Days Go By

Zexion Harada hated school dances. He hated school ANYTHING to be exact. He was a solitary figure who took excessive pleasure in silence. He was unapproachable, untouchable, an enigma with enough of a bad attitude to keep almost everyone away from him…except one person.

It was this person who had drawn him out of his room and into the snake pit called high school. It was this person he now searched for as he stood on tiptoes to try and see over the heads of the crowd, scanning the darkened room for a head of dark blond hair.

Demyx. The music pounded against his eardrums, making his head hurt, but Zexion knew that his best friend, Demyx Otara loved it. Demyx loved music in any form, and enjoyed being around others loving the same music. Zexion hated crowds, his nose was very sensitive, and the many different scents of perfume, cologne, and their own personal scent made his head spin as he achieved sensory overload. Still, if it meant the chance to cheer Demyx up after another years’ defeat for the dueling team, Zexion knew that any discomfort on his part was worth it. He hated seeing Demyx upset.

A waving figure caught his attention, and he crossed the room as he spotted Vexen leaning against one of the back walls. The teen’s long blond hair hung loose around his pointed face, his eyes cold as he glanced around. “What are you doing here?” Zexion asked mildly, joining his friend. Of all of the people close to Zexion, Vexen was one of his favorites. The youth didn’t speak much, and he was an excellent chess player.

“I came to see Larxene in a pink tutu.” Vexen explained.

“A pink…” Zexion followed Vexen’s amused gaze and spotted the slight figure of Larxene scowling at Luxord, who appeared to be laughing too hard to stand upright and was leaning hard against Marluxia’s shoulder. As if drawn by their gazes, Larxene glanced at them and raised her middle finger in salute before turning back to Luxord. “She was playing cards with Luxord again wasn’t she?”

Vexen smirked. “She lost a bet.”

Zexion watched Larxene for another moment before glancing around again. “Cloud’s popular tonight.” The tall, spiky haired teen was surrounded by his usual entourage of females, including Tifa Lockheart, Aerith Gainsborough, Rinoa Heartilly, Quistis Trepe, Yuffie Kisaragi, and the feminine trio of Paine, Rikku and Yuna. Leon stood at Cloud’s side, his arms crossed over his chest, an uncomfortable look on his face as he answered something Rinoa was asking. This was nothing new, wherever Cloud and Leon went, a herd of females followed. Both tall seniors were extremely popular, as much for their co-captainship of the dueling team as for their single status. There wasn’t a single female in the school who didn’t want to be the one to break Cloud and Leon’s single status. As usual, they were having none of it, and looked as uncomfortable as Zexion felt at being on the dance floor.

“I’m going to poison you in your sleep if you don’t SHUT UP!” The yell of a boy caught Zexion’s attention and he glanced to the left to see a livid looking blond, his hair sticking up in spikes on one side of his face glaring daggers at Axel. This came as no surprise to Zexion, it was easy to be annoyed at Axel. He glanced around the group to ensure that Demyx was not part of it, knowing that Demyx and Axel occasionally spent time together. He could see Olette Pearson looking severely at the spiky haired blond, while Pence Nomru laughed beside her. Hayner Otuda stood beside his friends and was looking amused, his arms crossed over his chest. Zexion blinked. No sign of Riku. That was odd, usually wherever Axel was, Riku was usually in attendance.

He glanced around the room for the silver haired boy and found him in another knot of people, this group surrounding a short, spiky haired brunet. He was laughing as he gestured around to a girl with short auburn hair and flashing violet-blue eyes, another girl, her brown hair flipping up at the ends laughing beside her. Wakka and another blond made up the rest of the group, Wakka’s girlfriend Lulu standing off to one side and deep in discussion with Yuna, who had branched away from Cloud. Zexion shook his head. There was something familiar in the spiky haired boys who had attracted so much attention. They shared the same blue eyes, had the same facial structure. “Who are they? The boys in the center of all the commotion.”

Vexen followed his gaze and shrugged. “Cloud Hikari’s little brothers. First years. Axel’s rooming with the one yelling at him, and Riku’s rooming with the other.”

Upon further reflection, Zexion didn’t know why he hadn’t noticed before. The younger Hikari boys were replicas of their older brother, both with the same flashing blue eyes, the same spiky hair, the same popularity. He glanced back at Axel and saw the object of his attention and his reason for being there joining the group. “Excuse me.”

Considering tryouts had been only a half hour ago, Demyx looked content with life, a smile crossing his face as he spotted Zexion walking toward him. Zexion adored that smile. Demyx’s smile was open, showing the world the boy within. “Zex! You came!”

Zexion did not smile back but he could feel his face softening as he gazed up into the blond’s face. “You grew a few inches over the summer.” The boys had been roughly the same height the year before, but sometime during the two months they had been apart, Demyx had shot up nearly four inches.

Demyx laughed. “Yeah. My mom was pretty annoyed. We had to get all new clothes.” He pivoted. “What do you think?”

The blue buttoned shirt he wore flowed around him like water and looked silky to the touch. Zexion had to resist the urge to check, instead letting his gaze travel down Demyx’s lean body to the simple black pants and then back up. “I like it. It suits you.”

Demyx smiled at that. “Thanks! And guess what, Zex? I made the team!”

“What?” Zexion stopped dead and stared at his friend. “You…WHAT?!”

Demyx’s smile faltered ever so slightly. “I…I made the dueling team.” He repeated, one hand finding Zexion’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Zexion shook his head. Demyx was an abysmal fighter, wanted nothing more than to be a musician. The only reason he busted his butt to try to get on the stupid team in the first place was to please his father. He had been trying for years, and each year Zexion had been there to calm him down when he failed. It was the reason he was at the dance in the first place. To hear that he had MADE it though… “So…what about your music? The practices are the same time aren’t they?”

Demyx shrugged. “Next year maybe.”

A pang shot through Zexion’s stomach and into his heart. Demyx was a brilliant musician, he had an ear for it. With his sitar, he had charmed a young boy out of his room, had made a young Zexion realize that he was lonely when he hadn’t noticed it before. Zexion could remember it so well, could remember withdrawing from the rest of the school. He was awkward, shy, tended to be cold to people who didn’t have any interest in getting to know him in the first place. The music that played outside in the evenings had charmed him out of hiding, the blond boy playing it becoming his first and only real friend. “Dem…are you sure this is what you want?”

Demyx stared down at him for a moment. “Sure!” He replied with a slight smile. “Of course! I already called my dad, he’s thrilled.” Zexion had to fight to resist the urge to roll his eyes. He just bet. “Marluxia tried me out.”

“You lost to DEMYX?!” Larxene’s disbelieving voice filled the air and they all turned as she joined them. She smirked at Marluxia, at her side. “Seriously?”

Marluxia looked uncomfortable. “He’s gotten a lot better.”

Demyx looked pleased at the praise, and Zexion doubted that he noticed Marluxia’s discomfort or embarrassment that he had lost the fight. “Thanks! I’ve been working really hard and…” He trailed off as he stared at Larxene. “…why are you wearing that?”

Larxene’s smirk turned murderous. “I lost a bet.”

“She was playing cards with Luxord again.” Marluxia put in, his expression innocent but his eyes betraying the satisfaction he was feeling as he made fun of her.

“Zexy!” Axel looked delighted to see him, turning from the spiky haired blond. “I want you to meet my new…” he trailed off as the boy threw him a glare so fierce that if looks could kill Axel would be a smoking pile of goo. “…er…my roommate, Roxas Hikari. Rox, this is Zexion, Demyx, Larxene and Marluxia.”

Roxas threw them all a bored look. “Hi.” Replied, looking annoyed. He pulled at his arm, and only as he did so did Zexion notice that Axel was holding onto his wrist tightly. “Let GO, Axel!”

Axel grinned at him. “What’ll you give me if I do?”

Roxas scowled at him. “I think you should be more interested in what I’ll give you if you DON’T!”

Axel, Zexion could see, was going over all of the answers he could give in his mind. If he was brave he could go crazy with that open-ended statement…Axel might be brave, but he wasn’t stupid, and the short blond was looking more and more annoyed. Axel liked his face the way it was. He released Roxas, who grabbed Pence’s shoulder before hurriedly joining his brunet brother’s lively group.

Axel sighed, a smile crossing his face. “If he didn’t look so cute when he was annoyed, I wouldn’t tease him so much. I just love that little pout though.”

Demyx laughed. “He’s going to punch you, Axel…and you saw him fight.”

Axel winced. “SAW him fight? Dem, I fought AGAINST him. Those scrawny arms really pack a punch.” As was Axel’s nature, rather than look annoyed, he looked delighted that he had nearly gotten his butt kicked. “He’ll be a lot of fun…I don’t even mind being his roommate.”

Zexion inclined one eyebrow. Axel hated ALL roommates. The poor kid had no idea what he was getting into. “Glad to see you’re all here.”

All five turned toward the person who spoke, a young man with silver hair and disconcerting red eyes. “Welcome back. I’m calling a meeting this evening.”

0 0 0

The silence was going to kill him. Axel HATED silence…and it was not so much that he had gotten bored with teasing Roxas, but more that he was afraid that the boy would go postal and kill his radio with his keyblade. Axel loved his radio too much to watch it turn to dust. “Hey Rox?”

Roxas was tacking posters up onto his side, his expression stony. Up went a picture of Setzer, a champion Struggle player, followed by a poster of the Besaid Aurochs, a blitzball team. “What?”

Axel watched his roommate for a long moment. “I’m going to go out for a little while.”

Roxas turned toward him, blue eyes narrowed. “Why is it whenever you speak I get annoyed? You sound like you have a secret, Axel.”

Axel laughed. Whoever had given him his roommate was bloody brilliant. “No secrets.” He protested. “Just boredom. I’m going to see if Demyx will play some music or I’ll go crazy because of the silence.”

Roxas shrugged. “Okay.” He picked up another poster and tacked it up onto the wall. “Do you have your key to get back?”

Axel grinned. “Yes. How sweet, Roxie. You’re worried about me.”

Roxas turned back and rolled his eyes. “No, I was hoping to lock you out.” He replied calmly. “Don’t be loud when you get back.”

Axel hesitated at the door. He liked teasing Roxas, but he didn’t like that cold expression on the boy’s face. Maybe he had gone too far. Axel was a fiery person, he didn’t like ice. “Roxas? You know I was just kidding right?”

Roxas turned back, an odd expression on his face. “Yeah. I know. You know I wouldn’t have really whacked you with the keyblade?”

Axel had to resist the urge to grin. “Yeah right. You looked like you wanted to brain me.” He paused. “You’re pretty good with that thing, you know that?”

Roxas looked away. “Sora is.” He replied quietly. “Sometimes I wonder why the keyblade even lets me use it.”

Axel opened his mouth to reply, but Roxas had turned back to his suitcase, withdrawing books and setting them up on his desk. His back was tight, and Axel knew that the conversation was done. Silently, he left the room and walked down the hall.

Luxord was waiting for him, a black, floor-length jacket in his hands. Wordlessly he handed it to Axel and pulled the hood of his matching jacket over his head. “You’re late.”

Axel smirked. “And your point?” He shrugged into the jacket and zippered it closed, flipping the hood up over his head. “Let’s make this quick. I have a roommate to bother.”

Luxord snorted. “I’m betting you can’t kick this one out, Axel.”

Axel laughed. “Lux, only an idiot would bet against me.” He sauntered down the hall and stepped onto the lift, knocking twice on the door at the top, waiting half a beat and knocking three times more. The door swung open and he stepped out onto the broken balcony.

The others were waiting, milling around, hooded wraiths in the moonlight. This section had been blocked off nearly five years before when a kid had nearly gone through the broken railing, and it had yet to be repaired. Somewhere in the past one of them had gotten a key to open the locked door, and they had been meeting here since.

“Axel. Luxord. That should be all of you.” Axel turned toward a hooded figure and sighed softly.

“Xemnas.” He replied lightly. “How’s it hanging?”

The cloaked teen with silver hair chuckled. “You’re in a mood.”

Axel sighed. “I had to leave my cute roommate to come up here and its cold. Let’s make this fast.”

“Of course.” Xemnas turned. “First let’s offer Demyx congratulations. He made the dueling team.”

Though his face was hooded and cloaked in shadows, Axel knew that Demyx was beaming…and that the short figure of Zexion beside him was scowling. Axel smirked. Zexion thought nobody noticed how he looked at the tall blond….and for the most part he was right. Everyone else was too wrapped up in their own lives…but Axel had noticed…and it amused him to no end. “Thanks.” Demyx replied quietly, but Axel could hear the smile in his voice.

“As for the news,” Xemnas continued. “we’re going to recruit a new member. Organization XIII.”

“Why thirteen?” Lexaeus asked mildly from near the edge.

Silence met this question. “It has a nice ring to it.” Saix commented from beside Xemnas. Axel rolled his eyes. Saix was a disgusting excuse for an individual the way he hung all over Xemnas. “Thirteen…a traditionally unlucky number.”

Xemnas chuckled. “Precisely.” He agreed, though Axel doubted that he had thought of it that way when he had come up with it. “Bring in your recruits…and we’ll…initiate them. Test them.”

“Sounds like it could be fun.” Axel sighed when he heard the excitement in Larxene’s voice.

“The normal kind of fun, Larx.” He replied dryly. “Not the kinky kind. Nobody wants to see you all dolled up in dominatrix form. You’re scary enough in a tutu.”

Larxene made a sound somewhere between a growl and a teakettle boiling over as Demyx and Marluxia laughed and even stoic Vexen and Zexion gave a few chuckles. Axel could almost see the smirk on Luxord’s face.

“I’ll make you eat those words, Axel.” She hissed.

Axel yawned. “Promises, promises, Larx. If you’ll excuse me, I have a cute blond in my room that needs entertaining.”

He pushed the hood off of his face as he entered the lift again. Who was he supposed to invite? He sighed. Who could handle the initiations was the big question. Riku? No…Axel rather liked hiding the Organization from Riku…it kept their friendship amusing. Wakka? Heavens no, the redhead lived too much by the rules. He sighed and quietly unlocked the door to his room.

Roxas lay fully clothed on top of his bed, out like a light, breathing deep and even. Axel approached the bed and saw a book in his hands, resting near his side. His fingers still held place between the pages. Axel had to smile as he saw it. Still…it got chilly this time of year, Roxas would want to at least be under the blankets. “Rox. Roxas.”

Roxas didn’t move, and Axel rolled his eyes, stepping toward the blond. Carefully he picked the boy up, startled by how light he was. He fumbled for the blanket, nearly dropping the boy, and swore under his breath. “Roxas! Wake up!”

One blue eye opened blearily. “Axel?”

Axel sighed. “Yeah. Wake up.”

To his surprise, Roxas nuzzled into his chest instead. Axel froze, his arms around the boy. “Warm.” He whispered dreamily. “Don’t want to wake up. Get stuffed.”

Axel had to laugh. Roxas could insult him even while asleep. He didn’t know if that was pathetic or amusing. He decided on amusing as he lowered the boy into bed. He caught the spicy scent of cinnamon as his face brushed Roxas’ hair. Carefully he covered the boy up, shaking his head as he straightened. “You better not be pissed at me when you wake up in the morning.” He whispered.

0 0 0

Sora whirled Kairi around in his arms, smiling down into her face. “Did I mention you look really pretty tonight?”

Kairi laughed. “Only about ten times, Sora.” She looked down at their feet. “Honestly I’m surprised you dance so well, those shoes are HUGE.”

Sora grinned. “I like them because they irritate Roxas. It’s fun to irritate Roxas.” He could see Tidus nearby dancing with Selphie, Wakka dancing with Lulu. He sighed in satisfaction until he spotted Riku standing alone alongside the wall. There was an unreadable look in his aquamarine eyes, and his arms were crossed over his chest.

“Riku…” Sora couldn’t believe the silver haired teen was alone. Girls everywhere had been staring at him, why didn’t he have a dance partner? Sora felt his heart clench. “Kairi…” he stopped dancing. “Go over and dance with Riku.”

Kairi gave him a look that plainly said she was upset. “But Sora! This is the last dance! And I wanted to dance it with you!” She gave him a look somewhere between being mad and being sad. “I saved it for you.”

Sora shook his head. He hated upsetting her, but he hated that unreadable look on Riku’s face even more. Sora had never been alone during a dance…and he didn’t like the lonely feeling it left in him. He could see a girl standing to one side, with the same unreadable expression on her face some space away and felt his heart clench again. “I know, Kairi…and I’ll save you a dance next time, I promise…but…”

Kairi’s eyes followed his gaze to Riku. She sighed. “Fine. I’m going.” She walked away and marched right up to Riku, who looked startled to see her standing before him.

His head snapped up as she spoke and Sora could feel Riku’s gaze on him as he pushed his way over to the girl standing by herself. “Hi.” He threw her his best smile. “Do you want to dance with me?”

The girl looked startled. “Really? I thought you were dancing with that Kairi chic.”

Sora shrugged. “I was.” He said simply. “But I want to dance with you.” It wasn’t even a lie…sort of…it was complicated. He didn’t want to see anyone standing by themselves. Not when he was there anyway. He didn’t want to see anyone looking lonely.

The girl’s face turned a shade of pink that made her look beautiful. “I’m Rikku.”

Sora smiled. “Sora.” He glanced around and spotted two other girls by themselves.

He hesitated but Rikku followed his gaze and laughed softly. “Those are my friends. You can ask them to dance too. You stud you!” Sora opened his mouth to protest that he didn’t want to dance with all three girls to prove what a man he was, Rikku laughed. “I’m kidding, Sora!” She assured him. “Really. You’re very nice.” She waved her friends over.

The rest of the song wasn’t long, but it was filled with laughter as Rikku looped one arm around Sora’s waist, Yuna around his shoulders, Paine holding her friends’ hands. They swayed awkwardly and as the song ended, all four burst into merry laughter. Sora felt his heart lift with delight. He had friends! Roxas and Cloud were right, he had had nothing to worry about. The people here were nice!

He could see Cloud watching him with amusement and something akin to satisfaction as he released a girl in pink. Leon was staring at his brother with an expressionless face, and though his arm was still around a dark-haired girl, Sora doubted he knew WHO he was holding. He made a mental note to ask Cloud later as he made his way back to his friends.

Kairi dropped a kiss onto Riku’s cheek, glancing at Sora before gathering Selphie and pulling her from the room. Tidus was looking dreamy as he stared after her. “Wow.”

Lulu pressed Wakka’s hand to her lips for a moment, brown eyes warm as she looked at him. She glanced at Sora. “Have a good evening, Sora.” She slipped silently from their group.

Wakka sighed happily. “C’mon, lover boy. You need some sleep so you don’t fail class tomorrow, ya?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tidus made a face and let Wakka drag him away, waving furiously at them as he left.

Riku snorted. “You too, Sora. Let’s go.”

Sora glanced around. “What about Roxas?”

Riku laughed. “You didn’t see? He left an hour ago, said something about wanting to put his posters up before he strangled Axel.”

“Oh.” Sora smiled. “Okay then.” They walked from the gym and down through the hallways. “Did you have a good time?”

Riku shrugged. “It was a dance. Pretty average…” he glanced at Sora. “…why did you send Kairi away?”

Sora looked away. “Why did you stand by yourself against the wall?” He countered, feeling himself turn red. How could he tell someone like Riku, who was very confident, that he felt sorry for him?

Riku laughed. “Don’t tell me you felt sorry for me.” Sora’s blush turned hotter and Riku snorted. “I think I’m insulted. You think I can’t get a girl?”

Sora glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Riku was looking amused. “I bet you just did it to dance with those three girls.”

“No!” Sora protested instantly. “I mean they’re nice but I…” He trailed off as Riku held out a hand.

“Relax, Sora.” Riku murmured. “I’m just teasing you.” They walked in silence up to their room, getting changed and climbing into bed.

Sora was just dozing off when he heard Riku speak. “Sora?”

Sora turned over in bed, but couldn’t see Riku. “Hmm?”

He could hear Riku take in a deep breath. “You really did feel sorry for me, didn’t you?”

Sora sighed. “I didn’t like to see you standing by yourself in the corner…it made me sad. It looked…lonely.”

Silence. Sora was just beginning to feel like he really had insulted Riku when the boy spoke again. “Sora?”

“Yeah…Riku?”

“Thanks.”