~*~Radiant Fabrications~*~

III
Chapter One
III

His arms ached from the weight that kept them dangling over the cliff’s edge. He stared into two pairs of blue eyes; one pair vibrant, the other glassy. His feet were burning for he had forced them into the ground so they wouldn’t all fall over the edge. Both pairs of hands were clinging but he could feel them both slipping. All three faces had gone pale with worry and fear. Their fear had reached a much higher magnitude because for the first time, in a very long time, they felt fear.

“Axel,” Roxas and Demyx spoke at the same time, the white of their eyes seemed almost indistinguishable compared their paled skin. “Only one of us is going to make it.” Roxas gave Axel the saddest smile he had ever seen. He could feel his throat constrict. “That’s why…”

“I’ll do it.” Demyx and Roxas said this at the exact same time. They didn’t acknowledge one another. They had simply let go at the same time.

+++

“No!” Axel bolted up. He blinked. He looked around. He was in his room. The fuzzy blanket he had been using had been kicked off the bed. Nervous green eyes darted about the room to reassure himself that he was in his room. He sighed and fell back into the pillows. Axel’s breathing slowed a little before he decided to get up. He was sweating a little from the dream, not from the heat. It was almost summer and it felt like it was ninety degrees. Axel really didn’t mind the heat much. Personally, he would have preferred sleeping in longs sleeves and pants but he only received half the wish; he was stuck with a white tank top and gray sweatpants.

Living where they did now, they had to do their best to fit in and wearing long sleeves during the summer was not a normal thing and would cause people to wonder; it was something he had to constantly remind himself. Axel stretched and decided he needed something drink. Preferably a hot drink, too. Walking down the hall, through the small living room and walked into the kitchen, flicking on the light switch.

A soft light filled the room.

Axel opened the cupboard and pulled out a mug. He placed it under the faucet and filled it with water. He then turned to the small microwave-like object and opened it. He placed it the cup in and pressed a few buttons after closing the small door. Axel sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. The nightmares were becoming rather frequent these days. He opened up another cupboard and pulled out a small box filled with teabags. Picking mint hibiscus, Axel waited for the microwave to finish heating the water. When the microwave was done, a blue light flashed.

Opening the microwave again, Axel placed the teabag into the cup and shut the door before heading for the table. Again, he sighed while pulling out a chair and taking a seat. He just sat for a few seconds, blinking and thinking of nothing. Once he had decided that the tea had diffused far enough into the water, he pulled out the teabag and didn’t bother blowing on it before taking a sip. His eyes were closed as he sipped so he didn’t know that Demyx had walked in.

“Axel?”

He jumped and spat the tea out.

Demyx gave him a weak smile and snorted a little. “I thought you didn’t have to worry about finals.”

Axel coughed a little before wiping his mouth. “I don’t. I had a nightmare,” he was half proud of the fact, half hating it.

Demyx’s eyebrows rose as he pulled out a chair and took a seat across from him. “A nightmare,” he repeated.

“Yah.” Axel set the cup down. “It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“What? The emotions?”

Axel nodded. “Weird, huh? We actually have emotions. Do you even remember—“

“No.” Demyx replied with a little irritation. “You’ve asked me before. We wound up on this world and suddenly had emotions. Real ones.” Demyx’s most common emotion at the present time was irritation. He was so unused to school that he was getting very snappy with the finals lurking around the corner.

Axel sighed. He didn’t know how to explain it. He, still adjusting to the emotions, was very thankful to have emotions again but where they came from was unsettling. Along with the fact that…

“It’s more than that. What bugs me is we still don’t have hearts.” Axel was holding the mug.

Demyx rolled his eyes. “I’m just glad we have real emotions. I’ll worry about lacking the heart later.” He suddenly sighed and ran his hand over his face. “Speaking of nightmares…”

Axel looked up.

“Really weird too; I keep having this one. I was on the edge of some cliff while you and Roxas were hanging onto me when you guys realized that one of you would have to drop in order to save me and the other but then you guys both let go at the same time. Then I woke up.”

Axel noticed that the dream seemed to have startled Demyx a little since he was also sweating just a bit. Or it was the heat. Axel couldn’t tell. Around the beginning, when they first awoke on this world, Axel didn’t really care for Demyx. He, personally, wanted Demyx gone and away for trying to harm Roxas but in the end, Roxas said they should let him stay with them. Roxas knew Demyx had tried attacking Sora and considered both he and Axel traitors but said it felt wrong to leave Demyx alone in this strange world.

It had been a few months since they appeared and Axel and Roxas were starting to get close with Demyx. Axel looked up at Demyx. “I had a similar dream.” He stated. “Many times, too.” He added.

Demyx looked up. “Really?”

“Yah…” he suddenly felt odd. “But it was you and Roxas dangling over the cliff instead.”

“Hmm,” Demyx thought for a moment. He was about to speak when they heard somebody walking down the hall.

“Is there some late-night studying going on?” Roxas asked, yawning a little. He was still in his regular day clothes since he had fallen asleep studying.

Demyx chucked slightly, “Sure your face didn’t leave any indents in the book?”

Roxas gave him a not-so serious glare. He rubbed his neck and decided to join Axel and Demyx at the table. “I don’t need to know how triangles are similar. It’s not going to help me pay bills or stab Heartless.”

Axel smiled a little at his friend’s reasoning. “And if you fail, you’ll be stuck in summer school.”

Roxas cringed. “What time is it?”

Demyx looked at the small clock that hung over the fridge. “It’s three in the morning.”

Roxas groaned and let his head hit the table with a very dull thud.

“Don’t worry,” Demyx said with some cheer in his voice, “You fell asleep with your face planted in that book. I’m sure you’ve subconsciously memorized the whole thing through osmosis or whatever.”

Roxas lifted his head a little. “Thanks,” he said dryly. “Actually, I think I’ll try to get some sleep. Who knows? Maybe I will pass.” He got up and headed for his room, “Night,” he carelessly waved his hand before disappearing in the dark hall.

Axel looked at Demyx, “What about you? Haven’t you been studying?”

Demyx shrugged, “Yah. I’ve studied. I think I’ll do fine.”

Axel cocked an eyebrow. “And this is where I get worried.” He looked down at his tea. “Want to finish it? It’s too cold for my liking.”

Demyx shrugged, “Sure. I don’t think I’ll be getting to sleep any time soon.” He took the mug and sipped. “Gah! You think this is too cold?”

“I fought with fire in long, black robes. You get used to the heat.” Axel replied with a careless shrug. Demyx rolled his eyes before setting the mug down deciding that it could cool down for another couple minutes.

The two sat there for a nearly silent minute, the only thing breaking the silence was the ticking of the clock and a dog barking in the distance. “It’s kind of sad, isn’t it?” Demyx began.

“What is?” Axel asked.

“The nightmares; I hate them but I love them. I mean,” he paused for a second, “I hate having that feeling of fear but I love it because I’m feeling it but those are one of the few things I feel when I go to sleep. I’ve tried avoiding sleep a few times,” he admitted, feeling somewhat embarrassed, “with studying but then I’d fall asleep in class.”

Axel remembered the calls he received at work when the teachers complained about Demyx falling asleep in class. “Yah, I remember those calls.” Demyx had never told him the real reason of why he was falling asleep. He just blamed it on “being so happy to feel happiness” and would stay up listening to music.

“Yah, that’s why. I don’t remember dreaming so…do all people have nightmares all the time? I’ve heard people talk about some “good dreams” but I just wonder if it’s normal.” Demyx stopped. He suddenly felt weird for sharing this information with one of the traitors of the Organization.

Axel thought for a minute.

Demyx unconsciously sipped the now cooled tea.

“Maybe we’re making up for the lost nightmares we would’ve had before we became nothing.” He then added: “I’m sure when we’re done with the nightmares we’ll get those “good dreams” everybody talks about.”

“Maybe…” Demyx had drained half of the mug in a few seconds. “I think I’ll go back to sleep. Or listen to music. Whichever. Night. Morning. Whichever.” He got up from the table and headed back to the room he and Roxas shared.

Axel watched him leave. He glanced at the clock. It was three ‘o nine. I really should get some sleep. He hated work but the pay was good and it’s what kept the three of them in the small house. Axel had a boring job of working at some office for some company he couldn’t remember the name of. He didn’t really care either. All he had to do was copy stuff, print it, shred the old, and other boring tasks of copying and shredding. He stood up and stretched. “I hope Martin’s sick.” He muttered this before heading to his own room.

+++

“Roxas, wake up.” Demyx shook Roxas.

“Huh?” Roxas blinked and yawned.

“C’mon, get up. It’s six forty-five.”

Roxas groaned. He sat up and stretched. “I hate school.” He muttered. It was Monday and the last week. He couldn’t wait until Friday. “School starts too early.” Roxas added.

Demyx nodded, “Yah. I’ll go see if I can make breakfast without burning anything.” He headed out of the room leaving Roxas to sit and tiredly blink.

Roxas rubbed his eyes and got up, heading for the dressers. Opening the top drawer, he randomly pulled out articles of clothing. He didn’t like school much so he cared very little of how he dressed. School wasn’t the same without Hayner, Pence and Olette; so he only hung out with Demyx. Slipping out of the clothes he fell asleep in, Roxas slipped on a pair of blue jeans and a dark blue t-shirt with a white line across the chest. He kept his wristband and rings.

Walking into the kitchen it seemed that Demyx cheated and pulled out bowls and chose to have cereal instead. “What?” He wore an innocent expression. “See? I didn’t burn anything.”

Roxas snorted and grabbed a box of cereal, “true.” He poured some into his bowl.

Demyx, like Roxas, didn’t care too much for how he dressed at school. Today he had randomly pulled out a black t-shirt and a pair of baggy black jeans. “School starts earlier and ends later today.” He sighed after swallowing.

“Don’t remind me.” Roxas muttered. School was going to start at 7:30 and end around 4:00 that day and the next. I liked my old school more. He thought, At least they knew how to space testing there.

Axel walked into the kitchen. Demyx had to bite his lip so he wouldn’t start laughing. Even though the three of them had been living under the same roof for about five months now, it was still very hard to not laugh when seeing Axel in a business suit.

“You better not laugh.” He warned before taking a seat.

Demyx managed to mask the laughter with coughing.

Axel turned to Roxas. “Ready for the exams?”

“Sure,” Roxas didn’t sound at all convincing.

Axel smiled a little, “All right, you guys get home around four today, right?”

“Yup,” both Demyx and Roxas answered in unison.

“All right,” Axel nodded. This meant the two would be home without him for roughly one hour. He looked at the clock. “I should probably get going,” he sighed. “See you guys later.” Axel got up and grabbed his briefcase and slipped into his shoes just before stepping outside.

“Think we should probably start heading for school?” Roxas asked after Axel shut the door.

“Sure,” Demyx picked up his bowl and set it in the sink. “Have you finished reading that “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”?”

“Yah. Go ahead. The views of magic here are really different. Not at all like what it is in the other worlds.”

Roxas had eaten as much of the cereal as he could, not so hungry because of the exams. “Wow. I’ve fought Heartless and Nobodies and I’m worried about some stupid exam.”

Demyx smirked a little and said: “It’s only an exam that’ll affect your whole entire future.”

Roxas stuck his tongue out as he put away the cereal boxes.
They headed to their near-empty room. Most of the books and CDs they had were in from the library. The few that weren’t were gifts that Axel received from work for being such a “model worker.” Since Roxas and Demyx refused to make friends at their new school, they were usually reading. Roxas only read to pass time and so did Demyx since he couldn’t afford a guitar or use his sitar.

“Do we have the second book?” Roxas asked, looking for his backpack.

“I don’t know,” Demyx replied, grabbing his blue backpack and took the first Harry Potter book and put it in. “Have you seen my CD player?”

“It’s on the desk,” he said while placing in some other books into his backpack. “The nice thing about this being the last week of school is no more homework.” They were returning the textbooks today.

“You got that right. Oh hey, found the second book.” Demyx handed Roxas the Chamber of Secrets.

“Thanks,“ Roxas took the book and put it in his backpack. They were favored visitors of the library. Losing a book wouldn’t look so good on the record. “All right, let’s go.”

Demyx followed Roxas out of the room and through the living room to the front door. Roxas and Demyx were about to grab their skateboards but realized that it was still a little early. “Want to shock everybody and walk for once?” Demyx asked.

“Sounds like fun,” Roxas said with a slight smirk. They stepped out into the hot summer morning to see the neat rows of small houses on both sides of the street. There wasn’t a single car on the road. The world they had appeared on reminded Roxas of Twilight Town because of the heavy use of trains. These narrow streets were meant only for bikes and skateboards and rollerblades. “You have your keys, right?”

Demyx reached into his pockets. “Yah,” he shut the door and bolted it. “You?” Roxas nodded.

With that, they headed down the street to school. It was a fifteen minute walk, which meant Demyx and Roxas would have time to talk each other. “Think Kelp’s group will leave us alone today?” Roxas asked for a conversation starter.

“Do you think Kiza’s group will stop stalking us?” Demyx asked as the answer.

Roxas shook his head, “No.”

Kelp was the name of a highly arrogant jock who couldn’t understand why such great and strong athletes like Demyx and Roxas wouldn’t want to be on any sport teams. He didn’t seem to be capable of comprehending the fact that the two had said “no” to sports. Then Kiza’s group stalked them relentlessly. It vaguely reminded Roxas of some comic that Olette had read; something about a basket and fruit. Kiza’s group figured that if Roxas or Demyx would not date any of them, they had come to a twisted conclusion that if the two weren’t brothers, they’d make a perfect couple.

“Exactly. Kiza is just plain creepy and Kelp is a jerk who needs to think of a better nickname.” Demyx stated.

“I guess,” Roxas said with a shrug. “If we didn’t say we were brothers, I’m sure Kiza and her friends would be trying to play matchmaker with us. I guess it’s a good thing we can’t summon the Keyblade or sitar.” He said with some humor.

“Yah, yah…” Demyx wished that his sitar hadn’t been reduced to a small charm that he wore around his neck. Roxas’ Keyblades and Axel’s chakrams had also been reduced to the same fate. “I sometimes wish there were some Heartless to thrash around,” he muttered. They had to be careful when they spoke in public. Axel had pointed out that if the three of them had somehow come back, it was possible the other members of the Organization had come back and once they were found, it was curtains for the three even if Demyx did nothing to betray the Organization.

“Well there aren’t any. All we have is this boring world. We could do some exploring this summer, though.”

“Maybe.”

“There might be a beach…” Roxas added

This seemed to have cheered Demyx up a little. “Let’s just hope Kiza or Kelp won’t be there.”

The two continued to talk about what they would hopefully do during the summer until they had arrived at school. The conversation came to a close because they feared Kiza would overhear them. Roxas looked at the giant clock on the school front. “We have about twenty minutes to kill.”

“Then we might as well head to our classes. See yah, Roxas.”

“Oh. Uh,  see yah, Demyx.” Roxas said as he watched Demyx head off into the school. Is it just me or have Axel and Demyx acting weird lately? Oh, god...I hope this isn’t some sort of thing where I’m hooked up to a computer system again. If that’s true, I’m going to break something or somebody. The thoughts boiled in his mind as he headed up the stairs of the school and onto the second story where his class was.

+++

Axel’s wish had not come true. Martin was not sick today. This then meant that he was stuck with his cubicle buddy. What time is it now? Only ten? Oh, jeez. Another two hours with this annoyingly icky guy. He thought with much annoyance as he printed up another report he had just fixed. He despised Martin because he would never shut-up, was an obnoxious jerk, and never minded his own business. What annoyed Axel was whenever he’d put up a new picture of he, Roxas, and Demyx, Martin was always there to critique it. If I didn’t have the feeling or guilt or regret, this guy’s throat would be on the floor.

Martin noticed that Axel was now tacking another picture to his cubicle. This one was of Roxas and Demyx making faces at the camera. “Don’t you already have on like that? You do have other photos than just that one, right?” Martin asked just as Axel was about to add it to the photo collection.

“Huh? Oh,” he blinked and decided to go along with it. “Well what do you know, I do!” He kept his back to Martin as his face twisted into high annoyance but his voice had formed into an overly-gushing form of thanking. “I really don’t know what I’d do without you.” He removed the tack and put the photo back into his briefcase. He didn’t really have one like it but Martin seemed too thick to know. He figured the one Martin was referring to was the one of him, Roxas, and Demyx making faces at the camera. He had a copy of that one at home and it was a very special one, actually. The other two also had a copy of it (It was the first photo they had taken on this world and it was when they were celebrating the fact that they could actually feel emotions).

Martin just smiled and returned to his work. “Oh, I thought you’d also like to know that I’ve been hearing the boss talk about your hair again.”

Uh-oh. This can’t be good. Axel thought with some sarcasm. It was true, the boss wasn’t too happy with Axel’s hair. This was the reason why he wore a suit. The other people in the business only had to wear a decent pair of pants, a nice shirt, and a tie. It was either cut off the hair or wear a suit. Axel hated both ends of the deal. “What’d he say?”

“He says it seems to be getting a little too long and that you might want to cut off a couple inches.”

Axel held a crimson lock of hair between his forefinger and thumb and rolled his eyes upwards. He restrained himself from saying anything. Truth was he had just gotten it cut a week ago. He normally cut his hair every few months and it was the first time since he had come to this world. “Well, thanks for the heads-up.” Axel said. I should probably go job hunting now just in case the big man decides to drop me. Well, I might get a warning, actually. He’s always said I’m a model worker and would hate to see me go.  He was about to open up another file when another worker walked in. “Axel?”

Axel looked up to see it was Ieta who had walked in. She had long blonde hair in a simple ponytail with two locks of hair hanging loose on the right side. “Here,” she handed him a slip of paper, “Boss wants to see you.” She said.

“Ah. Thanks,” Axel took the paper.

“Good luck, man.” Martin said as Axel and Ieta walked out of the cubicle.

“What do you think it is this time?” She asked with a small smile.

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug, looking over the blue slip of paper. He was trying to ignore the fact that Ieta, who was quite a few inches shorter, was staring up at him with a little tinge in her cheeks. “Well, I’ll see yah later.” He said to her, heading to the left as she headed to the right.

“Bye,” Ieta chirped and almost crashed into Kirk who was carrying a large stack of papers.

“Oh, boy…” Axel muttered. He knew that Ieta had a big-time crush on him but he wasn’t attracted to her at all. Come to think of it…I think that’s the only emotion I don’t have. Well, I guess. Wait, I do love Roxas as a brother and maybe even Demyx but I wouldn’t know if that counts. Wow…I remember as a Nobody, love was the emotion you missed the most but also the first to go. Axel was so lost in his thoughts, before he knew it, he had already arrived in front of the door to his boss’s office. He knocked on the door.

“Ah, come in, Axel.”

Axel figured the boss knew it was he because of his hair. He stepped in. “You wanted to see me, sir?” I’m treating this guy like Xemnas. Wow. I hope he doesn’t order me to kidnap anybody. He mused this and stepped in.

+++

Roxas frowned. By which method is this triangle proved similar? SAS? SSS? ASA? AAA?  Roxas would have easily been able to figure this out if he had only known where to start. He could remember the many times he messed up when told it was not one but the other. He randomly picked one and glanced at the clock. It was only 10:15. Roxas had another few hours of testing and only 45 more minutes left for his math part of the exam. He was a little more than half-way through the math test. He wondered how Demyx was doing. Demyx was in fact rather smart but since he didn’t hang out with Axel or Roxas when they were in the Organization, there was a lot they didn’t know about him.

He’s probably finished it and writing more song lyrics now. Roxas thought as he continued with his testing. One thing he was thankful for was the ten minute breaks in-between each test. He couldn’t leave the class and talk to Demyx but he could at least give his brain a break. Thank god. These are easy supplementary questions now. Roxas continued with the test. He was down to five minutes and seven more problems. Uh-oh…the last three looked pretty hard but he would have to try.

His five minutes were now up and he had just answered the last question. “Please pass up your pencils or pens.” The teacher ordered. Roxas handed his pencil to the girl who sat in front of him. The pencils were then followed by the test papers.

“So, Roxas,” one of the boys he sat next to turned to look at him, “What’d you think of that test?”

“Huh? Oh, it was okay, I guess.” He shrugged and was already heading for his backpack for something to do.

“Whoever wants something to eat, take it now.” The teacher announced, pulling out a couple of boxes.

“Want something, Roxas?”

“Sure, whatever.” He wasn’t paying attention; he was more concerned about finding his book. I swear I put it in here! And I didn’t bump into any weird people on the way to school…Roxas guessed if he had a heart, he would feel it elevate slightly. He began to frantically flip through the notebooks in the backpack. “Phew…” he had found the book. It was at the very bottom of his cavernos pack.

“Here yah go, Roxas.” Roxas looked up. It was Nero. He was holding two little bottles of juice and some sort of snack.

“What? Oh. Thanks.” Roxas hadn’t been paying attention to Nero when he had been offering to get him the food.

“Which test are we taking next?”

“Uh…” Roxas thought for a moment. “I think a reading comprehension one is next.”

“Hmm…” Nero thought for a moment. “I guess I’ll do fine on that one. How do you think you’ll do? You’re library record’s better than mine.”

“I don’t know,” Roxas said with a shrug. “There’s really only one way to find out.”

+++

Demyx was scribbling on a piece of paper. Half way through his test he had thought of a song. It was a very nice and pretty song. Somebody was hovering over his shoulder as he scribbled it down. “”Hollow Bastion”?”

Demyx almost jumped. He looked up. “Yah. What about it?”

“That’s a weird title.”

It was one of Kelp’s cronies. “So? Got a problem with that?”

Lo, the one bothering Demyx, was about to reply but the teacher interrupted the two. “Testing will begin shortly.”

Lo decided to head back to his desk. Demyx smirked. That’s right. Cower in fear before my might! Well, nice thing about this world is the people here are easier to fight. He had gotten into only one fight. Fortunately it wasn’t at school but, instead, being jumped on the way home. He continued to scribble down lyrics until the teacher announced it was now time for the test.

Demyx put away the lyrics and was given a test paper. He didn’t like reading comprehension too much. He just liked reading the book and going onto the next one and not be bombarded with questions that kept on demanding who did what and why. He thought it was rather pointless.

“You may begin.” The teacher announced after handing out booklets with the stories they would be tested on.

Demyx opened up the booklet and began to read but he realized that he couldn’t read the page. The words were blurry and he suddenly felt light-headed. He blinked and shook his head. His vision snapped back together. Weird…he thought before continuing with the test.

+++

Axel was back in his cubicle, typing up another report in need of editing. The boss had wanted to talk to him about a possible promotion. Anything to get out of this cramped hellhole they call work space. He was always thinking this as he continued to type away. He glanced at the clock. Just a couple more minutes and he’d be free for his lunch break. He had forgotten to bring his own lunch so that meant he’d probably have to go to a nearby café. Finishing up the report, he clicked “print.”

Just in time, the lunch break had started. “Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.” Axel picked up his briefcase and got up and exited out of the cubicle to nearly crash into Ieta. “Oh—sorry.”

“No, that’s okay.” She chirped. “I was just heading out for my lunch break.”

“Oh, uh, what a coincidence, I was too.” Axel regretted that sentence the moment it fell out of his mouth.

“Really? Where to? They have a new café that’s really close so you don’t have to worry about being late.”

Axel couldn’t say no to that deal without sounding stupid. “Sure,” he said, hoping he kept the strain out of his voice.

“So,” she began as they headed for the elevator, “I heard you might be getting promoted.”

“Yah,” Axel replied, “to be an assistant-secretary, I think.”

“Really?” Ieta managed to keep the squeak out of her voice.

“Uh-huh,” Axel nodded. He bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying “Got it memorized?”

“So,” her face was starting to turn pinkish. “Uh…how are Roxas and Demyx?” According to all who knew them, Roxas and Demyx were brothers and the younger cousins of Axel and he was taking care of them because their parents had died in a train accident (they would have said murder but this world seemed too peaceful for something that violent).

“They’re doing fine,” Axel was really hoping that he could escape this girl now. He always felt awkward around anybody who showed signs of interest in him. Oh, great. She’s the secretary. I’m being promoted to secretary’s assistant. I don’t like where this is going. He thought as they stepped into the elevator. Why didn’t I get that memorized? He asked himself with much humor but the question had a splash of self-scolding in it.

“It must be hard raising your younger cousins,” she commented thoughtfully.

“It’s not that hard,” he said with a shrug. He was trying to keep the conversation smooth and not make it sound like he was desperate to escape.

“Well, that’s always good.” She said with a smile.

Axel gripped his briefcase, hoping something would happen to not make him have to spend time with Ieta. I don’t blame her for liking me, he mused, and who could deny such great looks?

The elevator doors slid open to allow people in or out. Axel and Ieta walked out of the office building and towards the café that was right next to the office building. “I heard they make really great tea,” she began, “And they have really good baked goods.”

Tea’s always good. Great…she knows exactly what I like. This won’t make it any easier and here I am feeling guilty. Wow. Guilt. That’s a new one. I guess this is what I get for wanting my emotions back. They entered the café, apparently Ieta had been talking. “Hmm?”

“Do you want a seat outside or inside?”

“Oh. Outside’s fine.” It was a nice day and he didn’t enjoy the loud chatter of the people inside the café. The Organization was always quieter…he thought as they took a seat outside.

A waitress handed them each a menu. “Don’t forget to look at the teas of the day,” she added before walking off.

Ieta looked over the menu of teas. “I think I’ll be getting…pineapple waves. What about you?”

Axel scanned over the menu, hoping it had mint hibiscus. It did. “I guess mint hibiscus.”

“Ooh, that’s a good one.” Ieta said in her usual chirp. “Hmm…I think I’ll get soup. What about you?”

“A sandwich.” Axel was already praying for the lunch break to end.

+++

Roxas and Demyx met up with each other in front of the school. Testing was over for them. Apparently not everybody had to stick around until four, as long as they weren’t freshmen. “All right! We’re out with an extra hour to spare.” Roxas was happy to be out of the classroom. “I guess I don’t have to dread school tomorrow, either. We’ll be getting out around this time too, hopefully.”

“Uh-huh,” Demyx nodded as they started to head home. Students were slowly trickling out of the school building depending on when they had finished the test. “When we get home, I’m sleeping. I’ve been dizzy all morning.”

Roxas looked at him with some concern. “That’s not good,” he stated.

“No really?” Demyx chuckled a little. “Good thing there’s no homework.”

“Uh-huh. Did you write any more lyrics?”

“Yah,” Demyx reached into his pocket and handed Roxas a few sheets of folded paper. Roxas read over them as they walked home, trusting Demyx to let him know when to stop or if he was about to crash into anything. They arrived home and Roxas had just finished reading the lyrics. “Wow. The Hollow Bastion one seems to be the most depressing one of them all.”

Demyx slipped the key into the door and unlocked it. “Well, that is where I faded away.” He said once they were inside. “All right, I’m going to sleep.” Demyx headed for their room but didn’t exactly make it. His vision was starting to get blurry again and he was feeling lightheaded. “Uh…Roxas…” he leaned against the wall and his left hand was heading for his head as if lightly touching it would make things all better.

“Yah—Demyx?!” Roxas darted to Demyx.

Demyx was about to collapse onto the ground but Roxas caught him and eased him down so he was now sitting. “Hang on a second, I’ll go call Axel.” Roxas said.

Demyx couldn’t reply to well for he was starting to slip away from consciousness.

Roxas grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Axel’s work number. He didn’t like disturbing Axel while he was working but Axel said that if anything out of the ordinary happened, he wanted them to call right away. Well, Roxas thought, I’d hope suddenly fainting is considered “out of the ordinary”

“Hello?” Axel picked up the phone. He sounded annoyed.

“Hey, Axel?”

“Roxas?” Axel’s tone jumped from annoyance to concern. “What’s the matter?”

“Uh, well, Demyx kind of fainted—“

“I’ll be right there.” With that, Axel hung up.

Roxas hung up and walked over to Demyx. He knelt down and decided he should place him somewhere more comfortable than the floor. Doing his best to lift Demyx up without dropping him, Roxas managed to drag him to their room and placed him on the bed. Roxas frowned. Something seemed unnatural about this, he didn’t know what was telling him that, but he just knew Demyx wasn’t sick.

III
End of Chapter One
III