Unseen Emotions Ch 25: Yearning, a kingdom hearts fanfic

Unseen Emotions

Disclaimer: I don't own the Kingdom Hearts characters, but I do own all locations, the storyline, and the original characters.

For Warnings, Spoilers, and Plot see earlier chapters! Thanks!

Pairings: Axel:x:Riku, (slight) Riku:x:Sora, Roxas:x:Sora (not related), and Zack:x:Cloud

A.N. Axel and Riku are engaged! The after-party at Waev City is sure to rock, but with relationship drama at every turn, will the party be a huge hit or a major disaster?

Chapter Twenty-Five: Yearning

Five Alarm Curry took over after Marluxia's grand exit off of the Sun Stage, the Lava Stage glowing brightly with fiery red lights over the punk-rock band, their singer's voice echoing out over the amphitheater. They were good, but not nearly good enough to distract Riku from Axel. The two boys had been lip-locked since Axel's on-stage proposal, intertwined off the side of the Sun Stage while the concert continued on without them. Naminé had peeked around the corner at one point to say congratulations but had quickly left them alone, giggling and shooing away their other friends and telling them to leave the happy couple to themselves for a while. This was something big, something life-changing. And they would share it with their friends when they were ready to, but for right now all they needed were each other.

Riku was trembling slightly, Axel holding him close as he kissed the younger boy again, the pale blonde sighing against his lips. "I can't believe we're engaged…" he said softly, Axel grinning and chuckling at the younger boy's words.

"Yeah, I barely can either, and I'm the one who's been planning it for weeks now…"

Riku sighed, a smile across his lips as he replied, "For weeks, huh?"

The older boy chuckled again, "I'm surprised you never caught on before. I'm horrible at keeping secrets."

"Well that's good to know," Riku replied, laughing softly, "I'll never have to worry about you hiding things from me then!"

Axel leaned in and kissed the younger boy again, then turned when the crowd started cheering at Five Alarm Curry's finale. He took Riku's hand, and then asked happily, "You ready to rejoin the crowd? It might take a while before we find the others; everyone's shifted towards the ocean. After the Lava Stage it'll be the Lunar Stage, and the waves look like they're picking up. We might end up getting our feet wet…"

Riku nodded, "Yeah, let's go find everyone. Besides, this is your big night! I'm sure they want to congratulate you."

"I'm sure they'll want to congratulate you too…" Axel chuckled, "It's not every day you get engaged you know…"

Riku squeezed Axel's hand tightly, feeling the pressure of the band wrapped around his ring finger, an unmistakable smile across his face. No, it most certainly is not…

-x-x-x-

Five Alarm Curry left the stage, allowing the mystery band to take its place on the fiery lit platform. Axel and Riku made their way along the edge of the crowd, the older boy making a path for the younger; the crowd too distracted with the happenings before them to realize who was pushing past them. Lucky for Axel, he didn't exactly need to be swarmed by screaming fans while Riku was with him. They wove back and forth through groups of friends and excited onlookers, but as the mystery band took the stage and people threw their hands in the air Axel lost all sense of direction, pausing for a moment and pulling Riku close. "We're going to stay here for a minute, alright?"

Riku nodded, pressed against Axel's side, listening to the words of the singer of the unknown band while they waited for the crowd to settle. She had a strange accent, one that Riku didn't recognize. "Hello everyone! Thanks so much for inviting us to be here tonight! This country is lovely, really. We truly appreciate your hospitality!"

Axel looked up, blinking in surprise. "No way, they got her to come to Waev City? She has never toured outside of her home country before…"

"Who is it?" Riku asked, Axel clasping his hand and laughing.

"You don't know? Maybe she's not that popular yet with the general public, but she's all the rage in the internal music network. I've heard about her a lot traveling back and forth from Jepsin. Her name is Vivian, or Vivi as her fans call her. She just released her debut album last week. I don't think anyone expected her to be here."

Several people were shouting out declarations of love for the foreign singer, the girl laughing softly into her microphone before she began to sing,

"There's a fire starting in my heart,
Reaching a fever pitch, it's bringing me out the dark…
Finally I can see you crystal clear,
Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your shit bare!
See how I leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark…

"The scars of your love remind me of us,
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all…
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling…
We could have had it all, rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it, to the beat…"

Riku leaned in and said to Axel, "Wow, she's really good!"

The older boy smiled down at his fiancée then returned to surveying the crowd. The others had to be around here somewhere, he was sure that at least someone out of their group of friends had heard of Vivi before. Suddenly he spotted his brother and Yuffie cheering at the front of the crowd, shaking his head in amusement and starting towards them, Riku following closely behind.

"Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one on you,
And I'm gonna make your head burn…
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there
As mine sure won't be shared…

Axel reached out and clasped Reno's shoulder, the older boy turning to look back at him with a wide grin. "Hey! There you are! We were wondering when you'd decide to show up again!"

Yuffie turned as well, clapping excitedly and reaching over for Riku, pulling the boy with her as she moved towards the crowd to Naminé and the others. "Come on! Your sister has been dying to see you since Axel proposed!"

Riku laughed, allowing the girl to pull him along and leave the two brothers behind. Axel smiled, watching them go, his brother sighing softly and patting his back. "You did good, little bro. He's a keeper."

"I'm glad you approve after the fact!" Axel laughed, shoving his brother's arm playfully, Reno laughing in turn and shaking his head.

"I've always approved! I just didn't want to say anything that might make you do something before you were truly ready."

Axel nodded. They had both made mistakes in the past with rushing head-first into relationships. And they had both been hurt because of it. But things finally seemed to be falling into place the way that they should. Naturally, fluidly, perfectly… Axel cupped Reno's shoulder one more time and then headed in the direction Yuffie had dragged Riku, his older brother following him with a smile in his eyes. He was glad to see that his little brother was finally happy.

"Throw your soul through every open door…
Count your blessings to find what you look for…
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold…
You'll pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow…
We could have had it all, we could have had it all…
It all, it all, it all…

"We could have had it all, rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it, to the beat…
We could have had it all, rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
But you played it, you played it,
You played it, you played it to the beat…" (1)

Naminé squealed happily when seeing her brother, reaching up to wrap her arms around her neck, Riku laughing softly and hugging her in turn. "Ri-kun! I am so happy for you!"

The blind boy smiled, saying teasingly, "How dare you keep secrets from me! You've know about this all along, haven't you?"

Naminé laughed, Yuffie giggling as well. "We've all known! Axel made us promise not to ruin the surprise!"

"Except Zexion almost said something! Stupid boys and their big mouths!" Yuffie said, placing a hand on her hip and shaking her head.

Naminé hugged Riku again then looked over his shoulder, greeting Axel with a smile. "There you are! My newest big brother!"

The older boy grinned impishly, stepping forward and hugging the petite blonde. "Hey Nami, thanks for helping me plan all of this…"

"Of course! I wouldn't have anything less for my sweet older brother…"

"Does that mean you'll be helping me with my engagement too?" Cloud asked, peeking his head through the crowd and stepping up to his little sister's side, patting Axel's back. "That was very nice, Axel. Very nice."

The red-head nodded to the older blonde, "Well, I do try..."

Riku laughed, reaching towards the sound of his brother's voice. "Don't pick on Axel! I thought it was very romantic."

"Sickeningly so," Cloud said with a sigh, "I don't know how I'm ever going to be able to top that."

Naminé giggled, then said, "Isn't that something for Zack to worry about?"

Cloud smiled softly, then said, "I think that I'm going to have to be the one to ask him, when the time comes. I think he might be a little gun-shy because of what happened before."

Naminé nodded, pressing a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Well in that case, I'll start coming up with ideas for you immediately! Maybe at the park! Or we could always try to…"

"Don't get too excited!" Cloud laughed, "I'm nowhere near asking him yet! We're not even living together…"

"Only because he hasn't worked up the courage to ask you…" Naminé said with a grin, Cloud scowling at her.

Axel laughed, reaching over and taking his fiancée's hand, pulling Riku to his side. "Well, whatever happens between you and Zack, I hope you find happiness."

-x-x-x-

After Vivi was through with a few more songs, the lights dimmed on the Lava Stage and he crowd moved to the Lunar stage. The lighting was a silvery-grey, the backdrop pitch black with shimmering silver stars. The moon shining down from above did the rest, the ocean reflecting its pale tranquil light. Spectrum took the stage first, their eerie, haunting, beautiful sound washing over the crowd at the ocean's waves lapped at their feet. Many people had taken off their shoes and were kicking at the water, splashing one another and laughing merrily. Axel and Riku were among them. While Spectrum played, the red-headed boy pulled Riku into the surf, Riku laughing and following after him, the sand cool beneath his feet. The ocean spray dampened their hair and skin, Riku reaching up and ghosting his fingertips across the bandages covering his eyes. He tugged Axel's arm, the older boy looking back at him. "Can you help me take this off?"

Axel hesitated, his brow arched with worry. "Are you sure?"

Riku nodded fervently, "I'll be alright. I promise to say something if my head starts to hurt."

Axel smiled, then reached up and began to unwrap the cloth from around Riku's eyes, careful to take his time to avoid accidentally hurting his fiancée. Riku waited until Axel was finished, then slowly blinked open his eyes, dark shades of blue entering his vision as his eyes slowly processed the waves of the ocean. He blinked again, opening his eyes a bit wider, staring out towards the horizon and focusing on the stars gathered there then upwards, to the moon. Riku smiled and laughing softly, amazed at the details he could pick out as his eyes danced across various shadowed craters, his irises glistening in the starlight. Axel watched him with a soft smile, folding up the bandages and sliding them into his back pocket, the younger boy reaching over and taking his hand once he'd done so. Riku looked up at him, his once ghost-blue eyes shining a bright blue-green, the scar across his eyes barely visible in the dim light. "Wow Riku, your irises are regaining their color. You look great!"

Riku smiled, nodding and saying, "That's what Naminé said! I've still been too afraid to look in a mirror though. I'm afraid of what I'll see…"

"Baby, you're gorgeous." Axel said with a chuckle, reaching up and tilting Riku's chin before connecting their lips. "I wouldn't have you any other way."

The younger boy blushed lightly, smiling up at his fiancée, then lifted up his hand and examined his ring. It was silver, or white gold. Riku wasn't sure. But it was dainty and beautiful, soft blue stones highlighting the bright metal. "Oh Ax, it's so pretty…"

Axel grinned, "I'm glad you like it."

Riku gasped, suddenly realizing something, "My bracelet! It's the same colors as my shell bracelet, the one you bought for me…"

The red-head nodded, his green eyes soft. "Blue is your favorite color, isn't it?"

Riku smiled, lifting himself up on his toes and pressing his lips to Axel's. "You're so amazing. I love you."

"I love you too, Riku."

At that moment the crowd began to go crazy, Spectrum stepping back and allowing One Winged Angel to take the stage, Axel and Riku turning to watch the musicians take their places on the platform. Sephiroth was walking across the Lunar stage a few moments later, holding a microphone in his hand, holding up his other hand to silence the roaring crowd. "Thank you all for coming out to Waev City this evening. I hope you all have enjoyed the bands you've heard here tonight. I know I have." Several cheers went up from the crowd before Sephiroth silenced them again. "I'm sure by now that many of you have heard a rumor regarding One Winged Angel's latest album release. And I am here tonight to tell you that those rumors are true. Our most recent album was meant to be our last. We are retiring. Tonight will be our last performance together as One Winged Angel." Cries of disbelief and dismay erupted from the crowd, Axel and Riku exchanging a glance before hurrying towards their group of friends near the front of the stage, everyone else just as shocked as they were. Yuffie had her hand over her mouth, shaking her head and talking with Kairi and Selphie. The older boys were silent, Zack staring up at Sephiroth with confusion in his eyes, Cloud at his side looking up at him with worry.

"Did you know about this?" Cloud asked, Zack shaking his head in mild shock.

"I had no idea…"

"I had heard something," Kairi said, looking over at Tasogare and Kurei, who were standing together nearby, "But I thought it was just a rumor. You know how many rumors have been going around lately…"

"Then, do you really think it was all Sephiroth's idea?" Kurei asked, "That's the rumor, isn't it? That Seph's lost his ability to create music? So he's leaving the band…"

"And without their singer," Kairi said softly, "One Winged Angel just wouldn't be the same…"

Sephiroth lifted his hand again, the crowd settling back down. "All of you have shared many memories with us. Some good, some bad. But in a way we are all connected. We have enjoyed our time with you, and our time together, but sometimes things are meant to be, and sometimes things are meant to come to an end. In the wake of our departure, our manager has insisted that we promote a new band. So tonight, we are here to offer up our sincerest appreciation to our fans, and our loved ones. And after much thought and consideration, we have made a decision on what band we will sponsor to rise to fame and fortune in our place."

The singers from Heartless and Spectrum walked onto the stage, taking their places beside Sephiroth. The first singer spoke, his voice soft and warm, "We have decided that it would be unfair of us to choose just one band out of all of the music we have heard tonight, so our sponsors have agreed that each of us will get to choose a band to promote."

The second singer nodded, adding, "Everyone who has played here tonight has done a spectacular job, but there was one band that, to each of us, stood out the most. It would be my honor as lead singer of Spectrum to announce that we have chosen to sponsor Multicolored White."

The crowd cheered in excitement, the first singer lifting his microphone and saying, "And it would be my privilege, as lead singer of Heartless, to announce Kung-Fu Kitties as the band we have decided to sponsor."

Sephiroth nodded to the two singers beside him, then said in response, "And it would be my utmost pleasure to introduce to you the talented band that we have chosen as our replacements. Please welcome them with open arms, as you once welcomed us to the stage. We have chosen to promote Chakram as the new band for Jepsin Records!"

Axel let out a breath of air as if he'd been kicked in the chest, Riku gasping and looking up at his fiancée, smiling and cheering, "You did it, Axel! The manager for One Winged Angel is legendary for promoting hot new talent! Chakram is going to skyrocket!"

The red-head shook his head, shock evident across his features. "I can't believe this, I never thought that I'd see the day that One Winged Angel would step down from the spotlight, let alone offer up their position in the headlines to Chakram…"

Marl and Larx appeared out of the crowd a moment later, the pink-haired boy pulling Axel into a bear-hug and ruffling his long spikes, saying excitedly, "You did it! You crazy bastard! You really did it!"

"Me? What about you two!" Axel said, turning to his band-mates. "You two were amazing up there! Larxene was flawless, and your song was fantastic!"

Marluxia dipped into a mock-bow, Larxene smiling and shaking her head. "But if it hadn't been for you, Axel. None of this would have been possible. You're the one who held us together, convinced us to try and go pro. We couldn't have done this without you." She stepped forward, hugging her two friends. "You guys are great. I'm so happy we made it…"

Riku watched the interchange with a smile, looking over and picking out his sister's eyes out of their crowd of friends, the small blonde girl smiling over at him knowingly. All this time they had been waiting for the good things to come after the storm, and now those things were finally happening, all at once. They weren't just getting the sun-shine after the rain, they were getting rainbows and butterflies and freaking fairy-dust. The whole thing seemed surreal. The crowd cheered for the new bands that had been chosen, then returned their attention to One Winged Angel as Sephiroth began to sing. They would play for hours and hours after their announcement, giving one hell of a performance before they faded into memory, passing on their blazing torch to the next generation of musicians.

The night ended with a series of fireworks over the ocean, the lights and colors flashing before Riku's eyes unlike anything he'd ever seen, or could remember seeing in his childhood. He had a small headache, but it was nothing compared to the migraines he'd experienced before. He pushed the discomfort to the back of his mind, staring up at the night sky with Axel's arms wrapped around his waist, the older boy holding him lovingly. He was engaged, and in love, and could finally see. He felt invincible. And the night had barely begun.

-xxxo0:O:0oxxx-

It was past midnight by the time that the after party started. All of the bands were invited, as well as the VIP guests. They had rented out a hotel to accommodate the sheer volume of guests that were to attend, along with full room service and a banquet in the main hall. And of course there were guest DJ's for the various dance halls located throughout the hotel. Because what would a concert be without an all-night rave following directly afterwards? And when would there ever be another opportunity to dance and party with your favorite bands? The entire setup was ingenious.

Axel had been approached over a dozen times already for his autograph, the red-head laughing softly at the attention and signing the various things he was offered; a CD, a shirt, a poster. Riku watched with an amused smile, having never witnessed his boyfriend in action with his fans before. Several girls were talking with him, one saying something then pointing towards Riku. Axel laughed and nodded, holding his hand out for Riku to join him. The pale blonde hesitated then complied, walking over to his fiancée's side. "She wants us to take a picture together." Axel explained at Riku's confused look. "That's okay, right?"

"Of course!" the younger boy said with a soft laugh, Axel grinning and wrapping an arm around his waist, the fan-girl taking a couple of pictures then thanking them profusely. Riku, embarrassed at the attention, wasn't quite sure how to react.

Axel, on the other hand, knew exactly what to do. He thanked the girl, waved to her and her friends, then lead Riku off towards the banquet hall. "Well, enough of that! Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving…"

The younger boy followed after the red-head, looking around at all the different people, recognizing some of the band members they passed, along with their friends. Sora was chatting excitedly with Misa and Kai, the twins from Kung-Fu Kitties, Roxas watching with a smile. The twins were petite, and dressed alike, Misa laughing and nodding at something Sora had asked. Tasogare, Naminé, and Kairi were chatting with the girls from Multicolored White, Tasogare and their lead singer talking in hushed voices. Riku wondered vaguely what they were talking about, there had been an intense look in Taso's eyes, but as Axel pulled him further down the hallway he lost sight of the girls. Oh well, he was sure he would hear all about it later.

Axel turned to Riku once they reached the banquet, asking, "What sounds good? Italian? Chinese? American?"

"All of thee above?" Riku asked, Axel laughing and shaking his head.

"Alright, randomness it is!" he grabbed a plate, offering one to Riku, the younger boy smiling and taking it from him. It was so odd being able to see what he was doing, not having to ask Axel a hundred questions before deciding on what he wanted to eat. He looked over the spread a few times, then decided on cheesy ziti, mac and cheese, orange chicken, fried rice, and some steamed pork buns. Axel was busy piling several slices of pizza onto his plate, along with sweet and sour chicken, chicken lo mein, deviled eggs, and potato salad. He grabbed two bottles of sprite with his free hand and sat down on a large plush couch, quickly devouring the first slice of pizza. When Riku sat down beside him and gave him a look, the boy replied, "I don't even care right now, everything looks so good…"

"Wait until you see the deserts!" Demyx said, sitting down beside them, Axel and Riku looking over at the dirty blonde, Zexion sitting down beside him. "I've been back for thirds already!"

"He's not exaggerating either," the slate-haired boy said, rolling his eyes. "I think he may have beaten a small child to get the last giant chocolate chip fudge cookie."

"They'll be bringing out more!" Demyx protested with a whine, Riku smiling while his boyfriend chuckled.

"That's a perfectly good reason to steal cookies from a child, Dem." Axel said dryly. "I definitely support that."

"Ooo! I think I see the next tray coming out!" He looked over at Zexion, pleading with his eyes. "Please? While they're still warm and gooey?"

The other boy shook his head, a smile across his lips. "Fine, I'll go get you another one…"

Riku looked over his shoulder, eyeing the deserts. "They've been going that fast?"

Zexion nodded to the pale blonde, saying, "You might want to come get some before they're gone."

Axel nodded to Riku, "Would you grab me one too?"

Riku smiled, nodding, taking another bite of chicken before getting up to follow after Zexion, the two boys walking together towards the deserts. Axel watched them go, then turned to look at Demyx, raising an eyebrow at him. The dirty blonde caught his look, blushing lightly, "What? I can't ask him to get me a cookie?"

"What's going on with you two? And while you're talking, what's going on with you and Yuffie?" he looked out across the room, noticing the girl was nowhere in sight. "Normally she's attached to your side like a magnet…"

Demyx took a bite out of his hot fudge brownie sundae, looking away thoughtfully as he licked his spoon. "We had a bit of an argument. I think everything is okay now, but it's just not the same, you know?"

Axel hesitated, then asked, "Was the fight about Zexion?"

The dirty blonde ducked his head, but nodded.

The red-headed boy smiled gently, then said, "It's always hard coming out Dem, especially when there are girls crushing on you. I've had girlfriends in the past, and I remember how dramatic that can be. But Yuffie is your friend, and she's Zexion's friend too. Give her some time, I'm sure she'll come around and be happy for you…"

"I haven't talked to Zex about it yet…" Demyx said, looking up at Axel with worry in his eyes. "I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do…" He looked over towards Zexion and Riku, who were walking back with several different cookies on their plates, chatting and laughing. "How do I tell one of my best friends that I have a thing for him?"

Axel sighed, "Don't think about it too much, Dem. The words will come."

The dirty blonde nodded, smiling over at Zexion as the boy returned to his place at his side, offering the other boy a massive chocolate chip cookie. "My hero!" Demyx declared, reaching over and breaking off a giant chunk of cookie, the chocolate so warm it created tiny ropes of fudge between the pieces of cookie as Demyx broke them apart.

Riku bit into a cookie of his own, looking over and grinning at Axel. "Demyx was right, these are amazing! I'm glad they just brought out some fresh ones!"

Axel smiled down at his fiancée, Riku offering him a bite of cookie, the red-head taking it from his fingers with a gentle bite. The pale blonde giggled softly, licking his fingers free of remnants of cookie, Axel grinning over at him as he chewed. "Mmm…"

Demyx blushed, watching them with a yearning, Zexion noticing his friend's disquiet and nudging him gently. "You okay?"

Demyx nodded, shoving the chunk of cookie in his mouth and making a pleased sound. Zexion smiled softly, but could tell something was off. What was Demyx hiding from him? And why had Yuffie avoided them all night?

-x-x-x-

Zack had been quiet since Sephiroth's announcement, Cloud slightly worried about the older boy. They stood together in the dimly lit foyer between the banquet hall and the entrance to one of the dance floors, the music somewhat muted until people came and went, bass drumming through the floor. The younger boy hesitated for a while, then reached over and took Zack's hand in his own. "You don't think this is your fault, do you?" the blonde asked gently, squeezing his boyfriend's hand.

The dark-headed boy let out a long sigh, replying, "I don't necessarily think it's my fault, but I do think it has to do with me. I wonder if Sephiroth has decided to leave the band because of what happened between him and that other boy… He was a fan of Sephiroth's, the boy that he had an affair with…"

"Do you think he's trying to make up for it somehow by ruining his career?" Cloud asked, trying to figure out what the other boy was thinking.

Zack shook his head. "I don't think that he will ruin his career, at this point One Winged Angel has made millions of dollars. He's set for life no matter what he does from this point on." The older boy hesitated, thinking to himself, then said, "I think that he's lost himself. The Seph I knew before would have never even thought about cheating on me. Maybe the life of a rock star was too much for him to take. And now he thinks that by leaving he might be able to find himself again." He looked down at Zack, reaching up and brushing his thumb across the younger boy's jawline. "Don't worry, Cloud. I'm not having any mixed feelings. I'm not going anywhere."

Cloud smiled, blushing lightly. Zack had an uncanny way of seeing right through him. He had to admit he had been a bit worried when Zack had reacted so strongly to the news about Sephiroth and One Winged Angel, but then again he had known the boys from that band for years. It might have been a bit more unsettling if Zack hadn't reacted at all. He was a caring, thoughtful person. But that didn't mean that he was having second thoughts about his feelings for Sephiroth, or his feelings for Cloud. The blonde smiled up at his boyfriend, tilting his head into Zack's touch. "You always know just what to say, don't you?"

Zack leaning in and kissed him, then said softly as they broke apart, "There's something I've wanted to ask you, but I'm not sure if it's the right time."

Cloud searched Zack's eyes, blue staring up into violet. "You can ask me anything, you know that…"

The older boy chuckled softly, then said, "Alright. I wanted to ask if you would like to move in with me."

Cloud blushed, his heart beginning to pound in his ears. Hadn't be just been making jokes with his little sister about this? But he knew better than to think she had said something about it to Zack… "You want me to move in? When did you decide on this?"

"As soon as you forgave me…" Zack replied, "I knew then that I wanted to be with you long term, wanted to take it a step beyond just dating, but I was scared that you might end up changing your mind. I didn't want to pressure you…"

Cloud smiled, thinking about Zack's whispered words that he hadn't been meant to overhear. "I think you've managed to make me fall in love again. You little brat." He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Zack's shoulders and pulling him into an embrace, their lips reconnecting hotly. "I would love to move in with you," he said happily, Zack laughing in turn and kissing the blonde again. They stood there together, kissing over and over, hidden in the shadows of the staircase near the entrance to the banquet hall, bass thrumming beneath their feet.

-x-x-x-

Tasogare instantly clicked with the lead singer of Multicolored White, a pale, curvy girl named February. She wore tall heels and pale shades of color, her hair bright white mixed with pale pink, blue, and yellow. She struck Tasogare as a kindred spirit long before the mint-haired girl noticed the pendant she was wearing, February's eyes lighting up when she realized the other girl was staring at it. "Do you like it? It's my family's crest."

Tasogare reached up, meeting the other girl's hand where she had lifted the pendant from her chest, offering it to her new friend. It was a silver wolf with red eyes, flickering with gold specs when it was shifted under the light. "What does it mean?" Taso asked, February smiling at her secretively.

"I think you may already know. Does it seem familiar to you? Perhaps it reminds you of a loved one?"

Tasogare hesitated, then retrieved the key she had dangling on a chain from her neck, showing it to the other girl. "My brother." She said softly, February reaching out and touching it lightly, her eyes flickering for a moment as if she had seen something.

"He is here with you?" she asked.

Tasogare nodded, "He's always with me."

"Then let's speak with him." February said, a smile twisting her lips. "I have a feeling that our meeting was no chance encounter."

Naminé turned back from her conversation with the guitarist from Multicolored White, intent on asking Tasogare if she wanted to go grab a bite to eat, but the mint-haired girl was gone. Frowning slightly, she turned to Kairi, "Did you see where Taso went?"

Kairi turned to Naminé from where she had been chatting with the drummer and bassist of the new band, looking around the room and shaking her head. "No, I'm not sure. Maybe she went to go grab a drink or something?"

Naminé nodded absently, but thought it was rather uncharacteristic of the older girl to run off without telling them first. "Let's go find her."

-x-x-x-

February followed after Tasogare, her heels clicking across the tile eerily as she followed after the mint-haired girl, humming to herself as they went. Tasogare walked to the back of the foyer, then turned and made her way to one of the side doors, opening it up and stepping outside into the cool night air. February stepped up to her side, glancing around. "I can feel someone is here. But it doesn't feel like a spirit. It feels like a beast…"

Tasogare looked over at the girl. "I'm not sure exactly what happened, but when my brother died his soul was connected to that of the wolves that fed off of him. And his presence in this world has been getting stronger, ever since…"

"He has a new meaning, a new purpose to fulfill." Her pale blue eyes met Taso's lavender. "What happened?"

Tasogare thought for a moment, then she said with a soft smile, "I think he fell in love."

"He made contact with someone?" the other girl asked, Taso nodding to her.

"Naminé, the albino girl I was with before. He pulled her out of a coma."

"Remarkable," February said, reaching for her pendant and letting out a long, slow breath. When she opened her eyes again they flashed with gold, the girl looking up towards the stars, then across the balcony to the edge of the hotel. "There's no need to hide from me. I'm a witch, not an exorcist."

Tasogare looked towards the shadowed corner where February had directed her words, watching as her brother emerged from the darkness, his eyes shifting from gold to red. He seemed more defined than usual, the night breeze almost seeming to caress his hair, moving it ever-so-slightly. "Shiloh, this is February. She wanted to talk to you."

Shiloh hesitated then stepped forward towards his sister, his watchful gaze keeping February a safe distance away. It was unnerving to have someone else looking for him, and be able to see him without his will helping them to do so. "What is it you wanted to say?" he asked, his words echoing softly in their ears. Tasogare never remembered him sounding so clear before, reaching out and touching her brother's arm, feeling a slight pressure there, and warmth.

"Impossible…" she breathed, "Shiloh, you're…"

"He's connected to the living in two different ways now, one through a family bond, and the other through a newfound love." February stepped forward, reaching out to touch the ghostly figure standing before them. "His will is strong, and fierce; like that of a wolf's. And though we can never bring your brother back to life, if he is capable of this kind of manifestation… I might be able to give him a night with you. And with your friend."

Tasogare looked over at the girl with wide eyes, then up to her brother. "Shiloh?" she asked, the boy meeting her eyes, then looking over at February.

"What do I need to do?"

-x-x-x-

Reno and Yuffie were on the dance floor with the girls from Saberflight; Tidus, Wakka, Selphie, Leon, and Aerith all dancing nearby, laughing as they talked above the pulse of the music flooding the room. Yuffie seemed to be back to her old self since the incident the other night at the karaoke bar but she hadn't really talked to Reno about it, which had the older boy worried. He wondered just how upset she was about Demyx not returning her feelings. She may hide things well, but Reno could see right through her cheery carefree demeanor. He knew when something was wrong.

He leaned in, pulling the girl under his arm, "Hey Yu-chan, everything's okay with you and Demyx now, right?"

Yuffie laughed and pushed out from underneath her friend's arm, looking up at him with a wide smile. "Don't be silly Reno. Everything's fine."

"You're not upset anymore?" he asked, watching the girl as she started to dance again.

"It's no biggie!" the girl said, tossing her hair from side to side as she moved to the music, "I'm sure there will be plenty of other boys out there who are totally into girls… They'll be all over me once school's back in!"

Reno sighed. So that was a no then… She was upset, but she would eventually get over it, as soon as she had another boy to distract her from Demyx. But now that Demyx had rejected Yuffie…did that mean he was finally going to be able to make a move with Zexion?

-x-x-x-

Demyx walked through the parking lot of the hotel slowly, letting his mind wander. What was he doing? Why couldn't he just act normal, like he always did around Zexion? He'd never even really thought about the other boy in a more-than-friends way until recently, and now that he had it was like he couldn't stop thinking about it no matter how hard he tried. Every word, every touch, every moment was like an eternity. It was like he was being consumed by his feelings for the other boy. And he had no way of stopping it, and ignoring it didn't seem to work either. He found himself blushing around the other boy, and feeling nervous and awkward. Why couldn't he just talk to Zexion about it? Axel had once told him that Zexion liked him too, but what if his feelings had changed? What if Demyx had managed to push him away…

He heard footsteps approaching from behind, turning to see Zexion walking towards him, the other boy's hands in his pockets as he advanced silently. Demyx reached up, rubbing the back of his head. He couldn't blame the other boy for coming to find him, he had just sort of disappeared from the banquet hall without saying anything. "Hey, are you okay?" Zexion asked, stepping up to his friend's side.

Demyx nodded, "Yeah, just thinking about stuff."

"Is something wrong?" Zexion asked softly. "Did you have a fight with Yuffie? She seems kinda distant tonight…"

"Yeah, I sort of told her I didn't like her." Demyx replied.

Zexion made a sound of understanding, nodding his head, "I see, she finally started to get to you, huh? I was wondering how long it would take before you had to tell her to back off."

Demyx laughed softly, "Was it that obvious?"

Zexion smiled over at his friend. "Well, after she had to practically force a kiss on you, I figured you weren't that interested. But you're a nice guy, so sometimes you don't really know how to say no."

The dirty-blonde nodded his head. Zexion knew him all too well. He hesitated a moment, then replied, "Actually, there's someone else I'm interested in. That's really the reason why I had to turn her down."

"Oh?" Zexion questioned teasingly, "Is it Naminé? Because I'm pretty sure Cloud would kill you…"

Demyx laughed, then said softly, "Would you believe me if I told you it…wasn't a girl?"

Zexion blinked, "Really? Who is it? I never thought you were into guys."

The other boy smiled, then said teasingly, "That's never stopped you from flirting with me though, has it?"

At that comment Zexion blushed crimson, pulling his hands from his pockets and taking a step back, "I…I'm sorry, I never meant to…"

Demyx, taken back by his friend's reaction, reached out and touched his arm, saying softly, "Hey, I was just teasing you, Zex…"

The slate-haired boy laughed nervously, swallowing and looking away. Demyx could tell that Zexion was trembling slightly, his usual cool demeanor shattered by the younger boy's words. He'd never acknowledged it before, that Zexion had been flirting with him for all these years. Casually, of course, but Demyx had definitely noticed. He noticed even more-so now that he thought back on the time they had shared together. Late dinners, scary movies, sharing secrets, keeping promises…a deep friendship that would never end. And that, with time and age, had slowly become something more…

Demyx tried again, searching for the words to needed to express himself, "Zexion, I didn't mean…"

The older boy shook his head, "No, you're right. I'm sorry. I know I probably shouldn't, but sometimes I can't help myself around you." He smiled over at his friend, worry shining in his dusky eyes. "But you have to know Dem, I would never ever make a move on you. I value our friendship far too much."

Demyx's eyes softened, the dirty blonde squeezing his friend's shoulder. "Stupid Zexi. Why do you always have to take everything I say so seriously. Am I not allowed to tease you just because you like me?"

Zexion started to say something, but then laughed it off, saying softly, "Of course you can… I'm sorry. I guess if you've know about it all along, I shouldn't act any differently around you…right?"

"You've really liked me all this time?" Demyx asked softly, pulling back and crossing his arms over his chest. "Why? What's so special about me? I'm sure there are other boys out there who are much prettier, much more interesting…"

The older boy blinked, laughing and placing a hand on his hip. "Are you serious? Demyx, you're perfect. We've been best friends for years now. We know everything about one another, and have lasted through all the bad times, and shared all of the good times. Why would I want to be with anyone besides you?"

"Exactly." The younger boy said, smiling softly. "Why is it that you always manage to say everything I can't so damn easily?" He smirked softly, taking a few steps off towards the edge of the parking lot, saying over his shoulder. "I've been trying for days now to gather up the guts to tell you that I'm crushing on you, and here you are telling me you've liked me for years without so much as a second thought."

Zexion didn't catch what Demyx had said at first, then his eyes went wide as he realized what the other boy was saying. "W-Wait a minute, what did you say?"

"You heard me," the dirty blonde replied, turning to look at his friend. "I like you. I've always liked you, I just wasn't sure enough about it to say anything to you. But once I started spending time with Yuffie, I couldn't get you out of my head. You're all I could think about. Which is why Yuffie and I had an argument… She called me out on the fact that I was way more interested in you than her."

Zexion was flushed a pretty shade of pink, his brow arched with concern. "But you… I never…" He shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around what was happening. "You like boys? And not only that, you like me? After all this time…"

"I'm sorry I made you wait." Demyx said softly, stepping back over to his friend, Zexion watching him with shimmering eyes. "Can you forgive me?"

The older boy chuckled softly, then nodded. "I think I can do that."

Demyx hesitated, then said softly, "You know, I've been wondering what it would be like to be kissed by someone I'm actually attracted to. I'm sure it would be much better than my first kiss."

"Yuffie was your first kiss?!" Zexion exclaimed, "That little punk! I'll wring her tiny little neck…"

Demyx laughed, taking another step forward, reaching up and touching his fingertips to Zexion's cheek. "Care to show me what a real kiss feels like?"

The older boy smiled, placing his hands on Demyx's hips and pulling him a bit closer, tilting his head and pressing their lips together gently, lightning dancing up the blonde's spine at his touch. It was simple, and sweet; but it had an effect ten times as powerful as Yuffie's kiss. "Did you feel that?" Zexion asked softly, his dark eyes soft.

Demyx nodded, his blue eyes searching Zexion's grey. "I want to feel it again..."

The older boy pulled him in close, reconnecting their lips, Demyx gasping against him, a blush crossing his cheeks. It had taken so long for them to reach this point, but it had definitely been worth the wait.

-x-x-x-

February made her way through the crowd, her heels clicking lightly across the tile, seeking out the petite blonde she had seen before. The presence inside of her forced her to turn her head, Shiloh spotting Naminé long before February did, the girl smiling and walking over to the younger girl, tapping her on the shoulder. Naminé looked up at her, smiling and saying, "Hello again! Have you seen my friend? I seem to have lost her somewhere in the crowd."

February smiled, saying gently, "I think she went outside for some fresh air." She surveyed the room, then when seeing that no one was really paying attention, she reached down and took Naminé's hand. "Come with me. I have a surprise for you."

The petite girl blinked but followed after the singer, the girl humming happily as she led Naminé off down the foyer, Shiloh's happiness putting a bounce in her step. The pale blonde following her giggled at her cheerfulness, asking, "Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere where we can be alone," February heard herself say, closing her eyes for a moment and letting Shiloh take over, the boy's spirit overwhelming her mind and allowing him to take control of her body. When she looked back at Naminé, her pale blue eyes were red-gold, Naminé recognizing them immediately.

"S-Shiloh?"

He smiled at her, nodding and saying gently, "Don't worry, February is fine. It was actually her idea to let me possess her for a few hours. She and my sister were worried that if I wasn't careful my spirit might start to wander into other people's souls. So, to avoid that, she's letting me enjoy a night with you. They said it should help me calm down a bit."

"You wanted to spend a night with me so badly you possessed someone?" Naminé asked, worry in her voice. "Shiloh, I don't understand…"

"You're the first person besides my sister that I've ever loved." Shiloh said softly, pressing his back against the wall of the empty hallway and pulling Naminé against his chest. "I guess my spirit draws power from you somehow when you think about me, the same way that my sister's thoughts help to sustain me in the realm of the living. Which means you've been thinking about me a lot lately, because I've never been able to do anything like this before."

Naminé blushed lightly, nodding. "I think about you every day. I wanted to see you again…" She reached out and touched Shiloh's chest, saying shakily, "I know that's selfish. I know that you probably shouldn't even be able to make contact with us. Sometimes I wonder if it's cruel to want to see you, because maybe you should have moved on to a better place by now. But still…"

"I don't know if I'll ever move on," Shiloh said softly. "Honestly, I don't know if there's anything to move on to." He reached up, cupping Naminé's cheek gently. "I'm happy being able to spend time with my sister, and I'm happy that I'm able to watch over you. I just wish that I could really touch you…"

Naminé blushed, February's touch soft and caring. It was unnerving to know that Shiloh was inside of the girl controlling her movements, using her body… "Shiloh, are you sure February is okay?"

His eyes flickered, red fading into blue, the girl laughing softly and clasping Naminé's shoulders. "Shiloh's not hurting me, Naminé. He just wanted to see you, that's all."

Naminé nodded, blushing lightly. "Is it wrong if I want to kiss him?"

February giggled, shaking her head, her long white hair falling eloquently down her shoulders. "No, it's alright. I won't tell a soul, promise." She winked at the younger girl, holding a finger up to her lips. "Just don't overthink things. Enjoy the time that you have."

Naminé nodded, watching as February's eyes changed color again, reddish gold replacing pale blue. A moment later Shiloh was reaching out for her, pulling her back into his arms.

He smiled at her knowingly, saying softly, "You want to kiss me, huh?"

Naminé blushed a bit deeper and glanced away, saying softly, "When you kissed me before I wasn't expecting it. I didn't get a chance to kiss you back."

Shiloh paused, asking hesitantly, "Are you sure?"

Naminé nodded, looking up into Shiloh's eyes, loosing herself in the intensity of the ghost's gaze. "I'm sure."

"Then close your eyes." He said gently, watching her rosy pink eyes disappear behind her long lashes, the boy leaning in and kissing her gently, Naminé sighing softly and leaning into his touch. With her eyes closed she could almost forget about the fact that she was kissing another girl, Naminé quickly losing herself to Shiloh's kiss. He pulled away a few moments later, then dipped in again, reaching up and tangling his fingers in her long soft hair. They eventually parted, Naminé panting softly and curling up against Shiloh's chest, the older boy holding her close, feeling their hearts thrumming together, almost in sync. He smiled, closing his eyes for a moment, reaching out for February's mind.

"Thank you…" he said softly. He could hear the girl giggling in the back of his mind.

"You're welcome, dear." She replied gently, adding,"We all deserve to share a night with the people we love, alive or dead. Just remember to save a bit of time for your sister before you go."

Shiloh nodded, opening his eyes and looking down at Naminé, the girl resting against his chest comfortably. "Do you want to go lay down? We could go hang out in Taso's room. I'm sure she'd love the company."

"She's gone to bed already?" Naminé asked, looking up at him.

Shiloh grinned, "Well, I think she was going to grab some food first, and talk to Kurei. And then, if she's not too distracted by Kairi and the others I'm sure she'll head back to the room to read. You know Taso, she's not much of a partier."

Naminé laughed softly, nodding her head. "I'd like that."

Shiloh smiled at her, taking her hand and leading her back towards the main lobby. "And maybe…we could grab something to eat too? I haven't tasted pizza in years…"

Naminé laughed again, saying in reply, "Well, if February doesn't mind you fattening her up for the night, I'd say you can eat whatever you'd like!"

February giggled, saying softly, "Just stay away from peanuts! That's my only request!"

"Remind me to watch out for peanuts," Shiloh said to Naminé, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Wouldn't want to ruin the night by sending our new friend into anaphylactic shock."

Naminé grinned, intertwining her fingers with Shiloh's as she followed after him. Nothing could ruin this night. Nothing.

-x-x-x-

Axel and Riku crawled into bed, the younger boy yawning and resisting the urge to rub his eyes. "Will you put some ointment on my eyes and wrap me up again? I'm finally starting to get a headache."

The older boy nodded, reaching over to the bedside table and fetching Riku's eye cream, the younger boy laying back and closing his eyes to allow his fiancée access to his scars. "Does this hurt?" Axel asked, tracing a layer of ointment across Riku's eyes and cheeks.

"No, it doesn't hurt at all anymore." Riku replied, "Honestly if it weren't for the light sensitivity my eyes would never hurt. The pain from the tension in my scar is completely gone."

"Good!" Axel said, smiling down at his lover, reaching over and grabbing some bandages from the table and wrapping Riku's eyes gently, tucking the excess behind the younger boy's ear. "How's that feel."

"That's great, thanks Ax…" he reached up, his hand pressing against Axel's bare chest, the older boy leaning down and kissing his forehead.

"Go to sleep, babe. We've got to catch an early flight in the morning."

Riku yawned, nodding and curling up against his fiancée's chest. "Are you sure it's alright that I come with you to Jepsin to meet your new managers?"

"Of course it'll be alright. After all, you're helping with the music and song-writing. As far as I'm concerned you're a part of the band!"

Riku laughed softly, grinning against the red-head's chest. "I'm glad the song worked out so well. I was worried your fans wouldn't like it as much as your other original songs."

"Nonsense," Axel replied, "You have an amazing talent, Riku. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Both Marl and Larx have asked if you'll be joining the band once your sight has fully returned. You can sing, you can play guitar, you can write…"

Riku laughed softly, "Well, if you're serious, I guess I wouldn't mind joining Chakram…"

Axel chuckled, nuzzling his fiancée's cheek and kissing him gently. "But only if you want to, of course."

Riku smiled, "If you're asking if I'm okay with becoming a rock-star, the answer would be yes. Besides, it will help me keep an eye on all of those crazy fans of yours."

"Ah, but if you joined Chakram, wouldn't that make them crazy fans of ours?"

"Touché," Riku replied, "But then again, I guess I don't have anything to worry about now that I've gotten a ring…"

"There are so many jealous women out there longing to be you…" Axel teased, Riku smiling and reaching up to his fiancée's face, tracing his fingertips across the older boy's nose and brow.

"I'm glad that you chose me," Riku said softly. "It seems like only yesterday you were harassing me in class, hitting on my sister…"

Axel chuckled, leaning in and kissing Riku, the younger boy making a soft sound against his lips. "I love you, babe. I will always love you."

Riku grinned, his fingertips tracing his lover's jawline and coming to rest against his chest. "I love you too, Ax. I'm so glad I got to see you today. It made me so happy."

"Cait Sith scheduled your last checkup for the end of the month. Then, after that, you'll be able to go without your bandages, and hopefully your headaches will have gone away."

The younger boy nodded sleepily against the older boy's chest. "I hope so…" He pressed his cheek against Axel's shoulder, the older boy wrapping his arms around him and pulling the sheets up around his shoulders, stroking his hair soothingly.

"So do I, Riku," he whispered softly, looking down at the boy resting against his chest with unbridled affection. "So do I…"

(1) Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Thanks so much for reading. One more chapter to go.

In the final chapter, Riku and Axel are touring across the country with Chakram! Naminé has moved on after her night with Shiloh, but she can still sense the boy is watching over her. Demyx and Zexion have decided to come out as a couple. Zack and Cloud are living together, what will come next? And Naminé's hospital bills suddenly disappearing without reason finally come to light… Luckily, with friendship and love, the couples and their friends will make it through all obstacles…together…

Thank you so much for following Unseen Emotions since its debut back in 2007. There have been times where I've stopped writing for months at a time, but now that our story is finally coming to an end I hope you all have enjoyed the ride. Remember to leave me a review and let me know your thoughts on our favorite characters!

Happy reading! :x:Myou:x:

Oh, and several times I'll notice that I've missed something I need to correct before posting, and I have to go back and fix it later. If you notice a typo or something that needs to be fixed please let me know! I do not have anyone to proofread my stories for me, and now and then I'll overlook things! Thanks guys!