Author's note : Well, an alert.. Anyone who is willing to be a beta reader for me? Currently I am trying to do it by myself. but my grammar is bad..
Diclaimer- None of the characters or most of concepts are mine, they belong to Square Enix. Honestly, if they belonged to me.. ..It would have turned MA+ rated.
Warning - Yaoi, M rated for more than a few reasons (later chapters), abusive languages, crimes, etc. Yaoi pairings (AkuRoku, SephCloud, ZexionXDemyx, etc, more side pairing though not in this one. Side stories may be included after the main story gets over)
No. XIII - Organisation XIII
[Chapter 2. Twilight University]
[In the middle of darkness and light, the shadows of both lay.
The shadows, the midst of the extremes-
They lurk in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times,
And they reign with the mystery and power,
The shadows call themselves-
Organisation XIII.]
II . i
"Hmm, so in psychology class, sitting arrangement is keep on changing?"
"Yes. According to each person's score in every assignment, your sit changes. Now today will be particularly chaotic, because I am sure that the new professor would be aware of it. As a student who studies psychology, I am sure that you are aware of the fact that most of the psychologists have a special mean to test people. This new professor will be trying to find out anything from everyone, unlike usual time- when only new freshmen suffers."
"...I hope not."
Zexion easily noticed timid part of Roxas. Roxas seemed to be uncomfortable with other people's presence, unless he was forced to. It took a while for him to notice that Roxas had been acting all along ever-since they met. Casual tone, relaxed posture, cheerful voice- nothing was off, except that it was too perfect. No wonder they allowed him to take psychology. This freshman knew how to comfort people around him. But still, about how Roxas got this nervousness to just to talk to someone- Zexion had to wonder about that.
It didn't took long for them to arrive at the right class room, and they were early. Zexion wasn't surprised to find Roxas's name right next to him, the front-most and centre-most seat. Now, they only needed to wait for their professor to come.
However, Zexion almost jumped up when he saw a man with long, bright blue hair, and two scars making X mark across his face. Saix! What on earth was Saix doing there? He, a psychology professor! Organisation XIII members hardly knew each other in common life, but he never expected Saix to be a professor. Zexion could see Saix's eyes twitch- yes, Saix noticed him too. But Zexion was more surprised to see Roxas almost chock with shock.
"A-assistance Director Saix!"
"...Hm? ...Roxas?"
"I heard you were leaving Hollow Bastion, but I didn't expect to see you here, sir!"
"...Same to you, Roxas.. I didn't expect you here with your perfect A's."
It was something to hear. Hollow Bastion? Zexion stared at Roxas with surprise. Roxas was from Hollow Bastion, and if Zexion or any other three (though he wasn't sure of Marluxia yet) had never seen him before, that meant that Roxas was in one of the advanced education system.. Or at least at a private high school, not public one. It would explain how Saix had regular schedules.. But Zexion flinched as Roxas smiled and made another remark.
"Didn't feel like going anywhere far, uhh- Professor Saix. Have you heard anything from Professor Xemnas? He left college three years ago all of sudden- He was a kind professor."
"..No, I heard nothing about him ever-since he left. I think you yourself were aquiantance with him?"
"Yes, but now I think of it... I never knew anything about professor Xemnas, except that he was a good professor- nothing else."
"Hmph, well- this is enough. Do you still have a problem with your temper, Roxas? I believe you were forced to get close to professor Xemnas because you had a problem."
"..."
Roxas grimaced. It seemed that 'problem' meant a lot for Roxas, Zexion thought. But Roxas still politely answered.
"...I thought it was gone. ...But I just snapped at Riku, no- if I didn't come back to senses, I might have got into the fight just like what happened back in the college.. I guess I am his brother no matter how weak and small I look."
"Ah, it was quite a surprise to see you knocking down four of your classmates alone, but it was because they spoke foul of your brother, I remember it. Your brother complex is still there, I see. And otherwise you are very bright, caring person, so don't mind much about that. It was their mistake speaking such things.. Even if you haven't made them hospitalised, I am sure your elder brother must have.. And I also remember that he was actually angry when I informed him that you had been ignored by your classmates.. Not something he usually does, he even ignored his classmates' death."
"...I do not want to hear anything about him now, professor."
"And I find it interesting. You are too protective over him... A good material for a study itself."
Roxas merely grimaced again at Saix's comment and sighed. It seemed so used to him. Zexion noticed another thing from Roxas- a slight worried expression.
"About I being protective, professor.. I hope he is still doing fine without me. You know how he is, you taught him too."
"Of course, he always gets misunderstood by everyone he deals with or talks with, nor he actually talks to anyone beside you."
"...Yes. I do not understand how he actually survive alone like that..."
"That's the another point, Roxas. I also wonder how your brother interact. When he was in classes.. He never spoke a word, Yet, others, whenever he needed, spoke instead of him.. It was another interesting thing."
"..."
Another grimace. Roxas seemed to be very uncomfortable to talk about his brother.. Somehow understandable. Roxas sighed and looked away with out an answer, and Saix merely smirked and continued.
"As much as you do not want to hear anything, not even something good about your brother, Roxas, I hope you do not mention about professor Xemnas, because it will make me feel sick, as much as you would feel about your brother. Let's stop, shall we? We both are aware that we do not want to know, in same time we care."
"...I am merely worried about him... Professor Saix. You needed to mention him with all those people staring at me with curiousity.."
"Of course, I forgot that you tend to get uneasy when you get attention of people, Roxas. I apologise."
"..."
It was clear that Saix was doing it on purpose, making fun of it. But Roxas merely sighed and did not even look at Saix. So that boy knew more than he seemed, Zexion concluded, not many are capable of not speaking back when Saix is intentionally taunting someone. Zexion waited as Saix called out names and checked them one by one, who they were, and starting the class. And it was over, soon... Roxas seemed in a hurry to move away from Saix. Hmm.. Zexion ignored Saix who eyed at him again. Surely, Zezion did not need another reason to be reminded of the Organisation XIII.
Soon, they were back to cafeteria. This time, there was Marluxia too... Marluxia spoke first to Roxas.
"You are Roxas? Axel was talking about you. You look fine to me. How are you? I am Marluxia."
"Um, go- good, I guess.. I see you already heard about me.. I am Roxas..."
"It was nice of you to snap at Riku, he does need a good snap sometimes. After all, he can't tell you to stop be friend with others just because he is your twin's best friend, Roxas. He does need to be reminded that he doesn't have authorities over the others."
"..I think so.."
Roxas smiled weakly at Marluxia's comment. Not funny, huh. But why Roxas reacted in such a way was revealed fast enough- Riku, glaring at him with almost-killing-intention, came close to them and spoke to Roxas.
"Are you coming or not? If you prefer to stay with them rather than going home, I will be happy to leave you behind."
"Riku, Roxas wasn't-"
"Shut up, Sora. Roxas knew what he was saying."
"...Damn it, Riku, I haven't slept a single minute last night. Can't you let me have a bit of peace? You know I have insomnia, and how I am like when I am not in a good mood-"
"Being annoyed again, are you? So are you up for another fight now? It had been three years since you acted like a crazy person and I had to force some sense into you."
"Riku, stop it! Roxas wasn't-"
"...I see you have no intention of letting it slide, Riku. I do not have a problem with that, go home with Sora. I can go back by myself. Anyway, the one who actuallly needs to be cared and you actually care is Sora, and I wouldn't befriend with you if you weren't the best friend of my twin. How many times did we have fight without letting him know, anyway?"
"I lost count after thirty, you asshole, and I know you remember perfectly well!"
"...Yeah, I guess so. But I stopped counting after forty, when I broke your arm and leg. It was boring. You never won.. Do you want me to count? Help me, it would be fun."
"...You are his brother alright, damn it!"
Anger. Riku shouted at Roxas, but he merely gave him back a stern look. Roxas's twin was anxious between them, not knowing what to do. Roxas shrugged and told Riku.. But, how strange.. Riku didn't realise Roxas's strained looking eyes or lightly trembling hands. Roxas didn't mean what he was speaking.. All four of us could see that. ...It seems Roxas just didn't want to stand back, nothing else. No wonder he said he has problems in social interactions. Riku, on the other hand, glared at Roxas and dragged Roxas's twin, Sora out. It's stupid... But Roxas sighed and crossed his arms, muttering.
"...Guess it was stupid thing to do, maybe I should have just say sorry. When I go home.. Riku will either start again or ignore me... Huh, hope it's latter... It's easier to deal with. Being ignored is very common thing for me.."
"Hey, Roxas? Are you alright with it? Do you want a ride?"
"...Axel? ...I'm fine with it, and anyway I wasn't planning to go back with them. I want to find a part-time job. My family and Riku's family is quite close, so first my elder brother got apartment, and after he graduated, it was out for rent. When Riku came to university, he used it.. And now we are sharing house. The other two wouldn't have much problem, but in case of me, the money sent by my parents is only enough for paying tax and daily expenses. I always need to buy something more than Riku or Sora. Well, they do buy other stuff too, but not as much as I do.. I generally buy more stuff than two of them together."
"Like what?"
"..Um.. Generally food? And I buy a lot of books.. And my hobbies aren't that cheep.. I got a chocobo at a chocobo farm near Hollow Bastion. I raised it alone, with out asking help of any others.. I pay farm for him, and so he is mine. It's quite a big amount, and I had been keeping away from them.. Well, not exactly. I never told them because they never asked me why am I doing part-time jobs. They must have thought that I am doing that because of other stuff.. I do spend quite a lot on other stuff, too."
Roxas smiled, taking out his phone. He had a lot of pictures of a chocobo.. Black one. It somehow looked very familiar to Zexion, but anyway for him all chocobo looked similar. Demyx jumped on cute photographs and threw questions.
"It's so cuuu~te! Roxas, what's his name? How old is he? Do you mind me visiting him with you and-"
"De-Demyx...! I, I can't breath-"
"Hey! Damyx!"
"Zexion, help us getting Demyx off from Roxas!"
... Demyx soon apologised for near-death experience of Roxas due to lack of oxygen. He went together with Roxas to find some part-time jobs. Anyway, after Roxas left with Demyx, Zexion sighed and turned to Axel, who smirked and spoke.
"Cute, huh? He is something, right?"
"...Axel, did you know that Roxas was from Hollow Bastion?"
"Hmm? Yeah, I know that. What's the problem, Zexion?"
"...My new psychology professor is Saix, No. VII."
Axel froze with Marluxia. Saix, of all other members? He was a psychology professor? But Zexion sighed, and continued.
"And Roxas.. It seems he was Saix's student when he was at Hollow Bastion. No, it's not only that... Roxas called Saix 'assistance director', and then he asked Saix if he heard anything from professor Xemnas... ...Saix was also surprised to see Roxas here. Talking about Roxas's scores at college, it seemed that those two weren't in that good terms, but we better be more careful... It's obvious that he knows about Organisation XIII. He should know if he aimed to study international laws ever since he was kid. You know what I am talking about, right?"
"...You mean Roxas may know what Organisation XIII was about? Well, sure, that's possible, but still.. I don't think he knows well about us."
"I agree with Marluxia, Zexion."
"Me too. I only pointed out that we should be more careful."
"Heh, but looking it from another point.. Does Axel have crush with that boy Roxas, Zexion?"
"HEY, MARLUXIA!"
Loud chuckles and laughter. Zexion smirked as Axel jumped on Marluxia who started to tease Axel.