Notes:
This is my first story on here! Yay! Dance! Sing! Excitement! This has a dedication to my friend Melissa, and my other friend Corey who edited this thing for me. (Axel FTW, Corey!) And so here we go! Hope you enjoy!~
CHAPTER ONE: WHAT THE NEXT LIFE BROUGHT
The next life had never come for Axel. For some strange reason he just hadn't died that day when he helped the young one he knew to be Sora. Luck, he guessed. Or was it something more? It was all so confusing. Last thing he could remember was fading away, watching Sora stare down at him in horror. Kairi s in the castle dungeon now go! They were the last things he said before opening a portal to help out the teenage boy that reminded him so much of his only friend but instead of dying, here he was alive and well.
Well, whatever--he was going someplace new, a new planet he had yet to see. What excitement! How adventurous! On the upside, walking down one of the abandoned streets in the middle of the night with a black cloak and spiked hair didn't seem too out of place; a little abnormal, but not out of place. Yet what was a world without weird? Weird was fun. He was Axel, after all, the weirdest ex-operative of Organization XIII. Axel thought of himself to be the weird that was occasionally needed in every world, so it was nothing to him in fact, it was a preferred option that he was just a tad on the odd side here. Weirder still, he was technically supposed to be dead. Well, at least it wasn t a new feeling...
What bothered him most was that it was so quiet here, even if it was at night. Nighttime had never stopped Heartless before He scratched his head and continued walking, pondering the theory. There just were no heartless here! Somehow, the planet had remained completely unscathed from what had destroyed many other planets. Not that that was bad, but what bugged Axel was just that: the lack of heartless! How did it work? What did this world have that the Heartless feared, or avoided? Were they just not interested, was it not worth their time? Delving further in thought, it didn't have to be a fear thing. This world may not have what they were after, and so they decided not to waste time. That doesn't make sense, Axel thought. The Heatless ultimate goal was to get the heats of world and then send the said world to darkness, converting most the people into Heartless along the way. Consequently, this also resulted in Nobodies, people without hearts, like Axel himself. Still, all worlds had hearts, so why skip one so oblivious to the threat that Heartless posed? These people hadn't even heard of them as far as Axel knew.
He kept walking. It s not like he had or needed a destination. He was just....walking; he let his feet take him to his destination, wherever that may be. For the moment, he was completely content to wander aimlessly, thinking about how backwards the Nobodies and the Heartless' names were. Heartless had hearts, but they were consumed by darkness, making them cold, vengeful, and, well, Heartless. Nobodies were the empty shells of what was left after the Heartless had been converted, it felt nothing, but they remembered having hearts, thus they could almost, but not quite, feel. Sometimes something would give them the ability to feel. Axel had found that in his best friend, Roxas, who was now gone. He sighed at the memory, saddened. (Or, at least as saddened as a Nobody could be.) He continued thinking, trying to stray from the memories. In essence, Nobodies should actually be heartless because they literally lacked hearts, unlike the actual heartless. He nodded in (not so) understanding, and looked up at a glowing, electronic billboard. The letters along the top said Colonial High School. Axels mind flashed back to his own brief schooling; he hadn t been too old when he had changed.
Huh, he muttered, and another thoughtful look entered his green eyes. That sounds like it might be fun.
A playful smirk danced across Axel s pale lips, thinking of the other people that didn t even know of Heartless on this Heartless-free planet. Ones he'd met before, ones whose names he knew.
:- - -:
The most petite friend was still the littlest, even though she had grown some. Her two friends had also grown, and just as she stood taller than them, she was plagued by their growth-spurts, thus she had become the smallest once again. Essentially, she had given up on trying to be tall.
"Hey, little one!" The tallest of the three cajoled, ruffling the shorter one s dark hair, being a good head taller than she was. "What's up?"
"Don't call me little one," she muttered flatly, her teal eyes glaring back up at her brown-haired friend.
The tallest let out a laugh, grinning at her friend s anger. "Whatever you say, Kris!"
"C'mon, Mara, play nice." the third friend said, her green eyes twinkling playfully. "Don't pick on the vertically challenged."
"Very nice, Arisa." Kris said, rolling her eyes. Very, very helpful. I thank you.
Arisa wound an arm around Kris s arms in a friendly hug. Sorry, Kris. You re just so teeny, it s hard not to! And you make fun of yourself all the time, so we figure why not join in on the fun?
Kris s face broke into a grin and she nodded. It was true; she made fun of herself more than anyone else in the school. Everyone, including her, knew that. Kris had to stay chipper about the whole short thing, if she didn t she d probably have a very depressing school day.
With a few loud thunks, the friend's dropped their school things onto a table in the cafeteria. The fake wood made the sound louder then need be. Not that it mattered; the sound was mostly drowned out by the sounds of the high-school kids that lurked in the cafeteria in the morning before school started.
"So any idea what's going on today?" Arisa said with a sideways glance at her friends.
Kris raised an eyebrow. "Um, we've got a test in History class?" she said. "What are you talking about, Arisa?"
Arisa's eyebrows drew together in a slightly anxious expression. "I...don't know. I mean, it s not anything that really has to do with school. It s just that I've got the feeling that we should be expecting something to happen."
Mara shrugged, writing it off already. "It s probably nothing. You're probably just stressed out about something." She gave a skeptical look and put her hands on her hips.
"No, Mara." Arisa shook her head, the blond hair moving around her in a spray, even though it was wavy and cropped at the shoulders. I think that something is going to happen Something big.
Tall, blond haired, teal eyes and an oval shaped face, Arisa was, in most respects, cute. She liked to garden, and at her house there was an orchard and chicken pens full of fuzzy yellow and brown baby chickens. The rest of the farm-like property was littered with forest. Wild, completely untamed woods that, periodically and regardless of weather, she and Kris went hiking through. Arisa was, of course, and adventurer. Usually adventuring alone, she found it best to drag Kris along since they lived remotely close to each other. Kris and Arisa both enjoyed the treks, though Kris found it an annoyance when they got into latest adventure had resulted in them having to run through a thicket and a large span of devil s clubs, as they d managed to upset a bee s nest. To their surprise, both Kris and Arisa escaped without a single sting. However, Arisa did get a slap upside the head for upsetting the bees in the first place, but she considered it to be worth it. Last spring, they d come across a bunch of snakes in the same area. They weren t poisonous, but they nipped at Kris all the same. When one went for her ankle, and she practically teleported back down the path. Arisa had about keeled over with laughter. Arisa's adventurous personality was one that lured people out of their shells, and it was part of the reason that Kris had become friends with her in the first place. She had an adorable, disarming smile, and when she walked, she practically glided. She was graceful, compassionate, and strong, the type of person that people could turn to into a time of need. She was someone who, no matter what, it was completely safe to be with her. Kindness and understanding was held in her posture; it was just something that she radiated with.
Mara was much the same, she was compassionate. The withdrawn Kris had no people skills and thus did not have this, yet these two had drawn her to them. She was skinny, but not like Arisa. She was filled out just a little more. Her big brown eyes, like Arisa, always had a youthful aura. They matched the chocolate color of her hair, as well, which was thick and reached past her shoulders. She was an average height, her outfit of choice being long, but fitting, sweatshirts with a pair of jeans that complimented her hips and figure. She had jagged slant-cut bangs that framed her face in a way that made her look a little wild, adding another sense of youthfulness that seemed to bring out the not-so-tame wild side in the young men. Her personality was, in some way that of a Spartan; do things the simplest way when it s effective and do it well. She was, in a word, independent, which her friends had assumed intimidated those wanting to ask her to the dance. Mara had pointed out, more than once, to her Geometry teacher that she didn't need the six billion steps to complete the problem when it could be done in two. It had caused a bit of frustration to the teacher, much to the amusement of the class.
Kris was smaller than average and thin as well. It was hard to imagine that she could leg-press almost three hundred pounds, she was strong and athletic. She had hair that was dark as a raven's wing and eyes that was the color of leaves when sunlight filtered through them. It was a beautiful and rare color, and it was something she prided herself on. She had a round face and narrow features, and her curly hairs only made her look more exotic, especially as she moved like an assassin. She was a loner, definitely not a people person, save for her close friends, and the fact that she'd even managed to get friends had been astonishing to her. She liked to be alone, to keep to her thoughts, and the people she did know well enough to even call acquaintances where often the broken variety. She would help them, give them therapy of sorts, and then she would leave. Some would think she would feel lonely, helping all these stupid people who couldn t help herself, but she preferred it that way. She despised opening up to others, and she rarely did to her best two friends. Something had kept her with these two, and it was something she was sure she did not want to lose.
Hey, hey! I bet I know what it is! Mara suddenly said excitedly. I think I know what it is, Arisa! She held up a finger in realization, and looked extremely proud of herself.
Well, said Kris skeptically, What is it, then?
We re getting a new student! She said, her tone somehow becoming even more excited. I think that his name s Axley...or something. I m not sure the teacher was even informed on the situation.
Kris snorted. What kind of a name is Axley?
I see that we re in our normal, anti-social mood today. Arisa sighed. Still, play nice now. Maybe he'll be in our classes, Kris."
After years of experience, and advice given to them from her previous schools, the administrators at her school had seen fit to put her in the same classes as Arisa, simply because Kris did not get along with other people.
Kris nodded. Maybe, she looked down thoughtfully. Although, this Axley kid has got to have at least one class with Mara, she knew about it.
The ringing bell let them know that school was about to start, and with a sweeping movement like that of an assassin, Kris had gotten everyone's respective backpacks into their hands and she was headed to the door.
How do you do that?! Mara demanded. It s like you don t even move!
"Mad, mad skills." Kris said simply, smirking in triumph. "Arisa can move like that, too, when she's not tripping over ladybugs or something." Kris cracked a wry grin, "Or an oxygen atom. Who knows?"
"You can stop now there, Kris." Arisa grumbled, irritation and a tad bit of amusement flashing in her eyes. She knew it was true. She may move gracefully, but that never saved her from falling on her face, tripping, knocking things over, and generally being a klutz.
Mara waved at them then. "Alright, you both have fun in English Class now," she smiled.
Kris cast Mara an awkward glace, while Arisa nodded and smiled. "Of course we will!" She smiled widely and then she and Kris headed outside the door.
Walking shoulder to shoulder and in step, the duo left Mara to go to her first period. This was a morning ritual, and it had been. Kris and Arisa where tight as thieves, it was impossible to imagine one without the tagging other close by while they were at school; on weekends, almost religiously, Kris was found at Arisa's house. Mara took no offence to the fact that the two were so close, most of the time they made room for her anyway. Mara was the newest addition, and so she was the one who knew the least, had been on fewer adventures, and had simply experienced less. That, and Kris had a bad habit of shutting people out. It had taken months for Kris to even speak to Mara.
Arisa thought about that on her walk over. How are you going to treat the new kid Axley, was it? I know that you don t really like people...but you ve been getting better. You actually say hello to people when I introduce them to you now. Arisa noticed the slight lift in Kris s cheek. Kris was smiling, the one and only sign of admittance. Arisa continued on, What if he comes up to you, and says hello? Then what?
Kris s walk slowed, and for a second the sudden change in Kris s expression reminded her, for the second time, of the day that they had met. The scene flashed before her eyes.
Kris had walked into the classroom, with a face void of any emotion. The teacher had introduced her, and then she had sat down. She said nothing, nor did she even move to look at anyone. Arisa had noticed that first about Kris. She was quiet, like a ghost. Like something that did not exist, despite the poking and prodding of her peers and the endless stream of questions. Recess came mercifully for Kris, and she was out the door first and into the schoolyard. Arisa kept a close eye on her as she sat down in the shade and ignored all the children there.
Some of the girls from her class did not like that Kris had not said anything. Three of them approached her in the school yard as Arisa watched from afar.
"Hey. You." One said, pointing. "How come you won't talk?"
Without looking, Kris shrugged and pulled her knees to her chest defensively. She knew what was coming next.
"What, are you too good to say anything? What's wrong with you?" The second one said.
The third nodded, following her lead. "You think you re better than us?"
Kris didn't even so much as blink at them. She didn't look, she didn't even move, she would let the insults come.
"Say something!" The first girl demanded, swinging a kick at Kris. That's when Arisa decided to intervene.
"Hey! Stop that!" She yelled at the girls."What makes you think you re good enough to beat her up, huh? What makes you so special?"
As she had wanted them too, the girls turned to Arisa. "What do you care? The new kid won't talk, it s not like she's your friend! Stop defending her, she'll speak up and defend herself once she's put into her place!"
"You re wrong. Sometimes people just don't want to talk to idiots like you." Arisa growled fiercely. "You re not the queen of anything, and you are not about to go beating people up just because you don't like their attitude. I don't like yours, and I'm not kicking you. Now go away before I call a teacher."
"And if we don't, Blondie? I'm not scared of a teacher!" the girl said. Her friends backed her up, echoing with small yeahs.
Arisa stood still for a second, and then said, "Then I will just have to fight you, huh?"
This was answered with a laugh from the ringleader of the three girls. "Alright, I dare you to hit me back!"
Arisa paled. She knew she wasn't much for fighting, but why not? The ringleader threw the first punch, and then
"I'm going to have to ask you not to do that," said a voice. It was small, high like any little girls, but somehow darker and almost lethal. Arisa blinked in surprise. At near-lightning speed, Kris had leapt from the ground and grabbed the ringleader's wrist, thwarting the punch about to be dealt. "Three to one really is not fair." For the first time, Kris met the ringleader's eyes. It was unnecessary to do so with the others, as her fast movement had already made them jump back a ways. Kris tossed back her dark curls, displaying a glare like no other, the sheer venom in her eyes even made Arisa cringe, and she wasn t even the one being looked at. Kris let the girl go with one tiny command, "Leave." The gang did so, surprised, at an almost sprint.
"I'm sorry about that," Arisa said, turning to Kris, who had angled her eyes back to the ground. "But I don't think they'll bother you again. That was really cool!" She grinned, as if Kris was an old friend.
Kris kept her eyes at the ground, but she shifted her weight and muttered, "Really?"
"Yeah!" Arisa insisted, nodding. "They've been terrorizing people for years, so it was nice to see them getting a dose of their own medicine. What you did was good for everyone."
Kris's breath caught for a second then, and she pushed the dark hair from her eyes with one awkward finger, and looked up, straight into Arisa's eyes. Good? Her eyes where bright green, and had the oddest expression, like she d never been told she was good in her life. Really? She gave an awkward, chuckling snort.
Arisa was startled by her, but then, Yeah.
And Kris, for the first time in a long time, smiled.
Arisa shook her head, pulling back to reality, and looked back at Kris, in the present now. It had taken a long time for Arisa to get through to Kris, and sometimes she still had problems. After all of this time, she still had never been to Kris s house, and Kris never spoke about her parents. It bothered her, but Kris hid herself away from people, she lived in a shadow and did not like crowds, or anything of the like. People in general. Arisa still wasn t sure why, but it was just how Kris had always been. Although Kris may not like people, but she was full of good advice when Arisa asked.
I...don t know. Kris finally said. I m not used to people just coming up to me. I give off a, stay away vibe. But enough about me, what about you? She said quickly, switching the conversation completely around.
I ll be nice, of course! Arisa laughed. People don t like me much, either, you realize.
Kris made a noise similar to blowing a raspberry at Arisa. Yeah they do. Guys really like you.
Only creepy ones.
Arisa!
Sorry.
Furthermore, you re friendly. You make people come alive! Kris nodded as if agreeing with herself. so to speak, she added quickly. What if this kid decides he likes you?
Well, then he better be cute. Arisa smiled jokingly as she pushed the door open to the first class of the day. They made it into their seats as the bell rang, and the teacher began to speak, or drone, rather.
So, class, as some of you may know, we are to be getting a new student to the school today. He just transferred here, and he should be here any minute. Now, I want you all to be on your best behavior today, and I want you all to treat him nicely and welcome him to the new school, alright? The teacher spoke with fake joy, trying to make it sound like she was their friend. It was so obnoxious.
Kris turned to Arisa. Does she really need to feel the need to talk to us like we re five? This is honestly getting old.
The teacher barreled on through Kris s mutters and Arisa s giggles, and said, Now, instead of taking role silently today while you all work, I am going to call it out once the new student is settled in. He will be sitting next to Arisa, as that seems to be our only empty seat.
Arisa raised an eyebrow but said nothing. How typical that it would be her, of all people, to get to sit with the new kid.
I m going to call names, and I want everyone to raise hands. This should help the new student with the names. Got it?
Got it. The class echoed back, just as the door opened, just as the class turned to look, at the new student that had just walked into class.
"Ah, Hello." The boy grinned as he walked into the class, waving as he noticed all eyes where on him.
"Oh...you're here!" The teacher said, caught mostly off guard by the boy's sudden appearance. "Everyone, this is Axel, our new student."
Kris raised her eyebrows at the new student, Arisa had, too. The boy had really, REALLY spiky red hair bright enough that it could probably be seen off campus on a clear day. He had clear skin and bright green eyes, and he looked as though he may be wearing eyeliner. His facial tattoos, small drops just below his eyes, gave him a slightly exotic look, the fact that he was tall helped that out a bit. "That's A-X-E-L, got it memorized?" He grinned as if he fit in, completely unaware that something like him had probably never come through the halls of Colonial High School not that Kris or Arisa knew just how accurate that assumption was.
I ll bet you ten bucks he s gay. Kris mumbled mockingly, smirking. Her only response was a light shove from Arisa.
"Okay, Axel," The teacher said. "If you would, please take a seat." She gestured at the empty seat beside Arisa, and Kris noted something in the pause before he began to move. He was looking at Arisa, summing her up. Or checking her out so much for the gay theory.
He locked eyes with Arisa, and his expression became almost...shy, and then he moved to the seat beside her. Kris again raised an eyebrow at the youth, but then heard him speak.
"Hey, uh, it s alright if I sit here?" He asked, almost a little sheepishly.
"Of course. It s the only empty seat, so where else could you sit, on the floor?" Arisa said warmly, and having known her long enough, Kris could hear the smile in her voice. Granted, Arisa greeted anything she was sure wasn't going to eat her or something of the like, so it was no surprise that she was at it now. However, this was a little different. Her tone was a little weirder with this boy, and although it was weird, Kris knew this one, too. It meant that Arisa had seen something in the boy that she thought was good, and she was now about to introduce him to her. Kris sucked in a breath of air and waited for the greetings to begin.
Arisa, hearing the air getting sucked in by Kris, allowed her smile to grow a little. She hoped the new kid would not pick up on the fact that she was now about to use him as another chance to help socialize and help Kris with making new friends and getting used to people. Arisa leaned back so that Axel could see Kris beyond her as he sat down. "I'm Arisa. This is my friend Kris."
"Hey, Kris." Axel smiled, raising a hand.
Kris tilted her chin up a little at him. "Yo."
This greeting resulted in a raised eyebrow on Axels part, but it obviously did not bother him as role began to get called and he started to chat with Arisa. I m sorry, Arisa said. She s a little anti-social.
Well, I can see that. Axel replied. But she s not the first anti-social person I ve dealt with. He grinned. Pretty normal, where I come from.
Kris raised her eyebrows again. Normal? she whispered under her breath. This went unnoticed by Axel and Arisa, thankfully.
Where are you from, Axel? Arisa asked curiously. I mean--I m sure I m not the first person to ask, and I m sure that I ll get annoying, but I m curious. And for good reason. Arisa had barely ever left the City. When people moved in from new places, she was always wondering what it was like beyond this small town. Kris usually entertained her with stories of a place thick with woods, and a stream that ran through it, a stream was full of minnows and fossil rocks. There where thick, dead grapevines that hung across the stream at a certain point like Christmas garland, and right beside these was a giant rock you could sit upon, like a throne in a medieval castle. If you sat long enough and listened hard enough sometimes you could hear the trees whispering to each other. There was another place with mountains that reached up so high into a sky so blue it was hard to imagine anything existing beyond the color. These places, the ones Kris spoke of often, had entertained Arisa for months. Sometimes, when Kris mentioned something that Arisa had yet to hear about, Arisa would find herself entranced again by these lands. But other people meant other places, and more lands that Arisa would one day plan to see.
No, no, its fine. Axel said. I m not really new here, I ve lived here awhile but I was home schooled, and I didn t go out often. He explained, shrugging. I asked if I could spend the rest of the year here with kids my age and they thankfully agreed, so here I am. That grin again, Kris noted Arisa s automatic response to the grin, which was to return the boy s smile.
Oh I see, Arisa said, her voice a little disappointed. Oh, well. I thought maybe you were from someplace new that I could learn about. She turned a little pink, as if telling him that where somewhat embarrassing, she looked down at the desk, folding her hands in front of her.
Oh well, no--Don t be sad! Axel looked a little desperate to keep her from getting upset. He groaned silently to himself, and put his chin on the desk. The teacher started up a lecture at that moment, and so Kris had to drop her voice back down into a whisper as she spoke to Axel again.
Hey, she s not upset. She just isn t sure how to react to you yet. She met you five minutes ago. Her voice was low and flat, but Axel s eyes moved to looked at her all the same as he gave a little, Oh.
They actually paid attention to the lecture after that, and when the bell rung, they all stood, and Arisa was able to see just how tall this Axel was in comparison. He was taller than her, and since she towered over Kris, Axel noticed Kris s small size. Whoa, you sure you re a High School student? He asked jokingly.
Of course I m sure. Kris half-smiled, I m just a pixie.
Really?! Axel asked as though he really bought it.
No. Kris and Arisa said in unison, Arisa with amusement and Kris bluntly, rolling her eyes.
I, ah, oh. Axel said sheepishly, glancing down at his feet as though he had done something bad. Although, even to Kris, all he d done at this point was be guilty of being a little gullible, it seemed. Maybe in his household that was a bad thing?
Walking into the mid-morning sunshine, Mara met up with them like she normally did, completely unfazed by the fact that they now had a tall redhead with them. Hey guys! she called.
Her first class, Chemistry, had once again not allowed her to leave unscathed. Her bangs were now pinned haphazardly out of her face, and the rest of her hair pulled back into a messy half-pulled-through pony tail, her classic sweater under her arm, and the rolled up sleeves let them know that once again Mara had been playing with dangerous substances again.
So this must be our new guy, huh? She said, bouncing like a hyper little kid did when they were about to get candy, staring up at his face, then his hair, then back down to his face. Nice to meet you! She said in a singsong voice, greeting him like she would anyone else.
Hi. Axel said simply, smiling back.
Hate to interrupt, Arisa said suddenly. But we need to get to class like now. Axel, do you know where you re going?
Axel nodded that he did, and then Mara said, Aw, it s alright if we re late just this once, guys! she whined. And have any of you seen Bunny? Bunny was Mara s boyfriend s nickname. This was because he brought carrots to school for lunch about every day. His closest associates, Arisa and Kris included, all called him The Bunny now.
Nah, but I m sure Bunny will be at lunch, Mara. Kris said. But I m with Arisa, we need to go now.
After a quick goodbye, they were all on the way to their respective classes.
:- - -: Axel took a seat in the back of his next class, which was absent of any of the three he had just met. Though he didn t really know them, they reminded him of someone, someone he had once known. Someone he missed, someone named Roxas. Roxas had been his best friend, and in the end, Axel had lost him. Roxas had made Axel feel like he had a heart. Strange for a Nobody, since the lack of hearts meant that they were not supposed to be able to feel anything. Roxas had allowed him to do that for the first time in a long time, and so had Roxas somebody, Sora. Sora had fought beside him the last time Axel was supposed to have died, and instead have ended up here. Something weird was going on here, and not just the lack of heartless. The three girls he had just met, Arisa, Kris and Mara, had all done the same thing that Roxas had. But this was different, because they were different from anyone he had ever met. Despite obvious personality differences, the three seemed to be powerful, yet not knowing about it. Those three had something to do with the lack of heartless, and he could feel that in his bones, in his very being. But what? Arisa, especially, confused him. She may seem to be powerful, she may make him feel like he, himself, had his own heart, but she made him feel something else, too. Something he had a hard time wrapping his head around, and he wanted to bang his head on the desk for it.