Yellow Tulip
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts does not belong to me. It belongs to the people who own it: Disney, Square Enix, etc
Chapter One
The lights are distracting, Demyx thought to himself as he took a seat in front of the main stage. He was dressed in a simple suit, and would have blended in quite well if it wasn't for his rather eye catching mohawk. As it was, there was nothing special about Demyx. A twenty-one year old boy, still in college, going to the local casino to try his luck for the first time.
A tired looking waiter strolled up to the ocean-eyed boy. Flashing his ID, he ordered a rum and coke, and sat back to enjoy the show. It wasn't long before the house lights dimmed and the stage lights flared to life. All around him Demyx could hear the excited whispers of gamblers and the frustrated groans of the unfortunate losers. He caught the slot machines' flashing lights out of the corner of his eyes. He grimaced and wiped all distraction from his mind. Focusing his attention to the stage, he saw a tall, voluptuous woman in a gold sequined dress standing before the microphone. Demyx sipped his drink and closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him.
She's good, thought Demyx, but not great. He stayed for the whole show, remaining seated even after the house lights returned. He sipped his drink, lost in his thoughts. He wondered why he allowed his friends to bring him here. The shows were all right, but not astounding, the food expensive, and not that great and he was no good at gambling. It wasn't that he didn't try. He most certainly had tried his hand at the slots the day before and had lost fifty dollars before he knew it.
"Axel and Roxas better be winning wherever they are." He sighed. Setting his glass down with a slight plink, he surveyed his surroundings. Around him people were flowing, filling the empty seats, preparing for the next show. Not wishing to sit through another performance, he vacated his seat and meandered through the large casino, trying to find the exit. He passed lights and sounds, cheers and jeers, multitudes of happy people, and dozenof games. As he passed a collection of Black Jack tables, a gleam of silver caught his eye.
A tall man, ears decorated with numerous piercings, was dealing out cards with a broad charming smile. The unnamed man gave a hearty laugh at a joke that a customer had cracked. Demyx shook his head and continued on to his hotel, the image of the handsome card dealer prancing about his mind.
Demyx collapsed face first onto his bed in an air-conditioned hotel room that he shared with two other people. Turning his head to the side, he saw that his two friends, Axel and Roxas, had not returned but that was no surprise. He had only been gone for a few hours, just long enough to soak in the environment and to take in a show. He planned to catch a late dinner with his friends that night and to try his luck again tomorrow. Perhaps he'd try Black Jack; it seemed appealing. He might have better luck.
"Who am I trying to kid?" He rolled off the bed and, shedding his clothes as he went, headed for the shower.
As the water poured over him, drenching him, trickling down his body in tiny winding rivers, he let his mind wander. His mother had always called him spacey, and not without good reason. He snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the room door shut.
"Hey Demyx! You here?" Axel shouted.
"Obviously he's here; the shower's running." Came a quieter voice. Roxas.
Hurriedly, he lathered himself, washed and rinsed. He dashed about pulling on clothes and, leaving the tiny bathroom greeted his friends.
"Hey guys." He said happily, running a hand through his still wet hair. "How'd things go?"
"Pretty good," Axel grinned, throwing his arm over Roxas' shoulder, "We found out that Roxie here's got a knack at Keno."
"Really? It didn't seem like a game you could have a knack for. Isn't it just luck?" Demyx mused.
"Exactly. I don't have a knack. I just got lucky."
"Ch' whatever, Roxie. You still made a fortune. You should have seen it, Dem. One winning card after another. It was great!"
"Three hundred is not a fortune, Axel. And it was just luck."
"Eh, it's still more than I got."
Curious, Demyx looked at Axel. What game was it Axel said he was going to try today? Texas Hold 'Em?
"So how'd you do then?" He asked. Was it Baccarat? Craps, maybe?
"I didn't do so hot, but I still came out on top in the end. I always do. I made about a fifty-dollar profit."
"That's not too bad. What did you play?"
"Roulette. It was fun; you should try, Dem."
"Hmm, maybe. But I want to try the Black Jack tables tomorrow."
"Good luck then. I heard the dealers are vicious, and hard as hell to beat. So, anyway guys, dinner?"
The mention of food brought Roxas who had been flipping through a travel guide back to the conversation.
"There's supposed to be a really nice Chinese restaurant down the street from here. How does that sound?"
"I guess I can live with Chinese." Axel smirked, "I can help you with your chopsticks."
Roxas scowled.
"So, Dem," Axel started, biting into a crisp spring roll. "Are you gonna take the place up on their offer?"
The Land of Dragons was a nice, posh restaurant, Demyx had to admit, and it certainly wasn't a place he felt comfortable. He could just feel the patrons glaring at him and his unusual hairstyle. Axel, however, was enjoying the swanky restaurant immensely, and as for Roxas, he didn't seem to care either way. The rich reds decorating the elaborate establishment glared at him harshly; he had always preferred the dulcet shades of blue.
Demyx nodded hesitantly, picking at his fried rice. "It's a nice place, really, and it'll help a lot. So yeah, I think I will. But only for the summer."
"You're still planing on going back?" Roxas asked quietly from behind an impassive look.
"Of course!" Demyx chirped, "I made a promise. I intend on keeping it."
A noise of disbelief erupted from Roxas as he glared down his chow mein, daring it to move. "Demyx." He stated softly, "He's no longer here. He left you. You have nothing to prove."
"Roxas' is right, Dem. If you do go back, that's ok, but at least change your plans. You'll kill yourself by trying to do so much."
Demyx beamed at his friends. It was nice, feeling that they cared, but he didn't want to worry them. They didn't need to worry about it.
"Come on guys," he said, still smiling. "I can handle it. No worries after all. Hakuna Matata and all that, right?"
"I don't know, Demyx. Sora tried and he almost had a nervous breakdown."
"I'll be fine, Roxas, so stop worrying. If I have problems, well, I'll do . . . something about it. I promise."
Roxas nodded reluctantly, although Axel still seemed miffed. However, Demyx waved it off.
"My audition's Saturday morning. Are you two gonna come?"
"Absolutely, Demmy! We have to cheer you on. I can put Roxas in a sexy little cheerleader outfit if you want."
Holding up a chopstick threateningly, Roxas growled out, "Even think about that again and I'll kill you."
It was the daylight that woke Demyx the next morning. It streamed in through the window and glinted off the stained glass lamps in the room. Half awake, Demyx cracked one blue eye open and immediately rolled over, burying his head in the pillow.
"Augh, I don' wanna get up. Just a few more minutes."
Roxas, pulling on a pair of khakis, shook his head and smiled. "Like a kid still."
Axel, however, took on a more suspicious pose, half way between standing and crouching. Still in his pajamas he took a flying leap onto Demyx's bed, yelling "Airplane!"
Demyx was bounced off the bed with a yelp. The redhead laughed, throwing his head back merrily while the rudely awoken blond jumped up and shot his friend a rude gesture.
"That was mean," he whined, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
"Go fix that mess you call a hairstyle and let's hit the casino."
Demyx pouted and crossed his arms in a huff. "Why? I'm gonna lose. We all know I'm awful."
The green-eyed demon shrugged as he tried his best to prevent the third boy from buttoning his shirt. "You said you wanted to play Black Jack. So I figured . . . " He shrugged again.
The sleep dazed blond froze in place, his imagination skipping gleefully out of the room to the Black Jack tables where stood a tall platinum haired man with shiny embellishments.
"I guess, but I'll lose anyway." He murmured slowly, mind still playing over that mysterious man. He reminded him of someone.
"With that attitude you're sure to." Roxas said. The youngest of the trio stood by the doorway, flipping his fake ID through his fingers. "I loathe finding myself saying this Demyx, but think happy thoughts. Luck comes to those who deserve it."
"So you're staying Axel's gonna lose horribly today. He doesn't deserve it after what he did to me."
The solemn boy only nodded. "I'll meet you two in the lobby."
There were more people in the casino that day, as it was a Friday. Demyx knew more would come as the day wore on, afternoon melting into evening. A small crowd had formed around his Black Jack table of choice and Demyx, swallowing his fear, went over.
He was just in time to see a large man throw down his cards and storm away.
"Tough luck, Fella. Try the slots next time." The dealer called after the man. "Hey kid. You wanna try?" The dealer grinned, catching Demyx's eye.
"No thanks, I was just looking."
"Aw don't be like that. Sit down and try. Are you chicken?"
His feathers ruffled, Demyx took a defiant posture and snatched the vacated seat. "Is it hard?" he asked.
"Easier than Craps and more fun than Texas Hold 'Em." The dealer replied. He noticed that the card dealer's all wore the same uniform: Black slacks, and a red and a black vest over a pristine white shirt. It wasn't the same man as the day before, Demyx noticed as the man dealt the cards out. He was shorter, for one, and his hair was longer. In fact, the two dealers looked nothing alike.
"Hey kid!" The current dealer snapped, "Pay attention."
Peeking at his cards, Demyx made a quick decision to stand, receiving no extra cards. He blanked for a moment and wondered how much he had bet while he'd been thinking. He knew he had shoved in a handful of chips. He needn't worry, honestly. He had a perfect hand. There before him, sat an Ace and a Jack.
I can't believe my luck, Demyx thought. The time ticked by and the dealer, who Demyx soon learned was named Xigbar, grew more and more agitated. The mohawk'd boy won hand after hand, much to the displeasure of the other patrons.
"Geez Kid. You're makin' me look bad." Xigbar grumbled. "Are you sure you haven't played before?"
"Not seriously. Just with my friends." The blue eyed boy replied, placing his latest hand down on the table, as did the others at the table. Eighteen. Xigbar had revealed his hand of twenty. "I think my luck's finally run out. I should probably quit before things get bad." He pouted.
"Whatever floats your boat, Kiddo."
"Maybe I'll be back tomorrow. This was fun." With that, he stood and took his leave. Making his way through the crowded casino, he caught a strong whiff of cologne and took a detour past the Bingo area. He mentally cheered at his unbelievably good luck. He hadn't met the man from yesterday, but that was all right. He was holding at least two hundred in pure profit. He replayed his winning streak in his mind, getting more giddy all the while. Finally losing had been depressing, but maybe this was a start of a chain of events. Maybe things would go right for a change.
"Good thing I knew when to stop." He bubbled. He stopped in front of the first available window to cash his winnings. He was calling it quits for the day.
"That's quite a bit you've got there, Love. Have a good run, I suppose?"
Demyx nodded cheerfully to the employee waiting on him. He was tall with a black vest over the same white dress shirt as all the other staff members wore. He had platinum blond hair with icy blue eyes. Curiously, he had at least four piercings on each ear. Demyx's jaw dropped.
"H-Hi." He stammered out. "Don't you work at the Black Jack tables?" He asked carefully, dancing around his actual thoughts.
"Normally I do." The platinum man replied, totaling the poker chips by hand. "Today was my day off, actually. However, as Namine called in sick, I volunteered to take over for her. I'm sure she'll have returned by tomorrow."
"That was very nice of you, Mister . . . "
"Luxord. I prefer it to my surname, truthfully. Just call me Luxord, if you don't mind."
"Absolutely not." Demyx leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter, watching this new man.
"Would you like your winnings in the form of cash or check? You can also opt for a card as well but there's a withdrawal fee at the ATM's."
"Oh. Check, I guess. It's less conspicuous, don't you think? I'm not really a fighter anyway, so I'd be screwed big time if I was mugged."
Luxord nodded sympathetically, giving the boy a broad grin. His eyes twinkled with the lights of the casino.
"May I see your ID?"
"Oh, yeah sure!" The dirty-blond fished his wallet out of his pocket and extracted his ID. He slid it over the counter to Luxord.
"Demyx Nocturne?" He nodded in reply, beaming. He was unbearably happy. His chest was aching due to his rapidly beating heart. It was all he could do not to jump for joy. Things were going so great. He watched Luxord type a few things into a computer and print out a check.
"Here are your winnings," He slid the check and the ID back across the counter to Demyx. "It's already endorsed."
"I made four hundred and forty dollars?!" Demyx exclaimed.
The card dealer turned money exchanger nodded, "You did very well. You must be lucky, but you best go cash that check, Mr. Nocturne, and I hope to see you again." Either Demyx was hallucinating or the devilishly handsome Luxord winked at him. I think I may swoon, Demyx thought.
Back in the hotel room, he locked his check in the safe provided. He turned to Roxas whom he had met in the hotel lobby.
"Where's Axel anyway? I thought he never left your side."
"He's probably still playing roulette."
"Still playing? How long's he been at it?"
"Since we left. Most likely he's starting to get on the guy's last nerve. Really, it's a wonder he's lasted this long."
"Why's that?"
"The employee at the Roulette table is just like him. They have the same fiery temper, same impatience, and the same corny sense of humor. They look alike too."
Demyx grinned, sitting on his bed. A guy just like Axel? The world may implode. He didn't honestly think that humanity could handle two Axels; it was hard enough with just one.
"You did tell him you were coming back, right?"
"It may have slipped my mind."
"He's gonna panic and set something on fire, you know."
A/N: Well... That's it. Expect the next chapter sometime next week (but don't count on it) Comments and Critique are more than welcome. Hope you liked it.
