Disclaimer: Kh © Squeenix

Note: The beginning of this chapter will confuse some people, so lemme explain: Demyx left the hospital about ten minutes earlier for reasons untold. And Umi is Demyx last name in this.

On a side note, this will be the last chapter you guys receive for a while. I'm going back home tomorrow, and won't be on like this for a while. I love you guys!

Chapter 12: Unknown people

The summer rain came to a temporary halt, much to one teen's dismay. The rain was the only thing that seemed to understand what he was feeling. But then it suddenly didn't seem to care. He sighed, sitting numbly on the ground in a small puddle. Why did he bother? He didn't belong with them. Riku was sexy, Axel was hot in his own way, and the Hikari twins were lovable in every way. Demyx…wasn't so lucky. And maybe he shouldn't have been fretting about his current situation. After all, he was perfectly fine; he wasn't sitting in a hospital bed, or worrying about a pedophile coming to get him. But he did have issues of his own that no one really seemed to care about. No one really except some of his teachers when his grades began to slip.

See, contrary to popular belief, Demyx was smart. REALLY smart. It was something only Riku and Demyx's teachers knew. Remarkably, he was a straight A student, and got A's on 99 percent of his tests. But when things started happening at home, his grades slipped. The teachers became alarmed, and Axel noticed a slight change in his participation in history class. But no one really knew what was up. Except maybe Axel and Xigbar.

(Two month's earlier, Umi household, Dinner time)

"I have HAD IT with you! What is your problem, why is everything as you say it is!"

"Because this is MY house! Not yours!"

"I help pay for it just as much as you!"

"Bitch! You know as well as I do that I'M the one who makes the munny around here! I pay all the bills! You just sit on your ass and watch those godammed soap opera's all fucking day!"

"For your information, I do plenty! I make sure food is in your stomach! I keep this house clean-Do you really think its that easy! Then you do it yourself!"

Demyx's eyes watered slightly. He then stood up suddenly. "Stop fighting."

"You stay out of this, Demyx," His mother muttered.

"No! I'm tired of you guys fighting!"

"We're not fighting," his father told him.

"BULLSHIT! If you're this fucking unhappy, get a fucking divorce!" Demyx's hand slapped over his mouth.

(present)

"Me and my big mouth…" Demyx whispered to himself as another summer rain started up. "This wouldn't have happened if I had just let it go…" He closed his eyes, listening to the rain, taking comfort in it falling over his face. But then the water stopped caressing his skin, and he opened his eyes to find Axel standing above him with an umbrella. "…Axel…"

Axel grinned. "C'mon dummy. You're gonna get sick sittin' in the rain, you know that." He held out his hand, which Demyx gladly took. "You look down…"

"I kinda am…I shouldn't have said anything to my parents, but I couldn't take it anymore…" the sitar player groaned, cupping his face in his hands.

Axel stared at him. "…How long has this been bothering you?"

"For about a week. I didn't say anything because I knew you were worried about Roxas." He then blinked at Axel. "Why aren't you with Roxas?"

Axel grinned. "He knew you were upset. He told me to come looking for you. Don't worry, Riku's with them. If Riku's there, they'll be fine." He clapped a hand on Demyx's shoulder. "Anything you wanna say?"

Demyx shook his head. "Nah…I gotta go though…I have…someone to talk to already."

"Xigbar?"

Demyx stared at him. "…how did you…?"

"I can tell." Axel smirked. "You hang around him a lot. Oh hell…Do you have a crush on him!"

"Wha-?" Demyx blinked stupidly. "Are you nucking futs! There's no WAY I'd like Xigbar! He's just…bleh…"

Axel sniggered. "I know man, I was only kiddin'. But seriously, we gotta get you a girlfriend or something."

"oh don't worry." A gentle smile crossed Demyx's face. "I already got someone in mind…"

"Who?"

Demyx's grin broadened. "You kiddin'? I ain't tellin'!" He then ducked away from his best friend and ran off.

Axel looked dumbstruck for a moment, then smiled. "He's a kooky one…but I wonder who he likes." A million names ran though Axel's head, but he didn't know how wrong all of them were.

"Rummy. I win…"

"Wow, Riku, you're good at this game!"

"I know…"

Roxas threw down his cards angrily. "Damn. I lost everything. I ain't playing anymore."

Riku smirked. "You owe me twenty."

"I know smart alek!"

Sora grinned. "Guys, guys, let's play another game!"

"Do you mind quieting down?" The other three blinked stupidly before looking to notice that Sora had a roomie. He seemed a bit older than they were, although not much-maybe a senior in high school at the most. He had red the color of Axel's only longer. It was in a loose braid, and seemed somewhat disheveled. He had a few stitches on his face, and his hands were wrapped in bloody bandages. His eyes darted over to them, revealing bright green irises. "Some people want to sleep, yo."

The Hikari twins had no idea who this person was, but the face slightly jogged Riku's memory. "Wait a sec…" Riku walked over to him. "…I think I know you…"

"Who is it, Riku?"

"Riku? Riku Nakano?"

"Yeah…"

The figure smiled. "I'll say hell yeah you know me…" He sat up painfully. "Web design. I sit next to you. Reno Dakota."

Riku blinked. "Reno? What the hell happened to you?"

Reno shrugged ever so slightly. "Got into a huge fight that knocked me unconscious, that's all." He said it so casually, Riku almost laughed. He then looked over Riku's shoulder at the twins. "…Hikari's, right?"

Roxas nodded. "Uh…sorry about us being loud."

"No biggie. I regained consciousness last night, and for some reason I'm hella tired, yo. Don't worry about it." He yawned before lying back down and relaxing into his pillow.

Riku left him alone and turned to Roxas. "I wonder who he fought with. Based on the damage, there are only three people it could have been. But Axel and I have been with you guys so it wasn't us. So…nah, he wouldn't. Their best friends after all."

Roxas and Sora blinked at him. "Who?" Sora asked.

Riku glanced over his shoulder at Reno. "…Rude Usuru…"

"Rude Usuru?" Roxas muttered. "He's in my shop class."

"He's in my physics class. He did seem pissed a few days ago. He also mentioned a Reno. I wonder if something happened between them."

Riku shrugged. "I'll go to class tomorrow and talk to him." He then rubbed the back of his head. "Damn, everyone's beaten on everybody lately. Next thing you know, me and Axel will be strangling each other…"