Cornered

Kingdom Hearts and its characters do not belong to me.

So last month my little brother broke my violin and I've been violinless since then cause it couldn't be fixed properly DX But today I ordered me a new one so I'm a happy girl! XD Should be here the first week of January! XD And after I tune it and everything, the first thing I'm gonna play is Danse Macabre! Love that song! I remember playing it for the first time in high school and I was like what the hell is this shit! But now it rolls off of the fingers like it's nothing! XD

Hah! Finally got far enough ahead in drawing the story so now I'll be able to update more frequently! You have no idea how many PM's I've gotten demanding to know what happened to my fast updates. Apparently they didn't read my AN at the bottom of the first chapter but oh well.

Yay! Axel's back in this one! After Roxas, Axel is by far my favorite character! I mean with his eyes and his tattoos and his attitude and his use of fire and his sadness at Roxas not remembering him and his… I'm rambling. I could talk about Kingdom Hearts for hours so I'll stop now.

AkuRoku~~

I suddenly break through the other side of the snow bank and I'm lying on Sora and Riku's lumpy coach. I'm drenched in sweat and my heart is thudding erratically. I push myself up into a sitting position and look around me. Filled with foreboding, I waited for something to happen.

Nothing moved.

The malevolent creature of my father didn't fall down upon me. No luminous eyes shined in the dark. No shadows swarmed. Nothing bad happened at all.

Aside from me, Sora, and Riku the apartment was empty. Nothing was out to get to me. I was safe.

I fell back down onto the couch with a heavy sigh of relief. I leaned my head back into the couch and shut my eyes; waiting for my heart to regain its steady rhythm. Suddenly, something cold and slick touched my cheek and I fell with a yelp of surprise onto the floor.

I glared up at Sora who was leaning over the back of the couch with a bottle of water extended towards me. I saw the amusement in his eyes but he held back his laughter. Good thinking on his part because I was considering violence if so much as a chuckle escaped his lips.

"Man, I didn't mean to scare you Roxas. Bad dream again?"

I snatched the bottle out of his hand and chugged half the bottle in one gulp before dignifying him with a response.

"Yea, well you never make a sound when you're walking around. It's fucking creepy Sora. And yea, I had the dream again except this time I ended up in a river of blood with a shark… It's always the same beginning and ending though…"

I chugged the rest of the water and plopped down onto the couch. Sora sat down next to me and I remembered him saying that we would talk. The water bottle crackled as I squeezed it in my hand, waiting for the unwanted onslaught of questions.

Sora looked at the pulverized water bottle then raised an eyebrow at me.

"You alright Roxas?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my empty hand and growled through clenched teeth.

"Just get it over with Sora…"

I pushed myself off of the couch and headed into the kitchen so I could throw the bottle away. Then I leaned against the kitchen counter and waited.

Sora sighed and looked at me pleadingly.

"Roxas… Why won't you talk to me? We're best friends. I tell you everything so why can't you just trust me a little bit and con—"

"Because you can't possibly understand Sora! You don't get the shit beat out of you day after fucking day! You're father's not crazy and you're mother didn't kill herself because she couldn't handle raising you! I've told you all you need to know! So you can take the pity party/ counseling and shove it on someone who actually wants it! "

I was gripping the edge of the counter so hard that my knuckles turned white. I felt bad for yelling at Soar but it was true. He couldn't possibly understand so I didn't see the point in laying any more of my problems on him.

Sora didn't feel the same way. His gaze set into a steely glare and an uncharacteristic edge touched his voice.

"Well Riku and I offered to let you move in here but you said no without even thinking about it and we haven't seen you since until last night. You're keeping Namine and Kairi in the dark so they are worried sick but we can't tell them anything according to you. I'm fucking trying Roxas but all you do is push your friends away when things get worse then they already are! We want to understand Sora. We want to help but it's hard to help someone who disappears for a fuckin month now isn't it?"

If guilt was tangible I would've sagged under the weight he had put on me. I knew I had been out of touch with my friends but I hadn't realized a month had passed… It wasn't like I had completely disappeared though…

"It's not like that… I just needed some space but I'm here… You guys are still my friends…"

Sora snorted in disbelief and I had to look away from the bitter disappointment in his eyes.

"Friends? Right… So you know what happened to Namine last week right?"

He looked at me expectantly but I had no clue what had happened but I knew it wasn't anything bad. If something bad had happened I would've heard… would've remembered… right?

"That's what I thought. Well for your information, she got her acceptance letter from that art school she's been dreaming about for years. We celebrated the day after she got her letter but you were getting some much needed space apparently. Obviously much more important."

She was an amazing artist and deserved to go there. I remembered her saying something about being wait-listed a few months ago… I guess a spot opened up…? I couldn't remember the last time I had talked to Namine…

I'll call her later… Apologize for acting like a jerk…

"Oh, and just so you know, Kairi thinks you hate her now cause you've been such an ass lately. Called me yesterday in tears about you yelling at her to leave you the fuck alone. How could you do that Roxas? She was worried about you. We're all worried about you. You might be acting like an ass but we're still your friends Roxas. When are you going to realize we're the only ones you've got? You need to stop pushing us aw—"

"Alright I fucking get it Sora! Okay? I'm sorry! Is that what you want to hear? Or do you want a fuckin formally written apology letter? Heaven forbid that I want to be alone cause I don't to drag you guys down with my problems right? I get that you're worried and want to help but the sooner you realize there is nothing you can do, the better. He's my father Sora. I can't escape him and you definitely can't save me from him. I'm gonna be bound by him until he dies or he kills me! Whichever happens first! So excuse me for not wanting to drag you guys into that! And I really doubt including the girls in this will do any good."

My voice cracked as I finished my tirade. I wasn't looking at Sora but I could feel the pity coming off of him in waves. It was all too much. I grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the apartment as Sora yelled after me to come back.

I got strange and curious looks as I stormed through the streets. I guess I couldn't blame them. I had a black eye, tears were leaking out of my eyes, and I had neglected to put on a shirt before leaving Sora's apartment. I would've zipped my jacket up, but the zipper had broken ages ago and I didn't have the money to buy a new one. And if I asked Dad for money to buy a new jacket… I shuddered at the thought.

I hunched my shoulders up and hung my head to avoid the stares that were aimed at me. I tried to make my body language say leave me the fuck alone…

"Blondie? Hey! Hey kid! Wait up!"

Apparently the message was lost in transmission… Then I recognized the voice, and the unfortunate nick names, and groaned. He was the last person I wanted to see. And I resented the fact that, for whatever reason, I felt safety envelope me knowing that he was near.

What the fuck is up with that?

I didn't acknowledge him. I hoped that if I ignored him he would think it wasn't me. That is just looked like me… The guy was persistent though.

"Hey blondie. Surprised to see you again. You're not running away again are you kid? Sure seems like it by the loo-"

"Why don't you just leave me the hell alone alright… whoever the hell you are…"

I didn't look at him but I saw him grin out of the corner of my eye.

"Name's Axel. Get it memorized."

How big of an ego does this guy have?

"Whatever… Just leave me alone…"

I knew from last time that that wouldn't work. I still tried though but he kept pace with me just like last time.

Doesn't he have somewhere to be? Something to do? Other than pester me?

I started to ask him just that but I stopped myself just in time and shut my mouth with a click. I was ignoring him. Not trying to start a conversation.

"What is your problem kid? Do you bite off every person's head that tries to talk to you? Or is it just me that pisses you off so much? Look blondie, I don't know what I did but I'm sorry. I'm really just worried is all."

It was the combination of being called kid and blondie and him sounding just like Sora that set me off.

"How many times do I have to tell you to leave me the fuck alone! I don't know what you're trying to do but all you're doing is annoying the living hell out of me! And it's not kid or blondie! My name's Roxas! Get it memorized!"

All my anger and frustration spilled out with my words and satisfaction rolled through me as I spat his words back at him.

He stepped back in surprise when I rounded on him and I noticed him take in my injured eye and the curiosity and worry that pooled in his eyes. My anger sizzled out as fast as it had flared up when I saw his expression. I just couldn't be mad when he looked like… that.

"Jesus ki-Roxas, what happened to you?"

He took a step towards me and reached out as if he was going to touch my face. I wasn't scared of him but an automatic reflex made me step away and glare at him.

He dropped his hand and my glare softened into a frown at his expression. I couldn't bring myself to talk to Sora, my best friend, but I feel totally at ease when this stranger I barely know asks me that.

I turned my face away from him and sighed before answering.

"…You're the one that told me to go back…"

Yay! Axel! I love Axel… and I already covered that at the top. Umm so I'm thinking of starting the next chapter off from Axel's POV but I'm not sure. Has anyone read I Can Stop the Bleeding? If so did you like Axel's POV?

Reviews please. :O)

*squeals and jumps up and down excitedly* I got my hair highlighted today! It's been a year and a half since I last highlighted it and I'm so glad that they are back. My hair looks so dull without them! That's when Scott would say: No babe, you look beautiful no matter what. And then that's when I say: I call bullshit. Don't lie to me. And then a petty argument ensues that ends with him saying something sweet and making me forget what we were arguing about.

Anways~~ Leaving for Missouri in… 4 hours! XD Me, Scott, Bethany, and her boyfriend Michael do this every year right after Christmas and stay with Bethany's grandparents for a week. Even though we always hang out and have been on this trip since before any of us could drive the 4 of us in a car together for hours on end never gets old! XD So expect some funny stories in the next few chapters I upload. Mainly it's the 4 of us arguing over what to listen to cause our music taste is so diverse. Scott: rap Me: anything but country Bethany: country Michael: death metal: D Eak! This week is going to be so much fun!