Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts and its characters.

"I need you to sneak back in through the waterways and deliver this." Vexen said, handing Sora a piece of fabric with something stitched into it. Sora looked at it, not understanding what it was. "It's a message; in the castle, among the guards, we do have some allies. I need you to deliver this to one of them."

"Wait, isn't going in risky for Sora? What if he's caught?" Roxas inquired, not liking this idea.

"He doesn't have to leave the water at all; the aqueducts go all over and even come up to the surface with metal grates over them." Vexen stated. "I know it's a risk, but it's one to take since we need as much inside help as possible. There aren't many, but it's better to add a few to our list of allies than not at all."

"I… I suppose..." Roxas mumbled.

"Who do I look for? What do they look like? Or smell like?" Sora asked.

"Unfortunately I can't help you with scent. But two of the main three I know stick out like you wouldn't believe. First is Squall, though he's harder to pinpoint. He has shaggy brown hair and a scar across his face." Vexen explained, motioning between his eyes where the scar is on the other man. "Then there's Cloud who looks like… well… like Roxas here." He motioning to Roxas. "But with spikier blonde hair and strikingly blue eyes. And finally Reno, he's..."

"My older brother." Axel interrupted. "He'll stick out the most; he's got hair as red as mine; no one else of the guards have this shade of red."

"He sounds like the easiest to find." Sora stated.

"Try to find them alone and without other guards, though if you can't get them alone, they'll figure it out once they realize you're our ally. If you need to, just tell them that the snow fairy sends a message." Vexen explained.

"Right. I can do this." Sora nodded and held the cloth close. "We need to get to an aqueduct."

"We'll use one that's more out of the way, but you'll still be able to get inside." Vexen stated. "It's easier for one out of the way so we aren't noticed."

"Right." Sora nodded.

It didn't take long for Sora to get to an aqueduct, Lexaeus left waiting for him again. Nodding, he dove down into the water and swam through the tunnels. It had only been a night, so Sephiroth wouldn't have had any time to set something up to catch hold of the siren slipping through with ease.

Sora found his way to the castle and came up to a set of grates where he heard sounds of shouting, grunting, and the clanking of metal. Observing, though his position was a little tricky to see from, he could tell he was where guards and trainees practiced.

I just need to find one of the ones that stick out… preferably Axel's brother. Sora thought. How hard could it have been to find red hair, though? Not very, actually. He saw a head of bright red; it wasn't as messy or spiky as Axel's, tame in comparison really, but this person was clearly Axel's brother; they even smelled similar. Good! Now to try and get him Vexen's message. He thought, swimming to another grate that Reno was standing near.

"C'mon, put your backs into it. I've seen more fight in toddlers being put to bed than from you!" Reno called, trying to get young trainees to put in more effort.

"Psst!" Sora hissed out.

"Huh?" Reno looked down, not able to see Sora in the water. He then knelt down, pretending to check his boot and tie the string on it to make it tighter. "What is it?" he whispered.

"The snow fairy sends a message." Sora said softly, slipping up the fabric that Reno stealthily took and hid in his boot. He then moved to swim away.

"Wait." Reno hissed carefully. "You know Axel? My brother?"

"I do." Sora responded.

"Is he safe?" Reno asked.

"He is." Sora replied. "He's safe and fine."

"Good." Reno sighed. "Tell the snow fairy that the alley cat will get the message."

"Will do." Sora then swam off, going through the tunnels to get back to where Lexaeus was. Before going back, though, he heard voices he recognized as the brothers. He went to grate near them; lo and behold, they were walking and talking to one another. The scents told him no guards were near, so he found a position and got their attention.

"Sora?" Riku asked, looking down when he heard a small hiss.

"Can we meet?" Sora asked.

Riku looked around. No one was watching, not even his father. "The garden?" he asked.

"If it's safe; I'll meet you there." Sora said, swimming off.

"If asked, we'll cover for you." Yazoo told his little brother.

"Thanks." Riku said, casually strolling to the garden. He slipped in and went to the fountain, finding Sora sitting up in the water. "It's risky coming back; Father's pissed."

"Yeah, I got the idea; and he's already suspecting a siren aided in Zexion's escape." Sora stated.

"Yeah… though it's risky… I'm glad you came back." Riku said. He pulled a silver chain from his necklace with a crown charm on it. "I wanted to give this to you." He smiled when Sora leaned forward, allowing him to put it on him. "My mother left it for me before she passed away… but… I want you to have it… so you can always remember me."

"Thank you, Riku; it's pretty." Sora said, looking down at the necklace he now wore. He then looked up at Riku. "As you may have guessed, the Organization, along with Zexion's help, plan on overthrowing your father, taking him from the throne."

"Yeah… and Father's assuming it will be on the anniversary of Ien… Zexion's parents' deaths." Riku said. "I won't ask for details; I assume you trust us, but… who knows if Father figures we know something…" He shook his head.

"Just… try to keep the servants out of the way when things start; you'll know when they do." Sora suggested. "We don't want people in the way… nor do we want them hurt."

"Right." Riku nodded. "Sora… about my father… do you think they'll execute him?" He sighed. "I know he's done bad things… killed innocent people, even killed the king and queen he served… wanted a child dead because he stood between him and the crown..." He couldn't help but shiver. "But the thought of him dead… especially after seeing what you did with those guards..."

"I don't know…" Sora shook his head. "I really don't… but I do know that killing him won't bring back those he's killed. And when I heard him the night we helped the others escape… saw him… I don't know… I didn't feel evil in him." He didn't miss Riku's confusion. "It's more like… he's broken. Something happened and sent him spiraling down… That being said, he still can't remain on the throne. I can talk to Zexion… let him know what I felt. Hopefully there won't need to be death." He sighed. "Sometimes I regret the lives I take," he said, though he didn't add especially when it goes to waste and I don't eat it for Riku's comfort, "and I regret taking theirs, but… they did have evil in them… they weren't broken..."

Riku nodded. "That makes sense." he said.

"Anyway, I need to go, but..." Sora nodded, sure of this. "Before I go..." He closed his eye and allowed a single tear fall down his face and land into his hand, hardening into a small, blue gem. He handed it to Riku. "Siren's typically don't cry… we were hunted in the past for our tears."

"It's beautiful." Riku said, looking at the tiny gem.

"Hold onto it. Maybe… maybe it'll come of use." Sora said. "Our tears contain power..." He then kissed Riku on the cheek before retreated into the waters, leaving Riku there to watch, smiling softly.

Sora swam his way back to the end of the aqueduct he entered at. When he returned, he cautious came up and checked around before pulling himself out of water, the broad man helping him up. "Message is delivered."

"Good to hear." Lexaeus said softly. He then wrapped Sora in a blanket gently and picked him up, carrying him back to the base.

"That's Reno for you." Axel sighed, looking happy. "Though he's constantly on my ass about things, he still cares for me."

Sora smiled. "I'm glad he does." he said. He then looked to Vexen. "So, that message being sent..."

"It's to let our allies inside the castle know when we're planning to move in and overthrow Sephiroth." Vexen stated. "It may have looked like dots and lines, but it's a way of writing some of us came up with before to keep messages hidden."

"We need to be careful when we begin this." Sora said. "Sephiroth is already anticipating us attacking on the anniversary."

"We best change our plans then." Vexen sighed.

"No… we continue as planned." Zexion declared. He looked to Xemnas. "Is that okay?"

"We do have the upper hand." Xemnas said. He then nodded. "We continue as planned. Sephiroth is expecting us… we mustn't disappoint him."

Heyo, lovelies!

We're getting closer and closer to the end. Hopefully as we progress, you will like the future chapters up until the end. And I hope you liked this chapter.

Until next time!

Ciao!

~ Chibi