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“Angel of Twilight: Clockwork Breakdown”	By : HappyDragon Category: Kingdom Hearts > Slash/Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 8242 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Key:
“Talking aloud.”
‘Thinking to one’s self.’
/Nobody Language/
::Denotes sound effects:: ::and actions.:: Only used during speech.
Major P.O.V./Scene Change: * * * *
A/N: My notes/comments/ramblings
{Beta’s musings & Comments}
Chapter Start/End: ------

A/N: [[Removed to comply with new AFF guidelines. Please see the MM.org version for full A/Ns: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/156268]]

Rating: NC-17.

|Spoilers|: There are some light spoilers for all three games.

|Warning|: The usual. Beware OOC-ness. Also beware the language, angst, and psychological trauma to Riku. Also, see end notes, alllllllll the way at the bottom.

Beta'd by: a good RL friend, and ‘Dark Light’

Criticism: Constructive only. Non-Axel flamers need not respond.

Reviews:

*AFF.NET
Kage: I’m sorry it took me so long to update. Gomen-nazai (I’m very sorry.) m(_ _)m But if this chapter satisfied, then it was worth it.

Caroline: *Bows* Though you may not leave concrete critique all the time, it’s always good to let a writer know that you like their story---provided they have NOT specified that they don’t want readers leaving reviews that only say ‘I luffle your works, yay!’ Me, I’ll take what I can get, so long as I know you’re out there enjoying what I do. (But if I can get critiques, the better. They help me write more.)

As always, thank you for your kind words. I’ll do my best to carry on. ^_^

Wulfie89: *Flail* I took sooo long to update. I SHALL LIVE IN SHAME FOR A LONG TIME! Otherwise, I’m very happy that you like this story so much, and that you gave it a try--even if it’s not your usual thing. Yep-yep, I try to keep it entertaining by having lots of things going on in the universe. And I’m such a logistics and detail whore that I kind of have to shove everything I can in.

Ah, grammar . . . I’d said, given that I have a few betas/proofreaders for this--and all of my stories--I’m thinking the grammar errors you found are like . . . 80% natural mistakes, and 20% on purpose, just because I think a character would talk that way.

Roxas!Muse: Doesn’t she mean it the other way around?

Alexiel (Axel!Muse): No. No real confidence in herself when it comes to spelling, and considering she writes the way she/we talk, not all that sure on the grammar thing either.

Lynn/Happy Dragon: T_T He knows me too well. . . Oh Well! Has A Nice Juicy New Chappie!

MPS SHADOWMASTER: THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

Nice, D&Ders unite! And I thought only Psions (or however it’s spelled...) were broken [overpowered] in the beginning? Damn, to know that Bards could rock the other classes back in the day . . .

Makes me hope they get popular again in 4th, once all the expansions are added in. And so help me if they don’t include bards--oh there will be a reckoning. . .

I MADE a Gestalt (can’t spell) Version Of Demyx In a 3/3.5 campaign. He was PURE Bard/Druid, focusing on mostly Ice/Water spells--and a few miscellaneous ones that every ‘caster needs. My DM/GM was so nice--but then I had gotten her into Kingdom Hearts, so she knew what I was doing--and let me swap out the shapeshifting feature to get more Elemental summons per day. And, even better, there’s the 2nd Player’s HandBook, which goes into some variations for the classes? One of them was changing up the druid’s animal companion for an elemental companion.

I named mine ‘Squishy’. ^_^ And bestest of all, in the DM/GM’s world, elementals had souls, thoughts, feels--you know, actual sentience?--so he was my ‘Ymed’s’ best friend.

And part of his act. Yes. My Dem-Dem bard actually performed. And I did the voice thing. They met me when I was all happy and high-pitched sounding. Then one of the other players did something stupid, and I dropped my voice a few octaves, ala ‘Serious!Demyx’.

It was a good day. ^__^ Oh! Also, he was a Cat-Folk to boost Charisma--and a Lion so we could have his mane all MulHawk-like. And, because. . . . . Maybe he’s a lion. XD (What? ‘Lion King’? What does that have to do with anything? :Shifty eyes: )

X3333 Oh, I was pretty sure no one would see the whole Fenrir/Fenris thing coming. So it makes me happy to know that people liked it.

Oh really? If you ever start work on it, I wouldn’t mind a link to it--or at least hearing about your Star Trek . . . crossover? AU? Fusion? (Fusion = Cast of universe A playing the parts of the characters in universe B.)

@_@ [aka] :DDD : o.O;;?? You didn’t give me a name to call you by . . . so . . if you review again, just give me a throw-a-way handle to address you by. Or I might have to call you Ms/Mr. Smiley. X3

ANYWAY!

Okay, reading that one line had me scared at first. But now that I know what you mean, I’m less worried. ^.^~! Ohhhhhh, these kinds of reactions are to DIE for. Just knowing that my writing evokes such strong emotional reactions is perfect!

Ansem A.I.: Your revulsion makes my convictions grow stronger.

Lynn/Happy Dragon: D8 GTHO Of My Mind! :Sad attempt to kick!:

Ansem A.I.: :Not So Sad Dodge: It’s comfortable here. I have all the nourishment I could ever need, and easy access to Riku. Truly, the only other thing I could ask for would be that he should again be a willing host.

Lynn/Happy Dragon: -_- Unholy bastard. I ignore you now. :Walks away: . .

Well if there’s something wrong with you, it’s wrong with me too, because I’m the one writing this. So at least you aren’t alone!

Bah, you can review as many times as you want--I won’t stop you. ^__^

Ah, more like I can’t write long pieces without there being some kind of drama . . . and I tend towards novels. X3 But yeah, it’s all about the inner conflict with ‘darkness’ that people like to make Riku angst over. In here, I just make it real simple (although I’ve only hinted at it, but it’ll be detailed out later):

There is MORE than 1 kind of Darkness. Therefore, there is More than 1 kind of light. Ansem controls one shade of darkness; Riku controls another. Hell, the Repliku probably would have ended up with a third--time permitting. . . . Or maybe he did by the end of CoM. . . it’s been so long, and I’m stuck on Vexen in Sora’s side in Re:CoM, so It’s gonna be a bit before I see for myself.

Err, um, so that gives him one less thing to angst over, and 20 million other things to replace it with. XD

Ooooooh, proper review--tasty. :Happy!flail:

^___________^ If I pride myself on anything, it’s characterization, and details--and logistics--in that order. So hearing you say that you love the personalities so much, really makes my day. (Also, there be much with the AkuRoku and Demku this time, so yay for you!)

Oh gods . . . the thing with Mickey. . . . Okay, I started before I knew they parted ways between CoM and II, but I had already planned for them parting ways, so it all worked out in the end. That said. . . . . I am going to take so many liberties because of all the changes having an Active Ansem brings to the mix. . . . . .

Thank you for putting aside your dislike of the three of them together for this little story--it’s going to play a big part in any and all of the books following this one. But then . . . so will the other relationships I’ve introduced/the fandom loves.

The Riku vs Roxas fight is one of the things I take liberties with, and it’s partially mocked up in my head. Actually, thinking it over, it might be the second biggest thing I take liberties with, what with--

Alexiel: :Throws a sparkly purple orb into the room:

Roxas!Muse: . . .

Lynn/Happy Dragon: IRIDESCENT DECOY!!!! :Chases after:

Alexiel: Woman would give away the whole plot if I didn’t stop her. . . Um yeah, thanks for liking us, thanks for saying you like us, and thanks for doing that whole ‘proper’ bizz with the rest of your review. Um, the stuff she didn’t bring up or even acknowledge was a sneaky way of trying not to answer it, and a less then sneaky way of saying, ‘oh answering that would ruin the fun’.

Or she didn’t want to disappoint you. Don’t know. Keep watching to find out!

:Drags Roxas!Muse off to start the chapter.:

~MM.Org readers
Go there to read replies.

Disclaimer: I didn’t own Kingdom Hearts (the idea) when I started writing this in April of ‘07. I didn’t own it in ‘08. I’ve been sitting around on my thumbs trying to get the muse back with me, so I sure as hell still don’t own it now in ‘09, and odds aren’t looking good for me ever owning it. And because I don’t own Kingdom Hearts, I can’t, and refuse to, make any profit off of it by writing fiction such as this. I write for the joy of writing, and hope that you speak to me of your joy in reading.
-----------------------
“Angel of Twilight; Clockwork Breakdown” Part 9/?
‘Someplace Only We Know’

It started softly at first, the slow music that drifted to his ears.[1] Riku lay where he was, just listening to the sound of instruments he had no name for. It was not like the music from his island home; the pacing was not like a living creature’s rhythm but reminded him more of . . some of the chaotic city-worlds he had been to, like this one.

Like the heartbeat of the dying world he’d helped to kill.

Suddenly laying in bed lost all of its appeal, and he had to go to the bathroom anyway. Groping blindly for a few moments, his hand eventually found the edge of the cover, and he pulled it back to greet the early morning light.

From off to his left there was a sigh. “Good morning, Riku.”

Frowning, the teen turned to see Mickey looking at him gloomily. “’Mornin’ your Mag--Mickey.” And he started to shift himself out of the bed.

The mouse King bolted upright. “Riku?!”

He paused, looking over to his mentor. “Yes?” Something was very wrong here.

“You’re awake?” He stood.

“Well, yeah.” A nervous laugh.

Mickey started to walk over. “Really awake?”

Riku was highly confused but nodded all the same. Yet the small King was smiling so wide and then pulled him into a hug. The boy instinctively hugged back. “What’s wrong? You act like . . . . like something really bad happened.” Had he seen him feeding? Riku didn’t remember anything after ripping into the world heart--he was just suddenly in Ansem’s arms.

“You . . . wouldn’t wake up. I was starting to think that you were really in a coma--I’m getting ahead of myself, but I’m just so relieved that you’re okie-dokie again.” Yes, he was still worried, and that didn’t change his plans, but all in due time. He’d tell the other all a little later when both of them were sane and stable.

But Riku pulled back, and with a worried look asked the inevitable, “What are you talking about? What happened? One minute I was . . . I was at the door for Tethlem, and then, darkness.”

Mickey nodded slowly, hands having slid down to Riku’s hands. “I’m not surprised that’s all you remember. The Heartless got to the World Heart. They were devouring it by the time I got to you.” No need to tell the child his body’s part in the events. If his mind wasn’t awake for the ordeal, all the better. Either way, he didn’t blame the teen for what had happened. “I was able to pull you out, but you weren’t in control of yourself so . . . you collapsed after I teleported us back here.”

The teen nodded, slowly absorbing the new information.

Mickey took a deep breath before continuing.

“That was about two and a half days ago.”

“Wha . . .”

“You slept away the rest of that day, that night, all the following day and night, and the day and night after that, to wake up now.”

Riku swallowed, suddenly understanding why the night had seemed so long to him. The music picked up again, tempo speeding by him as they sat in silence. It didn’t strike him as out of place, so much as unexpected--both the music and the situation. Yet only one thought came to mind, “If I was out that long, why didn’t you seem all that happy when I first got up? You were looking right at me.”

Mickey shook his head. “You walked in your sleep. . . At least I hope you did.” There was the possibility that the Heartless Lord had limited control of him like that. “You got up yesterday morning and the morning before, but didn’t acknowledge me. Just rose, walked to the restroom, used the facilities, and then climbed back into bed like nothing had happened. You were out again as soon as your head touched the pillow.”

The silver youth didn’t even attempt to hide his apprehension at the new knowledge. He was trembling at the implications. Was Ansem really growing stronger? Was it only a matter of time before--No! No he would fight him. He would fight him, and he would beat him even if it took forever and a day to do it.

“Hey, hey it’s okie.”

“I . . . I don’t remember doing any of that.”

“It’ll be okie.”

“How?” Maybe he was being selfish, but he was scared and panicky and the music wasn’t helping any. In truth, his heart was beating all the faster for it.

“Because, I wasn’t just sitting idle.” And he gave a comforting squeeze with his hands. “You waking up just makes things easier.” At the teen’s questioning glance, he smiled and began to explain. “I’ve told you about my world before, about Disney Castle? Well, I had no idea what to do for you when my cure spells didn’t wake you. I’m not trained in medicines, but there are . . . there are physicians on my home world.”

The human was confused but encouraged the other to go on.

“Not all the worlds know about The Heartless, or Keyblades, or even me. You’ve mentioned that Destiny Islands is one such world.” After the events of the twilit castle and their parting encounter with DiZ, Mickey had used his magicks to see what had become of the children’s world. The boy had been relieved beyond words to know that his ‘gut feeling’ had been right and the islands restored. “So it would be awkward to go to such a world for medical attention when you can’t tell the doctor the real cause of the symptoms.”

Riku nodded, the idea clicking together. “But we can tell them at your place.”

“Pretty much.”

His brows furrowed. “Then why aren’t we there?”

“Because I didn’t want to risk moving you in that state. At least not through direct teleportation. I sent a letter out for a Gummi Ship pickup [2]. Minnie knows to keep things quiet since no one back home knows that I’m out on this mission. So we shouldn’t be too swamped by people when we get back.” He hoped.

“Okay. So, does that mean after I wake up more we’ll just . . . go there?”

Mickey shook his head. “No. In your condition, I’d feel more comfortable if we traveled by Gummi Ship. It’ll be slower, but safer. Besides,” he smiled, “you’ve never traveled by ship before, have you?”

“No.” Riku thought bitterly about that one time when the white-feathered duck had thrown a hissy-fit and . . . well the rest was history better left unspoken.

“Then it’ll be a real treat. To see the stars as we fly by them, maybe getting close enough to see the kind of world that they are. . .” And the stories he could share with his friend were endless.

Riku nodded, “Yeah, that would be nice.” What else could he say or do? He was still absorbing everything, the idea of what had happened. And what was to come. . . Well Disney Castle had to be filled with light, right? Maybe Ansem would be weakened there. “I think . . . I wanna go get ready for the day. Are my day clothes . . .?”

“Magically cleaned. In the top drawer of the dresser.” Another comforting squeeze.

“Thank you. . . You always do so much for-”

“You’re worth it.”

The admission shocked Riku into silence for a moment. He was still worth something to somebody. After all the trouble and grief he’d caused, and Mickey still cared.

The others would, too.

Right?

* * * * * *

Warm. Very, very warm. He could get used to waking up warm. Baby-blue eyes fluttered open, and Roxas saw red of the satiny variety. Axel had stayed awake with him long into the night, telling him of his life and times as Fenrir. And Demyx had been by his side the whole way . . .

He stretched, popping many of the joints in his lower back.

The whole thing at Castle Oblivion must have broken whatever was left of their friendship. Number VIII had cleared up a few things on that point. Though now Roxas . . . . he wasn’t sure but thinking about the little replica that Vexen had made. . . .

The creation of the replica confused him. The treatment of the replica confused him. Actually, it was . . . hard to wrap his mind around. The ‘why’ of both made sense, but his thoughts on its creation and how it was treated. . . .

Nobodies did not have emotions, but was this what sadness could have been like?

A warm arm snaked over his waist, and he was pulled against the heart of a volcano. A very naked volcano, if memory served him correctly. Roxas sighed. Damnit, he’d been so adamant in his ‘no sex’ policy, too. . . . stupid warm Axel and his stupid warm stupidity, being all stupid and warm and . . . . . . stupid Axel-wolf. He was even nuzzling the back of his neck.

/Thirteenth-sire? Breakfast for you and Eighth-sire . . ./

Roxas raised his face from the pillows and looked down to see an older Dusk with a tray of fruits and bowl of cereal for him. So another Dusk was on Axel’s side. “Thank you.” And he nudged the redhead in his ribs with an elbow to get him to wake up.

“Nuuuuuuuuuu . . . . .” and he tried to nuzzle back into his blond and the covers.

“Okay, if you don’t want food--”

“I’mup,I’mup . . .” The pyromancer looked around with dazed eyes but no cows or deer were forthcoming. “Fud w’ear?”

The not-teen giggled. “Look over your side of the bed.” And he pulled away enough to grab both ends of his tray. Oh, they had poured chocolate milk in with his sugar glazed flakes. Sweet! Must have been a few gallons of it left after Demyx spotted it in the refrigerators. Unless the Nocturne hadn’t seen yet? No, he’d been home since yesterday, so there must have been more than he could drink.

“What the hell?!”

“Hmm?” Roxas looked over, the Dusk that had served him now squirming onto the foot of the bed, should he want to hand things off to be thrown away.

“We’re being invaded!” Axel had yet to take his covered tray, and he was looking at the balcony that was positively overflowing with Dusks and Samurai.

“No . . . the Dusks always hang with me. Don’t your Assassins stick close to you?”

“They only pop in when I call them with new orders . . . unless they’re new, then I just give them the standard plans. If I wanna talk to them later either I call or we run into each other in the halls.” That was how the others were with their followers, always connected but not always around them. What could Ax say, he had privacy issues.

A sigh sounded from his right. “Whatever. Look, since my day one, the Dusks have been all over me and my room. Sure most of those guys went Samurai when my powers finally clicked in, but even after that the Dusks have always liked to hang around with me. And even if they didn’t, my Samurai do. It’s sort of a twenty-four-seven thing, and I’ve gotten used to it. Looks like they don’t care that I’ve moved or gotten a roommate now, so . . . you’ll get used to it.”

Axel just looked to his right with a raised eyebrow. His blond partner shook his head and turned to his meal. Looking over to his left, the Dusk was still holding up the tray meant for him. Ok . . . . this was weird. . . . this was odd. . . but he was getting room-service out of it, so he would at least give it a few days--if not a week--to see how it panned out. Taking up the tray, the Dusk under it followed its companion’s example and crawled onto the bed.

Really . . . . really weird. As long as they didn’t sleep with them, it was tolerable. Then he noticed that the ones on the balcony could get in and out of the room regardless if the bay-window/Door-what’zit (What were they called again? Screw it, they were slidy-glass! Good enough name for them. . . ) was open or not. His right ear twitched--like back in the good old days--in annoyance, and he pulled off the cover before he rethought kicking them all out. . . .

Chicken-fried steak, two sunny-side up eggs, hash-browns, sausage links, gravy on the side, and honey-wheat toast ‘n’ jam with a mug of blackest coffee, the pot having been set on the night-stand by his side of the bed.

Fenrir was pleased with their offerings. They were allowed to live another day.

Rewind, Fenrir? . . . He was Fenrir, he was Axel . . . he was . . . .

Hungry.

Wait, this thought was important!

So was his hunger.

Oh really?

Yeah, really.

Then What The Hell Had He Been Doing Last Night?!

Duh, sexing up Roxas.

And? . . .

What else mattered?

AND?! There were a few hours unaccounted for!

“Don’t you like what they brought you Ax?” This was said around a crunchy mouthful of grains.

“It’s fine . . . really.” And he started in on his breaded meat. They had merged their rooms. . . He sort of remembered doing that, and hey with the kid as his beta it would just be easier on both of them. They had sexed it up later in the night, but that still left . . . He had been ‘hunting’ in the meat-locker . . . . Roxas showed up and . . . . yelling match. . . . fuzzy haze . . . . he . . . they had . . . something of a confrontation? No . . . no . . . a confession of some sort . . . then the room change and . . . something . . . much longer . . . . and then sex.

The ‘something longer’ didn’t sit right with him, even if he was pretty sure that was the key to them mating all night long. Yes, nice and long and loving and . . . it was something that had made Roxas more comfortable with the act. Wait, who had confessed what? And why was his brain not cooperating with him? It was all just a half jumble, not that the memories were blocked, more like . . . seen through a filter he didn’t have on right now.

Roxas was content with his breakfast stuffs, and sipped at the leftover milk in his bowl in-between finishing off the fruit. He noticed the closet door on the other end of the room swing open, and a few of the Dusks were bringing out a change of clothes for him--and possibly Axel from the looks of things. They paused by the foot of the bed, the ones already on it cocking their heads to the side in anticipation. The blond was in the middle of swallowing, so he pointed to the bathroom.

“Shower,” was the only word he could get out at the moment.

Blinking his feral eyes, Axel turned with a questioning gaze. “Hm?”

Rolling his eyes, Number XIII worked on clearing his mouth of food. Once he swallowed properly, Roxas answered his redheaded companion’s confusion. “They wanted to know where to put my clothes. And after, um, what we, well, did last night, I kinda think everyone would really appreciate it if we cleaned up--SEPARATELY!--before going out.” Oy, he had to stay on him like an untrained puppy if he wanted to keep his naughty bits safe.

A throaty chuckle left him before his words. “Full service, huh? They do this for you all the time?”

“Well, yeah. You make it sound strange.”

“It is. Even my Assassins don’t do this kind of stuff for me.”

/Because they are like you, and you wouldn’t be nice unless it was for a purpose./

The ‘female’ Dusk from Tethlem pulled herself onto the bed from over the footboard. Then she sat herself down between the other two Dusks, crossing her legs and folding her arms over her lap.

/No, no, Eighth-sire just does not desire our presence. So we do no burden him with it. It is the same with First-sire all through to Twelfth-sire, when all the sires lived. Only Thirteenth-sire keeps his door open for us now./ So said the Dusk waiting to take the remnants of Roxas’ meal away.

/Still,/ the female intoned, /the logic is there. Roxas wants nothing, so you give him everything freely because he would do this, too. Axel and the others do not give freely, so they only want you around when it suits them. The others, they have made schedules that we are to follow, no?/

There were some squeals from the corners of the room. Quick words exchanged between ghosts, and the Samurai did not stay silent.

/He wants nothing, so he expects nothing in return, so he’s made no schedules. He gives all and accepts all./ Her head tilted the other way in a very human manner. /I could have liked him as a leader./

/Ojousan? [3] Then you seek to walk the bladed path with us?/

The Dusk turned her head in a neat 180 to look at the mid-caste standing behind her. /No. I shall hold no blades./ Then her head snapped back to the two human types. /They come here when it’s convenient to them, not you. But there are so many of us for this castle now. They whisper of the lost place so . . . there are enough to always be one of us here./

Axel continued to munch on his breakfast in silence. Roxas simply nodded at her words. “Its . . just an unspoken thing.”

/You don’t brush them off. They are not just tools to you./

“Don’t you mean ‘us’ and ‘we’?” The wolf’s cunning wanted to see just how far into the change this one was.

/Mmm. True./ Her brows furrowed---well her zipper scrunched and the symbol on the top of her head distorted. She watched her own fingers flex and un-flex.

“Be that as it may . . . have you talked with the other subtypes?” The fiery male took another bite of toast.

The Dusk looked up, pausing as if to blink. /Some . . . I have talked to some of them./ Her face scrunched again, what would have been her nose wrinkling. /The Creepers have simple minds--simpler than other Dusks. And most Dusks waver between children and teens in their . . . sense of self. I know I will not be a Sorceress, nor a Samurai, nor an Assassin--our ideals are too different./

“That leaves you with Snipers, Dragoons, Berserkers, Dancers, and Gamblers to talk to.” Roxas took a final bite of apple and pushed the tray away from himself. The Dusk by his feet perked up and bore the tray away. One of the ones who had taken his clothes into the bathroom filled the void left behind. The ones carrying Axel’s things were still standing in waiting, but then the blond couldn’t see them from his angle to change the situation.

/But . . . there are the other kinds. . . / And she turned her nonexistent eyes to the one who had plucked out her heart and offered it to the moon.

Axel paused mid-bite and turned ever so slowly to Roxas.

The key-holder shrugged. “You know the way, and she wants to go.”

“It’s a death trap.”

“It’s her right.”

“She’ll have to hear what they were like first.”

/‘She’ is capable of hearing you right now, thank you./ Both the boys looked at her, but only Axel smirked. It amused him that this one . . . was so vibrant in her memories. There were . . . there were elements to her that spoke of more than one departed shadow.

“Roxas? Why don’t you go take that shower you wanted. Missy and I can do that talking thing in the meanwhile.”

Number XIII sighed but went to the bathroom all the same, leaving murderer and victim to their own devices.

Eyes like dead emeralds sparkled for a moment as he watched his mate walk through the door. He took a generous sip of his coffee and waited until he heard the water start to fall. “How do you feel about Tomahawks?”

/Missiles or Axes?/

“Hand-held kind.”

/Pretty to look at. Not a good fit for me./

“So I guess knives and daggers ain’t your thing either.”

She shook her head no.

“Scythes?” She answered with a shudder. “Books?”

/I love reading./

“I meant to fight with.”

/Are we talking spells? I don’t think I can cast them anymore. . . /

“Wait, rewind that. You and magic were on speaking terms?”

/Daily./ She gave a hollow sounding sigh then, zipper drooping in mock despair.

“Explain. With examples if you could.”

/I cast . . . once threw runes to read the future. And I grew herbs for medicines and rituals. I am an expert on potions, poisons, elixirs, and anything alchemical you could need to know. I have done blessings and consecrations as well./

Axel nodded at that, slowly weighing the information. “You would have been at home on my world. A real mother crone.” The Dusk snorted, possibly in laughter. “Really, a good caretaker and healer is priceless.”

/That didn’t stop you from killing me./

“Yeah,” and he flashed the devil’s grin, “but now your talents can work for us. So why don’t I tell you what I know of the dearly departed numbers?”

* * * * * *

After purging his system of all the vile darkness that he could--similar to the last time he rose--Riku disrobed and jumped under the warmest water he could stand. And there he happily stayed for as long as his body could take it before the hot water showed signs of giving out on him. Thankfully, the dark one stayed sleeping this time and left the teen in peace.

Still . . . Mickey didn’t want to take him off-world in his current state, at least not by their usual means. True, this was a new world to him, but once they were done exploring, what then? He wasn’t about to stay inside all day if he could help it, if for no other reason than the music was sadly limited here. The song he’d awoken to had played a few more times during his shower and soak, but it had . . . well the overall song stayed the same, but it was like . . . like some sections of it had . . . changed. Like the song was being played live each time, and no two performances were alike.

It was similar to the song playing now, although this one wasn’t wholly instrumental. [4] Although this one was a little more regular in its overall beat then the last one. But it was also shorter, even if it too seemed to change slightly with each play through. Now if he just knew what to call this music he’d be happy. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and eventually a new song started and bled almost seamlessly into yet another song he had never heard of. [5] And just listening to them, he couldn’t sit still for as long as he’d wanted because there was a kind of energy to them.

Once dried and fully dressed, towel on his head again, Riku stepped out into the room to see Mickey looking over a piece of paper. And there was an empty bottle on the table by his hand, one that wasn’t there before he went in to bathe.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, the return letter arrived while you were in the shower.” The sovereign smiled warmly at him.

And Riku returned the emotion. “So when do we go back?”

“It’ll take the Gummi three days to get here.”

“Cool.” Goody, three days was bearable. They couldn’t run out of things to do in just three days. But that did make him wonder, “So are letters the only way worlds can talk to each other?”

The monarch sighed deeply at that, remembering promising times now long passed. “The only reliable way. A letter will always get to who it’s addressed to--sooner if they aren’t world-hopping. My home is fixed, so it takes maybe a day to cross the ocean of stars from here.” And he tapped the lip of the bottle as if to emphasize the point.

Riku, however, wasn’t seeing the connection right away. “Then are they waiting for you to write them back?”

“Nope. Just getting things in order so we’ll have a private landing. It still takes some time to move between the worlds. Using magic is faster, but you can’t travel as far as safely. Gummi Ships can go farther, but slower, and safer.” He rolled the paper back the way it had been before sliding it into the bottle once more. Then he corked the container before moving to place it in the drawer of the night-stand between their two beds. “So then Riku, what should we do today?”

“We still have this world to explore, right? I mean, we’ve only seen a few things around here.” Not to mention all the munny they had collected from their last throw down with the Heartless opened up new possibilities if they were going back to Disney Castle soon. And hey, if that ‘faire’ thing was still around they could visit again--though out of ‘costume’ this time.

The tiny King smiled, “We can start in the shopping district and work our way outward.” Perhaps they could find a book store or a like place to spend time.

A quarter hour later found the duo out on the streets looking for just such a shoppe. However the teen was still being plagued by the music, as if literally haunted by it. The melodies were soothing, but it was still distracting that he couldn’t lose it. Sometimes it sounded louder, clearer; other times a little muffled. Thankfully, it wasn’t the same song over and over again at least.

“How about that shop, Riku?”

“Nm?” The human looked over to see Mickey pointing to a toy store. He blushed, thinking about if he wasn’t a little old for such a store. Turning back to his companion he lost the will to say as much. “Sure, we can give it a look.” But even inside the building the songs followed him, to the point where he found himself humming along.

‘But what is this called?!’

+*~*~*~ It’s Jazz. ~*~*~*+

The teen paused, completely caught off guard by this turn of events. ‘Did I just hear what I think I heard?’ There was the ‘sound’ of laughter like rolling thunder, and a trill of warmth seemed to cut through the song.

+*~*~*~ Why yes, you have. Lady Galdia [6], nice to speak with you, Key. ~*~*~*+

‘Key?’

+*~*~*~ ‘Key of Heart’ is a little too stuffy for me. I like to keep things smooth and flowing. ~*~*~*+

Overwhelmed by what was happening, Riku quickly looked around for a place where he could freak-out in relative seclusion. ‘This can’t be real. This has gotta be--’

+*~*~*~ It’s really real, Key. Think. You spoke to old man Tethlem before he ‘rocked out’, right? His swing was your swing. Now you’re groovin’ to the tracks I’m laying down. ~*~*~*+

‘I think I’m more lost then groovin’ . . . whatever that means.’ There was a side aisle which he turned down to stay away from prying eyes.

+*~*~*~ You’re lucky there’s so few of you Key-cats running around, or I might not be so patient. Let mama bear show you what she means. ~*~*~*+

The song he had been hearing before suddenly cut into a new one. There was no shift, or clean transition between the two sounds. Somewhere inside the store a customer sneezed, and a moment later Mickey was calling out to him as though afraid he’d been kidnapped. The silveret reassured his friend that he was fine, but in truth his heart had suddenly sped up, leaving him a bit woozy. After listening to a few measures, the teen had the suspicion that his heart was beating in time with the world song, and Galdia’s own laughter reaffirmed that notion.

‘And yet nobody can hear this music?’

+*~*~*~ Child, everyone ‘hears’ us, they just don’t know it. We’re singing harmony to life’s melody. Only Keys like you can develop the ear. Well, you and the Minstrels--or are they Bards again? No matter, you’ll know those cats when you meet them. ~*~*~*+

Riku shook his head, still not able to fully absorb what was happening to him. ‘First heightened sense of smell, now I can hear the voices of all the worlds. What’s next? Wielding a Keyblade again?’

+*~*~*~ Don’t see why not. ~*~*~*+

He swallowed. Hard. ‘I was being sarcastic.’

+*~*~*~ Doesn’t matter. Look, there is a reason for a Key to be a Key, and you don’t shake that off easy. Naw, that tail will follow you till your last days of you. Man’d have to stop being himself to lose that right to wield. And they are far too precious for us to up and let you quit the bizz without a fight. But I’m not the one you’ll be hearin’ that story from today. There’s more a me ta see! Oh, and I’d recommend one of the hand-held units. ~*~*~*+

‘Huh?’ The world laughed again, a sound of pure amusement.

+*~*~*~ Got toys for all ages here. Look around, you’ll see. ~*~*~*+

Riku shook his head again but actually took a minute to see where he was. That happened to be in a place that looked utterly alien to him. He was still in the toy story, that much was clear, but he had never seen toys like these before. A quick peek at the sign above the section marked it as ‘electronics’. Okay, so they had something to do with electricity and data--if his time at Hollow Bastion meant anything. Picking up one of the boxes he inspected the wiring on it, only to pick up yet another slightly smaller and thinner box to compare it to the first one. With a little studying (and possibly some help from Ansem’s memories), he came to the conclusion that the ‘hand-held units’ were portable computers made specifically for playing games. Different units took different data, and the codes couldn’t be used between units from different companies. But some of the software was written in code for each of the systems.

Okay, it made sense why Galdia would suggest something portable since he could move between worlds, but he would still have to come back here to get new games for it. Still, the concept was really cool. Something to do on rainy days back home--if Sora and Kairi weren’t visiting, and he didn’t have homework, and he wasn’t reading something and the television was broken so he couldn’t watch wrestling. . . . Was that a wrestling game?! That was a wrestling game! There were wrestling games?! Sure enough there were wrestling games--not that he’d heard of any of the stars, but still, wrestling!

“So you found the video-game section.”

Riku nodded enthusiastically before looking over to Mickey. “If that’s what these are called.”

The mouse King blinked. “Destiny Islands doesn’t have them?”

“Nope. I only learned about computers and stuff from Maleficent and ‘him’. So this is new.” And very interesting, although not something he was about to invest in. But it was still something to think about, how far technology had to go before reaching this state.

He didn’t notice his companion’s look of apprehension on his face regarding who had taught him about the foreign electronic devices. But those features were soon smoothed over with but one thought: the boy once held a Keyblade. He was always destined to learn about different worlds. “Do you think you’d like any of them, or should we try another store?”

The young human pursed his lips in thought. “They’re not really my thing. So yeah, let’s see what else Galdia has to offer.”

* * * * * *

He had agreed. Why, he didn’t know, but Axel had agreed to take the ‘girl’-Dusk and Roxas back to Marly’s shop of horrors. ‘When’, would be the tricky bit, seeing as his free-time was nil thanks to pulling Fenrir on people.

And being generally himself.

Oh well, more time home with Roxy!

Speaking of Roxy, Axel chucked one of his Chakrams to the right, so that it sailed over the blond’s head. Number XIII brought down Oblivion onto the crown of a Shadow, and OathKeeper tore through another one’s midsection. Tossing a fireball over his shoulder, Axel dashed forward in time to catch his returning weapon and launch the other one into an advancing mass.

Roxas span in place, becoming like a bladed top that cut apart anything wandering too close to him. He couldn’t keep it up forever, becoming dizzy in time, but he was able to clear out a decent amount of them. Number VIII had both of his wheels back, and flaming, which he used liberally on the Shadows clinging to him on all sides.

The Heartless never had a chance against them. It had been like this (although not as bad) since he and Demyx had first come ‘round. Considering that the Heartless wanted hearts, and they had a moon made out of them, it didn’t take a brain sergeant to put two ‘n’ two together. The more hearts they gathered, the more Heartless they attracted, the more often they had to patrol The Dark City to keep the numbers down. At this point in time, members of The Organization had to go out in pairs regardless of power level. Hell, Mansex’ glowing light-blade-y-things? He could control over nine-thousand [7] of them, but he still needed Saïx or one of the others watching his back for the one he couldn’t hit in time.

Sheer numbers weren’t all that pretty to fight against. It wasn’t all that uncommon to fight five waves in a given area anymore. And he remembered how annoying it had been to tear through a ‘massive’ three round melee. Still, as long as they were able to fight, the Nobodies had to slough through wave after wave of black madness. It was pretty much an all-day ‘mission’--mission his ass, it was a god’damned punishment chore!--that needed to be done once a week, minimum. However, with the way things had been going, it might soon be a twice weekly cleanup.

At least they had the Creepers helping out closer to the Castle. Out here, they could only pull on the reserve forces of the Dusks and their own followers--except, why yes, this was a penalty (game)mission, so Axel wasn’t allowed to bring in the Assassins. Roxas had a few of his Samurai out, the Dusks were holding their own elsewhere, and he was up to his teeth in PrueBloods. (What he wouldn’t give to shift into his true form so as to make the figurative phrase more literal.)

The other special thing about today happened to be the audience of one looking on from someplace the fight wasn’t happening. Well, she would learn, in due time, that death was the only option against the Heartless.

Maybe he should just tell her to not think of them as being alive.

Coming out of his thoughts, the fiery redhead threw himself backwards, slicing down with his right Chakram. The jumping Shadow hissed as it dissipated back into whatever darkness it crawled out of. Turning again, he caught the last one in its side with some flyaway sparks. Heh, his art was picking up. Nice.

/Is it . . . always like this?/

“Yeah, this’s ‘bout average.” Axel flicked his thumb over a cheekbone, dusting away ash that wasn’t there.

Roxas had already stowed away his Keys and extended his arm out for the Dusk to climb on to. Once she was settled onto his shoulder, the Dusk turned to ‘look’ at the firebrand. /And you do this . . . . cleaning how often?/

“For now? Once a week.” Roxas answered as Axel walked back over to him. “But their numbers fluctuate a ton, with a net gain showing up every four weeks. Given that,” the three started back to the main base, “we could be doing this run twice a week by the end of next month.”

/And I . . . am expected to help?/

“Someday. You’ll get used to it.” Green eyes scanned out for any would-be ambushers. “I wonder who’s cooking tonight?”

“Well Luxord and Xaldin are back now, so everyone is here. . .”

“Dinner with the whole family? Fun-fun.” Maybe he could sneak into the freezer again.

“Rotation wise, I think it’s Xigbar’s turn--”

“Not enough smoke coming from the windows.”

“Oh, like when you burn dinner?”

“That’s ‘Bar-be-que’--”

“Well, it does end up as charcoal.”

“Hey! I only LIGHTLY char for taste!”

“So you like your meat black?”

“(Not touching that straight-line, thanks)--Cajun Grilled style is really difficult to pull off!”

“I remember; it took us over four hours to pull the remains off of the burners.”

Axel pouted before turning away. Roxas rolled his eyes and basked in the silence. They would get their answers when they got back anyway.

And when they arrived back, all roads pointed to Xigbar, in the kitchen, cooking pot-roast. With potpies on the side. The pyromancer went so far as to inquire if desert would be ‘special’ brownies to compliment the entrees--which left Number XIII woefully confused about the joke. (And woe was Axel, for there were to be no brownies, special or otherwise. Although Demyx was in with him, so there might have been cookies . . .) [8]

So after a good scrub-down--and beating of Number VIII when he tried to molest his roommate again--they were ready for the night’s meal to be served.

The duo walked into the dinning area with the lanky male happily clinging to his ‘Roxy-puu’. Said blond didn’t have the energy left to kill him, but that would probably change after dinner if he hadn’t let go by then. And, well, Axel had said that couples did show some physical intimacy in public. Roxas didn’t believe it to the extent that the older male was trying to sell it, but he’d give him a little leeway. Truth be told, he was more annoyed with the redhead’s humming, as his chin rested on his blond head, bony arms wrapped round his shoulders, and walking just behind him in a super touchy-feely way.

But at least he wasn’t stepping on his heels.

Everyone else was already there and seated, having dished up for themselves. There was no room for grace in this house when they had all fallen from it. Xemnas sat at the head of the long table, with Saïx to his left, and Demyx to his right. On Saïx’ other side was Xaldin, besides Demyx was Xigbar. Next to Xaldin was Luxord, and the last two seats by Xigbar and at the foot of the table were empty and awaiting the entering pair. Roxas waved or nodded to each of them in turn, and Axel flashed his wolfish smile.

His sharp-toothed smiled.

“You can let go of me now. . .” Was he growling?

“I could, but don’t haf’ta. There should be enough room for you to sit in my lap.” And he went back to nuzzling HIS Roxas.

“Yes, you do. Sit. Now. Without me.” He was growling, wasn’t he? Very softly, but he was. One would have to strain to hear it.

Luxord sighed [9], “Look, we know how much you luve making a scene,” his eyes scanned up, “but let the lad si’down.” He would have said more, but there was a strange buzzer like sound coming from somewhere.

Saïx’ ears perked up, a frown covering his face. Discreetly, he called on Xemnas’ attention.

“What’s a matter Red? Cat got . . . your tongue?” Now Xigbar could hear it too, and Axel had turned inhuman eyes on him when he looked up.

“I don’t understand, pet.” The Superior spoke in a near whisper to the lunar warrior.

“Do not look at Roxas. Number Eight will take it as an attempt to steal him away.”

“But why--”

“Eye contact is seen as a challenge of dominance among the Canine-races--and most pack species. Keep your nose down, or look from the corner of your eye, but see how he drapes himself over Number Thirteen? It is protective and possessive and---XIGBAR! CLOSE YOUR EYE!”

The Freeshooter complied with a slight squawk and leaned back into Demyx. Xaldin summoned a lance under the table and had it pointed at the growling Axel. Luxord sat with an astonished look on his face before closing his fist, thus calling up some dice. Following his own orders Saïx kept his nose pointed down but was still looking around the table to keep the Nobodies from doing anything stupid. He stood from his chair, and so had both hands on the flat surface of the eating space. Xemnas simply cocked his head to the side curiously, analyzing the goings on around him as if there was no danger in the current situation at all.

“No one . . . is interested in him.” Saïx breathed.

Growl, growl, growl. “I knnnnoow thattt.” Growl, growl, growl.

“There is no need to fight.” He hated this, hated what the dancing flame had been. But if this would keep master alive--

“Yyeeaah?”

“You’re squishing me.” Axel’s hold instantly relaxed. “And stop growling at everyone.”

“I’mmm nnoooottt.” He just didn’t want them getting any ideas of sleeping with HIS Roxas now that the cherry was popped. Sleeping around might have been business as usual within the brotherhood, but he’d snap Xemmy’s neck sooner then share the blond with others. Saïx moved again, but it was to protect the silveret. Ah, already had a mate, right, not interested, not a threat, and the bitch [10] knew the kind of power he had versus the kind of power Xem-cakes borrowed from. She would keep her alpha at bay. But the others! Oh, oh he was watching the others, with their beady once human eyes and their--

“You’re an idiot, Fenrir.”

Demyx’ words somehow took the air out of the room. He had been quiet up until this point, just looking down at his plate with his eyes obscured in shadow, silverware in a death grip. His body had been wracked by minor tremors, and a few days ago the others would have chalked it up to ‘fear’. But now, knowing what they knew, looking at the sharp bend in his utensils from holding on with all of his might, it was clearly the echo of rage.

FenAxel turned, regarding his old friend with a confused semi-sneer, his upper lip refusing to uncurl. “Huh?”

“You don’t even notice what you’re doing. You keep growling and snapping at everyone--you’ve gone feral. I mean, are you even going to cut your food? Right now, answer me, are you planning on ripping into it with just your teeth?”

“I,” shit, “maybe?” Growl, shit, growl.

“You’re in heat, and you’re being stupid about it. We don’t want him. We can get our own wenches elsewhere. So sit down ‘nd shut up. And if you don’t start acting more like ‘Axel’, you might as well take your meal outside because I refuse to deal with you being ‘Fenrir the super-pimp’.”

“I,” he let go of Roxas, and took a half step back. Crap, he didn’t want to tell him about his past yet! A sharp whining sound started in the back of his throat. He needed time to prepare him for all the ‘fucked up shit’, as most humans delicately put his childhood. The once-god sounded like a hurt puppy now. Another step back and the boy turned to face him. “Roxas,” he dropped down to a knee clasping his young love’s shoulders. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my past sooner.” And he continued to make that begging noise. Even placing a hand on his throat and squeezing lightly couldn’t make himself stop. So he sat with pleading eyes and whining pathetically.

“What, that you used to be a big wolf-god-thing?” Axel nodded. “Oh, you told me last night about that, and how Demyx was from the same world as you. Don’t you remember?”

“I did?” His complexion perked up.

“Well, yeah.”

“And you didn’t try to kill me?”

“Not really.” Although he did have to push him or his hands away a few times.

“Or run away?” If he’d had a tail, it would be wagging so hard, so very, very hard, right now.

The blond shook his head with a sigh. “I’m still here, aren’t I?”

Axel yipped. Axel yipped and then pounced on Roxas, knocking the smaller Nobody to the floor and onto his back. Then came the happy nuzzling and licking and other dog/wolf-like sounds that went with being happy. And scent-marking, because what kind of mate would he have been without rubbing his chin, throat, and cheeks all over Roxas’ face? And then, after his mate was all good and scented properly, Axel settled down and gave a contented huff-sigh that Canines were so prone to.

The rest of the room seemed to visibly relax as those with weapons out dismissed them, and Saïx slowly returned to his seat. In the meantime, Roxas was busy trying to push Axel off him, telling the ‘idiot’ that he was ‘too heavy’ and ‘about to crush him’. The redhead just laughed and continued to nuzzle him for a few more minutes before lifting himself off.

“::Tch::.” Demyx put his silverware down, pushed back from the table, and rose from his chair.

Xigbar looked over at him. “Kid? Where ya--”

“I’m not hungry anymore.” This drew the attention of the others as well as the ones on the floor. “And may I suggest that Roxas and Axel only be paired up with each other for all future missions? Unless any of you have a heavy jonesing for death.” He turned to stomp off.

“Kid--Demyx!” No response for Xigbar.

“Bro?” Axel’s shoulders hunched more.

“What’s wrong with him?” Somehow, it was Roxas’ simple question that got the Nocturne to stop.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me?” He whirled to face the group. “You’re the one involved with a killer, and you’re asking what’s up with ME?”

Number XIII shook his head. “We’re all killers here. We take people’s hearts.”

“Not on the same level, that’s--But Other Nobodies? You know what he is!”

The Key-holder shrugged. “So did you.”

Number IX grit his teeth. “I was stupid, young. I . . I didn’t think I could change him, but I thought I could figure him out. I was lucky and saw right off the bat that as long as I amused him, he wouldn’t eat me. I realized that was the key: keep him amused, and he’ll keep you alive. But I was wrong! I thought he had evolved! I thought he’d gotten bored with his old gig. He never . . .”

His head snapped up to show tears forming at the edges of his oceanic eyes. “He is a god of death and destruction! He sows fear, with despair and sorrow following in his wake. I thought, I thought he had moved on. Hero, he became a hero--he gave, WE gave Solaris, her people, all the time they needed to escape the Heartless devouring our world. We died so they could live. He killed us to save them. And then for the longest time after dying, Fenrir just got calmer and calmer, and I really started to think of him as ‘Axel’. Sure, we brought death together--but the plan is to bring life out of it, right? Kill some to bring others back to life, you know? But then . . . but then. . .”

The bardic male let his tears fall as he pointed an accusing finger at the fiery other. “But Then He Single-Handedly Killed Just Under Half Of The Organization! Every Death Can Be Tied To Him! He punched a Chakram through Vexen’s chest! He goaded Larxene into fighting Sora without backup--which he didn’t give to Lexaeus either! Then he lead that replica over to Zexion, convincing him that he should absorb him and take Zexy’s powers! And Marluxia? You probably convinced that mannequin to help Sora fight him. I was so wrong; you might keep us alive as long as we amuse you, but you’ll always be entertained by death!”

“True that, true that.” Brushing off his knees, Axel stood up again. “But we’ve already had this conversation before. And I didn’t kill Zex, reme--”

“You Did!”

“That was the clone-boy!”

“That Wind-Up Dolly Was Just Your Instrument Of Choice! You Killed Him! You Killed Him By Convincing It To Kill Him! You Killed Them All By Playing Both Sides Against Each Other! You’re A Fucking Manipulative Bastard! You’ll Fucking Kill Us ALL! YOU’LL BE INSTRU-FUCKING-MENTAL TO DESTROYING THE BROTHERHOOD!”

Roxas blinked, nonplused by the triad. Behind him Axel smiled a wide, wide, feral smile.

“Why . . . why aren’t you freaking out? Why are you okie with that?” He wasn’t crazy, Demyx knew that he wasn’t crazy.

“Because, I don’t have a heart.” No capacity to feel.

Demyx chocked back a sob.

“I don’t even have the memories of emotions, like some of you.” At this point the not-teen turned icy-blue eyes on those still seated at the table, causing a multitude of un-perceivable reactions from them.

“So . . . so you can just . . . just forgive everything that he’s done?”

Roxas blinked and turned back to the singer. “What does any of that have to do with me? Like you said, Fenrir was then, Axel is now.”

Struck speechless Demyx could only make unintelligible sounds. He looked to Xemnas for answers, opinions, but found the Superior lost in his own calculations. Nothing, no one to back him. Saïx would follow orders, the others might question Xemnas, voice concerns, but none of them would make the first move lest they incur the dark one’s wrath. No support for him until the verdict was in.

Fine.

Clenching his fists, the Melodious Nocturne pivoted on the balls of his feet. Without even a word, Demyx walked out into the endless night.

Xigbar cursed under his breath, throwing his napkin onto the table. “I’ll go after him--keep him from doing anything too dumb.” Vaulting up from his seat, the sharpshooter was hot on the other’s trail.

Axel sighed and cast a sidelong glance at the others. They looked willing to ignore what had just happened, but he could smell the underlying tension. Patting Roxas’ head, he too turned to leave. “I’ll eat later. You do what you want Rox.”

The blond looked at his friend’s retreating back, then to the four other inhumans. He blinked and then turned to follow after the redhead. Honestly, it was to keep the castle idiot out of trouble. Gods knew what he would do on his own.

From a corner of his mind, Xemnas watched them go. Numbers III and X went back to eating, commenting to innocuous elements of the meal. His pet continued to worry at his elbow, and yet there was nothing for her to worry over. Number IX had simply confirmed many of the theories and suppositions that he had formulated about Number VIII. Number XIII could be used as a control-rod of sorts, though Number IX’s reaction to the turn of events was unnecessarily complicating relationships and productivity. He would have to be watched at most, and separated from Number VIII at the least.

That was perturbing. But if it needed to be done, so be it.

“His tests will need to be redone.”

Saïx paused from picking up the dishes. “Sir?”

“Number Eight. All of his tests from when he first joined our ranks will need to be redone. Physicals, psychological evaluations--Any test done by Number Six regarding Number Eight--should be considered compromised. Besides, it is clear that his persona is undergoing some form of shift to one extreme or another. We will need information so as to prepare for his unavoidable exploitation of the situation, most likely in the name of ‘fun’ or ‘enjoyment’. In truth, I would have once been irked, knowing that all this time we had access to a veritable plethora of power that remained untapped thanks in part to the misguided machinations of one of the other Numbers. Alas, we could have saved untold time and energy by properly managing Number Eight's abilities to a higher level of potential. All the data that could have been gathered is now lost to the void, and yet perhaps by Number Six’s very misconduct we will be afforded with knowledge and opportunity that would have otherwise been lost to us. Indeed, Number Eight has been allowed to evolve in a radical direction--one that would never have been reached otherwise, due to Eight’s own chaotic nature, which would have been detrimentally affected by any regimented monitoring system I placed him under. His very Godhood may in fact be obtainable because he was allowed to grow at his own pace. But to channel it now, how to channel it?”

Saïx waited another moment for Xemnas to continue talking before he started clearing the table setting away. The others had left, finishing dinner long before the Superior returned from his reprieve. Master’s food was keeping warm in the stove, and the leftovers were already packed away.

All things were in order, and Master would eat when Master would eat.

She would make sure of it.

* * * * * *

“You didn’t ask him about the forgetfulness magicks.” His tone was bemused, inquisitive.

Riku looked up at the dark man stretched over him (buried inside him), before turning his turquoise gaze away. “It didn’t come up in the conversation.” His skin was already crawling from the way Ansem was brushing his fingertips over his pale form.

“Then I’d advise that you bring it up tomorrow.” His mind had awoken some hours after the incident in the toy-shop, the thoughts of which hovered in the teen’s short-term memory and begged the Heartless Lord to prod his boy about. Now that his host was sleeping, he could question him to his heart’s contentment.

“But you hate King Mickey. Why do you care about what he says?”

Ansem sighed before resting his forehead against the teen’s. “Hate is a very strong word that I do not use liberally on living beings so much as towards actions, ideologies, and other things which I find intellectually repugnant, and thus merit such a response from me. Truth be told though, he knows magick, and I’d like to keep you alive and safe rather than my pride.” With a soft kiss, he thought, ‘He might know something.’

Riku struggled to turn away from the kiss. “But what?”

“You won’t know until you ask him.” He nipped at the human’s neck. The teen squirmed, trying to throw the other off, but Ansem only smirked and cuddled closer to his prey. “That won’t work on me.”

‘Don’t care. Just get off. Get off, get off, get off, get off!’

In response to his thrashing, the Heartless Lord rolled his hips. Riku stilled and bit back a moan.

Ansem laughed and drew the child into a strong hug. The little silveret recoiled but couldn’t move away. Then the tentacles returned, touching softly at the edges of his shadow. He tried to pull into himself, to avoid what was to come next. But then the darkness slipped underneath him and swiped over his back.

Riku shuddered; Ansem was sucking on his neck, and his power kept running over one particular spot along his spine. He tried to stay quiet, dug his nails into the sheets below him, anything to keep his twilight from reacting, but the dark scholar was already burning him up from the inside and had even moved one of his hands down to pinch and tweak at a pink peak.

With a gasp, Riku lost his self-control, and his power rushed forth. Ansem twined their darknesses together, settling into a more comfortable position over the boy.

“A-ah!” He was pinned. Ansem held his power at bay, and he couldn’t move, couldn’t think. He wished that he couldn’t feel, but that seemed to be the only thing he could do outside of making sounds of involuntary pleasure.

‘Stop!’

‘But why?’ He traced the teen’s jaw with his tongue.

‘I don’t want this!’ There were tears in his eyes again.

The dark one laughed, for what addict ever wanted a cure? “You’ll learn to want this in time.” Then he captured those pouty lips that had so begged for his attention.

Riku whimpered, but his mouth was pried open and his senses were invaded.

A part of him was offended by the one behind the gray magick. By now, he should have been reviewing several different fetishes with his child, trying to find out all of his ‘kinks’ and turn-ons. Instead, he had to be always at the ready for the memory wiping spells that were being sent against them. It was infuriating. So much work being delayed, and for what cause?

He needed the child to speak with the rodent. If the light knew what plagued the child, he would gladly ferret out the answer from it.

But at the same time, something truly marvelous was happening: the teen was coming into some new power. Oh, he could walk worlds thanks to what the witch had shown him, and doubtless he would learn something from his mousey mentor. But to be able to talk to them, to speak with them, get answers back from them, true conversations with sentient beings! That . . . that made him want this child as his vessel all the more. This perfect little porcelain thing that had confounded him before. He would rule him, he would break his thoughts and free him from the light, show him his rightful place in the darkness!

Was there a connection? Were the spells of forgetfulness being sent against the boy because he had come into this new power? The attacks had started barely a day after the events on Tethlem--could it be the Universe itself reacting to protect the information?

He would need the boy to query the world as well as the rat. One of them was bound to have answers . . . well, have answers and be willing to give them.

Ansem was hardly moving inside him. Riku was grateful for the small blessing and prayed that he really wasn’t in the mood tonight. If he could just make it through the next few hours--or however long the bastard held him here--he would be allowed to dream again. He tried to stay as silent and still as he could, wanting to draw little attention to himself, so that he didn’t inadvertently bring the other’s attention back to him. His thighs trembled at the task, trying to keep him in place.

A moment later and it didn’t matter.

Riku’s eyes were wide, and he was screaming again.

Ansem pulled back, and bared his teeth in frustration. The spell was back, and he had to move quickly. His power lashed out against the gray blades, beating them back from his boy. Oh he would be all too happy when he could at last put a permanent stop to this madness.

Electricity sparked where the magicks contacted this night. The heartless male found himself momentarily stunned, but then he recovered himself with the horrible thought that, yes, the caster had started to take his presence into account.

Clutching the teen tight to him, Ansem swatted at the intrusive force. This would not be an easy night for them.

* * * * * *

Tongues coiled and slithered against each other. The invader rolled over his prey as the usually Superior male relented and flattened the dexterous muscle to the floor of his loquacious mouth. The feral beauty nearly purred, releasing his starchy present before vacating the area.

Saïx pulled back with (what once was) a self-satisfied smirk as Xemnas almost sullenly chewed on the bit of potato that had just been unconventionally passed to him. Turning back to his desk and paperwork, he didn’t fail to notice the blunet delicately nibble on a bit of broccoli.

“Must you?”

“Always. You have made it clear in the past that if you do not eat all of a meal, then this is the only way to ensure you do not go to bed hungry.”

“I regret those orders--”

“You didn’t wish to collapse from fatigue again, as that cut too harshly into your. . . ‘productivity’.” And he leaned in for a slightly greener kiss.

Saïx was used to ‘the little dance’ she always did with her alpha. It had been going on for many more moons then she could count now. Xemnas overworked himself, she took care to keep him from dying from that, Xemnas grumbled about it, she just smiled and continued to get in his way as he worked until he let himself be taken care of. Before she had joined the pack, the other five had helped in keeping him stable in their own ways, but Saïx’s current physical relationship was . . . more intimate . . .

No. It had simply lasted longer and grown more involved than any of his dalliances with the other elders. She had held on through sheer tenacity, sheer biological construction to support and maintain her alpha to ensure survival.

The others may have been loyal, but they had their breaking points where they would all start worrying about their own asses first and foremost. She, Saïx, could give herself over to her alpha for the good of the pack.

So . . . ‘he’ straddled dark hips, and pinned gloved hands to the armrest of the black-black leather-like chair that sat imposingly behind the ornate wooden desk with all of its pristine paper records that showed the movements of the stars. And the silver tray was in easy reach as ‘he’ pulled over the glass--filled with fruit-flavored veggie-juice then, and red wine now--to take a relaxing sip, before bringing closed lips back to ‘his’ love.

The dark theorist could taste the antioxidants on those pale lips and mentally groaned. Parting his coffee-colored lips he fully acknowledged that his second-in-command was trying to intoxicate him so as to better facilitate his nourishment, but the beneficence of the drink outweighed the miniscule amount of time that he would have gained from attempting to duel the other out of his mouth.

That and it stained things easily. And with his papers out in the open for the worlds to see, well, it was just easier to bite the bullet. Or, in this case, swallow it. So Xemnas leaned back to let his pet dominate him.

When Saïx broke away for air, there was only the thinnest trickle of wine at the corner of his master’s mouth. With a purr, she lapped at the trail before turning back to the forlorn dinner platter. Spearing a piece of the night’s roast on the end of a fork, he took the morsel into her mouth a moment later. The king of nothingness looked on his subject with eyes empty of hunger and met him with equal force when their lips came together. Xemnas tried to keep himself closed off from the other, but with encouraging nips and claw-nails trailing at his sides making him gasp, the entryway was breached, and his space invaded.

The lunar-blessed beauty stole into the warm depths opened to her, deposited the meaty tidbit, and retreated again. Almost. Flicking his tongue over her alpha’s teeth and gums as she went, Saïx took one last taste of the dark one before drawing out again.

The Superior glanced over at the dinner platter. “You will actually endeavor to feed me all of that?”

Feral eyes titled her head to the side with a half laugh. “It is but half a plate. And you were the one who left it. Since you do not tolerate waste, what else should I do?” Another bite from the potpie now.

Something that was not disdain crossed onto his face. Running the numbers through all the different variations and possible outcomes of the situation--i.e. resisting Saïx in his/her attempt in feeding him as compared to just relenting completely and eating normally--Xemnas was made alarmingly aware that his work ethic would fair far better if he sent the food back to the Nexus of Consumption . . . for the five minutes it would take for his pet to A) realize what had happened, B) react to what had happened, C) gauge her options to deal with the situation, and D) either tie the fearless leader down or tear his shapely form asunder. If, however, Xemnas allowed the food, and thus the distraction, to stay, there was an over seventy percent probability that his work would remain unfinished to greet him early the next morn.

At this point, the blunet rolled his hips into the daydreaming one, causing the enigmatic man to again accept the food offered up to him, and his mind to race down a different set of statistics: namely including Saïx’s libido into the equation, as well as his own for good measure. This time the analysis was just as hopeless for his work (the likelihood of it remaining unfinished spiked twenty percent at the minimum) but did allow for a thirty percent increase in the chance of starting his work at least two hours earlier the next morning, as his pet would still be recovering from their nighttime romp, and he would be only mildly worse for the wear and out of bed before his absence was registered.

Obviously sex was the answer in this case.

To that end, Xemnas opened a Dark Portal under and behind himself. A third party observing their antics from afar would think that the pair had fallen into the chair, when really it was just through folded space and onto the dark king’s oversized bed. Sunset eyes looked up from flat on his back at the moon-pale creature above him. The blunet smiled, turned to see the portal was closed, and opened a new one to reach through and bring forth the tray of food with the drink.

Looking back with a smirk at what was not a pout, Saïx said, “You’re not getting out of this so easily.” Before placing the fare down beside them. Laying herself over his master, Number VII began to cut up more of the food stuffs. Maybe she could convince Xemnas to eat on his own. But if not, well, she knew a few things that were sure to get him fed.

Xemnas continued in his not-pout, readjusted his calculations, and almost sighed. No rest for the wicked, nor for the weary. Infuriating, he had already spent his allotted time for the night at the meal tables, so why should the food follow him away from it? He had taken in enough sustenance for the day, so why should his eternal time be penalized when it could be put to the better use of curing their emotionless state?

Or hunting his own heart?

Well, maybe not that, at least not right away. It was residing within a Keyblade user, or one with the potential to use a Keyblade, and even if the numbers said that only one Nobody would be produced (even at a fifty percent probability at his own hands was far too high for his liking) there was still the distasteful reality that he would be pulling a useful pawn out of commission . . . And if Number XI hadn’t been so dead set in overthrowing him, Numbers IV, V, and VI could have captured the roving starlight for him to experiment on and extricate his own heart at his leisure. Infuriating. They were all dead, and they still impacted his plans. Left him swamped with work and short on manpower and--

“Open wide~. . .”

And being ‘spoon-fed’ by his second-in-command. Rather than interrupt his thoughts, the dark skinned man ‘opened wide’, taking in some gravy-soaked vegetables.

The kiss that followed on the mouthful’s heels was a . . . ‘delightful’ . . . surprise. Soon, more surprises were forth coming. Little claw-nicks at his robes, opening them bit by bit. Clothes being shed, covering his--their--floor. Some bread offered to him as distraction for his boots to be pulled off, then gloves tossed aside and well . . . there was very little of the pot-roast left by the time his pants were gone too.

Xemnas closed his eyes. A life ago . . . . this . . . would have been immensely satisfying. The red wine would have been optional. The sauces would have been dribbled on pale, pale skin, shared between him and his . . . teachers. At moments like this, he had to be sure that he was looking into the eyes of the bestial moon rather than the poisonous flower or dancing jade. How those green eyes vexed him so, haunting him, promising something ‘pleasant’ if he would just reach out to the dead. But he was dead, inside. That had hurt, forever and a day ago. Now . . . now his memories were faded, but for twilit moments like these when he held Saïx close and pretended, and let himself clutch at the trailing edges of wraiths better off forgotten and buried in the sea of stars in the deepest darkness.

But there was his lovely, looking up at him with hooded eyes and parted lips, and just the hint of dinner at the corner of his. . . . her mouth. So Xemnas relented and dipped down for a kiss.

Dinner that night was filling, for both of them. And he thought that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to get a late start tomorrow on that paperwork.
------------------------------------
[1] “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U40xBSz6Dc]

[2] Okay, I might have to play KH II again, but my memory goes like this: Chip and Dale were on Sora’s ship in game one, right? Or were they just on the intercom? Either way, they could have made it back to Disney Castle long before Game 2, and it’s already been a little more than 2 months since CoM----mm, Re:Com is so fun . . . . now if I just wasn’t stuck on Sora’s side. T_T----Anyway, help? How far off am I?

[3] Ojousan = Young Lady

[4] “Get A Move On” by Mr. Scruff [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS_CLIF1h-o]

[5] Okay at this point, unless I find other specific songs, he’s just stuck on a random Jazz station for now. As long as the song was published before I posted up this fic (April ‘07), it’s far game. . . . Actually that’s how any song that shows up in this fic should work. And if it doesn’t, call me on it because that’ll cause continuity errors down the line.

[6] Random Reader: Y U CHANGE WORLD NAME?!!?
Lynn: Is FF7 Reference! Go Look! . . . . Actually I’ve known that Galdrial was pretty close to Galdia for . . . . . an incredibly long time now. Considering what I plan to do with the plot by 3rd/4th book/story, I finally said, ‘Why not? Might as well see who else gets the reference.’

[7] “IT’S OVER 9000!” “9000?!” . . . . Yes, I do find it funny. Be prepared for me to sneak it in every so many chapters for my own amusement.

[8] I thought this was clear but. . . ‘pot’ roast, ‘pot’ pie, and to complete the pattern ‘pot’, aka hash or ‘special’, brownies. Axel had a vain hope that there were drugged brownies for desert. Alas, there were none, and we see that he didn’t stick around for any of Dem-Dem’s cookies.

[9] I’m sorry, I can’t write his accent. It’s a fake British accent, and I don’t know enough British terms to make it sound real. Maybe my betas or some of you nice readers know how to fix it. Comments/suggestions/corrections are loved.

[10] If my Isa wasn’t female, and if Axel didn’t know that my Isa was female, yes, this would be soooooooo OOC for him to think/say. But since he does mean a female wolf. . .

A/N: [[Removed to comply with new AFF guidelines. Please see the MM.org version for full A/Ns: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/156268]]
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“Angel of Twilight: Clockwork Breakdown”