Ever since that night, things hadn't been the same on the streets of Destiny Islands.
Ralexen was the first person to ever die as the outcome of a gang fight.
Though both gangs had very violent and brutal encounters in their past, not once had anyone ever killed another, be it on the enemy side or their own. Not only did The Code strictly prohibit such acts, it was simply a line that restricted everyone. It was a line that didn't need to be drawn, or seen, or even discussed; it was a final conscience, if you will, a tiny moral implanted in each gangster's head, that kept them from taking the next step towards the darkness that tempted them from within.
And now that line had been crossed.
The citizens were in absolute fear. Less and less people would venture outside, especially at night. Parents would keep their children away from the windows. Couples would kiss before they parted, scared they'd never receive another chance. Everyone now lived in complete peril. And they were horrified at the trouble that they were sure was to come.
Both gangs blamed each other for the tragedy. They each believed that the other violated the code 'first'. No one was taking chances anymore. Xradenom would send her members to lurk around The Organization's headquarters, while Xemnas would send his to spy on The Disorder. Each desperately wanted the advantage over the other, to figure out their plans, their motives, and their reasonings for what they have done what they have.
However, one thing was certain: Roxas and Xed had something to do with it. They were not stupid. They did not know exactly how much contact the two had, or what they wanted with the other, but they knew the root of the uprising problems were their fault.
So, they were kept apart at all costs.
000
Although it had only been six days, Roxas desperately missed Xed.
He would sit on the sofa in the meeting room, the one placed by the window, and he would stare out with depressed, longing eyes, silently, for hours at a time. He grew distant and quiet as the days passed, often ignoring everyone around him, as he was lost to his own thoughts and his own heartache.
His redhead companion was seated beside him, like most days, attempting to talk to him. But, he grew more and more frustrated as the blonde continued to ignore him endlessly.
"Roxas!" Axel shook the boy's shoulder roughly.
The blonde blinked a few times, and turned to look at the man. "What is it, Axel?"
"This is ridiculous! She's just a girl! Get over it!"
Roxas glared at him. "She's not just a girl! She's…more than that to me…"
The man scoffed, and rolled his eyes. "You're like, what? 13?"
"I'm 15!"
"Whatever!" He stared hard at his friend, his jade eyes piercing though him. "She's just a stupid crush! You gotta get over this *hit!"
"She's not just a crush! I love her!"
A cruel laugh. "You love her?"
Roxas quieted down, his glare softening. "Yes." He answered quietly, seriously. "I love her. I love her a lot."
Axel's demeanor calmed down as well, as he saw the seriousness in the blonde's eyes. All this time he figured this was just a childish crush, or maybe a tiny relationship. "Really?"
The blonde nodded, and looked out the window again. "I miss her a lot…I'd give anything to see her again. But I can't go back to her room. I'd get caught for sure."
The pyro scratched his chin thoughtfully, as his brain quickly hatched a plan. Snapping his fingers, her exclaimed, "I got it!"
A raised eyebrow. "Got what?"
"How you'll see her." He smirked deviously. "You're not gonna sneak out anymore. And neither will she."
He then proceeded to tell him his brilliant plan. And with each new promising word, Roxas' blue eyes would brighten even more, in hope and anticipation. He wrote a letter for Xed, following each of the redhead's directions and handing him it when he was done. The man took off, leaving the boy to do nothing but sit there and wait until the right moment.
Roxas hadn't been this excited in a long time. He couldn't wipe the grin from his face.
000
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Xed looked up from her book at the familiar sound. She turned her eyes to her window just in time to see a small pebble hit the window with urgent strength.
A smile came to her face, one that had not been seen for a full six days, ever since she had been kept under guard. She had been hoping, wishing for Roxas to come by and see her, to tap on her window so they could talk, and then go for stroll in the dark streets below. Even a small glimpse of him would satisfy her. She just missed him so much…
Almost running to the window, she opened it and looked outside, hoping to see the blonde's mass of spiky hair and his bright blue eyes and even brighter grin.
But her heart sank as she saw spiky red hair.
Axel was seated on the steps just below the window, looking up at her with his signature cocky grin, in arm's length of her.
She quickly began to shut the window in fear this was some sort of trap, but he reached out and kept it open.
"Cool it, chick, I come in peace." He smirked.
"How can I be sure?" The brunette asked quietly, in case anyone was outside her room's door.
"'Cause, Roxas sent me."
Her heart ached a little. "Roxas? He sent you? Really?"
"Yup. I got a letter here from him." He held out a folded sheet of white paper to her. "It's for you."
She looked at the man apprehensively. After seeing nothing in his gaze change, she reached out hesitantly, took the letter, and opened it.
Xed,
Go get some beer. There's some behind the old plaza.
~ Roxas
She looked back up, but Axel was gone.
The girl mulled it over, and without much more thought, she put the note in her pocket, and quickly went down the stairs and into the foyer. Before she could reach the front door, Demyx looked up from his seat on the sofa.
"Hey Xed. Where are you going?" He inquired simply.
"I'm gonna go get some beer. I think we're almost out."
000
The only thing behind the plaza was the old community church.
No one really went there anymore, other than the occasional homeless person seeking refuge for the night. Not only did people not have time for church, no one was very religious and diligent enough to go. It was built long ago to give people a sense of hope for their ever-bleak city. But that hope crumbled along with the building as the years went by, leaving only a decrepit, rotting building in its wake.
The brunette walked inside carefully. Being mindful of the chunks of roof and shattered glass lying on the floor in heaps, she wandered around slowly, eyes curiously and warily surveying before her. It was a little difficult to see, but as her vision slowly adjusted, she could make out tangles of plants and bushes that decided to grow in the murky, cool, and damp cathedral.
"Hey!"
She jumped in surprise, turning quickly to see a certain blonde boy sitting in one of the pews towards the back.
"Don't scare me like that…" She smiled and made her way over. The boy stood up and they practically ran into each other's arms, hugging tightly. They stayed like this for a while, before forcing themselves to shatter their embrace.
"Roxas, I missed you…" Xed confessed, looking into his shining azure eyes.
"I missed you too…" he responded, running his hands through her hair. He smiled a little, sadly. "I thought I'd go crazy if I couldn't see you any sooner…"
"I know the feeling…" She said, taking his raised hand in hers. "We don't have much time together. If I stay here very long, they'll get the idea I'm not just buying drinks…"
"Same here. But I needed some excuse to see you again."
She smiled. "I'm glad anyways."
"This is terrible…I hate how they're trying to keep us apart…" Roxas hissed, turning away. "This isn't fair."
Xed looked at him, and said gently, "They just don't understand how we feel."
"I know, but…they shouldn't be trying to crush this." He turned to look back at her. "They're older than us. They should realize that love knows no bounds…"
"Well…until they do, we should try to make the most of this." The girl leaned in a little, as the boy leaned in as well. "Let's try to enjoy what time we have together."
They moved closer and kissed, softly at first but then more passion erupted into the embrace. They kissed with abandon, purpose, knowing very well that it could be a while until they saw each other again. Hands tangled themselves in hair, tangled themselves with other hands, fingers stroking cheeks and cupping them. Eyes closed, eyes open, eyes half lidded, but all focused on the other, on this moment, never wanting to let to, to break away.
But eventually it had to end.
It was hard to say goodbye, but they promised each other to make this work out somehow.
And with heavy hearts they said goodnight, hugged once more, tightly, as if they were attempting to keep the world and the skies and stars from falling apart and crashing around them.
And then they parted.
000000
Sweet chapter, kinda sad, but they'll make this work. Or will they?
Reviews would be really nice. Please?