Chapter Three- Honesty

Kadaj had to admit, the house that Demyx had picked out was amazing. It was an older, two story duplex that for some reason had not sold in over 15 years and the realtor was so desperate to sell that she dropped the price from 145,000 to 125,000. It may end up need some repairs but it was nothing he and Leon couldn't handle. As Leon hauled in the last box and dropped in the living room with a loud thump, a feeling of relief and…hope washed over the family. This was their chance to start over.

"Hey, Kadaj…sing with me." It was a rare occasion when Sora asked anyone other than Demyx to sing with him and an even rarer occasion when Kadaj agreed to sing period. Demyx pulled out his guitar and somehow instinctively knew which song Sora wanted him to play. Leon tapped his fingers in time with the strumming of the guitar as Sora's voice cut through the silence.

Today's a reason worth living, today's the blood from a stone, today's a light from a candle helping us to find our way home
Today we carry each other, today the past is a freak, today is a time for forgiveness, you were never that good to me

Demyx shifted the melody, picked up the pace and the two brothers beside him followed flawlessly, leaving the rest in the room in awed silence. Leon never ceased to be amazed at how talented his younger siblings were and the joy they got out of simply playing together eased the ache in his heart as the words somehow released him from his self-induced prison. Kadaj's much stronger, deeper voice cut in and wove around Sora's clearer one, weaving a harmony that sent shivers down Leon's spine.

Welcome to this world…I'm sorry I can't lie, I've wasted to much time drowning,I've been blind but I've opened up my eyes,
Sorry, I can't lie so I'll just say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye yeah

Today's tasting the honey, today's the strike of a match, today's the lines in the pavement helping us to find our way back.
Today's the crosses we carry, today's the strength that we need, today's the hand of an angel, you were not the kind to believe.

Kadaj let a rare smile overtake his features as Sora and Demyx jammed with him, a feeling of freedom filling him. It had been so long since he'd simply enjoyed his brothers' company. He'd spent much of the last three years playing Father. Leon was the oldest, he was their stronghold but in reality, Kadaj was the one keeping them together. Leon was absent in more ways than one and Kadaj had to take over so the family didn't shatter completely. It was a responsibilty he gladly took on but one he was more than ready to hand back to his oldest brother. But tonight, they just were. There were no sad memories, there were no fights. It was just the five brothers and a song.

Oh my god, oh my god, yea, today we carry each other, today we do what we should, Today's a time for forgiving, today I wish I could…Goodbye, goodbye,
Sorry, so I'll just say goodbye...Goodbye.

Sora clapped delightedly, laughing as he fell backwards on to Zexion's empty lap, heaving with excitement and exhaustion. Leon grinned and stood, stretching lazily. Kadaj stood as well, knowing the man was about to say they all had a big day tomorrow and they had better get some rest. Instead, the brunet surprised him, turning with a small smile.

"Goodnight guys. I love you." With that he left the four standing in the living room with wondering gazes and hope.

Zack rinsed his mouth out with cold water, wiping his chapped lips on the towel that hung by the sink. Grimacing, he leaned on the sink, looking at his reflection in the mirror. His dark hair was slightly greasy looking and mussed in every which direction. Grey-blue eyes were dull and lined with dark circles and his skin far paler than normal. He chuckled dryly, half-amused by his family's lack of awareness and half angry no one cared enough to see something was wrong.

Raking long fingers through his hair, Zack looked away from the mirror in self-loathing and shame, turning on the shower. Pulling off his clothes, Zack risked a glance in the mirror once again, his ribs protruding sharply from his too-thin side. He was pitiful. It was with this thought that the man climbed into the scalding water, relief washing over him.

-

Axel sat against the wall against the other side of the bathroom door, cigarette between his fingers. Cloud hated it when he smoked inside but whatever. That was not important right now. What was important was that something was seriously wrong with Zack. He had the stomach flu or something. A frown danced on the red-heads lips as he took a long drag, listening to the gentle hum of the shower, Cloud's heavy steps sounding as he reached the top of the stair.

"What have I told you-"

"Zack needs to go to the doctor. Got the flu." Axel said, breathing out a long stream of smoke that burned Cloud's eyes. Cloud growled somewhere in the back of his throat.

"Then he can take his damn self to the doctor. I'm not his mother." As the sound of retching was heard just barely above the shower, Axel began to snicker quietly, earning a strange glance from Cloud.

"No wonder he drinks so much. You're such a moody jerk-off." Cloud scowled at the boy, hauling him to his feet by the shirt collar, the lit cigarette falling to the ground.

"And you're an arrogant bastard. What makes you so much better than us? Huh? What gives you the right to go around like God?" Axel's back connected painfully with the wall and he winced as his head bounced off the white surface.

"Because at least I pull my head from my a-" The door opened suddenly and both Cloud and Zack looked surprised to see the other. But only Axel saw that Zack's frame seemed frail. Only Axel saw how his skin clung to his bones as if it were afraid of falling off. Only Axel connected the dots and he wished to God he hadn't.

A.n: oooh sadness. Reviews are loved!!

Ulti!