DISCLAIMER: Kingdom Hearts doesn't belong to me, yadda, yadda, yadda. You know the drill.

Chapter Two – But It's Better If You Do –


*~*Roxas*~*

I make my way over to my dressing room, man I haven't had to do this in a while.

"Marly! What's the number?" I hear the pink haired man enter the room and sigh,

"It's 'everything I'm not', you will be performing with Kairi and Naminé and because I'm pretty sure you've forgotten you have to wear the black mini-skirt and white halter with the violet suspenders hanging off the skirt. If you have trouble with the extensions ask the girls, you have fifteen minutes Roxy." I sigh and walk over to the rack of clothing and pick the outfit out, waiting for the man to leave. I hear a rustling sound in the corner where all the shoes are and look over to see Marly standing there with a pair of violet six-inch stilettos.

"By the way Roxy, I'm still selling you tonight so where these and remember, think legal." I roll my eyes and push the man out of my dressing room before shrugging out of my street clothes and pulling on the tight, way too short mini-skirt (thank god I wear black briefs to work or I would've had a problem) before pulling the halter over my head and tying it around my neck. I move over to the vanity and sit in front of the mirror, applying eyeliner and a smoky amethyst eye shadow along with a little bit of gloss to my lips before applying the long hair extensions my hair. There's a knock at my door and a gruff voice from behind it,

"You need to go back stage now." I smile and open the door before smiling up the tall red-headed bartender.

"Do I look fuckable Reno?" I ask, twirling in a little circle, the elder man just looks away and nods before walking back toward the bar; I laugh and make my way to the backstage door. It may seem cruel but teasing Reno is so much fun, maybe because he looks like Axel or maybe because it's the only time I get to see him hot and bothered, either way it was always fun. I enter the small backstage area of the club and immediately spot two girls; one red headed and one blonde; they're both wearing outfits similar to my own except with a white skirt and black shirt as well as having hot pink suspenders and heels.

"Roxy! Oh My God, you will not believe who we just saw in the front row!" I raise an eyebrow at the blonde girl as she says that, who the hell could she and Kairi possibly know that could get into the club let alone show up. I watch as the redhead places a hand over her sister's mouth.

"Naminé, I'm sure that Roxas will see for himself and maybe it's best if he doesn't, got it?" Naminé just rolls her eyes and pulls her sisters hand away before looking up at the clock,

"crap Roxy, you've got to get into to position the curtains about to go up." I sigh and walk to the centre of the curtain, what the hell are those two on about? Oh well, it's show time…


*~*Axel*~*

I sigh and slouch down in my seat, right in front of the stage we were here not only five minutes and Dem just up and left, I mean I know he works here but seriously what's with that and to top it off he's been gone nearly an hour. I watch as most of the other patrons make their way to the seats in front of the stage as I hear an announcer,

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry for the short notice but our star tonight Ven is currently absent but in his place we have an old favourite. Roxy!" I'm deafened by all of the shouts and cat calls from the audience; I guess this Roxy's pretty popular. Might as well enjoy the show, I watch as the curtain slowly rises, leaving a lone spotlight in the centre of the stage as I hear a familiar beat come through the speakers I stare in awe as a figure steps into the spotlight and looks up, those eyes, no it can't be…


*~*Roxas*~*

I take a breath and steady myself before looking out at the crowd and beginning the routine and the song, the girls close behind me.

Oh no
Don't go changing
That's what you told me from the start

"I'm Axel, A-X-E-L, got it memorized?" I laughed at the boy in front of me with the flaming red hair and lucid jade green eyes.

"I'm Roxas, R-O-X-A-S, got that memorized?" We both laugh at my use of the other boys catchphrase.

"Cute Roxas, stay that way."

Thought you where something different
That's when it all just fell apart

I smile out at the crowd as I sing, remember all of the times I was with Axel, every time I perform this song, it's almost like I'm performing for him. Because in a way, I think I can relate to the lyrics, being in love with someone but they want someone else, a girl to be exact.

Like you're so perfect
And I can't measure up
Well I'm not perfect
Just all messed up

"What's wrong with me, Nam?" I asked as I sobbed into the blonde girls arms, she pulled me tighter towards her, stroking my hair.

"There's nothing wrong with you Rox." I looked up at her eyes, so similar to my own,

"then why does he want Larxene? Is she perfect to him or am I just too much of a mess?" Naminé shook her head at this,

"Roxas, you may have your problems but so does my brother and honestly I don't know why he's with her, I'm sorry Rox."

I was losing myself to somebody else
But now I see
I don't wanna pretend
So this is the end of you and me

I start really getting into the routine as I hit the chorus, strutting around and owning that stage but I still can't help but feel like crying while I'm doing this, because the only person who would understand is Axel, but he doesn't care, he's got Larxene.

Cause the girl that you want
She was tearing us apart
Cause she's everything
Everything I'm not

"Hey Rox! Wait up!" I sighed and quickened my pace as I kept walking away from Axel, I heard the footfalls getting closer to me and I feel a hand grab my arm,

"Rox, hey why are you walking away from me?" I looked up at him, I guess I really can never stay mad at him, even if I had to find out from his sister that he was dating someone.

"Why didn't you tell me Ax?" I asked as I looked away from him, I heard a soft "oh" from him and when I looked back up I saw, regret, guilt and I think it was longing in those jade eyes.


*~*Axel*~*

I stare in awe as I watch Roxy, no Roxas strut around like he owns that stage and oh boy does own it. If only he knew how he much he means to me, if only he knew how badly I wanted him to be mine, but he'll never see me that way. He will never see me as more than a friend, I accepted that a long time ago but hey, a guy can dream can't he?

I watch as Roxas comes back to the centre of the stage for the final chorus, once he's finished the cheers are almost deafening, I watch as he smirks down at the crowd as the lights go up, he looks me dead in the eye and then I guess he saw that it was me or something because all of a sudden he just dropped his mic and ran like a bat out of hell.

What. The. Fuck?


*~*Roxas*~*

I feel as though I'm about to cry as I run through the winding corridors and down to my dressing room, I run over to the window and climb up the fire escape, I know that I've always wanted him to hear me sing that song but, not here and not like this! I feel a few of the tears fall as I hear someone coming up the fire escape,

"Kairi! I found him!" Naminé slowly makes her way over to me before sitting next to me, I guess it's a family thing that all three of the Kasai siblings are so comforting to me, either that or I'm just easily consoled.

"Roxy, what's wrong?" I hear Kairi ask as she comes over and sits in front of Nami and me, I just shake my head as the tears fall freely.

"Sometimes I wish I smoked so I could slip away outside and cry and no one would realise." (1)

"Rox, come on, talk to us please?" I look at Nami and she smiles at me,

"you guys know why I sing that song right?" they both nod "and you both knew that your brother was in the crowd, I guess I'm just scared, scared that he might work out why I sing that song, I wanted him to work things out his own but not like this. He has Larxene anyway, so I know that it'll never be reciprocated, he's straight for god's sake!"

"Sunshine?" the three of us jump as we hear a masculine voice down at the window, I look down, directly into Axel's eyes…


A/N: Okay, I know I said 2-3 days but I forgot that it was Christmas and I've had to work lately but either way here's chapter 2! *does little dance*

(1): Anyone who can recognise this quote is allowed to chose which chapter Xion shows up in, the only condition it must be after chapter 4. The lines not that hard if you watch HBO.