"How can we still be friends?"

After everything he has done to him, how could that be possible? I knew he would attack him, even while sober. I should have done more to protect him.". These thoughts raced through Marluxia's mind as he watched Vexen bandage Demyx's palm.

"Luckily this burn isn't as bad as your others, but that's only because you got to me quickly. Had you waited any longer, and it would have been." Vexen said. Demyx said nothing, and just watched Vexen's work. "But I suggest you refrain from using that hand for some time Nine." he said, cutting and tapping of the bandage. Demyx hugged his hand close to him. He would have to get used to being left handed for a while. Vexen turned his attention towards Marluxia. "Do I need to ask how this happened."

"No, you don't." Marluxia angrily said.

"Though I don't care what you do to Eight, could you try not to send him to the infirmary. I don't need more work than I already have." Vexen said, then he got up, and left.

Once Vexen left, Marluxia walked to the front of Demyx, and dropped to his knees, hanging his head.

"I am so sorry Demyx." he said. "I should have done more to protect you. I should have put a stronger barrier between the both of you. I should have gotten to you earlier. I should have done more." Marluxia's voice cracked on his last sentence as his eyes started to water. He then felt something on his head. He looked up to see that Demyx had placed his uninjured hand on his head, and was smiling at him. Not his usual goofy smile, but a warming smile that complimented his forgiving eyes. "I don't deserve your forgiveness." Marluxia said, dropping his head again. Demyx ruffled Marluxia's hair, something he'd never been able to do, being the shortest of his two friends. He pulled his hand away, which made Marluxia curious. He looked up to see why Demyx had pulled away.

Demyx had conjured up his own water and written in the air, not in the clearest way since he wasn't left handed, 'It's not your fault.'

"But." Marluxia started to protest, but Demyx raised his hand and changed the writing in the air to say 'No'.

Marluxia sighed. "There's no point in getting anything through that dense head once you've made up your mind." he said.

Demyx changed the writing to say 'Not really'.

"Have it your way." Marluxia said, getting off the floor and helping Demyx off the examination table.

'I could've gotten off myself' Demyx wrote.

"Sorry, you still look pretty helpless." Marluxia teasingly said.

'Ha ha. Very funny' Demyx wrote.

"Just trying to lighten the mood. Now, get rid of that water and I'll take you back to your room." Marluxia said. Demyx nodded his head. He shaped the water into a single strand, opened his mouth, and fed the water into his mouth. He playfully chomped on the end of the stream, slightly splashing his face, and swallowed. Marluxia was staring at Demyx, amused at what he just did. "I guess that's one way to do it." Demyx nodded his head, and they left the infirmary.

"I. Am. Such. An. Idiot." Axel said as he slammed his head on the wall after each word. "Why. Couldn't. I. Control. My. Temper." he said, continuing to bang his head. Axel put his hands on his forehead and leaned his back on the wall. "Nya. That hurt." Axel lifted his head and stared at the ceiling. "I am so, going to get it from Marly." he groaned and slid to the ground and sprawled onto the floor, continuing his stare. "Should I even bother trying to repair this? I just screwed up my only chance to be friends again. And I just gave Marly a bigger reason to turn me into a shrub." He sat up and sighed. "Am I destined to spend the rest of my non-existent life a sad, depressed emo like Zexion!". Axel turned his head to the bathroom door. "No." he said, getting up, "I will not end up like that. I'd rather try to repair this and end like a shrub.". He went to his door and stepped out, just in time since Marluxia and Demyx were standing outside of Demyx's room.

"Demyx!". Axel ran towards them, Demyx stepped back and gripped onto Marluxia's arm. Axel stopped in front of them. "Demyx listen, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was trying to apologize." Axel said.

"Some apology!" Marluxia snapped.

"Quiet! This is between me, and Demyx!" Axel snapped back. Axel turned his attention back to Demyx's frightened expression. "Demyx please, if you would just give me a minute to explain myself, I can fix this." Axel reached out his hand towards Demyx, inches away from him. Demyx tightened his grip on Marluxia's arm, but before Marluxia could do anything, a jet of water splashed Axel's face, causing him to cover his face in surprise. Demyx took the moment of distraction to run into his room, and slammed the door shut. Axel moved the wet locks of hair out of his face, but then had something slapped harshly across his face. Axel, who's face was turned to the side due to the impact, put his hand on his throbbing cheek, and turned to see what hit him. Marluxia was standing in front of him, his arm extended.

"Did you just slap me!" Axel shouted.

"You bastard!" Marluxia snapped.

This surprised Axel since Marluxia never insulted somebody that rudely before. "What did you jut call me?"

"Bastard." Marluxia repeated. "Do you have any idea what you did to him!"

"No, but I know you're going to tell me." Axel said.

"First," Marluxia started, "you just ruined his chances of healing normally by burning his hand!"

"I burned his hand?" Axel worriedly asked.

"Yes! You damaged the most important part of a musician!" As Marluxia yelled, a vine started to creep around Axel, which he didn't notice. "Second," Marluxia continued, "the first thing he said after a month of silence was filled with terror because of you!" Axel then noticed the vine around him as it tightened. "And now, you have the nerve to ask for his forgiveness, after everything you've done!". The vine tightened around Axel.

"Uh, Marly."

"I will destroy you!" Marluxia shouted and the vine tightened around Axel. Axel groaned as the vine slowly tightened, which was more painful than if the vine fully tightened at once.

"Is this how Demyx felt when I was choking him?" Axel thought as it became harder for him to breath. "I guess it's time that I got a taste of my own medicine.". He started to feel lightheaded, but right before he could pass out, the vine loosened its grip and dropped Axel to the floor and disappeared. Axel landed on his hands and knees, gasping for breath.

"I can't do it." Marluxia quietly said.

"What?" Axel asked, still gasping for air.

"No matter how easy it would be to kill you, I can't hurt him." Marluxia replied.

"What do you mean hurt him?" Axel asked, lifting his head to look at Marluxia.

"Though he may be terribly afraid of you," Marluxia stated, "he doesn't want you to suffer anymore, he doesn't want anybody to suffer anymore."

"Th-then, can I see him?" Axel asked.

"No." Marluxia quickly replied.

"At least let me talk to him through a door or something."

"Listen to me carefully." Marluxia said as he walked towards Axel, crouched down in front of him, grabbed the collar of his cloak, and brought Axel eye to eye with him. "No matter what you say or what you do, it will never repair what you have done. Either way, I swear on my non-existent life, I will do anything to keep you from him," Marluxia sighed before continuing, "even if it means killing one of my best friends." Marluxia let go of Axel, stood up, and walked towards his room. He stopped in front of Demyx' door, and looked over his shoulder at Axel. "Let's hope it never has to end that way." he said, and continued down the hall.

Axel was still on the floor, paralyzed after hearing Marluxia's speech. He let his head drop, and for the first time in his life, tears started to roll down his face. "I just made thing worse." he said. Axel slowly got up, and walked into his room, and fell onto his bed. Tears were still rolling down his cheeks, but was silent as he buried his face into one of his pillows.

"It will only get worse." he thought.

AN: This is not going to end well, not while everything is still tense.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts