A/N: All right, another AkuRoku! I feel lost without them, you know that? Well, anyway, Roxas is a neko again in this one, but instead of making Axel a fox again, he'll be a neko, too! Everyone is a neko in this one, hehe. Enjoy~
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story.
Darkness Finds Light
Chapter 1
"Roxas! Roxas, time to get up!"
"I'm up, I'm up already!" I yelled back to my twin brother, sounding groggy. My golden blonde cat ears flattened against my head. I desperately just wanted to curl back under the covers and drift off to sleep again, but when you have a hyper-as-shit twin brother, that ain't happening. Ventus came running into my room, already dressed and bright blue, feline eyes wide open.
"Roxaaasssss!" he whined. "Come on! Vanitas is waiting for us; he's giving us a ride today, so hurry up!"
"And this involves me how?" I questioned, raising a brow at my more hyper, identical twin.
"Because Vanitas and I know you don't like walking in the rain, so he offered to take us in his car!" he answered quickly. I sighed and sat up slowly, groaning at the feeling of my spine clicking from the movement.
"Look, Ven," I said, looking at him properly now. "I know you're concerned about me, but I'll be fine. Go ride with your boyfriend. I'll walk. I want to be alone right now, anyway."
"Roxas…" Ven mumbled, his own ears flattening in discomfort. "I don't want to leave you alone, though…"
"I'll be fine," I assured him, giving a small smile. It didn't reach my eyes like any smile of mine used to, but I highly doubted it could happen ever again. Not since the incident. Ven seemed to take the hint and nodded, starting to leave.
"Rox?" he said, his back to me.
"Yeah?"
"Just make sure to let me know if you need to talk, okay?"
"Sure thing, Ven. I'll text or call you," I promised, and he left, his ears still flat against his head and his tail drooping slightly.
Once my door was shut, I finally stood, yawning. I pulled off my dark grey sleep pants and black t-shirt in exchange for a black sleeveless shirt and black skinny jeans. I pulled my black hoodie on, and it hid my scars as it was supposed to. Out of habit, though, I still slipped on my black and white checkered wristband on my left wrist and fingerless gloves over my hands. I have a thing for fingerless gloves and black, okay? I even paused to apply my eyeliner as I got ready for the day.
Before leaving my room, I made sure to grab my knife, cell phone, silver iPod, and headphones. I also snagged my house key from my bedside table before picking up my black and white checkered messenger bag and going downstairs.
In the kitchen, I forced myself to eat something small. Just a granola bar to shut my brother and dads up. Yes, I have two dads. There's Cloud, who Ventus and I resemble, and our other dad, Zack. We don't have a biological mom because Cloud gave birth to us. And Ventus and I both have the capability for it, too. It's common for us nekos.
"Roxas?" Ah, speak of the devils. Cloud and Zack rounded the corner and joined me in the kitchen.
"Roxas, why are you still here? We thought Vanitas was giving you and Ven a ride to school," Zack said.
"I said I'd walk," I muttered around a bite of my granola bar, one of my ears folding back.
"Rox, I'm not letting you walk in the rain. I'll drop you off myself," Cloud said, and I rolled my sapphire eyes.
"Fine. I just wanna listen to my music, though," I grumbled, and finished off the granola bar, trying not to gag. It wasn't that it tasted bad, I just didn't want to eat at all. I hardly eat nowadays unless I'm forced to. Or if I don't want my dads or brother nagging me about it.
"All right, we'll take my car," Zack offered, and I shrugged.
"Whatever," I sighed, and my ears went back as I walked to the raven-haired neko's car. Plugging in my iPod and slapping my headphones on, I listened to some Linkin Park as we headed to Twilight Town's only high school. The main reason I wanted to walk was because I didn't want to be talked to. I wanted to be left alone. Besides, who's going to talk to me while it's raining out?
Zack parked the 2008 Honda Civic by the school, but as I started to climb out, he stopped me.
"Rox," he said. "…Try not to get in trouble, okay?"
"No promises," I muttered under my breath as I nodded. See, it depends on the douche bags here if I get in trouble or not. As long as they leave me alone, then I'm fine. Unfortunately, I got called to the office during first period, and everyone stared at me as I left. Glaring at them all, I growled before leaving. When I got to the office, it turned out I was called to the counselor's office, not the principal's. I sat down, my expression bored as I looked at Leon, the school counselor.
"What's going on this time, Leon?" I sighed, my tone bored as well. I had been here often enough to know that usually it was because I was in trouble that I was brought here.
"Roxas, we have a new student coming today, and I felt it would be best if you and Ventus were to show him around," the brunette told me. I bristled angrily; Leon knows about my past, so how could he even think of doing that to me?!
"Leon, you know how mistrusting I am! You know I about what happened!" I snapped, glaring icily at him. My ears were flattened against my skull and my tail lashed angrily.
"Yes, Roxas, I do. But maybe he'll be good for you. Someone you can try to let in," the brown-haired neko suggested. I growled as I fumed in my seat.
"And if I say no?" I asked, still angry.
"Then you'll fail your classes like you have been," he replied. "If you do this, however, I'll make sure your grades are raised by a whole letter grade." Damn. That really leaves me with no choice…
"Fine, I'll do it," I grumbled. "I won't make any promises about being good, though."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Rox," Leon smiled. "Ventus should be waiting for you outside the office with the new student. Head on out, and I'll even excuse any absences for this week."
"Sure thing, Leon," I mumbled, and stood, walking out of his office to join my brother and the new kid. When I saw the guy, though, I was pissed. "Fuck, why does Leon make my life harder than it already is?"
This guy looked like a tough-ass punk that wanted to be left alone like me. He was tall, much taller than me, and had bright, fire-red hair that spiked back like a lion's mane. His eyes were a bright, emerald green, and had the classic feline shape to them that all nekos have. His bright red cat ears were relaxed, as was his matching tail. He even had two tattoos on his face, one under each eye, and they looked like upside down black teardrops. He was wearing a pair of dark, loose jeans that had chains hanging from the belt-loops, and a shirt with horizontal black and white stripes underneath a black leather jacket. The jacket had silver spikes on the shoulders and silver studs decorating it all over. His bag was a very old-looking, worn down, fire patterned bag.
When I came out of the office, he looked up at me and those eyes of his widened. Ven noticed me, too, and smiled at me.
"Heya, Roxas!" he greeted as I joined them. On the outside, I remained calm, but on the inside, I was panicking. I didn't like this, not one bit. This guy made me nervous already, and I didn't even know his name.
"Hey, Ven," I replied, letting my twin hug me. It calmed me slightly, but I was still nervous.
"Oh, Roxas, I take it Leon told you about how we'll be showing him around?" he asked, smiling when I nodded. "Well, this is Axel, the new student."
"Pleasure," I muttered to the redhead.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," a very familiar voice said nearby. "Both blondies and a newbie. Well, I guess it's time to teach the new kid who to listen to around here." We all turned to see Seifer, Rai, and Fuu standing nearby.
"Back off, Seifer. We haven't done anything this time," Ven said, trying to stop the resident bully.
"Like I listen to short-shits!" the beanie-wearing blonde snapped, and Rai made a move towards Ven.
"Seifer, unless you want me to pummel you, back the fuck off," I hissed, my eyes narrowing to mere slits. I would NOT allow the bastard to hurt my brother. Seifer laughed at my threat, though, and advanced as well.
"Looks like I have to teach the emo and his fag of a brother to not threaten me," he smirked. As soon as Rai grabbed Ven, though, I shot over and snapped my leg up to kick the asshole in the face. The larger of the two guys staggered back, his nose bleeding.
"Shit! Seifer, he got me, y'know!" he growled. Seifer advanced on us now, and this time, I swung and punched Seifer hard. I knew I hit him hard, too, because I felt his jaw bone on my knuckle. The bully staggered back as well, and then reached over and grabbed me, lifting me off the floor. I remained still, not showing any fear because I knew I could handle this.
"Roxas!" Ven yelped from where he stood.
"Ven, stay back," I snapped, and he did as he was told. Suddenly, I kicked off from the wall where Seifer had me pinned, and kneed him in the groin. From there, I smashed my fist into his face, and he cried out in pain as I broke his nose. I then grabbed him by the back of his neck and pinned his face to the floor.
"Stay away from us, or else you'll consider this nothing compared to what'll happen next time," I spat, and released him. Seifer quickly scrambled to his feet and bolted, Rai and Fuu close behind him. I nodded in approval as they rounded the corner, and then turned back to Axel and Ventus.
"Roxas, are you okay?" Ven asked, coming over to inspect me. I chuckled.
"Yeah, Ven, I'm fine. I fend for myself, remember? And I would never let anyone hurt you," I reminded him. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Axel.
"Sorry you had to see that," he apologized. The redhead was staring at me, dumbstruck, and then snapped out of it.
"Looks like Roxy here has some fight in him," he smirked, and I almost snapped at the nickname. I saw red, and Ven was quick to hold me back.
"Don't call me Roxy!" I snarled, trying to get to him. "Ven, let me go so I can scrap this moron's face!"
"No, Rox! He didn't mean anything by it, so let it go!" my twin protested as I struggled. I calmed myself, and once Ventus was sure that I wouldn't rip that stupid redhead a new one, he let me go. Axel stared at me again, shocked.
"Don't call me that, or you're a dead man," I spat as I stalked past him. The redhead shook his head rapidly as though trying to clear it, and then Ven took the lead to show Axel around the school. When we stopped at the library, my twin gave me a pointed look. I sighed loudly and rolled my eyes, but proceeded to explain.
"This is the library, where I get sent to detention if and when I get it. That's the only time you'll ever find me here, otherwise I'm never around this place," I muttered. Ven suddenly perked up as a thought came to him, and I immediately knew what he was going to suggest. I shook my head at him, saying no, but he ignored me.
"Hey, Axel?" he said. Axel looked at him, his own ears perked. "How would you like to join us at lunch today? Seeing as we're already showing you around and all…"
"Sounds good," the redhead shrugged. "When's lunch, anyway?"
"Well, lunch starts at 11, so we could head over there now, seeing as it's almost that time. Roxas and I have been excused from our classes for this week by Leon, so it'll be cool," Ven replied. "Besides, this means you get to meet my boyfriend, Vanitas!"
"Cool, so everyone accepts gays here?" Axel asked, seeming interested. Pulling my hood over my head, I scowled. I didn't like that Axel was so interested in that. He already seemed to like me, but he's an ass.
"Yeah, pretty much everyone. Seifer's an exception, though, as you saw back there. He's one of the few, along with Rai and Fuu, that don't like gays," Ven answered. He glanced at Axel. "So, where did you move from? And how come you chose Twilight Town?"
"Hollow Bastion. Twilight Town seems more peaceful than all the street fights back in Hollow Bastion," the redhead said. I just listened in, and then became bored, choosing to pull out my iPod and headphones instead. I tuned them out by listening to Linkin Park again. When we reached the cafeteria, Ven took off with Axel to get some lunch while I went to our table in the far back corner, where Vanitas was waiting already.
"Heya, Rox," he greeted, his gold cat eyes gleaming with a slight hint of jealousy.
"Hey," I replied, and sat down across from him. Out of all of our friends, I trusted Vanitas the most, seeing as my twin was dating him. That and Vanitas struggled with depression like I do until he met Ven. So he can really empathize with me. "I know what you're thinking, Van, and Ven isn't trying to cheat on you," I said, giving him a pointed look. "Leon just assigned us to show the new kid around the school, that's all."
"Good to know," the raven-haired neko murmured. "I was worried for a second there." He then realized I didn't have any food. "Aren't you going to get something for lunch so he doesn't nag you?"
"Nah, I choked down a granola bar this morning," I told him. "Better than nothing, I guess."
"Good point," he agreed, and smiled slightly as Ven and Axel joined us. "Hey there."
"Hi Vanitas!" Ven chirped, sitting next to his boyfriend. "This is Axel, the new student. He just moved here from Hollow Bastion."
"Nice to meet you," Vanitas greeted the redhead, and shook hands with him firmly. "I'm sure you'll do well."
"Thanks," Axel said, and sat down next to me. I scooted away from him slightly, feeling uncomfortable.
"Are the others here yet?" Ven asked, looking around. I slipped my headphones on, deciding to leave the conversation. I rested my head on my arms as I zoned out, my mind just wandering. I still watched them to see what they were saying, though. I could read lips quite well, to be honest.
"There they are," Vanitas said, pointing over at the doors. I glanced up to see Sora, Vanitas's twin brother, and Riku, Sora's boyfriend, walking to the line to get lunch.
I just ignored them when they came over. Sora was too happy for my liking. Sure, he's Vanitas's twin, but still. The two of them were nothing alike in personality. Sora was naïve and happy-go-lucky, while Vanitas seemed to take things more seriously. Riku seemed to keep Sora in check, though, which helped my anger issues.
Suddenly, I was nudged in the ribs, and my eyes flicked up to see Axel watching me. I glowered at him, but he still waited for me to remove my headphones before talking to me.
"Don't you feel left out?" he asked quietly as the others chatted about this and that.
"No."
"Come on, join in the conversation," he urged. "I'm new here, and I'd like to get to know you." I immediately felt scared. That was how it went the last time I let someone in. He said he wanted to get to know me, and I let him. Now my trust in other people is shattered.
My eyes widened in fear, my pupils constricting, and I immediately got to my feet, snatching up my stuff and leaving, my tail quivering with fear as my ears folded back.
"Roxas?" Ven said, confused, and tried to follow me. I gave Vanitas a look he understood, and he held Ven back.
"Leave him be. He'll tell you later," I barely heard the murmured words before I took off running. As I burst out of the school doors, the tears started to fall, but no one would be able to tell in the rain.
A/N: Wow that was pretty tense. I'm glad I'm writing another AkuRoku, because I feel like I'd be doomed without them. Anyway, can you guys guess who I'm making the antagonist here? As in, the guy who hurt Roxas? Let me know in your reviews! R&R, peeps!