This is the last chapter, besides the epilogue. It was a fun run, everyone, but all good things must end. So as before, all previous disclaimers apply.

On with the fic!

It had been a month. Zexion's body had not been buried, as it still lived, but it had been moved into a room away from the bustle of students. Things continued on as they had before; there were still ghosts to exorcise, and still work to be done. The new school year began and the students returned. Everything was as normal as could be when you had a huge hole in your chest where your heart should've been.

Axel and Roxas were dating in earnest now. At night, Axel held Roxas while the boy cried in his sleep. The worst part was that Axel knew there was nothing he could do to make it better.

Xemnas and Saix had also begun seeing each other, but supposedly no one was supposed to know. Xemnas still caught himself asking for Zexion's input while researching. He would stop, close his mouth, and turn back to his book and Saix wouldn't mention it.

Xigbar, Xaldin, and Lexeaus go into more trouble than they ever had before because Zexion was no longer there to tell them when enough was enough and to quit while they were ahead.

Though Marluxia never said it aloud, Larxene knew he loved her. Neither one had ever been in a serious relationship before; so both were unsure how to proceed. At night when they were alone, each would silently wish that Zexion was there to give them advice.

Luxord didn't know what to do with himself. When he had been unable to sleep before, he would play cards with Zexion. The boy always beat him, but it was good company nevertheless. Luxord had always wondered exactly when the boy slept, if he ever did. Now he spent time hoping the Zexion would wake up.

Vexen had no one to talk to. Yes, it was true that he had 11 other very good friends, but Zexion had always listened the best. Vexen would outline his plans, whether they be for a homework schedule or jokingly for world domination, and Zexion had always been there to critique and give advice on how best to proceed. As the man flicked his blonde hair over his shoulder, he had a feeling that all of his plans from now on wouldn't go too well.

Demyx was inconsolable. He wandered the halls listlessly, lifelessly, and didn't attend classes anymore. Xemnas didn't force him, just let him be. There was nothing he could say. Demyx visited Zexion every day, talking to him as if he were still listening. And who were the rest of them to say he wasn't? The rest of the time, Demyx resided in the library, one of Zexion's favorite places. He often thought he could hear Zexion talking to him and he would get up to find him, only to realize that Zexion was gone. Gone. And always would be. He would start to talk to Zexion, only to remember that Zexion wasn't there. He didn't think that he would ever stop; that it would ever sink in. So he stayed in the library and tried to forget.

And it was there that it happened.

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The silence of the library grated on Demyx's nerves. He was not usually a quiet person, but the loss of Zexion had changed something in him. The rest of the exorcists could feel it, too. Nonetheless, quiet still aggravated Demyx. It reminded him too much of Zexion. But that was why he was here, wasn't it?

He was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the reference section, posing a great inconvenience to anyone who tried to pass. The usually helpful and agreeable Demyx couldn't bring himself to care.

"Demyx, could you pass me that book?" The voice startled Demyx out of his haze.

"Sure, Zexion," he replied, automatically reaching toward the shelf. Then he stopped and spun around. "Zexion!?"

Standing about three feet behind him, the blue-haired boy regarded Demyx coolly.

"Yes. What is it now, Demyx? Please, the book if you wouldn't mind." Demyx just stood there dumbly.

Zexion let out an aggravated sigh. "You know what, I'll get it myself." And with that, he walked right through Demyx to the shelf behind him.

Demyx turned and ran out of the library.

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"Xemnas! Xemnas!" Demyx almost broke down the door to the office in his haste to talk to the principal. Xemnas was sitting behind his desk with a student in the chair across from him. He was obviously punishing said student, but looked up when Demyx exploded into the room.

"Yes? For God's sake, Demyx, what is so important?"

"I found Zexion!"

A moment of silence. Xemnas's face began to gain a look of sadness and…pity. Demyx growled.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy. Zexion is here. His spirit is in the library!" Xemnas stood up so fast his chair toppled over. He looked briefly at the student in his office chair and muttered a "You're dismissed, but I'm not done with you yet," and strode over to the loudspeaker.

"Will all members of the Organization please report to the library. This is non-negotiable. All members of the Organization to the library at once."

The click echoed through the hallways as nine chairs scraped on tile and nine pairs of feet ran to the library.

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Zexion's ghost was indeed in the library. The exorcists broke down into hysteric and disbelieving laughter when the spirit strode purposefully by.

"It really figures that Zexion would haunt the library," Axel giggled, wiping tears from his eyes. "It really just fucking figures."

"Now we can rejoin his spirit and his body!" Demyx announced joyfully. Xemnas smiled, but his smile soon faded.

"There is one problem," he began, and everyone was suddenly serious and listening carefully. "Zexion is an unaware spirit. We need to find his focus. Does anyone have any idea what it might be?"

"Well, it's obviously a book," Larxene stated. "We are in a library, and this is Zexion we're talking about."

"There are over 3,000 books in this library. And Zexion may not be attached to an entire book. He may simply be focused on a single page," Saix informed them. "Where do we start?"

Silence fell as the exorcists pondered the gargantuan task that lay before them.

"We start," Demyx said suddenly, "with fruit bats."

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There were a total of 27 books on fruit bats in the library of Oblivion Heights. How Demyx knew where to start was still a mystery, but he did know Zexion the best, so the others trusted his judgment.

"Are we looking for a particular book?" Xigbar asked, scanning the shelves.

"Yes," Demyx replied distractedly. He stood in front of the shelf where he had first seen Zexion's spirit appear. "A very special book."

Reaching out, Demyx pulled a thick book off the ledge. Its spine read The Short-Tailed Fruit Bat: A Study in Plant-Animal Interactions by Theodore H. Fleming.

"Why that one?" Roxas asked in confusion.

Demyx didn't seem to hear him. Zexion's spirit walked right past him and down another aisle without even looking up.

"I don't think the entire book is his focus," Xaldin said.

"No," Demyx agreed. "It's what's inside."

Demyx brought the book over to an empty table and sat down. He gently flipped the book open to page 357. There, carefully tucked between the pages was a note that read: Zexion, will you marry me? Demyx sighed.

"He said no."

"What?" Axel said. "When was this? You never told me you were planning to propose!" Demyx chuckled.

"This was a year and a half ago. Before we started dating."

"That would explain why he turned you down."

"He said no, he wouldn't marry me, but he wouldn't mind getting coffee." Demyx smiled fondly and removed the paper.

The next time Zexion appeared, Demyx called out to him.

"Zexion! Hey, Zexy!"

"Yes, what is it, Demyx?" he seemed to notice everyone else. "What are you all doing here? Axel, you never come to the library!"

Roxas raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Not true!" Axel protested. "I come to the library…a lot."

"When was the last time?" Zexion asked.

"Right after you died."

Zexion stopped talking. He stayed perfectly still. Then he began to examine himself.

"Died? I'm dead?" He inspected his hands closely. "Interesting. No wonder you all looked so shocked to see me."

"Your body still lives," Xemnas said, catching the blue-haired man's attention.

"Really? What exactly happened to me?"

"A failed Possessio quod Discidium. You exorcised yourself. But, not so much of a failure, I see."

"Have you taken good care of my body?"

"Yes. Interested in becoming corporeal?"

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The ritual went well. Since Zexion was being introduced to an focus that currently had no soul, there were no complications. Demyx cried when Zexion began to stir. He didn't leave his boyfriend's side for the entire night.

The rest of the exorcists left to give them some privacy, and Axel pulled Roxas aside.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Rox?"

"Yeah. Sure, Axel." The red head led Roxas out on the one of the school's balconies, overlooking the extensive grounds. Roxas considered making a joke that he could see his house from there, but something about Axel's face stopped him.

Axel leaned against the railing. He took a deep breath.

"Roxas, I know we've only been going out for a few months, and I'm sorry about this." He took another fortifying breath. Roxas's heart sank into the floor.

'He's breaking up with me,' he thought. He was sure that was what is was. 'How cliché.' He wanted to cry.

"This might seem a bit sudden to you, and I know you're only sixteen, but…" Axel fiddled with something in his pocket. He dropped to one knee.

Roxas's heart stopped.

"Roxas Leal Dereveau, will you marry me?"

The end. Except for the epilogue, of course. But then, it's goodbye. How sad. I will miss all of you. D': Please review. It will mean so much to me.