Trinity couldn't sleep that night; she had too much on her mind. Thoughts racing from conscious to subconscious and back to conscious. And by the time one of the members came to release her, it was much earlier than usual.

"Hey," Axel announced his presence.

She rolled to face him before getting to her feet. "Hi," she replied. "I thought you were leaving today."

"I'm just about ready to go. But I wanted to say goodbye first."

"Oh." She paused. "So—"

"Hold on," he stopped her. He opened her cell to let her out. "That's better."

She smiled sheepishly. "How long will you be gone?"

"I wish I knew."

"Well, like I said, you have something to look forward to."

"Now that I know." He grinned.

"So you promise to come back?"

"Of course I'll be back."

"Do you promise, though?"

"You just want me to say those words, huh?"

"That would make me feel better," she admitted.

He chuckled. "I promise."

She resisted the urge to hug him and just nodded her head.

"Axel, what are you still doing here?" Saïx then interrupted. "You should have left by now."

"I was just going," he stated. "I only wanted to let her out first."

"I could've done that myself," he replied. "Now go."

He nodded before flashing one last quick smile at Trinity. Then he was gone.

"You're a fool, you know," Saïx then declared.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"The fact that you think Axel actually cares about you," he clarified. "You mean nothing to him."

"How would you know?"

"Because he can't care."

She shook her head as she began to walk away. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Or are you walking away because you know I'm right?"

This stopped her dead in her tracks. It was in that moment she realised how similar she and Saïx truly were. Even if it didn't seem it. But they were more alike than she would ever want to admit.

"I'm walking away because I know how to choose my battles," she finally spoke up. She turned to face him again. "You're not right, though. You're actually very wrong."

"And you've become too attached."

She clenched her jaw, looking away. "Have not."

"You have. And it's obvious that even you are mad at yourself for allowing yourself to become attached."

"There is nothing wrong with becoming attached to someone."

"There is a problem when they have no heart. And there is a problem when they're a part of the Organisation."

"I'm not attached to Axel," she continued denying.

"Clearly you are."

"Listen, Saïx—"

"No, you listen," he cut her off. "If you want to make it through this then you will remain emotionally detached."

"Excuse me?"

"I advise you to act as if you don't have feelings, either," he went on. "Keep your distance and you'll live to see the rest of your pathetic life."

"You can't scare me off by threatening me," she told him. "It doesn't work that way." She began walking away again.

"Then maybe I can scare you off by threatening Axel," he called after her.

Once again, she stopped. "I'm listening," she replied, her voice soft.

"I thought that would get your attention." He stepped up to her, staying behind her. "Be sure to remain detached or else Axel will be wiped from existence. Do you understand?"

She swallowed hard. "I understand."

"Good." He stepped past her. "And all of a sudden it's a very good thing Axel will be gone for a while, isn't it?"

With that, he walked away from her. Trinity stayed put, trying to catch her breath rather than letting her breath catch in her throat. Saïx had cornered her and now she was unsure of what to do next. But she found that she couldn't move; her body felt paralysed.

Soon enough, Roxas showed up. "Trinity?" he questioned. "What are you doing?"

Finally, all of her senses came back in a single rush. She shook her head as she faced the blonde. "Sorry, I just…spaced out," she lied. "You know, lost my train of thought."

"Are you okay?" he checked.

"I'm fantastic," she continued lying, knowing he wouldn't be able to detect her hint of sarcasm.

"Did you see Axel before he left?"

"I did. Why?"

"Because he didn't say goodbye to me."

"Oh." She paused. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"I just don't understand why he didn't say anything to me."

"Saïx was rushing him. Guess it could've been my fault, too, since he wasn't very pleased by the fact that Axel stopped to see me before he left."

"Don't blame yourself," he said back. "I mean, you shouldn't."

She nodded. "He'll be back soon enough either way."

"I hope so."

They fell silent. Roxas was looking down and Trinity was still focusing on controlling her breathing.

"You and Axel have become close, haven't you?" he then broke the silence.

She swallowed hard. "No," she lied again.

And she walked away from him. Trinity had to lie to the other members to keep Axel safe. So she might as well lie to herself at the same time.