Episodes of Hearts
By Himig
Summary: [AU] Everyone knows the 2nd year Iris student in Raden Academy. Boarded in his skateboard he swoops into action - such a charming modern hero who everyone (enemies exempted) admires. Axel met him once. "Hey, you're that kid who slipped on the banana peel!"
Disclaimer: Nope…just the plot, and maybe the tweaking in the setting.
Author's Notes: A plot bunny. Short chapters, but filled with content. This is a slice-of-life story, but believe me – there IS an ACTUAL plot, and this is not filled with romance, angst, and drama. I will focus on friendship and several themes in life and adulthood. This is planned to have a sequel if I manage to pull it off.
The story focuses on Roxas, Axel, and Xion. There is a Sora, Riku, Kairi – and the other crew story involved, but most of them would be some other time. You should find Final Fantasy characters here too. As for Disney characters, we'll see.
It's not yaoi, by the way.
Moving on, the main setting is in Radiant Garden. It has an academy called Radiant Garden Academy, Raden Academy in short. Students are informally called Raden students.
The school is special because the students, ages thirteen to eighteen*, is divided into five Bouquets: Sakura, Lotus, Sunflower, Iris, and Daisy depending on the result of their entrance exam. There's no particular order though. You'll find out what the Bouquets are. There are also organizations and guilds, which the different Bouquets can intermingle with. The number of students is a bit limited too, since the school is a bit new and three other schools exist near Radiant Garden.
I hope you enjoy. I have one on-going Kingdom Hearts story too, in case you're interested.
Um, there will be some cameos too, since I hate OC's. Not including random NPC.
* - originally seventeen. Corrected July 11 2009
Episodes of Hearts
episode 1
silver brooch iris student, roxas
It feels like I'm far from finding what I'm missing.
My uncle said I had a twin brother. My late father never told me. My uncle said my father didn't want to remember the past. My twin brother died with my mother in the sea.
I asked him what my twin brother's name was.
He didn't know.
Radiant Garden isn't my hometown. This is where my uncle lives. He took me in ever since my father died last year.
I used to live in Twilight Town – with my mother and my twin brother.
I don't remember anything that happened when I was with them.
I was seven.
In nights in Radiant Garden, the tall lamp posts illuminated every spot in the streets and alleys. The scent of the tranquil city burned passionately through the air. Harmonic scents from the flowers of the beloved city of flowers mixed together to form a distinguishable aroma that can only be produced in the beloved city of flowers.
The beloved city of flowers was a city of stone and flowers. The most basic foundation of houses was stones, and the streets and sidewalks were made of the same structure. The streets were side and public transports slowly sped through it. The sidewalks were large as well to fit good benches, trash cans, and of course, a garden of flowers. The houses were stout; there was no house that was taller than three stories. The common houses had one or two; the second floor compromising a few rooms or maybe just serving as an attic. Of course, the houses also had a garden of flowers.
The beloved city of flowers did not have towering buildings. The sky was open and free for birds and alike to rule. Humbly, the airborne and land creatures admire each other and live mutually in this quiet beloved city of flowers.
The ruler of this beloved city of flowers was Ansem – Ansem the Wise.
However, even in the beloved city of flowers ruled by Ansem – Ansem the Wise, there are still troubles and crimes alike. It's nothing like a widespread panic or attack, or anything like that. It's the average speaking of thievery, cheating, fighting – often times happening in Radiant Garden Academy, or Raden Academy in short.
There's one boy – a second year student in Raden Academy who's well-known for his antics and actions. He was the juvenile, modern version of a knight in shining armor. Often, he was clad in leather white with his trusty steed, a coolly designed skateboard.
He was a really fine boy (of his generation!). He wasn't skinny or too bulky. Sure he is smaller than the AVERAGE boys of his age, but he had the perfect sense and balance of masculinity and femininity. Many boys acknowledge and respect him, and most girls just sigh dreamily behind his back.
This is the popular kid in Raden Academy. Surely, it's not just his looks and charisma? Just what does he do?
Believe it or not, he is NOT part of any sports team and he wasn't really an honor student either. Yes, he is very talented in skateboarding and a few sports, but his youthful life is spent on helping and associating with people – a silver brooch Iris student.
As said, he really is a modern version of a knight in shining armor.
As imagined, he wears a smile all the time and calms the tide like a god. With one swing of his lance, the evil cower behind him. His life was controlled by his divine hands as he is sworn to his duty.
Believe it or not, he is NOT enjoying his life at all. He cannot control what is happening to him and he cannot smile like a stiff painting. It takes guts and effort, unlike a real knight's way of easily swinging a lance.
The thing is he is a second year student. He is an Iris student, a silver brooch from Raden Academy.
He does what he thinks is right – something HAS to be done, it was his line. He's always on the move, following what he thinks – because it's what his heart says. Yet, it's not enough.
Then at times he was simply walking, he would glance at people in peers and feel lonely. Then he wonders if he really was following his heart.
"ROXAS!"
A number of people greeted the boy. Upon entering the main hall of the academy, he saw many heads from different Bouquets turn to him. His eyebrows shot up.
"Yea?" he wondered, walking back slightly. Some of them – mostly his fans, were edging closer.
"How are you?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Do you need help?"
"I'll carry your books, c'mon."
"It's still early, you know. Maybe you should check in the nurse…"
"I'm okay…" Roxas tried to say out loud, but he was overwhelmed.
"I bet those students from Sunflower did this to you!" A chubby fourth year said.
A girl looked at him skeptically. "Really?"
"No, it wasn't from school! It was the robber he was chasing!"
Roxas appeared blank. His eyes were flying from face to face.
"Oh my gosh, I saw that in the news!"
They spoke in hushed whispers excitedly.
Finally, a familiar face showed up. He had with him the same brooch Roxas was wearing on his chest: an Iris brooch, but the brooch was bronze instead.
Having overheard what was talked about in the air, the baby-faced sixth year cocked his head. "Was that why you went pass me without a 'hi'?"
"No!" he burst out. Heck, none of this was true!
The sixth year grinned – almost a smirk. He boldly cut through the crowd of people, ignoring the whines as he shove them off, and pulled Roxas by the wrist.
"C'mon superhero, you've got an assignment."
"What? But he just recovered!"
Roxas was glad he was pulled away by the person that wouldn't feel sympathetic about it at all.
One thing that constantly happens to a person is to have rumors about them.
One thing that constantly happens to Roxas is rumors exaggerating his actions.
While being constantly a boy wonder makes little sense in an ordinary world, the fact is Roxas is a silver brooch Iris students. Of course, Roxas was doing those things voluntarily.
Iris is one of the five Bouquets. Many of the students in the Bouquet are leaders and those that consider law enforcement or politics in the future. A couple of graduates from the Bouquet enroll in other Gardens and apply for SeeD in Balamb Garden. The thing about this Bouquet is that it's all about helping people.
Iris Bouquet has been labeled as the Hero Bouquet, and many of them have been given nicknames – sometimes mockingly.
Roxas was the most well-known from the Iris Bouquet. He hasn't been in school for more than two complete years though, but he was certainly hogging all the limelight.
Normally, the Iris Bouquet doesn't get much attention in their exploits. They were the least popular Bouquet after Daisy Bouquet, but something about Roxas made the Bouquet more exciting.
Ever since then, their Gardener has been giving Roxas a lot of assignments – not out of spite, oh no. Assignments are given personally by the Bouquet's Gardener depending on what they (There's only one Gardener for each Bouquet but he doesn't decide alone) see fit.
You see, the more assignments Roxas does, the more attention for the Bouquet.
So yes, he is being used.
Roxas was glad to see the small empty garden located at the back of the building. They walked up the path turning to a hill.
"Thanks for saving me there, Zidane," he said. They were at the Iris building now, off-limited to those not in their Bouquet.
"Save you?" he laughed. "Didn't think you'd need some saving."
Roxas felt the wind blow. Their building had the nicest location. It was on an elevated hill behind the academy. To get there, you have to walk through Iris Garden – a fitting name since this was the 'pathway' to the Iris building.
"All right," Roxas said. "What's the assignment?"
Zidane gave him a weird look. "It's just the third day of the school year and you're so serious about school already!"
Roxas scratched the back of his head, trying not to show his annoyance. Wasn't he the one who wanted him to do his assignment?
"Our first period's free again, so I'd like to get to know more of the girls," Zidane said with a cocky smile. His blue eyes were glinting smartly.
They arrived at the top and entered the small castle-like building. Roxas expected Zidane to escort him somewhere – but then the sixth year's eyes were set on some girls.
"Zidane?"
"Er…Roxas. Here's the letter."
"Wha?"
Zidane wanted to leave as quickly as possible now. Roxas was growing more annoyed.
"There's a new student you have to tour around and introduce to the systems and rules. Check the envelope." Without saying a goodbye, he ditched the boy he fetched.
Zidane is a bronze brooch Iris sixth year student. He was on the Iris Bouquet in his first year, but got kicked for neglecting his duties (over girls). For four years, he was in the popular Sunflower Bouquet and got a silver brooch three times in a row. Last year, he lost his silver brooch from a girl he once dated (it was a duel),
This year, he went back to the Iris Bouquet from a recommendation. During the summer, he spent a day chasing a foreigner just to return his wallet, and was then awarded the bronze brooch.
Still, old habits die hard.
Roxas remembered Zidane from last year. He had constantly teased him about women.
He knocked on the door. "Excuse me."
Roxas opened the door and only saw an empty seat. Roxas read through the letter in the envelope again. He was sure he was in the right room.
He closed the door and turned around. Just as he was about to wonder what to do, he saw Zidane.
"Zidane, where's the new student?" he asked. He even showed the paper.
Zidane was still slightly distracted, but at least paid some attention. "Huh?"
Still, Roxas didn't like that answer.
"You're supposed to look for him!"
Roxas read through the lines in the paper. He frowned. "You said so yourself…"
Zidane's eyes widened in realization. He made a mistake.
"Yea, but the new student's gone, so…"
The clock was ticking. The first period's almost over.
Roxas took the letter and retrieved his skateboard from his locker.
As a silver brooch Iris student from Raden Academy, he was allowed to use the skateboard on special circumstances in school campus.
As a silver brooch Iris student, Roxas has to do his assignments and deal with people problems.
And because something HAS to be done.
Hey Seph, how's Balamb Garden? Been a few months – sorry. Been working overnight for weeks I passed out! Of course you're probably working twice as I am.
Aerith and I haven't seen each other for a while. She's buried in books – I mean, seriously, she's forgotten to eat and take a bath three times in a row. We really need to get a day to relax – the three of us.
All right, don't go forgetting us!
Zack
end of episode
Not much happen, but I certainly jammed in the content. Guess who's showing up next.
And it is indeed Zidane from FF9. You can't guess who beat him last year – and it's not Garnet.