FINALLY MOTIVATED MYSELF TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER AGAIN! For anyone who missed the memo - I was typing this chapter about a week or so ago, and my power got knocked out, and I hadn't saved the chapter yet. So. I lost the whole thing. Damn. Yeah. This one probably won't be as good as the other one, but I'm trying my best to replicate it. Sorry it took so long, luvs.
This one goes into normal 3rd person, then - towards the middle - we get into Demyx's 1st person, then into Saix's 1sr person, then I'm probably going to break it into either 1st person for Reno, Yazoo, and Axel or the RP style 3rd person. Haven't decided that much yet.
I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
Nor any of the bishies I use. Damn.
Nor do I own any of the songs I use in this chapter. ( You'll see. )
Nor the Disney music I was listening to while writing this chapter. ( DISNEY LUV! )
Nor any of the locations that are mentioned or described. Ash made some of them up. Some are KH originals.
P.S.: Sonzaishinakatta Sekai is Japanese for The World That Never Was.
Towairaito Taun is Japanese for Twilight Town.
Desutini Airando is Japanese for Destiny Islands.( Ash somehow knows all that. )
P.S.S: † Demyx singing ( when with Axel. )
†† Axel singing ( when with Demyx. )
› Demyx's 1st person
± Saix's 1st person
♥ if you're n o t the o n e ♥
chapter three
"Guys…why do I have to do this?" Demyx murmured in objection as Reno - quite literally - dragged him from the subway and up the stairs from the underground station, emerging into the dark city, lit with fluorescent lights and neon signs, of Sonzaishinakatta Sekai. They all had to blink for a moment to adjust to the lights. Sonzaishinakatta Sekai was the only large city in the area, and a large city it was. During the day, it looked like any other city - businessmen and women scurrying to and fro to their jobs and such. However, when night fell, the city came to life in a rage of bright lights and nightlife. It was where you could find just about anything. Truly. There was the Black Pearl Bar and Grill - a fancy restaurant with a pirate theme, Studio XIII - a very well-and-to-do strip club in the heart of the city, where Yazoo worked as a stripper, much to his usual dismay ( "It is a job." ), the Cave of Wonders Hotel and Casino, Club Oblivion - the rave club, where Demyx proudly worked as a DJ, Kingdom Sushi - the local sushi bar, the Pachinko Parlor, and the Karaoke Bar. Hell, there was even the Red Light District. The bustling city was quite different from the small town atmosphere of Towairaito Taun and the seclusion of Desutini Airando.
"Because if you do not get your ass out of the dorm, you're gonna turn into a potato." Axel, who was walking behind Reno - to make sure Demyx didn't escape - said bluntly. And truthfully. Demyx had not left his dorm since that fateful night five days ago. Except to venture to the bathrooms and such. However, he had not left the 3rd year floor. He hadn't even gone to class! Apparently he'd called Xaldin, a decent friend and the school nurse, and told him a big fat lie about how he was "really frickin' sick." Well. It wasn't a complete lie. He wasn't sick in the actual sick way. But he was sick. Sick in the heartbroken way. It concerned all of them, but perhaps Axel the most.
He had watched for five days as his friend sat or laid in his bed, not communicating with him in anyway except when Axel tried to prod something out of him. Then, he only received a curt, "leave me the hell alone," and Demyx turning his back to his best friend. So, for the past three days, Axel had been forced to keep himself from killing Saix during either Homeroom or Art. The blue-haired teacher had seemed genuinely concerned when Demyx hadn't shown up to class on Monday. He'd even inquired as to why. Axel gave him the curt, "he's sick," line. Saix had left it at that. A good thing. Axel felt like wringing the bastard's neck.
"Maybe I WANT to become a potato!" Demyx yelled. Any other time, the other three would've laughed loudly and such. However, now, it wasn't funny in any way. He truly meant it. He didn't want to face the world. No, he didn't want to face one person.
He's afraid to leave that room because he knows he's going to see Saix, Yazoo thought. He was right, of course.
Just then, they reached their destination. The workers at the door smiled at them and greeted them by name, they were usual customers, after all. With that, Reno pulled Demyx into the building. It wasn't large, but not overly small either. Big enough to fit a few booths to sit in, some chairs and couches, a bar towards the back, and a small stage against a wall towards the top of the room, in easy view from every angle. A group of microphones were sat on it, along with a large plasma screen TV that hung on the wall behind it. Below it was a machine, that could only be known as one thing. A Karaoke Machine. Along with several shelves full of CDs and such.
After all, for the four of them, Wednesday night was Karaoke Night.
They drug the protesting blonde to their normal, wrap-around booth, shoving him in it. Axel sat on his right side, Yazoo on his left, and Reno of Yazoo's left. The two-red heads went to the bar and came back, each carrying two drinks, along with a small tray of buttered popcorn, some fruit, a bar of chocolate, a pack of Oreos, some whole wheat tortilla chips, and a container of extra spicy salsa. Axel slid Demyx his drink, a simple Dr. Pepper, and kept his own, a suicide drink consisting of Pepsi, Sprite, Sunkist, Grape Fanta, Sweet Tea, and Dr. Pepper. Yazoo received his Shirley Temple from Reno, who kept his own Pepsi. He sat the tray of food in the center of the booth, then sat down. Everyone dug in, picking their usual snacks and munching on them.
Except Demyx.
Axel looked at him, then reached over, grabbed an Oreo, grabbed Demyx's chin and held the Oreo in front of his face.
"Eat it. Or I shove it down your throat." he said, staring his best friend down. Demyx rolled his eyes, shoved Axel off, grabbed the Oreo, and shoved it in his mouth. He tried to look like it was utterly disgusting. However, a moment later, he had the whole package in front of him, eating them like a maniac. It made the other three exchange quick glances, hopeful. Maybe he would be okay with tonight.
"So, Dem. You up first?" Reno asked. He, of course, meant that Demyx was supposed to Karaoke first. That was how they always did it after all. Every Wednesday, no fail, they went to the Karaoke Bar. They sat in the same booth. They got the same drinks. Then, Demyx would Karaoke first, followed by Reno, then Axel, and then Yazoo. They'd spend the whole night there, sometimes two or three or all of them singing together. Demyx's oceana eyes looked over at Reno and held what looked like tension for a moment. The older man nodded, understanding fairly quickly. He didn't want to. Not yet. "Guess I'm up then."
The red-head stood, rubbing his hands together as he headed to the stage. He briefly examined the CDs, pulling a few out to look at then putting them back, before picking one, taking the CD out of its case, and placing it in the Karaoke machine. He checked the track number, then clicked it to the song. He stood, turned to the microphones, grabbed one and pulled it off the stand as the music - upbeat and fun - started. Reno's three friends burst into laughter when they realized what the song was, EVEN DEMYX LAUGHED. Reno made a small, "yes!" gesture when he saw that and strutted stupidly around the stage, dancing a bit. He held the mic up to his lips and belted out the song.
"You ain't nothin' but a hound dog,
Cryin' all the time.
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog,
Cryin' all the time.
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit,
And you ain't no friend of mine.
Well, they said you was high-classed,
Well, that was just a lie.
Yeah, they said you was high-classed,
Well, that was just a lie.
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit,
And you ain't no friend of mine."
Reno may not have been the best singer in the world, but his Elvis impression was priceless. And he could do those stupid little dances like nobody else. Everyone else in the bar was watching him and laughed as he continued to dance around, like the red-headed reincarnation of the King of Rock & Roll himself. By the end of the song, he had everyone in stitches. And at the end of the song, when he did the classic Elvis-hip-swing-thing, everyone was applauding. He walked back to the booth, laughing to himself as everyone cheered at him. As he sat down, he gave Axel a quick look. The fellow red-head nodded, grabbed Demyx's hands, and pulled him over to the stage. Demyx looked at his best friend with wide-eyes.
"What the hell?!" he whispered urgently. Axel put a finger to his lips, telling him without words to shut up. The red-head looked down at the CDs, found the one he wanted, grabbed the CD, and placed it in the machine. Demyx snatched the case from Axel and rolled his eyes. He should've known. He and his best friend stepped up to the microphones as the song began, a mid-tempo ballad.
This song was one of the songs that Demyx made Axel sing with him whenever the red-head was down in the dumps. He supposed that karma had finally caught up to him. He would have to sing first, but Axel would technically start the song. His best friend draped one arm around his shoulder, speaking into the mic.
"When you were first born, not an hour old, I told Marmee -"
"Beth is mine!"
"Everyone has someone special in the world; and I have you, my sweet Beth. Give me a task to do."
Demyx took a deep breath. Oh, damn. He didn't want to do this. It was odd. He loved to sing. More than anything. But right now, even that held no appeal for him. Oh, god help him.
†"Let's pretend we're riding on a kite,
Let's imagine we're flying through the air!"
††"We'll ascend until we're out of sight,
Light as paper, we'll soar!"
†"Let's be wild, up high above the sane,
Feel the wind, the world at our command,
Let's enjoy the view,
And never land."
††"Floating far from the shore."
†"Some things are meant to be, the clouds moving fast and free."
††"The sun on a silver sea."
"A sky that's bright and blue."
†"And some things will never end."
††"The thrill of our magic ride."
†"The love that I feel inside for you."
††"We'll climb high beyond the break of day."
†"Sleep on stardust, and dine on bits of moon."
††"You and I will find the Milky Way. We'll be mad, and explore.
We'll recline a loft upon the breeze.
Dart about sail on wit with ease.
Pass the days doing only as we please, that's what living is for."
†"We'll be mad, and explore. We'll recline a loft upon the breeze.
Dart about sail on wit with ease.
Pass the days doing only as we please, that's what living is for.
Some things are meant to be, the tide turning endlessly,
the way it takes hold of me, no matter what I do,
and some things will never die, the promise of who you are,
the memories when I am far from you.
All my life, I've lived for loving you; let me go now."
As the song finished, everyone broke into uproarious applause. Demyx bit his lips and blinked quickly. Somewhere towards the middle of the song, he had began to get tears in his eyes. Axel smiled at him sweetly and punched his arm playfully. Then, he led him back to the table. Once they'd sat down, Demyx hugged him tightly.
"Thanks."
Axel chuckled and hugged his best friend.
"Just glad to see you smile and laugh again."
Yazoo and Reno chuckled and looked at each other. Reno quirked his eyebrow. Yazoo sighed quietly and jumped over his friend's lap. Reno smirked and reached his hand out to grope Yazoo's ass. Only to receive a sharp kick in the gut. Yazoo sauntered over to the stage. Once his song was picked, he moved to the mic, taking a deep breath. He wasn't one for singing in public, like the other three, but he still managed to get through it every week.
"Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone,
Gazing at the people down below me.
All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone,
Hungry for the histories they show me.
All my life I memorize their faces,
Knowing them as they will never know me.
All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day,
Not above them,
But part of them.
Demyx was curled comfortably against the worn leather of the booth, watching his friend sing his heart out. Yazoo was an amazing singer. Not to say that Axel and Reno weren't good, but, by far, Demyx and Yazoo were the "singers" of the four of them. Axel and Reno were more, "let's sing and dance and be stupid," while Demyx and Yazoo were more, "let's sing and show off how great we are." True, sometimes they crossed boundaries, such as when Axel and Demyx sang Some Things Are Meant to Be, but it didn't happen often. Demyx's eyes shifted to Reno momentarily, who was gazing dreamily at Yazoo. He chuckled. Those two. They loved each other more than they let the other know, but always swore up and down that the feelings were one-sided. Everyone else, of course, knew better. But they just refused to admit anything.
His oceana eyes shifted around the club. The door opened about then. He craned his neck back to see who was coming in. He knew all the normal tenants of this place. It happened when you spent all night every Wednesday night there. However, the person that walked in was the last person he expected to see. Thankfully, the person didn't see him. He walked straight to a chair in a dark and quiet corner, looking around calmly. Demyx quickly turned so that he couldn't be seen by the man. Reno and Axel hadn't noticed his strange actions, thankfully.
"Won't resent,
Won't despair.
Old and bent,
I won't care.
I'll have spent,
One day,
Out there."
Yazoo finished the song on a spectacular note, earning a standing ovation from his three best friends, along with hearty cheers from the rest of the club. Demyx stood quickly, a hare-brained scheme formulating itself. He walked to the stage, smiling at his friends, who looked simply overjoyed that Demyx was coming out from his shell. The blonde spent a few moments looking at the CDs, debating just which one he wanted to use. Finally, he picked one, placed the CD in the machine, and walked to the microphone. Yazoo, who was taller than Demyx, had adjusted it, so Demyx had to pull it back down to his height. It wasn't the only mic. But it WAS the center mic. He could've easily taken one of the other, but he wanted this one. Once it was adjusted to his liking, he placed both hands on it - it was still on the stand - and sang into the microphone. His eyes stared ruefully at the place in the room where the man was sitting. Finally, the other man noticed him.
"Without you, the ground thaws,
The rain falls, the grass grows.
Without you, the seeds root,
The flowers bloom, the children play.
The stars gleam, the poets dream,
The eagles fly, without you.
The earth turns, the sun burns,
But I die, without you."
±
I don't know what I was thinking when I went to the Karaoke Bar that night. I NEVER went there. Ever. Okay, maybe once in a while. But it was such a rare occurrence, it should hardly count as anything. When I walked it, I was greeted by the melodious tunes of a young, silver-haired man. I vaguely registered him as Yazoo - a 4th year student, also a stripper at Studio XIII - the club I owned and managed. I raised an eyebrow in shock. He was such a quiet young man. Yet, here he was, belting out a song with all his heart. And he was quite good. I nodded slightly to myself in approval and crossed quietly through the room, not to disturb anyone else in the bar. I found a comfortable lounge chair in a dark and quiet corner, secluded a bit from the rest of the people in the room. I crossed my right leg over my left, flicking at a piece of lint on the dark-washed, slightly snug, denim material. Barely a moment went by when Yazoo finished his song, belting a note beautifully. I clapped politely, glancing about calmly, taking in the atmosphere. Everything here was cheerful and warm. The complete opposite of what I, myself, was feeling.
Demyx…I hadn't seen him since Saturday night. He hadn't even attended classes this week, and it was Wednesday. He'd missed three days of, from what I had heard, ALL of his classes. Not just mine. His red-headed pyromaniac-tended friend had told me, not so nicely, "he's sick," when I'd asked. The tone in his voice and the way he was glaring all kinds of death at me lead me to one realization - Demyx had told his best friend what had happened. The red-head was probably refraining greatly from beating me into a bloody pile. I daresay I deserved it, though.
A loud cheer from a group near the stage jerked me to reality. It was the group Yazoo was here with. There were two other red-heads. One being Demyx's friend. My heart skipped a beat and stopped momentarily as I realized what this must mean. Oh, High Ones help me. Was Demyx with them? A quick glance to the stage sent my worst nightmares into reality. I watched as he picked his music, adjusted his mic, and everything else; all done with a grace only Demyx could ascertain. I was utterly captivated. Then, his eyes were locked on me, and his voice poured out, amplified by the microphone. I wanted to close my eyes and lose myself in his song. His voice was just as beautiful as the rest of him. He was simply amazing. I wondered, rather annoyed, why this boy was still in high school. Why didn't he have a record deal? Why was he singing in a Karaoke Bar instead of on a stage, in a packed venue filled with thousands of screaming fans.
However beautiful his voice was though, his words felt like a dagger straight to my heart. I bit my lip harshly, almost trying blood. But I still couldn't look away. And he didn't either.
"Without you, the stars roar the breeze warms,
The girl smiles, the cloud moves.
Without you, the tides change,
The boys run, the oceans crash.
The crowds roar, the days soar,
The babies cry, without you.
The moon glows, the river flows,
But I die, without you."
›
I was forcing myself not to cy as I continued singing. I was shocked my voice had yet to crack. Especially since I was, quite literally, singing to Saix. It hurt like hell, though. The song wasn't something I should be singing to him. I should've been singing something about love and joy and such. He should've been sitting with my friends and I, not in the corner all alone. I managed a deep breath as the song continued. I kept my eyes on him. And even from the distance, a good fifteen feet or so, I could see his amber eyes just the same as if he were standing right in front of me. I saw him bit his lip and knew he was trying not to show any type of emotion. And that was enough to almost send me into tears. My voice wavered ever so slightly.
"The world revives, colors renew,
But I know blue, only blue,
Lonely blue, within me blue,
Without you.
Without you, the hand gropes,
The ear hears, the pulse beats.
Without you, the eyes gaze,
The legs walk, the lungs breathe,
The mind churns, the heart yearns."
Axel's eyes had narrowed in suspicion when he heard the song choice Demyx had made. And when he saw his blonde best friend's gaze lock itself towards the back of the room, he snapped his head in that direction. His blood boiled in rage, and he almost stood. Yazoo saw it and grabbed his arm, shooting him a look that forbade him from doing anything. Reno looked past Yazoo, who had already seen Saix a moment or so ago, and growled in anger. Yazoo then turned his gaze to him.
"Not now. Do you understand me?" Yazoo whispered, venom dripping from his tone. The red-heads nodded in unison. The three of them turned their attention back to Demyx, doing their best not to stalk across the room and commence beating Saix into the ground without mercy.
"The tears dry, without you,
Life goes on, but I'm gone.
Cause I die, without you,
Without you."
Everyone in the bar clapped loudly and cheered. They had no idea that the song was exactly what the blonde performer was singing. They just thought it was for fun and good times. Demyx left the stage. His friends expected him to come back and sit, but he walked right past them, grabbing the jacket that he had left in his seat. He pulled it on and hurried from the bar. Across the room, Saix had stood and was already halfway to the door. Axel jerked up, only to be pulled right back down by, not Yazoo, but Reno. He growled in anger.
"I'm not letting Saix be alone with him!" Axel whispered in rage.
"Demyx needs time alone. Without us." Yazoo said.
"He won't be alone! Saix will be there!" Axel protested, trying to pry Reno's hand off his arm.
"Let them have a few minutes. Something might happen. Something good."
Demyx was already out the door before Saix had even stood. He stepped out into the dark streets, thankfully greeting the cold night air. He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath. Then, he heard the door open and close. He clenched his fists in the pockets of his jackets and began walking away quickly, towards the subway station.
"DEMYX!"
He stopped on instinct, cursing himself for it, and looked over his shoulder. Saix was standing a few meters back, his hands clenched in fists at his sides.
"What do you want?"
Saix took a few quick steps to pull himself towards Demyx. The blonde took a hesitant step back. Saix's face crumbled.
"To say that I'm sorry. Please, Demyx…" he whispered tenderly, reaching out for the small boy's hand. Demyx allowed him to take it, tears welling in his eyes as their skin touched. It sent a chill up his spine, and made him remember what had happened the other night. At that thought, he almost flung himself at Saix. However, he did what was hardest for him to do. He pulled his hand back, wiped his eyes, looked at Saix briefly with a look of pure pain, then turned on his heel and started running towards the subway station. Saix almost reached to stop him, but he stopped himself. He watched as the figure of Demyx vanished into the night. And he stood there, the bitter wind whipping his hair about, arms hanging limply at his sides, and amber eyes filling with tears that he had kept locked inside since that night. He blinked quickly. He would not cry here, not now. He took a deep breath and began walking, head hanging in shame and despair.
How long must this go on?
This cruel trick of fate?
I simply made one careless wrong decision
And then the witch was gone
And left me in this state
An object of revulsion and derision
Hated...
Is there no one
Who can show me
How to win the world's forgiveness?
♥ le end ♥
chapter three
HOLYSHIT! That turned out HELLA longer than I expected. Thanks to the songs. I think. Oh, yeah, songs used. Duh.
Hound Dog by Elvis Presley.
Some Things Are Meant to Be from Little Women.
Out There from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Without You from Rent.
How Long Must This Go On? From Beauty and the Beast.
READ & REVIEW, BIATCHES! Or else…oh fuck. Just do it.
