Disclaimer!

I don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters. Oh how things may differ if any of us fans did.

Marluxia chuckled a bit as he watched something through the telescope. Xaldin groaned and whacked him upside the head.

"You're married, remember? If Larxene finds out you're ogling some other woman, she'll castrate you, buddy." Xaldin warned.

"That wasn't it…" Marluxia rubbed his head. "Look. Over by the gypsy caravan and looking at clothes. The brown headed kid."

Xaldin took the telescope and looked. "Yeah? Just some kid looking for clothes. Cute kid, by the way. Too young and not my type." He said.

"Let me see." Xigbar pulled out his own telescope and looked. "Well I'll be… that's the squirt that Riku sees almost every day. He and the other sell fish and other game they catch." He informed. "What about him?"

"Looking at him… something seems off. How often do you find a beauty like that?" Marluxia said. He took his telescope back and observed the boy as he smiled about some outfits he picked out and the blonde paid for them. "Remember what Luxord used to tell us about grand beauties?"

"Remember? I can quote what he always told us." Xigbar said. "Mates," he began, failing at an attempt of Luxord's foreign accent, "be wary of grand beauties no man nor woman can resist. If a voice matches that beauty, count your lucky stars that you are alive to tell the tale for that beauty is a siren. Yeah… I know his stories all the time. And it only gets better." Xigbar cleared his throat. "My mum always told me of them and to think one is so close to the lands, that be a blessing, mates. But watch your backs for if it sees fit, you will find yourself feasted upon. Need I continue?"

"Not with that horrendous accent." Both males said in response.

"Anyway," Marluxia said, "a siren means a possible connection to the missing prince."

"Oh yeah." Xaldin said, realizing that. "Been so many years, I almost forgot."

"Idiot." Xigbar said.

"Oh, you forgot, too, you numbnut." Marluxia snapped. Xigbar grumbled a few choice words and profanities. "Anyway, how about we find the opportunity to meet our… new friend."

"Yazoo, where is father?" Riku asked, looking to his older brother who was reading some book.

"In the throne room… as usual." Yazoo responded. "He's in a bit of a bad mood…"

"When isn't he?" Riku inquired. He stopped and looked to see Yazoo looking past his book and out the window. "So… is the subject interesting?"

"Very."

"What's it about?"

"Huh?" Yazoo looked up. "What?"

Riku looked out of the window to see two guards sparring to train and teach the newbies. One was knocked down and his helmet knocked off and showed his vivid red hair. He was Reno, Axel's older brother. He smirked. "Love is in the air, isn't it? What is it? The spring season causing this?"

"Piss off, Riku." Yazoo said, turning his attention back to the book.

"Grow some balls… ask him out." Riku stated.

"As soon as that works for you with that little one you want, then I'll ask him." Yazoo said.

"Hey, he'll go out with me, just you wait and see." Riku said as he walked out of the room.

"I'll be waiting a very long time…" Yazoo muttered before looking back to watch Reno jump back up and spar with the other guard.

Riku went on his way to the throne room. He didn't bother knocking before entering and going over to sit in one of the thrones on either side of the king's throne. Over time, Sephiroth had the room redone with the thrones to have two sons on either side of him when they would be seated there. Riku leaned against his father's throne a bit and smiled.

"You were in town without guards again." Sephiroth said, not even looking to his youngest. "That is risky; someone against us could have easily killed you."

"You mean someone from the Organization?" Riku asked. Sephiroth cast him a glare. "Anyway, Axel was with me and he's capable enough."

"Hmph." Sephiroth grunted. "I'd prefer it if you had Cloud or Squall with you… preferably both, especially if Vincent isn't with you." He said. He sighed. "Riku, you and Kadaj are my prides… my joys…"

"And Yazoo and Loz?" Riku inquired.

"They don't hold the same ambitions you two do to rule this kingdom." Sephiroth informed. "Now then, what brings you here? Normally you're with Axel, correct?"

"Yeah." Riku said. "Father, you know that there's this boy I love, right?" Sephiroth nodded.

"I hope you at least find a woman to bear your children. You can sleep with as many men as you want, but I pray you have a queen one day." Sephiroth stated.

"That's besides the point… Father, this boy I love, Sora, he saved my life. I was almost shot with an arrow and he managed to push me out of the way and got hurt. It wasn't serious, but still." Riku smiled. "Father, I want Sora to be my date to the festival. To join me at the palace."

"Your wish is my command, my son." Sephiroth said, his eyes soft as he ran a hand though his youngest son's hair. "I will have the guards…"

"No, not that." Riku said. "I want to earn his love… not buy it or force it." He sighed. "How did you woo Mother?"

Sephiroth chuckled light heartedly. "Oh that." He said. "Trust me… it wasn't easy. A woman's heart is like a labyrinth, my boy. And her heart… oh, it was so lovely and she had much love to give." He snickered at the memories of trying to court his late wife. "I was a poor lad growing up, you remember?" Riku nodded. "I didn't have money to offer her, I didn't have gems or titles to give her, so I told her this. I said 'I love you more than anything. I have nothing physical to give you. I have my body and my heart… my love… and hopefully one day my children… even if I have to find the edge of the earth and pronounce to you, I will do all I can just so you will marry me.' We had a simple wedding in an old and rundown church… and I studied. She was pregnant with Loz when I became a baron and worked my way from there. By the time she was expecting Kadaj, I was already a lord and when you were born, we were the happiest there were… but sickness struck…" He sighed and caressed his son's face. "You look most like her with your eyes, my boy." Sephiroth informed. "If money will not satisfy the one you love, try true love."

"Thank you, father." Riku said.

"I suggest music and poems to get his attention." Sephiroth said. "Worked on your mother."

Riku nodded before leaning against his father and smiling. He liked moments like that where they could just sit together like they used to when he was little. Since his mother died, he was often doted on by his father, he and Kadaj both.

Marluxia smirked when he saw Roxas and Sora walk in his general direction. When near enough, he went to them with his hands shoved into his pockets. Roxas stopped and stepped in front of Sora and put his hand on the sword at his waist; it was his prized possession and the last thing his grandmother got for him on his thirteenth birthday, years after the takeover of the kingdom.

"No need to be hostile, boy." Marluxia said, putting his hands up in surrender. "I may be armed, but I assure you, I am no harm to you."

"Then get out of our way." Roxas said.

"Hey now, boy, no need to be rude." Marluxia said. He looked back at Sora. "Hey, kid, what's up?" Sora squeaked and hid himself behind Roxas; he didn't like the look that the pink haired man gave him. "I just wanted talk with you. Mind if we go somewhere private so as to avoid prying ears? Something tells me you'd rather avoid people finding out what we know." He smirked a bit. "Eh, siren?"

"That's it…" Roxas grumbled. He shoved the cloth bag he had with their goods in it to Sora and drew his sword. "Remain behind me."

"Roxy…" Sora mumbled.

"Hey, I don't want to fight…" Marluxia said. He sighed at the glare Roxas gave him. "Fine…" He removed a weapon from his back and unfolded it, showing to be a pink scythe.

Roxas' eyes went wide before he glared. "You're the Graceful Assassin… Marluxia…"

"Oh, you've heard of me?" Marluxia inquired.

"You're a member of the Organization." Roxas said. "Your group's goal is to defeat corruption and keep order. What I don't get is why you're confronting us."

"Well, if you would just let me talk with the kid, things will go fine." Marluxia said.

"Over my dead body!" Roxas lunged at Marluxia with his sword and was easily blocked with the staff of Marluxia's scythe. "Run to the forest!"

"R-right!" Sora shouted, running off as quickly as possible.

Marluxia let out an irritated groan as he shoved Roxas back and took off after the Siren. Roxas followed in pursuit and right into the woods that weren't so far from them. He smirked, knowing that the deeper they went into the woods, the greater advantage Roxas had over this pink haired assassin from the Organization.

His smirk fell as he was slammed into a tree. He let out a groan from the impact and had his eyes squeezed shut. He opened them quickly when he heard Sora let out a small shriek. "Sora!"

"Sora, huh? So that's his name?" Roxas looked to see that Xigbar was pinning him against the tree. "Jeez… I was expecting a girl, but… hey, a little boy is nice, too."

"Don't you dare hurt him!" Roxas hissed. He looked to see Sora held onto by Xaldin. Unlike how Xigbar was to him, Xaldin seemed more gentle; he wasn't sure if that was because they really wanted the siren or if they really didn't mean any true harm. "Sora…"

Sora couldn't help but whimper but he nodded. Before he could do anything, though, Marluxia held up his hand. "Hey now, no singing. I really don't want to go through that… we're always told it doesn't end well." He said. "Look, we just need to ask you a question, got it?" Sora squeaked and looked to Roxas who glared.

"If we answer, you'll let us go? No harm or anything?" Roxas asked.

"Well, it's either that or we ask more questions to get to where we need to go." Marluxia said. "So, onto my question… are you the siren who killed two guys who were pursuing a young prince so many years ago?" Hearing the question, Sora's eyes went wide. He didn't know why these people were looking for the prince after so many years. Were they really working against the new king or were they now working for him? "I'll take that as a yes." Marluxia said.