Axel hadn't left his room other than for necessities, such as food and work, in the past week and wouldn't let anyone come in. Demyx had come over to try and talk to him, but he'd just locked the door. Even Cloud had given up on trying to coax him out, deciding to leave it to the redhead when he wanted to come out.

There was a soft knock on the door. "Go away." Axel told whoever it was. The knock got harder. "I said go away." The knock turned into a pounding. "Go away!"

The door flew open, the wood around the lock cracking and splintering. A girl with short brown hair stood with a foot in the air where the door had been. "When a girl knocks on your door, you open it!"

Axel's jaw fell open. "Yuffie, you broke my door!"

"You deserved it, you emo bastard." She set her foot down and crossed her arms. "And is this how you greet your best friend? I take a week off from work and I can't even get one damn hug?"

Axel smiled slightly and got up to hug her. "Cid's been rubbing off on you."

Yuffie grinned and hugged him back. "I missed you! How you been? Leon hasn't been too big of an ass, has he?"

"No bigger than usual." He ruffled her hair. "So what brings you here? Not that I'd ever complain about seeing you."

Yuffie's grin grew. "I came to meet your boyfriend! After all you've told me about him, I'm dying to meet him."

Axel's smile disappeared and he walked towards the kitchen. "Well, then you're too late. I broke up with him." he opened the fridge to get a beer.

"Whaaaat?! Why'd you go and do a thing like that? You sounded like you really liked him whenever we spoke on the phone."

"He was cheating on me, Yuf." He said sadly, taking a drink of the beer.

Yuffie froze. "Oh. Well, in that case, fuck him. You don't need a guy like that." She rubbed her chin. "Then we must begin the quest to get you a new boy toy. I'd suggest Leon, so we could be related, but I love Cloud. Hmm…what about Sexyion?"

"Zexion already has a boyfriend. He's dating Rox's best friend."

Yuffie let out a low hiss. "Ah, awkwardness." Unable to think of anything to say she settled for hugging him. "At least you still got me, right?"

Axel laughed. "Right. If I didn't prefer guys and you didn't have a boyfriend, I'd totally pick you up."

Yuffie giggled. "Yeah, cuz if you tried now you'd get a bullet in the brain." She sighed and started messing with his hair. "So, how badly was the jerk cheating on you? Like, was he screwing the other guy or what?"

"It was a girl he was with, and probably. She was naked when I went to his apartment."

Yuffie scowled. "I should kick his ass. Nobody screws around on my Axel. So, how has your guys' mutual friends been reacting?"

"Demyx tried to talk to me about it, Sora made a threatening phone call, Zexion's been just basically moral support, and Riku prefers to be left out of it."

"Wait, why would Sora threaten you? Roxas was the one who was cheating."

Axel stared at the ground. "Sora's his brother and I…sorta hit Roxas when I left. In the shoulder."

Yuffie looked appalled. She punched him in the shoulder. "No! You never hit someone just because they did you wrong! Only when someone hits you are you allowed to hit them! Ax, you know better than that!"

"I know, Yuf." He sighed and leaned his head against hers. "I was just really mad."

She sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. "Hey, why don't we go out somewhere and get your mind off of him? We could go window shopping for boys."

Axel smiled. "That sounds like fun."

Yuffie grinned and stood up. "Okay! Then we shall go and have a merry time!"

"I love you, Yuffie."

"Of course you do. Everyone does."

BORDER

Roxas slid the tray of cookie dough cookies into the oven and shut the door. He sighed, touching his shoulder gently, wincing as he put pressure on the small bruise.

"Rox?" Sora asked quietly as he stepped out of his room. The brunet had made sure to be extra nice to his brother, knowing how much he needed it. Especially since he felt so guilty; he'd been the one who'd made Roxas go with Naminé to the beach so they could try to be friends again. "You okay, bro? Where'd Demyx go?"

Roxas forced a smile. "He had to go see Zexion. Want a cookie?"

Sora smiled. "Of course." He took one. "So, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, So. I'm probably gonna go hang out at the mall with Naminé later."

"The mall? What if you run into…"

"No big deal. If he's a big enough of an asshole that I can't hang out with a friend, no matter if I dated them or not, then I don't need him." He touched his shoulder again. "Besides, not like I care about a guy who would do something like that to me." He jumped when his cell suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He read the message. "Oh, Naminé's here. Can you get the cookies out when they're done?"

Sora nodded. "Sure thing, buddy." He waved as his brother left.

Roxas met up with Naminé in front of his apartment building. "Hey, Namé. Ready?"

She smiled. "Of course." They started walking. "So, have you spoken to Axel?"

Roxas frowned. "No, and I don't plan on it. You saw how he acted."

"I know, but I feel bad. I mean, I helped him win you over and…"

"Hey, we've already talked about this. You were only doing what Demyx and Sora asked you to. I don't hold it against you. Besides, you helped me realize what an asshole he is. If he's going to assume I cheated on him because you were at my house, that just proves he had no faith in me. I don't want to be with someone like that."

Naminé sighed before hooking her arm around his. "Fine, let's go shopping."

Roxas smiled. "Thanks."

She smiled warmly at him

BORDER

Roxas poked at his hamburger, occasionally taking a bite. Him and Naminé were currently seated in the food court of the mall. They'd been at the mall for roughly over an hour and only bought a few things but had decided to take a brake anyway.

Naminé was looking around, ignoring the small chicken salad in front of her. "Hey, Rox? When did you start liking the mall? You used to throw a fit when I tried to drag you here before."

"Oh?" Roxas's attention snapped back. "Oh, well, I guess I just sorta got used to being here, y' know? Since Ax…" he trailed off and stared down at his burger.

Naminé, sensing the mood change, smiled brightly. "So, how're things going at school? It's almost time for summer break, isn't it?"

Roxas nodded. "Yeah. I think I'm gonna try and get out of town for a bit this summer, maybe go visit Dad."

"It's been a while since you've been home, huh? I mean, you didn't even go back during Christmas."

"I was busy."

"Uh-huh." She grinned and reached over to mess up his already messy hair. "I missed you, Rox. It's fun to sit here and talk with you again."

Roxas smiled. "Yeah." He stole her fork and took a piece of chicken from her salad. "Mm. Good. For mall food, at least." His eyes trailed to behind her and he got a sad look on his face.

"Huh?" Naminé followed his line of vision. "Oh." She sighed when she spotted Axel, walking towards the food court with a brunette, bag laden. "Want to go?"

"No. That'll just make him think I care what he thinks."

"But you do."

"Shut up." He glared down at his burger.

--

"God, Yuffie, do you even need half of these clothes?"

Yuffie stuck her tongue out at him. "Shut up. I have to take advantage of your employee discount while I can. Besides, I look cute in short-shorts."

"Yeah, yeah." He shifted his grip on the bags. "Why do I have to carry all the bags?"

"Because you're the man, therefore you have to do what I say."

"And you call Cid sexist…"

"Oh, be quiet."

Axel sighed. Suddenly he tensed up.

Yuffie noticed this. "Hey, what's up?" she followed his stare and spotted a blond. "Oh, is that the slut face?"

Axel frowned. "Yeah. Lets just go." Before he could turn, though, Yuffie seized his arm, "What?"

"No. Do you need him?"

"Fuck no."

"Then lets prove it." She grinned and made a sexy pose. "You got me, so flaunt me."

Axel frowned. "That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard you say."

Yuffie grinned. "You're just jealous, 'because I'm too sexy for you. Now, we have a mission. Time for role play. You're my adorable, bisexual boyfriend, and I'm okay with that. And I'm your sexy girlfriend, who everyone's surprised is with you. We met through my brother, who you lusted after in secret until you spotted me, and you instantly fell in lo—"

Axel put a hand over her mouth. "Shut up."

"But it's drama!"

"Well, I doubt we'll have time to give him a synopsis of our 'relationship'."

Yuffie crossed her arms and huffed. "You're no fun, Ax." She grinned and grabbed his arm again. "Now, to put our plan into action!" she started pulling him and once she was sure they were within earshot of Roxas she giggled, "Why don't you find us a table, honey, while I go get us some food, 'kay? Be right back."

If Axel hadn't been trying to show up Roxas, he would've rolled his eyes. He took a seat at a table three tables away from him and Naminé, happy to be free of the bags. Bored, he picked up a straw from the small container in the middle of the table. A few minutes Yuffie returned with a slice of pizza, a hot dog, and box of fries. She set them down before taking a seat across from him.

Yuffie picked up the pizza and started to eat it. She grinned. "Eat up, sweetie! You're too thin; I need to fatten you up. Can't let you wither away in to nothing, can I?"

Axel popped a fry into his mouth, forcing himself not to look over at the blondes. "Yeah, yeah, I know." He smiled at her. "You're so good to me."

"But of course." They ate in silence for a bit, her staring happily at him. After a while she whispered under her breath. "Hang a fry outta your mouth."

Axel blinked. "Huh?" he whispered back.

"Just do it, you idiot."

Axel did as he was told, pretending to be distracted. Yuffie grinned and leaned across the table biting down on the fry right by his lips, to give the illusion she was kissing him. She pulled back and grinned, pretending to be embarrassed.

Axel leaned back, blushing slightly. "Yuffie!" he hissed.

Before she could utter a response she looked over as Roxas shoved away from his table and practically ran off. Naminé followed closely behind with a worried look. Axel stared in shock as Roxas looked back at him briefly. Were those...tears in his eyes? Roxas turned away and hurried off, wiping at his eyes.

Yuffie snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Yo, snap out of it. What's wrong?"

"I think…he was crying."

"You sure?" Yuffie looked in the direction they'd gone. "I wouldn't think so, the way he was looking at you."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "How was looking at me?"

Yuffie scratched at her cheek absentmindedly. "Kinda like he was pissed. And sorta like he wanted you to just disappear, I guess."

Axel sighed. "Hey, can we just go home now? I don't really feel like being out right now…"

Yuffie gave him a sympathetic look. "Sure thing." She stood. "You're still carrying the bags, though."

TBC

Kainichi: Ah! Another chapter done. Heh, I'm so cruel to Roxxy…though most of you seem to like that, ya weirdoes. –grins- Any who, I hope you're all on the edge of your seat with anticipation! –laughs evilly-

Yuffie: -smacks upside head- Quit being a jerk!

Kainichi: -back of head- Jeez, only joking. Alright, faithful readers, Kainichi signing off for now. See y'all next time.