Just something that popped into my head. Let me know if you think it's worth continuing. :)

You all know the drill, I don't own Kingdom Hearts, or the characters and all that jazz


Lea was sweating profusely as he forced himself to continue on, ignoring the strain his body felt as he attempted to continue his training. He had come to believe he would be able to master his new ability to wield his Keyblade sooner, however his rather slow progress was beginning to disagree with his earlier assessment of his own skills and abilities. Growing frustrated with himself he threw down his Keyblade and laid it on the ground, looking up to the sky in annoyance. Lea closed his eyes briefly wondering if he would ever be able to wield his new weapon with the same dexterity and deftness that new Master Riku and even Sora possessed. He chuckled.

At least I'm better than Kairi right?

He sighed as he cursed himself for having denied their offer at helping him train by sparing. He wished he was better able to deal with his new emotions, however after that first time, sparing against Sora, he had flashed back to a memory of his time as Axel, training with Roxas. When he came to, he had stared at Sora with a look of utter devastation and had fled, not returning for weeks. His time away had been spent with quite a few black outs, having been caught up in his memories and despairing at having had this rebirth, this new life...one he had no true desire to live without Roxas. He had long ago understood that the Roxas he knew was, as he once put it, long gone; and yet he couldn't crush the tiny flicker of hope in his chest that told him he could and would possibly once more be reunited with his best friend. The pain of his absence could normally be suppressed, through hard relentless training, although after that earlier disaster he had laughed off his reaction and told them he wished to train alone from now on, no longer being able to look at Sora for long without feeling pain, knowing Roxas was there, so close and yet so far. As he stopped his musings and opened his eyes he noticed his view of the heavens was being obstructed by the fellow red haired Keyblade trainee, peering down at him curiously.

"Some how I knew I'd find you snoozing over here Axel"

He sighed. Will they never learn? That's not who I am anymore.

"It's Lea now, and give me a break Kairi, I've been training hard here!" He replied while pouting.

She giggled and stated, "Waving your keyblade around for a bit hardly counts as training."

Lea pulled himself into a sitting position and thew his hands up in mock annoyance and despair. "Talk about harsh, I've been working my ass off"

She sat down next to him and offered him some water. "You'd get more out of your training if you practiced against Riku or Sora."

He looked at her then away once more "Nah, I don't need anybody, I'm more than capable of handling this myself, I mean come on now, you know how awesome I am", he grinned at at her, hoping his playful tone would appease her and send her off. She smiled at him then frowned and stared at him hard, an odd look on her face. Lea's grin slipped off his face as he began to feel a bit uncomfortable due to her scrutiny, he mimed wiping at his face in desperation. "I got something on my face or what?"

She shook her head and smiled a bit. "No, it's just... I realized we never talked about how...despite the fact you kidnapped me which indirectly led to me being taken by Saix, you tried to come for me. Also a little before that...you said we had a similar goal. We both wanted to see someone we missed. Be reunited with a friend.. I kinda forgot, thinking I would never get the chance to ask you...did you end up finding him?"

Lea froze and felt everything stop; time, his heart, his lungs. Why, why did she have to bring this up..I. I can't...Roxas...

Seeing the troubled look on his face she reached over and hugged him. "Don't give up hope, you'll find him"

Lea barked out a bitter laugh. "No, I don't think so, I had a plan to get him back but it was over when I really met Sora." She looked at him confused.

Ah, guess she doesn't know..

"Do you...know who Roxas is..?"

She nodded slowly... "I talked to him twice, once when I fainted back on the island and another time when he came out of Sora to talk to Namine, then they... joined with us I guess.."

Lea looked away. "Roxas...is the person I miss, my friend...my best friend...we were in the Organization together"

Kairi looked at him with devastation and comprehension dawning on her, "Roxas is Sora's nobody..."

Lea gave her a grim smile, "Bingo, hopeless huh? Can't turn the hero into a heartless again. Went through too much keeping him out of trouble for that...I told Roxas I'd see him again in the next life, and yet here I am without him..."

So even she thinks it's hopeless..she feels sorry for me...I don't want or need her pity.

Lea stood up. "Don't worry about it, I'm a big boy, I can handle it."

She looked up at him, tears swimming in her eyes, "You loved...love him don't you?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Wow, took forever for me to realize and she gets it in a minute..

Lea grimaced. "That transparent huh?" He chuckled darkly, "Never even told him, couldn't have, I didn't know what I felt, or thought I felt was 'love'... I didn't know, I still don't know, what 'love' really is, but whatever I feel for Roxas is something strong so it must be right? From what I understand of that feeling I would hazard a guess and say that it is love.."

She stood and looked at him fiercely, " You love him and I'm sure he cared about you too, just as much."

Lea smiled fondly looking off into the distance, "Who knows. Kid was kinda clueless at times. Maybe he did...guess we'll never know huh? I once asked him if he was sure he didn't have a heart. He told me he didn't know, but the way he sometimes..." He sighed.

She looked down then looked back up a spark of determination in her eyes. "We'll find a way to get you to at least be able to talk to him, I mean maybe he can come out for a while like before, talk to you for a bit."

Lea shook his head, "Now, don't go getting our hopes up, I doubt anything will work."

She grabbed his arm and started to pull him back towards Yensid's castle, "We've got to at least try. Don't be lame Axel."

As they entered the castle, Sora wandered out in front of them and Kairi grabbed his arm, dragging him as well.

"Where's Riku?" She demanded.

"Uh... what's going on guys?" Sora asked looking confused and a bit nervous.

"NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS, WHERE IS HE?" she shouted.

Sora looked even more scared, fearing for his and his friend's life, "Is..he in trouble Kairi?"

She shook her head "No, we just need his help, now come on"

She pushed open the doors to the Master's study, relieved to see Riku sitting in front of him.

Master Yensid paused and looked at them, "What is going on?" he questioned.

Kairi fixated him with a look of hope and determination as she declared loudly, "Is there any way to bring out Roxas from Sora? If not permanently, at least for a little bit?" Sora and Riku both stared at Kairi confused, Yensid however merely closed his eyes not seeming too surprised by her request.

He didn't flat out say no...is their a chance? Please, let me be able to bring him back...I need him back.

The master opened his eyes and began to speak in his normal calm and serious manner. "..it could be possible...we would need to find and isolate his heart, memories and consciousness. Then somehow house it in a vessel, similar to those replicas made of data that Riku once spoke of.

Lea grinned and whooped. "Even and Ienzo are back, they could probably easily create a vessel for Roxas out of the data in Sora. He could have a body and be his old self again!" His eyes were gleaming with hope and happiness.

Yensid opened his eyes and looked at Lea grimly. "Do not get your hopes up. There is a great many things which could go wrong. We could damage Roxas as we attempt to extract him. The vessel could also not respond, resulting in the new born Roxas to never awaken. Sora could be damaged as well... also"

Lea cut him off, "Yeah yeah, I get it, carefully, caution, lots of shit could go down, but it could work! Roxas could come back! So lets get to the good stuff, how would we get him?

Yensid looked mildly annoyed at being interrupted, yet he clearly decided it would be best to respond as if it had not occurred. "You, Sora and Riku would once again dive into Sora's dreams, searching his unconscious mind and heart for Roxas. Should you find him, then manage to bring him out we will work from there."

Yensid looked at Sora and Riku, "Are the two of you willing to do this?"

Sora saluted Yensid and instantly responded, "Of course! Bringing Roxas out would be awesome! He deserves to be his own person." He grinned. Riku shook his head and merely said, "Count me in, guess I owe him" he smirked a bit. "Besides, can't let Sora go by himself, who knows what would happen to him."

Sora turned to him and glared, hands on his hips, "I'd be fine Riku!" he stuck out his tongue and huffed.

Riku shook his head still smirking, "Whatever dork"

Lea moved forward interrupting their banter and yelled, "Lets do this! We'll get it done no problem!"

Yensid shook his head. "No not yet, I need to rest and gather my strength in order to send the three of you. You will depart when I return in a few hours."

Lea looked at him in disbelief, but one glare from Kairi kept his mouth shut.

As Yensid departed, Sora jumped and exclaimed his happiness at the mission. Riku looked at Lea and asked, "Why are we going to get him Axel. Why do you want him here so badly."

"It's Lea first off, got it memorized? Second, my reasons are my own alright."

Sora looked at him curiously while Riku glared, "We're risking ourselves, and I want to know why. Why are you doing this?"

Kairi marched over and smacked Riku on his arm, "Lea is going to save Roxas because their best friends and it's true love!"

Lea looked at Kairi, face caught between shock and horror, feeling his face heat up as he saw Sora and Riku's jaws drop.

Riku was the first to recover and cleared his throat, "You love him?"

The Cat's out of the bag now. No point denying it. They probably won''t be able to handle me professing my undying love though.

Lea smirked, "Yep, and I want my Roxy back so we're doing this okay."

Sora smiled and leaped to hug Axel, "Congratulations Axel! I'm sure Roxas loves you too, and we'll save him and you'll both live happily ever after! I get what you meant now when you helped me and told me where Kairi was."

They're so different. I sometimes can't believe this kid is for real. Wait what?

"What did I say again?" Lea asked confused.

Sora grinned, "You told me Roxas was the only one you liked and made you feel like you had a heart... it's great that the two of you found each other in the organization."

Lea felt himself flush a bit and patted Sora on the head. "Yeah, fate brought us together and all that jazz, now I need to go get him myself though. "

They sat around waiting and mostly teasing Lea as they waited for Yensid to return.

"Are the three of you ready?" Yensid asked them in a grave voice.

Riku and Sora saluted him, "Yes sir!"

"Good luck guys!" Kairi exclaimed.

Lea felt like jumping up and down in frustration. "So like no disrespect, but we're all ready so let's do this guys!"

Yensid looked like he was attempting to suppress an eye roll. "Very well. Close your eyes."

The three of them closed their eyes and felt the pull of Yensid's magic.

I'm coming for you Roxas. Just wait for me a little longer.

Lea felt as if he was floating, he opened his eyes and saw himself standing behind Roxas and himself.

"I know this...it's the day he left..."

Lea watched as his nobody Axel questioned Roxas in desperation: "So, your mind's made up?"
Roxas turned around and yelled, his voice full of confusion and frustration,"Why did the Keyblade choose me? I have to know!"
Axel shook his head, spreading his arms out in a pleading manner, attempting to convince his friend to stay,"You can't turn on the Organization! You get on their bad side and they'll destroy you!"
Lea felt a tightness in his chest as he once again saw Roxas turn around then scoff,"No one would miss me."

Lea felt a tear run down his face as he reached out once again, in sync with his past self as he responded, "That's not true...I would..."

Everything blacked out once more, then Lea saw himself before Roxas, this time as himself. Seeing it again he wondered 'was it a dream, did it really happen?.' He stopped pondering as he saw Roxas look at his double, a soft almost sad smile on his face, "Hey, Axel. You haven't forgotten?" he asked in a quiet voice.
The other Lea turned towards him a questioning look upon his face as he responded, "Hm? What?"
Roxas shook his head and answered,"You made us a promise..." He felt like smacking his other self and himself for daring to forget, upset when he heard himself ask, "I did?" Roxas smiled and replied, "That you'd always be there... to bring us back" Lea nodded slowly, "Yeah..." Roxas gave a grin and laughed out "Got it memorized?" as the image faded.

Lea opened his eyes and saw Riku and Sora lying next to him on the sand, still unconscious. He grinned and reached down to smack them both upside their heads as he crooned, "Wakey wakey children, we have work to do." Riku groaned and slowly sat up holding his head. Sora merely rolled away from Lea and mumbled, "5 more minutes" Lea shook Sora and sat him up,"Come on princess up and at 'em", he singsonged as Sora opened his eyes lightly glaring at Lea. "Meanie", he pouted. They all stood up and finally took a look at their surroundings. Lea looked around and smiled before saying, "This is the first world Roxas went on a mission to after Twilight Town."

Riku raised an eyebrow "So the way we have to look for Roxas is to go through the dream/memory versions of the worlds Roxas went to. Will he be in one of the worlds or what? How are we going to gather his memories, his being?"

Sora started to run across the sand in the direction of the grand and looming palace, "Enough talking, lets get moving! Roxas where are youuuuuuu"

Riku and Lea looked at each other in amusement shaking their heads at Sora's inability to plan ahead as they rushed off after Sora.


Hope you all enjoyed this. Let me know if you believe this has merit and should be continued.