SHORT CHAPTER

FRAGMENTS

THE ROOM LAY FAR UNDERGROUND IN THE BOWELS OF Castle Oblivion.

In that place ruled by gloom and shadow was a single man, his face half hidden behind long bangs. His name was Zexion. Number 6 in the organization.

“What’s going to become of the organization…?” he murmured.

In reply, another appeared in the room—Axel, whom Sora thought he’d just defeated.

“Naminé’s betrayed you. Sora eliminated Larxene.” Smirking, he approached Zexion. “The question is which one of us will be next to fall.”

“…It might be you.”

“Me? I doubt that.” Axel folded his arms. “You see, just before I got here, I pretended that Sora beat me to a pulp enough to make me disappear. So, I won’t be fighting him again, at least for a bit.”

“For a bit…?”

Zexion nearly asked what that was supposed to mean but held his tongue. There was no need to ask him questions.

“Which means,” said Axel, “the next to fall will be Marluxia.”

“Sora beat you, so there’s no way he’ll lose against Marluxia—is that what you think?”

Marluxia might be in charge of the castle, but he was still only number 11. And Axel, as number 8—despite being on good terms with Marluxia—saw him as a lower-ranking opponent for Sora.

Of course, their assigned numbers in the organization did not directly correspond to strength. What had happened to Vexen was proof enough of that.

“I’m saying that Marluxia tried to use Sora to take over the organization, and Sora will be the one to eliminate him.”

So it’s no longer necessary to compete with Marluxia, who tried to take possession of the hero of light, thought Zexion. Then, what should we do with the hero of darkness who is in our hands now?

“Then…our reason for obtaining Riku is no longer valid.”

“Are you saying we’ll have to dispose of him?” said Axel. “You want to go up against Riku after he took down Lexaeus?”

They’d already lost three members of the organization here in Castle Oblivion. They ought to avoid losing any more. Naturally, he had no intention whatsoever of fighting Riku.

“I’ll do things differently,” Zexion replied with a slight smile and went on to tell Axel of a certain important matter.

He wouldn’t have to get his hands dirty. He could finish this from a distance.