Disclaimer: Kingdome Hearts is not mine. Period. Name of the Fic is from the song by Lifehouse.

Pairings: Axel/Roxas and Zexion/Demyx

Rating: I'm going to rate it T for now but it will probably be going up to M in the future because Axel has a potty mouth, Zexion is twisted and there will be some sexual moments. Just a warning for the future.

This is an AU story. Kingdom Hearts story isn't happening/has not happened. It mostly takes place on Earth. Other worlds will come in later.

Hope you enjoy this :D


Prologue- A Hunt Begun

Saix watched with disinterest as London drowned in heavy rainfall. Shadows of droplets streaming down the window cascaded onto his scarred face and the circular room behind him. Thirteen doors, randomly spaced around the wall, remained closed as he waited for his summons to be answered.

Turning away from the window, he picked up his claymore and walked to the door with the 13 emblazoned above it. Staring at it blankly for a moment, he quickly hefted his weapon and, in sharp movements, carved a jagged R onto the door.

Hearing a door open from a different part of the room, he tuned in time to see a manic looking red-head enter from door 8.

"What is it, Saix? Can't take a day without me?" Axel strutted into the open room and swiftly approached the scarred man.

"We have need of you skills," Saix replied, absently, standing his claymore against the wall next to him.

Axel smirked. "That's what I meant."

The blue-haired Nobody sighed. "Not those skills, Axel."

As a chakram appeared and flew into the air, Axel rolled his eyes. "I would ask if you ever smile but I all ready know the answer." Still staring at Saix, Axel caught the weapon and turned to leave. "I don't see that you have anything for me."

"Vexen!" Saix called, his voice resonating throughout the circular room. Door number 4 opened silently as Vexen glided into the room, threw a knowing look at a slightly ill-looking Axel, and met with Saix.

"You would know how to deal with addicts…" Vexen nodded humorlessly, as a small crystal vial changed hands. He turned on his heel in one swift movement and retreated from the room, barely making a sound.

Once they were alone again, Saix turned back to the now stoic Axel. He held up the heart-shaped crystal vial that glowed bright red in the dim lighting of the room. Shaking it a bit, he seemed to chide Axel for even thinking of turning him down. "I know you, Axel. I know you cannot resist it. No addict can resist their drug. They always come back for more… you are no different." He palmed the vial once more, placing it somewhere in his robes. "So don't pretend to be."

Axel watched with hungry eyes as the vial disappeared and wondered absently if he could just kill Saix, but quickly dismissed the idea. One didn't simply kill a higher-up inside the headquarters of Organization XIII. Looking around the room, he spotted the angry R on door 13.

R for REPLACE.

Axel sighed. "Number 13. Which one is he again?"

Saix smirked. "Roxas," he answered. Walking to the large mahogany table in the middle of the room, he picked up a file and made his way over to Axel. "He was the newest member…" he explained, handing the file to Axel. "However, as of late, he seems to have disagreed with our cause. The order came from Xemnas as soon as we learned of his… departure."

Axel looked at the picture in the file and recognized the boy. "The pipsqueak?" He laughed. "You're kidding me." Snapping the file closed and tucking it under his arm, he felt like slapping his thigh at the hilarity of the situation. "That little guy had the audacity to run from us?"

Saix's eyes darkened. "That 'little guy' is not to be trusted. He's been spreading vile lies to the people of this city. That is why I called you here," he spit out like a curse. Turning and walking back to the window, he calmed himself and continued. "Roxas is not to be underestimated. He is intelligent and knows his way around this world…" He looked over his shoulder at an unimpressed Axel. "Never forget, my crimson-haired friend… when his heart was taken from him… he retained human form. If nothing else will caution you- that should."

Axel sighed, already knowing he would find the boy, if only to be rewarded with the potion in the heart-shaped vial. "Any idea which way he ran?" Axel opened the file again. "I mean, he's not likely to have kept his cloak on him, now is he? That will certainly make it harder to spot him in the crowd."

Saix sighed. "Unfortunately, the Heartless lost him in the city. Last they saw of him, he was headed west, toward the ocean."

Axel rolled his eyes. "Oh, good. The ocean. That helps a whole fucking heap. Nothing like tracking someone in a goddamn ocean."

The scarred man almost laughed at the sarcasm in the red-head's voice.

"You gonna send out the Petal Pusher to find someone else?"

Saix raised an eyebrow. "Marluxia will have plenty of time to find another member after you have successfully destroyed Roxas.

Axel scoffed and turned to slowly weave his way back to his door. "Not that it will take him all that long… the ol' flower child always did have a way of making a new Nobody see our quest through rose-colored glasses." On the last words he turned back to Saix, hands raised to his face, fingers in a circle around his eyes. When he received no response, he barked a laugh and started to leave the room.

"I want proof of his death, Axel… bring me his blade."

Axel rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Who's to say I wouldn't just take his weapon and bring it back to you? Forget the hassle of having to actually kill him…"

His inquiry was met with a few beats of frosty silence. "You know better, don't you?"

A fatal chill ran through Axel as he heard those words that were more than words.

They were an oath.

A promise of what would happen if he failed. Axel turned his thoughts to bloodlust as he left the room.

Saix sighed as the door closed. Though Axel still craved the potion that only Organization XIII could offer him more than ever, he was becoming more restless with having to perform his bounty hunter duties at their beck and call to feed his addiction. Axel was a talented, efficient killer. He enjoyed the thrill of the hunt but being ordered to do it was another thing altogether. Though Axel always gave in when the vial appeared, Saix couldn't help but feel the distrust well inside himself.

"Zexion, Demyx," he called, softly. Two more doors opened and two more cloaked figures entered the room.

Zexion approached, serious, with steps that were always deliberate and calculated.

Demyx tried not to run toward his superior with the excitement of having a quest to fulfill.

Neither said a word, but waited for Saix to speak.

"Axel has gone to rid us of Roxas," he stated.

Demyx bounced on the balls of his feet, his expression indescribable. "Awe… So it's true?" he asked with too wide eyes. "I sorta liked the kid."

Saix and Zexion's eyes me as they tried to keep their impatience to a minimum. Zexion smiled a bit, more used to it than their superior.

Saix continued, tight-lipped. "I want you to follow Axel. Report to me twice a day. If something major happens, I want to know right away. Inform me the moment Axel makes the kill."

Zexion and Demyx nodded their understanding and turned to leave.

"And gentlemen…"

They turned back to acknowledge him.

"If he shows any signs of running, or refusing to take Roxas' life… End him."


A/N: Thank you soooo much to my awesome beta, Amy, for being so enthusiastic about my work and this one particularly!

Everyone who was kick ass enough to read this: Please, take time to leave a few words and review. Lemme know what you like and what you don't like, just please, no flames... they aren't productive at all.