As obvious as it should be, I do not own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.

"Huh? No Sora today?" Riku looked around and over the stand to see if he was sitting there again. "Where is he?"

"Home. He's not feeling the best." Zexion informed.

"What did he come down with?" Riku asked. "Oh no, did that injury get worse or infected? I can get medicine for him and…"

"You really like him, don't you?" Zexion asked. He then chuckled. "Don't worry, that's fine. He's just… stressed. He'll need to rest for a bit. Odds are he'll be fishing nonstop…"

"Oh no… no… no…" Roxas groaned, hitting his head with the palm of his hand. "Too much fish…"

"Oh yes… this is my other brother, Roxas." Zexion said. He had Sora as his brother when people asked, so why not introduce Roxas as the same? Didn't help that he and Sora looked eerily alike.

"Nice to meet you, Roxy." Axel was quick to greet the blonde. "I'm Axel, personal best friend to this baby prince." He took Roxas' hand and kissed it. He smirked when Roxas blushed deeply.

"Axel, please keep your flirting to a minimal, lest I tell your brother and get you another lecture." Riku said.

"Hey now!" Axel whined. Roxas couldn't help but chuckle at that. Okay, sure the blonde tried to kill Riku the other day, but seeing how oddly casual the prince was with Axel and vice versa, it was definitely interesting.

"So uh… about Sora…" Riku said. "I didn't mean anything bad by what I said to him… I didn't want to insult him… and if I did… I really didn't mean it…"

"You just need to learn to watch what you say, lest you say the wrong thing to the wrong person." Zexion said.

"Yeah… apparently." Riku mumbled. "Um… is it okay if I visit him? See if he's okay and… uh…well…"

"Loverboy here wanted to try to read some poetry to him." Axel said.

"Axel!" Riku actually whined.

"Honesty is the best policy." Axel said.

"Oh, you want honesty? Okay." Riku sneered. He then looked to Roxas. "Be careful getting caught up with him. His hair spiking out and defying the laws of gravity is compensating for what he lacks."

"Hey!" It was Axel's turn to whine. Roxas had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing hysterically.

"Did not need to know that…" Zexion said, shaking his head. "I'm here to sell fish… what I get is caught up in… whatever this is…" He sighed.

"So… Roxy…" Axel said, leaning close to Roxas, "how come I've never seen you before yesterday and now? Seems kind of odd huh?"

"Oh, that." Roxas said. "Well… usually I'm out hunting for us so we can eat. You know, can't let my brothers starve and all that."

"So sweet." Axel said. "But don't you guys have folks to help out? You and Sora seem especially younger."

"Oh… well…" Roxas sighed. "Our parents are dead."

That caused a silence that made Riku sigh. "My father did it, didn't he? His laws and everything?" Roxas nodded. It wasn't a complete lie for it was Sephiroth's fault that Roxas and Zexion lost their parents. "He does so much wrong…" Riku mumbled. "Makes me happy his guards have never found Prince Ienzo…"

"Do… do you hope for his return?" Roxas asked.

"Well, if he returns and claims the throne, it is rightfully his and Father will have no rule… he wouldn't be able to have people executed." Riku explained. "But… if he does show up… Father will stop at nothing to have him executed… it's perplexing… which is why I look forward to when my brothers and I rule. We want to try and make things better… especially Kadaj and me… though we keep our hopes away from our father's ears."

"Who knows… maybe one day the kingdom will be cheering your name." Zexion said with a smile.

"Oh Zexy!" Demyx ran over before Riku could respond to what Zexion said. "Huh? Where's Sora?"

"Sora's missing and people always wonder. All of the customers even asked." Roxas said. "Is he always this popular?"

"With that bright smile?" Demyx asked. "Why wouldn't he be." He then looked to Zexion. "My sister liked the fish Sora picked for her. My brother says what's good for her health is good for the baby, too."

"I'm glad. I'll let Sora know when we go home." Zexion said. "Oh… if you guys will be patient…" He then saw to another customer, selling the fish he had left and smiling when done. "Today was definitely busy and fast." Zexion said as he put the coins into the little bag.

"So we go home?" Roxas asked.

"Well…" Zexion didn't get to finish when Demyx spoke up.

"Well, how about you two and I go out and hang out together. How does that sound?" Demyx inquired. "It'll be fun and I'm sure Sora won't mind."

"Well… we aren't due back for a while longer…" Roxas said. He squeaked when Axel went over and wrapped his arm around his waist; no sooner had the blonde begun to blush.

"Why don't we go see the preparations for the festival?" Axel asked. "Surely our prince can give us an insider's look."

"Well…" Riku thought a bit. He greatly wished for Sora to be with them, but he decided if he hung out with Zexion and Roxas, then perhaps they'll tell the bubbly brunette about how kind he was. "Yeah. Father won't mind, I'm sure, and if he does, well, I'll handle it."

The festival was going to be important. It took up part of the palace interior, a dining hall and two ball rooms that were adjacent from each other, all the way to the veranda and the back gardens and to the immediate area of the kingdom where stands were often put up for markets. Many people, even with the cruel king, looked forward to the festival. It often took a few nights to hold with the final night ending with glamorous fireworks.

"Wow! The ball room!" Demyx cheered as he walked in and spun around. "Oh! It's so beautiful!" He grabbed Zexion's hands and pulled him into a sudden dance.

"Demyx, stop. Wait!" Zexion yelped as he almost fell. "I… I don't know how to dance…"

"Here…" Riku went over. "Let me help." He moved Demyx so he was holding Zexion at his waist with one hand and held Zexion's hand in his other one. He then moved Zexion's free hand to rest on Demyx's shoulder. "It's a position for a simple waltz. Demyx, you lead and do what I do." With that, without having someone to dance with, Riku moved as if he were leading a lady. He then stopped and ran over to a maid that was tending to the room and minding her own business. She squeaked when the prince pulled her over and began to dance with her so as to show Demyx and Zexion how to dance.

Demyx nodded and led Zexion through the dance. "Okay, this is easy. See?"

"There… there isn't any music." Zexion said, sounding embarrassed.

"Then listen to the music in your heart." Demyx said. He smiled. "Or should I sing to you?"

"I'll just listen to what's in my heart." Zexion deadpanned.

"So, Roxas, may I have this dance?" Axel asked, bowing a bit and holding his hand out to Roxas.

"I feared you'd never ask." Roxas said in a teasing tone, accepting Axel's hand. He blushed again when Axel kissed it before pulling him over close, closer than how Demyx held Zexion and how Riku held the maid, and began to dance so gracefully. "Wow. Do you dance often?"

"Ri and I've been friends a long time… I attended dance lessons with him." Axel said.

"See? It's easy!" Riku said. He chuckled. "Sorry for pulling you from your work." He told the maid.

"Oh, no worries. I was nearly finished, your majesty." The maid said.

The dancing went on for a few more minutes before there was a slow clap. The others stopped to see Sephiroth on the balcony overlooking the ballroom. "Do not stop on my accord." Sephiroth said. "But my… you dance wonderfully. You will surely be ready for the festival, I'm sure, if you dance. And Riku, I'm glad your practice paid off to show others how to dance."

"Oh… yes, Father." Riku said.

Sephiroth smirked a bit and his eyes went to Zexion, not recognizing him and not really liking the idea of him wearing a cloak to hide himself. Despite that, he didn't say anything and walked out through the curtain covered archway that lead to the second floor where the balcony was. Once Sephiroth was gone, Zexion almost felt his knees give out. Seeing the man that had his parents killed… that had many people killed… seeing his gaze, he worried truly about being found out.

"I have to go. Sora's probably bored of waiting." Zexion said, pulling from Demyx.

"Wait, Zexion… surely you can…" Demyx said, yanking Zexion back.

"No. I can't." Zexion snapped before running off, fleeing like a bat out of hell.

"What's his issue?" Axel asked.

"I don't know…" Roxas said. "I have to go with him… make sure he's okay." He bowed a bit. "Thank you for the dance." With that said, he ran off to catch up to Zexion.

By the time they reached the woods, near their territory, Zexion finally stopped. He was trying to catch his breath when Roxas got to him.

"Zex… what was that?" Roxas asked.

"That man… Sephiroth… I… I can't rise against him…" Zexion gasped out, trying to regain composure.

"Sure you can! When you decide to take the throne, you'll have a kingdom full of followers to support you!" Roxas exclaimed. "You'll be fine. And I'll be there to…"

"To what? Stand in the way and get yourself killed by that monster?" Zexion snapped. He let out a sigh. "It's best to let Riku and his brothers take the kingdom one day… hope for the best… I can't…"

"Just… give it time." Roxas said. "You'll know what to do when the time comes." He sighed. "Let's go home." He said.

"Right." Zexion said.

Sora met his two friends by the creek, away from Saïx so he did not see or hear Zexion and Roxas. He gave them his idea, earning their concern.

"Are you sure?" Zexion asked. "Staying here all night with him may be risky."

"I know, but… I want to find out more." Sora said. He then watched Zexion, wanting to tell him that Saïx could very well be his uncle who survived the take-over.

"Sora? Did you want to say something more?" Zexion asked.

"Oh, no, I didn't." Sora said. "Anyway, I'm going back. You guys will be fine without me?"

"We'll do just fine." Roxas said. Sora nodded before swimming off and returning to Saïx. "He's hiding something."

"Indeed." Zexion said. "But if he hides stuff, there's usually a good reason." He straightened up and turned away. "Let's go home. Sora will be fine."

"Think that guy will be?" Roxas asked.

"Who knows." Zexion responded.