Demyx was sulking. 2009, his year, his and Xigbar's year, was almost over. And was the Freeshooter paying him any attention? Noooo. In fact, Xigbar seemed to be outright ignoring him. He had been on a mission for days and when he'd gotten back he had shut himself in his room without so much as a "good to see you" to Demyx and when he had finally emerged he had gone straight to the shooting rang and had hardly left it since.

Demyx was not happy with Xigbar. He planned on being very mad at the Freeshooter when he did come back to him. (Of course the Nocturne would be physically and emotionally incapable of being mad once he saw his love, but he was not consciously aware of this fact.) At the moment, number IX was sulking in the lounge with his sitar, picking out a baleful melody that was earning him a fiery glare from Axel, who was trying to cheer up Roxas, who was, as usual, emoing about the whole heart business. Six was also none-to-pleased with Demyx and his music, but Six was hardly ever pleased but anything that was not the Superior.

"Dem!" Axel finally exploded. "You're acting more emo than Zexion. What's wrong with you?"

"I heard that," muttered number VI from behind his book.

"Whatever."

"I just feel kinda down," mumbled Demyx, willing himself not to blush.

"Why don't you just go talk to him, Dem?" asked Roxas, who of course knew exactly what was going on.

"What?" asked Axel, who had been too preoccupied with Roxas of late to notice what anybody else was up to.

"Like that'll help."

"He's not going to know anything's wrong unless you talk to him," pressed Roxas.

"How can he not know something's wrong? He's ignoring me, isn't he?"

"He probably doesn't mean to," said XIII gently. "Some people are just a little slow on the uptake."

Demyx made a face at this insult to his Xigbar, but knew Roxas was probably right.

"Fine," he sighed. His sitar vanished in a puff of vapor and the Nocturne got up and slouched off to find Xigbar, not at all convinced this was going to work. "Xiggy?" he called, banging on Xigbar's door. "Xiiii-ggyyyy?"

Nothing.

"Damn."

Demyx wandered off towards the shooting range. He didn't really like it there; it was far too violent for his tastes, but it was where Xigbar was most likely to be. When he reached the white door to the range, the volleys of shoots told him Xigbar was inside. Who else used the shooting range? Demyx sighed and pushed open the door.

Xigbar stood there, his back to the door, blasting out the center of target after target. Demyx willed himself not flinch at the loud gunshots. He could see tension in the way the Freeshooter was standing and there was something angry about the way he was holding his body and the little snort of air that followed each bull's eye he shot.

"Xiggy?" said Demyx tentatively, the anger draining from him.

"Yeah?" he said. He had heard Demyx open the door between his shots, but he still seemed determined to ignore the little Nocturne.

"Looks like you're doing really well," Demyx said, awkwardly.

"Yeah."

"Why do you do it? You always hit the target right in the middle."

"Stress reliever."

Hey, thought Demyx, that was a whole three syllables.

"Xiggy," he ventured again, as Xigbar paused to reload. "What's wrong?"

Xigbar froze halfway through loading his gun.

"Nothing," he muttered at last, clicking the ammunition into place.

"Come on, Xig, I know something's up. You've been ignoring me. Why? Did I do something Xiggy?"

The pathetic note in his voice made Xigbar sigh, set his gun down, and turn to finally face Demyx.

"Dem," he said, not meeting the Nocturne's eyes, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What is it? What's wrong?" Demyx's brows knit together with concern. Had he done something wrong? Was Xigbar through with him?

"It's my next mission," said the Freeshooter carefully.

"What about it?"

"Well, Xemnas is sending me off right after New Year's."

"But you've been back for days. Why haven't you come to see me or anything?" Demyx did not understand.

"Dem, I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."

Demyx almost thought about saying "well you have," but the look in Xigbar's eye stopped any such thoughts from even crossing his mind. Instead he just said, "I don't understand."

"First of January, I have to go and, well, it's going to be a very long mission, and- Oh Dem, I don't know how to tell you this."

"Xiggy! What is it?" It was hurting Demyx just to look at the anguished expression on Xigbar's face.

Xigbar sighed very deeply.

"I just wanted to make this easier on you so I stayed away. I'm sorry. I see now that wasn't the right thing to do."

"What's the mission?" asked Demyx, his voice full of dread.

"Dem, the thing is, I- I- I might not come back." He bit his lip and looked away from the sea-blue eyes that were filled with fear and confusion.

"What do you mean? Is Xemnas kicking you out or something?" That had to be it. Surely Xigbar could not mean what that had sounded like, could he?

"No, that's not it. He knows I'm the only one with a shot at this mission, but still, it's just a shot, not a sure thing, nothing like a sure thing." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Xig, you don't mean he thinks you're gunna-?"

Xigbar nodded.

"Xiggy! No! Don't go! You can't go! If it's so dangerous why doesn't he go? Why does anyone have to go? You can't do this Xiggy, you just can't!" His mind was reeling; this could not be happening. There must be some mistake.

"I'm sorry, Dem."

"No, Xig, no, please." He didn't know what to say or do.

"Demyx."

"Xiggy, I am begging you. Don't do this."

"You think I want to do this? What choice have I got? He's the Superior; I can't just say no to him."

"Yes you can!" cried Demyx.

"Dem, please, calm down," said Xigbar, talking a step towards the blond.

"Calm down?" echoed Demyx in disbelief. "Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? You just told me that Xemnas has decided to send you a freaking suicide mission and you want me to calm down? You tell me that you've been avoiding me to make your death easier on me and-!"

"Demyx!" Xigbar shouted, grabbing the hysterical Nocturne by the upper arms. "Shut up! Just shut up, Okay?"

Demyx wilted.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, wishing he hadn't yelled at the kid. "This is why I didn't want to tell you. It kills me seeing you like this, but hearing it from you-." He shook his head. "I mean, I've thought everything you just said, but hearing it from you-. Demyx." He was lost for words.

"Xiggy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak out like that, but you can't let him do this. You just can't."

"What can I do?"

"I don't know! I'm the stupid one; you tell me."

"You're not stupid, Demyx."

"Tell that to the rest of the Organization," he muttered.

"Demyx, please." The Freeshooter ran his fingers through his hair again. "I've thought about this since I got back and he told me. I can't figure out a way around it. I've just gotta tough it out and hope I'm tough enough."

"But what if-?"

"You think I can't do it?" he asked, trying to sound mock-offended.

"Of course I think you can do it, but he said-," protested Demyx.

"Then don't worry about me." Xigbar forced a smile. "Come on, Dem, it's the end of our. What do you say I stop being an ass and we go have some fun together?"

Not even fifteen minutes ago Demyx would have given anything to hear those words from Xigbar, but not they seemed hallow and pointless.

"Xiggy, I-."

"Hush." Xigbar kissed his briefly to shut him up. "It'll be Okay, Dem," he said earnestly.

"Xiggy, what I am going to do without you?"

"Demyx, don't think about that. I'm come back to you. No matter what it takes, I'll come back to you."