DOTR: You guys gave me such nice reviews that I thought I've bless you with another update! Yay, fast update! Maybe if I get more reviews another fast update, hmmm? Anyways we'll be getting to juicier chapters and the main pairing is about to begin it's development and . . . I've almost revealed all the Kings! Here's a hint, all of them (excluding Sora just 'cause) have the same color hair as their color ;) Enjoy!

"Stop it! You're hurting him!" Xion cried out, pushing through the medics as they as well struggled against her to set her blond friend on an examining table. The boy, Roxas, was currently conscious and vocalizing his pain while the doctors forced him onto his belly, strapping his arms and legs down.

Despite the doctors' forcefulness upon the girl, they seemed to undermine that she was a vassal, and on top of that; she was a vassal to the Red King. Xion let out a frustrated growl, her eyes illuminated in red as the form of her body spewed out an essence that began to burn the air around her. The doctors took note of this and were about ready to call in the guards but someone had beat them to it.

"Stop, please, you need to let them do their job." Suddenly, Xion's flame was canceled by a mightier force. The young teen felt strong hands clasp her shoulders and press out a power against her, quelling her flames and gaining her attention and will. She looked up to see a tall boy, only a few years older than she, his hair reaching past his shoulders in a silver coloring. He gave her a gentle smile and before she knew it, she was outside of the room, standing inside the waiting room. Once Xion collected her mind and figured on where she was she turned back toward the doors and then toward the guards standing in front of them.

"Roxas. He's hurting," she cried. "Someone has to stop them!"

"Calm down," the silver-haired man said. "Those doctors are specifically trained to handle Kings and vassals. They'll find out what's wrong with him."

"Who . . . are you?" Xion asked, finally coming to the conclusion that she was conversing with a complete stranger—not like everyone there were complete strangers and all . . .

"My name's Riku Farron, I'm the Silver King."

Suddenly Xion remembered all the events of when they ran into these "Kings", Axel included. A natural fear shot through her and she automatically put up her defenses and scurried away from the silverette. Backing up against the wall, Xion had unknowingly began heating up the temperature of the room.

Riku brought up his hands to ease her back. "I'm not here to hurt any of you. I promised your King that I'd look after you two."

"My 'King'?" Xion questioned. Everything was being thrown at her at once and she just couldn't think straight anymore no matter how many times she's went through the recent events in her mind and tried to make sense of them all.

"Axel Rhapsodos," Riku informed. He watched as the dark-haired girl blinked her large blue eyes, realization striking her.

"That's right," she whispered, her hand falling down toward her abdomen and rubbing her belly before she curled her fingers into her shirt. Riku watched her silently and did not doubt that she was feeling the mark her King had placed upon her. Afterwards, she looked toward Riku, her eyes full of concern. She even moved toward him.

"Riku, where is Axel? I haven't seen him since we arrived." Xion watched as Riku took his gaze away from her. The King looked reluctant to give out any information but he seemed to be struggling with his thoughts.

"You—you can't see him right now," Riku informed, to which Xion gaped and asked a pleading, "Why?" Riku let out a sigh, closing his eyes and then opening them to meet the girl's pleading eyes. "He's seeing the lord of the Organization right now."

"When will we get to see him again?" Xion continued on with her questions.

"I don't even know the answer to that one," Riku admitted bashfully, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry."

"Well . . . thank you, then, for staying with us," Xion muttered, leaning against the wall and then bending down to sit on her knees. "So much has happened to me and Roxas—especially Roxas. He's had it the worst."

"What do you mean by that?" Riku questioned. Xion looked up at him and just as she opened her lips she watched as one of the doctors rushed out of the room. His feet moved fast, as did his lips, and out of them he passed words such as—"I need Lord Ansem! I have to tell him!"

"What's happening?" Xion asked, already back upon her feet. Riku only turned to her and motioned her to ease herself.

"Relax," he said. "You're a new vassal and you could hurt the doctors trying to help your friend if you don't keep your essence in check. Whatever's happening will be sure to make its way back. That's always a certain."

"How many years has it been, Axel?"

"Couldn't tell ya; I was in such a bliss I lost all track of time, my bad," Axel muttered, looking down at the binds on his wrists in disdain. Lord Ansem, however, didn't look amused by his comment. He had folded his hands together on the table he sat at, with Axel at the other end and Axel could tell by the whitening color of his knuckles that the old man was quite upset and he had a feeling it wasn't just with his running away all those years ago.

The silence wasn't giving any answers and so Axel thought he'd get them by demanding. He had always been good at that.

"I want to see Sora."

"No, you are forbidden from ever laying eyes on the Gold King again," Ansem spat, his rustic eyes narrowing from an anger that Axel had never seen directed toward himself. Still, this anger did not deter him from his goal. No King became intimidated by a simply human.

"He's my nephew," Axel stated with ease of tongue—a talent he had inherited from his father, the late Red King. "As his uncle I have visiting rights."

"As his attacker you have nothing," Ansem informed. This time, Axel frowned, his eyes becoming a clouded forest green.

"I . . ." Axel decided to choose his words carefully, saying each word slower and letting a small lapse rest in-between each one. "Was in formed—by Saïx—that the Gold King is . . . hospitalized, and has been for a long time . . . apparently . . . ever since I left."

"The Blue King spoke the truth," Ansem said, his lips tight against his teeth.

"How come . . . I was never informed . . . until now?" Axel asked, his hands curling into tightening fists.

"For one, you were impossible to find," Ansem said, holding up his index finger. "And for another, everyone assumed you to be the perpetrator and therefore, already knew of your wrongdoing."

"Everyone, lord Ansem, or just you?" Axel asked.

Another silence wrapped around the two before Axel let out a hard sigh and leaned back in his seat, his bound hands resting in his lap. "Look, will you at least tell me how he is?"

"He's crystalizing," Ansem said quickly. "Hasn't the Blue King informed you?"

"He has," Axel replied. "I just wanted to make sure the two stories fit."

"Saïx has never been one to lie," Ansem muttered. Axel only rolled his eyes and raised his hands. "I wasn't accusing nothing," he said. "Relax." A pause and then, "So, do you believe the one who put him in that condition can fix him?"

"I'm hoping so," Ansem said.

"Then I can't help because I didn't do it," Axel answered.

"Then who did?"

"Did you ever try pointing the finger at the Colorless King? That damn son of a bitch is the only King unaccounted for and you know it," Axel pointed.

"Well, thanks to you taking out our entire security system, that half hour when you left is nothing but a half hour of darkness and in that same time Sora, the Gold King was struck down. When the system was operating again, every King was accounted for, even Xehanort—except for you."

"Oh, so now I'm the bad guy again," Axel mumbled.

"Your alibi is rather murky," Ansem stated.

"Look, it was Saïx who shut down the system. He can vouch for me," Axel tried, but Ansem didn't seem to be moving. "Unfortunately I've talked with the Blue King about it and he said that you were not near him when it happened nor was he near Sora."

"What about my brother?" Axel asked. "He had to be near Sora, he's his vassal."

Ansem only closed his eyes and shook his head. "Sora had wandered off without his vassals when this occurred and because of this he was struck down."

"By me, is that right?" Axel asked, raising a brow.

Before Ansem could open his mouth though a knock came to the door. Ansem let out an annoyed sigh and turned to ask who it was. Once the guards informed him it was one of the medical staff, the lord let him in and excused himself from the Red King. Axel could hear everything and what he heard mostly emphasized was the name "Ventus."

"This is the same boy Saïx had seen?" Ansem whispered to the doctor who nodded furiously. Ansem glanced toward Axel and then motioned for the doctor to leave. "I'll be there in a moment."

"No."

Both the doctor and Ansem had stopped and turned to see the Red King with eyes aglow and hands clenched together. Ansem, though, looked quite annoyed.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me," Axel stated. "Roxas is my vassal and I forbid you from seeing him."

"You really have no say in the matter, since I have been informed that he is in a critical condition because you have taken him as a vassal," Ansem said.

"If I can't see Sora then you can't see Roxas, fair enough I say, and I've got Riku to back me up," Axel stated.

Ansem looked about ready to curse before he pinched the bridge of his nose. Letting out a hard sigh he turned and yanked the door open, looking at the two guards.

"You two, go and retrieve Terra Fair, he'll be personally escorting the Red King to where the Gold King is being kept!"

Axel would have smiled at his victory, but he couldn't bring himself to make such a gesture. The condition of the Gold King sunk deep into him and made his spirit heavy.

Terra had actually been on his way to see the Gold King when he had heard about Axel's detainment. He actually cut the visit for the day and raced toward the boarding station, but it was much too crowded with guards and Riku's vassals. When he spotted the
Silver King he had tried to get his attention, but Riku seemed too dead set on getting to a destination. Terra was invisible in the crowd and he couldn't help but laugh to himself.

He knew he'd eventually get Riku's attention and so he stopped his struggles against the guards and vassals, but he couldn't help the want to see Axel again. Right now, all he could make out was that red hair of his. The moment he was taken out of the armored truck, Riku's vassals had formed a circle and inside the circle were the Organization's own guards, each taking a hand on the Red King and guiding him along.

Terra had called out to the King and swore he caught the man turn his head at the sound of his name, but that didn't stop the pace the guards and vassals set. They quickly took him away. Terra had just simply let out a sigh and went on his way. First he just aimlessly wandered around until his mind caught up with him and let him remember what he had been going to do before the news of the Red King's detainment reached his ears.

"Don't worry, Sora, I haven't forgotten about you," Terra whispered as he turned around and headed toward the room where the Gold King was being kept. The very moment he reached the door, two guards approached him. They inclined their head toward him and motioned for him to follow.

"Lord Ansem has requested your presence," they informed.

"Why does he need to see me now?" Terra questioned. "Surely he's busy with—"

"He wishes for you to escort the Red King to see the Gold King. The Red King has expressed wishes of visitation." Terra narrowed his eyes with suspicion and confusion. "But I thought Ansem would never—"

"Please, Ansem insists that you escort him."

"Is it Ansem who insists or is it Axel?" Terra muttered his questioned softly before letting out another sigh. He looked at the two and nodded. "I need to put in my daily visit as well. I'll let Axel tag along."

Emerald eyes opened as the door opened once more and the guards Ansem had just sent away returned. Behind them was the figure of someone he hasn't seen in a while—of course just like everyone else here, except for the fact that he naturally missed this one.

"Terra, thank you for coming," Ansem spoke, standing from his seat and coming to stand beside the brunette who only stared at the Red King. "I believe the guards have informed you of your mission?"

Instead of answering the old man, Terra smiled fondly at the redhead and spoke directly toward him. "Axel, it's been a long time. You've grown."

Axel smiled in kind and then pointed toward the brunette's hair. "You've just aged there, grandpa. I can see those silver hairs no matter how hard you try to hide them."

"You get to the age of 38 and tell me you don't start greying," Terra said, letting out a chuckle as he combed a bang with his fingers. Axel shared along in the chuckle before he quieted and glanced down at his clasp hands. "I've . . . heard about Sora."

"Lord Ansem told me you wished to see him," Terra nodded for Axel to follow him as he turned. "Come on, I'll show you to his room."

Axel spared one last glance toward Ansem who closed the spot behind him and followed Terra. Once they reached the room, Terra opened the door and poked his head inside. There were doctors buzzing around the sleeping King and Terra so kindly asked them to leave.

"Doctors, if you would be so kind in leaving. We have a special visitor for the Gold King today." The doctors nodded in compliance before scurrying out of the room. Once it was clear, Terra went inside and called for him to enter. Axel hesitated for a moment. He stood at the entrance way and seemed to be preparing himself for what he was about to see. Taking a deep breath he stepped inside and let his eyes behold the foretold condition of the Gold King.

"Sora," Axel whispered as he walked up to the boy, his brow crushed together from the utter sorrow he felt from seeing the brunette like this.

When Axel reached out to touch the boy, no matter his wrists being bound, he was abruptly stopped by the harsh command of Ansem: "You shall not lay a finger on the Gold King, Red King!" Axel spared a hard glare back toward Ansem, but complied. Closing his eyes tightly he curled his fingers into fists and Terra could feel the King ready to change the room's temperature.

"I'm sorry, Axel," Terra apologized. "No King has been allowed to see Sora, not even Riku."

"You said that Sora's been like this since I left, right?" Axel asked, his questioned directed toward Ansem the Wise.

"Yes," the old man answered.

"And he's just been getting worse, right?"

"Nothing we do helps."

"Then what do you expect me to do?" Axel asked, turning toward Ansem, his eyes full of grief, pleading at the blond man. "If you assume I've done this then what should I do to fix him? Because I'm all out of ideas on this one."

"Nothing in you has a sense to help return him to his normal state?" Ansem asked.

"No," Axel said, shaking his head. "One of my vassals is sick because of me and I still can't figure out how to help him. If I can't help one of my own vassals then how on earth do you expect me to help Sora?"

"Don't let Lord Ansem bully you, Axel," Terra spoke up, looking at the redhead who turned sorrowful eyes upon him. "Just by looking into your eyes I can tell you didn't do it, and I hope you can see that as well, Lord Ansem the Wise," he said, looking toward the founder of the Organization. "We're all working hard and praying to find an answer. Now that you know, I hope you don't run off this time. Stay here and help us wake Sora up. I know you can't stand this place but we need you, Axel . . . Sora needs you."

Axel's shoulders rose from a held in chuckle before he reached out to touch the boy, but the presence of Ansem stopped his touch and he retracted his hand once more. Turning he looked toward Terra and then toward Ansem. Letting out a sigh and looking on with a scrutinizing eye, Axel spoke—

"A deal's a deal. I'll let you see my vassal."

"It's hard now, harder than before actually," Xion muttered, twiddling with her fingers more closely.

"What is?" Riku asked, his gentle tone had helped Xion come to trust him and the way he sat himself next to her on the ground like a normal human being helped her lean against him in the slightest.

"Roxas," Xion said. "I can feel him hurting. Well, not really feel-feel him, but I know he's hurting through some kind of sixth-sense. It's so weird, but to you it's probably natural, huh?"

Riku chuckled before nodding. "Granted I may never know how a vassal feels for a King or for their own fellow vassal. But a King is different. There is nothing I wouldn't give to keep my vassals safe. When they are in pain I can literally feel it myself. In the beginning it hurt, feeling their pain in my senses, but I've trained my mind and body to accept it as a way of life. I suppose you can do the same, Xion. Just accept it."

"But Axel told me that if he wanted to he could cause pain to his vassals," Xion informed. "He said any King could control them like puppeteers." Riku nodded again, not sure on what to say about that. "That's the truth, Xion. I'm not going to lie."

"That's what I'm scared of the most," Xion said, her hand falling on her belly and rubbing the mark. "I know you Kings don't feel this fear but it's a very real fear I have and I'm sure other vassals do as well."

"I can understand your concern for yours and Roxas' wellbeing but believe me when I say Axel would never do that to you two. Before the Organization came and collected the Kings as children, the Kings were ruthless warlords and did anything to broaden their territories from other Kings—which meant sacrificing countless vassals, but now . . . we know how important they are to us. Even Axel, believe me."

"If that's true, then why hasn't he taken vassals before?" Xion asked. "Why are we his first?"

Riku only smiled and then nudged the girl to keep her from twiddling her fingers. "You just answered your own question, Xion. Why else did Axel make you his first vassals? Because you two were the first he cared enough about to protect."

Xion blinked once, then twice, and then three times before she turned toward the Silver King looking so dumbfounded that Riku couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"He cares about us? You really think so?" Xion asked, her big blue eyes staring up at him brightly.

Riku rose his hands with a sigh. "I'm done playing Dr. Phil, here. Just ask him yourself if you're so unsure."

Suddenly, Riku turned his head toward the hallway. Standing up caused Xion to followed suite and both watched as a few guards came; Terra came right after them, beside him stood the Red King and behind the two of them was Ansem himself.

"What's the matter?" Riku questioned.

"Axel!" Xion smiled as she ran up to the King, taking hold of his jacket and hugging him close. "I'm so glad to see you!"

Axel only patted her once before she realized he was bound by wrist. She looked confused before looking at the guards. "What's wrong, Axel? Why are you bound?"

"Xion, I need to see Roxas," Axel spoke to her softly. "How has he been?"

Xion looked down and inhaled deeply before trying to explain herself. "He's still hurting. Riku says you can feel him, can you?"

Axel looked past her, toward the door where the doctors were examining Roxas. He made no gesture, nor facial indication that he felt so. He just straightened himself and then looked toward Riku. "Thanks for watching my vassals, Riku."

"It's fine," Riku responded and then looked toward Ansem. "But is there a reason you're here or are you just escorting Axel?"

"That and other reasons," Ansem answered. "Now if you don't mind, Silver King, would you kindly step aside?" Riku did so but stood close as he watched Ansem walk forward and open the door where he surprised the doctors inside by his visit.

"Lord Ansem," they all responded. "What brings this visit?"

"How is he?" Ansem asked, but the doctors didn't look too optimistic.

"It appears he's rejecting the mark," they informed, much to Axel's dismay. From overhearing this, Terra had turned toward the Red King, his eyes wide and surprised. "A vassal who's rejecting their King? What did you do, Axel?"

"How many times do I have to tell you 'I. Don't. Know'?" Axel asked, looking more than annoyed.

"I don't believe it's 'What did Axel do?'" Ansem spoke up, his orange eyes remaining on the boy lying down on his belly with the doctors furiously rubbing multiple substances over his mark. "I believe it is 'Who did Axel take as a vassal?'"

"What do you mean?" Terra asked, pushing past Axel and then entering the room where Ansem was and looked at the boy. The moment his eyes met his body, his eyes widened. He took a step back before he swiftly turned back toward Axel, his eyes looking for answers. "Axel, who is this?"

"His name's Roxas," Xion spoke up. "Is there something wrong? Have you guys figured out why he's in pain?"

No one said a word. It seemed like there was some kind of a stare-down. Xion didn't like the atmosphere as she scooted closer toward Axel, or, as others would call him, her King.

"Saïx had shown me surveillance footage of this boy earlier. Yes, even the Blue King had caught the outrageous resemblance. Now I don't know what to make of it—I just didn't know that Axel had turned him into a vassal. How curious it is that he's rejecting the Red King's mark . . ." Ansem reached his hand out to touch the boy, to touch the mark that began glowing on and off, no doubt hurting the boy whom the doctors had put in a light sleep to silence his cries of pain.

"Ansem!"

The wise one turned and looked toward Axel who had stepped in front of Xion, his countenance had become more menacing than before as he watched the old man loom over his vassal—his very first vassal.

"You can look but you cannot touch," Axel informed. "Same with Sora, right?"

Axel smirked slightly at the fist Ansem had made before he stepped away from the boy and motioned for the doctors to conclude what they were administering to the boy. He turned and walked outside of the room where Riku was looking at him curiously, as was Xion.

"Don't worry, Axel, I'm sure we'll find out what is wrong with your vassal," Ansem assured, walking past Axel on his way back to his office with his two guards.

"Just like you'll figure out how to wake Sora up?" Axel shot back, instantly silencing the lord who just continued walking.

"What's wrong, guys?" Riku asked, walking up toward Terra and Axel.

Terra and Axel remained silent though and it perturbed the Silver King to no end. He looked toward Xion who shrugged, signaling she was just as confused by their silence as he was. Riku shook his head and then turned toward the room that held one of Axel's vassal's, the one that's rejecting his mark.

"Things just get stranger and stranger," he muttered to himself before looking toward Terra. "Terra, why did you react like that when you looked at Axel's vassal?"

"He," Terra started, not really sure where to start. "He looks just like him."

"Who?" Riku questioned.

With a sad smile, Terra answered, "Ventus, Sora's father."

"So nothing happened upon Axel's detainment?" Claire asked, standing before Ansem's desk as the old man drummed his chin in thought. "No," he answered. "But many omens occurred and it's up to us to figure out these anomalies."

"May I ask what these anomalies were?" Claire questioned curiously. Ansem only smiled, letting out a sigh. "It's been a long day. You can take off, see your son. I believe he's looking for you."

Claire had left Ansem's wing, thinking to herself and wondered what could have happened to shake the lord up like so. In her thoughts she was taken out of them by the sight of her son. She smiled and closed the gap between them. "Riku," she said. "Is there something wrong?"

The boy looked at her, confusion written all over his face. "Mom," he started. "Did Ansem tell you about the boy who looks just like Sora's dad?"

"No, I was not informed," Claire said, motioning for her son to follow her toward a few seats in the lobby. "Now who is this boy?"

"When I brought Axel in he came with two vassals," Riku spoke up, Claire raised her eyebrows in surprise. "He's taken vassals? Axel of all people? I thought he didn't want any." Riku only shrugged and continued, "There was a boy and a girl, both in their teens, the boy was hurt though and Axel kept saying it was his fault. When the doctors examined him they said he's rejecting Axel's mark and that is what's causing his pain."

"A vassal, rejecting their King? How curious."

Mother and son both turned in their seats to find the owner of that voice, though; when they looked at the man, Claire couldn't help but feel a little annoyance at his presence.

"What do you want now, Caius?" Claire asked, her eyes narrowing at the King who only circled them like some kind of a vulture.

"Forgive me, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," the purple-haired man said with a smirk. "If I caught every word right, there's a vassal whom shares similar appearance to Ventus?"

"That's right, you and Ventus were the same age," Riku spoke up, engaging the King in conversation even though his mother tried to stop him and warn him just to ignore the Violet King. "You remember what he looked like, right?"

"I do," Caius replied. "He looked a lot like his father before him, so I was told. How is it that someone has come to look like him? Has Vexen gotten into Ansem's collection and scanned their crystals? I've heard he's wanted to for a long time."

"No, nothing like that," Riku said. "Axel's returned and he's brought two vassals, one looks just like Ventus, as said by Terra."

"Yes, Terra would know," Caius nodded. "Well how fun is this. I'm sure lord Ansem's got his hands full, doesn't he? Oh, Lightning," at the name he addressed Claire who turned to him with quite annoyance. "Why don't you give this mystery a go? You always pride yourself in your age and wisdom, so do something useful with it."

Claire, or Lightning as the Violet King called her, only scoffed and continued to silence her lips to him. Riku knew the two had never gotten along but sometimes things went unsolved because of their unwillingness to cooperate. Caius was an intelligent King; his vassals always brought him information on the Organization and the outside world. The only one who seemed to match his wit was Riku's mother herself. And it was because of that the two clashed so much, which seemed to amuse the Violet King to no end.

"We don't need to quarrel here," Riku spoke up, effectively stepping in between the King and his mother.

"Come now, Riku, you need to stop defending this woman, even if she is your mother she is also a Queen and can stand her own against a King," Caius reminded the boy, but Riku would not move. This earned another smirk from the Violet King before he turned and walked off with a wave. "I'll have a look into this myself. It'll be fun to see how things unfold and it'll be fun to see Axel again. I'll see you later, Silver King—Lightning."

"Tch, the damn pest," Lightning muttered before her son turned to her. She smiled and slapped her knees before standing up straight. "Stop fretting about our quarrel, Riku. You've got enough on your plate."

"You're my mother, I can still care," Riku muttered, glancing down a while before his mother touched his face and made him look at her. "Never bow your head to anyone, Riku, even me. You're a King and therefore equal with that man and 5 others, you hear?"

Riku nodded before he watched his mother leave him.

"Where are you going now?" Riku asked.

"Caius is right," she said, turning to her son. "I have insight no one else does. I'll see if I can help ease the tension in the facility by solving this mystery."

"It's not a race, mom," Riku said, crossing his arms with a chuckle.

Lightning only placed her index finger to her lips with a wink. "Shh, don't tell the Violet King that, he'll throw a fit if it wasn't so." Riku laughed and waved his mother off before she left on her solving spree. It was best not to get in her way when she was focused on something.

Letting out another sigh, Riku decided not to head back toward everyone else, instead he wanted his mind cleared up and so he left to find his vassals for a training session. Being around them always made him feel at ease in situations like this.

"No, you can't leave us again," Xion whined, holding onto her King tightly, refusing to let the brunette named Terra or those guards take her redhead away. "Roxas wants you here, I know it."

"I know too, Xion," Axel said, patting the girl before raising his hands to show her his bound wrists. "But, look, I've been dubbed a criminal here and if I decided to leave again, Ansem would throw a fit. I can't have that because he's the only one helping Roxas. So I'll be a good boy—for now."

"But where are they taking you?" Xion pleaded to know.

"Back to his room," Terra informed.

"Really?" Axel looked quite surprised. "That thing's still there? I'll bet you remodeled while I was away, didn't you?"

"Of course," Terra said with a smile. "Armored walls, a bolt lock on the door and no more windows."

"Yep, my nightmare come to life," Axel nodded with a slump of his shoulders before he looked down at Xion. "I'll be gone for a little while so it's up to you to look after Roxas. Don't forget to take care of yourself too; you look like you could use some extra sleep."

Xion only shook her head while rubbing the bags under her eyes. "I'm fine," she assured. "The health and recovery of Roxas is more important."

"Still, take it easy," Axel said, feeling the anxiousness in the guards around him. "Alright, I'm going, I'm going." Then he turned toward Terra and became serious. "Terra, I know I can trust you the most so if anything happens to Roxas, please, do everything in your power to help him."

Terra nodded. "I'll look after the kid. It'll bring back memories, huh?" He chuckled and watched Axel smile sadly before glancing down. Terra took this opportunity, this break in Axel's defense to step close and whisper to him so only he could hear him. "Tell me, Axel. Did you mark him as your vassal just because he looked like Ventus?"

"What do you think, Terra?" Axel replied, not looking at the older man, only looking forward at the closed doors of the examination room. "I don't know what to think!" Terra about yelled before he caught and calmed himself. "I'm your brother, you can tell me anything."

Axel was silent for a moment before he leaned back and looked his brother in the eyes, hard emeralds meeting deeply confused sapphires. "I felt the need to protect him and so I marked him . . . and right now . . . in this facility . . . he needs all the protection there is."

With that the guards were finally fed up and motioned for the Red King to come with them. Axel only shrugged their arms off in annoyance, showing them he would leave when he wanted to leave.

"Terra, I need to be here with him and make sure he makes it through all of this safely. The need is so great that I don't think I can let myself be locked up like a violator. I need to know you'll be here with the both of them."

"You already have my word I'll watch over them," Terra informed. "Now you have to realize that you'll always feel this way toward your vassals and that even they can look after themselves. I've heard it's quite a hard feeling to overcome, especially with your first vassals but you can do it Axel, it's part of being a King." Axel smiled at him and nodded.

This time Axel let the guards lead him away, but all the way down the hall toward the elevators he had his eyes on Xion and the room where Roxas lay. Terra only encouraged him to stay strong as he came by Xion's side and watched Axel vanish with his posse of guards. Once he was gone Xion let out a sad sigh. Terra looked down at the girl and smiled softly.

"It'll be alright, don't worry—?" Terra motioned that he hadn't caught the girl's name. She looked up at him and did her best to smile. "Xion, Xion Black," the girl informed with which Terra returned the information, "Terra Fair. I'm Axel's brother."

"Brother?" Xion looked at him questionably looking for some resemblance but not finding much. "Axel said Kings are born with either sisters or alone."

Terra smiled at her and then let out a sigh. "I know. It's a long story, but believe me, I'm a full-blooded relative." With that he patted his chest making Xion smile before she gasped and jumped around. Her eyes became wide and this alerted Terra who also jumped around. "What is it?" he asked quickly.

"Roxas," Xion whispered, blinking her eyes once she felt and saw a red flame-like essence leap forth out of the room, right through the walls.

"Damn it, he's not reacting very well to what the doctors are giving him," Terra informed Xion, letting her know to stay still while he pushed on the doors.

"Mr. Fair, don't!" Xion warned, coming up to him to pull him back, but just as she had his body began to glow a golden color. She jumped back instantly and watched him turn his head to her with a smile on his lips. "Don't worry, Xion. I've dealt with the Red King's essence before. I can handle this."

With that he pushed the doors open, leaving Xion waiting anxiously outside. The transparent fires hadn't ceased, in fact Xion watched one by one as the doctors were pushed out of the room, quite a few of them were seriously injured. Xion knelt to help them, but as the door opened to push out the last doctor she could see inside and it about made her heart stop.

There was Roxas, conscious as ever, holding his face in his hands as the flames flailed about him. Mr. Fair was before him, trying to touch him, but just as he had Roxas cried out again and it had forced Mr. Fair back. When the brunette regained his footing Xion watched in wide surprise as a dark essence seeped from Mr. Fair just like before . . . with that strange boy!

"Roxas!" Xion gasped in horror as those same tendrils wrapped around the boy and laid him on the table, Roxas had struggled for a moment before the red around him lessoned and soon he went limp. The moment the struggle ceased, Xion ran into the room and toward Roxas. "Stop! Don't hurt him with those!"

Just as Xion pleaded this, the black faded and Terra approached her. "No, no!" She cried, turning around and throwing herself atop Roxas as if to shield him. "You won't hurt us again!"

"Easy, Xion," Terra tried to comfort her, but the girl was shaking as he touched her. "I'm sorry about not informing you that I'm a 2nd vassal."

"What does that mean?" Xion asked, looking fearfully at the man whom she had thought wasn't going to hurt them.

"It means I've been marked by two Kings," Terra said, though he didn't seem ecstatic about it. "I'm sorry; I should have informed you earlier. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Xion's eyes watered up, but she fought back those little suckers. She shook her head before looking down at Roxas and hugging him close. "We already struggled against someone with those abilities and I almost lost Roxas."

"What was that?" Terra asked, his eyes narrowing before he took hold of the girl and made her turn to look at him. "Where did you see someone use this?"

"Destiny Isle Springs," Xion answered, pulling her arm out of his grasp. "He was trying to kill us."

"Is that when Axel marked you?" Terra asked.

Xion didn't say anything; she only nodded and looked back down at Roxas. "He hasn't been the same since. There he found out he didn't exist and then that boy attacked him. He's been through so much and now he's rejecting Axel's energy? Why is this happening to Roxas? I haven't known him for long but he's a good guy and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I just wish I could help him more." When she noticed Mr. Fair not responding she looked at him and noticed him deep in thought, his brow arched in what seemed like anger. She didn't really want to take him out of his thoughts but she felt the need to have him come back to earth. "Mr. Fair?"

Terra blinked and looked at her, though the anger in his features didn't seem to lesson one bit. Looking away he muttered something that sounded like, "So he's come back to show his damn face." Shaking his head, the brunette turned and left the room. "Mr. Fair? Where are you going?" Xion asked, looking quite nervous with being left alone with no doctors or vassals or even Kings to help Roxas if he were to awake again.

"I'm sorry, Xion but I need you to look after Roxas on your own. I have to see something. Axel may have missed telling me important information."

With that he was gone. Xion cuddled close to Roxas like an older sister would her little brother, even though Roxas was years older—oh well. She laid his head in her lap and wiped his bangs out of his face. She gasped upon seeing tears falling down his cheeks.

"Oh, Roxas. I'm so sorry for everything, but I'm here. I'm here." She leaned down and held Roxas close. The poor girl felt just as useless to help the boy, but it was nothing compared to what their King felt like.

If Xion was Axel, she would have felt his aching pain sitting there inside his bolted room, hearing the inner agony of Roxas crying out for him in his unconsciousness.

Axel! Roxas pleaded for the King to come to him, but no matter how many times he pleaded or said the redhead's name, the King was unmoving and so Roxas cried and it was Xion wiping them away the best she could.

Gold King-Sora

Silver King-Riku

Red King-Axel

Blue King-Saïx

Green King-Unknown

Violet King-Caius Balled

Colorless King-Xehanort