A/N : Hi, I'm sorry for disappearing on you. My computer's been acting up and I have major writer's block. I still have, really… A little trouble on the something called 'confidence'. So, this chapter might be kinda on the 'down' side. But I still hope you guys will like it.

Anyway, the italics will be either dream sequence or the past. Thanks.

Chapter 7

Misunderstand

"Roxas. Roxas… Where are you?" A woman wearing pink dress with brown curly long hair ran across a playground where there were lots of children playing. She looked to the sides, to the corner, trying to be as normal as she could, glancing around, hopeful, to find Roxas. She was panting, her stomach bleeding horribly, waiting around a bit to even out her breath whilst her eyes glance around continuously. Finally, she spotted the boy, the boy with spiky hair playing around happily in the see saw with his friends. She approaches the boy. "Roxas, come here."

"Mom?" The boy replied, confused.

"Miss Aerith Strife, is something the matter?" Ask a woman who was supposed to be the teacher. "You… You're bleeding!" The woman shouted upon realizing the blood that gushed out from Aerith's stomach, painting her beautiful pink dress crimson red.

"I have to take Roxas."

Without waiting for any response or protest, Aerith took little Roxas and ran away. The blond ten years old boy is silent, just looking at his mother. Aerith strode, dashing madly through the roads as if being hunted down by some murderous beings, ignoring the confused stares and glances that were being thrown at her and her child. The blood dripping from her stomach gushed out continuously without mercy and all she could do was to hold the pain by biting her lower lips. Amidst all that, she whispered softly to Roxas, "Everything will be fine, Roxas. Everything will be fine. We just – need to get you to somewhere safe."

--

The sun was shining brightly and though Roxas had his nightmares again last night, he was in an unexpectedly cheery mood today. The reason, of course, is Axel. They are dating now and this noon will be officially their first date. Well, even though Axel had always claimed that their last meetings were also dates. Roxas denied it.

Just as usual, today, Axel was waiting for Roxas again. He arrived twenty minutes early before Roxas would be released from school. Having nothing to do, Axel decided to fool around in the school since waiting outside the school gate had became too boring. With lazy and dragged steps, Axel went inside the Faculty Room, spotting only one teacher inside, Miss Tifa. Tifa, who had seen Axel inside, stood up, "Can I help you with anything?" She asked.

Axel made a sound of whistling and smirked, "Yes, I do think you can help me."

Tifa frowned, "Alright… are you… looking for someone? The students are still in the class. Anything urgent?"

"Naw. I'm just here to see you."

"Do I know you?"

"No, you don't. Say, why don't we sit down and chat? I'm waiting for my baby brother anyway."

Tifa was interested at that red head and she knew for sure that he was flirting with her. "Alright, please take a seat." She smiled and took a seat herself.

Axel quickly made himself at home and sat down with style. "I didn't know someone as beautiful as you are permitted to be a teacher. You'll seduce the students here, in a good way."

Tifa giggled, "As far as I know, there are no student that I have seduced yet. So, you can rest assured."

"Well then…" Axel leaned his back to the chair comfortably, "You sure have seduced me, that's for sure. My name's Axel. Got it memorized?"

"Yeah, I know you well, the one who made trouble in school and took Roxas out without permission. Hmm, so, Roxas is your baby brother?"

"Eh he…" Axel chuckled nervously.

"I'm Tifa Lockhart. You can just call me Tifa."

--

Roxas ran out from his class as soon as they were released. Before he did that, he stared out the window and found no sign of the red head. However, he didn't need to search for him because he bumped into him when he went down the hallway passed the Faculty Room. "What are you doing in the Faculty Room?" Roxas asked as he saw Axel came out from said room.

Axel put a hand to his hair, "I'm just chatting with some teachers. Seeing how you do in school."

"So? How did I do?" Roxas smiled.

"You're doing very well and I think I should reward you for that." Axel snatched Roxas hand without warning and pulled the blond closer to him, landing his lips on Roxas'. Roxas parted his mouth trying to protest and Axel took that as a cue for him to 'travel'. And so he did. He stuck his tongue out and started tasting every parts and crevices of the inside of Roxas' mouth. Roxas moaned at the contact, making Axel smirked into the kiss and became more vicious. Hands traveling to take Roxas shirt up to his chest, Roxas struggled and hold said hands with all his power. "No, not here… Axel…" Roxas moaned. The kiss lasted for a while and it stopped when the two had to catch their breaths.

Roxas pulled away a bit to stare at Axel in the face. His face burning of the embarrassment and pleasure, hands still holding Axel's from pulling his shirt away. "I like how you said my name like that." Axel smirked earning an uncontrolled blush from Roxas.

"You retard… You could have at least warned me of what you are about to do."

Axel laughed, "It would be no fun if I had warned you, wouldn't it?"

Roxas nodded a little, agreeing. "Let's go. I had called in for a day off and we can spend the rest of the day together."

Axel blinked, "Really?" Roxas nodded with a smile. Axel was surprised by how much Roxas had changed just because they are dating now. Roxas was not the usual grumpy blond anymore, "Thanks." Axel pulled him in and kissed his forehead, inhaling the sweet lemon scent.

"For what?"

"For dating with me."

"…Alright…" Roxas nodded, smiled, corrected his shirt, and followed Axel who was grabbing his wrist. Axel walked slowly so Roxas could catch up. "I want sea-salt ice cream." Roxas said.

Axel feels amused and smiled, "Alright. Let's find the ice cream truck or something first."

They walked outside school. Axel put his arms around Roxas' waist, hugging him closer. Roxas complied and leaned in, resting on Axel as they walked together. Roxas, for one, was happy that he was able to become so intimate with one person.

"Ooo, Roxy. That's the same ice cream truck, right? Tidus' there." Axel pointed.

Roxas stood straight and ran pass Axel, dragging him along, "C'mon. Let's go."

Axel followed with a smile. This is the first time he sees Roxas that happy and at that, he is happy too. "Hiya, Tee-dus."

"It's you guys." Tidus smiled, "You guys got along better now?" he asked as he saw Roxas grabbing Axel's wrist and Axel hugging him possessively with one of his arms around the blond's shoulder. Roxas though, felt embarrassed and hastily sneaked away from Axel, keeping his distance. Axel was somehow irked at Roxas but let it go anyway. "Anyway…" Tidus said, breaking the awkward situation. "What can I get you?"

"Two sea salt ice-creams." Roxas said cheerfully.

"Alright. Please wait for a minute." Tidus went to the back of the truck, leaving Roxas and Axel.

"Umm…" Roxas put his hand to his back, feeling slightly guilty for acting like that just now. "I'm…"

Axel noticed and put on a smile, putting a hand on Roxas' head and playing with the spiky hair, "What's up, Roxy? Don't think too much, it'll hurt your head."

"Umm…"

"Smile for me." Axel rested his chin on the shorter boy's head. "You're the most beautiful when you smile.

Roxas blushed, pulled away, looking up to Axel and put on the best smile he had. "Good?"

"Yeah, I like you better that way. Better than the usual grumpy Roxas anyway. Heh."

Before Axel could assault Roxas, Tidus had came back with two ice creams, each in one of his hands. "Here is your, ice cream, thanks."

"Umm, we didn't ask for the chocolate layer…" Roxas said.

"It's my bonus for you guys. Take it." Tidus smiled.

"Thanks!"

Roxas took the two chocolate layered sea salt ice cream and Axel paid for it. The two went to the bench near a tree and sat down. Roxas gave one of the ice creams to Axel. He began licking the ice cream happily. "You sure love your ice cream."

"Aww. I love you even more if you treat me the ice cream everyday." Roxas smiled, still licking, not noticing that he had made Axel's heart skipped a bit at his statement.

"Just that?" Axel asked, taking a bite of the ice cream. "Say, which do you love more? Ice cream or me?" He teased.

Roxas stopped licking and eyed Axel, a little bit surprised seeing Axel's serious expression, "I dunno… C'mon, Axel, you can't be jealous over a sea salt ice cream." Roxas laughed awkwardly.

"Who said I can't?" At that, Axel leaned closer and licked Roxas' lips, started nibbling on it, making small ministrations along the way. He had ignored his ice cream and threw it away to the road somewhere while Roxas still held tightly to his. Roxas was surprised at the sudden onslaught. They had just confirmed their 'dating status' for two days and Axel had become more and more aggressive than the first time Roxas knew him. He even wondered if Axel was just waiting to get inside his pants and then leave him all alone. That thought made Roxas quickly pulled away with all his strength. Noticing Roxas' struggle, Axel let go.

"I…"

Axel smirked, "Sorry, can't control myself every time I see you like that." He said casually. Roxas hummed embarrassedly and began to lick his ice cream again, which was already dripping, fortunately to the floor. There's a long silence before one of them spoke.

"Do you… want the ice cream? Ummm, I can share."

"No, it's okay." Axel said, sitting closer, licking Roxas' face which is stained a little by the chocolate, "Sweet." Roxas shivered at the touch and found himself stiffened horribly. "I love you, Roxy."

"Me too." Roxas forced a smile.

--

Axel was busy the next day. So, he didn't come and wait for Roxas after school. Roxas understood as he had to go to work too. As he was about to go out of the school, Miss Tifa suddenly halted him. "Roxas."

Roxas halted, turned around, and asked, "Yes?"

"Isn't your brother picking you up today?" Tifa asked casually, a little bit eager in her voice.

Roxas tilted his head a bit, wondering how his teacher knew Sora. "My brother? You mean, Sora? No, he never comes and picks me up…"

"No, I meant Axel, the one with the sticking red hair." Tifa tried to describe.

"Huh?" Roxas shook his head a bit, wondering if he had heard wrong but was answered by Tifa's intense and eager glare. "Axel's… He's not my brother… He's my…"

"That's weird. He said yesterday that he'd come to pick his baby brother up which he said was you. Alright, anyway, just tell him to contact me anytime when you meet him, okay, Roxas?"

There're butterflies fluttering about inside Roxas' stomach now. However, he had managed out a 'yes' and a nod to Tifa before he scurried away. Is Roxas right by thinking that Axel just flirted with his teacher?! And what. The. Hell?! Baby brother?! Axel said that he was his baby brother?! Roxas shook his head, couldn't believe that he had just heard what he heard. And so, with a horrible mood, Roxas went to work.

When he had arrived at the Sushi Bar, Olette and Namine immediately know that there was something wrong with Roxas. Well, everyone would know that there was something wrong because Roxas' lips were curled down in every way possible and there's a frown on his face. None of them dared to ask Roxas what happened though.

After a long day of work, and a long day of Roxas' frowning and not uttering a word, Roxas finally spoke, "Can I… ask for some advice?" It's almost a whisper.

Namine who had been washing the dishes in the kitchen and Olette who had been mopping the floor leave their work and scurried over to Roxas. "We'd be happy to hear and give advice, Roxas." Namine smiled, reassuring.

"What happened?" Olette asked, curiously.

Hesitantly then, with a soft sigh, Roxas told them what happened. After he had told them, the two just stared in silence. Finally, Olette said, "Are you sure Tifa said Axel?" They had known a day before that Axel and Roxas are dating. "Are you sure you're not just imagining things?"

"I'm very sure, Olette."

"Maybe… Maybe there's someone that's impersonating Axel." Namine tried to give her reasons. It would be too fast for Roxas and Axel to just break apart after three days of dating.

"You really think someone would actually do that, Namine?" Luxord, who had been eavesdropping out of curiosity, said.

"Father! Since when did you…" Namine jumps, not even noticing that her father was standing behind her.

"After you've done talking, remember to clean up. I'll go upstairs." Luxord said with a calm voice and went away.

"Should I talk to Axel about this? Or just keep quite?"

"It's really up to you, Roxas." Olette said with a voice that makes Roxas feels better. "The thing is do you believe in Axel or not? How well do you know him?"

"Well, obviously, after all that… I feel like I don't know him at all. He's still just a stranger…" Roxas shook his head softly.

"Are you happy with him?" Namine asked.

"Well, yes…" Roxas blushed.

"Maybe he's not serious and just fooling around, Roxas and maybe he's just bored because he'd waited for you too long outside the school." Olette tried to defend Axel.

"I think so…" Roxas brightened, "Yes, that must be it, huh?" he smiled. "He must have been just playing around." Namine and Olette looked at each other, smiled, and nodded. "Thanks. I'll get back to work then." Roxas went away to continue mopping the table and rearranging the seats.

"I've never seen Roxas acted that way before." Namine whispered.

"Yea, maybe that just proofs how much he loves Axel." Olette smiled, "C'mon, go back to work." Olette pushes Namine, "Or your father will be giving a fit to us again."

"I know, I know." Namine laughed and went back to wash the dishes.

--

Summer is coming and the weather and temperature in Twilight Town are increasing. It's becoming hotter and hotter by the day. The fact that Twilight Town was one of the tropical cities does not help at all. Summer is the worst season of all. You didn't need to take a bath in order to be wet, just move around or find some activities to do, and you will be drenched in sweat. Roxas felt uneasy in class. Well, it's not just him who was feeling uneasy, everyone felt so. They could not wait another minute to get out of their classroom and have their three months of summer holiday.

Roxas peeked out to the window beside him, taking care not to get noticed by the current teaching History teacher, Mr. Merlin, though Roxas knew that Merlin would let him go for not concentrating on his subject just once. He eyed around searching for some object that he had been waiting for to show up since the last ten minutes and he found him—the red head, Axel. A smile found its way to Roxas' face. Finally, the long awaited bell rang. Everyone was basically shouting in excitement, completely forgotten that Merlin was still in the room. Merlin though, just sighed, gave them more home works which resulted in loud 'boos' and protest, he wished them a happy Summer holidays and dismissed the class.

"Hey, Roxas. Want to go for some drink? It's hot." Hayner said with a grin on his face.

Roxas thought for a while then eyes Hayner, "Alright, I guess."

"Wait, you're not having a date with your boyfriend, right?"

Roxas blushed at the words. Axel being called 'boyfriend' still felt so wrong for him, though it was true that they had been dating for six days. "We're just…"

"So, you are really dating him?!" Hayner shouted in excitement. "Cool, dude. I never thought you're that type." He laughed.

Roxas suddenly became defensive, "We are not dating. Axel and I are just – friends. Nothing more than that!" He panicked even more when he saw Axel coming in to the class. Axel approached Roxas with a cheerful face and put his arm around the blond's shoulder, "I was worried something happened to you in the class, Roxy." He grinned. "So, I decided to come and find you."

"Hey, are you both dating?" Hayner asked, quirking an eyebrow. Several people who were still in the class averted their eyes to Axel, seemed to be curious with the conversation.

"Hmmm. I don't know. I go with whatever Roxy says." He laughed, putting his nose on the short blond's head, inhaling the fresh lemon scent. Roxas sighed in relieve that Axel was not mad at him.

"Well," Hayner put his hands on his hips, giving a warning look to Axel, "If I find Roxas unhappy or crying, I'll kick your ass so hard you'll cry. Just remember that."

"Aww, did you just mean I would mistreat Roxy?"

"I think you've mistreated me a couple of times." Roxas said earning him a stare from one set of green eyes. As Hayner was about to say something, Roxas quickly cut in, "I think I'm going. You still up for the drinks, Hayner?"

"Nah. I'll pass on that one if you're going with him."

"Right. Bye." Roxas stepped out of class, followed by Axel with Axel quickly catching up with the blond due to his long legs.

"So, got any fun place to go?"

"Hmm… I don't know." Roxas seemed to be thinking. "Twilight Town is a small town."

Axel hummed, "It sucks." He sighed then. "This is the last week for me and I don't have any idea on how to spend the time with you." Axel intertwined his hand with Roxas'

"Last week?" Roxas frowned at the word.

"Haven't I told you?" Seeing Roxas' confused face, Axel quickly realized, "Oh, I haven't… Um, I'm leaving Twilight Town this week."

Roxas snapped, jumping away from Axel, "What?!"

"Roxy, it's nothing to be freaked out about. I just – won't come back in two or three years is all." Axel tried to calm Roxas down.

"Is all?" Roxas shook his head in disbelieve, not happy with Axel just uttering the sentence calmly and also with a smirk. His eyes narrowed, cerulean eyes giving death glares to emerald. "You're unbelievable. So, that's just it, huh?" All hopes crushed. Roxas had always believed that Axel was very serious in their relationship but it struck him to find out now that he was obviously just playing around with him. In addition, the heat was really feeding his anger and also the several rumors and truths that he had heard the past few days.

"Roxy, I – I meant…" Axel quickly jumped to explanation but was cut short by Roxas, "You know what? To hell with what you meant. I'm outta here."

Confused and utterly bothered by Roxas' statement, Axel threw an even angrier response whilst grabbing Roxas' wrist, "What do you care? You just said we're friends!" Axel bit back, almost shouted. Roxas was stunt, no longer struggling out of the red head's grip. His anger was welling up even more by the response, "I thought you'd understand me more than that!"

"Understand what?!" Axel asked, demanding. "Damnit, Roxy, can you calm down?"

Roxas rolled his eyes, finally tugging his hand free from Axel's grab, "No, I can't calm down! Not when I know the fact that you are flirting with someone else while you spread your lies around me saying that you love me!"

"I really do love you, Rox! You know that!"

"No, I don't! I don't know anymore!" Roxas shouted, eyes welling up with tears.

"And what's that about flirting? I didn't…"

"I had believed that you'd never do anything like that, that you just love playing around. And I'd like to believe that forever! But it seems, you're never really serious about us. Fuck, Axel…" Roxas shook his head, "You're fucking flirting with my teacher… With Miss Tifa. I can't believe it…" He stared Axel.

Axel was at loss for words, wanting to avert his eyes away from the big cerulean eyes that were wet with tears now but cannot. He reached out a hand to hold Roxas shoulder but Roxas quickly took a step away, "Don't touch me!"

"Roxy… That was, I was just playing around. I'm not serious."

Roxas breathed out a heavy sigh, shivering, sniffling, gathering his voice to bite Axel's words back, "Yes, and you are never serious about anything! I'm so stupid to ever trust you on anything. I should have known that any of this would never work out!"

"Rox, just chill. We can sit this one out." Axel tried to calm Roxas down, torn between not being able to hold him because Roxas would struggle horribly and afraid that Roxas would go away. Roxas was shuddering, giving death glares to Axel's eyes. He said nothing, just crying, trying to calm himself down.

"From what you just said, I think you stated that we are over. Fine! If that's what it is, fine. Because you know what?!" Roxas met his glare with Axel's, "You're right. I don't fucking care! I never give a shit!" He stomped away, still sniffling, leaving Axel behind. However, before that, he turned back and said, "Oh, right. Miss Tifa said that you can contact her anytime." And at that, Roxas really went away.

"What… the… Roxasss…" Axel shook his head, feeling utterly confused and bewildered. He wondered what he had said wrong but found nothing.

--

Aww, man. I'm sorry for the sudden out of characterness. This is all I can come up with. The next update will be in a week or two. I'll have to go out of town. Please critique and comment me. I'll try to improve. And I give my thanks to those who took their time to review. It really helps me build confidence. Also, thanks to those who had spared their time to read too. See you in the next chapter.