Chapter Twenty:

My breathing was slow and steady, even though I was in pain a few minutes ago. I opened my eyes to find myself floating in an ocean. I was under water, but I wasn't drowning. The water hugged me like a small child in its mother's arms. "These are all the tears you've cried in your life." I looked around to see a glowing orb appear next to me.

"My…tears?" I asked. "But I really haven't cried that much."

"Not out loud maybe. But inside, you've cried. You held in your emotions for the sake of your father's memories. As you slept, you cried on the inside." I had no memory of this. It was true that I held in my emotions, but I never cried on the inside because my dreams were happy. The dreams of my father made me calm and sometimes laugh.

"That's not true." I whispered. "I was never in pain on the inside. My dreams filled me with happy thoughts."

"Are you sure about that?" it asked me. "How much do you really know about your past?" The orb disappeared and the water began turning around me. I was caught in a strong current; the force pushed and pulled my body around. As it spun me, I found myself not being able to breathe. I tried to swim to the surface, but I was being pulled deeper and deeper down.

"Dance water, dance!" I felt cold water splash on my face. I woke up to find myself at the Alter of Naught with Xemnas, Demyx and Luxord.

I clenched my chest, panting at the relief I could breathe again. "Xemnas, what…happened?"

"Luxord found you passed out in the middle of the hallway." He explained. "You found them didn't you?" he asked me, referring to the intruders.

"I swear I didn't mean to!" I exclaimed, still overwhelmed at what happened to me. "I was looking at Kingdom Hearts when I was ambushed! They forced me to fight! I couldn't get away!"

"Calm down, Umixe, everything's alright." Xemnas helped me up and then took me into his arms in sympathy. "I don't blame you. You were attacked from behind." Like Axel, his cold skin was comforting and made my body calm down and stop shivering.

"We looked around, but didn't find anyone." Demyx reported. "They probably left because they sensed us nearby."

"Luxord, take Umixe to her room. She needs to rest for a while." As he said that, Xemnas released me and handed me to Luxord. I followed him into my room, then took a seat on the bed.

I stared out the window, wondering what my vision meant. That strange orb asked me if I really knew my past. Of course I know my past. Who else would know it but me, right? "You're awfully quiet." Luxord examined, standing behind me. "What's on your mind?"

What was I supposed to say? I couldn't really describe my feelings at this moment. Everything was coming and going all too quickly. "It's…hard to say." I finally answered. "There are so many things running through me. I don't know what to feel." I grabbed my chest tightly like I was afraid of my heart jumping out and running away. "It's like…my memories are fading, and I'm losing half of myself. What does that mean?"

"It means you're revealing your true self." He answered. "The real you is finally coming out. Don't fight it; accept it and let it take over." Luxord vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving me all alone to answer the millions of questions that were floating around in my head. 'What did he mean by that?' I asked myself. But I knew I was never going to get the answer.

A few minutes later, Lexaeus and Zexion appeared in my room. I was in the same spot I was when Luxord was here. "How are you feeling, Umixe?" Zexion asked. "You know, this is the first time we've officially spoken to one another."

I didn't say anything. There was nothing to say to that. Finally, I spoke. "What are you doing here?" I didn't take my eyes off the window, as I spoke to them. I was waiting for something to happen. But what?

"Demyx noticed you dropped this, and wanted us to return it to you." I turned to watch Lexaeus pull something from his pocket. When he held it out, I noticed it was the key chain my father had given me. I jumped off the bed and took it back.

I stared at it, not sure how I didn't notice it was gone. "When did I drop it?" I asked.

"He said it was when Luxord retrieved you. He didn't notice it until a minute after you left with him." Zexion explained.

As I stared at it, I saw my father's face, smiling and laughing. I saw the confidence he always wore to tell me that everything was going to be okay. "Thanks you guys. I don't know what I'd do if I lost this." I said softly.

"What is it?" Zexion asked.

"It's a key chain my father gave to me." I answered. "He gave it to me after we came to Hollow Bastion. It's the one and only thing that I have left of him; along with his memories." I put the key chain back in my pocket and made sure to keep it safe. "Has Xemnas found the intruders yet?" I asked, changing the subject.

"No he hasn't." Zexion answered. "Their scents are gone. They left the castle…"

"…but they're still in this world." I finished his sentence for him. "Same story every time." I sighed.

"We should go after them." Lexaeus spoke up. "If they're still in this world, then the Dusks will track them down eventually and that's when we attack." He had a good point, but we couldn't really do anything until someone gave the order.

"Aren't we supposed to wait until that order is given? Xemnas said we shouldn't fight these guys unless we were given an order."

"She's right, Lexaeus." Zexion agreed with me, standing by my side. "If we try to take them on, there's a chance we might not make it out in one piece. The Superior said not to go into action without the order."

Lexaeus stood there and pondered for a brief minute. He nodded in agreement. "You're right. I should've known this."

I went over and placed my hand on his shoulder. "You're just stressed out. This whole situation has put everyone on edge." I explained, smiling at him. "The best thing we can do now is wait." Lexaeus nodded while remaining calm as usual. "I'm going to find Axel." I said as I walked past them and through a portal I conjured. "See you guys around." I went to the room I've been in for the past few days. Only Marluxia and Vexen were there. "Have either of you seen Axel?" I asked approaching them.

"No we haven't." Marluxia answered.

"He said he had some important things to take care of, and left." Vexen explained.

"I see." I was disappointed because I really wanted to spend time with him. Then it hit me...I think I know where he could be. "I'll look somewhere else."

I came to the top of the clock tower in Twilight Town to see Axel sitting alone and eating sea-salt ice cream…as I expected. At this point, Axel was becoming predictable. "I thought you'd be here." I snuck up behind him and sat beside him. I saw the expressionless look on his face and saw that something was wrong. "Are you okay?" I asked him, placing my hand over his.

He let out a big sigh and answered, "Something in me…just doesn't feel right."

I looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Did you do something wrong?" He looked at me apologetically, like he had hit me and felt bad about it. He lifted his hand from mine and gently stroked my cheek. The feel of it sent chills down my spine. The whole time, I never looked away from him. I wanted him to tell me what was going on in his head. The look of apology in his eyes suddenly turned to passion. That's when I realized he was slowly leaning toward my face, dropping his ice cream on the ground. He lifted my chin up and gently touched his lips to mine. It caught me by surprise, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I grabbed him and pulled him closer to me. His body was freezing cold, but his lips were warm. I never wanted this moment to end; I wanted to stay like this forever. But…this sensation…the sensation a person gets when they're with someone they really care for, it…seemed familiar. As we continued kissing, I saw myself on a strange island with another person. He…was holding me close as we watched the sunset. It wasn't Axel…it was…I don't know who he was. He was a stranger, but he looked familiar to me. My head cleared once Axel pulled away and continued staring at me. "Wow Axel." I whispered, flipping my bangs from my face. "That…was unexpected of you." I felt my face and noticed it was warm from extreme blushing.

Axel chuckled, feeling guilty. "Sorry about that. Something…took over me." I laughed at his shyness just because he randomly kissed me.

He looked from me to the sun-filled sky. "Are you feeling regret because of that kiss?" I asked him, laughing at his face. I couldn't stop laughing, because it was funny how his attitude just changed in the blink of an eye.

"N-No, it's not that." He stuttered, still not looking at me. He finally calmed down and put on a small smile. "It's just that…this is the first time I've felt this way about someone before. I never thought I could."

I leaned closer to him to make him look at me. "Why's that?" I turned his head to make him look at me in the eyes. He continued smiling at me. The look on his face gave the answer away. I let go of his chin and looked at him. "Is it because you're a Nobody?" I asked softly.

That smile made me feel really sorry for him, because he was trying to be strong for me. I felt bad because he was trying so hard that it looked like it hurt him. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me close to him so that my head rested on his chest. "Even though I have feelings for you, Umixe, I can't show you true love."

When he said that, it almost made me cry. There was no doubt that I had feelings for Axel, but I suddenly realized he was right. It was hard for me to show affections for him when he didn't have a heart. "So how do have feelings for me if you can't show it?" I asked, comforting myself in his chest.

"When I'm with you like this…it feels like…I have a heart." I didn't realize it until later that I was crying because of all the emotions that ran through the air around me. "Even though I'm a Nobody, something inside me still wants to be with you and protect you no matter what." His body began trembling out of what felt like anger and frustration.

"Axel." I felt the tears in my eyes begin to flow harder down my face. "It doesn't matter whether you have a heart or not…as long as I know you care for me, then I can be with you forever." We stayed like this for a while because neither of us wanted to move.

I opened my eyes, not remembering when I fell asleep. I looked around to find myself back in the castle in my bed. Was everything that just happened a dream? I was confused until I rolled over and bumped into something. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. The figure I saw was Axel, lying next to me, with one arm around me. I stared at him while listening to his soft breathing. I snuggled close to him and went back to sleep. The feel of his cold breath on my neck gave me tingles, but I let them put me to sleep. So everything that happened was real. I probably just fell asleep so he brought me back and decided to stay with me. That scene kept playing over and over in my head.

"Umixe…Umixe." I woke up to the sound someone whispering my name. I opened my eyes to see Axel standing over me.

I stretched, then rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Good morning, Axel." I yawned, trying to keep my eyes open. "What's going on?"

Author's Note:

heehee I kept smiling as I typed this ^^ I seriously got tingles with every word that came on the screen.

Axel: You're a good kisser, Misuki.

*blushes* umm...Thanks Axel.

Riku: I bet I'm a better kisser than you.

Axel: Is that so?

Riku: Yes because remember while she was kissing you, she was thinking of me.

That was...just for that scene. Don't start another fight guys!

Axel: He started it!

I don't care! I'm not going to get in between you two every time you fight! Go in your trailers and get ready for the next chapter. Folks, thanks for tuning in again and don't forget to R&R.