Yup, still don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.

Xemnas sighed as he picked up some things and put them away. He looked around the hideout some, taking note that some of those in the Organization were out and keeping an eye on the kingdom while others were asleep. He then saw that Vexen was fast asleep at the table, having not even touched his tea.

Chuckling, Xemnas went over to him and nudged the blonde man. "Vexen, go to your room and rest. I can't risk you getting ill."

"Huh? What?" Vexen looked up and looked to Xemnas through bleary eyes. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah, go to your room." Xemnas said. Vexen didn't argue as he just got up and slowly made his way to his room. Xemnas chuckled a bit before going to the other room to check on things.

While checking around, Xemnas wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings, not that he really needed to. The Organization hideout was well hidden and in the thirteen years Sephiroth has ruled, no outsider has managed to find it.

Xemnas didn't noticed someone coming up behind him. He nearly turned around to retaliate when he felt arms embrace him, but then he noticed a shade of blue catch his eye. He turned around and faced whoever took hold of him and smiled.

"Saïx." Xemnas and smiled at the sight of his lover. "You've come home. And you're safe."

"Yeah." Saïx nodded. He gently kissed Xemnas and let the other hold him tenderly. "I've missed you."

"The feelings are mutual." Xemnas said in a soft voice. He then gave a concerned look. "Did you succeed?"

"Kind of." Saïx informed. He then went to sit down, taking Xemnas with him. "I didn't see Ienzo, but I met Sora, the Siren." He smiled. "He's really sweet and kind; and fished for me so I didn't have to eat those provisions that Vexen sent." Xemnas chuckled, knowing just how disgusting they could be; he knew they were useful and helped, but they were not the best thing on the taste buds.

"They've agreed to meet me at the masquerade." Saïx said. "It's some days from now, but they agreed to meet me when they set off the fireworks; that is when I will get to see Ienzo again."

"I'm glad you will get to meet him, but..." Xemnas was concerned. "Is that safe? The masquerade will be held at the palace; what if Sephiroth finds out?"

"We'll be wearing masks and have the sound cover of the fireworks. And I am certain Sora won't let us meet in the open; we will be out of the way and unnoticed." Saïx offered a smile. "It'll be okay, I'm sure of it."

"I'll trust you on this one, Saïx." Xemnas said. "And we'll also be there and hidden, keeping an eye on things. The last thing we need and want is for Sephiroth to get a hold of Ienzo; if he is caught, he will be executed, and if he is..." He shook his head. "Then hope will be lost." He then pulled Saïx into a hug. "This will go well, though; we'll make sure he doesn't die… for the kingdom, and for you." He kissed Saïx's forehead gently, right in the middle of the scar.

"Xemnas..." Saïx sighed. "Ienzo… from what I understand, he doesn't want to be king. We can't force him to do anything, I'm sure… if we try, it may only make things worse… and have a Siren angry at us." He shook his head. "Let's find a different way to handle things, okay? To take down Sephiroth and remove him from the throne?"

Xemnas nodded. "We'll do what we can." he assured, pressing his forehead against Saïx's. "We'll have to make preparations; we don't have too long before the masquerade, and who knows, we may be able to remove Sephiroth from the throne then, too." He smiled. "But you meeting Ienzo is the priority, and making sure he is safe."

Saïx smiled. "Thank you, Xemnas." he said. "Thank you." He pressed himself close to his lover, not wanting to be apart. "Thirteen years ago when my sister died alongside my brother-in-law, I feared Ienzo was gone with them and I wanted nothing more than revenge. I wanted Sephiroth dead for what he had done, but now..." He shook his head. "I'm just happy that Ienzo is okay..."

Xemnas put his arms around Saïx, knowing that there were a lot of emotions going on in his lover; he knew that despite those emotions, Saïx did his best to keep a straight face and give nothing away, as was part of his charm. "It'll be okay, Saïx. As you said, he's okay… and we'll make sure things stay that way. And we'll figure out what to do."

"He's probably back at his home by now, or wherever it is that the Organization lives." Roxas said, finishing some touches to one of the outfits. "Hmm… What do you think, Sora? I think I made it loose enough for you, and still colourful to your liking; you'll look like a butterfly or something on the dance floor." Roxas held up a tunic sewn just right that on Sora's lithe frame and cinched in at the waist, it would look almost like a dress. Add the baggy pants to go under it and a colourful scarf to tie around his hair, Sora was bound to be colourful, but not too flashy since flashy usually involved gold, silver, and jewels, something the others didn't really use.

"I think it's pretty!" Sora said, liking it. He reached out and touched the fabric, feeling its texture between his webbed fingers.

"Careful, don't want you getting water stains on it." Roxas chuckled and Sora pulled back and swam around in the water. "You'll be so beautiful out there, Riku won't be able to keep his eyes off of you."

"He can't keep them off of him anyways." Zexion joked, sewing something else. "Roxas, have you finished the masks?"

"Let me finish Sora's tunic, and then I'll finish up with the last mask." Roxas said. He then looked to Zexion. "Zex, aren't you worried about this? At all?" he asked. He let out a sigh. "I think it would be fun, seeing Axel and dancing with him sounds like fun, but… I also worry a little. Especially now since you plan on meeting your uncle for the first time in thirteen years."

"Even I worry some, but I will also be cautious. I will do my best to keep out of sight and hidden." Zexion said. "Plus, with our ideas of outfits, we'll blend in with the gypsies and won't be noticed, I'm sure." He tied a scarf of many purples around his head, pushing back part of hair and keeping it all hidden, but exposing his face. "I think we'll do good. The mask will hide my face, the scarf my hair, I'll just look like some boy from the gypsy village."

Roxas nodded, liking the sounds of that. "Sounds good to me." He then smirked. "So… you plan on dancing with Demyx?" Zexion was about ready to protest, but he looked to Sora. "Well?"

"I think you both are really falling head over heels." he said, getting a look from Roxas. "Zexion likes Demyx and Roxas likes Axel." Sora then dunked down and blew bubbles.

"Hey! Don't point that out! Sora!" Roxas whined.

Zexion chuckled a bit. "You should know by now that Sora picks up on our emotions better than we ever could." he said. "Besides, he won't blame you for loving someone; I think he mainly pointed it out because you tried to embarrass me." He sighed. "But… I do like Demyx. I just worry about how he'd respond if he knew who I was… I also wonder if he does know; he was very concerned about my safety..."

Roxas offered a smile. "Don't worry, I think his concern just comes from the fact that he has the most obvious crush on you." He then looked to the water. "What do you think, Sora?"

Sora popped up and nodded. "Demyx's feelings are so obvious, a blind man in the neighbouring kingdom can see them." he said. "However..." He tilted his head to the side and flicked his tail about. "It's good to be cautious; I just know what he feels, not what he thinks. I don't know if he figured things out or not."

Zexion nodded. "I'll be as cautious as I can." he said. He let out a sigh. "I just hope that if he does know, he's not one of the ones who wants me to be king." He shot Roxas a look. "I don't want to be king… I just want to be me."

"Zex..." Roxas sighed. He then shook his head, not knowing what to say to his friend. He then thought of something. "What about Sephiroth?" he asked.

"I don't know." Zexion admitted. "I just don't know… all I know is that I can't rise against him… I just can't..."

Heyo, lovelies!

You know, rereading through this fic (to check everything before uploading the chapters), I noticed that, I think, three times, Vexen's been pointed out to be having/preparing tea. Normally this is a Luxord thing in my fics (if he's not involved with alcohol of any kind that is). I think it definitely gives a look at Vexen in this story, showing him as a more mellow person, probably using tea to help with maintaining his cool. Anyway, it's just something I noticed.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the others to follow!

Ciao!

~ Chibi