Roxas -the strange new kid- has an interesting secret that Axel -the school bully- intends to find out. What he wasn't prepared for, was how life changing this 'little' secret would be. Follow the two in their star crossed attempt at high school life, and unlife. (Side pairings; SoRiku, XigDem, and CloudZack)

I do not own KH or it's characters.

Mezzanine

Chapter One: Keep Your Temper

"Hey, did you hear that some filthy rich dude bought off that old mansion behind the woods?"

"You mean the haunted one?"

"It's not haunted; it's just an old abandoned house is all."

"Yeah well you heard the stories that those three vampires used to live in there. Do you think he knows about them?"

"Vampires don't exist in real life, idiot. Only in the books and movies you know?"

"Then why have the rumors lasted so long dimwit?"

"Because people thrive off ghost stories like that to liven up our boring life, that's why."

"Either way, the guy has some nerve to buy a place like that. Haunted or not haunted. Vampires or no vampires. It's a part of our town, a part of our history, and this stranger out of nowhere snatches it up like it's the latest prize in auction or something. It also means we can't break into the place anymore."

"Speak for yourself. Besides, I think it's about time somebody cleaned and tidied up that creepy place."

"You know, I have the craziest feeling that he won't."

.

"Alright kiddos! Summer break is over which means that hell high is back in business and the heavenly ten pound history books on your desk should be opened to the table of contents so we can blow over what we're covering this semester."

Not even five minutes into the first period of the day has the relentlessly infamous history teacher Xigbar of Twilight High School showed any trace of mercy upon his already groaning students. He was considered the sternest of the teachers but also the most upbeat; almost all of his pupils gave him credit for trying. Axel, just so happened to be one of them.

"Aw Xiggy we should at least discuss what happened during our vacation eh? Aren't you the least bit curious?" the brilliant redhead crooned teasingly at the back of the classroom.

The man with lengthy salt and pepper hair rolled his one dark eye and slightly adjusted the strap of his black eye patch to better comfort as he said, "Zip it fire crotch, we're here for educational purposes, not in any way concerning your wild partying tales."

The class stirred and giggled at this, the stiff atmosphere lifted promptly in fact. Axel had that effect on people. It was either you laughed until your sides hurt or you cried as he made them hurt. Some say he was respected as most say he was feared. He himself was barred in pride at both assumptions. If you hadn't known his name, he'd make sure as hell you had it memorized one way or another. That was just who he was, who he's always been and no one dared to change that.

Don't misjudge him just yet though, he wasn't your typical school bully. He didn't trash the freshman or break into lockers or even steal lunch money. No, he was feared for the reputation of that extremely heated temper of his. It wasn't short fused, but it was most certainly smoldering hot. The only reason he needed to beat the living day lights out of somebody, was if you ticked him off enough. He was respected greatly for it but that didn't mean he still wasn't feared, because he was.

Before another order was made from the male in charge, the softest rapping was heard at the door, almost inaudible. Luckily Xigbar had caught it over the low murmuring teenage voices. He cleared his throat and motioned with his hand towards the door, beckoning someone in. Two students in fact.

The mumbles from the class grew into full chat as all eyes fell upon two similar figures, one handing two yellow referrals to the said upbeat teacher. As he skimmed the lines on paper the whole class inexplicably soaked in the two boys' details. They must have been brothers, related in some way at least. One was taller with darker hair and lively clothes while the other was shorter bearing brighter hair and clad in leather. Undeniably, Axel's attention was caught the most. His eyes loomed over the younger looking one in dark pants and a skin tight leather jacket. Then he gazed over their latched arms and he winced as he decided he felt negative toward them.

"Sora Fair?" Xigbar asked.

The taller one sheepishly let go of the blond in dark attire and nodded soundlessly, Xigbar handed him back the yellow slip and pointed to an empty desk near the middle of the room. He took it shyly and followed to his seat.

The older man briefly fiddled with the second paper before giving it to the other boy, stating, "Roxas Strife. Its unfortunate news to say but the only open seat we have left is next to our class clown Ronald McDonald back there."

"I resent that." A voice resounded as more laughter bubbled.

Like the other one, he said nothing and swaggered to the back of the room with less shyness and more confidence as if he hadn't a care in the world. All eyes followed as he approached the back. The girls sighed and the boys gawked. Axel, did both, even if he didn't admit to it at first.

Shortly after Xigbar plucked the energy from the room again by stating the assignments and tests they needed to know for the year; it seemed that the two boys in the back had zoned him out. The first thing Axel noticed as he turned his attention to the right was the off brown color in Roxas' eyes, almost fake. Contacts maybe, he'd ask about that later. He fidgeted for a short period of time before deciding otherwise; chucking his teeth abused pencil at the boy. The yellow pencil hit him square in the jaw. It didn't look like it hurt but the lean redhead snorted anyway as the kid drew his bemused attention to his left.

"Are they contacts, Blondie?" Axel asked innocently, batting his lashes for kicks.

He stared the pencil thrower down ruthlessly, "My name's Roxas. Not Blondie." He said dully, taking the writing utensil and stuffing it into his black and white checkered side bag.

Thinly plucked crimson brows furrowed, puzzled, "Yeah, got it Roxas. That still leaves my question unanswered and also leaves me pencil-less for the day, unless you're the forgiving type."

"I'm not any kind of type," he retorted, bringing out a notebook and pen, clicking it to jot down the notes Xigbar was giving.

Axel shrugged, slipping down into his seat with his hands supporting the back of his head. "Fine by me. But just so you know, if you're interested in me that much, you don't have to steal my things to get my attention sweet thing," he said rather loudly, a few people even slightly turned to hone in on their conversation.

A rosy color appeared on the blondes cheeks as he seethed, "Yes. They're contacts. Now please leave me be."

"Was it really that hard to answer a question now? Come on, loosen up, Roxas. This class is going to be boring as hell if I don't get a chit chat buddy soon."

"Find someone else." He said curtly.

Axel couldn't help but let his mouth hang slightly gaping at him. This kid really didn't know who he was talking to, did he?

"You're not from around here huh?"

"What do you think?"

"I think," he emphasized, "that we're starting to get on the wrong side of things. And you see old Xiggy up there doesn't stand for switching seats even if a life depended on it. I'm trying to get acquainted, that's all. No harm done there, right?"

Roxas said nothing; merely taking notes like no one were disturbing him. Somehow the fuse was beginning to ignite. No. Simmer down. He shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly and opening his lids only to find something else peculiar on the boy who was ignoring him. He wrote in neat cursive, too neat in fact but that didn't stir him nearly as much as the black leather gloves did. Summer wasn't completely over; it was hot and humid in fact. Why the jacket and gloves? His temper was long forgotten.

"What's with the mitts?"

He stopped writing, dull contact brown eyes returning to an emerald gaze. "Your powers of observation are only increasing with each moment." He said sarcastically.

Axel stared quizzically.

"In other words, you're getting annoying."

"Aw don't be like that. I'm just a curious oyster. I'm sure you'd like to ask a few questions in return right?"

This time Roxas stared dumbly.

"You know. People that want to get to know more about each other tend to ask questions like this."

The blond looked off in no special direction and appeared to mull his statement over. It wasn't every day Axel met someone bold enough to retort so hastily at him. Strangely, he took Roxas as an exception. He then looked back and flexed his thin gloved fingers.

"My hands are extremely sensitive. Gloving them helps a bunch from rashes or getting too cold or hot."

Not bad, a little strange no less, but they were getting somewhere.

Roxas shifted in his seat to face the inquisitor at a more proper position. "And you?" he gestured to the reverse black tear drops beneath each eye, "The ink real?"

"Of course, these babies are my pride and joy," Axel chuckled.

For the first time since he laid eyes on the new kid, he found his first smile. It was small, faint, and simple but it made it all the more gorgeous. And as if he said his thoughts aloud, the smile had vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. He was a piece of work alright. Just then, he remembered the boy that entered the room with him. His eyes narrowed daggers on the back of a brown spiked head sitting in the middle of the class group.

"So," he started sharply, "Your boyfriend's a little shy eh?"

"Cousin," Roxas snipped.

Axel let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, "Oh good because I was gonna have to whoop some ass in order to keep up with someone like you."

It was then he noticed those gloved hands clench tight into fists. Something didn't quite mix right with Axel at that moment. Something just… wasn't natural about the feeling in his gut. In fact he felt a little cold and flush. He also noticed a few people around him move with an unknown uneasiness. He even noticed goose bumps rise on his arms.

Roxas' face grew dark, sullen, before saying in a low gruff tone, "Take that back."

Again, the fuse was faced with sparks.

"I won't." Axel said firmly, "Learn to take a joke Blondie."

Roxas folded his hands into each other and rested his check into the fist, looking the other way and saying nothing else.

"I hope we're paying attention back there." Xigbar's booming voice suddenly came, snapping the two out of their brazing conversation.

Before either of the two could answer, bells chimed inharmoniously to alert the end of class. Seconds later, everyone stood ecstatically with their things and headed for their next course. Three boys however seemed to take their time.

"You two," Xigbar said behind his desk, "up front."

As they made their way towards the front of the room, the quaint brunet who went by the name Sora stood halfheartedly with his book snuggled close to his chest, his blue eyes filled with plea towards Roxas. If Axel wasn't mistaken, he looked terribly shaken. He scoffed, finding it pathetic.

"You take any notes Strife?"

Roxas silently shuffled through his bag, pulled out the dark notebook and flipped open to the first page, showing him the paper half filled with words. Xigbar nodded in somewhat of approval and turned to Axel, giving a look that needn't repeat the question in words.

"Sorry I was a little distracted," he grinned honestly.

"This is the first day kiddos. I'm being forgiving enough as it is okay? I don't mind if you guys talk back there but I do mind if you don't get work done. So this better not continue. Get it Axel?"

"Get it. Got it. Good." He sneered.

Just then Roxas stepped forwards a little. "Is it possible I can change seats?"

Xigbar pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, "No."

After that said, Axel happily brushed by him and out the door. "See ya later Blondie!"

.

Soon enough twelve noon struck and all students bustled about the campus carrying trays of food or bags of lunch in hopes of finding a spot to sit and eat. Lunch signaled the perfect time for socialization with old friends and getting acquainted with new ones. However, two new students in particular had no such intentions of doing any of these things. Instead they found a dark quiet space in the back of the school where few students entered. They sat on the floor close together naively, soon finding out why little dared to trespass there.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in boys." A familiar voice proclaimed.

Blond and brunet heads perked upwards, finding none other than the lanky teenager with wild red hair, a more muscular boy with silver hair to the right of him and another one with a disheveled mullet fohawk to his left. All three had their arms crossed and cast down disapproving looks. Roxas immediately shot a glare at the tallest one in the middle. Then he felt his cousin's grip cling a little tighter for some reason.

"Hey Sora," the one with long silver hair said, "Long time no see."

Sora didn't respond and even hid his face a little behind the smaller figure who continued to leer dangerously at Axel, now hunkering over into a squat before them. He clicked his tongue against his teeth a couple of times, grinning with malice.

"Do you guys have any idea where you're sitting your lovely little tushes? Because if I remember correctly, we've been attending this school a whole lot longer than you have, little fairies. So I'm asking nicely," Axel's jaw clenched, irritated, "Fly away from our spot before things get ugly."

Sora cringed and picked up his bag, beginning to rise without question, Roxas held him back saying, "Sit. We're not going anywhere's. I didn't see your name or any name for that matter before I sat my tush down. And as far as I'm concerned, I don't give a damn if it was there or not. You don't own anything."

"Such a shame," the redhead breathed out heavily, "to meet under such harsh circumstances. I wish it went just the opposite."

"I don't," Roxas hissed.

Axel's face became swamped with ravenous vigor, cornering the blondes face. "High tail it Blondie."

"Make me, big red," he practically snarled.

"Axel," the dishwater blonde behind him whined, "You know I've got your back and all but I just don't do violence, you know that."

"Shut it, Demyx," the mercury haired boy interjected.

Suddenly Axel's pale rough fists ensnared the leather of Roxas' jacket, lifting him onto his feet and slamming his back into the brick wall behind him. Back on the floor, Sora gasped and pleaded incoherent words to Roxas.

"I said high tail it!" he screamed into his face, ignoring Sora's warning.

Roxas bellowed furiously in return, "I said make me!"

With one swift and almost unseen movement, Roxas' gloved hand delved into his attacker's collar bone, malevolently turning the tables to thrust Axel up high off the floor and viciously into the hard brick. Green eyes couldn't help but tremble as he tried to wriggle loose from the one hand pinning him to the wall. His feet kicked and he struggled aimlessly, attempting to get back onto the ground but to no avail. Then his jaw dropped, realizing he was swaying a good couple of feet in the air. This just wasn't natural.

Before Axel's allies on the side could make a move, Sora tackled the blond, sending the three of them tumbling to the floor. Surprise and awe filled Axel's visage as he winced, lightly touching the already bruising nape of his neck. Bringing his fingers down, he found spots of blood on his fingers. What the hell? Shifting his vision over where the shorter one landed, he found him panting vigorously with one hand curiously stuffed into the inside of his jacket. Sora knelt in front of him, shaking his shoulders.

"What did I tell you!" the brunet scolded in a stern but hush voice, "Your dad's gonna have another bitch fit if he finds out you got into a fight again!"

Again?

"Did my contacts come out Sora?"

Axel could barely make out these words, they were so low. But he heard them, and they bewildered him all the more. Sora shook his head and lifted his cousin from the pavement and took both their bags, departing. Before they were out of sight down the hall, Sora turned and softly said, "Sorry Riku."

So much for respect and fear.