Astrozocity: i'm glad you think its fun to read--that made my day :) thanks! and you'll get a plushie with Axel, not just his finger :)

Youko-Kuronue: thank you! but don't worry, i wanna finish this story--don't be sad! and you can have your Leon and Cloud plushie now :)

BlueFlamesRedTears: that's ok, you don't have to criticize (you could always praise me, i don't mind :P) thanks for the encouragement :)

i love bon bon: you caught the hint! you caught the hint! -throws confetti- yay:D

Arika-of-the-Demons: Maleficent is the queen of the Heartless group, sorry if i didn't make that clear enough -.-;; and yes! Alice in Wonderland is a crack movie in my opinion, Disney must've needed a break from all the happy sappy crap (sorry, but it can get SO mushy sometimes... -gags-) anyway, thank you!

NinjaWeenie: glad you like the plushies :) thanks for the support!

HeavenlyAnimeAngel-Amaterasu: i won't say if you're right or wrong at this point, but you'll find out when you read the chapter :)

TomiSama04: so how'd the state tests go? they gotta be a pain (my school just has standards tests, we don't really have finals or anything like that) our school has AC in most of the rooms, but the science room isn't one of them (i swear it gets SO hot in there during September...) anyways, hope you like the chapter :)

Yu Mutou: thanks for the review :) hope you enjoy the chapter

ArosxIrukxOxarsxLeax: lol, staying up late and sleeping in is the life :) glad you like the plushies (isn't Cloud just adorable as a plushie?)

Koneko-Aishiru: O.O i've been pounced (that sounds weird) anyway, glad you like the plushies :) they're just so cute, aren't they?

angel-yuripa: yep, Alice on mushrooms, sad but true. and don't worry! i'll get to Riku's blood soon, and as for Paine, Rikku, and Yuna, well... more on them later. and is Advent Children good? from what i've heard it is but... i'm deprived and haven't seen it yet T-T (makes me sad) anywaysies, thanks for the review and stuffs:)

Great. Just where did those two go, anyway? Roxas wondered. He'd been wandering the building for a while now looking for Riku and Sora. He would've looked outside since that was where Sora said he'd gone, but . . . well . . . Roxas had taken a wrong turn a while back and now he was completely, and utterly, lost.

Not that he'd admit it. No, Roxas preferred the term "temporarily misplaced" and would call his situation just that if anyone happened to ask.

Suddenly hearing a light clatter of footsteps, Roxas swirled around to face the very two people he'd been searching for.

"Riku, Sora," he breathed. "Thank goodness."

"What's up, Roxas?" Sora asked.

"Well, we gotta go to bed."

"Why?" asked Riku.

"Wakka woke up. Selphie was getting excited and . . . you know how she can get."

Riku nodded, saying, "Who got her wound up?"

"Hayner."

Riku groaned, "He can be so stupid sometimes."

"I know, but . . . we should probably get going. Wakka is pissed," Roxas said.

Sora's face formed a confused expression. "But he wasn't mad when we woke him up before," the vampire pointed out.

"Yeah, but then Selphie wasn't chasing Hayner with a torn pillow screaming 'SUGAR SUGAR FEED ME NOW!' and Hayner wasn't provoking her by running around with pixie sticks in his ears," Roxas explained.

Riku and Sora stared at Roxas. Had it really gotten that bad?

"Why'd he put pixie sticks in his ears? And how'd he manage to get them to stay in place while running?" Sora asked.

"Sora . . . there are some questions in life you really don't wanna know the answers to," Riku said, putting his hand on Sora's shoulder.

"Let's just go," Roxas sighed.

Click. Step. Step. Step.

What? Am I hearing things? Roxas wondered briefly before turning around and glimpsing a shadow.

"Hey, guys? I thought I heard something, I'll be right back!" Roxas told them before heading off in the direction of where he was sure he'd heard something.

"Roxas!" Riku yelled after him.

"Just a sec!" Roxas replied, rounding the corner when two black-clad arms grabbed him–one hand covering his mouth, the other wrapped around his waist to ensure he wouldn't move. Roxas's eyes widened and he struggled.

"Shhhh . . ." a voice hushed. Roxas, realizing he recognized the voice, stopped his struggling. Instead, he began thrashing wildly.

"Le guh uh meh!" he yelled into the hand which muffled his protests.

"Maybe if you'll shut up!" Axel whispered roughly.

"Ya now ya gut petty scawny ahms ta try ta hld meh," Roxas said (or tried to).

"What?" Axel asked, taking away his hand.

"I said, you know you got pretty scrawny arms to try to hold me. They're like twigs or something," Roxas repeated.

Axel frowned. "Now that's just plain rude."

"Like I care," the blonde muttered.

"You should."

"But I don't."

"That doesn't change the fact that you should."

"It also doesn't change the fact that I don't."

Axel, seeing that he was getting no where, sighed and let go of Roxas.

"So what do you want with me anyway?" Roxas asked, eyeing the vampire curiously.

Axel raised his eyebrows. "Who said I wanted anything with you?"

"Well, you nearly molested me before you even knew my name, you discovered where I live, and now you just so happen to come to my church's youth group retreat and grab me before I even say 'hello' (not that I was planning on saying that to you anyway). I don't think you need to say that you want anything with me because you obviously do. So spill," the blonde demanded.

"You know, you got a pretty big ego," Axel stated.

"Whaddaya mean!"

"I mean, you think I came all the way here for you–a stupid human? Pfft. I don't have that kinda time, kid."

Then again, I guess I do have plenty of time, but not this early in the morning! Or morning at all, for that matter. Axel mentally corrected himself.

"I told you! I'm not a kid!"

"And I told you, I know!"

"Then stop treating me like one, dammit!" Roxas shouted.

Axel remained silent for a few minutes, just looking at Roxas. When the human noticed, a light (and I mean light, as light as tissue paper) blush heated up his face.

"W-what are you looking at me like that for?"

A moment later, Axel answered, "You know, you're awfully cute when you get like this."

"What? Like what?" Roxas wondered, a little flustered as his blush plunged a shade or two deeper.

The vampire grinned. "Like this. You get all angry for no real apparent reason, and then a split second later you're all confused and embarrassed-like. It's rather cute."

Roxas glanced away, not really sure how to react. He wasn't exactly the one people hit on all the time, so he didn't really know what he was supposed to do in this kind of situation. The girls always bothered Hayner and sometimes Riku. Never Roxas.

"Are all you vampires this . . . this open with your feelings?" Roxas asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean . . . Sora is all over Riku, and now you're confessing to me. Are all vampires that free with their feelings?"

"Ok, first of all, 'attraction' isn't a feeling. 'Love' and 'like' are feelings. 'Attraction' is merely a physical aspect of one person to another."

"So you're . . . attracted to me, but you don't actually like me?" Roxas asked. Axel nodded in response. "Oh . . ."

"What? Are you disappointed or something?" Axel asked, grinning playfully.

"What! No! It's not that! It's just– I've never really thought of it that way before," Roxas said uncomfortably as his blush deepened a little more.

There was a few moments of awkward silence before Roxas broke it, asking, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go 'head."

"What did you mean . . . last time, when you said 'then I guess this is all just a dream." What did you mean by that?"

"Oh that? I was just messin' with you," Axel answered honestly.

Roxas nearly hit the floor. That was it! That was it! I got three headaches trying to figure out what you meant by that and you were just messing with me! . . . bastard . . .

Axel, meanwhile, needed to find Sora. Honestly, he really wouldn't have minded hanging out with the human, but if he took too long finding Sora . . . let's just say the Queen wouldn't be happy.

"Hey, Roxas, where're you guys sleepin'?"

"Why do you wanna know? What, you gonna molest me in my sleep?"

Axel sighed. Roxas just wasn't going to give up on the molesting thing, was he?

"No, I just need to find Sora."

"Why?"

"He's past curfew."

"Vampires have a curfew?"

Axel nodded glumly. Roxas held back a laugh. Apparently, the vampires took the curfew seriously even though they didn't like it.

"So, if I tell you where Sora is, what do I get out of it?" Roxas asked cheekily.

". . . Ever seen fireworks?" Axel wondered.

"Fireworks?" Roxas, living in Twilight Town, had never seen fireworks since they were considered illegal in Twilight Town. Of course, that didn't stop some people, and Roxas always enjoyed watching the illegal ones splash across the sky over the hills right before hearing the echo of sirens.

"You tell me where Sora is and I'll show you some fireworks, deal?" Axel suggested, extending his hand.

"Deal," Roxas agreed, shaking the offered hand.

Axel grinned. "Awesome, now do you mind showin' me where you're sleepin' tonight?"

"You are so lucky I know you're lookin' for Sora when you say that," the blonde muttered. Axel just laughed as Roxas led the way.

-

"Sora, no," Riku said sternly.

While Riku got ready for bed (changing into pajamas, brushing teeth, etc.), Sora had stripped himself out of his boots and his trench coat. Now he was still wearing his black cargo pants, but he also donned a black silk tank top with a Chinese dragon design stitched in gold thread. However, that wasn't what was getting on Riku's nerves.

Sora was in Riku's sleeping bag–clutching Riku's pillow tightly to his chest.

"Sora, out," Riku ordered.

A light snore answered him.

"Sora . . ." Riku growled, but to no avail.

Maybe I should drag him out of it . . . No, can't do that. It'd cause a commotion and I don't wanna get Wakka pissed a second time. What to do . . . . . dammit, guess I'll just have to sleep with him . . . Hopefully, I won't get teased about it too much in the morning.

With that decided, Riku carefully slid himself into the (thankfully) large sleeping bag. But Sora was clutching the only pillow. Riku, figuring it was his pillow, pulled it out of Sora's grasp. Shifting slightly so that he was comfortably on his side (his back facing Sora) Riku shut his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him.

Sora was missing the pillow though, and his unconscious self reached for it, reached for it . . . and found Riku. Riku's eyes shot open in surprise as Sora nuzzled into his back and wrapped his arms around the boy's waist.

Twisting his head around to reprimand the vampire, his irritated expression softened as he saw Sora's face. Sora looked . . . free from worry, peaceful, serene . . .

"You better not sleep-drool on me," Riku whispered before going back to sleep. Sora just squeezed him tighter.

-

"Roxas, are you sure you know where we're going?" Axel asked concernedly.

"Yes . . . no . . . maybe . . ." Roxas mumbled. As they came to a fork in the hallway, Roxas said, "Pick: left or right?"

"You really don't know where we are, do you?"

"I know exactly where we are! I just can't figure out where they are. Now choose, left or right?"

"Did you get us lost?"

"No! We're just . . . temporarily misplaced! Now, left or right?"

Axel rolled his eyes. "Left."

"Ok then," Roxas said as he continued leading them into the unknown.

-

"Leon, report."

Leon gave a small, reluctant bow before saying, "My Queen, the girl Alice was successfully taken under our custody. She is being held in the dungeons with Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine, and Belle."

"Good," was the curt reply. "You are dismissed, but Leon?"

"Yes, my Queen?"

"Keep an eye on that brother of your's."

"Yes, my Queen," Leon said uneasily. With that, the brunet left, wondering just how Sora managed to get in trouble this time.

-

"Sora, wake up," someone whispered, shaking his shoulder.

"Nngh . . ." Sora protested, digging his face in between Riku's shoulder blades.

"Sora, get up!" the same person said hoarsely.

"Whaddayawannt!" Sora cried, flinging his arm sleepily up into the person's face.

"Ow! What the hell's your problem, Sora! Keep your hands to yourself!" the man spat.

"Eh . . . wha . . . ?" Sora said drowsily, slowly forcing himself into a sitting position. Tiredly, he looked at the man who'd woken him up with half-open eyelids. Those same blue eyes widened with recognition as their owner finally woke up. "Axel! What are you doing here?" Sora gaped.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you what you're doing here? In case you haven't noticed, Sora, we're in a religious building. You know the rules about that. Besides, you're past curfew if you didn't notice," Axel said.

"It's none of your business, Axel," Sora growled.

"Right. Anyway, I have orders to take you back directly to the Queen."

Sora groaned, "I have to see her when I get back? If you were gonna throw me a Welcome Back Party, couldn't you at least do it without her?

"Sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, she'll get upset with me, too if we don't hurry. I dunno about you, but I don't want her sending someone else after both of us. So get your clothes on and let's go," the redhead ordered. "By the way . . ." he started, glancing at Sora's position with the silver-haired teenager. "Just how cozy have you been getting with this human?"

"His name's Riku," Sora snapped, easing himself out of the sleeping bag carefully as to not waken said human.

"And you were sleeping with him because . . . ?"

"Because, I didn't have a sleeping bag of my own," Sora explained logically. "Besides," he said with a grin, "I get cold easily."

Axel snorted. "Excuses, excuses . . ."

"You know it."

While Sora busied himself trying to get his boots on (it was rather entertaining to watch him hop around trying not to fall), Axel walked out the boys' room, running into Roxas.

"So, you're leaving?" Roxas asked.

"Yeah, I kinda only came here for Sora, you know," Axel said, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, right . . ."

"Hey, I'll show you those fireworks soon, alright? Sometime this week, ok?" Axel asked.

Roxas couldn't help but smile at Axel's excitement to share the loud, colorful lights in the sky. "Ok," he agreed.

-

Riku cracked open his eyes. He'd been sleeping so peacefully, but . . . there were some noises, and what happened to that warmth behind him? Oh, right, that warmth was Sora . . . where'd he go? Midnight urges or something? Looking around the room, he realized that wasn't the case.

Sora was zipping his trench coat back up and there were a couple of people outside the door.

"Sora . . . ?" Riku mumbled.

Sora glanced at the human. "Riku . . . look, I'm really sorry, but I have to go."

"Why?" Riku asked, befuddled.

"Riku, remember when I told you I have a curfew?" Riku nodded. "Well, it was hours ago, so I gotta go," Sora explained.

"Oh . . . sorry if I got you in trouble," he apologized.

Sora shook his head. "It was my choice, Riku. I'll visit you again as soon as I can, but I dunno how soon that'll be. So don't worry too much, ok?"

"They won't . . . kill you, will they?" Riku asked worriedly.

Sora laughed. "No, I'm worth too much for them to kill me."

"Sora, hurry up!" Axel called softly from the door.

"Who's that?" asked Riku.

"That's Axel, he was sent to get me. I better get going. Oh, and Riku?" Sora looked down at Riku, gazing into those rich aqua orbs. "Please, don't worry," he said before leaning down and swiftly kissing his forehead. "I'll see you around, Riku," Sora said, smiling and hurrying out the door.

Riku, left in a daze, let his head hit the pillow and decided he'd think about it all in the morning.

-

"Ready?" Axel asked.

"Wait a minute," Sora said, drawing his eyebrows together in confusion. "You're Roxas, right?" he asked, turning to the blonde.

"Y-yeah," Roxas said.

"You know what we are?"

Roxas nodded.

Sora's forehead erased its wrinkles as Sora, smiling, said brightly, "Ok! Now I'm ready."

"Alright then, Roxas?" Axel acknowledged.

"Yeah?"

Axel, raising his hand, let a black spiral whirl its way to life.

"See you soon," Axel said before shoving the brunet into the darkness–himself following close behind.

-

"Ow!" Sora cried, tumbling onto the cold, hard stone floor. Axel stood behind him.

"I've returned Sora, my Queen," he said hesitantly while Sora, muttering obscenities, rubbed his shoulder.

"Bring him to me," a female voice commanded.

Axel, obeying, grasped Sora's arm and helped him up. Then, as ordered, he dragged him up to the throne.

"Sora, come here," the Queen demanded.

"Why?" he asked rudely, planting himself on the spot of floor in front of her.

"Because I'm your queen and I told you so," she explained sickeningly sweetly.

"No, you're not. You're my ex, Kairi. Nothing more, nothing less–except maybe a pain in the ass."

Smack!

"Don't call me by that name ever again!" Kairi hissed.

Sora raised a hand to caress his red, sore cheek. "Why not? Ashamed of your past? I would be, too if I were you."

"Shut up, Sora! You don't know anything!" she shouted.

"Don't I?" he challenged. "I was there, too Kairi! I had to be there in order for me to be here today!"

"How dare you speak to me this way!" she shrieked.

"Pretty damn easily. Besides, every ruler needs to be humbled every now and then."

"And every subject needs to learn their place now and then," she snarled. " For your punishment, you will be locked in your room for a month, and you will only be allowed minimal blood from the reserves. Visitors will need permission. Did everyone catch that?" she asked loudly.

A chorus of "yes, my Queen" echoed throughout the room.

"Good, Saix, take him away and ensure that he is placed properly in his chamber. Axel, I need you to stay for an interrogation."

"Yes, my Queen," Axel said, not really looking forward to it at all.

Sora allowed himself to be hauled away by the obsequious vampire, but only after audibly muttering, "Kairi, you bitch."

ugh... that Akuroku scene killed me. T-T but i had to get it out to go on with the story so... yeah, bad forced Akuroku scene there... SORRY!

and -dances- you know who the queen is! some of you had guessed already, but now its out in the open :D

and, just a warning for you all, i figure that there will probably be some Hayner-bashing in this story (don't get me wrong, i love him. really, i do. but he's just so much fun to be mean to)

and how what would you guys say to a little DemyxZexion? i'm considering it, so let me know your opinion :)

and umm... hmm... oh! a plushie of Sora and Riku sleeping in the same sleeping bag (cuz i just find that image so cute) for those of you who review:)