Aw, guys, I saw less reviews this time. That makes me feel really bad, since…well…is it my writing? Or is it just that…well…ah, never mind. I don't wanna pull a guilt trip or nothing, so I'll just stop now. Okay, ignore this. Yes. So anyway, here's more of the story for you. Yes, MORE of it, as you will understand once you hit that part.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to get them ready for the light they would take in once they opened. Once open, the jade orbs squinted, trying to focus in the fading sunlight.

Axel sat up on the small bed, yawning and stretching his long body out. The position of the sun outside gave him a rough guess that it was around four in the afternoon. He rubbed his hair, trying to remember what he should be doing. There was something important…something…maybe he had a lesson? Namine wanted him somewhere? No…

After a moment of pondering, Axel bolted upright, grinning like a lunatic. Roxas. That was what he needed to remember. Well, he did remember, but the little blond didn't know yet. Smiling in a euphoric trance, Axel stood up while he tried to smooth out his clothes and at least make himself presentable to the public. He wandered through the hall into the bathroom where he was splashing his face with cool water when the front door shut.

"Axel? You in here?" The voice was quiet, cautious, and exactly what the red head wanted to hear. It was Roxas. His serial killer grin returned from earlier, and Axel bounded into the front room to greet him.

"Roxy, aw, you're back!" He threw his arms around the surprised boy's waist and hoisted him into a hug, ignoring the fact that he could physically feel Roxas tense as he swung him round in circles. After successfully making the little one's head spin, Axel set him on his feet, and leaned down with his hands on his knees to be at eye level. For a good while, they stood just like that. Roxas' blue eyes froze wide and his body trembled in shock, while Axel's jade eyes darted all around the blond's face, the taller grinning the whole time.

"A-axel? " A tiny hand reached out experimentally, then one of the slender fingers poked Axel's pale cheek. At the sudden realization that the flesh he was prodding was real, Roxas jerked his hand back. Chuckling, Axel grabbed the hand and made it rest on his pale cheek.

"Yep, me and my own flesh and blood. I'm back Roxas," he whispered happily, "It's me." He saw something flicker in the cerulean depths, but it was gone as quick as it arrived. Axel stood straight and opened his arms, cocking his head and throwing him a questioning smile. The answer was Roxas, moving as if he were in a dream, walking into the embrace. As soon as the taller wove his arms around the frail body, Roxas followed suit and leaned into Axel's chest, shaking violently. Without even bothering to ask what was wrong, for he already knew that Roxas' was just happy, Axel pulled him closer and ran one of his hands through the unruly blond locks.

"I'm sorry I left you Roxas," he murmured, "I wish I could take all that time back…" The little blond cried for a while on his chest, letting Axel whisper comforting words into his ear.

When Roxas had no more tears left, he finally picked his head up off Axel to look him in the eyes. The pink lips moved inaudibly until Roxas took a deep breath, gathering all the courage he had to ask a tiny, simple question.

"How…how much do you r-remember?" He asked, his voice quivering in fear of the answer Axel scratched the back of his hair.

"Well, I remember we're best friends. Always have been, always will be. And then I remember that one night that you tried to…uh…kill yourself…" Here there was an awkward pause in the conversation. "Oh! And I um, remember all the reasons why you're so sad all the time. It makes a lot more sense to me why you're always so set on not waking up again…" Axel's silky voice trailed off, knowing the subject was not to be pressed further without Roxas' permission. The little blond turned his back suddenly, busying himself with straightening anything in his path.

"S-so," he stuttered, then coughed and started anew, "So, that's what you remember?" Two carmine eyebrows furrowed, and Axel scratched the back of his head at Roxas' reaction.

"Well…yeah, I guess. Aren't you happy Rox?" At the last statement, the little body pivoted to face him. There was a big grin obviously plastered to his face.

"Of course I am. C'mon, we had better get going. Demyx'll kill me if I'm late to our concert." He started out the door, looking back at Axel over his shoulder. Axel followed questioningly, wondering what was up with the sudden mood swing and the…fake smile. As they set off down the dirt path, Axel laid a hand on the shorter one's shoulder.

"What's wrong Roxas?" Snorting bitterly, the blond looked down and to the left to avoid Axel's gaze.

"I don't wanna talk about it," came the short, hurt reply. Axel's shoulders slumped; he really wanted to help his friend. He knew Roxas didn't have the best past, or present apparently, but he wanted to help. Maybe take even a little bit of the pain away from him, if just for a little while. Sighing, Axel tried prying.

"You know I'm here for you Rox. I don't think I'll forget any time soon. Maybe if you told me-"

"I don't want a conversation right now Axel. Just walk with me," he mumbled. The red head exhaled in resignation before making sure that Roxas really got the concept.

"All right," he slid the hand down from Roxas' shoulder to his hand and squeezed it gently, "But you know I'm here for you if you need me." He looked down to see him flip the blond bangs into his eyes purposely as he smiled sadly. Axel hated seeing Roxas in pain, but at the moment, there was nothing he could do.

Not that he wouldn't try later, of course, but as they walked down the path hand in hand, Axel knew this was the best he could do.

Weee! Next chapter done! The next chapter is *DUN DUN DUH DAHHH!* Roxas and Demyx's concert! And oh the irony, XxXDevil-Chan. xD Remember, the three R's- Read, Review, and Ramen!

Wait…ramen? x]