~When can I explain

All the pain I put you through.

Someday I'll say,

I'm sorry

And you will say…~

Chapter 9: I'm Sorry

Axel was on the roof when his phone rang.

"Yeah?" he said, not bothering to check the Caller I.D.

"Axel, I'm taking your truck. I'll explain later."

"Sure, but when did you grab a copy of the key?" Axel frowned.

"Who said it was a copy?"

"What the-" Checking his pockets for the first time that morning, he realised his keys were missing. "Roxas! You son of a-"

He hung up.

"-Bitch!"

"Hello to you too," an annoyed voice said. He turned to see Larxene standing by the door that lead to the staircase.

"I was talking about Roxas. Sneaky little pickpocket took my keys."

"You know," The blonde walked over, shaking her head. "If that Runt used his brain for other things he might almost be smart. Too bad he acts before he thinks."

"Is that an almost compliment I hear, Larxene?" Axel smirked.

"Don't hold your breath," Larxene frowned.

"You're being unusually quiet," Axel remarked after a minute of silence.

"The Organization is getting on my nerves," She said, leaning against the fence.

"You're not thinking about walking out, are you?" Axel raised an eyebrow, making her roll her eyes.

"Yeah right. I'm Number XII, I won't be leaving anytime soon." She said. "They're restricting my movements. If I wanted to be restrained I would've stayed with those people in Hollow Bastion."

"By 'those people' do you mean your parents?"

"I have no parents," Larxene's jade eyes narrowed. "They gave up that title a long time ago."

"Yet the wound in your Heart still fresh, huh?" To Axel's credit, he didn't even flinch when she slapped him.

"Don't you dare start with that!" She hissed. She turned to walk away but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

"I could say the same to you," He said, frowning.

"Let go."

"No."

"I said let go of me Axel."

"You going to hit me again if I don't?" he saw her shoulders tense but she didn't say anything. He pulled her towards him, only meeting little resistance, and just held her.

He knew this pissed her off. She probably won't talk to him for a couple days after this. There was nothing she hated more than feeling vulnerable. Though it annoyed him sometimes that she would let her temper rule her actions most of the time he had to admit, compared to when they first met this was nothing.

He let go of her when his phone rang. Once she was free she walked to the door, slamming it behind her without even sparing him a glance.

Sighing, he checked his cell and saw it was a text from the little thief himself.

"At Hospital. Don't know how long I'll be" it read.

'Hospital?' Axel thought, confused. Why would Roxas be there? They never go to-

His eyes widened when he realised the main reason the Blonde would go there.

"Well, shit. That's not good," He muttered.

Roxas couldn't remember the last time he felt so tense and uncomfortable. He and Cloud were outside of Naminé's hospital room, waiting while the doctor looked at her. The others still hadn't shown up but he was very okay with that. He was sitting on one of the chairs while Cloud leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.

"So that's what happened," The older blonde said.

"Yeah."

"I understand why you did it. But still, you probably made her trauma worse."

"I know," Roxas leaned back in his chair, tilting his head back and draping an arm over his eyes. "But she wouldn't listen. She was being stubborn and stupid. I honestly thought it was the only choice at the time."

"I could tell you it wasn't in vain, but then I'd be lying. Radiant Garden was basically a waste of time."

"I can see that," Roxas said bitterly. "Whatever. If I have to get down on my hands and knees to tell her I'm sorry and beg her to forgive me I will."

"Honestly, I don't think it'll take much for her to forgive you."

"Huh?" Roxas moved his arm to look at the blonde next to him. Cloud took his black cellphone out of his pocket. Roxas waited, slightly impatient, as he skimmed through it before handing it to him.

Curious and confused, Roxas took it. The screen was open to a text message. Surprised, he saw it was from when Naminé text her brother just after they got into the truck.

'13, Lg's. Roxas taking me to hosp'

"She still uses your number when she's in trouble." Cloud said quietly. "I don't know if she was just used to using it or if she just wanted to hang onto something about you."

Roxas didn't say anything. He was remembering a time that felt like years ago, back when they were twelve years old.

They were at their favourite spot; the hill by the Drive-in with the swing set. She just got out of the hospital and they were celebrating.

"Look, my step dad got me a Cellphone," She said, showing him the small blue phone.

"About time," he laughed, since he had one for over a year now. "Here."

"Hey!" he ignored her protests as he took her phone, already putting his number in, even adding a speed dial to it.

"Thirteen?" She frowned, seeing the number he picked. "Isn't that unlucky?"

"It's my favourite number. Whenever your in trouble, just text that number to me and I'll be there."

''You can't always be there Roku," She rolled her eyes. She took her phone back, going over to the swings with him following. "What if I'm out of town?"

"I'll take the train of course," He leaned forward, smirking slightly when her face went red at how close he was. "Just text that number. I'll be there. Got it memorized?" he chuckled.

"Got it-" Her eyes widened in bewilderment before laughing. "Where the heck did you hear that?"

"Friend of mine says it all the time. Thought I'd try it out."

"Well, it doesn't suit you."

He laughed, sitting on the swing next to her. After a moment he said, "I'm serious May. No matter what, I'll try to come to you."

"I know," Naminé smiled. "I trust you to."

The sound of a door opening brought Roxas back to the present. The doctor, a tall man with really dark blue hair and square glasses, came out Naminé's room. Just behind him, he saw her sitting on the bed, looking pale. A big contrast to how flushed she was earlier.

Without any hesitation, he gave Cloud back his phone and went into the room.

"You okay? What'd he do?" He asked, sitting in the chair next to her bed.

"Just asked some question. Checked my reflexes in my legs." She said quietly. "Nothings responding."

"Not surprised." He sighed. He looked at the door, seeing Cloud and the Doctor had shut the door.

"Roxas?"

"Hmm?" He looked back at her to see she was looking away from him.

"Can…can you leave Roxas? Just the room. I-I want to talk to my brother."

"Alright," He was slightly hurt she wanted him to leave, but knew it was for a good reason so he didn't let it affect him. Much.

He got up and went to the door. Even before he reached he, he could easily tell there were more voices outside, familiar ones.

He looked over to tell Naminé but by the looks of it, she could hear them too.

"What do you wanna do?" he asked.

"I…I don't want to see them yet," She said. She seemed to hesitate for a second then said, "Um, Roxas?"

He felt his lips twitch. Either she didn't realise how often she was saying his name that day, or she just really liked being able to say it again.

She seemed to know what he was thinking because even from where he was standing he could see her blush.

"Yes?"

"Can…can we still talk later? Please?"

"'Course. Anything for you," he said before finally opening the door.

"-hy can't I?" He caught Kairi saying, pointing at him since he was now in the doorway.

Assuming she was asking why she couldn't go in he said, "Because she doesn't want you too. Not yet at least, so give her space."

Kairi turned around, her eyes narrowed. Ignoring her, he turned to Cloud.

"She wants to talk to you though. I think she thinks your going to freak out on her," He warned. The older blonde made a "Hmm" noise before walking in the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Roxas-" Sora started but his cousin shook his head.

"Hold on." He looked up and down the hall, spotting the small couch against the wall just a couple meters away. He walked over to it, laying down and draping an arm over his eyes again. He suddenly felt very exhausted.

"Roxas, how-" Again, the blonde interrupted.

"What took you guys so long to get here?" He asked, moving his arms slightly so he could see who was all there. Sora was standing next to him. Kairi was close by, looking anxious and annoyed at the same time. Riku was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He was slightly surprised to see that Olette and Selphie were there, but then remembered they saw Naminé collapse so of course they'd be worried too.

"Nurse wouldn't tell us where Nams room was," Sora answered. "They wouldn't believe Kairi was a relative so we had to look all over. It wasn't easy, this place is huge."

"Why were you with Naminé?" Kairi suddenly asked. Roxas glanced at her before sitting up.

"Would you rather I left her in the hall?"

"I meant in her room," Kairi frowned. "Why would she want to see you but not us?"

"How should I know?"

Before the redhead could snap a reply, the doors at the end of the hall opened, revealing another Redhead in the form of Roxas's best friend.

"How'd you get here?" The blonde frowned.

"Got Zexion to drop me off after you text me. Now gimme my keys back before I shake you upside down for 'em." Rolling his eyes, Roxas dug in his pockets then through the keys at him.

"So, how's the Little Miss?"

"Who?" Sora looked confused. Axel looked at him, as though just realising he was there.

"Hey Sora. Roxy's little girlfriend of course."

"Roxas-what?" Selphie, who was being unusually quiet until then, looked bewildered.

"She's not my girlfriend," Roxas muttered, avoiding looking at anyone.

"Then why did you kiss her?" Axel asked. Roxas shot him a 'Shut-Up-Or-I-Will-Punch-You" look.

"You what?" Kairi's eyes widened. "When? You have some nerve after-"

"Yeah, Yeah, I already got lectured on that, and the bruise to prove it," Roxas sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking frustrated.

An uncomfortable silence fell over them. Roxas's annoyance spiked up a bit when he saw the look in Riku's eyes as he watched him; he was enjoying the blondes position at the moment.

"Um," Olette said, finally speaking and breaking the silence. Her cheeks went a bit pink when everyone turned to look at her but it quickly faded. "About Naminé…what exactly is wrong with her? Is she sick with something?"

Kairi fidgeted uncomfortably for a few seconds before going to answer but Roxas beat her to it.

Laying back down on the couch to his original position, he said, "She has a very low immune system from getting sick so much and being on too many drugs when she was little. The reason why she was so sick was because she got Leukemia when she was seven. She reacted to the treatment right away so her life wasn't in any danger."

"Is that why she collapsed?" Olette asked, eyes wide. "From when she had it?"

"No. She has Motor and Sensory Nerve Damage in her legs. It will either paralyse her legs for twenty minutes, an hour. Or even the rest of her life."

"Wait, why do you know this?" Selphie asked. "Last I checked, you two have never hung out before."

Before Roxas could reply, that is if he was even planning to, the door opened.

"You guys can come in now," Cloud said after spotting them down the hall.

Right away Kairi went in, after she gave Roxas a look that said she would interrogate him later. Boy, was he looking for to that.

"Roxas, you coming in?" Sora asked.

"No, I already did. Besides, I don't want your girlfriend giving me dirty looks."

"You bring that on yourself," Riku rolled his eyes before following Olette and Selphie into the room.

"How much do you think he'd freak if I cut off that Pretty Boy hair of his?" Roxas said, making Sora laugh.

"Be nice." He said before going in. When he shut the door behind him Roxas sighed.

"Tough day, huh?" Axel remarked., crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.

"You have no idea," Roxas muttered. He glanced up at his friend, noticing his red cheek.

"Someone hit you?"

"Yeah, Larx lost her temper. Again," The Redhead shrugged.

"I don't know how you can like such a unstable, crazy woman."

"She has her moments. She can be affectionate sometimes."

"Hate to break it to you Axel, but S&M isn't affection," Roxas rolled his eyes.

"Ha. Ha. So funny. And don't call my girl unstable when yours is, too."

"How the hell is-"

"Remember what I told you when you made up your mind?" Axel interrupted. "Physically, you were helping the girl. But mentally? Don't forget, you told me about her mother. What you did probably brought up old memories. You know what it does to Larxene. Only difference is that I don't think the Little Miss get's violent when she remembers."

Roxas stayed silent. Yeah, he knew it was a big risk. If Cloud was right, her trauma from that bitch did get worse, all because of him.

Axel's phone rang. Roxas noticed the look on his face when he checked the caller ID.

"Who is it?"

"VII." He said before leaving. Roxas watched him go, eyebrows raised. Must be Organization business if he was using Saïx's number instead of his name. Either that, or he was pissed at him for some reason.

Kairi hugged her cousin tightly.

"Don't you scare us like that, okay?" She said.

"Sorry Kai," Naminé apologized.

"Yeah, you had us all worried," Olette said.

"I'm really sorry," Naminé said quietly, looking down. She only looked up when Riku spoke.

"Don't worry about it. It's out of your control. When you get out I'll take you to our spot." He said.

"That's won't be for a while," Cloud frowned. "She's going to be staying home for awhile after this."

"Yeah, of course," Riku said in agreement. But Kairi saw that as soon as Cloud looked away the Silver haired boy looked back at Naminé, winking at her, making her giggle slightly. It was difficult for Kairi not to roll her eyes. Yeah, he was going to sneak her out. Again.

"So Nams, how do ya feel?" Sora asked, pulling up a chair and sitting on his backwards so he rest his arms on it.

"Um, a bit dizzy, and my legs are still a bit numb but other then that I feel good," The petite blond smiled. Kairi frowned. She remember how Riku told her that she smiles when she lies. Was this one of those times or is she just being paranoid?

"Excuse me please," The group of friends parted to let a nurse through. She had brown hair pulled into a pony tail. She wore one of those nurse shirts, bright blue with tweety birds all over. In her left hand she held a clipboard while with her right she was pushing a weird machine.

"My names Rachel. I was asked by Dr. Kido to check your vitals."

"Vitals?" Selphie looked confused.

"Her heart rate, blood pressure and temperature," Rachel said. She attached a weird clip to Naminé's finger and put a band around her arm.

"Open," The nurse said before placing a thermometer in her mouth. When Naminé's face went red, Kairi knew the poor girl was embarrassed.

The machine beeped a few times after a minute. Rachel recorded the numbers that were on the screen before detaching the blond.

"Her temperature is a bit high. So is her blood pressure," Rachel told Cloud. "Dr. Kido wants to keep her under observation so she will have to stay the night. Mr. Strife, if you could-" But before the Nurse could finish Naminé's eyes widened in terror.

"NO!" Kairi jumped along with everyone else, surprised at how loud the petite girl was. "NO! I won't! I won't stay!"

"May, calm down." Roxas pushed past them to get to her. Kairi didn't even notice him come into the room. He must have right after the nurse did. When he reached Naminé he took her hand, griping it tightly in his.

"Roxas," Naminé turned her head to look at him. Kairi was surprised to see tears falling thick and fast from her eyes. "I-I can't stay-I can't- N-Not here-"

Kairi saw Roxas sigh before he bent his head closer towards her. He whispered something in the blonds ear. Naminé shook her head. He said something else, but she didn't stop.

He looked around the room, looking lost until he locked eyes with someone. Kairi followed his gaze and was surprised to see him looking at Cloud. She could almost see the words pass between the two blondes before the older one nodded slightly. It was a small, jerk of the head and if Kairi hadn't been watching she would have missed it.

Roxas hesitated then he sighed again. He moved closer to Naminé, and said something that made her stop shaking her head.

"Promise?" she heard her cousin say quietly.

"Yeah."

"Can I believe you this time?" Kairi saw him stiffen for a second before he nodded.

Seeing that the girl had calmed down, Rachel said, "If you kids would wait in the hall for I moment, I'd like to discuss some things with the Strife's."

Nodding everyone headed back into the hall. Everyone but Kairi and Roxas. She was watching him, taking in how he squeezed her hand in what looked like a comforting matter, how his eyes didn't leave her cousins, even after he stood up. Only when he followed the redhead out of the room did he break eye contact from her.

As soon as the door shut behind them she turned on the blonde.

"Alright Roxas. Enough. I want answers. What exactly happened two years ago? What did you do to make Naminé leave, and act so fragile?"

He hesitated then said, "She's always been frag-"

"You know what I mean."

Again, he hesitated. If Kairi wasn't in such a serious mood she would have found it funny. Rarely did someone see Roxas Hikari unsure.

"Fine," He said, running a hand through his blonde spikes.

"Right," Axel sighed into the phone. "I'm good to go, but I'm not sure I can bring him."

"And just why not?"

"Something personal for him came up. Let's just give him a break for once-"

"You know that's out of the question. Besides, he volunteered for this Mission. We can't take XII because she is too close to it."

"And XIII and I aren't?" Axel nearly growled.

"Not as much as she is. At least that we know of. If you get those files we'll know their true position in our town.'

"And if we are?"

"You know what we have to do."

"Huh, that's the best thing you've said this whole conversation," Axel smirked bitterly, and knew by the small "Hmp" on the other line Saïx was also. "I'll talk to him. I might be able to convince him but no promises. If I can't I'll at least get the codes."

"Make it quick."

"Yeah, Yeah," Axel muttered, even though the line went dead. Running a hand through his red locks he walked back through the doors that lead to the hall where Naminé's room was in time to see Kairi punch Roxas in the face.

A/N: Once again, I snuck on the computer to write this. The things I do for my readers. Good news though, don't think I'll be grounded for much longer.

Chapter Fact:

I have nerve damage in my arms. Though It's not as bad as I made Naminé's. Worst I get is my hands won't stop shaking and I can't carry anything heavy. No one guessed right on why Naminé collapsed.

Second, there's gonna be a chapter or two elaborating on Axel and Larxene relationship. I'll let you know once it's post in Dry My Tears. And there's gonna be one about Roxas and Sora, which I will update after this. It shows why Roxas called himself a coward a couple chaps back.