Happy New Year everyone, 2011 has showed itself and what better way to begin the New Year than an update of Ghost Rider. Marking almost 3 years Ghost Rider is still going, makes me feel like a comic book writer sometimes. Well, it's time for another installment in the story, I hope everyone enjoys it and has a good year.

Music used in this chapter

The Sound of Madness, by Shinedown from their CD: The Sound of Madness Deluxe Edition.

Blackout, by Linkin Park from their CD: A Thousand Suns.

Chapter 35: The Sound of Madness

Two years ago...

Sora staggered back and felt his back touch the hot red brick wall, he felt blood come down his chin and felt the several parts of his body swell up with bruises. The two street punks who were beating up him up laughed as he resumed a fighting stance, the fourteen year old rashly rushed at them with anger, swinging his fists at them trying to hit something. His fist however was caught in the palm of one of the punk's hands and he received another punch to his face. Sora crumpled to the ground and struggled against the new found pain. He heard their laughter and wanted nothing more than to make them shut up, he wanted to so bad they he fought against multitude amounts of pain to get up and try to beat them up.

"Don't even try it!" one of them yelled, kicking Sora in the ribs. But that didn't stop him, he continued to try to stand up, even as the other kid kicked him too.

"Damn...what is he?" the other kid yelled, which made Sora turn his head to them and glare at them.

"H-hey, what are you lookin' at?" one of the kids said, stepping back a bit from Sora's intense glare. "S-stop it... stop lookin' at me like that!"

Sora continued to glare at them as he continued to try and get up, however his glare dropped when he saw someone behind the two kids. Before the kids could even sigh in relief someone grabbed them from behind and tossed them back. Sora recognized his black snow cap and black T-shirt he wore, his usual white coat tied around his waist.

"You think you're hot shit?" Seifer yelled, walking over to one of the kids and punching him in the nose. The other kid tried to run but Seifer caught up to him quick, tackling him to the ground and punching him twice in the head.

Sora watched him stand up and walk over to him, scooping low he helped Sora up, supporting him as he stood.

"You alright Sora?" he asked.

Sora looked at him and squirmed out of his grasp, "I had them!" he yelling, trying to justify himself, however his injuries spoke otherwise as he felt his bruises ache. Seifer had ran up to him and caught him from falling again, grabbing ahold of him and walking.

"Come on, hideout's not far from here. Tifa and Fuu will fix you up." he assured him as they walked through the streets. "Stay awake okay?"

"Yeah..." Sora said, who had begun to feel guilty over yelling at Seifer. The guy came in and saved his sorry ass even though he had only been with the gang for a few days. "T-thanks Seifer..."

"No need thanking me man," Seifer said quietly.

"But I-"

"Look Sora," Seifer cut him off, "Lemme tell you something and don't forget it. You don't need to thank me, ever. You know why? Cause you and me, we're the same. Two nobodies the world doesn't give a shit about, but unlike everyone else, you and me ain't gonna lie down and let them have their way."

He paused a little bit as he and Sora turned into the alley leading to the hideout. "When people like them don't want us around, we do what they don't want us to do: rebel. We're gonna make a fuss, we're gonna make a stink, like all the greats in history we're gonna rebel against the fancy self righteous assholes and change society for the better. Make a place for people like you and me."

"Seifer? Sora?" Fuu's voice called out as she saw the two of them approach the hideout. Once she saw Sora's injuries she rushed inside and called for Tifa. The two girls and Rai ran out of the cloth door and helped the two of them inside.

"What happened?" Tifa asked as she went to a first aid kit on the wall.

"He got ambushed by some kids," Seifer explained, as Rai and Paine cleared a spot on the couch.

"That's just whacked, you know?" Rai growled as Sora was lying down on the couch.

As Sora was lying down Tifa and Fuu were gonna move in to begin treating his wounds when Seifer cut pass them, got on his knees to be at eye level with the young teen and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"We don't need to thank each other for saving each other, cause we'll always be here for each other. We're brothers Sora, all of us, brothers and sisters..."

Seifer stared at the photo he placed at his desk, the one and only photo he had on his desk: a photo of the whole gang in front of the hideout. About a year or so ago according to the date on the picture, Rai there with his tight orange shirt trying to look badass, Fuu right in front of him with her hands in her pockets along with her usual monotone expression. Paine on the side of her, arms crossed, absolutely hating the fact her picture was being taken, and Tifa being the only one actually smiling as she was caught ruffling the hair of the person in front of her. The person in question, who also happened to be the guy standing next to Seifer, was Sora himself. Trying to push Tifa away as she ruffled his hair and sporting that favorite brown jacket of his. This photo was the only keepsake Seifer had kept of anything and anyone in this world.

"Am I interrupting something?" A sharp voice cut through Seifer's warm memories. The boy snapped his eyes onto the spiky haired blond in front of his desk, who noticed the photo on his desk and swiped it.

"Ohhh lookie here," Hayner smirked, "A pretty picture of you and your friends."

Seifer was about to yell out, maybe make a threat at him to return it, but what he saw in Hayner's face halted his actions. The previous look of cruelty was replaced for a split second with a look of shock, but it quickly morphed into one of pure hatred. His fingers clenched around the frame of the photograph till his own knuckles whitened, fearing he may break his photo Seifer boldly snatched the photo away from the angry teen.

For a second it looked like Hayner was gonna attack him right then and there, but his angry expression relaxed and his snide outer appearance had returned, slowly, like rain water spilling down a car windshield.

"Touchy over a picture huh, I can understand if it was a dirty picture of a girl but one of your friends?" he shook his head, "Weird."

"These friends mean a lot to me," Seifer said. "So I'd appreciate if you'd not destroy my picture of them."

"Even Sora?" Hayner asked, pretending to examine the dart board while actually looking at his expression.

Seifer's eyes widened and he stood up from his chair, "How do you know Sora?"

"Oh...we had a few run ins," he said, taking some darts from the old orange crate on the floor and began throwing them at the board. "Tenacious little bastard he is, just has this habit of not lying down...no matter how many punches you throw at his jaw."

Before Hayner could register what was happening Seifer had leaped over his desk, grabbed Hayner and violently slammed him against the wall. The action was sudden and loud enough for Rai and Fuu to run in, powers ready thinking Hayner attacked Seifer. Instead they found their leader holding their guest by his throat against the wall.

"I don't know who you think you are," Seifer growled, tightening his grip on his throat. "But going after Sora was a mistake."

Hayner, despite the potential danger of suffocating, smirked at him instead and managed to ask, "So...he's a...friend to you then?"

"More than a friend," Seifer said, "He's our family, and don't you forget that."

Hayner's smirk turned into a dangerous smile, if Seifer only knew what he knew. Oh how crushed he would be, in fact...the idea of that was very appealing for Hayner. Not only to create a new enemy for Sora, but for it to be someone who cares for him like family. Oh the effect would be delicious. However probably best to wait for when this guy doesn't have his fingers wrapped around his throat. So for now he gave a simple nod and soon the other teen let go of his throat, he massaged his throat and walked over to the couch. Seifer, still shaking with his anger, forced himself to go back to his desk and sit back in the chair. Fuu and Rai were exchanging concerned looks, not because Seifer attacked Hayner...but for fear of a potential retaliation from Hayner. Fuu and Rai never voiced the concerns, but they knew how extremely dangerous Hayner is. Aside from the fact he has the power of Ghost Rider, but the teen's mentality made him dangerous. He cared for nothing and no one, he had no goals beyond his obsession with Ghost Rider. This alliance was crucial to them, but not so much for Hayner. It could be clear that at any moment he could turn on them, and the thought of dealing with a moral-less Ghost Rider scared them to no ends.

"Now, you think that us working together can take down the Ghost Rider." Hayner said, getting into the subject of business.

Seifer didn't immediately answer him, he waited for a moment or two to calm down his anger. "Yes. Both of us have the common enemy of the Spirit of Vengeance. And both of us have took him on, but have had troubles defeating him."

"What's your deal with the Rider anyway?" Hayner asked.

"The Rider stands in the way of a world we wanna create," Seifer said. "A new world that'll bring about a beneficial change for the current deplorable state the world is in."

Hayner raised an eyebrow at Seifer, he sat up completely as if what Seifer said caught his full attention. "I see...that does sound like a troublesome thing."

"It is," Seifer said, "But with us working together, we can set a trap for the Rider that not even he can break out of. We can finally be rid of the Rider from our lives forever. What say you?"

The air hung with Seifer's words as Hayner was in the processing of thinking, the teen stood up from the couch and walked up to the desk. He stared Seifer in the eye as the other teen awaited his answer, Hayner's eyes narrowed a bit before he pressed both hands on the desk. His hands smoking a little as he leaned in close to Seifer's face.

"I think I'd rather laugh at your corpse instead."

Seifer's eyes did not widen or react to any sign of fear, Fuu and Rai however were beginning to tense up and prepare to attack...when Hayner burst out laughing. He stepped away from Seifer's desk to show two burn marks where his hands were as he began to belt out laughter.

"A new world...a new world!" he laughed, holding his gut with his arms as he continued to laugh. Seifer's gaze narrowed at the teen as he was mocking everything he had said to him. Fuu and Rai did not relax one bit, they continued to stare warily at the crazed teen with their powers on the verge of being activated. Suddenly Hayner just stopped laughing, he just...stopped. No warning, so sign of the laughter dieing down, he just plain stopped.

"A new world...what utter bullshit." he scoffed. "Here I thought you were worthy of my help, but it turns out you're just as idiotically idealistic as every other fool in the world. We're done here."

With that he turned and headed for the exit, normally Fuu and Rai would make a move to stop him but they were so full of fear, so afraid for an attack that they stood there and struggled to keep up a stoic expression. To show no fear for the teen to prey on and manipulate, even the seemly emotionless Fuu could feel fear whenever this monster was in the room. Seifer wasn't keen on stopping him either, he had full intentions to let him walk out and find a way to deal with him later. However just as he was about to part the curtain and walk out Hayner paused, the three teens in the room tensed up as he did.

"...Although, I suppose I could let you in on one little secret..." Hayner said, Seifer didn't respond at first, letting Hayner continue. "I did manage, on a passing, to discover a very interesting thing about the Ghost Rider."

"Which would be...?" Seifer prompted, not caring for Hayner's cryptic words.

"His identity." he said.

All of sudden all fear for Hayner was removed and replaced with a sudden jolt of excitement and surprise, Seifer shot up from his seat and looked at Hayner. His body trembling at the mere thought of discovering his identity.

"You know...who the Ghost Rider is...?" he asked. "Please tell me...who is he?"

Hayner cracked the most vicious of smiles.

"That the song list?" Roxas asked Sora as he turned his car down the city roads.

Sora looked up from the white piece of paper full of multiple songs he was asked to play, most of them were suggestions filled by the students in the school. The board was gracious enough to get rid of the songs he couldn't play, do to being a male and unable to replicate a female voice. And no, he does not have a good falsetto. He looked at the list with mixed feelings; a lot of songs he had no trouble playing, once he looked them up, however there were a few he had some reserves about.

"Um, yeah it's the list." he said.

"Any good tunes?" Roxas asked.

"Depends on your view I suppose," Sora said as he began reciting the songs and artists on the list. There were a few songs where Roxas nodded and said something like 'good tune' or 'awesome', and there were a few that made his eyebrows scrunch up and even one he muttered 'oh ew'. Needless to say Roxas had the same feelings he did about the song list.

"Well I guess I should be grateful you got a few 'good' tunes," Roxas said, stopping his car when the light turned red.

"Roxas, 'good' is relative. This list was decided by the entire school, everyone's tastes are on this list." Sora said, folding up the piece of paper and stuffing it in his coat.

"So what are you gonna do?" Roxas asked, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for the light to change.

Sora shrugged, "Play them. I wouldn't wanna disappoint everyone."

"Even the 'bad' ones?" Roxas asked.

"Even the 'bad' ones." Sora nodded, "But no where on the list says I can't play them the way I want to, so I can add a little of my flavor to the songs."

"I wish you luck amigo," Roxas said, sighing in relief when the light finally turned green. "They want you to come in to practice?"

"Sorta, the Prom's on Saturday. That's four days from now, not enough time to come in for a session. I'll practice at home."

"Prom's in four days? And they gave you the list that late?" Roxas scoffed.

"Actually they emailed me apparently," Sora sighed, "I just haven't had time to check my mail."

"Damn," Roxas said, pulling the car into the driveway and going up the hill. "Can you master those songs in four days?"

"I got a good ear," Sora said confidently, "Doesn't take me long to memorize a song, in all terms. I'll be fine, it's gonna cut it close...but I can do it."

"What about your nights as Ghost Rider?" he asked.

"I...I dunno, I'll think of something." he assured.

Roxas only shrugged as he pulled the car into the garage, turning off the engine and the two of them stepping out of the car.

"Speaking of prom, you gonna invite someone?" Roxas asked.

"Haven't thought of anyone." Sora said quickly, opening the back door and pulling out his backpack.

"What about Kairi?" Roxas asked.

The reaction Sora had to even mentioning her name had a great effect, Sora jerked so quickly that he banged his head on the roof and as he was backing out he slammed his back against the wood wall. Roxas's eyes widened as his friend went through a series of klutz-like actions at the mention of a girl's name.

"I...guess that's a maybe?" Roxas chuckled lightly.

Sora glared at him and shouldered his backpack, "Geez Louise. I thought things were hard getting her to accept me as a friend, but with that...thing-"

"Kiss," Roxas cut him off, trying not to laugh as Sora jumped at that.

"Whatever! The...kiss, I can't even try to talk to her without her running off." he said as he walked around the car. "As if things need to be even more awkward after she apparently dreamed I was Ghost Rider."

"What?" Roxas yelped.

"Yeah, apparently she had a dream I was Ghost Rider. Hence the awkwardness." Sora explained. "So it's like I actually need this on top of everything else."

Roxas clapped a hand on his shoulder, "He don't worry man, something awkward rears it's ugly head I'll try and defuse the situation."

Sora raised an eyebrow, "Yeaaaahhhhhhhh no. I know how well those work out with you."

"Huh?" Roxas blinked, apparently surprised. "Whaddya talking about, I'm an excellent awkward...warding...guy."

"Oh really?" Sora questioned as the two of them walked out of the garage to the front door. "I beg to differ. Remember when we were six and my mom had company over, you decided to walk downstairs to tell me in a loud voice that my jacket smells like dog sh-"

Sora didn't get to finish his sentence, for two reasons: one, when he opened the door he saw his mom there in the family room with company. Two: that company just so happened to be Aerith. He and Roxas stood dead still in the doorway, the awkwardness of Sora nearly spewing out a morally unacceptable word in front of a woman hung over their heads. Sure teenagers spew out worse in highschool, but generally they set a view about you that is not so great.

"Shhhh-hey!" he yelled, a bit too loud than he liked. "Hey Aerith, wasn't expecting you here."

"Clearly." his mother quipped, her eyebrows raised at him as he and Roxas slowly stepped inside. The two of them casually set their backpacks down on the chairs as Aerith stood up.

"I'm sorry I would have called first but none of you got my texts..." Aerith said.

As if on cue both boys looked at each other before whipping out their cell phones to check their texts, when they realized they didn't get any new texts Aerith started giggling uncontrollably. Realizing she had deceived them they slipped away their phones, grumbling.

"You two are so predictable sometimes," Aerith said with a sigh, both boys rolling their eyes at her.

"Well, I need to go make a phone call to my boss." Sora's mom said, standing up and heading into the next room. Presumably to give the boys some space with her, once she left the room Aerith spoke in a lowered voice.

"I'm really sorry, I meant to stop by quick but you guys weren't home yet..."

"No it's cool." Sora said, walking to the kitchen. "Thirsty?"

"No...no I'm fine," she assured, her voice sounded timid all of a sudden. A change in tone that made Sora hesitate in his movements, Roxas seemed a little concerned as well.

"Hey you okay?" he asked her.

"I...I heard about Hayner from Namine," she said.

Sora breathed a sigh, for a half moment he was afraid she was in trouble or something. He poured himself a drink from a carton of Apple Juice and took a sip. Relishing in the cold but sweet fruit drink before answering.

"Yeah...he's not coming back." he said, doing nothing to disguise the relief in his voice. It seemed to though make Aerith feel at ease. "He won't be attacking anyone ever again."

"Oh good...I was worried for you," she said, stepping towards him. "Dealing with that...monster all by yourself."

"Um, I did save him during the first fight..." Roxas interjected.

"It's fine really," Sora said, feeling a little warm under the collar. "He's gone now. Just...just another nights work from yours truly."

"Even so...I didn't want to see you in more pain than you deserve," she said, moving so close that Sora could literally feel the air heat up. Was he going into Rider form? No, he was standing in the patch of sunlight from the window, he couldn't be going Rider form.

"I...I...well that's...touching," Sora choked out, hating the fact that his usual 'cool' of a situation was fading every second she stepped closer.

"I have to confess something," she said, her eyes darting down. "I...didn't just come here to ask about Hayner."

"Oh? Oh really?" Sora asked, although he was trying hard to remain calm he was desperately thinking of an excuse to put some distance between the two of them.

"I..." Aerith hesitated before she found the will continue, "I want to...I want to ask if you would come to prom...with me."

Sora's felt his gut go from warm to cold, Roxas's eyes widened to dinner plates as suddenly the warm air that was present earlier suddenly transformed into a sauna. The silence hung between them was awkward and uncomfortable, for Sora anyway. It was hard to tell what Aerith was thinking, with that innocent yet hopeful expression on her face she was either oblivious or has a really good poker face. Sora's eyes turned to Roxas as if they were pleading for something to call attention away from the situation, Roxas looked at him and cleared his throat.

"I just totally realized...I have school work to do so...I'll leave you two be."

Sora's eyes widened with shock as Roxas slowly backed away from the counter trying to keep his cool...before shooting up the stairs. Once he disappeared from view there was a loud crash and a yell from Roxas, apparently he forgot the small table that was on the landing and crashed into it.

"Aurgh! Knee! Oh god my knee! I'm down Sora, I'm down!" he yelled from the stairs. Sora glared at the direction of Roxas's yells.

Damn you, he thought as he heard Roxas writhing in pain from his attempted escape.

And that's all for the chapter, Hayner planning evil deeds. Sora forced into a dilemma of average teenager issues of girls and prom. But don't be fooled, with Hayner in the shadows pushing pawns to the places he wants to, when he strikes, it's gonna be one that could potentially checkmate Sora. Tune in next time.