Silence in Castle Oblivion wasn't nearly as tense as it was in the Castle That Never Was. In fact, silence in Castle Oblivion was fairly commonplace between the random sounds that emanated from the lower levels and the occasional loud snarl from Marluxia.

Whatever the case was, the silence was uncomfortable to Axel. He never had liked there being nothing to listen to, the reason he caused so much trouble back at 'home'.

On the particular day, however, Axel noted that something had Marluxia on edge. It was evident Naminé could feel it too, as her attention kept being pulled from drawing to watching the older man pace about the room like an agitated tiger. Axel simply remained leaning against the wall behind her.

"What the hell is wrong with that woman? I offer her the chance at fortune and power at my side in control of all Nobodies, and what does she do?" Marluxia growled. It was his usual rant, and was as usual coupled with intense amounts of pacing. Naminé sometimes said she wondered how he hadn't worn a pit in the floor yet. "She runs off with that... idiot rock star wannabe. I would like to know what he has going for him that I do not."

Axel and Naminé both chose to remain quiet, though both had by now figured out the real reason for his ranting; he'd lost one of the key elements to his plan, and it was because of another man.

Jealousy, the red haired man had noted, was one of the few things to set Marluxia off. Just the mere mention of the events at the Castle That Never Was could turn him into a ranting beast, a humorous sight indeed. Normally, Axel used it to give Naminé a break from the advances the older man kept subjecting her to. She seemed grateful in her own way, smiling appreciatively at him when she knew the leader of the Castle wasn't looking.

Once more the Assassin fell into silence, grumbling under his breath about everything that had happened to him since he became a Nobody, or at least that was what it sounded like. Finally, Marluxia stopped, placing a hand on his chin and seemingly falling into deep thought. Naminé took the opportunity to put the sketch book and crayon down onto her lap and flex her hand to loosen it up. Something popped, and her face contorted slightly.

Axel could only blink as Marluxia all but flew to the young girl's side, kneeling down and taking her hand, only to kiss the middle knuckle of each finger individually while whispering soothing words. Naminé simply looked at the pink haired man, exhausted and wary. His words were becoming more forced, which meant his patience was wearing thin. Soon enough he'd give up trying to woo the young girl with words and simply take her by force.

The Flurry took this opportunity to clear his throat and once again divert Marluxia's attention. "Well, we've got at least one member in this castle that has no idea what your plans are, I think Vexen, Lexaeus and Zexion are beginning to catch on. You could... potentially lead him into helping you. It would take some careful word manipulation, but you've got the silver tongue for it."

"Ah yes..." Marluxia said, standing up and looking around. "Where is he, by the way?"

"I believe he's downstairs again," Axel replied. "You will have to do it soon, though, or the three elder members will leak their suspicions to him, if they haven't already."

The Assassin paced again. "Where is the Keybearer?"

"Working his way up here. He's on... the seventh floor I believe," he looked to Naminé for confirmation, and she nodded.

"So close already... time is short. Axel... send a distraction down to him, try and buy us more time."

The Flurry nodded, but didn't leave yet. He was going to see if he could out wait the older man in the room, just for the sake of not leaving the two others alone. Axel had developed what may have been a protective streak over Naminé, if only because of the disgusting nature of Marluxia's apparent friendliness.

Finally, it seemed as though the standoff was over, as Marluxia left the room with nothing more than a glance at the young girl, Axel followed soon after.

The other side of Marluxia's portal led to the library- a common meeting ground besides Naminé's room. There, silhouetted against the large, multi-colored book shelf stood a tall, well-built man.

"Xaldin," the pink haired man said, and the figure turned around.

"Yes?" the response came, with more than a little bit of impatience lacing the soft voice.

"I have some things I need help with."

---

Once again, the Superior had called a meeting. Less than a month out from their rather tumultuous vacation, and already he had something else to say.

Larxene took stock of the meeting room with a bit of a frown. Half of the members were gone, their chairs cold and off-white and lonely in the large, circular room. Eerie would be a good word to use to describe the desolate area, she figured. Of course being afraid of it was another matter- that required a heart.

Taking note that Larxene had hesitated entering the room, Demyx quietly jumped from his chair and walked up next to her, fingers of one hand gently entwining with hers, while his other hand came to rest on the small of her back.

"This place is so creepy when it's empty," she grumbled, frowning deeper. Everyone that would be there was with the exception of Saix and Xemnas. "And where are our beloved commanding officers?"

"I don't know... we all thought it was kind of odd for them not to be here a half hour early, too," Demyx commented, looking around the room once more, though he could only partially see Luxord of the other three sitting in the room.

"I don't even want to know what they're doing," the blond woman finally said, stepping forward and away from the water elemental and heading towards the chair marked 'XII'.

Demyx chuckled, following after her, but in the other direction. His seat was across the room from hers. Along the way he looked to the grand total of three other members in the room, trying to figure out their reactions to the sparse occupation of the room.

Roxas looked angry and sullen, leaning low and heavily in the chair with his arms crossed. Luxord had an amused look, the slightest smirk pulling up the corners of his mouth. Xigbar wasn't paying attention to anything, just looking bored and for all the world like he wanted to leave. Larxene was still frowning, her legs crossed and leaning back against her hands in her usual pose.

Demyx let himself float up and onto the seat, waiting in the silence of the meeting room for something to happen. It was definitely not like the Superior and Saix to be late at all, and that worried him.

Finally, the sound of a portal swirling open filled the air, followed by the sharp, pronounced clack of boots on the hard ground. Everyone's attention turned immediately to the noise, but faces fell somewhat as Saix was the one to walk out. He regarded everyone icily, and Demyx winced internally. Things must be going terrible. The water elemental turned to look at Luxord, only to find the older man's face a careful blank.

"As some of you know," Saix began, startling everyone, then looking pointedly at Luxord. "There has been some... trouble as of let in Castle Oblivion. Marluxia has cut contact, Axel hasn't been heard from..." Roxas flinched and seemed to become angrier. "Nor have Xaldin, Zexion, Vexen or Lexaeus. Treachery seems to be afoot. We have finally come to a decision." With that, the blue-haired man stepped backward, and the Superior stepped out of yet another portal.

"I have recently figured out a way to access the Castle Oblivion, even though Marluxia has tried to fortify it against our intrusions," Xemnas said immediately as he stepped out of the dark mass, giving no chance for recovery or pause. "And our decision is thus: The primary objectives for the mission will be to first, bring Axel back here alive, and second to eliminate Marluxia. We would also like Namine back- she is too powerful to be left in traitorous hands, there is too much potential for interference with her under Marluxia's control, but she is a secondary objective. A tertiary objective will be to bring back numbers three, four, five, and six, or as many of them that have survived until this point."

"You're not sending all of us are you?" Xigbar interjected. Xemnas turned to look at him, rather disapprovingly.

"No. There is only one volunteer needed for this task," the Superior replied.

"I'll go," the voice was soft and barely contained the anger the owner was holding. Everyone turned to look at Roxas.

"No," Xemnas said firmly, eyes narrowing as he considered the grand total of five candidates in the room. "You are needed for another assignment, Roxas."

The youngest member puffed up angrily, but could do nothing more than sulk.

Xemnas turned to Larxene. "You have some issues to settle with number eleven, do you not?" His face twisted into an amused smirk. It wasn't a pleasant thing to see.

Larxene scoffed. "I do, but I just got back from assignment."

"Is that defying orders I hear? Perhaps you'd rather be sent on Heartless duty... or maybe... you do not wish to do these things because you're really in league with the traitor?" Xemnas replied, smirking cattily. He certainly did have a way with persuasion.

Demyx and Larxene both paled simultaneously, but she was over it first, quickly growling with anger. "Now why the hell would I want to be in league with that chauvinistic asshole?"

"Because you were involved... with each other. Women tend to become attached to those they sleep with, after all."

"He thinks he knows everything..." the lightning elemental grumbled under her breath. With an openly defiant glare, she voiced her response. "I, Xemnas, am currently... 'involved with' Demyx at the moment." Xigbar and Roxas looked at her. "What in the name of Twilight gives you the idea I'd ever want to stay attached to that fruity bastard?"

"A ruse," Xemnas answered her challenge. "Demyx is simple, easy to manipulate. Easy to hide behind definitely. A perfect mask for working behind the scenes. Now, shall you be branded as traitor along with Marluxia or will you prove your worth by destroying him?"

Larxene snarled viciously, eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'll go. When do you want me to leave?"

"Tomorrow," his tone held no patience for argument.

"Feh," she said, hopping off of her chair and stalking out of the room.

Xemnas laughed, a short, choppy, forced sound. "The rest of you are dismissed."

Roxas grumbled something, and disappeared. Xigbar finally burst forth with the laughter he had been suppressing, and followed Roxas. Demyx literally flew from his chair and out the door after the Nymph, Luxord's eyes trailing after him.

When it was finally down to the Gambler and Superior in the meeting room, the blond man spoke. "I hope this does not come back to snap you on the rear, Xemnas."

"What makes you think that?"

"You've insulted Demyx's intelligence, power... and his mask. You've summoned Larxene's rage, and insulted her as well in the process..."

Xemnas nodded. "I fear none of my subordinates. Neither of them could hope to defeat me." He disappeared with that.

Luxord chuckled. "Alone, no." Then he, too, left the room to remain cold, white, and lifeless.

---

The sound of Demyx's shoes slapping against the ground was the only sound in the halls of the Castle That Never Was, and he wished it wasn't. No other noise meant he wasn't anywhere near finding Larxene, and that worried him. Did he take a wrong turn somewhere? Perhaps she just went back to her room... but no, he'd checked there. If she was going to her room, he had the distinct feeling she'd have done it already.

He continued searching, wondering how she had gotten so far so quickly when it looked like she'd been set on simply stomping and walking out. Finally deciding she probably wasn't in the castle anymore, Demyx teleported himself out into the city below the castle. It was probably a long shot that she would be there, but there was still the chance.

Thunder rumbled overhead, a testament to the ever-stormy skies, though at the moment rain wasn't falling. He wandered through the streets, keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign of life beyond the roaming shadows of Heartless.

"This is hopeless..." he grumbled, deciding to take a break at the base of the tallest skyscraper in the city. He always wondered what the heck it was there for and the reason it had the random television screens on it, but no one seemed to be able to give him a straight answer. Now, he stood staring at the 'doors' of it, though why it, and most of the buildings in the area had doors was beyond him, most of the buildings had nothing for an interior- quite literally.

He plopped down hard on the second to last stair in front of the giant building and sighed. His eyes closed, and he simply listened to the crackling of the lightning and thunder, wondering when the rain would start again. The weather around the World That Never Was could never be predicted, not even by Demyx's natural senses as a water elementalist. He leaned back then, ignoring the hard edge of the stairs digging into his back. He wasn't worried about the abundant numbers of Heartless, either.

A weight landing on his chest caused him to tense, but only until he figured out what it was. His hand lightly wrapped around the leather-clad appendage. "How long were you planning on sulking?"

"I wasn't sulking, the Superior was being a dick," the owner of the limb he was grasping responded indignantly.

Demyx laughed and cracked open one eye. "He just says whatever he needs to when he wants to get his way. You should know this by now, you're not that new."

Larxene scoffed. "Whatever."

"Is there a specific reason for this?" the water elemental asked cocking his head towards the boot on his chest, his thumb lightly caressed her ankle, pressing hard enough that he knew she could feel it. She tensed.

"It's there for you to kiss," the blond bluffed, rolling her eyes to emphasize her sarcastic tone. Her eyebrows shot up, though, when she felt him start to bend towards it. A strange sound left her throat, somewhere between surprise and anger, and she jerked her leg back, tearing her foot from his grip. She whirled around quickly, seemingly out of anger, but it was to hide the slight coloration to her cheeks. "I swear to whatever gods are out there, Demyx, you are so whipped."

He laughed, and she heard him stand.

"Well gee, my girlfriend's a sadist. I wonder why," he countered with a smirk, laying hands on her shoulders gently, and pressing his lips against her neck briefly.

Larxene said nothing, Demyx had her beat on that point. Instead she snorted angrily and stepped forward, out of his grasp. "I'm heading back. If you're coming with me, you better hurry up." A portal opened a few feet in front of her. She started walking toward it, but was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around her shoulders, and enough weight bowling into her to make her stumble.

"I was just kidding..." the water elemental said in a playful tone, grinning. "Lighten up."

"Sorry..." she muttered, and the musician believed her for once. "Just a little agitated at our commander."

"He was being a bit mean today," he noted, nodding. "Well, more so than usual."

"Do you think what the Superior said was true?"

"Whaddya mean?"

"You think I somehow manipulated you? I-... I can't tell if I'm doing it any more..."

Demyx spun her around, bringing their faces within inches of each other, even as he let his mask slip away to again reveal the Nobody underneath. A shudder ran through the woman's frame. "I'm not that stupid, Larxene. If I didn't want any of this to happen, it wouldn't have." He grinned then, eyes still empty, cold... heartless. "Call me masochist, but I continued to let you visit my room... that was of my own volition, and though lust is one of those things that takes control of you, even more so without a heart to mediate it, I still willingly followed you to bed when you gave me the choice."

Larxene clenched her fists as she listened to him, trying to keep them from shaking. Something in her was terrified, but she couldn't place exactly what it was. She swallowed, staring into the emotionless sea green of his eyes, into the pupils that were a black doorway to an endless abyss of darkness- and then she realized it. She'd never wanted to think about it before, but before her now was undeniable proof that Demyx was- no, could be every bit as cruel, violent, and remorseless as her or the rest of the Organization. She'd only caught the faintest glimpse of it when they had fought.

Another thought struck her then- he'd been holding back. No matter what anyone else would say about that battle, he hadn't been fighting quite at a hundred percent. She grit her teeth against another tremble down her spine. She wouldn't let him scare her. She wouldn't let the monster lurking under the placid surface rattle her because god damn it, she had one too. And she wouldn't get another chance to think because the water elemental grabbed the ties of her coat and let out a laugh dark enough that even the Savage Nymph froze, before he roughly claimed her mouth with his.

Larxene remained tense until she could feel him relent a little, when she suddenly shoved forward, with every intent of reclaiming dominance. Now that the shock and whatever pale version of fear that had been were giving way to anger, she could fight back. Slowly, she felt him give more and more, realizing he was sliding back under his mask, until finally the kiss was broken and the goofy, friendly, grinning Demyx was left looking back at her.

"Hey, water boy?" She asked finally, glaring at him.

"Yeah?" he answered, still grinning and looking right on the verge of bursting out laughing.

"Don't drop your mask at that proximity ever again, alright? At least without warning," she ordered, crossing her arms to get the point across.

He did laugh then, wrapping his arms around her and clumsily walking around in a circle, pulling her with him. His mirth was almost staged like an apology. "Surely, my lady." He released her and continued grinning.

Larxene grumbled something under her breath, before seizing him by the back of the neck with one hand and dragging him through the disused portal.

---

A/N: This chapter was harder than it should have been to get out. But I know what the next chapter is going to be like! That should be out soon. Thank you to all who review, keep doing so, please. I heart reviews. I also less than three pictographic representations of verbal expressions.

Until then.