A/N: Okay. Thanks once again goes to my beta, Lyless and Lockesilver, and I apologize to her and to everyone for such a long time to get this chapter out. Secondly, I want to thank all of the people who reviewed, read, subscribed to this story, as well as added it to their favorites. Seriously, all that put it together for me to get back on my ass and continue writing this. And heres a virtual cookie for all of you! *hands out all kinds of cookies so everyone can have their favorites*
Xemnas' heartbeat quickened, shifting his weight slightly. But before Roxas could say anything, Saïx said, "Sora, that's enough. You can talk to your brother later."
"Oh, my apologies, Master Moon," Sora said, pulling back from his brother's arms and bowing deeply. Roxas bowed along side his brother, grabbed the tray of food, and with one last look at the brunette, went off to deliver the tray of food with a genuine smile plastered on his face. Lord Axel readjusted his grip on Master Moon's arm, pulling him along. His face was screwed up in a sneer. After that little show up with the slave, the trip to their rooms was quite quick.
"Here is where you'll be sleeping," Axel said as he bowed slightly at the beginning of the hallway full of rooms. "Make yourselves at home and I'll have one of the servants to come get you when it's time to eat." He bowed again before leaving. The house slaves had already set up the rooms so there was really nothing much to do other than unpack their bags. Saïx told the slaves he didn't need them for the moment and that they could go looking around if they so desired. But every one of them was tired from the move and decided to rest up a bit.
Saïx and Xemnas had their own room together, seeing as how the master had sent a fast horse ahead requesting this. While Xemnas was straightening the formal clothing and putting away his master's things, Saïx lay on the bed, watching him.
"Why are you so tense, Xemnas?" he asked after a few moments. He was still worried when he had become unusually quiet during this whole trip.
"I'm not tense," the silver haired man said, allowing with a moment's hesitation with his answer as well as his chores.
Saïx got up. "Yes you are." He leaned onto the back wall so he could look directly at his slave's face. "You've been tense ever since you heard Mr. Roxe's name. Why is that?"
"It's nothing," Xemnas doubled his efforts to keep his voice even. Saïx gave him a doubtful look, causing the manhim to turn and repeat what he just said while looking his master in the eyes.
They stood there for a few minutes just staring at each other, neither one willing to back down. Just then someone knocked on the door frame.
"Excuse me, sirs?" Turning, they saw a rather timid little boy standing in the doorway. When they looked at him, he bowed deeply. "I was told to come fetch you for dinner by Master Axel."
"We will be there in a minute," Saïx said to the boy. "We will get changed."
"Yes, I will wait to escort you to the dining area." The young boy lowered the cloth door giving the two men some privacy. They changed quickly, mostly because they both didn't want this slave to get in on their personal lives. When they were ready, they walked out.
"Okay, do you remember what to do?" Saïx asked as Xemnas was about to enter the room.
"Of course," he answered. Taking a deep breath, he pulled back the curtain to the room and walked in. Axel was already there, sitting next to the head of the table. Other masters and their head slaves were settled around him. He lowered himself to his knees and said, "I'm here to introduce my master, master in the Slivton area, Master Saïx Moon." After this finished, he lowered his face onto the floor and waited for his master to kneel beside him. He heard the rustling beside him and saw out of the corner of his eye his master bow and sit up. After he was settled in a sitting position, he repositioned himself. He refused to look directly at the end of the table.
"I welcome you to my table, Master Moon," the voice responded from the end of the table. "Here," he said, "come up here and sit next to me." Saïx got up with Xemnas a second behind him as they walked to their positions at the table. Xemnas took the space to his masters left so he could easily talk to the king. The meal went uneventful, Mr. Roxe and all of the other Lords and Masters chatting, and when the meal was finally done, each pair got up and walked out of the room. Xemnas walked closely behind his master, too afraid to put much distance between them.
"Why, that's a loyal head slave you have there, Master Moon," said Lord Axel as he slipped his way up to them. "He acts like such a lost puppy. Where did you find him?" That made Xemnas freeze right in his tracks. Axel gave him the hugest grin while Saïx was facing the silver haired man.