Ahh, fresh starts... I've got three more chapters of this, but I'm not sure if I'll continue it. I'll put up another chapter in a few days and once I get to the latest I'll ask you guys where I should go. I need to lay this one out properly before I get an actual start on it.

Tell me what you all think! Please! I beg, beg, beg of you. Also, there's some odd pairings as of now, but trust me. I haven't decided on anything yet. This will probably end up being mostly even split between Roxas and Demyx.

Roxas and Sora probably won't get together if you're going to ask me that... unless you guys really, really want it. Personally, I find it icky. So unless someone really, really puts in the effort to poke me, it's not happening. This is unbeta'd. It always will be, but I go back over these kinds of things until there's not an inch uncovered. Pairings are pending. Tell me what you want and I'll probably give it to you. Remember, this is still very amorphous in my head. It could be anything.

Tell me what ya think. (less-than-three)

It was fall and the air was crisp and cool. The old gray Victorian house seemed to be perfect for this weather, pristine and majestic, wreathed in golden, red, and orange maple trees that had probably stood there hundreds of years before the foundations had ever been laid. The ground was raked recently, but the grass was turning brown with the cool and a fresh patina of leaves was building by the moment.

Demyx stood at his friend's side, a thick gray scarf wrapped around his neck and tucked into the half-zipped chest of his too-big swim team sweater. He thrust his hands into his threadbare black jeans to warm them, glanced down at Sora with a single bright, aquamarine eye.

Sora winked back, grinning goofily.

"He's almost here! I know it!"

"School's starting up soon. I'm glad he's getting here before everything gets into full swing…" Demyx said softly, "What's he like?"

"Like me… only blond and more serious," Sora explained. "He looks like our dad too… but he's got his mom's hair."

"I see…" Demyx said softly, "Nervous?"

"Kinda…"

"I can't blame you," Demyx said with a little shrug. "Where's Riku and Kairi, by the way?"

"Riku had stuff to pick up before school starts. So did Kairi, but she's grounded too 'cause her mom caught her…"

"Sneaking out?"

"Yeah," Sora laughed, "It was a good thing she didn't see me waiting on the sidewalk!"

"Well, once we get to our dorms… it should be easier to sneak out."

"Really? Riku said he tried but never made it out of the hall!"

"What building was he in?" Demyx asked, pulling his scarf off and tossing it onto the ground carelessly. He folded his knees beneath him and smiled, crunching up dead maple-leaves in his hands.

"I think he was in six."

"No wonder. Saïx Weiss is like a permanent fixture in that dorm."

"What's high school like?" Sora asked suddenly, flopping down on the ground next to the older boy. "Riku says it's really hard…"

"Kind of… but not really. You get used to it after a while." He pondered this for a moment, scratching his close-shorn head, then grinned, "But you know, you and I are in building two, and I have a suite!"

"Are you serious?" Sora practically screamed.

"Yeah! It's a penthouse room and I get it all to myself. Working kitchen and everything!"

Demyx leaned closer to his brunette friend and kissed him on the neck.

"Demyx! God! Stop being weird!"

"Sorry. You just looked so delicious," he giggled, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He grasped one gently between his pearly-white tombstone teeth and searched for his lighter.

"I thought you were going to quit," Sora said. He sounded disappointed.

"Oh it's alright. They're cloves," Demyx explained, "Cloves don't count. They're not really cigarettes."

Sora scooted closer and dug into Demyx's pocket, pulled out the other boy's ancient Zippo-lighter and sparked it deliberately. Demyx took a deep drag, and he was about to reach up to catch the thin, black clove between his knuckles, but Sora beat him to it, holding it between thumb and forefinger awkwardly, almost like a joint.

Demyx smiled.

"You're not allowed, little boy," he said softly, "You're just a kid."

His words emerged as little puffs of smoke, the rest escaping through his nose, making him look almost comically like the sea-dragon on the back of his sweater.

"I'm in high school now. You started when you were in high school."

"I did?" he cried in faux surprise, "Well, then go ahead!"

Sora took it between his lips, inhaled a little and started coughing instantly. Demyx grinned, snatching the cigarette back and fell back, kicking his legs up into the air in a shower of multicolored maple leaves.

"Hey!" Sora cried, cerulean eyes lighting up with anger, "That's not fair!"

"Lay down, Sora," Demyx said softly, tapping the junction of his collarbones lightly, eliciting a series of hollow thumps.

Sora obeyed, laying his head on the other's chest and nuzzling in as close as he possibly could. Demyx smiled softly, watching the smoke float skyward and vanish.

"Hey… listen…" Demyx says softly, exhaling until he had no air left in his lungs. He relaxed every part of himself, waiting, waiting until his pulse slowed almost below average sleeping rate. He took a deep breath, delighting in the feeling of his heart skipping a beat. Sora gasped, jumping up, a huge grin parting his lips.

"That's awesome!"

"Yeah… I only figured it out a little while ago," he replied, pulling Sora back down. The kid was wonderfully obliging.

"Your heart beats so much slower than mine," Sora said suddenly, "I wonder why."

Demyx thought about it a little.

"Maybe because I swim so much."

"I dunno…"

They fell into a comfortable silence and Demyx found himself dozing off. The cigarette burned down between his fingers, dumping hot ash on his knuckles a few times until he finally smashed it out on the ground. He sighed contentedly.

"He's almost here."

"You said that like an hour ago…"

"I know, but really. He's almost here."

"You really love him don't you?"

"I can't help it."

"I can't blame you."

"Demyx…"

"Yeah?"

"Will you take care of him?"

Demyx heard, but he didn't really at the same time. He cracked his eyes, seeing nothing but clear blue filtered through the patchy black of leaves. A strong wind ruffled through the old trees, bathing them in a fresh layer of gold and brown.

"I… I'll do anything you ask me. You're my little brother."

Sora looked confused, leaning only inches over his blond friend's face.

They were different looking by a whole lot. Though they both had blue eyes, but Sora's were more like a clear winter sky, deep blue; Demyx's were a fair aquamarine. Sora had a round face, and he was short, his shape still much like a young boy's; Demyx was lean, long, gaunt even, without even the slightest bit of extra weight clinging to him, and his face reflected this characteristic somewhat. Sora had dark brown hair; Demyx's was dirty-blond. Sora was only just beginning to mature; Demyx already starting to look like an adult, minus a few inches height.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you're like family to me. That's all," he replied cryptically, lifting his head just a little to kiss little brother's forehead. "I'll do anything you ask me to."

Sora smiled and laughed a little.

"You're so weird, Dem… but thanks."

The sound of tires on gravel shocked the two out of their mutual reverie.

"He's here!" Sora cried, jumping up and running to the driveway to run alongside the broad silver paneling of his dad's big Lexus SUV. Demyx rose more slowly, smiling and brushing the leaves out of his hair and clothes.

He loped up the driveway to the garage where Sora's dad was just emerging from the massive vehicle.

"Hi Mr. Harden!" Demyx called.

Sora looked like his dad. Dark haired, big, dark blue eyes, a huge grin, a round face. His father was a large man looking strangely out of place in this land-locked town. He could easily pass for a veteran mariner with his big, scarred hands and barrel chest. His laugh was loud and long, and his voice deep and jovial no matter what the situation. He always had something encouraging to say to a boy with a skinned knee or wounded pride. Sometimes Demyx found himself wishing that he'd been born into Sora's family.

"Well hey there Demyx! Thanks for keeping an eye on Sora here."

"Oh, no problem sir," Demyx laughed as the big man caught him in a crushing hug, "He's like my little brother."

Demyx shot Sora a little wink, and it was returned just as enthusiastically.

"And where's my little man?"

"Dad!" Sora cried, jumping into his father's arms.

Demyx smiled watching the two's reunion but something caught his eye from the other side of the vehicle's hood. A young blond who looked almost exactly like Sora. The resemblance was almost eerie.

"Hey!" Demyx called, giving a little wave.

"Hi…" the other responded shyly, his deep blue eyes downcast.

"Sora, this here is your step-brother, Roxas," his father explained, sounding somewhat awkward all of a sudden, "He's a little shy, but I think you two have quite a lot in common."

"Hey…" Sora said, sounding rather nervous. He walked up to his near-twin and extended a hand with a massive grin.

"Hello…" Roxas half-whispered, shaking his new brother's hand. He seemed somewhat upset.

"Roxas, this is my friend Demyx. I would have brought Riku and Kairi, but they're busy getting ready for school."

"Oh yeah. School," Roxas mumbled, "I'm supposed to ask you about that… I think I have everything I need, but there was something I needed to ask you about…"

"The uniform? That's easy. I can get you a couple when we get up to the campus."

"Oh yeah! It's a boarding school, right?" Roxas asked, looking a little worried.

"Yep," Demyx answered, "But don't worry. It's really not as bad as you seem to be thinking."

The older boy smiled and Roxas stared up at him, a little surprise glimmering in his beautifully expressive eyes.

"So you go too?"

"Yeah."

"He's a junior!" Sora added excitedly.

"Oh man… I forgot about that!" Demyx admitted, reaching up to run his fingers through the hair that was no longer there. He patted his head almost as if he was looking for it. Every year right before school started, his mother always insisted that he get his hair cut, and every time it was the same unflattering crew-cut. He heaved a massive sigh.

"Hah!" Sora's dad laughed, "Missing that wild mane of yours?"

"Uh-huh!" Demyx moaned dramatically.

He was pleased when everyone including Roxas started laughing. Good. The kid was starting to loosen up some.

"Well… I'm going to go check in with the parental units! I'll see you later Sora, Mr. Harden. It's nice meeting you Roxas."

"Nice meeting you too," Roxas said softly, giving a respectful little bow.

"Thanks for everything Demyx. Tell your mother I said hi," Sora's dad laughed.

"That I will, sir!" he grinned and started his retreat, walking backward a few steps, then turning and falling into a long-legged stride.

"Hey Dem! Wait a minute," Sora called, coming up alongside the older boy, puffing and panting.

"Yeah? What's up?" Demyx asked, coming to an easy stop. Sora staggered and he caught the younger boy easy, pulling him up straight.

"Sorry," Sora panted, "I just… You said I could ask you anything… and you'd do it."

"I did," Demyx acknowledged with a nod.

"Will you take care of Roxas for me?"

"What?" Demyx blurted in his surprise. This time he heard it well enough.

"You're a good friend… you've always been. Can you do that for him?" Sora pleaded, "It's the only time I'll ask you for something like this ever."

Demyx smiled, touched that his young friend would ask something this personal of him.

"Of course."

"Really?" Sora cried, "Thank you Demyx! Thank you so much!"

The young brunette caught him roughly around the neck, hugging him tight. Demyx hugged the other back in earnest.

I only wish you knew how much you mean to me…