A/N: Sorry for the long waiting. My medical condition wasn't too good recently and I was taking some time off last month for the treatment. Anyway. Thank you all who reviewed and fav'd this story, I promise I'll keep this story going. And I also want to specially thank XNobodyXSomebodyX for giving me so much support during my illness!

Emptiness

02

"Roxas, do you know where Sora is now?"

The silver-haired Student Council president called the blond boy's name and stopped him in the hallway. It seemed like he was looking for Sora for some rather important things.

"How should I know?"

Shrugged, the blond teen replied coldly, as if the asked person wasn't his "brother" but just a total stranger who had nothing to do with him. Riku scowled at his answer, but then the older teen just walked away without saying anything in return.

Hmph. Arrogant ass.

He didn't like Riku. No, he loathed that guy. That guy had taken away too much from him. Xion…his promise with Xion…his memory, the only thing that truly "belonged" to himself…and, his freedom.

Riku had destroyed everything of his and he did that all for Sora.

Sora.

He didn't like Sora either. No, he hated Sora. Even at the time he was still a so-called Nobody who was supposed to have no feelings, he just knew he hated Sora, extremely hated him, even though they said he didn't "have" a heart.

Sora.

He hated Sora.

Everything was because of him. Everything. His grief, Xion's grief, Namine's grief. If it was not due to Sora's very existence, none of them would have existed, none of their pain and sorrow would have existed.

Only if Sora had not been an overly kind-hearted idiot who would sacrifice himself for others without a slightest hesitation…

Only if Sora had not stabbed his own chest with that heart-unlocking keyblade to save someone who trapped in his heart…

Only if Sora had not shared his new-born heart with some stranger whose heart was shattered…

None of their tragedies would have happened!

He hated Sora.

Among all the people in this universe, no one other than Sora would make him feel so much hatred.

Roxas unconsciously bit his lower lip, tightening his fists. After the silver-haired president disappeared from his sight, he turned around, walking towards the opposite direction where Riku went, walking towards the small garden yard located behind the school building.

Usually kids wouldn't come to this small yard during the lunch break. Roxas kept walking towards the tall cherry tree at the corner.

A brunet boy was sleeping under that tree. He was sitting under the tree shade, his back leaning against the trunk, his cerulean eyes were now tightly closed, his eyebrows were frowning. It didn't look like he's having a good dream.

Roxas always knew. He knew that Sora would come to this place alone during the lunch break to avoid everyone else, to take his little nap. Roxas was quietly watching the sleeping brunet teen, couldn't help but recall the memory when he first met the real him. In that flower-like white pot, there was a peacefully sleeping boy…

However things have changed. The innocence he had seen on that young sleeping face at that time, has completely gone now.

Roxas didn't loose his tight fists. He felt the impulse again to wake the brunet boy by punching him on the face. But he didn't do that, just like every other time. Every time in the end he was just quietly standing here, quietly watching his Other's sleeping face.

Sora's frown turned deeper. His face became twisted as if he was suffering from pains.

Sora, what kind of dream are you having right now?

The blond boy asked him in a whisper.

Huff. Huff. Huff.

The young keyblade hero was panting heavily, forehead covered with sweats. He was too worn out that he had to use his keyblade pushing against the floor of the Awakening Station to support his own weight.

Too strong. This guy was fucking too strong. The bastard was probably the toughest among all the enemies he had ever encountered. Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas, even Sephiroth, they were just a bunch of jokes compared to this psycho.

Heeheehee…not bad Sora, not bad at all. You seem have improved a lot than last time.

The black-haired male didn't stop mocking him, even though himself's situation was no better than his. Half of his body has turned back into thick dark aura, his keyblade Void Gear was slowly fading into dark lights too. But he was still mocking him, still wearing that sick annoying shit-eating grin on his face. The cruel glister in his icy golden eyes was infectious to Sora, still exciting him, making him feel even more bloodthirsty.

Just like the intense battle they just had was merely a warm-up. His craving, his desire of fighting didn't withdraw a bit but grew even stronger and stronger. Maybe Vanitas was right after all. Maybe he was indeed 'enjoying the every bit of it'…?

No! Vanitas! You're the one put that thought in my head, but don't you dare to control my heart!

Hahahah! Don't be silly Sora. Your heart? That cheap, inferior, broken little heart of yours holds no meaning to me.

The pupils of Vanitas' golden eyes suddenly contracted into thin lines like feline. As if he knew what the dark male was going to say next, Sora immediately felt himself engulfed by fear and panic.

You know it just as well as I do, there is only ONE thing that I want from you.

"Ah!"

Roxas almost jumped in surprise when Sora suddenly opened his cerulean eyes, not expecting him to wake up so soon, unlike the usual case.

Cerulean eyes blinked couple time as they met another pair of identical azure eyes. Within a next second, Sora suddenly reached out and grabbed Roxas's wrist, making the blond yelp in reflex, "Let go off me Sora!"

"Roxas? Is it really you? How'd you know I'm here?" Finally regained his clear mind, Sora immediately released his grasp when he realized that he was holding the other boy's hand. "Err, oops, sorry, I didn't mean it." He tried to put on some idiotic laugh to ease the embarrassment.

The blond didn't say anything, he just scowled, then turned on his heel.

"Roxas…" Sora remained still, simply watching the blond walking away, he didn't understand why he still called his name. It's meaningless.

"Riku is looking for you." The blond teen didn't stop upon Sora's calling. He just left that one sentence before he completely disappeared from Sora's sight.

Sora scratched the back of his head couple times, trying to get Roxas's last sentence. His lips finally curled into a small weak smile. He got up and dusted himself off, then started heading to the school building.

What he didn't know was that, the other boy who was walking towards the same direction had lost in his own thoughts.

Roxas couldn't help but wonder, what was that golden glister he saw in Sora's eyes at the moment the brunet boy opened his eyes.

A/N: Well, I have to say Roxie is not an ass, he's just being a bit emo and has some problems he need to figure out first. If you catch the drift in the first part of this chapter, you know he actually does care about Sora right? xD Any comments?