Disclaimer: Sad to say that I have still not gotten anywhere near owning Ryan O' Donohue. This makes me unhappy. Oh... I don't own Kingdom Heart's either. I only want to own Ryan anyway. I'm going to go cry.

A/N: Ok... My OTP is Zemyx. Seriously. I love that pairing so much. AkuRoku is my next favorite and so I have no problems writing this. Also... to the people who are waiting for chapter 10 of my other story, How To Love A Somebody; I'm sorry but I can't work on it because of some computer problems. I can't reach the story so I decided to work on this instead for now.

Dedication: The reason why I'm writing this story is for Riku-stalker. She asked me- ME?!!- to write an AkuRoku fic for her. She said that she loved my writing and AkuRoku so the two together would be awesome. I couldn't very well say no, could I? Not like I wanted to. When she asked me, I practically squealed. I mean, she wanted me to write her a story. That made my month. Seriously.

Pairings: I'm going to be upfront about this; the pairings are obviously AkuRoku, Zemyx, Cleon, RiSo, Marlene, and so on and so forth. A part of the story will be centered around each couple, some more than others. It is primarily an AkuRoku story though and all other's are mostly side pairings.

Warning: This is an AkuRoku fic, which means that's it a yaoi story. And it's rated M for a reason. That should say something to you.

Best Laid Plans

Chapter 1: Returning

In a time that has long since been lost to the pages of history, there lived two young males. They belonged to rivaling gypsy clans and hated each other. They had no intention of changing their perceptions, either. But, sometimes, the best laid plans were meant to be broken.

As night slipped down on the camp and the last person finally went to bed a stirring occurred. A flap to one of the many brightly colored tents on the edge of the circular site was opened cautiously and a small head poked out. The head moved around surreptitiously (checking to make sure that everyone was bedded down for the night) before a small body slipped out of the tent, following the head it was connected to. The young boy that the head and body belonged to tiptoed cautiously around the banked fire and past the other tents before breaking into a run once he hit the open fields behind the campsite.

He followed a small line for a while before coming into a small clearing. He saw the person sitting there and broke into a grin. He ran towards the person, lifting his hand in a wave.

"Axew! Axew!" The redheaded boy sitting on the ground turned his head at the call of his name and grinned when he saw who was coming.

"Roxas! You came!"

Axel was a year older than Roxas at six years of age. They had met a few months earlier, in this very clearing. They were best friends. Axel had been so excited when he met Roxas. But things hadn't exactly worked out the way he wanted. He wasn't really supposed to see Roxas. In fact, no one in his family knew about Roxas. And for good reason. When Axel had told his older friend, Zexion, of Roxas and his clan, his face had drooped. He told Axel that he and Roxas couldn't be friends. Axel had asked why; Zexion said it was because of their different clans. When Axel had again asked why, Zexion only shrugged his shoulders.

"'Cause my mommy said so." Zexion then walked away from the very confused Axel. To tell the truth, Zexion didn't really know why he couldn't see his friend Demyx either. He just knew that what mommy said was the truth and therefore he had to follow it.

Axel still didn't understand why his clan wouldn't want them to be friends. Roxas was so much fun. They played a lot of games together. They even gazed at the stars together. Axel didn't even mind coming out at night. He knew they couldn't be seen together during the day time. He didn't like keeping it from Zexion, though. He hated lying to people.

"Hi Axew! Sowwy I took so wong. Uncew Xigbar didn't want to go to sleep. Why do we have to pway at night anyway?" At five, Roxas still wasn't able to keep from slurring his words in a baby childish way.

"'Cause, Roxas. Isn't it more fun this way?"

"Not reawwy. It's kinda scawy to come out here at night."

How could Axel tell Roxas the truth? A truth that Axel didn't even really know or understand, either.

"Well... It's supposed to be a secret. Our friendship. It's exciting that way, isn't it?"

"I suppose... well... as long as I get to do this with you than I'm good."

Axel smiled and hugged Roxas. He was happy that Roxas hadn't questioned it anymore than he had.

"So, what do you want to do, Roxas?"

"I don't know. I'm kinda tiwed today. We had to weawn a new dance eawiew."

"How about we look at the stars tonight, than."

"Ok."

Axel smiled at Roxas and led him to the middle of the clearing. He sat down than tugged Roxas with him. They both laid on their backs and gazed up at the clear night sky.

"Ooh. Axew! Wook at that one! It wooks wike a dog! Wike a big dog!"

"Nah, I don't think so. It looks more like a lion to me!"

"Nuhuh. You're wong, Axew! It's a dog."

Axel just laughed and shook his head. Roxas got angry at Axel and they were soon chasing each other around the small area; Roxas was trying to catch Axel and make him confess that the star pattern looked like a dog. Laughter rang throughout the small clearing before the two young boys collapsed in a fit of exhaustion. Roxas turned pensive.

"Axew? Do you think we'll always be fwiends?"

Axel looked at Roxas, surprised.

"Of course, Roxas. We'll always be friends."

"Pwomise?"

Axel held his hand up, pinky extended towards Roxas. Roxas smiled and extended his hand towards Axel, pinky also up. Their fingers interlocked.

"Promise. Forever friends."

"Roxas!"

Roxas jerked his head up when his name was called. He gazed around deliriously, trying to remove his head from it's sleep induced fog.

"Roxas! Where are you?"

"I'm he..."

Roxas' throat was scratchy. He cleared it than tried to respond to the call again.

"I'm here, Demyx. Don't call out a search party just yet.."

Roxas was still in a fog when another blond man poked his head through the opening. Demyx, Roxas' older brother, grinned at finally finding Roxas, who was still groggily looking around.

"Fell asleep again, Roxas? You should lay off of the paperwork more. It's gonna make you old before your time."

"Yeah. I didn't sleep very well last night. Sheesh. When did you get so loud?"

"The dreams, again? And I have to be loud. I'm a teacher, remember?"

"Ooh yeah. They seem to be coming back with a tenacity. I couldn't exactly forget what you do, Demyx." Roxas sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He was so tired. The dreams kept him up at night and his work kept him up during the day. When was he supposed to sleep? The exhaustion was really getting to him. And the work. God, the work. It was driving him insane. Why did he offer to take on more work? Oh yeah. Because he had to learn the family business.

"Sorry, Roxas. Here, I've been looking for you for quite a while. Why don't you come walking with me? We have some things to discuss."

Demyx's laughing expression (he actually found Roxas' plight funny. Such family loyalty in Roxas' eyes) quickly morphed into a grim and serious one. Roxas groaned. Whatever this was couldn't be good. He heaved himself out of his chair and followed Demyx out of the tent. A young girl of four ran up to Roxas.

"Woxas! Woxas! Wook at what I can do!" The little blonde girl picked up her layered bandanna red and gold skirt and twirled her feet around into a pirouette and then dip.

"Oh wow, Namine! Great job. You're coming along very well." Roxas was very happy with Namine. She was coming along well in her lessons. Soon she would be able to join the group in the act.

"Thanks, Woxas!" The little girl ran up to Roxas and gave him a quick hug before she skipped away.

"Roxas, you are so much better with the little children than I am. How do you do that?"

"I don't know. I've just always liked children. I'll want some eventually. Far off in the distance, though. I've got enough children to think about right now."

"Why are you doing this, Roxas?" The two men continued on, stopping to wave to others at the campsite. They eventually left the tent area and moved into the fields behind the camps.

"Why did you want to come back here? We haven't been back here in over 15 years. There was a reason for that. We didn't get business here." Demyx continued.

They finally stopped when they reached a small clearing, logs scattering the ground. Demyx walked over to one of them and sat down. Roxas meandered around the edge of the circular area. He paused next to a small patch of flowers. He tore one off and began to pluck off its petals, staring as each petal was torn and dropped, fluttering down to the Terra firma. Demyx just stared at Roxas, waiting for him to talk. Roxas looked up and sat down next to his brother.

"Well, it's been 15 years. I figured that things might have changed here. Besides, Demyx, we don't get business anywhere. That stupid clan. They are taking our business. How are we supposed to work? People are going to them."

"Roxas, we're going to have to come to terms with the fact that the other clan is there and that we're basically competing with them. I don't know why. We could always just join forces with them. Why do we have to compete? Why do we hate them? Gods, this feud is starting to really get to me."

"That's just the way things are, Demyx. We've always feuded with that clan. I don't know why either. Mom and Dad still don't want to tell us. They will have to when we really take over the business. And that day is coming soon."

"I know. You do the paperwork and I do the lessons. Sora does the scouting. That's the way it's been planned out, seeing as how I'm the only one with the dancing and singing ability, Sora is the one with the charm, and you're the one with the brains. We'll turn this around. Just you wait."

"I know, Demyx. We will do it. Whether or not that clan is in our way."

"Which reminds me of my real reason for having disturbed you from your sleep. They're here, too, Roxas. They were here first. Practically in the same place as 15 years ago. I don't know why, either. Should we extend an olive branch of sorts?"

"Our parents wouldn't like that, Demyx. No, we need to stay as far away from them as possible. We don't disturb them and they won't disturb us." Roxas was beginning to get a headache. He didn't really like that they were here, too. But he wasn't going to pack up and leave. He had come here for a reason.

"Okay. I don't think it's a good idea, though. What do we have against them?"

Roxas sighed, thinking of an old friend whom he hadn't seen in a long time. "It's probably more, what don't we have against them."

Demyx opened his mouth to protest, a confused expression on his face. Roxas raised a hand to cut him off and stood up, moving away from his older brother and out of the clearing, back towards the camp. Demyx stayed behind, a pensive expression replacing his original confused one.

XXXXXXX

"Axel, they're here. They came back."

Axel lifted his head, slipped off his glasses, and looked at his best friend, Zexion, as the older blue haired man stepped through the tent door.

"Really? Well isn't that fine and dandy? Well, we'll just leave them alone. They'll do the same."

"Are you sure, Axel?"

"I know Roxas, Zexion. He won't come near us if we don't come near them. It's a win win situation."

"If you're sure, Axel. I mean, shouldn't we make amends with them?"

"Why? After what happened? No, just... no."

"I guess."

"How do you know they're here?"

"I could hear them setting up. And I heard some really loud person yelling Roxas!"

"Hmm. Well, nothing will come of it. They hate us. They will stay away."

"All right."

"I have to get back to this, Zexion. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, Axel. I don't. Get back to work. I'm going to go for a walk."

"Fine, fine."

Zexion sighed when Axel just slipped his reading glasses back on and dug his head back into his work. He went for a walk, contemplating the changes in Axel since they had returned here. Why had they returned here? It only held bad memories. Why had the other clan come here? Especially now? Was it just coincidence that the two clans had returned here at the same time? Or was it more? Zexion didn't know.

Zexion didn't really look to see where he was going and was so deep in thought that he didn't notice where he was until he heard a soft inhale to the left of him.

"Huh?"

Zexion quickly whirled around only to gasp at who he saw sitting there.

"Demyx? Is that you?"

XXXXXXX

Axel lifted his head up from his work once Zexion left the tent and sighed. Roxas and his clan being back was not good. He knew that if they left each other alone, no sparring would occur. Axel also knew that, as the head of his clan, he had to keep the peace. But he didn't really want to leave him alone. Yeah, things hadn't ended on a great note but he still wanted to see Roxas. It had been so long. So very long. And... Axel had missed him. He had really liked Roxas. He hadn't understood why he couldn't be friends with Roxas back then. Boy did he know the reason now. It still didn't deter him from wanting to make amends with Roxas.

He got up from his seat and went outside. He figured that fresh air would do him some good. The noise of the workers floated through the air towards Axel's ears. He sighed. His clan was prosperous, he had a good life, he was well loved by his people. What was wrong with him that he wasn't happy? Sure his parents were gone and he didn't really have anybody to love but he had Zexion. That should be enough right? Axel was missing something. He just didn't know what.

"Axel! Come over here!"

Axel turned his head to the side and looked towards another friend of his. Larxene was not a female to mess with. He had learned that the hard way when he was a teenager and had tried to kiss her. He had never tried it again and they had eventually become friends. Not that he didn't still wince whenever a dark, sadistic smirk graced her face and he was able to recall exactly how she had taken revenge on him. He was glad that he was on her good side now.

"What do you need, Larxene?"

"I can't decide between these two outfits for Kairi. She's going to be a part of the show for the first time and I want her to look good. She's so excited about it."

Axel shook his head, smiling at the blonde girl. The only person who really had a soft spot in Larxene's heart was his four year old sister, Kairi. He swore that Larxene saw Kairi more often then he did. Then again, that wasn't far off from the truth. Larxene taught the youngest girls their lessons. He didn't really know why she was more affectionate towards Kairi than any of the other children, though.

"So which one do you think I should put on her, leader? The blue and gold or the green and silver?"

"Hmm. I'm a guy and therefore I don't profess to know these things but I should think the blue and gold. It will offset her eyes."

"Good choice. I'll put the green and silver on her than." Larxene nodded and went back into the clothes tent.

Axel shook his head in exasperation, still smiling. Perhaps he was learning more about Larxene than he realized. He figured that the green and silver would look much better than the blue and gold.

He walked farther off, still thinking about Roxas. He steered away from the old clearing- too many memories- and walked in the other direction. He soon came upon a site that he hadn't ever thought he would see again. A familiar looking gypsy clan was pitching their brightly colored tents not more than 100 feet from Axel's campsite. And right in the middle of the confusing mess was a shining head of blond hair, set upon a body that had grown a lot in 15 years. Roxas was back. Axel had never thought that he would ever see that small body and that bright hair. He was too far away to see the bright blue eyes that had always gleamed with intelligence, even in a 5 year old, but he knew that they were there as always. He could almost feel those eyes on him. Even though he knew they weren't. And suddenly Axel was thrust back into the past. A past where life had been so much simpler, so much sweeter, and so much more painful.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

A/N 1: I do not intend to turn this into a Zemxy story. They are just one of the side characters. They do play a major role in the story. You'll find out what that role is later. I have to have some surprises up my sleeve. Also, I do intend to make Larxene a somewhat likable character because I actually do like her in the game. She's a sick, twisted, and sadistic bitch but she makes no apologies about it or excuses. I like that. Honesty is a great thing in my opinion.

A/N 2: I do not profess to know or truly understand the gypsy culture. In fact, I did research on the gypsy culture in preparation for this story but what I found was very confusing. Apparently, there is not much to be known about the gypsy culture and what is known has been distorted by popular stereotyping. Therefore, I cannot truly write on the gypsy culture. As such, I will write with what I do know and make up what I can to make it pleasing to the reader. Thusly the gypsy clans are more of a cross between a gypsy culture and the circus. I am sorry if this will offend anyone. So anyway... please review if you liked it. If you didn't, review and tell me what you didn't like about it. I can always use advice.

A/N 3: DON'T send me flames saying anything about how something couldn't happen to Axel and Roxas when they were 6 and 5, respectively, because I don't want to hear it. They are unnecessary and I won't change it. They did not fall in love when they were kids but something did happen and, until you know what that is, don't make assumptions on how nothing serious can happen to kids that young. DON'T SEND ME FLAMES. I will laugh at you.

Riku-stalker. I hope you really like this. And if there is anything that you don't like about the story, tell me and I'll change it! Love ya, girl! You're awesome! Everybody, go and read her fics cuz mine aren't anywhere near hers in quality. Or length. I just can't seem to do the long chapters.