Well, Heartless Poison, I do believe you meant the next chapter, and here you are. I have been updating daily since I'm the only one here. But, lest I post multiple chapters today, I will not be able to update until Monday. Scottish Highland Games and all that jazz. And I have to wear a skirt. -dies-

Hari: -poke poke- I-Is she d-dead?

Roxas: Looks that way, huh?

Hari: O-Oh... well, I g-guess since she's o-out, we have to d-do the d-d-disclaimer... -sniffle-

Roxas: Come on, Hari, it isn't that big a deal.

Hari: BUT SHE MADE MEEEEEEEEEE!!! -wails-

Roxas: -blink- Anyway... Aradia doesn't own Kingdom Hearts or anything in it. Just Hari and Arihx and the faintly existing plotline.

IX: Demyx, the Melodious Nocturne

The Crystal Archer paused, looking around thoughtfully. She heard music. It was faint, but her ears were sharp. She turned, intent on following it to the source.

Arihx went down a thousand halls, passed a thousand doors, and turned a thousand corners—or so it seemed—before she finally reached her destination. Her suspicions were confirmed; it was none other than Demyx, the Melodious Nocturne himself. She sighed, opening the door further to let herself in.

The girl stared in disbelief at the scene before her. True, she had never seen Number IX's abilities first hand, but she had heard of them, and she guessed from his title that it had something to do with music. But she was far from expecting this.

In the middle of the room stood Demyx, joyfully plucking the strings of his sitar. What caught Arihx's attention, however, was the spectacle around him. Large blue… things—they looked kind of like musical notes made of water, but no, that couldn't be it—were prancing about him in a strange, repetitive dance. She felt rude for doing so, but she couldn't help but stare.

Finally, the Crystal Archer regained her composure and forced her way to the musician, shooting any of those… things… that got in her way.

"Demyx!" she yelled, coming up behind him. He yelped and stopped playing, the blue things splashing to the floor and disappearing.

"Oh, it's you, Arihx. Don't scare me like that," he whined. She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Wh-What'd I do?" he asked nervously.

"I could hear that horrible music eons away. Stop playing or go somewhere else, if you don't mind." With that, she turned on her heel and began to leave.

"But your ears are—" The girl whirled to face him.

"My ears are what, Demyx?" she questioned, voice dangerously low.

"Uh, they're, um… love… ly?" Arihx smirked, content with the small victory.

"You're definitely an odd one," she said, leaving him alone. The Melodious Nocturne sighed in relief.

"…But where else can I go?" he wondered after a moment.

Well, there's another chapter for you!

Hari: -gasp- You're... alive?!

Ray: Yep! Aeris healed me.

Hari: -blomps- OH, HOW I MISSED YOU!!

Ray: -gasp- Can't... breathe... -gasp-