Corrupted

Disclaimer: And God said let it be disclaimed (is struck down by lightning, I blame Larxene)

Warning: Some major creepiness to be had, stalking, scary Zexion, talk about planned torture and rape, language. I am so freaking fucked up; I need a therapist so bad.

Recommended Listening: Linkin Park (Crawling), HIM (Beyond Redemption), Night Wish (Seven Days of Wolves), anything else you can find that's dark.

(Axel's POV)

I sit in the dark of my room, my eyes fixed on the window without seeing what's beyond it. I can't help but to feel that tonight's events don't add up. The toys obviously aren't the Shoran, they would have been woken up by the barrier being disturbed and killed Riku and I, but that doesn't sit well with me. If it weren't the boys, then who? If my knowledge is anywhere near the truth, then the Shoran who set that barrier should have swooped down on us the moment it was disturbed. Riku and I didn't exactly make a speedy retreat, we should have been caught. Not that I am against a Shoran finding me, I've always wondered what they taste like. I'm fairly certain that I can take one down and I have seen Riku kill several, but for some reason when the barrier was disturbed I felt uneasy. What's wrong with me? I'm a fucking pure blood, no Shoran can take me down, no one can.

With a sigh I fall back onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling. I want to play with something. Damn that Riku for making me get rid of my old toy. I have to resist the urge to find the brat and light his precious hair on fire. Letting my mind wander I find myself thinking about the blond toy and a smile creeps its way onto my face. I know what I'm going to do to him. I won't start off with anything too bad, just enough to make him cry out. I'll trace my claws over his flesh, marking him as my possession. Maybe I'll burn my name into his flesh, yes that's it, I'll brand him. I'll make him whimper and that's when I'll pull back, give him some false hope. When he thinks he's safe I'll bare my fangs and sink them into his exposed neck and drink the sweet fluid within his veins. I'm sure he's sweet, something so pure has to be. I won't drain him; I'll just take enough to make him fall unconscious.

My musings were interrupted by a light knock on my door. With a scowl I stood and swept across the room. Throwing the door open I snarl, "This better be important."

Riku just smirks at me, "There's someone here who you might want to talk to."

Glancing over his shoulder I see a small teenager with lilac hair that covers one of his eyes. He's wearing a black cloak that falls all the way to the floor, the sleeves falling just short of his hands. He has a book propped open in one hand and is scanning the pages with his one revealed eye. "Hello Zexion," I force my voice to sound civil, "What pleasure do we owe this visit to?"

"Riku called me," he said simply, not taking his eyes away from his book. Lazily he raises his other hand and writes something down with a pencil I hadn't noticed him holding.

"And why pray tell," I glared death at the silver haired Balkan, "Would you have gone and done that?"

"I thought it was necessary," Riku shrugged, "Zexion knows more about the Shoran than any other Balkan, he might be able to tell us about that barrier."

I have to fight the urge to smack Riku for that; he can be such an idiot at times. Zexion is the fucking Cloaked Schemer! You don't fuck with him, period. That can also be said for getting involved with him in any way. There aren't many non-pure blooded Balkans that a pure blood will avoid, Zexion is one of them. Zexion was turned roughly three hundred years ago by his lover Demyx. The rumors say that Demyx gave him a choice over becoming a Balkan and the teen had chosen to be bitten so he could stay with Demyx. That's probably the reason I never liked Zexion, he was forever associated with Demyx, the water wielder, my opposite. I can't actually remember Zexion ever doing anything to me, but I clearly remember all the fights I got into with Demyx when we were kids.

"I'll need a detailed recounting of the events," Zexion broke the awkward silence I hadn't realized had fallen.

"Of course," I force my voice to remain even, "But why don't we go to the living room and sit down for that?"

All the response I get is a curt nod. I allow Riku to lead the way to the living room and we both allow Zexion to choose his seat first. As I pass Riku to take my seat I light the bastard's foot on fire. "Sorry," I feign innocence at the surprised yelp, "I didn't mean to do that."

"Why you," Riku growls as he stomps his foot out.

Before he can threaten me we both stop moving, Zexion was laughing. Zexion never laughs, ever. I've had the displeasure of knowing the little emo as long as he's been a Balkan and I've only heard him laugh three other times and each time that had happened someone had died a horrible death. Needless to say, Zexion laughing is a very scary thing and I was about ready to piss myself. I think Riku felt the same way, because the look on his face was just precious. If I hadn't been fearing for my own life I probably would have been laughing at the silver haired Balkan. Zexion seemed to notice our reaction and gazed up at us with an amused look on his face. "I had forgotten how you two acted towards each other," he said simply.

Silently I glanced over at Riku, his eyes were the size of saucers and he was shaking slightly. "Yes, well," I clear my throat and sit opposite Zexion, "Didn't you want to know about the barrier?"

The lilac haired Balkan's face became instantly serious and he held up his pencil once again, poised to write everything I said down. "Yes, don't leave anything out, no matter how trivial it may seem."

"Well," Riku sat next to me, "We went to our new toys house to watch them for a bit. After they fell asleep,"

"What happened before they fell asleep?" Zexion interrupted him.

"Um," Riku seemed to be becoming more and more nervous by the second, "The blond one, Roxas, was trying to find his pajamas, but my toy, Sora, had hidden them so he could sleep in the same room as his brother. In exchange for sleeping in the same room Roxas got his pajamas back. One of us made some noise that the toys noticed, but they couldn't see through my shadow shield and dismissed it as the air conditioning. Roxas got into bed and told Sora to turn off the light. Sora turned off the light then tackled his brother on the bed and a fight ensued. That's when they fell asleep, is that detailed enough for you?"'

I can't help but to stare at Riku at that moment, the brat actually had a good memory. "Yes," Zexion finished making notes in his book, "That should be enough detail. What happened after they fell asleep?"

"We watched them for a while," I cross my arms as I answer the lilac haired Balkan, "After a little bit I decided not to bother with the normal watching game and just take my toy right away. When I touched the window a purple, smoky barrier appeared and burned my hand a little. I recognized it as Shoran of course, but it doesn't appear as if the toys are the Shoran. When the barrier was disturbed they didn't react at all. The brunet toy just rolled over and fell off the bed still asleep and my toy didn't move at all."

"Are they twins?" Zexion looked up at me for the first time, his pencil poised over the page of his book.

I have to pause to think about that, I had been so caught up in staring at the blond toy the other day that I don't really remember our conversation to well. It seems that Riku was the same way, he's just staring off into space like it has the answer to the question. Finally it clicks in my mind, "Yes, they are."

"Hm," Zexion makes another mark in his book, "But they didn't react when the barrier was disturbed?"

"Nope," I lean back in my chair, "Not at all. What does that have anything to do with the current situation?"

"Have you ever heard the expression trouble comes in pairs?"

"I thought it was in threes," this isn't making any sense.

"That's the human expression," Zexion waves my statement away without a second thought, "For us it's in pairs. We say that because all Shoran are twins. The boys may not have set the barrier, but they are not out of suspicion just yet. The fact that you are still alive means you weren't attacked by a Shoran, or at least you weren't Axel, but that doesn't mean there aren't any in town. Keep an eye on the twins and tell me anything suspicious about them." With that the lilac haired Balkan stands and moves to leave the house.

"Wait!" I snarl, forgetting exactly who I was dealing with, "You didn't help us at all! All you did was get some more information for your precious little book and,"

The world around me suddenly dissolves and I'm falling through the most blinding light I've ever seen. It's everywhere, wrapping me in its brilliance. I feel like I'm being ripped apart by the light and burned at the same time. I let out a gargled scream and fall forward, suddenly finding hard wood floors beneath my knees. Looking up I find an emotionless Zexion staring down at me. "Don't raise your voice to me again," his voice is little more than a whisper, "I won't be so kind next time."

Mutely I nod to the lilac haired Balkan. Shit, I'd known Zexion wasn't someone to mess with, but I hadn't thought he'd actually use his power on me. That illusion had felt so real, I don't want to know what would happen if he actually wanted to hurt me. Zexion just smiled down at me, I felt my heart stop, well if I had a heart it would have stopped. The lilac haired Balkan turned away and left Riku and I alone, a weight seeming to lift from both of us. "Now do you get why I don't call Zexion for anything?" I snarl at Riku, there is no way in hell that he's getting away from me right now, "You never get any answers that you want, just riddles. And when you try to get the bastard to say anything else he fucking attacks you."

Riku doesn't look the least bit phased by my righteous anger; in fact he seems almost amused. I really have to fight the urge to just rip his fucking head off; I almost lose that internal battle. "I don't think it was an entire waste of time though," he finally stands from his seat, "We did learn that the boys didn't set that barrier and that twins are suspicious." He walks past me and heads down the hall towards his own room. Suddenly he pauses and looks over his shoulder at me, "Oh and Axel, I'd get some sleep if I were you, we start school in the morning."

"Riku," I finally get off the floor so that I can at least appear threatening, "Aren't we a little old to go to school?"

"Yes, but Sora and Roxas aren't. We're going to go watch them at school, maybe talk to them during their breaks, not actually attend." The bastard actually had the nerve to walk away from me at that point. If I hadn't been completely demasculinized by Zexion I probably would have lit the punk on fire, no definitely would have.

I wait until Riku has vanished down the hall before I make my own shaky progression to my room. I've only ever heard or seen Zexion in action, never experienced it, and it's not an experience that I want to repeat. I feel like I've been completely drained, I feel it in every fiber of my being. I have to actually lean on the wall for support as I walk, this is just humiliating. I mean, I'm a fucking pure blood; I shouldn't have to deal with this crap. I bet that if Riku were here he would have that smug look on his face right now, the one that always makes me go out and kill something. It's a wonder the silver haired Balkan is still alive; I should have killed him years ago. I suppose it's because we're family that I haven't wasted his ass yet, but I just know he's pushing me to see what will make me finally snap. Finally I reach my room and push open the door. I practically collapse on my bed, my body giving out on me.

I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until Riku was shaking me awake. In truth I wake up almost instantaneously, but Riku doesn't know that. Mumbling something about five more minutes I roll over, knowing full well that would only piss Riku off. The silver haired Balkan was as predictable as ever and continued to poke at me. With a little whine I swatted his hand away only to be poked once again, hard. In immediate retaliation I lit the brat on fire, receiving a satisfying squawk in response. Sitting up I blinked at Riku numbly, desperately fighting the urge to snicker at the silverette as he stamped his pants out. "What are you doing in here?" I yawned at him.

"I was going to get you so we could head out," Riku sent me what I guess was supposed to be a death glare, "But it seems that all the thanks I get is to be set on fire. Next time I'm going to just dump a bucket of water on your head."

"Do that," I snarled, "And I'll do more than light your pants on fire."

"Yeah, yeah," he waved my threat away like it was nothing at all, "Just get ready so we can go."

I just let the little brat leave; I don't have the energy to get into a real fight with him just yet. Once the door has closed behind the silverette I actually climb out of bed, wincing slightly. It seems I haven't quite recovered from Zexion's little show last night. As I straighten up all the bones in my back crack in succession, man I'm old. Sure I'm a couple hundred years old, but by Balkan standards I'm only a teenager, my bones shouldn't be creaky yet. Zexion really did a number on me that's for sure.

(Roxas POV)

The rest of the night had gone by without any further disturbances; it seemed that the Balkans had gotten the message from the barrier. I almost smile at that thought, almost. Sora is grinning like an idiot, but somehow I just can't bring myself to. It seems that all the missions have finally started to get to me; they're taking something away from me. There is only so much death that you can witness before you start to fall into darkness yourself. For some reason Sora never seems to waver, he always exudes that inner light that Shorans are known for.

"Cheer up angst master," Sora elbows me in the side as we get dressed for our first day of school, "It's time to put on your game face."

"It's too early to be cheerful," I mumble as I fumble with my socks, "Let's just skip school."

"We can't sleepy head, it's our first day," does he have to be so cheerful all the time?

I don't get why we have to go to school, it's not like we'll learn anything there. Technically I graduated high school two years ago, Sora graduated last year. The only reason we're even going is because the council signed us up with the local school district, bastards. So what if it will help with our cover? I mean why can't we just get the damn mission over with the usual way? It's not like anything will be compromised if we just attack Axel and Riku, that would just speed things up. But no, the damn council had to go and order us to draw them in and allow them to attack us first. Sora seemed to get that I was in a bad mood even without us connecting and wisely left me alone while we got ready. Sora finished getting dressed before me and headed down to the kitchen to start breakfast, or in other words pour a bowl of cereal. Sora is actually pretty smart, no matter how he acts; he did graduate high school three years before most people. He knew, like anyone who had tasted his creations, that he should not cook. The last time he had tried to actually make something edible I think he fed me wolfsbane soup. I ended up in the hospital with that one.

Finally I was completely dressed, though I don't really remember putting any of my clothes on. When I got down to the kitchen I found Sora shoveling some sugar filled cereal into his mouth. Great that's just what I needed, a sugar filled Sora. Today was going to suck like no other. Grabbing my box of shredded wheat out of the cupboard I pour myself a bowl and watch Sora eat like some kind of animal. One thing is always true about Sora, never get between him and his food, he'll bite you. I have the scars to prove it.

Sora seems to sense me watching him and turns, locking eyes with me. Before he can act I reach out to him and am immediately let into his head. What? He asks, quirking an eyebrow in the process.

You eat like a lycan, I answer, I think you were just growling like one.

There was a pause then, Shut up angst master.

What is with the angst master comments?

Kairi told me to call you that.

Figures, I roll my eyes and break eye contact, opting to stare at my cereal instead. I'm not really that hungry, no one could be in this kind of situation. I can feel them near by, waiting for us. I know Sora doesn't feel it; he was never that perceptive about things like that. I hate this mission, I really do. It's not fair that we have to do this; I think the council is just testing our obedience. It would be so much easier for me to just go out and beat them into a bloody pulp; I know I could do it. I'm not to sure about Sora though; he's never been the kind to simply go out looking for a fight. At the thought of just going out and facing the two Balkans I feel my gut twist. I may be able to take one of them on no problem, but I've never faced two pure bloods at the same time before. If something happened to me…no I can't even think about that. There is no way that I will do anything that could leave Sora by himself, I won't hurt him like that.

After Sora finishes his breakfast, I couldn't bring myself to eat, we head out for school. As soon as the door is opened we both put our masks firmly in place.

(Axel's POV)

They finally leave their damn house and I feel my nonexistent heart skip a beat. Roxas looks even better in the morning light than he did in the evening or moonlight, if that's even possible. Sending a grin at Riku I step out of the shadows and head on a path that will intersect the pair. "Well if it isn't Roxy and Sora," I say as if it really is a surprise to see the twins.

A scowl passes across Roxas' face and a glint of something I haven't seen before flashes in his eyes. "Don't call me Roxy," he says simply and turns away, picking up his speed so I'm left behind him.

Sora stops and stares after his brother. "I'm sorry about that," the brunet whispers before turning to me to offer a smile, even if it is a bit shaky, "He just doesn't really react well to people calling him that."

"Why?" Riku has caught up to me at this point and seems as intrigued as me.

"Our older brother used to call him that," Sora turned back to the retreating back of his brother, "He died a few years ago and Rox hasn't gotten over it yet."

"Oh," I really don't know what else to say to that, I mean, it's not exactly something that you hear everyday. The brunet just shrugs and trots off after the blond, leaving Riku and I behind to digest what we had just been told. I glance over at Riku and find that he'll be no help in finding a way to deal with this little kink in my plan, he's to busy staring at Sora's ass. And I'm supposed to be the pervert. "Drool much?" I ask sarcastically.

That is all that is needed to snap the silverette out of his stupor and he sends me a venomous glare in response. "I was not drooling," he says pointedly, "Now go apologize for making your toy mad or it won't let you anywhere near it until you take it."

I can't help but scowl at that, the bastard is right. Making sure to flip him off, I run after the twins. "Hey, Roxas," I call, making the pair halt and look back at me. For a moment I swear I see a look of anguish flitting across Roxas' face, but it's gone so fast that I have to assume it was my imagination.

"What?" his voice is clipped.

"I'm sorry," I stop in front of him and stare down at my feet, trying to feign regret, "I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine," his voice is a little lighter when he answers me, "You had no way of knowing that I don't like people calling me that. Look Axel, we really need to get going or we'll be late for our first day."

"Sure," I give the blond my best smile and see him lighten up a little more, "I'll see you around okay."

"Okay," he gives me a small smile and turns away.

The pair go on their way and as soon as they are out of what would be a human's earshot the brunet pokes Roxas in the arm. "Someone's got a crush," I hear him say teasingly, "You never forgive anyone that fast."

"Shut up Sora," Roxas punches the annoying brunet in the arm. I can't help but to feel a sense of euphoria at that moment, and not only because that brat got punched. No, it's because Roxas has a crush on me, that will make things so much easier after I take him. It's always nicer to have a willing toy or pet, rather than one that struggles, it just made things easier.

"Remember what Zexion said," Riku suddenly murmured, "We have to be on guard about those two, they could be Shoran."

"If they were Shoran I highly doubt that they would be willing to associate with us. Hell," I chuckle slightly, "They'd probably have tried to kill us by now. Besides, what difference will it make if they are Shoran? Our plans aren't going to change."

"True," the silverette tilted his head in thought, "But it's better to be safe than sorry."

"We already know that you can kill a Shoran, I doubt that one can beat me. We're pure bloods, not much can touch us."

"Zexion kicked your ass though," the bastard was actually smirking at me, "And you didn't even have a chance to put up a fight."

"Like you would have done any better," I snarl, "Come on, they're getting away from us."

We slip back into the shadows and follow the twins towards their destination. They aren't heading for the regular high school which slightly surprises me, but then I realize they're heading for Hollow Bastion Academy, the local private school. Their parents must really be loaded if they're going to school there, not to mention they have to be smart. HBA is one of the most renowned schools in the country and only accepted the best and brightest, not to mention the richest. It would figure that my pet would be among them, he is perfect enough. I must have gotten lost in my musings because before I knew it Riku and I had arrived at the street facing HBA. Mutely I watched as Roxas and Sora walked through the high cast iron gate. The entire demeanor of the twins changed as soon as they passed through the entrance. Roxas seemed to almost shut down and Sora began to chatter nervously.

"KAIRI!" the brunet brat suddenly screeched, waving his hands over his head excitedly. Roxas just turned to stare at his brother like he was some kind of freak; I know that's what I was thinking he was.

"OMG!" yes she actually said the letters, "NAMMY, IT'S SORA AND ROXAS!"

I really wanted to just go over and strangle the little redheaded slut as she threw her arms around Roxas' neck and giggled incessantly. The blond girl, I don't remember her name, came trotting up behind the slut and just stared as the life was wrung out of Roxas. She made my death list at that moment; she should have been making sure that my toy wasn't harmed in any way. "Kairi," Roxas choked out, "I can't breath."

"Oh," she sprung away from the blond boy, but was still too close for my comfort, "I'm sorry Rox, I didn't realize. SORA!"

Sora managed to duck as the slut threw herself at him, I almost wish the damn girl had gotten a hold of him. I have to suppress a chuckle at the sigh of relief from Riku. The silverette is too damn soft for his own good; he barely acts like a Balkan at times. He puts up a tough front but I know him too well to be fooled by it. He's just an emo brat who is getting too attached to a toy already. Not that I'm one to be talking, I've come to be rather attached to my new toy as well, just not like Riku with his. I think the brat is actually falling for the plaything; I'm not falling for Roxas like that. Sure, I'm in lust at the moment, and can see myself remaining that way, but Riku looks like he's actually getting a crush on his. That could prove troublesome. Demyx developed a crush once, and now we're all stuck with Zexion, at least until a Shoran gets the best of him. I can't wait for that day. I don't think I could deal with Riku turning the brunet, he seems like he'd be annoying to have around. Though if he did have a permanent toy then I could probably leave Riku by himself, I'd finally be free from my duty to him. I doubt Riku would leave me if I turned Roxas though, he doesn't have any duty towards me after all.

My attention snaps back to the group of teenagers as they make their way into the actual school building and out of view. That could prove troublesome; I won't be able to watch my toy any longer. Making sure that no one sees us, Riku and I slip into the courtyard of the school. Hugging the shadows, we make our way around the building, looking in windows as we progress. It only took a few minutes to locate our toys; they were in what I presume to be the main office of the school. To my annoyance they are with those two girls. I suppose it makes sense, they were new in town as well, though I was a bit surprised that they were also going to HBA with how hard it is to get into the school. They aren't related were they? No, I don't think they are, the toys asked if the girls' parents had gotten transferred here for work, if they were family then probably would have known that.

As Riku and I watch as the boys are called into the office and the two girls wave them goodbye. After sending Riku a quick look, I slink around the corner to watch what is going on in the office. The twins are sitting in front of a large desk, their eyes fixed on the person standing behind it. The man has long silver hair and is wearing what honestly looks like a pirate's outfit, he at the very least looks like he's ready for some swashbuckling. I can't make out too much of his appearance because his back is to the window that Riku and I are looking through. He must be rather intimidating because the twins seem rather nervous.

Creature tutorial!

It's shorter this time, I promise.

Balkans

While most Balkans do in fact have hearts, a pure blooded Balkan will not have a heart. In a regular Balkan the heart is there because when they were human they had hearts. After being turned their hearts stop beating and are basically just an unused muscle inside their chests. In a pure blooded Balkan there was never any need for a heart, so during gestation it never grew. This is the main way to tell a pure blooded Balkan from a regular Balkan during a physical examination or autopsy. Autopsies of Balkans are possible as they do not turn to ash or dust when killed. They leave behind a corpse just like any other creature. Next chapter we go into Balkan society and duty.

Shorans

This chapter I'll focus on the twin complex within the Shorans. As previously stated, a Shoran's power is dependent on their twin's existence. If one of the twins dies then the other is rendered completely powerless, if they survive their twin's death that is. When one twin dies the other feels it and usually dies because the pain from their connection being destroyed is so extreme. Shoran twins can also communicate telepathically. In order to communicate they must be making eye contact and both be willing to talk. If one twin doesn't want the connection to be formed the other will not be able to see what is going on in their twin's mind. They can send images, words, or feelings through their telepathic connection. This connection is limited to twins; Shorans can not communicate in this way with any other Shoran. Twins also have a kind of GPS or radar on each other. If a Shoran goes missing then all that is needed to find them is to ask their twin where they are.

Also it is usually the younger twin who is more powerful. This can be seen in their fighting ability, magical strength, and any other skills that can be named. For instance, if a pair of twins got into a physical fight the younger is almost guaranteed to win. Also the younger will seem smarter, more socially aware, and sharp witted. The younger twin is also more likely to be the dark and depressed twin. While in humans twins are noted for having very similar personalities, Shoran twins are usually as different as day and night. One will be loud and one will be quiet, one will tend be happy and one will tend to be sad, etc. This is not a stead fast rule though, just a general statement. Next chapter we will look at the council.