Chapter 5. Something Sweet, Something Bitter

Two days after having a snowball fight, Riku was even more often seen with Ansem. They used to sit down on the floor in front of the fireplace, the whitette reading a book out loud. There were two reasons for reading out loud. One was that Ansem liked Riku's voice even more when the boy emphasized the words while reading stories. The other reason instead was that Ansem couldn't really read himself. It had been so long.

Seeing their feelings grow, the servants, most of them, had instead moved to the entrance hall with the enchanted dishes and knickknacks to have a serious meeting.

"My friends", Axel stated. "The day we have waited for may be at hand! Thanks to Riku, the spell will be broken anytime soon so-"

"We all hope so, Axel dear", Luxord sighed, interrupting Axel's speech. "But we'd be normal again only if Riku really could open Master's heart."

"Yes, think of what that means!" the flame man hummed, flames burning brighter. "If he succeeds, I'll be myself again! My hair will grow again. Not some living torch or a candle anymore."

Demyx smiled widely. "When I'm normal again, so normal again", he sung. "Not afraid of wetting myself all along…"

"I'll be firm again", Luxord chanted along. "Chic and sporting again…"

"Causing yourself problems with rum", Xaldin told in a serious tone, reminding the blonde of the fact he had been unable to drink that lovely alcohol so many years. It seemed to affect his papery form differently than his normal human body.

"I'll get a bottle from the shelf", the blonde teased.

"And be your drunken self", the dreadlocked man sighed, rolling his eyes. "But I can't wait to be normal again."

"When we're normal again, so normal again", Axel and Demyx sung in unison. "When we won't cause burns and floods no more."

"Little push, little shove", Luxord hummed. "They could, whoosh, fall in love."

"And that's what we will do!" the flame man announced. "We'll make this castle the most romantic place on earth! We'll clean and cook and…"

Zexion snorted. "It's never going to work."

"Why are you so negative?" Demyx asked with a pout. "Don't you want to be normal?"

"Normal? Have I ever been?" the shorter sighed. "I'll go find Vexen. Just do what you want but don't bother me with things like this."

Zexion's disapproval for the plan didn't change anything. Only after a moment of silence the singing started again.

"When we're normal again, only normal again", the song was continued by Demyx. "When the world is once more making sense. We'll unwind for a change!"

"So sweep the dust from the floor!" Xaldin told the brooms.

"Let's let some light in the room!" Axel chanted, the candleholders obeying him.

"I can feel, I can tell! Someone might break the spell", Luxord hummed with a wide smile. "Any day now, if all goes as planned! Our time may be at hand, any day now!"

The enchanted objects sung as well, obeying every command.

"Open the shutters and let in some air!"

"Put these here and put those over there!"

"Sweep up the years of sadness and tears and throw them away!"

Demyx had sneaked away to spy a little. He looked through the slightly open door into the living room, hearing Riku read the story.

"And that's how the story about Juliet and her Romeo ends ", the whitette said with a gentle smile. Ansem looked at the book.

"That was… tragic", he said.

"I know", Riku admitted. "But love works that way. You would do anything to be with the ones dear to you." Ansem stayed silent, thoughtful. The whitette gave a smile. "Are you still on this planet? I would like to ask you something."

"What's that?" the Beast asked, surprised. "I mean… go ahead."

"Is there any possibility to get a second chance?" Riku asked, gaining an confused glance. "I would like to have dinner with you."

Ansem blinked his eyes couple times. "A dinner? Me? You?"

"Yeah. If it's not too much to ask for."

"No. No!" Ansem told, shaking his head. "It would be… my pleasure."

Demyx giggled and danced away, blowing some bubbles and humming. "When we're normal again, so normal again…"

-o-o-o-o-o-

Xemnas hummed smugly, gaining a death glare from the Beast.

"Why are you standing there?" Ansem snarled, sitting in a bathtub. "Don't you have better things to do?!"

The shadow man chuckled. "But this is always so fun to watch. My rare entertainment."

The Beast let out a growl while Demyx moved to wash his back. "I hate bathing. I hate water. And I hate these bubbles!"

"Well, I'm sorry", the water boy told with a pout and poured a pailful of hot water on Ansem's head. "I'm just doing my job."

"That's right, Master", Axel hummed, holding back his laughter when he looked at Ansem who was coated with foam. "And right now our job is to get you ready for this night. We're all counting on you! The spell will be broken any day soon if you just-!"

"Maybe I don't want to do this", Ansem mumbled, interrupting Axel. He growled as Demyx washed his mane. "And I hate it when you play with my fur…"

"I'm not playing", Demyx noted. "I'm washing. I guess you don't want to smell like an animal."

The Beast snorted. "Maybe I want to-"

"I guess Riku doesn't", Axel snapped. "And you like him, right? So act and smell like it!"

"Is it just me or have you two started to act more on your own?" Xemnas asked. "More impertinent, I might say."

"Well, there's no time to be timid!" Demyx told, drying Ansem's mane. "We all know the rose has lost almost all petals!"

Ansem sighed. "But what if Riku doesn't see me as I see him? I do like him but what if he…"

"Stop complaining and be the man you were for once!" Axel yelled, making Demyx stare at the flame man, eyes wide open. "Now you're just whining like a kid! It. Will. Go. Fine!"

Before he even realized what he had said he was violently attacked with a bucketful of cold water.

After Axel was almost drowned by Ansem, the bathing room was abandoned again. The Masters of the castle retired to their chamber to talk before the dinner. Xemnas had already said he wasn't going. He didn't actually even eat so what would have been the point of disturbing Ansem and Riku. Xemnas' behavior puzzled Ansem more than a bit, but he had decided not to ask.

"What do you think, brother", Xemnas started. "Will it be enough to break the curse if it's only you…?"

Ansem glared at the shadow man. "What are you talking about…?"

"…Or do we both have to learn to love and earn love in return?" Xemnas finished the sentence. Ansem went silent. It had been so long that it was hard to remember the Witch's words correctly.

"I… don't know", the Beast growled. "But there shouldn't be problem. I've seen you with Wolfie."

"Wolfie?"

"Don't look at me like that, I heard Demyx calling him by that name. But you seem to like his company."

The shadow let out an emotionless chuckle. "Indeed. He's somehow… different."

"You don't say" Ansem snorted. "How long have you been seeing him?"

"From the night you went to get Riku back", Xemnas told. It was actually a lie. He had stalked the blunette from the start.

The Beast grimaced at the memory of himself wanting to hurt Riku for disobeying him. He shook the memory away and turned to the shadow. "What is the problem then? He's like you in many ways. Arrogant, sarcastic, cheeky…"

"Our feelings aren't mutual", Xemnas told with a sigh. "Or even if I think about him I can't see him with me. He's not like that and if Riku is a bit like him..."

"And I thought I hadn't enough problems already ", Ansem snarled.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Dear, are you sure you don't want to try one more outfit?" Luxord asked sweetly, holding a pile of clothes. Riku grinned, looking at himself in a mirror. He wore a white unofficial dress suit with blue and yellow details. It was comfortable and definitely not too stylish in his opinion.

"No, this is just perfect", the whitette told. He had no idea where Luxord had gotten all those clothes but he was pleased they fit him and that he wasn't offered to wear a dress. Saïx was sitting on the bed, watching Riku with a smirk. He hadn't been surprised when the younger had told about his plans for the night.

"You are really going", he noted. "Not that I ever suspected anything else."

"You can come, too", Riku hummed. "If you want to be an overprotective older brother."

Saïx gave a hum. "He's not Marluxia."

"Don't even dare to mention him", the whitette snorted. "Ansem and Marluxia are two different persons. Marluxia was never on the same wavelength with me."

"And you think Ansem is?"

"Yes. You should trust my discernment for once", Riku sighed.

"Like when you thought Sephiroth was your real father?" the blunette asked with a smugly smirk. "And you went on with it until our father had to tell you he's not when you didn't believe it when I said it."

"I was seven, stop reminding me of it", Riku snarled. "This has nothing to do with it."

"Well, I'll pass anyway", Saïx told. Riku gave him a worried look.

"Are you still planning to escape?" he asked. "It's not like we're prisoners anymore. If you just ask I'm sure we could leave."

Saïx shot his brother a glare. "I know."

Luxord glanced first at Riku and then at Saïx and felt like he shouldn't be there at the moment. The atmosphere was turning to awkward.

"Well, dears", he tried, but was silenced when Saïx glanced at him. The blunette stood up, yellow eyes now locked on his brother. It wasn't a mean look but a tender one.

"I just hope you made a right decision."

"I did."

-o-o-o-o-o-

Ansem was at the stairway to the entrance hall, walking back and worth nervously. Axel had chosen a mostly black and white suit with yellow details and a wide open collar for him. Xaldin rolled his eyes at Ansem's nervousness before sighing loudly.

"Master, calm down", he said. "Riku will be here at any moment."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of", the Beast snarled. Xemnas had sowed the seed of doubt in his mind. What if Riku didn't have feelings for him? What if he had but it wouldn't be enough to break the spell? And when had he started to worry this much? He let out an annoyed growl when Xaldin poked his side with an elbow. "What now…?!" Ansem asked but cut off the sentence when he noticed Riku at the other side of the room, walking down the stairs with Luxord. The dreadlocked man sighed.

"Go", Xaldin whispered. "I have better things to do right now than babysit you. It looks like Luxord left the kitchen to Demyx."

Ansem frowned as a bunch of new question rose in his mind. What if Demyx had ruined the dinner? What if he hadn't but Riku didn't like the food? What if Riku had changed his mind and he didn't want to eat with him? What if he dropped the spoon!? Those thoughts were soon erased when Riku reached him, his lips curled into his usual calm smile. "Am I late?" he asked.

"No. You're… just in time", the Beast replied. He had been there almost twenty minutes already but it wasn't worth mentioning at the moment.

They moved to the dining hall where the dinner was already served. Riku sat on the one end of the elongated dining table just like Ansem sat on the other end, both eating while Demyx played his sitar softly, singing a song. "Tale as old as time", he hummed quietly. "True as it can be… Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly…"

Suddenly Riku rose from the table and walked to the end where Ansem sat. "Would you come with me?"

"Just a little change, small to say the least… both a little scared, neither one prepared…"

Ansem gave an unsure nod as a response, standing up and smiling hesitantly at the boy. "What do you have on mind? If it's dancing…"

"It's a surprise", Riku told with a grin, leading the Beast back to the entrance hall. "And no, it has nothing to do with dancing. I… don't dance."

Demyx's song echoed in the castle. "Tale as old as time, tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change. Learning you were wrong…"

Zexion closed his eyes, listening to the song for a moment while he walked through a corridor. In his eyes, Demyx was a hopeless romantic, and the song brought bad memories back to his mind. He gritted his teeth, deciding to return back to the basement.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Riku eventually lead Ansem to the main balcony to watch the night sky. They sat there, talking and looking at the winking stars and the moon.

"How old are you?" Riku asked him among many other questions. The Beast gave him a slightly bothered smile.

"Twenty-four, soon twenty-five", Ansem replied, wanting to add it was happening too soon.

The whitette chuckled. "I turned seventeen a few months ago."

"You're young", the Beast replied with a frown. They had over eight years difference in age, and for a moment it felt worse than that he was a Beast, scared of the fact that in under two days the rose would lose its last petals.

"Does it matter?" Riku asked suddenly, sounding a bit confused.

"No, you just make me feel old", the Beast replied with a grin. Riku laughed at the comment and smiled then, raising his hand like he was trying to touch the sky.

"When I was a kid, ten or something like that, Saïx taught me how to climb to the roof. I used to sneak out at night and go to watch stars", he told softly. "And dream of a different life, in somewhere else than our hometown."

Riku's words raised Ansem's hopes even more.

"Do you like… your life here?" the Beast asked, moving little closer to the whitette.

Riku gave a smile. "Yes, I really do", he said but his smile slowly disappeared just to be replaced by a doleful expression.

Ansem startled. "What's wrong?" he asked.

The whitette looked at the moon. "I just remembered my father. I would like to see him one more time… Just to make sure he's alright."

The Beast just gave a nod, thinking of what to say. He wanted to cheer Riku up because seeing him so unhappy was just horrible. Then suddenly an idea struck his mind.

"There's actually a way", he told. "Follow me."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Xemnas chuckled when Saïx appeared at the gallery. It had became their own secret meeting place since Saïx didn't tell Riku he was having time with Xemnas while Riku kept seeing Ansem.

"You're late", the shadow chuckled.

Saïx smirked. "Riku's fault."

The conversations between the two were always like that, mostly simple needling and sarcasm but also more serious subjects. Saïx told about his family and the village, often in a very snarling tone, but he didn't like to talk about himself. Xemnas on the other head evaded talking about anything that could be related to the spells and yet he didn't lose his temper because of Saïx's comments about him holding back something.

"Do you still find me annoying?" the shadow asked suddenly.

"Not as annoying as I found you at the beginning", Saïx replied with a soft chuckle. "No, I don't. Why do you ask that?"

"I was just thinking", Xemnas started. "Are we… friends?"

Saïx blinked at the question before smiling. "Am I that amusing?"

"Don't you take me seriously?" Xemnas asked, sounding slightly disappointed. The blunette frowned.

"I do take you seriously, Xemnas. It's your questionI'm taking lightly", the blunette explained. "Did you consider me as your friend when I and Riku started staying here few days ago? Let me answer that one. No, you didn't. What about now? Am I still just someone who's fun to stalk? Or do you really like my company?"

Xemnas looked at the blunette. "I really do like you."

Saïx frowned, trying to hide the fact he was a bit embarrassed at the moment. Oh, how he hated to be so pale. "Then it's simple. We are… friends."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

For once, Ansem allowed someone else than Xemnas or Vexen to go into his chamber. Riku followed the Beast to the pedestal where the rose was. It was wilting very badly, only a few petals were left. But it wasn't what Ansem wanted to show. The Beast grabbed a silver item from the pedestal, giving it to Riku.

"That's a Magic Mirror", he said. "It allows you to see whatever you want, even your father."

Riku smiled a bit and held the mirror. "I want to see… my father."

The picture spun and glowed, changing the image. Riku's eyes widened from anxiety. The mirror was showing Ansem the Wise in the woods, coughing and holding his chest. The old man was curled up under a tree. He was seemingly in a very bad condition.

"He… he's sick!" Riku cried out. "I must save him! I can't let him die there…!"

With a slight hesitation, Ansem pressed his paws on Riku's shoulders. "Go then", he said. "Save him. You're… free to go. You, and your brother, are no longer our prisoners."

The whitette gave a confused nod, handing the mirror back. Ansem refused to take it. "You can keep it. It will show you the way to you father. And… you can use it to remember this place and us…"

Riku gave a soft smile. "I will never forget… you", he whispered, adding the last word so quietly Ansem didn't hear it. "Thank you."

Ansem watched as Riku turned his back to him and left the room. One more petal fell, making the Beast sigh. He did the right thing, didn't he? Riku wouldn't be happy here now that he knew his father wasn't okay. The door made a clack as Axel opened it, walking further into the chamber he usually didn't visit.

"Everything is going according to the script. The spells will be broken before sunrise! I guess Riku really likes you, Master" he hummed and smiled widely before looking around the room. "Uh, where is he anyway?"

Ansem let out a silent growl, looking out of the window. "I let him go."

The flame man startled. "Y-you did what?" he spluttered. "The rose is dying! Even Vexen can't freeze it anymore! We don't have time! Your birthday is too soon! And I thought you liked Riku! Why the heck did you let him go?!"

"Don't question my decision", the Beast said, looking at the rose once more. "It's not that simple anymore."

"But what about the spells?" Axel squawked.

"We'll manage. Just like we did before."

"But why did you let him go? Don't you like him?"

The Beast gave a saddening expression, staring out at the yard. Riku was out there with Saïx, leading their horses to the gate. As Ansem lost the sight of them, he gave Axel an unusual, sad smile. "I love him more than I love myself. He's the road to dawn, and even if I'll remain in this form forever, I can remember and love him as a light in the darkness of my heart. And that's why… I let him go."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"You should have seen him!" Axel barked as the others stared at the flame man, eyes wide open. They had just heard Riku and Saïx had left the castle. "Now the spells will never be broken! We're write-off and there's no sequel!"

Luxord nodded sadly. "They were such nice kids. Masters are probably weighed down with grief right now."

"Screw Masters!" the flame man cried out, blazing in anger. "I was so close to get a real bath! Now I'll be a living torch for the rest of my short life!"

"Idiot", Xaldin snarled. "It's not like you're the only one with problems."

"Shut up, windmill!"

"How dare you…?!"

"You both calm down!" Luxord yelled, but he was completely ignored. Xaldin had already grabbed Axel at his collar and raised the flame man into the air. Axel cursed and struggled as well as he could, and at last successfully kicked Xaldin's stomach. Nobody really paid any attention to Demyx who whimpered in the corner.

"Does that mean… there's no love?" he asked so loudly that Luxord heard him.

"No, dear!" the blonde said quickly and sat down at the water boy's level, trying to comfort the sobbing kid. "There is love, lots of love. More love than you can ever imagine!"

"But Zexion was right", Demyx insisted. "Zexion knew this would happen!"

Axel frowned, letting go of Xaldin's dreadlocks. There was no point in fighting if Demyx was like that. "Where is Zexion anyway?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

In the darkness of the forest, Riku tried to search for their father. He had hopped down from Zero's back and ran from one tree to another.

"Stop running around like a headless chicken", Saïx said. "You'll just tire yourself." The blunette hadn't been happy when Riku had interrupted his little moment with Xemnas, but the health of their father was more important at the moment. After a short farewell, Saïx had left the shadow man and followed his brother instead of staying in the castle. Riku frowned, glancing at the older one.

"But I have to find him!" the whitette yelled. "And the mirror showed him under a tree!"

"There are hundreds of trees", the blunette stated, holding the reins of both horses. "And they all look the same."

"Can't you stop arguing with me and be useful!?"

"It's not like you're the only one worrying here. You can't really even see beyond your nose", Saïx snarled and gave the reins to Riku. "Take these and rest a bit. I try to find him."

The blunette sniffed the air. Riku had never understood why Saïx has such a good sense of smell. When they had been kids, Saïx had always used his nose to find Riku when they had played hide and seek. The blunette had told Riku smelled like vanilla and paper ink, just like their father smells like smoke. Of course his brother acted like a wild animal sometimes, but Saïx's ability still impressed him.

"Do you smell anything?" Riku asked, tired of waiting.

Saïx frowned. "Yes, pines and dirt. Now shut up."

They walked around the forest but didn't get a single sight, or waft, of Ansem the Wise for a long time. Finally Saïx stopped walking. "He's near."

Riku tossed the reins to the blunette, glaring into the darkness and soon he caught a sight of a figure of their father under a large tree.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Riku had once again hopped on Zero's back; the unconscious Ansem was laid onto Luna's back. Saïx walked instead, leading the mare towards their home. When they caught a glimpse of their home, they were surprised that the windows glimmered with light. Of course their father was eccentric and forgetful, but he never left the fire unattended. It was far too dangerous in a wooden house like theirs. The brothers took the old man from the mare's back, setting the man's hands on the brothers' shoulders so that they could walk their father to the house. Riku opened the door with his free hand and looked around. The fireplace had been lit, but otherwise everything seemed fine.

"Oh hi guys! I thought I heard the door but I didn't expect to see ya so soon", the familiar man with an eye patch told with a grin, walking down the stairs. "You have a nice house. Very tidy. I wish my house would-"

Saïx gritted his teeth, snarling. "Xigbar, I don't know why you are here, but you should get the hell out of our home."

Xigbar gave a pout. "Yea, but…"

"Out!" the blunette roared and the older man left the house immediately. Saïx and Riku carried their father to the bed. It took a moment until Ansem the Wise woke to the feeling of a cold, wet rag on his forehead. He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Riku. The old man immediately sat up and hugged his younger son.

"Riku! God bless me, you're alright!" he cried out happily, letting go of Riku just to check out the boy was okay before he looked around the room. "Is Saïx here, too?"

Riku gave a nod. "He's downstairs, making some tea for you. We'll take care of you."

The old man smiled brightly, holding Riku's hand tightly in his own. But suddenly his smile fell and he stared at Riku, panic-stricken. "But the Beast!" he shouted frantically. "How did you escaped from that monster?!"

Riku sighed, looking into his father's eyes. "No, dad. We didn't escape", he told with a slight smile. "He let us go. And he's not a monster. He's… changed."

The old man looked utterly confused. "I-I don't understand you, Riku. You sound like your mother."

Riku blinked couple times. "My mother…?" he said, tasting the words before he shook his head and stared at Ansem. "But… I'm adopted! What do you mean I sound like my mother?!"

Saïx hurried upstairs after hearing Riku yell. "What's happening here…?"

The whitette had stood up and he pointed at his father accusingly. "He… knew it all the time!" he yelled, looking now directly at Saïx. "He knew who my mother was and he never told me! Next he probably tells me he knows my father as well!"

"Is that true?" Saïx asked their father. "You knew Riku's parents?"

Ansem the Wise frowned sadly and gave a nod. "Yes", he admitted with a sigh. "I knew them. Riku's father was my dear friend, and so was his mother."

"Who were they?!" Riku yelled, trying to keep himself calm. "Are they alive?!"

The old man avoided Riku's piercing stare as he shook his head and kept silent. The whitette's look saddened. "They didn't want me", he whispered. "That's what you mean, right?"

"No", the old man said. "Your parents loved you very much."

"But why they didn't keep me?"

The silence was broken by a knock from the door. "I'll go", Saïx told quietly, leaving the room to go see who would like to visit them that late. And seriously, there weren't that many people in the town who liked them that much. Saïx opened the door.

"Um, hello?" he said with a slight smile when he saw a young girl there. She was about Riku's age, pretty brown hair and blue eyes. She gave him a smirk as the townsfolk gathered behind her.

"I prefer good evening", she said sweetly. "I'm Kairi from the islands."

Saïx twitched and his smile fell. Everybody knew the islands. It was the place near the town where madmen and mentally ill people from all over the country were locked up. The blunette let out a suspicious growl.

"What do you want, Kairi?" he hissed.

The girl chucked. "Nothing much. I was called here to take away a crazy old man called Ansem the Wise", she told with a soft smirk. "And a perilous blue-haired man with a scar on his face. And I suppose… that means you."

-o-o-o-o-o-

A/N: I kind of rushed this chapter, sorry. And about Saïx's animal abilities... They're "relics" from my first version of this story when Saïx was "a monster" like Axel and Demyx for example. I was just too tired to change that.