Roxas woke in cold sweat.

Consumed by panic, Roxas flailed his arms and legs. His legs were constricted by something long and Roxas let a panicked yell escape him. "Roxas! It's alright." At the sudden voice, Roxas flung out his arms and jumped back, then whatever he was on gave way to nothingness and Roxas landed flat on his backside on the floor.

The room blazed with a low, unnatural light and a bleary-eyed and panicked Roxas saw the familiar figures of Demyx and Zexion. Demyx's eyes were large and worried and Zexion stood behind him, his face cold and expressionless.

"Are you alright?" Demyx asked pushing back the golden snarls of hair that was glued to Roxas' forehead. His ocean eyes searched Roxas' and Zexion said in his monotonous voice, "Who did you dream about that got you so upset?"

Roxas threw himself at Demyx and clung to him tightly and he sputtered, "H-he saw me, X-X-." He couldn't get the name out, Zexion dropped the serious façade, and his real feelings of worry came over as he whispered urgently, "Did Xemnas see you in your dream?"

Demyx held Roxas soothingly and the blonde stuttered out, "I-I saw how Axel died, then when he lost his heart, Xemnas picked up a young girl and he looked right at me." The fear intensified again and then he managed to whisper, "He said I was next."

Demyx's grip tightened around Roxas who began to feel a little more comforted before he said, "Has Axel come back yet?" He received negatives from both Silhouettes and he leant back into Demyx, "I want him to come back, so-so I can say-"

Roxas pushed Demyx back, "That young girl! She had a sister named Larxene? She-She was dragged-…" Roxas scratched his head in frustration before untangling his legs from the knot sheets and struggling up. "I ha-have to see Sora."

"Roxas no." Zexion implied "You remember what happened. The Spirits will attack you, you can't go into Sora's room without suffering repercussions." Demyx strode forward and held Roxas back "Come on Roxas, just go back to sleep, everything will be sorted out by morning." Demyx set Roxas back down onto his bed and fixed the blankets over him. When Roxas made the move to get up again and start an initial fight, Demyx put his hand over the blondes forehead for a moment and Roxas fell limp.

Roxas fell back into a troubled sleep and Demyx set him back down and tucked the blankets around him, "I don't know whether or not to be scared Zexion," he whispered looking at Zexion before averting his eyes back to a sleeping Roxas. Zexion sighed and stood back up, he began to pace the room. "I cannot shake the feeling of foreboding Demyx; I think Axel may have made a mistake. With him trying to bond with Roxas, he is feeling the after effects of it. He is seeing parts of Axel's memories. He has bonded to a part of Axel that Xemnas has! Xemnas is manipulating him from afar."

Zexion sighed and pushed his long indigo fringe back, "Then, Axel has to protect Roxas from Xemnas and even the other Silhouettes." Demyx frowned and pouted, "The others aren't that bad Zexion, why are you so convinced that we are all so evil?" Zexion glared down at Demyx perched on the bed and he said in a hard voice, "Look at us Demyx, we are nothing more than demons, cursed to live a second life."

Demyx got up from the bed, "We were given a second chance Zexion, maybe it's not what we wanted, but at least we aren't mental patients anymore suffering from those accursed sicknesses."

Zexion didn't like being back-chatted to, his voice rose getting the angry edge to it, "Life will always screw you over Demyx, it can give you chance after chance, but it will always screw you over - get that through your thick skull. We are still in the bloody Mental Asylum still being terrorized by the bastard Xemnas. We have been watching scenes of the past being played out repeatedly. Now it's set to happen again to this family and an innocent young boy that has been dragged into this!"

Demyx cast a quick look to Roxas making sure he would be settled in sleep and then got up to his feet standing a foot taller than Zexion, "You are such a pessimist, I don't know why I wanted to be with you, you are always bringing everyone down, so what if we are Silhouettes? We still have feelings but no, it isn't enough for Zexion."

Zexion grew red in the face feeling his razor sharp teeth pierce his bottom lip; he glared coldly up at Demyx who had his arms folded across his chest. "Don't you dare talk to me like that Demyx," Zexion retorted feeling his hands twitch violently, he didn't want to attack Demyx but the younger Silhouette was giving him no choice. Demyx stared coldly down at Zexion; he always upset not only Demyx but the other Silhouettes as well, always bringing them down. He was preparing himself, Zexion could get violent and hell, if they fought in Axel's room so close in the proximity of Roxas, the pyromaniac would lose the plot and refuse their friendship from there on in.

Demyx then said sarcastically, "Oh, watch me Zexion." Suddenly Zexion lifted his hands and threw them forwards, darkness erupting from his hands. He hissed menacingly his eyes going pitch black with the white pupils. Demyx was enveloped by the darkness and with an eruption of dark blue light, the darkness dissipated immediately.

In Zexion's hand was his large Lexicon. He held it open holding out his hands ready to chant out the Dark Magic inside. He stood poised and when the darkness was thrown away, Demyx stood there holding his Sitar, ready to attack. Zexion went forward again saying out a dark illusion chant, gold and black shot to Demyx who grabbed the strings of his instrument and a wall of water blocked the darkness and threw it back to Zexion.

The Schemer disappeared into his illusions and Demyx summoned his water clones to flush Zexion out. He back across the room cautiously, not only looking for Zexion, but for Axel as well. A burst of darkness hit Demyx in the back, making him cry out in pain. Instantly his teeth elongated and cut right through his lip, he snarled angrily spinning around seeing Zexion's glowing white pupils.

Zexion moved in again and in desperation and pain, Demyx swung his Sitar around in a burst of strength. It collided with the smaller Silhouette and Zexion dropped his book stumbling over his feet. Demyx summoned a waterfall of water and shot it right at Zexion ready to hit him again but Demyx paused as the low light intensified briefly then flickered into blackness. It was not like the Silhouettes needed lights anyway, they could all see in the dark.

Demyx snarled at Zexion once more and Zexion bent down to retrieve his book. Both were going attack each other again and both lunged forward.

"ENOUGH!" The growl trembled both of the fighting Silhouettes bones.

A spell and the head of the Sitar both connected with the large flaming discs of the chakrams. Axel pushed them both away eyeing them furiously, "GET OUT!" he shouted his eyes flashing dangerously, and the room temperature rose instantly evaporating Demyx's water. Both Demyx and Zexion felt their skin burning and Axel swung his chakrams around threateningly, "GET OUT NOW!" Axel was pissed off; he was one of the Silhouettes to eliminate another if things got too far out of hand. It wouldn't affect him.

A blade of the chakram sluiced right through Zexion's lower arm leaving a large nasty gash and Demyx yelped as his arms began to burn. Axel glared at them both and snarled, "How dare you!" he cast a protective glance to Roxas who was bunched under his thick quilt.

Axel was secretly glad that the blonde was asleep; he would die if he had to speak to Roxas so soon. He had forgotten how painful it was to be rejected by the ones you cared for. He was embarrassed and felt like a fool. What made him think that Roxas would care? He snapped his gaze back to Demyx who was the first one to snap out of his rage and his black eyes were apologetic, "I'm sorry Axel, I didn't mean to be so stupid especially around Roxas-"

He didn't get to finish when Axel dropped his hands still holding his chakrams, "Get out," he retorted quietly. Demyx got whiney then, "Axel I'm sorry! Zexion may not be but I am!"

"OUT," Axel roared in the final tone. Demyx got the hint then and with a defeated nod he walked to the door, but that was after he snapped to an injured Zexion, "This is your fault, I don't care if it fucking hurts, I'm not going anywhere near you AGAIN."

Demyx disappeared out the door, Zexion left without another word and Axel pushed the door shut loudly. He didn't care who it woke up, he was fucking beyond angry.

Sora jerked awake when the snarling and the crashing started. He cowered beneath his covers and heard the door slam shut, he cast a quick glance to his alarm clock and saw that it was only 11:09.

The Silhouettes were upset tonight.

He sat up slowly and was slightly startled when he saw Riku stride from his bedroom door. The silver haired ghost put his head through the wood of the door and looked back. Naminé stood behind him and she whispered, "What happened, they didn't they get one of us did they?"

Sora was surprised and he sat up drawing the attention of Naminé, she put a finger to her lips and Riku said bringing his head back in, "The young one with the funny hair and the illusionist." Naminé cocked her head to the side, "Aren't they a pair…?"

Riku shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not sure what happened." He saw Sora awake and a small smile graced his lips as he went over. Sora dropped the quilts and the blankets and asked in a hesitant voice, "I-is Roxas ok?"

Riku closed his eyes and then shrugged, "I know you're worried Sora, but I'm sure your brother is fine." Naminé nodded, "I'm just a little confused now. The Silhouettes, they aren't like what they usually are." She cast a quick glance to the door then back to Sora, "and even more so, Demyx and Zexion fighting like that? I thought they were the most stable bonded pair in the whole house."

She came over and sat on the foot of the bed, the mattress sunk slightly under her weight and Sora shuffled over so Riku could sit beside him. It got instantly colder, Sora sunk under his warm covers again, and Riku smiled a little sheepishly, "Sorry, Sora."

Sora shook his head, his wild brown hair falling in his face, "Don't worry about it Riku, it isn't your fault."

He looked back to the clock and then retorted rather grumpily, "I wish they didn't decide to fight so early, now I won't be able to get back to sleep." He folded his arms across his chest and Naminé whispered, "Is that a bad thing?"

Sora looked to her, smiled then said, "No not at all, because then I can talk you guys." He seemed proud of his answer, Naminé brightened at it, her usual devastating face lighting up a fraction.

Then Riku said bluntly, "But if you stay up, you will regret it in the morning, don't you have to go to 'School'?"

Both of the Spirits faces fell into their sad expressions again and Sora tried to lighten up the now glum mood, "Oh come on guys, you are my friends, I hardly get to see you all." Naminé's eyes were glassy and the black rings around her eyes were massive, "You have only been living here a couple of days Sora, we can't possibly be friends. We aren't even alive."

Sora felt his heart clench and ignoring the bitter cold in his room, he threw down his quilts and scrambled over to the blonde haired spirit and placed his hands on where her shoulders would be. He was mildly frightened when his hands didn't go through her, instead his hands rested on her spectral shoulders.

Sensing his surprise Riku whispered from the front of the bed, "You have been marked by the Spirits Sora; I guess you are more 'Spiritish' than what your family is." Naminé nodded and smiled softly at Sora.

"See," he said warmly. "That makes us friends, like it or not Naminé, you're stuck with me." Naminé hid her face and she giggled slightly.

Riku said from the pillow, "Stop being such a killjoy Nami. See, everything is ok."

Sora chuckled and crawled back to his bed; he ducked back under the covers then sighed, "I wonder how school will be tomorrow?"

He more so asked this to himself but Riku replied, "I guess its how you make of it Sora. Personally, I don't think Roxas will go very well, he seemed pretty beat up today."

Sora frowned, "What do you mean 'beat up'? Mum was in a panic today looking for him, turned out the little whiner locked himself in his room."

Riku shook his head. "He was brought home by a Silhouette, he had been hit a couple of times and thrown in the creek in the forest, he was lucky this time."

Sora dropped the quilts and demanded angrily, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Riku shot back almost immediately, "You never asked."

The Spirit leant back against the headboard and said, "They are Silhouettes Sora, I do not care for them and the humans that decide to associate with them, it has been that way for a hundred years." Sora couldn't be mad at Riku; the enmity was far too deep to get rid of so soon between the rivaling sides. Sora sunk back down into his pillows and yawned, Riku looked down at him softly and said, "Go to sleep now Sora, there's no point fighting it." The brunette went to protest but Naminé hushed him as well, "You have school tomorrow, you have to have fun ok, no point beating around if you're tired."

Sora mumbled something again and felt the heavy blanket of sleep surround him. He grew groggier and finally nodded off into sleep, instantly comforted from the houses terrors by the sides of his friends. As Sora went off back into sleep Naminé and Riku got off the bed, The blonde whispered to the silver haired boy, "Riku, please don't get too attached, we need to be on our best guard here now."

She started to walk back towards the bathroom "I know you like him far too much for your own good, as do I but in all honesty-" she stopped briefly then added, "We all have no idea what's going to happen to us or the Silhouettes."

"Did you hear that?"

"A Spirit is falling for the other sibling, oh how cute."

"I'd wager big money that this predicament will land the Spirits in trouble."

"Oh so are you going to reach across the boundary and snatch one up to get to the brunette?"

"Oh no, I think I will let Axel do that, and I will bet on what money I have left, it will be the brown haired Spirit that hurt Roxas."

Aerith was up with the sun the next morning; she quickly had a short shower and got dressed and crept down the stairs. She knew she wouldn't see the boys until later on, she was still terribly concerned on what happened to Roxas. His disappearance and locking everybody out of his room had only heightened the concern.

Aerith made her way into the kitchen, opened the doors to the pantry, and had a long look inside. When she made up her mind, she began to gather the items she needed and started to put them on the counter.

She had gotten into the habit of getting up early and cooking breakfast for Cloud and the boys.

"Oh look its Marluxia's girlfriend."

"She is not my girlfriend, I simply like to garden with her."

"That's what you say; you won't even show yourself to her, being the wimp that you are."

"Why do you say these things for Larxene? You can't possibly be jealous of a human?"

"No, I'm pissed off because my closest friend is falling for her."

"I am not falling for her. Stop making assumptions."

Aerith hummed away in the kitchen, preparing meals for her family. She still wasn't happy with her husband but they had both gotten over their differences and were on talking terms again.

Around quarter to Seven, Aerith heard the first crash; Cloud came down the stairs trying to fix up a tie he was trying to tie up. He came galumphing into the kitchen and Aerith had to smile to herself.

If Cloud was left to fend for himself the first thing he would do, would be to accidentally neck himself trying to tie a tie.

Sora came down not too long later.

He stomped into the kitchen readjusting his white shirt, his hair was still damp and his pants ties were still hanging. He looked like a mess and Aerith said in her bright merry voice, "Are we ready to go to school today sweetheart?"

Sora blushed and said, "Bloody hell mum, I'm eighteen years old, I should despise and loathe school, like Roxas."

He chuckled and wandered around the kitchen before asking, "Where's breakfast?"

Aerith pointed to the island bar, shooed a now decent Cloud away, and said, "Where is your brother?"

It was 7 AM when Aerith came out of the kitchen and stood at the bottom of the stairs she called out.

"Roxas Strife, come down now, don't try and weasel your way out of school."

She listened for a reply and when she didn't get one she called out again, "If you aren't ready in five minutes I'm coming up there."

Then she heard a thump and was satisfied, she went back into the kitchen and said, "So that's over and done with, now breakfast."

"Fuck!" Roxas opened the door and saw his uniforms on hangers hanging on his door handle, he grabbed them and heard his mother call out to him. He slammed the door shut and stumbled across the room.

He threw the uniform on his bed and stripped his shirt off running to the drawers and pulling out a singlet.

He stumbled over his feet again, pulled the shirt off the bed, and threw it on. The pants came next and he fell against the bed changing. He couldn't afford to be late on the first day of goddamned school.

He went down and pulled on some socks and his joggers. He stood up and realised that his shirt was still hanging open. He grumbled out in disdain and began to fiddle with the small buttons.

He wandered to the door and pulled it open.

"Hiya Roxas."

Roxas gasped and fell back in surprise, there was a cloud of black and Demyx appeared behind him and helped him back up, "Jeez, I'm sorry."

Roxas spun back around and sighed, "Oh for fuck sake Demyx, you scared the hell outta me."

Sora bounded up the stairs to retrieve more of his school items and stopped at the top of the stairs when he saw the back of Roxas and the black cloaked of the young Silhouette Demyx. They walked to the bathroom and Roxas said, "So where the hell is Zexion? You two are always together!"

Demyx huffed out, "We had a fight and I'm staying right away from him, I have the cracks in my Sitar to prove it." Roxas paused briefly and said in a low voice, "But aren't you two like bonded?" Demyx waved his hand, "Unfortunately! I tell you it hurts like hell but I don't want to even see him."

Roxas' hand fluttered to his neck and said, "Did you get bitten on the neck?" Demyx laughed, "Oh no, no, mines on the back of my neck, its nasty when it hurts."

The two disappeared into the bathroom and Sora was suspicious, Wasn't Roxas with the red head Axel?

Why was Demyx following him like a puppy?

Sora went into his room and jumped slightly when he walked through Riku, "Whoa," Sora complained, "You're freezing! Don't do that again." Riku turned around and followed the brunette, "Don't walk through me next time, we Spirits find that incredibly impolite."

Sora picked up a school bag and some folders and Riku said, "Are you looking forward to going?" His face dropped when Sora nodded, then he frowned when he saw Sora look out the door, looking for something. Riku went over and quietly said, "Is something wrong?"

Sora looked back to his friend, "I think there is something going on with Demyx and Roxas. Axel and Zexion or whatever his name is, are nowhere to be seen, and suddenly Demyx makes the leap on Roxas!" Riku pushed him out onto the Spirit side of the hallway, "It will not go very far, from what I have observed, Silhouettes are terribly possessive. They protect what's theirs fiercely."

Both stopped when they saw Kairi ghost out of the room next to Sora's she stopped at them. "Hey Kairi," Sora exclaimed and the red head Spirit looked confused, "Why is that Silhouette with Roxas? It seems Demyx is going for more than friendship."

Riku nodded and Kairi blew out from pursed lips, "Why we are stuck so close to 'them' just terrifies me, especially when they are angry." She changed the subject then smacked Sora on the shoulder, a smile brightening her face "Woo-hoo, look at you, all dressed up for school." Sora went slightly pink and Kairi winked, "Oh don't mind me, have fun for me ok?" Sora nodded and then they all stopped and stared when Roxas and Demyx reappeared.

Roxas paused looking at the Spirits wearily whilst Sora eyed Demyx with disdain. The brothers however, they both noticed the instantaneous reactions of the Spirits and Demons.

Kairi and Riku froze taking possessive stances in front of Sora, the whole hall dropped in temperature and Roxas felt the painful fingermarks that the Spirit left the other day burn painfully. Demyx was by himself and the growl that came from his chest terrified Roxas, the blonde had only just gotten more comfortable around the Silhouette but all of that was wiped when the terror took hold.

Demyx's eyes rolled and they were bright white before they filled up with liquid black. The liquid pooled up like tears and Demyx's eyes were menacing and pitch. He skinned his lip away from razor sharp fangs, his face went a pale shade of blue and black veins snaked up his throat and his face. Blackness whipped around the Silhouette and Roxas heard the pounding sound of the ocean in his ears. His nose stung as if he had just snuffed seawater and the back of his throat burned.

Demyx yowled and made a snarling noise and Roxas made a terrified squeak. He was pushed up against the wall as Demyx levitated off the floor and the pain Roxas felt intensified. He cried out in horror when he felt long arms envelop him and he was blocked from any danger. Whoever held him was very warm, but this was short-lived when Roxas was thrown behind the first door. It was the broom closet.

Now, not everybody knew this, but Roxas was claustrophobic. He hated small areas. Hell, he would walk a fifty flight of stairs than ride up in an elevator. He wasn't too good in the car either; it made him nervous and angry. His Ipod usually calmed that though.

Instantly in the dark in a small area, Roxas was terrified and more panicked. He cried out for help, "Help, somebody get me out." His pleas became more hysterical, "Somebody, PLEASE." He pounded on the door with his fists and he felt the clench in his legs and the surge of adrenaline that kicked in with his panic. He hit the door with more strength and yelled again, "LET ME OUT!"

Sora watched in horror at the scene unfurling around him, Riku shouted down the hall receiving two more Spirits to aid him, Zack and Leon. Riku stood protectively in front of him and ushered him into the bedroom. But Sora could still see, he felt the alarm rise when Roxas was thrown into the cupboard. He knew Roxas hated small places and instantly his brother's desperate pleas were heard. They became more panicked and Sora yelped, "Somebody get him out, he'll have a fit."

The pounding began and Sora could only watch helplessly, only hoping that his parents would come up now.

Roxas threw his weight at the flimsy door, his cheeks were coated in hysterical tears and his heart throbbed painfully in his chest. His throat clogged and his cries were gurgled in the darkness of the cupboard. He threw his weight against it again and the door snapped something and the door swung open.

Roxas flew from inside the cupboard and went cascading into the back of a Silhouette, The demon in front of him stumbled only very slightly at the impact and turned his head. He nearly died from shock when he saw Axel.

Humiliation and guilt burned him along with the left over panic. But fear was there again when he saw that Axel's eyes were also black and the veins trailed down his face. Roxas yelled out in horror, his body racked by painful spasms, Roxas raced to the stairs ignoring his brother's pleas to stay.

The pain in his neck signalled that Axel had returned to the living world hit Roxas when he was halfway down the stairs. He was thrown off balance and he landed painfully on his backside before falling the rest of the way down the stairs.

Aerith screamed when she saw the commotion and hurried out of the kitchen when she saw Roxas fall down. He had been crying and his body rocked with panicked spasms. She fell to her knees and pulled her younger son closer to her, embracing him. "Sweetie, its ok, its ok, Roxas sweetheart, tell me what happened?"

Roxas was far too choked to get a decent word out and Aerith rocked him muttering, "You have upset yourself." She lifted her head when Sora come running down the stairs, his face white and was muttering to himself maniacally.

"What did you do to your brother?"

"I did nothing!" Sora shouted, his eyes pacing back and forth between Roxas and Aerith respectively.

"I don't care what you did!" he suddenly shouted at the Kitchen Counter "Look what you did."

Aerith looked at Cloud in disbelief, then Roxas added in on the confusion. "Leave me alone!" he shouted past Aerith's arms and to the stairs. "It's your fault, you locked me in there!"

Roxas threw his Mother's arms away from him and stumbled to his feet. "I-I have to get out of here" he muttered. His dazed blue eyes sought out Sora, "It's out of your control Sora! There nothing we can do." The blonde ignored the indignant replies from his Father and Mother before stumbling to the front door and disappearing outside to the garden.

Sora followed him, "Roxas! It wasn't my fault, why do you insist on blaming me?"

In the mouth of the Kitchen, Aerith stood up, white in the face. She sent one more confused glance to her husband before she muttered wearily "I need to go and find my rosary beads."

"I'm sorry Roxas" Axel called out helplessly as the Pyro Silhouette breezed out the door and after the stumbling blonde "Don't do this again Roxas. I don't like having to repeat myself!" "No!" Roxas shouted, "There's one thing I hate more than the Supernatural! And its small, dark areas. I'm claustrophobic Axel and you go and shove me in the broom closet. I go into panic attacks!"

"I didn't know!" Axel called out helplessly "I was trying to get you away from the danger, Demyx against several Spirits was dangerous. I didn't want to hurt you."

As Sora stumbled out onto the grass, ignoring Riku's horrified cries from the door, he only knew too well of Roxas, deep dark fear about dark areas.

After all, it had been his fault.

It had been nearly a year and a half ago and Roxas was terribly teased at school. Bullies, mainly Sora, had hoisted him up, taken him into the Art rooms, and locked him in the Black Room. It was used for the photography students; it was incredibly small and incredibly dark. Using a projector at the top of the room, Sora and his friends showed Roxas scary pictures of demons and ghosts and made animal noises.

Roxas had gone into a fit of panic and ended up in the hospital. His blood pressure had sharply increased and his body had been put under a great deal of stress. Sora had gotten into a lot of trouble, when he had seen the damage done to his brother because of his stupid prank, Sora vowed that he would never be the one to hurt him again.

Roxas stopped in the middle of the terrace and turned to face Axel. The red head stopped as well and stood there, letting his arms drop by his side.

Finally, Roxas sighed defeated, he cleared his throat nervously and said in an almost timid voice "U-um, I'm sorry Axel. I was…no, I'm still a jackass. I wanted to…say sorry to you for being so cruel yesterday. A-And I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier as well, you didn't know that I had a fear. You were only trying to…"

Roxas trailed off, his eyes leaving Axel and tracing the grass. His arm came up and wrapped around his other one, he stood there awkwardly and Sora stopped in his tracks as Axel strode towards his brother.

"The…The thing is" Roxas said to the grass "I've realized that I was selfish, y-you did ruin my life in a couple of ways, but I could have at least had a look on your side of the story as well." Well, he still did admit that Axel screwed him over in many ways.

"It's been a few fucked up days" Roxas smirked lightly, lifting his head and glancing at Axel "I move in and already I'm property of a demon. So I probably cannot leave this house without you. So if I'm stuck with you, I should give you a chance to be my friend."

Roxas knew that his life had been officially screwed, he still wanted to have a few days of mourning before this, but having that dream about Axel just frayed his nerves and rattled his dormant feelings. Axel wasn't going to leave his life if he asked, he was just going to have to see what happens, when it happens.

It was far too early for it to be love, too early for it to be called even called 'like.'

Acceptance, learning to be with each other, that should suffice…for now.

Axel seemed somewhat satisfied with the response as he towered over Roxas, "Apology accepted Squirt, I'll try to be more attuned to your feelings next time. I must admit, you were kind of a jackass." His hand tousled Roxas' blonde locks and Roxas scowled "I am not your leaning post Axel and don't call me Squirt. That's just humiliating."

Sora backed up and started to walk back towards the Mansion, his intent to comfort his brother, quashed by the Silhouette Axel. Now he had too most probably rush back to the Mansion before Axel decided to attack him out on neutral grounds. He didn't think Riku would be too amused with him.

As Roxas and Axel climbed the stairs to the Mansion, Axel bristled lightly when the sight of several Spirits surrounding Sora greeted them. Sora had a blank face as the Spirit with silver hair shouted at him "Are you trying to get yourself killed Sora? I have told you the Spirits can't protect you if you are going to be an idiot."

Axel shook his head and Roxas ignored the incredulous looks of his parents as he walked past the kitchen and up the stairs to his bedroom. As he opened the bed, Axel scratched the back of his head before gesturing to the bed. "Oh and I figured you might have wanted them back."

Roxas smiled when he saw all his belongings that had been taken by the bullies the day before were perched upon his bed. Axel had gone through the trouble to get them back for him. His phone and his wallet even the shopping Roxas had gotten. He let a chuckle escape him, only imagining how Axel got them back before he heard his Mother calling to him.

"Roxas! Are you alright? Do I need to come up there?" Aerith's voice came up the stairs.

Roxas looked up at Axel gratefully, "Thank you," he whispered and Axel let him go smiling. "Go on, you need to answer your mother." He cleared his throat and called out huskily, "Uh y-yeah Mum, I'm fine now."

He grabbed his school bag and threw things haphazardly into it. He looked up at Axel, face half-expectant, "So are you going to come suffer with me, or-or", he struggled with his last statement, Axel could hear the light fear behind it, "Or are you going to go away again?"

Axel went over and placed a warm hand on Roxas' shoulder, "I have suffered for a hundred years, more than. School will be totally fine, I would hardly call that sufferance, maybe a little annoying though." A shadow of his smirk flashed across his face and he whispered in Roxas' ear, "I will be out with you in a second." He felt Roxas shudder briefly at his voice and fought the perversions that instantly bombarded him.

Roxas nodded and pulled the bag down, pocketing his valuables. He walked out of the door until there was a twinge of pain in his neck. He shut the door and wondered if he couldn't even be a few short meters away from Axel, how were they going to cope?

Axel watched the door shut, his instantly went pitch black and flaming shadow tendrils shout out of his hand and enveloped Demyx. He pulled him closer and when the frightened Silhouette was in front of him, Axel hissed dangerously.

"Don't ever pull that stunt again, any of them." He bore is fangs at Demyx's throat, Roxas is mine, and he has finally accepted me. Stick with your own mate, don't try and take mine." He pushed Demyx back roughly and Demyx nodded fearfully as Axel regained his composure, "I'm allowed to be friends with him right?" he asked, his eyes pleading.

Axel snarled, he hated sharing Roxas. But the Nocturne won't shut up if he was forbidden to be friends with his precious nodded with a strained nod and then walked to the door and pulled it open. Roxas was there waiting for him and Axel said in a smooth voice, "Go down and have some breakfast, don't panic because I will be right behind you."

Roxas was grateful for Axel and he said in a soft voice, "Well, I wonder what will happen today?" his voice lowered "I hope that Seifer dude doesn't decide to pick on me again." They walked down the stairs and Axel could help but think to himself darkly,

"Oh he won't be bothering you for quite a while Roxas, don't worry."