Alright, you may or may not have noticed the upping in rating. Don't be alarmed but i was talking to my beta and we decided to up the rating. She is afraid I might get flagged by someone for what I'm putting up. She also has been going over the chapters she never went over in the past. Also, please keep in mind that my beta is only human.

Saving Axel

Chapter 16: Closed Eyes

Roxas's POV

I thought Axel and I had realized that the two of us and parties don't go well together. Now that I think about it, no place goes well with us if ice cream and the tower aren't involved somehow. We normally find a way to screw things up, or get real down and dirty… sort of. I mean, we just don't do well with the party area.

The first time anything really sparked between Axel and me was when I was all depressed at Sora's birthday party a couple months back. He pinned me to the wall, remember? Then he sort of just left me, and I had to hide from a drunken Naminé in a closet. Then Axel arrived to find me in the closet, and soon joined me as he hid as well.

Then of course we have the Halloween party. Oh jeez; getting Axel thrown at me in a closet for a fun little game of Seven Minutes in Heaven. That had to be one of the first times I got intimate like that with anyone. It was kind of scary; nerve wracking if you will. I was really scared, but looking back on it, I'm glad it was with Axel. He didn't demand too much from me, and I was glad about that.

I'm sure I'm missing a few others, oh yeah, like New Years Eve. He only recently told me about that one, and I'm more embarrassed about that than anything! I told Demyx off - which apparently I found to be funny - and then forced myself onto Axel! That was scary to learn. I'm now afraid of my drunken self, like, seriously. Still, Axel apparently expected as much when he learned what I was drinking. Apparently, it was some drink with like 70 percent alcohol or something. He had to carry me home and put me to bed which was a blow on my masculinity.

If these are our past experiences with parties, why is he bringing me to another party?

I'm not sure, but I will say this:

Yuffie's better!

Well, she's feeling a lot better, and she claims it was Muffins who helped her recover, but I think it was just Leon and her own determination. She's got her color back and is already getting a start on the work that she's been slacking on. It really seems like the past few months never happened, and I'm grateful. But, I digress. I'm going to another party with Axel and am freaking out about what will happen… and what to wear.

"I think the blue one," I muttered to myself as I stared at the three shirts on my bed. "What about you, Muff?" I asked my sort of seemed to hang with Yuffie all the time when she was sick, so I almost forgot about her half the time. She only recently started hanging out with me again. She meowed and yawned, and I followed her gaze to the green shirt.

"Really? That's what you think would work?" I asked in confirmation, and she laid her head down and closed her eyes. I pet her and scratched behind her ear and took off my sleep shirt when I heard a whistle. I spun and saw Axel leaning in my door frame. "Axel!" I yelped shocked, and he laughed at me. I frowned at him and turned to put my shirt on.

"No, don't put another on!" he joked in a whiney voice.

"Why are you here watching me dress? How long have you been there?" I asked suddenly.

"Long enough to see you shimmy into those jeans." He shrugged. "Which make your ass look fantastic, by the way," he added happily, and I sighed.

"Pig."

"Am not! Is it illegal for a man to check out his boyfriend?" he asked as he approached me and hugged me from behind.

"No, but maybe after you've seen him naked before," I told him, knowing full well that will not be happening anytime soon. He sighed and pulled away and sat on my bed.

"Where is everyone anyway?" he asked me curiously as he turned his head to stare at Muffins confusedly. I had almost had forgotten they had never met before.

"That's Muffins. She was bought while you were away. She was locked up in the basement at Christmas so she wouldn't get in the way," I explained, and he nodded slowly as he pet her gently. "To answer your question, Leon is working late, and Sora and Riku went to see a movie."

"Oh. Yuffie looks good," he told me, and I nodded.

"She's getting better, even though she sometimes pushes herself so much she has to break for oxygen. But overall she's getting much better," I told him, and he nodded silently. I grabbed my contacts case from my bed side table, and he smiled at me.

"Didn't you say some time ago that you hated contacts?" he asked me jokingly. I turned to him.

"Didn't you tell me you liked seeing my eyes?" I retorted, and he chuckled quietly while I slipped my glasses off and opened the cap and pulled one out with my fingers.

"So, how blind are you?" he asked me, and I snorted while I put in one contact.

"Blind enough to call you a blob of black with red at the top,"I told him honestly, and he laughed cheerfully as I turned to him, ready to leave. We walked down the stairs, and I saw Yuffie sitting in the living room watching TV. "We're heading out now, Yuff!" I called to her, and she turned her head and smiled.

"All right, be careful and no later than three in the morning," she told us, and I nodded while Axel looked around. I reached for the knob on the door when she added, "Don't do anything stupid you'll regret in the morning."Axel walked outside while I shouted another response over my shoulder. I saw there was a truck parked, and I wondered why Axel didn't bring his bike since he loves it so much.

Then Demyx popped his head out.

I sighed as I walked toward the car.

I want to say I forgave him, Axel as well, but I just can't let it go. A bitter feeling still sits underneath my skin and makes it crawl when I see the two together in any area. I wish I didn't think of it, maybe just erase it from my past, but I can't. Life isn't that sat in the back with me and Larxene while Marluxia and Demyx sat in the front. I had the strangest feeling that something bad was gonna happen tonight, but I kept the thought to myself. I listened quietly while Demyx, Marly, and Axel spoke of what they had been up to in the last week. Larxene was texting on her phone, and I idly wondered where Zexion was. The party was at Club Blue, which his father owned. He got in free, and he was with Demyx…

Did they have a fight?

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Zexion's POV

I sighed quietly as I turned the page of my book. It was getting really interesting, since it was at the climax, but I can barely focus. I kept re-reading the same line because my mind begins to wander to some other topic.

Like it is now!

I put the book down and glared at the window in front of me. I ran a hand through my bangs to get them out of my face, only for them to fall right back into place. I grabbed my bookmark and looked at it closely. It was a small rectangle with a few crummy drawings of things that I like: books, grapes, guitars, and a few others. Demyx had made it for me in study hall the year before, and I just kind of kept it. I frowned remembering earlier tonight and leaned my head back.

Three hours ago

"You ready, Zex?" Demyx asked as he charged into my room. I looked up to him, confused.

"For what exactly? I told you I was gonna be relaxing tonight after our…night yesterday," I blushed slightly in remembrance. Demyx sat beside me and kissed my cheek.

"The party, Zex; you know the one," he explained, and I cocked my head to the side until it clicked, and my face fell.

"You're going to that dumb party? I told you that you shouldn't go, and that I wasn't going!" I told him sharply. He looked confused for a moment and then what I said sank in.

"I have to go, you know that," he told me, and I sat up straighter.

"Why the heck do you have to go?" I asked, never using language with Demyx as my own personal rule.

"You know Axel will go, and who will keep him in line? Marly and Larxene? Hell no, they totally just screw off." Demyx started to put his jacket on again. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Axel can take care of himself!" I cried loudly, not caring that my parents were downstairs. "Marly and Larxene pay just enough attention and I trust Axel has Roxas. It won't be fun," I stressed, and he paused again and looked to me.

"You know that Roxas doesn't know anything about Axel's past; he wouldn't know what to be on the lookout for and stuff. I need to go; we need to go," he stated urgently. I looked to the side.

"Roxas may not know, but Axel should be strong enough to watch out for himself; he has been since seventh grade, after all," I said quietly. "The last party of Xigbar's we went to ended in disaster, you know that."

"Zexion, just come? I don't want him doing anything to Roxas that he would regret. You know how he acts!" Demyx yelled to me. I sighed and looked to the sheets.

"No, I'm not going," I started quietly and calmly, "I don't care what you do, how you do it, or when you do it!" I started shouting, "Go do whatever the hell you want, Demyx! You already folded once and almost ruined Axel's relationship! Fine! I don't give a shit; go watch Axel and piss off Roxas. Hell, maybe you could find another boyfriend who doesn't care!" I yelled, and he stared at me in a shocked silence. I had never yelled before, nor ever sworn to him, and just did both while telling him all I thought. I was glaring at him with fire in my eyes.

"Fine," he said quietly and got up and left my room. It was over between us, and we both knew it.

Now

I can't believe I would say such things to him. I just wanted one night for us, like yesterday. We didn't think about school, life, Axel, nothing. It was just us, and it was one of the best moments in my life. Then he just comes in and won't stop talking about what Axel might do. He's been doing great for years now, so I don't understand his fear. I don't know if the root has to do with his first encounter with a drunken Axel or what, but he seemed to have no confidence in the red head.

That and the mere mention of him hurt me slightly.

I had loved Demyx for a long, long time; even when he was with Axel. Even when he was hurting because of Axel, I loved him. Axel may be better now, but when he was vulnerable, Demyx folded and gave him what he wanted: sex, and just that. It hurt to know that, even though I said it doesn't, it does. I just wish I hadn't broken up with him because I still love him. I already missed him more than anything.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

Demyx was rather silent tonight, and it concerned all of his friends, even me a little bit. We tried to question him during the quiet drive over, but he didn't say anything except that he was okay. It aggravated his friends, but I knew it was because he himself was still figuring out what happened. I wondered what happened to make him like this.

When we arrived, we went in the side entrance, and I was again astounded by the amount of people packed into one small building on three floors, and how it looked. Zexion's dad spared no expense when designing this place as a clubbing heaven. The speakers were cleverly placed to be out of the way, but heard by everyone who wanted to hear it. The bass was pumping heavily; so much so, that you felt it thump inside your body. Axel immediately dragged Demyx and me to the bar and bought him a drink and two waters for us. Axel then went straight for answers from Demyx. I sat quietly and sipped my water while I watched Axel and Demyx lean back and forth talking directly into each other's ears so they could be heard. I sighed and looked to the bartender who was drying a cup.

"Excuse me?" I called, and he looked up to me. "Margarita, please,"I stated, and he looked me over carefully. I was worried he'd ask for ID, but I was only sixteen and couldn't produce that. "You in the Xigbar party?" he asked, and I nodded. He blinked and went to preparing the drink. That was weird. I guess he just assumes that I'm as old as him. Sweet! He placed the drink in front of me, and I sighed.

So much for not drinking again after that terrible hangover.

"Bottoms up," I muttered to myself.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Sora's POV

"Okay, let me get this straight," I stated while Riku and I stood in front of his bed at his house. "You brought me all around town and then some, just to tire me out so I'll ask to sleep on your couch." He nodded. "Then you would be all gentlemanly and offer your bed." He nodded again. "I'd be dumb and go to your bed where you would join me and coax me into having sex with you, correct?" I finished with an amused look in my eye. He smiled sheepishly and nodded slowly.

"I thought it was a good plan," he stated.

"Yeah, if I was a complete idiot," I told him firmly.

"Well, that can be debated," he muttered under his breath.

"What's your point?" I growled, and he sat on the bed.

"Are we really arguing about this, Sor?" he asked quietly. "I just want some intimate, quiet time with you since we both have been so busy lately. It's our only time where we both are completely alone, and I really want this," he explained.

"Are you trying to force me into this?" I glared angrily, and he shook his head frantically.

"Hell no, I'm just saying, Sora!" he amended. "I love you, and I want to really show you how much!" he finished worriedly. We had both been busy lately. If I hadn't been doing school work or hanging out with my mom, Riku was doing some sort of school sport or being forced to be with his family. Tonight, I was allowed out as long as I wanted and Riku's family took a trip this weekend. We were utterly alone tonight.

It was the perfect time, I suppose.

Should I? I mean, I love Riku, but this is a bit… extreme?

"Hey, don't feel pressured because we could always just make-out on the couch, Sora," he assured me, and I nodded. Maybe later. I sat beside him on the bed, he brought his arm around me, and I leaned on him. "I forgot to ask, where's Roxas anyway?"

"He's at some party with Axel," I sighed.

"Sounds like fun," he admitted.

"Nah, Roxas is such a stick in the mud; he'd be no fun anyway."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

"WHOOHOOO!" people yelled as I downed my… tenth drink?I don't know, but Marly and I were having a drink off and people were cheering loudly around us. I grabbed another and downed it, but Marly just dropped his hand in defeat, and everyone cheered my name. I was cheering myself when Axel came up to me.

"Roxas?" he asked, shocked, and I giggled like a school girl again.

"Hey, Axie!" I cheered and rushed forward and fell into him and he caught me. He wrapped my arm around his waist and helped me upright. We started walking - more like Axel half dragging me - toward the left where the rooms were. He pushed past the thin blue curtain where Demyx sat sipping from a bottle of water.

"You found him, huh?" Demyx asked. I wobbled when Axel let go, and when I took a step forward, I almost tripped again and he helped me sit down.

"Yeah, but he's tanked worse than New Years," Axel explained and forced me down again when I tried to rise to my feet. "I'm gonna go grab some crackers to sober him up a little. Watch him; don't let him leave," he told Demyx, who nodded. Axel left the room and Demyx and I were left alone in an awkward silence.

"Demy?" I slurred and tilted my head to the side. "You're sad!" I pointed to him, and he nodded.

"Yes, I am, Roxas," he said quietly. "Just relax until Axel get's back~"

"What happened?" I asked hurriedly and sauntered over to sit beside him. "Speak!" I ordered and laughed at myself. He sighed.

"I hurt Zexion. We aren't together anymore, and I'm angry because I should have said something before leaving," he sighed. I sat unmoving for a moment.

"Sorry," I slurred. I decided this was boring and looked to my left and saw the dance floor. "Look over there!" I called, pointing crazily, and he looked that way. I bolted from my seat and out to the stairs and down to the dance floor.

Demyx's POV

"ROXAS!" I yelled loudly. I saw Axel push his way through a crowd of people to get to me.

"Where the hell is Roxas?" he yelled to me, and I pointed to the dance floor. "FUCK!" he cursed loudly. He threw the peanutsat my chest and made a dash down the stairs. I threw them in the room and looked for the top of Roxas's head from my high vantage point. It was a proven fact that any drunken soul who goes to this particular dance floor will get trampled from either being pushed or trip from their own lack of coordination. I finally spotted a bit of pointy hair near the worst of the dancing in the center of the floor and ran down the stairs as well.

"AXEL!" I called. I was trying to find him so we could find Roxas together, but he was nowhere in sight and the bass was loudest here. I even knew the song as Ghosts N Stuff by Deadmau5. The bass was loud and fast and the people were pushing against me, so I was making almost no progress. When I had finally made it to Roxas he was really enjoying himself, yet he was slower than the hyped up dancers around him. He was sobering up a little. I grabbed his arm, and he turned to face me as I pulled him through the crowd. I saw Axel standing near the stairs and sighed in relief.

Roxas's POV

With my fast paced dancing, I began to get a clearer head since my alcohol laced blood was pumping faster, and it was being expelled from my system. All I knew was I could walk straight, and that was good, but I was still enjoying quite a buzz. I was happily dancing when someone grabbed my arm. I turned sharply to stare right at Demyx as he pulled me toward him and through the crowd.

Why was he here? Where was Axel?

I want Axel, not this boyfriend stealing idiot!

"Let go!" I yelled, but he kept dragging me forward. What was he doing? "LET GO!" I yelled louder, and when we reached the stairs I pulled from his grasp.

"Roxas, Axel wants you in the room up there~"

"What, so you two can go frolic off and fuck? Hell no!" I yelled. He stopped and turned to me completely.

"You don't understand anything! We already apologized~"

"Like that does anything for me! Yeah I'll say I forgive you, but it still hurts underneath!" I yelled. "I guess Zexion finally figured that out, and besides, he deserves better than your cheating ass!" I yelled as I glared with fists formed at my sides. Demyx bunched his fist and held it in front of him.

"If you weren't Axel's boyfriend, I'd punch your lights out!" he threatened.

"Well, you're Axel's best friend, and I won't feel any remorse from doing this!" I yelled, and pulled my fist back and punched him square in the face, and he fell backward.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Axel's POV

Roxas just punched Demyx… i-in the face! Why the hell did he do that… and why was it so hot to see him this pissed off?I ran down the steps and heard some drunken man yell something about a fight and punched the nearest person and soon the whole place was fighting.

"You should go to Zexion and get down on your damn knees and plead and promise you will do anything to make him happy! Start by pleading for my forgiveness!" I heard Roxas shout as Demyx lay on the ground, holding his bleeding nose. I stopped and watched the two and saw a few tears in Roxas's eyes. "Promise to be faithful," he said so quietly, I had to read his lips to know he said it. He fell onto the floor and started to cryand I ran to his side and hugged him close to me.

"Roxas~"

"Promise you'll be faithful, Axel," he whispered into my ear. I nodded and helped him to his feet and grabbed Demyx as well. I forced them up the stairs while dodging punches and things while the music played a fast rhythm that only served to make the people fight more. I caught sight of Marly punching a guy in the stomach because he grabbed at Larxene, and I called to them and they followed me toward the door. I saw Xigbar beside it, and he grinned happily.

"Now this is what I call a party. See you later, guys! Thanks for coming!" He laughed and grabbed his drunken friend and threw him into the fight and joined himself. I helped Roxas into the car with Larxene and Marly, and I turned to Demyx and handed him a tissue for his nose.

"The hell happened with you guys?" I asked him forcefully.

"He was still angry at me, at us, for what we did," he started quietly. "He just snapped and punched me, and I can only hope that he feels better now." I looked to Roxas as he stared at his hands in the car while Larxene tried to talk to him.

"Why was he talking about Zexion? Did something happen between you two?" I asked quietly, a little upset that he told a drunken Roxas, and not me.

"He and I got into a fight earlier and we kind of ended it between us… Roxas told me what I had to do, and I'm gonna do it."

"Let's make sure your nose isn't broken though," I explained, and he smiled slowly.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Zexion's POV

I lay on my side and stared at the open window in the dark of my room. I was angry and sad because I ended things with Demyx. I loved him so much. What hurts me even more was that he said nothing to stop what I said, or amend it. I curled up more, wishing silently for sleep to overtake me so I didn't have to think about it. That was when I heard my front door open. Great, my parents are home early even though they had to work tonight. I heard the steps come up the stairs and slowly open my door. It must be my mom, because she's always checks on me when she gets home late. The door closed and I heard steps approach my side of the bed. I opened my eyes and looked to see Demyx in the dark, or what looked like him anyway. He got down and kneeled beside my bed, and I sat up and turned on my bedside lamp. It was Demyx.

His nose looked slightly swollen, and I wanted to reach out and do something when he lowered his head and grabbed my hand.

"Zexion. I'm so sorry for all that I've done to you…" I gaped at him. Was he swallowing his pride for once? "I want to promise you something, Zexion. I want to promise you that I'll always be faithful to you."

I stared at him, but he didn't lift his head at all. He was waiting for me to speak.

"Demyx, I… I forgive you." This time, I meant it. He brought his head up, and I kissed his forehead. "Now tell me who punched you," I commanded, and he smiled as he sat beside me on the bed.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

After we dropped Demyx off at Zexion's, Marly opted to drive Axel and me home before he dropped Larxene off and returned Demyx his car. I guess it was a good thing Marly and Zexion were neighbors. Axel sat beside me, and I leaned on him as he held my in strong arms. I felt needy and weak and relished in his warmth. I was feeling completely normal, and I guess it was because, for once, I got violent enough to punch someone and felt no guilt at the time. Sadly, I still don't feel all that guilty. I felt strangely… lighter somehow.

I felt like a heavy weight was lifted off of my heart, and I was glad. I was happy because I no longer felt any anger toward Demyx, but Axel was another story. I still felt like he was holding something back from me, but what, I cannot say. I wanted to know if there was some kind of feelings he still had for Demyx. I wanted him to tell me, to talk to me. Marly parked, and I got out with Axel following closely behind. He walked me to my door, and he sighed.

"I'm gonna have to hurry if I want to catch the bus heading to my house," he told me quietly as I stood at my door. "How do you feel, Roxas?" he asked me.

"Lighter," I responded distantly.

"That's good~"

"You never answered my question at the bar," I told him, and he sighed.

"I was dodging punches and trying to get my boyfriend and dumbstruck best friend out of the line of fire," he explained, and I looked up into his eyes.

"Then answer me now," I said curtly. He stared at me for a moment. "Will you promise to be faithful to me and only me?"

"I will, Roxas. As long as we're together," he told me and leaned down and captured my lips with his. For some reason, I felt like I was going to cry.

"Roxas, you're crying," he told me worriedly.

"I'll see you later," I told him quietly and turned from him and opened the door and shut it quietly. I held myself as the tears fell. I saw Yuffie looking at me worriedly from her spot on the couch. I guessed Leon went to bed and that Sora wasn't home yet. She got up, but I ran up the stairs and closed my bedroom door behind me and locked it. As soon as I walked in, Muffins was on her feet and walking toward me slowly.

"Why am I crying? Why is there this feeling inside that Axel is still holding something back from me?" I put my head on my knees while Muffins sat beside me and purred comfortingly. I feel like such a girl for crying over nothing…

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Axel's POV

The next day was quiet with no word from Roxas, or any of my other friends. I guess they were all busy with one thing or another. I was still trying to figure out why Roxas was crying when I dropped him off at home last night. Really, I just needed someone to talk to which is why I was here.

"Nana? I need to talk to someone right now since I'm in a bit of a pickle," I started. I sat down and stared in front of me hard. "I need to figure out why Roxas was crying yesterday, and you always seem to know the answer," I explained.

The tombstone did nothing and it was just quiet as I sat cross legged in front of it.

"Did I maybe say something hurtful to him? Maybe he still doesn't trust me… maybe he just wants to punch me too. Could you help me out Nana? Just a little bit? I know you always told me that I need to try on my own, but I honestly don't know."

If it was entirely possible, it seemed like it suddenly got even quieter.

"I knew you couldn't help me either. I should just go over and talk to him myself, but I'm afraid that he hates me and needs space. If that's the case, when do I go see him? What if that isn't even the problem. Maybe he wants me to go to him, but I'm thinking the opposite and~ Damn it!" I stopped and cursed.

"You sound like you're in a bad way," I turned quickly to look at Yuffie Leonhart. Why was she here? How much did she hear? "Don't look so worried, I already know about you and Roxas. Figured it out on my own," she explained and walked toward me slowly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked stupidly. She was in a cemetery. What other reason besides seeing a grave would she be here? Man, I'm stupid!

"I need to pay some final respects, but as I was leaving, I heard you talking. You seemed like you were lost somehow, and I guess she wasn't helping out like you thought she would," she stopped beside me and sat down.

"I just needed to talk to someone to sort out my thoughts, and she was always a good listener."

"Amy Jane Lea. Your real mother, I'm assuming?"

"No," I said quickly and somewhat harshly. "This is my grandmother… my nana. I spent a lot of time with her growing up. She practically raised me as a kid," I explained, and she nodded. "She was like my mother," I finished sadly.

"I'm sure Roxas would say the same about me," I turned to her. "He came here at only age ten and has stayed here for six years even though his parents are alive somewhere." I looked away. Poor Roxas.

"That sucks," I said after a minute.

"I tried my very best to make him happy and comfortable living with us, but he never seemed too happy here. He would only lighten up and smile when his uncle, Sephiroth, was in town, but we never saw him during that time because they were usually off together bonding before he had to leave again."

"Oh, they seemed awful close when he was around a few months back," I noted, and she nodded.

"Sephiroth was with Roxas a lot when he was very little. If the Strife's weren't traveling somewhere new, Sephiroth was watching Roxas while his parents worked odd jobs getting the funds to travel," she explained. "He was always so quiet, because from a young age he was taught to be quiet and respectful."

"Oh, he seemed pretty bold around me when I first met him."

"And has been because of you," she stated. "I remember a time where Roxas would come home, do his homework, and read the rest of the night. Now he comes home talking and laughing with Sora, and it just makes me so happy to see him happy." She smiled to me, and I looked away embarrassed. I never knew he was that different because of me.

"No problem, I guess," I muttered.

"Can you promise me something?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, sure," I responded quickly, looking to her.

"Can you promise that no matter what happens, you'll be there for Roxas. To make sure he's happy and cared for?" She looked to the sky.

"Of course; you don't have to tell me what I already aim to do, Mrs. Leonhart," I promised, and she smiled and stood up. "But why do you ask right now?" I asked her, and she turned to me with a knowing smile.

"Don't worry about it. When the time comes, please keep this promise in mind," she turned from me and walked toward the big iron gates of the cemetery. I only stared after her in wonder. What an odd request at such a random time.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Riku's POV

"Wow," Sora panted while I grinned. "Why are you so good at this?" he continued breathlessly. I felt my ego rise a little at this along with my confidence.

"I'm glad you think so." I smiled. "I aim to please you; are you satisfied?" I asked and kissed his sweaty forehead. He looked to me.

"Hell no, now it's my turn!" he jumped to his feet and grabbed the nearest pop and chugged it to get some energy, sitting on the mat I set up earlier this morning before he arrived. "I will beat 100 one handed pushups this time!"he argued, and I laughed. I leaned back right as the timer went off, and he started. My phone rang and I picked it up.

"Hello, Riku Hokani, how can I help you?" I asked fluidly. I was taught to always answer the phone this way because a lot of my father's business partners called here looking for him and I had to sound professional.

"Riku? It's me, Yuffie." I sat up a little straighter and watched Sora grunting in pain at around his eighty-fifth push-up. "When is Sora gonna come home for dinner? Do you know?"

"He'll be home around five, I promise," I told her.

"You love my son, right?" What a random question. She should already know the answer to that.

"Yes. Very, very much," I told her honestly.

"You promise to always love him and care for him?"

"Yes. I do already," I explained, wondering why she was asking me such questions.

"All right, I'll talk to you later. Bye!" She hung up before I could respond and I put the phone down and saw Sora panting on the floor.

"Ninety-nine, Riku! I was so close!" he whined, and I sat down beside him and kissed him.

"It's okay. Besides, the man in the relationship has to do this, not the girl," I smirked and he hit my arm and I laughed.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

"You saw Axel today?" I asked Yuffie as I ate a few chips at the table as she washed some pots in the sink.

"Yes. I needed to pay a few respects, and I saw him there," she explained and glanced over at me. "We talked for a little bit before I left him to talk out his problems. You seem to confuse him and jumble his thoughts, Rox." She laughed, and I looked over to where Leon was sleeping on the couch.

"He work really late again?" I asked, and she nodded. "He seems to be doing that a lot lately."

"Yes, well, the company is working on a new product which is being released in two days, and apparently no one there can do anything without him around. He's really sorry and is taking me out for dinner tonight. That's why you and Sora are going to eat dinner together here and go hang out elsewhere," she explained. "I just want to feed you before I go, so what do you want? I'll make you anything you want tonight," she leaned on the table in front of me.

"Why tonight? Why not tomorrow?" I asked with a smile, and she frowned a little.

"Because I won't want to do it tomorrow!" she answered simply. I nodded and thought for a little bit. What meals do Sora and I both always demand that she make us because we love it so much… I got it!

"Ham loaf!"I stated and she smiled. "With mashed potatoes, corn, and bread rolls!" I smiled and she did as well.

"All right, let's go to the store and get the ingredients and you can help me make it." I walked from the kitchen and grabbed my jacket when I heard her sigh and whisper, "Just one last meal for you two."

What does that mean?

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

"Have a good night you two!" Sora called after his parents as they shut the door. We had finished the great dinner earlier while Yuffie just sat and talked with us quietly. She talked with us calmly and relaxed, but there was a hint of something else in her voice. It sounded like she honestly didn't expect to see us again with the way she hugged us close to her, but I guess she's just being an over protective mother again.

"Hey, Sora, I'm heading out to see Axel in ten, okay?" he nodded as he stared out the window.

"Did anything seem off about mom tonight?" he asked me nervously.

"You noticed too?" I asked him, and he nodded. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about though," I told him, and he nodded again.

"Riku's here, so I'll see you later, Roxas." He hugged me and I hugged him back as he grabbed his coat and put it on as he walked out the door. I sat on the couch and closed my eyes. What was up with Yuffie lately? She was making sure I basically memorized her home recipe to make tonight's dinner, and I didn't understand why; not to mention all the other things she's been doing lately. There was a knocking at the door, and I got up and answered it.

"Hello, Roxy!" Axel greeted warmly, and I smiled. "So you don't hate me then?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"I don't know what came over me; let's just go do something fun!" I smiled, and he nodded as he led me to his motorcycle. I let him put the helmet on my head before we drove straight to the beach. It may be cold out, but the beach is always fun to go to.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Leon's POV

"I'm having a lot of fun, Leon, so can you just smile!" Yuffie pleaded to me. I smiled slightly and she laughed at me. "It's like you don't know how anymore!" she grabbed my hand and pulled me forward as we walked toward a bench in the park. She sat down on the bench and I sat beside her.

"I know how to smile, I just choose not to all the time," I explained, and she leaned on me and sighed.

"I remember a time where you always smiled and could never frown." She looked up to me with brown eyes. "Back in high school, remember?" she asked me, and I sighed. "You were the most popular guy in school, Leon, and everyone loved you so you always smiled."

"Yes, and I got into trouble all the time," I reminded her, and she laughed.

"You were friends with the detention teacher." She laughed happily. I smiled myself and chuckled a little because she always made me smile. "I remember those days when you sent me notes in class trying to get me to go out with you," she explained.

"I remember. You didn't want to give me a chance because you thought I was a shallow, popular guy. I remember the rejection to this day," I sighed.

"Then I got to know you personally and learned you were a good guy," she sighed and blinked slowly. I looked to her.

"Are you feeling all right, Yuffie? Do you need the oxygen from the car?" I asked her worriedly, and she shook her head as she wrapped her arms around me.

"I love you Squall, you know that," she said quietly and I nodded. "I love you, and Sora, and Roxas so very much." She closed her eyes. I knew something was wrong because she used my real name. I got off the bench and kneeled in front of her and made her look at me.

"I'm taking you to the hospital. You aren't well, Yuffie," I told her, but she shook her head.

"I'm calm and peaceful. Please just let me be, Squall. I've known this was coming for a long time, and now, I'm ready. Can you just kiss me and tell me you love me?" she asked with the most graceful, perfect smile on her face. I leaned up and kissed her lightly on the lips. I pulled away slightly.

"I love you, Yuffie," I said, and Yuffie started to fall forward. My eyes widened to the size of plates and I caught her. "Yuffie, no! Stay with me!" I yelled to her as her eyes flit shut, possibly to not open again. Her closed eyes scaring me to no end as I quickly picked her up to take her to the hospital.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV

"AXEL!" I yelled as he tackled me into the sand. He grabbed the ball from my hands, and I laughed loudly. He kissed my cheek.

"You're getting faster Roxas. You kept the ball for about fifteen more seconds than last time." He grinned, and I turned over from underneath him and looked up into his eyes.

"Yeah, just make fun of me and my lack of speed!" I whined, and he kissed my lips sweetly.

"Why do you look so cute when you're angry?" he asked, and I laughed and wrapped my arms around him and kissed his neck. "What are you doing?" he asked shakily. I pulled away.

"Trying to distract you to get this." I grabbed the ball and pushed him out of the way and started to run again.

"Oh, no you don't, Roxy!" He got up and chased me. I had to stop when my phone rang. I grabbed it, and Axel stopped and tried to get the ball from me, but I kept it out of his reach.

"Hey, Sora, what's up?" I greeted warmly. "Stop it, Axel!" I told him, and he kept doing it until I paused and dropped the ball. The news Sora just said in the most broken of voices turned my blood to ice.

"Roxas?" Axel asked, worried, as he put a hand on my shoulder. I opened my mouth and stared blankly past Axel into nothingness as I screamed inside.

"Yuffie's… dead."

Ok, I know you people probably hate me now, but just keep all angry words to yourself please. It helps with the development of the story I promise!