When Riku woke back up, Axel was nowhere in sight. The sneezing President sat up slowly, finding a Post-It note on his nightstand.

"Prez, I'm sorry I got you sick, I hope you get better soon. I wanted to stay with you, but duty calls. Here is a bottle of Marluxia's remedy, which healed me in just a couple hours. Take it when you wake up, and take care, Axel." Riku read his note aloud before he sighed.

Riku could only wonder what kind of "duty" Axel was referring to, since there wasn't any campaign work allowed during the week long break. Riku took as much medication as he could stomach, and went on a search for Axel.

He didn't have much of an excuse as to why he went looking. Part of him said that he wanted to indulge an innocent curiosity, while the other part of him said that he just wanted to get out of bed. Whatever his real reason was or wasn't, Riku wandered all over the school grounds with no sign of the redhead. He was about to give up when he remembered the one place he hadn't looked: Axel's dorm. He thought that by 'duties' it'd go without saying that Axel would be somewhere lively, and not his bedroom, but Riku decided to check anyway. With a loud knock, Riku waited before Axel opened the door.

"Prez? What are you doing? You should be in bed." Axel said, surprised.

"I, I can't sleep." Riku lied.

Axel sighed. "Prez, you won't get better if you don't let yourself rest." Axel shook his head, which made Riku feel bad.

"Kay." Riku whispered.

"Come on," Axel opened his door and let Riku inside. "Get in." Axel tossed back the blankets to his bed and helped Riku inside.

"Thanks." Riku smiled as he snuggled up in Axel's bed, loving the fresh scent of shampoo on his pillow.

"Get some sleep, ok?" Axel asked with a small smile as he watched Riku get cozy.

"What, what are you working on?" Riku asked curiously.

"Just some campaign work." Axel sighed. "Believe it or not, I'm even more stressed than you are." Axel admitted with a frown.

"Why?" Riku sat up.

"Cause, you're one tough competitor. I knew it wouldn't be easy to run against you, but I didn't realize that trying to replace the greatest president that this school has ever seen would be so damn hard." Axel looked away.

"I'm sorry." Riku apologized, wondering if perhaps this redhead really could understand him.

"It's alright. I just, I really want to win." Axel smiled. "I'm sure whatever happens, it'll be what this school needs." Axel nodded reassuringly.

"Yeah." Riku smiled.

"Lay down." Axel said, but Riku shook his head.

"I'm not sleepy." Riku said like a small child.

Axel smiled even as he shook his head. "You're sick."

"No I'm not." Riku retorted, again as a child would.

"Prez, please? As the person who won you from the auction, I'm ordering you to sleep." Axel said nervously with a smile. Riku chuckled. Axel…he was funny, especially since he was showing nerves.

"I thought you were giving up that right?" Riku asked with a small smile.

Axel shrugged. "I still have the paper, and no verbal contract was officially made, so I still reserve the right if I wish."

"Alright." Riku blushed, not sure how to argue back, so he laid down, his back to Axel. Within ten minutes, Riku fell asleep, waking up hours later. Riku slowly opened his eyes to see that he had rolled over in his sleep, and he silently watched as Axel worked tediously at his desk.

Riku frowned as Axel had a hand to his head, biting his lip, and his eyes looked drained of energy and life as he struggled to sit up.

Riku felt bad; he had thought that all along, Axel was partying and taking life as a joke and still able to run a campaign. He was wrong. Axel was just as stressed as he was, and he was working just as hard and was still able to be confident, optimistic, and lively. He was all the things that Riku was currently failing at.

"Axel?" Riku called in a low voice.

"Hm?" Axel straightened up and looked over. "Hey Prez." Axel flashed a tired smile.

"You need to sleep." Riku shared his opinion. Axel smiled sadly and shook his head.

"I have more work to do."

"You need sleep." Riku repeated as Axel considered.

"Later, ok?" Axel asked, not looking for an answer as he returned to his work.

In a concern for Axel's health, Riku sat up.

"As, as President, I, I command you to stop working and sleep." Riku ordered with a shaking voice. Axel chuckled as he shook his head lightly.

"You what?"

"I'm ordering you to sleep, now. As president, I'm responsible for the health of my students. Sleep." Riku said again with more control.

Axel bit his lip. "You know, that, that's really," Axel paused. "Thoughtful." Axel stood up, stretched, and kicked off his shoes before Riku scooted over in his bed. "Thank you." Axel said as he laid down next to Riku.

Riku wanted to hold Axel, he wanted to be held in return, but he didn't know how to go about it.

"You're welcome."

"Just a thirty minute nap, ok?" Axel said, mainly to himself.

"Alright."

It went quiet for a while before Axel cleared his throat.

"By the way, when I said that what you did was thoughtful, well, what I meant was…you ordering me like that," Axel hesitated. "I think it's really… hot." Axel blushed, thankful that Riku couldn't see it just as Riku did and thought the same, his cheeks red.

"Oh." Riku gulped. The temptation to reach over and grab Axel was so hard to resist, but he couldn't risk looking so malleable in his emotions, even if he could actually blame his true exhaustion and illness.

"Night Prez." Axel said as Riku fell back asleep, his sick body trying to rest, even after Axel woke up and returned to work.

Axel finished around four in the morning, while Riku remained asleep in his bed. Riku did wake up when he heard Axel searching for his sleep clothes in his drawers. Riku opened his eyes quietly as he watched Axel change quickly. Riku put a hand over his mouth as he secretly watched, and when Axel finished, he pretended to fall back asleep. Riku waited for Axel to climb back in bed with him, but even as he heard Axel move around in his dorm and turn off the lights, he didn't feel Axel get on the bed.

Riku waited five whole minutes before he opened his eyes, not seeing the redhead anywhere.

Riku wondered where he had run off to, but shook his head before his sick body called him back to sleep.

When the silverrete woke up later that morning, he sat up slowly, hearing faint snoring. Riku looked around, unable to see the source until he looked down.

Axel was asleep on his floor, his body huddled without any blankets or even a pillow, for which Axel substituted with his own arm.

Riku looked at Axel's body with confusion, wondering why the redhead would chose to sleep cold and uncomfortable when he easily could have slept in his own bed.

Riku kicked off the blankets and quietly got off the bed, kneeling by Axel. Axel's body looked so peaceful as he laid, curled up and breathing so deeply from the exhaustion of a long night. Riku smiled as he slipped an arm under Axel's knees and another hand under his side, lifting him up onto his bed. Axel was lighter than Riku had anticipated, especially for his height. Riku tucked Axel in, blankets and all, as Axel smiled in his sleep.

Riku left quietly and returned to his own campaign, feeling somewhat guilty about it especially since Axel looked so stressed when mentioning the campaign.

After a few hours of working alone in his office, Sora showed up.

"Hey Riku. Are you feeling any better?" Sora asked cheerfully.

"Yes, much better, thank you. How are you doing?" Riku asked and Sora smiled.

"Great! I'm ready to work!" Sora fisted an open palm as he and Riku continued to work more on their campaign.

"Did you tell Xaldin about catering?" Riku asked Sora, who thought.

"Do you want catering for the game?"

"I was thinking, what if…what if we hosted a dance the night before, to kick off the game?" Riku asked and Sora brightened up.

"Riku that's perfect!" Sora beamed with happiness.

"I knew you'd love it." Riku shook his head with a smile.

"Of course I do! Oh I love dancing with Roxy. And everyone will look so cute and happy. I think it's a great idea. I'll get Xaldin to prepare a menu for the caterers." Sora nodded as he jotted down some notes.

"Thanks." Riku smiled at Sora's enthusiasm.

"Hello?" Axel knocked on Riku's office door.

"Come in." Riku said as Axel and Roxas slipped in.

"Roxy!" Sora stood up. "Can I hug him Riku?" Sora asked and Riku nodded with a laugh.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Well, we are on opposite campaigns." Roxas shrugged.

"Go ahead." Riku shook his head playfully.

"I love you." Sora hugged Roxas tightly.

"I love you too baby. I missed you." Roxas kissed Sora's lips softly, pulling on the pink with his own lips. Sora blushed deeply before Roxas made out with him.

"You two act like we never let you hang out." Axel chuckled.

"Well by the time that we both finish working, one of us is already asleep. Once we wake up, it's either work, class, or soccer practice." Roxas argued.

"Yeah!" Sora echoed as Roxas laughed.

"You're too cute." Roxas shook his head before he kissed Sora again.

"Anyway," Axel cleared his throat as he walked up to Riku. "Thank you for moving me to my bed." Axel whispered as Riku nodded.

"Thank you for letting me rest properly." Riku responded, trying to hide his nerves with a professional front.

"Yeah. Well, we uh, we came here to pitch an idea." Axel tried to smile.

"What it is?" Riku asked, suspicious by the weird grin on Axel's face.

"You should sit down." Axel said as he sat in the chair across from Riku's desk.

"Uh-oh." Sora said, noticing the way that Roxas held onto him with extra force.

"Let's just sit here." Roxas said as he and Sora sat on the two man couch in Riku's office.

"What is it?" Riku sighed, feeling intimidated by the serious tension in the room.

"Well, Roxas and I were thinking, maybe, maybe we could join sides." Axel winced but Riku automatically shook his head.

"No."

"But, think about it Prez. I have way more connections that you do. I could easily win this thing."

"Just last night you said that you were stressed!" Riku argued.

"I was just faking it, to make you feel better. Honestly, I could win this with my eyes closed." Axel shrugged.

"Then why don't you?" Riku asked, angry, livid. Why would Axel lie to him? How dare he! What was last night? Was it some kind of trap to get Riku to work harder? To make him worry for nothing?

"Because I'm trying to help you. If we combine forces I'll let you be my vice president."

"Now why would you do that?" Riku asked, suspicious.

"Cause I think you're a great leader."

"Then why won't you just let me do my job in peace?" Riku was tired of these circles.

"Because I think I can do a better job." Axel shrugged lightly.

Riku glared angrily into the jade eyes. "Get out."

"But," Axel sat up.

"Out!" Riku pointed to the door. Axel sighed and shook his head, standing up.

"Prez, please." Axel begged.

"Get out now!" Riku shouted as Roxas let go of Sora.

"If you change your mind," Axel started quietly.

"I won't." Riku said firmly.

"Bye Sora." Roxas whispered as he and Axel left, closing the door on their way out.

Riku sighed, angry, confused, and hurt. He, he thought that he had gotten closer to Axel. He felt like the two had really connected. All along, had it been a joke? Was it all part of some plan? That's what it was! It had to have been. Axel probably used that first shower prank to test Riku's gullibility, and now that he knew, Axel tricked him into being close with all those complements and fake caring. All along, he just wanted to steal Riku's job. All this went through Riku's head as he sat down, his head in his hands.

"Are you ok?" Sora asked, scared of Riku's anger.

"Yeah. I just, I thought that he was being nice before, but now I see that he was just playing me. I'm, I'm sorry that I yelled." Riku said, but Sora shrugged it off.

"It's ok. So, back to the dance?" Sora tried to change the subject to forget all the negative energy that he hated being around.

"Yes, the dance," Riku began as the two picked up where they left off.

For the next two days, Riku stayed focus on preparing the school dance with Sora's help. He saw Axel in the dinning commons a couple times, but said absolutely nothing. As far as he was concerned, Axel was as a stranger. That all had to change the next day of soccer practice as the two captains were early in the locker room to prep.

"Look I know you're mad at me but for the sake of the team, let's try to move past this." Axel proposed, but Riku ignored him. "Really? How long are you going to ignore me?" Axel questioned.

Riku remained quiet as Axel pressed on.

"Prez, please, I miss you." Axel said sorrowfully.

"Quit your lying." Riku huffed.

"I'm not lying! Prez, I, I really do miss you." Axel voice sounded honest, but Riku couldn't help but be skeptical.

"Whatever." Riku sighed.

"Prez, please, forgive me? I hate knowing that you're mad at me." Axel asked, going on his knees.

"Just, get up," Riku said, feeling uncomfortable as Axel bowed his head.

"I'll do anything to make you happy."

"Then get up." Riku repeated as Axel climbed to his feet.

"Anything you wish."

"Fine. I agree, for our team, we shouldn't be fighting. But I'm warning you Axel! If you ask me one more time to quit my campaign, I'll never speak to you again!" Riku pointed a stiff finger at Axel, who nodded.

"I understand. You shant hear me ask again." Axel promised.

"Good." Riku cleared his throat.

"Can I hug you?" Axel asked, and Riku couldn't help but consider. True he had missed the warmth of the redhead's hands, so he nodded as Axel grinned. "I really did miss you." Axel rubbed Riku's back.

"I, I," Riku started but felt his words melt out of his mouth as his jaw lowered, thankful that Axel couldn't see due to the embrace. Riku inhaled deeply, loving the soft touch and relaxing heat.

"Me too," Axel mocked playfully as he squeezed.

"Eh," Riku grunted as Axel chuckled.

"You really are just too damn cute." Axel broke the hug. "Thank you for your mercy." Axel bowed lightly before he left to set up the field for the day's drills.

Riku stood, his heart sick of all the changes, but loving all the attention. Riku had never come out before, so he never had a boyfriend, and since he was gay, he never had a girlfriend either. To have someone notice him and care, it meant more than he was used to expressing.

The practice session went by quickly and fiercely as the boys all worked on conditioning as Axel led them on a five mile run.

"I'm so tired." Roxas fell to his knees when the entire team returned to the end-mark.

"We made great time." Hayner acknowledged as he gasped.

"Good run boys; see you tomorrow." Axel dismissed them as he returned back to the locker room. Riku stayed late, hoping to get the showers once everyone had finished. Of course, once the silverrete worked up the courage to undress with just a towel around his hips and his shower caddy in hand, he discovered that he wasn't alone.

Author's Note: Hmm, who could possibly be in the shower with Riku? O.o Predictions? Guesses? Let's hear what you think!

To Rikuobsession: I'm glad that you liked the last chapter! Yes, Axel did deserve something for his mean prank, but I can't say that I blame him for it ;) lol. Hahaha, naked Sora and Roxas?...just be patient ;) lol. Awww, you have no idea how awesome it is to get such amazing feedback so consistently! I'm really happy that my updates can make your day, because I love getting emails that I have a new review! Wow, well you seem totally upbeat over your reviews, and knowing that my stories can contribute to that means so very much ^_^ Awww, that's such a sweet compliment. I have a never ending list of stories to write, but I do hope to produce more Akuriku somewhere in the midst of Akuroku and Soriku ^_^ Really? I'm glad to hear that. I don't read fanfic anymore, but when I used to (before I started posting) I always skipped over it so I assume that people do the same lol. Also, I tend to ramble, damn you ADHD, so yeah, I feel like I need to shut up sometimes lol. I mean, I have a bf. We haven't been together all that long so we aren't at the "I love you" stage (I don't say it just because I'm dating someone, I have to wait until it comes out, and even then sometimes I hold it back, just to be sure) but personally, I don't think it exists, not the way we think it does at least. Oh well, time will tell what's "real" or not. No, no need to apologize. As you can see, I'm a professional rambler myself =) Thank you for talking with me ^_^

To Kindofabadger: I used to believe in love. I had the total, dream fairy tale relationship for a year and a half where everything was literally perfect. But alas, 2 years after that ended, I'm still wondering what "love" really is, which is funny to me considering I write about it every day in these stories lol. I do like my bf, a lot, so we'll see. No need to apologize! That's the plan: slow blow after blow, cracking that hard shell of Riku's lol. I'm super impatient too! I actually feel like my stories move way too fast, but I cant ever tell because reading it and writing it are completely different! Oh well, I just write what comes up with the time and energy I have or don't have and it seems to be working enough so far . lol Thank you for the review, as always.

To KidaKama: Hahaha, do I? If it looks like I have something planned, then good! That's the plan, to look like I have a plan . I usually do have a plan, actually, but there are times when I just start writing and eventually after enough gets done, then a plan emerges on its own. Sometimes I write knowing where I want to go, but not sure how I get there, and other times I have the path but no destination. It depends what the "Writing gods from above" grant me for the day :P lol jk. It's more like whatever I have the time or energy for Hahaha. Aww, I'm glad that you love the epic cuteness ^_^

To ZeltaFrost: I believe in compatibility, where two people feel like they are "in love" but really, they just work together. I don't believe that there is "one for all of us, and just the one". I think there are "groups" that are categorical that our personalities, characteristics, hobbies, backgrounds, etc all factor into, which we are associated with, and that group is compatible with some groups, and not so much with other groups. I don't know, I'm not sure if I "REALLY" believe it, or if I'm just still struggling and am using this more rational method to define something so intangible. Thank you for listening to me rant lol. And awwwwww, I love you too XD No, Axel wasn't naked….not yet ;) lol jk jk. Lol, we all are entitled to have our fangirl moments, don't worry! Hahaha, Karma is a bitch lol. Lol, Riku has my sympathy, but I HATE those types of characters. It's so frustrating to just sit here and be like "spit it out Riku! Tell him you love him dammit!" but I'm kind of hypocritical because that's what I'm currently doing to all of you lol. Love you Love you too ^_^

To RoxasVentusHikari: Thank you for the review! Yeaaaah, about that confession from Riku….keep waiting ;) lol. Hahaha, you are so good at this prediction thing, but you'll have to read it to see exactly what happens, cause you're missing some pretty big stuff XD Thank you so much for reviewing, you have no idea how much I love getting the emails that you've commented on one of my stories ^_^

Thank you everyone for reading and for reviewing!

PLEASE check out my Deviant Art for pictures of ME COSPLAYING AS SORA and Kairi from KH2! The link to my DA can be found on my Profile Page here on Fanfic!

Don't forget about my two other stories that are currently being updated as well: A Taste of Loneliness, and No More Broken Pieces!

Heart, Sarabellum