So, are you guys mad at me yet? I mean, it's been, what, four days since I put up Ashes to Ashes and I still have yet to even start chapter two. Granted, I've probably spoiled all of you guys with my rapid updates, rather than doing what most authors do, by updating, like, once a month, if that. Anyway, let's go, shall we?

How the Hell are You Still Alive?

I was sitting at my computer, just listening to music and playing Hearthstone, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped slightly, turning around, but I calmed down upon seeing a black Absol behind me.

I took off my headphones, and said, "Arceus, Adam, you scared the hell out of me."

"Yeah, I could tell." He replied. Noticing the empty coffee cup on my desk, he said, "How long have you been up?"

I chuckled nervously, before saying, "Um, all night."

"What?" He asked, shocked. "Why the hell have you been up all night?"

I just shrugged, and said, "I couldn't sleep."

"Really?" He replied, the sarcasm obvious in his voice. "Well, could that have had something to do with the caffeine running through your blood currently?"

"Um, maybe." I answered.

He sighed, and asked, "How much coffee have you even had?"

"Three pots." I mumbled.

"What?" He asked. "I didn't hear you."

"Th-three pots." I replied nervously.

"What?" He asked, this time sounding rather outraged. "How the hell are you still alive?" I just shrugged, and he said, "Damn it. I guess that it's good that we're having that talk with you today."

"What?" I asked, curious.

He just sighed in return, and grabbed my arm, saying, "Let's go."

He then pulled me out of my chair, causing my headphones to be ripped away from my neck.

"What the hell?" I said, tripping slightly as we moved towards my door. "C'mon, I'm fighting a fucking Priest. Do you know how annoying those guys are without being dragged away from the computer?"

"Yeah, and I don't really give a fuck right now." He said, swinging my door open and pulling me out. As we headed towards the stairs, he said, "We need to have a talk."

He managed to drag me downstairs, somehow keeping me from falling when I tripped, and brought me to the dining room. Upon entering, I immediately noticed that Maxwell, Ashtynn, Kyle, Ashley, and Jessica were all gathered in there, worried looks on their faces. Adam released me, going over to the other side of the table to sit with the others.

"Um, hey." I greeted awkwardly. "So, why are we all in here?"

"Because, Riku, we need to have a talk." Ashtynn replied.

"A talk?" I asked. I suddenly knew what they meant, and I said, "Wait, like an intervention?" I scoffed, and said, "Fuck this, I'm not in the mood for this."

I turned to leave, but the door was suddenly blocked by Alex and Leo.

"You're not going anywhere." Alex said.

"Riku, just sit down." Leo said. "It'll make it easier on us."

I turned my head around and saw that Valerie was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"How the hell did I not notice you when I came in?" I asked, confused.

"It doesn't matter." Leo replied. "Now, sit down."

"Or what?" I asked, laughing. "You both know that I can take you in a fight."

"Riku, please, just sit down." I heard Jessica say. "We care about you, and that's why we need to have this talk."

I looked at her, and I could tell in her eyes that she wasn't lying. I just sighed, and went over to the table, and sat down.

"Okay, I'm sitting." I said. "Now, speak."

Maxwell sighed, and said, "Listen, Riku, recently we've noticed a change in how you've been acting, and we don't really like it."

"Yeah." Ashtynn continued. "I mean, you're less social, more short tempered, and it doesn't look like you've been sleeping as much as you should. We care about you, and we're worried about your well being."

"C'mon man, what's been bothering you?" Kyle asked. "You just seem so stressed as of late."

"Nothing's bothering me, guys." I answered. "I'm perfectly fine."

"C'mon, Riku," Adam said, "we all know that that's bullshit. No matter what people say to us, we are intelligent, and we do pay attention."

I just sighed, and Jessica asked, "Riku, just tell us, please. Or does it have to do with your past again?"

Everyone looked at her, and I just gritted my teeth, and said, "Yes, it does. Are you guys happy now?"

"No, not until you tell us what specifically." Ashley said.

I sighed, and said, "Well, I can't do that."

"Why not?" Adam asked. "Why won't you just tell us what's wrong?"

"Because you don't need to know." I replied, growing annoyed.

"If it's bothering you, than we do need to know." Maxwell said. "So just tell us."

"C'mon, man," Kyle said, "just tell about your past and we can help you get through whatever's happening."

"No." I replied, simply.

"Why the hell not?" Adam asked. "Why can't you just tell us about your past?"

"Because no one can know what I've done!" I shouted, slamming my fist on the table, causing multiple splinters to fly out. They all watched me, shocked, as I stood up and said, "I'm done with this conversation."

I started for the door, but Leo moved in front of me.

"Leo, move." I growled out.

"No." He replied, glaring up at my slightly taller height. "We aren't done here."

"Move, now." I commanded. "Before I have to do something that I don't want to." He just stood his ground, so I growled out, "I warned you."

I brought my open hand back and slammed it into his stomach, hitting him with a Force Palm. The force of the impact sent the Jolteon flying back into the wall, where he slumped down, unconscious. Alex starred at me, shocked, before rushing over to his boyfriend and bending down, worried. I just stalked over to the front door and swung it open.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Kyle asked me, entering the room.

"Out." I replied, leaving and slamming the door shut behind me.

I went out into the blizzard that had started overnight, and left the property.

I was just sitting on the roof of some random warehouse or factory, I couldn't remember which on. Like it fucking matters. I sat there, watching the sun set from under my hood, as snow swirled around me.

"Hey." I heard a voice say.

I looked over, to see a familiar Mightyena standing a few feet away, his own hood up against the snow.

"Hey." I greeted.

Chris came over to me and sat down, and said, "So, I heard that you stormed out of your house today." I didn't reply, so he continued, "Heard that they asked you about your past."

I chuckled, and said, "You sure do hear a lot, don't you?"

"Maybe so." He replied, shrugging. "So, you wanna tell me why you left? Or why you won't tell them what they want to know?"

I just stared down at my feet, absentmindedly forming an Iron Claw on my hand, and said, "Because they can never know what I've done. No one can."

"So, it was that, huh." He said knowingly. "Been a few years since I've had to spill blood." I looked at him, shocked, and he said, "What, do you think that you're the only homeless kid out there that's had to kill to stay alive?"

"You're homeless?" I asked.

"Yep." He replied, nodding. "Most of my life."

"So, you've had to do it, as well?" I asked.

He nodded again, and said, "It was me or them. I chose the former."

We just sat in silence for a little bit, watching the snow fall.

"Hey, listen," Chris said, breaking the silence, "I doubt that you feel like facing your family right now, so, do you wanna stay with me for a little while?"

"Really?" I asked. He nodded, and I said, "Thanks."

We stood up and went over to the fire escape that we had used to get up her. We climbed down, and Chris began leading me through alleyways until we came to a large, multilevel warehouse. He opened the door, eliciting a small creak, and we entered, providing cover from both the snow and cold.

"This is your home?" I asked, as we started up a set of stairs.

"Yep." He replied, as we entered a room.

Inside was a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a small ring of stones with a pyramid of sticks inside of it. A fire pit, I assume.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Chris said dramatically.

We went over to the small fire pit and sat down. He seemed to focus on the sticks for a few seconds, before opening his mouth and shooting out an Incinerate, which hit the sticks, setting them alight.

"So, you hungry?" He asked me. I shook my head, and he said, "C'mon man, we both know that you haven't eaten today. Just eat something."

He pulled his bag over to him and opened it, before digging around in it. He eventually pulled out two small cans of beans, before sitting them on the floor. He zipped his bag up, before using his canines to make a small hole in the top of each can. He then opened up another pocket on his bag and pulled out a small pan. He dumped the beans into the pan, before holding it over the fire.

"So," he started, "do you wanna talk about what happened?"

"Not necessarily." I replied.

"C'mon," he pressed, "I'll tell you mine."

I sighed, and caved, "Fine. You first, though."

"Alright then." He said, sighing. "Well, I was thirteen, so it was five years ago. I was scrounging around in an alley for some food, when a group of guys surrounded me. They pulled some weapons on me, but before they could do anything, I acted on instinct. I leapt at the leader and nailed his throat with a crunch. Before they could get over their shock, I dashed away, leaving them behind." He checked what he was cooking, before saying, "Now you."

I sighed, before beginning, "Do you remember, earlier this year, a news story came out about a guy and his Houndoom being murdered in his house in the mountains near here?"

"Yeah, of course." He replied. "The Houndoom was decapitated, his body hung above the front door and his head in the bed with the guy. Most of the house was burnt to a crisp by the time anyone got there, and the fire department had a hell of a time preventing a forest fire. Gruesome shit, and they never caught the murderer. Why?" I just looked at him, raising an eyebrow, and he said, "Wait, that was you?" I nodded, and he said, "Holy shit, dude. I don't think that I feel safe being near you, anymore."

"Relax." I reassured him. "I only did it because the bastard deserved it. And, besides, had I not, I wouldn't be here today."

"Well, how about you explain that while we eat?" He said. "Foods done."

I nodded, and he pulled two small wooden bowls, as well as two wooden spoons, from his bag. He sat them down and divided the beans between them, before giving me one.

"Thanks." I said, as he picked up his own.

"No problem." He replied, taking a bite of his food. "Now, continue."

I sighed again, and picked the story back up, "Well, it started eleven years ago, when I was six. I was with my horrid excuse for bigot parents, having just sat down for dinner after taking one of my daily beatings. Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and a masked man came in. He killed my parents, before knocking me out. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in his mansion in the mountains. He forced me to be his slave for ten years, doing anything that he and his Houndoom, Hades, wanted." At this point I could feel myself tearing up slightly, but I pushed onward, "He starved me, he over worked me, h-he raped me." I stopped for a second to wipe some tears from my eyes, before continuing, "So, I did what I had to. I snuck into his room at night and killed him. I then killed Hades, before burning the place."

As I finished, I felt Chris move over and wrap his arms around me in a reassuring hug.

After a few seconds of calming me down, Chris said, "So, that's what's been bothering you?"

I nodded, and replied, "Yeah. It was Archer. When we ran into him, he called me that horrid name. Freakboy. That was Hades favorite insult to me, and when he said it, that was all I saw. Hades, just laughing at me, calling me freakboy, while I worked for his master."

"It's alright." Chris said, petting my head reassuringly. "Those two are dead now, they can't hurt you. And, besides, if they could, they'd have to go through me, as well as your family."

I chuckled, and said, "If they still want to claim me. I mean, I hurt Leo, before storming out."

"They still want you." Chris said. "I promise you that."

After a few more minutes, Chris let go of me, and I said, "I'd appreciate it if we could keep this conversation a secret."

"Of course." He replied. "I know how these things are."

"Thanks." I said.

As we started eating again, Chris asked, "So, do you guys know what four songs you're playing next weekend?"

"Yeah, we've pretty much got it settled." I replied, taking a bite of my food. "Wanna see?"

"Sure." He replied.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up the list. I passed my phone to him, and looked at it.

"Y'know," he said, passing my phone back, "I could help you guys actually be more live on the last song, if you're alright with getting me the equipment."

"Really?" I asked. "How so?"

"Well, you guys need a keyboardist." He explained. "And, at a point in my life, while I was living with a foster family, I became more than adept with a keyboard. So, if you are alright with buying me a board, than I can make the song sound even better. Or, I hope so, at least."

"That'd be awesome." I replied. "I'll even pay for the board from my own pocket."

He chuckled, and said, "Don't you, like, get an allowance from Maxwell, though?"

I shrugged, and said, "It's the thought that counts, right?"

He laughed, before agreeing, "Yeah, I guess that it is. Honestly, though, tomorrow morning you need to go back and patch things up."

I sighed, and said, "Yeah, I know. I just hope that they'll accept me back."

"They will, trust me." Chris said. "Now, how about we get some sleep?"

I nodded, and passed the Mightyena my empty bowl.

He chuckled, before saying, "Not hungry, my ass."

"Oh, shut up." I said, lying down on the floor.

"Y'know, you can take the bag if you want to." He said. "I mean, I've slept on the bare floor before."

"No, it's yours, you take it." I replied. "Besides, I get to sleep on an actual bed every night, anyway."

"Alright then." He said, going over to his sleeping bag.

He got in it, sinking beneath the material.

"G'night, Riku." He said.

"Yeah, night." I replied.

Chris fell asleep within minutes, made apparent by a sound of light snoring filling the room, but I stayed up for a while, deep in thought.

I don't quite know when I had fallen asleep, but the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake. I opened my eyes to see that Chris was kneeling down in front of me, shaking my shoulder.

"Alright, you're awake." He said, standing. "Good."

"Yeah." I agreed, rising.

"C'mon, breakfast is ready." He said, gesturing to the pan.

We ate a breakfast of a few cans of beans, with a slice of stale bread each. When I was done, I handed my bowl back to him, rising.

"So, I guess that you are going to head back now." He said, looking at the floor.

"Yeah, I guess." I replied.

"Well, alright then." He said, sounding rather sad. "It was nice having the company. See yah."

Pitying the Mightyena, I said, "Hey, Chris." He looked up at me, and I sighed, before saying, "Listen, I can't promise anything, but maybe, just maybe, I could convince Maxwell to let you stay, should he actually take me back."

A smile spread across the canine's face, and he asked, "Seriously? Do you think he'd let me live with you guys?"

I shrugged, and said, "I don't see why not. I mean, we have a spare room, as well as a couch. And, if that fails, I could share my room. That, and you did help convince me to go back to them."

Chris suddenly wrapped me in a hug, chanting, "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much."

He released me, and I said, "No problem. But, as I said, I can't make any promises."

"Even if I can't stay, it's still the thought that counts." He said.

"Alright, well, pack up and let's get going." I said.

He nodded eagerly, and had his stuff packed up and the fire put out within two minutes. We left the warehouse and started back home, snow falling slowly as we went. It took us about to ten minutes to get back to the house, and we nervously approached the front door. I knocked three times, and we waited. After a few minutes, the door was opened by an Eevee.

Noticing us, Maxwell said, "So, I see that you have returned." Glancing back at Chris, he added, "And you brought a friend."

"May we come in?" I asked.

"You live here; there is no need to ask." Maxwell replied, moving aside.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I stepped inside. So, he will allow me to come back. When he shut the door, I turned to face him, Chris at my side.

"So, where are the others?" I asked.

"Everyone is still asleep." Maxwell replied. "Leo, Alex, and Valerie stayed the night. They still helped look for you, even Leo, after what you did to him. They do care about you, y'know."

I sighed, and said, "Yeah, I know. Listen, I want to apologize for-"

But I was cut off as Maxwell held his hand up.

"I'm not the one that you need to apologize to." He said. "You need to apologize to Leo, for hurting him. And you need to apologize to Jessica, for scaring her by leaving."

"Sh-she was scared?" I asked, shocked.

"Of course." Maxwell replied. "When we couldn't find you, she got scared for you, and worried about you. It took multiple hours for myself and Kyle to calm her down enough to where she could sleep."

"Oh." I said guiltily, staring the floor.

"Although," Maxwell said, getting my attention, "I am the one that you need to explain your friend to."

I sighed, looking up, and said, "Well, this is Chris, my friend. He found me sitting on a roof, and he convinced me to come back, and let me stay the night with him in the abandoned warehouse that he's been living in."

"And you were hoping that we could take him in, right?" Maxwell asked.

"Um, yeah, sort of." I replied, nervously.

There was a minute or so of silence, which I spent fearing the worst, until Maxwell said, "Very well. I remember you mentioning him before, and you appear to trust him, so he may stay." A smile spread across my face, and Maxwell added, "But only if you apologize to the others and stay on your best behavior."

"Of course." I said, at the Eevee.

"Very well then." Maxwell said, nodding. "Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to go and wake the others, as breakfast is done. Chris, you may get settled in after we eat."

As soon as Maxwell went upstairs, Chris wrapped me in another hug.

"Holy shit, man. Thank you so much." He said. "I can't believe that I actually have a home now."

"Yeah, I'm glad for you, man." I replied. "Now then, how about we go and get some coffee?"

"Dude, it's been years since I had coffee." The Mightyena said, his smile widening. "You just read my fucking mind."

"So, if you had a job, why did you never get coffee?" I asked him, as we went into the dining room.

"Well, I was more focused on stuff like normal food and clothes." He replied.

"Oh? So, what of the phone?" I asked.

He chuckled, and said, "Yeah, I've had that thing for years, really. I just hang onto it as a way to get access to the internet, if I can find an open connection, and an alarm clock. That thing was active for, like, a few months, before I was kicked out of that home."

"So, did they just stop paying the bill, or something?" I asked, as we entered the kitchen.

"Well, when you die of a heart attack, it's fairly difficult to pay anything, save for the toll on Styx." He replied, as I got the stuff needed to make our coffee.

"Oh." I replied, awkwardly. "I'm sorry."

He just shrugged, and said, "Don't worry about it. As I said, I only knew her for about three months, and I didn't really enjoy the time there. She was nice enough, but only to me. She hated pretty much everyone else there."

"Any reason why?" I asked him, getting his coffee.

"Well, I was the only guy there that was above twelve, so I had some thoughts about what she wanted." He answered.

"Yeah, because that's not illegal, or anything." I said sarcastically.

"Absolutely." He replied, as I gave him his drink. "Because statutory rape is only a myth."

I laughed, and said, "Yep, just like bigfoot, or logical thinking."

"Of course." He replied, as we reentered the dining room.

Having a sudden thought, I went over to the dining room table. I set my coffee on it, before getting on it, sitting cross legged.

"Um, what are you doing?" Chris asked me.

"I am going to make the apology more dramatic." I replied.

"Aren't you dirtying the table?" He asked me.

I shrugged, and replied, "I clean my shoes."

He just sighed, and said, "Whatever."

He sat down in a seat, just waiting with me. After a few minutes, everyone entered the room. Their eyes fell on Chris and I.

"You're back." Jessica said. "And you brought Chris."

I nodded, and said, "Yes. I would like to apologize for my behavior yesterday. And, Leo, I would like to apologize for knocking your ass out."

He just shrugged, and said, "All you gave me was a small headache, so we're all good."

I nodded, and looked to the others. They all gave sounds of agreement, and I nodded to them, as well.

"So, Chris, why exactly are you here?" Jessica asked.

I answered, saying, "Because, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you the newest member of our odd little household of misfits. Chris."

"Wait, you're moving in?" Jessica asked, shocked.

"Well, yeah." Chris replied. "I mean, I haven't had a home since I was a little kid, and Riku convinced Maxwell to allow me to stay. So, yeah, I guess."

As the others began to sit down, and I got off of the table, Adam asked, "So, I have a question. Riku, I know that you don't want to go too deep into it, nor do I, for fear of another incident like yesterday, but do you at least know how to stop whatever's been messing with you?"

A wide grin spread across my face, and I said, "Oh yeah. I know exactly how to deal with it."

Woohoo! Chapter! It's eight in the morning, but I updated. Yeah, I don't know. How about the introduction of Chris as a new main character? Anyone like his story?

So, fun fact, there was actually a small detail in this chapter that is hinting at events to come. Can you find it? I don't know, we'll see. Seriously, if you somehow discover what the hint is, I'll actually congratulate you next chapter. Same thing if you can discover what the song that I was talking about in this chapter is. Here are some hints: it uses a keyboard, it's by one of my top five bands on my profile, it's off of the band's second album, the lead singer has the same name as one of the characters of this story, and the lyrics would have a strong meaning to the group. So, if anyone discovers that stuff and leaves it in a review, I shall congratulate you in the next chapter. Granted, I doubt that the congratulations of an almost sixteen year old (less than a month away. Granted, I don't really care, except that I will be getting a job when I turn sixteen.) goth emo kid will mean anything to you, but, if it does, go ahead. I mean, I guess that it'd be an interesting way to get me to give you a shout out if you write stories, but that's about it.

So, until next time, good morning!