In which Xahssa finds a new recruit

Xahssa could remember the first time she saw the little boy. Nyxick. Right. That's his name. He was so quiet. So nervous. Yet he looked so happy and excited when Xahssa led him to CO. She had found him in Twilight Town, his clothes filthy and his yellow hair covered in so much dirt he looked like his hair was black. And yet he was absolutely adorable. Even if he wasn't a Nobody, Xahssa would've taken him home anyways.

He was huddled near the one ice cream parlor Max was fond of, his eyes boring holes in the back of passerbys. When he caught sight of Xahssa, they both locked eyes and a shiver passed through the older Nobody. This boy was like her- like all seven of them. Nexan would certainly be pleased that they had a new member. The more their eyes were trained on each other, the more Xahssa found herself developing a small attachment to the boy. He was cute and looked lonely.

It seemed that he stiffened on instinct when she walked closer to him. He looked away when she bent down to his level and tried to look him in the eye.

"Hi." Her voice was warm and friendly, with a smile on her face. No response. "What's your name?" Again, no response. "What's the matter? You don't have to worry." He turned his head and looked at her with wide, blank eyes. "I'm like you. Or, at least, I think I'm like you." He blinked. "I don't have a heart. I'm a Heartless. A Nobody. But I'm a special Nobody. I have powers. I have a human form. I can just tell that you're like me and my family."

"Family?" His voice sounded awfully weak and tired but he seemed hopeful. Xahssa grinned to herself. Finally. A break. "Yeah. Family. There's me and Nexan. She's like our mother hen. And then there's our brother and sister, Braxyd and Maxsodin, but we all call her Max. There's also Seycax, Xahnan and Daxjorn. They're like really close cousins. You'll fit right in."

She took a chance and raised her hand in offering. The boy looked at it warily, but tenatively placed his hand in hers. Xahssa smiled at him, and this time he returned a small one. God. He was just too adorable. She stood up and he quickly followed. On their way to Castle Oblivion he opened up more and more and he showed himself to be a bright kid, who was generally happy and enthusiastic.

But as soon as they got to the Castle, he was whisked away from her and Xahssa hadn't gotten the chance to look at him again. Nexan and the others were too busy hogging him. She also heard that he took an immediate liking to Max and Max had actually opened up to him. This proved something Xahssa already knew from the second she met him; This kid was definitely magical.