..:Part III:..

..:Running Without Luck:..

As they walked through the corridor of darkness, Chenry felt a great weight settle on her heart, like a huge hand grasping it and squeezing it harder and harder every time she was forced to take a step. Her heart…it felt like it was slowing down…it also became clear, as she continued to struggle walking, that her voice was somehow impaired and her windpipe was also suffering.

Ax…el… she couldn't even think right…

But almost as fast as it came did it vanish. The darkness cleared up in an instant and Chenry gained back her normal body functions. However her heart began to rapidly beat, it even sped up and pumped blood into her face when she noticed she was being carried.

"I'm sorry. But you passed out." Axel said with a smirk as they made eye contact. She snarled viscously as she took in the fact he was carrying her like a groom would hold his new bride. Hence bridal-style.

"Put. Me. Down." Her red eyes flickering more brightly every second. He smiled; irking her further.

"Sure you won't faint again?" he asked as he readjusted his grip.

"Put me down!" she repeated hastily as she was sure her skin was redder than a sunburn by now. Axel appeared to have noticed as his grip tightened and he leaned forward, noses about to touch.

"You're blushing. Does that mean you think I'm hot?" Axel sneered as she blushed five more shades of red, tilting his head slightly as he began to lean in further…

And further…

And further…

KA-POWWIE!

"Whoa! Axel, you have no luck with the ladies man!" A cheerful voice said with a laugh, Axel grunted as he rubbed his sore cheek that was already sporting a darkening bruise. Chenry was on her feet finally, whimpering over her once-slinged arm that was hanging limply at her side, showing not in the sleeve but revealed at the bottom of the hoodie.

"Did he hurt you? I always knew he was a hothead but this definitely says something about his skull's density! Here, let me see…is your arm broken?" The cheerful voice became worried as Chenry grimaced at the touch that came upon her injured limb.

"It's broken? You slugged Axel with a broken arm? Beat that you pyromaniac!" The voice turned out to belong to a boy younger than her, probably fifteen with spiky blonde hair and curious, azure irises. They seemed to wave at her, openly accepting and reflect the ocean…

"Shut it Roxas," Axel growled back, still bubbling over his pain.

"You're a big fire baby you know that? Here you're crying over a bruise while she punched you with a broken arm, here, you're going to need help putting that back in the sling." The blonde boy called Roxas said, he too wore a black cloak like Axel with the silver attachments adorning his chest.

"Lots coming from you, I still remember when you first saw dusks he he…" Axel said with a smirk as he regained his posture, as Roxas helped raise her hoodie (she has the white garments from before on) he scowled.

"Keep your trap shut flame-head!" Roxas retorted as he worked out the sling, Chenry raised a brow.

"Dusks?" she repeated, Axel appeared smug.

"Uh huh, they're Nobodies too, just more…inferior. They're white and unlike Heartless, they actually think. Roxas nearly wet himself, oh what a sight to behold to forever cherish!" Axel explained, Roxas closed his eyes in frustration before reopening them and attempting to place her arm back in the sling.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow-"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry-"

"You two are pitiful." Axel said as Chenry continued to voice her pain and Roxas shooting out quiet apologies.

"Coming from you, that's saying something. Seeing as you were crying over a girl that hooked your jaw." Roxas replied back as Chenry's arm was back in place and the hoodie came down to where it was before.

"By the way," Roxas continued before Axel could continue, Axel's jaw clamped shut. "Name's Roxas."

"Chenry." Chenry replied with a smile.

"Sure, be all friendly with him." Axel growled.

"I'm not attempting to viscously flirt or passionately kiss her Axel, you should learn patience." Roxas said with a triumphant grin, Axel started.

"How much did you see?" Axel asked, appearing bored.

"Enough." Roxas replied with his silly grin, Axel scratched the back of his head. Chenry smirked.

I like this Roxas. Friendly, good comebacks, keeps the fire-surge lunatic in line, adorable, nope, nothing I see wrong with him. Not my type though. Shame. Chenry thought, despite the fact she had studied magic and knew the Secret, she was still a teenager deprived of a love life.

"So…why are you guys here? I thought you were posted at Castle Oblivion." Roxas said, turning towards Axel. He shrugged with an indifferent sigh.

That was what that place was called? Fitting name. She thought as she remembered with a chill the bare white walls, floors and ceilings. It was like an asylum.

It was then she got a good look at her surroundings. Axel's portal took them to a damp, dark world. City lights glared down at them and one single tall tower stood before them empty space and neatly placed stairs and railings before that tower. The sky held no care to support life; it was dark, clouds rolling and concealed the outer space.

"Well, you see, Marluxia doesn't know about her being inside the place. I accidentally ran into Larxene while transporting the girl – which was rather useful, seeing as she was a girl herself – but I rather not have the kid get involved with anybody else there." Axel explained, then he shifted his weight to one foot. "Besides, you seem pretty lonely."

Suddenly Roxas got that faraway look in his eyes, Chenry observed the reaction. He was thinking she figured something that baffled him and couldn't seem to conclude.

Chenry was somewhat concerned for her newfound friend; Axel seemed to feel the same way since he instantly decided to change the subject.

"Anyway, you wouldn't mind if she stayed around here would you? I mean, I'll come in by and by and make sure she isn't causing much trouble for her board and rent. But Castle Oblivion is currently under construction." Axel said as he finished the sentence with mock interest, smirking a little. Roxas nodded.

"Whatever, she can stay. I'm not sure where though, I suppose she can take my bed…I could always have the couch…heck, I hardly sleep anymore anyway…" he began trailing off so quietly that Chenry alone could almost not hear him, Axel probably couldn't hear squat.

"Well, that's good. Keep each other busy, I'll be back in an hour or two." Axel said before disappearing in a black portal. With the last wisps of black going and gone, Roxas turned to Chenry. He smiled.

"Let's get going," Roxas said as he silently motioned for her to follow him.

"You two seem to know each other pretty well." Chenry said, trying to spark a conversation. Roxas nodded.

"Yeah, we're good friends." Roxas replied, his blue eyes agonized.

"It's not my place and all, but you seem troubled." Chenry pointed out, he blinked.

"Yeah…maybe I am…" Roxas said before going quiet again.

Several moments of silence passed between them, only the quiet dripping of water from leaking pipes and nearby gutters sounded in the night. Chenry found it all unnerving, were conditions here good enough for a full-fledge recovery?

"It's a good idea to talk about it with someone, not me obviously, but…maybe Axel would do. You two seem close enough to have a secret handshake or something." She felt a pang of happiness as she got a chuckle out of the blonde Organization member.

"It wouldn't do much good, I'm the only one in the Order that wonders what I wonder, besides, Axel and I are not unlike the rest of the Nobodies, we can only remember what it was before when we had hearts." Roxas explained with a calm, friendly bitterness. Even Chenry felt a bit stung.

No hearts. No understandings. Was that the way of the Nobodies? Or only one of them?

In that case, Axel had no heart. All she experienced (forced to) was out of lust? That certainly made things feel a whole lot better…

"Sorry," Chenry apologized; feeling it was not right for her to open an already bleeding wound. Roxas but only brushed it off.

"Don't apologize, things are what they are. It's hard to or practically impossible to change." Roxas said as they came to a door.

"Um…Roxas?" she muttered.

"Yeah?" he asked as he opened it and they stepped inside a fairly decent room.

"Where are we?" she asked, Roxas flipped on a switch that brought dim light that revealed a clean sofa, counters with a bit of crumbs on it and a dusty refrigerator and a single stairway that went up and out of sight.

"Oh, right, welcome to TheWorld that Never Was." Roxas said, spreading his arms out like the head of a welcoming committee.

In a way, Chenry did feel sort of at home.

"You can take my bed upstairs, and don't worry, I usually fall asleep on the sofa anyway." Roxas said before she could object. Her eyes roamed towards the stairs, Roxas followed her gaze before returning his own to her.

"You're probably tired, you go ahead and get some sleep, I need to finish my patrols anyway. Shouldn't be back till a couple of hours." Roxas said as he ushered her towards the stairs. She gave him a reproachful glare.

"I can find the stairs on my own," she stated tiredly, now feeling the fatigue that she was sure a result of her passing from Castle Oblivion to The World that Never Was.

"Uh, yeah, right. Sorry, just rest up for a bit 'kay?" Roxas said before giving a warm smile and heading out. The door clicked, indicating it had been locked to keep her from leaving and things from entering other than Roxas himself.

Sleep. Right, it sounds nice. She thought as she climbed the stairs, coming to the top she glanced around, there was a small space, a small window looking out at the lit city and one door on either side of it.

Roxas gave him her bed, and it was in the room that wasn't securely shut and bolted tight as she played around with the knob before decided his room was the other way.

She was right; the door to the left was easier to open than the door to the right if the only door that could open at all. Inside was fairly empty like downstairs; livable. A bed with a bronze frame, white sheets, a white pillow, a coat rack with no windows. A single bulb hung at the ceiling, in which she had to pull the strong to trigger the light.

I suppose it'll do… she thought as she landed softly on her back to avoid further harm to her arms. She fell asleep almost instantly.

-----------

Tired…so tired…

"Have you not said that enough already?"

Eh? Who…who are you?

"Who are you? I don't recall your energy signature."

Energy signature?

"Something that allows me to recognize a being, like how you sense ki."

You know I sense ki? Who told you?

"Your mind did."

Are you a psychic?

"Not something I find pleasant."

Oh…well, you didn't answer me, who are you?

"I have been sensing your energy for a while now, maybe it is you who should tell me your name."

Not unless YOU give me a name.

"At least answer this, are you human?"

Last time I checked…

"What world do you inhabit?"

Uh…The World that Never Was?

"A joke perhaps?"

I wasn't the founder!

"As you bluntly stated."

What world are you in?

"Doesn't matter, I don't belong there anyway."

Where do you belong then?

"Anywhere but here."

Different?

"Indeed."

Don't feel alone then.

"…this isn't the time nor place for that talk."

Have we always been connected?

"I'm…uncertain."

You seem to be a pretty nice guy to me.

"What makes you think that?"

You share the same suspicions as I do.

"How so?"

Neither of us is giving our names to one another.

"Yes, that is true."

How about we give our names at the same time.

"My mere being is not worth mentioning, let alone my name. It's all a copy; fake."

I may not know you…but don't talk like that-

"It is, what it is. I cannot even deny that fact."

Are we going to chat like this often?

"I cannot answer that with certainty."

You speak funny er…in a good way!

"So I've been told."

Do you think we'll meet in person?

"Possibly; there are many possibilities out there. We may meet face to face someday."

I'm just curious.

"As am I, I have never connected with an outsider before."

I haven't ever talked telepathically.

"I noticed."

Hey!

"I must depart now."

But! Uh! Fine, whatever. Next time I'm getting answers.

"I see, our goals are quite similar in that case."

Watch it buddy! I'm no squirrel!

"If that were the case, you wouldn't sound so alto."

That better have been a compliment.

"I see you are in need of help…I suppose I could leave a remedy…"

Eh? That would be…?

"Night."

------------

Chenry sat up; wide awake. With a sigh she looked around the dark room. Unaware she had slept for hours and Roxas had come to turn off the light before he fell into slumber halfway on her bed.

Chenry watched him, his torso and head snoozing at her feet with his legs at the floor; his hands clutching the sheets. His snores light and hardly audible.

He's so cute! She couldn't resist with a rare case of affection towards the young male, she felt no feelings beyond friendship for the blonde kid, but she couldn't help but think it was a good time for a camera.

He seems to work really hard…I wonder what this Organization makes him do… she wondered as she shifted her position. A small sound came to her ears, it sounded like liquid.

"Hm?" she frowned as she tried to look to her side, where a small vial of clear water leaned against her.

So that dream was linked to telekinesis. She thought as she eyed the vial. Water? Am I suppose to drink it?

A voice in the back of her head said 'yes', maybe the guy could be a trustworthy ally.

-------------

"Axel visited sometime before I passed out." Roxas said as he yawned again, sitting up on his bed that Chenry was currently occupying. Thirty minutes ago she woke the boy up and told him to help her drink from the vial.

He questioned its contents and she replied that it was hers that somehow slid out of her hoodie and she just now remembered it. He seemed to refuse the idea but did what he was told.

As soon as the water touched her lips she felt instantly refreshed, pure warmth slid along her bones and almost five minutes later, her arms were repaired and injuries appeared never to have been there.

"What was that?" he had asked, she shrugged.

"Something a friend gave me." She replied back, still wondering whom the voice belonged to her. He was a psychic that was certain since she had none of those abilities to begin with.

"Wait…what about Axel?" she asked as she stretched out her arms, extremely happy she could now move them about again.

I swear when I see Mov again I'll wring his neck and throw him in a blender than give him to the fish to eat! She thought nastily.

"I said Axel came to check up on you, he seemed pretty concerned. Well, that's my guess. He does the same for me when he gets off duty. I swear, it's like he baby-sits me or something." Roxas moaned. Chenry felt for him, she knew the feeling of being watched twenty-four hours.

"You know…about that scene I stumbled upon yesterday…" Roxas began, Chenry felt the heat rise. "I bet he was just trying to get some kicks. He's like that, Axel is."

Jerkface. "Are you saying I'm his playtoy?" she asked shrewdly, he looked up in thought.

"Yeah, I suppose I am." She sweat-dropped.

"Wow…"

"Are you hungry?" her stomach answered for her, as a huge roar seemed to burst from her innards. He grinned.

"That would be a yes huh? All right, let me see what I can find."

…which wasn't much. In the end, all there was to eat was a few slices of bread, a jug of water and cereal bars on damaged plates – some even glued or taped back together. Chenry eyed the food wearily. She had received better.

Ah…beggers can't be choosers I s'pose… she mentally moaned as she poked at the bread. At least nothing is LIVING in it…does Roxas eat this all the time? Do nobodies need to eat? Well, it seems they need to sleep…eating is no different…it's an essential need.

Roxas was called out as soon as he placed the food on the table, or so she was told as he waved a good-bye and vanished through a portal similar to Axel's.

"I wonder how Byozone City is fairing…" she wondered idly as she bit into the bread, it tasted okay…but it was probably her thoughts that were leaving a bad after-taste in her mouth.

I wonder if Axel really…killed the royal family… for some reason, it was Master Douche's death that really effected her the most. If it was because she KNEW he was gone or whether or not the royal family of Byozone City is alive or not is questionable; something like that must have frozen her insides. She just couldn't process any of that into her mind…

But in her heart, something told her to feel for the hope she needed to return to Byozone and destroy Mov and his plans – whatever they were.

She sighed then got up, her stomach wouldn't allow her to eat anymore so she stepped towards the door. The albino eyed it, Roxas had left through a portal, and did that mean it was unlocked?

Slowly, she reached out to the knob and turned it. With a soft 'click', it revealed to her that it was in fact, open for her to go in and out without question.

Freedom. She cried happily as she leapt out without looking.

"Eh?" She froze, at least five guys in black coats like Roxas and Axel peered up at her, all five in a circle, hoods up; concealing their identities. She was frozen in mid-stride and meekly gave a shy smile.

"Er…yo?" she greeted with a simple flick of her wrist in a wave. They continued to stare at her.

And stared…

And stared…

They started when she bolted impulsively to her right.

"Hey! Stop!" It was a man, and by the looks of their uniforms, they were all male. She gulped as she continued sprinting down the dreary streets of The World that Never Was. When she pulled over to take a breather when she heard no more footsteps, she leaned down on her knees and inhaled deeply.

"Don't think you can escape so easily." Someone spoke; she jumped up and looked around wildly. Her eyes scanned her surroundings and landed on a black coat probably fifteen yards away. He was leaning against the wall casually. Shuffling a pack of cards.

"Than I must thank you for being so kind as to telling me that. Toodles!" She started to bolt in the opposite direction but a burst of black came out from in front of her.

She nearly slipped as she swerved and went around it. A black hand aiming for her right forearm.

"You people are so grabby!" she growled as the hand grazed her sleeve. Finally being about to swing her arms in motion made everything seem in working order; fulfilling.

"Halt." It was a definite order, but if it weren't for the claymore's point at her windpipe. The owner of the weapon was still hooded, she snarled.

"I believe you are a somebody." The man said.

"Really? What did I look like from a distance?" she asked crudely, the man appeared stiff.

"An albino weasel ducking for cover."

Damn. Do I really? She didn't give it much more thought than that as she searched for a way out of this predicament. If she didn't do something soon, she would be a dead somebody.

"I don't know how you got here, but I'm sure with some persuasion, you wouldn't mind explaining that." The man continued, she raised a brow.

"You and what army?" Suddenly four more weapons were drawn out and pointed dangerously close to her. She looked around with her eyes only; the rest of his black coat buddies had surrounded her.

Double damn.

"You can either answer or be killed." The man stated.

"Oh?" What great options! "What's the third option?" Chenry pressed, buying time for her to think something up. Though it was sort of futile.

"Let me rephrase, you can either answer, die a quick death or be brutally tortured until your last breath."

"Even better…" she quoted silently as she glared at the black coats.

"So? What'll it be?" It was then that Chenry came to the realization that nobodies truly didn't have hearts.

And certainly knew how to make one give in.

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A/N:

I'll say the same thing I told one of my reveiwers in means of copy and paste!

Unfortunately, I haven't written enough of the story to point out that my character ISN'T a mary-sue. I, like many of you, despise them and I will not tolerate that kind of insult. But unlike how I started out my other stories, I haven't had much time to think and I'm writing on motivation and sudden thoughts.

But I suppose that's no excuse, but I do want you and others that I do not intend to make Chenry perfect. Perfection is a scary thing. So if you continue to read my story, you may see that I will prove this note right.

All right, and about Zexion. Reealifin pointed out that I have labeled him an emo. This does take place around the beginning of the CoM series, but let's take this quote to heart shall we? When Axel mentioned Zexion was an emo, let's remember how sarcastic Axel is and HE was the one SAYING it. Not me. Him! So no, I don't believe Zexy-kun is an emo so NO ONE get offended and sensitive over the subject!

ZEXION IS NOT AN EMO! I KNOW! I HATE stereotyping and I never have except on an occasion or two since I'm not perfect either.

And no, I didn't know what Douche meant in English (Reealifin said he/she was distracted by the word though I don't see the big deal), I innocently picked the word up from a box of watercolor pencils on my desk and Angell came from my fave.; musical, RENT. Except spelled differently.

Anway, that's all I have to say for now, thank you for all you honest reveiwers out there! I will not fear in answering any of your questions so feel free to point out errors along the way and please, if you do think Chenry is a mary-sue and I cannot change your mind, do give me some suggestions on what to do please. That's all I ask.

Thank you.

Aspen

& Jingles (who hasn't spoken to me today)

Jingles: Because you brought you stupid dog downstairs! You know how much I hate her! (referring to the only dog in the family of Aspen - Angel.)