*Xion*

It was a week before Valentine's Day, and while many people were talking about that, more people were interested in who appeared at school that day.

"Riku!" Kairi screamed, running over to her friend and giving him a big hug. Riku laughed and smiled, looking down at her. Sora went over and gave Riku a high-five. Axel followed Sora, and also high-fived Riku.

Roxas and I sat next to each other at a table with Hayner, Pence, and Olette and all of five of us were silently watching this scene. Well, everyone in the cafeteria was. Riku and his friends were making a big scene, and secretly, everyone had missed Riku. We had missed his cool and intimidating yet familiar presence.

"He's back? I thought he got expelled and had to switch schools," Roxas said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Where'd you get that idea?" Hayner asked, glaring at Roxas. "I didn't hear that rumor."

"I didn't say it was a rumor," Roxas said slowly. "I just said it was what I thought."

"Calm down, you two, please," Olette said, stopping the fight before it began. She looked at Hayner worriedly.

"He started it," Hayner said, crossing his arms angrily. I laughed at his childish outburst. Once he realized I was laughing at him, Hayner glared at me. This only led to me laughing harder.

"Roxas, what happened at lunch?" I asked him as we were walking home with Axel. "You seemed upset."

"Oh, um, nothing," Roxas replied, turning away. Is he hiding something from me? I hope not.

"Oh, really? You know, you shouldn't keep secrets from your girlfriend, Roxas," Axel teased. I couldn't help but blush.

"I'm not, okay?" Roxas shouted, stopping in his tracks. He threw his backpack to the ground. His hands clenched into fists, and he stared at the ground and shook with an anger I'd never seen in him before.

"Roxas!" I gasped, stepping forward.

"Don't touch me!" he shouted. I stumbled backwards, straight into Axel.

"Roxas, please, calm down," Axel said. "I wasn't trying to make you mad, I swear. I was just messing with you. I'm sorry."

"You think you're so much better than me, don't you, Axel?" Roxas shouted. He began slowly stepping closer to Axel and me. "Just because you're older, you think you know better, and you think I'm just some little kid. Well, I'm sick of you and your ego!" Axel put his hand on my shoulder, and pushed me behind his body.

"Roxas, please stop. This isn't a good way to solve things, and especially not with Xion in harm's way," Axel said through clenched teeth.

"This is what I'm talking about. You try to make me sound like I'm stupid by going and saying stuff like that!"

"Roxas, stop it!" I said as tears came to my eyes.

Roxas stopped walking, and turned to look at me. He looked at me sadly before turning away. "Xion, it's over. We're done," Roxas whispered.

"W-what?" I asked, tears streaming down my face. D-did he just break up with me?

"As for you, I hate you, Axel!" Roxas shouted, raising his arm to hit Axel. I screamed and cowered, shutting my eyes, silently willing this all to stop.

I waited to hear the impact, or at least Axel stopping the blow from hitting him. I slowly opened my eyes to see a tall, muscular man holding Roxas's arm, keeping it frozen in midair.

The person who stopped Roxas was a tall young man with brown hair that reached to the base of his neck in the back and was styled into rather messy, vertical spikes and bangs that framed his face. He had blue eyes and slightly tanned skin.

"Watch it, kid. Delinquents aren't welcome here," the man said. I was surprised at how deep, yet soft his voice was. I know I should be used to men having deep voices, but honestly, it still threw me off a bit.

"Wh-who are you?" Roxas asked, still angry. He slowly turned to face the man. You could see that Roxas was terrified. I was, too. I clutched the back of Axel's shirt, staying behind him.

"That's what I should be asking you. Roxas, is it? I've heard about you from your old man," the man smirked.

"You know my dad?"

"Yeah; he's my boss. I'm sure he'd love to hear that you were about to get into a fight. Don't you agree?" The man was threatening Roxas. What does this guy want? Is he just messing around with Roxas, or is he serious?

"What do you want with me?"Roxas shouted, voicing my thoughts. "What's your name, anyways?"

"I guess you deserve to know that much. I'm Terra. You should really respect your father, kid. He works so hard to support you. Sadly, you're just an ingrate who doesn't deserve his love. I was expecting a better son from such a noble man." Terra lowered Roxas's arm, but I noticed he didn't let go.

"I don't need your crap, Terra! I don't get why you people like to downgrade every little thing I do!" Roxas shouted.

"You, go home," Terra said, staring at me.

"M-me?" I asked nervously. Terra nodded.

"You stay here. I want this explained to me," Terra said to Axel. I left, seeing that I had no choice. I didn't want to get involved in that anyways.

The door to the apartment that I shared with Kairi was unlocked. I thought this was weird. Kairi always locked the door because she was so paranoid. Also, I knew she would be out spending time with Riku today.

When I walked in, I smelled food. Someone's definitely here and they've been here for a while. But, really, what kind of burglar stops to make a meal for themselves? Isn't that kind of stupid?

I cautiously walked into my apartment, shut the door behind myself, and crept into the kitchen. Standing at the stove was a blue-haired, blue-eyed woman that I immediately recognized. It was my older sister, Aqua. She noticed me awkwardly standing there, staring at her, and turned to look at me.

"Oh, Xi, you're finally home," Aqua said, smiling warmly. Xi had always been her nickname for me since we were kids.

"Hi, Aqua," I said. I was still a little freaked out that she had broken into my house without warning. "What're you making?" I asked.

"Nothing special; just found some instant ramen and got hungry. I hope you don't mind."

"Uh, no, that's fine." My classy, sophisticated older sister settled for instant noodles? What's gotten into her? I set my things on a nearby chair. Aqua was five years older than me, and our age difference was part of the reason we had never become friends.

"It's great to see you're doing so well, Xi," Aqua smiled at me.

"You too, Aqua. I'm glad to see you and all, but why are you here? This isn't like you to stop by without warning. I don't mean to offend you," I said. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, actually," Aqua said casually while turning off the stovetop, and getting a bowl out of the cabinet.

"Really? What is it?" Suddenly, Roxas almost getting into a fight, but Terra stopping him flashed into my mind.

"It's about Mom and Dad," Aqua said, spooning ramen into her bowl.

"Do they want me to go home? I like it here! I don't want to leave!" I cried anxiously, standing up. Aqua continued to silently serve herself ramen.

"Calm down, Xi," she said when she decided her portion was large enough. "They don't want you to go home. They never do."

"W-what?" Do they hate me or something? What's going on? I sat back down.

"You're a very smart girl, Xion, so I'm not going to play games with you. I'm just going to get straight to the point." Aqua put her bowl on the table, and walked over to me.

"Just spit it out, Aqua!" I yelled at her angrily. She kneeled before me and took my hands in hers.

"Mom and Dad died in an accident last weekend, Xi. I'm so sorry you had to find out this way," Aqua whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Get out of my house, Aqua," I said coldly, staring at my lap.

"What? Why?" Aqua, confused, stood up, and in the process, let go of my hands.

"First you break into my house without permission, eat my food, and tell me lies. What kind of a sister are you?" I said, trying to make her feel guilty. She's lying to me about Mom and Dad being dead. She has to be. Mom and Dad couldn't have died. They promised they would come to my graduation here on Destiny Islands. They promised!

"I'm sorry, Xion. I really wish I was lying to you. I honestly wish I was," Aqua said as more tears began streaming down her face. She came up to me and hugged me tightly. I buried my face into her shoulder and began wailing and sobbing and screaming all at the same time.

My parents were very famous scholars. Our family of four lived on Destiny Islands until a few years ago, when my parents moved to Hollow Bastion, as they were needed there. Aqua had already moved out, so I was left alone on Destiny Islands.

Because my parents were so famous, they weren't home most of my life and never had time for me. I was put in daycare as soon as I could walk, according to Aqua. She was 'Daddy's Little Girl' and I was just the little kid they rarely paid attention to. Aqua was showered with gifts, and while I was, too, they were never things I liked. My parents didn't pay attention to me or my interests, but they did to Aqua.

Aqua tried to be my friend, but I hated her with all of my heart. I hated that she got attention and love while I barely got recognition. I thought she would shun me, just like our parents, so I refused to speak to her.

Growing up, because I felt so shunned by my family, I thought everyone else would shun me, too. I never tried to make any friends in school or around town. I always sat to the side while everyone else played or ate lunch together. Once I entered middle school, though, Axel became my friend. He was an outsider and loner, just like I was. I thought he was the only friend I could ever have because we were both so lonely.

My parents started all of this hate and loneliness inside of me. From there, it just continued to build up. I still feel lonely a lot, and knowing it's their fault, I'm not sure why I'm sad that they're dead. I wasn't sure why I wasn't angry to see Aqua. Maybe I thought I could've had a chance to get along with the three of them. Maybe I realized we never would again have that chance.

It doesn't matter what I think or thought anymore.

All that matters is that my parents are dead, and my 20-year-old sister is all that I've got left of my broken family.