KH2 Re-write chapter one – reunion

I know this has been done before, but I figured I'd add a little more yaoi, angst and speech into this already epic story ^__^ Reviews are nice

Lyrics included in this chapter are:

All I need - Within Temptation

Goodbye my almost lover - A Fine Frenzy


"If you leave the organisation will destroy you!"

"No-one would miss me"

"That's not true…I would"

That was it, Axel told himself; he'd gone. After all this time Roxas was gone. None of the other members of Organisation XIII even seemed to care. He'd left in search of answers to why the key blade had chosen him, he didn't know his past; he couldn't remember anything. It was understandable…but why couldn't they have gone in search together?

He wandered aimlessly; now Roxas was gone, he didn't know what to do with himself…he didn't feel like he had any purpose.

"I don't see why you are so worked up about him leaving" Saïx stated emotionlessly "If he wants to turn his back on us that's his own fault. We'll have to destroy him if he doesn't come back"

"We can't do that!" Axel slammed his fist on the table, the cups jumped half an inch.

"You forget your place. We cannot feel; we have no emotions let alone care for anyone. You'll be fine, it's just psychological."

"Then why do I feel as though I've had something torn out of me! Like I'm missing something, I don't find the joys in things I used to do before, nothing thrills me anymore! I feel meaningless!"

"We all make our own meanings, as for the rest, walk it off, you're being ludicrous."

"Fuck you mongrel." The redhead snarled, a corridor of darkness opened and engulfed the flurry of dancing flames.

Axel was going on a mere whim, but he'd heard a rumour from Demyx that Roxas had last been seen fighting some weird white haired teen in a jacket similar to theirs and taken off by an even stranger man covered in red bandages.

"They took him to a place called Twilight town" Demyx said barely above a whisper "I hope you find him dude"

The two Nobodies had met in secret, their hoods up, leaning against opposite walls. Demyx had learnt of the feelings Axel had towards Roxas. The dusty blonde always wanted to believe that Nobodies had hearts, so when he heard Axel's story he saw it as a new form of hope that they really did.

Axel nodded a weary smile across his face "I just hope I'm not too late" he sighed fading into a corridor of darkness.

It was difficult to get by the security systems but the redhead managed to eventually crack some form of code, he wasn't sure if it was simply because he'd managed to stumble across the mansion's computer room complete with a direct entrance to the world.

In a second he was teleported to a bright and cheerful looking town, it nearly made him sick it was so perky.

"It's like being in some Barbie commercial…" Axel cringed

"You got a problem with the town?" a loud and more obnoxious voice than he could have ever mustered echoed behind him. The redhead turned around to be met with some wannabe gangster kid. A black beanie with the kanji for 'me' on it, a long white sleeveless jacket hung of his broad shoulders and some weird blue belly top. He screamed closet case.

"Just a lil perfect for my taste," Axel simply replied "you know a kid called Roxas?"

"What do you want with him?"

"Old friend of his. You gonna tell me?"

"He's down that alley; keep going until you find a metal fence, go through the gate and you'll find him and his little pansy friends with him."

"Thanks kid."

"That's Seifer to you!" the blonde called after the lanky man.

"You got that homework assignment done yet?" Olette asked, looking up from her sea salt ice-cream.

"Course I haven't, it's not the last weekend of summer yet" Hayner laughed.

"You really shouldn't procrastinate like that" Pence shook his head. "What about you Roxas?"

"I've done half of it" the blonde replied, he looked a little drained, his attention obviously elsewhere.

Hayner looked up sharply; the old blanket they hung up by the entrance for a door had shifted, revealing a pensive redhead. The group shifted uncomfortably as the intruder didn't say anything; he was more fixated on Roxas.

"Who are you?" said teen asked with a sharp flint of aggression in his voice.

"…I can't believe I've found you after all his time…" the only words Axel could assemble, the feelings were more than clear.

"Who the hell are you?" Roxas rose to his feet, he was getting unnerved by this guy dressed all in black, what's more was the guy seemed to know who he was; it had to be mistaken identity.

"Roxas…you don't remember me?" Axel's face dropped, "It's me – Axel; I'm your best friend!"

"I don't know anyone called Axel. How do you know my name?"

"Talk about blank with a capital B"

"Roxas, who is this guy, is there something you're not telling us?" Hayner jokingly jabbed the blonde in the ribs with his elbow.

"I swear on my life I don't know him!"

"You really don't remember do you?"

"Remember what?"

Axel straightened his back and held out his hands, a mysterious dark swirl was travelling down his arms, when two very large weapons appeared; Chakram.

"Number 13, Roxas, the key blade's chosen one." Axel stated as he begun a strange juggle with his weapons.

"Guys, you'd better get out of here" Roxas said sharply, he hadn't a clue what this guy was going on about, but he wasn't about to let him hurt his friends.

"Yeah, you guys give us some alone time" Axel's eyes flashed dangerously, a threat emerging "We have A LOT to catch up on"

"But Roxas-" Olette tried to protest but was pulled out by Hayner.

"Just go!" Roxas turned to face the fuming redhead, readying himself for a fight.

"If I don't take you back now, then they're going to come after you and destroy you!"

"Who's 'they'? What are you talking about?" Roxas was getting more and more wound up by all the confusing words that Axel was spouting.

"Organisation XIII. You used to be their thirteenth member…My best friend" Axel's temper temporarily soothed. "We were barely seen without each other…You left us…in search of your past, but you were kidnapped by a guy called DiZ"

"Why can't I remember any of this?"

"They wiped your memory, they're trying to get rid of you as well…you're safer back with me" Axel held his hand out; his expression had faded from furious to pleading.

"How do I know you're not making this up?"

"You can't…not unless you trust me enough to find out"

"Axel I just met you, how can I?"

"You've known me for ages Roxas! Try and remember!" frustration building yet again, it was scaring the teen but he couldn't help it.

"I think it'd be better if you left Axel."

"Roxas don't do this to me – I mean us."

"I'm following common sense; you've got the wrong guy." The blonde walked past the redhead "You'd better go before the police get here, waving those things around so carelessly won't go unnoticed."

Axel grabbed Roxas' wrist, his teeth gritted, he was fighting the need to push the teen against the wall and wrap his arms around him tightly. Maybe he'd remember if he did.

"Axel let go of me!" Roxas yelled.

"I'm not going to, not ever again!" with a swift yank on the teen's thin wrists he pulled him close, tightly holding onto him, not giving him enough space to struggle free. "Don't leave me again; please don't make me watch you walk away for a second time…"

The nagging in Roxas' mind got worse the more the redhead's voice cracked as he spoke those words. He felt he did know him, but he couldn't recall how he ever met him.

"Axel, if this for the organisation, or is it for you?" Roxas asked slowly

"It should be for the organisation…that's my mission…but it's more…for my peace of mind."

"Peace of mind?"

"Since you've been gone I haven't been able to do anything I once loved doing, burning Marluxia's plants for shits and giggles doesn't seem to give me the same kicks it once did"

"Marluxia… the name was ringing bells…."

"Yeah, number 11! He's got pink hair and an obsession with-"

"Flowers…and gardening…"

"Yes! And he's the biggest sexual deviant ever! Do you remember anyone else?"

Naminé was furiously scribbling as fast as she could, she was meant to be restoring all of Sora's memories so that he could be restored, but she couldn't bring herself to tear these two apart, Axel's voice was bringing tears to her eyes, it wasn't fair on Roxas, or Axel. Nothing had been.

"Naminé, what are you doing?" Riku's voice came from behind her. The blonde girl looked up, her face flushed pink, biting her lip, eyes red and sore looking, small salty streams running down her face.

"…I can't do this to him Riku…"

"We have to get out of here now Roxas, they'll be coming to take you away!" Axel still hadn't let the poor blonde go for the past five minutes.

"But what about my friends, Hayner, Olette and Pence?"

"We'll have to worry about that later Roxas"

"Axel, I can't leave them" Roxas tried to wriggle out of the redhead's embrace.

"I can't leave you either!" Axel gripped tighter, his eyes desperate, breath erratic.

I'm dying to catch my breath
Oh why don't I ever learn
I've lost all my trust that I'm sure we try to
Turn it around

Can you still see the heart of me
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

Don't tear me down
For all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe
Don't tear me down
You've opened the door now
Don't let it close

"Axel, I have to go" the blonde continued to struggle

"Roxas please…Don't go, please" Axel's voice was now cracking, no matter how hard he tried to stop it.

"Axel let me go!"

"Get the hell off of him!" Seifer's gang appeared at the entrance weapons brandished.

"You!"

"You can't show up in my town and cause trouble without catching my attention, now let the kid go and no one gets hurt"

"You're going to be the one that gets hurt if you stand in my way little boy!" Axel raised a hand from the floor, lanky and awkward looking beings in white arose, "You try and take him from me and I'll unleash these guys on you."

"What are they?" Seifer staggered back, his forehead creased from the apparent distain of being addressed as a child.

"Dusks. And your pathetic little struggle bats won't work on them!"

"Axel, stop this!" Roxas yelled; the redhead pushed him back "just leave it!"

Seifer stood firm, his face seemed a little more mature now Axel looked at him, but that still didn't change that he was trying to stop him and Roxas being re-united.

Here on the edge again
I wish I could let it go
I know that I'm only one step away
From turning around

Can you still see the heart of me
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

Don't tear me down
For all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe
Don't tear it down
What's left of me
Make my heart a better place

"Don't test me Seifer!" Axel roared, his Chakram bared and flaming

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to get my best friend back. I just want Roxas and I'll leave you all alone!"

"Axel, I don't want to go with you!"

The redhead froze on the spot, the dusks and his Chakrams faded…

"What..?" he stammered, his world shattered.

"I don't want to go with you, I want to stay here."

Axel choked on nothing but air, everything he'd been fighting for, everything he'd ever wanted…didn't want him

"F-fine…" He pulled his hood over his face, a corridor of darkness appeared, "I can't make you…I just wanted things to be the way they were"
"Axel…just go"
"Goodbye…my almost lover"
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

The redhead stepped into the portal and soon faded away, taking him to the clock tower, he sat there for a few minutes, before he doubled over himself, sobs wracking his body. All that effort…for nothing…all the energy; it was over…

The blonde stood in the shadow of doubt, had he'd done the right thing…he didn't know where Axel had gone, let alone what could happen to him.

"You alright shrimp?" Seifer grumbled, a little shaken admittedly.

"Y-yeah…I'm fine" Roxas shook his head "I'm going home." A lie.

Something deep inside him stirred, memories of a previous meeting, the two sat on the clock tower eating ice-cream together.

The redhead shivered, the cold air whipped at his face making the salty liquid falling from his eyes sting all the more, he hated crying, a fire element crying. Sounded like a suicide wish to him…a comforting thought…

He looked at the space where his feet were dangling, how easy it'd be to just let go…Roxas didn't want him…the organisation would kill him if he went back empty handed, but they'd also chase after Roxas…he was safer without Axel anyway.

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine

It hurt the redhead to shed so many tears, the reasoning behind it stung as well, more than any form of water could ever hurt him by dousing the flames within him. His body ached, he'd just wanted to stay with him forever…was that so much to ask?

"Did I make it that
Easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?"

"Axel what are you doing up here?" The blonde clung to the thick pillar.

"You didn't want to come with me…I don't have any other good reason I can think of to stay here anymore…I wanted to…see you one last time…" Roxas slowly edged his way closer to where the redhead was sat. Axel turned away from him "We…we don't have hearts they say…I don't see how that's true though…whenever I thought about you, or was with you, I felt like I could do anything…like I had a heart."

"How do you know you don't?"

"The scars on our chests…it shows where they're no longer there…" his control of his voice was stunning him, while rivers were flowing from his eyes, his body shivering as though he were in an ice room, he still kept a sturdy voice.

"Then why do you…feel something towards me?"

"I don't know…I never questioned it, it was just there you know?"

"What were we…before?"

"I'm not sure…we always just left it as best friends…never said anything else…knowing we couldn't feel anything else…"

"If we can't, then why are you so distraught about this?" Roxas shuffled closer to the redhead, trying not to lose balance.

"It hurt, watching you leave…like our friendship meant nothing to you" Axel's breath hitched, "like I meant nothing to you. I begged you not to leave…but you didn't listen…you just…left me there…"

"You missed me didn't you?"

"More than you could possibly know" Axel coughed; a sniff followed "You…were the only one I liked. You meant everything to me. You were my, everything…my only-only reason…" Roxas' mouth open and closed but no words came out, he reached out slowly for Axel's shoulder, the redhead finally let it go; he sobbed as he buried his face into his crossed arms, pulling his legs up. "You were the only proof I had that I existed…that I influenced someone's life. Nobodies aren't meant to exist; and you always calmed my fears that I didn't. You made me feel. I had a purpose, I was here for a reason, and no one could have taken that away from me…but you did…"

The redhead yelled at the top of his lungs, he threw the door to his room open, throwing books and various items to the other side of the room. Roxas was gone, he was gone; he wasn't coming back. Oh god, he wasn't coming back! That was the last he'd ever see of him.

His eyes stung as he felt his face grow red as he picked up the pillow and tore it open wildly; its white feathers spilling everywhere. He spun to face his desk, slamming his hand down he threw everything off it, picking up the blank table he heard a knock at the door.

"Axel?" Demyx's voice travelled through the door.

"GET THE HELL OUT!" Axel roared, throwing the table at the door with ease. The lamp fell to the floor, a spark created.

The redhead's eyes widened as he grabbed the photo frame next to it. The only picture of him and Roxas…

He dusted the frame removing the ash from it, staring at it for half a minute without saying a word.

Demyx materialised behind him, he cringed at the small fire that had started in the corner, raising a hand the flame was drowned in multiple solid bubbles of water.

"You should find him dude…" Demyx placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder, a sympathetic frown on his face "If he means that much to you."

"You came followed his advice then?" Roxas sighed, he couldn't explain it; his head throbbed like after a lesson where he had to take in too much info. He was remembering things about this 'Organisation XIII' and Axel.

"I looked so hard for this place…it's not real Roxas, it's just a computer programe, created by DiZ"

"What?"

"Everything you know here isn't real, the people maybe, but the world itself if just composed of binary codes. It's not the real version of this world."

"How do you know?"

"I do, do research about these places Roxas…So what do you want to do now?"

"I honestly don't know, I'm torn, I have all these false memories about this town and growing up here, but I also remember more about Organisation XIII, I can't choose which one I prefer."

"Do you really need to?" Axel sniffed with a slight smile.

"Naminé if DiZ catches you doing this, god knows what he'll do" Riku reasoned as best as he could

"I know, I know" the blonde girl shook her head, "Can't we at least let them have some more time?"

"You know we can't afford to do that"

"Isn't there anyway to give them their own hearts, so that Sora can be brought back without Roxas being there?"

"They wouldn't be whole though…it seems totally illogical"

"But the heart would complete them, having their own separate hearts. They'd be individual beings"

"Can we do that?" Riku caught onto the plan

"The way that the Organisation is doing things is, to get Sora back, use the keyblade to destroy the heartless to be able to access Kingdom Hearts, some of them are doing it for research methods, and others are doing it so that through it they can find their hearts."

"But that would require Sora to be around."

"Not unless with Roxas possessing the keyblade he completes the task Sora would. I've been restoring Goofy and Donald's memories, but Sora's are on temporary hiatus."

"All this just for two Nobodies' happiness…"

"Wouldn't you do it, if you were in my position?"

"But what would the repercussions be?"

"Only Ansem knows…he's convinced that it'd be disastrous, because Xehanort is leading the Organisation"

"Why is he fighting them though? They just want to be whole again, I can understand why they're fighting Maleficent – she wants it for darkness, but they have good reasons behind it. Surly we could utilise it to help everyone?" Riku's head begun to hurt, why couldn't they access Kingdom Hearts, what was stopping them?

"Please Riku, go down there and tell them the plan, we need to help them out of here. Tell Axel all we've talked about, and get him to reason with Xemnas." The silver haired teen nodded and disappeared into a corridor of darkness. "I hope this works…"


Chapter 2 on its way from being beta-d (for the several billionth time )