Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts I, COM, II, and any of the characters do not belong, in any way to the writer of this fanfiction. This fiction is written for non-profit reasons.

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"I'm not going," Axel told his driver and bodyguard, Xaldin firmly at the door of his Cloud Nine hotel suite. He could see Demyx in the hall, already bobbing his head to the music from his iPod at fucking nine in the morning. He was even dancing and looked as though all he wanted to do was to go on Entertainment Now with the new kid who was stealing their spotlight. Axel hastily moved to shut the glossy oak door, hoping to catch Xaldin off guard and lock him out, only to find the bodyguard's big bulk in the way.

"I am not going," he repeated, his eyes narrowing into green slits.

Half an hour later found Axel slumping in a seat in the dressing room of Entertainment Now. Entertainment Now with the new kid was the last thing he needed on a Saturday morning when he could be back at the hotel in his king-sized bed with the 600 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, sleeping.

It was only nine thirty in the morning and he had already downed five cups of black coffee from the refreshment table set out by the crew for guests and the host but they did nothing to improve his mood or wake him up any more than he already was in his half asleep, almost stoned state. If anything, the bitterness of the coffee added to his bitterness. Eventually, out of sheer boredom and frustration, he resorted to juvenile forms of entertainment, smirking at his reflection in the mirror as makeup personnel struggled with his hair. Suffer, bitches.

He almost had the urge to steeple the tips of his fingers together under his chin and cackle like an evil scientist or crazy old millionaire.

Sadly enough, watching people get frustrated with his unruly hair was turning out to be the highlight of his morning. And they said being a rock star was all fun and glamour with never ending parties and wild nights out and sleep-filled days with cash flowing in from the mail slot. Yeah right.

They forgot the tedious interviews, the unwanted publicity and annoying personnel who took the money he and Demyx rightfully made, since they both wrote and performed the music, with the occasional backup drummer, just because these people "helped" them (such as manager, agent, publicist, bodyguard, chauffer, accountant, lawyer and various other annoying people Axel could live without, but apparently needed). More like they helped each other exploit the poor rock stars.

Although… maybe not Larxene. He knew she meant well and she really did help the both of them back from when they were stupid kids in college playing late night gigs at sleazy bars and took them from the bottom all the way to where they were now. But she was also sadistic and cost more than everyone else they worked with put together. Larxene insisted it was because she acted as both their publicist and agent, not to mention the fact that she was very good at her job. Or so she says.

"Axel!" He winced at the tone of voice Larxene was using as she breezed into the room. Speak of the devil. "I am so glad you made it." Her voice dripped with honeyed venom as she smirked with self satisfaction when he glowered up at her, all warm thoughts vanishing. "I don't understand why this is so horrible for you," she told him, her tone turning serious. "I mean, look at Demyx. He seems to be enjoying himself."

That was an understatement. Demyx was bouncing rather gleefully in his seat as female makeup and wardrobe personnel fawned over him and his "amazing sitar skills." He was soaking up the attention and grinning like an idiot as they brought him hazelnut flavored cappuccinos and buttered scones from the refreshment table in exchange for his autograph.

"And you've scared all of the girls away with your moping," Larxene told Axel, gesturing at Demyx with her smirk growing ever wider.

Axel shrugged, quite frankly not giving a shit. He finally waved off the poor woman attempting to tame his hair, gesturing for a moment of privacy with his publicist/ agent and turned to face Larxene fully. "Should we tell them about the single or should it be… a surprise?" he asked in a low voice.

Demyx shook off his fans and walked over to them, throwing an arm over Axel's shoulder and joined their conversation. After several unsuccessful attempts to shrug off the heavy arm, Axel licked him and Demyx quickly withdrew the limb, disgusted and wiped off the foreign saliva with Axel's hair. "I think we should tell them," Demyx said, his tone all seriousness. "Give them time to expect it and anticipate it. That way, we get more publicity now and more later when we actually release the single. You know, the whole 'ooh, Aqua Pyro is gonna release a new single next month! Can't wait to hear it!' and all that crap."

Axel almost choked on the sixth cup of black coffee he was sipping. Since when did Demyx ever make sense, much less come up with logical explanations? "Are you drunk?" he asked, almost concerned. "Stoned? High? Gotten a new brain?"

Demyx pretended to be offended. "I'm not stupid," he said indignantly.

Axel raised a skeptical eyebrow but did not reply to that comment. "The thing is though," he began, "wouldn't it be better to keep it down for now? That way, the fans expect less, and we just might not make as big an ass of ourselves as we would if we get them all excited and then let them down. I'm pretty sure a lot of our more… alternative fans would not appreciate the fact that the new single is going to be about love." He shot Larxene a dirty look. "Well, love without dying and shit anyways. Way to turn them against us."

"It's also a better way to attract more fans in different groups, you ass," Larxene told him. "But I agree with Demyx. We should tell the fans during the interview. Not, you know, telling them it's a love song but just dropping a hint or two that you guys are working on something new. Give them something to get excited over. And—"

She was interrupted by the sound of the door to the dressing room crashing open.

"Darlings!" came the sugar-coated voice of their host who had just made his dramatic entrance. "Marluxia," he introduced himself, as though they didn't already know and placing a delicate hand over his heart. He was dressed like a prep school boy, in a pink striped polo shirt and white slacks with his pinkish blond hair cut and arranged in shaggy layers. Axel couldn't help but snort at his appearance.

"Welcome to the show! Ah, but I suppose we must save all of that welcoming for the actual show but I am so happy you came." He offered his hand to first Demyx and then Axel, shaking vigorously before moving to chat with Larxene.

"Where's the kid?" Axel asked Demyx quietly, feeling as though there was a need to be quiet when talking about "the kid" as they so affectionately termed him.

Demyx shrugged but Axel's question was soon answered as the door swung open for the second time in the past minute and the golden pop star in question tentatively peeked in. He stepped into the room almost shyly but covered his nerves with nonchalance. He was followed by his entourage of two bodyguards and manager. His blond manager immediately went off in search of Marluxia while his two bodyguards, upon deciding their charge was safe, stepped outside to join Xaldin for a smoke.

Demyx immediately grinned and waved at the boy. "Demyx," he said, introducing himself.

The new kid smiled back. "I know. And I also know you're Axel," he said, nodding towards him. "I'm Roxas."

"We know," Demyx echoed.

Axel began to feel as though he was watching a pair of parrots talk. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and said sarcastically, "I know you, you know me. Jolly good." He got up for another cup of coffee, brushing past a perplexed and slightly offended looking Roxas. However, before he could actually make it to the refreshment table, Marluxia grabbed his arm and hauled him back to the others.

"Now that you all seemed to have met one another, I have a favor to ask," Marluxia said. "I know I'm kind of gambling here but Roxas, do you happen to know the lyrics to any song of Axel and Demyx's? Or if Demyx and Axel do you guys know any of Roxas's songs?"

Axel crossed his arms and did not answer while Demyx just shrugged. They obviously did not know any of Roxas's songs. But Roxas thought for a moment before he replied carefully, "I know the words to 'Wester.'" In truth, he had memorized all of Aqua Pyro's songs and lyrics.

"Then, would you actually mind singing that with Aqua Pyro?" Axel wasn't sure if Marluxia purposefully ignored his death glare or the bastard actually couldn't feel his gaze drilling twin holes into his pink-clad back as Roxas nodded eagerly.

"Then, it's show time," the host said gleefully.

Axel briefly wondered if the crazy and fruity-looking man was going to rub his hands together like a maniac would before pulling a level to induce an evil experiment before he realized his dilemma. Having six cups of coffee right before a show was a horrible idea because: shit, he really needed to pee. He didn't even have time to speculate if he could sneak off to the bathroom to relieve himself as he was dragged towards the ultra modern stage by Marluxia and the stage crew.

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"Hello and welcome to Entertainment Now," Marluxia beamed to the cheering audience as he walked out onto the stage. Roxas could almost see the trail of pink, sparkling fairy dust trailing behind the host.

He barely paid attention to the introduction as he slumped against the modern white globule chair, struggling to get comfortable without appearing as though he had disappeared into the curve of the back. There were slight disadvantages to having such a scrawny frame. Most people told him he looked twelve.

He sneaked a glance at Axel who was sitting slightly diagonal from him, admiring his sharp profile. Axel was staring at Marluxia as though he was saying the most fascinating things in the world while his right hand was growing steadily more white-knuckled from how hard he was clutching the edge of his seat. Roxas could see the side of his jaw twitch and wondered briefly what was wrong. From Aqua Pyro's outrageous concerts and performances, he knew it couldn't be stage fright.

"Roxas." He quickly directed his attention back to Marluxia and smiled as though he had really been paying attention all along and not actually drooling over Axel.

"So tell us," Marluxia continued, "what has been your greatest inspiration in music?"

Roxas pretended to think a moment before reciting, "I often get inspired by my environment and the people in it. I am also inspired by my fans," he paused to wink out to the audience, nearly all of whom were swooning girls, "and of course, other brilliant music artists."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Axel turn his eyes toward the ceiling and frown slightly. So he wasn't the only one who thought Cloud's proposed line was cheesy. He began to tune out again as Marluxia directed the same question to Aqua Pyro.

Even though he was barely paying attention, Roxas couldn't help but notice how Aqua Pyro skirted every question concerning their waning popularity carefully. He perked up as soon as Axel started talking about their new single. They had a new single! He almost wanted to squeal like a fan girl. He settled instead for looking mildly interested.

"We have a new single coming up next month," Axel was saying, his expression bored and his tone flat.

"It's gonna be really cool," Demyx added, who was sitting at the edge of his chair with an almost insane gleam in his eye and grinning manically, "but we're not gonna say what it is just yet. You'll just have to wait and see."

Roxas started dozing off again as they continued with a clip of how Aqua Pyro progressed through the years, shown on the huge plasma screen on the back wall of the insanely white and blinding stage. He already knew and saw every clip of Aqua Pyro he could find. Everything concerning his favorite band was a rerun for him. In the darkness of the dimmed lights, he was free to admire Axel some more, who seemed even more bored than he was, sitting with his elbow propped on the rounded plastic arm of the chair and his chin supported on his hand. Demyx, however, had his eyes glued to the screen as though he had never seen anything like it before.

When the lights came back on, Marluxia stood up and gestured for them to do so as well. Axel and Demyx went off to pick up their instruments and adjust the microphones after telling the hired freelance drummer which song they would be performing. Seeing not much else he could really do, Roxas followed and stood behind the microphone on Axel's right.

"And now," Marluxia said to the audience, waggling his eyebrows, "the moment you've been waiting for. You'll only see it here on Entertainment Live; Roxas is going to perform with Aqua Pyro! Give it up!" The resulting cheer was deafening.

Demyx waved to the audience and even Axel offered a grin before they started playing. Axel seemed to really wake up and become more animated and alive when he was performing. He even forgot his pressing urge to urinate.

Axel counted off quickly and began playing. The fast guitar beat was joined by Demyx's bass he had chosen in favor of his usual sitar as the drums pounded in the background. In the second line, Axel shot a quick glance at Roxas, signaling him to start singing.

"I can feel you waiting for me when the sun retreats to the hills and I," Roxas began, his tenor voice shook slightly as he struggled to get used to the fast pace. His hands gripped the microphone stand tighter in reflex. It was a lot harder and faster than he was used to but he had been practicing singing along with Aqua Pyro CDs (in secret) enough to keep up. "Below the blanket of a burning sky, wrap myself within. Embraced by dead leaves as the rain leaves trails of black down my face, and I creep through the twilight to that hidden place beyond the lonely. I'll meet you tonight in the whispers when no one's around." Axel joined in with his baritone for that line and Roxas couldn't help but grin. "Nothing can stop us now.

"Tonight in the whispers where we won't be found, nothing can stop us now." Roxas paused for a several seconds of heavy guitar and drums before diving back into the song with a new fervor,
"I can feel you dreaming of me and the time when our steps are retraced and I creep through the twilight to that hidden place, beyond the lonely, I'll meet you tonight in the whispers where no one's around, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where we won't be found, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where no one's around, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where we won't be found, nothing can stop us." He paused for more instrumental and to suck in greedy breaths of air. He wondered how Axel and Demyx could stand it. All of their songs were that fast.

"I can feel you dreaming of me; I can feel you dreaming. I can feel you dreaming of me beneath a dream, beneath a dream." Axel began singing with him again, following through in a harmony until the end of the song.

"I feel you dreaming of me, feel you dreaming… beneath a dream, lost in a dream. Tonight in the whispers where no one's around, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where we won't be found, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where no one's around, nothing can stop us now. Tonight in the whispers where we won't be found, nothing can stop us…" The guitar, bass and drums died down as he finished.

The cheers from the audience at the end of the song were more deafening than ever. Axel offered his first warm smile to Roxas and slung an arm over his shoulder. Roxas felt like melting.

"You know, kid," Axel said, "you're not half bad. Not bad at all, really. Not bad at all," he murmured as the lights of the stage faded to black.

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Author's Note: The lyrics in Italics are AFI's song, "Wester." I did not write them.

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