Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters – they belong to Square and Disney.
Stare Into The Abyss – Chapter Six
As they approached the large castle of Hollow Bastion, Axel moved in front of both them, blocking the way.
"I want to make sure you're both clear on something. When we find Xaldin, you're to leave him.This was my... assignment. I started it, I'll finish it."
"Fine by me." Riku agreed.
"Number Two" continued past Axel towards the doors.
Axel folded his arms sighing. "I'm going to take that as a, sure thing Axel…"
"I don't think he likes you."
"I don't think he likes anyone."
As they continued forward Riku paused outside the doors. "There's a faint aura inside… It's probably him."
Number Two entered, heading straight for the stairs on the left. Axel followed him, noticing a thick trail of blood on the steps that winded it's way to the door on the side wall. Riku stepped up alongside him.
"He's in there." He nodded towards the door.
As they moved inside the library a strained voice called out from above them. "I knew you'd come back. You've come to finish me, haven't you?"
Axel craned his neck to see Xaldin leaning against the balcony overhead. "Did you bring someone to do the job for you this time?" He sneered.
Before Axel could reply, Number Two disappeared from alongside him, appearing on top of the balcony, standing over Xaldin.
Axel stepped forward. "Wait!"
But the hooded man ignored him, summoning his weapon and plunging it through Xaldin's back. He screamed in agony and Number Two pulled the weapon back out. As Xaldin fell silent, he dismissed it, reappearing in front of Axel again.
He stood still for a few seconds, and then pushed past him heading back through the doors into the Entrance hall.
Riku turned towards Axel. "Well, that was easy."
A little too easy...
Axel gritted his teeth as he set off back after Number Two. "You know what? I really don't like him either…"
"This is boring. How long do we have to stay here for?" Riku complained.
After arriving back, Number Two had returned back to the Organization Residence, leaving them both to return to Twilight Town to start "surveillance" of the new keyblade master. If they could find him first...
After spending a while moving around the rooftops, Axel decided it'd be better to sit and wait for him to show himself instead. His side still hurt although he wouldn't of admitted that to Riku. Now, with the sun going down, it seemed like they weren't going to find him today. But Axel was willing to wait here all night. He had to admit, another keyblade master did interest him… He wasn't going to give up and let one of the others have the pleasure of meeting him first.
"As long as it takes until we actually see him." Axel was still annoyed that Number Two had ignored him and finished Xaldin off so quickly. Why had they been sent anyway if it was going to be that easy? To watch? What a waste of time that was. But at least Xaldin is gone. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. He had been used…
"Do you even know who we're looking for?"
Riku really wasn't helping his bad mood. "Someone with a keyblade?" He suggested, not bothering to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"No kidding." Riku flopped backwards, lying on the tiled roof.
Since it seemed like he was going to be stuck with Riku for a while longer, Axel decided to take the moment to ask him something that had been bothering him. "When you first joined up with us, there was someone else with you, where did they go?"
Riku sat up, surprised. "He had something to take care of elsewhere."
"Got enough information on us you mean?"
Riku shifted uncomfortably. "What? No! It's not like that..."
Axel gave him a smug smile. "So why did you join up if it wasn't to get a little inside look at us?"
Silence. Riku said nothing else for some time, but when he did, it wasn't answering the question.
"Axel…Yesterday. You said Sora was there…"
Realizing he wasn't going to get a response to his own question, Axel figured he'd let Riku ask his. "And?"
"Was he alright?"
Axel stood up and walked to the edge of the roof. "Fine. Why?"
"If you hurt him…!"
Axel glanced over his shoulder at him. "I just said he was fine, didn't I?"
Riku climbed to his feet and joined him. "The others have been saying stuff…" He started.
"About what?"
"They said you're interested in him for some reason. That you were going to use him…" Riku's expression hardened. "If that's true… I will kill you."
Axel laughed. "You can try."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I. I'm not going to do anything to him, don't worry. I just…" He trailed off. Just what? "I just need his help, that's all."
"For what?" Riku asked.
"You wouldn't understand. You're not like us."
Riku said nothing for a short time, instead pacing along the rooftop, kicking at loose tiles. Then he broke the silence again. "What you asked me earlier… If you need him, and the others decided to kill him… What would you do?"
"I don't know." Axel lied.
Riku didn't seem happy with that answer, but he didn't have time to push him any further. "There's something coming…" He hurried over to the far edge of the roof that overlooked an alley. "A Nobody?"
Axel reached him in time to see a Nobody bounding off the walls of the buildings, with a young, blonde haired boy close behind. And the boy had a keyblade in hand.
"Sora!" Riku cried suddenly. He hesitated… "No… It's not…"
Axel frowned. "What?"
"That boy… His aura. It was just like Sora's. Almost identical."
"Can't be…"
"Axel?"
Axel ignored him, jumping down and setting off the way the boy and the Nobody had gone. Riku hurried after him.
They arrived at a large plaza. The boy had stopped, having lost the Nobody, he dismissed his weapon. Looking around a little longer, he seemed to give up and continued on his way. Axel followed, keeping his distance.
"Axel?" Riku was right behind him.
"Looks like we found who we were after. I'm surprised it turned out to be him though. We should have seen that coming…"
"What are you talking about?" Riku demanded, confused.
"The reason you mistook him for Sora… We already knew about him. It makes sense for him to be the other keyblade master."
"Axel!" Riku was getting frustrated, but Axel didn't say anymore. They'd arrived at a large clock tower, in the centre of the town. The boy entered it through a small side door.
Axel turned towards Riku as he headed towards it. "Stay here."
"Why do I have to wait here?"
"Because I trust you as little as you trust me."
"Hey!" Riku protested.
Axel left him behind, entering the clock tower. He headed up the stairs for the top. It only took him a few moments to reach the roof, but by the time he pushed a small door open and stepped outside, it was already dark, the last of the sun having disappeared.
In front of him, the boy was standing at the edge of the roof, overlooking the town below.
Axel called to him. "So, you're the new keyblade master?"
He whirled around. "You! You're with the thirteenth order… aren't you?"
"Is that what they call us here?"
Axel took a step forward and the boy took one back. "Stay away!"
"Relax, I'm not here to hurt you, I just want to ask you some questions… about Sora."
The boy's eyes widened in surprise. "Sora…"
"Ah, so you know about him already? Mind telling me where he is?"
The boy glared hatefully at him. "No!" He summoned, not one keyblade, but two. One in each hand.
"I won't let you see Sora!"
Author's Note: I decided to go with "Aura" for Riku's sense thing like it was in the Japanese version of CoM. I prefer that to "smell".
Fast update here since I already had this and the last chapter wrote up before my PC died. I just couldn't get them online!
Wolf Fangs: Gyah, so sorry! I missed you out last chapter, shame on me. Thank you for the compliment!
Ginger Ninja: Ooh, I'm interested now - I'll have to see if your theory is the same as mine when I finally get to reveal it! You have a nice collection of stories on your site!
ellenh92: Can I have one? ;)
Saddened Soul: I loved the second fight - just imagine what it'll be like fighting him in KH2! I hope we get a release date soon. I think I'll be importing from the US. Poor UK left out for so long :(