“I think you might be able to find a decent carton of O.J. at Port Royal,” said Luxord, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “There’s this bar that serves a wicked Madras, and the barmaids aren’t too bad either—”

“Good, let’s go,” said Demyx, cutting him off and dragging him by the sleeve through a portal.

“Mind tellin’ me what you’re so eager to be getting’ at this juice for?” Luxord questioned as they arrived at the harbor.

“RaXi drank the birthday O.J. Axel poured for Triskix, and now there’s no more orange juice,” answered Demyx, glancing at Luxord.

The gambler nodded in understanding. “Ah,” he said. “I wouldn’t put anyone through the torture of eating what Axel calls food without something good to drink. Right this way, lads.” He led them to the direction of the bar, and was warmly greeted by several patrons as he stepped inside.

“Not tonight, gentlemen,” he said, excusing himself towards the counter. “Penelope, darling, I’ve a favor to ask of you.”

The busty barmaid spun around, giving Luxord a wink and a leer. “Wot kind of favor, ey, Luxy? The special kind you’re so fond of?” She giggled and waggled herself towards him, polishing a beer mug all the while. Axel and Demyx glanced at each other and snickered softly.

“Ah…no, darling, I’ve just come to ask if you have any orange juice,” said Luxord, blushing lightly.

Penelope shook her head. “Sorry, love, we just ran out about half an hour ago—WOTCHER! Get off my table, ye ruffian!—clean outta the stuff.”

“You have got to be joking me,” said Axel, pushing past Luxord to stare into the barmaid’s face.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, dear. We’re not due for another shipment until tomorrow,” she told him.

Axel grabbed at his hair and turned to Luxord and Demyx. “I’m doomed,” he said simply, shaking his head, “Triskix’s birthday breakfast is ruined, all because that juice-sucking cow couldn’t keep her hands to herself!”
_________________________________________________________________________________

Back at the castle, RaXi suddenly sneezed. “Bless you,” said Triskix.

“Thank you,” she muttered absently, wondering where in the world Axel had gotten off to.

“Are we almost there yet? I swear we’ve been down this hallway at least five times,” said Triskix, stopping in the hallway and folding his arms impatiently.

In truth, they had. RaXi was running out of ideas on how to keep Tris from running off to the kitchen. “Um…yeah,” she said slowly. “I kind of forgot where I put it.”

“Can’t you just portal to it, then?” Triskix was beginning to suspect something was up with RaXi. Maybe she’d done something to Axel and didn’t want anyone to find out.

“No! No, I…I put it somewhere you can’t portal to…so you wouldn’t find it,” she lied hastily.

Triskix narrowed his eyes. “RaXi, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me what you did. I’m not mad,” he said, trying out some reverse psychology.

RaXi stared at Triskix. Was he serious? It was so hard to tell with the emotastic boy. For Kingdom Hearts’ sake, where was Axel?