A/N: Hiya! Thanx for your lovely reviews people! They helped cure my writer's block! And for that, you now get to hear Roxy's song! Hope you like it!
Axel's POV
The next two days passed rather smoothly actually, all of us hanging out in the art room. Roxas was becoming more relaxed by the hour around us. He never went to the level I had seen him at when we were talking about my painting, but he was getting there.
Even our practices went great. We were ready, the practice this afternoon nothing more than a touch up really.
The sparks didn't start to fly until today. Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Namine found us.
Or found Roxas I should say. We (if you don't know what I mean by 'we' by now you are one slow person) walked in on them actually.
Roxas was there, just glaring at them, showing no real interest. Sora was shouting at him. Or, he had been.
"Sora, Riku." I try to be polite when I can. No one likes an argument they can avoid, and believe it or not I don't like to fight with these guys. They like to fight with us. Which is part of the reason I didn't acknowledge Kairi or Namine. Larxene did, but she didn't acknowledge Riku or Sora. Demyx and Zexion just nodded to all four. Me and Larxene are the ones who actually have preferences in that group.
We'll just say Sora and Riku can't spread the type of rumors the sisters can.
Sora didn't even realize we were here, but Riku did return our nod.
When I said earlier that I hated Sora's friends? Yeah, I do, but Riku I will talk to if I have to.
"What's going on?" And believe it or not, Riku sometimes answers me (minus an insult).
"Kairi." One word said it all. Sora is slightly overprotective of his friends (just like how Riku is overprotective of Sora). Why this didn't happen earlier is beyond me…
I turned back to watch the discussion.
"I told you, I didn't touch her." It was really creepy how bored Roxas was with this. Then again…Sora isn't very intimidating. They were of a height, but Roxas had muscle and Sora didn't.
"You fucking liar!" Hm…Sora rarely curses, something about him thinking it's beneath him or something.
"Look Sora, Kairi is a nice girl I'm sure," Yeah right… "She just surprised me. I made a move to slap her, that I will admit to, but I never laid a finger on her." Nice. Score one for Roxas.
"Now please leave. I need to work." Sora looked over at me.
"What since your boyfriend's here, you're just gonna run?" Hey now. No need to bring me in…
Sora was off the ground, Roxas' hand on his collar.
"I don't have a fucking boyfriend." His head had been lowered, shadowing his eyes. His voice was full with anger. It was damn scary man. So scary in fact, no one reacted. Not even when he dropped Sora, and left the room to go across the hall. It was quiet enough in the room that the soft click of the other room being closed could be heard.
Sora and Riku were out of there in a second, followed closely by Kairi and Namine.
Demyx, Larxene and Zexion were quietly going about their business (Larxene and Zexion were working on random little projects to help pass the day faster). I went across the hall.
"Roxas?" I pushed the door open. He was sitting on the ground in front of his canvas. His head was bowed and his knees were pulled up to his chest.
I shut the door behind me. No need for anyone else to see this. I barely felt right walking in on him. But…I would have felt worse if I had just left him there.
I didn't plan on talking to him, touching him. Nothing like that. But I've found that when you're hurt, someone just being there is one of the best things for you. I should know. Reno did it often enough for me after Mom and Dad died.
I sat beside him, facing him. He didn't notice I was there. At least, he gave no sign that he did.
He wasn't shaking this time, but he was crying.
That's when he latched on to me. One second we're apart, the next, he's crying into my chest.
I sat there like an idiot for a second, before I loosely wrapped my arms around him.
I could feel the fabric of my shirt getting soaked but I didn't care. What Roxas needed was someone who would hold him, not someone who gets all pissy because they're shirt's gonna have a huge wet spot on it.
We sat there for about half an hour before Roxas finally started to calm down. He didn't move away, but his crying turned into sobs, which finally died down to slightly erratic breathing.
When even that went back to normal, we still stayed there.
"Rox? You gonna be okay?" I kept my voice quiet. No need to make the headache that was likely blooming in his head any worse.
He nodded but didn't move.
"Hey Roxas? This is gonna sound weird, but I was wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind being called my friend? Demyx, Larxene, and Zexion come with that too, but…" I left it hanging, knowing perfectly well how stupid I sounded.
He didn't move for a second. Probably debating whether or not to hit me over the head for my stupidity…before I felt him nod.
"Well then. That's good, because Demyx would've done it anyway even without your permission." Yes I was trying to lighten the mood. I'm sorry but I will only stay in an emotionally dark room for so long.
He started shaking again. Very lightly. Even with me pressed so close, I could barely feel it.
"Roxas? Oh shit! What'd I do?!" He started shaking a little bit harder. Now I was really worried.
Wait…what was that sound?
I gently pulled Roxas' face away from my chest.
My heart melted. Right there. Roxas was laughing. He was laughing.
There's no more denying it. I was falling for him. And I was falling hard.
The bell rang, signaling lunch. Demyx had come in about five minutes ago asking us if we were coming.
I had told him no.
Roxas hadn't even heard him, but I was sure that's what he would've said as well.
I was watching him work. It was amazing how fluidly he moved from one section to the next, adding more lines here, furiously erasing others there. He didn't even start to paint until about ten minutes before the final bell rings.
I pointed this out and he (reluctantly) put down his brush.
"Come on Rox, don't be so mopey. You can start again tomorrow." He nodded.
Over the last hour and a half I had seen Roxas smile about five times. And each time, I felt my heart melt a little bit more.
We didn't really talk, him being too intent on his painting, and me too intent on watching him.
All in all. I'd say I had a good day.
The next day (after a very…interesting…rehearsal of trying to decide what each person would wear)
"I hope you're all ready for tonight. I know those who aren't participating are." Xemnas, being the evil man that he is, had polled, freakin polled, the students who weren't participating in talent competition over what they really wanted to see.
The "group music" section had gotten the most votes. Meaning he put that at the end of the list of who would be performing at what time, so people wouldn't just ditch after that section was done.
Not that the people knew that of course.
"You're required to be here at five, when it starts. I don't care if you're one of the last ones to perform, be here. An outdoor stage is being set up as we speak, so no going outside today. Now get out of here and let me have some peace." Fine by me!
One guess where we all ended up. (if you don't get his right I will mock you until you die)
We basically spent six hours (lunch included) doing…nothing. Roxas didn't even work on his project (gasp).
We sat around talking about nothing. It was just like Monday where we were all out on the bleachers.
A perfect moment. And guess what? Roxas even smiled at a couple comments Demyx made.
And that's when hell started.
I looked at the clock for the fourth time in the past fifteen minutes. It was still only 7:30. We had agreed to meet only once to make sure we were all here, and then to do our own thing until eight. It was something to stop us from thinking of ways to change something and then waste time trying to convince the others. Or something like that.
And the fact that Roxas and Larxene hadn't come dressed in what they wee supposed to.
I actually didn't know what Roxas was supposed to wear. I had left the room to get a drink when his was decided.
I looked down at my own outfit.
I don't know why it was such a big deal but Demyx had thrown a fit. Demyx fits are not fun. And that's why it was agreed that the main color would be black and one other color of you choice. The rest was basically "have fun".
I had really just thrown on my one and only pair of black skinny jeans. My shirt was black with green slash marks across the front. I don't even remember getting it…I had added a couple random bracelets and Demyx had forced me to wear that studded choker he had bought me for Christmas two years ago.
And while I was reliving my dressing, I accidentally bumped into someone…and promptly fell on my ass.
Said someone, was at the moment looking down at me, chuckling.
Déjà vu anyone? I had seen this guy before...
Blond hair, spiked. He was tall, maybe even an inch or two taller than me (it was kinda hard to tell since I was still on my ass)
His blue eyes were cold, and yet…they did have a spark to them. It was a weird combination that he pulled off rather well.
"Sorry about that. Here." He voice was deep, and heavy with an accent that even I could place. Japanese. I took the offered hand, allowing him to restore me to my original height. (He was actually only about half an inch taller than me)
"You go here right?" I nodded dumbly. I was still trying to take in his height…what? It's not often I find someone who's taller than me…
"Then maybe you could help me? I'm looking for a Roxas Tetsu. Do you know him? Everyone else I ask just looks at me weird." He turned away and scratched his head.
Should I lie? I mean, he would never know and Roxas probably wouldn't care…the thought that I'd seen this man before would not leave me alone!
"He's my friend." He'd probably find him sooner or later anyway…
The man looked surprised. You could see it in his eyes.
"…friend?" Then he smiled. "I'm Cloud. His brother." He offered me his hand again. I shook it.
"Axel." Then it hit me. The dark room in Roxas' apartment. The picture I had noticed before I walked out. The one of Roxas and Cloud apparently. He looked older but it was him.
"So do you know where he is?"
"Actually no. But I'm supposed to meet up with him at eight by the stage. Stupid talent competition…" I grumbled and he chuckled again.
"So what are you and him doing? For the show?"
"We're actually pairing with three of my other friends. Impromptu band." Cloud frowned slightly.
"Hm…well when you see him can you tell him to give me a call? I want to talk to him. I was just planning on seeing him and leaving, but now…I kinda want to see this." I nodded and he walked away.
Well that was interesting.
"PYRO!" I jumped. Larxene can yell man…
"We gotta go get ready idiot! It's eight!" Oh right. My talk with Cloud had taken a little bit. We actually didn't play until 8:30 but we had decided to get set up as best we could before then.
The band playing before us wasn't that bad, but I kind of tuned them out.
"Where's Roxas?" Demyx and Zexion were here, and Larxene obviously.
"Here. Sorry." I turned around.
Well. Hello.
Roxas was dressed in black, white, and hints of silver. Nothing fancy but…damn…He was wearing black skinny jeans with holes torn out in random places. There were also two chains attached at each hip (same way he was wearing them the first time I had ever seen him actually)
His shirt was a ripped white tank top that showed off a good expanse of stomach. Under the tank top he had a black fishnet shirt (are those technically shirts?). Again I say, damn….He was wearing a studded choker like me but I got the distinct impression he was pulling it off better.
He was also wearing eyeliner. Heavy eyeliner. And…whoa…Roxas' ears were pierced, two in each ear. He was wearing four small silver hoops. And his eyebrow was pierced too. A silver stud stood out on his pale skin.
I looked away as quickly as I could. No need making a problem…a problem that I wouldn't be able to fix for awhile. Best to avoid that all together. But it was hard man…ack! Wrong word, wrong word!
While I was mentally bitch-slapping myself, Roxas was busy being oblivious to my little war. As was everyone else. I guess that's a good thing.
"Come on. The curtains are lowering. We're up."
We congratulated the four guys who had just played and set up our own instruments.
Larxene and Zexion would be behind me and Demyx, with Roxas center.
I took a deep breath as the curtains started to rise.
Larxene started to lightly tap a beat on her drums before the curtain was halfway up.
Show time people.
Normal POV
The crowd fell silent as the beat started.
Light notes from a keyboard became intertwined with it, as did the deeper notes of a sitar a few seconds later.
Two guitars joined as the curtain finally stopped moving.
The entire stage was dark, the music haunting over the crowd.
That's when it started to pick up. A light came on under the drummer, the only girl. Lights came on one by one, each under on of the people on stage, until only the center was still dark.
His light came on; the music started getting harsher, faster.
Then…he started to sing.
His voice was deeper than anyone else his size.
It was beautiful. The crowd started cheering halfway through the first verse.
The crowd loved the way the words were slow, and how the music made their blood boil. It was perfect.
-
I saw the world
Through your unending lies
The truth I never saw
You took my breath away (you took my breath away)
-
I gave my heart to you
I gave you my love
I gave you my trust
You stole all of me
-
You just had to break it
Break and keep on lying
You just had to kill
What was left of what I called my soul
-
How does it feel?
Knowing you've committed the murder
Of a worthless child
One who couldn't stand
Without your lying hand? (lying hand)
-
You've driven home
The point that I feared
The truth I finally see
You've shown me
The truth after all even with
All your scheming ways
-
I gave my heart to you
I gave you my love
I gave you my trust
You stole all of me
-
You'll never let me go (never let me go)
I saw that long ago
I fall willingly into your open arms
Until you steal my breath away (steal my breath away)
One final time
-
I gave my heart to you
I gave you all my love
I gave you the rest of my trust
You stole (stole)
All of me
You stole all of me
-
The music started to fade, till only the drums could still be heard, repeating the beat that had started the song. Those stopped completely as the curtain fell.
The crowd…came to life, cheering, hollering.
It had been a long time since they had heard anything like that.
If only more of them had ever heard of Shukketsu Hatsu
Disclaimer: Yay i can claim something! That song? Yeah that's mine!! I wrote it! Mine mine! Okay i'm good now, but yes besides that song i own nothing as usual
A/N: Hola! This is my third longest chapter! And after my annoying bout with writers block...i kinda feel like jumping for joy! Thank you people for sticking with me through that tough time. I had fun writing this chapter! I hope you liked it! Please review! Reviews will make me jump for joy! Thanx!