Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ The Gambling Series ❯ Puzzled ( Chapter 8 )

 

Zexion had innocently been looking at one of his magazine he kept piled in his closet, but atop it sat a Sudoku book. He'd been steadily working through the puzzles for the past couple hours and he'd reached some of the higher leveled grids, rated five stars and higher, when he felt the presence of a portal being opened in his room. A card hand been dropped, fluttering to the ground. It looked like a playing card, and so he ignored it, but after being so distracted with curiosity that he couldn't fill in a box to complete his puzzle, he sighed, getting up to see what it was about. When he flipped it over, the blue haired young man found it was blank on the other side, cryptic writing. All it said was, “Meet in the common room area. Now.”

 

Staring hard at the card he decided he'd take the bait. It was Xemnas' writing, no doubt, but what did he want that he possibly couldn't have just asked for? Using a door to darkness and transporting right outside the common room door, he pushed it open, only to find that as soon as he had stepped in, the common room had been transformed into a maze, the walls as high as the ceiling. The door disappeared behind him, becoming part of the wall. Before him were three entrances to the white washed maze, a card on the floor in front of the middle. Although he was intrigued, Zexion wasn't up for any games. He opened a portal and stepped back into his room—only to end up back where he had been standing. He narrowed his eyes, arms folded across his T-shirt. So Xemnas wasn't going to let him escape huh?

 

Just to make sure, he tried another portal to the other side of the room, across the maze, but as before, he ended up where he had just been standing. He could be stubborn and wait Xemnas out, but if this was just a game and nothing too important than the lazy Superior would outwait him. Zexion's boss would redirect all his portals back here, a comforting thought if he got lost, but then he doubted he'd find a fridge or bathroom along the way, even if he could sleep on the floor, which meant he'd be stuck until he got through the damn maze. Oh well; he was a wizard at puzzles and this would be no exception. Looking around, all he could see where the three options before him. Picking up the card he turned it over, seeing that it advised not to take the path on the right. This was either a trick, or else solid advice. He was curious as to what would be on the right, but decided to heed the card, instead taking the path before him, the middle on. It stretched forward a ways before forking off left and right. He took the right, turned left, left again, and came across—Demyx.

 

The blonde was scratching his head, looking confused, but when he saw Zexion, he brightened.

 

“Zexion! Am I glad to see you!” Skipping up to the brunette he grabbed his arm, giving him a puppy face. “Help me get out of this mess! You have to!” Zexion sighed and took his arm back.

 

“How long have you been here? Did Xemnas send for you as well?” The blonde nodded, taking a shaking breath.

 

“I've been here a pretty long while actually. Heh. I have no idea how long though.” Although the puzzle master looked skeptical, he just shook his head.

 

“Fine.” Happily, Demyx bounded behind Zexion. He wasn't weary, that was for sure, but the blonde was probably overestimating how long he'd been in there. If he was stuck and impatient, only a few moments could seem like forever.

 

“Try not too talk too much, okay?” he requested with a slight tone of irritability; he needed to concentrate. Demyx nodded his head vigorously.

 

“I only have a couple of cards. They don't make sense to me though. Maybe they could help you?” A little shakily, he withdrew two cards, similar to the ones Zexion had, from inside his coat pocket.

 

Delicately removing them from the other's grasp, he looked them over. They looked like a poem…. No, maybe a song:

 

 

<i>Dirty babe

You see these shackles

Baby I'm your slave</i>

 

 

And

 

 

<i>I'm bringing sexy back

Them other boys watch while I attack</i>

 

 

But what was it supposed to mean for a song? Scrutinizing the paper carefully, Zexion looked for some meaning of direction, or instruction, but other than what it implied, it didn't help. What could Xemnas be planning? From these two cards alone, he felt it wouldn't be pretty—it would be twisted and perverse, but maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe it was a clue for an obstacle he ran into. Zexion didn't know what to expect, so he tried to keep his options open.

 

“Have you made any sense of it?” Demyx asked apprehensively, eagerly.

 

“I don't know,” the other finally replied, at length. The blonde was crestfallen, but he perked up soon enough.

 

“So where should we go?” Zexion shrugged, replying nonchalantly.

 

“Forward.” It was evasive, but sufficient, considering neither knew where they were going. Striding silently the way it seemed Demyx had been coming from, he hit a fork in the road, splitting in three directions.

 

“I just came from there,” the blonde supplied, pointing to their left. But Zexion didn't really care to know. Demyx had been lost all too long, and he wanted to figure this out himself from his own wandering. He didn't know what was down there; Demyx could have overlooked something, or taken a wrong turn. Zexion pointed this out, patting the blonde on the shoulder when he looked about to cry.

 

“I'm not good at this!” Demyx bit out savagely, frustrated.

 

“Calm down. I may not do any better than you. We'll take the straight and narrow.” And so, coaxing the other down the middle path, it was no lie that it was straight and narrow. The walls became so pressed together that they had to walk with their backs to one wall and shuffle along.

 

“Are you sure it's such a good idea to travel this way?” Demyx asked, worried.

 

“It could be,” Zexion replied passively. “It could be that it's more difficult to get to the end, so we should keep going, but who knows?” He stopped abruptly, Demyx running into him.

 

“Ow!”

 

“Another card.” A card was lying face down in the middle of their path, but they were squeezed between the walls, with enough room to barely get by. There was no way Zexion could bend over to pick it up. The opposite wall was barely an inch from his nose, and turning to look down the hall, it seemed to continue on a long ways, feasibly getting narrower and narrower. He turned to Demyx who was flat against the wall beside him, silently inquiring what to do. Blinking, Zexion looked down either hall again, closed his eyes, straightened, then stepped forward, stretching his arms out. One hand hit the wall he had been pressed against, the other reached only air. Demyx looked astonished, having to blink a few times.

 

The hall that had been so skinny moments ago, now looked like a regular corridor again, enough room between the walls to stretch fingertip to fingertip and very nearly brush the paint with both hands. Zexion picked up the card, reading it silently, then aloud.

 

“You figured out the illusion, so here's a clue: let sleeping dogs lie.” Pondering the words a moment, he pocketed the card, with all the others. Demyx just blinked, astonished.

 

“How….what—?” He was stuttering for words, grabbing at air where the wall that had previously been bearing down on him used to be and trying to understand how it worked. He was tentative to step forward. Zexion smiled faintly, a little amused at how easily confused poor Demyx was.

 

“It was just an illusion Demyx. We thought it was physical, however, illusions are not. It was only a visual trick. See? Even the hallway that used to stretch forever has split into a fork.” The blue hair man pointed this out and Demyx looked quizzically at the two stretches of corridor suspiciously.

 

“So which way now?” As though he didn't need to think about it at all, Zexion took the right fork, immediately turning a corner. He could seen a corner beyond that, but he never made it. Instead, he walked smack into another wall. Upon further inspection, he found it was a dead end, painted, with a bit of a trick to it that made it seem more real. He frowned.

 

Zexion should have been more cautious. He wasn't over confident, but maybe he was underestimating the maze. Nothing had been very hard, so far, but if he wasn't too careful he might end up with a few more bruises, or even worse, though he doubted Xemnas would do anything to lose their life. Turning around, he saw a concerned, confused Demyx, and behind him a rather large Rabid, a heartless that looked like a dog. It was dozing, and behind it, another card. They seemed trapped. He could teleport them to the beginning if things got hairy, but then he'd just be running away and they'd never make it. Although he was adept at his own illusionary skills, his own puzzles, he wasn't too bad at hand to hand combat, though he wasn't going to try that against a heartless unless he had to, and even then, it was self defense. Demyx controlled water. What a team.

 

“Demyx,” his voice was about as soft as a whisper. “No don't talk, just come here.” With a questioning look on his face, the blonde approached Zexion, and was then turning around by his shoulders. He gasped softly, taken aback, startled. That thing hadn't been there before!

 

“WHA—!” he started to exclaim, but was cut short with a hand to his mouth.

 

“Hush. If our card is really any clue, it says, `Let sleeping dogs lie.'”

 

The blonde thought a moment.

 

“Should we just let it sleep then?” he asked, dropping his voice to a whisper, eyes never leaving the ink black color of fur, the big, red, spiked collar, the floppy ears. Zexion remained silent, back to the dead end and sliding to the floor, eyes narrowed in observation.

 

“I don't know. It's definitely not a hoax.” He bit his lower lip, assessing the situation; beside him Demyx slid to the floor with a huff, hugging his knees. They sat for long moments and soon, Demyx's head was on Zexion's shoulder. He was dozing, eyes fluttered close and features soft, limp. He'd really fallen asleep so quickly…? Maybe he <i>had</i> been wandering around a long time and was mentally exhausted, maybe even physically exhausted. Zexion closed his eyes to rest as well, to think. What would happen if they woke the Rabid up? He could send an imaginary bone its way or something to distract it, so it wouldn't be a huge deal, despite its large size. Or would something else happen instead?

 

Grumbling quietly to himself, he played with his hair, watching the beast before them breathe steadily. The blonde on his shoulder muttered something in his sleep. Gently shaking Demyx awake with one hand, he tried not to startle him awake, giving themselves away and waking the heartless.  He didn't know what would happen, but just sitting there would accomplish nothing.

 

"Huh... wha--?" the blonde murmured sleepily, pulling on Zexion's sleeve and snuggling closer.  "Five more minutes." 

 

"Shhh.  Wake up Demyx." 

 

"Mmmm...."  Rubbing blue eyes awake like a sleepy little boy, he gave a wide yawn, halting in mid stretch as he noticed the Rabid.  Whimpering, he remained quiet.

 

"What... are we going to do?" he whispered, looking to the brunette for guidance. 

 

"There's a card on the other side of it.  I'll retrieve it, see what it says, and if we can both get around it, we'll get going.  I'll trap it in with an illusion." 

 

Demyx nodded, sitting still as the puzzle master stood, cautiously looking over the slumbering beast.  Beyond it lay the card, face down.  Treading quietly, he pressed against the wall, eyes never leaving the grotesque countenance of the dog.  It was large enough to fill the width of the doorway, barely giving enough room for anyone to sneak by. Fortunately for Zexion, he was small, and for that he was glad. Keeping one eye on the Rabid, he cautious began to step over its crooked tail, a foul and mangy smell tickling his nose. Wrinkling his nose, and carefully watching the beast, he was surprised to hear the thump of something. Looking up quizzically from the sight of the crooked tail wagging, he found a goofy dog grin plastered to the heartless's countenance.

 

Swallowing, and standing on tiptoes, he made a mental note that if the dog got any happier and wagged its tail harder, he would be in pain. Holding his breath and timing his sideways dive he rolled on his shoulder as soon as the tail hit the floor, giving him room to throw his leg over without hitting the Rabid's tail, the smacking sound also muffling any noise he might have made. Noticing the heartless hadn't seemed to have stirred, he crawled over to the card, picking it up and pocketing it before standing and pressing close to the wall to check on Demyx. Blue eyes wide, face blanched he stared, stock still. The Rabid had woken up. Growling as it stretched its large shaggy frame it took a step towards Demyx, surprising both nobodies when it talked.

 

“Look now, you woke me up! I was sleeping so peacefully and you just rudely woke me up.”

 

Demyx looked utterly confused, Zexion stepping forward to help protect the unstable blonde, who was shocked enough to be completely taken off guard if the heartless decided to attack.

 

“You!” the rabid accused as the brunette came into view. Jumping and growling, his barking voice grew louder. “You have something of mine!” Zexion looked hard at the beast, considering something with dark, deep, blue narrowed eyes. It was a guess, but it might work. He held up the card and waved it front of the heartless.

 

“That's mine!”

 

“No it's not.”

 

“Yes it is! Give me back my soda can.” The blonde looked even more confused.

 

“It's not a soda can,” Zexion said calmly.

 

“It is! I need my soda can!” the heartless growled, pawing the floor. Suddenly, the card appeared to be a soda can. The dog looked baffled, as did Demyx.

 

“This soda can?”

 

“No, it's a brick! Give it back, I need it.”

 

“It's not a brick,” the blonde frowned, making the dog growl.

 

“Yes it is!” As the dog argued, the soda can changed into a brick. “Give me my goldfish! I need it! No wait, not the goldfish, that sneaker belongs to me!”

 

“You want this?” Zexion asked, holding up a teddy bear.

 

“Yes!”

 

“Do you need this?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But you don't want it?”

 

“Yes, I want it.”

 

“You want it but you don't need it?”

 

“……No, I need it.” The heartless looked confused, red tongue hanging out as it sat and thought from previous jumping up and down in its excitement. The stuffed animal changed back into a card. It had only been an illusion.

 

“You said you wanted it and you needed it,” Demyx frowned, not sure what Zexion was onto exactly. The whole thing was just confusing.

 

“Can I have it if you don't want it?” Zexion asked, a coy smile on his lips.

 

“No! I want it, you can't have it!”

 

“Thank you.” Zexion pocketed the card once more, finding Demyx's arm to pull him along. The Rabid growled.

 

“I didn't say you could have it!”

 

“You didn't say I couldn't have it!”

 

“Yes I did!”

 

“You did say we couldn't have it,” the blonde mused.

 

The heartless was aghast.

 

“No, no! I didn't say you couldn't have it!” it hastily tried to convince, whining like the dog it resembled.

 

“Wait a minute but….” Demyx held his head. “This is too confusing!” Sticking out his lower lip, he pouted.

 

“Thank you for letting us have it,” Zexion said warmly. “Come on Demyx, we'll be on our way.”

 

“Stop! I didn't say that at all! It's mine, I need it! I need that pocket book!” Zexion rounded on the beast, looking annoyed.

 

“Stop telling the truth already!” Tugging Demyx along, he managed to get past the Rabid, the other nobody about to protest and ask what was going on, but the heartless gave a loud growl, legs coiled to spring and pounce on its prey. It had given up its line of thought, resorting to fighting instead.

 

Before the frustrated Rabid could finish its assault and land on them, it was hit with a forceful blast of water, sending it sprawling back. Demyx wasn't always clear headed, especially in battle, so he had panicked, drawing from his adrenaline rush and using one of his only tools against the heartless in his defense. Taking the opportunity to trap the dog-like creature in an illusion, a cage it couldn't get out of, Zexion hurriedly pulled Demyx along.

 

“What was that all about?” Demyx asked, head still spinning. Zexion smiled smugly.

 

“The card said, `Let sleeping dogs lie.' Since it was lying when I told it to stop telling the truth, it would have had to say it was telling the truth. But because of that statement it, it wouldn't have actually been telling the truth if it lied.”

 

“Oh.” Demyx was still confused. Walking down the hall they'd come from, wary of the heartless of any more traps, they took a different route this time, the plain white walls the only thing accompanying them a ways, before Demyx remembered something.

 

“The card…. What did it say?” he asked curiously, walking almost sideways and looking the other up and down as though he'd be able to see the card on him, despite it having been pocketed. Stopping in the middle of the hall, having it branch out either way, he pulled out the card they'd yet to have a chance at reading.

 

<i>I think you're special what's behind your back
Them other boys don't know how to act</i>

 

 

"Another part of song lyrics?" Zexion murmured.

 

"I still don't know what a song's supposed to do with anything," Demyx huffed, exasperated.  Zexion just shook his head after a moment.

 

  "Who knows?"

 

  "Xemnas," the blonde grumbled, bringing a smile to the brunette's lips, but falling short.  It was true, the bastard. Knowing that grumbling wouldn't get them anywhere, Zexion fell silent a moment, in thought and beginning to wander on, though it seemed more like he had no clue where he was going.  At least when he was guessing he had some supporting idea for where he went.  Following behind like a loyal lap dog, Demyx caught the brunette's hand, not wanting to be left behind or caught of guard for any reason. 

 

"Where should we head?" he asked tentatively, looking either way, down his left, feasibly towards the entrance, and to the right, feasibly leading closer to the exit. 

 

It would seem at one point they would hit one of the walls, but for as long as they walked, winding down isles and around corners, they never found it.  Either they were completely lost and had no sense of direction or self, or the room was a lot bigger than he remembered.  Probably both, in his case, and most definitely the latter.  At least they hadn't run into anything too suspicious yet; Zexion seemed to sense when something would be amiss, and purposefully avoided it, despite needing to run into trouble just to obtain clues.  Or was Zexion onto something? 

 

"Do you have any idea what you're doing, Zexion?  Or do you have a lead maybe?" Demyx asked, shadowing the other's heels and wishing he didn't sound so pitiably hopeless, even if he felt that way.  Zexion was silent, stopping once he entered a clearing, several cards on the floor. 

 

"Perhaps," was his stolid answer, though he could barely hide the interest in his voice upon seeing the small cards of paper.

 

Their presence stopped Demyx as well.  Stepping forward and holding a hand in front of the blonde to keep him from going forward, he took the liberty to assess the situation.  Hesitantly picking up one card, looking about and focused on everything else, he cautiously began to straighten up before a whirlwind of paper flew about them.  With a short cry Demyx hit the floor before he realized what they were.  They were cards and they were slowly flooding the room.  To make things worse, the corridor behind them had disappeared, which Demyx confirmed by shouting and banging on the wall.  It was quite solid.  Trying to be careful around all the paper, he gave up, stepping all over the cards and making his way to Zexion.  The sound of paper was actually loud. 

 

"What's it say?" the blonde inquired, keeping his head down and hoping he wouldn't get a paper cut.  Zexion frowned, pulling Demyx closer so they could avoid being sliced by raining paper.  He turned it over so they could read it together.

 

"Good luck finding the real clues.  It could take awhile," Demyx mumbled, blanching. 

Together, the two looked at the room.  The cards were ankle deep already.  Looking like he wanted to cry, Demyx received a pat on the shoulder.

 

"Just start looking.  Ball up the ones that aren't it," the other nobody encouraged before setting off to look for their clues.  Chances were he wouldn't even need the clues, but whether or not he did, it was apparent they wouldn't be let out of the room until they found them.  How many were there?  Were they even valid hints? Plopping down in the middle of the storm, he begrudgingly picked up one, finding it blank and balling it up to toss over his shoulder. Going about this way, three or four replacing the one he had just crumpled. Stealing a look at Zexion, he saw him looking at a card, before pocketing it, apparently a gesture that meant he'd found a clue. Feeling even more disheartened, stared about him in misery, heaving a sigh before slowly picking up each card in turn and finding it was blank. This would take forever! Gritting his teeth against his despair, Demyx decided sulking wouldn't help, only inhibit him, so he picked up the pace. Not thinking about anything in particular, he had gone through quite a few, trying not to get frustrated. His hands actually hurt from handling so much paper.

 

Zexion was on his knees in a corner of the room, paper fluttering around him, the clues peeking one corner out from his jeans pocket as he sifted through the cards in small handfuls, crumpling them up. A better idea would be to send them through the portal back to the beginning, but maybe that wasn't a valid answer, and who said Xemnas wouldn't just make it rain back down on them? Besides, they needed their energy for other things. He'd found one, but the previous card had said, “Good luck finding the real clues.” <i>Clues…..</i> That was plural, but how many were there left? One more? Three more? Probably not very many, and knowing their luck, it would be only one more. What would happen when they'd found them all? Would one of them tell them how to escape? Probably not, but all they could do was keep looking. After mindless searching through dozens more, slowly making his way across one end of the room, it seemed the storm of paper had slowed down, but by no means had stopped.

 

Looking at the blonde from time to time, he seemed to be taking it really hard, stifling his cries of frustration, tears leaking down his face nonetheless. Poor Demyx…. Zexion wanted to pat his shoulder and tell him all would be well, they'd play Xemnas stupid game, and maybe even get back at him. He was already formulating something his head as the two of them searched for clues, but he thought if he went over to the other nobody now, he'd burst into tears and they'd sit there while it rained blank cards around them, and nothing would get down; so he kept looking. Although it may have been useless to look somewhere else if the clue had yet to fall, it'd be pointless to sit there if it had. Working his way to the other corner, he reached his hands through the shuffle of paper to randomly draw out cards. Muttering to himself, he crumpled the first two, tossing them aside, but the third one. Another clue? What a coincidence. He read it—more song lyrics, like the first one. Pocketing it, the brunette wondered if he should tell Demyx. It would either lift his spirits or crush him, but his trail of thought derailed when he heard an excited shout from Demyx. Looking over to the blonde, he was holding up a card in one hand, covering his mouth and looking embarrassed with the other.

 

Noticing Zexion was giving him an odd look, then a smile, the blonde returned the gesture with a sheepish grin.

 

“I found one!” he announced, sounding happy enough, and as he waded over to Zexion to let him read it, the storm of paper stopped. It took them long enough to let Demyx read the two cards Zexion had found before the puzzle master noticed.

 

“<i>`Let me see what you're working with. Look at those hips.' `Come here girl. Take `em to the bridge.</i>'” Demyx read aloud, then read his for Zexion, who wasn't paying attention to the written words at all but looking around.

 

“And mine says, `Congratulations you've found a hint, now here's another. I hope you're patient, because this next one really bites.'” Frowning, he looked up, brows knit in puzzling thought. Blinking, at a curious loss for words he looked up, disbelieving, then elicited a cry of delight, jumping like a little kid and hugging Zexion without thinking.

 

“It stopped! It finally stopped! Hurray!” Giggling, he recollected himself with a cherubic smile, too antsy to want to stand still, despite Zexion's calm demeanor.

 

“Really bites?” the brunette murmured to himself, frowning. “That's probably not good.” Demyx looked up, paling, not sure how he should react.

 

“B-bite?” With a whooshing sound, a doorway appeared opposite of where they came in, sending papers flying down the hall with the suction of suppressed air. Looking once to the other nobody, Zexion prompted him forward without further thought, pulling him by the upper arm. If there was anything that might bite, there wasn't much they could do until they ran into it and knew what it was. The rest of the lyrics resounded in his blue haired head. Were they valid clues as well? `Look at those hips.' Whose hips? What did their hips have to do with anything? Did Xemnas slip something he didn't know about on them? Or maybe it was just a ridiculing statement…. They had been walking down a straight, fairly wide hallway, slanting off at diagonal angles, then leading straight once more. Zexion had been following behind Demyx, a little lost in thought, when he abruptly bumped into him. Muttering an apology, he stepped around him to find they had come across a pier, and several feet below, was water layered with a thin mist. Reeds poked out, cat tails growing along the side, two fishing rods laying on the deck. Was this all an illusion?

 

It did mention something about taking them to a bridge but was this? How many bridges dead ended in the middle? No, it was a fishing pier. So they were supposed to fish?

 

“Fishing for clues?” Demyx asked in wondering, approaching of the poles and picking it up. It was a cane pole, a heavy stick, a sturdy length of string, and a baitless hook. It did make sense. If they were tired, they could rest while they fished. It would also give them time to think, so while Zexion picked up a pole, sitting on the dock neck to Demyx and dropping his line in the water, he wondered how the clues would bite. He assumed they were cards, but maybe they came in a different fashion this time? Sitting for long moments, Demyx was unusually quiet. Was he tired? Disheartened? He didn't want to be here any more than Zexion did, but it must have been frustrating for him. How long had he been here before Zexion had come in? He'd said a long time, but how long was that? Nevermind; it wouldn't matter to ask, especially since there wasn't much they could do but try and get through Xemnas' perverse game.

 

“I wonder how you can catch something without bait?” Demyx wondered aloud at one point, sighing, his pole loose in one hand, his other propped on a knee of his crossed legs, supporting his head. Zexion said nothing. He didn't have an answer himself, but he didn't know what to expect with Xemnas' games. Fish? Something else? Another moment later he got his answer. Something tugged at Demyx's line.

 

“Oh!” Not expecting the sudden, rather strong tug, he quickly jerked, something floundering in the water below. Excitedly jumping to his feet, the blonde pulled his line up, bringing it closer to inspect the limp, dripping object he had caught. After unhooking it, and upon further inspection, it looked like a pair of….underwear? Zexion looked rather unnerved, his underwear hanging on the line, a man's thong he'd received as a gag gift from Xemnas not all that long ago. He'd been meaning to burn it, but lately he hadn't been able to find the bright red stigma of Xemnas' twisted perversion. There appeared to be something written on it.

 

“Er….what does it say?” he tentatively asked, eyeing the black marks. Demyx turned it over, perplexed as to why he'd caught a pair of underwear, slightly flustered that it had to be something as intimately embarrassing as a thong.

 

“It says….. `Axel was here.'” He looked up, frowning, to Zexion who slapped his forehead. Axel?

 

“Let me see,” he reached up for the token, Demyx gingerly holding onto it, handing it over. Wringing it out so it wasn't dripping, he looked it over. `Axel was here.' It wasn't Xemnas' writing, but it had done in marker. No, Xemnas had pretty hand writing, for as masculine as he was.

 

Maybe the Superior asked Axel to write it…..? It didn't matter. It didn't serve as a clue, he supposed, at least not a logical one. Sighing, setting it aside to throw back in when they were done, Zexion looked disgruntled at the still waters, the mist swirling in vaporous plumes. Although questioning, Demyx said nothing as he sat back down, dropping his line back in. For a short while they continued to sit, a vague idea waltzing into Zexion's head as he thought, but it was interrupted by Demyx jumping back up to his feet with a tug of his cane pole. Curiously standing, Zexion was a little apprehensive, the blonde easily pulling up the line with—a fish. It was a small, plain looking fish, tail beating back and forth in the air, gills flapping.

 

“Aww….poor fishie!” Demyx nearly crooned, but when he reached his hand near, the fish wiggled and he squealed, nearly dropping the line. “Zexion! Get it off! It won't let me touch it!” Rolling his eyes at how girlishly the other was acting, the brunette took the line in one hand, carefully holding the small fish in the other, sliding his hands down over its fins so it couldn't cut him, as sharp as fish fins were. It wiggled and squirmed, trying to get free as Zexion gently removed the hook from its lip.

 

About to throw the fish back, he was stopped.

 

“Wait!” A look of concentration crossed Demyx's face, a globe of water rising from the lake, rather large, but a little small for the fish's size.

 

“Put it in here!” Demyx said excitedly, the water murky, but still translucent enough to see what was floating in there. With an amused smile, he gently placed the eager fish in the water ball hovering between the blonde's hands. The creature immediately darted away, shooting out one side of the water globe, probably confused, but Demyx managed to catch it, laughing as it landed with a splash. Unable to hold back a wider smile, Zexion just shook his head, picking up his pole again. Playing with the fish and getting it to settle down, Demyx stared at it, murmuring to it from time to time. Finally, he let it go, gently lowering the globe of water back into the pond-lake-swamp thing they were in, letting the water displace slowly, the fish happy to return to its home as Demyx said his farewell.

 

“Goodbye Demyx Jr.! Don't get caught again so you can grow up big and strong!” Sighing, the blonde picked his cane pole back up as well, dropping the line in the water once more. He named the fish after himself? Zexion merely shook his head, laughing inwardly. What a character.

 

For awhile they sat, Demyx's stomach giving a growl. He put a hand to his tummy with a crestfallen look, sighing, but patiently waiting. Zexion's line remained inactive, but Demyx seemed to have all the luck. That was good though. It gave him something to do and raised his spirits from having such terrible luck before. For the third time, he stood, less exuberant, but anticipating what was on the line. Was it another fish? Maybe they could cook it, since he was starving, but he couldn't bring himself to kill a fish. He could cook it, but he couldn't it. Surprisingly enough, it was a card, though how it had hooked itself on the line was beyond either of them. Zexion noticed it hadn't been in the water very long or it would have deteriorated by now. Carefully removing the card and trying not to tear it, Demyx put his pole down and read it, the brunette hovering over his shoulder and reading as well, standing on his toes.

 

“Itadakimasu?” he said, reading the slick card, the ink slightly running. They were fishing from a pier in the middle of a swamp, how could they be having dinner?

 

The blonde groaned, his stomach grumbling again.

 

“Itadakimasu…. It's just making me hungrier!” He pouted, Zexion placing a consoling hand on his shoulder. They'd been there quite awhile already, but Demyx had been here before him. Sighing heavily, Demyx reached down for his pole to drop in the water—only there was no one more water. It had disappeared, the trails of fog still rolling far below, inches above the naked ground. It was unsettling. They couldn't catch dinner anymore. Clues….was one of the other catches a clue? The fish didn't seem very suspicious but his underwear? `Axel was here….' Did that really mean something?

 

“Demyx Jr.,” the water boy despaired, turning his back to the pier and trudging back the way they'd come. Finding his underwear had disappeared when he wasn't looking, Zexion followed behind the blonde, glancing over his shoulder a last time. Attempting to dry the card the best he could as they walked, fanning it, he remained silent, wondering how all this played together. Back through the zigzagging diagonals of hallway, they reached the previous room, once filled with cards. It had been a one way street the first time, and this time it was no different. The room, however, was devoid of cards, instead set up like a buffet, a table against the far wall lined with foods, lamps set up around them to keep them warm and make them look all the more delicious.

 

Demyx whined, like a dog begging for a bite of people food.

 

“Careful,” Zexion warned, but only because he was cautious. He wasn't exactly going to test for poison, but he was wary of any tricks up the bastard Xemnas' rather long sleeves. A table for two with enough space for three invited them to sit, small plates and bowls of various sizes at either end of the buffet table. Approaching the steaming dishes, Demyx, grabbed a large bowl, looking pitifully at Zexion for an okay, to which he nodded in reply. If Demyx had a tail, it would have been wagging happily. Tsukimi udon and kare udon, sukiyaki, white rice, pork buns, anmitsu and fortune cookies for dessert, sticks of fried squid, and almost mockingly yakizakana, offered in wraps of wax paper. Though it almost seemed like nice dining on the go, at least it was a decent variety, given how small the table was. And sitting nicely on the end was a small sweet melon, carved like a bowl and filled with lychee fruit, accompanied by pitchers of green tea and water, glasses aside. Helping himself, Demyx filled one bowl, another with rice. Setting it down at the table and returning with a couple sticks of fried squid legs as well as a modest dish of anmitsu. Waiting patiently for Zexion, they broke their chopsticks.

 

“Itadakimasu!” Then began the ritual of eating. Though Demyx was quite hungry he took his time, commenting on the quality of the food, being something of a cook himself, and knowing that if he ate too fast he'd just get a stomach ache.

 

Nibbling at his fish in thought, they ate quietly.

 

“Gochisosama!” Demyx murmured, quite pleased now that he'd eaten. He sighed comfortably. “I wonder who made the food?” As if in after thought he stood, returning to the buffet table and coming back, pork buns wrapped up in his coat pocket.

 

“For later, just in case,” he explained. “Fortune cookie?” Zexion took one, lost in thought, trying to figure out the deal with the lyrics. They were clues, but they weren't. There was something more to them. Maybe the objective of the whole maze? But from what he remembered the cards saying, it sounded rather… twisted, to say the least, but this was a game coming from a twisted man, so it wasn't impossible. Demyx broke his fortune cookies, crunching one half and reading his slip of paper.

 

“Hey! This isn't a fortune. It says, `Wrong one! Guess again!'” He gave Zexion a pouting look, then seemed to realize himself. “Oh.” He ate the rest of his cookie, the brunette eagerly tearing his open. The fortune read, “Wrong again.”

 

“So there's a clue in the fortune cookies?” he looked up to Demyx to returned with the whole tub of cookies, sitting on the floor at Zexion's feet. He began opening the cookies, eating a couple more as he went, but all the messages either said they were incorrect, or were just blank.

 

Zexion was on his third one, merely breaking them to find a false message before setting them aside, but this one was different.

 

“You won't get a clue if you don't eat the cookies too,” he read aloud, grabbing Demyx's attention. The blonde frowned, looking down at the bin of golden brown fortune cookies.

 

“But I'm already full!” he complained. This wasn't fair! Even if he'd thought about eating a fortune cookie before the rest of his meal, he still wouldn't want to eat this many of them. Zexion looked to his small pile of uneaten cookies. Was Xemnas being serious? He didn't know. If they were already set up that way, then it wouldn't matter if they ate them or not.

 

`But,' his voice of reason rationalized, `this isn't a fair game either. Xemnas controls it. He could easily use his powers of nothingness to give us the one cookie we need if don't eat the stupid things. I'm sure he's watching us too and that's how he knows. How else would Demyx have caught my underwear, and a card?' Sighing, he ate his cookies.

 

“Just take your time,” he advised, grumbling and eating the stupid cookies.

 

They'd eaten a small pile already, at least a good dozen and a half. Demyx gave up after eating eight of them, groaning and laying on his back, leaving Zexion to hardily push forward, since he'd eaten less to begin with, albeit he hadn't been as hungry.

 

“Here. It says, `Look under the tables. You're really hopeless, you know that?'” Zexion read through a mouthful of fortune cookie. Peering under the table, he found a card had bee taped there. Carefully removing it, he flashed it for Demyx to see, swallowing his mouthful and taking a drink first.

 

“`<i>Come to the back. VIP. Drinks on me.</i>'” Although it seemed to indicate more or less what they'd accomplished, he wasn't sure what else to think, unless it was exclusively just drinks. Alcohol maybe? And would they be considered VIP? What about the bridge though; had the pier qualified for a bridge?

 

“Hey Zexion, that wasn't there before was it?” Still lying on the floor, Demyx pointed to a door adjacent both to the ways they'd come and gone. The brunette shook shaggy blue hair. Sitting up, the blonde got to his feet.

 

“I guess we check it out then? Since we don't have anywhere else to go.” Hands behind his head, he looked to Zexion for confirmation. He nodded, joining the other nobody, and together they entered into a rather large room. Across a wide span, leading to another door was a bridge, and far below it, a deep black chasm. The bridge was a narrow rope bridge, of course, which only built to the suspending horror—at least for Demyx. He whimpered, blanched.

 

“This is the bridge we have to cross?” His voice was a squeak.

 

“I guess so,” but he was reluctant to admit it, eyes narrowed. There had to be more than just crossing the bridge. Maybe it wasn't a bridge, just an illusion. As though to confirm his suspicions, Demyx had taken a very tentatively step on the bridge, only to find his foot when right through, and that wasn't breaking a board either, but he managed to save him, giving a shout and jumping backwards as though he'd just stepped in a fire, losing his balance and falling on his butt.

 

“What was that?” His voice was higher pitched, almost a squeak as he tried to regain his scattered bearings.

 

“An illusion. We think it's a bridge but it's not, it's a pitfall,” Zexion supplied in answer, scrutinizing the room.

 

“Illusion…. How are we supposed to get across then?” Standing, a little shaky, the blonde stuck close to the other nobody, who remained in silent contemplation a moment.

 

“Hm… maybe there's a real bridge somewhere?” Getting on all fours to use his hands instead of his feet, Zexion felt along the edge of the supposed chasm, finding a length of thin air first, but then solid ground. One other spot had thin air, but the rest seemed to have solid footing. Demyx looked anxiously on, concerned that his partner would fall, though it was weird when he saw him pat solid flooring that looked like you should falling straight into hell. Zexion stood.

 

“I believe the chasm floor has holes. I don't know about the bridge, but I'm pretty sure this `chasm' has holes in it, all over the place. I just don't know where or how big because we can't see them.”

 

Concentrating to dispel the illusion, Zexion was disappointed to find that it wasn't so much an illusion, other than the bridge. The rest was just added effects, a good paint job and mists of darkness that still made it look like a bottomless pit, but now they didn't have a bridge.

 

“Sorry about that. I tried to dispel it, but it seems only the bridge was illusion created.” Zexion looked sincerely to the blonde who merely smiled and shook his head.

 

“That's okay. It was a good try. So,” he looked over the room again, swallowing, “what should we do?” The brunette walked up to the edge of the chasm, stepping out onto solid flooring. This was really unnerving, even if he knew it was just effects.

 

“We'll have to feel our way across.” He kneeled down. “But carefully though. I don't know how big or small these holes are or where they lead, but I don't think we want to find out.” Demyx shook his head vigorously.

 

“Should I follow you?” he asked, hesitant to be separated from the other, afraid he would fall into one of the holes on accident.

 

The puzzle master considered it.

 

“See if you can find your own way across but if you get stuck, or for some reason find something, just sit still and call for me, okay?” Demyx nodded his understanding, sighing sadly as Zexion began to feel his way across the room, going slowly; one step at a time. He watched until he stuck his hand in nothingness, having to feel his way around the empty space. A thought struck him. Looking down at his fingers, he found the mist of darkness swirling over them wasn't very obscuring, but it did impair the judgment to see gaping holes in the middle of the floor. Pulling out a pork bun from the pocket of his organization coat, he back to crumble it as we went, leaving a rather clear trail before him. He knew he reached a hole when the crumbs were swallowed up, so rather than waste part of his pork bun finding the perimeter of the hole, he stuck the food in his pocket, feeling it out. It was unsettling to stick his hand even just part way in some dark hole that he had no idea what was down there, but he found his way around it, proceeding to trickle his crumbs of pork bun the whole way.

 

It was more a reference for the blonde so he wouldn't loop back around himself or get mixed up. Glancing up to Zexion, who appeared to be working towards him until he was forced sharply in the other direction, Demyx continued, slowly and deliberately, until he actually reached the other side, having run out of pork bun a few steps to the end. Feeling very proud of himself he sat back, exhaling and then grinning smartly at the chasm. He'd really done it, and all by himself! As scared as he was initially was, it had become a little easier as he, especially since crawling on the floor didn't make it look like a wide chasm, just a black floor with some blind spots that thankfully, he hadn't run into. Taking a better look around the wide expanse of room, he looked more carefully this time. He could see the door on the other side, as well as the one on this side, several cards hanging before them via threads attached to top of the doorframe, one card attached to one thread. Looking back out, he saw Zexion was following his trail, with some haste, though still wary of holes.

 

Making it to the other side, Demyx offered a hand to pull him up, smiling brightly.

 

“Thank goodness you made it!” The blonde was relieved. He'd been tense the whole time, not just for his safety, but the other nobody's as well.

 

“Thanks,” the brunette mumbled in reply, returning the hug slightly, patting Demyx on the pat to let him know all was well.

 

“I see we have more cards,” he observed. Though he still looked a bit ruffled from the whole chasm ordeal, he remained composed, approaching the door, to which the blonde nodded in agreement to the statement. Picking one to turn over, if only to make sure there weren't a couple blank ones, the two he hadn't touched disappeared into complete….nothingness. Frowning faintly, jerking on the thin thread and breaking it, Zexion turned it over.

 

 

<i>If that's your girl you better watch your back
Cause she'll burn it up for me and that's a fact</i>

 

 

“Girl?” Demyx perplexed. “Larxene?” He looked up to Zexion for an answer, but the puzzle master was just as clueless. He shook his blue head. Looking it over again and glancing to the doorway, he was rather reluctant. At least several of the cards that held song lyrics had been taken literally, and reiterating the last line to himself, it didn't sound like it would be good. Yes, Larxene was the only girl in the organization, but nonetheless… He placed a hand on Demyx's shoulder.

 

“Hey, don't look too worried. We should be fine.” Demyx smiled, still a little unsure but trusting the other. Nodding and finally giving a genuine smile, Zexion pulled open the door, and they stepped through, looking around. It seemed to good to be true. The room was large, but they were definitely headed in the right direction, for there, closer than they imagined though still a little ways off, sat Xemnas, perched up a small flight of stairs on the couch that was usually at the entrance to the common room. The Superior looked bored, if at least a little smug, looking around, eyes seeming to search for something, though what it was escaped them both, for the rest of the way seemed to be perfectly clear.

 

Talking begrudged steps forward, Demyx was glad he hadn't decided to run and see what ridiculous things Xemnas wanted, making them go through all that trouble for something as small as a pen because he was too lazy and sadistic to get it himself. Bumping into something with a shocking cry of pain, he rubbed his forward. Confused, he reached out, placing his flat against nothing. Still perplexed, he rapped on it. There was a wall there where it didn't look like anything. Sighing dejectedly to Zexion, tired and stressed from it all, he leaned against the wall, oddly looking like he could have fallen over, if not, then having impeccable balancing skills. Pulling Demyx by the arm, he attempted to dispel this illusion, but it was no good, the invisible walls were just nothingness. Cursing Xemnas to the highest plane in hell, he only grumbled exasperatedly.

 

“Come on. We won't get any closer just standing here.” Leading the blonde along, he kept one hand on one wall, one hand before him, walking slowly but steadily. Demyx did the same for the opposite wall. Although they were moving blindly, it seemed to be more or less straightforward and they proceeded at a fairly decent pace, until Demyx's nose itched.

 

Pausing, he sniffed the air.

 

“Does something smell like it's burning to you?” he asked innocently. It wasn't burning food, which he was more acquainted with that say….whatever else was burning, but something was definitely burning. Glancing around nervously, he was rather surprised to Axel, several meters off, tossing a flame up and down in his hand. He looked upset, considering he was dressed like a girly, laces, ribbons and all. Although he looked like a little girl in his dress and leggings, he wasn't wearing heels, but that only meant he could run faster. Throwing the fireball at the floor and letting it burn, eating at the invisible walls, it left a black charcoaled spot. So this was what the card meant; but they were still relatively safe, at least until Axel found him. Apparently he couldn't see the walls either, but he could see them. He grinned and when he walked a little faster, the bell around his neck jingled. At first, Demyx wanted to laugh because he looked ridiculous, but the gleam in fiery green eyes said otherwise. The pyro wanted to vent, and it would obviously be on them unless they could high tail it out of there, but even just watching him a long moment, it didn't seem like the red head had too much trouble navigating the invisible maze.

 

“Let's go,” Zexion said calmly, pulling Demyx along. Though they couldn't go much faster than they previously had, lest they panic and screw up completely, they put a little distance between themselves and the burning pyromaniac—until he caught up with them. They turned to face him when a small fire ball caught the tail of Demyx coat ablaze, quickly putting it out with a yelp.

 

“Just what is this?” Zexion demanded, standing defiantly and keeping his cool. Demyx was unnerved as well, but more confident that usual. He controlled water, after all, and unless Axel sucked all the moisture out of the air, he could probably take him on. The pyro held up a card, and they just barely caught what it said.

 

 

<i>Come let me make up for the things you lack
Cause your burning up I gotta get it fast </i>

 

 

But then it crumbled into dust, catching fire with a whooshing noise and curling into ashes. Zexion, though a little disarmed, stayed poised, wondering how he could deal with the whole thing, but the blonde stepped forward bravely.

 

“That wasn't very nice, Axel,” he reprimanded with a frown.

 

“What, are you my mother?” the red head scoffed, screwing up his face and threatening to throw another flame at the blonde, who flinched when he feigned a toss. Axel laughed bitterly. “At least I'll get compensation for stopping you. I want to do this as much as you to and if you dare say you're having fun rooster boy, I'll have you sadly mistaking.” It was a warning; it was a threat. Summoning his emblazed chakram and twirling them in deft hands, he smirked, showing a feral grin, which faded as he was tackled by two water clones, thoroughly soaked. Looking quite angry, Axel clenched his fists, throwing another fire ball straight at Demyx who, taken off guard by the sudden outrage, looked shocked, even more so when Zexion sucked the fire into a portal, sending it back to the beginning of the maze, if that's where it still went. Axel clutched his hand, wincing and grimacing, his rage having gotten the better of him, water burns and blisters appearing on shaking, red and white skin.

 

Demyx caught the look, a little surprised himself at the damage Axel had caused himself.

 

“DAMMIT!” he nearly shouted, putting away his chakram and sliding to the floor. Dripping wet, having used more energy to summon fire when he was soaking, the flames had heated the water on his hand to steam and burned his palm. Gritting his teeth in a snarl, he attempted to fend Demyx off when the blonde kneeled beside him.

 

“I'm just trying to help you,” he whined in a murmur as Axel's hand was jerked out of his reach. “It'll scar even more if you don't let me!”

 

“I don't need your help,” the pyro bit out.

 

“Don't be an ass Axel. I have a healing spell, but I'm not using Cure on you,” Zexion commented tersely, his tone chiding. Huffing, Axel let Demyx take his hand, worried that the burn was too deep already. Summoning water to his hands, he gently washed the burn with cold water. Carefully watching Axel to make sure he wouldn't jump him, he saw him relax more.

 

“I'm sorry,” Demyx apologized at length, “but I don't have a healing spell or a potion or anything on me.” He frowned, eliciting a roll of Axel's eyes.

 

“Don't worry about it, I can get back.” He sighed, looking away and taking his hand back. It did feel better, but it still hurt.

 

Backing off, the water boy rejoined Zexion, looking unsure.

 

“I'm not healing him,” Zexion stated firmly when Demyx gave him a puppy dog look.

 

“Sorry,” he muttered again, eyes pleading with green ones for forgiveness, but Axel just looked a little confused. He was out to stop them but whatever means necessarily, just short of killing them, and here Demyx was, apologizing to him. Even though he had soaked him water and made him burn himself. Standing with a grunt, his pink and white dress cold and dripping, he snorted.

 

“When you come to two doors, take the one on the left.” With that bit of advice said, he turned on his heels and stalked off, entering a portal and closing it just as quick. Staring after where he'd disappeared to, Demyx whined longingly.

 

“I wish I could do that, but no, I just get sent back to the start.” He grumbled, but turned to press onward with Zexion.

 

Using the method they had before, they moved onward slowly until they reached two doors Axel was talking about. Taped to each one, face down, was a card. Taking the pyro advice, certain he wasn't betraying them, Zexion removed the card from the door on the left, the other card disappearing when he did so. It was odd to see two doors standing there, so close to one another, but with nothing but empty space behind them. While Demyx looked and wondered, Zexion read the card aloud.

 

“`<i>Feeling lucky?'</i> is the first line, then it looks like more lyrics. <i>`Go ahead child. Go ahead, be gone with it. Get your sexy on.</i>'” Demyx snickered, to which Zexion frowned and had to ask.

 

“What?”

 

“It's just… you sound so white when you read it.” He chuckled, shaking his head at Zexion's apparently loss. “Well, it sounds like a rap song maybe. Probably hip hop? And when you read it you sound so white.” Shrugging it off, Zexion laid his hand on the door's knob. Musicians, he just didn't understand them.

 

Cautiously opening the door, he was oddly relieved again to see the walls of the maze were back, and this was another room. It was long and narrow, something like a court, and at the closer end were four spheres of colored glass, perched on table tops and resting on a base that wouldn't let them fall and shatter. Beside the first one, a dark green globe, was a baton for breaking them with, but what were they supposed to do? Was there a clue in one? Entering the room, the door disappearing, both nobodies immediately jumped on their guards, looking every which way as though the enemies might come through the walls or decide to rain down on them like the cards had.

 

“I guess we find the right one?” Demyx timidly asked, looking over the crystalline orbs after judging the room wouldn't attack them. Zexion nodded.

 

“Go for it.” Tentatively picking up the heavy baton, Demyx hefted it in his hand, choosing the first on there, the dark green one.

 

“Here it goes.” Closing his eyes and raising his hand, he smashed the globe, breaking easier than he thought, color glass scattering about. Inside was a card, and upon reading it, his face fell.

 

“`<i>Haha! Wrong one!</i>'” Subsequently, Zexion's fear did unfold: there were consequences for choosing the wrong one.

 

It rained. But it wasn't raining cards, and it wasn't raining rain. It was raining… rocks? Small debris?

 

“Ow!” Demyx ducked, covering his head as he was pummeled. A stone half the sized of an egg bruised Zexion's arm. Looking around as he sheltered himself, he caught sight of the globes on the far end of the room, probably fifty meters away; at the same time, Demyx cried out, being hit again.

 

“Ow…. Hey! The glass balls are… OW! Are gone!” Zexion pulled him along, and stumbling, they attempted a sprint once they both knew what direction they were headed. It was every man for himself until Demyx tripped, landing roughly on his hand. Quickly sprinting over to the fallen boy, Zexion shielded him from a particular rock, hitting him square in the middle of his small frame. Gritting his teeth and wincing, he pulled the blonde up.

 

“Come on!” Dodging and ducking, unable to avoid being hit, though most of the stones were small pebbles, they still stung, and there seemed to be a particularly large amount of heavier rocks as well. Cut and bruised in quite a few places, they made it to the other side, stumbling and tripping over rocks along the way, but more or less keeping their balance.

 

Reaching the stand of globes, the rocks having fallen short of their sheltered reach, they were safe standing by it.

 

“Here,” Zexion said breathlessly, pulling Demyx closer, short of breath and concentrating with closed eyes. Hands placed on his cheeks he summoned a healing spell, Demyx's cuts and bruises vanishing. Looking like he could cry with gratitude, he hugged Zexion gently instead.

 

“Thanks. What about you?” Pulling back, holding Zexion at arm's length he shrugged.

 

“I don't have the energy for a healing spell right now. Maybe later, but don't get hurt in the meantime.” He smiled, though the other still looked worried.

 

“Um… ok then. Uh, maybe you should choose one this time?” The sheepish suggestion nearly made Zexion laugh at the innocence and child-like tone Demyx had.

 

“Ok.” Picking up the baton, he chose a cerulean blue orb. It was very pretty, but unfortunately looks could be very deceiving.

 

“Wrong one.” Hastily turning around, he was glad he did. The smashing and cracking sound of glass had summoned a couple Large Body heartless' as well as two elementals, including a Red Nocturne and a Green Requiem.

 

Busy looking at the enemies, the remaining orbs had transported to the other side of the court again, leaving the fallen rocks as well as the heartless between them. Readying themselves, finding complaining would do them no good, Zexion turned to Demyx.

 

“Go ahead at get the elementals. The Nocturne should go down easily enough since it's fire based, but I need the Requiem out of the way so it won't heal the Large Bodies. I'll distract them, okay?” he instructed, waiting for a confirming nod before sprinting out there. Taking a deep breath, Demyx walked forward, grinning at the Red Nocturne.

 

“Cute little fellows aren't you?” he crooned mockingly before gulping and jumping out of the way of a small rain of fire, several sparks singing his coat. “Fine! I'll just have to rain on our parade!” Hitting the Red Nocturne with a rather forceful spray of water the Green Requiem attempted to heal it, but to no avail. The fire enemy faded into nothingness. Cocking his brow at the Requiem, it looked him over, hovering high above his head and aiming for the Large Bodies to heal. Zexion had managed to confuse them into attacking each other, but it didn't last too long when the illusion was dispelled.

 

Dodging, rolling to the side and really wishing the rocks weren't there, Zexion stayed on his feet. The Large Bodies were quite slow, compared to the nimble puzzle master, but they could certain be fast when they wanted to. Trying not to get surrounded by them on the narrow court, caught between them where they could easily squish him, he was being forced against a wall. Initially aiming for the Requiem which didn't seem to show any reaction to be hit with water, other than healing the Large Bodies, it floated above the heartless, ignoring Demyx's attempt, absorbing the brunt of his magic attacks. Pouting, he summoned his sitar to his hand, deftly strumming and summoning a small legion of water clones and dancer nobodies. Distracting the Large Bodies with them, powering and leading their attacks with his music, he kept his distance, and it seemed to work, the reverberating sounds acting as a form of kiai, a power shout, giving him a little courage to keep playing as well, the confidence to beat the heartless raising considerably.

 

Sending two Dancer nobodies after the Green Requiem, they distracted it enough and eventually were able to destroy it. Leading the Large Bodies around with his water clones, he grinned. Though a couple ended up in puddles, making the blonde cringe, the others did well to score a hit, but Zexion, on the other side of them, managed to create another illusion, making each heartless think the other was Zexion, and so they clobbered each other. After a tense moment the fell away from each other, the brunette having to dodge a flailing arm. They were defeated. Water clones returning to their master, Demyx's fingers hovered above the strings of his sitar, ready to play again if he needed to. Smiling with relief that things seemed to be over, he dismissed everything with a grateful nod, walking almost half the length of the court to reunite with Zexion.

 

“Thank you. You did very well,” the brunette lauded as soon as Demyx approached. The praise made him abashed but he accepted it.

 

“Thank you.” Careful to walk around the fallen rocks and rubble, they made their way slowly back to the other end, where the orbs now sat, catching their breaths and regaining their composure. Hoping it would end soon, Demyx quickly opened another orb, wanting to cry when he found it was another wrong card. Turning, he heard the cracking whoosh of flames before he saw it.

 

Shoulders slouched, he summoned his water clones to help, forming something of a wall, parallel to the wall of flames. It was big, but at least it wasn't huge. If they let it burn though, the air would fill with smoke and the moisture would he harder to pull from the air. With Zexion's hand reassuring and encouraging on his arm, he summoned as much water as he could muster at once, holding his breath to help hold up his strength, brows furrowed in concentration. Feeling the strength of Zexion's that he was borrowing, he diminished the small tower of flames licking the air, the water clones skating about to hurriedly fight back the flames with themselves. Though it hurt Demyx to see his babies being destroyed that way he paid them thanks with a bowed head. As the charred ground smoked, they proceeded to the other side of the room once again, wary and worn out. Making it to the other side, where the last orb, a deep crimson one sparkled. Taking the baton and beating the hell out of the orb, Zexion vented his frustration with a few good whacks, picking up the card. It just had to the last one didn't it? Or maybe they just had really bad luck.

 

Reading the card he turned to Demyx to relay the good news, if it could be considered good news, only to find the blonde kneeling. He must have used the energy he had left to fight off the heartless and extinguish the flames. Feeling a little bad he kneeled beside him, holding his face and about to cast another healing spell when the blonde stopped him.

 

“No, I'm fine. Use it on yourself. You're still beat up from the rocks.” Though his breathing was a little uneven, he offered a soft smile. Concerned for Demyx's health, he held back on healing, saving his energy for when they would really need it.

 

“We should rest then.” Nodding at length, Demyx took a deep breath.

 

“If you're sure.”

 

“Yes. Come on.” Half dragging Demyx to the wall where the shattered orbs were, clear of glass and loose rocks, he propped themselves against the wall, Demyx laying his head on his shoulder to rest. Remaining still so he could be a good pillow for the blonde, he eventually closed his eyes, resting his cheek against blonde hair to try and sleep a little as well and regain some of his energy.

 

************************

 

When deep ink blue eyes opened, it was to a bright crystal blue, Demyx softly shaking his shoulder to wake him. They must have slept several long hours. Only inches from the water boy, he almost snuggled up to him in a hug, mistaking him for a pillow instead, but he quickly corrected himself. Pulling back and looking around better, he remembered where he was. Standing and stretching, he yawned, sore from his wounds but refreshed.

 

“Okay so….” The brunette took another moment to fully wake up. “Okay, so…. The clue.” Taking it back out of his pocket he showed it to Demyx.

 

 

<i>So turn around and I'll pick up the slack.

Take em' to the chorus</i>

 

 

Looking it over, Demyx asked if it might mean anything, though other than literal meanings, he wasn't sure it could be taken for anything… unless he was sorely mistaken anyway. Chorus….Bridge? So it was a song.

 

“It's definitely a song, but Xemnas sure has a funny way of playing with us,” Demyx said dryly, frowning and sticking his tongue out at the card before returning it to Zexion.

 

`Playing with?' Zexion thought. It was a cruel and inhumane way of putting it, though it was true.

 

“I think a door opened up at the other side of the room,” Demyx said when he stood by Zexion's side, pointing back down the court. Nodding, Zexion led them both in silence to the other end, shuffling through rocks and too tired to put up with stepping around them, kicking them out of the way instead. Making it to the door, Zexion wrenched it open, leading down a one way hall to a T intersection, several boxes lined against the wall. It was another `choose one and the others disappear,' and on top of each one lay a playing card, face down, like all the others.

 

“Do you want to pick the box, Demyx?” he asked as he regarded the other. He was offering out of a kind gesture, not asking the other to choose their fate, even though it inevitably seemed that way.

 

“Um…. I guess so?” he replied with uncertainty, looking the boxes over before stooping to pick the one on the end up, the others promptly disappearing. It was light in weight, though something inside rustled and shifted when Demyx shook it. It probably wouldn't attack then. Removing the card and reading it to the other, he didn't know what to think, though he did have one apprehending idea.

 

“`<i>I'll let you whip me if I misbehave. It's just that no one makes me feel this way.</i>'” The two young men fell silent, Demyx finally breaking the silence.

 

“I feel like we're close to the end.” Zexion nodded.

 

“I do to.” He turned his attention to the box, taking it from Demyx, but it didn't look like there was a way to open it. Shaking it, he heard something inside rattle, but he didn't know what it could possibly be, and knowing Xemnas it could be anything.

 

“Which way should we go?” Demyx asked with eager anticipation, eyes gleaming. The brunette shook his head in response, holding onto the box.

 

“I don't think it will matter. I think both ways will lead to the end. Although I'm not too particular to finding Xemnas.” Face drawn at the thought, Demyx nodded in agreement.

 

“I know what you mean, but I really want to get out of here.” Nearly hopping, it was his turn to pull Zexion along, taking the short hall to the left which led around to meet where the other hall led, converging at a single hall that led up to where Xemnas was enthroned, smirking.

 

Walking cautiously down the hall to meet the finally meet the Superior they stopped at the foot of the steps, looking up to the couch he was lounging on.

 

“So you <i>finally</i> made it?” he complained, though he was grinning. “Good, I'm glad you could join me. You know, you make me smile. It was quite entertaining watching you, though I'm surprised you didn't run into anyone else.

 

“What is this about, Xemnas?” Zexion demanded, eyes narrowing in annoyance and withheld aggravation.”

 

“I'm bringing Sexy back,” he grinned at the two of them, beckoning to Zexion with two fingers. “Come here Sexy.” So what, this was all about him?

 

“If this is just about me, why did make the others come?” he asked, clearly annoyed at the hell he'd put everyone else through, though he'd only run into Demyx. The poor blonde was utterly beaten though.

 

“It's not just about you, Sexy. Didn't you pick up the cards? `The other boys.' I see we've picked up Demyx, but the other people I invited either decided not to show or simple got caught up elsewhere.” Xemnas' look of evil pleasure faded into tight-lipped concern. “Except Marluxia who's convinced he's in a field, picking daisies.”

 

Zexion snorted.

 

“So this was all just a game, or do you really need something?” Zexion asked vehemently.

 

“Come here and sit with me Zexion. I'm sure you'd like a break. And let's have a look see what's in the box, shall we?” Xemnas asked, a little too nicely, though his cool voice belied the danger it held as he patted the seat beside him, ignoring Zexion's question completely. Getting a nudge from Demyx and a nod of encouragement, he huffed, walking up steps to the couch and plopping down on the opposite end, tossing the box carelessly aside, to the disapproval of Xemnas, who clucked his tongue in disdain.

 

“Now, now, you should take better care of your toys Sexy.” Running his hand over one side of the box to reveal a taped over line where the flaps were, he smiled. It was just a stupid illusion. Looking distraught down to Demyx who stood with his hands behind his back, looking curiously up, he wished he could be gone already. Why had Demyx decided to push him on? Probably because of his loyalty to orders. Disobeying Xemnas never resulted in anything good, but though he did as he was told, Zexion at least, had to make it hard sometimes. Right now though, he just wasn't in a good mood, after all he'd been through.

 

Hearing the tearing noise of tape and cardboard, Zexion decided not to look until he caught the flustered look on Demyx's face, then he really didn't want to look. Groaning when he sensed Xemnas hovering over his shoulder, he rolled his eyes.

 

“I don't know and I don't care what you're thinking, I'm not in the mood for whatever it is. Let us be and share your twisted perverted fantasies with someone else.

 

“Aww,” Xemnas crooned, running a dark finger down Zexion's shoulder to the end of his sleeve and pressing closer, chin nearly resting on a smaller shoulder.

 

“I'm sure Demyx would enjoy this as much as you, however, after such a stunning display of friendship, would you really want to do that to him?” Zexion knew Xemnas was trying to trap him, but that didn't make him want to be more noble than he already was, which—suffice it to say—wasn't a whole lot. However, the blanching and the slight step back Demyx took, made him think otherwise.

 

“If it's so good, then why does it sound more like a bribe?” he muttered more than asked the question. Xemnas only chuckled softly, leaning heavily over Zexion until he forced him to lie against the couch, but still, he refused to turn over, lying on his stomach instead, which, though it wasn't the most conventional position for facing an adversary, was partial over rolling onto his back and having to face the maniac. If he was all Xemnas wanted, he'd just get it over with. There was nothing he could do anyway, if Xemnas was just going to hold down the fort until he got what he'd come after, redirecting their portal and playing with the walls and doors of the maze.

 

“If you have to take me at least let Demyx go. I don't know how long he was in there before I came, but he's been through enough. Just let him go and get your kicks out of me instead,” the brunette ground out as the box was placed beside him on the floor, hands groping his stomach and up his chest. The blonde had his head hung, looking away ashamedly. Looking the two over for a long moment, Demyx could feel the piercing gaze on him, but he didn't move. Rolling his eyes and with an impatient sigh, he waved his hand at Demyx.

 

“Leave then.” He opened a portal that would take the blonde back to his room. Stopping at the edge of the portal to look back at Zexion, just to make sure it was fine with him, the brunette flashed him a slightly glaring look that silently said, `Go on, get out.' Prompted to do so, he walked through, still regretting that he'd been forced to, but he couldn't do much else. Zexion didn't want him to watch, Xemnas had ordered him to leave, and he didn't particularly want to view the spectacle of….whatever Xemnas was planning to do, though after holding up sex toy he was quite sure he knew what to have expected, had he stayed.

 

Pulling up on his knees, Xemnas behind him, draped in a white cotton shirt, left unbutton and rolled to his elbows as well as his usual black pants, he pressed against him from behind, making Zexion blush.

 

“You're so complacent,” the Superior whispered in his ear, flicking a tongue out to tease him.

 

“What good it struggling go to do? You'll get your laugh and it the end it won't accomplish anything. I won't be able to leave until you've had your fun, so I might as well just put up with it,” Zexion forced the words out, trying to make it clear how impassive and apathetic he'd be. Fists pressed to the couch, half on his elbows, he tensed when he felt Xemnas undo his jeans, feeling a draft and then having his length fondled. A faint blush of shame reaching his cheeks, he bit his lips and the sensitive head was played with, rubbed wantonly and making him grow hard. Xemnas exhaled heavily against his neck, nuzzling blue hair and nipping at a shoulder.

“I'm here to make you feel good Zexion. Just enjoy the ride. Feel honored that I decided to choose you. Besides, you feel so good.” Fingers stronger heated flesh, he squeezed the base, giving long gruff strokes as though to bring him off, finally receiving a stifled cry in return.

 

Biting back any other whimper or whine or groan, Zexion kneeled defiantly as Xemnas proceeded to coax his pants off, tossing them aside. Pulling the brunette's shirt over his head, making a good trap for his arms, he smoothed his hands down a slender back. Zexion seemed so small, and fragile sometimes, the lithe body and thin frame furthering to prove it, but it felt so nice to run tanned hands over his warm pink skin, and besides, his attitude made up for how delicate he came off to be. Shrugging off his unbuttoned shirt and depositing it with the pants, Xemnas slid his hands up Zexion's chest, kissing from his shoulder, nuzzling blue hair and gently biting his neck and growling in the back of his throat. Beneath him Zexion shivered, feeling more like a submission pet, but for some reason that bite to the back of his neck was turning him on. His neck wasn't particularly sensitive, not that he was aware of though.

 

“Nng….Ahh…” he gasped softly when dusky nipples were pinched to standing erect, rubbed and tweaked until he whimpered, the knee rubbing against his balls from behind helping aid in that shameless sound. He had enough sense, at least, to be glad that Demyx had left.

 

Huffing as though he refused to breathe deeply or pant as Xemnas' hand moved south to persuade Zexion into a full erection, one hand still playing with a nipple, tongue now pressed against his neck as well, biting a little harder. Pulling back, the Superior reached into the box to bring out a bottle of strawberry flavored lubricant. Closing his eyes, still flustered, feeling as though his body was suddenly supersensitive, Zexion gripped the couch instead of letting his nails cut into his palm, biting his lowering lip and trying not to whine when he felt a hand steadying his lower back, a slicked finger rubbing against his entrance. The lubricant was warm and when Xemnas slipped a finger in, he twitched at the anticipating, muscles clamping against the intrusion, though it was by no means painful. Rubbing against Zexion to loosen him up, though he felt how tense he was, he added a second finger before breathing against his skin and murmuring in a low voice.

 

“You have to relax if you really want to enjoy this, Sexy.” Breathing heavier, he was about to bite out a remark, but it was transformed into a stifled cry as Xemnas raked slowly over his prostate. “Don't try to make this hard for either of us. I can't make it hurt you, you know, so you might as well stop being stubborn and get lost in the pleasure.”

 

With that note in mind he slipping his fingers back in, scissoring and loosening Zexion up, rubbing against his prostate gland and teasing him, making him loosen up with the pleasure, making him want to be taken. Unable to hold back his moan when Xemnas added a third finger for good measure, he stifled the pain with that venting sound. It stung, despite the lubricant, but after being thrust into a good number of times with penetrating fingers, the pain dissolved. Slightly numb, taking up to panting softly and clutching the fabric of the couch, he was a little surprised to feel something cool and smooth sliding into him, some thing thicker than a few finger, and going rather deep, stretching him a little more before pulling out and slowing, steadily pumping back in. It didn't give him quite the same stimulation of another man's erection buried inside him. No, it was much smoother, and so when he suddenly cried out, shuddering pleasurably, he found his answer. It was a vibrator, and Xemnas had just turned it on to its highest setting. Despite how much Zexion was clamping against the vibrator to pull it deeper inside his body, Xemnas managed to slowly pull it out, rubbing against the brunette's sweet spot, the heavy vibrations making him crazy as he arched under the touch.

 

Pumping back into him, the Superior waited until he met less resistance before he could pick up the pace, sure that Zexion was adjusted to the intrusion and the feel of it by now, the pleasure heavily outweighing the pain. Positioned behind the smaller nobody, slightly to the side, he used his thigh to help brace him every time he pulled the toy out, snaking his other hand between pale thighs to stroke a reddening member, already wet. Running the ridge of his thumb along the underside of Zexion's erection, massaging the tip with his thumb and smearing his pre cum like a lubricant, Xemnas' voice was husky when he spoke, the deft plunging of the hand busy gripping the vibrator, steadily growing harder and deeper.

 

“Mmmmm Sexy….” It was more like a groan. “I love it when you're on display like this. It makes me want to dominate you and take you so hard, so deep. I want to be inside you, Zexion, I want to make you remember who will always make you feel so good.” He drawled the last words seductively as Zexion gave a girlish whine, closing to coming already. The stimulation was overwhelming, and when Xemnas shifted to trail a biting kiss down his back, he arched, thrusting against the hand that gripped him firmly, making the vibrator travel deeper and nearly torn from the Superior's grasp. Shuddering and moaning loudly, breathily, he groaned as Xemnas finished him with a few rough strokes, finally turning the buzzing toy off.

 

Able to relax a little after his climax, the toy was removed, half to displeasure and half to his disgust. Panting, head dizzy, he closed his eyes, nearly sitting back on his heels and in Xemnas' lap. Nibbling on Zexion's ear, the Superior worked to free his own stiff member, stroking himself with his lubricated fingers, and wiping his other hand off on Zexion's shirt. Humming in his ear and nuzzling against his neck, he rubbed his arousal against the brunette's entrance in indication that he was about to give him the real thing. Taking a moment to spread the warm strawberry flavored lube over him, sure that it would be appreciated, considering the difference between himself and the toy, he wouldn't boast that was the man everyone would die for, but he certainly could boast. Ready for his dessert, he grunted, holding onto Zexion's chest and guiding himself in his body.

 

“Mmmm….” It was an exhaling groan, eyes fluttering shut as he entered the puzzle master from behind, slowly settling him in his lap.

 

“Ahh!” Zexion gasped, gritting his teeth, eyes squeezed shut. He was loose enough but it was a little painful. Xemnas felt thicker, to say the least, and longer, considering he'd only used a vibrator, and not a very fancy one at that.

 

Kissing Zexion's jaw line, one arm still holding onto him, hugging him to his chest, his other hand played with the other nobody's hand, weaving their fingers together. Humming a note of pleasure he rocked into him, until Zexion had forgotten the pain and was focused on the pleasure again, getting hard all over again. Pushing to his hands and knees, Xemnas hovering like a great weight just above him, he was thrust into, accommodating and slow at first, but soon mercilessly hard. Zexion was a constant mouth, writing and shuddering, hardly able to have his arms support him, his sweet spot being pounded against. Maybe it was the size or the fact that he'd already been pounded into sweet oblivion once already, but Xemnas thrusting again inside him like a rutting tom cat was highly pleasurable, and Zexion was beyond shame. Throwing his head back in a moan, his boss pressing a kiss to his shoulder blade, growling dominantly and holding him close, one hand to his hip, Zexion braced against him, moving back and grinding his hips against the other's arousal, eliciting a throaty groan. It made him shiver.

 

Breathing harshly, Xemnas pushed Zexion nearly flat against the couch before pulling out just enough to flip Zexion over, thrusting into him as though nothing had stopped his pace. Staring down into hazy, lust laden blue eyes, Zexion gave Xemnas a look of longing before pulling him down with him, hugging him around the neck, and when he wrapped his legs around his waist, he bucked against the other, crying out, clawing at his back and hissing in pleasure, Xemnas harshly pressed him to the couch, pumping into him with grunts and groans the tight heat nearly unbearable until with a last deep thrust he hit his own climax. Moaning, shaking with pleasure, Zexion followed again, just as soon, thrusting against Xemnas' erection still tightly buried in him as though it would help milk him. Breathing heavily, the waves of pleasure wracking their bodies and eventually ebbing away, the Superior held Zexion to him, limp in his arm, whines punctuating his pants, forehead pressed to a sweaty shoulder. Dark grey hair, as well as deep blue clung to their skin, shining with sweat from their exertion.

 

With blue eyes closed, brows faintly furrowed, Xemnas nuzzled against the side of his neck for another bite, wondering how Zexion would have reacted if he had picked one of the other boxes. Oh well. There would always be a tomorrow.