Part One

Axel fought to continue walking as the light began to fade from around them. Every step Axel took caused a continuous jolt of agony to go through his entire body. Every step he took was slowly becoming harder but he pressed onward. Axel's legs stiffened as he fought to continue. He took that moment to glance down at his friend in his arms. At the sight of the deep gash as well as the many bruises marring his skin, Axel bit his lower lip.

"Sora. Sora I'm sorry.. I'm so sor-"

The word devolved into coughing as Axel felt a suddenly tight and painful pressure grip his chest, causing his breath to hitch in his throat. It hurt too much to breathe and he was sure there was something broken inside. Axel cringed as he fought back the dizziness that was beginning to overtake him and he slowed to a halt. He let out a groan as he tried to force his legs to move, but instead, he felt his legs buckle beneath him.

'No.. Not now..' Axel thought, tightly clenching his teeth. 'I can't..'

Axel tightly shut his eyes as he felt another pain in his head and chest. He took in slow, deep breaths, regardless of how painful it was becoming to breathe. After a few moments, he felt the pain fade away and he opened his eyes and looked down at his friend again.

"Don't worry.. I'll get us out of this.."

With that said, Axel looked up toward the distance before his walking began anew. As the fiery haired man continued walking, he found their surroundings had begun to change. The mostly barren terrain had became covered in bits of shrubbery and loose rocks. Axel continued walking, his black boots crunching against the rocky ground.

After a while of walking, Axel looked up and his eyes grew wide as he took in the sight of a notch in the side of the nearby cliff-side. Axel shut his eyes tight and took in a sharp and painful breath as he slowly made his way into the cave before collapsing to the ground. Axel took in painful and ragged breaths as he carefully lay Sora on the ground next to the wall, being careful not to jostle him too much. Axel took his friend's hand carefully and gently squeezed it. He continued to hold it before letting go and turning to look outside at the setting sun.

"Axel?"

Axel spun around at the sound of the voice, his eyes growing wide.

"Sora! Y-you're awake!"

Sora tried to sit up but let out a cry of pain as he was overtaken by a jolt of agony and he fell back against the stone wall.

"E-easy.." Axel frowned, his voice filled with concern. "You took a pretty nasty fall.."

As Sora looked at him, he suddenly began to feel extremely dizzy. He clenched his eyes shut and pressed a hand against his head. It was at that moment that he noticed a wet feeling that he let go. Sora's eyes grew wide in horror as he noticed his hands were coated in a deep crimson. He began to hyperventilate in horror.

"Sora! Sora, calm down.." Axel insisted, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Sora looked up at him, his bright blue eyes growing in horror at the sight of his friend. Axel's clothing was completely tattered and coated in a thin layer of crimson round his midsection and shoulder.

"Axel.. You're.. Y-you're bleeding..!"

Axel looked at him in confusion and concern before looking down at himself and was shocked to see the state of his clothes. It was then he felt the sharp pain in his body again.

"T..that's not g-good.."

Axel suddenly doubled over and began to cough painfully as he tried to breathe, blood now visibly trickling from between his lips.

"A-Axel, oh God!" Sora whimpered.

"Hey.. C-c'mon.." Axel assured, coughing a bit. "Don't give me that lo-"

Axel coughed and gritted his teeth in agony.

"Axel, you're hurt.."

"So are you.."

Axel then lay on the ground, his back facing toward him. Sora looked at him with deepening concern.

"Axel.."

Sora gently placed a hand on Axel's shoulder comfortingly to which Axel stiffened a bit. Sora pulled back as he noticed this.

"Axel?"

Axel didn't answer, but clenched his eyes shut.

"It's my fault, you know.." he muttered.

Sora stared at him in shock and confusion.

"Axel-"

"No, Sora.." Axel cut in. "If I hadn't been such an IDIOT-"

His shouts were cut off by a fit of coughing, blood dribbling from his lips.

"Axel, it wasn't your fault.." Sora frowned, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The Organization did this.. Not you."

Axel took in a shaky and ragged breath.

"Yeah.. I guess.." he muttered softly.

Sora opened his mouth to reply when he felt a sharp pain in his head and he groaned. Axel turned to look at him.

"Sora?"

Sora had his eyes clenched shut as he held his head in pain. Axel slowly began to get up and though he was in pain, he did his best to ignore it. He carefully took Sora's hand, causing him to look up. Axel gave him a soft smile before going through his pockets, soon pulling out a glass bottle filled with a green sparkling liquid. He handed him the potion, but Sora carefully returned it.

"You need it more than me.." he stated..

"But-"

Sora gently placed a hand on his shoulder with a soft smile. Axel returned the smile weakly. He then brought the glass bottle up to his lips and drank the entirety of the bottle. Axel coughed and shivered a little as he felt a cool but tingly feeling filling his body. He winced as he felt whatever had broken inside beginning to move back into place. However, though many of the other wounds had stopped bleeding, they were still present. Axel let out a breath, now feeling thankful to be able to draw in a breath without as much pain as before.

"T-thanks.."

Sora smiled and nodded before wincing a little. Axel smiled in response, but could feel his adrenaline beginning to wear off. As he lay against the wall and let his exhaustion began to overtake him, Sora smiled. After taking a moment to gaze outside, Sora lay back against the wall and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

Author's Note: I apologize if this seems kind of rushed.. I will try to do a better job with the next section..