Ansem The Wise Preparatory Boarding School
Chapter One- The Pillow
The sunset was red, the amber glow settling warmly through the gaps in the skyline of downtown Twilight Town. Roxas used his hand to shield his eyes from the glare and breathed in a sentimental breath.
He turned to watch as his friends helped his brother load the last of their belongings into the back of the U-Haul. He couldn't believe this was the last time he would see them until who-knows-when. Christmas break? That was at least 3 months away…
"Ya know we could use a little help here Rox-" laughed Hayner as he picked up one of the last boxes on the curb.
Roxas smiled a solemn smile and grabbed a couple of lamps and a pillow of Sora's and climbed in to the back of the truck. He set the lamps down and tossed the pillow haphazardly to the side.
"Hey now show some respect!" Called Sora from back on the ground as he sprung into action and leaped into the back of the truck completely ignoring the step up. He swooped up his pillow up gracefully placing it safely in between some boxes of clothes and a small baby blue nightstand with a crescent moon and a small star cutout into it. Roxas has had it since he was a baby. He had been in that same house on 13th street since he was a baby… And now it was all gone.
"Sora, you do realize it's a pillow right?" yelled Pence from outside the bus. He was trying to hold 5 sea salt ice creams, it wasn't going very well.
"Yeah but Riku made it for me! He even MAILED it to me. Like, he paid for postage and had to take it to the post office and everything!" Sora said as he actually used the step down the climb out of the U-Haul and ran over to Pence to claim his frozen treat.
"Yeah, leave him alone." Chimed Olette, checking off the last box on her 'The Strife's Moving Day Checklist' She too took a popsicle.
"Yeah, no I am going to have to call bullshit, that's a weird gift from one guy to another guy" Hayner scoffed, claiming the 4th dessert for himself.
"It is not, he forgot to sign up for an elective last year and got stuck taking home economics, for sewing he made me the pillow." Sora pouted slightly as he stuck up for his best friend.
Roxas knew all about 'the pillow'. Sora had literally almost cried when it showed up with a simple note. "Merry Christmas, next year we will be together. -Riku". Sora kept the note too, and he knew Sora slept with that pillow every night.
The usually upbeat boy had taken it hard last year when Riku went off to Ansem the Wise Preparatory Boarding School in Hollow Bastion. What was worse was he also had not been allowed to come home for the Christmas season because his parents had been in Japan on business and for some reason, they would not allow him to stay with Sora for the 2-week holiday.
"Surely we could spend our last few minutes together talking about something better than my brothers' pillow…" Roxas muttered and snagged the last ice cream bar for myself, savoring the salty sweet combo.
The group fell silent, still slurping on the frozen treats. Hayner shifted awkwardly, "Gee, way to kill the mood dude…" He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.
A slam to the right sent all eyes that way as Aerith shut the door a bit harder than she intended to, while talking on the phone, and trying to put her jacket on at the same time.
"Yes, yes absolutely, I will see you there tomorrow, and thank you so much again for the opportunity" She finished her call and managed to pull on her jacket, finally locking the door behind her. The Twilight Town gang just stared, 5 empty popsicle sticks in their hands.
She finally turned around and laughed at the gawking group, "Okay kids shows over, and I'm so sorry to have to break up the band, but we have a long drive ahead of us to get these boys to Cloud's house in Hollow Bastion at a reasonable hour, it's time to start saying your goodbye's". She gathered up the sticks and climbed into the driver's seat of the U Haul.
A white-hot sting of pain followed quickly by anger shot through Roxas at the word "goodbye". He couldn't believe that this was it. He was really going to leave his friends behind and go to a boarding school with a bunch of spoiled rich kids just so his mom could go and live out her 'lifelong dream' curing night blindness in children in third world countries. Who does she think she is anyways?
What about Roxas' dreams? What about him being able to stay in his hometown and go to high school with his friend's that he had known since kindergarten? No, apparently Roxas' dream wasn't as important.
Tears sprung to his eyes as he looked to the most important people in his life and he physically had to bite his tongue to stop his jaw from quivering as he choked back a small noise. They all just kind of stood around not really knowing what to do next until Sora finally broke the ice.
"I'm going to miss all of you so much, promise that we will keep in touch!" Sora glomped Hayner, Pence, and Olette all at once. Even though it was 1 on 3 he still managed to knock the group off balance. They all laughed and said their goodbyes.
"Roxas-" Pence was the first one to step forward. He had a soft sad look in his eyes. Like he knew they may never see each other again. He hugged him and then wished him luck at his new fancy school. Olette was next, she had tears in her eyes that she allowed to fall freely as she embraced Roxas and held him tight, letting emotions say what words cannot when two friends say goodbye for an unknown period of time.
"This doesn't change anything you know, we will always be best friends, no matter what." Roxas turned to look at Hayner who had been staring at the ground for the previous two exchanges. He loosened his grip on Olette and made for Hayner.
"No matter what." He embraced his slightly taller friend and finally allowed his own tears to fall as his heart ached for the loss of his friends, the loss of his childhood home, the loss of his whole life. He quickly wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie before trying to stand tall like a man.
He made a brave show about climbing into the front seat of the U Haul. He didn't acknowledge his mother or Sora. He stared straight ahead, his eyes glossy and the skin around them starting to redden.
"Roxas honey are you alright?" Aerith asked, her eyes full of guilt at the turmoil she is putting him through. It was all he could do to just continue looking ahead, he wouldn't let them see him cry.
"Aw cheer up Rox, you'll still have me around! I'm sure that it will feel like home in no time." Sora obliviously chimed in. Of course, Sora doesn't care about leaving. Riku is already a sophomore at ATW Prep and Sora's girlfriend Kairi is starting her freshman year there as well. He wasn't leaving everything behind like Roxas was being forced to.
"SHUT UP SORA, JUST SHUT UP" Roxas lost it and yelled in his face effectively shutting him up and drawing a small whimper as Sora's own tears starting to well up.
"Roxas, that's enough." Aerith put her hand on Sora's shoulder protectively as he leaned into her side from the middle seat of the truck. "I know you're upset about leaving but you have no right to take it out on your brother." She lightly scolded.
Once again Roxas bit his tongue, literally, and turned to face out the window. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around, linking his fingers and effectively signaling that he would not be participating in any further discussion.
Aerith sighed and smiled gently at Sora. He smiled back and turned on the radio, some Billboard Top 100 station. With a jingle of the keys Aerith plunged them in the ignition and turned them forward, starting up the truck with a roar.
At the sound of the truck starting and the slow rolling of tires Roxas felt tears falling for the second time as he stared out the window watching his childhood fade into the distance.
A "reasonable time" turned out to be close to midnight as Aerith pulled into the undersized driveway at Clouds small house in one of the older districts of Hollow Bastion. The neighborhood screamed history and had plenty of family owned bakeries and deli's. It was still buzzing with life on a Saturday night, friends laughing on the street, a couple attempting to hide from the world behind a lamppost. Roxas was amazed that Aerith managed to drive and park the U Haul in the hip neighborhood.
A disheveled Cloud emerged from the front door tired, but smiling and waving at his family. It was hard to keep yourself awake just watching lame sitcoms on TV. Despite the hour he seemed genuinely glad to see them.
"Hey Honey, sorry we are so late!" Aerith called hopping down from the truck and making her way over to her oldest to envelope him in a tight mother son hug.
Cloud laughed, air slightly restricted by the crushing hug was receiving, "No worries Mom, nothing good on TV anyways." He joked and she pulled back and gave him a laughed, a genuine smile on her face. Her smile quickly dropped "I'm sorry I wish I could stay longer and visit, I miss you so much Cloud, you are my first baby boy!" She kissed him on the cheek.
Meanwhile, Roxas and Sora had found their way out of the U haul and were now approaching the slightly hilarious scene with their overnight bags in hand. It should be funnier to see his tough older brother being babied by his mom, but Roxas was tired and grumpy and just wanted to find somewhere to crash. Sora wasn't fairing much better in the sleepiness category, but he was doing a whole lot better in grumpiness. Sora probably couldn't be grumpy if he tried. He just rubbed his eyes looking about 5 years old holding his small blanket he had brought in the car and his own overnight bag, which is really just an old backpack with his spare shoes tied around one of the clasps on the outside.
"Mom, please stop, I am a grown man, I am 28 years old and am definitely not a 'baby"" – he drew out the last word with disgust, Cloud took himself very seriously, and for good reason, because he was a serious guy who seriously should not be messed with.
"Oh, hush baby you'll always be MY baby" Aeirth giggled and kissed his other cheek, turning around to face the twins, "C'mon 'grown man' let's get these boys to bed." She gestured to the teens, and Roxas rolled his eyes. "Mom, I am just fine." Cloud walked up to Roxas and he felt a smile come to his face.
He loved his brother, through his tough exterior, Cloud was always there for him growing up, that was until he got this job as Head of Security at ATW Prep and moved out here about 2 years ago. He has hardly seen him since, it is hard for the Head of Security at a highly esteemed boarding school around to get time off, even during holiday breaks since not all the students go home. That was the ONE thing he could be happy about since he learned of his mom's new job and her decision to send him to ATW Prep. Cloud being in his life again. His mom was overjoyed when she found out she could get a MAJOR discount with the top-notch educators due to Clouds well respected status. That was the only reason they would afford to go there.
"Hey Roxas, good to see you," The elder blonde clasped Roxas' shoulder and Cloud smiled down at him. "And you too Sora." The poor kid was almost asleep on Roxas' shoulder. Cloud jostled him awake and Sora perked up and gave him a groggy hug. "Let's get you to bed at least" he laughed directed at Sora.
They all descended into the small house, perfect for a bachelor; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, not a lot to worry about. He was currently using the spare bedroom as a home gym. He had been thoughtful enough to set up both the large couches up in the living room with some sheets and blankets. The twins dumped their belongings and went to say goodbye to their mother.
It was different saying goodbye to his mom than his friends. She was choosing to leave him, but it somehow it hurt him less. It was probably because he spent more time with his friends anyways with all of the charity work she was always caught up in. Don't get him wrong, he loved his mother and she was amazing for all the good work she is always doing for mankind, sometimes he just wished she was around more for Sora and himself. He also knew he WOULD see her again, this is his mom. His friends hurt so bad because he was forced to leave them and he didn't really know if he would see them again. They sold the house in Twilight Town, there was where for him to go home to.
Both twins hugged Aeirth and kissed her goodbye, she promised to see them around Christmas time, and write as often as she could, and all too quickly she was gone in a cab on the way to the airport with her own bags, Cloud would be driving the boys stuff to the school tomorrow in the U Haul.
Cloud quickly showed Roxas how to work the TV and where the light to the kitchen is (it's kind of hidden behind this fake plant) and retired for the night, promising to catch up tomorrow after they all got some well-deserved sleep.
Shortly after, Sora woke up and realized that he didn't have his pillow, to which Roxas be-grudgingly retrieved the offending pillow from the back of the truck after Sora pouted that he was "too comfy" to get up and get it but he needed it to sleep. Roxas couldn't take the whining and he knew how Sora felt about 'the pillow' so he caved almost immediately.
Sora was right back asleep upon receiving his pillow on one of the made-up catches and Roxas took his spot on the other. In the silence he felt more alone than he had in his whole life. He had not admitted to anyone, but he was terrified of all of this change.
Tomorrow him and Sora would be moving into their new home for the next 4 years. He would be starting a brand-new school with no friends, and not just any school, but the snobbiest, richest, most exclusive boarding school in the country. How was he supposed to make friends with these people? He probably won't meet anyone that he has anything in common with and be stuck as his brother's shadow, hanging out with Sora's girlfriend and Sora's best friend. Great. This is going to be just great, he could already tell.
The lonely blonde boy let his head fall back on the couch pillows and closed his eyes. He pulled out his phone and checked to see if he had any messages from his friends. Nothing. He sighed and flipped through the channels on the TV, Cloud was right earlier, there was nothing really good on. He settled for old episodes of Bones and slowly gave himself over to sleep, and for the first time all day, Roxas was at peace.
AN: Soooo I hope that you liked it. I haven't written fanfiction in years. Please don't give up yet, tis only the beginning! Don't let this sweet beginning fool you because this story will soon evolve into the M rating that I have prematurely labelled this as. Also, man I didn't realize until I re-read but there's so much crying involved for a first chapter! Hey you'd be upset too if you were poor Roxas. And where is Axel? I need him in my life. Don't worry though, the entire next chapter is for him. Who else can't wait to see what happens at ATW Prep? This will be a long story so stay tuned everyone.
***SPOILERS*** This will be a AkuRoku centric story with heavy SoRiku on the side. Most likely Zemyx as well. Yes that's right, Sora is currently dating Kairi but will eventually fall for Riku. Or maybe he already has? 😊