Disclaimer. I neither now nor probably ever will own Kingdom Hearts or its characters. I'm just the writer of this fic.

Sora looked around anxiously. He couldn't see Zexion and he lost his scent in the crowds of dancing bodies. He could also tell the king was fairly close… and more guards seemed to be around. This put him on edge, concerned for his friend and brother.

"Sora? Is something the matter?" Riku inquired, stopping their dancing and bringing the brunette to the side.

"I… I need to go find a friend. Sorry, your majesty." Sora said. He bowed his head and ran off a bit, leaving Riku there. Luckily Riku respected him and didn't follow.

Sora was looking for Saïx, wanting to find him so he could perhaps help him find Zexion. Something was wrong, the siren could feel it, and he didn't like it one bit. It didn't take long to follow a scent, Saïx's scent being fairly distinct to the brunette.

"Saïx." Sora said, hissing some as he reached the blue haired man wearing a wolf-inspired mask. With him was Xemnas, wielding a dragon-inspired mask.

"Sora?" Saïx inquired. "What's wrong? You seem tense."

"I can't find him. He's somewhere in the crowd and the king is near." Sora stated, his voice almost whining. "I… I..."

"Shit..." Xemnas cursed. He looked around. "What is he wearing? We'll help."

Sora clung to Saïx some, unsure of Xemnas. "It's okay; he's with me." Saïx assured, getting Sora to relax some, though the siren was still tense due to being unable to find Zexion.

"He's wear..." Sora started to say, but the call for guards interrupted him. He felt Saïx back off and pull him closer as the people seemed to stop and step back. In the middle of everything was Zexion, apprehended by the guards. "No… Zex..." Sora went to run for him, but Saïx held him back. "Please, we can't let anything happen to him." he pleaded to Saïx.

"He's..." Saïx nodded, realizing that was his nephew there. "Shit, Sephiroth already got to him. Xemnas..."

Xemnas nodded and motioned to some of the others who were stationed, hidden and keeping watch. He wanted them to try and take out the king but keep the boy there safe and unharmed. Xigbar, who was stationed higher up with his crossbow, tried to take the shot, but a guard protected the king, putting people more on edge and the guards ready.

Roxas had ceased his dancing the moment things turned. Seeing Zexion there and apprehended, he didn't give any thought as to what Sephiroth may have said or planned to say. He knew he had to protect the other male. He left Axel immediately, running for a guard.

Roxas was quick and able to take him by surprise and take his sword before running at another guard, initiating a fight. This panicked people, making several run off so they didn't accidentally get hurt, especially when more guards came in to control the situation.

Smirking, Sephiroth walked off, heading for a balcony with some personal guards to protect him. He decided to let this go on a little longer; it was like entertainment to him. Sick entertainment to a sick bastard.

"Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you." Roxas said, getting Zexion away from the guards but unable to escape with him as they were surrounded. He then was stunned when he found Axel at his side, a sword pointed at the guards. "What are..."

"I like you, Rox, so don't think I'm going to let you get hurt without me trying to do something good." Axel stated. "Besides..." He looked to Zexion before nodding. He then went to fight some of the guards.

Fighting didn't last too long. They were out numbered and defenseless compared to guards who wore armor. Soon, Zexion, Roxas, and Axel were all apprehended, held and bound. Sephiroth, on the balcony, clapped.

"Bravo. Bravo." the false king said with his slow clap. "You truly put up a fight, but it was all for naught. And Axel… betraying me and helping the traitor?" He then held out his arms. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Ienzo, the prince many of you have been waiting for… but in vain." At that, the guards had removed the masks of their three prisoners, especially revealing Zexion.

"A traitor?" Axel asked. "In case you haven't noticed, you were the traitor!" He shouted at Sephiroth. "You were the one who led to the destruction of the prince's family! You're nothing but a sick bastard who is a selfish fuck! The only decent thing you did was procreate and have good sons! I pray to the gods every day they end up nothing like you!"

"Ax..." Roxas whispered.

"Damn, I've been waiting to get that off of my chest all these years." Axel sighed.

Sephiroth sighed. "Well, now that I know how you truly feel… lock all three of them up. I have an execution to plan." he said before disappearing through the curtains.

Xemnas sneered before signaling the Organization members who were there. He wanted them to stop the guards and rescue the other three, especially Zexion, and get them out of there.

"Xemnas, watch Sora and keep him safe." Saïx ordered, pushing Sora to him. "Don't let him get caught." He then ran off to the guards, ready to take on as many as possible, just as his fellow Organization members had done.

Disaster. That was how several others could describe that night. The capture of the prince they have all been waiting for? A battle of sorts breaking out in the ballroom? This, though, was an improvement to Sephiroth, wanting nothing more than to have Zexion in his clutches and eventually killed, publicly executed in front of his people.

The Organization did what they could, though, they fought with those they had with them, which was just about everyone. The only ones who didn't show up were Larxene, who was pregnant, Vexen, who remained at the base just in case, and Lexaeus, who was watching over the base to make sure they weren't found and ambushed there.

"Demyx!" Xemnas snapped, grabbing the blonde by his arm when he found him. "Hurry and take Sora back to the base."

"Huh? What? But Zex..." Demyx was dumbfounded.

"Take Sora to the base; he'll be safest there. We'll do what we can here." Xemnas said, knowing he should join in too. While Demyx could fight, he wasn't much of a fighter; instead, a task to take Sora to safety was one he knew the blonde could do.

"R-right." Demyx nodded, taking Sora's hand and rushing off, keeping the brunette with him. He didn't want to abandon Zexion there, but he knew he had to trust his teammates to do their jobs and protect the prince they all waited for the return of.

Demyx rushed through the alleys, staying out of sight as much as possible. The city was crawling with guards, now more than ever. He knew Sephiroth planned this; he knew that somehow, Sephiroth already figured out Zexion was Ienzo and had guards everywhere, to assure himself that the prince wouldn't escape.

Zexion… please… please be safe. Demyx thought, pleaded, prayed. He kept Sora close, rushing until he got to the base, entering it quickly.

"Demyx? Goodness, what happened?" Vexen inquired, standing up and abandoning his to to go over to the two boys.

"The masquerade… it… I think it was a trap." Demyx huffed out. "Sephiroth's guards… they're trying to ensure capturing Zexion goes according to his plan… the others… they're trying to control the situation and protect him." He looked up at Vexen with watery eyes. "The Superior told me to get Sora here to be safe but..."

"Hush… hush." Vexen said, hugging his little brother. "They'll be fine… they'll succeed..." He whispered. "Sephiroth didn't… not right away?"

"No… he wanted Zexion, Roxas, and one of the guards, Axel, to be locked up." Demyx explained. "Axel, who is usually with Riku, tried to protect Zexion, too."

Vexen nodded. He figured that Sephiroth was planning something, which was why he didn't execute Zexion right then and there. Even if Zexion was successfully captured by Sephiroth's men, the older blonde figured they could have some time bought… but they didn't know for how long. He knew he had to get information.

"Zexion… will… be fine…?" Sora asked, doing all he could to not cry. He wasn't supposed to cry, as was what he was taught as a siren. "They'll protect him? And Roxas will be fine, too?"

Vexen reached over and pulled Sora into the hug. "They'll do all they can, dear child. They will." he assured. "Especially Saïx. He's been looking for him all this time… he'll be the strongest one out there."

"We shouldn't have gone… we shouldn't have..." Sora mumbled, burying his face against Vexen.

"You didn't know this would happen…" Vexen assured. "I know it's hard, but the only thing we can do now is wait."

"R-right..." Sora stuttered.

"You'll be safe here with us. So just wait here…" Vexen assured. "Demyx… why not draw up a bath for our little guest; surely water will comfort him." Not only that, but Vexen thought that perhaps giving Demyx a task will also take his mind off of things for even just a moment.

"Right." Demyx nodded pulling away and doing just that.

Heyo, lovelies!

Yet another chapter! And Vexen, you adorable mama you. Looking after even Sora whom you've just met.

Anywho, I hope you all enjoyed it and will enjoy the next ones, too.

Ciao!

~ Chibi