Sunlight poured down upon the earth in this month of July, heat streaming from the ground like streams of light.

In this haunting heat, standing by a window was Zexion, number six of the Organization XIII. The short man was quietly buttoning his shirt, a fancy silk suit shirt that made it look like he was going somewhere.

Suddenly, the man stopped buttoning, and lifted his head in the air. His nose moved as if he was – dare I say it – sniffing the air. A grimace came over his face and he groaned, looking around the room as if to find a place to hide.

Voices were coming down the hall.

"I swear man six's been acting even weirder than usual…"

"Come, now, Axel, we've all changed this past year or so…"

Groaning inwardly yet again, Zexion leapt for the closet, shutting it tight just in time as Axel and Lexaeus strode into his room.

Axel looked as if he were scrutinizing the room, looking for some sort of "clue". Lexaeus didn't seem to be taking it seriously, and just aimlessly followed the red head before him.

In his closet, Zexion heard Axel's frustrated groan.

"I told ya! Look at this! Dress clothes on his bed, a DIARY on the bed table!" Zexion silently growled at the mention of a diary. It was NOT a diary; it was his journal!

Lexaeus chuckled. "So Zexion is dressing nicely and you believe he's keeping some secret? Perhaps he simply is a finely dressed person."

Sweating nervously, Zexion realized that the groaning noise of wood bending was Lexaeus leaning against the closet door – in doing so, keeping it very tightly shut. And boy, it was getting hot in that closet.

"I think he's going out with somebody." Axel muttered. Again, Lexaeus laughed.

"So, he has a social life?"

"Exactly! That silent emo kid has a social life, and it's scaring the hell outta me!" Axel joked, leaning against the wall.

Lexaeus smiled. "Zexion would never keep anything from us. No matter what, I know Zexion can be trusted, and trusts us as well."

Zexion's newly grown heart gave out a pang of guilt.

Axel smirked solemnly. "Yeah… he was always a quiet little guy, but he kept his word. I guess I was jumping to conclusions."

Lexaeus shifted his weight, but even so, the door wouldn't budge an inch when Zexion pressed against it.

"Once, when we were children, Zexion had a secret, and within a week, he couldn't keep it secret anymore! He had to tell us. Number six is the type to tell on himself."

Axel laughed. "Trustworthy, huh?"

Zexion frowned sadly. He couldn't stand it! He wanted to tell the truth.

The purple haired man glared at the door, and pressed against it. Then he backed up, and slammed into it. He repeated it again, but Lexaeus wouldn't budge.

Axel and number five heard the noise and Lexaeus looked puzzled. Axel blinked. "Uh… did you just fart?"

Growling, Zexion ran against the door again. Lexaeus heard it, and shook his head. "No, I think…" he began, but he still didn't yet move from the closet door.

In his heart, Zexion finally knew he was ready to tell the truth… he had to do it!

Lexaeus finally leaned away from the door, but Zexion didn't know that. He rushed back, and then ran forward.

"I AM COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET!!!" He roared, leaping towards the door, arms outstretched.

Of course, at that moment, both Axel and Lexaeus opened a door. Zexion's eyes went wide as he watched his arms lock against his friends necks.

Flying forward, he hit both of their throats, and Axel crashed into the ground. Zexion was sure he'd heard his right arm crack as it slammed into Lexaeus' neck, and number five didn't budge. Instead, Zexion snapped back from hitting the older man.

Before the KO'd Axel and the reeling Zexion could crash into the ground, Lexaeus caught them both, looking them over.

"Number Eight? Number Six?" Lexaeus implored frantically. Zexion stood on his own, grasping his arm. Slumping against Lexaeus, number eight murmured crazily with stars in his eyes.

"Mommy, will you read me a storwee?" Axel drooled, slumping to the floor.

Zexion and Lexaeus were dead silent.

THE WORLD THAT NEVER WAS (OR WILL BE)

There was a light in the dim room, and a map in the center of a table. Five people were crowded about the map.

"Once again, here we are, planning this out." Marluxia complained.

"Come on, guys! My performance is tomorrow and I have to go to rehearsal!" Demyx pleaded.

"And I need a bath." Larxene muttered.

"I can arrange that!" Demyx grinned. Marluxia punched his head.

"Enough!" Both Luxord and Saix ordered at the same time. Everyone quieted.

Sighing, Saix nodded. "Demyx, you may go." Grinning wildly, Demyx skipped out the door in glee. He was very excited about his coming performance.

Larxene blinked. "Whoa, he's gayer than you are." She spoke bluntly to Marluxia. Marluxia nodded blankly, before he realized she had just insulted him and he made a face. Luxord held his hand out to a disgruntled Saix.

"Pay up", he told him. Rolling his eyes, Saix handed him a bit of munny.

"Back to business", Saix muttered as attention returned to him.

"As Marluxia is so eager to return his castle to his control, and so that we can discover what these new inhabitants are up to, we will be sneaking into the castle – tomorrow night, after Demyx's performance. In order to do that, and do it correctly, -"

"We stick to the plan." Luxord grinned. Saix smirked to him.

"Now, again, here's the plan…"

ATLANTICA

The cool water surrounding his body was like a release, so beautiful in itself. Swimming about randomly, the merman Demyx dove downward towards the concert hall. The coral shone brightly today and fish swam amuck amongst the traveling fish people, heading in from all over for the concert only a day away.

Humming to himself, Demyx took a turn and swam into the hall.

Angry voices were filling the hall, some female, one screeching male, and Demyx grimaced in surprise, wondering what was wrong. He heard his conductor, Sebastian, amongst the voices, and immediately headed out into the hall.

Ahead of him in the hall was a small group of people, including King Triton and Sebastian, and the princess Ariel.

"What's wrong?" Demyx asked, coming up.

"What's wrong? What's wrong, he asks!" Sebastian screeched angrily. "My masterpiece is finished, that's what's wrong!" The little crab ranted furiously.

"Why? What happened?" Demyx implored.

"The lead male singer can't sing. Ate some bad sea weed." A random merman told the blonde. In his mind, Demyx thought that eating sea weed was funny, but he knew this was no time to laugh.

"So, who's going to sing the lead now?" Ariel asked her father.

"Well…" Triton sighed. "Who in the kingdom could memorize all the lines and learn how to sing them, how to move, all in one day!"

Demyx thought and he thought hard. Who did he know who was dramatic and a good actor, who could sing decently? Who could he ask to help?

Then it hit him like a brick wall.

"I know just the merman!" Demyx cheered happily. He looked to Ariel, whose eyes were curious.

"Marluxia!"

FAR AWAY

Growling, Marluxia sat up.

"Someone's talking about me AGAIN!" He seethed, snapping his pencil in two.

LATER

"WHAT!?!!" Marluxia screeched, his eyes practically burning holes into Demyx's skull. Demyx laughed sheepishly.

"Come on, flower boy! Without you, the concert will be ruined!" Demyx told him.

Both were mermen now, as Demyx had called Marluxia from the Gummi ship immediately, and told him it was an emergency. The pink haired man had reluctantly left his work.

"You expect me to put off saving my castle to go off and play dress up!" Marluxia growled. Demyx nodded innocently.

"Come on! It'll be fun!" He told Marluxia. The man groaned, flipping around.

"Girls like singing!" Demyx told Marluxia happily. Chuckling, number eleven rolled his eyes.

"Not my girl", Marluxia began. Demyx realized he was right. "She'd use it as blackmail for the rest of my non existence." Laughing at the idea, Demyx shook off his defeat.

"Even so, it's for a good cause!"

Turning angrily, Marluxia glowered. "Saving my castle is a good cause!"

Sighing, Demyx turned, head drooping. "You're right… oh well. My concert is ruined." Sniffling, Demyx began slowly swimming away, sobbing. Marluxia groaned.

"FINE!" He told the blonde, who immediately rushed back with a big grin. "But you owe me so much!" Nodding frantically, Demyx took the man's hand and led him to the concert hall.

"Come on, you have a lot to learn!"

FAR AWAY

Light poured through the room's little window and onto the beaten cot, and beneath a single sheet on that rickety bed was a man sleeping soundly. He looked beaten and worn, and a bit starved. As the light hit his eyes, he groaned and sat up, clutching his ribs.

Sighing, the man pulled his knees up, letting his arms rest on them. Outside the desert winds blew quietly.

Standing, the man went to his window. He realized that the light came from a street lamp, not the sun.

Leon leaned his forehead against the window pane.

Don't worry! You'll find your girl, I'll find mine!

Wolfwood's words and his guidance had aided Leon's quest greatly. From his information and what he remembered from his meeting with Rinoa, the woman was wandering, helping people.

And what better world to help that Obsidian?

(The name I gave to Cloud's home. If you know the real name, please tell me.)

Outside, children raced about, and a few were leaning against alleyways, sleeping, or exhausted. It was a poor city, in a poor, destroyed world.

For months, Leon had been searching this world for old friends of Cloud Strife, hoping they would be able to aid his quest. His search had yet to bear fruit.

His stomach growled. His mind ached. The wound where a wild beast had gotten him seared with pain.

Leon was so tired.

And yet, he pressed on, grabbing his pack from the back of the chair, putting on his jacket, his shoes, and stepping out the door.

The light was dim in Edge, the city built around a ruined city called Midgar. He remembered from a time that seemed ages ago, that Midgar had been destroyed as a result of Sephiroth's actions.

It was a hauntingly beautiful ghost town.

But around it, Edge bustled with life. Stepping out into the night, Leon fell into the crowds of children and shoppers and cars. Everywhere he looked; it was as if everything was a shade of gray. Perhaps the shade reflected the mood…

A car horn went off as Leon tried to cross the busy street, and the man jumped back. The car burst by, and water sprayed out at Squall. Blinking, the man groaned, wiping his eyes off with his sleeve.

He kept going.

This is hopeless

His steps seemed to echo in his mind, each one painstakingly hard to take. The lights burned his half opened eyes. Everyone looked alike, and he wasn't looking at them anyway. Children were yelling in the street.

Denzel! Denzel!

Come on! Let's go!

Wait for me!

What am I looking for, anyway?

The lights on automobiles seemed dim and the noises were fading in his mind. The gray shades were melting together into a blur.

Leon felt pain sear his leg every time he moved. Doubt pained his feet as he stepped forward, but was confused as to where they were leading him.

Suddenly, a roar came at him, or what seemed like it, and lights flared.

Maybe she forgot me. Why else would she run away?

Pain… screams of surprise and fright… the sound of metal on metal… his body rolling and twisting across the pavement…

I can't kill myself over this…

Marlene! Hurry! Get Dad!

Screeches… car horns… worried murmurs… pain… his mind was fuzzy…

But I love her so much…

Leon awoke to lights glaring above him. There was a face nearby. A black man with a muscular build was leaning over him with a kind smile.

"Hey, Marlene, Denzel, your friend is waking up!" The man bellowed.

Feet began pounding in the hallway as two excited children rushed into the room. Leon smiled at them, one a young girl, the other a boy who was a little older with auburn hair.

Leon sighed inwardly.

How do I end up needing to be saved?

The black man held out his hand.

"Barret." He said. Leon tried lifting his hand, but couldn't.

"Leon." He stammered raspy.

"Hi! My name's Marlene!" The little girl chimed.

"I'm Denzel." The boy told Leon.

His eyes seemed to burn as Leon fought to stay awake. Barret smiled as he saw it, the defiance in his eyes.

"Don't worry, you're safe here, kid."

FAR AWAY

The water came up, and fell back down. And then it came up, and fell back down.

Sora felt the sand beneath his feet and the water tickling them. Grinning, he looked to the "boogie" board in his hands, and then to the waves before him.

Laughing profusely, the boy rushed against the waves in triumphant glee. From the shore, Tidus grinned.

"You idiot!" He laughed, slapping his knee. Sora fell over backward, the boogie board slapping his forehead.

Selphie ran up the beach towards the boys, still in her clothes.

"Hey, Sora!" Selphie called him. "You won't believe it!" Sora stood, spitting out sand. Tidus chuckled.

"What is it?" He asked curiously. Selphie grinned.

"Aisu was holding that gem again, and the red headed guy showed up, again! But now, they're arguing in the street because Axel landed on top of your sister when he appeared."

Sora gawked wide eyed. Tidus gawked wide eyed.

Selphie looked from boy to boy. "… Well?"

Suddenly, Sora leapt up, screaming, running towards the dock like a bat out of Hades, his board forgotten.

"AXEL!!!!!!!!GHSLF:09!!!!!!!ioeut8ihgo!!!!!!!!!FSH!!?!??!!?!?!!!!JJ!KL!KJHH!!H !HHCLH!!!!!!"

As he screamed and zoomed to the island, Tidus looked to Selphie.

"He just… ran over the water, didn't he?" Tidus muttered. All Selphie could do was nod.

FAR AWAY

He looked over all the formulas. He read all the data. He studied the graph again, looked at the chemical make up AGAIN, and yet, the data didn't change no matter how many times he looked it over. It was undeniable.

Vexen was about to pee his pants.

There it was the answer to all his problems. Well, not all of them, but close enough. There it was, perfect, and clear. It was the solution.

Now if only he could make it.

Far away from the castle Hallow Bastion, a lone boy leaned on the wall by the sandlot. Things had gotten a lot more boring since Roxas had left. As he watched Rai and Fuu fight, Tidu found himself wishing he weren't there.

His tired eyes were red and ringed, and his sad mouth fell into a frown.

All his dreams woke him in the night screaming. Most of the time, he couldn't remember it all, only that he woke to Yuna cradling him like a mother, and sometimes he almost mistook her for Tsuki…

WHAT AM I?

He found that most of his dreams ended with him screaming, roaring that question to all and to nothing, and he never found an answer.

Roxas was looking for the answer to the same question, Tidu thought.

"So maybe we'll both go for it", Tidu chuckled aloud. "You find you answer, and I'll try to find mine, and mess up."

Fuu punched Rai's face, and the boy rebutted with a verbal assault. Seifer laughed half heartedly on the side lines. Tidu didn't let it bother him. He just walked away.

Suddenly, something thrummed in his heart, something hard and strong and dark.

Tidu shoved it down. It came up a lot nowadays.

Marluxia couldn't believe what he was doing. Here he was, in this dressing room, practicing lines for some play when he could be off getting his property back. But no, his heart just had to make him weak!

A knock came from the doorway, and Marluxia called for the person to come in.

"Uh… is Demyx here?"

Marluxia turned to see Yuffie as a mermaid, with a black tail and red sea shell bra, "standing" in the doorway.