A/N: Welcome.

Well I have a few things to say before you start reading. This is an AkuRoku. It's the story of how Axel finds Roxas and how Roxas ends up leaving the organization. I know that this isn't really what happened, I just made it up. See, this is what should have happened, if only I owned the wonderful world of Disney and Square Enix. Sadly, I do not. But I'll make the best of what I have.

Rating: M for language and sexual content in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I thought I already said this in the other paragraph. Oh well. I do not own KH as much as I'd love to.

Anyways, enough of my ramblings, I do hope you enjoy this story.

Roxas ran across the rainy streets, splashing in puddles big enough for his black boots to drown in. It never stopped raining here, did it? Constant downpours. It sickened him. And why did the sky have to be so damn dark all the time? Was it always this pitch black? What time did the sun usually rise? Not that it mattered – the sun would never come and the rain would never cease. He felt strange as he ran, not really knowing why he was running in the first place, not even knowing if he had a place to go. Why not just sit and rest for awhile? Why did he keep having to run? Of course, he knew this answer, it was blatantly obvious.

When one is completely lost there's nothing do to but run.

Run until you've found some kind of escape, some kind of safe harbor so the pain of knowing you don't belong can fade away. Not that Roxas was even hoping for that, he couldn't possibly even dream of being in that kind of situation. Not when the world around him was crumbling and all he could do was stand by and watch.

Running was starting to get tiresome. Everywhere he turned he saw shadows – hauntings of past dreams and nightmares, stalking him mercilessly through the many dark alleyways and corners, never once leaving him be. Which of course was another reason to never stop. How could he let himself fall prey to these demons? These black wretched creatures that wouldn't stop until they got what the desired.

But as Roxas thought about it, how was he any different? He really couldn't be, right? Besides for the obvious fact that he was made of flesh and bone, that he had an actual face and arms and legs, besides that…there really wasn't a comparison. Roxas was and always would be, searching for something to make him whole, something to complete him. Though what that was, he had no clue. How could one know what they needed if they had no idea what was missing in the first place?

They couldn't. It was impossible. Through Roxas tried and tried, he tried harder than anyone should be able to. He fought and pushed himself, searched for something – anything to fill this emptiness in his chest. But to no avail did his attempts get him. Still he tried to keep telling himself, tried to push himself even further, that someday he would fill this void, he could make things right. He could live.

Roxas knew he was only lying to himself when he said these sweet words. He'd never be whole and he knew that, he knew it so clearly. The tears that streamed down his face only added to the drops that had already graced themselves there by his constant running. He was glad at least that he had this coat, this safe barrier that covered him from most of the onslaught from the sky. Even though he was drenched, even though he was crying like he hadn't in ages, and even though he trembled in his boots, shivers racking themselves through his small, nimble body, he still did not stop running. Not until he slammed into something, something that was so hard that it made him loose all balance and fall backwards, landing on his butt. He hissed and screeched in pain, crying even more now that his backside was in such pain from the concrete.

How could he have been so stupid? Had he really just run into a wall? Not that it mattered, now at least, his feet had stopped and he could get some rest. Maybe catch his breath before he had to start up again. Just…close his eyes for a few moments and try to…forget…

"Get up," said a voice from above. And damn did it scare him. The wall…talked? Since when did walls actually speak? Had he finally lost it…?

"I said get up you idiot! You're going to die if you just stay there like that!"

Doesn't matter. The world would keep turning if he was gone. Everyone would go on with their lives like nothing had happened. No one would miss him, not a soul.

He heard a growl from above but he still didn't turn to look, all he felt was a warm something grasp his water soaked jacket. It was a hand, a hand with fingers but the fingers were gloved. So…now walls have arms and hands…and, and fingers too? Weird…that really didn't seem possible, but hey, who was he to judge his own sanity? He'd been seeing freaking shadows with huge yellow eyeballs stalk him for days on end. So what if the wall was suddenly helping him up off the ground?

"Kiddies shouldn't be playing out here, it's dangerous. Go home." The voice was rough and deliberate, ordering him something that he just knew he couldn't obey.

There was no home for Roxas to go back to, no home at all. What did it matter if he was all alone out here, listening to a wall that was warning him of eminent danger? It wasn't anything he couldn't handle; he'd dealt with much worse. So much…worse…

"Are you even listening to me? I said go home!" The wall yelled and suddenly shoved at Roxas, making him stumble backwards a bit and he almost fell back onto the cold wet ground. He kept himself steady through for fear of another bruise on his behind.

Well of course he was listening to the wall, it was the only one speaking so it's not like he could just not hear it talking. He just…had decided to ignore its requests and not talk back to it. What would that say about his demeanor? His…honor? His pride or dignity. Really, talking back to a wall was…a bit wacky and he was not about to stoop that low as to reply to its demands.

He heard a sudden sigh from above; the wall was obviously tired of his impudence. Well it was its own fault for speaking to Roxas in the first place, he didn't mean to run into it and he had been just fine there on the ground.

"Screw you kid, go ahead and die out here, see if I care," the wall practically growled, sending another chill to creep up the back of Roxas' already cold spine. He shivered once more before he collapsed back onto the ground, knees hitting the floor with the most force right after his hands. It hurt and he screamed. Screamed as loud as he could because he knew – no one could hear him and even if anyone did – No. One. Would. Care.

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How long had he been lying there, motionless on the ground? Could have been days, or maybe just seconds. Time just kind of seems to…pass when you have no real existence. Maybe if he was an actual being, a real person, someone with feelings and wants and needs and…importance, maybe then he wouldn't be lying there on the floor helplessly, reminding himself to breathe in and out. He thought of just stopping many times, just cutting off the air, how hard could it be to suffocate one's self? Though he stopped himself of that action each time it clouded his mind. How cowardly that would be. How insecure and weak that would make him. He would ride this out, damnit. Ride it out until the very end, until there really was nothing left. Then at least, he could say that he had tired.

With a grunt and a heavy chest, Roxas staggered to his feet, boots clacking on the pavement beneath him as he stood slightly slumped over from the weight on his shoulders. It seemed as if this weight was intent on bringing him back down, down to the ground again where he lay helpless and weak. But he wouldn't give in, not that easily. He couldn't help but almost laugh when he looked in front of him. Of course, there was no wall there, it was gone and had left him ages ago. Or was it only minutes? He didn't know and he didn't care. But the thought of the wall walking away from him, angry that he hadn't obeyed its commands, just gave Roxas the weirdest urge to giggle, and so he did. He cackled like a madman, standing in the pouring rain, eyes shooting to the black sky above him. His mouth hung open as he laughed maniacally and he just didn't want to stop. Laughing like this was maybe even better than screaming; at least it didn't make him feeling like a weakling. No, it made him feel powerful, mighty even. Maybe he could do this. Maybe he could fix this pitiful mess he called his life. Just maybe he could.

He stopped his sudden burst of laughing and then fixed his eyes on a shadow that had crept itself into the corner of his eye. He smirked evilly at it, showing his white teeth and his blazing blue eyes. Just what had given him this sudden burst of energy? This sudden need to…kill. It was heavy and weighing him down with every second that passed by. He had to…he had to murder that thing. Slice its head off and leave it writhing in the rain. He had to see it's blood splatter across the ground, see the life slowly drain out of the creature.

He just had to.

So without another thought he held out his hand right in front of his chest, focusing solely on killing the evil monsters that had hunted him down for so long and nothing more.

Suddenly a bust of light shone and he was standing there, but he was not alone, not anymore. He held a sword, and not just any sword – it was a Keyblade. Smirking at how easy it had been to summon this magnificent weapon, Roxas continued to hold out his other arm, concentrating once again. Before he knew it he wielded not one, but two of these weapons. And damn did he feel powerful. Never before had he felt this much fire inside him, this much passion and inhibition. It felt so fucking good.

So without thinking he charged himself, Keyblades held high, ready to strike as he honed in on the black creature. And it wasn't long before black blood splattered onto his clothes and a laugh erupted out of his throat, echoing once again into the dead of the rainy night.

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Running had turned into walking sometime along his trek. Every time he would think about running again his legs would remind him how tired they were. His stomach would scream how hungry it was. His eyes would lazily fold over, wishing for the sleep that he they so desperately needed. But Roxas was stubborn. Roxas wouldn't give in to the fatigue. Roxas was strong, damnit. He would live through this, just as he said, he would…He would live.

But his body needed rest and replenishment. His body needed a soft bed to sleep on and some warm food in its belly. His body was a traitor, that's what it was. For being so weak, for being so cruel to him. Why wouldn't it just keep pushing on as Roxas did? It just wasn't fair that he wanted to keep going but his stupid body slowed him down.

But he knew he couldn't keep going forever like this, he knew it.

So where was he to go?

There were many buildings around here, many places with lights on and voices coming from the insides, but how could he…how could he just waltz up to one and ask for a place to stay? They would yell at him, tell him to get away. Scream and yell and scream and yell and…

Roxas couldn't handle that, he just couldn't. Roxas wasn't that strong yet…he just wasn't that strong…

"You there."

Roxas flinched but didn't move. Was that person talking to him, or…?

"You with the hood."

He was wearing a hood yes and it seemed like no one else was around…

He turned to the voice, managing to stay slightly calm when he was faced with a hooded figure. His coat was long and black; unlike his own that was just a plain hoodie. The hood covered all of the strangers face completely so it was impossible to see who it was.

"Your name. What is it?" asked the man from behind the hood, obviously a male because of his voice. His head slightly arched when he spoke, the rain falling onto the little dip and sliding off to fall over his face like a roof.

Roxas blinked a few times under his own hood and answered, "Roxas." It felt weird to be talking again, after all this time of staying silent. His voice was strange and foreign, even to himself.

Roxas could have sworn he saw a smirk glint underneath the black hood of the man, but it was just too quick because soon he was being attacked by this man. His sword had appeared out of nowhere and his movements were quick and subtle, Roxas hadn't even seen him coming.

Roxas had to think, and quick. Soon his two Keyblades were present in his palms, shining even in the dreary darkness that surrounded them. Using his strangely acquired fighting skills, he slashed the blades and danced around his attacker, fury and fire burning in his veins. And for some reason, as Roxas fought this stranger who had some hidden reason for attacking him, he felt strong. He felt powerful just as he did before. If fighting like this was the only thing he was good at, then at least that was something and at least it made him feel brave.

Roxas dodged the long blade of the man and rolled onto his back only to shoot himself back up again and slash the lighter of his blades through the air where the man had once been. This was a challenge, even for Roxas. The guy was just so damn quick he could barely keep his eyes on him for more than a few seconds. But he dealt with that, swishing both his metal blades, making contact a few choice times. Metal on metal clanged through the night air, ringing so loudly that it even overpowered the rain. Roxas grinned when he felt his blade connect with a body for the third time, but this time it had sent the attacker flying to the ground. Roxas quickly stood above the man, finally seeing who was behind the hood. Long silver locks fell into the man's face, but it didn't matter because bound over his eyes was a long strip of cloth, sealing him from even seeing anything. How stupid he was, fighting without even looking. Without even seeing! It was ridiculous and Roxas was just that much better than him.

"Why…" The man on the ground started, his voice shaky and spent. Roxas regarded him, his grin faded completely as he listen to him yell, "Why do you have the keyblade?"

Roxas ground his teeth together and hissed loudly, feeling just so pissed off at that remark. He didn't know…he…he didn't know! "Shut up!" he threw back. He was suddenly just so mad, so mad…He raised one key and lowered it with all his might, feeling it connect with a body once again. And again he felt the blood soak his coat and he threw his head to the sky and laughed. He laughed at the scream that had erupted from his attacker, his laughed at how powerful he felt, and he laughed because damnit, he just didn't know.

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Roxas found himself then, curled up on a doorstep, panting for breath from running so hard and so fast. Again he was hungry and just so tired…Maybe he could fall asleep here; it wasn't really seeming to rain as much here as it did here than back in the city and the ground…since when had the floor felt so comfortable?

His treacherous eyes flitted to a close, settling him in darkness that was far beyond any on the outside world. This darkness seemed for comfort him, told him it was going to be okay. It soothed him and almost tricked him into believing that maybe…everything would be fine. Maybe this was all just a nightmare of some sort. It told him to sleep, it told him to forget. Told him to leave all his troubles behind…and so, that's what he did.

It wasn't long before a hard and stiff boot turned him over onto his back. The rain fell into his face now as he tried to figure out if it was just a dream or reality. The rain was still there and it was still cold, so perhaps it wasn't a dream. Unless it was some kind of nightmare.

"It's…it's you again. How in the hell did you live?"

Roxas couldn't answer this. He didn't know. He didn't even feel alive so maybe he was dead, finally.

He heard a sigh and shivered when a warm hand was placed on his cheek. That hand…oh god it felt amazing. If anything could have been more comforting than he had never felt it until now. How in the world could skin be so soft and affectionate?

"Damn, you're cold as fuck."

Was he? Roxas couldn't feel anything besides the heat coming from the palm on his face.

"You're all fucked up, kid."

Roxas was guessing the man was either talking about his bloody rain soaked jacket or the fact that he was sleeping on a doorstep. Either one could be described as fucked up, though Roxas already knew that he was.

The person sighed heavier this time above him and then suddenly, his whole body was engulfed in the warmth he had felt from the fingers on his face. Roxas thought that maybe he had finally died, maybe this was the afterlife. Maybe Roxas had been saved finally from his horrible endeavor.

He was heaved up into the stranger's arms as if he weighed nothing at all. "Might as well bring you in. What's your name, kid?"

Roxas didn't answer. He tried but failed. The only thing he could do was keep his eyes closed and clutch to the leather coat this warm and comforting stranger wore. No…he wasn't a stranger, he was his savior.

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"You will be his mentor then, Axel."

Axel bit his lip almost nervously but nodded in response.

The Superior tapped one long finger on his large chair, his blue haired henchman standing right beside him, as always. That guy just never seemed to leave the Superior's side.

"This boy…" the Superior began, features focused and stern, "we do believe he could be the one."

Axel drew in a breath to speak but was cut off by Saix. "We haven't yet made certain, but the boy does resemble the chosen one."

Axel let his mouth close, green orbs shifting slowly around the room. Sure the kid's eyes were the same and he was around the same height and age, but did that really mean…?

"We put him in your care. That means you must watch him at all times. Never let him out of your sight and if you do, you will be severely punished." The Superior's voice echoed through the large white room. Axel only nodded again. Who was he to oppose the higher ups anyway? He was only number 8.

Besides…the kid kind of did spark something in Axel.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.