Author's Note: Demyx's in a right snit, Roxas is the target, Naminé is picking more from Marluxia than even he knows, and the Assassin himself is trying his hand at diplomacy.

Scary huh?

This is turning into such a soap opera (kill me).

Warning: Aku/Demy, really pissy Demyx

Disclaimer: I don't own KH

Truces?

There was nothing but the sound of crickets chirping in the Garden of Fading Memory. Naminé gazed down into the pool. A red and white fish stared back at her.

Roxas had never turned up. She just hoped Larxene didn't see her moping like this.

Footsteps crunched across the gravel. She looked up at the approaching figure and stiffened.

"Good evening."

"Er, good evening Saïx," she said nervously.

"I'm not going to bite you."

Naminé tried to calm herself, not wanting another lecture about how Nobodies couldn't feel fear.

"You weren't this nervous when you asked me to help Demyx."

"Umm…well…"

"Courage comes easier when it's for someone other than yourself, is that it?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Ummm…I didn't get a chance to thank you before."

"It was my pleasure. If you ever need to force Axel's hand again, please, don't hesitate to ask."

888

"What are you doing here?"

"Why are you so surprised Marluxia? I always come to say good night to Naminé," Demyx cocked his head to one side. Surely the Assassin knew that by now. "She wasn't in her room, so I figured…"

"She went to find you," Marluxia said frowning.

"She must be at the pond then. I'll go get her."

"Wait a moment…" After nearly being outed at dinner, he didn't want to risk Xemnas finding out he'd been planning use Naminé's power for something so trivial.

"Yes?" Demyx could feel his temper fraying. He had a lovely bad mood building and it seemed the Graceful Assassin was aiming to be the final straw. Again.

"I was going to have Naminé ask. I've already had her draw a picture."

Demyx felt a tick start over his eye. "Of what?"

"The water garden."

"Really?"

"Oh don't get all hot and bothered. I just want an add on."

The Nocturne blinked. "Add on?"

"Yes. Make it bigger. Add a pool the fish can't get into, just for plants. Then everyone's happy right?"

Demyx thought about this for a few seconds. "No chemicals," he said firmly. "Especially not nitrogen."

"Not a problem," Marluxia said smugly.

"And you're gonna help build it!"

"Fine with me."

Demyx sighed. He'd forgotten that, in the pursuit of horticulture, no task was beneath Marluxia.

888

He found the girl in the moonlit courtyard. Talking to Saïx of all people.

"Hey you guys!" he called out cheerfully. The other two Nobodies turned.

"I told you he'd show up soon," Saïx with a faint twist of the lip. "I'm amazed that Number XI isn't with you."

"I'm sure he'll hunt us down if we take to long."

"That's okay," Naminé said quietly. "I'm tired anyway."

They said good night to Saïx. As they were walking down the hall, Naminé said, "He stood me up."

Demyx groaned. "I'm sorry Naminé. I didn't mean to set you up for a let down."

He put a hand over his stomach as it knotted painfully. He couldn't tell how much of it was hunger and how much was jealousy. Probably for the best that he didn't tell her everything. He was supposed to be protecting her, right?

"His mission turned out to be a duesy this time," he sighed. "It took forever and then there was that trouble at dinner and…"

"Saïx was telling me about that." She grinned. "He said you had to carry Axel to his room after Zexion made him into a bookmark."

He chuckled at that description.

"Well, we'll get you another chance soon, kiddo. Marluxia and I are gonna dig a hole in the ground."

"He asked you?" she said in surprise.

"Yeah. He did say he was gonna have you ask but since I was there he asked. So I'll keep him busy for ya." He winked. And Roxas had better come through this time he added in the privacy of his skull.

He left her with Marluxia. After a demanding growl from his innards he decided to head back the kitchen. Xaldin had surely retired for the night by now. He wouldn't mind as long as he cleaned up his mess.

Now what to make?

888

Roxas peered out of the relative gloom of Axel's room into the blinding hallway. He was tired and bored and hungry. Axel had awoken a little while ago and finished his second glass of water. Roxas had thought they might play some video games, but Axel had been extremely grumpy. For some reason he was still upset about the way Demyx had left. Roxas didn't know why. Demyx was just like that sometimes. Why get upset? The older boy would be over it the next time they saw him.

Probably, his guilty conscience saw fit to add.

His growling stomach decided to leave Axel to his sulk. The hall was nice and deserted. He crept down the hall to the forbidden kitchen. He supposed he should have taken Xaldin's advice and eaten something else. He had no clue what to eat once he got to the kitchen. There wasn't even one packet of his beloved pasta anywhere in the castle.

He really hoped he didn't run into Xaldin.

As got close to the kitchen, an absolutely heavenly scent wafted through the air, mercilessly tantalizing his poor, empty belly.

It was impossible, and yet could it truly be?

As he tiptoed into the kitchen, a familiar, musical voice called, "I figured you'd turn up right about now."

Demyx was standing at the stove stirring something with a wooden spoon. Roxas' went wide.

"Is that?"

"Yep."

Demyx blinked. Roxas had been standing by the door and now he was by his side, without ever having appeared to occupy the intervening space.

"Where did you get it?" the boy was practically drooling.

"Made it."

"Made it?"

"Yep."

Roxas took a step back. He was very hungry, but he knew Demyx was still upset. Better to wait for an invitation.

The Nocturne stared at the younger boy as he stirred in the last handful of cheese. Roxas, he had decided, had a certain annoying little brother quality to him. Whenever Axel wasn't around he bothered Demyx. He always wanted IX to play video games with him, or watch him do stunts on his skateboard. He tried to get Demyx to tell him if Naminé liked him. He borrowed CD's and brought them back scratched. He'd had to replace his Dare Devil soundtrack three times now.

He wondered if Axel's Other had had a little brother. It would explain why he was so attached to the boy.

It didn't explain yesterday, however.

"You want some?" he asked.

Roxas somehow materialized a fork. "You have to ask?"

Demyx got a couple of bowls and dished up the cheesy goodness.

"Go for it. Don't choke."

Demyx took a step back, wishing he had a splashguard.

"Do you like it?" he sniggered. Roxas nodded vigorously.

Once the initial feeding frenzy was over, Roxas turned to the Nocturne who was eating at a slower pace.

"Um, Demyx, did I say thank you?"

"No but that's okay. I'm used to it."

"Thank you." Demyx smiled.

"Demyx?"

"What?"

"Axel was really mad after you left." The Nocturne shrugged.

"He's always mad about something."

"He was still mad about it when he woke up."

That was odd. Axel had a short fuse and Demyx was often burned by his temper, literally, but he didn't usually stay mad about any one thing for very long.

"Demyx?"

"Huh?"

"About…before…" He hesitated as he saw the hydro's eyes narrow.

"Yeah?"

"I know I should have asked first…find out if you were okay with Axel teaching me." He looked up from his snack. "I tried to find you to ask but…"

Demyx stirred his noodles. His appetite was fading again.

"I'm really sorry Demyx. Really. I said you'd get the wrong idea if we didn't check, but I really wanted to know." He looked back down at his empty bowl.

"I didn't mean to screw things up."

"Huh. Well you're batting a thousand today short stuff," said Demyx nastily.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

There was a clink as Demyx stabbed his pasta, giving Roxas a start.

"Well, let's see…I catch you straddling my boyfriend. You smashed my castle and you left Naminé hanging."

"Errrrr…" At least the Nocturne hadn't seen him go ballistic on the copy he thought. Wait…

"Naminé?"

Demyx gave him a cool look. "You never even looked at that note, did'ja?"

Roxas' hand flew to his pocket. He pulled out the scrap of paper.

"Oh man…" he moaned. He dropped his fork as he read it. "Oh man… I really blew it!"

"Huh."

"Could you tell her I'm sorry?"

"It's no good coming from me. I'm not the one who crushed her little daydream." Demyx took a perverse pleasure in twisting the knife in Roxas' soul. He knew that later he'd think he'd been too mean, but a snide little voice inside his head insisted that Roxas had it coming.

The Key stared at him, not sure whether to be livid or shocked. Finally he said, "I thought Larxene was the only one that acid tongued."

The Nocturne shrugged. "I go on a lot of missions with her." He took Roxas' empty bowl and began to clean up.

"Are you gonna talk to Axel?" a quiet voice said behind him.

"Maybe tomorrow."

"I think you should talk to him now."

"It's almost eleven. He'll be asleep."

"He was awake when I left."

Demyx shrugged. It had been a long day and as soon as he'd removed all traces of their snack, he could go to bed.

He'd worry about Axel in the morning.

To be continued….