Thanks for the reviews!

Disclaimer : The characters belong to Kingdom Hearts, Square-Enix, all that jazz. The plot belongs to Jay Chou (most of it, at least).

-sigh- I just love the both of them together...

Secret : Chapter 6

Axel fidgeted in his seat, listening in amusement as he watched a fellow classmate play on the flute accompanied by another piano player. It was his second period and he couldn't wait for the bell to ring so that he could go find Roxas. The blond hadn't appeared during first period. Though Axel should have been used to it by now, he still couldn't help but wonder where Roxas went during those seemingly random disappearances.

"Now, let's have a piano major come up and demonstrate," said the teacher. "How about you, Demyx?"

There was no answer. Everyone turned to Demyx.

"Demyx?"

"Um, yes s-sir?" said Demyx, who'd been jolted out of his stupor by someone poking him at his side. Most of the students around him sniggered. They knew perfectly well who he was staring at.

"Never mind," said the teacher, sighing at the lack of attention. "How about you, Axel?"

Axel got up wordlessly and played. He should have been more perceptive, but he was only preoccupied with Roxas; Roxas who was his maybe-kinda-boyfriend, because they hadn't really made it clear to each other yet.

He should have noticed Demyx's staring.

He should have noticed a lot of things…

He should have seen it coming...

After class, he hung back impatiently as the teacher commented about a hastily and poorly done assignment. He was one of the last few to leave the class. As he was heading for his locker, he got distracted by Sora, who shouted at him from across the hall, startling him and all the students around him.

"AXEL! AXEL! WANNA SHOOT SOME HOOPS LATER?" he yelled, grinning and waving madly. Riku was behind him, groaning and shaking the brunet.

"NO, NOT TODAY!" Axel had yelled back in annoyance. And then Leon had came out from one of the classrooms and proceeded to berate him for yelling. Sora, the little bugger, had run off, along with the rest of the students, leaving Axel to take the blame.

Grumbling and cursing all brunets in the world, he finally reached his locker.

"Hey," said Demyx, suddenly appearing in his line of sight.

"Hi," he replied back, fiddling with the combination lock.

"Um, could you ... send me home today?"

Axel blinked, at a loss for words. He gaped at Demyx, imitating a goldfish for about a few seconds.

"You know ... on your bike," said Demyx, making riding motions with his hands.

"I... er... I... ah... um. I – " said Axel incoherently.

"It's okay," said Demyx hurriedly, walking away in embarrassment. "I was joking. Bye."

Scratching his head, Axel sighed. And then the door of the empty classroom he was standing outside suddenly opened, startling him. A head poked out, blue eyes glinting with mischief as he locked gazes with Axel.

"Hey, can you send me home today?" mocked Roxas, imitating Demyx's hand motions.

"Of course," replied Axel, smirking. He bent his body a little bit, as though sitting on an imaginary bicycle and held out his arms in front of him. "Hop on."

Roxas came out of the classroom and pushed him lightly. "Flirt."

"What? I didn't even say anything," cried Axel indignantly. "And, hmmmmmmmm, someone skipped class today."

"Really? Who?"

Rolling his eyes, Axel sighed. "Fine... Keep your stupid secrets. Anyway, let's go, I wanna get out of here."

"Don't you have class later?" asked Roxas sceptically. Flexing his arms on the imaginary handlebars, Axel grinned.

"You don't wanna go? I'll cycle ahead and ask Demyx to go with me then," he said, taking a step forward and Roxas scowled. "Coming?"

"Yeah, yeah, smartass," muttered Roxas, holding back a grin as he held onto Axel's waist on the imaginary bicycle.

It was a fun game, Axel decided, running along with Roxas and making sure they weren't caught as they sneaked out of school. Luckily Axel was tall, and he was able to heft Roxas up so that he could climb over, before climbing up the wall himself. Dropping to the ground in silent laughter, they made a run for it.

"So, where to?"

"I don't know. You were the one who wanted to hang out and skip class."

"Roxie..." said Axel, realising something.

"Don't call me that."

"We can't go anywhere without the bike."

"Weren't we riding one just now?" said Roxas, amused. Axel growled at him.

"Hey, no big deal. Let's just walk around nearby until the bell rings and then we'll go back and get your bike..."

"Hmm, good idea. We can figure out what we want to do later in the meantime..."

Holding his breath, he grabbed Roxas's hand and began to tug him away from the school. Roxas's hand was so small. He waited for some kind of sign that showed Roxas wasn't comfortable...until he felt Roxas gently squeeze back. Grinning madly, he let their arms sway as they walked around the neighbourhood behind the school.

"So, Roxas... tell me more about your brother," said Axel, stuffing his free hand into his pocket.

"Mmm... he's blond, like me. His hair is spiked... like me."

"Natural?"

"Mine's natural too, you know..." said the blond, patting his spikes with his other hand.

"Wow. Does he look like you?"

"Kinda, I suppose. I mean, we're brothers after all. He's taller, though," said Roxas, scowling.

"Name?" said Axel, choosing wisely not to comment on Roxas's lack of height.

"Cloud."

"Cloud? Like, fluffy clouds in the sky?" asked Axel, pointing up. Chuckling, Roxas nodded.

"Yeah. He's... eight years older than me."

"Wow. Reno's about seven years older. Never thought we'd be so alike," said Axel thoughtfully.

"Parents?"

"Not there," said Roxas.

"Yeah, same here..."

Axel didn't press the issue. He wanted to know if Roxas's parents were just gone, like his, or if he meant something else by it.

"What's your brother's name?"

"Reno."

Roxas stopped suddenly. He had an odd look on his face. Axel cringed, knowing what Roxas thought.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Reno Sinclair... I don't like people to know about it because I hate being connected to a teacher, but most people see the red hair and make connections themselves..."

"Don't worry," promised Roxas, still with that odd voice, like he knew something Axel didn't. "I won't tell anyone if they ask."

"Thanks, Roxie," cooed Axel, patting his blond spikes.

"Let's go to the pier," said Roxas. "It's just near my house..."

"Sure," said Axel, and they headed back to school to get his bike.

The late afternoon sun was beautiful as a backdrop to Roxas's features, Axel thought, as he stared the little blond in front of him. It wasn't sundown yet, so everything wasn't painted in a dark orange glow, but Axel thought the view was amazing. Roxas seemed to shine to his eyes.

"Whatcha looking at?" asked Roxas, turning around to stare at the redhead.

"Secret."

"Stop it!" huffed Roxas, annoyed. Axel chuckled.

"Sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all.

They went to sit on a bench, close to each other, watching the sea sparkle and glimmer under the sun's light. There was a breeze blowing at their hair gently, but all Axel could feel was the warm body pressed to his side.

"Wanna hear a secret?" said Roxas softly.

"Finally!" said Axel, lifting up his arms to the sky in thanks. Roxas whacked him hard.

"I..." said Roxas, biting his lip. Axel whipped around to stare at him, heart pounding fast. There was an awkward pause as Roxas tried to say the words.

Is he going to say what I think he's going to say...? thought Axel, his grip on the blond's hand tightening.

"I – counted."

"What?" said Axel, completely thrown by the random statement.

"I counted... exactly 108 steps from the piano classroom we met to room 138," said Roxas, smiling slightly.

"What kind of nonsense secret is that?" grumbled Axel in disappointment. "I was expecting to hear something life-changing."

"Maybe you will," said Roxas quietly.

They sat in silence for awhile, holding hands, just relaxing in the comfort of each other.

"You know... I never see you hanging around with other people."

"I guess I don't have many friends."

"Why not?" said Axel, looking scandalised.

"No one likes me, I suppose," replied Roxas, seemingly unperturbed by this fact.

"No way," Axel said incredulously. "You're so likable. So adorable too," he cooed, pinching Roxas's cheek.

"Stop it," growled Roxas, batting the offending hand away.

"Well, I like you," declared Axel proudly, grinning at the blond. Roxas managed a small smile back.

"Really?"

"Definitely."

"Not...Demyx?"

"Definitely not," said Axel, horrified. Roxas leaned closer then, a smug smile on his lips.

"I like you too," he whispered back shyly, and Axel claimed his lips in a kiss that took his breath away.

TBC

THEY'RE KISSING!! Lol.

Enjoy the happy moments while it lasts -snerk-

Please review? :)