May the madness continue. . .

. . .

Chapter 4: Beloved

. . .

"Maybe it's just me being paranoid." Hayner said, lying on his back on the edge of the fountain in front of the college.

"Maybe. You know Roxas doesn't cheat." Pence sighed. Always standing up for me. Should have dated him when I had the chance. . . But then I might not have my knucklehead.

"But the details are way too similar!" Hayner said shooting up. "The only big difference was that I saw Axel's face! Roxas didn't, or couldn't."

Olette looked at me. "You didn't?" I shook my head. "That's pretty odd. Then again, it's said stuff like this happens to couples pretty often."

"It's not that odd." I mumbled in my fist resting against my cheek. "But the fact remains, something's going on here and it's not going to be pretty." I looked off from little heard of weird nerds and caught glimpse of an odd sight. Demyx, dressed in a similar Victorian manor as the night before, was walking up to the school holding a box and a doll in his arms.

"Is that puppet boy?" Hayner asked throwing his arms over my shoulders and around my neck.

"Yeah, it is. Wonder what he's doing here." I said as the four of us sat down and watched as he sat down on a bench with a blank stare in his eyes.

"You know, he looks very familiar. Have we seen him somewhere else Roxas?" Olette asked me. I just shrugged. Maybe when we were younger and she and I were out boy hunting.

"I don't know. But we should go say 'hi' or something." I said watching him staring into absolutely nothing. Couldn't say the same for his doll though. That creepy was just eyeing us with its two little black buttons for eyes.

Hayner shrugged. "Maybe. He's pretty cool." Just as the words were out of his mouth, Demyx seemed to come back to life from his dead looking appearance and look up right at us. He tilted his head, slightly and waved lightly. We waved back and Hayner motioned him over to where we were. He looked around him before pointing back at himself as if not sure who we were motioning to. Hayner nodded.

"Coming on, we don't bite." Demyx nodded before standing back up and walking over to sit by the fountain with us. "So what brings you this way Puppet Master?"

"Puppet Master? I wouldn't call me that." He said scratching his head. "A master has full control, and that is something I have not. My puppet and dolls control me, rather than I control them." He said petting the head of the one in his arms. "Just like Terra here."

"Mind if I?" Demyx shook his head and gently picked up the doll and placed it in Hayner's lap. "Wow. He feels-very. . ." Hayner didn't finish. He seemed too busy having a staring contest with it.

"How many dolls and puppets do you have, might I ask?" Olette chimed.

Demyx smiled a friendly smile to her. "Let's see-possibly about 747-if not more." We all just raised our eyebrows. This was really proving to be mad, as if his Mad Hatter Victorian fashion wasn't proof enough. "By the way, have any of you seen Axel and or Zexion? Preferably Zexion. I need to give this to one of them." He said looking down at the box.

"Why?" Hayner asked giving Demyx back his 'Terra'.

"They're not coming till late tonight, so they're gonna miss dinner. So I thought I'd bring them something to eat. That's all." Demyx smiled stroking Terra's hair.

"That's really sweet of you." Olette said standing up and brushing off her pants. "Oh, and if you look behind you, you can find Axel." We all turned our heads and saw Axel just sitting on the other side of the fountain reading the newspaper.

Demyx turned around and his chipper aura he was giving off faded. In fact, Demyx's whole being changed. Much like a-no. What was I thinking . . .? But, but considering what's happened lately, could it?

Demyx stood up and walked over to the opposite side of the fountain and sat next to Axel. Quietly, he handed the box over to Axel. "I brought this for you and Zexion-since you're going to be late tonight."

Axel put down his paper and looked at Demyx. "You didn't have to Dem-Dem. We could have found something when we got home." Axel smiled.

Demyx kept his gaze low. "I felt I ought to." Axel smiled and whispered something to Demyx. He nodded and stood back up. He looked back over to us. "It was nice seeing again. Do, stop by some time." He bowed slightly and was on his way, with the wind blowing his tail coat around.

Axel then stood up himself and walked around the fountain over to us. "You really make him happy last night. Which is an oddity now adays." Axel said looking at the direction of Demyx.

"But he seems like a really happy guy." Hayner said.

"Well, after the mess with his parents' unfortunate deaths, you there really isn't anything to be happy about." Axel turned and started to leave. "Oh, by the way, Xigbar says 'thank you'." When Axel left, I knew where we were going. To the library! *dramatic pointing pose!*

. . .

Books in hand, Pence came back to the table I was sitting at. "Ok, I've looked in just about every passage I could find and nothing." He pouted as he rested his head on the pile.

"Great, now come look at this." Olette said waving the two of us over to the computer she and Hayner were at. "Earlier, I thought I knew I saw him somewhere before, and I was right. Check this out." Pence and I looked at the screen to see she was looking at an older news article from a few years back. We were a tad bit surprised:

Myde Makeshift.
Age: 22
Current: MIA

Myde Makeshift, an adolescent male living the high life. This 22-year-old good looking, party animal is missing in action. Due to suspicious circumstances, Makeshift is wanted for the death of his parents (Carmen and Michael Makeshift).

Pence and I looked at each other before continuing to read.

Makeshift was your typical young, adolescent boy. He drank and partied with his friends and hitting it big. He was a successful student in college without a problem and was big help in the community. He entertained sick kids in hospitals, foster homes, and orphanages with his puppet shows and never asked for a dime. He was well loved and well respected. After graduation, a very successful future was just an arm's reach in front of him. But that all changed the night he met his secret lover, name unknown.

'Myde became a very different person after meeting this young man.' Says Carle Makeshift, Myde's grandfather. 'He was always a kind and respectful person, but this man changed him somehow. He drifted away from his friends and family. He still did shows for the children, so his parents and I didn't mind too much. But then one night, the three of us came home from dinner and found Demyx in his room, in a trance, sitting in the middle of a pentagram, surrounded by candles. It really scared his parents and they started to keep him away from this young man. Of course Demyx rebelled and fought back. Nights he knew Carmen and Michael were home, he'd invite this young man over, never introducing him, just flaunting him around.

'After weeks of this behavior, Carmen and Michael had had enough. They decided it was time for an intervention. But something seems to have gone wrong. Myde disappeared and his parents lost their lives. All that was left was a letter reading 'He's mine to keep'.'

To this day, no one knows where Makeshift has gone or when he'll be back. If you have any-

I swear my face hit the floor. After reading I focused on the picture of this Myde Makeshift and I felt all the air leave my lungs. It-it was Demyx! Myde had the same sandy-blond hair, the same aqua-blue eyes, and the same everything else! What the fuck was going on? The only difference was the names-now that I think about it, Demyx, D-E-M-Y-X, Myde, M-Y-D-E. Yup. The same letters just with an 'X' and rearranged! What the hell? Did anyone else notice this?

"Olette, how do you find this?" I asked.

"We were talking about in criminal justice. The case was brought up to demonstrate suspicious missing persons." She said. "I was going to ask you to help me understand the religious aspects of it, but you've been busy trying to make babies with your husband." I shook my head. All though it is true if I was a girl I would have been knocked up by now.

While Hayner went on a search for his dream analysis, and Pence worked on his history work, Olette and I talked about this case. Apparently, this mystery man that Myde had met had convinced him to rebel and join the occult. The influence was so much that the guy pretty much did a complete change in personality. He wasn't religious in the least, but his 'lover' some started to get him to speak in nothing but riddles and dress in a gothic manor. Then after the murders, he disappeared without a trace. No has seen hide nor hair of him since. It made me wonder. I looked at Olette and knew she was thinking what I was thinking.

"Ok, so I'll get more on the scoop on Demyx, you find out more about this 'Myde'." I said and Olette nodded.

"And just how are you going to do that?" Hayner asked.

I sighed. "The only way I know how. I'm pretty sure the Axel thinks more with the head in his pants rather than the one on his shoulders." I said shrugging.

Hayner just shook his head. "No. Not that way!"

"Well how the hell else do you expect me to do it then?"

"Not at all, how about that? You said it yourself! The occult is dangerous! What makes Axel and his 'family' any different?" The table fell silent. I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Coming from the one who willing went into said cult's home." I mumbled loud enough for everyone at our table to hear.

"Only to help keep a promise I made." Shutting his books, Hayner got up from the table and walked out of the library. My elbows on the table, I buried my face in my palms. I don't even have a thought for this. . . .

I left Olette and Pence. UI wasn't one to get angry, or drag them into mine and Hayner's marital problems, but his sudden attitude change was just infuriating! I know he love me and just was to protect me, but I was still free to make my own choices.

Puppets . . . control. . .

What? I looked behind me, but no one was there. Then-where did that whisper come from?

"Looking for someone?" I jumped and let out something between a gasp and a shriek. I turned around to find Axel looking at me wide-eyed while I tried to keep my heart in one place. "Sorry, pants still dry?"

"Very funny. Takes a lot more than that for me to piss myself." I took a deep breath. "Is there something I can help you with?" Axel opened his mouth and I just held up my finger to stop him from saying something stupid. "And I don't mean anything relating to your dick."

"Aw, but it really hurts though. If you kiss it, it might feel better." He said in the absolute, most gayest way possible. "Please?" With as aggravated as I was now at Hayner, I just might. But he does think I'm having an afire with Axel. So maybe it's a really bad idea. "Is something wrong?" Axel asked when he noticed me thinking.

"IT's Hayner. He's just-he's just making wild assumptions!" Axel took his hand and lifted my face to look at him.

"It's because of me, isn't it?" Me just pulling his hand away was enough of an answer for him. "Is it normal for couples to be overprotective of each other?" I nodded. "Hm. This is a pickle. Tell you what, why not come back to my place and-"

"No. I'm sorry. I had the oddest feeling be there." I rubbed my arms and started walking down the sidewalk again.

Axel laughed. "Roxas, that's most likely because the house is haunted. We like to open doors and welcome guest every now and then. Some stay though. They keep us entertained." I stopped dead in my tracks. It made sense! Ghost!-GAH! Axel, must you be more-perfect? If there was anything I love (besides Hayner) than religion, it was the paranormal.

. . .

I was sitting on a very comfy red sofa waiting for Axel to come back with an alcoholic concoction. I know, I know. Axel plus alcohol was a bad idea, but I didn't want to go home right now. Nor did I want to have Luxord play drunken 20Q with me. I also didn't want to bother Olette and Pence because they were planning a wedding.

When Axel came back, he had a bucket with a bottle in it and to wine glasses in hand. "Here, this is a special blend that should help." Axel said handing me a glass while placing the bucket on a side table.

"What is it?" I asked watching him pour me a glass.

"Red wine mixed with my own blend. Helps relieve stress." He grinned. "You don't have to drink it." Then what was the point of giving it to me?"

I took a sip and felt all my nerves relax a bit. "Wow. This works fast."

"Told you." He said practically chugging the thing. The taste was something one couldn't explain; you just had to try it. But it was unforgettable. Now, when I drink, I drink. After one glass comes another and another. And when I was drunk, I did and said a lot of random shit.

"Hey, Axel, you know-ya know-what made you-how did you realize you were gay?" I asked somewhat hiccupping.

"That's an easy one." He chuckled in a similar drunken state. "My first sexual encount-encounter with a woman! Man, the sex was horrible. Could not reach orgasm to save my life." We both laughed. "What about you?"

I hiccupped. "Yell, Olette and I are childhood friends. And-and we figured, we'd give a boyfriend girlfriend relationship a try. *hiccup* But, once that happened, it just didn't feel right. Olette wondered what was wrong and introduced me to . . . to. . . Gay porn. . ." Damn, what was it this wine. "After that, I knew we were just meant to be friends . . . then I met Hayner!" Axel laughed, chugging back another glass of wine. Must have been his fifth glass. Damn, was it me, or was Axel looking reallllly hot?

Axel met my eyes and smiled. He placed his glass down on the coffee table before leaning over my being and in-between my legs. "Roxas, you look . . . so beautiful." Before I could respond, he captured my lips with his own. He took the glass out of my hands and placed it on the coffee table while my arms found their way around his neck. My head in a fog, I don't really remember much. But I do remember feeling warmth burning inside me and one hell of an intense orgasm. . .

. . .

When I woke up the next morning, the mother of all hangovers hit me. I rolled over and was surprised to find Hayner sound asleep. What the hell? If memory served me right, I was with Axel at some point last night-getting drunk. . . Oh shit.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I turned on the hot water and let it run over my body. And like in nearly every yaoi ever made, the result of having unprotected sex was running down my thigh. I rested my head against the tile of the shower wall at the thought of not knowing who the semen belonged to. Talk about sad. . .

"Here, this should help." Hayner handed me a mug of mint tea. "It should calm your headache." He smiled. What was he smiling about?

"Thanks." I mumbled rubbing the sides of my head. "Hey, babe, what happened last night?"

He chuckled. "You. Were. Wasted!" Talk about an understatement. "You came home, I tried talking to you, but you were gone and very horny. We had sex and then you passed out." He smirked. Great. "So, once again, you've proved it's a good thing we don't have neighbors!" Ok, so that could explain the semen, but that didn't explain why I was sore. No matter how many times I had sex with Hayner, I was almost never in pain. But this morning my whole back was killing me. And my insides were very itchy!

Hayner sighed. "Roxas, I'm sorry about yesterday." I looked up at him. "I was just getting really paranoid. The thought of losing you, in anyway, it's just unbearable." I smiled.

"It's alright Knucklehead." He smiled back and hugged. But I knew every well that things were not alright. "I love you, Knucklehead."

He chuckled. "I love you to, Bonehead." His hand in link with mine, Hayner pulled me up and over to the bed with me on top of him. As we kissed, his hands ran through my hair and over my back. There was something-something different this time. Whenever Hayner and I have nothing else to do really other than to have sexual relations with each other, but there was something really different about this time. It felt like-time had stopped and there was only us, in this moment-right here-right now-just us. Feeling Hayner inside me was absolute pleasure. And for those who can't figure out how guys can feel pleasure though anal sex, go get a prostate exam. It's about the same damn thing. . . Only it's repetition of hitting the same spot. And it really is one of the greatest feeling ever. Seriously, don't knock it till you try it. . . Me rambling again. Where was I-oh-yeah-sex with Hayner! Got it! Um-oh yeah-pleasure. Lots and lots of pleasure! And feeling him release inside was my favorite part. The warmth you feel and the connection, it's just amazing. But-for some reason, this felt odd. Like it wasn't good enough. What was going on?

Regardless of my confusion, I still collapsed on top of him panting. His arms wrapped around me as we kissed. We didn't do much of anything else that day other than having sex. It was perfectly fine with me. It beats playing with myself. . .

. . .

Day after day, night after night, things seem to change. I couldn't put my finger on it, but things seemed really-out of place. Hayner was more of a horny bastard than usual. Ansem was really getting more into his lectures. Luxord was still Luxord. Olette and Pence were happy go loving. Elisabeth was more chantey and songful. And everyone else just seemed to stare at me a lot lately, as if I had a sign above my head flashing 'STARE AT ME!' And I've checked multiple times, there was no such sign. And all week, something even more strange happened. Axel was nowhere to be seen! He hadn't shown up for class, so I couldn't interrogate him about our very possible sexual encounter. And it was starting to get very lonesome in class to. Much like before. But the weirdest thing of all, I hadn't dreamt once all week! It was absolutely amazing! And very strange. I was kinda growing accustomed to these weird encounters and interactions with these demonic-like beings.

IT had been a pretty peaceful week. Olette found out more about Myde, and Pence was starting to get jealous, which made him super cute. Hayner found his dream analysis and concluded that he was just being paranoid. And I still have no fucking clue what happened with Axel or how I got home when I was drunk. Yay. . .

. . .

"So, after graduation, Mom says she wants us to move in so we can start making babies." Hayner said.

"Wait, Roxas isn't pregnant yet?" Pence was shocked.

"Oh, and neither is Olette. So I don't want to hear it mister!" Olette and I just looked at each other. My husband and her fiancé were pretty embracing at times.

"Hayner, I thought we agreed we'd go off and travel before settling down." I cocked an eyebrow.

"We will. Like I said, she wants us to. Just like she wanted me to break up with you after the Blood on the Dancefloor incident."

"Hey-that was your fault!" Don't ask. It wasn't pretty. "And it was a rave."

He chuckled. "I know. That's why I didn't." He swooped me in his arms, trapping me in a makeout session. Olette and Pence just laughed.

"Hey, what's that over there?" Olette pointed over to a small crowd gathered over a tree that just loomed in the front of the school. Curiously, we walked over to see what was going on. The first thing I saw was a tiny black figure dancing around. Upon closer inspection, I found out it was a puppet. I looked up at the tree and found certain puppet master sitting on a branch over head, leading his child step-by-step. It was so cute! Music was playing, like a technic- orchestra. The way he moved his puppet was kinda creepy though. And I think I'm the only one that's noticed. It looked like it was alive.

After Demyx's show, he jumped from the tree and he and his puppet made a bow. People left tips in the hat that was resting against the base of the tree. He walked over and picked it up. He put the puppet in the hat as well before noticing us and greeting us. "Good morning."

"Morning Demyx." We all greeted.

"That was a really cute show." Olette smiled.

"Thank you. Vanitus here has been practicing very hard." He smiled genuinely at his little puppet. First Terra, now Vanitus. These guys are more like a circus act rather than a cult of Satanist. "Well, I have to go. I promised some children that were playing in a hospital playground I was passing that I'd do a show for them today. And that I'd bring candy." He tilted his head and looked off in a random direction. "Good bye for now." We all waved. As Demyx walked away, I wondered. He's a very likable guy. Why didn't he have more friends?

After parting ways and joining the class Ansem tried to make very amusing, I got a surprise. Axel was back! Now I could interrogate his ass about that night. The night of which I still haven't told Hayner about. Was I thinking about it though. . . I just didn't see it going well. . .

I walked up the steps and took my seat. Axel looked up at me and rubbed his eyes. "Good morning." He did something between a groan and a yawn.

"Morning. . . You look like shit." I placed my book on the desk-table thing.

"I feel like shit." I groaned. "Had a big argument with my old man. He decided to send one of my brothers out to try and convince me to carry my ass home. And by that I mean he tried to do it." Axel chuckled. "And since I'm twice his size in height, that wasn't easy. Things got physically violent. We both got beat up. So he left, hanging his head in defeat. And I stayed home for a few days. I still have burses."

Ah. That could explain the long sleeve shirt. "You don't get along with your father?"

"Understatement of the year. I fucking hate him. He thinks that just because he's an important figure head, I should act just like him and my siblings." Axel crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat. "So, to get out of his little world, I made a bet with him. I apparently missed a dead line some time back that I didn't know about, so he wants me home." So Axel had a possessive, controlling father to. Boy did that stir up bad memories. Speaking of which-

Before I could ask, Ansem started his lecture. An anxious hour and a half later, Ansem finished and left us. I shut my book and turned to Axel. "What the hell did that wine do to me?"

A grin rose on his as he tried to suppress his laughter. "The kind that works better than roofies." Oh great! "Roxas, relax. You remembered where you lived so you got home safely."

"That is besides the point Axel!"

"So you cheated on your husband in a drunken state and don't remember it. My lips are sealed." I rubbed my temples. How could I-why would I-Fuck! . . .

. . .

"Don't be too late." Hayner said kissing me. "I'll wait up. Maybe I'll even try on that school girl outfit."

"Now there's black mail." I laughed. "I'll try not to be." As Hayner walked away, I felt my heart sink. Why did this moment feel so sad? I guess when you find out that you willingly cheat on your beloved, it gets to your head.

I sat in the library listening to the ticking of the clock. Each one seeming to get louder and louder and louder. The louder the tick. . . The slower . . . Time. . .

Hayner had just gotten back to the apartment and opened the door to find an uninvited guest in waiting. "We are you doing here?" He demanded.

A familiar show of teeth gleamed at him. "That's an easy one. To get you out of the way!" He stood up with his wings starting to protrude from his back.

"What the fuck-!" Hayner gasped knocking himself against the wall. "You're not human!"

"Yeah. I never was, nor claimed to be." His hands were resting on his hips. "Why else would I be after your precious little Roxas?" His voice was full of sarcasm and madness. "I'll admit, you've been fun to play with, but now your judgment day is here!" In an airy of sparks, He shot a ball of fire from his hand aiming for Hayner who quickly ducked out of the way.

"No way in hell will he ever be yours!" Hayner shouted only to be met by a laugh.

"It's a good thing I'm not home then." He laughed. "Oh-and before you die, I should tell you. Little Roxy was completely willing. And as you should know once a human gives themselves to me, there is nothing that can save 'em." Hayner's eye went wide. His hand covering his mouth, he only thought of one thing. His beloved. In an instinctive reaction, Hayner shot up and bolted to the door only to fail when a hand whipped in front of him. "Not that it matters. You're no longer in the picture."-

"Roxas. . . Roxas." A warm sounding voice whispered. I groaned and just moved my head. Everything was quiet for a short while then I felt something brush against my lips. It pulled away as I sat up yawning and rubbing my eyes. I opened my eyes and met a pair of envy-green eyes smiling at me. "Evening Sleeping Beauty."

"Evening?" I yawned again. "That late already?" I stretched and then sat there not wanting to move.

"Yup." Axel said as he started to message my shoulders. Talk about creepy. "So Roxas, you know, we're the only two here. How about a little game?"I didn't like where this was going.

"Axel, what part of 'I was drunk that night' didn't make sense to you?" He just grinned at me. I said starring out the window where I could see both of our reflections.

"Oh I know. But that was the part. I want to feel it again, but this time, I want us to be sober." He grinned. In the window I saw something long and black flick behind him, but when I turned to look at him nothing was there. I turned back to look at the window and whatever was there had gone. Must have been my imagination. "What do you say?" Axel smiled at me.

"I say no! Now I have to get home. Why don't you go home and play with yourself?" I said gathering my books.

"Fine Roxas. One day I'll get you to submit." I could hear the grin in his voice as I left the library.

I quickly walked down the street hurrying home. I was running later than I wanted to. The whole while I was heading home, thoughts ran through my mind. Like, why Axel wanted me in this pants so badly. There wasn't anything special about me. As I proved a little more than a week ago, I'm clearly not the most loyal person. Hayner really didn't deserve me. I stopped for a moment and sighed. A really cold breeze hit my face as I stood there and I shivered. "Winter is defiantly coming early." I said starting to walk again. Then, I caught a glimpse of two owls flying over head. One with pearl-white glittering wings and the other with silver wings, but golden feathers flowing down its back. They were so beautiful. They made me smile as they flew past. . .

When I got home, I reached into my bag for my key. Found it! I opened the door and stepped inside. "Hey Babe. You won't believe what I saw on my way home tonight." I shut the door only to find silence in response. "Babe?" I walked over into the living/bedroom of the apartment thinking he was asleep, but he was on the couch or bed. "Hayner?" I felt my heart beating really fast. The bathroom light wasn't on, so I knew he wasn't in there. There wasn't a note on the door, so I know he didn't go out. Something wasn't right here. I didn't like this. I walked over to the kitchen and as I stepped on the tile, I heard a small splash. All color drain from my face and every hair on my body stood on end. . .

"HAYNER!"