Disclaimer- Same as always.

I'm sorry about the short delay. I actually had this done days ago, but FFN wouldn't upload the chapter. Never fear though, for here is the next chapter. Before we begin though, I want to thank my reviewers...

UltimateSorceress- I'm glad you liked the chapter and the CD. xD

Dustychocobo- I'm glad you like the story so far, and if you read on you will get to see what Roxas has to do.

phaz- I'm glad you enjoyed it, and if you read on you will get to see what Roxas has to do.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

For the next week, Roxas did everything Sora asked of him. He had to get him lunch to staying over after school and helping with homework. (Something Roxas would have done with or without his servitude.) He had seen less and less of his father, and more of Sora's family, becoming more friendly with them. He learned that the woman who looked like Sora was his mother, but the man was his step-father. The opposite was the same for Cloud. Despite the rocky start Roxas really enjoyed their company. The beatings from his father were more intense though, just like this feelings for Sora. The last day of his service brought Roxas to the familiar bedroom.

"Sora, what do you want to drink?" Roxas already knew that would be his first task. At least it was every other day.

"Something with caffeine please." The brunette had taken to saying please, even though he didn't need to. Sitting on the bed, he opened his books, getting ready to start his homework. 'I knew putting this off until the Sunday would kill me.'

"Okay." Smiling at his friends dilemma, Roxas left the room, going down the staircase, passing Cloud on the way. After a quick mumble from both parties and he was on his way again. Once in the familiar tiled kitchen, Roxas sighed, leaning against the countertop in the center. Yesterday afternoon, before he left his house, his so called father did another number on him. Like always the man was careful, but a large bruise covered the majority of Roxas' neck in the shape of hand marks. 'He really is getting worse and worse with those beatings. I just hope it stays as that…' Something the blonde had noticed was that the usual flock of woman (if they could be called that) had slimmed out into nothing. That was something his father never did.

"Roxas, Sora wants you to hurry up." Cloud said in passing, walking to the fridge himself. Roxas nodded, following his friend. Bending over he looked in the fridge, the only drinks inside were water, milk and Mountain Dew.
"Oh hell no." The blonde backed away in horror, shaking a little. If Sora drank any of the sugary product in the fridge, who knew what would happen. He thought about asking Cloud.

"He wants caffeine doesn't he?" Cloud smirked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes." Roxas hung his head.

"Then give him some." Cloud's smirk grew wider.

'He's enjoying this isn't he.' Roxas thought horrified. "But….." He had lost the battle, being the other's slave sucked.

"Give him some." Cloud turned and walked away, walking back upstairs, closing his bedroom door with a loud thud.

"Great, now I have to deal with a hyper ball of Sora." Slowly Roxas pulled out the green bottle, setting it onto the counter. Walking over to a cabinet, he pulled out two glasses, one for himself, the other for Sora. Pouring the soda into the glasses, he replaced the bottle and made his way back upstairs carefully. Walking into the bedroom, Sora looked up from his spot on the bed.

"Took you long enough." It was true, five minutes was a lot of time for two glasses of soda. Looking back down, Sora continued his math homework.

"Need any help." Roxas placed both glasses on the nightstand table next to his friends bed, taking a sip out of one.

"Yes. I just don't understand this multiplication stuff." Roxas nodded, even though Sora couldn't see it. Friday their teacher started them on a new lesson; the multiplication of matrices. Though confusing at first, Roxas soon got the hand of the complicated steps involved with the math. On the other hand Sora didn't get which number went with what.

Leaning forward, so that his head was next to Sora's, Roxas looked at the current problem. "Try doing a problem for me." It was a teaching method that Roxas found worked best with his friend. The brunette often had the right idea, and steps, but messed something little up.

"Okay." The brunette tried to suppress the small shiver that wanted to come out at the thought of Roxas standing so close. Looking down at his handwritten work, he placed his finger on the number 5, which was placed in the top left corner of matrix 1. He placed another finger on the top left corner of matrix 2, on the number 0. Off to the side with his free hand he scribbled 0 on the paper, then returned to the numbers. "First you multiply those two numbers, then you move to the right on the first matrix, and down on the second." Sora mumbled to himself. It was a habit of his, one that Roxas found endearing.

"Right." Hearing the okay, Sora moved his hand onto the next two numbers 3 and 1. Multiplying them together, he got his answer for the top left corner 3. Looking up he saw Roxas shaking his head. "You did it right. I don't think you need my help for this one."

"Maybe not. You can go play something if you want. This will take me a while." Sora looked back down and continued with his homework. Seeing his free time, Roxas strolled over to the couch and game console on the ground. Looking off to the side, he found the game collection his friend owned. Scanning the titles, Roxas chose Spyro: A New Beginning. Opening the case, he plopped the disk into the drive, picked up a controller and sat down on the couch.

For the next two hours the two stayed like that, Sora finishing up his English, Math, and Science homework. Roxas playing the game, and killing himself. When the brunette finally finished, he closed his book with a loud thud, stretched his arms and sighed. Getting off the bed he went to join his frustrated 'servant'. "Not getting anywhere?"

Roxas nodded. The past two hours brought him to the second area, a lot of grief, and so much more to go. "This game is harder then the ones before it."

"Yeah… But I like the melee moves in it." Sora smiled brightly. Nothing could dampen his mood now. Well almost nothing.

"Roxas, your father is on the phone for you." Sora's mother, Sarah called up. Roxas sighed, knowing he was in trouble for something. 'This can't be good.' Giving the controller to Sora, he stood up and walked out of the room. At the bottom of the staircase stood Sarah, still in her work outfit, arms waving like crazy. Whenever Roxas watched her, he stopped wondering about how Sora got so hyper over the smallest things. 'It has to be genetic.' Taking the phone, from the outstretched hand, he moved it to his ear.

"Hello." Roxas spoke, softly.

"Bitch, where the fuck are you? I thought I told you to be home by four." Roxas winced, his father was not in a good mood. Glancing at the clock on his right, he noticed it read 4:01. This was not good at all.

"I'll come home now." Fear was underlined in his tone, as the phone shook lightly. Sarah noticed, but didn't say anything. Instead asking, if she could drive him home.

Bringing the phone away from his mouth, Roxas answered. "Yes please. I'll go get my things it won't take very long." Bringing the phone back up, he barely heard his fathers threats of pain. "I'll be home in ten minutes. Bye." Pressing the end button, he ran upstairs, into the room and packed. 'I am in trouble now.' Being rude was the one thing that set Kira off instantly, those beatings were the worst. 'I just hope he goes easy on me.' With that last thought, Roxas focused on getting home, before his father became angrier. Once he was done, he bid Sora goodbye, and walked downstairs, where his friend's mother waited.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes." The two walked out the door, and into the car. Throwing his things into the back seat, Roxas sat in the car. As the car turned on, he opted to look out the window, at the scenery as it passed. Both parties remained silent. Ten minutes later, Roxas' house came into view, when the car pulled into the driveway, he stumbled out waving goodbye. When the car drove off, Roxas sighed, turning towards the house. Walking in he waited for the worst.

"Is that you son?" Kira's voice came in through the living room sic kingly sweet. Roxas winced, dropping his bag in the hallway. Moving into the room his fathers voice came from, he stood still. "I see your finally home." The act from before was dropped and completely forgotten about.

"Y-y-yes." Roxas stuttered, unwillingly.

"And why are you late?" Kira moved off the couch and was silently moving towards his son.

"You never told me what time you wanted me home." Roxas knew it was a dumb thing to say, but he couldn't stop himself.

"You should always know when to come home." Kira's voice was more husky now, which confused Roxas. The man stopped not even ten feet in front of Roxas, a hand extended. Roxas closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the hand to come down and hit his old bruises, what he didn't expect was the hand to rest of his shoulder. Opening his hues, he found that his father had a hungry look in his pools.

"M-may I go?" Roxas wanted to get out as fast as he could.

Kira just kept walked closer, placing his hand on his son's shoulder, he pulled him closer. Bending down he whispered in his ear, "for now." Roxas broke free, turning around and running upstairs, making sure he grabbed his bag on the way. Once he was in his room, he let out a breath of air.

"That was weird." For the first time in over a year, Roxas wasn't punished with bruises and broken bones. 'I just hope he doesn't decide to come back later and hit me.' Opening his backpack, Roxas worked on his own homework in silence. By nine Roxas had fallen asleep, pencil in hand, textbook and paper in his lap.

A/N: Review! Things are heating up now. xD The next chapter will be out soon. What will happen next? Only the authoress knows. -shifts eyes-