Side of the Spectrum

Chapter Four

"Okay, act cool," I tried to get Sora's and Roxas's attention.

We were standing outside of Ven's house; well, it's not technically a house since most of it underground. Also, the well-maintained sage lawn covers the roof of it. These houses are very common for this side of the Spectrum and it is why we are called, Mole-people. It's not like the people over here had an option. The Underground Houses last longer and are easier to build on the prairie fields. With all of the rain we get, anything else would just sink into the ground. It's our alternative.

But, these houses are nice and huge on the inside, gets lots of natural light and the walls are usually made of white marble. They can be big enough to hold malls and supermarkets. I would choose living here of instead of a boring old house any day.

That's another topic; I always loved admiring these kinds of buildings. I need to snap back to reality and so do Sora and Roxas. They have been acting awkward and distant since we left the auction and it would be freaking obvious that we didn't spend all day at the mall. Well, Roxas usually act like that, but not Sora!

"Do I need to slap you two before we go in?" If that wouldn't get their attention I don't know what will. Thankfully it did.

"You don't have to do that, Xion. I'm fine," said the unusually composed Sora.

Roxas twitched in anger, "Shut up, I know what I'm doing."

Of course you do, "do you even know what you're going to say to your big brother, who can read your emotions like a book?"

"I'm the one who came up with the lie that we were at the mall all day."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, sure. But what if Ven asks a follow-up question; like what did we do, which stores did we go to, why did we spend over five hours at a mall and didn't come back with any bags? You need to step aside and let the experts work."

Roxas didn't have a reply to that. It was obvious that he didn't think that far ahead. It was way easier to come up with something on the spot, but the three of us didn't have enough time to get our story straight. It didn't help that all of us were starving. The auctioneers took all of our money so we could buy a quick snack. It's funny, how hungry we get when where broke.

"Fine," Roxas stepped outside, unlocked the door, and gestured me into the Underground House.

I shrugged and charged right into the house. As soon as I crossed the border, a strong scent of perfectly seasoned meat hit me and my stomach shriveled in agony. I nearly forgot that it was taco night. I was in the back room, the kitchen, and a tall person's golden hair could easily bring warmth to the all-white interior.

Ven smiled at me and used a wooden spoon to beckon me to come in. "You came right on time, Xion, everything is ready. Tell everyone to come in."

Ventus looks like an exact replica of Roxas, expect he has a laxer voice than him and is nearly a foot taller than us. He was wearing a black turtleneck, his favorite shirt ever, grey pants and, uh, a light green apron. It took everything I had not to snicker at him.

Roxas and Sora crept up behind me and closed the door behind them. Ven's smile melted away when he saw their faces; and, they blew it. He made a beeline towards them and asked, "What's wrong?"

I jumped behind them and in the middle of Ven's view. Put both of my hands on both of their shoulders, tried to think of something funny as I started to lie, "It's nothing, Venny. We just had a very long day at the mall and we our STARVING."

Ven's stared at me with indifference look on his face. I think I might be slipping. "What happened, Xion? What did you do?" His voice was becoming stern.

I stared back with big innocent eyes and placed both hands on my chest. Ven kept his tone, "Yeah, you. What happened today? Why are they acting strange?"

"Why do you assume that I did something? We made it back in one piece didn't we?" I tried to keep the vague story straight.

Roxas spoke up, but his voice was very strained and robotic, "Xion's right. We're just just tired from walking around Lakes Crossing."

Good job, Roxas, he actually named the mall we were at. Ven's piercing stare turned to Roxas head, who was staring at Ven's shoes. Ven placed his hand under Roxas's chin and his yanked his head up. It looked like he was trying to read his mind when he asked, "Are you sure you're okay?'

"Yeah," Roxas replied really quickly.

Ven's hand dropped, then he turned to Sora and asked, "And how was your day, Sora?"

Be strong, Sora. He jumped in his skin; he face was still a little red from earlier. Sora nodded repeatedly and stuttered the words, "I-I had a great day at Lakes Crossing. W-we met a lot of interesting people there."

You're weak, Sora. Ven raised an eyebrow and sighed. I'm not sure if he believes us or he gave up for now. "Okay, since you three are so hungry, you should wash your hands and eat before the food gets cold."

"Gladly," Roxas rushed away from that awkward conversation.

"Sure," Sora rushed after him.

I was about to walk past Ven when he stopped me by putting the wooden spoon in front of my face. It still had seasoning on it and I wanted it really badly. Ven asked me in private, "Does Sora has a crush on someone?"

After a quick diagnostics, I realized that Ven could be right about that, but I couldn't let him know that. I took the wooden spoon from his hand and stared to lick and replied, "I don't know. I can't keep up with those two all the time. Maybe in due time, we would find out. But right now, I think that it is safe to say that I don't know."

Ven just stared at me unconvinced as I backed away from him. The tone of my voice could have been a dead giveaway. I really am slipping or I could just be hungry.

"Did she just admit that she doesn't know someone's business?" A deep voice orbited from behind Ven. It could only be one person.

"Vani!" I rushed up to him gave him a big hug.

He didn't hug me back, "What did you do?"

I heard Ven chuckling behind. I don't like being picked on. I pushed away from him and stared into at his amber eyes. He has Mom's eyes and he is so lucky. "I didn't do anything. Why do you two always gaining up on me?!"

"Then, why did you hug me?"

"What, I can't miss you? Fine, I take me hug back." I stormed off to wash my hands.

I tried to ignore the laughing that was behind me. Yelling at them was funny to them. It sucks being the youngest girl in the whole circle of friends. Besides, my hands feel really sticky. When I reached the bathroom, I realized that the stickiness was dried blood. It was all over my hands and arms.

I panicked and washed the blood off of me. I didn't know I was bleeding. After I rinsed off the blood, I couldn't find the wound. That's odd.

O okay; that's what I get for hugging Vanitas without looking at him first.

"Should I ask?"

"No,"

"I'm gonna."

"No, you don't,"

"I'm gonna do it."

"Don't you dare,"

I kept my hard stare at Riku. I had to ask. I had to, "Why is there a tracking device in the necklace, Riku? Why in the world did you want to track your ex?"

Riku looked ahead without responding. I usually don't bring up his emo ex, but we have to have this conversation, before we do anything else. I blocked the weapon store's entrance. Riku grimaced at me, "move out of my way."

"Not until you tell me why you wanted to stalk what's-his-name?"

"You can't even remember his name. Why do you care so much?"

"I want to make sure that you are doing all of this for the right reason. That brunette can't replace your ex."

Riku rolled his eyes, "I know that and I'm over him. I just want my little buddy."

He's using my lingo. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I had to remember my point for stopping our progress, "But why did you put a tracking device in the necklace in the first place?"

Riku growled in frustration, "Because, I wanted proof that he was cheating on me."

He never told me that, "Did you ever get your answer?"

Riku's face gave me the answer before he said it, "Yeah, I didn't need the necklace, because he told me himself when he broke up with me."

"Am I the first person you told?"

Riku nodded, "Everyone else keeps asking me what happened to him and why we're not together anymore. I think that you are the only one who didn't like him."

Riku was right about that. I didn't trust his face from the first time I saw him. But that means, we need to get that teen, because I liked him at first sight. Aw hell, I opened the door and said, "Let's go get your little fuck buddy."

At that moment, we were more motivated than ever to go after the two who literately got away. Convincing other people for assistance with our plans proved to be a lot more difficult than we thought, even after we explained everything to Leon. He just stared at us like that we were the biggest idiots who ever walked the face of the Earth.

He finally said something after we finished our explanation, "Let me get this straight,"

O God, I could tell from his tone what he thought about us, "You two want to cross into dangerous territory to kidnap teenagers who have close relations to Vanitas Nero, because you want to bang their brains out. Is that right?"

I tried to correct that, "Hey, don't forget that Riku needs this to heal from his bad breakup."

Leon shifted disappointed look from me to Riku then back to me, "There are a lot of ways that you could heal a broken heart. Try not to get yourselves killed. This store and about twenty more needs both of you idiots to stay alive."

Riku designs spyware that could be used for creeping up and finding out everything that you can about the enemy. Inferno weapons specialize in using fires and explosions. I can make anything into a bomb and use fire forty different ways. The military and the police always uses our newest weapons and the Revolt made us millionaires.

But the fact that we are rich off of dangerous weapons is the main reason why our love life sucks ass. Not literally, but you know what I mean.

Leon shook his head, "You two can't barge into a convicted murder's circle and drag two young people away kicking and screaming."

I started whimpering. Riku didn't follow my lead, but he did look very sad. Leon tried to explain again, "If you really want to get a hold of those boys, you have to make sure that the abduction can't be traced back to you. So probably pay someone else to do it."

Interesting. Interesting. I gestured him to continue. Leon sighed, "These two better be worth it."

"O they are. Besides, Riku needs someone to fuck all the resentment out of him." I tried to explain for the fourth time. This is for Riku, and me.

"You could always pay someone to do that or pick up someone at a bar for free, since you're both cheapskates. Trust me, the myth that if your nice enough to your captives, they'll start to like you is complete bullshit."

I winced at that. All I ever heard were love stories that could start between you and your captive, "Really and how do you know that?"

"Because, I tried it, the only thing that happened was she went insane trying to get away from me and she tried to commit suicide several times, until she finally escaped. It depends on the situation and if they like you first, idiots." Leon glared at us.

He didn't realize that he gave Riku a good reason to go after him.

A/N: Fun fact, there are currently seven reviews for this story and five of them have the word "more" in it. I am trying to extend the chapters. I really am. It will a lot easier once I get the plot together. Still open to suggestions.

Sora is going to have another big brother, maybe Terra. Anybody else have a better idea? In that case, I should throw Aqua in there, too. I should add more female characters, just because this is yaoi doesn't mean every character have to be a guy. And more characters will make the chapters longer and more complex.

A. Leaf