Someone could have told me this story had tons of grammar errors (11)! Chapter one re-edited as of 3/7/09

This is probably my most favorite chapter of all so far.

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Rain poured down gallons upon gallons on the unsuspecting city. Thunder rolled in the sky sounding like rumbling giants with perpetual roars. It was late at night, nearly the stroke of twelve. Power was down in some parts of the city and citizens were being advised to stay indoors. It was especially dangerous to be out on the roads as drivers could hardly make out shapes in front of them. Roxas did his best to keep safe on his way home. He had been out with friends when the weather took a turn for the worse. It hadn't been this bad when he left the restaurant, but it didn't take long for the disaster to occur.

The skies were pitch black and water stained Roxas's attire; he was completely drenched and the hard droplets hit his skin like bullets. Gasping for breath he ran through the streets, doing his best to beat the weather and make it home. Finally recognizing the landmark of his friend's apartment complex he turned down the street that ran behind his house.

"Axel don't drive so fast!" Demyx cried. He looked up nervously at his friend from his position in the back seat. He couldn't even make out details of the road through the rain and the fact that it was night only made the situation worse.

"I'm trying, Jesus Demyx, I can't keep this car still with all the water on the road!" Swearing, Axel gripped the wheel tightly and did his best to stabilize the car. Seifer sneered; he sat in the front seat of the car beside Axel. They had been out discussing future game plans when they realized it was late and decided to head home, consequently getting caught in the bad storm. Looking ahead Seifer caught sight of light through the plunges of water, below the light was a figure. Seifer gripped the car door handle tightly, something in his gut telling him who that figure was. Suddenly he spoke up.

"Speed up, this is a straight road, just keep the car still and you'll be fine." Axel tightened his grip on the wheel uncertainly and Demyx looked completely appalled.

"But it's not safe." Demyx countered, hearing the pounding rain on the metal roof of the car, shaking in terror of what could possibly happen if they did.

"Just do it!" Seifer shouted angrily.

"Seifer, I'm not going to put any of us in danger." Axel stated, turning his head to glare at Seifer for his careless inconsideration. Even on a clear night he would not have seen the boy crossing the street. That split second was all the time needed for a disaster. As Axel directed his gaze back towards the road his eyes widened and he slammed on the brakes. Even with all the pressure put down on the pedal the car reared in protest and its tires melted at the sudden friction as it trudged onward. With the aid of rain it continued sliding forward at a dangerous speed, unable to stop.

Roxas' pupils shrank as bright lights sudden closed on him, a horrible screeching met his ears and before he had time to react, there was a sudden collision into his body and he was sent flying into the air then quickly smashing back into pavement. Darkness closed in around him and slowly emptiness crept in on conscious thought. The last thing he remembered was yelling filling the air, painful lights beaming past him, and a distance voice calling his name.

- -

6 months earlier

- -

Slow motion, everything around the room halting as a pathway through a crowd of boys emerged. Moving through the narrow gap and making a journey towards the ball that continuously disappeared out of sight between sweating bodies dressed in white. A rush of wind as the endless running begins taking its toll, zoning in towards the goal and with an out-stretch arm reaching for the target. Got it! With the ball in hand it's back across the court to the hoop to score. The sudden turn of a body causing hair to whip in already tired eyes, the ball slams against the hard surface of the floor with every dribble as it travels to the opponent's net. Cheers from the audience dull as focus locks in on its prime objective. Diving in and out between opposing players, uncomfortably tight sneakers squeak on polished wood with all the twists and turns. Yells from teammates being directed at one, the score is 6 to 8 with only 5 seconds on the clock. Here it is, the approaching basket, the web designed net dangling motionlessly from an orange circle. The ground disappears and it's only air, closer the hoop draws and with a hurl the ball takes flight. Alone, it's gonna make it! Three, two, one: final score 9 to 8.

Everyone from both sides of the audience stands and cheering fills the room. Teammates gather in and lift their all-star up on worn shoulders and chant his name, win or lose their small town has a title, one that will not be soon forgotten; The Twilight Town Thunder birds.

Laughter pours from blush colored lips and a smile spreads on a heavenly light face, the image of his brother comes into view from the stands to join the fun. He's done it, their team's made best in county and it's off to state finals. All those hours of work, the games won and their effort paid off. He's done it, he's the champion tonight and it's something he's proud to be. They all cheer: "Roxas, Roxas!"

Roxas pulled his gaze from the car window that framed the scenery of the world passing idly by outside. Endless miles of land laid out before him, and to all of it he took no interest. Over and over the images kept repeating, familiar cars veered passed, all of their drivers fatigued from traveling long routes. Roxas gandered upon them apathetically, believing his own torment was by far the worst fate. After few reclined minutes of watching the world outside, he had lost himself again to daydreams of his old home.

It was moving day for Roxas and his brother Sora, their mother had decided it would be best for them to move in with her long time boyfriend. All that was fine and well, with the exception he lived far away in city that claimed enough people to rival Hong Kong. Roxas always knew that this day would come and unlike his brother; he was less than happy about it. He enjoyed his old life, a place where everyone was friendly and knew each other. He enjoyed helping the locals on weekends doing jobs such as taking out trash, hanging up flyers for random events and being a source of entertainment for crowds by showing off his basketballs skills.

Basketball was a big part of Roxas's life, ever since he was little he spent his time watching ESPN rather than cartoons. In class when he was too lazy to walk a piece of garbage to the trashcan he simply tossed it and rarely ever missed. He excelled in PE like no other despite all the odds against him. He didn't have the typical build for the average player, in fact by viewing standards he shouldn't be playing basketball at all. He wasn't tall, he didn't do a lot of physical exercise aside from skateboarding on weekends and he most certainly didn't make himself out to be a leader. He was short with a faintly muscular build and preferred to spend his time indoors. But who would expect anything less from what most would call the Hicksville of the nation? He knew he would never make to the big leagues with his low stature, but it's like his coach Cid use always told him: the most amazing things come from the most unexpected places, that's what made them so great.

Roxas felt sad thinking about his old coach, Cid had become a father figure to him in his life and now he was gone. Thinking about Cid and all the games they've won Roxas began to ponder the roles his brother and he played in their old home. He and Sora had been town icons simply for their appearance, the single and only pair of twins located in Twilight Town. Both of them started off as an expected pair of clones when they were younger, but Roxas' ambition for basketball forced him trek outdoors for practice. After so many rehearsals the sun's golden rays began to change his hair color to match its own yellow image; then after coming down with a bad case of sun burn Roxas was forbidden from anymore long gated outside drills. His tan faded within the month but his hair was never the same and remained forever blond. He no longer had the matching the brunette spikes like that of his brother, but the two reminded alike in facial structure and sharing the same pair of striking blue eyes. Though in humble option Roxas declared his eyes were darker.

Sighing, Roxas rested his chin on his palm and resumed to staring out the car window, not reacting too the pleasant sight of the sparkling river slithering between the rich green mountain pass that they were traveling. This change upset Roxas for many reasons, for one he was always shy around strangers. It took him years to leave the safety of his mother's side and play with the local kids when he was young and even longer for him to make a single friend at school. Roxas smiled sadly remembering his closest friend Naminé. Sure he had had many friends being a sports VIP but before and after that he had always had Naminé. She was a quiet and shy person like he was, but she was different in that she had autism.

Often she sat alone in class and during lunches and drew with crayons in her sketch book of children playing, or trucks driving by. Roxas had a fondness for her; he noticed her artistic skills resembled that of a kindergartner but that only seemed too add to her shy charm. He would miss her dearly, he promised to call and write her as offend as he could but Naminé rarely used a computer and she wasn't much for spoken conversation so phone calls wouldn't do him much good either.

"Isn't this great, we're moving to the city Roxas, the city!" Sora beamed; the manic brunet was renowned for his earnest sense of adventure, a passion which landed him in quite of bit of trouble back at their old home. Not to mention a few hospital visits.

"Yes Sora, I know where we are going." Roxas resorted bleakly making sure to far stretch his disinterest as much as possible.

"Oh come on Roku, cheer up!"

Fisting his hands as tightly as he could, Roxas fought the urge to beat his brother on the spot. Roxas cursed him for managing to drag up the crazed nickname at a time like this. How Sora managed to find the deranged name in the first place was still a mystery. Typically Sora only used it on him when he was in one of his so-called moods as he so often put it. He didn't care how his brother thought of it; right now he wasn't going to put up with him or it.

"I thought I told you never to call me that?" He hissed, glaring hard at Sora who simply laughed at his clear signs of aggravation.

"I know, I just didn't listen; besides you were asking for it." Sora said, promptly sticking out his tongue and lowering his bottom eye lid. Just as expected, Roxas' anger kicked into full gear.

"Mother, how much longer do I had to endure this idiocy?!"

"Hey, I'm not an idiot." Sora quickly dejected.

"Roxas don't call your brother names." their mother said, finally giving attention to something besides the road.

"But he's being annoying!" Roxas quickly yelled back.

"Then just ignore him."

"That's what you always say…" Roxas muttered angrily to himself and slouched in his seat. This was really turning out to be a horrible day, and he couldn't help but noticed the weather had also taken a turn for the worse. Grey clouds, what a promising notion of sun shine. Okay, maybe he was a bit too sarcastic.

"Hey" Sora piped with a mischievous smirk as he leaned up towards the front seats of the car. "Let's put on the high school musical sound track!" For the love of god NO!

--

"Would you look at that, it's raining. I knew it would, I could feel it!" Bouncing a ball back and forth from a wall, the world had darkened from its previous sun radiant state to a sudden downpour. Thunder rolled steadily in the distance; trophies set on shelves glowed with a blue shine from light emitted off an old television set.

"Yeah, so did anyone else who listened to the weather channel this morning. Honestly Demyx it didn't take a genius to it figure out."

"Don't be such a jerk; you're just sour because I was right about them canceling practice."

"Are you kidding me? They should have kept practice on schedule! We would have gotten there before the damn weather change and we would be indoors." slurred the snarky remark of the teenage boy who slouched lazily in a beaten old lounge chair. Briefly bringing a canned soda to thin dry lips, he gulped the cheap beverage down, fighting back the obvious disgust that mingled in with the lingering syrupy after-taste. Setting the drink on the floor he watched his friend continue to pointlessly bounce the ball back and forth.

"What are you so worried about? We already have a spot in the state finals, we have no competitors from this city; all the other schools here suck so we're a shoe in."

"Doesn't matter, by the time we get to state we'll meet some teams actually worth playing, and I wanna be ready for them." The eccentric response was not anticipated by the dirty blond. Sure he wanted to win as much as the next guy, but the thrill of competition clearly had gone to his friend's head.

"Wow talk about school pride." announced Demyx with a roll of his eyes. "Don't worry about us Fox Predators are ready to take it all the way. Besides-"

Without warning Demyx threw the ball to his friend who caught it like a reflex. "With you on our team there's no way we'll lose, right Axel?"

The red-head smirked and spun the ball in hand before passing it back to his friend.

"Not a chance."