The rest of the members found themselves not going too far from each other, all keeping a watch on the door. They weren't all speaking to one another, some not speaking at all, but there seemed to be some comfort in the fact that they were all close together.

Marluxia had gone to sit by Vexen, watching as the water slowly crept back up to the castle.

"Hey, Vexen."

"Yes, Marluxia?"

"Back in the lab… What was that?"

Vexen smiled to himself, glancing at the Assassin who watched him with unblinking eyes.

"I told you to think of something else, and you wouldn't. So, I decided to help you."

Marluxia watched him closely, wondering what was going on in the Academic's head, as he usually did when in his presence.

"It worked, didn't it?"

A small smile graced those petal lips, ever so devious.

"A little…"

Xigbar watched the water coming back to attack a second time, already anticipating it. It wouldn't win. The water was going down…

"Having a staring contest?" Luxord came and sat beside him, the smallest smirk on his lips. Xigbar merely laughed.

"No, I've never been good at those things. Be damned if I'd be any good against something with no eyes. Though, I guess I could be. Who's to say the water's not always blinking?"

Luxord shook his head, having meant that as a rhetorical question. He should have known better with Xigbar.

"So, everyone thinks this might be the end…"

Xigbar nodded, remembering the conversation that had began when they had won their first battle. The Battle of Never Was Castle… That had a good ring to it. Too bad they didn't have a historian.

"If fate thinks that…"

"Even I don't know what fate thinks."

Xigbar merely smiled.

"C'mon, you can't think this is going to kill us. We've been through too much, you know? All that getting thrown out of casinos and then having to come back and lie to the Superior about how we had been doing our mission the whole time… And now a little water will be the end of us?" Xigbar actually laughed. "As if! We've got this."

Luxord watched him with amusement, wondering just how Xigbar could always manage to be so optimistic, especially with the state he was in already. If Xigbar escaped this with another scar it wouldn't even bother him in the least. Just another story to tell…

Luxord nodded, not able to help the smile that had come to him.

"Of course we do."

Demyx stared at the water, trying once again that day to will it away. As with his earlier attempts, nothing happened…

"Demyx…" Demyx looked up, startled to find Marluxia, Axel, Larxene, and Roxas suddenly there, all looking down at him. It was Marluxia who had spoken to him.

"About earlier… I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I know it's not your fault. I knew that before Saïx came. It's just… I guess it's easier to blame someone, when you have no idea… I'm sorry."

Larxene nodded, giving Demyx a smile, trying her best not to make it too sadistic as were her usual ones.

"Yeah, and I'm sorry too. I never wanted you dead, no matter how much it might have seemed like it at times. So, sorry…"

Demyx nodded at both of them, as both nodded back.

"And we just wanted to tell you that none of us hate each other for it or anything." Axel said, motioning to the other three. "So, don't think you tore us apart or something, okay? Because we're all still friends."

Roxas actually smiled. "It was sort of fun, nearly sparing to death."

Larxene smiled here, clearly agreeing, not trying to hide her natural smile this time.

Demyx smiled too, nodding to all of them.

"Good, I was afraid that none of you would ever speak again, all because of me…"

"Oh please." Marluxia said, giving him a charming smile that would send chills down anyone's spine. "It's going to take a lot more than you for that."

With that, he and Larxene both walked away, Roxas rolling his eyes and following them.

"Axel!" Demyx called before the Flurry could walk away. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Axel nodding, sitting down next to Demyx, giving him his full attention.

"It's about earlier… Thanks, for defending me so easily… I never thought you'd turn on Marly like that for me…"

"Oh, it was nothing, Demyx. I knew it wasn't your fault, so I figured I had to stand by what I believed."

"Well, thanks for not believing it was my fault."

Axel actually laughed here, smiling at Demyx.

"I think I know you better than that. I don't think you'd try to kill any of us. You're too sweet for that."

He had actually said 'sweet', not 'scared' like he usually said.

"Thank you, Axel…"

Axel smiled again, when the thunder struck. It was at that moment that they heard Zexion cry:

"It's coming back!"

Axel was on his feet in an instant, turning to go to him. He stopped suddenly, glancing back at Demyx with concern.

"Are you coming?"

Demyx was looking around, suddenly realizing that Saïx had never returned from earlier.

"I'll be there in a little bit…"

Axel nodded, quickly walking away to join the others as Demyx stood, suddenly remembering the lights were out. He began down the hall, careful of his way, but when the thunder boomed again he found himself running down the halls.