Author's Note: Wow, I really need to update. Though, when writing this part, I felt my muses reawaken. So, hopefully that is a good thing. Anyway, today is my Beta's birthday, so what better way to celebrate it then update this story? So, it's been unbetaed, so ignore the gramatical errors and such. Yeah.

Disclaimer: Me no ownie anything.

Chapter 10: Old Friends, New News

Cloud really hated Leon at the moment. With a burning passion! More so now that he was face to face with what would be his faithful "sidekick" for the rest of the week.

A scrawny man that looked like he'd rather being doing paperwork then sitting there (with the way he kept looking back at his desk) hesitantly met the blonde's unwavering gaze. He squeaked again, looking to the side again.

Mousey. That was the only word Cloud could describe the man with. His "partner" was twitchy, scrunching up his nose like there was a bad smell in the air, and he'd just squeaked. If that wasn't enough, his hair was shaggy, and his eyes were wide open. Plus, the man's nervous habit of biting his lower lip often gave the blonde a view of his two front teeth.

Definetly mousey.

Every being the polite one (darn Aerith and her skills at making him feel guilty, even now, for even the thought of acting unpolitly), Cloud swept his hand out in a friendly gesture, nodding his small approval of the man (if anything, another laugh for Roxas).

"How may I help you…?" The old warrior realized he hadn't the slightest clue what the other guy's name was.

"Tastby. Theadore Tastby."

"Mr. Tastby…" Hm..switch the t and s and the first t to an r…ratsby! An infusion of a rat and a frisby!

"Oh gods, I seriously need to get more sleep." Cloud brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose, a habit he had picked up from Leon. But no, that guy was off vacationing with his family while he was stuck here trying to find a replacement for the brunette's butt for the time being.

Realizing that a silence was lengthening, Cloud brushed off the forming headache and leaned forward (while trying to assure himself that he was not receiving the "I think you're crazy look" from Mr. Tastby) to show he was paying attention.

"Mr. Tastby, how may I help you?"

The mouse man blinked, shooting the blonde the "crazy" look again.

When said blonde only blinked back at him, Mr. Tastby went on.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"Hm?"

"Mr. Pretzel sent me."

"Ah." That made sense. And here he thought the boss would make Cloud himself find a new partner (a way he would've preferred)!

Cloud nodded his consent, and stood up. He leaned further over the table, and held out a hand to Mr. Tastby.

"I guess, we'll be working together for the rest of the week, partner."

After all, he didn't want to displease his nut of a boss. If he sent Mr. Tastby, then Mr. Tastby it is.

Mouse man was in for a work out of his life.

"Is that all for the day?"

"Mm-hm…unless I can get your to come home with me."

Olette scowled, playfully pushing the books back across the counter to Roxas.

"I'm still at work Rox. Can't."

"Later?"

"Later."

Roxas smirked, holding in the laughter bubbling under the surface as his gaze slid over to the ladies also behind the counter. One was stacking books, acting like she wasn't listening. The other lady didn't even try to hide it. She was gazing at the pair of them with keen interest.

Sliding his gaze back to meet Olette's, he raised an eyebrow at her face. She was trying as hard as he was to not laugh and throw off the game.

Earlier, once Roxas had gone to browse the selves, some nosey co-workers of Olette had asked if he was the girl's boyfriend. He had denied it then, saying they were just friends. Yet, the co-workers hadn't seemed convinced.

Now, thanks to a sudden mischievous streak in his brunette friend, they were not giving those co-workers something to gossip about.

Biting his lip, Roxas grabbed the books and slipped them into his shoulder bag. He then gave a last nod to Olette, and then, as he turned, a wink.

He heard the gasp from the lady watching them as he turned to walk out of the library, along with the snort as Olette kept in her laughter.

Walking into fresh air, he quickly darted to the side. Clutching his side as he finally let out all the laughter he had been holding inside, he leaned a hand against the wall of the library.

"What's so funny, blondie?"

Honestly, the boy looked like he was going to keel over and die with all the laughter bubbling out. Axel was sure that if anyone could die from laughter, the blonde in front of him was a good candidate.

Said blonde only glanced up for a second, recognition flashing in the clear blue eyes, before the blonde was back to his laughed fit.

Axel merely shook his head, chuckling himself as he crossed his arms, waiting until the blonde calmed down.

"Axel! I haven't seen you since last summer!"

"Duh! I only come to Twilight Town in the summer. And, in case you don't recall, it's summer, so I'm here." Axel teased, bringing up a hand to tap at his forehead, as if he was scolding the blonde for not thinking.

"I know that!" Roxas growled back cheerfully, brushing some invisible dirt off his knees as he righted himself fully, taking deep breaths still.

"You never come to the library though." Roxas shifted a hand through his hair.

"You do, though."

"You were looking for me?"

Axel sighed dramatically, bringing a hand up to his forehead in mock hurt. "I come back, and my friend doesn't even seem to care enough to say 'hi'." –Roxas rolled his eyes at this, placing his hands on his hips- "Oh well, guess I know where I'm not wanted." Axel brushed off, returning to normal as he turned to walk away from the blonde.

"Hey! Wait!" Roxas called, running forward to catch the redhead's hand and pull him back.

"You can't scold me for not saying 'hi'. You didn't say 'hi' yourself!"

"Of course I said 'hi'!"

"No you didn't. You said: 'What's so funny, blondie?'" Roxas corrected shaking his head.

"Oh yeah!"

"Pfft! And you catchphrase is 'Got it memorized?'"

"Hey, just because it is my catchphrase doesn't mean I have to abide by it."

"Well, are you just a hypocrite?"

"Why thank you, Roxas!"

"That wasn't a compliment!" Roxas scowled, letting go of the older's man hand to punch him playfully in the shoulder. Axel simply stuck out his tongue in response.

They both started walking again, heading to Roxas's house without a work spoken about it. It was simply…tradition.

"Seriously though, what was so funny?"

Roxas chuckled, shaking his head as he adjusted his shoulder bag.

"Yes, but the news is great."

"Out with it then!" Aleyone urged, leaning forward in the thrown to listen to Tarot's words.

"She has been granted a child."

Faith gasped to the side, quickly scribbling the news down. It was the happiest news to reach their ears in a long time.

Aleyone blinked a few times, before leaning back again, the sheer excitement of the situation leaving her shock.

Her sister had been granted a child. Her sister…Her's…Firelight…she…

"When will it happen?" She questioned quietly, not trusting her words any farther then she could throw them.

"It already has."

"She already has met with her child!" Aleyone burst out, leaning forward again, a sense of pride flashing through her eyes at the thoughts of her sister. Her clutzy, ditzy sister…a child…she was granted a child.

Faith, on the other hand, seemed to come to her senses more quickly than the Queen.

"But, you said you had news of the future." She pointed out (after scribbling down the rest of the news of Firelight's brush with Destiny).

The Queen blushed, shaking her head to get her head out of the clouds.

"Right." She echoed, turning her attention back to Tarot.

"Yes. Unfortunately, troubles have, and will, continue to befall the child. Firelight will be placed in danger, and…" She left it out, unable to say more of the future for fear of wrecking it. Tarot was loyal to her Queen, but never, would she disturb what was to be. She only ever gave enough info to inform, and to help lessen the burden.

Unfortunetly, Aleyone (the Queen), felt her older sister senses kicking in, and spent the rest of the afternoon trying to pry answers out of the seer fairy's lips (much to the amusement of Faith).

"Hey! Hikaru! Why so glum!" Firelight and Crystal were still at the small café, squabbling over the fact that Firelight had deliberately wanted Sora to meet Roxas. So, when Hikaru (a fairy of Twilight, meaning his aura was a mixture of whites and blacks twisting into grays) walked by with his doom and gloom face on, Firelight called him out on it (if only for a change in conversation).

"Yeah, usually you never go anywhere without Hikari." Crystal chimed in, still miffed from the tactics of the red fairy friend.

Sadly, that appeared to be the wrong thing to say to the twilight fairy though.

"Just because he's my twin doesn't mean I always follow him around like a lost puppy! He can just go and stuff it with his friends. I don't need him, or them! So, stop bothering me about it!" Hikaru roared, turning and stomping his foot childishly as he directed his rant at the two fairies.

Firelight pouted in response.

Crystal rolled her eyes, simply passing it off as another regular day between the twins. Fighting, making up, and then fighting again. Yep, that was all the twins did lately.

The pout Firelight had on her face seemed to make it through the twilight fairy's angry exterior, because he sighed and ran his hands through his hair in an attempt to calm himself down.

"Sorry. Just a small misunderstanding…and me getting laughed at, as usual."

Crystal rolled her eyes again. There was the doom and gloom speech, yet, but the way Firelight had raised from her seat; she knew the other fairy had fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker.

"Aw, don't say that, Hikaru! You're special, and you know it!" Firelight exclaimed, enveloping the boy in a hug.

"Yeah, in my head." He replied sadly, hanging his head on Firelight's shoulder.

Crystal rolled her eyes again. Honestly…

Author's Note 2: If anyone can figure out where Hikaru's last line comes from, Kudos to you. Also, I figured out what I needed in this fic. Some romance (because it's really dry at the moment, and until I figure out Sora's character again, that won't be moving anywher). So, I'm asking you guys for some help. I'm not sure whether to have RoxasXOlette, or AkuRoku (because, seriously, during some parts, I swear Roxas is trying ot tell me he's gay), and now, looking at this, I'm wondering if some love between the fairies will start up (Firelight and Hikaru?). As for the others, I'm not sure. So, I'm just asking for suggestions on how the couples should turn out here, or if you think that love will just be a hassle, tell me about that too. Anything, since I'm not sure where to go. Anyway, thanks for reading. I'll try to update within a month this time! Over and out!