Chapter 24 is here. I hope you're still excited to read the story. Hehehe. It's almost going to end… soon. Hehe. So sit back, relax and have a happy reading. I think I'm going to give Auscott a little more screentime. Hehe.

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10:02 a.m. – KHA Hallway

A lot of students seem to be gathered about the main bulletin board outside the principal's office. And for some reason, they are all shocked about whatever is written in there.

"Excuse me… Coming through… Pardon us… I'm sorry if I stepped on your foot… Just a sec." Roxas, Namine and RR make their way through the crowd, accidentally stepping on other people's toes and pushing others.

At last, the trio finally comes face-to-face with the bulletin board. But it only takes one second for all three of them to jump back in shock.

"What does that deranged heck of a principal's secretary-slash-assistant think he's doing? Putting all three of us in a performance in the school's Christmas party? He must be crazy!" RR screams out loud.

"But I think it's going to be fun, RR. I'm positively sure of it," Roxas reassures his friend.

"What's so fun with practicing day and night for some extra-special occasion party with a (censored word) teacher?"

"Well, I got to admit that Mr. Luxord is kind of a (censored word). But don't worry, RR. Although part of the good news will be that Mr. Saix and Mr. Xigbar will be assisting Mr. Luxord, the Richardsons will be performing with us."

"I guess it will be fun then. What do you think, Namine?"

"Sounds fun. Hehe," Namine answers shyly.

"Plus, with Mr. Saix and Mr. Xigbar around, Mr. Luxord can't do anything stupidly (censored word) with us," Roxas says with a huge grin on his face.

"Wow! You really hit all of the positive aspects of the situation this time." RR gives Roxas a high five in the air.

"Hey! Why don't we celebrate this opportunity with an ice cream party with Axel, Zexion, Marluxia, Larxene and Demyx? You can also invite Vexen's nephew along if you want to, Roxas," RR suddenly blurts out.

"I guess an ice cream party's fine. But I don't think Vexen's nephew might be coming along."

Breaking her silence, Namine asks, "Why not? It'll only be the umm…" She stops to count. "Umm… nine of us," she finally says, "and we can all keep it as our secret, you know."

"But Mr. Saix specifically said…" Roxas is then cut off by RR.

"Blah blah blah Mr. Saix. Oh, come on. Can't we at least bring that poor lonely kid along? He could use some socializing while he's still here before he goes to that wedding thing soon."

"You may be right, RR. I'll ask him later then."

And so, the three skip off happily in the hallway and make a left to go to their rooms so that they can meet with the Richardsons.

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11:22 a.m. – Library

The library is as quiet as always. Its silence, only broken by the flipping of pages, an occasional cough or sneeze, the movement of students through the library itself, and the sound of books being lifted off their shelves and placed onto the tables. Really, the library is a peaceful place for research, study and even relaxation.

But on one table, several books are in a pile before a teen-aged boy who looks like he is desperately looking for something of utmost importance. And as he finishes browsing and scanning the last book, he closes it and sighs. He is exhausted.

Then, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns around and sees a redhead looking at him.

"You look awfully worked up over something," the redhead tells him. "What's the matter research bothering you?"

"Neh, I was just looking around," the boy lies. "I'm not much of a bookworm though so I'm sorry if you think I'm an avid reader just now."

"You? No way? As a matter of fact, I'm not much of a reader myself. I'm only here because my twin brother is here as well. Umm… actually, he dragged me to this place. Usually you'll never find me sticking my nose in the library." He points to Zexion who is busy searching for a nice science fiction book.

The boy laughs. "You're pretty funny in a friendly way unlike my roomies who are a lot sarcastic even in their jokes."

"I see. I'm Axel. You are?"

"The name's Auscott. Nice to meet you."

"So… you say you've only been looking in these books, huh? You finished them in thirty minutes?"

Auscott nods.

"Wow. You are amazing. It's like you just absorb the contents of the book into your brain."

Auscott laughs at Axel's comment. "You're exaggerating! I'm no supercomputer."

However, in Axel's head, he is thinking, "This boy… he laughs. But it's not like any laugh I've heard before. It's like it is made out of no feelings. Like it's forced or something like that. And his tone and expressions… he lacks emotions? I don't get it. But the choice of words… is he trying to fool me?"

"Oh well, I better get going. I'm so psyched to continue my new video game from where I left off yesterday. See you later, Axel!" Auscott gets up and fixes his stuff. He then starts returning the books he took from the shelves.

"Wait a minute. I know I'm not much of a gamer but my cousin Demyx is. I'm just curious. What game are you playing?"

"Demyx? He's my classmate. Anyways, if you must know, the game's called 'Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories'. But I don't know if your cousin can play it, my roomies cen't even see the loading screen when I showed it to them. Not the menu screen either. But I can play it though." After Auscott finishes his statement, he leaves the library in a hurry.

"I wonder if he's only imagining it…." Axel wonders.

Axel then feels a light tap on his shoulder. "Bro, I got the book. We can leave already."

"Oh, cool. What's the title?"

"It's 'Fugitives of Chaos' by (censored name)… judging from its cover, I'm betting it's a pretty neat story. Five kids with supernatural powers being imprisoned in a boarding school by godlike adults-slash-teachers. Woohoo, sounds like the story I'm looking for."

"Z, I know you don't play a lot… better yet, you don't play video games. But have you heard of…."

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4:02 p.m. – KHA Playground (Swing Set)

Three guys play on the swing while two girls and three other guys wait beside the swing set for their turn. And all five of them are eating ice cream.

"So you three are saying that five of us are going to be practicing with you under the watchful eyes of Mr. Xigbar, Mr. Saix and that unbelievably weird Mr. Luxord for the Christmas presentation in our school?" Axel asks.

"Uh-huh," Roxas, Namine and RR answer in unison.

"Oh, that's going to be cool. At least, if I didn't go to Hollywood because of Mr. Xehanort, I can still perform on the school grounds! And maybe we can go global!" Demyx's eyes twinkle with ambition.

"Oooohhh, if there's a (censored name), then I'll be Teenager Gaga because of the songs the principal's secretary has selected for the five of us to perform." Larxene then gives her own self a round of applause.

"Why can't you be Duchess Latifah since you've heard of (censored name) and you always wanted to be a queen?" Axel snickers.

"Shut up, flame-head!" Larxene shouts angrily.

"Hey! If you're Little Girl Gaga, what will Axel, Demyx, Zexion and I be?" Marluxia asks his sister.

"Well… you guys can be the Still Single Boys since there's a (censored name) and a (censored name)."

"That sounds like a good name. So, when we perform, we're going to be like 'Presenting Teenager Gaga and the Still Single Boys'. Wow, that's going to be a real thrill," Zexion says sarcastically. "That'll be rich."

Then, Roxas goes like, "Since you guys finished with your group's name? Can you help us pick our names?"

Axel points at Roxas first. "You can be Spikeball." Next, he points at Namine. "She can be Daisy Daffodil." Finally, RR. "And he can be Moonlight Guy."

"No, no, no. Not like that," Demyx argues with Axel's idea. "Roxas should be Rocky Rockstar; Namine, Miina; and RR, R Squared. Now that sounds a lot cooler."

"Wait a sec, why is my stage name 'Miina'?" Namine asks Demyx.

"I don't know. I can't think of anything else for you. Sorry," Demyx says apologetically.

"Well, I think you have to think again. I don't really think Miina fits me."

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5:00 p.m. – Teachers' Lounge

"Luxord, you better not let your ravenous (censored word) get the best of you during the rehearsals."

"Yeah, Luxord! We all know your (censored word) appetite is somehow very insatiable."

"Don't worry, Xigbar and Saix. I won't get carried away. I promise."

"And don't you dare 'touch' the guys. Never! If you lay a single hand on their (censored word), I swear I will bite you into shreds!"

"Don't sweat it, Saix. I'm no boy-toucher."

"You better stay true to your word, Luxord. And stay away from the 'boy'! I mean it. He might as well have a good time without you around to (censored word) him. After all, he's got but a few days left before Vexen does his you-know-what."

"Can't I at least have a taste of him before Vexen does the final thing?"

"NO!"

"Man, Luxord, you sure do disgust us."

"You got that right, Xigbar."

"But, Saix, aren't you getting too attached to these humans?"

"Nuh-uh. What makes you say that, Xigbar?"

"Oh, nothing. Just checking." To himself, Xigbar says, "I better inform the Superior about this. Saix is spending to much time with these lowlifes."

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Oooohhh, I hear a world tour! Oh wait, that's just a performance in school. Hehehe.

Rehearsals will start soon. But not the next chapter just yet. Hahaha. Hmmm, wonder what Xehanort is planning? A Christmas celebration? Sounds pretty fishy to me!

And Auscott…. I wonder how he'll be doing for the next few chapters. Well, we'll find out soon enough. Hahaha.

Leave a review for me if you liked this chapter. Teehee. Hahaha. Thanks. I hope that you guys will stay tuned on how the story's going so far. Hahaha. Catch you in the next chapter. Hahaha.