Ok, so im reuploading the first chapter because its been so long since I first uploaded this. Now that im done with Refrain Boy and took time off from writing, i want to continue this story. Like I probably mentioned already, this is gonna go a different route compared to RB so prepare yourselves.

Anyways, I do hope you enjoy this story!

DISCLAIMER: All Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and The World Ends With You content do not belong to me. Rayne belongs to the lovely Arisa Kiryuu. Scarlet, however, belongs to me.

Scarlet

"Scar~"

"If you're going to bring that up again, Axel, I will end you."

"Jeez, you don't even know what I was gonna say." I sighed, lowering the volume on the TV, and turned to look at him standing at the kitchen entrance. "Wanna help me make a cake for Vanitas since it is his birthday. It'll be a birthday surprise from the both of us!"

"The hell? We don't even have birthday presents for him. Besides, I think I remember him saying he doesn't like surprises."

"I can think of one birthday present for him." He winked at me as he said that and I felt the blood rush to my face.

"If I had thought of helping you, you can forget about it now, jerk face."

"Aww come on, don't be like that." I ignored him. "Scar, I'm sorryyy, please help meee."

"No."

"This'll bound to make his day, don't you care about that?"

"No."

"Ouch, so whatever you two have going on is just purely carnal, gotcha." I got the closest pillow and threw it at him but it fell down just short from where he was standing. "Look, Scar… Vanitas says he doesn't like surprises but he actually really does. He's just like that one anime term you and Sora use often."

"Tsundere?"

"Bingo! That's the one!" I tried not to laugh but my composure was starting to crack. "You're allowed to laugh, woman." Goddamn it!

"Fine, I'll help you make the damn cake." I stood up, turning off for the TV as I headed into the kitchen. I stopped cold in my tracks as I saw just how much disaster one man could make. "The hell happened here?! Did a fucking tornado just come through here or something?! How the fuck is it possible that you just did this right now?!" He grinned like a child.

"That's why I wanted your help! You should know I can't do anything in the kitchen without making a mess!"

"Oh my god Axel, go get the broom or something. We can't do shit in a place like this." I got whatever was available and clean to start working on the cake while I had Axel do all the cleaning around me. He came back, wearing a bandanna to hold back his hair, a strange apron I don't even know where he got from, gloves and a face mask. "I want you to clean but I need to ask… what the ever loving fuck are you wearing?"

"I thought it'd be funny to wear this." Seven years. He's older by seven years but I swear he's like a five year old sometimes.

"So, when does Vanitas get back?"

"He said he'd be here late. So like…" He turned to look at the time, "Probably almost midnight."

"Where'd he go this time?"

"Somethin' about a wedding I think? I'm not sure, didn't really pay attention."

"Some help you are."

"Hey, at least I care about his happiness!" I shot him a glare.

"Would you care to explain what exactly you mean about that?"

"Nope. Just gonna keep doing my thing here." Axel went silent for a while as I finished up with the cake batter and got the oven ready. "Hey, Scar…" I turned to look at him, letting him know I was listening to whatever he needed to say. "Ever feel like…" He scratched the back of his head, "… you know what, forget I said anything."

"You ok, Ax?"

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Let's finish this cake!" I didn't believe him one bit but I let the subject go. We continued with what we were doing. Axel finished with cleaning and then helped me by placing the cake batter in the oven. During the time we waited, we debated over what or how to decorate it. We were far from experts in pastries, unlike Kairi, but I at least knew the basics. That and my handwriting is legible, even if it is in cursive.

The hours passed and we didn't realize just how late it really was. It wasn't until we heard Vanitas walking up the stairs outside our apartment with his keys dangling. We hurried to clean ourselves up and turn off the lights, waiting patiently for him to come inside.

He walked in silently, leaving his things on the couch, and started to make his way into the kitchen. That's when Axel and I turned on the kitchen lights and jumped out.

"SURPRISE!"

"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! DO YOU TWO WANT ME TO HAVE A FUCKING HEART ATTACK?!" He had his hand over his heart, gripping at his shirt. Axel was the only one to burst out laughing.

"Your face was priceless oh my god!" He toppled over, tears forming in his eyes as he continued to laugh.

"I oughta punch you, you bastard! You know I don't like surprises! I'm more surprised you got Scar to play along!"

"I was more forced but ok. You should've seen the kitchen before I helped him." I shrugged and waited for Axel to stop laughing. "Anyways, enough of that. It's your birthday so we made you a cake." I held out the cake which was covered in chocolate frosting and had Happy 23rd Birthday Vani written on it.

"The both of you made this?"

"Yeah!"

"No." Vanitas turned to look at me. "I made it. Axel helped me clean. Though it was his idea." I saw him look at the cake in front of him again and I swear, even if just a glimpse, I saw him smile softly. "We only made you a cake though. We didn't get you any presents."

"I thought of one but Scar threw a pillow at me before I could even say what it was." Don't ask just please don't as-

"What were you thinking of then?" Dammit.

"I just thought Scarlet should be the one to give you a gift if you know what I mean." I wanted to leave, just lock myself in my room and hide from everyone. That was the only thing Axel will never let me forget. Vanitas continued the conversation nonchalantly.

"If she doesn't want to then leave her alone, bro. I'm fine with just the cake to be honest." We both looked at each other, coming to a silent agreement.

"Ok~" Axel sat down on one of our chairs for the dining table we had. "So, we gonna eat that or are you two just gonna stand there and undress each other with your eyes?" I quickly looked away, placing the cake on the table and going into the kitchen to get plates and forks. We ended up staying up till after midnight just talking and joking around.

~•~

I found myself laying down next to Vanitas on his bed after I woke up. I quickly sat up, realizing I wasn't fully clothed. I tried to recollect what happened after we all went to sleep. I clearly remember going to my room but I keep drawing a blank after that. I felt the body next to me start to stir and I tried to get up and leave quickly.

I tried because as soon as I was going to, I felt a hand grab my wrist….

"Where you off to in such a hurry?" He opened one of his eyes slightly and looked at me.

"I've got class today. I shouldn't be here in the first place anyways."

"But we had so much fun last night~" Even though most of his face was covered by his pillow, I could still see the smirk form on his lips.

"Too bad I don't remember any of it." I deadpanned and glanced at him. He turned his face towards the pillow and I noticed his smirk was replaced by a frown. He let go of me and didn't say anything after that.

In all honesty, I felt my head pulsing the entire day. I couldn't even concentrate in class. I stalled on my way home, not really wanting to listen to Axel alluding to whatever relationship Van and I had and not really wanting to deal with Vanitas either.

I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I took it out to check who was calling me. Rayne?

"Hey, what's up?"

"I'm at the apartment to pick up a few things." There was a quick pause. "Vani's brooding…" I sighed. "Did something happen?"

"Um… Not really."

"Tell me."

"Don't wanna talk about it right now."

"… where are you right now?"

"I'm just walking around. Still nearby the university."

"You wanna... meet up at Kai's place? We can talk there." I sighed again.

"Ok, sure. See you there then." I hung up quickly. I was trying very hard to remember what exactly happened last night but the more I kept thinking about it, the more my head hurt. I wasn't one to give up easily but I couldn't stand the headache any longer.

I stood in front of Kairi's apartment, waiting patiently for a reply from Ray to see if she was here already. I loved Kairi, I really did. But I didn't want her knowing about this part of my personal life. I finally saw Rayne appear from the corner of my eye.

"Have you been waiting long?" I shook my head.

"I just got here actually." I saw relief wash over her face as she opened the front door.

"Kai isn't here so we can talk freely." She motioned me to sit down on the sofa. "So, go on. Tell me why Vani is all broody."

"Honestly, I don't even know." I looked away but my headache was worsening, making me flinch slightly.

"Hey, you ok..?" She sat closer, waiting for me to answer.

"I've…" I took a deep breath before continuing. "Lately I've been having a hard time remembering about certain things. Something like that happened earlier and I may have hurt Van's feelings because of it."

"Details, Scar. Stop beating around the bush." I stared at Rayne. She may be my best friend but it doesn't really make talking about this any easier. Especially after she actually happened to walk in on Vanitas and I doing that. I felt mortified when I found out she did.

"I… We were celebrating Van's birthday yesterday and everything went well. When I woke up though, I was in Van's room with hardly any clothes on and I don't remember why I was there or what happened." Rayne started to fidget slightly but waited for me to continue. "Vani said something but I shot him down almost immediately and I haven't really talked to him all day after that."

"You two are hopeless."

"What?"

"No, it's nothing. So nothing serious had happened then?"

"Like I said, not sure."

"Woman, stop running away." I was stunned. What? I had absolutely no idea what she meant but it was clear she wasn't going to explain.

"I'm… gonna go home now then… bye Ray." She leaned forward and gave me a hug.

"You'll figure something out, hun. I'm sure of it." She let me go and I gave her a smile. When I stood up, however, everything around me begin spinning. I felt my body fall and all I remembered after was darkness surrounding me.

Please leave a review! I'd much appreciate it!