When he was nearly nineteen, Axel twisted his wrist badly at the joint. After much flailing, unnecessary tears, and a good five painkillers, his fears about never being able to paint or hold a cigarette again were assuaged. When his injury healed and the cast was removed, he was made to wear a zinc-arthritis band on his left wrist, which to his absolute dismay, stained blue. The only reason I bring this up, is because he seemed to think it relevant that his now-blue wrist matched the rest of his outfit, and refused to wear anything besides blue and black from that day forth.

When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we often discussed the events leading up to his accident, and while I maintained that it was him who started it, he insisted that it started long before that. Being too mature to settle it in a fist-fight, we consulted Cloud, who said that we were both right. This preceded a lecture from both Cloud and Leon concerning our constant bickering, and their sanity. Leon then firmly insisted that we go for a walk, and leave them to "finish their business." Not questioning their intentions, we made for the door.

Cloud - my eldest brother - had only recently returned from studying criminal law in Traverse Town, and was hoping to begin his practice here. (Here meaning where we lived; Twilight Town.)

Twilight Town was an old town, and a quiet town, and people moved slowly in their set routines, the only entertainment being a cinema and stores. No one, as far as I knew, ever did or said anything out of the ordinary, save for that time my twin brother Sora ran down Main Street in his underwear after downing 7 cups of espresso.(I denied we were related for two months after that.)

When Cloud made his first appearance in six years, with Leon hanging on his arm, people were shocked. After convincing me that "gay-ness" was, in fact, not a hereditary disease, I suppose I got used to walking in on them "doing their business."

For about a month, they were the topic up for discussion at many a lady's afternoon tea, and although it wore off with time, I was still suitably embarrassed. I was fourteen at the time.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Two painfully slow years later, in early October, they came to us, in all their city splendour. Of course, we knew of their arrival at least a month in advance, and they had been the talk of the town ever since.

We were warned against them. They were different. Not like us. Come to destroy our young'uns minds. Dangerous. This rumour had been fuelled by the fact that they were moving into the Harper House, at the end of Main Street.

The former Harper Residence had been abandoned for years, and was now the object of many-a-dare. Other than that, no one had bothered to enter. It was a large house, with a yard to match. The dark brick walls and over-grown ivy somehow didn't fit I with the colourful gardens and white picket fences on the rest of the street.

So when a big black Mercedes, followed by a moving van pulled into the driveway, all curtains were drawn back without hesitation, and daily routines were stopped. I could have sworn even the bird's stopped singing.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By chance, I met the youngest occupant the day after.

I pulled my scarf tighter, shielding me from the howling wind, and, had it not been for the sudden hush of it(the wind, I mean) I would not have heard the snivelling coming from a nearby tree.

Now, had I not known for a fact that trees do not necessarily snivel, I would have walked right on past and continued the grocery shopping for my mother, but since I did know, I assumed it to be a human.

A girl, in fact. With long blonde hair and a pink nose and eyes from crying(or from the cold, though that was still unclear at that point).

I think I very nearly gave the poor girl a heart attack when I asked if she was alright.

She nodded vigorously, wiping her eyes on the sleeves of her white jersey.

Not one for small talk, I introduced myself.

"Roxas," I said, holding out my hand.

And so it began, that I befriended Naminé, and indirectly began my association with him.

Naminé and her family had moved from Traverse Town, to Twilight Town, as her brother Axel had inherited their great-uncle's manor (being the Harper house).

Her parents and she had temporarily agreed to reside here, more for their sanity than her brothers.

Axel, as she put it, was a strange character. Independent, and arrogant, yet childlike and extremely immature at times.

And also gay.

Going on 19, he was in his last year of high school, and planned on studying art.

As for Naminé, she was my age, and both would be attending my school for the time being.

I was proud of myself. I had made a friend, and done my good deed for the day. I had decided not to question her about the crying I heard earlier.

Xxx

Note: Hierdie storie is gëadapteer van die boek To Kill A Mockingbird, let op.