Disclaimer!

Chibi doesn't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters. We all know if fans like me owned it, the story would be very different.

The blunt answer without any thought hit Demyx like a cannonball from a pirate ship and it hurt like hell. Zexion didn't even give any reasons or excuses as to why not and it didn't help that Riku and Axel were snickering.

"Oh, hush up you two." Demyx said, almost whining a bit.

"Why don't you go on your way?" Riku sneered. "Clearly you were turned down."

"So were you." Zexion pointed out.

"You son of a…" Riku suddenly reached out to grab the front of Zexion's tunic, but he was suddenly shoved back by Sora. He wondered what it was about until he noticed an arrow on the ground near his feet; if he had stayed where he was, he would have been hit. "What the…"

"An assassin?" Axel was looking around, trying to figure out who could have shot that arrow and who dared to even attack the prince. He sighed when he couldn't see anyone. "No good." He mumbled.

"That was… that was close." Riku said. He looked to Sora. "Thanks… oh! You're bleeding."

"Shit." Zexion cursed. He used some scrap cloth he often kept with him and wrapped it around Sora's wrist. "The arrow must have grazed you. Are you okay?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah. It's not deep." He said. He pulled his hand away and rubbed at the bandage.

"Don't rub it; you'll only irritate it." Zexion said.

"I can get my brother to take care of it." Demyx offered. "He's good with medicine."

"No need." Zexion said. He watched Sora sit back down on the ground behind the stand and grab another fish head and gave it to the cat that was still there and rubbing all over him. "Anyway, if you guys aren't buying anything more, please do not waste our time."

"Right." Demyx nodded. "If you will, think about the festival, okay? It'll be nice to go with you… or at least see you there. Same for you, Sora." He watched Sora nod but not pay him anymore attention. "See you another time." Demyx smiled and waved as he walked off with the fish he bought all in his basket and ready to be taken home and prepared.

"Sora…" Riku said. "Thank you very much for the help. It could have been worse were it not for you." He reached into his coin purse and put a good handful of gold coins on the stand. "I don't know any other way to show my gratitude, so I do hope this will help." He smiled and walked away. "I will see you another time. And like Demyx said… think about the festival." He then walked off with Axel, passing by a young blonde who didn't look much older than Sora.

Roxas walked by Axel and Riku, making sure not to glare at the prince. While focusing on that, he didn't notice Axel stop to look at him from behind.

"Wow." Axel whispered as he watched Roxas walk over to the fish stand and talk a bit with Zexion before seeming to buy something from him.

"What?" Riku asked.

"A totally cute looking guy." Axel said.

Riku looked and smirked before looking to Axel. "Go talk to him. Ask him for his name." he said. "I can

wait."

"Nah." Axel said as he started walking again. "Another time. C'mon, let's go see the king… the gods know he hates when you go without guards."

"Yeah. Father can be rather overprotective." Riku said. "You think he wouldn't after having Vincent teach us how to fight."

"You could have seriously hurt Sora." Zexion said.

"Your majesty…" Roxas mumbled.

"Do not call me that, especially here." Zexion hissed. "And what would you have done if you had successfully killed the prince? You'd have possibly been caught."

"He's a fool for leaving the castle without guards." Roxas mumbled. He put a dried fish in his mouth and chewed on it. "And I'm sorry for hurting you, Sora. I didn't expect you to hear me."

"Hmph." Sora grunted before snatching a fish head and slurping it down with such ease.

"I still can't get used to that…" Roxas mumbled. He looked at the gold coins. "Oh good, money. Happy customer?"

"The prince's gratitude for Sora saving him." Zexion responded. "So perhaps I should thank you." He pulled the coins over and put them in a coin purse. "You will be taking Sora to the crafters' markets and helping him buy new fabrics… we are in need of new clothes and the gods know that your cloak is so tattered, it does nothing to protect you and will only be a hazard."

"Fine." Roxas took the coin purse from Zexion. "Ready, Sora?" Sora popped another fish head into his mouth and gulped it down. "I like it better when you eat like a normal human or do that where I can't see you." He said. He waited for Sora to get up and join him before walking off to go and buy fabrics.

Roxas spent years since the death of his parents and the king and queen training himself in his body and mind to protect the kingdom and avenge his and the royal families. Two years ago, he had met Zexion and Sora and discovered that Zexion was in reality Ienzo, but did well in hiding his true self. From there, he offered himself to always protect the prince until the day came when he would take back the kingdom.

Unfortunately, Zexion seems to show no ambition in doing so. Roxas understood that if Zexion rose up to who he was, then he would be killed, but he worried that if he never accepted this, the kingdom would be in disarray for even longer. Despite everything, the young blonde still did all he could to serve and protect the former prince in hopes for the day that would come when he would rise and take back the throne and crown.

"How's your arm?" Roxas asked as they walked.

"It'll heal once I'm in the water." Sora said. "Curse this form and its slow healing…"

"It could be worse." Roxas pulled out a couple of dried fish and handed one to Sora to nibble on before eating the other himself. "I hope we can hunt something good… I'm almost tired of eating fish."

"I'm not." Sora said, quickly devouring his snack.

"Why am I not surprised?" Roxas chuckled before looking around the market and finding the right place to get fabrics. He went over to a shop and looked at the various cloths to turn into clothes. He wanted to find something light yet durable to wear since part of the time, the group spent their time in the water, though Sora often stripped down to nothing before going in.

"So, what did you two talk about?" Roxas asked as he looked over some fabrics at a stand.

"Zexy and me?" Sora asked. "Oh, just the usual." He chuckled nervously when Roxas gave a look. "Oh… him." He said. "Well, he asked me to the festival."

"Oh, how nice." The woman at the stand said, getting their attention. She had no idea who Sora was talking about, but that didn't matter to her. "It's nice getting invited to the festival with someone. You plan on going, young'un?"

"Oh… well…" Sora messed with the hem of his clothes. "I don't know. I'm so busy… and I don't have anything nice to wear…"

"Oh, don't fret about that, honey." The woman said. "You're so cute, anything you wear will look just nice on you." She leaned over the counter. "But a word of advice… the gypsy caravan is in town. Now, honey, I think some of the clothes they make will be right for you and you'll impress your man." Sora blushed deeply, even with his sun kissed complexion, and the woman laughed.

Roxas got the fabrics they needed and paid for them before walking off with Sora to find where the caravan was. He smiled a bit. "She's right, you know." He said. "You'll look amazing in anything you wear."

"But… he said…" Sora mumbled.

"Who cares what that arrogant taint says." Roxas said. "You listen to those of us who are on your side. You're just the cutest thing ever. You can make rags look like the new fine silk." He smiled and caressed Sora's face. "Now, how about we see what the gypsies have in store for you before the his royal bastardness decides to run them out."

Sora nodded. "Okay." He said as he walked off with Roxas.

"This is boring… you know we could have killed him while he was out." Xaldin mumbled. "Right, Marluxia?"

"Um… Well…" A man with pink hair looked like he was trying to find the best way to answer.

"Don't be ridiculous." Xigbar said. "Boss says we're only after the king… plus, what good would it have done? Right, Marly?"

"Well…"

"What? That's lame… no doubt his sons are as bad as he is…" Xaldin argued. "Isn't that right?"

"You see…"

"Hey, I know the saying is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but I'm sure those guys have a chance. Especially the brute of a brother. Am I right or am I right?" Xigbar said.

"In a sense…"

"Psh! We're not going to get far like this…" Xaldin muttered. "Look, it's easier dealing with the whole family, knock the king down and his sons, right, Mar?"

"Well…"

"As if." Xigbar scoffed.

"Will you two stop asking me things and then interrupting before I can answer? One more time and I'm lopping off your heads." Marluxia hissed at both males, making them stop and stare at him. "Oh gods… I'm sounding like Larxene…" He sighed. "Look, orders are to just keep an eye on the brothers, make sure they don't end up like Sephiroth, try to eliminate Sephiroth if we can but not get caught, but mainly look out for any signs of Prince Ienzo. Okay? Let's not worry about what either of you numbnuts think we should do." He laid on his stomach in their hiding spot on the rooftop of a building and used his little telescope to look around at the people below.

"You've been with her for too long, you know that, right?" Xigbar asked. "And Larxene's only going to get worse since you knocked her up."

"You're just jealous because no woman wants to sleep with you." Marluxia insulted.

"I beg your pardon?" Xigbar asked. "That is no woman. She is the spawn of Satan and even he fears her. Heaven won't take her… Hell's afraid of a takeover." Marluxia just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever you say." Marluxia mumbled. He then looked around and his eyes laid on something interesting. "My oh my…"