Hello everybody! Hope you're all enjoying the burning hot summer weather like I am…. (Drops unconscious from heat)…..Huh? Oh sorry about that ^_^; for those who are suffering from unbearable heat like I am, I FEEL YOUR PAIN! For those who are enjoying cool weather… . Lucky bastards….. I apologize for the swearing but it is so hot, I just wish that I could cool down a bit. Anyways, time for you all to enjoy chapter 21 of my FanFiction, and as always be sure to review and vote for your favourite couple! I cannot stress that enough; I need votes in order to determine what will happen during a certain special chapter of this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Kingdom Hearts or the Disney films, they belong to Square Enix and…well Disney.

Note: I was originally going to do a bonus chapter involving the Organization playing the game "Singstar" but then I came up with this, for those who are not a fan of musicals I apologize, but I can't help it ^_^;

Chapter 21: Singing Your Heart Out

Bolting down the hall, determination continued to burn in Lixicaa, a fiery spirit that would not diminish until she knew for sure that her friends were safe and that they were together once again.

She quickly turned her head behind her, watching Marluxia fall slowly and slowly behind, and she glared at him for this, "Why are you so slow Marluxia?"

He shook his head, "It's not that I'm slow Lixicaa, I'm just not as motivated as you I suppose. You watched as one of your dearest friends fall into a black abyss and for all you know they could be dead."

She shivered, "Please don't say something like that Marluxia. That way of thinking doesn't help anyone, especially since I'm freaking out already."

He sighed and placed his hands on his hips, "Alright I'm sorry Lixicaa, I don't mean to worry you. Come on let's go and find our friends."

She nodded with a large smile on her face, "Thanks Marluxia, you're the best!" She wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her head against him. He smiled softly, a light blush forming on his face.

"Nonsense, no need to thank me Lixicaa, I'm your friend. Remember that as long as you're part of this Organization I will always be here for you…

So no one told you life was gonna be this way,

You're job's a joke, you're broke and your love life's D.O.A

It's like you're always stuck in second gear

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year but

I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)

I'll be there for you (like I've been there before)

I'll be there for you (because you're there for me too).

Lixicaa let go of Marluxia and stepped back staring at him dumbfounded, "Did you just burst into song?"

Marluxia blinked, "I think I just did…but I don't know why."

She laughed, "It may have been odd but I thought it was kind of cute. Anyways come on let's go, Xhomast and Demyx are waiting!"

Meanwhile…

"Look Xhomast it's shining now!" Demyx laughed holding up a blue gemstone in his hand, a musical note could be seen in the translucent rock.

Xhomast smacked himself in the forehead, "Demyx I thought I told you not to touch anything down here! Who knows what kind of trap you might activate or something!"

Demyx shrugged and dropped the stone, "Nothing happened, besides it's just a stone with a music note, what harm could it have done to anyone? It's not like I released some demonic spirit or a creature that forces people to do things against their will right?"

"I guess you're right, "Xhomast sighed, "but if there's some lasting consequence because of rubbing the dust off that stone I will make sure that you will never rub another stone again!"

Demyx laughed, "What are you going to do, cut off my hands?"

"Don't tempt me."

Demyx shivered, "Uh…let's find a way out of here. I'm sure Lixicaa and Marluxia are worried about us right? Heh…heh."

Xhomast nodded and continued maneuvering his way across various stones and boulders that lay scattered across the cellar-like area that the two had fallen into. He groaned and looked around, trying to find any sign of light or a breeze or any other source of the outside world, but all that Xhomast saw was rock, rock and lanterns that shone with a green flame, the flame famously accompanied with Maleficent's dragon form. He kicked a rock that was near his foot and cursed under his breath, he blamed himself for what had happened, not realizing that Axel was the traitor, and for being foolish enough to get him and Demyx trapped in wherever they were currently situated in.

He finally gave up and fell onto his backside, sitting uncomfortable on the cold, stone floor, "Demyx I'm sorry. This is all my fault that we're trapped down here. At this rate Axel will destroy the Organization from the inside out and there's nothing that we can do about it."

"Heh? There's no need to apologize, besides Xhomast, we can leave here any time we want to. I've located Lixicaa and Marluxia's signature. I can teleport us to them anytime I wanted to." Demyx grinned, patting Xhomast on the back.

His eye twitched and he stared over at Demyx, "You mean we could leave anytime?" Demyx nodded, "Than why aren't we going now! We have to warn the Organization about Axel and find out his intentions and possibly stop him from destroying everyone!"

Demyx blinked, "Oh yea, why didn't I think of that before? I suppose we should leave now shouldn't we." He grabbed Xhomast's jacket and together the two teleported out of the small enclosed area that they had once been trapped in.

Back on the main level…

Axel glanced around the corner of the hallway, watching Lixicaa and Marluxia traverse the corridors in search of their missing friends. Luckily for him he had been able to escape the clutches of Xaldin and Lixicaa's brother. He groaned and laid against the wall, looking down at his feet. He turned and began to walk down the opposite hallway, and without realizing it, he began to sing softly to himself,

Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming around,

Turn around; every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears

Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

Turn around bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart,

Turn around bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart…

He turned back and faced the hallway that Lixicaa had once stood in, reliving the memories he had spent with her back in the castle and slowly closed his eyes,

And I need you now tonight,

And I need you more than ever,

And if you'll only hold me tight,

We'll be holding on forever,

And we'll only be making it right,

Cause we'll never be wrong together.

We can take it to the end of the line,

Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time,

I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark,

We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks.

He held his arms out wide, as if waiting for her to run into his embrace, for him to be forgiven and that everything would be ok between the two,

I really need you tonight,

Forever's gonna start tonight,

Forever's gonna start tonight.

Once upon a time I was falling in love,

But now I'm only falling apart,

There's nothing I can do,

A total eclipse of the heart.

Once upon a time there was light in my life,

But now there's only love in the dark,

Nothing I can say,

A total eclipse of the heart.

Axel's arms lowered when she didn't run into his arms and he looked at his hands…as if there was blood on them, foreshadowing what his betrayal of the Organization will cause to happen.

"Lixicaa…what have I done?"

"Having second thoughts fool?" a voice cackled from behind Axel.

He jumped ever so slightly and he turned around and faced Maleficent, glaring at her green skinned, hideous face that was sporting a wide, wicked grin, "No I'm not Maleficent, don't worry about me, just keep your end of the bargain and I'll do whatever you ask of me."

She laughed, "Yes yes I know. When we attack the castle we will not do any harm to your precious Lixicaa or her friend Xhomast. But honestly, I don't know what you see in her, I'm much more beautiful and twice as intelligent as that stupid wench."

Chakrams flashed in the candlelight and laid against Maleficent's throat, "Watch what you say about her, if you value your life that is."

She rolled his eyes and disappeared in an inferno of black flames, which licked at Axel's face in a cruel sense of humour. He swatted the flames away and turned around only to gasp at who was waiting at the end of the corridor, Lixicaa.

A look of malice and hatred blackened her eyes and her claws shifted out from under her sleeves, "Conversing with the enemy? I can't believe I actually thought that we were friends, when you were just trying to get close to as many Organization members as possible so that you can just break their non existing hearts? What a sick game you chose to play Axel, but I don't like games like that, and I don't like you…not anymore."

He looked at her and suddenly he was overcome with an ever so sickening sense of depression, and he felt like he was drowning in it, as if the under tow had pulled him in while swimming at the beach, "Please Lixicaa you don't understand, I was doing this for you! You and Xhomast!"

"Stop it," she said softly but her voice began to raise, "STOP LYING TO ME DAMNIT! I trusted you Axel! You know that right! I freaking trusted you, only for you to stab me in the back so that you can be on what you think is the winning team. Well guess what. We're going to kick the crap out of each and every heartless and eviscerate them from the world, and you'll be the first to go!"

She bolted down the corridor, speeding quickly towards him and without consent lyrics began to flow out of her mouth,

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house,

That don't bother me.

I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out.

She was a matter of seconds away from him, one arm raised, poised and ready to strike Axel.

I'm not afraid to cry every once in a while even though

Going on with you gone still upsets me.

There are days every now and again I pretend I'm ok,

But that's not what gets me.

Her hand flew at Axel and he deflected it with a chakram. As her claws intertwined with the pattern in his own weapon, he slowly looked up and she gasped when she watched as a tear slipped down from his right eye. He yelled as he pressed her back, sending her flying several feet away from him. As the tear fell onto the floor he joined in with her.

What hurts the most

Was being so close

And havin' so much to say

And watchin' you walk away

And never knowin'

What could've been

And not seein' that lovin' you,

Is what I was tryin' to do.

As the lyrics describing how they truly felt about each other continued to pour out of their souls like rain drops from a cloud on a stormy day, metal continued to clash with its counterpart. Tears were now falling from both combatants as the words continued to flow.

It's hard to deal with the pain of losin' you everywhere I go,

But I'm doin' it.

It's hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I'm alone,

Still hard gettin' up, gettin' dressed, livin' with this regret.

But I know if I could do it over,

I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart,

That I left unspoken.

Lixicaa's claws went flying into the wall nearby and she collapsed to her knees in unison with the sound of her weapons becoming trapped in the concrete, "You win Axel. Go ahead, kill me."

His chakrams vanished from his hands and he turned his back to her, shaking his head, "Lixicaa I can't do that. I told you that the only reason that I betrayed the Organization was to save you, you and your friend Xhomast."

She looked up at him, "Why Axel? Why would you look out for two strangers when you've been with this Organization for who knows how long? What makes the two of us so damn special? Because if I was so special to you, you would've figured out a way to protect me without shattering my heart!"

"You don't get it Lixicaa. Roxas and I may be close buddies and all, but in all seriousness I have never bonded with someone so quickly and so deeply ever in my life. I don't know what it is about you, but there's something special that's for sure. As for Xhomast, well I figured that you couldn't live with yourself if something happened to him, you two are inseparable sometimes."

She jumped to her feet, a flicker of hope forming on her expression, "Than why not just betray the heartless! Why can't you come back to the Organization? We don't need you to sacrifice yourself in order for us to be protected Axel, I mean it, we can protect ourselves! Please…please just come back?"

He shook his head, "I can't do that Lixicaa. As soon as I leave, Maleficent has prepared two assassins to get rid of you and I can't take the chance of losing you."

"You don't get it Axel, if you stay with them you will lose me once and for all."

"Then I guess this is where we say goodbye Lixicaa, at least you'll survive to tell your children about this tragic love story." Axel forced a smile and nodded his head at her, as if to say goodbye, before disappearing.

She laughed softly, "Still an idiot…"

"Lixicaa! Look who I found!"

She turned around at the mention of her name and forced a smile of her own as Marluxia was seen running down the tiled floor with Xhomast and Demyx not far behind her. Xhomast ran past Marluxia and stopped beside Lixicaa, noticing her red eyes, "Are you ok? It looks like you were crying."

She nodded, "Yea Xhomast I'm fine, aside from bursting out into song that is."

Xhomast's eyes widened for a moment and then he turned around and glared at Demyx who began to whistle, kicking his foot in the air, looking away from Xhomast.

"Come on let's go report." Marluxia reminded the crew, breaking the silence.

The other three said nothing and merely walked in silence, being welcomed by the pearly white walls of Castle Oblivion and the familiar faces of the Organization. Saix stood beside Xemnas with a sly smirk on his face, as if to inform Lixicaa that Xemnas knew everything now.

Lixicaa looked down at her shoes, standing there in silence. In fact, everyone seemed to be silent, unsure of what to say. Everyone now knew about Axel and his betrayal as well as joining the heartless army, but none knew what would come next.

Xhomast nodded in Xemnas' direction who nodded back and Xhomast grabbed a hold of Lixicaa's hand, taking her back to her room. She sat down on her bed and Jance jumped up onto her lap.

"I'll leave you alone for now ok?"

She nodded and he left the room. As Lixicaa sat there stroking Jance, she felt emotions well up inside her once again, and like the battle with Axel words forcefully pushed their way out of her lips.

I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears.

And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave.

Your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone.

These wounds won't seem to heal; this pain is just too real,

There's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.

And I held your hand through all of these years,

But you still have all of me.

You used to captivate me by your resonating light,

Now, I'm bound by the life you left behind.

Your face haunts my once pleasant dreams,

Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me.

These wounds won't seem to heal; this pain is just too real,

There's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.

And I held your hand through all of these years,

But you still have all of me.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone,

But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along.

She fell backwards onto her bed, tears once again flowing down the sides of her face, and it was at this very moment when she realized that Axel did care for her, that he was looking out for her, but he was doing it the wrong way, and because of that he would lose his life to the people he once called his allies, "Axel…why…why do you have to be such an idiot?"

A knock on her door brought Lixicaa back to reality and she quickly sat up, wiping the tears from her face. As she stood up she cast a glance in the mirror and swore softly under her breath, "Damn my mascara is running now."

Her door opened and Xhomast walked in holding a plate with a sandwich on top, "Hey Lixicaa...I uh made you a peanut butter sandwich, I know how much you love peanut butter, heh heh." He smiled awkwardly and walked over to her bed, where she just sat there watching him. He sat the plate down beside her and sat on the bed as well, "Do you still feel like being alone? Cause if you do I'll come back later."

She shook her head, "No Xhomast, don't go. I think I'm kind of feeling better now..."

He smiled, "That's good to hear. I'll go tell Xemnas that you're feeling better now." He stood up and made his way to the door, as he turned the knob however Lixicaa jumped to her feet and ran over to Xhomast.

"What do you mean? Did Xemnas send you here or something to check up on me?"

"You could say that. He wanted me to make sure you were feeling better, but the sandwich was all me. It's just well...he doesn't want to waste any more time. Since Axel is with the enemy, every second wasted results in more information being leaked to the heartless." Xhomast looked away, "He wants a group to go and finish Axel off once and for all."

Her eyes narrowed and her gaze fell to the floor once more, "Oh...of course. Well than I suppose I should get ready than shouldn't I? They'll need all the help that they can get to defeat Axel."

Nodding, Xhomast escorted Lixicaa out of her room and they began their descent to the Superior's room, only to be interrupted by Demyx on the way.

"Guys! I think that stone that I rubbed brought forth something like you said Xhomast! People are bursting into song about what their feeling at the moment, isn't that awesome! It's just like I wished for!"

"Wished?" Xhomast asked, "What do you mean wished?"

"Well when I was rubbing the blue stone I was thinking how great it would be to live a day where our lives were like a musical," Demyx laughed, "and it seems like it worked doesn't it? I mean I thought it and the the stone began to shine and bam! People are singing now."

"That's great Demyx, but we have to head out on that mission now remember?" Xhomast sighed, " The one where we have to attack the heartless and take down Axel."

Demyx gasped, "Oh yeah that's now isn't it? Heh heh, well come on than guys we have to head now or else we'll be late and the Superior hates tardiness!" With that said Demyx ran down the hall to the main room, disappearing from Xhomast's and Lixicaa's sights.

"Well I guess it's now or never..." Lixicaa said softly.

Xhomast looked over at his friend and felt horrible that he couldn't help her, that he couldn't make her smile at least once before the mission started, "Lixicaa..."

She shook her head, "It's nothing, let's go ok?" She walked down the hall as well, the sound of her boots clattering with each step, a hollow sound reverberating off the walls, a hollow sound similar to the sense of hollowness that she was feeling at the moment, and as she entered the main room, she realized that she had to be the one to defeat Axel, she had caused his betrayal and she had to make up for it.

Xhomast entered the large gathering space shortly after her and upon entering Xemnas began to speak, "Now that everyone is here, the matter of the heartless army and the traitor will now begin discussion. We are commencing the attack in a matter of minutes. All of us will be attacking the castle along with our troops understood?" A range of confirmations came out of their mouths, but it seemed that no one was excited or enthused about this battle, "For the attack we will be split into groups understood? Xhomast, Lixicaa and Saix will be going after the traitor. Alexandrex, Xaldin and Demyx will be attacking the west wing, Roxas you'll be attacking the east wing with Luxord and Zexion. As for myself, Marluxia and Xigbar, we will be attacking the main section of the castle where the majority of the commanders will most likely be waiting for us. Does everyone understand what they will be doing?" Once again everyone replied in a monotone manner and he nodded, "Than let us head out."

Three portals were called forth and as ordered, the Organization was split into the groups that they had been assigned and respectfully stepped into a portal, leading directly to the castle. The last group to enter was Xhomast's and as they entered the middle portal they found themselves in Hollow Bastion, the section of the castle where Lixicaa had earlier confronted Axel.

"Where do you think Axel will be?" Saix asked, as if he was impatient about having to kill the traitor, "I'm going to check down the other corridors, if he confronts you be sure to use as much force as possible."

Both Xhomast and Lixicaa nodded to allow Saix to be sure they understood before he walked off. Lixicaa turned her back to Saix as he went down the hall and she gasped when she saw Axel standing in front of her.

"Looks like you just can't stay away from me." Axel joked.

Xhomast glared at him, his katana forming in his hands, the blade shining with its usual frosty aura, but this time it was more savage, as sharp particles of ice flowed around the blade as well, "How can you joke at a time like this? Do you realize we've come to kill you?"

Axel laughed, "Like you could kill me." He snapped his fingers and a barrier of fire formed around Xhomast. Trying to escape his fiery prison, Xhomast realized that the barrier was too powerful, and he stood there helpless as he watched Axel approach his friend.

Claws and chakrams were summoned and the two cloaked figures stood poised for battle, "Axel...I'm sorry for this but it's the only way."

He smiled softly at her, "Don't be sorry, I put this on myself." He bowed before her and then lunged, chakrams spinning in his hands furiously.

She jumped out of the way and threw one of her claws; unfortunately he deflected it to the ground with a flick of his own weapon. Another steel claw replaced the one she had thrown and she shook her head, hair flowing away from her eyes, eyes that were beginning to tear up, "Stupid Demyx...making people sing how they feel."

Axel continued to smile, "Don't fight your emotions Lixicaa, let them flow out. Please sing to me one last time, sing as we fight."

She laughed as tears began to fall once again, "You're such an idiot Axel..."

Every night in my dreams,

I see you I feel you.

That is how I know you go on.

She flew across the floor, claws outstretched, once again digging into Axel's own weapons, locking the two together.

Far across the distance,

And spaces between us.

You have come to show you go on.

She tore her claws out from Axel's rings, and slashed upwards, grazing his skin ever so slightly, leaving three straight marks on his face. He spun his left chakram at her in response, tearing at the sleeve of her jacket. She recoiled at first but soon regained her composure and punched him in the face, sending him backwards.

Near, far wherever you are,

I believe that the heart does go on.

Once more you open the door,

And you're here in my heart,

And my heart will go on and on.

A claw was thrown and this time it landed on its target, sticking in Axel's chest. He called out in pain but tore it out, throwing it to the ground and proceeded to throwing one of his chakrams at Lixicaa. She quickly dropped to her knees, dodging the spinning blade and watched as it returned to him like a boomerang.

Love can touch us one time,

And last for a lifetime.

And never let go till we're gone.

He threw his chakram again but this time Lixicaa caught it and whipped it back at him, wincing at it sliced through him, shifting into flames before it could cause too much damage. Axel clutched at his stomach, his breathing began to become heavy.

Love was when I loved you,

One true time I hold to,

In my life we'll always go on.

Axel's movements were now becoming sluggish and it was clear to Lixicaa that she had critically injured him when she had thrown his chakram back at him. She realized that now was the time, now was when she had to finish him off or she would never have the courage or moment to do it again, and she lunged.

Near, far wherever you are,

I believe that the heart does go on.

Once more you open the door,

And you're here in my heart,

And my heart will go on and on.

With a sly grin Axel dropped his weapons and Lixicaa gasped as both sets of claws impaled him in the chest. He groaned in pain and fell to the ground, arms outstretched. Her claws shifted back into her sleeves and Lixicaa slid over beside his body, kneeling before him.

You're here, there's nothing I fear,

And I know that my heart will go on.

We'll stay forever this way.

You are safe in my heart,

And my heart will go on.

She held him in her arms, tears streaming down her face, faster than ever before. He merely smiled at her and whispered, "And you're here in my heart..." his eyes closed and his head fell limp. Immediately the fire barrier lowered to the ground and extinguished itself leaving nothing but a ring of ash.

Xhomast slowly approached Lixicaa, watching as she sat there, crying over the dead body of Axel. Xhomast felt a pang of guilt, for he had just stood there while she had to fight someone she had become extremely close with. He placed a hand on her shoulder and began to sing a soft tune,

If I live to be a hundred,

And never see the seven wonders,

That'll be alright.

If I don't make it to the big leagues,

If I never win a grammy,

I'm gonna be just fine.

Cause I know exactly who I am.

I am Rosemary's granddaughter,

The spitting image of my father,

And when the day is done,

My momma's still my biggest fan.

Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy,

But I've got friends who love me,

And they know just where I stand.

It's all a part of me,

And that's who I am.

So when I make a big mistake,

When I fall flat on my face,

I know I'll be alright.

Should my tender heart be broken,

I will cry those teardrop knowin'

I will be just fine,

Cause nothin' changes who I am.

I am Rosemary's granddaughter,

The spitting image of my father,

And when the day is done,

My momma's still my biggest fan.

Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy,

But I've got friends who love me,

And they know just where I stand.

It's all a part of me,

And that's who I am.

As his singing stopped Lixicaa looked up at him with a trembling smile on her face, "Xhomast...you're a terrible singer."

He laughed and bent down to hug her, "Yea I know."

Well that's the end of this musical chapter, I hope you all enjoyed this little add-on; I know I really enjoyed writing it that's for sure. As always I ask that you review my story so I know what you guys thought of it, and that you vote for your favourite story couple on my poll found on my profile page! And neat fact, this is currently my longest chapter, probably because of the lyrics included here but oh well =P Oh and I almost forgot to put a disclaimer for all the song's mentioned in this chapter:

In order of appearance:

Marluxia singing: I'll Be There: The Rembrandts

Axel singing: Total Eclipse of the Heart: Bonnie Tyler

Lixicaa and Axel singing: What Hurts the Most: Rascal Flatts

Lixicaa singing: My Immortal: Evanescence

Lixicaa singing: My Heart Will Go On: Celine Dion

Xhomast singing: Who I Am: Jessica Andrews