Osculation

AN: We so don't own Kingdom hearts or any of it's characters. Yet...

Lady A: Rocket girls and I had one fun time writing this chapter. At first it was all going well then BAM computer deleted the file. Teach us to not back anything up right? Then BAM monitor goes. We were all." F this Sh!" But we can't abandon this story now. We promise to finish it. Srsly we do. Also this chapter was written at like 3 in the morning. And there was a lot of 'muffing' involved with Sora's mom. just read. Don't ask. Durr durr durr.And once again guess the obscure lyric is still running. The song is usually is the song we listed to while writing the chapter near the end. Nothing to do with the mood of the chapter at all. Thanks and on with the shoooe. Show.

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Sora awoke to his brother banging on his door. “SORA GET UP OR YOU’LL BE LATE!” Sora rolled over in his bed. The clock bleared 8:35 at him. Ugh he could have woken me up a little earlier. He thought. He rolled out of bed only to find that he had fallen asleep with his clothes still on. Eww now I’m all gross. Looking back at the clock Sora decided he didn’t have time to shower today. Instead he threw on a new outfit and made his way down the stairs two or three at a time. It was only when he was halfway down the stairs when he realised that he had forgot his notebooks. Booking it back up he stuffed his work into his bag and leaped back down the stairs two at a time. Skidding to a halt in the kitchen he kissed his mother on the cheek and grabbed a pop tart from the counter. ‘Sora you know those aren’t a suitable breakfast!”

“I know, but I don’t have time for pancakes today. Tomorrow promise.” With that Sora closed the front door and jogged to catch up to his brother who turned out to be halfway to the school.

“Coulda waited you know.” Sora said blandly, scarfing down the rest of his pop-tart. The morning sun was unnecessarily warm, making his back uncomfortable with the amount of books he had stuffed into his packsack.

“I know. But I like seeing you rush,” Roxas replied coolly. Sora glared at him his mouth to full to reply, instead he grumbled, a few crumbs sputtering from his lips and causing his brother to snort. “Jeeze Sora, I thought you had some manners,” he noted sarcastically.

“Says the boy, who tried to order peanut butter and jelly from a five star restaurant,” Sora shot back after he forced down the rest of his pop tart.

“Hey, I was what – seven? It wasn’t my fault I didn’t like ‘Filet minion’ or ‘steak a la mode.’ My taste buds weren’t fully developed yet,” he stated matter-of-factly with the kind of authority that made him sound like he was a teacher.

“ ‘A la mode’ is ice cream Roxas...” Sora informed his brother casually, his mind on steak with ice cream. How would that taste anyway?

“Really?” the blond said thoughtfully. “Anyway, did you study enough last night?”

“I got a bit done. But then Nam called me and broke my concentration,” he scowled at his feet. “Riku’s tagging along after school today for my study session.”

“I don’t know why you hate him so much,” Roxas sighed, his shoes dragging along the sidewalk.

“Do I need a reason? I mean, he was teasing me over the phone. How low can you get?” Sora rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Sora, he’s not so bad,” Roxas tried, but Sora already had it in his head that Riku was the worst guy on earth.

“How many people do you think he’s done anyway?” The brunet asked his brother haughtily.

“Sor-“

“I’d put my money on fifteen. Wait! No may-“

“Sora.”

“Twenty. Yeah. Or somewhere in between that. Did you hear about him and Tifa?” Sora gossiped and continued to talk to Roxas even though he wasn’t paying attention at all.

“SORA!” The blond yelled right into his twin’s ear.

“OW! Oh my god Roxas that was my ear! You didn’t have to yell,” Sora rubbed his ear with a pout on his face.

“I think we’re late,” he forced through gritted teeth. His brother could be so dense sometimes… Sora’s eyes flashed to the school only yards ahead. The front lawn was completely empty, no kids running around torturing each other or couples smooching.

“Oh, you’re right. Why didn’t you say that sooner Roxas?” The brunet scolded before flashing his brother a mischievous smile before running off towards the school. “Eat my dust!” Sora yelled back. Roxas just stood there and let everything register before taking off like a light, his feet pounding the sidewalk and then the grass, easily catching up to a laughing Sora. Roxas always was the athletic one, but Sora was still competitive, and challenged the blonde to anything even though he knew he was going to lose.

The two ran across the perfectly green lawn, kicking up dirt and grass seeds as they went, and leaving shoe prints in the occasional damp ground. They jumped over the small garden, making sure not to graze the daisies the principal loved so much with their heels. Laughing, the twins leapt up the concrete front steps and both slowed down, huffing in front of the glass doors, hands on their knees and trying to laugh.

Roxas swung open the door and slipped inside coughing, Sora following easily. The hallway was quiet, but Sora was able to hear the chatter of the classrooms. The two split up, Roxas heading down the senior’s wing and Sora walking hastily to his locker.

“Oh wait, SORA!” Roxas stopped and turned around. “I have a game tonight, tell mom I’ll be late alright?”

“Got it. Game – mom – late!” The brunet shouted back and flashed him a thumbs up. He threw his backpack into his locker and quickly grabbed his English binder. Whoever scheduled English as my first class was an idiot…

Sora walked past the open doors of classrooms and ran when he could, holding his things to his chest and turning corners. It was only when he saw his books scattered on the hallway floor he realised that he wasn’t running anymore – or that matter, standing anymore. He rubbed his lower back, what the hell did he trip over?

“Ow…” he complained audibly.

“You okay?” Sora looked up at the sound of a voice he knew all to well. Riku stood above him with a hand out but a sort of stern look drawn on his face.

“I’m fine,” he spat acidly, and Riku withdrew the hand.

“Well then,” he stated cockily. “If you’re going to be rude. I might as well not help you up!” Sora scowled and reached for his belongings and grumbling as he was doing it. He helped himself up quickly and wiped off his pants.

“What are you doing in the halls anyway?” Riku asked casually, following Sora who could no longer hurry because all the doors were left open. Curse them…

“I was late,” Sora mumbled. “What’s your excuse?”

“Spare, just had to get my notes back from Demyx,” the silver haired boy shrugged and easily kept up with Sora who was trying his best to get away.

“Oh,” Sora said, in no mood to start up a conversation with that womaniser. He’d say the least as possible.

“What class?” He asked.

“English,” the brunet stated.

“Ah, the one you’re failing right?” Riku smirked and Sora stopped in his tracks.

“I’m not failing. Just having some difficulties,” Sora informed the other who loomed over him with a smiled on his face.

“That’s not what Namine told me…”

“Yeah, well. Namine doesn’t have her facts straight then. One low mark doesn’t count as failing,” Sora said and added a fake smile and continued on his way.

“One? I thought it was more like, twenty, or thirty…” Riku wondered out loud just to bother the shorter male.

“Listen!” Sora huffed. “I have to get to class.”

“Which is down the other hall, by the way…” the other coughed. Sora stopped and blinked, wait, what?

“Gah, that’s your fault. Stop distracting me!” He said and turned on his heel, Riku keeping down a laugh.

“So, how are you going to get your grades up?” He asked as if they were friends.

“Huh? Oh, you and Namine are coming to my house after school to study with me aren’t you?” Sora replied easily.

“Well, yeah. But Namine does have her other assignments to worry about,”

“Namine wouldn’t ditch me,” Sora scoffed. “She knows how much I need this.” But then again, what Riku said was right. Both of them had major assignments coming up, what if she couldn’t help him anymore? What would he do then? He could try to study on his own but he always got distracted easily, so it wouldn’t really do him any good. Riku hummed and continued to walk with Sora, having nothing better to do and knowing that he annoyed the brunet.

“Anyway, I gotta get in class before Ms Rogers notices I’m gone…” he said and stood in front of the closed door. He didn’t want to go in, not one bit. She was bound to chew him out and give him detention.

“Alright,” Riku smiled. “See you later!” He left with a small wave.

‘See you later’… Right Sora sighed and looked to his feet, his eyes closed tight. He held his breath before putting a hand on the doorknob and opening it slowly to slip in quietly…

“Good thing there was no pop quiz today, ya?” Wakka said lightly, lying back on the green grass of the front lawn, his hands behind his head. They had all decided to eat lunch outside today because it was too stuffy indoors and the cafeteria was always packed full.

“Yeah. Thank god Ms Rogers lost her papers or we might have seen a total Sora mental breakdown!” Tidus laughed burst into a series of twitches and face making. Sora just rolled his eyes as everyone else laughed like hyenas.

“Yeah, yeah…” Sora said and threw an apple at the twitching ball of sugar, hitting him in his stomach. Tidus cringed dramatically and clutched at his belly, falling onto his back.

“Man down, man down!” He squawked, but it’s effect was ruined however when it was spoken in between laughs. As Tidus broke into a fit of giggles underneath the oak tree, the three others continued with their lunches. This was normal behaviour for Tidus.

“Hey, where’s Selphie?” Sora asked, munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, failing as he wiped a sticky jam streak off his cheek.

“Oh. She’s at practice,” Namine said happily, stabbing her fork into the salad she had in a plastic container.

“She’s always doing that these days, ya?” Wakka asked, more of a statement than a question.

“Well, it is cheerleading Wakka,” Tidus said, now calming himself down and picking the grass off his sleeves. “She’s not exactly the most co-ordinated person after all…”

“Like the time she tripped over her own feet and broke the carton of eggs in home ec?” Sora laughed.

“Didn’t Mr. Strife send her all the way to the store to get a new one?” Namine asked, stuffing lettuce in her mouth.

“Then I didn’t come back until halfway through Science?” A familiar voice drifted into their heads and they all look up to see Selphie with her fists on her hips and light blue and white pom-poms in them. “Come on you guys, will you ever forget that?”

“Nope,” Tidus told her breezily. “We’re never going to let you live it down.”

“That, or the time you called Squall a ‘total hottie’ right to his face. You got extra work for a week, ya?” Wakka chuckled.

“Wakka! Shut your mouth!” Selphie shouted, rightfully throwing a pom-pom at him. She sat herself between Namine and the red head who was now suffocating under the cheer utensil. She sighed and pulled a loose white sweater over her uniform, although she still wore a skirt shorter than any Sora had ever seen. Why did the cheerleaders have to dress so skimpy?

“How was practice?” Namine asked politely.

“Ugh, Tifa is the worst captain ever. She keeps telling us that we’re doing it wrong even though I know it’s perfect,” Selphie ranted, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up in the air for added effect.

“But in the end it’s worth it, right?” Sora smiled.

“I hope. I’ve had enough of Tifa and her arabesques, basket tosses and dead mans!” She shouted at them and defiantly crossed her arms. Namine was the only one who knew what she was talking about. The guys just nodded their heads.

“So you just left?” Tidus asked hesitantly.

“Huh? Oh yeah,” Selphie said, rooting through Namine’s lunch for something to eat. The blonde just sighed and let her go for it.

“Won’t they kick you off?” Sora sucked the last bit of juice from his juice box noisily.

“Nope, they need me. I’m basically the only flyer they have,” the bouncy brunette smiled, peeling a tangerine with her long nails and burying the scraps in a shallow hole she had made.

“Selphie, that’s littering,” Sora told her with a frown.

“No, Sora, it’s not. They’re bio degradable, I’m helping the environment,” Selphie informed him with a light smile. Okay, that was true. Sora sighed and was about to lie down when the bell rang. He and Namine stood and brushed the dirt off their pants, waved goodbye to their friends and headed off to art.

Ms Gainsborough was an awesome teacher. She had curly brown hair and she taught an easy class. There were hardly any major assignments or projects. There were no worksheets or pop quizzes. She mostly just told the class what the main idea was of the art, and let them go. They could paint anything they wanted with any medium they could lay their hands on. Of course, a few hooligans in her older classes always ended up using broken things glued to canvases as a joke…

“Did you happen to study last night Sora?” Namine asked, setting out her paint and brushes on the easel.

“A little bit,” Sora grunted, not really sure what to paint. “Tell me again, why does Riku have to come again?”

“Sora,” Namine sighed. “Why don’t you like him?”

“He’s a womaniser. He laughed at me this morning and was really rude,” he complained, sticking his brush into the blue paint and stroking it angrily on the canvas.

“You saw him this morning?” Namine questioned, a thin and careful brush tracing a gentle outline of whatever she was painting,

“Yeah I ran into him,” Sora recalled. “He wouldn’t help me up.” It seemed like his hand had a mind of it’s own, and he wasn’t about to stop it. After all, he could turn out to be the next Picasso.

“That doesn’t sound like Riku. He’s always nice to me…” Namine wondered to herself.

“Well la-di-da,” Sora mocked and regretted it immediately.

“Sora, there’s no need to get fussy…” she breathed quietly, wiping her brush on the paper towel.

“I know, I’m sorry,” he apologised.

“Just give him a chance. I think you’re just expecting the worst out of him so much that no matter what he does, it’s a bad thing,” she told him gently. Sora blinked.

“You sound like Dr. Phil Nam,” the brunet laughed and suffered a white streak of paint on his cheek. He scowled and knew better than to start a paint war with the blonde. They laughed in the corner of the art room and received wary looks from the other students.

“Nam, how come everything I paint ends up looking like the phallic symbol?” Sora asked and cocked his head to one side to look at his painting. The blonde finished her line before looking to her friend artwork, then lapsed into a fit of giggles.

“Maybe your mind is trying to tell you something Sora,” she suggested, nudging him with her elbow.

“Oh gross. I’ve been drawing since I was five. I really doubt I was thinking about male anatomy when that young,” Sora made a face of disgust and stuck out his tongue.

The rest of his classes were as easy as art. He had a sub for math, so Tidus ended up torturing the poor girl with spitballs and telling her that the normal teacher let us fool around. No one protested though, either it was have fun or doing questions one to seventy five out the textbook. And Science was always and easy class. Mr Noble was a total bore with a monotonous voice, drawing out each word until it was multisyllabic. He just handed out a worksheet and Sora was done in a matter of minutes.

Sora split up with Namine on his way home. She had promised to give him time to shower before her and Riku came over. Ugh right he’s coming too. Sora trudged the rest of the way home, thinking that if he stalled here he wouldn’t have to spend as much time in Riku’s presence. Fishing his keys out of his pockets he opened the door and dropped his bag by the shoes. “Mom!” he called “ you home yet?” There was no answer Hmm must still be at work Sora thought and made his way to his shower. Turning it on so that it was almost too hot he got undressed and stepped in. Letting the water fall over himself, he relaxed a little. Maybe studying tonight won’t be so bad. Maybe Riku will get into some sort of accident and won’t be able to make it.

Why do you hate him so much? Asked a voice inside his head.

He’s so arrogant , and stuck up and pretty! Wait, that’s not what he meant. Dammit! Sora was pretty too, but just not as pretty.

Jealousy. Said the voice finally. Sora thumped his head against the shower wall and closed his eyes. Why did Namine have to befriend someone like that!

Pushing the whole situation from his mind Sora began to clean himself. He didn’t shower that morning and he spent a little extra time soaking in the heat from the shower. He must have spent more time then he thought because he heard a light knock at the door. Namine he thought She’s the only one who knocks. His mother preferred to bust into the bathroom unexpectedly. Which lead to a lot of embarrassing moments. Sora shook his head ridding himself of any unwanted memories and turned the shower off. Grabbing a towel from the rack he mentally prepared himself for the battle that was about to happen.
“Frig this is stupid” Axel grumbled to himself as he watched the small blonde boy run back across the court. And it’s cold in here. Axel pulled gloves out of his backpack and slid them over his hands. Heh let’s hope I got the right kid. Or else I look preeetty creepy. Axel had overheard his best friend talking to the girl he’s been hanging out with lately. She mentioned something about studying at her friend’s house. Whatwas her name? He had only ever seen her from the back or from afar. But he knew well enough that she not only hung out with Riku, but the spiky brown haired twin. The other of the twins was playing volleyball on the court, sweat now beading down his face. Hmmm, they really do look alike.

Axel focused on a blank spot on the wall by the bleachers across from him. He had figured that if he followed the boy to his house, he’d probably find his best friend, and once that was done he’d drag him away from the little girl he’s been hiding away and go have some real fun on the other side of town. Volleyball couldn’t hold his attention, in fact he really didn’t like any sports with a passion. Well maybe swimming. Axel smirked remembering back to when he was a kid and used to go swimming all the time. Only way to keep cool. Now I’m just cold all the time. Axel was lost in thought when the buzzer sounded. He looked up to see the teams shaking hands and leaving for the change rooms. We won. He thought absently to himself and got up to leave. He decided to wait for the kid outside, might make him look a little stalkerish is he caught him outside the change rooms.

“Hey,” said a strange voice from behind him. Roxas turned around to see a tall lanky kid in a toque and gloves jogging to catch up to him.

“Er hi,” said Roxas caught off guard by the guys friendly nature. Random people aren’t usually this nice are they? Roxas started to walk a little quicker not wanting to spend anymore tome with this guy than possible. An outstretched hand stopped him however, right in front of his face. How did he get in front of me so fast? Roxas concentrated on the glove, deciding on whether to take it or not.

”You gunna shake it? It’s only polite,” the stranger stated plainly.

“Er - with your gloves on?” Roxas asked trying to avoid touching him if possible. He thought he had gotten away with it when he saw the taller boys scrunched up face. Roxas grinned to himself and was about to step past the boy when he started to take off his gloves. Slowly Axel tugged at the fingers with his teeth finally slipping the black thing off from the wrist. The glove still clenched between his teeth he raised an eyebrow his now uncovered hand outstretched. Roxas took the hand begrudgingly, “I’m Roxas” he stated, when something made him jump. “Whoa why are you so cold?” he let go of the boys hand quickly, his fingers tingling. Rubbing his hands together to return them back to their regular temperature he glared up at the boy as if it was his fault.

“Dunno,” he replied slipping his hand back into his glove. “Been like that for a while,” he shrugged “I’m Axel by the way”. Roxas started walking again when he realised Axel was still following him. He started to walk a little faster but Axel’s long legs allowed him to catch up easily. Heh, this kids fun, little panicky, but fun. Roxas sighed and resigned himself to walking beside the toqued boy. They walked in silence for a while, Axel rearranging his hat every once in a while or whistling sore nameless tune. Finally Roxas had had enough.

“Okay why are you following me?” he asked stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. Axel merely looked at him, a smirk on his face.

“I have to go to your house of course,” he said easily completely unfazed by the look of confusion on the blonde boy’s face.

“Oh, alright. That’s- Wait, hold on a sec. What? Why!?” Roxas said louder than before. “I don’t even know you!”

“I told you my name,” Axel raised his eyebrows and shrugged lightly.

“ That’s not the point Axel, and you know it!” Roxas said heatedly. Axel was a little taken aback by the way Roxas had spoke his name. Whoa, now that’s a temper. Axel smiled to himself. He’s more fun to tease then Demyx. Axel continued to smile at Roxas until the kid looked like he was going to blow a gasket.

“Okay, okay, woah, relax.” Said Axel putting his hands in front of him in defence. “ My best friend is at your house, probably helping your brother study.” Roxas blinked confusion once again replacing anger. Axel watched him mull it over and then turn around and start walking again.

“Riku?” he asked politely.

“The one and only.” Axel said catching up to him again.

“Yeah alright then. I guess you can come back with me.”

“Oh why thank you” he said as if he wasn’t already going to go anyway. Roxas turned into a driveway of a modest looking house a little while later and starting fishing in his pockets for his keys, when Axel pushed him out of the way and opened the door. Giving Roxas an ‘it wasn’t unlocked ’ look he shrugged and entered the house. “ Rikuuuuu are you here?” he yelled into the house.
Sora had been right it was Namine at the door to the shower he said his hellos and made his way to his room, Namine following close behind. She closed the door behind them and turned to face Sora.

“Sora “, she spoke softly, “your why do you hate hi-“ she was interrupted by Sora’s grunting.

“Nam can you turn around for me please.” It wouldn’t matter if she did see him naked, but he still had his morals, she was an innocent little virgin girl after all. Namine finished her thought however still facing the door.

“hate him so much?”

“I don’t hate him per say,” Sora explained, pulling on a pair of boxers followed by khaki shorts. His mother had always told him that ‘hate’ was too strong a word to use for just anything especially people. “I just really, don’t like him.”

“Well why?” She questioned further. She really wasn’t going to let this rest was she? Sora sighed remembering his thoughts in the shower earlier. Slipping on a t-shirt he said exactly what he was thinking.

“He’s just so arrogant and stuck up and you’ve heard all those things about him and all those girls!” Sora finished there, not having the energy for a rant at the moment.

“So you’re jealous.” It was more of a statement then a question. Namine folder her arms in triumph. “I knew it.” Sora rolled his eyes but considered her reasoning. Maybe Sora was a little envious of all the girls Riku had been with. Sora hadn’t even had his first kiss yet. The more Sora pondered on it the more it made sense.

It’s true, the voice said to him, you don’t even know him. Sora opened his mouth to agree with Namine and apologise for being so judgmental when he heard the click of the fridge door downstairs. But his mother wasn’t home…Riku was in his fridge! Where all his goodies were! Sora focused his attention back on Namine who had heard the door as well, and braced herself for the worst.

“If he touches my lemon muffins he’s going to be hurt!” Sora opened his door and bounded down the stairs yelling about ‘severe injuries’ and ‘dental records’. When he wrenched opened the door to the kitchen he was surprised to see his mother at the fridge instead of Riku.

“My, my Sora, you’ve got a mouth of you today! I know how to fix that up.” With that said she pushed a muffin into Sora’s now open mouth before he could say anything. Sora’s mom took out another muffin and handed it to Riku, who Sora didn’t even realise, was standing right behind him. Sora practically jumped across the kitchen when he saw how close Riku was to him. Riku merely chucked and took a bite out of his muffin. Sora glared at him and took another, more vicious, bite as well. Namine had made her way into the kitchen and saw the way the two boys were looking at each other. She was about to give them a piece of her mind when a muffin was pushed into her mouth also.

“Oh Namine, you eat far to less for a girl your age all skin and bones you are.” Sora’s mom put the rest of the muffins back into the fridge and took a hold of Riku’s arm. “Come on now, we’ll leave these two to study, you promised to tell me about your trip to Alberta.”

Sora munched down the rest of his muffin. Not really enjoying the taste it left in his mouth. Stupid Riku, he thought bitterly, had to go and turn my mom on his side too. Sora caught a glimpse of them sitting on the couch his mom laughing at a joke Riku had just made, before Namine closed the door.

“Leave them alone Sora, your Mom she’s just being a good hostess” Namine sat down in a chair, Sora took the one beside her. “Besides if you wanted to make your mom happy then surprise her with a good English mark for once, you now she worries about your work.” Sora grunted a response but pulled his thought away from the living room. Putting all his attention on the book, he looked up at Namine.

“All right how do we do this?”

“Do what?” she asked not really understanding what Sora was getting at.

“Y’know,” Sora said picking up his notebook letting it hang open, “Study. We doing poetry, essays, polygons?”

“Polygons are math Sora, and no were going to do definitions since that’s what the test will mostly be on. We can cover other stuff later.” She pulled a blue duotang out of her binder and opened it up.

“Hey I don’t have one of these” Sora said, feeling left out.

“Of course you don’t Ms. Rogers gave it to me to help you, it’s a study guide.”

“Eww that sounds gross.” Sora backed up in his chair a little away from the evil blue book.

“Don’t look at me like that Sora it’s not that bad! Think of it as like a mini dictionary of words you should know by now okay?” She tried to act cheery but this only frustrated Sora even more. How can she be so happy about English? She read over the first page and Sora caught a glimpse of black pen and Ms. Rogers’s handwriting. It wasn’t in red and that calmed Sora little bit. Namine read over the note and smiled to herself.“I’ll give you a word and you give me a meaning okay?” she paused to see if Sora acknowledged her offer, when he grumbled a bit she continued. “All right let’s see here the first word is ‘abhor.’ ”

“Seriously hate” Sora stated through clenched teeth.

“Right,” said Namine cheerily obviously trying to ignore the fact that Sora’s mood hadn’t improved. Sora stared at the blank page in front of him not really caring about Namine’s praises at the moment. “Next then.”

Sora made it all the way through abandon, abrasion and abstain without any problems, and he was starting to feel pretty confident. This isn’t going to be so bad, he thought. He seemed to know most of the words already. “All right Nam next word” he said after successfully defining the next word ‘accentuate’.

“Calm down, Sora” your starting to scare me a little,” she giggled at Sora’s enthusiasm, then read out the next word. “ Acquisition” She stared at the blank look on his face.

“What?” was his answer as he blinked several times.

“Ac-qui-sition-“ she spoke slower this time.

“It doesn’t matter how slow you say it Nam I’m still not going to get it.” Sora stared back at Namine, “What now?”

“Well I guess we could write down the word, I’ll tell you the definition and we’ll come back to it later?” she offered it didn’t sound like a bad idea to Sora. So he copied the word as Namine spelt it out for him.

“Acquisition, the act of acquiring or gaining,” she said.

“OH! So getting something.”

“Right but by yourself,” She corrected gently.

“Okay then,” Sora thought for a moment ,”getting yourself something.” Sora’s slump didn’t end there. It seemed that Ms.Rogers put all the easy words at the beginning to boost his confidence. But now he didn’t know any of the words that Namine was giving him. His re-word list was getting longer. Filling up with words like, adonis allegiance, amplify and artery. It wasn’t all that bad though, Sora got the word alchemy, if only for his secret love for video games.

“Naam,” he whined at her, “ let’s just quit I mean I have like twenty words already and that’s just the ‘a’s!”

“We’ve only got a few left Sora. We’ll wait after the end of these okay?” She looked at the clock, Roxas would be home soon, she’d have to rush through the last words before she lost all of Sora’s attention. “Okay, here goes the next word. The next word is ax-“

“AXEL” They heard a loud shout coming from the living room. And Sora’s studying was duly forgotten as a red faced Roxas stormed into the kitchen.

“You okay Rox?” Asked Sora cautiously.

“Do I look okay?” Roxas asked as he rummaged through the cupboards finally grabbing his box of Fruit Loops. Stuffing his hand into the box he continued. “That guy in there followed me home and practically barged in here!”

“You!” Namine burst out and pointed to the red head who stood at the doorway. She was up in a second and was latched onto the boys arm. The girl must of registered with the boy because instead of shrugging her off he ruffled her blonde hair affectionately.

“Hey! How’s Larx’s little sis?”

“Great!” Namine replied still hugging Axel tightly. “She’s having a good time since she left. Lark has been wondering how you’ve been doing.”

“Oh y’know still breathing.” Namine removed her arms from around him and moved her way over to the table. Axel followed her, leaning against the counter the two of them engaged in a friendly chat. Sora caught his brothers gaze over the box of Fruit Loops and gave him a look that said ‘I know what the?’ When a silver haired boy at the kitchen door interrupted him.

“Hey what do you think your doing?” interrupted Sora who saw Riku make his way from the doorway of the kitchen to the fridge. Riku stuck his head in the fridge and mumbled his answer into the celery.

“What was that?” Sora asked becoming slowly more frustrated then he was at the homework.

“I said,” spoke Riku raising his head from behind the refrigerator door, “I’m getting something to drink.”

“Who said that you could just raid my fridge?” Sora pouted and scowled at Riku who now had a juice box in his hand.

“Your mom,” he said easily, and this time it wasn’t a jab at Sora. The brunet crossed his arms and continued to glare at Riku. Namine was chatting cheerily with Axel at the kitchen table, Roxas staring at them while stuffing his hand into the Fruit Loop box and eating them dry.

“You know, you don’t look cool drinking out of a juice box,” Sora faked a smile at the silver haired boy leaning over his kitchen ‘s island counter and sucking through a straw.

“Yes I do,” Riku countered with a grin.

“No, you don’t. No one looks cool drinking from a box.”

“Well, maybe you don’t, but then again when do you cool?” He smirked maliciously, causing Sora to let out a small, almost inaudible, growl. “In case you didn’t notice Sora. I always look cool.”

“Well, aren’t we modest?” Sora shot back sarcastically.

“The most.” Sora rolled his eyes at his answer and turned his back on Riku, maybe if he pretended he didn’t exist, he’d go away.

“Hey Riku! When did you get here?” Axel looked up from explaining a very important guitar solo, Demyx had shown him, to Namine to see that the silver haired boy was standing in the kitchen.

“Five minutes ago?” Riku tried honestly, casually taking a seat across from the red head.

“Get a gig for your band yet Ax?” Riku asked, joining in the conversation with ease.

“Nah, not yet. Ever since Larxene’s band left on tour, the club managers don’t want to ‘spoil the fruit’ if you know what I mean…” Axel sighed and pulled his hat a little lower.

“Bummer,” Riku stated, noisily slurping the last of the juice and flashing his aqua eyes to Sora who was glaring at him. Just to bug him, he continued to make the noise long after the juice was gone.

“Quit that,” Sora shouted, swiping the juice box out of Riku’s hand and scowling at him. The other just snorted.

“By the way, I heard you like licking wood Sora,” Riku mentioned and Namine held back a laugh.

“Yeah, hard wood,” Axel added with a grin.

“Gah! Namine, you told them?” Sora blushed furiously and glared at the blonde. Namine had her hand to her mouth as she nodded her head.

“Jeeze Sora. I know where you can get some hard wood to lick,” Riku suggested and Sora turned a deeper shade of red, burying his face into his hands groaning. By now even Roxas was snorting and giggling.

“I wouldn’t be laughing blondie,” Riku snorted. “I heard you singing ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ in the showers yesterday.” Now it was Roxas turn to blush.

“I thought everyone was already gone!” He mumbled into his knees, his blonde hair being ruffled by a laughing Axel. Sora was about to speak up to defend his wounded pride when his mother took this moment to burst into the kitchen singing at the top of her lungs.

“Well did my two boys get to much sun today? Or did Namine regale you all with the story of Roxas and Sora’s first trip to see Santa?”

“No actually”, said Axel grinning “please tell.” Thankfully Roxas took this moment to come crashing down off the counter taking Axel with him. Whether it was by accident or on purpose Sora would have to thank him either way. Roxas mumbled sorry as Axel helped him to his feet. “S’no problem”, said Axel ruffling the blonde’s hair again. This time Roxas didn’t bother to fix it. “Ah wanna go Ri?” Axel asked nodding his head in Riku’s direction. Riku shrugged.

“Sure.” He turned to Sora’s Mom. “Thanks again Hannah, I had a really good time and I seriously loved your, muffins.” Sora stared open mouthed at Riku. When was he on first name basis with his mom? And when did he get so polite?

“Anytime hun, “ she smiled sweetly at him, and because Riku was so much taller then her she patted him on the shoulder.

“Wait. Everybody got a muffin but me?” Axel mock pouted.

“OH! That’s right you came late!” Sora’s mom busied herself in the fridge while Namine packed up her books off the table.

‘Sora I’m going to get going too. I have a few things for homework still to do.” She finished putting the rest of her stuff in her bag.

“Yeah okay,” was Sora’s only reply. Hannah had finished fishing a muffin out of the fridge for Axel.

“Here you are.” She said placing the muffing in Axel’s open mouth.

“thfs mrrm” was the muffled reply.

“What was that?” she asked politely.

“Sorry,” he apologised, clearing his throat, “ Thanks Mom..”

“Your welcome” she said back completely unfazed by the familiarity. Roxas looked outraged but chose this moment to re-stuff himself with fruity loops. Riku exited the kitchen. Axel, while still eating his muffin followed after. Namine took her leave as well hugging Sora before she left the room. Sora and Roxas walked to the front door to see Namine off, Hannah standing behind them. Namine caught up with Riku and Axel at the end of the driveway., and turned to wave. Sora waved back and Hannah yelled after the trio. “ Don’t forget Riku dinner on Friday! Bring your friend if he wants to come to!” A loud. ‘Sweet diner’ could be heard coming from Axel and both Roxas and Sora started to protest before their mom closed the door on both of them.

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Rocket Girls: SO YEAH. that's how it goes, pretty neat huh? Chapter two is really long, probably due to the fact that Chapter three is going to be really short and a filler chapter.

Lady A : You're just lazy.

Rocket Girls: Same goes for you then!

Lady A : -makes rice cake gun-

Rocket Girls : Oh my. God!

Alright! That's it. Reveiw please!