Zexion folded his fingers and looked thoughtful as he sat across from Larxene, who now lay in fitful slumber in one of the beds in his Infirmary. Marluxia stood in front of the Nymph, stroking her hair and murmuring soft words. Axel reverted back to a caged wolf as he paced about the room, brooding in silent anger. It was a mutual agreement that the three wait for Demyx, who had left to clean away the blood. After all, the young man was risking his life by helping them out like this.

When the Nocturne did return, there was a murmur of acknowledgment toward him. Turning to look at Marluxia, Demyx inquired, "What happened to you?"

Marluxia shrugged. "Nothing much to say," he answered quietly. "Saix caught me in the City and left me there for dead after attacking me from behind."

Axel bit his lip; he had done back-stabbing on many levels, he still cringed inwardly about them now. "I'm sorry."

All eyes turned to the Flurry Of Dancing Flames. "What ever do you mean, Axel?" Zexion asked, his eyes piecing like steel.

Axel shook his mane of fire-red hair. "Nevermind," he mumbled, looking to Larxene. Marluxia must have seen the longing in the pyro's gaze, for he silently gathered the other two and herded them out of the room. When they were gone, Axel stroked Larxene's face, his eyes glittering. "Sweet Larxene," he whispered loosely, nudging her chin. "Please be okay."

Maybe it was the edge of a whimper in his voice, maybe it was Larxene's strong will, maybe it was the way his hands held hers; whatever the reason, Larxene's eyes slowly drew open, to see Axel and his now smiling face. Wordlessly, she managed to sit up and coil her arms around his neck, breathing in his warm, welcoming scent. "I'm fine," she murmured into his skin. She could feel Axel exhale a sigh of relief. "Thank you," she whispered, "for staying here. I know it's probably nothing, but I still want to thank you for being here."

"Anything," Axel returned, rubbing her back as Larxene's rhythmically breathing body seemed to blend into his own.


Marluxia paced the room adjacent to the Infirmary bedroom, his gaze fixed to the floor. "This can't go on," he muttered to Zexion and Demyx, who were seated at a nearby table. "But it will go on because of Saix and Vexen."

"Hasn't it ever occurred to you that it is only Saix who is persecuting?" Zexion rumbled. "Vexen is merely a follower, perhaps even a pawn." When he had the attention of also Demyx, the Cloaked Schemer went on by saying, "Vexen will not attack unless provoked. There is also a chance that he will not obey if Saix orders him to. Pride."

There was sense in what Zexion was explaining, as Marluxia nodded and Demyx smiled. "Really," Demyx concluded, "our only enemy is Saix."

"But he is still extremely dangerous and lethal," Marluxia argued. "He is now able to go berserk without the present assistance of a moon."

"There is also one more thing," Zexion added quietly. When the attention shifted back to him, he went on by saying solemnly, "when the inevitable comes, only one of us may truly fight Saix. What honor is there in a five-or-four on one fight?"

Marluxia bristled. "I will take care of him," he growled.

"You're still weak from the last two times you tangled with Saix," Demyx worried. "You wouldn't stand a chance, no offense."

Marluxia glared at the Melodious Nocturne before growling, "Saix has to be put to a stop. I'm not saying we kill him, I'm saying we let him know we won't tolerate his persecuting of other members." Zexion nodded as Demyx looked on. "He's nearly killed me as well as Larxene. I will not stand for that!" His last sentence came at a snarl as his fists clenched at his sides.

The door opened as Larxene walked through with a minuscule stumble to her stride, Axel right behind her. "I heard that last part," she said, her eyes narrowed to slits, though whether it was from pain or vexation was hard to tell. "I'll personally take care of Saix," she finished.

Marluxia gently gripped her slender shoulders. "Sister," he persuaded, "you mustn't. Look at your condition! He wants to kill you!"

"Along with everyone else in this room!" Larxene argued. "Saix has no right to try and kill us! We've already done our punishment! Death is the price we all payed! And not to mention our own redemptions: not once have we considered repeating our past endeavors to corrupt and or overthrow this Organization!"

Zexion looked thoughtfully at her, then at Axel. "Regardless," he said after a pause, "when the time comes, I think we'll all know who will finish this." The ominous reply sent small shivers dancing down all their spines.


Days turned to weeks as Axel realized that Saix had yet to try and attack them again; probably because the berserker was healing and biding his time. True, Saix never changed his routine of walking around the Castle and conversing and sparring with most of the higher-ups. Axel noted how he stayed away more from the neophytes like him. Yet, even as he sat on his bed, snugly in Larxene's arms, he could not help but find the omen in that; perhaps Saix planned to eliminate all the neophytes, making sure that the Organization was ridden of traitors?

He internally shook away his thoughts as he kissed Larxene's neck, the Nymph moaning softly as she craned her head back, giving the pyro more access to her skin. Axel smiled as he trailed kisses up her neck, teasing around her lips, never touching them until Larxene herself guided him to them. She cradled his hips as he shifted his position between her legs, Larxene tracing invisible patterns along the back of his neck.

"Axel," she breathed softly as he nuzzled her chest through her black tank top, "what would you do for me?"

Axel nuzzled under her chin, entwining his fingers as he replied readily, "I'd do all I can for you and more. But what should be judged, Larxene, is not my words, but my actions. I'm will always be ready to prove my worth to you. That is a promise." He finished his reply with a hard kiss to her lips, Larxene eagerly leaning forward as she worked the zipper to his pants.

Before her hand could slip inside, there was a heavy knock on the door; Larxene swore quietly as Axel looked disappointedly behind him. "Fate can be so cruel," he mused darkly as he slipped on his coat before walking to the door. He raised his eyebrows as Marluxia appeared on the other side, the Graceful Assassin looking grave and weary as he rubbed at his chest with both hands.

The reek of what was underneath Marluxia's hands reached even Larxene; she leaped from the bed and bounded to Marluxia. Tugging away his hands, Larxene allowed a small gasp to escape her lips: long, gapings wounds tore across Marluxia's chest, the blood pouring profusely still. "Brother!" she exclaimed. "Why haven't you gone to Zexion yet?!"

"Because Saix has Zexion," Marluxia returned gravely, "as well as Demyx. He let me go as a message." A dramatic pause, and then: "He wants us to meet him in three hours."

"In your condition?!" Axel eyed the bleeding chest again. "Certainly not!" He stared steadily at Marluxia, willing the Graceful Assassin to see sense. "He'll slaughter you in this condition!"

"Isn't that what he's planning to do anyway?!" Marluxia returned, blue eyes glaring at Axel. "I will come; I will not allow Larxene to go without me into Saix's reach." The low, deadly tone in Marluxia's voice caused Axel to breathe in deeply before reopening his eyes.

"Do what you want," he grinned. "I could never stop you at anything, rank be damned." He noticed Larxene staring worriedly at her brotherly Marluxia, and Axel couldn't help but wonder: if Marluxia was killed, how would Larxene take it? Axel knew that in the chance Marluxia was killed, the pyro would feel responsible. "Where does he want to meet us?" Axel asked gravely.

"Traverse Town. Third District. In three hours." The blue coldness was back in Marluxia's eyes as he relayed the message. Axel and Larxene nodded solemnly as they accepted this challenge. "Come on," Axel led Marluxia to his bed. "Larxene will help those wounds." He looked to his lover as he said this, hoping she'd comply.

Larxene nodded. Swiftly reaching for Axel's bottom drawer, she pulled out many necessities for Marluxia's condition. Yet, even as she fixed up the Graceful Assassin, she could not help but think that this was not enough. A cold realization ghosted through her, leaving her feeling as if she had submerged into freezing water.

Larxene somehow knew that someone would die this night.


A/N: I'm so sorry this update was so slow, and that this chapter might have been a little short. I've been hella busy this week, and school tried to kill me again. Augh! This chapter would've been put up last night, but I... got sidetracked watching All Dogs Go To Heaven on YouTube... Hope you like this one! Can you believe this fic is drawing to its climax?!