Author's Notes: Wow, it's sure been a while, hasn't it? I'm sure all of you are just wondering where the heck I've been all of this time, but I'm also sure that you want me to continue on with the story as fast as I can.

So thanks for the reviews and, of course, I don't own anything!

Enjoy the new chapter!

Some say that life is too short.

I personally didn't think of such things.

"Life" and the simple time span of one's "life" shouldn't matter to a Nobody.

Then... along came you.

I had forgotten my work, my mission, and instead favored time with you.

You shared your dreams and goals with me, though in respect, you didn't ask of mine.

I thought time was at a standstill. As long as you were here, what else could I need?

It was a shame, really...

A shame that I didn't see my final hours drawing closer.

Chapter Four - Void

Things couldn't have been better for Demyx. For all that he was aware of, his life with Zexion couldn't have been better either. He did often wonder what Zexion was up to now and days, but thought better of asking. Weither or not he wanted to talk of it was Zexion's business and not his.

Even though it seemed that there was still a lot of distance between him and Zexion, Demyx lately felt that there was no space between them at all. It used to be that when Demyx went to visit Zexion, the silver haired man would do all in his power to make Demyx leave him alone. Now and days when Demyx strolled into the research labs, Zexion would continue on with his work. Though it seemed that he was working and not listening to any one of the multiple topics Demyx was discussing, the blonde could tell he held Zexion's full attention. In a sense, Demyx could hear Zexion conversing with him, even though the man sat silently at his desk while he paced around talking.

That's just Zexion's way of talking to me. Demyx thought with a smile. Weeks ago, he didn't understand Zexion's behavior at all. But now it seemed like the most natural thing in the world, hearing Zexion's silent agreement.

The blonde casually walked his way into the research facilities that he had come to know so well in the past few weeks. "Honey, I'm home!" He cheerfully chirped as he entered the room where Zexion sat, his attention poured over a couple of notebooks.

Zexion looked up, even though he knew who was there. He envied the carefree air that Demyx carried with him wherever he went. Zexion guiltily wanted to be a bit more like Demyx, now that things inside the castle had taken a turn for the worst. The Keyblade user he thought was tinged with darkness was resisting his plans with much force. Time was of the essence, now that fellow members of the Organization were being lost to the fissure of power that Marluxia had created.

Larxene... Vexen... even Lexaeus has fallen because of Marluxia's schemes. I'll be damned to know where Axel stands in this. Zexion thought, running a hand through his hair. He didn't seem to notice Demyx standing right in front of him, his hands on his hips.

"Hellooooo!" The blonde waived a gloved hand before Zexion's face. When Zexion failed to respond to this, Demyx placed his hands on the desk that Zexion was seated at and thrust his face in front of the white haired man's. "Earth to Zexion! Come in, Zexy!"

It seemed that at that very moment, Zexion returned to reality. Unfortunately for him, reality was Demyx's face dangerously close to his own. This shocked the man, causing a reaction of him pushing his chair back to put more distance between the two to take place. Zexion pushed the chair back too fast, which looked like Zexion bolting the chair back too quickly and promptly falling with it onto his back, his feet in the air.

Demyx had to clamp his jaw shut to stop himself from bursting out into laughter. His sides still tickling from the urge to laugh, the blond peeked over the desk to see Zexion still on the ground, his arms folded over his chest and his eyes narrowed.

"That wasn't funny, Demyx."

Well, at least he's not angry at me... Demyx risked letting a chuckle out as he extended a hand down to Zexion. "Would it help if I said I was sorry?"

"Just don't do that again and I won't worry about it." Zexion replied, clasping his hand in Demyx's and hoisted himself up.

"Don't do what?" Demyx questioned slyly as he pulled his friend up. Though Zexion had regained his footing, they still were holding each other's hand. Something inside urged Demyx to be daring today. It was a feeling of anxiousness... a feeling that somehow said that if Demyx didn't do what this feeling told him to do, he'd never be able to do it again.

Suddenly feeling brave, Demyx decided to make his move, even if Zexion did get mad at him this time. Live for the moment, right?

With a sudden jolt of courage, Demyx pulled Zexion across the desk. The silver haired man drew in a sharp breath as he wound up leaning against his opposite, though he dare not look up into the blue eyes above him. It didn't matter, as Demyx cupped a hand under Zexion's chin, slightly tilting his face up.

Their lips met briefly for a suspended moment in time. Zexion heard a pounding sound in his ears, his body froze by the feeling of someone else touching him. How long had it been? How much time had passed? How long was Demyx going to hold him like this? A second? An hour, perhaps?

The moment was over. Time had returned to passing in the way Zexion was accustomed to. The rushing sound in his ears had stopped. It took the silver haired man a second to remember what had happened, but as he eyed the world around him, the desk that he was leaning on, and the opposite that he was still holding hands it, Zexion felt a feeling of comfort swelling within him.

Demyx gave a small laugh as he let Zexion go. This time, he couldn't rely on Zexion's silent nature to tell him anything, so he just went ahead with the talking. "I've heard that when people really love each other, they do something like that." He reached over and tucked a stray strand of Zexion's hair behind his ear. "It kinda steals your breath away, huh?"

Zexion readied his chair and plopped into it without making any effort to hide the fact that he was obviously stunned. He lifted a hand to his lips and touched them tenderly, the sensation of meeting with Demyx still alive in him.

"How..." Zexion looked up to Demyx, who had suddenly turned around and was making his way out of the research labs.

"I'll explain it to you when I get back tonight, okay? If you're a good boy, I'll show you more than what we just did. Much more." Demyx said, turning to look over his shoulder with a devious smirk. The blonde winked at the stunned Zexion before shrouding himself in a darkness portal, leaving the silver haired man to ponder what had just taken place.

There was a stiff feeling in the air as Demyx returned to Castle Oblivion that night. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was a foreboding sense of dread gathering in his stomach as he made his way to visit Zexion that night.

Calling on his sitar simply by wishing it in his hand, Demyx broke into a run as he made his way to the researching facilities, the ominous feeling getting stronger and stronger with every step he took towards his destination. It got to the point where Demyx was starting to feel sick in the stomach, the feeling was getting so strong.

Demyx threw open the doors to the labs and looked around for Zexion. A wave of relief flooded over the blonde as he located his opposite standing by his desk, his back facing Demyx.

"Man, did I ever worry about you!" Demyx said, blissfully placing a hand on Zexion's shoulder. "Don't ask me how, but it really felt for a while like something bad had happened to you-"

"It hurts..." Zexion murmured, his voice still monotone. He gently shrugged Demyx's hand off his shoulder and turned to face him.

Demyx wanted to ask Zexion what was wrong, but when he pulled his hand back, something caught his eye. A red smear was on his black glove. Upon further inspecting it, Demyx realized it was fresh blood from a wound. Only then did it hit Demyx- Zexion was wounded. And from the looks of his torn coat and the small puddle of blood at his feet, Zexion was hurt very badly.

"I just managed to get away from that... Keyblade kid." Zexion smiled, despite his jaw being clenched from pain shooting through his body. "I guess he wasn't as easy to taint as I had thought..." He tried to move, but ended up slipping from the pain and weakness of his damaged body.

"Zex!" Demyx jumped forward, immediately grabbing hold of the silver haired man to stop him from falling. Slinging an arm over his shoulder, Demyx helped Zexion into a near by chair. "Hey, hang on there, Zex... I'll go to the Superior. I'll... I'll tell him you've been hurt. He'll fix you up and things will be good as new. You'll be better in no time!" The blonde couldn't help but babble out these things as he set Zexion in the chair, his concern and worry for his friend spilling out of his mouth.

"Demyx... wait." Zexion said, his voice tired. Even though he was wounded, he attempted to stand on his own. The silver haired man's legs buckled, sending him back into the chair and gritting his teeth in pain and annoyance.

"Don't try to move!" Demyx exclaimed, perhaps a little too loudly.

Fear was written all over his face now, Zexion could see it. But more than ever, Zexion knew he had to get Demyx to leave him and not come back. He could sense that person moving inside of the castle with the replica in tow. It wouldn't take long for those two to arrive to finish the job, and the last thing Zexion wanted was for Demyx to be dragged into as mess that would ultimately claim his life.

"Demyx, listen to me." Zexion waited until he was sure he had the blonde's full attention. "I want you to leave. Don't go to the Superior. Just turn around and leave."

"What? Why would I do something like that? I-"

"Listen, we don't have time to argue!" Zexion barked. "Something is going to take place here within the next few minutes, and I don't want you involved. The matter of one's life is at hand here."

"But you can't-"

"I can and I will." Zexion snapped, interrupting Demyx once again. "You've always respected my words before, why stop now?" The silver haired man turned from his opposite. "And the fact of the matter stands- you were not involved in this, so you should not die for it."

Demyx was feeling a pain in his chest again. He knew that Zexion was right and was trying in his own way to save Demyx from doing something unnecessary. Though he understood this well, it didn't make the pain he felt go away.

The blonde gave a little, soft smile in spite of all the things that were going on. "I might have not been involved with your for this. But..." He gently slipped a hand into Zexion's to give it a light squeeze. "I was involved with this."

"Get going. He's almost here." Zexion said, holding Demyx's hand for a small second longer.

Demyx took a few steps away from his friend, when he could have sworn he heard a murmured 'Thank you'. Regardless, Demyx quickened his pace and left the research labs. Unbeknownst to him, that was the last time Demyx would ever see Zexion alive again.

Zexion waited until Demyx's footsteps disappeared into the dark reaches of Castle Oblivion before calling out. "You can stop hiding in the shadows now, Axel. I know you're there."

"You did a good job of not telling Demyx about this whole, nasty ordeal." Axel mused. The replica of the Keyblade user, Riku, lingered behind the man, his eyes set on Zexion.

"It will be harder for you to go after Demyx for 'treason' against the Organization if he has no knowledge of the whole Marluxia affair." Zexion smiled lightly to himself, knowing that he at least bought Demyx a little more time.

"How... sweet of you." Axel motioned to the replica, who readied his weapon, poised to strike.

"I wonder what sort of nonsense you filled this boy's head with, Axel..." Zexion looked the mockery of a Keyblade user in the eye. "Will killing me make you stronger? Will it taint that hole in your body you call a 'heart'?"

The replica gave no answers. Instead, he lunged at Zexion, making quick work of his opponent with one quick sweep of his Keyblade. Zexion fell to the ground, the last of his life tricking out of him. Axel and the replica left him to his last moments, teleporting away to carry out whatever other plots Axel had.

"For me to end like this... it's actually ironic. I find myself wishing that I could see you one last time..." Zexion closed his eyes and rest his head on the cool floor, where a sleep like no other took him, and all was peaceful at last.

I once heard Namine reciting a poem in the early morning.

I remember it in my final moments because I do want to see you again...

Thinking of you, wherever you are.

We pray for our sorrows to end,

And hope that our hearts will blend.

Now I will step forward to realize this wish.

And who knows...

Starting a new journey may not be so hard...

Or maybe it has already begun.

There are many worlds,

But they all share the same sky.

One sky, one destiny.

Let us meet again one day, Demyx.

As long as there is a sky for us to both look to, I will always remember-

All worlds share the same sky.

And we will meet again.

I promise.

AN: How's that for dramatic? Yeah, sure, I took some artistic views on Zexion and Axel's final meeting, but it's all good. Or at least, I hope you guys think so!

With Zexion gone, it's no surprise that the next chapter will be the final installment in the "Broken Roses" fanfic. So prepare yourselves! I'll make sure to have it go out in a bang though, so don't worry. :3