Hey. This is Jadyn now....I said I'd probably post something soon, and, well, this is the first one. I hope everyone likes this stuff - I'll try to post on a regular basis. Chapters are going to get longer, but they won't ever be more than 15 pages, I think. And that's at most.
Warnings: This will have yaoi content. It's rated T for now, but it'll probably go to M pretty soon...for various reasons. I don't speak much Japanese at all, so anything other than honorifics when I think it fits...yeah.
Pairings: Definitely AkuRoku. Probably Hayner/Seifer, Pence/Olette, Zemyx, SoRiku. Others will appear in random spurts, and probably won't ever be more than implied (Leon/Cloud, Vincent/Reno, Tseng/Elena, Zack/Aeris, and whoever else turns up).
Written in honor of the one whose name meant Defiance.
Chapter One: This World Will Never Be
"Hey....do you think we can meet here again....?"
"Sure thing, Roxie. You keep turning up, I'll keep bringing ice cream! Sound like a deal?"
".....my name isn't Roxie."
"Oh." A pause, then a slow Cheshire grin. "How about Roxanne?"
A glare.
"Don't even think about it. It's Roxas. R-O-X-A-S. Got it memorized?"
"Hey! No stealing my lines! Got it memorized?"
"Baka. It sounds stupid. You need a new line."
"I'm open to suggestions, but I'm not trading with..." -static- "Dance, water, dance sounds worse. And I like my line. It would be weird hearing it from someone else, don't you think?"
A short silence.
"Yeah, it would be. And anyway, people might not remember your name if you don't remind them constantly. Right, A-" -static-"…?"
--static--
"...It's not like anyone will miss me anyway."
"That's not true!" Then, quieter: "I would...."
--static--
"Oh, so you actually remember me this time? I'm so flattered!"
Fire…
--static--
"Let's meet again...in the next life...."
"Yeah. I'll be waiting."
"Silly...just because you have a next life..."
--static--
Flames, everywhere. They did not comfort him, as they once did. Before, they had been like a caress. Now, they hissed and cut at him vengefully. He charged through them regardless, looking for the one person he held close to his incomplete heart, the one that made his heart whole. The one that he would give anything to save, even if it meant his existence.
He followed the spiraling path inward to the center, ignoring the cuts and burns that now lacerated his body. He had to find him. He had to, had to, had to tell him, save him, before it was too late....
He saw the crumpled black shape ahead and raced to it, praying he was not already too late. Even as he ran he saw that the flames that had once been allies had turned on that person, licking hungrily now at the black cloak the man still wore.
He reached the still form and sank down next to it, batting the flames away. They wouldn't heal him now, only hurt him. He pulled the man's head and part of his upper torso into his lap, searching the pale face desperately for any sign of life. This couldn't be happening - this was the afterlife, they were supposed to be happy, not still fleeing from the same terrors...! He'd only just found him again...!
"Rox...as...?" The cat-like, malachite green eyes opened slightly as a slight, confused frown marred the otherwise perfect face, even with the triangular tattoos. "Why're you...crying...?"
He hadn't even noticed that he was crying.
"It's nothing. I'm fine. You're the one I'm worried about..."
A soft sigh.
"You shouldn't be...."
"How can I not be?! I only just found you, I'm not about to lose you again!"
A slight smile curved the lips of the redhead.
"It'll be alright. We were only meant to stay here temporarily anyway, to make up for what we did that was intentionally cruel in our past life. I imagine some of the others will be having a rather hard time of it. But it's fine. We'll all be moving on shortly...."
"No! How can you say something like that? That can't be the only reason we're here! I tried so hard to find you..."
Another smile.
"And you did find me. I couldn't come looking for you because of the rules of this place... but I am glad you found me. That means we'll meet for sure in this next life...."
The body began to glow and fade in the light . He felt the weight on his legs begin to lessen slightly. His eyes widened.
"No..."
Yet another smile, though softer and sadder than the ones before.
"Looks like it's time for me to go, Roxie. I'll see you soon, though, ne?"
The glow brightened, almost concealing the body and blinding him.
"No! I never told you..." The glow brightened further, hiding the redhead from view. He let out a sob, no longer able to hold it back. "...that I loved you..."
As the weight vanished completely, a soft chuckle sounded in the empty space amidst the dying flames. He felt a hand brush his cheek.
"Same here, Rox. I'll see you..."
There was the fleeting impression of a kiss. Then, the light brightened unbearably, forcing him to shut his eyes. The last of the weight vanished, and when he opened his eyes, there was nothing there. Just an empty plain.
"Axel!"
A cry of pain and heartrending agony.
"AXEL!"
Then, darkness.