Chapter 1

"Leave me alone, Demyx." I told him, hiding my face in my book.

"Aw, come on, Zexy!" I leaned away from his hands as he held them out to me.

"No. Go away." I growled. I tried focusing on the words on the page, but of course, someone grabbed my book and held it above their head. I stood up and reached for it. "Dammit, Axel... Give it back." I jumped but I could only reach his wrist. He smiled down at me, his other hand on his hip.

"This is easy." He laughed.

"Just, please, give it back..."

"Easy." He chuckled. "Give me a kiss and I'll give it back."

"I'm not going to kiss you..." I folded my arms and closed my eyes.

"Too bad, then." He held it higher.

"Axel, that's mean!" Demyx called. I froze. I was at a really good part... But I really don't want to kiss him...

"Fine..." I growled. "You have to give me my book first..."

"I'm not gonna fall for that." I sighed and looked up at him. It would be my first kiss. I didn't want him to be my first... Although, I'd rather him than anyone else in the organization... I shivered at the thought. "Well?" I tightened my grip on my arms, looking up into his emerald eyes. He leaned down, grinning his stupid grin. "Are you going to kiss me, or not?" I glared at him before closing my eyes and pressing my lips to his. Chills spiraled down my spine and I regretted not wanting this...

A flash of light made me pull away. "Sorry, Kodak Moment." Larxene laughed. "Zexion's First Kiss...and probably his only kiss." I ignored her.

"Can I have my book now?"

"No fair! I want a kiss, Zexy!" Demyx grabbed me and held me to his chest before I could even touch my book.

"Please, let go of me..."

"Give me a kiss, Zexy!"

"No."

"Let him go, Demyx. I'll give you a kiss." Axel winked.

"Really?!" Demyx let go and I quickly grabbed my book from Axel, hurrying to my little spot in the corner of the room. I paid no attention to the sounds around me and continued reading.

xXx

I walked into my room, dropping my book and my jaw. "A-Axel..? What are you doing...on my bed..?" The redhead smiled and motioned me to come to him with his index finger. My feet moved by themselves, toward the bed. I leaned over him and set his index finger under my chin, pulling my face to his. I pulled away immediately, leaving the redhead chuckling. He sat up and held out his hand.

"Come here..." I stared at his hand, my heart pounding against my chest.

"Zexy!" I heard Demyx call. Then, I felt something drop on me. Something heavy. I opened my eyes and looked up at Demyx. A dream? "Zexy, get up!" He bounced on the bed and I pushed on his bare chest with one hand.

"Please, stop..."

"Come on, Zexy!"

"Get off of me..." He sat next to me. "Go away..."

"Zexion, get up." Xaldin walked by, fixing his long black hair. I sat up and stared at Demyx. Why was he in swim shorts?

"We're going to the beach!" Demyx bounced on the bed again. I sighed and got up, walking to my dresser. "Axel will be there!"

"I have no feeling toward him." I opened a drawer and pulled out shorts and a gray T-shirt, pulling them on.

"You're not going in the water?"

"No. I'd rather watch." I shut the drawer and grabbed my book off the top of the dresser.

"You have to get in them water! Please, Zexy?! Please, please, please?!"

"I have no swim shorts..."

"I have a bunch! C'mon!" He leapt off of my bed and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the room.

"Demyx, i don't want to swim..." I groaned as he pulled me into his room and ran to his dresser.

"Wear these!" He threw blue swim shorts with navy blue designs on the sides at me.

"I'm not going into the water..."

"Then I'll throw you in." Axel poked his head into the room.

"I'd rather you not..."

"I'm not giving you a choice." I sighed and stared at the floor. Why must everyone pick on me?

"Are you guys just gonna sit and chat? 'Cause it's time to go." Larxene pushed herself around Axel. "Everyone else is ready."

Swim shorts are really uncomfortable... or maybe it was the fact I knew they were Demyx's that made me uncomfortable... I don't know but they were really bugging me... "C'mon, Zexy! Sing with us!" Roxas nudged me with his elbow.

"Um.. No thanks.." I was reading and I didn't even know the lyrics to this song... nor did I know the name...

"We're here!" Demyx called. Great... I thought as the limo driver parked the limo. Demyx, of course, was the first to get out and I, of course, was the last... I watched them as they all ran toward the water, staying right next to the limo. I really didn't want to be here. I wanted to lie on my bed an finish my book. Instead, they made me come in uncomfortable swim shorts and Axel--

I jumped as someone grabbed the bottom of my shirt, pulling it almost over my head. I tried pulling it down but they were way to strong for me. "Calm down. I'm just gonna take it off so I can throw you into the water." Axel laughed. Again, I tried pulling away, but he had already pulled my shirt off. I could feel the rays of the hot sun against my pale skin. I ran as fast as I could to get away from him, my feet pounding against the warm sand. I didn't like this at all. I wanted to go back to Xemnas' mansion. To sit in my room; my door locked so Demyx or Axel couldn't get in.

Suddenly, I was tackled to the ground. Axel spun me around and sat up, brushing his fingers through his spikes on his head. "Please, get off..." He laughed and leaned over me.

"I'm throwing you in there whether you like it or not." He got up and pulled me into his arms, bridal style. I kicked and pushed on his chest, but that only made him hold tighter as he carried me toward the water.

"Dammit, Axel..." I heard him walking into the water and stopped squirming, wrapping my arms around his neck. He laughed as I held tighter. I could feel the water over my feet and I got scared. My heart sped up as Axel pulled my arms off his neck and that made me even more afraid. He held me up and I dug my nails into his arms, he didn't seem to notice. "Axel, please, stop." He looked up at me, realizing how afraid I was. He pulled me onto his shoulders once more and walked toward the sand.

"Are you really that scared of the water?" He asked when he put me down. I turned away and walked back to the limo, picking up my book from the sand and getting in, slamming the door shut. Setting my book down beside me, I hugged my knees and laid my head on them, holding back tears as the memory came back.

"Zexion!" I heard a girl call as she ran toward me. I smiled, kicking my legs over the edge of the dock. Yuffie sat next to me. "I was looking all over for you!"

"Sorry, I just thought I'd sit here and listen to the waves... It's really nice outside..."

"Oh." She looked out to the sea. "Ever wonder what it's like out there?"

"No, not really... What do you think it's like?"

"I don't know... What if there's another place? With mermaids and unicorns?" I laughed.

"I don't think there's anything like that, Yuffie... But there could be another place... with different people and different animals... different everything..."

"You're too smart for your age, Zexy."

"I'm eight..."

"So? Have an imagination, like, Candy Clouds and Gummi Bear Pillows."

"Gummi Bear Pillows?"

"Yeah! And Pink Ponies!" I laughed again.

"How about Dragons and Witches?"

"Ewie!"

"Well, I'm going home." I stood up and started walking away. "See you later."

"Hey, Zexion?" I stopped and looked over my shoulder. "Never mind. See you tomorrow."

xXx

I walked out of my house, starting to go to Yuffie's house. An ambulance passed by, sirens blaring. I ran after it as it headed for the beach. When I got to the beach, they were pulling out a body and placing it onto the bed. It was a little kid. I got closer and peeked into the ambulance. My heart sunk as I looked at the little girl. "Y-Yuffie..?" Tears fell down my cheeks and someone grabbed my shoulders, pushing me aside.

"Nothing for you to see, kid." He shut the doors and got in the ambulance.

"Yuffie..." Her pale face haunted me to this day. She was only seven... and the only friend I had... the only one that cared...

The door opened and I looked up at Axel. "Are you okay?"

"Go away."

"Are you... crying?"

"No... Go away..."

"Zexion, I didn't mean to--"

"It doesn't matter."

"Scoot over." He put his foot in and started getting in beside me.

"No." He sat down, pushing me over. He was wet. Soaked. "Go away."

"Zexion, what's wrong? What happened?"

"It's none of your business."

"I'll throw you in the water..." I tightened my grip around my legs. "Something happened. Tell me what happened..."

"It was seven years ago... I had a friend, Yuffie... She was my best friend growing up... We did everything together. We were inseparable." I looked down at the limo floor, Yuffie's white face haunting my memory. "Then, one night, we were talking on the dock back in my hometown about the other side of the ocean... that was the last time I talked to her..."

"What happened?"

"She drowned... that night..."

"Oh. That's why you're afraid of the water?"

"It's just that... I see her... and I can't help her..." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest, causing my legs to drop to the floor.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered. I wrapped my arms around him, holding back more tears as I buried my face in his neck.