Disclaimer: You've heard it before.

If there's one thing I HATE, it's deja-vu

Jaxon shook his head to clear it as he looked around at his surroundings, there was no doubts about where he was, back in the very woods Xemnas had found him in, was this what happened when a nobody died? Go back to where they first turned up and wait to be found again? Then again Zexion had said that once a nobody was 'gone' that was it, done, end of story, thank for for playing. He sighed as he tried to remember what had happened, running, bullet to the back, a lot of black then waking up here, yup, nothing doing there. He wondered where the others were and what they were doing if he was gone, where they trying to find him? Was he actually dead this time and this was the nobody afterlife? Was he lying in a coma somewhere and this was some strange dream?

He blinked as he felt himself moving deeper into the woods, he tried to stop himself but his body didn't respond to anything he did, as he walked he noticed that the woods seemed different to the last time he was here, bigger almost...

"Hey!" Jaxon felt his body turn and found himself facing a little girl, she looked no older than five yet was only just shorter than him. And fixing him with a very stern look. "I said wait up!"

"You were taking too long!" Jaxon heard himself answer, was that him? His voice sounded a lot higher, younger even, what was going on here? "I wanna see the scary house before Mom comes looking for me again."

"But you promised you'd wait for me and the others!" The girl pouted. "You promised J..."

Jaxon blinked as his vision went fuzzy for a moment removing the girl and her voice from focus, before he could dwell on it he was speaking again.

" M' Sorry 'Lette, but we have to go now!" He turned and began walking away, he heard her hurrying to keep up with him.

"What about the others?"

"Can't wait, Mom says if I'm not home for supper she'll ground me again."

"You wouldn't get grounded if you weren't so stupid."

"I'm not stupid!" Jaxon spun round.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Prove it!"

The girl just laughed and pushed past him. "I don't have to J..." Jaxon lost his focus again and felt himself blink to shake it off. "... I'm always right!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Ya huh!"

Jaxon sighed in disgust and walked off again. "Are you coming or not 'Lette?"

"Yeah! Wait up!"

They walked deeper into the woods, Jaxon still trying to figure out what was going on, the trees around them grew denser blocking out the sunlight, the girl stepped closer to him.

"I don't like it here" she whispered. "It's too dark..."

"So?"

"There might be monsters out here."

Jaxon laughed. "You're just being supersti... superstic... you're just being silly 'Lette."

"Seifer says he's seen them" Seifer? Jaxon blinked. Wasn't that the name of that angsty kid in Twilight town?

"Seifer's just trying to scare you" he replied not sounding all that sure. "There's no such thing as mon..." at that moment a large rustle came from the bushes next to them causing both to scream, the girl burying her face in Jaxon's back.

"It's going to eat us! It's going to eat us! It's..."

"A dog!" Jaxon exclaimed as the animal stepped out of the bushes, the thing was tiny, little more than a month or so old and unable to put weight on it's front paw, whimpering it dropped at his feet and looked up at him hopefully. "I think it's hurt."

"Where did it come from?" The girl asked.

"Don' know, where's your Mom?" He asked the dog, it cocked it's head on one side in confusion. "I don't think it has one... better take it home."

"But... what if someone comes looking for it?"

"Doesn't have a collar, and if it is someone else's why does it look so sick?" Jaxon bent down and picked the dog up, it weighed next to nothing in his hands. "C'mon you, let's go home."

"Your Mom won't like this..."

"Pleeeeeeeeaassse?" Jaxon frowned as the scene around him changed before his eyes, he was now standing halfway up a flight of stairs looking down as a woman walked by shaking her head.

"J..." the scene went fuzzy for a split second again. "... listen. It's a stray, who knows what's wrong with it? We can't just take it in."

"But it's only little! Can't we get the vet to fix him?"

"We could, but what happens when you get bored..."

"I won't! Mom you know I've wanted a dog since forever! Please?"

"Fine, fine, we'll take him to the vet tomorrow, but you better look after him."

"I will Mom, I promise!" Jaxon felt himself running back up the stairs to a room that must have been his own, the state of it certainly seemed like what his room back at the castle would be like back if he had enough stuff to leave lying around, he laughed inwardly as he saw a small skateboard lying under the bed on which the small dog was lying trying to wrap it's jaw around a ball, he sat down next to it and gently petted it, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror and frowned again at the tiny face staring back at him, he looked around the same age as the girl he'd been speaking to but at the same time he wasn't actually sure if it was him. It certainly seemed like it was, his hair was a more sandy clolor and his eyes weren't as bright as he'd seen his mirror but he could certainly see the similarities.

"Guess what?" He jumped at the sound of his own voice, the little dog looked up. "She said I can keep you, in't that great?" The dog wagged it's tail then went back to chewing on the ball, Jaxon picked it up and hugged it. "Now you need a name, how's Drake sound?" The dog pulled free and went back to the ball. "OK then..."

Oh, come on!

Jaxon glanced around at his new surroundings, he was sitting on a bench in the middle of a square...

Hang on, this is Twilight town!

His attention was drawn to the middle of the square where Drake was chasing his tail around in circles, he laughed to himself then realised he wasn't alone and looked up at the blonde haired kid next to him.

"I can't believe your Mom let you keep him" he muttered.

"Me neither" Jaxon shrugged. "Thought she'd make me get rid of him."

"I wish my Mom was that cool" the blonde kid sighed.

"Well she's not!" Jaxon laughed standing up. "Drake!" The dog looked up and scrambled over. "Let's go home boy..."

"Yeeeeee-Haaaaaa!" Jaxon opened his eyes to find himself shooting down the hill from the station on the skateboard swerving in and out of the residents of the town, he glanced back over his shoulder to see Drake, now almost fully grown, running along behind him. He gave an exhilirated laugh and turned back to skating through the town, he rounded the corner and found himself approaching the rail Demyx had gotten him to grind down, without thinking twice he hopped up onto it and slid down it before skidding to a halt, Drake ran up to him and sat next to him as he laughed hysterically.

"Wow! I've never done that before!" He exclaimed picking up the skateboard and walking towards the nearest store. "Let's get some food Drake..."

The scene changed before his eyes again and Jaxon found himself looking in a mirror, the boy staring back at him looked familiar, almost exactly like he did now, the lighter hair stood out more now the little boy was older, a rough guess would put him around fifteen years old. Was this what that kid grew up to be?

"So?" The deeper voice coming from his mouth made Jaxon jump, it sounded like his own but slightly lighter and with a lot more emotion, he turned to where Drake was sitting and ran a hand through his messed up hair. "Whadya think?" The dog cocked it's head for a moment then wagged his tail as though in approval. "Yeah I think it'll work too..."

"Quiet!" Jaxon heard himself hiss to the whimpering dog next to him, things seemed different in the town, he could see people running for their lives and scattering in all directions, he and Drake were crouched in the entrance to the town's system of underground tunnels trying to figure out what was going on.

"What were those things?" He whispered as Drake began whimpering again. "Easy boy, we just gotta get outta here..." he jumped back as what appeared to be an armored shadow charged towards him.

Heartless! Jaxon tried to summon the gunblade but remembered that for whatever reason he was a passenger in this situation, the was a growl then Drake launched himself at the Heartless.

"No!" Jaxon shrieked as the Heartless slashed at the dog and knocked it to the ground, Jaxon felt himself charge past it and scoop the dog up before carrying on running, past more of the things, past the townspeople, not stopping until he reached a small alcove in an alleyway, someone had put a sofa and darts board in there but for now the place was empty, he collapsed on the sofa and laid Drake next to him.

"Drake?" He whispered as the dog stirred and whimpered slightly. "Hang in there boy, just hang on..." he reached out to pet the dog, Drake looked up at him, wagged his tail once, then closed his eyes. "Drake? Boy? Drake..."

Jaxon forced himself to zone out, not wanting to watch anymore, when he felt himself coming back he found himself in the woods outside the town, standing over what looked like freshley disturbed earth.

"Goodbye boy..." he whispered whiping his eyes, he sensed someone standing behind him and turned to see the guy he and Demyx had run into on their mission.

"You OK?" He asked, with none of the harshness he had sensed when they met before.

"Do I look it?"

"I'm sorry" Seifer muttered. "I really am..."

"Did you kill him?" Jaxon asked. "Then why are you sorry?"

"I just am, take it for..." he trailed off as a scream rang out in the distance. "The town!" He took off running through the woods before stopping. "C'mon! We gotta help!"

He disapeared over a hill leaving Jaxon alone, he looked down at the mound of dirt then sighed and followed after him towards the town...

OK, now what?

Jaxon found himself standing in the foyer of the castle, was he back? He took a step forward and gave a relieved sigh when he realised he was in control of his movements again, his attention was drawn to where Saix was walking around, seemingly oblivious to his presence, he walked over but still the other nobody ignored him.

"Ummmnn... Saix?" No reply. "Saix? Scarface?" He waved a hand in front of Saix's eyes but got no response. "Yo, big scary dude?" Giving up he turned and strode away from Saix, OK, he was back but nobody could see him? Not good.

"How is he?" Jaxon turned to where Zexion had stopped Vexen, the taller nobody frowned.

"The same as when you last asked me that question, the boy is unconsious, and looks to be staying that way, I've done all I can."

Zexion sighed. "The Superior is rather annoyed with the situation Vexen, he doesn't think it a good thing to be a member short this close to occupying Castle Oblivion..."

"Yes, yes, I'll try harder!" Vexen snapped walking away with Zexion in tow. "By the way, you know that you and I have been chosen to make up part of the Organization force there..."

Jaxon watched the nobodies disapear then carried on, he passed the door to his room and froze, he saw himself, or a very good copy, lying motionless on the bed, he dashed in and looked down at the figure, yup, definitely him, he saw the chest rising and falling and smirked at the realisation that he was alive, although how he got out of the limbo he was in was another matter. He heard a sigh and turned to see Demyx sitting on the window ledge watching over him, he went to greet his partner but remembered he couldn't be seen, as he watched Demyx picked up his sitar and absent mindedly began strumming away.

Unable to stay in the room anymore Jaxon stormed out and away from the music barging right through a laughing Axel and Roxas who quickly fell silent as they past his room, he walked into the lounge and threw himself down on one of the chairs to think.

Right, I'm not dead, but I'm not alive either, so now what? Walk around like a ghost forever? THAT sounds fun!

His thoughts were disrupted by hushed voices from the other side of the room, he glanced over the side of the chair and saw Marluxia and Larxene having an animated discussion in the corner of the room, he smirked to himself and wandered over.

"... don't see what the problem is" Larxene was saying. "The useless scientist, the big quiet muscle and the emo, why are you so worked up about this?"

"Don't you see?" Marluxia replied, his calm voice not matching the frown on his face. "Xemnas is sending three of his original comrades with us, three of the Organization members he trusts the most. I think he suspects something..."

"Or maybe he wants rid of them, I know I'd want rid of Vexen if I were in charge..."

"Still, it doesn't change the fact that there's three of them and two of us, we need to find someone to join our side, someone who won't have a qualm with turning..."

"Come on!" Larxene sighed. "Apart from you and I no-one in this Castle has the guts to stand up to Xemnas..."

"Don't interrupt" Marluxia smirked. "And you're wrong, there is one who I think can be..."

Marluxia's voice was drowned out by the sound of sitar music, Jaxon blinked and turned to see where it was coming from, Demyx was nowhere in sight but the music got louder, Marluxia didn't seem to notice and kept talking as the scene began to disapear before Jaxon's eyes...

What the... I'm back!

Jaxon weakly opened his eyes, sure enough he was lying in bed, he was suddenly really tired, his limbs felt like lead, he sat up slightly and saw Demyx sitting with his back to him still strumming away at the sitar strings, Jaxon groaned and closed his eyes again.

"Keep it down Dem..." his voice suddenly sounded a lot rougher. "You're making enough noise to wake the half-dead."

"Oh... sorry Jax" Jaxon sighed and counted down from three in his head. "Wait, Jax!" The younger nobody winced as he felt all the air being squeezed out of him. "You're OK!"

Not for much longer if you don't let me go! Jaxon slapped Demyx on the back to get his attention. "... air!" He gasped before slumping back onto his pillow.

"Whoops, sorry Jax" Demyx laughed. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"I make no promises" Jaxon smirked.

"So, how you feeling?"

"Like I've been shot."

"Oh, yeah...."

"How long was I out?" Jaxon asked, wincing again as he sat up, his body was extremely stiff.

"A couple of days, long enough to annoy Xemnas anyway."

Jaxon laughed. "Least something good came out of it."

"Besides you living?" Demyx countered.

"Fair point, anyone have a theory about that? I always thought it was a case of bullet to the back and that's game over."

"Well, Vexen was the one looking after you and even he says you shouldn't have made it..."

"Nice to see everyone's so confident in me."

"He didn't mean it like that, he said what happened should've been enough to finish any of us. The bullet went right through where you're heart would've been..."

Jaxon gave an empty laugh. "Saved by the very thing keeping me from showing emotions, now that's ironic."

Demyx frowned as though considering this for the first time. "Yeah, still, you made it right Jax?"

"Yeah..." Jaxon fell silent again. "Demyx, what would've happened to me if... y'know... I didn't..."

Demyx sighed and turned away. "What's it matter? You're OK aren't you?"

"Still, be nice to know" Jaxon persisted, Demyx sighed again and turned to meet his eyes.

"You'd be gone."

"Gone where?"

"Nowhere, you'd be gone, no existance, nothing."

"You mean..." Jaxon trailed off not sure how to finish the question.

"In basic terms, we fade into darkness, no afterlife, no walking around as a ghost, we're done... sucks doesn't it?" He added when Jaxon didn't respond.

"A lot" Jaxon answered, he remembered Zexion's words back in the Proof of Existance."Suppose I should consider myself lucky" he muttered.

Silence fell between the two nobodies for a while, broken only by Demyx occasionally playing a random note on the sitar.

"Jax... when you were out, what happened?"

"What... what do you mean?" Jaxon asked uneasily, the last thing he wanted was to relive that nightmare, for lack of a better word, again.

"It's just, you couldn't stay still, like something was after you, what..."

"Nothing" Jaxon answered leaving no room for argument. "Just leave it Demyx."

"You sure? I mean, if you wanna talk about it..."

"I don't!" Jaxon snapped jumping to his feet a little to quickly for his body's liking and pushing past Demyx on his way out of the room, Demyx stayed on the spot staring blankly where Jaxon had been, he stepped out of the room himself but Jaxon was long gone, he sighed, whatever that kid had seen, it had really gotten to him...

It was almost an hour before Demyx was able to track Jaxon down, he found him sitting on the castle's roof absently summoning the gunblade and letting it disapear, he sat down next to the younger nobody without a word, Jaxon glanced up at him then went back to staring off into the distance.

"It wasn't a dream was it?" Demyx turned to face him. "What I saw, that... that was who I used to be right?"

Demyx reached over and patted him on the shoulder. "Shoulda warned ya, we get stuff like that sometimes, it's how the guys with no memory figure out stuff about themselves."

"You still get them?"

"Yeah... not all of it good either, wanna talk about it?"

Jaxon took a deep breath. "I had a dog, I'd always wanted a dog..." he then proceeded to tell Demyx everything he'd seen, Twilight town, growing up with the dog, the Heartless attack and the conversation with Seifer right before the end. When he finished both nobodies fell silent again. "I can't go back can I?"

"What do you mean?"

"When I get my heart back, I can't go back to being who I was can I?"

Demyx nodded slightly. "Sorry Jax, none of us can, we can get our hearts back but I'm stuck as I am now, not that it's all bad, it's all I know now."

"True" Jaxon admitted. "Guess it wouldn't be right just to pick up with our lives where we left off, least this way you keep your favourite lackey around."

Demyx laughed. "That's a good way to look at it."

"Just feels weird, I had a whole life before I came here, and I can't remember any of it apart from the stuff I saw... and I can't even cry over the things I've lost."

"Well, if it's any consolation, when we get our hearts back we'll both cry over it."

"Sounds like a plan" Jaxon stood up and stretched off. "Thanks Dem."

"Don't mention it Jax" Demyx smiled. "Watch yourself on the way back down, if Xemnas finds out you're up and about he'll send you back on missions."

"I'll keep that in mind" Jaxon smirked disapearing from sight, Demyx sighed and summoned his sitar again.

"Let's see Saix stop me up here..."

The usual please, show some love people