Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ To catch a falling star ❯ Part 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

Zexion walked out of the house, glaring up at the darkening sky as he tugged on his long leather coat, trying to keep a grip on the letter he had clasped in one hand. If today wasn't going to be sad enough - it was going to rain on him too he thought bitterly - how was that for karma?

He headed across the street, making his way over to the house situated directly across from his own - it always appeared so much brighter - more alive somehow than his own. Zexion knew that it was because of the family that lived inside it. They were lively if Demyx and Roxas were anything to go by and it was clear that they cared for eachother very much.

In comparison, he turned to look back at his own house frozen in the middle of the street; it was dull and lifeless, staring back at him with its dark windows. The building was an empty husk that had once held so much light for him. It had been dead for years. He shook away the melancholy thoughts, knowing it was the partially the effect of the day and some of his own repressed emotions. Not that he'd admit such a thing.

Demyx had asked if he would come over today, hinting that there was someone he was eager for Zexion to meet. It would appear that someone very special to the musician was coming to visit for the first time since they had moved, Zexion had seen the way his eyes had lit up with excitement when he talked about it and it stirred a mix of pleasure and jealousy inside him.

Demyx had refused to tell him who was coming to visit he and his family - saying it was a surprise.

Zexion let out a quite huff, remembering how the easily excitably blond had been oddly absent from his life this past week. Demyx had left an ache in his chest at his absence, something that he himself couldn't explain. The musician had said he was making preparations and catching up with work from his course, just so he could spend as much time with his guests as possible. The memory, as it had then, sent the stirrings of disquiet through Zexion, it set off that twisting and churning sensation he usually only associated with unwanted touch.

He reached a hand up, tucking the loose strands of his silvery blue hair behind his ear, letting his gaze roam over the quiet street. It was still fairly early and Saturday to, so most of the usual morning traffic was absent. He had left the house at this time so that he could make his way across the city before the traffic got to its chaotic peak. Zexion hated being out in the city during the day, there were so many more people to avoid. In a way it was a good thing that the weather was finally shifting into its autumn phase, it would mean less people out on the streets. Zexion would be able to travel around a lot more freely, though he didn't appreciate the cold much.

He eyed the dark clouds overhead, as they slowly scudded across the sky, assessing them silently. There would be rain in a few hours time. Leaving him just enough time to reach his destination - but there was somewhere Zexion needed to stop off at first. He had been meaning to tell Demyx that he wouldn't be able to make it to whatever plans the musician had made for the day He had realised, after Demyx had left from their typical Sunday evening chat, that he wouldn't be able to as he had a prior, long standing, engagement.

Unfortunately, the blond hadn't been by all week, which Zexion had assumed was related to due to his own preparations for his upcoming guests. Zexion had never felt comfortable intruding on someone else's time - hence why he had never taken the opportunity to cross the road that separated them, to speak with Demyx at home in that time. Though they had grown somewhat closer over the latter end of the summer, after our trip to the beach, he still had trouble when Demyx surprised him with his need for touch. The musician had never tried to touch Zexion's pale skin, only areas were his cloth's created a natural barrier or the silvery bangs that hung across one side of his face. Demyx seemed to be fascinated by the silky texture and the unusual colour.

But even then Zexion found himself withdrawing, he had been trying to create the comfortable atmosphere he had with Axel and a few others - but there was something about Demyx that stirred him far more deeply.

The feelings that had started making erratic appearances after he had first met the blond were still bubbling up unexpectedly and uncontrollably. Zexion had been finding, in some circumstances, that it was increasingly difficult to look Demyx in the eye. Zexion kept getting a strange, but familiar, feeling of twisting in his gut at the sight of those brilliant ocean blue orbs; something he hadn't experience when not being touched before.

Zexion could feel his cheeks warming at the thought and tried desperately to will away the heat colouring his face. He turned back around to approach Demyx's house, intent on delivering his note without waking the residents, as it was seven in the morning.

What he noticed as he approached was that there was movement at the entrance way that he hadn't been expecting. As he came up to the gate Zexion froze in place - his whole body rigid with tension, fist crushing the letter that he had intended to deliver. Demyx stood with his arms comfortably curled around a smaller male - spiky brown hair with brightly coloured clothes registered on his retinas, as he noticed that the brunets arms were wrapped securely around the musicians.

Zexion felt himself blink, standing there for only a few moments as he took in the two men holding eachother so intimately - so that is what Demyx had been keeping a secret. Zexion felt his heart twist in agony inside his chest, breath catching as the pain radiated out and his stomach tried to revolt. He started to turn away when he heard a new voice, one he had never heard before, "Hi - Demyx I think this is your friend right?"

Zexion caught a glimpse of silvery locks and a serious looking face on the edge of his vision before he turned away, feet carrying him swiftly down the street, his coat billowing in the wind. His letter left crumpled by the gate.

Demyx turned from the young brunet clutching him tightly around the waist and looked up into teal coloured eyes, "What's that Riku?"

He could see the silver haired young man was looking a little perturbed by the way the youngest member of their little group was clinging to him, even if his stoic features could rival Cloud's.

"I said, isn't that one of your friends?" Demyx watched as those bright teal eyes stared over his shoulder, looking out at the street. But when he turned awkwardly on the spot as he was still in the midst of being hugged to death, there was no one there. Demyx looked back at the young man blocking the doorway with a frown and he could see that Riku looked a little confused.

The pale haired man strode down the steps from the front door, along the path and around the two men hogging the pavement and down to the gate.

"There's no one there Riku. Who would be up at this ungodly hour - it's Saturday." Demyx was beginning to think the silver haired youth had been seeing things as he went to follow him over to the gate, trying to walk ineffectively.

"Hey uhm... Sora could you please let go - I missed you too, but I can't walk." He looked down, brushing rumpled chocolate bangs from the younger man's face, as Sora squeezed him tightly before letting go completely.

"Sorry Demy - what are we looking at anyway?" Sora was smiling when deep cerulean pools looked back up at him. Demyx couldn't help but to smile at him; he was everything light and happy in comparison to the rest of them.

"Nahh... s'alright, Riku said he saw someone at the gate. It wasn't the postman was it?"

Riku looked back over his shoulder at Demyx with his eyes fixed in a formidable glare - though he had nothing on his Zexy. He let his eyebrow lift to show his thoughts on Riku's scowl, but shrugged it off amicably. Demyx walked over to lean against on the gate, looking up and down the street. His eyes were drawn to the dark windows of Zexion's house, knowing he would be working for a few hours this morning before he came to visit for the first time. Demyx could feel the swell of butterflies tickling inside his stomach at the thought, hoping he would like Demyx's house.

"There's nobody here Ri." Sora's voice cut through the quiet and the two taller men both turned to shush the noisy young man.

"Shhhh... people are sleeping. Leon and Cloud got back late last night from a job." Demyx watched Sora's eyes dull and his shoulders sag and felt his heart melt. There was only one person who was unaffected by that look and he stood right next to Demyx.

"Sora - you know it's early, you've got to be quiet. You wouldn't like it if I woke you up at..." the silver haired male looked at his watch, "...seven in the morning."

Demyx watched as Sora's head shook in response to Riku's words. He lent his back against the gate as Riku moved over to the sulking brunet, sweeping him into a tight hug. Demyx felt his heart squeeze at the sweet sight, especially when Sora pushed up and planted a tender kiss to the underside of Riku's jaw before cuddling further against him. For the first time in the week Demyx had been anticipating their arrival, he felt the first stirrings of jealous annoyance that seemed to be his constant companion.

Demyx wanted what they had together, why was it that all his family had found that special someone - a partner, a pair and he was left with no one. An image of Zexion popped into his mind at that instant, soft smiles, sincere words and Demyx couldn't deny the man was unbelievable sexy - even with his penitent for baggy clothes.

He turned to stare back out at the house that the writer was likely just waking up in and Demyx wanted so desperately to go over to see him. He had missed him fiercely over this last week. Demyx's heart warmed at the thought of him, but it also felt torn around the edges at the memory of Zexion pulling away from him whenever he had tried to touch him.

Demyx had hoped after the beach that they could try to get closer, he wanted what the writer had with Axel. He wanted to be able to touch Zexion without the fear and the pain that stabbed at his heart whenever the other man pulled away. He had never craved touch as much as he did with Zexion and that he couldn't touch him was ripping his heart to pieces. It was so rare, even now for Demyx to reach out, and just tug on Zexion's sleeve or just brush those silky soft bangs from his face so he could look at him.

Demyx craved everything Zexion, the feelings that were deep in his heart were in turmoil. He wanted the writer more than anything else and he knew that this was the beginning of what Axel and Roxas and countless others felt for each other. But all he was getting from the reserved man was this pain that he could feel, constantly gnawing at his heart.

Demyx looked away from the dark building with the green door, composing his face as best he could so that Sora and Riku wouldn't see the tension in his features.

When his eyes raked the ground as he pivoted slowly around he caught sight of the corner of something stark and white pressing against the bottom of the gate. Demyx turned back, leaning over to look down at the base of the wrought iron structure, seeing what looked to be a crumpled piece of paper. He unlatched the gate, walking around it into the street and bent down so his weight rested on one knee, picking up the crushed paper carefully in his hands. He gingerly unfolded the crumpled sheet, eyes catching on his own name scrawled on the front in elegant script that he knew very well.

Demyx unfolded the paper, to see more of that delicate script traversing across the otherwise blank page:

Demyx,

I won't be able to come over today as I have a previous engagement that cannot be cancelled. I had not seen you to explain this previously and had not remembered until after you left last Sunday eve. Please enjoy the company of your guests.

Sincerely.

Zexion.

Demyx reread the note and scowled at the paper. Zexion had known he had been looking forward to introducing him to the people who were coming to visit! Plus he hadn't had the decency to let him know earlier that he couldn't meet up with him today. On top of that Demyx had been looking forward to spending some time with Zexion. He stood there quietly for a few minutes, oblivious to Sora and Riku coming up on either side of him to look at the note he held.

Sora was the first to speak, "Wow that's...very formal, but so beautiful written." Demyx felt a flutter of pride at the compliment but the formality of the writer's words upset him - they had agreed to be friends dammit.

When Riku spoke he turned to the younger male, "Why's it out here and not in the letter box?" Riku turned to him then, teal eyes searching as he spoke again, "What does this Zexion look like?" Demyx felt his heart thud inside his chest, was it Zexy who had been standing at the gate.

"He's ...well he's about Sora's height comes to just under my chin, he usually wears dark baggy clothes but they suit him in a quirky way. He's never far from a book, even carrying one around with him when he goes out. He has silvery blue hair, it's really shiny and soft looking, but it has a tendency to fall across his right eye and his eyes are deep, a dark stormy grey." Demyx felt himself flush at the detailed description and saw Riku giving Sora a soft smile that he wouldn't have expected from the other man.

"I'd say that was him, though the coat he was wearing wasn't baggy - it was rigid leather that looked like it would mould to him."

Demyx felt his cheeks heat further at the images that shot through his mind of Zexion wearing something that would hug the lean frame Demyx knew was hidden under the writer's baggy garments. He could hear the other two laughing at him and Demyx couldn't help but smile sheepishly at them, rubbing his hand along the nape of his neck.

He stood for a few minutes, thinking and realised that Zexion had seen him holding Sora.

Now this may not be a big deal, but Demyx could only hope that Zexion hadn't gotten the wrong impression. What was worse was the feeling in his gut that Zexion, being the way he was, would have thought the worse - which would explain his sudden disappearance.

"Aww... shit. Guys, I need to go."

00-00-00

Demyx spent the whole day searching for the elusive writer; starting in all the places he had visited Zexion at before. The library was his first stop - but they had explained that he had taken the day off today.

He enquired if Zexion had mentioned where he was going, but to no avail - although they did say that Zexion had never taken any other day off before, except this one. Though this drew Demyx's interest, knowing how hard Zexion worked he couldn't stop his search. Demyx visited the University grounds, looking in the lecture halls, labs were other people he knew might be and finding nothing - even the onsite library was practically empty.

He'd never been on campus on a Saturday before and it was odd how the place had changed overnight, the usually bustling crowds of students were absent, the buildings looming in the growing darkness. Demyx looked up at the hovering clouds knowing it was going to rain and soon. It set his feet moving once again, headed back towards the town and hopefully Zexion.

The rain started just after noon and Demyx just kept going, the temperature dropped and he was soaked through from his thin black and grey striped top to his navy converses, but he couldn't bear to halt his search. Demyx couldn't shake the feeling in his heart that something was wrong.

He spent the day racking his brains and contacting anyone he could think of who could tell him where to find Zexion- but no one knew.

Demyx was in the supermarket Zexion always used when his phone rang.

He picked up somewhat reluctantly, knowing the voice he would hear on the other end of the line. "Hi Leon."

"Demyx - I take it you haven't discovered his whereabouts yet?"

Demyx listened to the deep voice coming from his cell phone with apprehension. He knew that if it was Leon calling Cloud was concerned about him, but he needed to find Zexion. Demyx couldn't shake this unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach that had been growing steadily worse as the day wore on.

"No." Demyx would never lie to his family but he wished that he had something he could tell them other than that.

"You should come home. You have no clue where he's gone and he will come home eventually. I'll bet you haven't eaten anything - have you?"

Demyx felt a little better for Leon's more logical idea; he had been haring around all day looking for Zexion when he knew he would come home. Although, he didn't think he could have stood around waiting for the writer to do so.

Demyx was a man of action after all.

"Hn... no. I just...I need to find him Leon. Something feels wrong and I think he got the wrong idea about me and Sora." Demyx freely admitted his fears to Leon, knowing the older man would never laugh or judge him for them. He had been through a few interesting hiccups with Cloud when they had first gotten together and the brunet took friends, and family, very seriously.

"Why would he get the wrong impression about you and Sora? Sora's been with Riku for months, they were friends for years before that." Demyx could hear Leon's confusion at his odd comment and he could feel heat rising in his cheeks.

"He saw me hugging him when he came to drop off a note this morning - but didn't stick around long enough to talk to me. That and I never told him who was coming to visit, just that ... it was someone special." Demyx could hear the sigh escaping at the other end of the line and he knew he'd screwed up.

It was pretty obvious that Zexion's disposition towards people and feelings was pretty skewed, he never pushes, never questions. If you were hugging someone they were either family or you partner - it was all black and white to him.

It frustrated Demyx the way Zexion thought of things - he was a very touchy person, Demyx loved to hug others and would have happily held the smaller man in his arms, but he didn't understand that. It didn't help that Zexion had a very obvious aversion to touch.

"Alright - you need to come home and wait for him. There's no point in running around in this weather searching - you're already soaked, and yes I know you don't care, but we have to care for you when you get sick." The brunet was being firm but kind and Demyx knew it.

He turned looking around the empty streets slick with rain, "I'm on my way now."

"Thank you." With those final words Leon was gone and Demyx was left standing in the rain.

He was drenched through, his clothes plastered to his skin, fine tremors rippling through his body as the air grew chilled, his usually spiky hair plastered to his face as Demyx turned his head up to look at the roiling clouds, letting the fine raindrops beat against his skin.

"Where are you Zexy?" His thoughts were in turmoil as he started the long walk home.

00-00-00

Zexion walked at a steady lope through the town centre, heading to the other side; his mind was oddly blank as the sick feeling in his stomach grew increasingly worse as he passed the few early risers and opening stores.

He couldn't really remember faces or buildings, just the foggy haze his mind was trapped in. Zexion had seen him, arms holding someone else and it was all that would stick in his mind.

All thoughts of what today was - what it meant to him seemed lost.

It took forty minutes to make this walk; he had no idea how much time had passed or when he had arrived. The pain in his chest reminded Zexion of that day all those years ago and it was strangely appropriate that it was happening today. When Zexion regained enough senses to look around him he couldn't mistake the looming stones or the dark towering trees that were littered around the churchyard. He had, without realising, navigated his way through the town and all its traffic out to his destination - The Hallow's.

This place was the last graveyard on the outskirts of town before you hit bare countryside for miles on end. He had liked this place when he was younger and the same could be said now. Zexion trailed his way through the maze of headstones and trees to the plot he was searching for. He sat down at the base of the pale granite, knowing every ridge etched into the stone before him.

In memory of

Kira Nomura

Beloved son and brother.

DOB: 6th September 1992

DOD: 6th September 1999

Forever missed.

Zexion pushed all the other thoughts and feelings that were fogging his mind back, the determination and resolve he had built over the years allowing him some measure of control over his mind. He did not want to think about him, he was here for another reason.

Zexion slowly undid the zipper of his coat, pulling the garment from his body and folding it neatly beside him. He rolled up the long sleeves of his grey shirt up, so they no longer covered his hands, baring them to the air. With reverent fingers Zexion touched the shiny granite stone, tracing the very tips across each letter as he had done every time he came here.

A tradition he had started very early on in his life.

Zexion looked down at his lap to find that even though his mind had been elsewhere he had picked up a solitary daisy from one of the early opening florists on his way here. He gave the barest smile at the solitary flower, before whispering to the silent stone, "I'm glad I managed to get something right today."

He carefully lowered the long stemmed flower to the foot of the stone carefully before turning his eyes up to focus on the silent epitaph. Zexion shifted his posture, sitting rigidly straight, hands formally placed on his knees before bowing deeply and saying in quiet words, "Happy Birthday, baby brother."