Author'sNote:Hello loves! Sorry that it's been so long since my last update. I went to the local anime convention shortly after posting the last chapter and it got me in an anime frenzied mood that left me forgetting about this story for a little bit. But I should be back to updating every few days now.

Thanks to my awesome reviewers! The crows eye, RelieveTheGreat, Leven the Valkyrie, mangamichelle12, and MewMew/Vedovis who actually made an account to favorite this story! You guys bring a smile to my face!

And congrats Vedovis for guessing the song correctly! It is indeed I'm With You by Avril Lavigne, one of my favorite songs :)

Now onward!

Chapter 5: Take Me By the Hand

(Roxas's POV)

I woke up to the blaring of my alarm clock like usual. I flicked the alarm off, climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. My shower was warm, washing away the haze of sleep. I was careful of my injuries as I washed myself. It was just like every other morning.

I wrapped a fluffy towel around my waist and looked in the mirror, rubbing away the fog that clouded it. Yes, my routine was the exact same. But at the same time everything was completely different. I was different. There was life in my eyes. When I looked at something I actually saw it. My walls had been lifted by my near death experience. For the first time since my brother died I was allowing myself to be aware.

I pulled on my clothes. Dark jeans, gray t-shirt, black hoodie. The same gloomy kind of outfit I usually wore. Pulling my shoes on I was ready for school. Ready to face Axel. Ready for my last day of life.

The sky was dark and stormy when I headed outside. Thick clouds so gray they were almost black blanketed the sky, smothering the sun. I vaguely wondered if it would rain again today. I didn't mind the rain.

I thought about Axel as I walked to school. This strange boy with his odd colored hair who'd actually cared enough to save my life. I pondered his quirky smile and sad eyes. Something about him stirred a wondering curiosity within me. I felt an odd echo of recognition deep with in me as if somewhere on some other world in some other life I might have known him.

Axel. A brief image of the tall boy dressed in a hooded black leather garb holding some sort of weapons that looked like spiked wheels and surrounded by flames suddenly flickered across my memories. I frowned in confusion and shook my head. I was being silly. I'd never seen this guy before. He was just a strange boy who'd been showing an unusual interest in me.

It was a little strange how easily I faded into the background at school. People's eyes slid over me like I didn't exist. I felt like a ghost shuffling through the hallways. Not that I blamed anyone for not paying attention. I hadn't been this mentally present for years.

I'd arrived at school early on the chance that Axel would be there early too. The sooner I could speak to him the better. Talking to him was the only reason I'd come to school today.

There was a hole inside my heart. A big piece of me was missing. I was so sad. So alone. So totally unhappy. I wanted nothing more than to have someone who understood me, loved me even. My brother was the only one who'd done that for me. Without him I was so alone. It hurt so much to be so damn lonely. I just wanted to be free of this.

Talk to Axel. Then be free. Find out why he'd even bothered with me. Then finish what he'd prevented. Today I'd finally die. The pain would be gone at last.

I didn't even plan on bothering with classes. I plowed through the school hallways, oblivious to everyone else. My eyes searched insistently for bright red hair. Where was he? Where was Axel?

I found him standing by some lockers. He was with two people and I hesitated when I recognized one of them. Zexion. He looked painfully sad. His gaze was directed at Axel and I realized that he was talking to him. As I drew closer I heard my name murmured in the conversation. My former friend was talking about me to Axel.

I came to a stop directly behind the lanky red head. I paid no heed to what Zexion was saying, only waited silently. The third boy they were standing with watched me curiously but didn't say anything. It took a minute before Zexion caught sight of me. He froze mid word and stared from behind his curtain of hair. Axel slowly turned around.

"Roxas." I hated to hear such sadness in his voice when he said my name.

I looked him directly in the eyes. "I want to talk to you alone."

He looked shocked to hear me speak. Behind him Zexion's expression was absolutely stunned. He stared at me with wide eyes. There was an awkward pause before Axel nodded. "Ya sure."

I turned away without acknowledging the other two and walked away. I only glanced back once to make sure Axel was following me. When I saw the way he was watching me I quickly turned back around. I led him outside and around the the side of the school where I stopped abruptly and spun around to see him.

"Why did you do it?" I demanded to know.

He blinked at me several times with a confused look on his face. "Do what?"

I clenched my fists and dropped my gaze to the ground. "Why did you stop me?"

I watched understanding dawn on him followed by misery. "Roxas nobody has nothing to live for. You still have a whole life ahead of you. I know you've been through hell but there are still things to live for. You can meet people, find someone to care about and people to care about you in return. It doesn't have to end."

I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood. My hands clenched into fists. "You don't understand. Sora was the only person who ever cared and he's gone now. It hurts so much. I can't... I can't..." To my horror I felt myself tearing up. I looked upward and swallowed down the tears like I always did. "I don't see any purpose for me in this life." I finally said when I'd gotten a hold of myself. "I can't do this anymore. I was going to be free. I was going to see my brother again. But you stopped me. You stopped me from finally being happy. Why did you do that!"

"Would your brother really want you to die?"

"Don't!" I snarled. "You don't think I've asked myself that a million times a day? Why do you think I've lasted so long? It took me three years to to realize that Sora would hate to see me in so much pain more than he would hate to see me join him and be free and happy. There is nothing for me here but in death I'll have him, I'll have Sora. Sora's all I need. Nobody is this empty life will ever care enough to keep me here."

I was breathing heavily, my shoulders heaving in anger. I wasn't sure if I was mad at him or just myself. I just knew that I was pissed and he was here in front of me asking me questions that I'd already tormented myself with. I glared at him with fury.

"Zexion cares." Axel said defiantly.

I looked away to scowl at the ground. Zexion was a confusing subject for me. I didn't know what to think about the situation with him.

I glanced back up at Axel with a frown still weighing down my mouth. The defiance and frustration seemed to drain right out of him. His expression softened.

"I care."

The words were nothing more than a soft whisper carried on a quiet exhale of breath but I heard them. I swallowed hard, going still. "You don't even know me," I managed to choke out.

He shook his head a little. "I don't think that's true. You feel it too don't you? This connection. It's like I've seen you somewhere before. It's hard to explain how or why but I just know that I don't want you to die. For some reason I want you to be happy. You deserve to find I nice girl and fall in love. You deserve to have a good family and a wonderful life. You can't die. Not yet."

I was shocked to find a tiny smile touch my lips. Axel beamed at the sight of it. "What?"

"That's not going to happen. At least not the part about falling in love with a girl. I'm gay." I said quietly.

He gaped at me in surprise for a moment before laughing. "Well I'll help you find a nice guy then. Does that mean you aren't going to go running off another bridge the moment this conversation is over?"

As quickly as it had come the smile fled from my face. "I... I can't promise you anything."

Axel stepped forward and gripped my hand tightly. I flinched away from him. "I won't let you go anywhere until I know you aren't going to try to die."

I was torn. Confused. Lost. I'd been so certain that there was nothing left for me in life but here was Axel continuing to contradict all my thoughts. Here was Axel telling me he cared. This total stranger that I'd only met a few days ago. Yet he cared enough to once again do what he could to keep me alive.

"Not today," I finally said. "I wont die today."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Well that's better than nothing. Come on let's get you to class."

His hand still gripped mine as he towed me back into the school. I gently curled my fingers around it. For some unexplainable reason I felt comforted by the strength of his hand holding mine.