Chapter 10: The Beast Awakens

Xion's POV

Roxas and Ven's mother is coming to get them? That can't be good. Axel called me this morning to tell me. I could just guess based off his voice that it wasn't going to be good. He told me that he and Vanitas (Who would've thought that they could work together?) were coming up with a plan to keep watches on both of them. He asked me to tell Riku. He doesn't want too many people to help, but just a few of us would be good.

I plan on going across the street to Riku's later anyway, so I'll tell him then. Of course, I'm going to have to come up with some lie for my mother, but I don't care. Sure, I feel guilty when I lie to her, don't get me wrong, but my friends are important to me.

I scarf down my cheerios, which by the way, don't make me cheery in the morning. Mornings suck. I leave my bowl and spoon in the sink – I'll clean them later. I nearly forget to push my chair in before rushing upstairs. I'm going to see Riku today, which means that I have to look nice, right? But not overly-nice. Then he'll notice that something is weird. Maybe I should shoot for a formal-casual look.

I tear through my closet and realize that I hadn't done my laundry yet, so any formal-casual clothing I wanted to wear were either in the laundry pile, or still needed to be unpacked. I look at the time. It's nearly noon. Hey, don't look at me like that! I'm a teenager! I sleep in too! I figure that I should head over to Riku's at noon. That means I have ten minutes to look presentable.

I decide to forget the whole 'formal-casual' thing and toss on a hoodie and some jeans. Whatever, I mean, c'mon it's a Saturday. I don't have to look nice on the weekends. I dig my black converse out of my closet. My sweatshirt is bright blue, but everything else is black. My jeans and my converse are black.

I sigh, hoping Riku doesn't think I'm emo or something. I open my door and rush to the bathroom. I brush my teeth quickly and see that just as I'm done it is noon. I walk up to my mother's room. She's probably already working. Whenever she's at home, she's working. Even when she's not at home, she's working. She's a freakin' workaholic.

"Hey, Mom!" I call out to her. I can hear the typing on her computer stop momentarily. I never enter my mother's room. She has something against it. I've never really questioned it. It's always been a fact of my life.

"What Xion? Mommy's working!" My mother calls from her room. I feel mildly disappointed that my mother won't even talk to me face to face, but whatever. She's trying her hardest to keep our heads above water. The water meaning taxes. We only have one income, so it's difficult. I should probably get a job of some sort and pitch in.

"I'm heading out with a few of my friends for the rest of the day!" I call back, hoping she doesn't question it. I mean, Axel said that we weren't all meeting until five, so it was relatively true, and I have five hours to spend with Riku.

"As long as that Riku boy isn't there, have fun!" My mother calls from her room. I take that as a close enough answer and head out the door. I shut the door tightly behind me, and walk out past my front gate, and shut that tightly behind me too. I look both ways before I cross the street. I open the gate to Riku's house, and then ring the doorbell. Riku's house is about twice the size of my own, and I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that my mother and I could never live in a house his size.

Of course, we both have sucky home lives, so we're never really at our homes. I guess it doesn't matter. A man with long silver hair answers the door.

"Listen, whatever you're selling, we're not buying." The man says, and stares at me. His gaze is sharp, and his voice is cool and smooth. His hair is the same color as my own father's. They look nothing alike past that, but jeez, the hair is enough to cause nightmares.

"Uh…" I manage to squeak out. "Is Riku home?" I ask, knowing full well that he is. The man studies me for a moment before retracting into his home and calling for Riku.

"Riku! Get down here!" The man booms. His voice rattles my bones. It is the most powerful voice I have ever heard.

"What is it, father?" Riku asks. I can see him at the bottom of the stairs. He's already dressed in baggy jeans, and a cream and yellow vest. The vest pulls up just enough that part of Riku's stomach is exposed. I repress my little 'fangirl squee' that is building up inside me. I mean, c'mon, Riku is the most attractive guy ever.

"There is a girl at the door looking for you. You can go ahead and head out if you want. Be back by curfew." The man explains, and then disappears behind a wall in Riku's home.

Riku looks at the door, and his expression brightens. He strides over to me, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Xi! Wanna go grab some ice cream? I'll buy!" Riku offers, as he steps forward and closes the door behind him. I grab his hand, and we walk down his front walkway, and out of the gate to his yard.

"I'd love to! Oh, by the way I need to tell you something." My voice drops down to a softer, quieter tone. Riku sense the change and watches me with concern. I have no idea what he is thinking, but I figure that before his thoughts can get really bad, I'll break the bad news to him. "Roxas and Ventus's abusive mother is in town somewhere, and Rox and Ven are in trouble. We're going to have one person keeping watch on them at all times, and if they decide to go anywhere, Cloud or Leon need to be notified." I explain. Riku looks extremely concerned for a moment, a strange emotion flickering behind his eyes. He nods.

"So when are we going to decide the watches?" Riku asks, tightening his grip on my hand.

"Today at five." I respond. He brightens up a little.

"So we have five hours to spend. Let's get ice cream later! We can go watch a movie." Riku offers. I feel bad letting him pay for everything, but I left my wallet at home. I tighten my grip on Riku's hand, and lean into his side. He's just so comforting.

"Well, I mean if you want. I forgot my wallet at home…" I drift off, feeling guilty. I don't want him to waste his money on me. "I don't want you to waste your money or anything." I say. Riku stops walking, and takes my shoulders. He looks me in the eyes.

"Xion, any money that I spend on you could never be a waste. You're worth more than just a few dollars to go see a movie and get some ice cream. Just spending time with you is paying me back." I nod. I still feel guilty, and Riku can see it. He pulls me into a hug, and I hug him back. We stay like that for a moment, hugging on the street. The moment couldn't get any better, and I get to spend my day with Riku. Nothing could ruin it.

Ven's POV

Vanitas decided that he was going to treat me like a freaking woman, and make me pancakes. Of course he would. I was fine with just having cereal, but whatever. Nobody turns down free pancakes, even if whenever you bring up any conversation, the person serving you calls you 'milady.'

Vanitas plops four pancakes on my plate and sits down at the table, digging into his own pancakes. I vaguely wonder what Vanitas meant about controlling the darkness, when he was yelling at me. I don't really want to think about that, but I do anyway. Apparently, Vanitas had some sort of power over the dark.

Maybe he's like Roxas and I! Roxas, whenever he is under a light, it gets slightly brighter, as if Roxas was giving it energy. I can occasionally make my hand create a small light. It's strange, but maybe Vanitas can do the same with the dark. I guess it's an interesting theory. I've never seen him make a room darker, I mean, his ego is just so overpowering that you can't notice anything else.

"Hey, Van." I start, waiting for him to look up at me to continue. He's in the middle of eating a pancake, and it is hanging out of his mouth. He makes eye contact with me, his brows furrowing a little, before he goes back to wrestling with his meal. Who would've thought it was that hard to eat a pancake? "So, y'know how you said something about controlling the darkness? How do you control it? I mean, if you want to tell me." I add that last part, just in case if he thinks that I'm going to try and make fun of it for him.

I see insecurity flash across Vanitas's face, before he seems to come to terms with something. He drops his pancake from his mouth and wipes his fingers off on a napkin.

"Well, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell." Vanitas says his face dead serious. I nod in understanding. This must be something Vanitas doesn't tell many people about.

"Okay. I was just wondering because – never mind. Go on." I start explaining, but first I want to know if it is the same as Roxas and I.

"Okay, well, essentially, when I feel any intense emotion, darkness seeps out of my hands. If I'm even happy at all, the room that I'm in gets immediately darker. It's why I control my emotions so tightly. People think that I'm a freak when it happens. I'm just sick of it." Vanitas explains, and I see just how much trust he is putting in me. I stand up and walk over to him, he looks at me, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Before he can ask what I'm doing, I hug him. I hug him like I'm afraid to ever let go. Vanitas is like me. I smile into his spiky hair, and he slowly wraps his arms around me. I can feel the insecurity seeping out of him, and I don't ever want him to feel insecure. Sure, he can be an ass sometimes, but based off what he told me, it was all justified.

"Hey, Van, can I show you something? I'm not sure if it'll work, but I want to try. I need to shut off the lights though." Vanitas, curious, nods. He watches me walk over to the light switches. I smile at Vanitas, and focus on every happy feeling I've ever felt. I watch my hands begin to glow, brighter and brighter. The entire room is lit up within moments. Vanitas's eyes grow wide, in both excitement, and understanding. I can see the darkness leaking out from his hands.

I walk closer to Van, and press one of my hands into his. The mixture of the dark and the light creates a large flash, and the entire world seems to light up all at once. Vanitas looks up to me, his eyes meeting mine. I can feel the awe in both of our expressions. I had no idea how I knew to do that, but something seems to click into place.

"Van, you're dark, and I'm light. We balance one another out. Combined, we are perfect. The world is a brighter place when we are together." I tell him. I'm not sure if this is how it really works, but it is how it feels to me. Both of our hands are still leaking energy, a strange, light-wrapped-in-dark substance leaving our hands and surging around us.

"I understand. Of course, I'm dark. I'm the bad guy. You're light. You're the good guy." Vanitas says, hurt evident in his eyes. He stands up, and looks me straight in the eyes. I shake my head. That's not the truth. I can feel it.

"Van, we're opposites. That doesn't mean either one of us is 'good' or 'bad.' It means we are who we are. We're the balance of the universe." Vanitas drops my hand, and the room goes dark again. Or, at least as dark as the room can get when my hands are still lit up.

"How do you know? The dark is bad, isn't it? So many people are afraid of it. That's why people are afraid of me. But they all love you. You're light. You're hope." Vanitas keeps looking at himself negatively. I can't help but pull him into a hug again.

"That's not true, Vanitas." I say, squeezing Vanitas closer.

"You know it's true, Ventus. I'm a monster. I shouldn't be here." Vanitas replies, trying to push me away. I won't let him though. Friends don't let friends push each other away.

"Vanitas, even if it were true, the light depends on the dark. The light needs its balance. I won't let you push me away. We've come too far for that. You need me, and I need you. Dark doesn't always mean bad, you know. Think of all of the nocturnal animals. They don't like the day. That doesn't make them evil. The dark isn't evil. Neither is the light. They just are. You need to believe me, Vanitas. You are the dark to my light, and I am the light to your dark. We are meant to rely on one another. After all, how can the sun rise, if not for the night? How can the moon rise if not for the day?" I hope that my words mean something to Vanitas. They seem to get through to him, as he carefully wraps his arms around my body. He's only an inch taller than me, but he looks down on me, and his warm lips meet mine.

I feel like I can see stars. The waves of pleasure that ring throughout me are unrivaled to anything. Even sea-salt ice cream. I move my lips against Vanitas's. Neither one of us wants to deepen the kiss; it is just a sweet kiss. We will both be there for one another. We are balance. We are right.

Roxas's POV

I wake up early in the morning. I glance at the clock on the wall. It's only six in the morning. I notice that Axel is curled up on his side, facing me. My Axel. I remind myself. He's my boyfriend. The thought sends chills down my spine. I look at Axel's sleeping face. He looks like an innocent child. He snores a tiny bit, but it's endearing.

I wonder if I ever found a guy attractive before. Not that I know of. Axel just… he's something special. Heh, maybe I was right in saying I am Axel-sexual. Girls never really stood out to me either. I was always so focused on surviving my mother. Despite the fact that my mother is a woman (no duh…) and pretty much ruined any idea of looking at a girl again.

I nudge a little closer to Axel, my heart beating faster as I can smell him. Smoke and cinnamon. I make a small mewling sound as I breathe him in. I'm caught off guard by the noise, but I don't care. I press my forehead against Axel's and fall asleep again.

A few hours later, I wake up. My sleep had been dreamless. I open my eyes to Axel's emerald eyes. His expression is soft, and I feel myself melt inside. My eyes meet Axel's, and we stay like that for the longest time. Our foreheads are pressed together, and our breath is intermingling. Screw morning breath. This was Axel. Even his breath smelled like cinnamon.

I wonder if Axel just like, takes showers in cinnamon sticks or something. Mmm… cinnamon showers… Axel… Showering… naked. I wonder if Axel's home smells like cinnamon or something too. Axel drapes one of his arms over mine, and inches me forward. He pulls me into a sideways hug, and I mewl again. Axel shifts his head a little, and presses his lips to my forehead.

Axel lowers his face, our gazes meeting again. I feel butterflies soar through my stomach. He's all mine. I keep reminding myself. It feels like there are a thousand butterflies soaring around in my stomach. I love the feeling. Axel smiles at me, and I smile back.

"Morning, Roxy." Axel says in the huskiest, sexiest voice I have ever heard. The butterflies I felt in my stomach would've burst out, if there were any actually in there. I feel the lights overhead get slightly brighter. I smile a little more at the reaction of the lights. Axel moves his arm, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand. I marvel at how his hand leaves a trail of fire on my face.

I feel so warm where Axel touched me, and I feel as if I'd just like to melt into Axel. I sigh deeply, and decide that I should probably greet Axel back.

"Hi." I say, my face flushing. Axel smirks lightly. Axel's hand moves down to my neck, and he pulls me closer into a sweet kiss. His lips move against mine, and I smile into the kiss. Axel is definitely taking advantage of this whole 'relationship' thing.

Axel separates from me, and I feel my lips tingle where he kissed me. I'd move my hand up to my lips to touch them, but I don't want to ruin the moment. As if reading my mind, Axel presses his fingers to my lips, lightly tracing them.

I shiver in delight, because it tickles where Axel touches me. I sigh in content. I never want this moment to end. It's perfect.

Of course, everything that is perfect must stop being perfect at some time. A nurse walks into my room, and blushes profusely at the sight of Axel and I. Of course, it draws our attention at the same time, and as both of us go to look, we smack our heads together.

"Ow…" Axel complains, jokingly.

"I can… come back later… if you want…" The nurse says, shuffling her feet. I can tell she feels uncomfortable, but I might as well let her do her job.

"It's fine. He can move." I say, kicking Axel off of the bed. He falls onto the floor and pouts. I laugh, and as if it were infectious, so does Axel. He brushes himself off and stands back up. He gives me a fake glare, and sits down on a chair in the room.

The nurse checks my charts, and fiddles around with the IV in my arm. She changes the bag that leads to my arm. Axel pulls out his phone and begins to call a few people. I don't really pay attention to what he is saying, or who he is talking to, but the nurse tells him that I get to leave today.

I hardly remember even that, as I drift off to sleep once again.

When I wake up again, it's at least noon. Axel is on the other bed, just lying there, watching me. I sit up and so does Axel.

"Cloud is downstairs signing you out. Yes, sleepy-head. That means that you get to go home today. Oh, at five today, a few of us are going to meet up at your apartment and discuss keeping watches over you guys." Axel smiles at me, and runs his fingers through his spiky hair. I notice that the needle is gone from my arm, and in its place is a SpongeBob band aid. I smile at the band aid. No matter how old I get, I will never get too old for cartoon band aids.

"Okay." I mumble, still sleepy. I yawn and stretch, but stop halfway, as the burn in my back starts again. Okay, enough of that. Axel seems to have seen the look of pain cross me, as his eyes are flooded with concern.

"Are you alright?" Axel asks me, and I nod. I appreciate his concern. Considering my mother, in this situation, would probably slap me there and tell me to man up, concern is a wonderful feeling.

I look up at the door as Cloud enters. He smiles brightly at me. "Hey Roxas. Ready to go home?" I nod, and Cloud hands me a duffel bag. "This is for you to change into. Let me know if you need any help getting dressed okay?" Cloud gives a pointed look at Axel, and I'm glad I'm not on the receiving end of that glare. Axel backs down from Cloud's glare and I laugh. No one ever makes Axel back down from anything.

I nod, and grab the bag, getting up off the bed. Axel and Cloud both stand up and leave the room. They close it behind them, and I can see Cloud leaning against the door. It has a window in it, and Cloud's back is blocking anyone from looking in. I'm grateful.

I grab my clothes out of my bag. It looks like Cloud bought me a new jacket. I slide on a black shirt, a pair of pants, and my new jacket. I'll need to break the jacket in for a little while, but it's certainly better than the jacket that was probably all charred.

I slide on my sneakers, and knock on the door, letting Cloud know that I'm opening the door. I don't want him to fall back on me or anything.

It's a bit difficult for me to walk for a while. After all, I had been in that hospital bed for a while. Axel and Cloud are both right at my side, in case if I might fall over. I try not to, but every once in a while, my leg gives out slightly. Imagine walking with two legs that are asleep. Yeah. That's pretty much what it's like for me.

We reach the waiting room, and Cloud finishes up the paperwork. A few people wander into the hospital, visiting loved ones or what not. I lean into Axel, and he wraps an arm around me. I'm pretty sure that we're going to keep this as an open relationship. Cloud's probably caught on by now, I mean c'mon, he's not stupid.

Axel's arm warms me up, and I feel again like I want to melt into Axel. He smells so good, and his warmth is intoxicating. The scent of cinnamon and wood smoke intoxicates me, and I lean in further to Axel.

"Easy, there Spiky. I like being around you, in the sense of next to you. Not in the sense of you being literally inside my body." Axel jokes. I wonder if that would even be possible. I bet that Axel's organs smell like cinnamon and smoke too.

All of a sudden, all of the hairs on my neck stand up, and even Axel's attention is drawn to the entrance. I feel panic race through my heart, and grasp onto Axel's side. The woman walks over to Axel and I, after spotting me.

"Roxas." Her confident, evil voice calls me. I panic. I can feel my face growing pale.

"M-mom." I stutter. I try to be intimidating, but it simply doesn't work. I see Cloud from past my mother, and he is running over to me.

"Ultimecia!" He yells at her, as he charges over towards me. "Don't you dare touch my brothers!" Cloud yells. Cloud stands in front of me, in a defensive position. I wish he had the Buster Sword with him right about now.

"Oh, Cloud. You never did know when to quit. Either way, you will relinquish my disappointing sons to me eventually. Until then." Ultimecia backs away from me, and leaves the hospital.

All I can manage to do is quake in Axel's arms, and hope this was a dream.