The ferry taking him toward the Islands was the best way to travel. Peaceful silence, moonlight streaming down destroying his tension. This way of travel made all the worries fade away to nothing. When on the island, he could actually enjoy himself. Even if the Hunter's base just happened to be located there. It didn't matter, it just provided better protection. The vampires did and could risk it but the island was its own country. The laws here were welcoming to anyone who came, so long as any visitors behaved. It was to make sure they could be left alone and in order to actually move there, visitors had to either have a job or have family on the island. The ferry began to slow and looked from the ocean to the dock up ahead. Dock workers were there and he relaxed, looking back at how far he had traveled. So far so good, though he doubted anyone really followed him to this place. Shouting had him look back from the direction the ferry had taken him and watched as the ship was tied to the docks.

New Home

Chapter 1

Walking down the ramp, he turned to the right and traveled down the only path towards a staircase going up and into a part of the business area. Hotels and Motels, bars, stores and other buildings mostly for work. This island had a bigger residential area though. It was the main island of two. The other was mostly for kids to row to and play on. How adults didn't really stop or go with them and actually make sure they made it though? Well, it was their choice really. It made sense if the parents trusted the kids enough to come home alive. Hopefully they would actually follow them if any came back hurt or just didn't come back at all. Someone bumping him back had his mind focus on the present.

"Watch it blondie!" They shouted as they continued down the street.

All he did was fix his grey windbreaker and blue shirt. Even patted down his black jeans for good measure to show how irritating the moment made him. The islands weren't very welcoming people wise since they lived here. Some of the locals didn't mind seeing as it brought in money and they could raise prices for tourists during summer and spring. They had the island, motels and a gift store open during the season. Then closed when it was Winter and Fall. No one traveled during that time except maybe himself. The islands were the only safe haven he really had though. Stopping before he hit another, he watched them move down the street. Stumbling as if they were liquored up. Was he near a local pub or bar? Moving down the direction the stumbler had come from, he found the busy bar though it was a bit more fancy than a normal one.

Peering up, the sign: The Secret Place. It was a little ways out of town for a busy bar. It didn't have anyone lingering outside or any tables outside either. The sign reading: No Minors hung next to the door, not on it. Then again the door was made from designer wood and had a stain glass window of a full moon. It's glow being casted upon the ocean with the island shining under it. How appropriate for this place. He knocked on the door, waiting for a response. A slot opening next to the door got pulled to the side. A pair of eyes stared back. The eyes took most of the space on the head with ears at the side of their face. A light brown wide brimmed hat with a white feather stuck against a blue ribbon.

"Why are you wearing that?"

"Why are you wearing that?" a weird voice retorts back at him. "Where's your membership card?"

He blinked, "I...lost it?"

"Hey Sora! This guy here says he lost his membership!" He yells.

"Okay, one...you don't have to yell. Two, why are you wearing your musketeer hat? Three, do you recognize him at all as one of our regulars?"

The eyes were back on him, "No, he isn't too familiar. Should I call the boss?"

"Yeah, may as well. Doubt she'll let him in though."

It was the last he heard before the slot got pulled shut. Leaving him by himself. Fiddling with his fingers or watching for anyone to come around. This place wasn't really in view of other businesses. Even to the rest of the section, it seemed that this was a private club specifically tailored for privacy. To the point where membership cards were put into place to make sure only regulars were given. Hopefully his blatant lie didn't get seen through though. The slot was opened again.

"Hey, minor question; why do you smell like a vampire?"

"W-what? I don't smell like vampire. You do." The quick retort came.

"Hey Sora?!"

"Yeah?"

"Do I smell like vampire?" Goofy asked.

It was quiet, "Goofy, you have never been around any vampire at all!" Sora yells back.

"He said he could smell it on me though. So maybe I do…" this Goofy actually questioned.

"Just...let him in. Mom said it was okay. She is being generous tonight."

The slot got closed and the click of a lock had him turn the knob and walk into a very well lighted, black carpeted room. Windows all along the upper wall and near the roof had a dark tint, like what he would see on car windows to keep any sunlight out. The placement once again showing how private this place truly is. There was a bar that ended just halfway through the room with white marble tile for flooring and counters. Red comfortable sofa chairs around white marble tops as well. The walls were a very classic, blue that seemed to shine the light right off and brighten the small, homey space. There was a room at the far end with lights shining on a red wall that had a sign to show the restrooms for Male and Female. Behind the bar were dark oak shelves lined with bottles of liquor, shakers and glasses ranging from small, normal drinks to wine glasses. They even had clear door fridge units under the counters where some clients were drinking. You could see in but the door was on the other side.

"Welcome to the Secret Place." Goofy said, getting his attention. "What's your name, age and date of birth?"

He turned to see a small, electronic device in a...dog's hand. In his home, there wasn't exactly these kinds of animals. The animals didn't walk on two legs or speak like this one. They were normal and yet here was a dog. Walking on two legs, wearing clothes and somehow able to use devices made for humans!

"You're a...dog." He points out, seeing Goofy now seemed insulted at his comment. "Right...um, I'm Roxas. I am…" he stopped.

What was the year of his birth again? Crap, it had been too long to really recall the exact date, let alone the month. Another issue but right now it was a problem.

"You don't know your own birthday?" Goofy's wit asks, now amused.

"Yeah, I do. It's...just not coming to me at this moment. "I'm 25. My birthday is...that's right! January 13, 1991."

The dog got quiet but a machine got his attention. When he looked around, there seemed no source to the sound at all yet it was really close. After a second though, Goofy produced a purple and pink striped laminated card with the name on the front. On the back, there was his name and a spot where a scan bar was.

"Here is your membership card. Don't lose it. As a member, you are allowed in at anytime once we open at 6 every night." Goofy explains to him. "There are rules to follow course. You can't tell anyone of this place, you must pay at least 90.00 dollars a month to keep renew your membership. If you can't, you can't work it off and we will bill you with reminders."

Roxas could only blink as all this information about this place.

"Oh, if you do lose it again. There is a 20.00 dollar fee to replace it. That is all you need to know, enjoy your night." The dog finally finished and walked back to a spot near a door with a chair to sit in.

He turned towards the bar then. He saw a couple people working and only one caught his eye. A brunet with spikes pointing down and what looked to be a small growth of hair pulled back behind the neck. Each bartender had a formal suit and tie but this one had no jacket. Just the black vest and pants with a red ribbon tied around the collar of the white long sleeve he wore. A gold crown hanging as the only source of jewelry one could spot. Roxas walked over and sat down in front of him and waved.

"Hello and welcome to the Secret Pla-" Roxas stopped him with a hand.

"You have a dog here…" He pointed to Goofy.

The brunet glanced to Goofy then back at him, "you...aren't from the islands are you?" He sighs.

The blond just shook his head, "I come from Radiant Garden. Across the ocean."

The emotionless face seemed to become full of worry and maybe even a hint of fear at the information given. Was it because of what lived there? Did the influence reach this far or did the secret carry over without the knowledge of it being leaked?

"That's where...the vampires live." Sora slowly spoke while setting down a drink he never actually ordered, let alone asked for. "Um...I'll be back."

"But I didn't order a drink…"

"Just give me a second" spoke the brunet, clearly not listening anymore.

"But...I didn't…" a door closing had him stop and groan. "Order a drink…" He stared at the yellowish liquid in the glass. "Well...it's my drink now, I guess?"

Roxas sipped on the glass and sighed as he waited. Hearing the other clients talking as if nothing even seemed to change. No one seemed to care about someone really joining though it was clearly not cheap. How did they afford this? Were their jobs well paying to keep this membership going? This place seemed to thrive on this system with how clean and employed it was. A voice had his thoughts torn apart to see the brunet had come back.

"Out of...minor curiosity, do you live there anymore?" The slow question came forth.

"No, I recently moved here." He lied. "I didn't want to...stick around. Not round there at least." The blond laughs. "My turn, how do you know about those...things anyways?"

Sora's expression returned to a "I'm not amused" face at his question, "Yeah, those guys don't exactly create...caution for themselves. Least of all cover their stupidity."

Roxas had to laugh at that.

"Besides, everyone knows they live there. It's not rocket science. What, they think cowering there is hiding their stupid scent?" the brunet continued. "It's easy to sniff out their stupid corpsey...dirtish scent."

He really had nothing to say to that and bringing up the fact he didn't really pay for this drink probably would lead to nowhere, again. He looked around at the other clients and they seemed to be all leaving and paying. It had to be a business group or something but he wasn't gonna ask. It was gonna be only stragglers soon anyways.

"Thank you for coming." The bartenders smile and wave as the group left and the door shut behind.

"So…" The blond drummed the counter but stopped at Sora's glare. "Sorry. Nervous."

"Then don't drum my counter."

"Where can I move to? Any places for rent?"

"Wait...you moved here but didn't have any form of shelter, job...nothing? No offense but only Riku is that stupid and he had a job before he even got a place." He says. "Did you put any thought into this move? Any?"

"Well...no it was spur of the moment. Sorry but not everyone can just plan their life, okay?" Roxas spat back. "What about you?"

"I live here, work here...and oh, just for added bonus...OWN part of the bar." He says. "That tops, you."

The bartender walked away before he could really speak about anything else. He even walked into the back again. There was talking for a bit then he was back again and cleaning up the space in front of him and taking away the empty glass to clean.

"So..do you have a name?" Roxas asks.

The brunet looked at him again, "it's Sora. I heard your name from Goofy. Plus the fact that you actually forgot your birthday." He laughs. "What, your day not special?"

"Okay, to be fair. I haven't exactly been given much thought about my day to start and my day actually kinda sucks since it reminds me of something so I am allowed to forget it." Roxas shrugs. "Wouldn't you forget your day then if that was the case?"

This time, Sora shrugged; "fair enough point."

The door opening loudly had him turn to see two people had come in.

"TADA! Yuffie is here…" a young, short black haired woman cheers, hands in the air. "Oh...and…" Her arms lowered. "I am late but it is his fault." She pointed to the tall blond next to her.

"Don't pin this on me Yuffie." The taller one could only scoff at her. "Anyways, you said someone here needed a job?"

Sora just pointed at Roxas.

"Hey!"

"What? It's true. There, got you a job." The brunet says. "Now you can manage from here, I hope."

Yuffie bounced by him and then into the back with Sora following. The taller blond sat next to him as a brown haired woman walked up.

"Aerith," He nods his head to her.

"Cloud, the usual?" She spoke.

"No, I want the award winning drink tonight but with no lemon." He orders. Then he looked at Roxas. "So, you are Roxas the idiot."

"Look, I ran to get away...from things there okay? It wasn't stupid, it was practical. Why he has to pin me as that is nothing short of a mystery but he doesn't know me." Roxas says slamming the counter with his fist.

"Don't slam the counter," Aerith simply spoke to him.

"Right, sorry...rules but still. I am not stupid."

Cloud remained quiet, even after Aerith had given him his drink and walked away to another client. After one sip and not even a glance, he was given a business card.

"Here, you work for me now. Don't take what he says so hard though. Sora is easily irritated and doesn't care for vampires. Keep your head down, work hard and maybe...he'll warm up to you." Cloud says standing and in one gulp downing his drink. "Oh...and be lucky he spoke to you at all. Finish your drink and follow me or just leave it be and follow me?"

Roxas stood and followed him out. Hearing them all tell him to have a nice day, even if it was still night.