Disclaimer: not mine, love them anyway

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews on this guys, I love everyone I get. So this chapter is very odd for me to write, as you may or may no gather as you read it. If it seems a bit shakey or the sentences are a bit wrong then please forgive me. This wasnt the easiest chapter to write for me but I wanted to try it anyway. I'm sure you'll all figure out why it was hard. I hope you all carry on reading and stick with this. Only 4 more chapters to go! And trust me the next one will be a lot more fun and upbeat than this one. They're hitting the beach :D

Day 6

Roxas

Faint little raindrops landed on the glass and made their descent to freedom from the glass to the road almost instantly. It was fitting weather, that was sure. It never felt right if it was sunny on days like today. Roxas certainly didn't feel in a very sunny mood, how could he on a day like today? Even smiling made him feel guilty. Of course everyone told him he was being ridiculous, that it was a day of happy memories but it was easy for everyone else to say, it wasn't like it had happened to them. He yawned and got up out of bed, completely exhausted but nothing that a cup of coffee couldn't cure. He pulled on an old pair of jeans and yesterdays shirt, no point dressing up too smart today. He left his hair unstyled and carried on with his yearly ritual. Ignoring all of his stomachs callings for breakfast he sat cross legged on the floor and pulled out an old jewellery box, a simple one that all little girls wanted because it played music when it was opened. Or at least it used to, but it had broken over the last few years. Fiddling with the tricky latch, Roxas popped it open and gazed at the contents. He'd seen it many times before of course but every time it seemed to bring back new memories. A bag of broken glass, malice filled letters, a cracked mirror and some gold rings. Each item had a story behind it, though some he didn't even know himself. Sighing softly he lifted the top part of the box to reveal the cogs and levers which were used to make the music play. They were tiny and tricky to handle so Roxas knew he had no hope of fixing them, but if he pushed and twisted some of the parts it could still play music. He did this for a while, bits if metal cutting into his skin and making a small bead of blood appear on his thumb. He hardly noticed but he felt tears welling up in his eyes. The calming tune of the music box only seemed to make everything so much worse. 5 years since his mother had passed away and still all he could do was cry.

He had to leave quickly, otherwise Axel would show up and ask questions. Roxas was not in a question mood. The red head was supposed to come and pick Roxas up from his flat today for a change, probably hoping to get an invite inside. Well that wasn't going to happen seeing as there wouldn't be anyone inside. He grabbed a jacket and stepped out into the world's bitter embrace, ready to face the world but not at all willing. He felt his mobile vibrating in his back pocket and answered the call that had become ritual.

"Hi Naminé" he said blandly.

"Hey you, how are you holding up?" she asked with a concern filled voice. Oh how he hated the concern filled voices.

"As well as expected I guess, considering everything" he said sarcastically. Normally he would never dream of being so mean to Naminé but everyone bugged him on this day and she was used to it anyway, they went through this conversation every year.

"I'm sorry Roxas." She sighed softly "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No Naminé, I'd rather be alone today thanks" he said before hanging up. Every year she asked if he needed company and every year he didn't. There was little comfort to be found in customs but maybe it did help a little bit. Somehow the day just wouldn't feel right if he didn't have to ignore Naminé's offers, receive more hugs than necessary from Kairi and get given some chocolate from an obviously uncomfortable Sora (because nothing says sorry about the death of your mother like milk tray). And of course there was always the quick talk with his father the next day to see how everything was. Roxas found it easiest to just answer yes and no to most the questions. It was hardly worth the effort anymore. But one thing he hated more than the traditions was something coming along and messing up a routine. Which is why seeing Axel standing on the corner wasn't the thing he really hoped to see today.

There was no way out of it; Axel was walking straight over to him. He'd have to tell the truth, the real reason he was ditching him.

"Hey Roxie" he said cheerfully but looking puzzled "what are you doing here? I thought I was coming to pick you up, all gentlemanly like"

"I can't make it today Axel" Roxas said emotionlessly as possible.

"What, why not? Are you sick? Do you need me to nurse you better?" Axel started to step around Roxas as if he was a doctor examining a patient. "Hmm well you sure don't look sick, and if you were ill I doubt you'd be out in this weather unless you had the doctors. Do you have the doctors because I'll walk you if you want. It is my duty after all"

"I'm not sick Axel, just drop it please. I'll see you tomorrow okay" Roxas said walking away.

"Hey no fair, if you're ditching me don't I at least get an explanation" the red head said, hurt just detectable in his voice.

"It's none of your business Axel" Roxas snapped. Why couldn't he just carry on with his life, why did this idiot complicate everything at any given moment?

"I think it is my business, something's clearly upset you and I won't let my friend wander round upset alone" Axel said stubbornly. Roxas' mind froze for an instant. Did Axel refer to their relationship as friends? Since when had they become friends? Axel was just some horny weirdo who liked betting, he wasn't allowed to invade Roxas' life and becoming something important in it. Who gave him permission to do that?

You did when you realised you actually like the guy

The annoying little voice in his head chirped cheerfully. The blonde boy could only gape at Axel before finally gathering his wits again. The traditions were already broken, maybe it was some sort of sign. Not that he believed in that sort of stuff but maybe just this once…

"Come with me" he whispered.

"Come where with you?" Axel asked softly.

"Come visit it with me, come visit my mother's grave with me"

Axel

I was shocked to be honest, I guess I didn't expect him to ever ask me something like that. I guess part of me was also kind on honoured. That sounds stupid but true, he trusted me enough to bring me here of all places. Maybe he was finally throwing away his mask. The walk to the hospice was silent which Roxas probably appreciated. It didn't look like he was up for talking much right now. Probably regretted inviting me. Of course I'd leave if he asked me, I wouldn't dare force my way this deep into my life. But he had invited me, he wanted me to sit with him, maybe give him time to allow his brave face to crumble and cry. The hospice garden was peaceful even in the rain, the gardens were blooming with bright flowers and squirrels occasionally ran up and down the trees. To the left was a tiny patch of graves.

"Only patients who had died here could be buried in the gardens" Roxas said quietly "me and my dad both agreed she would have preferred it here than some gloomy old cemetery. She'd always loved the outdoors." He said with a tiny trace of a smile, probably from an old memory of summers in the gardens.

Roxas sat on the bench opposite and gestured for me to sit next to him

"You haven't said 'I'm so sorry for your loss' yet" Roxas said plainly

"Did you want me too?" I asked lightly

"No, I hate that phrase, no one ever means it"

"So, how long ago?" I asked, though I was petrified of upsetting him. Everything about this situation was new to be and I really didn't want to ruin it all by hurting him.

"5 years today, sometimes it feels like longer; sometime it feels like it's only been a few weeks. I've never stopped missing her since day one" I just nodded, what else could I do. I had no idea what to say. Did anyone know? Roxas looked like he didn't even know what to tell himself.

"We were a perfect family" he started slowly, his eyes deliberately avoiding mine. "My parents rarely argued and I was a perfect kid. Sure there were a few problems and we were never rich but we had a nice life. My dad went out to work and my mum stayed at home as a housewife. It worked"

"Sounds like the life we all dream for" I whispered, and I meant it. I wish my childhood had been like that

"It, started to go wrong around my 11th birthday. She was diagnosed with cancer around then, but nothing that wasn't curable. She was going to be fine after a few years" Roxas chose his words carefully,

"But life never goes that way" I said sagely.

"Yeah, it spread to a place they couldn't operate on. It became terminal. They gave her 11 years. I think that was the first time I realised what was really going on. At first she just had that disease that gets cured all the time, but to be given a prediction of her life really bought it all home. She'd miss my whole adult life, that was hard to bare. That was probably the first time I cried about it." I couldn't help it. Hearing him say such terrible things made me want to look after him and never let him get hurt again. I gently entwined my fingers with his and he obviously needed some comfort because he gripped my hand tightly. "Looking back 11 years would have been a dream come true. I would have given anything for those 11 years. Because things went wrong, infections attacked and suddenly we were told 5 years if we were lucky. Somehow that was reduced to 6 months, and finally she'd probably be gone before the new year. She didn't even make Christmas in the end. She loved Christmas; I'd even put all the decorations up for her especially so she could come home and see them." I could see tears in the corners of his eyes but he seemed to be fighting them. I wanted to scream at him to let it all out but I kept quiet

"Life….life dealt you a very bad hand Roxas, the worst it could have ever done. But there was nothing you could have done." I gripped Roxas' hand a little tighter.

"I know that, I just wish I'd had more help, more support you know?

"Didn't you have your family, friends?"

"Hmph, my family are a mess. I already had reason to hate most of them, there's no way I could turn to them for support. And everyone at school just treated me like a glass object from then on. Had to be handled carefully therefore no one really wants to touch it, be near it. I only have a few friends even now and there people I met at college."

"You have me too" I said. Roxas turned and met my eyes, smiling for the first time all day.

"Yeah I guess I do. Thanks for coming here Axel; most people would have fled if I'd asked them."

"Well you know, it was my gentleman duty and all that" I said feeling slightly embarrassed. The blonde was so out of character here, so vulnerable and sad. It made me feel sad in turn.

"You know this hardly counts as one of the bet days does it" he mused

"I guess not" I said, feeling confused.

"I suppose that means that all the rules don't apply today" he said looking meaningfully at our linked hands. I instantly caught on to what he was talking about. My much dreaded no contact rule. I also knew what he was hinting at which made my brain frazzle out for a few seconds. But finally I accepted what I had to do.

There was nothing else I could do.

Roxas

Roxas was still shocked when they were sat in a café an hour later. He had basically given Axel permission to do anything, yet he hadn't. All the red head had done was place his arm around his shoulder and held him. They'd just sat there for 5 minutes in the rain, no spoken word exchanged. And it had felt okay. It hadn't felt like a moment of weakness when he buried his head into Axel's jacket and cried. It had felt that for the first time someone actually really cared. And yet all that was going through his mind was how it couldn't last. Depressing, bitter and cynical thoughts still ruled his mind and it just wouldn't go away.

"So what about your dad?" Axel suddenly asked breaking Roxas out of his self pity fest.

"What about him?" he asked puzzled. This seemed kind of sudden.

"Well you said you had no family to support you, but surely you had your dad?"

"Oh yeah I guess so. I mean we've grown apart a lot lately. He got remarried and had a new baby so it got to the stage you actually had to book time with him in advance. We still talk every now and then but I moved out as soon as possible. The house was really sapping my life away"

"What do you mean? Surely it wasn't haunted" he laughed faintly before quieting when he realised what he'd just said. The basic reaction, Roxas thought. Go really quiet when they accidently mention anything to do with death

"No, I just felt like I didn't fit in there anymore. His new wife already had 3 younger kids and they were just so annoying. I used to dread coming home so I'd make excuses all the time. Eventually I met Naminé and she offered to pay half on the rent of a tiny place with me. That worked for a bit but I just felt odd living with her so I moved once again. Luckily for me my Nan had passed away and left me quite a bit of money. It's just enough to keep up the rent until I quit school and go to uni." Roxas continued to amaze himself. Why did he keep pouring out his life story to this guy. There must be something really special about him. He was about to carry on when his phone started ringing.

"Sorry, I better get that" he apologised to Axel who just nodded and started to read a discarded newspaper.

"Hello" I said not bothering to check who was calling

"Hey Roxas, still okay?" It was Naminé

"Yeah, exactly the same as I was earlier Naminé" he said sighing. She was such a worrier it got annoying at times.

"I'm sorry Roxas, I wish there was more I could do for you" she said sounding genuinely concerned. "I know, I'll come and cook you dinner tonight so you have one less thing to worry about"

"Oh that's okay Nam, I'm eating with Axel I think" Roxas said dismissing the idea "But thanks for the offer, maybe next week. We can catch up or something"

"You're going out with Axel tonight? On today of all days" she said sounding shocked.

"Well no, not quiet. He came with me to the hospice." Roxas knew he'd made a mistake the second the words left his mouth. He could have hit himself for being so stupid. He wasn't going to tell anyone he didn't go out alone today.

"You took Axel with you?" she squeaked "But I've offered to go with you every time and you said you preferred being alone"

"I do prefer…I just ran into him and couldn't…I'm sorry" Roxas couldn't even begin to see how he could make the situation right again. "Look come see me soon and we'll talk about it, I promise! But right now I have to go"

"Roxas wait" she said, Roxas heard some anger in her voice for the first time ever. Regretfully he hung up and walked back to the table. He knew he was in trouble and that it was going to take a lot to sort everything out again but he didn't have time for that. Today was his mum's day and he wouldn't let it get ruined but friend fallouts. They could wait for a day or two.

"Hey, are you okay?" Axel said looking worried. Roxas smiled shyly. Why had this guy been so good to him all day? Why did he look after him after being pushed away all week? He couldn't deny it anymore, he was starting to get some feelings for the red head and thy just kept on growing. Being looked after by him all day had made Roxas feel like he could trust him, so maybe it was time to repay the trust?

"I'm fine" Roxas said smiling. "I have to get my bus soon though so I better get going. He glanced round and saw the bus was just going up to the station to turn around. That gave him about two minutes. He sat in the seat right next to Axel and rested his hand on the red heads shoulder. "Axel, thank you for today. I've…I've never taken anyone there before and maybe that's what I needed. I shoulder to cry on why I'm there"

"It's no problem Roxas, I'll try to be there for you if every you need this shoulder again"

"I look forward to it" Roxas said, suddenly feeling slightly nervous. "There had been one bad point to the day though"

"What's that?" Axel said, seemingly aware of how close they were.

"The odds for me winning the bet have gone right down" Roxas whispered before leaning in and gently brushing his lips across Axel's. There was no exploding fireworks, no sudden grips of passion and lust, but there was a soft taste of a future there, and that's all Roxas needed for now. He got up and ran for his bus leaving a very bemused Axel sitting there touching his lips in disbelief. It as almost comical to see.