"This is the Hollow Bastion." Said Demyx, pointing toward the exit from the corridors of darkness. "I can't go out there, because my leader's brother Ansem made us all promise not to. But if you stay in this place, you should be safe. I'll try and keep you posted on your friend the Keyblader's progress. For now, make yourself at home. I'll be back later." He said. Tidus exited the portal and found himself in a run-down building. The doorway closed behind him, and he was alone. Who is Ansem? He wondered. ---------------- As Demyx headed back toward the World that Never Was to meet up with the others, a figure in a brown cloak approached him. "A member of Xemnas's Order? What have you been doing near the Hollow Bastion, I wonder? Did your Superior not order you not to go there?" Demyx shivered at hearing the voice. When he saw the brown-cloaked figure, he put his hands in front of him, as if trying to withhold his oncoming wrath. The man's dark and intimidating voice always made him shudder. He was a scary guy. "I just had to see someone there. Please don't tell Xemnas. I swear, I wasn't trying to alert those others to your plans. Just call it cool, right? Besides, as long as I don't actually set foot in the place, I haven't officially broken our agreement, have I?" The mysterious man came up to him. "Set no foot out of line, Nocturne. For I could as easily tie your world to the Darkness as any other." Demyx nodded, smiling. "Yes, sir." Just then, another black-clad Organization member appeared through a portal into the darkness. The brown-cloak disappeared, and the red-haired arrival addressed Demyx. "Demy, what's going on? What was Ansem doing here? You know Xemnas won't be pleased if you set foot in Hollow Bastion." Demyx objected as they moved toward the portal. "No, I never technically laid a finger on the place. Relax, Axel." Axel sighed. "Whatever, just don't make me the one to bring your shell back if he cancels you." -------------------- "No, I'm telling you, I never went into Hollow Bastion. I guess I just came painfully close to it. Ansem must have, you know, freaked out." Demyx said to the others, who were all looking at him. Xaldin, the third-in-command, spoke now. "Inciting the wrath of one so powerful could be a very dangerous thing. If you set one more foot out of line, Demyx, punishments will ensue." Demyx objected again. "It wasn't my fault!" A surfer-ish accent chimed in at that point, belonging to Xigbar, number two. "Not like it matters. You must have had a reason for going so close, now. I hope you aren't harboring a dirty little secret, Demy?" Demyx simply became indignant at that. "Enough!" Roared Xemnas, the Superior. "We will allow you a leave this time, Demyx, but the next time anyone crosses Ansem, they will be punished. Remember that." Demyx cringed at the announcement. He wouldn't just leave that kid. He couldn't. Even if it meant disobeying Xemnas. The council adjourned. --------------------- As Tidus hid out in the building, looking at the abandoned street outside, he saw a boy just a little older than himself walking toward the castle, the Heartless ignoring him. He had white hair, and carried a vicious-looking fin-shaped sword. "Riku!" He said in quietly in surprise.
