A/N: While I wish that I owned the awesome world of Kingdom Hearts and its characters, I don't. They are the genius products of Square Enix and Disney.

Phoenix Dreams

The wind was flavored with spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger, were strong in the air, mixed with the scents of others he could not name now, but were on the tip of his tongue. He swallowed the scents, attempting to wet his lips and produce saliva for his dry mouth. Slowly, eyes opened, slits of green scanning the shaded room as a slight breeze drifted in from the windows; it was the culprit for the heavy scents invading his sleep. The kitchens were working overtime today for the holiday.

Lea shivered slightly from the breeze, sitting up and letting the silk sheet pool around the lap of his lanky body. Yawning and indulging in a cat-like stretch, He winced and let his palm hover gently over his right shoulder. His sleep-muddled brain had forgotten about the recently completed tattoo. With fiery plumes of red, gold, and orange, the Vermillion Bird almost burned brightly against the fair skin of his shoulder and arm, a few long feathers curling down to his wrist and ending in flamed tips. He flexed his arm softly, testing the tightness of the skin as he sighed.

A timid knock sounded against the dark wood of his chamber door, and Lea swallowed slightly, turning his head to see a maidservant enter his room. She bowed to him once, a soft blush coloring her face as she took in his naked chest.

"Ohayou." (good morning) He spoke softly, watching as she lowered her head to cast her eyes from his person. She bowed at him again before quietly moving to tend the room and complete her morning duties. Lea frowned and sighed at her actions, lifting a hand to ruffle the messy red spikes of hair that had been disheveled in sleep. He had been brought to Radiant Garden almost four months ago and had tried to pick up some of the land's language. It was difficult, however, as people rarely spoke to him. They thought it disrespectful based on his position.

He had trouble understanding what that position was, however. He knew the worlds were connected, and being from the southern realm, he understood that he was in the kingdom of Suzaku, the fire-bird of the south. He had guessed that they wished for him to become a priest due to his unique coloring. His hair had a tendency to look like unruly flames and he supposed that the people thought he should belong to the sect of the phoenix. But, it was hard to understand why he had been taken from his homeland with the language barrier and unresponsive citizens making the whole ordeal even more confusing. The priests had been kind to him though, had spent time teaching him bits and pieces of information to aid him in his unknown transition.

"It is a busy day, Lea. You should not waste time sleeping."

Lea turned his gaze from the maidservant back to his door and gave a slight smile to the old priest who was now entering his chambers. He was the Wise one to the sect, the one that had been helping him understand the new environment he had found himself in. The other priests had called him Ansem. He had pale blond hair and bright orange eyes that were often softened in kindness. At the same time, Lea felt that there was something dishonest about him. He hoped that he was wrong.

"I'm awake… it's kind of hard to sleep with the smells from the kitchens. Did you finish the preparations for your ceremony? I know you seemed stressed." Lea answered and widened his eyes as heard the maidservant clear her throat. Once having his attention, she bowed again and gestured to the warm bath she had drawn. Lea let a dreamy smile spread across his face. The hot baths were probably his favorite experience in the city. It certainly beat having to pump his own water and the cold baths it produced. Truthfully, he had despised water before he had been in the steam bath.

"Thank you, Xion. That will be all." The young woman nodded and hurried past Ansem the Wise, closing the door quietly. Lea wasn't bashful. He had already exited the bed, letting the silk sheets settle on the floor as he made his way to the bath. Sighing blissfully, he let himself sink into the warm water. Ansem chuckled lightly at the young male's actions and turned from the room.

"I'll have Xion send some breakfast soon. Your cloths have already been laid out for you. Please remember that I would like you present at the ceremony."

"I thought that was at sunset." Lea murmured, settling as low as he could in the tub while still keeping his head above the water to breath. Ansem turned his head slightly, orange eyes settling on the man. "Yes… indeed." His smile changed slightly. "Sunset and sunrise are sacred moments to Suzaku. And this is a very important ceremony."

"I got it memorized. Sunset it is."

xxxxxxx

To say Lea was frightened was an understatement. The priests had gathered him from his chamber at midday and inflected more tattoos upon him. Two small markings symmetrically below his eyes that had hurt worse than any pain he had encountered before. There were thick gold bands around his wrists keeping him shackled to the ceremonial site.

It would soon be sunset, and he feared what that brought. A soft sob broke out to his left. There were two other males on the platform with him. Both of them wore the same red robes he wore, had the same teardrop markings on their faces and intricately crafted phoenixes detailed into their skin. They were of similar ages, although one had ginger hair that could be considered more of an orange hue while the other had a bright golden blond.

It was the blond who was crying. Sobbing out in words which, while spoken in a foreign tongue that Lea could not decipher, were obviously frantic pleas to the priests and priestess that were chanting and tending to a roaring fire, the blond's face was reddened from the tattoos and his tears. His arms were raw with the struggles against his bonds, blood dripping carelessly to the stone.

In contrast, the ginger was quiet, staring ahead at the city's citizens that came to watch their high priests and priestess perform the ceremony. His cheeks were reddened, not just from the lingering effects of the tattooing, but from the sun. Lea felt as though his own skin was hot, so he believed that a sunburn was certain on his fair skin as well.

Green eyes were averted from the ginger as Ansem and two other priests approached the blond. Ansem carried a gold urn, orange eyes watching the boy as he smiled and wiped tears away from his eyes. He shushed the other male, speaking some of the boy's language before dipping a finger in the urn and caking ashes on the boy's cheeks, following the lines of the tattoos. The flanking priests unbolted the chains from the stone and held fast to the boy.

"Golden child, the sun's rays dance in you and reflect the light. Yet, you cry tears of ash. Why weep when life is born from the ash? If you are the vessel, you will be reborn and reflect the light for all to see. If you are not chosen, then life will still grow anew from you. You will bring the sun to this land and happiness to its entire people." Ansem finished with the ash. Tears were caking the gray matter on the boy's face, his pale blue eyes wide as he struggled to understand the priest's words. The Wise one bowed to him before moving to the next.

A new set of priests fell in step behind the High Priest, while Ansem began to spread the ash on the ginger's face. "Child of orange, you are gentle warmth, enduring in the length of the summer day. Yet, you cry tears of ash. Why weep when life is born from the ash? If you are the vessel, you will be reborn and heal the land. If you are not chosen, then life will still grow anew from you. You will bring luck and prosperity to all."

Lea inhaled and frowned at it all. While the blond struggled against the priests that held him captive, the ginger looked as though he had lost any fight that was in him. He dejectedly let the priests pull him forward towards the fire that the priestesses were currently tending. Lea blinked and narrowed his eyes as Ansem and two new priests walked towards him.

"Why are you doing this!" He yelled at the older man, angry green eyes briefly meeting the yellow and orange eyes of the blue and silver haired priest who took his shackled arms.

Ansem watched him for a moment, a smile gracing his lips as he dipped his finger into the urn to cake it with the gray ash. He continued without answering Lea's question. The other priests had to use one hand each to hold Lea's head straight for the anointing.

"Child of flames. You are the raging fire, bringing life and death in your wake. Yet, you cry tears of ash. Why weep when life is born from the ash? If you are the vessel, you will be reborn and power will reign in the South. If you are not chosen, then life will still grow anew from you. You will energize the kingdom." Lea winced as the priest spread the ash onto his already tender cheeks, the tiny specs of dirt digging into the wounds left by the tattoo.

This can't be happening. Lea thought as he struggled against the priests as they dragged him closer to the flames with other offerings. I'm going to wake up back in Twilight, my mother yelling for me to finish tending the crop. These past months are just a dream!

But the heat of the flames burned. The sobs of the blond and the quiet indifference of the ginger were not figments of his imagination. This was not a bad dream. Soon enough, tears were streaking the ash from his cheeks, and he closed his green eyes tight as he heard the screams and was pushed into the dancing flames. He curled into himself, screaming in agony and fury as the tongues licked his skin.

And then, time seemed to stop for him as he felt a force slam into his center; Lea gasped as he curled tighter into himself as the flames continued to roar.

xxxxxxx

At sunrise, the priests and priestesses of Radiant Garden approached the blackened heap at the ceremonial site. Protecting themselves against the embers, they rooted through the ash and soot before they found the body. Gently, they pulled the person from the soot and began to clean him. Red hair and robe were singed from the flames and green eyes cracked open for a moment.

"Are you aware of yourself?" Ansem asked softy as he bent over the prone figure. The voice that answered was raspy and weak. "Yes…"

"Your name?"

"Axel…" The man answered before green eyes rolled back and he slumped against the priest. Ansem nodded, gently smoothing some hair back from the young man's face. "So Suzaku has sent us a flurry of dancing flames." He pondered aloud as he gestured for the priests to take Axel from him and into the temple grounds.

"Shall I inform the Emperor?" Xemnas asked, orange eyes watching Ansem the Wise.

"Indeed. Tell him that the Vermillion Bird has chosen the child of flames. A century of power and military success for the kingdom until the phoenix must be reborn again. Siax will guard the phoenix. Phoenixes born from children of flame can be dangerous, especially if remember their birthing. I believe Siax can handle any fury Axel may show."

Xemnas nodded respectfully at the High Priest and turned to make his way towards the Emperor's palace. Ansem watched him for a moment before turning his gaze back to the ash pile.

"Red Phoenixes will need a distraction for their obedience." He muttered quietly orange eyes narrowing in thought. "We will have to find a suitable one." With a nod, he turned and continued his way to the temple.

xxxxxxx

A/N: Hey all! I haven't written anything in ages, but since I felt the urge to start writing again, I figured what better way to practice then write some fanfiction. I would like some constructive criticism on my writing, seeing as I'm very rusty. I will warn you that I will likely revise this a few times until I'm completely happy with it, and I probably will not be quick with updates.

There is Akuroku to come! I'm just setting the stage.