Pairings: Riku/Sora, Leon/Cloud, Axel/Roxas, more pairings later?

Warnings: AU, I guess spoilers or something for people who haven't seen all the way through the end of the game, medieval stuff, possibilities of violence and bloodshed and sexiness

Author's comment: Almost finished editing this one and then I fell asleep. But it's up now! I'll try to get the next one out this Wednesday since I'll be leaving for convention this coming weekend. If I see you at Metrocon then all the more awesome! :D

Princely Garbs 27

The children were still scared of him. Demyx couldn't deny it upset him a bit. But could he blame them? He had betrayed them and even killed the parents of some of them. There was nothing he could do to heal those feelings. Even if Riku did speak on the Organization's behalf that didn't mean the people would accept them so easily, especially the three of them who had once been called friends.

"This really sucks," Demyx said kicking at a rock by his foot. The kids were off playing and having fun amongst each other and he would have done anything to be there to entertain them. He'd never had a chance to have fun as a kid, especially since he'd been with the Organization since his childhood.

"I know what you mean," Marluxia said sitting with Larxene beside him against the castle wall. They'd found a little field within the Kingdom Hearts reign. The grass here was beautiful and a healthy color green. Flowers bloomed everywhere the eyes could reach and there was a crystal clear lake nearby that some birds had no problems enjoying. "But even if we were being controlled by darkness it doesn't excuse the fact that we killed innocent people."

"I know that," Demyx admitted ducking his head slightly as he slid down on the other side of Marluxia. "But that doesn't change the fact that it sucks."

"Well…" Larxene stood up dusting her butt off before she looked down at them both. She looked much more…calm…and friendly now that the darkness that invaded her heart was gone. "We'll just have to earn the right to make people like us again."

"How?" Demyx asked hopeful.

Larxene's look saddened but she gave him a chaste smile. "One step at a time."

"It will be a long process." Marluxia rested his hand on the ground beside him, the hand glowing a moment before the grass grew flush around his fingers. "But what other way is there?"

"None." Larxene gave a forlorn look to the sky. They were silent. The wind picked up around them, blowing a couple of stray leaves from the surrounding trees. "Some might never forgive us."

Demyx rested his chin on a knee and frowned a bit as he looked at the two of them. "Hmm…" True, they couldn't expect everyone to forgive them…but he might be able to mend some of those broken bridges. He stretched his arms above his head before he forced himself to stand up bending over to pop the muscles in his back.

"Well there's no point dwelling on it now," he said grinning down at the two of them. "They need some music for the festival right?" Demyx grinned and waved his hand, water glowing and forming from his hands taking shape into a lute before becoming solid. Despite having gained their hearts back, the former Organization members were still able to use a bit of their abilities, though without the use of the darkness. It might as well be magic though it seemed to weaken slowly these past few times. He was sure it wouldn't be long before he wouldn't be able to use it at all.

"I'll go help out the musicians," Demyx said already starting to head off back to the city. He held the lute over a shoulder casually. "Maybe you guys can find some way to help with your powers."

"I know exactly what I'll do," Larxene said from behind him. Demyx couldn't help laughing as he started to run heading back into the town. They were going to make it through this one way or another. If he needed to spend the rest of his life repaying the people back then he would. He wouldn't rest until everyone was happy, even if that never happened during his living days.

Axel stared at Roxas, making the younger ex-Organization member feel uncomfortable. But he knew the reason for the gaze. How could a person not gawk considering what he'd been forced to wear. They were on their way to the festival. Somehow both he and Sora had got the luck of having specially made festival clothes that really made them stand out.

He wore a headband covered in a blue plumes and baggy blue pants that contrasted to Sora's red. Both boys wore the yellow vest and enough jewelry to send a beacon to a person halfway across the world. Roxas wondered if Merlin had created these clothes just for the sake of torture. He couldn't really blame Merlin though, since Mickey was the one that said it wasn't flashy enough. Were they some kind of dress up dolls to the king or something?

"You look great," Axel said though the smirk didn't leave his face.

"I look ridiculous," Roxas responded trying his best to glare at the red head even though his cheeks were flushed.

"It's nice."

"It sucks."

"It looks pretty on you."

"I'm a boy."

"And?" Axel eyes seemed to glow with mischief as he kept teasing.

"I'm not supposed to look pretty," Roxas said unable to help himself as he glanced away shyly. Damn the red head and his sexy eyes.

"Can't help what you are."

"Axel!" Roxas really blushed then and used a hand to hit his shoulder.

Axel wasn't fazed by it he just chuckled and leaned over kissing Roxas's forehead. "I'm just teasing. It's fine." They'd gotten together after Axel woke up from the battle at Hallow Bastion. It'd been the best move he'd ever made. He'd been his happiest ever since.

"To think you didn't even know what teasing was until recently," Roxas said elbowing his ribs lightly.

Axel rubbed at the spot pretending to be in pain despite the smirk on his lips. "It's not that I didn't know, just that I had forgotten." He reached down resting his hand flat on Roxas's chest. Roxas's heart beat faster at the touch and he closed his eyes savoring this moment. "About like how I forgot what love felt like until you showed me."

"A-Axel…" Roxas blushed when Axel wrapped his arms around him pulling him closer to him. They stayed together a moment longer just enjoying the privacy before Axel leaned back and grabbed Roxas's hand.

"Come on, let's go join up with everyone." Roxas nodded his head a blush in his cheeks and followed alongside the former Organization member.

The preparations were almost completed. Decorations hang beautiful from desolate windows and street lights in a swirl of colorful feathers and beads. Everyone was busy at work completing finishing touches and decorating the tables that were set up with food stacked on top. Everyone but a single figure who stood out because of his hunched over, brooding form.

Auron made his way over to the Radiant Garden commander. He became fascinated with how deeply the man was staring ahead of him, before realizing what had him so mesmerized. Cloud seemed oblivious as he walked with the three princes with observing eyes.

"Having fun?" Auron asked him when he'd stopped beside him.

"I'm a soldier," Leon said as his response. He only turned his eyes away for a second to look up at Auron before returning his gaze to Cloud. "We don't have fun. We protect."

"You're also human." Auron took a moment to pull a chair up sitting at the table with him. He watched the young blond with Leon, growing amused when Cloud started to fuss over Sora's clothes reminding him of a mother hen with her chick. He must have been as nervous as the twins were. This would be the first festival for the two twins. It would be the first in many years for Auron, Cloud, and Mickey, who'd used to frequent the festivals every opportunity he had.

Auron looked at Leon again. The man just oozed of a person in love, despite the lack of emotions radiating from him. But Auron knew, he knew because for a short time at Hallow Bastion he had been inside the man's head. Even if he could lie to himself and everyone out loud, he could not trick his own mind which, at the time, lay bare open for Auron's access. "…When are you going to confess?"

Leon turned his head to gape at him. Auron stared back with his one good eye. "Don't deny it," he said to Leon before reaching up and tapping his own head. "You think too much. It's hard to lie to yourself."

"…Stay out of my head." Leon glowered at him clenching his hands into fists.

Auron tilted his head popping a joint in his neck and kept his eye on Leon. "…Keep stalling and I'll take him myself." Leon's glare seemed to heat up. He mumbled something under his breath turning his head away to look towards Cloud again. The reaction amused Auron even as he leaned in trying to catch what the commander said.

"…I'm sorry…what was that?" Auron asked, smirking when Leon's eyes twitched. It's a shame how easy it was to get a rise out of Leon.

Leon's glare harden but this time there was a tattle tale coloring of red in his cheeks. "I don't know how yet…" The words still came out low but this time Auron managed to catch them all.

"Hm." Auron nodded. Yes, of course that was the hardest part to any relationship. How to confess to someone when you've know clue how to begin? "…The simplest solution would be to just kiss him," Auron said looking towards Cloud again and giving a hidden smile under his collar when Cloud tried to fix the two twins stubborn hair. "If he responds positively to it then it must be he feels the same way." He shrugged his shoulders. It was the bluntest way to go about it. The only bad part to it was if it ended negatively. The person confessing would probably end up with both a broken heart and a stinging cheek.

Leon gave a grunt but a glance at him showed he was really thinking about it. It made Auron chuckle as mentally he could see Leon writing down this tidbit of information storing it away on his mini notepad. "Don't think too hard on it," Auron reassured him reaching down to rest his hand on Leon's shoulder. "Just follow your heart." Leon glanced at him, looking unsure for a moment. He could imagine the fact that Leon was frightened by the prospect of Cloud not returning is feelings. Anyone would feel the same in this situation.

"I'll leave you to think about it." Auron said and stood up from the table heading off to take care of other business. When he glanced back he saw Leon staring towards Cloud again, only this time with a resolute look on his face. Leon made his decision…and so had Auron.

"Come on, you two, act least act like you're enjoying this." Kairi frowned at them with her hands on her hips resembling a lecturing mother as she looked between Riku and Sora. Honestly, she felt more like his little sister than a cousin. "Especially, you, Sora." She gave him a pointed look and Riku did his best to keep his smirk from lifting to his lips when the younger male squirmed under the stare. But it wasn't like Riku didn't understand his pain, after all he was dressed weird himself…just not as extravagantly.

"I feel like an idiot," Sora whined out tugging on the yellow vest with a blush. Riku regretted the small action as he found himself trying to see more of the skin that lay beneath the open vest.

"At least it looks good on you," Riku said still staring at the flash of skin before he blushed at the look Sora gave him. "From a…friendly perspective." Sora seemed to blush at that and glanced down at his feet. If Riku had been paying attention he would have noticed the look that Kairi was giving them.

"I'll give you two a moment to get it together," she said already walking in Riku's direction. "I'll go check on the others…good luck." The last part came out as a whisper when Kairi passed by his side. If he hadn't been paying attention to her words he would have missed it. Riku was about to turn to stop her but when he looked up he saw Sora staring at him. The younger male suddenly found interest in his shirt reminding Riku of how nervous he felt himself. Kairi was giving him this chance…he couldn't let it fail.

"Sor-"

"Ri-"

The two of them looked at each other stopping before starting to laugh. He couldn't admit knowing exactly what was so funny about what happened, but the laugh seemed to ease the bitter sweet tension between them. Sora smiled at him and Riku couldn't help letting his eyes trail over the soft lips. They were close to each other, but it was still a friendly distance. Riku wanted to change that.

"Wow," Sora said rubbing at his eyes where small tears had formed from the loud laughter. "It's like something you'd read in one of those cheesy nov-"

The words stopped…at the fault of the young prince of Radiant Garden kissing the other prince's lips. He could see the heat crawling up Sora's face from his neck but he didn't pull away, instead reaching down to pull Sora closer in hopes of him not trying to run away. Sora hadn't responded to the kiss aside from the stare of wide eyes. Riku had no regrets, though…at least not with the decision he'd made.

His determination rewarded him as he felt Sora's lips moving against him before the younger boy leaned closer starting to kiss him back. They weren't experienced at this at all, the kiss being sloppy and more like a brush of lips than anything. It'd be enough to make Riku happy anyway as he slowly leaned back to break the kiss. He panted slightly in excitement and lean forward to rest his forehead against Sora's, smiling down at him.

Sora stared up into his eyes smiling softly though the redness didn't seem to dissipate. "I guess I had that one coming, huh?"

Riku hesitated at the words before nodded his head. "For a long time now." He still had his arms around Sora and felt even more surprised when the younger prince leaned closer to him about to kiss him. Riku braced himself, heart drumming against his chest as he felt the touch ghosting across his lips.

"Come on you love birds, they're getting started!" Kairi said from behind Riku forcing the two of them to pull back from each other guilty.

Sora blushed looking up at Riku shyly, a small smile on his lips before he turned and rushed off quickly running past Kairi. Riku shook his head at the sudden change and was about to follow before he looked over at Kairi. She was staring after Sora and it reminded Riku of the fact that she'd been infatuated with the boy after all this time. His feet found him walking until he was standing before his cousin.

"Kairi…" He said her name slowly and waited for the girl to turn to face him. "..I'm sor-"

"It's ok," Kairi said shaking her head before he could finish. "I'm just glad to finally see you happy."

"Kairi…"

"You've always looked so sad before," she said walking to stand beside him and glancing up at him, "ever since your parents died. But ever since Sora's come to Radiant Garden, you've been the happiest I've ever seen. I don't want to see that depressed look again." She smiled glancing over towards where everyone was starting to gather for the festival.

"Thank you," Riku said. It was all he could say. His cousin had always been there for him, was still there for him. She was special to him and if he had it any other way he would have supported Sora's relationship with her, even if it broke his heart to pieces. It made him feel bad to steal this away, this heart that Kairi wanted, this heart that he couldn't bear to let go.

"Quit looking so serious." She giggled behind a hand looking at him again before she smiled and reached out wrapping her arms around Riku. "I love you, cousin."

"I love you too," Riku smiled hugging her back. "Now let's go enjoy this festival and see about finding you a boyfriend."

"How about you go take care of your own boyfriend and leave me to handle my own love life."

"I guess that sounds fair," Riku said blushing at the word boyfriend before laughing and grabbing her hand. He dragged her off to join with Sora and the rest of their friends as the sound of music started to fill the festival air.

TBC…

Working on the next part now. Hope you enjoyed this one!