A/N: Eggs. That's all I have to say about this. (growls) I want to make this all great and have all of you love it, but endings are always hard for me. Well, either way, I don't think that this is the last chapter, alright? So don't stop checking up on this or anything. Alright? Okay, okay, so on we go.
Love Is Blind
Chapter Nine: Because I'm still here with You
(Axel Nostalgia FLASHBACK)
The boy frowned slightly, "What is that?"
"A box," the older, silver haired boy said with a sly grin. Kadaj always knew everything. He was the oldest after all. Besides, he had three older brothers to tell him everything too, right? "Come on, we have to go somewhere where the grown-ups won't see us." He heaved the box up into his arms and hauled it cautiously down the sidewalk, the other two children in tow.
Axel crossed his arms, "No, what is it? Kadaj?"
"It'll be a killing device if you don't shut up," he snapped softly, his voice lisping slightly, "It's a box. Come on!" Quickly, the eight year old boy pulled his two friends behind him, the black box cradled in one arm, "Come on, come on!" He pulled them around the corner of a house and set the box down, a sly grin on his sharp mouth. Slowly, he turned to the girl, Rikku, "Hey, can you get a stick?"
"Why?" She cocked her head and made a somewhat pouting face, "What are you going to do?"
"My brother told me a story about a box with everything bad inside of it, called the 'panda box,' so I want to play a game, okay? This is the Panda box. So I need a stick so that I can open it."
"Why do you want to open it?" It was the redhead who spoke this time, six-years old and nothing but curious. He leaned over the mysterious object, his short crimson hair falling into his eyes, "If it's got everything bad in it and stuff?"
Kadaj scoffed, "Why wouldn't I? If I open it, then everything bad is mine, right?" He smiled eerily and looked down at the seven-year old Rikku, "I need a stick, Rikku."
Finally she ran to a nearby tree and with much deliberation, jumped and ripped one off and tossed it to Kadaj, "There's your stupid stick. Now do it." Rikku sat several feet away and hugged her knees to her chest, irritated, "But I'm telling my Mom if you do let something bad out of there."
Kadaj rolled his eyes and poked the stick at the box, then at the knobs, then eventually at the small crack that had formed on one side. "How do you think I can open it?"
"Why is there a crack in it? Where did you get it?" Axel crouched to look at the strange object and then glanced back up at the older, annoyed Kadaj.
"I found it in the shed. And I think my brothers were trying to make something out of it. But it didn't work so I took it." Kadaj jabbed harder with a perturbed frown, "Open up Panda box!!"
"What'cha doin?"
It was a small voice that called out from around the corner, a small body and round face to match it. The child was angelic, with a slight amount of baby fat and wide blue eyes that made him even more cherubic.
"What do you want?" Kadaj was harsh and he stepped forward, his grip on the stick closer to a grip on a club.
"I wanted to see what you were doing," he said simply as he walked towards the silver-haired boy, "What are you doing?"
With a sigh, Kadaj rolled his eyes, "You're a little kid, you wouldn't understand."
"Why not? I think I would."
"What's your name?" Axel asked shortly, his arms crossed across his chest.
"Rox-as." That was all he said, a small pout apparent on his pink lips, "Who are you?"
"Axel. Got it memorized?"
"It's not that hard," he growled under his breath, "Lemme see." Roxas sauntered up and took the stick from surprised Kadaj's hand.
"Hey, brat―"
Roxas whipped the thick stick at the box, amused, "What is this?"
"It's a Panda box," Rikku said from across the yard, "It's supposed to have something cool inside."
"Cool," Roxas said slowly and brought the stick down hard again on the black box.
This time, it did indeed open. With a spray of hot, hissing acid, it opened. Axel and Kadaj jumped back, Roxas simply fell to the ground with a startled cry. The box sat menacingly next to him and Kadaj, trembling, looked down at Roxas.
"Are you okay?"
The flesh of his face was a hot pink shade, the actual skin wrinkling around his eyelids. He let out a short screech and Kadaj lurched back. Roxas rolled onto his side, shrieking.
"Axel, Rikku, come on, we're getting out of here!!" Kadaj took off in a full sprint, but Axel simply stared at the writhing young boy on the ground before him, Rikku clinging to his arm.
"C-come on, Axel!!" She tugged on his arm and he finally looked away, "Come on, Axel!!"
The redhead looked back one final time, and obeyed the blonde girl, racing after Kadaj.
END CHAPTER NINE
A/N: Hey I know that was short, but I wanted to make it very apparent that Axel was there, and he was an important part. So, keep watching for my updates, I'll get on it as soon as I can. I should be able to get them more frequent with school out and everything. So I guess that's all!!
Much love and many, many loving kisses from—the Prince—Riku
Pickup line #3:
Go up to the person and ask for their hand. Draw a line across it and explain that it's a really big river, and the bunny on this side (doesn't matter) really needs to get to the other side. Ask how he does it. Give cute little answers as to why the bunny can't cross the river (i.e., ...bunny jump in river, bunny goes glubglubglub.) When the person finally asks how the bunny is supposed to get across, give them the cute puppy eyes and say "I don't know, I just wanted to hold your hand."
