Author: Forsyte

Editor: Shiroppu Musume

Disclaimer: I do not own KH at all. Hell, I cannot even buy ice cream (cries)

Please do not read if you find the idea of two males together offensive. There is always the back button on your browser that you can utilize!

Summary: There's no law stating that you're bound to get along with the individuals in your band, with those you know and even those you don't. You may brake into fits of angry passion, fall in love, or coldly betray. The fame will rise and fall, and in this world of human vice there's always a price to pay.

Caterwaul

Chapter One: Daylight Scrutiny

The floor was covered with papers in an untidy fashion. Every piece of the wooden floor was covered in these white items, blending onto the floor as if to create a design. A small blond figure made his way through the jungle of papers while attempting to not step on their sheer whiteness for they might be used for an important purpose. He did not know what to expect when he entered the studio at nine after sunrise. For one, he was not a morning person. He woke up to birds chirping and that, in his opinion, did not lighten the day. As a reminder to himself to wake up extra early, he left his house at the break of dawn, not out of free will, of course. He put on a pair of faded-out brown pants, a raccoon t-shirt and his wrinkled jacket previously found at the foot of his bed. He glanced through the room to see if anyone was there. To the side he spotted the usual pink drums played by the bandleader. They seemed untouched by man since very long ago, for there was a ray of light illuminating its metal and failing to show signs of any human fingerprints. He heard a sound at the corner of the stage. He wondered who or what produced the sound. He inched closer to the source of the sound, expecting nothing short of boredom. Suddenly, a mess of red surfaced from the hidden arena of the solitude-filled corner. His figure towered over the small frame of Roxas. The red head had a pair of blue jeans with an olive green t-shirt, clearly giving off the appearance of a college student accustomed to putting on the first thing he spotted in the closet.

"Hey Roxy, what's cracking?" Blue met amused emerald. Roxas frowned.

"I am not in the mood early in the morning to hear your jabbering. Where's everyone else?" Roxas asked with an annoyed tone. His voice still held the morning raspy-ness of waking up.

"Well, Mr. Leader is in a CEO importante meeting with the manager." Axel replied with a lazy smile.

"I see … but you only covered one person, what about the other two?" Roxas retorted automatically.

"Jeez, take it easy. I didn't harass you…or at least not yet. Drink something and cool down."

For a split second, Roxas stopped breathing. His face expressed vexation and showed a tinge of scarlet on his cheeks. He instantly glared at the red head, using all of his intimidation ability to scare the demonic person in front of him. The red head didn't faze. It did not work.

"You know you like it." Axel winked at him with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Sorry I'm late; I stopped for Starbucks on the way here!" A blur of caramel and black dashed right in front of Axel and Roxas.

"Demyx, what's the rush? Practice hasn't started yet." Axel informed while crossing his arms.

"It hasn't?" the caramel haired teen responded. "Well. Either way, I have to prepare; I came up with a new melody"

The teen quickly took a spot next to the stage without taking notice of the people in his surroundings. In his hand he held a black case that he put down next to himself. He took off his black cotton jacket, and let it fall to the floor. The lump gave the impression of a black hole against the white papers on the ground. With the use of his toned arms, made visible by his sleeveless white shirt, he picked up his case again. The adolescent kneeled down on the ground. He gently placed his black case down once more. He hummed a tune as his energetic fingers grasped the metal clasps of the case that held his beloved bass. Roxas stared in awe. He wasn't sure if the Starbucks coffee woke up his fellow band member or what exactly, but he held high respect for Demyx at that moment. The boy had a plethora of energy in the morning, something Roxas lacked.

While Roxas was meditating on his not-so-energetic levels of the day, a discrete figure quietly entered the studio. He was dressed in black pants and a black coat that sported many extravagant buttons that shimmered with the artificial light of the studio. He seemed to not mind the scenery of activity before him. He took a position next to a chair on the far right of the wall, opposite the stage of his band members. He carefully slid off his black leather bag and carefully placed it on the chair. While he placed his items down, his silver charm bracelet made a sound, but not even the occupied band members could be distracted by such. Next, he set his case on the floor, but as he was about to reach for the locks, he felt a penetrating gaze upon him. The figure glanced up from his current position to discover the violator of his privacy; Axel stared at Zexion while he, in return, stared back.
"Sometimes, I think you're a freaking spirit in the room. Seriously, you never talk—never announce yourself. You're really creepy." Axel confessed to Zexion.

A pause.

"…I see." He replied, with hesitation.

"Hey! Where's Marly?" Demyx abruptly questioned as he utilized a pick to play a few chords on his bass, testing the amplifier. He frowned. The amplifier was not set to a high resolution. Upon discovering the problem he rose and made his way to the electronic and increased its volume. He strung the string again. This time he achieved what he desired, a nice, low pitched sound worthy of producing a radiant smile on his face. Roxas stared at the caramel haired teen, an idea suddenly forming in his own mind. He walked over to the white door nearest to him which beheld the closet that had been constructed into the wall for extra storage. Without uttering a word, the blond opened it and robbed it of its microphone and stand. Then, he slowly moved over to the outlet and connected the microphone in hopes that his voice would echo throughout the room loudly. Catching on, Axel decided to return to his original place by the corner of the stage. There his electric guitar sat against a chair aching to be used. Zexion went back to the task of opening his black case. He slipped the guitar over his head as soon as he picked it out of its home and immediately adjusted the strap to his personal liking. He didn't want to hook up the guitar to the amplifier just yet; he simply wanted to play acoustic.

"Where is my Jamba Juice?" A loud, deep voice suddenly rang through the studio.

"How am I supposed to know?" Axel shouted back with an annoyed tone, "I ain't your keeper!"

Roxas stared at the demanding bandleader for a brief moment before glancing around the room in search of a tall, white drink container with fruits as a design. He couldn't see it anywhere. He glanced back at Marluxia. He noticed that the attire worn by the leader did not compare to that of the rest of the members. He wore the typical blue jeans but what caused Roxas to stare at his attire was the polo. The polo was of a light blue color. There was an emblem on the right side of the polo. It had the appearance of a sword wrapped around by a golden dragon. He then took notice of his facial features. He noticed in him a look of sheer boredom. His arms were crossed across his chest. He saw Marluxia tapping his booted foot with a quick beat. Demyx hadn't made eye contact with the man since his arrival and continued to glance down at his bass, engulfed by the copious pitches made by each string.

"Here." Zexion calmly answered Marluxia with the much-desired foam cup sporting a very multi-colored design. The tallest band member accepted it and casually turned away without a 'thank you'. Their level of comfort with one another was high, no need for manners.

"Well then, everyone, listen up. I have news." Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused on their leader.

"As you know, we are a new band. We need promotion and we need it now. We need to reach the Cypress Charts in a quick fashion. a.k.a., we need serious attention. The manager has just booked us for a photo shoot with Birdcage magazine. We'll be having this photo shoot and an upcoming interview in exactly two weeks from today. I believe we'll be wearing the same attire from our promotional video… the one that's being released in a month. Besides that, we need to practice. We have a live in less than a month." Marluxia finished, his breath never hindering at intake. Every member stared at him, listening unusually attentive. The same thought ran through all the members' minds: this is freakin' hell.

"What the hell?" The yelling only intensified the tension in the room. "Why the fuck are you leaving the band?" a dirty blonde angrily spat at his band member in disbelief.

"See… it's not you, it's the fact that I am not achieving anything in this band. I don't feel I'm reaching my full potential with you people." a tall figure with silvery long hair stated with a subtle hint of boredom. His eyes were glued to the wall, never attempting to bring his gaze into contact with the former.

"What the hell do you mean 'you people'? We're a fucking band! How the hell are we suppose to replace you? Fans already know you! Two years. Two fucking years you've stayed with us and now you want to leave?" An infuriated Seifer yelled in rage. His jaw clenched. Every muscle in his body shook with fury

"True, but have we really done such a great job?" Sephiroth countered, "Do we have a number one single? No. That's pretty pathetic coming from such a well-known band. I prefer to go solo and do a much better job. It's the only way I'm going to get what I want." Sephiroth coldly replied matter-of-factly.

"Fuck you, go to hell and rot!"

Cloud and Zack stared silently in amazement. They could not believe that their band was facing this problem. Sure, other bands went through this, but theirs? Seifer abruptly turned from Sephiroth in irritated disgust and quickly paced out of the room, taking most of the nearly tangible anger with him. Cloud stared at Sephiroth. Frankly, he never liked him, but he could see why Seifer was angry. Cloud knew Sephiroth was a great guitarist and extremely charming towards the fans. Zack watched Sephiroth with a hint of frustration in his eyes.

"Well, goodbye." Zack quickly cut in with hurt disappointment in his voice. He walked out of the meeting room. Sephiroth glanced at Cloud.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I have nothing to say to you." Cloud didn't want to speak to his betrayer. Instead, he proceeded forward towards the exit.

"You are a great drummer." The words instantly paralyzed the blond youth. "I don't see why you have to waste your talent on this futile band. You should come with me. You know, the two of us could make it to the charts… right to the very top."

Cloud hesitated. How could he leave his band? He treasured it as if it were made of his very own flesh and blood. It was his life. He could not betray the band in this or any fashion. Never.

A pause.

"Thank you," The blond politely stated, "but I'm not going to leave my life behind." He walked through the frame of the door, shutting it on his way out, willingly prepared to never see Sephiroth again.

"Oh man, my brain is pounding…" Demyx commented to himself. He felt the need to be in total solitude, away from the personified noises of the busy studio session.

"Why don't I help that pounding become pleasurable?" huffed a voice behind his neck. Demyx froze. The tone of the speaker caused his body temperature to rise. The breath engulfed his skin with a heated, pleasurable sensation. His skin felt numb all of a sudden from the mere shock.

"Do I have permission?" Marluxia whispered into Demyx's ear. The so-called request wasn't even a question. He gently pressed his lips against Demyx's earlobe, ready to nibble on the other's sensitive skin. Demyx shivered. He felt sensation rising in and out of his body. He made his neck lean to the right side in order to let Marluxia captivate his earlobe even further. Marluxia gleefully toyed with Demyx's earlobe, rubbing his teeth against the sensitive skin. Demyx felt an urge to resist the sensual action.

"Mar- Marluxia, we only have 15 minutes for break. We need to finish practicing. Plus, I want some water. My throat is parched!" Demyx replied with a hint of exasperation.

The older male smirked. "You're no fun. You know we can make something out of 15 minutes." Marluxia replied with much predator-like amusement. Demyx instantaneously blushed. Marluxia placed an arm around Demyx's waist, pulling the caramel blonde closer against his own heated body. He put a hand under Demyx's shirt, feeling the younger's flat stomach against his own skin.

"No, not now Marluxia," Demyx semi-pleaded, "someone could walk in here and get the wrong idea…" Marluxia withdrew his devious hand out of Demyx's shirt and turned his body 180 degrees, the act making it possible for both to stare directly into each other's eyes. He gently placed his palm on one of Demyx's cheeks and cupped it in his hand.

"Don't worry. It won't be the wrong idea." Marluxia coolly stated as he swiftly landed his lips on top of Demyx's. The caramel teen did not know what to do. He stayed stiff for 5 minuscule seconds until Marluxia pulled him even closer against his warm, heaving chest. Finally, Demyx gave into the blissful kiss. Their physical embrace and sound products were the only things warming the otherwise cold and uninhibited room. They only parted until there was an insufficient amount of oxygen for the two bodies. Demyx heaved in the studio air, his agitated breathing disrupting the former quiet. His cheeks were flushed. His eyes were closed, he could not open them. If he did, the memory of the unspeakable motion would disappear into the past.

"Again?" Marluxia asked not even a minute after. He inched closer into Demyx's lips, ready to take them again in guilty pleasure. Demyx could feel Marluxia's breathing coming closer towards his face. He just couldn't resist the flamboyant pink haired man.

The door to the studio opened. The room went into deep silence. Marluxia and Demyx tore away from their former activity only to see Zexion holding the handle of the door, expressionless. Zexion stared. He closed the studio door with a bit of haste. Demyx removed himself from Marluxia's embrace.

"Shit." Demyx was extremely flushed in embarrassment and previous arousal. He bit his lower lip and hid his face with his hands in a childish manner. "He saw." He felt very hot all of a sudden. Slowly, he stood up and parted with Marluxia's affectionate hands. The latter shot him a glance of interest.

The door suddenly opened yet again but this time with a thundering force. Roxas entered the room with a flushed face, anger written in his features. Axel quickly entered after him but much more relaxed than the younger, in fact, sort of amused.

"Roxas! C'mon! It wasn't my intention for you to trip and fall into my arms." There was a hint of enjoyment in his tone. "Honest, I never intended it to happen!" Axel said with a slight grin on his face.

"You foul mustard seed! I know you did! You and your stupid banana peels!" Roxas yelled back at Axel in embarrassed irritation, "What if my head had crashed on the floor?! What then? You'd have no vocalist!" The shortest band member angrily spat at Axel. His blood veins were visible around his temples, no doubt a product of his fury. Roxas took in a long, needed breath. He tightly clenched his fists. His knuckles were becoming white with every second he stood in silence attempting to calm himself down.

"And for your information, I don't need people carrying me! I can walk, thank you very much!" Roxas walked over to a chair a few feet ahead of him. On the object rested his brown bag. He untidily slipped out a folder that contained many unorganized papers, some of the pages ready to fall out. He opened it and quickly took notice of what he wanted, a blue paper.

"Here, I came up with some new lyrics. We could use them for our next single."

Demyx was currently tending to his bass and setting up the amplifier on the small stage. Marluxia waltzed over to his magenta drums and took a sip of his Jamba Juice set atop of his equipment.

"Why is the paper blue?" inquired Axel, wanting to know why Roxas wrote his lyrics on a blue paper. He usually wrote them on white paper, like a normal person, to Axel's understanding.

"Maybe because the paper's sad." Demyx innocently cut in before Roxas could respond. Silence fell upon the members.

"I do not think that Axel was referring to the paper's emotional well-being, Demyx" explained Marluxia.

Zexion appeared once again, this time with book in hand as he made his way over to his undisturbed guitar. Marluxia stared at Zexion. He wondered how the dark-haired boy could read and walk at the same time so very successfully.

"Hey sexy, whatcha reading? The dictionary?" Axel questioned Zexion.

"No." Zexion tersely replied. He sat down on the chair next to his acoustic guitar. He seemed unconscious of the current situation before him. Demyx stood besides Roxas overlooking the blue lyric paper. He smiled.

"This is good Roxas! I think I can compose some kind of beat to it." Demyx said with an excited tone in his voice.

"I suggest you put in a lot of riffs for the guitar. I need to show off my amazing skills to all my adoring fans." Axel put in with a cocky tone while winking at Demyx.

"The lyrics don't require heavy guitar playing." opposed Roxas.

"Enough of this, we need to practice our current songs. Shall I remind all of you that we have a live coming up?" Marluxia interrupted with a hint of irritated boredom.

"Damn Marluxia, don't act like you have something up your hole! Or …maybe that's what you're lacking?" Axel grinned. He knew just how to tick Marluxia off with the right words.

"Silence, you freak of nature." Marluxia spat and threw a bag of Doritos straight at Axel's face. The devious being caught the bag in time before it inflicted any type of mark on his stunning face.

"Thanks for the food, Marly!" He winked. "I know you have a stash in the back of those pinky drums of yours. You should share more often and try to watch your figure." Axel tauntingly warned Marluxia as he walked back to his equipment at the hidden corner of the stage. Marluxia let out a disapproving grunt and sent a death glare towards the direction of the red head.

"Alright!" Demyx exclaimed with triumph in his voice. "I am done setting up my amp! Let's get a rockin'!" Marluxia picked up his pink drum sticks and hit one of the right cymbals on his drum as a sign of readiness.

"Wait, I need to tune my guitar just a little bit more. I can't get the right level on the amp." Axel informed. He fumbled with the chords a bit until he managed to produce the right sound out of his guitar.

"Hells yeah! Ready to cause some violence in this place!" Axel yelled whilst strumming a chord on his guitar, energetically bouncing on stage.

"Testing. 1, 2, 3. Testing—" Roxas froze just as Axel raced up and began strumming his guitar against the blond's back, the posterior of their bodies touching.

"What the hell are you doing?" demanded Roxas with annoyance clear in his voice. He moved a bit farther from the red head.

"I am preparing for the live just like Marly told us to." Axel answered. "We need to pretend this is a live, right?"

"Right!" chirped in Demyx as he took his position off far back left on the stage.

"Fine." Roxas replied with a sigh of defeat. Axel grinned. Zexion gathered his reading material and put it carefully inside his bag. The teen then picked up his acoustic guitar and took his position on stage, at the right anterior to Marluxia.

"Alright! Everyone together!" Roxas exclaimed pretending the practice was indeed a live.

"We are the J-Walkers!" Everyone yelled in unison.

"Au!" Roxas semi-howled, his energy level automatically rising, as he jumped off the stage, ready to attack the first song on the list for their first live of the year.

A/N: There you go! The first chapter! I am quite tired. I took a long time to write this. I will write more as soon as I can. Please comment! Thank you!