A/N: I don't know how long I've been gone. Really sorry about that. I've been swamped with a lot of junk, no kidding. I'm probably going to pass out for a couple hours once I post this. Things have been hectic and I just couldn't find time to write. Finally after so long I give to you this chapter. Let it please you in all ways. Seriously though, hope you like it. 'll try not to be such a loser and take so long to update. Here you go. hope you like it.


Xion held herself for warmth as she made her way through white, everything was blank. Xion shuddered and wanted to gag. She shivered, released her arms with a sigh and realized that her nails had been digging into her skin. One of the worse things in her opinion was the still, nothingness in the Castle That Never Was. Her scenery also didn't help her keep her mind off of Roxas and . . . him. Around every corner was a memory of some happier time. Every time she stepped into the Grey room Demyx would be on the couch strumming his sitar. Whenever she walked through the halls she could imagine Roxas running up to her and smiling. She would pass through the Hall of Empty Melodies she would hear Luxord and Xigbar joking around and causing trouble. The worse memories came when she walked through the Proof of Existence and two blue panels shined brightly for her to see. Frustration became too much for her to hold in. She bit back a scream and traced her steps back through the Castle.

She couldn't find control over herself until she was in the city. She glanced up at the hateful Castle. She grabbed her head and swallowed another scream. I just needed to find somewhere to rest.Xion thought as she held one of her wounds on her side that still hadn't healed. Nothing had healed really; not her body, mind, or soul. Everything hurt and there wasn't anything she could do.

Xion held her side in pain as she limped away from the castle. She wandered through the city until she found an ally far enough away. She slumped against the wall and leaned her head back. Another frustrated sigh and she couldn't take it. "Why is this happening to me?" Xion whispered in a painfully sad voice. She jumped a little when she heard a noise come from around the corner.

Xion watched the corner waiting for someone to appear from around the bend. Her eyes widened in anxiety. She sighed heavily when she spotted the small shadow heartless appear. It watched her with its beaded yellow eyes. "What do you want?" Xion demanded. The shadow cocked its head like a confused puppy. "Well, what are you waiting for? I don't have a heart so get moving." The shadow crawled forward and Xion growled at it to try to scare it away but it continued its advance. Xion tried to scoot away from it but she was too sore. The shadow made it to her side but didn't attack her. It crawled under her arm when she placed it up to defend herself. "What do you want from me?" The creature looked up at her innocently and she couldn't believe that these little creatures were people eaters. "Melony had a pet heartless too, didn't she?" Xion asked the creature. It couldn't respond but she could tell from his eyes that he was communicating. "So why are you here?" She asked. The creature searched her body as if checking her wounds. "What do you want with me? I'm useless. I don't have a heart. I'm useless to you, to everyone." Xion pounded a fist to the concrete. Xion didn't want to admit it, but being able to talk to the little creature made her feel less alone. The creature raised a claw, paw, whatever it was, and touched her cheek. Xion smiled and let out a small laugh. This was no ordinary heartless. For one he was alone, all alone. And two, he was too sweet and cute to be a normal heart stealing heartless.

"Ok little guy." She started as she stood up and pushed the heartless away from her. "Where should I go?" Xion muttered to herself. The heartless scratched her pant leg for attention. "Hey Shorty I can't take you with me." She turned to leave but couldn't deny her need for company. He seemed to know this as well and gave her a nod of his head. "Alright alright. Well, we should at least name you. What's your name short stuff?" The heartless cocked his head again. "How about just Shorty?" She asked. The shadow almost nodded but shook his head in the end. "What then? How about…" Xion placed a hand under her chin and thought hard. "Does Shadow work? I mean, it's not very creative but…" The heartless nodded. Xion smiled. "Ok Shadow it is." The black creature crawled along side her as she made her way out of the ally. "Ok let's get going. Where to?" She asked. Shadow headed in the direction of the Castle. "Really, are you sure? Shadow…" She ran after him as he made his way back to that evil Castle.


Sora walked hand and hand with Kairi and did his best to not look back at Axel. The Nobody hadn't spoken in what seemed like hours. He was either depressed or angry and Sora wasn't sure what he was more scared of. Kairi squeezed Sora's hand and smiled when he looked at her. They made their way through Hollow Bastion and out of Ansem's study. "Where do you think we'll find them?" Kairi asked, breaking the everlasting silence. Axel didn't respond. "Um we can try The World That Never Was. If that doesn't work then we need to head back to Twilight Town. We can't stop looking for them." Sora stated. Axel continued to remain silent. "Ok, then let's get moving." Kairi declared. Axel finally made some acknowledgement by nodding. Sora frowned. "Hey Axel, are you ok?" He asked looking up at Axel's blank face. "Forget it let's go." He stated in monotone. Sora sighed. He knew Axel felt betrayed; it wasn't Axel's first betrayal either. Axel opened a portal for them and let them step through before he followed.


Xion sat in the round meeting room with Shadow. He was running around the center of the room with her coat and she sat leaned up against the base of Xemnas' 'throne'. She couldn't keep the smile off her face. Xion laughed again as Shadow tripped over the sleeve of her coat. He crawled over to her and she was able to grab her coat off his head before he crawled across the room again. Xion didn't know what to think when she felt a weird pulling sensation in the back of her mind. It was like she could feel someone's presence in the Castle. She continued to think about it intensely as she watched Shadow. Suddenly the huge double doors in the room shuddered. Shadow paused in the center of the room and stared at the door. Xion sat up and watched the doors with wide eyes. "Shadow don't go near that." She warned in a panicked voice as the little guy crept toward the door. Xion felt terrified. If it was Spade she would have to face him and tell him the truth about things. If it was Sora she would have to face Axel again. Xion shuddered and held back the tears that came with the thoughts of that certain Nobody. "Shadow." Xion whispered urgently. Shadow stood staring at the door. Suddenly it busted open and something flew towards Shadow with a loud cry.


A figure appeared right as Sora pushed past the large white doors and darted towards the heartless that he had spotted. The person shielded the heartless' body with their own and pulled the creature tightly into the person's chest. Sora stopped a couple feet away and watched the figure in surprise. A distressed face looked up at him under black hair. "Don't you dare hurt him!" The figure demanded. Kairi ran into the room and stopped behind Sora. "Xion?" She asked accusingly. Axel stared at her in surprise from his place outside the doorway. "I won't let you hurt Shadow." Xion stated. Sora glared at her. "But you're allowed to hurt our friends?" He shouted. Xion winced. She stood slowly and kept Shadow in her arms protectively. The presence of the keyblade caused Shadow to shiver in fear.

"I don't want to hurt anybody." Xion tried to explain. Sora took a threatening step towards her causing Xion to step back. "I know I betrayed you but I had no choice. I was confused and things weren't making sense. Nothing added up and before I knew it I was helping him. I'm sorry, I really am. I'm done though. Spade doesn't know but I was planning on cutting things off when I saw him in a couple days." Xion explained. Axel continued to watch her without emotion. Kairi placed her hand in Sora's to try and get him to listen to what Xion was saying. "Where are the others?" Kairi asked. Xion shook her head. "Last I heard they were somewhere in Twilight Town. I don't know where they would be now." Sora nodded and turned away from Xion.

"Wait. Please, I'm really sorry, but I have to warn you. I got so angry that I couldn't think straight. Spade does that to you. He makes you feeling things you shouldn't be able to. He confuses you and he doesn't even have to try he just talks. I hate it and I hate what I did. I'm really sorry Sora, for everything." Xion felt her throat swell and her eyes started to sting as tears appeared. Sora turned around to look her in the eye and she stood strong against his questioning gaze. Finally his inspection ended and he sighed. "I'm sorry too Xion. I forgive you but I'm afraid to trust you. I don't want to lose anymore of my friends." Xion nodded. Kairi stepped forward and hugged Sora before turning to Xion as well. "I forgive you Xion. I know you can't be a bad person. Naminѐ told me so." Kairi smiled and Xion smiled a back weakly.

Axel remained outside the room and watched Xion's face, wondering if she would even notice him. Right as he thought it her eyes caught his and she stumbled back. He watched as tears appeared in her eyes and as they streamed down her face. She looked terrified and lost. Guilt ate away at her until she stumbled back so far that she hit the base of the superior's chair. She slide down it slowly, never removing her eyes from Axel's, and sat on the ground. Finally she eye broke contact and buried her face into the small heartless. The creature lifted its hands to her face as if it were human that wanted to comfort. Axel's ears picked up on her mumbling. "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." Xion cried and hugged her little heartless to her. Sora and Kairi watched until Sora couldn't take it anymore. "Axel stop this." Sora whispered as he glanced back at Axel. Axel sighed and did his best to nod.

As soon as Axel entered through the doorway the room grew tense. Xion pulled herself in tighter and no longer held her heartless protectively but as if she hoped he would protect her. Axel for once had been caught speechless. He couldn't think of what to say, so he just started with something obvious. "So you control heartless now?" Axel asked trying to sound normal. Xion raised her head slowly until her face was visible again. "I don't control him." She muttered. Axel tried to laugh nonchalantly. "What, so you picked up a pet?" He asked attempting again to lighten the atmosphere. "He's my friend not a pet." Xion defended. "What's his name then?" Axel asked, taking a few steps towards her. "Shadow. He likes it so that's his name." She explained when she saw that Axel was going to tease about the name. Axel made his way across the room to stand before her. Sora watched intently until Kairi grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the room to give the others privacy.

"You shouldn't have fought me." Axel started. Xion glared at him. "I didn't really have a choice. The fight started and if I even tried to back out you would have killed me." Xion shouted. Axel's eyes widened. "You think I would ever go as far as to kill you? Xion that's crazy, I would never do that to you." Axel declared. Xion stood up and let Shadow crawl out of her arms. "You didn't hold back for any of the other members. Why would you hold back for me?" Xion asked. "You're my friend." Axel stated as if that were all the explaining needed. "Am I?" Xion asked. Axel glared at her again. "Shut up, just stop. You know you're my friend. We're all we have left so don't pull stunts like that. I can't stand the idea of losing you, especially if it's to the other side." Axel took a step closer to Xion and placed a hand out for her to take. "I'm so sorry for hurting you Xion. Can you forgive me?" Xion watched his hand. Finally she sighed and placed her hand in Axel's. "I'm sorry too. I'll forgive you if you can forgive me." Xion said. Axel smiled and nodded before he stepped forward to hug her. He would have hugged her if a little black thing hadn't suddenly appeared between them. Xion laughed and hugged the little creature instead. "Shadow, I'd like you to meet Axel. Axel, Shadow." Axel glared down at the little thing but he couldn't deny the smile that came when he saw how happy Xion was.


"Shadow and I can hang out here until you guys get back." Xion smiled as she stared at the others. Kairi frowned. "Why can't you come with us?" She whined. "Because you guys don't need me. I'll be fine here." Xion smiled again. "I don't like this. If Spade comes back here like you said then you could get hurt, or worse." Axel gave Xion a stern look. "I can take care of myself." Xion mumbled. "There's something you're not telling us. You said Spade would be here in a couple days. If that's true then you could just be kicking us out of here so you can handle Spade alone." Sora accused. Everyone stared at him in surprise. Sora wasn't usually one to think about stuff. Xion rolled her eyes. "So what? Like I said I can handle Spade. You guys just go find the others." Xion ordered. Axel glared at his friend. "There is no way I'm leaving you to fight him alone." Xion opened her mouth to say something but Axel cut her off. "And no, the heartless doesn't count as a partner." Xion sighed. "Axel you have to help these two, don't worry about me." She said it with no hope. He would worry about her no matter what circumstances.

"We could split up." Kairi suggested. Sora shook his head violently. "No way, we need to stop splitting up. Every time we do something bad happens. Why don't we all just work together for once?" Sora shouted in frustration. Kairi placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Ok fine. So we wait here for Spade and then find the others." Xion stated. Sora frowned again. "Only if you get rid of the heartless." He pointed an accusing finger at the little creature who sat quietly by Xion's leg. "No way! Shadow isn't going to do anything wrong. He's cute and adorable." Xion bent down and hugged the little guy to prove her point. "Let her keep it Sora. It shouldn't cause too much trouble." Axel said, defending Xion's little pet. "Fine but if that thing get's anywhere near me or Kairi I'm going to whack it into oblivion." Xion hugged Shadow in protection against Sora's awful threat. Axel couldn't hold back a small laugh when he watched Xion's distressed face. "Ok ok. He will be good, I promise." Xion smiled at Sora and watched the boy roll his eyes. Sora turned and left the round room with Kairi giggling behind him.

Axel glanced at Xion and decided to not hold back the laughter. "You've only had this thing for what, twenty minutes, and you're fighting to protect it?" Axel asked as Xion stood up. "He's not an 'it' he's a 'him'." Xion declared. Axel laughed again and shook his head. "Alright let's follow the others and get out of here." Axel made a face as he glanced around the room of meeting chairs. "Ok." Xion replied with a smile. Axel headed out the door but stopped to glance back at Xion. "Coming?" He asked when he thought she wouldn't. Xion smiled and waved her hand. "I'm coming, just give me a minute to get some stuff. I'll meet you with the others at the Castle entrance." Xion smiled. Axel watched her closely. "Are you sure?" He asked, still worried. "Yeah, no problem." Axel nodded and left the room after giving her a small smile.

As soon as Axel's footsteps died away Xion's smile faded. It was replaced by a look of determination as she looked down at Shadow. "Let's go." She ordered. Shadow nodded as if he had been planning this the whole time as well. Xion lifted a gloved hand and opened a portal. As she pulled on her black coat and stared into the dark depths of the portal before her, Xion prayed that Axel would receive her mental apologies. "Ready?" Xion asked as she glanced down again at her partner. He stared up at her and nodded. "Alright then, time to catch up to Spade before Sora." Xion bolted into the portal with Shadow close on her heels.

The portal closed before Axel reentered the room to find it bare of any traces of his best friend.


A/N: I really hope you liked it. Review, tell me what you think. It might help me get my updates sooner. I like the little heartless guy. I actually picked the name because I had a puppy when I was little named Shadow. I loved the idea so much and the cute factor was similar so there you go. The fact that he actually is a shadow was just a coincidence.

Ok so for anyone who cares (probably few of you) My other story "The Return" isn't coming along as smoothly as I'd like. I'll try to work on that too but the ideas are tough to figure out. The options 'A' and 'C' are nearly tied. 'A' right now is winning. So if you don't know about that story or haven't ever reviewed it: go check it out. The more opinions I have the easier my life gets. Ok peace out.