~Beings~Companions~

"So you really did talk before. I thought that I was just imagining that!" Said a certain smiling redhead.

Zakix stared up at him and smiled a little before turning away. Kristina watched the pair looking quite confused.

"So…you didn't hurt her?" she asked quietly.

"Why did you think that in the first place?!" Axel retorted, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"S-she was unconscious! What else am I supposed to think?!"

Zakix wrapped her arm around Axel's, "L-lets go…"

"But my experiments have yet to begin." Dr. Finklestein said from across the room. "I am not going to wait for a new specimen. Sora, make sure they don't escape!"

Before Sora could react, Axel had opened a portal and the two had left the lab. They were still in Halloween Town, though. They sat in the cemetery and the girl looked around.

"Xemnas told us all what kind of affect you have on us." Said the man, and the girl remained silent. "He said that when you are awakened, you make us all feel. Even though we still don't have hearts, we can all experience emotions." He looked over to the girl who, for some reason, had striped thigh highs on. "Um…when did you get those?"

"What?"

He pointed to the stripes.

"Oh, I prefer to use the Darkness to make my clothing…I really like stripes, so I made long socks…" She brought her knees to her chin. "Continue…please."

"Oh, umm…He also said that the last time you were awake, the same thing happened. Lucious locked you in that lab to study the long-term affects of your, umm…'power'."

A rustle in the trees behind them stopped the conversation.

"Don't leave!" a voice pleaded.

Kristina appeared from behind a headstone, "I'm not going to try and fight you guys."

"Then what do you want?" heat was emanating from Axel's body.

"I'm sorry for what I did earlier…"

Zakix walked towards her, and smiled.

"I thought that they might have hurt you…and I overreacted. I don't know what up with you though! You seem so familiar!" It didn't look like Kristina was as upset as before.

Zakix just shrugged.

"You don't talk much do you?"

Zakix shook her head as Sora ran up behind Kristina. He stopped, out of breath and looked at Kris.

"Man, that scientist is one crazy dude…Oh hi!" he looked at Zakix. "Haha, sorry 'bout before, my name's Sora! What's yours?"

"Z-zakix…"

"You talked!!" Kristina said excited, "I'm Kristina! But you can call me Kris!"

"H-hi…"

"Don't be so shy Zakix!" said Axel, putting his hand on her head.

"I only like talking to people I'm friends with…" she quietly replied.

"You're mean! Why aren't we friends! Yet you talk to that weird guy like you love him! Meanie!" Kris retorted.

Zakix blushed at the comment about Axel.

"Weird guy? I'm no--"

"Wait a sec! Why aren't you guys in costume?" Sora asked before Axel could finish.

"Well then, Sora, we'll change." The pyro looked at Zakix. "Close your eyes and think about what Halloween means to you."

The girl did as he said and closed her eyes. She thought about fun costumes, candy, and the world that she was in currently. Axel did the same, and they both felt a strange tingling sensation on their skin. Zakix opened her eyes to find herself in an outfit that she could only describe as...odd. Her legs, arms, and stomach were all covered with black and white stripes. She had a gray miniskirt that resembled the bottom of her dress and a gray shirt that just covered her bust over a white corset that covered down to her bellybutton. There was a bow on the back of her skirt that was black and the ribbon nearly touched the floor. On her back were tiny black devil wings that matched the ones on the crown on her head. Last she had on were simple black shoes, with no real design on them.

Zakix looked over at Axel and her eyes widened at the sight.

Axel had half a mask on that was sewn to his face. The mask had no eye hole but had a mark where the eye should be, and the mouth had spiked teeth that formed a scary half-smile. There were stitches on his mouth that went all the way to his ear. The tattoos under his eyes now stretched up to his eyebrow, and had an arrow on the bottom pointing to his cheek. There was, what looked like, blood coming out of his grinning mouth. There were more stitches across his neck, with more blood coming out of those 'cuts' as well. His coat was torn in many places and there were bandages tied around his arms and his waist.

The girl touched one of the 'bleeding' areas, her mouth agape.

"It's just a costume Zax. Besides, you have stitches with 'blood' coming out of them too!" Axel responded using air quotes.

He touched her lips and showed her the red that now covered his fingers.

"Haha! Nice costume Axel! You even scared your girlfriend!" Sora started laughing even harder at the double glare he received from the 'bleeding' pair.

"Oh, Kris! There you are!"

The group of teenagers turned towards the voice and the...dog bark?

"Jack!!" Kristina yelled towards the skeleton advancing towards them.

"Oh hello to you too Sora! Who are your friends?" The skeleton named Jack asked.

"Nice to finally meet you Mr. Skellington, my names Axel, got it memorized?" The redhead walked towards the Pumpkin King, smiling. "And this," he gestured to the blonde, "is Zakix."

"Wonderful! Welcome to Halloween Town!" The skeleton looked at Kristina, and his smile vanished. "Kris, Sora, it seems that we will be needing your assistance once again."

"What is it Jack? Did Lock and the others do something?" asked Kris.

"Oh, I wish it was...one of the elves from Christmas Town just delivered me this message." He handed a letter to Kristina.

"Heartless invaded again?" She sighed.

"Well, let's go save Santa!" Sora smiled and walked into the woods, and the others followed.

"Good luck all of you!" yelled Jack from behind them, and a ghost dog next to him barked.

The group neared a clearing and saw Goofy and Donald in the center, in front of a tree with a Christmas tree on it.

"Finally!" yelled Donald.

"Sora, why'd ya leave us behind?" Goofy asked, opening the door that was shaped like a Christmas tree.

"Heh, sorry guys. Kris ran off and I tried to catch her..."

Zakix giggled behind them, "That's so cute..."

"From what I've just heard, seems like you've got the girlfriend, Sora!" Axel laughed, but was cut short because Kristina kicked his shin. "What the fuck?! What are you, five?!!" The redhead hopped on his good leg a little.

"Just hurry up!" The brunette pushed him into the tree after Goofy.

Zakix hesitated a little, but followed Kris' lead nonetheless.

The place they arrived in was white and cold and the blonde walked close to Axel for warmth.

"Quite a welcoming party." The pyro said coolly, summoning his chakrams.

Sora and the others took out their weapons and faced the swarm of Heartless that seemed to appear out of nowhere before them.