Thank you for the reviews! They're such great motivation! I wrote most of this chapter during school, then typed it up while drinking coffee when I was at home later in the day (and finished it this morning). I had to edit it, which is why it's out in the evening. This chapter was amusing for me to write for some reason...anyway...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kingdom Hearts (2).
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After Zexion had been dragged off by Saix, Roxas and Demyx were speaking quietly with one another. Niether of them had noticed that Axel and the Saix replica had slipped off.
After ten minutes of conversation, Demyx was the one who finally noticed their absence. "Roxas...Axel and that replica are gone..."
"What!" Roxas leapt to his feet. Grabbing one of Demyx's hands, he led the sitarist down the hall, soon breaking into a run.
Demyx stumbled along, trying to keep up with Roxas (who seemed to be running way too fast). "Slow down Roxas! What's the matter?"
Roxas continued to run. "We have to find Axel, before he starts any trouble!" He refused to say another word as he dashed along the halls. He was trying to figure out where Axel could have gotten to. Roxas really hoped that Axel was staying out of trouble and not doing something stupid. It was bad enough that he was still a dusk.
Demyx was managing to keep up with Roxas, marvelling that he could keep the same pace for so long.
---
In another part of the castle, Axel was about to cause some trouble. He and the Saix replica had snuck into Marluxia's room, and were laughing silently as he mumbled in his sleep.
"Now what?" The replica whispered. Axel had promised more sea-salt ice cream if he helped with whatever the other was planning.
Axel indicated the sleeping Marluxia with a bound hand. "We're going to give him a wake up call. Remember what I told you?" Seeing the Saix's nod, Axel motioned for the replica to follow him. Both snuck over to Marluxia's bed, where Axel nodded to the other.
The Saix replica climbed onto Marluxia's bed, and lay down next to the sleeping Graceful Assassin.
Axel quickly slapped Marluxia across the face to wake him up, before backing off.
Marluxia awoke, a hand to his face, wondering what in the world had woken him up. He had been having such a nice dream...Marluxia sensed breathing nearby, so he turned over in bed to see what it was. Marluxia let out a horrified gasp upon seeing the replica. "Saix!" Marluxia scrambled out of bed, clad only in a silky shirt and flower patterned boxers.
The replica stretched out on the bed comfortably, grinning up at Marluxia. "Morning Marly. Did you sleep well?"
Marluxia attempted speaking several times, but nothing came out. After many failed attempts, Marluxia finally managed to speak. "What are you doing in my room?" 'And why are you acting so wierd?' Marluxia thought.
The Saix replica stretched out some more, a grin on his face. "What? You don't remember last night?"
"What are you talking about?" Marluxia asked, looking confused.
The replica placed a hand across his forehead. "I guess you can't remember...that's too bad..."
Marluxia stuttered an incoherent reply, as another voice spoke. "You slept with Saix. Got it memorized?"
Marluxia froze. Then, looking away from the replica, slowly turned to find a small, red colored dusk on the ground nearby. Marluxia calmly summoned his scythe, and took a few steps towards the Axel dusk. "Axel...what are you doing in my room?"
Axel would have liked to laugh, seeing as Marluxia looked ridiculous in his clothes...but the threat of getting his head sliced off from his body kept him from bursting into laughter. Axel slowly inched away, before throwing himself into the huge garden (which Marluxia was somehow able to keep in his room). The escape was short, however, since Axel got tangled up in some vines. They were holding onto him! Axel stuggled in panic as Marluxia approached him with a horrible smile on his face.
The dusk Axel really wanted to be able to use his weapons right about now. But, unable to, Axel let out a cry as Marluxia began to swing his scythe...
---
Roxas and Demyx had looked all over for Axel (and had stopped running now, much to Demyx's relief). Suddenly, an anguished cry erupted. Both Roxas and Demyx halted, watching as the dusk Axel came flying out of a portal, followed by a furious Marluxia and a concerned Saix replica.
Roxas buried his face against one of Demyx's shoulders, sighing. Why had Axel bothered Marluxia, of all people?
Axel managed to dodge another scythe swipe from Marluxia, laughing as he did.
----
A little while back, in Marluxia's room...
With Marluxia's swinging scythe almost decapitating him, Axel managed to torch several feet of plants, suprising both himself and Marluxia. At least it was effective in halting the Graceful Assassin's scythe, as he gaped in horror. Axel did not just burn his plants.
The dusk Axel was silent for a moment, before leaping around on the charred ground in joy. This must have meant that it wouldn't be long before he'd be back to normal.
While Axel danced around in joy, Marluxia was still trying to comprehend what had happened to his precious plants and flowers.
The Saix replica created a portal near Axel, after seeing Marluxia's expression upon noticing that the man-eating venus fly trap had been burned badly.
Axel barely had time to duck as the scythe came withing an inch or so of his head. After making sure that his head was still attatched, Axel hurried over to the portal as Marluxia pursued.
The replica watched as Marluxia punted the dusk Axel through the portal, then followed. The replica decided to go through the portal as well, wondering where he'd emerge.
----
Back to the present...
Axel cowered near Roxas, then both of them looked up at Demyx hopefully.
"What do you want me to do?" Demyx asked, before noticing an oncoming Marluxia swinging a scythe. Demyx reacted quickly by summoning his sitar and drenching Marluxia thoroughly.
All that did was make Marluxia even angrier. Luckily, the Saix replica restrained him, allowing Roxas and Demyx to run off, with Roxas holding onto the dusk Axel tightly as they ran.
Marluxia freed himself, before glaring at Saix angrily.
The replica stared back, wondering if the Graceful Assassin knew where the sea-salt ice cream was.
Marluxia was about to yell at Saix, but faltered. The calm, cool look on Saix's expression was unnerving him. Marluxia ran off, deciding to go and check on his venus fly trap. "Hold on my precious venus! Daddy's coming to help you."
The replica watched in confusion as Marluxia ran off. The Saix replica pouted. Now how was he supposed to find the ice cream? Did Vexen know where it would be? The replica left to find Vexen, very sure that the Chilly Academic would know where the ice cream was.
----
Several halls later...
Demyx and Roxas had finally stopped running, and both of them were now glaring down at the Axel dusk in Roxas' arms.
"Why'd you go into Marluxia's room?" Roxas asked after awhile.
"I was just having some fun..." Axel muttered.
"Why was he trying to slice your head off?" Demyx asked.
"I burned some of his plants when he had me cornered." Axel said. "I had been trying to summon my weapons..."
Roxas groaned. "You didn't kill all of his plants, did you?" Any attack upon Marluxia's plants or flowers was like an attack on the Graceful Assassin himself. The difference was that only one could actually cause damage with the scythe.
"Only a few feet." Axel replied. "At least the replica helped me out of there before Marluxia could lop my head off. I had to make sure that it was still there."
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Demyx asked Roxas, referring to the replica.
"I'm sure that Marluxia only wants to punish Axel..." Roxas broke off, staring at Axel intently.
Axel shifted uncomfortably under Roxas' gaze. "?"
Roxas flipped Axel over so that he could see the back of his head. "Did you...notice that some of your hair is poking out?" He asked.
"Really?" Axel felt the back of his head with one of his bound hands. "I hope that this means that I'll be back to normal soon..."
"Maybe Zexion really didn't mean to get you with that potion..." Demyx decided to say.
"Maybe..." Axel responded, but was doubtful. Zexion would most likely have been bothering him now, but the real Saix had dragged him off to who knows where...
---
Meanwhile...
Zexion awoke with a quiet groan of pain. Wincing, he somehow managed to sit up, glancing around at his surroundings. They were...unfamiliar...where was he? Then Zexion remembered. He had been dragged off by Saix...but to where?
"Morning Zexion!" A voice called.
Zexion jumped, startled by the sudden noise. His head was throbbing as he turned to see who had spoken.
Xigbar and Xaldin were at the other end of the room (Zexion had just realized that it was Saix's room), who were bound and tied up to chairs. It was Xaldin who had spoken.
"Now that you're awake, untie us before he gets back!" Xigbar called across the room.
Zexion stood up shakily and walked over to the other two nobodies, halting when he was within feet of them. Maybe he should just leave them here for Saix...
"Don't start getting any ideas about leaving us here." Xigbar said cooly.
"It could be hazardous for your health." Xaldin answered.
Zexion sized the two up. Perhaps they could help him with getting back at Saix...
"What're you thinking?" Xigbar asked.
Zexion smiled pleasently. "I suppose I could untie you...if you agree to help me get back at Saix..."
Xigbar and Xaldin glanced at each other.
"Like a prank?" Xaldin asked.
"A large one." Zexion replied, still smiling.
"Can we include more targets than just Saix?" Xigbar asked eagerly.
"...Of course." Zexion replied, thinking to include the two people in front of him.
"Count us in then." Xigbar said cheerfully.
"Now please untie us." Xaldin added.
As soon as Zexion untied them, he found a lance pointed at his throat.
"Xigbar and myself are going to help, but not targets in this prank...right Zexion?" Xaldin asked, prodding Zexion with the lance.
Xigabr smiled at the Cloaked Schemer. "Because if you are, we could just leave you here for Saix to play with."
A shiver ran down Zexion's back, but he managed to speak. "I wasn't planning on it, all I wanted was some help..."
The lance disappeared, and Xaldin and Xigbar headed for Saix's door. "Well, come on then Zexy, unless you want to wait here for Xigbar to come back." Xigbar said casually over his shoulder.
Zexion limped as he caught up with the two others, too tired to tell Xigbar not to call him that. "Why wasn't Saix in his room?"
"Well, you passed out, so Saix said it wouldn't be any fun to punish someone who was unconscious..." Xaldin answered.
Another chill. Zexion took a deep breath. After this large prank, he'd get Xigbar and Xaldin when they were least expecting it. Yes, that sounded good to him.
"So Zexion, what were you thinking of doing?" Xigbar asked.
Zexion began to smile as he related his ideas to Xigbar and Xaldin.
----
Vexen breathed in deeply. He was on some sort of beach, and it was very peaceful. There was no one around for miles. Vexen had begun to drift off, when he sensed someone leaning over him...
Vexen opened his eyes and found him staring up at the Saix replica. "W..What?!" Was all he could manage to say before the replica hugged him tightly, and, sobbing, explained to him that the sea-salt ice cream was all gone.
Vexen tried to get away, but the replica wouldn't let go. How was he supposed to relax now?
"Vexen, do you have any ice cream?" The replica asked tearfully.
Vexen rolled his eyes. "Does it look like I have ice cream? Now let go of me!"
The Saix replicas released Vexen relunctently, wiping away the tears with his sleeve.
"Vexen! Saix! What are you doing?"
Vexen and the replica turned to see Xemnas striding towards them, looking angry. Vexen heaved a sigh. How was he going to explain this?
The Saix replica leaped to his feet and walked right up to Xemnas. "Where'd you put the sea-salt ice cream?" He demanded.
Xemnas stared at Vexen, giving him a 'what did you do to Saix?' look. Vexen sighed again. All he had wanted to do was relax... Vexen groaned as the replica tackled Xemnas, demanding ice cream. This was going to be a horrible day...
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Yay! I typed another chapter! Please review and let me know how this chapter turned out (or just leave some kind of comment so that I know people read the chapter. I'd really appreciate it). (I'm debating whether or not to give the chapters titles, since it would be kind of fun to do...).
Axel will get back to normal in the next chapter, after Zexion does the large prank with Xigbar and Xaldin.
I already know what one person's answer would be, but I'll ask anyway. I had been thinking about drawing Axel as a dusk and then posting it up on DeviantArt once I actually drew it and finished it. Is anyone else interested in me drawing this? Just a thought.
Anyway, thanks for reading and/or reviewing!