The Enchanted Domain was, well… enchanting. Demyx was in a beautiful forest, sunshine filtering through the trees and birds singing. He took his time wandering through. It was much more calming than the last one, and there was a certain musical quality about it. In fact, it almost sounded like someone was singing.

He paused and tried to pinpoint where it was coming from and followed it. At the source of the singing was a pretty girl, dancing around the clearing while animals listened. It was too hard to resist. Demyx summoned Arpeggio and started following her tune.

After a moment, she finally realized she was being accompanied and stopped, spinning around in shock as she saw Demyx.

"Uhh.. sorry," Demyx awkwardly stopped strumming. "Your song was too pretty to not play along with."

The girl stared at him for a moment before saying, "I probably should be going… I was told not to talk to strangers and well…" She rushed to pick up her things.

"Oh… Hey before you go, have you seen-" Demyx stopped as she had already disappeared behind the trees. He let Arpeggio vanish again. "Well, if she's that wary of strangers I doubt she'd have seen them anyway…"

He continued on. In his dream Marluxia had said they'd be in the Enchanted Domain. Or at least, he had named the world and Demyx hopefully took that as a sign they'd be here. Where in this world, exactly, was the question. He wished that Marly had at least given him a landmark to meet with them at.

At the edge of the forest, it was easy to see a castle in the distance. Where there was a castle, there would surely be people. Where there were people, there may be a sighting of his friends or maybe even the two of them waiting at the gate for him.

Demyx walked down the path out of the forest and to the castle. It shouldn't take too long to get there, and he was sure that he'd soon see his friends. He started humming the tune the girl had been singing out of joy.

He had asked nearly everyone in the castle about the two friends he had lost. No one had seen either, but said they'd keep a look out for him. It was a nice sentiment, but Marly and Larx had probably already passed through. It figured the moment he had gotten a location he'd miss them again. Demyx walked through the castle gates, dejected. Maybe he could check in the woods again.

He'd only made it down half the path when a portal opened up nearby. Demyx snapped his head to it, hoping he'd see a certain familiar pair of faces walk through, but was surprised to see who did.

"Xiggy…! What're you doing here?!" Demyx exclaimed. He had occasionally wondered what had happened to the other members but figured they'd have gone home.

"Hey there Demyx! I figured I'd drop by and see how you're doing." Xigbar had a tone to his voice that was almost… threatening.

Demyx had a little voice in his head saying that something was wrong, but… it was Xigbar. They certainly weren't close, but he had been his only friend after the Castle Oblivion mission failed. "How'd you know I'd be here?"

"Oooh, just had a feeling." Xigbar started walking closer to Demyx, "I heard a little rumor that you got yourself a new weapon and I was hoping you'd show it to me."

"Uh… I don't know what you're talking about," Demyx nervously responded.

Xigbar chuckled, "Come on Demyx, don't act dumb. I figured out that you weren't stupid when you ran off to become friends with Sora. How'd that turn out, by the way?"

The nervous feeling churned in Demyx's stomach, "I think you know what happened."

"HA you know I did. Of course he didn't listen to you and just off'd you then and there. What did you expect would happen? Everyone knew how useless and dumb you were, even Sora!" he exclaimed.

Demyx was feeling small, "Well… it was good to see you Xigbar but I've gotta-"

Xigbar's hand landed on Demyx's shoulder, keeping him from leaving. "Go find your precious friends? Come on, Demyx. It's been how long now? You aren't still clinging to that friendship are you? They're perfectly fine without you, In fact, who's to say they've been making sure to leave before you even have to chance to catch up with them?"

He stopped. Demyx knew Xigbar was trying to get to him, and it was working. For all he knew, they had been avoiding meeting back up with him. Maybe the whole time they thought he was useless and told him to stay away from them and act like they weren't friends because they weren't friends. They could have been planning to never see him again the whole time. "But… they wouldn't… they said…"

"What?" Xigbar sneered. "Hey let's all meet on this world and be buddies again? No Demyx. Why would they bother doing that?"

Demyx wrapped his arms around himself, "You don't know that…"

Xigbar chuckled, "Of course I do. I know a lot of stuff. I know your two amigos have been avoiding you just like I know that you've managed to get yourself that keyblade."

Demyx didn't turn to look at Xigbar, "And why would you care? You already said no one would want to be around me."

His tone of voice softened a touch but it still sounded… slimy, "That isn't true, Demyx. Why do you think I came here?"

"To laugh at me?" Demyx mumbled, still hugging himself.

"Nah. I came to get you. Marluxia and Larxene don't want you, but we're still friends."

Demyx finally turned to look at Xigbar. He seemed genuine but that voice was still saying something was wrong. "Are we?" he asked.

Xigbar held out his hand. "Of course we are. Come with me. I know someone who could teach you how to use that keyblade of yours better."

His gaze lingered on the hand Xigbar had extended. It was tempting. Marly and Larx had rejected him, but Xiggy still liked him. He'd even help with the keyblade. Demyx hesitated. If he went with him, he'd be rejecting Larxene and Marluxia completely. What if they hadn't meant it though, or maybe Xigbar misheard…

Xigbar's face twisted into annoyance, "Come one Demyx. Is it that hard of a choice? I'm the only friend you have. Are you coming or not?"

Demyx looked up from his hand and to his eyes. They were such a harsh shade of yellow. He looked down and his eyebrows pinched together. If he went with Xigbar he wouldn't be alone anymore. The search would be over, he'd have a friend. But it wouldn't be his two closest. He squeezed his eyes shut. Marluxia and Larxene… he opened them, tears threatening to escape if he blinked again. Marluxia and Larxene weren't his friends. Xigbar had heard it himself.

It seemed like Xigbar's patience ran out, "Fine. We'll do this the hard way."

Demyx was torn out of his thoughts as Xigbar's hand clamped onto his wrist and yanked him forward a few steps. He looked up at Xigbar whose face had gone hard and cold as he opened a portal. That face scared Demyx. Xigbar started dragging Demyx behind him as he walked toward the portal.

"NO." Demyx shouted as he ripped his wrist out of Xigbar's grasp.

Xigbar turned around, his expression now angry. "What?" he asked, cold and annoyed.

Demyx shrank at the way Xigbar glared at him and he muttered, "No…"

"I'm not giving you a choice, Demyx," Xigbar reached out to grab Demyx again and he darted out of the way.

"I'm not going with you," he shakily stated, backing away. He hugged himself tightly, trying to be smaller as Xigbar's glare sharpened.

"If it's going to be that way…" Xigbar threateningly trailed. His two guns appeared in his hands.

Demyx's eyes widened. That voice had been right about the situation being wrong, and now it was right telling him to run. As Xigbar aimed his gun, Demyx held out a hand behind him.

Xigbar took his shot as Demyx stumbled back into a portal.

"DEMYX!" Marluxia shouted. He ran down the path from the cliff overlooking the road to the castle as fast as he could, Larxene at his heels.

"WHY YOU I'M GONNA-" Larxene tripped over a branch and quickly caught herself.

The two of them had been hoping to bump into Demyx on this world and after hours of searching through the woods where he would be sure to be lured to with the calming air and music from the birds, they had found themselves witnessing Xigbar trying to take him away through a portal, which Demyx clearly didn't want.

They sped down and out of the woods where Xigbar looked displeased.

"Tch. He got away," he grumbled. He looked up when he saw the two rushing out of the forest. "HA," he exclaimed. Xigbar gestured to the two of them, gun still in hand, "Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you two."

Marluxia and Laraxene slowed to a stop as they stood twenty feet in front of Xigbar.

"What did you say to him?" Larxene growled as she summoned her knives.

"OOOH scary," Xigbar mocked. "I didn't tell him anything. Just that you two obviously have been avoiding him. Did you realize he had such low confidence in himself?" He chuckled, "I mean it was bound to happen. After people talk down to you and say you're weak for so long… Especially when your two friends aren't there to have your back."

Marluxia clenched his fists, "What do you want with him, Xigbar? You've got nothing to gain from this."

"I have everything to gain from this. I mean, this kid has a low enough self esteem that only a tiny conversation like that had him questioning his worth. Add to that a certain useful weapon and, well. How am I supposed to leave him alone?"

A scythe appeared in Marluxia's hand and Larxene started to spark with electricity.

Xigbar cocked his head, "As much fun as it would be, I don't have any actual reason to stick around anymore. Demyx left and he was my only target." His guns disappeared and a portal formed behind him. "Maybe I'll see you around though!" he laughed as he stepped through it.

Larxene lunged at the portal, aiming a few of her knives at it, only for it to disappear before she could reach it and go after Xigbar.

Marluxia let his scythe vanish, knowing they had to forget Xigbar at the moment. Demyx was out there somewhere and was in a dangerous state, thinking both of his friends had abandoned him and most likely in a state of fear and hurt.

"We need to go," he calmly said, anger still detectable on the edge of his voice.

"We need to teach that creep a lesson!" Larxene snarled.

Marluxia took a deep breath, "We do, but first we need to find Demyx. Who knows what Xigbar said to him or how distraught he is right now."

Larxene's furious expression melted into one of realization, "Oh no…" Her knives faded and her eyebrows furrowed into concern. "Where would we even find him? We've searched all of the world's he'd most likely go…"

He stood there, trying to think of a place Demyx would go for comfort. "Perhaps his homeworld? Or maybe one with water… Fantasia is full of music he might find comforting…"

The two looked at each other, concern for Demyx mixing with the worry of how they could find him again.