Quiet days were a rarity in Never Was, seeing as how so many people lived there, with vastly different personalities. Sadly, most of them had louder personalities…

That’s why Zexion found himself in a very good mood on the day in question. Most of the members were off on missions, including some of the more annoying ones, like Axel and Xigbar…

This left Zexion with a smile on his face, and more importantly, a book in his hands. It felt so nice to finally be reading a book with no interruptions whatsoever, without any asinine members to come and bother him… It was almost peaceful…

Which was why Zexion nearly let out a small yelp as a guitar rift ripped through the castle. Or, he should say, a sitar rift…

Oh no, not on his peaceful day. He wouldn’t stand for it…

Slamming his book shut, Zexion quickly stood and began marching through the halls of Never Was Castle, a scowl on his face. How had he forgotten that Demyx had stayed behind as well!? By the Darkness, that should have been the asinine member he had been most worried about!

The Schemer quickly made his way to the room of Number IX, knocking on the door in a rapid motion. The music coming from the other side stopped, and in less than a second the door was opened, the wide smile of the Nocturne greeting him.

“Hey there, Zexy! What’s up?”

The smile faltered as Demyx noticed Zexion’s expression. On closer inspection, he could see Number VI was mad, and it seemed that his anger was directed at the younger male…

“Demyx, I know this may be hard for you, but could you please, please try to be quiet! I’m trying to read!”

“But Zexy, I have to go on a scouting mission with Roxas tomorrow, this is my only chance to play!”

“Every time you fight you have a chance to play, Demyx… Now please, try and be quiet.”

With that, Zexion quickly turned and began walking back in the direction he had come.

A moment later, a second set of footsteps began following him back to the library, and a minute later the music started. It was quiet at first, but then steadily grew louder. And as the music increased, Zexion’s annoyance did as well. He would not let the Nocturne get to him! He wouldn’t!

Zexion walked in to the library with his head held high, standing at his full height, which admittedly, wasn’t much. Despite this, he was still an intimidating figure. Demyx didn’t seem to care.

Zexion sat down on the couch once more and picked up his book, opening it to the page where he had left off.

Demyx merely stood beside him, playing the soft melody. Zexion side-glanced the Nocturne, seeing a small smirk on his lips… That was never a good sign. That meant a plan was being formed, and Zexion had the strange feeling that he wasn’t going to like this.

He was right.

The next instant, Demyx jumped on to the couch, the soft melody changing to a rock rift, that rock star smile crossing Demyx’s features.

“Come on, Zexy, you know you want to party!”

Zexion looked up incredulously at Demyx, his vow to ignore the younger boy momentarily forgotten.

“What, by the powers of Darkness, makes you think that?”

“Because, you never party! Come on, Zexy, you know you like the music.”

Zexion raised an eyebrow.

“I’d like it better if it stopped.”

A pout came to Demyx’s lips, but he never stopped playing the music.

“C’mon, Zexion, it doesn’t bother you that bad. You’re just being impossible, like you always are!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Demyx flashed that smile again, and the strange sensation passed over Zexion to smile with him. Kingdom Hearts, he was losing his mind now!

“What can I do to win you over so I can play for the rest of the day?”

“There’s nothing that will make me allow this music to continue.”

“Oh please, there has to be something! Something that I can do to make it up to you. A trade! I give you something, then you give me permission to play today. Come on, Zexy, take the offer!”

Zexion glanced back over to Demyx, the proposition playing over in his mind.

On one hand, Zexion was practically positive that there was nothing Demyx could do to change his mind on this matter. On the other hand, Demyx was scheming… He had something in his mind, or he wouldn’t be offering this. Zexion liked schemes, as much as that got him in trouble from time to time… This time would be no different, Zexion realized.

“Fine Demyx, fine. I accept. If you can convince me to let you play, then I won’t bother you for the rest of the day. But if you can’t, then I don’t want to even remember that you’re here today, understood?”

A charming smile flashed across Demyx’s features, and he nodded happily.

“Of course, Zexy, a deals a deal.”

“Alright then. Then what’s your offer?”

The words had barely left his mouth when the Schemer suddenly found the Nocturne’s lips pressed against his own. For a moment Zexion was too shocked to really grasp what was happening, and it took him even longer to realize that he didn’t mind it at all. In fact, he was kind of enjoying it…

Far too soon, Demyx pulled away, that smile still on his lips. Finding Zexion looking at him in stunned silence, Demyx nodded happily.

“Well then, I’ll just be in my room if you need me, Zexy! See you later!”

Demyx stood up before Zexion was fully thinking again, and left the room with a devious giggle.

Zexion stayed exactly where he was for a long time, and only snapped back to reality when he heard a rock rift coming from down the hall.

Darkness take him, what just happened?

Zexion shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, when he realized that smile had finally come to his lips. Well, there’d be time for payback later.

Picking up his book, the Schemer opened it back to the page he had left off, listening to the sounds of music floating to his ears, and thoughts of devious revenge running through his mind.

Most members of the Organization wondered why their Number XI even bothered investing in an alarm clock, as he was always up before the alarm sounded for him to wake. It never failed that the Assassin would be mostly dressed and ready to begin the day when the ring from the clock sounded, which he would instantly silence with a push of the button.

Today was different though. Today Number XI was nowhere to be found when the alarm sounded. He had gotten up far earlier than usual, dressed solemnly and silently, and left his room without a second thought of the alarm that would soon sound. Which it did, much to the annoyance of those who took up rooms near the Assassin, and the ringing continued until a very angry Nymph went to silence it forever.

Marluxia was long gone by this time, already making his way through the hallways of their large castle, an almost panicked expression on his face.

"This has to be my year… Oh, please let it be my year…"

Marluxia had to contain himself from clasping his hands and twisting them. He wasn't normally like this of course, but today was different. Today had him worried, he hated to admit. Today was…

"Well hey there, Marly, what the hell has you terrified today?"

Marluxia's head snapped so quickly in the direction of the speaker that he appeared much more paranoid than he had intended too.

"Damnit, Axel, I don't have time for you today!"

Axel tilted his head slightly, until a vicious smile came to his lips.

"Oh yeah, that must mean that today is-"

"Silence, Axel, I don't have time for your taunting."

"Yeah, since you lost last year, and the year before that."

Marluxia glared at the Flurry, daring him to speak another word. Axel ignored his friend, smiling his best cocky grin.

"I'll see you later then, Marly, after the 'big event.'"

Axel laughed as he walked away, Marly raising an eyebrow in contemplation of what he would do to get the Flurry back.

He gave a very dignified, "Hmph!" and turned on his heels, continuing in the direction he had been going.

Damn Axel and his interruptions. Didn't he know how important today was!?

"Oh please, not again, not this year…"

What were the chances of losing three years in a row, right…? They were small, weren't they? Yes, yes of course. Marluxia resisted the urge to twist his hands again.

He walked into one of the castle's living rooms in this state, quickly glancing around the room and finding that while he wasn't alone, his enemy hadn't arrived yet…

Saïx looked up from the book he had been reading, watching as Marluxia gave an uncharacteristic wave towards him before sitting on the couch next to Xigbar. Marluxia then turned to stare at the TV.

"Can I change it?"

Xigbar tilted his head slightly, trying not to smile at Marluxia's strange appearance.

"Since when have you liked TV?"

"I don't, but-"

"Ah yes." Saïx suddenly said, shaking his head. "It must be your favorite day of the year, then."

Xigbar smiled fully now, laughing a little.

"You gonna win this time, Marly?"

"Oh, I hope so…"

"Marluxia, I know that today is an important day and all that, but must you two act so childish every year?"

Marluxia looked towards Saïx, slight paranoia still in his eyes.

"You just don't understand, Saïx. Whatever happens today will grant bragging rights for the entire year, but only to one person. The other person is going to suffer for a year, and for the past two years that person's been me… But not this year! This year is my year, and then I will make him suffer!"

"Payback's a bitch." Xigbar intoned, while Saïx closed his eyes and rested his fingers against his temples.

"Indeed. Worse than that, when dealing with these two…"

"Marluxia."

Marluxia jumped up from the couch so fast that no one had seen him move. He stood straight and held his head high, trying his best to look like his usual self.

Saïx merely opened his eyes to greet the newcomer as Xigbar smiled at the scene.

Marluxia held his head a little higher.

"Vexen."

Vexen nodded at everyone in the room, before coming in and smiling at Marluxia.

"So, are you ready for another year of torture?"

"Oh yes, but this time I'm ready to be the one inflicting the pain. You better watch yourself, Vexen. Watch your back..."

Saïx couldn't help holding his head in his hands.

Xigbar smiled at the display before him, happily standing up and putting his hand on Marluxia's shoulder.

"We'll just leave you two to your fun. I'll go get the bubbly ready to either celebrate your victory, or to soothe your defeat."

Marluxia nodded as Xigbar waved once to Vexen, before warping from the room.

Saïx closed his book and stood, shaking his head at them.

"Well, good luck to both of you."

Both nodded, Saïx shaking his head once more before leaving the room.

Vexen and Marluxia stared at each other, before they both nodded and sat beside each other on the couch, Marluxia changing the TV channel and both staring at it intently.

"This is my year, Vexen, you just watch."

"Oh Marluxia, I'm sorry to tell you that there's a chill in the air this morning; clearly a good sign for me."

"Please Vexen, that chill is your victory going cold, which must mean that this is my year to reign supreme."

"We'll see, Marluxia, we'll see."

"Come on, let me win… Please, oh please let me take it this year!"

Marluxia gasped.

"It's starting!"

Both leaned forward a slight bit, eyes gazing at the TV.

"You're going down this time, Vexen."

"I don't think so, Marluxia. I rather like my winning streak of the past couple of years. I don't think that I'm quite ready to give that up yet."

Marluxia laughed once, a cocky edge to his tone.

"It doesn't matter if you're ready or not, Vexen, because this is my year. My year, Vexen! You just watch, I can feel it!"

Vexen side-glanced the Assassin, a slight paranoia hidden in his eyes as well.

The newscaster suddenly changed broadcasts and a video began playing, both men leaning forward even more.

"This is it! You'll see now, Vexen!"

"Yeah, see that I'm the winner once more!"

The man in the video began talking, looming closer to the main event.

"Oh come on, come on, let it be me…" Marluxia mumbled, rocking back and forth slightly.

Beside him, Vexen actually had his fingers crossed.

"Come on, let it be me again… I've got this one like last year, just, come on…"

The man continued talking.

"Oh, announce it already!" Marluxia yelled, practically jumping up.

"And the prediction is…"

Both men held their breath.

"Shadow, there's a shadow!"

A scream of a prolonged "No!" echoed through the castle, intertwining with a cheer of "Yes!" that ended in a very happy victory laugh.

At the same time of the cries, Marluxia fell forward, hanging his head in shame, while beside him Vexen jumped up and threw his fists in the air, a smile on his face.

"Six more weeks of Winter! That means I win again!"

Marluxia looked up at the TV, shaking his head pitifully.

"There must be some kind of mistake…"

"Oh no, the groundhog has spoken. Six more weeks of Winter for me, and then Spring for you."

Marluxia looked at the groundhog on TV, wondering what he had done to anger the creature. This just wasn't fair…

"Well Marluxia, this has been a very fun morning. Well, for me at least."

"Yes Vexen, it has been exciting, at the very least. So, next year?"

"Of course. Same time?"

"Like always."

Vexen smiled, turning and walking to the door.

"Well, I have work to get back to now. Better luck next year. Loser."

And with that he was gone, leaving Marluxia shaking his head in shame behind him.

Yes, better luck next year indeed…

There was always next year.  Next year would be his year. He could feel it. And when he did win again…

Marluxia smiled evilly, laughing slightly. Next year, Vexen… Next year…

Still smiling, he stood and turned off the TV, thoughts of next year swirling in his mind.

Damn, he loved Groundhog's Day.

Contrary to the rain that constantly fell on Castle Never Was, the sky over Castle Oblivion was usually cloudy, but never with a hint of rain. Even with this effect, the strange castle still managed to be bleaker than its predecessor. Number VI, though not very social in most forms of life, missed the sky of the other castle, though he’d never let it show to anyone else. In fact, Zexion missed quite a lot about the castle that had once been his home, most of all the company he had once held there. Today, he found, was much worse than most of the others. Today he was missing something important, and every hour that passed through the halls of Oblivion felt like just that; an oblivion.

Zexion mumbled some more as he shifted his position, holding his book at a new angle, forcing himself to focus on the words on the page. When he realized that this was not going to be possible, he sighed and closed what was meant to be his escape, scowling at the blinding wall across from him. It wasn’t often he left the Basement, but since most of the planning was complete, Zexion found that he was visiting the Upper Floor’s libraries more and more. It wasn’t like Marluxia would mind anyway. He was busy with “back up plans,” as he called them. Vexen didn’t trust him, but Zexion couldn’t complain. The Assassin had a scheming mind, and Zexion had to respect that, no matter what the scheme may involve.

Standing, Zexion made his way to the window, staring up at the clouded sky above him, wishing to see the rain he missed more than he thought possible. Of course he missed it, though. It was obvious, really. Rain reminded him of…

“Zexion, hiding again?”

The Schemer cut a glance to the side, finding Vexen had entered the lab and was combing through the books, most likely trying to find the new shelf spot Larxene had conveniently hidden his research on.

“I’m not hiding, Vexen, as you well know. I’m merely escaping, I suppose.”

“Escaping into your mind, you mean. I’m no fool, Zexion; I’ve realized what today is.”

A scowl came back to the Schemer’s face. He didn’t like being figured out; it was one of his biggest fears. If someone could see through his illusions and appearances, then how was he to survive? But then, this was Vexen, a man he had been working with for years. He supposed that gave Vexen some right to know him a little by now.

“Yes, I’ve realized what day it is as well.”

A small smile came to Vexen’s lips, a sight Zexion had come to recognize as the scientist’s way of thinking of a scheme of his own.

“Well, you know, I happen to be sure that Marluxia has locked himself up in his tower room, with Larxene and Axel, in fact, working on these, “back up plans” of his,” Vexen’s smile faltered a little here, before continuing, “I for one believe he won’t set foot outside for the rest of the day, nor will he send either of his little lackeys either.”

Zexion raised an eyebrow, a small smile forming on his lips as well.

“Are you suggesting that we may be able to leave the castle for a while, and that no one would miss us in the least?”

“Marluxia would probably be pleased with our absence, for every fact except that he didn’t approve it himself. I think you’d be safe.”

“Of course. Thank you for your input, Vexen. It’s much appreciated.”

“Of course. But I do hope you realize that if you get caught, then I had absolutely nothing to do with this plan of yours.”

“No, I take full credit for the idea.”

Vexen gave a nod, as Zexion held his hand out, summoning a portal of Darkness to open at his command, and stepping inside.

~~~

It was all just as he remembered it… Well, not exactly as he remembered it. When Zexion had stepped out of the portal and into the room of Number IX, the first thing Zexion had noticed was that the Nocturne was disappointingly absent, leading Zexion to believe he was either somewhere in the castle or on a mission. The second thing he noticed was how the room looked untouched, seeing as how things were actually perfectly neat, making him believe a mission was where Demyx was.

Zexion sighed, taking in the familiar sights that he used to see every day, until he had been sent away, off to Oblivion to serve under XI. He missed Never Was; it had always felt more like home than Castle Oblivion. He still couldn’t get himself used to his new life, no matter how much he did try…

A portal opened up across the room from him, and for one desperate moment Zexion had the horrible feeling that he had already been caught, either by a member of Oblivion or one from here in Never Was. He let out his breath a moment later when the familiar figure of the Melodious Nocturne stepped from the portal, the younger boy taking his hood off and sighing happily, finally home again.

“I was worried you wouldn’t be back today.”

Demyx gasped, his head snapping up at the sound of the unexpected voice, when a huge smile broke out on his face, and endearing sight.

“Zexy, you’re back!”

Demyx was across the room in just a moment, taking the older boy and hugging him, a small laugh escaping Zexion.

“I’ve missed you too, Demyx.”

“Are you done at Oblivion, or do you have to leave again?”

His smile immediately faded and he nodded, seeing in Zexion’s face that this was no long term visit. The smile came back in a moment though, as he was happy that the Schemer was back for any time at all.

“Well, then I’ll wait for when you are done at Oblivion, but I’m happy that you’re here for now, Zexy.”

“No one actually knows I’m here, Demyx, so it would be in both of our interests if they didn’t find out anytime soon… But I had to come back for today, even if only for a few minutes.”

Demyx tilted his head, a look of confusion momentarily crossing his face.

“Why did you have to come back for today, Zexy?”

A smile came to Zexion’s lips, and he waved his hand in a swift movement, his Lexicon appearing and opening to the page he indicated. Holding his hand right over the letters of the page, Zexion drew a colorfully wrapped package from between the pages, like a magician showing off his talents. The Lexicon vanished the moment it had served its task, and Zexion held out the package to the younger boy.

“Happy Birthday, Demyx.”

Demyx carefully took the package, as a smile spread across his lips.

“Oh Zexy, you remembered! I didn’t even remember it was my Birthday, being away on that mission for a week! Oh, yay, I love Birthdays!”

Zexion laughed as Demyx shook his present, excitement coloring his features.

“Well Demyx, aren’t you going to see what’s inside?”

Demyx nodded, carefully peeling away the paper concealing his gift within. A smile came to his lips as he lifted up a huge book from within, and a giggle nearly escaped. Typical Zexion…

He opened the book carefully, but was surprised when it wasn’t words that met his eyes, but pictures of all kinds, pictures that he loved and treasured.

Flipping through the pages, he saw himself and Axel practicing together, neither that happy with each others elements, but having fun all the same. And there he was hugging Number VII, Saïx, though everyone had told him he was going to get Berserked on for that. Demyx smirked, remembering how that had never happened at all. And there was the picture from when he was allowed to help Vexen in the labs, and things hadn’t gone quite right… And best of all, there were the pictures of himself with Zexion, and all the times they had been together, all the things they had been able to do.

“I thought you might like them in a more convenient place, instead of scattered out all over the place, and I didn’t have much to work with, not being allowed to leave Oblivion…”

Demyx looked up and smiled at the small Schemer, brightening up all of Never Was.

“Oh Zexy, I love it! This is perfect for me. You know my favorite books are the ones with pictures!” Demyx winked as Zexion laughed, before the younger leaned over to place his lips upon those of VI.

“It’s the best present ever, Zexy… Right next to getting to see you today.”

Zexion smiled, returning the kiss from earlier, savoring his last moments with Number IX.

“I have to go before I get caught, and then this won’t be the Birthday surprise I was hoping to give you.”

Demyx nodded, understanding in his eyes, before he kissed Zexion’s cheek happily.

“Thank you for coming for me, Zexy. It means everything to me.”

“Of course. I wasn’t going to miss this day, Demyx.”

Zexion raised his hand, a portal appearing from his hand, awaiting him. The Schemer stepped up to it, before turning around and smiling at the younger boy, who was hugging the album to himself and smiling after VI.

“Happy Birthday, Demyx.”