The Art of Persuasion [Saïx]

[Aerith]

I'm tired of this. Really tired.
--------
[August 5th]

A Corridor opened on the quiet shore of the Dark Meridian. Axel emerged from the darkness and heaved a sigh of frustration that he did not actually feel. The Organization was worthless, and if all of them didn't realize it by now, they would soon. He wanted no part of it anymore.

Why couldn't Saïx understand how much Axel did not want to stay around any longer? Why couldn't he agree to leave, too? There was no point in staying if none of them were getting any closer to getting their hearts back. The next time Axel saw his former friend, he was going to try his hardest to convince him of that.

"We could get more done on our own, and you know it," he said to the sea. "Stop being so stubborn."

[Slash]

You don't have to convince me anymore.

[/center]

"I think the recent events have led me to consider that." Saïx said, appearing at a very opportune time. Truth be told, he had cast aside the idea of the Organization. It was far too useless. He didn't like to admit that he was wrong...so he didn't. Sticking with it would have been fine if the others weren't so incompetent.

"I have an idea. But I'm not sure of its' success yet. There are things that need to be considered. Xaldin has something up his sleeve, that much is obvious. Vexen is not an issue on his own, but his control of Number Twelve complicates things. It's obvious she works directly under him instead of for the Organization."

They would have to approach carefully...but he hadn't told Axel what he wanted to do.

"We can leave...perhaps. But on one condition." He stared up at the semi-moon of the Dark Meridian instead of the sea.

"The Castle. We need control of it. And that means getting everyone else out. I don't care how." He turned to Axel, his eyes cold and waiting for a reaction.

[Aerith]

More of this? Dammit.
--------

It had been strange to see Xaldin suddenly take an interest in the Organization again after such a long time of being away. Although, if the Lancer had come back to seize power, he could have it for all Axel cared. He would be seizing power over essentially no one at this rate. It was a worthless endeavor. Even had Axel been interested in power, he would have known that.

"Xaldin is nothing. If he wants to assert his dominance over a now-defunct group, let him. I don't really care what he and his sideburns do."

He shrugged. "As for Vexen and his little pet, they're nothing, too. Kicking them out of the Castle shouldn't be that hard. Unless you're having an off-day."

Axel didn't have much use for the Castle, but if Saïx wanted to take it, that's what they were going to do. He supposed it had something to do with the fact that Kingdom Hearts appeared over it before. Axel had yet to uncover any meaningful evidence to suggest Kingdom Hearts was not what they needed, though.

Heh. I guess some things never change, no matter how much you try. Saïx has an idea? Sure. I'll go along. Sometimes, I think I really am an idiot.

[Slash]

I'm not capable of irrational rage, but I can come close.

[/center]

Saïx stared at him for a moment. His points were approaching a sort of semi-validity. He'd gotten better at this. "If he wants the group, then he'll want the castle. But it doesn't seem as if he wants to keep it together. He wouldn't have called the meeting otherwise. I believe he just wants the castle, or perhaps power."

That's what it always came down to, after all. Power. Not power to reach a goal, as Saïx sought, but just power for its own sake. It was pathetic, and if Saïx was the abnormal one for thinking so then he'd remain that way.

In fact, his disgust for the rest of them had grown quite a lot. They could most likely be kicked out in a non-fatal manner, but part of him found that rather undesirable. Certainly, he rationalized the thought by believing that he did not want to leave potential threats or irritants around, but at the core of it all was one simple thing.

He wanted them to suffer for being obstacles in his path.

"It would be best to get the stronger ones out of the way first. Xigbar, Aixfeur and Xaldin wouldn't be a problem as long as no one could recover enough to fight together. The Organization's members have become incompatible, but faced with a collective threat they might temporarily ally themselves. Vexen and Zexion will both be comparatively easier. Alanix would be even more so."

The irrational side of him, a very small part that only surfaced in his berserker state, did not want to stop there. It wanted to find the other defectors and kill them as well...which, if he were to stumble upon them, he would not object to.

______

Aixfeur shifted slightly. This was important. Vexen had to hear this immediately. From the way they were speaking, this would go into effect very soon- maybe even tomorrow.

While she considered her next course of action from behind the rocks, she grew somewhat careless. She took a step back to leave, but stepped on a rock and nearly lost her balance. While she had caught herself in time, her footsteps had made some noise.

Saïx's head practically snapped towards the direction of the sound. Someone was listening.

[Aerith]

We didn't invite you.
--------

Power. Axel was beginning to hate that word and all of the consequences of trying to get it. He had power of his own, of course, and he did enjoy that. But he didn't necessarily want or need power over large groups of people. And he would never understand people like the Superior.

"Who said anything about making ourselves a collective threat? I've gone rogue before. No reason why I can't do it again." He probably would have ended up doing so eventually if this had gone on for much longer.

"As long as we're picking them off individually, I doubt many of the others will notice. It isn't like the Organization functions as much of a group anymore. The only ones who might take notice are Vexen and Aixfeur, since they seem to work so well together."

A noise interrupted him, something faint but noticeably out of place. Moving was instinctive, and he summoned a Corridor, reappearing in the direction from which the noise had come.

"Well, hello! Speak of the devil. One of them, anyway."

In the darkness between, he had summoned his chakrams, one of which was now squarely aimed at Number Twelve's neck. "Moving would be a bad idea, unless you want to lose your head."

[Slash]

Hello, Number Twelve.

[/center]

Saïx walked over to Aixfeur. She was completely trapped. How interesting. Was her spying recent, or had she just started? Perhaps she was doing it on Vexen's orders.

"What should we do with her?" he asked. He wanted to kill her after getting out any information she might have, but perhaps Axel had a different idea.

Aixfeur stayed very still. She had to wait for the right time to move. "Are you going to kill me?" she asked calmly. They could certainly try. It would be useful for her to learn what they could do, even if she had to retreat almost immediately. She did not know how powerful they were, but if they had killed their leader...

[Aerith]

Something to kill? About time.
--------

Well, this was a nice change of pace. Saïx was asking his opinion on what they should do with the little spy he had caught. He took a moment to relish this.

"Depends on how much I like you after I hear what you have to say. Although, being allied with Vexen starts you out in the negative on my scale. So, you'd better have something damn good to say."

He really did want to kill her. After she finished talking, he would. She would provide him with a good way to vent his frustration.

[Slash]

I can't lie very well.

[/center]

Aixfeur met the Flame's gaze evenly, without fear. She would not grovel to him. Never. She was a soldier, and she would never do something so shameful as beg for her life.

However, she was also thinking of the Academic's situation. She would have to eliminate the threats, through any way possible. A fight, perhaps...but it would be wise to attempt negotiation.

"A simple proposal. How long will it take you to gain Kingdom Hearts on your own? No matter how powerful you are, there are only two of you. Simply let us help you, and we will take the bottom of the castle and exist independently, still working towards the same goal. We would not have to interact, and any possible issue with taking the Castle would become trivial.'

'If you refuse, I will alert the others. I do not think I can win a fight, but I do know that I can gain enough time to retreat. The Castle will be put on alert. You would both accomplish the miracle of bringing the Organization to focus on one last goal- your elimination."

She looked at both of them, waiting for an answer. She did not presume to guess at what it was.

Saïx did not agree, but this was once again Axel's decision. In giving him this, perhaps he would be slightly more complacent when Saïx had to give the orders again.

[Aerith]

Explain this to me.
--------

Axel chuckled, still keeping one half of Eternal Flames at Aixfeur's neck. "You assume that anyone outside of Vexen and yourself would care about us taking the Castle. Most of the others are either dead or gone. They've reached the same conclusion we have, but they simply won't come back."

If it came down to persuasion, Axel knew he could get Zexion to see their side of things. Xigbar would flat-out not care. Luxord, Demyx, and Lexaeus were both long gone and seemed to have no interest in returning, so there was no need to get them involved. Roxas' replacement had disappeared, too. She had not seemed too pleased with the disorganization at any of the meetings they had both attended. Larxene and Marluxia, if they were wandering around out there, were traitors.

Aside from the enigma that was Xaldin, the only Nobodies who would "rally" against Saïx and Axel were Vexen and Aixfeur. Hardly unexpected.

"So, you see, threatening us with the idea of being stopped by some united force isn't going to work. Alerting the Castle right now basically boils down to you running to Vexen and telling him everything you've heard here. I'm surprised you even do that, to be honest. You don't have a weak personality from what I've seen. Yet, you can't seem to do anything unless you run to Vexen to check if it's okay first."

He still wasn't moving to attack, but he wasn't about to let her get away, either.

[Slash]

You want an explanation?

[/center]

Aixfeur did not lower her gaze. "It was not out of weakness. Merely an adherence to the chain of command. Being traitors, I do not expect you to know loyalty."

She paused. "He was the only one who condescended to speak to me. To the rest of you, I did not exist. If it had been you, I would have served- same with the others. I serve whoever can earn my loyalty. What does it matter to me what he is, or what others think he is? I think I would prefer to be viewed as weak if it means I can fight for something instead of existing in a state of unmoving apathy as many of us do. Maybe I am weak, but I also have purpose. Can you claim that?"

That had been annoyingly introspective. She summoned Iceheart to her side, but made no move to attack. "If you are to try to kill me then do so. I am quite eager to prove myself, as you seem to think quite little of me. I would like to show that I am worthy."

Saïx was unmoved, if not slightly surprised by her reasoning. So fighting them was all just some sort of proving grounds to her? Perhaps that meant she'd accept death with some dignity, as opposed to the previous Number Twelve. From what he could remember, Axas was melodramatic to the very end.

He tightened his grip on his claymore, waiting for the first move- whether it was from Axel or Aixfeur.

[Aerith]

There's something about you.
--------

Well, that was an unexpected answer. "Oh, I see. You're one of those desperate for attention types, hm?"

Despite the appearance of her weapon, Aixfeur did not move, either. The two were locked in what amounted to little more than a staring contest while Saïx stood by and did nothing. Strange that suddenly he was so intent on letting Axel make the decisions.

"Sounds to me like you have an unhealthy obsession with knowing what people think about you. Why can't you derive your own self-worth instead of relying on others to define who you are? And it does matter what Vexen is. The only reason he talks to you is because he's using you. Vexen isn't known for respecting anyone. He sees people as tools, ways to further his own agendas, and that's it."

Man, he was talkative today. Or tonight. Or whatever time it was here. He was silent for a long while, mulling some fragment of memory over. Suddenly, he lowered his weapon back to his side and shrugged.

"Go on. Go back to Vexen. I'm not going to stop you."

Saïx might, but he wasn't.

[Slash]

Are you insane?

[/center]

Aixfeur was not fazed by Axel's insinuation that she was a tool. If that was all he considered her as being, then it was not surprising. "It is possible."

Saïx turned to look at Axel. So, they had found a spy, and he was just going to let her go? Why? Did he feel sorry for her? It was a terrible move even if it was just Vexen that would be on guard. They had a chance to eliminate Aixfeur, making Vexen near worthless.

Weak. Just when I was beginning to think otherwise, you prove yourself to be just as weak as you were. [/color]

He raised his claymore. "And I am."

He struck down with enough force to seriously injure, but it hit nothing but rock. She had dispersed into snow, and reformed a small distance away.

Just far enough to gain time to disappear into a Corridor. She had been given orders to report, and if both of them would not fight then she was wasting time.

Saïx stared at the spot where she had been. Axel would have been fast enough to hit her before she could disperse. Then he could have killed her easily.

But Axel had let her go.

He said nothing.

[Aerith]

Maybe I am.
--------

Aixfeur was gone. Saïx was pissed. Well. If a brick wall was capable of being pissed.

Axel wasn't really sure what to say. He dismissed his chakrams and folded his arms over his chest.

"Should have spoken up earlier if you didn't like where I was going. You've never had trouble doing that before."

[Slash]

I see.

[/center]

Saïx did not turn to look at him. "I suppose I wanted to see what you would do." He didn't think Axel would have been so weak.

He turned to Axel. While he was still emotionless, something nearly imperceptible had shifted in his gaze. He now seemed to be looking down at Axel. "Tell me. Why did you let her go?"

[Aerith]

No, I don't think you do.
--------

There were several things Axel wanted to say to Saïx. The way his former friend was looking at him brought them to mind.

"You don't think she would have gotten away, even if I had attacked her? Maybe she wouldn't have. Maybe we would have killed her. I guess we'll never know now."

Might as well speak his mind. He was tired of a lot of things, but maybe he could do something about this one thing.

"I know you think I'm weak because I don't kill everything that crosses my path. I know you think I'm an idiot because I really don't care about Vexen knowing anything about this. I'll tell you why I let her go. It's because I don't want to take the Castle. It's too empty, too hollow. Maybe you like being reminded constantly that we're just as empty, but I don't. I already know it. I have you to remind me all the time."

He was almost-frustrated now, and he was gripping the sleeves of his coat, looking at Saïx with as much pretend-fury as he could muster.

"You weren't always this way. You weren't. Yeah, you don't have your heart anymore. I know that. Believe me, I know that. You never let me forget it. I only want two things, and neither of them include taking the Castle or killing any of the others. I want my heart, just like you do. But I also want my friend back, dammit! And the more time I spend around you, the more I think the thought isn't mutual."

Abruptly, he stopped. The fire left his eyes, and he looked away. His grip on his arms loosened.

"Forget it. Just...forget it."