I'm starting a new multi-chapter story! I didn't think that was going to happen! We'll see how it goes. I'll probably finish it this summer; I don't think it will be long. Well, since I miss dance terribly no matter how I try not to, this story came to me. It's Akuroku, of course, with a bit of Rikusora tossed into the mix. I hope you find the story to your liking!

Like No One's Watching

Roxas Kyori stood at the back window of Twilight Town's Dance Academy as he usually did after school. He peered curiously and longingly at the graceful steps the dancers took, each movement precise and in time with the rest of the class. He was so caught up in the thrill of the dance that he unconsciously began to mimic their steps from the empty sidewalk.

One, two. Plie and stretch. Arms in fourth. Arabesque and close to fifth.

When he realized he had begun to dance on his own, he stopped and hung his head. He had to stop doing that. People might see him and then his father might find out. . . .

Roxas began to trudge home, shivering a bit from the brisk autumn wind. He thought the whole time about the class he had watched. It had been a good one; they had begun preparation for the holiday production.

His thoughts then shifted to his twin brother, Sora. His soccer game was the next day so he would have to miss the afternoon class. He was always expected to attend Sora's games; after all, soccer was an admirable sport. He could learn a lot from his brother's example. As his father frequently said, "Dancing is for fags and I will have no sissy queers for sons."

This brought tears to Roxas's eyes. Why couldn't his father understand that dance was his dream, the only thing he wanted to do? If only he knew that Sora, his prized son, was getting it on with a member of his soccer team in the locker room after every practice. Then maybe dancing wouldn't seem so horrible. But Roxas wasn't about to tell his father about Sora and Riku. It was better if he was the only disappointment to the family. He was used to it.

Roxas finally reached his front door and let himself into the empty house. Exhausted from stress, he made his way to his bedroom and decided to take a nap.

He was awakened only moments later by his bouncy twin.

"Roxas! Wake up! Guess what!"

Roxas groaned. "Go away, Sora."

"Not until you guess what!"

Roxas gave an exasperated sigh. "What?" He asked rather flatly. He rubbed his eyes sleepily and sat up. No doubt Sora had found some kind of beetle on the way home or set a new time record for ramen consumption.

Unexpectedly, Sora blushed. "Riku . . . Told me he loved me today," he said with a love struck grin.

Roxas was genuinely pleased by this news. "Well it's about fucking time. You've only been telling him for, what, two months?"

"You know how uncomfortable Riku is talking about feelings, Rox," Sora replied, rolling his eyes. "That was probably about as stressful for him as coming out to Dad would be for me."

"Well, anyway, congratulations. You're finally getting somewhere meaningful with him, I know how much that means to you." Roxas drew his twin into a loose embrace, but pulled back almost immediately. "Ew, Sora, you're still all sweaty from practice."

"Nope, I showered after practice!" Sora countered triumphantly.

"Then why are you all gross?"

"Well, Riku needed to be congratulated for opening up to me . . ." Sora said slyly.

Roxas grimaced and jumped back. "Ew! Go wash off now! That is way more than I needed to know."

Sora laughed and headed toward the bathroom.

After Sora's soccer game, Roxas couldn't help but take a detour past the Academy. He did his best to remain hidden as he peered through the usual back window, surprised to find a class in session. There must have been extra practices scheduled for preparation for the upcoming show. As usual, he was dazzled by the grace of the dancers; their unwavering poise and emotion drawing him away from his boring world and into a world of beauty and elegance. Before he knew it, he was dancing along with them to the faint music that poured from the studio. He eventually was dancing independently of any choreography but his own, leaping and stretching fully, without inhibition.

Suddenly, he heard steps drawing near and was torn out of his reverie, short of breath from exertion. The approaching figure appeared from around the corner and Roxas tensed up.

"Sora," Roxas said in surprise.

"Rox," Sora began nervously, "I thought you gave up on dancing."

"What are you doing here?" Roxas asked, disregarding Sora's statement.

"I came to look for you when I got home and you weren't there," Sora replied. After a moment he added, "You know you shouldn't be out here. Imagine if Dad found out."

Roxas turned away. "Who cares if Dad finds out? I'm already a failure of a son. I might as well be the best failure I can be, right?" He looked over his shoulder at Sora with a sad smile.

Sora's eyes softened at his brother's words. "You're not a failure, Rox. Why would you say that?" He took a step closer to Roxas.

"Well, how could I be anything but a failure next to the star athlete of the family?" Roxas asked miserably. "You know Dad only cares about sports." He leaned against the brick studio wall and stared at the ground, tears embarrassingly forming at his eyes. "If only Mom was here. She could get Dad to see that dancing isn't as bad as he thinks. She could get him to do anything. . . ."

Sora closed the distance between him and Roxas and laid a hand soothingly on his brother's shoulder. "I miss her too," he whispered with a sad smile. "Let's go home. The sun's going down and it's getting pretty cold out here." He wrapped an arm around his twin's shoulder and led him home for the night.

It was two weeks before Roxas returned to the studio's back window. He thought it was a bad idea to keep turning up there, but he just couldn't stay away. However, he made a point to simply watch through the window and not get carried away and start dancing. He stared, enraptured, at the class for about half an hour before giving a sigh and turning to leave.

"You haven't been by in a while."

Roxas stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to see the source of the unfamiliar voice. It was a boy slightly older than him, with shocking red hair, black clothing, and a cocky grin. He was also excessively thin, Roxas noted. He recognized the star male of the studio.

"You didn't dance today," the stranger added.

Roxas quirked an eyebrow. "How did you know I dance?" he asked nervously.

The stranger's cheeks tinged red. "I see you through the window almost every class," he said. "Nobody else really notices, but I get distracted by true talent."

Roxas laughed dejectedly. "All that dancing must have gotten to your brain," he replied harshly.

"No, I'm serious!" the stranger insisted. "Why haven't you ever signed up for a class? We really need more guys."

Roxas scoffed. "I might as well just tell my father I'm a serial killer who doubles as a male prostitute. I'd get about the same reaction."

The stranger frowned. "That's not fair. It's a shame to waste talent."

"Well, life's not fair," Roxas responded. With a smile, he added, "I've seen you, though. You're amazing. I wish I could dance like that."

The stranger laughed. "Trust me, with a little training, you'd make me look like a four-year-old in a tutu."

Roxas laughed. "Thanks," he said, then frowned. "Shouldn't you be in there?" he asked, jerking his head toward the studio.

The stranger suddenly looked frantic. "Shit! I lost track of time! I'm supposed to be on a water break while the girls did extra practice. Leon's gonna have my head!" He raced back to the door and flung it open. Roxas began to walk away, until he was called to a halt.

"Hey!" the stranger called. "I'm Axel, by the way!"

"Roxas," Roxas replied.

"Come back soon, okay?" Axel asked. "Can't wait to see you dance again."

Axel gave a mischievous smirk and disappeared behind the door. For some reason, Roxas found himself blushing.

Axel, huh? He smiled. I can't wait to see you again either.

Roxas drew his white jacket closer around his body and began his walk home rather cheerfully.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please tell me so! If you hated it, I would appreciate you telling me that as well! I'll try to update this week before I leave for the beach (I'll be gone a week). See you all soon, and thanks for giving my new baby a chance. I know I made Roxas a bit girly, but it's for the sake of the story. It's fanfiction, after all.