Words: 2260

See Chapter One for Standard Disclaimers/Warnings

A/N: This chapters more intermission than anything, it doesn't even have Axel in it really! But ah well, some sacrifices must be made for the sake of my plot plans.

Cliche warning~! This chapter is... blah, cliche, but I couldn't really figure out what to do with it until like... the day before I wrote it. I changed my mind like five or six times.

On the Tenth Day....

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Wednesday, January 3rd

...Or, an interlude in the regularly scheduled program.

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When Roxas woke up that morning it was to the odd sight of a card hanging near his head, a card that had been attached to Philbert's head via scotch tape. The image on the front of the card was of a paunchy little noble man, with all the frills and decadence associated with the classic mental image Disney often presented. He appeared to be, well, leaping. Roxas snorted sleepily and snatched the card. He couldn't help but wonder how Axel had managed that one. Then again the redhead had a lot of help, he'd bet money that one of his brothers was the culprit.

The inside of the card was blank but for the written message in Axel's slashing scrawl:

Today's going to be a bit different than usual, because I've got to make preparations for tomorrow. So, I've set up something to entertain you for the day. I know it's hard to find something to replace my wonderful self, but I tried.

A few of my elves are scampering around leaving clues for you to follow to a Tenth day gift. You'll have to get them all to get the one you really want. They aren't hard, just a sequence, really. But they say that the journeys half the fun!

Axel

Below that little missive was what Roxas guessed was his first 'clue':

The foundling Second Day.

His firs thought, of course, went to the chocolate 'turtle doves' that sat on his beside table, one of which he'd already eaten a few days prior. Roxas glanced toward the box, but there was nothing there. He took a moment to get up and get ready for the day while mulling it over, "The foundling...Oh, heh, duh."

The next clue was obviously on the front door, considering that's where he'd found the second gift. True, the first gift had been in the same place, but that would ruin the point of the game, he supposed. So he wandered downstairs to the front door. There was nothing on this side, so he pulled it open and checked the other. The card was there, taped to the outside of the door. The blond grabbed it and ducked back inside.

The card was like the first, though inside it bore only the next clue:

Day Three's disgraced hero.

Roxas wrinkled his nose at that. Disgraced hero? What? Thinking back to the 'third day of Christmas' he went over what had happened. That had been the gift exchange, and he and Axel had spent most of it sitting outside. It could mean that the next card was attached to the wall they had sat on, and Roxas had insulted Santa Claus out there. The blond grabbed his coat and went to grab his phone, it was then that he noticed the house was empty.

Almost as an afterthought he grabbed his keys as he was walking out, and locked up. He had a feeling he wouldn't be back for awhile. His first destination was to check the wall, but he fund nothing. It was true that he'd insulted one of Axel's 'heroes' here, but it was also true that they'd declared that conversation never happened. Roxas glanced down the road, and rolled his eyes.

It didn't take him long to reach Seifer's house, and there it was: Attached to the plastic Santa still sitting in the snow in the yard. Judging by the lack of vehicle Seifer wasn't home. Roxas walked up and tore it free, then flicked it open to find his next destination:

The vulture in the songbird's nest.

"I wonder if Larxene knows you called her a vulture?" Roxas asked of the absent redhead. That one at least was a complete no-brainer. Then again, Axel had said it was meant to be easy. The blond figure he was mostly just after the last clue or two which would have less to do with the previous days, and more to do with today.

As he wandered back home, hoping that one of his brothers had left a vehicle for him to make use of, he made a mental note to stop somewhere and get himself some breakfast.

------

When Larxene answered the door she handed over the card without a fuss. Before he opened it Roxas asked, "So, whose he got playing his 'elves'?"

Larxene grinned sharply, "I can't tell you, but I can say it's hysterical."

"I'm sure." Roxas said dryly, and opened the card.

The bouncing bride-to-be.

He took a moment to consider, after all, Larxene was technically engaged as well. She, however, hadn't really been involved in the fifth day (Nor was Larxene particularly bouncy) so that left... "Geeze, he's really giving me the run around."

"I think that's the point. Ta ta!"

------

When he pulled into Selphie and Irvine's place he had to follow the sound of voices to locate the couple. He found the two of them out a ways, with Irvine standing beyond one of the fences. The long haired man had his hat off, and was scratching the back of his head while staring at a cow.

Roxas sidled up beside Selphie, and absently scratched Cerberus' ears as the big dog bounced up to greet him with a saliva covered tongue, "What's going on?"

Selphie, who was giggling at her fiancé, said, "She's one of the older cows. A blue ribbon girl in her day, but she's really stubborn. He's trying to get her back inside. It's too cold for the old girl. Irvine wants her to live out the rest of her days you know? She was apparently one of the first one's he raised."

"Ah." he nodded, looking at cow sceptically. She reminded him a bit of old lady Almasy.

"Oh, right, here you go Roxie!" she held out the sought after card to him. This one said:

Brave the feathered fold.

Roxas turned, and looked toward the milling crowd of birds at the other end of the farmyard. He thought he could see something small and brightly colored attached to the wall of the small outbuilding. Selphie patted his back when he groaned, "Just don't show them fear!"

"Easy for you to say." the blond muttered. "Fetch, Cerb, fetch!" Cerberus tilted his head, and stared up at him like he was an idiot. "Figures."

He walked toward the flock, and was pleased to find the big mastiff dogging his heels. The chickens clucked, and the geese honked angrily as the dog bounced into their midst. Roxas felt rather smug. He was able to make it to the building's side without incident. Immediately he grabbed the card and beat a hasty retreat. Cerberus followed him, slinging saliva everywhere. The dog apparently thought the whole thing was good fun.

Once he was well away he flipped open the card and read the next step:

The seventh day's view.

Roxas wandered over to Selphie's side again, "Good luck with..." he waved at Irvine who was, at that point, talking to the large heffer.

"You to, Roxie." Selphie giggled.

Giving Cerberus a last pat he headed off. He'd have to back track all the way to the park.

------

When Roxas arrived at the viewing deck he glanced over it, looking for the card. It wasn't on the railing where they'd looked at the swans, and there were a couple of people loitering around. He hoped no one had taken it, or something.

"Are you looking for something?" A kind voice asked. Roxas whirled around to come face to face with a man with long fair hair who smiled amiably at him.

"Yeah. I'm looking for a card..." Roxas answered.

"My friend and I." he indicated a taller, dark haired man who was standing a few feet away. "Saw a couple of people stick something to the sign over there. Maybe that's your card."

Roxas turned to look toward the sign that announced the viewing deck's 'name' as well as a 'Do not feed' that was generally ignored. He could indeed see something attached to it. Turning back around to thank the man, he found that the helpful stranger and his friend appeared to have already gone.

Shaking his head, Roxas headed over, and grabbed the card off the sign. The next clue was:

Back track to the door to new years.

He paused on his way back to the car as he thought back to the fourth card, he hadn't seen anything on the door to Axel's apartment back then, and he was sure that was where this one lay, "They're either timing this well, or playing phone tag." he muttered.

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The card was right where he thought it would be, and he pulled it off the door without any fuss. Inside it said:

The silver-haired party host.

"Riku, eh?" Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and dialed his twin. "Sora?"

"Hi, Roxas!"

"Where's Riku?"

"What makes you think I'd know?"

"...Did you seriously just ask me that?"

Sora laughed sheepishly, "Yeah, I guess that was a stupid question. We're at his place."

"See you in a few."

------

He found Riku and Sora in Riku's room. Sora was sitting on the floor at the foot of Riku's bed, while his silver haired best friend was laying on it. The two were playing some sort of fighting game, and both of them were wearing elf hats. Roxas paused, and started laughing at the sight of it.

Sora paused the game and grinned at him, "Having fun?"

"I figured you or Demyx were involved, but Riku?"

"I talked him into it."

"I'm sure you did." Roxas rolled his eyes. "Love the hats."

"Great aren't they?" Sora cheered as he fished out the card and handed it over.

"Can I take it off now, Sora?" Riku asked.

"No."

"Please?"

"Noooo."

Roxas snickered and opened the card:

Ask the silent lion about the angel.

"The silent lion?" He muttered thoughtfully.

"Yeah, supposedly that's the first of the final main clues." Sora said happily.

"I'd suggest calling Leon." Riku drawled.

Sora smacked him, "You're not supposed to help! Now you have the wear the hat the rest of the day!"

Riku looked horrified, "What? No! Sora!"

Roxas left them bickering as he pulled out his phone again.

"Hey, Cloud, do you know where Leon is right now?"

"Yeah, we're on break. Why?"

"I believe he has something for me."

"...I'll tell him you're on you're way."

"Thanks."

------

Leon was waiting outside the large office building he and Cloud worked at when Roxas showed up, and immediately handed over the card. However, before he could leave Leon added, "Rinoa lives in a large place not to far from where Riku lives. I wrote the address and a few directions in there for you as well." Without another word Leon turned and walked back toward the wall of glass doors into the building.

Roxas opened the card, and alongside Leon's tidier writing Axel's messy scrawl declared:

Follow her to Ten Lords.

"Doesn't he mean the ten lords?" He shrugged the thought off, after all he knew he'd find out soon enough.

------

Rinoa apparently lived in a large manor house on the edge of the city limits, beyond Riku's home just as Leon had said. The major difference between Riku's home and this one was the scattering of outbuildings. Roxas could hear the sound of horses.

Rinoa greeted him with a dark coated border collie like dog at her heels, who she introduced as Angelo, and lead him toward one of the horse barns.

Inside it was warm, with the strong sent of horses and hay, as well as the faint smell of leather. Rinoa lead him down the center aisle, and he found himself peering at the large animals. They watched him with big soft eyes accompanied by the rustling of their movements.

Ten Lords turned out to be a prize show jumping horse, he was a big, dark colored, elegant creature. He peered at Roxas for a moment before giving a haughty sounding snort, and turning around in his stall.

"... I just got dismissed by a horse." Roxas drawled.

Rinoa laughed and indicated a nearby box and card that sat on a shelf close by, but well out of reach of the horses "Well, there's your prize."

Picking it up Roxas opened the red envelope. There was no poem this time just a simple:

Here's your prize!

See you soon,

Axel

"I wonder what he's planning." He muttered. Picking up the box he took off the top to reveal a small, silver horse statue. It looked remarkably like the horse in the nearby stall. He picked the delicate looking thing up carefully, and turned it over in his hands.

Rinoa smiled, "I wonder where he found that."

"Who knows." Roxas replied, laughing softly. "He seems to have a knack for these things."

"Hmm..." Smiling slyly Rinoa offered. "How would you like to ride a horse?"

Roxas' head jerked up, "Uh.. I've never..."

"Well, it wouldn't be Tenny, of course." Ten Lords snorted as if to say there was no way he'd let some plebeian fool like Roxas near him, anyway. "But I could help you!" Rinoa plucked the silver horse from his fingers and carefully put it back in it's box before tugging him off. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

Roxas sighed, knowing it was futile to resist. As he'd found out the day before Rinoa was hard to dissuade once she made up her mind.

Still, maybe she was right... It might be fun.