Kingdom Hearts:
Capture of the Heart
Chapter six: Our (False) Hearts Divided


I see nothing in your eyes...

It had been his first trip to the forsaken place. Well, that's what the others had began calling it. How many had faded back into nothingness there? How deadly was the place for them? He kept his head up as much as he could, making sure his face was hidden by the hood of his cloak. The only sounds that could be heard was the soft tapping of his boots on the floor and occasionally his breathing. Everything else was silent. He resented every moment he was forced to be there, and couldn't wait to leave.

Finally, he found the set of stairs he was looking for. Sure, he could've gotten there in an instance, but then he was more likely to get attacked. The Luna Diviner was the only one who bothered with him, as no one else cared. Except... him... He sighed, and ascended the steps. They were painfully white, as everything else was. Who had decided the colors for this place, anyway? Sure, he wasn't fond of the color choices 'back home', but anything was better than this blinding white. Were they trying to ruin their eyes?

"Well, well," a voice said, interrupting the eerie silence as he reached the next level, "I was waiting for one of you to show up. Who is it this time? The 'Gambler of Fate'? The 'Whirlwind Lancer'? To whom do I owe this honor? And you realize you were quite welcome to just come here. Walking up all those steps must've been a pain." He groaned, rolling his eyes. While he normally had little problems chatting with Axel, he wasn't in the mood, especially having to talk here in this terrible place. Then again, Axel hadn't been very friendly with anyone since the traitor left.

"Sorry, Axel, but it's just me," he said, pulling back his hood. While he would've rather kept it on, Axel might not have talked to him if he had it on. He watched the redhead's expression change from apathetic to surprise. A frown pulled on his own face, and he sighed, waiting for any nasty comments to arise.

"Well who would've thought?" he laughed, "How did you get stuck coming here, Demyx? Shouldn't you be helping the others with Sora or something? Why would you come to visit little ol' me?" The blonde scowled, and shook his head. As usual, they had decided to pick on him, since they felt he was the youngest, even though he wasn't!

"Don't feel special or anything," he said, "I'm just doing my duty, unlike some people. Axel, can we keep this short? We, the Organization, know what you're trying to do. Stop it, and don't interfere with us, alright? We need Sora, more than we ever needed Roxas." He stopped, pausing and waiting for an attack. When none came, he gave a sigh of relief. "So why don't you let Kairi go? I'm sure if you apologize you'll be alright. You could say that you really did kill Roxas! Then it would be okay... So let Kairi go. She's not going to be of anymore use to you. And I'm sure you're tired of dealing with a distraught kidnapped teenager. Does she cry a lot?"

"You're not here on the Organization's orders... are you?" Axel said softly, and the blonde's breath stopped in his throat. He was caught red-handed. No one had told him to come here. Really, he was supposed to be getting ready for the attack on Hollow Bastion, but... he had to come and at least try to convince Axel to come back. He didn't like the man, and didn't really talk to him, but he did feel bad for him. Well... sort of.

"T-that's not important..." he said, shaking his head, glancing away, "I didn't come here to-"

"I know what you came here for, Demyx," Axel said, looking a bit annoyed, "And why should I come back? I'm doing fine on my—I'm not even on my own! Heh, I've got Kairi with me. And cry? Not as much. We're fine, and we don't need you or anyone else, Demyx. I will get Roxas back, one way or another."

"Wait a second..." Demyx started, "Kairi's working with you? What are you doing, threatening her? How is she supposed to help you?"

"For your information, I'm simply being polite, like anyone would be," the redhead laughed, "And she's doing an excellent job for me alright. Sora is already doing exactly what I want him to." The Melodious Nocturne gasped, and scowled. Now it was obvious. He had always been sneaky, especially when it came to over people's trust and such. Was this 'politeness' just a ruse to get Kairi to do what he wanted?

"Are you going to betray her like you did us?" he snapped, "It's awfully suspicious that you're the only survivor from this awful place! Did you betray the others as well? Sure, I didn't like any of them, but that doesn't mean they deserved to die like that!" A silence followed, both Nobodies staring each other with a slight venom. Eventually, however, Axel just laughed.

"Demyx, Demyx," he sighed, "You're so funny, aren't you? Well, why don't you go back and follow your orders, huh? Or have you fallen in love with my Kairi and wish to steal her away?"

"You're pitiful, Axel," Demyx said, turning and heading towards the stairs, "I'm sure this will be the death of you." He stopped, glancing down the stairs, before pulling up a portal and disappearing through it without another word.

And the more I see the less I like

Time seemed to pass her by. How long had she been laying on that floor? A day? A month? Or had it only been a few minutes? She couldn't tell anymore. Her eyes were pained by only being able to stare at her white surroundings, and she couldn't fall asleep with her racing mind. So many things weren't making sense, weren't adding up. She sighed, and slowly sat up, which only gave her a throbbing headache.

Why had Sora been in Twilight Town? Why had Axel taken her there in the first place? Had he known this would happen..? And Sora's face... she thought sadly, before snapping her head up. Her head ached worse because of it, but she didn't care. What had she been thinking? Sora would never abandon her! He had promised, hadn't he? And... and how would he have known that she was kidnapped? Except for Hayner and the others, but... He had seemed so surprised when he saw here.. Maybe he was coming for her now! Maybe he did love-

"Good morning, princess!" Axel said brightly, opening the door without knocking, "And how might you be? Not bawling your eyes out still, I hope. That was just horrible to have to listen to, you know. Broke my heart." He laughed, and stretched his arms like he had just awoken. Kairi just stared at him. He had kidnapped her... again. Did he do it on purpose? Was he trying to bait Sora?

"Axel..." was all she managed to say, not her normal retorts and demands. There was just so much she wanted to ask him! He had to be evil... There were just so many unanswered questions! But, she was starting to feel attached to him, and was... almost wishing Sora wouldn't come. Not because she didn't want to get rescued, heavens no! It would be romantic and sweet and they would reveal their true feelings, but... she didn't want Axel to get hurt. "Are we... friends?"

Instead of the usual laugh and jest or a 'witty' remark, there was a silence that followed her inquiry. The red-haired man seemed almost lost in thought, or just stuck on a response. This only made Kairi more uncomfortable. What was he thinking? Was he in doubt? Did he truly hate her and was just messing with her heart and her head? She bit her lip, and twisted onto her knees, as it was easier to stand up from that position. She wanted to say something, anything, to break the uneasy silence. But Axel did that for her.

"Of course we're friends, you silly!" he said, grinning, "Why would you think otherwise?" Oh, maybe just this whole kidnapping thing, she thought bitterly, sighing. He was odd as usual. "So, princess, are you ready to help me with my chores? Aren't you excited? I'm sure we'll get Roxas back now, and I bet we can even pay back that horrible boyfriend of yours, too!"

Kairi's heart raced. What? He wanted to help her get back at Sora? But... why? What had Sora done wrong? Hadn't it simply been her overreacting? But if she refused, wouldn't he just hurt her? But if she agreed, wouldn't that just put Sora in even more in harm's way? She couldn't do that! But... then again, if she agreed and tried to foil Axel's plans... But did she really want to see him so heartbroken again? That would just be awful! Didn't she want him to be happily reunited with Roxas?

"I... I'm ready," she said softly, biting her lip, "I'll help you, Axel."

Is it over yet?

Really? She had no idea where she was. But it didn't matter. This was where he was, and that's all that was important. So she ran, ran to where she was sure he would be waiting. She was tired, ever so tired, but she couldn't stop. Was she even tired? She shook her head, ridding her thoughts of such silly questions that would only end in more confusion.

Namine wasn't sure why Riku was still here. DiZ had left long ago, after Roxas had returned to Sora. There was no point anymore, after all, to their base of operations if their objective had been completed. But he still lingered, still returning to it to 'rest.' She had been confused, lost when Axel had freed her from Marluxia, and Riku had been the one to find her. Not that he had swept her off her feet and carried her off into the sunset, but he had given her something to do, something to focus on. And she was grateful for that. She had often heard Axel and the others mention Roxas, the traitor, but she had finally been able to meet him. He seemed so happy, so free. For the first time since she had met DiZ and Riku, she faltered in her mission. She wasn't sure anymore that she wanted the blonde nobody to return to Sora, even if she did still have lingering feelings for the hero... But in the end, he returned, partly on his own, and Sora woke up. DiZ and Riku nearly rejoiced, but Namine felt a bit emptier than before. He was gone, someone she had been able to call a friend. Sora and Roxas... they had both left her. As had DiZ, but he was just using her.

"Riku!" she called when she finally saw the boy – well, man – ahead. She didn't know why, but he had changed. Before he had been young, handsome, and suddenly he had changed his appearance. For power, maybe? She found herself missing chatting awkwardly with the young man. It seemed he had lost a lot of his personality when he lost his good looks. "Riku!"

He turned, looking surprised to see her, and waited for her to reach him. She did – all the while breathing heavily – and looked at him, worried. "What's the matter, Namine?" he asked, a frown soon showing up on his face. When talking to DiZ or anyone else, he would keep up the deep voice, but with her, he would return to his normal voice, which was very unsuited for his appearance. They were friends – almost – and had something in common: a want to see Sora again. But the blonde girl quickly shook her head. He had to know...

"It's... It's Kairi..." she said, her voice soft and unsure, as it usually was, "S-she... She's been kidnapped by Axel. Riku, Axel wants to turn Sora into a heartless, and he's using Kairi as bait!" As she expected, Riku was outraged by this news. He didn't do anything but grit his teeth, though.

"What? Why would Axel want to do something like that?" he asked. If most anyone else heard him, they would suspect he was calm, but Namine knew better. She could hear the anger and urgency filling his tone.

"Roxas..." the blonde girl all but whispered, "He wants Roxas back. That's the only thing it could be..." Axel had really gone too far now. Yes, she was indebted to the nobody for freeing her at Castle Oblivion, but she couldn't let him do anything to Sora. She glanced up at Riku, feeling lost and torn with herself. She felt like she was turning against kin, but...

"What should we do, Riku?" she said, chewing her lower lip, something Riku often teased her about, especially since it was so much like an old habit of Kairi's. Oh, if only he knew.

"What else?" he said bitterly, his voice changing back into that of Xehanort's, "We have to stop Axel and help Sora, no matter what." Namine simply nodded, and smiled. Now she might be able to see Sora again... and say goodbye.

I can't win.


A/N: Finally!! Yay! I'm sorry this took so long. Y'know, end of school, that stuff. Not to mention I'm across the country for the summer. Yeah. x.x But! I did it! Yay! Um, so... I wanted more characters involved. I know, it's Kairi's story and all, but she should be forced to share the spotlight at times! Besides, doesn't that make it more interesting? I think so. Oh! I would've finished this a lot sooner except for the fact that my song ran out. If you didn't notice, all of the italics were song lyrics(although I mixed them up... a lot). Well, I went to check the lyrics for something for this chapter, and... and I was all out! I originally meant for this to be a really short thing, but it expanded, and I ran out of lyrics. So, with the help of my awesome buddy Time, I found a new song to use lyrics from. Meh, it's just something I do. Oh, the song I used for the prolouge up to chapter five was "37mm" by AFI. This chapter's lyrics are from "Breath" by Breaking Benjamin. I don't own these songs, etc. etc. I just kind of liked using them as 'spacers' better than --- or -o-O-o- or something. While those are okay... Meh. Oh yay, lots of rant. Well, none of you are forced to read this. But! Thanks for reading so far. What do you think so far?