Utopia

[Rikugurl]

Riku frowned suddenly when he saw that cheerful smile fall into something wronged and worried. "S-sora?" He whispered, taking the brunette's head in both his hands, holding him still before leaning closer. "Please, I want to be with you. I can't stand it anymore..." Riku suddenly pressed his lips against, their kiss becoming heated in seconds. Sora was the one who broke it though, his head slowly shaking again, their foreheads touching. "I know I'm not as strong as you Sora but I can't keep hiding in the safety of my world. I would give it up just to be by your side. You're more special to me than being able to eat whenever I'm hungry or---" He was silenced when a finger pressed up against his lips, being replaced with Sora's own for a short kissing session.


The flyer studied the marks on the man's skin, seeing that his marks were much like his own and meant...
He was silent and still until Terra disappeared and he slowly looked down at his meal. Was it Divine's blessing that he was molested by his brother? If he wasn't, that man would have done it. He would have been tortured even more and...
His eyes closed, tears running down his face but he reached out blindly taking a piece of meat and placing it into his mouth. He continued to eat and cry until he heard a loud bang and jolted up to his feet, seeing the glowing eyes of the Murderous looking in at him.

Down the tunnel, a woman was walking from her warm den and paused when she saw her son walk by. "Terra?" She called, nabbing his attention. She gave him a bright smile as she walked down the path to meet him. "You are looking so much better. You have a light around you like if... if Divine herself came to you last night." She lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back up at him. "Have you... have you come to terms with Ienzo's death?"


"Shut up... I know what you're doing to him so piss off." The warrior leaned in closer, wishing that he could just bite the man's face off. "Roxas is not Ventus. Whatever horrible deeds you did with your older brother died with him. I won't let you touch my student and successor. He needs to be strong and full of pride to hunt and you're crippling him, diluting his character. He doesn't love you and you don't love him. Your brethren and that love his quite different and sacred. How dare you spoil it for some sick, twisted, kick. If I ever see or hear about you tormenting him again, I will kill you, Vanitas. Don't put it passed it... I'm an Unbroken after all."

[Reno]

And again he broke it, though he didn't go far. His eyes opened, staring deep into aquamarine, as he whispered, "And you think it's not the same for me? Riku you mean everything to me..." His eyelids lowered, sadness in them. "And Divine made it pretty clear the fate my family is going to have. And I'm going to have to watch it." His look became a bit intense but still gentle and kind in a way. "I... I don't want to watch it happen to you too! I'd trade my soul... for you to not suffer."


"I suppose..." Terra hesitated, glancing down the hall where he left his dragon to once again guard the blonde and prevent him from escaping. But this time... it was for his safety. "Yes, I think I have." He told his mother, looking back to her. "But never mind that. Had father come up with a new idea yet?" He tried not to dwell on the short time he had left the slumbering flyer to take Atteris to the barrier and repeat the spell that brought down the last one. Tragically, nothing happened.

And with Ienzo gone... he wasn't sure there was much hope left.


"Such big talk." Vanitas hissed right back, his eyes narrowing back. "But you don't understand anything do you?" The red-head growled at him and he just kept a steady glare on him, the two of them facing off almost fiercely. And then he shut his eyes and sighed, "Fine, fine, you may have your way."
For now. He thought, eyes glimmering with sadism and malice. Because nothing was going to keep him from his little Venny...

[Rikugurl]

Riku closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of his lover's body being so close. For once in his life, he didn't know what to do because everything he wanted was always placed before him by his mother. Now, she was refusing what he always wanted. "Then... I will go and talk to her. I am her child and she wants us to be happy. Besides, how can we...'Divine' continue to live if all we have is our kin? Certainly we need others to make children and to live a good life of love and happiness. Perhaps it's because she herself does not have a mate..." He looked back up at Sora, giving him a smile. "That's it... she just doesn't understand this kind of love. I'll be back!" And with that, the Divine turned and headed out, calling for Yue. In moments, he was out the door, not stopping to hear Sora's words of warning.

Yue flew as fast as she could back to the Crater and landed near the mouth of their mother's cave. Riku was quick to climb the bank and head inside, nearly bumping into a man that was heading in the opposite direction. Their eyes caught and Riku bowed his head some as the man he called Father, walked by him, giving a distasteful look. Now, he walked down the path, knowing that his mother didn't like her children running in her home. "MOTHER!?"


The woman shook her head but her smile didn't fade. "Afraid not. He though maybe making a tunnel around it would work but without the help of a creature or dragon, that's nearly impossible to find out. For now, he's still thinking of a way." She walked closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Don't you worry, my boy... we'll reach Paradise soon. We've come too far to lose now."


Axel was not convinced in the least but there was little he could do right at the moment. So, reluctantly, he pulled his weapon from the wall and moved to the side of the man, blocking his way to move into the room any further. He watched Van leave and stood there for a few minutes before backing away and walked towards the bed where Roxas had guarded himself with his dragon. Their eyes met and Axel gave him a smile. "Are you alright?"

[Reno]

"I have a feeling I know what this is already about." Came an exasperated sigh as the large head of the dragon rose. "And don't yell child, I can hear just fine." She looked down at the silverette as he came to her and though he was fairly tall he didn't even reach her elbow when she stood.


Strong arms wrapped around his frail and tiny mother in return, Terra's eyes shutting, "Yes, we will. We'll make it there... for all those we have lost." And all that was left to gain. "I am going to try looking up more spells." He told her as they pulled apart, looking determined, "I may not read as well as he does, but Ienzo taught me well and I'll put those skills to good use." He offered her a smile.


Roxas glanced towards the door again, almost expecting Van to come bursting back in regardless of Axel's threats, but when nothing of the sort instantly happened, he nodded slowly looking towards the red head. "Thanks Axel... You..." He looked down, drumming his fingers on the scales of his dragon. "Why are you helping me?"

[Rikugurl]

Riku nodded, feeling like a mere child when the dragon scorned him for yelling. He voice was so soothing compared to the day before, like she was a whole other dragon. Still, he looked up at her before sighing. "Mother... please. You must rethink about your ruling pertaining to the Outsiders. They may be human, yes but if what you said is true, these are the only humans left on this world. They have survived the worst of the land, they deserve some peace before they go to the Great Beyond. I am in love with one of them, Mother, and if you had ever been in love with another, aside from your children, you would understand my plea. If you allow him and his people to come here, I promise that nothing will be disrupted and if it is, you may destroy us all as we would deserve it."

The dragon watched as her son fell down on his knees. "Please... I beg you."


It was some time before the Murderous moved, making the blonde within the den jump. A book fumbled out of his hand when he saw the brunette enter, the man pressing himself up against the wall and glanced at the book he had dropped, hoping he wouldn't be whipped for looking at it. He had no idea what it was and after he finished his meal, he picked one up, being careful with it when he opened it up.


"Why wouldn't I help you, Roxas?" The redhead said, crossing his arms. "Your father told me to protect you so that's what I'm doing." The dragons moved when the man sat on the bed, sighing softly. "And because of that kiss last night. You don't really think I just did that to only calm you down...'

[Reno]

"What makes you so certain I was never in love?" Came the surprising answer that actually made her middle son look up at her. The large dragon looked down at him, and finally sighed, "You think me cruel for the things I do, but you are still so young Riku and you truly know so little. You know the joy of loving another in such a way... and you have not yet learned the despair. The true agony that comes later."

Her head turned, looking at her own reflection in the glorious crystals she created, "I made this paradise for you to stray from ever feeling such things Riku. It is why I told you to keep away from the Forbidden Lands. Out there is nothing but chaos and pain. And those humans who reside there have already been tainted by it. I do not save them not because I am malicious... but because it is already too late for them."


The brunette blinked at the blonde who looked like a frightened bunny-
Ugh will you quit with the bunny references? He growled to the snarky, dark laughter.
-cowering in the corner like that. He walked over, looking down at the object he had dropped, feeling a flash of anger at the sight of it. At the idea anyone was touching Ienzo's things.

Not like Ienzo was coming back to retrieve them or anything. He sighed letting the anger melt off his shoulders, fetching the book from the floor and looked at the blonde, "Can you read?"
The blonde stared at him with the widest eyes any bunny-
Atteris!
Could have. But timidly he shook his head.
"Do... you know what reading is?"
Another slow, uncertain shake.
He looked down at the hard-covered item, saying the same words Ienzo once told him when he asked, "It's like the words you speak placed down in a way you can see it." He paused then said thoughtfully, "It's fascinating really. All the words we know are made up of only 26 letters. And when you place these letters in different patterns it makes different words."
The Flyer looked at him, clueless and Terra rubbed the back of his neck, "Ah... I guess it would make more sense if you learned it."


"Well I..." Roxas frowned, studying his bed before looking at the other with narrowed eyes "Where is this suddenly come from?!" He burst out, a little more like his fiery-tempered self. "You said me kissing you was strange and now... all of a sudden..." He sighed, looking back down at his bed. "W-Why... didn't you tell me... just two moon rises sooner...?" He wasn't sure if it would have mattered, knowing Axel's feelings. Maybe he would of fought harder. Maybe he would of been with him... or maybe nothing would of changed at all.

"Maybe it would of been okay with you." He whispered, remembering in those last moments before Van took his innocence away how he wished it was Axel instead. His arms crossed, holding himself tightly as he whispered, "Now that I know what it's like I never want to be loved like that again..."

[Rikugurl]

OOC: LOL ATTERIS! And all this Promised Lands and Forbidden Lands thing reminds me of The Lion King. xD


Riku watched his mother as she stared at her reflection as if she was thinking of a distant past that he would never know about. He felt guilt wash over him but like the tide, it fade away. It was because as he stood there, the light from the cave shimmered against the pendent around his neck, the charm that sounded like bells of the Great Beyond when it came in contact with Sora's own pendent when they were making love. He fingered it, feeling how cold it was and how cold he suddenly felt when he thought of a life without Sora. He hadn't been living until he met that brunette on that fateful night. Aquamarie eyes looked up, his silver lashes blinking slowly. "Thank you, mother, for keeping us safe from the merciless land beyond. I know I and my kin are grateful for what you have created for us."

Riku paused for a moment, a smile rising slowly across his face. "But... it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." The Divine turned then and left the cave, his birthplace, to walk to Yue for her to bring her back to the man he loved.


Ven studied the 'book' in the man's hand, wondering just what all those little symbols were inside. Now that he knew what they were, he was intrigued. Being an inventor for most of his life, learning and discovering anything new was a must on his list. If people wrote their language down, it must have been important. Maybe there was something in these 'books' that would unravel the secrets of getting to the Crater.

Before he dived head first though, he tensed and looked back up at the brunette. "Why are you doing this?" When he got a corked eyebrow in return, he frowned. "Being nice? W-we may have gone through.... some of the same... long nights BUT we are mortal enemies! By now... you should be killing me, or eating me! N-not giving me food and water..." It was strange, speaking his language with the other. It was the first rule children learned was to never speak this language on the outside because if LandChasers ever knew...


"That wasn't love." Axel quickly spoke, his voice seeming to echo off the walls. "And I didn't know.. until you devoted every minute to me while I was healing. I should have been more careful, the wounds on my body all my fault but in a way, I'm sort of glad. It gave us more time to... bond in a way. Something that we were truly lacking. I shouldn't have been so hard on you. Guess being an Unbroken at the start hindered my people skills." He smiled, his hand slowly reaching out to run through the blonde hair but Roxas pulled away. Axel reached his hand further, catching the back of Roxas's head and looked into his eyes. "What happened to you wasn't love, Roxas. If you allow me, I want to show you what love really feels like."

[Reno]

It is better to have love and lost...? Divine sighed and laid down her head, realizing for her boy it was already too late. "You may say that Riku," She said to the empty air, "But just wait until you lose it."

As Yue flew above, a pair of glowing eyes looked up, before he called, "RIKU!" But of course he didn't hear. "Come on Souba." He called to the White Dragon beside him - even though he was called that, and was meant to be all white, this one was actually not. No one could explain it, but he had a strange patterns of lines running down his back that were more silver-colored in nature. Father had wanted to get rid of it, claiming it 'flawed' but Kadaj had taken an instant liking to it and demanded he keep it.

Mother had a hard time denying him in those younger age when he was shorter than everyone - even Fuujin. Perhaps it made him a little devilish, but he used to put that to good use, thinking his smallness would get him anything.

He mounted the dragon and flew after, catching up with Yue in no time, "Riku, wait! I want to speak with you." He seemed unsurprised by the fact he was trying to leave - no surprise there, since Yazoo told him everything.


That one actually made Terra pause and think about it for a moment, his finger running over the corner of the book idly. It actually reminded him of one of the books he read - a 'fairy tale' Ienzo had called it. It was about these two animals - one that was very fast and one that was very slow that had a 'race'. Some sort of competition to reach the same place before the other. Well, they raced and the fast animal almost finished it before getting arrogant and taking a nap. The slow one didn't quit though and, well long story short, got there first because the fast one didn't wake up in time.
But it was sort of silly to him - why did it matter who got there first or second?

Really... why did it matter? He asked, "You ever ask yourself why Chasers and Skyers don't get along? We all have the same goal. We all want to reach Divine's land." His eyelids lowered sadly and then he said, "If we didn't a lot of our own wouldn't be dead now."


Blue eyes, unable to really look away both physically and mentally (how did this man captivate him?), stared into those green eyes and he whispered, "And do you really know what love is Axel...?"

[Rikugurl]

Silver hair flew across Riku's face as he looked to his side, seeing his shorter brother suddenly by his side. "Kadaj!?" He was shocked, knowing that he was foolish with leaving the Crater but his little brother now too? He patted Yue's neck and her flight became slower and steady, knowing that she shouldn't lead her other brother to the ruins. "What is it? I know I'm foolish and mad but I can't help myself, brother."


Ven frowned, trying to think of why the Chasers and Flyer indeed hated each other. He knew that they were trying to stop one another from reaching the Crater, but why?
"I guess... our ancestors can only really answer that..." As it came from his tongue, he realized that there was really no good reason why they were fighting. Everyone was so busy hating and doing their part in their tribe that they forgot the main reason this was all happening. If he could give an educated guess, it was because one set of people killed many of the others and the others went to get revenge and vise verse. It was very true though: why would it matter if one group got to the Promised Land before the other?

"Suppose you're right..." He said softly, rubbing his arm which had goosebumps. His whole body was actually shaking, not use to being this cool, always warm from the sun bleaching the ruins.


Axel broke the trance, looking away and sighing. Roxas had just opened a small piece of the man's past. "I do." He said softly, looking down at the bed. "Before I was taken in by your father, there was a girl in my tribe that I really cared for. Our leader said we were destined and we would have many strong children. I was just a boy back then, not old enough to really make children. She was older than me though and she was ready. But I wasn't the only one who cared for her. Two others wanted her and though she liked me best, I couldn't give her what she wanted. I never felt like such a pathetic man before. I guess that's why I became a warrior... that pride that I lost back when I was an Unbroken was reborn when I became a Skyflyer."

He sighed and shook his head, now looking out towards the window that was covered as usual. "The morning I went out for my first hunt to become a man, she told me that the leader said she was pregnant already. I never felt like such a failure... so during the hunt, I strayed away... and became lost. Your father was the one who found me and by then, I was near crazed from the heat and my own emotions that I was willing to bury my past under the sands." He slowly looked back at the blonde, giving him a weak smile. "So yes, Roxas... I know what it's like to love and honestly, I see a young me in you, struggling to become something to his people and I think it's absolutely beautiful."

[Reno]

"I tried to figure it out but I still don't understand." Kadaj said in his logical way, "What is so grand about this barren wasteland away from everything you know and everything that keeps us safe and happy that you are willing to put yourself at risk to leave it?" Riku didn't immediately answer, so he continued, "Yaz said there was a boy here you brought in that mother tried to erase, and you protected him. Why is he so special?"


The shivering didn't escape Terra's noticed and he sighed some but it was a patient noise. "You know... you'd be a lot warmed if you put on some clothing." The two looked at each other before both of them looked towards the bed, where the pile of clothing still was. "I know what it's not you usually wear, but trust me it is a lot warmer then... nothing." Well, now it made a lot more sense why Chasers wore dragon hide while Flyer's wore only thin rags. He walked over to one of the holes in the wall, setting the forgotten book inside, before saying, "My name is Terra by the way..."


The blonde blushed bright red, looking down at his hands, again, trying to fight the little smile workings itself onto his face. "Axel... It's what everyone does. That doesn't make me that special."

[Rikugurl]

Riku blinked slowly, knowing how curious and critical his brother was. If it didn't make sense, it wasn't right. Riku, many times explained how nothing really makes sense if you think about it. "I....it's something... that words can't describe. I guess, the closest I can explain it is.... being with him makes me feel like warmth I feel when the morning sun first touches my skin. When the birds awake outside my window and when the first flowers come into bloom. He may not be rich or strong, he may be dirty and thin but he is perfect, to me. He has the innocence of a child but the wisdom of an old oak tree. He is the most fresh and ripe fruit from any of our trees, his voice like a song from the springs."

His own glowing eyes, though different in color, looked back up at his brother, giving him a smile. "It's a whole new type of love, brother. And no matter what Mother says, she loves love."


Ventus looked at the clothing again, carefully walking over to it, ready for the brunette to just pounce on him and take a huge bit of flesh out of him. He turned away, slowly putting on the strange clothes the best he could, gasping when he felt hands trying to help him. He would have snapped and pulled away, saying that he could do it by himself but he honestly didn't know how. When he turned around, the brunette, known as Terra, backed away to look at him up and down. Strangely enough, it fit almost perfectly except the thing around his legs were too long, Terra calling them 'pants'. "T-thanks. M-my name's Ventus... but you can call me Ven for short."


"But you're not like everyone one else. You are special." The redhead whispered, leaning in close again. Their eyes connected again, and slowly, the warrior closed the distance, placing his lips against the other's once more.

[Reno]

The elder looked at his sibling, his brow's furrowing some as he tried to imagine the things he was saying. But no matter how he thought of it, he couldn't figure how just being with someone could compare. How could their be a love... better than that for your family. Perhaps Yazoo was right - perhaps the heat of the outside had gotten to him and corrupted his mind. "So you're leaving then."
It wasn't a question. "Yes."
Kadaj didn't know what to say, so he just watched as the other flew off.


"Ven, huh?" Terra repeated, seeing how the other was still pretty nervous. "Well Ven, why don't I read you a story?" Blue eyes blinked glancing towards the many books in the walls, but nothing could really hide the curiosity there. Slowly, he nodded and Terra couldn't help a thrilled little smile as he walked over to the walls and picked one out.


A shiver worked it's way up his spine and Roxas wasn't completely sure if it was pleasant or not. His eyes slowly fell shut as he lent against the other, their lips pressing together a little more firmly. Was this really okay? He wasn't really sure; but maybe... with Axel it would be.

[Rikugurl]

Yue flew Riku towards Sora's tower and carefully, the Divine moved away the rags to see Sora shoot up from his bed where he had waited, Iris giving a welcome chirp and bright colors. Yue was gone, heading down to the Secret Place to wait for her brother. Instead of a happy or weak smile, Riku's face was full of concern and doubt. When the brunette came up to him, he suddenly fell to his knees, bringing the brunette with him. He heard Sora ask what was wrong and he could only shake his head. "Sora... it's over. Mother... she...won't allow anyone in. You're never going to get in. I..." He choked, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with grief. "I'm so sorry."

Outside, across the sands, a Slitherhawk and Changewing were heading home, the dozen moles tied up tight against the smaller dragon's flank. The rider on the Changewing was the scout, his eyes searching the darkness surrounding them when he saw it. A dragon, glowing in the moonlight, staying perfectly in place. "OG!" He cried, catching the attention of the warrior, the woman's red eyes shooting back to see the younger heading off in a different direction. She grinned, ready for another fight when her eyes moved to spot what the man was attacking. She gasped and quickly called out. "GUNNAR!? OYU EALVE HTAT NOE LAONE!!" Her screams didn't travel well in the windless world, the woman only watching him for a moment before she kicked her heels into her Slitherhawk in the gut, the dragon swooping back towards the camp that was hidden over the high dunes.

Dark eyes bared down on the rare dragon, one he had never seen before. Just before he could order his dragon to shoot flame at the creature and his rider, his eyes widened when a pair of glowing green looked up at him. They were calm and collected, no treat or fear within them. The brunette, dirty and muddy, smears of blood across her nearly nude body were brown and maroon from being dry. He felt like he was in a trance, seeing how the man's silver hair glowed under the moon, much like his dragon. The Changewing herself twisted when she got too close, turning around without an order but the moment was slow, like if time itself had stopped to make the seconds into minutes.

And then the Unbroken was gone, the smart dragon fleeing from a force much greater than her own. Still, the man looked back, watching as the glowing became smaller and smaller until it was nothing but a fallen star in the sand.


"Was her grandmother alright?" A tired voice asked, the Flyer not noticing how his head was now in the man's, who once whipped him, lap. He had just migrated close when he was sat down on the bed, the Chaser sitting on the other side, the story becoming long and their bodies becoming closer for warmth. It was very cold at night and for a moment, Terra paused his story to explain that his den was the furthest from his parents, his mother having the dragon which provided heat for his people. He left out the part that he was never really too cold because he had a man he loved in his bed to share his warmth. Still, he continued on with the story, one about a beautiful little girl who was visiting her grandmother one day. A wolf saw her and wanted to eat her so he was clever and went to the grandmother's house to try and trick her.

The blonde pouted when he was told that no, the grandmother had been eaten by the wolf when he came to her door. "He must have been one hungry wolf..." Ven yawned and closed his eyes, his lids becoming too heavy to keep open. "The moral of that story is... never to talk to strangers." He said plainly. It was quite ironic. For a Flyer, Ventus had proved himself well educated throughout the day.


"Haaa, hhhaaa, haaaaa..." The room looked empty, the two headed dragon no where in sight, but the space that was left was full of heat and heavy panting, little whimpers and moans. Muscles that had once been scorched now tightened and relaxed in the warrior's back every time he lifted his hips. His body was on fire, feeling almost like Xiu was using the Flame Jacket at this very second but he obviously wasn't because the extra heat was coming from the younger on his lap. The hot breath coming from sweet, parted lips would have blown some of his hair back if it wasn't stuck to his neck from sweat. They were so close that he had to lean in and kiss them, trying his best to keep the kiss going from all the motion.

When they pulled away, their pants were heavier and the redhead wrapped his arms around the boy's smaller waist, his gentle, rough fingers coursing over the bare, soft, dusty skin. "Roxas..." Axel whispered in the blonde's ear, his hips continuing in a steady, slow, circular motion upwards, his length glistening when it pulled out of the man's body, thanks to the amount of water they used to easily side back in again, the blonde's skin no longer bleeding. "Aaah, hmmm.... love you." He moaned, chills running up his body as he felt walls clench around him.

[Reno]

"You're never going to get in." The finalization in those words left Sora feeling weak. Never... To never feel that soft grass again or the cool spring water...
He snapped out of his own self-pity when he felt the silverette shaking against him, face twisted in pure despair. "Oh Ri..." He said softly, brushing back the beautiful strands of hair that was trying to shield his face. "Riku, look at me."
The silverette did so, finding that Sora was smiling. "It's okay." The divine started, beginning to argue, but Sora shook his head, silencing him as he said, "It is okay. Remember... remember what I said? I already have Paradise. And it's not what behind those walls, but right here in my arms."
Like they had before, his words caused Riku to kiss him, but when he pulled away he was still troubled. "Even still... your family..."
Sora nodded slowly, glancing towards the rags that separated them from the site of the world beyond. "Who says there isn't still some hope?" He paused, thinking about that then looked back at Riku, "You know how hatchlings start to learn how to fly?" Caught off-guard from the sudden change in topic, the elder couldn't find a reply so Sora just kept on talking, "It starts a single wing beat so it can build strength in the muscles. After a couple of weeks, some hatchlings are already able to get themselves up off the ground - but they usually have to wait awhile until they came climb high into the sky. With a lot of work and a little bit of luck... they get there though and soon enough they get high enough to be one with the sky."

When Riku continued to just look at him, he chuckled, kissing his forehead tenderly, "What I mean to say is, you're like the wing beat Riku. You're the beginning of something amazing - but it's not time to give up quite yet, okay?"


As he hovered there, sighing as he watched his brother disappear in the distance, he never expected the shadow that fell over him and he looked up, wondering if something had blocked the moon. Instead, his eyes met that of green-blue, shocked to find someone he didn't know was there. He felt no fear, because he wasn't really accustomed to the feeling when he lived in a world that when he got hurt it was only from his own err.

His head tilted just slightly, the curtain of silver tumbling across his face but he was so preoccupied just staring at this man, even as he took flight and left. Even after he was long gone he just kept looking, unsure why he was suddenly so curious. It wasn't until Souba gave an unhappily growl, beating his wings hard enough to shake the boy atop him did Kadaj pull out of his thoughts. "Ah... alright, home brother."


He couldn't help it. Terra laughed, his voice deep and amused. When Ven gave him an annoyed look and asked him what was so funny he shook his head and smiled, "Nothing, you're just so logical about it is all."
"But you said that was the point of these stories! To teach morals!"
"True... but it's not like a job - you can simply enjoy the story too you know." He still chuckled, shutting the book and setting it aside, before saying to the blonde who had already closed his eyes again, "You're falling asleep on me, you know." The other just grumbled, but Terra had no trouble lifting him and settling him on the bed more properly.
"What do you 'enjoy' about that story?"
"Me? I... enjoy the wolf." Terra said, laying down beside Ven. When the blonde points out that the wolf is chopped open and dies, the brunette nodded. "Well yes, he got a little arrogant in the end. But if he had just stopped with the 'eating the grandmother part' then it would of been a real perfect story to me."
"How so?" Ven asked sleepily though perhaps a bit affronted since he didn't see how a poor child losing her grandmother was a good thing.
The Chaser glanced at Ven, and he grinned, "I always enjoy stories where someone gets a lot of food." He patted his stomach, saying, "When I get to paradise, I am eating until I can't move."


"Aaaah... Axel..." Roxas groaned, feeling like the sun was beating down on him with how hot he was. But even though it was dangerous, he didn't want to give it up, because the feeling was simply wondrous. It hadn't felt like this before. Not at all. Axel had started slow, started with kissing and touches and always, always asking before touching him anywhere private. He showed him what it meant to prepare and how to lessen the pain with something slick to moisten his walls. He even asked him to sit in his lap, rather than lay down and he liked that a lot more.

It still hurt at first, the skin still tender and sore, but he was so slow and careful and kind. He didn't seem fazed when he cried, wiped them away and told him it was okay. His words were always sweet and even though he knew it had to be killing him, didn't move and inch until Roxas told him too. He was sure if he told him to stop right now, he would, no questions asked.

That's what it was like.
That's what it meant to be...
"Love you."
...Loved.

"A-Axeeel..." Roxas gasped again, those words filling his heart so much he swore it would burst and causing his entire body to be wracked with pleasure that he knew hadn't been there the first time. "I...L-Love-" And then it did burst - well not his heart. But something else that left him crying out and arching and soon enough Axel was doing the same. He slumped against the other, feeling suddenly relaxed and he smiled when a hand brushed away his bangs and a kiss was laid on his head. "Thank you." He whispered.

[Rikugurl]

In the morning, Riku found himself laying in a soaking bed, which he had caused from all his sweating during the night. Sora was already up, watching him with concern when he awoke, his blue eyes a bit red around the edges. It was the first night the Divine slept outside of his land. It didn't look like it was a favorable sleep. His hair was a mess, dull and wet and his skin was slightly red and irritated from the sand and dirt all around. His eyes stung until he was able to put water on them, not use to all the sand blowing around during the night. When he pulled the rag from his face, he heard something and looked up, seeing Sora with tears running down his face. "S-sora...?"


"Ven? Ven? Veeeeen?"
"Huh?" Eyes opened to see nothing but darkness, the sleepy face moving from left to right, trying to find the source of the voice. Then, he spotted him, his brother, glowing strangely before him. "Sora?"
"Ven, what are you doing?" The elder brother chastised, shaking his head but giving him a smile. "What are you doing in a LandChaser's bed? Have you completely lost your mind to hunger? Have you gone mad from the heat? Trauma? These Chasers killed Seifer, Grandmother and Grandfather, Lilo's parents and who knows how many more. He tortured you, Ventus. He kidnapped you and made you soil yourself. How degrading! And now you're cuddling up next to him at night for warmth?"
"I-I..."
"Have you completely forgotten about us? You can't trust him, Ven. You're going to either die or used, perhaps both! I know you're stronger than this..."

The brunette gave a pout and a disappointed sigh. "We miss you Ven. Get out of there. Now."
"How?"
"NOW!"

"AAAH!" The blonde shot up in the bed, the blankets of fur falling down onto his lap. He panted, slowly looking around the den and then at the mouth, seeing that the Murderous wasn't standing guard. Sora - or whoever that was - was right, he needed to get out of here. Quickly, he shot up and ignored the pail of water and plate of food, and rushed towards the mouth and down the small path to the open tunnel. Blue eyes looked down one end and then the other, not seeing any sort of difference in them except one was left and the other right. How could the Chasers not get lose themselves!?

He decided to take the right passage and headed towards an intersection. Of course, that was the wrong away and he found that out quickly when another man appeared from the left. "WHAT THE!?"
"FUCK!" The blonde spun around in the mud and tried to run back down the way he came but didn't get very far, stumbling on the mud and suddenly he was pushed into the wall, hard, knocking the breath out of him.
"FLYER! I HAVE A FLYER HERE!"


The older of the twins wasn't the only one who awoke alone in bed. Roxas did too, though the smell of ash was still potent in the room, the smell he called 'Axel's'.
When he dealt with the fact that the man was gone, he had to jump when he noticed that instead of the Zippleback in his room, the Nightmare was there instead, laying on the ground and watching the doorway in pure boredom.