Of Fairytales and Blood Bonds

[Reno]

Terra looked up at the father as he spoke down at him, his ears lowering. He listened quietly as the other scolded him, but he was letting the talk go in one ear and out the other pretty much. Of course he was going to protect them, his humanity depended on it. But it didn't mean he had to LIKE them, especally if they were going to treat him like his own villagers had. He wasn't taking that anymore, especally not from some brats quite a few years to his senior.

His fur bristled at the mention of hunting, and he had to fight the urge to growl. So this was the thanks he got for watching three brasts day in and day out for two years straight. This guardianship isn;t as glorified as Mickey tried to make it out to be.

He watched the man take leave and grumbled. "Oh yeah we're totally not getting any breakfast." He said simply, laying back down as his stomach twisted with hunger. He had to face the facts... they hated them.


The minute the boys were back home, the safety of their house no longer feeling so safe, they sunk into the couch and huddled together, trying to feel safer then they really felt. teh resality was hitting them hard now. they couldn't deny the creatures they had just seen - who were all VERY real. They weren't from around ehre so that meant... there was other worlds which meant...

which meant their mom;s story was true. they were aliens from another planets, freaks with wings and superpowers and...

Sora drew an arm around each of his brother's shoulders, looking up when the door open and their dad walked in and over to them. "Mom... I don't understand soemhting... why... don't we look strange like they do? Don't Shee have wings?"

"I believe so." Bryna murmured. She wasn't sure herself. "Mickey... placed a seal on all three of you to keep your powers in check so... so no one could trace you and so you could have normal lives. He told us each of you were given a seal that could only be broken when the power was truely needed." She looked at each son, remembering what Mickey had said long, long ago.

"Why don't they have wings?" Bryna murmured as she placed her son in each crib.
The black mouse, glanced at her, before walking up to Sora'scrib. "I put a seal on them to hide their powers... so they could live normal lifes. But if a time comes by that they will ever need to reveal those powers for any reason... they will break on their own. Soran... for him I put on the seal of defense - if they ever comes a time he is in a perilious situation, he will be given his pwoer back to protect himself." He walked to Ven's crib next. "For Ventus he was given the seal of offense - if he ever needs to fight some powerful foe off he will be given the utmost chance to." Finally he walked at Roxas crib. "And for Roxas I gave the seal of magic - the breaking of this seal is ultimately very unknown, but it all depends on the situation."

He licked his lips and breathed out. "What's going to happen to us?"

Bryna looked at them, her eyes sad as she walked over sitting on the coffee table before them. She reached out, running her fingers along Ven's cheeks, through Sora's hair and over Roxas' forehead as if her simple touches could make everything all better like it used too. "Two years ago Mickey came by with a message. That... that their were still bad people out there looking to hurt others and had found out some of the Shee survived... that you three did and were searching for you. So Mickey... appointed three guardians to watch over you when we were unable to. It was those three. Your father and I had only met them last night though..."

"Last night..." Roxas breathed. After they had gone to bed.

"Yes.. last night Mickey came by again and told us... that these evil people have gotten too close. That if you stay here they're going to be able to find you three... and if they do..." She breathed in shakily. "They'll kill you."

Each boy seemed to have gotten, if possible, more pale.

"Mickey's afraid of what will happen not only to this world and it;s people... but also you three if he doesn't do something now." Bryna whispered. "So..." she said, her voice choking as tears clouded her vision one more time. "He said that one of the guardians will be appointed to each of you and you'll be escorted off the world and to another for protection... seperately... and you can't come back until he's certain it's safe."

"Thats not fair!" Roxas cried suddenly, his voice choked up as well. Guardians?! Leaving?! Seperating?! God this deal just kept getting worse and worse. "Why didn't anybody ask OUR opinion about this?! Did anyone ask us if WE wanted guardians or if WE wanted to leave or if WE wanted to serpate!? No that's not... that's not fair god damn it!"

Sora kneaded his bottom lip with his teeth, just letting the whole message roll around in his head. In retrospect... this was the worst thing that could ever happen.

At the same time... he was disgusted to feel the slight trill of excitement making his heart. Getting to see another world... getting to spend time all alone with one of those... very interesting folks... it was like one of his fairytales popped off the pages and became reality. It was all so incredulous!

Maybe his fantasy world wasn't so invalid after all.

But he had to come back to reality to. He and his brothers were in terrible and unknown danger... and they were putting everyone and everyTHING they loved in danger by staying here. And that was something that nearly made his heart break to pieces, knowing that he was such a liabilty. And their guardians... were putting themseleves in deep danger by merely being appointed to guard them. So many people had given them all so much to ensure they had safe lifes... Their biological parents, this Mickey character, the guardians... and even their mom and dad standing before them right now... all of them had put themseleves at risk...

He hoped one day... he could repay everyone for the valor they had shown. One day he hoped... he could grow up to be something that had been worth protecting.

He pulled his arms away from his brothers, looking down at the necklace he hadn't placed away. It was a simple design really - a heavy looking chain with a moderately small crown pendant... but their was something so unearthly about it. It was Atterian made... even he could see that. the gift from his mother Runa. He fiddled with the clasp until it came loose and he strung it around his neck, closing it tight. the metal jingled a little as it fell into place, a familar, comfortable weight on his chest.

"Okay" he whispered, drawing all eyes to him. He looked up determinedly, trying to act more brave then he felt. Truth to be told he was scared shitless. He looked at his dad, then his mom, his smile shaky. "Okay. If it means protecting you and dad and everyone else okay. If it means no one will be hurt... I'll go."

[Rikugurl]

Axel sighed and dropped to the ground, his stomach growling. "Ah, thsi sucks already! I thought it was going to be fun!"

"It's not suppose to be fun." The hooded figure started.
"Oh great... her comes party pooper." Axel rolled his eyes.

"This is a serious job." Riku pointed out. "We might have fun doing it... but it's not the fun we're doing it for. I would like to see again... but I have to guard a boy until then... and I will do my damnedest to do it right. Fun leads to mistakes and foolishness." He looked down at Terra and frowned. "And you have to remember that these boy's aren't having fun either. At least we knew we were damned... they didn't. They will have to be separated for the first time in their life... with damned souls... on worlds they never even dreamed of. You might not LIKE them... but you have to have some patients."

Axel moved his head as Riku talked, as if saying 'blah blah blah'. "Yea, yea! But what world are we gonna bring 'em to!? I was thinking Atlantic because Roxas likes to sing and they sing ALL the time there... but it's underwater and there is NO way I can LIVE down there! So I was thinking Agrabah! It's nice and hot and there's tons of mischief you can get into and there is treasure and and!"

"Sounds like it's more for you than the Shee."
Axel only giggled.
"Besides... who said you were getting Roxas? We should let the boy's decide who they want to go with."
"WHAT!? NO WAY! I totally put dibs on Roxas first!" The redhead whined.


Ven didn't like group hugs or any of his brother's touching him. They were WAY too old for that! But...he couldn't held but cuddle close to his 'oldest' brother. Older by a few minutes...
His blue eyes watched his mother, not grasping ANY of this... He, unlike Sora, was very much into reality... maybe a bit too much... that he got into fights because everyone sucked and so on and so forth. Wings and... majick and... all this... was pretty hard to believe.

But... those horns were real.
And so wasn't that beast... and the devil.... and that hooded figure.

His eyes became dark as Roxas started to complain. Ven got up too, but not to aid his brother.
"Shut up! Does it LOOK like we have a choice here!? They're doing this for us, you asshole! Everything they do is for US! HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING!?"
The last line was kind of hypocritical for Ventus to say... but he meant it.

He looked down at his brunette brother, and then slowly at his own pendent. He took the clasp off and slowly pulled it around his neck, fastening it and letting it fall on his bare chest.
For once in his life.... he didn't feel.... like something was missing.

"UGH! I know I'm missing something!"
"COME ON VEN! WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!"
"Damnit.... COMING!"

"You have all your notes?"
"I... think so?"
"Well.... do you or not?"
"I double checked.... but I just feel like there's something missing."

"No, no. There was the ferris wheel... the lollipops... the balloons.... the firecrackers... the silly string.... everything! But.... why does it feel like something was missing from this year's festival?"

He frowned, his hand touching the pendent again.
Maybe.... all of this is true...

He looked at his brother again, seeing the small smile... and the statement. He looked down, his own eyes starting to water...
They... were going to be taken away... and.... they'd never know when they'd see each other again...

Their father slowly walked next to their mother, wrapping a supportive arm around her should.
"You... should all pack. It's going to be... a big trip. We'll help."

[Reno]

"So says the anti-social one." Terra grumbled laying his head down. Was he going to be chastised by EVERYone today? He was a wolf, he didn't have stupid human values like Riku seemed to. Didn't he get that?

He turned his head away, listening to the conversation between Axel and Riku quietly. His ears twitched a bit when he heard they should let the boys decide. "Actually I like that plan." He answered suddenly. If they let the brothers decide then they'd WILLINGLY be going with them. Which met there was a better chance that they'd like them and would cooperate.

Yet he still thought that they should get to choose the world. At least the boys LOOKED normal, but he and Axel especally had to find a place to conpensate. There would be no more hiding in the trees and watching over sort of guarding. They had to be right next to them now... because no one else would be there to help. everyone would be strangers. And dangerous... and if they found out they were ccarting around Shee well... then it would only get worse from there.


Roxas filnched slightly as Ven yelled at him, turning his head away to look towards the wall, eyes furious. Was Ventus actually falling for this crap?

Sora glanced towards Ven curiously, eeing the depressed look on his face, then at his father. He nodded. "Right." He stood as well, placing a comforting hand on his twin;s shoulder. "It'll be alright." He didn't know that for sure of course but... everyone was there for them giving them 100% even if they didn;t even know them. They'd have to be okay.

He had to admit though he was scared too. Scared of being so far away from home, from his parents, from his brothers...

But... but he couldn't be scared. He was the oldest brother! He had to be there for his younger brothers... speaking of which,

Sora glanced at Roxas who was still refusing to move. "Come on Rox. We gotta go."

"No." The blonde said stubbornly.

"Roxas..." Bryna started.

"no!" The blonde said, looking towards them. He did stand but only to back away from them all. Trembling, he backed into the wall like a cornered cat, his own necklace held tight in his hands. "I can't believe this! Suddenly all these truths are coming out... and now outside are a troupe of MISFITS this Mickey character seemed to have gathered from a back alley... and now you think it;s a good idea to SPLIT UP!?" He threw his hands up in the air. "Thats the STUPIDEST thing I ever heard!! We don't know ANYTHING about it. Did it ever occur to you that maybe - just maybe - those... things out there are alleged with these... evil people?! That next thing we know we'll be carted off the fucking villian-land were they'll suck out our blood and turns us into werewolfs and... crap like that!"

Sora frowned listening to his brother. But he had a feeling he was just sporuting words... because he could feel the tremendous amounts of fear running off the other. This was all alot harder for Roxas... at least when theyw ere kids Ventus had had no problems playing pretend. Roxas always had. Thats why Sora thought he slept-walk. He was getting out all that creative energy through his dreams.

[Rikugurl]

Axel pouted more, really on the verge of crying. "But! Roxaaaaaas~~~"
"We'll have them decided. Two against one." The silverette badgered the redhead.
Axel growled and crossed his arms.

Riku looked down at the wolf and nodded. "Well.... Axel mentioned Agrabah.... and I was thinking about bringing my Shee to Port Royal. It's dark and dreary there... but all boys want to be a pirate yes? Besides... it's ok to have a few things missing and still be accepted there." His eyes were what was to be hinted there. He looked at Axel again and smiled. "They have lamps there that hold genies... I suppose your looks could pass as a weird... creature from a lamp."

Axel blinked, thinking about it. "Yea!"

Riku thought a bit. Now... Port Royal and Agrabah are fairly close together... we should be split... but still close.... aaaand" A snicker arose as he looked down at Terra. "You know what the other world is in that mini connection?"
"OH! OH! I KNOW! I KNOW! Halloween Town!"
Riku nodded and smiled. "That would be perfect for Terra."


The older man frowned, knowing his children were upset... but did they need all the cussing? They were only fifteen. He couldn't imagine Mr. Windsor to let the children talk like this on the manor grounds.
He sighed, watching Roxas start to tremble. He looked down at his wife, knowing that she was always the more sentimental one... and figured... it would be best if she handled the boy.

He looked at the other boys.
"Soran... Ventus. Come along..."
He turned and headed up towards the stairs. This was hurting him as much as them... but like Ven had pointed out... they had no choice...


Ven frowned, watching his brother. He never understood Roxas... he wondered if he got his blonde's twin brain. He fought over everything that couldn't be changed... Ventus fought over stupid stuff that didn't mean anything.
He sighed and saw his mother walk to Roxas, then heard his father.

He gave Roxas one more look before heading upstairs.
He walked to his bedroom and looked around.
This would.... be the last time... he would see it.
He bit his lip, slowly walking through the room and looking at everything with a blank stare. What should he bring? He wanted to bring the WHOLE room... but of course that was impossible...

[Reno]

The wolf smirked when the poor red-head lost the fight. He looked towards the imp, a wolf-grin on his face as if to say 'ha-ha i win'.

Well... at least those ideas sounded reasonable. Axel could be a genie... Riku a pirate and he... Terra's eyes grew suspicious as Riku snickers and then he stood, "Oh greta i'm a side-show freak." He looked away, growling softly. But it was probably the only option. "I guess they'll like it though. They lvoe celebrating holidays so much how about doing it every day for the rest of their life." He shrugged shaking his head.

What was taking them so long?


Bryna frowned, walking over to her youngest son. Roxas had always been difficult in hios own ways, especally when it came to trying to get him to do or try new things... the boy resisted change to the utmost effect. He had been the angriest when Sora had been moved from their room after all. She reached up, cupping his cheek in her hand. "Roxas..."

Soran paused, glancing back as his brother and mother, wanting to stay but not knowing if he could do anything to help at this point. In Roxas' mind right now he and Ven were traitors for agreeing...

He took an unsure glance towards his dad before sighing and marching uostairs like a good boy. He walked into his own room, looking around. Like Ventus... he wanted to bring his whole room.

No he needed only the necessities right... so that meant some extra clothes and... and stuff. Their dad was dancing between his room and Ventus as he helped them pack, telling them what they should bring and shouldn't.

Sora was nearly half-way done when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He looked up, seeing Roxas and his mother pass the room. roxas eyes were red around the edges... but what caught his eye was the X-shaped pendant secured firmly around his neck. Somehow... his mother had gotten him to agree.

But they would never know how.

Roxas walked into his room. Both his dad and brother turned to look at him and the blonde just looked down, walking over to his side of the room to get ready for the long, long trip ahead.


It took about an hour in all for the boys to get completely ready. Their parents kept chastising them on what they did try to take and what they weren't taking enough of. 'what if it's cold? you need a jacket!' there ever worried mother said. 'don't forget blankets!' Dad had said.


Sora looked aorund his room, afraid that it really would be the last time he ever say it. He had everything he thought he needed. Clothes, his toothbrush, a comb, a picture of his family little things like that. but it made him feel like he was going to live nextdoor rather then... on a whole other world.

He looked at his bed, sheets still rumpled and thrown about like he had left it when he got up this morning. papers were still strewn on his desk with half-finished stories and homework assignements. He was taking none of that. He didn't want to lose his stories. His nightstand, cluttered with his lamp and alarm clock. The walls covered on pictures he couldn't take. Ceiling covered in random glow stars that he didn;t want to take down. a bookcase full of novels and textbooks and some random figurines that he hadn't been able to find a place for. none of that could come either...

He paused suddenly, a thought coming to mind. He ran over to his desk, opening it and grabbing a notebook and his favorite pen and pencil.

"Sora?" Bryna was just walking into the room, seeing her son.

The brunette turned, smiling brightly. "I'm gonna record everything that happens mom... so when we come home... you'll get to know the story too." He stuck it in his pack too, smiling.


Roxas sighed, sticking in a black musical notepad along with a pencil or two that his parents had got him for his last birthday. His lyrics he'd already written and completed were staying home though. He like Sora didn't want to lose anything. He was just wandering the room one last time, opening the drawer to his and Ven's shared nightstand when something caught his eye. a keychain of a little hot air balloon. It was Ven's. He glanced at the blonde who was already down packing and was just sitting on his bed, as if tryiong to lengthen the time that he could stay here.

Roxas took out the keychain and walked over, dropping it in his slightly older brother's lap. "you might wanna take it." He murmured. Each of them were taking a little bit of home with them... so they didn't forget.

[Rikugurl]

Riku nodded. "I'm sure it will get boring after awhile... but by then, he should be calmed down about the whole situation."


Ven scurried around, pulling out his best and coolest clothes. He grumbled as his mom and dad told him not to take things... but he took them anyway. 'Don't take those good clothes!' What good were they here in the drawer?

He sighed when he was done, looking at his checkered wristband and sighed. He and Roxas had the same one...
They once spent a whole month trying to confuse the people of Akbar on who was Roxas and who was Ven. The boys wore the exact same clothes and at that time, had the same haircut. It was fun and everyone got mixed up except for their parents of course.

He never did take off that one thing.
Now... he guessed it was the only thing that would remind him of his brother...
He said down, letting his feet swing as he waited.
He blinked though, his blue eyes moving up to look at his brother. He looked down, seeing the keychain and sighed. That was right... no more Balloon Festival...

He took a deep sigh and picked it up, looking at it closely.
"Here."
He handed it back to his brother and smiled slightly. "You keep it..."

[Reno]

"Hopefully." Terra mumbled. He stretched out, slowly getting up, tail thumping on the ground. "I'm still hungry." The imp behind him seemed to agree, jumping around on the dirt and complaining loudly about not getting their big breakfast for their good behavoir. Not like they had any good behavoir.


Roxas rememebred the time they had done that too. It had been exciting. They'd even tricked Sora once or twice - though it was more of a 'hey Ven- oh wait no Roxas can you get me-' sort of a thing. Still it had been fun trying to act more like
Ventus while he tried to act more like him. Seeing peoples reactions though - that was the best. Some of the kids in school even had started making bets on who was who and everyone was trying to get on their good side by offering them gifts to get the answer... until of course Mr. Windsor banned it because it was 'gambling'.

Yeah... those were the good days.

Roxas blinked in surpise as it was handed back to him. He smiled back. "...alright." He stood there, the silence uncomfortable before he finally plopped down on the bed beside his twin more for shared comfort then anything. The sound of the bed creaking, soft conversation running down the hall from Sora's room and a faraway clock ticking away their last moments together was the only things that could be heard. He sighed, turning the charm in his hands over watching the stripes of the balloon catch the light. "I'm really scared." He whispered finally.


Sora walked over to his window, looking out and even from here he could clearly see the three guardians. He leaned up against the wall, just looking down at them silently. They seemed to be talking to each other. The red-head was dancing around in the dirt in an almost frantic way and it was actually rather comical to watch. It looked like he was losing an arguement. The wolf was just lounging around lazily, reminding Sora more of a big cat them anything...

the hooded figure was doing anything at all. From this distance he didn't even appear to be moving... He wondered what was under that hood. He wondered... what each of them were like...

Sora reached out, slowly unlatching the locks of his window and raising the bottom half so it caught. The neverending wind of Akbar blew by, and with it carried the red-head's whine of 'I'm HUNGRY!'

Suddenly the wolf's head turned and looked up, straight at him. Sora tensed. He nibbled on his lip. He had to make friends with them though right...? They were friends... right?


The wolf's ears twitched suddenly as he heard something snap open like a lock in the distance, getting an uncomfortable feeling of being watched. He rasied his head, twisting it around to look up at one of the higher bedroom windows. Sora was looking down from there. "Looks like we have an admirer." He joked. Axel seemed to pause in his little whining mantra and look up, as did Riku.

They waited and waited for someone to do something, and surprisingly the brunette stuck his head out the window, waving to them. Even more surprising was his next offer. "Hey... why don't you guys come inside and get something to eat? We have lots of food left!" Though it was definitely cold by now. Hey cold food was better then no food!

Terra's wolfen eyes widened and his tail thumped happily. "Alright, I like the brunette one." He announced.

[Rikugurl]

Ven sighed, looking down at the floor in silence. Neither of them knew what to expect... what these new worlds would be like. Sure, he liked the adventure... but not alone. Even with... said guardian.... he was still alone. He always had his brothers there for support... mom and dad too. Now... he had some stranger...

He frowned, hearing the whisper. He glanced at his twin slowly, seeing the look in the other's eye. He.... didn't like seeing his other brothers like this.... not at all.
He sighed again... but slowly, he rested his hand on the other's.
"We all are..." He said softly. "But... I guess we all have to remember that... we all have to go through it... and... even if we're far away... the wind will blow us back together someday."

That was an old saying of the Akbartains...

Suddenly they stopped though, hearing a call from their brother's room. He stood and walked to the door, looking down the hallway.
WHAT!? Inviting them in!? What was he doing!?


Axel looked up.... and as he heard the offer, his eyes got twice the size. "OH MY GOD! I LOVE YOU!" He jumped and bounced, following Terra to the front door. They trampled in, heading right for the table full of food. Axel smiled happily and he quickly dug his nails into the plates, picking up bacon and hearing it sizzle as he shoved it down his throat.

Riku watched from afar, not bothering to move where he was standing before. He... wasn't hungry. Slowly he walked to the front porch and sat down on the steps. This was taking too long...

[Reno]

Roxas smiled softly, hearing the old saying. "Yeah..." Maybe they weren't blood akbarians... but they were still fgrom this culture and believed in their legends and rituals and everything. They were akbarians at heart and that was what counted.

But he rasied his ehad as well, hearing his eldest brother's call. He hit his forehead shaking his head. Now he was certain... his brother wasn't right in the head. He got to his feet suddenly, walking out into the hall about to demand some answers, hearing Ven doing the same.


Sora blinked but burst into laughter at the sudden enthusiastic response from the two guardians. They raced aceross the grass and he was a bit shocked. they ran FAST. "Man they musta been hungry." he chuckled. He pulled his head back in and hurried from his room, only to nearly run into both his twin brothers. He grinned nervously. "Uh hey guys!"

"Sora what in the world are you thinking!?" Roxas snapped, not looking all too happy.

"What?!" Sora said with a wide grin. "What help will they be if they're starving?!" He chuckled. "Come on we have to get used to their presence eventually..." He started down the stairs.


Terra burst into the house - man he hadn;t been inside of a home in a long long time. Axel was hot on his heels as they raced for the table. He jumped up, paws meeting the top off the table, his big frame easily towering the small wooden structure. He started licking out for the food, snapping at what he could in such an uncomfortable postion.

Sora walked into the kitchen and smiled softly, seeing the two eating everything they could. The wolf though seemed to be having quite a problem though. Even if he was rather large, the table was still pretty tall for him... oh and mom probably wouldn't like the new claw marks going into the table. He walked over, collecting his plate, piling some extra food onto it. "Here." he murmured, setting it on the floor near the wolf.

Terra's tail wagged and he jumped from the table, lowering his head to eat the food from his very own plate happily. The brunette Holani chuckled, and Terra was surprised when Sora reached out to scratch him behind the ears. It... actually felt real good. He couldn't reach his own foot up there because of his horns.

Sora smiled before straightened and leaving the wolf to hid own devices. He looked at the demon, amazed at how he was... warming up the food all by himself. He grinned. "that's really neat. Try not to burn down our table though, okay?" He told him cheerfully. He looked around, noticing that the third had yet to come inside. He waleked from the kitchen towards the still open door, seeing the hooded figure sitting there almost... sulkily. He walked to the thershold then took a deep breath. For some reason... despite the others' looks... it was this one made him the most nervous and unsure. It was the blackness he could feel around him. a cloak of darkness he didn;t like. "Aren't you hungry?"

[Rikugurl]

"Hey!" Ven frowned as his brother ran down the stairs. He looked at Roxas and quickly followed. He slowly walked into the kitchen... that was full of noise now. Mostly on things sizzling and sounds of people eating like barbarians. He shivered a bit as he looked down, seeing the wolf creature again. He... didn't realize how scary he looked.... but he was still pretty cool looking.

He smiled slightly, seeing the tail wag happily as he ate. Well... he was like... a.... dog.... he.... always wanted? He slowly walked to the table and took a few more strips of bacon, lowering them down cautiously onto the plate.

He looked back though, seeing the devil like man. He was... pretty different looking. Something you would see in a children's book. Like... an imp or something.

Axel blinked, his face stuffed with food. "OOOyaookigotsitom" He smiled happily as he continued to stuff his face.
..........What?


The hooded man continued to look out towards the brick road but jumped a bit as someone started to talk. "Oh.... no." Even if he was surrounded by darkness... his voice was still... upbeat.
"I... wouldn't want to take more than I already am."

[Reno]

Terra's eyes rasied when he saw the hand coming near, seeing who it was attached to. Ventus? He gave the other a wolfish grin, happily eating the extra strips of bacon when they were placed on his plate. It didn't take him very long to tear through his meal, and he licked at the last bits of syrup left on the plate. He sat happily, tail thumping behind him. He was one satisfied wolf now.

Roxas who had also follow his brother down the stairs, paused n the thershold of the kitchen. He watched Sora leave, going who knows where at this point. His eyes stared on the scary looking animal, then slowly to the red-head stuffing his face. was he... cooking the food?!

That was... actually kinda neat.

Then Axel rasied his head and tried to talk, nothing coming out but gibberish.

That... wasn't so neat.

Roxas, the ever-mannered one, shuddered in disgust. "SWALLOW then talk." He told the redhead.


Sora blinked in surprise, and suddenly smiled softly, truely touched by the other;s words. He was honestly surprised... these guardians did care about them didn;t they? or at least this one did.

He sighed, walking forward. "Well that's a stupid reason to starve." He said bluntly, his voice chipper. He reached down, tugging a bit at the material at the other;s shoulder. "If your hungry, eat silly."

[Rikugurl]

Axel's eyes widened as he heard.... THAT VOICE. It was Roxas! He looked over, his mouth all full of food and crumbs and syrup all over his bottom face. His emerald eyes brightened. He'd never been so close to this singing fellow before.
He blinked though, hearing the other sound actually really mad.
"Buh."
He blinked and swallowed.... all at once. And naturally, his throat WASN'T big enough for it all.

It caught... and he choked.

"ACK AAAAHH" He flailed his arms and grabbed at his neck, coughing out the food that was blocking oxygen. He beat on his chest and FINALLY he grabbed a glass, the plastic melting at his touch and he guzzled down the whole drink. Then was able to breath, the rest of the food going down harshly. He looked around and grinned a sheepish grin. "That's better!"

Ven's eyes were wide as he watched the whole scene... and could NOT help but start chuckling. He stopped though when he heard some noise coming from the stairs. It was his parents... bring down their luggage. His case was red, Roxas's was yellow... and Sora's was blue.

His eyes darkened as he looked down.


The man smiled and shook his head. "I'm not hungry... but thank you for your concern."
He slowly stood, standing taller than the brunette. He dusted himself off and looked back, also seeing the luggage. He looked back down at the brunette. "So... are your ready to leave?"

[Reno]

Roxas watched the red-head as he nearly choked to death. He panciked a bit, wondering if he should help him when the red-head grabbed a glass and chugged it down. And the cup... started burning away.

Roxas shuddered. Note to self: Do NOT touch Axel.

Even still the whole scene was rather comical and he couldn;t help but chuckle as well.

Terra watched Axel's weird display head tilting a bit. He felt sorry for whoever got stuck with him. His ears perked up when he heard the nosie of of steps coming downstairs, the scent wafting down and into the room. The parents. He turned his head but he didn't miss the sudden downcast look in Ven's eyes. The wolf frowned a bit, missing the other;s smile already. He had a feeling it be few and far between at this point. Unfortunetly, he didn;t know what he could do or say to make it come back.

Roxas bowed his head, hearing the sounds as well, his own slight smile falling away quickly as the sick sense of dread filled him. This was really it.


"Okay." Sora smiled softly but his head turned, seeing his paerents bringing down their stuff. Well... this was it. He turned to glance at the hooded man when he spoke again. "I'm not leaving." He said simply. He saw the other tense, as if getting ready to argue and chuckled lightly. "I'm just... going on an extended vacation. Don't say it like that okay? You make it seem like i'm never coming back." He said softly, before walking back inside, reaching out to take his suitcase from his mother.

Bryna sighed looking up at her eldest boy as he came over. Her eyes cuaght a glance of the imp and wolf in her kitchen and wanted to scream but had no real heart too. What did it matter anymore? In a few minutes... they'd ALL be gone.

[Rikugurl]

Axel tensed as he saw the parents come in. He looked down, seeing the huge mess he had made by shoving food in his mouth. He quickly grabbed a napkin and laid it over. Now no one could see it. ALL BETTER!

He looked down a bit, feeling like he should run out of the house.... and he did. He sighed, now coming out into the air. He felt bad.... even saying thank you for the meal...
He looked at Riku who now had the hood over him.


Riku tensed at Sora's words... but a small smile came over his face. He watched the boy walk back inside... and Axel rushing out. He looked down slightly, smiling more. "You're leaving... but you don't have to say good-bye." He said softly... more to himself then anything.


Ven sighed, taking the handle of his bag. He nodded to his mother... and headed outside where the guardians waited. The quiet winds of Akbar shifted through his clothes and hair. He frowned and suddenly walked towards the characters, them tensing a bit... but Ven just walked right pass them.

"Uh.... wrong way!" Axel waved to the boy as he continued down the brick road a bit.

Ven stopped about a good 20 feet away. The trees were leaning over... like a welcoming shelter to the house. His blue eyes looked out... seeing the stone wall.... and then.... the meadow full of windmills that stretched on to what seemed forever. His eyes then moved to the blue sky with the white puffy clouds. The balloons....

[Reno]

Terra looked up, watching as Axel hurried from the kitchen, smelling the fear running off him. He shook his head, Honestly what were the parents going to do to them? shoot them?

... oh wait. Sirocco had a shotgun didn't he? The wolf stood and walked from the house as well, claws clicking on the wooden floor. Unlike Axel, he didn;t feel bad for not saying thank you. It had been offered to them therefore there was no need. the only time you said thanks was when you were given pleasant things you didn't expect.


Sora glanced at Ven as he came over and then left moments later. The brunette looked at his parents, smiling softly, before walking out and following after.

Roxas sighed, looking at the kitchen one last time, a mess thanks to Axel, before turning and taking his stuff from his dad. He looked at them sadly, before following his brothers as well.

Despite Axel's words, the other two also walked past and joined their brother on the brick road, just looking out as well. It was their last chance to gaze upon their world.

Sora's eyes wandered over to the rolling hills, remembering the countless hours he and his brothers spent playing on them, always chasing each other to the top to find out who the king would be. They passed out over a barn far away, smiling softly because he knew how many times Ventus had snuck inside on dares to steal eggs from the chickens. Then they drifted over towards the school, and his shoulders slumped. No more turoting kids for him... he was gonna miss them.

Roxas frowned. From here he could even see the turbines - the source of electrcity for Akbar. Forever turning thanks to the neverending wind... he rememebred one day when his brother had ditched school and traveled alllll the way out there just to hang out and relax for once, away from their parents paranoia and the annoying immaturty of the other kids. It had been one of their most relaxing days just hanging out under them, watching the three blades spin with the wind, not making a sound unlike the windmills that creaked and cluttered from age.

Slowly both boys also turned their eyes to the sky and clouds. The place where in two weeks balloons would fill... unfortunetly the three boys who hadn't missed the three-day festival since they were a year old... wouldn't be there to celebrate it.

Sora finally shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. "We'll be okay." he murmrued suddenly. "We just got to remember... that this is all waiting for us once this is all over."