As soon as he began to stir, the first feeling that struck Roxas was alarm.

Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Everything was unfamiliar, the room, the people. The air itself smelled wrong. Instead of the usual scent of fresh grass and dew, what assaulted his senses was the overwhelming smell of dust and burning earth. It was like death.

Where was he?

The neko's hazy eyes shot open wide, and instantly as he was sitting upright, starring into vibrant green. Green like the grass and trees, but so much more beautiful, like gems. Slowly, he scanned the rest of the man's face, noticing it was also quite surprised.

'Red hair...Red like fire!'

Roxas struggled to keep himself from trembling in fear, as his back met the far end of the bed.

"W-What? W-What's going on?"

Suddenly a stream of jumbled memories flooded through his head, and Roxas grasped at it tightly, moaning in pain. It was all rushing back so quick, and he could hardly make sense of any of it.

Sora, Aeydan, a dark night in the palace. Cold, large hands replaced quickly by cold iron bars...Gods, more bars. Surrounding him, trapping him. Fire red...

"...Are you alright?"

The next thing he knew, Roxas felt were large, strong, unfamiliar hands at his shoulders, and that alone sent his mind whirling into a panic.

~o~

"N-No, please! Let me go! Let me go!"

To say Axel was taken aback would have been an understatement. One moment the Neko had been sleeping peacefully, and the next he was wild and frightened. Though a complete stranger to this species, Axel had dealt with a few palace cats before. He noticed the raised fur on the boy's tail and pushed back ears and immediately released him. These signs pointed to agitation, and the prince wasn't sure what the boy would do if pushed further.

The Neko shrank back away from him and as far into the headrest as he could manage. His wide eyes darted around frantically, taking in Axel, Xion, and the rest of the room, desperately seeking to understand.

Xion took a few slow steps towards him. "It's alright. It's alright, see?" She held out her hands, speaking softly, soothingly. "We're not going to hurt you."

"Wh-where am I?"

The dark-haired girl smiled kindly. "This is the palace, in the capital city of Sharem." The boy's face wrinkled slightly, betraying not even the slightest recognition. "This is Axel, and I am Xion."

The Neko shrank back a bit fearfully when his eye's met the redhead's, but Axel did not allow the smile to falter from his face. His own personal indignation aside, he didn't want to spook the child.

"What's your name, boy?"

The blonde relaxed a bit more, sniffling softly. "My name is R-Roxas, ma'am."

Xion smiled widely and, to the surprise of both men, squealed.

"Oh, aren't you just the cutest little thing!" Forgoing all decorum and caution, the girl closed the distance and flung her arms around the Neko boy, slowly beginning to crush the life out of him. Roxas choked a gasp and began squirming, panicking again, but Xion was much stronger and much more determined. She would let go when the moment suited her.

"I just want to hug you silly! You're so adorable!"

"P-Please s-stop!"

Roxas was stiff again, and he jerked quickly, almost too fast for Axel to see. Then came a short cry as Xion leapt back, cradling a newly wounded arms. The cuts were not so deep, but they were long and did indeed bleed. Before Axel had even gathered enough time to become shocked or angered, the Neko seemed to regain himself. His eyes widened again, and he jumped to the floor with surprising grace, kneeling at Xion's feet and hugging her skirt tightly.

"I-I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" he begged, sobbing into her leg. "Y-You were hurting me! I didn't mean to, I just- I-"

"Calm yourself, Roxas, I'm not angry. I should apologize to you. I just couldn't help myself," she said, blushing lightly as she ran a hand through his hair comfortingly. Nimble fingers moved to scratch his ears, tussling smooth, velvet-looking fur.

Roxas sniffled, but otherwise silenced his ramblings. He only hugged her legs tighter, buried his head and mumbled softer apologies.

"Well," Axel finally interjected, having stood the awkward silence long enough for his liking. "It's good to see you're feeling better, Roxas. Do you feel well enough to work today, or would you perhaps like another day to recover?"

The Neko boy raised his head, eyes wide. "W-Work? You-You mean work here?"

"Yes, here," Axel repiled, almost incredulous. Where else would he be? "I'm assuming you are familiar with with work of some kind?"

The boy nodded. "I-I worked in the kitchens before. But I..." Axel watched him lower his head and mumble something into the skirt again. Despite his interest, Axel felt himself quickly becoming annoyed with the boy. He hadn't been too sure what to expect, but not this simpering meakness. It was unbefitting of a man, even one with some animal features.

"Come again?"

Roxas shrank further away from him, swallowing nervously. "Sir, I...I...I was w-wondering...when it might be possible for me to...to go h-home, sir."

The prince blinked. "Home?"

"Y-Yes. You see, I...I shouldn't be here. I was-"

Axel shook his head, feeling a sudden, intense, inexplicable surge of irritation.

"Are you still sick? I don't think that you understand, Roxas. Henceforth, I am your master, and this is your home." He swept the hand around the room, but his eyes never left those fearful blue. "If the kitchens are where you are most comfortable, you may work there for now. "

When the boy only seemed to look more upset, Xion knelt beside him and patted his arm.

"No need to worry. The kitchens are my main station most days. I can watch out for you, show you around..."

The Neko shook his head and lowered it yet again, shivering.

"No..."

Axel's eyes narrowed as he registered the soft word. "No?"

"Axel, please. The poor dear is in shock." Xion wrapped her arms around the Neko more gently this time. "Hush now. It's not so bad here. Everyone is very kind; they'll take good care of you."

Tears began to pool just behind his eyes, ready to burst forth at a moment's notice. Roxas clutched the girl tightly, still whispering feverishly. "No...no..."

Axel took a deep breath. "As I said, if you need some time alone, we will be happy to let you recover on your own. I realize this may be an adjustment of sorts, but you'll find that we-"

"No!"

The servant and master both gaped, utterly strunned when the boy raised his voice in something vaguely sounding like anger. Soft yet desperate anger.

"N-No! I don't want to work here! I-I want to go home!"

This was enough to finally snap the prince's frail patience. A flame sprang to life in his blood, boiling it, raging as his eyes met the insolent Neko's.

How dare he?

"What?" Axel snapped. "Are you saying you won't work? Have we not cared for you? Given you a food and a warm bed? What more could you ask for?"

"Axel, please..."

The prince rounded on her. "No! I will not back down from this, Xion! I took him in out of the goodness of my heart, saved him from that wretched slave market, where he might otherwise have been sold to his death, and he won't work?" The redhead stalked over, pulling the boy to his feet and holding him at arm's length. Already the Neko was struggling, eyes wide with panic, but he didn't care.

"P-Please! Let me g-go!" Roxas raised a hand quickly, no doubt ready to strike again. But the prince did not flinch.

"Scratch me, and I will chain you outside for a week."

Roxas's arms locked themselves at his sides, but his chest still heaved, as if he couldn't quite breathe. Tears flowed freely and liberally from his eyes; he looked for all the world so pitiful, weak and cowardly, but that only set Axel's blood boiling higher. Even so opposed to the life before him, this boy did not stand and fight. He only curled in on himself; useless, weak. Roxas was no warrior.

'He is not worthy of those beautiful, spirited eyes.'

"Why is it you tremble? Look at me!" That quivering chin was snatched, forcing the Neko to face him. "I have given you nothing but the best, and still you spurn my kindness, you ungrateful little-"

"AXEL!" Xion rose to her feet and grabbed his arm. She glared into them defiantly, furious and unafraid. "Put him down this instant."

"Why should I?"

"Because you're behaving like an ass," the girl replied curtly. "I don't understand it. Why are you so angry?"

At the time, Axel couldn't have articulated why even if he'd wanted to. It wasn't so much the defiance that upset him, but rather that the Neko boy cowered and shrank away from him. Axel could see no reason for the disrespect and fear before his own outburst, but worse still, there was no force or conviction behind it. Roxas has behaving like a spoiled child, rather than a man who genuinely wanted a choice regarding his ultimate fate.

The prince slowly released the boy, who took notice and quickly scurried back to his bed, diving through the covers. With a deep breath, the tension seemed to lift a little, and Xion gave a firm nod, not pleased with him by any means, but certainly not as angry as she had been.

Surely this would come up for discussion again, but now...now Axel felt his mind straining. Neko culture must vary further from his own than he'd thought. Either that, or some twisted, divine humor had handed him a rough trial for the coming days.

"I see you still need time to reflect. Very well," he said, reaching to yank the boy from the bed by his tail. Roxas yowled as he hit the floor, then gasped as he was grabbed and lifted up by his neck. It felt good, cathartic, even though in the back of his mind, Axel knew he was being needlessly rough.

"Til that time, you may rest. But not here. This room is too good for you."

Before Xion could protest further, Axel dragged the boy out of his chambers.

Ignoring the looks of curious servants and others, drowning out the whimpers and pleas from below him, the prince stalked down the humid hallways, harsh and determined. Where this rage came from, he hadn't the slightest idea. But it seemed to him the right thing to do, and he went with his royal instinct.

Punishment was unpleasant, but necessary. Without it, there would be no respect for him.

In no time, he came to the dungeons, and in particular, a small cell that was commonly used for seclusion and prayer. Axel turned to the guard nearest him and demanded to know if it was being used now. The man swallowed nervously, and shook his head.

"No, my lord. Master Eraqus is replacing the candles currently- uh, Sire?"

Axel yanked the keys from his belt and turned to unlock the door, yanking the heavy slab of dry wood open. Without pause, he shoved the struggling cat boy inside and slammed the door behind him, locking it again. Xion came up behind him, just in time as Axel handed the keys back casually.

"Axel! What in Shira's name has possessed you?!"

The redhead looked ready to snap back, then turned and snarled as the door began to quiver and shake. He pounded on it with his fist.

"Be silent! You may come out when you are ready to be grateful!"

"PLEASE LET ME OUT! I'M S-SORRY!" Roxas's voice was wracked with sobs and gasps. He sounded as though he was staring down a demon come to devour him.

"Axel, let him out! What are you trying to prove?!"

"IT'S TOO DARK! PLEASE, LET ME OUT! PLEASE!"

"Do not open this door until I say so," the prince said. His voice was low, dangerous, unlike any tone he had ever taken at a servant before.

With a brisk turn, he took off, away from the dungeons, seeking solitude to quiet his wildly racing heart. It was clear enough that remaining here would only serve to anger him more.

Where exactly this anger came from, he wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to ignore such intense feelings.