A/N: I am baaaaaaaack! OK, just a little bit hyper. Not because of a sugar intake (I wish (cries)). Just me being me. And finishing yet another chapter (one I was tearing my hair out about.) Now, I think you guys will like this chapter for two reasons. 1) It's the start of a new, happier story arch and 2) you'll just love what I'm going to do with all the couples! Plus, it's over the Christmas period. A guess as to what that means people! Also, I (unbelievingly so) have actually started the cover for M.A. (shock! horror!) and theycover stars ACTUALLY LOOK GOOD! OMG! END OF THE WORLD! No, really. I freak out with hair...and hands...and feet...and I find inking eyes when they're so small a pain...yeah, lack of self-confidence much. I still need a photo editing program or something. I really don't want to use coloured pencils. The scanner eats the colours. Yeah, OK, that's enough about me. Time for you!
Chocola Emo Shizzle: Ah yes. Karma. A bitch. Along with her drag queen brother Fate. Ah me. Oh my...what? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!! LEAVE ME ALONE CREEPY DREADLOCK DUDE! LEAVE ME BE!
Lily Vendrem: Thank you. Hope you continue to love it.
Lavender341: Well, you're forgiven. You're right about the kunai and the confrontation being a step in the right direction. Mission Accomplished: Ariel is more evil than Mika (score!) and as for the contest, you'll have time. The contest ends near to the end of September but even that's subject to change. Just give it your best.
Malik's Bunny Mika: I think I can explain Yuffie's absence. She was busy plotting with everyone else how to punish Xemnas and company (and she would probably use her abilities and Zack's to the fullest advantage)
hanakitsunechan7: (accepts the cake and the onigiri...mmm...seaweed flavoured...) Yep, Karma definitely comes in that form. Makes you kinda wonder how exactly Ariel and Axel are related to eachother at all seeing as Axel doesn't want to dirty his hands again and Ariel's willing if it proves necessary. Strange...
Tenadara: LoL, don't worry about it. I obviously wasn't very clear at first. I'm surprised that I didn't make Ariel imprint that message into Xamnas' eyelids literally!
heybabysosad: Revenge is a dish best served cold as they say. Ariel's handling of it was icy. And if you liked that chapter, get a load of this one.
ToetalNnyfanatik: LoL if only they had the chance.
ForeverOblivion: Ha ha. The Kasai family is probably the epitome of being slightly dysfunctional, with two siblings who conflict against each other, a brother who's perverted enough just to annoy them, and a father that has yet to make any impact on this story. Sora and Roxas however...AH! Too CUTE!
Aryna.Tahashi: Indeed Axel does. He thinks one thing and then does the contrary. Will he make up his mind already?!
Faye Silo: Mmmhmm. Axel in deep thought...sexy. Where was his cigarette when he needed one?
Colonel Roxas-chan: Yep, that she is. Axel obviously figured out what had happened though. Like she said, he ain't stupid. As 'for now', you'll just have to wait to find out!
Indie Rockin' Emo: I think Ariel's become very popular since she had a little 'chat' with Xemnas. And good luck with your drawing! Can't wait to see it!
phaz: Like I said, Ariel's become very popular. You kinda know where she got that attitude and her protectiveness over her brother from despite Axel's obvious dislike for it.
jerath: No I didn't know that. Guess you learn something new every day (or every update as it were)
Wondering Wolf: Yep. He is. Just like his Organization XIII personality in the game (I'm sorry, but he was so cool as a member of Organization XIII! He was cute living normally though (in an angst kind of way))
shadowtailmon: He'll show up today. And in the coming chapters. So don't worry about his lack of appearance.
SUFFERINGLOSTSOUL: Sorry if it took so long then and now. Pulling my hair out trying to finish them because I just felt they weren't satisfactory enough. And yeah, Axel thinks one thing, does the complete opposite. He's got issues that man.
OK, so thanks and cookies go to everyone reading and reviewing. Please read, review and enjoy!
Winter Vacation
Time seemed to fly by and things began to settle down a bit…well, as much as having two hyperactive matchmakers would allow.
"Zack!" Aerith scolded when he let fly another dart at Axel. Axel's crime? For not being specific about his feelings again. "No darts in the house!"
"Sorry," Zack apologized sheepishly, grinning devilishly at Axel once Aerith's back was turned. Axel flipped him the bird quickly.
The winter vacation was only a few short days away, and everyone was thankful, with the exception of Zack who had enjoyed loafing around campus and flirting with Aerith. But that left only one thing to do: who was going where exactly?
For the benefit of the reader, allow me to explain. Shiva has a very close, very special tradition that had started ever since it was founded nearly a century before the current housemates. All housemates would keep in contact with each other, whether it be through phone or by mail, throughout every vacation, thus creating a unity within the house. And this did work. In theory. And so, before every vacation, they would come together to discuss where they were going and how they could be contacted.
Such a meeting was getting organized by Leon, the 'appointed' leader of the house, while everyone else was continuing as normal. Sora came limping down the stairs, almost fully recovered from his ordeal but thinking up the perfect alibi to convince his mom that he just suffered an injury. Leon looked over, striding over to the brunet freshman and offering a hand. Sora shook his head in refusal, getting down the stairs eventually.
"I gotta do this on my own," he stated. "I feel bad enough that Riku's practically nursed me back to health."
"You shouldn't though," Leon said.
"But I do. I mean, he's given up so much of his time just taking care of me and all I've done is sitting around like a vegetable."
"I don't think we could go that far," Leon chuckled slightly.
"Don't laugh. I feel guilty. I don't know just how I can repay him for all that he's done."
"It'll come to you," Leon assured the small brunet, ruffling his hair affectionately. He went about finding a good time to hold the meeting before his class, letting Sora limp over to the sofa where a pile of work from Professor Xehanort was. Among them was a new script that he would be assessed on in the next semester.
"It'll come to me," Sora murmured as he flicked through it. He then smiled broadly. "Well, I hope this will be enough."
That night, everyone gathered in the living room. The meeting was like a special occasion, where there was a lot of food to go around (courtesy of Aerith's culinary skills and Tifa's budgeting) and usually a film followed. Usually. If there wasn't anything else they should be getting on with. Leon took his spot on the sofa with Cloud lying sprawled across his lap comfortably. Sora also sat next to them, mostly because it was the most comfy place for him at the moment. Riku situated himself on the arm of the sofa while Roxas, Namine and Yuffie placed themselves on the floor. Everyone else had taken up space on the other armchairs and the arms of them bar Axel who was leaning against the wall.
"Right," Leon started. "What's everyone doing then over the vacation?"
"Cloud's gotta come back with me to Niebelheim," Zack answered immediately, ignoring the annoyed look on Cloud's face. "The old man will have my head if I come back after a lengthy absence empty-handed. And I'll be taking the fair lady Aerith with me as well," Zack added as an afterthought, grinning wolfishly as Aerith went slightly pink on her cheeks.
"You OK with this Aerith?" Leon asked.
"Say no," Cloud quipped. "He's a flirt."
"Well," Aerith started, thinking her answer over very carefully. "My parents do want me home for Christmas but I'm sure they won't mind if I go to Niebelheim for a week or two beforehand. They like you Cloud so they'll understand."
"Aerith, you have no idea what you're letting yourself into," Cloud mumbled as he covered his eyes with a hand in despair. Aerith tittered into her hand while Zack was doing a little victory dance and making 'Cloud expressions' behind his younger cousin's back.
"Well, I'm going to visit relatives in Wutai," Yuffie announced with a bright smile. "But they don't really have a good signal so I don't think you'll be able to contact me if any yao- er, if anything comes up!"
Everyone, bar Namine, gave the 'Great Ninja' a suspicious look. Namine then spoke. "I have to go home. Something came up with my family."
"Something bad?" Sora asked.
"No. Just an issue that needs to be solved with everyone. It's nothing serious. How about you?"
"Going to Twilight Town, I guess. Though I'm not really looking forward to it."
"You could go with someone else if you wanted to," Demyx inserted. "Though Zexion is already coming with me to meet the parents and all that so neither of us is avaible."
"I-" Marly started but then howled from surprise. Larxene had stamped on his foot again.
"I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to stay with us. We'd be too busy doing other things," Larxene smiled. Sora was eternally grateful to her.
"Well, I would offer, but I help run the family bar so you wouldn't exactly be comfortable," Tifa said, looking a bit guilty. "Sorry."
Sora just raised a hand and shook his head in a sign of showing that he wasn't bothered by it.
"So I guess that leaves you to stay with Axel and Riku if you don't want to go home," Leon concluded.
"Huh?" Sora gave the older brunet a quizzical look.
"I don't really like going back to Destiny Islands so much," Riku explained. "Because of a certain someone being at home, so Axel kindly puts up with me over the vacations if I don't want to go back. Ain't that right Ax?"
Axel just gave a firm nod, not really listening.
"So that options open," Riku smiled. "Axel won't admit it, but he likes the company. He lives alone."
"By choice," Axel pointed out.
Roxas looked at Axel. He lived alone? Why didn't he live with his family? Then he remembered what the vocalist had told him.
His dad works a lot. Maybe he's hardly at home. Or…or maybe he found out about what Axel and Ariel did to that guy and he disowned them. That would make a lot of sense.
"Hello? Earth to Roxas! Come in Roxas!" Yuffie exclaimed, poking at the blond's head. He glared at the hyperactive sophomore.
"What?"
"We asked where you were going of course. But if you haven't thought of a place to go to, I guess I could always arrange something," Yuffie offered with a devious smile.
"Well, if one twin's going to Radiant Garden, I guess the other will follow."
Everyone looked over to Axel, surprised at the answer. Roxas looked at Axel, completely shell-shocked. Axel looked up, opening his green eyes and peering at Roxas.
"Am I right, Roxas?"
"Uh…yeah. Sure."
OK, this must be his way of asking if I can stay with him. Why can't he just ask flat out than assume me and Sora have some freaky twin problem when we can't be apart from each other for too long!
"You're thinking again," Yuffie frowned. "You're no fun when you think so much."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Roxas demanded, outraged.
Sora laughed. "You make a funny face like this." He pouted his lips and furrowed his brow, eyes looking hazy yet so deep in thought. "And you block out everything."
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"I do not make that face times 1000!"
"You do times infinity plus 1 more than every thing you say! Padlock it and throw the key into a shark infested tank!"
"Hey no fair!"
"Well," Leon stated in a loud commanding voice. "Now that we know where everyone is going, and we all know if we're going to be able to contact with each other, I call this meeting to a close."
And to prove his point, he took a swig of the beer he had in his hand and bashed it onto the coffee table, ignoring the audible wince coming from Aerith.
"Great! Now we get to watch A Walk to Remember!" Yuffie trilled. The boys groaned (except for Demyx who secretly liked the film.) "What you guys?"
"Do we have to watch something as sappy as that?" Zexion moaned, clearly unhappy with the choice.
"Well what do you suggest?" Yuffie huffed.
"Anything other than A Walk to Remember."
This led on to a long debate about films that lasted into the night.
The day finally came for everyone to leave for Christmas. Roxas was running around like a headless chicken in the twins' room since his more neat-freak of a brother was in no shape to sort out his less-organized twin out.
"Aiiiiiie! Where is it?! Where is it?!"
"Where's what?" Sora asked, hugging the one possession he made special care in hiding from the rest of the house: a stuffed bear called Bashi-chan. The blue bear had been with the brunet twin ever since the twins were in nappies. Roxas had left his yellow bear, Baru-kun, at home since he grew out of sleeping with his stuffed toy. But there was one thing Roxas couldn't live without.
"My sketchpad! I can't find my sketchpad!"
Sora pointed at Roxas' rucksack, where the corner of his black and white sketchpad was poking out from the main compartment. Roxas laughed uneasily.
"Whoops."
"Look, I made sure that we had everything we're going to need was packed with you last night, so there's no need for all this running around. Chill out. You're acting like you're moving in with Axel."
"Well, we are technically!"
"Only for what, eight weeks? We're guests, not permanent occupants."
"That's not the point!"
"Then what is?"
Roxas went silence, knowing the answer yet not willing to say it. Sora looked at him quizzically before closing his eyes and tilting his head forwards.
"I see," Sora smiled. "It's about Axel, isn't it?"
Roxas looked away. Sora shook his head. "You're falling for him, aren't you?"
"…" Roxas thought about it. Could he say it? Could he admit it? "…Yeah…"
"Well, there's nothing for you to worry about then."
Roxas looked up at his twin quizzically, his eyes meeting the identical sky blue eyes.
"Axel may not show it, but he cares for you a lot more than maybe a friend should. Think of anything that he said and did that shows that."
Roxas thought on this long and hard, trying to find what he needed from the fragments of his memories.
All those times he had protected him from Sephiroth.
Being invited to the first practice which was uncharacteristic of Axel.
When Axel came to the art exhibition.
The times they kissed each other.
When Axel opened up to him about his past.
When Axel took him into his arms to comfort him about Sora's rape.
The time when he went crazy because Roxas tried to take on the Organization by himself.
The time when the red-head thanked him…for just being there.
Roxas' mouth went agape. All this time he was worried about being liked by Axel, he hadn't noticed that Axel was returning the feelings in little near unnoticeable ways. Axel was never the type to go loud about his feelings. He guarded them well. He only showed that he wasn't completely unfeeling in the littlest ways possible. Yet all those things Axel did for him and to him were such large signs (for Axel) of showing care that Roxas was hitting himself for not noticing them sooner.
"I'm an idiot…"
"Huh?"
"All this time I've been worrying about whether he liked me or not, and I didn't even look at the little things that he did for me. I'm such a moron. I'm such an idiot."
"Don't beat yourself up. You're just not used to these kind of things," Sora patted his twin on the head. "Take this as advice from someone who's been in several relationships beforehand. The little things make the big things happen and all that crap."
"What about you and Riku?"
Sora blushed a little. "Well, I guess I'm beginning to accept his feelings a lot more…but I'm not quite ready yet. I mean, I still have to figure out if I truly am gay or bi. Riku-sexual just isn't an answer enough right now. I mean, am I one of those, or is Riku a special case?"
Roxas smiled up at his twin. "I think this holiday is going to answer a lot of questions for everyone, I can feel it."
Suitcases cluttered the entrance hall, as bodies to-ed and fro-ed from one person to the next saying their goodbyes.
First to leave was Larxene and Marluxia, Larxene forcibly dragging Marluxia by the ear as he lingered a bit too long with Sora.
Next was Naminé as she caught the taxi her family had arranged for her. "You sure you're going to be OK?" she asked Roxas. He gave her a firm nod. She smiled and walked down to the taxi, waving at them as she was driven away from view.
Cloud, Leon, Zack and Aerith were next to go, taking long strides towards the campus train station. Zack's motorcycle had been sent off to Niebelheim the week before. Cloud's would be left behind.
Tifa went in the same direction later on, going to the station in order to catch the train to Midgar. She gave everyone else a hearty wave and wished them all a Merry Christmas before she left, her raven hair blowing in the last of the November wind.
Yuffie was next, hugging the twins, whispering something into Riku's ears that made him look at her with outrage, and then bounded off towards the cab she had hired earlier. She gave them all a cheesy grin and a peace sign before disappearing from sight.
And then the six going to Radiant Garden locked up Shiva, placing the keys in the mailbox for the house staff to come pick it up later on. Gathering their belongings, they headed over to the station, Demyx, Zexion, Sora and Riku chatting amiably while Roxas and Axel stayed mute.
Roxas stroked the lucky checkerboard scarf tied around his neck. He hoped that it would bring him good fortune over the coming weeks.
He hoped that maybe he would notice some of the smaller things Axel was doing for him this time around.