Holy Hell High

[Reno]

Roxas looked towards Ven when he heard the heartbeat slow, and laughed softly. "That bum... he just ups and falls asleep on us..."

Bryna smiled affectionately, just glad that her boy was going to be alright. "We should let him sleep... he can open the gift tomorrow."

Shorty after, the nurses came to move Ven into his another room so he wouldn't take up anymore space in the ER. Or, if one was trying to speak nicely, he was given his own room. With cameras. And alarms. And no pointy objects.

It seemed a bit much for the Holani family - but anything for Ven's safety...
And then the doctor, kindly, told them to get out.
"Ahh why can't we stay with him?" Sora pouted.
"Because honey we aren't allowed too."
The brunette continued to have a sour look on his face. "But... he might wake up and miss us."
"Here..." Roxas murmured, setting the gift down on the nearby table by Ven's bed "Now he won't forget we were there."
That perked Sora - the eternal gift-lover - up right away.
After that, they said their soft goodbyes to the the slumbering blond. Bryna gave him a kiss on the forehead, Sirocco an affectionate ruffle of hair, Sora brushed the back of his hand across Ven's carefully, and Roxas gave him a harmless poke in the cheek. And then they left.


The minute they got home, they went their own ways. Sirocco to the phone, Bryna to the living room, Sora to his room, Roxas to the music room. The message from Terra was deleted from the phone home phone, and then the calls were made.

In ten minutes flat, two silver-haired people were on the Holani doorstep, one came into the living room, the other took to the stairs. Bryna looked up at her old friend, smiling faintly. "Hello Carina..."

Sora was sprawled out on his bed, throwing a little rubber ball at the ceiling and catching it when it came bouncing back. He had just thrown it again when he heard the door open, seeing a familiar teen standing there. Luck was with him as the ball fell harmlessly beside him. He smiled faintly, "Hey Ri..."

Soft music was surrounding them, wrapping around them softly. The sharp flute strangely muted and haunting in it's sad sound. But something... beautiful was within it as it broke off, a sound sound of... hope within it's sharper chords. He saw his friend look over his shoulder towards the music room door knowing only one person could be playing.

"It's called Any Other Name by Thomas Newman. It sounds a lot better with the piano and some strings like the harp and violin." Sora said softly, making Riku return his gaze back to him. "It's one of Ven's favorites 'cause it's really 'creepy' sounding. But Roxas always does this when he feels he needs to make up for one of us... play our music I mean... so he doesn't feel so... empty I guess."

His glassy eyes looked towards the ceiling and he sighed. "Music is his outlet and I always knew that... but... I never knew cutting was Ven's. Identical twins yet hardly alike at all..."


Terra never got a call back. He knew... that was a bad sign. On the off-chance he was just being ignored, if Ven was okay at least Sora, in all his considerateness, would have given him a ring and told him. But no, he heard nothing.
It confirmed everything.

He knew... He knew that if it was Ven in the ambulance that he probably went to the hospital... but he doubted... he'd be very welcome there. If the family found out he was the reason that... that Ven hurt himself...

He locked himself in his room and ordered to be left alone unless it was something about Ven. To occupy himself, he started to flip through some old books, reading nothing but pretending like he understood it all. Story after story passed his hands, skimmed pages and flipping paper at too-fast a speed to actually understand.

He was in the middle of an old R.L. Stine horror when he heard a knock on his door and his mother's voice. He looked up as the door opened his eyes full of worry and panic as he jumped to his feet, book falling from numb fingers. "Mom...?"

The look on her face was grave, similar to the one she gave him when she told him his pet gecko had died. He swallowed and let her lead him to his bed, and was respectfully silent as she relayed the story. By the end he was full of horror.

Ven... hadn't just cut too deep. He cut with a purpose....

He was not really aware of it until he did it, like he had fallen into a trance. He stood and went back to his books picked up the heaviest of them... and then threw it as hard as he could as at the wall where his wolf clock - a gift from Ven - was. The aim was true. The clock came down shattered into pieces and Terra screamed an obscenity that his mother probably should have never heard. "THAT FUCKING IMBECILE!!"

He came out of it when he heard his mother calling his name and her hands on his shoulders. He wasn't ashamed when he cried, falling into his mom's arms like he was eight not eighteen. His best friend just tried to off himself and not-so-secret crush just tried to off himself because of his stupid actions...

and it hurt so, so badly....

[Rikugurl]

Indeed... Ventus was put in a surveillance room. They had noted how upset the family was... and that they had not know about Ven's self injuries. Unfortunately one of the nurses had to tell Bryna and Sirocco about the marks they found on his inner thigh and chests.
They both seemed shocked.
Why was their son... doing this?
How long had he been doing this and.... was their a way for them to stop him from doing this?

So many questions and no time for the answers.

We they... not spending enough time with their children?
Was it because he was grounded...?

Ven was truly the one with all the answers... or so they thought. Both Roxas and Sore knew though... that Terra also had all the answers.

The hospital wanted to start their 24 hour watch now, trying to have Ven home as soon as possible.


"Oh honey... I can't believe what happened... Let me make you some coco." The silverette woman smiled as she went into the kitchen, easily knowing where everything was.

Riku blinked as he heard music coming from a closed door. He looked over, kind of remembering the sound... but not the name of it.
Sora helped with that part.
Riku nodded, walking in and closing the door. He walked to the bed, sitting down on it and noting it bending at his weight.

"You know... I heard that some identical twins have it pretty rough. The ones who are more close try and do everything together and be the same... then there's.... ones who do anything to be different. That they want to do things that they don't even enjoy... just so that their different and unique. It's an ongoing struggle to be different"

He sighed and looked down at Sora. "Some identical twins believe that they're not there own self. Having the same genes and image with another person... it must be hard... Maybe that was what started Ven's cutting..."


As the women talked downstairs and the boys upstairs with the flutist, Sirocco went into Ventus's room.
He never went into his boys room because he believed in privacy... but he was ordered to do something.
To take anything sharp or that could be broken to make a sharp object out of his room.

To his surprise and horror, after looking under, around and in things... he found a total of seven razors... all at least having some signs of blood on it.
Ventus had been cutting himself for a long time now.

The grabbed a trash bag, filling it with the razors, CD cases, even Ven's debit card. Anything that was or could become sharp was put in the bag.
All of Ven's posters came off the wall, the tacks needing to be put away. His pens and pencils, rulers and other things. He knew that if Ven was desperate enough, he could bust his CD or DVD player to get sharp pieces of plastic... but he wasn't going to take everything away from his son.

By the time he was done, the room looked almost as neat as Sora and Roxas's room.
He walked out of the room, closing the door and sighed. This... didn't feel real...


Ida sighed as she finished what Sirocco had told her. She was having a hard time believing it either.
Zack and Terra were both good friends of the blonde. Though she found it very suspicious that Zack insisted that Terra not live him anymore and how he hadn't said much on the nightly phone call... and now Ven...

She blinked as she looked up, watching her son walk to a large book of stories... before throwing it at the wall. She gasped in horror as she saw the beautiful clock fall on the floor and shatter into pieces. "TERRA!" She cried before getting up and rushing to her son. She grabbed his shoulders from behind. "Terra..."

Her eyes saddened deeply as Terra started to cry and she gently led him back to the bed. "Terra.... honey...." She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close and securely as she rocked him. "It's ok baby..."
She frowned as she heard a yet from downstairs. Hatori.
"IT'S NOTHING!" Ida snapped back before pulling Terra closer, kissing the top of his head.

She continued to rock him, running her fingers lovingly through his soft hair as she hushed his sobs.
She didn't care HOW old he was... he was still her little boy... and she was still going to be there for him.


Who knew what tomorrow would bring though.

[Reno]

Bryna smiled when her good friend came back, warm cup of coco in hand. She took it thankfully, staring into it's brown depths as if it had all the answers. "It's funny, I still remember... when he was so innocent and found everything amazing. Bugs, the microwave, his toes, his brother's hair, his violin, recess games. And he always had this... this beautiful smile on his face and these big blue twinkling eyes..." He leaned back, her nostalgic smile falling away.

"And now I just keep thinking back, again and again, asking myself 'When did he lose that smile'? 'When did he lose those eyes'? And I'm scared... because I don't know that answer."

"I... I don't... know what to do Carina. For once in my life I feel incapable of being a mother because I'm more lost than when I was trying to figure out how to sing him to sleep at night." She looked up, smiling humorlessly. "What is a mother supposed to do when she's told her own son wants his life to end?"


Sora's eyes widened as he looked at Riku, sitting up. Obviously to him, that was a horrible thought. "Riku... HOW long have you known my family?"

He reached out, rapping his knuckles lightly against the others skull. "Sure they look the same and they wear the same wrist bands but that's about where it ends. Come on now! Ven and Roxas are REAL different. Ven's favorite bands are Nine Inch Nails, Three Days Grace and Marilyn Mansion, Roxas' are Beethoven, Handel and Stravinsky. Ven has no manners, Roxas has them all. Ven cusses twenty four-seven, Roxas only does when he's mad. Vene explodes with his emotions, Roxas holds them in for days. They have separate rooms! Separate friends!! For Christ's sake, they don't even like the same GENDER!!! How more different could Ven POSSIBLY want to be?!"

Sora fell against the headboard, crossing his arms and frowning rather unhappily. "I... don't really know a lot about the topic but... cutters aren't suicidal Riku. They cut themselves to make them feel alive... not dead. I don't think it's a cry for difference just... a cry for life and... he can't find it. All I know is it has to be after he started dating Zack and before Terra found out. Only... only a few months ago at best and already he... he's hurt himself so bad..."

His eyes dimmed a little. "He had scars all down his chest, and some on his arms that he'd been hiding behind his coats, and... and here..." He placed his hands on his thighs, the muscles shirking back as if the phantom pain he was imagining was real. "They said their were a lot here."

He looked up at Riku, his blue eyes shining as the music wafted from room to room. "I... I feel like I've failed as a big brother you know? I told Ven I would always be there for him... and yet I musta stopped looking or caring or something cause now he's hurting himself and it's really scary."


Roxas watched the notes on the page, drowning in the music that was too high and bird-like to capture the true beauty of the song. Yet, though the medium was faulty, the emotion played behind it was not.

Ven when you get better... you and Sora have to play this for your duet... It would be perfect. The solemn sounds of the violin could bring in that 'scary' attitude Ven liked, and then the sounds of the harp could bring up the more hopeful moments of the song, balancing it out...

Balance...
"Black!"
"White!"
"Black!"
"White!"
"Black, black, black!"
"White, white white!"
"Blaaaaack!"
"Whiiiiiiite!"
"What... in the world are you two fighting about?" Sora asked as he walked in the room, looking between his two brothers, a cup of juice in his hands.
"Black is better!" Ven said, pointing to his little hoodie.
"No white is!" Roxas said, pointing to his tiny jacket.
They both looked at him, eyes blazing and said together. "Right Sora?!"
"Uhhh...." Sora blinked, then smiled. "Oh!" He set down his cup. "Stay right there!"

A few minutes later, Sora came back with a piece of white paper and a black crown. "Riku taught me this!" He sat down on the other end of their 'play table' prompting the two "See you make a circle like this... then you make a S-like mark in the middle. Then little circles here... and you color this little circle black and this big part of the circle black, and leave the other spots white! And see... they're both there, two parts of one whole - like you guys!"
He turned it around, showing his brothers triumphantly. "It's called a win-dang! Because, you both win and dang, is it good logic!" He giggled.
"Where are you Sora?" Ven asked.
Sora pouted, thinking hard about that. "I guess I'm the S-like line, helping to keep you two together!"
Roxas smiled. "I'm glad your there."
"Me too." Sora smiled as he reached for his cup... and found it empty. "Heeeey where did my juice go?!"
Twin smiles stained with orange juice smiled back at him, before the two where off like a shot, Sora chasing after.
"Meaaaaaan!"

Hopefully they didn't lose the black side forever. Roxas shut his eyes, and continued to play.


Eyes a strange shade, so light a brown that many a time had occurred when someone had to double-check, claiming they thought they were red, snapped open when the sound of something loud hitting the floor and something heavy shattering met his ears.

Terra. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" He yelled. He rolled his eyes as his wife yelled back. Nothing his ass. Ida was coddling the boy again. He understood why she did it, it just annoyed the hell out of him. It was over; he was FINE.
When Terra was born he, unlike his brother who had been perfectly healthy, was severely underweight and his immune system was poor. The doctors had been sure he wouldn't live to see his birthday and even offered... to terminate him. Ida and he refused ferociously, taking their child home with them.
It was a time of great struggle and hardship for them as they fought to keep their second-born alive - sometimes even each other. They made it through the long, cold winter months, their son sleeping between them on their bed each time he got sick. They dealt with cold and flu. They dealt with spit-ups and diaper rash, and diarrhea. They fought plenty of times just to keep him hydrated or his temperature low.
He even remembered... the many times he woke up to Terra screaming in pain and illness while Ida sobbed as she rocked him, unable to do anything more for him then hold him.
Those... were hard times. And all he could do was hold her in turn and hope to god their son would make it - that he would keep fighting with them. Out of all the battles he had ever fought - this was one they couldn't lose.
And then, almost a full year later as the leaves were turning with fall, it happened. Terra got pneumonia that lasted weeks. And they were sure it was over. They took him in for shots and kept him warm during the nights and fed him and made sure he had plenty of water... but there was little improvement. Night after night, he and Ida would meet eyes as they're son slept restlessly between them, silently fearing that tomorrow would be the day they awakened to death. Yet each day, Terra made it through another night even after the doctor proclaimed it was impossible...
And then... he just got better. Not instantly of course, but... the sicknesses finally faded... and Terra was finally okay and Ida cried over their little miracle. He started to gain weight and started to play with his brother every day and started to talk and walk and smile. He grew in all his teeth, lost those teeth and got new ones. He made it through elementary school and middle school and reached high school. A year of strife had brought them far.
He wasn't... perfect of course. Though now it was rare now and only happened five other times so far, when Terra got sick... it was a deadly dance for him. At 5. At 7. At 8. At 11. At 15. And each time Terra had played at the gates of heaven and trapezed over the fires of hell as the sicknesses that tried to claim his innocence so long ago came back for another lethal duel again and again. And he always won.
One day though... he knew his dear son would lose that fight. But hopefully... when that time came it would be when Terra decided it was time to stop fighting and not a minute sooner.

He scoffed, turning his attention back to the history channel that was currently doing a documentary on the Atterian War in which the nation of Atteris fell to the more war-developed Eastern cultures. It was interesting to him of course because he and his wife Ida were both descended from that rich Mayan ancestry explaining their exotically tanned skins and their sharp-shaped eyes. When the war happened his great-grandfather and great-grandmother fled the nation and went north, where they settled in what was now the most culture-diverse continent on the planet. And Hatori grew up in that nation, learning he could only ever marry another Atterain-decedent. And he found Ida who had no such rules (which explained why Zack was so pale and both their sons' eyes were an Aryan blue). Either way, they made damn decent kids, and they did NOT need to be treated like babies.


Terra shivered as he was taken in his mother's welcomed hold, rocked and kissed and loved... even the miniature spat his parents had did nothing to to stop her care.

He shut his eyes, sighing softly as she helped to ease his pain. Slowly he stopped trembling and the tears stopped coming and he felt... a little better. Though when he pulled away to wipe at his eyes he couldn't help but notice his clock - damn it.... he had just been wishing it had been Ven's face! Now he not only helped destroy a relationship, but a gift too. Possibly... the last he would ever receive from that teen too.

"Mom..." He whispered softly. "When you're in love... true love... there's no way you can fall out of that love, is there?"

[Rikugurl]

Carina sat down and listened as her best friend started to talk. And it was... the saddest thing she had ever heard from her friend.

She had known Bryna since the first day Sora had called, asking if Riku could come over.
That had to be about 12 years now. It didn't take long for the mothers to become close friends. Their favorite subject was their children of course.

Carina wanted to have more children... but much like many men and women had joined the war.... her fiance went and at the end of it he went M.I.A
He still was to this day. Sometimes... she just wished that the military just told her he died... but knowing he was out their somewhere pulled at her heart sometimes.
She wanted to tell Farran how wonderful their son was... and show him a picture. Show him that.... Riku had his eyes.
That he would be... so proud.

Some tears started to swell in her eyes before she patted Bryna's shoulder. "Oh honey.... please.... y-you know how boys are... They... they don't say anything when something is wrong. I'm sure... everything will be alright when he comes home..."


Riku blinked as Sora started. Well... that was true.... but still... he might of still started to cut because he STILL didn't think he was alive... due to Roxas.
It was complicated... or maybe his psych book was full of shit.

He sighed as he looked at Sora. This was... all too depressing. He shook his head and looked at the floor. "I think the only person who has all the answers is Ven... and... you shouldn't blame yourself until you find out why. I also know that cutters don't tell people that they cut... so... he wouldn't even tell you?"

There was some silence as he closed his eyes. "You know.... I really... don't know what to say.... because.... I'm an only child. I don't know what it's like to be a big brother.... and especially not one who shared the same womb..."
His aquatic eyes looked up, looking at the blue. "I think all you can do... is just sit down... and talk to him or... maybe even Terra or Zack might know something."


Ida sighed as she continued to hold her son.
It was very apparent in her thin, pale body and worn face of the life Ida had lived. Nothing but one hardship after another.
He job didn't help all too much either.
Having to type out brutal cases and some horrible people getting away with their terrible deeds.

That too wore her down.

Being brought up in a abusive home, some of her bones being broken when her parents hit her. She ran away from them to live with her aunt who only treated her like a slave as well. She always found her way into abusive relationships and had the hardest time getting out of them seeing that she BELIEVED she deserved the abuse.

She was smart though, and got into a good college through scholars. She went to law school and when she baked some good for the local charity, a military bus stopped in front of the stand and some men went out to get a look around before a presentation. One soldier came up to her and bought one of her muffins... and fell in love with them.

He also happened to fall in love with the woman who made them.

It now felt like her duty... as a mother was to make sure her children NEVER lived the life she did... never to feel the kind of pain she went through. Call her over protective, but she raised her sons to be strong and smart... but never to be afraid to come to her if they ever needed anything. She would always be there for them... no matter what.

She looked down, her blue eyes full of concern.
"When you're in love... true love... there's no way you can fall out of that love, is there?"
She blinked... wondering where this question came from... but... it wasn't her business. She had to help him with what he asked. If he wanted her to know something more, he would tell her.
"You don't choose who you fall in love with... I know you can move on but... you may never get over your love."

She ran her fingers through his hair as she smiled her weak, but not nervous smile. She was never nervous to smile around her children. "If you are truly in love with someone though... you'll never be happy without them... and you can never love another person.

[Reno]

She smiled sadly shaking her head. "I sure hope so..." she shook her head, setting the cup down and leaning back in the seat. "I really do hope you're right..."

She shut her eyes. "This was certainly not the way I was expecting to spend the week before the week of Christmas, I'll tell you that much. Maybe... maybe we should go Christmas-light searching like we used to... some family outings might do Ven some good."


Sora sighed shutting his eyes. "Maybe..." He didn't want to go behind his brother's back to find the answers though. That just seemed a little... unethical. He wanted Ven to open up to him - at least then he knew Ven really did need help and was willing to except it.

He opened his eyes slowly, looking over at Riku and chuckled. "Okay enough of me being sad and girlish. I'm supposed to be the optimistic here." He laughed, though it didn't have the lightheartedness it was used to. He picked up the rubber ball, rolling it between his fingers.


Terra listened to her answer quietly, glancing towards his bedsheets. He was afraid of that answer... but there was still hope.

He licked his lips nervously. "What if... what if you hurt the people you loved really badly... would... would love be enough to make you forgive them?"

[Rikugurl]

Carina sighed as she looked at her friend. "Yea... maybe you're right. I use to remember how the boys raved about it every year." She even giggled and shook her head. "I remember when Riku would get so jealous about it too."

Riku shook his head. "You don't always have to be optimistic." He slowly laid down next to Sora, looking up at the ceiling. "Everyone has the right to just... be worried, you know?"

Ida smiled before looking down at him. "If it's true love.... true love can heal any wound."


In the morning, the sun peered over Radiant... but some families didn't welcome the sunshine all too much. They wanted to believe that it was the start of a new day... and a new meaning.

Ventus was coming home today.

In the late morning, four people got into a fancy looking car and headed to the hospital together.
It was again a silent ride, no one knowing how Ventus would be when they got there.

Sirocco found a parking place, got out and opened the door for his wife. The small family walked into the main hallway and up to the desk.
"Hello... we're here to see our son.... Ventus Holani?"
The woman nodded before typing up some things into the computer. "He is in.... room.... " She stopped and frowned, fixing her glasses. "Oh, he's in the Critical care department. You'll have to go down there and ask where he's been moved to. Just go down that hall and through the double doors."

Sirocco nodded as he and his family walked to where they were pointed and through the double doors. They came into a new hallway with rooms on both sides. Glass was the only thing that divided them from the rooms... and of course doors.
They could see cameras around the rooms as they walked up to the desk, some alarm switches as well. what they didn't see... was Ventus.

The man at the desk looked up at the family. "How can I help you today?"
"Hello... we're looking for Ventus Holani...?"
The man typed up some things as well before nodding. "Oh yes... he went into the psych test about a hour ago. Seems like he really won't cooperate or say much about his attempt. It's really up to you wither you wish to bring him home today or for us to keep him for one more night."

Sirocco frowned but nodded, looking at his wife. "It's up to you, honey."

[Reno]

Bryna chuckled shaking her head. "Our boys... they're all so silly sometimes."

Sora smiled laying as his side. "Guess you're right..." He lifted the little rubber ball and put it on the hollow of Riku's neck, chuckling. "But just being worried isn't healthy either."

"True love eh..." Terra murmured softly, his eyes thoughtful. He looked up and smiled. "Thanks mom." He leaned up, giving her a sweet kiss on the cheek. At least... now Ida had all the love she could ever need.


The next morning at the Holani abode... it was uncomfortably silent. It was strange not hearing Ven's 'wake-up' rock music, or hearing him play the water-proof radio while the shower was going, or listening to him bitch and complain about... anything and everything.

At first the three men declined breakfast - but after a very strict word from Bryna about how they had all skipped dinner last night and that there would be no more unhealthy eating patterns in her house, breakfast was made and consumed - surprisingly fast for the three who had claimed they were 'not hungry'.

The rest of the morning was spent in silent distraction. Bryna started the laundry, Sora went down to check his science project and then after played mindless one-player video games, Roxas tried to brainstorm ideas for the two duets he was writing for without actually thinking of any music and Sirocco occupied himself with small house projects he had been putting off all year like changing the filter vent to the AC.

But eventually, time to leave came and the four piled into the car trying to both not appear too enthusiastic and at the same time not too depressed. After having spent the night with the phone resting under her arm, Bryna knew however that her son was still in good condition.

The small family made it to the hospital in a moderate amount of time and after a small chase to find their fifth member, they were led once again to the critical ward of which Ven had disappeared to last time.

Bryna stood next to Sirocco as they heard the news and she sighed in relief. So that meant he was up and about at least. She blinked when Sirocco turned to her, frowning a little.
"Yes... I want him to come home today." This wasn't selfish in any way, shape or form. If she believed that these tests would do her son any good, she would of gladly kept him here a week.

But she had a feeling Ven wasn't going to talk. When he got stubborn like that, it was always an indication that he was locking people out... and that was something she hoped they could fix better then any ward...

Most of all, coming home would probably help him feel better. Hospitals were rather scary and lonely places and it really gave meaning to the 'there's no place like home' statement.

[Rikugurl]

The man nodded as he looked at all the blue eyes looking at him. "Alright then." He turned and pressed an intercom on the wall. "Jack, you can release him now, his parents are here."
With that, he handed Sirocco a piece of paper on a clipboard. "There are the release forms. Just read everything, sign and print your name and your wife has to do the same underneath.

The man nodded before skimming the paper. Said something about if Ven ever does this again within 5 years, he would have to be subjected to psych treatment. If less than three months, something about staying in a psych ward. He signed his name at the bottom and printed it afterward, also putting the date before he handed the clipboard to his wife.

As she was filling it out, the men looked up, hearing a door open and that's when Bryna stopped too.
A boy walked out, familiar blonde hair a bit more messed up than usual a top his head.
Empty blue eyes looked down at the floor as he shuffled towards the family. He wore the same jeans he went to school with but a white tee was in place of his other clothes.

They had been ruined from all the blood.
His arms however were bandaged up, different from the ones he had worn last night for there were no blood stains on these. In his hands though... was a large.... hot air balloon model.

He stopped when he got to his family and slowly looked up. Some color was coming back to him already.
"T-thank you... for the gift."
They was a burst of happiness as everyone hugged their missing family member, also receiving kisses from his mother.

Sirocco gave Ven his coat, knowing that he could stand the cold better than Ven could at this point.
With all papers signed and checked, Ventus was released and everyone walked back to the car.
Unlike the usual everyday ride, Ventus was now the one sitting in the middle back seat. Roxas and Sora wanted to be close to him on the ride home.

The balloon model was placed in the truck so it wouldn't break and they were off on their way.
Ventus just looked down for most of the ride... feeling awkward. He knew the questions would lay on him... at any given time after these words of love and worry.

Why did he try to kill himself.

Like answering that would be.... easy.

The car stopped at a red light and there was some silence throughout it. Ven blinked though when Sora asked him something and he looked up, listening to what Sora had to say. He was about to answer when something at the corner of his eye caught him. He leaned over, looking pass Sora at the window.

They were stopped in front of the recruiting building... and who he saw inside... military clothes were passed over the desk and....
Zack...?
"If you die, it's going to be all my fault!"

His eyes widened and his mouth gaped.








"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The blonde cried out, THROWING himself over Sora to pound on the window. "ZACK! ZAAAAAAAAAAAACK! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" He screamed, pounding on the car window as hard as he could as tears started to fall down his cheeks. "ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!"

[Reno]

Bryna nodded, hoping... praying she was making the right decision as the papers were passed to her. She signed her name and was just printing it when she heard doors open and shoes tapping upon tiles in a familiar, slouching pattern.

She looked up, pen falling from her hand as she saw her boy. Her little boy...

Roxas and Sora stood side by side, watching their twin approach and then stop in front of them all.

A thick silence was there - no one even breathed as everyone waited for someone else to make the first move. It was with no lack of discomfort as Ven raised his eyes everyone tensed as if waiting for another blow to be dealt to them and then...
"T-thank you... for the gift."

Grins aplenty spread upon each face. Bryna was the first to sweep him up. "My beautiful baby!" And then she was kissing him all atop his head and face, enough to made him blush in moderate embarrassment - but he didn't fight the onslaught of love for once.

For awhile everyone was sure Bryna would never let him go - but the receptionist called her back to finish signing the papers, and the twins swept him up at once in a three-way hug that they hadn't participated in since there younger years. They were of course careful of his arms though.
"I'm so glad you liked it! It was my idea y'know." Sora gloated with a grin.
"I can't believe you already finished it. Were you really that bored?" Roxas teased.
Both twins however admired Ven's clever workmanship admitting shyly they were surprised he had been able to make it at all considering the... condition of his arms. Sora wondered curiously if there was a way to make it fly.

And then of course Sirocco was given his turn giving his son the best and most respectful 'manly' hug he could.

After that, they were allowed to leave and the family formed a protective barrier around Ventus as they headed for the car. Sirocco and Bryna in front and Sora and Roxas flanking his sides as if they could keep any more harm from befalling him. The model was placed in a safe area and the small family started to get back into the car. It was Roxas who playfully shoved Ventus into the middle though, grinning a bit. "Na-uh. I think after all that you owe us a ride home where we can both sit next to you."
Sora was ecstatic at this idea, moving over to make room and grinned at his younger brother when he got in without much complaint and Roxas got in last.

Then of course there were the 'you had us so worried's and the 'don't you dare ever do that again's and the 'we're so glad your back's and 'we're so glad your okay's that Ven had to silently sit through for the first few minutes of the ride but eventually the group left well enough alone, letting Ven stew in his silence and take a breather before the real interrogation began...

And then it happened. On the intersection of Sunburst Avenue and Atlantis Drive... Sora turned to Ven pure innocence in his gaze having no idea what he was about to cause as he asked, "So did the food at the hospital get any better? I still remember us sharing some of it back when I was there and we had to stop ourselves from spitting it out!"

Ven was looking at him, mouth opening to answer, and then a distracted look passed his face. Sora blinked as the blond looked past him, moving back in his seat a little so the other could see more clearly through the window. He looked as well. "What is it?"

His eyes were just started to search the sidewalks for anything out of the ordinary when Ven broke down.


Zack smiled faintly as the neatly folded clothes were passed over to desk and he took the bundle putting it under his arm and reached his hand out shaking the hand of the recruiter.
"Welcome to the force Zackary Tellus."
"Thank you..." He smiled sadly, knowing he was breaking a promise... but Ven broke his first.


The Holanis all jumped in surprise at Ven's insane scream. "Ah Ventus what is it?!" Sora cried as his brother practically fell atop him to get to the window, the sound of flesh smacking against glass rather unnerving. He winced as the screaming only got worse, but he had enough of his eardrums left to figure out what the loud screeches were saying. Zack...

"What's going on?!" Bryna cried, turning around in her seat eyes full of panic.

"VEN STOP! YOU'LL BREAK IT!" Sora yelled, his arms wrapping around the blonde and trying to tug him away. "Roxas give me a hand!!" He yelled over Ven's noises.

Roxas followed the orders quickly, grabbing the blond by the back of his collar and YANKING him back into his seat. "Ven stop it! Stop!!" He demanded as the blond fought against his and Sora's hold, screaming all the while. He fisted a hand in a bunch of cloth and then his hand reached up, smacking it over the blonde's mouth to muffle his yells. But Ven was started to kick and scratch at them - they wouldn't be able to hold him down this way!

Sora quickly figured that out as well and cursed, snapping off his seatbelt and throwing his body over Ven's. He effectively pinned the blonde against the seat and his legs down and he placed a hand over his eyes to cut out his sight. "Stop it Ven, come on calm down!" Ven shook his head, trying to break loose of their hands but neither Roxas nor Sora gave him a chance. They weren't letting up or letting go until the other stopped this show of insanity.

[Rikugurl]

Sirocco was about to start driving as the green light came on but... there was an ear piercing scream behind him that made him stop. "VENTUS!" He looked at his mirror, showing Ven's outburst. He quickly put on his signal and drove to the side of the road.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-ACK!" The blonde choked as he felt his windpipe cut out as Roxas pulled him back. He was pulled back from the window but his arms started flailing, hitting everything and anything that they came in contact with.
All Sirocco could see was a big mess of boys.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ZAAA--MMMMMMMMM!!!!"

A hand covered his mouth, making him close his eyes and more tears to fall down his face. All he wanted to do was scream....
"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!" He started to kick and flail his arms even more, scratching at his brothers the best he could. He needed to get out of here... to...to stop Zack!
Some blood started to stain the bandages once more as he reopened parts of his wounds during the struggle.

His eyes opened again, only for them to widen as Sora suddenly JUMPED on him. His legs were pulled to a halt as the weight and the small space he had left from Sora made it hard for him to breath. He could hardly scream anymore and suddenly... the lights were turned out. He growled as he continued to shake his head, flail his arms and try to free his legs... but he wasn't as strong as he use to be... and slowly gave up the fight.

He panted before his face changed once again. One of despair. That was when he started to sob and sniffle.

Sirocco sighed and shook his head. Maybe... he did need another day.
What was wrong with his son?? What was causing all of this? The only thing he could think of is trying to get home as fast as possible. He went back on the road and sped back home as the boys continued to hold him down.

They might just... have to readmit him...

[Reno]

Roxas grit his teeth a bit as he felt nails raking down the back of his hand and arm, leaving a burning sort of pain behind. Once Sora jumped onto their brother though he reached up, grabbing one of the flailing arms by the hand and tugging it down to nestle in between their bodies fingers curling around tightly in a gesture that would have been intimate had they been lovers.

Sora would have stopped the other arm once he had pinned Ven's legs, but dad started to move the car again and he reaching out with his free hand to grab the top of the seat instead to steady himself. It left Ven's hand free and it kinda sucked because despite not having his sight, the hand gave him a good smack in the face.

He scowled, having half the mind to bite his brother, but let it be.
Sora's mind raced, trying to recall what they had passed back there to make Ven react in such a way - he hadn't seen Zack at all! What was on that street? He didn't know, it wasn't one he traveled to often...

Slowly, Ven started to calm down more because of exhaustion then actually wanting to give up the fight. The sounds their twin made broke both the brother's hearts.

Slowly the hand around Ven's mouth fell away and then the one around his eyes. Sora was the one to see Ven's eyes and it pained him to see how... hopeless and dead they were. "Oh Ven... I'm sorry..." He wrapped his arms around his brother, leaning closer to give him a hug only he was participating in. He was careful not to put too much pressure on his brother's body.

Roxas looked at them and sighed before frowning as he felt something ran running against his and Ven's hands. He looked down and it took a lot of his will to stop himself from crying out when he saw a small river of blood flowing from underneath the bandages, slowly coloring their hands crimson. "Shit Ven..."

Bryna kept herself turned in her seat, watching the going-ons with wide and scared eyes. She saw the scratches and the slap and the fighting, heard the yells and the screams and the crying... What... what was going on with her little boy? What was happening to him?

[Rikugurl]

Ven whimpered more as his mouth was freed, tears still falling from his eyes as he could see once again. His dark blue, lifeless eyes looked up at his brother, as if saying 'I'm not suppose to be here'.

He swallowed at the hug, not really wanting it.
Zack... was enrolling and... he was....never going to see him again... all because.... he was.... so....fucking....stupid.

"I....lovnnn....." He whimpered as he felt the car driving fast down the road.
He... he didn't want to....

In the matter of a few minutes, the car parked into the driveway and everyone looked back at Ven. "Vent---"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" The blonde suddenly shot up from his brothers grasp. His elbow flung and hit Roxas hard in the chest, forcing the breath out of him. In that split second, Ven opened the door, PUSHED Roxas out of the car and into the snow before jumping out of the car.

He ran through the snow and up to the door. He KICKED a pot over, revealing a key underneath it before grabbing it and unlocking the front door.

"VENTUS!" Sirocco called as he rushed out of the car and after his blonde son. As he got into the entrance room, Ven was already up the stairs and racing down the hall. Sirocco shot up after him before hearing a loud slam... and then the sound of a door locking. He looked down the hall and... saw the music room door closed.
He walked over and grabbed the knob... but it wouldn't open.

"VENTUS!"
He banged on the door but there was no answer.

[Reno]

The two in the back started to relax a little, shaken from the happenstance. They'd never, EVER seen Ven lose it like that before. Sure, Ven's outbursts weren't exactly uncommon but those were angry outbursts ones that he when to his room and grew violent over stupid things like getting grounded - it always looked like a tornado hit when he was done.

But never, ever, had he hurt either of his brothers before when he was having one of his tantrums... and never did he scream quite like this. Sora frowned a little, before getting off his brother to give him his space back and Roxas shakily let go of his hand, staring down at his hand blankly. His face was a little pale - he didn't do so good with blood. Both the boys still had on hand on his, both as a threat to hold him down again and to offer some semblance of reassurance.

Roxas looked up, noticing the house was in sight and, like he usually did, he took off his seat belt as they were pulling into the drive. The car came to a stop and they all looked at him - and both the twins realized at once what a bad idea it was to let him up.

Everyone in the car jumped as the screaming started again - but this time they had no chance at stopping him. The seatbelt came off in a flurry - Sora reached for Ven again but was pushed back harshly against the door, Roxas grabbed at him and uttered a sharp 'Oof' as he was hit in the chest, dazing him.

The blonde could heard his mom yelling as the door swung open and Roxas barely uttered a cry as he was THROWN into the cold. He grunted as the other trampled over him in a dash to get away. He heard a pot smashing and dad screaming...

And then Sora was scrambling out of the car and at his side. "Roxas? Roxas are you okay?!?"

Bryna was the last to get out of the car and she was racing after Ven as well. She could hear her husband pounding on a door on the top floor, and quickly ran up the stairs seeing that... Ven was in the music room. She reaching out grabbing her husband's arm to stop his yelling - they wouldn't get Ven out with brute force! - before facing the door. "Baby, baby please come out!"

[Rikugurl]

Sirocco was about to pound on the door again when his arm was grabbed and... he looked back, seeing the frightened look on his wife's face. He sighed as he fell back against the wall and looked as his wife tried to baby their son out.

But... there was no answer from inside the room.

Sirocco shook his head before he went back downstairs quickly and out the door. He saw Roxas still on the ground and rushed over. "Are you boys alright? Did you see what made him.... like that?"
There had to be an excuse why his son was.... going insane....right?

[Reno]

Bryna frowned when she got no response. She knocked on the door. "Ven...?" She knocked again. "Ven please...." She leaned her head against the wood of the door and started to cry. "Please baby, come out of there..."

Not even her tears moved him.

Roxas just stared up blankly at his dad. He just got thrown out of the car and thrown onto icy-cold concrete and all he could talk about was Ven's insanity? He shut his eyes, and sighed.

"No dad, I dunno." Sora mumbled just as confused and scared as he was. "Come on Roxas, get up." He tugged the other up into a sitting position... and then he noticed blood staining his twin's hand. "Oh my god are you alright?!" He grabbed his hand, turning it over and ghosting his hands along the others arm, trying to find the cut.
Roxas blinked his fingers curling and uncurling at the ticklish feeling and nodded. "I'm alright... It's... it's Ven's."