Hey look! It's Chapter 8! Thanks to A Pin Drop for helping me get chapter 2 un-bolded. I swear it's a miracle I'm on the internet at all. In other news we're more than half-way done with the story! Considering this story's been in the works for almost two years (for me at least) I'm a little sad to see know the end is coming. But look, a disclaimer!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Kingdom Hearts. Still not looking good for me.

Maybe it wasn't a cool idea.

"We will eventually consider a BMT." Lexaeus murmured.

He and Axel, perhaps they shouldn't kid themselves.

"But--" His mother sounded unsure.

"It's relatively safe." Lexaeus assured, "A lot of patients end up having the procedure." His eyes moved to Zexion almost reflexively.

Exactly what was he thinking? Not much obviously. He wasn't gay, just... a little confused.

"Anyway we shouldn't have to worry about it for a while--"

Axel's eyes shifted to Roxas. The red-head gave him a small inclusive smile. Roxas felt his head begin to pound.

"--A couple of months at the least."

Roxas' head shot over to Lexaeus, realizing he'd missed the entire conversation.

"I think--" Lexaeus consulted his chart, "We'll move him up to one week cycles and keep him on the ward. If that's ok with you?"

"He doesn't look that sick." Cloud pointed out. He was shushed immediantly.

"If that's what you think if best." Lexaeus nodded, "Alright then..." Mrs. Strife's eyes drifted over to Demyx then shot down to her lap.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be ok." Just gay, but there's nothing wrong with that, right?

His mother smiled knowingly and took his hand.

"With that in mind, I wish you all luck, that and assure you that we're giving Roxas the best care possible."

Mrs. Strife nodded, signaling, Lexaeus it was time to go.

"Well, goodbye, honey." Mrs. Strife gave Roxas a quick kiss.

"Mom!"

"And you three as well." Mrs. Strife added.

"Say hi to my mom." Axel replied from the pages of his magazine the exasperation was well noted.

"Bye!" Sora chimed in as he was led off.

"Sounds like you'll be having fun." The sarcasm was also well-noted in Axel's voice. Roxas rolled his eyes, "Is that really any way to treat me, Roxy?"

That caught Demyx's attention. The blond pushed himself up slightly in bed, his eyes weary, "What happened to you?"

"Huh?"

"Before I left the ward, you were all glum an' now you're all happy again." He paused, "What am I supposed to think?"

Axel laughed, "You aren't supposed to think, Demyx. Just sit there and look pretty." The blond laughed dryly. "No, it's true!"

Demyx shook his head and lay back down, cradling his head in his arms.

He still looked bad from his recent illness, Roxas noticed. Much worse than Roxas had. But then Demyx was a lot sicker than Roxas. And Demyx was always in a sad shape. Poor guy.

He sighed slightly before drifting off into an uneasy sleep. Roxas and Axel looked across at each other before going back to their previous activities.

The afternoon passed serenely, almost boringly. The schedule rolled on, shaping up to make a boring day on the ward.

The door banged open, "We lost Zexion."

"What?"

Namine took a deep breath, "We don't know where he got off to!" She took another deep breath and steadied herself, "Do any of you know where is could have gone?"

The three shook their heads.

The little nurse nodded and left undoubtedly off to go to find her lost patient.

"Should we go look for him?" Roxas asked.

Axel nodded but caught himself, "Tch, like I can."

Already stumbling out of bed Demyx muttered, "I think I know where he went."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Demyx nodded. He stumbled slightly.

"Here." Roxas slipped out of bed, "Let me help you." The other blond nodded and accepted the help, "Just sit tight, Axel."

"Not like I can do much else." The red-head grumbled.

"Where's the elevator again?" Demyx muttered.

Raising an eyebrow Roxas guided the other blond to the elevator. Nervous, Roxas looked around for any upcoming staff members, "Why didn't you tell Namine where Zexion is?" Demyx merely shrugged.

The elevator dinged and opened. Thankfully it was empty. Once boarded Demyx hit the button for the top floor and the close door button, "What's he doing up there?" Roxas exclaimed.

"Probably thinking." Demyx replied, "Thank you... for helping me."

"No problem."

Two blonds waited with held breath for the elevator doors to open. It took impossibly long, but eventually the doors pushed apart. Demyx rushed forward through the doors to another door, leading to the outside. Roxas followed much more slowly. Demyx flung the other door open and stepped out into the biting old. True to his word Zexion was outside. Instead of following him Roxas slipped down behind the door.

"It's going to rain soon." He heard Demyx say.

"Probably snow."

Roxas could see the scene unfolding. Demyx moving over to Zexion. His hand moving around Zexion's skinny shoulders. The slate-haired teen didn't struggle against the other's touch. Instead he welcomed it, a ward to the cold.

"You'll get sick."

Zexion rebutted it with, "You'll get sicker."

Not knowing how to respond to this Demyx stood there, Arm around Zexion's shoulders, "Everyone's looking for you downstairs."

"I'd expect."

"Hm...." Demyx tightened his grip.

Now Zexion turns away, "I'm never going to leave this place..."

"No."

"This is the second time they lymphoma's come back. I'm going to die in this place."

"No, you're not." Demyx stuttered through the sentence, "You'll get better--"

"Then I'll get sick again."

"N--"

Roxas peeked around the door catching sight of Zexion kissing Demyx. The smaller teen nearly had to stand on his tiptoes to reach but still he pressed his lips to Demyx. The blond seemed shocked.

After a moment Zexion moved away. Roxas also retreated behind the door.

"You're right, it's going to rain."

"Wait!" Demyx caught Zexion's hand. There was a long pause, but this time Roxas stayed behind the door. A few tense moments later the foot steps resumed and Zexion and Demyx appeared. The three boarded the elevator, Roxas feeling like the proverbial third wheel.

"... You two shouldn't have come." Zexion muttered.

"We were worried about you." Demyx replied.

"Still..." The two seemed uncomfortable.

Roxas eyed them, "If there's something you want to do you should do it... preferably outside the elevator, but..."

"Thanks Roxas." Demyx had turned a deep red.

"Um... so exactly what are we going to tell the nurses?" Roxas asked.

Apparently neither Demyx nor Zexion hadn't thought of that.

It turned out not to be much of a problem. The three had barely taken a step on the ward when the nurses swarmed upon them.

Roxas glared and breathed out one word, "Axel."

As soon as they walked in the room Axel started yelling, "Ok, you really can't blame me! It's not like I could say, 'Oh, Roxy and Dem are just in the bathroom together! But don't go in there 'kay, thanks'!"

"Traitor." Zexion muttered.

"That's a little extreme don't you think."

"No." Zexion replied.

"Oh, sure me."

Maybe we will."

Roxas sat down thinking over the conversation he'd overheard. Zexion thought he was going to die on the ward. The second time he was here...

Roxas cut Axel off mid-argument. The red head was startled at first, but he snaked his arm around Roxas' waist, pulling his closer. His mouth opened slightly allowing Roxas in closer.

Reputation be damned.

Roxas! You dog! Listening in on Zexion and Demyx's special moment. At least you didn't ruin it for us readers. Tune in next time when Axel cheats at Go Fish... again.