S!CK

By Candied

Author's notes:There were so many lovely reviews, that I didn't even know what to do with them! It would take me forever to answer all of them, and I only have a limited amount of time on this computer, so I'm very sorry! I would also like to apologize for such a late update, but don't fret! There will be more soon! I've also finished my short little one-shot for Ladyameena22, so be sure to check it out! Anyways, I think you'll find the suprise in this chapter quite pleasant. By the way, I've actually had this chapter done for quite some time now, but as if I wasn't having enough comp troubles, my computer stopped reading Java, and I couldn't upload new chapters. Anyway, I now have internet again and will be able to update just as quickly as I was in the past! Hope that's exciting news for ya.

Chapter 10: Both of us, broken

I stood over a balcony, Axel at my side. Our hands were locked, eyes staring out at the waves crashing on the sand below.

I felt the wind blow through my hair, and I turned to see Axel's locks swaying as well. He was beautiful- perfect even -that sweet pink smirk and those loving bright green eyes. Those black triangular tatooes and his tall frame with a face surrounded by fierce spikey red locks brushed softly by the salty ocean air.

Axel was strong, mysterious, and handsome. He was mine, and I was his.

For a moment, the tall frame of my boyfriend flickered to that of Hayner's, his brown eyes staring sadly into mine.

I frowned, looking again at my lovely-

Hayner.

Axel.

Hayner.

Axel.

I stepped back, holding my head.

Why ws this happening?

Again, Axel's frame changed to Hayner, and the ghost-like boy walked torwards me.

"Roxas," he spoke like the wind, walking to me ever so slowly.

My body shook, gazing on his cold, sad eyes.

"Roxas..." he repeated, the bones in my body turning to ice.

I shook my head, gasping.

No.

Hayner is dead.

The boy who had been my best friend stood before me now, his eyes staring deep into mine, and I thought he would tear out my soul.

"It's not too late, Roxas."

I couldn't take my eyes from him. "What?"

"You can let go now, and come with me."

He put out his hand for me to take it.

"Let go?"

Die.

I slowly reached out for his hand.

-------------------------

My eyes slowly opened, and I looked upon the nude body of the blonde I had taken to bed.

I grunted, and sat up, looking at my alarm clock.

I had woken before it had gone off,

I ran a hand through my red tresses before looking at Roxas' sleeping body. He was still, his porcelain skin shining with beads of sweat in the dim light.

-Wait. He was too still. I turned him over onto his back, and looked at his face. His nostrils did not move, nor did his chest.

"Roxas!" I shook the boy, tears streaming down my face.

"Roxas!" I heard some noises in Demyx's apartment, but I didn't pay any attention. I pressed my lips to Roxas' and pushed air into his lungs.

I listened to his chest, and heard Demyx come into the room, before I again breathed into Roxas' mouth.

Demyx screamed for Zexion, and I soon hear the sound of a phone number being dialed. Three soft beep noises.

No doubt, 911.

As I continued my CPR, Demyx slipped pants onto the helpless boy.

"A-Axel..."

I looked into his eyes, and he smiled at me for a moment before his eyes again closed, and he fainted in my arms.

Well, at least he was breathing.

Soon, an ambulance came, and we rushed to the hospital.

-------------------------

I was cold, though bright lights surrounded me- though that was all I could see. Everything else was blurry/

Where was I?

I saw a flash of red, and heard a familliar voice call my name.

"Roxas, are you ok?"

A blonde streak. "Is he awake?"

Plue? Blurple? "Give him some room."

The three colors came into focus, and I recognized them as Axel, Zexion, and Demyx.

"Oh, hey guys."

I moved to sit up, but winced in pain as I felt something in my arm.

After examining said arm, a realized I was hooked up to an IV.

"What the hell?"

"You stopped breathing," Axel mumbled around a cigarette, "but they don't know why."

Axel was smoking a cigarette in a hospital.

"Axel, put that out! You can't-"

" 'em," Axel replied, moving to my side, "I'll smoke where I want."

He grinned at me, and I remembered Hayner.

"Don't scare me like that, kid." Axel said, snapping me out of my daze.

"Huh? Oh, sorry."

Had my dream somehow affected my reality? It seemed as though almost taking Hayner's hand and letting go was what caused me to simply stop breathing.

I couldn't figure out why I had gone to take Hayner's hand though. I mean, I was happy with Axel wasn't I?

"Guilt." I heart Sora say from a chair near my bed.

"You feel guilt for not stopping him."

Tears were stinging at my bright blue eyes. He was right, I did feel guilty for the death of my best friend.

"Roxas," Axel started, "What's wrong?"

I felt a tear run down my cheek but quickly wiped it away.

"Nothing, I- I think I just need to rest."

The trio nodded, and left the room, Axel giving me a kiss on the forehead first.

I turned to the brunette, and frowned. "Do you think he forgives me?"

"I'm sure he does."

Sora's face seemed somber, which was unusual because he was always so cheery. But there he sat, one hand propping up his head with a soft pout on his lips, his ocean eyes not looking into mine.

"We both feel the pain," Sora remarked.

"Yeah," I agreed, putting a hand to my chest, "It feels like a part of me died with him."

"We were always together," Sora added.

"But now he's gone, and he'll never come back."

"Roxas, do you think Axel will leave us?"

I smiled. "Not a chance."

Sora's face lit up with a smile, and I couldn't help but return it whole-heartedly.

We were two pieces of the same person, Sora and I, no matter what.

I guess I must have fallen asleep, because the nest thing I remember is Axel waking me up.

"Can't sleep all the time," he remarked, handing me a cup of coffee.

I grumbled a few obscenities, but took the offering. No half-asleep being refuses caffine.

"They want you to stay overnight." Axel told me, taking a seat by me.

"What? But there's nothing wrong with me!"

And I look ridiculous in this paper gown.

"They want to be sure. I sent Demyx and Zexion home, and I took the day off so that I can stay with you."

"Thanks, Axel, but I... I know why I stopped breathing."

I reluctantly told Axel all about my dream, and how I was going to let go.

"So, you want to give up and die?" Axel asked, turning away from me.

"No, that's not it..."

"That's what it sounds like." Axel retorted.

"No, I was letting go... there's a difference."

"Wrong, Roxas! 'Letting go' is taking the easy way out! It's stupid and cowardly!" he yelled at me.

I looked away from him in anger. He just didn't understand.

But, wait, his mother had commited suicide. Of course he had strong feelings about the subject.

"Axel, I'm sorry. It wasn't really what I wanted, it was just a dream."

"I'm just glad I woke up when I did," he replied.

"Me too."

We fell silent for some time, and I fiddled with the needles in my arm, trying to keep them from being so painful.

That's when Reno and my mother came in.

"Roxas!" my mother exclaimed, running over and taking me in her arms. All my work at making those needles more comfortable- gone.

I guessed that Axel had called Reno and Reno had called my mother.

"Hi, mom." my voice lacked enthusiasm.

"What happened, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, don't worry. Hey, Reno."

Reno nodded to me, having chosen to take a seat in one of the chair provided.

My mother sat on the edge of my bed, and looked sadly at me with the same blue eyes she had given me at birth.

"Roxas, I want you to come home."

"Mom, I'm fine. I don't need to-"

"Obviously, honey, you're not taking care of yourself and you need me to help.

My eyes gazed to Axel, but he did not return the glance. His face seemed expressionless and empty.

I looked back at my mother.

"No, I'm staying with Axel."

"Roxas, you are my legal responsability, and I cannot allow you to-"

"I said no!"

I glared harshly at the woman who had given me life. The same woman who had ran away with me from my father when I was just a toddler. The same woman who spent her nights drinking instead of tucking her child into bed. The same woman who was too busy to show up to a school play or a parent-teacher conference.

It was too late to be a mother now.

"But you're not even going to school!"

"Axel has the day off tomorrow, we'll work it out then."

I may have hurt my mother's feelings just then, since it seemed so by her face. We looked at eachother for a moment, before she stood up.

"Well, alright then. Just, call me sometime. I miss you, Roxas."

"Alright, I will." I responded, as I watched my mother and Reno stand.

"Feel better, kid. Take care, Axel." Reno said.

"Later, Dad." Axel replied.

"Bye mom, bye Reno."

It was still weird to see Reno with my mother, and I could see that Sora agreed. He stared at them from his seat.

They left, and again Axel and I were alone. Save the other parts of ourselves, that is.

"I'm almost surprised." Axel said after a few moments.

"About what?"

"You didn't go with your mother. She seemed concerned."

"I'm fine."

"Are you?" Axel looked at me curiously.

"Yeah, I mean, I guess. It's just that Hayner still kinda haunts me."

"He was your best friend. Besides, are you sure you really want your memories of him to stop coming to mind?"

"Well... I guess not."

"There ya go, then."

"It's not how often we see eachother, what matters is how often we think about eachother, right?"

Hayner had said that once to Pence, Olette, and I. I suppose it still sung true.

"Tomorrow, I'll work on a way to get you to and from school," Axel said, interupting my thoughts. "I think I've got it all worked out," he continued.

"How?" I asked.

He winked at me mischieviously, "It's a suprise."

I grinned at my red-tressed lover.

"I'll look forward to it."

The day had passed, and Roxas and Axel fell asleep at the hospital. It was kinda cute, with Axel halfway on the bed and halfway on the chair.

I looked to Riku with a grin.

"So long as they're together, we will be too, right?"

"That's right." he answered me.

"But, Riku, what happens when we become whole again?"

"You'll go back to being Roxas, and I'll be Axel again."

"I'm scared. I'll miss you."

He placed a gently peck on my forehead, before looking at me with his soft aqua eyes.

"Sora, there's nothing to be afraid of. You and I will see each other the same way we do now, but we'll be inside our original selves."

"You're sure?" I felt a pout cross my lips.

Riku chuckled and pet my hair.

"Absolutely."

"I trust you, then."

I snuggled up to him, and he draped one of his strong arms over my shoulders.

"How are we going to become one with Roxas and Axel again?" I asked, wondering if Riku even knew.

He turned to me with a soft smile.

"Sora, no matter where we go, the people we love- dead or alive -are always with us. People are eternal. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because we remember them. They live forever in out memories, and so they never die. So long as one person remembers them, they live on. The world and everything in it share a destiny. We are all part of it. Even you and I. When Axel and Roxas realize this, we can be whole again."

"Oh, I see. They don't have to let go of Hayner or Axel's mom. They have to remember them, and keep them alive in their hearts."

"Exactly."

"Y'know, I like that. I hoep and and Roxas live forever in the memories of others."

"They wil Sora, and so will we."

I toyed with a silver lock of hair between my fingers.

"Then, I'm not afraid to go back into Roxas, I'm actually excited. Together again, and forever. I can't wait."

"Same here. I've been waiting a long time to reunite with Axel. Then, everything will be as it should be."

"Yeah, it'll be great."

Author's notes: Hooray for Sora/Riku interaction! Please review, guys! I'll reply for sure next time! I promise.