Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters...for a bajillionth time.

A/N: Happy birthday to my precious LyS! I still can't believe it's been one year! I'm so proud of my accomplishments! This fan fiction now has over 200 000 words! It's official after this chapter! I have over 150 favourites too! And to top it off, I have over 100 people who have added me to their favourite author's list. So I want to thank you all!

The only goal I haven't reached is my 500 reviews. (hint hint)

All right, I know I said I was going to post two things, but this chapter became extremely long. Originally I was going to post one of the short stories or split this chapter in half, but I didn't have time. My computer literally died the other day, so I've been stressed too. Ah well, long chapter should be enjoyable. This is the longest chapter I have ever written so enjoy it! Oh, and excuse my spelling and grammatical errors…as I have already said, I've been stressed out lately. I'll end up fixing all of my chapters eventually.

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Anonymous Reviews:

Tre Le Coco: I'm really glad you enjoyed the last chapter. The star flashback was unplanned but I was glad it popped into my mind as I wrote! And yes, Namine is gullible, but she's just blinded by power and love for her prince. Actually, brothers and sisters getting married back then was no big deal, especially for royalty. XD

321: Thank you for your kind compliments! I'm glad you find it sweet and, well…perfect. I'm flattered! And yeah…it is unfair that Roxas is separated from Axel. It's totally my fault. XD But I feel bad anyway. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

...…o…O…o…...

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Unexpected

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The warm glow from the sunset had penetrated through the red curtains and spilled into the castle hallways. Several birds flew by and their silhouettes blackened the walls, but only for a few seconds. None of them stopped or landed on a ledge to peek through any of the fluttering curtains. They would have seen nothing but red and white, and a few portraits of former kings and queens hanging on the walls. It was utterly silent; no one was treading along the hallways, which was rather peculiar and very irresponsible of those who kept the castle clean. Servants and maids were to return to their rooms when it was night time, not in the middle of the evening. What if the prince needed someone?

Of course…Axel figured he could be that special someone. He was standing alone at the end of the prince's hallway gazing at the emptiness before him. It was disturbingly quiet and hollow, yet somehow welcoming at the same time. No one could stop Axel from seeing his beloved prince now. Three months of separation was truly unbearable; seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours, and days felt like months. But now was his chance; his golden opportunity. "We will finally be reunited, my love…" Axel began walking towards the room slowly, cautiously, making sure he was the only one present. He was jeopardizing his life at this very moment, and knowing that, his heart pounded rapidly inside his chest, threatening to tear through his ribcage. The king forbade him from seeing Roxas ever again, but he could not stand being so far away. Axel needed to know he was healthy and safe. Even though Demyx and Zexion had tried reassuring him countless times, it just was not the same as witnessing it with his own two eyes.

As he drew closer towards the desired location, the rate of his heartbeat sped up, if that was even possible, and his palms became sweaty. Every few seconds he found himself swallowing a thick lump in his throat. What was he going to say to his precious prince? They secretly sent letters to one another and kept in touch, but was Axel truly at a loss for words?

The servant shook off his negative thoughts when he found himself standing in front of Roxas' bedroom door. He took in a deep breath and then exhaled in an attempt to relax his tense muscles. He couldn't help but feel anxious and eager at the same time. "I do hope he is not outside at the moment…" Slowly the man pushed a shaky arm forward, his slender fingers stretching towards the bronze handle, his heart pleading for it to be unlocked. Seconds later, he pressed his thumb down on it, and to his relief he heard a click. It was not locked.

Axel poked his head into the room carefully, making sure he did not frighten the prince if he was actually inside. The servant's emerald eyes scanned the familiar room carefully and he was pleased that nothing had changed over the past three months. The scent was even the same as it was before the redhead was stripped of his position. It was welcoming. He tiptoed into Roxas' room and slowly closed the door behind him so no one would know he was there. "I made it…" The moment Axel turned his head he found the prince gaping at him from his favourite window seat. They stared at one another with wide eyes, emerald green to ocean blue, and ocean blue to emerald. Neither of them dared to blink, fearing the image in front of them would vanish. "Ax…el?" the prince whispered with a dry mouth as he stood up from his cushiony seat.

Said man closed his mouth and nodded as he swallowed. He almost could not contain the feelings of joy and relief inside of him when he heard his lover's sweet, innocent voice. "Yes," Axel whispered, suppressing his tears. Instead of having Roxas walk to him, he started walking towards Roxas. "I-I missed you…everyday—every minute!" Before the prince could even respond, Axel pulled him into a warm, comforting hug. The man missed holding the boy in his arms, and everyday he wondered if the prince grew. Embracing him would have been awkward if he was much taller…

Wait…why wasn't Roxas hugging back? Why wasn't he nuzzling into his servant's welcoming chest, silently begging for more attention?

Perhaps he was just frozen from disbelief. Axel would have accepted that and joked about it later. "H-how…? Why are you here?" the prince wondered aloud, his mind still in a state of shock. The redhead had been absent for three months straight, but Roxas couldn't believe his eyes and ears.

Axel pushed away and knelt down so that his right knee was resting against the carpeted floor. "I needed to see you again, Roxas." After lifting prince's hand, the redhead gave the back of it a tender kiss, indicating that he was still loyal even after those three months. But when he looked up he found a sad expression painted on the prince's face. Quickly, the servant stood up from the floor and caressed his lover's cheek with a few fingers. Axel had a powerful urge to press his lips against Roxas', but it wouldn't have been right, seeing how the boy was troubled. "Is something bothering you, Roxas?" he asked with concern lacing his voice.

The prince averted his servant's intense gaze. There was shame and guilt written all over his face, and it made Axel's stomach churn. "I—we cannot be together, Axel."

Those words echoed into the man's ears in a painful manner, forcing him to cringe. However, his fingers tightened around Roxas' hand, which silently stated that he was not willing to let go or give up so easily. "H-how could you possibly say such a thing…after all we have been through?" he tried with a soft voice.

"Three months, Axel…" Roxas began with a trembling voice, his glazed eyes filled with nothing but worry. "I have gone three months without being held by you. Each day felt agonizing. Each day I felt as though a dagger had pierced my heart…when I knew you would not come to me." Axel was left speechless, and guilt and shame almost made him look away from those beautiful blue eyes. He wasn't even a horrible servant anymore. He was simply a horrible, neglectful lover. "When was the last time you tried to see me?" the prince whispered brokenly as he clutched onto the redhead's sleeve, pleading for an answer. "Do you…even truly love me anymore?"

With determination pumping in his blood, Axel straightened his posture and cleared his throat with a cough. He felt like a dim-witted man for ever giving Roxas doubts. Axel had to explain everything to prove that he still loved his prince, even after being separated for such a long period of time. "I thought about you everyday—I wanted to write to you everyday, but some days were more tiring than others. His majesty had many tasks for the servants and maids. I was not allowed to disappoint him or else I would be punished. I grew exhausted every week but I always found time at night to gaze at the castle…I even arranged for a single hour of freedom today in hopes of embracing you just once. Please believe me, Roxas. You are still the most precious person in my life." There was silence lingering in the air now. The prince stood there, staring into his servant's eyes, searching for honesty. And it was there. But Roxas could not bring himself to smile even though he was flattered that Axel escaped the lower levels of the castle just to see him. Before he knew it, the redhead had tilted his chin up with a single finger and leaned forward, but he did not connect their lips as Roxas had anticipated. With a pause, the prince was sure Axel was requesting permission first. Slowly, Roxas elevated his heels, closed his eyes and kissed the redhead, though his mind was still filled with conflict. He needed to confirm something.

Axel kissed his prince as he would normally, but something was peculiar, and the atmosphere wasn't even near romantic. Sensing this, he pulled away and investigated Roxas' eyes with his own. "My apologies…I should have restrained myself, Axel." Hearing such words hurt the man's heart. Did his prince not want a simple kiss?

The next set of words that escaped the boy's lips nearly petrified Axel, though. They were painful to hear and he silently prayed that he misheard Roxas' words. "I did not know how to explain it to you in a letter—I did not want to hurt you. But…I…I cannot betray Naminé. I love her."

Axel suddenly needed water; his mouth was dry and his words were jammed in his throat. He could hear the thudding sound of his heartbeat in his ears, and he mentally noted that it was a painful thing that no one should ever experience. "She…she was always by my side when you were gone," Roxas explained, while fiddling his fingers anxiously. "Naminé was there to comfort me and she eventually found a way to make me smile everyday. I always thought that you would return to prove that you were much better than her…as you did before. I waited and pleaded for your presence even during the night. But I finally surrendered my heart to her the moment spring came. All of my hope had wilted away."

The servant wanted to shed tears. He shook his head vigorously, trying his best to deny his loss. Roxas was his, wasn't he? His kind and gentle prince had been swept away by a young woman. It wasn't fair. The pain in Axel's heart was utterly excruciating. "Roxas…I tried! I truly wanted to break free from the lower levels of the castle! I worked hard for us! Please…"

The prince could not bear seeing his former lover suffer. Even his own heart was experiencing familiar pain. "Please leave, Axel. I cannot do this again. I hurt her before…please."

No, the redhead refused to surrender so quickly. They had a bond. They loved one another, made promises, and shared laughs and special moments together. Axel did not want to ever forget those moments, and he wanted to create more memories as well. He couldn't do anything for three months because he was trapped. Even in the lower levels of the castle he thought about ways to show Roxas new things, but he could never do them. "Roxas, I beg your forgiveness. I—"

The prince shook his head rapidly and covered his ears, refusing to hear the redhead's reason. Tears of remorse had finally spilled out of his eyes. "You have caused me too much pain, Axel. I believed in you for an entire season, but you shattered my heart! Please, just leave before I summon the guards." He took several steps back, drifting further and further away from his former lover. He could not stand anymore pain.

But Axel reached his arms out and grabbed Roxas' shoulders, denying his command. He did not care if the guards came. Axel still needed to at least try. "Please, Roxas, you must be more understanding. Please…please…"

"Axel—Axel are you all right?" Another voice had called out to him, but he rejected it, fearing the fact that he may lose the prince forever. "Good lord, Axel, wake up!" Wait…wake up? The redhead blinked several times and found himself staring up at a blurry figure with blond hair.

"Roxas…please forgive me," Axel murmured sluggishly, right before he earned a slap across the head. He winced and yelped, and nearly bolted up from his bed when he saw Demyx hovering over him. Axel's hands were clutching onto the musician's shoulders for dear life, as they were on Roxas' in his dream. But Demyx and Axel were so close, they could have kissed. After releasing a surprised shout, the servant relinquished his friend's shoulders and shifted away, panting softly. His body was covered in a coat of sweat, making parts of his sleeping garment stick to his skin. Carefully, he sat up and leaned against the headboard of his bed, recalling his nightmare. What a terrible thing it was…

"What in the world were you dreaming about?" Demyx inquired with wide eyes, both drowning in concern. He sat on the edge of his friend's bed and opened his ears, patiently waiting for a response.

They were silent for a moment so Axel could recollect his thoughts and relax. All the images in his dream kept coming back; the rejection, the sad expression on Roxas' face, and his love for Naminé. Shivers journeyed up the man's spine as he bunched his fingers in his blanket. Did all of his hard work suddenly go to waste? Three months apart…what if Roxas really did fall in love with his fiancée?

"Axel, Demyx, breakfast is almost ready," Zexion informed as he peeked into the room from the top of the stairs. Gale panted energetically as he dashed passed by his master's leg; he wanted to greet Axel for the morning. "Gale!" the scholar hissed, waving his towel around in an attempt to capture the dog's attention. But the pup just hopped onto the bed and licked Axel's hand. There was no reaction though. The redhead just sat there and stared down at his blanket, his mind still contaminated with depressing thoughts.

After heaving a sigh, Demyx stood up from the bed and tapped Gale's head. "Come, Gale. You mustn't bother him." The pup whined and bowed his head sadly before hopping onto the floor. "Axel, if there is something troubling you, please feel free to speak to us about it." With that said, the musician left the room to help set up the breakfast table for Zexion. Gale followed seconds later.

Truthfully, the silence was comforting to Axe. He needed to be alone for a few minutes so he could ease his tense muscles. "It is true; lately I have not done anything to prove that I still love him." Perhaps the dream was his wake-up call. Even though he was distracted by work in the lower levels of the castle, he could have asked Demyx and Zexion to assist him any time. Neither of them minded at all, from what he knew at least. The man finally left his bed after he let a sigh escape his lips. Using the sleeve of his garment, he wiped the sweat off his forehead and face. "Such a mess…" And before he changed into his servant attire, he gazed out his window to watch the sun rise from the ocean behind the castle.

...…o…O…o…...

"You stepped into his room to wake him for the morning and…he suddenly snatched your shoulders?" Zexion cocked his visible eyebrow as he rested an arm on the kitchen table. The story he just heard from Demyx was rather unique but very unusual at the same time. He simply could not imagine Axel writhing in his bed, pleading for forgiveness from the young prince. The man was practically bathed in sweat when he woke up. "Did he manage to capture your lips?" Zexion asked his face slightly pink. Suddenly the man took interest in the steamy bowl of oatmeal he cooked up just minutes ago.

Demyx nearly laughed at the fact that Zexion could not even make eye contact with him. "Would you be jealous if that were the case?" he questioned with a smooth, but playful voice, earning a scowl from his lover.

"Good morning," Axel greeted quietly as he entered the small kitchen, interrupting Demyx and Zexion's conversation. He seemed to be in better shape after cleansing his face and slicking his hair back, but there was no smile present on his lips. It was evident that he was still troubled by his dream…or a nightmare as Demyx would have called it. Axel slumped into a chair and began stirring the contents in his bowl. The steam from his food embraced his face, but he chose not to care.

"How are you feeling?" the musician ventured cautiously, while lifting up a spoonful of oatmeal. Zexion eyed them both carefully as he gulped down some water. He wasn't completely sure about what had happened earlier since Demyx could not finish telling the story, but he showed interest.

The servant continued stirring his food and no answer came out of him. His mind was trapped in what seemed like another world, far from reality. The scholar snapped his fingers to catch Axel's attention, and to his relief he was successful. "I beg your pardon?" Axel asked as he sat up straight in his seat.

"Well, that certainly answered my question…" Demyx murmured, right before he put the spoon in his mouth.

"Do speak to us. What is on your mind?" Zexion asked bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest.

The man heaved a sigh as he abandoned his spoon. Axel had no appetite at the moment, but it was necessary for him to eat because he was going to be working in the castle all day. Still, he was very troubled. Food was not exactly edible at the moment. "This…may seem like a ridiculous question…" Axel began with a quiet voice, shifting his eyes around nervously. The two men nodded at the warning and paid close attention to his awkward movements. "Does…does Roxas still love me?"

Demyx and Zexion both blinked in disbelief—shocked that Axel had doubts because it was very unlike him. The room was suddenly swallowed up in silence, making the servant look down at the kitchen table shamefully. He needed to avert their gazes in order to remain calm. "They must think badly of me now…"

"Of course he still loves you," the scholar stated firmly, slapping the table with his hand. Axel's ears perked up and he immediately offered his attention to Zexion. "He asks about you everyday and often worries about your wellbeing. You wonder if he still loves you or not, yet you two send letters to one another every week. Does that mean nothing to you?"

Of course it meant something to Axel, but all he did was send letters to Roxas. Just letters and nothing else. He rarely had time to explore the market for goods and he returned home exhausted every night, ready to sleep without dinner. Carrying boxes for young maids was what Axel did often, even though he was busy with his own work. Sometimes the women seemed to be tipping over because they were not strong enough to hold the large boxes for long. How cruel of the king to force women into doing such painful tasks.

Axel was clearly a gentleman so he assisted them whenever he could. But most of his work included carrying heavy boxes of papers or goods, and sometimes he re-wrote letters from commoners because the ink started fading. The lower levels of the castle were quite dark since there was practically no sunlight. Rooms were either lit up by candles or small lamps, but that was it. Even in the dark, the redhead always thought about his prince. He wanted to find ways to make the boy smile again, but whenever he did, he felt his heart drop into his stomach. When would he ever find the time to show Roxas anything?

"I may not understand your dream completely," Zexion stated, shattering Axel's depressing thoughts immediately. "But he does love you and he is waiting for you as well."

"Waiting?" The servant echoed the word and arched his eyebrows, curiosity filling his mind.

Demyx nodded cheerfully as he pushed his chair out and stood up to go place his bowl into a pool of water. "We can even see it in his eyes. Roxas is waiting for you to show him something special again. That is what you always did for him. Surely you can think of a way to amaze the young prince."

Axel coughed into his fist nervously and made an effort to ignore Zexion and Demyx's strange looks. "I-I did have something planned two weeks ago, how-however, I haven't found the time to set it up." It was partially true though. His body ached every other day and sometimes he wouldn't get enough sleep because he returned home late into the night.

The musician gasped as he whirled his body around, making Axel flinch in his seat. "You waited a bloody fortnight to tell us this? We could have assisted you any time." Zexion nodded in agreement from across the table.

Warmth suddenly travelled up the servant's cheeks. Really, he wanted to do something for Roxas without anyone else's help, simply because he wanted to impress the boy. Axel didn't want to admit that though. But he still felt the need to show Roxas something special some time soon. "Spring is a beautiful season. It is the perfect opportunity." Slowly the man bobbed his head and decided to accept their offer. "I would appreciate your help," he murmured.

A triumphant grin danced across the musician's lips. He walked over to Axel gave him a congratulatory pat on the back. "You can depend on us! Now then, when shall we do this?"

...…o…O…o…...

It was a beautiful morning and the prince's bedroom was graced with bright sunlight. The curtains were pushed apart so the gentle breeze made them flutter gracefully. Unfortunately for Roxas it was an uneventful day. He sat on his favourite window seat and stared up at the sky, mesmerized by the drifting clouds. "How much longer must we wait, Axel?" That was what Roxas asked himself every single day. Hope had never faded, but his heart did feel excruciating pain at times.

Once during winter, the prince was with his two cousins outside celebrating a special snow festival that occurred once each year. Riku had informed him that Axel was assisting the other maids and servants in setting up, so the prince felt hope rising inside and a warm smile spread across his lips. "Perhaps I could say hello to him…" While Sora had distracted his sister, Roxas silently thanked him and ran off to search for his beloved servant. However, Larxene…Oh, Larxene…that wretched personal maid of Naminé's was literally clinging onto Axel's arm while he was carrying boxes over to a particular area. The prince felt nothing but pain and jealousy inside when he saw how cheerful Larxene was, and how Axel was smiling back at her. Without even thinking the prince hid behind a tree. Roxas wanted to run over to them and interfere by pushing their bodies apart, but that would have jeopardized Axel's position, and Larxene would have reported him to Naminé. The urge inside of him was so powerful though, and he hated the feeling of being so close, yet so far at the same time.

His lips parted so he could call out to Axel, but he had to prevent words from escaping. "I cannot…" But he truly wanted to. Even his heart was begging him to call for his servant, but Larxene was the main problem. "Please do not let her charm you, Axel." When Larxene giggled and leaned over to kiss Axel's cheek, Roxas' hands automatically tore off a piece of bark from the tree he was hiding behind. He glared daggers in their direction and cursed under his breath. How dare she? How dare she pull off such a bold move? Luckily Axel had a serious expression painted on his face, one that told her to never do it again. Larxene figured he was playing hard to get though, so she leaned forward to kiss the redhead on the lips. A rock! A rock inside a snowball—that was what Roxas needed! His eyes were flaring with utter hatred and his blood was boiling madly to the point where his face was red. "Axel is my beloved—!" And that was when Axel dropped his box and pushed the maid away, rejecting the kiss whole-heartedly. Roxas stood in his spot and blinked incredulously, the angry colour drained from his face.

"I would appreciate it if you did not distract me, Larxene," Axel requested sternly as he knelt down to retrieve his box. As Roxas continued watching the scene, his face lit up. The scarf he had bought as a gift was wrapped around Axel's neck. The prince could not hold back a small smile because it looked so perfect and snug around his servant.

"Do you reject me because you are still in love with the prince?" Larxene questioned with a demanding tone as she crossed her arms over her chest. Roxas watched the scene carefully while his heartbeat sped up. Was Axel really going to admit it? There was some part of Roxas that wanted him to, but the other part pointed out that the redhead would have been scolded or punished if he did admit that he loved the prince.

Thankfully, Axel did not even bother to answer that question. Instead he told the blonde, "It would be best if you returned to Lady Naminé's side, Larxene. His majesty will be upset if he finds you distracting me." With that said the woman clicked her tongue disappointedly and gave him a sardonic look. Roxas smiled at the response. He knew Axel still loved him even though he did not admit it. He was choosing his words carefully. "Perhaps we could converse again some other time." Axel dipped his head for a polite bow before he walked away, leaving an angry Larxene alone in the cold. She kicked some snow forward before she twisted around and marched away, thankfully not in Roxas direction.

"Perhaps I have been given an opportunity!" The prince cautiously stepped away from his hiding spot and began advancing towards Axel. But before he knew it, several maids approached the man, surrounded him, and giggled or swooned.

"Oh, Axel, that personal maid of Lady Naminé's is quite a monstrous woman!" One of them squealed as she massaged the redhead's shoulders. Roxas' hands balled into tight fists and a sad frown formed on his cold lips. This was unfair. Why was he being teased? Was he not allowed to even say "hello" to Axel? No hugs or kisses either?

"Do you need help carrying that, Axel?" Another maid asked as she placed her hands under the box he was carrying.

"I thank you for your consideration, ladies, but I am perfectly fine," Axel replied with a warm, sincere smile. One that Roxas adored very much. All of the maids followed the redhead like loyal dogs, so the prince had lost his only chance.

Roxas' heart sank into his stomach and his hopes were dashed for the time being. He slouched and turned around to leave, knowing full well that he was short on time. Sora could only distract Naminé for so long after all. But before he started walking away he looked behind his shoulder and smiled sadly. "I love you, Axel…" he whispered, wishing his lover actually heard his voice. If the wind was generous enough, perhaps it would carry his words over to the redhead…

Afterwards, Roxas returned to Naminé with a bright smile, claiming that he was distracted by the beautiful scenery, which was why he took so long to return to her.

...…o…O…o…...

Now it was spring time and beautiful flowers had blossomed all around. Squirrels and chipmunks roamed the gardens and rabbits hopped around playfully. Birds flew freely outside and explored the town. The prince on the other hand chose to stay inside his empty room. Even though Naminé wanted to drag him outside countless times, he politely declined and told her he was not in a cheerful mood. She always kissed him on the lips before she left with Larxene by her side. Naminé claimed that she would eventually convince him to go outside and embrace the spring weather. "I do not want to leave…because I am waiting for him." Three months of separation and Roxas still felt strongly about Axel, his handsome, kind-hearted servant. That man changed his life for the better. Roxas was more optimistic about becoming king, and he had more confidence to explore the unknown. But that never meant he wanted to do it alone. He wanted Axel to hold his hand all the way, even if the idea seemed childish. Being with Axel made him feel so alive and special. Every time Roxas left the castle he felt guilty because Axel had always wanted to show him the world.

"I must be patient," he whispered to himself as he leaned against the window. One of Axel's letters was resting on his lap, rustling gently. He had read it over and over again as the gentle breeze brushed up against his hair. Every time his eyes found the words 'forever yours' or 'I love you', he smiled because he could hear Axel's voice so clearly inside his head. His voice was always so delightfully sweet.

A knock came from his door and he quickly leapt off his cushion to hide the letter. He raised the top his window seat and placed his love letter inside. It was like a small, hidden box. All of the other letters were inside as well, often shrouded by darkness, so Naminé could never discover them. Even his snow globe was being protected.

There were times when Naminé searched his drawers for gifts that Axel had given him in the past because she was insecure, but there was nothing. However, she did want her fiancé to dispose of the plush doll which sat cutely on his dresser. Roxas stated firmly that he was going to keep the Moogle doll because he adored it and claimed that it would be a waste of silver to purchase a new one. She shrugged it off casually, though Roxas was sure she was fuming inside. That was how she was. And of course, Naminé was not familiar with the meaning behind the prince's brooch, so she didn't tell him to discard it. In fact she thought it was a lovely accessory.

"My prince, it is time for your lesson." The prince sighed in relief when he realized it was just Zexion standing outside his door, patiently waiting to be greeted. With a huff, Roxas hauled himself off the floor and strolled over to the bedroom door. "You and Axel are very absentminded lately," the scholar noted dryly as he stepped into the prince's bedroom. The first thing Roxas took notice of was the wicker basket full of fresh peaches. The scent was undoubtedly refreshing for someone who refused to leave his bedroom often. "A gift from someone special." That was Axel's alias; someone special. If his name was ever mentioned around the gossipy maids and servants, then Naminé would most likely have the redhead interrogated and punished. "With the short amount of free time he had this morning, he rushed over to the nearest market and personally picked out a basket of peaches for you."

"My," Roxas whispered breathlessly as he accepted the wicker basket. "Such a generous and thoughtful gift…" It had been a long while since Axel purchased anything nice for him, but it was simply because he was too busy. Roxas pressed a thumb against the fuzzy skin of one of the peaches and smiled gratefully as his heart leapt with joy.

"If you wish to buy a gift for him, I suggest you find the most thoughtful gift possible," the scholar chimed as he threw an armful of books onto one of the elongated desks. The loose pieces of paper fluttered onto the surface and slid away further.

"Why?" the prince wondered aloud without even thinking. He glanced up from his precious basket of fruit and blinked perplexedly. Zexion seemed somewhat…cheerful, which was rare. It wasn't as though it sent chills down the prince's back…no, that happened a long while ago when Zexion and Demyx confessed their feelings towards one another.

"The twenty-first of March is a special day," the scholar continued as he rubbed his chin. It was as though he was expecting the prince to catch on to his unusual tone.

"O-oh?" Roxas tried not to sound completely clueless, but he did not know much about the holidays in the kingdom. When he was younger, he never had the opportunity to celebrate special occasions with friends, servants, maids, or even family members because he was secluded. While everyone else played in parks or town halls, Roxas was trapped inside his bedroom, alone and bored, praying for freedom or company. The only celebrations he ever attended were his own birthday and the masquerade ball. Those events only occurred once every year.

"It will be the day of his birthday," Zexion pointed out somewhat cheerfully, a small smile spreading across his lips.

The prince suddenly stopped moving, his words wedged in his throat and his eyes dilated with shock. After blinking and repeating Roxas' name numerous times, Zexion grunted and waved a hand distractingly in front of the boy's face, bringing him back to reality. "W-why was I not informed earlier?" he breathed out quietly. Roxas felt a mixture of guilt and embarrassment inside when he realized he had never asked Axel when his birthday was.

"Ah, he simply does not want you to go through the trouble of finding him a gift or making something extraordinary," Zexion said in a matter-of-factly tone, wagging his finger in the air. "The "special one" believes he will not have much time to appreciate such a generous gift. Guilt will only push down on his shoulders."

"That is a rather poor excuse!" Roxas retorted with a hiss as he violently stomped his foot on the floor. One of the peaches in the wicker basket lolled to the right and sat on top of two other peaches. Even though Axel claimed he did not want anything for his birthday, Roxas was sure he really did. People hid their feelings and desires often, and even the prince did, for several years. Surely Axel wanted something for his birthday…Or maybe it wasn't obtainable.

"I could not agree more. That is why I am giving you an opportunity to decide on what you would like to give to him." It was surprising when the scholar nodded in concurrence.

Roxas had already begun thinking about what would make a perfect birthday gift. This was his first time celebrating another person's birthday after all, excluding Sora and Naminé. It was going to be a new experience for him though, especially since he was doing this for someone he cherished. What did commoners eat on special occasions? What did they drink? Did commoners drink delicious wine like the nobles? What gifts did people bring? All of these questions boggled in the prince's mind, making him pout. "This…is more difficult than I thought it would be." There were times when Zexion spoke to him about special events and parties during the year. But those were just small bits of information given to him during his lessons. Commoners and nobles often dressed up nicely for celebrations, but that was all Roxas could recall. He was sure that something self-made was the most thoughtful gift possible…buying something certainly did not match up to it. "Is it necessary to make a beautiful dinner like the cooks do for my birthday?" Ducks and steaks were most definitely delicious, but Roxas could never imagine cooking raw meat himself. He needed more time to learn, if anything.

Zexion chuckled at the thought as he pushed up his glasses. "You are such a strange boy. If you wish to make food then bake something. He would never expect you to cook quails!" Truthfully it was rare when servants and maids were offered luxurious foods for their birthdays. Most of them cleaned the castle during the day and then returned home for a simple dinner. Zexion didn't want to see his student frown so chose not to say anything else.

A knock came from the bedroom door, making Roxas and his instructor jump. "My prince!" The voice was sweet and innocent and it belonged to the one and only Naminé. Larxene was probably behind her in the hallway, loyal and obedient as usual. With a small groan, Roxas pressed a finger against his lips to put an end to his and Zexion's conversation for the time being. The scholar pushed his lips together as he did a zipping motion with his fingers. The future queen lunged at her fiancé excitedly as the door creaked open. "Oh, Roxas, you should have joined us outside! It is absolutely beautiful today!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around her beloved prince. Before he could even respond, Naminé elevated her heels and pressed her lips against his for a big kiss. While scratching the back of his neck, Zexion politely aimed his eyes towards the ground so he would not witness the scene.

"My apologies. Perhaps I can take you out for a walk later," Roxas offered kindly as he rested his hands on her waist. "The day is still young after all." From what the prince remembered, Larxene had joined Naminé out for a walk earlier, but…she wasn't in the hallway, nor was she in the room. It was strange how the maid did not follow her mistress back… "Are you aware that your maid is not present?"

After rolling her blue eyes, Naminé pouted and gently rocked their bodies back and forth as though they were dancing in a ballroom. "She is trying to woo Axel again." Suddenly there was a sickening feeling in Roxas' stomach, and he nearly froze. His fiancée's words echoed in his head like a chant. Then all sorts of questions began to form. What if she knew about Axel's birthday? What if she wanted to buy him an even better gift? What if she wanted to make him a delicious dinner as well? Wait. What if she wanted to bed him on the night of his birthday? The horrible, impure images in Roxas' mind made him feel somewhat dizzy, but Naminé didn't seem to notice. "Larxene is a very persistent woman. I thought she would have given up after three months, but lately she has been very determined. I was generous enough to let her go this time. Perhaps Axel might finally accept her love."

The room was swallowed up in silence soon afterwards. Roxas was still lost in his disturbing thoughts, while Zexion contemplated on whether or not he wanted to cough into his fist to bring his student back. Naminé, on the other hand, was drumming her foot against the carpeted floor, waiting for her fiancé's supportive response. "Does that bother you?" she asked with her most innocent voice.

After blinking once or twice, the prince stared down at Naminé and shook his head, a meek smile present on his lips. "Ah, no, I w-was simply wondering…what-what their children would look like." With that excuse said, another sickening image appeared in his mind. Axel held a sweet girl in his arms, while Larxene held their son's hand. Everyone was so happy, so young and beautiful, and they were all playing on the grassy field near the bazaar. It saddened the prince very much as he wished that he was in the image instead. It didn't matter if he had children or not…as long as Axel was standing next to him.

"Goodness, a lovely peach basket sits on your desk, untouched!" Naminé gasped excitedly and covered her mouth as she shuffled over to said basket. Suddenly the prince felt ridiculous for not hiding the basket of fruit in the first place. Those peaches were very important to him since they were a gift from Axel, and it had been two months since the redhead had sent him a gift. They were special and the aroma was sweet. Truthfully the prince did not want to share any with Naminé, but judging by the broad smile on her face, he was sure he did not have much of a choice. "My, these are very fresh! They must be the sweetest ones in the bazaar! I have never seen peaches look so delicious!"

"That is because Axel spent his morning choosing the perfect basket for me!" Roxas' mind barked like a rabid beast. He mentally scowled at Naminé for even going near the wicker basket. "Yes, Zexion was kind enough to purchase some for me." It was all he could say to prevent his fiancée from becoming suspicious. "Would you like one?" And just like that, the prince lost two of his precious peaches.

...…o…O…o…...

The rest of the day was calm and quiet, with the exception of the evening walk Roxas promised his fiancée. He had taken her out to the bazaar, where he purchased a nice crystal blue pendant for her. Naminé had claimed it was beautiful, but it was of little value. The rock that was used could not even compare to a diamond and the chain was not even made of pure silver. Royalty deserved more than a simple cheap rock, but she had accepted it because it was a gift from Roxas. He silently thought about how Axel would have accepted the pendant without complaints—how he would have treasured it no matter how high or how low the price was. "Goodness, such a beautiful gift for me? It is very lovely, Roxas!" Yes, that was what the prince heard in his mind. A servant who was flattered by a sweet gesture.

After the prince changed into his sleeping garments, he walked over to his bed and sat down, making the mattress dip under his weight. A soft sigh escaped his lips as be tapped a finger against his chin. "Perhaps I should find him a new brooch…" But it wouldn't have been the same as the one from Axel's late grandfather. It would have been just a simple, thoughtful gift. Also, the prince was still determined to bake something incredible to get Axel's mind off of Larxene. "What if he is not attracted to her?" his mind wondered sharply as he fell back onto his cushiony mattress. Perhaps he was overreacting. Still, three months apart meant that Larxene was able to spend more time with Axel. "Surely I am worrying over nothing…Axel would never exchange me for that wretched maid…" Roxas just had to keep in mind that the redhead was in love with him for ten years. That love couldn't disappear within three months…it just couldn't.

...…o…O…o…...

For the next day and a half, Roxas sat in his bedroom to study. He had borrowed dusty old cookbooks from the library so he could learn how to bake something scrumptious for his special someone's birthday. When Roxas brushed away the layer of gray off the books, he wondered why they were so dusty in the first place. Perhaps it was because there were already professional cooks and chefs in the castle. Studying recipes was probably frowned upon.

Roxas sat at one of the desks near his window so he could breathe in some fresh air as he read the contents of his books. The wind brushed up against his hair, making it shift up and down smoothly. A cup of tea sat at the top right corner of his desk, the steam stretching towards the ceiling. "Now then…time to read."

There were many moments where Roxas' eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Apparently, learning how to bake proved to be difficult because there were terms that he was unfamiliar with, such as batter or strain. Often he would pace back and forth in his bedroom, contemplating on what he should make…what was an appropriate birthday gift? He wanted it to be a surprise so he chose not to ask Axel what he preferred. There were so many options, yet the prince was still stumped and puzzled. There were so many questions, yet there was no one available to ask. Everything seemed to be twisting into a giant knot, which was very frustrating, especially since there was a time limit. Still, even with several difficulties, the prince was driven by determination, and as silly as it sounded in his mind, love. "He gave me the greatest birthday gift…I should try to do the same…"

During the afternoon, Zexion stepped into the prince's bedroom with three more books he found on a shelf in his own home. "I do hope you are…working…hard…" The scholar slowed down to a pause when he found Roxas sitting on his window seat, cradling his head in his hands from aggravation. "Are you all right, Roxas?"

Said boy glanced up weakly and answered with a short nod. "It would have been more appropriate if you knocked my door." It was bad enough that his fiancée often barged into his room without permission. At least she didn't have a key—Roxas simply forgot to lock the door sometimes. How careless.

The scholar bowed his head and smiled sheepishly. "My apologies, Roxas." He shuffled over to his student and offered up the books he discovered the other night. All the blond could do was groan and bury his face in his hands once more, dreading the contents of those three books. They were all too confusing for him and his head was swimming with words and images of sweet breads and cakes.

"I may not be the best baker or cook, but I could try to assist you," Zexion offered graciously, giving the boy a comforting pat on the back.

"That would be much appreciated," Roxas replied with a smile, his eyes filled with relief.

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot to mention—I passed by Riku as I was walking towards your chamber. It seems Larxene is still trying to woo Axel today." Roxas' eyebrow twitched visibly as he folded his arms across his chest, a frown visible on his features. For the past three months, all Larxene could talk about was how flattering Axel was, how he was very handsome and generous, how his body was thin, yet very nice at the same time. There were times where she had also mentioned her physical contact with him. She clutched onto his arms and rested her head on his shoulder whenever he had very short breaks. Then she offered him extra meals even though he was extremely busy. Jealousy swam in Roxas' blood, like an infection spreading throughout his entire body. He wanted to do all those things and more—he wanted to take care of Axel the most.

Riku constantly checked on Axel to see if he was doing well. The mischievous maid had shooed him away several times, but he always had a bland look on his face, one that said he didn't care what she wanted. Often he would report everything to both Sora and Roxas. As a result, they were disgusted by her persistency.

"A kiss." Right away the prince snapped out of his bitter thoughts and his eyes dilated. Honestly, Zexion did not want to be the one to inform his student, but Demyx was away for half of the day, Sora was dealing with his own instructor for the afternoon, and Riku was keeping an eye on Axel downstairs. Nervous, the scholar swallowed thickly and continued. "She…managed to kiss him yesterday."

The book in the prince's possession slipped away from his fingers and fell onto the table with a loud, deafening thud. Those words rang in his ears and stabbed at his heart. Roxas' expression was blank and his mouth was hung open. "N-now, I assure you, Axel would not have wanted that kiss. Larxene is a rather mischievous woman—"

"Enough. She will not win Axel's heart!" Roxas suddenly hissed through his gritted teeth, anger oozing from his words, almost like a deadly poison. Quickly the prince snatched up a book and began flipping through the pages aggressively, trying to find the perfect baked good while wrinkling the pages. He was no professional and he knew that, so he had to search for something simple, yet sweet-looking. Fury and determination fuelled him. Nothing could have made him angrier at the moment. The images in his head were disturbing, yet they would not vanish no matter how hard he tried to push them away. Larxene had her lips pressed against Axel's—Roxas' Axel to be exact, the prince's servant. "What is Axel's favourite fruit?" he demanded with a heavy tone.

Taken aback by Roxas' frustration, the scholar actually stuttered for once, a hand placed over his chest. "W-well, I-I believe he enjoys peaches and strawberries as well. Perhaps we can go purchase a basket or two—or one of each. If the first cake o-or sweet bread is successful, then you could surprise him with yet another."

"Very well." Two was certainly better than one and they would definitely surprise Axel. The prince wanted to prove that he was far better than Larxene, but what he did not realize was that he already was. There was just too much fear inside of him—fear of losing his precious someone to a deceitful maid. Another reason why he wanted the birthday gift to be perfect was because Axel had given him a sense of freedom on his birthday. The memory was so fresh in Roxas' mind; the star shower, the dancing, the fresh air…it was all so breathtaking.

"I will allow you to skip today's lesson, but do not expect this to happen again!" Zexion pointed out sternly, wagging a finger in the air as if he was already scolding Roxas for making a mistake. With a positive nod, the prince smiled appreciatively and returned to his book. The two of them slowly sipped their tea and relaxed as they continued searching for a sweet and delectable looking dessert.

...…o…O…o…...

When Sora finished his lesson with Vexen, he gladly rushed over to his cousin's room. Not only was his instructor strict and loud, but he was also conceited. While the brunet tried to scribble on his parchment, Vexen constantly complained about his sloppiness and his incompetence. It truly was annoying…everyday. By the time Sora had actually reached Roxas' room, the blond had already chosen a few desserts that looked simple and delicious.

"Allow me to join you," Sora requested nervously, twiddling his fingers together. The prince and his instructor blinked incredulously. They were surprised that the brunet had made such a request since he normally followed Roxas outside without permission. "I have been reading through the books as well. I wish to bake something for Riku." Moments later, after blinking several times, Roxas' mouth fell open.

"You are free to join us," Zexion offered graciously, earning a meek smile from the brunet. It was going to be the first time Sora made anything for Riku. His eyes reflected his nervousness and his body trembled in anticipation. Sora's palms were sweaty and his lips were curled inwards.

For the past two nights he sat on his bed and studied the recipes inside the few cookbooks he snatched up from the castle library. He was envious of Roxas and Axel. They were far apart, yet they still wanted to send little gifts to one another. When Sora had thought about it two nights ago, he realized that his and Riku's relationship was going nowhere because neither of them were taking the initiative. This was going to be the perfect opportunity for Sora.

"Can you actually bake anything?" Roxas asked with curiosity flickering in his eyes. He didn't smirk or laugh at all—he was simply surprised at his cousin's plan.

"Well, no, but one cannot know unless one tries," Sora pointed out intelligently, swirling a finger in the air.

...…o…O…o…...

After summoning Riku from the lower levels of the castle, the four of them left the castle and roamed the ever busy bazaar. Their eyes wandered all around, searching for the best looking fruits for their desserts. The townspeople smiled and conversed with their loved ones while children played with their friends. Those who owned fruit and vegetable stands advertised their goods to passer byers using their booming voices. Whenever the prince paused and pointed at a basket of large strawberries, his instructor told him that they weren't sweet enough or they were too soft. With little shopping experience, the prince pouted and tugged on his cloak to hide his bright pink face. Even Sora was embarrassed because he chose fruits that were not completely ripe yet. Consequently, Riku ended up purchasing the lemons his master desired and Zexion ended up selecting a basket of strawberries for the prince. The two sheltered cousins were put to shame.

"At least I managed to choose a basket of peaches…" Roxas murmured under his breath as he removed his cloak in Zexion's home. It was very warm considering the fact that it was now spring time. Wearing a cloak under the beaming sun was not considered comfortable, but it was the only way to keep his identity hidden from the commoners. Roxas had to raise a sleeve several times to sweep away the trickling sweat from his forehead and face.

"Now, why did you want lemons?" Riku asked as he raised an eyebrow at his master. He stood in the living room, dangling the wicker basket full of lemons from one finger. Sora scowled as he retrieved his fruits. Then he scolded his servant for holding the basket so carelessly. Unfazed by Sora's expression and words, the silver-haired servant continued on with his questions. "Do you have a sudden desire to make drinks?"

"No, no, or yes! You shall sit here and-and-and read! Do not enter the kitchen!" Sora demanded with a shrill voice as he shoved his servant onto a chair, making it wobble. The man cocked an eyebrow at Sora's peculiar behaviour as he sat up straight, steadying his chair. When Riku raised a hand to check Sora's temperature, the boy shook his head, backed away, and smiled inelegantly. "Stay. Here." And now he was treating his servant like a loyal pet.

"As…you wish?" the silver-haired servant replied awkwardly. He shifted his gaze to Roxas and Zexion, but they feigned innocence. Even though they knew of Sora's plan, they chose not to reveal anything. It was meant to be a surprise after all.

So, three of the four boys spent countless hours in the kitchen. They felt weary and frustrated because they kept failing with their simple recipes, even with Zexion's help. Roxas had mixed the wrong ingredients on his first try and he did not even get to the point where he could use flour, which was rather pathetic in his mind. He managed to waste small ingredients, but Zexion told him it was all right. Still, Roxas was not fond of wasting food, nor did he like failing on his first try.

On his second attempt, while struggling to follow the book's instructions again, he accidentally added an extra cup of water instead of the eggs. With a growl of frustration, the blond restarted again. He wondered why he was making such silly mistakes. Zexion offered his advice. His patience was hanging by a thread. "Perhaps you should take your time and make sure the ingredients are correct before you mix them together."

Roxas pinched the bridge of his nose with his wet fingers, leaving splotches of egg on his face. He had hoped it would be an enjoyable experience, but it wasn't as simple as making soup. No, this was much more difficult. Roxas was worried because he was racing against time, but Zexion assured him that they would be finished before the end of the day. Or at least he would finish one. "You learn from your mistakes." Like Zexion, Roxas tried to be more optimistic. This was for Axel. This was for his special someone. It was not going to be an easy task, but it was for his birthday. Roxas knew he had to aim for perfection no matter how many mistakes he made.

Even Sora had messed up several times, but he never gave up. He wanted to show his lover that he truly cared, so he made an effort to avoid making the same mistakes twice. Roxas had noticed that his garments were powdered with flour and his face was smeared with eggs as well. When the prince laughed, Sora laughed as well, just to lighten the mood. They were both messy, but it was proof that they were working hard to achieve their goals.

Eventually they managed to mix all of their ingredients correctly, so Zexion congratulated them both. Roxas and Sora smiled tiredly as they slumped into the kitchen chairs. The scholar threw wood into the oven while they relaxed. "Do you…do you think Riku would like this?" Sora wondered quietly, his eyes glued to his wooden mixing bowl.

Since Riku was a unique person, it was hard to answer. Roxas could never read his mind and his expressions were always bland and unchanging. It was as though Riku had no care in the world. But everyone knew he did. He just didn't show it very well. "Perhaps," Roxas answered truthfully as his eyes wandered around the small kitchen. Riku was not one to lie, so if Sora's lemon bread did not taste delicious, the man would bluntly admit it. "I am truly glad that Axel knows how to spare one's feelings…"

When the oven was ready, Roxas and Sora both slipped their pans in eagerly. They both hopped up and down in the kitchen, pestering Zexion. "When will it be ready? When will it be ready?" Perhaps they were anxious because they did not want their desserts to be burnt after all their hard work. Riku's ears twitched in the living room, his eyes still fixed on his book. He chose not to respond with a rude remark because his master would have scolded him to no end.

"You must be patient!" Zexion noted strictly as he poked their foreheads with his fingers. They winced and retreated as though they were wounded. It was evident that they were nervous, so Zexion sighed and sat down to read a book.

Roxas had no desire to make another cake or sweetbread since he failed at least four times. He admired the bakers and cooks near the bazaar now because they made such sweet and delectable desserts without wasting away any ingredients. If only he could match up to them one day. Perhaps if he practiced more…Then he would be able to make Axel irresistible meals everyday. Roxas could practically hear praises already.

While waiting for his dessert, Roxas sat in Axel's room, writing his letter while swinging his legs playfully under the desk. It was the redhead's birthday; a joyous occasion! The fluffy quill tickled the prince's cheek whenever he was lost in his thoughts and ink dribbled onto a piece of parchment whenever Roxas could not form his sentences properly. If only Zexion could see the mess he was creating. Roxas could imagine his instructor scolding him for wasting ink and paper.

"You should at least clean your face." Sora snorted and pointed at his messy cousin from the doorway, earning a scowl. Roxas had patches of dry dough all over his cheeks, some darker than the others. Across his forehead was a nice line of white—flour. His nose had a spot of yellow on it...definitely eggs. Part of his neck was stained a bright red from the strawberries. Neither of them knew how strawberry juice managed to climb onto his neck.

As Roxas was about to retort, Gale snuck into the room and hopped onto his lap. "N-no, stop!" The energetic pup began licking the prince's face, wiping away the delicious mess effortlessly. Roxas was laughing at the ticklish sensation and he was still shouting out words of protest, but Gale was a disobedient dog.

"Gale!" Zexion's booming voice made everyone in the room jolt and all laughter had ceased. Gale hopped off and walked over to his master to lick his hand apologetically. "You must be disciplined one day…Demyx pampers you too much…" The scholar shooed him out and informed Sora and Roxas that their desserts were finished. With excitement rushing in his blood, Sora skipped down the stairs and hummed a cute little tune. Roxas, on the other hand, needed to wipe away the coat of drool sliding down his face, dripping from his chin. Plus he had to finish his letter. Thankfully Gale did not wrinkle any of the parchments.

...…o…O…o…...

Finally, dinner was served and Demyx had returned home right on time to watch Riku taste Sora's first dessert. They all sat in the kitchen, making up small conversations while passing food around the table. The music instructor announced that he had purchased a more comfortable bed set for Axel because the redhead always returned home exhausted. He earned it. When Demyx saw the dessert Roxas had made, he beamed at his prince and congratulated him. Even Demyx found it extremely difficult to bake anything. He was actually quite surprised at Zexion as well. "You understand how our oven works?" And what a silly question it was. If Zexion did not know how to work his oven then Sora and Roxas would not have been able to bake their desserts. "Yes, yes, I apologize for misjudging you." Demyx shifted his chair so Zexion would not strike him for his sarcastic reply.

When Sora proudly cut his sweet lemon bread into nice, clean slices, he offered everyone a piece. They politely declined at first since it was meant for Riku, but the brunet decided to share with everyone else as well. "You do not need to accept a large piece. I would be happy if Riku just tried it first." The silver-haired servant gaped at his slice of sweet lemon bread, but did nothing else. The fork was sitting right beside his bowl, cold and waiting to be used.

"It took a lot of time and effort to make this for you, Riku. You should show more respect and eat it," Sora urged as he pushed a plate towards the silver-haired servant. The sweet bread was somewhat burnt along the sides and the top was a light brown. Riku studied it for a few moments, wondering if it was even edible. His expression remained the same, unreadable. Sora, feeling nervous, twiddled his fingers together impatiently under the table so no one else could see. It was his first time ever giving anything to Riku after all. He had the right to feel nervous. "Perhaps he truly does not want it." It irritated him when Riku kept staring at it. Everyone around the table looked on casually, masking their concern for Riku's well-being. Feeling a sense of rejection, the brunet snatched the plate and set it aside so his servant wouldn't gape at it any longer. "Food is meant to be eaten. If it disturbs you that much then I shall keep it for myself or give it to someone else!"

To everyone's surprise, the silver-haired servant quickly swiped his plate back and gave Sora a strange look. "Must you be so immature and impatient?" he asked with a monotonous tone. Immediately he could sense his master's agitation, a scowl evident on his face, not that it bothered Riku. It was actually quite normal. He picked up a fork and used the side of it to slice a small piece of the lemon bread that Sora had spent several hours baking. Everyone silently watched with their mouths hung open, their eyes glued to the piece of cake. Riku casually took a bite and chewed with his mouth closed; he was tasting it. The brunet gulped loudly and trembled in anticipation. Was it edible? Was it terrible? Perhaps delicious? "Is this your first time making a lemon cake?" the servant asked coolly.

"That…is not what you are supposed to say…" Roxas thought to himself as he subconsciously cocked an eyebrow. Riku should have at least commented on the food first before he asked such a nerve wracking question. The level of respect Roxas had for his sword master soon dropped.

"Yes," Sora answered firmly.

The silver-haired servant went for yet another bite and then smiled…or smirked, no one could exactly tell. "It's edible." Right at that moment, Demyx and Roxas both slapped their own foreheads, unable to accept such a horrible response. But to Sora, that meant it was good especially since his servant was still eating it.

"Good," the brunet replied, sticking his chest out proudly. Everyone exhaled deeply as if they had been holding their breaths for the longest time. There was tension in the air earlier, so neither of them spoke. They kept their thoughts to themselves but watched the scene cautiously. "What shall you do with yours, Roxas?"

"Offer mine to Axel as a birthday gift, of course. I'm sure he would like to share, but he should have the first taste, as Riku did for yours." Roxas simply could not wait for Axel to try his strawberry bread. The top was a nice golden-brown and there were little red spots that shimmered under light. Those were the bits of strawberries the prince tossed in earlier. The aroma emitting from his dessert was enticing, more so than the lemon bread. "I wonder if he will have time to try some tonight. Axel seems awfully exhausted these days." Not one letter had been sent to him all week. Roxas was worried for his lover's wellbeing. He could only pray for Axel's safety.

"Even if his energy is drained, he would not miss tasting this for anything in the world!" Demyx exclaimed as he eyed the dessert. With a meek smile, Roxas promised that he would bake again some time so everyone else could try his food. They all seemed rather interested since the smell was enthralling. Gale also wanted to leap at it, but Zexion shot him a deadly glare, petrifying him.

"Is…is Axel doing well these days?" Roxas inquired quietly as he poked at his slice of lemon bread with a fork. All eyes were glued to him and suddenly colour rushed into his cheeks. "I am simply worried about him," the prince explained apprehensively as he fidgeted in his seat. "Normally he sends at least one letter each week but…but when I fail to receive one, I always believe he might be too weary. Or perhaps he is even ill at times. What if my father is torturing him even more and-and I am not aware of it?"

Everyone in the room smiled sadly, each of them offering a sympathetic look. Riku's expression just changed slightly, but at least it showed that he understood the prince's concern. Gale rested his chin on Roxas' lap and whined softly.

"At ease, Roxas," Zexion whispered as he rubbed his student's back in a comforting manner. "It was very brave of you to express your concerns. Axel is simply busy working on an important task, but aside from that he seems fine."

"A task?" the boy repeated softly. His eyes searched Zexion's own for an answer. Perhaps the king had finally decided to give Axel something else to do—something that did not involve hurting his back or knees. "But my father is not that merciful…"

"Yes, a special task that only he could do. Now relax and finish your dinner. Riku must escort you to the castle soon because the sun is setting." Unfortunately, Roxas was not allowed to press on for details. Zexion refused to answer anymore questions. Even Demyx's lips were sealed. Roxas realized they were holding a secret, but what kind? He wondered if they were lying to him about Axel's health. Or maybe he was just being paranoid. Either way, he was not allowed to raise anymore questions for the evening.

...…o…O…o…...

After returning to the castle, Roxas, Sora, and Riku returned to their respective chambers. When the remaining servants and maids approached them, they asked about the messy garments, their voices dripping with concern. Obviously the prince lied to them. He claimed that the children were playing with their foods and he decided to join the fun. It was what he called a new experience, plus it was entertaining. As long as he was satisfied, everyone else was content, so they moved along in the hallways, sweeping away the dust with their brooms.

When Roxas entered his bedroom he locked the door and stripped away his heavy garments. All of the dough and flour weighed heavily on his richly embroidered clothing. He should have worn his peasant garments but he did not want to ruin them so soon. Axel hadn't seen them yet. "I would rather have my atrocious garments sullied first…" They were less comfortable. After rummaging through his ridiculously crowded wardrobe, he selected his sleeping garments and entered the bathroom. When he gazed into the mirror, he realized that there was still food attached to his face. It made him grin because he looked silly. If only Axel could see how messy he was as a prince. "Axel…I truly hope you are doing well."

After filling the tub with water, Roxas dipped his body in slowly so he would not burn himself. It was soothing and comfortable, excellent for his tense muscles. Images and thoughts about Axel had filled his mind. Some were horrid, like the ones involving Larxene. He could see Axel holding her tenderly, his arms wrapped loosely around her slender waist. They were smiling, rocking back and forth like a cute couple. Roxas splashed his face and shook his head vigorously, eradicating his ridiculous thoughts. "What if Zexion was trying to spare my feelings?" What if Axel truly did fall in love with Larxene and did not want to send anymore letters? "Ten years!" that part of his mind slapped him. Of course Axel would never betray his trust! "I trust Axel…but I do no trust Larxene." If he ever did fall in love with her, their relationship would be a sick lie. "She would trick him to gain his love! I am certain of it." The prince covered his body in scented oils and then sunk into the steamy water again.

His imagination swirled around; now he saw himself with Axel. The redhead had his arms wrapped around Roxas' body in the garden. Oh, those memories were the sweetest and their dances were always etched in his mind. No one knew how to dance like Axel. Before Roxas received his servant, he always despised dancing in the ballroom. It was suffocating because there were so many guests and every young woman wanted to woo him, surround him, dance with him endlessly. It was their fairytale come true. To Roxas, there was no sense of freedom. But Axel…Axel held him lovingly and his emerald eyes were always so soft and kind. With Axel, the prince never needed to make an excuse to slip away. The redhead even had the most wonderful ability to drive Naminé away at times. She could not smother him with kisses whenever Axel was present in the room. But when Axel and Roxas were alone, they were allowed to share kisses and hugs, and they snuck out whenever they had an opportunity. Those were the best four months in the prince's life…

...…o…O…o…...

After a while, Roxas left the bathroom, his body smooth and clean, but very red because he sat in the tub too long. He couldn't help it because Axel was on his mind…good thoughts for once. With a loud yawn, the prince stretched his arms into the air and relaxed on his favourite window seat.

The cool wind pushed the ocean waves against the castle walls during the night. For Roxas, the sound of rushing water was quite soothing. Normally his room was swallowed up in silence because he was all alone. Of course, he never wanted to invite Naminé into his room because she would have wanted to bed him. The thought of it sent shivers down his spine. Sometimes it was nice being alone though. Roxas spent his free time writing letters to his beloved servant. And sometimes he read the letters he'd received. But there was nothing new at the moment. Just comforting silence.

"Axel has yet to send me any letters this week," Roxas thought to himself dejectedly as he hugged his knees on his window seat. He really did want to read a new one. Letters from Axel always made him feel secure and they always brightened his dull or sour evenings.

"Roxas! Roxas!" Sora slammed the prince's door with a fist several times, and the banging noise echoed in the large bedroom. It sounded urgent so the boy leapt off his seat and shuffled over to his door with haste.

"Is something wrong, Sora?" the prince asked calmly, as he came face to face with his cousin, who was panting heavily in the hallway. It was in the middle of the night and the brunet was making so much noise. Something just had to be wrong.

Sora snatched his cousin's sleeve and tugged him out the door, earning a quizzical look. "Come to my room quickly!" he whispered somewhat excitedly, waving his free arm around like a madman. The prince realized there was no concern in Sora's eyes, but excitement rather. He couldn't imagine what was so exhilarating at midnight of all times. "Will you stop gawking at me and just come to my bedroom? It is very important that you do!" the brunet hissed impatiently, while tugging Roxas forward, encouraging him to move faster.

"Oh, very well, if it's that important." The prince surrendered with an exasperated sigh and locked his bedroom door so no one could enter and pry through his personal belongings. Sora and Roxas chose not to dash down the hallway because any remaining maids and servants would have eyed them suspiciously. So they simply walked a little quicker than usual and they concealed themselves behind some velvet curtains along the way. "I wonder why Sora seems so eager all of a sudden." Roxas kept that in mind as they walked down the darkened hallway. The two of them tiptoed down one set of marble steps and then up another, though they skipped a few to pick up their pace. Roxas and Sora were both cautious and quiet because they did not want to wake up those who were sleeping, especially Naminé.

They reached Sora's bedroom door and panted softly, trying their best to catch their breath. Even though it was dark, the prince could see a silly grin on his cousin's face. He cocked an eyebrow and wondered why his cousin was behaving so strangely. "Come now," Sora commanded as he opened the door, forcing Roxas in first. The entire room itself was swallowed up in darkness with the exception of one dimly lit lamp. It sat near the balcony doors. The curtains fluttered eerily as the wind blew, forcing a shiver to crawl up the prince's spine. It was as though a spirit was roaming in the room. "Why must you be so slow?" The brunet snatched his cousin's wrist out of irritation and dragged him towards the balcony against his will. Roxas struggled and used his heels in an attempt to stop while he hissed words of protest. Perhaps Sora had finally gone mad!

"I swear to you, Sora, if—" And he was cut off when Sora flung him forward with half of his strength. Roxas' body collided with the railing around the balcony and the first thing he did was look down. There were tiny yellow and orange lights dancing around the garden so frivolously. The prince stared in complete awe. His eyes explored the entire garden and his mouth was hung open. It was so stunning and the weather was just perfect. Everything was so surreal and Roxas was already captivated. "Sora what are these?"

The brunet smiled under the moonlight and practically ignored the question as he pointed a single finger towards a small area below. Perplexed, the boy followed the index finger with his eyes and his breath was suddenly caught in his throat. His heartbeat sped up and it was so loud, he could hear the thumping in his ears. How strange it was. His slender fingers curled up against the rail as his eyes dilated, though he was positive tears were starting to form…tears of joy. "A…Axel…?" he whispered with a dry mouth. It was his doing, the gorgeous display of lights before him. Roxas was positive that Axel had shown him something miraculous just now.

The redhead was staring directly at his prince from the garden, a kind, gentle smile painted beautifully on his lips. He looked absolutely ravishing under the moonlight and the dark markings on his face, along with his crimson hair, contrasted his pale skin. His dashing emerald green eyes even sparkled every few seconds because of the yellow orbs dancing around. When he brought up an arm and waved timidly, Roxas felt his heart skip a beat, but in the most wonderful way. The prince presented his servant with a soft, appreciative smile and waved back, still trying his best to prevent the happy tears from escaping the corner of his eyes. "It is Axel—it's him!" he whispered excitedly. But he never tore his eyes away from his beloved servant. Their eyes were still connected, like an invisible thread had kept them together. The prince was absolutely stunned.

"He set this all up…just for you," Sora pointed out softly as he leaned forward. "All of these fireflies were caught by Axel and he kept them in those glass jars for single day. That was what Riku told me." Roxas knew he was telling the truth when he noticed an empty jar in the redhead's possession. There was another one beside his leg, but it concealed by a jet black cloth.

"Fireflies…" the prince repeated absentmindedly, while bobbing his head.

Even though Axel enjoyed gazing at his beloved prince, he still had one more jar of fireflies. All of them tapped the lid eagerly, yearning for more air and freedom. With an apologetic smile, Axel unscrewed the wooden cap and the bright bugs beat their wings energetically as they felt the crisp wind brush up against their petite bodies. "There you go," the redhead whispered as shook the glass container, emptying out the contents.

From Roxas' point of view, it looked like a beautiful golden liquid was pouring out of the jar. The most amazing thing about that sparkling liquid was that it didn't pour downwards. No, those fireflies soared into the sky, flying everywhere, joining their comrades in a magnificent dance. "They are…absolutely gorgeous," the prince whispered breathlessly as he gripped the rail. "H-however, it is his birthday. Why is he doing this for me when he should…when he should be at home celebrating with Zexion and Demyx, or-or he should be resting!" It was clear to Sora that Roxas felt undeserving of such a miraculous display of moving lights. But really, the prince was lucky to have someone who loved him so much.

Sora gave him a look of disbelief at first, then scoffed. "Did it…did it ever occur to you that perhaps Axel wanted to see you on his birthday?"

"O-oh…" In all honesty, Roxas wanted that to be the reason, but he didn't want to seem self-centered. Just being able to see Axel brought joy to his heart. And now that the man had also presented him with a magnificent gift, he felt even happier, if that was even possible. It was all overwhelming. As he gazed at his servant, he thought about how wonderful it would have been to dance in the sea of moving lights. The image in his mind was so clear, so beautiful and astonishing! Roxas was leading his servant through a simple dance in the garden, no orchestrated music surrounding them. Still, the night was lovely and the moon shone down brilliantly, adding more light to the garden, making the moment even more fantastical. The fireflies quietly encouraged the couple by circling them a few times, dancing away into the night. Roxas and Axel were warm in each other's arms, so pleased and relaxed and they wanted to stay there for an eternity, never to be interrupted.

Suddenly the prince had a powerful urge to run to Axel, to greet him appropriately and to wish him happy birthday. It was the perfect opportunity—it had to be! And that dance in his mind, it didn't have to be just a dream! Quickly the prince turned his heels and began walking towards the door, leaving Sora puzzled for a brief moment.

"Where in the world do you think you are going? Axel went through great lengths to show you all of this!" the brunet hissed viciously as he watched his cousin rush towards the door.

"I must go down to see Axel. This may be my only chance!" Roxas hastily responded as he picked up his pace, feeling somewhat nervous. Somewhere inside the prince knew his cousin was going to stop him, but he was desperate. One week without Axel was agonizing but it had already been three months. That was far too long. The two lovers did not deserve to be tortured or separated.

With fear flickering in his eyes, Sora ran forward and automatically tackled his cousin to the floor, both of them landing flat on their stomachs. "Have—have you gone mad?" Roxas snapped as he winced at the pain in ribs and lower back. When he tried to lift their bodies off the floor, Sora pressed down forcefully, making it seem like he had gained more weight or strength recently. Unfortunately, since Roxas was physically stronger, he managed to toss the brunet over to his left side after three tries. They both gasped for air as they hoisted themselves off the cold floor. Being the persistent one, Roxas tried to storm out again, but Sora snatched his wrist and shook his head in disapproval.

"Are you trying to have him beheaded?" the brunet questioned with a low growl. He felt his cousin flinch and pause, like his feet were suddenly glued to the floor, and some part of him was struggling to break free. "I know you love him and I know you want to be with him, but if you run to him now, you will put his life at risk. Do not make a terrible mistake, Roxas."

With a deep sigh, the prince surrendered, knowing full well that Sora was absolutely right. Roxas slowly nodded in agreement and whirled around so he could return to his spot on the balcony. Of course he didn't want to put Axel's life at risk, especially on his birthday. Still, it was a joyous occasion; the two lovers were allowed to see one another. Even though Roxas could not go into the garden, he delighted in the fact that he was able to see his servant anyway, alive, and surprisingly happy. A small smile creased his lips when he found Axel sitting on the edge of the water fountain, one leg crossed over the other. The fireflies were still fluttering around lively, bathing parts of the redhead's body in a nice golden light. "Happy birthday!" The prince was careful not to shout too loudly in case there was a maid or a servant roaming in the garden at night. But Roxas was loud enough for Axel to hear. He made sure of it.

Feeling excitement bursting out of his body for the first time in months, Axel hopped off the edge of the stone fountain and waved energetically. He was happy because Roxas knew about his birthday. It made his heart flutter blissfully. "I love you!" Axel shouted like an excited child waiting to play games with his friends. It almost seemed like he didn't care if anyone else heard him…as long as Roxas did.

"I know…I know!" the prince thought giddily as he gripped the rail and grinned. "I love you," he began in a hushed voice filled with glee. Then his mind kicked him. If Axel could say it loud and clearly, why couldn't he? Why was he being so subtle? Why wasn't he expressing himself? "I love Axel." Of course. After taking in a deep breath, he repeated his words a little more loudly. "I love you." No, that wasn't loud enough. How could that even compare to Axel's brave declaration? Once more, for his birthday. "I love you!" And that was when Sora burst into laughter, wondering why his cousin was being so silly. It truly ruined the romantic ambience.

The brunet was holding his ribs while trying to maintain balance. A blush crept up Roxas' cheeks as he scowled in his cousin's direction. "How dare you laugh at me?" When he realized Sora could not answer, he turned back to Axel and found that the redhead was laughing as well, though not nearly as hard as Sora. "W-what makes my declaration so humorous?"

After panting for air, the brunet calmed himself and relaxed his muscles. "I assure you, Axel heard you the second time. Any louder and the entire kingdom will hear you." Even though he thought it was humorous, Axel decided it was adorable. It was so wonderful seeing his prince so flustered and expressive again. He was still the same Roxas from three months ago.

"Thank goodness," Axel thought to himself. Knowing that he was short on time, the servant raised a hand and pressed three or four fingers against his lips. Roxas paused for a moment and watched carefully, curiously. Within moments Axel pushed his hand forward, his palm facing the night sky and his fingers aimed in the prince's direction.

Immediately, Roxas' blush became brighter. "Th-that…he…he blew me a kiss…!" he thought with a broad smile. It was the first time he had ever received one! Although the two lovers could not be together, Axel's sweet gestures still meant the world to Roxas. That one little air kiss made his night even more magical, and the grin on his face couldn't be wiped away…unless Sora decided to tease him again. Instead, the brunet whistled, impressed. Axel was quite a romantic man, perfect for the prince.

"Well?" the brunet asked sharply, making Roxas jolt in his spot. "You should return his kiss or else you will embarrass him!"

"Of-of course!" Flustered, the boy stood up straight and relaxed his muscles. This was going to be his first time blowing someone a kiss, but it made his heart beat rapidly inside his chest. It was a simple thing, but at the same time it was also very important. Slowly the prince pressed three fingers against his lips, then he aimed them towards his servant, returning the sweet kiss.

Axel had caught it, or at least wrapped his fingers around the air in front of him, and Roxas chuckled. But his heart fluttered when the redhead placed that fist over his chest, cherishing that small gesture, placing it near his heart. "I love you," the redhead mouthed as a gentle smile creased his lips. Soon his fingers uncurled so he could wave farewell to his beloved prince. Sadness had suddenly found them both, but Axel seemed to be the stronger of the two.

"Please…don't go…" Roxas inwardly pleaded. "I miss you." Although the words came out in the form of a whisper, Axel was able to just hear them. They were soft and sad, but loving at the same time. If Axel had a choice, he would have dashed up the marble staircase and rushed into the royal hallway. And when he reached the designated location, he would have torn through the door and embraced Roxas without a second thought.

"Until next time, my love." That was all the servant could say, unfortunately. He waved once more, hoping Roxas could be just as strong. It was time for him to leave.

"W-wait!" the prince called out loudly, his voice shattering the silence of the night. "Please take care of yourself." And that was the last thing he said before his servant smiled, bowed, and disappeared into the castle, leaving behind his firefly display. The prince was somewhat sad to see his lover disappear, but he was still happier than he had been in the past three months. Axel was simply magnificent and full of imagination. Roxas felt blessed for having such a smart and generous lover.

When Sora was about to rub his back, the prince twirled around and beamed. "Isn't this all beautiful?" Roxas asked brightly. He simply couldn't contain a squeal of utter delight as he hopped up and down. "Oh, I wish he could witness this scene from above!" The fireflies continued roaming in the gardens, adapting to their new home. They found the most beautiful flowers in the sea of grass and the biggest trees along the sides. Their new home was very welcoming.

"Y-yes…" Sora stuttered his reply because he was taken aback by Roxas' optimistic behaviour. "Well, I am glad you were able to see Axel tonight. Perhaps this would make the rest of your evening perfect." Reaching into his robes, the brunet fished out a small envelop, making Roxas' eyes bulge. It was a letter—Axel had actually written a love letter that went along with his gift!

The prince immediately snatched it from Sora's fingers and cheered, though not too loudly. It was still night time after all. Most of the maids and servants should have returned to their rooms by now, but Roxas did not want to risk it. Still, containing his excitement was quite a challenge, but he managed. After giving his cousin a big thankful hug, the prince snuck back into his chamber and jumped onto his bed. Slowly the prince peeled open the envelope so he could draw out Axel's letter. It was dark and quiet. No one was around to disturb him. All he had was the radiant glow of the moonlight. Roxas chose not to turn on the lights.

My dear Roxas,

I sincerely apologize for my lateness. As your lover and your servant I should have been keeping you happy no matter what. For the past three months I hadn't shown you anything new, nor have I given you many gifts. I cannot conjure up excuse after excuse. I am a servant and therefore, excuses are frowned upon. If you felt neglected for the past three months, please forgive me. You are still the most important person to me, as you have been for the last ten years. I will never stop loving you.

The prince managed to smile at Axel's caring words as he pulled his knees up to his chest, his toes curling against the blanket. For him, it wasn't necessary to receive gifts all the time because letters were more than enough. Roxas just needed to know that Axel was all right, that he was healthy and strong.

Please do not be confused by the castle rumours. The maids and the servants exaggerate too often, and I truly wish they didn't. It was Larxene who had kissed me while I was lifting a box of parchments. She and I were having a pleasant conversation before she caught me by surprise. The box nearly slipped from my grasp.

As Roxas' eyes scrolled down the page, his fingers tightened against the letter, wrinkling the edges. "That wretched maid…" Unfortunately the redhead could not allow a heavy box to slip from his fingers, especially since his feet were just under it.

I apologize for being too careless. Larxene is a cunning woman who would go through great lengths to reach her goals. However, I fully understand how you felt whenever Naminé claimed your lips. It must have been unbearable! When Larxene kissed me, I realized how revolting it was to kiss a person I did not love. But it made me appreciate you more; your kisses were gentle and sweet, full of affection and love. Ah, how I miss you so.

The prince pressed a few fingers against his lips as he considered his servant's thought. It had been far too long since he felt Axel's soft lips against his own. They were both deprived of true affection. They desperately needed one another.

Did you enjoy my gift? It took several hours to capture the fireflies in the fields nearby but they were simply beautiful were they not? Our garden should be filled with beautiful lights! I truly hope this is something you have not seen yet. Surely Naminé would not show you something so magnificent. Ah, yes, I admit I am much more romantic than she could ever be.

"Of course," Roxas mentally replied with a wide grin. It was silly of Axel to ever compare himself to the future queen.

My prince, we are now seven years apart because I am twenty-three today! It was quite a surprise when I thought about it the other night, but it does not bother me at all. I could imagine you asking me questions. "What would you like for your birthday?" My only answer is you. I do not need anything else and I believe that is the truth. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of you again because we have been apart for such a long time. If I could wish for more I would want to embrace you and kiss you and tell you how you are the most amazing person in the world. Hopefully I do not seem too selfish. I just miss being with you.

Ah, yes, and I must find a proper way to thank your mother for her kindness. She granted me permission to release the fireflies in the garden.

Roxas raised an eyebrow. "Now my mother is involved?" That was unexpected. But as the prince's eyes journeyed down the page, he felt happy. His mother was being so supportive and helpful, even though she was secretly doing it. "I will thank her later as well."

Perhaps if we are lucky we will see one another during spring. We were graced with beautiful flowers and clear blue skies after all. It would be a shame if we could not at least walk together. Or we could even ride a Chocobo together again one day. Surely that is not a hopeless dream. For now, we must endure the pain of being separated. I know we have done this for three months, but every passing day feels more and more agonizing.

Placing a hand over his heart, the prince sighed miserably. He felt what Axel felt everyday—pain and loneliness. Both of them were lovesick and heartbroken and it was becoming worse and worse. They needed to see one another again soon, and not just from afar.

My love, my heart, my soul, my Roxas…I cannot wait for us to be reunited again. Until that day arrives, I will still send letters, as I always have. I will not allow Larxene to take me away from you, and I believe that Naminé will never be able to whisk you away from me.

"I promise." The prince's words were in a near whisper. Of course, he was never going to surrender his heart to Naminé. Never. Even if he married her one day, it would not be out of love. It would be out of duty, as the prince of a kingdom.

I cannot wait to show you more! Spring has given me the opportunity to think of new ways to impress you! Look at all of the beautiful scenery surrounding us! Really, my love, you should leave your room more often. At least visit the gardens to feed the birds near the fountain or watch the butterflies escape from their cocoons. Search for ways to make your life much more exciting…at least until we are reunited!

Be happy and stay healthy, Roxas. Embrace your freedom! And try not to give Zexion trouble. He seems very stressed lately.

Forever yours,

Axel Aevéres Godfrey

The prince managed to chuckle at his lover's last sentence. "Perhaps I am giving him trouble without realizing it."

He gently dragged his fingers down the page, feeling the smooth paper and dry ink and somehow…he could feel Axel's sadness channelling into him. "It is…all right, Axel. Today was a beautiful and warm day. I was outside. The sun beamed down on my back and the flowers had blossomed magnificently," he whispered softly as he folded the letter. A small smile graced the prince's features as he deposited the love letter into his drawer. Yes, he was sad, but he felt accomplished. He baked a perfectly nice dessert for Axel and he could not wait to receive his next letter. "Perhaps he will praise me for my success!" Roxas' smile warped into a grin as he hugged one of his many cushions.

The vivid image of dancing fireflies flashed in his head. It was an inerasable image, one so beautiful it was etched perfectly in Roxas' mind. And Axel was there…smiling…holding his hand.

For once the prince fell asleep without a frown on his face.

...…o…O…o…...

When Zexion visited the next day, Roxas couldn't stop describing his magical night. He exaggerated several times and boasted about how Axel was the most romantic man in the kingdom. "The fireflies were brighter than any star!" He snapped a sweet biscuit in half as his mind wandered away. The scenes from the previous night just kept flashing in his mind, replaying over and over again, and he never grew tired of it.

"Fireflies cannot be brighter than stars, Roxas." Zexion chuckled softly as he sipped his tea and crossed one leg over the other. The chair he was sitting on was close to the window, so the gentle breeze cooled his hot tea.

The prince pouted childishly as he latched his hands onto his hips. "Must you ruin my story?" He was telling it so well, too. Axel was such a brave servant, wandering into the garden at midnight. For the prince's happiness, he risked his life on his own birthday to release two jars of fireflies near the gorgeous stone fountain. He could have been caught, but he was stealthy and quick. If Roxas wasn't so captivated that night, he would have swooned.

Zexion nodded and set his teacup aside so the prince could refill it. "But of course," he replied innocently, earning a snort from Roxas. "I jest, I jest." The man raised his hands defensively in case Roxas decided to splash hot tea all over his upper body.

"Did he enjoy the food I made? I-I mean, I know it was not perfect, but I did my best!" Roxas tried his hardest to contain his excitement, but he simply couldn't. It was just bursting out of his system. It needed to be released.

Zexion swallowed the warm liquid in his mouth and nodded positively, allowing Roxas to cheer and punch his fists into the air. The chair toppled backwards and landed on the floor with a loud thud. The instructor nearly choked on his tea when the prince's voice suddenly rang in his ears.

When the boy asked what Axel thought, Zexion replied, "He was utterly flattered because no one had ever made him such a delicious dessert before. Even Kairi rarely cooked, so he was very impressed. He only wished he could thank you personally." Roxas shyly turned his head away and blushed, adoring the compliments. He could imagine Axel praising him and kissing him tenderly for being such a sweet lover.

A thunderous knock suddenly came from the prince's bedroom door. The two exchanged worried glances for a quick moment and then rushed to the door when they heard another deafening knock. "I apologize for my rudeness, my prince." The servant standing in the hallway bowed courteously and then kissed Roxas' hand. "I must borrow your instructor for now. Please forgive me." As calm as the situation seemed, Zexion knew there was something amiss. No servant or maid had ever called him out before without explaining themselves. And he was not being summoned by the king or the queen. Otherwise the servant would have said so. Since Zexion did not want to take away his student's sudden stroke of happiness, he simply smiled and claimed that he would return soon.

"Keep my tea warm." Roxas merely grinned and nodded as he retreated into his chamber. As he skipped over to his window seat, he thought about how beautiful the sunset was. It was comforting even though it was melting into the ocean. The sky was tainted with a gradient of warm colours and the clouds were drawing away as though they were welcoming the stars.

"What a splendid sight." Roxas sighed contentedly as he relaxed on his favourite window seat. He never tore his gaze away from the sinking sun. It was mesmerizing. When birds flew towards it, they disappeared into the blinding light. Perhaps they travelled to a faraway land, but to Roxas it almost seemed as though the sun consumed them for getting too close.

Soon, night came and the sky was covered in stars. The crescent moon hovered in the sky, far away from the castle. Roxas stared at it worriedly. Approximately two hours had passed, but Zexion hadn't returned yet. Perhaps they needed him to translate an old script—Roxas was sure the other scholars made him do it before. Just as he was about to leave, Sora snapped the door open and dashed into the room. He was short of breath and his legs were burning. "Sora!" the prince quickly snatched up a small glass and filled it with warm water. His cousin eagerly accepted it and shook his head. "What in the world is going on today?" The brunet drank half of the water and exhaled deeply, trying his best to form coherent words.

"Ax-Axel—it's Axel…!" That was all Roxas could comprehend. It made him frown and fear was bubbling in his blood. No, he didn't want the fear to come back. He was happy for once. He wanted to raise his hands and cover his ears to block out any unfortunate news. But at the same time, he needed to know what happened. "Axel…he…he collapsed!"

Just then the prince's heart shattered into thousands of pieces. His eyes were wide and colour had drained from his face. It was as pale as a blank sheet of paper. His entire body trembled and the working part of his mind almost thought that his legs were going to lose balance. There were so many words bouncing off the walls in his mind and tears had suddenly clouded the prince's vision. He was dizzy and his head throbbed painfully. The entire room practically spun.

But he seemed perfectly happy and healthy last night!

Zexion said he enjoyed my dessert! He had to be all right with that!

Axel wrote such a loving letter the other day! He couldn't have collapsed!

How did this happen? Why?

What if someone hurt him? What if someone found him last night?

What if he was being punished?

Where was Mother? Did she know?

Where was Axel?

And that question made the prince snap. His entire body flinched. Without asking for any details or saying another word, Roxas made a dash towards his bedroom door, his feet pounding against the carpeted floor. He should have known his happiness was only temporary…because everything came at a price.

...…o…O…o…...

A/N: Yes, yes, clearly I am a horrible, torturous person, but stuff happens no? (Is probably hit by some blunt object by now) Anyway, it'll probably be a while before I update again, since school is about to start, but hey, I managed to get this chapter up. XD I still hope it was enjoyable on many levels. I'm actually glad I wrote this chapter for the anniversary! 20 in total now, excluding the introduction of course! Ah, I'm so proud! Next, I'll probably be working on my first short story.

Anyway, I'm still hoping to reach my 500 reviews goal…so I hope to get some feedback from you readers this chapter. XD

Edit: Tinuleaf has kindly put together a Sims portrait for LyS' anniversary! The picture is really cute, so check it out! It's also on her deviantart account if you want to leave a comment!

http: /tinuleaf. deviantart. com/art /LYS-one- year-anniversary- Sim-96189707

Thanks for reading and thanks for the support up until now!

Date posted: August 27th, 2008