Roxas was walking through the dying forest, the beaten path having suddenly come to a stop a while back. Walking through this forest, Roxas found, hurt a lot more than the forest that was still alive. There had been lots of soft green grass in that forest. Now there was dead grass in random patches, twigs of various sizes and little pebbles that liked to stab into his feet. Axel was floating backwards right beside him, seemingly looking at his nails. He'd been pretty quiet thus far, which kind of surprised Roxas, seeing as he expected the red head to talk much more than this. Though it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.

"So Roxy," Axel started, breaking the long silence.

"Roxas." He corrected.

"That's what I said. Anyways, where are you from?"

"Aldershot, England. And I suppose you're from this place." Roxas said, looking around him at the dead trees and gray sky.

"Well, not from this exact area, but yes I am from Hearts. I do come around here often though. It's so peaceful, don't you think?" Axel said, moving to float in front of Roxas.

"If you like dark and dreary then I suppose your correct." Axel suddenly disappeared again then reappeared behind Roxas.

"Do you like dark and dreary?" He whispered, close to the blond's ear. Roxas could feel his hot breath against his neck as he spoke and a shiver ran down his spine, making his whole body tingle.

"I don't mind it so much. I do live in England after all, and I'm at the graveyard so often I practically live there." Roxas said with a small chuckle.

"So... Do you like graveyards then?" Axel swung around so he was now in front of Roxas, a curious expression on his face. Roxas thought it over for a moment before shrugging and answering.

"I guess it's okay. I'm used to it by now, but I'd like it better if I didn't have to go there."

"Why go if you don't like it?"

"It's kind of complicated, I'd rather not talk about it." He could tell Axel wanted to ask more about it, but he didn't, and Roxas was thankful to the red head for that.

"So, how old are you?" He asked after a moments silence.

"Seventeen. What about you?" Axel chuckled at this.

"Older than that. But not by much." Axel said with his wide grin. Roxas smirked and raised a brow to the cat like man.

"By how much?"

"Times six by two add fourteen then take away five. That's how old I am." Axel explained with a cheeky grin. Roxas furrowed his brows and pouted out his lips.

"Why do you have to make it complicated?"

"Well, can you figure it out?" He asked with a laugh. Roxas mulled it over for a moment, holding his chin in his hand as he thought. He never really liked math too much. He was a straight B student in that class, not even his teachers had been able to help. Now English, that was a class he liked and was good at. It was probably because he was so imaginative though. When he looked up again, he found Axel was still staring at him expectantly with an amused smile playing on his lips.

"Careful blondie, you don't want to blow a fuse." He teased.

"Shut up." Roxas said, pushing past Axel with a small pout as he tried not to smile.

"Aw don't be that way, I'm just teasing." Axel said as he appeared in front of him again.

With a chuckle Roxas slipped past Axel and smiled cheekily over his shoulder. Axel stared at him with wide eyes for a moment then grinned.

"You're cute kid." He said with a chuckle. Roxas shrugged and continued to walk ahead of the man.

"I try." He said jokingly.

The two continued to walk in silence after that, getting lost in their thoughts once more. At first Roxas just wondered if his mother had even noticed his absence yet or if she ever would. Then he started thinking about this world and all the weird things he'd seen so far. He still didn't understand what that race was about, what could someone possibly do to deserve such a terrible punishment? Then there was the blond with the rabbit ears. Why was he told to help him figure out the whole potion business? It kind of made him wonder if he was lead here on purpose. And he was kind of curious where the man was off to in such a hurry. And of course he couldn't forget Sora and Vanitas. Or the penalty game. He still hadn't been told what that was, and he was really starting to wonder at this point. Was it painful or just some kind of sick sex game? Did that mean Sora and Vanitas...? He didn't want to know. He didn't even want to think about that.

Then his thoughts turned to the red head. So far, the only thing that struck him as odd was the cat features and how he could vanish then reappear where he liked. He obviously used the vanishing to his advantage judging from how he kept coming up behind Roxas to speak right into his ear. He couldn't really complain though. From the way he dressed, it was as if he knew he was hot stuff. He probably did though. His whole aura screamed "sex kitten" to Roxas. Which he seemed to like insinuating the idea of having sex with the blond. Roxas couldn't say for sure yet if that was something he'd want to do with the red head, after all, he'd just met him. He honestly wouldn't mind getting to know the cat like man better though.

Roxas sighed through his nose, running a hand through his hair and placing a hand on his hip. How much farther was this hatter's place? And was it just him, or was the forest getting bigger?

"You okay cutie?" Axel asked, looking at Roxas with a raised brow. Roxas glanced over to the older man.

"Yeah, it's just... Is this forest getting bigger or is that just me?" Roxas asked, looking around curiously. Axel chuckled then nodded.

"Yes, it's getting bigger. Remember, you shrank to come in here. Most things here are generally normal size, it's just that area where it's not. This is a good sign though, it means were close to the hatter's. I still don't know why you'd want to go see him though. Especially when you can spend more time getting to know me." Axel said, grinning mischievously. Roxas chuckled and shook his head at the man.

"You've just got your head in the clouds don't you?" Roxas asked with a smirk.

"Oh you'll be mine one of these days cutie." Axel said with a wink. "Just you wait and see."

Roxas looked around curiously. They had broken out of the forest at this point and were surrounded by tall blades of grass and random flowers of different varieties placed around the ground.

"Don't be mad." Axel said suddenly. Roxas turned to look at the man with a confused and worried expression.

"Why?" He asked cautiously.

"We might be a bit lost." Axel said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head as a very light pink dusted over his cheeks. Roxas' eyes widened as he stared at the red head.

"God dammit! I thought you knew the way!" Roxas yelled.

"Hey, I never said I knew the way, I just said that it was down the right path way! I don't visit the hatter very often!"

"Son of a bitch!"

"Calm down kid! Just stay right here and I'll go find the right way. I promise it will only take a moment, I'll be back before you know it." And with that Axel disappeared, not even giving Roxas a chance to reply.

Roxas huffed and stomped his foot on the ground as he crossed his arms over his chest. He couldn't believe the man had gotten him lost. He'd thought that with the cat he would at least be in good hands and make his way there. But things just couldn't be that simple could they? Oh he was so ready to hit him.

Well, so long as he was here he could look around a bit right?

Roxas started to slowly walk through the tall grass, looking around curiously at his surroundings. So far there was nothing really interesting here besides how oddly tall the plant life in the area was. As he continued though, he heard faint voices in the distance. They sounded like they were singing, but with how quiet they were at the moment, Roxas couldn't be sure. He started to pick up the pace, moving random blades of grass out of his way when need be.

Finally, he came to a slightly large clearing, surrounded by flowers with three girls in the middle. One of them was a pretty blonde with her hair pulled over her right shoulder. She wore a short white strapless dress with flowers embroidered around the top. See through white fabric hung down from the embroidery in layers, creating a flower like effect. The girl to the right of her had reddish brown hair that came just to her shoulders. Her dress was a dark rosy red with a heart shaped top and the skirt split mid thigh, the fabric hanging just below her knees. The girl to the left appeared to be a bit older than the other two with short blue hair. She wore a dark blue strapless dress, the top wrinkled and just below her breasts was a thick black ribbon with a bow tied in the back. Over the blue skirt was a black mesh skirt with black flowers embroidered around the skirt and making their way towards the top.

Roxas noticed three things that all the girls had in common, they all had a flower in their hair, they each had blue eyes, and none of them wore shoes.

The red head was singing softly about flowers while the blonde and bluenette listened, swaying slightly back and forth to the music. When she finished the two girls clapped as she took a bow and thanked them for their praise. The bluenette was the only one to move from her place, walking over to the red head. She walked with such grace that it was as if she were performing the most elegant of dances. The two girls spoke excitedly as the blonde watched them, smiling softly. Her eye soon caught on Roxas though and she turned to look at him with wide, curious eyes.

"Oh my, look!" She said loudly, pointing to Roxas as she held her hand over her chest. "A new flower!"

Roxas looked around for a moment in confusion. Surely she didn't mean him did she?

The two girls looked over curiously at her excitement.

"Goodness, I believe you're right!" The red haired girl exclaimed. The girls all hurried over to Roxas, crowding around him.

"Oh, let us introduce ourselves! I am Geranium Aqua." The bluenette said, shaking his hand.

"I am Red Rose Kairi." The red head said with a small curtsie.

"And I'm White Lily Naminé." The blonde said.

"It's very nice to meet you all. I'm R-" Roxas said, only to be interrupted.

"My my, I've never seen such a peculiar looking flower! Do tell us, what is your name?" The blue haired girl said, looking him curiously up and down. Roxas furrowed his brows in confusion.

"But I'm not-"

"Oh! I bet he's a Tradescantia Andersoniana!" Naminé said excitedly, bouncing slightly in her place.

"No! He has to be a Salvia Guaranitica!" Kairi said, waving off the blonde's guess.

"Or what about a Scabiosa Causcasica?"

"Girls please! Let the boy speak!" Aqua said. The two girls immediately shut their mouths. Aqua smiled in appreciation then turned back to Roxas.

"Now, what is your name?" She asked. The other two girls were staring expectantly at Roxas. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable under their gazes. He wasn't used to this much attention.

"Um... My name is Roxas." He said slowly.

"Oh not that name! Your flower name." Kairi said, getting slightly irritated.

"But I'm not a flower." The girls looked curiously at the blond.

"Not a flower?" Naminé asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Then what are you?" Kairi asked.

"I think I know what he is." Aqua said. She had her hand on her chin and looked as though she was thinking quite hard.

"What is he then Aqua?" The girls asked in union.

"I believe he is nothing more than a common mobile vulgaris!" Aqua said.

"Oh no!" Kairi gasped.

"But how could that be? He's so cute like a flower!" Naminé exclaimed.

"A common what?" Roxas asked in confusion.

"To put it bluntly, a weed." Aqua stated, turning away from Roxas.

A weed? Roxas was most certainly not a weed! And how dare she even say such a thing?

"I am not a weed!" Roxas shouted, stomping his foot on the ground.

"Well, you wouldn't expect him to admit it." Kairi said as Naminé nodded in agreement.

"We don't want weeds in our garden! Shoo, get out of here!" Aqua said, trying to motion Roxas out of the garden. Roxas stood there, staring at the bluenette as if she were a moron. Did she actually think that motioning for Roxas to leave was actually going to make him?

Suddenly, Kairi pushed him, causing him to stumble and fall back. Roxas was shocked for a moment, but quickly got up as he was filled with anger. Just as he was about to yell at her though, they heard a loud angry hiss and Axel suddenly appeared. He was down on all fours, his tail poofed out slightly as it flicked around and his ears laying flat against his head.

"The cat!" Aqua said in surprise.

"Oh no, not again!" Naminé shouted in fear.

"Run away!" Kairi said, running in the other direction of Axel. The other two girls were quick to follow her lead and scurry away, disappearing in the grass on the other side of the clearing.

"You okay, Roxy?" Axel asked still on all fours as he looked worriedly over his shoulder at the blond.

"Roxas. And yeah, I'm fine. What was that all about?" Roxas asked, looking curiously at the older man. Axel got off the ground, brushing off his hands.

"What was what?"

"What was- oh never mind. Did you find the hatter's?" Roxas crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the red head.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. We're close, just follow me." He said with his signature grin. He then started to lead Roxas back into the tall grass.

"Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't I tell you to stay put?" Axel asked as he easily weaved through the grass.

"I guess. But I didn't go that far. And besides, it's boring waiting for you." Roxas said, moving the grass out of his way.

"Even so, I still think you should have waited for me."

"Oh whatever. How far is this place?"

"It shouldn't be much farther. But since you're walking, it might be a bit." Axel explained.

"Oh joy of joys." Roxas said sarcastically, making the red head laugh.

"Would you like me to carry you? I promise, I don't bite. Much." He purred with his wide grin. Roxas laughed and shook his head.

"Nah, I think I'm good. I'd rather not get molested today."

"I could molest you even if I wasn't carrying you. But you know..." He trailed off, disappearing and reappearing right in front of Roxas. He gasped quietly and stumbled back. Axel caught him before he could fall though. He wrapped his arm around the blond's waist and pulled him in close, tilting his chin up with his finger. Roxas's breath hitched as the red head's face came just two inches from his own and his cheeks felt like they were on fire as he blushed a dark red.

"If you like it, it's not molestation." He said, smiling seductively with half lidded eyes. Roxas was frozen in place as he stared wide eyed at Axel. He had no clue what to do. Walk away? Laugh it off?

Push him? Yes. He should push him.

He placed his hands flat on the red head's chest and pushed him away. Not hard so he'd stumble back. Just firm enough so that he was at arms length away from Roxas. Axel pouted slightly at this action, but with a sigh he apologized and continued to lead him in the direction of the hatter's place.

Roxas looked up curiously as he notice the sky getting dark and making it harder to see where he was going.

"Are we almost there?" He asked, still staring at the sky. Axel nodded, even though he knew Roxas wasn't looking at him.

"Yeah, we should be there pretty soon."

"It got dark kind of fast. Why is that?" Roxas asked, looking questioningly at Axel.

"The red queen cast a spell over the hatter as punishment. It's always six 'o clock there. Or rather..." He trailed off for a moment as they continued through the grass and came to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a large table, surrounded by a bunch of chairs of varying sizes and designs. To the left of the table was a small house then starting next to the house and going around to the right side of the table was large dying bushes with Christmas lights wrapped around them. At the table sat three men, one of them was laying his head on the table, appearing to be asleep, as another man was talking, holding a tea cup upside down over his head, looking inside. The last man, who was sitting at the head of the table was pouring himself a cup of tea.

"Tea time." Axel finished, crossing his arms and staring at the scene before him.

And another chapter is done! I hope you enjoyed and much love to all you readers! Goodnight, good morning, good afternoon and good evening! See ya!