[Disclaimer: ...we obviously don't own Kingdom Hearts...if only we were that good... ;) ]
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Race
As Chelly looked at Leximy suspiciously, the air became slightly tense.
"Why, whatever do you mean, my friend?" Leximy asked before pausing. "Oh wait…I shouldn't have said that…"
Chelly's eyes grew wider as she hugged Leximy. "We are friends!" she said with a smile. "So, what's first on our agenda?"
"Nap time! Or coffee…one of the two," Leximy said with a yawn. "Wow…it sure is quiet…"
Standing behind her, Lexaeus quietly stayed put, wondering if they even noticed him.
Turning to him, Chelly jumped. "You scared me!"
"…"
Chelly stretched and sighed. "Nap time sounds good… I wonder how everyone is going to do on their missions…"
In the quiet town of Agrabah, Axel and Zexion trotted through the sandy streets.
Axel held up his chakrams and hit a few Heartless that suddenly appeared and lunged for them. He turned quickly and hit his chakrams together and ignited a large flame; the flame traveled over to the Heartless and exploded on impact.
Axel watched in satisfaction as the last remains of the Heartless burnt into ashes and flew away into the wind. When he turned to face Zexion, however, his smile quickly faded. It was replaced with a frown. Zexion followed him quietly, his nose stuck in the large book in his hands.
"Are you going to help me?" Axel asked with a sigh.
"Are you saying you need help?" Zexion asked without looking up.
Axel glared at the book and turned back to look for more Heartless. "I don't understand why we have to get along…" he muttered as he looked around; sighing, he knew that they would have to at least try for Chelly's sake."So…reading anything interesting?"
"I'm reading about desert climate," Zexion replied in an annoyed voice, turning a page.
Axel clenched his teeth. "If you didn't notice, it's hot and sandy. That's the climate," he said in a strained tone.
Zexion sighed and looked up at him. "I'm reading more advanced things than that."
"Right…"
Zexion turned back to his book and Axel struck down a few Heartless, hoping that the mission would be over soon.
Over in Twilight Town, Saix moved swiftly to the left, then right, taking out a line of Heartless that appeared. Their flowery petals slowly fell from their heads as they faded away.
"What are you doing?" Marluxia exclaimed; he rushed forward and grabbed Saix's shoulder, trying to stop him from moving any further.
"…Killing Heartless?" Saix said; a frown slowly formed on his face.
"But that was a pretty one…"
Saix sighed in frustration and shrugged off Marluxia's hand. "What do you usually do on missions?"
"Well…usually I start by getting some coffee, then I socialize for a bit by the water cooler, do some online shopping…you know, the usual stuff," Marluxia said.
Saix turned away from him, muttering, "We have to get along…I have to be nice...restrain…yourself…"
"Saix? Oh Saix?" Marluxia said.
Saix didn't have to turn to see the annoying smile on Marluxia's face; he knew then and there the mission was going to be a challenge.
Leximy stretched as she sat up on a white sheet-covered bed. "That was a nice nap. Whose bed are we in anyway?" she asked as she glanced around at the strange clown pictures covering the walls.
"I'm not sure…" Chelly said, sitting up from the other side of the bed.
They got their answer when Xaldin walked in and grabbed a pair of sunglasses off the dresser beside the bed. He paused when he noticed the girls. "What are you two doing in my bed?" he asked in a surprised tone.
Leximy gave the room a glance over before turning back to Xaldin. "Clowns…? Really?" she asked, and then leaned to Chelly, whispering, "I think someone wants to join the circus…"
Chelly gave a slight nod before turning to Xaldin, looking suspiciously at the sunglasses he held. "Uh…Xaldin…since when do you wear sunglasses?"
"I…these aren't mine. I'm giving them back to…Xemnas…"
"Uh-huh…"
"I think the better question is, seriously, what are you two doing in my bed?"
"We got lost and we couldn't find our own rooms…" Chelly explained.
"I don't even have a room anymore," Leximy added sadly.
"Right. And you chose mine? You have four guys running crazily after you, and you chose my bed?" Xaldin asked with a head shake and a scowl.
"What is he talking about?" Leximy asked. "Is someone having a race? How come we weren't invited?"
"I want to race!" Chelly said, then paused. "Wait…what four guys, Xaldin?"
Xaldin looked at her in disbelief. "Saix, Marluxia, Axel and Zexion."
"They're the ones racing without us? After their missions, I guess they weren't going to come back and hang out with us…"
"Those… I think we need to step up our ransom…and get back at them!" Leximy said, narrowing her eyes. "Let's start by going to Twilight Town and buying all the ice cream, and then eating it in front of them!"
Xaldin rolled his eyes and walked out.
"We'll share with Demyx and Roxas and… I have an idea!" Leximy said, the wheels in her head obviously turning as she thought of a plan. "What if we give Zexion and Saix ice cream! There's no way Axel and Marluxia will be able to follow through with the contract; they'll be too jealous!"
Chelly laughed. "I'm sure Demy and Roxas would love that…hmm…but what happens when they don't follow through with the contract? Aren't we supposed to die if that happens?"
"Hm…I guess I didn't think this through… it's not like we can make them do anything worse…I mean, we're already asking everything from them. Hmm…"
"Hm…" Chelly said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Why don't we just challenge them to a race? Wait…are we still wearing Marluxia and Zexion's robes…?"
The two looked down suddenly and noticed the black robes engulfing their entire bodies as they lay on the white bed. "Oh yeah…heh… I guess we forgot to give them back… Does this mean they're running around shirtless?"
The two paused and looked at each other with slight smiles.
"You know…it's not that bad without a shirt on in this weather…" Zexion said.
"Well, it'd be nice if you'd put on a shirt…" Axel said.
"Chelly said she liked it," Zexion said, hiding his face behind his book.
Axel turned and glared, considering lighting the book on fire, but instead muttered, "We have to get along…we have to get along…"
Saix sighed as he struck down another Heartless. "We'd better get you out of the sun; you're starting to look Xemnas Orange without your robe."
"Thanks buddy! Hey, is that a color now?" Marluxia asked.
"Yeah, they…made a crayon out of it."
"Really?"
"…sure."
"How do you know? Do you use color crayons?"
"This conversation has gone on way too long…"
"Don't avoid the question, Saix."
Saix sighed, wondering if the mission would ever end.
Chelly sat up in Xaldin's bed, and pulled out Vexen's coloring book and a box of crayons from her pocket. "What shall we do now?" she asked as she looked through the crayons, trying to decide what color to use. "What the… this one is called 'Xemnas Orange'! How did he get a crayon named after him?"
"Okay, Chelly, we're going to go put our ice cream plan into action," Leximy said, ignoring her sudden outburst.
Chelly nodded and opened a portal near Leximy. "Alright, let's go," she said, putting the book and crayons back in her pocket. Leximy jumped off the bed and took a deep breath before entering the portal. Chelly followed her example, leaving Xaldin's empty room behind her.
"I would like to buy all your ice cream, please," Leximy said.
She and Chelly stood at the ice cream shop in Twilight Town. As Leximy smiled up at the guy working there, he gave her a suspicious look.
"Chelly, hand him the munny please."
Chelly handed him a coin purse full of munny that she had transmuted before they got there. "Keep the change," she said with a wink.
The guy opened the coin purse and smiled at the two girls. "Whatever you say…" he said, handing Leximy a giant bag of all the ice cream in his shop.
They thanked him, and as they were walking away, Chelly said, "How are we going to keep them from melting?"
"That's not really my problem," Leximy said, handing Chelly an ice cream. "Eat up before it's…liquid."
She smiled as Demyx excitedly ran over to them. "Hey! Did you guys come to help me? Because I'm already done! I finished on my own!" he said with a proud smile.
Leximy narrowed her eyes at him. "You paid someone to do it for you…didn't you?"
"…they wanted to do it…"
"Congratulations!" Leximy said happily, handing him an ice cream.
"Hey, Demy, would you like to be a judge for a race we're going to have?" Chelly asked with a smile.
"Of course I would!" Demyx said in an enthusiastic tone. "Wait…what kind of work does being a judge entail…?"
"My dear sweet Leximy!" Marluxia exclaimed as he ran up to them, Saix trailing coolly behind. "How nice of you to visit me on my mission!"
Leximy laughed into her palm. "Your chest is nearly as pink as your hair!"
"Manly, is it not?" Marluxia agreed, rubbing his chest.
"Yes, Marluxia…very…manly…" Saix said.
"Well, Demyx, we have to wait until Zexy and Axel to get here…but you just have to tell us who crosses the finish line first," Chelly assured him.
"Oh, that's easy! I'll do it!" Demyx announced.
"What are you talking about?" Saix asked the two suspiciously.
"Oh…nothing…we're waiting for Zexion and Axel to get here before we decide what we're doing next," Chelly said.
"I don't know if I like where this is going…" Marluxia said, then looked back at Leximy. "You look lovely today."
"Much more lovely than Marluxia looks," Saix pointed out.
"Normally I would be offended…but today, I agree with you," Marluxia said with a smile.
"Hey! Are you just agreeing because you two have to get along, or because I really do look nice?" Leximy asked with a flip of her hair. "Either way, I really want to kick you…"
It was Saix's turn to smile as Leximy furrowed her brow. "Where are Axel and Zexion? Where did you send them, Saix?"
"To Agrabah. They should be finished shortly, unless…their combined efforts went as terribly as ours did…" Saix said.
"Not that any fighting went on," Marluxia clarified with a warning glance at Saix.
"…of course, we got along just…fine…"
A round of looks of disbelief went around the group as a portal opened in front of them. Zexion and Axel walked out.
Axel stretched. "I can't wait to get some ice cream…" he said before noticing everyone else. "Hey, looks like you went ahead and got us some ice cream!"
Zexion looked up from his book. "And the rest of the Organization…"
Chelly glanced at Leximy who smiled as she spoke. "Finally you guys got here! We have a surprise! For all your hard work, we bought out all the ice cream!"
Axel's eyes widened as Leximy held up the giant bag of ice cream.
"Here ya go," she continued, handing one to Demyx, then another to herself and Chelly. "Oh, Saix, this one's for you."
She smiled sweetly and handed him the ice cream. "Thank you…" Saix said, a faint smile playing on his lips; he glanced at Marluxia.
"And Zexion, you can have this one…"
"Okay…"
Axel held out a hand expectantly.
"Oh…would you look at that, I'm all out of ice cream…"
"But…you gave one to Saix? And not…" Marluxia said sadly before turning to Saix. "I'll kill you! And your little dog, too!"
Saix's eyes widened.
"I mean… awh, shucks, ain't that just the darndest," Marluxia said with a crooked smile.
"What's going on here?" Axel asked Chelly.
She shrugged and took a bite of her ice cream.
"Mmm, this ice cream sure is good," Demyx said, flashing Axel a smile.
Axel glared at him before turning his attention to Leximy. "Something's not right here…"
"Did Axel and I do something wrong?" Marluxia asked, noticing how he and Axel were the only two that didn't have ice cream.
"Think hard boys," Chelly said, narrowing her eyes at them.
"Yeah!" Leximy said, doing the same.
"I…what do you guys mean…?" Axel said coolly.
"I didn't do anything…wrong. Well, actually, I'm a very bad boy," Marluxia said; Saix rolled his eyes.
"Oh! …oooh… I'm so sorry Chelly, Leximy…I never thought you'd find out about…oh gosh…" Axel said.
Leximy leaned to Chelly and whispered, "Do you know what he's talking about?"
"No…but maybe we'll get some confessions out of them," Chelly whispered back; she coughed and straightened back up. "Of course we found out. Who do you think we are? Now, we want the details, or there's going to be some pain."
She punched her palm, and Demyx widened his eyes. "Do what she says! I don't want you guys to get hurt!" he exclaimed.
Zexion took a bite of his ice cream as he read. "You just don't want to get stuck with their missions," he pointed out.
"Whatever the reasons, I don't want them hurt," Demyx said with a smile.
"Talk," Chelly persisted, glaring at Axel.
"The details…really?" Axel asked, audibly clearing his throat. "Are you sure? I mean…they're pretty…gory, and…you're just so…young…is this really appropriate?"
He turned to Marluxia whose eyes widened a bit. "Well…they were going to find out sometime… I'm just glad you'll be the one telling them," he said, patting Axel on the back.
Axel glared at him.
"Is this going to be like the time Vexen told me how babies are made?" Demyx asked, making a face.
"Yes, Axel, is this going to be like that time?" Leximy asked, putting her hands under her chin and smiling.
"I'm sure he paid attention to Vexen's explanation. He fell asleep after I said his name," Zexion added, turning the page.
Axel frowned and looked as though he were about to pass out from stress.
"Just…spit it out, Axel!" Chelly said.
"It's not my fault! He pressured me into doing it!" Axel said, pointing to Lexaeus who had appeared several minutes before, but was overlooked.
"You!" Leximy said, pointing to him. "Is this true? Could you really have done such a thing?"
"…"
Chelly, Leximy and Demyx drew back and gasped in sync.
Saix turned to them in disbelief. "Really…?"
"What were you three thinking?" Chelly exclaimed as she stared at Axel, Marluxia, and Lexaeus.
"…"
"That's not a good enough excuse..."
"…"
Leximy's face turned an almost green-ish color. "That's…so…ew! Why would you do that? I thought you guys were…but I guess those guys were…ew!" she said.
Axel hid his face in his gloved hands.
"Now, now…there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this!" Marluxia said. "I just…can't remember what it is…"
"EW!"
"…"
"Wait…how is that ew?" Chelly asked as she looked at Lexaeus and Leximy.
"Yeah, I was wondering that, too…" Axel said, glancing at Lexaeus. "I don't know what you're talking about now…"
"Okay, just so there's no confusion, I'll say this…" Chelly said, standing up. "We challenge you to a race!"
"…I thought you just said there'd be no confusion…" Axel said.
"Get your stilettos boys, race time," Leximy said. "Winner takes all."
"All what?" Demyx asked.
"All…" Leximy looked at Chelly for help.
"All…the bragging rights," Chelly finished.
"That's all?" Saix asked.
"Well…what do you want?"
"Ask for one free wish!" Demyx suggested.
"Sounds like a challenge! I accept!" Marluxia said proudly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stilettos? As in those giant heeled shoes?" Axel said, turning to Marluxia with a dumbfounded look.
Marluxia coughed. "Oh, I guess I…didn't hear that part…no way are we doing that," Marluxia said, glaring at Leximy.
"But we got the shoes from your closet," Leximy said.
Saix held back a laugh as Marluxia's eyes widened. "What were you doing in my closet?"
"Looking for shoes?"
"And you didn't see anything…unusual…?"
"Aside from a grown man's closet being full of women's shoes, dresses, and panty hose? No."
"I'm sorry to break it to you, but I don't do women's clothing or shoes," Axel said.
Leximy snapped and a full ball gown, make-up and tiara appeared on him.
"Horse feathers…" Axel cursed.
"Axel!" Leximy exclaimed, covering Chelly's ears.
"What…?"
Demyx held Chelly in a slight hug protectively. "There, there…" he said, glaring at Axel. "You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"I'm…sorry?"
Zexion looked up from his book. "What's going on?" he asked before seeing Axel. "What in the world…"
Axel quickly took the tiara off his head and put it on Marluxia's head. "You look much better in it."
"I do, don't I?" he said with a smile.
"You know…just once I'd like to see Saix in the crown and jewels," Leximy said.
"You're…not asking me to share, are you?" Marluxia said, grabbing the tiara protectively.
Leximy sighed.
"That's okay, Marluxia, I wouldn't want to take that away from you. I know how important it is," Saix said quickly.
Marluxia smiled and let go of his tiara. Leximy looked up and smiled at Saix. He gave her a wary glance before suddenly feeling something on his head. Slowly he lifted his hands to his head where a tiara sat. He looked over at Leximy accusingly.
"Mah boys are so pretty!" Leximy said, taking both of their arms.
Saix and Marluxia couldn't help but smile as Leximy looked up at them, her face beaming. "So where and when should we have this race?"
Chelly placed her hand under her chin thoughtfully. "We can do it at the castle as a last day sort of thing…"
"Last day?" Axel repeated.
"Um, I mean…because it's our home…"
"Where are we going?" Demyx persisted.
"Nowhere, it was merely a slip of the tongue," Chelly clarified.
Demyx narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. Turning away from Demyx, Chelly opened a portal and looked at Leximy. "After you, ma'am."
"Why thank you," Marluxia said, stepping forward.
He was caught by his hair by Leximy who pulled him back. "Move it," she said with a glare.
"Ow…" Marluxia said, rubbing his head.
Saix pushed past Marluxia and followed Leximy into the portal. Axel, Demyx and Zexion followed their example and pushed Marluxia further and further back. When they were all through, Marluxia stepped forward just as the portal closed.
"Aw, they forgot about someone…" Chelly said.
Marluxia turned to her with an exasperated look. "I know, how could they forget me, right?"
"Uh, yeah…that's what I meant…"
"Well, guess we'd better follow them," Marluxia said, opening his own portal and walking through.
Chelly looked around before writing a note and dropped it in a portal before disappearing in a flash of black.
Back at the castle, the note dropped on Axel's head.
"What the…" Axel said, picking up the note and reading it aloud. "'Dear whoever reads this, probably Axel'…" he paused and frowned. "How did she know it'd be me?"
Zexion glanced up from his book. "Keep reading."
Axel looked back down and continued. "'I'll be back soon. Went to tie up some loose ends. Set up the race and I'll be back shortly. Love with my nonexistent heart, Chelly.'" Axel looked up at Leximy. "Where is she going…?"
Zexion closed his book. "Let's just do what she says. I'm sure she'll be back," he suggested.
"Yeah…she'll be back…" Leximy said with a cough. "Let's do as instructed. Where would we find a checker starting line and a red finishing line ribbon? Oh we need a gun and a tube top, too!"
"…you do know where you are, right?" Axel asked with a dumbfounded expression. "Why would anyone here have any of those things?"
Zexion held up a long string of ribbon and some red paint. "This look good?" he asked.
"Perfect!"
Axel instinctively hit his forehead with his palm.
"What's going on here?" Xigbar asked with a smile.
"Hey! Xiggy has a gun, right?" Demyx asked.
"Why yes I do, but…what is it for?"
"If you need a tube top, try Marluxia's closet," Zexion said.
Demyx smiled. "Just watch out for the dead bodies!"
Xaldin walked in at that moment, and looked around as Roxas held the paint. "I don't think I want to know what's going on…" he muttered.
"Okay, now, where should we do this…?" Leximy asked, her green eyes searching the walls of the castle. "We don't live in an air port so there are no long strips of road…or airplanes!"
"Way to point out the obvious…" Axel sighed.
"We can do it in the long hall upstairs," Zexion said, turning a page in his book.
"Yeah! There's plenty of room up there!" Demyx agreed.
Axel paused and leaned to Saix. "We're not really doing this are we…?"
Marluxia glanced at Leximy's serious face. "I don't think we have a choice…"
Saix sighed and looked around. "But…maybe if Chelly doesn't come back, we don't have to do it…there's no way she'd start without her best friend."
"Okay! Ready guys?" Leximy asked, her heels clacking against the marble floor as she walked.
"…no," Axel replied simply.
"I think you are."
Axel frowned and slowly looked down; he quickly realized he, Saix and Marluxia were all wearing stilettos. "What…? How did you…?"
Leximy put her fingers to her lips. "Secret!"
"But…" Axel said a little panicked; he desperately searched around. "Chelly isn't here, is she…?"
Zexion looked up from his book. "Nice outfits ladies."
Saix turned and glared at him. Suddenly there was a loud, banging noise from upstairs.
"AH! THE CASTLE'S ON FIRE!" Demyx shouted, running around in circles.
"Demyx!" Axel said, grabbing his shoulder. "I'm sure it's nothing…"
Demyx looked up at him with wide eyes. "I don't want to burn! I'll go put out the fire!" he said, running out in the hallway.
"Wait!" Axel shouted as he watched Demyx run out of sight.
There was a slight pause before the room heard Demyx scream.
"Now what…" Axel said, walking over to the hallway. "He's…gone…"
"Since we lost our judge, can we get out of these things?" Saix asked.
In a room upstairs, Chelly held her hand over Demyx's mouth to keep him quiet. "What are you trying to do?" she whispered-shouted.
Demyx took her hand off his mouth. "Chelly!" he said, hugging her. "I thought you were the fire that was going to eat me!"
"Nah, I'm not that much into lighting things on fire…that's Axel's job…"
Demyx smiled and took a look around the room. "What are all these for…?"
Chelly smiled for a moment and looked into Demyx's eyes. "Can you keep a secret, Demy?"
"…why are you looking at me?" Zexion asked as he peeked over his book.
Leximy smiled and continued staring.
"…"
Leximy snickered as Zexion realized he was already wearing a pair of stilettos. "Crap…"
"Wow, those make your calves look stunning," Marluxia complimented.
Zexion glared back at him and tried to pay attention to his book.
Axel walked back into the room and sat on one of the chairs to the side of the room. "How can girls walk in these…? They're so uncomfortable…"
"You think?" Marluxia asked, walking over to him as though he had been walking in them his whole life. "They don't seem that bad to me…"
"Well…we obviously know who is going to win this…" Saix muttered.
"You think so, Saix?" Leximy said with a pat on his back. "Way to be confident in your abilities!"
"What? No, not me!" Saix sighed.
"…whatever Saix," Leximy said with a laugh. "You don't need to let me win, it's okay; I want you to race to your full ability."
"Oh you don't have to worry about me, I'm going to kick ass!" Marluxia assured her.
Zexion suddenly fell over.
"Oh my gosh, what happened?" Leximy exclaimed.
"…I…don't know…" Zexion said, unsure.
Axel snickered. "Looks like Zexion needs to get his woman legs…"
Zexion glared at him. "Looks like you already have yours…"
"…"
In Chelly's room, ten plastic bags in hand, Chelly set them on the bed next to Demyx who looked at them curiously. Chelly turned and opened her closet, moving around things to make room for the bags, while Demyx looked through one of them. "What do you need this for?" he exclaimed, taking out a coconut bra.
"What the…how did that get in there…?" Chelly said, clearly puzzled; she shrugged. "I guess Marluxia can wear it."
Demyx placed the coconut bra back into the bag and handed all the bags to Chelly, who put them in the closet. "Now remember to keep it a secret…no telling anyone, okay, Demyx?"
Demyx nodded with a salute. "Gotcha."
"Okay, let's go down there before they get suspicious…"
Demyx followed Chelly out of the room and down to the floor the rest of the Organization members and Leximy stood around.
Axel turned and noticed them. "Where were you two?" he asked.
Before Chelly could answer, Demyx said, "In Chelly's room doing something that we can't tell you!"
There was a pause, and Chelly's palm became acquainted with her forehead. "Demyx…"
Axel raised an eyebrow and Saix shook his head.
"High five Demyx!" Leximy said, holding up a hand.
"Okay!" Demyx said, high fiving her with an oblivious smile.
"Ready to get this party started? Let's round up everyone…" Leximy said, glancing at Chelly. "We're running short on time, yeah?"
"Hmm…" Chelly glanced down at the paper in her hands before looking back up at Leximy. "We have enough time, let's just finish this up and make our announcement."
"What's going on…?" Axel asked.
"No need to worry, it'll all be explained soon," Chelly assured him.
"Okay, if you say so…"
"Nice shoes by the way."
Axel sighed. "I don't think so…"
"I should be a model," Marluxia said, gracefully walking around Axel and Zexion.
Axel tried to walk in a straight line, and when Zexion took one step, he tripped and caught himself on Marluxia's robe as he went by.
"Hmm…maybe we should re-think this whole shoe race," Chelly said, fearing the worst for the Organization.
"Let's just get it over with quickly!" Demyx said.
"Who's going to shoot the gun?" Leximy asked, looking at Xigbar who caressed the top of one of his guns.
"Looks good, where's that tube top?"
Xigbar's eyes widened as Leximy shrugged and took her place at the starting line.
"I…think I'm going to sit this one out," Chelly said quietly, walking backwards.
"Oh no, you challenged us, you have to put on the death traps and run, too," Axel demanded.
Chelly sighed defeated and transmuted a pair of shoes on her feet, taking her place next to Axel.
Zexion sat on the starting line. "I…don't think I can get up…"
Chelly helped him up. "You can do it!"
He responded with a doubtful look at his feet.
"Get ready…get set…" Xigbar started.
Leximy turned to Saix who stood readily beside her. "Do you want to hold my hand while we race?"
Saix looked over at her with wide eyes. "I…"
BANG!
Xigbar waved as everyone made a run for it, Saix behind. "What?"
Leximy laughed as she moved into first place.
"Oh no you don't!" Marluxia said.
Axel matched Marluxia's pace and turned with a smirk. Marluxia looked at him, then quickly back in front of him to concentrate on not tripping.
"Hmm…" Chelly said; she ran out of the course and into the hallway, making a left, then another left, and appearing in front of everyone.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Axel exclaimed.
Chelly turned to them as she ran. "Show me the rules." She smiled.
Marluxia and Axel turned to each other and frowned.
"Chelly! Wait up!" Leximy exclaimed, speed walking to catch up.
Marluxia elbowed Axel, and Axel lit Marluxia's pants on fire.
"Foul! Foul!" Marluxia shouted as he fell on the ground; he wasted no time and started rolling, still heading for the finish line.
"Wow…this is pretty brutal," Xigbar said.
"Yeah, hardcore man," Demyx agreed. "Go Chelly!"
"I'm gonna win! I'm gonna win!" Leximy chanted. "Wait…why does the finish line keep moving!"
Marluxia rolled past her and Chelly. "How are you doing that!" Leximy shouted.
"Muhaha! You thought you could stop me Axel!" Marluxia said.
At the end, the group watched as Saix casually stepped across the finish line.
"And the winner is Saix!" Demyx announced. "Awh man, how disappointing."
"What! How did that happen?" Leximy shouted.
"Have you ever heard the story of the tortoise and the hare?" Saix asked as Leximy tackled him. "Plus…" he continued, his voice strained because of the added weight of Leximy on his chest. "I have…long legs…"
Chelly stopped running and sat on the floor, her feet in pain. "Shoot!" she said with a snap. "I'll get it next time."
"I'm just glad I can finally take these off," Axel said, taking off the shoes.
Back next to the starting line, Zexion sat and read his book. "Yeah, same here," he agreed, taking off his shoes.
"This game was rigged." Marluxia pouted.
"What do….I win?" Saix asked as Leximy got off of him.
"A kiss!" Leximy said.
"W-what?" Saix blushed.
"From Demyx!"
"Run, run away!" Demyx said.
Axel laughed. "That shade of red really goes well with your hair, Saix."
"It's the same color as your hair!" Leximy said. "You two would make a cute couple!"
Saix hit his forehead with his palm.
"Please don't make him kiss me!" Demyx sobbed, hiding behind Chelly. "I don't know if I can take it!"
"Hey Xigba~, make sure Saix stays away from Demy…" Chelly instructed.
"What the heck…why would I try and kiss him? You are all ridiculous, get back to work!" Saix shouted.
"Is that how you get out of every situation?" Leximy asked.
"Yes, it usually works…"
"Well, it's not going to work this time!"
"Because we're going on a cruise," Xigbar shouted, giving away the secret Chelly, Leximy, and, recently Demyx, had been trying to hide.