Chapter Twenty-One

The blonde vampire shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, running a hand back through his freshly gelled hair. He didn't really like what he'd been told over the phone earlier when Axel called-the reason he was now standing here in the elevator, waiting to reach the penthouse. The redheaded hunter had said something was wrong with Sora and that Demyx needed to get there as soon as possible. Worried about his fledgling, Demyx had complied at once.

It seemed like forever before the doors finally opened, and there was Axel, waiting for him in the hallway. The double security gates had already been pushed aside, so all Demyx had to do was step from the elevator car, pulling his hands from his pockets.

"What is it? What's wrong with Sora?" he asked at once, teal eyes reflecting his concern and unease as he shifted his weight back and forth again.

In response, the redhead fisted his hands in the front of Demyx's jacket, pulled him close, and kissed him hard.

With a strangled yelp of surprise, Demyx put his hands on Axel's shoulders, managing to push him back. "What are you doing?" he demanded, "What about Sora?"

"There's nothing wrong with Sora," the redhead confessed, "I just wanted you to be here."

Demyx eyed him warily, raising a brow. "You did?" he asked.

Wordlessly Axel nodded, pressing closer until the blonde was backed against the wall. Leaning in again he kissed Demyx a second time, and this time the vampire the action. Though still wary, if Sora was alright then he wouldn't be quite as worried.

"Riku's out. He won't be back for hours yet," the redhead murmured when he drew away for air.

The innuendo in that was hard to miss, especially for someone like Demyx-but he shook his head slowly. "Axel…" he said, but the protest was weak.

He didn't understand why the hunter wanted to be with him, why this would be the second time if he allowed it to happen. They shouldn't be like this-a hunter and a vampire, each belonging to someone else. It didn't make any sense, especially since they'd started out-still were?-enemies.

"Axel…" he said again as the redhead kissed his neck, but his protest was as weak as his resolve.

Warm hands roamed across his body. Skating over shoulder blades and gliding down his spine. Running along his stomach, down to his hips. Soft lips persisted against his neck, swiftly breaking down what little resistance he possessed and before he knew it his arms were around Axel's shoulders, fingers tangling in spiky red locks to pull him closer.

His resolve had broken before he'd even been aware it was that endangered and no thought-not of Riku or Xigbar-could make him back out of this situation.

He might not understand why Axel wanted to be with him, but it didn't make things any less sensual. It was good, Demyx couldn't deny that, and for a little while he felt safe.

He knew he shouldn't linger after the fact, but lying there next to Axel, sweat cooling on his skin, he couldn't help it.

"Why are you with him?" the redhead asked, fingers absently tracing patterns across Demyx's stomach.

"Hmm?" teal eyes blinked in mild confusion, and he looked over.

"Him," Axel emphasized, lying on his side, head propped up on one hand.

Demyx shrugged a little, understanding now. "I love him," he said simply.

"Doesn't seem like he's healthy for you," the redhead said quietly.

The vampire shrugged again. "Love isn't always healthy," he pointed out.

Axel was quiet, fingers running over the blonde's ribs, perhaps remembering the injuries that had been there before.

"We met a long time ago," Demyx added, gazing up at the ceiling as he thought back, "And I was his from the very first moment."

Axel tilted his head a bit, seemingly waiting for the other to continue.

"I used to be in-" the blonde broke off mid-sentence, abruptly sitting up and looking to the door.

Vampire hearing allowed him to be aware of the footsteps approaching from the hall and his flushed skin paled-even more so than usual.

The redhead flinched when the door opened, and whatever his silver haired boyfriend had been about to say died on his lips. For a moment their expressions mirrored each other's and it was almost comical. Almost. Right up to the point where Riku's expression changed from shock to hurt to anger. Axel sat up, starting to say something that sounded like apologies, and Demyx took the moment to slip off to the side, sliding from the bed and reaching for his clothes. If he had to defend himself he wanted to be at least somewhat dressed.

"What, I'm not good enough for you anymore?"

"No! No, it's not that, I just-"

"You just what? Come on; I'm dying to hear how you'll try to explain this."

The redhead was floundering for words though, sheets wrapped hastily around his hips as he backed away from the advancing hunter turned vampire. "Just-just give me a minute!"

Behind them, Demyx snorted in amusement. This was perfect, the best way to turn them against each other-he couldn't have done this better if he'd tried. Unfortunately though this sound drew attention to him and he backed up a step when Riku turned on him, cyan eyes dark and dangerous.

"And you," he growled accusingly, "For a while I actually thought you were more than just a whore."

Shirt dangling from hand and a boot from the other, the blonde backed up more until he hit the wall-there was no where else to go and Riku was still coming towards him. Think, think, he had to think-how to turn them on each other again before the silverette ripped his throat out.

Teal eyes flickered in Axel's direction where the redhead was scrambling to pull on his pants, then back to Riku, and suddenly the solution came to him.

"You know Axel, it's been fun, but your boyfriend's better in bed."

For a few long seconds pure silence followed his words and both hunters froze. Slowly, slowly, Axel looked up, fingers hovering over the top button on his jeans that he'd been in the process of fastening. The silverette stared at Demyx for a moment, a breathless look of betrayal crossing his expression while the redhead looked like he'd been punched in the stomach.

The next moment Riku snarled, a murderous glint in his eyes. Demyx had a second to fear that his idea had backfired horribly on him, eyes wide, and then Axel spoke up.

"Who's not good enough?" his voice was quiet, hurt, "You fucking hypocrite."

"Look who's talking," the silverette said, rounding on him now, every motion fluid and dangerous, like a big cat, a pure predator.

Demyx grinned wickedly, breathing a sigh of relief-just in time. Stooping to grab his other boot, the blonde edged along the wall until he could slip out the door. Hastily finishing getting dressed, he darted down the hall to the supply room-if he'd caused this much trouble he sure as all hell wasn't going to leave Sora here.

The blonde girl paced back and forth uneasily, wishing she was any where but here, and that she had Roxas. But Roxas was gone and there was no way to bring him back-Demyx had made sure of that.

Sighing and twisting her hands together, Naminé turned to pace back in the opposite direction. A soft scratching sound and mew interrupted her though, and she turned towards the window. Outside perched on the sill was a small black kitten, wide blue eyes gazing at her intently. Now that it had her attention, the kitten mewled again, pawing at the window pane.

"Oh, kitty, you don't want to be in here," Naminé said softly, moving over to the window.

The kitten's ears drooped and it batted at the glass imploringly.

"Oh, alright," the blonde relented, a small smile tugging at her lips though her eyes remained forlorn.

Reaching up, she undid the latch on the window, pulling it open. With a swish of its tail the kitten leaped inside, rubbing against her ankles gratefully. The feline padded over to the middle of the room and then it did something quite shocking. It swiftly transformed into a teenage girl, about sixteen or seventeen, and Naminé squeaked in surprise, backing up until she bumped into one of the plush arm chairs in the room, falling back into it.

"Don't be afraid!" the girl said quickly, shaking ebony bangs back from her face, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"What-who-who are you?" Naminé stammered.

"My name's Xion. I'm, uhm," the girl floundered for words for a moment, shyness stealing her composure, "I'm a black cat."

That was it.

A black cat.

Nothing as classy or dangerous as a werecat, just a little black kitten often found as familiars to witches, as the old myths went.

"O-okay," the blonde said, nodding a bit, "After dealing with vampires, I guess…that's not so hard to believe."

Xion perked up a bit, but only for a moment.

"I'm sorry about what happened to Roxas," she apologized, looking down to the floor, "I can't help but feel it's partially my fault. He had me following Roxas, but I refused to help in any of his twisted ideas."

Naminé just stared at her for a long moment, comprehending what she was being told, and then shook her head slowly. No, whatever this girl did, she wasn't at fault. Xigbar and Demyx were the ones to blame.

"I didn't have a choice though," the cat girl continued anxiously, "He threatened to kill me and I-"

"It's alright," Naminé interrupted gently, "It's not your fault."

Xion looked up again finally, considering this for a moment as she bit her lip. Then she nodded, though she didn't really seem to believe it just yet. "Come on," she said, moving closer and holding out a hand, "I'm going to get you out of here."

The blonde blinked at her, surprised yet again. "You are?"

Xion nodded, still holding out her hand, "I know some place safe, some place he won't find you."

She seemed sincere enough, and Naminé didn't get any bad feelings about her, so after a few moments she stood from the chair, taking the girl's hand. "Let's go."