This is about a week later, just saying

"So, Riku is in the castle too?" Demyx asked leaning back in his chair. "That should make Sora happy."

"I don't think either of them know that the other is here," Zexion said sighing, "The Riku Sora keeps running into is a replica created by Vexen."

"Vexen made a replica of Riku? How?" Demyx said sitting up, his ocean eyes wide.

Zexion smiled slightly at the action. When Demyx's eyes lit up like that he looked younger than eighteen. "Memory, darkness, and a lot of complicated formulas I'm not going to get into. The replica is basically being used to Marluxia's advantage. The real Riku...well, I plan to convince him to join us. The darkness that envelops his body is powerful. He could be powerful. But at a price..."

"Wouldn't he have to lose is heart like the rest of us?"

"Exactly." Zexion leaned back in his chair, biting his gloved thumb in thought. "The only problem is, things haven't been going according to plan. Sure, Sora's memory is getting worse the higher he climbs, but people have been dropping like flies. Sora killed Larxene-"

"Wait a minute, Larxene's dead?" Demyx grinned. "Is it wrong to be happy about that?"

Zexion laughed. "Of course not. She deserved it...Axel killed Vexen-"

"Vexen? Why?"

"Apparently he was acting against Marluxia's orders and Marluxia ordered Axel to kill him, which he did. I'm worried about Lexaeus. He left right before you showed up to confront Riku. I told him to be careful but..." Zexion fell silent. He sighed and said, "It makes me wonder if were all going to perish."

"Don't talk like that!" Demyx said hitting his arm.

"Just thinking out loud."

Demyx threw his arms around the slate haired man causing both of them to topple to the floor. Zexion let out an oof as Demyx landed on top of him, still clinging to him. "I don't know what I do without you," Demyx said squeezing the smaller man.

"Keep squeezing me like that and you'll find out!" Zexion wheezed.

"Sorry!" Demyx loosened his grip on him. Suddenly, a violent thud vibrated the whole room. Both slowly stood looking around. "What was that?"

Zexion stared at the wall. Something was missing. His eyes widened. "Lexaeus's scent is gone," he said. "Riku must have killed him."

"Riku?"

Zexion turned away from him. "At this rate, we'll never get his darkness on our side." He looked back. "You better go. I need to take care of some things."

"Okay," Demyx said sighing. He put up a hand to open a portal but Zexion took it.

The Schemer kissed Demyx's gloved fingers then his lips and said, "Come back later."

Demyx grinned and said, "I will." He opened a black portal and stepped through, leaving Zexion alone in the room.

Zexion sighed. "First Vexen, and now Lexaeus is gone as well..." he said thinking out loud.

A black portal opened up and Axel stepped through. He smirked when he saw the slate haired man. "Larxene, Vexen, and now Lexaeus...Gee, I wonder who's next?"

Zexion gave him a strange look. What is this, a game, he thought. "Maybe you," he said smirking.

"Me? Naah." Axel turned away from him. "I already took my pounding from Sora. He thinks I'm done for good. I don't plan on doing a repeat performance anytime soon." He looked back at Zexion. "No, I think Marluxia's next in line to go."

The slate haired man crossed his arms. "You think Sora will win. Because anyone who beats you is unbeatable, is that it? Then we won't be needing Riku anymore."

Axel chuckled. "Good luck disposing of him. You want to take on someone who wasted Lexaeus?"

Zexion's ice blue eyes narrowed. "That's not how I do things...Tell me, did you get the data on Riku's home?"