Hmm... sorry I haven't updated lately. Life's catching up to me, but rest assured I'll eventually update within the month :) I hope you enjoy!

Shoutouts!

Obsidian Rush: You're nice today. Thanks! I'll be sure to keep the intrigue continuing; I don't want you knowing the killer just yet!

Thaumaturgic Adversary: Thank you! I'm glad you like it! Thanks!

WeDidItForTheDead: You're really sweet, thanks! Sorry, but you'll have to wait and see 'who dunnit'. S/he's not ready to appear juuuust yet ;)

Zexiontwo: Not bad? Thanks. While I usually prefer my reviews more than two words, I'm still glad you did! Thanks!

Hope Eternal: Thank you! That means a lot.

Mirae-no-sekai: You like NamiZeku as well? Cool! Yes, I killed off Kairi. Sorry, but it was necessary. Zexion normally is serious, btw ^^; And they didn't go beserk, just upset: he's a very punctual Lord who normally doesn't miss dinner :3 Thank you!(EDIT: I dunno why FF deleted your name, sorry D: )

To everyone who put my in their Favourites/Alerts, a big warm hug! Thanks!

On with the show!

Build it up with strings and twigs,

Strings and twigs, strings and twigs,

Build it up with strings and twigs,

My fair lady...

Lord Zexion hissed curses underneath his breath as he reluctantly illusioned himself and Destiny with magic to blend them into their surroundings, and not attract any unwanted attention.

The stench of magic was strong, and brought back sickening memories, memories he desperately wished he could forget, but knew he could not afford to. Blood… fire…screams of children… He shook his head in an attempt to clear it.

"If we use magic, we might make it by seven…" he murmured softly, more to himself than to his horse. Destiny nickered and pawed the ground nervously. Neither she nor her master enjoyed journeying through the dark, swirling portals that the magic created. It always made them feel… colder, in a way, when they emerged. Zexion tugged on her reins firmly.

"We'll have to use a portal, Destiny," he said, making up his mind. Directing her to a dark alley just big enough for the mare's body, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a black, leather glove and slipped it onto his right hand, and wore a look of concentration as he began summoning the portal.

There was a tingling, eerie feeling as, slowly, a swirling mass of black and dark purple circled around them and molded itself into a portal in front of the two. It was somewhat akin to a tunnel, though cold and reeking of… darkness, if such a thing was possible, and the end could not be seen. Zexion took a deep breath and maneuvered his nervous mount into the darkness.

Cold…just like that place, twelve years ago… was it really only twelve years? It feels like a lifetime… Uncomfortable sensations washed over Lord and his horse as they rode through the portal and horrific scenes replayed themselves in Zexion's mind.

Marluxia… Axel… Aeleus…Paine… NO! Father! FATHER!

Manic laughter invaded Zexion's ears, unbidden, as the darkness swirled around him, beginning to take form of his worst memories. He bit down hard on his lip.

No. I won't let the darkness do this. I won't let the past take over me. I have strength. Naminé's strength. For Naminé…

Naminé. I wonder, do you know of your friend's death…?

The swirling began receding and slowly, light began bleeding into their surroundings. It may have been the Lord's imagination, but he thought he felt Destiny gallop just a little bit faster.

The sensation of breaking the surface from underwater washed over them as they emerged from the portal. Zexion took a deep, shuddering breath and looked around. The portal behind them was closing, revealing empty green fields underneath a young night sky. Father away, near the horizon, stood a white mansion and rows of neatly trimmed trees lining the cobblestone lane.

"We're behind the mansion…?" Zexion sighed and urged Destiny forward. He tried not to use portals too often, but the less he used them, the harder they were to control.
The flip-side to that was that the more he used them, the colder he felt, and the more the stench of darkness attached itself to his skin. No amount of blankets could warm him for hours at times, and the smell of the dark magic wouldn't wash off for days.

Destiny galloped towards the front of the mansion happily, relieved that the journey was nearly over, and nearly caused Zexion—no, Ienzo now, to lose his grip on the reins, as well as snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Woah, Destiny," he said softly; she obeyed and slowed down to a trot. He glanced up at the windows and made a hand signal, hoping that a servant saw it. A Dusk moved from its position in the curtains and nodded, immediately vanishing further into the large house.

Presently, the front door opened and light spilled out into the outside world, followed by the running forms of Naminé, Xion, and a few more Dusks, while Roxas walked leisurely behind them, taking his time, and lightly mocking the Lord.

Ienzo dismounted Destiny just as Naminé reached him, her emerald dress fluttering behind her. She rushed towards him and caught the lean man in a hug, burying her face in his chest, not minding that his clothes were tattered and worn.

"Oh, Zexion, Zexion, Zexion, Zexion, Zexion!" she cried out in relief, embracing him tightly. Ienzo looked down at her head in surprise.

What's gotten into you? He awkwardly patted her back with one hand, and stroked her pale, golden hair with the other.

"Yes, Naminé, I'm back…" They didn't move for a long while, as the Dusks took away Destiny and Xion smiled with gratitude at her Lord, when suddenly Ienzo's chest felt faintly… wet. He took a step back from Naminé's loosening hold and kneeled down, grasping her shoulders.

"Naminé, what's wrong? What happened?" Does she know about Kairi? The blonde sniffled and shook her head, groping in her pockets for a hankie to dab her eyes with.

"I…I'm okay," she said shakily. Roxas had caught up to them and was about to say something, but Naminé continued talking. "I'm just glad you're safe… I was… really worried." She gave Ienzo a weak smile. "Forgive me—" she curtsied; "—I'm being silly, aren't I? But you're back now, and you're safe…" The handkerchief met her wet eyes once more. Ienzo gave her a small smile in return.

"Yes. I'm back, and I'm safe… and so are you." Roxas rolled his eyes at their words and walked past Xion, who was merely looking at the two with happiness and relief.

"We started dinner without you," Roxas said bluntly, but with a friendly smile. Ienzo looked up from Naminé and stood up.

"I assumed." Xion chose this moment to cut in, not wanting any drama between the two males, and curtsied in front of Ienzo.

"Speaking of dinner, may I suggest that we all go back inside and eat? Destiny is in her stables now, and Chef Xaldin would be disappointed if his meals went to waste…" Naminé nodded.

"That's true; and Ienzo, tonight's dinner was delicious!" She laughed lightly, and grasped his hand, but almost drew back in shock.

He's so cold…

Ienzo raised an eyebrow.

"Did you finish eating already?"

"No, but I got her to eat a couple bites. She was waiting for you, you know. Didn't want to start without you." The slate-haired young Lord looked at the older blond to the younger blonde.

"Is that so? …Thank you, Naminé," he said after a pause. The two girls smiled as the four returned to the safety of the mansion. As Ienzo and Roxas passed the large mirror in the front hall, Naminé pulled Xion to the side.

"Yes, Milady?" Worry tainted Xion's bright blue eyes. Naminé smiled gently.

"Oh, don't look so worried, Xion! But Ze—Ienzo's hands are like ice; get him something hot, will you please?"

"Of course, Miss." Xion bobbed a curtsy and quickly walked off through a hidden servants' door and down to the kitchens, leaving Naminé standing there alone.

She sighed.

"I suppose I should go down to dinner as well, or else the boys will start fussing and worrying over me." She giggled at the thought and, bunching up her skirts in one hand, quickly ran off to the dining room.

Ienzo and Roxas were just sitting down when Naminé entered. Ienzo immediately stood up and walked over to her chair and pulled it out for her. With a smile, his fiancée sat down and let Ienzo push her in, and watched as with almost inhumanly quick strides he returned to his own seat. They sat down, and said grace before eating once more. Naminé quietly added her own prayer of thanks and resumed eating the three-quarters of her meal that she had left over.

She finished slowly, taking small bites, as did Ienzo, though he finished before her. Roxas, on the other hand, was unashamedly eating large bites, though somehow managing it in a dignified way.

Eventually, Naminé gave up and pushed her plate away; she had left food, but couldn't find it in herself to finish. Roxas looked up.

"You're done?"

Naminé nodded dumbly and stood up, as did the two others.

"I…Dinner was delicious. Thank you, Ienzo." He bowed his head and blinked slowly, looking at her through his piercing, clear aqua eyes, almost causing her to forget her words. "I'm… not hungry anymore. I'll be in the library, if anyone…needs me. Er… that's it, I suppose!" She finished on a note of slightly forced cheerfulness, and quickly left the dining room, bobbing a curtsy as she went. Roxas and Ienzo stared at the door in surprise.

"What's gotten into her?"

"I dunno, but I have an idea. I need to talk to you, Zexion." Ienzo narrowed his eyes, but nonetheless allowed himself to be taken away by Roxas and into the parlor.

The shorter male crossed his blue-sleeved arms and looked at the slate-haired man with something akin to anger.

"Yes?"

"What business did you have in 'the city'?" An eyebrow rose questioningly.

"And why would you want to know?" Pale eyebrows furrowed faintly and Roxas's lips quirked down into a slight scowl.

"Why are you so secretive about it?" Ienzo shrugged.

"I am not being secretive: I merely want to know why you want to know." Roxas let out a sigh and softened his gaze.

"…Naminé. I need to know because of Naminé." Ienzo's blood temperature dropped a few degrees.

"Why? What happened to her?" Roxas shot him a glare.

"Answer the damn question and I'll tell you."

"Fine. As you wish, Roxas, Earl of—"

"Just… Just Roxas, Zexion."

"Very well. This morning I went to see an old friend to confirm a theory of mine: that the Twilight Bridge suicides were not suicides at all, but instead orchestrated murders."

"This is what—" Ienzo held up a hand to halt Roxas's outburst.

"He agreed with my theory and gave me confidence that I was not merely overthinking the situation, and that my theory had a good chance of being true. Then I came home to have tea with your sister. Was she acting… strangely before then?" Roxas shook his head no. "I see… well, then I received a message from my friend whom I mentioned earlier, and had to leave quickly. Port Royal was a half-day's journey away, and Destiny Islands is almost right off the coast. I didn't dare use magic, but perhaps that would have been a wiser idea… no matter. At any rate, I went to Destiny Islands and spoke with the undertaker and learnt about the deaths. And then—" He hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Damn. I forgot to ask about the other deaths! …But those wouldn't have been at Riku's… Hades would be the one to ask. Yes…" Ienzo trailed off and began murmuring to himself, his hand on his mouth and his eyes downcast, clearly lost in his own thoughts. Roxas cleared his throat loudly.

"Zexion! What's this about Riku and Hades? Why didn't you use magic? Naminé worries about you, you know! Don't make my baby sister worry. Don't." Roxas's expression turned serious, his tone carefully withholding a sense of pleading and desperation. He didn't want his sister to always worry. He wanted to see her smile again, to temporarily forget the scars inflicted on her mind. Maybe even have her paint her beautiful, lifelike scenes of nature again.

Ienzo, who had watched his soon-to-be brother-in-law's face carefully ever since he had loudly called out his name, opened his mouth to answer Roxas, and managed to say his name before they were interrupted by a terrified scream from the upstairs library.

The two men's eyes widened as they recognized the voice.

"NAMINÉ!"

The two ran out from the parlor and sprinted up the stairs; Ienzo took two steps in a stride and passed Roxas in his rush. His pale hand opened a carved door quickly, leaving it ajar as he ran in, and froze.

The blonde Lady stood, trembling, by the opened windows, the soft curtains fluttering against her emerald dress, and turned to look at her fiancé silently. Roxas appeared behind him, panting lightly and looking over Ienzo's shoulder, and looked at his sister with wide eyes, just like the Lord.

Crystal tears slipped down her face, leaving glistening tracks on her pale skin, and landed on her partially raised hand, mixing with the blood running down her palm.

Skewering her palm, its iron tip piercing through the back of her hand, was a bloodstained, peacock-feathered arrow.

A/N: *gasp!* Don't worry, I didn't forget the other suicides from chapter one ;)
I hurt Naminé! Oh no! Any guesses on why?

I wonder if this fic will ever accumulate 50 reviews? It'd be nice thought if it did... ANYWAY! I'd like your thoughts please! Was it good? Too short? Not good enough? Feedback in the form of your reviews are the keys to the next chapters! Five and you'll get Chapter Five! :D Thanks!