One thing I forgot to mention and need to go back to put into the text is that the necklace Roxas wears to keep him in Tora form, is waterproof. The other item is not. Sorry, I will correct that later.
They were marching, again. Above them the sun threatened to spill its amber glow onto the land as nightfall approached and animals skittered out of their way in a clumsy hurry. Together, the Tora, Inu and Ookami thundered through the forest, the prisoners tied by their hands and feet as they were dragged through the dust at the back of the wyverns that riders rode restlessly on the ground.
Roxas watched with his good eye as a green wyvern passed him with a rider dressed in stainless steel directing it on where to go as it growled up at the sky and blew smoke threw the trees. Behind it, dragged by metal shackles where a set of Tori soldiers, all of them exhausted and wounded as they were forced to bite the dust. He had tried to convince Axel to give the prisoners a bit more slack, but Axel had grown suspicious and brushed his request of, claiming he was in a hurry and he would not have a bunch of cowardly crows drag him down.
Feeling a soft nudge on his shoulder, Roxas turned to spy Roric whinnying behind him before Roxas slackened the leather strap about the black creatures muzzle and gave him a soft pat on the nose, laughing a little before he took of the muzzle and folded it of his shoulder, watching as the death beast spread its wings out horizontally before it kicked roughly of the ground and took to the sky with a thick gust of wind. Covering his face, Roxas ignored the strange stares that were cast his way before a familiar face appeared through the crowd and Hayner emerged, the sword at his waist clanking dangerously.
"Roxas!"
The blonde turned at the sound of his name and grinned once more. "Hayner? I'm surprised you haven't made another break for it yet." Roxas laughed, starting to walk forwards once more as Hayner joined him at his side and smirked.
"Trust me," he lowered his voice to a whisper and gave a cautious glance about. "If we weren't on Tora soil I'd be over those mountains in a matter of seconds."
Roxas shook his head and frowned at Axel as he rode his wyvern in front, the scarlet beast moving at a steady pace that set the others in their positions as Demyx rode beside him on a thick polar bear of sorts. When Roxas had first encountered the beast he had been shocked to find it as fast as it was lethal, much to one of the Tori prisoners' displeasure. And beside Demyx was Saix on a similar beast to that of his prince. When Axel had sent a guard with a message requesting him to join him up front on his wyvern Roxas had been terrified to say the least, and so had declined naturally with as much respect as he could muster, wanting to march with the mass of moving troops more than face the emerald brilliance of his general's eyes.
"So, what happens when we finally reach the palace?" Hayner mumbled. "Because I tell ya, I am so sick of fighting, and this war hasn't even started yet."
Roxas let out a sigh and watched the sun set. "I'm not sure. I guess, anything, really. Who's to say this wont all stop tomorrow? All it takes is a few people to come to their senses and sign a piece of paper saying they won't attack." Roxas frowned as Hayner let out a snigger and laughed.
"Yeah right. If it was that easy the war wouldn't have even started. Besides, not everything can be solved with a piece of paper."
Roxas gave a sad smile. "I know, but I wish it could be."
Hayner placed his hands in his pocket and let out a cheeky grin. "I'm sure the generals will figure something out. And hey, as long as our side wins and I'm still alive to celebrate who cares, right?" He laughed, and Roxas felt forced to join in with him despite his entire being disagreeing completely.
Above them somewhere a horn sounded and blasted through the march, and Roxas was forced to stop as the soldiers in front of him stopped moving and instead gave questioning glances about in random directions. Their eyes were drawn upwards as Axel's wyvern took flight against the growing starlight and stood out like a vicious shining torch as his words boomed across the forest.
"WE'LL REST HERE FOR TONIGHT! EVERY PLATOON SET UP A PERIMITER AND KEEP WATCH! I WANT NO SOLDIER LEAVING THE CAMPSIGHT WITHOUT MY LEAVE!"
Axel was met with a chorus of sighs and a small amount of cheers before Hayner yawned next to Roxas and drew his attention to him. Stretching, the younger male turned to Roxas and grinned. "Which camp you with?"
Roxas let a sigh pass his lips and thumbed up to where Demyx and Saix were pulling away with a set of royal elites. "I'm stuck with the royals. 'Bout you?"
"Wow, royals…that's pretty intense. I'm with squad Alpha. Speaking of which, I really should be going if I wanna get my slop and a bed for the night before I get placed on watch."
"You could always come with me." Roxas said, an internal piece of him begging for Hayner to join him so that he wasn't left alone with the royals and elites.
"Me, go with you, to see them? Nah, I'm just a common soldier. I'm nobody special." Hayner gave a sad smile and gave Roxas a clap on the back. "Good luck man, you're gonna need it."
Roxas grumbled and mumbled a 'thanks' before Hayner disappeared amongst the rush of moving bodies as prisoners were tied for the night and soldiers began to set up camp all about him. Turning, Roxas made his way to the edge of the cam where Axel was just settling down his wyvern, pulling of its restraints as he let it take to the sky. He was wrapping the thick leather straps about his arm when Roxas approached with his own steeds bridle tossed over his shoulder, but before he could so much as utter a word Axel spoke to him without turning round, almost as if he could feel his presence despite Roxas being practiced in the art of silence.
"You okay Kitten? You seemed to be having quite a friendly chat with that soldier."
Roxas frowned at the bite of resentment in the Generals voice and frowned. "I was just discussing our position on the war, sir. The soldier was interested in our odds. I told him he had nothing to fear."
Axel hummed and finished wrapping the rope, handing it to a nearby elite before he turned to face Roxas with questioning eyes, placing a hand on his hip and frowning. "I sent a guard to ask you to ride with me. You didn't show." It wasn't a question, and Roxas knew it.
"No, sir. I thought it would be good for the troop's morale to see me with them." Roxas stood still with his arms by his side as Axel laughed and mimicked his words before he spied the bridle upon his shoulders.
"Your beast? Where did it fly?"
"In the sky, sir. I thought it best he stretch his wings if he was to be in top condition." Looking up, Roxas whistled and Roric flew into view atop the raising moon, hovering in the air before Roxas dismissed him with a wave of his hand and turned to stare back at an inquisitive Axel. "If my General doesn't trust me I can always join the rest of the troops-" Roxas started, hoping for the answer to be yes so he could join Hayner and try and have a good time whilst marching to what could be his death.
"No!" Axel all but shouted, his hand outstretching before he recoiled it hesitantly and looked up at the moon. "That wont be needed Kitten." When Axel lowered his eyes it was to stare into the confused sapphire of Roxas' own as he itched his wounded eye irritably. "Stop. If its itching then let me take a look."
"It's fine, sir. A medic can look at it for me." Roxas mumbled, backing of slowly and flattening his ears against his head as Axel gave a soft smile and advanced.
"Kitten, I insist-"
"It's fine." Roxas growled, taking a step back and letting his polite demeanour slip as the irritation spread through his eye socket like wildfire.
Axel pulled his hand away and smiled as Demyx laughed at Saix's attempt to make a fire before an elite stepped in to assist them. "Come with me Kitten, I have something to show you."
The cool front Axel placed about himself, his knowing smile and the lick of his lips when he spoke sent shivers down Roxas' spine, but still he followed as Axel moved past the elites and warned them that if they were to be followed by anyone heads would roll. Needless to say, the panic grew up Roxas' back and sent alarm bells ringing in his mind as he followed Axel into the shadows of the trees that overgrew the land to block out the sky in a treacherous black canopy.
"Sir? Where are we…" Roxas mumbled, jumping a little as a bush rumbled beside him before he yelped when he bumped into the Tora's back and fell roughly backwards.
Axel let out a small chuckle and heaved Roxas up by his arm. "Careful, Kitten. This place isn't as friendly as it looks."
Roxas blew his fringe out of his eyes and tried to ignore the blush that came to his face as Axel kept a firm grip on his upper arm, pulling him through the murk for what felt like hours before he finally stopped on a ledge overlooking a clearing.
Roxas felt his breath leave him in that instant.
He was standing on the base of a large cliff, a series of hot springs burning brightly below them as the stars came out of hiding and shone like small diamonds lost in a sea of black ebony ribbon that blanketed the sky in a silk cushion as the moon rolled across the sky like an illuminated pearl, forever watching and forever guiding as it shone across them with small dancing drifts of moonlight. Across the sky the wyverns flew, as if they were swimming in an endless sea as the ground below lit up a luminous emerald, appearing almost surreal in the beauty of the moonlight.
Axel smiled and placed his hands behind his back, his eyes glancing sideways to stare at the blondes open mouth as he drank in the site before him. Turning back to look across the sky, Axel spoke with soft words, his ears twitching slightly in the cool breeze. "Do you like it?"
Roxas closed his mouth before a small laugh burst from his lips and he leaned forward a little to get a better look, standing on the tips of his toes as his tail swished behind him excitedly. "It's beautiful…." He stopped and turned to face Axel with a confused frown. "But I thought…"
Axel gave Roxas a wink and turned to face him. "Thought what? That just because I'm a general I'm cold and heartless?" He let out a hollow laugh and looked down at the ground. "That's what everybody thinks."
"I didn't mean-"
"It's fine." Axel mumbled before he turned back to face him with a grin that flashed his canines and left Roxas slightly worried. "But this isn't what I wanted to show you. Come with me, it's about time you lived up to that posh name of yours anyway, Night Crawler."
With those words Roxas watched as Axel laughed and dived down the side of the cliff, placing his hands ahead of him as he forced his body into a perfect diving position before performing a back flip when he reached the bottom, twirling in the air before he sank to the floor on all fours and slid up gracefully without so much as a hair on his head out of place. Looking upwards, Axel raised a hand and waved to the blonde that was watching Axel walk away from him between the hot springs. "Come on Kitten! I haven't got all night!"
Roxas gulped as he looked down at the retreating general as the redhead lowered his head and began to enter the trees that glowed as if they were lit by golden lanterns. Gathering up his courage, Roxas looked down the horizontal cliff and attempted to relax his nerved. He wasn't a Tora, not a real one, and he couldn't jump from ridiculous heights and land square on his feet without so much as a scratch. It would take away at least seven of his nine lives, and unfortunately he had already used most of them up back home.
Not daring to risk upsetting the General, he took a few steps back before he threw himself over the side, closing his good eye and throwing his body into a straight position as he aimed for the hot springs. He couldn't land on the ground like Axel, and the cliff was so straight it would have been impossible to scale down, so he was left with only his present option. As the wind whistled past his ears Roxas flattened them and felt his heart beat in his chest as his blood pounded upwards towards his brain.
Opening his eye at the last minute, Roxas turned and splashed deep into the spring, the warm water bubbling about him as he looked upwards and kicked towards the surface. When he finally broke the water, he swam to the edge and clung to the rocks for all he was worth, shivering as the air turned cold despite the water warming and bubbling about his lower half as he closed his eyes, the patch covering falling from his wounded eye, and turned to climb out of the pool, his hands shaking beneath himself as he shook his ears to rid his fur of some of the water.
"You know, you have to be the strangest Tora I've ever met."
"Ah!" Roxas yelped, losing his grip on the slippery rocks before he fell backwards with a crash and was forced to break the waves once more, closing his wounded eye as it leaked a small amount of puss before Roxas glared at the laughing general that was holding his sides to prevent them from splitting. Roxas moved away slightly, his concern growing as panic grew inside himself and he remembered Marshals warning about the trinkets and water. Reaching up towards his neck, he grasped at the charm roughly and let out a loud sigh when he realised it was still in place and hadn't been lost with the spring. Turning his eyes back to the General that was wiping away a tear and spitting out the last few laughs that tickled his throat, Roxas growled and sank further into the water. "It's not funny."
Axel straightened, a grin still plastered on his face. "Sure it is Kitten. Your eye must be putting you of balance or something. Why the hell did you aim for the springs?"
"I er…um…" Roxas rubbed the back of his neck and straightened a little. "You see…" He was cut of by another burst of laughter from Axel's lips and felt the heat flush up his body to his cheeks where they turned a bright scarlet. "It's not funny." Roxas repeated, swimming back to the edge of the pool and clinging to the rocks once more.
"Oh come on, Kitten. Learn to take life as it comes at you once in a while." Axel stopped laughing and instead Roxas watched the new found sparkle resonate in his generals eyes. "So you misjudged your landing and ended up in the springs." He gave a shrug and Roxas looked away, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as he mumbled into the water.
"Yeah…I guess I was just a little…off target." He knew he wasn't really, but for the sake of his rouse he would pretend for the moment being.
Axel gave him another smile and clapped his hand about Roxas' wrists to draw his attention to him as he began to help him out of the pool. "My point is, Kitten, getting it wrong every once in a while is something you're allowed to do. Use it as many times as possible. After all," Roxas glanced up, half way out of the springs as Axel's voice took on a deep tone and he had that confident smirk back across his lips. "We can't all be perfect like me, right Kitten?"
Something bit at Roxas right then, something he couldn't quite grasp. But he knew that it ignited something inside of him, and that something was what fuelled his next movement. As the general held his left wrist, Roxas suddenly grabbed onto it with his right, holding onto the leather straps and bands tightly as he watched the general's confusion grow, a wicked smile came to his own face. "You know, I'm pretty sure I warned you once not to call me that." He laughed, before he kicked of the rock face with all the strength he could gather, slamming his back into the water and pushing away so he was in the middle of the springs before he heard a yelp, a cry, and a shout follow together in perfect unity before an enormous splash sent him flying back a little, his grip on the generals arm loosening until he lost it completely and he was forced to break the waves once more.
Breaking the water, Roxas took a deep breath and stared about the springs, trying to locate the redhead as water droplets fell from his face and blurred his view. Looking left and right, he frowned to find that there was no general and panic began to edge up him from his lower spine, sending the hair on end as his skin tingled and his nerves went into overdrive. He was about to dive and see if he could find something before a pair of arms snaked about him from behind and held him strongly, pulling him into a strong chest as a silky voice whispered in his ear.
"Dangerous move, Kitten."
Roxas growled and attempted to kick away, his entire instinct screaming at him to break loose as the General squeezed tighter. Another growl escaped Roxas' lips as he began to writhe in the water, desperately trying to escape before he finally gave in and panted in the General's arms. "I thought you said to take life as it comes at you?" Roxas ground out, yelping as Axel turned him to face him in the glowing moonlight whilst the trees shined down on the redheads face from over Roxas' back, giving him an almost godly look as Roxas resented the perfect smile that ran across smooth lips.
"I did. But I never said to do it around me. How the hell did you know I could swim?" The confusion in the redheads face gave Roxas back some of his pride and this time it was his turn to smile.
"I didn't." Those were the only words he said and they threw Axel more than any paragraph of strictly strung lines ever could. Roxas didn't know how long they stayed like that for, but after a while it began to grow uncomfortable, and the air had begun to freeze the water to his chest. "Can you let me go?" Roxas mumbled, closing his eyes to the wind as Axel grunted and released his grip slowly.
As soon as he was free Roxas swam back a little and turned to watch the redhead as he rubbed at his eyes and yawned. Roxas raised an eyebrow incredulously and watched as Axel turned to stare at him. "You were sleeping? How? It's freezing out here?" He didn't mention the uncomfortable position and decided it would be better not to make the General feel foolish, especially not with the army just up the cliff.
Axel ignored the entire sleeping comment and skipped straight to the end. "You're cold?" This time it was Axel's turn to raise an eyebrow as he swam to join the blonde at the waters edge.
Roxas inwardly face palmed and cursed his stupidity. Of course Axel wasn't cold. Axel was a Tora; he could survive in slightly colder temperatures because of his thicker skin and warmer blood. Trying to cover his mistake, Roxas fumbled over his words. "Err…no, not cold-cold…just, chilly…right?"
Axel gave him an odd look before he closed his eyes and let a thick smile come to his lips, his canines flashing once more. "I know what you are."
Roxas didn't know whether to be confused or afraid, so he went for a mix of both. "Y-you do?"
Axel nodded and opened his eyes again, the confidence back in place as he climbed out of the water and shook the hair atop his head dry whilst knocking some of the water from his ears with his little finger. "Yep." He straightened and looked down at his wet clothes before he looked back at the worried blonde that was gulping in the water. "You're one of those Southern Tora's, aint ya." He laughed at what he supposed was his own brilliance, continuing and ignoring the blank look on the blondes face. "Oh come of Night Crawler, it was only a matter of time before I found out. No wonder you're cold, I mean, you guys spend all day in the sun, right?" He stopped for a moment and turned to Roxas with confused eyes. "But that doesn't explain why you came this far west to join my little group. Or did Reno drag you all the way?" At the mention of Reno's name Roxas felt a prick of hatred rise up inside him as Axel growled and his emerald eyes grew dangerous.
"I came of my own free will." Roxas grumbled, climbing out of the spring and immediately regretting it as the wind froze his clothes to his skin, the leather becoming itchy and heavy as the rough spun clothes beneath remained sodden and soaked. "But Prince Reno helped some, I guess." He shrugged and undid the leather bindings, letting them fall to the floor with a thud before he let out a large exhale of breath and looked up at the Generals questioning gaze. "They were heavy." Was all he said before Axel rolled his eyes and started forwards once more.
"Come on; let's get going before you freeze to death. Damn southerners, why can't you be like the north? Starting a war that the rest of the world has to finish. It's completely insane."
Roxas frowned. "Sir?"
"What, you don't know?" Axel looked back at him from over his shoulders as they entered the glowing trees.
"I come from a farming village. News travels slowly."
Axel made a humming noise in his throat before he slowed his pace to walk beside the blonde. "Alright, I guess you should know seeing as you are my Lieutenant. I can't have you in meetings where you don't understand what's going on. I mean, what use would you be, right?"
Roxas let his ears go down at the word 'use' and turned away to stare at the glowing caterpillars that nestled and cocooned under the leaves. He gave of a smile and sighed, at least now he knew what made the forest sparkle.
Axel continued, never once looking at the blonde as he walked threw bushes and hedges of all different species and varieties. "When the southern folk began stealing farming land from the other nations they were fairly easy to put into place. But the ground dried up and the wildlife dispersed. No doubt your village had water shortages, and this was caused by…" he faltered for a moment and gave Roxas an uneasy glance. "By something that doesn't concern you as of yet. Anyway, famine was rife, as I'm sure you've heard, and people began to grow desperate." He stared at the ground and closed his eyes, still knowing where he was going as he walked over rocks and shrubs precisely. "I begged father to do something, but Reno…Reno had other plans. He wants to instigate something that's far beyond any of our control."
Roxas thought back to Leon's mad ramblings in the tent and Serunday Vey. It had been said by so many on either side of the battlefield, yet Roxas was still clueless on what it meant.
"Father sided with Reno and the war began to roll into place." Axel shrugged and gave Roxas a small smile. "My people are desperate, and this war is pointless. Our real fight is with something much bigger than any of us ever anticipated, but my father is too much of a blind old fool to see it. I need to get to the throne before Reno so I can put all of this right. Maybe then we can stop all of this before it gets too out of hand. But if Reno wins…" Axel shook his head and let a smile come to his lips as he turned to stare ahead of him at a large oak tree that stood as high as any palace Roxas had ever seen. "Well, we're here and that's a story for another day."
Roxas looked up at the tree that was lit by caterpillar light before he was forced to follow Axel as the male stepped forwards with heavy strides. As they reached the trunk of the tree Roxas looked at the Generals smiling face. He always seemed to have a whimsical smile, but then there was that other smile, the smile he had only seen once and it was in the springs they had come from. That smile left him strangely curious, but definitely uneasy.
Roxas watched as Axel raised his palm and brought a small ornamental dagger up to face it. A small grimace graced his face as he placed the blade into his palm and dragged it along slowly, the blood dripping freely as Roxas watched with confused shocked eyes.
"Sir…?"
Pulling the blade away Axel placed it back in his sheath and grinned, placing his bloody palm against the knotted trunk of the tree before he smeared his blood across it. Roxas was beginning to believe the General had gone insane before he jumped back and yelped with surprise as the tree came to life, the knotted trunk unravelling itself slowly with a series of grunting groans to reveal a wide passage within that was lit with small diamond crystals that sparkled like the stars.
Roxas took in a deep breath and ignored the triumphant smile Axel was giving of before the General took hold of his hand lightly with his own blood stained palm, ignoring the younger males blush once more as he started running into the gloom of the star like jewels. Roxas found himself running too as he was pulled forcefully along, a worried look crossing his eyes as the tree groaned once more and knotted up behind them. Looking ahead, Roxas almost tripped on the first step of a flight that looked like it went on forever, but he just managed to catch himself in time. Axel laughed, the small jewels lighting their way as they ran upwards for what felt like forever, the wooden steps never ending in their long ascent.
Finally, just when Roxas felt like he was on the verge of collapsing, they reached the top and Axel released his hand, letting him fall to his knees with a loud bang as Axel stepped further inside the hollow room. Glancing up, Roxas stared, somewhat confused, at the hollow wooden dome. The room was built for space and the walls were made of oak, knotted in places and still lit up by the small diamonds. Leaves stuck out in several areas and in the centre of the room was a glimmering blue pool that shone as if it were a crater in the florescent moon.
Getting to his feet, Roxas raised his ears curiously as Axel let out a laugh and knelt beside the pool.
"What is this place?" Roxas asked, stepping forwards as Axel turned to look at him over his shoulder before pulling him down to sit beside him, ignoring the younger males yelp.
"This is one of the few Wisdom Tree's left in the world." Axel mumbled, the sparkle back in his eyes as he dipped his hand into the milky water.
"Wisdom Tree?" Roxas let out a laugh and brought the beautiful eyes down upon himself. "It all sounds like something out of a fairytale." He mumbled, crossing his legs and sneezing as the clothes dried against his skin.
"Who's to say our world isn't a fairytale? Or even a time of Legend?" Axel asked, still submerging his hand in the water.
Roxas frowned. "Our world can't be a fairytale. Or a time of legend."
"Why not?"
"Because fairytales don't have wars in them…"
Axel gave of another knowing smile and raised his hand from the water, flexing it slightly and turning as Roxas stared in fascination at the wound that appeared to seemingly stitch itself back together until the skin was smooth and pristine once more. "Fairytales might not, but legends do."
Roxas glanced between Axel and the pool, the confusion swimming about his skull as he frowned and tested the water delicately with a finger, feeling the gooey liquid cling to his finger before he pulled back, frightened of the small sensation that ran through him. "How…" He wanted to ask how he had managed to heal his hand, but only one word managed to escape his lips. All the same, Axel understood what he meant.
"The Wisdom Tree's of our world are the most precious things on the planet. They only open to royal blood, but once inside the pools they shelter are home to healing properties that can be used on any man. But they come at a price." Roxas flicked his ears upwards and listened, watching as the small pool of water seemed to move of its own accord within its basin within the tree's floor. "Once you dip your hand into the pool and fully submerge yourself, the properties will work, but you have to give them something too."
Roxas frowned and turned to glance at Axel. "What is it they want?"
"They ask that they are able to look into your future and tell you what they can see. Sometimes it's clear and sometimes it isn't, but they've never been wrong yet."
"If they're so precious how come I've never heard of them before?" Roxas asked, wrinkling his nose to prevent another sneeze.
"Because sometimes the only way you can protect something is to forget it ever existed. Me and Reno stumbled across this place when we were young, and we swore to never tell another living soul, not even father or our brother."
Roxas frowned, feeling more confused than he ever was before. "But, if you swore never to tell, why am I here?"
Axel shrugged. "I figured, since you won't let anybody else look at that damn eye of yours, you might need to use it. And besides, if I'm going up against my brothers for the throne, customs dictate that I take someone in to fight with me. I can't have you maimed in the arena if I'm going to be fighting beside you."
Roxas felt a shiver go down his spine and snap him back in to reality then. He was the spy, only meant to gather intelligence, in no way was he built of prepared to be fighting two Tora princes and their lieutenants in an arena to the death. "Sir, I ca-"
"I'm not taking no for an answer Night Crawler. The way you moved in the sky the day the Tori attacked I knew I had to have you at my side for the fight. I would entrust the job to nobody else. Now please, will you let me help you? I promise, that eye will be as good as new and you won't feel a thing."
Roxas gave a sceptical glance Axel's way. "But this thing will see into my future…"
Axel gave of a laugh. "The way I see it, you're not exactly losing anything. But I want you to tell me what you see, understood?"
Roxas nodded and watched as Axel pulled out a small piece of cloth and dipped it into the water, waiting for a minute to let it soak before he pulled it out, watching with slight curiosity as it glowed before he pulled a wriggling and shuffling Roxas close and delicately, with a strange gentleness Roxas had not known the Tora were capable of using, placed it against Roxas' eye.
The latter immediately yelped at the cold touch before a tingling sensation overthrew his nerves and he found himself closing his eyes and groaning as the cold transformed into a warming heat feeling before the black nothing behind his eyelids transformed and a small trembling voice spoke within his mind.
"Roxas Strife, spy of Neko's and deceiver of wit, you appear troubled beyond your age, and the baggage on your shoulders refuses to shift."
Roxas jumped and attempted to hold back before Axel pulled him back to him and shushed him lightly. "Easy Kitten, just trust me on this one. Nothing's going to hurt you while I'm here, I promise."
Roxas opened his good eye and stared at Axel questioningly. "You couldn't hear that?"
Axel shook his head. "I'm not allowed to hear it. It's you future. Now close your eyes and listen before it's too late."
Roxas gave a small grimace before he closed his eyes and returned to the darkness, attempting to calm his panting breaths and heaving chest as the voice took over once more.
"Do I frighten you, child?" The voice giggled. "Do not feel confused. I first used to frighten the young Tora's when they appeared. I have something to show you, young one."
Roxas looked on as his eyelids turned into a moving charade of pictures, and he watched them dance as the voice spoke on. It was as if he was looking into a dream, and that dream had placed him inside itself so that he could watch in three dimension.
At first he saw himself, but his attire was different. Instead of the usual leather jacket and straps with the crimson stripes, he instead found himself tied in silk and jewels, still the same crimson, but as he looked in the mirror he found himself unsmiling as a tear fell down his face. Looking about, Roxas found himself in a beautiful room made of marble and rich mahogany that gleamed with polish as the carvings told interesting stories with vivid detail, but every time he attempted to concentrate the images would blur and go out of focus.
"You will find yourself in a dangerous position, Roxas Strife. A position you will find inescapable. Forced to choose between your head and heart, you will surprise even yourself in your decision, but until then the misery will eat you up."
Roxas had no time to reply before a shadow entered the room and he watched as the vision of himself turned and swept away the tear forcefully. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
The shadow pointed towards his throat and Roxas watched as the mirror image of himself tore the necklace free, transforming himself back into his Neko form before the walls fell about him and he was left standing in an arena full of screaming Tora's.
"But of course, when your heart does decide, tough times will arise. You will find yourself locked in the centre of a war you cannot decide between. Friends will turn on you, as you have turned on them, and the reason you left will come to bring you home. But of course, the real danger for you lurks in green eyes. Beware of the thing you love the most, for not every desire is innocent."
"Good bye, young Neko, I hope to see you again some day young one, but I fear the timing is not right for you, and fate has already begun to spin its thread."
Opening his eyes, Roxas pulled back with a yelp and fell out of Axel's grip, startling the red head slightly as he held the white cloth that was stained a deep red and frowned. "What's wrong? What happened?" Axel asked, placing the cloth on the floor and pulling Roxas back towards him.
But Roxas found himself unable to speak as he stared into emerald eyes, the words of the spirit still fresh in his mind. Finally, after a bit more probing from Axel, he managed to spin a web of lies and truth from his mouth as the redhead listened and bit his lip in thought. "They – it – said war was inevitable. I don't know what's going to happen, but something big is coming. Something bad."
Axel hummed before he let out a small laugh and clapped Roxas on the back. "Ah well Night Crawler, until then let's just try and survive, okay?" Roxas nodded and smiled, still cautious of the green eyes that struck a chord inside him. "Anyway, your eye has cleaned up pretty well; it looks practically good as new."
Roxas frowned before he blinked and reached a hand up to gently touch the tender flesh about his eye, pulling it away when there was no sign of a scar or wounded tissue. Roxas gave a sigh of relief and pulled his hand away, looking away and flicking his ears backwards as he folded his arms about his chest and curled in on himself. "Thanks."
"You're welcome Kitten. Just make sure you fight well for me in the arena, otherwise it could mean both our heads." Axel laughed, looking down on the blonde before he rolled his eyes and stood. "You still cold?"
"Not exactly warm." Roxas mumbled, watching as Axel wandered over to a small cabinet Roxas had failed to notice when he first entered the tree's secret room. Curious, Roxas stood and followed as the redhead bent low and pulled out a series of fabric before he turned to Roxas and dumped them in his arms.
"Here. Put these on."
Looking down on the clothes, Roxas spied the crimson silk hidden beneath the bold gold linked metal and immediately felt his hair stand on end. "What-"
"It's some old armour I used to wear when I was younger. I was about your build back then so it should fit. Try it on and let me know, I'll be waiting for you downstairs when you're finished."
"Downstairs, sir?" Roxas looked up from the fabric in his hands to stare at Axel curiously. "Where…?"
Axel stepped away from him and made his way back down the steps. "Downstairs. I'm pretty sure there's only one downstairs in this place." Axel laughed. "When your done come down, I'll be waiting for you."
Roxas frowned as Axel left before he pulled of the clothe stuck to his torso, grateful to have his full vision back once more as he pulled on the crimson silk that was slashed with orange and black, sighing when it reached down towards his upper thigh before he pulled of his pants and replaced it with the black cotton pants that seemed strong, but still airy and light. Tucking the shirt into the pants, Roxas placed the necklace on the inside of the shirt and turned back to the jacket that was lying on the ground, the gold metal links tied to it of putting to Roxas' eyes as the extravagance seemed to repel him.
Carefully, he folded it back up and placed it back into the cabinet, ignoring the squeak of the door hinges as he pushed it to the back before a piece of black fabric caught his eye. Pulling it out, he stared at it confusedly before he unfolded it and twitched his ears slightly.
"Kitten, what the hell are you doing up there?" Roxas listened to the sound of footsteps pattering heavily against the wood of the steps before he looked behind him to see Axel with his hands across his eyes, as if he were afraid of peeking. "Are you decent?"
Roxas let out a laugh and grinned. "Yeah, I'm decent."
As soon as the words left his lips Axel lowered his hands and flicked his striped ears, walking forwards and frowning. "What you got there?" As he approached Axel let out a whistle and pulled the fabric from Roxas' hands. "I forgot about this."
"What is it, sir?"
Axel looked down from the fabric to the blonde that was still leaning next to the cabinet. "It's a cloak my dad gave to me when I was younger. I guess I must have put in here all those years ago and forgotten about it." He inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. "I remember it now. It's made of some of the strongest material in the world, waterproof, light and warm." He turned to look down on Roxas who was currently pulling on his leather boots and flinching as they squelched. Turning back to the cupboard, Axel spied the chainmail tied about the jacket and frowned. "Don't you like the armour?"
Roxas looked up from tying his laces and frowned. "It's not that I don't like it, sir, and I'm more than grateful, but my strength comes from my speed. I would be useless to you with such weight."
Axel nodded and hummed before he tossed the black cloak towards the blonde and gave a smile that revealed his fangs once more. Roxas yelped and pulled the black material from his head, staring at it as it slid between his fingers before he looked up at Axel. "Sir?"
"I want you to have it." Axel said, leaning back against the wall of the inside of the tree as he continued speaking. "Something tells me you could put it to better use than I ever could. Besides…" Axel stepped forwards and helped Roxas up, clapping him on the shoulder and leaning in to whisper in his ear. "I think black suits you more than red."
Roxas flushed, about to turn and retaliate before he heard the sound of descending footsteps and huffed instead. Looking at the cape in his hand, he undid the silver clasp and threw it about his shoulders before fixing it in place across his right shoulder. Immediately he noticed the warmth wash over him as his ears fell back against his head as he relaxed, the light material blanketing him in a familiar scent he had come to like. He inhaled the small scent that clung to the fabric before he frowned when he realised where the scent had come from. It was Axel's. The General's. The man he was supposed to get close to so he could take him to his downfall…but then why did he find himself not wanting to hurt him.
Turning, Roxas growled and swept the cloak behind him as he made his way downstairs, his heart troubled as he made his way over to the redhead that gave him the thumbs up before the trunk knotted and opened before them to reveal the glowing trees once more. As they stepped out of the hollow trunk the wood closed behind them once more and Roxas' attention was drawn to the yawning redhead that stretched in front of him before he looked up to the sky, place two fingers in his mouth, and let out a shrill whistle.
They weren't waiting long before the wind about them turned from cold to harsh and the trees separated as a trembling roar rang out, separating the grass into two parts as Axel's red wyvern made its way through the sky, landing before them with a powerful beat of its wings before it snarled and too a fierce nip of the air, its serpent like tongue licking the cold breeze before it lowered its body to the ground, its pale yellow eyes locked on Axel as he tapped its horned nose and ran his hands over its thick scaled hide.
"Will you ride with me, Night Crawler?" Axel asked, stepping up to his beast and climbing high on its back where there was nothing to hold onto except the slippery scales of the creatures neck.
Roxas smiled a true smile and shook his head, linking his mind with Roric and commanding the creature to come to him as he addressed Axel. "Not tonight, Sir. I have my own ride back."
Axel grunted as Roric landed just behind Roxas, trotting forwards and giving Roxas a nibble on the elbow before he wandered a few feet away to flush out a small animal he could eat before his attention was captured by the glowing bugs above him.
Axel turned from the beast to stare at Roxas as his beast shuddered and shuffled on all fours, stretching its wings and folding them to alert Axel to his eagerness. "Very well. But I want you to ride upfront with me tomorrow." When Roxas was about to object he raised his hands and shook his head. "No excuses Kitten. We're a day's ride from the palace. I can't turn up with my lieutenant at the back of the pack with all the common soldiers." Axel gave a small laugh and Roxas raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Nothing, you just look like a lieutenant now. Before you looked like a badly placed soldier." Roxas rolled his eyes at Axel's comment before Axel rubbed the back of his head and Roxas spied the nervousness creeping up on the General. "There's another thing I need to speak to you about. Your name. I need it. I can't enter the arena and introduce you as Night Crawler or Kitten. I must have your name before we compete. Now tell it to me."
Roxas frowned as Axel demanded the last secret of his identity from him, a certain aspect of resentment rising in him. "Sir, my name is something I cannot give you. Please, understand…"
"So am I supposed to enter you as Kitten? I would be the laughing stock of the court-"
"When it comes to giving my name sir, I'm afraid I just cannot part with it." Roxas looked away and sighed, turning to give Roric a glance as the beast jumped onto his hind legs and nibbled at the bottom of the glowing caterpillars that rested at the top of their trees.
Axel, not taking no for an answer, slid from the back of his beast and ignored it as it raised its head and roared. Stepping closer with defiant steps, he stopped mere inches from Roxas, the latter backing up into a tree unconsciously before his back hit the trunk and he pressed his palms back flat against it.
"Oh Kitten, you make it sound as if your name is something dark." Axel grinned, his voice low as the purr escaped his throat in a rumble that reverberated through his chest.
Roxas gulped, his heart beating so hard he feared it might burst as the blood pounded in his ears and drowned out everything but the emerald green eyes that were looking through him, as if seeing into his very soul. He tried to look away and break the trance, but as soon as he moved, he found his chin being lifted by a thin finger as his body was pressed further into the tree by the heat of Axel's torso pushing down on his own lightly, not enough to hurt him, but just enough to pin him there, ensuring he had no escape as he forced him to look up deep into his eyes.
Axel leaned in, ignoring the misty confusion in the blonde's eyes as he left his lips ghosting across Roxas' own, loving the ragged breaths he was drawing from the younger teen as he pressed closer and raised his hand to stroke the boys cheek, cupping it in his palm before he diverted his lips upwards towards the startled male's ears and let a purr overtake his voice as he spoke.
"Tell me Kitten…all I want is your name…just your name."
Pulling his lips away Axel returned to stare at the flush that had grown across the boys cheeks and watched the inner turmoil he was wrestling with in his eyes as his lips moved but no words came out. Determined to get his answer, Axel ran his hand threw Roxas' hair until he reached the back of his head. Lowering his lips once more, he smiled faintly and returned his own lips to the boys virgin lips, pushing down slowly and ever so tenderly and waiting for a response as he wrapped the boys hair about his knuckles gently and brought his other hand up to stroke the blondes jaw line slowly.
Confused and unsure of what was happening, Roxas felt a burning heat swallow the fear in his chest as his blood fled from his ear and instead went southwards towards his gut, igniting within him a small hunger as Axel waited calmly, his rough lips placed against the smooth pure lips of Roxas' own. When the hand stroked his jaw he melted before a small nip on his lower lip forced a whimper from his throat that he would have given anything to hold back. Closing his eyes, he allowed Axel enter and cursed his heart for being so weak as the redhead seized his chance and invaded his mouth slowly, taking his time as he drew more whimpers and small pleasurable cries from the boys throat, his own chest purring dominantly as he pressed a little harder against the tree and lowered his hand from the blondes jaw to stroke along his neck with one of his nails, drawing a shiver from the smaller male and loving the exasperated sigh that came from him before the blonde finally gave in and sent his own tongue out to meet Axel's half way.
The fight was clumsily led on Roxas' part, but Axel held no grudges and instead manoeuvred him where he wanted, lowering his hand further until he had hold of the blondes left wrist and pinned it against the tree whilst Roxas faltered in his own steps, another moan coming from his throat as he flattened his ears against his head and let his instinct take over, placing his hand hesitantly on Axel's waist before he gripped a little harder when Axel finally pulled back, leaving him panting with misty eyes as Axel stared on with confidence.
Plunging back for his lips, Axel made the kiss short and sweet, biting the bottom lip slowly before he began to make his way down the blonde's jaw line, planting perfect kisses in his wake before he headed down the boys neck, finding a spot at the route of the collar bone where he was pressed to suck, bite and nip, becoming excited by the mewls that escaped Roxas' throat as the blonde wrapped his free hand in Axel's red hair, inadvertently drawing him closer as his instincts took over and he forgot his place completely, giving himself up to the moment.
As Axel's sucking grew more intense Roxas found himself at the mercy of the General with only one way to escape. He didn't want the moment to end, but another moment and he may have given away more than just his name. "R-Roxas…" He mumbled, his name becoming muffled as he buried his face in Axel's neck and let another moan pass from his lips.
Axel abandoned his post tending to the boys throat and instead raised his lips to press them faintly back against the bruised ones that were no longer left untouched. "What was that Kitten? I couldn't quite hear you."
Before Roxas had time to answer another groan was pulled from his lips as Axel slid a hand up his torso to stroke the pale flesh of his stomach, scratching his nails along slowly and gently before he rubbed them smooth and grinned against another kiss. Between the kiss of their locked lips Roxas was forced to break away, panting for breath as he stared into Axel's eyes and mumbled the word again. "Rox-Roxas." He swallowed hard and leant into the thumb that stroked his cheek gently. "My name is Roxas."
"Roxas." Roxas trembled as the word dripped from Axel's lips in a deep purr and the redhead said it once more, lolling the word on his tongue as if he was savouring it before he reached in for another kiss and left Roxas' lips wanting. "That's a beautiful name."
Axel dived in one more time and captured Roxas' lips in a long smooth kiss, one devoid of lust but filled with something more, something that had Roxas hanging on when Axel finally pulled away and stroked his cheek for the last time, his thumb gently sweeping against his skin before he gave him one last kiss beside his lips and pulled away. "I'll be sure to commit it to memory. But for now, you look tired, and I'm sure the troops are wondering where we've gone."
Roxas looked up with wondering eyes as his heart panged for more but his head screamed at him about just how stupid he was. Before he could speak Axel spoke again, turning to face his wyvern before he mounted its back and gave Roxas a wink. "I want you to ride with me tomorrow, Roxas. And I'm not taking no for an answer."
Before Roxas could answer Axel kicked his wyverns sides gently and it rose into the air, the gust of wind forcing the blonde to cover his eyes from the blast as it soared over the forest and up over the cliff, disappearing into the pack of lamps that drifted from the campsites above. As soon as the wyvern disappeared, Roxas slid down the side of the tree and collapsed in a heap on the ground, his breath catching in his throat as he thought back on the events that had just taken place and touched his lips softly, his heart panging in his chest. He was pulled out of his trance as Roric walked up to him and nuzzled his shoulder lightly, sinking to his knees and curling up beside the blonde as Roxas stroked his mane and sighed, staring up at the sky before he closed his eyes and leaned his head back roughly against the uneven bark.
"What the hell have I done…?"
There ya go. I got a chapter up for you all ^_^ I haven't finished modifying yet, but I'm getting there. Hope this ties you over until then
Anyway, this is one of my first times doing a, well, kissing scene. Let me know what you think because I am extremely nervous about it. It just doesn't seem to sit right. But I hope you all enjoyed it. Thankyou to all my awesome reviewers :)
your Axel: I'm glad you like this story :) I managed to get this up because it is passed the deadline and I did promise I'd put something up :) I hope you like it.
Sammy: I know, I have such bad grammar ^_^' it's one of my many flaws lol but I'm really glad you are liking the story and I won't change a lot, I promise