Disclaimer:

KaoriZutto: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or the Twilight saga. Seriously, what kind of word is "Saga". Anyway, what I do own is Fate Academy and the Xeno family. :D

:…:…:

As I crawled into the bed I notice Roxas chewing hard on his lip. I lay on top of him but he paid no attention to me.

"She was overacting."

"When you talk to her tomorrow…" He covered me and held me a little too close. "Be considerate."

I was too tired to figure him out so I simply shrugged and closed my eyes.

:…:…:

Chapter 26

Oranges & Ashes

I wondered what was wrong with me.

But then I found that it wasn't me.

There was nothing worthy about me to be wrong.

I think it must be because…

…This body is…

…Made out of her…

…Ashes.

I sprung out of my bed like a lit up firecracker.

Automatically, I felt my body to feel if I was really awake or real for that matter. But even the feeling of my moist skin didn't assure me of reality. My head fell down to the profile of Roxas' harmonious face. I smiled lightly, realizing that all I've been really seeing is his handsome profile.

Lazily, he turned his head to me, "Sleep well?"

I grasped the fact that during my sleep I must have rolled off of him. "Yeah. You know the only reason why I let go of you is because you make a dreadful pillow."

He chuckled and laid me back down. Then, he adjusted his body on top of me. "I completely doubt that."

Normally, I would have gotten into a playful argument about how I was right but today, I only gave him a small smile and then looked away.

"What's wrong?" I could hear the concern in his voice.

"I've been thinking…" I admitted shyly.

He groaned, "That's never good." He prepared himself to lie beside me but I wrapped my arms around his neck hastily.

"Please stay," I murmured.

He didn't move and I considered what I could say. I didn't want to really tell him about my sleeping thoughts of ashes but I did tell him I had something on my mind. I chose to talk about the other problems we would face today.

"I don't understand why my mom is being so nice about all this," I said. "Aren't normal moms pissed off and crying and stuff?"

"You want your mom to cry?" He looked at me with disgust.

"No!" I shook my head. "I just thought she would be less… Friendly. I'm glad she's so accepting but condoms Roxas? Really? I mean, that's just sending a whole new message."

"She just wants you to be safe…"

"I know," I smiled pathetically. "That's the worst part."

"Why?"

"I don't want her to know that I'm doing something like that," I told him, running my fingers over his lips. "I don't want her to be worried about it. If I am, I am but if I'm not then… Just don't think about it."

I watched him lean over to my drawer. His hand searched inside it, I blushed when I saw what he finally had dug up.

"I can't believe these are causing us such a problem," he fidgeted with the package.

I laughed and lifted my legs s he could lay comfortable right between them.

"Aren't these basically just plastic?" He gnawed at it between his teeth and I let out laughter that was just a little bit too loud. He didn't seem to mind though.

"Rise and—!"

She held apart the curtains to my bed and held an expression that could only be described as a mixture of all the emotions a human being could feel. Unlike Roxas, I couldn't exactly decipher all that she was thinking but by the look of his face, I think we had the same idea.

"S-shine…?" My mom muttered with a very crooked smile. "I just… Well I'm—just call me when you're done."

"Ma!" I cried, covering my face in my hands.

"That doesn't take too long now, does it?"

I dropped my hands along with my jaw and Roxas hopped off me. He was so stunned too it took him a while to even process the entire event. We covered our teenage bodies and held the sheets with fisted hands.

"I-I guess we should talk now," my mother spoke softly. I heard Roxas get up to leave but my mom protested saying, "You have to hear this too." So we both sat, half naked with embarrassed looks on our faces, waiting for this conversation to be over.

"Want breakfast before we start?" She offered. I shook my head; I just wanted a vague and short discussion to begin so it could be over soon enough.

"How about you Roxas?" She looked at the vampire. "Any blood to start off the day?"

"No thank you ma'am," he couldn't even catch her glance.

"Well then," she pressed her hands against her thighs. "Where to start?"

"The end," I muttered rudely and Roxas nudged me in the arm.

"That would be the fastest way to get this done, now wouldn't it?"

I nodded and my mother simply ran her fingers through my hair.

"You've changed so much," she said. Her eyes looked gazed, like she was thinking back. I prayed she wouldn't recall any old moments. "I remember how you didn't start talking 'till you were five. You just waddled around, curious and confused. Heh, you really liked throwing oranges at people. It didn't matter who, you just threw it. I remember when we went for a drive and Selena handed you that wretched fruit after I told her not to and once your dad rolled down the window you launched an orange at some poor girl walking on the street. I hope she's okay…"

I heard Roxas stiffening chuckles but I shrugged, he could laugh, it was a rather funny incident.

"That was the first time I heard you talk that day. You said, 'Mama, look! Mama, look! I hit her! I hit her!' And I told you after a moment of shock, 'Yes you did. Now never do it again.'"

Roxas couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter. I rolled my eyes, chuckling along. My mom appeared a little surprised, admiring us even.

"Heh, guess I'll just make this quick," she looked into my eyes with much intensity. "Destiny, when a man loves a woman, or in your case, when a vampire loves a demon—"

"I think I'll take that blood now," Roxas muttered while rushing out of the room.

I groaned while avoiding my mother's gaze, "We've never had sex."

She gasped, "Seriously?"

"He won't let it happen," I rolled my eyes. "No matter how much I beg, Roxas won't sleep with me. Happy?"

"I don't know," I turned just in time to see her smile shyly. "I had this giant speech I'd come up with. I mean I even used the computer to look up this kind of thing. Now I don't even have an excuse to recite it."

Chucking I said, "Say it if you want."

"I just don't want you to ruin your life, Desy."

My eyes expanded. Ruin my life? What life was there to ruin without Roxas? Was she implying, like my father, that he would destroy me?

She continued on, "I know you may not be as smart as Xenon, or as active as Piper and not as pretty or have the personality Selena does but you're still special in your own way."

Shocked.

Just… Stunned.

Was this her brilliant idea? Was her plan to make me feel awkward or to feel like crap because so far, she'd done a great job at succeeding with both. Isn't your mother supposed to encourage you no matter what? A very small part of me knew she was trying and even smaller part knew I'd brought this on myself because I'd never wanted to talk to her before but the rest of me was shocked and distraught?

"What's wrong?" She asked innocently.

I held back the urge to glower, "Nothing, just hungry. I'm gonna go look for Roxas."

"Y-you don't want to talk anymore?"

"No," my smile was too unnaturally big for even me. "I don't want to talk anymore."

I saw her face saddening and I turned my back to her.

"I guess we can try again later, right?"

I shrugged.

"Well… If you need me I'll be in my room."

I shrugged once more and then I heard the door close.

::..::...::

I ran downstairs wearing grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt. My feet were freezing against the hardwood floor but I was pretty hungry so I didn't worry about it. I slid in the kitchen and smashed right into the breakfast table.

"Destiny!"

Hopping up, I threw my body against Roxas'. We'd only been apart for less than thirty minutes but the way I dug my hands through his hair, the way I smelt his smooth skin, and the way I nibbled on his ear probably gave out a different message.

He pulled me from him and peered from behind me. I waited for him to finish looking around and then pursed my lips.

"So now you're gonna look around before you do anything for me?"

He nodded, "When I start getting too into you, I lose focus and then that just makes it so that anybody can come and catch us."

I brushed my lips against his and felt him shiver. "Is it safe to kiss you now?"

He nodded and my mouth touched his. I didn't know how much time we had so I slipped my tongue into his mouth.

He withdrew away from me automatically, "We can't do that anymore. If we do kiss…" His eyes drifted away. "It has to be absolutely pure and we can not be seen at all."

I pushed him away and went straight to the kitchen cupboards. I can't say I was mad because of this but I knew I was mad; enraged even. The entire time in the shower, all I could think about was how much my mother had put me down. Special in my own way? You had to be freaking kidding me. Who said that kind of crap? Barney? Dora the Explorer?

I yanked out a box of cereal, picked up a bowl and poured the food into it. After that, I took a spoon and sat at the table. I ate my cereal dry, without milk, it tasted better that way and it would be easier to hear the crackling of it rather than the voices that may speak.

"You're tense," Roxas observed.

"Tired," I corrected him with a one-line lie.

"I've been around you long enough to know the difference between you being tired and tense," his fingertips traced small circles on my arm. This must have been his less intimate way of comforting me.

I had to change the subject. "Will you play for me?"

He gazed at me curious and my eyes left his face. I heard him chuckle softly and then he took my hand. He led me to the piano and together we sat, staring blankly at the keys.

"What do you want to hear?"

"I don't know," I admitted with a timid laugh. "Anything I guess."

"You have a very unclear attitude towards decisions," he muttered and pressed a few light toned keys. "It's almost as annoying as how clumsy you are… While we're on that subject, it amazes me that you aren't always in bandages. Like this morning, you crashed into a table but then you jumped right back up with only a few scratches. It's like it happens so often that it doesn't even bother you."

"It hurts when I think about it," I pouted, cringing. "Why do you always have to bring it up?"

"Because it always happens," his hands stopped and then moved to mine, pressing them on the keys. He adjusted my fingers in a formation that was rather odd to me. "Play those keys in this order." He set up his own hands and showed me the process.

"It doesn't always happen," I mocked him with much difficulty. He laid his hands on mine and together we pressed the keys. "In fact, ever since I met you I've had much better coordination."

His hands slowly left mine and I stared in astonishment to see that I was making such a wonderful sound.

"You're lying again," he left his place on the seat and came up behind me. He sat down with both his legs around me and his hands on the piano keys I didn't touch.

"I… Am… N-not," It was harder for me to focus while keeping up a conversation with him so intoxicatingly close and while he played a rhythm much faster and complicated than mine.

"Keep speaking," he whispered in my ear and I trembled from the delight of his breath. "So are you happy to be home?"

"I can't really say I am," my eyes shifted my fingers and to the quick, hard pounding of his fingertips to the keys of the piano. The music had gone from soft and light to dark and fast; rather triumphal in a sense.

"And why is that?"

"Mom said some stuff, but you probably already know that."

"Yeah…" I could feel him move in closer and I pressed my back to his chest. "Does it bother you?"

"That she said something so corny?" I faked a laugh. "Hell yeah. Like, 'You're special in your own way'? Come on Mom, I would have thought that even you were better than that."

His playing stopped and he took my hands and pressed them against my chest. "Are you sure that's what's really bothering you?"

I nodded, thankfully that he could barely see me. His head pressed on my shoulder and his lips touched my neck.

"I hate it when you lie."

"Punish me," I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes.

"I think I will," he kissed my neck, virtuous. Virtuous was a rather funny word to use considering he was a vampire touching my throat. He adjusted himself on the seat so that he could look at my profile perfectly. His hands curled against the seat but he leaned in and licked my neck. I cringed as his slightly open mouth ran across it. I don't know why but it felt like he was possibly scraping his teeth against the skin?

"What are you doing?" I demanded in a nervous whisper.

"Nothing," he chuckled innocently and pressed three feathery light kisses on my jaw. I felt his lips brush against my ear and in thinking he was done, I relaxed.

And then he bit me.

I screamed and dropped from my seat. Before my voice could ring any louder, Roxas pounced on top of me and covered my mouth. It hadn't been the bite that scared me; I wanted to be a vampire. It was that he'd always rejected me becoming one and then he'd bit so light and to a place that I was sure wouldn't feel too much pain. Also, had didn't even tell me he was going to do it, he just did it.

I whipped his hand off, "What the hell was that?!"

"I was curious," his hands grazed over my arm as he helped me up. "You know I think you're better than your siblings."

"Clearly," I pulled myself apart from him but he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Your mother loves you," his voice was stern. "She just doesn't know how to discipline you well."

"Discipline me?!" My voice rose. "Why should she have to discipline me more?!"

"Oh I don't know…" He frowned and rolled his eyes. "Maybe for being on the verge of having sex with your boyfriend?!"

"I don't even know why I wanted to sleep with you in the first place!" Yes I did.

"Because you're sex-crazed!" But only when it comes to you, and Axel when he holds me and I think about you.

"And you biting me says you're not?" I want you to be, so badly. I want to feel every inch of your body against my fingertips. I want to run my hands through your hair. I want my lips to graze your—

"I messed up!" No you didn't. You did what I wanted. "But you make mistakes too."

My fist clenched and I fought back urges, "I shouldn't be getting mad."

"Yeah, you shouldn't," he grumbled and walked to one of the couches.

"Why didn't we go to your place first?" I moaned and walked to him.

"You chose it this way," I watched him cross his arms and glare at me. It wasn't his usual hateful glare but he did look displeased.

"We're supposed to be having a great time," I mumbled as I sat beside him. "Not arguing. This is my entire fault."

I saw him nodding but with a light smile, "Let's fix that then."

"How?"

"It's Christmas right?"

I nodded.

"Well shouldn't we go get our families their gifts?"

I didn't feel as if my family deserved anything but Roxas' family did. This would be hard though, considering I knew nothing about them and if Roxas was like me, his description of them wouldn't be very good.

"As long as you don't let me get them stupid gifts."

A smile broke on his face, "Okay. You go get dressed and I'll go tell Jeff."

I watched him quickly leave my presence and I went back to my cereal.

::..::...::

I threw on my jacket over my black sweater. Roxas was already outside with Jeff while I shoved my wallet in the back pocket of my jeans.

"Destiny?"

I glanced up and lifted and eyebrow at an insecure-looking Xenon. What did he want? I couldn't help him after all since he was so much damn smarter than me. I rolled my eyes but gestured for him to say what he wanted.

"Want to go for a walk later?"

I shrugged; it wasn't like I had anything better to do. My social life when I was at home wasn't all that great seeing as before I'd come to Fate Academy I'd been a totally different person.

"Just the two of us though," he clarified and I nodded.

"You're quiet," he seemed concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I opened the front door and was surprised to see fresh snow covering the entire area. "I have to go so I'll see you later."

"Sure."

I walked out of the house and closed the door behind me. I struggled to keep my balance as I walked to the car but Roxas came around and helped me climb in. We took a seat and sat quietly while Jeff started the car and lifted the windows.

"You cold?"

I shook my head.

"Good."

He grabbed me and tugged me into his arms. He pressed my head into his chest and breathed heavily.

"It's hard seeing you so quiet," he lips touched my forehead. "Makes me think something is wrong?"

"I'm good baby," I muttered, diverted.

"Baby?" He repeated, startled. "Now I know something is wrong?"

"Just worried about what to get the families," I said with a smile.

"Don't worry."

::..::...::

Shopping went great surprisingly. I didn't think about what my mother had said at all and I was able to find good gifts. Roxas and I decided to combine our money together and give gifts with both our names on the cards. Ironically, we'd both gotten most of our money from odd jobs we'd done around the mortal streets.

Jeff had agreed to keep all of our presents in the car and even do the wrapping since both Roxas and I sucked in that department. The only items we held were our private gifts for each other.

"Whatcha get me babe?" I tried to pry Roxas' fingers from the big black plastic bag he held. The whole day we'd acted like the stereotypical teenage couple; sneaking kisses, holding hands, and using stupid pet names.

He took my hand, "Love, tell me what you got me first."

I kissed his lips once, "Honey, please." I rolled my eyes playfully.

His hand left mine and fell to the crook of my arm. Before I could stop him— like I would —he kissed me avidly. My free hand was sliding into his back pocket slowly and my tongue was moving enthusiastically when my eyes opened slightly and I from the corner of my eye I saw an impatient Xenon.

We separated gradually, me groaning.

"I thought we were going to take a walk but if you don't want to…"

"Of course she'd want to." My father walked out of the house with an ill-behaved grin. "What else could she be doing?"

I was going to argue when Roxas nibbled on my ear. I squealed with joy. Now that he could bit me so lightly it just increased my hope in him changing me. I had to control that sensation reaction but it aroused me in a way that had me excited.

"Mr. Xeno," Roxas nodded in my father's direction.

"I want to talk to you bloodsucker," he turned his back and Roxas followed him obediently. I wanted to march inside and listen to their entire conversation but Xenon's pleading look told me otherwise. Instead, I asked Jeff to hide my bag in my room, took Xenon's hand and walked out of our manor.

It felt like ages until my fourteen year old brother finally opened his mouth to speak. I guess he wanted to be as far from the house as he could before he said anything.

"I'm taller than you now," he spoke quietly. "I'm taller than Piper too."

"You're like Roxas' height now," I smiled at our interlaced hands. We used to go for walks like this all the time. People always thought that there was more to our brother and sister relationship, something almost incestual. We weren't though; we were just close on another level.

"Do you love him..." Xenon's voice hushed into a saddened noise. I stared at him possibly more worried than a normal big sister should have been. I was going to speak when I head him clear his throat.

"Do you love him more than you love me?"

I couldn't speak. I stopped walking and positioned myself in front of him. I grasped his hands and held them to the center of my chest. I'd watched Xenon grow up and we'd always been close because of our mental disabilities. You see, Xenon had a personality disorder. It was hard for him to get close to people and he suffered from extreme anxiety among a multiple of other personality ailments. Like me, he'd depended on drugs to keep him sane. So this was where our relationship started. It was very strong but ever since I left home to try schooling in an immortal school, we just stopped talking. I could understand why he felt that I didn't care about him but to compare my love to Roxas to my love to Xenon was just crazy.

"I love you both in two different ways," I answered him with a smile.

"You don't get it," he tugged his hands away. "Do you know the real reason we were separated?"

"Wasn't it just so we could all enhance our powers?"

"No Destiny," his fists clenched. "If that was the reason then we'd all go to the same school instead of different ones."

"Then why?"

His hands caressed the skin of my face. I smiled at his sibling gesture, reminiscing in all the times Xenon and I had talked and tried to work on our powers together.

"If we'd lived together any longer we would have committed incest."

I would have committed incest with Xenon, my younger brother?!

I ripped his hands off me and shivered in the cold air.

"I would never do that!" I shouted at the strangely calm young man. "I would never want you like that!"

Serenity left him and shouted hostile, "But I wanted you like that!"

I couldn't even process what he said correctly. My own brother… How dare he?! How could he put me that sort of situation and make me come out as some twisted psycho! I didn't have anything against incest but… With Xenon? I would never ever even want that thought to slip into my mind!

"How?" My voice squeaked. "Why?"

"I wasn't thinking right," he reached out for me, I nodded and his hands lay on my shoulders. "You were just the only person who real got me. You were the only person who could say 'I know how you feel' or 'I know what you're going through.' You and I could talk for ours and just spend so much time together. I didn't realize until mum talked to me what I'd done wrong. I just couldn't put it properly in my mind that you and I couldn't be together in that sort of way. I mean, give me university level math questions and I can do it in less than ten minutes but tell that I can't marry my sister and it takes me more than three months to figure out why."

I chortled, he was right; I did know how he felt. "Marry, huh?"

He nodded, "I just figured it you loved someone then it was okay to want to be with them."

"That makes sense," at least, it did to me.

"But not in this case," he sighed. "I was just figuring out the kind of love I had for you when Roxas came home. I saw that there was awkwardness with Axel but with Roxas, there was something else, something real. At first, I was angry, enraged. But then, the more I watched you two, the more I realized that's not how I care about you. He cares about you for everything n a way I can't reach. I thought I loved you because you understood me and there had to be more to that."

Grinning, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. This whole relationship was based on our understanding of each other and that was just how it always would be.

Author's Note:

I see Xenon as having a personality disorder and one that leads him to believe that people extremely close love him just the way he loves them :/
Sorry if the chapter is short and written badly, I've been rushing a lot lately :/
Please Read and Review! :D