin black eyebrow was raised. Within a burst of blackness, her robes fanning outward, the demon was gone, with her companion calling for her to “wait for me” before he dived into the strange pool of darkness after her.

After a moment, Kikyo finally lowered her bow and walked the rest of the distance to the boy sitting against the tree calmly, her soul gathers leaving her swiftly in search for the lost souls of young woman so that she may regain the strength she’d lost to sustain her existence.

She kneeled until she was eye level with the young bow and using two delicate fingers, lifted his face by his chin so she could get a better look at him.

Such beautiful eyes. But they were so hollow. Dark. Empty. His face seemed pale, his mouth slightly open. She touched his chest–no heart beat. But the body was quite warm. Perhaps freshly killed. But then, why would the demon have use for one who was deceased.

Her eyes darkened. The demon could be in alliance with Naraku. After all, the demon huntress that traveled with Inuyasha–Sango–her younger brother was an unwilling servant of the half demon. Though...the boy had died...

This made her frown further. But she could sense no shards for the jewel-and she knew the young Kohaku had a shard imbedded into his back that kept him alive. And yet the boy was breathing softly, slowly–but he made no movements. He seemed unaware of his current state.

Kikyo put her bow away and taking the boy into her arms, picked him up and began to head deep into the forest. She was one whom had always loved the youth. And while the child was not a small child, he was still quite young.

She would figure out what was wrong with the young man–why those demons wanted him. Find out if Naraku was up to this time. After all, he seemed to care enough to send Kagura to spy on her, hiding behing a nearby tree with that fan of hers pressed to her lips in a thoughtful fashion.

She’s been there since Kikyo had been attacked by the shadow demons to which Kikyo was not concerned. She could be dealt with if need be.

No, she was more concered with the bundle in her arms with the sweet, almost innocent face. She stuided it for a moment longer, her own expression softening before her eyes instantly met with the small silver pendant. The only thing that reacted to her pressence–when she’d shot her arrow at it.

Perhaps, this was the key to everything.
~~~~~~~~

Alone.

He was all alone–again. She’d stolen him away– again. But she wouldn’t get his heart. Oh no, he wouldn’t allow her to have that part of Sora. That was only for him to have–and no one would take that away from him again.

Yes, he would find his sweet innocent Sora and then he would make Kairi pay...

...just as soon as he figured out a way off this rock floating in the middle of nowhere.

As he made the almost impossible leap from one rock to another, being careful not to fall (after all, the entire planet was composed of floating boulders in an dark, starlight abyss. Never ending. Ever silent.

As he kept moving, he didn’t notice the swirl of darkness that appeared just behind him...a woman with bellowing coal robes and equally colored narrowed eyes watching him with a thoughtful expression.
~~~~~~~

“This is the one.”

“Perhaps. He looks not like the boy from the island.”

“Well I think he’s pretty damn–”

“Axel, bite your tongue. Do not speak of the young lass in such a perverse way.”

“Says the melodramatic pansy with flowers. And what the hell? “Lass?”

“He’s trying to use ‘big’ words today.”

“Shut your mouth, Zexion.”

“Do not speak to him in such disrespect you incompetent fool. You do not speak to a founding member–”

“As if you are anything of the sort Demyx?”

“I am higher ranked than you Larxene ”

“Oh yes. The ‘Melodious Nocturne’. Barely competent and somehow favored by Lord Xenmas. Or perhaps, it’s your connection to Zexion that makes you more favored in his eyes.”
“Damn I could use a drink...”

“Nothing of the sort ”

“I’m so sure–”

An uproar and the feminine voice let out a soft snicker with the knowledge she’d gotten under their skin...

“Silence.”

Dull in expression. Soft yet force. The room grew still with the exception of the flaming red head, who allowed the smirk playing on his lips to fade as he shifted the bundle of nakedness in arms. His eyes flickered down to stare at the face that was partially buried in his shoulder, the rosy lips still parted into a slight ‘o’ as he breathed softly. Angelic. But still lusciously fuckable.

A man with long azure hair stepped out of the way as another figure in long black robes strolled into the room, long silver hair haloing his face as piecing amber eyes moved to each face of his twelve Organization members before finally falling on the boy being held by Number VIII.

He took the distance between himself and the red head, a an amused smirk forming over his face. “Calm yourself Axel.”

And the red head adverted his eyes, a man with dark hair and an patch over his left eye raising an eyebrow.

Everyone waited in silence, a tight circle having formed around their leader and the red head as he continued to study the boy as if he were an experiment of some sort. Finally, their leader backed up slightly, holding the pendant of a small crown the boy wore around his neck on a thin silver chain. The redhead blinked. He’d missed that somehow.

“Yes...this is the correct boy,” he replied absently, as if thinking aloud. Then he let the pendant go, eying it a moment longer before slowly turning his back on the pair and once again, address the rest of the circle.

“ ‘Key of Destiny’. The XIII member of our Organization.”

“Organization XIII,” a voice called in a sing song voice before clapping softly.
Everyone paused to look over at him and a hand reach out and took them softly to stop him, the short haired blond looked over at another blond, though he looked to be older with facial hair, who shook his head softly and lowered his hands. Number XI rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to flip a spiky strand of rose colored hair out of his eyes while Number VI shook his head slightly and rubbed the bridge between his eyes.

“. . .Dismissed.” the leader replied slowly, still looking at the sitar artist in an odd fashion before shaking his head, swiftly walking toward the exist. “And Axel–see to it that–”

“Roxas.” he replied simply.

“Very well. Has his own room ready by the time he awakens.” With this, he left, the azure haired member and the man with the eye patch following.
The other nine where left to examine their newest member, though the blond with facial hair seemed rather disinterested.

“Roxas? Since when did you get to name the new members?”

“Since I found him first and I didn’t hear any complaints. Got it memorized?”

“Besides, it’s rather clever. An anagram.”

“Dem, you think being able to eat with a fork is clever.”

“Could you hurry this up? I have to take him to my room.”

“Lord Xenmas stated that he was to have a room of his own.”

“And until it’s ready, he’s in my bed. Got it memorized?”

“Your bed is it? And why can’t luscious sleep with someone more–experienced?”

“I–don’t believe it’s what he meant Larxene.”

“Besides, I’m far more experienced than the both of you.” Purred. Wanting. Seductive.
“What is he? Four? You people should be ashamed of yourselves. Besides, that’s not what the kid is suppose to be used for.”

“Maybe not Luxord. But who said there wasn’t fun to be had before our work is finished? Got it–”

“Yes Axel yes I’ve got it memorized. We’ve all got it memorized. Would you please just shut up and put the toy away? And will someone get me a damn vodka,” the blond demanded, starting for the kitchens.

The red head sweat dropped after him while the sitarist snickered openly and another member, one known as the ‘Whirlwind Lancer’ came close to the newest member’s face, poking his pendant–a silver crown– with his index finger as he studied it.
~~~~~~~~

“Geez Squall Beating up a girl for god’s sake ”

“It’s Leon ninja brat. And it wasn’t as if she was defenseless. She’s suppose to be the holder of the Keyblade, she should have been able to handle it.”

‘More odd voices. Wait...what happened?’

“Yes, but maybe fighting wasn’t the best thing to do in this type of situation Leon. We’re going to need her help if we’re ever going to get back home. Or help any of the other worlds in distress.”

Ocean blue eyes fluttered opened as she groaned, a hand coming to her head as she tried to raise it, feeling dizzy.

Okay: she remembered waking up before. And getting peed on by this do named ‘Pluto’. Then some guy–or maybe it was a talking duck–asked her about seeing a king. Or maybe it was a ‘key’. She’d shown them her house keys–and then they left.

Then she ran into some guy that cursed. A lot. And talked about ships made out of gummi bears. Or something. And then those thing that attack the island–she thought anyway–tried attacking her again and then–nothing.

“Hey look She’s coming around ” a voice called happily and she felt a shift on the bed she was laying on as a soft hand caught her forehead, feeling it.
“Her fever’s gone,” a gentle feminine voiced replied with a hint of happiness.

A fever? She had a fever? Well, talking ducks did sound looking for keys did sound weird. Maybe she’d dreamed that...

“Great for her,” a man voice, cold, snapped.

“Be nice Squall,” the cheerful voice scolded.

“Leon ”

“Fine. I’m calling you Squon,” the voiced giggled and Kairi heard an annoyed growl. Finally, her eyes fluttered opened to see a woman with soft emerald eyes smiling down at her.

The redhead blinked at her, confused, before gapping at the two other people in the room.

The first one seemed familiar. He was tall, wearing black leather pants, with three black belts only the sem on the side on the upper thigh the cuffs reaching down over his black shoes. Or maybe boots but she couldn’t tell. He wore a short sleeved black jacket, the collar trimmed with white fur, a red insignia on the cuff of his sleeve. It was shorter, than the white t-shirt underneath, the shirt itself tucked into his pants, the waist of them adorned with several black and brown belts, all loose. He also wore three small brown belts on his upper arms, all spaced precisely apart while his hands were covered with black gloves.

His hair was brown and spiky, though not as long as Sora and a lot more tidy as the spikes pointed downward. He had blue eyes that were staring straight through her, a long scar right between them, a deep frown on his face as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.

Kairi’s own gaze wavered, lowering as she instead, decided to look at her hands.

“Oh don’t worry about Leon, he can be rude and even a little bit of a jerk at times,” a voice laughed and caused him to glare. This girl was average height with wide brown eyes and short raven hair. She wore a black sleeveless jacket over her black shirt with silver designs all over it, thought he shirt was a little longer but not enough so that her naval was covered. She wore a rather short pair of black shorts, with a wee bit longer brown pair underneath, both tied off with a single brown belt. She wore knee high black socks that were lined at the top with white and high top shoes, only they were in the boot fashion and brown. (Kairi would have to ask where she bought those...) And finally she wore a black glove on one had that reached past her wrist but not her elbow, a white sports band on the other wrist and black and white trimmed ribbon that was tied around her head.

She was standing right beside the one she’d called ‘Squon’, smacking him on the shoulder playfully but giving him a ‘shame on you’ mock face. He promptly ignored her.

“Yuffie, that wasn’t polite,” the nice woman beside her scolded. The girl that seemed to be around her age hunched. “So what? It’s true.” The nicer of the three shook her head and looked back over at Kairi in an apologetic fashion.

Kairi got a better look at her. She had soft auburn hair tied back by a large red bow into a braided pony tail, wisp of twisted hair haloing her face as bangs. She wore a sleeveless red top that reached past her waist, the front across her breast and down the middle was white and button up while she wore a layered pink dress with white lace trim underneath and thigh high brown boots.

Kairi decided she liked this new girl and returned the smile, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed as she slowly got to her feet, ignoring how dizzy she felt. The woman stood with her, seeming to ask silently if she would be alright. Kairi only smiled at her again and the woman looked relieved.

“That’s Aerith beside you, the grumpy one is Leon, I’m Yuffie, and you can’t stay here too long,” she stated matter of factly, putting her hand on her hip. “Not that we don’t like ya. But those heartless are drawn straight to you.”

Kairi turned her attention to her and frowned. “...Heartless?”

“The creatures that attacked you in the street,” Leon replied gruffly. “They’re drawn to the power of the Keyblade. They’re just going to keep attacking you no matter what, so I suggest you get better at using it kid.”

“...Keyblade?” Kairi replied uncertainly. Now she was really confused.

Leon looked annoyed. “Yes. The Keyblade. The weapon you used to defend yourself against them?”

“And you,” Yuffie added, smacking him on the shoulder again. Kairi frowned. “So I’m the girl you beat up?”

Leon looked away. “I didn’t ‘beat you up’. I knocked you out. It made you put your Keyblade away and it bought me enough time to get you inside before another wave of the heartless attacked again.”

The room was silent, until the spunky girl threw her arms around him and cooed. “Aww Squon, I didn’t know you cared so muuuuch.”

He let out a loud enough grunt before lightly pushing ‘Yuffie’ off and she laughed. The woman in pink shook her head and turned to look at Kairi, placing a hand on her shoulder and getting her attention.

“We’ve been so rude haven’t we?” she began with an apologetic smile. Kairi shook her head. “Oh no Not at all. I would much rather be knocked out and peed on–”

“Whao kid, I didn’t pee on you,” Leon replied with a bewildered yet disgusted look. Kairi waved her hands in a defensive manner and shook her head. “No no, not you Pluto ”

“Pluto?” Leon and Yuffie replied in usion, then looking at each other. This seemed to interest in woman in pink. “His majastie’s dog?”

“Who?”

“The king. That must mean that his court has finally arrived. You must have met with them eariler?” she questioned.

“I...think,” Kairi replied, squinting as she thought about it hard. “A talking duck and–well I’m not sure but I think the other was a very tall talking dog. They were wearing clothing and one had a shied with circles on it–”

“You need to find them again,” Leon cut her off abruptly. “And talk to Yen Sid.”

“Who?”

“He taught the king magic spells. He’s reguarded as the best wizard in all the worlds,” Aerith explained. “He’ll be able to inform you on the enemies you’ll face.”

“We just know about the creeps that destroyed our home,” Yuffie added. “Those things are heartless. Now the weird silver thingies that dance like they’re on some kind of seditive? I haven’t got a clue. But they’re not heartless. They’ve got a different insigna on them.”

“Oh. Okay,” Kairi nodded slowly, trying to take this all in. But she didn’t get long.

There was a loud thump outside, and almost on cue, the other two in the room pulled out weapons, the spunky girl a very large metal x...thing. And the guy looked to have a sword with a gun’s handle for a hilt.

“Um..” Kairi replied alarmed with a sweat drop.

“That didn’t take long,” the spunky girl called, already making her way out the room, via jumping on top the dresser and disappearing into some kind a secret panal in the roof. After a moment longer, she stuck her head back down and gave Kairi a tooth smile. “By the way: I am the proud member of the Shin–”

“We don’t have time for this,” ‘Leon’ called, starting for an exit, via the bedroom’s door.
She stuck her tongue out at him before disapearing back into the hole.

“Go find the King’s servants and get out of here kid. You’ve got worlds to save” ‘Leon’ added before finally leaving.

“Forgive Leon...he’s not so bad once you get to know him,” Aerith replied as she gently pushed Kairi towards the window. “Find the King’s servants. Then Yen Sid.”

“But I have to find my friends ” Kairi all but whined, a vision of untamed brown hair and sparkling sapphire eyes coming into mind. She’d been meaning to ask about Sora and the others since she got here. The woman smiled gently. “I’m sure you’ll find your lost friends...”

“Kairi,” she smiled.

“Kairi,” she nodded, handing her a small bottle. “Just in case you’re hurt again. It’s called a potion. It will help heal you if the heartless attack and hurt you again.”

Kairi smiled. “Thank you.”
They heard more thumping down stairs and Aerith pushed her toward the window again. “You have to hurry ”

“Wait But what about–”

“Thank you, but I promise I’ll be just fine,” she smiled warmly and unsure, Kairi nodded and finally, climbed out the window, giving the woman a small wave before making her descent down. She landed with a thud on her feet and pausing to catching her bearings, began to jog toward an ally, ignoring the shadows that seemed to move after her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:
Thank you all for reading and reviewing if you have been. It makes me want to dance. I hope you've liked the update and more will come. Now review or so help me, I'm seeind the Riku plushie army after you. Or I'll cry and scream, and pitch a fit until I knock myself out. Or both. Sounds fun, actually...