A/N: God, I am so sorry its taken me so long to post this. I started my senior year of high school and I've just been really busy these last two weeks. I haven't had the chance to sit down at the computer so I could post. So, again, I'm really, really, sorry.

Disclaimer: I do believe we've been over this before.

Chapter 10

Hollow Bastion never ended up coming to Ne'erwas. They had quickly relocated back to Twilight Town, which was now more crowded then ever. All of Ne'erwas and what was left of Hartz came to stay where it was safer. Despite this, things were falling apart around them.

Axel had become detached and melancholy since Roxas' death. In the three months since it had happened, no one but his family, personal guard, and Riku had seen him. After Roxas' funeral, he'd slipped away into his room and, as far as anyone knew, hadn't come out since. There were rumors that he too was dead.

If the loss of one of their kings wasn't enough, half of the kingdom was seriously considering seceding. Not only had Axel given up on everything around him, including his own kingdom, but he wasn't truly their king to begin with. They had respected him and perhaps even liked him as their rey, when he was paired up with their true blood king. Leaving Axel to his own devices, though, left Ne'erwas with most of the power. Citizens of the kingdom formerly known as Hartz didn't like the thought. They wanted their own king, and since they couldn't have the one who ruled by birthright, they wanted the next best thing. Unfortunately for them, Sora had no desire to become king and even less to fight Axel for the crown. Not that Axel would have put up much of a fight.

Despite Axel's feeble protests, Riku had the redhead placed under twenty-four hour surveillance. He'd made a promise to his fallen king and he planned to keep it. He was not going to let Axel take his own life and, though it would take time, he was even working on returning the redhead to some semblance of his normal self.

In the beginning, Axel refused to eat or sleep. He'd just been wasting away bit by bit and uncaring of the fact. Aeris and Cloud, who had been visiting in Midgar at the time of the attack on Hartz, had come for the funeral and tried to see the redhead, but he refused to admit even them. Death was cutting much to close to the redhead's heart. Aeris reminded him of his mother and Roxas had been a carbon copy of his father. At first, he'd even denied Sora admission, but eventually the family had managed to worm their way inside. When they did, Axel refused to look at them. Despite this, they continued to visit and try to get any sort of reaction from him.

Reno came as well, though he wasn't much good at comforting, considering that his own loss was so recent. They'd ended up mourning the loss of their loved ones together, probably not much of a help to either of them. So, the kingdom was in the position to collapse, all possible leaders completely shut down or in denial.

Sora hadn't been coping well with Roxas' death either. He wasn't nearly as bad as Axel, but Riku hadn't seen him smile once in three months. For Sora, that was unheard of. The brunet had always worn a smile as a default expression, and the lack thereof was rather disconcerting.

Overall, Nadie was going to fall. Whether it was sooner or later, eventually it would all crumble beneath them. The citizens liked Axel too much to throw a revolt and Axel was too depressed to pull himself and everything else together.

Until one day that all changed. The doors leading to the king's private chambers swung open and one redhead emerged. He was skinnier now then he had ever been, to the point where he actually looked sick. His once vibrant crimson hair was a shade darker and his skin paler from lack of sunlight. His green eyes sported heavy bags underneath them, making his face look gaunt. Where he had once stood proud and tall, now he slumped, his shoulders stooped and his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. Despite this, he was showered and dressed completely for the first time in months, which had to be a good sign. He strode past the shocked guards at his door and down the staircase. Not knowing what else to do, Demyx followed, his jaw hanging open.

People turned to stare as Axel passed them by, but he took no notice of them. He continued on his quest, followed by his guard who was shrugging at the people. Axel turned into the dining room and dropped into the nearest chair, which just so happened to be the one that Roxas enjoyed frequenting. He reached his hand out and slapped the bell signaling his arrival. There was a loud crash from the kitchen and a moment later the doors swung open wide. The head chef popped his head out and caught sight of Axel sitting at the table. He let out a sound that sounded suspiciously like, 'Meep!' before disappearing again, the doors swinging wildly. A few minutes later, a waiter appeared with a plate, setting it down before the redhead.

"Please excuse the delay, Your Majesty. We hadn't expected to see you…" Axel said nothing, waved a dismissive hand, and started to eat. The man faltered only a moment before bowing quickly and disappearing.

Axel finished his meal in complete silence and then went to take audience. It didn't take long to figure out that he was going through the same daily schedule that he always had with Roxas. People all around had heard the Axel had made his appearance and were now coming to the throne room for an audience. They were lined up around the corner, which brought Riku to inspect. He was shocked to see that Axel had picked up his duties again. He only seemed to be half-hearted about it, though, answering questions with a nod or shake of the head. He only spoke when it was absolutely necessary and his voice was hoarse and quiet with disuse. Still, it was an improvement over the way things had been going.

Riku watched with concern as Axel held the proceedings, wondering what had happened to make him leave his room. Just the day before he'd sworn that he'd never leave and now, there he was, acting as if that had never happened.

"Riku!" a voice called, making the silver-haired guard snap around in curiosity. Kairi gestured wildly to him, so he followed her into the hallway.

"Hello, Your Highness," he greeted, wondering what she could possibly want with him.

"Riku…I want you to keep an eye on Axel," she said earnestly.

"No offense, princess, but what exactly do you think I've been doing for the past three months?" he asked, frustration leaking into his voice. "I don't know him very well and for some reason he's decided it's a good idea to pick himself up again…"

Kairi's cheeks flushed and she looked away, biting her lower lip.

"Well, to be completely honest, I think that was me. I tried talking to him last night and I got annoyed with his tone and disposition, so I yelled at him. I told him that Roxas would be pissed if he knew what Axel was doing and that he was basically shaming his memory by acting the way he was. I said it was probably a good thing he was dead so that he didn't have to see the way Axel reacted under pressure."

Riku's eyes widened. Why hadn't he thought of that?

"He was really upset and he kept twisting his ring around his finger. I tried to apologize and tell him I hadn't meant it like that, but he just kicked me out. And today, he's like this."

"Well…perhaps you were a bit harsh, but it seems to have worked," Riku said.

"Yeah, but for how long? Axel's ready to just give up on life, so just be careful. Even if he gets back to his normal self, watch over him. We've already lost Roxas. We don't need to lose both of them."

Riku opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by something catching his eye. He turned his head and saw the inky black stain stretching across the floor, heading quickly towards Axel. The redhead saw it as well, and he sat up straighter, eyes focusing on it. He made no move to do anything but watch as the spot grew closer.

Riku realized at that moment exactly what Axel was about. If he were ever attacked, he wouldn't bother to fight. He'd just stand there and take it. The silver-haired guard rushed across the room towards the spot, but it was faster and had a head start. A man appeared from the spot, grabbed Axel, and sunk through the floor again. Kairi screamed and Riku cussed, but Axel was already gone. There was nothing they could do now.

Riku obviously wasn't a very good guard. He'd failed twice. The loss of both kings was entirely his fault, in so many more ways then one. Damn it.

As soon as they reappeared in another area, Axel tried to fry the man holding him. Much to his dismay, however, he found that he could not.

"This is my domain, little king. If I don't want you to use magic here, you won't," a woman's voice said warningly. Well, damn, there went that plan. When he'd first noticed the inky spot, his plan had been to somehow find the evil queen and kill her or die in the process. Now, it seemed that the latter was going to play out.

The place they were in was almost completely dark, the only light coming from a torch on the far side of the room. Axel was pushed forward, forced to walk. He wasn't sure exactly what was in his way, so his steps were awkward and hesitant, forced on by someone else. It seemed like an eternity before they came to a stop. The man holding him kicked out his knees, forcing him to the ground with a pained yelp.

Soft footsteps approached him, but he couldn't see a foot in front of his face, so he had no hope of seeing the evil bitch. A hand stroked over his face and he growled angrily, fighting the urge to bite her. The fingers lightly slapped his cheek.

"Axel, Axel, Axel," she sighed quietly. "This all could have been avoided, you know. I don't like slaughter and kidnapping. Far too much dirty work, in my opinion. Why couldn't you have just handed over my nephew?"

"Even if I knew who the prince was, I would never leave anyone to your sadistic mercy," Axel growled. "You're a false queen, put only on the throne because you murdered your brother and tried to do the same to your nephew!"

"Silence, miscreant!"

"I hope he does rise up a rebellion and cuts you down…"

"I said silence!" she shrieked.

"I'm a true king," Axel snarled back. "I outrank you."

"If you do not be quiet, I will destroy everything you love!"

"Too late!" Axel snarled back. "There's nothing else you could possibly take from me."

"I could always slit your pretty throat," she growled.

"Go ahead," Axel growled. "Do it. I've got nothing to live for anymore. Cut my throat, bitch, you'd be doing me a favor."

"Fine! Then you'll be imprisoned for the rest of your pathetic life. Death is a luxury too high for you."

Axel was forced to his feet and dragged out of the room, screaming and snarling the whole way. By the time they reached the dungeon, he'd calmed down a bit and practically screamed his throat raw. He was dumped unceremoniously on the floor of a cell, the door slammed and locked behind him.

"You tell that bitch to sleep with one eye open!" Axel called after him. "Because I'm going to break out of here and slit her goddamned throat!" The only response he received was the heavy door being slammed shut, locking him in semi-darkness, the only light coming from a bare bulb in the center of the room. He kicked his cell door and cussed quietly, sliding over to rest his back against the cell wall.

"Dammit," he said to the air.

Someone moved in the cell next to his, and there was a slight clanking noise as their hands grabbed the bars.

"Axel?" the voice whispered disbelievingly. "Axel, is that you?"

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A/N: Yeah, that's right. Cliffhanger, bitches. Lets see if I get a bunch of angry reviews…