-A/N-: Thanks a million to Katfreak, Kiki Lelsissia, Isle of Pens and Jextia for reviewing the last chapter! You guys deserve hugs. Now, on with the quest in the name of Christmas!

Disclaimer: Square Enix belongs to Kingdom Hearts. Yes, uh-huh.

---

"Right guys, uh, I really need to eat," Roxas announced, running a shaky hand through his dirty-blonde hair. He felt weak and hungry and almost on the brink of collapsing in a heap of malnourishment. "Could we go grab some lunch? I'm starved!"

It was lunch time, at least by the Keyblader's standards. And he was never one to skip on a meal. He was definitely what they called a 'healthy eater'.

Demyx stopped singing to Jesse McCartney's 'Beautiful Soul' and nodded his head in agreement. "Sure, kid! I'm a little hungry myself. Must be all the hype from all this running around and forcing people to see eye to eye with us. Jeez, I never knew the Crypt was this big…"

Axel sighed. "Well, it does house about fourteen people," he pointed out, "most of which are total losers…" he muttered as an afterthought. "Okay, fine, we'll grab something from the kitchen. But let's make it quick. I'm not gonna sit around all day waiting for you guys to stuff yourselves like pigs."

"Hey, it isn't my fault you don't eat! What are you, anorexic?" Roxas threw a look back at his best friend, critically taking in his slender frame friend as they all made their way down the marble passageway. Axel looked like a stick with red wires sticking out the top. "You must hate food or something," was Roxas' observation.

"I eat when I feel like it," Axel sniffed disdainfully.

"Hey," Demyx chirruped, "If you've got an eating disorder, let us know, man! Don't be embarrassed about your problems! We'll help out."

Axel glared at Number IX like he was stupid. "I told you, I do eat."

"Eat more, then," Roxas grumbled as they finally turned into the kitchen. He headed straight for the fridge. He swore he saw some leftover pizza in there somewhere this morning and he hoped there was at least one slice left for his benefit.

"You can't force me to!" Axel was declaring melodramatically, as though the very word 'eat' offended him.

Demyx nudged Axel in the ribs good-humouredly. "I think he's hinting that he likes guys with a little more, y'know… meat on their bones."

Roxas bit back a snort, his frame already half hidden behind the fridge door.

"Well, in that case…" Axel looked thoughtful, taking Roxas' silence as a means of confirmation with IX's statement.

Roxas slammed the fridge door shut, paying no heed to his friends' banter, and tottered over to the microwave oven, popping the frozen leftover slices of pizza in and setting it on 'high' for five minutes.

"There's enough for all of us," the Keyblader said pointedly, "I hope you guys like Hawaiian." He made a face. Personally, he preferred Meat Lovers. Somehow, pineapple and ham did not quite suit his tastes. But hey, whatever goes.

"Yeah, cool," Demyx himself was going through the contents of the fridge, shoving aside Luxord's half-eaten birthday cake (it was his birthday about three months ago) and pulling out three cans of Mountain Dew. The Melodious Nocturne tossed one over towards Roxas, who caught it deftly. He threw the other at Axel (who nearly dropped it) and then pried the tab off his own can, taking a swig at the refreshing drink.

A few seconds later, Lexaeus stepped into the kitchen, his large shadow looming ominously over Axel, who stood not too far from the doorway.

The big man stopped to stare at VIII, IX and XIII for a few soundless seconds. Then, he grunted in acknowledgement before sidestepping the fire-lover and making a beeline for the pantry.

Demyx shot Axel a quick look, and Axel, in turn, grinned at Roxas. Roxas only shrugged in return and turned back to the microwave. The blonde knew what was coming.

"Ohhh Lexyyy," Axel sang, exultantly and vivaciously, as though he had just won a million munny.

The Silent Hero turned on the spot to regard Axel as though he were a weirdo, an unopened bag of chips (RUFFLES Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips) was clasped in one of his oversized fists.

"Yeah," Axel went on when he had the man's full attention, "so, anyways, here's the deal," the redhead said, as though he were only just resuming a conversation with the big guy, "Like, we're planning this whole Christmas party thing on like, Christmas day, and we thought, maybe, y'know, you should know."

Lexaeus blinked.

"I know you don't like Riku and all, but we are inviting him. And Kairi and Sora." Axel took a sip from his can and then kept going, "I know Riku and that Mouse King Dude took you out back in Castle Oblivion, but it's time you let go of past grudges and embrace the uh, future."

Lexaeus blinked. Again.

"So, yeah. You in for it?"

Lexaeus stayed silent (for he was the Silent Hero).

"Yes? No? Maybe? You don't know? Should I repeat the question?" Axel was getting impatient.

Lexaeus just stood there, like some stone statue (a statue that blinked and held a bag of chips in one hand).

"Say something, rockface!" Axel yelled.

"Okay."

Both Demyx and Roxas looked around at the man, who had just uttered his first word since entering the room. Whoa, he actually said something today! That was…

… whoa!

"Whoa…" Axel was awed, genuinely not expecting the man to say a word. Seriously, that dude could go on for days without a single peep! All the redhead was hoping for was like, a nod or some vague gesture of a sort.

"Okay. A party sounds good," Lexy rumbled, validating himself.

WHOA. That's like, five words in one go! Gnarly! Demyx was practically bouncing up and down on his feet (it seemed to be a habit whenever he was thrilled by something).

"Really?" Axel spluttered. This was so much easier than he first imagined.

"Yes, really," the Not-So-Silent Hero nodded. "We could use some festivity down here."

And with that, Number V ambled back out of the kitchen (leaving everyone gaping after him) and headed off in the direction of the lounge room. Spongebob should have just about ended and it was time for his favourite program: So You Think You Can Dance. Yup.

Beep, beep, beep.

The pizza was finally done, and the beeping of the microwave oven startled the three amazed Nobodies back to reality.

"Well, that was easy," Roxas muttered, saying what everyone was thinking out loud as he removed the steaming pizza slices and set a piece each on separate plates.

"You can say that again," Demyx nodded, helping Roxas carry the pizza to the divider, where Axel was now seated, seemingly still wondering what the hell had happened.

"He talked," was all VIII could say, in a soft whisper of wonder.

The three settled themselves down at the divider and started to chow down. Axel was eating this time around. Apparently, he was taking Demyx's earlier words about Roxas' taste in guys quite seriously.

"Y'know, I think we still have a whole box of sea-salt ice cream in the freezer."

Demyx laughed. "It's still there because no one likes that flavour. 'Cept you."

"That stuff is so salty it's not even funny," Axel made a face.

Roxas shrugged, chewing thoughtfully on a bite of his pizza. There was a time when he was addicted to that stuff. He blamed it on Hayner, Pence and Olette.

"Seriously, the only people who really eat them are you," Axel gestured to Roxas, speaking through a mouthful of food, "and Xemnas. Why can't you two pick flavours that aren't abnormal? Like chilli-pepper ice cream?"

Demyx gagged on his slice of pizza.

"I always knew you were insane," Roxas murmured.

They took five minutes to wolf down their lunch.

After chucking the greasy dishes in the sink and tossing their empty drink cans into the bin, Axel stretched his lengthy limbs and yawned widely as though lunch had really bored him half to death. He was always one to run around wreaking havoc and inflicting damage on someone's unsuspecting property. He was never one to sit around and… eat. He just didn't have the patience. Who the hell ate, for crying out loud?!

"Larx next, I think," VIII announced. "And then we'll pay Xaldin a visit."

"Right," Demyx nodded sagely, very suddenly sober and unsmiling. "You can do Larxene, we'll do Xaldin. Agreed?"

Roxas couldn't help but nod along with Demyx on that one. Everyone was slightly afraid of the Savage Nymph. She didn't have 'savage' in her alias for nothing. She was scary, in a she's-going-to-murder-me-in-my-sleep kind of way. It wasn't surprising that Naminé was named her rival by a few of them. Roxas shuddered. The only two females in this hellhole seemed to dominate the place.

Axel squinted at Demyx. "Chicken," he said, clucking his tongue disapprovingly.

"Yeah, I am chicken. So you're talking to her. No way am I going anywhere near that woman! Nuh-uh!" The man with the mullethawk shook his head rapidly, his gelled hair suffering for this. "Besides, she seems to like you better than anyone else. She even flirts like crazy with you! Whenever you walk into the room, her eyes light up like, like… CRAZY!"

"She does not flirt with me!" Axel denied, "Why would she? She can't seriously think…" he paused and shivered uncontrollably. "Well, she should know I'm not into… her!"

"You're not into girls in general, if that's what you mean," Roxas said, looking at Axel as though challenging him to say otherwise.

"She'll cooperate if it's you, though," Demyx said tersely.

"Alright, fine," Axel snapped. "You two go hound Xaldin. I'll personally talk to Larxene. The last one to accomplish their task will give the winner whatever they want for Christmas. Deal?"

"DEAL."

Roxas slapped a hand over his eyes. What a nightmare… Deals should never be made with the Flurry of Dancing Flames.

He cheats.

---

To be like, continued… or something.

Xemnas, Saïx, Zexion, Marluxia and Lexaeus are done.
Xaldin and Larxene shall be next! And what happened to Vexen and Naminé?
Without 'N', the D.A.R.N crew has like, become the R.A.D gang. Sweet!
REVIEW!