Welcome to Gaia! ::

"B-Baby," he whispered, putting the cigarette out on his shoe and wrapping his arms around the blond. "B-Baby, they did it to m-me, too... I f-failed the last one b-because I th-thought I actually did that to you... I c-couldn't think of a-anything else... I'm so sorry..." He kissed Demyx's forehead with trembling lipis, holding him close to himself. He buried his nose in Demyx's blond locks and cried hard. "So sorry..." He tightened his grip around Demyx, hugging him tightly.

Axel nodded and pressed his lips gently against Demyx's. "We'll always have each other. They'll never break us apart. Never, Baby." He kissed him again. "I'm sorry for smoking," he whispered against his lips. "I probably taste like an ashtray..."

Axel smiled down at him, wiping the blond's tears away with his thumbs. He then rested his forehead and nose against Demyx's, closing his eyes. "I don't know, Dem... I...honestly don't know how Marluxia's gonna act. Or... Oh, God, how Roxas is gonna react... Everyone else should probably be fine... Then again, Saix always gets pretty sensitive when it involves Xemnas for some reason, so I don't know... I really, really don't know..."

Axel nodded. "Of course we can, Baby. I wouldn't like anything more than that." He stood up carefully, helping Demyx up as well. He then kept his arm wrapped around him as they stepped through a portal. They came out to the entrance of the library. Axel gripped the door handle a little nervously before turning it and opening the door to see the inside. Everyone was there--some in good condition, others in bad--except, "Marluxia..," he whispered. "He's getting tested right now..." His grip around Demyx tightened a little in alert protection.

The monster was dissolved within moments. When Marluxia landed back on his feet, he looked straight at Zexion. "Where's Vexen?" he asked firmly, eyes filled with concern. He was still a little jumpy from the nightmare he had had not fifteen minutes before. And Vexen was talking in such a hurried manner earlier. Something was off...

Marluxia just stared over at Vexen, jaw slack. This wasn't happening. Tears silently poured down his cheeks. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair! If he didn't pass these tests, he was sure Xemnas would just kill him, but if he did...he would lose Vexen... He had to think, though. If he didn't do this, Xemnas would make it so much worse for the blond. Taking a deep, shakey breath, he made his decision. He slowly made his way over to Vexen. Once he reached him, he made him look up into his eyes, and he leaned forward, kissing him with trembling lips. "I love you, Darling," he whispered sadly before stepping backwards, summoning his scythe. He closed his eyes, turning his head away as he swung his weapon forward, slicing Vexen from his shoulder to his hip. A bright light shone where he was struck before Marluxia jumped forward to catch him as he collapsed. The blond began fading in his arms. Marluxia let the sobs go as he held him, his nightmares coming true. "My baby..," he whispered sadly as he watched his love fade in his arms.

Marluxia sat there frozen for a few more moments before slowly lifting himself to his feet, arms hanging at his sides in defeat. He was alone. He had killed his beloved, and now he was alone. Suddenly, his shoulders straightened up, and his eyes hardened. His face grew emotionless and rough, body stiffening in mock strength. If he didn't have Vexen to look after, he had himself to look after. He had to get through this. There was nothing he could do about it now. He walked into the next room, completing the next task without a screw-up within ten minutes. He walked out of there with a hardened exterior, eyes and face void of any emotion whatsoever.

Axel stared at him as he walked past him and out of the room. "Marluxia..," he whispered to himself in pain. "Oh, God, what have they done to you?"

Axel shook his head sadly, wrapping his arms around the blond. "No, baby..," he said softly in a sorrowful voice as he laid his head on Demyx's shoulder. "This isn't one of those things..."

Roxas just sat there stone-still. He stared off at a wall with wide, terrified eyes. His whole body was stiff, back straight as he sat up properly. He had passed the tests, but he was scarred for life. He would never be able to look at Vexen or Zexion the same way again.