Okay. I'm happy I got out sooner, but for all those that read my other story, I will update it this week. I just had prom and I still have weeks of school left. So be patient and thanks for reading.

DISCLAIMER: The normal.

Axel let out his breath as the timer stopped. Another bomb down. He placed the pliers in his mouth and held them between his teeth as he carefully boogied his way back out of the air shaft. "How many bombs was that?" Tifa asked as his feet touched the ground.

Axel spit the pliers back out into his palm. "Six. How many have the other groups gotten?"

Tifa checked her phone. "Zexion's….five….Riku's seven. That's eighteen all together. Six more."

Axel picked up the map. "Alright. The last two that are closest to us are in the bathrooms."

Tifa nodded. "Let's go."

They had decided that searching and disarming the bombs would be safer and easier if they lowered their numbers. The three groups were Axel and Tifa, Riku Sora and Leon, and Zack and Zexion.

Kairi had come back with Larxene and a bandaged up Paine. Much to their displeasure, Riku sent them away. They wouldn't go at first, but Riku convinced them that taking Cloud for medical attention was more important at the moment, and if they insisted on returning after that, then they could search for Luxord and Demyx, or better yet, track down Roxas. Larxene agreed to track Roxas while Kairi and Paine took care of Cloud. Larxene promised to call if anything came up.

Riku stared at his phone solemnly as Leon returned with his pilers. Axel had very briefly tutored Leon on the basics on these bomb diffusions. Leon glanced at Riku. "What's on your mind?"

Riku sighed and pocketed his phone, pulling out the map. "Same thing that's been all night." He muttered. His gang was his family. When they were hurt of missing, he was insecure.

Leon knew Riku was his enemy, and that he should be on guard around him, but he couldn't help but sympathize with him. Knowing that a member was in danger, it was an unsettling feeling that would remain with him until he knew they were safe. "You'll find him."

Riku blinked. He hadn't really expected Leon to comfort him, however awkward it was. "…You're right." Roxas was too stubborn to let himself be killed. They would find him. "Okay, next closest bomb in the garage."

Leon nodded and started walking, Riku right behind him, and Sora beside the silverette. It unsettled Leon a bit at how comfortable Sora was with the Masquerader, bit now was not the time to be worrying about that/ Defuse bombs now, deal with these two later.

When they stepped into the garage, Riku was immediately hit by a few things. Number one was that a car was missing. Demyx had recorded the number of cars in his reconnaissance. The next two main things were the scents in the room. Demyx. Fresh Demyx that wasn't supposed to have been at the party. There was also that Spider Contactor's, the Sponsor's, and Roxas'. Oh, and the garage door was wide open.

Leon crawled under one of the cars to defuse the bomb while Riku walked over to the empty parking space. There were fresh skid marks. All the scents ended there. Riku looked out into the night.

Sora came up and stood beside him. "Riku?"

"They were here Sora. They took Roxas and Demyx."

Sora's eyes widened. "Both? How? Demyx was here too?"

"What?" Sora and Riku turned to Leon who had silently joined them.

Riku rose a brow. "You already defused it?"

Leon shrugged. "I guess I'm getting better."

Riku smirked. "Well you are getting one intense crash course."

"No shit there. What were you talking about?"

Riku sighed. "We found Demyx sort of. He set all the bombs up as well as made them."

Leon rose a brow. "Right. What do you mean sort of?"

"He wasn't supposed to be here, but he was for some random reason, probably to be at the party. But he was in here, probably when they brought Roxas in. They took them both."

Leon frowned. "What makes you so sure of that? He might have stowed away with them."

Riku thought about it. "Maybe….But I doubt it." He glanced at his watch. "Right. Call everyone out."

Leon's frown deepened. "What? Why?"

"We're out of time LeonHeart. We got as many as we could, but the biggest ones are still in there. We don't have enough time to find and defuse them all before they go off. What'll happen will happen. I'm going to track down my friends. You do what you see fit."

Leon thought about Riku's words. Risk his crew, cousin and his friends, for the sake of a building? He didn't think so.

The brunette watched Riku walk through the garage door. "Good luck finding them."

Riku turned back to the two and grinned one of his toothy shark grins. "It's not very smart of you to do so, but thanks. See you back at the battlefield." He turned and disappeared into the night.

Leon had learned some things that night. He didn't realize it yet, but he and his cousin were thinking the same thing as they watched Riku go. 'I hope not.'

There were a few things running through Demyx's head at the moment. One was that it was nice to have a hole in the trunk, it let air in to keep it from getting too hot. Another was that it was a really good idea he had kicked out the tail light, otherwise he would have run out of oxygen. And last was that he really should have known that the Sponsor would have taken them to one of his own buildings.

The sponsor owned a prestigious private school as well as a well-known gym right next to the school for the students to use. He obviously didn't use it very much. Masquerade members like to use it to stay in top form. It was in Stalemate territory, so the threat of Crest interaction was minimal. This was a building for the school board as a sort of bribe. He also rented out some of the extra floors to other businesses, like law firms or realtors.

They had pulled up to the building a few minutes ago. The Sponsor had noticed the missing tail light and swore up a storm about the 'stupid Masquerader' ruining his precious Lexus something or other. He demanded the spider Contractor kill Demyx, ignoring any excuse of how useful a live Demyx could be.

So the man pulled out his gun and stuck it through the hole in the trunk. Demyx had to think fast. As painful as it was, he bit extremely hard into his arm, drawing blood, and lot of it. He rubbed it all over himself and the floor of the car. The man fired.

Demyx dodged, but cried out in pain as the bullets imbedded in the trunk wall to attempt to sound like he had been hit.

It seemed to have worked. The man fired five mor times in the same spot. Demyx cried out for the first two, and then went silent. He slumped on the car floor in the line of fire once it stopped and played dead.

He heard the click of the trunk. He held his breath and let his lids hang part way down to make his death more believable.

It worked apparently, for when the Sponsor opened the trunk, he gagged and slammed the trunk shut. "He's dead. Let's go."

Demyx had been sure to 'die' with his head facing the tail light so he didn't have to move and make noise to peek out.

The spider Contactor had retrieved Roxas from the back seat of the car. The blond looked no better than he had when the car left the mansion. In fact he looked worse. His face had taken on a tinge of pink and his eyes were glassy looking despite most likely being open the entire ride here.

Demyx was really worried now. He had no idea what type of venom the Contractor excreted, and he had no idea how to treat spider bites anyways. Would it kill Roxas? Was his friend already dying? Please no.

He waited until he was sure he heard the glass doors closed behind the men before moving and breathing again. He needed to get out and find some way to contact the others. He had to save Roxas, but going in alone would be suicide. So he'd go in alone, but he'd make sure he had backup on the way.

He felt along the roof of the trunk. Some trunk roofs had latches on the inside for accidental lock ins. This apparently wasn't one of those cars.

Plan B. He pulled a pick out of his pocket and reached his arm out the hole. He just barely managed to reach the lock. He carefully slid the pick into the lock.

Unfortunately, his fingers were slippery from his own blood. The pin bumped a tumbler and slid out of his hands. He heard the 'tink' from it hitting the asphalt.

Demyx growled. Nothing was going well at all for him today. He screamed in frustration, not caring whether he was heard or not. "Damn it all!!!" He kicked out at the roof of the stupid car.

It gave way from the force of the kick and flew open.

Demyx blinked stupidly.

Gods how he hated it when the solution was so simple he couldn't see it.

He quickly jumped out of the trunk. He retrieved his pick from the ground. Cid threatened to charge him if he lost another pick.

As soon as that was taken care of, he closed the trunk. Fancy car, crappy alarm system. He jogged up the steps and slipped through the glass doors. They were left unlocked. The building must've been left open for one of the floors.

"Great outfit!"

Demyx started slightly and turned to the reception desk. There was a brunette woman sitting there. She had a kind smile and wore a simple pink dress. A bow that matched her dress shade tied back her long hair. She was somewhat familiar. "Wha-?"

"The costume party right? That's what you're dressed up for?"

"R-right…" Demyx said slowly. Maybe if he pretended he was in costume, he could get around and find Roxas.

"The realtors are on floor seven." The woman said helpfully.

Demyx nodded. "Right. I'll head up and join them in a little bit."

"Now why would you do that, when the surveyors are having the party on the third floor?" Demyx winced. Of course they'd have someone sly guarding the front. She just kept smiling. "Are you by any chance a friend of the poor young man they just carried in?"

Demyx was surprised at how perceptive and calm she was. He nodded. "A good friend."

The woman nodded. She reached down behind the desk. Demyx started forward, thinking she was trying to activate some silent alarm. Instead she pulled out a roll of linen wrap.

Demyx blinked stupidly again.

She gently took his arm and wrapped his wound, not like a professional. She made it a bit strewn, but still covered the wound with enough pressure to stop the bleeding. "There, that should protect it from infection, and you'll still look like you have a costume."

Demyx was gaping when she finished. "But…I….you…wha-" She cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips.

"You're wasting your time with meaningless questions. I would suggest you pick the meaningful ones and quickly if you want to help that boy."

Demyx nodded and she removed her finger. "Where are they now?"

"Top floor. There's only one office up there."

"Do you know when the Spons-I mean the owner plans to leave again?"

"No, but I know he's expecting company in half an hour."

"Did he say who?"

"No, but whoever it is is extremely important. He wanted me to make sure that no one would disturb them during the meeting. He said specifically to let no one have admittance to his office."

Demyx frowned. "But what about his guest?"

The woman shook her head, "He never said anything about him except that he's really important.

Demy bit the inside of his lip in thought. How was this guest supposed to get in the office? Was he coming before the half hour meeting? "How do I get up to his office?"

"There's a number pad in the elevator. 1899, that's the only way to get up to the office."

Demyx nodded. He stood up straight and walked over to the elevator. He paused halfway through and turned back to the woman. "What's your name?"

The woman smiled. "Aerith Gainsbough."

Demyx's eyes widened. "You…You're that one?" The one cloud-" He closed his mouth when she placed a finger over her lips.

"You're wasting time. You can talk to me after."

Demyx smiled and nodded. He turned and rushed into the elevator and typed in the code.

Ready or not fatass, Demyx was coming for Roxas!

….Shit! He forgot to call the rest of Masquerade!

Leon and the other Crest members watched as the building slumped onto one side. The bombs they missed. It was mostly the western most part of the mansion they missed, so when they went off, entire building collapsed on one side.

"Well…." Zack said, breaking the silence. "At least we saved half the mansion." He sounded lighthearted, but no one made any indication that they agreed with him.

Sora was too worried about Riku, Demyx, and Roxas.

Axel was worried about them being exposed.

Leon was NOT worried about any of the Masquerade Members. (Denial) He was concerned about this 'third party interference'. Who's to say they wouldn't come after Crest members?

Zack frowned and looked at the people. "Oh come on! We're all alive and well! No one died! What's got you down?"

Leon looked over at Zack. "….Have you heard anything at all about this group? The one that ran odd with the Masquerade Contractors?"

Zack frowned and shook his head. "Nope." The answers were the same with whoever Leon asked in their group.

"So no one knows anything at all about this group?"

Tifa looked up. "We don't even know if it's a group. For all we know it could be just that one man they claimed they saw."

A light bulb went on in Sora's head. "You should go check on them."

Everyone turned their heads to look at Sora.

"What? You just said they, or him, could be dangerous to you. Why wait and figure out when they attack?"

Axel was starting to pick up the hints Sora was dropping. "Yeah, you don't have to actually attack them, just drop in, take a look around, figure out what they're up to, then leave. No harm, no foul."

Leon began smiling. "That's a good idea. We'll just check them out. We won't bother if they're clean."

Sora smiled. If they got involved, then they would have to see if Roxas is okay! Leon started giving out orders.

"Vincent, Tifa, Zack, and Hayner are with me on this."

"I'm coming too!" Sora announced.

Leon swiveled back to Sora. "No. It could be dangerous."

"This party could have been dangerous." Axel pointed out. "And none of us got injured."

Leon looked to the red head. "Not you too."

Zexion stepped forward. "We're all prepared to follow if you won't let us come, might as well take us."

Leon scowled. He wasn't at all pleased with this. Sora piped up again. "Think of it this way, they won't suspect you as much if you bring some powerless innocents."

After a long minute of thinking, Leon sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright. You can come. But the same rules I laid down for this party apply for this. First glance of trouble, you get out."

Sora nodded, having no intention of listening to those orders. Leon hadn't enforced them when they were in a building full of bombs, and this would be no different.

Leon nodded. "Alright Vincent, there's a scent over by the garages. Track it through the city. We should be able to find them that way."

Sora watched the tall dark haired man walked away from the group. He must be Vincent. He blinked when he realized something Leon said. "Hayner's in Crest!?"

Meanwhile, Riku walked through the dark streets, stopping to smell the air every now and then. He had already called the other members of Masquerade to let them know the situation. Back up was on its way.

Riku got turned around a few more times than he would have liked, but he knew he was hot on the trail when he found on the tail light in the street. It wasn't long before he found the corporation building. The missing car from the garage was there, no tail light included. The trunk was wide open, reeking of gunpowder and Demyx's blood.

Riku growled. Damn. Demyx was hurt. (Never believe dead unless a body was found.)

The silverette sprinted up the steps to the building and ran for the elevator. He paid no attention to the receptionist as the doors closed.

When Roxas had first come here nine months ago to make the deal, he told exactly what floor to find the man on. But the code might have changed.

He suddenly realized that the smell of Demyx's blood was even stronger in there. He looked down to the cream colored floor. 1899 was written on the floor in blood.

Gods bless that annoying as hell blond.

He typed the code into the elevator pad and rode it straight up to the top. When it got to the top floor he knocked out the ceiling square for the emergency exit and climb out before replacing it. He heard the doors open with a ding, followed by a barrage of bullets.

Riku could feel them hit the back wall of the back wall of the elevator. Always expect the unexpected. Plus Demyx already came up through here, so the had to be expecting him.

The silverette grabbed onto some thick wires and got himself some proper footing before taking both feet off the elevator roof. He waited until the bullets stopped and listened.

Some footsteps approached the elevator. "It's empty sir."

"Someone came up. Keep your guard up." Riku could tell by the slurping that it was the Sponsor.

"Mmmm!" It appears they caught and gagged Demyx. The Gods can stop blessing him now.

"Oh hush. We'll deal with you in due time." That must be the Spider Contractor that attacked them. Riku was itching to go down there and rip him limb from limb and make him give his friends back.

"Mmmmmm!"

"Send the elevator back down." He heard the click of one of the men reaching inside and pressing the button. The door slid closed. Riku waited until the elevator had begun moving before digging his teeth into the large electric wore running down the shaft. It only took a few chomps before the elevator stopped.

"What happened?"

"The elevator stopped Sir."

"I see that. Why?"

"I'll find out sir."

The grunts manually pried the elevator doors open. Riku kept close to the wall as light flooded in. The elevator had only gone halfway down when it stopped. The grunt poked his head over its roof to peer at the top of the shaft. The idiot must have poor eyesight because he didn't see the busted cable or Riku. Typical of the slimeball to hire half asses.

The grunt pulled his head out. "can't see anything from here sir. Something must have happened downstairs."

"Take the stairs and go see."

Ah-Ha! There was another way to get to this floor before besides the elevator. Now all Riku had to do was find it after he charged in, guns blazing, take down the Sponsor and his hired lackey spiderman, rescued Roxas and Demyx. Where the hell was that backup?
There was a loud clank and fading footfalls followed by another clank. Stairs hidden behind a trap door of some sort. Noted.

There was a long prause with only 'mms' and noises of rustling which Riku assumed was all Demyx.

Well his backup was taking forever and he didn't know what they were waiting for, but he wasn't going to wait with them/

Riku slid down the cable and effortlessly jumped through the gap onto the floor. The Sponsor made a choking sound. "R-R-Riku! B-B-Bu-"

The silverette ignored the man's mindless babble to get a good idea of the room's layout. It was circular, aside from the elevator shaft. The walls were all bullet proof windows with the shades drawn so no one outside could see inside. The desk was opposite the elevator. Roxas was strewn across the desk, his face was turned away, so Riku couldn't see if he was awake or not. Demyx was tightly with several layers of duct tape in front of the desk. He was extremely happy to see Riku.

The spider Contractor stepped between Riku and the desk. "You don't give up easily do you?" He hissed.

Wow. He spoke. Riku shifted into a flexible position for attacking and dodging. "Give me back my friends and I'll leave."

"The stupid one can go but the tiny one stays. Things have already been set in motion. He's coming for him."

Riku growled. "Who? Who is it you're working for?!"

"I do not have to tell you." The spider man said coolly. "But if you must know, he is a dear friend of the little one."

Riku furrowed his brow. The emphasis on friend was throwing him off. And why Roxas? Who-?

The silverette's eyes widened in realization. No way. No effin way. "That's a breach of contract!" He snarled.

The man merely smirked. "Helping a human kidnap him and then meeting with that same human is not a breach of Contract."
Riku snarled again. "I will kill you. I will rip you limb from limb alive and leave you to dry and die out in the desert."

The man chuckled, large spider legs growing out of his back. They lifted him off the ground as he used them to stand. "I would love to see you try."

They were about to charge, when the speaker phone on the Sponsor's desk came on. "Excuse me sir, but you have some guests to see you."

The Sponsor frowned. Who could possibly want to see him at this hour? "Who are they?"

"They say they are Crest. They are on their way up now."

Riku and the Sponsor stared at the intercom in shock. What the hell were they doing there?!

The spider Contractor took advantage of the silverette's distracted state and charge at the him, slamming him into one of the window walls. Riku grunted and clutched at the hairy spider legs holding him pinned to the wall. "Get off!"

The man smirked and lifted one of his human arms. "You are a nuisance that I am going to do my master the pleasure of getting rid of you."

Riku snarled. "Like hell!" He kicked, but his legs swung in the air uselessly. The Contractor laughed and brought his arm up.

Clang! Slrpt!
It had happened so fast that Riku had almost not seen it all. Almost. A trap door flew open in the floor. A white blast flew out from it and blew the spider Contractor's head clean off. Blood gushed out a moment later, coating Riku and the window in dark red.

Luxord stepped out of the trap door, catching his dice as the flew back to him. "That was for my friends, asshole."

Riku sighed in relief. The body fell away from him and the silvertte landed nimbly back on his feet. "Where have you been?"

Luxord walked over to Demyx, waving a hand dismissively. "Locked in a closet." He kneeled down and ripped the duct tape off Demyx's face in one swift motion.

"Yeouch! Easy!" With the Contractor dead, they didn't have much to worry about anymore. The Sponsor fainted at the sight of the headless brother.

"What happened to Crest?" Riku asked. He walked over to Roxas. The blond's eyes were closed and his face was as red as a pepper. He probably slept through the whole damn fight, which worried Riku.

Luxord looked up from his work with the duct tape. "Crest? What are you talking about?" His eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. "It's just me and Xigbar. We didn't see anyone from Crest."

Riku frowned. "Then why did the secretary say I was?"

"It was Aerith!" Demyx chirped. "She must have been trying to help!"

Riku rose his brows. "That was Aerith?" Everyone in Masquerade knew about Aerith. Cloud didn't stop talking about her. She was a childhood friend from way back when. "I didn't exactly say hello. I ran straight."

Demy shrugged once all the duct tape was off. "I did, sort of. I asked how to get up here." The teen eyed the headless body. "That was…..very anticlimactic."

Riku rolled his eyes. "Oooo, Demyx played the dictionary game." The blond huffed. "No one cares Demyx. The asshole had it coming for crossing us, and most of what we do is anticlimactic."

Demyx pursed his lips. He knew Riku was right.

"Oh dear, you seemed to have killed my messenger."

Demyx jumped, frightened by the sudden booming voice while Riku and Luxord got in their fighting stances.

The Mohawk teen shivered. "It can't be…..the Sponsor was meeting HIM?"

Riku gritted his teeth, holding back a feral snarl. "The Sponsor was a clueless puppet. The Contractor was the mastermind behind the fatass, but he wasn't the big boss."

Luxord smiled nervously as the air in the room thickened. "He mentioned that when he locked in the closet."

"And he mentioned it before he died." Riku reminded. "Who else would it be besides-"

Riku had to stop and turn away when a white hot light burts from a flame that spontaneously roared to life a few feet from the trap door. He couldn't look. Neither could Demyx, or Luxord, or Sora, or Axel.

Yep, Sora and axel. Crest had arrived at the building. The rest of them were trying to get information. Axel and Sora went to find a men's room. Along the way they found a secret door, and like any other curious idiots, they investigated. They were now just steps below the office.

The flame continued roaring wildly as two figures slowly formed in the center. They stepped out, single file. The flame immediately turned to smoke afterwords.

The first was a familiar blue haired Siax, looking grim as usual with his scarred face. The other was a darkly tanned, silver haired man. He had eyes that glowed like the fire that burned only moments before. His hair had hanging spikes that looked sharp enough to pierce metal, and spikes on top of his head that looked like little horns. Riku moved his hand away from his eyes and growled.

"Xemnas."

The only review talk today is to cherrybomb. Thank you for the offer, and I will fix the errors when I can. I might take you up on the offer.

That's all, thanks for reading.