Disclaimer: All characters belong to Square Enix.
I couldn't help but flinch as the blades whipped past my face and at first I thought Xemnas aimed to kill me before I realized that the ribbons that had once kept me bound had been cut. I sat up for the first time in days, removing the remainder of the ribbon and rubbing my aching wrists. Then I looked up at him, too confused to speak as he reached down to gather his blades.
"I grow weary of these games that are getting us nowhere," he said as he sat down next to me. For the first time since I'd woken up on this filthy mattress, I was able to weakly scoot away from him. "Every day I come in and ask you for one simple thing and every day you refuse. I think it's time to change my tactic. You're obviously not responding to the pain anymore and though it was fun to watch you writhe, seeing the same torture every day has become quite boring."
"So what's the plan today?" I asked, pulling my knees up to give myself the illusion of modesty. "Let me guess, more bargains? Bribes?"
"Nothing of the sort," he said, running a hand along my face. "Today, I'm actually going to give you something you want before I ask for anything. Today, we're going to go see Axel."
My heart began to race at his statement. It couldn't be true. I couldn't get my hopes up. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"I've had eyes on him for a while," he said. "He managed to pull a little disappearing act on me for a few days, but now I know where he is again. Shall we go see him?"
"What's the catch?" I asked, taking his outstretched hand. "There's always a catch."
"Well the catch would be that he will not be able to see, hear, or otherwise detect our presence," he said flatly.
"Of course," I scoffed. "You would never give me even a moment of real happiness."
"Do you want to go or not?" he asked, handing me a small black Organization cloak.
I shrugged into the cloak, zipping it up as I said, "Of course I want to go, you asshole." It felt heavenly to be able to be covered again. I hadn't known the feeling of fabric on my skin for days and though it was a uniform I thought I would never have to don again, I was glad for it.
He flicked me on the nose like I was some sort of dog before saying, "Behave."
I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him like a child and instead gave a curt nod. Xemnas smiled, opening a portal in the very mattress we were seated on, letting us fall through to the other side. I would have landed gracefully on my feet, as Xemnas did, had I had the opportunity to use my feet over the past few days. Instead, my legs betrayed me, buckling beneath me so I fell to my knees. I almost fell completely over, but somehow managed to break my fall with my hands.
"Very smooth," Xemnas said, cracking another smile.
"Shut up," I said, getting up and brushing the dust off of my cloak. "Where's Axel."
"Look there," he said, pointing.
I looked in the direction he indicated and my heart leapt into my throat. There he was, as radiant as ever. He held a long wooden sword in his hands and he wore a determined look on his face. He looked as if he was sparring with a younger brunette boy who, to my absolute amazement, held a keyblade. The sight didn't deter my mind from Axel for long, however, and before I knew it I was running for him.
"Axel," I shouted, running with my arms outstretched.
I didn't know what I'd expected to happen, but it wasn't this. As I came within a foot of Axel, the air around him began to look distorted. I reached for him, my hand inches from his face, but I couldn't reach him. It was like there was a barrier between us, keeping me from touching him.
"What is this?" I asked, sharply looking back at Xemnas before turning my attention once more to Axel as he lifted his hand, signaling a pause to the younger boy.
"I told you he wouldn't be able to detect you," he said simply. "Did you really expect to be able to interact with him?"
"This is torture," I breathed, unable to hold back my tears. "He's right there. Right there! Why can't I…" I fell to my knees, once again lifting my hand to clutch at Axel's leg and once again finding myself unable to touch him. "Please…" I sobbed. "Please just let me… just let me…" I stood up, clenching my fists at my sides and gritting my teeth as I said, "Is this what you want? You knew this would be pure torture for me!"
"That was the idea," he said, tilting his head as he watched me.
"You son of a bitch," I said through my teeth. I swallowed my hatred, forcing myself to calm down as Axel once more began to spar with the brunette boy. "Can I leave something behind?" I asked, hoping for something, anything.
"I'll tell you what," he said, his voice taking on a tone one would use when speaking to a child as he sauntered toward me. "If you're a good boy, I'll let you leave something next time."
"So that's it then?" I asked, taking a shaky breath. "Since I'm not taking the letter as bait, you've decided to up my incentive."
"That's right," he said, towering over me. "So do you accept my terms?"
"I want the letter too," I said, my resolve beginning to waver. "And I want you to tell me how to undo what you've done."
"Yes to the first, no to the second," he said. "Though I suppose it won't matter once you're mine."
"No deal," I said, looking back at Axel.
"What if I let him hear you?" he asked. "I'd be willing to open the ward just enough to allow you to say something to him right now if you'd just give me your word."
I paused, faltering. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. More than that though, I wanted… no, I desperately needed the contact with Axel. Though it would be minimal, at least it was something to cling to. "Do it," I said. "Do it now."
"Do I have your word?" he asked, holding his hand out toward me.
"I'll have my letter and I'll still be able to leave something behind when you bring me here again?" I asked. He nodded, gesturing toward his hand. My heart sped up and I closed my eyes as I took it and said, "You have my word."
He pulled me toward him, holding my head to his chest. I saw a bit of distortion ride the air before he leaned to whisper in my ear, "He can hear you now."
I gulped as Xemnas released me before I walked slowly toward the area where Axel and the brunette boy were still fighting. "Axel," I said, softly at first. He stumbled, gasping when he heard me. "Axel," I said again, louder this time.
"Roxas?" he asked, his eyes darting all over the place.
"I'm here, Axel," I said, fresh tears coming to my eyes.
"Where?" he breathed, reaching in the general direction of my voice.
"Xemnas has me," I said. "You can't see me but I'm here. Listen, I don't have much time and Xemnas is listening."
"Xemnas is here too?" he asked.
I nodded before realizing that he couldn't see me and saying, "Yes."
"Listen up, you bastard!" he shouted, his face contorting into a sneer. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve now and as soon as I find out where you're hiding Roxas, I'm coming to show you some of them."
"You can't kill him," I said quickly. "If you do he'll–" I paused when I saw the distortion in the air again.
"Roxas?" Axel asked, reaching out toward me. "Roxas where are you?"
"What did you do?" I asked, turning toward Xemnas.
"You don't honestly think I'd let you give away my secrets do you?" he asked, holding up his hand.
"Okay," I said, frantically attempting to get him to open the ward again. "I won't tell him anything about that. Just let me…"
"I think you've had enough for now," he said.
"Then let me say goodbye to him at least," I begged.
"I suppose I could give you that," he said, lowering his hand as the distortion filled the air once more.
"Axel," I said, reaching toward him and sighing when I couldn't touch him. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," he said, looking at the ground.
"I'm sorry," I said. "He won't let me say anything else about him."
"I love you," he said, closing his eyes. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," I said, my voice wavering.
"Have you… read my letter yet?" he asked, eyes shifting from side to side.
"Xemnas wouldn't give it to me," I said. "But he will after this. He promised."
"What has he done to you?" he asked, lifting his hand.
"I…" I said, hesitating. "It's probably better that you don't know."
"I swear to God–" he said, grinding his teeth.
"I told you from the start," Xemnas said, suddenly behind me, "I wanted the satisfaction of you knowing that I could be doing absolutely anything to him." He breathed in my scent, sending a shiver down my spine before he continued, "And oh, the liberties I've taken with him."
"Axel," I said, knowing that Xemnas' words would set him off. "Stop it, Xemnas."
"Say goodbye, Roxas," he said.
"Xemnas," Axel hissed. "Don't you dare take him away."
"I think I will dare," he said with a chuckle, grabbing my arm and pulling me backwards.
"Axel," I said, rushing through my words. "Don't kill him! If you do, I–"
"Shut up," Xemnas said as he forced his hand over my mouth, cutting off my flow of words.
"Roxas!" Axel shouted. I heard him curse as I was led back through a portal to what would surely be my own personal hell.
A/N: I'm so nice to my characters, aren't I? Anyway, here's another chapter that I sincerely hope you enjoy. Thank you for reading. Reviews are appreciated.