Wooooo hooo... I don't know about you guys but things have been CAH-RAY-ZAY on my side of the computer screen. LOTS OF DRAMA. But for the most part it's over with (for now) and I've been able to focus more on the story again. It's sort of taking a new and unexpected direction which isn't always a bad thing... It's a bad thing for me because I had events planned out and now the story says "Oh no you don't! We're doing this instead!" You just can't plan something... You have to let it grow on its own and let it take on it's own life. That's what great writing is about... (Or so I believe.) So anyway, I'm letting the story flow where it wants for now even though it will inevitably have the same ending I planned it to have. (And I'm not telling what that ending is! NAH NAH!)

In other news:

Have I mentioned I love fanart? What's that? I HAVEN'T!? Well, I LOVE FANART! The wonderful, amazing, stupendous and illustrious Kradchan of deviantArt made a WONDERFUL fanart based off THIS STORY. And I happened to stumble upon it this week (even though it's been up since January... Oops!) and I absolutely loved it! I mean, what's not to love about Nazi Xigbar!? Am I right!? Yes I am... Anyhow, I encourage all of you (Yes you! AND YOU!) to PLEASE visit Kradchan's page (kradchan.deviantart. com) and show her some love because damn it, SHE DESERVES IT!

And in the future, if you happen to create fanart or see any fanart that is inspired by this story, let me know! I'll be happy to mention it and the wonderful artist that did it! My deviantArt name is SugarBeatAngel so drop me a line there and lemme know! Of course I don't expect this kind of thing but I'll admit it IS flattering and very welcomed. Also, I want to say you shouldn't let fear of criticism stop you from placing your art anywhere. I plan to take full heat for anybody ridiculed for putting up "hate art" just because it is Nazi related. Censorship is never ok! It's worse than being a Nazi!

AND, last but not least, let's talk about this chapter. It's a bit on the short side, I know. But I think that's ok. There's good character development and that's important. I really love Roxas in this chapter... More-so than I think I've ever loved Roxas EVER!

Now on to the story!

14- Eine Neue Blüte

14- A New Bloom

Kraków, Poland
December 30, 1940

It was late in the evening but the house was alive with servants bustling back and forth. They were preparing for another party, this year more extravagant than the last. It seemed not one person in the house was ready to rest. Xigbar had decided at the last moment to add an extra few choices to the buffet table which meant space had to be cleared away for extended table room. This meant the entire dining room had to be rearranged as far as seating arrangements went. All around where servants refolding table cloths, re-stacking chairs and moving tables along to account for the extra six feet of buffet space. Six feet didn't seem like much to Roxas but Xigbar seemed to insist that if the current settings remained where they were, the room would look cluttered and leave no space for dancing. The young teen sat on the stage Xigbar had ordered constructed by the only Jewish carpenter left in business and yawned lazily as he flipped through an old magazine he'd found buried in a box under dolls and old frilly fabrics hidden away beneath the bed he shared with his brother. It seemed to be some sort of women's fashion magazine and it was clear to him now that whatever wealthy family it was that owned this house previously had a daughter who was quite feminine and had been in the middle of transitioning from a young girl to a young woman at the time of their home being seized. He felt a slight bit of remorse but decided nothing could be done now so instead he scanned the pages for a bit of actual text to read. Aside from the information about fashion in London and details on how to order the clothing there seemed to be little much worth reading. He grumbled lightly and sat the magazine aside. "How boring..."

Xigbar chuckled and stepped up behind Roxas. "Then head off to bed. You're not required to be down here..."

Roxas cast Xigbar a sideways glance and rolled his eyes out of the man's sight. "Have you tried sleeping with this ruckous going on? It's near impossible..."

Xigbar let out a small laugh. "Well then pick up a chair or two and help out with the process. It will go faster with every helping hand."

Roxas glared at Xigbar furiously. "I didn't come here to be your servant. I came because I have no choice... But now that you mention it, why don't you follow your own advice and go help?"

"I don't see why I should have to work if you don't." Xigbar smiled slyly. "Besides... That's what I have servants for."

"Slaves you mean." Roxas spat out quickly. "Servants at least get paid."

The boy's small outburst brought a hearty laugh from Xigbar. It reminded him of Demyx when he'd first arrived. "Oh, how very much akin you are to your brother. But you see, my servants are being paid. It may not be with money... For you know, money hasn't much worth to Jews anymore. Nobody will sell them anything. Instead, they are being paid with a place to stay, food to eat and a sense of security not afforded to many others. My Jews are important to me and I treat them well... You see, the armbands you wear have a special insignia on them. Just below the Star of David. It's a tiny signature I had put on all of my Jews to let soldiers know that my Jews are not to be harmed."

Roxas grit his teeth, his fury growing even further. "They are not your Jews! They're their own people! You horrible bastard... These are people's lives we're talking about and you can't very well just own them!"

Xigbar stared at Roxas for a long moment. He could feel the eyes of every servant in the room staring at him and Roxas waiting for one of them to snap. After a few more seconds Xigbar smiled and placed his hand on Roxas' shoulder. "You are wise beyond your years Roxas... However, this is the reality of things as they are now and how they are going to be. Neither you, nor I, nor even God himself can change this fate. It is unfortunate to say the very least of it... But it is how things are. And it is the very most I can do for my Je..." He hesitated and smiled widely. "...My beloved servants to make certain that they have the best of what I can give them. For right now, the best thing for them is protection and security. They have that with me and it is the most I can give to him..."

Roxas blinked at Xigbar a moment. "You mean them."

Xigbar cocked his head to the side. "I beg your pardon?"

"You said him." Roxas said slowly. "But you meant to say, them... Right?"

Xigbar looked across the room to where Demyx stood laughing happily with one of the older female servants. He smiled softly and turned his gaze back to Roxas as he nodded. "Yes... Of course."

Roxas turned his eyes to where Xigbar had been looking. He stared straight ahead at his brother and smiled as a small realization dawned upon him. "You really care for Demyx... I had thought he was just being foolish. But you're truly close friends." He looked up at Xigbar quietly. "I'm glad..."

"So am I." Xigbar gripped Roxas' shoulder tightly and smiled kindly at the young boy. "One day you'll find a closeness with a person much like I share with your brother. And when you do you'll understand the answers to so many questions that you have right now..."

Roxas nodded slowly. "Questions..." He looked down at the magazine and furrowed his brow. "Do you... Do you know who owned this house? I mean, directly before you... Do you know who they were and if they're still alive?"

"Naminé..." Xigbar looked across the way to where the young girl was following the orders of a servant much older than her. "She lived here with her aunt... The woman was very old and frail. She was quite the prude actually. She refused to stay on as a servant. She said she'd rather live in a ditch than serve a Nazi..." Xigbar chuckled lightly. "I share her sentiments to tell the absolute truth... But Naminé told me she had nowhere else to go. That the elderly woman was the only family she had left and that she would rather be a servant than be back out on the streets. So of course I kept her on along with all the other servants that the woman had. It was a rather rough adjustment for her to go from her extravagant room to the servant's staying room. She's well adjusted now however..."

"Naminé... Hmm..." Roxas blinked thoughtfully at the young servant girl. He'd glanced her about the home before but he'd never taken a good look at her before now. She seemed to be his age, possibly younger. All he really knew of her was what Demyx had told him and Demyx only had praise for the young girl. He smiled thoughtfully and continued to stare at her.

Xigbar smirked widely. He knew very well the seed he'd planted in Roxas's young head and he knew as well that it would blossom. He hadn't meant to do so but it would work to his advantage all the same. "You know... Naminé looks like she could use some assistance. She is still a rather weak young thing and not used to such stress on her body such as moving tables and such. Perhaps I should..."

"No, it's alright." Roxas smiled widely. "I'll help her... I haven't really had a chance to socialize with anybody here. It'll be nice..." He jumped down from the stage and walked briskly over to where the girl stood struggling with a set of chairs. He ran a hand quickly through his hair and smiled. "Hi..."

Naminé glanced up at the boy speaking to her before turning her attention back to the chairs. "Hello..."

"Y-you must be Naminé..." Roxas bit his lip and glanced around. "I've heard a lot about you from my brother... Demyx."

Naminé looked at Roxas a moment before smiling shyly. "So you're Demyx's brother..."

"My name is Roxas..." He smiled widely and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Can I help you in anyway?"

Naminé glanced around her and nodded. "If you're certain you'd like to... I could use some help moving these chairs."

Roxas nodded eagerly. "Sure thing!"

"Alright, who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Demyx said mockingly as he ruffled his brother's hair.

"Dem!" Roxas gasped loudly and looked at his brother with blood red cheeks. "Mind your own business... I just want to help out. The sooner this gets done the sooner I can go to sleep."

"Whatever you say..." Demyx smiled and walked away from his brother. He stopped and stood beside Xigbar and crossed his arms, still keeping his gaze on his brother. "What did you say to him?"

Xigbar chuckled and stared at Roxas for a moment before looking at Demyx. "Not much... In fact, none of this was my doing at all."

"Oh... Sure it wasn't." Demyx smiled and looked up at Xigbar. "It's alright... I'm glad to see him take an interest in something aside from himself. He and Naminé are about the same age as well... It would be good for him to have a friend. Especially one as cute as Naminé is." Demyx sighed. "Are you nervous about tomorrow night?"

"Why should I be? I have everything a man needs to impress. I've got a league of wonderful servants, an elegant venue, the best caterer money can buy at no price... And of course, the best musician in the world." He smiled brightly. "I don't need much else."

"What about Saïx?" Demyx swallowed hard and stared at Xigbar. "What if he tries to start any trouble?"

"He won't." Xigbar said with confidence. "And that's assuming he even shows up. No, I think it will be a flawless evening..." He smiled and put his hand on Demyx's shoulder. "Come with me..."

"A-alright..." Demyx eyed every person in the room warily as he made his way out. He didn't trust anyone anymore. All the servants served as possible spies for Saïx and he knew it was a horrible reality that one slip up could mean the end of his life. He followed Xigbar up the stairs to his room and entered behind the man quietly. "W-was there something we needed to discuss?"

Xigbar smiled and closed the door with Demyx pinned up against it. He pressed his mouth against the flesh where Demyx's neck met his jawline and kissed him gently. "When was the last time we got to do this?"

"I can't even remember..." Demyx moaned softly and ran his hand up Xigbar's chest. "I miss you."

"I miss you too..." He lifted his fingers to Demyx's collar and tugged at the fabric. He flashed a seductive smile as the button came loose from it's latch with a satisfying click.

"Xi-xigbar! Should we really be doing this right now?" Demyx whimpered quietly as the older man began to relentlessly suckle his earlobe. "I mean... I really want to but... If somebody were to come in."

"Nobody is going to come in." Xigbar turned the lock on the door behind Demyx and pulled his young lover against him. "I've told you before, you will not deny me pleasure. It's been too long..." He forced his mouth onto Demyx's and chuckled lightly as the boy melted into his kiss. He forced his lover backward onto the bed and straddled him.

"Mmm... Xigbar." Demyx sighed and wrapped his arms around his lover's neck. He felt Xigbar's hands at his belt buckle fighting to get the thing loose. A smile fought it's way to his lips and he batted Xigbar's hands away. "Let me do it. I can't wait anymore..."

Xigbar laughed. "Fine. Be my..." He froze as he heard a knock on the door and groaned loudly. "Yes!?"

Naminé stood at the door timidly. "El Brigadeführer... I-it's Saïx. He's here."

"Damn it... What the hell is he doing here?" Xigbar growled and adjusted his wardrobe. "You stay here. I'll handle this." He stormed out of his room and made his way down the stairs, Naminé trailing close behind him. "Did he say what he wanted?"

"No..." Naminé lowered her gaze. "I'm afraid of him sir..."

"You don't have to be." Xigbar glanced at the girl from out of the corner of his eye. "I'd never let him hurt you." He turned his attention back forward and growled as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Saïx... Where are you?"

Saïx stepped out of the dining hall and smiled at his superior. "The hall looks lovely..."

"Shut your smart mouth..." Xigbar grumbled and crossed his arms.

"Oh, no... I'm being serious." Saïx motioned to the room he'd just exited and smiled. "It looks like they're nearly finished with everything... But you wouldn't know that. Were you very busy upstairs?"

Xigbar huffed lightly. "Quite. Now if you don't mind..."

Saïx interupted with a chuckle and stepped toward the man he'd for so many years denied relation to. "You know, there is one body I don't see in that room that I'd honestly thought I would. You know, him being your servant and all. Where is the little rat anyway?"

Xigbar supressed and feral growl and clenched his fists. "Upstairs... He's not feeling well. I was just checking on him."

Saïx nodded knowingly. "Ah, I see... He's your big musician. That's a shame he's feeling ill... If he's not better by tomorrow your party will be a huge flop. But I'm certain you'll be giving him plenty of tender, special treatment."

"If you've got something to say then say it! Otherwise I want you out of my house!" Xigbar roared furiously.

"Mmm... Indeed." Saïx examined his fingernails and chewed away a piece that bothered him. "I came to tell you that fortunately I will be unable to make it tomorrow evening. I have more important things to do... However, your assistant Marluxia will likely take my place at the table you'd reserved for me. He's quite smitten with Larxene you see and..."

"If Marluxia wants a favor tell him to ask it himself." Xigbar stepped to the door and pulled it open. "Now, I would like for you to leave."

"Very well..." Saïx stepped smugly out the door but peered back inside. "Oh, and one more thing uncle..." He smiled viciously. "I will catch you two some day... And when I do there will be hell to pay."