Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Smoke Screen ❯ Acrimony ( Chapter 5 )

Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Kingdom Hearts 1, 2 or CoM so…please do NOT sue me. This is way beyond standard at this point, doncha think?

A/N: HA! Here is chapter 5! Same rules apply. There is boy/boy love (though it’s not the main pairing) and Mature themes, meaning NO LITTLE KIDS! . I can’t stress that enough. That’s all. Not much else to say, except that I hope to have chapter 6 out soon, too. This chapter is a little shorter, just to let you all know. R & R, and enjoy! .

Word coding: ' Thoughts' , "Speaking", Random flashbacks or other stuff

:THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LINE BREAK HERE:

Acrimony

In the solitude of her room, Larxene grumbled angrily as she threw her book to the side, searching viciously for something underneath her mattress. Victory was unveiled as she lifted the pack of cigarettes from underneath the cushioned surface before walking to her window and propping it open just enough to let the actual smoke out. Quickly, she lit the cigarette, annoyed that she didn’t have anything better, like pot. In situations like these she preferred to mellow out with her favorite, best friend from her younger days: Mary Jane. However, she hadn’t been able to acquire any for quite some time, and she didn’t exactly have a habit—so she wouldn’t do anything for it. Taking a long drag, Larxene settled against the window sill, staring at the moonlight though it did not come through the open area. She could hear Axel and Marluxia talking downstairs, and became thoroughly irritated at the thought of them. ‘He really pisses me off…chaps my ass, that asshole,’ she mused as she took another drag, this time keeping the tobacco in her lungs longer than before. When she finally exhaled, she realized that she was going to need another one; the one in between her fingers was more than half gone.

Chuckling to herself, she glanced around, searching for all the alcohol she’d coveted from Axel sometime after Marluxia had run out of her house like a pansy, or so she thought he was such. She spotted a bottle Everclear nestled underneath the Bacardi bottles that were already empty, courtesy of Demyx, Axel and Roxas. She knew she shouldn’t drink but she couldn’t resist. She poured herself a decent amount—meaning half of a small shot glass—and chose to gulp it without a chaser or anything of the like. Snorting to herself, she raised the cup to her lips, ready to down the alcohol, which would surely burn her throat like hot, liquid fire. However, she stopped as he eyes caught sight of a few figures—she was sure they were the local kid’s gangs—running in the general direction of the mansion. She narrowed her eyes, annoyed. She was rather tired of delinquents thinking her mansion was some squatting zone. Shrugging, she ignored the person, guessing Axel would deal with it since he was downstairs. Raising her cup to the moon, she saluted the luminous silver wonder.

“Here’s to…bad memories trapped like death in a glass of never ending time. No rain, no shine, and fuck the divine.” It took a mere five minutes after she’d taken the whole glass before she fell on the bed, passing out from the intensity as well as the fact that she hadn’t been taking very good care of herself.

Some minutes later found Roxas opening Larxene’s door and letting out a terrified yelp. Not giving anything else a second thought, he darted over to his fallen roommate, pulling the still-lit cigarette from her coat where it had burned a nice hole in the material as well as a small mark on her skin. She didn’t seem to notice, which puzzled Roxas, at first. But another quick glance told him the real story. Her empty shot glass lay haphazardly on the bed where she’d managed to drop it before passing out. He could smell the strong scent of alcohol and felt more than saw the ashtray as he heard it break beneath his feet with a loud, crunching sound. She seemed as though she’d been sleeping for at least 15 minutes at that point, and Roxas was sure she was going to be knocked out for a possible twenty more. Sighing, he fell on the bed next to her, grabbing her cigarettes and lighting one for himself. Sometimes, having Larxene’s crazy ass for a roommate was one tough job, particularly when she smoked and drank like she wanted to end her life every time. He didn’t understand why she was passed out though; Larxene had a high tolerance for alcohol, or so it had seemed after drinking with her a few times. Whatever the case, Roxas didn’t necessarily want to be there when she awakened, so instead, he made sure there were no possibilities of harm before taking her entire box of cigarettes—she was a godamned chain smoker sometimes—and closing the door. He quickly headed back to his side of the house, not really hearing Axel and Marluxia conversing downstairs. He had been in the middle of a good horror movie marathon when they’d caused their little commotion.

‘Fucking assholes…’ he thought as he slipped into bed, snuggling beneath the covers; part of him hoped Axel didn’t come back.

Meanwhile, Axel just stared at the brown haired man, rather amused as Marluxia sat back on the couch as if the red-dead wasn’t there. Wincing at the pain in his shoulder he wiped the blood from his coat as it oozed onto the black material. “Dammit, I just bought this coat,” he mused. “Are you going to sit there like that for the rest of the night? You’ve been smirking at me for 45 fucking minutes…it’s decidedly creepy.”

“Looks like she got you,” Axel stated as he ignored the comment.

Marluxia snorted. “So you’re saying but I don’t agree.”

“You’re thick headed.”

“You’re annoying.”

Knock-knock. The sound was a bit soft at first. Then it suddenly became more frantic, insistent.

“I’ll get it. Don’t know who it could be at this time of night…” Axel opened the door only to come face to face with a hysterical Namine who was sobbing uncontrollably. Before he knew it she had slammed herself onto his chest, latching on as the tears continued to fall and her sobs rose in volume. Axel knew it would be mere moments before Larxene and Roxas came out of their rooms to investigate the commotion. But for the meantime, he simply smoothed her hair as it appeared she wasn’t ready to speak, or probably couldn’t since she was sobbing so hard. “Namine, what’s going on?”

Marluxia simply stared, unsure of what to do at the sight of the crying girl. She had seemed so happy when he left earlier in the day. Shaking his head, he did nothing as he waited patiently for anything. He was given his first task when Axel led Namine to the couch, asking Marluxia to stay with her while he retrieved Larxene. Roxas had already burst through, saw his friend and immediately went to the kitchen to fetch more tissues. It had been seconds after Roxas joined them on the couch when Namine’s sobs quieted and she threw herself onto Roxas’ chest, burrowing into his pajamas as he whispered to her.

“Namine, what happened?” Roxas’ voice was low and soothing. “It’s 12:00 AM. Something happened to you and we need to know.”

She glanced up at him through tear-filled, puffy red eyes. “My…step father…”

“Who?” Larxene emerged from the stairs, somewhat daunted. At the mention of their step-father her blood boiled. “What did he…?” She suddenly sprinted to her sister, grabbing Namine’s shoulders as she shook the girl. “Did he touch you? Tell me what he did to you!”

Marluxia watched, somewhat frazzled, at what was taking place. He opened his mouth to speak when Roxas motioned for him to stay silent. It was only a minute before Namine took a deep breath and began to explain. “I…I got home late…and he was angry that I slept over. I tried to tell him that I was at Kairi’s but…he didn’t believe me. He said he called Kairi’s and Selphie’s and that I wasn’t there. He told me I was in trouble for lying to him.” She hiccupped. “So he punished me. He knew Larxene…he’s always known but I…I was so stupid to think I could fool him…and he told me I couldn’t see you anymore…” She slowly peeled off her sweater to reveal various bruises forming on her arms not to mention the fact that her dress was ripped at the shoulders, and the hem was falling off. “But when I refused to stop visiting you…he—he…” It suddenly became hard for her to talk and Larxene knew the worst had occurred. “He…touched me…Larxene…he touched me!” She erupted into a fits of sobs and shrieks as Roxas embraced her completely. Her words became incoherent as she sobbed, repeating the same phrase over and over again. “I feel so dirty, so dirty…I can’t get clean and I scrubbed and scrubbed…so dirty! I’m so dirty! See? See how dirty I am?” Namine showed them her arms again, and they finally caught sight of the red marks on her arms, most of which looked like large, red scratches; some were even puffy and swollen with blood surfacing. “So dirty…so disgusting…”

Larxene was rigid as she brought her gaze to the floor, barely noticing the small droplets of blood on it. Bringing her gaze back to Namine, she too, then noticed the small trails of blood dripping down her pale legs. ‘That fuckin bastard!’ She practically ripped the kunai from her pajama pockets as she ran for the door, red blinding her vision as only one thought came to mind. “I’m going to fucking murder his sadistic, child molesting, rapist ass!” She had almost made it to the door when she felt someone tackle her. “GET THE FUCK OFF ME!”

“Marluxia, come hold her down!” Axel shouted.

He blanched. “Holy shit, what? You must be out of your fucking mind!”

“Just do it!” Roxas enforced.

“Axel, I’ll fuckin decapitate you!” Larxene roared as she felt another pair of arms pinning her to the ground. “LET ME GO OR I’LL MAKE YOU ALL SO FUCKING SORRY!”

“No, this isn’t the way to deal with it! We gotta report him to the authorities!” Axel reasoned, though he too would have liked to murder the man, personally and brutally, at that.

Larxene snarled. “FUCK THAT! HIS ASS IS MINE! HE DESERVES IT! HE’S HAD IT COMING FOR YEARS!” She suddenly threw her elbow back, knocking Axel in the jaw. He staggered with enough timing to pull Marluxia with him and free her. Taking her chance, she leapt to her feet and darted out the door. She made it as far as the mansion gate when she was ripped back by a pair of arms. Hissing like a feral cat, she fought, kicking and jabbing, swinging her kunai all over in hopes to throw off her attacker. When he didn’t relent she fought harder, now knowing who it was. “Pretty Boy, let me go or I’ll cut off that part of you that makes you fertile!”

“Just shut up, will you?” He replied, annoyed. “Cause if you don’t, I’m going to knock you out.”

“Try me,” she spat as she elbowed him in the ribcage. She could feel him wince at the hit, smirking when she thought he’d let go. To her alarm, he simply tightened his hold. “What are you doing, you prick?”

“Shutting you up,” he answered before she felt his fist knock into her stomach, successfully knocking the wind out of her. She stumbled forward in surprise, falling to her knees as she coughed, trying to regain air; but before she knew it, she had fallen completely forward, unconscious. Marluxia wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. “Thanks for cooperating.” Sighing in annoyance as she had before, Marluxia unceremoniously hoisted the unconscious young woman over his shoulder before walking back towards the house. Inside, Axel and Roxas were sitting quietly on the couch, both with looks of concentration on their faces. However, Roxas looked pale as a sheet and Namine was gone. ‘In the shower,’ he assumed when he heard the water running in the left part of the house and muffled sobs as well. When he’d entered neither of the two housemates gave him a second glance, instead continuing to stay focused on whatever it was they were thinking about while he was gone. Becoming even more annoyed than before, Marluxia promptly set—more like dropped—Larxene onto the loveseat before resuming his place at the side of the couch, waiting. When the two still said nothing, he rolled his eyes. “Obviously something has to be done about this situation. And you two sitting there like some dopes isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Well, that’s why Namine’s upstairs showering,” Roxas answered matter-of-factly. “After that…we’re going to have to take her to the hospital for a check-up. We need that proof to make sure we can make a case.”

“Yeah, and while we’re doing that, you can stay with Larxene. Someone needs to make sure she doesn’t go schitzo and kill her step-father before there is proof…” Axel trailed off, turning the opposite way and mumbling to himself. Marluxia strained to hear the last part of his sentence but to no avail. “Anyhow, we’d better get going,” he said as all three of them heard the water stop running and the slamming of a door. “Larxene is bound to wake up in the next twenty minutes, and it’s better if Namine isn’t present for the onslaught.”

Marluxia gaped at them—as well as he could without looking like a disgusting, gaping fish—as they quickly retrieved Namine. He didn’t have time to get a word in as they disappeared into the night, the door closing on his face. He stood there in angry, aghast silence; Larxene’s steady breathing was the only thing breaking the deathly silence in the more or less empty house. He could do nothing more than fall on the couch across from her, head in his hands as he thought about his circumstances. ‘How the fuck did this happen to me?’ He was about to let out a string of colorful obscenities when his cell phone rang, the loud, screeching pitch of the ring tone piercing the air. Momentarily caught off guard, he fumbled in his coat pocket for the noisy contraption, hoping that Larxene would not awaken yet. He was in luck as she merely turned over, seemingly in a deep sleep. Once found, he quickly answered the phone, hissing into the receiver as soon as he’d opened it.

“Who the hell is this?”

“Uh…Mar, didn’t you look at the caller ID log? It’s me, Demyx,” came the worried reply.

Somewhat relieved, he fell back against the couch as Larxene shifted again, this time curling into a fetal position as she kept sleeping. “Demyx, what the fuck is going on? Your friends are fucking crazy.”

“What happened, Mar? Axel called me from the hospital!” Zexion could be heard in the background, trying to calm down the water-lover. “Is Larxene there? I heard it was about Namine! Is everything all right?”

“Obviously not if Namine is at the hospital, you idiot!” Marluxia responded venomously as he glanced over to the sleeping nymph on the couch. Rubbing his temples, he let out yet another sigh. “Demyx, I can’t stay here. This is…not working out.”

The emotional musician practically shrieked. “No! Mar, you gotta stay! Where else are you going to go?”

The brown haired young man felt like shooting his friend, though he did have a point. “Oh, thank you so much for reminding me I was kicked out and DISOWNED.” He glared at the wall. “Listen, Demyx, I don’t know what’s going on here. Everyone in this house seems crazy without validation; so unless you start telling me about these people soon—and I mean damned soon—then I guess I’m going to have to become…homeless or something.” He cringed at his own statement. Even though he was tough, the thought of not showering and such made him sick. ‘Yes, I am a little vain but I don’t think anyone wants to be without a shower for that long!’

“I doubt that will be necessary Mar, so stop being a drama queen, ok?” Demyx snapped back. Marluxia began questioning when his friend grew a backbone. All the while, Demyx was trying very hard not to dissolve into an emotional blob within his boyfriend’s arms as he thought about his friends. “Anyway, you should probably just lock up and come over here. I’ll give you your keys and we can arrange exactly where you’ll be sleeping.”

“I can’t come over, I’m babysitting a child who should be an adult,” he said, his voice snippy. “But I’d be more than happy to leave her with you, since I can’t stand her!”

Quiet reigned for a second. “Mar…are you there with Larxene?” At Marluxia’s lack of response Demyx could only assume that his answer was a yes. The dirty blonde haired man couldn’t resist the urge to laugh as he burst into a fit of chuckles. “Wow…I’m impressed.”

“Shut it or I’ll rip your lips off,” Marluxia replied, his voice dripping with animosity. “I’m coming over, right now. And you’re watching her and then I’m going to bed, you son of a bitch.” He hung up. When Demyx did not call back, he walked over to the couch, grabbed Larxene’s slumbering form and made to leave the house. She fidgeted in her sleep as he carried her, occasionally muttering phrases and obscenities—she seemed to be having a nightmare. Outside the air was cooler than usual and he could make out the vague outline of the hospital in the distance; it really was very far from where Larxene lived. He rolled his eyes as the moonlight streamed down on them, illuminating his ripped coat and bouncing off Larxene’s blonde hair. Her face appeared paler than it had the day before, her skin whiter than he recalled—and so he found himself staring as he walked to Demyx. Just earlier that night he’d called her a savage nymph and he didn’t think anything could be more correct. The wisps of her hair ruffled in the slight breeze that swept over them, also ruffling Marluxia’s long, silky chestnut locks. His sapphire eyes sought out anything about her that would give way to her true nature; alas, he found nothing.

She looked serene as she slept—if one didn’t count the constant moving around—her skin, hair and face a mask of perfected innocence that could fool anyone. And according to Demyx and Zexion, it had fooled many. Shaking his head, he brought his gaze back to the road just as Demyx’s house came into view, revealing the musician pacing back and forth on the porch while Zexion sat on the chair, arms crossed and looking bored. The minute his gaze met Demyx’s, Marluxia knew he was in for an interrogation like no other. He mentally prepared himself for the inquiry as he was let inside to the living room where he placed Larxene on the couch, who, luckily, continued to slumber. After he’d finished that task, Demyx had cornered him in the kitchen, Zexion nowhere in sight, as he tried to get a glass of water. His throat was dry and he was tired, mentally and physically, from everything that had just happened. His mind was on overload. He pretty much ignored everything his friend was saying until Demyx actually smacked the counter with the palm of his hand.

“What?”

“Were you even listening?”

Marluxia shrugged, too irritated to care. “Actually, no I was not, in fact.” Nevertheless, he did not apologize when Demyx’s eyes narrowed in anger. “What? I’m fucking tired Demyx. I was attacked by that “thing” sleeping on your couch and just witnessed the confession of a young woman who was raped!”

Demyx’s jaw dropped. “Namine was raped?”

“Oh, you woke Larxene up,” Zexion pointed out as Demyx and Marluxia turned to the person in the doorway.

Larxene had a look of murder on her face as she pointed her kunai at Marluxia, her eyes blazing and body in fighting stance. “You’re mother fuckin dead, pretty boy. I told you to stay out of this…but you just couldn’t listen.” She threw a knife at the man but he caught it deftly between his fingers. “Where did they go?” When no one answered her question, her face contorted hideously. “WHERE THE FUCK DID THEY GO?” She glared at the three of them. “Well, if no one is going to answer me, then I will just have to kill all of you!” Stepping away from the wall, she launched herself at Demyx, intent to stick a kunai in his arm but Zexion pulled him away just in time. Demyx squeaked in surprise when Marluxia grabbed a hold of Larxene, locking her arms behind her back as she struggled to break free. She felt her anger heighten as she continued to fight him, tears burning at her eyelids though she would not release them. “Let me go you asshole! Fuck, let me go!”

He shook his head, his eyebrows knitted together as he waited for her to lose her energy, knowing that she’d calm down. But he was taken by surprise when she hunched over, shoulders shaking, and shook her head profusely. It appeared that she was mumbling something as Demyx and Zexion exchanged worried glances. Marluxia leaned closer to her, trying to hear, and consequently forgetting the position they were in. “What the hell are you saying, crazy nymph?”

At this, Demyx raised a brow, curious. ‘Since when did he call her that?’ Shaking the thought away he directed his statement at his friend. “Uh Mar…I think you should let her go now…she’s really harmless now…believe me.”

His eyebrows rose so far up his forehead that it hurt. Regardless, he allowed Larxene free, surprised when she merely darted off into the back of the house. He heard the slamming of a door and then silence as Demyx and Zexion looked around, relieved. Rubbing his forehead, the chestnut haired man tried to ignore the small signs of an oncoming migraine. “Can someone please explain what the hell is going on and why she is so god damned schizophrenic?” He frowned. “Does she have multiple personalities or something?”

Zexion nodded. “In a manner of speaking, she does. But Larxene is about as well known to us as she is to you, Marluxia.”

Demyx took a seat at the table and began toying with the salt and pepper shakers. “Larxene is…well, there isn’t much known about her. Namine, as you’ve seen before, doesn’t provide many details about where they came from or who they really are. Anything about their lives…we just…don’t know that information.”

“Why not? You’re her friends, aren’t you?”

Demyx winced at the repeated question. “Yes…and no.” Marluxia’s brow knitted again at this particular response as Demyx resumed explanation. “She…Larxene has no friends, really. She lives with people, talks to them, interacts with them on a certain level; but no one knows who she REALLY is inside. This person you see now…this is who she has become, according to Namine. The only people who knew who she really was in the past, and who part of her still is now, are Namine and her parents. And quite frankly, that isn’t too many people since…um…their parents are dead and Namine is in the custody of her step-father who…is a piece of work—and apparently the head of a huge, prosperous business. He’s quite well-known here, in fact, and most everywhere else, too.”

He’d been listening intently, his curiosity growing more with each little bit of information Demyx revealed. “So, basically what you’re saying is that she’s un-chartered territory to everyone here?” Demyx nodded. Marluxia leaned his chin on his hand. “Still…there’s got to be more of an explanation as to why she is the way she is besides her parents having died. The pieces aren’t fitting.”

“Stop being so nosy,” Demyx warned. “You won’t get anywhere with her, not that way.”

“Who said anything about me wanting to get anywhere with her?” Marluxia inquired, offended as he glared at Demyx, who was still smirking obnoxiously in Marluxia’s opinion. “She’s crazy…I don’t want to have anything to do with her.” When Demyx did not relent, Marluxia threw him a dirty, harassed look as he stood from the table. “Look, I don’t give a shit what you think. I know who I am and what I want—and it has nothing to do with her, that insane witch.” He began stalking towards the living room, still amazingly graceful in the process—his nickname of the “Graceful Assassin” didn’t stick because he was a klutz. “I’m going to bed, so fuck off or you’ll be sorry in the morning.” He was almost out the doorway when he turned around, shooting Demyx a distasteful look. “And stop calling me Mar or I’m going to slice you in so many ways, you won’t be recognizable.”

Instead of cowering in fear, Demyx simply nodded, snickering. “Whatever you say. Good night…MAR.”

Marluxia felt his fists tense in pure annoyance. If Demyx wasn’t his best friend he might have actually turned around and beat him to a bloody pulp, decapitated him or inflicted some other horrible form of torture upon the giddy musician. However, he refrained, throwing the middle finger over his shoulder before disappearing into the darkened living room. He could make out the faint trace of the couch from the moonlight flowing through the partially opened window; nothing had ever looked more inviting. Stretching his limbs, he gave nothing a second thought before dropping himself onto the couch and falling fast asleep. On the other side of the room unnoticed, Larxene sat in Demyx’s favorite chintz chair, which was battered and falling apart but still extremely comfortable. She watched Marluxia, her eyes burning from unshed tears but still curious enough to spy. She hated him with a passion, wanting to punish him for besting her so many times within just meeting him. But most of all, she wanted to hate him more than she should, more than she did. Her kunai glinted in the silver beams of light, sitting neatly on the tabletop before her, though she herself could not be seen.

She curled more into herself as she saw Marluxia’s hand slowly fall from his chest until it was hanging off the side of the couch. Part of her was kicking herself for being so enraptured with the scene while the other part sucked it in like a druggie would with a bad habit. The feelings that were coursing through her body were enough to drive her mad; she was confused beyond all reason, though she didn’t look it. Larxene didn’t admit it outwardly, but she prided herself on being mean, bitchy and callous—she hated vulnerability. Sighing quietly, she hugged herself as she watched, from the chair, as Demyx and Zexion departed to their room for the night. The silence that surrounded her was stifling and she wanted nothing more than to scream or hit something. She was unbelievably pissed off at Axel and Roxas for leaving her. But another part of her knew she would have been of no help to her sister, and that made her sad though she wouldn’t admit it or show it to anyone. Namine was the one good thing she had left in life and yet she pushed her away, relentlessly. ‘It seems that bastard was right…fuckin Axel…’ She wanted to laugh but she couldn’t find the energy to do so, her mid-section still throbbing in pain from Marluxia’s blow. ‘What a jerk off…now I’m going to have a fuckin bruise…’ She wanted to stretch but as before, the pain in her side prevented her from doing so. Huffing in annoyance, she slowly slid from the chair, pushing her thoughts of Marluxia to the back of her head as she made her way towards the “guest bedroom” in the back of Demyx’s house.

The guest bedroom was more of a closet, hole-in-the-wall type area that personified how incompetent Larxene thought Demyx was in the matters of housing arrangement and spatial placement. When she first saw his house, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes—he was like her father: no sense of placement. He had stuffed so much junk into the small closet-like space that it had spilled on her when she’d opened it, unaware of what was inside. As a result, she yelled at him about it and made him change it even though she did not live with him and was not his girlfriend. Zexion, who hadn’t been his boyfriend at that point, decided that he’d help. When they had all finished cleaning out the closet and making it slightly more spacious enough to hold a small mattress, Larxene had decided that Zexion was into Demyx—that way. She’d been hanging up the curtain they’d all chosen to serve as a door when she’d noticed Demyx blushing like mad as he stared at the silver hair young man, who was busily sweeping the floor in silence. Then, magically, Zexion turned around, they locked eyes, and Larxene knew. ‘Yeah, that had been obvious.’ She’d already known Demyx was interested in men but she hadn’t been sure about Zexion—who they’d known for about two months at that point—until that day. And fairytale happenings and endings were uncommon but somehow, they’d managed one and she wanted to vomit at it.

Shaking her had at the memories, Larxene kneeled down on the mattress halfway before she fell on it completely. The pillow had a lining of dust from little usage and so she coughed as she inhaled the particles. She really wanted to sneeze but it would not come out. Sighing again, she looked around, in a half effort, for the sheet that was supposed to be kept there incase someone needed to use the room. Unlike Larxene, it seemed Demyx hardly ever had anyone crashing at his house whether by choice or just as a last resort due to some massive hangover whereas her house seemed like the town home for loonies, druggies, runaways, alcoholics and such. ‘Yeah…wonder how my living space became the take-in-anyone-home-for-the-sick.’ She couldn’t think of any other better reasoning, and so decided she was going to try to get some sleep. More than ever, she wanted to lock herself in the closet and never come out, especially seeing as to the fact that no one had called her with the whereabouts of Namine. And somehow, she was sure no one was going to. If anything, Axel and Roxas would keep Larxene as far away from her sister as possible, even if it meant kicking Larxene out of her own house—they’d done it before. Smacking her head in frustration, the blonde rolled onto her side as she tried to block out the sounds of Demyx and Zexion from whatever they were doing in the next room. She couldn’t begin to fathom how Marluxia slept through it, seeing as to Demyx was so damn loud—kind of like Roxas—and if possible, could wake the neighborhood and would at some point. ‘God fucking dammit…is one good night’s sleep too much to fucking ask for?’ Vexed beyond all reason, Larxene shoved her head underneath the pillow before closing her eyes in hopes to sleep.

:Okie, there is supposed to be a line break here, but the browser won't let me input it so...this writing is the line break:

Axel and Roxas noisily paced the corridor outside Namine’s examination room, their discomfort and anxiousness not hidden under their usual cool or sarcastic demeanors. Roxas, who tended to be the less emotional one, outwardly, was nervously looking through the window only to have the small opening covered with a piece of blue paper. He couldn’t see a thing. Axel knew this mainly because his young lover suddenly threw himself against the wall and began mumbling obscenities towards the door. As for himself, Axel was playing with his lighter, ignoring the stares that the nurses and orderlies were sending his way. He could care less about what they thought altogether. He just wanted to leave. He hated hospitals. When the door opened eons later, Axel shoved the lighter in his pocket as Roxas jumped up, alert and waiting. Finally the doctor emerged, her young face appearing a bit worn from so many late night shifts at work, with her clipboard and motioned for them to enter. Once inside, Roxas immediately ran to Namine as she turned sullen blue eyes at him, her lips quivering and arms hugging herself to hide the bruises.

“And you are ok with me telling this information to these two young gentlemen, Ms. Namine?” The doctor glanced at the girl as Namine nodded in reply. “And you are…?”

“Axel, one of Namine’s cousins. And that is Roxas—he’s her boyfriend,” Axel replied without giving it too much thought. He briefly glanced at them before jerking his head to the door. The doctor nodded, understanding what he was asking. Once outside, Axel just went for it. “What didja find, Doc?”

The woman merely smiled at Axel, looking relieved. He guessed she felt that Axel and Roxas weren’t as delinquent as she previously might have thought. “Well, it appears that yes, Namine was indeed sexually assaulted. However, it does not look like there was any actually penetration of the penis into the vagina.” Axel raised a brow as the woman continued. “There was some tearing, which was obvious by the blood on her legs and vaginal area. But there was no semen or signs of ejaculation. I can only assume that, yes, that there was penetration but it had to have been by something else—possibly some sort of sex toy or some other object.” She sighed. “Yet Namine won’t disclose any information to me aside from that fact that she was assaulted. Tell me, Axel, what do you know about her history, who she’s living with, etc? Does she have any siblings? We need to know who did this to her. She’s only 17, and that can become a case right there.”

His guard went up; he hated hospitals, mainly because they asked too many questions. But he let out a sigh as he saw Namine collapse into a heap of sobs within Roxas’ arms. He had to tell the doctor what he knew. “I guess I don’t know too much. She does have a sister, and a step-father. Her real parents are dead…have been for some years. I guess Namine lives with the step-father. I think he’s the one who…assaulted her, the bastard.”

The doctor looked unsurprised. “Yes…assault by relatives is often common. In her case, you can take it to court and put the man in jail.” He laughed, the sound somber, causing the doctor to look at him quizzically. “Did I say something funny? This isn’t really a laughing matter.”

“It’s funnier than you think…” he stopped to catch his breath. “Her step-father…he owns the company that sell you and your hospital all its medical supplies. Ever heard of him, Dr. Lockhart?”

Dr. Lockhart gasped, grasping her clipboard so tight that she thought it might break. “The owner of…of…KH International INC?” Axel nodded. “T-The business tycoon?”

“Yeah, that’d be him…so tell me, do you really think anyone is going to take him to court?” She just continued to stare. Axel blew out an annoyed breath. “Yeah…didn’t think so. He’d sooner pay off every lawyer in the country than be sent to jail.” When she said nothing more, he pointed to the room where Roxas was picking Namine up in his arms; it appeared she’d fallen asleep. “Can we go Doc?” Nothing. Axel smirked solemnly as he patted her on the shoulder, his tall frame towering over her short one. “Thanks for everything. We’ll be in touch…maybe.”

Dr. Lockhart could only watch in horror as the three strolled out, earning themselves odd looks from the hospital staff. They’d been out the door mere minutes when she finally came to her senses. Instantly she headed for the nurses station closest to her, walking briskly as running was not allowed in the hallways. Once there, she slammed the clipboard on the desk, earning a yelp from the nurse in front of her. “Kisaragi, get me the number to the Twilight Town Courthouse and Attorney Kosaka’s number, now!”

The young nurse looked at her, alarmed as she fumbled to obey her orders. “Yes, ma’am!”

Grinning through her exhaustion, Tifa Lockhart clenched her fists around her pen. “You are going down, Sumitse, and I’m going to make sure of it.”

:Again, imagine said line break inserted here:

(There is Chapter 5 for ya! Not much else to say except…MATURE THEMES. All right, that’s all. R&R. Hopefully, I can have the next chappie out soon!)

Sadistickunais