A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Gxmwp for being the first reviewer of chapter 8 :D

Now, without further ado, here is chapter 9... Enjoy :)

Special thanks to...

candy3314

MissLuvs

IchiakiI

HeartThatBeats

evilgrrlzstrike is lazy

x-Trisana-Skystorm-x

Ok, I also want to thank Sweet . Clover. Charm but FF keeps deleting part of your name? So yeah!

I hope you all review again :)

Previously...

Axel sighed in relief and took a few steps towards me. He looked around and froze. I didn't notice and I started talking again, "It's just, things have happened to me that-"

"Roxas," he interrupted in a low voice, "we have to get out of here, now. Shit, this is-"

He was interrupted by a smooth, velveteen voice, "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in Yaz."

I looked over as three silver headed bodies walked out of the shadows. I recognized them as Yazoo, Riku, and Kadaj.

"Axel," Riku growled, "You're on our territory."

ROXAS POV

Even though I wasn't in a gang, I knew what this meant. I looked at Axel, distressed, "Axel?"

He growled. "Roxas, you need to go back to the dorm. Now."

I looked at the three figures looming at the edge of the trees, and then back to Axel. "I can't! You're going to get hurt!"

He huffed, "It doesn't matter! I've been through worse, all I care about is that you're safe."

"Aw. Isn't that sweet? I think the notorious Axel Raphsodos is getting soft," Kadaj sneered. He took a few steps forward, Riku and Yazoo following closely behind.

Axel looked at me frantically, "Roxas, go."

"No!"

I winced when Yazoo stepped forward and kicked Axel in the stomach. Axel growled and kneed him in the groin. When Kadaj started stalking towards Axel, I jumped on his back. He started thrashing around, trying to get me off of his back, but I only gripped tighter.

"Let go of me, kid!" he yelled.

"No!" I said stubbornly. He growled and backed up against a tree, and I yelped in pain. Axel dodged Riku's advances and ran towards me. He grabbed Kadaj and threw him across the clearing. He turned to me, "Go. Now. Please. As long as you get out, I'll be fine, just go!" He pushed me towards where I ran in from, and I chanced one more look back at him. He got punched in the face by Riku just as Yazoo and Kadaj punched him in the stomach. I flinched when I heard him groan in pain, and ran off to the dorm building.

I didn't stop running until I got to our room, and knocked on the door next to us. I didn't wait for an ok to enter, and turned to see Demyx sitting on his bed, Zexion cradled in his arms.

"Axel's in trouble!" I yelled. At this information, Demyx snapped his head up.

"What? What happened?"

"R-Riku, Kadaj and Yazoo came, we were in the forest, you have to go save him! He's going to get hurt!"

Demyx came over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and looking me in the eyes. "In the forest?" he asked. I nodded. "Shit. Zexy, let's go!" he turned back to me, "don't worry yourself, kid, we'll take care of him!" With that, he promptly ran out of the room, Zexion at his heels.

I stood there silently for a moment, staring at the door, when my phone vibrated, signaling a text.

Hey bro! I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!

As I slowly walked over to my dorm, I slid out my keyboard and quickly replied to Sora: I saw you yesterday. Can you come over to my dorm?

After a few moments, I got his reply: Yeah, something wrong?

I didn't get a chance to reply, because there was suddenly a knock at my door. I rushed over and swung it open. Sora bounced in and looked around. "This place is a mess." Then he flopped down onto my bed.

I looked around too, taking in the trash everywhere and the pile of laundry in the corner. "Eh, too much stuff has been going on to clean. We've been busy." I made him sit up and scoot over before sitting down next to him.

He shrugged. "Yeah, my dorm is pretty bad too." I laughed and he turned to face me. "So why'd you want me to come over? Is everything ok?"

I swallowed thickly, "Uh. So, how's everything with Riku? I see you two together all the time."

He flushed, "Yeah, Riku's really cool. He's a great friend."

"Do you like him?"

He looked at me, confused. "Of course I like him! We wouldn't be friends if I didn't!"

I laughed, "I mean as more than a friend."

He blushed deeper, "You, uh, never answered my question."

I grinned, "Oh Sora, I think you have a crush on your roommate!"

He pushed me playfully. "Oh shush! Now answer my question!"

I sighed. "No everything's not ok. Axel, my roommate, he's in trouble."

Sora cocked his head, "Detention?"

I shook my head. "No. Your crush and his brothers are probably beating him up right now," I said as I hung my head. Sora jumped up from the bed, making me snap my head up.

"What?" he shrieked. "He could be getting hurt! We have to help him Roxas!"

I narrowed my eyes, "You think I'm going to help you and your boyfriend beat up my roommate? You must be insane!"

Sora came over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Why are they fighting anyway?"

"Apparently me and Axel were on their 'territory' so they think that beating Axel up will solve things." I could feel my face going into a frustrated pout.

Sora looked at me quizzically, "Why were you in the forest at night? Do you have a death wish or something?"

I looked away from him, suddenly nervous and flustered, "Uh. ."

Sora sat there, dumbfounded, until about five minutes later, "He kissed you?" I nodded, and he pouted, "I wish Riku would kiss me, he thinks I'm just a kid."

I laughed slightly, "You are a kid Sora."

He sighed and crawled over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I hope Riku's ok."

I returned the huggle. [1] "I hope Axel's ok."

"Hey Roxas?"

"Hm?"

He snuggled further into me, "Don't let what happened make you avoid love. Give it a shot."

I leaned back a little, causing him to as well. "I know Sor, it's just hard. It's scary."

I waited for his response, only to look down and see him fast asleep. I smiled softly before petting his head and nodding off myself.

"Roxas!"

I jolted awake when my name was called, and my door swung open. I looked up and saw Demyx standing at the door. The night's events caught up with me, and I struggled to stand up, only to find that I couldn't. I looked down and saw Sora still curled up against me. I gently shook him awake. "Sora, Sora!" I called. His eyes quivered, but didn't open. I shook a little harder, and he finally stretched his limbs before opening his eyes. He looked around confusedly.

"Wha?"

I turned to Demyx, who was glaring at Sora. I furrowed my brows at the expression. I heard Demyx emit a low sound and cleared my throat. "Demyx? Why are you glaring at my brother? What's wrong? What happened?"

Demyx shook his head and looked at me, "Nothing. Axel's looking for you. Well, he wants to see you. He's in our dorm."

"Is he ok? Did he get hurt? Never mind, I'll go see myself," I turned to Sora, "Bye! I have to go! Be careful!" I leaned in close to his ear, "Take care of Riku."

He nodded, "You too. I'll see you later!" He kissed my cheek in farewell before running out of my room. I nearly ran into Demyx trying to get out of my dorm fast enough.

After he opened the door for me, I pushed past him into the room. I looked around and spotted Axel sitting on the bed, cradling his arm. I ran over to him and started frantically checking him over. He had a black eye and scratches all over his face. I breathed a sigh of relief, until I saw his knuckles. I shrieked. "Axel!" He looked at me, alarmed, and I pulled him up with his good arm. I started pushing him out of the door and into our room.

"Roxas, wha-"

"Your knuckles," I interrupted. "They're bleeding again. And I need to bandage them up!"

He brought his hand up to his face and looked. He chuckled, "Oh. Shit." [2]

I sighed and lowered him to the bed and picked up the first-aid kit that was sitting next to it. He whimpered when I dragged a cotton swab against the cuts and bruises on his face. "Sorry," I muttered.

He winced. "S'okay."

I sighed once I was done with his face. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

He shook his head, "Only my hand." I nodded, and started bandaging up his hand. After a few moments of silence, I started babbling.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault. If only I hadn't run off like that! Then you'd be ok. And if you hadn't had to save me from Xigbar, your knuckles would be fine! Oh my god!" I was nearly hyperventilating at this point, "this is all of my fault! Axel I'm so sor-"

"Roxas." Axel's intense tone made me stop talking. "This is not your fault. If anything, it's my fault. If I hadn't kissed you, you wouldn't have felt the need to run. I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "It's not your fault at all. I-I liked it."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "Are you done yet?" he whispered.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Almost." I wrapped another bandage, just to be sure, around his hand. Hesitantly, I pressed a kiss to each knuckle. I didn't expect to be pulled into his lap, and I squeaked. He chuckled softly. I turned to face him, only to have my lips captured in a soft kiss. He pulled away after a moment, but I only wrapped my arms around him to crash our lips together again. His tongue timidly asked for entrance, and I granted it to him quickly.

After a while, I pulled away. "You told me about your past, and I want to tell you about mine."

"Roxy, you don't hav-"

"I want to. Now shut up and listen." I sighed.

"Don't feel like you have to Roxy," Axel mumbled.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up and listen?" I asked. He nodded. "Good," I gulped. "Uh. My dad had always been a drunk. And addicted to drugs. He always got violent too, and he hit my mom a lot. I was really little and didn't know what to do. I was only seven when she killed herself." I laughed bitterly, "Shot herself and drowned in the bathtub." I felt Axel's grip around me tighten.

"So that's why what Kairi said bothered you so much," he murmured.

I nodded. "I didn't know that my dad hit Cloud until my dad started hitting me." Axel growled, and I looked at him, his face scrunched up in fury. I caressed his cheek lightly, and he leaned into my touch. "Cloud always tried to take as many punches for me as he could. He couldn't take them all for me, but he tried. When he came out to my dad, my dad sent him here. That's when he got worse. He started hitting me more, and he started hitting Sora and Namine, my brother and sister. I took as many hits as I could. But I have to say the worst thing was when his friend payed him to have sex with me." Axel felt my breath quickening and nuzzled my neck. I took a quivery breath. "He raped me when I was only thirteen years old."

"Stop, you don't have to say anymore if you don't want to love. [3] You don't."

I turned to face him and touched his cheek. "I'm almost done. Promise. He kept hitting me because I looked like my mom. But when Sora and I turned sixteen, Sora told me he was gay. My dad overheard and tried to send Sora away. But I told him that he would have to send all of us away. So he did. He said he was glad to be rid of such abominations."

Axel sighed. "I don't think you should have told me that."

I felt a flutter of panic rise in my throat. "Oh god. You think I'm disgusting don't you?" I pulled away from his embrace, "I'm sorry. I'll just go-"

I stopped talking when I felt his warm lips on mine. "Liebe, that's not it at all. But now I want to hunt down this man and kill him. I don't think that's rational in the least." He pulled me back into a snuggle.

I smiled softly, "In a twisted kind of way, that's kind of cute."

He smiled back, but as he searched my eyes, his smile fell. "I'm sorry for what happened to-"

I put my finger up to his lips and shushed him, "Shhh, don't talk. You're injured." [4]

He pulled my finger away and held it. "You should go to sleep, it was a long day."

I smiled up at him, my lids getting heavy with sleep. I didn't realize just how tired I was until he said that. I yawned sleepily, "But I'm not tired yet." I cuddled up closer to his chest and felt his chest vibrate when he chuckled.

"Sure you aren't. Go to sleep, I promise that you'll be safe. I'll protect you."

Footnotes ^.^

[1] Hug + snuggle = huggle. Don't judge me.

[2] My sister says this all the time (like every other sentence) and she says it while she laughs, like this: ohohoh shiit. Does that make sense? Oh well.

[3] I'm actually called this by some people ^.^

[4] Go watch 'How Twilight Should Have Ended' on YouTube. You'll know why this is funny xD

I apologize I didn't update sooner (you probably don't care anyway) I had this chapter finished for a while, but I wanted to update chapter 10 a the same time. And err, it still isn't finished...

Sorry xD

It should be up later today :)

... Hopefully.

Review please!

I'm planning to write a oneshot for the fiftieth reviewer, just keep that in mind :)