Here's chapter ten. Thank you Bakon Hawk for reviewing last chapter!

So, I'm going on a trip across the U.S. My computer's going with me this time, so I should be able to update my stories on a relatively normal schedule. If a chapter's later than normal, however…that's why.

Chapter Ten: Only For a Moment

Zylen's eyes flickered open briefly. He frowned, looking down at his hand. It was transparent; he flexed the fingers, turning the appendage over as he stared at it. Why was it fading…?

His tired mind decided it didn't matter.

He let his hand fall limp at his side. What was he doing, again? Who was he? Did it matter?

I am…Zylen. Leader…leader of…

…What was he leader of?

His lips twisted downward in an odd, unfamiliar expression. He reached a hand up to touch the corners. For a few moments, he struggled to remember what the expression was. Then his mind clicked, and he blinked in surprise at having forgotten. A frown.

But…why was he frowning…?

"Alright," Lea muttered, lifting his head to the sky, "so Braig and Isa aren't here, or if they are, they're really good at hiding. Then there's the fact that the Restoration Committee and that mouse King have come here." He stopped, lowering his head and crossing his arms across his chest. "So, I guess I just have to get my powers working again and get off this world."

He unfolded his hands, looking at one quizzically. He flexed his fingers, then snapped them. He sighed when nothing happened. "Come on; get working already," he grumbled, glaring at the traitorous appendage.

Lea's eyes slid closed momentarily. That Nobody, Roxas…he had something happen to him like this. He snorted, a slight grimace creasing his facial features. Back when I was…working for the Time Racers. He shook his head. Focus! How did Roxas get his powers back?

Searching through his memories, Lea could remember something about different 'forms' the Nobody had taken; ones that allowed him access to a certain amount of his Light powers. "Didn't need any forms in that last battle with me, though," he muttered bitterly, eyes cracking open. He wanted to hate the Nobody for that defeat - wanted to so badly - but he found that he couldn't. He clenched his fists. "Axel…" he muttered.

Then his eyes stretched wide in realization. "Axel." His powers had worked fine until he and the Nobody had become one being again; was it possible that that was what was stopping his powers from working?

Lea lifted his head, eyes darkening. "Ok, fine; if my Nobody's causing the problem, then I'll just have to get him to stop." He closed his eyes, attempting to try and communicate with his other half.

For several moments, nothing happened. Lea shifted slightly, beginning to feel impatient. As the minutes dragged on, he finally gave up, throwing his hands into the air with a cry of frustration. "What's the matter, Axel?" he taunted. "You never seemed shy about interfering before."

If the Nobody felt anything at his taunts, he ignored them.

Lea lowered his hands, looking down in frustration. Everything was so much simpler when I was with the Time Racers, he thought. He had his powers, and he had a goal that he knew how to accomplish. Now he had nothing except a few vague words that offered him a promise of redemption. How do I know that voice can offer me redemption, anyways? he thought, frustration plastered across his face. Maybe I should just give this whole thing up; stop worrying about being something I'm not. After all, he was whole again…he could do whatever he wanted…

The ground shook beneath his feet. He stumbled, attempting to right himself. Darkness pooled in an area in front of him, tendrils snaking out. His emerald eyes widened, and he pulled out his disk, jumping backwards towards relative safety.

From the ground emerged first one large clawed hand, then another. They slowly pulled up a large, spherical head with several sets of horns and glowing yellow eyes. A long, thin body ran down from the head and sunk into the shadows beneath. The Heartless leered at Lea from its tiny eyes, then stretched its mouth open in a roar. "Damn…that's a big one," he muttered, eyes still wide as he stared at the monster. He glanced nervously to his 'weapon.' How am I going to defeat it with this?

He had no time to ponder the answer to that question as a large, clawed hand shot towards him. He jumped backwards, away from the strike. Without missing a beat he pulled back his arm and threw the disk towards the Heartless's head. His aim was true, but his weapon was not; it did little more than a fly would've done to a human. The Heartless shook away the disk, the plastic item clattering against the ground.

Then it fixed its eyes on Lea. The red haired man ducked into a roll as a clawed hand shot towards him. The appendage collided with the wall just behind where he'd been standing moments before as he skidded to a stop, still half - crouched. He glanced towards his fallen disk. If I don't get to that, I'm dead. He glanced back towards the Heartless. Actually, even if I do get to it, I'm dead.

He couldn't believe it, but he was hoping for the Restoration Committee or the King to show up.

The thought made him frown. Actually…why haven't they shown up yet? It wasn't like the Heartless was small…

He was forced to focus again when the Heartless lunged both of its hands towards him in a sort of pounce. Lea dashed away, but the force of the Heartless's impact shook the ground, causing him to fall. He skidded painfully across the ground, loose stones tearing at the skin on his face. He grimaced, quickly trying to force himself to his feet. He looked back at the Heartless, and his eyes widened as he saw it charging energy in its open mouth. "Shit," he growled, scrambling up and jumping for the disk just as the energy was fired in a massive blue and white beam. He collided unceremoniously with the ground, but managed to get a hold of his disk again and quickly regain his footing. But as he turned to face the Heartless again, he knew his prospects were grim. How can I beat this thing? He was quickly running low on what few ideas he'd had to begin with.

The Heartless glared at him a few moments, then slid down into the shadows.

For a few moments, all Lea could do was stare. Then, he exclaimed, "Is that it?"

He felt something shift beneath his feet. Looking down, he saw a large shadow that hadn't previously been there. Eyes widening, he jumped up, the shadow exploding up into the form of the Heartless not long after, jaws gaping wide open as it reached for him. Lea tried throwing his disk, but he only succeeded in losing it down the Heartless's throat. "Great," he muttered. I hope you choke on it.

The jaws of the Heartless reached up around him, closing. He grabbed onto what he assumed was its tongue, holding on desperately to avoid being swallowed. He managed a dry, bitter laugh. Never imagined I'd go…being eaten by a Heartless. Then again, he'd never imagined he'd be defeated by his own Nobody, either…

His laugh turned into a cry of frustration. "I don't want to die yet!" He could still all too easily remember the feeling of a weapon piercing his back, the pain, the numbness…

But if he died this time, he wouldn't be coming back.

Zylen twitched slightly. Was he hearing things? He could swear he'd heard something roar…

He jerked suddenly as a voice cried out around him. "I don't want to die yet!"

His body acted before he'd realized what was going on, uncoiling from its hunched over position as he whipped his head around to search for the source. "Who's there?" he called.

His answer came in the form of an image suddenly materializing in front of him, shrouded in mist. The picture was blurred, but his eyes narrowed as he saw a red headed man struggling against some giant beast. For some reason, the man looked familiar…

His eyes widened as he recognized who the figure was. "Lea."

Then a torrent of memories filled his mind.

Lea found himself falling, but not to where he'd imagined. Instead, he was falling through darkness towards a stained glass surface. "What the hell?" he muttered as he flipped over, landing on the surface. He looked around, eyes narrowed. "What's this?"

"'This' is an Awakening," a voice that sounded very much like his own responded. He stiffened, slowly turning around as the voice continued, "Funny, I didn't even know this place existed until a few days ago."

Lea's eyes narrowed. "Axel."

His Nobody smirked, an odd expression in his eyes. "So, you actually remember who I am? I was beginning to wonder."

"Why are you here?" Lea grumbled. "Better yet, why am I here?"

Axel looked at him in surprise, then shook his head and began to laugh. Irritated, Lea shouted, "What's so funny?'

Axel's laughter faded, his green eyes flashing as he looked at his Somebody. "We're in danger of dying, and you need to figure some things out if we want to survive. Seems pretty self - explanatory to me."

Lea seethed with anger. "I need to figure some things out?" he snapped. "I'm not the one whose taking away someone else's powers!"

Axel's eyes narrowed. "I'm not taking your powers!" he retorted. "You need to get that through your head, or we're doomed." He snorted, looking away. "Besides, there really shouldn't be a 'we' to begin with."

Lea felt a momentary flash of surprise at the Nobody's words. He recovered quickly, however, and added, "Yeah. There should only be me." He noticed Axel shoot him a glare, but both were quickly distracted when the Station shook. "What's-"

Lea never finished his statement; the stained glass floor shattered, and soon both he and his counterpart were falling through darkness.

When Lea came back to awareness, he was still clinging to the Heartless's tongue. His shoulders slumped. How am I going to get out of this?

Axel had said he needed to realize something; while he didn't particularly like having to take advice from the Nobody, it was better than being eaten. He grimaced. "Ok…but what do I need to realize?" He closed his eyes shut tightly, shaking his head. "Gah! I don't have time for this!"

Desperately, Lea slammed his foot onto the bottom of the Heartless's mouth. The head tilted; though the mouth was still shut, it was now pointed downwards. Lea's eyes stretched wide. Did…I do that? Then they narrowed again. No; the Heartless was just moving. But the new positioning gave him an idea. Releasing the Heartless's tongue, he plunged down, body stiff as he aimed his feet towards the monster's teeth. The collision with the jagged barrier sent a jolt up his legs, but it was enough to cause the Heartless's mouth to open slightly. Yes! He scrambled through the gap in the beast's teeth just before its mouth snapped shut again.

Despite being free, Lea was not completely out of danger. Heartless aside, gravity was tugging at him, pulling him towards the ground at a rapid pace. He watched the ground approach, panic setting in. If I could just use my powers…even for a little bit! He glanced back up at the Heartless to see it lunging for him again, mouth open wide. In desperation, he held out his hand.

Shock and relief pulsed through him when a dark corridor appeared beneath him as he fell. He dove into the black abyss, and allowed himself to be carried wherever the path would lead.

The Heartless's jaws snapped shut around empty air. It remained where it was for several moments, motionless, puzzled.

Slowly, the large, dark creature dropped to the ground, its two massive hands holding it in a crouch. There were other hearts here; it could smell them. It wanted desperately to go after them.

But its prey had escaped it. There was no reason for it to stay now.

Slowly, the Heartless sank back into the shadows.

That's the end of chapter ten! Please review?