Chapter 2: Behind Blue Eyes

"Alright sweetheart, are you ready for you surprise?" A woman asked, her long chestnut hair trailing behind her as she carefully guided her son through the maze that was their home.

The boy chuckled at her words in amusement. "Yeah, I'm ready, but Mom, do you really have to blindfold me? I mean, what's the point? I'm already blind."

The woman, his mother, laughed along with her son. She feigned the cheery persona quite at times like these, but for anyone who looked closely, it was obvious that her soft jade eyes betrayed a darker, more somber emotion. It wasn't that the mother was in denial. No. She had gotten over that. It was just that…her youngest child's condition was much easier to cope with when there was at least some shred of normalcy in their lives. Aerith Strife didn't expect things to be completely normal. All she really wanted was for her son to feel like he was well…normal.

However, she was aware that her behavior was odd compared to her son's. He was the blind one and yet…it was almost as if she was the one dealing with the lack of sight.

"I know, but...It's tradition, right?"

"Right," He smiled, unaware of the stinging behind his mother's eyes as she tried to fight off the onslaught of tears threatening to taint her happy face. He was always so at peace. Most kids his age suffered from serious depression after the loss of such a vital ability, but not her son. He smiled and laughed as though nothing was wrong. In a way, it was a good sign. He deserved to be happy. But…Aerith couldn't deny the tearing of her heart at his strength.

Silence hung in the air for the few moments they descended the stairs, and the blind boy couldn't help but allow his thoughts to stray as his mother firmly kept hold of his shoulders (in case he might stumble upon one of the carpeted steps and thus injure himself further—again).

Yet, it did bother him—his family's abnormal protectiveness over him since the accident. At first, it was understandable. He wasn't used to his new inability, and it was nice to have someone looking out for him, but after a while…the blind boy found himself to be tired of protective hands that guided him. He couldn't even get the mail without someone's aid and forget about even trying to go out your own…

Even his older sister, Larxene, who constantly mocked him, treated him differently. In fact, she was actually nice to him. He knew they didn't mean to make him unhappy, but he still hated it. He wasn't normal anymore. Roxas Strife was officially different—He was a charity case.

Internally, the blond rolled his eyes at the thought. Why was it that, he, the person who was actually blind had accepted his condition, but no one else had? Why couldn't they just treat him like a normal person? It was as though his entire existence had suddenly turned into one big charity case—something that Roxas did not want at all. He didn't want to be showered with gifts and attention, or have people act kind towards him just because of his clouded irises. He wanted people to show him kindness because they wanted to.

Aerith whispered in her son's ear once they were almost at the bottom of the stairs. Her voice was gentle and tickled the hairs on the back of the boy's neck. "We're almost there."

Roxas merely nodded his head, his hand lightly grazing the railing. The familiar wood underneath his fingertips allowed Roxas to have a clear mental image of their living room. The antique red sofa and coffee table stood close to the bulky TV in the center of the room, and the luminescent lamp above their heads shed its golden light, creating dancing shadows across the walls. Everything was perfectly clear in his mind.

Feeling his body being turned, Roxas could only guess that his mother was leading him towards the far left corner of the room—which was quite peculiar since there was nothing there, or at least nothing Roxas remembered. He wanted to ask his mother what she was doing, but then, something large bumped against his body. Roxas frowned and ran a hand across the glossy surface. It was definitely smooth. Roxas lightly rapped his knuckles against the object, noting the hollow sound. He knocked again and continued to run his fingers across the object's surface until finally he paused, defeated.

"What is it?" Roxas asked, his eyebrows knit together in confusion.

From behind, Roxas heard his father's low chuckle. "You really have no idea, do you?"

"I don't think I would be asking if I noted," Roxas retorted and rolled his eyes with obvious sarcasm.

"Fair enough," Cloud said, but paused once before speaking again. "You're positive you don't know what it is?"

"Dad!" Roxas exclaimed as a childish pout made its way onto his lips.

Cloud laughed at his son's reaction, and glanced back at his wife who was smiling brightly. "Alright, alright. It's a piano!"

Roxas' veiled eyes widened in shock. Never in a million years would he have guessed that his parents had bought him a piano. Well, not this kind anyway. It was so much larger and smoother than the dinky saloon styled one they owned.

"I-Is it a…grand piano?" Roxas wondered aloud in a voice that was almost an inaudible whisper.

"Yeah, so you better like it." The voice that spoke belonged to neither his mother nor father but to his older sister Larxene. Roxas could easily image the scowl plastered on his sister's face as she leaned against the wall with her arms tightly crossed.

Roxas shook his head and did his best to turn towards his family. "N-No. I l-love it, but why?" He really was baffled. Why would his parents feel the need to buy him a grand piano? It had to have cost a small fortune, and his family wasn't exactly rich. Yet, it wasn't that Roxas didn't appreciate his family's gesture. Roxas loved music. It was one of the few things that truly brought him peace, and if he had gone deaf, the blind boy wasn't sure how he would cope at all. Roxas was bothered because his family needed the money. They shouldn't be wasting so much of it on his happiness…

"Why not? You love the piano, right?" Aerith asked, but the way her voice trembled Roxas knew there was a nervous undertone—one that gave Roxas the clear indication that this wasn't a Just-Because gift. It was a Just-Because-You're-Blind-Now gifts. The worst kind of gift. Roxas, of course, didn't voice his suspicions. He knew very well how his parents would react if he dared to say anything.

A sigh passed from his lips, but Roxas quickly replaced it with a gracious smile. "Yeah, thanks." He made no movement towards instrument, but stood facing it with a thoughtful expression painted on his face.

"Well, aren't you going to play something?" A new voice broke the awkward silence, and Roxas furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Sora?" Roxas asked. What was his spiky haired cousin doing here? There wasn't some party going on that he wasn't aware of, was there? Roxas grimaced at the thought. Even before he was blind, Roxas hated parties. He hated the crowds and the noise that came with them. It was already hard enough to concentrate on one voice; add a few dozen more and that, right there, equaled a splitting headache.

"Who else would it be?" Sora retorted with his signature cheesy grin.

"Well, gee Sora," Roxas rolled his eyes sarcastically, "it's kind hard to tell who it is when you're blind."

Realization struck the brunette as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Heh heh, I forgot about that. Sorry cuz." Roxas offered no other reply other than the soft smile playing at his lips as he carefully guided himself onto the piano bench and set his slender fingers on the keys. Sora was the only one who treated him normally.

Soon, a soothing and haunting lullaby filled the room, and Roxas closed his eyes, allowing his mind to drift further away—drift to an old memory hidden deep in the recesses of his mind.

It was of a him as a child, and there was a little girl there too. They were real little. Maybe four or five years old. And…they were playing together in a red sandbox—making a sandcastle. The little girl beside his younger self giggled, and Roxas couldn't help but admire the angelic sound that came from her lips. Yet, it wasn't just her laugh that was beautiful, she was too. With her flaxen hair and…and what color were her eyes? Roxas tried to remember. He wanted to know so badly. Even if this girl was just a fleeting memory, there was something indescribable that urged him to find her.

But…why had he thought of her so suddenly? Ever since the accident, all these strange memories have been invading his thoughts. But why?

"Roxas?" Sora abruptly whispered close to his ear. Startled, Roxas accidentally pounded his fingers on the keys, erasing the once fluid melody. Sora cringed at the sound and apologized frantically as his eyes flickered around the room anxiously. From her position behind the two boys, Aerith mouthed an 'It's alright,' to Sora, but the brunette still couldn't help but feel guilty. Accident or not, Sora couldn't help but still inwardly scold himself. Though, Sora was always like that. He was naturally energetic and cheerful, but whenever he hurt anyone, the guilt easily overpowered him. He was never sensitive enough when it came to his cousin's condition. He was always saying or doing things that were stupid. Sora cringed again—Oh so stupid!

"It's fine," Roxas assured, running a hand through his golden spikes, "I totally spaced back there. I needed someone to bring me back to reality eventually."

Sora bit his lower lip. "Yeah, but still—"

"So, we're attending Twilight High tomorrow, right?" Roxas interrupted as he lifted himself from the piano bench. He was fully aware of his cousin's guilt issue, and felt that perhaps a change of subject would dispel any remorse from the brunette's aura.

As Roxas predicted, Sora's exuberance resurfaced immediately, his mouth pulling into a big grin. "Yep! I'll have to give you the grand tour! First, there's the gym, then there's the cafeteria (most of the food there us edible), OH and then there's the—" Sensing the blind boy's growing annoyance, Cloud clamped a hand over Sora's mouth preventing the brunette from speaking. If he could, Roxas would have shot his father an appreciative glance.

Roxas sighed. "I get it Sora. There's a lot to see, but…I was wondering—if it's possible that is…" Roxas trailed off and dropped his clouded gaze to the ground shyly.

"What?" Sora tilted his head to the side curiously.

"I was wondering…," Roxas took in a sharp breath before lifting his vacant eyes again, "I-If…If you wouldn't tell everyone at school I'm blind…"

Sora's blue eyes flashed to the others around him in confusion. "Not…tell them? Why?"

"I…I just," Roxas released a dejected sigh as the confession slipped off his lips, "don't want to be the local charity case. I want to be normal again."

"Oh…" Unsure of what else to say, Sora sought his aunt and uncle's advice. Concern was etched deeply onto each of their faces as they approached their son.

Aerith combed a gentle hand through her son's hair. "Sweetie, wouldn't it just be easier to let people know? What's the big deal?" Roxas brushed his mother's hand and coaxing words away as his normally placid azure eyes went ice cold.

"They wouldn't treat me the same," Roxas muttered bitterly, "I'd either be pitied or just another freak to make fun of…"

"Aww, c'mon Roxas, the guys would be cool about it!" Sora practically whined as he tried to take hold of his cousin's arm.

Roxas tore his arm away and retorted sharply to his spiky haired cousin, "Yeah? And what about when I'm not around Sora? Huh? They'll just make fun of me like all of the other jocks at my old school." Sora opened his mouth to protest, but Roxas cut him off before a syllable could leap off his tongue. "Look," Roxas said inhaling deeply, "I know where you're coming from, but…I really just need his to be a secret—at least for now. I'll tell everyone when I'm ready but right now I want to be a normal high school student like I used to be…" The last bit slipped from his lips with a twinge of unintentional sorrow, and both his parents found themselves unable to argue the matter further.

"Alright sweetheart, if that's what you really want to do," Aerith said softly and her husband nodded with a faint smile. It wasn't that big of a deal, right? It's not like he wouldn't eventually come clean, and besides, it made their son happy.

Roxas breathed a sigh of relief as a grateful smile spread across his face. "Thanks." Cloud and Aerith smiled at one another before encasing their son into a tight hug.

"I hate to cut this family special short, but according to my watch, it's time for lunch." Larxene gestured to an imaginary watch on her wrist impatiently.

Aerith laughed. "Well, we can't be late then, can we?"

"Tch, at least someone in this family can get with the program," Larxene smirked, sauntering into the kitchen alongside her parents who were both shaking their hands at their eldest child's antics. Roxas rolled his eyes and started towards the kitchen. Sora, however, pulled him back.

"What's up Sora?" Roxas asked.

"I just wanted to...," Sora paused as his voice lowered into a whisper, "warn you."

"Warn me?" Roxas repeated with a laugh. Sora certainly was acting strange today. "About what?"

"Naminé Misaki," Sora deadpanned, and Roxas found himself taken aback at the somber tone in his normally cheerful cousin's voice. He was serious.

"Who?" It was strange. The name sounded so familiar—like a lost memory.

"She's this girl at Twilight High that I suggest you avoid," Sora explained with obvious distaste. He didn't want his cousin to be another one of the blonde witch's victims.

Avoid? Roxas found himself puzzled by the notion. Why would he want to avoid her? "What does she look like?" Roxas prompted strangely compelled.

"Oh you know," Sora drawled, his voice thick with annoyance, "blonde hair, perfect skin—"

"What color are her eyes?" Roxas blurted.

Sora snorted. "Blue."

Immediately, an image flashed through Roxas' mind. The little girl from his memory, except when she turned to face him, he was met with bright cerulean blue eyes. It had to be her!

"Didn't we know a Naminé when we were little?" Roxas asked excitedly.

"Yep," Sora stated flatly, "It's her."

Roxas shook his head with a confused smile. "Then, why would I want to avoid her?"

"Roxas…" Sora said wearily, "She's…changed."

"Changed?" Roxas repeated. The word seemed so foreign on his lips. Changed.

"Yeah, she's turned into a total shallow snob that only cares about herself and the way you look," Sora spat, picturing the self-centered blonde in his head. It really was sad. She had been so sweet and shy before. It had always made Sora wonder…What had happened?

For a minute, Roxas didn't say anything. He stuffed his hand into one of the pockets of his dark washed jeans. It was there still. The star shaped charm she had given him all those years ago when he had to tell her his family was moving to Radiant Gardens. His fingers curled around it tighter as the memory replayed in his mind.

"Y-You're leaving me?" Naminé cried, her lower lip trembling as tears began to pool behind her cerulean blue eyes.

Roxas frowned, he didn't want to leave. He especially didn't want to leave Naminé. She was his best friend. "Sorry Nami, but my mommy and daddy said we have to."Naminé sniffed, wiping her tears with her small hands as she took a small star shaped keychain out of her pocket.

"Here," She said, putting the keychain into Roxas' hands.

"Huh?" Roxas didn't quite understand.

"It's my lucky keychain," Naminé explained with a watery smile, "so, you'll have to give it back when we see each other again."

Roxas grinned, carefully stowing the keychain in his coat pocket. "Can do! As long as you take care of my lucky marble." Roxas pulled a simple blue marble out of his pocket and gently placed it into Naminé's hands.

Naminé smiled.

Roxas didn't care. He didn't care what kind of person she had become. She was still his best friend.

"I'm going to help her," Roxas suddenly decalred.

Sora shook his head, stunned. "You're going to help her?"

Internally, Roxas shook his own head. 'I'm not just going to help her. I'm going to save her.'

KHKHKHKHKH

A/N (1/6/13): Second chapter was such a pain to edit, but I think it reads much better now. Please read and review if you can. I'd love to hear from any older readers to see what they think of the editing I've done.

Story Fact #2: This chapter's title was also inspired by a song—Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit

Again: Please Read and Review! :D!