As they sail, or more appropriately float across the sea now, Roxas can't help but feel morally embarrassed at the state they're in, and more importantly how he had caused it. Bits of the ship and any salvage that managed to float to the surface bubbles and bounces. They slowly become nothing but specks in the water as they row away.

There are a total of four lifeboats, more than capable of carrying what remains left of the crew. A few of the unnamed men were lost, now all the remains are the ones Roxas can remember or has gotten to know. Xigbar, Marluxia, Luxord, Vexen, Ventus, Zack, Demyx, Axel. Seven left of the probably twenty-six men Axel had to begin with. Though he doesn't seem bothered, Roxas know Axel feels grief in the loss of good men. Roxas tries to feel a form of guilt or sorrow, but there is nothing. He didn't remember the names of the men lost, and normally to him that means they weren't important enough for him to remember their names. But this is different, these are Axel's men, they are a family. To Axel, it's probably similar to losing a sibling.

Looking around, the men are getting distraught and seemingly irritated and disappointed in the loss of their ship. Roxas rides with Demyx and Zack who rows the boat. Axel rides with Ventus. Then it's Xigbar rowing with the cargo, Luxord as well, though his haul includes Vexen who simply reads a brown leather book, seemingly unphased. Each of the lifeboats have a small anchor that can keep the boat in place should they decide to stop for the night. The only bright side of this could be that it'll take longer for them to get back to town, or maybe it'll become faster seeing as how these boats could be easily mistaken for food for sharks. Though after the encounter with the serpent, nothing seems more frightening anymore.

It's early evening when Axel calls them to stop and drop their anchors for a meal. Cheese sandwiches are passed around and they eat them in the light of the sun. The weather is starting to grow chilly as autumn is slowly approaching. Roxas keeps his sandwich at his side, staring blankly into the open sea, lost in thought of the Harvest Festival. Houses giving off a warm glow of life with lit windows, smoke from the chimneys, bunches of brightly colored corn affixed to the front doors as decoration. Children disguising themselves as ghouls and monsters, running around squealing in happiness as they stop from house to house to receive sweets. Such fun, and yet Roxas only remembers watching them from afar, curious and mocking the children; yet deep down there was a yearning in him that wanted to apart of the fun.

Roxas intentionally sits at the far edge of the boat so he doesn't have to talk. No one is talking much really. In the relative quiet, the gulls that fly over head take over the sky. Roxas has an urge to shoot one of them down for supper, but with the supplies the men managed to grab before the ship sank, it would seem they have more than enough to last them until they get to town.

Bending his legs, Roxas hugs his knees as he focuses his vision on a single twig floating near the boat. He's wandering his mind to thinking about how he'll possibly sleep tonight, when there's a nudge on his side. Roxas looks over and finds Demyx smiling and settling down in between the thwarts. Zack has taken over the spot of rower once they decide to leave.

"What's a matter? You've barely touched your sandwich. Not a ham type?" he says.

"I'm not hungry." Roxas says flatly.

"You're not getting sea sick now, are you?" Demyx chuckles.

Roxas simply shakes his head, keeping his gaze out forward. Demyx sighs and pulls himself up onto the thwart. "Look Roxas, don't feel bad."

"How can I not? I've wrecked your ship."

"It wasn't your fault. In fact, you saved us. The serpent was just really bad timing on my part." Demyx tries to amuse. It manages to make Roxas' lips twitch, but it's overall a meaningless effort.

"But the men lost . . ." Roxas trails off.

Demyx nods. "They will be missed."

"They deserve a proper funeral." Roxas states.

"There's really nothing we can do." Demyx says. "We can only give them our prayers and cherish their memory."

"I'm not one for faith."

"You don't need to be. As long as you carry their memory in your heart, even if you didn't know them well, they will never be forgotten." Demyx says. "Anyone you choose to keep in your memory, they will forever be in your heart."

Roxas looks at Demyx, then drifts his eyes away in forlorn and thought.

Demyx then pats his shoulder. "Now, while we're out here, how about you give us a tune?" he chippers.

"After all that you still managed to save your lute?" Roxas chuckles.

"Of course!" Demyx strums dramatically. "Now, how about you sing?"

Usually, Roxas would decline, but it's kind of impossible to say no to Demyx, given the circumstances. Roxas bites the inside of his lip. "I've told you they're not pleasant." Roxas reminds.

"I know, but at this point I'll take anything." Demyx waves off nonchalantly. "Now come on! Give me something. Anything."

"Careful what you wish for." Roxas mumbles. He tries to think of a song from his younger years. He doesn't have much, seeing as how his father saw lullabies as a form of stupidity. Telling of happily after when life is nowhere near so kind. He saw it as a way of making Roxas soft since he feared Roxas would follow the songs. Roxas remembers he would sing a few of the songs he enraptured from the men while in their bar. He can also recall Lexaeus humming something of a pleasant tune. "Alright." He sighs, Demyx squeaking with glee.

As he sits back and strums, Roxas waves him off.

"I need more of a, fast beat bass." Roxas says. "You know, one-and-two, three-and-four. Five-and-six. Seven-and-eight."

Demyx snaps his fingers, aiming his pointer finger at Roxas and sets aside the lute. He positions himself on the thwart and starts to tap the wood to the rhythm Roxas entices. It astounds Roxas to how quickly Demyx can mimic the tune. He soon starts to hear the other instruments he himself added to the tune to make it seem merrier. The only reason why Roxas was able to sing this out loud is because of his father teaching it to him. But of course one Roxas became a teenager, he forbid Roxas from singing at all; saying that an assassin only sings when drunk or in pain. Roxas taps his fingers to the beat and starts the tune.

"Axes flash, broadswords swing,

Shining armor's piercing ring,

Horses run with a polished shield, Fight those bastards 'till they yield.

Midnight mare and blood red roan, Fight to make this land our own.

Sound the horn and call the cry.

How many of them can we make die."

The other men turn their heads at attention as they become aware of Roxas' voice chiming through the stillness.

"Follow orders as you're told,

Make their yellow blood run cold,

Fight until you die or drop,

A force like ours is hard to stop.

Close your mind to stress and pain,

Fight 'till you're no longer sane. Let not one damn cur pass by,

How many of them can we make die!"

Roxas has the men's attention now. In one more verse the song will end. He feels somewhat self-conscious since the song is clearly twisted, especially for something of a child of six to be singing. It wasn't until Roxas was thirteen did he decipher the lyrics, yet still felt nothing was wrong about it. All the time, Demyx doesn't stop his thrumming, and Roxas is grateful as he couldn't finish the song without a point of reference.

"Guard you're women and children well,

Send these bastards back to hell

We'll teach them the ways of war,

They won't come here anymore.

Use your sword and use your head

Fight 'till everyone is dead,

Raise the blade up to the sky,

How many of them can we make die."

There's a hush on the water. Demyx lightly thumping the wood of the boat. He alternates between the thwart and the side of the boat, shifting the tone of the drum-like sound. Roxas can notice that they have become a similar person; lost in their own world and they become entranced in their activity. A new found respect buds for Demyx as he has his eyes closed, and still manages to tap at the wood with expert hands.

"Axes flash, broadswords swing,

Shining armor's piercing ring,

Horses run with a polished shield, Fight those bastards 'till they yield.

Midnight mare and blood red roan, Fight to make this land our own.

Sound the horn and call the cry.

How many of them can we make die."

Demyx keeps tapping at the wood as he waits for Roxas to finish. But that's it. The song is over. In the stillness, Roxas remembers the scene. He was sitting on the floor of his father's study, set in front of the fireplace. Roxas was only six at the time, singing the lullaby while playing with sock dolls wielding a sword and blade. Not knowing the real meaning of the song, Roxas would have the dolls stab the toy horse he had and make dying sounds. The tune was fast-paced and appealing with its tune that he's heard the men singing. Back then Roxas could memorize anything set to music and weapon related after a round or two. Suddenly a housemaid snatched up Roxas' toys and she started to yell at Cloud. Roxas started to cry because he didn't like yelling, especially if his father replied with an even harsher tone. But Cloud remained calm with a cold face. He replied back, his tone soft and composed, and then Roxas saw him draw his blade and Roxas ran outside.

Seeing as how he only had one hiding spot – a hollowed out trunk of a massive oak tree – Lexaeus found Roxas immediately. He calmed Roxas down and told him everything, and really everything. The maid was no longer alive, punished by death for speaking out against Cloud. Roxas walked back with Lexaeus and as they passed the doorway to the study, Roxas looked over and found the woman in a large puddle of her own blood, the white apron of her dress stained and spotted, her hair a tangled mat. The blood splattered his father as well, but his face was still calm, eyebrows narrows in displeasure. Roxas swallowed as his father looked to him. Cloud's expression didn't change and Roxas stared with hard eyes. Roxas didn't sing the song again until a week later while he and his father were in the marketplace. He had brought along his toy and was playing with it along a table of baked foods, the man hosting the stall seemingly growing weary as Roxas sang the song. Within a minute, Roxas was met with a harsh backhand from his father. Despite his tears and cry of pain, Cloud yanked Roxas close and whispered through grit teeth to never sing the song out loud or ever again. So, of course, every word was immediately branded into Roxas' brain.

He didn't sing it anymore or even speak of it. Being older, Roxas began to understand the lyrics. The tail simply tells of an army of warriors fighting against another clan for domination of the land. Nothing too bad, but as he was told by Zexion, the song was only sung among guild members. The lyrics were only vocalized in taverns where they could sing freely, other than that, it's the melody that would signal to a thief when another was near. Nowadays, Roxas can make the connection between the lyrics and the situation of the guilds his father is trying to unite. Combine all the guilds of the city and pit them against the King for rule over the kingdom. Plus the whole thing does sound rather twisted for a six-year-old to be singing. Especially one who stabs his own toys. It's not like that was a strange thing for Roxas to witness, but still he remembers the fear and terror in his body as his father looked to him with the body at his feet. Almost as if he was promising the same fate awaited Roxas should he dare try to rebel.

Turning his head sideways, Roxas sees everyone is watching him intently. Ventus has disturbed look on his face because no doubt the song has dredged up some hideous picture in his head of Roxas slaughtering millions of men. Great. Roxas sighs as Demyx finishes his thrumming, probably making it up along the way and then ending it with a tap on the side of the boat. He smiles and looks to Roxas, with one hand on his knee.

"Not bad." He says.

"Bad?"

"Well, I mean your singing. You actually really good." Demyx compliments.

"Thank you."

"I didn't know you could sing." Demyx says as he adjusts himself. He readies himself to start rowing once more. "Where'd you learn?"

"Self-taught." Roxas answers. He turns his head to look back out to the sea.

"I can't imagine your father ever singing to you." Demyx says. "Learn it from your mother?"

"I don't remember my mother. She was killed when I was young." Roxas says.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault. But I will feel a lot better when I track down the bastard that did." Roxas promises.

Axel stares at the two as he crumples up his sandwich wrapping. "Alright men. Let's weigh anchor."

As the men start to row Demyx levels with Axel, and Roxas looks over to him. Axel smiles and Roxas slightly returns the gesture.

Looking around, Roxas tries to look for signs of familiar waters. He remembers Twilight Town has buoys with starts on the top to signal the swimming limit for those who wish to swim at the beach. As Demyx rows the boat with the others, Roxas glances around, shielding his eyes to look in the distance. He feels his heart skip as he sees the first buoy of the town.

"What?" he gasps.

"What's up, Roxas?" Demyx asks through heaves of breath.

"We're getting close." Roxas mumbles.

Demyx looks over his shoulder. "Oh, so we are."

"No! No, this isn't right. You said we had two more days!" Roxas shouts. Several men turn their heads.

"Well, I didn't -" Demyx starts, but Roxas shakes his head and runs to the opposite end of the boat. Leaping high, he hopscotch's from one boat to the next until he reaches Axel.

"Axel!" he says as they crash.

"Gah!" Axel startles. "What is it?"

"We're close to town. I can see the coastline." Roxas informs.

Axel's face becomes troubled as he looks over to the bow of the boat. He sees the skyline of Twilight Town. He turns back and calls to Demyx. "Demyx! I thought you said we have two more days!"

"Well! It appears I've made a slight miscalculation. I am just a person!"

Roxas groans and ruffles his hair. He feels Ventus pat his shoulder. Glancing to the side, Ventus smiles. "This is bad." Roxas mumbles in his hands.

"I'm sure you'll think of something." Ventus says.

Roxas coldly chuckles. "No pressure."

"There isn't." Ventus says. "So we're early, what's the big -"

"The big deal, is that once we set foot on that land we are targets. You are targets." Roxas snaps

"They won't shoot us with you around." Axel says.

"I can't predict what my guild members with do, Axel. They are under the rule of my father. And once we step foot on land, you will start to see the real me."

"Like we haven't already?" Ventus jokes.

Roxas turns to him, and Ventus' attempted laughter slowly dies. "No, you haven't."

Ventus folds his lips in. Axel claps his hands. "Alright, how about, you take the reins, and we'll just follow behind you?"

Roxas nods. "Seems fair.

"You really plan to leave us in the hands of an eighteen-year-old?" Vexen questions.

"Gods be praised!" Demyx suddenly shouts. "Vexen has found his voice!"

The crew erupts in laughter at this, and Vexen turns red. "Enough of your squallbling! Captain, are you sure it's the wisest choice?"

"He's managed to survive living with us. And he's stopped several casualties of our crew. Besides, this is Roxas' homeland. He knows it better than anyone and that includes all its nooks and crannies of larceny. He'll be our perfect tour guide." Axel says.

Roxas looks ahead and feels his heartbeat pounding against his chest. The moment he's back on shore, the guild members will swoop in on them. Roxas needs to protect Axel and Ventus and Demyx. Where is Vanitas when Roxas needs him? Not just for the information on the Faceless, but just to help him.

Roxas keep staring ahead as the shoreline becomes clearer and closer. His heart starts to beat fast as he sees the familiar docks, now clean of blood and bodies, newly polished and people walking on it normally. The sun is entering the state of late evening, soon it will be dark, and the streets will be crawling with thieves if they haven't already seen Roxas by now. Other ships are docked in and there's a smaller lot for smaller boats, but not many spots are available since people rent them during the day to take out fishing.

"So, where are we going to park?" Demyx asks.

"Here." Roxas points to a spot at the very back of the lot, but it's right beside a pier. And a simply walk up and there's a small back road winds back and around the few houses posted near the shore.

"I would ask how you know this, but I'll just assume." Xigbar comments.

This time, Roxas pulls on his uniform – of which is thankfully clean – his armor and all and wraps his cloak around himself. He readies his weapons and pulls his hood up. "Once we're on land, you stay close to me." Roxas orders. I'll take us right to one of the safehouses and we'll travel from there to my father's mansion."

"Mansion?!" Demyx exclaims.

"Yeah."

"You didn't tell us your father was rich!"

"It didn't seem important."

"Plus he's a guildmaster, Demyx." Luxord speaks. "Of course he has riches. He's such a -"

"I would advise you to hold your tongue." Roxas cuts him off harshly. "You're in my town now, and here all walls have ears. Stick close to me, and don't say anything!"

Once the boat reaches the dock, a young boy working the pier approaches and offers to tie it down. Roxas thanks him and gets out first on his own. The other men follow and Roxas immediately starts walking up the road.

"Hey, wait up!" Ventus calls.

"Keep up!" Roxas calls back.

Ventus looks to Axel, who already has a look of worry on his face. they decide to follow after Roxas pays the boy to unload their belongings and take it to a location he exchanges with the boy. His eyes widen and so Roxas must've told him a location known to guild members. The boy nods his head and bows in respect before retreating back.

Marluxia follows quickly and leans in to Roxas. "Don't forget our deal."

Roxas jerks back and glares at him. "Come on!" Roxas shouts.

As they make their way through the village, Roxas can't help but slow down as he takes in the full effect that he's back home. Giving into his urge, Roxas makes a sharp right and out onto the main roads, into the marketplace. Roxas feels oddly exhilarated.

Back in his home town was incredibly rejuvenating. Roxas could just imagine his room with comfy king-sized mattress and a steaming hot shower to wash away the grim and sweat. He finds himself walking faster as he remembers this is the road that leads to the mansions. It takes all his energy to resists breaking into a sprint to see the mansions as he hasn't seen it since the riot.

"Follow me. Quickly. I have a place we can hole up for the night. " Roxas orders.

No one argues but they pick up their pace as they follow Roxas. Ventus, who has memorized the main artery roads of Twilight Town, follows Roxas as he heads down a ramp on Tam Common and onto Merchant Way. There, Roxas ceases to a halt and looks all around. He stares down at his boots as a fine layer of ash settles over the black leather.

The wind has shifted, so the smoke now blows in their faces. Stalls lay smashed, their signs broken and their boards cracked as if by hammers. The windows of every store are still shattered. Fires have consumed a block of five stores on the north side, with three more along the south. Guards stand around the charred wreckage, shifting rubble around while men and woman volunteers carry buckets of burnt bricks and stone. There's been no rain to disturb the ash piles of ash left by the raid, so they shift here and there in reaction to his footsteps.

The crew looks around in quiet as they watch a guard help a woman in lifting a bucket and shifting aside a burnt plank of wood. Roxas and the crew continue traveling down Merchant Way, approaching the wealthy eastern district. The closer they come to center of the city, the more eyes watch them passing. None of the men act intimidated, in fact Demyx seems to take full advantage of Roxas and his power in the city. He walks up to Roxas and wraps an arm around his shoulder. Roxas looks to him but rolls his eyes, letting Demyx arm stay on his shoulder. He understands. They're not used to having many eyes leering envious at them.

"We're not far now." Roxas says aloud, informing the men. "It's in the eastern district. Merchant's Way ends in a fork at the Sandlot and Sunset Terrace. Not far up Terrace is a safehouse. We'll be safe there."

"Wait, why are you saying this out loud?" Ventus questions. "Won't you attract your 'friends'? What if they overhear you? What if they find us?"

Roxas keeps his head straight ahead as he answers. "They already have."

Ventus as well as the other men feel chills run up and down their spines. They suddenly feel like they're walking through a forest of dry tinder, and every crewmen traveling with them is carrying a blazing torch. A single false move means fire. Roxas can't help but smile as he finds his cruel amusement surfacing once more. He has already seen several men following them, all wearing cloaks of black.

They reach the fork at a large open area assumed to be the Sandlot and a road starting upward, meant to be Sunset Terrace. The south path towards the Sandlot is quiet, the Terrace bustles with activity. Roxas turns without stopping and keeps walking, and soon they come across a filthy beggar sitting beside the road. He is blind, and before him is a clay pot. Roxas watches as a chubby merchant wearing red and purple silks atop his tunic tosses in a handful of coins.

"Stay here." Roxas orders.

Before the merchant could escape, Roxas is already there, grabbing the man's arm while stabbing his sword into the pot.

"Let go of me." the merchant shouts as he tries to wrench his arm away. Roxas' grip does not loosen. Now that Roxas is back in his own town, he needs to reestablish his reputation as well as make his presence known. When he pulls his sword out of the pot, the sharp tip has pierced through the center of one of the coins.

"What charity is this?" Roxas asks as the sunlight winks off his blade.

"Help for those less fortunate." says the hubby man as he looks around for someone to aid him. There is none. Axel steps in front of Ventus as they watch Roxas. Axel and Ventus can both feel the others urge to stop Roxas, but this is his town now, and this could be a matter of guild business.

Everyone seems to recognize Roxas' black armor, the holographic emblem on his torn and battered cloak as well as the bits of blonde poking out from underneath his hood. Usually thieves aren't seen during the day. Better to safely ignore the darkness than call it out and risk death.

Roxas is a Prince of Darkness once more.

"Shall you buy your way to eternity?" asks Roxas. The coin slowly slides off the sword, clinking against the cobblestone. "If copper to a blind man saves your soul, imagine your rewards if you threw gold to the feet of a truly holy man."

"You're evil." the merchant says. Roxas feels impressed by his courage.

"Evil?" Roxas calmly asks. He rips the silks from the man's tunic and holds the aloft. "You parade before a blind man in wealth that could feed him for years while tossing him a pittance you will never miss. That is not piety. That is disgusting."

He turns and rams the silk into the blind man's pot. The merchant stands with his hands shaking, his eyes torn between the dark assassin and the silk.

"No fighting, have mercy. A kindness is a kindness, no matter the size." The blind man says, trying to defuse the situation. Roxas only smiles and gestures to the pot. His sword still gleaming.

"What is more important to you?" Roxas asks the rich man. "Your wealth, or your supposed bribes to the fates?"

When the merchant reaches down for the silk, Roxas cuts him down. With two vicious hacks he separates the head and dumps it atop the pot. The blood pours freely, ruining the silk and drenching the few coins within.

"Gifts are always repaid in blood." Roxas says to the blind man. "Altruism is a delusion. Grace is weakness masked in lies."

By now a crowd has surrounded him, showing and pointing angrily. The dark assassin smiles, and when he stretches out his sword, the people make him a path. With so many swarming the streets, it takes a good while for the city guard to arrive. Roxas hears the distant commotion behind him, but feels no fear that they might come searching. They will hear his description, and know him for who he is. That alone will prevent any search. No city guard is dumb enough to challenge the son of an assassin, not without an army at its back.

Despite their delay, Roxas' mood remains good. About a minute after the crowd disperses in talks of outrage, Axel follows Roxas' path towards a back alley, leading the crew. Once he finds the boy standing at the end of an alleyway, Roxas waits until they catch up before turning away and continues on.

"How much farther?" Demyx asks in a quiet tone.

"Not far." Roxas answers coolly.

The men follow Roxas for a few more blocks and turn through a gate into what looks like a private residence. It's a kind of shortcut, because after walking through a manicured garden, they come out of another are onto a small back street that connects two main avenues. They reach a rich set of stores, containing jewelry, silks and exotic fabrics and exquisite glassware and fine tableware. Next to the fabric store is a house that basically looks like a mansion with a too small of space for its massive size. It sits squished between the jewelers and the fabric store, seemingly abandoned with its shades drawn at all windows and the chimney not puffing out smoke, it appears well cared for with clean brickwork and paneling. Roxas walks up, opens the door easily and holds it for all the crewmen as they enter.

"Whoa." Ventus breathes as they step into the foyer.

Tiered crystal chandeliers were dripping from the ceiling. A family room was at the back with velvet plush couches surrounding a table and placed in front of a fireplace with white marble tiles bordering around it. Tall, glass doors were thrown open; the breeze carried the scent of gardenias, which were arranged in tall silver vases, artfully placed on the tabletops. To their right was a study room with more exquisite furniture and draperies on the wall. Upstairs were the bedrooms and a library, all eager to be explored later. Further in, to the left was a hallway leading to a dining room, to the right, a formal living room. A grand staircase seemingly floating on air leads to the upstairs.

"This'll be our safe spot until morning." Roxas says.

"You have places like this all around the city?" Luxord asks.

"Yes. I'll have our chef cook up some food." Roxas says.

"Chef?" Demyx leans over and raises an eyebrow. "Like a personal chef?"

"What else would I mean?" Roxas sarcastically answers. "But she is not the help. You will treat her with respect." Roxas says as he goes towards the kitchen. "Bedrooms are upstairs, you can all puck yourself, except the last door on the left."

Roxas walks around the living room of the home, a small fire in the fireplace and the gold clock on the mantle ticking away. He needs to make sure he can protect the crew, but now that he's actually him, he realizes the least he can do is have his father spare their lives, if only for a day. Roxas hears footsteps and turns around to see Marluxia standing behind the couch.

Roxas rolls his eyes and walks over to a bookshelf beside the fireplace. "I can't make any promises that my father will accept you."

"I have my ways."

"Ways I'm sure, or rather hoping will bite you in your ass." Roxas sneers.

"Now why do you have to be so rude?" Marluxia smiles.

"Because I can guarantee that you have nothing to offer my father. All I can see you good for is being a Worm for secrets. You can't fight, only manipulate your way around, and that will only take you so far, and eventually lead you to death."

"Am I detecting you want out of our deal?" Marluxia says.

"You sound as if I don't have a choice. You can't possibly use anything against me." Roxas says.

"It's like you said, I have a natural manipulative nature."

"And if you were to report something to my father, just who exactly do you think he will believe?" Roxas challenges, his tone low. "You, or me? My father has been in this business a long time, and he's seen all types. You knew my reply was never a guarantee."

"You just need to hold up your end. Because if you don't, I will make you pay." Marluxia says.

"Are you threatening me?" Roxas asks, stepping closer to Marluxia.

"I'm perpetuating you."

Roxas shudders and thrusts his dagger towards Marluxia, spinning the hilt last minute so that it crashes into Marluxia's head. When he hits the floor, Roxas climbs over him, pressing the tip of his dagger into the man's neck.

"That's my job." Roxas snarls. He presses the tip of his dagger into Marluxia's neck, enough to draw a single drop of blood. Marluxia only looks to him before he passes out on the floor.

Unceremoniously, Roxas tosses Marluxia's body onto the couch and leaves the living room.

Walking into the dining hall, the room was lit by hundreds of tiny black votive candles, and stands of black glass beads hung from the chandelier. The entire hall was soaring and grand. It was blue and had crystal snowflakes hung suspended from the vaulted ceiling, wavering ever so slightly. Embroidered pillows and carpets lined the floor, while thick clouds of sweet smoke hazed the air. Lethargic courtiers sat, stooped, and stood around hookah pipes and bowls of smoking incense. A heavy perfume pervaded the space, making Ventus dizzy.

The scent of cinnamon, freshly baked bread, and spiced meat seeped to her nose, causing her stomach to growl like that of a ravenous dog. The smell of perfume and wine mingled with the scent of the rich food. More draperies hung suspended from the vaulted ceilings. A warm fire crackling in the hearth.

Victorian chairs bordered the table while a fireplace with a cherry-finish wood, sat at the vey back of the room. Golden candelabrums poised on each end. A mahogany hutch stood guard along one wall, holding the most exquisite plates, bowls, gravy boats, glasses and a few crystal figurines.

A chandelier with crystal balls dangling off the arms hung suspended above them with bulbs shaped to looks like the flame of a candle.

The table was lined with more exquisite delicacies. Everything the men could think of, and things they never dreamed of lay in a row down the rectangular table. Whole roasted pigs with apples popped in their mouths, huge platters of fowl stuffed with savory fruits and nuts, ocean creatures drizzled in sauces or begging to be dipped in spicy concoctions and countless cheese, breads, vegetables, sweets, waterfalls of wine, and streams of spirits that flicker with flames.

The men all swarm around the table and take their seats as Roxas approaches. He sits at the head of the table and pulls down his hood.

"Where's Marluxia?" Luxord asks.

"Who cares, nobody wants that pink-haired pervert around." Xigbar answers.

Roxas ignores the glances Ventus and Axel give him and instead loads his plate with food before passing it around. He listens to the conversations that Demyx seems to lead as the men interject every once in a while and laugh at his tales. Then the head of the dialogue bounces around from one member to another. Roxas manages to force down a few bits of salad and a slice of roast beef. Even though he isn't much hungry, the men devour the food within the span of an hour, then they all retreat to their rooms where their food comas easily overtake them.

While the snores in the house increase, Roxas moves carefully along the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the front of the house, keeping far enough back from the drapes that no one approaching the edge of the property can catch a glimpse of him.

Someone is out there. Roxas can't see them yet, and they might be expert enough to stay just out of range, but Roxas knows they are being followed. Roxas knows it has to be the guild members as they knew how to pick up their trail on the road.

But what they don't know is of the 'unknown twin' Roxas has. And having them mistakenly kidnap Ventus is a risk he can't afford to take. He'll have to watch Ventus for the night.

Walking up the stairs, Roxas navigates his way to Ventus' room, which is the only room with the door slightly ajar, letting out the seemingly piercing buttery light in the dark hallway. Roxas approaches and knocks twice before stepping in.

"Can I come in?" Roxas asks.

"Go ahead." Ventus smiles. Roxas steps in, shutting the door behind him and finding Ventus on a couch near the fireplace, a book in his hand.

The walls are a peaceful, calm color with naturist wall ornaments and a huge chandelier dripping from the ceiling. The floors are mainly wood with a thick plush carpet stretching the length of the room. There's a large floor to ceiling window with cross-hatched X's along the glass. The thick gold-and-red velvet draperies spilling from the window, like motionless crimson waterfalls. Enormous tapestries hung over the walls. Marble floor-to-ceiling pillars stand at every corner of the room, while a large fireplace plays as centerpiece of the room; a gold clock the only thing on the mantle. Around the fireplace are couches and armchairs with delicate designs and embroidered pillows.

There's a mahogany hutch, wardrobe and dresser all together on one wall with a vanity across the way. Next to the bed is an end table with a glass of water. The bed itself is a four-post, canopy bed with elegant curtains tied to the posts.

"Couldn't have asked for a nicer room."

"I'm afraid you can't get too comfortable." Roxas says as he sits on the couch next to Ventus.

"Still, might as well enjoy it while I can." Ventus smiles. After a moment of silence, and Roxas staring off into the fire, Ventus speaks again. "So, not that I don't appreciate your company, but why are you here?"

Roxas looks at him and exhales through his nose. "I'm here to protect you." his voice is cold, empty, and more than a little scary. Gone is the courteous, understanding Roxas Ventus has been traveling with for nearly three weeks. In his place is a fierce predator willing to do whatever he must do to obliterate anyone who stands between him.

Ventus swallows and takes a breath that rattles his shoulders. "Oh."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you." Roxas says as he tickles Ventus' shoulder.

Ventus shrinks into himself and giggles. "I know you will."

For the next hour, Roxas sits or lies on the couch, browsing through Ventus' pile of books he stuffed in a bag before leaving the ship, until Ventus goes to sleep. Roxas extinguishes the fire and then spends the next thirty minutes sitting in an armchair with his dagger in hand.

Something moves in the mass of trees.

Roxas stands and heads for the window, and he scans the grass, raising his eyes to the tree line, and finds them in less than a minute.

Standing two trees in, watching the front door and moving restlessly beneath the fading rays of the full moon. Stars of the night glitter like shards of silver in the dark sky.

Amateurs.

Roxas decides to go out back and circle around. Checking the window on the opposite end, there is no one watching from behind. He'll need at least one hour to trick them into thinking everyone is asleep. Then he'll have to fool them by pretending he's leaving the house.

Heading downstairs, Roxas marks the time by lighting candles in the kitchen and assembling a snack from the supplies the chef keeps here.

Making sure his shadow doesn't reflect off the walls, he crouches low and waits for the candles to burn out.