Thank you to all who read my first chapter. And a special thanks to those who reviewed.

Acknowledgments:

Setsuna Kirosaki- Thank you! I'll try to keep it funny.

Artificial Wings 39- Thank you!

-x-Princess Ashe-x- Thank you!

Kasura Chan- You're my first reviewer. Thank you! I'll shall try to keep the pairing interesting.

Favers: (I know that word is spelled wrong and I don't care!)

-x-Princess Ashe-x-

HitomiLoveless

Moogles with Flamethrowers (Awesome name!)

Setsuna Kirosaki

People milled about the cobblestone square. Vendors had set up their stalls and were yelling their wares. Everything from fine shiny jewelery and rare silks to steaming hot rolls and plump squawking chickens. Children darted in and out of the adults' legs, playing games and tossing flowers at each other. Every now and then, an expensive looking carriage would pass, pulled by two or four impressive horses, scattering the crowd. Elegant ladies and noble gentlemen sat in tea houses conversing while their raggedy clothed servants brought souvenirs from the local shops. The crowd parted again as their crown prince walked calmly through flanked by anxious guards. The events on Demyx's birthday had made the guards a little more than wary. Sora stood next to the blond prince holding a spear that looked much too big for him. Demyx walked through the square, studying some children playing around a marble fountain. The white structure featured a gorgeous mermaid surrounded by seaweed and fish. Water sprayed out over her making her milky hair shimmer in the morning sun. The children splashed in the water, giggling and completely oblivious that the blond watching them was one of their princes. Demyx watched the children before walking passed them. Sora nipped over to a fruit vendor and quickly purchased a ripe looking Granny Smith apple, which he munched as he walked beside the prince.

" Sora, tell me, where does Roxas go in the morning?" Demyx asked.

" I don't know, your majesty." Sora said. Demyx knew Sora was lying but let it go. He stopped in front of a bookstore and walking inside where he was immediately confronted with the musty smell of old books and the crisp smell of new ones. A bell had chimed softly when the door had opened and a white haired man came scurrying forward.

" What can I do, your majesty?" The man asked.

" Do you have my latest book?" Demyx asked trying to sound sophisticated.

" Your joke book, sir?" The man asked. Any hope of looking sophisticated left with that statement. Sighing, Demyx nodded while Sora snickered. The man brought the book forward, wrapped in crisp brown paper. " Just arrived, your majesty." He said.

" Thank you." Demyx said with another nod of his head and gave the man 10 munny. " Is that enough?" He asked. The man beamed and nodded his head gratefully. Demyx smiled and left with Sora.

Meanwhile..
Roxas wandered the streets watching as vendors shouted out their wares. He had escaped from the castle while Demyx and Vexen were arguing over some trivial matter Roxas didn't bother in listening to. He picked idly at the course brown shirt he wore over plain jeans and riding boots. His attire looked rather strange even to him but he was walking to the stables on the other side of town and didn't want to carry his boots with him. As he made his way through the crowd, he caught snatches of conversation, most of them about Demyx. The men talking, some with pride, others in disgust about the young ruler while the women talked more about his looks and his amazing voice. To them it was merely a rumor that Demyx had the voice of an angel but to Roxas it was a reality. Only, that voice didn't sound quite so angelic when it's being shouted in your ear to wake you up in the morning.

Roxas stopped in front of the stables and looked around for a stable hand. Seeing no one, He cautiously stepped into the large building, smiling at the familiar smell of horses and the unwelcome smell of their feces. He walked along the stalls nodding to each of the many horses he saw and finally came to a stop in front of an office door. The door was slightly ajar and hr could hear voices coming from inside. Ignoring the voice in his head that reminded him about cats and curiosity, he crouched outside the door to listen.

" I already told you, I don't know anything." That voice was of Xaldin the manager of the stables.

" Are you sure? We don't want that brat coming around here at inconvenient times." A man said. Roxas peered inside to see a woman and man standing in front of Xaldin's desk. The man's cerulean blue hair that fell past his shoulders, while the women was a blond with two strand of hair that resembled antennae sprouting from her head. The blond twirled a knife in her hand.

" So what you're saying is, you don't know when the little prince will come around only that..." She began before throwing the knife at Xaldin's head. He didn't even flinch, not even when the knife cut off a small portion of his unusual sideburns.

" He comes around whenever he wants to." Xaldin said stubbornly. Roxas couldn't help smiling. Xaldin usually wasn't one to keep secrets but he certainly kept the fact that Roxas had scheduled meetings with, a secret. The blue head sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

" We're not going to get anything out of him." He said turning to the blond. She frowned and retrieved her dagger.

" Then let's go." She said. Roxas backed away from the door and in a nearby stall. The paint occupying the stall sniffed at his hair before pressing her muzzle to his cheek. Roxas patted the velvet soft nose as he listened for signs that the blue head and blond had left.

" Roxas, don't hide in there. You know why Rain has her name." Xaldin called. Roxas stepped out from the stall, locking it behind him when Rain made a move to walk out, then turned to Xaldin with a confused look on his face. Xaldin had slightly tanned skin and long black hair done up in braids on top of his head. His dark amethyst eyes looked down impassively at Roxas.

" How did you know?" Roxas asked. Xaldin tapped one of his slightly pointed ears.

" I heard you. But lucky for you those other two didn't." He said, then tossed a set of reins to the blond.

" Who were they?" Roxas asked as he caught the reins.

" A couple of tax collectors." Xaldin said simply.

" I know they weren't tax collectors. They mentioned me. Now who were they?" Roxas asked growing angry.

" Nothing you should worry about." Xaldin said firmly and went back into his office. Roxas scowled and then walked over to a stall. Inside was a pure white stallion whose mane and tail were dyed bright blue, a result of one of Demyx's pranks involving shampoo and several of Vexen's more harmless chemicals. Both Roxas and the stallion had completely blue hair for a month but now only the stallion still had the blue left. He looked at the blond with inquisitive blue eyes.

" Let's get you ready, Pegasus." Roxas said kindly. Pegasus snorted in reply and Roxas opened the stall door.

" Be careful, Roxas. Some of the mares are in heat." a voice called behind him. Roxas tied a rope around the stallion's neck before facing a silver haired boy.

" I'll be alright, Riku. Where's Sora? I thought you two had to clean the stables out together." Roxas asked. Riku winced then his turquoise eyes darkened slightly.

" Sephiroth decided Sora should accompany Demyx around. Something about helping him to spy or something like that." He said with a sigh. They both knew Sora sucked at spying. He was just too noticeable. Brunettes really stood out in a place where your hair could be any color of the rainbow. Roxas nodded then thought of something.

" Hey Riku, do you know of a guy named Zexion?" He asked. Riku nodded while shoveling dung into a black wheel barrel near him.

" Yeah. He seems kind of emo, though. Why?" He asked.

" Is that all you know?" Roxas asked ignoring Riku's question.

" Well, he hangs around these two other guys. I think one's named Axel."

" Axel?" Roxas asked as his heart skipped a beat. " You know Axel?" Riku nodded looking slightly freaked out by the sudden frenzied look int the blond's blue eyes. He then moved onto another stall.

" Sure. I don't like him much. But Sora likes him a lot." Riku said narrowing his eyes.

" That's probably because I like him." Roxas said sheepishly. Riku straightened up and turned to face the blond.

" No way. So he's the guy that made you act like a total chick, the other night?" Riku asked with a smirk. Roxas felt his face heat.

" Well, I can't help it if he's hot." he stammered. Riku shrugged.

" Yeah, if you like guys like that." He said simply. Roxas rolled his eyes.

" Of course you go for the innocent ones and those that only looked innocent."

" Sora's one of those who only look innocent" Riku said with a smile. Roxas sighed and led Pegasus out to pasture. The stallion had been nudging him during his conversation with Riku and Roxas decided to give his back a rest. Just because horse noses were soft didn't mean they couldn't hurt too.

Vexen sat in the basement trying to duplicate the poison the pink head had stolen. With an angry snarl, He threw the contents of a beaker against the gray brick wall. The bright red contents slid into a grate that trickled to a storage tank below the basement floor.

" Are you missing this?" a silky voice said behind him. Vexen whirled around to see the pink head leaning casually against the wooden stairs holding Vexen's syringe in his hand.

" You." Vexen hissed. " Give me back my poison." The pink head smirked.

" No, I don't think so." He said simply. Vexen noticed he was wearing the white shirt and blue pants of a castle servant.

" You're a servant. When I give an order, I expect to be obeyed." He said smugly. The pink head narrowed his eyes and pressed the end of the syringe, letting a stream of the ice blue liquid fall to the floor near his booted feet. Vexen let out a strangled cry and ran to stop him. The pink head calmly flicked the point of the syringe up and Vexen came to a sudden stop with the syringe tip directed at his neck. He should have been frightened, but instead he was angry. " How dare you threaten me." He said angrily as he took a step back. The pink head raised an eyebrow.

" Why?" He asked.

" How dare you threaten me with my own poison. You think i wouldn't have an antidote around here?" Vexen snarled. The pink head looked surprised.

" I would have expected a different answer from a prince." He said and lowered the syringe. " Here." He sat the syringe down and rolled it across the floor to Vexen who happily picked it up. After examining it carefully, he eyed the intruder warily.

" Why are you just giving this back to me?" He asked cautiously. The pink head shrugged.

" I guess because that isn't all of it." He said with a smirk. Vexen's eyes widened.

" Where is the rest of it?" He asked desperately. The pink head pulled out a vial from his pocket. The ice blue liquid swishing inside was the same as that in the syringe.

" Here." He said simply.

" What do you plan to do with it?" Vexen asked as he narrowed his eyes.

" I'll tell you later." The pink head said and turned to leave.

" Wait." Vexen called. The pink head paused as he was about to ascend into the darkness. " At least tell me your name." The pink head smiled.

" Why? So you can send your guards to track me down? No matter, I'd kill them easily." He said breezily. " My name's Marluxia." And with that Marluxia walked softly up the stairs. Vexen listened as the booted footsteps made surprisingly light tapping sounds on the aged wood before the door open then slammed shut. He checked the key in his pocket and then smirking, walked up after Marluxia. He wasn't surprised to find the door locked and unlocked it before stepping out in to the deserted corridor. Examining the syringe in the sunlight, Vexen smiled, glad to have his precious poison in his hands again. Now if only he could get the rest back.

Marluxia watched the blond walk off. He smirked. So the prince was as smart as he had first thought. This would be very interesting they next time they met. The pink head turned in the opposite direction, Vexen had taken and went to find Zexion. He found the smaller man sitting the library reading a book.

" You know you're not supposed to sit there, Zexy." He cooed into Zexion's ear. Zexion swatted him away as if he were fly and continued reading.

" Leave him alone, Marluxia." Axel said from his perch by the window. He twirled a small chakram in his hand, watching as it glinted red against the sun. " Did you find out anything?" Axel asked Marluxia. Marluxia shook his head, smiling slightly as his soft curls tickled his face.

" No."

" Then what were you doing?" Axel asked him.

"I just decided to have fun with the oldest prince." Marluxia explained before snatching the book out of Zexion's hands. The man jumped up and tried to grab his book back but Marluxia held it out of his reach. Axel frowned.

" I still don't know what you find interesting about him. Did you tell him your name?" He asked.

" Yes, why does that matter?" Marluxia asked ignoring Zexion until the slate haired boy kneed him in the groin causing him to drop the relatively heavy book into Zexion's hands. Smiling triumphantly, Zexion returned to the plush chair he had been reading in.

" You're on fault, dumb ass." Axel said with a chuckle. Marluxia glared at him.

" So what have you been doing?" He wheezed.

" Actually doing my job." Axel said eying Marluxia.

" Keeping that prince distracted isn't a job?" Marluxia asked indignantly.

" You only made that up today." Zexion said from his seat. Axel looked out of the window and smirked.

" Prince Demyx has returned. Zexion, you better go wait on his majesty." He said turning his jade eyes on Zexion. Zexion tightened the hold on his book.

" Why would I care about him?" He spat.

" Because Roxas said Demyx followed you around all day." Axel said with a smile. Zexion's eyes widened.

" I'll just tell him I'm not interested." He said with a shrug.

" Let him down gently." Axel said with a smirk as Zexion got up.

" Go get him, tiger" Marluxia said as he winked at Zexion.

" Go to Hell, both of you." Zexion called over his shoulder as he left the room. Zexion walked to the grand hallway with Axel and Marluxia's laughter ringing in his ears. He had wanted to avoid talking to either of the princes if he could help it, but Axel and Marluxia didn't seem to have those same resolutions. He sighed and walked around a particularly large countess wearing a dead fox on her shoulders. He could hardly stop himself from gagging at the horrid smell of the mammal and the slightly more bearable smell of the fox she was wearing. The woman stuck out her diamond tipped cane and rapped Zexion on the shoulder.

" You there, get my bag." She instructed shrilly. She wasn't that beautiful with pale, flabby skin and way too much make up. Zexion ignored her and continue walking. The countess cracked her cane over his head. Zexion whirled around and tore the cane from her hand then broke it easily over his knee.

" That hurt, bitch." He snarled then threw the wood fragments at the startled woman. She blinked her heavily colored sapphire eyelids then her face reddened in anger.

" How dare you speak to me." She shrieked spraying spittle onto Zexion's face. He wiped his face with his sleeve then fixed the woman with a murderous glare.

" I'll talk to you however I like, until you start treating me like a decent human being." He snapped. The hallway had gone strangely quiet as all eyes turned to the blond man walking over to the arguing pair.

" Madame, what seems to be the problem?" Demyx asked kindly.

" This street urchin refused to take my bag and then broke my cane which was worth 1000 munny." The countess sputtered.

" Zexion, is this what happened?" Demyx asked looking at Zexion. The smaller man hid his surprise that the prince even remembered his name.

"This woman," Zexion began keeping his voice calm despite his rising anger. " hit me on the shoulder then hit her cane on my head. Why should I do anything for her?" He asked. Demyx nodded his head.

" Madame, I don't allow my servants to be hurt. If you want something then ask them nicely." He said firmly. The countess laughed.

" My dear Demyx, you know servants are beneath us. They aren't meant to be equals." She said chuckling. Zexion didn't notice Demyx's hand on his shoulder until it tightened at the countess' statement.

" Madame, the next time you want something moved, ask one of your own servants. I don't want to hear about another one of my servants being hit with any thing, understood?" Demyx said. The countess opened her mouth to argue but closed it upon seeing the look in Demyx's eyes. " Good. Now if you'll excuse us." He said then steered Zexion away. Zexion was pushed into a nearby hallway away from the guests.

" Sorry, about that." Demyx said sheepishly. Zexion simply blinked at him before recovering his composure.

" Thank you, your majesty." He said stiffly and gave the prince a curt bow.

" Call me Demyx." Demyx said with a smile. Zexion nodded.

" Very well, Demyx." Zexion said. " Now if you'll kindly forgive me, I have to see my boyfriend." Demyx's smile vanished.

" What?" He croaked.

" My boyfriend." Zexion said simply.

" You have a boyfriend?" Demyx asked. Zexion frowned.

" I may be a servant but that doesn't mean I can't have a boyfriend. Right, Demyx?" Zexion asked raising an eyebrow. Demyx swallowed and nodded. Zexion started to walk away.

" What's his name?" Demyx asked. Zexion paused and turned to look at him.

" Marluxia." Zexion said with a smile. He then turned back around and walked off, hiding a devious smirk.

Demyx watched him go. He walked slowly back to his room, his eyes looking down at the floor but not actually seeing anything. That was probably why he didn't see Vexen and stumbled into his brother.

" Watch where you're going, Demyx." Vexen snapped impatiently as he made sure his papers weren't wrinkled.

" What? Oh, sorry." Demyx said dully. Vexen shot him a quizzical look.

" What's wrong with you?" Vexen asked. " You've never bumped into me on accident."

" Nothing, I just found out that Zexion has a boyfriend." Demyx said.

" Sorry to hear that Demyx." Vexen said looking concerned. " Did he says who it was?"

" Some girl named Marluxia." Demyx spat. Forgetting that Zexion had said boyfriend. " Why are all the hot ones taken?" He groaned.

" Demyx, Marluxia isn't a girl. He's a guy." Vexen said with a frown.

" How did you know?"

" Because I met him. He stole my poison and today, gave some of it back along with his name."

" So Marluxia's the one who gave me that drink?"

" Probably. But, he seemed pretty confident that the guards wouldn't be able to capture him." Vexen said still frowning.

" Why is that?" Vexen placed a hand to his chin in thought then his green eyes lit up.

" Because he still has my poison. He already knows how to use it. What's to stop him from using on the soldiers we send after him?"

" What indeed?" Demyx mused. Then he frowned. " What does Marluxia look like?" Vexen frowned.

" What do you mean?" He asked.

" Is he hot?" Demyx asked with a snort of annoyance. Vexen shrugged.

" I don't know. I wasn't really paying attention." Demyx stared at him then grabbed him ruffly by the shoulders and shook his vigorously.

" What do mean you weren't paying attention? Do you want to end up all old, wrinkly and still a virgin?" Demyx asked. Vexen pushed him away and then fell over. He stood up then wobbled for a moment while he tried to recover his balance.

" Whether or not I die a virgin is the last thing I'm thinking about." Vexen said with a frown.

" Then what are you thinking about?" Demyx asked curious.

" Science and the welfare of this kingdom." Vexen said with a shrug.

" What will you do when I become king?"

" I'll continue my research. I'm much more competent than those buffoons who call themselves doctors." Vexen said with a sneer.

" Come on, you at least have to meet someone." Demyx said with a roll of his eyes.

" Unfortunately, little brother, most of the 'someones' you want me to see have your intelligence and I tire of them easily." Vexen said with a frown. Demyx glared at him.

" Then find some one who is as intelligent as you." Demyx said matter-of-factly.

" That's the problem when you're a genius. No one's as intelligent as you are." Vexen said with a sigh. Demyx merely rolled his eyes.

" Come on. I highly doubt there's not one person in this entire kingdom your age who couldn't match your brains." He said.

" There isn't, now leave me alone. I have to work on a weaker poison to exchange for the one Marluxia stole." Vexen said. Demyx's happiness dissipated at the mention of Zexion's boyfriend.

"Okay, I'll see you around." He said falling back into his gloom. Vexen sighed then walked off, too tired to deal with his brother's problems. Demyx continued down the hallway and stopped outside Roxas' room. He heard voices and edged quietly to the doorway. Peeking inside, he saw Axel talking to Roxas. The two were sitting incredibly close on Roxas' bed. Axel leaned forward and kissed the blond on the cheek. Roxas blushed.

" Don't do that." He whispered. Axel kissed him again and smiled a charming smile.

" Can't help it. You look so cute when you blush." He said causing Roxas to blush even more.

" If I'm so cute, why haven't you kissed me on the lips, yet?" Roxas asked. Axel raised an eyebrow then leaned forward again.

" Do you want me to?" He whispered. Roxas nodded.

" Very well, your majesty." He said and Roxas leaned forward to close the gap between them.

" What are you doing?" A voice said behind Demyx. Demyx yelped and fell forward knocking the door open and thus pushing Axel and Roxas apart. Demyx heard laughter behind him and looked back. Sora and Riku stood behind him, Sora laughing while using Riku for support so he wouldn't fall. Riku smirked at him.

"Nice ass, Demyx." He said. Demyx smiled and stood up. He opened his mouth to talk to Riku when he suddenly went pale.

" What's wrong?" Sora asked. Demyx didn't say anything but merely pushed past the brunette and walked down the hallway. He followed the couple in front until they turned into the library. Demyx tip-toed up to the door and listened.

" Zexy, why don't we do something?" A man whined.

" No, Marluxia. I know there's only one thing on your mind and I'm not having sex with you." Zexion said bluntly.

"Ouch, Zexion. That really hurt me."

" Don't be a drama queen."

" Don't be an emo boy." A book slammed shut.

" How many times do I have to tell you I'm not emo?" Zexion asked angrily.

" At least ten times a day." Marluxia said with a laugh.

" Why don't you go find someone else to mess with?" Zexion suggested.

" Fine. I'm sure the apothecary will be much more entertaining than you." Marluxia sniffed and stormed out the room. He didn't see Demyx but Demyx saw him. The blond waited then peeked inside the room. Zexion was sitting on red plush chair and reading a book while sunlight shined on him from a nearby window. He seemed to be the picture of serenity and all Demyx could do was stare at him. Zexion sat like that for sometime and only moved to turn a page, but even that he did quietly and smoothly. Demyx was broken out from his trance when Zexion closed his book and selected another from the stack in front of him. Demyx shifted and felt the tingling in his legs as the his limbed tried to wake up. The blond walked silently away from the library and its single occupant and practically ran to Roxas' room. The blond in question was sitting with Sora and Riku near the window. Judging by the bored look on Riku's face while he held Sora, Demyx assumed the two blond boys had been talking about Axel.

" Where did you go?" Roxas asked.

" I saw Zexion." Demyx muttered.

" Zexion? What was he doing, Prince Demyx?" Axel asked politely as he stepped from inside Roxas' closet. Demyx decided not to dwell on that mystery.

" Please call me..." Demyx started then stopped as he remembered saying those same words to Zexion. " Demyx." He finished. Axel nodded. " He was talking with his boyfriend." Demyx said, he couldn't help spitting out the word boyfriend like a wad of used gum. " Marluxia." Axel smiled.

" I'm glad he wasn't getting into trouble." The red head said. He sat by the window and looked out.

" That's too bad, Dem." Roxas said looking concerned. Demyx nodded. Axel stood up just then and walked over to Roxas. He took the startled blond's hand and kissed it.

" Good day, Roxas." He said, his jade eyes looking directly into Roxas' blue eyes. The red head then took his leaving, bowing to Demyx and nodding to Sora and Riku.

Axel entered the room he shared with Zexion and Marluxia to find Zexion there, still reading. The slate haired man slammed his book shut when Axel kicked the door shut.

" Can you not do that?" Zexion hissed.

" What's up with you?" Axel asked.

" That..that..that..person! He told me to call him Demyx." Zexion spat.

" What's wrong with that?"

" Demyx, as if I'm good friends with him or some shit like that."

" There's nothing wrong with calling him by his name."

" Maybe not for you or Marluxia but it bothers me."

" Why?"

" Because unlike you two, I'm not trying to get into his pants. "

" Oh come on Zexion. I'm doing it for a bet. Marluxia's the one who seems honestly interested in the prince."

"Yes and that bastard is starting to get on the last of my nerves. He hasn't contributed at all to our research. We might as well have brought Saix instead of Marluxia. At least Saix is more reasonable." Zexion said with a sniff. Axel raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Why? Because you find Saix attractive?" He asked. Zexion glared at him.

"Of course not. Now go somewhere I have to finish reading." Zexion snapped. Axel laughed and left the smaller man to himself. Zexion waited a while before taking out a locket around his neck. 'That oaf doesn't understand that love isn't easy. Let him think I have a crush on Saix. It will make everything easier.' Zexion thought as he stared at a picture of a beautiful blond haired boy. Tears well up in his silver eyes and splattered on the glass covering the picture.

Vexen walked along a corridor in the servants corridors. Unlike the other hallways which had an assortment of tapestries and paintings, this corridor was bare with only an old rusty suit of armor guarding each doorway. The hallway was empty as most of the servants were either in the kitchen or elsewhere, waiting on Demyx's guests. Which was why Vexen was surprised to see a door open and upon peeking inside, finding a small man sleeping in a chair with a book open on his chest. Vexen looked around the small room with a frown and then quietly stepped forward to examine the rather large book. He was surprised to find the book was on the history of the palace, considering even he found that to be utterly boring and apparently so did the small man. Vexen let his eyes wander around the room before settling on a hair brush. The hair brush was rather small and circular with a long green neck painted with ivy leaves. Bu it's what was on the brush that interested Vexen the most. Caught on the soft white bristles of the brush were several strands of pink hair. The blond frowned as he examined the brush, careful not to actually touch it so as to not disturb anything else of the desk. Not that there was much of anything else. All the small desk had on it beside the mirror was a fine toothed comb bordered with gold and a small wooden box. The box was partially open and resting on the green velvet inside lay a small bottle of ice blue liquid. Vexen smiled and suppressed a shout of glee before carefully picking the bottle up. The man in the chair gave a snort and turned over. Vexen froze and waited until the man was sleeping peacefully. He flicked a strand of hair out of his face and then tiptoed out of the room. He left the door ajar and quickly made his way to his private chambers to hide the bottle away.
Zexion was rudely wakened by a pillow thrown at his face. The slate haired man disgustedly threw the dirty pillow aside and frowned at Marluxia, who was tearing the room apart.

" Where is it?" Marluxia moaned.

" Where's what?" Zexion asked with a yawn.

" The poison."

" What poison?"

" Are you really stupid or are you joking?" Marluxia called. Zexion frowned.

" Neither, I don't know what you're talking about." He said.

" The poison I took from Vexen. It was ice blue." Marluxia said fretfully.

" What's the big deal?"

" The big deal is Grayanotoxin is highly dangerous. What if one of the servants found it and decided to use it? I know we'll get blamed and that would ruin the whole plan."

" How could they blame us?"

"Vexen knew I took it. He would think I used it." Marluxia crawled out from under the bed and went back to the desk.

" Now tell me exactly what happened." Zexion said slowly.

" Well I came in, saw you asleep and then went to brush my hair. I looked at my box and find the poison gone." Marluxia said pointing at his hairbrush then the box when he paused. His azure eyes settled on a single strand of hair lying on the desk. It shined golden in the sunlight but only when Marluxia leaned forward enough. He picked up the strand and saw it was relatively long.

" Hm, this is pretty long. There's only one person with long blond hair and that's Vexen. But how could he have known?" Marluxia asked aloud.

" I don't know but I didn't see anyone come in." Zexion said as he stood up and stretched.

" Why would he even be down here anyway?" Marluxia asked ignoring Zexion. The slate haired man frowned.

" Well if you're going to ignore me, I'll just see how Axel's doing.

Axel was walking with Roxas through one of the many gardens in the palace. The queen had loved flowers and had different gardens devoted to each one. The one Axel and Roxas were currently walking in was devoted to red and pink flowers. Everywhere crimson roses danced with roseate carnations that surrounded a huge cherry tree. The tree had lost all of its blossoms and fruit so pink ribbons were strung on the branches.

" The ribbons will stay until May when the cherry blossoms again." Roxas explained. Axel nodded and then grabbed the blond hand. Roxas blushed at the warmth of the red head's hand.

" Why don't we sit under it?" Axel asked. Roxas nodded and the two stepped carefully over the various flora and settled under the tree. Roxas leaned his back against the tree and looked up. From below the pink ribbons formed a spider web on the tree.

" This is nice." Roxas said with a sigh. Axel smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Roxas looked at him, blushing slightly.

" Wha-what was that for?" He stammered.

" I couldn't help it. You looked so.." Axel trailed off as he leaned close to the young blond. Roxas felt his cheeks heat at the red head's close proximity but forced himself to stay calm. " Tell me, Roxas. Have you even been kissed before?" Axel whispered.

" Not on the lips." Roxas answered. Axel smirked.

" My, aren't we bold?" He said with a chuckled and leaned closer. Roxas could see the different colored fine specks of green in his jade eyes. Roxas closed the gap between them and pushed his lips and against Axel's. Axel's lips gently messaged Roxas' soft ones and made the blond gasp when he nipped lightly on his lip. However, Axel didn't force his tongue in, instead he licked the blond's lips several times until Roxas got the hint and opened them fully. Roxas' hands trailed up the red head's chest and tightened on his tight black shirt. Axel smirked and rubbed Roxas' tongue with his own. The blond unused to kissing, pulled away from lack of air and sat back against the tree gasping slightly.

" So, how was that for your first kiss?" Axel asked.

" That was great." Roxas panted and the red head smirked.

" Then we'll have to do it again." He said. Roxas smiled and leaned forward again. The red head met his lips with his own. They stayed like this for who knows how long. All Roxas knew was that he felt like he was walking on air as they left the garden. Axel's arms was around his slim waist keeping the blond close to him as they walked slowly back to the more occupied parts of the palace. Roxas saw Sora waiting at the end of the hallway for him. Axel removed his arm and Roxas shivered as his heater left him. Axel kissed him on the cheek.

" See ya, Cinderella." He murmured kissing Roxas' ear. The blond's face turned beet red and the Axel walked off laughing.

" Hey, Roxas. Why is your face as red as Riku gets when I call him Ri-Ri?" Sora asked as he cocked his head to the side.

" Nothing." Roxas stammered.

" Was that Axel I just saw leaving?" Riku asked as he walked up. Roxas' face reddened even more, if that was possible.

" Oh gods, I have to go talk to Demyx." Roxas yelled and ran for his older brothers' room. Demyx was sitting in his room reading, a relatively mundane practice the blond didn't normally engage in.

" Hey, Demyx." Roxas said nervously. Demyx looked up but didn't smile. Roxas frowned. His brother was usually glomping him or teasing, not just sitting at his desk reading. " Dem, what are you reading?" Roxas asked.

" Poe." Demyx said simply.

" Haven't hared of him."

" He's from another world but his poetry is moving."

" What does it say?"

" This chapter is about a lost love named Lenore."

" Sounds sad."

" It is. Which is why I like it."

" But why?"

" Because when I'm feeling sad, I like to hear people tell me how sad they are. Then I don't feel so bad."

" But you never did this."

" So? I'm older now, Roxas. I have to be ready to rule my kingdom. After all, I'll be named king soon." Demyx said. Roxas nodded. How could he have forgotten that his brother was to be crowned king after his 21st birthday?

"So, do you have a queen?" Roxas asked after while. Demyx stiffened and whirled around.

"Damn it, Roxas. Why did you come in here? To gloat about you and your boyfriend? Little Roxy has a boyfriend. Well whoop-dee-doo. Whoop-dee- fucking-doo." Demyx yelled and turned back around. Roxas stood there shaking slightly before silently slipping out of the room.

" What's wrong, Roxas?" Sora asked as he and Riku found the blond later, sitting behind a gold suit of armor.

" Demyx yelled at me. He never yelled at me. He never yelled at anyone. What's going on with him?" Roxas asked looking up at Sora with worried eyes.

" He's just stressed that's all." Sora said in a soothing voice. He and Riku crouched beside Roxas and helped the blond to his feet.

" Stressed my ass. It's about that Zexion guy, isn't it?" Roxas asked. Sora and Riku exchanged glances then the two nodded.

" Probably." Sora admitted. Roxas' sapphire blue eyes darkened.

" I need to find Axel." He stated and started walking to the servant's corridor. Axel was coming out of the room when Roxas threw himself at the red head. Startled, Axel threw up his arms and caught the blond.

" Roxas, what's wrong?" He asked with general concern in his voice.

" We need to talk, in my room." Roxas mumbled. Axel nodded and walked with Roxas, Sora and Riku back to Roxas' room. Roxas and Axel settled themselves on Roxas' bed while Sora and Riku kept watch outside.

" Now what happened?" Axel asked gently as he hugged Roxas to him. The blond buried his face in Axel's soft shirt.

" It's just that Demyx got really mad, today. He even yelled at me. He would never have done that." Roxas explained.

" Shh." Axel hushed him and gently rubbed his back.

" I think its because of Zexion." Roxas said.

" Does Demyx still like Zexion?" Axel asked. Roxas nodded.

" Yeah, I think that's why Demyx is all tense. He's even reading sad poetry." He said.

" Sounds emo." Axel commented.

" And Demyx isn't supposed to be emo. He's supposed to be the happy prince. Vexen's the smart prince and I'm the-" Roxas began.

" Cute prince." Axel finished with chuckle. Roxas smiled.

" Yeah." He said then frowned. " I just want Demyx to go back to the way he used to be."

Don't worry, Roxas. Everything will go back to normal after we get the crown and get the hell out of here. Axel thought happily. Then, why did his heart tighten at the thought of that?

---

Yeah, I'm ending it there. What, Demyx is emo? Not to worry, the happy prince will be happier next chapter, I hope. ;) Some of you probably won't like that I change point of views so quickily but then again this does focus on basically six people and it may be more with depending on the situation. Just letting you know before you get too into the story.