Life Anew
Prologue: As Fate Has It
"Don't be nervous… the council is just a bunch of stuck up old people... they're harmless."
Axel looked over at his new friend, frowning, "Demyx, they decide my entire fate on this planet… what if they don't let me stay? What if they send me back to Earth to rot in jail? What if they don't—"
"They will," the blond man tried to comfort him, patting his back. "I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't think they would let you stay."
"You brought me because I saved you…"
He huffed, "I brought you because you deserve another chance, and I know that you can have one here."
"It's time," a guard stepped in front of them, gesturing for Axel to get up.
Demyx stood and grabbed the redhead by the arm, pulling him to his feet. "I have to go with him, Luxord… he needs me."
"You know that outsiders may not witness the meeting," the guard warned him, "You must wait here."
"Then… let him grab onto your arm, and try not to walk him into any walls," Demyx growled, placing Axel's hand on the large man's bulky muscles.
Luxord looked him over, raising an eyebrow. "He…"
"I'm blind," Axel said, gritting his teeth. "Can we get this over with?"
"Very well… watch your step," he said, leading him into the room where the high council sat.
There was a biting silence before someone finally spoke. "Axel Ryuichi."
"Yes," he affirmed, facing the direction of the voice.
"You come here from Earth?"
"Yes… Demyx Mizu brought me here."
Another long pause sounded before the head of the council spoke again. "Our records state that his vessel crash landed in the prison you resided in, that you helped him escape?"
Axel nodded, "Yes… in exchange for my saving his life, he agreed to bring me to your planet."
"Very well… as law states, you must be evaluated to be sure you aren't a threat to our people. Luxord, take him so that we may review his memories."
He felt himself being tugged into another room, and wires were placed at his temples. "You aren't going to like what you see…" he warned, sighing as he laid down and fell into a deep, coma-like sleep. Before he knew what was happening, he was awake again and being pulled up to his feet.
"In order for them to make their decision, they have to ask you some questions regarding what they just saw…" Luxord told him, suddenly sounding uneasy.
"You… you saw it too, didn't you?"
He tightened his grip on Axel's arm. "Bits and pieces…"
"They're going to exile me… aren't they?" he asked the guard, sighing.
"Now, Mr. Ryuichi… you mustn't judge us so harshly. We still have some questions to ask you," the head member of the council spoke. He hadn't realized they were back in the main room again.
He bowed his head slightly, "My apologies…"
"From our general understanding, you've had quite a rough life on Earth… From your teenage years, correct?"
"I… I did drop out of school early on…" he admitted, hanging his head.
The councilwoman cleared her throat, "This was due to… the use of your Earth drugs?"
"Yes… but I haven't used them in years," he mentioned, hoping that they at least knew that.
"Right… and you've spent the past two years in jail?"
He swallowed heavily, "Y…yes…"
"And that's where you were blinded?"
"Look, if you saw all my memories, then why are you just asking me to reaffirm them? Everything you saw is correct!" he shouted, losing his temper. He hated talking about his accident, and he didn't want to sit here and explain to them what they already knew.
There was a long silence that made him entirely too uncomfortable. He was done for, and he knew it… "Mr. Ryuichi… we understand that this must be hard for you to discuss, and we extend you our apologies, and we have come to a decision. On the behalf of the Planet Kaishi, we are allowing you to stay."
Axel nearly fell to his knees before them, "Thank you… I've changed, I promise you…"
"There is one condition. To offer you a fresh start, and keep you under the watchful eye of Mr. Mizu… you will be aged back to seventeen years, and attend school with him."
He furrowed his brow, a bit confused. "Demyx… is in high school?"