The Journey or The Destination?

A/N: Work sucks.

-

“Walrus.” Demyx said triumphantly, placing the wooden squares on the board, “That gets me triple points.”

“Well I see your walrus with a ‘satisfactory’!” The woman across from the boy laughed placing the rest of her pieces on the board with a grin.

“Aw Mom! I was gonna win!” Demyx pouted as his mother ruffled his strange hair. Izusa Strife, mother of Roxas and Demyx, was a tall willowy woman. Though she was not as ‘blessed’ in the chest she had long locks of gorgeous pin straight blonde hair and round blue eyes, making her more of a beauty than a piece of eye candy.

“Oh don’t get all huffy,” She said smiling. The small family was sitting on the living room floor around the coffee table, the lot of them looking worn from the brief cleaning spree they had all done.

Izusa turned her face to her younger son, “Roxas, you’re turn.”

“’Kay,” he mumbled sleepily, rubbing one eye. He wasn’t about to fall asleep when his mother was here, they hardly got to spend time like this anymore. With Mom working 12 hour shifts and only coming home to sleep, it was hard to really sit like this.

It was even weirder to see his Mom in casual clothes, white wash jeans and a dark grey tee rather than the crisp button down and black straight skirt. Her usually pinned up hair hung freely over the one shoulder in a loose pony tail and her slender face was free of makeup, not that she wore a lot of it. All in all, it was eerily comforting.

“Art.” Roxas said, placing one piece on the board before cracking a yawn.

Demyx grunted, “Right on a quadruple score thing too. I was aiming for that one.”

Izusa smiled, “That’s what you get for whipping out complicated words,” She wrapped an arm around Roxas, letting him lean on her shoulder. The boy nuzzled into her hair and gave a quiet happy sigh, “Try keeping it simple.”

“Simple’s boring.” Her elder son said with a shrug then poked his brother with his foot under the small table, “Hey, no sleeping.”

Roxas just kicked him back harder while nonchalantly cuddling into his mother, who laughed uproariously as her other son shot up from his seat to start a fight.

“Children,” She chided softly, wrapping an arm around Demyx’s neck and pulling him more over the table in a hug, which looked more to be a huddle, “No fighting, I get enough ear full’s at work.”

The taller blonde boy gave a sigh and wrapped his arms around his mother and brother, “Fine.”

Roxas gave a sudden squawk when his mother jabbed him in the ribs, “That’s what you get.” She said playfully then ruffled his hair. It was easy to tell where his brother got it from.


After the game had ended with a matched score between Demyx and their mother, the three of them cleaned up the board game and the supper dishes before getting ready for bed. Roxas walked out of the up stairs bathroom with his teeth brushed and his usually flippy hair matted to his head from his shower.

Quietly he went into the kitchen to see his mother sitting at the small island with a bottle of wine, mug in hand and a book under her nose. She looked calm and relaxed rather than tense or exhausted.

“Hey Mom,” Roxas said softly, sliding onto a stool across from her. She raised her eyes and they brightened slightly.

“Hi sweet heart,” She closed her book and moved to cross her arms on the table, “Shouldn’t you be in bed by now?”

Her son shook his head, “I just wanted to sit and talk with you for a sec.”

“About what?” She tilted her head to the side, her blonde hair falling a little into her face.

“About your work…” He averted his eyes to the table, “…And about the divorce…”

Izusa gave a sigh, “It wasn’t your fault Roxas, I told you.”

“I know… but why didn’t you just get money from Dad? You wouldn’t have to work so much if--”

“Roxas, honey,” His mother cut him off, “Your father and I didn’t have a lot of money to begin with. That’s probably the main reason why he didn’t put much of a fight for custody.”

Roxas stayed silent, looking downwards. He felt a hand on his and looked up to see warm blue eyes.

“We both love you and Demyx very much, that’s why I have you now and you see him every so often.” Roxas often doubted his father cared that much, “I would have this job even if we had stayed together.”

“Yea…” Roxas sighed, “But I just don’t see you enough anymore.”

“Oh I know,” Izusa stood up from the table to wrap her arms around her son, “But as soon as the population gets smarter we’ll have a lot more time together, I promise.”

Roxas snorted with a small laugh and hugged his mother back, “Okay.”

They held each other for a few moments before they broke apart, “Well, off to bed with the both of us. We have another full day of quality time left before I return to telephone hell.”

The small blonde openly laughed, “Oh yay, a whole day of cleaning and scrabble. Loving it.”

It earned him a kiss on the forehead and a ruffled wet head of hair before he was shooed into his room.

-

Cups? Check.

Chips and all otherwise mal-nutritious substances? Check.

Extra Garbage bags? Check.

Ridiculously vibrant ‘School’s Out!’ banner? Check.

Kairi sat in the food court mentally tallying up the supplies as Sora and Namine stood by the far off ice cream stand. The blonde girl didn’t exactly go willingly but the brunette insisted, how could she say no? With the other two busying themselves, Kairi was left with bag duty.

Not that she minded, it was nice to be off her feet. She and Sora had been shopping since 2 that afternoon and although they really didn’t have a whole lot to shop for, Sora was constantly indecisive. What flavours of this and which colours of that, she almost wanted just to sweep the whole snack shelf into the cart and leave.

But being a friend of Sora’s gave you an astounding amount of patience she assumed. They wondered from one store to the next in search of the ‘perfect’ banner until Namine showed up. With her negotiating skills they ended up with a multi-coloured glittering thing that would easily stretch across the living room wall.

Also with the bantering over what banner, Kairi almost picked a ‘Welcome Home’ one, which would have most defiantly foiled her surprise. A surprise she had been saving for almost two months.

“So when’s he coming?” Kairi jumped a little at Namine’s whispered question.

“When did you get here? Where’s Sora?” Kairi asked, taking a quick glance around.

“Getting a supreme banana split,” Namine looked back behind her in the direction of the boy eagerly pressing against the sneeze guard ordering more chocolate fudge.

“Ah,” Kairi nodded, that meant he’d be busy for the time being, “So what was the question?”

“When does Mr. Special get here?” Namine asked quietly even though Sora was obviously occupied.

“Tomorrow night.” The red head couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face, “Sora’s gonna cream his jeans.”

The blonde smiled, “So who exactly is this guy?”

“An old friend of ours from like way way back. Hell, they were friends before I even became part of the picture.” The redhead’s voice was soft with nostalgia, “He and Sora were inseparable back then.”

“Wow,” Namine said, “What happened?”

Kairi sighed, “He moved when we were thirteen or so, just before high school. So yea, he’s been gone for about three years.”

“How’d Sora take it?” Namine asked, her pale brows furrowing.

“Not well, he was a hermit for a bout a week or two but he came back to the world of the living,” Kairi explained, playing with her hair, “From what I know they’ve kept in contact.”

The blonde tilted her head, “Then wouldn’t he know that he’s coming back?”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Kairi grinned, “He hasn’t told him, he’s gonna pop up as a surprise.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Namine said warmly cradling her face in her hands.

“I know! You’ll love him. Crap, Sora,” She whispered the last part in as the brunette sat between the girls, a colossal mass of ice-cream, chocolate, sprinkles, cherries and whatever else would go on a banana split plunking down in front of him. It was amazing how the small plastic container could hold it all.

While both Namine and Kairi looked at it in shocked awe Sora was already digging in, scooping as much ice cream as he could manage.

“Whoa,” Kairi said picking up her own spoon, “You sure we can eat all this?”

Sora paused a moment, a spoon sticking out from his sticky lips. Slowly he took it out and asked, “You wanted some?”

The girls rolled their eyes, raised their spoons and went in for an attack. Despite Sora’s protests it became a race of who could finish first.

~

Okay, now Axel knew he was being paranoid, more than necessary anyway. While the redhead wasn’t that much of a health buff, he took pride in how he walked everywhere rather than using public transport… which he hated. But there he was that Friday afternoon sitting to the side of the crowded bus with his earphones blaring, trying not to think of what kind of diseases could possibly be transmitted by touching the metal poles.

Using the bus instead of his feet had it’s pro’s and con’s. Pro’s being if he was being followed his stalker wouldn’t be able to catch the bus and even if he actually got on it there was little chance of him causing a scene. Con’s? It was stuffy, cramped and he swore almost half of the other passengers just got off probation. Sure the con’s out weighed the pro’s but he wasn’t taking a chance.

While guessing whom of his fellow passengers used to be child molesters the bus came to a shuddering stop. As if it couldn’t get anymore crowded in here? As well as this sad excuse of an auto-vehicle being allowed to roam the streets of Traverse Town, which was hardly even a town anymore.

Axel could understand why it would have been called Transverse Town way back when but the so-called ‘town’ had grown into a decent sized city by this point. While they didn’t have a subway or skyscrapers that went beyond 30 floors, it still had it’s multiple malls and long stretches of streets lined with restaurants, apartments, businesses and what have you.

Another thing Axel couldn’t get was why the hell his Mom sent him here? Sure there were the multiple windows of opportunity, note the sarcasm, and good schooling but why not just send him to some private school if she wanted that?

Mentally he snorted to himself. She probably just didn’t want him running amuck back in Twilight Town, so to save money and valium, she shipped him off to live on his own further south. ‘You need to get a taste of real life, stop having me clean up your messes’ she said before handing him his bus ticket, running to the car and stomping on the gas.

Well it didn’t exactly happen like that, but close as it could get in his mind.

So far though, there wasn’t much of a difference from Twilight Town. Sure, the first few months were a real piss off, being 16 and having no clue what was what in his new environment, but once he got the hang of things, made some new friends, it was all sunshine and rainbows from there. It also helped having his laptop and internet keeping him up to date with his friends back home, his mother paying for his rent and more available ass.

Speaking of ass, there was a fine specimen not too far from where he was sitting. Round, perky and clad in some nice jeans, it was hard for Axel not to lean to the side to get a better look at it. In the one of the back pockets was what he could guess was an I-pod, the earphone cord winding behind a white t-shirt to end in the ears of a bobbing blonde head.

Eyeing up the blondie, Axel saw one lightly tanned arm had a checkered hoodie draped over it while the other clung loosely to one of the poles. From the physique he could tell it was a boy, although a bit on the shorter side.

Screw decency, Axel thought as he leaned a bit to the right to get a better look at him, not that it helped him any. The jeans only pooled as they got further down the guy’s legs, leaving way too much for imagination and although he didn’t see any peircings he couldn’t get a good look at his face.

“Oh c’mon…” Axel sighed quietly, willing for the other to turn even just a little. No luck yet as the bus came to another stop.

As the people bustled to get in and out, a stray handbag had the balls to smack him between the eyes. It didn’t hurt as much shocked him out of his open ogling. He cursed out loud at the rather large woman who waddled past him with an insulted ‘hmph’.

Scowling, the red head rubbed between his brows. Fucking buses. Once he had come back to himself, he moved his eyes back to where the fine ass was only to be revolted by a plumber’s crack smiling at him over a pair of stained sweat pants.

After openly shuddering from the sight, he scanned his eyes around the front and back of the bus. It looked like pretty boy had already left and an over weight, balding son of a goat had taken his place, leaving the boy feeling disappointed and annoyed.

Then suddenly, Axel had a revelation, slapping his hand to his forehead. Not only did he miss his chance to snatch the guy up, he missed his stop.

-

“It’s all here, ya?” Wakka asked, easily hefting the keg of beer down from his shoulder to place onto the floor of Kairi’s kitchen.

Said red head turned to face her broad shouldered friend, “Yea, I think so. Did I give you enough?”

The tall tanned boy smiled, “Yep, and I’m sure there are a few other people bringing their own ya?”

“Wouldn’t doubt it,” Kairi said returning the smile, “Thanks Wakka, I owe you.”

“Naw,” Wakka ran a hand through his bright hair and his smile turned into a sheepish grin, “Just glad to help.”

“Still,” Moving to the far counter, Kairi picked up a couple bottles of vodka and put them into the freezer. Silently she thanked God her parents left her with a large allowance and asked no questions. At the same time, it left her filling a little empty but with friends like this, who could complain?

“Little help?” Sora called from the living room. Peeking her head in, Kairi saw her spiky hair friend teetering on the stepladder while fumbling with the banner. She tried not to laugh at her friend’s plight as she saw his silly stance.

While Sora wasn’t that short, he wasn’t all that tall either thus the use of the ladder… that was a little too far for Sora to keep a good balance on. He had one foot firmly planted on the top step and the rest of his body a diagonal line against the wall, his hands full of one corner of banner while trying to keep him from falling.

“Kairi!” Sora whined, “This isn’t funny! I’m gonna fall!”

Without realizing it a grin had snuck across the girl’s face. It also didn’t help that when she opened her mouth to reply she left out a laugh. Wakka then came around the corner and gave a bark of laughter.

“Sora, how’d you end up like that?” He chortled.

The burnette pouted, “The ladder slipped and I got stuck. Now help me!”

The darker boy rolled his eyes and went to his friend’s aid, “It’s like, two, maybe three feet, ya? You’re not going to break a leg.”

“It’s not my fault Kairi’s parent’s have hardwood floors and not car-Whoa!” Sora gave a yelp as Wakka easily picked him up and placed him back down on the floor.

“There, all better.” He said, ruffling Sora’s hair like he was much younger than he really was.

Sora then scowled cutely and thrust the end of loose end of the banner at Wakka, “You do it then, Mr. I’m-So-Tall.”

Wakka laughed good-naturedly and took it from him, turning to finish the job. Once Sora had made it into the kitchen to help Kairi there was a knock at the door.

“I got it!” Sora yelled, not that he needed to and ran across the large living room to the front door, flinging it open to reveal Roxas on the other side.

“Hey, start without me?” The blonde asked, stepping inside the foyer and wiping his feet. Sora huffed slightly at the other’s tardiness.

“Yea, like half an hour ago!” He said in a mock tiff.

“Who’s at the door?” Kairi called from the kitchen, where there were some ruffling noises.

“Roxas!” Sora called back over his shoulder, moving back to let the other through. The blonde nodded his head in greeting to Wakka in the living room before moving into the kitchen.

“Geez, took you long enough didn’t it?” Kairi said as the two of them walked in. She was taking bright red plastic cups from their plastic wrappings.

“I know,” Roxas replied with an apologetic smile, “I even took the bus to get here on time.”

“Lot of good that did,” Sora laughed, “Namine’ll be here any minute.”

The blonde boy rolled his eyes before turning to Kairi, “Where should I start?”

“Uhm…” Kairi looked about herself for a moment, trying to remember where she put the punch bowl, “Just gimme a sec.”

“We could help you look y’know,” Roxas said quirking a brow as the red headed girl went through the cabinets. The girl shook her head.

“It’s okay, I think it’s upstairs.” She turned to Roxas, who had a slightly confused look, “The punch bowl.”

“Ah,” Roxas said and took a seat on one of the free counters, Sora followed suit.

“Why would it be upstairs?” The brunette asked, looking through one of the plastic bags until Kairi snatched it from under him.

“Because my Mom moved it up there? She’s getting loopy,” She replied, placing the bag on the other side of Roxas, and turning back to the brunette, “Don’t you have something to do?”

“Me?” Sora pulled a look of shock, “I almost killed myself putting up that sign! Roxas just got here and he gets to go scott free?”

The blonde boy looked to the red head for an explanation of Sora’s near death experience but she just rolled her eyes.

“Okay,” Roxas sighed, “How about I start unloading snacks and all that while you go and get the bowl?”

“Sounds good, I don’t trust Sora with them,” Kairi agreed then left the kitchen before Sora could properly defend himself.

Roxas hopped off the counter as Sora piped up, “It’s not like I’m a kid any more! That’s so unfair.”

The blonde calmly shrugged, “Life isn’t fair.”

“I need a bathroom break,” Sora promptly declared, hopping off the counter and down the hall, leaving Roxas alone to deal with the masses of paper and plastic to look through. Scratching the back of his head, he set to work removing the items from the bags.

He didn’t even get through the third bag before there was the ring of the doorbell. He paused for a moment until Wakka and Kairi called for someone to get the door. It was most likely Namine, he noted as he glanced at the clock on his way to the front door. It was already half past four.

“And I thought I was late, what happened to-” He said as he opened the door but instead of the apologetically smiling face of his good friend he was met with a broad flat chest in a dark blue button down. Roxas blinked before looking up into a pair a startling sea foam coloured eyes which were much higher then his, seeing as he had to tilt his head back to see the face.

It was obviously a he from the shape of his face, all angles. The bridge of his nose was straight, bottom lip full and his skin pale and smooth looking. Platinum hair was stick straight and fell over his bright eyes and fair brows, which at the moment were arched in matching surprise to his own blonde pair.

Who ever this was, it wasn’t Namine.

-


Like you have to guess who it is :P

Anyway, please review! If I get up to at least to fifteen reviews I`ll throw in some early smut!