Whoo, sorry, everyone. Things have been busy... a high-speed summer job (teacher's assistant at a nearby college... geh, biology). Besides that, I suppose it's because I've been feeling better. I tend to only write when depressed... maybe I should try writing when I'm NOT feeling bad? Oh well. Nice to see everyone again.

I own nothing, I am no one, and if I had anything to do with Kingdom Hearts, its characters, or its names, do you think I'd have to teach conceited high-schoolers how to do a Western Blot?

This chapter, we'll meet the Boss, Axel will tell us a bit about his buddies, and Roxas will make fashion choices. Our poor little blonde will then meet our dirt-poor not-so-little redhead and then? Well, read and find out.

Reviews make me smile and write faster. The more you write, the more I write. So review! Thanks all, luv ya!

Axel locked his bike to the rack, placed a discreet distance from the door.

Axel locked his bike to the rack, placed a discreet distance from the door. A poster on the wall nearby thanked him for riding his bike and saving gasoline. The redhead grinned. An environmentally-minded pimp. What was the world coming to?

He walked through the club's doors, approaching the entrance kiosk. Later it would be mobbed, but the club didn't open for another hour. It was manned by a bored-looking man in his twenties, with Kadaj's silver hair, cropped short. He looked to be taking a break, having a smoke in the booth.

"Hi, my name is Axel," the redhead introduced himself. He smiled charmingly. "A classmate of mine named Kadaj told me to come here. He said something about a job, singing in the club. Am I in the right place?" Axel slid the card Kadaj had given him through the window-slot.

The well-built man grunted. "Yeah, he mentioned he'd be sending someone along. The name's Loz, I'm Kadaj's big brother. Follow me, I'll take you to meet the boss."

Roxas dreamt.

The stars above him were beautiful, he knew that. And he was on a swingset, just like child again. The ground was far below him, concrete and buildings of mud. With each pump of his legs and lean of his torso the stars grew closer, brighter. He reached out a hand for the stars, but they were still too far. The ground was a blur now, just a gray-brown streak beneath his bare feet as the creaking of the swing's hinges died down, and there was nothing but the sound of the wind in his ears as he reached out once more for the stars.

He had to reach them. Had to. Pale hands stretched out to the light he could see, twinkling so tantalizingly near, and closed. The light burned, but he didn't care. It was his now, he finally had it, and now he was falling from the swing, legs flapping helplessly behind him as his eyes remained focused on the star in his hands. It was fire, life and light, cruel and warm, it was his. Falling, he pressed it to his chest as the world went dark.

Axel stared at the man seated before him. Tall with long gray hair tied back, sitting with absolute confidence and a smirk on his perfect features. His presence was unbelievable, like royalty. This was Sephiroth.

The smirk widened into a smile as the man began to speak in soft, clipped tones. "Kadaj was very impressed by your performance, Axel. So impressed, in fact, that he immediately messaged me that he had found a band to play here at the club. I have been looking to expand into the live music business in this city. Do you think that you could spearhead that effort? Can your band live up to being my first showcase performance?"

Axel stared, almost forgetting to speak. Usually he could talk to anyone, without nervousness, but this man was different, maybe because of the "I could kick your ass, but I don't have to" aura he exuded. Wetting his lips, he began, and was shocked to hear himself stutter. "W-well, I'm not sure how suited The Organization is for that kind of stuff, but if you want a sample of our music, then I have a CD right-"

"Spare me," the silver-haired man dismissed. This time there was the barest hint of coldness in his voice. "I'm interested in your live performances, not your CD. Stage charisma. Can you provide me with that?"

Axel worked up the nerve to grin. He could do this, scary boss or not. "Play a CD and I'll sing and play the guitar along with it. The rest of the guys are on their way, but if you want to make sure the frontman can keep up, you're welcome to try me."

Sephiroth stared at the student in front of him. It had been a long while since someone had talked to him like that. It was… refreshing. He should probably take offense, but… Oh well. He smirked instead. "We shall wait for your band-mates; I have time. While we wait, sit. Tell me about yourself. How did you get your start in music?"

Axel sat where the man had gestured, folding his hands on the table in front of him. "I actually got my start in music back at the orphanage I was raised in. I'd been there for a while, and one day this shrimpy little blond kid arrives, carrying a guitar case. Social workers said he was a new orphan, but he didn't really seem it. No sobbing or anything, you know? Hyperactive little fucker. Just sat down outside the door and started playing some wicked fast rock piece, then just got up and ran around the whole building a few times. That was Demyx, he's the lead guitarist now. He started teaching me some stuff back then, and I liked the music so we started getting our hands on whatever guitars and CDs we could find." The redhead smiled. "That's pretty much how I got started. I think Dem's father was a musician, which is why he knew guitar so young. He doesn't talk about it, though. Do you want me to talk about how things went after the orphanage?"

Sephiroth gestured for him to continue. "Please."

Axel took a deep breath before starting. "We both got into RG Academy, and joined this guy Xemnas' band. He was a senior and a real asshole… I don't know how Saix- his boyfriend- stood him. They had Luxord, Xigbar, Vexen, Xaldin, Lexaeus, Zexion, and Larxene. It was a really big band, but all of them except Zexion and Larxene graduated. Marluxia stayed around as the gardener, he had a real green thumb. Larx is the drummer, she kicks ass but don't piss her off cause she will make your life friggin miserable. Zexion plays bass and makes out with Demyx onstage. He's pretty cool for a rich kid. He foots the bill for most of our band expenses. Marluxia will sometimes play with us if he's not working and has nothing better to do. He plays keyboard, and is usually free on Friday nights. We've got a guy named Riku who helps us set up and handles the sound booth, he goes to the school too. As for song-writing, it's mainly me and Demyx, though Zex helps with the lyrics. I guess you'd put our style as somewhere between pop and alternative and hard rock… always has a strong beat, usually pretty fast-paced."

The singer sighed. "That's about how we got where we are right now. Anything you want more detail on?" He had to admit, it was a bit odd that Sephiroth would be taking such an interest in his musical history, but whatever. He'd go with it.

Sephiroth cocked his head, as though considering a question. As the silver-haired man opened his mouth to speak, Loz stuck his head in through the club's doors. "Boss, the rest of the band is here. Let them in?"

The club's owner nodded. "Yes, Axel and I had just finished." He turned to the redhead. "Go set up. You should have time to play a tentative set, at least. I have some business to take care of, and will be back in no more than twenty minutes."

Axel almost saluted before catching himself, shaking hands with the taller man, and quickly walking to go set up. Shit, but that guy was scary.

Roxas woke up to his ancient alarm clock shrieking the evening news. It was six o'clock, and he had an hour to get ready before Sephiroth expected his ass at the club.

He took a cold shower, then sat with his knees to his chest under the cold water until he felt himself start to shiver, eyes closed and thinking of nothing.

Rousing himself from the shower, the blue-eyed boy applied his eyeliner and lip gloss, then walked slowly over to the suitcase that served as his dresser. He didn't need many clothes, and this made it easy to take them to the laundromat.

Loose pants today, he decided as he surveyed his choices. Not black... he'd been wearing a lot of black pants recently. The light khakhi, then. He pulled them on, neglecting underwear. No point in underwear when wearing loose pants, and there was always the chance of them getting torn. He'd as soon not deal with it. He tucked his keyring into the pants pocket, fingering the sharp metal tools attached to it.

The white shirt would go well with the pants. Roxas pulled it on slowly, careful of the tight garment, wincing as it settled into place against his scraped chest. At least it wouldn't move around too much. The scratches skirted the edges of the deep V-neck cut into the form-fitting, revealing piece of fabric.

Dark boots without socks, then the ever-present black coat over the whole ensemble, and he was ready to go. He checked the keyring once more, and stepped out, locking the door behind him.

Axel sat backstage with his companions, passing around a good-luck drink of simple sake. They'd played well enough for Sephiroth, and he was having them start after his third lieutenant, Yazoo, announced them. Yazoo was always chosen for announcements. His long hair and delicate face played well to club's clientele.

Demyx lay sprawled on the couch, leaning on Zexion, chattering about a beach he'd heard about. Zexion was running his hand through Demyx's hair, nodding absently. Larxene stood, leaning against the wall and spinning a drumstick in her fingers. Riku was running his fingers through the keychain he always kept with him. Axel loved to tease him about being a love-sick sop. He didn't even remember the kid's name. Something like Sarah or something.

Yazoo broke the still, walking in from the raised stage. "It's your show. Do well." He nodded at them as he passed.

With a yawn, Larxene pushed off the wall. "Get your asses moving, boys. Let's get this done with."

Axel nodded, and punched Riku lightly in the arm to wake him from his trance. The two on the couch stood and the entire contingent ran out on stage.

Grabbing the mic stand as the others took their places behind him, Axel cried out "What's up, Jenova!" He waited for the answering roar to fade. "We're Organization XIII, and we'll be playing your music for you tonight! Let me introduce, on guitar, the very talented whiner Demyx!" The blonde stepped forward, grinned, and waved to the club. "On bass, our favorite emo-boy, Zexion!" The small man flipped him the bird, then gave the audience a small wave. "On drums, Larxene the bitch queen!" The woman kicked him in the back, nodded to the audience, and sat at the drums. "Ouch. In the sound booth, Riku the love-sick pretty-boy!" Riku opted to shout "Axel, you mother-fucker!" into the booth's mic. "And just as pretty-boy said, I'm Axel, and yes, I am an asshole. Don't fuck with me or I'll burn you." He laughed. "Now, we're gonna start off with a nice fast song. A tribute to MSI, Seven-Eleven!"

And so they began.

Roxas looked up at the stage. Live music? That was a new one. But it was nice and fast and everyone was moshing, so he had no choice but to join in. The band was pretty good. That singer definitely knew how to play to the audience, dashing all over the stage and showing off his thin body. Pretty face, too, especially with those tattoos. Not bad.

He figured he had an hour and a half to dance and drink before Sephiroth called him in for work. Until then, he'd dance until he could barely walk.

Phew! Okay, that was a long one... for me, at least. I need to learn to actually write. Please review, particularly nice, harsh, biting reviews that tell me in no uncertain terms what a bad writer I am! That way I can improve, I'm happy, you're happy, and it all works out!

See ya next time, and note that I place no date for the next chapter... let's hope it's soon!