We sang this song together,

Even if no one knows the words.

We love and dance together,

Even if no one is in time,

Forever, endeavor,

Eighteen years gone by.

Forever, endeavor,

Seven lives you die…

Axel lifted his head up, wondering where he'd heard that song… and why he was singing it just now. Oh… yeah. It was his eighteenth birthday today.

Axel grinned at the thought, and turned his attention back to his work. As soon as he was finished the last of the repairs, he'd be free to go, and with that incentive he'd been making very good time. If only this last car would cooperate.

He was working at a rather good, independent car shop. They weren't the cheapest but they were fast and good. They didn't give a damn what degrees you had or didn't have, as long as you could fix the cars. Which was good for Axel, because he was as paperless as the internet. He vaguely remembered dropping out of school in disgust. His family had been disappointed but had understood that school just wasn't his thing. They were proud that he had a good job using his skills. Really, what more could you ask for?

Axel smiled as he thought about the other good things in his life. A nice apartment, cable and internet, good books… and most of all, someone to share it all with. Sora was a complete sweetie. Axel wasn't sure it would last… Sora was too good for him, really, with all his plans for university and the grades to go with it… but Axel would support him in whatever he wanted to do. Sora was only sixteen, but his parents had kicked him out when they'd found out he was gay. Axel himself swung both ways. If Sora eventually did leave, Axel vaguely thought that he would find a girl next time. His mom liked Sora, but she would like to see grandbabies even better. Finishing the last of the work on the car, he tested the engine and grinned.

"Success! Hey Marty, can I go?" Axel called to the dark haired man who was doing some custom detailing. He didn't look up.

"Yeah, get out of here. Good work and all that jazz." Axel laughed and went over to the sink to clean up, then found his bag. He had packed a change of clothes so he wouldn't have to go home before heading out to the new nightclub Sora wanted to take him to.

When he got there, he found an unexpected surprise.

"Happy birthday Axel!" Demyx and Larxene were both there as well. Demyx impulsively hugged him as Larxene laughed. Axel grinned and hugged him back… the guitar player was Sora's friend, really, from his school. But it was impossible not to like the sandy haired teen. Larxene now, she was his friend. They'd had a thing once, but had parted company a while back. Axel vaguely wondered how long it had been, but it couldn't have been very long. He was only eighteen. Larxene was quite a bit older, maybe twenty-three, but it hadn't made any difference to them.

"Thanks Dem. Hi Larx… where's Sora?" He couldn't see the brunette, but he had to be around. Then Sora turned the corner and walked over briskly, smiling. He was carrying a red rose.

"For you, Axel." It was a slightly girly gesture, but Sora knew Axel would be delighted… and he was, laughing and taking the flower and threading it through his hair. The thorns didn't bother him, and the bloom looked lovely against blood red hair. Sora couldn't help but giggle. "You're such a freak!" Sora hugged him and Axel hugged him back, catching his lips for a quick kiss.

"You know you love it." Sora looked up into vibrant green eyes, and felt like his heart was ready to burst from happiness. He loved Axel so much, it almost hurt sometimes. Sora's smile was so vibrant, so happy, that it was like a ray of sunshine… and Axel heard Demyx making an 'aww' sound behind him and Larxene muttering something about sugar overload. "C'mon, lets check out this club of yours. I hope it's not going to be a total eyesore like the last one?" Axel teased Sora gently as he blushed. The last club the brunette had taken them to had involved a lot of crazy, super modern disco lighting. Including a strobe effect that had nearly sent Demyx into a fit.

"This one's a lot better, you'll like it, I promise!" And Sora dragged a grinning Axel over to the line for the nightclub. It was still early, so it wasn't too long. Soon, they would be having fun.

They were all oblivious to a silent presence watching them.

He looks so happy. I almost feel bad about what I have to do.

Almost. But if he doesn't remember, he won't survive. And that would be such a tragedy. He really is beautiful if you can see what lies inside… the way I can.

So big, yet so simple and fierce. Beautiful. I can't waste any time. I need to get started now.

I'm sorry Axel.

"Hey." A soft voice spoke at Axel's elbow. He glanced down to see a boy with spiky blond hair, big blue eyes and… carrying a doll? That was very odd. The kid looked like he would need a false ID at the best of times, like Sora, so why on earth would he carry a doll?

Although it looked like bondage Barbie. Axel grinned as examined it for a moment. A dark skinned, black haired, ravishingly female doll… with very odd, hoofed legs, wings and horns. Not to mention leather straps for clothing, and a whip in one hand.

"Hi there. Nice doll." He couldn't help but say. The boy smiled, but a touch sadly, and offered him the doll.

"Want to see?" Axel shrugged and took the doll, examining it a bit more. It felt like porcelain but was incredibly detailed. The eyes seemed to sparkle and the doll had an impish smile on her face.

"It's nice, I guess. Here-" Axel suddenly stopped as he realized the boy was gone. "…?" Looking around slowly, he couldn't see the boy anywhere. And the doll had to be expensive. "What in hell?" Frowning, he tucked the doll under one arm and went to find his friends. Maybe they would know what to do… or maybe they had seen that kid.

Axel hadn't even gotten his name.

That will help with anything minor. But Chemistra can only do so much… and she can't break through his shell at all. He'll just forget seeing her, and everyone else will too.

…

This is going to be so hard. I can't see any awareness in him at all. What am I supposed to do?

I'll have to make it up as I go along.

The doll was quickly forgotten as they all had fun at the nightclub, but Axel took it home with him without thought. It was left, abandoned and forgotten, on his nightstand as he and Sora made passionate love.

"Axel… ah…" Sora moaned as he was rocked into the bedsheets, the hot red head over him and inside him. Axel grinned wickedly as Sora's sounds increased in urgency as he found Sora's sweet spot. He loved nothing better than driving Sora completely crazy.

"Scream it like you mean it, Sora." Axel groaned as Sora tightened around him, those soft, velvety walls bringing him close to the edge… but not quite, not yet. He wanted to make this last.

"Axel!" Sora half-shrieked as Axel stroked him with one hand, moving into him in a hard, fast rhythm. It felt heavenly, so good and intense…

"Sora!" If either of them had been able to think of anything else, they might have noticed that the Barbie on the nightstand seemed to be touching herself.

But they were distracted, and didn't see.