Disclaimer: I don't own anything, especially not Kingdom Hearts and the characters in it. But Raizane Ryda Tarshil/Daryx is a product of my warped imagination and does belong to me.

Author's Notes: uhm… yeah, another chapter. Gee, I must be annoying you guys with all these meaningless comments. Oh well! No one said you have to read them…yep same comments and stuff from the last chapter.

Daryx retreated to her room, well, her shared room, as soon as she could. She curled up on the bed, smiling sweetly as Lexaeus appeared too. She sat on the edge of her bed, feet pointing inward, and her arms went up, hands reaching for him. A sweet smile crossed her face, and she wanted nothing more than at least one kiss.

Lexaeus obliged, taking her hands in his large ones. He leaned down, kissing her so sweetly. She nearly melted in his arms, but it wouldn't have done any good. Her mind was elsewhere. He let her go, leaning her back so she was lying down.

Within moments of being left, Daryx was asleep. Lexaeus watched her for a moment before crawling into the hole he had made to act as a bed. A soft whisper was heard echoing around the room, but one could not place it.

Her sleep was a restless one, resulting in much tossing and turning. Her dreams haunted her again…

--

There were screams, loud ones, and lots of them at that. She found herself in a dark room; no light save for the small fluorescent light a good 25 yards above her head. This light cast a ghostly shadow all around, but there wasn't enough focus in any given spot to make out details. A cruel, malicious smirk appeared on the wall, obviously feminine. It seemed to taunt her, the way it danced around, cackling and sneering. She thought she had heard it mutter curses against her and those close to her, then escalating her volume to a shout, just repeating the same things over and over again. She collapsed, hands clawing at her ears; her own screams getting drowned out…

"You'll never amount to anything!"

"You're just a waste of space!"

"Daryx…"

"Just go dig your grave now…"

"No one will ever love you!"

"Daryx…"

"Give up now. We'll all be better off once you're good and dead!"

"Go to hell, you worthless whore."

"Daryx…"

--

Her own name, being repeated over and over in the conscious realm, brought her back. Her pillow and sheets were drenched in a heavier sweat than any other night. She shivered, almost whimpering. Her deep eyes were still closed, and she was still turning every which way, as if trying to avoid something that would come after her from the dream realm. Lexaeus stood over her, and his rough outline was the first thing she noticed as she came to.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" she screamed, sitting up suddenly, making herself dizzy. Daryx was nearly panting. She did her best to try and curl up in the corner of her bed where it met the wall.

"Daryx, it's just me." Lexaeus said, one of the first few things he ever said to her.

"Oh… Lex." She said, relaxing just a bit. A shy, embarrassed smile flashed. "I'm sorry, I… didn't mean to act like that… really. Didn't mean to freak out."

He nodded, understanding. "You seem to have such troubled dreams… but put them aside. I'll listen and help you through them later. Work comes first in this place."

Daryx nodded, crawling out of bed and stretching in a cat-like manner. She changed quickly and smiled weakly. "…Have a good day, Lexy." She whispered, standing on tiptoes to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek before summoning a portal and walking through it.

--

She appeared outside Vexen's labs. It took her a moment before she would knock on the large door. He appeared, opening it just enough to check to see whom it was. A sigh was heard, the door closed again. Daryx blinked, in disbelief of what just happened. She was about to try to do some damage on the door when the sound of a lock dropping and hitting the floor was heard and the door opened again.

Vexen ushered her in, pointed to a small table with books scattered around it. "You're to read me off the items on the page, one at a time, while I get them together. You're not needed for the experiment today, so once we've finished a few pages, you'll be free to go."

Daryx found herself nodding and just going along with his instructions. She took her place and started reading off the list in her slow, stammered speech she had when nervous or uncomfortable.

They worked like this for a few hours, pausing only long enough to eat something. It may not help them, but the joys of food and company was always pleasurable. During this break, they talked as any friend would to another. Sadly, however, this enjoyment wouldn't last for too much longer. They knew they had to get back to work.

Daryx finished reading off the items on the last page a few hours later. It was getting late; the hours had just slipped by unknowingly. She smiled her sweet smile to Vexen before leaving.

As the girl stepped out into the hallway, something flashed by her eyes. She stepped back, trying to flatten herself against the wall. Again, the flash flew by, and a third time. However, the moving blur seemed to slow as it approached her the fourth time, freezing just long enough for Daryx to see Larxene's face. The thunder chick was known for her speed, and this was the perfect time to prove it to the uneasy girl. Larxene skidded to a halt just after passing her, the edges of her coat flaring out. Her eyes burned with an instant detest for this other, younger girl.

In an instant, Daryx was pinned against the wall, three sparkling kunai pressed against the delicate flesh of her neck, an angry sparkplug glaring at her and growling lowly. She was whimpering, hands trying desperately to pry Larxene's arm off of her and away.

"You stupid little bitch… you think you're so great, huh? You've got at least two guys in this whole organization falling for you… how many more do you want?" Larxene asked, pressing the middle kunai further against her.

"L-Larxene!" Daryx managed to squeak out. "I don't want your man… nor do I want anyone but my Lexaeus! No one but Lex can even capture my interest!"

She growled again, pulling back just slightly. "I saw the way all the guys watched you in the meeting… even the Superior wanted to say some sweet little nothings in your ear in a different setting. Zexion and Axel are the only ones that don't seem interested, and those two are probably gay anyways!"

Daryx growled weakly herself and forced Larxene off of her. "You're just jealous, Larxene. Marluxia, for one, has even told me that he's dreadfully in love with you and wanted nothing more than to be yours. He said that. He wants you and only you… no matter how much you would torture him and abuse him. And you say he wants me? No… he's like the older brother I lost when I died!"

Larxene stepped back. "…stupid girl." She was genuinely stunned, confused, and wanted nothing more to get out of there. She had came to teach Daryx a little lesson in superiority and why it's wrong to steal another's love, but what did she learn? That the pretty petal flower princess cared more for her than she had imagined. Now she was the torn one. In another split-second, Larxene was gone, seemingly disappeared.

Daryx sighed, rubbing her neck, and set off back to her own room and her own love.