Kingdom Hearts is not mine, and this is just a VERY VERY short chapter.

to build up suspence.

dammit, Sora's character is confusing the hell out of me....

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Gummy Ship

"SORA!" Sora's eyes are still closed since he had that strange attack.

"SORA! WAKE UP NOW." Riku snarls and then he slaps his friend hard across the face.

"WHA?!" Sora sits up immediately and glares at his friend.

"He's okay!" Goofy and Donald say in unison.

"You didn't have to hit me so hard, Riku!!!" Sora says angrily. then his eyes go dull again and he falls back asleep.

".....Okay, I think we should just leave him to rest." Roxas says. He helps Riku carry Sora to a comfortable bed and they leave him to sleep.

Castle That Never Was

"...You're back." Axel comments.

"Yup. I couldn't stay away. How's the heart?" The boy asks. His features were hidden by a deep hood.

"Hurts. She said that she could fix it, but she can't." Axel says.

"Namine?"

"Uh huh. She said I'm here to protect myself." Axel motions around the room.

"oooh, so THAT'S why." He says and hands Axel an ice cream.

"This is the stuff you brought before, right? Sea salt ice cream?" Axel takes a bite out of the corner.

"Got it memorized?" The boy laughs.

"That's MY line." Axel chuckles.

"Well, how much do you remember?" He asks.

"Not much. That Namine girl's nice though. She promised to bring me out as soon as she could." Axel says and balances the finished ice cream stick on his nose.

"You want to leave?"

"Yeah....... I feel....." Axel pauses, not sure.

"Lonely. What you're feeling is loneliness."

"...Loneliness.... I miss them." Axel says and then surprised, he touches his eyes. A small drop of water forms and he catches it and stares at it in amazement.

"You want to leave?" The boy asks again.

"I can't."

"Who's keeping you back?" The boy laughs and snaps his fingers. The door, which had been locked, slams open with a bang.

".............thanks."

"No problem. Just..... keep this with you. You gave me this, to protect Roxas." The boy throws a small circular charm to the man and vanishes.

"Dammit, that Sora kid sure is full of surprises." Axel comments as he buries the Bond Of Flame Keychain deep in his pocket.