[Disclaimer: ...we obviously don't own Kingdom Hearts...if only we were that good... ;) ]

CHAPTER TEN

The Proposals

In the morning, Leximy woke up feeling slightly sick to her stomach. She yawned and, as she stretched, said, "I hate mornings…"

She noticed Axel snoring on Saix's bed. "Not that you care…" she added. "I guess I'll leave you here…"

After getting ready, she opened the door and looked down to see Chelly and Saix leaned against each other sleeping in the hallway. "Psh, way to go Saix. What's with the two of you?" she asked as she kicked Saix in the leg and shut the door behind her.

Saix jerked awake and looked around. "What's going on…?" he said, noticing Chelly was lying on his shoulder. "Chelly, wake up. It's morning."

"Huh…?" Chelly said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Morning already?" She smiled, then suddenly froze when she realized she was still sitting in the hallway. "They stayed in there all night?"

Saix stood up and brushed himself off. "I guess so…" he said, pounding on the door. "Axel, if you want your life spared for the next ten minutes, you had better open up this door."

"I hope he had a good time leaving me out here…" Chelly said angrily, walking back to her room, and asking a maid to open the door for her.

"Hn…" Saix heard Axel from the other side of the door. "Where am I?"

Saix felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to meet eyes with Leximy.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"What the…when did you get out here?" Saix asked.

"I've been out here the whole time…how disappointing you didn't even notice…"

"…where's Axel? Is he out here, too? Did you know Chelly and I sat out here all night waiting for the two of you?"

Leximy shrugged. "Serves you right."

"What did we do? As far as I've seen, nothing is the answer to that question."

"You're wrong, and I don't care if you disagree with me!" Leximy said, tears welling up in her eyes as she ran down the hall.

Saix stood alone watching her run down the hallway. "Why do I like her so much?"

Walking out of the room, Axel smiled at Saix. "Good mornin'."

Saix turned to Axel and glared.

"Whoa, what's with the glare?" Axel asked, putting his hands behind his head. "Lighten up."

"You may not have the same attitude once you find Chelly may not want to talk to you."

Axel dropped his hands and his smile disappeared. "Where is she?"

"She and I stayed out here all night waiting for you two to open the door. She ran back to your room once she realized you had been in there…all night."

"Ugh…" Axel said, rubbing his head. "She's outside of our room, right? I have the key."

"She asked a maid to get in. I hope you're happy with what you've done."

"I didn't do anything!"

Saix continued glaring.

"Where's Leximy?" Axel asked.

"…"

Axel sighed. "This is a mess, why can't we just have a happy cruise?"

"Now where's the fun in that?" Saix asked.

"You don't even like fun…what's with you justifying this nonsense?" Axel said. "Now I sound like you…"

"Yes you do, got it memorized?" Saix countered before pausing. "Oh, now I sound like you…I blame the hallway, it's not a suitable resting place. I'm going to lie down."

He walked past Axel back into his room.

"Looks like I have to do some damage control…" Axel said, walking over to his and Chelly's room.

He knocked on the door. The door slightly opened and a Moogle floated out.

The Moogle glared at Axel. "I'm sorry, but you'll need to leave, kupo."

"What? This is my room," Axel said, flashing his key. "See?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but if you don't leave, I must use force, kupo."

Axel pulled out his chakrams. "I hate to do this…but I need to speak with Chelly."

The Moogle laughed. "You think those are a match for me…kupo?"

"I'm sorry to challenge you, but please let me pass."

Suddenly the door opened and Chelly grabbed the Moogle and shielded him. "No! Don't hurt him!"

Axel dropped his chakrams.

"I could've taken him!" the Moogle said with a frown.

"I-I'm sorry…" Chelly said, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Chelly, don't cry! I wasn't really going to hurt him!" Axel exclaimed.

"Pah, like you could! …kupo."

"How could you…?" Chelly said with a disapproving look at him.

"I swear I didn't do anything…" Axel said, holding her in his arms.

"Uh-huh…"

Outside Leximy's door, Marluxia knocked on it sweetly. In his other hand was a bouquet of flowers. "Oh, Leximy~! I brought you a present!"

Saix opened the door. "I'm not Leximy, but…" he said, glancing at the flowers. "I'll take them…"

Marluxia snatched his flowers away from Saix. "Where's Leximy? She's okay, right?"

"I'm not sure she's okay…"

"What did you do? I must go find her!" Marluxia exclaimed, pulling out his tracking device.

"Uh, actually, she's in here," Saix suddenly said.

"Well, then out of my way!" Marluxia said, pushing him aside. "Leximy? Leximy…?" He looked around inside.

Saix shut the door and began running in the direction Leximy had left in.

"What the…you liar!" Marluxia exclaimed, running back to the door and after Saix.

"Now, now, it'll be okay…" Axel said, picking Chelly up.

"I don't think so…" Chelly said, wiping away the couple of tears that had fallen from her eyes.

"We're…going swimming today after breakfast…that should be fun, right?" Axel said with an encouraging smile as he set her on her bed.

Chelly reluctantly nodded and couldn't help but smile. "But we have to wait a half an hour so we don't get a side ache," she reminded him.

"Of course," he agreed, patting her head.

In a different part of the ship, Saix and Marluxia seemed to be in a marathon as they ran down the hallways.

"Where could Leximy be?" Saix asked, as he and Marluxia ran out to the deck of the ship to look around.

Marluxia glanced at his tracking device. "It says she should be around here…"

"Oh no…please don't tell me…" Saix started.

"What?" Marluxia followed his gaze and saw Leximy and Xemnas sitting on beach chairs tanning. "Is that the Superior?"

"I think you mean 'is that Leximy with the Superior'?"

"This is fun, I can see why you do it obsessively," Leximy said to Xemnas.

"Ah yes…more oil, Leximy?" Xemnas offered.

"Please."

He squirted some tanning oil onto her hand, which she promptly rubbed into her arms, and sipped her umbrella drink.

Saix and Marluxia stared at the two with their mouths wide open.

"Well…at least we get to see her in a bathing suit?" Marluxia said.

"Superior…oil…umbrella drinks…" Saix said as he silently wept.

Marluxia smiled. "I guess I'll enjoy it while you concentrate on the negatives."

Demyx ran out of the changing room in his swimming trunks. "Who is ready to go swimming?"

Roxas followed him out and looked around. "Where is everyone? And what's with Saix?" he asked.

Marluxia turned to Xemnas and pointed.

"Got it…" Roxas said with a shudder.

Chelly and Axel walked out onto the floor, hand in hand. "Hurry Demyx! We have to get him in the pool before he changes his mind!"

Marluxia moved into the beach chair next to Leximy and ripped off his robes, revealing the very pink, very flowery Speedo he sported.

Leximy turned to him. "Can you put that away, please? Your skin is hurting my eyes, and I have sunglasses on."

"Don't make fun of my snow white complexion! It's glorious!" Marluxia insisted.

"Seriously Marly, no one wants to see that," Xemnas agreed, squirting him with the oil.

"It burns!"

"I'm pretty sure that image burns, too," Axel pointed out, gesturing toward Marluxia's chest.

"It's a glorious vision!" Marluxia exclaimed.

Zexion walked out with a book in his hands. "Thank you, I try," he said, smiling behind his book.

"Nice timing Zexy!" Chelly complimented with a thumbs up.

Axel rolled his eyes.

"Pool! Pool! Pool!" Demyx chanted, dancing around Saix.

Saix rolled into the fetal position.

"I need a refill," Leximy said, snapping her fingers expectantly.

Xigbar walked out with Luxord. "Huh…I half expected you to be wearing a bikini, Marluxia," Xigbar said.

"And cover this up?" Marluxia said, running his hand along his boxy. "I don't think so…plus I forgot my top at home…"

Saix slowly recovered and stood up. "Why don't we just…go to the pool now…?" he said, adding a quieted, "We can hide Marluxia's body in the pool so we don't have to see it."

"What was that, Saix?" Marluxia inquired with a smile.

"…nothing…" Saix turned to Leximy. "Would you like to join me?"

"No, I think I'm supposed to be mad at you…"

"Please, leave us be, Saix," Xemnas chimed in.

"I am sorry to bother you…"

As this happened, Axel was slowly backing away from the pool, thinking, "Maybe no one will notice…"

"AXEL! Hurry up!" Demyx exclaimed, pushing him into the pool before jumping in next to him.

Chelly sat down on the edge, dangling her feet in the water, and laughed as Axel resurfaced. "That was entertaining…"

"You think so, huh?" Axel said, walking over and pulling her in the water.

"Foul play! Foul play!" Demyx shouted, swimming over and dunking Axel's head in the water.

Leximy turned to Xemnas. "It's like watching a cat take a bath," she said with a laugh at Axel.

Xemnas agreed and offered her a piece of candy.

"You know, you're not so bad," Leximy said, taking the candy. "I don't know why everyone's afraid of you."

Xemnas tilted his glasses down to his nose, revealing a pair of red eyes. "Me neither," he said with an evil smile.

"You're so cute," Leximy said, turning her gaze back to the pool.

"Ahh! Hot water! Axel is cheating!" Demyx shouted as he swam away.

Axel resurfaced with a sinister smile.

"You can't boil the water! You'll burn Demyx!" Chelly said sternly.

Axel shook the water out of his hair. "There are no rules when we're not playing any games," he said, slowly approaching her.

"Dance water, dance!" Demyx said, making his water clones appear and chase after Axel.

Axel quickly swam behind Chelly for protection.

"Oh now you want help…" Chelly said with a roll of her eyes.

The clones swirled around and splashed water on Zexion. "Okay, now I'm angry. You ruined my book!" Zexion said, standing up and looking very rugged and manly as he posed angrily.

"Go Zexy!" Leximy cheered.

"Do you want me to show you how to rip off your robes?" Marluxia asked.

"…no?"

"Do it Zexion! Show us all how it's done!" Chelly encouraged.

Zexion looked between his robe and Chelly, not sure of what to do.

"You wouldn't want to do that, would you Zexion?" Axel asked with a glare.

"Why not?" Chelly asked.

"There are…small children…" Axel said, pointing to the children across the pool playing a game.

Xigbar smiled. "I'm pretty sure Marluxia's doing that enough for all of us."

"HEY! I'm a vision of perfection!" Marluxia exclaimed as he stood up and posed.

Zexion stood straight and cleared his throat. He grabbed the collar of his robe with both hands and pulled…but nothing happened.

Everyone laughed.

"It's okay, Zexion, I guess those books don't give you a good enough work out," Leximy said.

"And Marluxia's flowers do?" Saix asked.

Marluxia walked over and began to explain to Zexion how to do it correctly.

Chelly looked over at them. "It's kind of awkward…he's explaining how to rip off his clothes…"

Axel shrugged. "That's Marly for you…"

Demyx made his water clones disappear and swam over to Axel and Chelly. "We should play a game! Like…volleyball in the water…or…Marco Polo!"

"We need more people to play…" Chelly said.

"How about we play chicken," Axel suggested. "Chelly, get up on my shoulders. Demyx you can sit on…Xigbar."

Xigbar smiled down at Demyx from the other side of the pool, who slowly swam away.

"But…I haven't played that before…" Chelly said.

"Yeah, and there aren't enough girls for this to be fun!" Demyx added.

"Zexion and I will be on a team," Marluxia said. He posed with flowers falling from the ceiling next to Zexion who dramatically ripped off his robes.

Chelly watched them in awe. "Wow…" she said as she clapped.

"Wait…" Zexion said, turning to Marluxia. "I didn't agree to be partners…"

"You're the only one small enough to ride my shoulders…" Marluxia pointed out. "Besides the girls, of course."

"Leximy," Saix said as he stood up and walked over to her, trying out a new tactic. "I demand that you be my partner for this game called chicken!"

"Okay…" Leximy whispered.

"It worked!" Saix thought to himself.

"Does Saix not know how to play either?" Chelly asked.

"Probably not. He just knows he's got to have her as his partner," Axel said with a smirk.

"So you think I'd be good at this game…?" Chelly asked.

"Uh, I don't know…are you?" Axel asked.

"I can be if I want to be," she replied, turning away from him with her arms crossed. "I'm just surprised you wanted to be my partner for this, when you didn't when we played Monopoly…"

Axel smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that…"

Demyx swam over to Chelly and hid behind her. "Don't make me be partners with him!" he exclaimed, pointing at Xigbar.

Xigbar cracked his back. "I'm ready for you…Demyx," he said with a seductive smile.

Demyx squeaked.

Saix grabbed Leximy's hand and dragged her into the pool. "Okay now…explain to me the rules."

Leximy looked up at him, unable to control her emerging blush at his new controlling demeanor. "Well…the point of the game is to knock the other team over…so I have to sit on your shoulders to push Chelly off of Axel.."

"M-my shoulders?" Saix asked.

"How cute…" Chelly said.

"They're insane if they think they can beat us," Axel said, putting his arm around Chelly.

"But…I'm not that strong…"

Xigbar jumped in the pool and swam over to the group. "Would you mind giving me the musician?"

Demyx held onto Chelly's arm. "Don't make me go!"

"Suck it up, Demyx, Xigbar isn't that bad," Leximy said. "Plus he's taller so that puts you at an advantage."

"…sitting on my shoulders…" Saix muttered with a smile.

Leximy punched him in the arm. "Man up, I was starting to like you again…don't ruin it."

Saix coughed. "Don't punch me," he said with narrowed eyes.

"Why not?" Leximy asked, punching him again.

"Leximy stop, you're going to make him cry!" Marluxia said.

"I'll make you cry!" Saix said, pulling out his claymore.

Reluctantly Demyx got on Xigbar's shoulders.

Saix picked up Leximy, without warning, and set her on his shoulders.

"Wow, I feel so tall! This is weird…your hair is so much softer than I thought," Leximy thought aloud.

"I use expensive conditioner…" Saix said.

Leximy pet his head.

Axel kneeled down in the water. "Hop on."

"Um…okay…" Chelly said.

Axel stood up.

"Oh my gosh! I know what you mean, Leximy! I feel like I'm as big as a building!" Chelly exclaimed.

"…I'm not that tall…" Axel said.

"You are much, much taller than me."

Marluxia smiled at Saix.

"…what?"

"You used the conditioner I got you, didn't you?" Marluxia asked.

"…I don't know what you're talking about…"

"What does his hair smell like, Leximy?" Marluxia asked.

Leximy sniffed his hair. "Like an early spring morning with a light fog behind the trees creating a tranquil scene, a light suggestion of newly blooming flowers lingers in the background…with a touch of…is that strawberries?"

Saix hit his face with his palm.

"Ha! I knew it!" Marluxia exclaimed.

Saix looked up at her. "Why couldn't you have just said it smells like a hair salon?"

"Leximy doesn't lie, Saix," Chelly said with a wag of her finger.

Zexion and Marluxia jumped in the pool.

"Can we please get this over with?" Demyx exclaimed.

"What's the rush, Dem-Dem?" Xigbar asked, patting Demyx's thigh.

"I think you just answered your own question…" Demyx said, pushing off his hand.

"We best get started…" Saix said. "Axel, would you care to get things moving? Who are we going to demolish first?"

"When you put it like that, it makes this game sound violent…" Chelly said.

"You're trying to push each other off the other person's shoulders…it's not a very nice game," Axel pointed out.

"Let's take down Chelly and Axel first!" Demyx exclaimed.

Chelly gasped. "Demy! You traitor!"

"I just want to fall over!" Demyx whisper-shouted.

"Oh, I won't be letting that happen," Xigbar said as he gripped Demyx's legs tighter.

"You're hurting me!"

"Ready…set…go!" Leximy exclaimed. Saix didn't move.

"Okay…I see how it is….we're waiting for them to come to us…" Leximy said with a knowing nod.

Everyone else also didn't move.

"Tough group…" Leximy said.

"So Axel, how's your day going so far?" Chelly asked.

"Pretty good…but shouldn't we be focusing on the game?" Axel asked.

"Huh…I didn't know we were playing a game…" Chelly said, looking at everyone. "Hey, Demyx!"

"Yeah?"

"Weather, huh?"

"Yeah, it's sunny…"

"This cruise is pretty nice."

"Yeah, comfy pillows."

"The maids look nice."

"They smile a lot."

Axel hit his forehead with his palm. "This is no time for small talk…"

Saix stepped forward slowly, trying to hurry through the water.

"Finally! Go! Go!" Leximy cheered.

About five minutes later, Leximy and Saix made it over to Chelly and Axel. "Hi Chelly!" Leximy said, reaching out to give her a hug.

Axel squinted. "Our faces are way too close…" he said to Saix.

"I know, but there's nothing I can do!" Saix replied, scrunching his face as their two faces got closer and closer.

"Chelly!" Axel shouted, turning his head away from Saix.

Chelly broke her hug with Leximy and looked down at him. "What?"

Axel sighed with relief as Saix's face started to move away from his own.

Demyx couldn't help but laugh from across the pool. "This is great…"

Zexion sighed and looked longingly at his book across the pool as it lay on a table.

Leximy looked at Chelly. "So…what are we supposed to do now?"

Chelly shrugged. "I think we're supposed to push each other off…but I don't like Marluxia's smile over there, so we're going to take them out first," she said, pointing to Zexion and Marluxia. "Go Axel!"

Axel smirked and started walking slowly through the water.

"Someone knock me off already!" Demyx shouted.

Saix moved over to follow Chelly and Axel but somehow managed to trip. Leximy flew forward and grabbed onto Chelly for support, but ended up dragging both of them down.

Chelly quickly resurfaced and helped Axel to the surface. "Darn! We were so close!"

"Yeah, I know…looks like we should get out of the pool…" Axel said with a smile.

"No, no, we can just float here and watch them."

"…or we could watch from where the Superior is…" Axel suggested, glancing at Xemnas who was putting more sun tan lotion on. "Er…maybe not…"

"That's what I thought. Go Zexion! Go Demyx!"

Leximy resurfaced laughing. "Wow…that was amazing…way to go Saix!"

"We lost…"

"I know, but it was still awesome! We took out Axelle, didn't we?"

"Sure," Saix replied, smiling slightly as he grabbed her around her waist.

"What are you doing?" Leximy asked in a shocked voice.

"Be quiet, watch Demyx and Zexion."

Demyx flinched as he got closer and closer to Zexion. Zexion closed his eyes and scrunched his face as he came closer.

The two were nearly touching when they put out their hands in front of them, and began to flail their hands in a catfight-type manner, yet not quite reaching their opponent.

Marluxia and Xigbar looked up at their partners in disbelief.

"You boys are powerful Nobodies, part of the most powerful force, the Organization, in all the worlds! Don't fight like girls!" Chelly shouted.

Demyx and Zexion opened their eyes and looked over at her with puzzled expressions.

Chelly sighed. "Continue…"

They nodded and continued to catfight slap.

Axel smirked at Saix. "I'm surprised Marluxia hasn't noticed yet…"

"Noticed what?" Chelly asked, following his gaze to Saix and Leximy. "Ooh, scandalous!"

Marluxia overheard them talking and looked over. "What the…" Marluxia pushed Zexion off his shoulders and slow motion ran over to the two, angry flowers floating around him in the water.

"Oh dear…" Chelly quickly swam over to help Zexion who looked to have hit his head against the side of the pool when Marluxia threw him.

Demyx opened his eyes and looked around. "We…won? We won!" he said high fiving Xigbar. "What do we win?" He looked around excitedly.

Axel swam over to them. "Well, what do you want?"

Demyx put his hand under his chin thoughtfully.

Chelly reached Zexion and keeping him afloat.

"Huh…? Where am I?" Zexion said, blinking his eyes open.

"Zexion, are you okay?"

"Who are you? Am I…in heaven? You look like an angel…"

Axel rolled his eyes.

Chelly laughed. "Aw, you're so sweet…but I think you've been reading too many romance books."

"You've got that right," Axel said, picking up Zexion from Chelly and putting him on the side of the pool, before grabbing Chelly's hand. "He'll be fine."

"Wait…" Zexion said, holding out his arm to Chelly and coughing. "Don't leave me…"

"Axel, wait. He needs help!" Chelly said, trying to go back to him.

Axel leaned to Chelly. "He's faking it. Watch." He straightened up. "Zexion, is that your book those kids are dipping in the pool?"

Zexion sat up really quickly and looked around. "Where?"

"See?" Axel said with a smirk.

"Get your filthy hands off her!" Marluxia shouted at Saix.

"But she doesn't know how to swim. I'm only helping keep her from drowning…"

"I don't? Well…thanks?" Leximy said.

Marluxia stood dumbfounded and unable to conjure anything to say back.

"I don't think that's my book…do I have a book? Do I like to read?" Zexion said, clearing his throat. "My head hurts…where am I again?"

"I think he has amnesia…" Leximy said. "Axel, quit being so heartless!"

"I wish I could. Got it memorized?"

"Woops…"

"Aww…" Chelly said, looking down at the water sadly.

"She didn't mean it, Chelly, I promise," Axel comforted, putting his arm around her shoulder and glaring at Leximy.

Chelly nodded, then remembered Zexion. "I have to take care of him!" she exclaimed, jumping out of the pool and sitting by him, petting his head. "It'll be okay, Zexy…I'm here…"

"You make me feel better, angel…" he said with a smile.

"Do you want to let me down now, Xiggy?" Demyx asked.

Xigbar smiled. "I guess I should, huh?"

Demyx jumped off his shoulders and swam over to the rest of the group.

"I did too mean it!" Leximy exclaimed, as Saix tried to hold her back.

"Maybe we should consider pool time over. You can let go of her now," Marluxia said, glaring at Saix.

"I think we should all take a trip down to the casino," Luxord offered.

Chelly looked at Luxord. "Yesterday we had a bunch of Nobodies running around here drunk…I don't think we should have those same Nobodies get addicted to gambling…"

"One of us already is!" Demyx pointed at Luxord with a smile.

"Why don't we all go to the top of the ship and enjoy the view?" Xigbar asked with a smile.

Axel continued to glare at Leximy, ignoring Xigbar. "Why don't you stop being heartless?"

"Okay! Maybe I will!" she said, quickly writing on a piece of paper from her purse "not heartless" and an arrow pointing to herself. "There."

"How did you do that?" Saix asked.

"I'm magic…"

"Pah!" Axel exclaimed.

"Way to be coherent…" Leximy muttered.

Chelly clapped. "Lovely magic, Leximy," she said, turning to Axel. "It's fine, Axel."

Roxas floated by the edge of the pool, watching the group. "This is…interesting…"

"Don't you think?" Xemnas asked with a smile as he lied back on his chair.

"I think Leximy and I will be going on a walk around the ship," Saix said.

"You forgot Leximy and I already have plans…" Marluxia said, grabbing Leximy's hand.

"What plans?" Saix asked.

"Secret…plans…"

"As much fun as walks and secrets are…I'd rather not be split down the middle…" Leximy said.

"Then you best come with me," Saix said.

"By 'me', he means 'Marluxia'. His English isn't very good…"

"My English? What?"

"Que…la bibliotheca? Donde estas…tu el gato?" Leximy said.

"Ci, los muerte vinde," Saix responded.

"Noo! Don't confess your love for him in that beautiful language! Why didn't I take French class in school?" Marluxia exclaimed.

"Um…Marluxia…I'm pretty sure that's not French…" Chelly said.

"Sounds like gibberish to me…" Axel said.

"Sou desu ne…" Chelly agreed.

"We should go play mini golf!" Demyx said, splashing around in the pool.

"They have a mini golf course on here…?" Roxas asked.

Demyx nodded and smiled. "It's on the floor above here!"

"Nah, Chelly's not old enough…" Leximy said. "I say we go whale fishing."

"I don't think that's legal…let alone possible…" Saix pointed out.

"Anything's possible…if you believe," Leximy said.

Demyx's eyes lit up.

"Hey! What do you mean I'm not old enough?" Chelly exclaimed. "There's no age limit! There are five year olds that go with their parents!"

"But your parents aren't here…" Axel pointed out.

Chelly turned and glared at him. "Xigbar could be my dad as far as anyone knows! Mini golf is for all ages! …and I don't want to hurt the whales…"

Demyx stared at Xigbar.

"What?"

"Are you really Chelly's dad? You don't look like her…except maybe the pony tail…"

Xigbar smiled.

Chelly reached her hand up and felt her hair. "I guess it is up in a pony tail right now…" she said with a smile. "I guess I didn't notice."

Demyx gasped and pointed accusingly at Xigbar. "You are!"

"I don't know what you're talking about Demyx," Xigbar said, turning to Saix.

Saix coughed as he caught on. "Stop this nonsense…!"

Axel rolled his eyes. "Let's just pick something to do…I'm starting to look like a prune," Axel said, looking at his wrinkly fingers.

"But a sexy prune," Chelly commented with a knowing nod.

Axel looked up at her and smiled. "R-really?" he said with a slight blush.

"What do you mean 'really'? You always walk around the castle saying how sexy you are!" Demyx exclaimed.

Axel glared at him.

"We should go to a fancy restaurant," Leximy suggested.

"Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea. We can go on a…a…" Saix started.

"Okay then, fancy restaurant it is," Leximy said.

"Leximy, will you be my date?" Marluxia asked.

Saix pushed Marluxia out of the way and took his place.

"Okay…but I don't know who I'm saying yes to…" Leximy said.

Everyone in the pool joined the ones outside of the pool and walked over to get their towels.

"You know who we're missing…" Chelly started.

Suddenly Larxene walked in. "Miss me?" she asked with a smile.

Demyx dropped to his knees and screamed, "NOOOOO!"

"Calm down, Demyx…" Chelly said.

"I see you are all wet from the pool…perfect," Larxene said, starting a bolt of electricity with her fingers.

"I can't take this anymore!" Demyx exclaimed, running past her and accidently knocking her into the pool.

Larxene resurfaced with a glare.

"Oh dear, your make up is running…" Chelly said.

She spat out some water then smiled evilly.

"Evacuate the pool! Everyone out!" Leximy yelled.

The entire population of the pool evacuated hastily and noisily.

In the hallway where all the Nobodies – and Leximy – had their rooms, everyone returned to their respected rooms to change.

"You have the key, right Axel?" Chelly asked.

Axel smiled and held up their card key.

"Okay good…open the door! I wanna get some normal clothes on!"

"Why, you look lovely in that," Axel replied with a smile.

"They said fancy restaurant, not 'Joes' Seafood Place'. I have to look nice!"

In Leximy and Saix's room, Leximy was having a hard time deciding what to wear. "I brought too many fancy dresses…" she noticed aloud.

Saix loosened his robe collar. "Uhm…I uh…they all look nice…" Saix said unsurely.

"You're no help…" Leximy said. "Marluxia!"

Suddenly Marluxia appeared in the doorway. "You rang?"

"Help me pick out a dress…will you do my make-up, too?"

"Of course, love, that's what I'm here for," Marluxia replied, ushering Saix out the door and slamming it in his face.

Sitting on his bed, staring at the ceiling, Axel waited somewhat patiently for Chelly. "Are you ready yet?"

"I'm not sure what to wear…" Chelly called from the bathroom.

"Here, let me help you…" Axel said, standing up and slightly opening the door.

Chelly slammed it shut. "I'm not decent!"

Axel sighed.

Zexion walked in at that moment with his book. "Are you two ready?"

"Chelly's getting ready…" Axel reported.

Chelly walked out of the bathroom wearing a slip, holding up a red dress and a purple dress. "Which one is better?" she asked.

"To be honest, I'd rather you didn't wear any of them," Axel said with a smirk.

Zexion through his book at him. "Don't you know how to speak to a lady?"

Axel dodged it. "Whoa, Zexy, calm down…" he said, putting his hands up defensively.

Chelly took a moment to look at what she was wearing. "No, this wouldn't do…"

"The purple one would look lovely on you," Zexion admitted.

"Well, if I must choose one, the red one would look wonderful on you," Axel said.

"That's not helping!" Chelly cried, running back into the bathroom.

Zexion and Axel turned and pointed at each other. "Look what you've done!"

Leximy walked down the hallway in a long, white, lacy dress, as Marluxia carried the train. She knocked on Chelly and Axel's door.

Axel opened the door and gave Leximy's dress a double take. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down…you're getting married? How come I'm not in the wedding? Shouldn't I be the best man?"

"Har, har, har, very funny Axel. You'd be one of my bridesmaids, if anything," Leximy said. "Is Chelly in here? We've come to help."

Marluxia held up a bag of make-up.

"Is that Leximy's voice I hear?" Chelly called from the bathroom. "Leximy! Save me!"

Marluxia coughed. "And…I'm here…"

Chelly peeked her head out the door and glared at him. "What help are you?"

"He does his own make-up and hair every morning," Axel pointed out.

"Hmm…you do have a point…" Chelly agreed, to which Marluxia flipped his hair proudly.

"You guys are no help. Out you go!" Leximy said, pushing Axel and Zexion out the door.

"Who are you? Who am I?" Zexion exclaimed.

"I see how it is…" Axel said, waving at Chelly before guiding Zexion out the door with his arm.

"What are you wearing…? This won't do at all…" Leximy said.

Marluxia clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Really Chelly? Red, purple? You've got to be kidding me…"

"What do you suggest? Pink?" Chelly asked.

"Of course not! That's what I'll be wearing…" Marluxia said.

Outside in the hallway, Demyx greeted Axel and Zexion. He wore a spiffy tux with a blue tie. "Hey guys, what's up?" he asked with a smile.

"Chelly is in there getting ready with the help from the other two ladies," Axel reported.

"Leximy and Larxene?"

"No, Leximy and Marluxia…"

Marluxia stared at Chelly, tapping his chin thoughtfully before putting a finger up to signal Chelly to wait a minute while he dug around in his Mary Poppins-like make-up bag.

"That expression is a good thing, don't worry," Leximy assured the scared Chelly.

Marluxia pulled out a long, silky light blue gown from the bag. "Here we are," he said, presenting it to Chelly by laying it across his stretched out arms.

"It looks so you, Chelly!" Leximy exclaimed. "It's almost as pretty as my dress."

She did a twirl, and Chelly smiled. "Except I look like I could be the maid of honor."

Marluxia sighed and looked off dreamily. "Always the bride's maid, never the bride…"

"Huh?"

Marluxia shook his head and looked back at them. "N-nothing! Here!" He put the dress over her head hastily, causing her to fall over with the dress still only over her head.

Axel turned to the door and knocked. "Is everything okay in there?"

Marluxia, in a singing voice, said, "Everything is fine~!" With Leximy's help, the two were able to put the dress on Chelly.

"I'm not a Barbie!" Chelly shouted in protest.

Axel took his ear away from the door. "What are they doing…?"

"Marluxia, help me bend her arms!" Leximy said.

"What pose are you trying to make?" Marluxia asked.

"Sexy, yet sophisticated."

"Ah." Marluxia helped Leximy bend Chelly's arms, who stood still.

"…okay, I'm coming in," Axel said, bursting through the door. He was met with the sight of Chelly standing with her hand on her hips, which are jutting to the side, and a seductive smile on her face.

Leximy laughed. "Look at his face!"

Axel stared at her with his mouth wide open.

Demyx looked over Axel's shoulder. "What's going on?" he asked before seeing Chelly. "W-wow, Chelly…"

Zexion stood next to Axel, looking at Chelly with a smile. "You look…amazing…"

"Oh dear…" Chelly said, blushing. "C-close the door!"

She ran back into the bathroom.

Axel took a step forward, but was stopped short by Marluxia.

"I still have to do her hair! All of you boys, out!" Marluxia ushered them out.

"Hey! You're a boy, too!" Demyx exclaimed.

"Only in appearance," Marluxia said with a smile.

"Not even that…" Axel muttered as he walked out the door.

"Wait, what?" Leximy asked.

"You didn't hear anything…now which color of lipstick would look best with her complexion?"

"Uh…uhm…"

Chelly re-immerged from the bathroom and eyed Marluxia suspiciously. "Something's not right here…"

Outside the door, Axel glanced at Demyx's tie. "Your tie matches Chelly's dress…"

Demyx looked down at it and smiled. "We look like we're going to a dance together!"

Axel and Zexion glared at him, when Saix joined them; he wore a tux and hid a rose behind his back. "Where's Leximy?"

"Is that Saix?" Leximy suddenly exclaimed. "Don't come in here! It's bad luck to see the bride in her wedding dress!"

"WHAT? You're getting married?" he exclaimed, turning to Axel, Demyx and Zexion. "She's getting married? To who?"

Axel opened the door, and Saix saw Marluxia. "YOU!" he exclaimed, drawing his Claymore and pointing at Marluxia.

Marluxia dropped the eye liner pencil he held. "Who, me?"

"Yes you."

"It wasn't me!"

"Then who?" Axel asked.

"Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar…?" Zexion asked.

"Wasn't me," Leximy said flatly.

"Then who?" Saix asked.

"Marluxia," Axel said.

Demyx laughed. "One more time!"

"I thought it was to you…" Chelly said, giving Saix a puzzled look. "Did you not get the ring this time?"

"Uh…" Marluxia picked up the eye liner pencil and finished Chelly's make-up. He took a step back and admired his work. "Wonderful!"

"…thank…you?" Chelly said.

Leximy snickered. "You don't look like a raccoon at all…"

"What? Is there something wrong? I thought that's the look she was going for…" Marluxia said.

"No…not at all…" Leximy said with a smile. "Let's go!"

She grabbed Chelly's hand and pulled her toward the door.

"No, no!" Chelly grabbed the door and resisted. "I don't want to go out if I look bad!"

She closed the door and rushed back into the bathroom sobbing.

"Is…Chelly…crying?" Axel asked, trying to open the door. "What are you doing Marluxia?"

"Don't hurt Chelly!" Demyx exclaimed, pounding on the door.

"I'm not hurting anyone!" Marluxia exclaimed.

Chelly wiped all the extra eyeliner and fixed her make-up. "Okay…it may look plain but…" she paused and glanced at Leximy's dress. "Anything I wear will look plain next to that."

Leximy smiled. "That's right."

Marluxia fixed his pink bow tie. "Let's get out there! We don't want to keep the restaurant waiting," he said, before laughing at his extremely un-funny pun.

"Right…." Leximy said, taking Chelly's hand and opening the door.

Axel fell over, appearing to have had his ear against the door.

"Smooth Axel…" Leximy said.

Chelly giggled and helped Axel up. "Try not to hurt yourself…"

"Chelly!" Demyx exclaimed, hugging her. "You look wonderful!"

"Aw, thanks!" she said, then gasped. "My dress matches your tie!"

Demyx smiled. "We just have the same awesome taste!" he said, putting out his arm. "Shall we?"

"We shall," Chelly said, linking arms with him.

Axel linked his arm with her other arm, while Saix handed Leximy the rose.

Leximy took the rose and looked at it for a moment. "…this isn't a ring."

Saix palm became acquainted with his forehead.

"But I like it anyway," she said, taking his arm.

Marluxia cried slightly. "I hate weddings…"

"What a pansy…" Zexion said.

Xaldin, Luxord, and Xigbar stood ahead of the group, all dressed in tuxes.

"You guys clean up pretty good," Axel complimented with a smirk.

Xigbar smiled. "You don't look half bad yourself."

Larxene walked up to the group, wearing a yellow dress and an evil smirk.

"Noo! It burns!" Demyx cried.

Larxene glared at him, then turned to Leximy. "You getting married?"

"She and Saix are, yep," Axel confirmed.

"Wait…what are you talking about? I'm confused," Leximy said.

"I don't even know what to think anymore…" Saix agreed.

"Yes!" Marluxia said with a fist pump.

"Can I be your best man?" Larxene asked.

"No, silly, you get to be the DJ."

"Awh, but I wanted to do a live performance of My Sitar*," Demyx said sadly.

"Then who will make my cake?" Leximy asked.

"I think you've got a lot of roles mixed up here…" Axel pointed out.

Chelly gasped. "I wanna be the priest!"

"But you're not a man…" Larxene said.

"This coming from the girl that wants to be the best man?" Chelly said with a glare at her.

"I would be happy to make the cake…" Xaldin said.

"No way! You have to valet park," Leximy said.

Xaldin scowled.

"What about me? Do I get to be in the wedding?" Xigbar asked.

Leximy took one look at him before answering, "Flower girl."

"But…Xaldin makes the best meals…" Chelly said.

Xigbar smiled.

Suddenly Xemnas rushed in. "I want to be the bride!"

"We…already have a bride…" Chelly said, glancing at Leximy.

"Then…groom?"

Saix slowly raised his hand.

Xemnas crossed his arms and glared. "I see how it is…"

"Do you want to be my dad? You can give me away to Saix," Leximy suggested.

"Your…dad?" Xemnas repeated, contemplating. "I've always wanted a daughter…" He looked into the distance.

"Now look what you've done…" Saix said with a disapproving shake of his head.

"Don't patronize me!" Leximy said.

Saix put up his hands defensively.

"That's it, the wedding's off!" Leximy decided.

Marluxia silently cheered.

"But…I wanted to pronounce someone husband and wife!" Chelly said with a pout.

"Well…" Axel said, taking both of her hands in his. "There's always-"

Axel was cut off by Zexion pushing him out of the way, placing his book in Axel's hand, and taking Chelly's hands instead. "You and me."

"…what the…" Axel said, looking down at the book in his hands. He suddenly got a smile as he created fire in one hand.

"Uh…Zexy…" Demyx started.

Zexion followed his gaze to Axel, just as Axel burned the book. The end product was, surprisingly, a diamond.

Zexion took the diamond away from Axel and fit it into an empty ring socket he had in his pocket. "I've been carrying around a book made of coal…waiting for a moment like this…" he said, getting down on one knee. "Chelly…will you…marry me?"

Everyone froze and turned their gazes to Zexion.

"I…uh…" Chelly said, her face blushing madly.

"What the hell are you doing?" Axel exclaimed, pushing Zexion over, and pulling out his own ring with a ruby inside. "You can't propose to her!"

Behind him, Demyx quietly pulled out a ring with an aquamarine in it.

"Are we having a ring party? Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Apparently Saix wasn't either," Leximy said, glaring at Saix.

Axel looked at Chelly. "So, what's it going to be Chelly?"

Zexion continued to hold out the ring with a shaky hand, while Demyx looked at her with big eyes that started to tear up.

"I'm…sorry…I left it in my room…" Saix said, glancing for support at Chelly.

"Y-yeah, it's in his room," Chelly agreed, then turned to the three, who still held up their rings. "Do I have to decide…?"

"Yes," the three Nobodies said in synch.

"But…I'm too young to get married…"

"Girls and their drama…" Xigbar said with a shake of his head.

"I know what you mean, Xigba~," Luxord agreed.

"…" Lexaeus quietly stood in the back of the group, watching the events unfold.

"Not you, too, Lexaeus!" Leximy exclaimed, watching as he pulled out a ring. "Oh wait…for me?"

"…"

Leximy swooned.

Chelly looked at the two and smiled. "So there will be a wedding! The wedding plans will continue!" She turned to Axel, Demyx and Zexion. "Nice job getting him to come out with it…it was very convincing."

"Mission accomplished!" Demyx agreed, giving her a thumbs up.

Zexion and Axel exchanged confused glances.

"I do like that ring, though, Demmy…it matches my dress…" Chelly said, taking the ring and putting it on. "Perfect!"

Xemnas glanced at Saix. "I object to this wedding! We will have no marriages among our Organization members! I forbid it!"

"Well, technically I'm not-"

"Silence!" Xemnas interrupted Leximy. "I am your father, you will respect me!"

"Thank you Superior…" Saix whispered.

Chelly snapped. "Looks like the plans are off again…"

"Darn, we'll get them…" Demyx started, narrowing his eyes at Leximy. "…eventually…"

Chelly nodded in agreement.

Larxene rolled her eyes. "Can we just go to the restaurant now?"

Demyx leaned to Chelly. "She's just mad because she didn't get proposed to," he said with a snicker.

"I agree, let's go," Leximy said. "All this proposing and breaking up has left me with quite the appetite."

Demyx's stomach growled in agreement.

"It's a monster!" Xigbar said, poking Demyx's stomach.

Demyx took a step back. "Uh…yeah…monster…" he turned around and started running. "Hurry up you guys!"

"Demyx is cheating!" Chelly said, grabbing Axel's hand and running to catch up.

"This isn't a race…" Larxene pointed out.

"Well, I'm not wearing heels, but…" Marluxia said, running after them.

"…I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that…" Saix said.