Adaptation and Evolution.

'I think, then, that man, after having satisfied his first longing for facts, wanted something fuller - some grouping, some adaptation to his capacity and experience, of the links of this vast chain of events which his sight could not take in.'
-Alfred de Vigny.

Four years had passed since then. I sat in a Biology lecture, taking notes fervently. My hunger for knowledge was insatiable, and I was incredible grateful to Roberto for giving me the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university. If nothing else, it was a chance to get out of the miserable town of Ergontoft, the same one which I had so brightly suggested we moved to.

I looked up at the professor, wishing he would move along a little faster. I was top of the class, and so the idle questions of those not really paying attention grated on me. If you weren't willing to study, in my opinion, you shouldn't have taken the course. Instead you should have left the space open for someone who truly cared about what they did. I was passionate about the subject to a massive degree; I dreamed of saving as many lives as I had taken since I took this business up. It would take a while, but it was worth it. I had a similar policy with some areas of my work; one of the changes I had made since taking over was that I had groups patrolling areas for rapists, or we would find out the current address of paedophiles. After that, we'd show up and bang. I ended one life to save another.

I slipped into the needlessly flashy car that Roberto had bought me and drove home. Home was a large house in the city of Itsar, where my University was located. Another gift from Roberto. I checked my phone to make sure I was allowed to stay there. Roberto texted me every day to tell me where I was allowed to stay the following night, and I followed his orders without question. It was easier that way. I sighed in irritation when I read the text. 'Ur staying here 2night. Got work tomorrow.' I wished I would've checked earlier. No matter; my house was on the way back to Ergontoft anyway. I got back in the car and started to drive back, listening to the radio until I was interrupted by my ringtone. I reached in my pocket and eased it out before pushing it to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Enzy, Dude, how's it going?" I smiled. Xigbar, the only person I had stayed in touch with since my sudden departure.

"S'okay, fuckin' traffic is pissin' me off though," I admitted. I sighed at the build up of cars in front of me. It was always a bitch to get out of Itsar.

"Argh, man, gotta hate that. Shall I call back later when you're not driving?"

"Nah, pretty sure I can handle two tasks at once, Xig," I laughed, shaking my head. "So, give me the usual update. How's he doing?"

"Yeah, he's okay, seems kind of tired lately. Grades are good and he's still a fuckin' God on his sitar. He's not dropped that goddamn baby voice though," Xigbar growled. I heard him swig his drink.

"I wonder why not. Have you actually ever heard his real voice?"

"Only when he sings."

"Hah, cute. I did a cover of Behind Blue Eyes with him a few years ago, for some school shit, he's got an amazin' voice. Makes your fuckin' heart melt, don't it?"

"Yeah. Enzy, not being funny, but your town must be such a shithole."

"It is, but what makes you say that?"

"I swear you used to be well-spoken once."

"Fuck that, that was years ago," I laughed airily. "Hey, Xig, call me in a couple of days to let me know how that exam goes, the one he's got on the 20th, that alright?" I asked, smiling brightly now I had my information.

"Yeah, that's cool, catch you later, Enzy," He hung up and I smiled, putting the phone on the seat beside me. I liked that nickname. Enzy. Like enzyme, which I supposed was kind of fitting; I considered myself a catalyst, speeding up the reaction of the two gangs moving apart, but not causing it. Meanwhile, I had remained unchanged. At least, I liked to think I was.

I was stepping out just as Axel opened the door. I smirked at the knowledge that he had been waiting for me, probably watching out the window, and then went and embraced the man with the livid red hair.

"Hey, Ax."

"Hey Zo."

"Don't fuckin' call me that," I muttered grouchily, pushing past him. I head upstairs to mine and Axel's room. "Three, two, one," I muttered softly and then heard him come bounding up after me.

"So what are we doin'?" Axel asked, draping his arm around my shoulder. I let my head lull against him lazily as we walked into the bedroom.

"Well I'm sleepin', I dunno what you're doin'," I muttered with a weak smile. I threw myself onto the cosy comfort of the bed and gave a satisfied groan.

"Oh no you don't, not yet you're not," He protested, pulling out a small battered black book. The same book that is the reason that I can tell this story to you now.

"Not now, Ax," I complained, burying my head in the pillow. I heard him cross the room and I uselessly hoped I'd fall asleep before he got there. No such luck.

"Come on, write in your diary," Axel urged, pushing it in front of me with a pen. I looked at the book with distaste.

"Why do you always insist on this?" I asked, reluctantly opening it to my last entry before flicking onto the next page.

"So you don't forget anythin'. This is your life we're talkin' about. L-I-F-E, got it memorised?" He asked, tapping his temple. I rolled my eyes and cast them back down to the paper. Of course, Axel's obsession with memory, I had eventually realised, wasn't solely based around him as a person. As my past involved him, and my daily life, I wasn't allowed to forget that either.

"You gonna write to Roxas while I do this then?" I asked. He usually did, but I liked to make sure he was kept entertained while I wrote; I hated the idea of him looking over my shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess. I haven't heard from him in a while, he didn't write back to me," Axel said, sounding a little irritated. I looked away to disengage myself. I wasn't getting involved in this. Four years was a long time to be seeing each other on an irregular basis, and Roxas had grown into a handsome young man. It wouldn't have surprised me if he was cheating on Axel, though I refused to voice it for fear of hurting my friend.

"He's probably just busy," I brushed it aside and began to jot the basics into my diary.

'Demyx - Fine. Good as always. Still miss him a lot. It's not a noticeable pain anymore, it's the sort of dull ache that you only notice when everything else is gone. You know like that painful, excruciating sound of pure silence that feels like it's crushing your skull in? It's sort of like that, only less extreme. I hate silence. I've started screaming at thin air these days just to block it out.
Roberto - Relinquished no control, same as usual. Nature becoming somewhat unbearable, but we should be going to a strip club tomorrow. Maybe that'll smooth the waters. Looking forward to getting laid again. Money gets you everywhere. Women here are such whores. I love it.
Axel - Cute as always, sounds like Roxas is cheating on him though. Didn't respond to his last letter. Poor Axel, he's a good guy, he didn't deserve that. I might try to contact Roxas to find out what the hell's going on; I don't want this interfering with Axel's work this week.
Parents: Still no word from them. Nothing. Nada. Thanks a lot, Josie. Neil... I stopped expecting better of you after John. You really built my hopes up on that last night, you cunt. I hate you for leaving me alone in this. Both of you.
Deaths: '

I reached over and changed pen at this point, picking up a fine red one before writing in how many coffins rested on my conscience that week. 'VIII'. Not so bad. Not good either though. One of them had been a paedophile that I'd had my new groups take out in the most sadistic way possible. I watched the tapes back later sometimes. It was hugely gratifying to watch the sick fuck's suffering. They were finding at least one a fortnight now. It kept me satisfied. Sometimes I counted the death of the paedophiles as murder, sometimes I counted it as a life saved. It depended on my mood really.

I shut the worn book and sighed to myself sadly before tucking it under my pillow and walking over to Axel, coiling my arms around his neck and resting my head upon his. He didn't style his hair if I came over anymore. That was something lost a long time ago when we became truly comfortable with each other. I looked over his shoulder at his letter; he never seemed to mind my invasive nature.

'Roxas. i miss you and i hope you are okay. fuckin life so hectic that its stoppin you from writing me now? its only a letter. wish youd get back to me and not leave me in the dark like this. you know i worry about you. yeah i am pretty pissed because now youve left me with this playin on my mind. i think about you everyday. hope you are feelin the same. Roxas... i really love you. dont forget that, ok? please get back to me soon. this is my last year in this shit before Ienzo takes over and i swear after that ill never whine to you about this stupid fuckin bullshit again. i know you dont like hearin bout the things i do and im sorry. i love you, Roxas. well be happy together soon. own place and everythin ye? write back.
Axel.'

"I think he's forgotten about me," Axel admitted mournfully, looking up at me. His writing made me shudder, but I supposed the content was sweet. I laughed and shook my head. I hated seeing that betrayed look in the red head's eyes.

"Axel, I'm pretty fuckin' sure he couldn't forget about you if he tried. I know I couldn't. He's probably just busy," I reassured him. That made him smile again. If Roxas was fucking Axel around, I'd shoot him myself.

"Time for bed?" Axel asked, standing up and undressing.

"Mmhmm," I agreed, exhausted. It wasn't even late, but if I slept, Axel slept; he got bored without me. I dumped my clothes on the floor and then clambered into bed, Axel soon beside me and holding me in his arms. I ran my eyes over him and then pursed my lips, somewhat irritated. I still envied his body, which was far more muscular than my own lanky build, making him the best at hand-to-hand combat. Still, I had my strengths. My eyesight was far better than his when I had my contacts in, and he was a terrible shot. Xigbar, for some reason or another, had a real talent with guns and had given me lessons. Axel wasn't allowed a gun after he shot me in the shoulder by accident on one of our missions.

"Goodnight, Ienzo," He muttered, stroking my shoulder blades lightly. I thought idly that Axel and I were probably only one step off being lovers. Why hadn't we taken that leap? Well, we had no hearts to give. People had already stolen them from us.

"Goodnight, Axel," I murmured tiredly, reaching out to hold his hand. He squeezed mine lightly and I did the same back. My ally, my brother (even if genetics disagreed), and my best friend. What more could I possibly ask for?