Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Disney and Square Enix. What, you think I'd try to pick a fight with DISNEY? Those Mouse Ears wield way more legal power than I could ever DREAM of! I'm just an adoring fan. 3

HAPPY AKUROKU DAY, EVERYONE! (The fact that it's also 2008 brings me much joy - seriously, I know Axel already has a lot of love, but he needs MORE, darn it! So do Roxas and Demyx!)

8/13 love

Dedicated to Cam; who introduced me to the wonders and loveliness that is KH and Akuroku. Thanks for hooking me up, Cammers! 3

Warnings: Slash, KHII spoilers (obviously), some language, AXEL FADING AWAY. TT-TT

--

"Lets meet again in the next life."

"Yeah. I'll be waiting." I'm sorry (notsorry), Axel... maybe you think it'd be better to know, but... it's better for both of us if you don't realize how much I want to stay.

A huff, soft and (not) frustrated. I scolded the lingering hope inside of me that it was fondness (notfondnessimpossible), and not just a memory of my bullheaded actions... and where they led me. Where they led us both, really. He spoke with a weary, wistful tone, "Silly." Somehow I knew that with anyone else it would be a slightly more colourful word, "Just because you have a next life..."

I didn't need to wonder at the rest of his statement as he vanished from the room that suddenly felt infinitely colder. The air swelled putridly with the taste of unspoken words. Perhaps it had always been this way and I had just never noticed.

The sickly aftertaste lingered on my tongue as I left the room, feeling (notfeeling) resigned - disgusting. After everything that's happened... even some of it's a little fuzzy right now. I should be angry right now - I should be furious - but instead I'm just so tired. Whatever heart it almost felt (didn'tfeel) like I'd lied up for myself had fled in wake of this bone-creaking weariness.

It felt like another dream when I came across two such familiar figures sleeping so peacefully just above me. "Donald... Goofy...?" Sora's friends. The fascination such an encounter might have once awakened in me, when I'd still believed the dreams were just dreams, quailed to the rise of a strange dizzying nausea. I gritted my teeth and moved on. There was nothing for me here.

--

"At last, the Keyblade's chosen one." I was never the one to be chosen... The sensation of anger (notanger) I'd been waiting to overtake me since my last conversation with Namine began simmering in the pit of my stomach and as I felt my face twisting into a glare, I curled my lip and spat out my reply, wanting so badly to convey how much this pretentious man disgusted me.

"Who are you talking to? Me, or Sora?"

"To half of Sora, of course. You reside in darkness. What I need is someone who can move about the realm of light and destroy Organization XIII." Why should I give a damn what you need? Why should anyone for that matter? The simmering sensation inside rose, bubbling threateningly at the thought of my being cast aside in what would be an effort to erase a group of people that I... couldn't call all friends, but at one point we'd all been on the same side. I suddenly recalled that I was still far too cold, and part of me froze up a little more with those words.

"Why?" I demanded, "Who are you?"

"I am a servant of the world." The self-righteous bastard actually had the nerve to laugh! My fury (notfury) only rose, "And, if I'm a servant, then you should consider yourself a tool, at best."

"Was that..." Perhaps I wasn't completely frozen, yet after all. My face felt hot and I heard as well as felt the growl in my own voice, "Was that supposed to be a joke?" For a moment a rather hysterical part of me wished I could ignite a field of fire, myself, "'Cause I'm not laughing!"

By now the weight was completely familiar in my hand and I wanted so badly for a second to fall into the opposite hand. Lets see how funny he thinks this is!

...What?!

"My apologies." You... "This is only a data based projection."

He might as well have spit in my face. If this isn't true rage then I have no idea what people who are "supposed to exist" do with it all. You... you...!!

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Never in all my life have I tried so hard to force someone else to disappear. I guess I'm just not good enough to deserve even a fraction of satisfaction.

"Come, over here."

"I hate you so much." No matter all the other things I still don't know, I know I hate (can'thateSHUTUP) this man.

"You should share some of that hatred with Sora. He's far too nice for his own good."

"NO!" Sora has everything! "My heart belongs to me!" Leave me alone! I may have nothing but at least it's still mine!

...The sickened feeling (notfeeling) returns as I jump away from the opening pod. With everything I am I want to hate him, too. I just... can't.

"Sora." I hate you. I'm sorry. I wish I could meet you, instead of staring at you like this. "You're lucky." I feel like (can'tfeel)... I wish... I want... "Looks like my summer vacation is... over."

Axel... looks like I'm going to disappear. I know I'm the worst person (nobody) to ask this, but if no one else... will you still remember me?

"Sora?" The light blinds me and I know no more.

--

To be completed... tomorrow.

So I'll be posting the conclusion to this two-part one-shot (two-shot?) tomorrow, on actual Akuroku day (as that won't be for another 15 minutes here XD). I wanted to do it this way because #1 if I finish this tonight the end'll be rushed and not as good as it could be, and #2... the break symbolizes the time between when Roxas disappears back inside Sora and the moment of Axel's suicidal save, which awakens him from inside Sora.

Night all!

Love Kelska