OblivionX

-3-

Sushi

Medy rubbed an eye with one hand before forcing them open. He didn't remember going to sleep. He sat straight up, immediately awake. He didn't recognize anything around him, and he couldn't remember where he had been before this. The first fear that rung in his mind was date rape, but he didn't remember any dates either. Panic. He jumped to his feet.

The room he was in was empty of other persons, and all his meager worldly possessions leaned against the wall next to a balcony overlooking the busy city. It looked like a hotel room, subtly nailed-down lamps and Persian rugs and all. It looked very expensive. Everything was silent, for a clock on his end table said it was six in the morning, but there was the slight sound of soft footsteps outside his door. They paused next to it, and then continued on calmly.

Medy ran for the door, pressing his ear against it. Footsteps. He cautiously cracked the door open, peering out through a crack barely an inch wide.

Zexion was staring at him.

Medy slammed the door shut.

Outside in the hall, Zexion cracked a rare smile and, satisfied, went to go find Yazoo.

Heart pounding in his chest, Medy cracked open the door again. There was no one there. He took a deep breath and stepped out into the hall. For the first time it registered that the dream he had been having might not have been a dream. He silently walked down the carpeted hallway, still bare-foot. It was as if he were in a trance, nothing seeming quite real. He came to a room that wasn't separated by a door. Medy pinched his arm, the sure-fire way to tell if you're dreaming. It hurt.

Axel was asleep on the couch, stretched out and snoring. Roxas slouched on the couch at his feet, also asleep. A maid was cleaning up various rubbish around them, but looked up when he entered and hurried out. The room itself was round, surrounded by windows on all sides except the ones he'd entered from and one that he assumed was the kitchen, and the rest of the walls showed him that he was very, very high up. There was a depression in the middle of the room that led to the expensive plush couches and the guitarists, also containing a wide screen TV with various game stations scattered about in different states of use. Axel snored on softly, and no one else was in the room. Zexion had disappeared.

Medy was almost ready to disregard the pinch test and believe he was dreaming anyway. He dragged his feet along the carpet as he walked like a ghost toward the couch. He stood above Axel, just staring. Slowly, he reached out a hand and poked his shoulder.

Axel moaned in his sleep and rolled over, cuddling his couch-pillow. "Nooo, 'Lor... Few more minutes.. hard night..." The guitarist yawned, stretched, and despite his mumblings, opened his eyes. He blinked and stared sleepily at Medy.

Medy stared back, speechless.

Axel wavered between falling back asleep and waking up more. In the end he settled for halfway. "Hey baby... who the fuck are you?" He yawned widely again, and then flinched and put a hand to his head.

"M-Medy... Medy Nocturne... You're the guitarist for OblivionX." Stare.

"Ya got that right, kid... No sex today, please... Axel's kinda tired." With that said guitarist rolled over on his stomach and fell back asleep.

Medy found a free couch and sat down, mind still in a daze. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the clock. 6:34. There was no way he was getting any more sleep.

"Are you Medy?"

Roxas had woken and was watching him with clear eyes.

Medy glanced at him and nodded. "Y-yeah..."

The guitarist looked at him for a moment more, and said, "Are you gonna be a jackass like Marly was? Dulor's been going on about you since he carried you into Mar's room, and I'd really hate to have to punch some sense into him if you were."

"I don't think so..." He shrugged.

"Good. So sing for me."

"I- Well- What do you want me to sing?"

Roxas shrugged. "One of our songs. Try Xaldin's favorite- Maybe it'll actually get him to come out of his room."

"Okay..." Medy put his mind on shuffle mode and pulled out a song at random. Licking his lips and taking a deep breath, he started on the first few lines of The Dresden Doll's 'Coin-Operated Boy.'

Roxas kept a straight face for a moment, and then started giggling. He burst out laughing by the time Medy got to a quiet part and was humming the notes, and said, "That's not his favorite! XDD"

Medy shrugged. "I just felt like singing that one."

Roxas looked at him for a moment again, and then smiled shyly. "I'm not so bad, see? Dulor was right, you are a good singer. Better than Marlu. You're ok by me." The small guitarist held out his hand.

Medy took Roxas' hand, his own still shaking faintly. "Thanks." He smiled.

Roxas shook his hand formally and then sat back against the couch, fully awake, unlike his companion who twitched and had to be pushed away. "So have you anagrammed your name yet?"

"Have I what?"

"Anagrammed your name." Roxas picked up an abandoned bottle of pop, sipped it, grimaced, and put it back down. "What, you don't these were our real names, do you?"

"Well, I... They're not?"

"Nope." Roxas got up and hunted around for another bottle. "My legal name was Asor before they changed it. Anagrammed of my twin brother, Sora. That's what gave me the idea of the band names. Dulor'll arrange to have your name changed too, once you pick one. Most of the fans have, the ones who picked up on it." Roxas straightened, shook his head, and headed toward the kitchen. He paused to see if Medy was coming, glancing over at Axel to make sure he was still asleep.

Medy stood up calmly and followed him. Talking to Roxas had been somewhat therapeutic, lulling his heart rate back to a normal pace. "That's a great idea, now that I think about it..."

"What? Anagramming our names or getting some breakfast? Dulor said you should be fed whether you like it or not, and Zexion should be on a cooking spree by now. Xaldin used to cook for us, but at least Zexion can too... even if it's a bit... weird." Roxas opened the kitchen door and stepped inside.

"Both." Medy shrugged. "But I'm a little confused... So I just throw in an x and move the letters around?"

Roxas nodded, holding the door open. "Yep. That's about it."

Zexion was standing at he counter quietly, chopping something slimy into squares.

Medy immediately lost his appetite.

Without looking up to see who it was, Zexion said softly, "It's just sushi. Don't freak out."

"...For breakfast?"

Roxas plopped down gracelessly on a stool and then got up again to look in the fridge for a can of Full Throttle. Zexion turned so that his visible eye shot Demyx a glare. "Yes, for breakfast. Sit down."

"Sushi's not exactly filling, you know..." He shrugged and sat down anyway.

"Not fainting with terror anymore, then?"

Roxas sat down next to Medy and popped open his can. He sipped it and sighed as though it was a first cup of coffee.

"He had a chat with Soothing Roxas Mode. I got him to stop freaking out."

"I see."

"Can't I just have some cheerios...?"

"Regardless of his offstage personality, his cooking isn't really that bad. You should try some."

"I'm not really hungry..."

"And I already said that you're going to be fed better than you usually are." Dulor swept into the kitchen, causing both band members to look up as he pulled Axel, whom he was hauling along by the arm, into a booth and made sure he was sitting up. Axel growled, swatting his manager away, but Dulor would have none of it and put a finished plate of sushi in front of him. As soon as the guitarist was staring with defeat at his plate, Dulor turned around. "Sorry I'm late- was sorting the situation out with the record company. Unless you need the presence of a lawyer, you can sign on as soon as everyone agrees, Medy. After you eat. It doesn't have to be sushi." The manager stood beside him, behind Roxas' seat, now.

Axel added, "I don't blame the kid, your cooking is shit, Zexion. You know I hate sushi..." He ducked quickly as a piece of slimy octopus flew directly at his face.

"Its not that I don't like sushi, I just... Can I please just have some cheerios?" He shot Dulor a pleading look.

"Now now boys, it's only seven. Don't start fighting already. Cheerios are fine." Distractedly, he headed over to Axel, who was trying to get up and at his fellow musician despite his hangover.

Roxas smiled. "I'll show you were they are." He got up.

Medy followed Roxas cheerily. He seemed to be the only sane one in the whole band. "Thanks."

"So have we shattered all your dreams yet?" Said Roxas, observing Axel trying to get past Dulor at Zexion, who was taunting him haughtily from behind their manager, while Medy looked at the vast selection of cereal.

Medy considered for a moment, then smiled. "Naw. You're making my wildest dreams come true."

Roxas raised an eyebrow in amusement. "This is your wildest dream?" Dulor had now slipped, allowing Axel to push them both into Zexion, who didn't move fast enough, and was now part of a cursing tangled pile of limbs.

"I've always wanted a family."

Roxas' smile faded, and his face grew thoughtfully. "... Oh. Well I guess you got it. Oh, crap-" Roxas started forward as an enraged shriek rose from the pile. Axel had gotten a hold on Zexion's hair. Before he could get entangled trying to help, however, a larger, darker body imposed itself and began forcibly pulling people apart. He punched Axel in the stomach, causing the guitarist to double over, gasping, and simply picked Zexion up and slung him over his shoulder, still hissing. Dulor stood up calmly, smoothing his beard. Stepping over the prone Axel, he patted the drummer on the shoulder. "Thank you, Xaldin."

The drummer rumbled, "No problem," putting the newly calm and limp Zexion back on his feet and leaving an unnecessary restraining hand on his shoulder.

Medy giggled. "Looks like a family to me... Morning everyone!"

Axel flailed around with an arm to catch hold of the counter and pull himself up, cursing, Xaldin just blinked at Medy cluelessly, Zexion gave him a dead, irritated look, and Roxas smiled with amusement. Then Axel said venomously, "Why Zexion, is that your stray groupie?"

Dulor busied himself getting his own plate of sushi, and said before Zexion could fix Axel with another cold glare said, "Actually Axel, Xaldin, Zexion, this would be our new vocalist, Medy." Axel blinked, and then turned and stared. He opened his mouth to say something hung-over and scathing.

"Hi." Medy said innocently, tilting his head to the side. "Was your name Lea before they anagrammed it? That's a girl's name."

Slightly caught off guard, instead of beating Medy's ass, he replied, "No... it was Lae."

Zexion smirked.

"Oh. Okay." Medy said, dropping the subject. "Anyone mind if I make pancakes? I think I want pancakes."

Roxas was looking amused and slightly worried about Axel's reaction, Zexion looked annoyed, and Xaldin just nodded. Before Axel could object, Dulor said quickly, "Yes, that would be fine Medy. Sit down and eat, everyone- No, Xaldin." He caught the hood of the drummer's hoodie before Xaldin could flee back to his room. "You need to eat too. We have practice today and Medy is going to practice with us. All of us"

Medy hummed quietly as he grabbed ingredients.

In an unusual-seeming but actually quite regular show of brotherhood, the band converged at one booth briefly to converse without Dulor, who leaned against a counter watching Medy. Xaldin kept shaking his head, Roxas spoke hotly in response, and Axel looked annoyed and suspicious, protesting. Zexion stood and listened expressionlessly, occasionally quipping a word or two, and listening intently to Roxas speak. Xaldin, after a few minutes, looked resigned, Axel placated, and Zexion expressionless like usual. By the time Medy was done, Roxas stood up to his meager hight and announced with dissatisfaction, "We've decided to wait and see how he does at practice." He shot Dulor a challenging look. The manager grinned and, having already heard Medy sing, said, "Very well."

Medy tossed his pancakes on a plate and drowned them in syrup. He leaned against the counter, standing as he ate them. He kept shooting glances at the group, an edge of nervousness returning. He finished his breakfast and laid his dishes in the sink.

Sensing the new vocalist's terror on the verge of returning, Dulor moved to stand next to him. Then, having a better idea, he nodded toward the table. "Why don't you join them? You've stalked OblivionX for so long, don't you have questions?" Roxas kicked Axel under the table and nodded encouragingly. Xaldin, pretending oblivion, said, "When are we having practice?"

"You've got time." Said Dulor vaguely, starting toward the door. "Play nice." He said before disappearing.

Medy shook his head profusely, then, catching Roxas' glance, resigned himself. He walked cautiously over to the table, almost expecting one of them to jump up and bite him, then sat down next to Roxas. He fidgeted nervously.

And then Axel ruined the moment by saying, "What's your name again, kid?"

"Medy, Medy Nocturne. I think we've been through this before."

Axel opened his mouth to continue mocking Medy, but Zexion held up a 'wait' hand. They waited for Medy to say something else.

Medy stared at them.

After a moment, Zexion smiled.

"I approve. He doesn't ask the usual stupid questions." The bassist started nibbling on his sushi and didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation.

"Sooooo... Everyone here like skittles?"

Axel nearly fell off his seat laughing.

"Medy, so... Where did you live? Who were your parents? Do you have any siblings? That's what you're supposed to ask, dummy. Come on, if you won't ask any questions, we will." Roxas looked around at Xaldin, silent, Zexion, oblivious, and Axel, laughing, and then admitted, "... Well, I will."

"Those are dumb questions. I like skittles." He pulled a package from his pocket. "I'm willing to share."

Axel refused to admit he liked Medy, but he did hold out his hand for skittles. Zexion all but jumped Medy for them, and Xaldin accepted some dubiously. Roxas just reached for his, saying, "He's going to be sooo much better company than Marluxia-" when Dulor swept through the door again. He just said, "Get your stuff."

Medy jumped to his feet. "'Kidokie, I'm ready."

"Full dress rehearsal," the manager added.

Axel groaned. Zexion gave Dulor an irritated look, which meant it went completely unnoticed as it was his usual expression. Roxas winced. "What is he going to wear?" He nodded to Medy. "Certainly not Mar's old stuff." Xaldin snorted with amusement.

The manager waggled his eyebrows. "He has his own stuff."

Dulor paused on his way out the door.

"Don't wear the boots, Medy dear. You'll die."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX