Gah, it took me longer than I thought to update. School is horrible sometimes when you're trying to write out a chapter from bullet point notes. Thanks for being patient, and I'm glad people liked the last chapter. This is shorter, but I wanted to show that I was still updating this story.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

As soon as the party officially began, Zexion quickly vacated the area. He had no desire to be used in any kind of demonstration that Xigbar might think up. Especially since it sounded as if Xigbar was planning on using his weapons to shoot at him. Zexion liked being in one piece. Therefore, he ran, knowing that no one would think about trying to stop him. Everyone else was too busy to notice him leaving the room.

Xemnas was already distracted with the sight of the snacks on the table, and Saix was keeping a close eye on him to make sure he did nothing that he would regret when he was in his right mind. Xemnas eyed a particularly tall black and white cake that was on the nearest table, turning to Saix to comment, "Does it not look good? I don't think we should eat it. It looks too beautiful to eat."

Saix wore a blank expression as he looked at said cake, then glanced back at Xemnas. Silently, the Luna Diviner wondered if he should try and get Xemnas to leave the food alone and go join Roxas, the blond seated in the corner of the room and eying everything in the room with slight apprehension.

Roxas was currently wondering why he was there, though when he thought about, he had nothing to do really. Roxas looked across the room to where Axel and Marluxia were conspiring with one another in quiet tones. Roxas decided that it was probably in his best interest to stay where he was, as he did not like the expressions they wore. They only wore those looks when they were up to something. Since they weren't plotting against one another, Roxas assumed that they were planning on doing something to either Vexen or Demyx, since they were closest to Axel and Marluxia. Roxas settled back in the chair he was seated in. He was probably safe where he was. At least, Roxas hoped he was.

Axel and Marluxia seemed to come to some agreement, because they both nodded and started walking. Right towards an unaware Vexen, who was mumbling to himself what type of antidotes might work on Xemnas. Demyx was safe for the time being, as he had chosen that moment to go and hop onto the trampoline.

Roxas sighed, hoping that he wouldn't get involved with whatever Axel and Marluxia were planning on doing.

121

Once Zexion was out of the Hall of Empty Melodies, he stopped momentarily in the hallway, trying to decide the best place to stay until the party was over. Zexion cast a quick glance over his shoulder, before setting off again at a rather fast pace. Perhaps somewhere that Xigbar wouldn't think to look for him. Zexion rounded the corner, scowling. He wouldn't put it past Xigbar to pop out randomly and drag him off back to the party, if only because he was bored and wanted to be entertained. With potential bodily injury to the Cloaked Schemer.

Zexion allowed himself a faint smile, as he decided that he'd be able to use this time to figure out how to get back at Marluxia and Axel. Zexion frowned as he tried to figure out where he could go that he would be able to avoid detection from Xigbar. 'My room isn't a viable option. He would check there first. The next logical place would be to go the laboratory, but Xigbar would no doubt check there as well...perhaps one of the smaller labs will do.' Zexion turned down another hall, his mind made up. He'd go to one of the more unused labs, as he was sure that only he and Vexen, and perhaps Lexaeus, knew where the two least used labs were. Xigbar shouldn't, as the one-eyed man usually amused himself with popping out of thin air into the main laboratory, mostly to annoy/pester/irritate Vexen, who in turn would scold Xigbar for interrupting him during the most important stage of his experiment.

Zexion shook his head. He wanted the madness to end, and getting the Superior back to normal was what was going to make that happen. Although Xemnas would be furious at some members of the organization, it was worth it if he could get back to his scheming uninterrupted. Zexion would have to think of a way to get Vexen to leave the party so that he could help with the antidote for Xemnas. But how to do that without being caught by Xigbar in the meantime...

121

Vexen was preparing to leave the Hall of Empty Melodies, and didn't see two grinning faces come up from behind him. Vexen let out a cry of surprise when Marluxia and Axel grabbed either of his arms and dragged him backwards. "Let go of me!"

Axel and Marluxia merely smiled and continued to drag along the rather irate man.

Xigbar had seen that Zexion had snuck off, and decided to go after him later. He had seen something far more entertaining to occupy him at the moment. Xigbar watched in amusement as Axel and Marluxia all but dragged a protesting Vexen over to the improvised ice rink he had made. Grinning maniacally, Axel and Marluxia shoved Vexen off onto the ice, where the taller man made an attempt to not fall over.

Vexen managed to gain his balance, and was preparing a mini lecture to throw at the other two. Vexen managed to turn around without falling over, which was a good thing in his mind.

Axel and Marluxia exchanged glances, before Axel's grin faded and turned somewhat worried. He didn't like the look being thrown his way by Marluxia. Before Axel could make any protests, Marluxia gave him an abrupt shove, causing Axel to go sliding across the ice and right into Vexen.

Vexen let out another sound of surprise as Axel slid right into him and almost knocked them both over.

Axel used one hand to grab Vexen's shoulder to prevent himself from falling over, before raising his other hand and sending a burst of flames in the Graceful Assassin's direction.

Marluxia retreated a few steps to avoid the blast of flame aimed at him, smirking when the stray fire from the attack melted some of the ice, causing Vexen to slip and fall into the small pool of water. Vexen was about to snap a furious tirade at the pink haired man, when a water balloon hit him over the head, drenching him further.

Axel had let go of Vexen to avoid falling into the water as well, and laughed at the sight of the water balloon hitting Vexen over the head and drenching him.

Marluxia grinned as well and joined Xigbar up on the second floor, where he and the freeshooter gleefully chucked the water balloons at random. Unfortunately for Axel, who was busy laughing at Vexen, the redhead failed to notice a larger balloon being thrown his way by Marluxia.

Roxas settled back further in his chair and shook his head as he watched the large water balloon make a beeline for Axel's head.

Axel let out a surprised gasp as the balloon burst open, thoroughly drenching him. Shaking himself in an attempt to get dry, Axel shot a glare of annoyance up at Marluxia, who merely leaned against the railing with a smile and prepared to thrown another water balloon at the irked red head. Axel reached out to hit the balloon with fire, only to find that he couldn't get anything other than smoke or a spark. The balloon hit him straight in the face. Spluttering, Axel made as if to go and head up to the second floor, when Larxene decided that she wanted to join in.

Roxas winced as he saw Larxene summon up some lightning and direct it at Vexen and Axel, both of whom were thoroughly drenched and still getting hit with water balloons.

With a laugh, Larxene zapped both Axel and Vexen, a stray bolt barley missing Demyx, who had up until now been jumping on the trampoline.

After seeing the maniacal gleam in Larxene's eyes, Demyx quickly vacated the trampoline when he saw her moving toward him in order to get a better aim at the two on the ice rink. Demyx joined Xigbar and Marluxia up on the second floor, where the water balloons had momentarily been forgotten by the one eyed man, though Marluxia was still gleefully hurling them, now making sure he did not to hit Larxene.

"What are you doing, Xigbar?" Demyx wondered, seeing the frown that had made its way onto Xigbar's face, as if he were thinking about something.

Xigbar smiled at the confused Melodious Nocturne, "I'll be back. I just thought of something to go get for the party." Xigbar walked off, thinking that he'd check for Zexion in the laboratory. It seemed like somewhere the Cloaked Schemer would go.

Before Demyx could ask what it was that Xigbar was getting, the freeshooter had already left the room. Demyx eyed Marluxia apprehensively, trying to decide if he should join in with the balloon throwing, or if he'd be safer sitting on the chairs where Roxas was. With stray bolts of lightning going everywhere, and Xaldin approaching Marluxia with a faintly irritated expression, Demyx decided that it would probably be safer.

Xemnas, meanwhile, was commenting about all of the decorations and cake to Saix, who was now wearing a long suffering expression. He didn't think he could handle more talk about how the cakes were too good looking to be eaten.

"I really like this one. It almost looks like the castle," Xemnas continued on as if he hadn't noticed Saix's change in expression. Behind them, Demyx was darting across the room and dodging lightning bolts as he raced for the relative safety of where Roxas was hiding in the corner of the room.

Saix wondered whether Zexion's absence meant that he had gone off to work on the antidote for Xemnas. Saix turned back in when Xemnas asked him what he thought about the cakes. Saix took a deep breath, wondering what the other wanted him to say. "They look...too good to eat. As you said." The Superior beamed at him, and Saix didn't know what to say. It was a disturbing look to see on Xemans' face. Again, Saix hoped that Zexion was off doing something useful. He didn't know how much more of this he could take.

I'm on my summer break now, so I hope I can get something up sooner. There'll be one to two more chapters more for the party, then one to three for the aftermath. After that, I'd be open to suggestions as to what to do after all that.