You know, being trapped in a book isn't all it's cracked up to be.

No, really, it isn't. I mean, hell, you'd think being trapped in a book would be fun, you know? But it wasn't. There weren't any timeless adventures waiting to greet Axel, no yellow teddy bears to harass him into getting honey.

He was just…trapped. Stuck on a blank page, his arms and legs pinned down by some invisible force.

It sucked really, he couldn't move, he could barely BREATHE.

To put it bluntly? He felt like a bondage whore.

Yes, a bondage whore, trapped in a fire proof book.

Fun.

Zexion watched in amusement as said redheaded bondage whore continuously attempted to set the book on fire. He only succeeded in setting himself on fire, however. Because, like I mentioned just a few sentences ago, the book is flame retardant.

The azure haired nobody rolled his eyes as Axel continued to attempt to set his book on fire.

"Keep your temper."

There was silence for a moment, before Axel's eye twitched, in anger, of course.

"KEEP MY TEMPTER!?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TRAPPED ME IN THIS FUCKING BOOK~!!"

"You threatened to burn down my library-"

"-AND NOW YOU EXPECT ME TO KEEP MY FUCKING TEMPER?!?"

"Yes."

"…"

"I will release you the moment you decide to calm down, until then however-"

He was cut off by the sound of the library door opening. Roxas poked his head through the crack in the door, looking around the library for a moment.

"Ahh, XIII, how might I help you this fine evening?"

At this, Axel's eyes went wide. "ROX-" Zexion was quick to slam the book closed, muffling the cry for help. "MMMFFFHH."

Roxas raised an eyebrow, staring at the book curiously. "…What's with your book?" He asked, still hearing the what sounded like muffled cries coming from the book.

"Never mind that." Zexion gave the book a smack, which silenced the redhead within.

"What is it that you need, XIII?"

"….Right, uh. I'm looking for Axel. Do you think you could do your…nose…thing and tell me where he is? ….Please?"

"Certainly. " Zexion tilted his head upwards, taking a deep whiff of the air, locating each and every nobody within the castle in a matter of seconds.

After a moment, he looked back down at Roxas, resisting the urge to smirk, he responded. "I apologize, XIII, but VIII is nowhere on the castle grounds. Perhaps our superior sent him on a mission."

Holding his hand out, Zexion summoned a portal beside the blonde. "Why don't you go ask him yourself?" Roxas looked at the portal wryly, but nodded in thanks, stepping into the darkness.

Once he was gone, Zexion opened his book once again, smirking down at the obviously pissed off redhead. "Would you like to be freed?"

"…Yes, please." Axel responded with clenched teeth, and Zexion only chuckled. "Of course. But first you must answer my question."

"And what question is that, Zexion?" The pyro asked, malice evident in his voice.

"A simple question. Who. Are. You?"

"…What?"

"Who are you?"

For a moment, Axel had a 'wtf' look on his face, before answering. "Uh, Axel?"

"No, who ARE you?"

"…What? I don't know, uh, VIII? The flurry of dancing flames? Reno!?! What do you WANT from me!?"

"I want you to tell me who you are, Axel."

"I JUST DID, YOU DUMBFUCK~!!"

At this Zexion only chuckled. "Keep your temper. I am not asking you your nobody name, nor your number or title, not even your somebody's name."

"Then what the hell is the point of asking who I am!??!"

"Simple. This entire incident occurred because you wanted to know why XIII was upset with you, correct?"

"…Yeah."

Zexion smirked a little. "I am offering you the answer, am I not? So I suggest you be a little more grateful."

"….Fine. I'm sorry, whatever." He rolled his eyes. "Now what's this answer?"

The schemers smirk widened. "Every answer must begin with a question, and do you know what that question is, Axel?"

The redhead blinked once or twice, still pinned to the page in the book. "Who are you?"

"Precisely. Who. Are. You?"

"…I still don't understand."

"It's quite simple. XIII was already upset when you arrived in the library. You must have guessed this by now."

Axel nodded as best as he could.

"Good. Now, do you recall what book he was reading?"

"…Yeah, the same book YOU made me read… Alice in Wonderland."

"Which brings us right back to our question; who are you?"

"You mean, in the book?"

Zexion's smirk widened. "Yes, in the story of Alice 's Adventures in Wonderland. Who are you? Who do you remind XIII of so much that he lashed out at you in his anger?"

"…I…"

"Yes, that's right VIII, Who are you?"

"… Alice ?"

Zexion almost face palmed at that response. "Not from YOUR point of view VIII, from XIII's. If he is Alice, then; WHO. ARE. YOU?"

Axel's brow furrowed in deep concentration. "…Am I…The Cheshire Cat?"

"…Bingo."

There was a flash of light, and Axel found himself standing in the library, able to move again.

"…Alright…So I'm the Cheshire Cat. So why does that piss Roxas off?"

"Did you not pay attention to the book, VII? Recall, Alice was always drawn to the cat, to the point of infatuation some even say. This infatuation began when she first met the cat, whom at the time was devious, cunning even. Yet, when it was getting her into to trouble, and, to put it bluntly, being annoying, she hated the thing."

Axel's eyes widened a bit in realization. "…So you're saying…"

"The Axel that Roxas is attracted to, is the one who attempts to seduce everything that moves. When you are purposely talking smoothly, or casually draping your arms around someone in an almost teasing attempt at seduction, XIII finds himself completely attracted to you. To the point where he even slept with you, most likely because you used your best….moves….on him. That being said. When you're being an IDIOT, and poking him over and over while yelling like a moron…"

"I get it, I get it."

"I figured you would."

Axel sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "So where's Roxas now?" Zexion took another whiff of the air. "...In the superior's office, and it seems as though he needs your assistance. I suggest you hurry." He opened a portal, and Axel gave him a half salute and a grin. "Right then, thanks Zexy~!" With that, Axel stepped into the portal, which was quick to disappear behind him.

Up in Zexion's chair, the schemer smirked. "I suppose it's time to find out how deep the rabbit hole truly goes..."

END OF CHAPTER 7

TO BE CONTINUED

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER, LOLZ. REVIEW/COMMENT PLZ!