"One pill makes you larger,

And one pill makes you smal..l

And the ones that mother gives you,

Don't do anything at all.

Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall.."

He starred, eyes open wide and quavering. Blood. Blood. Red. That was all his eyes took in as he starred at the floor. Empty eyes starred up at him in shock, their mouths agape with an unheard scream as blood dripped from the open wounds in their chest.

A hand shot to his mouth as another wrapped around his stomach, he was shaking violently as he turned and emptied his stomach on the purple tiled floor, staining it brown like the colour of dried blood. Their blood.

Blood, blood, blood! He collapsed to his knees as a blood-curdling scream shot past his lips. His eyes never moved from the dead bodies, strewn awkwardly across the floor, and the gaping holes in their chests that revealed their ribs; cracked open and pried aside to reach their hearts, torn from their chests.

He screamed again, tears mixing with the blood on his cheeks when he held his face, the blood on the floor splattered across the rooms and the walls.

The sound of the scream drew back the one that had just started to leave. The soles of his boots pounded against the floor, not even noticing that they were slick with blood. Worry and fear was the only thing clouding his mind as he turned the sharp corner, skidding into the wall. He ignored the pain in his shoulder and slid to a stop behind the violet-haired male bent over in front of him. His emerald eyes scanned over the seen, resisting the urge to empty his own stomach.

Lea pulled the other close, pushing Zexion's face against his chest, not wishing for him to have to see another corpse. He slowly moved backward, shouting so loud that it rivaled the clap of thunder just outside those walls. No answer ever returned to his frantic calls. But the only thing that had occupied his mind was getting the one he loved away from those haunting images, that would forever linger.

"And if you go chasing rabbits..

And you know you're going to fall,

Tell'em a hookah smoking caterpillar,

Has given you the call.

To call Alice, when she was just small.."

After the woman had a light, murmured and practically one-sided conversation with Zexion, she had turned to Lea. Even in her Irish accent, the sorrow in her voice had been evident, "'e should be fine. It was traumatic. Are ye' alright?"

Lea merely had shook his head, brushing off the pain that ran through his shoulder, all because he had slid into he wall earlier. "I'm fine...You can go."

The Nurse, which had always been assigned to Zexion personally, strode away. Lea stood, gazing down at the trembling figure, completely different from the confident and intelligent one he was so used to. His fingers curled into fists at his sides. Hate would never be able to describe what he felt for the woman he knew had caused this to happen.

"When the men on the chessboard get up..

And tell you where to go.."

Months passed slowly, Zexion literally clinging to Lea's side. Did he ever blink? What was going through his head? Zexion had been dubbed catatonic by most, or just plain shocked by others.

Lea's mother was getting angrier, and angrier everyday; her face flushed red with bursting fury. "NO!" She screamed, chucking one of her busts at the towering, red plush wall.

"No! No! No!" She stood, pacing side to side, her bright red stilettos clinking annoyingly against the tiled floor.

"You insolent girl!" She pointed accusingly at the red-haired girl, who glared and tapped her bright pink heel on the floor.

"What?" Her nasely voice shouted.

The Queen turned, her blue, red-lashed eyes open wide and lit afire with her anger. "You. Were. Suppose. To. Seduce. Him!" She stormed up to the girl, grabbing her around the neck and pulling on her fake, and dyed, red hair.

"You stupid little bimbo! You are such a slut! You were suppose to seduce my fucking brat of a son and take your place as the fucking Queen of Wonderland! That is what we had planned! You were suppose to become Queen and corrupt this damned world so the people would revolt and kill Lea! And then put me back on the throne! BEFORE HE REACHED EIGHTEEN!" She screamed with a loud, screeching fury. "WHICH IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE-" She throttled the girl, her short dress riding up on her pale hips as she was pressed against the wall. "-IS TOMORROW!"

The girls fake, crimson nails try to pry the Queen's hand away, but her frail fingers giving way to no success. The Queen's fingers tighten more, cutting off the girl's airway. Blue smoke curls from the open window, followed by bubbles, that pop and give off musical tones. As the last translucent bubble bursts, a form is given in the smoke that slowly gives way. Blonde hair sways as he strides over to the Queen. Green eyes twinkle with knowledgeable secrets and mischief. "You might want to put her down Ariel. Less you want little Kairi here to run and spread more rumors."

Knuckles turning white, the Queen throws the pathetic girl to the side. Kairi scrambles to get up and out of the woman's sight, the door swinging shut after her departure. Queen Ariel brings a well manicured hand up to nurse her headache. "What is it now?"

Absaline practically swam across the ground, gracefully flouncing onto the throne and throwing his legs over the armrest. "You have till tomorrow at high noon as your son was born on the sixth minute, of the eighth twelve o'clock of the eighty sixth month of the thirteenth year." He bounced bubbles against his fingertips, gazing at the bubbles longingly, wishing to get back to his hot, comforting waters.

The Queen sneered, her lips curling over her porcelain white teeth. "You little insect, how dare you remind me!-"

Absaline tsk'ed, wagging a finger as he stood, spinning around and appearing in front of Ariel. "I'm a caterpillar, get your terms right. Or you-" He smirked maliciously, dropping his voice to a low, deadly whisper, Just might end up dead like little Zexy's parents." He spun quickly, blurring into shades of blue as he burst into an array of bubbles and vanished through the ceiling. Ariel growled loudly, grabbing another of her busts that sat against the wall, and chucked it at the ceiling, cracking the red-heart window, the pieces shattering and falling around her.

"Ga-AHHHH!" She screamed, her voice screeching as her hands clenched into vists, her nails digging into her palm and dripping red with blood. Red as the blood that would soon be shed, if she got her way. And she knew she would. She always did.

"And you've just had some kind of mushroom,

And your mind is moving slow.."

Out in the garden filled with red rose bushes, Lea sat on a bench, the slight-catatonic boy beside him. A sigh was the only thing that would leave the red-head's lips. He wrapped an arm around the violet-haired boy's waist, pulling him onto his lap. "I do love you. You're the only one I could ever love. I'd do anything, and everything, for you." Lea pecked his cheek, trying to show an action for his words.

Zexion, of course, didn't move. He didn't blink and he didn't recuperate the action. It has been two months since the death of his parents, and Zexion seemed to be falling deeper and deeper into a catatonic state. Kairi continued her advances, but Lea never left Zexion alone; choosing to sweep the Victorian boy into his arms and dote on him. He fed Zexion, helped bathe him, and held him in his arms at night while he slept.

As the kissed was placed against the bluenette's cheek, his head twitched ever-so slightly. But, it was just noticeable at the closeness of Lea's lips to his cheeks.

Lea sighed, his eyes locked with that of the red moon as it rose high in the sky. He stood, pecking Zexion's lips. "Looks like we better get inside." He scooped the lithe boy into his arms and started to the castle, his want to get to his room fast, driving him. "I could order up some dessert if you want Zexy. The cook knows just what you like! How about it?" The whispering wind was the only thing that answered right away, followed by the door shutting behind him as he made his way down the hallway. His boots clacked against the red tiled floor, servants passed by, dressed in vests and flowing skirts of the brightest colours and the most odd patterns; diamonds, squares, swirls and hearts.. and he payed them no attention.

He shut the door behind him, the comfort of his crimson room eased the tension from his frame. Lea sat Zexion down on the bed, taking the seat next to the boy as he rests against the pillow. "One day, I'll marry you Zexion. If I could only keep one promise, I'd keep that one, commit that to memory."

Zexion's eyes were covered quickly.. by a blink. He blinked once again, his body moving ever-so slightly closer to Lea's. This was Zexion's first movement.

A servant knocked on the door, breaking the moment, and opening it slightly. "Master Lea? Do you require anything?"

The room was basked in orange, the gold light of the hallway masking with the red of Lea's room. Zexion's tears had stopped long ago, but the red of Lea's room took a while to settle into his brain as something that won't harm him.

Lea growled lightly, "No. Just...don't send anyone back until the morning." He turned his attention back to the one slowly breaking free from a mental cage. Lea ran his fingers through the hair, that covered Zexion's face, continuing along the slight curve of jaw. He loved every bit of the one that had been horrified to a point of no return. Everyone had told him it was pointless to have any form of hope.

Another sigh left his lips, more and more of those everyday. He leaned down to place a kiss on Zexion's lips, before standing up, preparing to change for the night. "I won't be long Zexy."

The servant nodded, apologizing profusely before shutting the door quickly and shuffling down the hall. The room was flooded in shades of red once more, the bright, now blue moon creating a shadow of purple through the red-tinted glass. As Lea stood to leave, a hand grasped around Lea's wrist, the pale, nimble fingers barely touching his wrist, but using it to keep his hand and arm up none-the-less.

Wide, emerald orbs immediately turned back down to the bed. He lets his legs fold in, as he sat back down on the bed. Taking the fingers from around his wrist, Lea cradled the hand in both of his. "Zexion? Come on Zexion, say something? Just for me?" His hope lit his soul right back up, as he pecked the pale hand.

Zexion's head was down, starring at his own lap as his legs hung over the edge of the bed. His arm was reached out, cradled in Lea's hands. "L..." His lips moved slowly, his voice cracking violently as his eyes blinked once, twice. "Le..." A tongue darted out, licking chapped lips. "Lea.." His voice cracking once more as he head remained hung.

Overjoyed that Zexion had finally said something, even if was only a word, it was his name. Lea wrapped his arm around the thin waist, "Come on Zex, keep talking to me." He beg, littereing kisses along Zexion's small, pale neck, not wanting to let go, lest he'd never catch the bluenette ever again. "What about me Zexy?" He continued to comb his fingers through Zexion's blue-purple tresses, the hue of purple settling around them still.

Zexion blinked once more at being pulled against Lea at an odd angle. A few moments passed in silence, Lea littering kisses over Zexion's neck. Zexion blankly licked his lips, mumbling Lea's name twice more before Zexion's hair moved as his head slowly -agonizingly slowly- lifted, the joints in his neck cracking and straining as his blank eyes turned to face Lea's. His head tilted as the transparent glaze over his eyes faded ever so slightly, a small light coming to his face. "Ma..Ma.. Mar..Marria..ge?"

Lea grinned as he pulled Zexion into his lap. Tilting his own head down, he pecks Zexion's lips. "Yes. Marriage. I'm going to marry you Zexion. No one else." As his arms linked around Zexion's waist, he let his fingers curl into the fabric of Zexion's shirt, his face buried in the crook of Zexion's neck.

Zexion blinked, unmoving. The glaze slowly returning to his eyes as he settled back into an unmoving state. "O..k..." His body settled back into it's stiff state, his eyes glazing over once more.

The red head blinked away the tears that had sprung to his eyes, just feeling the body in his arms stiffen again.. Not giving a damn about anything, only anger and hurt, he laid Zexion beneath the thick, crimson blankets, sliding in beside him. "I'll never leave your side. And if I do...well...I hope that doesn't happen." He pulled Zexion close, making sure the other was warm after being out in nature's cruel wind. "I really do love you Zexion. If there's anything I can do to prove that, I'll do it."

"Go ask Alice, I think she will know.."

The night slowly faded to day, Zexion pressed against Lea's chest. As Lea's eyes opened to begin the day, the weight that was on his chest was, surprisingly, gone. Zexion sat at the edge of the bed his head tilted as he starred out of the window with clear, bright, thoughtful purple-toned eyes.

Zexion was back.

"Z-Zexion?" He sat up, using his palm to rub at his eye. Blinking the harsh light from his eyes, Lea tilted his head to the side, clearly surprised. Scooting closer to the other, he reaches out, fingers gripping the back of Zexion's shirt. "Are you really back?"

Zexion blinked continually as he turned his head, his bright purple eyes shining with the knowledge they once possessed as he tilted his head. "L-L..Le-ea?" He whispered, his voice hoarse, bags under his eyes, contrasting against his pale, smooth skin.

Lea flung his arms around Zexion's lithe frame, pressing his lips fully against Zexion's. "That's my name, don't wear it out." He says with a wink, his heart warmed by the sight of those violet eyes full of shine once again.

Zexion blinked. "..I think I could expect more of a surprise from Lar-Larxene if I p-poked her with a n-needle." His voice was hoarse, his expressions violently critical and horribly depressed as no smile graced his lips.

A chuckle escaped Lea's lips, unable to hold in his happiness. He wrapped his arms around Zexion's body, falling backwards, taking the other with him. As he laughed, he rolled them over, half lying on top of Zexion. "I'm so glad you're back, I could eat you." Lea pecked Zexion's lips, giving him a wink as well, "Although, I did enjoy helping bathe you."

Zexion blinked, gazing around, his lips slowly becoming red with the kisses. "Where.. was I?.."

Staring at Zexion, as if he had just sprouted another head, Lea froze mid-kiss, "Y-You mean...You don't remember? Nothing?" Hanging his head slightly, he sighed. "Well, that's okay. As long as you remember us," he said, a hopeful smile on his lips.

Zexion blinked, "U-Us?.. W-What us?.. Whe-Where a-am I?.." His eyes were glazing over, and fading back to purple so fast it had Zexion's head in a spin, confusion tumbling through his brain. "L-Lea.. I.." His head fell to the side, tears in his eyes. "All I remember is red.. S-so much red.." He croaked, leaning into the others touch.

Lea pressed kisses over Zexion's lips and cheeks. "Zexion, stay with me. Please don't go back into that state. I love you Zexion." He chokes out, his throat constricting with the tears that beg to come and trickle down his cheeks. Lea lets his head fall onto the slowly rising and falling chest, biting his lip through the flood of emotions.

Zexion ran a hand through Lea's hair shakily, crumpling in on himself. "I.. I.. I r-r-remember.. m-marriage?.. Why?"

Lea raised his head, lying fully down next to him, cheek on his shoulder as he caressed the skin of Zexion's neck.. "Because I said I want to marry you." Lea said with a small, child-like smile on his lips.

Zexion froze, his memories blurry. Red, red, red.. green.. soft words.. the smell of roses.. warm arms around him as he slept..

"M-Marriage?" He choked, tears coming to his eyes.

Lea reached over to Zexion's hand, twining their fingers together. "Yes, I want more than anything to have your hand in marriage." Leaning up, he ghosts his lips over Zexion's cheek. "You want that too, right?"

Zexion leaned forward ever so slightly, before throwing himself weakly at Lea and wrapping his weak, frail arms around the others neck, kissing him passionately as his head, and heart, swam with emotions. "Yes. Yes," He mumbled between kisses, tears tracking down his cheeks. "I-I do. Yes. Y-Yes!"

"Don't leave me.. P-Please.. d-don't leave me.." He kissed him deeply, holding his face between his hands. Pulling Zexion close, he leans their foreheads together after they part. "I'd never leave you. If I did, I'd die inside."

Zexion kissed Lea deeply, pressing flush against him and giggling giddily. "What? No ring?" He tsk'ed against Lea's lips, smiling, his eyes bright and dancing with a happy light. "You got'a put a damper on me "coming back", don't you? You'll make a horrible husband!" He laughed heartily, warmly, albeit weakly.

Lea gasped, "Well what do you know?" He brought his hands up, pulling at a gold ring on his finger, which has rubies dotting around it at intervals. Lea grabbed Zexion's left hand, slipping the ring on his ring finger and placing a small, charming kiss against it.. "I came unprepared, huh?" He captured Zexion's lips once again.

Zexion smiled widely, leaning up to lean over Lea, holding his cheeks as kissing him deeply. "Red." He chuckled, the nickname sound warm, and loved, on his lips.

His memories were fuzzy, but he had a feeling Lea would tell him eveyrthing he needed to know over time. They were together now, that was all that matt-

A knock sounded on the door, breaking their kiss as the door flung open. "Baby!~"

"When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead.

And the white knight is talking backwards..

And the red queen's off with her head,

Remember what the dormouse said..

Feed your head, feed your head.."

~6~8~6~8~6~8~6~

Chapter 9 coming right up! Please review?