"Okay! I think I got one!" Roxas exclaimed with a deep breath of air. He'd been swimming around in the spring for quite a while now; the sun was moving lower in the sky, and even a few clouds seemed to be settling in. The prince hoped desperately that it wouldn't rain. The lighting wasn't very good as it was, and the ride back to the castle would be miserable in a storm.

Demyx nodded silently, holding out a small, open leather pouch from where he knelt by the bank. Apparently even Demyx was too tall to retrieve the stones from the water, which left Roxas swimming about trying to collect them all himself. How Vexen had found out about these in a place so tiny and obscure was beyond him, but then again, the old man liked to give Roxas hard, laborious tasks just to see him sweat and groan. This was hardly out of the usual, besides its location.

For once, though, Roxas was really enjoying himself. It had been so long since he had gone swimming anywhere, and the water was so fresh and cool. It felt good on his sweaty skin, and the sun was warm and pleasant overhead. It had taken a bit of time to remember how to stay afloat at first, but luckily for the prince he hadn't completely forgotten.

He was more surprised Demyx didn't seem to be enjoying himself. They were off by themselves by the kingdom's boarder, casually working and relaxing by the spring, which was much better than cleaning the castle all day. Not to mention the older blond had a talent for magic, water spells in particular, and this would have been a perfect chance for him to work on it. Though secretly, as bothered as he was by Demyx's unusual somberness, Roxas had to thank his lucky stars that he wasn't practicing. His friend liked to use him as a practice partner, and Roxas had been the victim of numerous magical mishaps back when the older blond was still learning the basics. The prince himself was very poor at it; it seemed he and magic just didn't mix.

"You alright, Dem?" the boy asked, poking his head out of the water and resting half out on the shore. Demyx was busy tending to the horses and unpacking a bit of food for them to share, but he looked over his shoulder a moment before quickly averting his gaze.

"Y-Yeah, Rox. I'm just not feeling too great right now. It's nothing..."

Roxas sighed and shook his head, but decided he would leave it at that. It wasn't often that his friend had something on his mind (...well, for too long, anyways), but it was his business if he wanted to share it or not. With that, the little blond sank back beneath the surface and scanned the rocky bottom for more special stones. He completely missed the guilty look Demyx shot him before disappearing back into the crystal blue water...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was late afternoon when Roxas declared he would hunt no more. The boy threw himself down on the grass, sighing and basking in the fading light of the day, perfectly happy until he looked up and saw yet more clouds beginning to move in. The shade made him shiver slightly, but he was too tired and lazy to do much besides pull his thin cotton shirt back over his head. Demyx was off routing through the saddlebags for something, so Roxas merely curled up on the bank and closed his eyes, letting himself drift off peacefully...

As he dosed, the little blond dreamed briefly about his father, remembering everyone seemed a lot happier, himself included. He was 7 years old again, and King Cloud was sitting behind him astride a tall, sturdy palomino stallion, pointing ahead while the distracted child smiled and clapped happily.

"Look there, Roxas," the king said softly, "That is the site of the annual fire festival."

Roxas gasped in excitement as he saw crimson and gold festival tents lining the town before them, separated by long streamers and stalls selling all sorts of wonderful gifts and oddities. A lively tune was drifting towards them, something involving several violins and a fiddle, and people danced through the streets in elaborate costumes, singing words in a strange language Roxas had never heard before.

"Papa, why are they celebrating?" the boy chirped curiously.

"My son, they are celebrating to pay homage to their local deity and celebrate the brightness and warmth of life-giving flames."

"It looks like fun! Can we go?"

Cloud smiled kindly and placed a hand on his shoulder, chuckling softly as Roxas's eyes widened in childish wonder. Then, with a simple wave of the hand, the king called a small flame before him magically. It danced to life just above the palm of his hand.

"Yes, Roxas. Fire is truly an important element; it cooks our food and keeps us safe, keeping out the cold at night. But you must always remember that fire can harm as well as heal, and regardless of a man's power, it cannot be tamed."

The fire in his hand grew larger and larger, seemingly without control, it's light reflecting in Roxas's bright blue eyes. The flames crackled and waved madly as they grew, and the boy gasped softly, nestling back into his father as far as he could from it.

"There's no need to be frightened of it, Roxas," Cloud said softly, patting him on the head gently to calm him. "I merely want you to understand that with or without magic, fire cannot be completely controlled. To attempt to do so is foolish, and it is the same with other elements as well...but fire certainly most of all. You must always respect it for the force of nature that it is."

Slowly, the flame seemed to cool in his hand, and within a minute the fire disappeared completely, leaving a stunned and fearful Roxas intently watching the place it had just been. But a deep chuckle quickly scared the boy out of his stare, and he blinked up to see his father ruffling his hair and smiling warmly. But even as a boy, he didn't miss the seriousness in his father's words, nor the wise look in his eyes.

"I understand, Papa..."

"Eeep!" Roxas started awake when he felt a drop of rain tap him on the nose, and shortly after there came a clap of thunder that seemed to shake the whole world with its loudness. The boy shivered even more now, and he swiftly decided that it was time for them to head back. He didn't know how long he'd been sleeping, but it was clear that it was getting later and later, and Vexen was sure to punish him if he broke that silly little condition...

It was then that a faint shadow fell over the prince, and he looked up, smiling, expecting to find Demyx telling him it was time to return. But his bright blue eyes instantly grew wide as the shadow advanced on him threateningly, stalking ever closer...

It was Demyx standing over him, but if Roxas had thought he looked a bit off before, he could tell there was definitely something wrong with him now. His somewhat pained expression was now downright dismal, with large, wet tear-streaks pouring from his eyes. In his hand was a small but sharp pointed silver dagger, cold and gleaming even without the sunlight, and the older boy was now hovering over him, slowly moving the blade forward with every step.

"Demyx?"

The boy didn't answer him, but he swallowed deeply before moving his free arm forward quickly. He easily pinned Roxas to the bank, pushing heavily on his shoulder while he virtually straddled him on the grass. Roxas barely breathed in that moment, suddenly realizing that this couldn't possibly be just some sick joke on Demyx's part. He wasn't acting.

The prince's hands shot forward instinctively, trying to push him off even though he had no idea what was going on.

"D-Demyx! W-What are you doing?" he almost shouted, reaching up then to touch his friend's pale, clammy face as the blade now slowly moved to his breast. "I-I don't understand!"

Demyx sniffled loudly and tried shutting his eyes, letting the tip of the blade trace lightly over Roxas's heart above his shirt and barely letting it sink in to tear the fabric. His hand seemed to freeze there, and for many minutes, the two boys stayed in that exact spot, the silence only disturbed by the patter of what was now heavy rain and the more frequent booms in the distance.

"Demyx!" Roxas breathed, now hardly able to find his voice. "Demyx, please! What's wrong? You can tell me!"

The older boy looked away, and a sudden dry, sad laugh escaped his mouth awkwardly.

"No..." he sobbed, still with that harsh laugh that Roxas never wanted to hear from him again. "No, I c-can't tell you Roxas...I'm sorry..." The blade was pulled back slightly, and miserable blue eyes squeezed tightly shut.

"Dem, no!"

The dagger froze mid-strike, still poised for the kill but now lacking anything in momentum to deal the final blow. Demyx's deep blue eyes popped open, and he stared down into deeper blue that mirrored his own, so lost and sad and frightened. It broke his heart, seeing that, and with a shaky sigh, the older blond tossed the dagger away and sat back, sobbing into his hands.

"I-I can't! I can't do it!" he wailed.

Roxas sat up slowly, his mind still processing what had just happened. Demyx had really meant to kill him. The goofy, happy-go-lucky farm boy had just held his life at knifepoint, and he still didn't know why! Demyx wasn't like that at all! So slowly, carefully, Roxas reached forward and placed a shaky hand on his shoulder, trying to calm his own trembling voice as he spoke.

"D-Dem...What's wrong? W-Why are you..."

Suddenly, Demyx whipped around, startling him and grabbing him firmly by the shoulders.

"Roxas! You have to get out of here!" he nearly shouted, his eyes looking desperately into Roxas's; begging to be understood.

"W-What? But why? Please, Demyx! Talk to me! I-I don't understand!"

The older blond shook his head vehemently, giving him a good shake as well. "No, Rox! You have to trust me here! Vexen's gone insane! He ordered me to kill you!"

Roxas blinked, feeling warm tears gathering in his eyes.

"V-Vexen?" In a way, it made sense. He was sure the old sorcerer had wanted him dead and gone for years, but such a bold move right before his 17th birthday?

"Yes! He'll stop at nothing until you're dead, Roxas!" Demyx said frantically, getting up quickly and running to grab something from the saddlebags. "You have to leave before he gets you! Now!"

"B-But...where am I supposed to go?" the little blond shot back, getting to his feet quickly and joining his once close friend by the horses. "I-If I don't go back, then Vexen will just keep making everyone miserable! They'll say I'm a coward, o-or that I failed them! I can't just run away and abandon my people!"

But when Demyx turned around to face him, Roxas was startled to see even more tears and desperation in his friend's eyes. The older boy looked so lost and torn, and he placed a quivering hand gently on the prince's shoulder, meeting his eyes.

"Roxas," he said softly, as calmly as he could manage, "If you hide and come back later, then you can take your throne when the time is right, and stay safe from him. If you go back now, Vexen will surely try to kill you again! He's mad with power, and he'll stop at nothing to keep it! Besides," Demyx averted his eyes, instead studying the growing layer of mud caking his boots, "V-Vexen said that...if I didn't obey him...m-my family..."

"Oh...oh!" The boy gasped, realizing before Demyx even had to finish. That dirty, conniving cheater! Pulling a move like that and threatening Demyx, knowing he couldn't refuse if his home was at stake. Roxas knew that, more than anything, the older boy loved and missed his family, and it made the prince boil slightly with anger, even though he wasn't sure what the old man was planning to do. And there wasn't a way to warn the village in time; it was on the other side of the castle!

Even if Roxas did eventually become king, if he returned now, surely his friend would have to pay the price. But his people would never stand for that! It would be an attack without warrant!

Still...

"It's okay, Dem," Roxas said finally, wrapping his arms around him comfortingly. They stayed like that for a few minutes, as Demyx sniffled and composed himself, and Roxas tried to think of some other way around this situation. Perhaps he could find shelter in the woods and live there until the time was right, but it seemed unsafe and unlikely. He glanced at the forest dubiously. Who knew what sorts of animals could be living in there, and Roxas didn't exactly have a lot of outdoor experience to speak of in the last five years of his life.

"I-I'll go...A-And I promise that I'll be back." He wanted to keep his friend's family safe. He felt as if he owed Demyx that much. But it was still going to be hard. The little blond felt awful, both for himself and for all the people he would be hurting in this charade. Everyone would think he was dead. What would happen to their hope? Their happiness?

Demyx placed a gentle hand his shoulder and searched his eyes deeply. That annoyed Roxas a bit.

Is he trying to make me regret this?

"Are you sure you'll be alright? I'm worried for you, Rox..."

The prince shook his head, wiping away any and all tears from his eyes despite the pounding rain.

"I-I'll manage somehow." he said simply, grabbing his cloak and pulling it around him as tightly as possible.

Demyx fished through the supplies and made him a soggy little pack to take with him. It had a bit of bread and cheese, although that was sure to go bad immediately, and Roxas slung it onto his back beneath the cloak, hoping to keep it a bit drier that way. But he was already soaked to the bone, and the thin material wasn't really made to last through stormy weather.

"Maybe I should go with you..."

"No." Roxas said firmly, a little loudly so as to be heard from the forest over the thunder. "If you're gone for too long, Vexen will know something's amiss. We may be wasting time as it is. I'll be fine, I promise."

Demyx nodded, and mounted up quickly, tying the other horse's bridle to his saddle horn. He looked back over his shoulder at Roxas sadly. "Please be careful, my friend..."

With that, he clicked his tongue and urged the horse forward, leaving the little prince alone in the rain, at the edge of the tall, deep forest. With a shaky sigh, and a few stray tears that mingled with the rain, Roxas watched his friend go until he disappeared in the mist, like a ghost in the night. He turned slowly to face the deep forest, with trees so high that he could scarcely see overtop of them, and gulped briefly.

It wouldn't do for him to be weak now. Resolved to his purpose, Roxas forced his legs to move and began his trek into the night, praying that safety and warmth wouldn't be too hard to find.

I forgive you, Demyx...