Xikkuyo smiled again as Axel patted her shoulder, wan and shy, and ducked her head in clear apology; if nothing else, she at least had the grace to look embarrassed. She had overstepped her bounds; that wasn't the point of this whole exercise at all, was it? He wouldn't have been showing her magic if he'd wanted her to fight physically..... She was just wasting his time, at that point.

Next time, she'd remember. She'd do better, and take the test the way he wanted her to. She should've asked more questions, but she hadn't been thinking. "I'm sorry..... I should have been using the spells, like you showed me."

Maybe, if they only had trained Marluxia properly, if they'd kept him reigned in and focused on what they wanted..... maybe he wouldn't have caused so much trouble, either. Perhaps Marluxia could have even been gentle and faithful, too, with the right attention paid to him..... Had Axel ever even paid any attention to the man, when he'd first been recruited?