Hey guys! I'm writing a new story. This is the story about how Demyx's and Zexion's relationship started before Music of Life. So you also get to hear about Marluxia and Axel's relationship and Paine and Rikku's! Once again, I don't own it.

Demyx sat on the small bench in the school courtyard, lightly strumming out the chords to a song, not really paying attention. It was summer and he often came to the small courtyard in front of his highschool and played for hours on end. His house was abandoned during the day and he felt lonely and closed in there. So instead he came here, out into the fresh air.

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams, right?" questioned a voice.

Demyx glanced up, surprised to see someone he didn't recognize. In the small town he lived in, everyone knew each other and when there was a new face, curiosity was drawn from everyone in school.

"Um…who are you?" Demyx asked, completely ignoring the previous question, instead staring at the boy before him.

His hair was the color of slate, falling into his stormy eyes though he made no move to fix it. He was dressed in all black despite the summer heat and Demyx easily classified him as one of the emo punks…or something like that. His stance made him seem slightly stand offish and Demyx knew it was only for show. Whoever he was, he didn't like to appear weak.

"I'm new here. My name's Zexion," he replied. "So was I right?"

"Yeah…so…what are you doing here?" Demyx asked, feeling awkward as he set his guitar across his lap.

"I was walking around, just trying to get a feel for the place," Zexion replied, glancing back the way he had come. He had been walking down the busy street that the highschool was on and had noticed the blond playing the guitar. Curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate what he was playing.

"Um…okay…I'm Demyx," Demyx said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"So this is the highschool?" Zexion wondered, sitting down beside him.

"Uh…yeah. Are you going to go here once school starts up?"

"Yeah. Ninth grade. You?"

"Same. So…do you play any instruments?" Demyx wondered, trying to start a conversation.

"The piano. I've been considering starting the bass but…" Zexion trailed off, looking away from Demyx and instead at the school.

"Man of few words," Demyx joked.

"Hn," Zexion replied which only made Demyx snicker.

"Cheer up emo boy."

"Less than five minutes and you're already getting on my nerves," Zexion countered, turning away from him. "And I'm not emo. Being emo implies that you cut yourself. I don't."

"I was just joking. Calm down," Demyx sighed. "Want to sit?"
Zexion's answer was to grudgingly sit down beside him although he still refused to look at him.

"So uh…" Demyx felt awkward. For once, he didn't have anything to say. Usually when it came to meeting people Demyx just went with whatever first came to his mind whether a person liked what he said or not. But for some reason, Demyx didn't want to say anything to upset Zexion.

"If you have something to say, then say it," Zexion ordered, arms folded and still looking down.

"I…don't really have anything to say," Demyx admitted embarrassingly.

"So play."

"What?"

Zexion rolled his eyes as he looked at the blond. "Your guitar, idiot."

Demyx blushed and looked down at his guitar. "Oh…right…sorry."
Tentatively, Demyx started playing the rather complicated intro to one of his favorite songs, The World is Born of Flame by a practically unknown band, 3. Zexion watched his fingers move across the neck of the guitar, deeply impressed though refusing to show it. He hated showing emotion, of any kind. The song moved off into chords and he heard Demyx mumbling the words under his breath and even though he wanted to hear him actually sing he once again, didn't speak up and say so.

When he was finished Zexion glanced at him. "You're good."

"Um…thanks," Demyx mumbled, biting his lip.

He's more shy then he lets on, Zexion thought. It's weird. I've never really wanted to get to know someone before.

"So…you want to hang out or something?" Demyx wondered.

"I suppose we could," Zexion answered airily. "Where at?"

"My house…if that's okay? I like getting to know people…" Demyx admitted, blushing again.

"Sure. Lead the way," Zexion told him.

Demyx's expression brightened and he swung his guitar around over his shoulder so it was strapped to his back. He led the way out of the court yard and out onto the sidewalk where they walked together, side by side, wordlessly.

"This town is rather small," Zexion commented as they turned down a quiet street.

"Yeah…I guess that's why I like it the most. It's quiet and everyone knows each other."

"I'm used to the city. I never got any peace and quiet," Zexion said quietly, gazing around at the towering oak trees and pine trees that lined the backyards of all the houses they passed.

"I usually can't stand the quiet. That's why I took up the guitar. So…what do you do for fun?" Demyx asked.

"I write poetry. And play the piano. That's all really," Zexion answered, looking down at his feet.

"Didn't you hang out with any of your friends?" Demyx wondered.

"Friends? I didn't have any. I only have my sister, Paine," Zexion told him. "People have the intelligence to stay away from me."

"Are you calling me dumb? And why would they?" Demyx asked.

"I tend to ruin the mood in any situation. I don't care for other's emotions and hurting other people has never really made me feel bad," Zexion admitted.

"You sound mean," Demyx said. "But I don't think you are. I just think you don't know how to act."

Zexion glared at him. "Don't talk as though you know me."

"I'm trying to get to know you so at least give me a chance to do that," Demyx ordered sternly, wagging his finger at him.

"Pft. Get your finger out of my face."

Demyx stuck his tongue out at him but did as he said before coming to a halt. "This is my house."

Demyx's house was a small one story house with a small maple growing in the front and a tiny garden near the porch steps. It was quaint and sweet…it made Zexion sick.

"Don't just stand there. Come on."

Demyx grabbed his arm and Demyx yanked it away, hissing in slight pain. He was thankful when Demyx didn't acknowledge the sound and just shrugged instead, walking for the door and allowing Zexion to follow. Zexion tenderly rubbed the cuts hidden by his jacket.

No one was home when they entered but Demyx wasn't fazed by this and instead walked through the living room and into the small kitchen. The tile was pure white and the walls were painted a sickly kind of yellow.

"I know, the walls are ugly," Demyx sighed, catching Zexion's expression as he opened a door and flicked on a light.

The light revealed a set of stairs and Zexion's vision swam when he saw them. He fell to his knees, clutching roughly at his hair at scattered memories he had thought were buried assaulted him brutally.

"Useless."

"Dad…what are you-"

A push. Stumbling. Falling. Pain and red. There was so much red…was that his blood? A face before him filled with satisfaction. Screaming. Sirens. The sound of something breaking.

"You thought you meant something? Think again."

"Zexion! Are you okay?" Demyx cried as Zexion fell to his knees, seemingly trying to pull his hair out.

He reached out and gently shook Zexion's shoulder…and got a response hadn't expected. Zexion's hand shot out and wrapped viciously around his wrist, nails sinking into the flesh of his wrist though it was not out of anger. As Demyx stared into the eyes of the man he had just met he saw sheer, raw fear.

"Zexion…can you let go?" Demyx asked quietly, gently tugging his hand.

It was as though Zexion was changed in a second. He released Demyx's wrist and the look of fear vanished and a mask seemed to have been slid into place. Wordlessly, he got to his feet and rubbed a hand over his eyes.

"Sorry. Can we stay upstairs please?" Zexion asked.

Demyx, sensing that there was something seriously wrong with Zexion, nodded. "Sure, it's okay. Um…what was that about?"

"None of your business. Where's your room?" Zexion asked stonily.

"Down the hall to your left. Last door," Demyx answered, chewing his lip nervously. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine so drop it," Zexion ordered, walking through the door at the end of the hall.

"Alright. Whatever," Demyx grumbled as set the guitar down on the lower bunk of his bunk bed.

Zexion gazed around the room, taking the opportunity to calm himself down. The bunk bed was on the right of him and in front of him was a wall of anime wall scrolls and posters. To the left of him were a closet and two guitar stands though only one was in use.

"So you play the bass guitar as well?" Zexion asked.

"Yep. I could teach you! For free too," Demyx told him cheerily, climbing up on top of the bunk bed. "That is if you want."

"That would be nice…" Zexion mumbled, moving to sit down on the lower bunk.

"So let's start now!" Demyx exclaimed, swinging his head over the edge so he could look at Zexion upside down.

Zexion drew back and then nodded. "Okay…"

Demyx grabbed the railing and then flipped over the edge, landing neatly on his feet and trotting over to the bass guitar.

"Um…" Zexion muttered, surprised at what had just happened.

Demyx just grinned at him as he walked over. "That took me three years to learn how to do. I have the balance of a dead cow."

Zexion snorted at this and his action only made Demyx smile wider before handing him the bass.

"Now we learn."

Zexion rolled his eyes and grabbed the neck of the bass, slinging the strap over his neck. "Okay now what?"

"Let's start with the notes, of course!"

Demyx grabbed Zexion's left hand and moved the fingers in certain directions until they covered several of the frets. Slowly, they worked their way through several notes in a pattern until Demyx was sure that his new found friend had them memorized. When he could play them at the proper speed Demyx grinned wide and patted him on the shoulder.

"You my friend, have learned the beginning of Miss Murder," Demyx told him. "You can thank me now."

"Thanks…I guess," Zexion muttered.

Demyx smiled again and then grabbed his guitar and slipped it over his neck. "Wanna try and play the first part with me?"

Zexion nodded. "Okay?"

Demyx counted him off by snapping his fingers and Zexion fumbled for the notes and then began playing, slower than the actual tempo but playing nonetheless. Demyx joined in and they played the first twenty seconds with, the only bit Zexion knew.

"You're a natural Zexion!" Demyx told him happily.

"Not really. I just did what you told me to do," Zexion said, messing his hair up with his hand and then shaking his head.

Demyx opened his mouth to say something but Zexion's cell phone rang. He stood up and dug it out of the deep pockets of his trips, flipping it open.

"Hey Paine…you did? Me too. I'm at his house. Later. I'll pay so don't worry. I don't mind. Yeah…it doesn't mean anything so drop it. Sure, see you."

Zexion flipped the phone close and shoved it back in his pocket.

"What was that about?" Demyx wondered.

"Nothing important. But I'm leaving in an hour to take her out to dinner."

"Who?"

"My sister, Paine," Zexion sighed impatiently. "Weren't you listening at all?"

"I…uh…no," Demyx admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Good job, idiot," Zexion snorted. "So what else do you have to teach me?"

"The rest of the song, maybe?"

"Sure," Zexion said.

For the next hour Demyx continued to teach Zexion the rest of Miss Murder, not saying anything when mess ups happened. For that, Zexion was grateful. It wasn't like he needed his mistakes pointed out to him. Exactly an hour later, Zexion stood up.

"Gotta go. See you later," Zexion said, resting the bass on the bed.

"Um…really?" Demyx asked. "You'll hang out with me later?"
"Yeah. See you."

With that, Zexion disappeared out of the room and let himself out of the house. Demyx stared after him for a minute before placing both guitars in their stands. I usually don't believe in love at first sight but…something about him is just pulling me in, Demyx thought.

()()()

Paine met him outside a small diner not far from where the high school stood. She was wearing her normal revealing black leather clothes and high heels and looked bored beyond words.

"Hey Zexion. So, who were you with?" she asked as he opened the door for her to step inside.

"His name was Demyx. He's teaching me the bass," Zexion told her quietly.

Their hostess quickly seated them in a booth and Paine regarded him carefully for several tense seconds.

"Do you like him?" she finally asked.

"I just met him. How could I like him? Besides, he's a guy," Zexion mumbled. "I'm not gay."
"So you keep telling us," Paine said with a roll of her eyes. "But whatever."

Zexion decided now would be a good time to switch the topic off of him, to her. "So, who did you meet?"

"A girl named Rikku. Bubbly. Very much so. But not annoying," Paine sighed, gazing away from him.

"I think you might be in love Paine. Is that even possible with someone who has such a frigid heart?" Zexion teased gently.

Paine shot him a small smile. "Be amazed Zexy. I can be."

"Um Paine…I screwed up when I was at Demyx's house," Zexion suddenly confessed.

Paine's intense red gaze sharpened instantly. "What did you say?"

"Do actually. He wanted to take me down stairs. I saw the stairs and then…" Zexion shuddered, looking away. "I just saw Dad…"

Paine reached a hand across the table and gently placed it on top of his. "It's okay. If you're going to make a friend out of anyone, they'll eventually have to find out about Dad."

"I…don't want anyone to know, Paine."

Paine sighed and didn't say anything, gently tracing Zexion's fingers and knuckles with her index finger. Neither spoke accept to order. They didn't need to. It was a companionable silence as they both lost themselves in their own thoughts.

"Zexion…I don't want anyone to know either…but don't you think…you'll only start feeling better once you tell someone?" she asked softly, not wanting to anger him.

"I don't know Paine. I just don't. What if they reject me for it?"

"If they're true friends they won't. So smile and be happy for once, okay Zexion?"

Zexion smirked, the closest thing he ever came to a smile. "I'll try."