ALL WASHED UP

I woke up to rain today, and in all truths, it was really refreshing. It's been raining on and off all day and I love it! Yes, if I could control any element, it would be Demyx. I mean, I would want to control water, not Demyx.

Xigbar: You know the readers could take that in a very wrong way.

Ignoring number two, my life is going grandly. Today I had to help clean out the garage, so that's why this took so long. But all in all, I'm enjoying my break. I got the soundtrack of the musical "Wicked" today, and I recommend it!

I can't wait till this chapter is over, because then… the real fun begins…

Sulhadahne sneaks away into another room

Demyx: HELP!

"Sulhadahne!"

The girl ran faster and faster, her breath heightened, her sense reaching out for anything to aid her. Tsuki's voice behind her made Victoria feel fear, but she knew the thugs were after her, not Hinode and Tsuki. So she ran with all the hope that they would follow her.

"Vicky, you bitch! Get back here!" One thug reprimanded.

Blinking back tears, Victoria raced away, towards the lake, past her secret place and through the marsh. "My name is Sulhadahne" she told no one. "Not Victoria anymore."

Lexaeus glanced out the window of the Red XIII and sighed.

"Can Xigbar ever stop taunting people?" He pondered to Zexion, who was arranging the seats around the circular tables with five's help. Peering out the window, six shook his head.

"Ouch." Lexaeus winced with a grin. "I didn't think the body could bend that way."

"Who's winning?" Zexion asked as he went back to arranging seats.

"That's the funny thing." Lexaeus chuckled. "Demyx is."

Zexion perked up and stopped, running over to the window.

"I though Xigbar and Leon were fighting." He told Lexaeus. The man nodded.

"They were – and as soon as Xigbar landed on his back, the gunblade to his neck, number nine intervened. And he's actually winning." Zexion and Lexaeus looked genuinely surprised.

"Well, I'll be damned." Xaldin muttered, walking up to the window from behind them.

"Dance, water, dance!" Demyx cried, strumming his guitar. The 13th Struggle was playing again – and this time, it was no joke. Leon really was losing – pretty badly, too.

"Wow." Riku muttered. "Maybe he's not so much of a dork after all."

Leon raced forward, slicing through towers of water vainly, and with a cry leapt at Demyx. The boy shrieked like a sissy, but leapt out of the way just in time.

"But then again, maybe not." Riku corrected himself. Sora and the others laughed.

Demyx blasted Leon again, and Leon slashed again – the boy ducked just in time, making an odd noise in the process – something between an "aug" and an "unn". And maybe there was a "nhhn" in there somewhere.

Suddenly, a hand came onto Demyx's shoulder. Xigbar waved to Leon to stop the fight, and the man complied.

"Alright, listen. You all tell all your buddies to go get dressed – and I mean dressed, man; fancy dressed. We all meet at the Red XIII around eight tonight, and then you'll know all about whatever the hell's happening around here, alright?" Leon chuckled and rolled his eyes at Xigbar, but nodded. Clapping his hands happily, Xigbar lead Demyx back into the Red XIII, leaving Sora, his friends, and a bunch of confused onlookers.

Luxord sighed and continued dressing. He couldn't believe Xigbar was doing this. It was very OOC of him. But who was he to complain? He wasn't paying for dinner.

Man, it seemed like nowadays Xigbar was turning into a grandfather or something.

So, everyone dressed all fancy like and met outside the Red XIII a few hours later. Everyone looked oh so pretty – the boys were fawning over their blushing dates.

Leon smiled as Kairi stepped up and Sora, grinning stupidly, ran over to her. They were a cute couple.

"Rinoa!" A little teenage Leon ran across what Radiant Garden looked like years ago, racing over to a finely dressed little teenage girl, and with an embarrassed smile, he took her hand, and led her into the restaurant.

Squall Leonheart blinked away the memories.

He turned when the door to the Red XIII swung open, and everyone looked inside curiously. Ariel, on Vexen's arm, entered first and the rest followed.

The bar had been decorated beautifully in shimmering gold banners hung from the ceiling, and tables elegantly set, as if this was an Oscar presentation or something of the sort. Around the room were small circular tables for three each, and in the center was one long table that would fit everyone. Above it was a banner with these words:

CONGRATULATIONS

Looking around the table, everyone quickly caught onto the fact that the table had place cards. Sora took his place next to Kairi, and across from Riku.

At the head was Xigbar, next to him being everyone who helped him set up the affair; Roxas to his right, with Zexion on the left, Lexaeus, and Xaldin next to those two, and Axel and Demyx next to them. Demyx grinned and waved profusely at Sora, and Xaldin shook his head at the dorky boy.

Everyone sat in the appropriate places and awaited as others took their seats. Sora was practically jumping in his seat with curiosity.

When everyone was seated, Sora saw that the entire RGRC and Organization XIII were there.

"What's Xigbar up to?" Riku wondered. Sora shrugged.

Xigbar stood, and his chair scooting backwards broke the silence.

"Welcome, my friends and annoying people I work with" Xigbar joked. Down the table, a few playfully glared at him. "Tonight is a joyous occasion. It reminds me of the Organization's annual barbeque, but with less fire and more food." Xigbar threw a glare Axel's way. The boy chuckled sheepishly.

"Tonight, we shall dine on exquisite food, compliments of Saix", the blue haired man's eyes bulged. "He is also kindly paying for all of Luxord's gambling bills."

"Can't win them all!" Luxord chuckled as Saix seethed.

"I am WHAT?!" He yelled, trying to leap out of his seat. Mitsuka on his left and Xemnas on his right were the only people between the mad berserker and Xigbar's doom.

"Just kidding!" Xigbar laughed. Everyone sighed in relief, hoping Saix would calm done – he did, for the moment.

"Well, I've brought you all here tonight for a few very important reasons." Xigbar smiled genuinely.

"First off, one of our organization will soon be a father; and of all the members, it's Vexen?" He joked. The chilly academic laughed, and Ariel on his side blushed a little, chuckling.

"Secondly, the boy I consider my son;" Xigbar's eyes went to Demyx. "DNA tests show he's not my son; Thank GAWD!" Demyx laughed at himself and so did everyone else. "No, on a serious note, Demyx has done something I am very proud of." Xigbar nodded to the boy, and he shyly stood.

"Um…" He just stood there for a second, too shy to speak. Then his eyes fell on Yuffie, who was occupied with her utensils and was only barely glancing up, a blush on her cheeks. He smiled. "The Atlantica Orchestra found my resume on the internet… and they want me to play for them." The boy paused, building drama as he grinned. "Tomorrow, I begin my new job in their opera house!"

Everyone began clapping happily, some cheering. The younger organization members began banging against the table in excitement. Xigbar hushed them with a grin.

"How'd Atlantica get internet?" Leon whispered to Cloud. Cloud shrugged.

"So, congrats to our new employed musician and to our newlywed soon to be parents." Xigbar continued. "Also… our most important announcement. Leon and Xemnas, would you join me here?"

The two men joined Xigbar at the end of the table. Xigbar smiled smugly and placed an arm around both Xemnas and Leon. Leon rolled his eyes, and Xemnas tried his best to ignore his number two.

"Ladies and gents, we of the Organization XIII and of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee have worked together for about… four months now? Yes, I would say that four months ago began our adventures, when Merlin the Wizard found us on his doorstep, much to his dismay." Leon chuckled at the memory.

"Well, now, four months later." Xigbar smiled. He backed up, and let Leon and Xemnas stand at the head. Leon cleared his throat.

"Xemnas and I began discussing plans for our two groups to work together in more situations, and we would need planning and other such little details to make it work. In other words, a bunch of paper work you ninnies needn't bother yourselves with." Leon joked. Yuffie sent him the finger.

"So, said paperwork is now out of the way" Xemnas continued. "The Organization XIII and the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee are official partners."

Amidst the cheering, Xigbar stepped back up, and raised his hands. "And so, welcome to our first honorary banquet, and Congratulations, Organization XIII and the RGRC!"

And the feast began.

"Mmm, chicken." Demyx moaned. "Oh, wait! No! Lobster. Oh, wait!"

"Just decide already!" Donald complained. He was one of the people who'd offered to be waiters.

After the big speech, and a few others, the groups had separated to the small circular tables, and everyone was walking around saying hello and such. Some people from the city whom had never met the Organization came in to say hello and be introduced.

"Wait, I got it!" Demyx cheered.

"Get to the point already!" Axel complained, very hot looking in his suit. Okay, authoress shutting up.

"I'll have crab!" He decided, handing his menu over. Seething, Donald stomped away.

"That will look great to your boss, Demyx." Roxas chuckled. Namine walked up as he spoke, pulling a chair up to sit with him. "Hello, I'm Demyx, and I ate your cousin for dinner last night."

"Ha ha, very funny." Demyx said sarcastically. Axel laughed.

At the next table sat Luxord, Xaldin, and Xigbar.

"So how did you pull this off?" Luxord pondered.

"When you asked me that question, wondering how this party came to be, you forget one very important thing, my friend." Xigbar spoke smugly, grinning.

"What would that be?" Luxord smirked.

"I'm Xigbar, the Freeshooter!"

"Ah." Luxord chuckled. "Well, I won't forget that again."

"Mm, that tastes good." Marluxia smirked, chewing on Larxene's chicken. The girl smacked his arm and held up her butter knife.

"Steal my food again and I'll kill your ass." She seethed playfully. Across from them, Cid sighed jokingly.

"Ah, young love." He grinned.

"Aha!" Sora grinned, chewing on the piece of bread.

"I can top that." Riku challenged. He put half the roll of bread on the fork. Sora smirked while Kairi rolled her eyes. Slamming his fist on the end of the fork, the bread flew into the air, and Riku caught it, chewing happily.

"Yeah, well, I'll beat that!" Sora threatened, placing the whole roll on the fork and slamming it into the air. Kairi laughed when he caught the roll in his mouth, but when Sora said "YES!" the roll came into his mouth, choking him. Riku gasped and leapt up, trying to free Sora's windpipe.

"Boys." Kairi laughed, shaking her head.

"Sora's so thick sometimes." Vexen muttered, as Lexaeus and Zexion laughed next to him.

"Where's your darling wife?" Lexaeus asked.

"Back there, with the trouble trio." He smirked. Behind them at the other table was Ariel, with Rikku, Paine, and Yuna. "She's having fun." He smiled contently.

Zexion examined his friend carefully.

"You're wearing yourself thin, my friend." Zexion muttered. Vexen nodded, setting his elbow on the table, rubbing his forehead.

"I've stayed up all night for many nights, working on this subject constantly." He muttered.

"Does Ariel know yet?" Lexaeus asked. Vexen shook his head.

"She doesn't need to know."

"But if she's as smart as I think she is, she'll find out eventually." Zexion sighed. "What will you do then?"

"I don't know." Vexen muttered.

"Food is served!" Aerith smiled, announcing dinner.

"Mm mm mm, crab!" Demyx cheered.

"You're a weirdo." Namine joked.

And so the food came, and the eating began. Laughter danced through the room and cheering broke the silence. It was a joyous occasion, once Sora stopped choking, and the dinner was great; Xaldin received many complements, and Sora almost received a spear to the head after commenting on his shock that Xaldin could cook.

When the sun fell, the festivities continued happily.

"And I stood above the fool, and I said" Marluxia cheered as he spoke to his friends. He was standing on a chair, the back of the chair towards the table as he leaned against the table, his foot on the top edge of the chair. As he told his story, Axel walked by and slipped his foot beneath the chair. Marluxia toppled to the floor, Larxene and the others laughing as he gave chase after Axel.

The group was in hysterics, having the greatest time. In a corner, four people were secretly plotting secret plots.

"This is gonna be great." Luxord smirked. Leon grinned.

"I had forgotten you'd given this to my on my last birthday." Leon smiled, eyeing the item in his hand.

"Sora won't know what hit him!" Xigbar grinned.

"We had Vexen make it." Xaldin bragged. "Spiffy, ain't it?"

Leon just laughed.

In Leon's hands was a remote control, and a map. It showed the room they were in, and a light was beeping on it. In the room, the spot that was beeping was where Sora stood.

With a grin, Leon clicked the button.

"You bitch!" The thug cried. With a bloodcurdling scream, Victoria leapt away, through the trees and faster towards the lake.

Almost there, almost there! She shouted in her mind, trying in vain to slow her fast beating heart. She could only hope Tsuki and Hinode were safe…

Suddenly, something hard collided with the back of her head, and with a grunt she fell forward, body shaking. The heavy footsteps behind her caught up with her, and a foot came swiftly into her side. With a moan, she spit up a bit of blood, writing on the ground.

"Now, Vicky," One man seethed. "Don't lie to me. Where's it?"

"Where's what?" Victoria muttered through clenched teeth.

"Now, now, Vicky…" Another taunted.

"My name is Sulhadahne!" She snarled. One laughed.

"They said you were nuts, and they weren't kidding." Another teased. Sulhadahne spit on his shoes. He cursed, kicking her in the cheek hard.

And then it all went black.