Epic 10: A Prospect for Thirty.

I caught Arienn more on reflex then an actual knowledge that she needed to be caught. Lifting the arm not holding her weight to rest my hand against her hair, I could only imagine what she was feeling. And she would actually know what she was feeling! I had no idea. I looked back over at him, at Roxas, my best friend. I knew I was happy to see him. But there was also some feeling of caution, maybe even a touch of bitterness. "Sorry Arienn."

"Axel…" Arienn's fingers tightened against my drenched coat. I guess it'd twitched my emotions enough for her to feel. "I thought…" I lifted a brow at him. "I thought you were dead…"

My body twitched, recollection brought the feeling of disappearing back to my limbs. Arienn spazzed and made some sort of whimpering noise. I swore softly shifting her in my arms. "I was." I answered, Arienn looked up at me curiously, trying to fight through the torrent of emotions that weren't hers. "I got over it. What about you?" I scowled at him, skepticism creeping into the mix. I wanted to believe this was my friend, but… "I thought you had joined with Sora."

"Hey Axel, don't you think we should sit Ari-nee down? Unless you intend to hold her all night?" Dem asked with a funny sort of grin on his face. I nodded.

"Get her a glass of water would you?" I directed him dragging my wind wielding other into the main room setting her on the couch, crouching down to her level. Her breath was ragged. I scowled. Arienn and I had figured out that we felt one another's pain, and on some occasions emotions. Was it possible that she was reliving my death? "Arienn? You okay?"

"You died?" She gasped meeting my eyes. I scowled. I was begging here. Don't let her be feeling that. "Faded away…" Damn.

"Arienn don't think about it." I commanded. "Just ignore whatever you're picking up from me." She shook her head a little raking her fingers through semi damp hair shakily. Dem came up with a glass of water and took my place calming her down a little as I pulled Roxas to one side.

"I don't get it…" he furrowed a brow at me. "What's going on?"

I took a breath. "Arienn, has an unusual trait. She somehow figured out a way to give people like us hearts." I paused letting that sink in. "However, to accomplish it, it requires the aid of a living heart to serve as an anchor. That ties them together, and the side effects…" I cast a vague glance over his shoulder. "Are still being determined."

Roxas looked back over at her too. "So she's…"

I had yet to say it out loud, but I'd been aware of what it was for some time. "My Other? Pretty much." I scowled at him. "But really how are you here?"

"Me? I was just absorbed back into my other you died!" Roxas countered.

"How do you know about that?"

"I was there…sorta."

Meaning he'd been aware within Sora. Watching and unable to do anything, knew that feeling. "Ah."

"So, really, how are you here?" He prompted again.

I shrugged. "We're not sure. Arienn guess it's got something to do with the legend of the creation of this world." My friend lifted a brow at me. "This place has a background with being a place for second chances." I abbreviated.

He nodded slowly. "May explain how I'm here too…" Translation, he had no idea how he was here.

I turned to Arienn. "Hey, think you have room for one more wayward Nobody." I asked changing the subject.

Arienn looked up at me. "Sure, I put up with you don't I?" she grinned. I rolled my eyes. "I just have to find someone to serve as an anchor." She said with a little scowl sitting back and eyeballing my blond buddy thoughtfully.

I felt the grin creep over my lips. "I have an idea…."