Author's note: I bet some of you thought that I added another chapter to my completed story, huh? Nope. The sequel to Twisted Sister, The Sound of Your Voice is Soothing, is up, and it has gotten a depressing number of hits and reviews. So, for the people who alerted this story, but haven't seen TSYVS (That looks weird), this is for you. I know that some of you are on vacation, so this'll be a nice surprise when you get back.
Disclaimer: I dreamt that I owned Kingdom Hearts. Too bad it wasn't real.
Warnings: I don't think there's anything offensive in the bit I'm going to show…
--
It was close to six years ago that things changed for us...
-
"Cloud! Roxas! Naminé!"
Our mother called us into the living, looking anxious.
"Your father and I have an announcement to make. We have been reassigned to Atlantica for work. On Monday, we will be moving there."
Naminé's eyes were wide and scared.
"Just… you?"
Our mother nodded.
"We thought it would be wrong to uproot you three from the only city and friends that you've ever known. So, you'll be moving in with your aunt and uncle Hikari."
Naminé, Cloud and I all spoke at the same time.
"And cousin Sora?"
Again she nodded.
"Everyone agrees that it's for the best. Especially since Sora's best friend moved to the Destiny Islands."
Sora and Riku were neighbors and best friends since Sora's birth. Last year, Riku's family moved away. Sora cried for days. That's when Naminé introduced Sora to her best friend Kairi. He's been a lot better since then. Kairi seems to have that effect on people (it was only a matter of course that Nami introduced her to Aimi, and they became friends). Anyway, none of us really minded living with Sora. Naminé and I were close to him, and Cloud wanted to protect him. The only bad part of the arrangement was the indefinite separation from our parents.
It was a Friday afternoon when they told us, and we were moved in with the Hikari's on Sunday. Cloud and Sora shared a room, while Naminé and I each got our own. I could have shared with Sora, but Cloud said that I would appreciate having my own room later on. We didn't see our parents again until Christmas.
Anyway, after we had parted with our parents, I went to meet Hayner, Pence and Olette. I had promised to hang out with them after we were settled in, since moving had caused me to cancel our Saturday plans. Hayner, Pence, Olette and I met in preschool. I think it was Seifer who brought us together. He was picking on Pence, and the rest of us all went to his defense. We've been together ever since. It was similar experience for Kairi and Naminé. A common cause brought them together, and they just connected from there.
So, once I had the chance to explain the situation to them, Hayner was angry with my parent's boss, Olette was sympathetic, and Pence was just glad that we weren't leaving Hollow Bastion. Me? I don't know how I felt. I was just numb. I think I was just overwhelmed. I couldn't yell or cry like Cloud and Naminé respectively. Sometimes, I just sat and stared at the wall. I felt empty and alone, when I could even feel at all. Then one day, Sora tapped me on the shoulder while I was staring at the wall.
"Roxas, let's play the new Mega Crash Brothers."
I nodded, already feeling less numb.
"Sure Sora, if you'll let me be Chain."
He grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
"Sure! Let's go!"
I don't know what was different that day. I just felt better. I let Sora have the last piece of pizza at dinner that night.
--
AN: There's your preview. Now go read the real thing!