Your reviews have been more than motivating and I thank you all for reading. As you all know, the last chapter left off with quite a cliffhanger and it was one that not even I could bear for long. So here is a new chapter. Let's see how everyone is affected by the king's death. Enjoy.

SIDENOTE: Shuffle was on in my iTunes while I was writing this chapter and the one before it and 'Epiphany' from the musical Sweeney Todd came on and it sooo sounded like something Riku would sing after the last chapter. You guys should listen to it, the 2005 revival cast recording is ok but the better version of the song is in the original cast recording. It inspired the name for the chapter.

Chapter 20

Epiphany

'If I'd been there…If I'd been there you'd…god damn it.'

Riku was a mess. The fire was out but the room was burnt to a black unrecognizable size of ash and he sat in the hall silently as he waited for the fire marshal and his crew to finish their search of the room to determine if it was stable and safe for the investigators to use. Minutes had ticked by like hours and even though the sun was up the world still seemed dark. From where he sat he could hear Roxas crying down the hall, and Axel was obviously there too trying to comfort him.

The rest of the crew had passed by from time to time usually one by one to give words of condolence but they fell on deaf ears, Riku literally miles away from the entire world. 'If I'd been there…' he couldn't help thinking of what would have happened. He could have saved him. He could have kept him from the fire. He could have protected the one thing he cared about above anything in this world.

The room was approved and the investigators began their search for answers. Riku couldn't go in after them, unable to face what he knew waited in there. For the first time in hours he actually heard what one person said though, "No sign of him. The fire was too much for anybody to endure." It was the fire marshal and he saw who he was talking to, a sharp dressed narrow looking weasel of a man, a notepad in hand and pencil scratching away like lightning.

"The king is no more," when the fire marshal said that Riku grabbed the collar of the reporter, whom looked as though he'd found gold, and yoked him up against the wall. It all happened too quickly for anyone to realize it, even Riku, but he mumbled, "You publish any of this and I'll find you." The threat was more than enough for him and the reported shoved the notepad into his hands before bolting away from the scene. After giving the fire marshal a blank look Riku took the box of matches from his pocket and returned to his spot by the door, ripping apart the notepad and shoving it into a vase on a table in the hall.

He struck one of the matches then lit the whole box before dropping it into the vase. The papers ignited immediately and Riku watched through the clear glass as the smoke came through the small opening and hovered above it. Eventually though there wasn't enough oxygen and the flame died out…Sora died the same way. Alone. Trapped. Without air.

"Has it been confirmed yet?" Riku recognized the annoying feminine voice but ignored it, still entranced by the smoke. Vexen was talking to the fire marshal, who merely nodded, not wanting to have to report that. Surprisingly and appalling Vexen laughed, gleeful about the news, "Foolish boy, at least now power can fall to a sensible ruler."

The fire marshal and investigators waiting around in front of the room all gasped when the head of the scientific branch on the island was punched right in the face. Vexen was equally stunned and he hit the floor for only a second, quickly grabbed by the front of his shirt and jerked upright, "He was your king, and even if he is gone you are to treat him with respect! A piece of scum like you doesn't even have the right to say his name!" Two investigators quickly tried to pry him off the horrified doctor but Riku didn't budge, mad as a hornet and wanting to strangle Vexen.

He was distracted when he heard Roxas' sobs again but closer this time, turning around and seeing him coming down the hall with Axel keeping close by his side. His eyes were red from crying so much and his cheeks were damp but he didn't bother to tidy himself up. Riku didn't want Roxas to hear this bastard insult his brother so he shoved Vexen away, "Get out of my sight," he hissed before standing up. Vexen was helped up by an investigator before he noticed why Riku had let him go, and he walked away.

Roxas walked right past the destroyed room, refusing to even steal a glance inside and instead stopping in front of Riku. They were both a mess and said nothing for several minutes, Roxas finally lunging out and holding onto him tightly, burying his face in his shoulder and crying. Riku held onto him securely and put a hand on the back of the blonde head to try and comfort him.

Axel just stood there, not sure what to do. Riku wouldn't even look at him after earlier this morning and he kept his eye on the ground behind Roxas, looking dazed and anything but himself. Axel had lost neither a brother nor a lover, but Riku was his brother and Roxas was his lover; seeing them like this made his heart ache just as much.

"Your highness." A servant came to him but Axel stopped him short and led the man away, not about to let anyone bother them.

Riku was the first to speak up, unable to watch Roxas cry any longer, "I'm so sorry." His voice was dry and lacking its usual tone, making Roxas feel worse, "…It wasn't your fault Riku." Riku didn't believe that and Roxas continued to insist, "He…he wouldn't blame you and neither do I. So don't…don't be sorry." It was easier said than done.

Roxas finally brought his face out of his shoulder and sniffled back his tears, glancing back to the doorway leading to Sora's room, "…Have you been in yet?" Riku didn't answer, unable to do so, and Roxas continued, "…I want to go but…" his voice trailed off. He wanted to go but at the same time he didn't, just like Riku, not wanting to face the reality. Riku was still for a minute before putting a hand on Roxas' shoulder and staring at him for a few minutes. They'd have to face it eventually, and it would be easier together. Roxas understood and without a word he headed slowly back to the doorway, Riku right beside him.

The smell of ash and smoke lingered in the air, red walls and lush carpets a morbid and rotting black color now, the windows cracked from where the fire troupe had broken them to air the room out. The weak skeletons of furniture around the fireplace looked just as broken as the two in the charred doorway. Only melted springs and the metal base of the bed remained the wooden support and legs broken and burnt, this was where he'd been last.

"So what's it like?"

"To have a heartbeat?"

"To die."

Riku's heart twisted tighter and he wanted to leave but Roxas stepped into the room weakly looking around like a lost child, "…Who would do this…Who would do this to him," he was crying again and he hugged his arms to his chest. He couldn't take it anymore and Roxas turned and ran out of the room, sobbing all the way down the hall.

"To die."

Riku swallowed the lump in his throat and stepped into the room, ignoring the few investigators completely. He could still see the room the way he'd left it despite its current ruin and he wandered over to the bed, staring down at the melted springs and insignificant remains of the bedding. Right here. He'd been right here. He nearly did the same as Roxas and ran but he caught himself when he saw a glimmer under the ash by his feet. Dusting it off Riku recognized the silver anklet and despite his sadness smiled.

"Are you leaving?"

"Just for a week. Someone on the next island over wants us to perform."

"You'll come back though, right?"

"Ofcourse! I'll always come back."

"…Prove it."

"What?"

"Give me something to promise you'll come back."

It was a simple silver anklet, one little mask charm still dangling from a link. After 7 years it was the same as always but it was the first time he'd seen it off Sora's ankle in those 7 years as well.

"What's that?"

"Special. I stole it from the ringmaster."

"You'll get in trouble!"

"It's been months and he hasn't even noticed. Just take care of it until I come back okay?"

"I will, I promise…Thank you."

He'd clipped it on and it stayed on even after he returned. He could still remember Sora insisting, "You're bound to leave again so I get to keep it until you come back to stay." He was such a little kid back then, but as silly as the anklets significance was he continued to wear it. After becoming a pirate Sora had even more reason to wear it, and Riku examined it closer, finding it odd to be off and not melted. A link was broken. He saw it and that meant it got caught on something but…if it got caught then that meant Sora had moved.

Holding on tight to the little chain Riku ran a hand through the mangy carpet, feeling a catch in the material. There. Right there was proof that Sora had moved; but where to? He must've been on the ground trying to get air and if his foot had been there then his head was toward the bed. Riku estimated his posture at the time and continued to play out the scene. He'd been crawling…then the chain got caught on the carpet and broke as he struggled away. But what was he trying to get to? The door was in the opposite direction and the windows were across the room.

A glimpse under the bed made sense out of everything and he quickly got up and pushed the bed out of the way. The investigators immediately spoke up against this, accusing him of disturbing the scene but Riku didn't care. There was the letter opener Sora had dropped on the floor yesterday after trying to open the pill bottle, but the more important sight was the removed vent cover and its screws. He'd gotten out. Continuing to ignore the investigators Riku disappeared through the vent. It was practically a straight fall but he climbed down quickly instead of dropping, not sure where Sora had landed and not wanting to land on him.

At the bottom of the vent system it was large and had many tunnels branching off to other areas of the palace, and there, visible barely by the light through vents above lie the king. Riku couldn't say anything, quickly checking his vitals to see if he'd sustained too much damage from the smoke and then the fall. He was breathing with difficulty and his fever was higher than before. He was unconscious but alive, and just to know that Riku felt like despite all the bad things he'd done someone was watching over him and had saved Sora. He held onto the soot covered king and kissed the top of his head, finally letting go of his tears and crying. He'd be okay. Sora was alive, and he'd be okay.

Word spread like lightning through the palace: the king was alive. He'd been rushed to the medical wing and was being treated there for smoke damage, possible fractures from the fall, a 103 degree fever, but surprisingly no burns. From what people could predict he'd gotten out quickly and avoided the fire completely, but they wouldn't know the full truth until Sora woke up. Riku was sitting right outside the doors to the room where Sora was being treated, tapping his foot nervously and counting the minutes.

"Riku!"

He looked up just in time to see Roxas rushing down the hall and as soon as he stood up the blonde nearly tackled him with a hug, "Is he-"

"He'll be fine, the damage is minimal," Riku assured him and Roxas smiled before letting go and going over to the doors, trying to steal a peek in through the little windows.

"You look like even more of a wreck now," Axel taunted Riku with a smile, but it was true. He was so relieved that when all the stress and heart break went away so did what was left of his composure, black rings under his eyes, clothes messy, speckled with soot and hair pulled back and un-kept, but at least there was a smile on his face now.

Riku nodded, not going to deny it, "Wouldn't you be?"

Axel laughed in his throat and nodded, glancing over at Roxas whom was still trying to catch a glimpse of his brother, "I think I would've just taken the easy way out and jumped off the roof," he admitted, not sure how he would've ever handled this sort of situation with Roxas, "I wanted to ask you though: how did you know the next target was the palace?"

Riku knew that question would arise sooner or later and now was probably the best time to explain since Axel was probably the only one who would understand, "Because the pattern of the killings were ordered in a way I'd seen before." Axel was confused at first so Riku elaborated, "It was the same design that was cut into my wrist and killed me."

Axel knew what he was talking about but none of them had seen Riku's second death, the old vampire and Riku made sure of that, "Are you sure?"

Rather than answer Riku just showed Axel his wrist. Looking closely enough underneath the curse Xemnas had branded him with Axel saw the very faint remains of a scar, "I was there Axel. I'm positive."

"So what does it mean?" Axel asked, believing his logic entirely and genuinely curious.

"Have you ever played color by numbers? Making a picture piece by piece?" Riku asked, explaining the irrelevance, "The person responsible for the fires is playing kill by numbers, and in doing so told us exactly what they are."

A vampire.

"But why would they kill in a pattern that would give away such a clue?" Axel asked, his curiosity growing now.

"Because they want us to find out," Riku was sure of that, "To let us know what we're up against. And since the mark they left behind is exactly like the one he left on me, it's only right to assume they came from the same vampire."

This left a sour note with Axel, a little suspicious, "You think you know them?"

"I don't know who else was involved with him. I was only with him for a few hours…alive at least," Riku reminded him, sounding a bit bitter by his suggestion.

"Right…But they must know you since they knew you'd recognize the pattern," Axel pointed out. It wasn't a good situation and they both swept the matter under the rug when Roxas came back, "What are you guys talking about?"

"Breakfast." "Music."

Their overlapping excuses made it not only clear that they were lying, but also that the stress had made them a bit out of sync. Roxas just laughed though, too relieved to nag and he sat them both down to wait. Minutes turned to hours and finally a doctor came out of the room, the look on his face letting them know everything was fine, "He's fine," he confirmed with a smile, "His throat and lungs are a bit scratchy from the smoke but that will pass in a week or so and there's a fracture in his left wrist, likely from the impact of the fall. The medication he's getting should take care of the pain and the fever as well. However, his stress level is through the roof and it's quite obvious, so I'm prescribing relaxation and lots of rest. No stressful activities."

"Can we see him?" Roxas spoke up quickly, just wanting to see for himself that Sora was alive.

"Ofcourse. He's been conscious for almost half an hour now but try not to be too loud," without another word the three thanked him in various ways before hurrying in to see him. The doctor laughed a little before wandering down the hall to his office, shutting the door behind himself and looking around the room to make sure nobody was present. A quick number on the phone and he grinned while saying, "It's been confirmed," and he joined in laughing with the man on the other end of the phone.

"Sora!" Roxas completely ignored the instruction not to be loud, forgetting it as soon as he saw his brother sitting up in bed, supported by a tower of pillows. Sora had been distracted staring off into space until he heard the squeal, looking over just in time to have Roxas throw his arms around him and hold tight, "You're okay…You're okay!" he repeated, a knot tightening in his throat.

Sora returned the embrace but he hadn't recovered enough to give it his usual strength, "Ofcourse I am. You think some stupid fire could kill me?" he said with a bit of a smile. He said it to make Roxas feel better but they all knew that a stupid fire could've killed him.

"Well if that couldn't then rotting unconscious in the base of a ventilation system could've," Axel pointed out but Riku elbowed him for the remark.

"Yes I suppose that would've been enough to do me in…thing is though I hadn't planned on being unconscious," Sora said, a bit embarrassed to admit it.

Roxas help on tight to him, afraid that if he let go he'd lose Sora again. He was the only family he had left and didn't know what he'd do if he lost him, "Just don't let it happen again…"

There was a lengthy silence and Axel nudged Riku dramatically so Sora would notice, "Psst! Say something," Axel whispered loudly, pointing out that he'd yet to say anything and Sora laughed a bit. Riku had been smiling though, content just to see Sora was alive and well, "Welcome back."

Roxas smiled and let go of his brother after one more squeeze, looking from him to Riku then to Axel before taking his hand and tugging him to the door. Axel nodded and waved to Sora, "Glad to see you're okay Sora. Check in again later." Just as they were leaving though Roxas poked his head back in and said, "Remember you two: no stressful activities!" and with a laugh he shut the door.

Axel was surprised and gave him a look that showed it, "That sounded like something I would say."

"That sounded like something Axel would say," Sora said, laughing at the look on Riku's face that read 'kill him later' and Sora quickly said, "Don't kill Roxas."

Riku was caught and he smile a bit, "No more death around here for a long time," he said while pulling a chair over beside the bed and sitting down next to Sora, "How are you feeling?"

"Chest hurts a bit and I can't move my wrist, but overall I feel fine," Sora assured him with a smile, "What about you?"

It was clear Riku was in worse condition, looking quite stressed and sleep deprived but he smiled anyway, "Been better." That was when Sora saw the chain around Riku's wrist and immediately recognized it, pushing the sheets down and pulling his foot to his lap only to see the anklet was gone.

"I can't believe you," Riku taunted with a false tone of distaste, "I gave you this to promise I'd come back and yet you're the one who almost left me." Sora rubbed his ankle, the area feeling horribly naked without the silver that had been there for 7 years. Riku had fixed the broken link while they waited to see him and it hung loosely on his wrist ever since, "Don't scare me like that again," he said before taking it off and clipping it back around Sora's ankle.

The king smiled and played with the little chain momentarily before taking Riku's hand, "I won't…And I'm sorry I made you worry."

"Worry? It was more like utter panic, followed by depression and angst," Riku corrected and Sora laughed a bit even if he felt bad about it, "…I'm just sorry I wasn't there to help you."

"What good would you have been in a fire?" Sora teased, "Last time I checked vampires don't do well in fire. We were both safer with you away from it." Riku knew he was right but that didn't change the fact he regretted not being able to help. While his vampire blood made freezing temperatures bearable, an uncontrolled fire made him immediately need a clean and constant supply of blood otherwise he became possessed and crazy until his blood stopped boiling or until a source was found.

"Yeah…but still it was difficult to know you were up there and I couldn't help," Riku said under his breath, glancing down in shame. Sora understood and leaned his head against his, "I'm fine though thanks to you."

Riku looked at him for a few seconds before smiling, "And I'm a mess thanks to you." Sora laughed and Riku wrapped his arms around his stomach, resting his head comfortably on the hospital gown covered torso, "But I'm glad you're okay…" Glad was an understatement though and Sora knew it just as well as Riku. Those hours Riku thought he was dead were the longest and most agonizing he'd ever experienced and he meant it when he said, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"Hey Axel?" Roxas asked tentatively as they sat together in the courtyard. There were palace walls on all sides of them and the square area in the middle of the palace was a large and well kept garden open to the court and royalty only. Days like these when the whole world seemed to be in a different place were always Roxas' favorite times to come out here and watch the many fountains and flowers.

Axel was watching the clouds rather than the scenery around them, but he came back to his surroundings when he heard him. He was sitting on the grass leaning back against the bench Roxas was lying on, the blonde idly playing with his hair, "What's up?"

Roxas seemed to be thinking about his question long and hard and that only made Axel want to know more, "…Do you think…That we'll be like them?"

"Definitely not," Axel didn't even hesitate and Roxas seemed surprised by the answer and also a bit disappointed, "Don't get me wrong they're wonderful together but there's no way we'll ever be like them.

Roxas almost looked hurt and his hand stopped playing with the red hair, immediately alerting Axel to his disappointment, "That doesn't mean we wont be happy though Roxas, I love you! I'm just saying we'll have love our own way." Roxas looked a bit confused and didn't say anything so Axel turned around to face him as he explained, taking Roxas' hand in both of his, "We're completely different people right? I mean you and your brother are, from what I can tell, close but quite opposite. He likes things to the point, definite and finite decisions, and his reputation means the world to him, a lot more than this island means to him obviously."

Axel was spot on and Roxas nodded to confirm it, somewhat surprised at how well Axel knew his brother as a person behind the royal mask and saying, "Riku's pretty much the same, only he's a lot looser with matters that aren't serious. Not to mention he's got more freedom. You know Sora's jealous of that right?"

"No kidding. I think if he could Riku would give up that freedom to stay with him, though he'd sooner stage a 'kidnapping of the king' but then ofcourse that would throw this island into jeopardy with no rightful name to the throne," Axel pointed out, "See, we don't have those complications."

"But they're still happy and in love," Roxas pointed out.

"And so are we," Axel reminded him, then grinned a bit, "You know how else we're different from them?" The look on Axel's face made Roxas know he'd regret hearing this and he said, "…We have x's in our names?"

"Sora's a major closet kink," Axel said and the way Roxas' face flushed made him laugh gleefully, "Sorry."

"…Do you know how disturbing that is? He's my brother Axel!" Roxas groaned, hiding his face in his hands, "Urg…horrible mental images."

"It's even worse walking in on it. I mean that was 6 years ago when I caught them in the Big Top but still racks my brain," Axel said, watching Roxas shudder and grinning a little.

"Axel, shut up." Roxas was mortified and he rolled over to get away from him, only to fall off the bench and hit the ground.

Axel laughed and crawled around to the other side of the bench, lying down and wrapping an arm around his shoulder, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Their sex life is a mystery to me." However that didn't make Roxas feel any better and he grumbled an annoyed statement under his breath.

Achoo! Sora sneezed into the handkerchief, coughing from the abrupt movement in his sore lungs. "Bless you," Riku mumbled tiredly, still comfortable against Sora's stomach.

"Ack, someone is talking about me," Sora said, sniffling a bit and lying back.

"You and your superstitions," Riku teased with a grin.

"You're the one that taught most of them to me," Sora reminded firmly, "Before you my mind was semi-pure."

Riku grinned and nuzzled his face into the ticklish stomach making Sora laugh, "You're welcome."

Sora shook his head and brushed some stray hairs out of his face before addressing an important matter he couldn't discuss with the others yet, "Riku…I saw who did it." He didn't need to explain and Riku opened his eye, looking up at his bothered expression and tightening his grip around Sora. "…I didn't get a good look with all the smoke but they were on the windowsill outside the room. It was a blonde…really pale and wearing lots of black."

Riku thought back to that grim morning, knowing for a fact there hadn't been anyone there by the time he and Axel returned meaning they moved quickly, "It was a vampire." He sat up and searched the many pockets of his jacket, finally finding and pulling out the map he and Axel had drawn on. Sora recognized the mark drawn connecting the locations and he looked to Riku for an explanation as he leaned against his shoulder. "They're from the same one as me," Riku told him grimly, "Meaning they're very dangerous."

"…And if they start fires…" Sora trailed off nervously.

"That means they're feeding off the fire, and probably the people they trap within them," Riku said, sounding disgusted by the whole thing, "You've seen some of the people we've pulled out of the remains, whether dead or alive they're all so badly burned it would make finding bite marks impossible."

A thought crossed Sora's mind and he panicked, "…Riku I was asleep before the fire. Do you think they-"

"You've been bitten by me before, which protects you from any others," Riku assured him. There were several unwritten laws and indescribable behaviors their race had to follow and Riku was still getting used to them all.

Sora felt better but that reminded him, "You haven't had a drink in a while," he said, pushing up his sleeve. The bite mark on his shoulder had nearly faded and that meant it had been over a week. Riku pushed the sleeve back down though and shook his head, "You're still recovering and I can't risk getting a fever from you, especially now, so I'll just wait. Besides I've gone a lot longer without blood," he told him, recalling how Xemnas had put a strict order against him feeding from anyone other than him, resulting in over a month without any, "Don't worry, there's always Axel and the others if I really need any."

Sora worried though, he didn't want him to take risks with his health even if they were minimal ones in his opinion; but he didn't want to make him sick with his own blood either, "Okay…So back to the problem vampire. How are we going to catch him?"

"Extremely carefully," Riku said, pointing to a section of the map, "This is where tonight's attack will be. I'm sure of it, and it will possibly be the final one before real trouble arises. This spot when connected to the others completes the marking and unless they plan to redo it completely they'll switch to another extreme to make themselves more obvious."

"Why do they want to be found out though? It doesn't make any-" he silenced immediately when the door to the room opened and Riku quickly stuck the map back into his jacket and stood up, "As you can see your highness we're right on the trail of the arsonist and should produce results within twenty-four hours."

They were both used to being interrupted and had learned quickly to react and recompose, forming the façade people expected which this time was between the captain of the privateers and the king. "I see. Thank you captain Mercutio, please keep me informed," whether as a king or as a person Sora maintained his royal mannerisms, though they became much more firm and bold when he became the king.

"Ofcourse your highness," Riku said, also good at putting on a mask of refinement that should come with his new title even if his attire was that of a pirate's currently. Finally he saw who'd come in and he was anything but happy when it was Vexen, and Vexen wasn't happy to see him either after this morning. Sora nearly lost his cover when he saw the dark purple bruising on Vexen's face and the smirk tugging at the corner of Riku's mouth made it clear what had happened.

"Excuse my interruption, but I'm going to have to commandeer this room. There's an epidemic plaguing the western population and several of the victims are on their way here since the hospital in that distract are unable to treat them," Vexen said though obviously not bothered by it.

"You have plenty of other options in this wing to house them in," Riku pointed out, "There's no reason or right to force your king to move."

"He's your king too boy, and he can speak for himself," Vexen hissed, cutting his eyes over at the pirate.

Tensions were rising and Sora didn't want Riku to get into a fight that would result in dirtying his name and the names of the pirates trying to start fresh, "Vexen he's right. There are other rooms."

"I know, but I want this one," when Vexen said that Sora was more than willing to just let Riku hit him and Riku was about to until Vexen added, "Your condition isn't serious your highness, it's selfish to want to keep this room all to yourself when there are people suffering. Your people."

Sora was hurt but his gaze didn't falter, "I never put myself before my people." The way he said it was so firm it made the other two straighten up noticeable and without another word he got out of bed, "Captain Mercutio. Escort me to a room upstairs."

"Yes sir," Riku said, stepping aside and watching Sora pass before giving Vexen a sharp glare. How dare he insult Sora so harshly, when everyone knew how he prioritized the lives of his kingdom. For Sora's sake and for the sake of his crew's reputation though Riku held his tongue and followed the king out of the room.

Zexion was sitting in the library, looking through the three story wonder filled with books he'd never read before. He'd spent hours just wandering, looking over the titles on each shelf trying to decide just which one to pick up first. He found it on the second story in a shelf by the door. 'Sex for Dummies.' With a mousy grin on his face Zexion looked around carefully before quietly pulling out the yellow and black book. He refused to start at page one of any book, usually just flipping to a random page to read and decide if it was good then starting at the beginning.

Almost as soon as his eyes hit the page he heard the high pitch voice he'd been dreading, "Hiya Zexion!" The necromancer's face flushed and he dropped the book by accident out of shock. "Whoops, dropped your book!" Demyx said as he went around him and picked it up, "I figured you'd be more careful with books."

Demyx didn't hand the book back, nor did he look at the title, instead he just held it to his chest with a smile with the title blaring at Zexion, "I usually am…you…you just surprised me," he said, trying to sound natural.

"Aw, I'm sorry," Demyx apologized quickly, "I was just wonder if you'd seen Xigbar."

Blondes. Thank god for their oblivious nature, "No, I'm afraid I haven't seen him since last night's shift. He was pretty tired after that though and went straight to bed."

Demyx giggled and shook his head quickly, "He wasn't as tired as you think."

Between 'Sex for Dummies' and Demyx's giggles about his activities last night Zexion was mortified. Was this his punishment for not brushing his teeth this morning? Honestly, something a little less embarrassing was in order. As if things couldn't get worse Demyx handed the book back to him and finally glimpsed at the title, "'Sex for Dummies'? Good read, tell me how you like it." And with that Demyx walked off as if nothing had happened, leaving Zexion even more embarrassed.

Come now, do you honestly think I could've killed Sora like that? Talk about cruel. So the king made it out, but the arsonist is still at large and a big threat and Zexion is reading 'Sex for Dummies' which is apparently one of Demyx's favorite books. I threw that last part of the chapter in just to lighten the mood, plus I can see that happening so easily. Poor Zexion. Anyways, thank you guys for reading and please review. Hearing what you thought is so helpful I can't even begin to describe it! I promise to try and have a new chapter up by this time next week but since I'm not sure what my schedule will be like there are no guarantees…then again there never are, are there? I wish you all the best in all the world though!

Your loving bohemian, Mad-TopHat-Ter