Who: Yotsuba Koiwai (yotsubakoiwai) & Marluxia (eleventh_death)
Where Outside in the Clover Garden Ushiwaka made.
When: A few days after the New Year.
Rating: PG because I know everyone has issues with Marly-bear. u_u
Summary: Yotsuba's found the map to the garden and Marluxia's pissed at the plants that Zexion gave him for Christmas. Two totally different starting points... and one happy ending. |D
the Story:

The afternoon had just begun. Yotsuba packed up her little satchel bag with her crayons and a coloring book along with a few random things at the bottom of her bag. No one was around... and the little girl was rushing to get all her belongings together and dressing accordingly. (She had been given a good lecture on how to bundle up and keep herself warm or she'd get sick all over again! She didn't want that at all.)

After putting on her scarf and mittens that Scarface had gotten her for Christmas, Yotsuba held the map she had found outside the door and scampered out of the room. Closing the door gently, she turned back around and then started quickly down the hallway towards the stairwell.

Adventures will be had!



Marluxia needed a bloody break from that plant Zexion had been so kind to give him. He'd had enough cat calls from foliage for one evening, thank you very much.

Wandering around a bit, he took his time to get to the kitchen. At this time, he was informally dressed, simple black pajama bottoms, bare feet, and a loose tank top. Normally he wouldn't dare to been seen in public in such disarray, but he was far to exhausted and irritated at his new "roommate" to care.

After some tea, he'll go in search of some aspirin and duct tape.




Glancing down at the map again as she reached the staircase. The maps directions started outside the front door, so, to the front door she needed to head to! Folding it up into fours and slipping it into her bag, Yotsuba climbed up the staircase railing and sat herself down on the railbar. After checking herself, she let herself sail down the rail at a rather save but yet quick speed!

The feeling of rushing air go past her was so much fun. Yotsuba watched as each floor appeared and then dissapeared, but, when she finally made it to the bottom, she let go of the railing and sailed off... one foot.. two feet.. three feet... far from the end of the rail, but landing rather gently on her feet with a pose of major winnage.

No, she didn't do this type of thing very often at all. "SAFE!"




Duct tape: Acquired
Tea: Acquired
Peace of mind: Still MIA

Marluxia, tea in hand and still barefoot, decided to take the long way back to his room. Outside. Walking. Not using portals. Staying away from that bloody plant as much as possible.

Still in a disarry, he failed to remember that it was winter. This was important detail when you are only in your pajamas. So there he stood in the snow, miserable, cold, and feeling as much hate for the world as he could remember. Forgetting his vow to take the long way around, a dark portal opened and he stepped inside---

--and out into a giant green house-like area filled with clovers.




Yotsuba stood up straight and straightened her rather rumpled clothes. Reaching into her bag again, she pulled out the map that she had found and glared at it seriously. She looked back up and then jogged towards the front door of the mansion -- pulling open the twin grand doors and racing outside into the cold.

She stood at the front porch, looking at the snow that was still on the ground. "No. No playing. I've gotta find the treasure!" There was another glance of the map, and determining where the front of the house was, Yotsuba started around the right side of the house; past the gardens and off the trail towards the beach.

The snow crunched beneath her shoes, and her breath fogged in the crisp morning air; seeing the ocean off in the distance urged the girl on and she sped up her pace.

Demyx and all of them would've probably freaked out if they found out she was going out this far.

After getting to the beach, she glanced down at the map and scrunched her face in thought. The map was indicating a place with lots of rocks. Yotsuba glanced down the south part of the beach.. no. Turning to the north side of the beach.... AH! There it was! She ran again, only to slow down when she got to the rocky cliffs.

Slowly, she walked past all the rocks and found a cavern open in the middle, "It's there!" And as any excited little kid would be, she started running again; running into the cavern without even thinking that it might be danger.



He actually felt a little more peaceful. THESE plants weren't shouting vulger things at him, and the temperature was quite pleasant. His feet padded across the soil, and he couldn't help but feel a little... familiar. Not in a bad way, either. He knew WHY this place felt familiar, but he simply didn't wish to acknowledge it.

A disturbance at the entrance made him pause (NOT startle), and he calmly drew his scythe. He stood in a non-threatening stance, but it was best to be on guard.



She was still running... running deeper and deeper into what seemed like pitch black. It wasn't until she passed a certain magical barrier that warmth seemed to flood her senses and the smell of grass seemed to fill her senses. Yotsuba stopped at the very beginning of the garden and stared in awe at what was before her.

This was amazing! There were large clovers everywhere! Just like before when they had taken over the outside of the mansion.

Laughing happily, the little girl rushed in a little farther before she stopped at the sight of Marluxia standing there in not normal clothes and carrying his scythe with him.

Why was he here? "Marly!" The little girl chirped happily as she scampered over to his general direction, "What are you doing here? Did you find a map that led you here too?"



Marluxia's scythe disappeared as a placid smile graced his lips. "No, I merely wish to escape the confines of the mansion to a more peaceful place."

He stepped towards the little girl, and very carefully (and, much to his own shock, almost naturally) placed her on his shoulders. He made sure she was balanced before walking slowly along the rows of clovers. He had nothing better to do (nothing else he really WANTED to do) at the moment than humor Yotsuba.

"And you've mentioned a map?"



Yotsuba smiled up at the Graceful Assassin as she was picked up rather suddenly. It didn't seem to bother her much when she was placed on his shoulders. Giggling, she reached her arms around the front of his head and held him close.

"Uh-huh! I woke up and found a map on the outside of the door! So, I let Daddy and Scarface sleep while I found the treasure on the map!"

Unfolding the piece of paper, Yotsuba held it in front of Marluxia's face for him to glance at, "See?"




Marluxia squinted slightly at the map that was suddenly shoved in his face. It was rather crudely drawn, but was certainly accurate on finding the path to the clover garden.

He walked on, a smirk tugging at his lips at the thought of Yotsuba (once again) running off without informing her father. And meeting him, no less. Never before had Marluxia witnessed one of his fellow Organization members suffer from a heart attack, but it was only a matter of time before Demyx would have one. Not that he especially wished the boy would die; though rather annoying, his death would depress poor Yotsuba and would only disrupt his life even further.

Just a little heart attack would do.

He gently pushed the map away. "Well, where does the map say to go next?"




"Here! The map led here, Marly!" Yotsuba reached over and pointed to the cliffs where they were obviously located. "This is a treasure! We're in a treasure cave!" The little girl giggled happily as she folded the map back up and then put it in her satchel bag.

She really hadn't expected to see him here, but it made the girl happy; so happy that she hugged his head to her gently with the largest smile on her face.

"So you're my treasure, right Marly?"



He didn't stumble, and barely even blinked in surprise. He certainly wasn't expecting a comment like that. If he had a heart, perhaps it would have fluttered a little, or maybe he would have laughed at her beautifully childish comment. Alas, he had none, so he only continued to walk on and respond in an amused tone.

"As honored as I am, it's still a shame I don't glitter like jewels would." He paused, glancing around the garden. "...Though at the moment, I suppose this moment could be considered a considerable treasure."




That was the problem then, wasn't it? Marluxia just didn't have the heart to be flattered. Yotsuba knew he didn't have a heart, but, wasn't really aware of just what it meant to not 'feel'. "But I like you! So you're my treasure!" Looking over at where they were walking, Yotsuba reached out with a hand and touched a large clover leaf.

The green foliage leaned down at the weight that as added to it, and saw that one leaf looked like a heart; blinking, realization had hit Yotsuba and she glanced down to her bag that was hanging from her side, "Put me down, Marly!" Releasing the clover leaf, Yotsuba reached up with a small hand to pat the top of his head urgently.

"I gots to give you your Christmas present!"





Once the girl started wriggling, he reached up to set her down (even if the pat on the head WAS a tad irritating). Once she was safely on the ground, he watched her curiously.

That's right. Yotsuba hadn't given him a gift on Christmas. Not that we was expecting a present from a six-year-old girl beyond some drawings. Still, it was nice to know she had been thinking of him.




When she was placed down on the ground, Yotsuba opened up her bag and began searching. It wasn't until she reached deep into the bag that she pulled out a small white box with a blue ribbon tied around it. It was a little beat up. And it looked like the ribbon was fraying at the end, but it was obviously important enough that Yotsuba had kept it.

"Ah! Here it is!" Holding the package in her hand, Yotsuba held it up to the Nobody and smiled happily. "Merry Christmas, Marly!"




Marluxia handled the box carefully even though he could neither heard nor feel the weight of a present inside. Taking his time to open the box, Marluxia leisurely wondered what she could have given him. Probably a stack of pictures, or some sunflower seeds, or---

......No. It. How could she--?

In Yotsuba's plain and rather raggedy box floated a perfect, shining heart.

For the first time in all of his existence as a Nobody, Marluxia looked completely dumbfounded. He tried to make his jaw work into a sentence, but it only repeatedly closed as if he were trying (and succeeding) to do an impression of Demyx's fish.

Finally, his vocal chords started working and his mouth formed the word "Yotsuba".

And then the heart decided to jump into his chest in a disorienting flash of light and dramatic sound affects. Marluxia decided that yes, this would be an appropriate time to pass out.



The clover girl, herself, had never wanted to open the box. Which was quite uncharacteristic for who she was; but ever since she had gotten it and seen what it had done to the mansion residents, she had wanted to give it to Marluxia. Yotsuba watched with shining eyes as he unwrapped the gift -- and even the reaction he got initially when he saw the heart that sat inside of the little box.

Her face brightened considerably when he made those fish face impressions and she couldn't help but wonder, "Do you like it?! Is it g-... MARLY!" When he went thunk onto the ground, she couldn't help but panic.

"Marly, what wrong?! Are you ok?! Did you not like my gift? I can take it back if you want!" ... Yotsuba kneeled down next to him on the ground and started shaking him -- hitting the top of his head -- holding his nose.

Him falling over like that was scaring her.



Distantly, Marluxia was aware that someone was shouting at him and hitting him. But all he could focus on right now was a steady thump thump thump in his chest.

When he became a little more aware of all the shaking and hitting, he slowly sat up. His eyes were fixed on nothing, but they were wholly brighter. For a moment he remained in his daze, hair frazzled and various twigs and leaves sticking to him.

And then he pulled Yotsuba into the only hug he'd ever given.




Yotsuba's head glanced back and forth around the empty garden, hoping that maybe there was someone else there. Alas, she didn't find anyone and Marluxia wasn't really moving...

"I'll go find Daddy! Maybe he'll know what to do!" Standing up, the girl turned around and hadn't even started running when she heard the older Nobody shift behind her. "Marly!"

Her eyes shook in fright as she turned back around and leaned in, "Marly are you ok?! I'm sorry! If you don't like it I'll get you a new pre-...!" She felt herself being pulled forward into a hug. Not really understanding, but feeling a little more relieved, Yotsuba turned her head to stare at Marluxia, "... Marly? What's wrong?"



"It was perfect, Yotsuba. I couldn't have asked for a better gift."

For a moment he paused. He was starting to get really dizzy from everything he was feeling; too many emotions all at once were trying to force their way out of him, trying to fill the gaps life as a Nobody had carved for so long.

Bewildered, confused, and strangely happy, Marluxia stumbled to his feet. He glanced at Yotsuba, and decided right then and there that he seriously needed some time to think. Things were starting to get much more complicated now that he had a heart. Less than a minute and things were already complicated. And thus was the life of a human.

Triedly, he took her hand and began leading her towards the entrance. (He tried to not to think of what he was feeling while doing so).

"Ah, your parents must be worried about you, and I believe... I would like some time to spend alone with your present."




"....?" Yotsuba sat there in his arms, still looking rather worried even though he had stated how much he enjoyed his gift. "But.. you fell over.. and you didn't wake up! Are.. are you sure you're ok?"

Small tears were pooling in the corners of her eyes as she watched him stand wobbly. She should have been happy that he was holding her hand, and that he was being so affectionate to her, but he was acting so strangely!

But, she was a good girl; she let herself be led out of the magical garden and glanced behind her as the cavern became smaller and smaller until it dissapeared behind the barrier that was protecting it. "You're not... gonna get rid of the present, are you Marly?"




Marluxia actually laughed a little at the very thought of departing from his new heart. It may have been a good ride as a Nobody, but he was now quite content to return being human. After all, it was awfully hard to enjoy the full experience of being in control of matters when you can actually feel.

He smiled warmly down at the girl. "Of course not, Yotsuba. It's exactly what I wanted, and I don't think I could ever have the heart to part with it."

In such light spirits, he barely noticed the cold biting at his bare feet and stinging his eyes as they stepped out of the cave. "How about you lead the way back? Since you are in possession of the map and all."




He... he was laughing! Yotsuba's eyes widened in awe at just how HAPPY Marluxia was now. She'd done it! She HAD done good with holding onto the gift! The worry that had been on her face was replaced with an excited smile and a rise in color on her cheeks when he said that he would never get rid of it, "Really?! So I did good then?"

She was led out into the biting cold of winter, and she shivered when the wind passed through her warm laters. Blinking, she glanced over and saw that Marluxia was in less attire than she was and squeaked, "No! You can't go out in that! You'll get sick!"

Yotsuba reached around her neck for the scarf she had worn and undid it. Taking her hand away from Marluxia's, she stood in front of him and then jumped up so that she could loop the small but still warm article of clothing around his neck so that he wouldn't get too cold, "There you go! Much better! Come on! Let's get going!"

Quickly, she retook his hand and started dragging him away from the beach cavern and down the cold sands.




He had almost forgotten how wonderful it felt to truely laugh. At the moment, he was far too focused on feeling to really care much about the cold, but Marluxia still gladly took the offer for the scarf.

As he was hurried along by Yotsuba, he vaguely wondered how things---how he---would change. Well, he may become a little less in control of his temper around the plant, and he might enjoy the expression on the others' faces once they learned of his new gift just a bit more than usual.

Well, and there was some thinking to do concerning certain other people, but that could be saved for another time.

Even if he got frostbite and lost a foot, he had to admit, this Wonderland wasn't shaping up to be such a bad place after all.