Questions, Questions! Oh how I do love them so... -Strokes questions-

Q: WhiteWolfCub: What took you so long to update?

A: Ah how this could go on forever. But I'll keep it short. We moved to New Zealand. It didn't work out. We moved back to the UK. thus, no internet, and no computer.

Q: Draco's Worst Nightmare: Those were Linkin Park Lyrics, Right?

A: Correct! -buzzer rings- Track number 7. By Myself. Hybrid Theory. Linkin Park. All correct. I love them... -drools-

Q: Raine Mizuki: What were those lyrics?

A: As I said above, Linkin Park, By Myself.

I love questions... all you have to do is ask. :D

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Roxas: Sushi Boy

It took a good half hour to walk the journey from town to Cloud and Leon's house. It didn't help that I didn't have a car. I'd failed my driving test three times to date. Who ever said 'the third time's the charm' was speaking out of their ass.

I slipped a hand into my pocket and pulled out a key. Leon had this weird thing; after it got to a certain time at night, no one was allowed to come through the front way.

It made sense, Leon being paranoid about little things like that. I mean, I only got the tip of the iceberg, but with their issues with Sephiroth, anyone would be. Even if he was in prison.

"Better safe than sorry," I mumbled to myself, noticing how all lights were off in the house. Not even Axel's light was on.

"I bet he went to bed. Sorry…" I slid the key in and heard it turn in the lock. There was a click that rang out quite loud.

I got in late that night, tugging my shoes off in the dark. It looked like everyone had gone to bed. Just as I was crossing the living room, I was unexpectedly attacked from behind.

Strong arms wrapped around my neck, and I struggled to break free from a tight headlock. It was only when the attacker's lips hit a sweet spot on my neck that I realized it was Axel.

"Freak! Lemme go!"

He dropped me onto the carpet, where I landed with a thump. He grinned. "Are you gunna tell me about your new job?"

I nodded. "But can I get out of these clothes first?"

"Sure thing."

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I sat up, (with some difficulty due to the pain that was shooting up my spine) breathing hard, my head against Axel's chest. He was always so warm; I envied that. It was like he had a permanent heater where his heart was. His chest was moving with each breath, but faster than it was supposed to, because he was singing quietly. Axel always liked singing. He sings in the shower, in the kitchen, at the dinner table, and especially in the car.

"That's me in the corner… that's me in the spotlight… losing my religion…."

I shuffled into his chest ever so slightly. Our bare skin rubbed together as I did so. I toyed with his earlobe, stroking it and tugging on it. It calmed him down a lot and sent him into a state of relaxation.

"I thought that I heard you laughing… I thought that I heard you sing…"

"Axel?"

He stopped as soon as I let go of his ear. Before I could even go on, he silenced me with a long digit to my lips. He smiled. "Now… weren't you going to tell me about this new job of yours?"

I nodded. "You know the Sushi Box in town?"

He seemed surprised. "You're working there? Tell Demyx I said hey…"

"You know Demyx?" I'd only met him today, but he seemed so nice. He helped me out with everything, and he even took the blame for me when I packed something wrong. He seemed so nice, yet the boss seemed to bully him something chronic.

"Yup. Hung out in L.A together."

That explained it. When Axel was younger, he was in a biker gang in L.A. Although… Demyx didn't seem like the biker type…

"It's a nice job," I added, trying to make conversation. "It pays more than the last one, and there are only four of us working there. There's me, Demyx, some really quiet guy called Vexion, and the boss, Xemnas. So, it's not really that bad." I tilted my head to the side in a quirky fashion and grinned. "What did you do today then?"

He groaned. Then, his face dropped to a serious level. I felt his shoulders tense up a little. "Cloud… there's something going on with Cloud."

"What do you mean?" Cloud was basically the glue that held us together. Whenever we were all getting agitated and annoyed, he'd be the childish voice in the background that cheered everyone up.

"He found his dog tag. The one Leon found him with. He freaked out totally. He was screaming, and crying like I've never seen him before. He passed out, but it happened again. I read him a story, you know, like Leon usually does, but he zoned out completely."

"Is he okay?" I felt my mouth was hanging open, and quickly shut it.

"Funny thing is…" Axel was stroking his chin in wonder. He did that when he was deep in thought about something. It was always a tell tale sign. "…When Leon got back from the hospital, he acted like nothing had happened."

I looked at my feet.

"I don't know whether to tell Leon about it or not though…"

"You haven't told him yet?" My eyes were wide with wonder.

"Not yet. Look… just calm down about it… okay?"

I nodded. Although the subject didn't leave my mind, I forgot about it, for Axel's sake.

"Shall we go to sleep then?"

Then it was his turn to nod. I leant over him and grasped the lamp string, pulling it, seemingly taking the light away with my hand. But my arm didn't move. It stayed draped over his warm chest, stealing some of his heat. I felt his other arm drape over me, and for another strange moment, it felt like heaven.

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"Chicken Teriyaki?" Would you like Soya sauce with that maam?"

I placed the dish of sauce on the side of her plate and handed it to her with a smile.

"Looks good!"

I spun around. Demyx was rolling up a tuna mix and looking at my new uniform. It was the same as his, a set of black pants with a white shirt, and polished off with a black and white apron that read, 'Sushi Box – Roxas' on it. I felt so privileged. I beamed at him.

"Urashima! What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you want your pay docking again?"

Urashima was Demyx's last name. He bowed low to Xemnas and carried on working a little faster. I glanced at him and took a wild chance.

"Sir… I apologize. I was distracting him from his work."

"I saw who made the first move of speech, Mr….?"

"Kinai sir. Roxas Kinai."

"Mr. Kinai. You should continue working too."

I turned to the guy at the back, who was flipping something in a wok. Or… at least I think it was a wok. It could just have easily been a really big pan.

That was Vexion. He didn't talk… in fact… I hadn't heard him say one word since I had started yesterday. Demyx was the one who let me know his name. I wonder… what was his deal?

I had to go over there, to pick up an order. Demyx was in the bathroom. I paced over and gave him a gentle smile, but in return, all I received was a sad raise of the lips. It was a smile that gave me strange feelings in my head. Like, there was something behind it. Like there was something hidden behind that smile that he wasn't letting out.

I picked up the plate. "Hey… are you okay?"

He nodded. A quick nod; if I had blinked, it would have been gone and I would have missed it. I glanced at him, studying his appearance. Choppy grey like hair fell heavy over one eye and his arms resembled Axel's in a weird way. Only, there were covered in ill purple marks. They seemed so fragile, yet they were picking that wok up and jerking it as if it was as light as a feather.

I frowned. "Are you sure?"

He looked at me like I was some alien from outer space. I immediately retracted. He nodded again, his own eyes wide. We held that unbroken gaze for a while. Until Demyx's loud voice snapped us out of it.

"Table twelve!"

I shook my head. "I have to get back to work."

I turned away, the plate still quite hot in my hand. I handed it to Demyx and turned to the next man at the counter.

"Take away or eat in?"

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It was late in the afternoon, and many people had been and gone. It was the last of the afternoon dregs before the sea of people flooded in for their evening meals. I was glad I wasn't working the late shift.

With a glance at the schedule, I saw that Demyx was. In fact, Demyx was working the late shift, the morning shift, the next afternoon shift and the only break he got was tomorrow evening.

As I was pondering this, I got a tap on the shoulder.

"Sorry!"

I should have taken these people's orders when they had first come in, but I had been in a trance. I paced over to them and pulled a small black book from my apron pocket.

"What can I get you?"

"One tuna, two crayfish and one chicken teriyaki please."

"Any drinks?"

"Roxas!"

I whirled around and motioned to Demyx that I'd be a minute. The family I was with were very patient; there were no scowls or anything of the sort. I guess manners really don't cost a penny.

"Thank you!"

I took the order back and jabbed it onto the spike, which was alighting a small square of wood. "What is it Demyx?" I asked, rather annoyed at his rude intrusion.

"A man is on the phone for you, he says it's urgent."

I took the phone from his hand. I was expecting Axel's voice to come flowing down the phone as he casually asked me how it's going. But all I got was a loud shout.

"Roxas! Is Cloud with you?"

It was Leon. I shook my head. Then realised he couldn't see me. "No... Why?"

"Shit."

I glanced at the clock. I only had six minutes exactly left of this shift.

I ignored Demyx, who was waving madly at me and bit the inside of my lip. I dared myself to ask the big question that was bubbling in my mind.

"Why? What is it?" I knew… I knew even before he said it, that it was what he was going to say. How could it be any different? I didn't even know why I asked. I guess I just needed some form of confirmation. Some form of… reassurance. To make sure I didn't get the wrong end of the stick. That was what usually happened to me in these situations. I either jump to conclusions, or I think the wrong thing altogether.

"Roxas. I need your help."

Leon was asking for help? This frightened me. Leon was always the strong one; the one held our hopes high when the chips were down. He never needed help and he never asked for it. Something had changed, something was very, VERY wrong.

"Why?" He had sidestepped my question yet again. That nagging want of reassurance crept back up again. Refusing to lie low.

There was a rush of static on the other end of the line.

"Cloud's gone."

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