Gale: Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter's a week late—I have bronchitis, so I haven't really had the motivation to work on it lately, plus I now have two jobs and very little free time. However, I have all weekend to work on all my projects, so I'm going to post two chapters this weekend.

Xino: You luckies! Two chapters in one weekend!

Sonshi: Great. Can we get on to the story, now? I want to see if Riku finally mans up.

Xino: I can't wait for all the couples to get together!

Gale: Guys, the chapter won't start until you stop talking, so be quiet and let the readers get to the good part. Enjoy!

It was quiet in the school as Zexion made his way towards the lab, though that wasn't surprising. Most students avoided the building on Sundays in an attempt to forget that there would be classes the next day. Zexion thought it was rather pathetic of them; he saw no problem with working in the lab on the weekend.

His footsteps echoed quietly through the abandoned halls, betraying his presence.

"Ah, there you are, Zexion," Professor Vexen said, looking up from his desk when the blue-haired senior quietly walked into the classroom-slash-laboratory. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten."

"No, Professor," Zexion replied, his tone respectful as it only was when addressing his favorite teacher. "I was studying and lost track of time, and I had to eat lunch before I came."

Nodding in approval, the blond professor gestured at Zexion's usual table. "Everything is ready. I will assist you once I have finished grading these quizzes."

"Yes, sir." Zexion set his bag on the floor and surveyed what Vexen had given him. Test tubes, vials, charts, bottles of chemicals, protective gloves, goggles and an apron were set out neatly on the table. Too experienced to overestimate his abilities, Zexion put on the goggles, gloves and apron before he even picked up the bottles to see which chemicals had been given to him.

He worked in silence for several minutes as Vexen continued to grade his papers, mixing chemicals and recording any change in temperature or color. There really was no specific goal to his experiment, other than to see what would happen when he mixed various chemicals. As Professor Vexen's unofficial lab assistant, he was responsible for planning future experiments for the younger students so Vexen didn't have to take the time. In return, he was given extra credit—though he didn't need it—and the professor had promised to write him a recommendation letter when it came to applying for universities.

"What do you have so far?" Vexen asked, walking up to the table to observe his student's work once he had finished grading the quizzes and tucked them away in his desk.

"I thought the students would like to observe the effects of dry ice on various cell types." Zexion gestured to the skin sample he had under the microscope then at the piece of dried ice he had taken out of the canister.

"CO2? On cells?" The professor took a moment to consider what the possible variations of such an experiment could be. "Yes, I think that would be all right." Zexion smiled and went back to work, pleased that his idea had been deemed a good one.

"Professor Vexen?" the senior asked after nearly half an hour had passed. His tone was almost timid, as if he wasn't sure if he should say what was on his mind.

"Yes?" Vexen glanced at him, adjusting the microscope he was using.

"Could I ask you for some advice?"

Professor Vexen straightened and turned intelligent green eyes on the senior boy. "Of course, Zexion."

Hesitating, Zexion searched for the best way to phrase his problem without giving away too much information. "If I…saw someone bothering someone else, am I obliged to do something about it, even if it doesn't affect me in any way? If it isn't my business, should I still interfere based on principle?"

His expression unreadable, Vexen studied the troubled boy before him. "Why are you asking me this, Zexion? Did you see someone bullying another student?"

"Not…bully, exactly." More like sexually assault. But he didn't want to say that. If he did, he'd have to tell the professor exactly what he'd seen, and that would cause trouble for Mister Marluxia and everyone would find out what was happening to the blond junior. Somehow, he got the feeling the younger student wouldn't want anyone else knowing. Zexion definitely wouldn't.

Vexen could see the internal conflict taking place in Zexion's mind. It was obvious that the student was very troubled, but if he wasn't willing to say what was bothering him, then Vexen had no intentions of trying to force it out him. "If it is upsetting you this much, Zexion, whatever it is, then do what you think is right. You're a very intelligent young man and I know you'll find the answer you're looking for, even if it doesn't seem like it."

"Thank you, Professor."

Doubtful, Zexion continued with his work. He'd been hoping for a yes or no answer, but now he realized that the situation might be a little too delicate for such a blunt response.

What am I going to do? he wondered, carefully picking up the piece of dry ice with a pair of tongs and dropping it back into the canister with the rest of the pieces. I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about it, but it isn't my business. The kid can handle himself…if he really didn't like it, he'd report Marluxia to the headmaster. Wouldn't he? Would I? Yes, if a teacher ever tried to do that to me, I'd report him.

His gaze slid over to the professor beside him, and Zexion thought of all the hours he'd spent alone with Vexen in the lab, working together and growing to like and respect each other. If Vexen approached him sexually, what would he do?

I don't know, he realized, surprising himself. What if it was the same for the junior? Shit…now what am I going to do? Things just kept getting more and more complicated.

Conflicted thoughts continued to race through the blue-haired senior's head as he worked, and even by the time he'd finished in the lab, cleaned up, put away the supplies and left, he still hadn't decided what to do.

What I think is right. It isn't right for Mister Marluxia to harass the junior, but it isn't my responsibility to turn him. Is it? Zexion sighed, secluding himself in a corner of the library to study his Advanced Biology notes. Why had this become his problem? Was it karma? Had he done something to deserve having to deal with this? It didn't seem fair that it had to be him. He was a good student, was always on time for class, never turned in an assignment late and had nearly perfect scores in all of his classes. All he wanted to do was graduate and get into the best college possible, not have to play intervention for a kid he didn't even know.

"This isn't your job," he told his notes. "Stop thinking about it. Focus. You have work to do."

"What isn't your job, Zexion?"

Startled, the blue-haired senior jumped and looked up to see a younger girl he didn't know standing before him. "Who are you and how do you know my name?" he asked, almost rudely. Mostly he was embarrassed to have been caught talking to himself.

The girl smiled and sat down across from him at the table he had chosen. "I'm Kairi, and you're Zexion." She offered her hand, still smiling.

Confused, he slowly reached across the table and shook her hand. "Okay, Kairi. How do you know my name?"

"I recognized you from the plaque with the names of the Honor Roll students on it, and I've seen you win awards for your science projects. So, what isn't your job?"

Zexion stared. Who was this girl? "…nothing. It's nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing. But, oh, if I'm prying, feel free to tell me it isn't my business." Kairi smiled self-patronizingly. "I'm too curious for my own good."

"It isn't your business," Zexion replied bluntly, his tone and expression making it obvious that he wanted her to go away, "and I need to get back to studying." With that, he looked back to his notes in a clear dismissal.

Shrugging, Kairi stood and adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "See you around, Zexion."

The senior didn't reply and Kairi walked away, already lost in her own thoughts. It seemed like there was an unusual amount of drama going on this year at Kingdom High, what with her scheme to get Riku and Sora together and Roxas being hit on by a senior boy and Namine witnessing a teacher harassing a student. The redhead was so focused on the twin boys that she almost forgot to keep up with all her other friends, and now she'd accidentally discovered even more trouble.

"What am I going to do with these people?" she sighed quietly, leaving the library and making her way across the grounds, on her way to visit Ariel, who Namine had introduced her to the year before. "It's like I'm the only who can keep myself out of trouble." She conveniently forgot the fact that she often enjoyed the drama that surrounded her, as long as it didn't hurt anyone. Unfortunately, Namine and Roxas were both upset about their respective problems, and Kairi was determined to help in any way she could. It would be much easier to help Roxas, if she could find out who the senior was that had kissed him at the party.

Just like that, an idea so simple she was amazed she hadn't already thought of it came to her and her pace quickened as she changed direction. Her visit with Ariel was going to have to wait.

Kairi burst into her and Namine's dorm as she was finishing her text to Ariel explaining that she had research to do and would try to come over later in the day. Tossing her phone onto her bed, she went straight to her desk and opened the bottom drawer, digging through the books and magazines stored there.

"What are you looking for, Kai?" Namine asked, distracted from her homework by her cousin's hurried entrance.

"I just need to see…ah! Found it!" Triumphant, Kairi quickly settled on her bed, the school's most recent yearbook in her hands. She flipped to the page that showed photos of all of last year's juniors, blue eyes flitting from face to face, searching. "There! That's got to be him!"

"Who?" Completely lost as to what the redhead was going on about, Namine got up and sat beside the other girl. "What are you talking about?"

Kairi pointed at a photo excitedly. "Him! This must be the senior that hit on Roxas at the party!"

Curious, Namine looked at the picture Kairi was indicating. A lanky boy with bright red, spiky hair and emerald green eyes smirked back at her. His shirt wasn't buttoned up all the way and his tie was loose, a blatant refusal to follow the school's strict dress code. The blonde's attention was drawn to the name beneath the picture. "Haruki, Axel."

"Axel." Kairi tested the name, trying to think if she'd heard it before. "Weren't there rumors about a boy named Axel messing around with one of the teachers a few years ago? It was before we went here, but I think someone told me about it, once."

Namine shrugged, once again studying the picture. "I've seen him around but I've never talked to him."

"Well of course you haven't, Mi-Mi," Kairi teased, "you hardly talk to anyone, much less a guy like him."

Namine blushed at the comment. "Why were you so excited to find out his name?"

"Because I want to talk to him about what happened at the party."

"Kairi, do you think maybe you get too involved in other people's business?" the blond asked quietly. She knew Kairi meant well but sometimes she thought it would be better for the redhead to mind her own business instead of trying to solve everyone else's problems.

With a snap, Kairi shut the yearbook and set it aside, turning to her cousin with a serious expression. "Roxas is my friend, Namine, and he's upset. I want to talk to this guy Axel and figure out what really happened. Then maybe I'll be able to help Roxas put it behind him. If what John told me is true and Axel tried to force Roxas into fooling around on Adam's couch, I'm sure it would help Roxas to hear an apology."

"Well, what are you going to say to him?"

Kairi smiled and touched her nose. "Spoilers, Namine. You know better than to ask."

Rolling her eyes at her cousin's favorite line, Namine went back to her homework. She wasn't at all interested in getting caught up in Kairi's schemes, and continued working when the redhead left again.

Homecoming always took place just before midterm exams, so each of her classes had some sort of test, project or performance within the next week. This being the case, Namine was diligently reviewing her notes and filling out the study guides her teachers had been kind enough to hand out. Tests in Physical Science, History, Geometry and Grammar loomed in her future, along with a solo to perform in Band, a final project due in Art, and she and Roxas were going to have to bake something special in their Home Ec. class.

Now that she thought about it, Namine realized that she and the blond boy had yet to choose a recipe to use for the midterm grade. She decided to call him while she walked over to the fine arts building and hopefully make plans to meet him and pick something to make. Since his back had healed, Roxas' enthusiasm had skyrocketed and the blond boy was more than willing to put in extra effort outside of class, so she doubted it would be difficult to get him to agree.

Namine worked quickly to finish her study guides then put on her jacket and shoes and left the sophomore dorm hall, already dialing Roxas' number. It rang several times before he answered, sounding distracted and like he hoped it wouldn't be a long call.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Roxas, will you meet me out front of your hall? We need to pick a recipe for the Home Ec. midterm."

"Oh, crap. I knew I was forgetting something. Yeah, I'll meet you. Are you doing anything else right now?"

Zipping up her jacket with one hand against the chill breeze, the shy girl stopped at the front doors to the freshman hall. "I'm going to the fine arts building to work on my final project and practice my solo."

"Mind if I come with you? We can pick a recipe while you paint and I'll keep studying while you practice."

Through the phone, she could hear him moving around. "Yeah, that's fine. I'm out front, so I'll see you when you come down."

"See you in a bit."

The call ended with a click, and Namine slipped her phone into her pocket. Only a few minutes later, Roxas walked out the front doors and smiled at her, his shoulder sagging under the weight of his obviously very full backpack. Namine smiled in return and the two walked towards the fine arts building, hands in their pockets, elbows almost touching. Because Roxas wasn't familiar with the building like Namine was, she led the way to the art studio as the two chatted about what recipes they had done so far in the class.

"We could always make a fancy dessert. I heard Coach Xaldin has a sweet tooth," Namine suggested, gathering the supplies she would need to finish her painting.

Roxas looked skeptical. "Really? He certainly doesn't look like he has a sweet tooth."

Giggling, the blond girl set up her easel and sat, carefully contemplating her brushes. "What do you want to make, Roxas?"

It was quiet while the younger student thought and Namine began to paint, her hand moving smoothly over the canvas. Roxas loathed the idea of doing a typical recipe Xaldin would have seen countless times. He wanted to do something new and exciting that no one would ever expect and that would definitely get him and Namine an A.

"Something different," he said finally. "Something that isn't made around here." Suddenly, a light bulb went off in the blond boy's head and he smiled almost as widely as Sora usually did. "I know what we're going to make, Namine."

Distracted by her painting, it took Namine a few moments to react to what he had said. "What did you decide?"

"Have you ever tried sea salt ice cream?"

The blond girl made a face. Salty ice cream? Ew! "That sounds kind of gross, Roxas. No offense."

"But it isn't! It's actually really, really good. The salt brings out the sweetness of the ice cream, and it's a great color, too." Just imagining the flavor of his favorite dessert made the sophomore boy drool. He really wanted sea salt ice cream now, which meant he had to talk Namine into making it. "I promise, it's a little weird at first but after you get used to it, it's delicious. Can we please make some for our midterm?"

Namine glanced at the boy sitting beside her and sighed. He was making puppy eyes at her—his blue eyes were wide and reflected the ceiling lights while his bottom lip quivered ever so slightly, as if he might cry if she said no. Try as she might, Namine knew she wouldn't be able to resist that face. The boy was too much like an actual puppy.

"All right," she gave in, turning back to her painting as Roxas grinned.

"Great! Seriously, Namine, you'll love it. It's my favorite snack."

"If you say so, Roxas." It was clear that she doubted he was right.

Nearly two hours later, after Namine had finished her painting and put it up to dry, the two blondes made their way through the building to the practice rooms that were reserved for band students. She left him in the practice room and went to get her flute, humming to herself. When she walked into the locker room where the instruments were stored, however, she froze.

Mister Marluxia and Demyx sat side by side at the piano, their hands gliding over the keys as if that was what they had been born to do. It was a beautiful duet, one that Namine would have gladly listened to had the sight of them not instantly reminded her of what she'd seen those few weeks ago. Demyx didn't appear uncomfortable or nervous to be around their teacher, but Namine didn't want to take the chance that she might witness something even worse.

As quietly as she could, the blond girl went to her locker and took out her flute, snuck back to the exit, and fled as fast as she could the moment the door closed behind her.

The door of the practice room slammed shut and Roxas looked up, surprised to see Namine leaning against the door, her flute case and music folder clutched to her chest as she gasped for air.

"Namine, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned, pencil poised in midair and his calculus notes balanced in his lap. Slowly, the blond girl relaxed and moved away from the door, her breathing slowing as she carefully put her flute together and took out her sheet music.

She didn't answer his question and he didn't ask again, but he watched her carefully for any signs of what had made her sprint into the practice room as if the devil himself were chasing her. Once she began to play, Roxas turned back to his notes, though he found he was much more interested in listening to Namine's song than studying, and ended up putting his books away in order to pay attention to her instead. When she finished the song he smiled and clapped.

"That was perfect, Namine. You'll get an A for sure."

Blushing, the blond girl smiled shyly, looking at the floor. "Thanks, Roxas." Then she lifted the flute and played through the song again, using the notes and dynamics to block out any thoughts of her teacher and fellow music student. She didn't want to think about the things they might do together, for fear of what emotions she might feel in response. Nothing good could come from dwelling on it.

Roxas and Namine walked back to the locker room together so she could put her things away before they went to dinner. She could easily have gone by herself, but the thought that Marluxia and Demyx might still be there made her ask Roxas to accompany her, not that he minded. He complimented her musical ability all the way to the cafeteria, even going so far as to claim he would buy her album if she ever recorded one. That particular comment brought a dark blush to her cheeks.

"There you two are!" someone shouted, and the two blondes looked up to see Sora, Riku and Kairi standing outside the dining hall, waiting for them.

"Sorry we're late," Roxas apologized. "We lost track of time." The moment they were within range of each other, he and Sora linked arms, instinctively searching for the comfort of physical contact.

"That's all right." Kairi smiled, glancing at the silent silver-haired boy beside her. "We didn't mind waiting."

"Speak for yourself. I'm starving," Sora whined, holding his stomach and whimpering pitifully; Riku rolled his eyes in order to hide his amusement at the younger student's antics. "Let's go eat, already!"

"Sora, do you ever think that one day, you'll be fat and lazy from the amount of food you eat?" Roxas asked teasingly as the group of friends went inside and sat down at their usual table.

"He's already fat and lazy," Riku commented, smirking at Sora's embarrassed blush. "His times this morning were awful."

"But I kicked your butt in fencing," Sora countered, automatically defending his pride from the older boy's joke.

Riku snorted. "Did not. It was a tie, and I went easy on you."

"Boys, boys," Kairi interjected before Sora could say anything in response, holding out a hand to each of them. "You're both pretty, okay? Let's just get our food and enjoy our dinner."

Namine and Roxas laughed at the indignant looks on Riku and Sora's faces as the arguing pair slumped down in their chairs and sulked. Kairi simply smiled and stood as the two blondes followed her to get food.

Sora glanced at Riku. "You weren't really going easy on me, were you?"

The silver-haired boy didn't answer right away, turning to look straight into Sora's blue eyes first. "No, I wasn't."

His response brought a smile to Sora's face, and Riku couldn't help but smile back. It was, he realized, very easy to be happy around the brunette, and he decided it was a good thing Kairi wasn't there to see them talking, otherwise she'd have another you-should-date-him moment. He didn't think the situation would stay so relaxed if that happened.

"Come on, brat. Let's get something to eat," the older student said, standing. Still smiling, the two athletes got up and went to get food, absently bumping their elbows and shoulders together as they walked.

Gale: Well, it's a lot longer than my previous chapters. I hope no one minds.

Xino: Don't forget to review and motivate her to keep writing!

Sonshi: Flames are also welcome—we'll use them to make ramen.

Gale: Let me know what you thought and I'm totally open for suggestions! Bye!