DISCLAIMER

I do NOT own any of the Kingdom Hearts I & II rights.

Warning: Shonen-ai, boys kiss & hugs, language below.

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Chapter 9


-- Next morning --

Axel was gazing closely at the sleeping Roxas, smiling.

“Good Morning.” The redhead said as he saw the blonde slowly gaining half conscience.

The blonde ruffled the covers as he turned away, but kept his eyes closed, “Hm……. Good Morning…”

Then Roxas recognized the voice and slowly fluttered open his dark lashes. He turned sharply to find Axel grinning smugly at him. He jumped straight up and screamed, “Ah------!! Yesterday night…”

“We were asleep.” Axel replied.

“What about Uncle?”

“He sleeps in his own room.”

“That’s too irresponsible!”

“You’re wrong… He must’ve helped us get to bed when he saw us both asleep, bro.”

“He should’ve woke us up…!”

Axel laughed, and leaned close to Roxas’ ear again, “You said something in your dream.”

Roxas stared at Axel with traces of fear in his cerulean eyes, “No way…”

“You said… ‘I think I’ve fallen in love with Axel.’” Axel grinned.

The poor blonde boy screamed again, jumping up from the bed and ran towards the door. “That’s impossible! Oh my God!” He screamed as he rushed out of the room into the bathroom.


Roxas splashed himself with tap water in the bathroom. Waaaaah~~~~ He whined in his mind, I slept with him in the same bed….! He saw my sleeping face…! Why did I let him get so many chances?! ‘You said something in your dream. You said… I think I’ve fallen in love with Axel.’ These words echoed in Roxas’ mind, “No! No!” The blonde shook his head frantically, trying to get the thought out of his mind. He turned to the mirror and looked at himself. But… I’m acting really weird, he thought, that honest expression of Axel’s wouldn’t go away from my mind… Why am I panicking like this…?

-- At the entrance of university --

A limo drove by casually, stopping next to the staircase. The driver got out to open the passenger door, revealing a Wakka in suit. Wakka got out of the car and smiled at the school, proceeding forward; Roxas was sitting next to him. Axel promptly opened the door and left his front passenger’s seat, he looked at Roxas who was still sitting inside, “Hey, get off.” Roxas bit his bottom lip and left the car, walking next to Axel. As they walked up the stairs, though, people gathered and stared at them.

“Hey! Isn’t this a little bit too eye-catching?” Roxas asked, frowning.

“That’s why I said I don’t want to.” Axel replied and yelled at Wakka, “Hey old man! I’m telling ya, this is the first time and the last time!”

Wakka showed a tint of hurt in his expression, but saw the crowd around and continued walking. Roxas looked around and ran nervously away. Axel sighed and walked.

-- In classroom --

“So that’s why you came to school with the Principle and Axel?” Sora asked.

“It’s just an ordinary carpool ride…” Roxas defended, “Uncle dragged me along…”

“Carpool?!” Sora echoed loudly, “What?! So you stayed in Axel’s house yesterday night-?” Roxas covered Sora’s mouth immediately, shushing him.

“Be quiet!” The blonde hissed, and tipped his head towards Riku who has been listening all along. Roxas slowly let go of Sora, but soon Sora shouted again, “Axel’s house-”, causing Roxas to cover his mouth again. Sora nodded nervously, indicating that he will be quiet and took Roxas’ hand away, “What…?! But you just got back with Riku… You two even went to a concert… How come now you’re bugged by Axel again?”

Roxas sighed, “Oh forget it.” And walked off towards the classroom door.

“Hey! Where’re you going?” Sora inquired.

“I just passed by a tutor,” Roxas replied without turning back, “He asked me to go to the library and get the reference books for the next class.”

“Oh.”

“Is it really a big deal for Roxas to go live in the house of his future father?” Olette asked Sora, “They’re gonna be a family anyway, so it’s ordinary…”

“Well normally it should be like that,” Sora replied, “But don’t forget, there’s another dangerous person in that same house, Axel. Didn’t he take away Roxas’ first kiss?!” These words ringed in Riku’s ears. His fury grew and he slapped his desk before storming away, causing the other two to stare at him.


In the library, Roxas collected books absent-mindedly. Is it just me…? He thought, how come I don’t want to let Riku hear anything about Axel? It’s like it’s too unfair for him… He heaved a sigh and turned away from the shelf, only to find Riku a few feet in front of him, glaring at him furiously.

“Riku, what is it?” Roxas asked nervously.

“What should I do?” Riku inquired coldly, “Even though you didn’t hand it to me personally, but when I saw that love letter, when I know that my crush and I are in love with each other, do you know how happy I was? But,” Riku paused, “I saw my crush kissing another man.” Riku moved towards Roxas slowly.

“Th-That was Axel suddenly forced a kiss on me…” Roxas tried to defend himself while backing away from Riku.

“That night at the concert,” Riku accused as he continued moving closer in, “He was the only one you saw in your eyes. It’s like I didn’t even exist.” Riku glanced as a gesture of thinking, “Wasn’t that our first date?!”

“I-I-I didn’t do it on purpose…” Roxas breathed erratically with fear.

“Why didn’t you think of MY feelings?!” Riku suddenly yelled, causing the blonde boy to gasp fearfully. The silver-head’s eyes are cold and icy, “I’m angry, I’m jealous, and I’m suffering. I felt myself changed strangely. So what do you think I should do?” Riku was now glowering at Roxas’ azure eyes fiercely, “Even a good person can get tired of being nice.” The chilly words made Roxas dropped all the books.

Roxas recalled, I could still remember the first time I saw Riku…

A lady was walking down the stairs with papers in her hands; she was pushed over by someone and all the papers fell onto the stairs. Riku came by and saw her, and ran up to help her collect the pieces. I passed by and wanted to help, but then I saw Riku taking my place before me. ‘What a nice guy.’ Was the first thought coming into my mind. Ever since I know of his existence, I know that he’s a gentleman. And because of that, I fall in love with him…


Sora was walking back and forth anxiously, “Olette, why’s Rox taking so long just to get some books?”

“That expression on Riku’s face just now…” Olette reminded, “Could he have gone to find Roxas?”

“Eh…. Olette you’ve became smarter!” Sora teased, “I didn’t think that you could think of it. But if that’s true, then Riku does have his own style…” Sora smiled, but the smile faded away, “H-How come I can feel an aura of anger…?” He asked Olette.

“T-There is a troublemaker…”

Axel was scooting on top of a desk next to them, “What are you guys talking about?”


Back in the library, Roxas was running away with fear; but a hand reached out from a row of shelf and grabbed him into the isle.

“You do like me don’t you?” Riku asked emotionlessly, his hands grabbing Roxas’ arms tightly. Roxas looked up frightened at Riku, no… the blonde thought, Riku should be gentle and nice…

“P-Please stop this, you’re scaring me…” Roxas panted, “This isn’t the you that I know… You won’t do something like this-”

“What kind of person do you think I am?” The silver-head asked in turn, “Don’t assume anything when you know nothing. Don’t force your idealism on me.” He stared at Roxas’ coldly, and leaned in to force a kiss on him, only to be stopped by Axel’s voice.

“Riku.”

“…Axel.” Roxas said with relief.

“If you want to do this kind of stuff, at least find a quiet place.” Axel said coldly to Riku, “Or else, you’ll be disturbed by idiots like me.”

Sora and Olette arrived at the library, both scared.
“Please just calm down…” Sora begged quietly.
“Oh no…” Olette said with a tone of anxiety, “Are they going to fight?”
Riku turned towards Axel, and walked towards him, giving death glares; but they brushed shoulders and Riku left the library. Sora looked at Riku anxiously as he left. Axel stood next to Roxas afterwards, “I put your lunch into your classroom. Dad made it for you.” Roxas didn’t reply. “Are you listening?” Axel inquired again. The blonde only ran out of the place and dashed outside, until he reaches picnic benches under a tree. Sora and Olette followed.

“… We didn’t go there to disturb you purposely…” Sora said timidly.

“But we lost to Axel’s scary aura…” Olette sighed, “So we let him go.”

“Ah! We’ll find another chance to let you and Riku proceed smoothly.” Sora cheered.

“No.” Roxas denied, “I actually felt relieved… For some reason, Riku became really frightening. I told him that he isn’t who I think he is, but he ended up yelling at me. I feel like I can’t see what I like about him anymore… Should I keep on fixing my gaze on that stranger…? So when Axel appeared, I feel so much relieved.”

“Roxas… You can’t be…” Olette started.

“Wait.” Sora interrupted, he looked at Roxas with the faintest tint of disbelief and anger and moved closer to him, “Roxas, do you know that you just said something really cruel to Riku?! What is love? In this process, Riku doesn’t know what you’re thinking either just like you don’t understand his feelings! But in the end, what did he get?” Sora was frowning and scolding Roxas now, “You’ll just end up hurting the other if you act so stupid and unorganized like this!” Roxas looked down in shame. Sora continued, “I really feel like an idiot, to worry and help you like this. Goodbye!” And Sora ran off with anger.

“Wait! Sora!” Olette exclaimed with confusion.

-- Gym --

“What’s wrong with Captain?” One of the teammates asked, “He feels so scary.”

“I don’t know either,” Another replied, “He’s mad about something. He just yelled at people that were late just now.”

“My gosh, can he not bring personal feelings upon the team? Gee…”

“Don’t you think it’s because of a crush?”

Axel came by, and walked to Riku, “Rikie, do you have something to tell me?” Riku didn’t reply. Axel frowned and crossed his arms, “You; your personality is really bad. You think you’re useless, so you just give up; plus all the stress, you’re definitely gonna become a baldy.” Riku still didn’t say a word; Axel leaned closer and teased, “Roxas isn’t here anyway, you don’t need to pretend to be the nice Riku.”

“What did you just say?” Riku asked suddenly and plainly.

“I said, you don’t need to pretend to be nice.” Axel sniggered.

Unexpectedly, Riku grabbed Axel’s collar, and swung a hard punch at the corner of the redhead’s lips. The team members who were resting on the balcony hurried downstairs to stop the fight. A blood drop dripped down from a corner of Axel’s lips, he stood back up, and chuckled.

“Why didn’t you dodge?” Riku asked simply, “What if I really beat you?!”

“Nothing,” Axel stilled laughed, “I just wanted to see your angry face.”

“Are you treating me like an idiot?!” Riku hollered, “You popped out of nowhere, interrupting us while we’re doing something. If it weren’t for you, Roxas and I are together by now! You pestilent person; you aren’t good enough to be his brother! Are you kidding?! And what right do you have to call me Rikie?!”

“… The fact that I like you.” Axel joked.

“Bastard!” Riku got mad at it and jabbed his knee onto Axel’s chest, then gave the redhead a revolved kick and pushed him on the floor. Axel rolled a bit, and angled his elbow to support himself; Riku’s assaults didn’t cease his teasing, “Rikie’s angry face have so much more personality!” Riku roared and ran to Axel, swinging a fist to Axel’s face but stopped abruptly at about 3 inches away; Riku somehow calmed down and looked away.

“Do you feel better now?” Axel asked knowingly, “I won’t apologize to you, because I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.” He chuckled and stood up, patting Riku on his back and walked away; Riku didn’t move an inch. Slowly, his fist eased up and he felt relieved.

-- At the playground --

Roxas sat in a swing miserably. Even Sora doesn’t care for me anymore, he sighed, looking up at the moon, the cold and lonely moon is just like me… I want to disappear… He buried his face into his small hands, weeping quietly.


At home, Axel slumped into the sofa tiredly; Wakka came by and asked, “Eh, Axel you’re back? Here give me your jacket; I’ll hang it up for you… Hey where’s Roxie?”

Axel looked back at Wakka, “Huh? He hasn’t come home yet?”

Wakka creased his eyebrows, “No, I thought he was with you.”

Axel thought for a moment, then headed for his bike.


Axel stopped his bike at the playground, looking at the curled up Roxas. He got off the bike and sat at a rail across from Roxas.

“I was just wondering who this brat that’s crying alone in a swing is,” He noted, “I didn’t think that it was my little brother.” Roxas wiped his tears away and looked up to find Axel grinning. I really don’t want to see this guy, the blonde’s first thought came through, why does he have to appear at this time?

“Why are you always crying?”

“I’m not.”

“No matter how I see it, you’re crying.”

“I’m not!”

“You are-”

“I’m not.”

“Is it because of me?”

Roxas sighed, “No… It’s my own problem… Why would I change into this? I hurt others just because I wanted to protect myself. I’m really selfish, aren’t I? I didn’t realize it until today… The me in the past was just hiding the bad parts of me very well, until someone break the truth out and let me know how bad I am.”

“And then?” Axel asked, “How are you going to react to their hope in you? Your friends really care for you.”

“I think they hate me,” Roxas shook his head in denial.

Axel chuckled, “I didn’t know that my brother is an idiot of zero IQ… Nobody will warn someone that they don’t care about. The words that sound most cruel are words that they say for your own good and the most honest ones; because they believe that you’ll understand.”

Roxas looked at Axel with awe. Somehow, he thought, my feelings have calmed down…

“Axel, did you come here to pick me up on purpose?”

Axel looked away embarrassedly, “Are you kidding? I’m not that bored.” He got on the bike, “I’m starving, let’s go home. Get on!” Roxas smiled silently, and stepped on two small pads added at the sides of the back wheel for another passenger; he put his hands firmly on Axel’s shoulders. Just now, he thought, I still felt lonely and sad; but now, I feel so warm inside.

Axel started biking and joked, “That’s so heavy! How much do you really weight?!”

“Okay, okay. Sorry.”

The redhead biked and reached the road downhill, then he stopped and laughed as he looked down at the fast and dangerous road, “If you don’t wanna die, then you better hold onto me tighter!” The bike started downhill, causing Roxas to wrapped his arms over Axel’s chest as he squeaked, “Waaaah~~! Ah~!” Axel was biking along the road, tilting the bike side to side occasionally, making Roxas’ jump. Out of nowhere, a car came rushing…