Author's Note: It's me again! Once again, nothing witty to say so, yeah, here you go! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: No poseo Kingdom Hearts homes!

Chapter 4: As Cold as Sea-Salt Ice-cream

Zero reappeared in the Grey Area after just completing a mission. She was extremely worn; she worked harder than ever.

"You're back," said Saïx. "How many hearts did you collect today?"

"25," said Zero somewhat proudly. Saïx, of course, was not nearly as pleased. He frowned.

"Better…" he said. "…but still not good enough." Number Zero sighed.

"Is it ever?" she muttered bitterly. A hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see Axel.

"Cut her some slack man," he said, coming to her defense. "I'm sure she's trying as hard as she can."

"Well trying isn't good enough," Saïx retorted.

"But at least she's consistent," said Axel. "And she tries harder everyday. What more can you ask for?" Saïx grunted, but said nothing else. Instead, he turned his back to them.

"Come on," whispered Axel. Zero obediently followed him out of the room.

"You stood up for me," she said. "Why?" Axel smirked.

"I know what it's like to get it from Saïx," he sad. "After a while, it gets pretty annoying, so I thought, why not help you out?" Zero looked at her feet.

"Thanks…" she said. "…I guess."

"You look like you could use a treat," said Axel. "Here, follow me." He opened a portal and went through. Though confused, Zero followed suit. When she arrived, she was on top of Twilight Town's clock tower. She looked around; Axel was no where in sight. She frowned.

"Another prank…" she concluded. She sighed. Seeing that she had nothing better to do, Zero sat on the ledge of the tower. She stared at the setting sun.

"This is amazing! Look at that sunset! Have you ever seen a prettier one in your life?" said a voice in her mind.

"I guess I haven't…" Zero mused. Suddenly, Axel appeared beside her, two bars of ice cream in hand.

"Here you go," he said as he handed her one. He took his seat on the ledge and took a bite. "I haven't been up here in a week." Zero warily examined her treat.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Its ice cream," said Axel. "Go on, eat it. It's not gonna poison you, I promise." Zero took a large bite. Her eyes shot open.

"Ah! It's cold!" she exclaimed. Axel laughed.

"Well duh!" he joked. "You never had ice cream before?" Zero shook her head.

"Of course not," she said. "When would I ever have? I've only existed for a week." Axel frowned.

"Oh yeah…" he said. "…sorry about that," Zero shrugged.

"No need to apologize," she said. "It's only a fact." She took another shot at the ice cream. "It tastes like frozen salt."

"Its sea-salt ice cream," said Axel. "It's supposed to be salty and sweet." Zero furrowed her brows. She tried it once more, and then threw it off the side of the tower. "Hey! What was that for? That cost munny y'know!"

"Didn't like it," said Zero. "Too salty." Axel sighed.

"That's a shocker," he said. "I actually thought you'd like it."

"Why?" Zero asked.

"Because Vanessa did," the red-haired Nobody replied. Zero narrowed her eyes.

"Don't ever mention her again," she said coldly. Axel raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?" he asked.

"I hate her."

"Is that right?"

"Yes."

"How come?"

"Because…she exists."

"I see. Well, you're in good company, 'cause I hate her too."

"You do? Why?"

"She exists." Zero looked at her hands.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" she asked. Axel sighed and finished the rest of his treat.

"Because…" he said. "…I hated you too." Zero nodded.

"I figured as much," she said. Axel looked at her.

"That doesn't bother you?" he wondered. Zero shook her head.

"Why should it?" she said. "It makes no difference to me. I don't know you, and for all I know, you have a legitimate reason to hate me. Besides, I don't necessarily care for you either." Axel chuckled.

"Is that so?" he said. "And why's that?"

"I just don't. But to be fair, I don't care for anyone."

"But you don't hate me."

"I wouldn't go that far, no."

"And you've never done anything to me."

"I don't believe so."

"So aren't you the least bit curious as to why I hated you?"

"A little I guess."

"Do want me to tell you?"

"If you want; I don't really care either way."

"You remind me of her."

"Her?"

"Vanessa."

"Oh, her…" Zero looked up at the horizon. "Why do you hate her?"

"Because of her, Roxas is gone," said Axel.

"Roxas…" mused Zero. "…the traitor?" Axel frowned.

"He's not a traitor," he said defensively. "He'd still be here if it weren't for her."

"What was she like?" asked Zero. Axel furrowed his brows.

"Huh?" he said. "Why do you care?" Zero shrugged.

"I want to know about the person everyone compares me to on a daily basis," she said. "So, what was like?" Axel scratched the back of his head.

"Well…" he said. "…she was very abrasive and she liked to joke around a lot. She was very…strange."

"Strange?" asked Zero.

"Yeah," said Axel. "She was just…different. It's kinda hard to explain, impossible really. You'd have to meet her for yourself."

"Was she strong?"

"Not as strong as you if that's what you're getting at. She wasn't the best fighter, not compared to most of us, but she was very fast. If she couldn't beat it, she'd run."

"So she's a coward…"

"Not necessarily a coward. She chose her battles carefully. If she knew she couldn't win, she wouldn't stick around to get killed."

"Sounds cowardly to me."

"Maybe."

"Where is she now?"

"Who knows?" Zero clenched her fists.

"I'm going to find her…" she said evenly. "…and when I do, I'll destroy her." Axel smirked.

"Well then, I guess it sucks to be her right about now," he joked. "Believe me; you could take her in a fight."

"Axel?" said Zero.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"If you hate me so much, why are you being nice to me?" Zero asked. Axel looked up at the sunset.

"You weren't listening," he said. "I said I 'hated' you, which means I don't anymore, got it memorized?"

"Why not?" Zero inquired. Axel shrugged.

"I guess I just can't," he said. "Sure, you look like her, but you're definitely not her, so it'd make no sense to hate you." Zero yawned.

"You're weird," she said. She stood to her feet. "I'm going back to the castle. "Thanks for the ice cream, even though it didn't taste good." On that note, she disappeared. Axel smirked.

"No sense at all…" he muttered.