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Twelve Nobodies stared dumbly at their leader.
    “…what did you say?” Saix was so preoccupied with the situation, he didn’t even notice when I taped a piece of paper that said “SPANK ME” on his back.
    Xemnas smiled thoughtfully and crossed his arms. “You heard me. I think it would be a wonderful way for the members of this Organization to branch out and meet new people. After all, we will need as many allies as possible in the coming years.”
    Marluxia gave an exasperated sigh. “Superior, we simply cannot hold a dance in this castle! What if something goes wrong and your little ‘feature’ thinks we’re under attack?”
    “It will not. Vexen and I put the final touches on it last week, and the castle will only transform under very specific circumstances.” His gaze swept over us like a big, rainbow blanket. “We will hold this dance in Luxord’s casino. As for entertainment-”
    Demyx’s hand shot up instantly. “Superior! Pick me! Supe-”
    “-I have thought of various local bands, but none that would suit the occasion, so I am extending my search to other worlds-”
    The hand waved frantically in the crowd. “I can perform! Hey! I can do it-”
    “-and, if I do not succeed in finding a satisfactory band…” Xemnas looked upon the members of the Organization. Demyx was now right in front of him, a childish grin on his face, both hands extended straight up in the air.
    “…Demyx may perform.”
    Number IX’s exuberant cheering echoed throughout the entire castle, and it took Xigbar, some 80s rock CDs, and an excessive amount of chocolate bribery to make the musician return to his room.
    “Now, as I was saying.” Xemnas continued irritably. “This dance will be formal, so find something to wear other than your standard issue coats. I want you all to find a date before the end of this week. That is all.”
    Eleven pairs of eyes blinked confusedly. Eleven pairs of feet shuffled back to their rooms, and eleven minds toiled over who they would ask to the dance.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

    “Who are you asking to the dance?” Larxene asked me over pizza one morning. Zexion had drawn the short one that day.
    “I dunno.” I answered, flipping through the TV channels. When I was satisfied with a channel (The movie Dune on Sci-Fi), I turned back to Larxy. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
    “Well, we only have three days left.” She returned, glancing around the room. Everyone seemed extremely stressed out. It was a small wonder why. “Aren’t you going to ask Roxas?”
    She had my attention now. “No, why would I?”
    “Well, I dunno…” she stared at the ceiling. “You guys just seem to click.”
    I shrugged. “He’s too young for me. Besides, I bet he’s already got a date.”
    She shook her head. “Nope. Get this; Xemnas asked him to the dance. Roxas said no, because he was waiting for someone. Who do you suppose that could be, huh?” she gave me a hard jab in the side.
    I winced but managed to shrug again. “So the Superior’s gay too. Big surprise. And I have no idea who it could be.”
    She rolled her eyes and stood up. “I’ll see you in Xigbar’s room.”
    I nodded, finishing my pizza and turning off the TV. Hmm. Going to the dance with Roxas actually didn’t sound like a bad idea. It wasn’t one that I would entertain, however. He was too…fragile…for a person of my taste. I’d just end up hurting him somehow and he’d cry and be all…sensitive. I despised sensitivity. It was the one emotion I didn’t know how to respond to.
    When I got to Xiggy’s room, Demyx was happily munching chocolate bars and reading the backs of his new CDs, while Larxene was playing a game of Monopoly with Roxas. Xigbar himself was sorting through his closet.
    “Hey, sorry I’m late.” I sat to the side of the Monopoly board and watched their progress. From the amount of paper money on Roxas’s side of the board, I guessed that he was winning.
    Larxene nodded, her eyes glued to the game. “Hn.”
    Roxas beamed at me. “Good to see you. It was getting dreadfully boring, beating Larxene over and over and over.”
    “I’ll beat you yet, kid.” She muttered through clenched teeth.
    Xigbar glanced over at us. “Hey, Axel, can you help me out? I don’t know which outfit to wear to the dance.”
    “Um…the black one?” I grinned weakly. I didn’t know my fashion.
    Xigbar frowned. “Axel…they’re all black. They’re tuxedos.”
    “Well, if they’re all the same color, why do you need help choosing?” I turned back to the Monopoly game.
    “It’s the style! The styles are different! Oh, never mind.” Xigbar saw that he’d lost my attention and poked Demyx. “Hey Demyx, should I wear the one with three buttons or two?”
    Number IX looked up and tilted his head. “Umm…two buttons. Definitely two.” He smiled and returned to his chocolate.
    Mental list, fact six: Xigbar acts like a woman when he’s stressed.
    “Hey Larxy, who are you taking to the dance?” I asked, throwing a pillow at her head.
    She caught it and threw it back, catching me in the jaw. “That’s my business. Like I’m gonna tell you guys.”
    “C’mon! Is he in the Organization?” I pressed.
    “Maybe.” She glared at me. “Maybe not.”
    “Is it Xaldin?” asked Roxas. Yes! Two against one.
    “No.”
    “Vexen?” I threw the pillow at her again.
    “No way…”
    “Luxord?”
    “Nope.”
    “Lexaeus?”
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “Zexion?”
    “Too girly.”
    “Saix?”
    “HELL no!”
    “Then who is it?” Roxas and I yelled in unison.
    She smiled a smug, satisfied smile and looked pointedly at me. “You should know.”
    I paled. It couldn’t be!
    “Larxy, no! You didn’t!” I stared open-mouthed at her.
    “Oh, but I did.” She laughed evilly.
    “And you said Zexion was too girly! I can’t believe you!” I threw another pillow. And another. She deserved no mercy.
    Roxas glanced to me, then to Larxene, then back to me. “Um…who are you talking about?”
    “The fairy! She’s dating the fairy! All is lost!” I could find no more cushiony projectiles, so I pointed at her accusingly instead.
    “The fairy?” Number XIII asked, bewildered.
    “Marluxia,” Larxene corrected, “is not as homosexual as you make him out to be, Axel. He’s very kind.”
    “Yeah, kind. And sparkly. And pink.” I shot her a hurt look. “How could you?”
    She sighed. “Just because he’s the butt of all of your jokes doesn’t mean I can’t give him a chance. Besides, he asked me.”
    Xigbar snickered. “Looks like you’ll have to find another victim, Axel.” He turned to face us. “At least you still have Xemnas to make fun of.”
    I nodded. The battle was over. Larxene, one. Me, zero.
    After a moment of silence, Roxas spoke up.
    “Axel, do you hate gay people?” his sapphire blue eyes bored into mine.
    I shook my head and laughed. “If I hated gay people, why would I be hanging out with the lovebirds?” I gestured at Demyx and Xigbar, who glared.
    The young Nobody just shrugged and continued beating Larxene at Monopoly. The woman looked like she was going to explode!
    Mental list, fact seven: Do not repeatedly own Number XII at any game.
    Xigbar nudged Demyx in she shoulder. Number IX looked up, saw his lover glance to me, and nodded. They both smiled.
    What the hell?
    “So, Axel,” Demyx chimed, “who are you taking to the dance?”
    I pulled a handful of paper scraps out of my pocket. Every one of them had a girl’s phone number on it. “I dunno. Wanna play darts to see which one?”
    Both Xigbar and Demyx looked taken aback at this.
    “You’re actually thinking about taking one of those…those…” Xigbar stammered, reddening.
    “Why yes.” I answered. “After all, this dance is just an excuse for the Superior to make some political buddies. I’ll dump her off as soon as it’s over.”
    Roxas got up and walked out, not bothering to say a word to any of us. Somehow, I knew I blew it again.
    Larxene glared and kicked me in the shin on her way out. Demyx sighed and put a hand on his forehead.
    “Axel, can you stop being a dick for three seconds?” He shouted, hitting me on the head with a rolled up newspaper. “Can’t you tell that Roxas wants you to ask him to the dance?”
    Actually, that had never occurred to me…
    “I had no idea. How was I supposed to know?” I grumbled, rubbing my head. Newspapers hurt…
    “Well, if you paid attention, you would see that Number XIII has been trying to get your attention for days.” Demyx crossed his arms, too disgusted with me to finish his chocolate.
    I snorted. “Well, sorry for him. I’m not into guys.”
    “Just take him to the stupid dance!” Xigbar said, exasperated. “It’s not like you’re getting married! Humor him for one night. He’s got a crush, that’s all.”
    Demyx smirked. “Yeah, and after a night with you, he won’t have that crush for long.”
    I sighed. If I refused, they would tell Larxene. And then Larxy would find some way to blackmail me into it. I decided that, in this game, it was better to give in early.
    “Fine. I’ll take him to the dance. But that’s it.” I stormed out of Xigbar’s room, planning to find Number XIII and get this over with as soon as possible.