CatrionaHearts: I haven't died. I haven't moved to Orkney. I haven't lost my mind. I've just had too much school work, writers block and a lot personal stuff going on.

But that's no excuse for making you wait for this chapter. I am so unbelievably sorry, guys. I love you all 'cause seeing your reviews really helped me out when I've been a bit down.

Let's get back on track, shall we?

Upstairs

Chapter 10

The old mansion at Twilight Town was usually deserted. However, on this particular evening (we shall say it was evening because it is always evening in Twilight Town) there was a black-cloaked ice-wielder standing before a young boy carrying an oversized key, a dog and a duck. The four of them had just engaged in battle and despite the boy's size and age, he had managed to survive, along with his sidekicks.

"What do you want?" Sora demanded, attempting to stand tall in the face of his enemy.

"I want what every Nobody wants, Sora," Vexen sneered.

"And what might that be, Vexy?" A tall man with flaming red hair said, stepping out of a dark portal.

"Axel…" Vexen glowered at the lower-ranking Nobody.

"Yo, Sora! We met before, back at the castle, remember?" Axel laughed. "You probably can't remember anything by now. The name's Axel. A-X-E-L. Got it memorized?" He turned to face Vexen. "Well, sir, it seems we never truly got to finish our conversation…"

Vexen folded his arms. "Ah yes. Zexion and Naminè… what a scandal, hmm? But why are you so determined to keep it hushed up?"

"You know why, Vexen. If Xemnas found out-"

"Oh ho!" Vexen threw up his arms in delight. "I was thinking of just telling Marluxia but now I think I might just go back to Never Was and tell Xemnas. He will certainly be interested to know about Zexion's relationship with the prisoner. Trustworthy Zexion…who would have thought it!"

Donald Duck was growing impatient at this conversation. "Stop messing us around!" he squawked. "Where's Naminè?"

"Yeah!" Sora said, angrily. "What's this Zexion done to her?"

Vexen's lips curled into a sneer. "Well Zexion has been-"

Axel cut him off by throwing a chakram at his superior. "Silence, Vexen!"

"What kind of crazy Organization is this?!" Sora exclaimed.

"One of a kind. Got it memorized?" Axel said, striding past the Keyblader and towards Vexen.

"Axel… what do you think you're playing at? Zexion is breaking all the rules and you are prepared to stand back and let it happen?!"

Axel smiled. "Everyone is breaking every rule, Vexen. What Zexion's been doing is nothing concerning our plan, not really-"

"She's gone crazy Axel! She won't do as she's told!"

Axel stepped closer to Vexen, ignoring him. "However, your Riku Replica hasn't been so good. You have been taking orders from Marluxia, without considering the good of the whole Organization. You have thwarted proceedings and annoyed Oblivion's master-"

Vexen's eyes were widening in horror. "Axel…no! I-I…I didn't mean to say that about Zexion and Naminè I-"

"Shut up!" Axel snarled. "You have no heart, no emotions and so you cannot feel remorse."

Sora and his companions watched the example of anarchy within the Organization with complete amazement.

"A-Axel…you cannot…you cannot seriously-" Vexen stammered.

"Bye bye!" Axel clicked his fingers once. Vexen went up in flames of swirling colours: red, orange, yellow…then black, grey, black…black…

"You just killed him!" Sora cried, amazed and a little relieved.

"I followed orders for once, kid," Axel said, summoning a portal. "See you on the other side." He walked through the portal, leaving the stunned heroes to make their own way back to Castle Oblivion.

The first thing Axel encountered on his return to Oblivion was Vexen's Riku Replica, standing still and obviously waiting for orders.

"Come," Axel said as he passed it. The Replica followed Axel deeper into the basement.

"Curse that Riku and his strong heart!" Zexion's voice reached Axel's ears.

Axel smiled down at the Replica and beckoned it to follow him. The Nobody and the Experiment faced Zexion.

"Yo, Zexion!" Axel said, holding up a hand to halt the Replica.

"Axel," Zexion said, then fell down to the ground in a foetal position.

"Oh man, you don't look so good," Axel said, his voice dripping with fake concern. "You know… a half broken Nobody is no use to this Organization."

Zexion looked up, his eyes wide and his breathing frantic. "Surely, Axel… you don't mean…"

Axel nodded at the Replica. It advanced on the pathetic form of Zexion.

"Axel! No! Why-" Zexion's cries were cut off as the Replica grabbed him by his collar and slammed him into the wall. In a flash of black and purple, a second Nobody fell victim to The Flurry of Dancing Flames.

The Replica backed away from where Zexion had been only seconds before. Nodding at Axel and seeing its work had been completed, it ran out of the room to go upstairs and see Naminè.

Axel shook his head as he looked at the spot where Zexion had been defeated. "Zexion, Zexion, Zexion…"

"How did you know that wasn't me?" Zexion asked, stepping out from the shadows.

"Well, my friend, for one thing I wouldn't expect Riku to take you down that easily. And I would expect the first thing you would ask me about upon my arrival to be the disappearance of Vexen." Axel turned to face his fellow Nobody.

Zexion laughed. "Am I that predictable?"

Axel shook his head. "No. You're just that smart. And one more thing- if I had just sent you to your death, the last words to escape from your lips would not be pleas for me to let you live. They would in fact be you declaring your love for Naminè."

Zexion's expression froze and his eyes darkened. He said nothing for some time. An awkward silence built up between the pair.

Axel broke it. "What happened?"

And so the story tumbled out of Zexion. Naminè's make-believe world of princes and damsels in distress tore a hole in his chest even more as he recited it out loud.

Axel said nothing as Zexion told him what had happened. Could Naminè really believe that her life was as predictable and iron-cast as a fairytale? A happily ever after… didn't she realise that they didn't exist? Especially for Nobodies. Zexion was there and, despite his lack of heart, he loved her. And she loved him too. She HAD to love him too. Because the only thing worse than a broken heart would be a broken, non-existent heart.

"You love her," Axel said. This was a statement, an obvious fact.

"Yes," Zexion breathed, although he dare not believe it himself.

"She loves you."

Zexion snorted. "She does not. She loves Sora. He is more hero-shaped than I. And I don't deserve her anyway…"

Axel frowned. "I think you're missing the point here, Zex. No one is hero-shaped. Not even the keyblade brat. Naminè's been holding out for a hero- and you answered her call. She just doesn't want to admit it because she is young and idealistic. She wants to believe that she loves Sora because Sora loves Kairi. Naminè is not Kairi. Naminè does not belong with Sora." He paused. "Naminè belongs with you."

Zexion dropped his gaze and said nothing, clearly pondering all Axel had said.

After a few more minutes of silence, Axel cleared his throat. "That illusion of yours? How powerful was it?"

"How do you mean?" Zexion asked, confused.

"Would it be enough to say, be an exact double of you?"

"I suppose…"

"And now this double has ceased to exist… do you think it would appear as though you don't exist?"

Zexion's eyes widened in realisation. "You have some sort of crazy plan, don't you?"

Axel smiled. "It's on its way. But first of all, I need you to stop being."

Zexion closed his eyes and conjured an image of Proof of Existence in his mind. His stone glowed blue, as always. Using his power, he turned the stone red, signifying his 'death'. Then, just for the sake of it, he smashed in his weapon plate.

"I am gone," Zexion said, laughing slightly.

Axel summoned a portal. "Stay down here and do not come out until I send for you. Sorry to sound so controlling but… for once, everything needs to be under proper control."

Zexion nodded. "Understood. Bringing down Marluxia- how hard will it be?"

"Well… I'm afraid it is you and me doing all the work. Hopefully, Naminè and maybe even Sora may catch on. I cannot alert Xemnas and the rest because…"

"Larxene." Zexion understood.

"I will not be responsible for her death. I cannot bring about the destruction of someone I…love." Axel's face showed complete shock as he uttered that last word. He turned to leave.

"Namine. Look after her. Until I can," Zexion said, quickly and awkwardly.

"I will," Axel called as he disappeared into the portal.

Zexion sighed as Axel disappeared. So much trust in someone who he knew had just taken out a fellow member- it was madness! But so was Marluxia trying to overthrow the Organization and Axel and Larxene's romance. And then there was his, Zexion's, brush with love. He was the logical one; the quiet, scheming one.

So how in Kingdom Hearts had he managed to fall so deeply in love with someone just as supposedly emotionless and empty as himself? Maybe it was the emptiness that drew them together. At least, it could be that, if she actually felt the same way as he did.

Naminè…

'Naminè belongs with you…'

Zexion hoped that Axel's plan was foolproof. But that romantic, hopeful and Somebody part of him hoped that Axel's plan had a way to draw him and Naminè together, forever.

CatrionaHearts: It's kind of short, and I don't like it. But basically we're at the climax and the next few chapters will be exciting (I hope!). It may be a while before I post them, especially since I want to make them as action-packed and emotion-filled as possible LOL.

Happy New Year, everyone! Let's make it a good one.