Updating today cause I feel like it. I'm anxious to get this story rolling! (And the last chapter was so short I figured I owed you something more this weekend.)

This chapter is LONG. (Well, by my standards anyhow.) And the cast is growing! We'll be meeting three more characters this chapter, two more in the following chapter, and then one more in another chapter sometime afterward. And I'm uber excited for these characters to come in!

Ok, so there's a name used in this chapter (and I've used it in one of my one-shots) that MAY seem like it comes out of nowhere (if you don't know where it comes from), but I promise it doesn't. The name is Gabbiani and it is Setzer's last name. You know, Setzer from FFVI who also made an appearance in KHII? That completely underrated and forgotten character full of awesome and win? Yeah. Him. Anyway, he's only a mention, not an actual character.

Other than that, expect a little more shit to hit that fan. I'm not quite done throwing Larxene's entire life in the toilet yet.

Oh, also! The time in this chapter is about 2 a.m. so it is the 25th of March now but they're kinda referring to it as the same day since they haven't slept since last chapter.

And now, enjoy!

Larxene grumbled as they stepped off the train onto the expansive platform before them. Their train had arrived late at night and she was certain whoever was meant to be waiting for them was gone by now so when she saw a blond young man standing a good distance away, she was hesitant to approach him. Luxord however was quick to grab her arm and yank her toward him. As they drew nearer, she saw with shock that this young man seemed to rise no taller than her shoulders and appeared to be even younger than her. Still, he was dressed in a manner that made him appear important. A suit, sleek and dark complimented by a grey vest and a black tie. She cleared her throat and looked at him curiously. "Are you Axel?"

"Name's Roxas." Roxas turned from the two blonds before him and motioned for them to follow. "Axel got tired of waiting. Come on, the car's this way."

Luxord looked to Larxene with an excited smile before tugging her to follow after the boy. They approached a very nice looking Duesenberg and climbed into the back seat. Luxord began trying to comfortably organize the luggage they carried so that they could sit when he heard a strange click which sounded awfully similar to the cocking of a gun. He raised his gaze to find a pistol pointed in his face.

"Bam!" Axel grinned widely from his place in the driver's seat and moved to point his gun at Larxene. "Bam, bam!" He lowered the gun slowly and un-cocked it, tucking it away. "You're both dead. Congratulations."

Luxord looked to Axel curiously before turning his eyes to Larxene who looked as though she was about to faint. "Wh-what was that about?"

Axel turned fully around in his seat to look at the two in back. "You were given specific instructions not to leave the station with anybody other than Axel. I'm Axel!"

Luxord looked to Axel calmly. "Well, yes but we asked that boy and he said you got tired of waiting."

"Yeah, but let me guess. You asked him if he was Axel. You gave my name to somebody, and he could have said yes he was. He could've lied. He could've been a member of a rival organization or worse, a fed." Axel put his finger to his temple and tapped. "You gotta start thinkin' if you're gonna make it around here. You never give out information. You ask him his name and if it ain't Axel, you don't budge. Got it? Now you're both dead."

Luxord nodded slowly. "I see. But, why did you shoot Larxene twice?"

"Always shoot a dame twice." Axel smiled as Roxas climbed into the front seat snickering. "Pisses off the feds and there ain't nothin' better than jerkin' some suits."

Larxene growled and crossed her arms. "Enough playing around! We're here and we've had a long journey! Where will you take us now?"

Axel chuckled and shook his head. "Listen doll, this ain't no leisure trip. Now, I don't know what your daddy told you to keep you from kickin' and screamin' on your way here, but you're here as collateral."

"Collateral!?" Larxene grit her teeth and glared at the redhead in the front seat. "What do you mean!?"

"We run a pretty lucrative business little girl, and your daddy got caught. We need you as insurance that he won't turn us over to the feds, and we were gonna get you in our possession one way or another." Axel smiled at the furious looking blonde woman and patted her cheek. "But don't worry doll, if you keep us happy we'll keep you safe and secure."

"And don't even think about turning us over to the feds." Roxas glanced over his shoulder at the two with a smirk. "There's too many of us and if you snitch, you'll be dead before we're even arraigned, and your father will be too. Trust me, we have ways of getting into prisons to take care of a job."

Luxord placed a hand over Larxene's as she huffed furiously and clenched her fists. "Alright, fair enough. What do we have to do to stay in your good graces?"

"I'm glad you asked." Axel pulled out a cigarette and lit it before continuing the conversation. "My boss has a new facility that needs management. Now, lately the feds have been all over the speakeasies around here which is why we need somebody that ain't a member of our organization to run it. You get caught, you go to jail, we keep doin' business."

Larxene scoffed. "And how is that at all fair?"

"It ain't. But given your situation, doll, I'd think you'd be happy to agree." Axel took a long drag from the cigarette before blowing the smoke in the couple's faces. "And another thing, you've got new identities. You can keep your first names for all I care, but you're the Gabbiani family now. You just moved here from New York. Which reminds me, you gotta work on that little southern twang of yours."

Larxene crossed her arms and scoffed again. "I do not have a southern twang! I'll have you know I studied at some of the most prestigious schools in the country and not once was a southern twang a part of my dialect lesson!"

"Doesn't matter. You've got it. Its subtle but you got it, and there ain't no dialect coach in the world that can take the drawl out of a southern belle. You're gonna have to work on that cause the feds around here are gonna pick up on that right away and you could blow your own cover." Axel took another drag and let it out slowly. "Now, how do you feel about niggers?"

Luxord grit his teeth and stared hard at Axel. "I'd just as soon swallow a dagger than associate with a bloody caffer!"

"Well now, that may be a problem." Axel popped his neck and looked at Luxord. "We got niggers all around here and they're lookin' for jobs. We're plannin' on hirin' some to work in the speakeasy. We need musicians and Jazz is the hot thing right now. I ain't ever heard a white man that can play Jazz like a nigger, so you're gonna have to get over that narrow minded view of yours."

"You can forget it then. We'll find another way but I won't share my breathing space with a caffer." Luxord crossed his arms and shook his head. "I refuse."

"Maybe you're missin' the point." Axel pulled his gun back out and waved it in the air. "We're callin' the shots around here and this ain't a fucking bargainin' hour. You do what we say or you're out on the streets pan handlin' for change. Got it?"

Larxene looked to Luxord as he opened his mouth to protest. She knew she had to cut him off. "It'll be fine. I have no problem with blacks and I can work the speakeasy myself if need be."

"Good." Axel turned around in the car and started the engine. "Now let's get to where we're goin'. If I don't deliver you to my boss before dawn, your daddy is gonna be havin' one hell of a bad day."

Larxene looked to Luxord nervously and gripped his hand as he glared straight forward at the back of Axel's head. She couldn't believe how fast this was all happening. It all seemed like a bad dream. Only a day ago, she was happy at home enjoying a drink and Luxord's company. Now she was so very far from home, practically alone and admittedly terrified. She'd read a bit about gangsters in the newspaper and from what she had read, they were ruthless. There was no telling what they'd subject her to once they got to their headquarters. But as they arrived in a high class neighborhood, Larxene realized that the place they dwelled was not some dark, dank alleyway like she'd imagined. Large wrought iron gates were parted for them on a road leading to a beautiful mansion and soon the car came to a stop.

Axel turned to the couple in the back seat and smirked. "Grab your shit and get out."

Luxord scowled and grabbed up their luggage as he climbed out of the back of the car. He waited for Larxene to get out before following the two gangsters that had already entered the mansion. Once they were inside they made a quick left down a hall and into a parlor room where a tall man stood by a fireplace. He wore a suit similar to the ones Axel and Roxas wore, only made of much finer fabric.

"Got the dame, boss. And an unexpected passenger too." Axel snickered and motioned to Luxord. "Damn limey, and a cocky one too."

"Well, little Nami did send word that there may be someone else accompanying the girl." Marluxia grinned widely and turned to face the two blonds standing near the door of the parlor. "Well don't just stand there. Come closer and let me see those faces."

Larxene swallowed hard and glanced at Luxord but he didn't budge. Instead of waiting for him she took the initiative and stepped forward into the light from the fireplace.

"Oh my…" Marluxia smiled brightly and stepped closer to Larxene. He grabbed her chin in his hand and examined her face closely. "You are quite the beautiful one, aren't you? Very pretty. Much more lovely than your photograph." He caressed her face gently with the back of his hand when he noticed a glimmer of fear in her eyes. "Don't worry, sweet, I won't harm you. Not as long as your father keeps his mouth shut." He turned his eyes to the man still standing by the door and motioned him over. "Come closer."

Luxord growled under his breath and dropped the luggage by the door. He stepped closer to the curious man and scowled.

"Ah, much better." Marluxia looked Luxord up and down quietly before smiling happily. "Perfect. You'll both do marvelously. Both pleasing to look at and poised like nobles. It looks like things couldn't have worked out like this at a better time." He turned his eyes to Axel. "I assume you told them about our need for someone to run the speakeasy?"

"Yes boss." Axel nodded. "The dame here agrees, but her beaux, not as much. Got a problem with niggers."

Marluxia made a tsk sound and shook his head. "That won't do. Not at all." He turned his gaze to the blond British man curiously. "You have a problem with blacks?"

Luxord nodded quickly. "Yes, and I'd rather not get into the matters of why."

"Fair enough. I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion." Marluxia motioned Roxas over quickly. "Roxas, show these two to their staying room and be courteous about it."

Larxene let out a heavy sigh as the blond young man lead them out of the parlor room. She picked up one of her bags and allowed Luxord to carry the others as they made their way upstairs. They were let into a massive room, twice the size of Larxene's back home and just as well furnished. She sat her luggage by the door and let out a loud groan. "This has been one hell of a day."

Luxord crossed his arms after discarding their luggage and leaned against the wall. His gaze flew to Larxene curiously. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Larxene pulled her shoes off her feet and yawned. "Well hurry and ask. I'm tired."

"When Naminé said that your father had to do something or you were going to go completely broke, what did she mean?" Luxord pulled away from the wall and advanced on Larxene as she sat on the bed. "Was your family bankrupt?"

Larxene scoffed to hide the nervousness swelling up inside her, although she really didn't need to feel nervous at this point. The whole marriage for money issue seemed trivial now. Regardless, she avoided the subject. "Look Luxord, I'm exhausted and…"

"Answer the question." Luxord stared down at Larxene and placed his hands on his hips. "Was your family bankrupt? I expect an answer."

Larxene rolled her eyes and growled. "Yes! Alright!? Yes, we were practically broke all thanks to my bitch of a mother. My father owned a large distillery and made a great profit, as I'm sure you knew since much of his exports went to your father's company. But my mother took thousands of what he made and donated it to campaigns and groups in support of prohibition! Who knows why she did it? Maybe she truly hated alcohol, or maybe she was furious that my father's business kept him so far away from home all the time! Whatever her reason, she got her wish and prohibition went into effect. The distillery went down and we slowly spent what money my father had, all to keep up this ridiculous façade of wealth!"

Luxord nodded slowly, everything suddenly making a perverse form of sense. "Is that why you married me then? Lord knows it wasn't for love."

Larxene grumbled and crossed her arms. "I don't see what good drudging this all up now is going to do us, but if you must know, yes. Yes, I married you for your wealth. Because we couldn't allow our social status to suffer and we certainly couldn't borrow money from anyone within our group so I married you because you're from abroad and our fathers were such good friends."

Luxord stared down at Larxene quietly a moment before bursting into laughter. He doubled over and knelt on the ground laughing so hard that eventually he cried. "What bloody irony!"

Larxene cocked an eyebrow and glared down at Luxord. "What, pray tell, is so funny about that?"

Luxord wiped away his tears and made an attempt to swallow his laughter. Exhaustion had left him nearly delusional. "Y-you married me to maintain your wealth and social status!" He paused to force down a chuckle. "But I'm fucking broke!"

"What!?" Larxene leapt off the bed and stood over Luxord with clenched fists. "You're broke too!?"

Luxord continued to fight back giggles as he held his side, now aching from laughter. "You think you're the only ones prohibition hit hard? It effected my father's business too and we went bankrupt as well. But I couldn't just marry any girl, oh no. My father insisted it be a girl from abroad so that nobody in London would know about our financial woes. So I married you! But you were just as broke as I was! Now look at us!"

"You bastard!" Larxene glared down at Luxord furiously. "You unbelievable bastard!"

"Watch your mouth!" Luxord jumped to his feet and stared hard at Larxene. "Do you know what you imply of my mother when you say that word? Don't you dare speak so illy!"

"You…" Larxene growled and grit her teeth. "After all you said about how you used to think of only me all the time and you were excited about marrying me and even that you were falling for me, all of it was a lie! You just wanted me for my money!"

"Oh, like you're any better!" Luxord scoffed and crossed his arms. "You're guilty of the same thing and at least there was some truth to what I said! I may not have been particularly excited about this arrangement but I dealt with it the best I could and I have grown rather fond of you! You on the other hand, you still despise me and I've done nothing but be kind and wonderful to you! No matter what I do, I can't win!"

"How dare you say I despise you! I wouldn't treat you how I have been if that were true! You don't know anything at all about how I feel!" Larxene turned away from Luxord and furrowed her brow. "I'm no more happy about this arrangement than you are. And like you, I've been making the best I can out of what I've been given. Still, its hard and you can't just expect me to instantly love you! I don't love anyone, not even my parents."

"That's the biggest load of horse shit I've ever heard! You're just afraid to love so you tell yourself that you don't or you can't. How can you not love your parents? They gave you life! And sure, they can be overbearing but they're your parents! You're lucky to have them both!" Luxord sighed and crossed his arms. "Christ, Larxene. Show some bloody compassion."

"I don't have compassion. I'm a frigid bitch, remember?" Larxene groaned and slipped out of her dress. "And I'm done with this conversation. I need sleep. It has been a very, very long day." She plopped down on the bed and wormed her way under the blankets. Her head had little time to hit the pillow before sleep took her.