This chapter is actually dedicated to Ren13013, because I was experiencing a bit of writer's block on this chapter, and could not for the life of me think of a way to start it. But she gave me an idea with the comment about their phones, and even though it doesn't really have any significance to the story, it helped me push the beginning out, and I was able to write quite a bit after that...

I know this chapter is short -avoids rocks and other various objects thrown-, but I really couldn't push any more out.. I 'm sorry lol. Like I said, I'm developing some writer's block, and my schedule is picking up again. I will be back though, don't worry. I spend a lot of my class time trying to write the next chapters for this story, seeing as that is when most of my random inspiration comes, so yeah!

Not sure how long until the next update, could be soon, could be a while, I can't honestly tell you. Hopefully it' sooner rather than later though.

TheFallenOnes: I'm not sure... is this considered fluff or angst lol? Pry angst..

SporkFilledDeath345: Yes, Axel is back. Not for much in this chapter, but in every chapter from here on out!

LawlietXRinoa: Lol, trust me, that hide and go seek game is fun... lol we used to play it when we were little, except it was more of a capture the flag game. The town used to get so mad because we ran through everybody's lawns.

With a side of stereotype: I've been waiting for this as well, because I enjoy writing about Axel very much!

SarahXxUnlovedxX: Of course Axel's back... lol he's the main event.

EvilLeo01: You can't swim?? oh my gosh, scary! I would probably have a heart attack every time I was within five feet of water!

slightlee-.-sarkastik: I agree, it does make it more fun! (Especially when you're not it!)

BanpaiaYoru: Well thank you!

Kitsune Curoryu: --waves like a queen-- I try my best. lol

9-White Cloaked Nocturne-9: I've always imagined them following Riku's every word. He seems to be the unspoken leader of the island kids...

Azul the Noah of Knowledge: ah, a newcomer! lol yes, but Axel deserves the attention back on him. You can't be that sexy and be cast aside!

Sora's Sacrifice: lol yeah Roxas' mum is a bitch. I thought about making her completely motherly and transformed, but it just didn't fit...

Disclaimer/Warning: Swearing, boy/boy, blah blah blah....

Chapter 23
Seize the Day

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

I see my vision burn, I feel my memories fade with time
But I'm too young to worry
These's streets we traveled on will undergo our same lost past

I found you here, now please just stay for a while
I can move on with you around
I hand you my mortal life, but will it be forever?
I'll do anything for a smile, holding you 'til our time is done
We both know the day will come, but I don't want to leave you

I see my vision burn, I feel my memories fade with time
But I'm too young to worry
(a melody, a memory, or just one PICTURE)

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

Olette

"I can't believe they jumped right in!" Kairi shook her head, looking amazed.

"A little desperate not to lose, huh?" I asked.

The dark red head laughed and tried to look serious at the same time, "We take games very seriously here on the islands. Nobody wants to lose."

"Like we did?" I rolled my eyes, biting my lip at the cool air. She laughed a second time and shrugged.

"Hope they didn't ruin their phones..." Kairi suddenly glanced over her shoulder, back to the bridge.

Roxas

"Shit." I tried to desperately squeeze my hand in to my tight jean pocket.

"What is it?" Selphie was ringing out her hair.

"My phone..." I groaned as I managed to yank it out. The screen was completely dark and after pushing the power button several times, I figured it was a lost cause. Selphie watched me quietly before sighing and pulling her own out, staring down at it with a mad look.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" She suddenly shouted, chucking it at the ground. I stepped back, a little surprised by her outburst, "Selphie! Language!"

"Oh shut up!" She huffed, kicking sand over top of the ruined device for added effect. I dropped mine next to hers, groaning in defeat, "I feel like I'm at a funeral."

The brunette rolled her eyes and began making her way up the sand bank. I followed after her when I was finished with my moment and we both shivered violently at a passing gust of wind. She flipped her wet hair around her shoulder, spraying me in the face, "That's was probably a really stupid idea. Jumping in, I mean."

I wrapped my arms around myself and grinned, "Spur of the moment?"

"It was pretty quick ass, though!" She brightened. After pretending to do a couple karate moves, she jumped a few steps, "Oh, oh! Like in the movies!"

I grabbed her arm and set it back at her side, "Calm down, you're going to hurt yourself."

Olette

"We should split up!" Kairi announced, snapping her fingers, "Maybe we could find someone quicker this way?"

I agreed it was a good plan and parting ways, I followed the road to the sandlot.

There were voices in the dark and I froze, not wanting to give myself away. They were too hard to hear, so I darted closer. It wasn't any of the boys and it sure as hell wasn't Selphie. Scrunching my eyes in confusion, I arched around a barrel to see their shadows.

"Where'd he go?" One asked, searching the darkness. Another one answered, his voice sounding very familiar, "Don't know."

"Why don't you call him?" A third member suggested.

"Already tried. No answer." The second voice informed.

"Maybe he was like, taken by a vicious cult, you know? Or maybe aliens swooped down and-"

"Just stop."

I didn't want to eavesdrop on the trio anymore than I already had, so I turned quietly to head back the way I came.

"Hey, Demyx..." The third voice began. I froze.

"Yeah?"

"I'll pay your five bucks if you don't talk for the next ten minutes."

"Seriously?"

"Starts now."

"Oh, okay!" The first voice seemed to smile.

"Larxene, quit playing games with him. Demyx, you know she'd never pay you."

Demyx?

Larxene?

Weren't they from...

"Zexion, why do you always have to ruin my fun?"

"Why do the both of you always have to talk?"

I figured the three were probably glaring daggers at each other in the dark, and I took the moment to silently make my way towards them.

"Hey there's someone coming!" One of the voices shouted.

"Axel?" Another one asked, sliding under the street light.

I stopped in place to study the figure under the glow. It was a blond girl, maybe a little taller than me, with two identical bangs that stuck up. She hugged her black coat tighter to herself and squinted to see me.

Raising both my hands in caution, I coughed and shivered before announcing, "Not Axel. You don't know me."

Two black, gloved hands set themselves on the girl's waist and she tilted her head to the side, "Okay... well, have you seen a lanky, awkward, redhead anywhere? Green eyes... probably talking to himself..."

"Uh... no?" I took a step, bringing me fully in to the light. The other two shadows stepped out as well and I stared at each of them in turn.

"Wow." I laughed, rubbing the back of my head.

"Jeez girl, you got a staring problem?"

"Larxene! Be nice!"

"You're Demyx." I suddenly pointed to the blond who had last spoken, almost poking him in the chest, then turned to the slate haired one, "And you're Zexion!"

All three stared at me, confused, with looks of distrust.

"I'm Olette." I gestured to myself and then smiled my politest smile, "I've heard about every single one of you from Roxas."

"Roxas?" Demyx was the first to speak, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet, "Hey, hey! We know him!"

"I'm s-so c-c-cold." Selphie shivered violently, latching herself to my side. I tried to rub the goosebumps on my arms away, but they refused to leave.

"Just let us find someone first... that way we can head home." I offered, starting the climb up the tower, "I'm sure we'll catch someone up here."

Selphie carefully pulled herself up beneath me, whimpering every few seconds as she glanced back at the ground.

"Stop looking down." I finally warned, not exactly causing the reaction I wanted from her, seeing as I nearly slipped right after and she let out a frightened squeal.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh..." She whispered under her breathe, nearly closing her eyes. My hand found the stone ledge and I managed to pull my self on to the top of the clock tower, helping Selphie after I had gained my footing.

"See it's not so bad up here."

She glared at me through the dark, but slapped a hand to her mouth when she looked over my shoulder, "There's someone there." She whispered, pointing behind me.

I turned around, surprised to see that, yes, there was someone there. A skinny shadow was standing on the other edge, staring up at the sky. It seemed as though they had yet to spot us.

"Hello?" Selphie suddenly asked, stepping behind me.

The figure glanced at us over their shoulder, before doing a double take and turning completely around.

"Roxas?" They asked, waiting for an answer. I was too scared to respond.

That voice....

It sounded familiar.

There was a brief moment of interrupted silence, where Selphie shifted her weight. The figure decided it was a good time to pull back their hood, revealing a head of recognizable red hair, and eyes that were so green, they nearly glowed in the dark.

"Axel?" I let out a choked gasp, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.

His lips turned up in a full smile, allowing his white teeth to shine through.

I pinched myself several times, feeling as if I was in a dream. Being stuck between wanting to hug him and wanting to hit him, I chose the latter and sent a hard punch in to his jaw, shouting something that sounded vaguely like, "You bastard!"

"Well..." He staggered back, bringing a hand to his stinging mouth, "That was probably deserved."

"That and so much more!" I yelled, flailing my arms in the air.

"But..." He paused again, giving me a pout that looked entirely too young for him, "Don't I get a kiss too?"

"No!" I shouted, turning away just because if I didn't, I probably would have given in, "You don't deserve anything!"

He chuckled softly, looking back up at the sky, "I see your temper's still in check."

"Why are you here? In Twilight Town?" I asked, ignoring his comment.

"I came back... again." He smiled a second time, running a hand through his red locks, "I'm sorry, Rox."

I wasn't sure what to say next, so I crossed my arms like a child and frowned. Selphie took this time to introduce herself, "Hi!" She greeted the redhead brightly, reaching for his hand, "I'm Selphie! You've never heard of me, but I think I've heard of you!"

Axel eyed her hand carefully before taking it and nodding his head, "I'm Axel, Roxas' older, more mature, and devilly handsome boyfriend."

I rolled my eyes and snorted, "Oh yeah?"

He ignored me and continued to shake the brunette's small hand, "Well, at least I was his boyfriend. Now I'm just this older guy who misses his little Roxy-kitten and wants to hold the little, blond, ball of fury in his arms once again."

"Aw!" Selphie squealed, bring a hand to her lips.

I grunted at the stupid nicknames and looked away, "Selphie... please tell the dumb, redheaded Sasquatch that I'm not interested in pursuing a relationship with him because he has twice now broken my heart."

The brunette looked to Axel and waited as the guy smiled sadly and replied, "Please tell Roxas that said Sasquatch is sorry for all his wrong doings, and only wants to take the cute little, broken kitten out to lunch sometime to mend things."

"Why?" I pulled myself out of the third-person conversation and set my hands on my hips, "Why bother with all this? You're just going to leave again or something."

"I miss you." Was all he said.

I frowned and paced towards the other end. I could feel those emeralds staring in to my back, probably looking so sad and pleading, Hitler would have stopped a war for them.

"Please?" He whimpered in a voice that entirely un-Axel, and stepped towards me.

"Fine." I sighed, holding up a quick finger, "But I decide when the date ends, and you have to buy me ice cream."

The redhead looked so ecstatic, Selphie was dancing on her toes, "Oh, oh! Yay Axel!" She hugged him from behind, shocking him just a little bit, and skipped around, "I'll help you pick out your outfit, Roxas! This way you look hot for your guy's date."

"It's not a date!" I clarified, "It's an ex-boyfriend taking me out to dinner to apologize, so I can deicede whether he's worthy or not to be my friend again."

Our eyes met through the dark and I had to glance away, feeling the hypnosis of those twin gems beginning to take it's hold on me like before. Maybe I should make him wear sun glasses...

-Jaspen