AU AkuSai fanfiction. Other ships you'll see being ZekuRoku, and perhaps more as the story progresses.

Current rating: T, unless readers wish to see some M in later chapters.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kingdom Hearts nor any of its characters. They are property of Square Enix. I make no profit from writing this fanfiction.

How Do You Do?

The moon. An often overlooked object that people underestimate. It floats above the world silently, drifting above serenely like it has been for countless years, but to some people, it's the most important part of their life. It is their power. It is their defense. It's like their God. And all this power is kept inside one person. A prince. Just like his ancestors, he was destined to wield the power of the moon, a delicate power that was to be kept away inside of him forever. The Lunar Prince, Saïx. A prince of twenty-two years who appears every bit as his title. Pale skin, cerulean hair and eyes the were gold, shining with the light of the very abilities that lay dormant in him. Between those eyes was an ugly scar, cut into his face by his own blood relative, a brother whom now had their name taken from him and forced to live as a servant instead of the prince he once was.

Even with all this, though, it seemed that this prince was one who was beginning to wonder: Why him? Why did he have to go through it all?

'Because of destiny...'

That's what he told himself every time he began to question it all. He forced himself to accept this. All of it. These words and one person kept him from running from his role in his life.

"Saïx!"

That was a familiar voice to the prince. Being the vessel to such a strong power, of course Saïx would have his guard.

Axel was part of a family who was devoted to guarding the Lunar family, each new vessel gaining a new guard just for them. Their family was said to have been chosen by the Sun to protect the Lunar family, and were gifted with the Sun's power to do so, giving them the ability to wield flames compelled by the fire inside their very souls. The two grew up together, much like their ancestors did, and in reality, Axel was the closest thing Saïx had for a friend. They were more friends than servant and master. It was a strong bond and interested everyone in their family...

Gold eyes glanced behind them as the red-haired guard approached in a rush. A faint smirk played over the prince's lips as Axel stopped to catch his breath, clearly having come in a rush. "You'd think you'd have gotten used to coming early and on time after all these years." the bluenet stated and walked past his friend casually, hands clasped together in front of him as he did so, "No one's even surprised anymore. Come on, I have things to do today."

"When don't you?" Axel asked, going after like the loyal man he was. He stayed right at Saïx's heels yet with a carefree appearance around him. That was the thing with him. Despite having such a serious job, he never seemed to look like he was taking it seriously.

The two left the castle, heading into the streets of the kingdom. Civilians, guards, everyone regarded the two with welcoming and warm smiles. Of course they would. As the Lunar Prince, Saïx was the reason why they were safe, and so he treated them with kindness, though his appearance made all believe that he was quite the opposite. With his parents no longer in his life, he seemed to grow more feeling toward his civilians.

"So, what's on the agenda for today, 'your majesty'?" Was the question from Axel, the little title at the end added in a playful manner. He knew that his friend despised being referred to in such a way, especially by Axel.

"I need to check in on a few people. One being my brother." Saïx explained calmly, walking with eyes locked ahead, much like any normal day.

"He's still alive? Thought the bastard died years ago..." It was no secret that Axel despised the black sheep of the Lunar family, and didn't intend on changing his views anytime soon. "In all honesty, I think they should have executed the guy after what he did to you."

"I wouldn't allow it. Even if he did attack me, he doesn't deserve death. Banishment is enough for him." If there was one thing Saïx hated, it was execution of any living being, and executing his own blood didn't at all seem any better no matter the what they did.

There was a large difference between the two brothers their entire life. For one, they looked nothing a like. Zexion stood out in their family with slate-colored hair and eyes that were a dark cobalt blue. The other difference was their roles. Saïx was instantly considered the vessel for the moon's power. Gold eyes were the sign that his body was picked to contain the power. His brother was said to be the vessel of darkness itself. When their family realized he held no appearance as his brother, they were confused and even a bit concerned. In the end, a priestess had told them that inside his body, he held Darkness, and more than likely would bring ruin to them all. Because of this, Zexion had always seemed to work in black magic, and at one point, he was nearly sent to be contained in a cell when he discovered that he was capable of distorting the minds of others, creating illusions before their minds. Despite it all, he was kept in the family, and he was even given his own guard like Saïx: Axel's twin, Reno, though the two hardly got along, if at all. When Saïx was sixteen, though, it changed. Zexion, who had been nearly fourteen at the time, had attacked him, shouting nonsense that if he didn't do it now, then it'll happen in the future. By the time they restrained him, the disturbed youth had left the large scar X on his brother's face. From that day on, he was no longer part of the family. Had it not been for another royal family in another location that were interested in his abilities with magic, Zexion would have spent the rest of his life in a dungeon. Now, he was the loyal servant and guardian to a prince of the Light, though they kept tabs on his activities.

Saïx and Axel neared the shop of a healer, a kind local woman named Aerith. They walked in and were greeted by the woman's warm smile. "Prince, hello there." she greeted, her voice soft and welcoming as usual. The greeting was returned kindly as the prince approached the front counter. "How can I help you?"

"The usual. It's nearing the time for the new moon and we all are aware that it's possibly the worst night for me." During the new moon, as it is not visible in the sky, the prince is left in a rather weak state. With no moon above, his abilities drain from his body. In order for him to feel even remotely in good health, he visits Aerith for a remedy made from Moon Drops. Moon Drops are blue hued flowers that hold the same energy that lays dormant inside the Moon's vessel. They are picked the night after a full moon occurs when they hold the most energy inside them, and are used to make tea. What made them so odd was that when prepared in tea, the drink gains a midnight blue color like the dark night sky. When Saïx was a child, he'd claim he could practically see the stars inside his tea.

As Aerith gathered the flower for Saïx, she continued to hold their conversation, "You know, they say a solar eclipse is near." Much like the new moon, a solar eclipse does the same to Axel and his own family, and just as Moon Drops help Saïx, Sun Shards help Axel. Sun Shards were ruby colored flowers, though they could not be picked when in blood. They had to be picked before they bloom when they contained the most of the sun's energy. Once they bloom, it all spreads to the rest of the plant and would do nothing for Axel. When brewed, the tea it makes is a dark red color, oddly taking the shade similar to wine.

Unlike Saïx, Axel didn't seem to be listening to their chat. He always spent his time viewing the stores inventory. Aerith collected rather interesting herbs, most of which the red-head didn't know of. Glancing at his guard, Saïx chuckled slightly and turned his attention to the healer, "Give me the Sun Shards, too. I can't have Axel losing his only defense." He was sure to say this out loud, catching the attention of his friend who stuck out his tongue childishly and only amusing the prince even further.

"Don't worry, Axel. Even without you powers, I'm sure you'll be able to protect the prince from harm." Aerith said reassuringly as she handed the bluenet a single box that held the tea safely inside.

As the two walked to the door, Axel gave his friend the faintest of shoves, "At least somebody has faith in me." he mumbled, acting hurt. Behind them, they heard Aerith laughing quietly to their casual treatment of one another.

After their stop with the healer, they checked in with a man named Leon, who had been given the task of making something specially fit for Axel. A weapon suited to the man's needs. While it still had yet to be completed, the swordsman claimed that it would be worth the wait.

"Don't worry. I'll be sure to have it done before the solar eclipse." Leone told the two when they asked of the weapon's condition.

Their final destination was a girl that the civilians had come to know as the witch. She was the daughter of the priestess that said Zexion held Darkness inside him. Despite her forced-title, the girl was far from witch-looking. Her name was Naminè, and she was actually a very sweet girl. She looked more like an angel than a witch and even dressed in all white. She and her mother kept in contact with the prince who had the illusionist and reported any information to Saïx whenever he came by.

Axel knocked on the door of the small home of the priestess and were soon greeted by the girl herself. "Hey Naminè." the guard greeted, his tone friendly, as though speaking to a good friend.

"Hi Axel. Hi Saïx." The witch never once referred to Saïx as 'Prince' and to the bluenet, that was more of a relief than anything. "Come in. I'm glad you came. There's something I need to show you." Opening the door fully, Naminè allowed them to enter, leading them inside.

"It's very nice to see you again, Naminè." Saïx said politely, "I'm here to ask how my brother is doing." Before the witch could respond to him, someone else beat her to it. The voice spoke the moment they entered the small kitchen of the home.

"Oh, Saïx. I had no idea you cared so much for me."

The voice was enough to put both Saïx and Axel on edge. There at the table sat the very man they had spoken of, a mischievous smirk on his pretty face. Slate hair covered half that face, hiding one cobalt eye behind its curtain. He was dressed in black, which suited him just fine, and beside him sat the prince he was assigned to protect. Roxas, the Prince of Light, sat silently beside his servant, though he greeted everyone with a small smile and a nod.

At the entry, Saïx and Axel stood silent beside the witch, the bluenet looking indifferent and the red-head looking as though he was ready to lunge at Zexion any minute. Silence was in the air for a while, a tension that could be cut with a knife. Eventually, someone had to speak.

"What are you doing here?" Saïx asked calmly and joined his former brother and the boy at the table. Behind him, his guard was stunned, shocked by how easily Saïx could just carry a conversation with someone who attempted to murder him. With Axel still standing, Naminè followed the prince and took a seat at the young man's right side.

The mage smirked slightly and leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest, "Oh, I just wanted to see how my favorite brother was doing." With a nod of his head, he gestured toward Roxas, "And since I am the guardian of our lovely Prince of Light, I had to bring Roxas with me."

"You mean you had to request permission to come visit." Axel corrected sternly, standing close behind Saïx's seat. With a higher body heat than normal, Saïx could easily feel the ginger's presence behind him, like standing next to a burning fire. Axel's current mood only heightened that fire, his body burning with a large heat.

At this point, Roxas spoke for once since everyone had come in, "Actually, no, he didn't have to." he stated, the same faint smile on his face, "He just told me he was coming here, and I asked him if I could join." The expression Axel made only increased that little smile, pearly whites slightly showing, "Zexion's not like other guardians. He doesn't really ask for permission for anything. He just does it." Beside him, his slate haired mage gave a proud smirk, clearly holding little to no shame on this fact. "I guess I like that about him." Roxas added softly, azure eyes looking down at his hands but still with that smile.

At those words, Axel nearly snapped, "He tried to murder his own brother! How can you like him?" he shouted, startling both Naminè and Roxas with the loud and harsh tone. Neither Saïx nor Zexion were bothered, though, both seeming cool and collected despite the heat radiating off the guard.

The mage looked at his brother's protector with calm cobalt eyes and again he smirked, much wider now, "Keep that temper up, Axel, and we may have to evacuate the home from a fire." He was right. If Axel let himself lose to his anger, the house would quickly be up in flames, the frail little home not able to withstand the fire that the ginger controlled. At the taunting words of Zexion, the guard took a breath, forcing himself to relax. Immediately, the temperature in the room lowered as Axel relaxed, though he still seemed irritated. "Saïx, how could you end up with such a...Careless protector?" the mage mocked, and it only ignited another flame inside Axel.

"Zexion, stop. You wanted to come and see me, and I wanted to simply see how you were faring in your new position." the bluenet's tone was stern as he made the mage stop his taunting words.

Leaning back in his seat, Zexion held a look of someone in thought, "How am I faring? Oh, that's a good question, brother, because how am I faring?" Just as fast as Axel's temper flared up, Zexion's expression changed to one of utter hate and he leaned forward to look Saïx in the eye, "How would you be feeling after your family disowned you, kicked you out of your home, contemplated executing you, and finally stripping your of your title and making you a lowly slave to someone else?" he spat, palms slamming on the wood table, causing it slightly shake beneath his force. His cobalt eyes darkened with rage, taking on a hue of midnight, nearing the color black. He sat silent, letting his words sink into his former relative before he finally murmured softly, a crooked smirk on his face now, "I'm doing fucking peachy."

Things hadn't changed a bit. Saïx's brother was still the twisted and disturbed youth he was six years ago. The evidence was clear in those eyes and even in the very expression he wore. And yet, Saïx didn't seem at all surprised. Somehow, he expected this.

"There is an actual reason why we're here, though." Roxas' voice came out of the blue, completely countering the tones and emotions that were earlier flying around with his gentle voice, "Saïx, you're the vessel for the Moon's power, right?" he asked.

The Lunar Prince looked at Roxas as though the boy were even more insane than Zexion. "Well, of course." he responded, "I'm the Lunar Prince. My very title hints at is. Why do you ask?"

"You're aware that the Moon's power is wanted by a lot of people, yes?" Roxas continued, "Well, I'm concerned that someone may begin to target you at some point. The new moon is coming and I'm worried that they may take advantage of your weakened state."

"Axel can protect me just fine. I don't think we need to be worrying about-"

"Next month is the solar eclipse and the new moon. Even after the eclipse ends, it'll take him time to fully gain back his powers. In that time, someone can easily strike and capture you."

Cutting in, Axel scoffed at the warning, "Like who? I'd love to see the moron who thinks they can just capture the prince like nothing."

The normally peaceful youths face was suddenly overcome with a serious expression, giving him a more adult appearance. Blue eyes hardened with a stern gaze as he spoke, "Xemnas and his Organization..."

ANA'S NOTES: First chapter is complete. If this peaks your interest, I just may continue. This is an idea that has been rolling around in my head for sometime now. I always had this idea of Saïx as a prince, and I always liked the sound of "Lunar Prince" and so, after some time and letting this thought marinate in my mind, and after a friend said that it'd be nice if I wrote this, I decided to finally do it. Please note that I am aware that the characters have moments where they are OOC (like Zexion's outburst and such) but I kind of just let everything come out on its own and that reaction is what ended up happening.

Also, please excuse any and all spelling errors, as I do not have Microsoft Office and Chrome and 's spell checker only catch spelling errors. I have reread this chapter as carefully as possible for any potential spelling errors but I cannot be sure that I caught them all.

Any and all reviews are appreciated and I appreciate anyone who actually reads this.