I don't own Axel or Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter 2

~Kidnapped~

The tropical island was just as Axel had left it; peaceful with its endless blue skies, ocean and the fading, glorifying golden-red sunsets. "You see Roxas, light is made up of many colors and out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest," the redhead remembered as he told Roxas when they were sitting on the clock tower in the Station Plaza of Twilight Town eating ice cream like they had always done. Looking at the sunset made Axel sigh, but he couldn't be bothered with such memories or 'feelings', because what was there to feel for someone that didn't have a heart?

Axel noticed two boys zoom pass him. One was dressed in yellow and had silver hair and the other, much slower boy was dressed in a white t-shirt with blue on the trim, red shorts, yellow sandals and he had brown fluffy hair. "Hey Riku, wait up! Don't leave me behind," the brunette cried as he stopped to take a breather.

"Giving up already I thought you were stronger than that Sora," the silver-haired boy said as he stood in front of the boy.

"No fair Riku," the brunette, Sora whined. "You always win!"

"You just have to try harder," Riku taunted.

"Don't worry I will," Sora smirked.

"Riku, Sora; we'll be heading back to the mainland shortly. So, hurry up okay," a man shouted from the pier.

"Okay dad," Sora yelled.

"Alright Mr. Sora's dad," Riku called back.

"How about one more race," Riku smirked.

"Ah, but can't we do sword-fighting," Sora whined.

"Hey Sora, you wanted to race last time and I beat you. This time I'll let you win, promise," Riku smiled.

"Okay," Sora said with a slight grin. "But no cheating, pinky swear?"

"Pinky swear," Riku nodded and the two little boys crossed their pinky fingers together.

*Later*

Axel observed the two boys racing; once again Riku was still in the lead. The pyromaniac had a sudden idea and one that would get Roxas back. "Hey no fair Riku, you said you would let me win this time," Sora whined as he took another breather.

Riku chuckled and kept running this time, "Better luck next time Sora."

"Hey kid," Axel said to Sora.

The four-year-old cocked his head towards the redhead's direction. "Hey sir, are you lost or something? You don't look like you're from here. I will get my dad and he will…" Sora answered as he turned his head to the pier.

"No kid, you don't understand. I'm looking for somebody. And, you're the only one that can help. You see my friend, he looks just like you," Axel said as he placed a hand on Sora's shoulder. The two began to be swallowed up by darkness.

"Ah, what are you doing? Let me go, mister!" the four-year-old screamed.

Axel ignored the boy's panicked cries and futile struggles. The two were finally dispersed into darkness and they arrived back at Radiant Gardens. However, this time they were in front of King Ansem's castle. Axel looked around for any sign of the guards. "Good no guards around," Axel said.

"Hey let me go," Sora shrieked.

Axel granted the boy's request and threw the boy. Sora stumbled clumsily and fell on his butt at the castle's large wooden doors. He heard Isa and Lea's voices and they were quickly approaching their location. "Take me back home," Sora wailed.

Axel replied, "They'll find you here." And with that he disappeared into darkness. He appeared back in the 'Secret Place' or Riku and Sora's hideout. There he found the white door that had brought him back to the past. He heard Riku shouting outside the cave, "Hey Sora!"

"Are you sure he would be there," a man, Sora's dad asked.

"Positive Mr. Sora's dad," Riku nodded. "We have searched the entire island for Sora. He would be here. This is our hideout."

Axel opened the door and went back in time. Riku came inside the cave with Sora's dad. The adult brunette glared at Riku. "Well Riku, where's my son?" Sora's dad demanded.

"I heard something in here. Honest, Mr. Sora's dad! I would never lie about Sora," Riku protested.

"We'll see about that, won't we? I'm going to tell your parents once we get back to the mainland," Sora's dad said as he dragged the protesting boy out of the cave and onto the boat.

Riku looked back to the cave, "Sora, please come back!"

Axel managed to find his way back to Timeless River. Everything was still as bland and dull as it had been; he was still in his ridiculous retro form. "Ah, looks like nothing's changed," Axel thought.

"Hey Sora, we have to stop Pete," Donald squawked.

"Yeah I know, Donald. But, I just feel weird for some strange reason," Sora answered as his voice began to change to what Axel could recognize as Roxas' and he fell to his knees and held his head with both his hands and eyes squinting. Sora's mouth tightened as if he was in some extreme agony.

"Sora, are you okay?" Donald asked.

Sora didn't answer. He fell on his stomach and fainted. "Sora," both Donald and Goofy gasped.

"We have to get him back to the Time Door," Donald said.

"Yes, maybe the Queen and Merlin would be able to help Sora," Goofy agreed.

"No don't guys! I'll be fine. After all, we have to stop Pete," Sora said weakly as he regained consciousness.

"Look at you Sora, you can't die on us! We'll get Pete later. You're more important," Donald quacked.

"Thanks guys, but I'll be fine," Sora said as he got back onto his feet but again he fell to his knees.

"S-Sora," both Donald and Goofy gasped as they saw fragments of light scatter about Sora. "W-what's happening to you, Sora?"

"I-I don't know, but we have to stop Pete," Sora groaned.

This time Sora fell to the ground. Goofy attempted to catch the keyblader but he was too late. Sora dispersed into fragments of light and they ascended up into the light gray sky. "Sora," Donald and Goofy cried.

"We'll stop Pete and find a way to get you back Sora," the duo nodded as they proceeded towards the pier where Pete was waiting for them with the Cornerstone of Light on a separate boat attached to the main steamboat.

Axel sighed, "Figures." He turned to the Time Door and exited Timeless River.

Present

Axel felt something swelling in his chest, the place where his heart was meant to be. Feeling after feeling swelled up in his chest and the most dominate of the feelings was guilt. Axel didn't know what to make of this sudden reoccurrence of emotion. He hadn't been able to feel anything until after Roxas left the Organization. Axel was brought back to Disney Castle. He exited the door and met a gruesome sight. Disney Castle was in ruins.

He heard two voices and the sound of metal clashing against each other. "Nobody interferes with the Organization," a boy yelled.

"I won't let you get away with this for seeking those Heartless on Goofy and Donald," King Mickey returned.

"Ha, you're still bothered by those two fools' demises," the boy scoffed.

The hooded boy, Roxas gained the advantage and threw the king against the wall of the throne room. Roxas approached the king and claimed Star Seeker or King Mickey's keyblade as his own. King Mickey's body vanished into fragments of light just as Sora's body had back in Timeless River.

"Roxas," Axel said as he witnessed the whole fight and the King's Death. He walked in front of the remnant of wall that had been left over from the throne room during the years that Disney Town and the castle were afflicted by the darkness and the Heartless.

"Axel," Roxas gasped and ran up to the redhead. "Is that really you, Ax?" the hooded boy asked as he removed his hood.

Axel's eyes widened. Roxas stared at his friend and mentor confused, "Axel, why do you look like you've seen a ghost? I guess that last mission in Halloweentown got you stirred up, right? Ha, don't worry about it, ice cream's on me this time." Roxas opened a Corridor of Darkness and guided Axel through it as if he was a little kid.

The two males sat on the Clock Tower. Axel had to contemplate the whole situation. It was his entire fault why Sora and the King had vanished and why Disney Castle was destroyed. Roxas sat down beside Axel and handed him a Sea-Salt ice cream. "Man, it's been nearly a decade since I've been in the Organization. Gee ten years sure goes by fast, huh, Ax?" Roxas said.

"I gotta go, Roxas," Axel said as he dropped the Sea-Salt Ice Cream.

Roxas watched as the light blue frozen syrup attached to the wooden stick drop from the tower to the golden sidewalk beneath them. The blonde-haired teen turned back to Axel. He had seen Axel get disgusted with the ice cream before due to its weird salty taste. But, this was different. Axel loved Sea-Salt Ice Cream and wouldn't dare waste a perfect Popsicle like that. Something was probably bothering Axe.

"Axel," Roxas said as he got up. "Wait." He called to the redhead.

However, Axel left before Roxas could even give him a reply. Roxas opened up a Dark Corridor for himself and followed Axel through it. He needed to find out what was eating Axel.

The World That Never Was

Roxas chased Axel back to the World That Never Was, specifically the Castle That Never Was. The redhead couldn't figure out why he wasn't able to call a portal to the World That Never Was back when he was in that strange replica of Radiant Gardens, but how he was suddenly able to call it now due to his wanting to escape his guilt. "Axel," Roxas said as he managed to catch up to the redhead.

Axel didn't avoid Roxas this time. He wanted to get answers and Roxas would surely know. So, he asked the Key of Destiny, "What's going on? Everything is the same as when I fled from the Organization. And Roxas since when have you been in the Organization, especially for a decade? What's up with this?"

"Axel, are you okay?" Roxas replied as he looked at him weirdly.

A Dusk slithered up towards Roxas. It bent towards to where it was near Roxas' ear. It whispered and left. Roxas glanced up to Axel. "We have a meeting in the Round Room, Ax? Are you coming?"

"Oh yes, I'm coming," Axel said as he stood next to Roxas' side and the two Nobodies departed through the corridor to the World That Never Was.

Outside of Where Nothing Gathers

Everything was exactly the way it had been when Axel left the castle. Everything was the same as Roxas lead Axel down the long, never-ending, silver hallways of the castle towards a large white door. The White Door read, "Where Nothing Gathers".

"Axel, are you okay?" Roxas asked as he snapped the redhead out of his thoughts.

"Huh," Axel said as he then made eye-contact with those heavy, concerned aqua-blue eyes of Roxas'. "Why do you ask, Rox?"

"I'm just wondering why you've been acting weird lately, Axel. You're starting to freak me out," Roxas replied.

Axel smirked back at Roxas. He had to fool his friend that he was alright and not to worry him. "Since, when can you get freaked out, Roxas? Haven't you gotten it memorized yet that we can't feel?"

"Yeah, I got it memorized, Axel," Roxas replied with a chuckle.

"Roxas, did you want to see me?" a familiar, monotone voice asked as it interrupted the two's conversation.

Axel and Roxas turned around to where they could answer the owner of the voice. "Saix," the blonde nobody said as he came up to the blue-haired nobody's side.

"What's wrong, Roxas?" Saix asked.

"Axel has been acting strange for some reason, a lot more than he usually does. Can you knock some sense into my big brother? I've been trying my best to get some answers," Roxas admitted.

"Indeed, I'll try my best," Saix said with a wink towards the blonde-haired Nobody and gestured for Axel to follow him.

Axel soon left. He couldn't believe the worlds he had changed due to his time-travel, the King's death and even Saix's sarcasm. Oh wait, Saix's sarcasm was still normal. He didn't care if there was a meeting. He tried to go to his room, but, instead he was dragged to Saix's room. "Where are you taking me?" Axel demanded.

"To my room," Saix replied.

"Yeah, we need to figure out what's wrong with you, Axel-onii-sama," Roxas added.

Axel was confused by this. Why was Roxas calling him big brother? "What about the meeting?" Axel asked.

Saix glanced down at him, "Lord Xemnas has postponed it till this afternoon," Saix replied.

"Yeah, it's still ten in the morning, big brother Axel. This won't take too long," Roxas added.

Axel sweat-dropped with embarrassment as Roxas kept calling him big brother, this time-frame would take some getting used to.

As the three were about to go inside, Saix glanced down at Roxas. "Don't you have some chores to do, Roxas?"

"What chores," Roxas replied innocently and acted as if he were trying to make Saix forget his punishment.

Saix gave the teen a scowl. "Don't you remember the prank you pulled on Demyx and Larxene? How Larxene reacted when she found out that all of her clothes had been discarded, including her robe? And, the only thing she had to wear was a bikini?"

"Saix, stop please," Roxas said with his eyes apparently widening and sweat dripping profusely from his forehead.

"And, may I remind you of the note that you left behind saying that Demyx was responsible? Let's not forget that Number X had to puke everywhere and ruin the Superior's private bathroom, because it was the only bathroom available due to your shenanigans, which ruined all of the bathrooms. And, don't forget about Demyx being the only one to see Larxene in a bikini," Saix finished.

"Alright, I get it. I'll go clean the boss' private bath. But-"Roxas said.

Saix scowled at him, which made the blonde yelp like a frightened puppy in trouble. He ran off to the Janitor's Closet of In-Between where the mops, floor cleaners, and all the other cleaning supplies were.

Axel, on the other hand sweat-dropped at the story, especially with the scene of Larxene in a bikini and he didn't want to interrupt the story. It would probably give him more nightmares than anything before. So, as hard as it was, Axel ignored the conversation. Saix smirked at Axel's expression at first, but then replaced it with his usual 'I'm surrounded by idiots' expression. And, he led the pyromaniac into his room.

Number VII's room

"Axel, why are you worrying Roxas?" Saix asked.

Axel glared at Saix. "Why are you pretending to be a nice guy, Saix?" Axel demanded.

"Axel, don't you remember the promise we made to him?" Saix asked.

"What are you talking about? What prom-"

Flashback

Eleven years ago

Radiant Gardens

"I'm telling you Isa. We'll get into this castle, one way or another," Lea said.

"I don't know, Lea. I have an uneasy feeling about today," Isa replied.

"Oh, stop being so paranoid, Isa," Lea smirked.

The two teenage boys reached the last step and crying began to occur. "Lea, don't you hear that? I hear a child's crying," Isa said.

"You're delusional Isa! We're not turning back just because you're chickening out on me," Lea exclaimed.

The sound of weeping got louder. Isa and Lea stopped once they reached the large doors of the castle. They saw a small four-year-old, brown-haired boy against one of the walls. He wore a white t-shirt with blue trims, red shorts and yellow sandals. "Why did he leave me here? I wanna go home! I wanna see Riku!"

"We should help him, Lea," Isa said as he attempted to approach the small boy, but Lea kept him back by holding onto the rim of his navy blue jacket..

"No, we shouldn't, Isa! Do you want to get into the castle?" Lea asked.

"There is always another time for that, Lea," Isa answered as he snatched away the fabric from Lea's hands and approached the small boy.

"Oh boy, I have a bad feeling that this brat is going to prevent us from getting into the castle today," Lea thought.

Lea ran in front of Isa to the four-year-old, "Hey kid, can you knock off that whining?"

The kid stopped for a second to inspect whoever was talking to him. He froze once he saw the redhead teen staring or whether glaring at him. The kid began screaming again, "Take me back to my islands, you big meanie!"

Lea went closer to the kid, but his screaming got louder and louder until tears broke out. "Hey kid, can you keep it down or those guards will catch us."

"I don't care! I just wanna go home! I wanna go back to my islands! I miss mommy, daddy and Riku," the little boy whimpered.

Lea sighed. Isa pushed Lea to the side as he approached the little boy and picked him up. Sora relaxed in the teenager's grasp and slowly began to close his eyes as he sucked his thumb. Lea was astounded, "Hey Isa, how'd you get that brat to shut up?"

Isa whispered, "It's easy for somebody like me that's used to taking care of their six younger brothers. Unlike a mister scary somebody," he smirked.

"Hey, that's not funny, Isa," Lea exclaimed as his voice got loud for an instant.

Isa shot him a cold glare, "Don't wake him, Lea! Do you want him screaming again?"

"No, but how did this brat get here in the first place? I've never seen him here before," Lea asked.

Isa shrugged, "I don't know Lea, but whatever happens, we're going to have to find out later before those guards, Aeleus and Dilan show up. We don't want them to find us and scare this kid even more."

"Are you CRAZY?" Lea exclaimed as his voice began to get louder again.

Isa sighed and gave him another glare as Sora began to stir in the blue-haired teenager's arms, "Yes, I'm serious, Lea."

"Great," Lea said as the two teenagers and the little boy left the castle to head back to Lea's house.

Lea's House

Lea and Isa approached a red cottage, which sat on the outskirts of the small town of Radiant Gardens. It was near night time and there were no lights on. "Remind me again, why we came back to my house?" Lea demanded.

Isa replied, "Because, your house is the only quiet one and I can't take him to my house due to all the noise my little brothers; Ephraim, Benjamin, Tanner, Kanon, Shawn and Max and don't forget they aren't friendly to kids smaller than them."

"Great," Lea exclaimed. He started fumbling through his pants pockets for his house keys. Lea pulled them out as they entered the red cottage.

Lea placed the four-year-old onto a red couch, which greatly resembled a fire. The small boy began to stir and he opened his blue irises. Sora saw the redhead staring at him and he began to shriek, "Get away from me, you big meanie!"

Sora kicked Lea in the nuts causing the teenager to fumble over backwards. Isa smirked, "Serves you right for scaring the poor kid!"

"Oh thanks, Isa! Why don't you talk some sense into that pipsqueak? Or, better yet, why don't you get your parents to adopt this little brat? I'm sure your little savage siblings could use a playmate."

"I have a name, big meanie. It's Sora," the little boy said as he peeked over Isa, who was standing in front of the redhead that was still on the floor due to the pain of being kicked in the dick.

"Great, now Sora, can you tell us why you keep beating me up and how'd you get here?" Lea demanded as he was still crouched on the floor still suffering from the amount of pain the small boy caused him.

Sora sighed as he tried to remember the events of what happened. "He looked like you and brought me here through a strange hole. Riku was screaming for me." He began to cry.

"We'll find some way to get you home, Sora," Isa said as he stroked the boy's hair.

"Promise," Sora replied with his pinky finger sticking out/

"Promise," Isa smirked as he wrapped his larger pinky finger around the small boy's.

"What about the big meanie over there? He better get me back home. Can you make him promise as well? It's his fault why I'm here!" Sora said as he glared at the redhead, who managed to get over his pain.

Lea approached the boy. He wanted to strangle the small brat due to his smart-aleck attitude. However, Isa held him back. "Lea, you won't hurt him!" Isa said as he glanced towards the small boy.

Lea glared at the small boy, but Sora didn't stop from glaring at the redhead either. "I'm not responsible, kid for why you're here. But, if it will make you shut up, then I'll help you get back to wherever it is you came from."

"Thank you," Sora said as he began to cry a little more.

End of Flashback

"So, you're telling me that we promised to send Sora back home," Axel asked.

"Yes, but we weren't able to and your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amagi ended up adopting Sora, don't you remember? You should since that same day Sora became your little brother," Saix said. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have missions to hand out."

Axel stopped Saix in his tracks, "What happened to Riku?"

With that, Saix ignored Axel and went back to his own work.