Sorry to all those who reviewed or are currently watching this story. My wonderful beta lost the notebook this was written in, in her room and I've only recently gotten it back. This chapter was halfway beta'd before she died of a brain aneurysm, so I'm hoping I can get by on my own and with spell checker. Keep your fingers crossed. Without further ado here's your disclaimeR

--I have not now nor ever owned any of the characters from Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy. The events in this chapter are completely fictitious and totally Akuroku-lious--

Demyx fluttered nervously around the bathroom door. The sounds of heaving were audible even from the other side of the door. "Erm... Roxas? Are you ok in there?"

Sighing, Axel ran a hand threw his flaming hair, "Of course he's not ok, Dem. He's sick from chemo drugs."

At this time the bathroom door banged open, Roxas stumbling out of it. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. Last winter the entire Strife clan had caught a bad stomach bug, but that was nothing compared to this. It was like his insides were being ripped apart by a radioactive pick.

"Yeah... chemo sucks..." Demyx scratched the back of his head. Roxas grunted and collapsed on his bed. "They give you stuff for the nausea."

"Won't give us any marijuana, though." Axel grumbled, "I mean I offered to bring some in--I know this guy-- I even offered to share with the whole ward. Still said no." Axel shook his head.

Roxas rolled over on his bed, "So... does it get much worse?" He was hesitant, not really sure if he wanted to know.

"Well..." Axel and Demyx looked at each other. "Depends. What have you got?" Demyx asked, "If you got something they can cut out, they'll load you up with chemo and cut if out, the load you up some more."

Roxas shook his head 'no'. "Leukemia." He frowned, hating the way the word tasted in his mouth.

"Mmm...." Axel rubbed his chin, "Nobody talked to you about this?"

Roxas looked down, embarrassment creeping onto his face, "It didn't really process."

The two older boys nodded sympathetically, "Don't worry; you're probably just looking at a couple of rounds of chemo till it goes into remission." The three laughed nervously.

By now Demyx had retreated to his own bed on the opposite side of the room. 'You--ah--learn a lot from hangin' around the day room... all the kids there have got some kind of leukemia." Demyx undoubtedly said this to comfort Roxas, but it wasn't working. He's seen the face of childhood cancer many times on late night television. The thought that he was one of there number wasn't comforting at all.

A blond haired nurse poked her head in, "We're headed out to the dayroom if you four are feeling well enough." She retracted.

Axel raised a delicate eyebrow, "You coming, Roxy?" The younger blond glowered, there was only one person who could call him, Roxy, and that was his mom because she'd ground him if he talked back, "I guess that's a no." Axel grumbled.

In the meantime Demyx had bounded over to Zexion's bed, "Hey, Zexy, come out with us!"

The slate-haired teen glared up at Demyx. Roxas sensed this was an age-old battle. Zexion grumbled and dog-eared a page. Next to him, Axel chuckled to himself.

The red-head stood, "All right, see you, Roxy."

Roxas shot up in bed causing another wave of nausea wash over him. No way was he going to be left alone in that room. Both Axel and Demyx grinned when they saw him sulking after them.

"Well look who decided to join us, Dem." Roxas gave Axel a shove. The only intensified the laughter. Axel threw a skinny arm around Demyx's neck, " 'mazin'! We got the Bookworm and Mr. 'Tude out of the room. The hospital should hire us as nurses."

Demyx giggled, "Bet that creepy doc would like to see you in a nurse outfit." Roxas could only wonder who the 'Creepy Doc' was.

As soon as the four entered the dayroom a mad rush of children swarmed around Demyx, pulling him off to play. Roxas turned around to Zexion, but the tiny bookworm had already snuck off to a corner with his book.

Axel laughed again, and limped over to a chair. He settled down into it, stretching. Having no where else to sit, Roxas sat down next to him. "He's a nice guy." Axel muttered nodding toward Demyx. The blond was swarmed by small children, demanding to be read to.

Roxas nodded, wondering where the older blond found the enthusiasm.

Beside him Axel sighed and stretched again.

"What's up with your leg?"

"Osteosarcoma." Axel grunted. Noticing Roxas' confusion, he added, "Bone cancer."

"Oh." Roxas blinked, "Sorry." He muttered though not exactly sure why.

Axel shrugged, "Broke my leg on the basketball court. That's how they knew I was sick. Just got the cast off a couple of days ago."

"That... really sucks."

"Could be worse."

Roxas nodded over to Zexion. The slate-haired teen seemed totally unconcerned with the outside world. "So what's up with him?"

"Like medically or what?"

"No, why's he so anti-social?"

Axel shrugged, "I dunno. He was like that when I got here." The red-head was interrupted by a small girl. Or rather a gaggle of small girls.

There leader held up a doll, "Come play dolls with us."

Axel sighed, not wanted to go, but not wanting to turn them down, "Come on, Roxy."

"What? I-no!"

Roxas' stomach flipped as Axel grabbed his hand. The other's long finger's wrapping around Roxas' smaller hand. "Oh, come on it'll be good for you." He gave Roxas a bright smile.