Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of these characters any and all Square Enix/Tetsuya Nomura characters are copyright characters of such companies and any Disney characters used are property of Disney.

AN: Well…this ending might get dragged out longer then suspected ^^; Don't worry, I'll spring on you guys some AkuRoku loving which…might lead up to the point of the TRUE ending of all of this even though it might be REALLY long ^^; But, keep reading and enjoying readers.

Chapter 14

-A Couple of Months Later-

"Hey Roxas," Demyx caught up with his friend in the Cafeteria amongst the sounds of others but Roxas seemed to be tuning out the world as it was apparent from the earplugs in his ears and the textbook in his face, "Hello…Earth to Roxas Leonhart…Your best friend Demyx is speaking to you."

Roxas continued to ignore him as he flipped another page in the textbook as a new song came onto the ear buds, lately; he had taken to listening to the music of the musical RENT ever since the night in the Cab ride from the Hospital and accidentally gave the man directions to Axel's apartment. He had gotten through most of the play by listening to the music, but he was currently entertained by the song, "Living In America" that was sung by the main male lead and his male side kick as it may seem; the song sang of the two men telling their varying sides of what life is really like, almost beating on one another verbally in their own ways of guilt trips. And the more and more Roxas listened to it, it seemed as if the room around him was filling out into the scene portrayed by the song as his eyes glanced up over the text book as he saw himself standing on one end of the Cafeteria while Demyx stood at another end with the others on his side while off on some far off distant corner was Axel watching on, a glum look on his face as Larxene kept her claws in him.

Demyx was attempting yet again to get a hold of his friend but the music had overtaken him as all he saw from Demyx was the words of the voice singing at the moment; it was trippy in its own way…

Don't breathe too deep
Don't think all day
Dive into work
Drive the other way
That drip of hurt
That pint of shame
Goes away
Just play the game

Demyx shoved Roxas' books off the table as he jumped onto the table as it seemed almost as ceremoniously the entire Cafeteria broke out into dance to follow with the song as Demyx squatted down in front Roxas as he sang the words, but a hand pulled Demyx away as he headed off to the end of the table. Roxas just watched on without much interest at his friend's words; it was distracting as he started scrambling for his books once again as he found someone's hands reaching around his waist to throw him onto the table. The rambunctious song and dance started to wind its way back to Roxas as he saw Demyx point his way as the next words came out through the ear buds just as loud as the opening lines to the song.


You're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're living in America
Leave your conscience at the tone
And when you're living in America

At the end of the millennium
You're what you own

As Demyx made his way to the end of the table where a confused but angry fisted and less then impressed face Roxas stood; it became the turn of the tide as Demyx made a momentary break in the song and dance routine, "You've got to get back with Axel…the guy has all but given up all hope that you're going to take him back…He was willing to fight for you that night you left him in the snow bank as you tore off in a taxi after seeing the misunderstanding he told me about…" but no matter what the youth said, there was no change in Roxas' face as his part broke in as he started pushing Demyx back down the length of the table.


The filmmaker cannot see

Roxas pressed his finger into Demyx's chest as he stopped them both short of the end of the lunch table, it was as if the moment had been planned and choreographed so that as the teens moved down the table, the lunch trays and miscellaneous items on the table seemed to be lifted away in a fashion that would have made any Broadway Producer cry.


And the songwriter cannot hear

Demyx pressed back just as hard as they stood at the end of the table as he tried to force Roxas into realizing that in the end of it all; he wasn't listening or hearing the things around him; he wasn't listening to Axel or had decided to not listen to what the man had tried to say that night at the Apartment when all of this mess started to the latest run in, in which Roxas had ditched Axel completely.

Yet I see Mimi everywhere

Roxas clutched his head as he climbed down off the Lunch table, "…Just stop it, Demyx…I know I am in the wrong…I've been in the wrong, but at the same point…I just…I can't…" he was distraught to no end and he was just starting to move on with life without Axel as it seemed that Axel had moved on without him, "…I just can't go back down that path again…"

"Roxas…" Demyx looked down at his friend as the song dragged on along its course as the almost panoramic and metaphorical song and dance faded out as Roxas gathered up his books and headed back for his Dorm, but not before he turned to Demyx.

"…Mom is having a Halloween Party at the house in a couple of weeks…You should come over," Roxas handed the mullet headed blond the invitation, "But, all I ask is that…you please don't invite Axel…it would appear awkward…"

"No problem…" Demyx pocketed the invite as he picked up his own things, "…See you around, Roxas…"

Zexion waited eagerly outside the Dean's office; he had been probation in regards to his teaching privileges at the College after the "misunderstanding" regarding his arrest on the case of his life outside of school with a former student of the High School he had come from with Demyx; he had been placed under heavy surveillance from when he walked to his classes to teach the next class of the day to when he was in the Classroom teaching then it got extensive to the point that someone had to stick around after classes if he had to speak to student about something or if a student had a question for the Professor. It felt as if he was being kept and watched under a tight microscope, almost intrusive in a way, but as the Dean had put it upon Zexion's return from his leave; it was for the best interest and integrity of the School that he be monitored to assure that no one found out about the problem.

"Professor Zexion?" the Dean's Secretary popped her head out as she saw Zexion's eyes fall upon her, "The Dean will see you now."

Zexion softly sighed, letting his nerves settle as he walked into the man's office, "Dean Xenahort…You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"I seems the Halloween Party Invitation came in from Marluxia regarding his little Halloween Party on Halloween," Larxene gloated as she waved the invite in front of Axel's studying face, "You are going to come with you aren't you? I want to rub it in his face that I managed to land myself the man that he claimed was the unclaimed piece of land…"

Axel gave a grunting sound as he flipped through the textbook pages, "…I don't know…I haven't even seen him since when I use to go to the same High School as you and Dem…" he turned another page, "…Besides, I feel like I'm coming down with something…"

Larxene kneeled down in front of him as she placed a hand against his forehead; he had to divert his eyes on to something else completely, just the mere informality of seeing her this close was hard on the man when all he could see was Roxas, Roxas kneeled down in front of him with a look of utter worry and fret over the man. A soft smile coasting against those soft, youthful features as the feminine tone of the dream figure broke him out of his dream of a Roxas turning to reprimand him for not taking better care of himself.

"Well, you do run a little hotter then the average person, but…I guess it would be best if you stuck around here and rested up…"Larxene seemed to show a small inkling of compassion as she stood up, "I'll just tell Marly you can't make it…"

"I hate to put you out on your bragging rights…"Axel halfheartedly spoke out as he tried to fake out a cough as he saw that she was starting to buy it.

Larxene seemed to think that over, "…That's true, but…I'd rather not have a sick fiancée walking up the altar in a few weeks…"

Why did she have to bring up the Wedding again? Oh yeah, that's right, he's the one that had finally given up on fighting for Roxas' affection after he had been shot down by the blond in a means to avoid invoking the wrath of Larxene should she had found the two men necking in the hallway with tents pitched in their pants already. Weddings are meant to be happy topics and occasions, but that's only possible when both people are happy to be with one another, not the other way around where one is being forced to wed the other against his will after being given up on by the only one that had seemed to make it all possible in his life. She was a mere blur in his line of vision as he bookmarked his page and wandered off to the bedroom to lie down; hopefully she would get the hint that all he wanted was a few moments alone to himself. Eventually, Larxene did get the hint as she shouted a farewell that she was off to somewhere to buy something. It didn't matter to Axel as he let the sob that was rattling his body from the inside as the tears started to stream; he would give anything to just end up in some situation that would place him in the Hospital, yeah, some mind blowing illness, that should get Roxas to come running to console him at his bedside.

Tch, that was pitiful.

The kid had been through one living Hell with nearly losing his estranged Father and the man who was in his Dad's life that had become a close friend to him, doing something stupid and childish to hopefully gain his attention was just downright selfish, but damn it, he needed some way to get Roxas to acknowledge him or at least speak to him.

"…Roxas…" Axel's voice sounded softly hoarse as the sound of a buzzing ring seemed to vibrate about on the side table alongside the bed, upon checking the caller I.D., Axel answered it; "…What is it, Dem?"

Demyx waved about in his hands the invite for Rinoa's Halloween Party with a devilish, self accomplishing smirk on his face, "You up for a party on Halloween with a few good friends like me and Zexy, Cloud and Leon…Rinoa…and a special little blond that I'm know without a doubt I'm sure you miss more then anything…?"

"If the blond you're referring to is Larxene then…thanks but no thanks," Axel halfheartedly chuckled as he rolled over onto his back, "Heh, but I'm up for a party for Halloween if it'll give me a few hours peace from Larxene."

"Aww, you tired of her already, Axel?"

"Shut up you," Axel chuckled heartedly, "But seriously…Have you…talked to Roxas lately?"

Demyx sighed as he watched Zexion sitting in the Living Room of their Apartment grading papers that hadn't been graded since his leave from the school momentarily, "I'm in at least one or two of his classes, I'm bound to run into him and talk to him throughout the day…Let's just say…we had a rather lunch today and…I can say this," he moved from the kitchen to the back bedroom, "He may not show it on the outside, but he misses you and feels just as equally guilty for not fighting more for you…come to the party at Rinoa's…I'm sure he'll be there. If not for him, just come so I have someone to talk to when Zexy gets tired of me?"

"Heh…what time do you want me to pick you guys up?" Axel sighed as he looked over at the clock, figuring Larxene would be back sooner or later from whatever she was doing.

"Let's say about 6, gives you sometime to give the blond vixen sometime to go off to Marly's party and it gives you ample time to make up an excuse so you can get us for the party," Demyx chuckled, proud of himself, even though they didn't live that far from one another, "Then I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks at 6."

"Yeah, I guess its…this is going to be stupid…a date," Axel softly chuckled as he heard the front door opening and closing, "I've got to go…the she-devil just walked in."

Demyx caught on as he hung up on Axel as the man went back to trying to fake out the feeling of being sick, "Hey Axel, I'm back and you won't believe what I picked out for a costume for Marly's party…"

"…A slutty Nurse?" Axel muttered under his breath as he saw Larxene walk into the bedroom.

"Ta da!" she opened it up to reveal a Cat Woman costume, "Isn't it…purrrfect?"

Axel rolled his eyes, "…Yeah, it's terrific…"

"I'm home," Roxas called out as he shut the front door, but there didn't seem to be anyone home till he came around the corner as he found his Mom, talking and laughing with someone, "Mom?"

Rinoa slowly turned around as upon her face was a mask, a simple white mask with a painted on smile as where the other two that were sitting at the table with her, all form of talk seemed to grow quiet as Roxas walked into the kitchen area; it was an eerie silence that would have made Roxas' skin crawl had the sound of his Mom's voice not woken him up.

"Roxas…Roxas…"Rinoa softly shook him, "You feel asleep on the couch last night and the party is in almost four hours…"

"What party?" Roxas stiffly moved about on the sofa till it hit him as he saw the Halloween Decorations that were starting to fill around the house, "…Oh…that party."

Rinoa rolled her eyes as she forced him up off the sofa, "Come on, things are going to be fine…you and Axel may be having your differences at the moment, but you can at least have a little of bit fun tonight…"

Fun, yeah…

What fun was there when all you can sense that your friends are trying their hardest to get you to start looking to apologize and take back the thing in his life that had made it whole before a black hole came through and ripped a hole and tear in between the thing he held dear and him? Yeah, fun alright.

"So, who all did you invite to this Halloween Party tonight?" Roxas started poking around the decorations that hadn't been put up yet, "Demyx mentioned that he's coming with Zexion, but…are there any surprises you would like to spring on me, Mom?"

"You know, the usual suspects, Hayner, Seifer, Olette, Pence, Demyx, Zexion, your Father, Cloud, Sora, Riku…Namine and her…girlfriend," Rinoa was still trying to wrap her mind around relationships that were not between men and women, "Is that alright?"

Hiding the truth that Axel had been invited to the party through Demyx was hard to hide from Roxas, especially he had an uncanny gift for reading through the lies, "…You sure?"

"What is with the fifth degree? Can't I just have a party for you and your friends that have become almost like family for Halloween? You need to learn to relax, Roxas…I wouldn't do anything that would hurt you ever again…"

"…You can at least promise that much," Roxas started up the stairs to his bedroom to get into his costume for the party; his fingers ghosted on the possibility of just calling Axel after the Hell he had put him through, but, "…Can you even promise me that he'll figure out a way out of the Wedding to that blonde vixen?"

Hours seemed to slip on by like anything and not too long after the four hour countdown had begun, party guests had begun to arrive; they were dressed in their Halloween best, but none were interesting Cloud and Leon's outfits. Leon was dressed in a dog suit while Cloud was playing the part of the blind piano player Ray Charles, but there still hadn't been any signs of the "Phantom". Everyone was enjoying themselves aside from Roxas who had taken to stick near corners, dressed as a black cat, why did he even let his Mom pick out the costume or even a costume for him for the party. Hayner and Seifer had shown up as a cosplay couple, Seifer wasn't taking too well to being considered a moody blond novelist, but after much convincing on Hayner's part as part of an agreement if Seifer did it Hayner would pay him after the party. Olette was enjoying herself alongside a "friend" she had brought with her to the party, they were dressed a pair of Sailor Moon characters that were dubbed "cousins", while Pence was enjoying filming the Halloween madness. Sora and Riku were another story, it wasn't enough that Sora was dressed in a Lolita dress and Riku was dressed as a Victorian Master of the House; Rinoa was about to kick them out for the night if they were going to keep groping and feeling one another one. Namine was enjoying showing her girlfriend around to everyone, who knew that Kairi was her type? Demyx was enjoying being dressed as a rock star while Zexion stuck to being dressed normally, aside from the glow sticks Demyx had thrown around his neck, but now and again, Demyx would look to his watch.

"…So, Demyx, where is the Phantom of the Opera hiding?" Zexion whispered against Demyx's ear as he looked for Roxas, assuring that Roxas didn't let on that Axel had been brought to the party was the one thing they wanted to avoid, "It would be disastrous if Roxas found out you-know-who was here…"

Demyx rolled his eyes as he set the plastic Guitar Hero guitar down, "Zexy…If he does find him…I hope that those two will stop bickering like wet cats, kiss and make up or at best…do some…bow chicka wow wow…"

Zexion eyed his boyfriend closely, "What was that you just said now? Bow…chicka…wow…wow…? What era are you living in?"

"Just work with me, Zexy, look…" Demyx pointed towards a figure that was trying to work its way through the thralls of people, "It seems our "Phantom" finally made his way through the crowds of people…hopefully he'll find our little "kitty" sooner or later"

"…Demyx, you better know what you're doing," Zexion softly glared at the man as he watched Axel nearly tripping over his feet and the cape that was trailing off his shoulders until he found himself falling on someone, "Here we go…"

Roxas now knew what a cat felt like when it gets accidentally sat on, or at least crushed under the weight of a human being, "If you would mind getting off me, I'd like to be able to breath some…time…this…" his words trailed off as he saw the mask had fallen off the stranger who had fallen on him, "…I wasn't aware that mongrels were allowed in this house. They belong out on the street."

"…Nice to see you too, Roxas," Axel seemed to hiss out as he stood back up again, picking up the mask and preparing to place it back on his face, "Before you decide to run to your Mom and blaming her for letting me in…Demyx was the one that told me about the party and for all Larxene knows, I'm home sick with a head cold while she's off at a friend of ours from High School, my old High School's party."

"That's your excuse for being here? You sure your little mistress isn't going to get suspicious when she calls home to check in on you at some point during her party time with your old friend?" Roxas sarcastically asked as he started brushing himself off and started to help Axel clean up, but just the feel of brushing him off stirred old emotions as his fingers rested at Axel's waistline, "…She's going to kill you if she finds out you're here…"

Axel could sense the hesitation in Roxas' words and body language as he fixed the tweaked cat ears atop Roxas' head, but just by doing that; it stirred feelings in him as well, how long had it been since he had worked his long fingers through those soft blond locks and, was Roxas showering with lilac now? It was heavenly and intoxicating, he had to stop himself from leaning down and taking a shaky whiff of his locks or turning Vampire on him to be able to lock his teeth and lips on the boy's, was he wearing a cat collar?

This is too much…Oh Gaia, Roxas…you're just…I…I just need…

He brought Roxas' gaze up to him as he rested a hand against one of Roxas' straying hands on his hips, "Let her find out…She's probably seeing Marluxia on the side since I'm not willing to crawl into bed and do whatever she wants to do…tonight…" Axel's lips softly peppered against Roxas', "…tonight…" the lips started moving down to about his jaw line, "…I'm…all…" slowly they were working to about Roxas' neck line till they were almost ghosting against his pulse point, "…yours…if you'll have me…?"

Whimpering and moaning had been something that Roxas was ashamed of doing whenever the two of them would neck or even make out, but they were coming as felt Axel's hands working around his waist and making Roxas' hands snake around his waist. Slowly pulling Roxas in as felt and heard soft purrs coming from Roxas as the image of him being a Vampire compared to the Phantom of the Opera was becoming more and more apparent as he reared his head back and slowly moved in. As slowly as he did; he could almost hear Roxas' heart racing and beating fast as he came in and sunk his teeth in gently against Roxas' neck which all but made the boy grow limp in his arms. That simple bite had sunk it all as he had to purr himself as he felt Roxas' hands slip down around the dipping points of Axel's backside and squeeze gently. A slow smirk rose on Axel's lips as he let his teeth drag up and down the spot as his tongue softly lolled against the boy's neck which started to let airy moans come from him, even with the cat collar on; he could still feel it. Axel's hands worked up from Roxas' waist till about his neck as his fingers fumbled with the collar, but Roxas' grip on his backside not to mention the hip thrusting he was getting from the eager as it seemed blond made it hard to do the job.

"Nmnh…f-feisty much, Roxas…?" Axel softly growled as he smirked, licking his tongue up from the bite he had left on the boy's throat, "…Gaia I've missed this side of you…and all of you…"

"Shut up and get up to the usual place!" Roxas growled under his breath as he latched his lips onto Axel's lips, hard and rough as he threw his legs up around the man's waist, not caring that his feet were getting tangled in the man's cape, "I don't know why I'm giving into you after the way I've treated you, but…"

Axel pulled away slowly as his fingers started to unbuckle the collar and placed it softly against Roxas' lips, "…Just…don't start that now…Tonight…I hope we can make up for lost time…"

"…Axel…" Roxas softly muttered against the collar as his eyes softly looked up at Axel, "…Axel…"

There were no other words to express between them as Axel, much like the Phantom of the Opera, hid Roxas beneath the cape as they disappeared up the stairs to Roxas' room, "…And there goes our Phantom and kitten…Mission Get Axel In Roxas' Pants, Again…a success so far," Demyx playfully strum the make believe strings on the plastic Guitar as Zexion looked on in wonder as he watched Roxas link his arms around Axel's neck as Axel rested his head in against the crook of Roxas' neck, "You've just got to love cheesy romance make up sessions…"

Zexion airily chuckled, "And I've got to love how you made this all possible…" the man softly kissed Demyx as the music about the room seemed to grow into a slow dance motif of music, "I wouldn't give any of this up for the world…even if some fruity little bitchy vixen was to try and steal me from you…"

"Mmh…trying to be romantic are we?" Demyx softly placed his head in against the man's neck as he just soaked in the music, "It's not your strong suit, Zexy…"

"Shush you…you're spoiling the mood…"