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this chapter is mostly centered around Zexion and Demyx, but eh, it is necessary. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Leaning against the old instrument stand, Zexion waited for Demyx, arms crossed in a feeble attempt to stay warm. Looking up at the giant chiming clock in the far off distance, he noticed that it was ten after eight. His violet eyes scanned the area, his hope slowly diminishing with every passing second. Even if Demyx didn't show, the likelihood of Zexion going back to his home was slim. It was much more refreshing outside in the cool night air. It hit his skin, leaving tiny goosebumps along it, bringing with it a chill that ran down his spine. Letting out a sigh, his breath fogged up briefly before vanishing out of sight. Around him, there weren't many others that braved the atmosphere. Most stayed inside, huddled around their fires.

"Hey!" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts, bringing him back to reality. Bringing his eyes up, he saw a blonde mass of hair walking towards him. "Hi Zexion. Sorry I'm a bit late. It's hard to sneak out of where I'm staying currently, especially with this..." He pointed the guqin he had hanging on his back by a strap he custom made. "I though I'd bring it, you know to try and understand how it works more. I was playing with it earlier, but I don't think I'm really getting how it is supposed to work." Saying nothing, Zexion stuck his hands out, waiting for Demyx to get the hint to hand the instrument over. Not skipping a beat, the blonde's face turned into a smile, knowing he was forgiven for being late. He reached behind him and pulled the guqin off his back, and gently handed it over.

Taking the instrument, Zexion walked over to a nearby bench, and sat down in a half criss-cross; one leg on top, the other hanging off the side of the bench. Putting the guqin in his lap, the strings going longways, he slowly plucked a few, the sound from earlier that day piercing the soft night air. It still sounded sad to Demyx, who slowly walked over closer to watch the lilac hair sway over the instrument as his head moved with the rhythm. The notes sang out one by one, telling there own sort of mini story before getting cut off by the next chord. Mesmerized by this, Demyx couldn't think straight about anything but Zexion and the guqin. Absentmindedly, he got the courage to interrupt the performance and ask, "Um... can I try?"

Putting his fingers on the strings, Zexion stopped the vibrating notes in mid cry. He looked up, not at Demyx really, but in his general direction. The blonde was taken back by the look in his eyes. He was sure the young man sitting down was about to cry by the look on his face, and in the brief second he was honest with himself, he admitted in his mind that Zexion was truly beautiful. The second passed, and Demyx shook the thought from his mind, hoping to God it wouldn't re-enter.

"Here." Zexion said, holding out the instrument. Taking it back, Demyx sat next to Zexion, mimicking the latter's previous pose. Placing his hands on the strings, he plucked one, the sound once again crying out. Then he plucked another, and the harmonious sounds were joined together as they faded out. Picking new and different strings to pluck, he had a make shift song going. The blonde didn't really think about what he was playing, or what note to strike next, only that he didn't want the song to end. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was convinced that 'If I stop playing, he might leave.' Against his inner wishes however, his fingers stopped, ending the solo.

Neither said anything for a while.

Looking over at the young man sitting next to him, Demyx saw something, and for the second time that night, his breath was stolen away.

Zexion was smiling.

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They were walking in silence again. That seemed to be the way Zexion preferred things, and Demyx didn't want to disrupt that. "By the way," Zexion said, startling the blonde, "Roxas and I are going to be working in the palace starting the day after tomorrow. We are going to take Vincent's place there."

"Really?" Demyx said, in blatant shock. Noticing Zexion's demeanor, he probed a bit. "Is that a good thing?"

"For me, I guess. I mean compared to Roxas in any case. He isn't exactly thrilled about it. Actually, he down right hates the idea." Zexion said, remembering the earlier outburst.

"Hm. Oh that's right! Axel wanted me to ask about him. He was curious as to why Roxas exploded at him like that earlier today." Demyx said.

"I don't know if I should tell you. It's kind of a 'family matter.'"

"Oh... I see." Demyx said, slightly disappointed.

Zexion looked at him in the eyes. "Listen, I'll give you the watered down version for now. I trust you enough for that. But you can't tell Axel ok? Things are too muddled up as it is and he doesn't need to know everything quite yet. If Roxas wants to share more with him, that will be his decision. Besides, if I tell you everything..." Zexion let it hang in the air, deciding to not say anymore about that.

Seeing Demyx gently nod his head he told him. "You see, Roxas and I had another 'brother.' His name was Rufus. About twelve years ago, he was killed."

'Rufus... where have I heard that name before?' Demyx thought to himself, then returned his full attention back to Zexion.

"You see, Rufus was gay. He and his partner were found together on the outskirts of town. They were brought back here and executed because of the 'Kings moral law.' Roxas has never been able to let go of the grudge he holds against the royal family."

Demyx was quiet for a bit, digesting this information. "Wait! Maybe Axel could help him in some sort of 'supportive friend way.' Axel lost his brother too. Reno."

"He knows. Roxas knows that Reno was killed. He was the man after all that was with Rufus." Zexion said solemnly. "And he couldn't care less. It may not make sense to us, but to him for some reason, your brother is as much to blame as the king. No one knows why, but we ended up just letting it be."

It was as if a bell finally chimed in Demyx's brain. Since he and Axel were little, they were never explained really as to why Reno was executed. Axel had pieced together more information than Demyx had, simply because it was his own flesh and blood. Demyx, although he cared to an extent, never really took the time later on in life to fully understand what had happened. Now everything fell into some sort of place. But one thing was still bugging him. "If he knows about Reno then, why is he blaming Axel? It's not like he wanted his brother to die. It just doesn't make sense!"

"That's what I just said. He won't tell us why. There might not be any logic in it at all except for plain hatred. In any case, I've already said too much." Zexion said as they reached the palace gates. "We can talk more later. Right now, I've got to go. See you in a few days." and with that, he walked away.

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"Ooof." Demyx grunted as he fell into Axel's bedroom from the window. Standing up, he made sure the guqin was undamaged, dusted himself off, and made his way to the door. Axel's room was the furthest from his parents chambers, plus it was on the bottom floor, making it the prime location for them to sneak in and out as they need to. Before he was able to leave, however, a voice startled him.

"So how did it go?" Axel said, emerging from his room's adjoining bathroom, only a pair of silk pajama bottoms on. "Get any information?"

"It went fine. He showed me how to use the guqin properly." Demyx avoided his red haired friends gaze. "I did ask Zexion, but he told me to tell you to ask Roxas yourself." The blonde lied, feeling a bit guilty for it. Why should it matter if he broke a promise to a person he just met? Axel was his best friend after all. But there was some unstoppable force in him that was preventing him from breaking his promise. It wasn't so bad anyway. Axel could get the same information that way. Might even get more than what he would be able to tell him.

"Well how the hell am I supposed to do that? The kid hates me remember! And it isn't like I'm going to be able to see him whenever I damn well please." Axel fumed, his hands crossing his chest. "This is really bugging me."

"Why are you so upset about all this? You barely know him, and you had what, a ten minute conversation?" Demyx said.

"It just irks me is all." The red head calmed down a bit, but still irritated.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Zexion and Roxas are going to be taking Vincent's place anyway as live in servants here. So I guess you'll have plenty of opportunities to talk to him... or fight." Demyx added the last part under his breath.

"Really now?" Axel said, intrigued. "Now I can really get to the bottom of this." And with that, his mind was set. He was going to find out what the hell that kids problem was, even if it killed him.

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TEH AUTHORS NOTE!

Ok this took a while yes. That's cause the other one I had written sucked some ass. And not in the fun way, but in the suckish way. So I had to do some major revisions. In any case, the plot thickens. Now inspire me with reviews and I shall continue.