Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters – they belong to Square and Disney.
Stare Into The Abyss – Chapter Eight
It wasn't something he'd ever really stopped to consider. While he'd focused more on who he had been, on regaining the memories of who he was, he hadn't really questioned how he'd became a NEO in the first place.
What was it he said? If I find out the truth of who I was, it could destroy me? What did happen to me that was so bad?
But if that was supposed to put him off, it hadn't worked. It only made him more determined.
"Are you even listening?" Riku's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"No."
"What did he say to you?"
"Nothing that's got anything to do with you."
Riku sighed but didn't push it any further. "How exactly are we going to find Sora? I don't feel like sitting out on rooftops with you all day again."
Axel ignored him, exiting the train as it pulled up into the Twilight Town station. It was still early morning, only a few hours since they'd last been here. The streets appeared empty, a few glowing lights the only thing that illuminated them. He still checked the area carefully. The others would be watching, and while he doubted they were here already, there were still eyes in other places… The town was full of the Nobodies.
Riku joined him. "Well?"
"We don't even know if he's here." Axel glanced back towards the train. "Why don't you go take a look around and see if he's arrived yet? I'll wait here. They said he was on his way, he can only enter the town this way."
"No."
"No?"
"How about I stay here and you go take a look around?" Riku smirked at him. "If he's more likely to come this way, I don't want you seeing him first. Not unless you feel like telling me what it is that you need Sora for now…"
"Nope." Axel left him, walking further into the town. It was only a few moments later he noticed the slight flashes of something white amongst the shadows. Yes, they were watching…and they weren't the only ones.
As he neared the large Clock Tower he caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure on one of the rooftops. By the time he turned around, it was already gone, but he knew who it was. "Number Two" obviously had some interest in Axel's plans. He had said he'd be watching, but Axel didn't completely trust him not to interfere. He wasn't sure if he was acting under the Superior's orders or not.
By the time he'd covered most of the town, he found himself toying with the idea of setting fire to something. If Sora were here, surely that would get his attention?
He was spared the trouble of finding anything to burn when he rounded a corner to find a boy standing in the middle of one of the Plazas, gazing up at the back of the Clock Tower. For a moment he thought it may have been the other one that he'd fought earlier, but this one was wearing black clothes – the same as Sora had back at Hollow Bastion. And he was standing with his two companions.
As he stepped forward, the boy spun around. Upon seeing Axel, his keyblade appeared in his hand and his two friends drew their own weapons.
"Don't tell me you've forgot about me again."
Sora wavered slightly, recognizing him, but he still kept hold of his weapon. "Axel, right?"
"Right. You can put that away now…"
Sora shook his head firmly. "Not until you explain some things. Who are you people? Why do I keep seeing them in all the worlds I go to? Where do I know you from?"
"Now might not be a very good time." Axel could feel the eyes lurking within the shadows, watching. He was waiting for them to attack. He'd found Sora and he hadn't killed him, hadn't even made an attempt. They must know by now…"Why don't you come with me and…"
"No! I'm not going anywhere." Sora tightened his hold on the keyblade. "You said you'd answer my questions… Back at Hollow Bastion."
"And I will, but not yet." The sound of footsteps stopped him from saying anymore.
"Axel! There you are. I think we may have a problem…"
"Riku?" Sora lowered his weapon as he spotted his friend approaching. "Riku! You're ok!" He ran up to him, his keyblade disappearing from his hand as he did.
"Sora!" Riku smiled. "I'm glad we found you."
"We?" He glanced at Axel. "You're not with them… are you?"
"Not really. I'll explain later."
Sora nodded. "What about him?" He asked, staring at Axel.
"I can hear you know." Axel warned.
Riku shrugged. "I still don't know if I should trust him or not, but he's gone against the others. He said he wants your help. I'm not sure what he's got in mind, but I don't think he's here to cause us any… trouble."
Before Axel had a chance to get things back on track, both of Sora's friends ran up to the silver haired boy.
"Where's the king? Wasn't he with you?" The small one demanded.
Axel stepped in front ignoring them. "What kind of a problem?"
Riku looked between them, before answering. "Those… Nobodies. They're crawling all over the station. I don't think we'll be able to leave, they're blocking the way to the train."
Axel cursed silently. Should have expected them to block the only way out…
It was that moment the rest of them surged forward, pouring out the streets that connected to the Plaza and dropping down from the rooftops to head towards them.
"Those things again." Sora muttered. "What are they?"
""Nobodies… Shells." Axel replied.
"Shells? That's what he called himself…a shell."
"Who?"
"The one back at Hollow Bastion."
"Xaldin?"
"No, before that. Before I fought Ansem."
"Can't this wait until later?" Riku took out his Soul Eater as the creatures approached. "We can't stay here."
Sora turned around to look behind them. "That Clock Tower looks safe. Why don't we head there for now?" He suggested.
Axel hesitated. What if the other keyblade master was there? That might complicate things even more… But there didn't seem anywhere else to go for the moment. This town was the main source of the Nobodies, there were too many of them. He briefly regretted never bothering to learn how to control the things, before he built a wall of flames in front of him, to block some of the creatures from reaching them.
They backed up towards the Clock Tower. There was a small door on the side of the wall that they entered through. Axel leaned against it once they were inside while the others took a look around. All this trouble better be worth it…
He moved away to follow the others. They were at the back of the building, a small cluttered room that seemed to be used as some kind of storage.
"Should we head up to the roof?" Riku wondered as he paced around.
"Might as well stay here." Axel looked back at the door. "I don't think they can get through."
"So what were they?" Sora sat down against the wall. "Other than shells." He gazed pointedly in Axel's direction.
"They're like us. NEOs. Non-existent ones. I'm not sure on the details of how they were created, but they're used to follow basic orders given by Organization members that can control them."
"If they control them, why did they attack you?"
"Because I was supposed to kill you. Guess I'm pretty much considered a traitor now." He almost laughed. He was sent to rid the Organization of some traitors, and now he was one himself. But there was nothing there for him anymore. Originally the Organization was supposed to exist to study the heart. He could ignore the experiments, the people taken from Twilight Town to be "studied". They weren't his problem and he'd believed at first that maybe it would lead to a way of finding out how he could become complete again. All that had changed when Sora came along. It became even clearer that the Organization was no longer what it once was at Castle Oblivion. They were only interested in gaining power.
Sora seemed satisfied with his answer. Axel didn't feel like answering all his questions just yet though. He'd rather find somewhere a little safer to sit down and talk. Although there was something he wanted to ask first. "Why didn't you take care of Xaldin like you agreed?"
"You don't already know? One of your hooded friends told me I should leave. The one I'd met and fought before. He said Xaldin was as good as dead anyway. He was the one who told me that I needed to seal those other Keyholes. I don't understand why he was offering help…"
"Other Keyholes?"
Sora nodded. "The ones that are linked to those white creatures. They're different to the ones before. The main one should be here."
"That's… fascinating, really, but we should leave. If the Nobodies don't work, the others will come personally to take care of us."
"I can't leave yet." Sora said.
"And why not?"
"I need to seal that Keyhole. You don't have any idea where it may be, do you?"
Axel let out an irritated sigh. "The Organization pretty much runs this world. If it's here, it'll most likely be back at the residence."
Sora stood up and grinned. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"Wait a minute, this hasn't got anything to with me. I think I'll wait here."
"Please! You know your way around, if you come, we can get in and out of there faster!" Sora pleaded.
"Going back there is suicide. There are several very annoyed people waiting for me."
"If you come, I promise when I'm done, I'll try my best to help you with whatever it is you need."
"Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Sora shook his head. "You don't have to come…"
"I don't think I have much of a choice. Alright, I'll come. But when we're done, you and me need to have one long talk."
Author's Note: Gah, I don't like this chapter very much. I've got all this stuff in mind and this was needed as more of a "get everything set up" chapter. Oh well, the next one should be more fun to do.
Saddened Soul: I think losing their hearts is as good as dying, but I was also thinking of it as whoever the NEOs/Nobodies were are pretty much dead as well - if they've no memory of who they were, that person has "died". If that makes sense. O.o
AloneInDespair: I'm really looking forward to finding out who Axel was. I have my own idea, but I want to know if I'm right! Probably not XD
Ginger Ninja: When I was watching that trailer, I don't think we actually see the BHK saying anything, just taking out his weapons - his back is to the screen. It only shows Axel speaking. I dunno, I think it'd be interesting if it was him saying it.